Selected quad for the lemma: father_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
father_n	abraham_n	according_a	nation_n	1,151	4	7.1950	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A68093	The practise of preaching, otherwise called the Pathway to the pulpet conteyning an excellent method how to frame diuine sermons, & to interpret the holy Scriptures according to the capacitie of the vulgar people. First written in Latin by the learned pastor of Christes Church, D. Andreas Hyperius: and now lately (to the profit of the same Church) Englished by Iohn Ludham, vicar of Wethersfeld. 1577.; De formandis concionibus sacris. English	Hyperius, Andreas, 1511-1564.; Ludham, John, d. 1613.; Orth, Wigand, 1537-1566.	1577 (1577)	STC 11758.5; ESTC S122044	265,657	396

receyued by the Lawe Of which thing he rendreth also in the causes For where the lawe is there imediately followeth transgression for such is our imbecilitie and weakenes that wee can neuer exactely fulfyll the lawe And where transgression is what I beseech you is to bee loked for but the wrath of god By the lawe therfore or by workes wee can by no meanes atteyne vnto rightuousnes But to the intent he might the more easyly perswade the same thinge he inserteth two inconueniences which if rightuousnes were not to be loked for but by the lawe should of necessytie follow If rightuousnes or the inheritaunce of spirituall benefytes shoulde then onely be receiued when the law were of vs throughly fulfilled our faith no doubt should be void the promise of god of none effect But that it is a very absurde matter in cace any should auouch it thus to be euery man perceyueth For GOD vndoubtedly performeth that which he promiseth as he that neuer ceasseth to be true and iust of his worde And where as is the certaine fyrme infallible promise of God ther our faith ought in no wise to wauer or doubt Let these thinges therfore he taken in steade of the eight argument But nowe againe the Apostle stayeth somewhat at this that the holy scripture testyfieth that the promises belong not onely vnto Abraham but also vnto an his séede In which consideration beinge occupyed he remembreth that in the olde Testament the Gentiles also are conteined in the séede of Abraham For it was saide vnto Abraham Gen. 17. I haue appointed thee to be the father of many nations Wherfore herevpon also he produceth an other argument which is framed in this sort The promised spirituall benefyts shal redound also to the seede of Abraham But the Gentiles are knowen to be the seede of Abraham Ergo the promised benefits shal come in like maner to the Gentiles though destitute of the lawe and voide of good works Be this therfore the ninth argument taken of the proper signification of the worde Gentiles or Nations and it belongeth to the places of inuention of whiche mention was made in the fift obseruation X The tenth argument is added to deriued of the nature of the things themselues which kind of proofes we shewed to be méete and requysyte in the fourth obseruation Abraham saieth he aboue hope beleeued vnder hope that hee shoulde be the father of many nations according to that which was spokē to him So shal thy seede be And he not weake in the faith considered not his owne body c. The apostle in déede describeth the nature force of the faith which is imputed for rightuousnes and sheweth that it was very excellent in Abrahā and far greater then any man could beléeue He saith the true and perfect faith doth assuredly vndoubtedly lay hold vpon those things that excéede mans reason the by no menes are iudged to be hoped for besids that it neglecteth dispiseth vtterly remoueth al things that are thought to be a let or hindraunce vnto it For it alwaies leaneth vpon God to when nothinge is impossible to be done Such and so great a faith therefore seeinge it shined forth in Abrahā it pleased god with merciful eyes to behold it before al other works to impute it for rightuousnes XI Last of all the holy Apostle going about to bring his explanation to all end auoucheth that the same meane or way that Abraham was iustified by ought also to be applyed vnto vs for therefore were those thinges writen of Abraham to the ende we might know that we in like maner by the example of Abraham shoulde without workes be iustified by faith And thus much touching the interpretation of one short sentence The seconde example being no lesse notable then the first is extant Galat. 3. where euery word of the most knowen promise made vnto Abraham Gene. 22. In thee all nations shall bee blessed is so expounded and declared that it likewise teacheth that men are iustified before God not by the workes of the law but by faith sBut yet far away surmounteth the third example which occurreth Heb. 5. 