We must read the fathers cautiously, and lay them in the gold balance, for they often stumbled and went astray.  Gregory expounds the five pounds mentioned in the Gospel, which the husbandman gave to his servant to put to use, to be the five senses, which the beasts also possess.  The two pounds he construes to be the reason and understanding.  Faithful Christians should heed only the embassy of our blessed Saviour Christ, and what He says.

None of the fathers of the church made mention of original sin until Augustine came, who made a difference between original and actual sin, namely, that original sin is to covet, to lust, and to desire, which is the root and cause of actual sin.

Hints for Preachers

The good preacher should know when to make an end.  A preacher that will speak everything that comes into his mind is like a maid that goes to market, and, meeting another maid, makes a stand, and they hold together a goose-market.

I would not have preachers in their sermons use Hebrew, Greek, or foreign languages, for in the church we ought to speak as we use to do at home, the plain mother tongue, which everyone is acquainted with.  It may be allowed in courtiers, lawyers, advocates, etc., to use quaint, curious words.  St. Paul never used such high and stately words as Demosthenes and Cicero used.

Ambition is the rankest poison to the church when it possesses preachers.  It is a consuming fire.

When I preach I sink myself deep down.  I regard neither doctors nor magistrates, of whom are here in this church above forty; but I have an eye to the multitude of young people, children, and servants, of whom are more than two thousand.  I preach to those.  Will not the rest hear me?

Time’s Forelock

It is said Occasion has a forelock, but it is bald behind.  Our Lord has taught this by the course of nature.  A farmer must sow his barley and oats about Easter; if he defer it till Michaelmas it were too late.  When apples are ripe they must be plucked from the tree or they are spoiled.  Procrastination is as bad as over-hastiness.  There is my servant Wolf, when four or five birds fall upon the bird-net he will not draw it; but says, “Oh, I will stay until more come.”  Then they all fly away, and he gets none.

Occasion is a great matter.  Terence says well, “I came in time, which is the chief thing of all.”  Julius Caesar understood Occasion; Pompey and Hannibal did not.  Boys at school understand it not, therefore they must have fathers and masters, with the rod, to hold them thereto, that they neglect not time and lose it.  Many a young fellow has a school stipend for six or seven years, during which he ought diligently to study, but he thinks, “Oh, I have time enough yet.”  But I say, “No, fellow; what little Jack learns not great John learns not.”  Occasion salutes thee, and reaches out her forelock to thee, saying, “Here I am, take hold of me.”  Thou thinkest she will come again.  Then says she, “Well, seeing thou wilt not take hold of my top, take hold of my tail,” and therewith she flings away.