to begin with these of later times Caluin Peter Martyr Cranmer Iuell Fulke Sadel Beza Whittakers Mornay and Reinolds then to other of former times and also to the Fathers But heere take these caueats touching the Fathers First see that the name be not counterset and Caueats in reading of the Fathers the worke falsified as of late the Fathers haue beene by the Papists Secondly approoue of their opinions and of all other mens onely as farre as they agree with Scriptures in matters of saluation Thirdly when they differ consider them as men reuerence them and receiue them in the truth but be tied to none in their errors If it be possible reconcile and cure the iarre to make them agree If thou canst not by the rules deliuered trie which is sound that hold If an equall probability be of two and reasons seem to thee alike for both make a profitable vse of either but publikly broach neither vnto the auditory if it be a matter of importance for it will but breed contention If wee will thus bee wary we shall not runne into error for company wee shall vphold a consent and preserue a godly peace in the Church When wee are thus fitly prepared and armed with the sound knowledge of the truth against sophistrie and subtile distinctions then may wee boldly enter vpon a dangerous sort for yoong nouices vpon whom neuerthelesse in these daies proud conceits for shew of learning wild youths wanton by their wits foolehardily rush vpon in their very a b c of Diuinitie to their ruine and Churches disturbance Scholemen Papists Catechismes Commentaries histories c. as First Schoolemen Peter Lombard Thomas Aquinas Scotus Bonauentura and Durandus Secondly Catechismes Canisius c. Thirdly Commentaries Caietanus Ferus Tolet Arias Montanus Stella Pintus Tansenius Riberus and others with Postils Fourthly Histories Caesar Baronius Onuphrius August Stuchus Platina Anastasius Iacobus de Voragine Fiftly Gratian decrees Raymondus Decretals Clementius Constitutions the Extrauagants the Epistles of Romish Bishops the Canon Law the Glosses and Commentaries of the Canonists the Acts of late Councels set foorth by Peter Crabbe Martyrologies Sixtly Controuersies of Roffensis Gregorie de Valentia Stapletons Hosius Eccius Harding Bellarmine with others and those that haue answered them Seuenthly and lastly a Minister The holy spirit of God besides all these helpes must haue to rule and direct him in these subordinate meanes the holie spirit of God the onely true interpretour of the Scriptures which are his owne words who is the spirit of trueth leading and guiding all his in the same without which men for all the means may runne into errours and grow into heresies aboue all this therefore pray for CHAP. VIII Of gathering doctrines from the Text. AFter Interpretation Logicall Grammaticall and Rhetoricall doubtfull things being resolued and obscure What a Doctrine is made plaine followes the Collection of Lessons or Doctrines which are propositions drawen from the Scripture teaching somewhat to be beleeued onely for informing of the iudgement Heere first a Teacher must begin to builde that knowledge may goe before zeale to guide the same this of some is called the Didascalike or Doctrinal part of a Sermon wherein a trueth is deliuered and confirmed by this we onely learne to know and beleeue But to effect and doe is another part of the Sermon following vpon this As for example This is a plain Doctrine deliuered by the holy Ghost Prou. 29. 18. Where there is no vision the people perish This onely informeth my iudgement to take knowledge of a thing which is this That they which want the preaching of Gods word are in a fearefull estate it is neither exhortation dehortation reprehension commandement promise nor any such thing for these indeed are consequents of doctrines Many such places be which are euident doctrines of themselues Roman 8. 1. 1. Corint 2. 14. Galath 3. 10. 11. Hebr. 13. 4. Psalm 19. 17. and a thousand moe out of which if we please we need not stand to make How to handle a did ascalike text or a Scripture which is a doctrine of it selfe A particular explanation of euerie word other collection of Doctrines except from the emphasis of a word as an obseruation by the way but foorthwith come to the vse which is to be made therof after the words be explaned and a briefe Paraphrase made thereon As for example take these words of Salomon Prouerb 29. 18. They are a Doctrine of themselues as other Prouerbes be Heere then begin to expound the words thus Where there is no in the Hebrue it is onely in not a Preposition with an Aduerbe in stead of a Noune meaning in the want or in not hauing vision Vision this word is diuersly taken in Scripture first for an ordinarie meanes wherby God The diuers acceptions of a word and the same prooued reuealed his will to his Prophets as Numb 12. 6. and 24. 4. Secondly for a more speciall manifesting of himselfe to Moses as Numb 12. 8. Thirdly for the place of visions Ierusalem Esai 22. Fourthly and lastly for the word of the Prophets the messengers of God to his people Esai 1. 1. Obediah 1. 1. where by vision is meant prophecie and Obediah 1. 1. vision and prophecie both one 2. Chron. 32. 32. Act. 2. 17. Seers and Prophets were one 1. Sam. 9. 9. Preaching is also called Prophecying 1. Cor. 14 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 13. which stands in the interpretation of the Scriptures vers 13. or expounding thereof vers 5. by words which may be vnderstood v 9. What preaching is to edifie exhort comfort and instruct the Congregation vers 3. 