In the seventeenth Chapter and the fifth verse of Saint Mathews Gospel, the Father teacheth you how to hear, now the Son teacheth you how to hear: showing (as James saith) that hearers only are not blessed, for many shall say unto Christ, Have not we heard thee in our Synagogues? whom he will answer, with I know you not: and therefore it is not enough to hear, but you must care how ⟨p. 631⟩how hear, it is not enough to pray, but you must care how you pray, it is not enough to receive, but you must care how you receive, it is not enough to suffer, but you must care how you suffer, it is not enough to give, but you must care how you give, it is not enough to believe, but you must care how you believe: for God hath appointed the way as well as the end. Because Cain regarded not the manner,1 God regarded not his Sacrifice. It is better to do well than to do good: for a man cannot offend in doing well, but he may offend in doing good, if he do not well. Therefore Christ (whom the Father bade us hear) teacheth us not only to hear, 2but how to hear: in the fourteenth chapter of Mark and the four and twentieth verse, teacheth us not only to read, but how to read: in the four and twentieth of Saint Matthew, and the fifteenth verse, teacheth us not only to suffer, but how to suffer: in the fifth of Matthew, and the tenth verse, teacheth us not only to receive, but how to receive: Luke 22. 19. teacheth us not only to pray, but how to pray: Luk. 11. 1. signifying, that more sin in hearing, and reading, and praying, and suffering, & receiving, amiss, than in not hearing, reading, praying, suffering, or receiving at all. Therefore Paul takes the Christian before his race, and gives him this watch-word. So run that thou ⟨p. 632⟩mayst obtain. 1. Cor. 9. 24. that is, so seek that thou mayst find, so ask that thou mayst obtain, so knock that it may be opened, so give that thou mayest do good, so suffer that thou mayest have comfort, so hear that thou mayst profit. How many have fasted, and watched and prayed more than we, and yet lost all their devotion? because they thought not of this rule, to do good in a good sort. The Papists so they pray, care not how they pray, for they think it enough to pray: and therefore when they have gone over their beads, their prayer is done, although they never thought what they asked.
In the seuenteenth Chapter and the fifth verse of Saint Mathewes Gospell, the Father teacheth you how to heare, nowe the Sonne teacheth you how to heare: shewing (as Iames saith) that hearers only are not blessed, for many shall say vnto Christ, Haue not wee heard thee in our Synagogues? whom hee will answere, with I know you not: and therefore it is not inough to heare, but you must care how ⟨p. 631⟩hou heare, it is not enough to pray, but you must care how you pray, it is not enough to receiue, but you must care how you receiue, it is not enough to suffer, but you must care how you suffer, it is not enough to giue, but you must care how you giue, it is not enough to beleeue, but you must care how you beleeue: for God hath appointed the way as wel as the ende. Because Cain regarded not the manner,1 God regarded not his Sacrifice. It is better to doe well than to doe good: for a man cannot offend in doing well, but he may offend in doing good, if hee doe not well. Therfore Christ (whom the Father bade vs heare) teacheth vs not only to heare, 2but how to heare: in the fourteenth chapter of Marke and the foure and twentieth verse, teacheth vs not onely to reade, but how to reade: in the foure and twentieth of Saint Mathew, and the fifteenth verse, teacheth vs not onely to suffer, but how to suffer: in the fifth of Mathew, and the tenth verse, teacheth vs not onely to receiue, but how to receiue: Luke 22. 19. teacheth vs not only to pray, but how to pray: Luk. 11. 1. signifiyng, that more sinne in hearing, and reading, and praying, and suffering, & receiuing, amisse, than in not hearing, reading, praying, suffering, or receiuing at all. Therfore Paul takes the Christian before his race, and giues him this watch-word. So run that thou ⟨p. 632⟩mayst obtaine. 1. Cor. 9. 24. that is, so seek that thou mayst finde, so aske that thou mayst obtaine, so knocke that it may bee opened, so giue that thou maist doe good, so suffer that thou maist haue comfort, so heare that thou mayst profite. How many haue fasted, and watched and prayed more than we, and yet lost al their deuotion? because they thought not of this rule, to doe good in a good sort. The Papists so they pray, care not how they pray, for they thinke it enough to pray: and therefore when they haue gone ouer their beads, their prayer is done, although they neuer thought what they asked.
- 1Gen. 4.
- 2Math. 17. 5
