Common Places, Discourses 2 · Praise and exhortation
A prayſe of the worde of God taught in the ſcriptures, and an exhortation to the ſtudy of them.
IF after manie daies ſilence, I ſhoulde take in hande againe to declare the wordes of Paul as I beganne, and ſhoulde not after my accuſtomed manner exhort you to renew your ſtudies intermitted, you might not onelie maruell at my determination, but alſo finde iuſt fault at the breach of cuſtom. Howbeit, ſince I hauehave this doone euerie yeare, it is to be doubted leaſt I ſhoulde bee conſtrained to vtter againe the ſame thinges among you which I hauehave at other times declared vntounto you, or elſe to digreſſe vntounto thoſe things which are not much pertinent to our purpoſe. Yet doth it much comfort and refreſh me, that I vnderſtande ye are ſo manifolde and ſundrie wayes ſtirred vp to the knowledge of the holie Scriptures, that I hope, although my wit be ſlender and my eloquence ſmall, I ſhall not depart from the laudable and receiued cuſtome, neither yet digreſſe vntounto thoſe things which be not of much force to cal backe your minds to the ſtudie of diuinitie. And to holde you with proheme no longer than Chriſtian ſynceritie requireth, it ſhall not bee amiſſe, this to thinke, ſpeciallie with our ſelues, that there was not a man created by God, the father of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, As man …as made by the word ſo he is reſtored by the word.but through the worde of God: and therefore wee muſt not looke that he being falen and ouerthrowen can be reſtored by anie other meanes thā by the ſame worde. Hereunto was Adam the prince of man kinde created by God, that he ſhoulde bee a faithfull Scholer of Gods word. From which excellent inſtitution hée ſo farre ſwarned, Gen. 3. 6.that he gaue credite to the perſwaſion of the ſerpent, not to the worde of God. And looke what the diuell did then worke in Paradiſe by the wordes of the ſerpent, he nowe doeth the ſame in the Church through ſuperſtitions and wicked traditions of men. Wherefore he that will beware of death and deſtruction, let him not giuegive eare vntounto the inuentions of men, but let him faith fullie beléeue the holie Scripture onelie. Let vsus ſet Adam before our eyes: ſo long as hée was obedient to the worde of God, we ſhall perceiue hee was Lorde of all thinges, Gen. 1. 28.and the huſbandman of moſt pleaſant Paradiſe: But on the otherſide we ſhall acknowledge that the ſame man when hee miſtruſted the worde of God, became the ſeruant of death and ſinne, ſubiect to the curſe of God, a laborer in the continual ſweat of his face, Gen. 3. 17.ſtriuing with thornes & thiſtles. The ſelfe ſame daunger remaineth doubtles to ſo manie as neglecting the worde of God, followe the promiſes of knowledge wronglie ſo named, as though they might be Gods and Maſters of their owne ſelues.
O woulde to God that that happie garden had not had a ſerpent: and that at this daie, there were not in the Church ſuch as woulde call men awaie from the holie ſcriptures vntounto the wiſdome of the fleſhe. And not onelie maie we learne by the bringing foorth and originall of mankinde, howe wee ought to be ſtudious in the worde of God, but the myſterie alſo of our redemption doth moſt plainelie teſtifie the ſame. For when the natures of God and man were diſtant, an infinite ſpace one from an other, yet were they coupled together by the worde into one and the ſelfe ſame perſon. Wherefore wée alſo are to hope of a returne vntounto the father, if we ſhal with great indeuor of faith imbrace his word. What I beſéech you do you thinke of the bookes of the holie Scriptures: They are nothing elſe in verie déede than ſchoolemaſters of the elect, giuen moſt profitablie vntounto them by God. God vſeth weake inſtruments.And ſéeing they bee inſtrumentes of our ſaluation, we muſt not frowardlie looke vppon the nature, habit, and ornament of them, ſéeing al the worthineſſe and excellencie of them muſt be meaſured by the power which God vſeth in them. What more vanitie is there in the nature of thinges than dreames? Dreames.And yet when God vſeth them he inſtructeth in moſt weightie matters, Gen. 41. 1. &c. Dan. 2. 1. Gen. 37. 5. Iud. 7. 13. Dan. 7. 