7. where euery member of the fourth verse of the Psalm 110 The Lorde hath sworne and will not repent thou art a priest for euer after the order of Melchisedec is with such great arte industrye grace opened and explaned that I néede not doubt to affirme that no mans wit without the speciall direction of the holy ghost is able to immitate the like For truely the apostle with many diuers proofes takē out of the one testimony of scripture plainly teacheth in the same chapter in the thrée following first that Christ is the true priest after the order of Melchisedec and the the said prophesie of the Psal. 110. doth most chifely agrée vnto him secondly that the priesthod of Christ is far more excelent thē the priesthod of the law which was after the order of Aaron or Leuiticall thirdly that by the priesthod of Christ appointed established through the patefaction of the Gospell the priesthode of Aaron is abolished fourthly that by the priesthod of Christe once constituted and confyrmed the olde ceremonies and sacrifices yea and the law it selfe take an ende What man would haue thought that out of one verse or clause might haue bene drawen matter of so many weighty poyntes of Christian doctrine and so diuers and s●ndry proofes for euery poynte But thus it is to whom the holy ghost becommeth a scholemaster vnto those all things are easye playne penetrable and ready The thing it selfe speaketh that all that are placed in the Ecclesiasticall ministerye are not so far for the enstructed of the holy ghost that they may be counted equal with the Apostles or other pillers of the Church wherfore it is very requisite that the study diligence of immitation should appéere and shine forth in them and when they perceyue themselues not able to atteine the vertue and maiesty of the Apostolike phrase of speaking then let them diligentlye next after the Apostles follow the steppes of the holy fathers whiche we know with great laude and fruite in the kinde didascalick to haue explaned sentences or single places of scripture in the Church Chrisostom in his first Tome learnedly expoundeth in a iust homilie those words of Gene. 3. I will put enmitie betwixt thee and the woman betweene thy seede and hyr seede c. There is also an homilie as touchinge these words of the Psalm 9. I will declare all thy wonderous works Another of the words out of the Psalm 25. Leade mee in thy trueth and teache mee Agayne of the wordes out of the Psalm 27. The Lorde is my light and my saluation whom then shall I feare Moreouer of these wordes out of the Psal. 85. Be not angry with vs O Lord for euer Item out of the Psalm 122. Peace be within thy walles and plentiousnesse

taught of the Rhetoritians masters of well speakinge doe appertayne and belonge vnto him Howbeit our purpose is not to speake any thinge at all touchinge the formes of argumentes of Schemes or Tropes forasmuch as we doe gather these thinges onely for their sakes vnto whō we supppose all those thinges to bee already verye well knowen But neuerthelesse we will note somwhat touchinge amplification for that we perceyue many of the holy Fathers to haue bene studiously occupied in handelinge of the same Yea and somwhat otherwyse to vsurpe amplifications and to alledge also other maner of arguments thē the Orators are accustomed For the Preacher doth not vse amplification to the intent to bring to passe that the matter might appere either greater or lesser then it is of it selfe or as it is fayed that of a flye might bee made an Elephante or agayne of an Elephante a flye in which point the Rhetoritians doe most chiefely laboure couetinge withall to corrupte the iudgement of the hearers and to withdrawe them from the right scope but to the ende it may bee acknowledged of all men to bee suche and so greate as is meete and requisite that it shoulde bee in deede which verily is no other thing thē to reclayme men erring from the truth to a prudent and sincere iudgement And herevppon we maye also gather when and at what time the practise of amplification ought most conueniently to be vsed For if at any time thou happenest vppon those places of which it is likely that the bearers cannot iudge sufficiently aright then by adding to amplifications we must labor to bringe them to this point that they may be able to conceaue both what and howe great euery thinge is And oft times it commeth to passe that certaine sinnes for asmuch as they are commnoly and euery where without controlmente committed be by the iudgement of the common people supposed not to be so haynous as they are in déede of whiche sorte are concupiscence hatred of our neighbour reuilements periurie brawlings dronkennes offences giuen c. Of these therfore when the Preacher shall fortune to entreat he shall not without good cause by vsinge of amplyfications goe about to declare the greatnesse of the same In respect wherof Esay Cap. 1. doth very artificially amplyfye certaine sinnes of the Iewes by comparisons and suche lyke places Christ in like maner Math. 5 amplifieth diuers and sondry offences as namely reproche of our neighbour concupiscence periury and proueth them to be much more grieuous then a