¶ A Sermon made in latin in Oxenford, in the reign of King Edward the sixth, by the learned and godly Father john jewel, late Bishop of Sarisburie, and translated into English, by R. V.  
DEDICATED UNTO the Bishop of London, as appeareth in the Commentary of Ma. Caluine, upon the Galathians, in English.  1. Cor. 9.16. Woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel. 
Imprinted at London, by Thomas Purfoote, dwelling in S. Nicholas shambles, within the New-rentes, at the sign of the Lucrece.   

M. Doctor Humphrey in his Book which he writeth of the life and death of jewel. Pagina. 49.  
QVam autem in templo Divae Mariae concionem habuerit, quàm latinè, qùan comptè, quàm Theologicè, me silente ipsa loquetur Oratio, cuius exemplum mutilum, ut potui, aliquantulum recognitum & correctius exhibere malui, quàm omninò supprimere, quae & Concionatores multa utiliter commonefacit, & progradu Baccalaureatus suscepto recitata videtur, verbis ex 1. Pet. 4. desumptis, dominica intra Octau. Ascensionis.  
But what manner of sermon he made in S. Mary's Church, in how excellent Latin he made it, how finely & how like a Divine he did it, his matter shall show notwithstanding I hold my peace; the unperfect example whereof, being as well as I could somewhat perused and amended, I had rather set out, then altogether suppress it or keep it back, which profitably putteth in mind and warneth preachers of many things, and seemeth to have been preached when he took his degree of Bachelaure in Divinity, the words being taken out of the first Epistle of Peter the 4. Chapter, upon the Sunday within the Octavois of the Ascension.   

A learned and Godly Sermon, made in the Latin tongue, in S. Mary's in Oxenford, upon the Sunday after the Ascension, in the reign of King Edward the sixth, by the famous and excellent Clerk Master jewel, late Bishop of Sarisburie, and done into English by R. V.  The text If any man speak, let him talk as the words of God. 1. Pet. 4.11. 
BRethren beloved in Christ I have chosen these words chief out of that Epistle of S. Peter, which are accustomed to be read unto the people this day, because, that whereas I must preach in Latin according to the custom of this place and time, the same in mine opinion seemed to belong properly to this assembly. The which, that they may be plainlier and better understand of you all, I must repeat a few words from the beginning of this whole Epistle. Wherefore we must call to mind, because in those first times, christian Religion was shut out every where, as pernicious to men's souls, and an infection of common wealths, and that it seemed great godliness to root out the bringers in of new Religion, lest (I say) that Christian men and those that were Godly, should in that season utterly be discouraged, and cast away all hope: Saint Peter doth so instruct them with this Epistle, that they should consider no new or unwonted thing to have happened, that Christ himself hath suffered far bitterer and unworthier things, that they should not be faint hearted, lastly that the way to glory is by afflictions and crosses.  
And to that purpose he warneth the people by themselves and the Bishops also, what belongeth to each of them to take heed of. Concerning that which belongeth unto the people, he saith, that they have spent time enough before upon wickedness, and that now they ought to change their life with their Religion.  
That godliness is placed, not in outward show and titles, but in soundness of life, and innocency of manners. That it is an ill thing with mouth and tongue only to worship GOD, and to give our mind and soul to (worship) the Devil, and to disagree from idolaters, not in life and manners, but in words and profession (only.) And because they had departed from the most ancient Ordinances and laws of their forefathers, and that they being but a few had stirred all kind of men against them, he warneth them that they yet would in all kind of duties practise charity among themselves, one toward another, least they should be divided at any time by any dissension of minds or studies. That this is only the token of jesus Christ, whereby the bondestaves of the Devil may be known from the Children of God. That so it shall come to pass shortly, that all the whole world shall embrace the Gospel and the heavenly doctrine, and that the enemies and the haters of the cross of Christ, whom godliness could not moon, may through shame be overcome, and return to themselves. And the Bishops he warneth that in those most hard times, they see to their office with all diligence and care, and that they look about them diligently that the Congregation take no harm. And that it is not a sporting matter, but a very great burden that they have taken upon them. And therefore if they preach at any time to the people, that they speak as the words of God, and that they so behave themselves, that others which hear them, may think that they hear not men, but the messengers and interpreters of the word of God. This is the portion of scripture that I judged most fit for this time and place. For because therefore that partly we are entered into the holy ministery, & partly, as I hope, we have already directed the course of our studies to that point, we shall be taught in this place, how this heavenly office is to be garnished, that our labour may in time to come be very profitable to the church of God, and the holy Gospel be most largely spread abroad. But that this may be done the more orderly, and least I should wander or go out of course in my speaking, I think it good to touch these three points in few words: First, That a Preacher should speak: secondly, What he should speak: Thirdly, How he should speak: that it may be understanded. First, that he is scantly a good preacher, which never speaketh any thing to the Congregation, secondly, that a Preacher must set forth unto the people, not old wives fables, but the word of God, and last of all that that same word of God must be handled reverently, and worthily, according to the dignity of the matter. But that God almighty would lighten all your hearts and my voice with his holy spirit, and that some fruit may come hereof unto us all, I desire of you that you will help my weakness with your devout prayers.  
