TO MY WORSHIPFUL and godly friend, Master JOHN bailiff, one of the Masters of the Town of Marlbrough, grace, and peace from God in jesus Christ.  
SIr; your willingness to have been present at the preaching of this Sermon, restrained only by instant, & urgent occasions, as myself well know, hath moved me to deliver unto your mind by reading, that, which otherwise you would, but could not receive by hearing. And this reason is general, for all of like mind, I mean, which are zealous of godly doctrine; made public by preaching, as Christ commandeth; but more public, 
Matth. 28.19.  by printing, as Christians also desire. And if my small store in handling this Scripture, very briefly in some points, for want of time, hath yet afforded this, a plaster for the sore of some Ministers, & people now, as I hope it hath what should my desire be, but that the same may be spread as broad, & lie on so long, as the sore requireth, by this large, & lasting delivery thereof, as you see. Only I beseech the greater Physicians to have an eye to the sore, and to wag the plaster; and if they see it heal not, to add (as I hope they will) some cunning of their own: and yet not their own, but that, which they have learned, more deeply than I, of the great Physician of our souls Christ jesus. Unto whose grace I commend you, and yours, and us all, for the cure of all our sores, 
Rev. 22.20.  and come, Lord jesus: even so, Amen.  
From Wotton Basset the 20. of Oct. 1596. Yours in Christ. Charles Pinner.   

Take heed unto thyself, & unto doctrine: and continue therein: for in doing this thou shalt save thyself, and them that hear thee. 1. Tim. 4.16.  
THe Apostle in these words, instructing Timothy, setteth down these two points, a Precept, & a Promise, as a reason, the rather to induce him to the obedience of the commandment. The precept or commandment hath two parts, the first, that he enter into a godly care, and have a serious respect, first, unto himself; and next unto his doctrine, in these words, Take heed unto thyself, and unto doctrine: the second, that he cease not at any time, much less give over, to embrace this duty; wherefore he saith, continue therein. The reason, containing a promise, is in these words, For in doing this thou shalt save thyself, & them that hear thee. Thus, it bringeth salvation both to him, and to his hearers, to do, as is required. But of this, in place.  
First therefore of the precept & matter thereof: which being such, as we see, namely, that Timothy must take heed to himself, and to his doctrine, importeth this much, that doubtless there is danger unto both. Else should the Apostle bring them into a needless fear: which is neebles to refute, because we daily see, and feel to well, that the devil, and the world labour nothing more, then to remove, or reprove both the Minister, & his doctrine. The reason may be gathered out of the words of Peter, in the fifth of the first exhorting thus, Be sober, and watch: 
1. Pet. 5.8.  for your adversary the devil as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith. And out of these words of Paul the Apostle in the tenth to the Romans, 
Rom. 10.14.  How shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? Look therefore how much our adversary the devil in the rage of his desire, and diligence to destroy, prevaileth against the preacher, that is, the Minister, and his doctrine, so much he prevaileth against our faith: and if he prevail, as the stronger of the twain, (as we read in the parable of the Gospel: 
Luk. 11.22 ) he taketh away our armour, wherein we trusted, and devideth the spoils. And therefore here he fighteth, and striveth, and here he spendeth shot and powder, to make a breach, where most assuredly he may enter the fort of our souls; and the malice which he beareth unto the Church, and the whole body of the people of God, here he unladeth it to the full.  
And the world is on his side, and worldly courses may beguile, even us my brethren, called to be Timothy's, as well as others. In the fourteenth of the fourth to the Colossians, 
Coloss. 4.14.  and in Philemon the four and twentieth, Demas, saluteth, 
Philem. 24.  and is saluted, as a fellow-helper with the Apostles in the work of the Lord. But in the second to Timothy the fourth, and tenth, the Apostle complaineth, thus, 
2. Tim. 4.10.  Demas hath forsaken me, and hath embraced this present world.  
And for the flesh, my brethren, (I speak now unto Timothy's) are we more mortified, than he, who saith, I beat down my body, and bring it into subjection, 
1. Cor. 9.27.  lest by some mean or other after that I have preached unto other I myself should be rejected. And, this diligence notwithstanding, in the seventh to the Romans (so sore is the fight of the flesh with the spirit) exclaimeth thus: Miserable man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death! 
Rom. 7.24.  thus, if we know our warfare, and the enemies, that are round about us, the counsel of the Apostle is more than necessary, by taking heed to prevent the evils, that may fall upon us, if we take not heed.  
And here it may seem needless in so plain a word, as this, to explain the sense and meaning, I mean, of taking heed, what it should mean: save that so little heed is taken by many of us, my brethren, pudet thou, pigetque, as if we never knew what this duty, a brief sum of all duty, meaneth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, saith the Apostle, attend, as much as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, extend, or bend thou all the power of thy mind, and will to take care of thyself, and of thy doctrine, that both be found such, as they ought to be. And this care is grounded in a godly fear, which looketh partly to the severity, and to the perfect & impartial righteousness of God himself; of which Peter in the first of the first speaking exhorteth thus, 
1. Pet. 1.17.  If ye call him father, which without respect of person judgeth according to every man's works, pass the time of your dwelling hear in fear. And partly to the power, and industry of our enemies, as the same Apostle warneth in the place before alleged, Be sober, (saith he) and watch: (and what is this watchfulness but an effect of this fear?) the reason: 
1. Pet. 5.8.  for your adversary the Devil as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour. And partly to our own infirmity, who, having nothing of ourselves to will, or to do well, receive all of God. Upon which ground S. Paul in the second to the Philippians exhorteth thus, 
Philip. 2.12.13.  Finish your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will, and to perform of his own good pleasure. And to show what this fear is, and how it worketh, not only in the soul, but also in the body, David in the hundred and 19 Plalme, 
Psal. 119.120.  the hundred and 20. verse, saith, it had taken his flesh▪ Horret pavore tui caro mea, My flesh quaketh for fear of thee. What fear? surely not a servile, but a filial fear, (for other fear in David there could be none) a fear to offend, and so to provoke the justice, and judgements of God against him. For so it followeth, adeò a judicijs tuis timeo: I stand in such awe of thy judgements. And to this fear he also exhorteth others in the second Psalm, 
Psal. 2.11.  thus, Service jehovae cum timore: Serve the Lord with fear.  
