with all boldnes In the 6. cap. is commended Steuen ful of saith strength or rather power for the worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is there read and that none coulde resist the wisdom and spyrite which spake in hym Of lyke sorte and effect is it that the Lord sayeth vnto Ieremie Beholde I haue giuen saieth he my wordes into thy mouth beholde I haue appointed thee this daye ouer nations and ouer Kingdomes that thou maiest pluck vp and roote oute subuert and destroye build and plant Many moe places there be whiche do not obscurely make mention of this facultie and power in speaking But it appeareth that the apostle ioyned these thrée thinges together I meane Doctrine Puritie of lyfe and Facultie or Power in teaching in that place where he sayeth vnto Timothy Take a paterne of the wholesome wordes which thou haste harde of mee with faith and loue which is in Christe Iesu The notable thinge giuen thee in charge keepe thorowe the holy ghost which dwelleth in vs. By holsome wordes is playnely and sufficientlye ynough distincted and meante Doctrine by faythe and loue Puritie of lyfe by the excellente thinge giuen in charge and the holy ghost Facultie or the gifte of teachinge And certes so farre foorth is this power and vertue in teachingâ— which me haue touched in the thirdâ— and lâ—ste place requisite in all those that wyl teach the people that albeit they be endued with learning and also with integritie of mâ—ner yet tsâ—e thâ—â— be destitute of thâ—â— one let them neuer lâ—â—â—e to accomplishe any thinge worthy of prase or commendation Wherefore so muche the more muste all meâ—â—e labour the matter that prepare themselues to the function of 〈◊〉 or that haue 〈…〉 vnto that 〈◊〉 lyke as they are furnished with 〈◊〉 and good manners so also adorned with a spyrite and power in teaching they may come forth into the publyke Theatre of the Church Moreouer the spirit or power in teachinge to thintent we may ad this also is geuen freely of God in the first calling but the increasemeÌ„t thereof is obtained of hint thorow often prayer Fynally it is nourished and preserued with a feruent studye of procuringe the health and saluation of the hearers Whereof the fyrste verylye is manyfest For whomsoeuer GOD voucheth safe to choose and selecte to the excellent excellent office of teachinge the people in the Church the same also immediatelye he fréely garnisheth with hys spyrite and giftes necessarye to so weighty a charge A plentifull wytnesse of hymselfe is Ieremye Cap. 1. who when he had sayde that he coulde not speake as one that was a childe heareth the Lorde sayinge vnto hym Thou shalt goe vnto all that I wyll sende thee vnto and all thinges that I wyll giue thee in charge shalte thou speake I haue giuen my wordes into thy mouth c. Christ lykewise is a witnesse of the same matter promysyng to sende and geue to hys Apostles and Disciples the holy ghost that shoulde teach them in all trueth whiche shoulde strengthen and furnishe theyr myndes and in theyr extreame perilâ— euen with Kinges and Princes also minister vnto them in due time what thinges they shoulde speake To bée shorte the Apostle Paule affirmeth that it is GOD that maketh the ministers of the news Testamente méete both to thinck and to speake The seconde pointe béecommeth playne and perspycious by this that Thapostles in the Actes Cap. 4 doe make their petitions vnto GOD that hée woulde graunt vnto his seruaunts That they might speake the woorde with all confidence and lybertye And Paule not onely hymselfe for the same cause sueth vnto GOD with continuall prayers but also requesteth and beséecheth others to doe the same Praye sayeth hee for mee that the woorde may bee giuen vnto mee in the openinge of my mouth with lybertie to the ende I may make manifest the mistery of the Gospel for the which I supply an ambassade in chaines that I may speake therein freely as I ought to speak Agayne in the 2. Thessa. 3. Pray for vs brethren that the worde of the Lorde may haue free passage and be gloryfied For whiche cause also there is a custome receiued in all Churches that all Diuine Sermons shall begin with publick inuocation In whiche inuocation it behooueth all men with their whole hartes to pray first that the Teachers may sincerelye and with boldnesse open and explane the woorde of God then that GOD woulde vouchsaue to illustrate the hartes of the hearers to th ende they may rightly vnderstande the doctrine proposed and duly vse and practise the same As touchinge the thirde it is certayne that where the office enioyned of GOD is with zelous and feruent affection executed it cannot bée but that hée of his bountiful goodnes wyll brynge to passe that happye and prosperous successe shall follow and ensue For GOD wyll not suffer the great labours and industry of good men seriouslye séeking hys glorye to become frustrate and voyde of fruite For this cause the doctrine of the word of GOD is not in one place alone resembled vnto séede that bringeth forth much fruite The Apostle also exhorteth Timothy not to neglect the gift giuen vnto hym but to exercise himselfe dylygently to thintent his profiting might be apparaunt in all thinges For if he gaue attendaunce to him selfe and to learning and continued therein it woulde come to passe that hee shoulde both saue himselfe and his hearers And certenly he that doubteth not of his callinge hee that is assured of the verytie of the doctrine which he professeth he that cannot be reprooued of any manifest crime hée that is pryuye in his conscience of hys owne fidelytie and dylligence hee that accounteth nothinge of more weight and imporfauÌ„ce then to sanctifie the name of God on earth and to gayne as many vnto Christ as is possible Vndoutedly hee speaketh boldly and vnbashfully that which God coÌ„maundeth The sharpe and vehement Oration of this man striketh and perceth the hartes of the hearers pea hée doth not onely pricke men forwarde to the amendement of lyfe but playnely forceth and compelleth them Wherefore there is no man but that may perceyue him to bée decked and adorned with a singuler spirite powre in teachinge euen of GOD himselfe But such a study and such godly affections the Apostle very artificially describeth 1. Thess 2. his wordes no doubte are worthy of vs to be remembred and such as all Preachers ought contiunally to haue in a table before their eyes Yee your selues knowe bretheren sayth hee our entrauÌ„ce in vnto you howe that it was not in vayne but after that wee had fuffered before and were shamfully entreated at Philippos as yee well knowe wee behaued our selues boldely in our God to speake vnto you the Gospell of god with much striuing For our exhortacion was not to bring you to errour nor yet to vncleanes neither was it with guile but as we were
dreame Heerevpon therefore wee haue to vnderstande what great prudence and dexterytie is required in them that take vppon them to teache or by reason of their office ought to teache others Certes it is very requisite that they accommodate themselues in all that they may to the capacitie of their hearers and make also their proofes and reasoÌ„s of thinges vsuall familyar and wel knowne For so Paule the apostle preachinge of Christ the true God to the Athenienses taketh occasion of speaking of a thing manifest to all men to wit of the altar dedicate to the vnknowne God Afterwarde he procéedeth vnto reasons prouing the power and goodnesse of GOD playnly perceyued of all by the onely instinction of nature And we are come to worship him XIII and XIIII Doctrine and Institution They which sée the Starre that is to say that haue teathers and guides of whom they may by the woorde bee rightly instructed in the exercises of Godlynesse in their mindes faith springeth and withall they are stirred vp to the true worshipping and pure inuocation of God and vnto other thinges adioyned herevnto But they that haue not teachers of the worde or refuse to heare suche as they haue doubtlesse it can not be that they shoulde laye a right the foundations of faith or otherwise profytte therein For faith commeth of hearing and hearinge by the worde of God. Let vs all therefore praye vnto God that if the trueth hath not as yet shined vnto vs he woulde sende those that might enforme vs by hearinge of whom we may also conceiue true faith in Christ But if the truth hath now already bene reuealed vnto vs then that we may rightly vse it and direct the knowledge whiche wee haue gotten to the true inuocation of Christ through a lyuely fayth and sanctimony of lyfe XV. Doctrine The wise men whilest they professe themselues to bee come to worshippe Christe doe not obscurely testify and declare his diuine nature For it is the Lord that ought to be worshipped When Herode the Kinge had heard these thinges he was troubled and all the citie of Hierusalem with him XVI Correction Wonderfull is the difference betwéen the Gospell and men following the worlde and the things that are in it Assoone as by the grace of God the trueth of the gospell waxeth cléere Princes and a great number of people séeke meanes to stop the course thereof For the diuell without ceassing moueth by his champions suche as are described Actes 16.17.18.19.21.23 c. bloody broyles and tragidies soweth battels seditions and tumults trusting he thal bring to passe by this meanes that sounde doctrine shall be euill spoken of suspected and become hatefull so by little and little be vtterly explosed and abandoned of al men And the world now adaies nourisheth euery where an huge heard of Sathans bondeâ—laues whiche at all times goe about craftely to take away the truth and to hinder the studies of the holy scriptures But they labour in vaine as it is manisest that Herode also with his conspiratours attempted all thinges in vaine The trueth may for a time bee assaulted and hidden but expugned and vttery abolyshed it can not be So also the vngodlye may accomplishe some thing after their owne desyre but in the meane time the misers and blinde bussardes doe not perceiue that the victorye whiche they haue of the poore ministers of the worde wyll turne to their owne destruction For suche is this kinde of conflicte that whosoeuer haue the vpper hande in it are in deede miserablye vanquisshed and put to the foyle And victorye in this respect is nothynge els then a token of GODS wrath and vengeaunce whiche bursteth foorth eyther vpon the children nephewes or vppon the posterytie to come XVII Institution Whiche of vs soeuer will declare our selues to bee the children of the light if at any time wee perceyue the Starre of trueth to shine anywhere vnto vs let vs not with wicked Herode and his adherentes be troubled and kéepe a sturre but rather as ioyful and glad let vs runne to méete it imbrace it with both our armes and giue thankes vnto God for it XVIII Doctrine Herode through ambition ritches auarice and ingratitude towardes god was driuen to resiste He feared least a newe kinge rising vp he should be put from his kingedom The vnthankeful multitude alwaies proue to the worste willingly ioyneth it selfe to the will of princes especially in euill matters It is euident therefore that men of haughtye minde proud puffed vp vaineglorious dronke thorough pleasaunt fortune couetous vnthankefull to god warde craftye vnstable and such as in a moment apply themselues vnto all thinges thorough a certaine carnal wisdom they haue doo not lightly imbrace the Gospell and doo very hardly enter into the kingdom of heauen As touching which thing Christ Math. 8.19 Luc. 18. and the Apostles also els where doe preache And when he had gathered all the chiefe priestes and Scribes of the people togither he demaunded of them where Christ shoulde be borne XIX Correction The vngodly being prouoked with the maiesty of the truth appearinge séeke diuers and sondrye wayes to oppresse it They apoint commissions they call counsels and sinodes and pretermitte no â—ote of those thinges which they suppose will bee profitable to the furtheraunce of their mischiefe The men of Anathoth goe craftelye about to intrappe Ieremy XX Doctrine Out of the mischeuous endeuours of men the Lorde oft times draweth that which is good The consultations and mandates of the wicked Kinge touching the enserchinge of the trueth were the cause that the trueth which before laye hidden was out of the monuments of the prophets brought into light Except this dilligent inquisition had bene made by the kinges commaundement neither the Persian wise men nether the Iewes yea nor yet we at this day shoulde haue so certaine knowledge of the place wherein Christe was borne Beholde after what sort God wonderfully prouideth for his church and how in it men profyte goe forwarde in the knowledge of thinges spirituall There sprang vp heresies cruell and barbarous persecutions against the professors of the trueth in the meane season the church standeth stedfast and is encreased not onely for that it profiteth in the doctrine of faith but also forasmuch as it becommeth more ware and prouident in auoyding or enduringe of daungers in humilitie modestie patience and other vertues exerciseth it selfe not without great gayne and aduantage For so truely it pleaseth GOD to delude the enterprises of the wicked and to bring to passe that to the godly al things turne to the best XXI Institution It is to be obserued in this presente place that the colloquies and assemblies of learned men touching matters perteyninge to religion and the state of the Church are oft times ordayned to a very goodende and purpose And albeit there be commonly in such assemblies some hypocrits or other yet is the trueth by them or by the godly
