ALthough the Iewes , at such time as our sauiour Christ came into the world , had the word of God among them : & had also the temple & Sinagogues where they heard the same read & expounded : yet their state was very miserable , for Christ saith , they wer as shéep without a shepheard : because their teachers , the Scribes & Pharesies , being choaked with couetousnes , & puffed vp with vaine glory , were become stark naught , corrupt in manners , and corrupting the word with their fond gloses : their teaching also was so cold , & with so litle power euen in that which they taught truly , that the people had no great list to heare them . But when Iohn Baptist the forerunner of Christ , was raised vp to publish the beginning of the Gospell , & to prepare the way for the Lord : he like a sounding & shrill Trumpet , with the power of his word shooke their hearts , & rowsed their drowsines , so that from his time the kingdome of heuen suffered violence . When Christ Iesus himselfe vttered his voice in preaching , and his diuine power in working wonders , ther appered such a wonderful maiesty in his person , as did amaze the hearers : whervpon his fame was noised far & néere , so that they came running out of all quarters of the land by heaps , for to sée & heare him , they séemed to forget themselues & their state , in leauing al worldly affaires , as the husbandmen their plough , the Artificers their craftes & sciences , following him into the wildernes with their wiues & their children laggering at their héeles , so great was their zeale . So that , as before almost all did perish in that miserable state they were in : now it séemed that the greatest part , or at lest an innumerable multitude did with such care imbrace the heauenvly doctrine ▪ as that they shuld be most happy , & come to eternal life : but this was otherwise , for our sauior Christ sheweth héere , that of this gret heap & rablement of people , which wer so zealous & trauelled so far to heare him , ther wer thrée parts which did not profit by his doctrine but continued stil damned & forlorne creatures , onely one parte of foure , are true schollers . And because we be ranke hipocrits , prone & redie to deceiue our selues , Christ Iesus laieth open the matter so plainly , & in so familiar a kinde of teaching , that vnles we wilfully blind our selues we cannot but sée how the case standeth in euery of vs , each man in himselfe : for he taketh a similitude from a sower of corne , which going & casting his séed abroad , it lighteth vpon sundrie kinds of ground : some falleth by the way side , where the path is trampled & beaten smooth & hard , by mens féet , & is made like a pauement , & there it lieth aboue the ground altogether vncouered , the Fowles come by and by and picke it vp .

Some falleth into stony ground or rocky , or as S. Luke saith vpon a rocke : where ther is a little thin crust of earth in the top , & some moisture in which the séed is a little couered : & because the earth which doth couer it is but shallowe , it springeth vp quickly & brauncheth , & is fresh & gréene , & being so good , séemeth to be forward corne , & such as would yéeld to the husbandman a plentifull haruest : but because the roote can not spreade it selfe déepe inough to sucke iuice out of the ground , for the nourishment of the blade , when the parching heate of the Sunne lighteth vpon it , then it is dryed vp , and scorched , and dyeth , and neuer bringeth foorth fruite . Some other doth fall among thornes : there is deapth of earth for the séede to growe , so that it springeth vp , and not onely a blade , but also a stalke , and commeth so farre as to haue the eare : but the thornes growe vp with it , ouershadowe and choake it , insomuch that the Corne in the eare , can not haue the benefit of the Sunne to make it ripe : therefore the fruite that it séemeth to bring forth commeth to naught . Some other séeds fall into good ground , and grow vp , and bring foorth seasonable fruite , one karnell an hundreth , another sixtie , another thirtie . This is the Parable : Now for the meaning of it , we are not to séeke farre , neither to goe by coniectures , for Christ himselfe doeth expound and interprete euery part of it a little after in this Chapter : I néed not but to lay open his Exposition . The séede is the word of God : the sower of it is the Preacher and publysher of the same : for as the Sower doth fill his hand and so casteth it abroad vppon the ground , not setting it séede by séede , or choosing a place for euerie séede , but where it lighteth : euen so the Preacher doth cast foorth the word among the people : and looke how the ground is into which it falleth , so doth it prosper : for your hearts are the ground vpon which it is cast : you that are the hearers and among whom the séede is sowen , haue euery one a heart which is one of these foure sorts of grounde , vpon which the séede falleth : & because the séede hath ben & is still daily sowen among ye , I think this parcell of