our birth or birth day it shall be deferred He shall be degraded and neuer haue to deale with war The punishment yea he shall indure the open sale of his patrimonie whosoeuer he be that shall vpon any time of the festiuall day be present at shewes spectacles And the same punishment shal the apparitour or summoner of euery iudge indure if vnder the pretext of publike or priuate busines he thinke that the things which are established by this law may be violated By such a like constitution did Constantinus the great decree Const magn that all iudges and assemblies of Cities and townes and the seruice of all artes should cease or rest vpon the reuerend Sonday as wee call it or vpon the Lords daie Wherefore such in this behalfe offend that on the Lords day will not haue so much as a foot in the holy places of praier Profaners of the Sabbath or thinke that they haue well discharged and done their dutie if happily they doe superficially heare the forenoones Sermon or perhaps the halfe of it but spend the rest of the time of that daie in or about profane things only They also offend that supersticiously perswade themselues that the sanctification of the Lords day standeth in idlenesse onely and in doing of nothing and yet passe the same away in diuers follies vanities dansings drinkings and pleasures As indeed it cannot otherwise be An olde and true saying but that whilest men doe nothing they learne to doe ill But betwixt these two blameworthie extremities this is the meane namely to consecrate and to spend that day in those exercises which we haue spoken of alreadie and that not onely in the publike assemblies of the Church but at home in euerie seuerall familie priuately and aparte What worldly 〈…〉 Nay we say further let no worldly businesses or labours be taken in hand but such as necessitie it selfe doth force vs vnto that is such things as pertaine to our owne health welfare and defence or to the health welfare and defence of our neighbours and yet so to and in such things as could not either be taken in hand or dispatched the daie before or will not indure a delaie till the day after For in or vnder the commaundement touching the Sabbath such good works from God are not forbidden as the intermission thereof hath both ioyned with them the assured death and destruction of man and also is contrarie to charitie For in that case the sonne of man also is Lord euen of the Sabbath and the Sabbath was made for man Mat. 12.8 Marke 2.27 and not man for the Sabbath Wherefore the Macchabees did in this behalf through superstition offend 1. Macch. 2.34.35 c. that vpō the Sabbath day would not fight against Antiochus nor cast a stone at their aduersaries by meanes whereof they indured the slaughter of a thousand men or there about Wherupon after they had well weighed this errour and that by this meanes they might be rooted out of the land 1. Maccha 2.40.41 they decreed to fight against all that euen on the Sabbath day should set vpon them by battaile So doth our-Sauiour Christ defend that against the calumnies slaunders of the Pharisees his own disciples who for the beating backe of the necessitie of famine did pull the eares of corne and gather them on the Sabbath day Mat. 12.1.5 And further addeth haue yee not read in the law that on the Sabbath daies the priestes in the temple profane and breake but this he speaketh vpon supposition of the opinion of his aduersaries the Sabbath and yet are blamelesse where no doubt he alludeth to those holy workes and labours of the priestes who were constrained on the Sabbath day to slay sacrifices Num. 28.9 to bake the shew bread to set them in rowes before the Lord also to prepare incense Leuit. 24.5.8 to kindle the fire for the sacrifices to seeth the flesh of the sacrifice at the doore of the tabernacle Leuit. 8.31 and to dispose and set in order those seuerall instruments and vessels of the seruice and worship Exod. 26.33 which was prescribed vnder Moses all which surely required no small labour and businesse So if all the haruest time together the skie were rainie and onely the Lords day faire no man that is of sound iudgement could doubt but that the graine might without sinne both be cut downe and caried into the barnes Sixtly if we haue heard in the Sermons some certaine points which are dark 6 We must aske councell of the ministerie touching such things as are darke and we do not well vnderstand or which we our selues could not sufficiently attaine vnto we must not at any hand loath or neglect them vnder the pretext of this prophane speech things that are aboue vs doe not belong vnto vs but either we must aske councell concerning them of the ministers of the Church or if in this case reuerence of them or shamefastnesse in our selues which yet should not be doe hinder vs we ought to goe to them that are more familiar to vs and are indued with greater knowledge of Gods word and holy things For if we doe this in other things of this world and