and emphasis of the words preaching of Gods word there all sorts of men begin to giue ouer good things which before they delighted in they decaie in graces and fall backe become rebellious and wickedly disposed whereby they make themselues naked of all graces yea of Gods fauour exposing themselues to their spirituall enemies and so perish and come to destruction Thus you see the doctrine explaned and enlarged by a paraphrase to the capacitie of leuerie one whereof in the next place are vses to bee made and then as one thinks good he may make some obseruation besides after the explanation acception emphasis c. The gathering of a doctrine is where the doctrine is not What it is to gather a doctrine and when and also how expressed in the text and is collected by good consequent necessarilie The doctrine is not to bee written from the text as if the text were drawen to the lesson and not the doctrine from it but must follow iustâ consequentiâ so is the collection 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is by helpe of Logicall affection of arguments from a generall to a speciall from the whole to the parts from the proper adiunct to the subiect and from the cause effect subiect contraries comparats definition and distribution As for example Ierem. 31. 31. I will make a new couenant out of which this doctrine I gather from the adiunct That the Law of Moses was not to bee perpetuall but for a time till an other come in place thereof Hebr. 13. 4. Hence this doctrine ariseth It is lawfull for Ministers to marrie and their marriage is honorable which followes by iust consequent a genere ad speciem and is as good a doctrine as if it had been said expresly the marriage of Ministers is honorable and the bed vndefiled And thus he that so collects doctrines and deliuers them is to bee heard as the mouth of God And hee that thus can doe is an Apollo◠in Gods Church mightie in the Scriptures shewing by Scripture that which he teacheth Act. 18. 24. 28. and shall conuince the consciences of gaine-saiers and establish the trueth in the hearts of the beleeuers and be bold to vrge it vpon the hearers as speaking with iudgement from authoritie In gathering doctrines which may be diuers waies obserued Whence to collect doctrines proceed in this order both naturall helpefull to memorie and also will occasion a man to thinke of manie lessons I. From the occasion of that Scripture as diuers occasions From the occasion were of the Psalmes of S. Pauls Epistles of the speeches of our Sauiour Christ of the Sermons in the Acts and the same of other Scriptures sometimes one sometimes an other and so accordingly may many doctrines be gathered II. From the coherence when it is with the other words From the coherence whether it be a bare affirmation or negation A reason or moe reasons of that which went before a preuention of an obiection a conclusion in that place of Scripture If a Reason it may teach to obserue that a reason is to be giuen of that which is deliuered for confirmation and that a bare assertion without proofe is not sufficient If the matter bee followed but without any reason annexed it may shew the same sufficiently prooued and easie to be receiued If moe reasons bee brought in and the matter much vrged and largely stood vpon it argues the necessity of that point the earnest endeuour of the author therein that it is hardlie receiued of men as it ought or easily reiected as on a similitude an exhort dehortat commandement c. it ought not to be If the words be a preuention of an obiection wee may gather that in teaching there is as well required wisdome to preuent a foe as to instruct a friend If a conclusion a time to be obserued to end euery thing wherein is wisedome how farre to speake in a matter and when to conclude and be silent If the words bee a similitude to illustrate the matter it may not the obscuritie of the point handled or the plaine and euident dealing of the Author noting withall the kind of similitude and whence it is fetched Lastly If an exhortation threat promise c. wee may collect the vse of them for that end which the spirit vseth them Also from Commandement affirmatiue and exhortations that we are vnapt and slow to a thing From Commandement Negatiue and dehortation our aptnesse to a thing Withall prooue the exhortation to be necessarie or dehortation also promises and threats by other Scriptures and examples and shew wherein also the promises and threats made doe stand and in what particulars III. From the scope and maine drift of the words From the scope There is but one true sense of a place one scope and one proper doctrine or proposition Of a generall proposition or doctrine gathered out of many words from the most principall scope which doctrine is chiefe and principall of that Scripture As there is but one drift so but one proper and most naturall doctrine of that place which though it may be deliuered in a few words yet it is conteined sometimes in many sometime in fewer verses or words As for example In handling the Epistle to the Romans after the Preface to come to the matter we shall finde the first scope and principall proposition conteining the same to bee this That there is but one way for all Iew or Gentile to attaine saluation euen by the faith in Christ wrought by the Gospell the power of God to saluation which doctrine is conteined and followed from the 16. verse of the first Chapter to the beginning of the 19. chap. whereunto all that is spoken is to be referred as conteining reasons to confirme the same But now heere note as there is a generall scope and so a Propositions or doctrines lesse generall drawen from the words which haue a more speciall scope The lesse generall prooueth the more generall doctrine so are there other propositions lesse generall conteined within the same and serue to prooue the more generall the words hauing a generall scope to prooue likewise these lesse generall propositions As to declare my meaning The generall and principall proposition you heare what it is now besides the Apostle deliuers other propositions Generall as Rom. 3. 