The marrovv and iuice of tvvo hundred and sixtie scriptures. Or Monas tessaragraphica that is: the foure holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, appointed euery Sonday to be read in our Church of England, combined and brought vnto one chiefe head and point of doctrine: together with the rest of the holy Scriptures ... Extracted by Iames Forrester, minister of Gods word at Enderby neere Bullingbrooke in Lincolnshire, chapleine to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie.

Septuagesima Sonday.

THe History of Christs Gospell as it containeth a most singular methode,* 1.1 in setting downe first the Aduent and coming of Christ foretold by the Prophets:

Secondly, his Incarnation.

Thirdly, then his Circumcision.

Fourthly, after that his Apparatiō to the Gentiles, & cōti∣nuall fauour to his people, whether Iewes or other nations.

Fiftly, his Baptisme,

Sixtly, his Fasting,

Seuenthly, his Preaching and miracles to confirme his doctrine.

Eightly, his Feasting, in eating the Passeouer and ordai∣ning the Supper.

And ninthly his Passion.

The Christian Church likewise (for the good of all the members thereof) haue in the three Lords daies, or Sabbath,* 1.2 following thought it most fit to chose out such Scriptures, as may best serue for their Humiliation: to prepare and make them fit to receiue such as may be fittest for their instruction in the high mysteries of their redemption: to wit, the Fa∣sting, Temptation, Passion, death, resurrection, ascention, the session of our Lord Iesus, at his Fathers right hand, and his com∣ing to vs once againe, though it be vnto iudgement.

Now because nothing can more humble a man then when he shall see, how highly he was in Gods fauour by creation,* 1.3 and how he was and is abased by sin, and fallen by disobedi∣ence, frō such a glorious estate little inferiour to the Angels.

Therefore in the first Lesson for this morning prayer,* 1.4 Moses writing the first History shewes, in the first chapter

of the booke of the Creation,* 1.5 called Genesis.* 1.6

First, that God made the Chaos,* 1.7 or indigested lumpe of nothing. ver. 1.2.

* 1.8Secondly, that thereout he distinguished and diuided the seuerall creatures: to wit. 1. the lighs for the first day. ver. 3.4.5. 2. the firmament, which he called heauen, to separate the waters from the waters, for the second daies worke. ver. 6.7.8.

Thirdly, that he made the hearbes and trees for the third daies worke, after that the waters:* 1.9 that is, the Seas were gathe∣red together, and that the earth: that is, the dry land appeared, vers. 9.10.11.12.13.

Fourthly, that he made the great light of the Sunne and Moone, and the light of the Stars,* 1.10 for the fourth daies worke, ver. 14.15.16.17.18.19.

Fiftly, that he made all creeping things, hauing life, all foules flying, & al fishes swimming,* 1.11 for his fifth daies work, ver. 20.21.22.23.

Sixtly, that he made all beasts and cattell, and creeping things of the earth. ver. 24.25. with man and woman, whom he made Lord and Lady ouer the creatures,* 1.12 ver. 26.27.28. to whō he appointed their diet, wheron they should feed. v. 29. & the diet & food for the beasts, for the fowles, & for the creeping creatures, &c. for his sixt daies worke. ver. 30.31.

In the first Lesson for Euening prayer, being the second chapter of Genesis,* 1.13 Moses will tell and teach vs,

* 1.14First, that God rested the seuenth day from his worke of creating, though not of propagating and preseruing the creatures.* 1.15 ver. 1.2.3.

Secondly, Moses doth recapitulate in generall, what God did in speciall, in creating the heauen and earth, the vegetals and plants of the field, which he watered with a myst from the earth.* 1.16

• 1 Because it had not rayned,
• 2 Because man was not then made, to husband the earth,

• ... ver. 4.5.6.

Thirdly, Moses doth for mans further humiliation shew vs the base matter whereof man this glorious creature was made in respect of his body,* 1.17 and that coelestiall or heauenly matter whereof his soule was made. The Lord God also for∣med the man of the dust or slime of the ground, &c. ver. 7.

Fourthly, Moses tels vs that God had a care to prouide as well for mans pleasure, as for his necessity.* 1.18 1. in planting a garden eastward in Eden, with all kind of pleasant trees for meate and medicine for man. ver. 8.9. 2. in causing a riuer with 4. streames to ro run 4. waies, to water the garden, as 10.11.12.13, 14. verses.

Fiftly, he sheweth that this garden was planted for mans sake; and therefore God placed man therein: but with a pro∣uiso, how he should behaue himselfe in the garden,* 1.19 to wit, what he should eate, & what he should not eate, a preceptiue and a prohibitiue commandement. ver. 15.16.17.

