Sermon 24 August 1578, Part 1

Sermon 24 August 1578 · Part 1

p. 5The fyrſte braunche of the fyrſte Generall, namelye, the callyng of the Gentiles, and of caſting off the Iewes.

THe calling of the Gentiles (of the which I am to ſpeak ſomewhat,The callyng of the Gentiles. for that oure Cornelius was a Gentile; as hereafter ſhall more at large appeare) hath euident and plaine teſtimonies of holy Scripture in many and ſundry places: amongeſt the reſte, theſe chieflye:Zach. 9.10.Zech 9:10 He ſhall ſpeake peace vntounto the Heathen, and his dominion ſhall be from ſea vntounto ſea, and from the riuer vntounto the ende of the lande. Againe:Mich. 1.2.3.4.5.Mic 1:2Mic 1:3Mic 1:4Mic 1:5 But in the laſt dayes it ſhall come to paſſe, that the mountaine of the houſe of the Lord ſhal be prepared in the toppe of the Mountaines, and it ſhall bée exalted aboue the hylles, and people ſhall flowe vntounto it, yea many nations ſhal come and ſay: Come, and let vsus p. 6go vp to the mountaine of the Lord, and to the houſe of the God of Iacob, and he will teache vsus hys wayes, and we will walke in his pathes. For the lawe ſhall goe forth of Sion, and the worde of the Lord from Ieruſalem. And he ſhal iudge among many people, and rebuke mighty nations a farre off, and they ſhall breake their ſwordes into mattockes, and their ſpeares into ſithes: nation ſhall not lifte vp a ſword againſt nation, neyther ſhall they learne to fight any more. But they ſhall ſit eueryevery man vnderunder his Vine, & vnderunder his Fig trée, & none ſhall make thē afraid. For the mouth of y^e Lord of hoſtes hath ſpoken it. For all people wil walke eueryevery one in the name of his God, & wée will walke in the name of the Lorde our God, for euer and euer. Likewiſe, yea al Kings ſhall worſhip him,Pſal. 72.11.17.Ps 72:11Ps 72:17 and all natiōs ſhall ſerue him. And againe, all nations ſhall bleſſe him, and be bleſſed in him: Moreouer,Pſal. 2.8.Ps 2:8 aſke of me, and I ſhall giuegive thée the heathen for thine inheritaunce, and the endes of the earth for thy poſſeſſion.Eſal. 19.18. Furthermore in that day ſhall fiue p. 7Citties in the lande of Egipt ſpeake the language of Canaan, & ſhal ſweare by y^e Lord of Hoſtes. &c. In like maner,Eſai. 42.11.12.Isa 42:11Isa 42:12 let the wilderneſſe, and y^e Cities thereof, lift vp their voice, the townes that Kedar doth inhabite: Let the inhabitāts of the rocks ſing: Let them ſhowte from the toppe of the Mountaines: Lette them giuegive glorie vntounto the Lorde, and declare his praiſe in the Ilandes.

And to this effect in moſt comfortable ſorte, is almoſte the whole .49.The callyng of the Gentiles ſignifyed by diuers examples in the ſcripture chapter of this Propheſie. Héereof alſo hauehave we in the Scripture manye figures, and examples. For what elſe doeth the clenſing of Naaman the Syrian from his leproſie, by the Prophete Elizeus ſignifie,Naaman. but that a time ſhoulde one daye come, when as the heathē by faith in the death and bloude of Chriſte ſhoulde be purged of the ſpirituall Leproſie of their ſoules, whiche is ſinne? What meaneth the ſending of Ionas to the great Citie of Niniuie,Ionas. but that God is a God of the Aſſyrians, as well as of the Iewes: a Sauiour of the Gentiles, as well as of the p. 8Iſraelites?Iob. What doe we learne by the incredible faith, and wonderfull patience of Iob, who was a Heathen, but that God, euen among the Heathē, hath thoſe that are of hys Churche? What, that Chriſte hymſelfe concerning the fleſh,Chriſte. vouchſafed lineally to deſcend of thoſe, of whome ſome of them were Heathen, as Thamar a Cananite,Thamar. Ruth. of whome were borne, Pharao, and Saram: as Ruth a Moabite, of whome was borne Obed. Doth it not to our great comfort, learne vsus that are Gentiles, that Chriſte is borne a Redéemer, aſwell to vsus, as the Iewes. In that immediatlye after the byrth of Chriſt,The wiſe mē Wiſe men came from the vttermoſte parts of the Eaſt to worſhip him: what are we taught, but that the kingdome of Chriſte ſhould ſtretche from the Eaſte vntounto the Weaſte, and from the one Sea to the other? Whereas Chriſte healed the ſeruaunte of the Centurion,The ſeruant of y^e Cēturiō. The ſonne of the Courtier. cured at Capernaum, the ſonne of the Courtier (for the worde foreign ſignifyeth pertayning or belongyng to the kyng) holpe the daughter p. 9of the Canaanitiſhe woman, poſſeſſed with a Diuell,The woma… of Canaan. The woma… of Samari… The calling of the Chamberlayne, an… of Corneliu… called the woman of Samaria, ſent Philippe to the Chamberlaine of Candace Quéene of Ethiopia, and Peter from Ioppa, to this oure Cornelius, all whiche were Heathen: doeth not all theſe ſufficientlye proue the calling of the Gentiles? But why in a matter doubtleſſe, doe I vſe proofes not neceſſarye?

I come nowe to ſpeake of the caſting off of the Iewes,Of y^e caſting off of the I whych I wyll handle brieflye, and afterwarde laye before you, what wée may learne of the callyng of the one, and refuſing of the other.

In the twentith Chapter of Mathew, Chriſte ſayeth to the Iewes thus: Therfore ſaye I vntounto you, The Kyngdome of God ſhall be taken from you, and ſhal be giuen to a nation whiche ſhall bryng forth the fruites thereof. Paule in the .13. of the Actes, ſpeaketh to the obſtinate Iewes after this maner: It was neceſſarye, that the worde of GOD ſhoulde fyrſte hauehave béene ſpoken vntounto you: But p. 10ſéeing you putte it from you, and iudge your ſelues worthy of euerlaſting life: Lo, we turne to the Gentiles. And for confirmation of their ſo doing, they alleadge the wordes of the Prophet I ſay:…. 49.6. I hauehave made thée a light of the Gētiles, that thou ſhouldeſt be the ſaluation vntounto the end of the world. And to y^e Romanes he ſaieth:Rom. 10.29.20.21.Rom 10:29Rom 10:20Rom 10:21 I will prouoke you to enuy by a nation that is not my nation, and by a fooliſh nation I wil anger you. And Iſaias is bolde and ſaieth: I was founde of them that ſoughte me not, and hauehave béen made manifeſt to them that aſked not after me. And vntounto Iſraell he ſaieth: All the day long hauehave I ſtretched oute mine hande vntounto a diſobedient and gaine-ſaying people. To this purpoſe maye you reade muche in the .9. and .11. Chapiters of this Epiſtle. Moreouer the Prophetes euerye where are full of threatnings vntounto the Iewes, that they ſhoulde be caſte oute, and the Gentiles taken into their roomths.

Beſides theſe playne Scriptures, it ſhall not be néedfull for mée to alleadge, p. 11…xamples of theyr reiection. For (alas) …heir miſerable and lamentable diſperſi…n, and ſcattering abroad ouer the face …f the earth at this daye, and greate ſla…erie and bondage that they liue in, in …he places where they are ſcattered, are …ufficient teſtimonies, that GOD his …eauie iudgementes are come vppon …hem.

And theſe thinges wil ſéeme ſo muche …he more wonderfull in oure eies, if wée …onſider with how neare a bande of louelove …nd fatherly kindneſſe GOD tyed him…lfe, as it were vntounto his people, & what … barre of partition, and mightie wall of …paration, he ſet betwéene them and vsus. …ſomuche, that as well in Ceremonies, …nd Religion, as in other matters of life common trafficke, they were ſtraight… forbidden to hauehave any manner of fe…wſhippe or familiarity with the Gen…les, ſo that the very entraunce of one …ccirumciſed into theyr Temple, …as accompted a Prophanation, …d alſo a defyling of the ſame whyche p. 12the Lord himſelfe ſaieth by his Prophet Ezechiel:…zech, …4.6.7.9. Thus ſaieth the Lorde God, O houſe of Iſrael, ye hauehave ynough of all your abhominations, ſéeing that ye hauehave broughte into my Sanctuarie ſtrangers vncircumciſed in hearte, and vncircumciſed in fleſhe, to be in my Sanctuarie, to pollute mine houſe. And by and by after. Thus ſaieth the Lorde God: No ſtraunger vncircumciſed in hearte, nor vncircumciſed in fleſh, ſhal enter into my Sanctuarie, of any ſtraunger that is among the children of Iſrael. And by his Prophet Ieremie,Ierem. 9.25.Jer 9:25 the Lorde threatneth to puniſhe eueryevery one, whoſe foreſkinne is not circumciſed or cut off. But of the Iewes he ſayeth by Moſes:Deut. 7.6.Deut 7:6 For thou arte a holye people vntounto the Lorde thy God, the Lorde thy GOD hath choſen thée, to be a pretious people to hymſelfe, aboue all the people that are vppon the earth.

Alſo of Ieruſalem he ſpeaketh by the Prophete Iſaias: Ariſe, ariſe, putte on thy ſtrength,Iſaias. 25.1.Isa 25:1 O Sion, putte on the garmentes of thy beautie, O Ieruſalem, p. 13the holye Cittie: for henceforthe there ſhall no more come into thée the vncircumciſed, and the vncleane. In reſpect of theſe great promiſes, and many more that are in the Scriptures of GOD, his greate good will, and ſpeciall mercy towardes them, togyther with the remembrance of God his miraculous dealyng, for their deliuery oute of the handes of all their ennimies, and the greate glorie and royalneſſe of their Temple of whiche they were wonte ſo muche to cry:Ierem. 7.4.Jer 7:4 the Temple of the Lorde: the Temple of the Lorde: the Temple of the Lorde: as wée reade in Ieremy: they vtterlye contemned and deſpiſed the Gentiles, thinking them to bée wholly debarred from the couenaunte of the LORDE, in ſo muche that they dydde as greatlye abhorre and deteſte the name of a Heathen, as wée doe nowe the name of a Iewe or Turke, or ſhoulde doe the name of a Papiſte, ſo long as they continue in their wicked ſuperſtition: yea the Apoſtles themſelues a long ſeaſon, coulde not be perſuaded, that ſaluation p. 14belonged to the Gentiles, ſo that you reade afterwarde in thys ſtorie of the Actes,…ct. 11.2.3. &c. howe Peter was ſharpely reproued for preachyng the worde to thys oure Cornelius, and others of the Gentiles.

The application of the doctrine of the calling of the Gētiles, and caſting off of the Iewes.Foraſmuche then as the Iewes to whome (as Paule ſpeaketh) appertayneth the adoption, and the glorie, and y^e couenauntes, and the giuing of the law, and the ſeruice of GOD, and the promiſes, of whome are the fathers, and of whome concerning the fleſhe, Chriſte came, are (as we ſée at this day) caſte off, and the Heathen wallowing in ſuperſtition, and Idolatrye, hauyng no Faith, no GOD, no Religion certaine: euerye manne runnyng after the fancies of hys owne brayne, are taken in their ſteade, as hathe appeared by teſtimonye of the worde, and manye examples of the ſame, and amongeſt the reſte, this of oure Cornelius, whome we maye not amiſſe terme, of the firſt fruites of the Gentiles.

What hauehave we to learne, (for nowe p. 15I come to the application of this, hitherto ſpoken of the receyuing of the Heathen, and of caſting off the Iewes) for oure comforte or admonition, out of this wonderfull dealing of God, bothe towards the one and the other?

By the off caſting of the Iewes,Ingratitud… and diſobedience to Go… and his wor… God alwaie… ſeuerely p… niſheth. béeyng the peculiar and choſen people of GOD, wée doe learne fyrſte, that ingratitude and diſobedience vntounto God, and hys word, is a vice ſo odious in hys ſighte, that he will not let it eſcape vnpuniſhed in any nation whatſoeuer, but will reuenge it with horrible plagues. For if he ſpared not the naturall braunches, truly he wil not ſpare the vnnaturall: if he cut off thoſe of the true Oliue trée, he wil hewe downe alſo, thoſe of the wilde: if he hauehave ſhewed ſuche tokens of hys Iuſtice vponupon his owne people offending, with what ſcourges will he chaſten the rebellion of ſtraungers?The ſynnes of the Iewe… And as the ſinnes of hys people were maruellous great, ſo was their puniſhment wō derfull fearefull.

They ſcorned the Prophets of y^e Lord: p. 16they themſelues are now a cōmon ſcorne and laughing ſtocke vntounto others. They killed, and perſecuted the ſeruauntes of God ſēt vntounto them for their health: they themſelues to their great woe and miſery hauehave bin ſlaine, murthered, and killed. They refuſed Ieſus Chriſte himſelfe their Sauioure, ſolde hym for thirtye pence by the hande of Iudas, and choſe rather a cut-throat murtherer, than that they woulde hauehave Chriſte ſette at libertie: and they thēſelues hauehave bin reiected by Chriſt, and thirty of them at the ſiege of Ieruſalem ſolde for a penny, and cruelly ſlaine by cut-throate and mercileſſe murtherers. They cry, his bloud be vponupon vsus and oure children: and they hadde their deſire at the full, when their Cittie was taken. For their olde menne were ſlaine in their beddes, their yong men in the ſtreates, yong infants murthered at their mothers breaſtes, little children diſpatched in their nurſes lappes: and to be ſhorte, bloude they aſked, and bloude they hadde, in ſuche abundaunce iſſuing from the greate multitudes of them that p. 17were ſlayne, that the channels of theyr ſtréetes ranne with ſtreames of whot… …reaking bloud (a wofull and lamentable ſight to behold) in as great plentie, as you ſée them héere vſually wont to do, after a greate ſhoure of rayne. They ſhut their eares at y^e pitifull complaynt of the poore, thēſelues ſinning in exceſſe of meate, as it is caſt in their teth by y^e Prophet, & cōtrary to y^e expreſſe cōmandemēt of the Lord, who ſtreightly charged, that there ſhould be no begger in Iſraell: they hadde theyr ſtréetes and high wayes ſwarming wyth beggers, and themſelues afterwardes were ſo puniſhed with famine, that they were conſtreyned to eate (ſauing youre manner) moſt lothſome and vile things, as their owne vomite and excrementes, and that whiche is moſt vnnaturall and barbarous, they did eate their owne children, and yet could not be let alone wyth thys mercileſſe meate, but the vnmercifull and hungerſtaruen Souldiers would breake in, and by force take it frō them. They baniſhed, and draue out of theyr Cities and territories, the Apoſtles of p. 18Chriſte ſuffering them to hauehave no place nor abode amongſt them, and they themſelues are nowe driuen and baniſhed from thoſe places, and are become a byworde and reproche in thoſe places where they in ſmall number dwell, carrying a note of reproche on theyr garmentes, that they may be knowen from other people: and that whiche is moſt horrible, they refuſed the word of ſaluation, the foode of theyr ſoules, and therefore hathe GOD taken it from them, and bereaued them of the comforte, that they myghte reape by the vnderſtandyng of it. For albeit they hauehave the olde Teſtamente, yet GOD hathe ſo fearefully puniſhed theyr diſobedience, that they vnderſtande it not in the Hebrewe tong wherein it is written, and whiche was ſometyme theyr owne mother tong, they vnderſtande it not (I ſaye) one amongſt an hundreth, theyr Rabbines excepted, but it is vntounto them, as the Lattine ſeruice was vntounto vsus: yea theyr Rabbines themſelues whyche vnderſtande p. 19the ſignification of the wordes, are farre from the knowledge of the meaning of the ſame, and that (as I take it) of malice, eſpecially in the matter of the Meſſias Chryſte Ieſus oure Sauioure, whome they vtterlye deteſt, and abhorre, lookyng yet ſtyll for another to come to delyuer them: Beſydes that, they hauehave horribly corrupted the holye Scripture, by their falſe interpretations, and Iewiſhe, and olde wyues fables. Theſe horrible vices, deſerued thys fearefull reiection, and ſo muche the rather, for that they contemned the admonitions, and the forewarnings of the Prophetes and Apoſtles, yea of Ieſus Chryſte hymſelfe, ſo that henceforthe in the Storye of the Actes, you ſhall heare very little mention made of the Iewiſhe Churche, but to theyr reproche,Let vsus lear… the puniſhin… of the Iewe… to auoyde t… like ſinnes. for all the glorye thereof, is tranſlated to vsus of the Gentiles, GOD make vsus thanckefull for it. Lette vsus, beloued, learne wiſedome by their harmes, lette theyr ſtubberneſſe and diſobedience teach p. 20obey,…t vsus learne … the pu…ſhment of …e Iewes, … auo…de the …e ſinnes. let their vnthankefulneſſe make vsus thankefull, let their negligence make vsus carefull, leaſt being partakers with them of their ſinnes, wée hauehave parte alſo of their puniſhment. God warned them, he hathe and dothe dayly warne vsus. He ſpake earely and late vntounto them by his Prophets, he likewiſe dayly and hourely calleth vsus by his Preachers. Their priuiledges and many bleſſings aboue other nations could not priuiledge them from God his vengeance, for theyr great cōtempt, but rather increaſed their puniſhmente for abuſing them: ſo ſhall his great mercies towardes vsus Engliſhmen,…he more …enry we …ue of God …s bleſſings, …e greater …ll be our …niſhment … abuſing …em. aboue manye other nations, make his iudgements more heauie, if we ſhew not our ſelues thankefull, and bring forth the frutes of repentance and amendment of life. And to thée I ſaye, O London, whoſe ſaluation in the Lorde I hartily tender, and on whome God hath ſhewed more tokens of his fauour and louelove, than on anye other Towne or Citie of thys land, in bleſſing thée with plenty of Preachers and teachers, ſée that thy liuing be p. 21anſwerable to thy knowledge, and thy manners agréeable to thy teaching, otherwiſe I aſſure thée, it ſhall fall out vntounto thée, as it did vntounto theſe Iewes:God vſually doth greatlieſt bleſſe th… greater citi… with the Preaching his word, a… greatiyeſt plague the… for the contempt of the ſame. for as it hathe bin a thing at all times vſuall with God, vppon the greateſt Cities to ſhew greateſt tokens of his louelove, and to enlighten them with greateſt knowledge of his word, that from them, other places of the lande, as it were little fountaynes from the great Springs, may drawe good inſtructiōs, and learne by their examples, to purſue after the like knowledge: euen ſo he beginneth firſte to puniſh thoſe places, where he hath ſhewed moſt mercy, if they abuſe his mercy, and contemne hys graces, yet in ſuch order, that he alwayes giueth them forewarning of the ſame by his ſeruants, that if they amend not, their puniſhment may be the iuſter. So before the floud, he ſente Noah: before the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah, he ſente Lot: before the deſtruction of Canaan, Abraham, Iſaac, and Iacob: before the ouerthrow of Pharao, Moſes and Aaron? before the captiuitie of the Iewes many p. 22Prophetes: before the euerſion of the Niniuites Ionas: before the ſéege of Hieruſalem, and this caſting off of the Iewes, (in which I ſtand the longer, bycauſe it conteyneth profitable admonitions for our times,) Chriſt himſelfe, and hys Apoſtles.

