The same example of diligence in preaching the word of God in the Temple, shall ye find in the Apostles, and the people resorting unto them. Act. the. v. Howe the Apostles, although they had ben whipped and scourged the day before, and by the high priest commanded that they should preach no more in the name of Jesus, yet the day following they entered early in the morning into the Temple, and did not cease to teach and declare Jesus Christ. And in sundry other places of the story of the Acts, ye shall find like diligence both in the Apostles in 1teaching, and in the people in coming to the temple to hear Gods word. And it is testified in the first of Luke, that when Zechariah the 2holy priest, and father to John baptist, did sacrifice within the temple, all the people stood without a long time praying, such was their zeal and fervency at that time. And in the second 3of Luke appeareth what great journeys men, women, yea and children took, to come to the temple on the feast day, there to serve the Lord, and specially the example of Joseph, the blessed virgin Mary mother to our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of our saviour Christ him self being yet but a child, whose examples are worthy for us to follow. So that if we would compare our negligence in resorting to the house of the Lord there to serve him, to the diligence of the Jews in coming daily very early, sometime ⟨p. 12⟩great journeys to their temple, and when the multitude could not be received within the temple, the fervent zeal that they had, declared in standing long without and praying: We may justly in this comparison condemn our slothfulness and negligence, yea plain contempt in coming to the Lords house, standing so near unto us, so seldom, and scarcely at none time. So far is it from a great many of us to come early in the morning, or give attendance without, who disdain to come into the temple, and yet we abhor the very name of the Jews when we hear it, as of a most wicked and ungodly people. But it is to be feared, that in this point we be far worse then the Jews, and that they shall rise at the day of judgement to our condemnation, who in comparison to them, show such slackness and contempt in resorting to the house of the Lord, there to serve him, according as we are of duty most bound.
The same example of diligence in preachyng the worde of God in the Temple, shall ye fynde in the Apostles, and the people resortyng vnto them. Act. the. v. Howe the Apostles, although they had ben whypped and scourged the day before, and by the hygh priest commaunded that they shoulde preache no more in the name of Jesus, yet the day folowyng they entred earlye in the mornyng into the Temple, and dyd not ceasse to teache and declare Jesus Christe. And in sundrye other places of the storye of the Actes, ye shall fynde lyke diligence both in the Apostles in 1teachyng, and in the people in commyng to the temple to heare Gods worde. And it is testified in the first of Luke, that when Zacharie the 2holy priest, and father to John baptist, dyd sacrifice within the temple, al the people stoode without a long tyme praying, suche was theyr zeale and feruencie at that tyme. And in the seconde 3of Luke appeareth what great iourneyes men, women, yea and chyldren tooke, to come to the temple on the feast day, there to serue the Lorde, and specially the example of Joseph, the blessed virgin Marie mother to our Sauiour Jesus Christe, and of our sauiour Christe hym selfe beyng yet but a child, whose examples are worthy for vs to folowe. So that yf we woulde compare our negligence in resortyng to the house of the Lorde there to serue hym, to the diligence of the Jewes in commyng dayly verye early, sometyme ⟨p. 12⟩great iourneyes to theyr temple, and when the multitude coulde not be receaued within the temple, the feruent zeale that they had, declared in standyng long without and praying: We may iustly in this comparison condemne our slouthfulnesse and negligence, yea playne contempt in comming to the Lordes house, standyng so nere vnto vs, so seldome, and scarcely at none time. So farre is it from a great many of vs to come early in the morning, or geue attendaunce without, who disdayne to come into the temple, and yet we abhorre the verye name of the Jewes when we heare it, as of a moste wycked and vngodly people. But it is to be feared, that in this poynt we be farre worse then the Jewes, and that they shall ryse at the day of iudgement to our condemnation, who in comparison to them, shewe suche slackenesse and contempt in resortyng to the house of the Lorde, there to serue him, according as we are of duetie most bounde.
- 1Act. 13. 15. 17.
- 2Luke. 1.
- 3Luke. 2.