Thus, my brethren, if with reverence, and a religious fear in the whole man, through knowledge of ourselves, how weak; our adversaries, how strong they are, we serve the Lord, and dread his judgements; if we set a watch unto ourselves, both soul, & body, that we sin not, and abstains from worldly lusts, which fight against the soul; if in all sobriety, purity, integrity, we walk worthy of the Gospel, which we preach unto others; if we give no occasion of offence in any thing, that our ministery be not reproved; 
Tit. 2.9.  but rather (as the Apostle requireth of servants, much more than of us) adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things; if, when others are weak, we are strong; when others fall, we stand upright; and being rooted in the faith, and walking in righteousness and holiness of the spirit through Christ, we grow at the length to that, that we may be called and reported (as in the threescore and first of Esay the third verse) quercus justitiae▪ 
Isa. 61.3.  oaks of righteousness: not bowing at every blast, but bearing out the force of all temptations; and so, proposing ourselves as ensamples to the flock, (not in a show of painted holiness, but in evidence of the truth, approving ourselves unto every man's conscience in the sight of God) may say with the Apostle, Brethren, 
Philip. 3.17.  be ye followers of us, and look on them which walk, so, as ye have us for an ensample; and so our lives also may teach religion: doubtless we have obeyed the Apostolic precept in taking heed unto ourselves; and for ourselves have done sufficient; but not, for the malice of the world. For when all is done, yet (as it is said) Nobis non licet esse bonis: We shall have no leave to be that we be, nor none of ours, but must go for such, as men will make us. We have paid them the things we never took, 
Psal. 69.5.  God thou knowest our simpleness, and our faults are not hid from thee. What this meaneth, you know, my brethren of Marlbrough. I speak to the malicious minds, and mouths amongst you. But what fruit had ye of that slander, whereof ye are now ashamed? Or, if not ashamed, speak yet again, and speak plainly, and make us ashamed. Or, if you cannot, take the sin, and shame unto yourselves. For we have ruled, not only ourself, but our household well; and the filth of fornication is among yourselves. I am a fool in this my great boasting; and I charge you far. You will say: ye have compelled me. And I see this caution must be added to the counsel of the Apostle, for the comfort of us Ministers, that when we have taken heed to ourselves, and ours, and both are blameless, yet we shall be blamed: as we know who saith, 
joh. 15.25.  Oderunt me gratis, They hated me without a cause. Except this be a cause, as himself in the seventh of john saith unto his brethren, which were yet of the world, & believed not in him, The world, saith he, 
john. 7.7.  cannot hate you: but me it hateth, because I testify of it that the deeds thereof are evil. Thus, my brethren, because we testify of the world, as needs we must, that the deeds thereof are evil, the world hateth us; and hating us, speaketh evil of us, without a cause; that our deeds also unto some at the least may seem to be evil; and so our liberty may be taken from us to reprove those deeds which are evil indeed. Which giveth us this lesson in this point of exhortation now in hand, namely, that we walk more warely, than any other, and cut of occasions from them that seek occasions; and never think we have taken heed enough unto ourselves, unless we avoid, not only evil itself, but (if it were possible) every shadow and show of evil: as the Apostle exhorteth the Thessalonians, 
1. Thes. 5.22.  Abstinete ab omni specie mali: Abstain ye from all appearance of evil.  
And lo, my brethren, yet more, besides ourselves, even our ministery, greater than ourselves. This also we must take with us, to look unto it; else we shall do a sunder that which God hath joined together; and the Proverb will be used of us. Bonus vir, malus magistratus: A good man, but an evil magistrate: good men, but evil Ministers; as, alas, how many? but, to the matter.  
