Theol. You have spoken the truth. And therefore, sith some must needs take upon them this so great a charge, it will be our best course, to labour much with them in Catechising, and private instructions: and that in most familiar and plain manner. For much good hath been done, and is done, this way. The ignorant sort must be much laboured upon this way: and so, no doubt, much good may be done. ⟨p. 334⟩For, in all labour there is profit. Herein, we1 (that are the Ministers of Christ) must be content to be abased, and to teach the poor ignorant people in most plain manner, asking them many easy questions, & often questioning with them in most plain and loving manner, till we have brought them to some taste and smack of the principles of Christian Religion. We must not be ashamed to use repetitions, and tautologies, and to tell them one thing twenty times over, and over again, here a line, and there a line: here a little, and there a little: precept2 upon precept, as the Prophet speaketh. I know right well, nothing goeth more against the stomach of a scholar, and him that is learned indeed, then to do thus. It is as irksome and tedious, as to teach A. B. C. Some can, at no hand, endure it. But truly, truly I find now, after long experience, that if we will do any good to these simple and ignorant souls, we must enter into this course: and we may not be ashamed of it. For, it will be our crown, and our glory, to win souls, howsoever we be abased. Let us therefore be well content to stoop down, that Christ may be exalted. Let us be abased, that God may be honoured. Let us do all things in great love to Christ, who hath said: If thou lovest me, feed, feed, feed3 my flock. Let us therefore testify our love to ⟨p. 335⟩him, by feeding his flock. Let us do all things in great love and deep compassion towards the poor souls, that go astray. As it is said, that our Lord Jesus was moved to pity, and his bowels did yearn, to see the people as sheep without a shepherd. Let it likewise move us throughly, and make our hearts to bleed, to see so many poor sheep of Christ wandering and straying in the mountains, and wilderness of this world, caught in every bramble, and hanged in every bush, ready to be devoured of the Wolfe.
Theol. You haue spoken the truth. And therfore, sith some must needs take vpon them this so great a charge, it will bée our best course, to labour much with them in Catechising, and priuate instructions: and that in most familiar and plaine manner. For much good hath béene done, and is done, this way. The ignorant sort must be much labored vpon this way: and so, no doubt, much good may be done. ⟨p. 334⟩For, in all labour there is profit. Héerein, we1 (that are the Ministers of Christ) must be content to bée abased, and to teach the poore ignorant people in most plaine maner, asking them many easie questions, & often questioning with them in most plaine and louing maner, till we haue brought them to some taste and smacke of the principles of Christian Religion. We must not be ashamed to vse repetitions, and tautologies, and to tell them one thing twenty times ouer, and ouer againe, héere a line, and there a line: héere a little, and there a little: precept2 vpon precept, as the Prophet speaketh. I know riht well, nothing goeth more against the stomacke of a scholar, and him that is learned indéede, then to doe thus. It is as irkesome and tedious, as to teach A. B. C. Some can, at no hand, endure it. But truely, truely I finde now, after long experience, that if we will doe any good to these simple and ignorant soules, we must enter into this course: and wée may not be ashamed of it. For, it will be our crowne, and our glory, to winne soules, howsoeuer wée be abased. Let vs therefore be well content to stoupe downe, that Christ may be exalted. Let vs be abased, that God may be honoured. Let vs doe all things in great loue to Christ, who hath said: If thou louest me, feede, feede, feede3 my flocke. Let vs therefore testifie our loue to ⟨p. 335⟩him, by féeding his flocke. Let vs doe all things in great loue and déepe compassion towards the poore soules, that goe astray. As it is said, that our Lord Jesus was mooued to pity, and his bowels did yearne, to sée the people as shéepe without a shéepeheard. Let it likewise mooue vs throughly, and make our hearts to bléede, to sée so many poore shéepe of Christ wandring and straying in the mountaines, and wildernesse of this world, caught in euery bramble, and hanged in euery bush, ready to be deuoured of the Wolfe.
- 1Pro. 14. 23.
- 2Isa. 28. 10.
- 3Joh. 21. 15.Ioh. 21. 15.
