A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

The parts of their misery are three, which Christ noteth particularly, that if it were possible, he might cause this church to lay aside this damnable pride; for these in all men are main miseries. The First is poverty. And poor: that is properly one that hath not a rag to his back, nor bread to his mouth, unless he beg the same of others. But here it is taken for one that is spiritually poor: which poverty we shall better conceive, if we do understand what be true spiritual riches. True riches be Gods grace and savour in Christ; as the pardon of sin, and life everlasting. The poor man therefore is he, that wanteth Gods favour for the remission of his sins, and the gift of eternal life: & hath in him no good thing that is acceptable to God; but in regard of his soul, is as silly and poor, as any beggar in regard of his body.

The partes of their miserie are three, which Christ noteth particularly, that if it were possible, he might cause this church to lay aside this damnable pride; for these in all men are maine miseries. The First is pouertie. And poore: that is properly one that hath not a rag to his back, nor bread to his mouth, vnlesse hee begge the same of others. But here it is taken for one that is spiritually poore: which pouerty wee shall better conceiue, if we do vnderstand what be true spirituall riches. True riches be Gods grace and sauor in Christ; as the pardon of sinne, and life euerlasting. The poore man therefore is hee, that wanteth Gods fauour for the remission of his sins, and the gift of eternall life: & hath in him no good thing that is acceptable to God; but in regard of his soule, is as silly and poore, as any beggar in regard of his bodie.

The end why Christ calleth this church poor, is to beat down the proud conceit of her own good estate, and to cause her to feel her spiritual poverty, and so become poor in spirit. And we in them are likewise taught to labour to feel our own poverty, how by nature there is no goodness in us; but we are utterly destitute of the grace and favour of God, that so we may go out of our selves, and in regard of our selves even despair of our salvation: for till this poverty of spirit be wrought in us, we may make a show in profession, hear the word and receive the Sacraments, but we shall never hae sound grace. And blessed were our estate, if we could lay aside that devilish pride, which puffeth up our hearts, and become poor in spirit; then were we in the right way to receive the Gospel, and the