concerning our owne life how much more must we performe it in these diuine and heauenly things the right knowledge whereof is necessary for vs vnto saluation in the knowledge and iudgment wherof we should more and more abound that we may knew the things that differ Phil. 1.9.10 and that we may be syncere or pure And in this behalfe it is the duty of the ministers of the word not onely to teach euerie one in the publike assemblies of the Church but pruately also to instruct and teach As on the other side it is the dutie of faithfull hearers not to be content onely with the publike hearing of Sermons but priuately to lay open and poure out as it were into their ministers bosomes their ignoraunces doubts and scruples of consciences For the priestes lippes preserue knowledge Malach. 2.7 and the people must require the law at his mouth because he is the messenger of the Lord of hostes And Christ being exalted to the right hand of his Father doth not for any other respect vphold and preserue the ministerie of the Church than this Ephes 4.13 that we might all meet together into the vnitie of faith the acknowledging of the son of God that we henceforth be no more children or so should remaine alwaies in Gods matters wauering and caried about with euerie wind of doctrine but following the truth should grow vp c. So that Eunuch which was chamberlaine to the Queene of Ethiopia was not ashamed neither thought he it any whit hurtfull to his credit to lay open his ignorance to Philip Act. 8.34 and to intreat him to open vnto him that place of Isaiah which he was reading So the Apostles
sorting in nature the rest that they are to be acquainted withal they might be brought into this wrestling place come to this exercise more prepared and depart from it more profitably But of all these things belonging to preparation we may not without cause say as we are wont to speake He that beginneth well hath attained halfe the worke Now we will bring out hearer as it were vpon the Theater or into the open view sight of the Church and will furnish him with such lawes instructiōs as which if he bring with him and practise there he shall neuer come thither but he shall depart better learned and more blessed before God in himselfe also For first let none that hath any learning specially Citizens and townesmen Such as can reade must alwaies haue their Bibles readie enter into the holy place of praier and preaching but besides the booke of Psalmes which are sung in the Church let them haue alwaies in a readinesse the holy Bible that so they may with the whole Church in their voices singing both praise God Psal 47.5.7 Psal 119.54.171 Ephes 5.19 Col. 3.16 and call vpon him which part of Gods worship indeed the holy Ghost requireth of all the faithful as appereth by the places quoted in the margine also the better turne ouer harkē vnto that chapter or those chapters of the Bible which vpon the Lords daies especially in the ordinary reading of the Bible are wont ought to be read as those textes likewise which are expoūded in the Sermons Furthermore they must at the least note with some marke such testimonies texts of scripture also as in the Sermon time are alledged and were either not known before or not vnderstood as they should haue been or else in which they marked some speciall point that so they may more diligently meditate vpon them at home cause them to become more familiar to them And that this was vsuall amongst Christians in the ancēit Church may from hence plainely be gathered out of Augustine who writing vnto Ierome August ad Hieron epist 19 telleth him of a certaine Bishop who was almost cast or pulled out of the pulpit because that in expounding a place of the prophet Ionas he swarued somewhat from the words of the common translation For from whence could the Church or people so quickly smell out this vnlesse some of them at the least if not very many had in their hands and in a readinesse as we may say the blessed Bible booke and had looked vpon the text which was read and expounded vnto them And this custome of bringing their holy Bibles with them Diuers vses of bringing Bibles to Church will manifest in them no meane or common argument both of excellent zeale towards the word of God and also of a mind that is very desirous to profit in that truth of God which bringeth saluation Neither can it but cause that to take deepe roote in them which by one and the selfe same labour of two of our most noble senses that is by the helpe of hearing and seeing is conueyed to the mind Also by this meanes all suspicion that men might conceiue of or against their preachers and teachers for or concerning the corrupting of the word whether it fal out in reading of it or in alledging texts of scripture not rightly or not dealing so faithfully with them as were fit adding at their pleasure something or taking away as they will I say by this meanes all that shall vanish away As we heare them that are vnlearned and seldome