We people of Englande hauehave enioyed the Preaching of the Goſpell nowe theſe twenty yeares, and God graunte we may many moe yeares enioy it, we hauehave hadde, and at this preſent hauehave manye Godly, zealous, and learned Preachers, the Lorde for his Chriſtes ſake, dayly increaſe the number of them, whiche lay before vsus out of the worde, God hys greate bleſſings beſtowed vppon vsus, and oure greate vnthankefulneſſe for them. And you héere in London, out of thys place, and others, eeuery foote are admoniſhed, and put in mynde of youre duties, but both we of the Countrey, and you of the Citie, for the moſt parte, contemne it. We are lyke vntounto the children of Iſraell, we are wéerie of the Heauenly Manna, the worde p. 23…f life, the foode of our ſoules, for the …bteyning whereof, whych wée ſo ſcorne…ully deſpiſe, manye of oure poore brée…hren in other Countreys, hazzarde both …yfe and goodes. What remayneth therfore, but that GOD, if we doe not …péedyly repente, ſhewe tokens of hys wrath vppon vsus, as he did vppon the Iewes? And you héere of London, hauehave good experience of that,England …eaty of the word preached. whyche a little before I ſpake, namely, that as GOD commonlye more plentifullye bleſſeth the greater Cities, ſo for theyr contempte, they hauehave more plentifull taſt of hys plagues before other places. For t…ll mée, I pray you, what contagious ſickneſſe, or daungerous diſeaſe is there, but for the moſt parte you hauehave the firſte, and the greateſt viſitation with it? And doe you thynke that we of the Countrey ſcape ſcotfrée? yet for al this, what is oure behauioure towardes the worde of eternall lyfe? Wyll not a fylthye playe,More reſorte to playes, thā to Sermons wyth the blaſt of a Trumpette, ſooner call thyther a thouſande, than an p. 24houres tolling of a Bell, bring to the Sermon a hundred? nay euen héere in the Citie, without it be at this place, and ſome other certaine ordinarie audience, where ſhall you finde a reaſonable company? whereas, if you reforte to the Theatre, the Curtayne, and other places of Playes in the Citie, you ſhall on the Lords day hauehave theſe places, with many other that I can not recken, ſo full, as poſſible they can throng, beſides a greate number of other lettes, to pull from the hearing of the worde, of whiche I will ſpeake héereafter. And do you thinke that ſo long as theſe enormities are ſuffered, the plague, and ſuch other like infectious ſickneſſes, which in the .28. of Deuteronomie the Lorde threateneth to ſende as ſcourges, for the contempt of his worde, ſhall ceaſſe and diminiſhe amongſt you? nay, they be meanes for them to rage more fiercely, and to cauſe God to ſende new plagues among them, for as we are wittie to committe newe ſinnes, ſo the Lord dayly prepareth new puniſhments to correct vsus withall, in ſo muche, that he p. 25…iſiteth our newe ſinnes with ſuch newe and ſtrange diſeaſes, as the names are vnknowen vntounto vsus, and neuer hearde of of our forefathers, yea our beſt Phiſitions know not which way to turne theyr hands to heale them. I can not but commend the laudable policie, and diligente endeuour of the righte Honourable my Lorde Maior, and the worſhipful Aldermen his brethren, for the preuenting of infection, by commaundyng mens houſes to be kept ſwéete, and the ſtreates cleane, with other ſuch like wayes.The plague will not be carried out in a Dung-Courte. But beleue me (deare brethren) the plague can not be carried away in a dung curte. What auaileth it to hauehave ſwéete houſes and ſtinking Soules? pleaſant ſmelling chābers, and grieuous ſauoring mindes? cleane & fayre ſtreates, and foule and filthy hearts and conſciences? As I do not diſlike theſe outward clenſings, ſo I beſéeche you, let eueryevery one of vsus labor for the inward purging and ſcouring of our Soules: hauing …he worde, let vsus frame our liues accor…ing to y^e word, let our godly liuing be a …eſtimonie of our profitable vnderſtanding, p. 26let vsus as we be talkers, ſo likewiſe, be walkers: as we be profeſſours, practiſers: as ſpeakers, doers: as ſayers, followers: and then ſhal our godly liuing with our right vnderſtanding: our chriſtiā walking, with our vertuous talking: our ſober practiſing with our honeſt profeſſing: our doyng with our ſaying: oure following with our ſpeaking, ſtrike vppe ſuch a pleaſant harmonie and ioyfull melodye in the eares of our GOD, as hée wyll bryng vppon vsus in greate mercye all thoſe bleſſings whiche in the forenamed 28. of Deutronomie he promiſeth to thoſe that heare, and alſo doe all that whiche hée commaundeth: 1whereas otherwiſe if we ſhal ſtil with theſe Iewes continue contemners of his worde, we ſhall heare with them to our great paine and miſerie: Beholde yee deſpiſers, and wonder and vaniſhe away: For I worke a worke in your dayes, a worke whiche yee ſhall not beleeue, if a man would declare it you. The Lord (I ſay) for our cō tempte will take his worde from vsus a… p. 27he did from the Iſraelits, and beſtowe it on ſuche as will both make more accompte of it, and alſo be more thankefull for it, which by this that hath fallen out to the Iewes, the LORDE for his Chriſtes ſake make vsus to be.

We hauehave ſecondlye to learne out of thys reiection of the Iewes,God is tyed to no place nor perſon. being (as you hauehave heard) vnited vntounto GOD in ſuche ſpeciall ſorte, as hee neuer dealte ſo with anye nation, that GOD is not tyed to anye place or perſon, albeit they bragge neuer ſo muche of antiquitie, ſucceſſion, vnitie, vniuerſalitie, or what other glorious or gorgious ſhewe ſoeuer they pretende, but that when they ſcornefullye caſte hym off, he …uſtlye forſaketh them. Let vsus not there…ore be deluded wyth vayne titles, nor …orne out with greate wordes. It is not …eruſalem, Alexandria, Conſtantinople, …or Rome, that GOD is bounde vn…o. Let the proude Prelate of the ſea…en hilled Citie, with his purple Car…nalles, and horned Byſhoppes, p. 28and the whole route of his ſhorne and greaſie rabble come forth, and ſhewe me if they can for their lyues, the like cauſes that theſe Iewes had to glorie off, and yet had they all them and many moe, the greater ſhoulde be their puniſhmente in abuſing them as they hauehave done. Hath not the Pope with his adherēts as much boaſted of his gaye titles, as euer theſe Iewes did, and as proudely diſdayned the true profeſſours as euer they did the Gē tiles? was it not a receiued opinion within theſe fewe yeres, that out of the church of Rome there was no ſaluation, like as the Iewes thought the Gētiles to be altogither ſtrangers from the promiſe? Are not theſe their common out cries, the Churche, the Churche, the Churche, our moſt holy father, moſt reuerende father, moſt godly father, moſt learned Doctors, moſt chriſtian Doctors, moſt light Doctors, moſte lighthened, I woulde ſaye, moſt Seraphicall Doctours: and againſte vsus, Lollardes, Heretickes, Schiſmatickes, Hugonots, Lutherans, Zuinglians, Caluiniſtes, Sacramentaries, and p. 29what not? hauehave they not as deſpightfully and cruellye handled vsus, as euer the Iewes did the Prophets of the Lorde? yea hauehave they not gone beyonde them in forbiddyng vsus the readyng of the bookes of our GOD, and for the ſame burned vsus and the worde of oure GOD too? The Lorde therefore in great iuſtice hath reiected them for all their vaine boſtings, like as he did the Iewes, and hathe broken the yoake of their Tyrannie from this and manye other nations, his name be prayſed for it, and in the ende, with the breath of his mouth wil vtterly confounde them.

As you hauehave ſéene in theſe Iewes a fearefull example of God his wonderfull iuſtice in caſting them off for their offences:In y^e calling of y^e Gentiles is a notable token of God his gret louelove. ſo in receyuing of the Gentiles you hauehave to conſider a notable proofe and experience of hys ſurpaſſing louelove and vnſpeakeable merciemercy. For what was there in the Gentiles ouerwhelmed with errour, blynded wyth ignoraunce, prone to all kinde of ſuperſtition and ſtraunge Idolatries, ouertaken p. 30with all ſortes of filthyneſſe, and moſte horrible and outragious wickedneſſe, that mighte procure hym to fauour them, or to ſhewe hymſelfe ſo bountious a father vntounto them. Of hys louelove therefore, of his louelove and moſte frée fauour was it, that he vouchſaued to call them out of this greate darkeneſſe, vntounto ſo maruellous light and knowledge of his truth in his ſonne Chriſt Ieſus our moſte louing God and mercifull Sauiour.

There is not therefore anye cauſe of boaſting of our ſelues, or of any thing in our ſelues, for that we are nothing elſe indéede but a huge maſſe and heauy lumpe of ſinne. Let vsus therefore aſcribe all the whole glorie of our callyng, vntounto God, that mercifullye hath called vsus from errour vntounto trueth, from darkeneſſe to lighte, from wickedneſſe to holyneſſe, from condemnation to ſaluation, frō death to life, yea, frō Hel to Heauen: for vntounto all theſe and a greate manye moe enormities, are we by nature enthralled. Let vsus therefore enter the déeper p. 31into a true conſyderation of our ſelues, and into a thorough examination of our owne ſoules and conſciences, and then finding in our ſelues what indéede wée be of our ſelues, we ſhall learne to ſet leſſe by our painted ſheathes, and to make better accoumptes of GOD hys infinite and endleſſe merciemercy, who hath thoughte good to place vsus in the roome of his owne peculiar and choſen people.

Agayne we ſée in the conſideration of the manner of GOD his calling vsus of the Gentiles to the knowledge of hys Chriſt,The manner of God hys calling of the Gētiles teacheth that we are iuſtified only by fayth. not requiring at our handes that we ſhoulde be circumciſed, or otherwiſe tyed to the obſeruation of the ceremonies of Moſes lawe, but onelyonly that we ſhoulde repente, and beléeue the Goſpel, we ſée (I ſay) euidentlye hereby, that we are not ſaued by the Lawe, nor yet by the workes of the Lawe, but onlye by fayth in Chriſte, accordyng as it is written: The iuſte manne ſhall …iue by fayth. And againe: By the workes p. 32of the law no fleſh can be ſaued or iuſtified: by how muche the more ſo often as I thinke on it (and truely I doe manye times thinke on it) I doe greately maruayle, what madneſſe hath ouertaken our Arch-Papiſtes to beſotte themſelues and others with a vaine and wicked perſwaſion of their owne righteouſneſſe, and an arrogante truſting to ſcale the highe forte of heauen, by the broken and rotten ladder of man hys merytes, and the corrupte workes and inuentions of their owne idle fancies. For if Chriſte and hys Apoſtles neuer charged anye with the obſeruations of the Moſaicall Lawe, as a thing neceſſarye to ſaluation: and that (as appeareth in the wrytings of the Apoſtles) it hath alwayes béene accounted an infallible note of falſe Apoſtles to pleade workes, and that of GOD hys owne Law, in the matter of iuſtification, let then this ſecond note drawn from the manner of God hys callyng of the Gentiles without inioyning them the obſeruations of hys owne lawe, bée p. 33ſufficient in a worde to touch the ſhameleſſe boldneſſe of the Catolikes, that dare ſhuffle in droſſe & trumperie of their own forging, to claime righteouſnes withal, that I ſtand no longer to cōuince thoſe, as iniurious to the death and bloudſheading of Chriſte Ieſus, who teache that they hauehave workes ſufficient, not only to purchaſe Heauen for themſelues, but alſo a ſurplus and ouerflow to help others withall, that will pay ſwéetely for them, in as muche as their owne conſcience eueryevery nighte when they goe to bed, maye teache them, if they truely examine it, that of themſelues they are not able to thinke ſo much as one good thought, and therefore muſte néedes aſcribe ſaluation to the only and alone frée merciemercy of God in Chriſte, laide holde on by the ſure and ſtrong hand of a conſtant faith, workes being no maner of cauſe thereof at all, the whiche Fryer Ferus, a man of theyr owne, writing vponupon this tenth Chapiter of the Actes, in moſte plaine words, doth confeſſe, ſaying: For ſo in that firſte and moſte great calling of the Gentiles, they p. 34oughte to hauehave beene made equall with the Iewes without all manner of helpe of the Lawe, that it mighte be now manifeſtly knowne, that righteouſnes commeth of the onelyonly grace and election of God, and not of workes: than the which, what can be ſpoken more truely, & more agréeable to the truth. The Lord if it be his wil, open their eies, that in this and all other pointes, they maye bowe and yéelde vntounto the trueth.

Thus muche of the reiection of the Iewes, and calling of the Gentiles, by occaſion of GOD his calling Cornelius, being a Gentile, to the knowledge of his trueth.

The ſeconde …raunche of the fyrſt part.In the ſeconde braunche of this firſte general, commeth to be conſidered, Cornelius hys profeſſion and trade of life, whiche oure preſent texte ſayeth to bée a Capitaine of the Italian bande at Ceſarea,The practiſe of the Romanes. for it was an vſuall thing among the Romanes, to place in the gret towns or Citties that they wonne, garriſons of armed men and ſouldiours, as well to p. 35defende them agaynſte the inuaſions of the Parthians, whome beſides manye other ennimyes, they were often and verye daungerouſlye encombred wythall, as alſo to wythſtande and kéepe vnderunder rebellion, and tumultuous vproares of the Iewes, if at anye tyme they ſhoulde attempte an inſurrection: and further, that if néede ſhoulde requyre, they mighte vppon ſhorte warning, oute of theſe garriſons placed in euerye Towne and Cittie, gather a iuſte and ful army, being aſſaulted, to defend themſelues.

Theſe bands conſiſted ſome of more and ſome of fewer Souldioures, ſome footemenne, and ſome horſemenne.

The fyrſte or chiefe bande contayned commonlye a thouſande footemenne, ouer whych was a Generall, and euerye Centurye, or hundreth, hadde beſides, hys ſeuerall Capitayne, whyche of the number of Souldiours vnderunder his conducte, was commonlye called a Centurion, or Capitayne ouer an hundreth menne. Such a one was oure p. 36Cornelius, who in that he is termed to be Ruler of the Italian bande, we maye gather, that he was bothe an Italian himſelf, and alſo in good eſtimation with the Emperoure: For as the Romaynes g thered their garriſons out of ſundrye Countrie men, of the whyche alſo they had their names, like as this conſiſting of Italians is thereof called the Italian band, ſo likewiſe did they make greateſt accompts, & repoſed moſt confidence in y^e garriſons of their own countreymen, out of which alſo for y^e moſt part there were choſen Captaines ſuche as beſt liked the Emperoure. It is (I ſaye) therefore verye likelye, that Cornelius béeyng made Capitayne of the Italian bande, was hymſelfe an Italian well lyked of the Emperoure. More than this, both he and his bande were not ſuche as carried theyr houſes on their backes, or were in thys place to daye, and in an other to morrowe, but hadde their fyxed and ſettled ſeate and abode at Ceſarea,Ceſarea. a Citie of Paleſtina, whiche was a Sea-town not far from the Mount Carmel, p. 37and called ſometimes Stratoes Caſtle or Tower, but afterwarde newe buylded by Herode, and in the honoure of Ceſar the Noble, called after his name, Ceſarea, and at this time chieflieſt inhabited of the Iewes, for whoſe better kéeping vnderunder awe, Cornelius with hys garriſon was there placed, like as in other their Citties in Syria and Palaſtina, for like conſiderations they hadde appointed to them their ſeuerall garriſons. I note this, bycauſe there were beſides many other Cities in other Countries, called by this name, as is to be ſéene in Strabo and Stephanus, the whiche I omitte, as not pertaynyng to my matter.

Nowe if you call to remembraunce the manners and conditions of the ſouldiors of that age,The manner of y^e Romane ſouldiers. and howe farre they were departed from the olde diſcipline & vſage obſerued in wars, God his wōderful dealing in callyng Cornelius ſhal the better appeare. It is wel known to thoſe that are conuerſant in hiſtories, that the Romane ſouldiors, when they went to p. 38warre vppon other nations, they hadde no regarde neither of righte nor equitie, or lawe, or honeſtie, or ſhame, or conſcience, but were wholly bente vppon the ſpoile, as hungrie as Wolues, as gréedye as Lyons, as mercileſſe as Tygres, as ſubtile as Foxes, as religious as horſes, as chaſte as Goates, as harmeleſſe as common Robbers by the highe waye ſides. Out of this kinde of men, it pleaſed GOD for to chooſe hys Churche, the fyrſte fruites of the Gentiles, that looke by how muche theyr life was more vnorderlye than any other kinde of men, by ſo muche hys mercye mighte be iudged the greater, in that it pleaſed him to take them out of their vile filth and ſtincking puddle of ſynne, in whiche they wallowed, and laye ouerwhelmed and drowned, and by his holye Spirite ſo to renue them, that by the mightye and effectuall working of the ſame, the corruptions of the olde manne béeyng mortifyed, they mighte deteſte thoſe offences, vntounto the whyche before they ranne wyth gréedineſſe.

p. 39Cornelius hys vertues therefore ſo rare in ſuche licentiouſneſſe of life, and looſeneſſe of manners, as at that tyme raigned euerye where, but principallye amongeſt Souldioures, are bothe to be commended and praiſed, and highly alſo to be wondered at: who in ſuche gréedineſſe of ſpoile, was ſo wel content with his owne: in ſuche vnmercifulneſſe of others, was himſelfe more mercifull: in ſuche rudeneſſe, ſo courteous: in ſuche barbarouſneſſe, ſo gentle: in ſuche irreligiouſneſſe, ſo religious: in ſuch wickedneſſe, ſo godly: whyche vertues, as he had them not of himſelfe, ſo do they the clearer ſette foorthe the grace of GOD in him, who ſtaied him, that he followed not the multitude to do euil, neither was led with the moſt ſort, to do, as moſt do.

