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 it is worthy to be noted in this man, how mercifully and favourably the Lord suffereth us. For suppose he drew nigh unto old age: yet must he needs be taken with the disease in the first flower of his age: and peradventure he had been sick from his childhood. Now consider how grievous the punishment and pain of so many years was. And certain it is that God cannot be accused of too great severity, because he did punish a man that was half dead, with so long sickness. Therefore in that we are lightly punished, let us learn that that cometh to pass because the Lord doth mitigate the greatest rigour of punishments, for his infinite goodness sake. Let us also learn that there are no pains so fierce & cruel, but that the Lord can add something thereunto, so often as he thinketh it good. And questionless miserable men do oftentimes pull down upon themselves horrible & wonderful torments, with their complaints: whilst that they say that their plagues cannot be augmented. Are not these things hidden in my treasures saith the Lord? Deut. 32. 34. We must also note how small fruit the chastisements of God do bring forth in us. For if Christ his exhortation was not superfluous, we may gather thence that this mans soul was not yet well purged from all vices. And truly vices do take deeper root in us then that they can be plucked up in one or two days. And the curing of the diseases of the soul is harder then that it is contented with the remedies of a small time.

But it is worthie to be noted in this man, how mercifully and fauourably the Lord suffereth vs. For suppose he drew nigh vnto old age: yet must he needes be taken with the disease in the first flower of his age: and peraduenture he had been sicke from his childhood. Now consider how greeuous the punishment and paine of so many yeeres was. And certain it is that God cannot be accused of too great seueritie, because he did punish a man that was halfe dead, with so long sicknesse. Therefore in that we are lightly punished, let vs learne that that commeth to passe because the Lorde doth mittigate the greatest rigour of punishments, for his infinite goodnesse sake. Let vs also learn that there are no paines so fierce & cruell, but that the Lord can adde something thereunto, so often as he thinketh it good. And questionles miserable men doe oftentimes pull downe vppon themselues horrible & wonderfull tormentes, with their complaintes: whilest that they say that their plagues cannot be augmented. Are not these thinges hidden in my treasures saith the Lorde?