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 ⟨image 7⟩words, than that his people should be instructed to know him, themselves, and godliness. Thou son of man, saith God, in Isaiah, 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 ⟨image 7⟩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 ben any where? what worship of God had there been?
Let him that speaketh speake as the wordes of God. To the end that the pith of these wordes may be the better vnderstanded, because I must intreate both of Pastors and before Pastors, I haue vsed this diuision, To shew first that a Pastor should speake often, next of all that hee should speake out of the holy scriptures, last of al, That he should speake grauely and modestly according to the worthines of the matter. And surely concerning the office of Pastors, as yet I see not sufficiently what I shold speake or not speak. For to speake that which hath bene before so often spoken, were not only hatefull, but out of season: and to speake nothing of so great slouth, and dastardie of our times, I am much afrayde mighte seeme to shew a sluggard and a dastarde. Truely, in this case if the voyce of the immortall God might be hearde, there were no neede at this time of my voyce. For that I maye saye nothing beside, all the scriptures doe sufficiently warne vs of our duetie, God himselfe hath commaunded nothing at any time, eyther more often, or else with more weightie ⟨image 7⟩wordes, than that his people shoulde be instructed to know him, themselues, and godlinesse. Thou son of man, sayth God, in Esay, Crie and cease not, crie oute aloude, lifte vp thy voyce as a Trumpet, and shewe vnto my people their wickednesse. How oft doth Christ crie▪ Go yee, Teache ye, Preache ye the Gospell to euerie creature. Wo vnto mee sayth the Prophet, because I haue kepte silence. Wo vnto me, sayth Paule, if I preache not the Gospell. But such is either our securitie or daintinesse, beside that wee haue stopped our eare against wholesome counsaile, that we account it as a reproche, if a man warne vs of our dutie. Neuerthelesse whatsoeuer it seemeth to vs, this hath seemed to God a helpe both very firme and verye great to the making vp of his Church. For so hath GOD brought vs out of darkenesse into light, so hath he restored vs being deade vnto life, so hath he broughte vs being prisoners and captiues out of hel into heauen, so hath he broken the powers of the Diuell, so hath he broughte vs back agayne into his owne power and dominion, so ⟨image 7⟩hath he spreade abroade the fame of his name into all landes. For if Christ, if the Apostles, if the Prophets had held their peace, in what case had we now bene in? what religion had there ben any where? what worship of God hadde there bene?
