Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
hand_n	great_a	let_v	see_v	5,099	5	3.0617	3	false

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17692	Foure godlye sermons agaynst the pollution of idolatries comforting men in persecutions, and teachyng them what commodities thei shal find in Christes church, which were preached in French by the moste famous clarke Ihon Caluyne, and translated fyrst into Latine and afterward into Englishe by diuers godly learned men.; Sermons. Selected sermons. English	Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564.; Horne, Robert, 1519?-1580.	1561 (1561)	STC 4438; ESTC S118061	86,020	218

faithfull keper When he hath ordeined and kept diligentlye this maner and fashion of lyfe yf afterward he fal in to the handes of enemies let him thinke and persuade himselfe that he is brought into that place of god for this cause that he mai haue him a witnes of hys sonne Therefore seing he is called and brought to that confession by the certain decree of god there is no way to go backe onles he wil be vnfaithfull vnto him to whome we haue promised all our endeuours both to liue and dye yea whos 's we are although we had promised nothing at all I meane not hereby to driue euery man of necessitie at all time to geue a full and perfect confession of their faith no not some times when thei be asked For I knowe-what measure and moderatioÌ„ S. Paule vsed who was as ready with heart and minde to defende the gospell as any other Neither was this spoken by the Lorde Iesus and promised without a cause that god woulde geue vs in that tyme and matter a mouth and prudence As though he would haue sayde the office of the holy ghost is not onely to confirme vs that we may be willing bolde and stronge but also it consisteth in geuing vs iudgement prudence and counsail how we may as it becometh vs gouerne and rule our selues in so great and so harde a matter Truly this whole treatise is to this end that they that be in such distresses shoulde desier and receyue from heauen that moderacion and prudence not folowynge the counsel of the fleshe to seke some shiftes to escape But ther be that do obiect in this place that the lorde Iesus yea wheÌ„ he was asked woulde make to them no answere But I saye that this sufficeth not to take awaye that rule which he hath geuen to vs to witnes our fayth then when the confession thereof is necessarily required Furthermore that he did neuer dissemble or kepe silence for this purpose to saue hys lyfe Last of all that he dyd neuer make so doubtfull an answere but it conteined an apt testimonie of that which he had spoken before or els did first satisfie theÌ„ that lay in waite to marke both his words dedes Wherfore let al christiaÌ„s be wel persuaded sure of this thing that no man oght more to esteme his life then the testimonie of the truth wherin god wil haue the praise glory of his name to appear Is it without a cause that he calleth his witnesses for this doeth the worde martyr signifie who are broughte to make answere before the enemies of faith and religion Or is not this rather the cause for that he wold vse al their speakyng and whole course of life to the confession of his name Wherein euery maÌ„ must not so loke to his neighbour felow that he will seme to do nothyng at al without his example and testimonie And this curiositie is so much the more to be eschued because we are prone to this vice of our own nature Peter wheÌ„ he had heard of Christ that he should be led in his old age whether he would not he enquired what shuld become of Iohn his felow coÌ„panion There is none of vs which to auoide perill and daunger woudl not gladly make answere in that wise because when we shoulde suffer any thing by and by this cometh into our minde what is the cause wherefore I shoulde suffer more then others But Iesus Christ doth couÌ„sel monish other wise vs al in comon and euerie man priuatly to be prepared and readie that as he calleth one or other so euerie maÌ„ comforth in his ordre And I haue shewed this before that we shal be vnarmed and vnprepared to take and suffer martyrdoÌ„ onlesse we be feÌ„sed and armed with the promises of god Now remaineth to declare plentifully such promises not that we wil sett forth euerie one exactli but to shewe the chefe and most excellent thing wich god wold haue vs to hope for to comforte vs in our calamities And there be thre such thinges the first that seing al the times both of our lyfe and death do consist in his haÌ„d he wil so defend vs by his power that not one heare of our head shal fall but after hys wyll Wherfore al faitfull men oght thus to be perswaded in whose handes so euer they be tossed that god in no wise will lay a side that gouernaunce custodie which he hath taken vpon him for them with so great care Yf this perswasion of gods fatherly care and prouideÌ„ce did rest and cleaue depe in our hartes we shuld be deliuered out of hand of the greatest part of these doubtes