of those vnder oure gouernement in the worde of the Lorde bée suche 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 the 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 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 vpon earth as a blacke Swan It is saide of this oure Cornelius that he feared God with his whole houshold but how many housholdes may â—e â—nd amongest vs 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 insâ—â—â—â—â—â— their children in the knowledge of hys worde but so farre are the moste parte of vs 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 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 hymselfe 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 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 haue thy familie faithfull vnto thée and thou thy selfe art faithlesse to GOD doest thou maruayle that thy seruauntes feare not thée when as thou fearest not the Lorde wilte thou stiffely maintaine thine aucthoritie ouer those vnder thy charge and thy selfe yeld no obedience vnto the aucthoritie of the eternall Thinkest thou muche that thy wife and thy children shewe themselues not so obedient vnto thée as peraduenture they oughte and canste thou not sée howe thy selfe arte a Traytoure and Rebel vnto 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 vnder thy charge performe their dutie vnto thée if thou performe no duety vnto 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 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 recited out of Deuteronomie concerning parentes often and diligent acquainting their children with the word of the lord You sée therefore beloued 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 the word which he neuer readeth The husband as Paul coÌ„maundeth he should can not teache hys wife himselfe being rude and ignoraunt The Prince can not declare vnto his subiectes the wyll of the Lord the whiche himselfe hath not learned out of his worde all these notwythstanding being as you haue 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 theÌ„selues in the reading of the worde of God that they maye euerye one seuerally teache it to 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 vs all to followe hys moste godly example hoping that GOD in his greate mercye wyll graunt vnto 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 haue 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 haue 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 â—â—ue firste slaine but afterwarde altered â—heir purpose and tolde Ioseph Helie had â—ophm Phinehas Samuel his sonnes â—â—ere vniuste Iudges ouer the people â—ob hys wyfe bydde hir husbande curse GOD and dye Dauid his own son Abâ—alon rebelled agaynste hym and Iuâ—as for money betrayed hys Mayster Christe yet for all this muste not we â—et passe thys duetie of teaching oure â—ouseholdes but besides instructyng â—se also correctyng where sinnes bée committed or else wée shall bée guyltie of those sinnes whyche we let passe in those vnder our gouernemente vncorrected whether we be priuate persons â—or Magistrates For the holye Scripâ—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 theÌ„ â—or else did not destroye them Paule also to the Romanes saith that not onely they which
committe these sinnes are worthy of death but those also which consent 〈◊〉 to them and I feare me that as many of vs before God shall be founde to consent vnto sinnes as do not punish them if it lye in vs in those that vnder our charge commit them Wherefore as the Lorde hath layde vpon vs euery one for the moste part two persons the one of our general calling to be Christians and the other of that peculiar function that euerye one is appointed vnto so let vs beloued for the Lorde his sake be carefull to discharge them both with a good conscience let vs not do the one and forslow the other let vs not thinke it sufficient to haue 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 haue liued a godlye father that is haue brought vp his children in the instruction and information of the Lorde The householder muste not thinke hys duetie aunswered if for his part he haue walked in the wayes of the Lord vnlesse â—e consider that besides a Christian man â—e is also an householder and a christian householder ought to be whyche also hée â—hall be if he laboure earnestly that hys familie maye serue and feare the Lorde The magistrate must not suppose hymselfe to haue done ynough if priuately concerning himself he haue liued religiously and in the feare of God vnlesse he haue 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 LoÌ„don wyth the Worshipful Maister Sherifes and Aldermen as the Lord besides the generall callings of Christians the whiche I truste and also hartlye praye that you Godly walke in hath layde vpon you the persons of publike magistrates that you will kepe in your seueral wards a carefull and diligente watche to méete with 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 coÌ„mon DrunkeÌ„nesse is no deynties in euerye Tauerne Dicing and Cardyng in most of your ordinarie tabling places resorting to Playes in the time of SermoÌ„s a thing too manifest For the other as I haue them by reporte so I wishe them false if they be true I desire to haue them punished with seueritie then shall you shew your selues religious zealous Cornelians in lyuing not onely 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 your Citye whyche for Christe hys sake I beséeche him to doe The same sute I am to make vnto all others in authoritye and wythall to tell them that the 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 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 giue me leaue I beséech you a little to directe