9. All men are sinners which doctrine is conteined from the 18. vers of the first chap. to the 19. verse of the 3. chap. Againe that the workes of the Law iustifie none That faith alone iustifieth All which propositions as they proue the principal scope so the verses wherein these prepositions are set downe must yeeld these doctrines the words must be applied to proue the same For wee cannot inferre by a true immediate consequent the principall proposition out of them which haue a Some verses or words which come in by the way prooue not other
whatsoeuer worketh annoiance to godly peace Now that the doctrine may be sound true First ponder How to it well before it be deliuered Secondly examine it by the former rules the Scripture and Analogie of Faith Thirdly see the iudgement of all sound anncient and late writers thereupon Fourthly let it not bee a point in controuersie vndetermined of the Church for its hard to define a truth in matters disputeable and not certainly concluded vpon Fiftly let none of these things be the ground of our opinions 〈◊〉 ground to build upon to broach them to the people no mans bare assertion without substantiall proofe old custome good intent carnall reason nor selfe conceit where the word warrants not These may not sit downe to teach in Moses chaire nor beare any sway in the Lords matters concerning his worship and his seruice V. The doctrine being true and sound First deliuer it How a doctrine is to be deliuered to the people grauely with deliberate audible voice distinct sound in the words not forcing it as in exhortation There is one voice and speech for doctrine another for exhortation threats and dehortations The nature of things must distinguish the action and pronuntiation To bee loud in doctrine and low in exhortation or alike in both is to make discord betweene the matter and proper maner belonging thereunto Secondly let the doctrine be a short proposition deliuered in fewe proper and significant words vsing as neere as possiblie may bee the phrase and words of Scripture auoid all obscure tearmes not vsuall also words doubtfull lest either the matter be not vnderstood or mistaken And therefore if any words be so by necessity or vnawares vttered expound your meaning before you do leaue them that the doctrine may goe for currant VI. After so deliuered shew sometimes the reason why it is or ought to be so but euer prooue it except it bee a maine principle sufficiently knowne and approoued for the hearers are not bound to receiue our bare affirmations or negations without warrant Instance the trueth of the doctrine sometime by an example to make it more euident as speaking of Feare The doctrine being this The Feare of God escheweth euill This may be prooued Proue 8. Prou. 15. an instance Iob 1. 2 Ioseph Confirme the doctrine by Canonicall Scripture Nehem. By â—hat to â—â—nfirme doctrine and how to deaâ—â—â— bringing in a proâ—â—e 8. 8. Act. 18. 28. and out of plaine places without anie or least obscuritie if any be explanent and enlarge also the proofe to declare how it confirmes the doctrine deliuered aptly and not strained which will thus appeere if the place of proofe will thence affoord the same doctrine to be collected for which it s brought foorth to confirme an other Scripture Let the proofe be in the sense and not onely in the bare shew of the letter and recite either the whole or but some part of the place as much as serues for the purpose in hand to auoid tediousnesse to the hearers and to preuent forgetfulnesse of thine owne matter in hand vse not many but few pregnant proofes vnder two or three witnesses euerie trueth is confirmed There is a new vpstart quoting of Scripture now vsed Too many quotations to proue one thing not good â—â—â—tâ— now vâ—ed Chapter and Verse for euery word It is an irreuerent abuse a superfluous and prophane tossing of the Scriptures without profit to the hearers whose vnderstanding can neither conceiue them nor memorie beare them away Pride the inuentor to publish the excellencie of memorie seeking praise from Gods gift and making admirable his naturall worke by abusing his word like Iudas in shew of loue to kisse him whilest in kissing they betray him It is not possible especially for the yoonger sort whose vanitie it is for the most part for to haue seriously considered of so many Scriptures how aptly and truely they bee alleaged for the purpose If you haue no plaine place prooue it by necessarie consequent out of other Scriptures by Logicall reasoning from signification of a word from Grammaticall adsignification from a principle of Religion and so foorth Adde thereunto testimonie of Fathers and famous Diuines consent of Churches Councels and confession of aduersaries for the better perswading of the hearers if it bee thought conuenient or