After that the Lord had by many arguments proved him self to be the very same that should come to save the Godly, he did not without cause knit up his saying with this sentence: Blessed is he that is not offended in me. Certainly, he not only knew, that many things were contained in the profession of his Gospel, from which mans nature doth utterly abhor, but also he foresaw, that forthwith by the subtle working of Satan, should spring up all kind of lets and hinderances, that might bring it either in hatred or suspicion of the world. And surely it must needs be fulfilled which the holy Ghost hath spoken of him, ⟨image 13⟩that he should be the rock of offence and the stone to stumble at: Not because there is in him any just cause to be offended at, as we shall anon see. But what skills it? For this is (as it were) his fatal condition, that as often as he offereth him self to men, many of them do stumble at him. The which thing if ever it happened heretofore, we find at this day to be true, by examples almost innumerable. Wherefore we ought so much the rather to call continually to our remembrance, his former warning, to the intent it may stick fast in our minds: least through the stops which the Devil will cast in our way, we being turned from him, might also be deprived of that blessedness which he promiseth to those that are his. But how few are there that think hereupon? And on the contrary part, how many are to be found, which under the colour of offences, do either shone the Gospel altogether as it were some rock: or after they have embraced it, yea and somewhat profited in it, do afterward turn back again? Forasmuch then, as there was no one matter (in my judgement,) ⟨p. 2⟩whereabouts I might bestow my labour more profitably, I was not unwilling to take upon me the handling hereof: specially seeing I had bound my self by promise unto certain good men so to do: who cease not to exact my promise as a dew debt. Peradventure it ought to have been performed sooner: but inasmuch as hitherto, partly other writings no less necessary, and partly divers weighty affairs have held me occupied, this is soon enough, if it be well enough.
AFter that the Lord hadde by many arguments proued him self to bée the very same that shoulde come to saue the Godly, he did not without cause knit vp his saiyng with this sentence: Blessed is he that is not offended in me. Certainly, he not onely knew, that many things were conteined in the profession of his Gospel, from which mannes nature dooth vtterly abhorre, but also he foresawe, that foorthwith by the subtile woorking of Sathan, should spring vp all kinde of lettes and hinderances, that might bringe it either in hatred or suspition of the worlde. And surely it muste néedes be fulfilled which the holy Ghost hath spoken of him, ⟨image 13⟩that he should bée the rocke of offence and the stone to stumble at: Not bicause there is in him any iuste cause to be offended at, as wée shall anon sée. But what skilles it? For this is (as it were) his fatall condition, that as often as he offereth him selfe to men, many of them doo stumble at him. The whiche thinge if euer it happened heretofore, we finde at this daye to be trew, by examples almost innumerable. Wherefore we ought so much the rather to call continually to our remembrance, his former warninge, to thintent it may sticke faste in our mindes: least through the stoppes which the Deuill will cast in our waye, we beynge turned from him, might also be depriued of that blessednes which he promiseth to those that are his. But how fewe are there that thinke hervppon? And on the contrarie parte, how many are to be founde, whiche vnder the colour of offences, doo eyther shonne the Gospel altogether as it were some rocke: or after they haue embraced it, yea and somewhat profited in it, doo afterwarde turne backe againe? Forasmuch then, as there was no one matter (in my iudgement,) ⟨p. 2⟩wheraboutes I might bestow my labour more profitably, I was not vnwillinge to take vppon me the handlyng hereof: specially seinge I had bounde my selfe by promisse vnto certaine good men so to doo: who cease not to exact my promisse as a dewe dette. Peraduenture it ought to haue bene performed sooner: but in asmuch as hitherto, partly other wrytinges no lesse necessarie, and partely diuers weightie affayres haue helde me occupied, this is soone inough, if it be well inough.
