Seven godly and learned sermons preachedSeuen godly and learned sermons preached

For oftentimes when God seeth his benefits misused, when he perceiveth ⟨image 19⟩his Gospel little regarded, when he espieth his holy word neglected and nothing set by: then he pulleth from us again his benefits erst bestowed, then he taketh away his word from out of the congregation, then he will not suffer the light of his holy Gospel, any longer to shine upon them. And this when he doth, he doth it only for our sinfulness, only for our own sins & wretchedness. For so in times past he said by Ose his Prophet; For the wickedness of my people I will get me away, they shall not see me. So Christ himself also said;¹ Auferetur à vobis regnum Dei, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, & given to the heathen which shall bring forth the fruits of it. But alas, when Gods kingdom is taken away, in whose kingdom and dominion do the people then live? when Gods gospel & his word is no longer preached, what learning, what doctrine, what discipline is there left to be taught? And this oftentimes cometh to pass by means of our own sin and wickedness: that for the misusing of God ⟨image 20⟩and his gospel, we neither have Gods Kingdom, nor his Gospel among us. But then alas, in what great misery, in what wretchedness, in what woeful case shall we stand? For if Gods Kingdom be shut from us, whither shall we fly? If the light of his gospel be taken from us, what light shall be left us? If God will get him away from us, who shall be our succour? And therefore no man ought to rejoice hereat, no man ought to be glad of such a change. But though Gods kingdom be taken away from us, though Gods Gospel be no more preached unto us, though God fly from us, and will hide himself away, yet is God and his gospel nothing thereby altered; God is still one, and the same God, his gospel is the same gospel that it was before, his Kingdom continueth in one stay and estate, it is not changed nor altered. For saith Christ, Caelum & terra transibunt, ²verbum autem meum non transibit: Heaven and earth shall perish, but may word shall not perish. And again, Portae inferorū non praevalebunt aduersū ⟨image 20⟩³