Sermon 17 November 1599, To the reader
TO AL FAITHFVL CHRISTIANS, & true harted ſubiects that liue vnderunder the peaceable and flouriſhing regiment of Q. ELIZABETH, by the grace of God Q. of England, France, & Ireland: Grace mercy and peace in our Lord God everlaſting.
THE principal contents of this ſmal booke (loving friends and deere Country-men) comprehēdeth ſummarily, in one ſermon, a perſpicuous narration of the holy, honorable, and laborious, peregrination, of the Queene of the South,Mat: 12: 42… 1: King: 10: 2. Chro: 9: Luke: 11: who came from the vttermoſt parts of the earth, to Ieruſalem to heare the wiſedome of King Salomon. This hiſtory in the old Teſtament, is mentioned at large, by the ſacred regiſter thereof, inſpired by the holy Ghoſt: and this hiſtory is briefly and perſpicuouſlie alleadged, by our Saviour Chriſt,Ieruſalē &c How often wold I hauehave gathered thy childrē togither, as the hen gathereth her chickēs vnderunder her wings, and yee woulde not. Mat. 24.37. in the new Teſtament, by the way of compariſon, and inferred moſt pertinently to that ende, where-vntounto it was by him applied; namely, to convince the ſtiffe-necked Iewes of impious incredulity, and barbarous impiety: who at that time, to their owne confuſion, & eternal deſtructiō, refuſed the light of the …oſpel offered by our Saviors miniſtery vntounto thē; preferring obſtinately darkneſſe before the ſunne-ſhine of righteouſneſſe, errour before trueth, fooliſhneſſe before wiſedome, death before life.
This peregrination of the Queene of the South in the words before I tearmed Holy, Honourable, Laborious. Holy, in conſideration of the ſacred matters and divine treaſures, myſtically wrapped vp in the letter of this Hiſtory, recapitulated out of the old Teſtament by our Saviour in the New Honourable, in regard of the circumſtance of the action, and the condition of thoſe perſons who are in my text mentioned & deſcribed. Laborious in regard of the longe, toileſome, daungerous, and chargeable iourney that this wiſe and holy Queene vndertaketh, and by Gods aſſiſtaunce and grace in al honour, diſcretion, magnifical bounty, princely modeſty, & induſtry performeth.
This Text, how it fitted the time, place, and perſons; the mutual reſemblance, by the way of compariſon, in the two perſons, then ſpoken of in the ſermon, evidently declared: the annual celebrities of the 17. of November, being in theſe times yearely the day wherin this whole Realme giueth thanks to God, by publike ſervice, and ſheweth great ſignes of ioy, in each pariſh, and general aſſemblies, for the happy regiment of our Q. Elizabeth, plainely demonſtrateth.
Menander Plutarch foreign, &c As God …ath fixed in heauē the Sunne and the Moone, excellent reſemblances of his glory ſo in a citty God hath ordained the Prince to ſhine as a patterne & a …irror of his excellent Maieſty.The perſon in the Text by our Sa…iour commended is a woman; by birth, vocatiō, deſcent a Queene, by conſequente thereof, foreign, a liuing Image of God: And (as I hauehave by good reaſō proved in the ſermon) a Mayden Queene. The Perſon for whom we doe the 17. of November according to the rule of the B Apoſtle make ſupplication, praiers, interceſſions, & giuing of thankes is by ſexe a woman by birth, auncient deſcent, vocation, title, right of inheritance, and regal inveſture a Queene; by honour, integrity of life, grace given by God almighty from aboue, a Mayden Queene.
The Queene of the South a woman of great wiſdome, a woman endued with rare learning. The demonſtration and experience of the rare wiſdome & skil of tongues giuen by God to the Queene of England, hath not bin incloſed within the walles of her Courte, neither confined within the limits of her kingdome only, but hath beene ſounded in forraine nations, to her everlaſting honour, & great admiratiō, not by the reference of her owne people chiefly, but by the teſtimony of many wiſe & graue Embaſſadors ſent from mighty Princes and great ſtates to congratulate her Maieſty: with whom ſhe hath conferred in ſeveral languages,Learning is in poore mē, riches: in nobility, it ſhineth as gold: in Princes, like an o… ent pearle and gliſtering emeraud Mat. 12 42. 1 King 10 2 Chron. 9. Luke. 11. anſwering them readily in thoſe tongues, which they hauehave choſē of purpoſe to deliver their embaſſadge in.