And unto doctrine] this then is the other point, which our care respecteth in the first part of the precept of the Apostle, namely, that we take heed, not only to ourselves, but also to doctrine. And how, to doctrine? first, that we deliver it: secondly, what doctrine we deliver: & thirdly, how. For the first, my brethren, if we consider Timothy as ourselves, and ourselves as Timothy, and both, as the Ministers, not only of Christ, but also of the salvation of the people; as Paul in this very place, to go no farther, noteth in the words following, For in doing this, saith he, thou shalt save thyself, and them that hear thee: it is more than evident that no Timothy hath done sufficient in looking to his doctrine, if only he provide what, and how to preach, and the matter, and manner be laid up at home, and he bring it not out unto the people. For they are not saved, except they hear; and hear they cannot, except we speak. This then is the first care in looking to doctrine, that we always have a bent and a ready will to deliver doctrine, and as need requireth in deed deliver it. Therefore our Saviour Christ in the thirteenth of the Gospel by S. Matthew having taught his Disciples, whom he appointed stewards over his household, many doctrines by parables, at last he saith, 
Mat. 13.51.52.  Understand ye all these things? and they said unto him, yea, Lord. Then said he unto them, therefore every Scribe which is taught unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things both new and old. Where we see, my brethren, that look whatsoever we understand by reading or hearing the word of God, and by study and medication have laid up either first, or last, (as still I confess we must be laying up) as faithful and good stewards of the household of God, as need requireth, we must bring it out to the benefit of the household. And alas, that any Minister which hath learning and knowledge (for I speak to the ignorant, which have no knowledge: for who can draw any thing out of an empty vessel?) that any Minister, I say, who hath learning and knowledge, should need to be remembered of this duty, so to take heed unto doctrine, that he starve not the household by keeping up that, which he hath laid up not only for himself, but also for the household. Yet these are the times, and the thing doth speak it, that many though they know this duty, and have heard the voice of the Lord in the sixth of jeremy, 
jer. 6.17.  Also I set watchmen over you saying, take heed to the sound of the trumpet: yet their sloth, desidia, dulce malum, their leisure, and pleasure, and those sirens within, do answer, as there we read, But they said, we will not take heed. Where the Lord by the Prophet speaketh unto the Priests, as watchmennes, which had taken the charge of sounding the trumpet unto the people: as Saint Paul hereunto Timothy, and in him unto us, Take heed unto doctrine. And our answer is theirs indeed, though not in words, for so we do, as if we had said. We will not take heed. Else, what meaneth this great silence in many places, not only where is no trumpet, or voice to sound it; but even there also, where is breath, and voice enough: What meaneth it, I say, that we take so little heed, but that a crooked will hath ruled the matter; and say the Prophet, and Apostle what they will, we say with the watchmen of the house of juda, We will not take heed. As if it were in our wills, to preath, or not to preach; and no purse were broken, no danger would follow, to omit doctrine. Amos had a greater fear, when he was sent to prophecy, 
Amos. 3.8.  The Lion (saith he) hath roared; who will not be afraid? The Lord God hath spoken: who can but prophecy? And the roaring of this Lion to feared Paul in the ninth of the first to the Corinthians, that he crieth out, 
1. Cor. 9.16.  Vae mihi, nisi Evangelizem, Woe is me, the Lion will tear me in pieces, if I preach not the Gospel, knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we persuade men, yea Ministers; and I would to God we might persuade them for this first point of attendance or giving heed unto doctrine, namely, that they deliver it unto the people.  
And then the next point is this, what doctrine we should deliver, which what should it be, but that which may make unto salvation: For such doctrine the Apostle requireth of us; the matter whereof, if we look unto it, will save both ourselves, & them that hear us. And whence have we this, but from the most pure fountains of the word of God, which is the seed of our newbirth, as james saith, Of his own will be gate he us by the word of truth: and that to immortality; 
jam. 1.18.  even as this seed itself is immortal; as Peter saith, that we are borne a new, 
1. Pet. 1.23.  nor of mortal seed, but of immortal, by the word of God, which liveth and lasteth for ever. And afterwards the same word he calleth the sincere milk, whereby also we grow up after that we have tasted how sweet the Lord is. 
1. Pet. ●. 1.2.3.  Wherefore saith he laying aside all maliciousness, & all guile, & dissimulation, & envy, & all evil speaking, as new-born babes, desire ye the sincere milk of the word; forasmuch as ye have tasted that the Lord is sweet and good. And in no other knowledge doubtless than of this word, as strong meats also, whereby we grow from faith to faith, from virtue to virtue, from strength to strength, until we attain unto a perfect man in Christ jesus, the Apostle requireth us to be of a ripe age, where he thus exhorteth: Brethrens, be not children in understanding, but as concerning maliciousness be children, 
1. Cor. 14.20.  but in understanding be of a ripe age. Only we must see to this, that this seed of our new birth be not corrupted; this milk of our spiritual nourishment be not mingled, this food of our fowls be not infecred, but always preserved in all integrity; and so it will be able to save our souls. Wherefore S. Peter (as before we heard) exhorceth not simply to desire the milk, but, as there he calleth it, the sincere milk of the word. And Paul alluding unto this sincerity, and purity of the word, which we must preach, calleth it faithful word; wholesome word: 
Tit. 1.9. Tit. 2.8. 2. Tim. 4.3 Tit. 2.7.  wholesome doctrine; uncorrupt doctrine: and oft, a earnestly comendeth it both to Tit & Tim?  
And lest they might wander in seeking this word, he leadeth them to the Scriptures, & to the Scriptures only, as able to make them absolute, & perfectly to instruct them in every good duty if their ministry. Wherefore in the 3. of the 2. to Timothy he saich, The whole scripture is given by inspiration of God, & is profitable to teach, to convince, to correct, & to instruction righteousness, that the 〈◊〉 of God, to wit, Tim. 
1. Tim. 6.11.  so called in the 1 of Tim. the 6. & 11. & indeed every Minister: that this man of God, may be absolute, & perfectly instructed unto every good work, to wit, of his ministery committed to him. And in the same chap, also noting some deceivers, which should wax worse, & worse, deceiving, & being deceived, 
2. Tim. 3 14.  as if they had erred from the rule of the Scriptures; by & by be addeth, But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned, & which are committed unto thee, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that of a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through the faith which is in Christ jesus.  
