The Amendment of Life, Book 2 · Chapter 3
That we ought diligently to frequent Sermons. Chap. 3.
THe premiſes ſhall we much the better vnderſtand, when wee ſhall more particulerly be inſtructed what the Church is, by the markes of the ſame: And theſe are compriſed principally in three points: In the pure preaching of the word of God: In the lawfull adminiſtration of the Sacraments: and in the publike inuocation of one onelyonly God in the name of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Concerning preaching Ieſus Chriſt, ſaith: My ſheepe heare my voice and follow me: Thereby declaring that ſo many as heare the voice of Chriſt are his flocke and his Church,Ioh. 10.27. and to that ſence in another place he ſaith, He that is of God, heareth the voice of God. But how can we heare Ieſus Chriſt who is in heauē?Ioh. 8.47. He that heareth you, ſaith he to his Apoſtles, Heareth me. It followeth then that he that refuſeth to heare Ieſus Chriſt,Luk. 10.16. when hee ſpeaketh by his miniſters, is none of his ſheepe: And this indeed is euidently confirmed by the ſcope and right vſe of the preaching of the Goſpel, noted in theſe titels which the holy Ghoſt attributeth thereunto. The ministerie of reconciliation: 2. Cor. 5.18 Ephe. 6.15. Act. 14.3. Act. 20.32. Act. 13.26. Act. 5.20. Phil. 2.15.The Goſpell of peace: The word of grace, ſaluation, and of life euerlasting. For who be Chriſts ſheepe, the children of God and members of his Church, but onelyonly they that are reconciled to God: That hauehave peace of conſcience: That feele Gods fauour and grace in their ſoules: And that waite for ſaluation & life in Ieſus Chriſt according to the moſt aſſured teſtimonies of his holy Goſpell? Whereupon wee ſee there is nothing which wee are to holde more deare or in greater eſtimation then the miniſterie of the word.
2 Except we be illuminated, we cannot be ſaued. Now where Ieſus Chriſt calleth his Apoſtles The light of the world. Mat. 5.14. Eſa. 49.6. Act. 13.47.And S. Paul ſaith, that God hath ſent him to be a light and ſaluation to the Gentiles: The ſame is likewiſe ment by all thoſe that are called to preach the Goſpell. Neither are they called light in reſpect of their perſons, but of their doctrine. Who ſo therefore deſireth to ſee cleerely into the waie of euerlaſting lyfe, muſt diligently giuegive eare to thoſe whoſe preaching is the light.Iohn 3.5. No man (ſaith Ieſus Chriſt) can come into the kingdome of God vnles he bee regenerated. Saint Paul who calleth himſelfe the father of the Corinthians, and ſayth,1. Cor. 4.15 that he hath begotten them to the Lord, doth ſufficiently declare, that this regeneration is wrought by preaching of the Goſpel. Without faith we can neither pleaſe God nor be ſaued. The ſame Apoſtle ſayth, that Faith commeth by hearing the preaching. If wee be not ſaued,Heb. 1 16. Epheſ. 2.8 Rom. 10.15 1. Tim. 4.16 we are for euer accurſed. Saint Paul writing to Timothie ſayth, that by the faithfull diſcharging of his duetie, he ſhall ſaue both himſelfe and thoſe that ſhall heare him. The ſame Apoſtle ſayth, that when Ieſus Chriſt aſcended into heauen, he gaue giftes vntounto men. And what giftes? He gaue ſome to be Apoſtles, ſome Prophets, ſome Euangeliſts, Epheſ. 3.8ſome Pastors and teachers for the gathering together of the Saintes, for the worke of the miniſterie, and for the edification of the bodie of Chriſt. If therefore wee deſire to be reeſtabliſhed into life, gathered vntounto Chriſt, and made liuely ſtones in the temple of God,Iohn 21.15 1. Pet. 4.2 Act. 20.28 wee muſt vſe this gift of Chriſt, euen to heare ſermons by the miniſterie of the paſtors. Ieſus Chriſt commandeth Saint Peter to feed his lambes, and Peter exhorteth his companions in the holy miniſterie, to feed the flocke of Chriſt. As alſo Saint Paul ſpeaking to the Biſhops of …pheſus, who were come to Miletum, ſheweth them that the holy Ghoſt had eſtabliſhed them in that vocation, to the ende they ſhould ſeede the Church of God, which he had purchaſed with his bloud. Hee therefore that ſeeketh the foode of his ſoule, leaſt it ſhould famiſh & die,Math. 16 15 muſt labor that it may be fed with the worde of God, through the preaching of the ſame. Which is more, Preaching is named the key of the kingdome of heauen, thereby to declare, that as by preaching of the Goſpell, heauen is opened to all that giuegive eare thereunto, and do beleeue the word preached, ſo al ſuch as condemn the hearing therof, are excluded from the ſame.