great number did suppose Agayne some there be that estéeme certayne thinges more highly then they ought to be estéemed as for example we may sée some men to attribute so much vnto ceremonies rights mens traditions c. that they are not affrayd to prefer them before the very commaundements of god Therfore when it shall be for the behoofe of the hearers to entreat of these thinges the Preacher shall prudently extenuate al obseruations or traditions yea and with necessary and probable argumēts so much as lieth in him conclude that they are by no meanes to be compared with the preceptes of Gods law Christe Mathew 15. and Mark. 7. doth grieuously reproue the preposterous iudgementes of men in this behalfe And Paule in his epistle to the Colossians dothe with wonderfull dexteritye shake vp and bringe into contēpt the vphoulders and maynteyners of traditions Sometimes it so falleth out that certaine notable vertues are neglected or be not estéemed as they are worthy wherefore throughe amplifications they shall bee aduaunced to the dignitye whiche of right they ought to haue In respecte whereof the Apostle to the Rom. 4. doth amplyfye the faithe of Adraham by the causes and circumstaunces thereof to the intent that all men might perceiue that the faith wherby Abraham so greatly pleased god was accepted of him and wherby also men ought to be iustified was not colde and light but vehement notable and very wonderfull Who contrary to hope sayeth hée beleeued in hope that hee should be the father of many nations accordyng to that whiche was spoken So shall thy seede bee And hee faynted not in the fayth nor consydered hys owne bodye now dead whon hee was almost an hundred yeares olde neither yet the barennesse of Saraes wombe Hee staggard not at the promise of God through vnbeleefe but was stronge in fayth giuinge glorye to GOD and beinge full certifyed that what he had promised he was able also to performe And therefore was it reckoned vnto hym for rightuousnesse There is extant also a graue amplyfycation of the same Apostle touchynge the wrath of God to be feared of all those that wyll not acknowledge Christ to be the true Messias Take heede my brethrne sayeth he least at any tyme there bee in you an euill harte of vnbeleefe to departe from the lyuing God but exhort yee one an other daylye while it is called to day least any of you be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne For wee are made pertakers of Christe if wee keepe sure vnto the ende the beginninge of the substaune and so foorth as it is in the texte For the place is longe Moreouer the Preacher may vse all the furniture of amplyfyinge that the Schole of Orators ministreth vnto hym Wherefore as touchinge that whiche pertayneth vnto woordes hee may mingle together 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 expolition definition description distribution heapinge vppe of matter encrea●ement As touchinge the things themselues he may transferre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to saye passe from a question definite to a question infinite or common place hee may examine so farre foorth as the nature of the argument wyll suffer the causes to witte the matter forme effecte ende Moreouer the circumstaunces as the personne time place maner instrument occasion and so foorth Then thinges happening or signes whereof some be antesedēts some subsequentes other some annixed to the busines it selfe also comparisons similitudes contentions contraries and whatsoeruer thinges els are in this kynde set forth of the Rhetoritians Againe further the Preacher may borrowe many poyntes of amplifying out of Theologye it selfe whiche hath no small number of peculyar places apt and correspondent to euery kynde of argumente as well as any other discipline beside lyke as we shall a little after declare Therefore hee that teacheth the people doeth ofte times frame his amplyfication Ab attributis Dei that is of the properties of God as that God searcheth the harte that hee can not bee deceyued Of the Commaundement of God Of the Promises set foorth Of the Threatninge of punishmentes Of the Callynge of Manne to the knowledge of the trueth Of Electinge into the Churche of God Of Spirituall giftes receyued Of a Generall sentence in Diuinitie Of the Predictions of the Prophetes Of that that they bee thinges spyrytuall Of the tyme of the Lawe Of the Tyme of the Gospell Of the Signe