1.Pharao and Nabuchadnezar being the mightieſt Monarches of the worlde, and confirmeth the faith of Ioſeph, Gedeon, and Daniel. Hereby is knowen the excellent power of God, whenas by abiect and vile inſtruments he ſheweth foorth incredible actes. Euen as a Carpenter ſhould for that cauſe be counted famous and notable, A ſimilitude.if he coulde with a corde, thréede or haires hewe or cut in ſunder moſt harde wood: So Chriſt with claie healed a blinde man, and God in the ſignes of water and in the outwarde elements of bread and wine ſtirreth vp the faith of thoſe that be his, Iohn. 9. 6.and ſealeth the promiſes of heauenlie things. The vſe of the holie ſcriptures.Therefore the holie Scriptures which be full of dignitie and maieſtie, being more inwardlie beheld, wheras at the firſt ſight they may ſéeme rude and barbarous, weigh thou with thy ſelfe that they be the inſtrumēts of the holy ghoſt: and looke not for a pleaſantneſſe of words in them, but rather maruell thou at the power of the croſſe which Chriſt ſuffereth not to be made voide by mans eloquence. Yea rather when theſe thinges come to minde, let vsus giuegive thanks vntounto our good God who would hauehave theſe teſtimonies of his wil to be ſealed vp, that wee béeing dull of memorie ſhoulde not forget them, and that euerie man at his owne pleaſure ſhoulde not deuiſe a doctrine in the Churche, but that there might be extant a publike patterne, whereby the ſayings of all men might be prooued and throughly tried. Luke. 1.….And therefore Luke in the Preface of his Goſpell, that he might acknowledge the certeintie of thoſe thinges, whereof he was taught, teſtifieth that he therefore wrote vntounto Theophilus, that hée might knowe the certeintie of thoſe thinges wherof he was inſtructed. Whoſoeuer therfore beléeueth in Chriſt, if he turne ouer the Booke, he by the meanes thereof through the holy Ghoſt is euerie day made more aſſured of thoſe things which he profeſſeth. For as Iron is by vſe purged from ruſt, A ſimilitudeand doeth the more gliſter and ſhewe bright: ſo the doctrines of godlineſſe which are contained in the holy Scriptures, the more often they be reade, the more manifeſt and true they appeare vntounto vsus. Plato in his Booke of lawes, thinketh méete to giuegive commaundement to the huſbandman that he doe not water his grounde with other mens water. Digge (ſaieth he) a well therein, that thou maieſt vſe the waters thereof when néede ſhall require. Wherefore God alſo woulde that in the Church which is his vineyarde, ſhoulde flowe a perpetuall reading of the ſcriptures whereby the neceſſarie water of the worde of GOD might be miniſtred to our faith which oftentimes waxeth drie. It was a familiar ſaying in the mouth of Socrates, when he was vrged to ſay or doe any thing: If my good ſpirit ſhall permit me. The Demon of Socrates.For he had ſuch a one, who was as his counſellour or kéeper. But wee muſt perpetually cleane vntounto the worde of God as vntounto a Counſellour: when any thing is ſet foorth to be doone or beléeued, we muſt anſwere ſo much as by the word of God ſhall be lawfull, and in all our affaires take Counſell thereof faithfully. The holy hiſtorie teacheth, that there was a laudable cuſtome of the people of GOD, that as touching eueryevery enterpriſe they firſt tooke Counſell of God, before they tooke in hand to doe the ſame. Iud. 1. 1.In the Booke of Iudges after the death of Ioſua, the Iſraelites demaund who ſhoulde goe vp againſt the enemies. In the firſt Booke of Samuel, 1. Sam. 30. 8Dauid aſketh whether he ſhould followe after the théeues, which had deſtroyed and burned the Citie of Ziklag. Yea and Achab, 1. kings. 22. 6.although he were a wicked man, went not altogether from his Countrie manner: nay rather, when he ſhould fight againſt the king of Syria, he tooke Counſell of God by the Prophets. Therefore wee alſo muſt not attempt any thing, wherein wee hauehave not firſt perſwaded our conſcience by the worde of God that the worke which wée take in hande is good and ſhall be acceptable vntounto the Maieſtie of God. The Poets vaunted that their harmonie, ſonges and verſes wherewith men were delighted, (nay rather deceiued) were not made by man, but were drawen from Helicon, Pernaſſus, the fountaine of Caſtalius, Pegaſus or Caballinus, frō [the forreſt] of Cythaeron, the Muſes recyting them: which as they be falſe lyes, ſo is it moſt true, that the doctrine which we now commende is drawen out of heauen, and communicated vntounto the Church vpō Mount Syna in Ieruſalem, and vponupon Mount Sion, Exod. 20. Eſa. 2. 