then is it certain that they are nothing but corruption, till God have taken them into his guiding. And so ye see that men shall be abused, because they stick too their mother wit in judging what is good and evil. But contrariwise our Lord Jesus Christ telleth us,1 that all the things which are highly esteemed afore men, are abominable before God. Surely howsoever the case stand, S. Paul had endeavoured himself to live holily and without any blame or reproach, And yet for all that, when he was once converted, he could not say he had done well, and that his devotion was worthy too be allowed. But contrariwise he declareth that he had bin a persecutor, and that all this gear was nothing worth. ⟨p. 37⟩What is too be said then of that which now adays is called devotion and the seruis of God?2 As for example, in popery those terms run roundly enough in every•mans mouth: all things are done of good intent, all men (too their own seeming) have affection and zeal, and they bear themselves in hand that God is much beholden and indebted too them for the things which they do. Yea, but we know that God hath not commanded them any of the things that they bring unto him, but every of them behaveth himself after his own fancy. How soever the world go with them, it is but an opinion, that they ween they do well, and that is all. One says, it seemeth so to me: another says, I learned it so, and so was I taught. Now if God should allow all these things, he should have great burdens to bear. For the things that men have invented of their own heads, are but stinking dung before him. And yet for all this, every man alleges this foolish brag, that he meant to serve God. But therefore it is said in one word by the Prophet Isaiah,3 who hath required these things at your hands? Let him that set you a work pay you. For as for me, I will never put this gear in my reckoning book: I utterly disclaim it, because I require obedience. Now S. Paul hath very well gathered this matter. For if he had judged here of other men, it should have had less power and force, than when he speaketh of himself, and in nowise spareth himself, but sayeth that all the holiness for which he had bin commended among men, was but a the every, because he had bin as a mad beast, full of fierceness and rebellion against God. Then if S.
then is it certaine that they are nothing but corruption, till God haue taken them into his guiding. And so ye see that men shall bee abuzed, bicause they sticke too theyr mother witte in iudging what is good and euill. But contrariwise our Lorde Iesus Christ telleth vs,1 that all the things which are highly esteemed afore men, are abhominable before God. Surely howsoeuer the cace stand, S. Paule had indeuored himself to liue holily and without any blame or reproch, And yet for al that, when he was once conuerted, hee coulde not say hee had done well, and that his deuotion was woorthie too bee allowed. But contrariwize hee declareth that he had bin a persecuter, and that all this geere was nothing woorth. ⟨p. 37⟩VVhat is too be sayd then of that which now adayes is called deuotion and the seruis of God?2 As for example, in poperie those termes runne roundly ynough in euery•mans mouth: al things are done of good intent, all men (too their owne seeming) haue affection and zeale, and they beare themselues in hand that God is much beholden and indetted too them for the things whiche they doo. Yea, but wee know that God hath not commaunded them any of the things that they bring vnto him, but euery of them behaueth himself after his owne fancie. How soeuer the worlde go with them, it is but an opinion, that they weene they doo well, and that is all. One sayes, it seemeth so to me: another sayes, I learned it so, and so was I taught. Now if God should allow all these things, he should haue great burthens to beare. For the things that men haue inuented of their own heads, are but stinking dung before him. And yet for all this, euery man alledges this foolish bragge, that he ment to serue God. But therefore it is sayd in one woord by the Prophet Esay,3 who hath required these things at your hands? Lette him that set you a woorke pay you. For as for mee, I will neuer put this geere in my reckening booke: I vtterly disclayme it, bicause I require obedience. Now S. Paule hath very wel gathered this matter. For if he had iudged here of other men, it shoulde haue had lesse power and force, than when he speaketh of himself, and in nowise spareth himself, but sayeth that all the holinesse for which he had bin commended among men, was but a the euerie, bicause he had bin as a mad beast, full of fiercenesse and rebellion against God. Then if S.
- 1Luc. 16. d. 15
- 2[Greek or Hebrew]〈non-Latin alphabet〉
- 3Isaiah. 1. c. 12Esay. 1. c. 12
