excelleth the knowledge of the same is necessary and profitable to all men, and that by the true knowledge and understanding of scripture, the most necessary points of our duty towards God and our neighbours are also known. Now as concerning the same matter you shall hear what followeth. If we profess Christ, why be we not ashamed to be ignorant in his doctrine? seeing that every man is ashamed to be ignorant in that learning which he professeth. That man is ashamed to be called a philosopher which readeth not the books of philosophy, and to be called a lawyer, an astronomer, or a physiciana, that is ignorant in the books of law, astronomy, and physic. How can any man then say that he professeth Christ and his religion, if he will not apply himself (as far forth as he can or may conveniently) to read and hear, and so to know the books of Christ's gospel and doctrine? Although God's word other sciences be good, and to be learned, yet no man can deny but this is the chief, and passeth all other incomparably. What excuse shall we therefore make, at the last day before Christ, that delight to read or hear men's fantasies and inventions, more than his most holy Gospel? and will find no time to do that which chiefly, above all things, we should do, and will rather read other things than that, for the which we ought rather to leave reading of all other things. Let us therefore apply ourselves, as far forth as we can have time and leisure, to know God's word, by diligent hearing and reading thereof, as many as profess God, and have faith and trust in him. But they that have no good affection to God's Vain exword (to colour this their fault) allege commonly two cuses disvain and feigned excuses. Some go about to excuse them from the by their own frailness and fearfulness, saying, that they knowledge dare not read holy scripture, lest through their ignorance of God's they should fall into any error. Other pretend that the The first. difficulty to understand it and the hardness thereof is so The second. great, that it is meet to be read only of clerks and learned men. As touching the first: Ignorance of God's word is the cause of all error, as Christ himself affirmed to the Sadducees, saying, that they erred, because they Matt. 22. knew not the scripture. How should they then eschew error, that will be still ignorant? And how should they come out of ignorance, that will not read nor hear that thing which should give them knowledge? He that now hath most knowledge, was at the first ignorant; yet he a an astronomer, or a physician] and astronomer or physician D. and astronomer, or a physician B. C. suading word. ously and peril the holy scrip ture is to be read. forbare not to read, for fear he should fall into error: but he diligently read, lest he should remain in ignorance, and through ignorance in error. And if you will not know the truth of God (a thing most necessary for you) lest you fall into error; by the same reason you may then lie still, and never go, lest, if you go, you fall into the mire a; nor eat any good meat, lest you take a surfeit; nor sow your corn, nor labour in your occupation, nor use your merchandise, for fear you lose your seed, your labour, your stock, and so by that reason it should be best for you to live idly, and never to take in hand to do any manner of good thing, lest peradventure some evil thing may chance thereof. And if you be afraid to fall into error by reading of holy scripture, I shall shew you how you may read How most it without danger of error. Read it humbly with a meek commodi- and lowlyb heart, to the intent you may glorify God, and without all not yourself, with the knowledge of it: and read it not without daily praying to God, that he would direct your reading to good effect; and take upon you to expound it no further than you can plainly understand it. For, as St. Augustine saith, the knowledge of holy scripture is a great, large, and a high place; but the door is very low, so that the high and arrogant man cannot run in; but he must stoop low, and humble himself, that shall enter into it. Presumption and arrogancy is the mother of all error; and humility needeth to fear no error. For humility will only search to know the truth; it will search, and will bring together one place with another, and where it cannot find out the meaningf, it will pray, it will ask of other that know, and will not presumptuously and rashly define any thing which it knoweth not. Therefore the humble man may search any truth boldly in the scripture, without any danger of error. And if he be ignorant, he ought the more to read and to search holy scripture, to bring him out of ignorance. I say not nay, but a man may prosper with only hearing; but he may much more prosper with both hearing and reading. This have I said as touching the fear to read, through ignoScripture in rance of the person. And concerning the hardnessh of some places scripture; he that is so weak that he is not able to brook is easy, and strong meat, yet he may suck the sweet and tender milk, in some C. a into the mire] in the mire A. B. b and lowly] and a lowly A. B. C. d needeth] endeth D. e bring together] confer A. B. f find out the meaning] find the sense A. B. ask] enquire A. B. h hardness] difficulty A. B. e derstood, hath good word. and defer the rest until he wax stronger, and come to places hard more knowledge. For God receiveth the learned and un- to be unlearned, and casteth away none, but is indifferent unto all. And the scripture is full, as well of low valleys, plain ways, and easy for every man to use and to walk in; as also of high hills and mountains, which few men can climb a unto. And whosoever giveth his mind to holy God leaveth scriptures with diligent study and burning b desire, it no man uncannot be, saith St. Chrysostom, that he should be left taught, that without helpd. For either God Almighty will send him will to some godly doctor to teach him, as he did to instruct know his Eunuchus, a nobleman of Ethiope, and treasurer unto queen Candace, who having affectionf to read the scripture, (although he understood it not,) yet for the desire that he had unto God's word, God sent his apostle Philip to