God is witness, and I refuse not your own judgments, ⟨p. 18⟩how simply & uprightly I conversed and walked amongst you, though in his presence I was and am nothing, but a mass of corruption, rebellion and hypocrisy: yet as concerning you and the doctrine taught amongst you, as then I walked, so now do I write in the presence of him, who only knoweth & shall reveal the secretes of all hearts,1 that nether for fear did I spare to speak the simple truth unto you, nether for hope of worldly promotion, dignity or honour did I willingly adulterate any part of Gods scriptures whether it were in exposition, in preaching, contention or writing: but that simply & plainly, as it pleased the merciful goodness of my God to give unto me the utterance, understanding & spirit, I did distribute the bread of life (I mean Gods most holy word) as of ⟨p. 19⟩Christ Jesus I had received it. I sought nether preeminence,2 glory, nor riches: my honour was, that Christ Jesus should reign: my glory, that the light of his truth should shine in you: and my greatest riches, that in the same ye should be constant. Let him amongst you that is farthest declined, convict me if he can, if that ever he did perceive me by crafty or unlawful means to seek the substance or riches of any, yea if I have not refused that, which by divers hath been offered, and that also by the common opinion might lawfully have been received. But to what purpose is this recited? Is it to brag of mine own justice? or yet to defend mine own innocency? not so dear brethren, not so (for what I acknowledge my self to be before God, I have already confessed) ⟨p. 20⟩but to let you understand, that if I have this testimony of conscience as concerning my office, ministry and doctrine, & am notwithstanding wounded almost to the death for that that my labours have not better succeeded,3 what ought to be your fear, lamentation, & trembling? I fear that God hath cursed me because he hath not better blessed my labours amongst you, and yet in that behalf have I the lot, and sort commune with the most part of Gods true Prophets, and the condition like with saint Paul to comfort me in my greatest desperation.4 For Elijah did think that he alone amongst the Israelites was left a live truly to worship God. And Paul did complain that all that were in Asia had left him.5
God is witnesse, and I refuse not your owne iudgmentes, ⟨p. 18⟩how simplye & vprightly I conuersed and walked amongst you, thogh in his presence I was and am nothing, but a masse of corruption, rebellion and hypocrisie: yet as cōcerning you and the doctrine taght amongst you, as then I walked, so nowe do I write in the presence of him, who onely knoweth & shal reueale ye secretes of all hartes,1 yt nether for feare dyd I spare to speake the simple truthe vnto you, nether for hope of worldly promotion, dignitie or honour dyd I willingly adulterate any parte of Gods scriptures whether it were in expositiō, in preaching, contention or writing: but that simply & plainly, as it pleased the merciful goodnes of my God to giue vnto me the vtterāce, vnderstanding & spirite, I dyd distribute the bread of lyfe (I meane Gods most holy worde) as of ⟨p. 19⟩Christ Iesus I had receiued it. I soght nether preheminence,2 glorie, nor riches: my honour was, that Christ Iesus shuld reigne: my glorie, that the light of his truthe shuld shyne in you: and my greatest riches, that in the same ye shuld be constant. Let him amongst you that is farthest declined, conuict me if he can, if that euer he dyd perceyue me by craftie or vnlawfull meanes to seke the substance or riches of any, yea if I haue not refused that, which by diuers hathe bene offred, and that also by the commone opinion might lawfully haue bene receyued. But to what purpose is this recited? Is it to brag of mine owne iustice? or yet to defende mine owne innocencie? not so deare bretherne, not so (for what I acknowledge my self to be before God, I haue already confessed) ⟨p. 20⟩but to let you vnderstand, that if I haue this testimonie of cōscience as concerning my office, ministerie and doctrine, & am notwithstanding wounded almost to the deathe for that that my labors haue not better succeded,3 what oght to be your feare, lamē tacion, & trembling? I feare that God hathe cursed me because he hathe not better blessed my labors amongst you, and yet in that behalf haue I the lot, and sort cōmune withe the most parte of Gods true Prophetes, and the conditiō like with sainct Paul to cōfort me in my greatest desperation.4
- 1This rule ought of all preachers to be observed.This rule oght of all preachers to be obserued.
- 2Behold wherein the preachers of Christ should rejoice.Beholde wherein the preachers of Christ shulde reioyce.
- 3If he that is innocent hath this fear, how ought the offenders, to tremble?If he that is innocent hath this feare, howe oght the offenders, to tremble?
- 43. Reg. 19.
- 5• Timo. 3.
