Some time men go from God, by the neglecting of his commandments, concerning their neighbours, which commandeth them to express hearty love towards every man,1 as Zechariah said unto the people in gods behalf: Give true judgement, show mercy and compassion every one to his brother: Imagine to deceit towards widows, or children fatherless & motherless, towards stranger or the poor: let no man forge evil in his heart, against his brother. But these things they passed not of, they turned their backs, and went their way, they stopped their ears, that they might not hear, they hardened their hearts, as an Adamant stone, that they might not listen, to the law and the words, that the Lord had sent through his holy spirit, by his ancient Prophets. Wherefore the Lord showed his great indignation upon them: It came to pass (sayeth the Prophet) even as I told them:2 as they would not hear, so when they cried, they were not heard, but were dispersed into all kingdoms, which they never knew: & their land was made desolate. And to be short, all they, that may not abide the word of God, but following the persuasions, and stubbornness of their own hats, go backward, & not forward (as it is said in Jeremiah) they go & turn away from God.3 In so much that Origene sayeth: He that with mind, with study, with deeds, with thought & care, applieth himself to Gods word, and thinketh ⟨image 49⟩upon his laws, day & night, giveth himself wholly to God, and in his precepts and commandments is exercised: this is he, that is turned to God. And on the other part (he saith): Whosoever is occupied with fables & tales, when the word of god is rehearsed: he is turned from God. Whosoever in time of reading Gods word, is careful in his mind, of worldly business, of money, or of lucre: he is turned from God. Whosoever is entangled with the cares of possessions, filled with covetousness of riches: whosoever studieth, for the glory & honour of this world, he is turned from God. So that after his mind, whosoever hath not a special mind to that thing that is commanded, or taught of God: he that doth not listen unto it, embrace & print it in his hart, to the intent, that he may duly fashion his life thereafter, he is plainly turned from god, although he do other thin ges of his own devotion and mind, which to him seem better, & more to gods honour.
Some tyme men go frō God, by the neglectyng of hys commaundementes, concerning their neighbours, whiche cōmaundeth them to expresse hartye loue towardes euery man,1 as Zachary sayde vnto the people in gods behalfe: Geue true iudgement, shewe mercye and compassion euery one to hys brother: Ymagen to deceipt towardes widowes, or children fatherles & motherles, towardes straunger or the poore: let no mā forge euill in hys harte, against his brother. But these thinges they passed not of, thei turned their backes, and went their waie, thei stopped their eares, that they might not heare, they hardened their hartes, as an Adamant stone, yt they might not lysten, to the lawe and the woordes, that the Lorde had sent through his holy spirite, by hys auncient Prophetes. Wherfore the Lorde shewed his great indignacion vpon them: It came to passe (sayeth the Prophet) euen as I tolde them:2 as they woulde not heare, so when they cryed, they were not heard, but wer dispersed into all kingdomes, which they neuer knewe: & their lande was made desolate. And to be short, all they, that may not abyde ye word of God, but folowyng the perswasiōs, and stubbernes of their awne hattes, go backewarde, & not forward (as it is sayd in Ieremy) they go & turne away frō God.3 In so muche that Origene saieth: He that with mynde, with study, with dedes, with thought & care, applieth himself to Gods worde, and thinketh ⟨image 49⟩vpon his lawes, day & night, geueth himself wholy to God, and in hys preceptes and cōmaundementes is exercised: this is he, that is turned to God. And on the other part (he saith): Whosoeuer is occupied with fables & tales, when ye word of god is rehersed: he is turned frō God. Whosoeuer in time of readīg Gods worde, is careful in his mynd, of worldly busines, of money, or of lucre: he is turned from God. Whosoeuer is entāgled with ye cares of possessiōs, filled with coueteousnes of ryches: whosoeuer studieth, for the glory & honor of this worlde, he is turned from God. So that after hys mynd, whosoeuer hath not a speciall mynde to that thynge that is cō maunded, or taught of God: he that doth not listen vnto it, embrace & print it in hys hart, to the intent, that he may duely fashion hys lyfe thereafter, he is plainly turned from god, although he do other thī ges of hys awne deuocion and mynde, which to him seme better, & more to gods honor.
- 1Zacha. vii.
- 2Hier. vii.
- 3Hiere. vii. Orige. super Exodi. homi. xii.
