Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

Neither is it to be marvelled at, that the forerunner and Apostles of ¹Christ had always very great dignity, and authority in the Church. For, even as they were the ambassadors of the eternal King, of all ages, and of the whole world: so, being endued with the spirit of God, they did nothing according to the judgement of their own minds. And the Lord by their ministry wrought great miracles, thereby to garnish the ministry of them, and to commend their doctrine unto us. And what may be thought of that, moreover, that by that word of God they did convert the whole world gathering together, & laying the foundations of notable Churches through out the compass of the world? which verily by mans counsel and words, they had never been able to have brought to pass. To this is further added, that they which once leaned to this doctrine, as a doctrine giving life, did not refuse to die. Besides that how many soever had their belief in the doctrine of the Gospel, they were not afraid through water, fire, & swords to cut of this life, and to lay hand on the life to come. The faithful Saints could in no wise have don these things, unless the doctrine which they believed had been of God. Although therefore, that the Apostles were men, yet their doctrine, first of all taught by a lively expressed voice, and after that, set down in writing with pen and ink, is the doctrine of God, and the very true word of God. For therefore the Apostle left this saying in writing, When ye did receive the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received ²it not as the word of men, but as it is in deed, the word of God, which effectually worketh in you that believe.

Neither is it to be merueiled at, that the forerunner and Apostles of ¹Christ had always very great dignity, and authoritie in the Churche. For, euen as they were the embassadours of the eternall King, of all ages, and of the whole worlde: so, being indued with the spirit of God, they did nothing according to the iudgement of theyr owne mindes. And the Lord by theyr ministerie wrought great myracles, thereby to garnishe the ministerie of them, and to commend their doctrine vnto vs. And what may be thought of that, moreouer, that by that woorde of God they did conuert the whole world gathering together, & laying the foundations of notable Churches through out the compasse of the world? which verely by mans counsell and wordes, they had neuer béene able to haue brought to passe. To this is further added, that they whiche once leaned to this doctrine, as a doctrine giuing life, did not refuse to die. Besides that how many soeuer had their beliefe in the doctrine of the Gospell, they were not afraide through water, fire, & swordes to cutte of this life, and to lay hand on the life to come. The faithfull Saints could in no wise haue don these things, vnlesse the doctrine whiche they beléeued had béene of God. Although therefore, that the Apostles were men, yet their doctrine, first of all taught by a liuely expressed voyce, and after that, set downe in writing with penne and yncke, is the doctrine of God, and the very true word of God. For therefore the Apostle left this saying in writing, When ye did receaue the woord of God whiche ye heard of vs, ye receiued