A10342:4
A sermon upon part of the prophecy of Obadiah touching the destruction, as of…A sermon vpon part of the prophesie of Obadiah touching the destruction, as of…
A sermon upon part of the prophecy of Obadiah touching the destruction, as of Idumæans, so of Papists; and means whereby it must be wrought: preached at Saint Mary's in Oxford by John Rainoldes, on the 28. of October last. 1584.A sermon vpon part of the prophesie of Obadiah touching the destruction, as of Idumæans, so of Papists; and meanes whereby it must be wrought: preached at Saint Maries in Oxford by Iohn Rainoldes, on the 28. of October last. 1584.
London? : Thomas Dawson, Printed. 1584
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.
❧ John Rainoldes wisheth grace and peace in Jesus Christ to the Christian Reader.
❧ Iohn Rainoldes wisheth grace and peace in Iesu Christ to the Christian Reader.
We are commanded by a wise1 Prince, or rather by the Prince of Princes, not to withhold good from the owners thereof, when it is in the power of our hand to do it. The owners of any good are they called, who stand in need of it. For God hath made men stewards of his graces, not all to serve themselves, but each to help others in whatsoever they may. Wherefore, having taken in hand the exposition of Obadiah the Prophet, and preached so on part of him, as I thought meetest for the place and time, since the Parliament was summoned: being requested to pen and publish that Sermon, by some, who thought it needful for more then were present, I could not withhold my simple help therein from the owners of it, my leisure & notes serving me to do it. And I pray God that they for whose sakes it is chiefly done, withhold not goods neither from the owners of them. Sure, unless the world do blind them, they will not: & what shall it avail them to win the whole world, & lose their own souls? When2 ⟨p. 6⟩Amasias king of Judah had hired an army of Israel for an *hundred talents of silver, to go with him against Edom: a man of God warned him not to let the army of Israel go with him; for the Lord is not with Israel. How shall we do then for the hundred talents (said Amasias) which I have given them? The man of God answered: the Lord is able to give thee more than that. The Lord is the same now, that he was ever: as highly offended with unlawful helps which we seek to gain by; as able to give us more then they cost us, even whom they cost most. But if he would not: yet in his love is life. And better is a little with a good conscience, then the richest state of the wicked and mighty. The time will come when men shall feel it. Farewell good Christian Reader: and commend the cause of the Church (I beseech thee) to God, by thy prayers; to Gods Lieutenants, by such means as he shall bless thee with: that it may find favour in the eyes of the Parliament, and her gracious Majesty; to the glory of the highest, the salvation of the chosen, and the security of the State.