Al these things do teach plainly, that this their doctrine is not gods word. Thus reason the worldly wise, which see not gods wisdom. For else, if they considered that there was with us unthankfulness, no amendment 1of life, but all kind of contempt of god, all kind of shameless sinning, against the preaching of the gospel: they must needs see, that god could not but chastise and correct. And that as he let Satan loose, after he had bound 2him a certain time: so for mens unthankfulness & to punish the same, he hath let those champions of Satan run abroad, to plague us by them. Great was God's anger against Ahab, because he ⟨p. 43⟩saved Benadad the king of Syria, when he had given him into 3his hands, and afterwards it turned to his own destruction. God would, that double sorrow should have been repaid unto them, because of the sorrow that they did to the saints of God. Read Apo. 18. As for the victory 4given to the Queens highness, if men had any godly wit, they might see many things in it. First that God hath done it, to win her hart with kindness unto his gospel: and aswell because that they, which went against her, put their trust in horses and power of men and not in god: as because y• in their doctrine they sought not the propagation of gods gospel. Which thing is easily now seen, by the confession of the captain: his heart loved popery, and hated the ⟨p. 44⟩gospel. Besides this, men may easily see, he was purposed never to have furthered the gospel: but so to have handled the livings of ministers, that there should never have been any ministry in manner hereafter.
Al these thynges doe teache playnly, that thys theyr doctrine is not gods worde. Thus reason the worldly wyse, which see not gods wysdome. For els, yf they consydered that there was with vs vnthankfulnes, no amendmēt 1of lyfe, but all kynde of contēpte of god, alkinde of shameles synnyng, agaynst the preachynge of the gospell: they must nedes see, that god could not but chastise and correct. And that as he lette Satan loose, after he had boūd 2hym a certayne tyme: so for mēs vnthankfulnes & to punishe the same, he hath let those chāpyōs of Satan runne abrode, to plage vs by them. Greate was Godes anger against Achab, because he ⟨p. 43⟩saued Benadad the king of Siria, whan he had geuen him into 3hys handes, and afterwardes it turned to his owne destruccion. God would, that double sorowe shoulde haue bene repayed vnto them, because of the sorow that they did to the saintes of God. Read Apo. 18. As for ye victorye 4geuen to ye Quenes hyghnes, yf mē had ani godli wit, thei might se many thynges in it. First that God hath done it, to winne her hart wt kindnes vnto his gospel: and aswel because yt they, whych went agaynst her, put their trust in horses and power of men and not in god: as because y• in their doctryne they sought not the propagacion of gods gospel. Which thyng is easely now sene, by the cōfessyon of ye captain: his harte loued poperye, and hated the ⟨p. 44⟩gospel. Besydes thys, men maye easely se, he was purposed neuer to haue furthered the gospel: but so to haue handled the liuynges of ministers, that there shold neuer haue been any ministerye in maner hereafter.
- 1The cause of our persecution.The cause of our persecucyon.
- 2Apoca. 20.
- 33. Reg. 20.
- 4Causes of victory.Causes of victorye.