and preserued An other example out of Mathew cap. 16. When Iesus was come into the coastes of Cesarea philippi he asked his disciples saying whom do men say that I the sonne of man am And they sayde Some saye Iohn Baptist and some Elias and others Hieremias or one of the prophets He sayd vnto them but whom say ye that I am Then Simon Peter aunswered and said Thou art Christ the sonne of the lyuinge god And Iesus aunswered sayde vnto him Blessed art thou Simon the sonne of Iona for fleshe and bloode hath not reuealed it vnto thee but my father which is in heauen And I say vnto thee againe that thou art Peter and vppon this rocke will I builde my Church and the gates of hell shall not preuayle against it And I will giue thee the keyes of the Kingdom of heauen and whatsoeuer thou shalt binde vppon earth shall be bounde in heauen and whatsoeuer thou shalt lose on earth shall be loosed in heauen There is no man but perceyueth the Euangelist Mathew to commemorate how and after what forte Christe exacted of his diseiples the confession of faith and what maner of confession Peter made in the name of all the reste Therfore we shal not vnaptly affirme the state of this readying to be that the confession of faith ought necessarylye to be made of euery one of vs. And that this state pertayneth to the kinde didascalick it is more manifest then that it néedeth to be proued This state being prefixed these thinges may profitablye be noted as referred to the same And they saide â–ª Some say Iohn Baptiste I. It is no easye matter alwayes to render a pure and perfyt confession of the trueth For oft times partlâ—â—y reason of the wonderfull myste and ignoraunce continually cleaning to al men and partâ—ly through the great plenty of obscure and darke disputations diuers iudgements and varyable opinions of other oneÌ„ which are supposet to be wise the mindes yea euen of excellent and good men are in suche wise letted hindered us that they can not determin any thing certayne touching matters of religion Examples hereof if euer there were any be in these our dayes most chiefely to be séene In the meane season it standeth euery one greatly in hande that is at the least touched with any caâ—e at all of his â—aâ—â—â—tion to be fully resolued in his conscience as sonâ—thing matters of faith neyther can he iustlye pretende why excuse why he â—â—â—loâ— refine so to be Christ therefor 〈◊〉 doth 〈…〉 séeke to know what the 〈…〉 are but he 〈…〉 instantly 〈…〉 would fréely confesse at onâ—â— what they 〈…〉 or Flesh and bloud 〈…〉 healed it vnto thee II. Here â—eâ— see wheâ—â—â— the power of makinge a perfect confession commeth The thinges that are of GOD no man truely knoweth but the spirit of God and he whoÌ„ the holy ghost hath taught The naturall man pereâ—yâ—â—eth not the thinges of the spirit of God. And our heauenlye father hath hidden those thinges from the wise and prudente and hath reuealed them to Babes And agayne the holy Scripture whiche is the princypall ayde and instruement to procure the knowledge of the trueth is whollâ— giueâ— and opened by the gift of god and without reuelation is not vnderstood To be short God graunteth vnto every man so muche knowledge of spirytuall thinges as he iudgeth to be profytable for hym Vpon this roâ—â— will I build my Churche â–ª III. The notable 〈◊〉 and effects of a pure confession â–ª Fyrst by the confession of faith the true Churche is knowwen and decerned from all foreine assemblies whether they be of the Iewes Turks or hypocrites Seconde where constancy in a true confession â—â—ineth forth there the Churche remayneth 〈◊〉 and the 〈…〉 challenge to hymselfe no ryghte or interesteâ— Let hâ—resides springe vp never so fall â—et tyraunts 〈◊〉 hyhypocrits imagine what they can yet as long as the confesson of faith shal be 〈◊〉 whole and it 〈◊〉 so longe shal be 〈…〉 Third 〈◊〉 that 〈…〉 confession is founde to 〈◊〉 and approued with God God giueth power â—oth to iudge auâ—â—â—â—â—â— wisely For the iudgements of bindinge and loosinge is no other where rightly lawfully exercised saue in the true church Wherefore a pure confession of Faith by vs made causeth that euery one of vs also is knowen to be a liuely member of Gods Church and that we are safe from the power and snares of the diuill and may besides that iudge prudently of all thinges that are done or ought to be done in the Church And in this wise as well what belongeth to the whole Church which resteth in the pure confession of the Faith of Christ as also what perteyneth vnto all men yeldinge a sounde and sincere confession it séemeth to bée aboundauntly declared But wee will add also a thirde example out of Iohn cap. 4. in which are learnedly discussed certaine poyntes as touchinge the nature of Fayth There was a certaine Ruler whose sonne wa sicke at Capernaum Hee when he hearde that Iesus was come out of Iudea into Galile went vnto him and besought him that he would goe downe and heale his sonne For he was euen at tho point of death Then sayd Iesus vnto him Except ye see signes and wonders ye will not beleeue The Ruler saide vnto him Syr goe downe before my soÌ„ne dye Iesus saide vnto him Goe thy way thy sonne liueth And the man beleeued the word that Iesus had spoken vnto him and went his waye And as he was nowe goinge downe his seruantes mette him sayinge thy sonne lyueth Then enquired he of them the hower when he began to amende And they saide vnto him yester daye the seuenth hower the feuer lefte him Then the father knewe that it was the same hower in the which Iesus had saide vnto him they sonne liueth And he beleeued and all his householde Iohn the Euangelist pronounceth very well that the man beleeued the worde that Iesus had spoken vnto him And straight way hée addeth also he beleeued and all his housholde And in the very discourse the narration it is showed how he all his house was induced to beleeue These thinges therfore doe cause me to affirme that in this present reading is declared howe by what meanes faith springeth and is confirmed Wherfore the state shall be touching the nature or beginning and encreasement of faith And that this state is to be attributed to the kinde didascalick ech man may easely without any teacher perceyue He when he hearde that Iesus I. First of all are put forth heard certaine things of god and of his good will and benefites towardes mankinde The beginning of faith commeth of hearing and hearing by the worde of God. He went vnto him and besought him II. By hearing the worde the minde of man is turned vnto god Moreouer man wisheth and praieth that hée may be made pertaker of Gods benefites And so to praye
tryfles which béeing deriued from the Papaâ—ye do still remaine with vs and to reduce the simplicitye of the olde fathers in the practise of religion he coueted to restore the Ecclesiasticall discipline sore dâ—â—ayed to the great lossâ— and detriment of Churches In which his holy purpose how farfoorth he trauailed and how great fruite he ministred vnto all Churches we shall theÌ„ vnderstand wheÌ„ as he béeing now dead gon these meditations of which also we haue giueÌ„ some ynckeling before although vnperfect shall come into light Concerning which thinges much more might of one be sayde and that with great commendation but that I hasten to the other partes of my Oration In praysing therfore the lyfe and maners of this most famous and excellent man there is no cause why I should much stand especially before you and in your presence He was sufficiently knowen vnto you all euen straungers also knew sufficiently the state of his lyfe In dyet and apparell he was alwayes most temperate in feasting most sober in talke and dealing most friendly and iust As he detested from his hart those vnsatiable quaffinges and vncomely spéeches commonly practized of our Countrymen at the time of their bancquetinges so againe would he now then be willingly present at the moderate feastes and pleasaunt méetinges of his friendes Thus he neither allowed of the things that were vnséemely nor disallowed of the things that might be graunted to the honest recreation of the mynde To be short he so behaued himselfe in all places and towarde all men that his maner séemed not onely pleasaunt to the learned but also most swéete and delectable to the rude and ignoraunt By reason whereof how déere he was not onely to our Scole but also to the whole citie the manyfold teares of all sortes of people which your eyes haue séene shed at the solemnitie of his buriall doe sufficiently declare But when as by the space of 22. yeres and odde monethes he had in such order as wée haue said behaued him selfe as he was a man of no great health so when he had laboured certain wéekes before with coÌ„tinual rhewmes and coughes the xxiii day of Ianuarye he began to wax sore sicke and to kéepe his bedde He complayned most chiefely of the paynes of his head breast and sides and nowe and then all his members so burned that they séemed to be shaken with a certaine quiuering or trembling ague And verily all that wéeke when as yet we did not dispayre of his lyfe he talked conferred many things both with others also especially with mée who was of euer present with him as touching matters perteyning to the Scole as touching Diuine studies as touching the reformation of Churches He sayd amongest other thinges that there should order be taken if he liued for the pertition of certaine labours betwixt vs especially those of ordering of Sermons which for bicause he had hitherto susteined alone he thought that he had lost his health Now the 30. day of Ianuarie which was the Lordes day when the Lordes supper was celebrated in the sacred assembly he desired that the holy bread and cuppe might after the custome of the auncient church be brought also vnto him Of which after that he with his familie had tasted he grew now more sicker thaÌ„ before And then the day following he began diligently to giue in charge to his wife what he would haue done after his death and to commaunde his children that they should behaue themselues both towards God and their mother godlily and towardes all other vprightly and honestly Amongest the rest when a litle boye of his of thrée yeres old stoode by his beddes side Learne saith he my childe the commaundementes of the Lorde and hee shall take care of thee After much talke had he entreated diligently with those that for duties sake came to visit him as touching the professioÌ„ of his fayth and the constancy of that doctrine which he had taught And truely the very first day of Februarie wherein also he departed all his talke was altogether in this that he might testifie vnto those whome he sawe present that he remayned euento the last gaspe constant and inflexible in that profession of fayth doctrine which he so many yeres had professed in the Scole As touching which point I might now make a further discourse most excellent fathers but that the teares for remembraunce of these things breake foorth from mine eyes About the euening of the same day when hee had once againe spoken some things touching the coÌ„stantcy of his faith and perseuaraunce therein he began to take his leaue of vs and euen to labour for lyfe Yet knewe he still euery man and being required would make answere wyth broken wordes and dying speches till after 8. of the clocke at night when it was about halfe an houre to 9. hee gaue vp his spirit vnto God hauing not as yet fully fynished the 53. yeare of his age You haue the history of the life death of the most graue and reuerend Diuine D. Andrew Hyperius which as I coulde I haue both briefely and simply declared vnto you I come nowe to our mourning heauines right worshipfull fathers which as it is wonderfull great and incredible so can it not bée lawfull and iust vnlesse wée were moued with most weighty causes to the most bitter sense and sorrowe of our mindes Men are wont for two causes especially to mourne at Funerals First forsomuch as they suppose them to be euill dealt withall whom they bewayle being deade Secondly for bicause they recount with themselues what great incoÌ„modities doe redounde by their death either priuately to themselues or publickely to the commoÌ„ wealth The former cause taketh no place in our heauines the later ministreth vnto vs sadnes most sorrowfull For wée are not either entaÌ„geled with that error that we should suppose the minde to bée extinguished together with the body Or wée are not so vngodly as to doubt of the eternall felicitie which after this life all that haue lyued with faith and a good conscience shall enioye Naye verily wée are resolued by a most certaine and iust perswasion that our deare Hyperius as hée alwaies liued a godly and holy life so hath he now the full fruition of the most swéete and comfortable presence of Gods maiestie the company and fellowship of Angels and the societie of holy and blessed men Neither truely doe wée suppose that there was in him either any such likement or loue of this life as that wée should thinke him to dye with desire of a longer life He sawe well ynough with what great cares this miserable life was replenished he knewe well ynough that so long as we continew in this tabernacle wee are wanderers from the Lorde he was not ignoraunt that the godly being loosed from the bond of this flesh doe go vnto the lord Wherefore albeit he was in such wise conuersaunt in huge and mighty labours that
