Seven godly and learned sermons preachedSeuen godly and learned sermons preached

There are times that are times of knowledge, there are times again that are times of ignorance. And who is there now, what man so old, or child so young, but may well remember the blindness that hath been in our time, and our fathers times before us? Who is so blind, who so far past knowledge, but may both well see and remember the dark ignorance that hath been in times past, and the great grace that God hath now poured down upon us in these our days? Therefore as Saint Paul gave the Corinthians warning that they should not receive the grace f• God in ⟨image 94⟩vain: even so now he warneth us, and biddeth us beware that we take not this grace of God in vain, that we turn not to our old vanity again, that we return not to our former wickedness, that we defile not the Gospel of God by our evil and corrupt living. And therefore in another place he saith, Give your members as instruments of righteousness unto God, ¹and let not sin have power over you. Herein is set out unto us, and as it were painted before our eyes, our whole office and duty, and how that we as well by our works, as our words, should be an example and pattern for other men to follow, and that we give no cause of offence or slander of the Gospel of God. I speak this not only to the Preachers and Ministers of Gods word (though chiefly to them indeed) but I speak it generally to all you my brethren, that profess Gods Gospel, and bear the name of Christ. For S. Paul indifferently to all men saith,² Ye are not the children of darkness, but the c••i•ren of light, walk you therefore ⟨image 94⟩as becometh the children of light. And again in another place, he saith, Give no man occasion of evil, offend no man,³ that in your office ye be not found faulty. And such was in old time the life of all good & godly men, such was their living that professed Gods Gospel, and the name of Jesus Christ.