Of the first impediment, which is ignorance, is sprung into the world horrible blasphemy,1 that neither seeketh help at Gods hand, nor yet is thankful unto God for any thing that God giveth: but rendereth all things to such Gods and Saints as he hath devised out of his own imagination, or else learned (as S. Peter saith) out of the traditions of his Elders.2 So that ignorance taketh away the honour of God, & also the salvation of them that be ignorant. The remedy against this great impediment is only the reading,3 meditating, hearing, and learning of Gods holy word, which is as a candle light in a dark place, to keep and preserve a man from danger and peril.4 And so saith king David, that, It is a ⟨p. 89⟩candle unto his feet, and a light unto his steps. And in an other place of his Psalms he saith: The law of God is so perfect, that it turneth souls unto the Lord. Wherefore (saith he) it is the part of every man that will be virtuous and godly,5 to have his desire and cogitations in the law of God both day and right. And to preserve the people from this horrible impediment of ignorance, God spake by his prophet Isaiah,6 these words: My spirit which is in thee, and my words which I put in thy mouth, shall not depart from thy mouth, and from the mouth of thy seed (saith the Lord) from henceforth for evermore. And in the same Prophecy Christ prayeth the heavenly father to seal his word in his disciples,7 whereby the dangerous impediment of mans salvation, which is ignorance, might be eschewed & avoided. The same remedy against ignorance,8 commandeth Almighty God also by Moses in Deut. and by S. Paul to the Ephesians,9 whereas the fathers and the mothers be not bound themselves alone, to know the law of God: but also bound to teach it to their children, that by ignorance they offend not God.
Of the first impediment, whiche is ignorance, is sprong into the world horrible blasphemie,1 that neither séeketh helpe at Gods hand, nor yet is thankful vnto God for any thing that God giueth: but rendereth all things to such Gods and Saincts as he hath deuised out of his owne imagination, or els learned (as S. Peter saith) out of the traditions of his Elders.2 So that ignorance taketh away the honour of God, & also the saluation of them that be ignorant. The remedie against this great impediment is onely the reading,3 meditating, hearing, and learning of Gods holy word, whiche is as a candle light in a darke place, to kéepe and preserue a man from danger and peril.4 And so saith king Dauid, that, It is a ⟨p. 89⟩candle vnto his feete, and a light vnto his stepps. And in an other place of his Psalmes he saith: The lawe of God is so perfect, that it turneth soules vnto the Lord. Wherefore (saith he) it is the part of euery man that wil be vertuous and godly,5 to haue his desire and cogitations in the law of God both day and right. And to preserue the people from this horrible impediment of ignorance, God spake by his prophet Esaie,6 these wordes: My spirite which is in thee, and my woordes which I put in thy mouth, shall not depart from thy mouth, and from the mouth of thy seede (saith the Lord) from henceforth for euermore. And in the same Prophesie Christ prayeth the heauenly father to seale his word in his disciples,7 wherby the daungerous impediment of mans saluation, which is ignorance, might be eschewed & auoyded. The same remedie against ignorance,8 commandeth Almightie God also by Moses in Deut. and by S. Paul to the Ephesians,9 whereas the fathers and the mothers be not bound themselues alone, to knowe the lawe of God: but also bound to teach it to their children, that by ignorance they offend not God.
- 1Of ignorance is sprung horrible blasphemy.Of ignoraunce is sprong horrible blasphemie.
- 21. Peter. 1. The remedy against ignorance.1. Peter. 1. The remedie against ignorance.
- 32 Peter. 1.
- 4Psalm. 119.
- 5Psalm. 1.Psalme. 1.
- 6Isaiah. 59.Esaie. 59.
- 7Isaiah. 8.Esaie. 8.
- 8Deut. 6.
- 9Ephes. 6.
