The Parable of the Wicked Mammon

For they imagine that it is in the king dome of Christ, as it is in the world among men, that they must deserve heaven with their good works. How be it their thoughts are but dreams and false imaginations. Of these men speaketh Mala. Chap. i. who is it among you that shutteth a door for my pleasure for nought? that is, without respect of reward. These are servants, that seek gains and advantage, hirelings and day labourers which here on earth receive their rewards, as the pharisees with there prayers, and fastings Matth. v.

For they ymagen that it is in the kyng dome of Christe, as it is in the worlde amonge men, that they must deserue heauē with theyr good workes. How be it their thoughtes are but dreams and false imaginacions. Of these men speaketh Mala. Chap. i. who is it amonge you that shutteth a dore for my pleasure for nought? that is, wythout respecte of rewarde. These are seruauntes, that seke gaynes and auauntage, hyrelynges and daye labourers which here on earth receyue their rewardes, as the pharyses with ther prayers, and fastinges Matth. v.

But on this wise goeth it with heaven, with everlasting life, & eternal reward, likewise as good works naturally follow ⟨image 21⟩faith (as it is above rehearsed) so that thou needest not to command a true believer to work or to compel him with any law, for it is impossible that he should not work he tarrieth but for an occasion, he is ever disposed of him self, thou needest but to put him in remembrance, and that to know the false faith from the true. Even so naturally doth eternal life follow faith and good living, with out seeking for, and is impossible that it should not cone, thought no man thought there on. Yet is it rehearsed in the scripture, alleged, and promised to know the difference between a false believer and a true believer, and that every man may know what followeth good living naturally and of it self without taking thought for it. Take a gross example. Hell, that is everlasting death is threatened unto sinners, and yet followeth it sin naturally without seeking for. For no man doth evil to be damned therefore, but had lever avoid it. Yet the one followeth the other naturally, and thought no man told or warned him of it, yet should the sinner find it, and feel it. Nevertheless it is therefore threatened, that men may know what followeth evil living. Now then as after evil living followeth his reward unsought for even so after good living followeth his reward