IT is a great virtue in a man too yield himself teachable, that is too say, too submit himself to reason: for without that, men must needs overshoot them selves,§10 as it were in despite of God: for proof hereof the chief honour that God requireth at our hands, is that whatsoever we know too proceed from him, be received without any gainsaying, that it be held for good and rightful, and that men frame themselves thereunto. And certainly all truth and reason proceed from God. Therefore let us conclude, that God hath no sovereignty nor authority over us, except men yield themselves fully to that which they know too be true and reasonable. So then we shall have §20profited greatly in all our life, when we shall have learned to humble ourselves so far forth, that as soon as the reason of a thing is known unto us, we make no more gainsaying, nor show our selves stubborn and hard to agree unto it: but rather do such honour to God as too say, Lord we see it were to make war against thee, if we should stand any more in this case: for thy truth is the true mark of thy divine glory: and therefore whosoever will worship thee, must obey thy truth: for otherwise, all must needs be trodden under foot. And this §30is the matter that Job treateth of in this strain. For he protesteth, that if he be taught, he will hold his tongue: his desire is too have it showed him wherein he hath done amiss. No doubt but Job doth here in his own person give a common rule too all the children of God. Which rule is, that when God shall have showed us wherein we have done amiss, we must no more open our mouths to allege trifling excuses, and to enter into defence of our doings, but we must give ear too that which shall be told us, without encountering it:§40 and generally we must receive all good doctrine as soon as it is spoken, without asking whither it be so or no, and when we know it to be so, we must go through with it, without kicking against the prick. And as I have said that it is a great virtue too be so teachable: so also let us understand, that it is a very rare virtue and not lightly to be found among men. Nay rather, we see a foolish presumptuousness, so as every man weeneth too be wise in his own conceit:
IT is a greate vertue in a man too yeelde hymselfe teachable, that is too say, too submit himselfe to reason: for withoute that, men must needes ouershoote thē selues,§10 as it were in despite of God: for proofe heereof the cheefe honoure that God requyseth at our hands, is that whatsoeuer we know too proceede from him, bee receyued without any gaynsaying, that it be hild for good and rightfull, and that men frame themselues therevnto. And certeinly all truthe and reason proceede from God. Therefore let vs conclude, that God hath no soueraintie nor authoritie ouer vs, except men yeeld themselues fully to that whiche they knowe too be true and reasonable. So then we shall haue §20profited greatly in all our lyfe, when wee shall haue learned to humble ourselues so farfoorth, that assoone as the reason of a thing is knowne vnto vs, wee make no more gaynesaying, nor shewe our selues stubborne and hard to agree vnto it: but rather doo such honoure to God as too say, Lord wee see it were to make warre agaynst thee, if we should stand any more in this case: for thy truth is the true marke of thy diuine glory: and therefore whosoeuer will woorship thee, muste obey thy truthe: for otherwyse, all must needes be troden vnder foote. And thys §30is the matter that Iob treateth of in thys streyne. For he protesteth, that if hee bee taught, he will holde his tung: his desyre is too haue it shewed hym wherein hee hath doone amisse. No doubt but Iob dooth heere in hys owne persone giue a common rule too all the children of God. VVhich rule is, that when God shall haue shewed vs wherein wee haue doone amisse, wee must no more open our mouthes to alledge tryfling excuses, and to enter intoo defence of our dooings, but wee must gyue eare too that which shall be told vs, without incountering it:§40 and generally wee must receyue all good doctrine as soone as it is spoken, without asking whither it be so or no, and when wee know it to bee so, we must go through with it, without kicking against the pricke. And as I haue sayd that it is a great vertue too bee so teachable: so also let vs vnderstande, that it is a very rare vertue and not lyghtly to bee found among men. Nay rather, wee see a foolish presumptuousnesse, so as euery man weeneth too be wyse in hys owne conceyt:
