Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

And although God did largely, clearly, plainly and simply, reveal his wo•d to the world by the Patriarchs, by M•ses, by the Priests and Prophets, yet did he in the last times of all, by his Son, set it forth most clearly, simply, and abundantly to all the world. For the very and only begotten Son of God the father, as the Prophets had foretold, descending from Heaven doth fulfil all what soever they foretold, and by the space almost of three years doth teach all points of Godliness. For saith John, No man at any time hath seen God, the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. The Lord himself moreover, saith to his Disciples, Al things which I have herd of my Father have I made known to you. And again he saith, I am the light of the world: whosoever doth follow me doth not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. Our Lord also did teach, that to him which would enter into ¹Heaven and be saved, the heavenly regeneration was needful: because in the first birth, man is borne to death in the second to life. But that that regeneration is made perfect in us, by the spirit of God, which instructeth our hearts in faith, I say in faith in Christ, who died for our sins, & rose again for our justification. He taught that by that faith they which believe are justified: & that out of the same faith do grow sundry fruits of charity and innocency, to the bringing forth whereof, he did most earnestly exhort them. He taught furthermore, that he was the fulfilling or fullness of the law and the Prophets, and did also approve and expound the doctrine of Moses and the Prophets. To doctrine he joined diverse miracles and benefits, whereby he declared that he him self was that light of the world, and the mighty & bountiful redeemer of the world. And, to the intent that his doctrine and benefits might be known to all the world, he chose to himself witnesses, ²whom he called Apostles, because he purposed to send them to Preach throughout the world. Those witnesses were simple men, innocents, just, tellers of trueth, without deceit or subtleties, and in all points holy and good: whose names it is very profitable often to repeat in the Congregation.

And although God did largely, clearly, plainely and simply, reueale his wo•d to the world by the Patriarchs, by Mses, by the Priestes and Prophetes, yet did he in the laste times of all, by his Sonne, set it forth moste clearely, simply, and aboundantly to al the worlde. For the very and onely begotten Sonne of God the father, as the Prophetes had foretolde, descending from Heauen doth fulfill al what soeuer they foretolde, and by the space almoste of thrée yeares dothe teach all pointes of Godlinesse. For saith Iohn, No man at any time hath seene God, the only begotten Sonne which is in the bosome of the Father, he hathe declared him. The Lord himselfe moreouer, saith to his Disciples, Al things which I haue herd of my Father haue I made knowne to you. And again he saith, I am the light of the world: whosoeuer doth followe me doth not walke in darkenes, but shall haue the light of life. Our Lord also did teache, that to him whiche would enter into