difficulties which do now trouble hinder our duty We behold now the bitterness of the tyraunts vnbridled crueltie brawling pinishly in al sharpnes of punismeÌ„ts And here by we iudge that god hath no more care nor regard to defend and kepe vs in sauetie And therfore we be so stirred prouoked by our own reasons to looke and prouide for our selues as though the whole hope of gods helpe and succour were clean taken awaie But on the other part the so great prouidence of god as he hath shewed vnto vs oght to be vnto vs like a stronge fenced castle which can be ouercome with no power Let vs therefore learn and hold fast thys short sentence that our bodies are in his hand power who also did creat them And this is the cause wherfore god hath deliuered hys after a merueilouse sorte and contrarie the opinyon and hope of all men as Sydrach Misach and Abdenago forth of the burning ouen Daniel out of the lions denne peter out of Herods prison where in he was short watched most diligeÌ„tly fast bouÌ„d in chaines By these examples he wold declare vnto vs that he could staye our enemies as it were with a certaine bridle and that he had that power that when he wold he could preserue and as it were pluk vs out of the mouth of death it self Not that he doeth alwaies thus deliuer his from such perils but of right hauing the autoritie to apoint our life death he will haue vs persuaded that we are so continued and kept vnder his custodye and tuition that what so euer the tyraunts do inueÌ„t or with what furie so euer thei set vpon vs yet it is only in his hand to apoint lyfe or death and therefore thys mater oght onely to be refferred to hys wil. But yf he suffer the teraunts to kyl vs yet our life is vnto him deare much more sett by of hym then it is worthie The which he did plainly declare to be so when he pronouÌ„ced by the mouth Dauid that the death of his saints was honourable and preciouse in his sight And also wheÌ„ he say by esay that the earth it self shuld shew forth the bloud that was shedde which semeth al to gether hidden Now then let the enemies of that gospel be

pretence of obedience vnto worldly prince do peruerte al the order of nature For that lawfull prayer which God allowethe that we shulde make for our princes is agreable and veray conuenient both to their authoritie which he giueth them and also to the office wherwith he hath bound charged vs towardes them Thus S. paul dothe exhort vnto prayers to be had and made for kings magistrates that we may lead a godly quiet peaceable life with honesty the fear of god But this amplificatioÌ„ setting forth of the obedieÌ„ce vnto erthly princes is to far aboue measure whan it is ioyned with the departing froÌ„ god the diminishing of the honor worship which is dew to the heauenly king The miserable Iewes in dede wer coÌ„pelled to remain so long in the bondage of Babilon whiles the time was fulfilled which was appointed of god to suffre the miserable captiuiti but let these meÌ„ that talke so much of maÌ„s law and obedience with whoÌ„ I haue to do declare that we christians are bownd so far by like obedience that of our own accorde we must depriue our selfes of those spiritual benefites which god geueth most liberally to his children They do feele a great necessite wherew t they are soore pressed thei are greatly enticed by their owne infirmitie but god sheweth theÌ„ the remedy for these so great euils What is the cause that thei despice these so great helpes benifites for the obedience seruice of theÌ„ that take their bread forthe of their hands The cause is greater of a man towarde his wife or of the wife towarde the husbande For seing that god hath ioyned theÌ„ together into one flesh the one caÌ„ not do well in any case to forsake the other vnder a certain colour to seke god Not only that thei may not depart far a sunder to let the dutye betwixt man wife but that eueri one oght rather by al meanes and with all diligence to labor that he may draw and bring the felow companion of that holy lyfe to the worship of god This then is the dutye that the one oweth to the other that the husbaÌ„d mai declare vnto the wife how miserable vnhappy thei are because thei want the holy company felowship of the faithfull because thei are destitute of the sacrameÌ„tes and sermons which are most sure signes pledges testimonies be fully assured wherby we may know that god dwelleth amoÌ„gs vs again he muste exhort her that she do not dispaire nor distrust but trust in gods mercies And if he can not persuade her nor win her so sone as he wolde let him neuer be wery whiles he haue gotteÌ„ his purpose And althogh his wife do resist his purpose most earnestly neuertheles let not the man cease importunately to attempte the mater with her and to proue her minde by al means vntyll she do shew her lelfe wylfull and abstinate in her wicked purpose When he hath assaied and attempted all that may be doone by hym yf he can tary there no longar then is he free and