First of all I commend unto your devotion, the universal Church of Christ dispersed throughout the whole world, and as now it falleth out, in many places miserably afflicted, and namely this our Church of England and Ireland, and in the same for our noble King Edward his Majesty, his most noble Sisters Marie and Elizabeth, the privy Counsel, the rulers ecclesiastical and political, and all the people of England, both Universities, & chief this University of Oxenford, the Chancellor, the Vicechaunceler, the Proctors, Robert Noruent Precedent of Corpus Christi College, Doctor Raynald, Master of Merton College, and all the scholars in both these Colleges. Ye shall give thanks unto God almighty, for King Henry the seventh and Henry the eight, Kings of noble memory, for Humphrey Duke of Gloucester, etc. that of his infinite goodness he hath kindled those lights to the nourishing of good letters and spreading abroad of Religion: And ye shall pray that it would please him to raise up others hereafter like unto these, & to gather us all to their society into the bosom of Abraham.  
Let him that speaketh speak as the words of God. To the end that the pith of these words may be the better understanded, because I must entreat both of Pastors and before Pastors, I have used this division, To show first that a Pastor should speak often, next of all that he should speak out of the holy scriptures, last of all, That he should speak gravely and modestly according to the worthiness of the matter. And surely concerning the office of Pastors, as yet I see not sufficiently what I should speak or not speak. For to speak that which hath been before so often spoken, were not only hateful, but out of season: and to speak nothing of so great sloth, and dastardy of our times, I am much afraid might seem to show a sluggard and a dastard. Truly, in this case if the voice of the immortal God might be heard, there were no need at this time of my voice. For that I may say nothing beside, all the scriptures do sufficiently warn us of our duty, God himself hath commanded nothing at any time, either more often, or else with more weighty words, than that his people should be instructed to know him, themselves, and godliness. Thou son of man, saith God, in Esay, Cry and cease not, cry out aloud, lift up thy voice as a Trumpet, and show unto my people their wickedness. How oft doth Christ cry▪ Go ye, Teach ye, Preach ye the Gospel to every creature. woe unto me saith the Prophet, because I have kept silence. woe unto me, saith Paul, if I preach not the Gospel. But such is either our security or daintiness, beside that we have stopped our ear against wholesome counsel, that we account it as a reproach, if a man warn us of our duty. Nevertheless whatsoever it seemeth to us, this hath seemed to God a help both very firm and very great to the making up of his Church. For so hath GOD brought us out of darkness into light, so hath he restored us being dead unto life, so hath he brought us being prisoners and captives out of hell into heaven, so hath he broken the powers of the Devil, so hath he brought us back again into his own power and dominion, so hath he spread abroad the fame of his name into all lands. For if Christ, if the Apostles, if the Prophets had held their peace, in what case had we now been in? what religion had there been any where? what worship of God had there been? That we behold the light, that we have escaped out of bondage, that we are accounted, and be, the sons of God, all that (I say) we own unto the preaching of the word of God. Let us not deceive ourselves brethren, let us not deceive ourselves. Our matters are not so firmly established, that they cannot fall. Except we take heed, except we look about, except we put to study & diligence, all things will easily slide and fall into their former estate. A lamp, except you put oil oft in it, will soon be out. The victory is kept even by such means as it is gotten. For what engines doth not the devil now use, what crafts doth he not practise, what way doth he not take, to overthrow the Church of God? He keepeth scoutwatch