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…

28. He that looketh upon a woman. The purpose of Christ is generally to condemn the lust of the flesh. Therefore he saith that they are adulterers before God, not only that defile other mens wives, but they also that pollute their eyes with an unchaste look. But it is a figurative kind of speech, because that not only the eyes do make men guilty of adultery, but also the blind burning lusts of the heart. Therefore Paul placeth chastity in the body and the spirit, 1. Cor. 7. 34. But Christ thought it sufficient to confute that gross opinion, which had taken place: because that they did think that they should avoid nothing but outward adultery. Notwithstanding, because the eyes, for the most part, procure the minds to such filthy devises, and lust entereth as it were by these doors. Christ useth this manner of speech, when as he would condemn concupiscence, and that may easily be gathered by that word lust: whereby we are also taught, that not they only are to be accounted adulterers, which conceive whoredom in their minds with full consent: but they also that admit any pricks or motions of the same. Wherefore the hypocrisy of the Papists is too gross and careless, which deny concupiscence to be sin, until the whole hart do yield consent. But it is not to be marvelled at, that they lessen sin as they do, when as it behoveth them to be dull and slow in accounting of their sins, which ascribe righteousness to the deserts of their works.

28. Hee that looketh vpon a woman. The purpose of Christ is generally to condemn the lust of the flesh. Therfore he saith that they are adulterers before God, not only that defile other mens wiues, but they also that pollute their eyes with an vnchaste looke. But it is a figuratiue kinde of speeche, because that not only the eyes doe make men guiltie of adulterie, but also the blinde burning lustes of the hearte. Therefore Paule placeth chastitie in the body and the spirit, 1. Cor. 7. 34. But Christ thought it sufficient to confute that grosse opiniō, which had taken place: because that they did thinke that they should auoyd nothing but outward adulterie. Notwithstanding, because the eyes, for the moste parte, procure the mindes to such filthy deuises, and lust entreth as it were by these dores. Christ vseth this manner of speach, when as he would condemne concupiscence, and that may easily be gathered by that word lust: whereby we are also taught, that not they onely are to be accounted adulterers, which conceaue whoredome in their mindes with full consente: but they also that admitte any prickes or motions of the same. VVherefore the hypocrisie of the Papistes is too grosse and carelesse, which deny concupiscēce to be sinne, vntil the whole hart do yeeld consent. But it is not to be merueiled at, that they lessen sinne as they doe, when as it behoueth them to be dul and slow in accounting of their sinnes, which ascribe righteousnes to the desertes of their works.