Selected quad for the lemma: world_n
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A08769
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The shepheard, or A sermon, preached at a synode in Durisme Minster, vpon Tuesday, being the fifth of April. 1608. By Thomas Oxley, Master of Artes, and preacher of Gods word
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Oxley, Thomas.
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1609
(1609)
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STC 19053; ESTC S105795
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16,556
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32
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In learning saith Chrysologus the wise man hath found what hath made him more skilfull The Warriour how to confirme his mind against all dangers The Prince how to gouerne his people with equality Nec aliqua in mundo potest esse fortuna quam literarum non augeat gloriosa notitia Nor can there be any condition in the world which the noble knowledge of learning doth not make more honourable Wherefore Socrates the wisest Philosopher that euer was being demaunded what creature was most excellent made answere Homo doctrina ornatus A man beautified with learning If this be so necessarie and commendable in euery calling how much more in the Minister and Messenger of God who is the eye of the world and as it were a Sunne in the Firmament of the Church to disperse the clouds of ignorance and giue light vnto such as sit in darkenesse And what maruell if wee call such Sunnes when our Sauiour himselfe said vnto such Vos estis lux mundi you are the light of the world Matth. 5.14 For as God in the beginning of the world did set the Sunne and other lights in the heauens to shine vpon the earth so in the firmament of the Church hee hath placed Bishops as Sunnes who onely properly may be said to be Sunnes because while others are but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Seers 1. Pet. 5.2 they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ouerseers and other teachers as the rest of the lights and starres to enlighten the mindes of men and to impart to others what they haue receiued from God themselues If therefore it belong to a Shepheard to teach his flocke how can he performe this if he hath not learning The Sunne cannot giue light if it be eclipsed no more can a Pastour performe his duetie who is drowned in the deepes of darke ignorance Where the case stands so what can follow but that which our Sauiour himselfe said If the light which is in you be darkenes how great is that darkenes Matth. 6.23 What is there in the whole office of a Shepheard that stands not in great neede of the light of learning for to iudge of the grounds of faith to take away contentions in the Church to decide Controuersies to instruct the people to discerne the Leaper from him that is cleane learning is so necessary that without it he can no more determine any thing then hee that is blinde can iudge of colours Wherefore the Lord purposing to bestowe a benefite vpon his people promiseth them Pastors according to his owne heart who should feed them with knowledge and vnderstanding Ier. 3.15 Which benefite will appeare the greater if we compare it with the contrary for that must needs be a great good the defect wherof is so great an euill And what an euill that is the Prophet Isayah will tell vs who reckoning vp the miseries of the people makes this one that God would take from them the Iudge and the Prophet the prudent and the aged the Counsellor and the eloquent man Isa 3.2 When the Apostle Peter was ready to lay downe his Tabernacle he did appoint that Clement an holy man and very learned should be his successor and gaue commandement that the same Clement should signifie so much in his letters to Iames the brother of our Lord then Bishop at Ierusalem And feare not saith he least hee be much sorrowfull for my death seeing he cannot doubt but that I suffer for righteousnes sake Erit autem ei grande solatium si didicerit quòd post me non imperitus aliquis Primo Tom. Concil aut ignorans Diuini verbi misterium Ecclesiastici ordinis disciplinam vel doctrinae regulam nesciens susceperit Cathedram meam And it will be a great comfort vnto him to know That no Illiterate Prelate ignorant of Gods word and Church discipline That no stranger to Learning and good Arts shall vsurpe my Chaire For he knoweth well that if some rude and vnskilfull Person should take vpon him the place of a Pastour the flocke wandring in the Thickets of ignorance must needes runne headlong to destruction Hitherto are the words of Peter as Clement himselfe relateth them in his Epistle to Iames at Ierusalem how true I cannot tell yet profitable I am sure for our instruction Since it appeares hereby how necessarie a thing Learning is in the place of a Pastor I will therefore passe from this to the next with that good saying of a godly man Ridiculosa res est vel potius periculosa Gilbert speculator caecus Doctor inscius proecursor claudus Praelatus negligens praeco mutus A blind Seer a lame forerunner a negligent Prelate and a dumbe crier is a thing ridiculous or rather dangerous As he must be learned so must he be louing The first makes him able Diligens the second willing Though hee speake with tongues of men and Angels yet if he hath not loue hee is as sounding brasse or a tinkling Cymball 1. Cor. 13.1 And this likewise ariseth out of the notation of the word For it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth a Sheepe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to desire earnestly or to seeke for it hath both Which loue how great it should bee who cannot coniecture by Christs thrice iterated Question to Peter Simon Ioannes diligis me plus his c. Iona louest thou me more then these Feede my sheepe Ioh. 21.15 As if he should haue said If thou louest me truely and sincerely if thou desire to glorifie my Name if thou loue my Sheepe as it seemes thou dost whose safetie is more regarded of me then mine owne life if for all the benefits thou hast receiued thou desire to gratifie me in any part and with loue to requite loue feede my Sheepe which I haue fed with my dearest blood for whilest thou feedest those thou feedest me in them thou fats me and dost nourish me and whatsoeuer thou bestowes on them thou conferres on me for I am hee who haue sometime spoken it Mat. 25.40 Whatsoeuer you haue done to the least of these ye haue done it vnto me This loue then of the Shepheard to the Flocke proceedes from the loue which hee beareth vnto Christ for hee doeth not say which is worthy your obseruation If thou loue my sheepe feede them which should seeme a good consequent Cum probatio dilectionis as S. Gregorie saith exhibitio est operis Greg. in Homil. When the proofe of loue is the performance of the worke But he saith Si diligis me If thou loue me feed my sheepe As if hee should say If thou loue me thou oughtest likewise to loue those things that are mine and belong to me and there is nothing more mine then my Sheepe are to whom I haue giuen my flesh for foode and my blood for drinke whom by my death I haue recald to life If therefore nothing bee more