4. 19. In this last sense must this word vision be taken After that the diuers signification of the word is noted them set downe one proper and apt for the text and prooue how that and not the other is fittest The emphasis is noted and how it serues to the purpose and not in any of the three former senses for this proposition is generall and euer true but if we put in stead of vision Hierusalem it would be absurd to say Where there is no Hierusalem the people perish or vnderstand it of vision to Moses or the other which were but temporary are ceased must therfore we perish It is to be interpreted therfore preaching called vision and prophecie for the excellencie thereof so do also the learned expound it The people that is persons of all sorts and not onely the ruder multitude the word is generall and conteineth all Perish there is a singular emphasis in this word and therefore interpretors diuerslietranslate it To cease and leaue off to decay to go backe to rebell to be naked to perish all which doe well agree to this matter in hand So it is as if Salomon had said more at large Where men are without and want the true A paraphrase briefe in significant words according to the explanation acceptation
1. 9. In conuincing the Aduersaries 1. To doe them no wrong lay downe their errour truely and briefly as it is held by them expounding the meaning and distinguishing of the words from their owne best approoued writers if any obscuritie bee in it or ambiguitie that so the matter bee not mistaken nor the aduersarie haue occasion to cauill and denie the position 2. Not to make it grosser nor more absurd then it is shew wherein we consent and how farre we may approoue of that opinion This course will shew our faithfull 〈…〉 ling allowing truth in all things and in euerie one and that we wilfully dissent not where we haue iust cause to agree 3. Note our dissent and wherein wee differ and they mistake the matter shewing our reasons for the trueth as I haue declared in confirmation of a doctrine and bring in withall the forciblest obiections which the aduersaries makes against vs to gainsay that wee hold For there are two sorts of obiections one which the aduersarie vseth against vs to hinde our confirmation and to weaken the reasons which wee bring for the trueth we hold The other which they make against our arguments in confuting their errors The obiections we must answer according as they be made some from the Scripture some from the testimonies of men Fathers and Councels and withall to weigh what may apparentlie bee excepted against our answer and preuent that 4. The difference being cleere betweene vs confute With what to confute an errour their error First by expresse words of Scripture Secondly by reasons drawne from Scripture Thirdly from a principle of Religion Fourthly from testimonie of the Fathers by their interpreting of those Scriptures which we bring in or their assertions els where Fiftly from Councels Sixtly from some of their owne writers disagreeing happely in that point or from some of their generall points wherein wee and they agree shewing that those and such errors Weak grounds to build vpon and props of errors of theirs cannot stand together Seuenthly by discouering the absurditie the weake grounds whereon they build such an error ftom the bare opinion of one man or consent of many from Custome from deceiued Councels forged Authors from fathers mistaken or peruerted traditions pretended verities vnwritten Apocryphall books or from Canonicall Scripture but the place misalledged contrarie to the meaning or not fully alleaged by adding or detracting or from a translation erroneous for these bee the Sophisticall delusions and deceiueable courses which heretikes and scismatikes vse to maintaine their errors with 5. The danger of the error is to be declared But here First let none fall to couince error except by When its best to fall to confutation and controuersies extreme necessitie they be vrged thereunto before they haue for some time deliuered a certaine trueth and Catechized the people It is a preposterous course comming to an ignorant people and superstitious as most ignorant persons be to begin foorth with to handle controuersies it breeds contention it makes the common sort who cannot iudge what is spoken for or obiected onely against the truth to be answered for clearing the trueth to thinke the Preacher teacheth contrarie things and to speake hee knowes not what It were better to beare with many things yet in the meane season shewing in generall that he would gladly informe them wherein they erre but that as yet they be not able to beare that he would vtter till they be taught the principles plainely and diligently and after a familiar maner winding the trueth into them at vnawares as it were without controulement of their ignorant customes and maners for a while S. Paul was some time at Ephesus before he cried openly out of the idoll Diana What controuersies first to be handled and how farre to proceed II. Also heerein let none meddle farther when they begin then may benefit the hearers and themselues well able to deale with It is good to raise vp no more spirits by shewing the arguments of the aduersarie then may bee cunningly coniured downe againe