The second is zealous teaching , as if Salomons mouth had beene set a kindling with the coale of zeale that touched Esayes mouth : Esay . 6 , 6 for the more wise the preacher was , the more hee taught the people knowledge . The thirde is holy life , wherein such men participate of the goodnesse of God : leading men by example of life , as wel as by word of mouth . And therefore a booke and hande were both presented to Ieremie . Iere. 1 , 9 And this causeth the people to heare as willingly , as the preacher speaketh diligentlie . As Salomon caused the people to heare : so Christ saith , Matt. 15 , 10 we must heare and vnderstand : for Salomon taught the people knowledge .

Hauilah hath not onelie good golde : but it hath also Bdelium , Gene. 2 , 11 12 and the Onix stone , and wisedome comprehendeth many good things . Much teaching , and little learning : much speaking , and little hearing : much preaching and litle practising , 2 Co. 14 , 28 maketh men in yeares children in vnderstanding . The wisedome of Salomon hath proceeded immediatelie from God , that graunted him that fauour in Gibeon , 1 Reg. 3.6 and as God gaue it him , so he giueth it to his people : for such as haue freelie receiued must freelie giue . When the Queene of Saba had sounded Salomons wisedome she said : 1 Reg. 10 , 9 Blessed bee the Lorde thy God which loued thee , to set thee on the throne of Israell , because he loued Israell euer , and made thee King , to doe equitie and righteousnesse .

Honouring the giuer , and praising the teacher of wisedome . Psal. 78.73 Dauid ruled the people by the dexteritie of his handes , and Salomon instructed them by the wisedome of his heart . So the king that careth not for his subiectes , like Salomon , 2. Chro. 15 3 is like Asa that let his people be without a priest , to keepe them in ignorance . The Magistrate that doth not zealouslie indeuour to minister discipline , is like the vniust Iudge , Luke . 18.5 that would not doe iustice but for shame . The pastor that instructeth not his flocke painfully , is like the abhomination of desolation : Matt. 24 , 15 for hee sitteth where hee ought not . The father that bringeth not vp his sonne in the feare of God , 1. Sam. 2 , 22 23 , 24 is like olde Elie : And the mother that nurtureth not her daughter vertuouslie , can claime no kindred of the wife of Abraham : 1. Pet. 3.6 for they bee Saraes daughters who doe Saraes duties . Paule commended the grandmother and naturall mother of Timothie , for their carefull keeping of him in that faith , which maketh men wise to saluation . 2. Tim. 1 , 5

And he thought that Titus was neuer wise enough , Titus . 2.2 vntill he could teach all sortes their dueties . Because the Church is like a ship , and like a vine , and like a haruest , and like a bodie . For sith it is a ship , all shoulde helpe to guide it ( like the Marriners that were troubled in the tempest where Ionas was ) for their owne safetie . Iona. 1 , 4 , 5 Seeing it is a vine al should helpe to plant the vine , in hope to drinke the wine : as Noah dranke of the vine that he planted . And seeing it is an haruest , they that looke to mowe must learne to sowe . Gene. 9 , 21 And if it bee a body , let euerie member doe his duetie . When Elie was olde , and sate in his chaire with his sight dimme , his handes shaking , his legges feeble , his back weake , and his heart trembling , hee was so vnwildie that with feare he fell from his chaire , 1 Sam. 4.18 and brake his necke . Serue God then while you are yong , that he may saue you , when you sit in a chaire for verie age like olde Elie. The impotent must bee borne withal , for they shewe that we may haue our limmes , but not the vse of them , as a man may haue fire in a flint stone , and yet feele no heate . Therefore said Christ , that Lazarus laye at the rich mans gate . Luke . 16 , 20

An image is so called , partelie because it is the likenesse of the thing it doeth represent : but speciallie because it is the imagination of man , Gene. 6 , 5 whose thoughts beeing onelie euill , hee imagined that hee coulde make his maker . As Iereboam saide , Iere. 44 , 17 The calues that he erected in Dan and Bethel were the gods that brought Israel from Egypt : 1 Reg. 12 , 28 So the meaning of the Preacher is , that hee which hath the chiefe place in the Church , and yet is like Dagon in the Temple : hauing a mouth that is shut vp like Iericoes gates : A tongue , Iosua . 6 , 1 and yet possessed with a dumme diuell , hauing eares & heareth not his duetie , and eyes but leadeth not the blind .

He whose wisedome is pregnant , whose learning is competent , and whose bodie is healthful , & yet is in al points helples in his calling , that is an Idoll .

The purest water with stil standing soone stinketh , and is noysome , like those waters of Ierico . 2 Reg. 2 , 19 Iames. 5 , 3 Coine horded vp , is subiect to cankering . And one talent must be vsed : Luke . 19 , 23 for thy Lord looketh for his owne with aduantage . He that said , Psal. 128 , 2 Thou shalt eate the labour of thy owne hands , ment that men should earne breade before they eate bread . As Paul saide , 2 Thes. 3 , 10 He that will not worke let him not eate . For such as eate that which they earne not , Gen , 3 , 19 doe refuse the burden of the sonnes of Adam . And transgresse that lawe : 2. Thes. 3 , 12 eate your owne breade . But Salomon is like the honey Bee , giuing vs the sweete that we neuer sweat for .

