TJTf..e rearherspies Epaph. I amthe moreCory :and to tell you what I thinke plainly,I am ofthat mind , that thefe which blame often preaching as a fault , what colour foeuer they mayCat upon it, yet they do itchiefly for the coveringof theirown Game, that their negligencemaynot beetaken notice of I remembertheold-fableof the Fox,whohauing hada mifehance and loft his taile,comming into the a(fem blyof thebeafts ofthe farne kind,fell to perfwade themevery one ro ref offhìs tails, pleading the aumberfomneffeand waightneffc of it,with many the like circum(tances,butthematter comming tofurther fcanning, it was found,that the wilyFoadidironelytocouerhisownedeformity,which (ifrobewithout talles had once bin a fafhion)(hould neuer haue beenefpied. I leaue -you toap- ply it. OnelyI wouldwil1t all filch fominded, to followHieromes coned} in which he adman flied one Calp.:orniret,vponCome fuchoccafon as this,thatifbe INevefenitam wantedteethhtmfelf,lhe(baxld notbemaims -g,61 tleofe iyh"tab wereable is 'ate.When äentibar,éden- Onecoúnfelled tOtifet to (PenceEldadand Medad,imagining thattheir P.opbe °!ta utitdea`G, eying inthehoajs;® ight haueeclipfedMafci his credit:Mofetliked notthe adulce, :re butwiflred,that,llthaLardapeoplewereProphetsb.ButleftIIhouldfeemetootar bN u8 i,iy; again(' this kindofmen (ófwhom yet there is Come hope) Iwil l becontent t'o za,aq. examine their reaions,becatrlr (as I gather by your 1peech) they lecke (as the`" Y6f10"e 2Srouerbeis)tebemidwith reetfex. They fay,theouercommonneffe ofpreaching , will breedcontempt ofpreat. chiag. Fiatofall,fuppofeit fareth with fome,in refpefiofpreaching, as it did With the vnthankfull Wraelites ,Which loathed theManna,wherwith the Lori] 2hum.tr 6. fo miraculoufly fed them in the wilderneffe;fothey alto freme tobe'as it were) glutted with the continualivieofthe word preached: yet this cat) be no reafon whya diligent and frequent PreacherGould remit any thing ofhis fórmer duflry,and fpeakemere fparingly,drawinghis Sermons intoa fmalter nu mbee; thenhewas wont. Itwas a worthy fpeechOf ChrifoJEome , that worthy and in- duariousPreacher : Although(faithhe)!am notignorant,that If rake invaine,yet cbryf, in,Gbgp. Iwill not glueotter ; far info doing IChill be rxcufdwith God, although nonewouldhears 3'46* aise. It is truly laid, that there ate threevery good mothers, whirls haue three verybaddaughters, and they arethefe : r. Trnth,whìch yet in theworld breá= cfeth hatred : z. Peace, a great bleffing of-God, and yet throughour corruption it caufech idleneffe : 3.Familiarity,and the commonvfe ofagood thing, which innorwith(landing rnolhly rrc-ompenced with Contempt.Andyet this is not ira the natureofdiefethings,butonly in ourcorruption. For as the natureofGOd is (o perfcl±ly good, that he cloth turnemien veryeuill things into very good things(ashemade the malice of the Lewes, in putting his Sonneto death,tobe ameane ofonr faluarion) fo,our nature is foabfolutely euill, that it turneth ve- ry good things into euill,asfometimes thegrace ofGodinto toantoreneffed, & Chri dlude 4. Riau liberty into anoccofar unto thefleflo e,and loin thefeparticulars whirls Iham a Gal. ç. r1. named. Now becaufe truth is generally hated, Gallmen thereforebani(h it from their fpeeches,and frame their tongues to flattery?Becaufe many abnfe theble(fingofpeace,fhall we therefore voluntarilymile tamults,ordefierGod toput an end to our happyda)es ofquietneffe? There is in the worldno reafon for it,neither is there any ion caufe,why we Gouldgoaboutto makeour prea. ehing as it were,fomething more dainty,becaufeit may freme,to Tomeraw and ill difpofed f'omackes, to breed akind offulne(fe and faciety. Secondly , if welooke better into it, wee fhall fee , that the trae taule ofturnscontemptof preaching, is not CO much the commonvie of it , as the ignorance ofthe worth andexcellency of it. The Sonne, theWater, the Fier, what risings morecorn_ mon,and yet what things leffe defpifed?and the reafon is,becaufevveall know, wecannot flute without them. Letmen be once perfwadedof this, that neither the Sun,norwater, nor fier are more neceffary for the:Outward man,then pen-. rising is for the fotile and fpirit t and that where it is wanting, there thepeople decay, 537
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