3.as we reade in Exodus, and as Eſaie hath teſtified: Out of Sion ſhall come a lawe, and the worde of the Lorde from Ieruſalem. The Oracles of the Ethnikes.In olde time the Ethnicks had ſecrete places in temples, doores vnderunder the grounde, a Caudron for ſacrifice, a Trenet vnderunder which they put fire, braſſe of Dodona, moſt auncient Okes, dennes, Images, names written in leaues, and briefely vnprofitable Temples, and innumerable wayes did the Diuell mocke them: But vntounto vsus in the ſtead of all thoſe things, is by the merciemercy and goodneſſe of God ſet foorth the onelyonly Oracle of the holy Scriptures. Pythagoras is for this cauſe not a litle famous, that he had conference with Oules and Eagles. Pompilius talked with the Nymphe Aegeria. Apollonius Thyaneus (as the hiſtories report or rather fable,) vnderſtoode the ſinging and chattering of little byrdes. But vntounto vsus doeth the true God, the Creator of heauen and earth, ſpeake moſt manifeſtly in the Scriptures by Moſes, by the Prophetes, by his onelyonly ſonne Ieſus Chriſt, and by his Apoſtles: and doeth ſo ſpeake, as he changeth the ſoules, the hearts, the mindes, and the whole man, and of ſtones is able to make the ſonnes of Abraham, not whom he may like fabulous Amphion, forcibly drawe to the walles of Thebe, but whom he may builde vppon Chriſt, becauſe he is both the onelyonly and ſounde foundation aſwell of the Apoſtles as Prophets. Let the Poets boaſt as they will, that Orpheus tamed the wilde beaſtes, we in the meane time being taught by experience, will not doubt but that the wordes of the Scriptures turne them into the ſonnes of God, which before were ſerpents and generations of Vypers. Whereupon Paul mentioning vntounto Tytus what manner of perſons we were before we were regenerated in Chriſt, ſaieth: Matt. 3. 7. Titus. 3. 3.For wee alſo in times paſt were fooles, diſobedient, going aſtray, ſeruing luſtes and diuerſe pleaſures, liuing in malitiouſneſſe and enuie, being hated and hating one another. And vntounto the Corin. the firſt Epiſtle and 6. Chapter, Verſe. 11.when he had recited many deteſtable crimes, he added: And ſuch were you in deede, but nowe are ye waſhed, ye are ſanctified, ye are iuſtified. And ſéeing that to the breaking of our hearts which be hard and obſtinate, there ſhould be néede not of weake inſtrumentes but rather of moſt ſtrong engines, for that cauſe GOD reuealed vntounto his Church no faint or dull manner of ſpéeche, but ſuch as was deliuered by many [of the Prophets] and in diuerſe manners. For it exhorteth, terrifieth, driueth forwarde, calleth backe, teacheth, confuteth, promiſeth, threateneth, pronounceth, ſigheth, prayeth, beſéecheth, praiſeth, diſpraiſeth, ſheweth things paſt, declareth things preſent, propheſieth things to come, and as moſt ſoft waxe it is bended vntounto all formes, to the ende it may bow ye ſtonie hearts of the vngodly. Wherefore not wtout good cauſe it ought to be called foreign, that is, a vanquiſher of all. Yea and Sathan, although he be moſt mightie, was driuen out of the wicked bodie of Saul which was appointed to vtter deſtruction, 1. Sa. 16. 23.being not able to abide the ſonges of Dauid the Muſitian of the holy ſpirit. By them the olde ſerpent being inchaunted, was after a ſort burſt in péeces. Matth. 4.And the ſame Sathan was driuen from tempting of our Sauiour, by no other weapons but by the worde of God. Wherefore it is no maruell if Paule doe therefore praiſe Timothie, 2. Tim. 3. 15becauſe he learned the holie Scriptures from his firſt infancie, whereby he might teache, and confute, inſtruct and correct, and become perfect and prepared to euerie good worke. Happie was the Commonweale of Iſrael accounted, which as concerning her ſtate might aſke Counſell of God by Vrim and Thumim. Exo. 28 30.But we which hauehave the diuine light and perfection of the ſpirit expounded vntounto vsus in the word of God, when wee will, are not in worſe caſe than they. That could not be our felicitie, to hauehave thoſe things which be neceſſarie to ſaluation ingraued in our mindes by the power of the ſpirit, ſo as we ſhould hauehave no néede of outwarde writings, and helpe of Bookes, forſomuch as the entercourſe and the moſt ſwéete familiaritie which at the beginning mankinde had with God, is by ſinne broken off. Therefore to deſpiſe the gift of the Scriptures which ſucceeded in ſtead thereof, is an extreme madneſſe eſpecially ſince we ſo ſoone erre both in the actions of this life and in opinions. Mal. 2. 