lest in seeming either to withdraw or to keepe any from errour such should confirme men therein and put words into their mouthes to speake against the trueth before vnknowne to them A foolish merchant is he who will so much make mention of other mens wares as that he thereby though not intended ouerthrow his owne market Hee is foole-hardie that will challenge an other into the field bring him out weapons and himselfe without skill to warde off and so letting himselfe be beaten with that which he brings Controuersies requires sharpnesse of wit some cunning to find out Sathans Sophistrie Yoong Cockerils that begin but to crow may not set vpon the great Cockes of the game There bee many Nouices who haue scarce learned the a b c in Diuinitie ignorant in a maner of the common principles of religion yet in these daies wil be medling with the chiefest controuersies some crowing against that Sophistical Bellarmine some billing at that profound Iudiciall interpreter Caluin audaciously controulling him and foolishly despising his incomparable learning and skill Some running into the troublesome point of Discipline when hardly they know what the Noune meaneth beleeuing what they heare but saying nothing what they see themselues iudicially A better way were it to let them alone till we be growne to these things and then also to proceed wisely and moderately and in the meane time to bend our force altogither against the common aduersarie III. Let vs beware we call not vpon or once mention Old and by-past heresies or such as are not amongst vs not to be mentioned old dead and by-past heresies out of all mens memories this were but to keepe in minde what were better buried euer in obliuion neither deuise any new which are not held which were so to fight with our owne shadow and to vtter lies and offend against charitie by slander A wicked practise of the Papists against vs and some of our owne brethren amongst our selues IV. And lastly in confutation of any error let these Certaine caueats in entering into a controuersie things be looked vnto First that the text occasion it by good consequent or directlie speakes against it that wee seeme not to delight in controuersies arguing a vaine contentious spirit Secondly let it bee such a one as at that time is abroad or foorthwith is like to come foorth and also dangerous to the Church Thirdly consider whether it be necessarie to be mentioned and confuted before that auditorie and also when conueniently Fourthly not to stand long vpon it but so farre as may be thought expedient to the edification of the hearers It is altogether a fault to spend in Countrie and rude assemblies the whole time or most part of the Sermon in some point of controuersies as some vse to doe without iust occasion or necessary cause These spirits benefit little their auditories and breed
the words or sentences is true or so to be in either but not both as the place intendeth VII From the seuerall words for God puts not onely From the seuerall words one by one and this is diuersly done matter into the mindes of the writers and directs them in the maner but also guides them in setting it downe with words Ierem. 1. 9. 2 Samuel 23. 2. Our Sauiour extends the trueth of the Word to an iota or a tittle Matth. 5. 18. so substantiall is euerie thing which therein is set downe Now this collecting of lessons from the words is diuersly How many waies obseruations may bee gathered from the words done First from the naturall and most proper signification and emphasis of the word Secondly from the figuratiue vse thereof conteining some metaphor or other trope Thirdly from the Grammaticall adsignification of the number as the Apostle doth to the Galath 3. 16. So of the Case Gender and Tense speaking in the Present Perfect or Future tense This is Musculus course obseruing that he saith not thus and thus but so and so and thence collecteth lessons Fourthly from a Logicall affection of a word to an other thing as a cause effect subiect adiunct and so forth Fiftly by making a question out of the words and answering the same which answer being prooued must stand for a doctrine and may be deliuered in a proposition This way was practised by the reuerend man Master Perkins VIII From the circumstances of the time quando From circumstances Day night winter summer present past or future fit inconuenient aduerse or prosperous quandiu how long or short once or often Hebr. 12. 26. 27. 2. From the person God Angels Men Diuell and ill Angels and Men publike and generall as Adam and Abraham or priuate ordinary or extraordinarie Sex man woman age birth countrie estate place or calling in Church or Common-weale qualities of minde or bodie good or bad elect or reprobate 3. From the place heauen earth or hell sea land holie prophane large or strait common or proper and so foorth But heere note in gathering lessons from examples to make a difference betweene the person of Christ and men Our Sauiours example euer good for instruction yet not in all things imitable as what he did and spake as God and what appertained to his proper office and Mediatourship So men may be good as yet often they doe ill wee must therefore consider the act or speech of the person and then the person himselfe with all the circumstances of the same before noted and so gather the doctrine els may we erre and collect that which by iudiciall examination will not stand nor be found sound and approoueable IX From the matter conteined in the words Ecclesiasticall From the diuersitie of matter contained in the words Politicall Domesticall and so from the Ethicks Naturall Philosophie Mathematicks and Arts or Science therein conteined As for example Psal 72. 