For I woulde that ye knewe, howe great care that I haue for you and for them that are at Laodicia, and for as many as haue not sene my person in the fleshe, that theyr her∣tes myght be comforted when they are knyt together in loue, and in al riches of full vn∣derstanding, for to knowe the misterie of God the father, and of Christe, in whome are hydde all the treasures of wysedome and knowledge.
ANd this muche haue I sayde, (ye Colossians) not to boste my self vnto you, but because I couete, y• ye should knowe, howe carefull I am, and what ieopardies I put my selfe in, not only for suche, as I haue presently taught the gospell vnto, but for them also, whiche by syghte know me not, especial∣ly for you and the Laodicians, whom thoughe I neuer sawe with my bodely iyen, yet see I them cō¦tinuallye with the iyen of my hearte, glad of your encrease & furtheraunce, fearful it I espye your entiernes and godly con∣dicions either to be in ieoperdie or to be inconstant & wauer. Nor is it for my selfe so greatly anaylable, that suche as neuer sawe me, know what la∣bours & paynes I take for them, as it dothe auauntage them. For by my pensyfenes, by my ieopardies, and affliccions are they more pricked furth and enforced to consent and cleaue more together in godly charitie, lyke y• members of one body knyt and surely mortised, wherby also menne more clearely perceyue and more certaynely beleue the bountifull goodnes of god the father toward all mankynde, yea toward al creatures, aboundāt∣ly flowyng abrode, by openyng nowe throughe Iesus Christe the secrete misterie, which hath hitherto bene hidden, whiche is, that besyde hym one∣ly we should desyre no worldly wysdome, be that neuer so great, which the wyse Philosophers promisen, or teachers of Moses lawe, or anye suche as boste that they by speakyng with aungels are taughte, forasmuche as in hym alone are contayned and hydden all the treasures of wysedome and fruytful knowledge. Of this fountayne maye we easly drawe, asmuche as is to perfite saluacion requyred.