by the death of Christ I gladly sticke in the same example why may not I say a man auouch that miserable men are well delte withall and that greate occasion is offred vnto them to hope for all good thinges at the handes of GOD when as they beholde God as well by his worde as by the sacramentes by him instituted to certifie and assure them of the remission of their sinnes by his sonne Iesus Christ And that there is no cause why they shoulde cast themselues hedlonge into the whirlpoole of desperation so longe as they fixe their mynde vppon the promysses of GOD and the couenaunte which hee hath made with vs. Hitherto touchinge the fiue principall Diuine places of ●●●ention wherevppon the mynde ought with all enforcement and dilligence to bee intentiuely sette so ofte as out of the Scriptures which are openly explaned we intende to excerpte certayne common places profitable for the Church Seing the Apostle himselfe so euidently affyrmeth that we ought to gather euery where out of the readinge of the Scriptures whatsoeuer is auayleable to doctrine to reproue to institution to correction to consolation whom may wee rather followe for our author then him And why shoulde nto wée I meane so many as are conuersante in the ministery employ our wholle laboures and studyes vppon this that wée maye drawe forth of the Scriptures these most holsome and profitable thinges Certes this inuention of common places is as ye woulde saye the grounde worke and foundation wherevppon the wholle frame of all Diuine Sermons doth consist For vnlesse thou shalt in this wyse note the common places accordinge to the diuersitie of the members of Scripture thou endeuourest in vayne to vtter any thing whereout any fruite may bée hoped for to redounde to the hearers But he that will followe this order and method of inuention after the fine places afore goinge shall neuer bée destitute of plenteous godly and profitable matter of speakinge Verely I suppose there bée some will say that this deuice is straung and very difficulte But forasmuch as we haue the Apostle Paule the ringeleader of all preachers as the teacher thereof who can worthily suspect it or lightely esteeme of it Moreouer I dare warraunt to those that shal be bu● meanely furnished with the knowledge of common places perceyuinge to Christian religyon that it will euen forthwith béecome easye well lyked off and fruitefull There is no man I am sure will euer repent him of his paynes taken That which is attempted to the aduauncement of godlynesse commeth alwayes of necessitie vnto good successe And we a litell after will add some examples which shal open a way vnto all men and make it very playne and easy all impedimentes set a parte Neither in this didascalik kynde ●ons but also in the other kyndes of Sermons those thinges that are spoken touchinge these places may conueniently bée applyed to all and euery explication of Scripture lyke as so ofte as it shall bée requisite we will agayne admonishe Now let vs entreate of the places of inuention apperteyninge to the seconde forme or orded These declare vnto vs howe and after what sorte wee maye more néerely trye and axamine the nature of euery thinge of which at the least any thinge in Diuine Sermons may truly bée sayde or disc●●rs●d and heape togither proofes or argumentes meete to the accomplishement thereof For by them we easely learne what euery thinge is howe many partes or formes be thereof what the causes what the offectes or duties what thinges bée of alyaunce what Contrary therevnto as those that playnly appere to be destinate to the explication of these questions He that shall diligently discusse the sayde questions is supposed to haue am●ly and thorowly atteined whatsoeuer is worthy to be knowen as touching that thing Which thing is the cause why the Logicians and Philosoph●●s do● very highly esteme them and maruelously commend ●hē Théen both the 〈◊〉 vse 〈…〉 them to be agréeable to his treatise takē in ha●● We wil therefore reherse them doo nothing else then ●eherse thē for hint that is desirous to know more we remit to the maste●s teachers of Logic●● But 〈…〉 they profit to the 〈◊〉 indagatiō of diuine affayr 〈…〉 at large sufficiētly inough declared in our Theologicall Topicks At séemeth good héere onely to dispose them in such wyse as by the same dilligence I maye set forth vnto the eye to the explication of what questions euery of them may and ought to be applyed To the declaration of the question what the thinge is are referred I. Definition of the name II. Definition of the thinge III. Generall kinde IIII. Speciall kinde V. Difference VI. Propertie To the discussion of the question Howe many partes or how manyfolde the thinge is be annexed VII Diuision VIII Wholle IX Partes To the question of causes doe accorde X. Matter XI Forme XII Effect XIII Ende He that will explane the question what be the effectes or offices of the thinge must haue regarde to the XIIII Euentes XV. Effectes XVI Destinata XVII Adiacentia XVIII Actes XIX Subiecte For a man to finde out what be of alyaunce or aiffiniti● to the thinge he ought to respect XX. Coniugata XXI Contingentia XXII Signa or Signes wherein for the most parte Contingentia doe consist XXIII Circumstaunces XXIIII Pronunciata XXV Similia XXVI Comparata The question what be the contraries of the thing is absolued by searchinge out XXVII Opposita XXVIII Disparata The sayde places are taught of the Logicians who as it is méete and conuenient those artes to serue the turne of more worthy actes