"
Lo, what manner of battle this warrior St. Paul teacheth us, "to be shod
on our feet," that we may go readily and prepare way for the gospel; yea,
the gospel of peace, not of rebellion, not of insurrection: no, it
teacheth obedience, humility, and quietness; it maketh peace in the
conscience, and teacheth true faith in Jesus Christ, and to walk in God's
laws armed with God's armour, as Paul teacheth here. Yea, if bishops in
England had been "shod for the preparation of this gospel," and had
endeavoured themselves to teach and set [it] forth, as our most noble
prince hath devised; and if certain gentlemen, being justices, had
executed his grace's commandment, in setting forth this gospel of peace,
this disturbance among the people had not happened.
But ye say, it is new learning. Now I tell you it is the old learning.
Yea, ye say, it is old heresy new scoured. Nay, I tell you it is old
truth, long rusted with your canker, and now new made bright and scoured.
What a rusty truth is this, _Quodcumque ligaveris_, "Whatsoever thou
bindest," &c. This is a truth spoken to the apostles, and all true
preachers their successors, that with the law of God they should bind and
condemn all that sinned; and whosoever did repent, they should declare
him loosed and forgiven, by believing in the blood of Christ.
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