Which because you see not, I will show you how great it is in some sort: and that is so much, as if you attain it, ye owe no less then your own souls to them for it, Philem. 19. For they shall not only save themselves, 1who shall perform §Dthis duty of teaching among you, in such manner as hath bin before set down, but they shall save you also, who entertain them as Gods messengers, 2. Tim. 2. and be means to make you see your selves happy, both here and for ever. Which being so, who can sufficiently admire the blindness,2 nay the wilful blindness of the people, the carelessness, yea the bold carelessness and blockishness of them, who see nothing of this which I say, though we speak oft of it and aloud among them, that they may regard it. I thank God to see some thing, that I see in some persons; I mean their reverent and thankful receiving of the Gospel, and their care to be reformed by it: but that in so long a time of peace and free passage to the Gospel under her Majesties most prosperous §Ereign, so few make that the flower of their garland, and their best portion, it is most worthily to be bewailed. Which testifieth too clearly, that either there are many enemies of the Gospel among us, besides Priests, and Jesuits, and open Recusants: and among them that love it (as they pretend) many of them love darkness more then light, because their deeds are evil, and who do not esteem Gods messengers as sent from him, for their singular benefit. For then would not some (and those not a few) deny them their due ⟨p. 34⟩which God hath given them that labour among them; nor withhold their earthly §Fthings from them, to whom they deliver spiritual: nor esteem meanly and basely of them,3 who would fain win them to God: Neither would many of the people lay such blocks in their own way as they do, descanting of them in such wise, as they will be sure that none of them shall do them good. For rather then they would have nothing to except against them, if they cannot find those accusations, that are just, they are content with any show, why they should refuse to be counselled and persuaded by them. And therefore, if they be old, they say, they dote, and know not what they say: if they be young, they have no judgement nor experience: if they be wealthy, then they are covetous: if poor, then base and contemptible:
Which because you see not, I will shew you how great it is in some sort: and that is so much, as if you attaine it, ye owe no lesse then your owne soules to them for it, Philem. 19. For they shall not only saue themselues, 1who shal performe §Dthis dutie of teaching amōg you, in such maner as hath bin before set down, but they shall saue you also, who intertaine them as Gods messengers, 2. Tim. 2. and be meanes to make you see your selues happie, both here and for euer. Which being so, who can sufficiently admire the blindnes,2 nay the wilfull blindnes of the people, the carelesnes, yea the bold carelesnes and blockishnes of them, who see nothing of this which I say, though wee speake oft of it and aloud among them, that they may regard it. I thanke God to see some thing, that I see in some persons; I meane their reuerent and thankfull receiuing of the Gospell, and their care to be reformed by it: but that in so long a time of peace and free passage to the Gospel vnder her Maiesties most prosperous §Eraigne, so few make that the flower of their garland, and their best portion, it is most worthily to be bewailed. Which testifieth too cleerely, that either there are many enemies of the Gospell among vs, besides Priests, and Iesuites, and open Recusants: and among them that loue it (as they pretend) many of them loue darknes more then light, because their deedes are euill, and who doe not esteeme Gods messengers as sent from him, for their singular benefit. For then would not some (and those not a few) denie them their due ⟨p. 34⟩which God hath giuen them that labor among them; nor withhold their earthly §Fthings from them, to whom they deliuer spirituall: nor esteeme meanly and basely of them,3 who would faine win them to God: Neither would many of the people lay such blockes in their owne way as they doe, descanting of them in such wise, as they will be sure that none of them shall doe them good. For rather then they would haue nothing to except against them, if they cannot finde those accusations, that are iust, they are content with any shew, why they should refuse to bee counselled and perswaded by them. And therefore, if they be old, they say, they dote, and know not what they say: if they be yong, they haue no iudgement nor experience: if they be wealthie, then they are couetous: if poore, then base and contemptible:
- 1The second reason.
- 2The peoples sin.
- 3How the people hinder themselves.How the people hinder themselues.
