The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

And that the entreating of this matter in hand may be to the glory of almighty God, let us in one faith and charity call upon the father of mercy, from whom cometh every good gift, and every perfect gift, by the mediation of his well beloved son our saviour, that we may be assisted with the presence of his holy spirit, and wholesomely on both our parts, to demean our selves in speaking and hearing, to the salvation of our souls. In the beginning of my speaking unto you (good Christian people) suppose not that I do take upon me, to declare unto you the excellent power, or the incomparable wisdom of almighty God, as though I would have you believe that it might be expressed unto you by words. Nay it may not be thought, that that thing may be comprehended by mans words, that is incomprehensible. And too much arrogance it were for dust and ashes, to think that he could worthily declare his maker. It passeth far the dark understanding of wisdom of a mortal man, to speak sufficiently of that divine majesty which the Angels cannot understand. We shall therefore lay apart to speak of that profound and unsearchable nature of almighty God, rather acknowledging our weakness, then rashly to attempt that is above all mans capacity ⟨p. 439⟩to compass. It shall better suffice us in low humility to reverence and dread his majesty, which we can not comprise, then by overmuch curious searching, to be overcharged with the glory. We shall rather turn our whole contemplation, to answer a while his goodness to wards us, wherein we shall be much more profitably occupied, and more may we be bold to search. To consider this great power he is of, can but make us dread and fear. To consider his high wisdom, might utterly discomfort our frailty to have any thing ado with him. But in consideration of his inestimable goodness, we take good heart again to trust well unto him. By his goodness we be assured to take him for our refuge, our hope and comfort, our merciful father, in all the course of our lives. His power and wisdom, compelleth us to take him for God omnipotent, invisible, having rule in heaven and earth, having all things in his subjection, and will have none in counsel with him, nor any to ask the reason of his doing. For he may do ¹what liketh him, and none can resist him.

And that the entreating of this matter in hand may be to the glory of almighty God, let vs in one faith and charitie call vpon the father of mercy, from whom commeth euery good gyfte, and euery perfect gift, by the mediation of his welbeloued sonne our sauiour, that we maye be assisted with the presence of his holye spirite, and holsomelye on both our partes, to demeane our selues in speaking and hearing, to the saluation of our soules. In the beginning of my speaking vnto you (good Christian people) suppose not that I do take vpon me, to declare vnto you the excellent power, or the incomparable wisdom of almightie God, as though I would haue you beleeue that it myght be expressed vnto you by wordes. Nay it maye not be thought, that that thing maye be comprehended by mans wordes, that is incomprehensible. And too muche arrogancie it were for dust and ashes, to thynke that he could worthyly declare his maker. It passeth farre the darke vnderstanding of wysedome of a mortall man, to speake sufficiently of that diuine maiestie whiche the Angels cannot vnderstand. We shall therefore lay apart to speake of that profounde and vnsearcheable nature of almightie God, rather acknowledging our weaknes, then rashely to attempt that is aboue all mans capacitie