Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

2. It is never the whit more beautiful, for add mixture of heathen beauty with it, but more beautiful without it, as they say of a Diamond, quicquid absconditur perditur, so much as is hidden is lost, though it be in gold, because it is better all might be seen; so to have the Word purely delivered, is better then if it be covered in golden sayings, and so much as is buried is lost, because it is more excellent. Gold is not covered because it is better then iron; and when the Word which is Gold is mixed with humane ⟨p. 316⟩sayings, why say we that it is adorned?

2. It is never the whit more beautiful, for add mixture of heathen beauty with it, but more beautiful without it, as they say of a Diamond, quicquid absconditur perditur, so much as is hidden is lost, though it be in gold, because it is better all might be seen; so to have the Word purely delivered, is better then if it be covered in golden sayings, and so much as is buried is lost, because it is more excellent. Gold is not covered because it is better then iron; and when the Word which is Gold is mixt with humane ⟨p. 316⟩sayings, why say we that it is adorned?

3. The Word is not better in regard of the perspicuity of it, 1 Cor. 2 1. Paul would not speak in the excellency of speech or of wisdom, because it is the power of God unto salvation. As if he should say, if I should so preach, it would not be evident that God spoke by it. A glass the freer it is from painting, the better it transmits the light; so the freer the Word is from humane sayings the better it transmits the power of the Holy Ghost.

3. The Word is not better in regard of the perspecuity of it,