The Queene of the South enchronicled in the holy writte of the olde Teſtament, and honoured by the teſtimony of our Saviour in the New, for vndertaking ſo great and worthy a iourney, as is ſpecified in the place marginally cor…: a iourney laborious, toileſome, perilous, chargeable, in regarde of the paines, place, perſō, &c. yet honourable in cauſe & …ffect: a iourney laborious, in regard of the greate diſtance betweene Meroe & Ieruſalem,Pomp. Mel. Africa inculta, arena ſterili obducta, ob ſitum coeli de ſerta, ſaepe multo ac mal…fico animaliū genere infeſta, &c. Africa ſerpentibus adeo faecūda eſt, vt mali meritò illi pot…ſſimum palma detur. Solin. cap: 40. Serpentum largo coquitur fecū da veneno Africa. Si…. Strabo. lib. 2. Herod. 4. Diodor. l. 4. Virg. Egl: 1. Sitientes ibimus Afros Galuſt. bell: lug. deſc. Afric. the ſubſtance whereof is diſcourſed at lardge in the ſermon: toileſome, in regard of the extreame heate whereunto thoſe countries, through the which ſhe was to paſſe, were by nature of the clymates ſubiect vntounto: perilous, in reſpect of the danger of thoſe viperous, venemous, and deadly vermine, which naturally each part of thoſe countries ingendreth: Chargeable, in regard of the traine that ſhe was attended and accompanied with, and in regard of the great magnificence wherewith King Salomon was by her in all regal bounty rewarded: Although the compariſon heere wil not holde betweene the Queene of the South & the Q of England for vndertaking a iourney &c. Yet nevertheleſſe how laborious, perilous, toileſome, chargeable the regiment of this mighty kingdome, in theſe daungerous daies, hath beene to Queene Elizabeth, al Chriſtendome knoweth to her great honour, & we her ſubiects doe acknowledge, glorifying God that hath wrought ſo great workes by her, for the eſtabliſhment of religion, and manifold good of this Realme.
The Queene of the South a daughter of peace; which appeareth partly by her learning, partly by her long peregrination: wherof the firſt is not ſo eaſily obtained without peace and quietneſſe: The other may be verefied to be true by the fruites of her peregrination. For it is to be preſumed to be a thing infallibly true, that ſhee durſt not hauehave vndertaken ſuch a iourney, vnleſſe her countries had beene ſettled in great peace at home. The Q. of England,Cicer. pro Muren. Simul ar que in crepuit ſuſpicio tumul tus, artes illicò omnes cōticeſcūt. Bach Lyri. foreign. Mr. A…ham ſpeaking of the Q in his School. maſter, fol. 19. Beſides her perfitte redines, in Latine, French, & Spaniſh, ſhee readeth heere nowe at Windſore more Greek every day, then ſome Prebendaries of ſome churches do read latine in a whol week. a mirrour of peace in theſe troubleſome daies, at her firſt cōming to the crowne, ſhe came, like the doue to the Arke of Noah, with the oliue leafe, a ſigne of peace, in her mouth, as I hauehave mentioned in my treatiſe adioined to the ſermon: & hath remained ever ſince, a continuer of that peace vvhichwhich was firſt brought in by Gods goodnes vnderunder her regimēt. For her Maieſties: learning I refer you to Mr. Aſcams teſtimonie marginallie coted, and ſpeake the leſſe of it, becauſe it is contained in that parte of the compariſon, wherein her skill in languages is mentioned.