my speach vnto those whom in respect of their office it chiefly concerneth to bring vp 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 thaÌ„ 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 the knowledge of the word For most true is that in déede golden saying of the Psalmist Wherewithall shal a yong maÌ„ redresse his way in taking heed thereto according to thy worde Hearken hearken all you that be Scholemaisters there is no other meanes to haue your youth to profite in vertue and godlynesse but by taking héede to the worde of the Lorde And what parent is he that setteth hys sonne to schoole but that hée woulde haue him as well godly as learned as well a vertuous childe as a towarde scholler as well instructed vnto saluation as furthered in prophane learning For if there be any that haue 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 theÌ„ 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 that they abhorre with as deadly hatred the schoole house as we doe those things whiche are moste lothsome and noysome vnto vs 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 vnto children of religion I heare you and thinke of that you saye as a cloake to hyde your faulte
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 haue 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 to learne theirs the false As for the rest of you beloued that are here present if any of you with CorneÌ„lius haue laboured all his familie to feare the Lorde you haue 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 haue omitted this duetie of instructing your families with Cornelius in the feare of the Lord nowe that it hathe béene euidentlye proued vnto 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 haue to youre greate reioycing euerye man in his owne house a godlye Churche and with lesse disquieting of your selues with chiding and fighting you shall haue those vnder 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 containing a descriptioÌ„ of Cornelius and his qualities I haue to speak of his Almes déedes and Prayer and fyrste of his Almes bicause that is first mentioned in my Texte As before wée haue 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 haue giuen to the riche who had ynough alreadie Iohn the Baptiste taughte the souldioures that asked of him their duetie Thâ—t they shoulde strike nor accuse no man wrongfully but be contente wyth their owne wages Cornelius hath plaied the good scholler he hath not only perfectly learned that lesson but hath also taken forth an other learning besids being coÌ„tented with his owne stipend out of the same in loue and of a felowe féeling of the miseries of his poore brethren to contribute vnto 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 loue a brotherly compassioÌ„ 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 vs withall he hath enabled vs And that out of this loue this â—elow féeling this compassion this pitie did issue in Cornelius his charitable relieuing of the poore the very word it selfe whyche Luke doeth here vse for almes doth planely shewe For it properly signifieth Mercie 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 vnto suche as are in pouertie necessitie Wherefore in as muche as Cornelius is here said to haue bestowed much almes amongst all the people it is euident that there was in him a righte Christian hearte and bowels of mercie 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 nor forged but true right and perfecte beneficence almes and liberalitie Wée learne firste out of this great almes of Cornelius that it is not sufficient to haue 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 haue faith but what if a man say he haue faith by whiche appeareth that he speaketh of hipocrites and vaine boasters of faith For the 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 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 onely 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 a liuing man. Wherefore the Papistes doe vs 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 vnto
ouer vs will disappoint them of their purpose as hytherto he hath done and cause that before they haue 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 CorneliaÌ„s such as do boldlye but yet truely religiouslye and deuoutely serue and feare the Lorde For in those doth consiste hir suâ—este safetie and those when so euer she shall haue 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 vs 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 vs 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 the golden image of Nabuchaâ—nezer For this saying of Christ shal staÌ„d to the ende of the world true He that is ashamed to acknowledge me before meÌ„ I wil bee also ashamed to acknowledge him before my father in the kingdome of heauen But the case is nothing so wyth vs as it was with Cornelius We maye professe religion in safetie he coulde not without daunger we enioy the worde in peace he with persecution we with the liking of oure Prince haue 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 vpon such a nice and tender point of sauing honour estimation credite fauour loue 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 haue obtained it which argueth in vs great want of zeale for the glorie of God which he for his Christes sake stirre vppe and kindle in vs We are far vnlike the good Christian Capitaine Terenti 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 haue it who hauing before his eies the furtherance of Gods glorie rather thaÌ„ the séeking of his own profite requested that the Christians which had ventured their liues in Gods cause might haue 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 the péeces of his supplicatioÌ„ aunswered I haue my rewarde I will aske nothing else This was indéede a right Cornelius a deuout maÌ„ one that feared god O that al Princes had store of such Terenties aboute them that did make greter estéem of Gods glorie thaÌ„ accompts of their own gaine and commoditie so 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 haue hitherto hearde of such vertues in Cornelius as did testifie hys inwarde sinceritie towardes God namely his religiousnesse and feare of God so hereafter I wil make plaine vnto 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 haue 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 the 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 euery true worshipper of God in hys feare shoulde labour to haue 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 haue his familie also to doe the like he iudged it his duty as he himselfe was religious so to make holy vnto 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 it 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 ignoraÌ„t 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 meÌ„ 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 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 to 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 vs that haue so fowlie foreslewed it But bycause this maye séeme vnto some a straunge doctrine and I peraduenture be iudged verye precise that woulde laye such a heauie burthen vpon mens necks I will therefore directly proue vnto you out of the worde of GOD that it belongeth generallye vnto 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 vnto GOD in neglecte of that whiche hée hath so plainely and earnestly commanded nay I say further that euerye housholder whatsoeuer is not onely 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 onely 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 haue 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 no matter what suche scoffers prate and babble In 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 haue seene that they departe not out of thine hearte all the dayes of thy life but teach them thy sonnes and thy sons sonnes Likewise in the sixte chapiter of the same booke And thou shalt rehearse them continually vnto 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 vnto youre fathers to giue them as long as the Heauens are aboue the Earth The like you haue in the Psalme where you find it thus writtē That the posteritie might know it the childrē which 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 To the Ephesians parentes are commaunded to bring vppe their children in instruction and information of the Lord. In Deuteronomie the king himselfe is charged diligently to be exercised in the reading of the 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 reading his owne selfe the lawe of the Lorde vnto 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 commendeth King Salomon for his godly order in his house familie Dauid whom the scriptures reporte to haue bin a King according to God his owne hearte was not onely godly himselfe but also carefull to haue 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 haue 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 in 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 haue 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 that 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 vppon Abraham that he hathe spoken vnto 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 haue 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 vnto 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 with a whole realme therfore the greater punishmnt shalte thou haue if herein thou omit thy dutie If then the instructing
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 incarnate 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 haue not also with hym the like agréemēt in maners which God for Christes sake graunte vnto them Nowe if we shall séeke for Cornelius among the cōmon people we shal likewise proue it a hard thing there to finde hym 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 the 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 haue heard the word of God in the afternoone they thinke that without all controlment they may runne after all kinds of vanitie 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 that for his gaine prepareth sundrie swéete and pleasant dishes to procure appetite when 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 vs in Idolatrie so nowe when as the Lorde in mercie hath sent vs the Gospell with peace quiet he vseth pleasure prosperitie to draw men vnto 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 vnto the frequenters of such leudnes plentiful punishmēt There be not many places where the 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 the time of diuine seruice to come daunce aboute the Church and without to haue men naked dauncing in nettes whiche is moste filthie for the heathen that neuer hadde further knowledge than the lighte of nature haue 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 euery man crieth out haue 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 haue it called a Theatre that is euen after the maner of the olde heathnish Theatre at Rome a shew place of al beastly filthie matters 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 vnto Dianae coulde thereby encourage himself vnto 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 vnto whordom they can come awaye pure and not inflamed with concupiscence I will not here enter this disputatiō whether it be vtterly vnlawfull to haue anye playes but will onelye ioyne in this issue whether in a Christiā common wealth they be