necessarie For these helpe much to perswade to the truth first confirmed by the Word though their authoritie be nothing besides the Word in matters of saluation much lesse in any thing to be alledged and opposed against the trueth approoued by holie writ Exhortation vpon the proofe VII After all this then exhort to the imbracing of this doctrine as being the truth and vrge the force of the proofes briefly to perswade a constant holding of the same if it be a doctrine oppugned or wherein the people stande wauering els it is needlesse so farre to vrge euerie doctrine or to exhort so to that which alreadie is beleeued and receiued for a certaine trueth Note that euery doctrine may be brought to some principles A note of Religion Commandement Articles of Faith or Petition in the Lords Praier as Berhusius in his postill sheweth Thus much of collections of Doctrines wherein we see what profound knowledge in Scripture for gatherings of Doctrines and confirming them by proofes is required of the Minister and what a student and how well read hee ought to be in authors to see their iudgements that he may become exact in this point to informe and confirme men in the trueth and to settle them in Religion without wauering CHAP. IX Of making vse of the doctrine shewing what to doe with it AFter the deliuerie of the Doctrine enforming the auditory How to make vse of the doctrine that there is such a thing and what it is followes the vse necessarilie that the hearers may know what to doe with that which they so vnderstand These two cannot in nature be sundred nothing can be taught but there is an vse and end thereof and these bee distinct in nature the doctrine goes before and the vse comes after A lesson without vse is as a deuised thing idlie without end And it is lesse cunning to giue a precept then to shew aptlie the vse thereof Wee must therefore first in euerie Scripture shew the doctrine as laying a ground of our speech and thereon build the vse for further edification The vses which are to bee made of doctrines are principally these foure as it is 2. Tim. 3. 16. Rom. 15. 4. I. The first is Redargutiue when the doctrine is vsed to confute an souerthrow an error or heresie contrarie to that trueth in the doctrine And this is the dutie of a Teacheâ— the Prophets vsed it Esai 44. our Sauiour Christ Matth. 5. 6. 15. against false interpretations traditions and against false opinions Matth. 22. So likewise the Apostles Aâ— 17. 2. 9. 29. and heerein he must haue abilitie Tit.
THE FAITHFVLL SHEPHEARD OR THE SHEPHEARDS Faithfulnesse Wherein is for the matter largely but for the maner in few words set forth the excellencie and necessitie of the Ministerie A Ministers properties and dutie His entrance into this function and charge How to begin fitly to instruct his people Catechising and Preaching And a good plaine order and method therein Not so as yet published Very profitable both for yoong Students who intend the studie of Theologie heerein being also declared what Arts and tongues first to be learned what kinde of Authours to be râ—â—â— and books necessarie in the beginning and which in the first place as also for such Ministers as yet haue not atteined to a distinct order to studie write meditate and to preach methodically both for their better course in deliuering the Word and the peoples vnderstanding in hearing and memorie in reteining the same By RICHARD BERNARD Preacher of Gods Word 2. Tim. 2. 15. Studie to shew thy selfe approued of God a workeman that needeth not to be ashamed â—â—â—uiding the word of Truth aright LONDON Printed by Arnold Hatfield for 〈◊〉 1687. TO THE RIGHT WORshipfull his Honorable good friend M. Doctor MOVNTAGVE Deane of his Maiesties Chapell R. B. wisheth heartilie all true happinesse and felicitie for euer IT is the saying of him Right Worshipfull whom God did mooue you once to honour with this selected text Moses my seruant is dead to your great praise Grauis est arduus si quis alius ex omni Theologia locus is qui est deformandis concionibus by which being vttered of a man of that learning and experience I might be somewhat afraid to attempt the publishing of this Treatise vpon such a subiect but that I know it is acceptable to God if we haue no greater gift to offer to cast a mite into the Lords treasury I haue had also the approbation of some for my incouragement both in the Vniuersitie countrie A mite in a great treasurie is small in shew for encreasement thereunto neuerthelesse it is some what though but a mite What I haue performed in this labour for matter and method it may by reading of it appeare my labour hath not beene little my intendement good Whatsoeuer it is Right worshipfull I presume to offer it you as a poore present to testifie my humble and heartie thankfulnesse for your manifold kindnesses and liberall fauours vnto me I long ago offred it to your view in a naked shape and first conception which euer since I haue beene better proportioning and now haue thus clothed it as it is If before this I had prepared it I had not so long deferred off or if my pouertie could haue affoorded a better testimonie as in will I can wish it should most gladly haue gone forth as worthily deserued vnder the honor of your name Accept Right Worshipfull this labor and so looke vpon it as you haue bene and are wont louingly to accept of me so shall you encourage me to further endeuors and bind me still more in all dutiful respect to acknowledge