A Golden Chain

Furthermore, in every place the greater part of men are blind and ignorant persons both young and old; and aged folks, as they are ignorant themselves, so they nuzzle up their youth in ignorance. Confer with them, you s•all find that they can say nothing but that which may be learned by common talk, as that there is a God, and that this God must be worshipped: but ask them further of the means of their salvation, and of their duties to God and man, and they will answer you, that they are not book-learned: tell them ⟨p. 445⟩further that the ordinary means to bring men to knowledge is the preaching of the word, which if they will not use, they shall be inexcusable; they will say, alas, we are dull of memory, and cannot learn. Well, for all this, thou sayest thou believest in the holy Ghost, and he is thy schoolmaster to teach thee: though thy capacity be dull, yet he is able to open thine understanding: for as there is outward teaching by the minister, so the work of the holy Ghost is joined withal to enlighten the conceit of the mind, that they which hear the word with reverence may profit thereby and get knowledge. But if for all this men will not learn, but remain ignorant still, then let them mark the example of the sons of Eli: he in some part did rebuke them for their wickedness, but yet they would not obey; and the reason is there set down,¹ because the Lord would destroy them. In the same manner howsoever we may not judge of any mans person, yet this may be said, that if men refuse to hear the word of God when they may, or if in hearing they will not obey, it is a fearful sign that God will at length destroy them. When a trumpet is sounded in a mans ear, and he lies still, not stirring at all; he is certainly dead. And surely when the trumpet of the Gospel is sounded in the ears of our hearts, if we awake not out of our sins to newness of life, we are no better then dead men before God. Wherefore the case being thus dangerous, and the punishment so great, let us labour in time for the knowledge of Gods will, & prevent Gods judgements before they light upon us.

Furthermore, in euery place the greater part of men are blinde and ignorant persons both yong and old; and aged folkes, as they are ignorant themselues, so they nuzzle vp their youth in ignorance. Conferre with them, you sall finde that they can say nothing but that which may be learned by common talke, as that there is a God, and that this God must be worshipped: but aske them further of the meanes of their saluation, and of their duties to God and man, and they will answer you, that they are not booke-learned: tell them