When it pleased God (most worthy and honourable men) of his mere goodness, and not for any my virtues or merits, to call me to the obedience of his Son our Lord Jesus Christ, to exercise my self in setting forth his Gospel, in such manner as hath pleased him, I thought it my duty, as much as lay in me, to execute my vocation and assigned burden, not only in teaching, but also in mind, life, and manners. For thus I reasoned with my self: If unto all men, being justified only by the mercy of the true God, through Jesus Christ our Saviour, not undoubtedly by works, but freely receiving forgiveness of since, there remaineth no other thing in the course of this short life, then that having obtained the holy Ghost, and nature being somewhat relieved from his proper corruption, they should by pure life, and holy actions lively express God himself their regenerator, and Christ their redeemer: the same thing without doubt is much more required of men of my profession, whom the ecclesiastical spirit hath appointed to administer lively doctrine unto other men, that whilst they teach uprightly, by their evil deeds they deface not the weight, and all the authority of their doctrine, which thing if they do, they shall in the darkness of this world most brightly give light unto other, and cause them to lift up the eyes of their minds unto God the chief fountain, head, and beginning of all good things, and to honour him with praises and most upright religion. Wherefore I gather, and that truly (as I am most fully persuaded) that I my self, and the rest of the Ministers of the doctrine of the Son of God, ought above all other to live most justly. But when I considered that the office of this virtue Justice (which shineth among mortal men like the bright star Lucifer) consisteth wholly in this, to render to every man that which is his, I desired verily to perform the same not maimed, nor diminished, nor shortened, but consisting of all his parts, so much as humane weakness would suffer me. And among other excellent parts or kinds thereof, a thankful mind, and mindful of a benefit received, is not to be numbered among the least, whose property is not only to acknowledge benefits received, but also earnestly to be desirous to give thanks for them.
WHen it pleased God (most woorthy and honorable mē) of his mere goodnes, and not for any my vertues or merites, to cal me to the obedience of his sonne our Lord Iesus Christ, to exercise my selfe in setting forth his Gospel, in such maner as hath pleased him, I thought it my duty, as much as lay in me, to execute my vocation and assigned burthen, not onely in teaching, but also in minde, lyfe, and maners. For thus I reasoned with my selfe: If vnto al men, being iustified onely by the mercy of the true God, through Iesus Christ our Sauiour, not vndoubtedlye by woorkes, but freelye receauing forgeuenes of synnes, there remayneth no other thyng in the course of this short lyfe, then that hauing obtayned the holy Ghost, and nature being somewhat relieued from his proper corruption, they should by pure lyfe, and holy actions liuely expresse God hymselfe their regenerator, and Christ their redeemer: the same thing without doubte is much more required of men of my profession, whom the ecclesiasticall spirit hath appointed to administer liuely doctrine vnto other men, that whylest they teach vprightly, by their euil deedes they deface not the waight, and al the authoritye of their doctrine, which thing if they do, they shal in the darknes of this worlde most brightly geue light vnto other, and cause them to lift vp the eyes of theyr mindes vnto God the chiefe fountayne, head, and beginning of al good things, and to honour him with prayses and most vpright religion. Wherfore I gather, and that truly (as I am most fully perswaded) that I my self, and the rest of the Ministers of the doctrine of the sonne of God, ought aboue al other to liue most iustly. But when I considered that the office of this vertue Iustice (whiche shyneth among mortall men like the bright starre Lucifer) consisteth wholy in this, to render to euery man that which is his, I desired verely to performe the same not maymed, nor diminished, nor shortened, but consisting of all his partes, so much as humane weakenes would suffer me. And among other excellent parts or kindes therof, a thankfull minde, and mindfull of a benefite receaued, is not to be numbred among the least, whose property is not onely to acknowledge benefites receaued, but also earnestlye to bee desirous to geue thankes for them.