declare unto him the true sense of the scripture that he read; or else, if we lack a learned man to instruct and teach us, yet God himself from above will give light unto our minds, and teach us those things which are necessary for us, and wherein we be ignorant. And in another How the place Chrysostom saith, that man's human and worldly knowledge wisdom or science needeth not to the understanding of ture may be scripture, but the revelation of the Holy Ghost, who in- attained spireth the true meanings unto them, that with humility unto. and diligence do search therefore. He that asketh shall Matt. vii. have, and he that seeketh shall find, and he that knocketh A good rule shall have the door open. If we read once, twice, or for the unthrice, and understand not, let us not cease so, but still derstanding continue reading, praying, asking of other, and so by ture. still knocking, at the last the door shall be opened; as St. Augustine saith, Although many things in the scripture be spoken in obscure mysteries, yet there is nothing spoken under dark mysteries in one place, but the selfsame thing in other places is spoken more familiarly h and plainly, to the capacity both of learned and unlearned. And those things in the scripture that be plain to under- No man is stand, and necessary for salvation, every man's duty is to excepted learn them, to print them in memory, and effectually to from the exercise them. And as for the darki mysteries, to be con- of God's tented to be ignorant in them, until such time as it shall will. climb] ascend A. B. burning] fervent A. B. Saint Chrysostom] Saint John Chrysostom A. B. C. d left without help] destitute of help A. B. C. teach] instruct A. B. f affection] a great affection A. B. meaning] sense A. B. h more familiarly] familiarly A. i dark] obscure A.B. of the scrip of scrip knowledge please God to open those things unto him. In the mean season, if he lack either aptness or opportunity, God will not impute it to his folly: but yet it behoveth not, that such as be apt should set aside reading, because some other be unapt to read; nevertheless, for the hardness of such places, the reading of the whole ought not to be set What per- apart. And briefly to conclude, as St. Augustin saith, sons would by the scripture all men be amended, weak men be have igno- strengthened, and strong men be comforted. So that rance to The holy scripture is one of God's chief benefits. reading, use, and fruitful studying in holy scrip ture. Psalm 50. surely none be enemies to the reading of God's word, but such as either be so ignorant, that they know not how wholesome a thing it is; or else be so sick, that they hate the most comfortable medicine that should heal them; or so ungodly, that they would wish the people still to continue in blindness and ignorance of God. Thus we have briefly touched some part of the commodities of God's holy word, which is one of God's chief and principal benefits, given and declared to mankind here in earth. Let us thank God heartily for this his great and special gift, beneficial favour, and fatherly providence; let us be glad to receive this precious gift of our The right heavenly father; let us hear, read, and know these holy rules, injunctions, and statutes of our Christian religion, and upon that we have made profession to God at our baptism; let us with fear and reverence lay up, in the chest of our hearts, these necessary and fruitful lessons; let us night and day muse, and have meditation and contemplation in them; let us ruminate, and, as it were, chew the cud, that we may have the sweet juice, spiritual effect, marrow, honey, kernel, taste, comfort, and consolation of them; let us stay, quiet, and certify our consciences, with the most infallible certainty, truth, and perpetual assurance of them: let us pray to God (the only author of these heavenly studiesd) that we may speak, think, believe, live, and depart hence, according to the wholesome doctrine and verities of them. And, by that means, in this world we shall have God's defence, favour, and grace, with the unspeakable solace of peace, and quietness of conscience; and after this miserable life we shall enjoy the endless bliss and glory of heaven: which he grant us all, that died for us all, Jesus Christ, to whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, both now and everlastingly. Amenf. A SERMON 2 OF THE Misery of all Mankind, and of his Condemnation to Death everlasting, by his own Sin. THE Holy Ghost, in writing the holy scripture, is in nothing more diligent than to pull down man's vain-glory and pride, which of all vices is most universally grafted in all mankind, even from the first infection of our first father Adam. And therefore we read in many places of scripture many notable lessons against this old rooted vice, to teach us the most commendable virtue of humility, how to know ourselves, and to remember what we be of ourselves. In the book of Genesis, Almighty God giveth Gen. 3. us all a title and name in our great grandfather Adam, which ought to warn us all to consider what we be, whereof we be, from whence we came, and whither we shall, saying thus, In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread, till thou be turned again into the ground: for out of it wast thou taken; in as much as thou art dust, into dusta shalt thou be turned again. Here (as it were in a glass) we may learn to know ourselves to be but ground, earth, and ashes, and that to earth and ashes we shall re turn. Also, the holy patriarch Abraham did well remember this name and title, dust, earth, and ashes, appointed and assigned by God to all mankind: and therefore he calleth himself by that name, when he maketh his earnest prayer for Sodom and Gomorrhe. And we read that Judith, Jud. 4. & 9. Esther, Job, Jeremy, with other holy men and women in Job 13. the Old Testament, did use sackcloth, and to cast dust and Jer. 6. & 25. ashes upon their heads, when they bewailed their sinful living. They called and cried to God for help and mercy, with such a ceremony of sackcloth, dust, and ashes, that A sermon] An homily A. B. b warn] admonish A. B. thy bread] bread A. d into dust] and into dust A, B, C. C 6.& |