preaching and that euery minister is bound to preach Thirdly I will shewe what they ought to preach The first point as in manye other places so here it is named but not fully set downe what it is but in other places we may easily gather what it is The second is here named and prooued For Saint Paule beeing a minister and saying Woe be vnto me if I preach not the Gospell doth plainely affirme as much The third is here set downe moste plainely the matter that we must preach of namely the Gospell As touching the first let vs see how the Scripture speaketh of it as it is particularly and specially applied to y e publique office of the minister otherwise I know this worde preaching to haue a further and more generall signification But I speake of it as Christ and the Apostles do applying it to the ministers Saint Paule sayth He that prophecieth speaketh vnto men to edifiyng to exhortation and to comfort The same Apostle charging Timothy and in him euery minister to preach the worde addeth immediately Improoue rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine The blessed Apostle Peter as he receiued of his master a charge to feed his flocke so he exhorteth al other to do the same The holy Euangelist Luke sayeth that Christ taught or preached in Nazareth He firste read then shut the booke afterwarde he expounded that scripture which he read and so applied it to the hearers By theâ—e and such like places we may gather that preaching properly as we speake of it is an exposition and application of the scriptures by the liuely voyce of the minister to the edifiyng of the people whereby it may easily appeare that reading is not preaching nor yet sufficieÌ„t in a minister approued of God Saint Paul wil haue him apt to teach The Prophet Malachy affirmeth that the Priestes lips must preserue knowledge Christ after reading shut the booke and expouÌ„ded and yet some are not ashamed to count simple reading sufficient saying it will serue the turne and there may be as much good done by it as by preaching As for reading we speake not againste it we disalow it not but account it a holy lawfull necessarye and profitable meane wherby great good and benefite is wrought to the Church of God but yet it doth not followe that it is sufficient in a minister that it will serue simply of it selfe in the publique congregation The Lorde hath set dâ—â—n an other order and requireth greater thinges at the hands of his speciall seruauntes But this matter shal appeare more plaine in y e wordes following For my purpose in this part is onely to shew you by some circumstances and descriptions what preaching is that reading is not preaching or at least that kind of preaching which the Lord requireth in his ministers as may appeare by comparing them together and by vsing some apt similitudes for the explanation of this matter The smell or sight of meat doth good to the hungrie man but it will not feede him except he taste of it So by reading men may haue some smell of religion but they shall neuer throughly taste of it without preaching and therefore it is called a feeding as we heard before and Preachers are counted Pastors and féeders Again meat that is rawe and fatte maye bee called good but it is not to bee eaten before it be made readye and dressed so are the Scriptures read good holy and pure but not sufficient food for the people without preaching Againe bare reading is as thogh one shoulde cast a whole loafe before them which want strength to cut it Preaching is a cutting and diuiding of the breade of life that euery one may haue his seueral portion Again bare reading without preaching is euen as the husbandman should cast whole strikes and bushels of Corne on his land together on heapes not scattering of it preaching is a spreading and a sowing of the seed Again bare reading is as though the Fisher should shuffle his nets on heapes not opening them Preaching is a wise opening laying and handling of the Net Bare reading is as one shoulde offer good treasures and yet such as were hid shut vp and fast locked and coulde not be come by Preaching is an opening of the treasures to the ioy of Gods children Reading is like to fire couered with ashes which doth smally profite them that stand by it Preaching is an opening and discouering of the fire Let vs consider one example amongst many for the further explaning of this matter The Chamberlaine that noble treasurer of Aethiopia going to Hierusalem to worshippe God as he went read the Scriptures if reading woulde haue serued his turne Philip needed not to haue come to him but he vnderstoode not before he had a guide he was not conuerted neither had he faith sufficient to saluation before he hearde the preaching of the worde which indeed is that especiall effectuall blessed and excellent ordinarye meane of faith as it appeareth more plainlie and fully in the next part of our text Which beeing rightly waighed confirmeth the great necessitye of preaching and prooueth that euerye minister ought to preach Woe be to me if I preach not the Gospell And why so because I am called to it because I am a minister because the Lorde requireth it of me Although Saint Paule and the other Apostles had priuiledges and prerogatiues which we haue not although we haue not fullye so large a Commission as he and they had although they did manye thinges which we neither may nor can do yet as touching the office of preaching it appertaineth as well to vs as to them And for the further proofe of this matter I will rehearse some argumentes which before I haue vsed in this place adding diuers others to them 1 It is the coÌ„mandement of Christ and the holy Apostles therefore necessary Christ saide to his Apostles Goe preach the Gospell The which coÌ„mandement in this behalfe belongeth to all the ministers of God Saint Paule straightly