Here the church of Rome would chide, if we had time to hear her, for rejecting her unwritten verities, indeed very vanities; and all that heap of extors, not only fathered upon the Scriptures, by false interpretations of the Scriptures, but also brought in against the manifest light of the holy Scriptures. And such Pharistes, and blind guides, deceiving, and being deceived, we had to lead us. Who as jannes' & jambres resisted Moses, so did these also resist the truth. But the prophesy of the Apostle is fulfilled in them; & they have prevailed no longer: for their madness is manifest to all men, 
2. Tim. 3.8.9.  as theirs also was. And the whore of Babylon, with her cup of spiritual formicati●as is departed from us; the greatest blessing that ever came to this land.  
But yet, if we take not heed my brethren, even we of the ministery, unto doctrine, such as even now also is allowed us to draw, & to deliver out of the most pure fountains of the holy Scriptures, the Devil will creep in another way; even as be hath already beguiled the minds of many, by mulciplying a generation of hearers amongst us; of whom the Apostle in the fourth of the second to Timothy foretold, saying, The time will come, when they will not suffer wholesome doctrine: but having their cares itching, shall after their own lusts get them an heap of teachers, and shall turn their ears from the truth, & shall be given unto fables. The scum of Atheists, so sold unto pleasure, and whose minds are so beguiled with love of themselves, & the lusts of their sin are so dear unto them, that rather than they will endure wholesome doctrine, which hath salt in it to season their putrefied souls, bring them what untruth, & fables, you will, a religion, I think, compact of judaisme, Gentilism, Panisme, & any pelf, most certain poison of the soul, they will take it for the delivery, if it be fine enough, & you touch not their lusts, but leave them to themselves, to live as they list. Provided, that they hear not one but once, if they may have their wills; their ears are so itching, & their taste but so be served with new teachers, till they have even heaped them to themselves, & in their own desire, though not in fact always, as the Apostle saith of them, having itching ears shall heap unto themselves teachers according to those their peculiar desires.  
And because the times will not suffer that any tables, or untruth shall now be taught them, the truth itself must be so attempered unto the taste so delivered in Thesi, not meddling with their manners, or matters, as they call it; that if any have played the poet, and Orator, and philosopher well; and for a show of divinity, hath borrowed some morals of the fathers to he is a Preacher, and the only fine fellow for ●●e or other, as the humour serveth: & so they divide us, as the sectaries in the Church at Corinth; and one saith I am Paul's; another, I am Apollo's; and a third, I am Cephas; & a fourth is a plain fellow, and will none of them all, and he is Christ's.  
And shall I say it, because we see it? this kind of hearers hath begotten a kind of Preachers, which have learned their lesson of the people; touching whom the Lord in the thirteenth of Esaie commandeth the Prophet thus, Now go, and write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, 
Isa. 30.89. & seq.  that it may be for the last day, for ever and ever; that it is a rebellious people, lying children, children that would not hear the law of the Lord. Which say unto the fears, see not, and to the Prophets, prophecy not unto us right things, speak flattering things unto us, prophecy errors; depart out of the way, go aside out of the path, muse the holy one of Israel to cease from us. For either they preach 〈◊〉 at all, and play the good-fellows, and do as the people doth: or else they speak placeut●a, pleasing things unto the people: as if Christ had not said of us, as he said indeed, ye are the salt of the earth, 
Mat. 5.13.  to season men's souls from the corruption of their sins; but, lyee are the sugar of the world, to soothe men in their sins, to the destruction of their souls. Whereby it is come to pass, that, though the falls both of Church, and commonwealth are grievous, and their mounds, almost, deadly; yet the complaint in the Prophet jeremy is true of us my brethren, which look no better unto our doctrine, Curant cour it i●o●●●● filia popule me● secundum cura●●●●●● mali levi●ul● dicendo, 
jer. 8.11.  pax, pax; et si nulla est pax: They heal the bruise of the daughter of my people according to the cure of a light hurt, saying, peace, peace, though their be no peace. Where a similitude, is taken from little children, which fall oft, and lightly, and take little harm; and when the nurse taketh them up, and ●loweth the hand, and saith peace, peace, the hurt is healed. Thus the Prophets of that people, as some preachers now, stopped the cry of repentance in the hearts of the people, and warranted they should take no harm, saying, peace, peace, though there was no peace, but famine, & pestilence, and the sword hanged over them; even as over us also this day, for the grievous falls, and deadly ●ure which we all have taken, as Esaie deseri●e thin the 1. chapter, 
Isa. 1.6.  From the sole of the foot unto the head● her is nothing whole therein, but wounds, and swellings, and sores fall of corruption. And this will goeth on so fast, that we cannot but, exclaim with the Proph● jeremy in the fifth 〈◊〉 peer, Res stupend● & h●rr●●●la ●i● in terra 〈◊〉: 
jer. 5.31.  A wonderful, and horrible thing is, done in this land: The Prophet's prophecy falsely, & the Priests be are rule by their means, 〈◊〉 〈…〉, and my people love it well▪ and what will ye do at the last? as if he should say, wh●●er, will your sins go, if you should 〈◊〉 be bridl●● and those plagi●●s fall upon? you which: I have threatened? Thus the outrage and licentiousness of wickedness in the world, and this sea (almost) of sin, which is fallen in upon us, will not be stayed, but by the heavy hand of God, and his revenging power▪ and all, because the people will be flattered, and the Preachers will not reprove, for fear of offending, and losing their praise, and profit.  
