God hath aboundantly powred his grace among vs that haue his gospell so clearely set forth vnto vs haue such oportunitie y â— there wanteth nothing but eares to heart We must haue eares in our heartes to let it sinke But O man thrise vnhappie and children of greater damnation if wee harden our hearts and receiue such aboundance of grace in vaine The earth Saith Sainte Paule whiche after the raine of Gods grace bringeth forth thornes and briers is reproued is nigh vnto cursing whose end is to be burned Woulde God all y t be in the courte that will not vouchsafe hauing so many Godly sermons to come forth of the hall into y e chappel to heare them would remember what a heauie stroke of Gods vengance hangeth ouer all their heads y t contemne his worde and ouer those in all places which had rather be idle and many times vngodly occupied in wanton and wicked pastimes then come to the churche prophaning the Sabboth day appointed for y e seruice of God the hearing of his worde bestoweing it more wickedly then many of the Gentiles Yet if they woulde come to the sermons though their hearts were not well disposed Gods word might win them as Saint Augustine was won by the preaching of S. Ambrose when he came only to heare his sweete voice eloquence O y t they knew what dishonour they did to Christ y t esteeme him so light to preferre vaine nay I say wicked thinges to the hearing of his holye word Are not these they as Saint Paul saith which tread vnderfoâ—te the Sonne of God count the bloude of his testament wherin he was sanctified an vnholy thing hath done despite to the spirit of grace O Lorde howe canst thou holde thy hands from punishing this vnthankfulnesse Certainely I thinke all other wickednesse compared to this is shadowed seemeth to be lesse I would to God we would remember manye times the plagues tokens of Gods extreame wrath that came vpon the Iewes after firste vnthankfully they had reiected Christ after his word when they were destroied by Titus Uespatian such a plague as neuer came vpon any other country And looke on their vices there reigned auarice ambition pride extorsion enuie aduonterie but these reigned also in other countries aboute where no such vengance did light but then did God thus exercise his wrath vpon them to the terrour of all other for contempt of his holy worde and for their vnthankfulnesse which beeing called so many waies by his prophets by him selfe by the Apostles stil hardened their hearts This exceeded all other wickednesse in the word Nowe if as greate vnthankfulnesse be found in many of vs towards Christe his gospell set forth so plainely vnto vs how caÌ„ we without speedie repetaÌ„ce but look for the terrible stroke of veÌ„gance God saith Ual. max. hath feete of wool he commeth slowly to punish but he hath hands of yron when he commeth he striketh sore Philip King of Macedonie hearing of one in his kingdom whiche refused most vnthankfully to receiue a straÌ„ger of whom before he had bene succoured in ship wracke in extreme neede for a worthie punishmente caused to bee printed in his forehead with an hot yron these two wordes Ingratus hospes au vnthankful guest O Lorde if we consider when we were straungers from God in the ship wrack of sinne howe mercifully Christe hath deliuered vs and borne our sinnes vpon his body If after all this we moste vnthankfully refuse to receiue him by refusing of his word may we not thinke our selues worthy many hote yrons to printe our vnthankfulnesse to our shame And vndoubtly so many as continue thus vnthankful though it be not written in their forheads to put them to worldly shame yet shal it be grauen in their conscience to their euerlasting confusion and damnation When the bookes of euery mans conscience shal be layde open as Daniel saith Their iudgement shal be more straight then Sodome Gomorha which that we may auoid let vs all from the highest to the lowest pray with one accord that God may soften and prepare our heartes with meekenesse and humilitie and thankfulnesse to embrace his gospell and his holy word which shal instruct vs in his holy wil teach vs to know his businesse euery man in his vocation that as Saint Paule saith euery one may giue attendance to