The Queene of the Souths holy wiſdome thereby was ennobled, and deſerved everlaſting commendation, in that ſhee was an embracer of true religion, and with an holy zeale endured extreame paines and peril of a long iourney, to come to Ieruſalem, to bee reſolued in ſuch doubts by King Salomō, as concerned the grounds of her ſalvation. The Q. of England, a zealous imbracer of his doctrine whom K. Salomō ſhaddowed and prefigured, a defender of that faith, which the blood of Ieſus Chriſt hath ſealed & ſanctified. For the which, although ſhee hath not vndertaken any laborious peregrination, yet hath ſhee endured, for the defence and maintenance therof, many bitter ſtormes, and eſcaped by Gods goodnes many great dangers, which for the defence of the Goſpell hauehave beene complotted againſt her. They that doubt of this, let them but call to memory the fearefull danger of the Northren rebellion in the yeare of our Lorde,Stowes Chron. An. 1569. 1569. and the 12. yeare of her Maieſties raigne, blowne vp to a head by the bellowing of Pius Quintus bloody Bull, let them remember, I ſay, Babingtons & Ballards conſpiracy, Hardings imagery, Par…ies treaſons, and vnnatural cruelty; let them put before their eies the attempts of the Spaniſh fleete, 1588. the Popiſh leagues, cruel, pollitike, and vnmerciful confederacy, Lopez, & Squires poiſonable and venemous treachery. In the which doubtleſſe, we had al periſhed, & had bin ſwallowed vp quicke, if the Lord had not beene on our ſide,Pſalm. 124. and God had not giuen wiſedome to her, and her Counſell, to prevent the drifts of our mighty adverſaries.
The Queene of the South a rare Phenix, and a bright ſtarre eclipſing with the light of her vertue & knowledge al the Princes before her and after her in Aethiopia, as farre-forth as by any record of the Aethiopians Hiſtory it hath bin diſcovered vntounto vsus. How rare a Phenix the Q. of England hath beene, & how bright a ſtarre in theſe daies, our owne Chronicles can manifeſt, and the experience of her bleſſed regimēt this one & forty yeares demōſtrateth more evidently, then my pen can depaint. For in the fruits of her peace ſhe wil ſhine as a ſtar in the Catalogue of her honorable predeceſſours, and for her learning and wiſedome wil be as a Phenix renowned by many famous writers to the people of that age, which ſhal ſucceede her. Not meaning to preſſe this ſimilitude or compariſon any further, leſt I ſhould ſeeme to miſdoubt the diſcreete iudgment of the intelligēt Reader, to whom one word is ſufficient to inſinuate a matter of lardge diſcourſe: and ſince it is a point in al learning obſerued, that no compariſon, reference,Nulla ſimilitudo quatuor currit pedibus. or reſemblaunce ſimilitudinary ſhould hold in each part: and for that there are many things appropriate to the perſon of the Queene of the South, which cannot to any creature elſe be applied by any apt relation: And ſince al know that wiſedome,I meane the faithful Iames 1. learning knowledge, fortitude, mercy, &c. and al good & perfect giftes, as beames from the Sun, iſſue, and are derived and giuen from and by the Father of lights &c. and that no good nor perfitte gifte ſhineth in man, but what he hath receiued from aboue, and for the which he is bound to be thankful to God the giuer:Cirill: de recta fide ad pientiſſ. reginas. &c. I end this part with this ſentence of Cyrill: Vbi fides recta et irreprehenſibilis cum honorum operum honeſtate coniungitur, & aquo cur ſu admittitur, illic omninò eſt in omni bono perfectio, & ſanctificationis integritas: Where a right and vnreprovable faith is conioined with the excellency of good workes, and entertained in one current with them, ther is a perfection in al goodneſſe, and there flouriſheth the integrity of ſanctification.
I hauehave adioined to this Sermon (wherin I hauehave diſcourſed at lardge of each point of the Texte prefixed to it) an Apologetical diſcourſe not impertinēt to thoſe thinges, wherunto the application of the ſermon then tended wherein I hauehave fully and faithfully confuted al ſuch ſlaunders, wherewith our Natiue Country, and Gracious Prince hath beene vntruely and vncharitably charged & traduced by divers malicious adverſaries in the greateſt cōſiſtories of Chriſtendome, for that to the glory of God and honour of Q. Elizabeth the 17. of Novēber is yearely celebrated in feſtivall and ioyful manner by the ſubiects of this land in theſe times: our thankes giving to God being grounded on the Apoſtles precepts the 1.1: Tim: 2: to Timothy and the 2. Chap. our other exerciſes of ioy being of that quality as by Chriſtian people in moſt ages ſince Chriſts Incarnation hauehave beene vſed in the world,Euſeb: de vlt. pan. Conſt. 1.2. at ſet times, in the honour of their ſoveraignes.
