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.

Sexagesima Sonday.

AS the matter whereof man was made might haue bene a meanes of his humiliation: so all the good which God did towards him, might haue continued his thankful∣nesse and contentednesse with that excellent and glorious estate. And as Gods placing of man in the garden to dresse it and keepe it: yea, giuing him more then a peny for his la∣bour, might haue bene a competent maintainance to a con∣tented creature, who had the creatures vegetating in the garden for his meate and pleasure, and those out of the gar∣den, going, creeping and swimming, for his necessary vses, at his commandement: Euen so he might haue bene so much the better contented, with his estate of innocency, of wise∣dome, and immortality.

Christs Church therfore hath chosen two other Scriptures, out of Moses his Genesis for mans further humiliation, to shew man his great downefall, from so excellent glory: That be∣ing

humbled in the sight thereof he might haue nothing to boast of, except it be of his infirmities (as S. Paul doth in the Epistle for this day) and so become that good ground spoken of in the Gospell, wherein the good seed being sowen brought foorth good fruite: that is, out of an honest and good heart, heare Gods word (better then Eue and A∣dam did) keepe it, and bring forth fruite with patience, as our Lord sheweth in the Gospell Luk. 8.15.

In the third chapter of Genesis, Moses first expresseth mans fall in two dialogues, from the 1. ver. to the end of the 13.

Secondly, the effect that this fall wrought

1 In the motiue and instrumentall & procreating cause thereof the serpent.

2 In those that yeelded to the serpents motions the man and woman. ver. 14. to the end of the chapter.

The dialogue is two-fold.

The first is perswasiue, betweene the lying sophister the Serpent tempting the woman: and the weake tempted and yeelding woman. ver. 1. to the end of the 7.

The second dialogue is reprehēsiue & obiurgatiue, twixt Almighty God, reproouing and chiding the man and the woman, and cursing the Serpent. ver. 8.9.10, 11.12.13.

The effect of the trangression is foure-fold:

1 In Gods cursing the serpent. ve. 14.15.

2 In Gods punishing the woman, ver. 16.

3 In Gods cursing the earth for mans sake. ver. 17.18.

4 In Gods punishing of man fourefold.

First, inioyning him to labour with paine. ver. 19.

Secondly, in making of clothes for him to couer his na∣kednesse. ver. 20.21.

Thirdly, in sending him out off the garden (where he li∣ued like a King) to til the earth where he toiled like a clown. ver. 22.23.

Fourthly, in setting the Cherubines & the blade of a sword

shaken to keepe the way of the tree of life, from the sight and hand of man, as v••. also 23. tis declared.

In the Lesson for euening prayer Gen. 6. Moses will shew how that out of the first bad weede and venemous tree of disobedience proceedeth the loathsome fruite of malice, and murther, vncleane lust, and letchery. And that by how much the more Gods blessing of propagation and multipli∣cation, was vpon the world and Church continued, by so much this their filthinesse was increased: whereupon God brought a plague of waters to wash away the sin and sinners wherein all flesh perished; though he reserued a few, where∣with and by whom he would be obeyed and honored.

In the first part of the chapter, one of the speciall crying sinnes is described for all the rest. verse 1.2.3.4. with the displeasure which God conceiued against mankind for this sinne. ver. 5.6.7.

In the other part: first a relation of Gods fauour vnto Noah, ver. 8.9.10. who (liuing vpon the earth that was so corrupt and filled with wickednesse, cruelty &c.) which with the inhabitants was to be destroyed, as ver. 11.12.13. was therefore to be taken from the earth, and borne vp of the waters in his Arke: which he is commanded to make. ve. 14.

In the third part Moses describes the forme and propor∣tion of the Arke. ver. 15.16. with the reasons why Noah was to make the Arke.

First, Behold I will bring a floud. ver. 17.

The second reason is, but with thee wil I establish my couenant, and thou shalt go into the Arke. ver. 18. The vse of which Arke, and end why it was made so capacious, is declared. ver. 19.20.21.

In the fourth part Moses doth shew what effect Gods commandement tooke in Noah: to wit, his obedience in all things. ver. 22.