always, he is never wearied, he hath brought in so many vices, so much ignorance, so great blindness, that there is no place in which a Preacher ought to be idle. And as, if the sun were taken away from the world, all things should be left dark, disparcled and confounded, so if the voice of the Pastor be taken out of the Church, religion is left at six and seven, it is left blind, troubled, all things are mingled with error, susterstition and Idolatry: of so great weight is it to be a steward of the house of God. The Gospel, religion, Godliness, the health of the Church dependeth of us alone. This is our office, this we take upon us, & this we profess. And except we do this, we do nothing, we serve to no use. It is not enough to know I wot not what learning. The Devils perhaps know more than any of us all. It belongeth unto a Pastor not so much to have learned many things, as to have taught much. Let it shame us, that the basest kind of men, even Coblars and Porters do that which belongeth unto them, and we which ought to give light to all other are idle and do nothing. For God would not have us idle bellies, but he would have us both be interpreters of his mind, ministers of jesus Christ, Attorneys of the people before the Lord of Sabaoth, the light of world, salt, Angels, and the sons of GOD, and so to be called: And we are appointed to govern, not dumb cattle, not wild Beasts, but the flock of the Lord, but the sons of GOD, but the brethren of Christ. If any of these shall perish thorough our default, his blood shall be required at our hands. If these things alone were still set before us, in our eyes and minds, we would not so cast from us carlessly and unadvisedly the safeguard of our brethren and of ourselves, we would not so cast from us the blood of Christ. There is no cause why any should say: We speak to them that are deaf, the people give no ear, we labour for them which are unthankful, we prevail not, we cast that which is holy unto Dogs, We give Pearls to Swine. We know that otherwhile these things are truly spoken, and it grieveth me exceedingly, that they may be so truly spoken against those that be Christian men. Yet for all this we may not therefore hold our peace, but speak so much the oftener, so much the sharper, so much the hotter. For look how much the disease is more perilous, so much the more needeth there a Physician. Neither can we justly complain of the people's stubborness, while we ourselves do all the while nothing. Let us do our endeavour, and leave the success unto the Lord. Then shall they, if they be of so froward a mind, that they will not hear, die in their own sin. But there is no cause why we should be in despair of the people's salvation. God himself husbanded the Vine, which for Grapes brought out wild Grapes. GOD himself hath all the day long stretched out his hands to a rebellious and overthwart people. How oft hath Christ himself said: jerusalem, jerusalem, how oft would I have gathered together thy Children, as the hen gathereth together her Chickens, whereas they turned away their ears and would not hear? This malady will easily be taken away, if the medicine therefore be used. Let us bring forth the light, and God will open their eyes: let us beat at their ears, and god will give them a heart of flesh: Let us give the word, and God will give the spirit: let us plant and water, and god in due time will give the increase. For as it is our duty to instruct the people with words, so it belongeth to God to join unto his words, faith and force. Such is the strength of the word of God that to work nothing or to profit none, it is not possible. Much will fall into the bushes, into the beaten way, and among stones, yet some will fall into good ground and bring forth fruit. For look as the rain cometh down from heaven, and returneth not thither again, but moisteneth and watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth, and giveth seed to the sour, and bread to him that eateth: so my word, saith the Lord, which goeth forth out of my mouth, shall not return empty unto me, but shall do whatsoever I will.  