Salomon had not all his wisedome at once , but the more wise hee was the more hee taught the people knowledge . Exo. 24 , 18 Hee attended on Gods leisure for wisedome , like Moses for the lawe . And the people tyed them selues to the preaching time , as the Cripples at Bethesda to the Angels mouing of the water . Iohn . 5 , 3 All cannot say like Esay , Esay . 50.4 The Lorde hath giuen mee a tongue of the learned : Esay . 62.1 but all must saie like Esay , For Sions sake I wil not hold my peace . They that cannot doe what they would , must will what they can . Actes , 3 , 6 As Peter saide : Golde and siluer haue I none , but such as I haue I giue thee . Iob said , Iob. 31 , 17 that hee gaue of his bread to the hungrie : and Salomon imparted his wisedome to the ignoraunt . As birds recorde not alwaies , but sometimes they sing out : as after buds commeth fruite : Num. 17 , 8 So preachers deuise how to make you heauenly wise : and bud like Aarons rod , Iohn . 5 , 17 to giue vnto you the neuer dying fruite . My father worketh hitherto , & I worke ( said Christ ) So no time is left for idlenes , nor any occasion slipt ouer , wherein or wherby we may benefite our brethren by interpreting the Scriptures , as Christ did to the Disciples in the way to Emaus : Luk. 24 , 27 Matt. 13.52 that they may be able so bring out of their treasure things both new and old .

There bee short tales , and our life is likened to one of them : to admonish vs that seing our daies weare out of date , Psal. 90 , 9 as a shorte tale that is tolde draweth quickly to conclusion , therefore all our life is little enough to doe good in , and we should stil be helping them that doe most neede , and chieflie desire our aide .

Whether it bee in temporall matters , or in spirituall affaires , Nehemiah saide at the feast of Taberna●les : Eate of the fat , Nehe. 8 , 10 and drinke of the sweete , and sende parte to such as haue none .

And Christ opened the Scrip●ures to them that talked of the scrip●ures : seeing the Preacher taught the people knowledge , howe say the Papistes , that ignoraunce is the mother of deuotion ? The doctrine of Salomon the preacher was it from heauen or of men ? if it bee from heauen , vpon paine of damnation they must beleeue it : if of men , for shame let it not bee vnconfuted . Christ was of Salomons minde , for hee said : Iohn . 17 , 3 This is eternall life , to knowe thee the true God and Iesus Christ whome thou hast sent : but by the Popes principle they that will be saued , must be ignorant . Roma . 10.2 Paul condemned that deuotion that was not begotten of knowledge : the papistes commend deuotion , and condemne knowledge , as though euerie one should not loue him that doth beget , Iohn . 5 , 1 Matt. 22.29 as well as him that is begotten . You erre because you knowe not the scriptures ( saide Christ ) nay saieth the Pope , the Church cannot erre . Such as are blinde , and woulde faine see , thinke themselues still out of the way : but they that are wilfully blind , think like Papistes that they cannot steppe awrie .

They that kept knowledge vnder locke and key , Matt. 23 , 13 claime kindred of the Papistes : for they neither open to other nor enter themselues . When talents were deliuered , Luke , 19.13 the owner said , Occupie till I come : softe and faire saith the Papist , for we may do works of supererogation , and so you may soone haue your owne with aduauntage : Luke . 17 , 10 as though none of them were vnprofitable seruantes , but could performe their duties and more too . You ●●e howe truly the Pope is called An●●christ , Matt. 28 , 19 for opposing himselfe against ●hrist : Christ saide , Goe and teach all ●ations : The Pope saith , stay & hold ●our peace . Esay . 62 , 1 Therefore Esay thwar●●th him with , For Sions sake I wil not ●old my peace .

Preachers loue Sion for Sions sake , ●hey loue the Church , because it is ●he Church of God . 1 Cor. 4 , 1 , 2 They studie to ●nstruct you , and therefore are called ●tewards to giue that to you which is giuen to them : of whome it must bee ●ulfilled that was saide to our Sauiour Christ : Mark . 12 , 14 Thou teachest the way of God ●ruly .

And the people must profit by his paines , as the Corinthians did by Pauls preaching , 1 Corin. 1 , 5 who thanked God ●hat they were made rich in all learning and knowledge . Eccles. 1.7 As all riuers runne into the Sea that it may sende them backe to benefite a common wealth : so God hath heaped manie blessings vpon one man , that he might help other that hath them not . Therfore Salomon caused the people to heare that the Pastor and the people might consent together in the word ; 1 Reg. 7 , 13 Acts. 4 , 6 as Salomon and Hiram agreed in the Temples worke : hee must teach like the Apostles , and they must heare like Mary . Luke . 10 , 39

The teacher applying him to the capacitie of the hearer , and the hearers harkening attentiuely to his doctrine : Exod. 25 , 20 as the Cherubins that couered the mercie seate looked one towarde another . God mooued attention before he spake to Israell , and Dauid ( by Gods example ) conditioneth with them , That if they will come and heare him , Psal. 34 , 11 hee will teach them the feare of the Lord , which proueth not that if the flocke hold backe from hearing them , the preacher may with drawe his speaking . If Sion woulde not heare for her owne good , Esay . 62 , 2 Ezec. 2 , 5 yet Esay must open his mouth for the churches sake : and Ezechiell must speake in the name of the Lorde , that they may knowe that there hath beene a Prophet among them : for his sure discharge , and their certaine confusion .