7.We call to minde, that God commaunded the Prieſts, that they ſhould with great indeuour procure themſelues the knowledge of the law: alſo that he commanded the king, that he ſhould neuer ſuffer the booke of the heauenly doctrine to bee taken out of his handes. Deut. 17. 18Wherefore thoſe ſhoulde not be accounted eyther kings and Prieſts, which ſhamefully neglect the holy Scriptures. And ſéeing that Chriſt hath made his to be both Prieſts & kings, none may boaſt themſelues to be Chriſtians which are not delighted with the ſtudie of the worde of God, Let ſome pleaſe themſelues as much as they will with vnlearned rudeneſſe, there is no man of ſounde iudgement will at any time be perſwaded, but that it doeth greatly pleaſe the prudent lawemaker, that ye lawes ſhould be knowen of his Citizens, ſince that no fruite of lawes vnknowen, although they be both iuſt and honeſt, will redounde vntounto the Common weale. Our good and mightie God, did therefore place the ſunne in an high adn eminent place of the heauens, that ſéeing he ordained the fountaine of light to bee therein, and to lighten all things, the ſame ſhould bée beholden of all creatures. Wherefore it doth pleaſe him excéedingly, if all men in the Church doe continually turne the eye of their minde to the doctrine of the holy Scriptures. And howe much this alſo doeth profite our mindes, hereby it may bee vnderſtoode, that the eyes of them which liue in a manner alwayes in ſmoke are not onelyonly fore & filled full of teares, Similitudes.but are alſo made dum and dull: like as on the other ſide when we liue in the large fieldes and in the gréene medowes, garniſhed with great diuerſitie of flowers, & compaſſed about with moſt cleare waters, we being of perfect ſtrength, then hauehave we our eyes both bright and of perfect ſight. They doe liue in the ſmoke which doe alwayes regard earthlie thinges, and doe onelie occupie their minde in naturall ſciences. Theſe be almoſt continuallie diſquieted with perplexities, cares, and great vexation of minde, and are euerie day made leſſe fit to behold heauenlie things. And vndoubtedlie nothing dooth more fitlie aunſwere the ſtate and condition of theſe vnhappie ſort than dooth ſmoke. For euen as from a thicke fire there breatheth out ſmoke: ſo from the heate, burning and darkneſſe of filthie luſtes, all thinges that euer they doe are obſcured. And how iuſtlie the holie ſcriptures are compared to the large heauen, to the open fieldes, to the floriſhing medowes, and to the running and cleare waters, I thinke there is none of you but vnderſtand. Therefore when I exhort you aſwell to the receiuing of this knowledge, as to the communicating thereof with others, I call you to thoſe thinges that be comfortable and fit for the naturall ſharpneſſe of out wit, yea and they be verie profitable for reſtoring of the whole man. With the verie which counſell Paul thus inſtructed his: Verſe. 2.Timothie in the 2. Epiſtle the 2. Chapter: And what thinges thou haſt heard of me by manie witneſſes, the ſame deliuer to faithfull men which ſhall be able to teach others alſo. The Apoſtle could not abide that the doctrine of the Goſpell being ſo comfortable ſhould be hidden from men, or that it ſhould be kept back, or be ſuppreſſed among a fewe. And all faithfull teachers in the Church, hauehave no other reſpect in teaching, but that the word of God communicated vntounto thoſe that be preſent, may by them be ſpread abroad to infinite others: Euen as they which be couetous and liue vppon gayne, doe diſtribute that monie which they hauehave, vntounto men that vſe ye ſame, that at the length it may returne to them more amplie and richlie. But alaſſe, this ſword of the word of God hath bin a large time put vp and hidden in the ſheathe of ſuperſtitions and humane traditions: & therefore hauehave we lien oppreſſed with ſo manie impieties. Chriſt in times paſt ſaid: Ye erre, not knowing the ſcriptures. Mat. 22. 