call diuinitie comprised in the holy writings of the Prophets Apostles The other of thinges humaine in which we doe not only account the artes called Liberal and the parts of Philosophy commonlye handled in the Scholes and likewise the tongues but also ciuill discripline and iudgement of polytyke and â—econonicall affaires And that verely is necessary to the Preacher to thinâ—ent he may sincerely inculke and repeate the principles of Christian religion confyrme the good in their godly opinions confute the euill and these that be of a sinister iudgement And this to th ende he may with the greater grace and dexterytie order al things but chiefely discouer and condemne all kinde of vices whiche raigne in diuers and sundrye sortes of men For how shall hee prudentlye frame his Sermon agaynst Usurye and manye vniuste bargaynes and contractes eyther els agaynste leude and cancred Customes commonlye receiued that haue not some kinde of knowledge of ciuill affayres Esay cap. 22. reprouinge the vaine counsels of the people touching the munition of the Citie wherein the vngodly in the time of warre dyd put more affiaunce then in God hymselfe and in many other places besides wherein he rebuketh diuers sinnes and enormities dothe sufficiently declare that he was not ignoraunt of ciuill matters How many thinges moreouer mayest thou sée in Ieremy Ezechiell Daniell and other of the Prophetes which do not obscurely argue that they were right diligent markers and wise estéemers of a number of thinges perteyninge to the state ciuill The same thinge dothe Christe testifye of hymselfe in many parables of whiche sorte is that of the vniust Stuarde Luke 16 of the Talentes Math. 25. and many of hys whole Sermons béesides Also out of the Sacred Chronicle of the Actes of Thapostles and out of the Epistles may easely be gathered that the Apostle Paule was reasonablye well séene both in the lawes of the Romaines and also in rourtlike and forensicall actions It is requisite therfore by al meanes that ecclesiasticall teachers be not onely some denie skilful in dyuine but also in humayne matters and specially in polytike and a conomicall affayres and so far forth skilful to as may be necessarye to the furtheraunce of their flocke committed vnto them and the impeachment of all kinde of wickednesse and impyetie But no smal number of thinges appertinent to this kinde as well by the familyar acquaintaunce with men of meane wisdome so they be séene in vse and experyence as also by the dylygent annotation of such affayres as daylye come to passe and the inuestigation of the causes and circumstaunces in the same euery good and wel disposed man may easely gather and conceiue Now that sanctimony of lyfe ought to be required in a Preacher of the Gospell euery man may iudge séeinge it profiteth nothing at all to edifye the Churche of GOD in worde if that whiche is already builded vp bee subuerted agayne with euill conditions A good life is as it were a scale whereby sounde doctrine is confirmed in the hearers A thing most vnséemely it is in â—ace hée that professeth to be a Phisition and wyll take vpon him to heale others of their infirmities bée hymselfe all scabbye and full of byles Phisition wyil they all saye heale thy selfe Therefore ought all men to set Christe béefore them as theyr Scholemaster whom we may heare preache not onely in worde but also effectually in déede For whiche cause the Apostle most dilygentlye prescribed what manner of men Bysshoppes or Elders lykewyse Decons with their whole families ought to bée with what vertues hee woulde haue them chiefelye garnished and from what vices hée woulde wyshe them to bée frée Albeit this is also to be added that where wee may not haue altogether so perfect and absolute Preachers in euery respect as we couet and desyre yet ought wee to suffer and imbrace those whose doctrine is sounde and with no sâ—ot of heresye or noysome opinions infected For whither any thorow enuy or thorow contention or thorow occasion doe teache so they preach Christ all is well and God is to be thanked No man is borne without his fault great alwayes is the fragilytie of mankinde and on euerye side euermore are we misers enuironed about with certaine domestical furies as yee would say continually enticing vs to sinne In lyke maner there is no man that can eschewe the bytyng teeth of detraction And in no place mayst thou not in these dayes specially beholde the malignaunt multytude what saye I multitude yea euen those also that take vpon them far beyonde the common sort whettinge their tusshes to slaunder and backbit the ministers of the Churche euen there also where they haue no iuste cause or occasion so to doe A number of Sicophants there be of the sect and faction to that wicked Doeg in whom Ambrose expoundinge the sixt of Luke saieth appeared a type of Iudas the traitor that haue the cast to construe and interprete actions of themselues voyde of all blame as huge crimes and enormities and in their accusations to make more then mountaines of miles or oliphants of flies Whosoeuer therfore is wise wil not rashly giue héede vnto those that commonlye and willingly speake euill of Ecclesiasticall teachers Whether may be referred that which the same apostle no lesse grauely prescribeth touchinge the life and conuersation of Elders then carefully and wiselye admonisheth that an accusation against a priest or elder is in no wise to be admitted without two or thrée witnesses In the thyrde place wee sayde that to a Preacher is néedefull and requisite a spyrite and power in teachinge I vnderstande by the name of Spirite and power a certayne peculyar facultie of proposynge sounde doctrine and also of moouing and drawing of mindes â—â— thintent that as many as is possible may reape most ample fruiteâ— and as few as may be presume to disalowe any thinge as vaine vnfruitfull Which facultie in one place is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 power in an other place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 boldnesse of speache somtime 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 might now and than 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spirit erewhile agayne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the demonstration of the spirit and power For so doe the Euangelistes testifie of Christ He taught as one hauing power All men were astonied at his doctrine bycause his woord was ioyned with power And the Apostle Paule 1. Corinth 2. My woordes and my preaching were not in flattringe phrases of mans wisedom but in the demonstration of the spirit and of power that your faith might not bee in the wisdome of men but in the power of GOD. Whiche forme of speakinge hee vseth also in the fourthe Chapter of the same Epistle Agayne in the fourth of the Actes Peter filled with the holy ghost is had in admiration for his libertie in speaking And in the same chapter the Apostles pray vnto God that he would giue his seruants grace to speake the word
to bée true the excellent institution in the faculty of well speaking of the most famous men Cyprian Chrisostome Basilius Gregorius Nazianzenus and other doth aboundantly argue who being not a little furthered with the furniture of oratorycall arte became easely of all other the most notable Preachers But pronounciation for as much as it is now far otherwyse vsed then it was in times past and that all thinges ought with greater grauitie yea maiestie to bee done in the Temple then in the courte to the whiche onely the Rhetoritians somtime informed theyr Disciples agayne syth euery Prouince and euery language hath hys proper decorum and comelynesse both in Pronounciation and gesture which in an other place woulde not so well bee lyked off It shall be good for the Preacher not to searche the arte of Pronouncinge out of the Scholes of auncient Orators but to endeuour hymselfe rather to imitate those Maisters whom hee perceiueth aboue the residue to bee commended for their excellent grace and dexteritie in Pronounciation and behauiour especially in theyr owne natiue Countrye and region By all these thinges it may appeare that the Preacher hath many poyntes chiefely in Inuention wherein he differeth from the Orator Whiche thinge séeinge it is so it shall be our part in opening of Inuention to employ a specyall labour and dilygence Albeit in the meane time if wee shall perceiue any thing to happen by the way as touching disposition néedful to be marked we wyll in no wyse dissemble it ¶ What matter the Preacher shall choose to handle and entreate off Cap. V. CHriste in one place sayeth that the Ecclesiasticall teacher is lyke vnto an housholder which bringeth out of his treasury thinges both newe and olde And the Apostle calleth the same a faithfull and wyse stuarde or Dispensator in the house of GOD. Wherefore the Preacher shall with all dylygence and fydelytie applye hymselfe vnto this that as â—fte as he is purposed in his minde to teache and to exhybite some specyaltie of hys wysedome hee chose and selecte suche matter as may bée Profitable Easye and Necessarye Whiche how and after what sorte it ought to bée vnderstoode it is requisite that wee declare more at large The vniuersall doctrine of the Gospell is no doubt verye profitable but it falleth out how I knowe not that that is founde to engender most ample commodities especially with the rude people whereby Faith properly is nourished whereby men are prouoked to charytie and good woorkes and lastly whereby the hope as well of the true beléeuers as also of the good dooers is strengthened confirmed For the whole man as wel internell as externall hath néede to bee enstructed and taught not onelye as touching the duties of this lyfe present whereof some are towardes God and other some towards men but also as touching the expectation of the lyfe to come For thorowe the knowledge and righte vse of these thinges man fynallye is made perfect and procureth to himselfe an entryce to the true and euerlastinge felycitie And surely the doctrine of Faith and Loue or Charytie doth most duly teach and instruct this present lyfe when as faith agréeing to the inwarde man sheweth schiefelye what we owe vnto god loue enforming the outward maÌ„ teacheth what we owe not only vnto god but also to men But hope with the things that cleaue thervnto do certify vs of those benefits of the lyfe to come with the expectation whereof we ought to sustaine and proppe vp our languishing mindes weryed and laden with misery Wherfore the Preacher shall wholly be occupyed in handlyng and discoursing of these places most chiefly which are conteined vnder Faith Loue and Hope Now to Faith belong these places of the goodnes and power of God of the frée mercy of God towarde vs of the benefites purchased by Christ of the merit and effect of the death and of all the actions of Christe of the giftes of the holy ghost of repentaunce and true mortification of faith and spirituall viuification of the remission of sinnes of the iustification of man thorow faith in Iesus Christ of the right inuocation of the name of GOD of the daylye exercise of prayer of thankes giuinge of the sincere worshippinge of God as namely in what points it consisteth of the dignitie effect and the loue of the worde of God of the promises of God of confession of the knowne veritie of constancye in faith Lykewise against the abusers of the name of God against othes and swearing against sondry supersticions against rites of Idolatrie against new spronge vp heresies Also those first articles of relygion contayned in the Symboll of the apostles called the Creede are to be placed in this tribe or forme To the order of Loue perteine these places of the amendement of lyfe of the integritie of maners of chastitie of modestie of avoyding of offences of kyndnes and lyberalytie of almes and other good déedes of pacience of bearing the crosse of forgiuinge of those that hurte vs of praying for all men euen for our enimies of humilytie of obedience to magistarates Also of those thinges that become euery man in his callyng and trade of lyfe Moreouer against yâ—e against drounkennes against slaundryng and detraction against fornication against superfluitie in apparel other things against filthy idlenesse against vsurers against euill and noysome customes against al kinde of viâ—es which from time to time doe créepe in amongst vs Lastly to these ought to be added the declaration of the Decaloge especially the commaundements of the seconde table Now the doctrine of the churche of the communion of the Church of the authorytie of the Church of ecclesiastical discipline of the sacramentes of the institution and right vse of the same is wholy applyed to the exercise of faith and loue ioyntly together Last of all to Hope are these places to be referred of eternall life in the kingdome of heauen of the glory of the soules and bodyes after this lyfe with Christe sittinge at the right hand of God the father of the resurrection of the body of the last iudgement to be executed by Christe of the rewarde of good works in the world present and to come of the assured deliueraunce of the godly out of daungers of the paines and sondrye calamities of the wicked of the euerlasting condemnation of the vngodly But who is able to recken vp and rehearce all places in order These verely are the chiefe and principal which haue euery where in the sacred scriptures in the sermons of the Prophetes of Christ and the Apostles most plentifully expressed and that most holesomly are propounded and set foorth to the multitude in the Church and of which the teachers of the people shall neuer at any time sufficientlye neuer out of season entreate And that we haue rightlye and properlye recited and digested these said places this may be a proofe that the Apostle writinge to
reduced to the kynde comfortatiue vnlesse some had lyuer haue it of the kynde instructiue Howebeit to a SermoÌ„ of mixt kinde no one certain state may bée assigned but accordinge to the varietie of partes it is requisite that diuers states also bée alotted out Moreouer the sentence wherein the State of euery Sermon is expressed they haue accustomed to call the Theme Where if the State be rendred in one worde then is it called a simple Theme as if thou determinest to speake of Faith of works of death of patience these will be simple Themes Faith workes death patience But if the State do consist of many wordes and euen of a iust propositioÌ„ they call that Theme compound as when it is sayde that Faith doth iustify good workes doe obteyne with God the benefit and rewarde as well of the lyfe present as of the lyfe to come the death of the godly is not to be bewayled patience for rigtuousnes sake or coÌ„fession of the truth maketh men happy And when as either a booke of holy Scripture or a part or some place out of the boke is taken in hand to be declared openly it is no harde matter after the words be recited to expresse the State by some Theme especially compound Hitherto concerning the diuers kinds of Sermons States and Themes ¶ That Sermons of euerye kinde ought to be deuided into certian parts and how many those are then of readinge of the sacred Scripture Cap. viii NOw in what kinde soeuer a Sermon shal be instituted it is firste of all to be prouyded that like as it is sayde when we entreated of the forme of diuine sermons it be deuided into certayn parts The parts commonly receiued are in nuÌ„ber seuen that is to say reding of the sacred scripture InuocatioÌ„ ExordiuÌ„ propositioÌ„ or diuisioÌ„ Confirmation Confutation coÌ„clusioÌ„ But when after what sort these ought to be applied and generally to be haÌ„deleâ— we wil in oâ—der oftsoones declare As touching therfore the reading of holy scripture we finde that this was the custome of the auncient Churche Some one to whom the office was appoynted â—â—citod 〈◊〉 â—â—lye and distinctly some parcell out of the holy Scripture and by and by some other learned mâ—n wâ—nt vp into the pulpit to declare those thinges that were read We read Actes 13 when Paule with his