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A shorte Preface, to the second part of this Discourse.
SO surpassing & 〈…〉〈…〉 ••erable goodnes of God, that all that hee requireth at our handes, is for our owne good, and benefite, and not for any thinge that hee is the better therby: for hee beeing absolute felicitie, or bles∣sednesse it selfe, can not be any whit bettered of all his crea∣tures, and therfore needeth not any of them, but all neede him. This considered, and for that it is the propertie of reason and wisedome (wherwith God of his bounteous ly∣beralitie hath indued man kinde) not rashly to do any thing without good cause and consideration. Let vs therfore a litle consider what good, benefite & commoditie, redown∣deth vnto vs, by ••••rginitie, or Maydenhood and Chastitie: And what causes should mooue vs Christians to keepe, con∣tinue, vse, and practise the same: Seeing all the world almost in these his aged and dotinge dayes, wherin the Diuell the Prince therof rageth, knowing his time to bee but short, and that Christ is ready to appearoin the Clowdes to shut him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with all the vngodly, his members, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and instrumences, into eternall tormentes: and to carry the god∣lye his owne members, Seruauntes and Instrumertes, to liue and raigne with him for euer in euerlastinge glory. Seeinge the whole world (I say) in these perrilous and last times, when iniquitie shall abound, and true faith searce be found, is drowned, ouerwhelmed, and in a manner, buried in corruption, in Adulrery, Whoredome, fornication, and in all kinde of filthinesse and abhomination: Let vs consider what should cause vs true Christians to rowe agaynst the streame, and to take a course contrary to the swaye of the multitude, yea to the whole world. To recite all the causes that should moue vs so to doo: neither memory nor leasure will now serue, but these folowing bee the cheefest, and may suffice and satisfie any godly, and vertuous minde, seeinge they are so waightie, great, and vrgent.