Thus see we how acceptable a 1thing to god, the sacrifice of praise •s. But what is it to offer the Sacrifice of praise unto god? Verily to confess & unfeignedly to grant that what so ever is nought, cometh of our selves, again y• all that ever good is, cometh of God only as he saith by the Prophet, O Israel thy destruction cometh of 2thy self, but thy health and salvation cometh only of me. For this ⟨image 90⟩is the greatest praise y• we can give 3to God, for to knowledge him alone the author & giver of all goodness, & that all our righteousness, wisdom, holiness, sanctification, redden cion, 4virtue, devotion, and all that ever good is, cometh of him alone, & not of our selves. This is that sacrifice wherewith God is hyghly de lyghted. This is that oblation, that giveth so godly an odour before god. This is that offering, that maketh God well pleased with him, y• doth offer it, in as much as by the oblation hereof he confesseth him self to be able to do no thing, that of the own dignity & righteousness 5thereof, may seem worthy to be accepted in the sight of god, and there fore giveth he all the glory, honour encomy, laud, praise & magnificence to god alone, as the Prophet saith 6O Lord all glory be unto thee, and to us shame & confusion. The saints ⟨image 90⟩themselves also pray on this man 7ner, Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to thy name give all the glory for thy mercy and truths sake. God himself also saith, I am the 8Lord, this is my name, I will give my glory to no other, nor my praise to graven Images. If God him self will not give away his glory & praise to other, certes we do him than much injury, if we steal it from him, and give it to any other creature either in heaven or in earth. If we deeply consider with our sell ues at all times the great kindness of God toward us, we shall undoubtedly be moved to sing perpetual praises to his most blessed name, and continually to offer the sacrifice of thanks giving unto him.
Thus se we howe acceptable a 1thyng to god, the sacrifice of praise •s. But what is it to offer the Sacrifyce of prayse vnto god? Uerely to confesse & vnsaynedly to graunt that what so euer is noughte, commeth of our selues, agen y• all that euer good is, commeth of God only as he saythe by the Prophet, O Israell thy destruccion commethe of 2thy selfe, but thy health and saluacion commeth only of me. For this ⟨image 90⟩is the greatest prayse y• we can giue 3to God, for to knowlege hym alone the author & gyuer of all goodnes, & that all oure ryghteousnes, wysdome, holynes, sanctificacion, redē cion, 4vertue, deuocion, and all that euer good is, cometh of hym alone, & not of our selues. This is that sa crifyce wherwith God is hyghly de lyghted. This is that oblaciō, that gyueth so godlye an odoure before god. This is that offryng, that ma keth God well pleased with hym, y• doth offer it, in as muche as by the oblacion hereof he confessethe hym selfe to be able to do no thyng, that of the owne dignite & righteousnes 5therof, maye seme worthy to be accepted in the syght of god, and ther fore gyueth he al the glory, honour encomy, laud, prayse & magnificēce to god alone, as the Prophet sayth 6O Lorde all glory be vnto the, and to vs shame & confusion. The sayntes ⟨image 90⟩thēselues also praye on this mā 7ner, Not to vs, O Lorde, not to vs, but to thy name gyue all the glory for thy mercy and truethes sake. God hymselfe also sayth, I am the 8Lord, this is my name, I wyl giue my glory to no other, nor my praise to grauen Images. If God hym selfe wyll not gyue away hys glory & prayse to other, certes we do hym thā much iniury, yfwe steale it frō hym, and gyue it to ony other crea ture eyther in heauen or in earthe. If we depely consyder with our sel ues at al tymes the great kyndnes of God toward vs, we shal vndoub tedly be moued to synge perpetual prayses to his moost blyssed name, and continuallye to offer the sacrifice of thankes gyuyng vnto hym.
- 1What it is to offer y• sacrifice of praise.What it is to offer y• sacrifice of prayse.
- 2[…]. xiii〈…〉. xiii
- 3☞
- 4[…]. Cor. iiii. Jacob. i.〈…〉. Cor. iiii. Iacob. i.
- 5[…]〈…〉
- 6[…]. i.〈…〉. i.
- 7Psal. •xi.
- 8Esa. xiii.
