First, many in our Church, being ignorant; when they are moved to learn religion, answer: Alas they are simple, or not book-learned, or they are dull, and heavy witted, or they be old and weak; and therefore they can learn nothing; or if they do, they cannot remember it. But here is nothing but vain excuses: For, they want not wit to learn religion, if they have wit to buy and sell, to know a fair day from a foul, good meat from ill, deer from cheap, Winter from Summer. If they have wit to practice the civill actions of the world, they have wit enough to conceive the grounds of religion, and to get so much knowledge as may suffice for a ground of that faith, which will save their souls: So that they want nothing, but grace and diligence to use the means. To them therefore here is matter of good advice. Let such a man learn but one promise of God out of the holy Scripture, as this; Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all things else shall be given unto you, Math. 6.33: or this; Cast all your care on him, for he careth for you, 1. Pet. 5.7: or this; He that cometh unto me, I cast him not away, John 6.37. or but this: Ask and ye shall have, seek and ye shall find, Math. 7. Let him learn but one of these, & when they have learned it, believe it, and let their souls daily feed on that faith; And they shall see what will follow: even a wonderful blessing upon that poor beginning. This their faith, will so content and please their hearts, that it will urge them forward to get more, and will make them both desirous, & capable of more knowledge and grace; and will make them even hunger and thirst after knowledge and grace: (whereas, he that knoweth no promise, nor believes it, contents himself in ignorance and error). And this shall every one find, that will carefully use the means that God appoints, and will begin to learn but one lesson at the first. For, as ⟨p. 250⟩old barren Sarah, believing Gods promise, conceives and brings forth: So, old, simple, plain, dull Country-men, believing but one promise of Gods word, shall conceive and bring forth daily more and more blessed fruits of knowledge and grace.
First, many in our Church, being ignorant; when they are moued to learne religion, answere: Alas they are simple, or not booke-learned, or they are dull, and heauy witted, or they be olde and weake; and therefore they can learne nothing; or if they doe, they cannot remember it. But heere is nothing but vaine excuses: For, they want not wit to learne religion, if they haue wit to buy and sell, to knowe a faire day from a foule, good meate from ill, deere from cheape, Winter from Sommer. If they haue wit to practice the ciuill actions of the world, they haue wit enough to conceiue the grounds of religion, and to get so much knowledge as may suffice for a ground of that faith, which will saue their soules: So that they want nothing, but grace and diligence to vse the meanes. To them therfore here is matter of good aduice. Let such a man learne but one promise of God out of the holy Scripture, as this; Seeke first the Kingdome of God, and all things else shall be giuen vnto you, Math. 6.33: or this; Cast all your care on him, for he careth for you, 1. Pet. 5.7: or this; He that cōmeth vnto me, I cast him not away, Iohn 6.37. or but this: Aske and ye shall haue, seeke and ye shall finde, Math. 7. Let him learne but one of these, & when they haue learned it, beleeue it, and let their soules daily feede on that faith; And they shall see what will followe: euen a wonderfull blessing vpon that poore beginning. This their faith, will so content and please their hearts, that it will vrge them forward to get more, and will make them both desirous, & capable of more knowledge and grace; and will make them euen hunger and thirst after knowledge and grace: (whereas, he that knoweth no promise, nor beleeues it, contents himselfe in ignorance and errour). And this shall euery one finde, that will carefully vse the meanes that God appoints, and will begin to learne but one lesson at the first. For, as ⟨p. 250⟩olde barren Sarah, beleeuing Gods promise, conceiues and brings forth: So, olde, simple, plaine, dull Country-men, beleeuing but one promise of Gods word, shall conceiue and bring forth daily more and more blessed fruites of knowledge and grace.
