For without the same, neither sackcloth nor ashes, nor the abstinence of meats, will not profit, but for to provoke the wrath of God, through such hypocrisy, the which nothing can 1be more displeasing unto him. For sith that GOD is truth, and the Father thereof, and the Devil is liar and the Father of lies, what thing can be more contrary unto the nature of GOD, and his truth, which ought to shine in his children, then hypocrisy the daughter of the Devil and of lies? & to lye upon the spirit of God and his Church? For what other thing is hypocrisy 2and dissimulation, but lying? And what other thing is the hypocrite before GOD, but a dissembler,beguiler, and a scoffer, a mocker of God and men, and a very traitor and deceiver? who would be esteemed other then he is, and thinketh to deceive both GOD and men, caring but for to please men, as he which playeth his part upon a stage or scaffold, only for to get praise and glory: As our Lord Jesus Christ witnesseth of the Scribes and Pharisees, who do all their works but for the praise of the world: For as 3the Prophet saith, O Lord thou lookest only upon faith. If the best works that God ever commanded be not profitable unto him that doeth them, if they proceed not of a true & lively faith, without unsaincdnesse, with a 4pure heart and a good conscience, without doing it to any other end, but to the glory of God, and health of our neighbour, whereto then can the vare ceremonies serve, 5which of themselves are nothing worth, but forasmuch as they do serve to more greater things, and that they are as the rudiments, and beginnings, and the first elements & degrees, for to come and attain unto greater things, to that which they prepare do: As yt letters, the Alphabet ⟨image 177⟩and the first rules Grammar, do prepare little children and young Grammarians, to a higher knowledge, and more greater perfection: or otherwise all that should serve them but in little stead. Therefore Saint Paul 6called the Jewish and Mosaical Ceremonies, the elements of the world. They do also serve us as the scaffolds which the Masons do make for to build a house, the which are cast away after that the house is finished. For they are of themselves unprofitable, saving only that they voe serve for a better thing.
For without the same, neyther sackecloth nor asshes, nor the abstinence of meates, wyll not profite, but for to prouoke the wrath of God, thorowe such hipocrisie, the whiche nothinge can 1bée more dyspleasing vnto hym. For sith that GOD is truth, and the Father thereoff, and the Diuell is lyer and the Father of lyes, what thinge can bée more contrary vnto the nature of GOD, and hys truth, whiche ought to shine in hys children, then hipocrisie the daughter of the Diuell and of lyes? & to lye vpon the spirite of God and his Church? For what other thinge is hipocrisse 2and dissimulation, but lying? And what other thing is the hipocrite before GOD, but a dissembler,beguiler, and a scoffer, a mocker of God and men, and a very traytour and deceiuer? who woulde bée estéemed other then hée is, and thincketh to deceine both GOD and men, caringe but for to please men, as hée whiche playeth his parte vppon a stage or seaffolde, onelye for to gette prayse and glorye: As our Lorde Iesus Christe wytnesseth of the Scribes and Pharises, who dooe all their woorkes but for the prayse of the worlde: For as 3the Prophet sayth, O Lorde thou lookest onely vppon fayth. If the best woorkes that God euer commaunded be not profitable vnto him that doeth them, if they procéede not of a true & liuely faith, without vnsaincdnesse, with a 4pure heart and a good conscience, without dooing it to any other ende, but to the glorye of God, and health of our neighboure, whereto then can the vare ceremonies serue, 5whiche of themselues are nothinge worth, but forasmuche as they dooe serue to more greater things, and that they are as the rudimentes, and begynnings, and the first elements & degrées, for to come and attayne vnto greater things, to yt which they prepare do: As yt letters, ye Alphabet ⟨image 177⟩and the first rules Grammer, doe prepare lyttle children and younge Grammarians, to a hygher knowldge, and more greater percfection: or otherwise all that should serue them but in little steede. Therefore Saincte Paule 6called the Iewish and Mosaiacall Ceremonies, the elementes of the worlde. They doe also serue vs as the scaffoldes which the Masons doe make for to builde a house, the which are cast away after that the house is finished. For they are of themselues vndrofitable, sauinge onely that they voe serue for a better thing.
- 1John. 8. f. 44.Iohn. 8. f. 44.
- 2Hypocrite.
- 3Mat. 6. a. 2. & 22. a. 5 Jerem. 5. a. 3.Mat. 6. a. 2. & 22. a. 5 Ierem. 5. a. 3.
- 4Hebr. 11. a. 1. 1. Tim. 1. a. 5
- 5The ceremonics
- 6The rodlments of the religion Gal. 4. 2. 3The rodlments of the relygion Gal. 4. 2. 3
