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…

But this similitude is to be referred unto the manner of teaching. For as the childhood of the Church did continue until the end of the law, and when as the Gospel was once preached, the youth thereof did immediately succeed: so salvation began to wax ripe then, which the Prophets had only sown. But seeing that Christ spake these words in Samaria, he seemeth to extend the sowing further then unto the law & the Prophets. And there be some who expound this aswell of the Gentiles as of the Jews. I grant indeed that there were always certain grains of godliness scattered throughout the whole world: & no doubt God did after a sort sow those excellent sentences which are extant in the Philosophers and profane writers by their hand. But forasmuch as that seed was corrupt from the very root, and the corn which might thence have sprung, (although it was neither good nor natural) was choked with the huge heap of errors, it were an absurd thing to compare that so hurtful corruption unto sowing. Secondly, that which is here spoken of the agreement of joy, cannot be applied unto the Philosophers and such like. Yet the doubt is not dissolved, for Christ seemeth after a sort to speak of the Samaritans. I answer, although all things were corrupted amongest the Samaritans, yet was there hid amongest them some seed of godliness. For whence cometh it that they were so ready to seek Christ when as they heard but one word of him, save only because they had learned out of the law and the Prophets that the Redeemer should come? Judea truly was the peculiar possession of the Lord, which he had tilled by the Prophets: but because there was some portion of seed brought into Samaria also, it is not without cause that Christ saith that the seed was waxen ripe even there also. If any man do object that the Apostles were chosen and sent to preach the Gospel unto all the whole world, we may easily answer, that Christ did speak as time did require, unless it were so that he commendeth in the Samaritans the seed of the Prophetical doctrine, although it were filled▪ with many weeds, for the hope of the fruit which was almost ripe.

But this similitude is to be referred vnto the manner of teaching. For as the childhoode of the Church did continue vntill the end of the law, and when as the Gospell was once preached, the youth thereof did immediately succeede: so saluation began to waxe rype then, whiche the Prophetes had onely sowen. But seeing that Christe spake these wordes in Samaria, he seemeth to extēd the sowing further then vnto the law & the Prophetes. And there be some who expound this aswel of the Gentiles as of the Iewes. I graunt indeede that there were alwayes certaine granes of godlines scattered throughout the whole world: & no doubt God did after a sort sow those excellent sentences which are extant in the Philosophers and profane writers by their hand. But forasmuche as that seede was corrupt from the very roote, and the corne which might thence haue sproung, (although it was neither good nor naturall) was choked with the huge heape of errours, it were an absurd thing to compare that so hurtful corruptiō vnto sowing. Secondly, that which is here spoken of the agreement of ioy, cānot be applyed vnto the Philosophers and such like. Yet the doubt is not dissolued, for Christ seemeth after a sort to speake of the Samaritanes. I answere, although al things were corrupted amongest the Samaritanes, yet was there hid amongest them some seede of godlinesse. For whence commeth it that they were so redie to seeke Christe when as they hearde but one word of him, saue only because they had learned out of the lawe and the Prophetes that the Redeemer should come? Iudea trulie was the peculiar possession of the Lorde, which he had tilled by the Prophetes: but because there was som portion of seede brought into Samaria also, it is not without cause that Christ saith that the seede was waxen rype euen there also. If any man doe obiect that the Apostles were chosen and sent to preach the Gospel vnto all the whole worlde, we may easily answere, that Christ did speak as time dyd require, vnlesse it were so that hee commendeth in the Samaritanes the seede of the Propheticall doctrine, although it were filled with manye weedes, for the hope of the fruite whiche was almost rype.