companyons were entred into the sinagoge on the sabboth day at Antioche in Pisidia that after the reading of the 〈◊〉 and the prophetes the Rulers of the Sinagoge sent vnto them saying Men and brethren if there be any among you that can speake wordes of exhortation to the people say on Christ Luke 4. went vp hymselfe and reade and then sitting downe interpreted the same to the great admiration of all men Of this laudable custom therfore of the synagog our forefathers learned to appoynt Readers in euery church which should publikely rehearce the bookes of the sacred scripture Socrates lib. 10. cap. 3. of his Tripartite history witnesseth that Iohn Chrysostom dyd for a certayne time supply the office of a reader Epiphanius also in his Summary of the catholike faith maketh mencion of the same order and the maner of ordeyning them is read in the eight cannon of the fourth counsell of Carthage Further out of Augustine touching the words of the Lord in the Gospell of Iohn Sermon 45. may be gathered that the scriptures were first recited of the Reader and then that the elder or Byshop folowed immediatly to expounde them But now for the most part he in the beginninge of the Sermon readeth the Scriptures that declareth them also more at large which thing verily is theÌ„ most conuenieÌ„t to be done when a man taketh in hand to explane some entire booke of the olde or new Testament Albeit thou maist oft times sée also one to reade the scriptures and an other to interprete the same But we suppose it to make no matter at all Howbeit whereas vpon occasion offered the sermon is ordayned there the readinge of the scripture is not accustomed to go before but he that teacheth either choseth out a few woordes onely or some shorte sentence freely out of the scriptures which namly he iudgeth to be most agréeable to his purpose or els making no mention at all of any place out of the Scriptures he beginneth forthwith to speake whereof that very séeldome this very often hath bene frequented of the fathers Examples of the former kinde are these Nazianzenus in his Sermon to the subiectes stricken with feare by reson of the wrath of the Emperour Theodosius the firste vsurpeth the wordes out of Ieremy 4. Ah my belly ah my bowels and the inwarde partes of my body I am sore greued my hart panteth within mee The same Author framing his oration of the holy feast of Easter premiseth the words of Habacuc 2. I will stande vpon my watch Chrysostome entreatinge of the troubled common wealth of Antioche and of his returne out of exile doth ofte tymes inculke in the beginning of hys Sermon that sayinge of Iob Blessed be god Basill beynge desyrous to perswade the people to pacifye the wrath of GOD alledgeth these words out of Amos. 3. The Lyon hath roared who wyll not be afrayde the Lorde God hath spoken and who will not prophesy Agayne where he exhorteth them to fast Blow vp the Trumpet in Sion vpon our solemne feaste day out of the 81. Psalme and Ioel. 2. Of the later kinde that is so say where no words of the sacred Scripture are put before there be examples in them very frequente and common Now let vs ad herevnto this also Namely that no other bookes ought to be read and expouÌ„ded in sacred assemblies but those onely that are accounted to be canonicall concerning which thinge we may reade it established by the 59. canon of the counsell of Laodicia The Preacher must also take héede in any wyfe that when he reciteth the holy scripture out of the Pulpet in hys Countrye language hâ—â— vseth the best and most allowable translation that may be and such a one as is knowne and common to the people For truely a proper and exact translation bringeth so great light vnto thinges that it deserueth to be estéemed in stéede of a commentary Neither shal the preacher vnaduisedly alter or innouate any thing therin least that whilest he is thought of the learned to speake affectiuely and curiouslye of the vnlearned fondly and folshly he so prouoke the offence of many against himsefe Spiridion Byshoppe of Cypres in thassembly of many byshops and in the presence of all the people durst openly rebuke Tryphillus bishop of Ledres who being puffed vp in pryde with the visor of his eloquence when he came to these words of the euangelycall hystory Take vp thy bedde and walke for the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he planted in an other to wit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth a course or simple bed Then saith
the deuises of mannes wisdome But assone as they perceiue themselues to be conuinced as well by the Scripture as by naturall reason they knowe not in the worlde which way to turne them Wherefore they conuert themselues to deceites and wiles and when they are fully bent in their mindes vppon mischiefe and in the meane time stand in doubte of all thinges they séeme as though they were moued with some fauour and zeale of the truth but in very déed they imagine nothinge els then howe to deface and oppresse it But at the length their malyce one way or other brusteth forth in such wise that the godly may both eschew them and auoide their snares pryuily prepared xxxi Institution All the godly therefore are admonished to béeware and circumspecte and to obserue diligently so far forth as may be the tokens whereby they may finde out the fraude and impietie of those men with whom they haue to doe Those that goe about to oppresse the truthe some are tirauntes some hipocrites of either of them we may beholde the image and paterne in Herode alone and goe no further Both of them at the first coulloure their deuises yea and fame themselue to séeke with the godly to promote the sincere worshipping of God as Herode saith here that hee will worshippe Christ But surely those affections of the mindâ— shime not forth neither doth that spirite appeare to bee in them which otherwise is to bee founde in the godly sort but rather alwayes there are noted in them either some wordes or déedes out of which it is no harde matter to gather their contempte and hatred of pure religion Such a one is this where Herode héere not without disdayne calleth Christ a childe sayinge Serch diligently for the younge childe Neither truely can the wicked any otherwise doe then extinuate the dignitie of Christ the worde of God the Church the ministery of the gospell and one while openly an other while ouerthwartly giue some signifycation of their malignante minde especially when they feare either that it will come to passe that their enormites shal bée disclosed and reproued or els their credite and commoditie any thinge empayred There is no doubt but that the Iewes perceiued some such signes in them which after they were brought out of Babilon into Iury would haue ioyned themselues as inhabitauntes vnto the Iewes returned out of captiuitie in buildinge of the Temple Howbeit Zorobabell would not admit them and that for good cause For albeit they auouched themselues to worshippe together with them one and the same GOD yet notwithstaÌ„ding sone after they declared many wayâ—s how cruel vnmercyful enemies they were of pure sincere religioÌ„ And loâ— the Starre which they had seene in the Easte went before them tyll it came and stoode ouer the place where the childe was XXXII and XXXIII Doctrine and Institution The iudgement of the Scriptures is heard the common incklinge engrauen in the mindes of all men likewise naturall causes are considered and that to the intente all those thinges so farre forth as may bée beinge compared amonge themselues bothe our Faith might be confirmed and also the knowledge of spirituall thinges chiefely of the rightuousnesse goodnesse mercy and power of God myght growe and encrease in vs. To which ende and purpose God himselfe oft times is accoustomed els where to adioyne eftesones vnto his worde and doctrine notable workes and effectes Let vs not contemne therefore the reasons and naturall causes which doe illustrate and set forth vnto vs the knowledge conteyned in the woorde of God and wonderfully helpe forwarde our weake vnderstandinge XXXIIII Doctrine There was néede of a Starre which shoulde shewe not onely the Citye but also the house yea and the childe himselfe It is very lykely that all thinge there were so vile and abiecte that no man woulde haue thought Christ the king to bée there Albeit the Scripture be a faithfull wytnes testifyer of the truth yet is it néedefull for vs to learne many thinges of men of causes naturall of signes and other of the same kinde which are ordynary and allowed of God and so be made certaine of many particular thinges necessary to be knowne And when they sawe the starre they reioyced exceedingly with greate ioye XXXV Institution The doctrine touchinge spiritual matters by which we are directed vnto Christ doo profite in Christ we ought to imbrace with gladd ioyfull minde and also to giue thanckes vnto God for the same Which thinge truely they gladly wil doe that haue any vnderstandinge at all what great vâ—iliâ—ie and profyte commeth of sounde doctrine And entring into the house they founde the young childe with Mary his Mother and fell downe and worshipped him and openinge their treasures they presented vnto him giftes Gode and Frankensence and Myrhe XXXXVI and XXXVII Doctrine and Institution Faith fyxed on the promises of God is not dcceiued but like as god that promiseth is true so the faith also of the belieuer fyndeth at the length the trueth by experience and perceyueth in déede the large fruites of fayth By fayth the wise men were drawen out of farre Countries into Bethlem for howe shoulde they haue taken vppon them so longe difficulte and daungerous a iorney the way being altogether vnknowne vnto them except they had bene incensed with a wonderfull Fayth there then they founde in very déede that which afore they beléeued Therefore let vs also lokinge vppon the promises of god touchinge the benefytes as well of the life present as to come neuer caste away our faith but by the example of the faithfull Abraham beyond hope beléeue vnder hope nothinge doubtinge but that God will performe his promises if not for our cause which verely are vnworthy of his benefytes yet for his owne sake xxxviii Doctrine The wise men whilest they honour Christ with that honour which is due to God alone doe confesse Christ not onely to be man but also true and perfecte God. Which thing they fyrst learned in Persia by reuelation from heauen afterwarde in Iury by the oracles of the Prophetes XXXIX and XL. Redargucion and Doctrine Here are conuinced all heretikes as the Ebionites Cerinthians and such like which contended that Christ is onely pure man and not god But much more grieuously are confuted the Iewes which when they had heard partly of the wise men partly out of the Scripture many and most certaine testimonies touchinge Christ yet would they not adioyne them selues to the wise men to the intent to worshippe him as neyther they will be perswaded to this daye to worshippe and ackonwledge Christ to be true god Howe much better had it bene neuer to haue had any knowledge of Christ at all for vndoubtedly looke how much more manifestly Christ is declared vnto them so much more grieuously shall they be punished whiche refuse to beléeue in him beinge knowne But in déed those thinges ought to be fulfilled which God longe before by his Prophetes
had pronounced touchinge the callinge of the Gentiles to come and the reiection of the Iewes and of a people to be raysed vp of no peole and of those that were a people in déede to be abolished Which things truely from the time the the wise men came to worship Christ began wonderfully to be accomplished and euen to this present day are performed It is requisite therefore that the doctrine touchinge the callinge of the Gentiles be noted in this place XLI Doctrine To worshippe with the bodie prostrate and to offer giftes are outwarde signes to declare the inwarde disposition of the minde For GOD hath ordained that in profession of relygyon certaine rites and ceremonies shoulde bée vsurped in the Church with which men myght testyfye euery waye their godly and obedient minde And for this cause woulde God himselfe likewise declare his will towardes men by certaine Sacramentes of him instituted whereof such are the actions that lyke as they shewe forth alwayes some signification of the fayth of men to god warde so also they yeld the like signification of the good will of God towardes men And yet is it not lawfull to admit here euery sort of signes but those onely which are founde established by the worde of god For to goe aboute to reduce againe the superstitious rites of of the Gentiles alredye abolished and abandoned by gods worde were an heynous offence XLII Doctrine By the very kinde maner of their presentes the wise men declare that they make a true and perfect confession of Christ the sonne of god They offred Golde as who sayth acknowledginge him to bée their Kinge and Lorde which should most wisely gouerne and most mightely defende his spirituall kingedome that is to say his Church wherein they themselues were enrolled Kinges and Princes commaunde Golde or Coinage too be payde vnto them Whylest they offer Frankensence they confesse him to be very god For in sacrificing or consecrating of things it was a cusâ—ome commonly receyued for the most parte amongest all people to offer Frankensence Wherefore Marcellinus the Bishop by castinge thrée greynes of Frankensence into the fire is iudged to haue attributed a kinde of diuinitie to his Idoles The offering of Myrhe testifieth that Christ is true man which should dye the death The people of the East partes and especially the Iewes had a custome to season the bodies of the dead with Myrhe by the vertue whereof they wee kept from putrifaction as the Phisition doe auouch They therefore that confesse themselues fyrst before the congregation to be citizens of the Church of God and afterwarde that Christ is both true God and true man doe make as we thinke so notable a confession of faith that nothinge can be further required therin XLIII Institution We are admonished also by the example of the wise men as well in our minde as in our bodye to worship Christ to confesse and acknowledge him to be the head and Lord ouer his church and as very maÌ„ so also to be very god Moreouer we offer gold or money to Christ if we deale to our néedy berthreÌ„ any