Epa. This. At the time of my burial, when the people be gathered together, I would gladly have some learned man to make a Sermon, wherein the people may be admonished of their mortality, and be taught, how they ought to dispose them selves in this life, that when the time come, they may yield up a good soul into the hands of the living God. For his pains I appoint. x.s. to be given him. Also I give for the preaching of four score sermons at other times, when it shall be thought most convenient xx. pounds. And as I with these ⟨p. 149⟩Sermons to be preached by godly & discrete learned men: so I wish them to be preached in such places, as the people have most need of doctrine and teaching. For the Lord knoweth, the people perish for want of godly knowledge.1 The greatest part of our beneficed men (God help us) are blind guides, and dom dogs, not once able to bark. The people are desirous to know God, and among the great multitude of so many beneficed men, none almost ether is able, or else endeavoureth him self to bring them unto Christ. It is in these our days found true, that is written in the gospel.2 The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. It behoveth therefore every Christen heart to pray the Lord of the harvest, that he will send labourers (not loiterers) into his harvest, and to procure ⟨p. 150⟩so much as lieth in his power, that the word of God may be universally preached, that the people may repent, turn unto the Lord our God, and serve him in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life, which can not be brought to pass, where the word of God is not preached.3 How shall they believe on him, of whom they have not hard? How shall they hear without a preacher? To declare therefore my good will toward the word of God, & the salvation of the Christians, I give .xx. pounds for the preaching of .lxxx. sermons. I pray you note it in my will,
Epa. This. At the tyme of my buriall, when the people be gathered together, I wold gladly haue some learned man to make a Sermon, wherin the people may be admonished of their mortalitie, and be taught, howe they ought to dispose them selues in this life, that whan the tyme come, they may yelde vp a good soule into the handes of the liuing God. For his paines I appoynt. x.s. to be geuen him. Also I geue for the preaching of foure score sermons at other times, whē it shalbe thought most conuenient xx. poundes. And as I with these ⟨p. 149⟩Sermōs to be preached by godly & discrete learned men: so I wishe them to be preached in suche places, as the people haue most nede of doctrine and teaching. For the Lorde knoweth, the people perish for want of godly knowledge.1 The greatest parte of our beneficed men (God helpe vs) are blinde guides, and dom dogges, not once able to barke. The people are desirous to knowe God, and omong the great multitude of so many beneficed men, none almoste ether is able, or els endeuoreth him selfe to bring them vnto Christ. It is in these our daies found true, that is written in the gospel.2 The haruest truely is plenteous, but the labourers are fewe. It behoueth therefore euery Christen heart to pray the Lord of the haruest, that he will send labourers (not loyterers) into his harnest, and to procure ⟨p. 150⟩so much as lieth in his power, that the worde of God may be vniuersally preached, that the people may repent, turn vnto ye Lord our God, and serue hym in holynes and righteousnes al the days of their life, whiche can not bee brought to passe, where the word of God is not preached.3 How shal they beleue on him, of whom they haue not hard? How shal thei hear without a preacher? To declare therfore my good will toward the word of God, & the saluatiō of the Christians, I geue .xx. poundes for the preaching of .lxxx. sermōs. I pray you note it in my wil,
- 1Esa. lvi.
- 2Math. ix.
- 3Luke. i. Rom. x.
