There was amongst the Philosophers great diversity of opinions in this matter, wherein felicity & beatitude should consist. Some said it rested in this, a man still and continually to be void from anguish and sorrow. Other said, it consisted in the knowledge of things. Some said, in pleasure and voluptuousness. Aristotle and Theophrastus, and such other as were of the sect of the Peripatets, did hold, that a blessed and fortunate life did ⟨p. 81⟩consist in honesty, and said, that The same might be accomplished with the voluptuous pleasures of the body, and with external riches, honour, and felicity. But both these opinions, and all the rest are confuted by our saviour Christ, and his holy word. He saith,1 This is life everlasting, that men know thee (O father) the only and true God, and whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ. And in an other place he saith,2 Every one that forsaketh house, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or possessions for my name, shall receive an hundred fold, and possess life everlasting. By these places we know, that beatitude & felicity consisteth in knowledge, & working of Gods will, which be the causes of quietness of conscience, and innocency of life: wherein felicity doth consist, as I said before. The right knowledge of GOD bringeth faith in Christ. Faith in Christ bringeth tranquillity of conscience. Tranquillity of conscience, by faith worketh charity and love, to do, and work the will of our heavenly father. This may ye see also in the book of the Psalms, that felicity & bliss resteth not in these trifling things that glitter to the eye, wherewith the Prophet was so sore offended: but in knowledge and working of Gods will.3 Blessed is the man whom thou teachest (Lord,) and whom thou instructest in thy law. And in an other Psalm he saith,4 Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, and desireth to work his will. In these Psalms, if ye read them with judgement, and prayer to God: ye shall find both knowledge and consolation, far above the common sort of such as read and use them in the Churches now, to the dishonour of GOD, and to the destruction of their own souls. And in this matter of felicity and beatitude of man and woman in this life: I ⟨image 78⟩would have you judge by the scripture of God, or else ye shall be deceived, what it is, wherein it consisteth, and what it worketh:
There was amongst the Philosophers great diuersitie of opinions in this matter, wherin felicitie & beatitude shoulde consist. Some saide it rested in this, a man still and continually to be voyde from anguishe and sorrowe. Other saide, it consisted in the knowledge of thinges. Some saide, in pleasure and voluptuousnesse. Aristotle and Theophrastus, and such other as were of the sect of the Peripatets, did hold, that a blessed and fortunate life did ⟨p. 81⟩consist in honestie, and said, that The same might be accomplished with the voluptuous pleasures of the body, and with externall riches, honour, and felicitie. But both these opinions, and all the rest are confuted by our sauiour Christ, and his holy word. He saith,1 This is life euerlasting, that men knowe thee (O father) the only and true God, and whome thou hast sent Iesus Christ. And in an other place he saith,2 Euery one that forsaketh house, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or possessions for my name, shall receiue an hundred folde, and possesse life euerlasting. By these places we knowe, that beatitude & felicitie consisteth in knowlege, & working of Gods will, which be the causes of quietnesse of conscience, and innocencie of life: wherein felicitie doth consist, as I saide before. The right knowledge of GOD bringeth faith in Christe. Faith in Christe bringeth tranquillitie of conscience. Tranquillitie of conscience, by faith worketh charitie and loue, to do, and worke the will of our heauenly father. This may ye sée also in the booke of the Psalmes, that felicitie & blisse resteth not in these trifling things that glitter to the eye, wherewith the Prophete was so sore offended: but in knowledge and working of Gods will.3 Blessed is the man whom thou teachest (Lord,) and whom thou instructest in thy lawe. And in an other Psalme he saith,4 Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, and desireth to worke his will. In these Psalmes, if ye reade them with iudgement, and prayer to God: ye shall finde both knowledge and consolation, farre aboue the common sorte of such as reade and vse them in the Churches nowe, to the dishonour of GOD, and to the destruction of their owne soules. And in this matter of felicitie and beatitude of man and woman in this life: I ⟨image 78⟩would haue you iudge by the scripture of God, or else ye shall be deceiued, what it is, wherein it consisteth, and what it worketh:
- 1John. 17.Iohn. 17.
- 2Matth. 19.
- 3Psal. 94.
- 4Psal. 112.