tolerable on the Lords day when the people shold be exercised in hearing of the word whiche thing as it hathe béen oftentimes reproued by learned godly men out of this place so for the 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 any 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 the 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 vnto 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 consecrate it as glorious vnto 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 giue it togither with the losse of time which Paule willeth vs 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 the often crying out of the preachers againste suche vanities still with gréedinesse runne to such lewde exercise that the Heathen shall stande vppe at the day of Iudgement to condemne vs of the whiche some sawe so greate inconuenience in Playes that they haue 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 haue 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 be 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 haue speciall care to looke that not onely youre selues but also all those of youre chardge at suche times as heretofore you haue runne vnto 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 for 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 vnto them for they haue known the way of the Lorde and the iudgement of their God but these haue 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 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 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 cause 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 the Lord there woulde not so manye amongest them be infected with the disease of Gehazi who after their Maisters haue 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 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 vs ydle shepheardes and able to doe nothing and a greate sorte dumbe dogges that will doe nothing and manye that thinke when they haue once in the wéeke preached to their flocke that they haue sufficientlye and throughly done their duetye makyng 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 Moneth Séeing then that whatsoeuer is written in the Scripture is written for oure learning that we throughe patience and comforte of the worde mighte haue 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 and 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 haue learned oughte to be in euery true Christian whiche I humbly beséeche God to vouchsafe vs all for to doe vnfainedlye ¶ The second parte NOwe I am to handle the speciall parts of my second general containing the Embassage of the Angel to Cornelius which with the rest that is behind of the thirde pointe I wil knitte vp in as much shortnesse as may be for that I haue stoode verye long vppon the doctrines and application
hée wyll haue the Mayster take paines to come vnto the Scholler letting Cornelius tarry quietlye at home whilest Peter sustaineth and endureth al the encombraunces and troubles of the waye in trauailin vnto him 1 You haue firste to note oute of thys fauorable dealing of GOD with Cornelius that suche is his louing nature towardes mankinde and so careful is he for their saluation that he daylye thrusteth forth Ministers for the instruction of hys people when as they themselues are in a manner vnwilling to haue them nay that he is many times founde of them whyche soughte hym not and offereth himselfe to them that aske not after him yea when we haue runne from him that he hath come vnto vs So when our first Parentes Adam Eue had hidden themselues for shame of their transgression among the trées of the garden GOD séeketh and findeth them oute and assureth them of comfort in the promised séede So he calleth Abraham out of Vr of the Chaldeis when he wallowed in Idolatrie Lot he draweth as it were violently and against hys will out of the destruction of Sodom Dauid sléeping almost a whole yere in securitie and béeing touched with no remorse of hys filthye adulterie and other haynous offences he awaketh by his Prophet Nathan Paule he conuerteth in the middest of his heate and rage of persecutiō going to Damascus And Peter after thrice deniall and forswearing him he friendly admonisheth of his faulte and fall by a looke But in this case of Cornelius GOD in letting hym tarrye at home and causing Peter to come vnto him had no doubt a further respecte than vnto Cornelius his owne ease and that was that all his whole housholde togither wyth a greate manye of hys friendes and acquaintaunce might receiue the knowledge of the Gospel and the glad tidings of saluation as well as hée For as he is the GOD of all so woulde hée as well haue those that be seruaunts saued as those that be Maisters of whose instruction also if wée be carelesse wée haue one daye an heauye accoumptes and reckenyng to make for it 2 Secondlye in that GOD instructeth not Cornelius by himselfe nor by the Angell whiche bothe he coulde haue done but appointeth hym ouer vnto Peter as before hée dyd Paule vnto Ananias And the Chamberlayne of the Quéene of the Ethiopians vnto Philippe Wée sée here a plaine and euident place for the cōfirmation of the outwarde preaching of the word and the ministerie of the Churche for in as muche as Faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the worde of GOD and none can preache vnlesse he be sent whosoeuer he be that looking for other reuelations meanes and wayes despiseth and contemneth the worde preached by the mouth and ministerie of man despiseth the meanes which GOD hathe ordained for his saluation and to worke in him faith by and sheweth him selfe plainely to be none of Christes disciples nor to haue care to be lightened with the light of the heauenly