A harmony upon the the three Evangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke with the commentary…A harmonie vpon the the three Euangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke with the commentarie…

For over straightly & sparingly do they think of the works of God, which believe not him to be able to do more, than according to nature is credible, as though his hand were subject to our sense, or included in earthly means; but it is the property of faith much more to believe, then the reason of the flesh could say might come to pass. Zechariah doubted not, whether it were the voice of God, or no: But when he was overmuch bent upon the world, an overthwart doubting crept into his mind, whether that should come to pass, that he heard or no. And in that thing he did no small injury to god: for it were as much, as if he should dispute whether god might be accounted true or no, whom he surely knew had spoken it, which was sufficient▪ although it is to be known Zechariah ⟨p. 16⟩not to have been so unbelieving, that altogether he should shrink from faith. For there is a general faith, which doth take hold of the promise of eternal salvation, and the testimony of free adoption. And even as after God hath once received us into favour, he specially promiseth many things that he will feed, that he will take us out of perils, he will be a defender of our innocency, and preserve our life: so there is a particular faith, which answereth to every such promises. Therefore sometime it may be, that some man trusting in God of forgiveness of sins, and of salvation, yet in some point should waver: for either he should fear too much in the danger of death, or be too much careful for daily sustenance, or over doubtful in his counsels. Such was the incredulity of Zechariah, because that he having the root and foundation of faith, did only stick in this one point, whether God would give him a son. Wherefore let us know, that they do not by and by fall and depart from the faith, when their infirmities in some particular affairs do disturb or move them, nor faith to fail at the root, as oft as the boughs do shake at diverse invasions or blasts. Grant that Zechariah meant nothing less then to call to trial the assurance of the divine promise. But when that generally he was persuaded God to be true, he was drawn by stealth into a shrewd estate, by the craft and deceits of Satan. So much the rather it becometh us to be ready bent to watching day and night.

For ouer straightly & sparingly do they think of the works of God, which beleeue not him to be able to do more, thē according to nature is credible, as though his hand were subiect to our sēce, or included in earthly meanes; but it is the propertie of fayth much more to beleeue, then the reason of the flesh could say might come to passe. Zacharias doubted not, whether it were the voyce of God, or no: But when he was ouermuch bent vpō the world, an ouerthwart doubting crept into his mind, whether that should come to passe, that he heard or no. And in that thing he did no smal iniury to god: for it were as much, as if he should dispute whether god might be accounted true or no, whō he surely knew had spokē it, which was sufficient although it is to be known Zacharias