A12363:65
The lawyers question The answer to the lawyers question. The censure of Christ upon…The lavviers question The answere to the lawiers question. The censure of Christ vpon…
The lawyers question The answer to the lawyers question. The censure of Christ upon the answer. By Henry Smith.The lavviers question The answere to the lawiers question. The censure of Christ vpon the answere. By Henry Smith.
London: printed by J. Danter for Thomas Gosson, 1595
Title page typeset from the transcription.
THE CENSURE OF Christ upon the Answer.THE CENSVRE OF Christ vpon the Ansvvere.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
or how can the people think that the doctrine is true, when they that preach it, live not thereafter. Will not the people reason thus? If his doctrine were good, surely he would follow it? If his life be good; surely he would teach us to live as he doth. Therefore whatsoever he saith, we will not believe him, but as he doth, so will we do, and we hope to scape aswell as he.
or how can the people thinke that the doctrine is true, when they that preach it, liue not thereafter. Will not the people reason thus? If his doctrine were good, surely hee would follow it? If his life be good; surely he would teach vs to liue as he dooth. Therefore whatsoeuer he saith, wee will not beleeue him, but as hee dooth, so will we do, and we hope to scape aswell as he.
Thus with the one hand they build up the Church of God, and with the other hand they pull it down: because they do more hurt by their bad example, than they can do good with all their preaching. These are the ungodly, that the Lord by his Prophet reproveth, Psalm 50. Why doest thou preach my laws and take my words, &c. So long as Isaiah was a man of polluted lips, the office of preaching was not committed unto him, but when his lips were cleansed, Isaiah 6. ⟨image 32⟩then was he fit for that office and function. Even so, as long as we delight in sin as much as any, we are not meet to reprove the sins of other: but when we behave our selves as it becometh the ministers of the Gospel, then have we commission to preach the Gospel, and to reprove the sins of the people.
Thus with the one hand they builde vp the Church of God, and with the other hand they pull it downe: because they doo more hurt by their bad example, than they can doo good with all their preaching. These are the vngodly, that the Lorde by his Prophet reprooueth, Psalme 50. VVhy dooest thou preach my lawes and take my wordes, &c. So long as Esay was a man of polluted lippes, the office of preaching was not committed vnto him, but when his lippes were cleansed, Esay 6.