In the Epistle written, 2: Cor. 11. ver. 19. to the end

of the 32. He that saith, Galatians 6.17. I beare in my body the markes of the Lord Iesus. & Colos. 1.24. I fulfill the rest of the sufferings of Christ in my flesh, &c. doth now shew by his wo∣full experience, how God would haue him (being but a tea∣cher of the truth) to be humbled in suffering for the testi∣mony of the Gospell, not being inferior to any of the false Apostles in that true and constant boasting & reioycing in these things and many more wherein they falsly reioyced. He is herein a good example of a minister truely humbled in soule and in body fitly prepared to preach Christ crucifi∣ed, to suffer with Christ and for Christ.

First, therefore he perswades them to suffer him (seeing they suffered fooles gladly) to reioyce after the flesh. ver. 19.20.21.

Secondly, he propounds the matter and grounds: first of his outward reioycing in the flesh, whereof

The first ground is his stocke and kindred. ver. 22.

The second is his place and function, a minister, yea more then a Minister: that is, more then such false Ministers which he sheweth in particular: to wit, in labours more aboundant, in stripes aboue measure, &c. ver. 23.24.25.26.27.

Secondly, he propounds the matter of his inward reioy∣cing, as,

First, in his daily cumber and care for all the Churches. ve. 28.

Secondly, in his weakenesse and being ouertoiled in his minde and spirit.

Thirdly, in the manifold scandales which were offered vnto the Church, whieh he could not but zealously greeue at, ver. 29.

Thirdly, the Apostle propounds the manner of both his reioycings, and the mind or affection wherewith he doth it: to wit, in great humility and weakenesse: that is, of his in∣firmities, ve. 30. as Gal. 6.14, he reioyceth in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ whereby the world, &c.

Fourthly, he confirmes the truth of this outward and in∣ward reioycing, that it was vnfained, and not false like that

of the false Apostles, by taking God himselfe to witnesse the truth that he speaketh. The God, euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, which is blessed for euer, knoweth that I lie not. verse 31.

In the holy Gospell written by S. Luke, chapter 8, verse 4, to the end of the 15, our Lord will tell the people (which came to him out of all cities, as verse 4.) by a parable, which he expoundeth vnto his disciples, who are the true humbled and contrite people indeed, euen such as tremble at his word, Isay 66.2. that is, with an honest and good heart heare it, keepe it, and bring forth fruit with pa∣tience, to the 15 verse of this chapter. In the text consider generally,

First, the parable it selfe,

Secondly, the occasion that Christ tooke to expound it,

Thirdly, our Lords exposition thereof, as he propoun∣ded it.

And because the Church of God hath carefully culled out this Scripture for vs: the better to prepare vs by the fruitfull hearing of Gods word, vnto a more diligent con∣sideration of the doctrines following, concerning the pas∣sion and resurrection of Christ (falling out to be celebrated but 8 weekes after) we ought therefore yet more specially to hearken vnto our Lords Sermon.

In the first part whereof, being the parable, he speakes

First, of the sower,

Secondly, of seed,

Thirdly, of the manifold successe of this sowen seed, not∣withstanding the seedmans diligence.

The sower is one, the seed is all one, but the successe is manifold, that is, fourefold. verse 5.

First, some fell by the way side, therefore two discom∣modities grew thereof, for

First, Twas troden vnderfeete,

Secondly, The soules of heauen deuoured it vp. verse 5.

Secondly, some fell on the stones, which though it made a faire shew in springing, yet this glory was turned into shame: for the hope••ull springing was turned into an hope∣lesse withering, because it lacked moysture. verse 6.

Thirdly, some fell among thornes, and the thornes sprang vp with it and choked it, verse 7.

Fourthly, some fell vpon good ground, an happy fall, a blessed lot, a goodly heritage: for

First, it sprang vp,

Secondly, it bare fruit,

Thirdly, in great measure, an hundredfold. verse 8.

The occasion of the exposition being the second part, containeth

First, Christs zealous motiue to attention, He that hath eares to heare, &c. verse 8.

Secondly, the Disciples demaund of the exposition of the parable. verse 9.

Thirdly, Christs answer, Vnto you it is giuen, &c. but to o∣ther in parables, that when they see they should not see, &c. v. 10.

The exposition of the parable whereof Christ Iesus our Lord expounds two chiefe parts, as

First, what the seed is. verse 11.

Secondly, what the fourefold ground and successe of the seed therein is.

The first ground is of them beside the way, by the way side. Those are a kind of hearers, out of whose hearts the diuell takes away the word, least they should beleeue and be saued. v. 12.

