A commentarie or exposition vpon the first chapter of the prophecy of Amos delivered in xxi. sermons in the parish church of Meisey Hampton in the diocesse of Gloucester, by Sebastian Benefield ... Hereunto is added a sermon vpon 1. Cor. 9.19. wherein is touched the lawfull vse of things indifferent.

The Preface to the Christian Reader.

GENTLE READER,

These sermons were provided for the Pulpit, not intended for the Presse. Yet, sith I liue in a prodigall age of the world, wherein too many with their vnprofitable, if not obscene, Pamphlets, doe runnea to the Presse, as a horse to the battell, and are enter∣tained with applause; I haue the more willingly now published them to thy view. Thou wilt say: There is already great store of Sermons abroad; more, then we can well vse. I deny it not. Yet, to the fulnesse of this Sea, I adde more; and repent not. Is abundance a burden to thee? If thy soule may be fed with variety, as well by the eie, as by the eare, hast thou any reason to finde fault? But weake stomackes may surfet at the sight of too much. Let such, favour their eie-sight. They may easily looke of, and please themselues with their old choise. There is no rea∣son, that their daintinesse should prejudice that profit, which others might reape from this abundance. Wee that are called to be labourers in the Lords harvest, must resolue with the LORD of the Harvest. His resolution was,b I must worke the workes of him that sent me, while it is day: the night commeth, when no man can worke. Our day is our life time; the only time for vs to worke in. If now, in this our day time, we will insteed of working, onely treasure vp knowledge in our hearts, as that horder in thec Proverbs did his corne, in his storehouse; or will wrap vp the gifts, wherewith God hath blessed vs, in wast papers, as the

slothfull servant in the Gospell did his talent, in a napkin; the night will come vpon vs, and we shall not worke. Suf∣fer vs therefore, while it is our day, to worke. Our worke consisteth in the preaching of the Gospell. The Gospell is preached as welld by writing, as by speaking; as well by pen, as by tongue. The word spoken for the time is most pier∣cing, but the letter written is of most continuance. I shall account it my happinesse, if I may doe good both waies. My place in that worthy Foundation, whereof I am an vn∣worthy member, wearing me out in the reading of HV∣MANITIE, now the fourteenth yeare, hath hindred mee from doing that good, I wished to haue done, the one way, by my speaking, by my tongue. If the other way, by my writing, by my penne, I may redeeme the time past, and by these my poore labours may doe some good, not only to them, among whom I first sowed this seed, but also to o∣ther Congregations of my Country, I haue enough. If (deare CHRISTIAN) thou find in these my Sermons the same things iterated, marvaile not thereat; I haue my Pro∣phets warrant for it. He in this first chapter repeateth the same things fiue times over. May not I after his ensample doe it once, or twise? I must professe vnto thee, (good CHRISTIAN) that my cheefe intent in this Commentarie, is the destruction of sinne. If to any of the learned, J seeme to haue failed of my purpose, my earnest desire is, that they will bee pleased to take the paines to amend it. The rest, who to this poore labour of mine shall afford their

gratious, and favourable good liking, I heartily entreat to help me with their godly prayers, that this worke, & what∣soever else of like kinde I shall hereafter attempt to pub∣lish to the censure of the world, may wholy redound to the glory of God, and good of his Church. Now the God of peace, that brought againe from the dead our Lord JESVS, that great Shepheard of the sheepe through the blood of the e∣verlasting covenant, sanctifie thee throughout, that enioy∣ing the peace of thy conscience in this world, thou maist hereafter haue full fruition of that eternall peace of God in Heaven.

Thine vnfeinedly in the Lord, for thy good, S. B.

Notes

• a

  Ad prelum tanquam praeli∣um.
• b

  Ioh. 9.4.
• c

  Cap. 11.26
• Luk. 19.20.
• d

  Ambo-verbū praedicant, hic quidem scripto, ille verò voce. Clem. Alex. stromat. lib. 1 interprete Gentiano Herveto p 57 edit. Basil. in fol. An. 1556. & paulò pòst: Praedicandi sci∣entia est quo∣dammodo An∣gelica, vtrovis modo iuvans, seu per manum, seu per linguam operetur. There is not any thing PVBLIKELY NOTIFIED but wee may in that respect rightly and pro∣perly say it is PREACHED Luk. 8 39. & 12.3. Hooker Eccl. Polit. l. 5. § 18. pag. 28 Moses and the Prophets, Christ and his Apostles were in their times all PREACHERS of Gods truth; some by WORD, some by WRITING, some by BOTH. Hooker ibid. § 19. pag. 29. The Apostles in WRITING are not vntruely nor vnfitly said to PREACH. Hooker lib. 5. § 21. pag 39. vide ibid. plura. Evange∣lizo MANV, & SCRIPTIONE, Rainold▪ de Rom. Eccles. Idololat. Praef. ad Com. Essex. pag. 7.
• The inhabitants of MEIS BY HAMPTON, MARSTON, and DVNFIELD in the Diocesse of Gloucester.