About Preaching and Hearing the Word, Title page – Table of charges and duties
THE PREACHERS CHARGE.
AND PEOPLES DVTY.
About Preaching and Hearing of the WORD.
OPENED In a Sermon, being the first fruits of a publike Exercise, begun in the Parish Church of Lownd, for the benefit of the Island of Louingland in Suffolke.
By IOHN BRINSLEY Minister of the Word in great YARMOVTH.
LONDON, Printed for ROBERT BIRD, and are to be sold by Thomas Carre in Norwich. 1631.
TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVLL, SIR IOHN VVENTVVORTH of Somerley-ton in the County of Suffolke, Knight: sauing health and eternall happinesse.
Right Worshipfull,
I Here send you the first fruits of your owne; your owne by countenance, your owne by maintenance. What you heard with attention, I questi…n not but you will willingly reuiew, and in what concernes you, readily practise. The Charge which is here opened is directly ours, but by consequence yours, and whose not. The Preaching of the Gospell being a publike worke, though it requires not eueryevery mans mouth, to preach it; yet his eare, and his hand it doth, to receiue it, to vphold it. This Arke of the new Couenant (more is the pity it should be so frequently laid vponupon the Cart) is properly for our shoulders to beare, but yet none are debarred from touching of it. It is not onelyonly the liberty, but the duty of eueryevery priuate Christian to further the cause of the Gospell in what hee may, much more of them whom the Common-wealth calleth forth for publike imployments; I blesse God that I hauehave no need to presse this charge vponupon your particular, or if I doe, my arguments must bee commendations. The bellies of the poore of these parts blesse you already in these times of scarcity, I hope some of their soules shall blesse you for the Bread that perisheth not. This religious exercise which God hath made you the instrument to erect, and I hope to contiue, shall honour you in the eyes of God and his Saints. The Lord make it as prosperous as it is needfull, and giuegive you the true comfort of it here, and hereafter; So prayeth
Your Worships euer in the Lord IOHN BRINSLEY.
A Table for the Prophets chamber.
| Parts … The Ministers Charge. A Duty inioyned. Preach: where is explained The thing: what Preaching is. The signification of the word, implying The Preachers office, viz A Cryer, a Herald. Manner of discharging it, viz. To whom he is to speake: to all. In whose name: his Masters. How Boldly. Faithfully. Plainly The Word. Christ. The Gospell of Christ. Consisting in foure particular actions. Manner of performance. Generall: Be instant. Earnest with Themselues. Others. Diligent. Particular. In Season. At the set ordinary time: the Lords day. Speciall seasons and opportunities. Out of season: when the word seemeth to be so in respect of the Speaker. Hearer. Both: viz. on the weeke day. The Peoples dutie, by way of application, in fiue particulars. 1. Heare. 2. The Word: not being offended at the simplicity of it. 3. Be instant. Earnest with Themselues, in exciting To the dutie. In the dutie. Others God: that he would giuegive to his Ministers Ability. Liberty. Efficacy Man Ministers themselues, exciting them to their dutie, by Christian exhortation, which must be done with LoueLove. Wisedome. Respect to their paces. Incouragements. Verball. Reall. Competency of maintenance. Honor and respect due to their callings. Entertaining the word with gladnesse, in Receiuing. Practising. Priuate persons, stirring them vp to attend vponupon Gods ordinances. Diligent. 4. In Season. At the set time: the Lords day. When God disposeth the heart after a speciall manner. 5. Out of Season. On the weeke day, as occasion shall be offered. When outward occasions may withdraw or hinder. When inward indisposition may discourage. |