The motiues that induced mee to vndertake the treatiſe of theſe matters were theſe. Firſt for that this argument fitted the vſe of the doctrine which I hādled in Paules the 17. of November Anno Domini, 1599. and was a neceſſary conſequent in the Application. Secondly for that by ſundry things expreſſed in the contentes of the Apologie each indifferent Reader may palpably deſcipher the fruites of venemous malice, and malitious diſloialty. Laſtly, for that this Apology may ſerue as a Caveat for al good ſubiects to beware of al ſeditious ſpirites, who, in ſuch places where they may be bold, and hope to paſſe away without controlement, ceaſe not to ſet abroach ſclaunders of this nature: hoping, by the intoxication of this venoum, to breede in many her Maieſties ſubiects a miſlike of the preſent government, a wearineſſe of wel-doing, a loathing of the ſincere and Apoſtolike religion, which by Gods bleſſing this flouriſhing Realme enioyeth in theſe times vnderunder the peaceable and bright ſunne-ſhine of Queene Elizabeths Regiment.
And although the Sermon runneth only in the general heades of diſcourſe: yet I thought it moſt expedient to handle the things contained in the Apology ſcholaſtically, or after the maner of Schools, partly for that the truth or falſhood of things of this quality wil eaſier appeare, and is ſooner brought to head and iſſue by queſtional debatement truely and faithfully collected and alleadged, then by long diſcourſing. Offring with al to ioine iſſues in this Argument, or any other now profeſſed or defended in the Church of England with any learned or modeſt adverſary, that ſhal vndertake to gaineſay any thing that is laid downe either in the Sermon, or in the Apologie. The learned and modeſt adverſary only I provoke. For reviling and ſclaunderous adverſaries deſerue no anſwer, but only that which Michael the Archangel in Saint Iude his Epiſtle giveth to Sathā foreign: The Lord rebuke thee. And as holy Zachary ſaith, foreign,72. Interp. foreign The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan, even the Lord that hath choſen Ieruſalem reproue thee, &c. Partly, I ſay, I hauehave entered into this manner of exerciſe, for that I hope by this forme of diſcuſſing, I ſhal provoke many of my ſonnes, (whom I ſo tearme, for that by my Academical ſervice in the Chaire of Divinity it hath pleaſed God that they ſhould be inveſted in the titles of Theological degrees) to ioine with me in this kinde of writing ſince (as the proverbe is) I hauehave begunne to breake the ice vntounto them in this matter, and ſaie vntounto them, not Ite, but Eamus, ſetting apart al excuſes, and ſhaking of al impediments. which vſuallie are ſuggeſted by Satans policie, and of purpoſe, to quench al good ſparckles that may kindle flames of light, apte to diſcover the pathes of Gods glory.
And although the vſe of diſcourſiue Divinity bee profitable for the Church of God, and is queſtionleſſe an holy, and a fruitful labour, if it be performed by men of learning and diſcretion: Yet nevertheleſſe in theſe times giuegive me leaue to thinke the Scholaſtical manner of writing more convenient, for the Church of God. Firſt for that in long diſcourſes quarrels are very often piked in wordes by cavilling and vnconſcionable adverſaries, and yeelde many evaſions to Sophiſtical wranglers, as appeareth by Stapletons Antidot: Stap Antid Stap. Tripl.and his Triplic: againſt Doctor VVhittakers Divers Tractes of Poſſevine a Ieſuite, printed Ann. Dom. 1…87. at Collen, to the which we may adioine diuerſe Pamphlets printed in High Almaine in the defence of Vbiquity: many of which bookes and manie others entitled with monſtrous names (as Calvinus Iudaïzans:Calvinus Iudaiz us Aſinus Avis. Calvino-turciſm. Aſinus Avis; Calvino-turciſmus) doe (in mine opinion) in moſt places reſemble the diſh that Prometheus in his banket entertained Iupiter with in deriſiō, covering the bones with skinne and ſinnowes, defrauding his gueſtes of the fleſh and fat: Of al which bookes and treatiſes I ſay with Saint Auſtin, Aug: conf. lib. 1. ca 15.Vae tibi flumen moris humani, quis refistet tibi? quamdiu non ſiccaberis? quouſ que volves Evae filios in mare magnū & formidolo ſum, quod vix tranſeunt, qui ligna tranſcendunt? that is, Woe be to thee thou wicked woont or common cuſtome of mankind, who ſhal croſſe the tide with thee? how long ſhal the floating of thy waters not be drained? how long wilt thou role the ſons of Eue to that great and troubleſome ſea, which they that paſſe them by ſhip can hardly eſcape:Pſal. 4. and with the holy Prophet David in the 4. Pſal. ô filij hominum &c. O ſonnes of men, how long wil ye turne my glory into ſhame? louing vanity, & ſeeking lies.