The Israelites alwaies camped where the Arke was , Iosua . 3 , 5 and if Christians would attende vpon the Church , that woulde bee verified of the Preachers paines in them , that was spoken of the twelue stones that Ioshua erected in Iordan : Iosua . 4 , 9 There they haue remained vntill this daie . But this maketh a great many to spend their time as idly as the prodigall son consumed his money vainly . Luke . 15.13 That sinne hath so many & so mightie patrones to sooth it vp : as the high priestes harted the Souldiers with we will saue you harmelesse . Matt. 28.14

Therefore men are seldome or neuer touched in conscience with the Preachers paines , Iohn 23 , 22 as the Disciples were in spirite with Christes spirite : but sit in the Church as though they neither knewe where they were , nor what to doe as Israel in captiuity said , How shall wee sing the Lordes song in a strange land ? Psal. 137 , 4

But take heed , for your conscience is like your eye : for as the least hurt offendeth the tender eye , so your conscience will accuse you both of euery idle houre , and of euery minute that you haue misspent . And men sleepe most , when they should wake most , like those fond Virgins who thought their oyle would neuer bee spent , Matth. 25 , 5 and as the prodigall sonne thought his purse bottomles : but you see it is wisdome to haue oyle of our owne , for The iust man must liue by his owne faith . Abac. 2.4

Though the Preachers haue the booke in their handes , yet they holde the lawe in their mouth . Therefore saide God to Ezechiel , Ezech. 2 , 8 Open thy mouth and eate that I giue thee . And to Iosuah : Iosua . 1 , 8 Let not this booke of the lawe depart out of thy mouth . Matth. 11 , 7 So you must heare with your eares , and hearken with your heart , because the Iewes went but to see Iohn Baptist , they caried eies chiefely : but such as come to heare a Preacher , bring eares specially . Euerie gift was giuen to edifie , as eyes to see with , eares to heare with : and they must bee imployed in their seuerall seruice . Therefore saide Iohn that hee wrote that which our eies haue seene , 1 Iohn . 1 , 1 our eares haue heard , and our handes haue handled of the booke of life . Gen. 2 , 17 Hee that of all the trees in the garden kept but one vntouched , of all the seuen daies requireth but one to bee sanctified to himselfe : Exo. 20 , 10 and if wee cannot affoorde him that we wronge him much . As the meane is directed to the ende : so God sanctified the seuenth daie vnto vs , that wee might still keepe it holie vnto him . And therefore we assemble our selues to the house of God to heare the worde of God : as the people said one to an other concerning Ezechiels preaching : Ezec. 33.30 Come I pray you , let vs goe to the house of the Lord , and heare what is the worde that commeth from the Lorde .

When God commaunded that bels should bee hanged on Aarons garment hee gaue this reason for it ; That when Aaron goeth into the holie place before the Lorde , Exo. 28 , 35 his sound may bee hearde . So that if Preachers must sound like Aarons bels in their office of teaching , that they may bee hearde , then people must harken like Israell to his sounde , that they may bee fruitfull like the pomegranats on Aarons garment . GOD woulde haue a course of speakers , and a course of hearers : a course of teachers , and a course of learners : a course of Preachers , and a course of practisers : Psal. 122.3.4 when the Psalmist said that Ierusalem was builded like a Citie at vnitie in it selfe ; hee prooued it with : For thither the tribes goe vp , euen the tribes of the Lorde to testifie to Israell to giue thankes to the name of the Lorde .

So that Ierusalem is neuer builded like a citie at vnitie in it selfe , vntill the seruants of God assemble themselues willinglie to serue the Lorde . Therefore come diligently and spende your time fruitfullie in the house of the Lorde , least ye depart from the word like Iudas from the Sacrament , Luke . 22.3 as though you had tasted the sauour of death . Luke , 22.3 Sitte not in the house of God like Ioseph in the Iaile : Gene , 40 , 14 thinking euerie minute a moneth vntill you bee gone , you must forget your own people , and your fathers house , and incline your eare to consider what God saith before hee will haue pleasure in your beautie . Psal. 45.10 11

Matth. 13.7 Some trees are fruitlesse of themselues , and keepe the ground so too , and such are dumme ministers , who haue no heauenlie wisedome themselues , and much lesse can teach the people knowledge : Matt. 21 , 19 and therefore are cursed like the Figge tree . Some grounde is barren by nature , and maketh the trees fruitelesse that growe therein , and such are the hard hearted people ; in whome the immortall seede can take no deepe roote : and these are hopelesse , Matt. 13 20 21 like that stonie ground in the Gospel , who haue only the name , Apoc. 3 , ● but not the nature of the true Church ; as the Sardians were saide to liue when they were deade indeede .