wisedome in as muche as he refuseth the voice of man whiche CHRIST vseth as an instrument vnto the whyche hée will haue oure faith tyed wherefore hée will not take at the handes of anye man the contempte of this order that I speake not with what horrible examamples GOD hathe punished the bold and wicked attemptes and practises of the Anabaptistes and Enthusiaste Heretikes of oure tymes that casting aside the preaching of the worde will haue all done by Reuelations GOD graunt that the wonderfull errours and wickednesses whiche they haue fallen into maye be admonitions vnto vs to make much of Gods constitutions and ordinances 3 Thirdly as this place commendeth the dignitie of the preching of the word so also in that the Angell reporteth of Peter vnto Cornelius that he shold teach him what to doe it also instructeth vs what maner of person he ought to be which is to be admitted into this high honorable function of the ministerie namely suche a one as can tel Cornelius what to do for to attaine vnto saluation that is suche a one as is able to teach them of his cure charge their dueties vnto the Lord for Paule vnto Titus willeth that he whiche is a Minister be suche a one as holdding fast the faithful word according vnto doctrine maye be able to exhorte with wholsome doctrine to improue those the speak against it And vnto Timothie he wil not haue one made a Minister whiche is a yōg Scholler least he being puffed vp fall into the condemnation of the Diuel What woful daies therfore beloued are these dayes of ours in whiche thousāds of our Ministers are not onely not yong schollers but also no schollers at al not only not able to exhort with wholsome doctrine but also not to reade distinctly and plainely suche as in whome there is no manner of worthinesse that ought to be in a Minister but suche as their gréedie Latrones Patrones I woulde saye allowe of in giuing them liuing I meane their worthy paying for it and then a Quare impedit againste the Bishop that shall deny him institution And hereof commeth it to passe that oure Churches are full of Ieroboams Priests I meane the very refuse of the people suche as in their conscience abhorre the ministerie and take it onely bicause they know no other way to liue being manye of them vnméete to haue the charge of oure shooes muche lesse to be trusted with the cure of oure soules The Lorde graunte vnto those whome it concerneth to redresse this foule abuse bowels of pitie and compassion with our Sauioure Christe to yearne at the greate ignoraunce of the people in the Countrie for lacke of able teachers in somuche that in some Parishes it were no hard matter to finde many that otherwise than after the manner of Parats mumbling vp the words of their beliefe without all vnderstanding are not able to tell whether there be anye GOD or Christ or no. And you deare brethren of this Citie whom God hath blessed with stoare of good teachers whose number I pray to be increased dayly pray for vs of the countrey that the harueste wyth vs being maruellous great the labourers wonderful fewe it would please the Lord of the haruest to thrust out into his haruest painfull labourers and faithfull Peters in great numbers that may be able to teach Cornelius what to do For lacke of instructions in manye places of theyr dueties vnto God they clean forget their dueties vnto man yea and manye times take weapon againste their lawfull and Godlye Prince whyche if they were well instructed in the word of the Lord ▪ there is very good hope they would feare to do 4 Fourthlye where it is sayde that Cornelius should heare of Peter at Ioppa at the house of one Simon a Tanner we do learne of what sortes of men God commonly vseth to gather his Churche namely of the meanest and lowest estate of the people for the most parte For not many
wise not manye strong not many noble according to the fleshe And God hath chosen the folish the weak the despised to cōfound the wise the strong and the esteemed Simon the Tanner must entertain Peter and the poore Shunamite kéepe a chamber for Elizeus and the widowe of Sareptha in the time of famine giue a little bread vnto Elias Matthewe the publican must bid Christ yea many times the caues of Obadiah muste hide the Prophetes of the Lorde by fiftye and fiftye when as the greate men of Ioppa contemne Peter when Ahaziah by hys Captain ouer fiftie wil set Elias before hym if he tel him he shall die whē Achab wyll séeke ouer all realmes and countries for the life of Elias when Herode vnder the pretence of worship wyll haue Christe diligentlye soughte after that he maye slaye him when as Iesabell will kill the Prophetes of the Lord and saue aliue the Priestes of Baal But God hath hadde at all times and in all places and hath at this time and in this land many of the greate men that make accountes of Peter and the Lord multiplye them continuallye for his Christes sake and graunt that they maye all haue God his faithfull and paineful ministers and preachers in a reuerent regarde and good accounte For it is to little purpose to féede vs wyth liuyng and suffer vs of euerye one to be contemned whyche wyll one daye be the ruine and decay of the Churche Besides that it is a greate token in what person soeuer and of what countenaunce soeuer that doeth not wyth Simon the Tanner make muche of Peter that there is in hym little feare of god Nay it is playnelie set downe for one of the properties that muste bée in hym that shal dwell in the LORDES Tabernacle and reste on his holye hyll that he must not onelye estéeme well of the Preachers but of all other the Godlye whatsoeuer In whose eyes sayeth the Psalmist a vile person is contemned but he honoureth them that feare the Lord. Those therfore that do the cleane cōtrarie