Which all are undoubted tokens, that the law and love of God is little esteemed among us. Which with grievous threats forbiddeth the foresaid and other vices by straight commandment forcing, and sure rewards alluring us to the contrary dealing Neither may we think, but that such vices daily vvill increase till the time they overwhelm us, except the contempt of Gods la ve set apart, being the only sufficient wellspring of all wickedness, for which the wrath of God is enkindled, and his bitter curses fall upon us the same word be had in greate• price and reverence. For why, what godliness can be hoped for of them, ⟨image 3⟩which hold nothing of God, the only fountain of goodness, and laugh his word to scorn, of whom we can know nothing, but that is there showed us: save that small knowledge, that is of beholding of the creatures▪ which nevertheless declareth rather that there is a God, then what he is, & how he vvill be pleased. And though all the scripture serve us to enjoy Gods blessings, yet as in a compound medicine, all the simples being wholesome, some one may less be spared than the other so the article of resurrection, clear and oft inculcated in Scripture, is most available, so that it unknown, all vices swarm and roast in us. For we, not considering our end, wherein salvation & life standeth, or pains prepared for the accursed, vvill but stain our selves in voluptuousness. For who knoweth but the flesh in this life, why should he not think, as good take it as leave it, and best to make the most of that which at last ceaseth. In this case the Ethnics being said: live merely while ye be in the world: and eat we and drink we lustily, to morrow we shall die, which all the Epicures protest openly, and the Italian atheoi in life practise, and no worse man, then a Pope, in our days hath given the like definitive sentence, among his Court ⟨image 4⟩divines, of the souls immortality: the story is known. Contrariwise, the learned in God's word, knowing that this life is a death from sin, and a way to the life to come, which Christ with his cross hath opened unto them, for desire thereof run forth in the race of godliness: assured of the reward, sith Christ, therefore bidding death battle, that we mought live, hath broken her bonds and risen again.
VVhich all are vndoubted tokens, that the lavve and loue of God is litle estemed among vs. VVhich vvith greeuous threates forbiddeth the foresaid and other vices by straight commaundement forsing, and sure revvardes alluring vs to the contrary dealing Neither may vve thinke, but that suche vices daily vvill encrease till the time they ouervvhelme vs, excepte the contempte of Gods la ve set apart, being the only sufficient vvelspring of all vvickednes, for vvhich the vvrath of God is inkindled, and his bitter curses fall vppon vs the same vvorde be had in greate• price and reuerēce. For vvhy, vvhat godline••e can be hoped for of them, ⟨image 3⟩vvhich hold nothing of God, the only fountaine of goodnesse, and laugh his vvorde to scorne, of vvhom vve can knovve nothing, but that is there shevved vs: saue that small knovvledge, that is of beholding of the creatures▪ vvhich neuerthelesse declareth rather that there is a God, then vvhat he is, & hovv he vvill be pleased. And though al the scripture serue vs to enioy Gods blessings, yet as in a compound medicine, all the simples being holsom, some one may lesse be spard thē the other so the article of resurrection, clear and ofte inculcated in Sc ipture, is moste auaileable, so that it vnknovvne, all vices svvarm and roste in vs. For vve, not considering our end, vvherein saluation & life standeth, or paines prepared for the accursed, vvill but staine our selues in voluptuousnes. For vvho knovveth but the fleshe in this life, vvhy shold he not thinke, as good take it as leaue it, and best to make the moste of that vvhich at last ceasseth. In this case the Ethnikes being saide: liue merely vvhile ye be in the vvorld: and eat vve and drink vve lustely, to morovve vve shall die, vvhich all the Epicures protest openly, and the Italian atheoi in life practise, and no vvorse man, then a Pope, in oure dayes hathe geuen the like definitiue sentence, among his Courte ⟨image 4⟩deuines, of the soules immortality: the story is knovven. Contrarivvise, the learned in Goddes vvorde, knovving that this life is a death from sinne, and a vvaye to the life to come, vvhich Christ vvith his crosse hath opened vnto them, for desire thereof runne forth in the race of godlinesse: assured of the revvard, sith Christ, therfore bidding deathe battaile, that vve mought liue, hath broken her bondes and risen againe.