Sixtly, he doth particularize vnto vs the manner & mat∣ter how & whereof woman was made and broughr by God himselfe to the man, that is, married vnto him. v. 18.19.20.21.22.* 1.20

Seuenthly, that as Adam gaue names to other creatures, according to theit natures, as v. 19. so he first giues the name Mannesse shee man or woman to his wife,* 1.21 and secondly doth therein shew the neerenesse and deerenesse of a mans wife vnto husband aboue father and mother. ve. 23.24.

Eightly, that all these fauours of God were imparted vn∣to man & woman in their innocency,* 1.22 and they were both naked the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. ve. 25.

Saint Paul being a minister of Christ,* 1.23 a man that should giue light vnto other, doth here make himselfe a patterne of piety and humiliation, teaching by his workes of subdu∣ing his flesh, as by his spirituall and holy words vnto others the true humiliation of soule and body.* 1.24 This he doth 1. Cor. 9.29, to the end of the chapter. In which Scripture.

First, he teacheth by similitudes,* 1.25

• 1 Of those that run in a race. ver. 24.* 1.26
• 2 Of such as proue maisteries. ver. 25.

Se••ondly he teacheth by example and applyeth the simi∣tudes to himselfe.* 1.27

• The 1 I therefore so runne ver. 26.
• The 2 So fight ver. 26.

* 1.28Thirdly, the course that he takes to performe both these, is, 1 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to beate downe his body 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to bring it into subiection.

Fourthly, he propounds the end why he did both these that God may haue the glory, by his glorious not infamous walking in his ministery, by doing and performing that which he teacheth, and in not being 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: that is, without honour and credit: as those are which do preach that vnto others which themselues will not practise, the greatest infa∣my that can come to a man in his ministery: yea, or to any priuate person running in the race of holy profession and Christianity.* 1.29

Our Sauiour in his Gospell written by S. Matthew chap. 20. ver. 1. to the end of the 16.* 1.30 will shew vnto his poeple in the parable of the labourers hired into the vine-yard, how they must alwaies belabouring & doing good, & herein wil also shew the pride & hautines of some men, their vnthank∣fulnes, discontentednes, murmuring, & maliciousnes, enuy∣ing the good estate of others, which ariseth from the meere loue & fauour of God (they doing herein as the diuell did at man as soone as he was created,* 1.31 when this his aduersary saw how greatly man was of his Creator fauored.

The parable* 1.32 reacheth from the 1. ver. to the end of the 15.

The vse of the parable is in the 16 ver.* 1.33 So the last shall be the first, &c. for many are called, &c.

* 1.34The parable is a resemblance of the kingdome of heauen vnto a certaine housholder. In whom we may see

First, his loue and care to his Vineyard,* 1.35 in calling, proui∣ding & hiring labourers from the 1. ver. to the end of the 7.

* 1.36Secondly, his rewarding and payment, his iustice and equall dealing with the labourers,* 1.37 ver. 8. to the end of the 15.

The housholder calleth and bargayneth alike with his seruants,* 1.38 fiue seuerall times,* 1.39

The first time* 1.40 is at the dawning of the day. ver. 1.2.

The second* 1.41 is about the third houre. ver. 3. & 4.

The third and fourth times* 1.42 are about the sixt and ninth houre ver. 5.

The fifth time* 1.43 is about the eleuenth houre, as ver. 6. and 7.

The iustice and equall dealing of the housholder is ge∣nerally expressed,* 1.44 in commanding the steward to call the Labourers from the last to the first, and giue them a peny a peece, their couenanted and contracted hire. ver. 8.9.

The truth and confirmation of this iustice,* 1.45 Saint Mat∣thew sets downe in the truth and equality of the words and agreement passed betweene the aduocate, who takes vpon him the part of the defendant and the clients or laborours, who are the plaintifs and the contradicents contrary suppo∣nents or opponents,

These opponents not reckoning aright, nor suppsing a∣right, being the first that were hired, yet had their right, as ver. 10. These enuious and captious labourers do reply vp∣on the housholder their maister.* 1.46

1. Secretly by murmuring,* 1.47 as ver. 11.

2 Openly or outwardly by accusing their maister of in∣iustice and inequality:* 1.48 saying, These last haue wrought but one howre, but thou, &c. ver. 12.

The housholder makes answere to one of the murmurers for all the rest.* 1.49

1 In a common plea, a flat deniall of the vniust deed wherewith he was charged, Non est factum:* 1.50 Friend I do thee no wrong.

2 By prouing the truth thereof,* 1.51 testimonio opponentis, con∣scientia opponentis, ipsius orese iudicat: Didst thou not agree with me for a peny. ver. 13.

