SO oft as I consider the blessed state of your town, whereof God by his divine providence and unsearchable counsel, hath made you rulers under the Queens Majesty, our Sovereign liege Lady: I am entirely provoked and stirred up to give most entire thanks, to the Prince of Princesses, and Lord of Lords, that mighty GOD of Hosts, for his so great and singular benefits, so bounteously and largely poured upon you, and other the inhabitants of your town. For I do not well know, if any thing may any where be found, meet to beautify a common weal, that justly may be counted to lack in you, so plentifully hath GOD poured his blessings upon you. Who is able to express, what a goodly ornament, precious jewel, and noble ouch, Christian doctrine is, to a Christian common weal? The sage and prudent Philosophers, and other wise and expert men of this world, judged these common weals most blessed, happy, and fortunate, most noble, beautiful, and flourishing, where the Princes and Rulers thereof, were either Philosophers, or studious of Philosophy. But how much is that common weal to be counted happy and blessed, where not human Philosophy, whether ⟨image 3⟩we respect natural, or moral, but divine Philosophy, brought from the hie Heavens, by him which is the wisdom of the father, prospereth, florisheth, triumpheth: where also not vain and curious Philosophers, but true, faithful, and godly Philosophers reign, and bear rule? Whatsoever the Philosophers taught, although never so much enforced with sugared eloquence, probable reasons, and apparent arguments, it was the fruit of the earth, and of mans brain: but that which Christ delivered unto us, came out of the bosom of his Father, so that look how much the noble Heavens surmount & pass the vile & base Earth in height, & indignity: so much, and incomparable wise more, doth the heavenly Philosophy, whereof the holy Ghost alone is the author, exceedeth the earthy Philosophy, whereof man is the deviser. He that cometh from an high, saith that blessed John Baptist, is above all.1 He that is of the earth, is earthy, & speaketh of the earth. He that cometh from Heaven, is above all, and what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth: and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony, hath set to his seal, that GOD is true.
SO oft as I consider the blessed state of your tovvne, vvhereof God by his deuine prouidence and vnsearcheable counsell, hath made you rulers vnder the Queenes Maiestie, our Soueraigne liege Lady: I am entirely prouoked and stirred vp to geue most entire thankes, to the Prince of Princesses, and Lorde of Lordes, that mighty GOD of Hostes, for his so great and singuler benifites, so bounteously and largely poured vpon you, and other the inhabitauntes of your tovvne. For I doo not vvell knovve, yf any thing may any vvhere be found, meete to beautifie a common vveale, that iustly may be counted to lacke in you, so plentifully hath GOD poured his blessinges vpon you. VVho is able to expresse, vvhat a goodly ornamente, precious ievvell, and noble ouche, Christian doctrine is, to a Christian common vveale? The sage and prudent Philosophers, and other vvyse and expert men of this vvorlde, iudged these common vveales most blessed, happy, and fortunate, most noble, beautifull, and florishing, vvhere the Princes and Rulers thereof, vvere eyther Philosophers, or studious of Philosophie. But hovv much is that common vveale to be counted happy and blessed, vvhere not humaine Philosophie, vvhether ⟨image 3⟩vve respect naturall, or morall, but diuine Philosophie, brought from the hie Heauens, by him vvhich is the vvysdome of the father, prospereth, florisheth, triumpheth: vvhere also not vaine and curious Philosophers, but true, faithfull, and godly Philosophers raigne, and beare rule? VVhatsoeuer the Philosophers taught, although neuer so much enforced vvith sugred eloquence, probable reasons, and apparent argumentes, it vvas the fruite of the earth, and of mans braine: but that vvhiche Christe deliuered vnto vs, came out of the bosome of his Father, so that looke hovve much the noble Heauens surmount & passe the vile & base Earth in higth, & indignitie: so much, and incomparable vvyse more, doth the heauenly Philosophie, vvhereof the holy Ghost alone is the aucthour, exceedeth the earthy Philosophie, vvhereof man is the deuiser. He that cometh from an high, sayth that blessed Iohn Baptist, is aboue all.1 He that is of the earth, is earthy, & speaketh of the earth. He that commeth from Heauen, is aboue all, and vvhat he hath seene and heard, that he testifieth: and no man receiueth his testimonie. He that hath receiued his testimonie, hath set to his seale, that GOD is true.
- 1John. 3.Iohn. 3.
