Politeuphuia VVits common wealth.

Of Sermon.

Defi. Sermon is speech or talke, commonly vsed of diuine matters and holy Scriptures, confer∣ring either with God, or of God.

SErmons are testimonies of obedience, and obedience to the word of God, is the mother of all vertues. Bernard.

Sermons consist of three heads, reprehenti∣on, admonition, and comfort.

Hearing of Sermons worketh beliefe, and beliefe purchaseth saluation.

Sermons are the vtterance of Angels from the mouthes of good men.

A good mans Sermons are launces to a bad mans conscience, and balme to a penitent sin∣ner.

Honesty is the true beauty of the soule, and sermons the excellency of a good tong. Gre.

Foure things issue frō sermons, Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, and Iustice.

Orations did euer preuaile amongst the ig∣norant, so should sermons amonst Christi∣ans.

Sermons guilt with words and not matter, are like Images, that painted seeme faire, but

being looked into, are found earth.

A sermon of good words and good doctrine is good, but a sermon of good lifes and good actions, is most excellent.

Sermons adorne men with wisedome, and giues thē knowledge of things past, & things to come.

Hee is worthy praise that preacheth to the people a good sermon, but he is more worthy of commendations, that liues himselfe ac∣cording to his teaching.

Sermons raine down knowledge & vnder∣standing, and bring to heauen those which fo∣low them.

All the life of man, which expresseth a wor∣thy end, consisteth in contemplation, and ac∣tion, hearing of Sermons, & imitating them.

The vertue of wisedome, proceedeth from knowledge and reason, gotten by hearing of Sermons.

The knowledge of good & euill, commeth by hearing the word of God preached. Basil.

VVisdom consisteth in consulting and chu∣sing, and sermons in doctrine & exhortation.

Science is a dead knowledge of things, and cannot exchange the wil to folow the known good; but sermons are beames proceeding from that true sonne, which doth not only il∣luminate

the vnderstanding, but a so kindleth the fire of zeale in mens harts. Ambrose.

The vertue of Sermons among other ver∣tues, is like the vertue of sight among the fiue sences.

Sermons haue three eyes, Memory, Vnder∣standing and Prudence.

Preachers in their Sermons, resemble Her∣ralds, declaring the message of their Maister.

Quanto magis quisque in sacris eloquijs assidu∣us fuerit, tanto ex eis vberiorem intelligentiam capit

. Bernard.

Omnia sunt hominum subito fluitantia motu: Tempus in aeternum vox viret vna Dei.