Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

An other cause why traditions are commended is the Greeks [Greek or Hebrew], that is to say, a chosen kind of worship, which we of our own brains have chosen and taken to our selves to serve and do God worship with all. For men do gladly and willingly receive the traditions of men, because they are agreeable to their inclination. Yea, Christ in the holy Gospel saith, If ye had been of the world, the world would have loved her own: Now for because I have chosen you out of the world, the world doth hate you. And again he saith, That which men set great store by, is abominable unto God. Moreover, mens traditions are commended for humility: which is understood in two manners or respects. For first, that is said to be humility, if any man do readily obey and easily yield to that, which is urged, obtruded and thrust upon him, by men of countenance and authority. Secondarily, the laws of men do seem to exercise humbleness, and keep men in humility. But such obedience and humility may rather be called sacrilege, because it is not ruled and directed by the word of God, as the thing whereby alone it should be tempered and squared, but doth transfer and convey over the honour of GOD from God to men. Last of all, mens traditions are commended for the neglecting of the flesh. For (Oh) that discipline and chastisement of the flesh seemeth to them a goodly ⟨p. 448⟩thing, by which the wantonness of the flesh is somewhat bridled and tamed. Finally the Apostle addeth, Not in any honour to the satisfying ¹of the flesh: that is to say, Which things although they have a show of religion and holiness, have notwithstanding in very deed no honour at all, considering that those external things are ordained of GOD for the ease and relief of mens necessities. Yea Paul doth flatly find fault with those decrees, because they give the body no honour for the satisfying of the same, that is, according to the measure of the bodies necessity. For a moderate care and looking to the body is not only permitted, but also commanded, least we perhaps by too much lack and nearness do mar the body, and make it unapt to do good works. Neither is the care of the flesh in any place forbidden, unless it tend to lusts and sensuality. Wherefore the Apostle saith, Cherish not the flesh unto concupiscence.

An other cause why traditions are commended is the Gréekes 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, that is to say, a chosen kinde of worshippe, which wée of our owne braynes haue chosen and taken to oure selues to serue and do God worship with all. For men do gladly and willingly receiue the traditions of men, because they are agréeable to their inclination. Yea, Christ in the holie Gospell sayth, If ye had beene of the world, the world would haue loued her owne: Nowe for because I haue chosen you out of the worlde, the world doth hate you. And againe hée saith, That whiche men set great store by, is abhominable vnto God. Moreouer, mens traditions are commended for humilitie: which is vnderstoode in two manners or respectes. For first, that is said to be humilitie, if any man doe readily obey and easilie yéeld to that, which is vrged, obtruded and thrust vpon him, by men of countenaunce and authoritie. Secondarilie, the lawes of men do séeme to exercise humblenesse, and kéepe men in humilitie. But such obedience and humilitie may rather bée called sacrilege, because it is not ruled and directed by the woord of God, as the thinge whereby alone it should be tempered and squared, but doth transferre and conueighe ouer the honour of GOD from God to men. Last of all, mens traditions are commended for the neglectinge of the fleshe. For (Oh) that discipline and chasticemente of the fleashe séemeth to them a goodlye