doe minister the same to the professors of other disciplines but especially of Diuinitie to be vsed Moreouer Theologie is accustomed to produce other places also to the explication of thinges in the kynde didascalik and in the bookes of the prophetes and Apostles we may perceiue no small number of probations deriued of the places followinge 1 Of the vsurpation of the voyce of any man in the sacred Scriptures Thapostle in that promise made of God vnto Abraham Genes 17. I haue appointed thee to be the father of many nations weighinge the worde Nations he reasoneth in this sorte Abraham is the father of many nations Ergo the Gentiles also séeinge they are the children of Abraham shall be pertakers of the spirituall benefites purchased by Christ which were promised to Abraham and to his séede 2 Of the certaine forme of speaking or of the phrase of holy Scripture Mans iustification or beatification the Apostle interpreteth to bee the remission of sinnes the not imputinge thereof which hee confirmeth by the wordes of the Psalmiste taken out of the 23. Psalme Blessed are they whose iniquities be remitted and whose sinnes are couered Blessed is that man to whome the Lorde will not impute sinne Christ affirmeth himself to be very God out of the wordes of Dauid Psalm 109 The

sure and certaine hope both of a place to teach in and also of liberall entertainement Therefore when Iohn Ficinus Chauncelor to our most noble prince a man for his notable vertue worthy of eternal memory was returned from the Commissiō or parliament of Rentzburgh Nouiomagus labored with him as touchinge Hyperius Nouiomagus affyrmed that since the méeting was at Henaulde Anno 40 ▪ where he beinge sent frō our prince was present he could neuer haue his health neither was he able to endure those paines in teachinge which before he had suffered And therfore required that Hyperius might be appointed in his roome who for somuch as he through his infyrmitie was not of power sufficient might take vpon him to reade Ficinus mislyked not the good counsell of Nouiomagus but incontinently calleth Hyperius vnto him exhorteth him to abide still at Marpurge and to shewe forth some token and triall of his learninge For it would come to passe that in case he gaue foorth any notable testimony of his learninge an honest stripend should be appoynted him for his paines Hyperius being with these other such like reasons perswaded abode stil at Marpurge within a smal time after dieth master Nouiomagus the x. of Ianuarie in the yere following in whose place next by thauthority of the masters of the profissiō succeeded Hyperius and looke what Epistles of S. Paule Nouiomagus had vsed before to interprete the same began he also to expounde And when he had by the space of two yeres and more single as he was trauayled in this trade and function of teachinge he resolued with himselfe to marrye for somuch as he suppose that 〈◊〉 coulde not conueniently p●sse his dayes without a wife and the rather bycause he was not greatly sounde as touchinge bodily health Hée tooke to wise therfore in the yere 1544. the xxvii daye of Februarye Katherine Orthia Daughter of Lodowick Orthius somtimes Treasorer of Marpurge whom Iohn Happelius an honest Citizen had left a widowe with two children Of this his wife whom hée alwayes loued most derely he begat sixe sonnes and sower daughters whereof onely two sonnes and thrée daughters doe still remaine aliue But how and in what order he hath nowe by the space of these xxii yeres behaued himselfe amōgest vs as wel in teaching publikely the holy Scriptures as also priuately the liberall Sciences wée haue now next of all to consider In which office and function of teachinge there séeme vnto mée these fower thinges chiefely to be required First a singuler learninge ioyned with much readinge and experience of thinges next a substanciall power and faculty of teachinge then fidelitie and diligence and last of all grauitie and constancye of life and conuersation And that learninge is required in a Teacher and the vse of many thinges there is no man that doubteth For who is he that euer could well bée taught and reape any fruite of learning of an vnlearned man No more truely can a man perceyue anye thinge that good is of one that is vnlearned than of a stone he can learne to flye But as learning is very requisite and necessary so it is in no wise alone sufficient for a man that is occupied in the Scoles vnlesse the power also of teachinge be ioyned with it Thou maist finde many men very well learned and cunning in the knowledge of thinges which neuerthelesse forsomuch as they are destitute of this power in teaching yeelde no fruit at all neither to Scholes nor Churches Wherevpon the Apostle also requireth such a one to be the Bishop of a Church as is Didacticos that is to say indued with the gift and faculty of Teachinge Neither must fidelitie and diligence bée sundered from these twayne which if it bée absent neither then