THE holy Apostle St. Paul, good children, in the tenth chapter of his Epistle to the Romans, writeth on this fashion: “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD, shall be saved. But how shall they call on Him on Whom they believe not? How shall they believe on Him of Whom they have not heard? How shall they hear without a preacher? How shall they preach except they be Sent?” By the which words St. Paul doth evidently declare unto us two lessons. The first is, that it is necessary to our salvation to have Preachers and Ministers of GOD’S most holy word, to instruct us in the true faith and knowledge. The second is, that Preachers must not run to this high honour before they be called thereto, but they must be ordained and appointed to this office, and sent to us by GOD. For it is not possible to be saved, or to please GOD, without faith; and no man can truly believe in GOD by his own wit, (for of ourselves we know not what we should believe) but we must needs hear GOD’S word taught us by other. Again, the Teachers, except they be called and Sent, cannot fruitfully teach. For the seed of GOD’S word doth never bring forth fruit, unless the LORD of the harvest do give increase, and by His HOLY SPIRIT do work with the sower. But GOD doth not work with the preacher whom He hath not sent, as St. Paul saith . . . Wherefore, good children, to the intent you may steadfastly believe all things which GOD by His ministers doth teach and promise unto you, and so be saved by your faith, learn diligently I pray you, by what words our LORD JESUS CHRIST gave this commission and commandment to His ministers, and rehearse them here, word for word, that so you may print them in your memories, and recite them the better when you come home. The words of CHRIST be these: “Our LORD JESUS breathed on His disciples and said, Receive the HOLY GHOST; whose sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; and whose sins you reserve, they are reserved.” . . . Now, good children, that you may the better understand these words of our SAVIOUR CHRIST, you shall know that our LORD JESUS CHRIST, when He began to preach, He did call and choose His twelve Apostles; and afterward, besides those twelve, He sent forth threescore and ten disciples, and gave them authority to preach the Gospel. And after CHRIST’S ascension, the Apostles gave authority to other godly and holy men to minister GOD’S word, and chiefly in those places where there were Christian men already, which lacked preachers, and the Apostles themselves could no longer abide with them: for the Apostles did walk abroad into divers parts of the world, and did study to plant the Gospel in many places. Wherefore where they found godly men, and meet to preach GOD’S word, they laid they hands upon them, and gave them the HOLY GHOST, as they themselves received of CHRIST the same HOLY GHOST to execute this office.