⧠A FRVITful sermon preached at Occham in the Countie of Rutland the second of Nouember 1583. By Thomas Gybson PROVERB 29. 8. ¶ VVhere there is no Vision the people decay GOD IS MY HELPER AT LONDON Printed by Robert Walde-graue dwelling without Temple-Barre 1584. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE Lorde FRAVNCES Earle of BEDFORD and one of her Maiesties most honourable priuy Councell Knight of the Noble order of the Garter VVith the right honorable Sir VVALTER MILDMAY knight Chancellour of the Queenes Maiesties Court of Exchequer and one of her highnesse most honourable priuy Counsell Grace Mercy and peace be multiplied from God our heauenly father and from our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe THE blessed holye Euangelist Saint Luke Right Honorable penning and publishing the Heauenlye story and blessed Gospell of Iesus Christ doth also dedicate the same to one Theophilus a Noble and famous man of singular credit and authority The reason and cause that mooued him thereto is because in those times the purenesse of the Gospell was hindred and persecuted whereby manye erroures began to be spreade and allowed and therefore in great Wisdom it pleased the holy Ghost not onely to wryte a faithfull sure and perfect storye but also to offer and present the custodye and defence of the same to one of Religion and povver The verye same cause partly hath mooued mee at this time to be so bolde as to offer and Dedicate this poore and simple testimonie of my trauaile to your Honours For although I doe confesse vve lyue vnder a Gracious Prince whome the Lorde long continue to his glorye to the shame and confusion of his enemies and to the dayly profit of his Church although I say we liue in so peaceable happy and gratious a time vnder the florishing state of the Gospell yet truely the dearest Children of God and the sinceritie of religion is subiect to bitter persecution These wordes at the first maye seeme very greeuous hard and haynous and yet they are most certaine true The holy Apostle S. Paule writing to the Galatians 4 29. speaketh on this maner As he that was borne after the fleshe persecuted him that was borne after the spirite euen so is it now he speaketh of Ismaell and Isaac and yet we doe not reade in the scripture of any persecution betweene them neither did Ismael persecute his brother Isaac with hande or swoorde but that which is worse proudly arrogantly he raised himselfe againste him mocking him and as it were treading vnder feete the promise of God And this dealing by the Apostle is called a persecution in deede there is not any persecution more greeuous to the Children of God then this Now who doth not dayly see that the best Christians and the purenesse of religion are greatly persecuted by Papistes Atheistes and Hipocrites as Isaac was by his Brother Ismaell And of all matters of religion I thinke there is scarce anye in these dayes more generally hated of such kind of men then that which is most altogether almost only hand led in this simple SermoÌ„ For these such like men many of them can bee content vvith a common ordinarye profession to heare Mattins and Euensong and sometimes a Sermon by such men as they like off but that there should be any continuall course of the pure preaching of the worde of God they can in no wise allowe or like of This I say is hated reiected and persecuted so farre as may bee of the greater sorte and therefore not without cause haue I atteÌ„pted to dedicate this my labor to your honors as special patrons defendors of the Lords cause and tried Friends and fauorers of God and his truth But yet this attempt may seeme very rash and needles For who am I that I shoulde take vppon mee to set foorth and to publish any thing The vnworthiest I confesse of many hundreths and the vnablest of many thousands and yet seeing many things more simple lesse needefull and profitable are not only suffered but alowed to come abroad I am not altogether discouraged neither hath anye man iuste cause to accuse me in this my simple enterprise I know these be dayes of knowledge learning there be greate stoore of famous and learned diuines in our land whom I beseech the Lorde to blesse that they may assist their weake brethren in the defence of this and such good causes and yet the two mites of the poore widow cast into the tresury amongest the great giftes of the wealthy are not to be refused I know your Honours be dayly hearers of famous and learned men both in your houses and abroad you are acquainted with the sermons of profound deepe diuines and such as are mighty in the scriptures notwithstanding hauing in my selfe sufficient trial experience of your honors most curteous humble fauorable dealing towards me and also of some liking of my simple and poore trauelles in preaching heretofore I am not ashamed or afrayd after such triall and proofe to offer this so small and simple a thing vnto your honours The great necessitye of the matter I deale withall the