also wil any fruite redounde to the hearers though the man bée otherwise both learned and eloquent And in him especially that wil professe the holy Scriptures is this faithfulnes which wée speake off of necessitie required Wherevpon likewise Thapostle to the Corinthians as touching the ministers of the worde speaketh in this wise Let a man so esteeme of vs as of the ministers of Christ and disposers of the misteries of God amonge whom this especially is required that they bee founde faithful But no lesse necessary also is this last poynte namely that to doctrine and erudition the life and maners may bée agréeable A fowle shame it is For him that doth teach When the thing he findes fault with Against himselfe doth preach And our beloued Paule requireth a Bishop to bée vnreproueable not stubborne not wrathful not giuen to wine no fighter not giuen to filthy lucre but a keeper of hospitalitie a louer of vertue modest vpright holy sober For what doe those Teachers profyte their herers that do pluck down by their naughty liuing that which they builded vp by their wel teaching that by their liues dayly maners shewe thē selues to dislike greatly of those things which they prescribe vnto others to bée folowed With what I wil not say authoritie but with what face can the teacher reproue vices in the Schole as dronkennes riotousnes couetousnes incontinency such like which is himselfe I will not say oft times dr●nke but alwayes druncke not onely giuen to riot but also lyues so wickedly in all superfluitie that he supposeth gods maiestie to be of no power at all which is so couetous that of euery fylthy occasion he gapeth after vnsatiable gaine who finally hath so wallowed in scurrilitie and vncleanes al his life long that he doubteth also whither he may account these heinous sinnes and enormities for sinnes and vices or no All the pointed therefore which we haue spoken off are required in a Teacher which if we shall diligētly consider in what measure they haue bene in this our Hyperius we shall find to haue bene very great And first verily as touchinge the singular learning of this man what shall I saye I may speake the more fréely most excellent fathers of the dead forsomuch as I shall not now séeme to flatter him béeing dead that I neuer fawned vppon béeinge aliue Great was the knowledge that this man had of the tongues more great of the liberall artes and of philosophy but of the holy Scriptures and Ecclesiasticall histories and of all the olde and auncient Church most great of all That which I speake to be true you your selues know most learned fathers and can very well testifye who haue heard him publikely teachinge who haue heard him disputinge with great commendation who haue heard him familiarly talkinge with his friendes Many other witnesses there be thoroughout all Germanye and other nations men famously learned which either resorted to his Scoles or other wise were more familiarly acquainted with him His bookes are witnesses that he wrote and published which are of great learned men esteemed and read amonge the workes of the best learned writers as those short Scolies vppon the Epistle to the Romaynes as the

that is to say My Father my father the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof so we also may not without good cause complaine of our master Hyperius thus taken from vs Although in very déede when I wey more déepely the whole matter with my selfe most worthy Senatours I scarcely sée what sparke of hope to be accounted off is left not onely to vs but also to all Germanye Pure religion was in the time of our fathers sore oppressed through the tiranny of the Bishops none otherwise then was a great while agoe the Common wealth of the Hebrues thorugh the violence and oppressions of the bordering Nations As the Lorde in olde time had mercy vpon the Hebrues so hath he had now also compassion vppon vs that like as then he stirred vp valiaunt Capytaynes and godly Iudges that did set the people in their former libertie so now in these dayes had be raysed vp many notable Doctors that might and did restore religion to hi● former puritie and deliuer vs from that pontificall tyranny Which either Capitaynes or Doctors of the Church séeing the Lorde doth now by littel and littel call awaye to himselfe as in the yeares past Luther Bucer Melanchthon and many other and in these last xv monethes Martyr Musculus our Hyperius wée are truly to be afrayed least these so many and great lightes of the churche beinge extinct considering that very few men or none remayne of like dignitie of like learning and experience there succéede other which not as the former will defend and maynteyne our liberty restored but will hamper vs againe in ● newe seruitude and bondage Yea verily when as those Capytaines being taken away euery man may séeme to doe and say what he list it is greatly to be feared least for our offences all our religion be againe enwrapped in most vgsom darkenes and