chargeth the ministers of Ephesus Take heede vnto your selues and to all the flocke whereof the holy Ghost hath made you ouerseers to feede the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own bloud And most weightily of all he requireth it in the place already alleadged he leaueth it not as a thing indifferent that may bee done or vndone but speaketh with a wonderful and mighty protestation hee ioyneth the Scripture and preaching togeather For hauing before in the former Chapiter set foorth the great profit of the scriptures straight waye hee necessarilye addeth this forecible exhortation I charge thee therefore before God and before the Lord Iesus Christ which shall iudge the quicke and the deade at his appearing and in his kingdome preach the worde be instant in season and out of season improoue rebuke exhort 2 It is an argument and token of the loue the minister oweth vnto
Christ and to the people as it appeareth Iohn 21. 15. where Iesus Christ sayth to Peter after his resurrection Simon sonne of Iona louest thou me more then these He sayde vnto him yea Lorde thou knowest that I loue thee he sayde to him feed my Lambes He said vnto him the second time Simon the sonne of Iona louest thou me He sayde vnto him yea Lorde thou knowest that I loue thee he sayd vnto him feed my sheepe Christ said to him the third time Simon the sonne of Iona louest thou me Peter was sory because he sayde to him the third time louest thou me said vnto him Lord thou knowest all thinges thou knowest that I loue thee Iesus sayd vnto him feed my sheepe Whereby it is euident that those which feed not loue not Christ Seeing then that feeding or preaching is so plaine a token of the loue that the minister oweth to Christe it is most necessarily required if any do preach and yet not vpon this loue they haue their condemnation 3 The church of God is begunne and grounded by the preaching of the worde and therefore necessarie Paule sayth Faith commeth by the word preached Againe he counteth his preaching amongst the Corinthians a planting of them in faith and religion S. Peter sayth We are borne a new not of mortall seed but of immortall by the worde of God who liueth and endureth for euer And presently addeth This is the worde which is preached among you 4 By preaching y e Church of God is not onelye begunne but also amplified builded and enlarged It will not onely make vs Babes in Christ but strong and spirituall men It hath not onely milke for the weake but strong meate for them that are at age By it we are brought not onelye to the beginning of Christe and firste rudimentes of Christian religion but also we are ledde forwarde vnto perfection The holye Apostle affyrmeth this when as he sayeth that Iesus gaue some to be Apostles and Prophetes and some Euangelistes and some Pastours and Teachers for the gathering of Saintes for the worke of the Ministerie and for the edification of the bodie of Christ vnto a persect man and vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ 5 The Church of God begun and brought to that perfection which can be in earth is also stayed strengthened vpholden and preserued by the preaching of the word against sinne and errour And therefore for these causes also the preaching of the word is most necessary yea and that dayly and continually because some are weake and haue neede of dayly strengthning some fall into errours and some into greeuous sinnes from the which they are to bee drawne out by the effectuall preaching of the worde This doth the holy Apostle confirme whereas he saith that The whole Scripture is profitable to teach to improoue to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be absolute beeing made perfect vnto all good workes 6 Againe to the pure preaching of the worde the Lorde hath promised a blessing the minister shal be blessed the people also blessed thorough it They that bee wise sayth Daniell shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament And they that tourne many vnto righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for euer and euer The wise and faithfull Steward that giueth meate to the housholde in due season when his master commeth he shall be blessed and made partaker of exceeding ioy glory Take heed saith y e Apostle to thy selfe and to learning continue therein for in dooing this thou shalt both saue thy selfe and them that heare thee God so blessed the preaching of his Seruaunt Ionas that through it the Niniuites beleeued God humbled them selues and forsooke their former wicked wayes At one preaching of Peter there were wonne to the Lord about thrée thousande soules Thus doth the Lorde blesse his owne order the minister by pure and faithfull preaching dischargeth his owne soule obtayneth peace in conscience and so is blessed in this life but shall bee farre more blessed in the life to come when hee hath finished his course he shall receiue an incorruptible crown of glory The people also by this means are many waies blessed they receiue knowledge fayth saluation their eyes are opened they are tourned from darknesse to light and from the power of Sathan vnto God Al these great and notable blessinges do ensue the preaching of the word and therfore required most necessarily in euery minister 7 On the other side without this both the minister and the people are accursed the bloud of the people shall be required at his handes because he hath not as a faithfull watch-man forewarned them of daunger and yet they shall dye in their owne sinnes The Lorde complayneth by his Prophet Hosea saying My people are destroyed for lacke of knowledge because thou hast refused knowledge I will also refuse thee that thou shalt be no priest to mee To this agreeth our Sauiour Christ If the salt haue lost his saltnesse it is good for nothing but to be cast out and to be