And although reading do help to nourish the faith which cometh by preaching / yet this is given to the preaching cath exochen, that is by excellency / and for that it is the excellentest and most ordinary means / to work by / in the hearts of the hearers. The beholding of the creatures / & the consideration of the making of the world and of Gods wisdom / and wonderful love appearing in them / doth nourish and strengthen faith / and yet may it not therefore in efficacy be compared to the preaching of the word of God. And to know that the word of God preached / hath more force and is more effectual then when it is red / it is to be observed whereunto the preaching is compared. It is called a lifting or heaving up of our saviour Christ. Like unto the displaying of a banner / as the serpent 1was lift up in the wilderness. As therefore that which is lifted up on high / is better and easelyer seen of a great company / then when it standeth or lieth upon the ground or in some valley or low place: so the preaching of the gospel doth offer sooner and easier the truth thereof unto the faith (which is the eye of the hearer) then when it is red. The same also may be said in that the preaching 2is called a cutting of the word of God / for as when the meat is cut and shred / it nourisheth more then when it is not so / so likewise it is in preaching and reading. And that which is brought by the authors of the Admonition / and so scornfully hurled away of Master Doctor / that S. Paul compareth 3the preaching unto planting and watering / is a very notable place to prove that there is no salvation / without preaching. For as the husbandman receiveth no fruit / unless he both plant and water that which is planted: even so there is no salvation to be looked for / where there is no preaching. And to this also may be well referred that the preaching is called of Saint Luke an opening of the scriptures 4whereby it is declared / that they be as it were shut / or clasped / or sealed up until such time as they be by exposition and declaration of them opened. It may be that God doth sometimes work faith by reading only / especially where preaching cannot be / and so he doth sometimes without reading by a wonderful work of his spirit: but the ordinary ways whereby God regenerateth his children / is by the word of God / which is preached.
And although reading doe helpe to nourish the fayth which commeth by preaching / yet thys is geuen to the preaching cath exochen, that is by excellency / and for that it is the excellentest and most ordinary meanes / to worke by / in ye hartes of the hearers. The beholding of the creatures / & the consideration of the making of the world and of Gods wisdome / and wonderfull loue appearing in them / doth nourish and strengthen fayth / and yet may it not therefore in efficacy be compared to the preaching of the word of God. And to know that the worde of God preached / hath more force and is more effectuall then when it is red / it is to be obserued whereunto the preaching is compared. It is called a lifting or heauing vp of our sauiour Christ. Lyke vnto the displaying of a banner / as the serpent 1was lift vp in the wildernes. As therefore that which is lyfted vp on hygh / is better and easelyer seene of a great company / then when it standeth or lyeth vpon the grounde or in some valley or low place: so the preaching of the gospell doth offer sooner and easlyer the truth thereof vnto the fayth (which is the eye of the hearer) then when it is red. The same also may bee sayde in that the preaching 2is called a cutting of the worde of God / for as when the meate is cut and shred / it nourisheth more then when it is not so / so lykewyse it is in preaching and reading. And that whiche is brought by the authors of the Admonition / and so scornefully hurled away of Maister Doctor / that S. Paule compareth 3the preaching vnto planting and watering / is a very notable place to proue that there is no saluation / without preaching. For as the husbandman receyueth no frute / vnlesse he both plant and water that which is planted: euen so there is no saluation to be looked for / where there is no preaching. And to thys also may bee well referred that the preaching is called of Saynt Luke an opening of the scriptures 4whereby it is declared / that they be as it were shutte / or clasped / or sealed vp vntill such tyme as they bee by exposition and declaration of them opened. It may bee that God doth sometymes worke fayth by reading only / especially wher preaching cannot bee / and so hee doth sometymes without reading by a wonderfull worke of hys spirite: but the ordinary wayes whereby God regenerateth hys children / is by the word of God / whiche is preached.
- 1John. 3. 14.Iohn. 3. 14.
- 22. Tim. 2. 15.
- 31. Cor. 3. 6.
- 424. Chap. 32.
