Seven godly and learned sermons preachedSeuen godly and learned sermons preached

What gained we, if the covenant of God, and Testament of our Saviour Christ be broken unto us, if we receive the same in vain?¹ Blessed are they (saith Christ) which hear the word of God, and keep it. The Scribes, the Pharisees, the Jews, Annas, Caiaphas, and Pilate heard the word of God, heard Christ himself speak & preach amongst them, and yet they received this word of God in vain, they received this grace of God in vain. Christ likened his word to a sower that went forth and sowed his seed, whereof some fell by the way side, and so wast trodden with mens feet and destroyed, some on the stone, which took root, but yet soon withered away because it lacked moistness, some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprung up with it and choked it. So the poor husbandman lost in manner his whole cost and labour, for of all that he sowed, little fell into the good ground & brought any increase. And even thus standeth it with Gods Gospel now a days: for preach we never so oft, teach we never so much, few, yea very few are found ⟨image 90⟩that receive the same, & continue therein, and so bring forth fruits of salvation. When Moses the servant of God, was but a little time departed from the people,² and gone up into the mount there to talk with God, and ask counsel of him, the people by and by made themselves a golden Calf, and fell to the worshipping of that Image. And this did they because they received the grace of God in vain. When Moses was dead, and Joshua succeeded into his room, straight-ways the people worshipped Baal and Astaroth, they forsook the living Lord who had delivered them, and in steed of him they worshipped very Devils. And this did they because they received the grace of God in vain. Saul though he once was the servant of God, and inspired with his spirit, yet at the length he fell from God and persecuted David the chosen of God, and so in the end miserably slew himself.³ And this did he, because he received the grace of God in vain. Judas being one of the Apostles, and the servant of Jesus Christ, yet he not only betrayed his master ⟨image 91⟩Christ, but also became himself a very devil: