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 is the lot, especially of Christians, to be hated of the greatest number of men: for flesh cannot bear the doctrine of the Gospel; none can bear to have their faults reproved. They are said to suffer for righteousness, which thereby kindle the displeasures of the wicked, and provoke their fury against them: because that with a care of right and equity they oppose themselves against evil causes, and defend the good as much as in them lieth. And in this behalf the truth of God hath ⟨p. 161⟩worthily the chief place. Wherefore by this note Christ discerneth his Martyrs from wicked men and evil doers. Now I return to that which I said even now: Sith all that will live godly in Christ must suffer persecution,¹ as Paul witnesseth, this admonition doth generally belong to all the godly. If that at any time the Lord spareth our weakness, and permitteth not the wicked to vex us at their pleasure: yet it is meet under a shadow and at leisure to meditate this doctrine, that we may be prepared as oft as need require to come forth into the field, nor come to the battle except we be well furnished. But sith the condition of the godly is most miserable through the whole course of this life: Christ for a good cause raiseth us up in hope of a heavenly life. And herein the sentence of Christ differeth much from the inventions of the Stoics, which command every man to be satisfied with his own opinion, that he might be his own chooser of felicity. And Christ doeth not uncertainly plant felicity upon a vain imagination, but groundeth the same upon hope of a reward to come.

But this is the lotte, especially of Christians, to be hated of the greatest number of men: for flesh cannot beare the doctrine of the Gospel; none can beare to haue their faultes reproued. They are sayde to suffer for righteousnes, which thereby kindle the displeasures of the wicked, and prouoke theyr fury agaynst them: because that with a care of right and equitie they oppose themselues against euill causes, and defende the good as muche as in them lieth. And in this behalfe the truthe of God hathe ⟨p. 161⟩woorthely the chiefe place. VVherfore by this note Christ discerneth his Martyrs from wicked men and euil doers. Now I returne to that which I sayd euen now: Syth all that will liue godly in Christ must suffer persecution,