Scripture is verie fit and agréeable : euen as a touchstone for euery one to trie himselfe withall , whether he haue rightly embraced the Gospell , and to his saluation : for what a sottishnesse were this , when we haue so iust & plain a rule , not to measure our selues with it . But going on , on , nothing consider whether we be not one of those thrée euill sorts of ground , which receiue the séede , but bring foorth no fruite , thinking we be well if we professe the Gospell or heare it , after any sort . Let vs goe forward : those which receyue the séede by the waye side , are they which heare the word and doe not vnderstand it , then commeth the euill one , or as Saint Luke saith , the Diuell , and taketh it awaye from their heart . In these first kinde of hearers , we haue to obserue , how that their hearts being hard and smooth lyke a path that is trampled and beaten with mens féete the word hath no entrance , but lieth aboue vncouered : for like as when a man casteth an handful of corne vpon a very hard & smooth path , it is all one as if it were cast vpon a pauement : so also through the custome & deceitfulnes of sinning , the diuel hath made the harts of these vnméet to receiue the heuenly séed of the word : & looke how ye sée Crowes & other foules folow the héeles of the Sower , to picke vp & deuoure such karnells as doe lie vncouered : in like manner doe the diuels come like gréedie foules into the assemblies , wher the word of God is preached , to take it away from the hearts of the people , that it may not grow there . This peraduenture will séeme straunge to some , that Satan shoulde haue anye entraunce into the Church among Gods people , especially when they be about the best and most holy exercises of hearing the word and of prayer . How straunge soeuer it may séeme , and how many soeuer haue bene , or be of that fond & doltish opinion , to thinke that the Diuell hath nothing to doe with them , or commeth not néere them , when they bée about these holye things : we are to beléeue Christ who telleth vs the contrary : & we are wisely to consider , that when we are nightest that which should do our soules good , then is this enimie readiest at hande , and doeth most busely bestirre him . If this were not vttered by our Sauiour Christ himselfe , we might wonder , and for mine owne parte I woulde not cease wondering to see manye hearers which carry away almost nothing which is to any purpose : let a man tell a long storie in a worldly matter , they haue wit inough to recite it in order againe , and to kéepe it in remembraunce a long time after : but let the Preacher speake neuer so plaine , although they sit and looke him in the face , yet if ye enquire of them so soone as they be out at the Church dores , ye shal easely perceiue that ( as the common saieng is ) it went in at the one eare , and out at the other . They will say peraduenture , after this manner , It was a good Sermon , I wold we could follow it : he said very well : he is a perfect ready man in the Pulpet . But aske , what doctrine did he handle ? Then are they at a pause , and set at a dead lift . They will make this answere : we are not able to carry awaye so much as other can , neuerthelesse we hope that we be as good toward God , as they that carry away most . They will also confesse that the word of God is good , and that we should be ruled by it . Let vs therefore déerely beloued , ( if we desire not to be of the number of these ) marke well the subtill sleights , and pollicie of the Diuell , how he handeleth & conueyeth the matter with this kinde of people . There is no doubt of this , but that if he can he will drawe awaye the minde from comming to the Sermon , one pelting let or other must come in the waye : if there be no worldlye businesse to be done : then a paire of cardes or tables or some honest recreation , it should be now no good ciuilitie to parte companye when friendes are met together : this is the surest waye if it maye be obtained : but what if he faile héerein ? They come to the place where the séede-shall be sowen , sit downe , & minde to heare : then the next way is to come with them , and to attend at their elboe , séeking how to depriue them of the word . Now his best way is to bring them asléepe because they were then as good bée absent : or into a slumber , that they maye heare onely a sound and a confused humming , without any perseuerance of the things vttered : or els when they heare any perfect sentence , or a few sentences , they know not why they be vttered , because they hard not that which went before . Such as are not so drousie headed , being wakeful , he séeketh still to conuey some thoughts into their minds , whereabouts they may be occupied , and theyr vnderstanding drawen away : the minde of a man being light and inconstant , if he can put in but one motion , it oftentimes draweth with it so manye lynkes as make vp a whole chaine , in the meane time the Preacher goeth on , and he vnderstandeth not what was sayd , & so when his minde retourneth , he can haue no sound knowledge of the things vttered , but a confused opinion : into these by thoughts , men are oftentimes brought , euen by occasion of some word or sentence which they heard vttered , & are caried so far , that they cannot of long time recouer their minde to bring it again to the matter . Séeing this great danger , we ought when we come to heare Gods word taught , to make account that we go about a very hard worke , that we go to encounter with Satan hand to hand , who seketh then most busily to steale away our hart : that he may make the word fruitles in vs , & cause vs to sinne greuously against God . Ther is no one man which maketh conscience of hearing the word rightly , which setting these things together , the reuerence we owe vnto it , the stedines of our mind , which should be vpon it , and the care to kéepe it , but will easily graunt that it is as hard and painful a trauell to do this , as for the man that worketh in the sorest bodely labour . Héere is therefore a lesson for euery man to apply to himself when he is going to heare the word , to thinke , I am now going about a great worke , I shall be too weake if the Lorde God doe not mightelye assist me : for I am not to sit down there at ease , but to wrastle and struggle with the Diuell , & with all the corruptions of mine owne flesh , and hardnesse of my heart : that my minde maye be kept stedfast vpon the word , that I maye receiue it with all reuerence & feare , as the worde of the great and glorious God : not to iudge of it at mine owne pleasure , but to craue wisedome from the Lord : not to heare it and to let it go , but to kéep it as a most precious Iewell locked vp in my heart , that I may guide my selfe thereby . And we shall be a great deale the rather moued to this diligence , if we consider what a companion we carie about with vs , and what a guest we lodge withall , when we he such as heare the word , and doe not kéepe it . For Christ telleth vs that it is the diuell which doeth this : which as a gréedie Fowle deuoureth the séede which was sowen in our heart : if any make none account to haue him possessing their minde , & hardening their harts against the word : then let them continue in their sloth to heare with drousie minds , to heare & not to vnderstand : to regard the holy word , but as the word of a man : to make little account to kéepe it . But if he thinke it a most miserable thing to haue so filthy a beast , and so foule a spirit to lodge in his brest : if he thinke it to be a most vile slauery , to be vanquished & ouercome of so horrible an enimy , to be lead captiue & kept thrall vnder such a tyrant : then let him thinke also how miserable a thing it is to be such a kind of ground as doth receiue the séede by the way side : for vndoubtedly howsoeuer men seeme to defy the diuell , and curse him as though he should not come nigh them , yet séeing it is no mortall man but the Lord Iesus Christ himselfe , who telleth vs héere that the diuell is not onely nigh , but in these kinde of hearers , euen hardening theyr heartes , & blinding their eies , we ought most constantly to beléeue it . He that shall déeply weigh the estate of our church at this day , wil soone be brought to confesse , that there be many of this first sort of hearers , they shall perceiue it right well by this , that they are not able in any wise to iudge or put difference betwéene sound and sincere preaching , and vaine pratling : they know not when the Preacher doth minister vnto them wholsome foode , & when there is nothing but chaffe & winde : ye shal heare them highly commend some Sermon , as a matter worthy to be written in letters of gold , when as indéed it deserueth not so much as to be noted with a coale . I speak not of those sily wretches , which were neuer as yet acquainted with preaching , for it is no great maruell , though they be not able to discerne chalke from chéese : or being blind for to iudge of coulours , but to such as long time haue ben hearers , & yet neuer the wiser , because they are not able to iudge when sound and necessary conclusions are drawne out of the word : but is al one with them , whether the reason that is made be good or bad , strong or weake : yea further ye shall perceiue that euen a little shew of a reason although neuer so doltish , being against true godlinesse , doth more preuaile with them , then a multitude of infallible proofes , although they be neuer so sure : and that which is so grose & absurd that a childe may laugh at , séemeth to them a verye strong piller to leane vnto . Ther néedeth no more when a man preacheth vnto them , but a glorious shew of learning , a swéet ringing voice , & matters so strange & straungely handeled , that they may be brought into a wonderment of that they know not . And Satan hath many chapplaines fit for this turne , to serue the vain humor of such people , & to set forth themselues after a pompous sort : more séeking their owne vaine glory , then the