29.But now the Phariſies of our time ſay, Ye erre, hauing knowledge of the ſcriptures: And they wiſh and deſire nothing more, than that this ſpirituall ſword may once againe be hidden. But O ye that be the kindred of Chriſt and faithfull men vntounto God, ſuffer not the ſame to be taken againe out of your hands: For beléeue me in the ſtead of the booke of life, they wil giuegive into your handes the booke of death: and thereby O good God, what calamities will ye runne into? Let the horrible example of Saul teach you, 1. Sa. 28. 6.who after he was caſt off from God, could hauehave no aunſwere of him, neither by Prophets, nor by prieſtes, nor by Oracle, whereby he might be comforted being now caſt into moſt gréeuous dangers. What did the miſerable man? He gaue eare vntounto the wordes of a witch, and vntounto Magicall counſels. Howbeit he reapt nothing thereby but extreme feare, threates of death and vtter deſperation. O vnfortunate wretches, which being deſtitute of the word of God, doe carrie themſelues vntounto ſuperſtitions and diueliſh deuiſes of mens traditions. They are throwen headlong into eternall death, and into errors out of which they cannot winde themſelues, 2. Theſſ. 2. 10.and that iuſtlie. For as Paul ſaid vntounto the Theſſalonians: They receaued not the louelove of the trueth. VntoUnto whome they be alſo néere neighbours, and for this cauſe no leſſe to be auoided, becauſe like vntounto the Samaritans they hauehave decréed to imbraſe both, 2. kings. 17. 41.namelie the word of God, and the vngodlineſſe of mens traditions; as if they knew not that in Deuteronomie and elſewhere, Deut. 4. 12. Apo. 22. 18.it is ſtraitlie charged, that we ſhould not adde to, or take anie thing away from the word of God, and that for iuſt cauſe. For what power or authoritie hath a ſéelie man which ſhall periſh within a while, that he ſhould thinke himſelfe to ſée more, than hath bin preſcribed by the word of God? TertullianTertullian in his Apologie the 46. Chapter teacheth that Lycurgus deſired to hang or to ſtarue himſelfe, becauſe ye Lacedemonians had ſomewhat amended his lawes againſt his credit. Did the man that is but fleſh and bloud take it gréeuouſlie, that his owne citizens ſhould decrée anie thing and adde vntounto the lawes which he made: And will our good and mightie God quietlie ſuffer the ſame to be doone of men, who are moſt farre ſeparated from his worthineſſe and wiſedome? Oh ſhame and boldneſſe that if we were wiſe ſhould neuer be ſuffered. Let heauen and earth paſſe, Mat. 24. 35.but let the word of the Lord remaine firme, pure and inuiolate for euer. Eſa. 40. 6.Let all fleſh (as ſaith Eſay) be graſſe, & the glorie thereof as the flower of the field: Pſal. 12. 7.but the wordes of the Lord as being moſt purified ſhall continue ſound and ſincere for euer. Luk. 16. 27.Let the rich man which is tormēted in the flames of hel, deſire that the dead may ariſe and admoniſh his brethren and ſuch as he is, of the iudgementes of God: but let vsus that are by faith the choſen generation of Abraham, according to his godlie counſell heare Moſes, the Prophetes, and Apoſtles. Of whoſe bookes while we aſke counſell, beléeue me we doe not goe vntounto the ſtorehouſe of a poore Lord, but vntounto the moſt plentiful and fruitful treaſuries of the wiſdome of God, which we ſhall neuer be able by anie labour of ours (be it neuer ſo great) to make emptie. And euen as the nature is of a continuall ſpringing well, A ſimilitudethat it is not conſumed by continuall drawing but the water thereof is rather made both pure and better thereby; in like manner is the ſenſe of the holie ſcriptures made more ſwéete and pleaſant vntounto vsus, in how much we more profoundlie and continuallie labour in the ſame. And as labour is neceſſarie for the drawing out of outward waters for the bodie, ſo in peruſing of the holie ſcriptures, there is néede of a graue iudgement and ſpirituall attention. Which thinges how iuſtlie and for how good cauſe they be required of vsus, the decrées of Magiſtrates and Edictes of kinges doe ſufficientlie declare: For while theſe thinges are by cryers or Heraldes publiſhed vntounto the people, ſuch a diligent eare and attentiueneſſe of hearing is in them that ſtand by, as there dooth nothing paſſe and ſcape them but it is well conſidered of. From this commendable ſtudie and diligent indeuour doe they which aboue meaſure exaggerate the darkeneſſe of the