vtterly deliuered from all the lawe of mariage and necessitie of tariyng because he hath done all his duety and nothing wanted of his part but that his wife might haue folowed him as her duety required Althogh yet this departing of the man froÌ„ the wife is no diuorse but the housband goeth before whither God calleth that he may shew the wai to his wife And as touching the maryed woman she is yet bouÌ„de with a more strait bonde of mariage because she is the inferior and must worthely acknowledge her housband as her heade and reuerence hym Therefore muste shee by all meanes possyble brynge her housbande in to the mynde and meanes that he wyll restore and set them bothe at liberty And when shee hathe doone all that euer shee canne yet is shee not at lyberty and set fre that she may forsake him to whome she is bounde and subiect onles some persecution be raised wherein the danger is manifest and specially yf her owne husbande be most ready to pursue her vnto death for then she departeth not from her husbande but she auoideth that euill that is prepared for her and the furious rage of her enemies which god permitteth and alloweth Finally that great danger and violence which is intended towards her doth discharge her and deliuer her from the bonde of suche a bitter and dangerous lyfe notwithstanding when al thinges are well wayghed consydered no worldly cause ought either to withdrawe man or wyfe the one from the other but onely that mutuall beneuolence loue and charitie which the one oweth of dewtye to procure the saluation of the other For if it be necessary that a man shoulde so forget himself that he should haue no regarde of the thinges that pertayne to this earthly life and to the body he oght also likewise to forget and contemne those thinges which are about him Therfore let vs retourne to that acount which Dauid maketh that the face of the Lorde shoulde be soughte as also he sayeth in the .lxxxiiii. Psalme where he sayeth it is better to lyue one day in the courtes of the Lorde then a thousande beyng therefrom whereby he declareth that the lyfe of the faythfull can not be to shorte so that God graunt them this grace that whiles thei liue in this world they may exercise them selues in hys seruice and honour and establishe themselues wyth his promises celebratyng hys name with all godly confession praise If a man obiect that this mai be done in some deserte place or amongest the enemyes of the fayth I answere that it is not wythoute cause that Dauid doeth speake namely of the courts of the temple For he doeth consider howe necessary the order of the church is vnto mortall men specially because he knoweth their rude and weake nature but if this oration and admonicion were so altogether fired in all mens heartes that all men woulde come at the least to some christian church where they myght dye quietly and peaceably there woulde be none which would not easely and quicklye gather vp their burden and prepare them selues But what do we seke Euery man wyl lyue and that with all ease and pleasure euery man in that kynde of pleasure and luste wherewith he is led and drawen This is cause wherfore the church of god so much is contemned and reiected to day Yea and there ar many wittie and subtell to inuent and set before their eyes such lettes and hynderances as may bring them from that study of godlines that was in Dauid Moreouer thei bring this in what shall we profit say they if we do chaunge places Whether soeuer we go we shal find the worlde no lesse then in our countrie There is at this time a wonderfull corruption of maners and of al things All things ar full of offences teÌ„tations and such corruptions whereby mens minds may easely fal from the

as bouÌ„tiful prodigal in sheddiÌ„g the martyrs bloud as thei wil yet this must be that thei shal make a reckening horrible accompt of the effusion of that deare and precious blood yea euen to the vttermost droppe But nowe in thys time thei do scornefully and proudly laugh when thei burne the faithfull men and after they haue dipt washed them selues in their blood they become so dronken that they care nothing at al what murthers thei do But if we wyll haue this stay and moderation of mind that we can paciently abide god wil at the last declare that it was not without a cause that he so greatly estemed our life and had it in so great honour In the meane while let vs not take it to grief yf it be now bestowed to confirme garnish the gospel which excelleth heauen and earth in worthines And that we may be more surely persuaded that god wil neuer leaue vs as abiectes in the hands of the enemies let vs not forget that same saying of Iesus Christ wherein he saieth that it is he himself whoÌ„ men do persecute in his membres God had said before by Zachary who so toucheth you toucheth the sight of mine eie This is much more expressed if we suffer for the gospell sake it is euen as the sonne of him selfe were and suffered in that affliction