Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	city_n	young_a	youth_n	14	3	8.3448	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A68091	A preparation to the most holie ministerie wherein is set downe the true meanes to be well prepared to the same, by an exact description, and consideration, of the necessitie, excellencie, difficultie, and great profit therof; with the maruellous effects of the same: also a liuely exhortation to all youth, to giue themselues to the studie therof: and a confutation of the obiections which may be brought in any sort to touch the same: verie profitable and necessarie in these our times, ... Diuided into two bookes. Written in French by Peter Gerard, and translated into English by N.B.	Gerard, Pierre.	1598 (1598)	STC 11754; ESTC S108635	151,047	320

is necessarie that he be of sufficient age Gregory Nazianzene hath very well said that great aduise must be taken of what age he is that goeth about the office of a preacher for feare least if any come vnto it before their time they may come short in dooing their dutie when time requireth as if he would say he hurteth himselfe in entring into this function before hee commeth to mature age And further he addeth that as birdes will flie before their feathers be growne in steed of flying aloft they fall to the ground Also as a woman hauing conceiued in her wombe if she suffer abortion and is deliuered before her time shee filleth not the house but the graue that is her fruit dyeth assoone as it hath life So those that take vpon them this charge before conuenient time or to say better before they be furnished with sufficient gifts fit for that calling they do more go backward thē forward God in olde time ordained At what age the Leuits began their office that the Leuits which shuld be admitted to his seruice and bee employed in the Tabernacle of the cōgregation should be of the age of twentie fiue or aboue as we may read in the book of Numbers Numb 8. in the fourth chap. we may read that the same Leuites shuld be thirtie yeares old or vpward but in the fourth there is a question made of thē which were sufficiently made fit who were 30. yeares old But those that were but 25. it was to shew the those that were of this age they should bee framed and made fit for the Leuitical priesthood for whose instruction it seemeth that Ged appointed 5. yeares that in that time they might be made fit It seemeth that our sauior Iesus Christ had regard hereof seeing that he preached not before he was 30. yeares old And to this ende Greg. Nazianzene saith that none must preach when they are too yong because they cannot be stored with competēt knowledge for this charge vntill they come to ripe age setting before vs the example of our redeemer who did not execute this office before the age of 30. yeares although without blame hee might very well haue done it before howe much more sinful men ought to take heed how they take vpon thē the executiō of this charge falling into many faults before they come to perfect age But because God hath not cōmanded in his law that the Leuits should be 25. or 30. yeares of age to the ende that all those that aspire to the office of the Ministrie should follow them neither did our sauiour Iesus Christ enterprise this charge at thirtie yeares to the end that they that publish the wil of the Lord should imitate him but that the one and the other was done for many reasons which are too long to recite We say that now wee must not regard that age but principally the gifts of god bestowed vpon them whom he wil haue to serue in this functiō for this cause god hath no respect neither of age nor youth for the setting forth of his glorie It is wel said in the booke of VVisedom In making Ministers there must be greater regard of the gifts of God then of age VVisd 4 Age is not alwaies a signe of wisedom Iob. 32. that The honorable age is not that which is of long time neither that which is measured by the number of yeares but wisedom is the gray haire and an vndefiled life is the olde age And to this agreeth that which Elihu saith in Iob who perceiuing that the three friends of Iob had not spoken to the purpose of the iudgemēt of god cōcerning Iob he saith that Great men are not alwaies wise neither do the aged alway vnderstand iudgement as if he would haue said it is not age alwaies that bringeth wisdō but the grace of God For seeing that youth is ordinarily subiect to contempt or to enuie towards all sorts of men wee ought wisely to regard that the graces of God which are in yong mē be not made lesse profitable by the contēpt enuy of the aged as it cōmeth to passe too often This is that which Paul had respect vnto writing to Timothy when he saith Let no man despise thy youth 1. Tim. 4. this precept he giueth In whom enuie preuaileth most because that many times the glory of God which might be greatly aduanced by yong men is beaten back very often by contempt or excessiue enuie with which they are secretly persecuted by thē which are in some authoritie and credit In his book de verb. dom S. Austen saith the enuie is engendred cōmonly