A04480:119
Seven godly and learned sermons preachedSeuen godly and learned sermons preached
Seven godly and learned sermons preached by the Reverend Father in God John Ivel, late bishop of Salisbury. Never before imprintedSeuen godly and learned sermons preached by the Reuerend Father in God Iohn Iuel, late bishop of Salisburie. Neuer before imprinted
London : Impensis G. Bishop, 1607
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.
O my brethren, consider these harts, consider, I say, the zealous hart that Moses, the zealous affection that Paul had unto the salvation of the people. What think you is it to be stricken out of the book of life? What think you is it to be a man accursed, and have portion among reprobates? Moses was content to be blotted out of the book of life, so that the people of Israel might be saved. S. Paul was content to be accursed and cast from the face of God, so that Gods people might not be cast to perdition. Thus they of an earnest heart and zealous love they bare to the congregation of God, wished their own destruction for the safeguard of others. Therefore also it behooveth you, my brethren, you that are temporal men, it behooveth you on the other part not to despise Gods messengers, not to set light by them that preach you the Gospel and ⟨image 89⟩glad tidings of your salvation. For this is the only means whereby it pleaseth God that we should be saved, this only is it whereby the people is won unto Christ. God might have sent an Angel unto the chamberlain of the Queen Candace, 1and so have converted him: but he sent Philip, he sent Philip, I say, a poor and mean man, that thorough his preaching he might be won to the faith and so brought to salvation. God might have sent an Angel to Cornelius, 2but he sent Peter, who instructed him in the faith, and wan him to the Gospel of Christ. God might have sent an Angel unto Paul to have mollified his heart, and so turned him from persecution of Gods Saints: but it pleased God to send Ananias, 3that thorough the putting on of his hands the scales should fall from his eyes, that by him he should receive his sight, and be baptised, and so by means of a man he might be brought home unto God, and made a member of his flock. Therefore whensoever we hear the word of God preached, notwithstanding the ⟨image 89⟩preacher bear no pomp of eloquence or show of great learning, notwithstanding he be a simple and poor man: yet if he bring unto us the rule of Christs Gospel, if he teach us the will of GOD, and the glory of his word, let us not despise him, let us consider that he is Gods messenger, and appointed by God to help us to salvation.