part of our owne proper substance God giueth vs richies therfore wil he be honored w our ritches but theÌ„ is he honored wheÌ„ we giue to his meÌ„bers We offer Myrhe wheÌ„ we take diligent héede least the corrupcion of sins do defile either our selues or others Wée offer Frankensence of a most swéet sauoure when our good déedes to the glory of GOD and edifiinge of our neighbour doe shyne forth and become apparaunte to all men Finally we drawe forth of our treasuries giftes gratefull to God if as the Apostle monisheth and besecheth We wake our bodyes a quicke sacrifice holy and acceptable vnto God which is our reasonable seruice not fasshion our selues after the shape of this world XLIIII Correction What punishmentes are not they worthy off which hauing aboundantly wherewith after the example of the wyse men to honour worship Christ the sonne of God doo yet nothinge at all they giue not to the poore they make no confession of Christ to the short thou canst finde nothinge in them whereby thou maiest know them to be Christians And although such appeare outwardly to be sober and modest yet are they no better then the good and modest Gentiles For no man is ignorant that of a Christian man farre other duties and otherwyse done are required then of a Gentile And after they were warned of God in a dreame thaâ— they should not goe againe to Herode they returned into theyr owne country an other way xlv Doctrine The prouidence of God is euer bent to the moderating and aduauncing of humaine affayres For that Christ new born might be kept from daunger that the wise men might returne home safe sound that the rags of wicked Herode might be brideled stayd God accordiÌ„g to his vnsearchable wisedome prouided fyt conuenient meanes Who would haue thought the by this meanes the Innocents should haue bene saued the tirauÌ„t repressed But truely God is no more destitute of his purpose theÌ„ he ceaseth to take care fro vs which in déede is so great and wonderful the euen whilest we be a sléepe he suggesteth vnto vs the which is néedefull to be done So far foorth also doo the godly oft times euen in their sléepe profit more in good thinges then the wicked continually wakinge profit in euill xlvi Redargution Why do the vngodly wax proude bosting of their ownestrength why threaten they to do al things as they lust why doe they not rather obserue how easely and quickly all their deuises are ouerthrowen as for example whatsoeuer Herode went about is subuerted onelye by a dreame XLVII Consolation Let the godly consider these thinges diligently and beléeue that God will neuer faile them For he will destroy both his and their enemies when and by what meanes we least suppose If so be wee repose our hope and confidence in him hee will bringe to passe vndoubtedly whatsoeuer he shall iudge to be expedient for our saluation XLVIII Doctrine By this place it is manifest that oft times dreames are sent of God and that men when they dreame are taught of God warned of most weightie matters A little after the Euangelist declareth that Iosephe likewise was by an Angell admonished in his sléepe to flie into Aegipt and againe how after certaine yeares expired he was coÌ„maunded by like meanes to returne into Iury. Many examples are extant as wel in the olde as new testament And mark in the meane time how diuers and sondry waies God openeth his will to men XLIX Institution The faith and obedience of the wise men is commended whiche did not vnwillingly obey the monition giuen in their sléepe There might easely haue risen in their mindes new doubts and scruples they mought peraduenture haue thought thus If this whom we haue worshipped were God he would be nothing afrayde of Herode neither should we
matter be discoursed by examples propounded Let vs take therefore the first example out of Marke the seuenthe And he departed againe from the coastes of Tyre and Sydon came to the sea of Galilee through the middes of the coastes of the ten Cities And they brought vnto him one that was deafe and had an impedyment in his speach and they prayed him to put his hande vppon him And when he had taken him aside from the people he put his fingers into his eares and did spitte and touched his tongue and loked vp to heauen and sighed and saide vnto him Ephphatha that is to saye be opened And straight waye his eares were opened and the string of his tongue was loosened and he spake plaine And he commaunded them that they should tell no man But the more hee forbad them so muche the more a great deale they published it And were beyonde measure astonied saying Hee hath done all thinges well hee hath made both the deafe to heare and the dumbe to speake That it is of the kinde didascalick it may appeare by this that the noble workes and power of miracles doe plainely proue Christ to be God which also the beholders that were present do openly confesse But we shall very aptly deuide this readyng into thrée partes I By the example of those that bring the deafe c dumbe man to Christ we learne what great force and efficacye there is in an other mans faith Whosoeuer is endued with a true and liuely faith he as one altogether depending vpon god alone obteyneth chieflye for hymselfe whatsoeuer so it bee dulye requested at Gods hand But when the same faith goeth forewarde to worke through loue and more largely to extende it selfe then it maketh intercession also vnto God for others and those thinges that God foreséeth to be profytable he mercyfully graunteth II Where Christ is described to haue restored vnto the miserable man power both of hearing and speakinge we haue to consyder how Christ behaueth hymselfe towarde those that beléeue and how ready God is at all times to helpe poore and wretched creatures especiallye when hee is humblye and with an assured minde prayed vnto III We heare that those men for the benefyt receyued preached and published Christ with as great an indeuour as they could We therfore are in lyke maner admonished whensoeuer we shall perceyue any benefyts eyther spiritual and internall or corporall and external to haue happened vnto vs from God but can then bée any time or season giuen wherein wée haue not good experience hereof to yelde vnto him continuall thankes for the same to celebrate his power and goodnesse amongest all men and to moue others to congratulate and doe the semblable with vs. Let vs procéede to an other example In the fifte of Luke wée reade thus It came to passe that when the people preassed vppon him to heare the worde of God hee stoode by the lake of Genezareth and sawe twoo shippes standinge by the lake side But the fishermen were gone out of them and were wasshinge their nettes And he entred into one of the shippes which perteyned to Simon and prayed him that he would thruste out a litle from the lande and hee sat downe and taught the people out of the shippe WheÌ„ hee had left speakinge hee saide vnto Simon Launche out into the diepe and let slippe your nettes to make a draught And Simon answered and said vnto him Master wee haue laboured all nighte and haue taken nothinge Neuerthelesse at thy commaundement I will lose forth the nette And wheÌ„ they had this done they inclosed a great multitude of fisshes But their nette brake And they beckened vnto their fellowes which were in the other shippe that they should come and helpe them and they came and filled both the shippes that they suncke agayne When Symon Peter sawe this hee feel downe at Iesus knees sayinge Lorde goe from mee for I am a sinfull man For hee was vtterly astonied and all that were with him at the draught of fisshes which they had taken And so was also Iames and Iohn the sonnes of Zebedee which were parteners with Simon And Iesus said vnto Simon Feare not from henceforth thou shalt catch men And when they had brought vp their boates to the shore they forsooke all and followed him And heere againe by the miracle of the takinge of innumberable fisshes and of the mindes of the disciples sodeinly styrred vp to forsake all and folowe Christ is perâ—â—icuously proued the diuinitie of Christ Therefore that this narration is of the kinde didascalick no man can deny I. But here in the first place is commended and set forth the admirable diligence of Christ and his feruensy in teachinge the people and spreadinge abrode euery where the truth and agayne the wonderfull desyre of the people in learning of the truth Here therfore not onely they that teach the people in the Churche but also the hearers themselues haue wherwith greatly to be excited and what to sette before them to imitate and folowe II. After his Sermon ended Christ commaundeth his disciples to cast forth their nettes and straightwaye they take an incredible draught of fisshes Herevppon we maye gather that when our chiefe and principall care is to séeke the kingedome of God and the rightuousnes thereof and shall not in the meane time forbeare diligently to performe that which our callinge and kinde of life doth requyre then no iote of those things which we stand in néede of for the necessities of our life shall be wanting vnto vs. III. When a man after the example of Peterâ— on the one side considereth the greatenes of Gods benefites and power and on the other side beholdeth his owne abiecte state and condition by reason chiefely of his sinnes which come to his remembraunce so far is it off the God would haue him terrified and driuen into dispayre that he euen willeth him also to hope for better thinges and increaseth him with newe and more ample benefites For in deed the knowledge of our sinnes ought to indure vs not that we shoulde bée turned from God and fall into desperation but that we should hasten vnto God and longe to be reconsiled vnto him through our mediator Iesus Christ Vaine is repentaunce and sorrowe for sinnes passed if faith and true consolation doe not followe IIII. As they by the worde of Christ were called to the Apostolike office and quiclye folowed him so oughte we alwayes to praye vnto God that whatsoeuer séemeth good vnto him as touching euery one of vs he would vouhsafe to appointe and giue vs to persist in our callinge to obeye his good will and pleasure in all thinges Wee are not sufficient of our selues to thinke any thinge as of our selues but if wee bee able to doe any thinge it commeth of God which hath made vs able ministers of the newe testamente Further there is no doubt but that by like reason men must of
our necessitye enforceth vs. Except ye see signes and wonders III. A weake and wauering faith in men displeaseth God yet God according to his mercye voucheth safe to make the same more stronge and perfect Faith is the gift of God and he encreaseth it being giuen Wherefore wée ought with the Apostles to praye ofte times vnto God and saye Lorde encrease in vs our faith There be very many places of the scripture which testifie that there ought to be distinguished certaine degées as it were and encreasements of faith and one while an infirme weake vnperfect an other while a stronge stedfaste and perfecte fayth to be noted Lorde goe downe before he dyeth IIII. Faith being somwhat encreased by the grace of god proceadeth more franckly to entreat and call vpon god Through pure and earnest inuocation all things are obteyned at Gods hande Goe thy waye thy sonne liueth V. The faith as yet not fully perfect God mercifully looketh vppon rendereth vnto it according as it desireth And through faith men obtaine of God most ample benefites like as spirituall so also corporall The man beleeued the worde VI. Fayth by the worde and promises of God is erected receyueth strength and is made perfect Nowe as hee was goinge downe VII Man becommeth dayely more stronge in faith that after the erample of Abraham he may euen without hope beléeue vnder hope whylest namely the certaintie of gode promises doe alwaies more and more appere and god neuer ceasseth with new benefites to bewtify adorne the godly And he beleeued and all his householde VIII The incomparable force and effecte as well of the worde of God as of Fayth For both the certaintie and truth of Gods worde beinge made manifest doth stirre vp faith in a greate number and also the notable fayth of one man beinge put forth for an example vnto others inuyteth euen these also after a sorte to beléeue In respecte whereof wée may sée the eramples of the faith of the holy Saintes in the Scriptures worthy of imitation to be set before our eyes Thou séeste therefore howe aptely it is declared throughout the whole narratio Ì„ by what meanes faith is ingendered at the lenght becoÌ„meth perfit One example more if wée shall add wée will so make and ende That shall be taken out of Marke 16. After that he appeared to the eleuen as they sat together reproued them of their vnbeliefe and hardenes of harte bicause they beleeued not them that had seene him beinge risen vp againe And he sayd vnto them Goe yee into all the worlde and preach the Gospell to euery creature Hee that shall beleeue and bee baptized shal be saued but hee that will not beleeue shal be damned And these tokens shall followe them that beleeue In my name they shall cast out diuells and shall speake with newe tongue and shall driue awaye serpentes and if they shall drincke any deadly thinge it shall not hurt them they shal laye their hands on the sikle and they shall recouer So after the lorde had spoken vnto them he was receyued into heauen and sate on the right hand of god And they went forth and preched euery where and the lord wrought with them and confirmed the worde with signes that followed Séest thou not howe Christ vpbraideth his sluggish disciples with their incredulitye hardenesse of hart Therefore least we at any time be reproued for the like wée must take diligent héede that after we haue harde beléeued ad imbraced the Gospell we cleaue constantlye to the same Wherfore let the state of this reading be that the Gospell is constantly and fréely to be cleaued vnto As for those thinges that folow in the texte they shall aptely be taken in stead of arguments or reasons confirminge the same Neither truely shall it be a hard matter so to axplane all the partes thereof as that they may be agreable to our purpose Bycause they beleeued not them that had seene him being risen agayne I The first reason We ought to sticke fast vnto the Gospell of Christ for the authorities sake and testimony of those