The ſecond reaſon why I thinke it moſt convenient, wherfore the moſt parte of controverſies ſhould be handled ſcholaſtically, is, for that long writing oftentimes bringeth a great diſadvantage to the Authors, & Readers, and ſerueth much the turne of the cavilling gainſayers. To the Author, for that longe diſcourſes oftentimes enforce him to reiterate & inculcat the ſame thing, and make him ſeeme tedious to the Readers: To the Readers, long diſcourſe breedeth incōveniēce. For the lēgth of the ſpeech, & the overmuch heaping of things conſequently one vpō an others necke, cauſeth a forgetfulnes of that which hath beene ſaid before: the memory and vnderſtanding of man beeing not infinite, but faculties finite infuſed by God to the reaſonable ſoule of man, and ordained to cōceiue knowledge & learning nō per intuitum, ſed per diſcur ſum, not by the firſt inſight, but by much diſcourſing and debating on all ſides, as the Schoolemen ſpeake.The School mēs diſtinction of Intuitus and Diſcurſus. The gainſaiers only get advantage therby. For at their pleaſures, Here they make an aſſaie, There they leaue,, Here they aſſault, There they relinquiſh, Here they wreſt, There they depraue Here they inverte, There they perverte wordes inveagling thē vpō each ſmal quidditie to turne thēſelues like changeable Proteus into al ſhapes:Homer. Odyſſ. 4. Plyny. de nura Saep. and in the end encourage them to play the partes of the fiſh Sapiae which (as Pliny ſaith) is accuſtomed to darcken the water, where hee is fiſhed for, with an effuſion as blacke as incke, attempting thereby to eſcape the handes of the skilful fiſher-man, angle hee never ſo skilfully, and ſufficiently. I am enforced in this vehemencie to vtter my minde, for that manie in theſe daies, I finde in writing rather to ſeeke glory of men then of God, and to dwel rather vponupon wordes then matter: which courſe of writing (as the Apoſtle ſaith) rather breedeth ſtrife,1. Tim. 1. c. v. 4. then godly edifying, that is, by faith. Yet (deare ſonnes and loving fellow-ſouldiours in Chriſt) let not this my cenſure be a diſcouragement vntounto any one (that approveth this order of dealing with the Adverſary) from his good labours, ſince no queſtion, (if any incline this way) this kinde of writing is a gift given him from aboue. Aſſuring him that my wordes heerein are no cauſes of diſcouragement vntounto him, or anie others that ſhal labor in this courſe; but I wiſh in the Lord that theſe admonitions may ſerue as caveats, and watchwordes, and wardwordes (as ſome of late hauehave written) to al ſuch as preferre this kinde before anie other, and take this the fitteſt field for them to beſtowe their manuring of: and the beſt ground to til; & the ground, which wil yeelde greateſt bleſſing to their labours. For their circumſpectneſſe herein wil doe great good both to the matter, and method. This advertiſement I thoughte good here to inſerte, as appertinent to the purpoſe, for that this kinde of writing vnleſſe it bee managed in ſuch ſort, as I hauehave ſpecified before, breedeth moſt inconvenience to the Author, troubleth moſt the Reader, and leaſt diſadvantageth the adverſary. But whether long diſcourſe, or ſcholaſtical method beſt ſerue your ſtudies, and bee moſt fit for controverſie writers, I wil not here further diſcuſſe, but refer each man in the Lord to his owne inclination, neither am I to preſcribe to any one what courſe to take, only I ſpeake therein mine opinion, as one that by Gods mercy hauehave long travailed in theſe exerciſes: and as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lorde to be faithfull. 1. Cor. 7.Aſſerteining that theſe 2.Plutarch. Virgil. Math. 25. waies are not like the Bivium of Hercules, neither the letter of Pythagoras, nor the right hād, nor the left in the day of iudgmēt. But, if they be wel handled, like the 2.Apoc. 11. Nazian. Tetraſt. 1. oliue braūches and two cādelſtickes which wil ſtand before the God of the Earth: And like thoſe 2. goodly pearles of life whereof Nazianzene ſpeaketh in his Tetraſtikes, of which whoſoever ſhal embrace either, he ſhal not looſe his labour. foreign: that is, both of them are fitte & louely.
