The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…

Therefore one must never talk of gods word, but that he may bring some glory to God, and some good edification to men, as the Apostle saith, Edify one another in your most holy faith, unless this be our scope when ever we take Gods word in our mouth, to build one another up in godliness, we pervert the word of God, and profane his name. Secondly Gods name is polluted by us, when we speak of his word in mockage, after a jesting and a scoffing manner, as those did, of which Peter speaks, that derided the doctrine of the last judgement, ho say they, all things continue a like since the fathers, when will he come, q. d. We hear a large discourse, and here is much a do among these preachers now a days, about the great day of judgement, a terrible day that must come, wherein all men must be called to account they say for their works, but where is it? where is the truth of their fearful tale? when comes this judgement? we would fain see it once: and thus because God doth not presently sit upon the bench, and pass sentence, and see the execution done immediately, and reward every one, the wicked by casting them to hell-fire, and the good men by taking them up to the joys of heaven; foolish vain men that have no faith, make a merriment, and a sport to laugh at this doctrine. So in Isaiah, because he told them of death, the Atheists fell to flouting, come say they, these prophets tell us we must all die, if we must die then, let us take our pleasure whilst we may; let us eat & drink, and be merry, to morrow soul and body and all must ⟨image 55⟩come to nothing, there will be nothing left, well, we will ply it while time serves, and thus these vile irreligious beasts, turned all the exhortations of the Prophet to a mock. So, many lewd persons in these days are ready to abuse the words of Christ, where he said, if one give thee a blow on the one ear, turn the other to him, to deride Christians; nay say they, pray you turn the other ear to. Shameless persons; will not the reverence of Christ fear them from the abuse of such words, as he with his own mouth uttered? These be the words of God spoken and penned by the wisdom of the holy Ghost, for the direction and instruction of his children, not for every profane swaggerer, and drunken beast, to roll up and down in his filthy mouth, to move laughter with them:

Therefore one must neuer talke of gods word, but that hee may bring some glory to God, and some good edification to men, as the Apostle saith, Edifie one another in your most holy faith, vnlesse this bee our scope when euer wee take Gods word in our mouth, to build one another vp in godlinesse, wee peruert the word of God, and prophane his name. Secondly Gods name is polluted by vs, when vvee speake of his word in mockage, after a jesting and a scoffing manner, as those did, of which Peter speakes, that derided the doctrine of the last judgement, ho say they, all things continue a like since the fathers, when will hee come, q. d. Wee heare a large discourse, and heere is much a do among these preachers now a daies, about the great day of judgement, a terrible day that must come, wherein all men must be cald to account they say for their workes, but where is it? where is the truth of their fearefull tale? when comes this judgement? wee would faine see it once: and thus because God doth not presently sit vpon the bench, and passe sentence, and see the execution done immediatly, and reward euery one, the wicked by casting them to hell-fire, and the good men by taking them vp to the ioyes of heauen; foolish vaine men that haue no faith, make a merriment, and a sport to laugh at this doctrine. So in Isaiah, because he told them of death, the Atheists fell to flouting, come say they, these prophets tell vs wee must all die, if wee must die then, let vs take our pleasure whilst wee may; let vs eate & drinke, and bee merry, to morrow soule and body and all must