The Doctrines whyche thys ſecond braunche miniſtreth vntounto vsus, are dyuerſe, but chieflye theſe: Firſte, that with God there is no reſpect of perſons, but that out of al trades of life, and ſorts of men, thoſe that hate ſin and delighte in righteouſnes, are acceptable to him: ſo y^e p. 40here for oure comforte is ſet downe, that whiche the Scriptures plentifully other where do teache, before him, there is neither bonde nor frée, neyther riche nor poore, neither wiſe, nor fooliſhe, neither man, nor woman, neither Gretian, nor Barbarian, Iewe, nor Gentile, but whoſoeuer he be that calleth on the name of the Lorde, ſhall be ſaued. In greate merciemercy he hath receiued Noah the drunken, Abraham the Idolater, Lot the inceſtuous, Dauid an adulterer. Mathewe the Publicane, Peter the denier of hys Maiſter. Paule the perſecutor, and Cornelius the Capitaine, not to encourage vsus boldelye to ſynne, but for to aſſure vsus (if of infirmitie falling with theſe, we do with the ſame by harty repentāce run vntounto him) he hath in ſtore for vsus the like merciemercy which he had for thē. As for ſuch as can peruerſly alleage the falles of the godlie as bucklers for their wickedneſſe, their eſtate is daungerous and almoſte deſperate, but the LORDE kéepe vsus from preſumptuous and malicious ſinnes.

p. 41We ſée here again, in that Cornelius … Capitaine and Souldioure is called by GOD to the vnderſtandyng of hys worde and fayth in Chriſte, and not bidden to laye aſide armoure, and caſte away his weapon, and take him to a new …rade and profeſſion of life, that the vocation of a ſouldioure is ſuche, as if it be well and honeſtlye vſed, diſpleaſeth not GOD, and that it is alſo lawfull for … Chriſtian Magiſtrate (for ſuche a one was Cornelius) to vſe the ſword, either …or the defence of the godlye, or for the puniſhment of the wicked, the whiche Paule at large teacheth in the thirtéenth of the Romaines, and I mention in a worde to ouerthrowe the furie of the Anabaptiſtes, which contrary to the ſcrip…ures do teache, that it is vnlawfull for …he Magiſtrate to vſe the ſworde.

We learne further, that vnderunder vngod…y perſecutors and wicked Tirants, God notwithſtandyng hathe alwaies hadde …ome that hauehave feared and ſerued him: So in the Court of Pharao was Ioſeph …nder Achab, Obadiah, vnderunder the Kyng p. 42of Aram, Naaman the Syrian: vnderunder Herode the Ruler at Capernaum: amongſte the Scribes and Phariſies, that made a lawe to excommunecate Chriſt, and all thoſe that didde confeſſe him, the chiefe ruler of the Sinagoge: vnderunder Tyberius, or elſe Caligula, a moſte cruell perſecuter, this Cornelius. And I nothyng doubt, but that at this day wythin the gates and pallace of Rome, the Lord hath yet ſome one good Obadiah or other, that one daye he will vſe, as ſingular inſtrumēts for the behoofe of his Church.

Yet is there behind one leſſon more to be learned oute of thys ſeconde member, very profitable, being applyed, for theſe oure daies and times, that we now liue in, for oute of this that is here ſaide of Cornelius his being Captaine of the Italian bande at Ceſarea, you euidently ſée by that whiche hathe béene noted before of Ceſarea, namelye, that it was a Towne of the Iewes, but ſubiected to the Romanes, with all the reſte of the Countrey: you ſée (I ſaye,) that manye tymes it commeth to paſſe, that GOD p. 43deliuereth vppe a people that was wont …o be gouerned by godlye lawes and orders, and vnderunder godly Princes, vntounto Tirants and perſecutors, for their greate …ngratitude and vnthankefulneſſe. For who were euer better gouerned, and with more equal and reaſonable gouernment, than were the people of the Iews: …et when they diſdained to be ordered, …y the gouernement of godlye Princes, whome GOD appointed ouer them, …n the ende, he bereaued them of that be…efite, and gaue them, who knewe not …ell to vſe the libertie that he had pla…ed them in, ſo farre ouer vntounto the ſubie…ion of others, that they were nowe not …ely vnderunder the rule of Preſidentes and …eputies, but alſo hadde in al their Ci…es, bandes, & garriſons of forrē ſouldi…rs, amongeſt the which, albeit ſome …nes they mette with ſome one ſuche as …is oure Cornelius, which was a thing …oſte ſeldome, yet the miſeries that vn… thoſe other, they ſuffered, were won…full, and ſuche as they can better re…ēber, y^t ſometimes hauehave liued vnderunder y^e p. 44gripings of the ſharpe talants of thoſe eagree and gréedy Hawkes, I meane the violence of forraine Souldioures, than I am able to expreſſe: and the Lorde, if it be his will, graunt, that we Engliſhmen hauehave neuer laſte, nor experience of the like.

Lette vsus therefore here-out learne t… be thankefull vntounto God for placing ouer vsus in great merciemercy ſo godly & gratious … Quéene,a leſſon for Englande. vnderunder whoſe moſt quiet & peaceable gouernment (notwithſtandyng y^e wi… ked foretellings and lying Propheſies o… falſe …arted papiſts of hir maieſties det… at the end of this ſeuen, and that ſeauen beſides their malicious practiſes, to accompliſhe it, for the whiche ſome of the… heades hauehave bin worthily exalted, as … truſte the reſte, if they maye be know… ſhall be as they well deſerue to be.) W… hauehave thus long enioied the cleare ſhini… lighte of the Goſpell, and GOD gran… hir to his good will & pleaſure many yer… more to raigne ouer vsus ſtil for the bett… and more plentifull furtheraunce of t… preaching of his worde, lette vsus (I ſay p. 45learne to be thankfull, and not giuegive oc…aſion throughe oure greate contempte …nd diſobedience, and godleſſe, and farre …nchriſtian liuing, that God in his great …rath and hote anger, take hir maieſty …waye from vsus, and with hir alſo his …orde, as in oure remembraunce for the …ke ſinnes, he didde oure vertuous King Edward, hir Graces moſte deare and …odly brother. We were vnworthy of …im then, we are vnworthye of hir now: …e contemned the worde preached vnderunder …im then: we are wearie of it preached …nder hir Maieſty now: there was much …aching vnderunder him then, and ſmall folo…ing: there is more teaching vnderunder hir …owe, and a great deale leſſe following. For oure not folowing then, he tooke frō …s oure zealous Ioſias, and ſcourged vsus …y a Marie: his arme is not ſhortened, he …an againe for oure not following nowe, …ake away our vertuous and godly De…ora, and puniſh vsus with the like: Pray, …ray, and moſt hartily beloued, pray, that …e doe it not, as oure ſinnes hauehave wel de…erued, that he ſhoulde doe it. For if he do p. 46it, as this and farre greater plagues he hathe threatned to thoſe that are contemners of his worde, by the miſeries that heretofore you hauehave ſuffered in the late dayes of afflictiō, you may eaſily gather what ſhal bée the ſtate of the godlye vnderunder all wicked Athaliahs, and mercileſſe Tyrantes, ſuche as GOD vſeth to ſende vppon thoſe that hauehave not learned to be thankful and obedient vntounto vertuous, gentle, and godly Gouernoures. Wherefore, if in the former daies of trouble, wyth greate and grieuous ſobbes and ſighes, we hauehave lamented oure vnthankefulneſſe towardes the worde, when we had it: Nowe the Lorde to trie vsus, hath once againe ſent it, lette vsus remember to be thankfull: if then in oure miſeries, we coulde conſider howe greate a plague it was to be puniſhed with a Tyraunte, lette vsus nowe weigh… howe greate a bleſſyng it is, to be gouerned by ſo gentle & merciful a Quéene if then we longed to be deliuered from the heauie yoke of forraine crueltie: let vsus nowe poure oute oure moſte harty… p. 47prayers, for the continuaunce of oure ioyfull libertie, vnderunder the long and proſperous raigne of oure Soueraigne Ladye: if when in times before, we hadde the Goſpell, wée broughte foorthe no fruites of the Goſpell, lette vsus, hauing nowe againe the Goſpell, praye to oure GOD, that oure conuerſation and liuing may be agréeable to the Goſpell, leaſt (as before I noted,) oure hainous offences, worthilye prouoke oure GOD in greate diſpleaſure, to take from vsus oure gratious Gouerneſſe, vnderunder whoſe Chriſtian regiment we hauehave thus long enioyed it, and many yeares longer God graunt we may hauehave both hir & it, and in a holy and vertuous walking, expreſſe & followe it, leaſte for oure ingratitude we taſte of the like ſauſe, that the Iewes did for their diſobedience, whiche, as I hauehave hadde verye fitte occaſion, by theyr ſubiection vntounto others to note, ſo I beſéeche you praye all hartilye to GOD, that wée maye be warned and learned by it. For truely (beloued) vnleſſe we bring forth better fruites of Chriſtianitie, p. 48than hitherto we hauehave done it, can not be choſen, but that God muſt néedes puniſh vsus with this, or ſome other farre greater puniſhement, if any can be greater. You muſe peraduenture to ſée mée ſo fearefull, and I muche more wonder, to ſée England ſo careleſſe. If you wil aſke of me, why I thinke that GOD wyll viſite vsus, I anſwere, for the multitude of oure ſinnes and offences, whiche daylye are cōmitted expreſly againſt his word, and for many of them being notorious & ſuche as he himſelfe hathe commaunded to be puniſhed with death,Why God muſte needes …uniſhe Eng…ande. either they are often lette paſſe vnpuniſhed, or elſe there is no puniſhement for them at all, or if there be, it is ſo toyiſhe, I had almoſte ſaide Popiſhe, that it rather cheriſheth, than kylleth the ſinne. And bycauſe you ſhall not thinke my wordes to be as it were but a ſkar Crow, or that I hauehave made muche ado aboute nothing, I wil note vntounto you in a worde ſome of them, and leaue to youre iudgement, whether that I hauehave ſpoken, that whiche I hauehave ſpoken, withoute cauſe, or no, or alſo p. 49as not appertayning to my matter in hand of the Iewes at Ceſarea and other places, being in ſubiection for their ſins to forreine power, that we may auoyde the great ſinnes whyche we dayly runne into, for feare of the like or greater puniſhment, by howe much our knowledge and teaching is greater and clearer than theirs.Swearing. Swearing and blaſpheming the name of God, as it is a figure that clearly toucheth the honour of God, ſo in hys worde is it expreſſely forbidden, and alſo commaunded to be puniſhed with death, yet how outragiouſly and commonlye is it vſed amongſt all degrées and ſtates of people, from the Lorde to the begger, and from the Courtier to the Carter, yea to the yong chylde of thrée yeares olde: beſides that I fear me a great number this Fayer and at other times, doe laye their ſoules to paune to the Dyuell by feareful othes for their gaynes, ſometimes but of a pennie in vttering their wares: and what puniſhmente I praye you is there for it? It is written that the Plague ſhall neuer departe from the houſe of p. 50the ſwearer, and thinke you then that it hangeth not ouer the lande in whiche is ſuch terrible ſwearing in the cleare light of the Goſpell, and the offendours not touched with ſo much as a fillip? if there were no moe but thys, it is not without cauſe that I put you in minde to leaue it, leaſte the Lorde doe plague you. It is ſet downe by the Prophet for one of the cauſes of y^e children of Iſraels being led into captiuity,…reach of y^e …abboth. for that they kepte not the Lords Sabboth: and what became of him that gathered ſticks on that day, I doubt not but you will remember: we notwithſtanding on the Lordes daye muſte hauehave Fayers kept, muſt hauehave Beare baytyng, Bulbayting (as if it wer a thing of neceſſity for the Beares of Paris gardē to be bayted on the Sunnedaye) muſte hauehave baudie Enterludes, ſiluer games, dicing, carding, tabling, dauncing, drinking, and what I praye you is the penaltie of the offenders herein, forſooth a flap wyth a Foxe tayle, as if our Sauiour Chriſte had commen for his day to ſet vsus at lybertie to doe what we liſte. And truely a p. 51lamentable thing it is to tell, but a great deale more lamentable, that it is not puniſhed. I dare boldelye ſtande to auouche it, that there is no daye in the wéeke, wherin God is ſo much diſhonoured, as on that daye when he ſhoulde bée beſt ſerued. And muſte we for theſe abuſes thinke at the Lordes hand to ſcape vncorrected:Drunkēne… What ſhoulde I ſpeake of beaſtly drunkenneſſe, whiche ſo far as I can learne, hath no puniſhmente at all? What of whordome,Whordom… by the lawe of the moſte vprighte lawe-maker that euer was, being made a Capitall ſinne, and whyche the Euangeliſt Luke in the parable of the ſéed termeth a thorn, ſhal we thinke that a thorne will be killed wyth ſpreading a white ſhéete ouer it, when it rather craueth an axe? So to think to reſtrain it, is as endleſſe and fonde a worke as to go aboute to hewe downe a greate thorne with a bull-ruſhe: the Lord if it be his good pleaſure, graunte vsus a ſharper toole to cut both it and other ſtinckyng wéedes downe with all, for I aſſure you, if theſe vices be thus ſtyll, eyther p. 52not at all puniſhed, or elſe ſo ſlightly puniſhed, the Lorde will more ſharpely puniſhe vsus, eyther in ſuche ſorte as I hauehave ſhewed you he did theſe Iewes, or in ſome other more grieuous, as he wanteth not infinite meanes vnknowen vntounto vsus, to puniſhe the contempte of his word, from whēce theſe vices ſpring, the which I pray God the chaſtiſemente of theſe Iewes maye cauſe vsus to ſhunne.

…he third …nch of the …t generall …nte.For the thirde braunche of my firſte parte is ſet down, that Cornelius was a Godly, or a religious and deuoute man, and one that feared God: wher commeth to be handled Cornelius his Godlineſſe and vertue. The worde which is commō ly tranſlated a deuoute and a religious man, and here attributed to Cornelius, doth properly ſignifie one that doth truely and in ſuche ſorte as he ought to doe, worſhippeth GOD, a righte and a true worſhipper of God, whereby we learne that Cornelius had nowe forſaken and giuen ouer his olde Heatheniſh religion, in whiche his father, and fathers fathers in many generations had long cōtinued, p. 53worſhipping thoſe for Goddes, whome it pleaſed men ſo to account. For the caſe ſo ſtoode concerning religion with the Romaines then, as it did with vsus in the late dayes of Poperie, in which none myghte be taken for a Saincte, but ſuche as the Pope his holyneſſe had Canonized for a Saint. For Tertullian in his booke called an Apologie or defence againſte the Gentiles. Page. 186. and 587. as is printed at Paris by Paruus, doth ſhewe, that it was a decrée amōgſt y^e Romanes, that none ſhoulde be made a God by the Emperour, vnleſſe he were firſt allowed of the Senate, in ſo much that when Tiberius Ceſar hauing hearde of the myracles of Chriſte, woulde by prerogatiue of his Emperourſhippe hauehave made him a God, the Senate woulde none of hym, bycauſe they had not allowed him. The worlde was then growen to a trimme paſſe, that man muſt forſooth be good vntounto God. For vnleſſe God pleaſes man, he ſhall be no God, as Tertullian in y^e ſame place ſpeaketh. By this appeareth howe daungerous it was for Cornelius a publike p. 54magiſtrate to embrace Chriſt his religion, whome the Romayne Senate ſo ſcornefully diſdayned. And what crueltye they vſed towardes the Chriſtians, the ſtories of y^e age do ſufficiently witneſſe, whiche ſhewe, that the chriſtians were ſmered ouer with pitch and Roſen aliue, and ſet on fire with torches to light their cruell Perſecuters home from their banckquets in the night. But it was (no doubt) the mightie operation of God his holy ſpirite, that had armed him againſt all encombraunces that might fall vponupon him, who (no doubt) had prepared himſelf againſt diſpleaſure, loſſe of his office and captaineſhip, and alſo loſſe of life too, the leaſte of whiche mighte otherwiſe hauehave diſcouraged him, who amongſt y^e Iewes alſo coulde ſée nothing that might harte him on, but rather pull him backe, ſéeing amongſt them ſo manifolde corruptions & paſſing ignoraunce of the law of God, a ſmall and ſlender knowledge whereof was rare to be founde, euen in the thouſandth man of them, in ſo much that ſome thinke, and that very godlye, that it came p. 55to paſſe by the ſpecial and ſingular prouidence of God, that Cornelius mette with ſome zealous and learned Iewe, that inſtructed him in the true knowledge and vnderſtanding of the lawe, by meanes whereof he ſo muche profited in religion and feare of the Lorde.

