An exposition of the Symbol or Creed of the Apostles according to the tenor…An exposition of the Symbole or Creed of the Apostles according to the tenour…

Lastly, those which have bin impenitent sinners all their life past▪ must not only learn to repent for their sins; but also endeavour to perform obedience unto gods word. God is a creator, and the thing created should in all respects be conformable to his vvill: for David saith, Thine hands have fashioned me, & framed me, ¹give me understanding therefore that I may learn thy commandments. And good reason, for there is no man of any trade, but he would fain have ⟨p. 66⟩all that he maketh and deviseth to be used: but yet so as the use thereof must be conformable to the vvill of the maker. For this cause Moses that faithful servant of God sayeth, that the people of Israel dealt wrongfully with the Lord, why? For he hath created them, and proportioned them, he is their father and he bought them: yet they have dishonoured him by corrupting themselves towards him by their vice. All creatures in heaven and in earth do the will of the Creator, except man, and the devil and his angels: for the Sun, the Moon, and the stars, they keep that course which God hath appointed them: but man though he be bound to do the will of God, because god is his Creator, yet he rebels against him. The potter if in tempering his clay he can not make and frame it according to his mind, at length he will dash it in pieces: so God, he createth man, not that he should do his own vvill, but gods vvill: and therefore that man whosoever he be that followeth the lusts of his own wicked heart, and vvill not be brought to be conformable to gods vvill, but continues rebellious still, the Lord in his wrath vvill confound him eternally. Therefore it stands every man in hand to yield himself pliable unto gods vvill, & to endeavour to obey it by keeping a good conscience before god and all men, and by walking faithfully in his calling: otherwise the end vvill be confusion. If a man have a trade and other men come into his shop, and use such instruments as be there to a wrong end, though they were their own, yet it would grieve him to see it: so god created all things for his own use, and for the accomplishing of his vvill: but rebellious man conforms himself to the devils vvill, and thereby no doubt he grievously offendeth god.

Lastly, those vvhich haue bin impenitent sinners all their life past▪ must not only learne to repent for their sinnes; but also endeauour to perfourme obedience unto gods vvord. God is a creatour, and the thing created shoulde in all respectes be conformable to his vvill: for David saith, Thine hands have fashioned me, & framed me,