But forasmuch as he had spoken of the riches of Jesus Christ, he telleth us, that those riches were then uttered, when Gods mysteries were published to such as had bin blind wretches before. And I have already expounded unto you this word Mystery, Secret, or pri••tie, according too Saint Pauls applying of it in this text. I said in effect, that all Gods works▪ being well considered, have wherewith to draw us too wonderment. And why? Because they proceed of his righteousness, Justice, goodness, and wisdom, which are all of them things infinite. When we speak of Gods wisdom, power, or Justice, they be not things that we can define▪ as though we had full knowledge of them, […] as we can do of the things that we see heerebeneath. Ye see then how that all Gods works, when we come too the considering of them from whence they proceed, are wonderful too us. Well then. And are not all the things that we see in the order of nature, Gods works too? Yes: but we partly see what they be, and partly our wits come sh•rt of them. As for example, if it be demanded by wha• m•an•s the earth bringeth forth fruits, we know it doth so, because it is common among us▪ But if the cause thereof be demanded, surely there all our wits vanish away. For is the earth able of her self too yield forth corn? Is it able to make the things too live again, which were as good as dead? Whence come the leaves and blossoms of trees▪ and all such like things, after that Winter hath put all out of fashion? Again, how can fruits, Corn, and wine nourish men, seeing they have no life of themselves? Then if we fall too seeking out the ground of Gods works, it is (as I said) a bottomless pit, and we […] fain too confess, that God hath in himself an infinite wisdom, whereunto we cannot attain. Howbeit Gods […] now and then […] more wonderful unto us, when we find the cause of them […] to our natural wit & understanding. As for example, whereas it is said, that it was Gods will that the Gospel should be preached upon the sudden through the whole world: it was (too see too) a very mad kind of dealing, if we judge of it after our own imagination. For some man will demand why God bethought him […] to the hope of salvation, sith he had shut them out from […] Behold, the world which had continued so long time afore▪ was renews again at the flood.
But forasmuch as he had spoken of the riches of Iesus Christ, he telleth vs, that those riches were then vttered, when Gods misteries were published to such as had bin blynd wretches before. And I haue alredye expounded vntoo you this woord Mistery, Secret, or pri••tie, according too Saint Paules applying of it in this text. I sayd in effect, that all Gods woorks▪ being well considered, haue wherwith to draw vs too wonderment. And why? Bycause they proceede of his ryghtuousenesse, Iustice, goodnesse, and wisdome, which are all of them things infinite. When wee speake of Gods wisdome, power, or Iustice, they bee not things that wee can defyne▪ as though wee had full knowledge of them, 〈…〉 as wee can doo of the things that wee see heerebeneath. Yee see then how that all Gods woorkes, when wee come too the co•sidering of them from whence they proceede, are wonderfull too vs. Well then. And are not all the things that wee see in the order of nature, Gods woorks too? Yis: but wee partly see what they bee, and partly our wits come sh•rt of them. As for example, if it bee demaunded by wha• m•an•s the earth bringeth foorth fruits, we know it dooth so, bycause it is common among vs▪ But if the cause therof bee demaunded, surely there all our wits vanish away. For is the earth able of her self too yeeld foorth corne? Is it able to make the things too liue agein, which were as good as dead? Whence come the leaues and blossoms of trees▪ and all such lyke things, after that Winter hath put all out of fashio•? Agein, how can fruits, Corne, and wyne nurrish men, seing they haue no lyfe of themselues? Then if wee fall too seeking out the grou•d of Gods woorks, it is (as I sayd) a bottomlesse pit, and wee 〈…〉 fayne too confesse, that God hath in himselfe an infinite wisdome, wheruntoo wee cannot atteyne. Howbeeit Gods 〈…〉 now and then 〈…〉 more wonderfull vntoo vs, when we fynd the cause of them 〈…〉 to our naturall wit & vnderstanding. As for example, wheras it is sayd, that it was Gods will that the Gospell should bee preached vppon the soodein through the whole world: it was (too see too) a verye mad kynd of dealing, if wee iudge of it after our owne imagination. For some man will demaund why God bethought him to the hope of saluation, sith he had shet them out from Behold, the world which had continewed so long tyme afore was renewes agein at the flud.