But here I finde 2. ſortes of people miſliking my preſent exhortatiō. Firſt ſome wil deeme that by this diſcourſe I meane to reduce againe into the Church the olde Dunſery of the Schoolmen, long agoe cō demned in the world, & by ſpecial verdit exiled out of the Church, reputed by al graue and learned divines rather a trade of blinde Sophiſtry, then a right courſe of ſound divinity; To theſe that obiect vntounto me in this eager bitternes, I anſwere on this maner. If they meane the matters that the Schoole-mē debate in their darke and cloudie affected obſcurity, & prophane mixture of Philoſophie with divinity, let them aſſure themſelues, this courſe I condemne as wel as they, and repute ſuch ſchooles in many places worthy to be ſtriken with that thunder-bolte of the Prophets:Eſaiae. 1. Ier. 2. How is the faithfull city become an harlott? Thy ſilver is become droſſe, thy wine is mixte with water, My people hath forſaken me the founteine of liuing waters, & digg thē pittes evē, brokē pittes that can holde no water: VVhat haſt thou to doe in the way of Aegypt to drinke vp the vvater of Nilus? or vvhat makeſt thou in the vvay of Aſſur to drinke the vvater of the river? And that al that follow theſe courſes in that forme with them, are no better thē thoſe impure Philiſtines that filled the welles vvith earth, Gen. 28.that Abrahā the holy Patriarch had digged. If otherwiſe, I ſay, that noe man of learning and iudgement can iuſtly condemne the ſcholaſtical method, Their manner of briefe diſtinguiſhing, Their ſhort obiecting Their art of ſummary and material aunſwering, Their practiſe of ſhort & ſubſtātial concluding. Neither is this mine opinion alone herein but alſo the iudgment of Anthony Sadeele a man for knowledge of Divinity aboue al exceptions of any gaineſayer,Antonius Sadeele de vera methodo Theologicè ſimul ac Scholaſticè diſputā di. vntounto whoſe cenſure I doe appeale heerein, to whoſe opinion I doe ſubſcribe, & to whoſe tract of this Argument I referre the Readers. Aſſuring al learned Schollers, that if the droſſe & tinne of Schoole-divinity be purged and burned away by the true fire of Gods word, that the method of Schoole-learning is not lightly to be reiected, neither vtterly to bee condemned.
The ſecōd ſort of people that wil take offēce at this treatiſe are many ſuch as make ſuppoſal, that this perſuaſion of mine, if it ſhould take effect, would greatly hinder the vnſpeakeable benefitte vvhichwhich godlie preaching worketh in the Church amongſt Chriſtiā people. To this I anſwere. God forbid that this exhortation or any other by me vttered ſhould be anie impediment, or any waies a motion to hinder the gift of ſoule-ſaving preaching,1. Theſ. c. 5 cōcerning which the Apoſtle hath writtē to the Theſſalonians in this mā ner. Quench not the Spirit, deſpiſe not prophecying: which, becauſe it doth cōtaine theſe three benefits, namely, edification, exhortation, and coſnolation, the ſame Apoſtle preferreth before the miraculous giftes of tongues, which was the admirable treaſure giuen to the Church after our Saviour Chriſt his aſcenſion to be imploied to the gathering together of the Saints, and for the edification of Chriſts body. Yet I beſeech them that are of this mind faithfully & iudicially to examine how I ſhal refel by Gods grace this coniecturall ſuppoſal, and miſconceiued imagination. True it is I muſt confeſſe that the gift of preaching, in our church, and in al the Churches vnderunder the cope of heaven, is a ſacred and a moſt beneficial gift, if it be ſincerely miniſtred: that the true vſe of it is farre to bee preferred before the vſe of tongues, and many other giftes in the Church: that it was the ſumme of that cōmiſſion, which our Saviour gaue to his Apoſtles, both before and after his Aſcenſion:2 Tim. 1. v. 14. that it is foreign, or that worthy thing that P. commended to Timothy: and that thing which he was by the Apoſtle commaunded to deliver to faithfull men, which ſhould be able alſo to teach others: Yet this nothing impeacheth the true vnderſtanding of the former proiect, as by the grace of God it ſhal appeare by this ſequele.