amongst three sorts of men that is those that be equal do enuy one another for their equality those that are in base estate do pursue with enuie those that are greater then themselues because they are inferior vnto thē those which are in great estate do bite with enuie those that be vnder them being endued with excellēt graces for feare least they be like vnto them or that they do surpasse thē Beza vpon the life of Caluin The great light of the church Caluin being ready to yeeld vp his soule vnto God amongst many lessōs which he gaue vnto thē that came to visit him he did grauely admonish yong men Many times old men do enuie yong men to carry thēselues modestly to eschew pride vainity and follie which are the vices to which they are subiect but hauing perceiued that old men did enuy yong mē whō they knew to be adorned with singular gifts A graue admonition of Caluin as well to old as yong he exhorted thē liuely to expel out of themselues this accursed passion The lesson of such a man ought to bee of great weight as well with young men as with the aged with young men because it may bee vnto them of one side an wholsome medicine to cure them of vaine opinions which oftentimes they do conceiue of themselues and on the other side to be an exercise of patience vnto them that seeing thēselues beset with the enuie of the aged in respect of their gifts vnto which they cānot attaine With the aged to make them diligētly to cōsider in that God doth freely distribute his gifts vnto all men they must take heede that they depriue not the Church of God of thē for the edification whereof he doth communicate his blessings the which they ought aboue all things to prefer before their particular affectiōs We will alleage here a most memorable history which ought to be wel considered both of yong and old the which we our selues pray you to weigh exactly There was a yōg mā named Pōponius Algier an Italian born of the towne of Nola in the kingdome of Naples of whom it is reported that being taken at Venice where hee studied A notable example of a yong maà which olde men shuld consider not to despise youth

and being brought before the Senate of the citie for the profession of the truth hee disputed with so great admiration against the aduersaries of the same that he was carried frō thēce vnto Rome to Pope Paulus the fourth where being assaulted with disputatiō he answered so to the purpose in the Popes court that all they which were present were rauished with a●miration obiected to him that they were ashamed that hee shoulde correct the church for they disputed about the church seeing that he was not yet 24. yeares of age he answered to this obiection that we reade in the scripture That vnderstanding is not giuen by age Luk. 1. Dan. 2. but that the spirit breatheth where it listeth Iohn Baptist receiued the holy ghost in his mothers wombe Daniel was a yong child when hee was brought before Nabucadnezer yet neuerthelesse the scripture saith that he was filled with wisedome and vnderstanding the three Hebrewes which were with Daniel wer likewise yong for they were called children yet they were wise of vnderstanding in diuine matters Timothy and Titus were not verie olde when they were chosen Bishops Gal. 4 And dooth not Saint Paul say that they are in bondage the obserue daies and times moneths yeares what answere you to your own laws which cōmandeth the bishop being aged The last Chapter distinc 38 not to refuse to learne of those which are yonger learneder thē himselfe If this be so why doo you blame my youth I pray God that this and such like words may be wel practised especially by old men thē the church of god shuld recciue such cōmodity oftentimes as it is hindered in many places because these things are not so well marked Wherfore let vs conclude in one word that whē question is made of the choise of a minister that no regard is to be made so much of the multitude of yeares as of the graces of God which are in them by whom God will bee serued prouided alwaies that these graces be accōpanied with a modest grauitie which doth recompence the default of age which may bee thought to cause some contempt of those that be yong CHAP. IX The third part of the difficulties of the ministrie which do consist in diuers maners of afflictions vnto which ministers be subiect LEtte vs come now to the sixt and last difficultie which may bee of great force to make al mē loath the ministrie which beareth any loue to the same and that is cōtempt opprobries ignomynies iniuries vnto which ordinarily pastors are exposed But because these accidents be almost infinit we will recite only the greatest we will reduce them all to eleuen or twelue in number the which we wil set down in order The principall afflictions vnto which the Prescher of the w●t be subiect as we haue done in other matters which we haue handled before placing the least more tollerable first afterwarde those which are more hard troublesome to suffer Not that we say that the Pastors alwaies shall fall into these accidents but because they haue happened vnto the prophets and Apostles the Ministers also which do succeed them in the preaching of the Gospell may fall into them as they do indeede when it shall please God so to try them 2 Chro. 32 First they are exposed to laughter and mocking as we reade of the messengers of God who hauing reprooued the people of Israel because they had forsaken the Lotd and had giuen themselues to the abhominations of the gentiles it is said That the Princes Ezech. 