troden vnder foote of men And if these ministers which sometimes haue had salt in them zeale and knowledge to season the people and by negligence and carelesnesse decaye and loose it If these I say be worthie to be cast out how miserable and curssed are they which neuer had nor yet haue any Salt in them It must needes be fulfilled of them which our Sauiour speaketh in an other place They be blinde leaders of the blinde and if the blinde lead the blind both shall fall into the ditch that is both the ignoraunt Minister and the ignoraunt people shall perishe And in an other place it is sayde Caste that vnprofitable Seruaunt into vtter darknesse there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth And here it is sayde Woe be to me if I preach not the Gospell Seeing then that euery way there hangeth so many greeuous cursses both vppon the minister and people where the worde is not preached it is most requisite and necessarie that euery minister looke to this euen as hee will escape the fearefull and heauie cursse of God 8 Moreouer the chiefe ende and vse why the Scriptures were written doth require preaching They are left for our comfort instruction and edifiyng But we are most comforted instructed and edified if they be opened and applyed vnto vs and therefore moste necessarie that they be so vsed 9 Also the corruption and dulnesse of our nature requyreth the same We are dull ignoraunt and carelesse wee please our selues in our owne sinnes the Deuill goeth about continually to deuour vs and therefore we haue neede to haue continuall preaching of the worde The naturall man perceiueth not the thinges that are of Gods spirit Dauid after he had sinned continued in his sinne vntill the Prophet reprooued him for it yea
and woulde not take it to him selfe although Nathan spake a verye plaine parable till it was particularly applyed to him Seeing then there is in our nature such corruption such blindnesse such slouthfulnesse and also forgetfulnes what can be more necessarye for the curing of these so great diseases then the continuall and dayly preaching of the word Besides all this it hath beene an vsuall order in the Church of God vnder the lawe by Christ and the Apostles not onely to reade but also to expound and apply the Scriptures and therefore the same order is to be obserued of vs. It is sayde of the Leuites that they red in the booke of the lawe of God distinctly and gaue the sence and caused them to vnderstand the reading Christ as we haue heard already continuallye preached and commaunded the same to his Apostles who as they obeyed in themselues their maisters cōmandement so they required it as a continuall and vsuall rule to bee obserued for euer of all the ministers of God in his Church And most specially the Apostle in those Epistles which he wrote vnto Timothy and Titus very largely and effectually vrgeth this matter I referre you also vnto the 14. chapter of his first Epistle to the Corinthians wherin so highly he commendeth the gift of Prophesiyng interpretation or preaching that he preferreth it before all other giftes and accounteth it so necessary that he would haue it continually obserued in the Church of God Againe Christ commaundeth vs and we dayly pray for the enlarging of his Kingdome whereas hee hath taught vs to say Thy kingdome come Now the singular excellent means to establishe the kingdome of Iesus Christ is by the pure and effectuall preaching of the word and therefore he saith in an other place Pray to the Lord of the Haruest to send foorth labourers into the haruest And how can they pray with any safe conscience for the enlarging establishing of the kingdome of Christ which by their ignoraunce and carelesnes do altogether hinder it Furthermore all and euery one of the names which are giuen by the holy Ghost to the ministers in y e word of God do necessarily require at their handes preaching They are called the light of the worlde the salt of the earth They are called Pastors and sheepheards they are called husbandmen Guides Stewards Messengers besides many other excellent titles giuen to them Now how can they be called lightes which haue no light in them which either are in ignoraunce and darknesse themselues or else hide their candle vnder a Bushel How can they be called the salt of the earth which cannot or wil not season the vnsauorie and sinfull people with the heauenly and wholsom doctrine of eternall life How can they be called Pastors and teachers which do not feed or haue no foode at al to giue to the flocke How can they be called the Lordes Husbandmen which haue no skill at all in tilling his ground and sowing his seed how can they be called Guides vnto other which either know not the way themselues or else will not vouchsafe to opē and declare it to other How can they be called stewardes which haue no care of the houshold which either can not or will not feede them And how can they be called the Lordes messengers which are not able to do their message or haue no care at all to doe it If the minister be a light to the people of necessitie he must needs goe and shine before them in knowledge and doctrine If he bee the Salt he must needes season If he be a Pastour or Sheepehearde he must needes feed If he be a husbandman he must needes haue a care of the lords husbandry If he be a guide he must needes shew the way If he be a Stewarde he must prouide for the houshold If he be a messenger he must be willing and able to doe his message nay I say more it standes for the Lordes glorye and credite to haue such Pastors and such husband men such Stewardes messengers as haue wisedome and knowledge The poore people of the countrie wil not hire him to be a Sheephearde to their sheepe whome they know to be ignorant and carelesse and shall the Lord choose such to gouern and guide his stocke