Therefore let vs thinke so that Iesus Christ must forget himself if he should haue no care and thought of vs at the time when we be in prison and danger of life for his cause and glory let vs also know that God wyl take al the contumelies and iniuries as done against his owne sonne Let vs come to the seconde place of consolation which is one of the greatest among gods promises that god wyll so hold vs vp wyth the vertue of his spirit in these afflictions that our enemies whatsoeuer they do nor Satan their chiefe captaine shal in any thyng go awaye with the ouerhand And truly we do see howe in that necessitie he doth shew the succour and helpes of his grace For the inuincible stoutnes and constancie of minde which is sene in the true martyrs is a notable token of that same most mighty power which god vseth in his sainctes There be two things in persecutions greuous tediouse intolrable to the flesh whereof the one consisteth in the checkes and rebuks of men the other in the payne tormeÌ„t of the body In both these kinds of temtations god doth promise so his assistaunce that we shal easely ouercom al the infamie violence of the grefes and payn And truly what he promiseth he doth performe in dede with most manifest and assured helpe Let vs then take this bucklere to defend vs against al feare and let vs not measure the power of gods spirit so sclendrely that we shuld not thinke and beleue that he wil easely ouercome all the iniuries bitternes and contumelies of men And of this diuine and inuincible operation emong all other we haue a notable example in this our age A certaine yonge man who liued godlylye here with vs in this cytie when he was taken at Dornick was coÌ„demned with this sentence that yf he wold denye the coÌ„fessioÌ„ of his faith he shuld be but beheaded but yf he perseuered in his purpased opinion he shuld be burned When he was asked whether he wold do he answered plainly he who will geue me thys grace to dye patiently for his name wil also work by the selfe same grace that I may abide broyling and burniÌ„g We oght to take thys sentence not as pronouÌ„ced of a mortall maÌ„ but of the holy gost that we shold thinke that god caÌ„ so wel coÌ„firme make vs ouercom al payns tormeÌ„ts as to moue vs to take any other kinde of meker death in good part Yea we see often times what coÌ„staÌ„cy he geueth to euel wicked men who suffer for their euel dedes and wickednes I do not speake of such as be obstinat hardned in their wickednes which haue no repeÌ„taÌ„ce but of theÌ„ which do perceaue coÌ„solatioÌ„ by the grace of Iesus Christ so do take suffer quietly with good wil most greuous sharpe pain as we see a notable example in the thefe who turned at the death of our lord Iesus christ Wil god who assisteth with so great power wicked men that suffer coÌ„dingly for their euell actes forsake them who defeÌ„d his cause wil he not rather geue theÌ„ inuincible power The third place of promises which god promiseth to his martyres is the fruit which thei oght to loke for of their sufferiÌ„g of death it self yf nede so requier But this fruit is that after they haue set forth honoured gods name edified his church with their testimonie they may be gathered together in immortall glory with the lord Iesus But because we haue spoken largely inough before of this reward of eternal glory it is now sufficient to renue the memorie of those thiÌ„gs that are already spoken Wherfore let the faithful learn to reare vp their head to the crowne of immortall glory whereunto god doeth call them let them not take the losse of this life greuously coÌ„sidering the greatnes and worthines of the reward And that thei may be sure and perfectly persuaded of this so great a good thing as can not be expressed with any speache nor in thought be comprehended nor with any honour inough estemed let them haue continually before their eyes this like and conformable reason with our Lord Iesus Christ that in death it selfe they beholde life as he by ignominie of the crosse infamie came to glorious resurrection wherin all our felicitie triumph and ioy consisteth Amen The thirde Sermon VVHEREIN THE FAITHFVL are admonished how greatly thei oght to esteme it to liue in the churche of god where they may purely and with libertie worship him taken forth of this sentence of the. Psalm 27. One thing haue I demanded of the lorde that wyll I require that I may dwel in the house of the lord al the dayes of my life that I maye see the beautie of the Lorde c. ALthough amonges men there be soche a varietie defference of myndes and desyres that it is a world to se them yet do all consent and agre in this one poynte moste plainly that with hole harte mynde thei are occupied in the worlde Euery one I graunt wyll haue some what apart wherin he doth set his hole felicitie and wherunto he wyll applye and therevpon bestowe all his care and study and the whole trade of hys lyfe But this vanitie beareth rule generally in al that thei seke their felicitie and principal coÌ„moditie none other where but in this present life subiect to corruption The which thing declareth moste euidently that men whiche haue caste downe their myndes hope and iudgemen from the dignitie and excellencye of their nature are so degenerat and growen out