glorye of the Gospell , in the conuersion of the people . The second kinde of ground are they which receiue the séed vpon the hard rock , where ther is some entrance , & the word hath a shallow root in them , for as it were the top of their heart is soft after a sort , and there it is couered a litle , & it groweth vp quickly , and springeth fresh , they séeme to be stout and excellent professours , they brag of great zeale : a man would take them to be sincere , & so they take themselues : but when the Sun ariseth , that is , the firie trial or parching heat of persecution , they stumble & fal away , and because the word had no déepe roote in them , it withereth and bringeth forth no fruit : these also are not profited by the word of grace , but are stil cast awayes and damned creatures : in this kinde of ground , or in these hearers , if we note well , we shall sée that which is straunge and wonderfull : when Christ sayth and testifieth of them , that they receiue the word with ioy : these hée not blasphemers or persecutors of the word : they be not contemners which regarde not at all to heare it : they come not vnder a shew or pretence as to a thing which otherwise they haue no care nor féeling of , or which they delight not for to heare , but how ? They receiue it with ioy , & take such pleasure therein , that returning they can say , surely this was a very notable péece of worke & wel handeled , I am glad that I heard it , it doth me euen as much good as my meate , I would go a mile to heare the like again . Is not this then meruailous and fearefull , that a man may goe thus far , & yet be a castaway , and a forlorne wretch ? It is not a thing to be wondered at when the holy scriptures giue sentence against those traiterous villaines which set themselues against God , and tread down his laws : but when God vttereth this sharp sentence against this zealous kinde of men , if it cause vs not to wonder , yet it may make vs to tremble , when we see that a man may procéed thus far in religion & yet be damned . When we vnderstand that a man may be zealous , & redy to heare preaching , vnderstandeth , carrieth away , letteth it grow in his hart , hath some ioy in it , and yet neuer the better , abiding still vnder the curse . But there be some which will obiect against me & say , this is no good manner of teaching , for the vse of true teaching is to build vp and edifie the faith : but this séemeth to take away the certeintie of faith from al , so that no man can tell whether he shall be saued : For by what meanes can a man make a better triall & proofe of his faith then this , that he giueth eare to Gods word , vnderstandeth it , carieth it away , & ioyeth in it ? If such a man may be damned , who may not dispaire ? I aunīwere with S. Paule . 1. Cor. 10. 12. He that thinketh he standeth , let him take héed he do not fal . If the admonition were necessary to the Corinthes , it is necessary for vs al One of the principall ends & vses of preaching , is to giue men warning that they doe not deceiue themselues with euery kind of faith or ioy in the word : but to looke for good & sound triall in themselues : which is not the way to bring men to dispaire , but to bring them to true godlinesse : to cause them to shake of securitie & loosenesse in the seruice of God : to beware least their heartes be hard still within : it causeth men to try themselues least they shuld be deceiued by a vaine shadow of a dead & fruitlesse faith : for Christ saith , that these beléeue ( for so it is expressed by S. Luke the 8. 13. ) & ioy in the word , and yet are damned . Then let vs come to the particular applieng of this point : to sée howe wée are to deale with our selues . When ye receiue the word take héede that ye giue it depth of earth inough , looke that your heart be not soft and pliable inough a little aboue , and a hard rocke of stone within , but sée that it be digged and softened to the bottome , that the word may take root déepe inough . Alas , what a miserable thing is it , when Christ hath giuen vs warning héere so plainly , for a man to be a zealous Gospeller , not onelye willing to heare , but hath an earnest desire , and trauelfeth to heare , taketh pleasure & delight when he heareth , yet neuertheles , because he taketh no héed therto , his heart within is so stony , that he heareth but to his further increse of damnation . Many think it goeth well with them , when as they receiue this testimonie from men : he is a sound Protestant , he fauoureth & delighteth in the truth , these indéed be great tokens of the feare of god , but yet we are not to rest in them : our chiefe dealing is betwéene God & our heart : & that in this thing whether our heart be not hard and rockie . Those are a thousand times happie , which féele melting hearts & soft affections , so that Gods word doth pearse into them , and causeth them to tremble at the maiesty & power of the same : their tender heart doth sigh & mourne for their iniquitie . As on the contrary part , they which make no conscience of sinne , but are hardened in their affections , although they séeme to be in good case , yet are they cursed and miserable . Let euery man therefore that goeth from the Sermon , carry this with him : I heare by Christes owne words that there is a stonie ground where the séede falleth : where it groweth but not déep inough , it springeth vp but doth not bring forth fruite , this is a wofull case , if I should be in the number of these , for then all my labour is lost , which I bestow in frequenting Sermons , yea , it were much better that I had neuer heard : I féele that I ioy in it , I would not for any thing but I had heard it : but Christ saith that the reprobate , some of them do heare the word with ioy , so that if I looke not narrowly to mine owne hart , I may for all this be damned : therfore I must not satisfie my selfe with this , but see that I couer the worde déepe inough , that my heart be softned in such sort , that I féele the roote goeth déepe , yea , so déepe , that it can neuer bée rooted out : And therefore let him continually crie vnto God and say : O Lord make softe my harde and stonie heart : let it be a melting heart , that thy holy worde may growe in it for euer . I woulde to GOD , this doctrine of our Sauiour Christ , might make euerye of vs to tremble and shake ( as indéede if it were well weighed , it is so fearfull , that it might cause the haire of our heades to stand vp ) for then would we not so loosely and securely walke in the hardnes of our hearts : there would not be so manye backsliders in time of persecution : there would not be so many braue boasters and praters of Religion , who are ready to pull in their horns , and to kide their heades , so soone as there is anye feare of daunger , or lykelyhoode of persecution : neither would men beare themselues in hand that they ●e iolly Professors , when they haue but a little tasted of the word , and are no more but emptie barrels , which giue a great sounde . Héere then we be set a work with great toyle , to haue this same harde stonye ground made soft , and fit to receiue this heauenlye séede . And he which is not carefull in this poynt , to take paines , ye shall sée him waxe so hard , that euen as a continuall rayne dropping vppon a Rocke of stone maketh it neuer the softer , so nothing can make his heart to relent . This may teach vs then to cease maruelling , when we sée so many which willingly giue themselues to be taught , and haue still little remorre of sinne . The Lord for his mercie sake make vs wise and sharpe sighted to iudge of our selues : not to be leade on forwarde in a carnall profession , but to giue credite to our heauenlye teacher , who hath héere opened his holy mouth to instruct vs so plainlye , and before hande to warne vs of the great daunger : that we may stir vp our selues , and de quickened in our dull spirits , with all humble submission , and boowing downe our neckes , to receiue the doctrine of our Lorde , and to open our heartes in such sorte that hée may digge in them , and thrust in his spade to the bottome . For otherwise , it cannot goe well with vs . If this wer practised among vs , we shoulde not haue so many olde rustie Protestants : which if a man talk with them from morning to night , they are able to continue speach in reciting stories and places of Scripture , and will vtter matter agaynst the doctrine of the Pope : but let a man vrge them with the doctrine of regeneration , and stande vpon the necessitie of sincere repentaunce , showing them that they must be trulye humbled vnder the burthen of theyr sinnes , that they must mortifie and subdue their carnall lusts : this is to hard a crust for their old téeth . This matter doth marre all : this doeth robbe them of their glorie : and therefore they cannot willynglye abide ▪ to heare of it . Let vs come now to the third kinde of ground , which receyueth the séed among the thorns : héere is depth inough of earth : so that as the second sort of hearers séemed to go far beyond the first , so these séeme to goe farre beyond them , and to come nigher to eternall life , for héere the word doth grow and hath roote so déepe , that it springeth foorth so farre , that Christ saith it groweth vp , and the thornes grow vp with it , the stalk doth shoote foorth the eare , and lacketh but riping . For this may be proued by Saint Luke , who saith that they be not ( Telesphorountes ) that is , such as beare ripe and timely fruite : for these professors doe many good workes , and séeme to bring forth the fruites of the Gospell : and that in such wise that men cannot alwayes discerne them , but thinke their déedes to be notable : but Christ Iesus doth shew that their works before God , ( who onely cannot be deceyued ) are as Corne which lacketh riping , which béeing ouershadowed with bushes , withereth in the eare and commeth to naught : this is a daungerous case if we looke not to it : That a man may heare the Gospell preached , carrie it away , be