But because it is not enough to speak, let us now consider that which in the second place I have promised, namely, what is to be spoken. For some otherwhile speak, who had been better have held their peace, othersome while they make a noise and cry out with great contention, speak to no purpose. Wherefore regard must be had, that we neither speak unfruitfully ne yet hurtfully. For all things are not to be huddled out in a sermon before the multitude. We must take care what the Religious silence of the people, what the reverence of the place, what the greatness of our office do require. The truth must be spoken, not lies: the Scriptures, not fables: the precepts of the highest God, and not the dreams of men: For religion is to be ordered not by our judgement, but by the word of God. Wherein if we shall hearken to Moses, or to the Prophets, or the Apostles, or Christ, or the Father himself, we shall not much go out of the way. For Moses, whatsoever was to be said or done in so great a wilderness, when he led the people being banished and wandering, by a savage and desert region, always asked counsel at the Lord, he never brought them any thing of his own head. The Prophets always say, the word of the Lord, the vision of the Lord, the voice of the Lord: this saith the Lord, hear the Lord. I, saith Paul, have received my Gospel not of man, neither by man: & again, I know nothing but jesus Christ, & the same crucified. And again, If an Angel from heaven shall teach another gospel then that which you have learned, let him be cursed, christ saith, all things which I have heard of my father, I have delivered unto you: &, preach you, saith he, not whatsoever shall come in your head, but the Gospel to all creatures: &, when as the Pharisees & Saducees had moved the questions of divorcement, & the resurrection of the dead unto life, he never had recourse unto the rabbins, but always to the word of the Lord. God the father crying from Heaven, This, saith he, is my dearly beloved Son: He sayeth not, Hear your Fathers, your grandfathers, or your great grandfathers, but he sayeth, Hear him, even him. For our heavenly Father would have his son & his word to be taught, and to be beat into men's heads in all places. And certainly it may not be doubted of by any man, but that that, which the most excellent, most wise, and most living father hath given unto us for our cause, is most excellent, most wise, and to our reasons most profitable. This is that river of water flowing abroad into life everlasting. This is that flesh, this is that blood of jesus Christ, this is that only both most delicate & most wholesome food of our souls, with this only sword the devil is overcome, with this only stone Goliath is laid along, with this only Maule the roughness and hardness of hearts is softened and overcome. And were it not for this, neither could religion flourish, nor faith be confirmed, or the Church kept within the limits of her duty. Call to remembrance, I beseech you for the lords sake, that as oft as the word of the Lord languished, how often and into how many grievous errors, and how great a breakenecke evil did the whole people fall into, how oft despised they the mightiest and most loving God their preserver and Father, how oft worshipped they Astaroth, belial, the Son, the Moon, Calties and beasts, and turned away themselves from all religion and godliness, & put their whole hope and confidence in things most vain and filthy. For when as every one hatched out of his own mind a religion and holiness unto himself, superstition and such a multitude of new Gods, increased so suddenly, that the Prophet was enforced to cry out, your Gods are in number as many as your cities. For when as they had forsaken the truth, life, and religion, what remained, but that they should fall headlong into lies, into destruction, into ungodly worshippings? I had rather make mention of these old things, than to bring in examples which are fresh and in memory. There is none of us that ever was so blind, that he saw not, or so blockish that he understood not the calamity of former times. We have far gone beyond, not only the superstition and vanity of the jews, but also of the Egyptians and Grecians. For when the authority of Counsels, and the conspiracy of a few Bishops and Monks, was placed above the scriptures, when it was doubted whether the Romish bishop were a man or a God, and whether he could sin, when all things were referred to the constitutions of men, & nothing to the knowledge of Christ, when sales of pardons, vows and masses, were made openly & without all shame, when the sacraments were miserably torn in pieces, when the word of God was condemned of fraud & heresy, when nothing was left found & pure from superstition, when error possessed all things, and the truth could not be heard, where then, or what Church of God was there? It was heresy in those days, not the disagreed from the scriptures, but from that which liked a few Bishops. For the gospel was thrust into corners, nothing was left to the judgement of Christ. Our gods were not then according to the number of our cities, but they were as many as we had streets, yea almost houses. So were all things utterly out of frame, for that religion depended not on the word of God, but on the will of man. These horrible cases, brethren, may warn us, that we never unadvisedly depart from the word of God. And thereof it is that all the scriptures do move us so often & so diligently, that we neither add any thing to the word of God, nor take aught therefrom, nor that we bow to the right hand or the left. Neither would the Lord that we should be Princes and judges, but messengers & ministers of his word. For look what serveth to our salvation, & unto godliness all that hath God himself set down in his laws. For the holy scripture, as Paul saith inspired by God, is profitable to doctrine, to reprove, to correction, to instruction, that the man of God may be perfect, instructed to every good work: that the man of God saith he, may be perfect & sound, & as far as is requisite either to godliness or manners, that he should in every respect be perfectly furnished▪ & now I pray you what should God his ambassador bring forth unto god his people, rather than the word of God? He that is an Ambassador in civil affairs, if perhaps he say any thing beside that which is commanded him, he is accused that he hath not done his ambassade rightly, he is called to his trial he is arraigned upon life and death, and why do not we with like fidelity handle the word of God? But too too, good God, too too secure a mind, my brethren, too too secure a mind be we of. And as though men alone could not be deceived, so do we hold so do we defend that alonely, which is come from our forefathers. There were among the jews many Murderers, thieves and adulterers, and yet did not Christ enuey either more often or more bitterly against any than against the Phariseis & Scribes, you break, saith he the commandment of God for your own traditions. In vain do you worship me, teaching doctrines and the precepts of men. They are blind guides of the blind Harlots and sinners shall go into the kingdom of God before you. How often▪ and with what words, doth the Lord in the Prophet's complain of this? Be astonished ye Heavens, saith he, My people have done two evils, they have forsaken me the fountain of living water, and have digged unto themselves broken Cisterns, which can hold no waters. What is chaff compared with Wheat? what is the rashness of men compared with the eternal will of God? For basil doth say, that that man, which dareth put to or take away any thing from the scriptures of God, is either a feeble Christian, or a notable arrogant fellow. To put to the word of God the inventions of men, what other thing may it seem, than to mingle new wine, not with old wine, but with wine that is dead, and with lees or dregs? and to join light with darkness, a wild beast with a man, a man with God? My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor my ways are not your ways, sayeth the Lord: for look how far the heaven is from the earth, so far are my ways from your ways, and my thoughts from your thoughts. Nay rather look how far a man is distant from God, so far is the understanding of man distant from the word of God.  
