A14239:35
A sermon preached before the Commons-House [sic] of Parliament, in Saint Margarets Church at…A sermon preached before the Commos-House [sic] of Parliament, in Saint Margarets Church at…
A sermon preached before the Commons-House [sic] of Parliament, in Saint Margarets Church at Westminster, the 18. of February. 1620. By James Usher. Professor of Divinity in the University of Dublin, in IrelandA sermon preached before the Commos-House [sic] of Parliament, in Saint Margarets Church at Westminster, the 18. of February. 1620. By Iames Vssher. Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Dublin, in Ireland
London: printed by I.Dawson for John Bartlett, 1624London: printed by I.Dawson for Iohn Bartlett, 1624
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Neither must we here with a fleshly eye look upon the meanness of the outward elements, and have this faithless thought in our hearts, that there is no likelihood, a bit of bread, and a draught of wine should be able to produce such heavenly effects as these. For so we should prove our selves to be no wiser than Naaman the Syrian was,1 who having received direction from the man of God, that he should wash in Jordan seven times, to be cleansed of his Leprosy; replied with indignation, Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better then all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be clean? But as his servants did soberly advise him then, If the Prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash and be clean? So give me leave to say unto you now: If the Lord had commanded us to do some great thing, for the attaining of so high a good; should not we willingly have done it? How much rather then, when he biddeth us to eat the bread, and drink the wine that he hath provided for us at his own Table, that by his blessing thereupon we may grow in grace, and be preserved both in body and soul unto everlasting life?
Neither must we heere with a fleshly eye looke vpon the meanenesse of the outward elements, and haue this faithlesse thought in our hearts, that there is no likelihood, a bit of bread, and a draught of wine should be able to produce such heauenly effects as these. For so we should prooue our selues to be no wiser than Naaman the Syrian was,1 who hauing receiued direction from the man of God, that he should wash in Iordan seuen times, to be cleansed of his Leprosie; replied with indignation, Are not Abana and Pharpar, riuers of Damascus, better then all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be cleane? But as his seruāts did soberly aduise him then, If the Prophet had bid thee doe some great thing, wouldest thou not haue done it? How much rather then, when hee saith to thee, Wash and be cleane? So giue mee leaue to say vnto you now: If the Lord had commanded vs to doe some great thing, for the attaining of so high a good; should not we willingly haue done it? How much rather then, when hee biddeth vs to eate the bread, and drinke the wine that he hath prouided for vs at his owne Table, that by his blessing thereupon wee may grow in grace, and be preserued both in body and soule vnto euerlasting life?