Seven godly and learned sermons preachedSeuen godly and learned sermons preached

having, I say, this word of his which shall never perish, and against which the very gates of hell shall not prevail, he was bold to appeal from the slanderous judgement of the people, and say, I pass not what you think of me, It is but a small matter for me to be judged of you, or of mans day, &c.

hauing, I say, this word of his which shal neuer perish, and against which the verie gates of hel shal not preuaile, he was bould to appeale from the slaunderous iudgement of the people, and say, I passe not what you thinke of me, It is but a small matter for mee to bee iudged of you, or of mans day, &c.

Good people, you have here heard declared unto you, and thereby you may well perceive, that S. Paul notwithstanding he was the servant of God, an elect vessel of the holy Ghost, and the chiefest Apostle of Christ; yet was evil spoken of and misliked even of the Christians, and such as professed the name of God: notwithstanding he was indeed the true servant of God, the minister of Christ, and a faithful dispenser of the secrets of God, yet could not all men speak well of him, all men could not give him a good report. And therefore to cause ⟨image 21⟩them to conceive a better opinion of him, and report of him none other than he deserved, he here willeth them, that they should first weigh well and consider his doings, they should examine his doctrine, and the gospel that he had preached amongst them: they should mark well and see whether he had been a faithful dispenser of the mysteries of Gods gospel, and then so esteem him, as the minister of Christ, and Steward of the secrets of God. And therefore judge you nothing (saith he) before the time that the Lord come, which shall bring that to light which is hid in darkness, and open the counsels of the hearts, and then shall every one have praise of God. And so in these days, as Paul in his time was misliked of many, so I say, in these our days the ministers of God, and preachers of his gospel, are evil spoken of amongst all men: some say they are unlearned, they know nothing, they are crafts men, they were never set to school, this they have said, and do yet report of them. Some men say, they preach they cannot tell what, they speak against