What be the privileges and high favours of God Almighty, wherewith he hath preferred this age, and in special our nation above all before us, since the days of the holy Apostles, needeth more meditation to move our selves to thankfulness, than proof to convince our adversaries, who though they should gainsay it, shall gnash their teeth and pine away in grief to behold it. Among all (I may say with the Prophet and the Apostle) this is chief, that God hath so clearly showed his word to Jacob, his statutes and his judgements to Israel; and hath committed to us his holy oracles: Wherein I mean not only that we have the Gospel so publicly and plentifully preached, which (though great) is common to us with many: but withal, that in some admirable manner, God hath revealed his secrets unto us, such as we know no Church upon the earth, in which the true sense of the Scriptures and sound doctrine thereof, are more sincerely embraced and professed. Yea with what store of rare and excellent lights the Lord hath furnished this our Church, he is blind that seeth not, and malicious that will not acknowledge it: wherein though generally it falleth out by humane frailty and Satan's subtlety, that there is more light of judgement, then integrity of conscience; yet herein God hath not left himself without witness of many worthy Christians both Preachers and professors of the truth, who lively express the form of holy doctrine into which they are cast, such as upon my uttermost peril I dare profess, the devoutest Papist neither hath nor possibly (in that profession) can attain unto, lacking true faith the right mother and nurse of a godly life. And herein to give one instance in steed of many, take and examine strictly this one work, and if it breathe not out more sound godliness in one leaf, then all their artificial composed treatises of Resolution (which in their estimation are chief in this argument of a godly life) let me bear my deserved blame. I leave the life of the writer of that Popish book to such as seem upon better knowledge to have set out the same. And for the Author of this Treatise, I may not in modesty say what I know, but could and do desire that his life were so known to all, to whom his writing shall come, as it is to such, who have heard the doctrine and seen the practise hereof in himself these well near thirty years.
WHat be the priuiledges and high fauours of God Almightie, wherwith he hath preferred this age, and in speciall our nation aboue all before vs, since the daies of the holie Apostles, needeth more meditation to moue our selues to thankfulnes, thē proof to cōuince our aduersaries, who though they should gainsay it, shall gnash their teeth and pine away in griefe to behold it. Among all (I may say with the Prophet and the Apostle) this is chiefe, that God hath so cleerely shewed his word to Iacob, his statutes and his iudgements to Israel; and hath committed to vs his holy oracles: Wherein I meane not only that we haue the Gospell so publikly and plentifully preached, which (though great) is common to vs with many: but withall, that in some admirable manner, God hath reuealed his secrets vnto vs, such as wee know no Church vpon the earth, in which the true sense of the Scriptures and sound doctrine thereof, are more sincerely embraced and professed. Yea with what store of rare and excellent lights the Lord hath furnished this our Church, he is blind that seeth not, and malitious that wil not acknowledge it: wherein though generally it falleth out by humane frailtie and Sathans subtiltie, that there is more light of iudgement, then integritie of conscience; yet herein God hath not left himselfe without witnes of many worthie Christians both Preachers and professors of the truth, who liuely expresse the forme of holie doctrine into which they are cast, such as vpon my vttermost perill I dare professe, the deuoutest Papist neither hath nor possiblie (in that profession) can attaine vnto, lacking true faith the right mother and nurse of a godly life. And herein to giue one instance in steed of many, take and examine streightly this one work, and if it breathe not out more sound godlines in one leafe, then all their artificiall composed treatises of Resolution (which in their estimation are chiefe in this argument of a godly life) let me beare my deserued blame. I leaue the life of the writer of that Popish booke to such as seeme vpon better knowledge to haue set out the same. And for the Author of this Treatise, I may not in modestie say what I know, but could and doe desire that his life were so knowne to all, to whom his writing shall come, as it is to such, who haue heard the doctrine and seene the practise hereof in himself these well neere thirtie yeeres.