your professed and approoued loue and good will constant towards me and to powre out my praiers to God continually for your preseruation and encrease in all spirituall graces for euer VVorsop this 16. of Iune Your worships bounden in Christ Iesus euer RICHARD BERNARD To his brethren of the Ministery and the beloued Readers Grace and peace THe Preaching of Gods word brethren in the Lord beloued an vnfolding therof to the peoples capacity with words of exhortation applied to the conscience both to enforme and reform and where they be wel to confirme as it is most necessarie so is it indeed a very hard worke to be performed though to the vnskilfull it seeme easie and thereupon not a few vnaduisedly take it in hand speaking without iudgement rashly without order preposterously tatching matter together without dependancie little to the peoples edification and lesse to the honour of this holy ordinance which by these is made odious with many and held rather a talke of the toong from a disordered affection without knowledge than a godly instruction rightly disposed by setled iudgment It may be they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and of a good affection attempt this worke but withall they must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hauing abilitie in wisedome aptly to teach Discreet vnderstanding must goe with zeale and grauitie with sinceritie affection is headiâ— without wisedome this moderates as the other pricks forward they must be linked inseparablie Knowledge alone deliuereth coldly and zeale alone not respectiuely knowledge without zeale permitteth of more than is meet by distinction and zeale not according to knowledge breedeth but dissention It is requisite therefore the Ministers be neither 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whom pride may puffe vp not yet hauing in a sanctified course learned to moderate the lusts of youth nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as yet not apt to teach and vnfit to be ouerseers in a Congregation for we must know what to teach for the matter and how for the maner and so to diuide the word aright to the hearers which is required in all that preach vnto the people And therefore to further both these vpon these considerations duly weighed I was encouraged to proceed and to vndergoe the maleuolous censure of this enuious age First for that I see many do obserue this order in part though not so exactly as were to be wished and as it is here by precepts briefly and plainly set downe whose good approbation I hope to finde as maintenance against the rest Secondly for that I haue found by my owne experience in teaching both the easinesse thereof to be atteined soone vnto as also that it is a very sound profitable way as I haue iudged hearing other and they me neither disliked of any that I haue heard of who list to speake faithfully and with profit Thirdly for that I hauing vpon an occasion studied the 11. of the first of the Corinthians from the 23. verse to the end I finde plainly this method set downe by the Apostle and so hath it a diuine and Apostolicall approbation for supposing the 23. 24. 25. verses to be as his text out of Matth. 26. 26. 27. 28. the 26. containeth the scope the 27. is a doctrine 28. an vse 29. a reason to enforce it 30. and 31. the application of that which went before to the present state of the Corinthians 32. a preuention of an obiection which must follow application as I haue declared in this treatise 33. 34. a louing exhortation for the conclusion with a briefe repetition of somewhat before reprehended with a prescribed remedie for the same This place gaue me the first and chiefest occasion to write this treatise of preaching and method therein Fourthly and lastly for that I hauing laboured for all such both old and new which haue writen of this matter to further me I perswaded my selfe that this my labour
thereof that would be further instructed heerein V. A minister must bee furnished with books as good Furnished with good bookes Of humanitie helps to further his studie and these of all sorts First for humanitie of the seuerall Arts of Ethickes Politickes Oeconomicks natural Philosophie such as haue written of Trees Herbes Beasts of Husbandrie Geographie Histories of Iewish customes of their Waights and Measures and what other matter the learned haue written of for the Scriptures especially Next these bookes of Diuinitie and other necessarie Of diuinitie with such as are immediate intended helpes therein First the Bible the booke of God in English Latin Greeke and The Bible Hebrue our best English translation Tremelius Septuagints translation Montanus interlineall or Vatablus Beza his Testament Secondly Dictionaries besides the Latin Dictionaries and Greeke common for all sorts the Hebrue Pagninus and Auenarius Thirdly Concordances Latin Greeke and Concordance and the singular vse therof to finde proofes for a Doctrine to enlarge the vse of the same by reasons and examples and to handle a common place Hebrue of which there is singular vse a Concordance helpes memorie much to finde out any place of Scripture also in comparing Scriptures to finde places the same with the text repeated or like places in words that affoord helpe to prooue doctrines by seeking the principall word in the doctrine which it will helpe also to enlarge by considering the seuerall places which speake of the same matter or haue the same words out of which may be obserued differences causes effects exhortations promises threats yea and examples also to handle therby a Common place As for example If a man would speake of Feare let him finde Feare in the Concordance and there he shall see some place wil tell him what feare is as Prouer. 