Let us mark that our life is but short, and passeth away swiftly, and that occa••••s of welldoing slip away […] And therefore let us ply it according as our Lord giveth us […], yea even towards all men (saith S. Paul) but chiefly towards the ⟨p. 311⟩household of faith. Now when he saith too all men, it is to show us that although men discourage us to do them good, yet we must not cease to do still as God commandeth us. For (as I have touched already) we must not look what every man is, nor what he deserveth: but we must mount up higher and consider that God hath set us in this world too the end we should be united and knit together: and that for as much as he hath imprinted his image in us, and we have all one common nature: the same ought too move us too succour one another. For he that will exempt him self from relieving his neighbours, must get him a new shape, and show that he intendeth too be no more a man: for so long as we be of mankind, we can not but behold our own face as it were in a glass, in the person that is poor and despised, which is not able too hold out any longer, but lieth groaning under his burden, yea though he were the furthest stranger in the world. Let a Moore or a Barbarian come among us, and yet in as much as he is a man, he bringeth with him a looking glass, wherein we may see that he is our brother and neighbour. For we can not abolish the order of nature, which God hath set to be inviolable. So then we be bound too all men without difference, because we be all one flesh, as the Prophet Isaiah avoweth, saying:1 Thou shalt not despise thine own flesh. As if he should say, they that are niggardly and pinching, and shrink away when they should do good, do not only despise God, and reject his word: but also are ugly monsters, because they consider not that there ought too be a community among all men. Thus ye see why S. Paul saith expressly, that we must endeavour to do good to all men, yea even to such as are unworthy, even though they were our deadly enemies. Truly this is hard, and contrary to our inclination: but yet therein God trieth us so much the better. For if we do good to such as deserve it, or to such as are able to recompense it: it is no declaration or proof that we be willing to serve God:2 for it may be that we had respect to our own profit.
Let vs marke that our life is but shorte, and passeth away swiftly, and that occa••••s of weldoing slip away 〈…〉 And therefore let vs ply it according as our Lorde giueth vs 〈…〉, yea euen towards all men (sayth S. Paule) but cheefly towardes the ⟨p. 311⟩housholde of fayth. Nowe when he sayth too all men, it is to shewe vs that although men discourage vs to doo them good, yet wee must not ceasse to do still as God commaundeth vs. For (as I haue touched alreadie) wee must not looke what euery man is, nor what he deserueth: but wee must mount vp higher and consider that God hath set vs in this worlde too the ende wee shoulde bee vnited and knit togither: and that for as much as he hath imprinted his image in vs, and wee haue all one common nature: the same ought too moue vs too succour one another. For he that will exempt him selfe from releeuing his neybours, must get him a new shape, and shewe that he intendeth too bee no more a man: for so long as wee bee of mankinde, wee can not but beholde our owne face as it were in a glasse, in the person that is poore and despised, whiche is not able too holde out any longer, but lyeth gronyng vnder his burthen, yea though he were the furthest straunger in the worlde. Let a Moore or a Barbarian come among vs, and yet in as muche as he is a man, he bringeth with him a looking glasse, wherein wee may see that he is our brother and neighbour. For wee can not abolishe the order of nature, whiche God hath set to bee inuiolable. So then wee bee bounde too all men without difference, bicause wee be all one flesh, as the Prophet Esay auoweth, saying:1 Thou shalt not dispise thine owne fleshe. As if he should say, they that are nigardly and pinching, and shrinke away when they should doo good, doo not onely despise God, and reiect his worde: but also are vgly monsters, bicause they consider not that there ought too bee a communitie among all men. Thus yee see why S. Paule sayth expresly, that wee must indeuer to doo good to all men, yea euen to suche as are vnworthy, euen though they were our deadly enimies. Truly this is harde, and contrarie to our inclination: but yet therein God tryeth vs so muche the better. For if wee doo good to suche as deserue it, or to suche as are able to recompence it: it is no declaration or proofe that wee bee willing to serue God:2 for it may be that wee had respect to our owne ••ofite.
- 1Es. 58. b. 7
- 2Mat. 5. g. 46.
