A Golden Chain

And thus much for the meaning. Now follow the duties whereunto we are moved by this doctrine, of Gods omnipotency.

And thus much for the meaning. Nowe follow the duties whereunto wee are mooued by this doctrine, of Gods omnipotencie.

First, whereas God the father is said to be almighty, we are taught true humiliation:¹ Humble your selves under the mighty hand of God, saith Peter: where he giveth an exhortation to humility, and allegeth the cause, because God is almighty. To make this more plain. Every one of us was borne in sin, & by nature we are most wretched in our selves: now what an one is God? Surely he is able to do whatsoever he will, yea and more then he will, and is able to destroy such as rebel against him every moment. Therefore our duty is, to cast down our selves for our sins in his presence. This true humiliation was that which our Saviour Christ would have brought the young man in the Gospel unto, when he bade him go sell all that he had and give to the poor. Therefore whosoever thou art, take heed thou must: for if thou run on in thy wickedness, and still rebel against God, it is a thousand to one at length he will destroy thee. For he is an almighty God, and able to do whatsoever he will: his hand is mighty, it boots not a man to strive with him: for he was never yet overmastered, and for this cause we must needs •ast down our selves under his hand. It is a fearful thing (saith the holy Ghost) to fall into the hands of the living God:² therefore if we would escape his heavy and terrible displeasure, the best way for us is, to abase our selves, and be ashamed to follow our sins. Christ biddeth us not to fear him that is able to kill the body, and can go no further: but we must fear him that is able to cast both body and soul into hell fire. ³Example of this we have in David, who when he was persecuted by his own son Absalom, he said unto the Lord, If he thus say, I have no delight in thee, behold here I am, let him do to me as seemeth good in his eyes.