For inasmuch as they robbed god of his glory, God also did put them to shame, so as he gave them up into a lewd mind, by reason whereof, they gave themselves over to all villainy and shameful doings, and cast themselves into such dishonesty, as a man might be ashamed of their filthiness. And why so? For (saith he) they glorified not God, but did wrongfully as it were deface his majesty, when they turned so his truth into a lie, and transformed him in that wise. Seeing then that this malady is overcommon, and every man hath experience of it in himself: therefore it standeth us the more on hand, to mark well this doctrine here: that is to wit, that when we think of God, it must be done with all reverence to know him as he is, and not as we falsely surmise him too be. True it is that God showeth himself too us by his word: but yet nevertheless we are unexcusable, if we consider him not in his works also, inasmuch as he hath not left himself without witness there, as saith S. Paul in the xiiij. of the Acts, where he speaketh of the order of nature, which is as it were a glass for us to behold god in. S. Paul saith then expressly, that when God maketh the Sun to shine, when he sendeth rain, when he sendeth diversity of seasons, when he maketh the earth to yield ⟨p. 94⟩fruit: herein he leaveth not himself without good record, but it is all one as if he should plead his own case and say: Whereas men have not known my glory and majesty, nor perceived that I have all things in my hand to govern the things that I have created: there is no reason why they should allege ignorance: for by the very order of nature, they might have perceived how there is one creator which disposeth all. So then, let us but open our eyes, and we shall have proofs enow to show us what the greatness of God is, to the end we may learn §10to honour him as he deserveth. Thus we see what Eliphas doth here. And it is a lesson that will turn greatly to our profit, if we can practise it throughly. To be short then, let us bear in mind, that as oft as there is any communication concerning God: it is not moved unto us too think, we have but only the word: but let us mark that which is properly belonging unto God, and which cannot be separated from his being, to the end we may magnify him as he is worthy.
For inasmuch as they robbed god of his glorie, God also did put them to shame, so as hee gaue them vp into a lewd minde, by reason whereof, they gaue themselues ouer to all villanie and shameful doings, and cast themselues into such dishonestie, as a man might be ashamed of their filthinesse. And why so? For (sayth he) they glorified not God, but did wrongfully as it were deface his maiestie, when they turned so his truth into a lie, and transformed him in that wise. Seing thē that this maladie is ouercōmon, and euery man hath experience of it in himselfe: therefore it standeth vs the more on hande, to marke well this doctrine here: that is to wit, that when we thinke of God, it must bee done with all reuerence to knowe him as he is, and not as we falsly surmyze him too bee. True it is that God sheweth himselfe too vs by his word: but yet neuerthelesse we are vnexcusable, if we cō sider him not in his workes also, inasmuch as he hath not left himselfe without witnesse there, as sayth S. Paule in the xiiij. of the Actes, where hee speaketh of the order of nature, which is as it were a glasse for vs to behold god in. S. Paule sayth then expresly, that when God maketh the Sunne to shine, when he sendeth rayne, when he sendeth diuersitie of seasons, when hee maketh the earth to yelde ⟨p. 94⟩frute: herein he leaueth not himselfe without good recorde, but it is all one as if he should pleade his own cace and say: VVhereas men haue not knowne my glory and maiestie, nor perceyued that I haue all things in my hand to gouerne the things that I haue created: there is no reason why they should alledge ignorance: for by the verie order of nature, they might haue perceyued how there is one creator whiche disposeth all. So then, let vs but open our eyes, and wee shall haue proofes ynowe to shewe vs what the greatnesse of God is, to the end we may learne §10to honor him as he deserueth. Thus we see what Eliphas doth here. And it is a lesson that will turne greatly to our profit, if we can practise it throughly. To be short then, let vs beare in minde, that as oft as there is any communication concerning God: it is not moued vntoo vs too thinke, we haue but only the worde: but let vs marke that which is properly belonging vnto God, and which cannot be separated from his being, to the ende we may magnifie him as he is worthie.
