Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

But some there are, which when ¹they can not deny this, do turn them selves and say, that the Apostles in deed knew all things, but yet taught them not but by word of mouth only, not setting down in writing all those things, which do appertain to true godliness. As though it were likely that Christ his most faithful Apostles, would upon spite, have kept back any thing from their posterity. As though in deed, he had lied which said, These things are written, that in believing, ye might have life everlasting. John therefore did let pass nothing which belongeth to our full instructing in the faith. Luke did omit nothing. Neither did the rest of the Apostles and disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ suffer any thing to overslip them. Paul also wrote fourteen sundry Epistles: but yet the most of them contained one and the self same matter. Whereby we may very well conjecture, that in them is wholly comprehended the absolute doctrine of godliness. For he would not have repeated one and the self same thing so often, to so many sundry men, if there had yet been any thing else necessary, more fully to be taught, for the obtaining of salvation. Those things undoubtedly would he have taught, and not have rehearsed one and the same thing so many times. Verily in the third chapter of his Epistle to the Ephesians he doth affirm, that in the two first chapters of the same his Epistle, he did declare his knowledge in the Gospel of Christ. God (saith he) by revelation showed the mystery unto me as I wrote before in few words, whereby when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ. And this spake he touching that one and only Epistle, yea and that too touching the two first chapters of that one Epistle. Whereunto when the most large and lightsome Letters or Epistles of Saint Paul him self, and also of the other Apostles are added, who I pray you, unless he be altogether without sense will once think that the Apostles have left in writing to us their posterity, a doctrine not absolutely perfect.

But some there are, whiche when ¹they can not deny this, do turne them selues and saye, that the Apostles in déede knewe all things, but yet taught them not but by word of mouth only, not setting downe in writing al those things, whiche doe appertaine to true godlinesse. As though it were likely that Christ his most faithful Apostles, would vpon spite, haue kept back any thing from their posteritie. As though in deede, he had lyed which sayd, These things are written, that in beleeuing, ye might haue life euerlasting. Iohn therefore did let passe nothing whiche belongeth to oure full instructing in the fayth. Luke did omit nothing. Neyther did the rest of the Apostles and disciples of our Lord Iesus Christ suffer any thing to ouerslip them. Paule also wrote fourtéene sundry Epistles: but yet the most of them cō tained one and the selfe same matter. Whereby we may very well coniecture, that in them is wholy comprehended the absolute doctrine of godlynesse. For he would not haue repeated one and the selfe same thing so often, to so many sundry men, if there had yet bene any thing else necessarie, more fully to be taught, for the obtaining of saluatiō. Those things vndoubtedly woulde he haue taught, and not haue rehearsed one and the same thing so many times. Verily in the thirde chapter of his Epistle to the Ephesians he dothe affirme, that in the two firste chapters of the same his Epistle, he did declare his knowledge in the Gospel of Christ. God (saith he) by reuelation shewed the mysterie vnto me as I wrote before in fewe wordes, whereby when ye reade, ye may vnderstand my knowledge in the misterie of Christe. And this spake he touching that one and onely Epistle, yea and that too touching the two firste chapters of that one Epistle. Whervnto when the moste large and lightsome Letters or Epistles of Sainte Paule him selfe, and also of the other Apostles are added, who I praye you, vnlesse he be altogether without sense will once thinke that the Apostles haue left in writing to vs their posteritie, a doctrine not absolutely perfect.