For although very much by the judgement of all men is to be given to the Fathers, yet were they men, and also might err, truly, to speak nothing else of them, they did oftentimes very ill agree 'mong themselves, about very great and weighty matters. But the word of god is sure, & firm, & certain, & appointed for every time. Peter would have this kind of learning to be delivered unto the people in a sermon. And he that will have doings (her in) with the people, must first be instructed himself with the word of God, that he may utter the word as inspired with an heavenly power. O if Peter were now alive. What would he say, or rather what would he not say, seeing that religion, godliness, the scriptures, are all passed into the inventions & dreams of men? That is only in question at these days, whether the customs of men are rather to be retained, or the laws of God: That alone hath moved these turmoils, that hath stirred the whole world, whether more credit is to be given unto a man, or unto god. I know that these things seem new to the most of you, & not to be believed: but put from you, I beseech you, your affections, & the opinion of things which you have already conceived, & you shall well perceive, that I feign nothing for the times sake, but that I speak the thing itself. Christ hath ordained the holy Communion in remembrance of himself: men do neither retain any remembrance of Christ, nor yet Communion, but have changed all the whole matter into a gay show, and almost a stage play. Christ saith, Ye shall have the poor always with you, but me ye shall not have always, I leave the world and go to my father: It is expedient for you that I go away: and Christ spoke this, not of his Godhead, wherewith he was equal to the father, or of his heavenly nature, but of his body: Men say, that Christ neither hath with his body left the world, nor yet gone from hence to his father. Paul saith that Christ is in heaven at the right hand of the father, Peter saith in the Acts of the Apostles, Heaven must hold him until the time that all things are restored: Men say, That the body of Christ is in heaven and in earth both at once, and is dispearced into an infinite multitude of places at one time. Paul saith, that Christ hath once entered into the holy places, & hath with one only sacrifice, & one oblation, made perfect all things: Men say, that they can sacrifice christ himself again every day, not only for remembrance sake, but in very deed, and that in infinite places. Christ saith, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve: Men worship the Eucharist, alack the while, being neither Lord nor God, but a sacrament of the Lord, without authority of the scriptures, or example of the Apostles, and that as God. For, by the living God I beseech you, consider in your minds brethren, who ever, I will not say of the Apostles, but of the holy fathers hath either worshipped the Sacrament himself, or hath showed it forth to be worshipped of others? I see that I speak these things not before the common sort of men, but before them who are profoundly learned, I appeal to all your consciences, I will use in this matter your own testimony. Christ hath commanded the Sacrament to be delivered whole: Men have torn the same after a miserable manner, Christ willed that nothing should be added to his law: Men do not only add many things, but the same they prefer before the word of God. But why should I reckon up more? This only will I speak, and that in a word, they which brought in transubstantiations, masses, calling upon saints, sole life, purgatory, images, vows, trifles, follies, babbles, into the Church of God, have delivered new things, and which the scriptures never heard of. Whatsoever they cry or crack, they bring not a jot out of the word of God. And these, as I have said, are the things wherewith the Church of God at these days are disquieted. Upon these lieth the watch and ward of the Church. These they honour in steed of the scriptures, and force them to the people in steed of the word of God: upon these: men suppose their salvation, & the sum of religion to be grounded. And that which is much more grievous, notwithstanding at this present by the great goodness of God, religion is restored almost to her former dignity and light, yet poor and pitiful souls they set great store by these things, they to them again, and teach them, as though without them the Church could not be in safety. O if the word of the Lord might be heard, among so many clamours, and in so great a hurly-burly. If we would suffer God himself, to sit as judge in his own case, the matter would be passed over with less tumult a great deal, and more easily might we agree about the whole matter. Wherefore if all the worship of GOD, all godliness, all religion, be to be sought out of the word of GOD, If the institutions of men, have miserably perverted all things in all times, let us, my brethren, unto whom the office of teaching is allotted, consider how dangerous a thing it is to speak more: and let all, who will be, and will have