themselues to the flocke wherein the holy ghoste hath made them ouerseers to rule the coÌ„gregation of God which he hath purchased with his bloud that all other rauenous Wolues may be turned to good shepheards So that Christe his ministers may enioy the portion assigned for the Gospell that all magistrates and gouernours may giue their whol studie to the weale publique and not to their priuate wealth that they may bee mainteiners of Iustice and punishers of wrong and that all inferiours may liue in due obedience meekely contenting themselues euery one in their vocation without murmuring or grudging that vnder Christe our noble prince his minister here one earth we all being knit together with Christian charitie the bonde of perfection may so fasten our eies vpon our Lode starre Gods word that it may continually bee a lanterne to our feete to guide our waies throughe the deserte and darke wildernesse of this worlde that our eyes bee neuer so blinded with shadowes of wordly thinges to make vs to embrace false deceitfull and temporall felicitie for that which is true stedfast and euerlasting that this lanterne which shineth nowe as Saint Paule saith tanquam speculum as thorough a glasse and in a darke speaking when that whiche is vnperfect shall bee taken away wee may present vs to that cleare light whiche neuer is shadowed with any darknesse that we may behold the blessed sighte of the glorious trinitie the father the sonne and the holy Ghost to whome bee all praise al honor and glorie worlde without ende Amen God saue the King Chap. 2. ver 41. Exod. 23. 14. 15. Act. 4. 13. 14. 16. Ioh. 13. 15. Luk. 2. 49. 1. Cor. 2. 14. Heb. 1. 3. 2. 16. Rom. 5. 19. Philip. 2. 8. Heb. 5. 9. Math. 6. 10. Esai 1. 5. 6. Philip. 2. 21 Esai 58. 1. Math. 6. 22. 23. Ioh. 21. 15. 16. 17. Easciculus temporum Lamen Iere. 4. 1. Psal. 12. 1. 14. 3. â— Pet. 5. 8. Math. 4. 19. fasciculus temporum S. Barnard Psal. 38. 21. Bernard Ephes. 6. 12. Augustine 1. Pet. 5. 13. Exod. 15. 1. Iud. 5. 1. Iud. 16. 1. 1. Sam. 15. â— Math. 11. 28. Eccl. 34. 22 Ezech. 3. 10 33. 8. Gen. 4. 10. Haba 2. 11. Act. 20. 26. Luk. 11. 21. Mat. 24. 48. Each 7 12. Ioh. 1â— 39. The king being abseÌ„t these words were added Math. 9. 3â— Gal. 6. 6. 2. Thes 3. 10. thren 4. 4. or lament Ier. Prou. 21. 1â— 1. Sam. 15. 23 2. Sam. 5. 2. Psal. 78. 71. Psal. 80. 1â— Gerson 1. Kin. 13. 3â— Crostwaite Cheswicke Act. 8. 38. Augustine Iohn 4. 24. Mat. 15. 3. 9 Gen. 26. 15. Psal. 14. 4. Exod. 32. 1. 1. Cor. 9. 13. 2. Kin. 23. 8. 1. Pet. 5. 4. The second part of ciuil gouernors The text Iohn 12. 31. Ephe. 2. 2. Eph. 6. 12. Rom. 12. 2. Luk. 14. 11. S. Bernard Ihon. 10. 1. Esai 1. 13. Pro. 29. 2. Esai 1. 23. Pro. 21. 13. 1. King 3. 16. 2. Kin. 8. 3. Ioel. 1. 4. Math. 27. 16. Iohn 8. 44. Rom. 13. 4. Psal. 82. 1. Psal. 24. 1. Gen. 10. 8. 2. 1. Kin. 21. 5. Amo. 2. 6. 1. Kin. 22. 38 Esai 5. 8. Psal. 52. 1. Musculus Math. 15. 8. Math. 27. 29 S. Augustine Act. 9. 4. Math. 25. 40. Ieam 2. 13. Luk. 16. 23. Registrum mundi 1. Sam. 15. 3. Charles the fifte to the duke of Venice Heb. 13. 14. Gen. 11. 7. The thirde part of the commons Iob. 34. 30. Esai 24. 2. Osee. 4. 9. Amos. 8. 11. Iob. 34. 30. Vopiscus Gal. 5. 15. Augustine Gal. 6. 2. Col. 3. 14. 1. Cor. 13. 5. Philip. 2. 4. Phil. 2. 4. Ihon. 4. 8. Augustine 1. Cor. 13. 5. 1. Cor. 8. 1. 1. Cor. 13. 2. Rom. 5. 5. Pembus Psal. 39. 1. When Gods word is truly learned Rom. 10. 17. Luk. 8. 8. 2. Co. 6. 1. Heb. 16. 8. Augustine Heb. 10. 19. Val. Max. Philip king of Matedony Dâ—â—i 7. 10. Math. 10. 25. 11. 24. Acts. 20. 28. Psa. 119. 105 2. Pet. 1. 19. 1. Cor. 13. 12 〈◊〉 1. 17.