1 We learne firſte out of this thirde branch,The Leſſons of this thirde braunch. in that Cornelius leaueth his old heatheniſh religion and Idolatrie, which his forefathers folowed, y^t we muſt not be away from the truth neyther with multitude nor preſcription of time. It is a cō mon argumēnt now adays, what are you better than your forefathers? did not they go to maſſe, worſhip Images, runne on Pilgrimage, fall downe before the holye ſacrament of the Alter, and to be ſhorte, obſerue all order of holy Church? Why ſhoulde you therefore be ſo ſingular? are you wiſer or better learned than they? Al theſe I ſaye, and what ſoeuer elſe maye be alleaged to like purpoſe, doeth the example of Cornelius confute, who for the maintenaunce of his olde Paganiſme, might very wel hauehave recited y^e examples p. 56of his forefathers, & the long & auncient continuaunce of the heatheniſhe religion, by thouſandes of yeares more aunciente than it of the Popes, in compariſon of his being as it were but an infant of a dayes olde. Let vsus therefore after his example in matters of religion ſet aſide the practiſe of our forefathers: and let our olde auncient cuſtomes vaile their bonnet to the worde of the Lorde. For ſo are we directly in hys holy worde commaunded: Thou ſhalt not follow a multitude to do euill. Exod. 23.2.Exod 23:2And againe: walke ye not in the ordinances of your fathers, neyther obſerue their maners, nor defile your ſelues with their Idols. I am the Lorde your God: Walke in my ſtatutes, & kepe my iudgements, and do them, &c. Oh that our Papiſtes had eyes to ſée this, and heartes to beleeue it, with earneſt mindes alſo to followe it, then woulde they not be ſo blinded with theſe vaine ſhadowes of fathers, times and cuſtomes, but woulde meaſure y^e truth of religion by the ſquare of the word, which the Lorde if it be hys pleaſure, graunt them to do.

p. 572 Secondly we learne out of this place and by this example of Cornelius, in receyuing of true religion, not to tarrie vntill the chiefe rulers and Magiſtrates imbrace it, but ſo ſoone as God reuealeth it vntounto vsus, preſently to take the occaſion offered, and to followe it, otherwiſe if Cornelius had wayted vponupon the Emperours receyuing it, he might till this daye hauehave wallowed in his olde puddle of hetheniſhe ſuperſtition, like as in manye cuntries at this time, if the people ſhould tarrie the leyſure of theyr Princes, they muſte ſtill remaine in the filth of Popiſh Idolatrie. Thoſe Neutres therefore, that if there come an hundreth chaunges, are ſtill iumpe of the Princes religion, are by this example manifeſtly confuted. Yet hereof doth not followe, that if the magiſtrate commaunde falſe religion, that therefore, the ſubiecte maye with force …eſiſt, but rather offering his body to the pleaſure of his Prince, for the fréedome …f his conſcience, ſaye with the Apoſtle: Whether it be better to obey God or mā, …udge you.

p. 583 Thirdely, in that the holy Ghoſte ſayth, that Cornelius was a religious or deuoute manne, is moſte apparante that to bée godly and religious apperteyneth not onelyonly to the miniſters, but alſo vntounto thoſe whome they call ſecular perſons, by which alſo is beaten downe their vaine diſtinction, made betwéene them of the miniſterie, and the reſt of the people, the one of them to be termed the Spiritualtie, and the other, the Temporaltie: the one the Cleargie, and the other the Laytie: whiche difference as it came firſt from Rome, ſo I woulde to GOD that there it were againe. The onlye good it hath done is this, namely, it hath made a greate manye, and that of thoſe principallye whyche are of greateſt callings, to thinke, that it belongeth onlye to thoſe of the miniſterie to bée godlye, to bée zealous, to feare GOD, to bée religious, as for themſelues they néede take no care nor kéepe of anye ſuche matter, but rather wyth gréedyneſſe followe euerye one that whyche beſt… liketh his corrupte affection. But thy… p. 59example of Cornelius, ſayde to be a deuoute and religious man, ſufficientlye confuteth all thoſe whiche ſo thinke, and withall, learneth euerye perticular perſon, that hée muſte bée carefull to ſerue GOD, to feare him, to worſhip him, to pray vntounto him, and that religiouſly & deu…tly, and that it is not only the part of eueryevery priuate man ſo to do, but alſo concerneth as well the Magiſtrate, for Cornelius was a Magiſtrate, & therfore hereby is alſo ouerthrowen the moſt wicked aſſertion of the vnpure Atheiſte Machiauel, Machiauell.who ſhameth not in moſt vngodly manner to teach, that princes néed make no accounte of godlyneſſe and true religion, but onelyonly to make an outwarde ſhewe of it: for that (ſayth he) is ynough, albeit in minde they abhorre it. And that which is moſt horrible, he affirmeth further, that the religiō of chriſtians caſteth them down into too much humilitie, abateth al courage and towardneſſe, and maketh thē fit to be wronged & ſpoiled, wheras y^e religion of y^e Gentiles maketh them …o be of ſtout courage, & emboldneth them p. 60manly to atchiue great matters: yet wyl he forſooth, that Princes pretende religion, the better to kepe their ſubiectes within the compaſſe of their dueties, with the feare and reuerence thereof. This poyſon and a greate deale more ſuche filth bluſheth not this malaperte and pelting Town-cleark of Florence to ſpew out, teaching Princes not to make accountes of religion or godlyneſſe: and yet muſt this vile beaſte in many courtes of other nations be the only Court booke, nay the Alcoram and God of Courtiers, whoſe diuelliſh precepts they put in dayly vre, learning to be godleſſe. The Lord graunte he take no place among oure courtiers, and that they rather ſet before thē y^e examples of this our Cornelius, of Dauid, of Ioſias, of Ezechias, & ſuche like, who were all magiſtrates, and godly and religious magiſtrats, and in the ſcripture highly commended for the ſame, whoſe factes and déedes vntounto godlineſſe, I humbly exhorte our nobilitie and gentlemen rather to followe, than the decrées of thys deceyuer, and the furies of this p. 61Excetra and venemous ſerpent vntounto Atheiſme and vngodlyneſſe.Excetra w… a kinde of … nemous S… …pent. from whom wherone head w… cut off, three ſprang vp in his ſtead as they do write of him

Fourthly, Cornelius being a publike Magiſtrate, and openlye profeſſing religion, not waying the daunger that thereby might inſue vntounto him, as the diſpleaſure of the Emperoure, the loſſe of his lyuing, of hys gooddes, and of hys life, teacheth all men, and amongſt the reſte noble men, boldlye to profeſſe and alſo expreſſe religion and godlyneſſe, and not to ſtande aloofe for feare of diſpleaſure, and loſſe of their honour, their roomes, and theyr offices, as a greate manye nowadayes doe, where there is in déede no feare, hauing ſo Godlye a Prince, vntounto whome nothing can bée more ioyfull than to heare that hyr nobilitye and commons are moſte religious and Godly. A greate manye in this cleare light of the Goſpell, in which euerye man vnderunder his owne vine, and vnderunder hys owne figge trée (as the Prophete ſpeaketh) maye boldely ſitte and reaſon of the wordes and wayes of hys GOD, are notwythſtandyng ſo p. 62luke warme, or rather in déede key cold, that one can not tell what to make of thē. They are very like the thing called Spō gia, the whiche a man can hardely tell whether it hauehave any life at al, ſauing that when it is touched, it draweth it ſelfe more cloſelye togyther, and cleaueth a great deale faſter, to the thing it hangeth on: ſo they all theſe twentie yeares, in whiche the word hath béen preached, are notwithſtanding ſo cloſe to themſelues, that you can not by anye meanes knowe their religion, or what they profeſſe: nay. if ſuch as by their calling it lyeth vponupon to trye them, and therfore doubting of them wil go about to féele them, to ſée whether there be in them any life of the word and any knowlege of God méete for a chriſtian, then will they indéede play the righte Spongiaes, & cleane more hardly to theyr rocke of cloſe profeſſiō, ſhrinking in their ſelues, and wil not ſtick to ſay vntounto you: my religion (Sir) nay you muſt pardō me therin, I kepe that ſecrete frō my deareſt friend: none ſhal know my conſcience, but God & my ſelf. But truely it were greatly p. 63to be wiſhed, y^t the Quéenes Maieſtie would take order, that theſe Spongiaes, of what degrée ſoeuer they be, may be pulled vp frō this ſtone of ſecrete and priuie profeſſion, and the rather, for that it can not be choſen, but y^t they which deale ſo cloſely towards God in this peace of y^e Goſpel, muſt néeds be as hollowe harted towards hir maieſty, what ſoeuer they pretende to the contrarie. But theſe are the warye children, they wil beare thēſelues warily and wiſely as they thinke, for feare of a chaunge, but the Lorde (I truſt) in bleſſing hir maieſtie with long continuance of reygne ouer vsus, will diſappoint them of their purpoſe, as hytherto he hath done, and cauſe that before they hauehave their chaunge, they themſelues ſhall firſt make a change of life with death, by one meanes or other. In the mean ſeaſon, the Lorde graunt hir fewe of theſe doubtfull Spongiaes, and great ſtore of Corneliās, ſuch as do boldlye, but yet truely religiouſlye and deuoutely ſerue and feare the Lorde. For in thoſe doth conſiſte hir ſu…eſte ſafetie, and thoſe, when ſo euer p. 64ſhe ſhall hauehave néede, ſhée ſhall finde hir truſtieſt friendes. For thoſe that truelye worſhip God, and embrace his religion, will no doubte, moſt faithfully ſerue and obey hir. But were it ſo with vsus, as it is with manye of our brethren in other Countryes, that we coulde not ſerue GOD truely without the daunger of our liues, yet Cornelius, who was in the like daunger, telleth vsus what to doe, and ſo doeth alſo Daniel, wyth Sydrach, Miſach, and Abednago: of the whiche, he choſe rather to be caſte into the Lyons denne, than he woulde make prayer to anye other than the true God: and they thoughte it better to be thrown into the hote burning ouen, than to worſhip y^e golden image of Nabucha… nezer. For this ſaying of Chriſt ſhal ſtād to the ende of the world true: He that is aſhamed to acknowledge me before mē, I wil bee alſo aſhamed to acknowledge him before my father in the kingdome of heauen. But the caſe is nothing ſo wyth vsus as it was with Cornelius. We maye profeſſe religion, in ſafetie, he coulde not p. 65without daunger: we enioy the worde in peace, he with perſecution: we with the liking of oure Prince hauehave the libertie of our conſcience, he could not ſerue God without the diſpleaſure of the Emperor: we néede not to feare the loſſe of life nor goodes, he ſtoode in great hazarde of them bothe: and yet in this greate peace, proſperitie, quiet, ſafetie, and libertie, we ſtand vponupon ſuch a nice and tender point, of ſauing honour, eſtimation, credite, fauour, louelove and liking, that rare is that man that will venter to open his mouth for the furtheraunce of the building of Gods Churche, or ſpeake for the preferring of good and godly cauſes, wheras in our own cauſes, if it be for a licence that may tend to oure owne commoditie, or that may enrich our owne coffers, albeit to the great hindraunce of many others, Lorde, how will we labour, toile, trauel, go, run, ride, ſpeake, ſue, and ſue againe, till we hauehave obtained it, which argueth in vsus great want of zeale, for the glorie of God, which he for his Chriſtes ſake ſtirre vppe, and kindle in vsus. We are far p. 66vnlike the good Chriſtian Capitaine Terenti, …erentius a …b…e Capi…yne.who returning with a ioyfull victorie ouer his Princes enimies, Valens the Emperour badde aſke what benefite he woulde at his hande, for his good ſeruice, and he ſhoulde hauehave it, who hauing before his eies, the furtherance of Gods glorie, rather thā the ſéeking of his own profite, requeſted, that the Chriſtians which had ventured their liues in Gods cauſe, might hauehave a Churche erected to ſerue God in, aparte from the Arrian Heretikes. The Emperour being much moued at this requeſt, in greate anger tore his ſupplication in péeces, and threw it on the grounde, bidding him aſke ſome other thing, that might be for his preferment: but he with a heauie countenance gathering vp y^e péeces of his ſupplicatiō, aunſwered: I hauehave my rewarde, I will aſke nothing elſe. This was indéede a right Cornelius, a deuout mā, & one that feared God. O that al Princes had ſtore of ſuch Terenties aboute them, that did make greter eſtéem of Gods glorie thā accompts of their own gaine and commoditie, p. 67ſo ſhoulde true religion more freſhly floriſhe, than in manye places it doth, the moſte parte being buſied about their owne profite, whileſt it being neglected, falleth miſerably to decaye and ruine, the Lorde for his mercies ſake amende it.

As you hauehave hitherto hearde of ſuch vertues in Cornelius, The fourth braunch in y^e fyrſt generalas did teſtifie hys inwarde ſinceritie towardes God, namely, his religiouſneſſe and feare of God, ſo hereafter I wil make plaine vntounto you ſuche outwarde exerciſes of his, as are ſufficiet teſtimonies of his inward godlineſſe, amongeſt the which is firſte hys godly bringing vp of all his familie, béeing the fourth circumſtaunce of my firſt generall point, and is contained in theſe words: He feared God with all his houſholde, whiche coulde not be ſmall, he béeyng a Magiſtrate, and Capitayne of ſuche countenance, as you hauehave heard, and therefore his diligence and paines (no doubte) was excéedyng great, which hée tooke, in inſtructing ſuche a number in the feare and knowledge of p. 68the Lorde, wherein the holy Ghoſte witneſſing, that they all profyted, it appeareth euidently, that God did wonderfuly bleſſe his godlye endeuour and faythfull trauaile, by whiche it came to paſſe, that to his great ioy and comforte (no doubt) he had now a Church in his owne houſe, as eueryevery true worſhipper of God, in hys feare ſhoulde labour to hauehave.

Thus you ſée, that Cornelius thought if not inough to be godly himſelf, vnleſſe he had his houſholde godlye to: he was not content himſelfe alone to ſerue God, but woulde hauehave his familie alſo to doe the like: he iudged it his duty, as he himſelfe was religious, ſo to make holy vntounto God all thoſe which were his: he would not his ſelfe alone walke in the wayes of the Lorde, and ſuffer his ſeruants belonging to his charge, to doe what they liſte, to runne (as they ſay) at randone, to be at their owne libertie, and to liue as ſtrangers from God, but would make them partakers of that knowledge, whiche he himſelfe had learned, whiche as it was a matter of greate paine, ſo was p. 69it alſo of no mall daunger, the religion of the Iewes being then in a manner vniuerſally hated and diſdained, yea, and that whiche more is, of the proude and ſcornefull Romaynes cruellye perſecuted.

But Cornelius was not ignorāt, that it was farre better to pleaſe God, than men, and that the ignorance of his familie, ſhold be laid to his charge, if through his negligence and ſlouthfulneſſe to inſtruct them, they ran into his ignorance. Therefore not weighing the ſcorne nor perſecution of mē, he walketh vprightly in the diſchardge of his duetie, and faithfully and painefullye teacheth his whole familie, to ſerue and feare the LORD, and in the end, reapeth the fruite of hys labours, namelye, the profiting of hys whole houſholde in the true feare of the Lorde,Lette this whole treatiſe of childrens education, and houſhold gouer… ment be wel marked. GOD bounteouſly bleſſing his godlye care and Chriſtian trauell. We be taught hereby, that it is not ynoughe for euerye man to be deuoute and religious, and to feare God himſelfe, vnleſſe he alſo faithfully and diligently laboure p. 70to make all his houſholde and familie godly and religious to, which cannot bee done without muche paine and trauel, in diligent inſtructing them in the word of the Lorde, and in the principles of Chriſtian religion, whiche duetie as it oughte of all houſholders without anye exception be performed, ſo is it almoſt of all without exception neglected, to the high diſpleaſure of almightie God, who hathe ſtraightly and expreſly commaunded it, and alſo to the great ſhame of vsus, that hauehave ſo fowlie foreſlewed it. But bycauſe this maye ſéeme vntounto ſome, a ſtraunge doctrine, and I peraduenture be iudged verye preciſe that woulde laye ſuch a heauie burthen vponupon mens necks, I will therefore directly proue vntounto you out of the worde of GOD, that it belongeth generallye vntounto all perſons, of what degrée and calling ſoeuer, to inſtructe their children and familie in the worde of the LORDE, inſomuche, that not the greateſt Emperoure nor Monarche of the worlde, can omit this duetie, wythoute highe contempte vntounto p. 71GOD in neglecte of that whiche hée hath ſo plainely and earneſtly commanded, nay I ſay further, that euerye houſholder whatſoeuer, is not onelyonly bound himſelf to be godly, and to traine vp his houſholde in godlineſſe, but alſo to turne out of his houſe & ſeruice all ſuche as are vngodly and tell ſcorne to learne. And I will not onelyonly ſaye this, but directlye proue it by the Scripture, and I will doe it, as drawen therevnto by manifeſte occaſion of my Texte, whiche ſayth, that Cornelius wyth all hys houſholde feared God. For I hauehave hitherto noted nothing, neither hereafter meane to doe, but that the godly maye eaſily ſée, that the circumſtances of my Text led me euidently therevnto: the whiche I ſpeake bycauſe of ſcoffing quarellers, who, if the Preacher in greate zeale ſpeake any thing to the rebuking of ſome notorious ſynne, althoughe it be neuer ſo godly ſpoken, yet if it be not bounded within the limites of hys Texte, they by and by flowte at it, and ſaye it was done for wante of matter, albeit in déede it make p. 72no matter, what ſuche ſcoffers prate and babble.

Deut. 4.9.Deut 4:9In the fourth of Deuteronomie, it is written thus: But take heede to thy ſelf, and keepe thy ſoule diligently, that thou forget not the thinges whiche thine eies hauehave ſeene, & that they departe not out of thine hearte, all the dayes of thy life, but teach them thy ſonnes, and thy ſons ſonnes. Deut. 6.7.Deut 6:7Likewiſe in the ſixte chapiter of the ſame booke: And thou ſhalt rehearſe them continually vntounto thy children, and ſhalte talke of them when thou tarrieſt in thine houſe, and as thou walkeſt by the way, and when thou lieſt downe, and when thou riſeſt vp. This is againe repeated in the eleauenth chapiter, and a bleſſing added to thoſe that performe it, in theſe wordes: That youre daies may be multiplyed, and the dayes of youre children, in the lande, whiche the Lorde ſware vntounto youre fathers to giuegive them, as long as the Heauens are aboue the Earth. Pſal. 78.6.7.Ps 78:6Ps 78:7The like you hauehave in the Pſalme, where you find it thus writtē: That the poſteritie might know it, & the childrē, p. 73which ſhoulde be borne, ſhoulde ſtande vp, and declare it to their children, that they might ſet their hope on God, and not forget the workes of God, but kepe his commaundements. Epheſ. 6.4.Eph 6:4To the Epheſians, parentes are commaunded to bring vppe their children in inſtruction and information of the Lord.Deut. 17.19.Deut 17:19 In Deuteronomie, the king himſelfe is charged diligently to be exerciſed in the reading of y^e worde of the Lorde, as well for the inſtruction of himſelfe, as alſo the better gouernement of his ſubiects in the feare of the Lorde This thing didde the good King Ioſias obſerue,2. King. 23.2.3.2 Kgs 23:22 Kgs 23:3 reading his owne ſelfe the lawe of the Lorde vntounto his ſubiectes, and cauſed all to make a couenaunt, that they would walke according to that whiche they vnderſtood the Lord to require at their hande. Ioſua, the valiaunte and vertuous Capitaine of the LORDE, didde dayly reade the word of the Lorde, and out of it verye godlye exhorte all the people to feare and ſerue the Lord.

The Quéene of Sheba greatlye commendeth1. King. …. p. 74King Salomon for his godly order in his houſe & familie. Dauid, whom y^e ſcriptures reporte to hauehave bin a King according to God his owne hearte, was not onelyonly godly himſelfe, but alſo carefull to hauehave all his ſubiectes, and principallye thoſe of his owne houſe, vnfainedly to feare the Lorde, as appeareth in the Pſalme. 101. where he ſayeth: That he will deſtroy ſuche as priuily ſlaunder their neighbour, that he will not ſuffer thoſe that hauehave proude lookes and highe hartes: that thoſe whyche are the faithfull of the lande, ſhall dwell with hym, and thoſe that walke in the perfect way, ſhall ſerue him: that no deceitful perſon ſhall dwell wyth hym, nor anye that telleth lyes remaine in his ſighte: that he will betymes cutte off all the wicked of the lande, and to be ſhorte, concerning the gouernement of his houſe, that hée will walke in the vprightneſſe of hys harte, in the middeſt of his houſe, whereby, as the wordes following doe declare, he meaneth to vſe exquiſite diligence p. 75in trayning vppe his houſholde in the ſeruice of the Lord. Helie the Prieſt of the Lorde, for letting his children runne at libertie, is himſelfe charged to hauehave committed thoſe ſinnes, whiche in his ſonnes he lette paſſe vnpuniſhed: beſides that, God fearefully puniſhed both him and his ſonnes, for neglecting hys dutie in this behalfe, for he himſelfe fell and brake his neck, his two ſonnes were ſlaine in battell both in one daye, the Arke of the Lord takē by the Philiſtins, and .3000. people ſlaine, his ſonnes wife vppon the newes ſodainelye broughte to bedde before hir time, and dieth in trauaile, whiche heauie iudgementes maye learne al men worthily to tremble at the forſlewing their duetie, in inſtructing their families. Abraham is greatly praiſed for his carefulneſſe, in teaching his children & houſhold to walk in the waies of the Lord: For thus it is writtē of him: For I know him, Gen. 18.19.Gen 18:19that he wil cōmand his ſons & his houſhold after, that they kepe the way of the Lord, to do righteouſnes and iudgement, that the Lord may bring p. 76vppon Abraham, that he hathe ſpoken vntounto him. All theſe bothe commaundementes and examples (do I truſt) ſufficiently proue, that it is the part of al men, of what calling ſoeuer, to vſe ſingular diligence and trauaile, to hauehave their familie, and ſuche as belong to their charge, to feare the Lorde. As for that I ſayde they muſte alſo kéepe none ſuche in their houſe as are ſtubborne, and tell ſcorne to ſerue the Lorde, the example of Dauid out of the .101. pſalme, who will ſuffer no wicked perſon to dwell wyth hym, nor ſerue him, and therefore none that feareth not the Lord, doth ſufficiently proue it. But thou wilte ſaye, Dauid was a King, and I ſaye vntounto thée, ſo arte thou both a King and Biſhoppe to, ouer thy houſe and familie: a King by gouernement, to kéepe in awe: and a Byſhoppe by inſtruction to teach: & mayſt ſo muche the eaſier and with leſſe daunger, teach and correct thine owne familie, as it is eaſier and leſſe dangerous to deale with a priuate familie, thā w^t a whole realme, & therfore the greater puniſhmnt ſhalte p. 77thou hauehave, if herein thou omit thy dutie.

If then the inſtructing of thoſe vnderunder oure gouernement in the worde of the Lorde bée ſuche,The nece… ty of inſtructing thoſe vnderunder our… charge in … feare of th… Lorde. as by the commaundement of God is laide vppon all: if Kings notwithſtanding their many cares and troubles, are not exempted from this dutie: if Capitaines in warre, who of al other might ſéeme to be priuiledged, are tied to this charge: If Helie the Prieſt of the Lord were puniſhed with y^e necke breake for omitting it: if Abraham were greatly praiſed for the dooing of it: What is he that can chalenge to himſelfe fréedome, from the performaunce of thys, bothe godly and neceſſarie duetie?Abraham. God fayeth of Abraham, I know he wil teach his children and houſholde, to walke in the wayes of the Lorde: But (alas) my beloued, what is the man, or where is his dwelling, of whome we maye ſaye, I knowe he is painefull in inſtructing his children and houſholde in the wayes of the Lord. Surely ſuche a one is almoſte as rare vponupon earth, as a blacke Swan.

It is ſaide of this oure Cornelius, Cornelius.that p. 78he feared God with his whole houſhold, but how many houſholdes may …e …nd amongeſt vsus, where the goodman himſelf maketh no accompts of religion, … maruell then, if the reſte of his familie be Godleſſe? The Lorde by Moſes commaundeth his people, daylye to inſ… their children in the knowledge of hys worde: but ſo farre are the moſte parte of vsus from doing thereof, that we oure ſelues reade not in a yeare a Chapiter of it.

And whereas euerye man is bounde to catechize his owne familie, a greate many of oure miniſters are ſo ignorant, that they hadde néede to learne. Catechiſmes themſelues, whiche, as in reſpecte of their ignoraunce, it is very mét they ſhould do, ſo for the ſame reſpecte it were farre better that they were vtterly remoued, and able Paſtors put in theyr roomths.…uid. Dauid will walke with an vprighte heart in the middeſt of his houſe, and we wil walke in our houſes we care not howe looſely.… Ioſias at once hearing the lawe of the Lorde, immediatlye prepareth p. 79hymſelfe to obey the ſame, and bindeth all his Subiectes by couenaunte to doe the like. The Lorde putte it into the mynde of oure godly Princeſſe, that as ſhe is of hir ſelfe willing to heare the Lawe of the Lorde, ſo likewiſe after the example of good Ioſias, ſhe may be carefull to cauſe all hir Subiectes to make a couenaunte, to walke after the commaundementes of the LORDE: ſo (I truſt) there would be ſpéedie remedy againſte this great neglecting of our dutie, in the vertuous education of oure families in the feare of the Lorde, the whiche on oure partes being ſo muche forſlewed, it is no maruaile, if manye times wée find ſmall obedience,Howe God puniſheth th… forſlewing o… this duetie. at the handes of oure houſholde. For ſo doeth God often leaue manifeſt tokens of hys wrath, in puniſhing diſobedience wyth diſobedience.

Howe canſte thou, whoſoeuer thou arte, looke to hauehave thy familie faithfull vntounto thée, and thou thy ſelfe art faithleſſe to GOD? doeſt thou maruayle that thy ſeruauntes feare not thée, when p. 80as thou feareſt not the Lorde, wilte thou ſtiffely maintaine thine aucthoritie ouer thoſe vnderunder thy charge, and thy ſelfe, yeld no obedience vntounto the aucthoritie of the eternall? Thinkeſt thou muche that thy wife and thy children ſhewe themſelues not ſo obedient vntounto thée, as peraduenture they oughte, and canſte thou not ſée howe thy ſelfe arte a Traytoure and Rebel vntounto God, withoute all kéepe or regarde breaking his ſtatutes, and without any pricke or remorſe of conſcience, neglecting and contemning his commandementes? Howe ſhall thoſe vnderunder thy charge performe their dutie vntounto thée, if thou performe no duety vntounto God? Nay howe rather ſhall they fyrſte learne to feare God, and then next truly ſerue thée without inſtruction in the worde of the Lorde? Is it not expreſlye ſette downe in the Pſalme,Pſal. …8.….Ps 8 Howe God eſtabliſhed a teſtimonie in Iacob, and ordained a Lawe in Iſraell, whiche he commaunded oure fathers, that they ſhoulde teache theyr children. And this lawe whiche he ſpeaketh of, is the commaundement before p. 81recited out of Deuteronomie, concerning parentes often and diligent acquainting their children with the word of the Lord. You ſée therefore beloued,Al houſeholders ought t… be wel ſeene in the Scriptures. that it greatlye concerneth al you, that are houſeholders, to be very well exerciſed and practiſed in the holy Scriptures. For how can it bée poſſible that one ſhoulde teache another the thing that he himſelfe is ignoraunte in? The father can not teache his ſonne that which he himſelf knoweth not. The maiſter cannot inſtruct his ſeruaunte in y^e word which he neuer readeth. The huſband (as Paul cōmaundeth he ſhould) can not teache hys wife, himſelfe being rude and ignoraunt. The Prince can not declare vntounto his ſubiectes the wyll of the Lord, the whiche himſelfe hath not learned out of his worde: all theſe notwythſtanding, being (as you hauehave heard) charged from the Lord, with this duty, it doth hereof neceſſarily follow, that fathers, maiſters, huſbandes, yea the prince himſelfe ought diligently to exerciſe thēſelues in the reading of the worde of God, that they maye euerye one ſeuerally teache it p. 82to them of their charge, that they out of it maye learne to feare the Lorde. The Lorde hys bleſſing the diligence of Cornelius in the vertuous education of hys familie, with profyting generallye in his feare, oughte to encourage vsus all to followe hys moſte godly example, hoping that GOD in his greate mercye wyll graunt vntounto our Chriſtian trauayle lyke ſucceſſe. For it can not be, that eyther the Prince of ſubiectes, or the father of hys children, or the huſbande of hys wyfe, or the maiſter of his ſeruauntes, ſhoulde hope for that ſubiection, that obedience, that reuerence, that faythfulneſſe, which they of right ought to hauehave, and the other of duetie are bound to perfourme, vnleſſe they laboure to teache them the feare of the Lorde. It maye be alſo that a man faythfullye labouring to bring vp hys familye in the knowledge of GOD, ſhall hauehave notwithſtanding vngodly and diſobedient children, wife, or ſeruauntes: for Adam had Cain: Noah had Cham: Abraham had Iſmael: Iſaac had Eſau: Iacob had of his owne ſonnes that woulde p. 83…ue firſte ſlaine, but afterwarde altered …heir purpoſe, and tolde Ioſeph: Helie had …ophm & Phinehas: Samuel his ſonnes …ere vniuſte Iudges ouer the people: …ob hys wyfe bydde hir huſbande curſe GOD and dye: Dauid his own ſon Ab…alon rebelled agaynſte hym: and Iu…as for money betrayed hys Mayſter Chriſte: yet for all this, muſte not we …et paſſe thys duetie of teaching oure …ouſeholdes, but beſides inſtructyng, …ſe alſo correctyng,Correction to be vſed as wel as inſtruction. where ſinnes bée committed, or elſe wée ſhall bée guyltie of thoſe ſinnes, whyche we let paſſe in thoſe vnderunder our gouernemente vncorrected, whether we be priuate perſons, …or Magiſtrates. For the holye Scrip…ures layeth vppon Helie the vngodlyneſſe of his ſonnes whiche was committed with his knowledge, and the children of Iſraels worſhipping of the Golden Calues, is imputed to thoſe kings, which eyther commaunded them, or ſuffred thē, …or elſe did not deſtroye them. Paule alſo to the Romanes ſaith, that not onelyonly they which committe theſe ſinnes are worthy p. 84of death, but thoſe alſo which conſent … to them, and I feare me that as many of vsus before God ſhall be founde to conſent vntounto ſinnes, as do not puniſh them, if it lye in vsus, in thoſe that vnderunder our charge commit them. Wherefore as the Lorde hath layde vponupon vsus eueryevery one for y^e moſte part two perſons:God hath layd vponupon moſt men … perſons. the one of our general calling to be Chriſtians: and the other of that peculiar function that euerye one is appointed vntounto: ſo let vsus (beloued) for the Lorde his ſake be carefull to diſcharge them both with a good conſcience: let vsus not do the one and forſlow the other: let vsus not thinke it ſufficient to hauehave led the life of a godly chriſtian, and to leaue vndone the perfourmaunce of thoſe duetyes whych in reſpect of our ſeuerall callings the Lord loketh for and requireth at our handes for example: let not the father thinke himſelfe diſcharged that he himſelfe hath liued a Godly man, vnleſſe hée alſo hauehave liued a godlye father, that is, hauehave brought vp his children in the inſtruction and information of the Lorde. The houſeholder muſte not thinke hys p. 85duetie aunſwered, if for his part he hauehave walked in the wayes of the Lord, vnleſſe …e conſider that beſides a Chriſtian man …e is alſo an houſeholder, and a chriſtian houſeholder ought to be, whyche alſo hée …hall be, if he laboure earneſtly that hys familie maye ſerue and feare the Lorde. The magiſtrate muſt not ſuppoſe hymſelfe to hauehave done ynough, if priuately, concerning himſelf, he hauehave liued religiouſly and in the feare of God, vnleſſe he hauehave ſpared no paine nor diligence to bring his ſubiectes to be godly and religious alſo. The like (I ſay) of all callings whatſoeuer, and in this reſpect am moſte humblie and reuerentlye, in the feare of God to requeſt you, right honourable my Lord Maior of this worthy Citie of Lō don, wyth the Worſhipful Maiſter Sherifes and Aldermen, as the Lord (beſides the generall callings of Chriſtians, the whiche I truſte,A requeſt to the L. Mayor and hys brethren. and alſo hartlye praye that you Godly walke in,) hath layde vponupon you y^e perſons of publike magiſtrates, that you will kepe in your ſeueral wards a carefull and diligente watche to méete p. 86with all ſuche abuſes as highly offende God, and are directly againſte hir maieſtyes lawes, amongſt the reſt theſe: filthy Whordome, and beaſtly Drunkenneſſe, outragious and vnmeaſurable Dicing and Carding, and horrible prophanation of the LORDE his daye, in flocking and thronging to baudie Playes by thouſandes, whereas they ought to bée occupyed in hearing the worde of the Lord. For as for Whordome, it is cō mon: Drunkēneſſe is no deynties in euerye Tauerne: Dicing and Cardyng in moſt of your ordinarie tabling places: reſorting to Playes in the time of Sermōs a thing too manifeſt. For the other, as I hauehave them by reporte, ſo I wiſhe them falſe: if they be true, I deſire to hauehave them puniſhed with ſeueritie, & then ſhall you ſhew your ſelues religious & zealous Cornelians, in lyuing not onelyonly godlye your ſelues, but alſo in ſéeking to bryng others belonging to your charge, to be honeſt, vertuous, and godlye likewiſe. Thus doing, the LORDE wil bleſſe wyth manye bleſſings both you and p. 87your Citye, whyche for Chriſte hys ſake I beſéeche him to doe. The ſame ſute I am to make vntounto all others in authoritye, and wythall to tell them, that y^e higher their calling is, the higher ſhal their place bée, and greater paynes in Hell, if in thys behalfe they omitte theyr duetie. For the myghtye men ſhall ſuffer mightie tormentes, and hée that knoweth hys Mayſters will and doeth it not, ſhall be beaten wyth many ſtripes.

