A Sermon Preached 21 December 1589, Title page – To the reader
A SERMON PREACHED in the Cathedrall Church in Norwich, the xxi. day of December, 1589. by W. Burton, Minister of the word of God there. And published for the satisfying of some which took offence thereat.
Iob. 27. 5. God forbid that I should iustifie them vntill I die, I will neuer take away …yne innocencie from my selfe.
To the Reader.
BEcause we are in all holy duety to giuegive no offence, to lew, Grecian, 1. Cor. 10. 23nor to the church of God, and this Sermon hath been taken so vnkindly, as that the author therof is for it accounted an enemy to Caesar, is turned out of liuing, interdicted of his ministery for a sabboth of yeeres, and by a publique acte, disabled from all kinde of scholasticall function throughout the whole land: the deliberation of Iob seemed good in this behalf. Oh that I had some to hear me: but behold,Iob 31. 35. my signe that the almighty will witnes for me, though my aduersary shoulde write a booke against mee, 36. Would not I take it vponupon my shoulder, and binde it as a crovvne vntounto me? 37. I wil tell him the number of my goinges, and goe vntounto him as to a prince. And therfore hath it been publ…shed to s… tisfie both the church of God, to whose censure, no doubt, he submitteth himselfe, sitting as a prophets sonn… at the feete of the Prophetes, 1: Cor: 3. 2 14…to be iudged by the spirit that speaketh in the prophets, & also to preserue his innocencie intire and inu…olable, that the mouthes of others might be stopped for God forbid that he or we should take away a mans innocencie from himselfe. Iob 27. 5Therfore is his booke set vponupon his shoulder, and lifted vp …s a standard on high, that they which heare, and reade, may testifie vntounto him: loe, his owne words are his witnes, hee hath ge… uen a bill against himselfe, he hath told his ad…ersaries all his goinges, Iob 29. 23. 24.his wordes ar… now …ritten, and written in a booke to the view of al, they are grauen with an iron pen, as it were wrought in lead or stone, to remaine for euer. If all this will not serue t… stop vp the open sepulchres of mens throates that are stil wide open, & as common Innes ready to receiue all surmises that come: then his resolute consolation withall in the like case is this. Behold,…. Cor. 6. 3 we endeuoured to giuegive no ocasiō of offēce in any thing, that our ministery should not be ropr…ued, purposing to approoue our selues as the ministers of God, in much patience, 4 in afflictions, in necessi…ies, in distres, 5 in stripes, in prisons, in tumultes, in labors, 6 by …a chings, by fastings by knoledge, by puritie, by long suff…ring, by kindnes, by the holy Ghost, by louelove vnfained, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousnes on the right hand & on the left, 8. by honor & dishonor, by euil reporte and good reporte, as decei…ers and yet true, 9. as vnknowne and yet knowne, as dying and behold we liue, as chastned and yet not killed, as sorrowing & yet alwaies reioycing, as pore & yet making many rich, as hauing nothing & yet possessing all thinges. Leauing the aduers…ries to the merc…e of God which we beartely wish them, as we looke our selues to be forgeuen of God in anything, and putting them in mind of that heauy doom, that they may fear before him, Wherof Esay speake…h saying: The cruell man shall cease,Esay 29: 2… & the scornful shalbe consumed, & all that hasted to iniquitie shalbe cut off▪ 21 Which made a man to sinne in the worde, and tooke him in a snare, which reprooued them in the gate, and made the iust to fal without cause. Crauing of the rest that they wil not cease to striue in all manner of supplication till they ouercome, that though me… thrust out labourers out of his haruest, keeping in the loytering nonresident & idoll shepheard, yet hee will thrust in seuen wayes pastors according to his owne heart, … 3. 15which may hauehave the sweet milke of knowledge and vnderstanding in their owne breastes, and may feede his people therewithall, that not one of his may perish for want of gathering amongst vsus. As for the sermon it selfe, hee protesteth (as in the sight of God) that it is faithfully translated from the pulpit to the pen, sauing that some pointes hee hath now more enlarged then hee could then for want of time, but as for those things whereof he was accused, and which were taken so gree…ously, they be set downe euen as they were vttered, so nigh as he could, word for worde, without adding or detracting, without changing or altering, perswading himselfe, that there is nothing to be gotten by licking him selfe whole, as it is thought some would hauehave done: and therefore leauing them to God which would make the worlde beleeue that the hares eares be hornes, calling good euil, and euill good, groping for the light at noone day: he also committeth himselfe and his cause, this Sermon and the euent thereof, …nto the God of heauen and earth, that iudgeth all hearts, and wil iudge all people in equitie and trueth. Philip. 1. …The same God make our louelove to abound yet more and more in all knowledge and iudgement, that we may discerne things that differ, and that wee may …e sincere and without offence, vntil the day of Christ, filled with the fruites of righteousnes, which are by Iesus Christ vntounto the glory and praise of God.