and horrible confusion as we see at this time in the papisme Yea I doe greatly pitie their miserable state whiche seke meanes wherby they maye serue god deuoutly and liue amonge the enemies of faith if it may be possible by any waies But what wil we I can do nothing els to the one or to the other but declare their errour and sinne that they them selues may adde the remedie If thei coÌ„e herafter to aske of me this or that more diligently and particularly I will send such curiouse inquisitours to the coÌ„mon rule which haue of god I speak this for that ther be some of this sort of men so importune that yf a man shuld answer all their difficulties doutes he shulde seme neuer to mak an end of any thing And me think such men may wel be coÌ„pared to them who after thei be taught in a sermon to vse sobre apparel and decking of the bodye whthout all dissolute and sumptuouse trimming they wold haue the priacher to make their hoose sewe their shoes Wel what must we do theÌ„ In this matter there is a certain thing set before vs wher vnto we ought to derect and conferre our wholl minde studie thought That is that the zeal of godes house mai eat vp our hart and so moue vs that we bear and take vpon our selues al dishonours contumelies and opprobries which ar done most vnworthily against gods holy name WheÌ„ such desier of gods honour and feruent loue shall be kindled in our hartes not like drye stubble sone set on fier easely extinguished but lik a fier that burneth continually a man shall be so far from suffering or approuing these abomitioÌ„s wher with the name of god moste shamfully vnwortheli is polluted that wheÌ„ he shall beholde them he shal be able in in no wise to suffer dissimulation sileÌ„ce and taciturnitie And it is diligently to be marked that he saith the zeal of gods house that we shuld know that to be referred vnto the outward order which is instituted in the churche that we shuld exercise our selues in confession of oure faith I do not wey the mockers whych say that I my selfe lyuing here without ane daunger yea rather in great quietnes doe talke goodlely of this maters I am not he with whom these men haue any thing to do For this is wel knoweÌ„ I haue here no land of myn owne So mai we thiÌ„k sai of al these philsophers whiche geue their Iudgment without knowlege of the cause For seinge they wil not here god who doth now truely speak so iently to them to teache them I do declare the daie iudgmeÌ„t at what time being called before the iudgment seat of god they shal hear that sentence agaiÌ„st the which ther shal be no answer nor defence For seing they wil not hear him as the best and most meke maister they shal theÌ„ know at the last fele him as their most seure iust iudg At which time the stowtest the craftiest of theÌ„ shal perceaue know that thei were deceaued in their opinions Let theÌ„ be so wel exercised and prepared as they wil to obserue or subuert iustice and epuitie yet their lawlike iudicial ornaments and the badges of the great dygnitie and power wherewith thei now prowdly war insolent shall not thyne geue them the victorie I speake thys by causa counseilours Iudges proctours aduocats and suche othere bearinge the swing in courtes and iudgmeÌ„ts ar not only bold to striue with GOD and so to contend that thei wold seme to haue gotteÌ„ a certaine right to scorne mocke his maiestie but also reiecting al holy scripture do spue oute their blasphemies as the greatest sentences of the law and most high decrees These meÌ„ whom the world doth honour as certaine idoles so sone as thei haue spoken one word can not suffer reason trueth to haue any place to rest in But yet by the way I admonish warne theÌ„ before haÌ„d that it shal be better for theÌ„ to haue some remembrance of that same horrible vengeaÌ„ce which is ordeined for them that change iustice with iniquitie truth with lying Nether the doctors chamber maisters the delitious baÌ„ckettours very voluptuous meÌ„ take any high degre here theÌ„ that thei may chatter in their feastes banquets bable forth their wordes against the heaueÌ„ly maister to whoÌ„ trulye al meÌ„ oght to geue most diligeÌ„t ear Nether caÌ„ their goodli famous titles pluk any maÌ„ froÌ„ this iudgemeÌ„t in which the lordly reuereÌ„t abbotes priors deans archdecons as chief maisters of the game shal be coÌ„pelled to lead the dauÌ„ce in that coÌ„deÌ„natioÌ„ which god shal mak most greuous Now although the courtears are wont to gratifie men with the sprinkling of their holye water let them not thinke that thei can with that kind of doing satisfie god To conclude al iesters praters let theÌ„ hold their toÌ„ge bost not out their merie wittie sayinges onles