I sob and groan, I call & I pray, that in that point I may be deceived. But I am commanded to stand con tent, for it is God himself that performeth the words of his true messengers: his justice and order cannot be perverted. The Sun keepeth his ordinary course, and •eapeth not back ⟨image 32⟩from the West to the South: but […] goeth down, we lack the light of it, till it rise the next day towards the East again. And so it is with the light of the Gospel, which hath his day appointed by God, as witnesseth1 Christ saying: while ye have the light, […] the light, that darkness apprehend2 you not. And Paul: the night is passed, & the day is come (meaning of the Gospel.) And also? this day if3 you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. And albeit that this day be all4 time from Christs incarnation till his last gaincomming: yet evident it is that all nations have not had at one time y• light of Gods word, but some were in darkness, when other some had light. But by the contrary most evident it is, that where the light of the Gospel for mans unthankfulness, hath been taken away: there is it not to this day restored again. Witness whole Israel, & all the congregations of the Ge•tyis, where Christ was first preached by the Apostles. What is in Asia? ignorance of God. What in Africa? abnegation of ⟨image 33⟩Christ. What in those most notable churches of the […], where Christ was planted by Paul, and long after mattered of others? Mahomet and his false sect. Yea, what is in Rome? that most idol of all others, that adversary to Christ, that man of sin, extolled above all that is called God. Hath God punished those Nations before us, not only the first offenders, but even their posterity unto this day: And shall he spare us, if we be like unthankful as they were▪ yea if we be worse than they were? For of them no small number suffered persecution, banishment, slander, poverty, and finally death, for the professing of Christ: Who having only this knowledge, that idol• were odious before god, could neither for loss of temporal goods▪ for honours offered if they would obey, nor yet for most cruel torments suffered in resisting, once be persuaded to bow before Idols. And (alas) shall we after so many graces that God hath offered unto us, for pleasure or vain threatenings of those whom your hearts know, and your ⟨image 33⟩[…] have confessed to be odious idolaters;
I sobbe and grone, I call & I pray, that in that point I may be disceiued. But I am commaunded to stand cō tent, for it is God hymselfe that performeth the wordes of his true messē gers: his iustice and order cannot be peruerted. The Sunne keepeth hys ordiuary course, and •eapeth not back ⟨image 32⟩from the West to the South: but 〈…〉 goeth down, we lacke the light of it, tyll it ryse the next daye towardes the Easte agayne. And so it is wyth the light of the Gospel, which hathe hys day appointed by God, as witnesseth1 Christ saying: while ye haue the light, 〈…〉 the light, that darkenes apprchend2 you not. And Paul: the night is passed, & the day is come (meanyng of the Gospel.) And also? thys daye yf3 you heare his voice, harden not your hartes. And albeit that this day be all4 time from Christes incarnacion til his last gaincōming: yet euident it is that al nacions haue not had at one time y• light of Gods word, but some wer in darknes, when other some had lyght. But by the contrarye most euident it is, that where the light of the Gospell for mās vnthankfulnes, hath bene takē away: ther is it not to this day restored againe. Witnes whole Israel, & al the congregacions of the Ge•tyis, wher Christ was first preached by the Apostels. What is in Asia? ignoraunce of God. What in Africa? abnegaciō of ⟨image 33⟩Christe. What in those moste notab•e churches of the 〈…〉, wher Christ was planted by Paule, and long after matred of others? Mahomet and hys false sect. Yea, what is in Rome? yt most idoll of all others, that aduersarye to Christ, that man of sin, extolled above al that is called God. Hathe God punished those Nations befor vs, not onlye the fyrst offenders, but euen theyr posterity vnto this daye: And shall he spare vs, if we be lyke vnthankfull as they were▪ yea if we be worsse thē they were? For of them no smal nōber susfered persecuciō, banishment, slaūder, pouerty, and finally death, for the professing of Christ: Who hauing onelye this knowledge, that idol were odyous before god, could neither for losse of temporal goodes for honors offred if thei wold obey, nor yet for most cruel tormentes suffered in resisting, once be perswaded to bowe before Idols. And (alas) shal we after so manye graces that God hath offred vnto vs, sor pleasure or vaine threatnings of those whom your heartes knowe, and your
- 1John. […].Ihon. 〈…〉.
- 2Rom. xiii.
- 3Hebr. iii▪
- 4Note.