3 Experience hath euermore borne witnes, and euen to this day do teſtify, what numbers hauehave bin illuminated, reconciled to God and drawen to ſaluation & life euerlaſting, through the preaching of the Goſpell. In one daie (ſaith S. Luke) by the preaching of the Apoſtles there were added to the Church about three thouſand perſons. This efficacie of the preaching of the Goſpel,Act. 2.41. Luke 10.18 doth Chriſt confirm ſaying, that when his diſciples did preach it, he ſaw ſatan like lightning fall downe from heauen: therein ſhewing vsus, that ſatan by the miniſterie of the paſtors preaching the Goſpell, is baniſhed & deſtroied. Doo we not euen in our daies ſee how by the miniſterie of men,Math. 13.31 preaching the Goſpell, the little graine of muſtard ſeede, as Chriſt tearmed it, is growen into a great tree, that with the branches and fruit thereof ouerſpreadeth many prouinces and kingdomes? As therfore there is no famine more dangerous, than is that whereof Amos ſpeaketh,Amos 8.11 Math. 9.48. ſaying, God ſhall ſend a famine, not of bread but of the hearing of the word of God, ſo is there no harueſt more neceſſarie and bleſſed, than that which is reaped by the workemen of Chriſt, when they preach the Goſpell.
4 And in deede, albeit men when they preach the worde, hauehave not in them vertue and power to illuminate, to giuegive faith, to conuert harts and to ſaue ſoules,1. Cor. 3.7 (for he that planteth, and he that watereth, as S. Paul ſaith, are nothing, but he that giueth increaſe) yet is this one point, which moſt ſoueraignlye commaundeth the holye miniſterie of the worde, that God who hath ordayned it, doth alſo accompanie it with the efficacie of his holy ſpirit, that it may illuminate and ſaue men.Eſa. 59.21 This is my couenant with them, ſaith the Lord, My ſpirit which is vponupon thee, and my wordes which I hauehave put in thy mouth ſhall not departe out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy ſeed, nor out of the mouth of the ſeed of thy ſeed, from henceforth for euer. 2. Cor. 3.8 Gal. 3.2.And this is moſt ſingularly performed in the preaching of the Goſpell. Heereupon Paule calleth it The miniſtery of the holy Ghoſt. And in another place he ſayth, that the Galathians receiued the holy Ghoſt by hearing of the faith preached. And therefore ſpeaking of himſelfe and his fellowes,1. Cor. 3.9. he ſaith thus, We are Gods laborers, becauſe that God imploying them in his ſeruice, wrought in them by his ſpirite.
5 Yet for the more commendation and authoritie of the miniſtery of the word,Luke 10.16 Iohn 13.30. Ieſus Chriſt aduertiſeth vsus, that it is not ſo much that mortall men ſpeake vntounto vsus, as in deed it is God in them and by them. He that heareth you, ſaith Ieſus Chriſt to his Apoſtles, & conſequently to all preachers, heareth me, and hee that receiueth you receiueth me. In this ſenſe did the Prophets vſually begin their ſermons,Ier. 1.9. ſaying, Thus ſaith the Lord, Heare the worde of the Lord: and made an end, ſaying: For the mouth of the Almightie hath ſpoken it. And where Ieremie rehearſeth that God ſpeaking vntounto him ſayd,Ezech. 33 I hauehave put my wordes in thy mouth: it importeth the ſame that Ezechiel ſetteth downe,Apoc. 10.8. ſaying, God gaue me a ſcrowle to eate, & commanded me to declare his wordes: thereby ſignifying that his preaching was but an vtterance of the words declared in the ſcrowle that hee had deliuered him to eate. As alſo S. Iohn at the commandement of the Angell, eate a booke which the Angell gaue him, with this addition, Thou muſt yet propheſie to many nations. Therein declaring that his ſermons were a deliuerie of that which God had written in that booke.Pſal. 95.1 Heb. 7 18. & 4.7. 2. Cor. 5.20 1. Theſ. 2.Dauid likewiſe exhorting the people of his time to conuert to the Lord, for the authorizing of his doctrine, ſaith thus: If at this daie ye will heare the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts. The Apoſtle exhorting the Hebrewes to giuegive credit to the Lord, vſeth the ſame ſentence, ſaying: This daie if ye heare the voice of God harden not your hearts. The ſame doth S. Paule expreſly confirme, ſaying, We are the embaſsadors of Chriſt, as if God exhorted by vsus. And thereupon he teſtifieth to the Theſſalonians, that they receiued his doctrine, not as the word of man, but as the word of God. Adding, as in truth it was. True it is, there is a difference betweene the miniſters of the word and the Prophets & Apoſtles, neuertheleſſe, if we be bound to receiue the doctrine of the Apoſtles & Prophets, as the word of God: and that the faithful miniſters, preaching their doctrine, do likewiſe preach the word of God: then they that in theſe daies do contemne the preaching of the faithfull miniſters, doo, as Chriſt ſaid to his Apoſtles, contemne and reiect God in them: and therfore the vengeance by Ieſus Chriſt himſelf denounced againſt thoſe that would not heare his Apoſtles, who ſaid, That it ſhould be eaſier for Sodome & Gomorrha in the daie of iudgement, than for them, Math. 14.will likewiſe fall vppon the contemners of the preachinges of the faithfull paſtours of our time. And they who for their contempt, incredulitie, and obſtinacie in euill dooing, ſhall at this day bee bound in earth by the miniſtery of the word,Math. 16.19 ſhall alſo be bounde in heauen. It is not therefore, becauſe man hath this power in him ſelfe, neither is it ſo great an offence not to heare men ſpeaking vntounto vsus, but becauſe God ſpeaketh by them, and therefore whoſoeuer deſpiſeth or reſiſteth them when they preach the worde of God, hee doth deſpiſe and reiect God in them.
6 The premiſes doo ſufficiently ſhew, in what reuerence wee are to holde the miniſterie of the worde, what a bleſsing it is to enioye it, how earneſtly and diligently wee ſhoulde frequent ſermons, eſpecially in conſideration of the benefites which wee reape by them, as illumination, reconcilement to God, and participation of ſaluation and lyfe euerlaſting. For this cauſe doth the Deuill, our auncient enemie, labour to diuert men heerefrom, and to bring them out of taſte, ſaying vntounto ſome, If God woulde ſpeake vntounto vsus either by himſelfe, or by his holie Angelles, wee woulde verie willingly beleeue and obeye him: alledging to others, That they can reade Gods word in their houſes, that they hauehave verie good bookes, and that they can heare no better inſtructions in the ſermons of men, than in the preachinges of Ieſus Chriſt written by the Euangeliſts: neither anie better doctrine than in the writings of the Prophets & Apoſtles. But hereto we aunſwere, that our ſelues are alſo in duetie to read the holy Scriptures, as hereafter we will more at large declare. In the meane time, it is abhominable raſhnes and preſumption in man, to ſeeke to alledge reaſons againſt the expreſſe declaration of the will of God. Albeit we ſhould not vnderſtand for what cauſe God would ſpeake vntounto vsus by the miniſtery of men, or that thereby he would bring vsus to ſaluation, yet might it become vsus to humble our ſelues in his ſight, and without replying, to obey his commandements & ordinances, as certainly beleeuing that to his elect hee appointeth nothing but in his wiſdome & goodnes, to his owne glorie, and to their felicitie and ſaluation. And in deed firſt, euer ſince the fall of Adam, men hauehave bin ſo eſtranged from God, by reaſon of ſin and their own corruptiō, that they cannot abide the preſence of God, eſpecially when he ſpeaketh to them. And therefore this was in olde time a common ſaying,Iud. 13.22. We ſhal die, for we hauehave ſeene God. Likewiſe, the people of Iſrael hearing God ſpeaking vntounto thē in mount Sinay,Exod. 20.19 ſayd vntounto Moſes, Speake thou vntounto vsus, and wee will heare thee, but let not the Lord ſpeake, leaſt we die. And God accepting this confeſsion of their infirmitie, together with their demaund, ſaide vntounto Moſes, They hauehave ſayd well, and therefore I will heereafter ſpeake vntounto them by the miniſterie of men, Deut. 18.17raiſing them vp Prophets, and putting my words in their mouthes. This experience of the people of Iſrael, that they were not able to heare God ſpeaking vntounto them: theyr demand, that hee would ſpeake to them by men: the approbation thereof, and Gods promiſe to ſend them prophets, do declare, that it is an intollerable preſumption, if in ſtead of vſing the miniſterie of men, we wil needs hauehave God himſelfe to ſpeake vntounto vsus.
7 Neuertheles, albeit God would not offer himſelfe in ſuch maieſtie, as to terrifie men when he ſpeaketh vntounto thē, yet may we note ſundrie notable reaſons that moue him to vſe the miniſterie of men. Firſt, it is a good proofe of our humilitie & obedience, in that he is content we ſhould be taught and brought to ſaluation by the miniſtrie of men, that be like vntounto our ſelues, & ſometime our inferiors, for ſo will God hauehave the glory of our faith and ſaluation to himſelf, but if himſelf ſhuld ſpeak vntounto vsus, or ſend his Angels, ſome might ſay, It is no maruell though men obey, for who will not beleeue God when himſelfe ſpeaketh vntounto vsus? Who dare diſobey him? But ſith they bee men, and many times of lowe degree, yea, euen ſuch as want the perſwaſiue wordes of mannes wiſedome,1. Cor. 2.4.… as Saint Paul confeſſeth of himſelfe: then, as hee alſo addeth, Faith muſt bee from God, and not from man. And therefore is it not requiſite, that the holye Ghoſt ſhoulde perſwade vsus, that when vve heare men ſpeaking vntounto vsus, wee heare God ſpeaking by them, and ſo doo receiue their, worde, not as the woordes of men, but as the worde of God? In this ſenſe doth he alſo ſay, that the paſtors doo beare the treaſure of the heauenly doctrine (as it were) in earthen veſſels, to the end to trie our humilitie and faith,2. Cor. 4.7. whether without reſpect of the baſe and meane eſtate of the men, wee can finde in our hearts to eſteeme of and accept the heauenly treaſure which they preſent vntounto vsus. Secondly, is it not a great honour that God doth to man, when from among men hee chooſeth ſome to bee his embaſſadors, &, as it were, his owne mouth to preach and proclaime his will, together with the myſteries of our ſaluation, and to beare witneſſe of his great merciemercy, goodneſſe, and louelove towardes vsus, and of that eternall glorie which he hath prepared for vsus in heauen?
8 Thirdly, the eſtabliſhment of preaching is an excellent & conuenient meane to maintaine louelove, vnion, and truth among men. If there were no preaching but onelyonly priuate reading of Gods word, we ſhuld preſently find a horrible confuſion in the doctrine, when eueryevery one ſhall expound the holy Scripture after his owne ſenſe & vnderſtanding. As alſo by experience we doo but too plainly ſee that they which contemne preaching, doo finally fall into diuerſe opinions and errours. Heereto had S. Paul eſpeciall regard, when he writ to the Epheſians, There is one bodie, and one ſpirite, Epheſ. 4.…4.euen as yee are called in one hope of your vocation. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptiſme, one God and father of all, which is aboue all, and thorough al, & in al. But vntounto euerie one of vsus is giuen grace according to the meaſure of the gifte of Chriſt. Wherefore hee ſayth, when he aſcended vp on high hee led captiuitie captiue, and gaue giftes vntounto men. Hee gaue vntounto ſome to bee Apoſtles, others to bee Prophets, others to be Euangeliſts, and others to be pastours and doctors, for the gathering together of the ſaints, for the worke of the ministerie, and for the edification of the body of Chriſt, till we all meet together in the vnitie of faith & knowledge of the ſon of God vntounto a perfect man, and vntounto the meaſure of the age of the fulnes of Christ, that we henceforth be no more children, wauering and carried about with euerie winde of doctrine, but let vsus follow the truth in louelove, and in all things grow vp into him which is the head, that is, Ieſus Christ, by whom all the bodie being coupled and knit together by euerie ioynt, receiueth increaſe of the bodie, vntounto the edifying of it ſelfe in louelove, through the grace that is ministred according to the meaſure of euerie member.
