The Apostles and other in their time, did not long continue in one place to learne* 1.1 the peoples manners, and yet did they muche preuaile by preaching: neither is it so hard a matter to know the peoples manners and conditions, though a man be not perpetually resident among them.
The word of God (his name be praysed therefore) hath bin effectuall in England, and numbers are by the same conuerted from superstition, blindnesse, and ignorance, to the true knowledge of God. But this is an old and vsuall obiection of the Anabap∣tists against the Church of Christ, that in their Churches there is a manifest amendmēt* 1.2 of life, but in other Churches, which seeme to professe the gospell, there appeareth no such frute: & that the gospel is preached, but no man the better. This I say, is the slaunderous speach of the Anabaptists against those Churches, from the which they haue deuided themselues, and it is very oft vsed by you.
You must thinke that there be Pastors and Preachers in England, that vnder∣stand the state of the people, and know what discretion to vse in their sermons and exhortatiōs, as well as you can teach them. But this is most true, that as you thinke none learned but your selfe, so do you also iudge all men to lacke both wit add discre∣tion but your selfe. And here in this place haue you taken vpon you this censure most confidently, I will not say arrogantly.
In the end of this diuision you conclude thus, the knowledge of the estate of the people cannot be knowne without a cōtinual abode with them: therfore a continual residence is necessary. You must proue the Antecedent, for it is false. The Apostle knew (so farre as it was* 1.3 necessary for him to knowe) the Romaines, the Corinthians, Galatians and other Churches to whome he wrote, and yet was he not continually resident among them▪ And so did the other Apostles and Preachers, whiche were not resident in any one place: and yet a preacher may do good in preaching among them, whome he knoweth not, for it is God that directeth him in his words and matter. And for as muche as he cannot but knowe that euery congregation consisteth of diuers mindes and affecti∣ons, therefore (excepte he be voyde of discretion) he will so moderate and temper hys sermon or exhortation, that it may profyte all, and hurte none, but suche as do not accordingly receyue it. And therefore bothe these propositions are false: th〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 a man by preaching cannot profyte such, as he knoweth not: and that he cannot know them, except he be perpetually resident with them.