The Gentleman and the Yeoman wil not hire any to be ouerseers of their husbandrie except they know them to haue sufficient discretion and experience and wil he think ye be content with simple foolish and rechlesse ouerseers of his so deare and precious a husbādry The noble man for his honors sake wil seeke to haue such a one to be the Stewarde of his house as is trustie wise of sufficiencie to guide and gouerne a whole houshold and shall the Lorde be lesse careful of his honour shal he be content with vnwise and vnfaithful stewardes The Prince wil haue a speciall care to sende such to be his messengers and Ambassadors as be most wise faithful are able discreetely and cunningly to doe their message and shall the Lordes messengers bee without knowledge What can bee more to the discredite and dishonor of his holye name This argument I amplifie the more because it is verie plaine and effectuall Marke I beseech you wel al these other names giuen to vs in the holy scripture doe require of euery minister of god that he preach the worde As we haue a care to answere to our names and a care of the glorye and credite of our God euen so let vs be carefull in doing this so necessary a duetie What shal I say more the end and purpose of our calling ministery requyreth at our handes preaching The Lord hath ordained Pastors teachers for the gathering together of his saints and to the edification of the bodye of christ séeing thē we are called to this ende séeing we are ordayned to this purpose there is no remedie we that are the ministers of God must needs of necessity preach his worde For a further proof conclusion of this matter I cal you to recorde I appeale to your own cōsciences which are now won to y e lord which haue some measure of knowledge which are called out of darkenesse to light from ignorance to knowledge yee y t sometime haue béen content with reading ministers quarter sermons but now hunger and thirst for the word preached I cal you I say as witnesses in this cause what cōfort you feel what profite what power in the effectuall preaching of the word how carelesse how prophane how ignoraunt how leud you were before notwithstāding the dayly and the ordinary readings which diligently you had what hath wrought in you y ◠measure of faith y ◠heauenly knowledge which you now haue What is it that hath wrought in you such a sorrowe of your former life such a griefe hatred of sin and superstition both in your selues and others suche an earnest zeale of the
word such a conscience a care to reforme your selues your housholdes What I saye hath wrought these things in you how came you by thē What is it that hath so altered your mindes déedes affections Let your conscience be witnesse to me in this matter I am sure you wil approue y t which I haue spoken acknowledge the profite the power and necessity of the worde preached All euery one of these arguments do prooue and confirm as I think that euery minister necessarily ought to preach and otherwise y t he is no minister approoued of God Al euery one of these or most of them do quite ouerthrow and condemne all dumb idle carelesse ministers whatsoeuer One day they shall know what account he maketh of the soules of his people for seeing the word of the Lord in so many places requireth in a minister preaching yea diligent and carefull preaching in what a miserable and damnable state doe these men stand The Apostle sayeth Woe be to me if I preach not the Gospell Well it may be whatsoeuer I haue yet spoken will be granted it is necessary that euery minister preach but what shall all those be condemned which haue not such ful measure of knowledge as other haue which be not accoūted and allowed for publique preachers God forbid I know there is difference in gifts there was so amongst the Apostles but they all sufficiently preached Amongst vs and such others as vse this place and such like places there is difference euerye one of vs haue not the like measure but for my part I speake as I thinke our measure is smal ynough yet the Lord be thanked for that we haue giue vs grace to vse it to his glorye the benefit of his church In my selfe I professe and grant very smal and weake measure insufficiency and lacke of giftes and the Lorde the searcher of the hearts knoweth that the consideration of this hath and doth make me to feare and tremble oftentimes to sigh and lament y ◠so greate a charge and so waighty a burthen is layd vpon me so simple and weake a wretch To you that haue any measure of those giftes which the Lord requireth in his ministers to you I say quench not the spirite vse the meanes to encrease your measure if you be painfull carefull watchfull and faithfull in your Ministerie with a holye and pure affection the Lorde will blesse you To him that hath shall be giuen wee cannot at the first come to perfection Appollos a learned Doctor feruent in the spirite and mighty in the Scriptures yet was he ignoraunt in some things and receiued instructiōs from Aquila and Priscilla Some haue more then others some haue ten talentes some fiue and some but one yet alwayes remember and let it neuer slip out of your minds that the slouthfull and vnprofitable seruaunt shall bee cast into vtter darknesse there shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth Against such I speake which in deede neuer had any one Talent or any giftes of Ministers or hauing any doe either abuse them or at least doe not put them soorth to any profitable vse Consider a little the state of our ministery There be some amongest vs sacrificing and Massing Priestes full of manifest superstition and hypocrisie and in trueth enemies to Christs religiō Others there be altogether ignoraunt vnlearned very Idoles they can do what Euen iust nothing Others there be which may haue some grounde of learning but in deede they vtter