Notwithstanding, it is not for nought that S. Paul hath here set down this two words of wisdom and understanding. For they do us too wit, that the learning of the Gospel is enough too bring us to all perfection, and that whatsoever is added moreover, is but dung, filth, and rottenness. Too be short, S. Pauls entitling of the Gospel with those two honourable terms, is too the end that every man should quietly give ear to the things that God teacheth him by the ⟨image 42⟩means of his only son, and that we should yield our selves s• teachable unto him, as not too take upon us to know aught, than tha• which cometh out of his mouth, but simply receive whatsoever he speaketh, and continue in the same to the end, though the whole word despise us, and all men set themselves against us, and not pass for […] the sleights of the world, as many men do, who have •tching ear•s and are always desirous too here some new thing. Too the end therefore that we be not so wavering, nor overled by foolish desire of knowing more than is lawful for us too know: let us mark well how S. Paul sayeth here, that if we have once profited throughly in the Gospel, we shall find there all wisdom to the full, so as we may reject all other things, not only as needless, but also as noisome, because that by them we shall be turned from the pure doctrine, whereby it is his will too have us knit unto him. Too be short, S. Paul meant to show here, that God doeth us an inestimable good turn, when he vouchsafeth to call us too the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ his only son, and that when we have him, we must despise all other things, and not be troubled with a foolish desire of knowing this or that, because that (as I have said already) the full perfection of all our knowledge is there, that is to wit, in our Lord Jesus Christ. And here ye see also why it is said to the Colossians,1 that he had bin a faithful teacher, yea even too bring men too the perfection of wisdom.2 Indeed he confesseth that he was rude and homely of speech, and that he had neither the wisdom nor the eloquence that was highly commended in the world: but yet he declareth, that if his doctrine were received, there should be found a full substance in it for the full nourishment of mens souls, and that there needeth not any more too be added unto it.
Notwithstanding, it is not for nought that S. Paule hath heere set downe this twoo wordes of wisdom and vnderstanding. For they doo vs too wit, that the lerning of the Gospell is ynough too bring vs to all perfection, and that whatsoeuer is added moreouer, is but dung, filth, and rottēnesse. Too be short, S. Paules intytling of the Gospell with those twoo honorable termes, is too the ende that euery man should quietly giue eare to the things that God teacheth him by the ⟨image 42⟩meanes of his only sonne, and that wee should yeeld our selues s• teachable vntoo him, as not too take vpon vs to know aught, than tha• which commeth out of his mouth, but simply receyue whatsoeuer he speaketh, and continew in the same to the end, though the whole word despyze vs, and all men set themselues ageynst vs, and not passe for 〈…〉 the sieyghts of the world, as many men doo, who haue •tching ear•s and are alwayes desirous too heere somme new thing. Too the end therfore that wee bee not so wauering, nor ouerled by foolish desyre of knowing more than is lawfull for vs too knowe: let vs marke well how S. Paule sayeth here, that if we haue once profited throughly in the Gospel, we shall find there all wisdome to the full, so as we may reiect all other things, not only as needlesse, but also as noysome, bycause that by them wee shalbee turned from the pure doctrine, wherby it is his will too haue vs knit vntoo him. Too bee short, S. Paule ment to shew heere, that God dooeth vs an inestimable good turne, when he voutsafeth to call vs too the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ his only sonne, and that when we haue him, wee must dispyze all other things, and not bee trubbled with a foolish desire of knowing this or that, bycause that (as I haue sayd alredy) the full perfection of all our knowledge is there, that is to wit, in our Lord Iesus Christ. And here yee see also why it is sayd to the Colossians,1 that he had bin a faithfull teacher, yea euen too bring men too the perfection of wisdome.2 Indeede he confesseth that he was rude and homely of speech, and that he had nother the wisdom nor the eloquence that was hyghly commended in the world: but yit he declareth, that if his doctrine were receyued, there should bee found a full substance in it for the full ••rrishment of mens soules, and that there needeth not any more too be added vntoo it.
- 1Coloss. 1. d. 25.
- 22. Cor. 11. b. 6.
