A sermon preached at the christening of a certain Jew at LondonA sermon preached at the christening of a certaine Iew at London

who though mistrusted not the lessons & instructions of the Apostles, yet were they also in this respect adjudged praiseworthy, because they did confer the doctrine, which they received of the Apostles, with the books of the Law, and the prophets: which observation of the elders was of no small importance, to procure credit to the establishment of faith. But the state of Christianity is now come (I know not to what pass) that this Christian faith, which behoved to be most deeply engraven in the hearts of every of us, is either not so well garnished in many of us, as it ought to be: in others very faint and feeble: and in some others skarse any resemblance at all appearing, which slender portion and sparkle of faith, be it never so small, as is not altogether to be rejected, so neither is this wonderful sluggishness, and reckless security of the men in our age, in any respect tolerable: of whom some overgreedily busied ⟨image 5⟩in worldly affairs, some feeding their fancies upon fond delights, do either make no estimate at all, of that inestimable Jewel of faith, which only enricheth to the inheritance of eternal life, or at the least, are not so diligent searchers of the same, as they ought to be. To clime unto honour, what attempts and toil do some undertake? how filthily do others turmoil them selves, in raking riches together? how daintily some men besmear them selves in perfumes, and pleasures? who because they know, they can not live here for ever, & do determine to live godly never, yield them selves wholly to live delicately & wantonly. To be advanced in Court, to aspire to prelacy and ecclesiastical dignity, & to be a magistrate over the multitude, who doth not account it matter most honourable? who adjudgeth not that man to be most fortunate, that by hook or crook hath scratched wonderful possessions together? who thinketh not that man to be most happy, that liveth most pleasurably? And what shall I say of those arts & sciences, which procure gainful lucre, & estimation of the world? wherein whiles we sweat and swink all our lives long, scarce one minute can be spared, no ⟨image 5⟩thought employed to the things which lead unto Christ. I speak not of them, who seem to savour of no sap of religion, nor are endued with one drop of faith:

who though mistrusted not the lessons & instructions of the Apostles, yet were they also in this respect adiudged prayseworthy, because they did conferre the doctrine, which they receyued of the Apostles, with the bookes of the Law, and the prophets: which obseruatiō of the elders was of no smal importaunce, to procure credite to the establishment of faith. But the state of Christianitie is nowe come (I know not to what passe) that this Christian faith, which behoued to be most deepely engrauen in the hearts of euery of vs, is either not so well garnyshed in manye of vs, as it ought to be: in others very faynt and feeble: and in some others skarse any resemblaunce at all appearing, which slender portion and sparkle of faith, be it neuer so small, as is not altogether to be reiected, so neyther is this wonderfull sluggishnes, and retcheles securitie of the men in our age, in any respect tolerable: of whome some ouergreedily busied