A GODLY sermon preached in the Court at Greenwich the firste Sonday after the Epiphanie Anno Domini 1552. And in the sixt yere of y e raigne of king Edward the sixt the right godly and vertuous king of famous and blessed memory By B. G. Imprinted at London by Henrie Middleton for Thomas Man 1581. A SERMON preached in the Court at Greenewitch the first Sonday after the Epiphanie An. Do. 1552. The Gospell appointed for that day taken out of the second chapter of Saint Luke the Euangelist beginning at the 41. verse and continuing to the end of the chapter verse 41 Now his parentes went to Ierusalem euery yeare at the feast of the Passouer verse 42 And when he was twelue yere olde they were come up to Ierusalem after the custome of the feast verse 43 And had finished the dayes thereof as they returned the child Iesus remained in Ierusalem Ioseph knew not nor his mother verse 44 But they supposing that he had bene in the company went a dayes iourney sought him amongst their kinsefolkes acquaintance verse 45 And when they found him not they tourned backe to Ierusalem sought him verse 46 And it came to paesse three dayes after that they found him in the temple sitting in the middest of the Doctors both hearing them and asking them questions verse 47 And all that heard him were astonied at his vnderstanding and answeres verse 48 So when they sawe him they were amazed his mother sayd vnto him Sonne why hast thou thus dealt with vs beholde thy father and I haue sought thee with heauy hearts verse 49 Then said he vnto them howe is it that you sought me know ye not that I must go about my fathers businesse verse 50 But they vnderstoode not the worde that he spake to them c. FOR SO MVCH as the whole Gospell is more full of matter plenteous in mysteries then that it can well be discussed within the limits of one sermon I haue taken for this time to intreate vpon this one sentence spoken by Christ vnto his parentes vers 49. Know ye not that I must go about my fathers businesse being content to omit the rest taking onely so much of the rest as shall suffice to declare the occasion wherevpon he spake these words for the fuller vnderstanding of the same Ye shall therfore vnderstand that when our Sauiour was come to the age of twelue yeares giuing attendance vppon his parentes to Ierusalem at the solemne feast of Easter whither they yearely did repayer at that time of sincere deuotion and for the obedience of the lawe After that Ioseph Mary had deuoutly passed the dayes of the feast were returned home it came to passe not through blind Fortune but by God his proprouidence that his glorie might appeare that the blessed sonne Iesus taried behind at Ierusalem while his parents either not taking good heede of him or else going a part in sundry companies either of them trusting he had ben with the other they went one daies iourney before they missed him But after he was found wanting they sought him diligently amongest their kinsefolkes and acquaintance but found him not Which was vndoubtedly vnto them a very crosse of bitter affliction So doth God many times exercise his elect chosen with aduersity for their trial to keep them in humility Whē they were returned to Ierusalem and had long sought him with sorowful hearts after three dayes they found him in the temple Here by the way me thinke the holy ghost teacheth vs a spirituall doctrine and that right necessarie So long as wee seeke Christ in our owne kinsefolkes that is our owne inventions devises wee finde him not but to finde Christe we must accompanie these godly persons Ioseph and Marie vnto the Temple of his holy worde there Christ is found vnto so many as seeke him with such humble spirits meek hearts as Ioseph Mary did They found him in the tēple not idlely occupied as many are not mumblinge things he vnderstoode not Sine mente sonum a confused sounde without knowledge But they found him occupied in the father of heauen his businesse as all men should be in the temple either in speaking to God by humble and harty prayer or hearing God speaking to them in his moste blessed word So was Christ occupied amongst learned men and apposing them Where he teacheth vs to be alwayes as glad to learne as to teache It is a probable coniecture that he opened to them the Scriptures which spake of Messias a matter then in con trouersie But whatsoeuer their matter was the Euangelist sayth He made them all astonied at his vnderstanding answeres vers 47. So the glory of his godhead euen then began to shine Where we may marke the wonderfull power of the Gospel Euen the harde hearted that will not receiue it yet the bright beames of the trueth shining therein maketh them astonied It causeth also the godly to marueile as Mary and Ioseph but their admiration alway ended with ioye Yet not withstanding his heauenly maiestie made