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…

We see how the Princes of the world become arrogant without measure, how they run into luxuriousness, how they swell in pride, and how the sweetness of prosperity hath made them drunken. It is not to be wondered at, if God cannot bear with such unthankfulness, and this is the cause why for the most part their state is not durable, whom God hath lifted up on high. And again, the glory of Kings and Princes, doeth so amaze the common sort of men, that few there be that think there is any God above them. But if that Princes brought their sceptres with them from their mothers womb, or that the continuance of their kingdoms were perpetual, then all knowledge of God, and of his providence, would presently vanish away. The Lord therefore placing the low aloft, he leadeth the pride of the world as prisoner in his triumph, and with all he teacheth his, simplicity and modesty.

VVe see howe the Princes of the worlde become arrogante wythout measure, howe they runne into luxuriousnesse, howe they swel in pride, and howe the sweetenesse of prosperitie hath mado them dronken. It is not to be wondered at, if God cannot beare with suche vnthankefulnesse, and this is the cause why for the most part their state is not dureable, whome God hath lifted vppe on high. And againe, the glorye of Kings and Princes, doeth so amaze the common sorte of menne, that few there be that thinke there is any God aboue them. But if that Princes brought their scepters with them from their mothers wombe, or that the continuaunce of their kingdomes were perpetuall, then all knowledge of God, and of his prouidence, would presently vanish away. The Lorde therefore placing the low aloft, he leadeth the pride of the world as prisonner in his triumphe, and with all he teacheth his, simplicitie and modestie.

Now we know why Mary said, that it is God that throweth the Princes from their thrones, and exalteth the lowly: namely, that he might teach us that the world is not turned and rolled by the blind force of ⟨p. 39⟩Fortune, but what changes so ever are seen, they all come to pass by the providence of God: and also that God himself with great equity doth govern those things which seem to trouble and pervert the whole order of the world. The which thing she more fully confirmeth in the next verse. He hath filled (sayeth she) the hungry with good things, and sent away the rich empty. Hereby we gather that alterations please not God of themselves, but for an other cause: That is, because that the great ones, and the rich, and the mighty, being puffed up with their fullness, do challenge all things to them selves, and leave nothing to God him self. wherefore we must diligently take heed that we be not carried away with prosperity, we must also beware of the unconstant fullness of the flesh, least that God suddenly make us empty. But this doctrine, that God filleth the hungry with good things, bringeth great comfort to the godly, which feel their own poverty: and as though they were hungerstoruen, do sigh unto God.