Certain sermons preached before the Queens Majesty, and at Pauls crossCertaine sermons preached before the Queenes Maiestie, and at Paules crosse

I speak not this against all civil, and honest lawful policy: for I know it is the gift of God, without the which, nor common state, nor the Church can be maintained. But this seemeth to have bin the meaning of these old Fathers, that in the building of Gods church, the preaching of Gods word must go before, to quiet mens consciences: and wisdom & policy, like handmaids must follow after. For this honour & prerogative God claimeth only to himself, that his Church must be built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets. Which if it be otherwise built, Nisi dominus aedificaverit domū, in vanum laboraverunt, qui aedificant eam. Unless God himself build up the house, they sweat and labour but in vain, that set it up.

I speake not this against all ciuil, and honest lawful policie: for I know it is the gift of God, without the which, nor common state, nor the Church can be mainteined. But this seemeth to haue byn the meaning of these olde Fathers, that in the building of Gods church, ye preaching of Gods worde must goe before, to quiet mens consciences: and wisedome & pollicie, like handmaides must follow after. For this honor & prerogatiue God claimeth onely to himselfe, that his Church must bee built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets. Which if it be otherwise built, Nisi dominus aedificauerit domū, in vanum laborauerunt, qui aedificant eam. Vnlesse God himselfe build vp the house, they sweat and labour but in vain, that set it vp.

Thus Christ at the beginning gathered his Church, not by laws of men, but against all law & policy, by the preaching of his word. God might have instructed Cornelius by the Angel that appeared to him, as it appeareth in the Acts of the Apostles: but he would not so, but sent Peter to him, that he might be instructed by the mouth of a Preacher. He might have taught Paul, after he had stricken him down from his horse, when he appeared to him, & said, Ego sum Jesus quē tu persequeris: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: But he would not so, but rather left him to be taught by Ananias. And as it appeareth in the Acts of the Apostles, at the preaching of Peter 3000. people were converted & won in one day, that it might appear by what tools, and with what workmen God would have his harvest set forward.