But bycauſe I am thus farre entred into thys large and fruitefull fielde of childrens education;That it is the part of al Scholemaiſters to teach their ſchollers out of y^e word of the Lord. & houſehold gouernment, of fathers and houſeholders generally neglected, whileſt where they ſhould dayly and continuallye teache their children and families out of the worde of the Lorde to feare hym, manye of them daylye and nightly are occupyed in Dicing, Carding and gaming, and yet muſt néedes be counted Proteſtants: giuegive me leaue I beſéech you a little to directe my ſpeach vntounto thoſe, whom in reſpect of their office it chiefly concerneth, to bring p. 88vp youth, I meane ſchoolemaiſters, for among all the diſeaſes that theſe our days and times are grieuouſlye ſicke withall, there is none wherewith they are eyther more generally or more daungerouſly infected, thā with this that the moſt part of ſcholemaſters, like as fathers and houſe-holders, thinke it no parte of their duety to meddle with inſtructing their ſchollers and pupilles in the worde of the Lorde & principles of chriſtian religion. Wheras without the feare of the Lorde, there is no wiſedome, neyther is it poſſible for youth to go well forwarde in vertue and good manners, things as neceſſarie as learning, whiche, without theſe, is but a ring of gold in a ſwines ſnoute, if they bée not trained vp in y^e knowledge of y^e word. For moſt true is that in déede golden ſaying of the Pſalmiſt: Wherewithall ſhal a yong mā redreſſe his way? in taking heed thereto according to thy worde. Hearken, hearken all you that be Scholemaiſters, there is no other meanes to hauehave your youth to profite in vertue and godlyneſſe, but by taking héede to the worde p. 89of the Lorde. And what parent is he that ſetteth hys ſonne to ſchoole, but that hée woulde hauehave him as well godly as learned? as well a vertuous childe, as a towarde ſcholler? as well inſtructed vntounto ſaluation, as furthered in prophane learning? For if there be any that hauehave other endes in putting their children to ſchole, theſe being contemned, your ſchooles wer better to be without them, than combred wyth them. From whence come the generall complaintes of the vngraciouſneſſe and vnhappineſſe of ſchollers, but from this, that you neuer teache them theyr dueties out of the booke of the Lorde. Some of you, thinke ouer muche gentleneſſe to be the way, and others continual and tyrannicall ſcourgyng and whyppyng to be the way, whereas in déed you are both ſortes far and wide out of the waye. For the one with too much leuitie encourageth thē to a leud licenciouſneſſe and looſeneſſe of maners: the others thinking by cruell and butcherly beatyng to wynne reformation, ingender in them ſuch a miſlike and lothyng of learning, p. 90that they abhorre with as deadly hatred the ſchoole houſe, as we doe thoſe things whiche are moſte lothſome and noyſome vntounto vsus. I like wel of gentleneſſe, if it be ſuch as by it manners be not corrupted & ſpilled, and on the other ſide I allowe of reaſonable correction, ſo as it be vſed as the laſte remedie, that is, when no other wyll ſerue. But the firſt, the beſt and the chiefeſt way, is to begin with teaching your youth the feare of the Lorde: For that is, as Salomon ſayth, the beginning of Wiſdome. But you feare peraduenture that it ſhoulde be to little profite to ſpeake vntounto children of religion: I heare you, and thinke of that you ſaye, as a cloake to hyde your faulte, and couer for your ſlouthfulneſſe, rather than a true cauſe to ſtaye this duetie. He that hathe ſayd, ſuffer little children to come vntounto me and forbidde them not, for vntounto ſuch belongeth the kingdome of heauen, wyl no doubte, bleſſe your labours taken in hande in his feare. Beginne therefore at length and trye: you ſhal I warrant you, to your comfort, ſée your youth profite in p. 91vertue and godlineſſe. I would hauehave you, that ſetting aſide all care of religion in your ſchollers, to make it your only profeſſion to reade them prophane Authors, ſhewe me the example but of one perſon, whome, eyther Tullie his Offices, or Ariſtotle his Ethickes, or Plato his Pre…eptes of maners, euer yet made a god…y and a vertuous man. I am not againſt …he teaching of propha…e writers: I …nowe they hauehave their vſe. But I vtter…ye miſſlike youre prepoſterous, backewarde, and euerthwarte care in labou…ing, chiefely about theſe, ommitting that whiche ſhoulde be formoſte, namelye in…truction out of the worde. Take heede …hat in reſpecte ye worthily runne not in…o the reprehenſion that oure ſauioure Chriſte vſeth towardes the Scribes and Phariſes for touching Minte, and Annis, …nd Comyn, and leauing the weightye …atters of the lawe, as iudgement, mer…e, and fidelitie: that is, for taking much …aines about trifles, and dealing ſlender… and ſleightly in matters of greate im…rtaunce. Let the name of God, and of p. 92his Chriſte be hearde often in youre ſcholes: let it be familiar vntounto your ſchollers by continuall beating it into theyr heades. What though it enter in but ſoftly, the water by often dropping pierceth into the harde ſtone: by much heating the ſtrong yron is made ſofte: by often putting into the fire the tougheſt ſtéele is made pliant. And yet in this compariſon the caſe is far otherwiſe, for we are but the planters and waterers, God is he only that giueth y^e increaſe. Wherfore this duetie of inſtructing being eſpeciallye commaunded, being laboured in wyth reuerence of his holy name and maieſtye, he wil vndoubtedly bleſſe and further it. Nowe is the time that you may do good, forſlewe it not. Whileſt your ſchollers be yong you maye frame them as you will. The ſofte waxe will receyue any print, whereas the harde will take none: yong ſciences, will be bowed, whiche waye you wyl hauehave them, whereas the growe… trées wyll rather breake than bende Loke what licoure a veſſell is ſeaſone… wythall, when it is newe, it will kep… p. 93a ſmacke thereof when it is olde. And, teache a childe while he is young what wayes he ſhall walke, and he will not forgette it when hee commeth vntounto yeares.Popiſh Scholemaiſters. This thing doe the Papiſtes of our time full well vnderſtande. And therfore hauehave their picked ſcholemaiſters priuately to nouſel vp their children in their houſes in the Popes religion, that they may taſt and ſmel therof when theyr parentes be dead and rotten. And great pittie it is, that the Quéenes enimies ſhould be permitted ſuch libertie. For by thys meanes are many towarde gentlemen otherwiſe, vtterly marred & ſpoiled. Howe (I pray) you falleth it out, y^e you hauehave at thys day in this lande, many yong gentlemen not aboue 24. yeres olde at the moſt, that are more obſtinate and ſtubborne Papiſtes than their fathers: they wyll …ome at no Church, at no Sermons, whē …s their parents will do both. And if at a…y time there be proceſſe out for them …rom hir maieſties high Cōmiſſioners, …hey finde one meanes or other to hauehave …ackling of it, and then forſooth they muſt p. 94in poſte ouer into Fraunce to learne the language, wheras in déed their voyage is not ſo much to learne the French tong, as to withdrawe themſelues from puniſhement of law, and there at liberty to heare (whē they pleaſe) a Latin Maſſe. And for my parte I wiſhe that al the Papiſtes in Englande (without they repent) togither with al the reſt of hir Maieſties enimies, were in Fraunce or ſome other place of banniſhmente, without hope euer to returne againe, and ſo ſhould our countrey be in more quiet and ſafetie. But of thys that I hauehave ſayd it euidently appeareth, that wheras in reſpect of their yeares, being not paſt .24. they were at the beginning of the princes reigne capable of no religiō, and now be ſtiffe necked Papiſts, it can not be choſen, but they muſt hauehave it by the education of Popiſhe ſcholemaiſters, or Popiſhe parentes or both togyther. And no maruell. For we hauehave in manye Gentlemens houſes, and alſo in the houſes of others in the countrey of hygher callyng, the ſwéepings of the Vniuerſities, I meane, ſuche rotte… p. 95Papiſtes, as by the broome of godly diſcipline, as vnprofitable duſte, hauehave bin ſwéeped out thence, are entertayned in the Countrey in priuate houſes to teach their children. And there they be as ſafe, as the Foxe in his borow. For who dare be ſo bolde as once to enquire wherein they inſtruct their ſchollers? beſides this, there are huddled togyther olde Popyſhe perſecuting Maſſe Prieſtes, in ſome houſes foure, in ſome thrée, in ſome two, in ſome one, and they (forſooth) vnderunder pretence of ſeruing in ſeuerall offices, as ſome ſtewardes, ſome Caters, and ſo forth, peruerte whole famylies. For can it poſſibly be otherwiſe, that themſelues Papiſtes, and vnderunder Papiſtes hauing the gouernement of youth, as men choſen for the purpoſe, ſhoulde teach any other than Papiſtrie. I would to God we coulde learne by the example of the Turke, to vſe one pollicie in a good cauſe which, he practiſeth in a bad. The maner of the Turke is, to take frō ſuch Chriſtians as are vnderunder his tiranny their childrē, ſo ſoon as they come to yeres p. 96of diſcréetion, and to put them wher they may be taught his Mahumetiſh religion, that afterwardes they maye the more faithfullye ſerue him. So (I ſay) doe I wiſh, that the children of our Papiſtes, ſo ſoone as they be capable of lerning, might be taken from them (they notwythſtanding paying for their educatiō) and be cō mitted vntounto the gouernement of godlye teachers, that woulde learne them the feare of the Lord: or if their education be permitted to be in the houſes of theyr parentes, that order may be taken, that none hauehave the teaching of them, but ſuch as be well knowen to be zealous in religion: for theſe Papiſtes how ſoeuer they outwardly pretende louelove, they do indéede kyll: how ſoeuer they woulde ſéeme to cheriſh, they do in déed corrupt and ſpill. They reſemble very fitly the herbe Colocynthis, whiche a man might iudge by the outwarde appearaunce of it in claſping with hys ſtrings of his roote, other herbes that grow next vntounto him, that he would ſucker them: but indéede, as many as he toucheth, they neuer proſper. So for p. 97al the world fareth it with thoſe whiche come within the embracings of Popiſhe Scholemaiſters, thoughe they make a faire ſhewe of doing them good, yet doe they indéede infecte them, that they will be the worſe for it as long as they liue. Wherefore I earneſtlye praye the honorable and worſhipful of hir Maieſties highe commiſſion,A requeſt to the high commiſſioners, for the fiftin of Popiſhe Schoolemaſters. to cauſe priuate Popiſhe teachers, to be ſought after and ſifted as wel to ſtaye the preſent miſchiefe, as alſo to méete with before hande, the hurte that may by ſuffering them grow hereafter. And to ende this matter (in whiche, albeit I hauehave in long, I hope the neceſſitie and profite of it, ſhall eaſily with the godlye procure my pardon) I likewiſe hartily deſire all teachers of youth, not to ſuffer themſelues to be founde leſſe diligent in a good cauſe, than the Papiſtes in a badde: not to be leſſe carefull to inſtructe their children in the feare of the Lorde, than the Papiſtes are to traine vp theirs in Poperie: not to be leſſe mindeful to teache their ſchollers the true religion, than the Papiſtes p. 98to learne theirs the falſe. As for the reſt of you (beloued that are here preſent) if any of you with Cornēlius hauehave laboured all his familie to feare the Lorde, you hauehave like obedient children béene carefull to performe that duetie whiche GOD hathe layde vppon you, and ſo in the Lordes name I exhorte you to go forwarde: and thoſe of you that hitherto for want of knowledge, hauehave omitted this duetie of inſtructing your families with Cornelius in the feare of the Lord, nowe that it hathe béene euidentlye proued vntounto you, to be youre charge, no perſon of what calling ſoeuer to be excepted: adde not I beſéeche you to youre knowledge contempte, but diligent and ſpéedie practiſe, and putting it in vre. For it is a fearefull thing to fall into the handes of the Lorde. Take encouragement by the example of Cornelius, goe aboute it in the feare of GOD, and earneſt calling on his name, ſo ſhall you hauehave to youre greate reioycing, euerye man in his owne houſe a godlye p. 99Churche, and with leſſe diſquieting of your ſelues with chiding and fighting, you ſhall hauehave thoſe vnderunder youre ſeuerall chardges, in ſingleneſſe of conſcience to performe ſuche dueties towards you, as in the feare of God to you they doe owe, the which for his ſonnes ſake I beſéeche him to graunte.

In the fifth braunche of this firſte generall,The fifth braunche of the firſte pa… containing a deſcriptiō of Cornelius and his qualities, I hauehave to ſpeak of his Almes déedes and Prayer, and fyrſte of his Almes, bicauſe that is firſt mentioned in my Texte. As before wée hauehave ſéene by Cornelius religiouſneſſe, feare of God, and vertuous inſtructing his familie, his faith towards God, ſo nowe by hys almes appeareth, that he bare a godlye and pittifull affection towardes men in relieuing euerye manne as his neceſſitie ſéemed moſte to require. For where it is ſaide, that he gaue to all the people, this All is to be reſtrained to, all the poore among the people: for it hadde béene no almes to p. 100hauehave giuen to the riche, who had ynough alreadie.

Iohn the Baptiſte taughte the ſouldioures, that aſked of him their duetie, Th…t they ſhoulde ſtrike nor accuſe no man wrongfully, but be contente wyth their owne wages. Cornelius hath plaied y^e good ſcholler, he hath not only perfectly learned that leſſon, but hath alſo taken forth an other, learning beſids being cō tented with his owne ſtipend, out of the ſame, in louelove and of a felowe féeling of the miſeries of his poore brethren, to contribute vntounto their neceſſities, for it cannot be choſen, but in whome ſoeuer there is true Religion, and the feare of God, in the ſame alſo there muſte néedes be louelove, & a brotherly compaſſiō, not only to pitie, but alſo to helpe the wants of thoſe that ſtande in néede, ſo farre forth, as by the portion of good, the whiche the Lorde hathe bleſſed vsus withall, he hath enabled vsus. And that out of this louelove this …elow féeling, this compaſſion, this pitie, did iſſue in Cornelius his charitable relieuing of the poore, y^e very word it ſelfe, p. 101whyche Luke doeth here vſe for almes, doth planely ſhewe. For it properly ſignifieth MercieMercy, whiche is an inwarde affection and touching of the hearte, riſing of the viewe of an other mans miſerie, and is here put figuratiuely, for all outwarde dueties of Charitie, whereby we doe good vntounto ſuche as are in pouertie & neceſſitie. Wherefore in as muche as Cornelius is here ſaid, to hauehave beſtowed much almes amongſt all the people, it is euident, that there was in him a righte Chriſtian hearte, and bowels of merciemercy, whiche didde yerne, and as it were melt at the calamities of his brethren, which did conſider the band of vnitie, which ought to be betwéene members of all one heade Chriſt Ieſus: who in this reſpect did féede, foſter, and cheriſhe, prouide and care for them, as béeing of his own fleſh, and had regarde to helpe them, as the very members of his owne body. There is therefore no queſtion, but that Cornelius liberalitie and bounteouſneſſe, ſpringing oute of this fountaine of brotherly compaſſion, was no fained counterfaite, p. 102nor forged, but true, right, and perfecte beneficence, almes and liberalitie.

…t is not y…ogh to hauehave …e bare and …aked name … Faith, but his faith …uſte alſo be …uitefull in …ood works.Wée learne firſte out of this great almes of Cornelius, that it is not ſufficient to hauehave the name of Faith, to be religious, to feare God, vnleſſe alſo thys faith doe fructifie and bring forth good fruites, according to that whyche Iames writeth: What auaileth it, my brethren, thoughe a man (ſaith he) hath faith, when he hath no workes? can the faith ſaue him? And againe: But wilte thou vnderſtande, O thou vaine man, that the faith which is without workes is deade? And marke withall, I beſéeche you, the manner of his ſpeache (for it maketh being rightly vnderſtoode, verye muche againſte the Popiſhe Iuſticiaries of oure time, whiche teache oute of hym that manne is iuſtified by his workes, whiche wordes in déede he vſeth) he doth, not ſaye, What if a man hauehave faith, but what if a man ſay he hauehave faith, by whiche appeareth, that he ſpeaketh of hipocrites and vaine boaſters of faith. For p. 103the true and liuely faith can be no more without workes, than the fire withoute heate, than water without moiſture, the Sunne without brightneſſe, the good trée without his good fruite.The place o… Iames expounded brieflye. And where hée ſayeth that Abraham with Rahab, were iuſtified by their workes, he meaneth that their outward workes before men, were teſtimonies of their inwarde faith before God: and not that their workes were the cauſes of their ſaluation, for ſo ſhoulde he be againſt all the Scriptures, whiche teache, that Faith onelyonly doth iuſtifie, and ſo likewiſe we ſhoulde make the holye Ghoſte contrarye to himſelfe, whiche were verye wicked, ſo muche as to thinke, muche more to ſpeake. Wée therefore teache out of this example of Cornelius, good déedes and ſuche other lyke vertuous actions of godlye men, togyther with the aucthoritie of the holye Scripture, that it is the parte of a Chriſtian, to doe good workes, yea, that whoſoeuer he be that doeth no good workes, he is indéede no more a true Chriſtian, than a deade carcaſſe, p. 104a liuing man.The Papiſts to vsus wrong, … gyuyng me, that wee are enimies vntounto good workes. Wherefore the Papiſtes doe vsus greate iniurie, in filling the eares of the ſimple and ignorant people, that our doctrine is a doctrine of libertie, that we teache men to liue looſelie and lewdely, that we are enimies vntounto good works, whereas in very déede, we doe the flatte contrarie. We will menne to beware, that they vſe not the libertie of the Goſpell for a cloake of maliciouſneſſe: wée teache them to ſerue the Lorde in feare, in holineſſe, and righteouſneſſe all the dayes of their life: We will men to let their light ſo ſhine before men, that they ſéeing their good workes, maye glorifie oure heauenlye father, whiche is in heauen.The differēce betweene the …a…iſtes and vsus, in the doctrine of good workes. But herein lyeth the difference betwéene them and vsus: we teache, that Works come after Fayth, they, y^t they go before Faith: wée, that they folow him that is alreadye iuſtified: they, that they goe before him that is to be iuſtified: wée, that they are the fruites of faith, they, that they be the trée out of whyche Faith buddeth: we, that faith is the cauſe of workes, they, that workes are p. 105the cauſe of Faith. And with as muche truth maye they teache, that lighte is cauſe of the Sunne: that heate, is the cauſe of fire: that moiſture is the cauſe of water. To be ſhorte, we teache, that the worde of the Lorde only is the meaſure by whiche oure workes are to be moten: they, that the wil of manne, and good intent. But howſoeuer they teache, or whatſoeuer they ſaye, thus ſayeth the Scripture, and thus teacheth the worde of God: without Faith, it is impoſsible to pleaſe God. Whereof I conclude, that as after the example of Cornelius, a Chriſtian muſte doe good workes, ſo muſt he hauehave Faith before: or elſe howe glorious ſoeuer they ſéeme in the ſighte of man, before the Lorde they ſtincke, and are abhominable. And therefore is it alſo in this place verye well ſaide of Cornelius, firſte, that he was a religious man, and one that feared GOD: and ſecondly, that he gaue muche almes to all the people.

Thus you ſée, that in hym went firſte faith, religion, and the feare of God, and p. 106then, that theſe were not ydle, his good workes and déedes doe declare. And thus lette Papiſtes ſaye what they liſte, wée teache, that in Chriſtians it oughte to be, and with their owne eies in a greate manye they may ſée it for to be, and God graunte, that in all thoſe, that doe profeſſe hys name and religion, it maye be: I meane, that all ſuche as doe in worde confeſſe Chriſte Ieſus to be the Lorde, maye in déede with Cornelius ſo godlye walke, that by their liuing before the worlde, they maye be taken for Chriſtians.

… rule to …nowe whe…her that whi…he we giuegive …e almes or …o.Secondlye, we hauehave here a rule gyuen vsus, howe to examine and trie that whiche we giuegive to the poore, whether it he almes or no. For to hauehave that whiche is giuen, ſo to be, doth not conſiſte in the greatneſſe of that whiche is beſtowed, but in the minde and diſpoſition of the giuer: for who commonly are ſo liberall, or rather in very déede prodigall and lauiſhe, as are hipocrites that in giuing, gréedily hawk and hunt after the praiſe & commendation of men, and therefore as p. 107Chriſte ſayeth, blow a Trumpet before their almes, but they hauehave their reward: neyther ſhall the greate ſums that they diſtribute and beſtowe, euer come into this reckning before y^e Lord, that he wil accept and take it for almes, that is, for ſuch a worke as doth pleaſe him, bicauſe it is not done in ſuch ſort as he commandeth. That therefore whiche we giuegive, ſhal then goe before the Lord for almes, if it be (as the holy ghoſt here ſpeaketh of Cornelius his liberalitie) merciemercy, that is to ſay, if it procéede of louelove, and of a brotherlye pitying the miſerie of him which is in néede, as reckening him to be one of our own fleſh, and ſo in regarde of this neare bande and coniunction, which God hath made betwéen vsus, we do (as it wer) out of the vowels of merciemercy and compaſſion liberallie powre oute vppon hym, as one of our own members for the reliefe of his neceſſitie, according to the meaſure whiche God hathe bleſſed vsus withal. For as Paule ſpeaketh:1. Cor. 13.3.1 Cor 13:3 Though I feed the poore with all my goods, and hauehave not louelove, it profiteth mee nothing. p. 108And the Lord by his Prophet Iſay,…al. 58.7. commaundeth vsus, that we hide not oure face from our owne fleſhe. So you ſée, that if our giuing, iſſue out of any other heads than out of louelove, and a fellowe féeling of the wantes of oure néedie brethren, in that they be oure very owne fleſhe, it is as nothing before GOD.…hat the …er giuings the Pa…ſtes is no …lmes. Whereof I conclude, that all the large giuings of the Papiſts, of whiche at this daye many make ſo greate bragges, bycauſe they be not done in a reuerent regarde of the commaundement of the Lorde, in LoueLove, and of an inwarde being touched with the calamities of the néedie, but for to be well reported of before men, whileſt they are aliue, and to be praied for after they are dead, and by the meanes of thē, to be deliuered from the paines of Purgatorie, & ſo to win Heauen, are indéede no almes, but Phariſaicall trūpets, to win a brittle blaſt of glorie, at y^e hāds of men. They hauehave therefore (as Chriſte ſayeth) their rewarde, that is to ſay, the thing they ſoughte for, to wit, the praiſe and commendation of mē, as for reward p. 109at Gods handes, they neither hauehave, nor euer ſhall hauehave, vnleſſe in doing theyr almes they ſette before them a reuerent regarde of the Lords commaundement, and in louelove and merciemercy frame thēſelues to helpe their néedie brother. Wherefore (deare Chriſtians) I directe my ſpeeche vntounto you,An exhortation to the ric… to be liberal to the poore. whome GOD in great merciemercy hathe bleſſed with plentifull increaſe of the riches of this worlde, whereas hée coulde hauehave made you inferioure to the meaneſt. Lette Cornelius his example, who gaue much almes to al the people, moue you to be liberall to help the poore: as he by giuing franckly to y^e people of y^e Iews, being none of his natiō, did therby teſtifie his conſēt to their religion, ſo by your giuing vntounto the godly brethrē, and to poore Schollers that ſtande in néede, giuegive out teſtimonie, that you all hope for one ſaluation in Chriſte, for whoſe ſake you ſhewe this merciemercy, in relieuing his and youre members. GiueGive not as Hipocrites and Papiſtes, for praiſe, or for to merite thereby Heauen: But let that whiche you doe, be done in louelove, and p. 110in merciemercy, and ſo will it be a ſwéete ſmelling ſacrifice in the ſighte of the almightie. And truly it cannot be choſen, but if you putte vppon you louelove with the tender bowels of pitie and compaſſion, you will be riche in good workes, and plentifull in giuing vntounto the poore: For where there is no giuing, there is no louelove, and little giuing ſheweth little pitie, whereas greate louelove, much merciemercy, in ſuch as GOD hathe enriched with abilitie bringeth forth greate giuing and muche almes. Deceiue not therefore youre ſelues with a vaine perſwaſion of LoueLove, when ye will departe with nothing. For louelove alwayes burſteth forth into helying the thing that it loueth, inſomuche, that a man will not ſuffer hys verye dogge to lacke, if he louelove hym, muche leſſe his Chriſtian and godlye brother: neither doth it looke what thys man or that man beſtoweth, or aſketh what ſhall I giuegive, or howe much, when ſhall I giuegive, or howe often ſhall I gyue? But by the pitifull viewe of the lamentable diſtreſſe of ſuch as are in miſerie, p. 111eaſilye and readilye findeth aunſwere againſte all theſe worldlye motions.