There may be numbred in this Realme at theſe times neere 5000. Preachers, Catechiſts, Exhorters, God be praiſed, who increaſe the number of thē. The maine ſtreame and tide of Students in Divinity is caried wholie this way, not without ſome ſecret influence of Gods ſpirite, I doubt not: In the Vniverſities the greateſt nūber of ſcholers deſire to hauehave their names in the regiſter of the ſonnes of the Prophets: Now of theſe 5000. if there were but 50. able men dedicated to this worke, men qualified in gifts, men which like Hur & Aaron would hold vp Moſes hands,Exod. 17. whileſt Ioſhua and Iſrael diſcomfite Amalecke: I dare boldly ſpeak, that the ſtudies of theſe 50. faith fully imploied, (ſo that they would not imitate the children of Ephraim, who as it is ſaid in the Pſalme being armed and ſhooting with the bow, turned themſelues backe in the day of battell: Pſal. 78.) would rather helpe preaching, then hinder it, increaſe it; then diminiſh it; multiply it, rather, then ſubſtract any thing from it. The maſter that ſturreth at the healme, & the Pilottes that by their cards & ſea-markes diſcover the danger of ſhelues, ſands; and rocks, hinder nothing either the ſailers, or marriners: The ſcouts and tower-watchmen ſaue both Captaine and ſouldiour from many a danger. The kay-keepers of the little houſes, the coverwel-heads, and ſpring-cleanſers, (ſo that they keepe them free from poiſon & corruption) are the cauſes why the ſtreames of water that iſſue from the founteines, runne more purely; and why the rammes & ſheepe of Gods paſture may drinke of the liuing waters more delight…omely and ſafely. So in mine opinion if this or any other courſe of this quality be in theſe daies put in practiſe in the church by them that are the great overſeers therof: propheciing or preaching, Prophets and preachers wil bee more multiplied, the Adverſary better aunſwered, the glorie of God more advaunced.Eight and thirty thouſand 1 Chr 13. v 3. 1. Chr. 8 3 2. San…. 7. 1 King… …. …4 …5. Ca…tie 3. v. 7 8. Laſtly to aunſwere al in one word there were in Iſrael in the raign of David nūbred aboue 30000. Levits, perſōs eccleſiaſtical, Prieſts, muſicions, ſingers: and in the time of Solomon his ſon, I thinke that they were augmented, ſince King Davids time was a time of bloode, but Salomons raigne flouriſhed with peace: Yet the garding of the bed of Salomon, figuring the Arke duplicate page duplicate page the teſtimony, (as it is expounded by the Chaldee Thargum & Lyra his cōmētaries) & by cōſequēt therof a type of the church in the new Teſtament by three-ſcore armed mē of the valiant of Iſrael,Calde targum. Lira com mē experte in warre, of which every one had his ſword vpō his thigh, for the feare of the night. Was no impedimēt to the Prieſts, Levits, muſitiās, ſingers, & to thouſāds of ſuch as ſerved in the miniſtery of the Tabernacle, & taught Gods law to the people either in the Tēple at Ieruſalē, or in the ſeueral Sinagogs in the lād of Iſrael. This ſeruing to cōclude, I boldly may averre, as one that of the Lord hath obtained mercy, that 50. armed in the ſtudies of Divinity, furniſhed with skil of toūgs, laboriouſly exerciſed in the ſcripturs, ſtudiouſly cōverſāt in the fathers, wel acquaīted with the hiſtory of times, practiſed in ready writing, will be no more hinderāce of the thouſands of preachers of this land, following ſuch a courſe, as I hauehave mencioned, then the 60. armed men, that garded & warded the bed of Salomon for the terrors of the night were a ſcandal, or a clowd either to make Iſrael to fal, or to ecclipſe the light of the bleſſed countenance, of the Lord of hoſts, that ſhined more bright then the light of the ſun, vponupon the congregations of Iſrael.Eccle. 2. God grant that my words may be goads vntounto al the godly and good ſubiects of this Realme, for his Sonnes ſake, to whom with the Holy Ghoſt be al honor, glory, and praiſe, world without end, Amen.
T. H.