men that haue séene hard and declared the same vnto vs For thus faith Christ Act. 1. to his apostles Ye shal be my witnesses not onely at Hierusalem but also in al Iury Samaria euen to the worldes end Peter like wise Act. 2. saith This Iesus hath god raised vp wherof we are all witnesses And Iohn in his first epist. cap. 1. That which was froÌ„ the begining which we haue heard which we haue sene with our eyes which we haue loked vpon our hands haue handeled of the worde of lyfe and shewe vnto you that eternal life God will haue therfore the testimony of such men to be accounted of most great weight and importaunce amongest all men Goe into the whole world and preache II. The second reason of the â—dicte or coÌ„maundement of Christ Christ gaue in charge to his apostles that they should publishe the gospell to all nations By the same diligence no doubte it is commaunded also vnto vs that we should with all our endeuour imbrace and reteyne the same Hee that beleeueth and is pabtized III. The thirde reason of the promise and threateninge which are annexed to the commaundemente of God. In like maner we sée promises and comminations adioyned to the preceptes of the Decaloge And these tokens shall folowe them that beleeue IIII. The fourth reason of the manifolde giftes whereby God vnto this end and purpose garnisheth and illustrateth his Church that the certaintie and excellency of the Euangelical doctrine might be approued So the Lorde after hee had spoken V. The fift reason Whatsoeuer thinges haue bene hitherto spoken are established and confyrmed by the ascention of Christ himselfe into the heauens and by his syttinge at the right hande of the father For by these two signes or markes he signified vnto all men how great his power and dignitie were And vndoubtedly to ascende by his owne proper power into heauen and to sitte at the right hand of the father are most assured argumentes of his deuine nature in respecte whereof he is in all pointes coequall with his father And they went forth and preached euery where VI. The sixt reason of the effectes that folowed The apostles like as they were commaunded published the Gospell They preached also euery where Wherefore the knowledge of the Gospell hath of necessitie come euen vnto vs also and to ours No signes and wonders neither the wonderfull power of the holy Ghost ne yet any thinge els was lackinge All these things therefore doe conuince yea and euen compell vs that wee should ascribe all glory vnto the gospell and vnto God the author of the gospell that wée should coÌ„stantly cleaue vnto the same For héere vndoubtedly are remembred those thinges by which men of all former ages haue bene most chiefely perswaded to imbrace and highly estéeme the holesome doctrine of
the Church comprised in the volumes of the prophetes and Apostles And thus much touching this euangelicall narration of Mark 16. There are in the thirde Chapter aforegoing certaine readinges out of the Euangelicall history explaned of vs in such order as we there handeled and set foorth and yet nothing letteth but that the very same may no lesse profitably then godly be expounded also in this forme wherof we nowe entreate Which thing truly I will not sticke héere briefely to declare That narration out of Mark. 6. as touching the multitude which was thrée dayes without méate through the desyre they had to hére the most holy sermons of Christ doth first of all wonderfully commend vnto all men the studye of learning and vnderstanding the worde of god Therfore we shall worthily accept this sentence in steade of the state In the second place is added the which declareth the al those the are touched with any desyre at al of profiting in the doctrine of true religion are cared for of god and the god will in no wise forsake them I haue compassion sayth he on the multitude Thirdly by the wordes of the disciples supposinge that it coulde not be that so many might be satisfied with breade in the wildernes may bée gathered that those which prepare themselues to the study of sacred and heauenly thynges are first hindered and oppressed with many griefes and temptations before they can attayne to their wished scope yea and ofte times they strike vpon the rockes as they saye euen in the very heauen it selfe and are haled awaye from their godly purpose But whereas christ in the fourth place demaūdeth of his disciples how many leaues they haue we are taught euidently thereby the God hath alwayes in a readines diuers apte and conuenient meanes whereby he may prouibe for the godly next after spirituall or heauenly benefytes minister also corporall or earthly For by the meanes the we least thinke off god succureth all those that labour and be in necessitie And therefore in the fyfte place Christ giueth vnto his disciples that they shoulde set before others for God sendeth alwayes in season teachers which maye with all fydelitie and diligence enstructe those that are desirous to learne Lastely and in the sixt place they all eate and are suffysed They that a litle before hongered and thristed after the knowledge of the trueth doe now happely profyt therein yea and so far forth doe they eftesoones procéede the there remayneth vnto them what they may giue an imparte vnto others and at the length may either publikely or priuately teach the doctrine of pietie vnto the rest Nowe that history likewise of Mathew 2. as touching the wise men that come from the East to worship Christ it shall be very easye to applye wholy to the tractation of one common place The state or common place maye aptly bee prefixed as concerninge vocation or callynge This state beinge assigned first of all shall bee declared whensoeuer God calleth any man by a signe either externall or internall or rather by them both to the knowledge and confession of the Gospell or els to some certaine kinde of lyfe in which he may dayly serue God and profyte his neighbour that he ought not to refuse but with chéerefull harte to come and deuoutly obaye vnto the caller In the seconde place where it is reported that Herode and the whole citie was troubled thou shalt not without cause inculke an exhortation to ouercome temptations For thus commonly it commeth to passe assoone as any is elected and called of God to a godly worke Sathan by and by together with his conspirators the fleshe and the worlde worketh wiles and leaueth nothinge vnattempted whereby they may withdrawe him from his good and holy purpose But their followeth in the thirde place the which in this kinde of conflict bringeth an excéeding great comforte namely that against the most fierce and bitter temptations a present remedie is to be sought for out of the holy Scripture The lawe the prophetes and Apostles doo certifie the conscience as touchinge thinges doubtefull they shewe most apparauntly where Christ is to be founde and where the minde finally may rest in safetye For it is euen the holy Scripture alone that confirmeth and susteyneth thée in the knowledge and confession of the Gospell in sincere faith in puritie of life and conuersation Fourthly where the subtelty of Herode priuily calling the wise men vnto him is disclosed shall very well be added that after the first and most grieuous temptations are ouercome and after the minde is confirmed and that by the ayde of Gods worde in hir calling holy purpose there remayne as yet successiuely newe daungers which hipocrits which false teachers or heretickes which tyrauntes and such kinde of aduersaries of true religion will forge and contriue For as longe as we liue here in this life ther is nothing but perils vppon perils and euen as if a certaine rancke of troubles were linked togither with chains so doth one distresse after an other fasten vppon the godly But yet we ought in no cace to be discouraged in our minds through the frequency or greatnesse of the perills Hitherto perteineth that which followeth in the fift place as touching the departure of the wise men and the starre againe going before them Thou shalt here not vnexpertly add that he which by valiaunt striuinge bath already escaped the daungers of the first and seconde sorte doth nowe lye as it were at anchor and rest in a quiet baye For let the Champion of Christ constantly ensue the first signes of his callinge but most diligently let him folowe the scripture which doth assure him of his vocation and all the order of his dutie he shall vndoubtedly come vnto that place where hee shall see Christ in his glory and obteyne thorough him euerlasting life He that endureth to the ende shal be saued Thou seeste therefore all the partes hereof not vnaptly to be reduced to one common place as touching calling or vocation and perseueraunce in the same Againe in lyke maner the historye out of Luke 2. as concerning the confession which as well Simeon as Anna made of Christ shall fruitfully be expounded by declaring out of it how necessarye it is that all the faithfull whensoeuer oportunitie will serue shoulde render an account or that which is all one make confession of theyr faith And the this is the state of the sayd reading it shal truly vs auouched as soone as mencion shal be made of Simeon Secondly at the wordes of Siemon in which he pronounceth Christ to be put for the ruine and vprysinge agayne of many and for a signe which is spoken agaynst moreouer that a sworde shoul perce Maries soule shal aptely be intreated as touchinge that poynte that a confession made is alwayes pursued with offences sondry mocions contencions and great daungers The world neuer ceaseth to bringe the godly confessors into peryll and hazard Thirdly
alwaies an entier booke not alwaies a parte of a booke is offered to be declared but ofte times it behoueth the Sermon to bée framed to the people of one onely sentence or of one place of Scripture and the same also not very largely stretchinge But that the same order of gatheringe diuers common places shoulde héere bée vsurped which we haue shewed to be profitable in the premisses it can by no meanes bée What then will some man saye remaineth to bée done In what maner and method shal one place or one certain sentence bée fruitfully declared Wée so far forth as we maye will set forth a most syt and absolute forme which excepte any shall deuise a better it shall bée expedient for him to folowe and as well for breuities sake as also that it may become the more clere and euident we will comprehende the same in certaine obseruations I. Before all thinges it is conuenient very carefully to consider and to declare vnto the people vppon what occasion or to what ende the author of the sacred booke out of which the place or sentence is taken spake and pronounced those wordes And that for this cause that whilest wée declare of what matter wée will speake and what our purpose is we may credibly auouche that we will in no wise abuse an other mans sayinge neither transfer it vnto other purposes theÌ„ is méete but vsurpe it altogeher in the same or at leaste in the like cause for which the author himselfe did so speak After this maner we may sée Peter Act. 2. intendinge to interprete certayne wordes taken out of the Psalme 16. as touchinge Christe risynge againe from death prudently to add some thinges of Dauid and of his meaninge and iudgemente in those wordes And truely it standeth vs very much vppon to deale faithfully and vprightly in this behalfe For it is a greuous offence yea and the holy Ghost is moued with vnspeakeable reproch in cace a man doth force or wreste any sentence out of the scriptures to any other ende or purpose then becommeth him He that shall be founde to haue done this but once doth quickly loose all his authoritie with the hearers and afterwarde yea euen then when he alledgeth the Scriptures aright he shall hardely bee credited To apply aptely and properly the Scriptures to present busines and affaires is the principall vertue that belongeth to a preacher II. Where it is nowe discouered of what matter wée minde to entreate and declared that the sentence taken out of the holy scripture accordeth to our purpose the next poynt is that we diligently consider whether that very sentence as it standeth in the sacred writer doth minister any proofes at all of causes circumstaunces signes or discriptions agréeable to the busines of which entreaty is made As many as are founde to be such shall worthily before any other be brought forth and as those that be of greate weight and importaunce forasmuch as they answer to the minde and method of the author from whiche it is not lawfull vnaduisedly to depart and doe in all pointes agrée with our matters shall studiously be digested adorned and inculked Neither is it a hard matter to drawe forth such kinde of proofes or argumentes partly out of the thinges that lye hid and are included in the sentence it selfe and partely out of those things that either goe before or folowe after the same Of this kinde I would affyrme it to be tht Peter Act. 2. in that Sermon whereof mention is made before to the intent he might shew the he rightely vsurpeth the sayinge of Dauid reduceth into memory howe Dauid in that he was a prophet knewe before hand that Christe after the flesh should take his beginning out of his posteritye and therfore also by the inspiration of the holy Ghost prophesied before of Christes rising againe And whosoeuer is but meanely exercised in the holy scriptures may easely perceyue that in the same Psalme as of the death and great deiection of Christ so also certaine thinges are ioyntly spoken of his resurrection It is not much vnlyke that the Apostle Galat. 3. speakinge of the Gentiles that should be blessed in the séede of Abraham affirmeth those that are of faith to be the sonnes of Abraham and howe it was longe before tould vnto Abraham that it would please God to iustifie the Gentiles by fayth againe where he addeth that the inheritaunce was giuen vnto Abraham by promise III. Moreouer it is very profitable to make as it were a certaine resolution of the whole sacred sentence and to examine in a iust balaunce euery words therein and diligently to ensearche the significatioÌ„ force and vse of them And that to thintâ—nt out of euery of them may be gathered certaine argumentes or proofes agreable to the state of th appointed Sermon and may afterward be oportunely applied to teache and instruct the hearers Of which craft and diligence I meane in drawing foorth of proofes out of euery worde well nighe of any one sentence we haue the holye Scripture it selfe as a moste expert maistres and most faithfull teacher Which thing we will straight wayes make playne and euident III. After the wordes wisely weighed and considered it is requisite that we procéede with like industrye to a more exacte contemplation of the matters themselues or affayres which in euery sentence are signified For it is not very lykely that there shoulde any where happen thinges of them selues so barren that a man may not out of theÌ„ if at least he be not altogither endued with a blount and blockishe witte deuise and excogitate some profes profitable to teach He that hath once throughlye sifted and examined the thinges whereof he entreath may easely finde the meanes to make his oration become both frutefull plentious and delectable We see in this behalfe the Apostle Paule after arguments draweÌ„ out of euery worde of one peculiar sentence to heape vp still a plentifull matter of other proofes and the same flowing out of the nature of the thinges themselues The examples which we will a litell after touche shall plainely testifie this thinge to he true V. Last of all to him that feareth and suspecteth that he shall want sufficient matter of speaking we giue this aduice namely that he put before his eyes the places of inuencion which he knoweth to be attributed vnto that kinde of Sermons to which the sentence of the sacred author appertayneth For euery kinde of sermon as is afore sayde hath certayne proper and peculiar places of inuention the order whereof beinge attentiuely considered we are eftsones admonished of many thinges which maye aptely be spoken of eche kinde of busines taken in hande Therefore him that shall speake of a sentence or state of the kinde didascalick we remitte to the places of inuentioÌ„ as well diuine as other not diuine that he may so longe exercyse himselfe in them as that he maye procure for his true méete and sufficient furniture therby Of which
