32. God's word refresheth marvellously the faithful: for it is the Lord's pasture. "The Lord is my shepherd: therefore shall I lack nothing. He shall feed me in Psal. xxiii. a green pasture, and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort." The refection of this pasture is so strong, that it refresheth not only the soul, but also the body, yea, and that so effectually, that for a season it hath no need of corporal nourishment. “Man," saith our Saviour Christ, "shall not live with bread alone, but with every Deut. viii. word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Man's invention is the meat of the unfaithful, bringing with it unto them not life, but death; not salvation, but damnation. Matt. iv. 33. God's word is a "cup" that maketh men drunk wholesomely and unto sal- Psal. xxiii. vation. Man's invention is a cup full of venomous dregs, making drunk damnably, and turning a man from his right wits; so that "he cannot perceive those things that 1 Cor. ii. belong unto the Spirit of God." This is that cup wherewith the whore of Babylon, Rev. xviii. that filthy strumpet, and mother of all abominations of the earth, hath made drunken all the inhabitants of the earth. is the rule of 34. God's word is a most righteous and holy rule, yea, it is the only and alone God's word rule of the children of the kingdom of God, that is, of the holy congregation, to be the faithful. governed by neither do they admit any other rule but that only and alone, without : any intermixtion of men's traditions. For there is but one God, one Christ, one faith, Eph. iv. one word: ergo, there is but one rule. Therefore are all the sects of monasteries, Monastical fraternities, brotherhoods, colleges, and all other such-like, whatsoever they be, superfluous and damnable; forasmuch as they have divided Christ, and taken on them another profession that hath no ground in the word of God, which alone is the rule of the faithful. Man's invention is the execrable rule of the children of Satan's kingdom, that is, of the church malignant, which is parted and divided into innumerable sects, of the which every one of them have feigned of their own madness for themselves a special and peculiar way of salvation, which notwithstanding is the right way unto everlasting damnation. sects. 35. God's word maketh them blessed that gladly hear, read, or search it; as David saith: "Blessed is that man that hath not walked in the counsel of the un- Psal. i. godly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor yet hath sit in the chair of pestilence: but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law will he exerciso himself day and night." Again: "Blessed are they that search his testimonies." Psal. cxix. Man's invention is embraced of carnal men; because they are not of God: and therefore are they cursed. "Cursed be he that continueth not in all things that are Deut. xxvii. written in this book," saith Moses. And the psalmograph in like manner saith: "Cursed be they that go away from his commandments." Psal. cxix. 36. God's word necessarily ought to be loved and kept of all men. Notwithstanding, it is only loved heartily and kept diligently of the sons of the Most Highest. And they for the glory thereof, if need be, will put themselves in danger of all perils, yea, if it were very death. For they know and are fully persuaded that God and his truth excelleth all things, yea, their own life. And they are certain by the word of God, which they believe, that they should receive better things in the world to come; as it is written: "Rejoice and be merry; for great is your Matt. v. reward in heaven." Man's invention, even of necessity, ought to be cast away of all men, and to be kept of none. Yet is it both loved and kept of the children of the devil, that is, the unfaithful, but yet not so that they will put themselves in any great peril or danger either of goods, or of death; as we may perceive by the papists, which will not lightly This is well die for the pope's decrees, which they notwithstanding pretend greatly to love and papists. favour, nor yet gladly lose any part of their substance. ency of God's 37. God's word is a sufficient doctrine to the uttermost for the instruction and The suffici salvation of the faithful Christians; and therefore ought nothing either to be added word. unto it, or to be plucked from it; as Moses saith: "Ye shall not add to the word Deut. iv. that I speak unto you, nor take any thing away from it." Again: "That I com- Deut. xii. Prov. xxx. Note. Psal. xix. mand thee, do that only to the Lord; neither put thou any thing to it, neither pluck thou any thing therefrom." And Salomon saith: "Put nothing to the Lord's words, lest thou be rebuked and found a liar." Man's invention is altogether insufficient. Therefore the foolish men put unto it, take away, correct, alter, change and change again, command and command again; that at the last they may bring that to pass, which shall never come unto any perfection or good effect. This thing appeareth evidently in the monks, which are always making of statutes, and yet straightways revoke them; and out of hand they stablish them again, so that there is no end in their doings. This also appeareth well in the pope, and in all the synagogues of his satanical kingdom, which (so that some new lucre may grow unto them) will enact, make void, and stablish again one thing more than an hundred times. 38. God's word is of so great glory and majesty, that no man is able to express it. Man's invention is so vile and of so great wickedness, that no man is able to declare the abominations of it, and the unoutspeakable incommodities that issue and flow out of it, unto the great danger of all them that delight in such fantasies. 39. God's word is most highly worthy to be wished and desired; as the psalmograph saith: "The commandments of the Lord are more worthy to be desired than gold and precious stone." Man's invention is most worthy to be despised and cast away, forasmuch as it is nothing else than the lewd imagination of filthy flesh, and by that means hated of God and of all good men. 40. God's word is the doctrine of righteousness, unity, peace, faith, love, patience, mercy, and of all goodness and godliness. Man's invention is the word of unrighteousness, discord, disquietness, unbelief, enmity, vengeance, unmercifulness, and of all evil and mischief. 41. God's word is the word of the eternal Father, and of his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour; which word the congregation of God only admitteth and receiveth to be sound and true doctrine, and will be ruled by it alone; admitting and approving no kind of doctrine but that shall consent and agree with this word of God in all points. Man's invention is the word of the devil, the prince of darkness, and of the venomous snake of human wisdom; which the church malignant, despising God's word, and being blinded and deceived with carnal reasons, receiveth and believeth, and is content to be ruled and governed by that alone, unto the endless damnation both of their bodies and souls. Matt. X. Psal. cviii. THE CONCLUSION. THUS have we heard, what a precious treasure and heavenly jewel the most sacred scripture and holy word of God is, and what incomparable commodities the knowledge thereof bringeth both to the souls and bodies of all such as unfeignedly receive it. We have heard also, on the contrary part, what a wicked devil, what a grievous plague, what a poisonful pestilence, man's invention is, and how great incommodities and evils it bringeth to such as embrace it, whether we respect body or soul. It therefore now remaineth that every faithful man be jealous for the word of God. Let us all with one consent desire that it may reign in the hearts of all men, and do all our endeavour that it may so and soon come to pass. Let us not fear the torments and menacing words of the cruel and fierce tyrants, which can do nothing but slay the body. Let us rather, for the zeal of God's glory, for the advancement of his holy word, and for the profit of the brethren, be ready to suffer whatsoever shall be laid upon us by the bloody tyrants, and boldly say with David: "My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready." And while we yet live, for the good performance hereof, let us cry, preach, teach, exhort, write, and admonish one another, Rev. xi. and stir up all other to do the same; that the execrable and damnable inven- fully believed, and earnestly obeyed and practised of all nations in every place, that the kingdom of this world may be made the king dom of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ; to whom alone be all honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. Give the glory to God alone. [BECON, III.] 32 22 |