9 By this diſcourſe the Apoſtle Saint Paule doeth manifeſtlye declare, that this gathering together of the Saintes, this building vp of the bodie of Chriſt, our full growing vp in him that is the head, our ſteadfaſt abiding in the doctrine of truth, and vnion in the faith of our Lorde and Sauiour Ieſus Chriſte, are all wrought by the miniſterie of the woorde, which Ieſus Chriſt hath ordained in his holye Church. To bee ſhort, that preaching is, as it were, the knitting and ioyning of the ſinewes, to vnite the faithfull into one bodie. Whoſoeuer therefore deſpiſeth or reiecteth this order and benefite of Ieſus Chriſt, hee tendeth onelyonly to ſcatter the Church, or vtterly to deſtroy it. Neither is the light of the ſunne, yea, euen meat or drinke ſo neceſſarie and profitable for the preſeruation of this preſent life, as is the miniſtery, for the vpholding of the church and bringing vsus to ſaluation and life euerlaſting.
10 The premiſes throughly conſidered, do alſo teach vsus the reaſon why God, where he might hauehave vſed the ſeruice of Angels, to reueale vntounto vsus the doctrine of ſaluation,Act. 8.26. and to inſtruct vsus by the reading of his word: vouchſafed to ſpeak vntounto vsus by the miniſterie of men like vntounto our ſelues, whereof we hauehave ſundrie notable examples. The Eunuch, treaſurer to Queene Cand…ces, read vppon his chariot the booke of the prophet Eſaye.Act. 9.9. God was not ſatisfied with this his affection and dutie, neither did he ſend an Angell to expound it vntounto him, but imploying the miniſter…e of man, he ſent him Philip. When Ieſus Chriſt appeared to Paul and conuerted him, yea, euen ſpak vntounto him, he could alſo hauehave inſtructed him himſelfe,Act. 10.3. or hauehave ſent ſome Angell to doo it: but he contrarywiſe ſent him to Ananias, that at the mouth of an ā he might learn his will. The Angell ſent to Cornelius the Centurion, to declare vntounto him that his praiers and almes were come vp before God, in liew of teaching him, appointed him to ſend for Saint Peter, that of him he might vnderſtand the doctrine of ſaluation. What man therefore is he that now dare, either by expectation of reuelation from heauen, or by contenting himſelfe onelyonly with reading, preſume to reuerſe or controll the order eſtabliſhed in the wiſdome of God for the teaching of men, and the bringing of them to ſaluation by the miniſterie of men? What confuſion might inſue of ſuch raſhnes and preſumption? What ingratitude againſt God, to contemne ſuch an honour and reuerence doone vntounto men, and a benefite of ſuch greate excellencie, yea, euen of profite and neceſsitie? Truely therefore inaſmuch as the preaching of the Goſpell is tearmed the kingdome of God,Col. 4. ſuch as doo deſpiſe and reiect it, doo make themſelues not onelyonly vnworthy thereof, but alſo moſt wretched and accurſed inſtrumentes to aduance the kingdome of ſathan. Rather therfore apprehending the incomprenſible treaſure of the miniſterie of the woorde, let vsus with the Prophet Eſay and the holye Apoſtle Saint Paule ſaye, O howe beautifull are the feete of them that bring gladde tidinges of peace, and doo alſo bring gladde tidinges of good things.
11 Neither muſt wee imagine or thinke with our ſelues,Eſa. 52.7. Rom. 10.15. that being a little entered thereinto, we neede not to heare anie more preaching, for euen all the daies of our liues muſt wee be Chriſts ſchollers in the ſchoole of his Church vnderunder the miniſterie of men. As alſo the faithfull in olde time were called diſciples, whereby the holy Ghoſt ſignifieth vntounto vsus,Act. 11 26. that the children of God muſt continue daily diſciples, and ſo learn in Chriſts ſchole, vntill that departing out of the ſame they aſcend into heauen. And in deede ſuch as being impotent and weake, when they hauehave ſome voyage or iourney in hande, and therefore doo take a waggon or a horſe, and when they hauehave ridde ſome fifteene or twentie leagues, doo not ſtraight waie, without conſideration of they: buſineſſe, leaue theyr horſe or chariot, but doo retayne the ſame vntyll they come to theyr iourneyes ende: but our iourney wyll neuer bee at an ende, vntyll that by death wee bee lyfted vp into heauen. The forwardeſt among vsus, as the holy Apoſtle Saint Paule ſaith, doo yet knowe but in parte.1. Cor. 12.13. Epheſ. 4.13 And the miniſterie is ordayned to profite vsus, vntyll wee become to bee perfect men, and hauehave attayned to the perfect meaſure and full age of Ieſus Chriſt, as the ſame Apoſtle more at large doeth teach vsus. And this perfection and age of man is neuer accomplyſhed vntyll death. And truely as the office of the miniſterie conſiſteth in feeding the flocke of Ieſus Chriſt by the preaching of his holie woorde, ſo this woorde Foode, doeth teach and admoniſh vsus, that as for the time of our lyuing and beeing in this worlde, wee doo ſtande in neede of foode for our bodyes, ſo can wee not forbeare preaching and teaching for the feeding and nouriſhment of our ſoules, vntill we be lifted vp into heauen.