they wil fele his mightie haÌ„d at whose word thei ought to tremble Wherein theyr errour is to much folishe that beleueth because thei take me for their aduersary therefore thei shall not haue god to be their iudge Let them scrape my name out of their bokes and vtterlye bloth it forth specially in this kind of cause and question wherein my purpose is onely that god be hard and obeyed not that I shulde rule mens consciences after my lust charge them with any necessitie or lawe As for all others which do not so proudly dispise gods word and yet ar so delicate and weake that thei can in no wise be moued I do most hartily besech them that thei wil take more thoughte and regard to their own duty saluacioÌ„ and gods honour do no more flatter themselues as thei haue done hitherto Let them therfore open their eies and reare vp them selues that they may beholde the miserie wherein thei are I know well inough the euils difficulties and stoppes wherin thei be wrapt emoÌ„g the papists I do not speake vnto them as though it were an easie matter in the middest of the idolatries to take vpon them to defend the pure and sincere religion of god but if thei lack streÌ„gth I aduertise theÌ„ to flie vnto god the autour of all power that thei may be made strong by him learn to prefarre his glory before al things of this world For I do earnestly desier that all faithful men which are miserably afflicted in the papisme should vnderstand know this howe that the prophet Ieremy remaining at IerusaleÌ„ in Iewry did send this aduertisement and exhortacion vnto the people which were holden captiue and oppressed in Babilon Yf the tiranny of the pope and of all his ministres be to them sharpe and cruell thei must coÌ„sider that the Iewes also of that time suffered heauy and bitter bondage and yet thei are commaunded in the vulgare speach of the countrey to execrate the idolatrie

cause they continued constaunt In paciencye I do entreat this first part of my exhortacion briefly that I maye come the soner to the second which doth more pertaine to the purspose And that is that we applie certaine examples of the martyres which were before vs to our consolacion comfort And in this kinde or numbre there be not two or three but a great thicke cloude as the apostle writeth to the Hebrues .xii. Whereby he signifieth that ther is so great a multitude of them which haue suffered for the testimonie of the truth that so wel the abundance of excellent examples as the most graue authority ought to prouoke vs to contentacion pacience and moderation of minde And least my oration shold waxe to long in heaping vp together an infinite multude of examples I wil only speake of the Iewes which suffered most greuous persecution for the true religion both vnder the tiranny of king Antiochus also shortly after his death We can not say that the numbre of the afflicted men was smal when a great mighty armye as it were of martyrs was prepared to maintain defend the religion Nether can we alledge that they were certaine excellent prophets whoÌ„ god had chosen forth and separated frome the comon sort of people for there were women boyes and infantes also in that number of martyrs Nether will we say that thei passed thorow that persecution only with some light losse wtout great peril of lyfe without great paines and torments of bodies seing ther was no kinde of cruelty vpproued in afflicting vexing tormeÌ„ting them Let vs here also what the apostle doth saye of them and doth set forth for vs to folow Some faith he were hanged vp like belles and stretched dispising to be deliuered that they might optaine a better resurrection other were proued with opprobrious wordes and strippes or with bondes prisonment other were stoned or cutt insonder or killed with the swerd other some went wandering hether and thether thorowe hilles and caues of the earth Let vs now come to make comparison betwixt them and vs. Yf they suffred so many and great tormentes for the truth which was as then but obscure what oght we to doe in this great light which hath shined vnto vs in this time God speaketh vnto vs nowe as with full mouth The greatest gate of the kingdom of heauen is made open vnto vs. Iesus Christ comen from heauen vnto vs doth so call vs to him that we haue him present as it were before our eies In to how great ingratitude shameful wickednes shal we runne into if we haue lesse stomake loue to beare and suffer for the gospell then thei had which dyd beholde the promises of god but as it were a farre of who had but a very lytle dore opened to inter into the kingdom of god who had receaued only a remembrance and obscure testimonie in figures of Iesus Christ These great matters can not be declared and expressed with any wordes as thei be worthy Wherefore I leaue them to be weied in euery mans thoughts and meditacioÌ„s This doctrine as it hath a common and vniuersall reason so it must be referred to the exercise order of euery maÌ„s life But euery