Considering the happy state of this our most happy, age so diversly and manifold ways blessed of the Lord our God with diverse and manifold his bounteous benefits, yea and those not bodily only, but ghostly also, that no part of us may seem in any point destitute of his fatherly blessings, so richly and plentifully poured upon us according to his wonted mercies and accustomed kindnesses: I can none otherwise than greatly marvel at the obstinate blindness and blind obstinacy of certain our countrymen, yea and those not the rudest and most ignorant, but the wisest and of greatest experience, as they think themselves, and so wish to be reputed of all other: which for the most part being nothing moved with this so great kindness of our heavenly father, go forth to show themselves altogether unthankful, no consideration had of so free and undeserved benefits, whether we respect the body or the mind:1 so truly is it said of the Apostle: Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many of high degree, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise: and God hath chosen the weak things of the world, to confound things which are mighty: and vile things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea and things of no reputation, ⟨image 8⟩for to bring to nought things of reputation, that no flesh should rejoice in his presence: And as the Pharisees said to their ministers,2 when they returned from Christs Sermon, giving him this report to their masters: Never man spake, as this man doth: Are ye also deceived sa•e they. Doth any of the Rulers or of the Pharisees believe on him. But this common people, which know not the law, are cursed: And as S. James writeth in his Epistle: Hath not God chosen the poor of this world,3 such as are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him. But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men execute tyranny upon you, and draw you before the judgements cates. Do not they speak evil of that good name, which is called upon over you.
COnsidering the happy state of thys our most happie, age so diuerslye and manifold wayes blessed of the Lord our God with diuerse and manifold his bounteous benefites, yea and those not bodily onely, but ghostly also, that no parte of vs may seme in any point destitute of his fatherly blessings, so richely and plentifully poured vpō vs according to his wonted mercies and accustomed kindnesses: I can none otherwise than greatly maruell at the obstinate blindnesse and blinde obstinacie of certaine our countreymen, yea and those not the rudest and most ignoraunt, but the wisest and of greatest experience, as they thinke themselues, and so wishe to be reputed of all other: whiche for the most parte being nothing moued with this so great kindnesse of our heauenly father, go forth to shewe themselues altogether vnthankefull, no consideration had of so free and vndeserued benefites, whether we respecte the body or the minde:1 so truly is it sayed of the Apostle: Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many of hye degree, are called: but God hath chosen the foolishe thinges of the worlde to confounde the wise: and God hath chosen the weake thynges of the worlde, to confounde thinges whiche are mightie: and vyle thinges of the worlde, and thinges whiche are despised, hath God chosen, yea and thinges of no reputation, ⟨image 8⟩for to bring to nought thynges of reputation, that no fleshe should reioyce in his presence: And as the Pharisees said to their ministers,2 when they r••urned frō Christs Sermō, geuing him this report to their masters: Neuer mā spake, as this mā doth: Are ye also deceaued sa•e they. Doth anye of the Rulers or of the Pharisees beleue on him. But this cōmon people, whiche know not the lawe, are cursed: And as S. Iames writeth in his Epistle: Hath not God chosen the poore of this worlde,3 suche as are riche in faith, and heyres of the kyngdome which he promised to them that loue him. But ye haue despised the poore. Do not rich men execute tyranny vpon you, and drawe you before the iudgements cates. Do not they speake euel of that good name, whiche is called vpon ouer you.
- 11. Cor. 1.
- 2Joan. 7.Ioan. 7.
- 3Jac. 2.Iac. 2.