themselves accounted to be Christians, remember how dangerous a thing it is to believe more. And if there be any of this whole number, which hath given himself to any other kind of life, yet let him consider that these things belong unto him, so that if he neither can, nor will teach, yet let him diligently and attentively, hear him that speaketh, and give God thanks that he hath happened on those times, in which he may hear the word of God freely and purely. Let us not be wedded to much to our own wit, let us not be wedded too much to the Fathers & forefathers. Let us not unadvisedly think that men are so luckily borne, that whatsoever they say, they cannot err. When we shall be placed before that dreadful judgement seat, when all things shall burn, and the Angels of God shall tremble, to what Fathers, to what decrees of our forefathers, shall we wretches than appeal? We shall then have refuge to Christ alone, than shall we use the aid and word of Christ alone. Wherefore let us not be of so secure a mind in so great a matter. Our life, our soul, our salvation is the thing in hand. The heavenly father offereth himself unto us, and of his own accord meeteth us, jesus Christ crieth out, and calleth every one of us: Come unto me all ye which are grieved and I will refresh you. How blind be we if we see not, how blockish if we understand not, how miserable if we run from this? Where shall the word of Christ be heard, if it cannot be heard among Christians? If it cannot be heard among Christians where shall it be heard? Let us once yet open, brethren, let us open our eyes, that it may not be spoken against our stubborness, therefore you hear not, because you be not of God: and that that saying of Esayas be not conveniently applied against us, The heart of this people is waxed gross, and they have hardlyheard with their ears, and they have closed their eyes, lest they should at any time see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and they should be converted, and I should heal them. And what I should speak more, before christian men and the Children of God, concerning the word of GOD, I see not.  
Now remaineth that which was put in the last part, namely how the scriptures are to be taught. For not only wisdom and fidelity, but also wisdom and foresight is to be used. Therefore sayeth Peter, let him not speak only, but let him speak as the words of God. Nor yet is it sufficient to profess only, and outwardly to show, that it is the word of God which we teach, and with a fair face and earnest countenance sing. The word of the Lord: For the jews and Turks and false Prophets do so, they all cry out that Christ is theirs, and they all restrain true religion (as belonging) unto themselves. The Phariseis and Scribes of these days, when they confirm their own inventions, and refer all things to the Apostles as their authors, and do wrest the word of God, yet do they cry nothing either oftener, or more importunately, than, The word of the Lord. But Christ hath not taught dissimulation and hypocrisy. He rather teacheth this, that pastors may have in mind that they represent the person of Christ▪ that they being induced through the greatness and worthiness of the thing itself, may so reverently do their office, that all men may perceive, that it is a heavenly business which they have taken upon them▪ For the image of God himself must shine in him that is the minister of God. And if the Apostles had not so used themselves, they had never laid the foundations of Religion: there would never any have left their altars, their Sacrifices, their Fires, and their Gods themselves, to have been of the opinion of a few fishers. They counted all that they had as nothing, in comparison of Christ jesus. When they were taunted, they taunted not again, when they were condemned to Prisons, and fierce, they never ceased to give thanks, they always greatly rejoiced. for that they were afflicted with all manner of punishments, for Christ his sake. There was in them such uprightness of heart, such modesty, such virtue, that whatsoever they said▪ others were ashamed to speak against it. Even so brethren our life ought to ●yue, that as oft as we speak, we may seem to speak the words of God. For we are the salt of the earth, we are the light of the world, we are that City set upon the Hill, all men's eyes are fastened on us, whatsoever we do, strait way example is taken to do the like. It is a burden of great difficulty and weight that we have taken upon us. Which if we would all well weigh, the course of the Gospel would not be so hindered, the word of God would not be so much neglected. For when as we profess God with our mouth, but deny him with our deeds, we fray away the unlearned multitude by our example from religion, and the thing that of all other is most divine, we defile, not with unpure hands, but with unpure manners. So for our sakes is godliness despised for our sake is the truth contemned, for our sake is the majesty of God impaired. These things, brethren, are diligently to be considered, and earnestly