care of Gods glory the zeal of his house the benefit that his church may haue by it hath especially mooued me that it should be published come abroade Let not therefore hypocrites bee too rashe in iudging the Lorde the searcher of the hearts and reynes knoweth my purpose and affection in preaching and publishing this matter The cause that hath moued me to present it to your Honors rather then to other is the loÌ„g proof and acquaintance of your honourable courtesies and friendly good-will towards me which for my part I am neuer able to requite for the which I thinke my selfe as long as breath is in me most bounde and indebted to your Honours And here I offer this poore fruite of my trauaile as some testimony of goodwill and thankfulnesse And whereas we are wont commonly to offer and present to our dearest friendes some gyftes as tokens of good will or else of speciall duety Amongst many great and prescious presentes which are no doubt giuen and presented to your honours I also offer this simple mite and yet I hope more pleasant and acceptable to the receiuers then thousands of gold or siluer or any earthly thing whatsoeuer And in deede can there be any matter more sweete and pleasaunt to the cheefe Patrons and defenders of the Godly preachers the worde of God then to heare of the necessitie profite and excellencye of preaching which things are set foorth plainely largely in this little sermon For howsoeuer manye men hate abhorre this matter and can in no case disgest it yet your honors zeale câ—â—rage liking good will and countenance to this and other good causes is comonly known and spread abroad A further reason why I publishe this Sermon is because there is some matter in it for the which I haue beene in the country where I dwel openly
Christ and to the people as it appeareth Iohn 21. 15. where Iesus Christ sayth to Peter after his resurrection Simon sonne of Iona louest thou me more then these He sayde vnto him yea Lorde thou knowest that I loue thee he sayde to him feed my Lambes He said vnto him the second time Simon the sonne of Iona louest thou me He sayde vnto him yea Lorde thou knowest that I loue thee he sayd vnto him feed my sheepe Christ said to him the third time Simon the sonne of Iona louest thou me Peter was sory because he sayde to him the third time louest thou me said vnto him Lord thou knowest all thinges thou knowest that I loue thee Iesus sayd vnto him feed my sheepe Whereby it is euident that those which feed not loue not Christ Seeing then that feeding or preaching is so plaine a token of the loue that the minister oweth to Christe it is most necessarily required if any do preach and yet not vpon this loue they haue their condemnation 3 The church of God is begunne and grounded by the preaching of the worde and therefore necessarie Paule sayth Faith commeth by the word preached Againe he counteth his preaching amongst the Corinthians a planting of them in faith and religion S. Peter sayth We are borne a new not of mortall seed but of immortall by the worde of God who liueth and endureth for euer And presently addeth This is the worde which is preached among you 4 By preaching y e Church of God is not onelye begunne but also amplified builded and enlarged It will not onely make vs Babes in Christ but strong and spirituall men It hath not onely milke for the weake but strong meate for them that are at age By it we are brought not onelye to the beginning of Christe and firste rudimentes of Christian religion but also we are ledde forwarde vnto perfection The holye Apostle affyrmeth this when as he sayeth that Iesus gaue some to be Apostles and Prophetes and some Euangelistes and some Pastours and Teachers for the gathering of Saintes for the worke of the Ministerie and for the edification of the bodie of Christ vnto a persect man and vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ 5 The Church of God begun and brought to that perfection which can be in earth is also stayed strengthened vpholden and preserued by the preaching of the word against sinne and errour And therefore for these causes also the preaching of the word is most necessary yea and that dayly and continually because some are weake and haue neede of dayly strengthning some fall into errours and some into greeuous sinnes from the which they are to bee drawne out by the effectuall preaching of the worde This doth the holy Apostle confirme whereas he saith that The whole Scripture is profitable to teach to improoue to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be absolute beeing made perfect vnto all good workes 6 Againe to the pure preaching of the worde the Lorde hath promised a blessing the minister shal be blessed the people also blessed thorough it They that bee wise sayth Daniell shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament And they that tourne many vnto righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for euer and euer The wise and faithfull Steward that giueth meate to the