verie little neither is y ◠people bettered by them Some are idle some carelesse some altogether lewd and prophane some ioyne liuing to liuing and take more vpon them then they can discharge although it may bee they speake in one place yet are they dumbe in an other All these and such like are worthie of blame to bee openlye spoken agaynste because they openlye commit offence All these stande daily in a miserable and damnable state without repentaunce But my chiefe drift at this time in this part of my Text is to prooue as you haue heard that euerye Minister approoued of God must preache that is hee must féede the people he must cut the word of God he must improoue rebuke exhort hee must not simply or barelye read or heare the people say some Catachisme but he is to be able in some sufficient measure to open interpret the holy scripture and apply them I hope that this is alreadye prooued onely I exhorte you to account the Lorde wisest to rest in his holie decrees and allowe his owne order as best Let vs not take vppon vs to appointe him what he should do Seeing he hath set downe preaching as the most excellent ordinarie means to saluation let vs not say y t reading will serue the turn Séeing that he requireth that his Ministers be apt to teach let vs not count them his ministers which neuer taught nor euer had any aptnesse in them If he may bee counted a lawfull Minister and teacher that onely readeth the ordinary Seruice and sometime heareth a fewe Children to say a Catechisme without booke as it is set downe before him then may the Cleark also of the Town be counted a minister and teacher then may euery husbandmā Seruingman nay euery boy or child that can do asmuch be so counted Let not some say for defence of ignoraunt ministers that if they do that which they can do it will serue the turn for in the building of an house as there be some Master builders which bring timber and Stone so other there bee which bring morter and fillings and serue to necessarye vse but let vs remember y t euerye Mynister in his charge is or oughte to be a builder yea a master builder and if the cheefe builder bring nothing but fillinges how shall y ◠Lords building in y ◠place goe forward The Apostle in y ◠place which hath bene already twise alleaged saith That the Lorde hath ordained the Minister for the gathering together of his Saincts and for the edification of the body of Christ till we all meete together in the vnity of fayth knowledge of the Son of GOD vnto a perfect man and vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ Oh these be no small things these are no trifles this is no vile simple and drudgery worke no small measure but very greate weightye high and most excellent The holy ghost in another place sayth Leauing the doctrine of the beginning of Christe let vs be led forward vnto perfection not laying againe the foundation of repentance from dead workes and of fayth towarde God of the doctrine of baptisme and laying on of hands of the resurrection from the deade and of eternall iudgement Marke I beseech you these wordes There be many people yea and Ministers also that are ignorant of the first rudiments of Christe that of repentaunce of Baptisme of the
resurrection of eternall iudgement are able to saye nothing to any purpose but yet let it be so that some can doe this they can teach as they say in some measure they can Catechise lay the grounds of Religion yet this will not serue the turn there must be building after the foundation there must be a leading to perfection The Lorde in building the materiall Tabernacle did choose men of singuler wisedome and vnderstanding and will he be content with euery drudge and bungler in the building and erecting of his spirituall Tabernacle But herein cheefly haue some gathered offence and griefe because I haue saide in this place before and also other where that such Ministers haue no righte to administer the Sacraments This seemeth a straunge and hard doctrine yea some are not ashamed to count it erronious and hereticall If I would stand vppon the authority of men I could alleadge for the cōfirmation of the very wordes which I haue spoken the iudgment of those which by common consent of all true Christians are receiued and allowed as the best moste learned and moste pure diuines that euer were since the time of the Apostles but this I hope shall not neede For if of necessitie euerie minister ought to preache or if all the former arguments will serue to prooue this then also that other doctrine how strange and absurd soeuer some count it must I say needes necessarily and consequētly follow that none ought of right to deal with the Lords sacraments but his Ministers Christe requireth of him that baptiseth that he teach saying Goe teache and Baptise No Teacher no Baptiser that which God hath ioyned together let no man put asunder Sainte Paule speaking of the Lords Supper As often saith hee as you shall eate this bread and drinke this Cup ye shewe the Lordes death till he come If the people at the receiuing of the Sacramente ought to haue an effectual and thankfull remembraunce of the death of Christe it must needes followe that the Minister is bounde sufficiently to instruct them in the same If any wil say that this is donne by the dumbe minister in reading the words of the institution he preacheth he sheweth and publisheth Iesus Christ crucified so may I say that he or any other doth the same and that more effectually if they do but say their beliefe openly before the congregation but we speake of a singular of an effectual of an excellent and liuely shewing of his death which is by preaching The Apostle speaking to the Galatians saith I hat Iesus Christ was described in their sight and among them crucified His meaning is that Christ was so liuely preched to them as his liuely