12 24. 1 Cor. 4 and the priests the people mocked the messengers of God and despised his words and misused his prophets vntil the wrath of the Lord arose against his people and till there was no remedy Saint Paule saith speaking of the Apostles we are made a gazing stock vnto the world and to the Angels and to men 2 Chro. 8 Secondly they are deadly hated of prophane men and euen of Kings as wee may read what Ahab answered Iehosophat the King of Iuda when hee had demaunded of him whether there were any other prophet of the Lord to enquire of him whether God woulde deliuer out of their handes Ramoth Gilead or no which they both beseeged Psal 109 hee aunswered I say to Iehosophat that there was one Michaiath the sonne of Iuda but he hated him These be those of whom Dauid complayneth calling them traytors and flatterers who haue rendred euill for good and hatred for loue Thirdly they are iniuried sometime one way sometime another way The good Elizeus going vp to Bethel heard the children that did iniurie him calling him Ball pate hall pate 2 King 2 The Prophets are called men of contention that striueth with the whole earth Fourthly Iere. 15 Ose 4 they are subiect to false accusations Osea was persecuted after this manner and almost all the other prophets Fiftly Iere. 29 they are subiect to be most villainously betrayed as Ieremias was by Semeias the Nehelamite because of a booke that he sent into Babilon Sixtly they are subiect to many ambushers which are prepared for thē as we may read how Elyas complaineth that he was left alone 1 King 19 of the Prophets of the Lord and that they sought to take away his life Seauenthly they are subiect to slanders as that they are seditious turbulent blasphemers This is a reproach to Elyas also to Ieremias Eightly 1 King 18 Iere. 43.5 that they are subiect to imprisonment Examples whereof we may see how Ahab imprisoned Michcas 1 King 22 Also by Ieremie who was at diuers times put in prison when Nabucadnezar besieged Ierusalem Iere. 20.32 by Zedechias the King of Iuda Hanani the Prophet hauing reprooued the king Asa for making allyance with the King of Syria 2 Chro. 16 he was imprisoned by him The Apostles also were often thus vsed as wee my reade in the booke of the Acts. Ninthly they are brought vnto iudgement to bee condemned as euill dooers we may see this in the prophesie of Ieremias Iere. 26 who when he exhorted the people to turne vnto god he was made a prisoner by the false prophets finally broght to iudgement S. Paule was vsed liwise after the same maner Tenthly they are subiect to blowes as we read of Micheas who receiued a blow vpon the cheeke of Ziakiiah the sonnne of Chenaanah also of Ieremiah who was stroken by Pashur and the other Apostles passed by this way Iere. 20 Eleuenthly we may ad the they must bear also which is most hard intollerable to be reuiled of wicked mē 2 Sam. 6 2 King 9 Wisd 5 Mark 3 whē they are enraged as Dauid Iehu iust mē S. Paul Iesus Christ himself And to this we may ioine another difficultie which is not lesse greeuous then the other The prophes are subiect to famine that they are subiect to famine Elias was

it God stirred vp some of his seruants who beeing indued with the motions of his holy spirit they Preached his holy worde more purely then before and by wrighting and liuely voice in a short time so much abuses such corruption both in the doctrine and manners of all sorts of men and principally of those that had the place of teaching others were reformed that it is a hard thing to speak or rather to beleeue how many Empires Kingdomes Monarchies and Common-wealths beeing couered and buried in these corruptions and accursed errors were by the Ministrie of the seruants of God inlightned yea finally drawne out of these deepe pits of darknes And that which is more admirable that God in the beginning hauing stirred vp a simple Munk hath by him alone founding and pronouncing his word and by his writing shaken all the foundations of the Babilonicall Empire and that in a short time which a man would haue thought had bin sufficiently defended against all the iniuries of future ages Plessis in his treatise of the church Lib. 3. ca. 15 And that which is most maruailous in that time when the Pope as a God commanded al the earth and was adored of Kings serued of Emperors who gaue and tooke away kingdomes at his pleasure that to enquire out his doings it was hard as the prouerbe is to touch the holy mountain or to open ones mouth against heauen The voyce of this simle Munke was like a fire who hauing first of all begunne in a little corner of the worlde it spreade it selfe almost through the whole worlde and it tooke holde of whole kingdomes and Empires