THE DOCTRINE WHIch we shall entreat in this place, is plain enough and easy, saving that the greatest part of those that profess them selves to be Christians, do seek out and bring, I can not tell what subtleties to cloak their evil withal. But the sum of this whole doctrine is, that after we know the living god to be our father, and Jesus Christ our redeemer, we ought to consecrate both body and soul unto him, who of his infinite goodness hath taken us into the number of his sons: and to acknowledge with all kind of benevolence, honour, and obedience, that ⟨image 4⟩same benefit which our most dear saviour did vouchsafe to bestow on us after he had bought it with so great a price. And because we are bound not only to renounce all infidelity, but also to separate our selves from all superstitions, which do aswell disagree with the true service of god the father, as the honour of his son our saviour & which can by no means agree with the pure doctrine of the gospel & true confession of the faith, I said this doctrine of it self to be so easy, that only the practise and exercise thereof ought to remain unto us, saving that many men do seek certain deceitful shifts, through which they will not be overcome in that thing, the which is most chiefly condemned by gods own mouth. This cause constraineth us at this time to tarry longer in the declaration of this matter, that every man may know his own duty, and deceive not himself, thinking that he is escaped when he is covered, as the common saying is, under a wet sack. But for that there be many of this opinion, whose churches are thoroughly purged from the filthiness, & idolatries of the papism, that this argument or treatise ⟨image 4⟩is but superfluous, before we pass any further, it is not unprofitable to declare such men most foully to be deceived. First when it is declared, how great an offence it is, for us to be polluted & defiled with the idolaters, feigning our selves to cleave & consent to their impieties, we are admonished to mourn for our former since, & to ask of god forgiveness of them with all humbleness, & in this thing to acknowledge the singular benefit which he gave unto us, drawing us forth of that same filth wherein we were holden down & drowned. For we truly are not able to set forth this so great a benefit worthily enough.
THE DOCTRINE VVHIch we shal entreate in this place, is playne ynough and easie, sauyng that the greatest parte of those that professe them selues to be Christians, do seke out and bring, I can not tell what subtelties to cloke theyr euill withall. But the summe of this wholle doctrine is, that after we knowe the liuing god to be our father, and Iesus Christ our redemer, we oght to consecrate bothe body and soule vnto hym, who of his infinite goodnes hath taken vs into the numbre of hys sonnes: and to acknowledg with all kinde of beneuolence, honour, and obedience, that ⟨image 4⟩same benefit which our most deare sauiour did vouchsaffe to bestow on vs after he had bought it with so greate a price. And because we ar bound not only to renounce al infidelitie, but also to seperat our selues frō al superstitions, which do aswell disagre wt the true seruice of god the father, as the honor of his sonne our sauiour & which can by no meanes agre wt the pure doctrine of the gospell & true confession of the faith, I sayde this doctrine of it selfe to be so easye, that only the practise and exercise thereof oght to remaine vnto vs, sauing that many mē do seke certain deceitful shiftes, thorow which they wil not be ouercome in that thyng, the which is most chiefly condemned by gods owne mouth. This cause constraineth vs at this time to tary longer in the declaration of this matter, that euery man may know his own dutie, and deceaue not himselfe, thinking that he is escaped when he is couered, as the common saying is, vnder a wette sack. But for that there be many of this opiniō, whose churches ar thorowly purged frō the filthines, & idolatries of the papisme, that this argumēt or treatice ⟨image 4⟩is but superfluous, before we passe any further, it is not vnprofitable to declare such mē most fouly to be deceiued. First whē it is declared, how great an offēce it is, for vs to be polluted & defiled with the idolatours, feininge oure selues to cleaue & consent to their impieties, we ar admonished to mourn for our former syns, & to aske of god forgeuenes of thē with al humblenes, & in this thing to acknowledge the singuler benefite which he gaue vnto vs, drawing vs forth of that same filth wherin we were holden down & drowned. For we truly are not hable to set forth this so great a benefit wortheli inough.