Image was set before their eyes or els had bin crucified amongst them This is the power of preching this is the duetye of the minister plainely and effectuallye to discribe and set soorth the merite of Christ his passion so that it may be seene as it were before the eyes The first Minister of Baptisme Iohn the Baptist was a preacher he ioyned Preaching and Baptisme together and in him no doubt the Lord would leaue to his Church an exāple and pattern and a forme of the right ministration of the Sacramentes Christe although there were sundry causes why he woulde not Baptise yet hee ministred the Supper to his Apostles but Christ was a preacher yea he preached then of his death before the first ministration and institution of that sacrament leauing vs an example to doe the like The Apostles ministred the Sacraments but they all preached yea the Euangelist Luke in the storye of the Acts setteth Preaching alwaies before the ministration of the Sacramentes Iohn the Baptist Christ the Apostles and Primatiue Church are the best examples that I knowe and best worthy to be followed Consider further I beseech you the great inconueniences which followe in these places where the word is not preached the people are still in ignoraunce and blindenesse and kept stil in their olde and Popish errours receiued from their forefathers they know not the vse of the sacraments or to what ende they serue they holde still their Papisticall transubstantiation some say they receiue their maker other saye they neuer hearde what a Sacrament meant some say they doe it in a good intent and yet they knowe not their owne intent other say they hope that they receiue it as others doe fewe make anye conscience with knowledge feare and reuerence to prepare them selues The greatest cause of this is lack of preaching and in deed how can their great ignoraunce be taken away how can their olde superstitious errours be effectually confuted but by the continuall and pure preaching of the word And is it not then most fit and conuenient when the sacrament is to bee ministred but we are so farre from hauing any vsuall preaching before the Sacrament that ther be many thousands which neuer heard any preaching at all of the Sacramentes in all their life they haue liued these 25. yeares in a Christian lande vnder the Gospell yet they haue profited no further and if they shoulde liue still double and triple the same yeares they shold be neuer a whitte the better except they had better ministers Woe be to me if I preach not the Gospell Learne one thing further before I goe to the next part of my Text if there depend a woe ouer the minister if he preach not the same woe is also against the people if they heare not and obey not the word preached Woe Chorazin woe Bethsaida woe Capernaum woe to these Countries Cities Townes and people which neglect and contemne the worde preached it shall be easier for the land of Sodome and Gomorrha in the day of iudgement then for such a people The same God the same worde which requyreth preaching of the minister requyreth also hearing and obedience of the people He that is of God heareth Gods worde and therefore doe yee not heare it because yee are not of God My sheepe sayth Christ heare my voyce And to the true minister it is sayd He that heareth you heareth me he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me And againe Verily verily I say vnto you if I send any he that receiueth him receiueth mee Wherefore we ought diligently to giue heed to the things which we haue heard least at any time we should let them slip For if the word spoken by Aungels was stedfast and euery transgression disobedience receiued a iust recompence of rewarde how shall we escape if we neglect so great satuation which at the first began to be preached by the Lord and afterward was confirmed vnto vs by them that heard him God bearing witnesse therto both with signes and wonders and with diuers miracles gifts of the holy ghost according to his own will Wo then vnto all Papistes Infidels Atheistes Hipocrites
slaundered and euill spoken off and therefore to cleare my selfe from such false reports to satisfie my friends which are ready to answere in my cause to let the enemies knowe I haue spoken nothing wherof I am ashamed but dare put it to the witnessing and testimonie of the Christian reader and also to resolue morefully the weaker sort in such thinges as at the first seeme strange and absurde For these and such like causes I saye I am content and willing that this my trauell come to light although the whole or most part of this Sermon is vnsauorie vnpleasaunt to the greater sort and specially to the ignorant people to the hipocrite to the idol or dumb minister yet this is that which chiefly misliketh and greeueth them because both in the place where I preached this Sermon and also else where I sayd affirmed that the minister which preacheth not and hath not those giftes which the lord requireth in his Ministers that such a one is no Minister approoued of GOD neyther hathe any right and authoritie from the Lorde to minister his Sacramentes Which matter hovve straunge and absurde soeuer it seeme to ignoraunte and carnall men yet I hope it is heere sufficiently confirmed by authoritye and examples of the holy Scripture I coulde alleadge further the allowaunce and iudgement of moste famous and pure Diuines and such as are generally receiued and allowed of all true Christians Master IOHN CALVIN aboute the latter ende of his Catechisme which is allowed by her Maiesties authority saythe in playne wordes that the ministration of the Sacramentes belongeth to them who haue the charge to preache openlye in the Church For the preaching of Gods word and the ministration of the Sacraments be things ioyntly belonging to one kind of office these be his very words which