The second, which is the stony ground, are such hearers which

First, receiue with gladnesse,

Secondly, haue no rootes,

Thirdly, beleeue for a while,

Fourthly, in the time of tentation go away. verse 13.

The third, is the thorny ground, who are such hearers, which

First, are choked with cares,

Secondly, they are choked with riches,

Thirdly, they are choked with voluptuous liuing; therefore they bring forth no fruite. ver. 14.

The fourth soile is the fertile ground, they are such hea∣rers which

First, with an honest and good heart and minde heare the word.

Secondly, they keepe it.

Thirdly, they bring forth fruite with patience. ver. 15.

Notes

• Coherence of the 3 & 6 with the 1 & 2 of Genesis.

  God gaue man more then a pe∣ny for his work in the garden, Vegetals for meate, and ani∣mals for other vses would not content him.

  Summe of the two first Lessōs The reason of the choise of these Scriptures is for mans fur∣ther humiliati∣on,

  Summe of the Epistle and Gospell.

  Man is to boast of nothing but his infirmity. By this he be∣comes that good lowly ground where∣in that good seed of Gods word fructifi∣••th.
• Man did not continue humble, &c.
• Mor. Prayer. 1 Less. Genes. 3. Parts general
• 1 Mans fall in two dialogues,
• 2 The effect of this fall, in the cause & caused,
• 1 Dialogue perswasiue,
• 2 Dialogue re∣prehensiue, Effect foure∣fold of the transgression
• Effect foure-fold of the transgression
• 1 Serpents curse.
• 2 Punishment of the woman,
• 3 Punishment of the earth,
• 4 Punishment of man, which was foure-fold,
• 1 Labour with paine,
• 2 Clothing,
• 3 Exile,
• 4 Terrour by the Cherubines & the fiery sha∣king sword.
• The fall of our first Parents▪
• Eue. Prayer.
• 1 Les. Gen. 6,
• Sūme & scope geenerall, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Wickednesse followed the forgerfulnesse of Gods bene∣fits & blessings. Peccandi nullus finis cum a ratio∣ne disceditur.
• Parts of the chapter.
• 1 A description of one of the speciall crying sinnes, & Gods displeasure cō∣ceiued,
• 2 A relation,
• 1 Of Gods fa∣uour to his Church,
• 2 Of his iu∣stice to the world.
• 3 A description of the Arkes forme,
• The end why it was made,
• 4 The effect of Gods comman∣dement in Noe is his obedi∣ence,
• Epistle.
• Crying sinnes of the first age, God fauoureth Noah and his,
• Summe Gene∣rall of the Epi∣stle. God would prooue S. Pauls word true,
• Paul is a good example of a right humbled minister,
• Parts of the text,
• 1 A perswasion to endure his reioycing.
• 2 A propoun∣ding of the mat∣ter and ground
• 1 Of his owne reioycing in the flesh,
• 1 In his kindred
• 2 In his calling and function.
• 2 His inward reioycing which is threefold,
• 1 Dayly care
• 2 Ouertoyling himselfe,
• 3 Greefe at the manifold scan∣dels offered,
• 3 A propoun∣ding of the manner of both his reioycing
• 4 A confirma∣tion of all by Gods owne te∣stimony
• Christ shews who are rightly humbled.
• Gospell.
• Luke 8.4, ad 15. Summe and scope. Christ shewes who they are that are truely and rightly hum∣bled.
• Parts generall of the text,
• 1 Parable,
• 2 Occasion of the exposition thereof,
• 3 Christs expo∣sition,
• Why the Church hath culled out this text of Scrip∣ture for this time.
• Parts of the Parable,
• 1 Sower
• 2 Seed,
• 3 Successe of both: that is, o∣perae & olei
• Successe differs from the Sower and seed,
• First ground, the way side had two dis∣commodities,
• The godly hearers & faithful practisers.
• Secondly, the stony ground had the faire commodity of springing vp, with the discō∣modity of wi∣thering,
• 3 The thorny ground had the discommo∣dity of choking all that came vp
• 4 Good groūd hath all good commodities & effects with∣out any discom∣modity at all,
• Second part of the Gospell the occasion of the exposition.
• Third part of the Gospell
• Christs exposi∣on of the para∣ble and all the parts thereof.
• What the first kind of ground is,
• The second kind of ground
• What the third ground and hearers are.
• Faithfull practisers are &c,
• Properties of the fourth groūd included in a smal room, an honest and good heart the best place of the body.