Forturne the edge of the sword, and bead the power of that rod against the world, which God gave unto Christ, and Christ unto us, saying. As my father sent me, 
joan. 20.21.  so send I you: and the prophecy of Esaias shall be fulfilled, He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he ssaye the ungodly. 
Isa. 11.4.  For the hearts of men shall melt with repentance for their sins, or their thoughts shall accuse them, and their condemnation shall be sealed within themselves: the lust shall be guided in the ways of righteousness, and ●he wicked shall not make us stumble, because the shame and reproof, and the chastisement of their sin shall be upon them: no mourning soul in Zion, but shall be comforted; no Dake so strong in Basan, no Cedar so ●aule in Libanus; no heart so hard, and stony; no mind so high and haughty of any mighty Potentate, but shall be humbled before the Lord? For what sayeth the Lord by the Prophet jeremy in the three and twentieth Chapter, 
jerem. 23.29.  Is not my word like fire, sayeth the Lord▪ and like the hammer, that breaketh the stone? And in the same Chapter speaking of the Prophets, whom he reproved before, he saith, If they had stand in my counsel, and had declared my words to my people, 
Vers. 22.  and had declared my words to my people, than they should have turned them from their evil way, & from the wickedness of their inventions. And Paul in the second of the second to the Corinthians speaking of the power of this pure & sincere handling of the word of God, saith: Now thanks be be unto God, which always maketh us to triumph in Christ; 
2. Cor. 2.14. & seq.  and maketh manifest the savour of this knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God the sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish●●d the one we are the savour of death unto death; & to the other the savour of life unto life: and who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which make merchandise of the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we of Christ. And in the fourth of the same Epistle, Therefore, faith he, seeing that we have this ministery, 
2 Cor. 4.1. & seq.  as we have received mercy, we faint not: but have cast from us the cloaks of unhonesty, and walk not in craftiness, neither handle we the word of God deceitfully; but in declaration of the truth we approve ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. From whence he gathereth this conclusion: If then our Gospel be hid, it is hid in them that are lost, in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds, to wit, of the unbelievers, that the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, which is the image of God should not shine unto them. As if not by a fine, or fraudulent, but by a full, and an honest handling of the word of God, he had done sufficient to convince the unbelievers, to reveal their reprobation, and to cast their condemnation upon themselves. And the same mind he also testifieth in the first to the Galathians: For now (saith he) preach I más doctrine or Gods? or go I about to please men? for if I should yet please men, I were not the servant of Christ.  
Thus the Prophets, Esaie, and jeremy, & Paul the Apostle, for this point of sincerity, looked to their doctrine. And what do we? Tell it not in Gath, and publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon, 
2. Sam. 1.20.  lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. Yes, tell it to the very scorners, and to the greatest amongst them, that never (almost) such vowing to the sins of men, by them, that should make all the world to bend. But tell them withal what jeremy saith, populus meus it a amant: My people love it well, they will have it so. Thus, this disease in you my brethren of the Laity, to love your sins so well, that they must not be reproved, hath infected, and bread this weakness in many of us Ministers, to let them alone, & not reprove them. And when the Sermon, or cold Collation is ended, the pride, and self-love, the tyrannies, cruelties, and oppressions of men; their great & open adulteries in the sight of the sun, their riot and wantonness, covetousness, briberies, blasphemies, what shall I say? the heap of all their sins together are fast a sleep for us, we wake them not; and they fester in the soul, and are now so strong, that they will not obey the bridle▪ they say with the rebels, in the second Psalm, 
Psal. 2.3.  Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. And according to their power so is their pride; and the power of many, yea all (almost) so great (the staff of discipline being fallen down▪) that they said it not only, but do it in deed.  
This bringeth me, my brethren, unto the third and last point to be regarded mattending our doctrine; name lie, the Manner: in which first is required a spiritual, ●●●dnesse, such, as was in the Prophets, and Apostles of jesus Christ; &▪ without the which thee shall even fear the fares of men. For so did jeremy at the first, until the Lord which sent him▪ thrust him forward, thus, Truss up thy lo●nes, and arise, & speak unto them all that I command three: be not afraid of their faces, 
jerem. 1.17.  lest I destroy thee before them. And so did Ezechiel, until the Lord in the third chapter made him a promise thus, Behold I have made thy face strong against their faces, 
Ezech. 3.  and thy forehead hard against their foreheads. I have made thy forehead as the adamant, & harder than the flint: fear them not therefore, neither be afraid of their looked, because they are a 〈◊〉 house. And lest me may thin●● that this was the majesty of the Prophets only, and that the Gospel must treepe lower to the becks of men; the Apostle in the fourth in the Colostians prayeth the saithful to pray for him, that God (saith he) may open unto us the door of utterance, 
Coloss. 4.3.  to speak the mystery of Christ. And then he addeth, that I may 〈…〉, as it becometh me to speak. And how that is, he showeth in the si●●h to the Ephesians; where making the same request to them to pray for him, 