Cornelius gaue muche almes to all the people: Wée that are farre beyonde him in wealth and ſubſtaunce, thynke wée hauehave done very well, and ynoughe, if we hauehave giuen a little vntounto a fewe: Cornelius gaue plentifullye whileſt hée was aliue, and we giuegive ſparingly, for feare we ſhall lacke ere we dye. And thys is a greate faulte amongeſt the wealthie of this worlde,Againſte deferring to d… good. that they defer their almes and other good déedes of charitie, till after they be deade, omitting the preſent oportunitie to doe good, the whiche GOD hath not onelyonly commended, but commaunded and not onelye regardeth, but alſo in merciemercy richly rewardeth. What fondneſſe is there in thoſe that would be counted wiſe, to imagine that theyr executours after they be dead, will be more faythfull in diſpoſing their liberalitie, than they themſelues woulde bée beyng aliue? What excuſe ſoeuer we pretende for this deferring p. 112to do good, it ſpringeth onelie of diſtruſte in Gods prouidence: the Lorde roote it oute of vsus, for in ſome it worketh moſte horrible and wicked effectes, inſomuch, that they do not only not giuegive largely, after the example of this oure Cornelius, but beſtowe nothing at all: nay that whiche is worſe, Couetouſneſſe (the roote of al euil) ſpringing of thys diſtruſte in Gods fatherly prouiſion for them, hath br…d in them ſuche a burning deſire of hauing ſtill more, that like vntounto the dropſie man, the more he drinketh, y^e more he thirſteth: the more they hauehave, the more they deſire, and therfore, leaſte they ſhoulde lacke, they do not onelyonly not relieue their poore brethren, but alſo take from them ſuche liuing, as for their reliefe hath by others bin giuen vntounto thē, cruelly and barbarouſly deuouring the goodes of the poore, and eating vppe, as it were, their owne fleſhe. The Lorde be merciful vntounto vsus. This only, to end this point, I am to ſay, if Cornelius hauing but a ſparkle of faith, but a little knowledge in the Chriſtian religion, amongſt p. 113ſo many ſtumbling blockes, lettes and daungers, hauehave ſet vp vntounto vsus ſo cleare and bright a glaſſe of godlye almes and Chriſtian charitie, truely we that reioyce ſo much of our knowlege in Chriſt, and perſwade our ſelues of a maruellous light of fayth, ought worthyly to bluſhe and be aſhamed to come ſo farre behinde him in brotherly pittying, & louinglye reléeuing the poore eſtate of our owne néedie members, and to be ſo ſoone colde in y^e exerciſe of charitye. The Lorde worke in vsus bowels of compaſſion, that wyth Cornelius, eueryevery one according to the portiō that God hath beſtowed vponupon vsus, maye indéede féele and be touched inwardlye, wyth the miſeries of the néedie, and in conſideration of the ſame, gyue muche almes to all the people: for there wyll a day come, when it ſhall be ſayde vntounto vsus: GiueGive accountes of thy Stewardſhip, for thou ſhalte bee no longer Stewarde

Now followeth Cornelius his dayly and often praying vntounto God.The continuall exerciſe of praying in Cornelius. For it is here ſayd, that he prayed God cōtinually. As before where the holy Ghoſt ſpeaketh p. 114of Cornelius his almes, he figuratiuely vſeth that worde, being but one part, for all the kindes of charitie: ſo here he ſetteth down his dayly vſe of praying for the whole worſhip of God, as a certain and vndiſceauable note of his vnfeined godlyneſſe. For where there is the true feare of God, whych hath bene alredy ſhewed to hauehave remayned in Cornelius, there muſt needs be alſo a feruent deſire by earneſt prayer to humble our ſelues before the maieſtie of God, to bée by his holy ſpirit directed in y^e true knowledge of him, & his Chriſt, y^t thereby wée may be taught to walke in ſuch ways as are acceptable before him. This deſire may appeare to hauehave bene in Cornelius, by the wordes whiche hereafter the Angell vſeth vntounto hym, where hée willeth him to ſende for Peter, who ſhoulde teach him, what he ſhoulde do. For being in the number of thoſe whyche hadde receyued the true knowledge of GOD, he prayeth that he maye be admitted vntounto a further and a more clearer lighte of vnderſtanding, concerning his hope of p. 115ſaluation in the redéemer Chriſt Ieſus, yet not fully reueled vntounto him. His prayer being reported not to be of courſe or of cuſtome, or ſeldome, but dayly and often, is a ſigne vntounto vsus, that his religion was not builded vponupon feyned and coūterfaite trifles, or conſiſted in outward rites and ceremonies, but that as god is a ſpirite (as Iohn witneſſeth) ſo Cornelius lyke a true worſhipper, did pray vntounto him and worſhip him in ſpirite and truth, and did not ſleyghtly (after the manner of the cō mon ſort) vſe coldly and faintely this exerciſe of praying in number & meaſure, but was earneſtly, and euē frō the hart, bent often to call vppon God, like as hys manifolde benefites, and vnſpeakable mercies daylye towardes him, did continuallye prouoke and call him therevnto.

Thys example of Cornelius hys dayly praying vntounto God,The example of Cornelius ought to moue vsus to diligence in prayer. commendeth vntounto vsus the continual & often vſe of prayer, in whiche he was not ſo diligente and feruente as we for the moſte parte are colde, negligente, too too ſlacke & ſlothful, p. 116whereas we hauehave to moue vsus therevnto both the example of our Lord and Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt, who not only himſelfe prayed often, but alſo commaunded vsus to pray oftē, and hath appointed vsus a forme of prayer, which we commonlye call the Lordes prayer, and hath beſides promiſed to heare our prayer made in fayth: we hauehave not (I ſay) only his example, but the example of all his Apoſtles, wyth diuerſe others the godlye Patriarches, fathers, and Prophets of the olde teſtamēt. There be alſo cauſes both in reſpecte of our ſelues and alſo of our brethren, that oughte worthily to moue vsus to cal vponupon God for his aſſiſtaunce againſt our many enimies, as the Diuell, the worlde, and the corrupt luſtes and wicked affections of our owne fleſhe: this being one of the principall weapons of that ſpirituall armoure whiche Paul teacheth a chriſtian ſouldiour to be furniſhed withal, agaynſt the greate and ſtrong aſſaultes of thoſe mightie enimies. For beſides the girdle of veritie, the breaſte-plate of righteouſneſſe, the ſhoes of the preparation of the p. 117Goſpell of peace, the ſhielde of fayth, the helmet of ſaluation, and the ſworde of the ſpirite, he addeth: And pray alwayes with all manner prayer and ſupplication in the ſpirit. Againe, if we woulde conſider what Abraham, what Iſaac, what Iacob, what Aaron, Moſes, Ioſua, Dauid, Salomon, Ioſias, Ezechias, Elias, Daniel, y^e Publicane, the théefe on the croſſe, the Apoſtles, the Churche praying for Peter in priſō, with innumerable others, hauehave obtayned at the handes of GOD by prayer, the mighty and wonderfull effectes that hauehave followed of theyr prayer, muſt néedes prouoke and ſtirre vsus vp, to the often and vnfeyned exerciſe of this moſte Godly duetie, and cauſe vsus, wyth Cornelius dayly to pray vntounto God. But we, al theſe notwithſtanding, either pray neuer, or elſe very ſeldome, and euen then for the moſt parte, of cuſtome, thinke the reading and mumbling vp other godlye mens prayers, howe farre ſoeuer our heartes be from that which we ſpeake, to be a good prayer before God, and that for thys duetie perfourmed thus, of faſhion p. 118rather than of hartie and earneſt zeale, we hauehave God euen bounde vntounto vsus, ſo that all the daye after we are diſpenced withall to doe what we liſte, muche like vntounto the Papiſtes, who if they hauehave once hearde Maſſe, they hauehave euen for the worke done (as they terme it,) deſerued frée remiſſion for all thoſe offences which all the daye after they ſhoulde committe. Wel, all that I can ſaye in this greate ſlackeneſſe, and diſorder in prayer, is, to wiſhe you all humblye to praye vntounto GOD to roote out of vsus thys great negligence, and to graunte vsus with Cornelius, continuallye and dayly, not with the lippes, but with the hearte, earneſtlye to call vponupon him, which if we truelye louelove him, we will aſſuredlye doe, and by no meanes be letted therefrom. For as he that truely loueth, delighteth in nothing more than in the often talking and conference with him whō he loueth:Where there …s true louelove …here is often praying. euen ſo where there is true and vnfeyned louelove vntounto God, there is a burning deſire by often prayer to talke wyth GOD, ſo as no perill nor daunger, no not of p. 119…oſſe of life, can ſtaye or hinder it, as may …ppeare by Daniel, whome the feare of y^e …ions denne coulde not at the comman…emente of the King Darius kéepe from …raying vntounto his GOD but the ſpace …f thirtye dayes, whiche vntounto ſuche as …aue to GOD but a little louelove, wyll …éeme but a little thing. But true louelove …yll rather aduenture anye perill, than …or to be but for a verye ſhorte tyme …ebarred from this libertie. Yea, and as …he more woodde is layde on the fire, the greater is the flame, ſo is likewiſe thys continuall talkyng wyth GOD by …rayer, a greate increaſyng of our louelove …owardes hym, as on the contrarye, …he ſeldomer we commune wyth hym by …rayer, the more doeth our louelove toward …im from time to time abate and ſlake, …ntill in the ende it be cleane quenched. Let vsus therefore (good brethren) often repayre vntounto the Lorde by daylye and vn…ained calling vppon his name, by whiche our louelove maye more and more …ncreaſe towardes hym, and wée …lſo hauehave good and perfecte experience p. 120howe riche the Lorde is (as Paule ſpeaketh) to all thoſe that in fayth truely call vppon him, whereof we can neuer hauehave better trial, thā when by oftē praying vntounto him, according as the neceſſities either of our ſelues or others doe require, we finde by hys liberall graunting our manifolde requeſtes, that hée is in déede riche in mercye, that hathe in ſtoare to ſuffiſe all creatures of the whole worlde that doe praye in faythe without wauering, as Iames teacheth vsus to do.

To whom we o…ght to pray.The ſeconde note that I drawe out of the praying of Cornelius, is, to whom, when we pray, we oughte to make oure prayer. For hauing here a large ſcope, & very plentifull matter, if I woulde enter into this comon place of prayer, into the whiche my text violently ſéemeth, as it were to drawe me, wherein I mighte to your profit handle, what cauſes ought to moue vsus to pray: what prayer is: to whom we oughte to make our prayer: when we ought to praye: where we ought to praye: howe he oughte to be affected p. 121& diſpoſed that muſt pray: of what force y^e prayer of a godly man is with God: how many ſortes of prayers there are: and after what manner we oughte to praye, with ſuche like: letting paſſe the reſt, as being at the full handled in the common places of learned and godly men, I will only deale in this matter of prayer, wyth ſuche circumſtaunces as my texte ſhall plainely leade me vntounto, of the whiche hauing taught before, that concerning time to pray, we muſt with Cornelius praye continually (not y^t we ſhould do no maner of thing elſe but pray, as the Heretiques being of holding this opinion called Enchites or Prayars, do falſely teach: but ſo often, as our neceſſities calling vsus there vntounto, conueniently we maye) I will now briefly ſhewe to whom we ought to pray, bycauſe it is here ſayde that Cornelius prayed God continually.That we ought to pray to none but only vntounto God. If therefore in a worde you wyll knowe who he is to whome wee ſhoulde praye, it is GOD. And ſaying, (God) I ſhutte out al others both men and Angels, and alſo women from this high honour, whiche beyng the p. 122greateſt that we can giuegive vntounto God, hée will imparte with no other, according as it is written:…eut. 6.13. Thou ſhalt worſhippe the Lord thy God, and him only ſhalt thou ſerue. Wherfore calling vponupon y^e name of y^e lord being one of his chiefeſt ſeruices, it belongeth vntounto him alone, & cannot without horrible robbery be giuē to ani other. And good reaſon it is, y^t he only ſhould be prayed vntounto for helpe & ſaluation, who alone is able to help, who alone knoweth how to help, who alone is willing to help, vntounto whō alone & vntounto no other our prayers can be made, that they may be heard: who alone can not only by our ſuite conceyue our grief▪ but alſo according to his infinite wiſedome and vnſearchable vnderſtāding, knoweth a great deale better what we lack, than we for our ignorance are able to expreſſe. According herevnto ſpeaketh the Lord by his Prophete: I, euē I, am the Lorde, and beſide me there is no ſauiour. And againe: I ſayde not in vaine vntounto the ſeede of Iacob: Eſay. 43.11.Isa 43:11Seeke you mee: I the Lorde doe ſpeake righteouſneſſe, & declare righteous things. They p. 123hauehave no knowlege, that ſet vp the wood of their Idol; & pray vntounto a god that can not ſaue thē. There is no other God beſide me, a iuſt God, & a ſauiour: there is none beſide me. Whervpō he inferreth: Loke vntounto me, and ye ſhall be ſaued: all the ends of the earth ſhall be ſaued: for I am God, and there is no other What cā be ſayd either more plainly to w^tdraw vsus frō praying vntounto any other, ſith god witneſſeth y^t no other can help, or more comfortably to allure vsus to cal only vponupon the Lord, for as much as himſelf hath promiſed y^t ſéeking to him we ſhal be ſaued. If this promiſe can not ſerue, we hauehave alſo cōmandements,Pſalm. 50.15.Ps 50:15 as in y^e Pſal. Cal vpō me in y^e day of trouble: ſo wil I deliuer thee, & thou ſhalt glorify me. And come vntounto me (ſaith Chriſt our ſauiour) all ye that are wearie & laden, & I wil eaſe you. Cōcerning Saints & Angels, we read that whē this our Cornelius fel down before Peter & gaue him but only outward reuerence, Peter would none of it,Act. 14.15.Acts 14:15 but bad him ſtād vp, ſaying: for euen I my ſelfe am a man. And Paul & Barnabas refuſe to be ſacrificed p. 124vntounto at Lyſtra, willing the people only to worſhip god.…ca. 19.10. The Angel, alſo in y^e reuelation, when Iohn fel at his féete to worſhip him, ſayth, See thou do it not: I am thy felowe ſeruaunt, and one of thy brethrē, which hauehave the teſtimonie of Ieſus. Worſhip God. And the Angel in the booke of Iudges ſayeth vntounto Manoah the father of Sampſon: Though thou make me abide, I will not eate of thy breade, and if thou wilt make a burnte offering, offer it vntounto the Lorde. In the hiſtorie of the Euangeliſtes you ſhal finde, that Chriſte moſte readilye and louynglye graunted the requeſtes of all thoſe which humblye in faythe ſoughte vntounto hym, whereas to hys mother requeſting hym at the mariage to helpe them, when their wine fayled, he anſwereth, woman what hauehave I to do with thee, mine houre is not yet come. And to his Apoſtles ſaying of the woman of Canaan: Lord diſpatche hir, for ſhe crieth after vsus, he ſaith, he was not ſente but to the loſte ſheepe of the houſe of Iſrael. And this no doubt to embolden and encourage vsus to make oure p. 125prayers vntounto God by Chriſte and not by ſaints, yea the ſcripture plainly teacheth,The dead… Saints … vsus not. that the dead Saincts hauehave no knowlege of vsus. For it is written in Iſaiah. Doubtleſſe thou art our father: though Abrahā be ignoraunt of vsus, and Iſrael knowe vsus not, yet thou oh Lorde, arte oure father, & our redeemer: thy name is for euer If then, amongſt wiſe men it be counted folly to pray vntounto one that is abſent whiche can not heare our prayer: nay if it be Idolatrie to ſuppoſe that the ſoules of dead men eyther are in all places at once, or beyng but in one place are able to vnderſtande the mindes of al men, in all places (for it is the peculiar propertie of God to knowe the heartes, and therfore are they Idolaters that giuegive this to anye other) if it be a greate and notorious iniurie vntounto Chriſt to think any Saint or Angel to be in power or louelove equal vntounto him, much more ſuperiour: if god only (as it hath bin by the ſcripture plainely proued, be able, wylling, knowing how to helpe, hearyng our prayers in faith made for helpe, and better vnderſtanding how to helpe, than p. 126we are able to expreſſe, if he hauehave promiſed to help, if he hauehave commaunded to ſue vntounto hym for helpe: & finally if y^e Saints and Angels hauehave refuſed outward worſhippe, and therefore woulde much more refuſe inuocation, being a high ſeruice of God, and carrying alſo with it a parte of beliefe (for howe ſhall they call on him, on whom they hauehave not beleeued?) if the dead Sainctes are ignoraunce of vsus and knowe vsus not let vsus then (beloued) wyth Cornelius pray continually, & only vntounto God, y^e knoweth vsus, who is not ignorant of vsus, & he no doubt for hys Chriſts ſake, in al things wil heare vsus y^t we ſhall aſke in his name: ſo far as they make for the furtherance of his glorie, & benefit of vsus y^e aſke for them at his handes. For if when through ſin, wickedneſſe & tranſgreſſion, we were enimies vntounto God, & ſtrangers frō righteouſneſſe, which is by Chriſt, it pleaſed God in great merciemercy, to ſende his ſon to worke y^e attonement betwéen hym & vsus. being now by Chriſt made friendes with God, it can not be choſen, but that he wil graūt vsus whatſoeuer we ſhal aſke p. 127in hys name according to his word.