1. Giue iudgements to the King ◠God Heere to take occasion to speake of politicke gouernment ô God from this to handle that point of Diuinitie concerning God Righteousnesse from this to speake of Diuine Morall and Christian Righteousnesse Sonne from this to speake of Oeconomicks somewhat Whence to begin and what it is to handle a cōmon place And so likewise out of any text to fall into a Common place which is to handle a thing by the definition distribution cause effect by the agreeablenesse with or disagreeing from other things all which are to be proued by Scripture reason and testimonies and so must be in stead of doctrines whereof vses must be made as of collected lessons to conuince the false definitions and distributions to instruct for practise and correct vice by the same and to comfort as the matter shall serue The common maner of proceeding into a Common place is by these formes as heere let vs see what this is or we haue occasion hence to speake of such a matter When to common place and so foorth But yet it is not conuenient to take euerie where occasion to Common place vpon anie word but vpon such as the text may well affoord when the people need to be enformed thereof as yet ignorant being an vncatechised Congregation or when some notable vice is commonly committed and necessarily to be corrected or some godlie dutie to bee commended happelie made then no account of or contemned as is the preaching of the Word and so foorth X. From a thing by proportion and resemblance to an For a thing by similitude and proportion other as Hebr. 11. 1. as Abraham left his naturall country at Gods bidding to enioy Canaan so must we this world to inherit heauen And such lessons may be followed and vrged where good reason may be giuen of a true proportion betweene things compared as Abraham fitly heere may be for euerie Christian and Canaan was a true type of heauen Thus wee see how wee may make an Allegorie which is How to Allogorize lawfully not simplie vnlawfull for the Apostle doth allegorize 1. Cor. 9. 9. And it is but an argument drawen from a similitude when the words are expounded mystically otherwise then the litterall sense doth affoord But in gathering allegories First gather them after the true and naturall sense be deliuered and not before Secondly let them not be too farre fetched strained obscure or foolish but agreeing with the Analogie of Faith and other manifest Scriptures The best Allegorizing is when the parts of the allegorie may be referred to other Scriptures speaking of the same properly as Matt. 26. 36. and so forth Where Christ may resemble euery pastor Peter Iames and Iohn Christian professours Gethsamine the Congregation their sleepe sinne Iudas the diuell The proportion then is this As the Disciples in Gethsamene though warned to watch and pray till Christs comming to them againe yet fell soone asleepe and had not Christ returned and awaked them Iudas and his traine suddenly had seazed vpon them Euen so though a Pastor teach his flocke and forewarne them and leaue them but a while to themselues they will soone fall to sinne and bee suddenly ouertaken of the diuell and his instruments if hee come not eftsoones againe to call them and stirre them vp to godlinesse This allegorie is true and apt for Christ is called a Pastour the three Disciples were Christians sinne is called sleepe Rom. 13. and Iudas a diuell men are apt to sinne as to sleepe and the absence of a Pastor very perilous Prou. 29. 18. so as this agreeth with other Scriptures and the Analogie of faith Thirdly handle an allegorie briefly and vse them not too often Fourthly let the vse and end be for instruction of life but not for any proofe of doctrine Fiftly let the ancient graue and wise collect them It is not a safe way for yoong beginners not well exercised in the Scriptures and grounded in the trueth Allegories are
delightfull and therefore youth will as I may say lasciuire soone waxe wanton immoderately heerein and so in stead of vsing abuse the Scripture Allegories may be gathered diuersly First from names and signification thereof as Beelzebub How many waies an allegorie may bee raised prince of Flies the Diuell Hence this allegorie As great flies but easilie blowing vpon flesh in warme weather infects it and makes it more and more craule with maggots so doth the diuell by blasting of our soules with suggestion in time of prosperitie c. But note heere with the name and signification consider the nature of that whence it is taken as you see from this and also the nature of that wherunto it is applied Secondly from Histories taking occasion often from the name as Luke 8. 41. 49. Iairus signifieth one inlightned hearing of Christ seekes to him in hope of helpe but whilest he is praying comes the diuell or his instrument and interrupts and would withdraw him to giue ouer but that Christ Iesus vers 50. comforts him and giues him incouragement From what places chiefly the Ancient haue vsed to gather allegories to beleeue and so soorth In stories where the places seeme not to affoord much matter there men haue accustomed to gather an Allegorie as Genes 27. 