A20559:683
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandments gathered from the mouth of a faithful pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholar in Cambridge.The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandements gathered from the mouth of a faithfull pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholler in Cambridge.
London: printed by John Harison for Thomas Man, 1603London: printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man, 1603
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And why so? Is not the devil a liar, and will you so easily give him credit, and that at the first? But this is not well, for as one should not yield to the unjust and false praises of another, so neither must he condemn himself, upon so slender a ground as the devils or devilish mens words: nay one must not so easily rob God of his praise, and himself of his comfort. And as the former persons, were so easily seduced in matter of their commendation, because they seldom or never look over their sins, so these are so quickly put in doubt of their uprightness, because they do not use to mark what good works they do, and to consider what graces God hath bestowed upon them. For if one would not be always looking into their infirmities, and searching into their infirmities, but sometimes lift up their eyes to the mercies of God, to that strength which he hath given them against sin, and power to do some good things, and make as diligent a rehearsal of Gods benefits, as of their afflictions and miseries, they would not be so easily driven from their hope, and put out of comfort. The devils slanders would not daunt them so much, but they would take faster hold of Gods mercy. Thus much, for the breach of this commandment.
And why so? Is not the diuell a lyar, and will you so easily giue him credit, and that at the first? But this is not well, for as one should not yeeld to the vniust and false praises of another, so neither must he condemne himselfe, vpon so slender a ground as the diuels or diuellish mens words: nay one must not so easily rob God of his praise, and himselfe of his comfort. And as the former persons, were so easily seduced in matter of their comendation, because they seldome or neuer looke ouer their sins, so these are so quickly put in doubt of their vprightnesse, because they doe not vse to marke what good workes they doe, and to consider what graces God hath bestowed vpon them. For if one would not be alwaies looking into their infirmities, and searching into their infirmities, but sometimes lift vp their eyes to the mercies of God, to that strength which he hath giuen them against sinne, and power to doe some good things, and make as diligent a rehearsall of Gods benefits, as of their afflictions and miseries, they would not be so easily driuen from their hope, and put out of comfort. The diuels slaunders would not daunt them so much, but they would take faster hold of Gods mercie. Thus much, for the breach of this commaundement.