are as plaine as may be M. Rodolphus Gualter in his 118. Homely vpon Mark speaking of the institution of the Lordes supper and of the right order in ministring that sacrament amongst other things sayth on this maner Peccant qui coenaem absque verbi predicatione peragunt adeoque illam huic praeferunt quasi vel ad dei cultum uel ad salutem plus conferat quam verbum cum tamen huius maiorem quam sacramentorum rationem habuerunt Christus Apostoli They sinne against the institution of Christ which doe minister the Supper without preaching of the worde and so preferre the Sacrament before preaching as though that auayled more to saluation and seruice of God then the worde preached whereas notwithstanding both Christe and the Apostles esteemed more the preaching of the Worde then the Sacrament These are his wordes I might alleadge many other testimonies for this cause not onely from the moste worthye Godly and learned diuines both old and new of other nations but also from famous Martyrs and Byshoppes in this our land in their sermons and writinges published and priuiledged by authority I hope then there is no cause why this doctrin shold not receiue a fauorable intertainment allowaunce as of your honors so of all faithful christians hauing such warrant from so pure and learned men and from the testimony of the holy worde What soeuer I spake in deliuering and vttering this sermon I haue here set it down so neare as I could remember both in forme and matter To conclude I moste heartely desire in the Lord the christian reader especially your honors to accept this my poore trauel I am bold to ioyn you both in one not onely because the Lord hath ioyned you together in the bonde of friendship and in a care of my good estate but also that which is greatest of all in a zeale of Gods glory furtherance of his religion Now the very God of peace sanctify you through out and I pray God that your whole spirites soules and bodyes may be kept blamelesse vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ Amen Your Honours in the Lord THOMAS GYBSON Hearken with feare and reuerence to the worde of the Lorde written by the holy Apostle Saint Paule in his first Epistle to the Corinthians Chap. 9. verse 16. Woe be vnto me if I preach not the Gospel OUR Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ in the 17. Chapter of the blessed Euangelist Luke amongst many other excellent thinges vttereth and propoundeth this parable Who is it of you that hauing a seruaunt plowing or feeding Cattell woulde saye vnto him by and by when he were come from the field Goe and sit downe at table c. And afterwardes in the tenth verse applyeth it on this maner So likewise yee when ye haue done all those thinges which are commaunded you saye we are vnprofitable seruauntes we haue done that which was our duetie to doe The holy Apostle and seruant of Christ in this place auoucheth and confesseth in him selfe the saying of his Master to be moste true For although amongest many good workes there is not a more excellent or better work then the preaching of the word of God which was done most purely effectually and diligently by the Apostle yet he is so farre from accounting it meritorious that he sayeth a necessitie is laid vpon him that duetie bindeth him to do it In the former verses from the beginning of this Chapiter S. Paule sheweth and that with diligence and large copie of wordes that beeing amongest the Corinthians he was content to giue place to his owne right to forbeare that which he might lawfully doe to take no maintenaunce at all from them least be should giue occasion of cauilling to the false Apostles as though hee vnder the presence of the calling of an Apostle should seeme to seeke his owne gaine and lurre Amongst other thinges he hath sayde and that in the former verse It were better for me to dye then that any man should make my reioycing in vaine The which wordes may seeme to proceed and flow from an ambitious and vaine glorious spirite And therefore it might bee sayde What now Paule What needes all this Thou art wont to glory in Christ alone doest thou now glory in thine owne doinges To such a question or obiection the Apostle aunsweareth qualifiyng his former speach as if he should saâ— although it be an excellent worke to preach the Gospel and that freely yet take not my wordes so as though I repose any merite of saluation in this work for I am called to it and bound to it by duty and commaundement from my maister Christ And if I doe it not I prouoke and procure the anger of God and the sentence of his cursse and condemnation on me Woe be to me if I preach not the Gospell Of these words being but a part of the verse I haue taken vpon me to speake at this time From whence I meane by Gods grace to speake o these three pointes First I will gather some description of preaching that you may know what it is Secondly I meane to prooue the necessitie of
be hidden from the Church of God And to speake more fully and directly to the purpose as touching this matter of the necessitie of preaching of the miserable estate of them that be without it and of suche ministers as preach not This matter I saye in my conscience with wisedome and discretion may be spoken priuatly or openly wheresoeuer when soeuer before whomsoeuer there is no place but it hath need of this doctrin no time but it requireth it no persoÌ„s that it is not meete for It is most fit and conuenient most profitable and necessary for all estates and degrees of men high and low rich and poore strong and weake learned and vnlearned Princes Nobles Byshops Preachers dumbe Ministers and people all haue neede of this Doctrine They which haue knowledge haue neede of it that they may knowe what they haue beene that they maye see what they are and bee thankfull to God The ignoraunt sorte haue neede