The Soul's Conflict with Itself

What kind of people were those that followed Christ, were they not such as had lived long in their sinful courses? He did not only raise them that were newly dead, but Lazarus that had lien four days in the grave. They thought Christs power in raising the dead, had reached to a short time only, but he would let them know, that he could as well raise those that had been long as lately dead. If Christ be the Physician, it is no matter of how long continuance the disease be. He is good at all kind of diseases, and will ⟨p. 362⟩not endure the reproach of disability to cure any. Some diseases are the reproaches of other Physicians, as being above their skill to help, but no conceit more dangerous when we are to deal with Christ.

What kinde of people were those that followed Christ, were they not such as had lived long in their sinfull courses? He did not onely raise them that were newly dead, but Lazarus that had lyen foure dayes in the grave. They thought Christs power in raising the dead, had reached to a short time onely, but hee would let them know, that hee could as well raise those that had been long as lately dead. If Christ be the Physitian, it is no matter of how long continuance the disease be. He is good at all kinde of diseases, and will ⟨p. 362⟩not endure the reproach of disability to cure any. Some diseases are the reproaches of other Physitians, as being above their skill to helpe, but no conceit more dangerous when we are to deale with Christ.

The blessed Martyr Bilney was much offended when he heard an eloquent Preacher inveighing against sin, saying thus. Behold, thou hast lien rotten in thy own lusts, by the space of sixty years, even as a beast in his own dung, and wilt thou presume in one year to go forward towards heaven, and that in thine old age, as much as thou wentest backward from heaven to hell in sixty years? Is not this a goodly argument (saith Bilney?) Is this preaching of repentance in the name of Jesus? It is as if Christ had dyed in vain for such a man, and that he must make satisfaction for himself. If I had heard (saith he) such preaching of repentance in times past, I had utterly despaired of mercy: We must never think the door of hope to be