Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

First of all, we have to think of God, as of the chief felicity, and infinite ¹treasure of all good things, who loveth us exceedingly with a fatherly affection, always wishing, and by all means desiring to have us men saved, and to come to the perfect knowledge of the very truth: whose judgements are true and just, whose works for their excellency are wonderful, and whose words are most true, and truth it self. Then must this holy name of God continually be called upon in prayers, need, and requests. By that alone, we must look to obtain whatsoever is needful for our bodies or souls. We must never cease to give thanks to that, for all the good benefits that we do or shall receive. For what good soever men have and enjoy, that have they not from else where, than from God the fountain and giver of all. This glory must ever be given to God. If we be nipped with any adversity, let us not by an by murmur against Gods good pleasure, and his secrete judgements, but rather suffering, and submitting ourselves under his mighty and fatherly hand, let us say with the Prophet David: It is good for me Lord that thou haste chastened me. Let not us appoint God what he shall do, but wholly & always submit our selves to his good will and holy pleasure. Let us in all things give God the glory, in praising openly, and plainly professing his name and doctrine before Kings and Princes, yea, and in sight of all the world, so often as occasion shall be given, and the glory of God shall seem to require. Let us not be ashamed of God our father, of his truth and true religion. Let us not be ashamed of Christ our redeemer, nor yet of his cross. But let us be ashamed of errors, idolatry, of the world and vanity, of lies and iniquity. Let us holily, reverently, and devoutly, both speak and think of God, his works, and his word. Let the law of ⟨p. 128⟩God be holy to us, let his Gospel be reverend in our eyes, & let the doctrine of the Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apostles be esteemed of us, as that which came from God him self.

Firste of all, we haue to thinke of God, as of the chiefe felicitie, and infinite ¹treasure of all good thinges, who loueth vs excéedingly with a fatherly affection, alwayes wishing, and by all means desiring to haue vs men saued, and to come to the perfect knowledge of the very truth: whose iudgements are true and iust, whose workes for their excellencie are wonderfull, and whose words are most true, and truth it selfe. Then must this holy name of God continually be called vpō in praiers, néede, and requestes. By that alone, we must looke to obtaine whatsoeuer is néedful for our bodies or souls. We must neuer cease to giue thanks to that, for all the good benefites that we do or shall receiue. For what good soeuer men haue and inioy, that haue they not from else where, than from God the fountaine and giuer of all. This glory must euer be giuē to God. If we be nipped with any aduersitie, let vs not by an by murmur againste Gods good pleasure, and his secrete iudgements, but rather suffering, and submitting ourselues vnder his mightie and fatherly hande, let vs say with the Prophet Dauid: It is good for me Lorde that thou haste chastened me. Let not vs appoint God what he shal doe, but wholy & alwayes submit our selues to his good will and holie pleasure. Let vs in al things giue God the glory, in praysing openly, and plainely professing his name and doctrine before Kings and Princes, yea, and in sight of all the world, so often as occasion shall be giuen, and the glory of God shal séeme to require. Let vs not be ashamed of God our father, of his truth and true religion. Let vs not be ashamed of Christ our redéemer, nor yet of his crosse. But let vs be ashamed of errours, idolatrie, of the world and vanitie, of lyes and iniquitie. Let vs holily, reuerently, and deuoutly, both speake and thinke of God, his workes, and his word. Let the law of