Thirdly, when we say that the Gospel so written and registered as God hath given it us, ais the only ordinary mean, with the which the spirit of God is served to save man, by reason whereof this word is called the word of life band of reconciliationc: We do not rest nor stay upon syllables, neither upon paper and ink, neither upon a Gospel hanged about ones neck, or read, spoken, or pronounced only as these Charmers do their charms, neither a Book finely carved and gilt, or worshipped by sensing, and other fine inventions: but exclude all fantastical inventions, which ever have served the Devil. and understand that to be the Gospel which is well and truly preached4 and expounded, so that the substance thereof be well understand by the people, and to lay it up in their hearts, where it may bring forth the fruit of true repentance by faithe, as Saint Paul and Saint Peter have expressly declared. Also Jesus ⟨image 74⟩Christ did not say to his Apostles, fgo read the Gospel in an unknown tongue, and worship the book wherein it is written, but he said, go and preach the Gospel to all Creatures. But how shall they believe without understanding? gFor faith cometh by hearing: as saith Saint Paul. And how shall they understand that which is sung or read in an unknown tongue, or not sincerely and truly expounded? hHowe also shall those be confirmed in the holy and true doctrine, and comforted in all their temptations, and advertised to know the false doctrine from the pure exposition of the Christian religion, ibut in meditation and reading of the word of God knight and day, as sayeth the Prophet David, and conferring together diligently the sextes of the holy Scripture? lAnd so hath it been always used in the Church, until the Devil by the just punishment of God, did put away this light, ⟨p. 54⟩to bring in his darkness before it was perceived. Saint. Peter is witness, writing to all the faithful when he praiseth them for the diligence which they took to Read and understand the Prophet mrightly. For he knew when the Lord had said to him feed my sheepn, was to be understand of the preaching of the word of lifeo. As Saint Paul expounded it and practised it.
THirdly, when wee saye that the Gospell so written and regystred as God hath geuen it vs, ais the onely ordinary meane, with the whiche the spirite of God is serued to saue man, by reason whereof this word is called the word of lyfe band of reconciliationc: Wee doe not rest nor stay vpon syllables, neyther vpon paper and ynke, neyther vppon a Gospell hanged about ones necke, or read, spoken, or pronounced onelye as these Charmers doe their charmes, neyther a Booke finely carued and gylte, or worshipped by sensing, and other fyne inuentions: but exclude all fantasticall inuentions, whiche euer haue serued the Deuyll. and vnderstande that to bee the Gospell which is well and trulye preached4 and expounded, so that the substaunce thereof bee well vnderstande by the people, and to laye it vp in their hartes, where it maye bryng foorth the fruite of true repentaunce by faythe, as Saynte Paule and Saynte Peter haue expresselye declared. Also Iesus ⟨image 74⟩Christ dyd not say to his Apostels, fgoe reade the Gospell in an vnknowen toung, and woorshyp the booke wherein it is wrytten, but hee sayde, goe and preache the Gospell to all Creatures. But howe shall they beleeue wythout vnderstandyng? gFor fayth commeth by hearyng: as sayth Saynte Paule. And howe shall they vnderstande that which is soong or reade in an vnknowen toung, or not syncerelye and trulye expounded? hHowe also shall those bee confyrmed in the holye and true doctrine, and comforted in all theyr temptations, and aduertised to knowe the false doctrine from the pure exposition of the Christian religion, ibut in meditation and readyng of the woorde of God knyghte and daye, as sayeth the Prophet Dauid, and conferryng together diligentlye the sextes of the holye Scripture?
- aRom. 1.
- bJohn. 6. Acts. 1. Philip. 2.Iohn. 6. Actes. 1. Philip. 2.
- c1. Cor. 5.
- 4d Roma. 10 1. Pet. 1.
- eMark. 13. Acts. 10Mark. 13. Actes. 10
- fJohn. 18.Iohn. 18.
- gRoman. 10.
- h1. Cori. 14
- iRoma. 5 2. Timo. 3.
- kPsal. 1.
- lActs. 17 John. 5Actes. 17 Iohn. 5
- m2. pet. 1,