that is secretly maintain wicked Papistes and make accountes of bad and lewde persons contemning the godly and preachers of the Lord I had rather leaue it to your owne consideration than my selfe declare in whose Tabernacle they shall dwell and on whose hill they shall rest The thirde parte NOw aword or two of the third part and so I will ende In this part generallie is shewed the willingnesse and obedience of Cornelius with spéede to performe that whych the Angell charged hym withall For saith the texte When the Angel was departed he called two of his seruauntes and a souldiour that feared God one of them that wayted on hym and tolde them all things and sent them to Ioppa Where firste commeth to be noted a commendation of the faith of Cornelius that all delayes reasons and excuses set a part withall spéede prepareth himselfe to do that whych the Angell had tolde him to be the will and plesure of the Lorde He standeth not to debate what trouble his newe religion might worke him whether that it were likelye that the house of a poore Tanner shoulde receyue so singular a teacher as Peter was or rather whether Peter were not some obscure and bad fellowe that lay lurking and hyding himselfe in such a base place whereas if he were of such excellencie he shoulde séeme to be taken forth amongst the great men of those times and places These and suche like woulde the wisdome and pollicie of man haue layde vnto hym to haue withholden him from yéelding obedience vnto the commaundemente of god But ouer all these fayth easily got the victory and causeth him with diligence for to submitte himselfe to the fulfilling of the Lordes pleasure Let vs therfore learne in the Lords matters not to plead policy but when the Lord commaundeth with all spéede to shewe obedience You know howe Saule spedde beyng commaunded without any mercye shewed to roote out the Amalekites with all theirs from man vnto beaste who setting his owne wisedome before the wisedome of the Lorde is called foole for his laboure and certifyed that his kingdome shall be taken from him and giuen to suche a one as shoulde be readie for to do the wyll of the Lorde The children of Israell when God had streightlye charged them to destroy all the nations into whose lande he woulde bring them and shewed the inconuenience that would come vnto them by sauing them they for sauing them founde them thornes and prickes vnto theyr flesh in so much that manye yeares they liued in theyr slauerye and subiection as the booke of Iudges doeth plentifully witnesse The Prophete that contrarie to God his commaundement did eate bread and drinke water in the house of the olde Prophete as he roade homewarde was deuoured of a Lion. And he that commaunded by the worde of God to stryke the Prophet refused it a Lion also did slaye him Al these preferred their owne wisedome pollicie and carnal reasons before the wisdome and expresse preceptes of the Lorde and the fruites that thereof they reaped were their own destruction God graunt that their examples may make vs wise that with Cornelius in al things that we shall learne of the worde of the Lord to concerne vs we maye spéedily prepare our selues to perfourme it without commoning about the doyng of it with fleshe and bloude For before our GOD obedience is far better and of greater accountes than sacrifice The second lesson of this thirde parte is the fruit that Cornelius reaped by his godly instructing of his familie namelye therby he hath gained thus much that he hath nowe faithful and trustie seruaunts whome he maye sende on his errande in this graue weyghtie matter concerning the saluation of him and his All you that be masters learne out of this to be careful to plant in your seruaunts the feare of the Lord and then shal you finde them faythfull vnto you as Abraham had his seruaunt as we reade in the 24. of Genesis And those that forslewe this duetie it is no marueyle if bycause they will not yéeld vnto God their duetie they finde their owne seruauntes faithlesse and trustelesse lyars filchers stealers stubborne disobedient blasphemers swearers and altogither giuen ouer to al sin vngodlynesse Yea magistrats also must be careful to haue their subictes taughte their duetyes vnto God or else they shal finde them negligente in theyr obedience vnto them yea tumultuous seditious and rebellious The laste note of thys thyrde point and of this whole scripture is that with two of his seruantes Cornelius sent also a souldiour that waited vpon him who feared god Where we learne that no trade nor profession of life is to bée preuiledged from the seruice of GOD sith that souldiours who the further they are from it the more hardie of the greater number they are accounted haue in the scripture their commendatiō for this duetie Nay the Lord in Deuteronomie
describing the qualities of souldiers wyl haue them not only to be frée froÌ„ al wickednesse but also from al manner of outward pollutions And therfore I do many times maruel how the practise of our times in seÌ„ding forth into the wars théeues and murtherers can be warranted by the word For sure I am that the Israelites could not prosper at the siege of Ai vntill Achan the théefe was found out executed And the lord in Numbers saith that no recompence is to be taken for the life of the murtherer nay that the land can not be clensed of bloud but with the bloude of him that shed it Let murtherers therfore if they be proper haÌ„dsome felows be properly and handsomely hanged and honest meÌ„ be sent to war in their steads And al you that be noble men and gentlemeÌ„ for Gods sake I pray you learn this one point of Cornelius let not any waite nor attende vpon you but suche as feare the Lord and then shal you not néed in the countrey such