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…

38 And you have not his word. This is true profiting when the word of God taketh root in us, that being fastened in our hearts, it may have there a certain seat. Christ saith that the heavenly doctrine hath no place amongest the Jews, because they receive not the son of God, whom it setteth forth every where: and he casteth this in their teeth worthily. For God spake not in vain by Moses and the Prophets. And it was the only drift and purpose of Moses to call all men straight unto Christ, whereby it appeareth manifestly that they are not his disciples who reject Christ. Secondly, how shall he have the word of life abiding in him, who driveth away the life it self? How shall he understand the doctrine of the law who extinguisheth so much as in him lieth the soul of the law? For the law without Christ is vain, neither hath it any substance. The nigher therefore every man knoweth Christ, so much hath he profited in the word of God.

38 And you haue not his worde. This is true profiting when the word of God taketh roote in vs, that beeing fastened in our heartes, it may haue there a certaine seate. Christ saith that the heauenly doctrine hath no place amongest the Iewes, because they receiue not the son of God, whom it setteth foorth euery where: and he casteth this in their teeth worthily. For God spake not in vaine by Moses and the Prophets. And it was the only drift and purpose of Moses to call all men straight vnto Christ, whereby it appeareth manifestly that they are not his disciples who reiect Christe. Secondly, how shall hee haue the worde of life abiding in him, who driueth away the life it selfe? How shall hee vnderstand the doctrine of the lawe who extinguisheth so much as in him lyeth the soule of the lawe? For the lawe without Christ is vaine, neither hath it any substaunce. The nigher therefore euery man knoweth Christe, so much hath he profited in the worde of God.

39 Search the scriptures. Whereas Christ had said before, that he hath the father for a witness in heaven, we have said that it is referred unto Moses and the Prophets. Now followeth a more plain exposition: for he saith that that testimony is extant in the scriptures. And he toucheth again their vain boasting, in that they professed that they have life in the scriptures, when as they did only catch at the dead letter. Neither doth he absolutely reprehend this that they seek life in the scriptures (seeing that they are appointed unto us for that end and use): but because the Jews did think that the Scriptures did quicken them, whenas they knew not the true meaning thereof: yea seeing that they did choke the light of life, which is contained therein. For how shall the law give life without Christ, who doth only quicken the same? We are taught in this place, that we must fetch the knowledge of Christ out of the Scriptures. For they which imagine of Christ, according to their own pleasure, shall at length have nothing but a shadowish ghost in stead of him. Therefore we must first of all hold this, that Christ can be known aright by no other means save only out of the scriptures. And if it be so, it followeth, that we must read the Scriptures to this end that we may find Christ there. Whosoever shall miss this mark, howsoever he weary himself during his whole life with learning, he shall never attain unto the knowledge of the truth, for what shall our wisdom be without the wisdom of God?