Here therefore we be warned to be wise, to the intent that if the Devil abuse Gods name, we may be able to resist him, and to discern what authority men ought to have, and therewithal not to be overhasty of belief, nor over easy to be moved and shaken with every wind. For if we have not the constancy to walk in the doctrine that hath bin delivered to us, when we be once fully resolved that it is Gods pure truth: it will happen to us as it did too the people of Galatia. Ye see then that the thing which we have too bear in mind, is in effect, that when God hath given us the grace too understand his word, we must always go forward in it, and not be shaken like Reeds, nor carried too and fro, nor led up and down like little babes: but we must have the wit and discretion, to stick to the thing which we know too be offered us of God. Mark that for one point. But by the way, forasmuch as we cannot have such power in our selves: let us pray with all lowliness and earnestness unto God, too reform us by his holy spirit, and too give us such steadfastness as we may never swerve aside, and that when we see all things turned upside down in this world, yet notwithstanding, this foundation may abide sure, namely that forsomuch as God which cannot lie hath spoken to us, and showed us his will: we may safely stand thereupon without turning any way from it. Howbeit forsomuch as the Devil hath many cunning knacks too thrust us out of the way, yea and that (as I have erst said) he will not stick to abuse Gods name to wind himself in, and to get some access to us: it behoveth us to understand that our reverencing of men must be in such wise, as God may in the mean season continue unimpeached, and that our Lord may have the whole mastery over us to himself, as he that is the teacher of the Church: and that our faith depend not, neither upon mens knowledge, nor upon any reputation that we have of their wisdom, power, or holiness: but that our Lord Jesus may always have the preeminence for us to rest and settle our selves upon. For if our faith be not grounded upon Gods pure truth, which is unvariable: certainly it will be but a losing. This is the thing that we have too gather of the example that is set down here ⟨p. 3⟩concerning the Galatians.
Heere therefore wee bee warned to bee wise, to the intent that if the Diuell abuse Gods name, wee may bee able to resist him, and to discerne what authoritie men ought to haue, and therewithall not to be ouerhastie of beleefe, nor ouer easie to be moued and shaken with euerie winde. For if wee haue not the constancie to walke in the doctrine that hath bin deliuered to vs, when wee bee once fully resolued that it is Gods pure truth: it will happen to vs as it did too the people of Galatia. Yee see then that the thing which wee haue too beare in minde, is in effect, that when God hath giuen vs the grace too vnderstande his woorde, wee must alwayes go forwarde in it, and not be shaken lyke Reedes, nor caryed too and fro, nor led vp and downe like little babes: but wee must haue the witte and discretion, to sticke to the thing which wee knowe too bee offered vs of God. Marke that for one poynt. But by the way, forasmuch as wee cannot haue such power in our selues: let vs pray with all lowlinesse and earnestnesse vnto God, too reforme vs by his holy spirit, and too giue vs such stedfastnesse as wee may neuer swarue aside, and that when we see all things turned vpside downe in this worlde, yet notwithstanding, this foundation may abide sure, namely that forsomuch as God which cannot lie hath spoken to vs, and shewed vs his will: we may safely stande thervpon without turning any way from it. Howbeit forsomuch as the Diuell hath many cunning knacks too thrust vs out of the way, yea and that (as I haue earst sayd) he will not sticke to abuse Gods name to winde himselfe in, and to get some accesse to vs: it behoueth vs to vnderstand that our reuerencing of men must be in such wise, as God may in the mean season continue vnimpeached, and that our Lord may haue the whole maystrie ouer vs to himselfe, as hee that is the teacher of the Church: and that our fayth depend not, neither vpon mens knowledge, nor vpon any reputation that we haue of their wisdome, power, or holinesse: but that our Lord Iesus may alwayes haue the preeminence for vs to rest and settle our selues vpon. For if our fayth be not grounded vpon Gods pure truth, which is vnvariable: certeinly it will be but a loasing. This is the thing that wee haue too gather of the example that is sette downe heere ⟨p. 3⟩concerning the Galathians.
