Now, he that doth not care for these things, neither is moved with them, reverently to think and highly to esteem of the word of God, willingly and earnestly to hear and learn it, whensoever opportunity and means shall be offered, I will have nothing to do with him. For neither may I, neither will I draw any man hereunto violently. He that contemneth, let him contemn still, and remain a swine as he is, even until that day, when God will kill him, and throw him down headlong to hell. For such a one can not be a good man, neither is it a humane sin, but a certain devilish obstinacy,1 so greatly to contemn that, whereunto God hath appointed a place, person, time, &c. Whereunto moreover he moveth us by his commandment, lovingly provoketh us by his promises, stirreth us up, and admonisheth us by words, and offereth all these of his own accord, and to be bought with no price or treasure, which is to be far fetched, or hardly come by, the excellency whereof can in deed be countervailed with no gold. Add hereunto moreover that it is a worship or service very easy to be done, which may be performed without all labour or grief, but that thou must attentively hear the Preacher, or apply thy mouth to speak and read, then which labour none surely is more easy. And albeit it is to be feared, that thou shalt therefore ⟨p. 187⟩bear the cross, and suffer persecution, yet the work it self is so joined with no difficulty, as no other labour is, no not even that that is most easy. If so be that it be not grievous unto thee, to sit the whole day in a tavern or an alehouse, or otherwise with thy companions to trifle and sport thy self with filthy and unseemly guests and pastimes, also to singe and prate, and yet art not weary, neither feelest any labour: thou mayst with as little pain sit in the temple, and hear the Preacher, whereby thou servest God, and dost that which is acceptable unto him. What wouldest thou do, if thou shouldest at his commandment carry stones in quarries, or go armed on pilgrimage to S. James? or if some other laborious and painful work should be enjoined thee? as hitherto it hath been the custom among us, when as we would do all things willingly, whatsoever was enjoined us, when we were deceived with mere trifles, and most impudent delusions.
Now, he that doth not care for these thinges, neither is moued with them, reuerently to thinke and highly to esteme of the word of God, willingly and earnestly to heare and learne it, whensoeuer opportunitie and meanes shall be offered, I wil haue nothing to do with him. For neither may I, neither will I draw any man hereunto violently. He that contemneth, let him contemne still, and remaine a swine as he is, euen vntill that day, when God wil kill him, and throw him downe hedlong to hel. For such a one can not be a good man, neither is it a humane sinne, but a certaine deuilish obstinacie,1 so greatly to contemne that, whereunto God hath appoynted a place, person, time, &c. Whereunto moreouer he moueth vs by his commaundement, louingly prouoketh vs by his promises, stirreth vs vp, and admonisheth vs by wordes, and offereth all these of his owne accorde, and to be bought with no price or treasure, which is to be farre fetched, or hardly come by, the excellencie whereof can in deede be counteruailed with no gold. Adde hereunto moreouer that it is a worship or seruice very easie to be done, which may be performed without all labour or griefe, but that thou must attentiuely heare the Preacher, or apply thy mouth to speake and read, then which labour none surely is more easie. And albeit it is to be feared, that thou shalt therefore ⟨p. 187⟩beare the crosse, and suffer persecution, yet the worke it selfe is so ioyned with no difficultie, as no other labour is, no not euen that that is most easie. If so be that it be not grieuous vnto thee, to sit the whole day in a tauerne or an alehouse, or otherwise with thy companions to trifle and sport thy selfe with filthy and vnseemely gestes and pastimes, also to singe and prate, and yet art not wearie, neither feelest any labour: thou mayst with as litle paine sit in the temple, and heare the Preacher, whereby thou seruest God, and doost that which is acceptable vnto him. What wouldest thou doe, if thou shouldest at his commaundement cary stones in quarries, or goe armed on pilgrimage to S. Iames? or if some other laborious and painefull worke should be enioyned thee? as hitherto it hath bene the custom among vs, when as we would doe all thinges willingly, whatsoeuer was enioyned vs, when we were deceiued with meere trifles, and most impudent delusions.
- 1A devilish obstinacy to contemn the hearing of Gods word.A deuilish obstinacie to contemne the hearing of Gods word.
