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…

2 There followed him a great multitude, because, Hereupon followed such desire to follow Christ, that so soon as they had seen his power in miracles, they were persuaded that he was some great Prophet, and sent of God. And here the Evangelist passeth over that which the other three recite, that a part of the day was spent in teaching and healing the sick, and that when it was now almost Sun set, he was requested by his disciples that he would send the people away. For it was sufficient for him to gather the sum briefly, that upon this occasion he might lead and bring us unto the rest of the text which shall follow afterward. And here we see first of all how desirous the people was to hear Christ, that having all of them forgotten themselves, they do quietly wait for the night in a desert place. Wherefore our dullness, or rather sluggishness is so much the more unexcuseable, seeing that we are so far from preferring the heavenly doctrine of Christ before the care of hunger, that every little let doth call us away from meditating upon eternal life. Yea, it falleth out very seldom that Christ findeth us free from the hindrances of the world, We are all of us so far from following him into a desert mountain, that there is scarce one amongst ten that can afford to receive him at home amidst all commodities. And although this be a common disease throughout all the world, yet is it certain that no man is apt for the kingdom of God, but he that can learn to desire the food of the soul more earnestly, having shaken off such daintiness, then that his belly shall be any let unto him. And because the flesh doth always prick us forward to seek the commodities thereof, we must also note this again, that Christ doth willingly take care for those, who neglect themselves. Neither doth he wait and stay until such time as being hungry, they cry that they perish through poverty, and that they have no meat: but he prepareth meat for them before he is requested. Some man will say that this is no continual thing, because we do oftentimes see that the godly, whilst that they are utterly addicted unto the kingdom of God, do yet hunger, and almost pine away through hunger.

2 There followed him a great multitude, because, Hereupon followed such desire to follow Christe, that so soone as they had seene his power in myracles, they were persuaded that he was some great Prophet, and sent of God. And here the Euangelist passeth ouer that whiche the other three recite, that a part of the day was spent in teaching and healing the sicke, and that when it was now almost Sunne set, he was requested by his disciples that he would send the people away. For it was sufficient for him to gather the summe briefly, that vpon this occasion he might leade and bring vs vnto the rest of the text which shall follow afterwarde. And here we see first of al how desirous the people was to heare Christ, that hauing all of them forgotten themselues, they doe quietly waite for the night in a desert place. VVherfore our dulnes, or rather sluggishnes is so much the more vnexcuseable, seeing that we are so far frō preferring the heauenly doctrine of Christ before the care of hunger, that euery little let doth call vs away from meditating vpon eternall life. Yea, it falleth out very seldome that Christe findeth vs free from the hinderaunces of the world, VVe are all of vs so far from following him into a desart mountaine, that there is scarse one amongst ten yt can afoord to receiue him at home amidst all commodities. And although this bee a common disease throughout all the world, yet is it certaine that no man is apt for the kingdome of God, but he that can learne to desire the foode of the soule more earnestly, hauing shaken off suche daintines, then that his belly shalbe any let vnto him. And because the flesh doth alwayes pricke vs forward to seeke the commodities thereof, wee must also note this againe, that Christ doth willingly take care for those, who neglect themselues. Neither doth he wait and stay vntill such time as being hungrie, they crie that they perish through pouertie, and that they haue no meat: but he prepareth meate for them before he is requested. Some man will say that this is no continual thing, because we do oftentimes see that the godly, whilest that they are vtterly addicted vnto the kindome of God, do yet hunger, and almost pine away through hunger.