ſcriptures, excéedinglie drawe backe the young ſtudentes of the Goſpell, The ſcriptures feigned to be …bſcure.as who ſhould ſay, that the veile were not taken away by the bloud of Chriſt, and that all thinges, ſo farre as our ſaluation requireth, are not made plaine by his ſpirit. They which declare that the darkneſſe of the holy ſcriptures is more than the darkneſſe of the Cimmerians, & that the obſcureneſſe [of them] is euerie where more than can be ouercome, ſay that the myſteries of the word of God muſt not be ſearched out, and while they make the efficaſie of the word of God to conſiſt rather in reciting and in vnderſtanding, they of diuine Oracles and holie ſcriptures, make moſt ſhamefull Magicke. Euen we alſo doe graunt that mans reaſon muſt be reſtrained within certaine boundes, leaſt it ſhould iudge of diuine thinges according to the imagination thereof. Howbeit no Chriſtian man ought to be hindered, but that he may indeuour as much as he can to vnderſtand thoſe things whereof the ſcripture of God hath inſtructed vsus. Let no raſhneſſe be vſed in reading of the holie ſcriptures: but as touching the ſtudie and diligent inquiſition thereof, let no man waxe cold or ſlacke. Wherefore we eaſilie graunt, that the myſteries of the word of God are to be reuerenced, and yet in the meane time we muſt remember that the ſame is, Light ſhining in a darke place, …. Pet. 1. 19.from which, if we ſhall caſt our eye neuer ſo little aſide, we ſhall at length periſh in errors and vtter darkneſſe. But when the haters of the light iangle ſo much of the obſcureneſſe of the ſcriptures, they themſelues doe thinke that they déeme not amiſſe of the holy Ghoſt, if they make him equall to the Poetes and Philoſophers, of whome the one ſort by their intricate fables hauehave ſo couered ouer with clowdes & tranſformed the plaine and bright face of the truth, as it is verie far fled awaie from the eyes of vnfaithful mē. And ye other by their ridles, imaginations, numbers, & Atoms, hauehave made their doctrine ſo intricate, as al ye whole life of mā liue he neuer ſo long, can hardlie be ſufficient to expound the ſame. But wee hauehave not founde the goodneſſe of God our good father to be ſo greatlie ſtraitened, and the light of the holie Ghoſt to be ſo ſimple. Neither hauehave they ſo giuen the holie Scripture as they might not be vnderſtoode of mortall men. The wiſedome of God hath not dallied with vsus: Neither hath it giuen Scriptures vntounto men, out of which they might not reape anie profite. Theſe things let vsus leaue to Apollo whome the Gretians called foreign, becauſe hee aunſwered ouerthwartlie. Theſe be deceites of the diuel, not the liuelie doctrine of our God, or of the holie Ghoſt. Wee knowe indéede that Craeſus aſked Thales what was the nature or definition of God, who euer nowe and then deſired ſpaces and delaies to aunſwere at ſome certaine daie, neither coulde he at anie time abſolue the queſtion propounded vntounto him, for the more he conſidered with himſelfe of the nature of God, the leſſe came to his remembrance what he ſhoulde ſay. But thoſe which are indued with a true faith, are able out of the holie Scriptures not onelie to knowe God, ſo much as is neceſſarie vntounto their ſaluation, but can expreſſe him in excellent manners and holie workes. Wherefore let none call vsus vntounto the fathers, none vntounto the councels, none vntounto anie men, as though we could finde a more plentifull light among thē than procéedeth frō ye moſt bright day ſtar of the holie ſcriptures. Aſſuredly the fathers and the councels hauehave their diſcords, their darkeneſſe, their hard ſayings, their obſcurities, and incredible variableneſſe, I wil not ſaie inconſtancie. Neither in reading of them, doeth the holie ghoſt ſo méete with vsus, as when we weigh & repeat with our ſelues the words of God, ſéeing it is not méete, but that there ſhoulde be more honour giuen to the wordes of God than to the wordes of men. Acts. 8. 28.For if God ſent Philip the Euangeliſt for an aide vntounto the Eunuch of the quéene of Candaces reading the Prophete Eſaie, hee being yet no Chriſtian, much more is he preſent by his ſpirite with them that bee alreadie beléeuers, when with faith and reuerence they exerciſe themſelues in the holie Scriptures. I paſſe it ouer, that although a naturall man perceiueth not thoſe thinges that be of God: 1. Cor. 2. 