12 But wert thou as skilful as Saint Paul, yet muſt thou confeſſe that thou ſtill ſtandeſt in need of the holy miniſterie.1. Cor. 14.3. 2. Tim. 3.16. For preaching is ordained not onelyonly to teach vsus that which wee knowe not, but alſo to reprehend our vices, to exhort vsus to our duties, to comfort vsus, and to ſtrengthen vsus in the faith and obedience of God. Whatſoeuer hee bee therefore that knoweth himſelfe, hee doeth ſufficiently by theſe reaſons and conſiderations vnderſtande that hee hath neede of the holy miniſterie all the dayes of his lyfe. Schollers hauehave nothing to learne but knowledge, and that euen of humane doctrine, and therefore theyr ſtudies hauehave a limitation: but preaching is ordayned, not onelyonly for increaſe of knowledge, but alſo to teach vsus to put our knowledge in practiſe, that is to ſay, to aduaunce vsus continually more and more in faith and amendement of lyfe: wherein we ſhall neuer be perfect vntyll death. By the premiſes then it doth appeare, that euerie one that hath anie purpoſe to obeye this exhortation of Ieſus Chriſt and of Saint Iohn, where they ſaie, Amend your liues, muſt reſolue to ioyne with the Church of Chriſt, that diligently and carefully they may heare his worde all the dayes of theyr lyfe. Alſo, that it is the duetie of euerie Chriſtian, to put in practiſe this ſaying of the Prophet Eſaie,Eſa. 2.2. In the latter daies the mountaine of the houſe of the Lord ſhall bee prepared in the toppe of the mountaines, and all Nations ſhall flow vntounto it, and many people ſhall go and ſaie, Come let vsus goe vp to the mountaine of the Lorde, to the houſe of the God of Iacob, and hee will teach vsus his waies, and wee will walke in his pathes. And that wee may inioye ſuch a benefite, let vsus euen feele in our ſelues that burning affection and deſire, which that excellent Prophet Dauid had,Pſal. 27.4. that with him we may praie to God to giuegive vsus grace, that wee abide and remaine in his temple all the dayes of our liues.
13 Some there are that confeſſe, that indeed it is their duetie to doe this, but they can not reſolue, leaſt they ſhould be knowen to be of the religion, & ſo looſe their goods, dignities & otherworldly commodities. Is not the ſoule more precious then the body? Muſt we not hauehave more reſpect to the ſoule then to the body? In a time of famine we can be content to ſell al for bread, rather then to die for hunger.Gen. 47. Did not the Egyptians giuegive all their money, their cattle, and finally their poſſeſsions to Ioſeph, for corne? Nay more then ſo, we will euen ſnatch bread out of the fire? And laſtly, if wee hauehave no other meanes, wee can bee content to leaue countrey, kinred, and friends, & to trauaile into forrein countries to ſeek for food, rather then to die for hunger. But why do we not as much for our ſoules. The famiſhed ſoule cryeth out, I muſt liue: And is it not meere raſhneſſe to think to liue without food? We muſt therfore forſake all, for to obtaine the ſpirituall food of the woord: we muſt euen wreſt it from out the fire and perſecution, or els depart into ſome other countrey, where it may be had freely. And thereto doth Ieſus Chriſt lead vsus, when he ſaith, Labour not for the meat which periſheth, but for the meat that endureth vntounto euerlasting lyfe. Should we call in queſtion his promiſe, who ſaith, Seeke first the kingdom of God, and his righteouſnes, and all other things ſhalbe miniſtred vntounto you? Hath he not effectually declared vntounto vsus, what care he taketh to feed thoſe that follow him to heare his word? Behold, there were ſower thouſand, beſides women & children that folowed him into the deſert to heare his doctrine: They knew not what to eate: but Ieſus Chriſt had a care thereof. I am moued in compaſſion toward this multitude, ſaid he, for three daies hauehave they been with me, and hauehave nothing to eate, and I will not ſend them away faſting, least they faint by the way. Herevpon he bleſſed ſeauen loaues and a few fiſhes and gaue vntounto them, ſo that they were all ſatisfied.
