. ThePreachersMa. . . _ _ /isbutfottifbneffe, andthat kind ofignorancemakeihaman aflranger fromthe Irfe ofGodg. And therefore it is well(aid ofa learnedman, Thatwhereas God gEph.4.18. forgiuethmanifoldignarances in his children,yet heregeireththat we beteachable, and Melanaboy not hardenedin our otrnedalnef/eand(laggbnffe. And furely they whichwant that which theScripture termethangedeauoyrh, and amineIw nowi, cannot fafelyhHofó. ;í affure themfeluesthat they are the Lords. i t I0445.1o, Nymph. Tan banefullyfatisfied metemching this doubt:there is onlyone thingmorn 4ehind,whieh ignorancepretsndeth, anditit common inmanymowmenthes : Let them (fay they) preach and we willpray ; tbeybopetbeirdenotianin prayingwilldpethow moregood:benallrar preaching. Epaph. It is a world to fee thecunningofthe Diuell, who goeth about,to om uerthrovv oneholy duty by another , and tooppofe thofe things which ought to goe as itWete hand is hand together. Batwhat thing is there fofenfeletfes whereto ignorance in the Scripture maynot be perfwaded ? It is ourEnglilh Prouerbe , The ?ItdC74t7ebm47j' 4ft17:tad fo indeed the ignorant its theßooke of God embrace many groffeend ridiculous abfurdities : for if menknew what the Scripture faithin this cafe, they would neuer cafe out fuchanidle fpeech : Salomonfaith, He thattarneihawayba Barefront hearingthe Law, runthis prayer (hall bee abhominahle k, What 'thinkeyou lhall becomeof their prayers krrou.41.9: then who rebinenot toaffbørd the vIe of their caresynto Gods word? Doe theynot make a fairehand,when by their contempt ofpreaching theybringa cuele vpon theirpraying? Ad hitherto, that Paul faith exprell , that As:nets cannot call ashim in whom theyham sot belayed, foseither eon they áeleene with. erte hearing, nor heartwtthoutaPreacher!. Can men credit Fatal in this, and lRóm.to.tj yet thinke to pray well without the helpe ofPreaching? Surely no. Howcan men pray sright,wìthoutknowledgeof their ownewants,without the appre. henfion of the prornifesof God, vpon which tobuild their affurance to bee beard? Andhow can they attaineto either of thefe (ordinarily) but by ;he preaching, expounding, opening and applying of Gods word? That-which mencommonlycall praying, is but a lip labour , confRing in the recitall ofa fewwords, the fenfe and meaning whereofis not vndellou4, audit inmeere babling in the cares ofGod : it maywell be called thefacrifueof£ooles® and n,Eccl,4.í7; it may truly be laidoffuth blind denotions and tong-prayers, whichthe heart cloth not conceive, as it was Paidof the hypocriticall ceremonioulneffeof the Imes; The[gale ofthc Lord hateth them,they that areaburden unto kim,he is weary tobearethem o.I thinkeI haue futliiciently difcouered the weakeneffeofthis filly ngray t. If; obieftion. Nymph. IpraifeGod Idoe alf, fee the vanityofit s and r hope lformypart fball ¡carne toofleemeofpreachingas:bat t "ballalprenerenerthat oodmeases,whichGod bath in his wifedome ordainedformy helpe inthe performanceofthat holy duty, tlaotfo by oftenhearing, Imay/wale topray, and bypraying Imay makegood vfeofthe things Iheart. Well Sir,nonthapyouhauearmedmeagai,ífl thecommas pretencesofthe ignor rantfort,reherebythey make themfclues beleeue, orrather are madebeleeueby thedimelt, that it is no danger to contemn, preaching, Imafi challengeyoesrpromtfe , andname Jose /wipe alfo teaching another fartofmen , who as they are ignorant in the matters of God,fo are they come toahigher degree ofhardneffe, andhauewren alma]! taken vptheirs feate in thecliche of fcorners 0, and doe not only regardpreaching, (which is the o Pl'al.t.t}" fault oftbofeof whom ¡ loam(frolken hitberta) bme fopatit, antiendeanenrby lading it 1 wthfnndryapproaches altogether todifgraceio Epaph. I am as willing to performe mypromife asIwas to make it;andyet. T know , that in regardofthefe.prophaneones themfelues, this willbee but a thankeieffe perce offeruice : for afcornerloueth me him thatrebuketh him, seither willhegoevnto the wifee, Therefore I willdoe it rather indefiretofatisfieyou,grout 5:it; then in anygreat hope I haue to reclaime them. Nymph.
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