man must apply it to his propre vse profit apt for his owne consolation And I speake this for this cause least that they which see them selues to be in no manifest peryll should suppose this doctrine to be vaine and not to pertaine to them Nowe they are no in the hands of tirantes but what know they how god wil deale with them herafter Therfore we must be of that minde and iudgemeÌ„t that if any persecutioÌ„ which we loked not for happen vnto vs that we fall not therein to vnwares and vnprouided but that we come to it prepared long before hand But I feare there be many deaph eares to whom this my oration is made without fruit For theiÌ„ that liue in quiet hauing all thinges at wil are so far from preparing them selues to take and suffer death when nede shal be that thei haue no care nor thoght of seruing god at all But this ought to be al our study continually especially in these great troblesom times wherin we liue in great peryll In the meane time thei whome god calleth to suffer for the testimonye of hys name must thinke in very dede that thei were prepared long be fore and broughte to this sufferance of euils by the mocion certain iudgement of the spirit that they might bear them selues therin boldly and constantly Then also they must diligently call to the remembrance al the exhortations which they haue herd before and be so stirred with the aduertisment of them as the valiaunt souldiare to take his armour when he hereth the trumpet blowe But what seke we Truly in these perils we do nothing ells but seke shiftes waies how to escape I meane this by the most part of men For this same persecution is as it were a touche stone wherwith god doth trye and proue who be his but ther are fewe found of that faith cowrage and godlines towardes god that they will offer them selues frankely and freely vnto death for his names sake This is a thing almost incredible that they which do glory that they haue some knowlege in the gospell are so impudent and vnshamfast they wil vse such cauillatioÌ„s Some wil say what shal it auail to coÌ„fess our faith before those stubborne stifnecked men whiche are purposed to warre agaiÌ„st god himselfe Is not this to cast pearles before swine As who wolde say Iesus Christ doth not most plainly declare that he doth requier of vs the coÌ„fessioÌ„ of his name yea amoÌ„g most perverse wicked men But if this our testimony do nothiÌ„g profit to their edifiing yet shall it profit to their coÌ„fusioÌ„ Alwaies the coÌ„fession of our faith doth sauour swetly before god although it briÌ„ge death and destruction to wicked men There be other also which will say this what shall our death profite when it shall seme to geue more offence then vtilitie As though god hath left to them selues fre choyse to dye wheÌ„ they will or when they shall think it the most apte time of death But we contrarie wise do obei him but as for the fruit that must come by our death we leaue to the hand prouidence of god Wherfore the christian man must most chifly in what place so euer he be diligently se that he lyue in that simplicitie and integritie that god requireth and that he be not brought from that mind maner of godly and holy life at any time with any daungers or threatninges Let him eschue so muche as is possible the ragiÌ„g madnes of the wolues so that the same warenes be not ioyned with the prudence and craftines of the flesh Fyrst of al let him do this that he geue ouer and resigne his lyfe into the hands of god the most

man can let him that is to say that he mourne day night with dauid Thine altars o lorde There is none other thing that I desyre but thine altars o my God and my kinge And the fere of this most holy loue and desire oght so enflame al good hearts that thei shold not thinke it painfull to suffer ani thiÌ„g that can come no not to consume themselues wholy by this so great zele and desyre neither that there sholde be any tyme so long differred which shold quenche or diminishe this feruent desyre but rathere continally require this thing most carefully that they maye once be broght vnto Christes folde Moreouer euery man oght to considre thys by hymselfe howe he maye moste speadily get himselfe to the standerd so soone as our lord shal graunt any liberty to come therunto Finalli to make an end of this exhortatioÌ„ now it remaiÌ„eth that we do diligeÌ„tly note that which dauid adioygneth that is That he will behold the beawty of the lord consider his temple For it is not enoghe that we shulde be exercised in the outward order discipline of the church except we haue our eies bent and speciall regarde to this end that we maye know god himselfe euer more and more There be two thinges which are heare required the one that we do occupy the time of the preachings publike praiers with all care diligence the other that we do vnderstand the cause of our assemblies comming together in the churches For many do come thither drawen with a certane folishe deuotion thinking that