14 Some ſcorners and blaſphemers will ſay, let God take care for the ſoule, and I will take care for the bodie. But contrarywiſe, let vsus ſay, Let vsus take ſuch care for the ſoule as God hath commanded, and he will care for the bodie, as he hath promiſed. Let his promiſe be vntounto vsus as the pitcher of oyle, and the barrell of meale to the Widow of Sarepta, that neuer waſted: euen a more certain rent then the money in our purſes, or the goods in our houſes. What will it profit a man to win all the world, and to looſe his owne ſoule? What a folly were it to buy a houſe for the bodie, laying out ſo much therevpon, that for want of goods the bodie ſo well houſed muſt die for hunger? Euen ſo, what ſhall a man get by keeping his goods for to feed and cloath the bodie, which is the houſe of the ſoule, and in the mean time ſuffer the ſoule to pyne away and die for hunger? Sith therefore the queſtion now dependeth vponupon the amendement of lyfe, let vsus reſolue to frequent and heare the preaching of the Goſpell, and ſo to feed our ſoules with the word of God, turning away our eyes from all incumbrances offered by the fleſh, and aſſuring our ſelues that we can catch no harme by obeying God, and ſeeking food, life, and ſaluation for our ſoules.
15 Others there are, who albeit they may freely without danger frequent Sermons, are neuertheles marueilous cold and negligent in that dutie, who think it ſufficient that they hauehave the liberty, albeit they vſe it not? Such men reſpect only the commodities of the fleſh & the world. They be prophane in their harts and deuoid of religion, accompting of no other God but their riches, neither religion,Auguſtine of the manners of the Catholike Church. but a care & skill to purchaſe wealth & to grow mightie in the land. S. Auſten rehearſeth three degrees of woe. He, ſaith he, that hath not that he loueth cannot be ſaid to be bleſſed. Neither he that hath that which he loueth, if his louelove be hurtful vntounto him: Neither he that hath that which is ſoueraignely good & profitable if he loueth not that which he hath. Now as we may, to ſample the firſt, bring in thoſe who louing the holy miniſterie, hauehave no meanes to come by it, & the ſecond, ſuch as louelove ſuperſtition & Idolatrie and do enioy it: ſo for the third, among others we may place thoſe that are in place where they may freely & commodiouſly hauehave the vſe of the holy miniſterie of the word and ſacraments, but doe not louelove it, & therefore doe either neglect it, or peraduenture deſpiſe it. Theſe men ſhall incurre Gods double iudgement, for contemning & treading vnderunder foot the food of their ſoules & the incomprehenſible graces which God offereth vntounto thē in the preaching of his word They be men that thinke not thēſelues to be men: for they liue as beaſtes, that care only for the body and this life, but make no accompt of the ſoule and life euerlaſting. If ſometime they come to a Sermon, it is but for a faſhion, becauſe it is an honour to be of the religion. But let them harken to Ieſus Chriſt, who crieth, Amend your liues, & to that end meditat vpō that which we hauehave ſpoken, that therby vnderſtanding that the preaching of the word is ordained to build Gods houſe & the body of Chriſt, which is his Church, to illuminate vsus with the truth, to ſtrengthen vsus in ſaith, to reproue our vices, to exhort vsus to liue acording to God, to comfort vsus in our afflictions, to bee ſhort, to ſaue vsus: That vnderſtanding I ſay how profitable and neceſſarie it is, they may awake from their giddineſſe and take hart to heare diligently the Sermons, to the glorie of God and the ſaluation of their ſoules. Let them not thinke the time beſtowed at Sermons, to be loſt, as ſome doe: but let them aſſuredly beleeue that they cannot better employ their time, then in the preſeruation of the life of their ſoules, in encreaſing the health of the ſame, in ſtrengthening their hearts againſt all temptations and mortal aſſaults, & in the more certaine apprehenſion of the kingdome of heauen, & the riches of the glorie prepared for the true diſciples of Ieſu. Chriſt in glory euerlaſting.