A treatise of mans imaginations Showing his natural evil thoughtsA treatise of mans imaginations Shewing his naturall euill thoughts

I. The preface; And the Lord said in his heart: These words must not be taken properly, for God hath not an heart as man hath, neither speaketh he as man doth; but hereby is meant, that God determined ⟨p. 3⟩and set down with himself this law and decree.

I. The preface; And the Lord said in his heart: These words must not be taken properly, for God hath not an heart as man hath, neither speaketh he as man doth; but hereby is meant, that God determined ⟨p. 3⟩and set downe with himselfe this law and decree.

In this phrase of speech, note this one thing: If it had pleased him, God could have spoken to man by a voice, the hearing whereof would have confounded him: but as here we see, he doth abase himself, and as it were lay aside his honour and might, and speaketh unto us after the manner of men, even to the capacity of the most simple. Which teacheth us, that it is the good will and pleasure of God, that not only the learned, but even the unlettered and most ignorant should know and understand the holy Scripture: for else he would never have penned them in a phrase & style that doth so well accord to the ⟨p. 4⟩capacity of the simple.

In this phrase of speech, note this one thing: If it had pleased him, God could haue spoken to man by a voice, the hearing whereof would haue confounded him: but as here we see, he doth abase himselfe, and as it were lay aside his honour and might, and speaketh vnto vs after the manner of men, euen to the capacitie of the most simple. Which teacheth vs, that it is the good will and pleasure of God, that not onely the learned, but euen the vnlettered and most ignorant should knowe and vnderstand the holy Scripture: for els he would neuer haue penned them in a phrase & style that doth so well accord to the ⟨p. 4⟩