A20559:193
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandments gathered from the mouth of a faithful pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholar in Cambridge.The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandements gathered from the mouth of a faithfull pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholler in Cambridge.
London: printed by John Harison for Thomas Man, 1603London: printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man, 1603
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.
Secondly, this serves to instruct all men that would be called ⟨image 53⟩christians, and be accounted the sons of God, to live so, as that we bring some glory to God by our life. And this Paul bids the bond servants. 1. Tim. 6. 1. Count their masters worthy all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine may not be ill spoken off. Speaking to such as were servants to unbelieving masters, he bids them give them honour and reverence, not for any religion or goodness that could be seen in them, for they were infidels, but for conscience sake, to Gods ordinance, whose place these masters did supply; & that because if they did not those, all the fault should be laid upon the name of God. But how doth he prove that Gods name should be evil spoken of, because, his doctrine should be ill spoken, so that where ever the gospel is slandered, there God himself and his name is dishonoured. So in the second of Titus, Paul also speaking to servants, wills them to show all good faithfulness, & not to pick nor steal, nor to answer again, and that for this reason, that they may adorn the doctrine of Christ Jesus. He would have those which are in the basest estate, and in the lowest condition of all men, even servants and bondservants, in their place to adorn religion, by their good behaviour, in that place. No place is so mean and of so small account, but you may do God good service in it, if he beautify his profession, by an unspotted and pure conversation; for nothing can glorify God more in all this world then when those that will belong and appertain unto him, show what household they be of, by their works, and he that will be esteemed the Son of God, must do more good work then one that is only the son of Adam, this will stop the mouth of wicked men, and mussel them up, that they shall not have a word to bark out against christians and christianity: yea, this will beget a good liking in their harts of that word and that religion, which works so good effects in the life of them that hold it.
Secondly, this serues to instruct all men that would be called ⟨image 53⟩christians, and be accounted the sonnes of God, to liue so, as that we bring some glory to God by our life. And this Paul bids the bond seruants.