Ephes. 6.18. & seq.  he saith. Pray always with all manner prayer and supplication in the sphrite: and watch thereunto with all perseverance & supplication for all Saints; and for me, that utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth boldly to publish the secret of the Gospel; whereof I am the embassy dour in bonds, that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. As I ought to speak, saith Paul: for such speech both becometh the majesty of the Gospel; and armeth us against their looks, which 〈…〉 are so bend against us, 〈◊〉 when we pr●●th unto them; as if we were 〈◊〉 ●●rthy to look upon them▪ And this 〈…〉 make as loud. and lift up our voices, as Esai● is: commounded in 〈◊〉 eight 〈◊〉 fifth chapter, thus, Cry as the ●h●oa●e▪ and cease not▪ lift up thy voice like a ●●umpe●● and show my people their transgresson; & the house of I ●●ob their sinces. Even as th●br●w 〈…〉 hats all ●●lleepe in their 〈…〉 this 〈◊〉 half, 〈…〉 and extent of 〈…〉 I 〈…〉 ●●●the 〈…〉 is so spiri●●●●●, and 〈…〉 all 〈…〉 which fa●●●● unto very trembling. Example of Paul himself, so great an Apostle, in the second of the first to the Corinthians: 
1. Cor. 2.3.  And I (saith he) was among lion in weakness, & in fear, and in much trembling. Why Paul●: even because ●●●h was 〈◊〉 wea●● 〈…〉, that ●●thing 〈…〉 him, (〈…〉 in ●s) 〈…〉 w●rdes should 〈◊〉 in 〈…〉 minds of 〈◊〉 as: himself ●●●where confesses of this effect of his Min●●ter●●, And such trust, 
2. Cor. 3.4.5.  saith he, have ●●ves through Christ to God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think ●●●ny thing a● of ourselves, but out sufficiency is o●● God. And the●●●●● 〈◊〉 reno●●●ce●h all him 〈…〉 had 〈…〉 Law, or Philosophy; or had 〈…〉 t●ught ●●●h● 〈…〉 I (saith he●) 〈…〉 not to ●●●●●ni●●● thing, 
1. Cor. 2.2.  that is, I 〈…〉 my 〈◊〉 in the 〈…〉 thing 〈…〉 you, so 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 Christ, and him 〈◊〉 effect▪ Ye●, and his 〈…〉 so liked him 〈…〉 he faith, And I 〈…〉 I 〈…〉 car●● not 〈…〉 of words or of wisdom, 
1. Cor. 2.1.  she●●ing 〈…〉 the testimony 〈…〉 speaking of the things of God, which 〈…〉 revealed unto us by the spirit●▪ he saith, which things also we speak, 
Vers. 13.  not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the holy ghost teacheth, matching spiritual things with spiritual things. He therefore who in preaching must be so spiritual, to speak only the things of God only with the words of God; & ●eelling that, which we all feel, our nature inclined unto pride & vanity, which so far as it prevaileth, so far it hunteth and hindereth all holy doctrine; must needs he in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.  
Thus faithfulness and sincerity, for the matter; and boldness, with reverence & humility, for the manner, maketh up the whole harmony of a lawful delivery of the word of God. And here we have the rule: which if we could follow (to say no more of this) doubtless it would fill our hearts with rejoicing, & our mouths with the praise of God, who hath given such a treasure unto his church: it would make us leap for joy, & sing in our bed's a● the Psalmist exhorteth in the hundred forty and ninth Psalm▪ I 〈…〉 Saints, 
Psal. 149.5.6. & seq.  saith he, be joyful for the●● glory, let them sing in their beds: let the praises of God be in their mouths for all where with he doth exalt them; and namely, for this, that a two edged sword is given to their hand to be avenged of the heathen, and to rebuke the people; to bind their kings in chains, & their honorables with links of iron; to exercise over them 〈◊〉 scriptum, the written Law which is the honour of all his Saints. As Moses also saith in the fourth of Deuteronomie unto the people, 
Deut. 4.6.  This is your wisdom & your understanding in the sight of the people, which shall hear all these Ordinances, and shall say, surely this people is wise, and of understanding, and a great nation. And what: the Prophets were not yet. But we have Moses and the prophets; yea, Christ, & his Apostles, the whole Scriptures of both Covenantes, this is our 〈◊〉 scriptum, our written Law, this our honour, our ornament; and let us honour it.  
And thus much of the first part of the Apostolic Precept unto Timothy in these words▪ Take heed unto thyself, and unto doctrine. The second followeth in these words, and continue therein. Wherein to speak a little I may begin, but not continue, lest the time take me up. Wherefore only as Paul biddeth the brethren at Colosse thus, Say to Archippus, 
Coloss. 4.17.  take heed to the ministery, that thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it: Even so say I unto you my brethren, and to myself, Let us take heed unto our ministery, which we have received in the Lord, that we fulfil it: let us take heed unto ourselves, and unto doctrine, and continue therein. For it is a small thing to begin, except thou persevere, yea, it were better, as Peter saith, 
2. Pet. 2.21.  never to have known the way of righteousness, then after we have known it to turn from the holy commandment. And nothing more doleful, than this inversion, which is our subversion, ye were light in the Lord, but are now darkness 〈◊〉 yet were stars of heavens but the Dragon's tail hath cast you unto the earth. 
Revel. 12.4. 2. Tim. 4.10.  As Demas: Demas hath forsaken me, and hath embraced this present world. Lo, a star fallen unto the earth. And so, as many, as once shined in life, and learning, as heaven lie lights, 
Philip. 2.21.  but now are earthly minded, seeking (as the Apostle saith) their own things, and not the things of jesus Christ. And I would this country air, yea the air (almost) of England all abroad, had no such Comets; which gave a flash at the first in the Universities, and places, to which they first went; but, the earthly matter, whereof they consist, inflamed with the fire of I know not what zeal at the first, consumed, to darkness, and the desolation of their flocks, portended, as it were, before, and imported by these false, and fatal Lights. Which if they gather not th●●● strength again, and shine, as they begaune, unto the end; the mist of darkness for ever, as the punishment of their darkness, andithe darkness, 〈◊〉 have brought upon others. I fear ●●ll fall upon them. And this, of those, whose candle is quite put out, & which veterly cease in their Ministry to do any good, I not withstanding their good beginnings of whom we may say ne'er. 
Ecebolive Socrat. Hist. Eccle siast. l. 3. c. 11.  I would themselves would say, but to repentance as he said of himself, without repentance, Calcate●ma ●●spidum, salom: Tread upon me unsavoury salt: if worthy to lie any where, to be trodden upon. For salt is good: 
Luke. 14.34.35.  but if salt h●ue lost hi● savour, wherewith shall it be sea seued? it is neither meet for the land nor yet for the dunghill, but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear le● him hear.  
There is yet one other point of contradiction unto Continuance; which is incermission; not all, and ●veris intermission, but that, which will not stand in any good construction with that instanes required by the Apostle in the fourth of of the second to Timothi●. 
2. Tim. 4.2.  Preach (saith be) the word. There is the charge in general. But how be instane, in season, out of season. Here is the kind and quantity: such, and so much, as some men will think, and say, as they say too often, it is out of season; & much preaching (as Pestus said of Paul much learning had made him mad) so much preaching (almost) hath made us mad. 
Act. 26.24.  But the madness is theirs indeed, being drunken with this opinion, that Quarter Sermons are sufficient. And yet the quarter watch will not awake the straw very Preachers, as a godly father calleth them: for they come only once a year, 
Latimer.  & tarry a while, and then away, this is to much intermission, & far from continuance: much like the service of those, whom we call Retainers which see their Masters once a year; & wear their liveries for a countenance; but do their own work, and make their titles serve their turns. For when a fat morsel is falling from their master's table, than they wait, and hold the trencher; and then, if you watch the time, you may hear a sermon: But in their parishes: where they should preach indeed from Sabaoth, to Sabaoth, all the year, ●ltum silei●ium great, & continual silence. And it a continual Preacher meat any of these (as we meet but to often, because they are many:) as if we were the ●●●●ui●als, they squine; and hang the lip; yea, they are so wicked (as the servant said of Nabal) that a man cannot speak to them: no, 
1. Sam. 25.17.  not their own wives: A mean, the people of the Parish, (if any have that Zeals as many, no doubt, have) may not say ●o ●nie of them; sin, why do you sol I pray preach ofter. For than they shall he presenced for Puricanes. And this I hope the Court will loohe unto, and take order for it, if any be so busy with their bus bands. But rather indeed I would they would hearken; or, (because we would some out seed in the best ground) do you hearken my brethren, which ye continue, to this counsel of continuance ing●●d life; and jearning, that so you may continue unto the ●●d. For he that cōtus●●●● unto the end shall be saved, and save other a also, 〈◊〉 in the promis●● following: and without commi●●●ance is will not be; because our adversaries, the devil▪ ●he world, and the flesh, are continual in their work, to come up our planning; to blot out our writing, to break down our building before our eyes, so soon as we pluck our hand from the work, as too often is seen. And the importunity of sin, is great, and rusheth in in haste, so soon as it ge●teth the least advantage: and afterwards ge●teth strength, and will not be tamed, but by that instant preaching, which the Apostle before requireth; and it is the reason, wherefore he requireth it. As nothing indeene but this assiduity can make Archippus fulfil his Ministry. Besides that it will be our great rebuke to ●u● discontinuance to have i● said, as Paul saith to the Galathiane, 
Gal. 5.7.  Ye did run well: who, or what did 〈◊〉 you?  
Yet many lets, I confess, (if we leap not over them) to break us of ●●●owne proclivity, as he sa●●th, 〈…〉 ad libidnum, from labou●●●●●s●, or leisure: the ungracefullnesse; yea, the stubborness & rebellion of our he ar●●●. Come, le● us conspire against jeremy; 
jerem. 18.18.  let us s●●●te him with the tongue, and let us not give heed unto any of his words. But ●●ne 〈◊〉 this▪ the cold comfort, that we have of those which raig●● over 〈◊〉, and are as the Apostles in 〈◊〉 and office, to see h●● only to themselves, but also to others, as Paul 〈◊〉 unto 〈◊〉. These should be called, as the prophet before saith, Quercia ●●stu●a oaks of righteousness and parternes of all diligence in their doctrine: 
Isa. 61.3.  that for (if need required) as children we might go by their hands, & light our candles at their to the●●. But what are they? what do they? I need not tell▪ psares 〈◊〉 ●●ter▪ the thing doth speak. Yet I must say nothing; and you must see nothing: but we all must hear what they say; as those in jeremy, the three and ●●●●eth, Who hath stand in the counsel of the Lord, that he hath perceived and heard his words who hath marked his word, 
jerem. 23.18.  and heard 〈◊〉 ●s if they should say, who, but, 
jerem. 18.18.  we? For the Law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, no● the word from the prophet. But, by their leaves, I will say, as Christ in the sixteenth of S. Luke saith where having preached against covetousness, 
Luke. 16.13.14.15.  and concluded thus saying. Ye cannot serve God and riches: it is added by the Evangelist, All these things heard the pharisees also, which were covetous, and they mocked him. 〈◊〉 he said unto them, ye are they that justify yourselves; but God knoweth your hearts. Yea men know your hearts, by the briberies, open briberies; and corruptions of your hands. They eat (saith the Lord by the prophet Osea) The sin of my people, 
Hosea. 4.8.  that is, the sacrifices for sin; therefore every one lifteth up his mind to their iniquity. And we now also have sacrifices for sin, and sin offerings. For they commute Penances; & the pain is past, when the penny is paid; and so they eat the sin of the people: they feed, and are fat, and in good liking, and so are theirs: for Of a prince that hearkeneth, 
Proverb. 29 12.  unto lies, saith Solomon, all his servants are wicked. Therefore (as Ose saith) every one lifteth up his mind to their iniquity. For sin bringeth sacrifice; and sacrifice is sweet: and hence is this winking at, yea this warming of sin & iniquity. And how shall we continue to beat down sin, which they set up? yet these are the only Timothy's in the world, and who, but these? but, as our Saviour addeth in the place before alleged, 
Luk. 16.15.  That which is high and lofty with men, is abomination in the sight of God. Yea, and damnation too, if they take not heed betime. For salvation is for them that do take heed.  