so vtterly obscured and defaced For vndoubtedly as for the light of the trueth which after those dolfull times of darkenes wherein our forefathers were entangeled by the great benefit of God hath shined vnto vs our people can now in these dayes so ill away with all that they doe not onely openly and manifestly contemne the cléere light but euen couet also most gréedely to returne backe againe to their former darknes as it were to the flesh pottes of Aegipt Furthermore what the life of our Countrimen is what the maners of them are that glory of the profession of pure religion we sée I speake not onely of the c̄omon people basest sort of men but I speake of those whom wée all haue in admiration whom wée reuerence whom wée prayse and highly estéeme off So great is the contempt of religion amongest a great number so great the neglecting of godlines so great the suppression of vertue that they may well séeme to be no Christians at all but very saluage and barbarous people Which thinges séeing they are true there is no man verily that can imagine this our dread and feare to be vainely or without cause conceiued God winketh for a time at our sinnes and enormities as he is a longe suffering GOD and slowe to wrath But neuerthelesse when he séeth there is no hope lefte of amendement of lyfe and that our sinnes doe proclame nowe euen open warre agaynst heauen it selfe then sodenly prouoked to anger he prepareth himselfe to take vengeaunce Which when he intendeth to doe he oftetimes taketh good men from vs least they should the good with the bad the godly with the vngodly be enwrapped togither in these plages But nowe I maye séeme peraduentūre to giue an ouer vnlucky ghesse as touching the state of our Scholes and Churches wherefore then doe I not rather turne my talke vnto you most graue and prudent fathers Whom I praye and beséech most hartily that you would euery one of you so far foorth as ye are able bend all your trauayle and dilignce to the mayntenaunce and preseruation of godly studies And you especially I call vppon most excellent Companions thée I say most reuerend Rector Lonicerus thée most vigilant pastor Rodingus and you al furthermore that teach the holy Scriptures either in the Schole with vs or in the Church herevnto I beséech you bend all your co●itations and all your endeuours namely that our sacred and diuine studies may prosper and florish Procéede to teach as you doo diligently and faithfully study for the maintenaunce of peace and tranquilitie Let vs propound vnto our hearers not idle questions as touching vaine and friuolous matters but as our Hyperius alwaies did those principles most chiefely of the doctrine of religion which shall be necessary to the conseruation of the puritie of faith and most profitable to the information of lyfe and maners Let vs haue no dealing w●th vnlucky contentions whereby we sée now some Scholes to be most grieuously battered and shaken Let this our Schole rest as by Gods grace it hath already many yeares rested from importunate striuings and brablementes Let vs follow alonely in teaching the chiefe points of religion the holy Scripturesithe writinges I meane of the Prophetes and Apostles Let no mans authoritie so preuaile with vs let no Counsell be of such credite no patched writing of such force that wée shoulde depart so much as a heares breadth either from the authoritie of the Scripture or from the phrase of Thapostles or from the formes of speaking vsed by the holy GHOST himselfe These markes let vs prescribe vnto our selues as it were to ame at Let vs kéepe vs with in the compasse of these boūds For so yea so it will com to passe that we shall not be caried about hither thither with the winde vanitie of euery doctrine but shall ramayne constant in our profession and shall alwaies frō time to time kéepe a certaine forme of s●ūd doctrine And you also most diligent hearers you I say that are studious of the holy Scriptures I doe not onely exhorte but also pray and beséech you wey with your selues the state of Religion and the state of our Churches consider what perills hange ouer our heades in these dayes by reason of the wickednes of our liues and maners beholde how many famous Doctors and notable lights of the Church our almighty father hath in a short space-taken frō vs All the most excellent Teachers our heauenly father calleth out of this life by littell and littell home to himselfe many other neither so well learned neither such louers of peace concord he leaueth stil aliue which are not so carefull as touching the safetie and preseruation of the Churches as they be for their owne priuate authoritie and gaines which séeke not so much the peace left vnto vs of Christ as they doe their owne prayse and glory though it be by fetting the Lordes Sanctuary on fyre and which if thy were not brideled by thautoritie of godly maiestrates would confounde heauen and earth togither Consider I say and seriously ponder all these thinges