Theophilus. But Elisha did not cast the salt into the 1water, for to conjure the Devils there with, but hath done it for to purge and make it clean, because that it was infected and poisoned, so much y• none could drink of it. And notwithstanding that Elisha did put salt in it, yet nevertheless the salt of his nature had not the property to correct and amend the corruption of the Water, if the virtue of God had not wrought and done it nuraculously: As it is declared by the applications of the things, which Jesus 2Christ used, as in putting the spittle upon the tongues of those that were dumb, for to make them speak: or upon the eyes of the blind, for to make them see: or within 3the ears of those that were deaf for to make them hear: not because that he could not do that without such applications, as he hath very well declared in a 4great many other of his works: For how oftentimes hath he healed them in touching them only, either by 5the hand, as the lepers, or by y• gown, as y• woman which ⟨p. 35⟩was diseased with the issue of blood, and others, without either seeing or touching them, as the son of y• Centurion: 6But even as thereby he would declare that all proceeded from his virtue and power, & not of the creatures. Also sometime he used them for to let us to understand, that when he would they should serve, he gave them such virtue and property as it pleaseth him, & for to learn us that we ought not to despise the means that he hath 7given unto us, how vile soever our reason judgeth them to be. For whatsoever they may be, so that he hath ordained them, and that we have his promise, we must not doubt but by them he doth that which he hath promised. Therefore he hath taken things, which had not of their own nature the virtue to bring to pass those effects, to which they have been applied, that all men might know, that from him only proceeded the virtue, and not of any ordinary or natural cause. But these miraculous works, are nothing at all like unto those which our Priests do: and their ceremonies, have not such promises. If by that they could remedy she corrupt waters, as Elisha did, we will acknowledge the gift to work miracles to be in them which was in Elisha. But to what end serveth the salt in the water?
Theophilus. But Eliseus dyd not cast the salt into the 1water, for to coniure the Diuels there wyth, but hath done it for to purge and make it cleane, bicause that it was infected and poisoned, so much y• none could drincke of it. And notwithstanding that Eliseus dyd put salte in it, yet neuerthelesse the salt of his nature had not the propertie to correct and amend the corruption of the Water, if the vertue of God had not wrought and done it nuraculously: As it is declared by the applications of the thinges, which Iesus 2Christ vsed, as in putting the spittle vpon the tongues of those that were dumme, for to make them speake: or vpon the eyes of the blinde, for to make them see: or wythin 3the eares of those that were deafe for to make them heare: not bicause that hée coulde not dooe that wythout suche applications, as hée hath very well declared in a 4great many other of his woorkes: For howe oftentimes hath hée healed them in touching them onely, either by 5the hand, as the leapers, or by y• gowne, as y• woman which ⟨p. 35⟩was diseased with the issue of bloude, and others, without either séeing or touching them, as the son of y• Centurion: 6But euen as thereby hée woulde declare that al procéeded from his vertue and power, & not of the creatures. Also sometime hée vsed them for to let vs to vnderstande, that when hée woulde they shoulde serue, hée gaue them such vertue and propertie as it pleaseth him, & for to learne vs that wée ought not to despise the meanes that hée hath 7gyuen vnto vs, how vile soeuer our reason iudgeth them to bée. For whatsoeuer they may bée, so that hee hath ordeined them, and that wée haue hys promise, wée muste not doubt but by them hée doth that which hée hath promysed. Therefore hée hath taken thinges, which had not of their owne nature the vertue to bringe to passe those effectes, to whiche they haue bene applyed, that all men might knowe, that from hym onely procéeded the vertue, and not of any ordinary or naturall cause. But these miraculous woorkes, are nothinge at all lyke vnto those which our Priestes doe: and theire ceremonies, haue not such promises. If by that they could remedy she corrupt waters, as Eliseus did, we will acknowledge the gyft to woorke myracles to bée in them which was in Eliseus. But to what ende serueth the salt in the water?
- 1The example of Elisha. 4. Reg. 2. d. 21 De consecr. dast. 3. cap. Aquam.The exemple of Eliseus. 4. Reg. 2. d. 21 De consecr. dast. 3. cap. Aquam.
- 2The spittle of Jesus Christ. Mar. 7. d. 3•The spittle of Iesus Christ. Mar. 7. d. 3•
- 3John. 9. a, 6Iohn. 9. a, 6
- 4The applications of Jesus Christ.The applicatiōs of Iesus Christ.
- 5•at. 6. a 3 Mat. 9[…] Mar. 5. c. 29•at. 6. a 3 Mat. 9〈…〉 Mar. 5. c. 29
- 6Mat. 8. a. 5
- 7The means of God.The meanes of God.
