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…

1 By knowledge I understand not any human sciences, or worldly faculties, or a mean insight into the grounds of christian religion, but an assured understanding, as of the most material points of our faith, (for example, of the unity of the godhead, of the Trinity in the persons, of the names, nature, person and offices of our saviour &c.) so specially of this point of the Lords supper it self, (for be it far from us, to know others, and to be ignorant in that whereof we are to be partakers) we keeping our selves far off and free, from all erroneous opinions, either of Transubstantiation, consubstantiation, or any such like, either besides or against the will of God, revealed in his word: which as it must only be the direction of all our actions, so must it always be the rule of our religion alone. And this sound knowledge of the grounds and principles of christian religion, and that in such sort as god hath revealed them unto us in his word, must of necessity go before all other things, both because it is as a man would say, the foundation to the house, & the root to the ⟨p. 230⟩tree, and also because if we know not the good will and pleasure of our GOD, we can never either believe or do the same: for even as in worldly matters, if men be set about the things, they have no skill in, they know not where to begin, or how to proceed, or when to make an end, so in spiritual things, they are much more blind and backward, for in outward things of this life, men may somewhat be holpen, by the light of reason, and the liveliness of their own wit, but in the matters of God, the more they rely or lean upon that, the further off they are from attaining the trueth, because the Apostle telleth us, that the natural man perceiveth not the things of the spirit of God, ¹for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. ²And in another place: the wisdom of the flesh is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

1 By knowledge I vnderstand not anie humaine sciences, or worldly faculties, or a meane insight into the groundes of christian religion, but an assured vnderstanding, as of the most materiall pointes of our faith, (for example, of the vnitie of the godhead, of the Trinitie in the persons, of the names, nature, person and offices of our sauiour &c.) so specially of this point of the Lordes supper it selfe, (for bee it farre from vs, to knowe others, and to bee ignorant in that whereof wee are to bee partakers) we keeping our selues farre off and free, from all erronious opinions, either of Transubstantiation, consubstantiation, or any such like, either besides or against the will of God, reuealed in his word: which as it must onely be the direction of all our actions, so must it alwaies bee the rule of our religion alone. And this sound knowledge of the groundes and principles of christian religion, and that in such sort as god hath reuealed thē vnto vs in his word, must of necesity go before al other things, both because it is as a man would say, the foundation to the house, & the roote to the