Seven godly and learned sermons preachedSeuen godly and learned sermons preached

Saint Paul, after he first began to preach the glad tidings of the Gospel, and testify the name of Christ unto the whole world, as he was much troubled with false Prophets, false Teachers, and such as seduced the people from God; even so he found a number of them among the Corinthians, to whom he wrote this Epistle, or Letter. Some of them, to discredit Paul, and bring an evil opinion of him among the ⟨image 85⟩people, said he was an enemy unto Moses, one that sought to abolish the Law given by Moses, and such a one as despised and brake the same. Some other said that he was a teacher of false doctrine, a seducer of the people, one that dissented clean from the rest of the Apostles, yea, and such a one as disquieted the whole Church of Christ. All these things were reported by S. Paul, thus was he slandered, thus was he evil spoken of: and this was done even by such as professed the name of Christ. Therefore he feeling himself herewith touched, and perceiving also that this not only touched him, but God him self, thought good by his Letters to avoid this slander so risen, and to clear himself unto the Corinthians, among whom this evil brute first sprang of him. And therefore in the Chapter before, he said, Christ hath committed unto us the preaching of the atonement, & so what ever we do, what ever we teach, or preach unto you, is only to this end, to show our selves instruments of the reconciliation between Christ and you.

SAint Paul, after he first began to preach the glad tydings of the Gospell, and testifie the name of Christ vnto the whole world, as he was much troubled with false Prophets, false Teachers, and such as seduced the people from God; euen so he found a number of them among the Corinthians, to whom he wrot this Epistle, or Letter. Some of them, to discredite Paul, and bring an euill opinion of him among the ⟨image 85⟩people, said he was an enemie vnto Moyses, one that sought to abolish the Law giuen by Moyses, and such a one as despised and brake the same. Some other said that he was a teacher of false doctrine, a seducer of the people, one that dissented cleane from the rest of the Apostles, yea, and such a one as disquieted the whole Church of Christ. All these things were reported by S. Paul, thus was he slaundered, thus was he euill spoken of: and this was done euen by such as professed the name of Christ. Therefore he féeling himselfe herewith touched, and perceiuing also that this not only touched him, but God him selfe, thought good by his Letters to auoyd this slaunder so risen, and to cléere himselfe vnto the Corinthians, among whom this euil brute first sprang of him. And therefore in the Chapter before, he said, Christ hath committed vnto vs the preaching of the attonement, & so what euer we doe, what euer we teach, or preach vnto you, is only to this end, to shew our selues instruments of the reconciliation betwéene Christ and you.