Seek the word of God in all things, and with out the word of God do nothing, though it appear never so glorious. What so ever is done with out the word of God, that count idolatry. The kingdom of heaven is with in us. Luc. xvii. Wonder therefore at no monstrous shappne• at any outward thing with1 out, that word. For the world was never drawn from God, but with an outward show and glorious appearance and shining of hypocrisy and of feigned and visored fasting, praying, watching offering sacrificing, hallowing of superstitious ceremonies and monstrous ⟨image 51⟩disguising. Take this for an example. John baptist which had testimony of Christ and of the Gospel, that their never rose a greater among women's children, with his fasting, watching, praying, raiment and strait living deceived the jews and brought them in doubt, whether John2 were very Christ or not and yet no scrip ture or miracle testifying it, so greatly the blind nature of man looketh on the outward shining of works, and regardeth not the inward word which speaketh to the heart. When they sent to John axing him whether he ware Christ, he denied it. Wham they axed him what he was and what he said of him self. He answered not. I am he that watcheth, prayeth, drinketh no wine nor strong drink, eateth •other fish nor flesh, but live with wild honey and grasshoppers and weare a cote of camels hear and a girdle of a skin: but said I am a voice of a crier. My voice only pertaineth to you. Those outward things which ye wonder at, pertain to my self only unto the taming of my body To you am I a voice only3 and that which I preach. My preaching (if it be received in to a penitent or repenting heart) shall teach you how to live and please God, according as God shall shed out his grace on every man. John preached repentance, saying prepare the ⟨image 52⟩Lords way & make his paths straight The lords way is repentance and not4 hypocrisy of mans imagination and in uencion. It is not possible that the Lord Christ should come to a man, except he know him self and his sin and truly repent. Make his paths straight: the paths are the law, if thou understand it aright as God hath given it.
Seke the worde of God in all thinges, and wyth out the worde of God do nothinge, though it appere neuer so gloryouse. What so euer is done with out the worde of God, that coūt ydolatrye. The kingdome of heauen is wyth in vs. Luc. xvii. Wonder therfore at no monstrous shappne• at any outwarde thinge whyth1 out, that worde. For the worlde was neuer drawn from God, but with an outwarde showe and glorious appearaunce and shininge of hypocrisie and of fained and visured fastinge, praing, watchinge offeringe sacrificinge, halowinge of supersti••ous ceremonies and monstrouse ⟨image 51⟩disgising. Take this for an exēple. Iohn baptist whiche had testimonie of Christe and of the Gospell, that their neuer rose a greatter among wymennes chyldern, wyth hys fasting, watching, praing, rayment and straite lyuing deceiued ye iewes and brought thē in doute, whether Iohn2 were very Christ or not and yet no scrip ture or miracle testif•ing it, so greatly the blynd nature of man loketh on the outward shining of workes, and regardeth not the inwarde worde whyche speaketh to the herte. When they sent to Iohn axinge hym whether he ware Christ, he denied it. Whā thei axed him what he was and what he said of him self. He answered not. I am he that watcheth, praieth, drinketh no wine nor strōge drike, eateth •other fysh nor flesh, but lyue with wild hony and grashopers and weare a cote of camels heare and a girdle of a skinne: but sayd I am a voyce of a criar. My voice only pertaineth to you. Those outwarde thinges whiche ye wonder at, pertayne to my selfe only vnto the taminge of my bodye To you am I a voyce only3 and that which I preach. My preachinge (if it be receiued in to a penitent or repentinge hert) shall teache you howe to lyue and please God, accordynge as God shal shed oute hys grace on euerye man. Iohn preached repentaunce, saynge prepare the ⟨image 52⟩Lordes waye & make his pathes straigh• The lordes waye is repentaunce and not4
- 1The world was never deceived but with outward appearance.The worlde was neuer deceyued but wt outwarde appearaunce.
- 2John deceiveth ye Jews opinion.Iohn deceyueth ye Iewes opinion.
- 3The straight nes of life pe tayneth to John only b• the voice to Jews.The straygh• nes of lyfe pe tayneth to Iohn onli b• the voyce to Iewes.
- 4It is impossible for Christ to come with out the sin be knoledged truly with repentance.It is impossible for Christe to come wyth out the synne bee knoledged truely wyth repentaunce.