thei haue done their hole deuty yf they come forthe into that place shew theÌ„selues once in the temple let vs take heade therfore diligently deare brethren that we do not fal into any fault of negligence of ignoraunce or of folishnes For it is greatly to be feared lest the most part of theÌ„ that ar herew t vs mai be coÌ„demned in the one of these two vices that either thei are negligeÌ„t to come to these assembles in the church or els they do not whaigh with themselues nor well vnderstaÌ„d wherfore thei do come thither How many are they the come to the sermones which wold be most glad neuer to heare of any sermons But I will not speake of theÌ„ which in the hole course of their life do shew theÌ„selues manifest contemners of God I do speake of the contempte which is many who wolde neuer remeÌ„bre to come to the sermon but that the sonday doth monishe them moue them to com thither and that for maner sake only as thoghe they wolde then make vp the nomber of mani runiÌ„g together to god The bell may well ring daily call theÌ„ together But it is sufficient for suche if then at last they come forth in the ende of the weke vnto the church company of the coÌ„gregation Thei are called four times euery soÌ„day but thei come very notably if thei once may be seene to haue beene there For there be many of them also whych take to them thys lyberty that they wyll scarse come euery .xv. Daye And surelye the moste parte prooueth thys prouerbe to be trewe that beyng nygh to the Churche they are verye farre from god And some of them be of that sort which haue lefte their contrey that they might serue god who yet in this part of gods seruice do shew theÌ„selues ouer negligent What oght we thaÌ„ to do Seing god doeth so shew himselfe vnto vs let vs beholde his beauty not passe by the meanes whereby we may most clearely haue the fruition coÌ„templation of this his beautie That is to say to that we may be moued as it were rauished with the loue of him as S. Paul saith that we be transformed changed into his simitude likenes And to come to this point we must consider more diligently earnestly then we haue accustomed what god doth propouÌ„d vnto vs in his church For what is the cause I pray you why we do take so smale profit of the sermons sacrameÌ„ts but that we giue no diligence to the things that are their spoken done We haue our eares beaten with continual doctrine wheras our minds are voide barren of good mocions not touched with any good affection Moreouer also there be some that here neuer the whole sermon but here there a word or half a word rather with out regard Wherfore Dauid saieth not without great cause that he woulde go to the temple of the lord to visit and regard it with great care diligence and the whole study of his minde And doubtles the excellent treasures of the great wisedome of god which are therein set forth vnto vs are most worthy to haue the eies of our minds wholy bent set thervpoÌ„ But as I haue now touched god would not haue vs to beholde these treasures only to please our eies so to depart wtout any profit Let vs therefore vnderstand that the doctrine of christ hath then shewed in vs her force fruit when our mindes life maners are so chaunged that we can worship god purely serue him wtout corruption And this is it that Dauid saith psalm lxxxiiii That thei which dwell in the house of the lord shall prayse him for euer Wherfore theÌ„ do we assemble our selues iÌ„to one place whi is that gospel preached vnto vs why do we vse baptisme the lords supper but that god shuld be praised magnified by vs with all kind of praises the which praise standeth not only in the lips but continueth al the life long and florisheth for euer Therefore saith he in another place I wil wash my hands O lord in innocencie then wyll I enter vnto thyne altare Now do we see what is the true lawfull vse of all the order in the church to wit that we beyng diligently instructed therein may worshyp God purely and as becometh hys seruaunts In the olde time vnder the law thei that came to the temple to worship god especially the preistes wheÌ„ thei shuld execute their office they continually washed them selues This ceremony in dede is passed awaye but the truth that yet remaineth oght of vs alwayes to be mainteyned and practised And because we nowe do knowe all the wais meanes wherby we may atteyn to the most perfit pure worship of god wherefore we must enter and holde the way of life more warely theÌ„ others For the more furtherance that we haue graunted vs by god so much lesse of excuse shal be left onles we do appli the same both vnto our vse profite also to the true worship of god For if we do stumble by the waye it is not because we doe not see a plain troden way before our fete And if we do stray forth of the way wander without assuraunce we can not blame god therfore as though he did not continually set vp the clear light of

Selected quad for the lemma: hand_n

Text snippets containing the quad