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…

but the course of our lives must be in righteousness, and true holiness. Paul exhorteth the Corinthians to separate themselves from Idolaters,¹ alleging the place out of the old Testament, where the Lord biddeth the Israelites to come out from Idolaters, ²and to touch no unclean thing: and the reason followeth out of Jeremiah,³ that if they do so, then God vvill be their father, and they shall be his children, even his sons and daughters: which reason Paul urgeth in the next chapter to this effect:⁴ considering we have these promises, that therefore we should cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and grow up unto holiness in the fear of the Lord: where, if we mark the place diligently, we shall find this lesson, that every man who takes God for his father, must not only in this sin of Idolatry, but in all other sins separate himself, that men by his godly life may know whose child he is. But some will say, this exhortation is needless amongst us; for we have no cause to separate our selves from others, because all amongst us are Christians, all believe in God and are baptised, and hope to be saved by Christ. Answer. In outward profession, I confess, we carry the show of Christians, but in deed and trueth, by our lives and conversations, very many among us deny Christ: for in every place the common practise is, to spend the time in drunkenness and surfeiting, in chambering and wantonness; yea, great is the company of those that make a trade of it: take this conversation from many men, and take away their lives. And on the Lords day it may be seen both publicly and privately, in houses and in the open streets, there is such revel, as though there were no God to serve. In the six days of the week, many men walk very painfully in their callings: but when the Lords day cometh, then every man takes license to do what he will: and because of the princes laws, men will come formally to the Church for fashions ⟨p. 49⟩sake: but in the mean time, how many do nothing else but scorn, mock, and deride, and as much as in them lieth, disgrace both the word and the ministers thereof? so that the common saying is this: oh he is a precise fellow, he goes to hear Sermons, he is too holy for our company.