the things that are contained under them are utter illusions of Satan, tending all to this end, that there may be no more any certainty, nor any man know whereunto to stick. Seeing it is so, it is not for us to make war against God, that men might be obeyed. And therefore let us have as it were a forehead of brass to resist them in that behalf. For the greatest manliness that can be, is to keep our selves from swerving aside for mens sakes, what colour or fair show soever be set upon the matter, and to despise every whit of it as dung and filth, when it standeth upon reserving Gods sovereignty unto him, and upon giving ear to our Lord Jesus Christ, to the end that he may be our head, and govern us, and all of us from the most to the least continue under his guiding, & do nothing else but simply give ear unto him, and receive the things that are for our maintenance in the faith of the Gospel. Ye see then what we have too remember here concerning S. Paul. Surely if ye seek a mild and meek-spirited man, S. Paul was he, yea and he was even as a mirror of all courtesy and gentleness. Again, if ye desire a lowly nature, ⟨p. 60⟩what greater lowliness can there be found than was in S. Paul, who abased him self beneath all men. And yet notwithstanding we see how he strove for the pure doctrine of the Gospel, and passed not to provoke the wrath of all the men in the world against him self: in so much that it was cast in his teeth, that all the troubles which happened in the Church of Galatia, and else where, came of him. I say he feared not the reproach wherewith men could charge him, that he was a rebel and had too much presumptuousness in him. Even so must we do in these days. Let us be peaceable as near as we can: let us relent of our own right: let us not strive for these worldly goods, honour, and reputation: let us bear all wrongs and outrages, rather than be moved to any debate through our own fault. But in the mean while, let us fight for Gods truth with tooth and nail▪ Again, if any body despise us, so as one steppeth up maliciously against us, and another goes about to deface us: let us not make any quarrel at all for that.
the things that are cōteined vnder them are vtter illusions of Satan, tending al to this end, that there may bee no more any certentie, nor any man knowe wherunto to sticke. Seeing it is so, it is not for vs to make warre agaynst God, that men might be obeyed. And therefore let vs haue as it were a forehead of brasse to resist them in that behalfe. For the greatest manlinesse that can be, is to keepe our selues frō swaruing aside for mens sakes, what colour or fayre shew soeuer be set vpon the matter, and to despise euery whit of it as dung and filth, when it standeth vpon reseruing Gods souereintie vnto him, and vpon giuing eare to our Lorde Iesus Christ, to the ende that he may bee our head, and gouerne vs, and all of vs from the most to the least cōtinue vnder his guiding, & do nothing else but simply giue eare vnto him, and receiue the things that are for our maintenāce in the fayth of the Gospell. Yee see then what wee haue too remember heere concerning S. Paule. Surely if yee seeke a meeld and meeke-spirited man, S. Paule was he, yea and he was euen as a myrrour of all curtesie and gentlenesse. Agayne, if yee desire a lowely nature, ⟨p. 60⟩what greater lowelynesse can there bee founde than was in S. Paule, who abaced him selfe beneath all men. And yet notwithstanding wee see howe he stroue for the pure doctrine of the Gospell, and passed not to prouoke the wrathe of all the men in the worlde agaynst him selfe: in so muche that it was cast in his teeth, that all the troubles whiche happened in the Churche of Galatia, and else where, came of him. I saye hee feared not the reproche wherewith men could charge him, that he was a rebell and had too muche presumptuousnesse in him. Euen so muste wee do in these dayes. Let vs be peaceable as neere as wee can: let vs relent of our owne right: let vs not striue for these worldly goods, honor, and reputation: let vs beare all wrongs and outrages, rather than bee moued to any debate through our owne faulte. But in the meane while, let vs fight for Gods truthe with toothe and nayle▪ Agayne, if any body despise vs, so as one steppeth vp maliciously agaynst vs, and another goes about to deface vs: let vs not make any quarell at all for that.