14. 15. 16. 17. Luke 19. 2. 3. 4. and vers 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. and 45. and such like Thirdly from those Scriptures where the words haue a shew of an vntrueth in the letter and must bee vnderstood figuratiuely as Psal 9. 13. which Christ litterally taken neuer did Psal 1 18. 22. Esai 11. Matt. 21. 44. 4. 12. and such like where the litterall sense seemeth to inferre an absurditie as Rom. 12. 20. Mark 11. 13. 14. Luk. 6. 29. 30. where the matter in the litterall sense may seeme in regard of the basenesse therof to derogate from the wisdome of the pen-man whose excellencie of vnderstanding and calling cannot but perswade vs of a farther and more excellent matter then the letter barely intendeth likewise Ioh. 4. 35. Rom. 13. 11. 12. 1. Cor. 3. 12. so many places in the Prouerbes as cap. 24. 30. chap. 6. 9. chap. 9. 1. 2. 3. c. and 25. 16. Deut. 25. 4. All these haue a further meaning then the letter Lastly where the words be typicall either in precept as Exod. 22. 18. 19. Leu. 12. 2. 3 or Example as in Abraham Gen. 22. Iosua Sampson Dauid and others XI Lastly from Similitudes many lessons be gathered From similitudes and that two waies First from the drift whereto it is brought and then from the very letter and thing it selfe whence the similitude is made without regarding the similie as if it were a plain narration As Gal. 4. 1. 2. The scope is to shew by the similitude that the Law of An example God makes not freee but keeps in bondage for it doth with vs as tutors and gouernours do with an heire being a child euen keepe him vnder as a seruant The lesson from the scope is that the Law is seruitude and freeth not neither can it more then tutors a child but is at the fathers appointment From the letter this lesson That a wise and a godly father will bring vp his child well though he be his only son and heire vnder tutors and gouernours For we must know that the thing from whence the similitude is fetched is the same in it selfe for which it is brought to illustrate another If the wrath of a King be fearefull as the roaring of a Lion then a Lions roaring is fearefull This collecting of lessons from a similitude is not onely when it is largely set downe but euen contained in one word by a Metaphor as when a Minister is called a shepheard and a beleeuer a sheepe a wicked man a dogge wee may note the nature of the thing whence the similie is drawen and so farre as it may well agree to the thing to which it is brought apply the same in the seuerall properties to it as doctrines but then proue them in the application and make vse thereof Thus may we doe in Parables First marke the scope and the lessons thence and then To collect lessons from parables from the letter But yet beware we gather not lessons from euerie thing therein so many absurdities might follow neither intended in the scope and spirituall sense nor in the letter true as in the Parable of Diues it is said he speaks in hell and hath a toong which is not true Manie things in Parables may be supposed as if it were so to teach a trueth by a feigned thing Of Typical places Typicall places haue also a doublesense litterall and spirituall Manie of the chiefest and heads of the Iewes were types of Christ The Iewes in prosperitie and aduersitie their blessings and curses and much of their seruice typicall to vs and therefore double obseruations may bee thence made And thus much how to gather Doctrine Now of the deliuery and proofe of the doctrines wherein I. Follow your diuision and gather the doctrines as the What to be done in deliuering a doctrine and proouing the same Ground of the doctrine What doctrines to gather and what to enlarge parts doe lie in order for therefore is the diuision made II. Before or after the doctrine be deliuered lay open the ground thereof that it may euidently appeare how it ariseth this is much to perswade to beleeue and embrace the same now this easily may be done by a short paraphrase III. Collect such onely as aptly may be collected and of these First what are well knowen note them onely in fewe words and but point as it were at them Secondly the more seldome and rare and withall profitable them onely prosecute largely Euerie text hath some certaine words and circumstances more Emphaticall then the rest Thirdly whatsoeuer may bee aboue the capacitie of the hearers omit that All men are not apt for euerie thing Ioh. 16. 12. 1. Cor. 3. 1. 2. there is beginning growth and doctrine for both Fourthly euerie thing inconuenient to be vttered in respect of time place and person is to be with silence passed ouer heerein is a Ministers wisdome well seene Doctrines must bee very sound What things to be auoided IV. All doctrines must be sound and good 1. Tim. 4. 6. wholesome words according to godlinesse 1. Timoth. 6. 3. vncorrupt Tit. 2. 7. profitable Tit. 3. 6. standing in faith and charitie 2. Timoth. 1. 13. Wee must auoid carefully prophane Iewish and old wiues fables 1. Timoth 4. 7. doting foolish and vnlearned questions 2. Tim. 2. 23. strife about words 1. Tim. 6. 4. Commandements of men which turne away from the trueth Tit. 1. 14. Genealogies contentions brawlings about the law and whatsoeuer is vnprofitable which procureth enuie ingendreth strife railing ill surmises which peruerteth the hearers encreaseth to more vngodlinesse prophane and vaine bablings 2. Timot. 2. 16. and