al men to wonder his mother thought she had some cause to expostulate with him for the greate feare he had brought vpon them casting them into a doungeon of sorrowes and complaining saide Sonne why hast thou c. She seemeth to charge him with the first precept of the seconde table that he had not wel intreated his parents But Christ so shapeth his answere that he taketh away al her complaint Teaching vs how the precepts of the seconde table may not be vnderstand in any wise to be a hindrāce to the first Wist ye not that I must go about my fathers businesse ver 49. where our duety seruice to God commeth in place all humaine seruice and obedience which might be a hindrance thereto to whom so euer it be Father or Mother King or Kesar must stand backe and giue place Besides this he teacheth vs here a most necessary lesson for al men to knowe and beare away which is that his whole life and death was nothing else but a perfect obedience to the wil of his heauenly father that he was alwaies most busily occupied therein And teacheth vs that if we looke by adoption to be brethren coheirs with Christ of his fathers kingdome we must also with our maister and Lorde yelde vp our selues wholly to our heauenly father his will alwayes be occupied in his businesse Exemplum dedi vobis c. I haue giuen you an example that ye should do euen as I haue done to you Which lesson being so necessary for al christians to be kepte the breach thereof cause of al iniquity I thought it good to passe ouer other places of ghostly instructiō which this gospel might minister to tarry vppon this one sentence Know ye not how I must go about my fathers busines Intending to shew in order how all estates of
a bil to let the patrone take y e greatest part of the profites he might haue had a benefice There is neuer any question how he can occupy himselfe in Gods businesse Iohn Gerson a learned man in his time witnesseth that whosoeuer in that time was admitted to a benefice in France must answere to these questions Scis uâ—rumque testamentum knowest thou the old testament the newe and the ignorant was put backe but with these men it skilleth not if he neuer opened the Byble so much the meter for their purpose he is not able to speake against their abuses but wil suffer theÌ„ to sleepe in their sinne And wil you see what preposterous iudgement they vse For all worldly offices they search meete and conuenient meÌ„ only christen soules so dearly bought are committed without respect to meÌ„ not worthy to keepe sheepe Your grace hath sent forth furueiers as most needefull it was to see there shoulde be no deceipt in paimente of pensions other offices abrode Would to God you would also sende forth Surueyors to see how benefices are bestowed vsed how Christ his gospell are robbed dishonored to the great decaye of your realme common wealthe You shoulde finde a smal number of patrones that bestow rightly their liuinges seekinge Gods glorie and that his worke and busines maye be rightly applied without Simo ny or seeking ther owne profite For first it as almost generall to reserue the ferming to him selfe or his friend and to appointe the rent at his owne pleasure But woorse then all this a great number neuer farme them at al but keepe them as their owne lands and giue some three halfpeny Priest a curats wages nine or ten pounds EueÌ„ as Ieroboam made priests of his owne for his hill alters to sacrifice to his calues that the priests should not goe to Ierusalem These Icroboams will neuer let the people ascend to Ierusalem to finde Christ in the Temple of his word They began first with personages seemed to haue some consciences towardes vicarages but now their hearies be so hardened all is fish that cometh to the net GentlemeÌ„ are persons vicars both nothing can escape them There be vicarages about London hauing a thousand people so spoiled wherby it may appere what is done further of Your grace may finde also where gentlemen keepe in their handes liuings of 40. or 50. pounds giueth one that neuer cometh there 5. or 6. pounds Some chaÌ„ge the ground of the benefice with their tenants to the intent if it be called for the tenant shall lose â—t not they Is not this a godly Patrone It shall