Seven godly and learned sermons preachedSeuen godly and learned sermons preached

When Christ in our nature began first to preach, and set abroad his fathers will, and the glad tidings of the Gospel, the people forthwith found fault with him; he is, said they, but a Carpenters son,¹ we know his Father, we know his Mother, he was never set to School, how can this man have learning? Afterward, when the Disciples and Apostles of Christ preached and taught the people, and began to speak with strange tongues,² in so much that every man marvelled to hear his own speech and language, both Medes, Persians, and they of Mesopotamia; yet said the people, these men are full of new wine. And this was too little honour. Therefore if the Preacher be too much honoured, then is God dishonoured: if he be despised and nothing set by, then is Christ himself despised, and not regarded. ⟨image 7⟩They that said Christ was a Carpenters son, a man unlearned, and such a one as never went to school: they that said the Apostles of Christ were full of new wine, spake not this of any private malice or hatred that they bare either unto Christ, or his Apostles, but only to bring Gods word to shame, only to bring Christs holy Gospel out of credit with the people: this was their intent and purpose, and nothing else. Therefore Saint Paul in this place showeth the Corinthians how they should esteem the teachers of gods holy word, how they should think and judge of them. For the people sometime esteem most a politic man, such a man as by his great wit is able to conclude Peace and Leagues between Princes, they regard him that is of stout courage and learned in the Laws, they set most by him that is eloquent and able to persuade; yea and they regard him not that is not excellently learned, and seen in all Sciences: but here ⟨image 7⟩Saint Paul showeth them, that they should not esteem the Preachers of Gods Gospel as men politic, as men of great wit, as men of stout courage, and learned in the Law as men eloquent, and excellently well seen in sciences: but as the Ministers of Christ, and Stewards of the secrets of God. Thus should the Ministers of Christ be esteemed, and thus ought the teachers of Gods word show themselves, as Ministers of Christ, and dispensers of Gods secrets. And therefore saint Paul in another place saith; We come not to preach our selves,