14yet doth a ſpiritual man diſcerne al things. Wherfore what by our owne ſtrength and the capacitie of our reaſon wée are not able to attaine to in ye holie ſcripture, we learne ſo farre as is neceſſarie by the ſtrength of the holie Ghoſt. And aſſuredlie they be no light thinges or of ſmall importance, which the holie Scripture teacheth: For to ſpeake nothing of infinite things that be noble and verie excellent, is there not in them an intreating of the prouidence of God, of the nature of God, of the bringing foorth of things, of the gouernment and redemption of men, of the election before al eternitie, of reiection, of contingencie, of neceſſitie, of the fréedome of mans wil, of ye cauſe of ſins, and of infinite ſuch like: whereof the vngodlie ſtanding oftentimes in doubt do periſh in their vngodlineſſe, and the godlie being eſpeciallie inſtructed in the verie ſame things by the holie ſcriptures, receaue thereby both ſingular pleaſure and alſo edifying? There be manie which ſaie, that they take it verie gréeuouſlie that they liuing in this life cannot ſée celeſtiall thinges: againſt whom we maie iuſtlie obiect: Why doe you not goe vp vntounto this Theater of the holie ſcriptures, that you maie behold euen the things of God, yea the verie thinges in heauen? Howbeit theſe men, and together with them all yee my Chriſtian brethren woulde I hauehave to bee admoniſhed, that the place or Schoole of this Philoſophie is heauen. Wherefore they which créepe on the grounde and hauehave not their conuerſation in heauen, Phil. 3. 20.as the Apoſtle commaunded, are in ieopardie leaſt in ſtudying they looſe their labour. Beſides this, it muſt not bee omitted that the inſtructer thereof is the holie Ghoſt: for although you hauehave innumerable teachers, preachers, inſtructers, and maſters, vnleſſe the holie Ghoſt doe faſhion the inwarde partes anew, thoſe ſhall all ſpende their labour in vaine. And who hauehave béene euen from the beginning the choſen miniſters of this doctrine, the holie Hiſtories doe abundantlie ſhewe: Namelie the Prophetes and for the moſt part the common and rude ſort of people, fiſhermen, publicans, and men of occupation: but yet did not the word of God, by the baſe condition of theſe in reſpect of the world receiue anie indignitie or diſhonour: For vndoubtedly this function what and how much ſoeuer it be, dependeth of God & of his ſpirit. Therfore it muſt not be weighed what thoſe men were, but what they teach and wherevnto they perſwade vsus by their doctrine. Indéede they cal vsus not vntounto the oliue bough and to the garlande of the wilde oliue trée wouen with the leaues of Aſpins, not vntounto the garlandes which were giuen for ſcaling of wals or bourding of a ſhippe that was aſſailed, and for ſauing a Citiſens life in fight, not vntounto images of marble, braſſe, ſiluer, or golde, not vntounto other images, vntounto bankets perpetuallie prepared, and vntounto meat in the Senate houſe of Athens, but vntounto this doe they call vsus, that wee ſhoulde bee made the moſt déere children of God, heires of him & coheirs with Chriſt. Furthermore I beſéech you, for your ſaluation ſake, yt if there be anie compaſſion, anie pitie, anie remorſe, or if anie care touch you of the Church, that is of ye bodie of Chriſt, ſo rent in ſunder and ſcattered in theſe our daies, hauehave regarde I beſéech you, hauehave regarde vntounto this. It will not be reſtored by riches or holie garmentes, neither by a choiſe of meates, nor by rites and ceremonies, but it maie by this one medicine of the worde of God be cured. Vndoubtedly, if the power of doing myracles were at this daie extent in the Church, as it was in the primitiue time, perhappes it woulde not a little confirme the doctrine of godlineſſe. But if wee ſhoulde all gather together in one, and ſhoulde deale by moſt vehement praiers, and moſt effectuall teares, we ſhall not bring ſo much to paſſe as did in times paſt the handechercheffes of Paul. Acts. 19. 12Whereby it plainly appeareth, with howe great a ſtudie the knowledge of the holy ſcriptures muſt be obtained, ſéeing the tents of God muſt by that onelyonly garriſon bee defended. Moreouer the Apoſtles which were ſo ſingular in the ſpirit and in miracles, ſuffered not themſelues for any cauſe to be ſeuered from the worke of exerciſing and communicating the worde of God, Acts. 6. 1.but rather prouided that Deacons ſhoulde be ordained in the Church, to the intent that they being vnburdened of the care of miniſtring vntounto tables, might onelyonly intend vponupon the adminiſtration of the Goſpel. 2. Tim. 4. 13.Yea and Paul when he was held captiue at Rome commanded to be brought vntounto him the ſachel with parchments & bookes, that by reading & alſo by writing he might profite the Church. And the ſame Paul warned Timothie, 1. Tim. 4. 13.that he ſhoulde giuegive diligent attendance to doctrine and reading, whereby he might ſaue both himſelfe and thoſe which ſhould heare him. But and if that all thoſe things which aſſuredly ſhoulde hauehave mooued verie much, mooued but a little, why doe not we take héede with howe cruell conflictes we are aſſailed? Ephe. 6. 12.Our wreſtling is not (as ſaith the Apoſtle) againſt fleſh and bloud, but againſt principalities and powers, and againſt ſpirituall wickedneſſe. Which warre, ſince it is not one, onelyonly, and ſlightly followed, but is ſundrie, manifolde, and moſt ſharpelie fought: it warneth vsus yt we ſhould alwayes hauehave weapons ready out of the armourie of the ſcripture. In this warre we ought to knowe all the wayes and manners of fighting, leaſt we ſhamefully giuegive ouer when we come to handſtrokes. What ſhall it profite vsus to hauehave diſputed ſharply againſt Ethnicks and Philoſophers, when the Iewes on the other ſide waſt and deſtroy al things? Or what ſhall it profite to hauehave vanquiſhed the Marcionites, Valentinians, Arrians & ſuch other peſtilent ſectes, if the papiſtes conſume all thinges farre and néere? Finallie what thing ſhall we do worthie of commendation, if we onelyonly defende Godly opinions, when as we bring nothing vntounto the inſtitution of a godly life, the amendement of manners, and vntounto ſpiritual edification? Wherfore come yée all hither to aſſiſt the commonweale of the Church, and with this wall of the worde of God more ſtrong than the Adamant, incloſe ye the people of the Lord while they be inuaded by ſuch violent and craftie enimies. Let vsus remember Paul, who as it is in the Actes, Acts. 20. 18rehearſed vntounto the Epheſians that he was whole thrée yeares with them, that hee warned euerie one, and that with many teares: and let vsus be aſhamed of our ſelues, which either at no time preach ye Goſpel in the Church, or elſe do it ſo ſeldome & ſo coldly, that we rather ſeeme to do ſome other matter. There be vſed no vehement affections, neither is there any thing doone earneſtly or from the heart, but all things are rather doone of a certaine ceremonie and cuſtome. Let no man make excuſe, that theſe things belong onelyonly vntounto Biſhops and vntounto paſtors, Col. 3. 16.ſéeing vntounto the Coloſsians Paul admoniſheth euerie man, as well that the word of God ſhould dwell in vsus plentifullie, as alſo that our ſpéech ſhoulde alwayes be gratious and powdered with ſalt, Col. 4. 6.that wée may know how to anſwere euerie man. And Peter woulde hauehave vsus to be readie to giuegive a reaſon of that hope which is in vsus. 1. Pet. 3. 15.But foraſmuch as I perceiue the time is paſt, I will make an end, and bende my ſelfe vntounto prayer as vntounto a moſt ſure hauen to craue the aid and aſſiſtance of Gods helpe. And as holy Moſes, when he had nowe ruled the people of God the ſpace of 40. yeares on this wiſe prayed: Deut. …2. 2. A Prayer.That my doctrine may droppe as doth the raine, and my ſpeech flowe as doth the deaw: So I good Lord moſt earneſtly deſire of thée that thoſe thinges which I ſhall teach thy children, may not be any ſtormes of errours, but deſired and fruitfull raines of the trueth: and that my interpretations may be no waters that ſhoulde waſt the Church and ouerthrow cōſciences, but a deawie conſolation, & a profitable edification of ſoules. And I beſéech thée alſo that thou wilt hearken and graunt vntounto my prayer, that all thoſe which be héere preſent, may heare the holie ſéede of thy word, not as the high way, nor as the thornes, nor as the ſtonie ground, but as the good lande and fielde prepared by thy ſpirite, they may out of the ſcriptures, which ſhall bee committed to the furrowes of their hearts, bring foorth fruite thirtie, ſixtie and an hundreth fold.