A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

¹It were to be wished that our churches and congregations, might in like manner be commended for their fidelity to God: but that cannot truly be done of us generally. It is a common thing for men to swear by their faith; but it is a rare thing to find a man to keep his faith: as will appear by this short survey of our people: For first, the greatest part in all places are ignorant of God, of his word, and of their vow to him in baptism; and also void of care to attain hereto: Now all these are unfaithful unto God. Others, though they have knowledge, yet they have no love, nor care of good things, which concern the kingdom of heaven: but all their delight is in eating, drinking, gaming, and in pastimes and pleasures: Herein they spend their time and strength, and these also have denied their first faith, & their case is dangerous: for as yet their belly and their pleasure is their god, and their end will be damnation. A third sort are termed the wise men of the world; but if we regard their fidelity to God there is nothing in them; they are worldly persons and earthly minded, such as spend both wit and strength to get wealth; like unto the mole, who is always in the earth. These also are unfaithful unto God, in regard of their vow in baptism: For as they account gain godliness, so gold is their god, and they say to the wedge of gold, Thou art my confidence. Seeing then all these be unfaithful unto God, we must hereby be admonished to remember what we have promised in our baptism: And withal have care to perform the same as we tender the salvation of our souls. For if we be unfaithful, as Paul said of the younger widows, damnation belongs unto us.

¹It were to bee wished that our churches and congregations, might in like manner be commended for their fidelitie to God: but that cannot truly be done of vs generally. It is a common thing for men to sweare by their faith; but it is a rare thing to find a man to keepe his faith: as will appeare by this short suruey of our people: For first, the greatest part in all places are ignorant of God, of his word, and of their vow to him in baptisme; and also voide of care to attaine hereto: Now all these are vnfaithfull vnto God. Others, though they haue knowledge, yet they haue no loue, nor care of good things, which concerne the kingdome of heauen: but all their delight is in eating, drinking, gaming, and in pastimes and pleasures: Herein they spend their time and strength, and these also haue denied their first faith, & their case is dangerous: for as yet their belly and their pleasure is their god, and their end will be damnation. A third sort are termed the wise men of the world; but if we regard their fidelitie to God there is nothing in them; they are worldly persons and earthly minded, such as spend both wit and strength to get wealth; like vnto the mole, who is alwayes in the earth. These also are vnfaithfull vnto God, in regard of their vow in baptisme: For as they account gaine godlinesse, so gold is their god, and they say to the wedge of gold, Thou art my confidence. Seeing then all these be vnfaithfull vnto God, we must hereby be admonished to remember what wee haue promised in our baptisme: And withall haue care to performe the same as wee tender the saluation of our soules. For if we be vnfaithfull, as Paule said of the yonger widdows, damnation belongs vnto vs.