1. 7. some the kinds of God of man true and false feare what to feare and what not as Matth. 10. Exhortations to true feare Deuter. 4. how to attaine it Prouerb 2. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Deuter. 17. 19. signes of feare Psal 119. verse 14. The benefits reaped thereby Psalm 25. 34. And diuers other things at large will bee offered to thy consideration to follow any point of Diuinitie thereout if once you had gotten an vse heerein the benefit of this is more then heere I can conueniently expresse Surely he that vnderstands his text well and knowes how to draw a doctrine needs no printed or written Sermons to helpe for to inlarge it the right knowledge how to vse a Concordance is euerie way a sufficient helpe for proofes reasons and illustrations of the same It may seeme and will prooue irkesome to him that at the first makes triall thereof but time and experience will make it easie and pleasant IV Analyticall expositions for the diuiding of bookes Analyticall exposition benefit therof and chapters and vnfolding of the Scriptures as Pflacherius hath done on the Historie of the Bible Piscator on the new Testament and some of all such bookes helpe to shew you the coherence the antecedents and the consequents the scope of the Author the whole method arguments for confirmation or confutation of the proposition handled It were verie good for a yoong beginner to read euerie day one chapter or two with some learned mans resolution of the same hee shall profit much thereby in knowledge of the Scriptures V. Of Annotations as Bezaes of Phrases Westhemerus Annotations and Illyricus in his Clauis Scripturae hath gathered many of diuers acceptations of words as also Marlorats Enchiridion The commoditie of Marlorats Enchiridion sets downe which booke is of verie good vse to shew how many waies many words are taken to helpe to finde out like places to compare with the text and to handle a Common place the benefit of these books and such of the like kinde is to further vse in the interpretation of any obscure portion of Scripture Reconciliation of places VI. Of reconciling places seeming to differ and to be one against an other as Christopher Obenhimius and Andreas Catcehismes Althamerus or any other if any haue more or done better of this matter VII A Catechisme conteining the doctrine of the Church and principles of Religion Caluins Institutions and Vrsinus Catechisme both which studied throughly will sufficiently informe a mans iudgment in the chiefe points of Religion which a Diuine must bee well practised in for the trial of his doctrine and other mens iudgements by the Analogie of faith as before declared It is good for a beginner to haue without booke the definitions and distributions of the principall heads of Theologie as Polanus Partitions setteth downe that so hee may readily know to what Common-place bookes and speciall traclates being particular common places of seuerall things at large head to refer his doctrines or other mens propositions to examine and iudge rightly of them VIII Common-place bookes Musculus Peter Martyr Zegedinus tables which booke is a sum of most principall learned mens labours before his time At the first a Diuine is to exercise himselfe in handling making Common places for so doing he shal furnish himselfe with much matter and learne to discourse follow and stand vpon a point in a Sermon Vnder Common places I conteine particular Tractats of seuerall things being some large Commentaries and what vse to make of them Common place of some speciall point of God of Christ his incarnation passion resurrection c. and of any other thing distinctly let downe IX Commentaries of Orthodoxwriters all which will helpe thee in vnderstanding the text they will more confirme thy iudgement seeing others to agree in that which thou hast conceiued thy selfe they by occasion of words may put into thy minde what of thy selfe thou canst not dreame of nor they themselues intended by these thou maiest as it were talke with and aske the iudgement of the Ecclesiasticall histories and Epistles of the ancient Fathers greatest Diuines in the world of any Scripture they write of they yet liuing and speaking to vs by their labours as Caluin Peter Martyr Musculus and others X. Ecclesiasticall Historiographers Eusebius tripartite Historie Ruffinus Socrates Theodoretus Sozomenus Euagrius Nicephorus Iosephus Philo Zonarus to which adde the Epistles of Ierome and other Fathers and of late writers These historicall books are of this vse for the knowledge of the Churches estate to reforme maners and to abolish superstitions XI The Acts and Canons of ancient Councels the Acts and Canons of Councells Centuries Functius Sleidans Commentaries and the book of Martyrs to see the iudgement of Churches in matters of Religion the condemning of heresies and maintenance of the truth Heereunto adde the Harmony of confessions of late reformed Churches XII Controuersies whereinto we may safely proceed Controuersies and when to studie them and whos 's in the first place being well grounded by these things aforesaid Heerein it is good
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