receyued by the Lawe Of which thing he rendreth also in the causes For where the lawe is there imediately followeth transgression for such is our imbecilitie and weakenes that wee can neuer exactely fulfyll the lawe And where transgression is what I beseech you is to bee loked for but the wrath of god By the lawe therfore or by workes wee can by no meanes atteyne vnto rightuousnes But to the intent he might the more easyly perswade the same thinge he inserteth two inconueniences which if rightuousnes were not to be loked for but by the lawe should of necessytie follow If rightuousnes or the inheritaunce of spirituall benefytes shoulde then onely be receiued when the law were of vs throughly fulfilled our faith no doubt should be void the promise of god of none effect But that it is a very absurde matter in cace any should auouch it thus to be euery man perceyueth For GOD vndoubtedly performeth that which he promiseth as he that neuer ceasseth to be true and iust of his worde And where as is the certaine fyrme infallible promise of God ther our faith ought in no wise to wauer or doubt Let these thinges therfore he taken in steade of the eight argument But nowe againe the Apostle stayeth somewhat at this that the holy scripture testyfieth that the promises belong not onely vnto Abraham but also vnto an his séede In which consideration beinge occupyed he remembreth that in the olde Testament the Gentiles also are conteined in the séede of Abraham For it was saide vnto Abraham Gen. 17. I haue appointed thee to be the father of many nations Wherfore herevpon also he produceth an other argument which is framed in this sort The promised spirituall benefyts shal redound also to the seede of Abraham But the Gentiles are knowen to be the seede of Abraham Ergo the promised benefits shal come in like maner to the Gentiles though destitute of the lawe and voide of good works Be this therfore the ninth argument taken of the proper signification of the worde Gentiles or Nations and it belongeth to the places of inuention of whiche mention was made in the fift obseruation X The tenth argument is added to deriued of the nature of the things themselues which kind of proofes we shewed to be méete and requysyte in the fourth obseruation Abraham saieth he aboue hope beleeued vnder hope that hee shoulde be the father of many nations according to that which was spokeÌ„ to him So shal thy seede be And he not weake in the faith considered not his owne body c. The apostle in déede describeth the nature force of the faith which is imputed for rightuousnes and sheweth that it was very excellent in AbrahaÌ„ and far greater then any man could beléeue He saith the true and perfect faith doth assuredly vndoubtedly lay hold vpon those things that excéede mans reason the by no menes are iudged to be hoped for besids that it neglecteth dispiseth vtterly remoueth al things that are thought to be a let or hindraunce vnto it For it alwaies leaneth vpon God to when nothinge is impossible to be done Such and so great a faith therefore seeinge it shined forth in AbrahaÌ„ it pleased god with merciful eyes to behold it before al other works to impute it for rightuousnes XI Last of all the holy Apostle going about to bring his explanation to all end auoucheth that the same meane or way that Abraham was iustified by ought also to be applyed vnto vs for therefore were those thinges writen of Abraham to the ende we might know that we in like maner by the example of Abraham shoulde without workes be iustified by faith And thus much touching the interpretation of one short sentence The seconde example being no lesse notable then the first is extant Galat. 3. where euery word of the most knowen promise made vnto Abraham Gene. 22. In thee all nations shall bee blessed is so expounded and declared that it likewise teacheth that men are iustified before God not by the workes of the law but by faith sBut yet far away surmounteth the third example which occurreth Heb. 5. 7. where euery member of the fourth verse of the Psalm 110 The Lorde hath sworne and will not repent thou art a priest for euer after the order of Melchisedec is with such great arte industrye grace opened and explaned that I néede not doubt to affirme that no mans wit without the speciall direction of the holy ghost is able to immitate the like For truely the apostle with many diuers proofes takeÌ„ out of the one testimony of scripture plainly teacheth in the same chapter in the thrée following first that Christ is the true priest after the order of Melchisedec and the the said prophesie of the Psal. 110. doth most chifely agrée vnto him secondly that the priesthod of Christ is far more excelent theÌ„ the priesthod of the law which was after the order of Aaron or Leuiticall thirdly that by the priesthod of Christ appointed established through the patefaction of the Gospell the priesthode of Aaron is abolished fourthly that by the priesthod of Christe once constituted and confyrmed the olde ceremonies and sacrifices yea and the law it selfe take an ende What man would haue thought that out of one verse or clause might haue bene drawen matter of so many weighty poyntes of Christian doctrine and so diuers and sâ—ndry proofes for euery poynte But thus it is to whom the holy ghost becommeth a scholemaster vnto those all things are easye playne penetrable and ready The thing it selfe speaketh that all that are placed in the Ecclesiasticall ministerye are not so far for the enstructed of the holy ghost that they may be counted equal with the Apostles or other pillers of the Church wherfore it is very requisite that the study diligence of immitation should appéere and shine forth in them and when they perceyue themselues not able to atteine the vertue and maiesty of the Apostolike phrase of speaking then let them diligentlye next after the Apostles follow the steppes of the holy fathers whiche we know with great laude and fruite in the kinde didascalick to haue explaned sentences or single places of scripture in the Church Chrisostom in his first Tome learnedly expoundeth in a iust homilie those words of Gene. 3. I will put enmitie betwixt thee and the woman betweene thy seede and hyr seede c. There is also an homilie as touchinge these words of the Psalm 9. I will declare all thy wonderous works Another of the words out of the Psalm 25. Leade mee in thy trueth and teache mee Agayne of the wordes out of the Psalm 27. The Lorde is my light and my saluation whom then shall I feare Moreouer of these wordes out of the Psal. 85. Be not angry with vs O Lord for euer Item out of the Psalm 122. Peace be within thy walles and plentiousnesse
iudgement when as wretched man is so many wayes euery where beset with perils and for the causes that he least supposeth found giltie of sinne For by this meanes the whole worlde is in daungered to God and God concludeth al men vnder vnbeléefe which neuerthelesse we may not so interpret to be done that he shoulde destroy all men and damne them for euer but rather that he shoulde haue compassion vpon all men and by that meanes set forth and make knowne his goodnesse euery where Howbeit these thinges doe admonishe all the sorte of vs that we should be sober vigilant ware circumspect and that we should studiously avoyde not onely open and manifest but also priuy and secret sinnes yea all occasion of sinne and euen suspition also We are lilke vnto Pilgrimes or to those that trauaile in a straunge and vnknowne country by waies in which we are euery moment in daunger of théeues wilde and venemous beasts waters downe falles such lyke hurtful and perillous things The diuell the worlde and our flesh doe neuer cease to lye in awayt for vs they séeke by a thousand wiles to draw vs into their nets and snares But we must resist valiantly striue against thē by faith prayers fastings by the word of God and other spiritual weapons which Christe the inuincible confounder of all vices and wicked spirites hath prepared hath vouched safe to shew vs how we should vse them 1. Pet. 5. Ephe. 5. Math. 4.17 c. Thou séest what great plenty of things doe offer themselues and how large fields are opened vnto him that wyll procéede after this maner Wherfore we will make an ende In asmuch as the other questions may be reserued tyll an other time namely that touching the causes of sinne and another touchinge the effectes of which sort in the scriptures are handeled no smal number and alas wretches that we be in so many troubles and calamities of our times great store may dayly be obserued But forasmuch as death also is numbred amonge the effects of sinne we will adde lykewise an example but briefely handeled as thouching this He that will speake therfore of death may aptly prefixe two questions out of which he shall finde sufficient plenty of matters that he may declare to the commodytie of his hearers Let them therfore be these What death is and what the effects of death For a description or definition of death this may be had Death is the penalty of sinne iustly inflicted of god vnto al men like as al men also are sinners It is deriued of the causes and aboundantly proued by the testimonies of the scriptures God threateneth the payne of death vnto sinners The reward of sinne is death Through one man sinne entred into the world and through sinne death and so death came vpō al men inasmuch as al we haue sinned In which place are touched the chiefe causes of death man I say sinne whervnto may be added out of Gene. 2. the the Serpent also or the diuell is the author of death which to the Hebrues 2. is sayd to holde the empier of death Heb 9 it is saide This is appointed to all men that they shall once dye and after that commeth the iudgement Out of which places diuers and sundry things may be drawen to demonstrate more amply what Death is And by like industrye may the godly be excited to true humilitie of minde to the contempt of carthly thinges to passe theyr lyfe in the feare of God to call vpon Gods mercy for the intigation of the paynes whiche we through our sinnes haue deserued c. When he shall come to the question of the effectes it shal be necessary to discerne the effects of death in the Godly from the effects of death in the vngodly and that partlye by this meanes first The godly are perswaded that death shal in no wise happen vnto thē to their condemnation destruction but rather to their health and saluation inasmuch as the sentence of dampnation now long since pronounced agaynst vs is by the death of Christe vtterlye cancelled and rased out The law of the spirite of lyfe through Christe Iesus hath made me free from the law of sinne and death Christe by his death hath abolished the power of death Christe hath once suffered for our sinnes the iust for the vniust that he might bring vs to god We know that if our earthly māsion of this tabernacle bee destroyed wee haue an other building of God a mansion not made with handes but eternal in heauen But as touching the vngodly◠they know that death is appointed to them as a moste bitter paine doe féele vndoubtedly the heauy iudgement of damnation by reason whereof it commeth to passe also that in temptations but chiefely in their extreame conflictes they are vehemently troubled afflicted and doe miserably faint and giue ouer I will not say for the most parte vtterly dispayre For what can they els doe in whom remayneth no hope or confidence at all touching the remission of their sinnes Euill shall slea the vngodly and they that hate the rightuous shall be desolate Secondly The godly forasmuch as they suffer continually many aduersities and so long as they liue in this worlde are vexed of the vngodly doe willingly longe after death and with ioyfull mindes imbrace it as they that are not ignoraūt that by it is giuen vnto them an entraunce to a happy blessed life I desyre saith Saint Paule to be dissolued and be with Christ We mourne inwardly in our selues for the adoption looking for the redemption of our body We grone in this our tabernacle longing to be translated into that which is from heauen And after a few words Wee truste and doe better lyke to be farre away absent from the body and to be present with God. And 2. Pet. 1. Death is called the putting off of this tabernacle On the other side the vngodlye for that they enioy héere in this life wealth prosperitie and all thinges happen vnto them for the moste part after their hartes desyre are plucked away sore against their willes and doe take it very grieuouslye if a man doth but once make mention of death vnto them But what followeth When they flatter themselues most of all and thinke to settle themselues heere most sure sayinge O soule thou haste great aboundance of wealth enioye it at thy pleasure Not long after yea the very same time when they least do suspect they héere it sayde Thou foole this night shall they fetch thy soule from thee And generally both of the godly and vngodly we reade 2. Thes 1. It is a rightuous thing with God to render vnto those that persecute you afflictiō vnto you that are persecuted peace tranquilitie with vs when our lord Iesus shall be reuealed from heauen And moreouer Abrahā saieth vnto the ritch man Luk. 16. Sonne remēber that thou in thy life time receiuedst
