A Golden Chain

Secondly, if Christ ascend up to heaven to give gifts unto men; here we may see how many a man and woman in these our days are overseen, in that they plead ignorance, and say that they hope God will have them excused for it, seeing they are not learned; they have dull wits, and it is not possible to teach them now, they are past learning; and hereupon they presume they may live in gross ignorance, as blind almost in religion as when they were first borne. But mark, I pray you, who it is that is ascended up to heaven, namely Christ Jesus our Lord, who made thee of nothing. Now was he able ⟨p. 401⟩to give thee a being, when thou was not, and is he not likewise able to put knowledge into thy soul, if so be thou wilt use the means which he hath appointed? and the rather, seeing he is ascended for that end: but if thou wilt not use the means to come to knowledge, thy case is desperate, and thou art the cause of thine own condemnation, and thou bringest confusion upon thine own head. Therefore let ignorant men labour for knowledge of Gods word. Ignorance shall excuse none: it will not stand for payment at the day of judgement. Christ is ascended to this end to teach the ignorant, to give knowledge and wisdom unto the simple, & to give gifts of prophecy unto his ministers, that they may teach his people. Therefore, I say again, let such as be ignorant use the means diligently, and God will give the blessing. Thirdly, whereas it is thought to be a thing not possible, to furnish a whole Church with preaching ministers, it seems to be otherwise. For wherefore did Christ ascend to heaven? was it not to give gifts unto his Church? what, is Christs hand now shortened? undoubtedly we may resolve our selves, that Christ bestowed gifts sufficient upon men in the Church: but it is for our sins that they are not employed. The fountains of learning the Universities, though they are not dammed up, yet they stream not abroad as they might. Many there be in them endued with worthy gifts for the building of the Church, but the covetousness of men hindereth the comfortable entrance which otherwise might be.

Secondly, if Christ ascend vp to heauen to giue gifts vnto men; here we may see how many a man and woman in these our daies are ouerseene, in that they plead ignorance, and say that they hope God will haue them excused for it, seeing they are not learned; they haue dull wittes, and it is not possible to teach them now, they are past learning; and hereupon they presume they may liue in grosse ignorance, as blinde almost in religion as when they were first borne. But marke, I pray you, who it is that is ascended vp to heauen, namely Christ Iesus our Lord, who made thee of nothing. Now was he able