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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.
I beseech you, saith Saint Paul, that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. This only Boon I ask of you, this is only the request that I make unto you, that ye take not the grace of God in vain. A great matter it were if any one man would misuse the grace of his Prince, a great matter it were for a man to despise the friendship of his friend, or the gentleness of his enemy: but a greater matter it is, yea a far greater matter, to take the grace of God in vain. For what availeth it us, what should it profit us, if GOD once deliver us from our sins, and we turn again to our old wickedness?
I beseech you, saith Saint Paule, that yee receiue not the grace of God in vaine. This onely Boun I aske of you, this is onely the request that I make vnto you, that yee take not the grace of God in vaine. A great matter it were if any one man would misuse the grace of his Prince, a great matter it were for a man to despise the friendship of his friend, or the gentlenesse of his enemie: but a greater matter it is, yea a farre greater matter, to take the grace of God in vaine. For what auaileth it vs, what should it profit vs, if GOD once deliuer vs from our sins, and we turne againe to our old wickednesse?
What gained we, if the covenant of God, and Testament of our Saviour Christ be broken unto us, if we receive the same in vain?1 Blessed are they (saith Christ) which hear the word of God, and keep it. The Scribes, the Pharisees, the Jews, Annas, Caiaphas, and Pilate heard the word of God, heard Christ himself speak & preach amongst them, and yet they received this word of God in vain, they received this grace of God in vain. Christ likened his word to a sower that went forth and sowed his seed, whereof some fell by the way side, and so wast trodden with mens feet and destroyed, some on the stone, which took root, but yet soon withered away because it lacked moistness, some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprung up with it and choked it. So the poor husbandman lost in manner his whole cost and labour, for of all that he sowed, little fell into the good ground & brought any increase. And even thus standeth it with Gods Gospel now a days: for preach we never so oft, teach we never so much, few, yea very few are found