Thus hauehave you ſéene in Cornelius a godly Gentile, a religious ſouldiour, a deuoute gouernor, a Chriſtian captain, one that none of y^e engines & trappes of Satā could ſo entangle & bewrap, y^t they coulde ſtaye, or withhold him from the exerciſes of godlyneſſe, albeit they were, to catche withal, baited on the one ſide with y^e vain pleaſures & delites of this world, wyth promotiō, with honor, with louelove, fauour, & liking: on the other ſide, with perſecutiō; with mockes & ſcornes of y^e wicked, with hatred, diſdain, enuie, diſpleaſure of other ſuperiours & the Emperor, & as depēding theron with feare of loſſe of office, life, & liuing, with which notwithſtanding he is not moued, but goeth on boldely in the courſe of Chriſtian religion, in which hée had begun. Such a one in reſpect of godlineſſe, religion, & the fear of y^e Lord ought eueryevery one of vsus, of what degrée or calling ſoeuer, for to be. But (alas) dere brethrē, whiche waye might a man take to go to finde y^e houſe of Cornelius, wherein not only y^e maſter of the houſe with his wife p. 128is godlye, but hath by his Chriſtian trauaile and paintaking in inſtructing but of the worde, all his houſeholde fearing God. I beſéeche you take a little paines wyth me, to ſearch amongſt al ſortes and kindes of men, for Cornelius, and then will it eaſily appeare how rare a thing it is to finde him. And firſte in the waye of good ſpéede let vsus beginne wyth men of his own profeſſion, and of the ſame trade of life with him, I meane Captaines, and let vsus by conference of their manners & qualities, with his, make a triall, howe neare of kinne the Captaines of our time are with Cornelius, the Captaine of that time.How far the Captaines of …ur times for the moſt part are from the vertues of Cornelius. Captaine Cornelius, his firſt commendation is, for his godlyneſſe, religion and feare of God: our Captaines thynke theſe things to be nothing pertayning vntounto them, but poſt them ouer to the miniſters, paſtoures, and preachers. Captaine Cornelius feared God withall hys houſeholde: our Captaines themſelues & theyr ſouldiours make chiefeſt accountes of ſuche as ſetting aſide all feare of God and man, hauehave deſperate minds to aduenture p. 129any hazarde, and ſuche forſooth hauehave a Capitaines hearte, and the courage of a ſouldior.

Capitaine Cornelius gaue muche almes to all the néedie of the people: our Capitaines liue by the ſpoile and robberie of others, chieflie, if they once get to ſea. There God ſéeth them not, all is fiſh that commeth to nette, and that ſhippe whiche they finde loden with richeſt bootie and moſt pretious marchandize, is alwaies the ſhip of oure enimie, and therefore we muſte néedes hauehave the ſpoile of him, albeit he be neuer ſo godly, and many tymes our owne Countryman. Captaine Cornelius was daily and continuallye occupied in prayer vntounto God: our Captaines like the pariſhe the worſe the Churche ſtandeth in. Captaine Cornelius vſed weapon at the commandemēt, and in the obedience of hys lawfull Magiſtrate, for to withſtande the inuaſion of enimies, to kéepe vnderunder, as well the Iewes, as others, that were likelie to rebel, & to maintaine the publike peace: oure Captaines run from place to place, p. 130and from realme to realme, hyred for mony, not caring to intermeddle themſelues in warres nothing appertaining vntounto them, and there will they ſerue where they may hauehave moſte wages, bée it vnderunder the banner, enſigne, or ſtandard of the Pope, the Turke, or the Diuell to, if he were vponupon earth to entertaine ſouldiors. And ſo odious vntounto thē is y^e name of Peace, that they in manner abhorre & curſe it, wiſhing and praying for war, war, that with the bloude and ſpoile of others, they may enrich themſelues. The qualities whiche were in Cornelius, beſides his knowledge in feates of warre, were godlineſſe, religion, feare of God, Chriſtian trayning vppe of his familie, almes déeds, and prayer, and ſuch ſhould likewiſe be in the Captains of our time in all places. But howe are men commonly iudged of in reſpecte of méeteneſſe to be Captaines, if he can ſet his countenaunce ſternly, looke biggly, goe proudly, walke ſtately, and ſweare roundlye, nay terribly, in ſuch fearefull ſorte, that hée woulde make the Diuell, if hée were p. 131incarnate, to quake and tremble at the hearing of it, ſuche a one is a valiaunt and a luſtie, and ſtoute Capitayne. I condemne not in Capitaynes countenaunce, perſonage, making, manhoode, I reuerence them well vſed, as the good giftes of God: neyther doe I diſallowe the callyng of a Capitayne whiche I confeſſe to bée néedefull and neceſſarie, and wherein a manne may ſerue GOD as this oure Cornelius: I onelye reproue the diſorders of badde Captains, and wiſhe and praye, that as there bée (no doubte) ſome godlye and vertuous Capitaines, ſo that all maye be Cornelians: for it ſhall be no ſhame at all for them, to ſette him before them for theyr paterne, nay ſhame and confuſion will it be to them all, if hauyng with Cornelius the ſame profeſſion of life, they hauehave not alſo with hym the like agréemēt in maners, which God for Chriſtes ſake graunte vntounto them.

Nowe if we ſhall ſéeke for Cornelius among y^e cōmon people, we ſhal likewiſe p. 132proue it a hard thing there to finde hym,…arde to find Cornelius a…ong y^e com…on people. for they are ſo farre from his vertue, religion and godlineſſe, that they run gréedily euerye man after his owne waies, leauing and omitting the wayes of the Lord. And as for inſtructing their families after the example of Cornelius to feare God, they are ſo farre from abilitie to performe this duetie, that themſelues had firſte néede to learne: for of God & his word they know in a manner nothing, & thinke it to be the only office of the Miniſter, to looke to teaching, yea y^e whiche worſe is, they ſeldome reforte to the place of preaching, where they might learne their duetie, vnleſſe it be on the Lords day, on which, if in the fore-noone they hauehave heard the word of God, in the afternoone they thinke, that without all controlment, they may runne after all kinds of vanitie.… notable pra…tiſe of the di…ell to pull …rom hearing …f the worde …n the Lords …aye. Here alſo on the other ſide, it is wonderful to conſider, the craft and ſubtiltie of oure common aduerſarie the Diuell, who, like the cunning Cooke y^t for his gaine prepareth ſundrie ſwéete and pleaſant diſhes to procure appetite, p. 133when as the ſtomacke, (as it were) gorged alreadie, inuenteth many kinde of vaine exerciſes for that day, to pul them from hearing of the word, leaſt by it thei might be won from his kingdome, to the ſeruice of the Lord, & ſo be brought into a hatred of ſuch kinde of leudeneſſe. And like as heretofore in this lande he vſed perſecution to kéepe vsus in Idolatrie, ſo nowe when as the Lorde in merciemercy hath ſent vsus the Goſpell with peace & quiet, he vſeth pleaſure & proſperitie to draw men vntounto vanitie. How this way he preuaileth both in Countrie & Citie our preſent times aforde too plentiful examples, and the time to come in an other worlde will yéeld vntounto y^e frequenters of ſuch leudnes plentiful puniſhmēt. There be not many places where y^e word is preached beſides the Lords day (I woulde to God there were) yet euen that day the better parte of it is horriblie prophaned by diuelliſhe inuentions, as with Lords of Miſſerule, Morice dauncers, Maygames, inſomuch that in ſome places, they ſhame not in y^e time of diuine ſeruice, to come & daunce p. 134aboute the Church, and without to hauehave men naked dauncing in nettes, whiche is moſte filthie: for the heathen that neuer hadde further knowledge, than the lighte of nature, hauehave counted it ſhamefull for a Player to come on the ſtage without a ſlop, and therefore amongeſt Chriſtians I hope ſuche beaſtly brutiſhneſſe ſhal not be let eſcape vnpuniſhed, for whiche ende I recite it, and can tell, if I be called, where it was committed within theſe fewe wéekes. What ſhould I ſpeake of beaſtlye Playes, againſte which out of this place eueryevery man crieth out? hauehave we not houſes of purpoſe built with great charges for the maintaināce of them, and that without the liberties, as who woulde ſay, there, let them ſaye what they will ſay, we wil play. I know not how I might with the godly learned eſpecially more diſcommende the gorgeous Playing place erected in the fieldes, than to terme it, as they pleaſe to hauehave it called, a Theatre, that is, euen after the maner of the olde heathniſh Theatre at Rome, a ſhew place of al beaſtly & filthie p. 135matters, to the which it can not be choſē that men ſhould reſort without learning thence muche corruption. For if hée that behelde but the filthie picture of Iupiter in a ſhower of golden raine deſcending vntounto Dianae, coulde thereby encourage himſelf vntounto filthineſſe: ſhall we thinke that flocks of as wyld youths of both ſexes, reſorting to Enterludes, where both by liuely geſture, and voices, there are allurements vntounto whordom, they can come awaye pure, and not inflamed with concupiſcence? I will not here enter this diſputatiō, whether it be vtterly vnlawfull to hauehave anye playes, but will onelye ioyne in this iſſue,Againſte Playes and Enterludes on the Lords dafe. whether in a Chriſtiā common wealth they be tolerable on the Lords day, when y^e people ſhold be exerciſed in hearing of y^e word, whiche thing as it hathe béen oftentimes reproued by learned & godly men out of this place, ſo for y^e diſcharge of mine own conſcience, I am to ſpeake ſome thing, whiche in fewe wordes is this. If playing in the Theatre or any other place in Londō, as there are by ſixe that I know, to many be p. 136any of the Lordes wayes (whiche I ſuppoſe there is none ſo voide of knowledge in the world wil graunt) then not only it may, but ought to be vſed, but if it be any of the wayes of man, it is no work for y^e Lords Sabaoth, & therfore in no reſpecte tollerable on that daye. For thus ſpeaketh the Lorde by his Prophet Iſaias: If thou tourne awaye thy foote from the Sabaoth, from doyng thy will on mine holy day, and call the Sabaoth a delighte to cōſecrate it, as glorious vntounto the Lord, and ſhalte honour him, not doing thine owne wayes, nor ſeeking thine own wil, nor ſpeaking a vaine worde, then ſhalte thou delight in the Lord, and I wil cauſe thee to mount vppon the high places of the earth, and feede thee with the heritage of Iacob thy father: For the mouthe of the Lorde hath ſpoken it. As in theſe wordes is ſette downe a bleſſing to ſuch, as leauing their own waies, and the doing of their owne willes on the Lordes daye, ſette their delighte to doe the will of God on his holy day (which I thinke is not to goe to a wanton Play) and doe p. 137conſecrate it as glorious vntounto the Lord, ſo the ſéeking that day to pleaſe our own fantaſies, and to runne after that which our fleſh gréedily delighteth, hathe following after it the contrarie curſe, that I ſpeake not howe little pollicie it is to ſuffer ſo muche mony to be ſo ill ſpente, whiche might be employed to better vſes. For reckening with the leaſte, the gaine that is reaped of eighte ordinarie places in the Citie whiche I knowe, by playing but once a wéeke (whereas many times they play twice. and ſomtimes thrice) it amounteth to .2000. pounds by the yeare, the ſuffering of whiche waſte muſte one daye be anſwered before God, by ſuch as ſuffer it, and the vnprofitable expence by ſuch as giuegive it, togither with the loſſe of time, which Paule willeth vsus to redéeme, for that the dayes are euill: & who is he that is ſo euill, as to affirme two houres ſpent, in hearing a bawdie play, which ſhoulde be ſpent in hearing a Sermon, to be the redéeming of tyme, whiche Paule meaneth. I feare me (beloued) I feare me, if we ſhall, notwithſtanding p. 138the often crying out of the preachers againſte ſuche vanities, ſtill with gréedineſſe runne to ſuch lewde exerciſe,P. Sempronius Sophus. that the Heathen ſhall ſtande vppe at the day of Iudgement, to condemne vsus, of the whiche, ſome ſawe ſo greate inconuenience in Playes, that they hauehave deuorced their wiues, for ſéeing them withoute their knowledge, the whiche, as it was too rigorous, ſo is oure wante of puniſhement too careleſſe and looſe, the LORDE graunte that wée maye in thys caſe hauehave at the lengthe ſome remedye. For, albeit Demetrius the ſiluer Smith wyth the reſte of that occupation, bée neuer ſo muche offended, yet muſte Paule ſtill crye oute againſte DIANA of the Epheſians, and albeit ſuche as by thys trade of playing gette no ſmall gaines, be grieued, yet for that they pull from ſuche exerciſe as the LORDE for hys daye hathe commaunded (albeit as they be vſed, they be tollerable on no… daye) the Lordes Paſtoures muſte not p. 139be tongue tied in ſpeaking againſt them. For if ill communication corrupte good manners, ill geſtures, and worſe words (whereof in them is ſtore) muſte néeds, if wée beléeue the holy Ghoſte, which ſo affirmeth, worke the ſame effect. Wherfore you of the common people, and you alſo of all other callings thinke not that ye will be founde Cornelians, if yée refuſe hearing the worde preached, to runne to Playes, nay if ye wil be in déede Cornelians, as all Chriſtians oughte to bée, you muſte hauehave ſpeciall care to looke that not onelyonly youre ſelues, but alſo all thoſe of youre chardge, at ſuche times, as heretofore you hauehave runne vntounto Playes, hereafter you reſorte to the Preaching of the worde, which duty the Lorde requireth at your hande. But I maye ſaye in this caſe of the common people, with the Prophete Ieremiah. Surely, they are poore, they are fooliſhe, Ierem 5.4.…Jer 5:4for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the iudgement of their God: I will get me in to the greate men, and wyll ſpeake vntounto them, for they hauehave known p. 140the way of the Lorde, and the iudgement of their God: but theſe hauehave altogither broken the yoke, and burſte the bands. Euen ſo fareth it with the great men of oure times, whereas they ſhoulde know the wayes of the Lorde, and not be ignorant of the iudgementes of their GOD, by the order and vſage in their houſes & families, it ſhoulde appeare that there raigneth in them, greate ignoraunce of both.…ot manye …eate men Cornelians. For what? be they thinke you Cornelians? doe they themſelues feare God with all their houſholde, when as the whole daye can not ſerue them for their Cardes, Dice, Boules, Gluttonie and Drinking, but they muſte ſpende the better part of the night thereinto?…udges and …awyers. What ſhould I ſpeak of Iudges and Lawyers, were they all Cornelians, ſuche as in déede themſelues were religious, and didde feare GOD, with all their Clearkes, and retinue, they woulde bridle mennes vnruly affections, and not ſuffer them to go to Lawe for trifles, nor their matter to hang ſo long in ſute, perſwading them of the goodneſſe of their p. 141cauſe, ſo long as they are in hope of the goodneſſe of their purſe, and as their bag weakeneth, let their ſute fainte, vntill the bottome of the purſe being tourned vpwarde, the matter in lawe conſume to nothing: yea, if they with Cornelius hadde inſtructed their ſeruauntes in the feare of y^e Lord,Lawiers ſeruantes. there woulde not ſo manye amongeſt them be infected with the diſeaſe of Gehazi, who after their Maiſters hauehave taken, & takē again, vnleſſe alſo they be roundly greaſed, they wil cauſe them to ſtay foure or fiue daies in town more than they néeded, before they ſhall gette their matters diſpatched.Miniſters. And I woulde to GOD in thoſe of our own calling, whom for the teaching of others ſo to be, it principally concerneth to bée Cornelians oure ſelues, there were not a great number of vsus ydle ſhepheardes, and able to doe nothing, and a greate ſorte dumbe dogges, that will doe nothing, and manye that thinke when they hauehave once in the wéeke preached to their flocke, that they hauehave ſufficientlye and throughly done their duetye, p. 142makyng no accoumptes with Cornelius, of priuate inſtructyng oure owne families, thoughe verye greate, in the worde of the LORDE, wherein manye of oure ſeruauntes are not halfe ſo well acquainted howe manye Chapiters there are, as they perfectlye can tell howe manye ſpottes there be in a payre of Cardes, and doe twice in a daye occupie the Tables, or Boules, when as they ſcarce reade a leaſe of the Bible twice in a MonethMonth.

Rom. 15.4.Rom 15:4Séeing then that whatſoeuer is written in the Scripture, is written for oure learning, that we throughe patience, and comforte of the worde, mighte hauehave hope: this example alſo of Cornelius, muſte néedes be written for our inſtruction, that wée ſhoulde imitate and followe his godlye vertues: and for as muche as in all eſtates euerye one ſhoulde be Cornelius, whereas in no callyng there is ſcarce anye, it foloweth, that in al eſtates and callings, bothe highe and lowe, bothe riche and poore, bothe greate and ſmall, young p. 143and olde, learned and vnlearned, doe examine throughlye their owne conſciences, and looke howe farre, after due examination and triall, they ſhall finde themſelues in religion, in the feare of GOD, in inſtructing their families in the worde of the Lord, in almes déedes, and prayer, to come behinde Cornelius, ſo muche the more earneſtlye they praye to God to pardon theyr former negligence, and to graunte, that with ſpéede hereafter they may putte in practiſe al thoſe qualities, whiche by the example of Cornelius, they hauehave learned oughte to be in eueryevery true Chriſtian, whiche I humbly beſéeche God to vouchſafe vsus all for to doe vnfainedlye.