Two very learned sermons of M. Beza, together with a short sum of the…Two very lerned sermons of M. Beza, togither with a short sum of the…

Now having waded thus far in the trueth and certainty of the matter it self, we might safely shut up and conclude this point, but that there remain sundry of the adversaries objections to be answered: wherein I cannot but let the godly reader understand, that I mind not to answer either all of them, or many of them, because the most in trueth be frivolous and vain, and it would be over tedious to wade into such idle and unprofitable matter. Three there are in deed, which because they seem to be of special strength and ordinary use, I can not let pass. Two of them are taken from the words of the text of holy scripture, and the third from the omnipotency and almighty power of our saviour Christ: ⟨p. 192⟩which though they be common things in deed, and such as might as easily be rejected as objected, because the controversy is not touching the plain words of the text, and the almighty power of Christ, as God (for be it far from us to be so absurd, as to draw things of such evidency and excellency into question, but we strive rather, as for the true sense & natural meaning of the words, so for the verity of Christs person, and the essential properties of either his distincted natures) yet we cannot, but both for the strengthening of them that be weak and ignorant in the same, as also for the discharge of our conscience before God and man, but in a word or two, as it were, make a short, but withal a sound, sufficient, and true answer I hope, to every one of these three severally, and by themselves.

Now hauing waded thus farre in the trueth and certeinetie of the matter it selfe, wee might safelie shut vp and conclude this point, but that there remaine sundrie of the aduersaries obiections to be answered: wherin I cannot but let the godlie reader vnderstand, that I minde not to answer either all of them, or manie of them, because the most in trueth be friuolous and vaine, and it would be ouer tedious to wade into such idle and vnprofitable matter. Three there are in deede, which because they seeme to be of speciall strength and ordinarie vse, I can not let passe. Two of them are taken from the words of the text of holie scripture, and the third from the omnipotencie and almightie power of our sauiour Christ: ⟨p. 192⟩which though they be common things in deed, and such as might as easilie be reiected as obiected, because the controuersie is not touching the plaine wordes of the text, and the almightie power of Christ, as God (for be it far from vs to be so absurd, as to draw things of such euidency and excellencie into question, but we striue rather, as for the true sence & naturall meaning of the wordes, so for the veritie of Christes person, and the essentiall properties of either his distincted natures) yet we cannot, but both for the strengthening of them that be weake and ignorant in the same, as also for the discharge of our conscience before God and man, but in a word or two, as it were, make a short, but withal a sound, sufficient, and true answer I hope, to euery one of these three seuerallie, and by themselues.