And first we will entreat of the Creation, which is expressed in these words I believe in God the father almighty, ⟨image 135⟩maker of heaven & earth. Where note good children, that this word (I believe) signifieth as much in this place, as I trust. So that this sentence I believe in God the father, is as much to say, as I trust in God the father, and look assuredly to receive all good things at his hand. Wherefore this is the meaning of the foresaid article that we ought to put our trust in no creature, but in the true and living god only. For no creature can do us any good or harm without the will of him. We our selves made not our selves (as it is written in the psalm) nor we can nether save ourselves, nether deliver us from any peril. Therefore we ought to put our trust in God only, stick fast to him, hang upon him, and to look for all good things at his hand. They therefore ⟨p. cxiii⟩that trust in men, in their favour or friendship, they that trust in their own learning, wisdom, riches, power, friends, or any such thing, they do not truly believe in God, truly & holly trust in him, nor look for all good things from him, but rather despise him, and worship for their God and make an idol of that thing, wherein they put their trust, and so grievously offend god. Wherefore it must needs be, that at the length they must be brought to confusion and ruin that they may learn by their own fall and decay, that those were but vain things, wherein they put their trust & confidence, and that only God is the sure rock and stay, upon whom who so ever leaneth, shall not be deceived nor confounded. For it is the Lord god, which daily poureth upon us infinite benefits ⟨image 136⟩which giveth us all things that we have need of, & defendeth us from all things that may hurt us ether in body or in soul. And this is the fatherly love which he beareth toward us, to do all goodness toward us, without our merits or deservings. Wherefore we ought to trust in him, yield our selves holly into his protection to look for all good things at his hand, & with a merry heart and constant faith to cleave to his goodness in all things. And this is the highest and chiefest sacrifice where with God is pleased & worshipped. And whosoever believeth in him after this sort, those he taketh for his well beloved children and in all things he declareth to them, that he is their loving father.
And first we will entreat of the Creation, which is expressed in these wordes I beleue in God the father almightie, ⟨image 135⟩maker of heauē & earth. Where note good children, that this worde (I beleue) signifyeth asmuche in this place, as I truste. So that this sentence I beleue in God the father, is asmuch to saye, as I trust in God the father, and loke assuredly to receaue all good thinges at his hande. Wherefore this is the meanyng of the forsaid artycle that we ought to put oure trust in no creature, but in the true and liuing god only. For no creature cā do vs any good or harme without the wil of him. We oure selues made not oure selues (as it is writtē in the psalme) nor we can nether saue ourselfes, nether delyuer vs from any perrel. Therfore we ought to put our trust in God only, sticke fast to him, hang vpon hym, and to loke for al good thinges at his hande. They therfore ⟨p. cxiii⟩that trust in men, in theyr fauour or frēdship, they that trust in their owne learnyng, wysedome, riches, power, frendes, or any such thing, they do not truely beleue in God, truly & holly trust in him, nor loke for al good thinges from him, but rather dispise him, and worship for theyr God and make an ydole of that thynge, wherin they put their trust, and so greuously offēd god. Wherfore it must nedes be, that at the length thei must be brought to confusion and ruine that they may lerne by their owne fal and decay, that those wer but vaine thynges, wherin they put their truste & cō fidence, and that onely God is the sure rocke and staye, vpon whome who so euer leaneth, shall not be deceyued nor confounded. For it is the Lord god, whiche daily pourethe vpon vs infinite benefites ⟨image 136⟩whiche giueth vs al thinges yt we haue nede of, & defendeth vs from all thinges yt may hurt vs ether in body or in soule. And this is ye fatherly loue whiche he bereth toward vs, to do al goodnes toward vs, without our merites or deseruynges. Wherefore we ought to trust in him, yelde our selfes holly into his protection to loke for all good thinges at his hande, & with a mery harte and constant faith to cleaue to his goodnes in all thynges. And this is the highest and chiefest sacrifice wher with God is pleased & worshipped. And whosoeuer beleueth in him after thys sort, those he taketh for his welbelouyd children and in all thynges he declareth to thē, that he is their louyng father.
