What shall we do then when the Sun shineth? 1We must not do as we do in the dark, for then men ought to betake them to their labour. Learn of the savage beasts who as soon as the day springs, betake them to their travel, and every bird welcometh it with many a sweet song. Christ is light, and this light is come: therefore he that seeth not now is blind. Are not they then blind which yet see not that prayer for the dead is vain, needless, and bootless? But thick darkness have a mighty light to chase it away. So that he which beginneth to root out some error or superstition, at the first shall have much ado, for custom and natural corruption are the first causers of heresy, and shall cry ⟨image 47⟩against her in the maintenance thereof: and withstanders of reformation shall say, Great is Diana of Ephesus: and so for a long time they seem to wash the Ethiopian, or the black Moore, the more they wash him the more they gall him, and yet he is an Ethiopian still: but in the end the Ark standeth, and Dagon falleth down: and truth triumpheth over falsehood, having got the victory; and light chaseth away darkness with the brightness thereof. Why 2then doth this darkness continue amongst us still? To him that asketh, what Scripture have you against it? it is sufficient to answer, what Scripture have you for it? For if the word command it not, God rejecteth it, and will say, who hath required these things at your hands? But what is this? for every idle word you must give account, as our Saviour Jesus Christ saith, Matth. 12. And whatsoever is not of faith is sin, Rom. 14. 23. They ask, what, shall we not say God be with them? Why should you? Why (say they) must we say nothing? What if thou do not? What sayest thou, when thou mentionest the death of thy first fathers, Adam, Seth, Enos, Enoch, Noah? Doest thou less love these, not praying for them, then thou doest them for whom thou sayest, God be with them? &c.
What shall wee doe then when the Sunne shineth? 1Wee must not doe as wee doe in the darke, for then men ought to betake them to their labour. Learne of the sauage beasts who as soone as the day springs, betake them to their trauell, and euery bird welcommeth it with many a sweete song. Christ is light, and this light is come: therefore hee that seeth not now is blinde. Are not they then blind which yet see not that praier for the dead is vaine, needlesse, and bootelesse? But thicke darkenesse haue a mighty light to chase it away. So that hee which beginneth to roote out some error or superstition, at the first shall haue much adoe, for custome and naturall corruption are the first causers of heresie, and shall crie ⟨image 47⟩against her in the maintenance thereof: and withstanders of reformation shall say, Great is Diana of Ephesus: and so for a long time they seeme to wash the Aethiopian, or the blacke Moore, the more they wash him the more they gall him, and yet hee is an Aethiopian still: but in the end the Arke standeth, and Dagon falleth downe: and truth triumpheth ouer falshood, hauing got the victorie; and light chaseth away darknesse with the brightnesse thereof. Why 2then doth this darkenesse continue amongst vs still? To him that asketh, what Scrpture haue you against it? it is sufficient to answer, what Scripture haue you for it? For if the word command it not, God reiecteth it, and will say, who hath required these things at your hands? But what is this? for euery idle word you must giue account, as our Sauiour Iesus Christ saith, Matth. 12. And whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne, Rom. 14. 23. They aske, what, shall wee not say God bee with them? Why should you? Why (say they) must wee say nothing? What if thou doe not? What saiest thou, when thou mentionest the death of thy first fathers, Adam, Seth, Enos, Enoch, Noah? Doest thou lesse loue these, not praying for them, then thou doest them for whom thou saiest, God be with them? &c.
- 1Rom. 13. Ephes. 5.
- 21. Sam. 5. 8