a train to followe you with long poles in their neckes nor in the Citie to wait vpoÌ„ you with loÌ„g blades by their sides with flashing and cutting ruffiaÌ„ly quarelling for neuer so little a worde speaking imitating the spéeche of the Diuell vnto our sauiour Christ If thou be a maÌ„ of thy haÌ„ds come mete me in Smithfield Here I brokenly make an end without any repetition hauing as I coulde not as I would run ouer euery part of thys text vsing only for proues the warrant of the Scripture bycause the testimonie of maÌ„ may be refused but it neuer goeth forth but vnto saluation or condemnatioÌ„ If I haue bin somewhat long I pray forgiue me this faulte and pardon me this iniurie I haue done it onely for your further edifying and for my farewell doe in Christ Iesus huÌ„bly pray you al thorowly to consider of that whiche I haue spoken being all togither within the compasse of the world that you put it in spéedy practise and execution especially the diligent trauayle to instruct your children families in the word of the lord For the Diuell that now will goe about in withholding you from this duetie to tell you that it is not yours but the ministers office wil at your liues end to condemne you for forslewing your duetie lay vnto your charge that God hath coÌ„maunded you to teach diligently his word to your children families The Diuel that now to excuse you wil alleage that it wil hynder your seruants worke wil at your dying day to accuse you plead that Martha in being busye aboute the affaires of the house was not so wel occupyed as Marie in hearing of Christ The diuel that now sayeth vnto you that for thus doing you shall be mocked and scorned will at your last breath and gaspes for not doing it rehearse vnto you it is better to please God than men and they that please meÌ„ are not the seruantes of God. Wherefore my brethren concerning this that either I or anye other of Gods ministers shal in his word speake vnto you out of this place let not the saying of the lord by the prophet Ezechiel be verified in you wher he writeth thus Also thou sonne of maÌ„ the children of thy people that talke of thee by the walles and in the dores of houses and speake one to another euery one to his brother saying come I praye you and heare what is the worde that commeth from the lord For they come vnto thee as the people vseth to come and my people sit before thee and heare thy wordes but they will not doe them For with their mouthes they make iests and their heart goeth after their couetousnesse And lo thou art vnto them as a iesting song of one that hath a pleasant voyce and can sing well For they heare thy wordes but do them not And when this coÌ„meth to passe for lo it will come then shal they know that a prophet hath bene among them The Lorde therefore make vs to be wise harted that wyth Cornelius we may be readie with all diligence to doe what soeuer the Lorde out of his holye worde shall commaunde vs for Christe his sake to whiche Chryste with the father and the holy Ghost be all prayse honour glorie and Dominion both nowe and for euer Amen 1. Cor. 4.3 â—e shall speake â—rdes whereby â—ou shalt be saâ—d and al thine â—iâ—e Cornelius The callyng of the Gentiles Zach. 9.10 Mich. 1.2.3.4.5 Psal. 72.11.17 Psal. 2.8 Esal 19.18 Esai 42.11.12 The callyng of the Gentiles signifyed by diuers examples in the scripture Naaman Ionas Iob. Christe Thamar Ruth The wise meÌ„ The seruant of the CeÌ„turioÌ„ The sonne of the Courtier The womaâ— of Canaan The womaâ— of Samariâ—â— The calling of the Chamberlayne anâ— of Corneliuâ— Of the casting off of the I â—â— 49.6 Rom. 10.29.20.21 â—zech â—4 6.7.9 Ierem. 9.25 Deut. 7.6 Isaias 25.1 Ierem. 7.4 â—ct 11.2.3 c. The application of the doctrine of the calling of the GeÌ„tiles and casting off of the Iewes Ingratitudâ— and disobedience to Goâ— and his worâ— God alwaieâ— seuerely pâ—nisheth The synnes of the Ieweâ— Let vs learâ— the punishinâ— of the Ieweâ— to auoyde tâ—â— like sinnes â—t vs learne 〈◊〉 the puâ—â—shment of â—e Iewes 〈◊〉 auoâ—de the â—e sinnes â—he more â—enry we â—ue of God â—s blessings â—e greater â—ll be our â—nishment 〈◊〉 abusing â—em God vsually doth greatliest blesse thâ— greater citiâ— with the Preaching his word aâ— greatiyest plague theâ—â—for the contempt of the same England â—eaty of the word preached More resorte to playes thaÌ„ to Sermons The plague will not be carried out in a Dung-Courte God is tyed to no place nor person In the calling of the Gentiles is a notable token of God his gret loue The manner of God hys calling of the GeÌ„tiles teacheth that we are iustified only by fayth The seconde â—raunche of the fyrst part The practise of the Romanes Cesarea The manner of the Romane souldiers a lesson for Englande Why God muste needes â—unishe Engâ—ande Swearing â—reach of the â—abboth DrunkeÌ„neâ— Whordomâ— â—he third â—nch of the â—t generall â—nte The Lessons of this thirde braunch Exod. 23.2 Machiauell Excetra wâ— a kinde of â—nemous Sâ—â—pent from whom wherone head wâ— cut off three sprang vp in his stead as they do write of him â—erentius a â—bâ—e Capiâ—â—yne The fourth braunch in the fyrst general Lette this whole treatise of childrens education and houshold gouerâ—ment be wel marked Deut. 4.9 Deut. 6.7 Psal. 78.6.7 Ephes 6.4 Deut. 17.19 2. King. 23.2.3 1. king â—â— Gen. 18.19 The neceâ—ty of instructing those vnder ourâ— charge in 〈◊〉 feare of thâ— Lorde Abraham Cornelius â—uid Howe God punisheth thâ— forslewing oâ— this duetie Psal. â—8 â— Al householders ought tâ— be wel seene in the Scriptures Correction to be vsed as wel as instruction God hath layd vpon most men 〈◊〉 persons A request to the L. Mayor and hys brethren That it is the part of al Scholemaisters to teach their schollers