it was also conuenient to the intent all men might clerely vnderstande that Esay prophesied simply without any ambiguitie of Christ himselfe and of that very state of thinges which then was And albeit the applicatioÌ„ as Christ did exhibit it be not committed to writinge but onely the summe or state thereof expressed yet that it was very fitly and congruently prepared it appereth sufficiently by the wordes that the Euangelist addeth And all saith he gaue witnes vnto him and marueled at the grace of his wordes which proceeded out of his mouth Moreouer when the vngodly scoffers and deriders harde the Apostles speake with diuers tongues they were not ashamed to say that Thapostles were droncke and ouerladen with wine But Peter remoueth the vice of dronkeÌ„nes both from himselfe and from the rest of the Apostles and as the case then required interpreteth the prediction of Ioell the prophet to be fulfilled These are not droncke as yee doe suppose seeing it is but the thirde hower of the daye but this it is that was spoken by the prophet Ioel And it shall bee in the later daies sayth God I will poure out my spirit vppon all fleshe c. And so a litle after he applyeth them vnto those thinges that had happened sayinge Yee men of Israell here these wordes Iesus of Nazareth a man approued of God among you in miracles in signes and wonders which God did by him in the middest of you as you your selues also know him by the determinate counsell c. And againe Hee beinge therefore axalted on the right hande of God and hauinge receyued of his father the promise of the holy ghost hath shed forth this which ye now see heare c. But least any man should obiecte and saye that those prophesies were in such sort vttered in times past of Esay and Ioel as that they could not be expounded of any other thinges then those the happened in the time of Christ I will produce other examples that stretche further and may not vnaptly be referred to all times Saint Paule entending to shew how that men are iustifyed by faith without the workes of the law taketh a most strong and valyaunt reason of the example of Abraham whom the scripture pronounceth to be iustified by faith saying Abraham beleeued in God it was counted vnto him for rightuousnes And after diuers sundry reasons deduced out of the same testimonye he applyeth the very order of iustification to all sorts of men vniuersally of euery age and time in these words It is not written saith he for him onely that it was imputed vnto hym but also for vs to whom it shall be imputed if we beleeue in hym that raysed vp our Lord Iesus froÌ„ the dead Agayn to the Rom. xi Thapostle confirming that God hath not vtterly forsakeÌ„ the people of the Iewes whoÌ„ he knew before but that alwayes some of them shall be saued Knowe ye not saith he what the scripture saith of Elias How he maketh intercessioÌ„ to god against Israel saying Lord they haue killed thy prophets subuerted thine altars I am left alone they ly in await for my life But what saith the answer of God vnto hym I haue reserued vnto my selfe seauen thousand men that haue not bowed their knees to the image of Baal So therfore eueÌ„ at this time also are some left according to the election of grace And we sée the same example to be transferred of writers to the elect and true Church of all times But a most proâ—er and elegant forme of appilcatioÌ„ Saint Paule hath left vnto vs i. Corin. x. where he affirmeth that the fathers in the olde Testament vsed in déede holy misteries which might worthily be compared with oures but when they abstayned not from wickednes they were seuerely punished according as thei had deserued and were ouerthrowen in the wildernesse And these were figures saith he to put vs in remembraÌ„ce least we should couet after euill thinges as some of theÌ„ coueted And least wee should be worshippers of images as some of them were as it is writen The people sate downe to eate drinck and rose vp to play And that we should not be defyled with fornication as some of them were defyled with fornication and fell in one day three and twenty thousand And that we should not tempt Christe as some of them tempted and were killed of serpents Neyther murmer as some of them murmured were destroied of the destroyer Al these thinges happened vnto them by figures But they are writen for our learning vpon whoÌ„ are come the ends of the worlde Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heede least he fall c. These therfore and many other examples moe in like maner handeled we may perceiue to be applied to exhort and perswade men of all ages which through a certayne confydence they haue that they are once registred in the Church of God and doe vse in common the Sacraments are séene to become the more boulde vnto all kindes of sinne With no lesse diligence the Apostle to the entent hée might proue them the beléeue the Gospell and are iustified by faith to be frée from the burdens of the law declareth that it was long time before signified by an exquisyt type or figure of the two sonnes of Abraham the one borne of a bondmaid the other of a frée woman Of whom neuerthelesse he we omit many thinges for breuities sake betokening the law and those that séeke to be iustified by the lawe is commauÌ„ded with his mother to be cast out but to this imbracing the Gospel is the inheritaunce giuen to enioy He applyeth those wordes to his purpose in the beginnng saying Tell mee yee that will be vnder the law doe ye no heare the law For it is writen that Abraham had two sonnes c. Very wittely doubtles and pythyly to make them attent Againe in the ende Wherfore brethren we are sonnes not of the bondwoman but of the free womaÌ„ Stand therfore in the lybertie that Christ hath purchased for vs and bee not againe tangeled in the yoke of bondage Thapostle likewise by the way in serteth somwaht touchinge the vnquencheable haters and contentions of the same brethren and transferreth it to his yea and to our times and to all the posteritye of the Church saying Like as then he that was borne after the flesh percecuted him that was borne after thâ— spirite euen so it is nowe But ther is no néede that any thinge should further bée added séeinge euery man nowe may easely perceiue how and after what sort it behoueth vs to followe and imitate holy and diuine writers Howbeit if any man be desirous to knowe what maner of sayings chiefely out of the scriptures may and ought to be applied vnto things present and matters incident We briefely make him this answere that what thinges soeuer are occurrent in the canonicall Scriptures are rightly and duely to bée vsed so that as
or maners of the people doe require the same For at what time certaine vices and enormities begin to infect the multitude the ecclesiasticall Teacher shall in repressing of them duly and seasonably be altogether occupied First the sore is to be healed before it groweth to an incurable canker For To late is medicine sought When mischieues once by long delaies past all recure are brought And verily the Phisition of the soule shall first of all endeuoure himselfe to cut away the greater maladies then shall hée take in hande those that bée of lesser daunger IIII. And it is not to be passed ouer that Chrysostom sayde in his 4. homilie vppon the Epistle of S. Paule to the Philippians That then the Preacher ought to keepe silence when hee holdinge his peace and findinge fault with nothinge that is done there is sure and certaine hope that the euills which are committed may bee turned away but if the contrary commeth to passe so that he keepinge silence enormities are not onely not rooted vp but all thinges also become worse and worse then it is necessary that hee goe forwarde in reprouinge so much as hee may doe For hee that sharpely rebuketh sinners albeit he doth nothing els yet thus much bringeth he to passe that he suffereth not the mischiefe to growe any further And no lesse worthy to bée noted is that which Augustistine hath left writē in his booke 1. cap. 9. de ciuitate dei If therefore any man forbeareth to reproue and finde fault with wicked doers for that he awayteth a more conuenient time or feareth least by that meanes they should become worse or that other weaklinges which ought rather to bee enformed to a good and godly life should bee hindered and oppressed and turned from the faith this seemeth not to rise of any corrupte desire that hee hath but rather of the rule and aduice of charitie And after a fewe wordes in the same chapter They that are placed in the higher degrees of life prouiding for the most part for their fame safety whilest they feare the wiles inuasions of wicked men doe refraine themselues from reprouinge of them And although they stand not so greatly in doubt of them that they yelde through any their threateninges and impieties to perpetrate the like euils yet neuerthelesse the very same thinges which they commit not with them they will not commonly finde fault with when as peraduenture they might by reprouing correcte amend some least if they coulde not their owne safety and renoume should come into harsarde and decaye And this they doe not vppon that consideration whereby they see their credite and safety to be necessary for the profit of men to bee ēstructed but father thorough that infirmity wherby they are delighted with a fawninge and flattering tongue with a faire and calme day and whereby they feare the iudgement of the common sorte and vexation or destruction of the fleshe that is by reason of certaine bandes of couetousenes wherewith they are enwrapped and not for their duties sake of loue Thus much S. Augustine Wherefore by these thinges when and how far foorth it is lawful to intermit the reprehension of vices euery man may easely iudge Nowe what thinges remaine chiefely to be reproued V. There is no kinde of sinnes in which the Preacher ought to wincke and be tongue tied or that may be pretermitted without reproofe Therefore it is not inought egerly to inueigh and abandon such vices as are very great and heynous but euen those also shal be brought to the iudgement of the Church and called into question which the common people estéeme to be but trifles in respecte neither doe account them so great as in déede they are Prouided that those euills be spoken against with more diligence and vehemeny which are growne to be of greatest force with the multitude and by reason whereof greater inconuenyences are feared VI. In the meane time the godly Preacher must take heede least that beinge moued with the false reportes and surmises of some men hee fall to carpinge and comtrolling of certaine vices It is ouer often tried by experyence and that truely with the great offence of the whole Church but with the greatest perill of the estimation and good name of the preachers thmselues what masses of mischiefe the ouer hastines of some in beleeuinge euery one that commeth especially women and light persons haue brought in And AEneas Syluius reporteth in his booke de aulicorum miserijs that is touchinge the miseries of Courtiers how a certaine mā of Millaine in times past made a grieuous complaint to one Bernardinus a Preacher of all those that lent their money vppon vsury and that verely to this ende that when other shoulde ceasse and leaue off so to doe hee alone might reape huge gaines prayes by that trade Therefore neither those thinges that are noysed of the simple and ignorant nor those that be reported of subtill and craftye men shall the minister of the Gospell rashly admit forthwith to be declared out of the pulpit to the people The surest and saffest way is where at least be had lawefull méeting and consultations of the Elders of the Church to rebuke those crimes and enormities as touching which it shall be determined before in the selfe same assembly that they should openly be reproued and spoken against Now followe diuers thinges touching the maner of reproouing VII Whensoeuer it séemeth good to rebuke viees before all thinges it is necessary to premise certaine doctrine and reasons where out men though blunt and rude maye learne that those things which are of thée reprooued be very grieuous sinnes and such as deserue eternall damnation For very weake and slender is that reproofe or rebuke which is not grounded vppon Gods word and taketh strength therefrom And that is it that the apostle meaneth when after he had sayd improue rebuke exhort he wisely addeth that it must be don by applying of doctrine VIII And that all corrections ought not to be framed a like but one more bitter and vehement an other more milde and moderate is a things well knowen of it selfe partly by the kinde of crimes committed and partly by the state and condition of those men that are snarled and entangeled with the same crimes To the intent I saye not howe in the Sermons of the prophets and of Christ we may obserue the lyke trade looke what prudence and circumspection is requisite in driuing awaye the disseases of the body the same truely is required in expellinge the maladies of the minde And as touching this difference wisely to be made Chrisostom hath somwhat in the beginning of his Enarration of the Epistle of Saint Paule to the Galathians But it behoueth vs notwithstanding to declare where it shall be conuenient to giue place to the milder and where to the sharper sorte of rebukes First therefore of the milder sort IX There be certaine offences touching the amendement wherof it shall be