Four sermons preachedFoure sermons preached

First we are to speak of Noah, then of Ham his wicked son, and after of Shem and Japheth his good sons: In Noah, first of that which he did well, and then of his sin. In Ham, first of his sin, and then of his curse. In his brethren, first of their reverence, and then of their blessing.

FIrst we are to speake of Noah, then of Cham his wicked sonne, and after of Shem and Iapheth his good sonnes: In Noah, first of that which hee did well, and then of his sinne. In Cham, first of his sinne, and then of his curse. In his brethren, first of their reuerence, and then of their blessing.

Now we will speak of the Father, and after of his children. Then (saith Moses) Noah began to be a husbandman. This is the first name which is given to Noah after the flood, he is called an husbandman; and the first work which is mentioned, was the planting of a vineyard: one would think when all men were drowned with the flood, and none left alive to possess the earth but Noah and his sons, that he should have found himself something else to do, then to plant vineyards: and that the holy Ghost should have entitled him King of the world, and not an husbandman of the earth, seeing there be no such men as Noah was, which hath more in his hand, then any King hath in the world or shall have to the worlds end: but hereby the holy Ghost would show, that God doth not respect kings for their titles, nor men for their ⟨image 25⟩riches as we do, & therefore he nameth Noah after the work which he did, not after the possessions which he had, an husbandman. It seemeth that there was great diversity between this age and ours. For if we should see now a king go to plough, a nobleman to drive the team, a gentleman keep sheep, he should be scorned for his labour more then Noah was for his drunkenness: yet when we read how this Monarch of the world thought no scorn to play the husbandman, we consider not his princely calling, nor his ancient years, nor his large possessions to commend his industry, or modesty, or lowly mind therein. Which may teach us humility, though we learn to disdain husbandry. Of whom will we learn to be humble, if Kings give examples, and the son of God humbleth himself from heaven to earth, and yet we contemn the example of the Kings of the earth, and the example of the king of heaven?