out of the word of the Lord. Popish Scholemaisters A request to the high commissioners for the fiftin of Popishe Schoolemasters The fifth braunche of the firste paâ— â—t is not yâ—ogh to haue â—e bare and â—aked name 〈◊〉 Faith but his faith â—uste also be â—uitefull in â—ood works The place oâ— Iames expounded brieflye The Papists to vs wrong 〈◊〉 gyuyng me that wee are enimies vnto good workes The differeÌ„ce betweene the â—aâ—istes and vs in the doctrine of good workes 〈◊〉 rule to â—nowe wheâ—her that whiâ—he we giue â—e almes or â—o 1. Cor. 13.3 â—al 58.7 â—hat the â—â—er giuings the Paâ—stes is no â—â—lmes An exhortation to the ricâ— to be liberal to the poore Againste deferring to dâ— good The continuall exercise of praying in Cornelius The example of Cornelius ought to moue vs to diligence in prayer Where there â—s true loue â—here is often praying To whom we oâ—ght to pray That we ought to pray to none but only vnto God. â—eut 6.13 Esay 43.11 Psalm 50.15 Act. 14.15 â—ca 19.10 The deadâ— Saints 〈◊〉 vs not How far the Captaines of â—ur times for the most part are from the vertues of Cornelius â—arde to find Cornelius aâ—ong the comâ—on people â— notable praâ—tise of the diâ—ell to pull â—rom hearing â—f the worde â—n the Lords â—aye Againste Playes and Enterludes on the Lords dafe P. Sempronius Sophus Ierem 5 4.â— â—ot manye â—eate men Cornelians â—udges and â—awyers Lawiers seruantes Ministers Rom. 15.4 Lessons out of the first braunch of the second generall The godly â—omen The two Disciples The Chamâ—erlayne â—aule â—imeon â—pollos Cornelius Baudie bookes God hath vâ—ed sundry meanes in â—imes past to â—eueale hys will vnto â—en A singular comforte Psalm â—1 11 God many times applyeth hymselfe to the capacities of men The seconde â—raunch of the â—econd geâ—erall Holy men haue always feared at the appearaunce of God his angels Iudg. 6.22 Iudg. 13.22 Dan. 10. Mat. 17.6 Marke 16.8 The coÌ„ming of Christ to iudgemente wil be most terrible to the reprobate We ought tâ— feare at the speaking of the Lord vnto vâ— out of his worde The answere of Cornelius to the Angel. The Papists a long time in steade of the holy Ghost prayed vnto the Diuel The thirde braunche of the seconde generall â—he doâ—â—es â—zech 11.19 â—â— 26 Againste the Papists abusing this place 1. Cor. 2.14 â—harge vnâ— Cornelius â—tructing â—n what to â—e The doctrines Tit. 1.9 A commendation of the fayth of Cornelius What fruite Cornelius reaped by the vertuous bringing vp of his householde Religiousnes in souldiers Deut. 23.9 A good lesson for noble men and gentlemen
and couer for your slouthfulnesse rather than a true cause to staye this duetie He that hathe sayd suffer little children to come vnto me and forbidde them not for vnto 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 vertue and godlinesse I would haue 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 Preâ—eptes of maners euer yet made a godâ—y and a vertuous man I am not against â—he teaching of prophaâ—e writers I â—nowe they haue their vse But I vtterâ—ye misslike youre preposterous backewarde and euerthwarte care in labouâ—ing chiefely about these ommitting that whiche shoulde be formoste namelye inâ—truction out of the worde Take heede â—hat in respecte ye worthily runne not inâ—o the reprehension that oure sauioure Christe vseth towardes the Scribes and Pharises for touching Minte and Annis â—nd Comyn and leauing the weightye â—atters of the lawe as iudgement merâ—e and fidelitie that is for taking much â—aines about trifles and dealing slenderâ—â— and sleightly in matters of greate imâ—â—rtaunce Let the name of God and of his Christe be hearde often in youre scholes let it be familiar vnto 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 the 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 haue them whereas the groweâ— trées wyll rather breake than bende Loke what licoure a vessell is seasoneâ— wythall when it is newe it will kepâ— a 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 vnto yeares This thing doe the Papistes of our time full well vnderstande And therfore haue 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 the you haue 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 â—ome at no Church at no Sermons wheÌ„â—s their parents will do both And if at aâ—y time there be processe out for them â—rom hir maiesties high CoÌ„missioners â—hey finde one meanes or other to haue â—ackling of it and then forsooth they must in 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 wheÌ„ 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 haue 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 religioÌ„ and now be stiffe necked Papists it can not be chosen but they must haue it by the education of Popishe scholemaisters or Popishe parentes or both togyther And no maruell For we haue 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 rotteâ— Papistes as by the broome of godly discipline as vnprofitable duste haue 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 vnder 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 vnder 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 froÌ„ such Christians as are vnder his tiranny their childreÌ„ so soon as they come to yeres of 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 educatioÌ„ and be coÌ„mitted vnto 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 haue the teaching of them but such as be well knowen to be zealous in religion for these Papistes how soeuer they outwardly pretende loue 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 vnto him that he would sucker them but indéede as many as he toucheth they neuer prosper So for al 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 to cause