moued thereby to doe many good workes : and yet be damned . He is a thousande folde madde therefore , which doeth not looke to himselfe in this point : to trye what soundnesse there is in the fruits of his faith , and how sincerely he doth imbrace Gods word . As before I sayde , that some would obiect and say , this wil destroy the faith , so am I sure that héere it will be said much more : because this séemeth to take away the surest tryal of faith : if a man may not by and by saye , I haue good workes , therefore I haue the true and lyuely faith : I aunswere , that whosoeuer hath any good worke in him , the same hath the true faith , which hath brought foorth that good worke , because it is impossible without faith to do any good thing , or to haue any good motion or intent : but withall I saye , that it is one thing to séeme good before men , and another thing for to be good indéede before God . In outwarde appearaunce , there is little difference betwéene the good déeds of them which feare God sincerely , and the vntimely fruite of worldlyngs : but God whose eye doth not looke vpon the outward shew , but the inward affection , séeth which procéedeth of faith , and which doth procéede of vaine glorie , or some other sinister respect , & putteth as great difference betwéene them , as he did betwéen the sacrifices of Cayn & Abel . We must take héed then , that the fruits of our faith be ripe & timely , otherwise they be good but in shew . We must come then to sée first what these thorns are : in S. Mathew they are called , the cares of this world & the deceitfulnes of riches : in Saint Luke : the cares of riches , & pleasures of this lyfe . And in very deed , these thornes doe grow together . For were it not for the pleasures of this life , there would be no cares of riches : he which doth séeke gréedelye for wealth , it is eyther because he woulde be able to haue wherewithall to fill the lusts of the flesh , and to pamper his body delicately : or els to set forth himselfe in pride , & to clyme ambitiously to honour . For so long as a man doth take pleasure in any of these , so long he is couetous & raketh together so much , that as the common saieng is , he raketh vp the Diuell and all . What must we doe then ? Our heartes are as a ground that is ranke , & bringeth foorth many wéeds : we are set a work as God speaketh by his Prophet Ieremy . chap. 4. 4. Plow vp your falow , & sow not among the thorns : we must put all diligence & care that our hearts may be rid of such noisome wéeds as will choke the word of God , & make that it shal not bring forth fruit in vs . So long as we suffer any of these in vs , either to loue daintie & delycate féeding of our flesh , and to fill our selues with the lusts thereof , or to be gallant in the eies of men , & hautely to lift vp our selues in our vainglorious mindes , & for the maintenance of these delights bend our care to the world : so long shall we be vnprofitable scholers in the school of Christ . Alas poore men which wold faine come to God , & yet are glewd to the world , they offer one hand to Christ , & the other to the diuel : they can talke of the spirit , & yet are led by the flesh : the gospel is in their mouth , & couetousnesse lodgeth in their hearts : their workes glister & are gréene before men , and are withered before God : they séeme to be faithfull & are faithles , to be heires of glory , & yet are the children of confusion . Ther are great plentie of these herers , & specialy in such places , wher ther is wealth and honours : how many fall away cheked with the world ? And yet we are not afraid of our selues to take héede that we stand fast . A great mercie of God it is that we haue not onely the doctrine layed before vs , but also fearfull examples : so that we may buy our wit with other mens cost . For when we sée the world with delights and pleasures , with conetousnesse and ambition , to carrie away those which professe the Gospell , is not our owne matter in hande , are not we made of the same mettall they are , doth not the world assault vs as it doth them ? Yes , and we shal be ouercome also , if the Lorde haue not mercie vpon vs . The hardnesse of this worke , ought not to discorage or make vs slack , but hearing what Christ saith , whome we ought to beléeue , the more harde , the more we are to stirre vp our selues , vnlesse we make small reckoning of the saluation of our soules . He that shall yéeld and giue ouer the digging vp of these thornes , because he perceiueth they grow déepe in his heart , and spring as fast as he can cut them : is not worthy to enter into life : be which will not continually till and wéede this grounde , may well haue the Gospell in some sorte for to grow in him , but not to saue him . Déerly beloued we must be surely perswaded of this , that as there be many godly men , so haue they atteined it with great labour and toile , yea , they are still set a worke and cannot come to an end , because these thornes cannot be vtterlye ro●ted out .

