And let us mark also, that S. Pauls so doing, was not a feigned modesty, after the manner of most men, which will commonly say, and make as it were a proverb of it, O sir, I am the meanest and least able of all men: and yet in so saying with their mouth, they cease not too have their hearts puffed up with pride. In so much that in very deed, if a man should answer them, I believe it well: they would be as hot as a tossed, and had lever too be found liars, than too give over their selfeweenyng, wherewith they be so full fraughted. S. Paul used no such Ceremony full of untruth, but protested truly the thing as he thought it, accordingly as in another place to the Corinthians,1 he saith, he is not worthy too be named an Apostle, because he had persecuted Gods Church, and withstood his truth. And again, when he setteth forth himself for an example in the first too Timothy,2 too the end we should not doubt but that God showeth himself merciful towards us: he saith,3 he had blasphemed the Gospel, and bin full of cruelty, seeking to shed innocent blood. There then S. Paul showeth well enough, that there was no counterfetnesse in his confession, and that his lowliness proceeded from his hart. For he would have chosen too have bin out of estimation too the worldward, and too have received all manner of reproach too himself, yea and too have bin taken for a cursed caitiff: than to have disgraced Gods goodness. And like as his doctrine was too endure for ever: so meant he too have his ⟨image 136⟩wants known in all ages and all times unto the worlds end, referring all things to this poi•t, namely, that men might know how God had set him as it were upon a scaffold, to warrant us that he will show himself as free hearted towards us also at this day: and that on the other side we should not be ashamed too be acknowne of our own wretchedness, too the intent that Gods grace may have the greater gloss in us. Wherefore let us remember upon this Text, that we do then offer God such sacrifice of praise,4 as he deserveth, when we protest truly and unfeignedly, that all the good which is in us, cometh of his grace, who hath bestowed it upon us, and that we cannot challenge any thing at all too our selves:
And let vs marke also, that S. Paules so dooing, was not a feyned modestie, after the maner of most men, which wil commonly say, and make as it were a prouerbe of it, O sir, I am the meanest and least able of all men: and yit in so saying with their mouth, they ceasse not too haue theyr hartes puffed vp with pryde. In so much that in very deede, if a man should answere them, I beleeue it wel: they would bee as hot as a toste, and had leeuer too bee found lyers, than too gyue ouer theyr selfeweenyng, wherwith they bee so ful fraughted. S. Paul vsed no such Ceremonie full of vntruth, but protested truely the thing as he thought it, accordingly as in another place to the Corinthians,1 he sayth, he is not worthie too bee named an Apostle, bycause he had persecuted Gods Church, and withstood his truth. And agein, when he setteth foorth himselfe for an example in the first too Timothie,2 too the end wee should not doubt but that God sheweth himself mercifull towards vs: he sayth,3 he had blasphemed the Gospell, and bin full of crueltie, seeking to shed innocent blud. There then S. Paule sheweth well ynough, that there was no counterfetnesse in his confession, and that his lowelinesse proceeded from his hart. For he would haue chozen too haue bin out of estimation too the worldward, and too haue receyued all manner of reproche too himselfe, yea and too haue bin taken for a cursed caytife: than to haue disgraced Gods goodnesse. And like as his doctrine was too indure for euer: so ment he too haue his ⟨image 136⟩wants knowen in all ages and all tymes vntoo the worlds end, referring al things to this poi•t, namely, that men might knowe how God had set him as it were vpon a scaffold, to warrant vs that he will shew himselfe as free harted towards vs also at this day: and that on the other side wee should not bee ashamed too bee acknowne of our owne wretchednesse, too the intent that Gods grace may haue the greater glosse in vs. Wherfore let vs remember vppon this Text, that wee doo then offer God such sacrifize of prayse,4 as he deserueth, when wee protest truly and vnfeynedly, that al the good which is in vs, commeth of his grace, who hath bestowed it vppon vs, and that wee cannot chalendge any thing at all too our selues:
- 11. Cor. 1•. b. •.
- 21. Tim. 1. b. 13.
- 3Acts. •. •. 1.Actes. •. •. 1.
- 4P••l. 13. b. 6.
