OF all the faults that we fall into, in these days of our vanity, (right honourable & my very good Lord) I know none that deserve greater blame, than to be unthankful where we have received benefits. And this is the cause that I having taken some pains in this profitable work, (which I am bold under your honours name, to offer to the whole Church of God:) I thought good to leave it in lieu of thankfulness, as a testimony both of your honours love towards the truth of God, and of my humble duty again towards your honour ⟨p. 4⟩and the whole Church of God to all posterity: for who am I that I should not, whiles life lasteth, live to the profit of the Church? and who are you with all your honour, authority, wealth, and liberty, & all the gifts which God in mercy hath bestowed upon you, that you should not employ all to the maintenance of the truth, and defence of the Church, under her Majesty, wherein both high and low, receive the assurance of spiritual blessings, sealed in the hope of an everlasting kingdom? And as the glory of God, is showed most herein, that he defendeth his spouse, & hath beautified her with gifts from above, that she might be a pure and undefiled spouse, chaste and holy unto him self: so this is our greatest glory of what state or condition so ever we be, to be members of this Church, by the Communion whereof, we are his members. For he is the only head of his Church, to give it gifts, to govern it, & to lead it, to that great and everlasting salvation. There is no life, but from this head, nor any salvation but in this Church: ⟨p. 5⟩wherein as sincere doctrine is professed and out of his word shineth and dwelleth, so that holy obedience, of children towards their father, and of servants towards their Lord, framed and conformed to his will, always appeareth and showeth it self, And therefore it is called his house, because he is the husband of it, the householder and master that ruleth in it, setting down his own orders to his children and family: wherein it is intolerable presumption, (if not blasphemy) for any man to dare to alter or change the least jot against his will. He is the King and Pastor of it,1 and his friends stand and hear him:2 his sheep follow his voice, and will not go after a stranger.
OF all the faultes that we fall into, in these dayes of our vanity, (right honorable & my very good Lord) I know none that deserue greater blame, than to be vnthankfull where we haue receaued benefites. And this is the cause yt I hauing takē some paines in this profitable worke, (which I am bolde vnder your honours name, to offer to the whole Church of God:) I thought good to leaue it in lieu of thankefulnesse, as a testimony both of your honours loue towards the truth of God, and of my humble duety againe towards your honor ⟨p. 4⟩and the whole Church of God to all posteritie: for who am I that I should not, whiles life lasteth, liue to the profite of the Church? and who are you with all your honour, auctority, wealth, and libertie, & all the gifts which God in mercie hath bestowed vpon you, yt you should not employ all to the maintenance of the truth, and defence of the Church, vnder her Maiestie, wherein both high and lowe, receaue the assuraunce of spirituall blessings, sealed in the hope of an euerlasting kingdome? And as ye glory of God, is shewed most herein, that he defendeth his spowse, & hath bewtified her with giftes from aboue, that she might be a pure and vndefiled spowse, chast and holy vnto him selfe: so this is our greatest glory of what state or condition so euer we be, to be members of this Church, by the Communion whereof, we are his members. For he is the onely head of his Church, to giue it gifts, to gouerne it, & to lead it, to that great and euerlasting saluation. There is no life, but from this head, nor any saluation but in this Church: ⟨p. 5⟩wherein as syncere doctrine is professed and out of his worde shineth and dwelleth, so that holy obedience, of children towards their father, and of seruauntes towards their Lord, framed and conformed to his will, alwayes appeareth and sheweth it selfe, And therefore it is called his howse, because he is the husband of it, the housholder and master that ruleth in it, setting down his owne orders to his children and familie: wherein it is intollerable presumption, (if not blasphemie) for any man to dare to alter or chaunge the least iote against his will. He is the Kinge and Pastor of it,1 and his friendes stande and heare him:2 his sheepe followe his voice, and will not goe after a straunger.
- 1Luke 12.4.
- 2Jo. 10.4.5.Io. 10.4.5.