housholde in due season when his master commeth he shall be blessed and made partaker of exceeding ioy glory Take heed saith y e Apostle to thy selfe and to learning continue therein for in dooing this thou shalt both saue thy selfe and them that heare thee God so blessed the preaching of his Seruaunt Ionas that through it the Niniuites beleeued God humbled them selues and forsooke their former wicked wayes At one preaching of Peter there were wonne to the Lord about thrée thousande soules Thus doth the Lorde blesse his owne order the minister by pure and faithfull preaching dischargeth his owne soule obtayneth peace in conscience and so is blessed in this life but shall bee farre more blessed in the life to come when hee hath finished his course he shall receiue an incorruptible crown of glory The people also by this means are many waies blessed they receiue knowledge fayth saluation their eyes are opened they are tourned from darknesse to light and from the power of Sathan vnto God Al these great and notable blessinges do ensue the preaching of the word and therfore required most necessarily in euery minister 7 On the other side without this both the minister and the people are accursed the bloud of the people shall be required at his handes because he hath not as a faithfull watch-man forewarned them of daunger and yet they shall dye in their owne sinnes The Lorde complayneth by his Prophet Hosea saying My people are destroyed for lacke of knowledge because thou hast refused knowledge I will also refuse thee that thou shalt be no priest to mee To this agreeth our Sauiour Christ If the salt haue lost his saltnesse it is good for nothing but to be cast out and to be troden vnder foote of men And if these ministers which sometimes haue had salt in them zeale and knowledge to season the people and by negligence and carelesnesse decaye and loose it If these I say be worthie to be cast out how miserable and curssed are they which neuer had nor yet haue any Salt in them It must needes be fulfilled of them which our Sauiour speaketh in an other place They be blinde leaders of the blinde and if the blinde lead the blind both shall fall into the ditch that is both the ignoraunt Minister and the ignoraunt people shall perishe And in an other place it is sayde Caste that vnprofitable Seruaunt into vtter darknesse there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth And here it is sayde Woe be to me if I preach not the Gospell Seeing then that euery way there hangeth so many greeuous cursses both vppon the minister and people where the worde is not preached it is most requisite and necessarie that euery minister looke to this euen as hee will escape the fearefull and heauie cursse of God 8 Moreouer the chiefe ende and vse why the Scriptures were written doth require preaching They are left for our comfort instruction and edifiyng But we are most comforted instructed and edified if they be opened and applyed vnto vs and therefore moste necessarie that they be so vsed 9 Also the corruption and dulnesse of our nature requyreth the same We are dull ignoraunt and carelesse wee please our selues in our owne sinnes the Deuill goeth about continually to deuour vs and therefore we haue neede to haue continuall preaching of the worde The naturall man perceiueth not the thinges that are of Gods spirit Dauid after he had sinned continued in his sinne vntill the Prophet reprooued him for it yea
word such a conscience a care to reforme your selues your housholdes What I saye hath wrought these things in you how came you by thē What is it that hath so altered your mindes déedes affections Let your conscience be witnesse to me in this matter I am sure you wil approue y t which I haue spoken acknowledge the profite the power and necessity of the worde preached All euery one of these arguments do prooue and confirm as I think that euery minister necessarily ought to preach and otherwise y t he is no minister approoued of God Al euery one of these or most of them do quite ouerthrow and condemne all dumb idle carelesse ministers whatsoeuer One day they shall know what account he maketh of the soules of his people for seeing the word of the Lord in so many places requireth in a minister preaching yea diligent and carefull preaching in what a miserable and damnable state doe these men stand The Apostle sayeth Woe be to me if I preach not the Gospell Well it may be whatsoeuer I haue yet spoken will be granted it is necessary that euery minister preach but what shall all those be condemned which haue not such ful measure of knowledge as other haue which be not accoūted and allowed for publique preachers God forbid I know there is difference in gifts there was so amongst the Apostles but they all sufficiently preached Amongst vs and such others as vse this place and such like places there is difference euerye one of vs haue not the like measure but for my part I speake as I thinke our measure is smal ynough yet the Lord be thanked