Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

All the decrees of Christian faith, with every way how to live rightly, well, and holily, and finally, all true and heavenly wisdom, have always been fetched out of the testimonies or determinate judgements of the word of God: neither can they, by those which are wise men in deed, or by the faithful, and those which are called by God to the ministry of the Churches, be drawn, taught, or last of all, soundly confirmed from else where, then out of the word of God. Therefore, whosoever is ignorant what the word of God, and the meaning of the word of God is, he seemeth to be as one, blind, deaf, and without wit, in the Temple of the Lord, in the school of Christ, and lastly, in the very reading of the sacred Scriptures. But whereas some are nothing zealous, but very hardly drawn to the hearing of Sermons in the Church, that springeth out of no other fountain than this, which is, because they do neither rightly understand, nor diligently enough weigh the virtue, and true force of the word of God. That nothing therefore may cause the zealous desirers of the trueth, and the word of God to stay on this point: but rather that that estimation of Gods word, which is due unto it, may be laid up in all mens hearts, I will (by Gods help) lay forth unto you (dearly beloved) those things, which a godly man ought to think, and hold as concerning the word of God. And pray ye earnestly and continually to our bountiful God, that it may please him to give to me his holy & effectual power to speak, and to you the opening of your ears and minds, so that in all that I shall say, the Lord his name may be praised, and your souls be profited abundantly.

ALl the decrees of Christian fayth, with euery waye howe to liue rightly, well, and holyly, and finally, all true and heauenly wisdome, haue alwayes bene fetched out of the testimonies or determinate iudgements of the word of God: neyther can they, by those which are wise men in déede, or by the faithfull, and those whiche are called by God to the ministerie of the Churches, be drawn, taught, or last of all, soundly confirmed from else where, then out of the word of God. Therefore, whosoeuer is ignorant what the worde of God, and the meaning of the word of God is, he séemeth to be as one, blinde, deafe, and without witte, in the Temple of the Lorde, in the schole of Christ, and lastly, in the very reading of the sacred Scriptures. But whereas some are nothing zealous, but very hardly drawen to the hearing of Sermons in the Church, that springeth out of no other fountaine than this, which is, bycause they doe neyther rightly vnderstande, nor diligently inoughe weigh the vertue, and true force of the word of God. That nothing therefore may cause the zealous desirers of the trueth, and the worde of God to staye on this point: but rather that that estimation of Gods word, which is due vnto it, may be layde vp in all mens hartes, I will (by Gods helpe) lay foorthe vnto you (dearly beloued) those things, which a godly man ought to thinke, and holde as concerning the worde of God. And praye ye earnestly and continually to our bountifull God, that it may please him to giue to me his holy & effectuall power to speake, and to you the opening of your eares and mynds, so that in all that I shall say, the Lorde his name may be praysed, and your soules be profited abundantly.