An exposition of the Symbol of the ApostlesAn exposition of the Symbole of the Apostles

we receive that willingly of others, which we offer as a gift to others, & the hope of receiving praise maketh us to praise those to their faces of whom we would be praised. We oftentimes refuse the praise of flatterers, when they speak to our faces, and yet we nourish their flatteries in our minds, and think we have gained much with men, when God knoweth & our consciences tell us that they are forged and feigned. We do not think what we are our selves in deed, but what we seem to be to others. And hence it is, that the most men push at the opinion of the world: they labour to be well thought of, fetching the testimony of their credit, rather from a lying fame, than a sound conscience. But happy are they that perfectly overcome this vice, that neither flatter, nor believe those that flatter, that depend not upon the blasts of mens mouths, but study to approve themselves to God, whose judgement is according to truth. And I beseech the Lord, that her Highness with all her Counsel & Nobles, may be endued with this wisdom from ⟨p. 11⟩above, (because such as they are, are in most danger of these sweet poisoners) that they may shun & avoid their pleasant hissings. For albeit now they creep, because they can not go, yet the time was when they ran & made deep furrows even upon our backs: when her majesty should have found courtesy, they executed cruelty; when all should have found truth and loyalty, they bent themselves and their whole powers to kill both soul and body. But I see Satan is like himself, and his children bear his resemblance: that which they can not compass one way, they will attempt another. And therefore I wonder not, that they are suddenly turned for a time from that rough course which yet lurketh hidden in their bones, and which in times past was wont to be their way,¹ that now they flatter her whom they then persecuted & put in danger of life; whom they so uncurteously entreated, & some with such sorrow repented that they had not grubbed up the stock, & passed over the branches: against whom they have moved so many rebellions, and entered into such traitorous ⟨p. 12⟩and cursed practises, some of their greatest Clerks, appearing in actual rebellion, and invading her majesties territories and countries:

we receaue that willingly of others, which we offer as a gift to others, & the hope of receauing praise maketh vs to praise those to their faces of whom we would be praised. We oftentimes refuse the praise of flatterers, when they speake to our faces, and yet we nourish their flatteries in our mindes, and thinke we haue gained much with men, when God knoweth & our consciences tell vs that they are forged and faigned. We do not thinke what we are our selues in deede, but what we seeme to be to others. And hence it is, that the most men push at the opinion of the worlde: they labour to be well thought of, fetching the testimony of their credite, rather from a lying fame, than a sounde conscience. But happie are they that perfectly ouercome this vice, that neither flatter, nor beleue those that flatter, that depend not vpon the blasts of mens mouthes, but studie to approue themselues to God, whose iudgement is according to truth. And I beseech the Lord, that her Highnes with all her Coūsel & Nobles, may be indued with this wisdome from