or neuer vse the blessed Bible somtimes to blatter out such bad matter to complaine without a cause which also we read one Sabbatius a Bishop of the Nouatiā heretickes in former time to haue practised who reading this text of the Gospell Luke 22.1 Now the feast of vnleauened bread which is called the Passeouer drew neere addeth such things of his owne as were neither euer any where written or heard at any time namely this Cursed is euery one that keepeth the Passeouer without vnleauened bread Socrat. lib. 7 hist eccle cap. 5. and that by this falsification those more simple Nouatian heretickes that were of the common people were caried away from the faith Socrates witnesseth it in his ecclesiasticall history Such a like thing also doth Sozomenus rehearse in his ecclesiasticall historie touching one Tryphillus Bishop of Lodre who in a solemne assembly of Bishops being to alledge that saying of our Sauiour Christ Take vp thy bed and walke he changed the word Iohn 5.8 and vsed another that signified a very low and base bed for which things sake Sozom. lib. 1. hist eccle cap. 11. Spiridion did openly reproue him as Sozomenus writeth Wherefore the ministers of the Church shall be made much more diligent heedie also in making of their Sermons and in alledging textes and testimonies of scripture if they know that there are some that will tosse vp and downe and bring to the skales such things as they shall vtter and deliuer to the people Secondly men must striue yea euerie one must striue Eeuery mā must be present at the whole Sermon to be present at the whole Sermon and all the parts peeces of it For we see a very wicked custome to haue preuailed very farre in many Churches that in the Sermon while the people doe continually gad in and out and runne vp and downe some packing away in the midst of the Sermōs or after the Gospell is read as they vse to speake But I would gladly know what zeale there can be in such giantlike and barbarous confusion or what desire to learne and profit or what fruit can ensue therupon for how can it euer come to passe that that doctrine should be vnderstood A reason which is not harkened vnto or known from the beginning to the end and that with as great attention of mind and intention as may be How shall any man attaine the drift of a Sermon or keepe himselfe within any such bounds as in hearing of Sermons he should obserue which hath not heard the text A caution or exception that is to be publikely expounded attentiuely read and hath not sundry times called backe his senses and thoughts thereto I cannot but confesse that very olde people and women great with child whom sometimes swouning or bad health doth vpon the sodain trouble do iustly deserue as in this behalfe to be excused as also other women whom care for their yoong children and some speciall regard of household businesse may now and then eyther make more slow in comming or call away before the time of the full finishing of the exercise But these being excepted I see that many Churches and congregations want that auncient discipline of the Church whose ouerseers and watchmen seniors or elders should be whom also they should haue placed in euery seuerall congregation and that
brethren yea for men to despise their owne saluation The auncient Church had respect of these considerations Anacletus sith Anacletus the second Romaine Bishop is affirmed to haue decreed That after the consecration was ended all should communicate that would not want entrance into the Church and assemblies thereof Conc. Antio can 2. Sith also the Councell of Antioch decreed That such as come into the Church and heare the holy Scriptures and doe not communicate but do of a certaine intemperancy turne themselues away from the receiuing of the holy Communion should be remoued out of the Church till they had amended this fault Which though in the first Councell of Toledo it were mitigated or at the least propounded with some more milde words yet there also it was decreed Concil Tolita 1. can 13 That they that come into the Church and are found seldome or neuer to communicate should be admonished And if they doe abstaine after admonition giuen let them be separated from the fellowship of the Church And what meaneth this that euen yet to this daye in the reformed Churches such as yeeld not to the ministers and elders a iust cause of their absence and doe rashlie withdraw themselues from the vse of the holy Supper are therefore admonished and for the same ecclesiastically reproued Metaphrastes writing the life of one Iohn Eleemosynar Metaphra in vit Iohn Eleemosy or almes giuer as we would say reporteth that seeing all his hearers whilest the Supper was in celebrating to depart out of the Church hee also leauing the action went his way speaking thus That he had no neede of that labour but that hee administred the Supper for the benefit and profit of the people And that therefore seeing they would not voutchsafe to bee present hee