Three special helps the devil hath used to further this purpose of restoring Jericho. First, the hard heart, & blindness of the people: secondly, the eloquence, and subtle persuasion of the learned: thirdly, the sword and violence of tyrants. Of these three the first is the greatest, for blindness and stubbornness will prevail, where cunning and tyranny can do nothing. Hereof the prophet Jeremiah complaineth, My 1people is foolish, they have not known me: they are foolish children, & have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do well they have no knowledge. Of this sort our saviour speaketh, This peoples heart is waxed 2fat, & their ears are dull of hearing, & with their eyes have they winked, least they should see with their eyes, & hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, & should 3return, that I might heal them. Of this sort Isaiah reporteth, It is a rebellious people, lying children, and children that would not ⟨image 18⟩hear the law, of the Lord which say unto the Seers, see not: & unto the prophets, prophesy not unto us right things: but speak flattering things unto us, prophesy errors, depart out of the way, go out of the path, cause the holy one of Israel to cease from us. Through blindness & stubbornness, all the children of Israel murmured against Moses & Aaron▪ 4Wherefore now hath the lord brought us to this land to fall upon the sword? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? Therefore the lord said, I will do to them as they have spoken, they shall not see the land, whereof I sware to their fathers, but their carcasses shall fall in this wilderness, they shall not enter into my rest: with this blindness, god doth punish those which obey not his word. The Lord shall smite thee (saith Moses) with madness & blindness, & with astonishing 5of heart, thou shalt grope at noon days, as the blind gropeth in darkness. I will take my spirit from thee, I will command the clouds, that they shall not give thee rain: thou hast forsaken me & I will forsake thee: I will cause the sun to go down at noon: & I will darken the earth at clear day, saith the Lord. I will send a famine upon the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of 6hearing the word of the Lord: they shall seek the word of the Lord and shall not find it.
Three speciall helpes the deuil hath vsed to further this purpose of restoring Hiericho. First, the hard heart, & blindnes of the people: secondly, the eloquēce, and subtil perswasion of the learned: thirdly, the sworde and violence of tyrants. Of these three the first is the greatest, for blindnesse and stubburnnesse wyll preuayle, where cunning and tyranny can doo nothinge. Hereof the prophet Ieremy complayneth, My 1people is foolish, they haue not known me: they ar foolish childrē, & haue none vnderstādīg: they ar wise to do euil, but to do wel they haue no knowledge. Of this sort our sauiour speaketh, This peoples heart is waxed 2fat, & their eares are dul of hearing, & with their eies haue they winked, least they shuld see with their eies, & heare with their eares, and vnderstand with their hearts, & should 3returne, that I might heale them. Of this sort Esay reporteth, It is a rebellious people, lying children, and children that would not ⟨image 18⟩heare the law, of the Lorde whiche say vnto the Seers, see not: & vnto the prophets, prophecie not vnto vs right things: but speake flattering things vnto vs, prophesie errors, depart out of the way, goe out of the path, cause the holy one of Israel to cease from vs. Through blindnes & stubburnes, al the children of Israel murmured against Moses & Aaron▪ 4Wherfore now hath the lord brought vs to this land to fal vpō the sworde? were it not better for vs to return into Egipt? Therfore ye lord said, I wil do to thē as they haue spoken, they shal not see the lande, whereof I sware to their fathers, but their carcases shall fall in this wildernes, they shal not enter into my rest: with this blindnes, god doth punish those which obey not his word. The Lord shal smite thee (sayth Moses) with madnes & blindnes, & wt astonyinge 5of heart, thou shalt grope at noone daies, as the blinde gropeth in darknesse. I wil take my spirit frō thee, I wyl command the cloudes, that they shal not giue thee raine: thou hast forsaken me & I wyl forsake thee: I wyll cause the sunne to go downe at noone: & I wyll darken the earth at cleare day, saith the Lorde. I will send a famine vpon the lande, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of 6
- 1Jerem. 4.Ierem. 4.
- 2Mat. 13.
- 3Isaiah 30Esay 30
- 4Numb. 14.
- 5Deut. 28.
- 6Amos. 8.