of this doctrine that they may feele their misotable estate and so seeke for help and remedy Princes Nobles and gentlemen haue neede of this doctrine and it is fit and necessary to bee preached before them that knowing the necessity and worthines of preaching they may be more carefull and liberall to maintaine it and with better conscience bestow their liuinges The learned Bishops haue neede of this docâ—rine it is chiefly to be vrged before them and they are continually to remember it least they lay hands rashly on anie man and so be partakers of other mens sinnes The wise and godlie Preachers haue neede of this doctrine that they may be comforted and stirred vp to greater zeale and trauaile ignoraunt ministers haue néede of this doctrine that they may see the damnable state they stand in and so either amend if it will bee or els giue themselues to some other calling more fit and profitable for them Let this doctrine be stayed let men be perswaded as they are of themselues that they are in good state without the word preached that bare reading will serue the turn the people waxe carelesse and make no account of preaching For they thinke they are well inough and best of all without it the people of God shall lacke their strengthning their growing in faith and knowledge Princes and Gentlemen wil make no account as they do but little already how or on whome they bestow their liuinges The preachers shall be nothing set by the Idoll ministers encourage the famous vniuersities decayed and ouerthrowne and in a word the concealing hindring and withstanding this doctrin is the next way to cast downe all religion and learning to bring Princes Nobles rich and poore Ministers and people to hipocrisie and Atheisine The Lorde therefore open the mouthes of his faithfull Ministers to the daily vrging of this so necessary a doctrine that the prince may be strengthened the Nobles stirred vp all good ministers encouraged the poore people instructed ignoraunce and idolatry defaced Religion and knowledge of God may flowe thorow the whole lande that at the length all ignoraunt and carelesse ministers may be ashamed and euery congregation may haue a faithfull seuerall and a resident Pastor Thus wee haue seene at large that whosoeuer will preach the Gospel faithfully and profitably he must first of all and chiefly vrge the doctrine of repentaunce which men can neuer haue before they know their sinnes by the law of God and therefore the sinnes of all men must be thoroughly and sharpely reprooued and cheefly the sinnes of them which do most hurt and giue greatest occasion of offence as the sin of the Magistrate and the minister Now indéed to repentance ther must be ioined also the doctrine of remission of sinnes through Christ But this belongeth onely to them that repent that are humbled and cast down that feele in their conscience the torment of sinne and condemnation to such belongeth remission of sinnes to such it is to be offered and preached but it doth not appertaine to ignoraunt and sencelesse men to Hypocrites Infidels Atheists Iusticiaries prophane and carnall men these haue nothing to doe with the doctrine of remission of sinnes And because this age is altogether secure and carelesse full of iniquitie of ignorance disobedience vnthankfulnesse and contempt of the worde it is vnworthy of the doctrine of mercie and remission of sinnes so much the more worthy as the benfites of God in so great measure and so long a time haue beene receiued without anye profite at all so that in manye there is nothing stil but ignoraunce and idolatrie in others lesse zeal and religion lesse Godlinesse of life then was in them many yeares agoe and are these men worthy of mercy Is remission of sinnes to bee preached and offered to them nay the former doctrine of repentance of the lawe of reproouing sinne of denouncing the iudgements of God against al states and degrées This part of the Gospell I say is most fit and néedfull for such an age And woe bee to vs if wee preach not the Gospell Consider also I beséech you here before we goe to an ende the excellency and worthinesse of the preaching of the gospel It is small accounted of in the worlde it is thought a vile and a simple office it is contemned and dispised of y â— most part But if these meÌ„ knew the sweet and excellent things contaâ—â—ed and offered in the Gospell whicâ— is y e matter of preaching they would also know the worthinesse of this so high a calling and that the excellency thereof may more clearelye appeare let vs ad some surther proofe of this matter And first remember y t this calling of the ministery preaching of the worde is no deuise of any mortall man but the ordinance of y e liuing God It was he that ordeined Moses and the Prophets The Prophesy came not in the olde time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were mooued by the holy ghost The Lord Iesus himselfe called appointed and sent foorth into the worlde his Apostles to preach the Gospell It is the holy Ghoste which ordayneth saythfull ouerseers to feede the Church of God It is Christe also at this day which appointeth Pastors and teachers for the gathering together of his saints It must needes be a worthy and an honorable calling which hath so worthy authors euen God him selfe his sonne Christe Iesus and the holie ghost yea and not only so but as worthy haue exercised and practised this calling The first preacher that euer was in the world was God him selfe he preached to Adam in paradise that comfortable Gospel the seed of the woman shall destroy the serpents head After that he stirred vp Noe and Lot Moses the prophets men of singular credite and authority Nay what shall I speak of Dauid and Solomon of the which the one was a most victorious prince and the other most wealthy yet they haue gotten more glory and