which were with the same altogether inflamed This was the Trumpet the sounde whereof was blowne throughout all the borders of the earth at this sounde the most mightie and valiant kings haue trembled in theyr thrones to bee briefe this Munke with a fewe of his companions haue drawne the most and greatest parte of Christendome out of the clawes of Antichrist a thousande millions of men who were blinde from theyr birth haue had theyr eyes opened by theyr Ministrie and afterward hauing perceiued and knowne the wholsome truth haue constantly persisted in the sme euen vntill death This verily beeing weighed in an equall ballance is as great a myracle as hath beene doone by the Prophets and Apostles yea and rather wee are to acknowledge that this is a miracle of miracles insomuch that this great miracle is doone without a miracle Then if these things bee so not to make any longer discourse of this matter who is it that looking more narrowly vppon these maruailous and more then admirable exployts which are doone by the Pastors of our age is not astonied and euen rauished with the vnspeakeable Maiestie of their actions and hath them in singular reuerence and loueth them not with all his heart and affection who can sufficiently commend the excellencie of theyr charge who can expresse how profitable and necessarie the administration therof is what man is there that loueth godlinesse and true honour which dooth not earnestly desire to bee so much honoured as to bee employed in this function In what happinesse may hee thinke himselfe to bee that is in some measure capable to serue God in this calling CHAP. XI An Exhortation to yong men to bende theyr Studies to the holy Ministrie with a confutation of those common obiections which doo discourage them IN truth now beeing in the way liuely to exhort the youth to take vpon them this holy charge from which they may be discouraged by reason of the infinite difficulties which are presented before them wee doo it the more willingly because wee desire nothing more then the glorie of God and the saluation of our Brethren both which cannot bee better furthered then by this charge But alas which way shall I beginne The beautie dignitie and incomparable profite of the same ought to be as sharpe spurres to stirre vppe euerie one When one desireth that some shoulde applie themselues vnto those things which doo appeare so good in outward shew to allure and draw men thereunto it is verie necessarie to vse many reasons and arguments to bring them thereunto and to pricke them forward but in things that be of themselues maruailous excellent and verie profitable euerie one ought to embrace them of his owne accord There is no lightnesse so glorious as that of the Ministrie there is no calling to bee compared thereunto in dignitie and profite wherof then commeth it to passe that many do so little regard it Plato hath sayde that vertue is so fayre that if her beautie could be discerned with these corporall eyes it would prouoke great loue of itself what difference is there between the beauty of the ministrie A confutation of the obiection of the ambitious and that of morall vertue if one would propose vnto himself the litle reckoning account which is ordinarily made of ministers hee would detest the same we answer that this is the obiection of an ambitious man and to correct this ambition thou must set before thy eyes that the honour which thou dost desire and gape after it is worldly and vaine And if it bee so thou wantest iudgement in desiring it and in that thou shewest the follie and vanitie of thy minde Further thou must consider that the honour which thou dreamest of to be in some other calling is often times troublesome greeuous which is deare before it bee gotten and hard to bee kept He that will be a phisitian how many trauailes cares must he passe through how often must he watch in the night before he can attaine his purpose when he thinketh that he hath attained it how must he toile labor to be knowne to be had in estimation when he is once knowne sought after for his skill is he then more quiet at rest must he not sometime rise out of his bed to help his patient he must make haste he must ride in post many times with the daunger of the losse of his own health what more whē he cōmeth to visit his patient what sauours is he constrained to smel the better to know the qualitie of the disease the issue therof he must somtime view the verie excrements of the sick man and taste them what pleasure I pray you or what delight cā he take in that doth the lawyer endure lesse trauels doth he enioy his honors with more peace and tranquilitie of the minde how many times in the day doth one or other come knock at his gate and breake his head with solliciting his matter which hee hath committed vnto his hand Moreouer thou must consider that all these affayres for which they are so tormented and continually vexed they are about earthly things and so consequently all the honor profit which they get by the same is transitory and vanish away as the smoake To conclude meditate thou vpon this for thy comfort