A04463:236
Certain sermons preached before the Queens Majesty, and at Pauls crossCertaine sermons preached before the Queenes Maiestie, and at Paules crosse
Certain sermons preached before the Queens Majesty, and at Pauls cross, by the reverend father John Jewel late Bishop of Salisbury. Whereunto is added a short treatise of the sacraments, gathered out of other his sermons, made upon that matter, in his cathedral church at SalisburyCertaine sermons preached before the Queenes Maiestie, and at Paules crosse, by the reuerend father Iohn Ievvel late Bishop of Salisburie. Whereunto is added a short treatise of the sacraments, gathered out of other his sermons, made vpon that matter, in his cathedrall church at Salisburie
London: printed by Christopher Barker, 1583
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
I could have spent this time in opening some other matter: but nothing in my judgement is more worthy your good consideration, and speedy redress. I would be loth rashly or rudely to abuse the reverence of this place: but unless these things be cared for, unless we show forth greater zeal then hitherto, if the years to come eat up and take away from the Ministry as the late years have done, there will not be left within a while, any to speak the word of God out of this place. The Pulpits shall have none to use them: the people shall grow wild and void of understanding.
I could haue spent this time in opening some other matter: but nothing in my iudgement is more worthy your good consideration, and speedy redresse. I would be loth rashly or rudely to abuse the reuerence of this place: but vnles these things be cared for, vnlesse we shew foorth greater zeale then hitherto, if the yeeres to come eate vp and take awaye from the Ministery as the late yeeres haue done, there wil not be left within a while, any to speake the word of God out of this place. The Pulpits shall haue none to vse them: the people shal grow wyld and voyd of vnderstanding.
When Xerxes beheld the great company of his Soldiers, suddenly he brake into tears, and wept bitterly. One said to him, O Sir, you have cause to rejoice, you have a goodly company, they are able to fight for you against ⟨image 78⟩any nation. But what shall become of them, saith Xerxes? after a hundred years: not one of all these shall be left alive. If the view of the small number of Preachers might be taken, how few they are, and how thin they come up, we have greater cause then Xerxes to lament, if we have any zeal to the house of GOD. For, of the Preachers which now are, within few years none will remain alive. And Xerxes soldiers left issue behind them, which might afterwards serve their Country: But there is like to be small increase for the supply of Learned men. The Lord shall lack men to bring in his harvest, the little ones shall call for bread, and there shall be none to give it them. They that shall come after us, shall see this to be true. There is no house so spoiled, as the House of the LORD. There is no Servant so little rewarded as the Servant of Christ, and the disposer of the mysteries of God.