But they all with one mind began to make excuse. This is that whereof the Lord speaketh Matth. 10: He that loveth father or mother more then me, is not worthy of me. And he that loveth son or daughter more then me, is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, & followeth after me, 1is not worthy of me. For he that will be partaker of this supper, must put all things into danger for the Gospels sake, body, goods, wife, children, friends, &c. Moreover he must leave all things whatsoever they be, that separate him from the Gospel, albeit they seem good, just, right, & holy. Neither think ye that these men which here excuse them selves, were guilty of grievous sins, or occupied about unjust matters and works. For it is not unjust to buy, to use trade of merchandise, to maintain him self honestly, to marry a wife, to be joined in matrimony. But therefore can they not come to this supper, for that they will not forsake these things, but will rather cleave to them in their hart. Now they must be utterly forsaken and left, when the Gospel so requireth. Thou wilt perhaps say: I would in deed willingly follow the Gospel, I would cleave unto it, & do all other things whatsoever, but to forsake goods, houses, family, wife, children, &c: surely this is a hard matter. God hath commanded me to labour, to maintain my wife and children, &c. Behold therefore this is the scope and sum, that the Gospel is the word of faith and offence, because of which every faithful man doth bear offence willingly. In deed God hath willed thee to do these things, howbeit he hath also commanded, that thou prefer him before all creatures, and love him above all things, and think him higher then all things which thou canst know, even as the chief and greatest commandment giveth us to understand: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy hart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind, Deut. 6. Wherefore thou must forsake all things before thou suffer thy self to be plucked away from the love of him, or his word: although in deed he loseth nothing, which forsaketh any thing for the Gospels sake. If for the Gospels ⟨p. 168⟩sake thou lose this temporal life, God will give thee an other far better, to wit, eternal life, as Christ saith Matth. 10:
But they all with one minde began to make excuse. This is that whereof the Lord speaketh Matth. 10: He that loueth father or mother more then me, is not worthy of me. And he that loueth sonne or daughter more then me, is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his crosse, & followeth after me, 1is not worthy of me. For he that will be partaker of this supper, must put all thinges into daunger for the Gospells sake, body, goods, wife, children, frendes, &c. Moreouer he must leaue all thinges whatsoeuer they be, that separate him from the Gospell, albeit they seeme good, iust, right, & holy. Neither thinke ye that these mē which here excuse them selues, were gilty of grieuous sinnes, or occupied about vniust matters and works. For it is not vniust to bie, to vse trade of marchandize, to maintaine him selfe honestly, to marie a wife, to be ioyned in matrimonie. But therefore can they not come to this supper, for that they will not forsake these thinges, but will rather cleaue to them in their hart. Nowe they must be vtterly forsaken and left, when the Gospell so requireth. Thou wilt perhaps say: I would in deede willingly follow the Gospell, I would cleaue vnto it, & doe all other things whatsoeuer, but to forsake goods, houses, familie, wife, children, &c: surely this is a hard matter. God hath commaūded me to labour, to maintaine my wife and children, &c. Beholde therefore this is the scope and summe, that the Gospell is the worde of faith and offence, because of which euery faithfull man doth beare offence willingly. In deede God hath willed thee to doe these thinges, howbeit he hath also commaunded, that thou preferre him before all creatures, and loue him aboue all thinges, and thinke him higher then all thinges which thou canst know, euen as the chiefe and greatest commaundement giueth vs to vnderstande: Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thy hart, with all thy soule, with all thy minde, Deut. 6. Wherefore thou must forsake all thinges before thou suffer thy selfe to be pluckt away from the loue of him, or his worde: although in deede he loseth nothing, which forsaketh any thinge for the Gospells sake. If for the Gospells ⟨p. 168⟩sake thou lose this temporall life, God will giue thee an other farre better, to wit, eternall life, as Christ sayth Matth. 10:
- 1What they must do that will be partakers of this great supper.