appeare also I could name the place where a liuing of a hundreth markes by yere if I say not poundes hath bene solde for many yeares I suppose an 100. saue one so continueth still O good Saint Ambrose if thou hadst bene Byshop ther thou wouldest neuer haue suffered such Wolues to deuour the flocke It may well be called a deuouringe for this liuing in a godly learned pastors hande mighte haue refreshed fiue hundred in a yeare with bodily foode all the whole country aboute with Gods word which as I perceiue in xx miles compasse hath vnneth one man to preach and yet no place in EnglaÌ„d more needefull For boyes and girles of xiiii or xv yeares olde cannot say y e Lordes prayer Shall suche iniury to Christ his gospel be suffred in a christian realm That one enormitie crieth for vengance til it be redressed What shal I speake Your noble men reward their seruants with liuings appointed for the gospell Certainly I meruaile that God holdeth his hand that he destroyeth not such with Nadab Abihu Let them not abuse Gods patieÌ„ce for if they doe not shortly repente bestow the liuings better both master and man shall burne in hell fire I am not able to rehearse nor yet any man knoweth al y e abuses which the Simoniakes ambitious and idole pastors haue brought vnto your realme By whose euil example rauenous wolues painted Christians hypocrites haue entered defiled the sanctuary spoiled Christ his gospel to the destruction of his flocke How great enimies they be to Christe by keeping away his gospel it shall appeare if ye consider what superstition and blindnesse remaineth still among the people only through lacke of faithful prechers I passe ouer much infidelitie Idolatrie forcerie charming witch crafts coniuring trusting in figures with suche other trumpery which lurke in corners began of late to come abrode onely for lacke of preaching Come to the ministratioÌ„ of the SacrameÌ„ts set forth nowe by common authority after the first institution they thinke baptisme is not effectuall because it wanteth mans traditions They are not taughte how the Apostles baptized A greate number thinke it a greate offence to take the Sacrament of Christes bodye in their hands that haue no conscience to receiue it with blasphemous mouthes with malicious heartesfull of all vncleannes These come to it by threes of custome without any spirituall hunger know not the end wherfore it was instituted They come to the church to feede their eyes and not their soules they are not taught that no visible thing is to be worshipped And for bicause they see not in the church the shining pompe and pleasante varietie as they thought it of painted clothes candlestickes Images altars lampes tapers they say so good to go into a Barne nothing esteeming Christ which speaketh to them in his holy worde neither his holy Sacrament reduced to the first institutioÌ„ To be short the people are nowe euen as the Iewes were at Christes comming altogether occupied in externall holinesse culture without any feeling of true holinesse or of y e true worship of God in spirit trueth without the which all other is meere hypocrisie Many thousandes knoweth not what this meaneth but seeke Christe still among their kindred in maÌ„s inuentioÌ„s when they can neuer finde him As the Iewes preferred mans traditions before Gods coÌ„mandementes euen so is it now Men think it a greater offence to breake a fasting day or worke vpon a saints day theÌ„ to absteine from profitable labour and turne it to Bacchus feastes exercising more vngodlinesse that day then all the weeke dispising or sone weary of Gods word All this with much more commeth through lack of preaching as experieÌ„ce trieth where godly pastors be It caÌ„not much be merueled if the simple ignorant people by some wicked heades and firebrandes of Hell be sometimes seduced to rebell against their Prince lawfull magistrates seeing they are neuer taughte to knowe their obedience duety to their king and soueraigne so straightly commaunded in Gods lawe But there hangeth ouer vs a great euill if your grace doe not helpe it in time The diuel goeth about by these Cormorantes that deuour the liuinges appointed for the Gospell to make a fortresse and Bulwarke to keepe