And what cometh to pass in the seed hereof. The most part causeth the word of God to serve them only to this purpose that they may have something to talk upon in company. And one sort are led with ambition hereunto, another sort seek their own gain, yea and there be some that abuse it to practise ⟨image 3⟩bawdry thereby to get access to there women & ladies. Very many know not to what purpose they should desire to understand it: save only that they are ashamed to see others take hold upon it, and that they should be uespised by their ignorance. In so much almost all a few excepted, do turn this doctrine of salvation into a certain profane philosophy I know not how. The which this is such a villainy that God can not suffer it: because that this his sacred word is a thing more holy than that it should be thus abused. It ought to be lively & of such force & efficacy that it should pierce through, the hearts, for to examine and try all that is within the man even unto the marry of the bones as the Apostle speaketh. If a man be ashamed thereof and cause it to serve for a pastime: think we that God can suffer such a contempt of the power thereof. It ought to reprove man (as S. Paul saith) to the intent that he may learn to condemn himself & ⟨image 4⟩to give the glory unto God in humbling himself. If any then turn it to boasting and to vain glory: is not this an abuse that deserveth grievous punishment. It ought to transform & change us into the image of God and to reform that which is ours in us. If any take occasion under the cloak thereof to maintain themselves in these vices, must it not come to pass, that God will punish not only such an abuse that turn the men into poison but also such a sacrilege as causeth the rule of good life to serve as a licence to all evil. It needeth not here now to cipher out every particular of the life of the most part of them that say that they do know the truth of the Gospel. For so much that a man may see in effect that certain where as they should be amended are become rather worse. The residue keep still their old course, at the least a man can perceive but small Amendment. Saint Paul speaking of the change that should be in ⟨image 4⟩the Christians and of the fruits that should proceed forth of their new life when they are reformed to the image of the son of God saith, that he that hath robbed should rob no more.
And what cometh to passe in the seede hereof. The moste parte causethe the word of God to serue thē only to this purpose that they may haue somethyng to talke vpon in company. And one sort are led with ambition hereunto, another sorte seke their own gayn, yea and there be some that abuse it to practyse ⟨image 3⟩baudri therby to get accesse to ther wemen & ladies. Very many know not to what purpose they shold desire to vnderstand it: saue only that they are ashamed to se others take holde vpon it, and that they should be uespised by their ignorance. In so much almost all a few excepted, doe turne this doctrine of saluacion into a certaine prophane philosphy I know not how. The which this is suche a vilany that God can not suffer it: because that this his sacred word is a thing more holy thē that it shoulde be thus abused. It oght to bellyuely & of suche force & efficacy that it shuld perce thorow, the herts, for to examine and try all that is within the man euen vnto the mary of the bones as the Apostle speaketh. If a mā be ashamed thereof and cause it to serue for a pastyme: thinke we that God can suffer suche a contempt of ye power thereof. It oght to reproue mā (as S. Paul saith) to thintent that he may lerne to condempne himself & ⟨image 4⟩to giue the glory vnto God in humbling himself. If any then turne it to boastyng and to vaine glory: is not this an abuse yt deserueth greuous punishmēt. It ought to transforme & change vs into the image of God and to reforme that which is ours in vs. If any take occasion vnder the cloke therof to mantain themselues in these vices, must it not come to passe, that God wyll punishe not onely suche an abuse yt turne the men into poyson but also such a sacrilege as causeth ye rule of good lyfe to serue as a licence to all euell. It nedeth not here now to ciphre out euery perticular of ye lyfe of the most part of them that say that they doo know ye truthe of the Gospel. For so muche yt a man may see in effecte yt certaine where as they should be amended are become rather worsse. The residue kepe styll their olde course, at the least a man can perceiue but small Amendement. Sainct Paul speaking of the change that should be in ⟨image 4⟩the Christians and of the fruyts yt should procede forth of their newe life when they are reformed to the image of the son of God saith, that he that hath robbed shuld robbe no more.