For so it followeth in the second & last general part of this Text, which is the Promise, in these words: For by doing this thou shalt save thyself, and them that hear thee. A great Promise, and a high speech of the Apostle, to save ourselves, and them that hear. But he meaneth it passively, that we shall be saved. and it is resolved into the active, t●●s, that, because the gospel i● called the Gospel of our salvation, 
Ephes. 1.13.  in the first to the Ephesians; and in the first to the Romans, 
Rom. 1.16.  the power of God which bringeth salvation to every one that believeth, and the preaching of this Gospel is committed to us, 
2. Co. 5.19  and so is ours, as Ministers; and so called by the Apostle in the second to the Romans, where speaking of God he saith, who shall judge the secrets of men by jesus Christ according to my Gospel; 
Rom. 2.16.  and in the fourth of the second to the Corinthians, 
2. Cor. 4.3  If our Gospel be hid, it is hid in them that are lost: therefore the Ministers of the Gospel, of salvations are here said to save themselves, and others. And so the Apostle speaketh of himself in the eleventh to the Romans and fourteenth verse, 
Ro. 11.14. 1. Cor. 9.22  and in the first to the Corinthians, the ninth chapter, and two and twentieh verse● which places for brevity I n●ow omit.  
But this I cannot omited: shall we in deed be saved, and save others also, by doing this, and doing it unto the end? Then faint not thou faithful, and painful labourer in the word of God: for lo, thy labours, as the seals of a double salvation, thine own, and others; and a great crown of righteousness remaineth for both. And shall we no be saved, nor none of ours, if we do it not, or lightly, and without continuance, as a flourish, and no more? Then lo hell-fire already kindled, and a double damnation prepared already, for all ignorantes, which cannot; all careless Ministers, will not, and do not fulfil their ministery. For they are guilty not only of their own sins and damnation, but of the sins and damnation of then people also. Wherefore, to day if ye will hear his voice, my brethren, harden not your hearts: that you and your people, and we with you, may be all as we desire, populus salutis, the saved of the Lord.  
The last point, with which I end, is this, touching the people: whom here, in the mention of their salvation, he calleth hearers. And why? For whosoever calleth upon the name of the Lord (saith the Prophet joel) shallbe saved. 
joel. 1.38. Rom. 10.14.  But how (saith the Apostle) shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him, of whom they have not hard? hear therefore, good people, and so be saved hearken, and your souls shall live. But take heed, 
Isa. 55.3. Mark. 4.24.  as Christ warneth, what you hear, that is, how you hear, and profit in that you hear: and beware of those hearers in the three and thirtieth of Ezechiel; whom the Lord describeth to the Prophet, thus, Also thou son of man, 
Ezech. 33.30. et seq.  the children of thy people, that talk of thee by the walks, and in the doors of houses; and speak one to another, every man to his brother, saying, come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh from the Lord: they come unto thee, as the people useth to come; and as my people sit before thee, and hear thy words, but do them not: though with their mouth they make them most sweet, their heart goeth after their covetousness. And lo thou art unto them as a pleasant song of one that hath a sweet voice, and can sing well: for they hear thy words, but do them not: Such hearing is here condemned, contemned of all men, and hath no promise of blessing from God; but that, which is joined with peace, with purity, with reverence and humility, and with true obedience of that we hear: 
jam. 1.19. et seq.  as james most amply ehorting, saith, Wherefore, my dear brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath. For the wrath of ●an doth not accomplish the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness, and superfluity of maliciousness, and receive with meekness the word that is graffed in you, which is able to save your souls. And be ye doers of the word & not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any hear the word, and do it not, he is like unto a man, that beholdeth his natural face in a glass, for when he hath considered himself, he goeth, his way and for getteth immediately what manner of one he was. But who so looketh in the perfect Law of liberty, and continueth therein, he not being a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, shall be blessed in his deed. Thus, blessed are they, and saved shall they be, and only they, which hear the word of God, 
Luk. 11.28.  and keep it. And as many as walk according to this rule, 
Gal. 6.16,  peace be upon them, and mercy, & upon the Israel of God. To god, even the father, and to jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, one, immortal, invisible, and only wise, God, be rendered all glory, and praise, dominion, and majesty both now, and ever. Amen.