H. Zanchius his confession of Christian religion Which now at length being 70. years…H. Zanchius his confession of Christian religion Which novve at length being 70. yeares…

Now, how needful this sobriety is, to the keeping first of faith and true religion: is seen by those, which for too much love of this world & the things thereof, are wont to fall from the trueth: and others, which never think upon amendment of life: & others, in some part, to whom God giveth some consideration: as Demas, of of whom the Apostle sayeth, Demas forsook me, loving this present world. And the Lord Jesus when he had said, Take heed, least your hearts be over loaden with surfeiting and aronkennes: he added, of this other part of drunkenness: saying: And the cares of this life: and so that last day come upon you. For whence are these ⟨p. 28⟩cares, but of too much love of this life? but then there is a third kind of drunkenness, which is more pestilent then both the other, by how much more subtle it is, and pertaineth more to the mind then to the flesh: namely, a drunkenness of carnal wisdom, vain eloquence, and worldly philosophy. For who so be addicted to these, as to sweet and counterfeit wines, and therewith be delighted, and trust upon them: they then loathing the simplicity of christian doctrine, will very soon and easily make shipwreck of their faith: Of which thing the Apostle Saint Paul sayeth: Beware least there be any man that spoil you, through philosophy and vain deceit. For while we go about to measure with our carnal speculations, and rules of humane learning, the mysteries of God, which the holy ghost hath delivered unto us in a simple and plain stile and method: being over weighed with the divine glory, which we are not able to bear, we fall headlong into the deep pit of divers heresies: as it happened to Arrius, Marcion and almost all the heretics: seeing the wisdom of the flesh, is enmity against God: and the fleshly man doeth not perceive, nor can perceive the things that are of God: for they ⟨p. 29⟩are foolishness unto him. By this, which (so much as the shortness of an epistle may suffer) I have spoken of the three sorts of drunkenness: how necessary the contrary sobriety is, to resist the enemies, and to keep safe the treasure of divine wisdom: as you, (my noble Earle,) do very well known, so I think there is none, but he may, if he will, understand. What if I adjoined likewise, that blind and too exceeding love of our teachers and masters?

Now, how needfull this sobrietie is, to the keeping first of faith and true religion: is seene by those, which for too much loue of this world & the things thereof, are wont to fal from the trueth: and others, which neuer thinke vppon amendment of life: & others, in some part, to whome God giueth some consideration: as Demas, of of whome the Apostle saieth, Demas forsooke me, louing this present world. And the Lord Iesus when he had said, Take heede, least your hearts be ouer loaden with surfeting and aronkennes: he added, of this other part of dronkennes: saying: And the cares of this life: and so that last day come vpon you. For whence are these