3 By counselling and commanding the murmurer to de∣part* 1.52 contented with his owne, Take that which is thine owne, and go thy way. Of this peremptory counsell and commande∣ment the housholder yeeldeth three reasons.* 1.53

The first is drawne from his owne free bounty* 1.54 and wil∣lingnesse to shew himselfe as kind to the last that was hired, as to the first. ver. 14.

The second is taken from the lawfulnesse of the good disposing of his owne,* 1.55 after the good pleasure of his will, Is it not lawfull for me, &c.

The third from a iust reproofe of the enuious murmurer,* 1.56 whose eye is euill and therefore his heart is grudging at his fellowes prosperity, proceeding meerely from the good housholders liberality: arising not from other mens deserts, but from his owne loue and willing bounty. Is thine eye euill because I am good. ver. 15.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Coherence of the doctrines contained in the Scriptures chosen for the three Sondaies following & all the rest.
• * 1.2

  The subiect of the Scriptures chosen for the three Sondaies following.
• * 1.3

  A very good occasion of hu∣mi••iation,
• * 1.4

  Mor. Prayer 1 Les, Gen. 1.
• * 1.5

  Parts.
• * 1.6

  Mans humiliation in consideration, Of his fall from that excellent creation,
• * 1.7

  1 The making of the Cahos or Prima materia,
• * 1.8

  2 The distincti∣on or diuision of the first mat∣ter into forme. the creation of the light & fir∣mament.
• * 1.9

  3 The creation of hearbs and trees after the diuision and se∣paration of the waters from the earth.
• * 1.10

  4 The creation of the Sunne Moone & Stars,
• * 1.11

  5 The creation of the creatures creeping, flying and swimming,
• * 1.12

  6 The creation of all beasts of the earth, & of man & woman the Lord and Lady of thē all.
• * 1.13

  Eue. Prayer. 1 Less. Genes. 2.
• * 1.14

  Parts.
• * 1.15

  1 God resteth from creating, but not from increasing and preseruing,
• * 1.16

  2 Moses his ge∣neral recapitut∣lation of Gods special workes, Reasons why God watered the vigitals of earth, with a mist from the earth,
• * 1.17

  3 The ma••ter whereof man was made,
• * 1.18

  4 God prouides for mans holy delight as for necessity,
• * 1.19

  5 God puts man into the garden, but with a caueat & pro∣uiso how to ea∣ry him,
• * 1.20

  6 The manner of womans cre∣ation,
• * 1.21

  7 Adās wisedōe and authority in nominating the creatures & his owne wife,
• * 1.22

  8 Mankind had all these fauours in their innocē∣cy.
• * 1.23

  Epistle. 1 Cor, 9, 24, Summe gene∣rall and scope thereof,
• * 1.24

  Parts.
• * 1.25

  1 Teaching by similitudes,
• * 1.26

  Paul an example of humiliation,
• * 1.27

  2 Teaching by example a••d applic tion of the similitudes,
• * 1.28

  3 The manner & meanes how Saint Paul doth both,
• * 1.29

  4 He propoun∣deth the end why he doth al. Who are most infamous in their ministery and in the pro∣fession of Chri∣stianity.
• * 1.30

  Gospell. Math. 20.1 ad 16 Generall scope thereof.
• * 1.31

  Parts general
• * 1.32

  1 The parable,
• * 1.33

  2 The vse of it. What the para∣ble is,
• * 1.34

  Parts special.
• * 1.35

  1 The houshol∣ders loue and care for his vineyard.
• * 1.36

  Christ loues whom he will, and how he will.
• * 1.37

  2 His iust dea∣ling with the labourers.
• * 1.38

  3 His bargai∣ning with the workfolkes.
• * 1.39

  Fiue times.
• * 1.40

  1 Time
• * 1.41

  2 Time
• * 1.42

  3 & 4 Time
• * 1.43

  5 Time
• * 1.44

  Explanation of the housholders iustice and e∣quall dealing.
• * 1.45

  Confirmation of this iust dea∣ling.
• * 1.46

  The hired la∣bourers capti∣ous and enuious reply.
• * 1.47

  1 They mur∣mure.
• * 1.48

  2 They accuse.
• * 1.49

  The houshol∣ders answere to the murmurer, to conten•• him, is three-fold.
• * 1.50

  1 Non est factū.
• * 1.51

  2 The consci∣ence of the re∣plyer and ••••nt.
• * 1.52

  Proud enuious, & malicious, &
• * 1.53

  3 A perempory counsell & con∣clusion groun∣ded vpon three foundations.
• * 1.54

  1 The free bounty and goodnesse of the housholder.
• * 1.55

  2 An old rule taken from the lawfull vse of e∣uery mans own
• * 1.56

  3 A iust reprofe and censorious iudgement of the enuious gudgers bad heart & tongue,