Seven godly and learned sermons preachedSeuen godly and learned sermons preached

OUR Saviour Christ, before he began to declare and set forth the will of his Father, before he began to preach abroad the high mysteries of our redemption, the glad tidings of mans ⟨image 67⟩salvation, sent abroad into the world a many of Disciples to the number of three score and ten, to the end that they should espy out and see the stay of the people, how they would accept his Doctrine, and first to give them this warning, and say; Paenitentiam agite, appropinquat enim regnum caelorum, Repent your selves, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. These Disciples of Christ, after they had in all points accomplished their masters commission, and fulfilled his commandment, returned again unto Christ, and showed him the marvels that they had wrought in his name, rejoicing much thereat, and especially for that Devils departed from men possessed, and were driven out by them; The very Devils (said they) are subdued unto us in thy name. But when Christ heard them thus say, and perceived that they rejoiced there at, he turned to his Disciples, he pulled them from this vain fancy, and said; I saw Satan fall down from heaven as lightning. Behold I have given you power to tread upon Serpents, to go over Scorpions, over all ⟨image 67⟩venomous and noisome beasts; they shall be subject, & obedient unto you, & they shall not hurt you. But rejoice not in this, rejoice not that you shall have power over Serpents, that you shall be able to tread upon Scorpions and all other venomous beasts, & be nothing therewith annoyed, but rejoice you in this, that your names are written in the book of life. Put away (said Christ) this vainglory that your have conceived, this fond fancy wherein ye rejoice, and rejoice ye only in this, that your names are written in heaven: and that you know God, and his son whom he hath sent into the world. For no man knoweth the Son, but the Father, ¹neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, & he to whom the Son will open it. This is your felicity, this is your joy, & no man but you, hath this great joy & felicity. And therefore blessed are the eyes which see, that ye see. This heavenly felicity, this marvellous bliss, that Christ in this place spake of to his Disciples, was prophesied and long time before spoken of, even at the first beginning of the world: