504 , tlhePreachersple4. yeeld to any rcafon,that theymay foone fee the vanity ofthefe.perfwafions,as I willbrieflydeclarevnto you. Inthe former thereare rwo thingsto be noted; firff , thatifthe pra&ifeof menwere afuffìcicnt rule in matters of Religion, there are (thankesbe toGod) many honourable petfonages , manyNobles, many Gentlemen,manyofgood notefor worldly refpe&s, whodoe vnfained- ly reuerence,and heartily imbracethe preachingofGods word, and nodoubt per.rst6. it is vnto them the royand reiocingoftheir heart r, and they efieeme ofit tobee tAoto,Lt6. turn asit is, TbepowerofGadvotofalaatiane. So thatif the approbation of men were a reafon offorce , it is notwanting onto preaching but as Godbath a people outofall fo that a1l bathfriends andfasurers amongftall. Second- ly , fuppofe that this tourte of preachingwere vtterly defpifed , and all the great wife menof the did men fcorneit , and tread it vnder theirfeete, yet hiswere a po®reargument,vnleflàwewill fay ,itwasa good reafon which aloha 7.48. they vfed againfiChrifi, Mahar efebo Ridersor ofthePharìfssbeleeueátbim.? Maier part Thebelt things hauenot commonly the molt voices, andmany timesaccor- vincitmetio- ding to theprouerbe, Thegreaterpart is too hard forthe betterpart. Therewasa retie. voyce putvp for makinga goldencalk, and there was not one againfl it sE%Od;v There was avoyce ,whatfhould be done with Iefus, And all cried,Cracifiehim?. =rK ti88 Anotherwas,whether Godlbouldbe God,orBaal(hould be god:andnone held rug, pi,y sa, with God but Eliafr.: S. Aagaflinefaith, that the Churchwasfomttimetin eneAM, 16%119,1 VI merlin oneEnoch:Godforbià we fhouldbe inthe number ofthofe,who definethe iaaamtaalee Church by the multitude,we are content toIeaue that abiurditytothe Papifts: C,v1nt. we know that Chriffs flockeis a littleflakee; and we muffendeauourtogrow Laaitexagt to thatrefolution,tofay,Lard,tbost4 that 411weir Amid&offendedbytket,yet wit bMaaa6,; 3. laeaer be offended I, Now for that otherperfwafion, thatit is not good tobee too eagerin matters ofReligion, I know it tob the common perfwahioiaàfa great many :but yet this is a fare rule, that that manwho thinketh himfelfeto haue knowledge,andzeale,and religion enough,the famehuhno knowledge, nozeale, no religion at all. Forwherefoeuerthe graces ofGodare intruth, there id (in regardofthe fweetnelTewhicha manfindethin them) a forgetting t vhit;.r ;. that which ti behind, andan eeodeaaoar)org a soa wftlfeto that which io before', pie. Non quidego- cling moteforthat which isyetwanting,then reioycing in that whichalready riejedqu;dfa- isattained. In the parable ofthe Talents, itis laid, thatfrom him thathatbnot, pdum:ßdiz ; oxen that be bathfrailbe taken away a ; but inanotherof the Gofpelsit is fait!, jufcit,defe. From him Ikebetaken e'en that whichùfeemethtbathebath.. Sothat it is but a e ¡ ¡, conceitand opinionof grace,where there isnodeliiretoincreafein grace. Isis dMae .q.z9.a goodfaying;When amino is come to ¡batpaj/ethathebatbitodeferero bebetter,thert e Lukc8.,8. h.. quiteleaaethofftobegood. And therefore men doebat deceiuethemfelues, in Yb; ri pat negleâing the benefit ofpteaching,vpon a conceit,thatit is bell tokeeps tem- drfieriioej[o erinsiattersofreliion,andtocontent themfelues with aaertaine portionof berm knowledge, andwithafetmeafureofzeale , andneuertoproceed further u for frper.e.,; wemull defirethe feeere ?mikeoftheWord,tbat wemay grow therebyr. And indeed p, Verfe ;. iffo be that mamas tattedhow bountiful/ the Lordit e, we ball neuerbe ableto fa- eishlr out feise,, either in the labouring after knowledgein religion, or in the zealous profe[lion and pradlile ofreligion. Nymph. Now thatyore freak! ofbeing tooforwardandpreeijiin matter;ofRsGgi. on,itpattetbmeinmindofa flying ofSalomons ,wbicb Inuitvadsrftandnot ; Beenot thou (faithhe) iuflouermucha. Itmayfeemeto agretwith their opinion,wbiohwoad bEecl.7.t8: ade not LIMOMen toAim.firaite,as they callit. oscrä Epaph. Iris% good ruleofthelearned , tbatfartbefinding oatthetrotmeaning of isplaceofScripmre,wemnfl confiderwhatgoethbefore,andwhatfat/owe:6 ; this rule ob[erued will foone cleate thisplace.In the vcrfcgoing before Sglomon had fpoken
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