went about a needeles worke Why they should be present at the catechising of children Furthermore if men dealt well and christians had that zeale they should none of them that were of the yeares of discretion or parents should depart out of the Church no not when the nouices were to be examined instructed For the holy Scripture is wont to call such children not only as are so in yeares but such rather as are so in vnderstanding and in the knowledge of Gods word and of the way of trueth But how many are there the greater is our griefe that euen amongst them that are of the yeares of discretion yea that are of great yeares and haue hoare haires are not at this day found infants and children as in this behalfe These interrogations can hardly be answered Why therfore should not such suffer themselues to be catechised and though they would refuse to be examined to yeeld confession of their faith as commonly they do why do they not yet by their hearing and presence indure at the least wise that instruction which is bestowed vpon children For those catechisings of children because they are performed by continuall course of questions answers and in the same al things be childishly and rudely handled in a shorter maner dispatched may more easily be cōprehended in memorie than Sermons that are made in a continual tenor course of speech and are with greater labour beautified and adorned Parents duetie And to prouoke the greater better attention to all the things that in this behalfe shall bee performed there must bee no small care and regard in parents for their children which are to be instructed that they may satisfie the questions demaunded and may proceede in the course of faith godlines and saluation that they themselues might not be constrained to blush to be ashamed if their children be silent at the demaunds and fowly giue ouer And because this is the chiefest part of the dutie of parents towards their children to bring them vp in the instruction and information of the Lord Ephes 6.4 a double care and respect should in this behalfe stay hold thē fast not to depart from the catechisings or instructions of youth The one is Two excellent respects that they might publikely heate iudge with what faithfulnes the Ministers of the church do their duty in instructing their children that so if they perceiue any thing to be wanting in thē they might think vpon and prouide some other way course that their childrens saluatiō might not be neglected and troden vnder foote The other that if they themselues be not so well instructed in the points which they shuld powre into their children as it were beat vpon at home as I feare me certainely A lamentable thing very many parents the more is the pitie and with griefe wee may speake it are as yet very rude and ignorant of heauenly things concerning their owne saluation they notwithstanding might yet learne such things as are needefull for them both for the better doing of their dutie towards their children and also more fitly belong to their owne saluation A very strong reason forcible to perswade An argument from profit to the people to the Ministers which also by the benefit of these catechisings almost without any labor sure I am without any shame or confusion of them themselues they may attaine vnto And vnles my iudgement vtterly faile me youths such as are of the yeres of discretion and parents also may in some manner profit more by these catechisings than by Sermons in so much that the Ministers of the Church should at no hand loose their labour if in the summer season and in the assemblies that are made vpon the Lords daies in the afternoone in which many men as we well perceiue The good vse of catechising are so farre from fitting themselues to good exercises that they doe of purpose giue themselues ouer to sleeping and snorting they would sometimes omit Sermons of instruction and giue themselues onely to the catechising of children and vse withall some more plentifull exposition of the Booke of the Catechisme which might euidently stand in steed of the Sermons omitted and satisfie such as were of the yeares of discretion and had made further proceedings than other And so the Church might at the last Why men should stay the blessing of the Church vpon good ground receiue and be partaker of the blessing of the Church before the congregation were dissolued In the olde Testament God himselfe ordained that all holy exercises and duties being done the assemblie should not be dimissed till it had receiued a solemne blessing from the priestes whereof also God himselfe put downe a solemne forme for the priests to vse as may appeare by these words where he saith Thus shall ye blesse the children of Israell and say vnto them Num. 6.23.24 The Lord blesse thee and keepe thee the Lord make his face to shine vpon thee and giue thee peace To which ordinaunce and commaundement of God the Psalmist doubtlesse alludeth in one of his Psalmes where the priestes