for that we haue giue vs grace to vse it to his glorye the benefit of his church In my selfe I professe and grant very smal and weake measure insufficiency and lacke of giftes and the Lorde the searcher of the hearts knoweth that the consideration of this hath and doth make me to feare and tremble oftentimes to sigh and lament y ◠so greate a charge and so waighty a burthen is layd vpon me so simple and weake a wretch To you that haue any measure of those giftes which the Lord requireth in his ministers to you I say quench not the spirite vse the meanes to encrease your measure if you be painfull carefull watchfull and faithfull in your Ministerie with a holye and pure affection the Lorde will blesse you To him that hath shall be giuen wee cannot at the first come to perfection Appollos a learned Doctor feruent in the spirite and mighty in the Scriptures yet was he ignoraunt in some things and receiued instructiōs from Aquila and Priscilla Some haue more then others some haue ten talentes some fiue and some but one yet alwayes remember and let it neuer slip out of your minds that the slouthfull and vnprofitable seruaunt shall bee cast into vtter darknesse there shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth Against such I speake which in deede neuer had any one Talent or any giftes of Ministers or hauing any doe either abuse them or at least doe not put them soorth to any profitable vse Consider a little the state of our ministery There be some amongest vs sacrificing and Massing Priestes full of manifest superstition and hypocrisie and in trueth enemies to Christs religiō Others there be altogether ignoraunt vnlearned very Idoles they can do what Euen iust nothing Others there be which may haue some grounde of learning but in deede they vtter verie little neither is y ◠people bettered by them Some are idle some carelesse some altogether lewd and prophane some ioyne liuing to liuing and take more vpon them then they can discharge although it may bee they speake in one place yet are they dumbe in an other All these and such like are worthie of blame to bee openlye spoken agaynste because they openlye commit offence All these stande daily in a miserable and damnable state without repentaunce But my chiefe drift at this time in this part of my Text is to prooue as you haue heard that euerye Minister approoued of God must preache that is hee must féede the people he must cut the word of God he must improoue rebuke exhort hee must not simply or barelye read or heare the people say some Catachisme but he is to be able in some sufficient measure to open interpret the holy scripture and apply them I hope that this is alreadye prooued onely I exhorte you to account the Lorde wisest to rest in his holie decrees and allowe his owne order as best Let vs not take vppon vs to appointe him what he should do Seeing he hath set downe preaching as the most excellent ordinarie means to saluation let vs not say y t reading will serue the turn Séeing that he requireth that his Ministers be apt to teach let vs not count them his ministers which neuer taught nor euer had any aptnesse in them If he may bee counted a lawfull Minister and teacher that onely readeth the ordinary Seruice and sometime heareth a fewe Children to say a Catechisme without booke as it is set downe before him then may the Cleark also of the Town be counted a minister and teacher then may euery husbandmā Seruingman nay euery boy or child that can do asmuch be so counted Let not some say for defence of ignoraunt ministers that if they do that which they can do it will serue the turn for in the building of an house as there be some Master builders which bring timber and Stone so other there bee which bring morter and fillings and serue to necessarye vse but let vs remember y t euerye Mynister in his charge is or oughte to be a builder yea a master builder and if the cheefe builder bring nothing but fillinges how shall y ◠Lords building in y ◠place goe forward The Apostle in y ◠place which hath bene already twise alleaged saith That the Lorde hath ordained the Minister for the gathering together of his Saincts and for the edification of the body of Christ till we all meete together in the vnity of fayth knowledge of the Son of GOD vnto a perfect man and vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ Oh these be no small things these are no trifles this is no vile simple and drudgery worke no small measure but very greate weightye high and most excellent The holy ghost in another place sayth Leauing the doctrine of the beginning of Christe let vs be led forward vnto perfection not laying againe the foundation of repentance from dead workes and of fayth towarde God of the doctrine of baptisme and laying on of hands of the resurrection from the deade and of eternall iudgement Marke I beseech you these wordes There be many people yea and Ministers also that are ignorant of the first rudiments of Christe that of repentaunce of Baptisme of the