to be regarded of us. For if we live filthily and wickedly, and bring into the pulpit nothing but a rolling of the tongue and impudency, whatsoever we speak, we speak it not, either as it should, or else as the words of God. But to the end the word of the Lord may be handled according to the worthiness thereof, two things principally are by us to be taken heed of: the one that we be not weakened nor feebled by fear, the other, that out of the Gospel we reap no jot or piece of praise unto ourselves. A preachers mind must be prepared and diligently fens●● against either of these. For the Gospel and the word of God, except it be stiffly and manfully upholden and maintained, neither will serve the gospel▪ nor the word of God. For error is fearful, base, and quaking, it feareth all things it dreadeth all things, it flieth sight, and light: but the truth, and the truth of the Gospel of jesus Christ, never abaseth itself, never flattereth any, dissembleth nothing▪ feigneth nothing, is unfearful, free, bold to show her face, and high. Wherefore as long as we speak the truth, let not the force or authority of any man make us afraid. Let us call to mind that we are the messengers and Ambassadors of God, Let us call to mind that God hath given us power to speak. For what courage doth not Christ make us, when he promiseth that he will be the revenger of the injury done unto us? he, saith he, that despiseth you, despiseth me, he which hurteth you, hurteth the sight of mine eye, wherefore let us speak, not dissemblingly, not darkly, as did the Phariseis, but freely and plainly as having authority, as meet it is that the Words of God should be uttered. But nevertheless moderation must be used, that we do not unseasonably touch or spot the good name and fame of others For then we shall seem to taunt or rail, and to handle our own cause, rather than to teach the word of the Lord. But it becometh that servant of the Lord to be modest and circumspect, not to blab out any thing rashly or cockishlye: least we may seem to speak not out of the holy pulpit, but out of the cart, neither yet to have cited the gospel, but to have brought up again the old manner of Comedies.  
The next thing is that a preacher have not to great a conceit of himself, but that he think that that function and office happened unto him from above from God, that he should discharge his duty diligently and with very great fear, and that he should think that he is occupied not in his own business but in God's business. So Paul saith he is nothing: john crieth that he is unworthy to pull of the shoes of Messiah: And therefore to abate arrogancy, they are in the holy scriptures called not Princes, not Magistrates, not Rulers, not Kings, but stewards, bailiffs, preachers or criers, ministers, servants, to the end that foras much as we do this gear in the behalf of another, we should not grow proud for another bodies praise. For the Lord hath not therefore committed his talon unto us, that we should convert it to our own commodity. For he would not have us preachers and criers of our own wit and skill, but of his will, neither do we for any other cause carry about this treasure in Earthen vessels, than for that it should be the brightness and clear light of the power of God.  
I will not stay you with any more words. Ye have heard that a Preacher must speak both oft, and out of the word of God, and also gravely and modestly. We brethren, either are Preachers or will be Preachers: let us bear in mind that these things belong to us, and that saint Peter saith to us, He that speaketh let him speak as the words of God. There is need not only of our diligence but also of prudency and fidelity. Wherefore whatsoever we are able by nature, whatsoever by counsel, whatsoever by wit and cunning, let us bestow it all to serve the Church of God. We are the stewards of the house of God: let us not dissipate and scatter the household of God. If we be the Apostles of God, let us show Apostolic minds. If we be the brethren of Christ, let us hear Christ, let us feed his Lambs, let us feed his sheep, let us go, let us preach, let us teach. The universal world seemeth a good while since to travail of Christ, let us cast about our eyes brethren. How great is the Harvest every where, how few be the Reapers? And this I speak unto them of whom there is some good hope. If there be any that laugh at these things, or mock them, why should I hope that they will hear me, who will not hear Christ himself. Let the calamity of our brethren move us, let the curse of God move us [namely] Cursed is he that doth the work of the Lord negligently. let that most grievous threatening move us (namely) Their blood will I require at thy hand. Let us prepare ourselves to that most sweet voice & speech of Christ (namely) Well done servant, Go in. Let us speak in season and out of season, let us speak the word of the Lord, let us speak as the words of the Lord, that God's praise may be set forth in all things by jesus Christ, unto whom be glory and empery for ever and ever. Amen.  
FINIS.