Those are greatly ouerséene which thinke it to be an easie thing to professe Christ vnto saluation : & make no further account but to bée Gospellers , at ease : if they can vanquish in disputation , to thinke they haue won the field : no , no , they haue a heart which is harde to ouercome : they haue thornes which wil not easily be destroied : héere lieth the victory and getting of the spurs : this man shall be crowned because he hath willingly giuen vp himselfe to the power of Gods grace to purge his heart , and to make roome for the holy worde , that it may grow there alone , and not be ouershadowed and choaked . Now let vs marke well that which is sayde héere , both of the stonie and also of the thornie ground , how farre they procéede in professing Christ , and imbracing his Gospell : and we shall plainely sée , how greatly those carnal Gospellers which will not haue faith to be tried by the fruits , are deceiued : Faith , faith , ( say they ) is that which doth iustifie , it is true indéede , but not a fruitlesse faith : whosoeuer beléeueth shal be saued : it is euen so , but not after euery kinde of beliefe : for then why should not these two sorts of herers be saued , it is meruailous when the Scripture is so euident , & our sauiour Christ speaketh so plainly , that this grose & doltish errour shoulde possesse the minds of so many . But indéed it is a swéet doctrine , when a man may let loose the raines to all the lusts of the slesh , at the least thus farre , not to vere & torment himselfe in subduing them , & yet by faith to be saued . When heauen & hell méete together , and God and the diuel be reconciled , then shal these fleshly Epicures , and vaine proude men come to their happinesse . When Christ shall denie that which he hath héere vttered , then shall these bée true beléeuers .

Let men therfore take héede that they be not deceiued , nor made slacke in looking to the fruits of their faith & mortification of vaine fleshly lusts , through the prophane pratling of such worldly belly Gods : beléeue not them , but beléeue Iesus Christ , who telleth you that it is not inough to heare the word , & to receiue it with ioy , & to let it grow in vs , vnlesse it bring forth reasonable and timelye fruit in vs .

Againe , let vs marke how strong and inuincible an Argument may be gathered out of this text against all contemners and despisers of the word , such as care not for hearing : these thrée sorts of hearers , are before them , & néerer to christianitie then they , and yet come short : therefore it must néeds follow , that such ignorant Atheists , as neither know , nor desire to knowe any thing aboue this world , are very far from God , although they would séeme with their mouth & lips to draw néere vnto him . For if this matter were well obserued , men would not regard nor haue those men in estimation to be good & honest , who are very dogs or swine , not regarding the precious pearle of the Gospel , but redy to bark & bite at those which bring it . Let a man inquire thus , not of a few , but of the greatest part of men , how saie yée to such a man , what thinke ye of him ? he is ( saye they ) a verye good man , a good natured man , a gentle person trustie to his friend , sure of his word , & doth kéepe as good an house as anye man of his calling in all this shire . But how is he affected vnto Gods word : is he zealous in religion ? Nay surely , I did neuer heare that he did deale the way , he is a very quiet man , no medler at al. O notable honest man , as deuout in the laws of God as the horse which he rideth vpon , as careful to haue gods glorie aduaunced , as the swine in the ●●ie , a great deale behinde these vnprofitable hearers , which are ●●●●● waies : & yet forsooth being very bruit beasts before God ( in the state they be in , yet vnlesse the Lord call them to bée zealous of his glorye ) they must be reputed for the best men . Our fieldes are full of such Cattell as these , and if the Lord do not put too his helping hand ; our case is very miserable . If any of those which were so zealous to heare , that they woulde to their hinderaunce in worldly matters leaue off their businesse , and follow preaching , as these which flocked to heare Christ , wer yet neuerthelesse relected , because they did not so sincerely as they should : what shal we say of those which wil not step out at their dores , euen when they haue nothing to do , vnles it be to sit at cards or tables . If such a man maye be damned , as is mooued with some delight , when he heareth the worde preached : What shall we iudge of those woodden blockes and sottish men , who féele no more ioye in it then a post , when it is vttered vnto them ? If ther be some go to destruction , which conforme themselues and haue a shew of fruite by the worde : wher shal those wretches appeare , whom the holy word of God cannot moue one whit , to reforme their disordered & beastly behauiours . I néede not stande to mueigh out of this place against those helhounds , which dare open their mouths to reproch and slaunder the setting forth of the Gospell . The Lord diminish the number of them .