The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Why Christ removed and sent away from him the people, the Evangelist Saint John declareth, saying, When Jesus knew that they were come to take him, ¹that they might make him King, he passed secretly (or alone) to the Mountain. Whereof it is plain what chiefly moved Christ to send away the people from him,² because that by him they sought a carnal and worldly liberty, regarding nothing his Heavenly Doctrine of the Kingdom of God his Father, which before he had taught and declared unto them plainly,³ showing them, That such as would follow him must suffer for his Names sake persecution, must be hated of all men, must deny themselves, must be sent forth as sheep among Wolves: But no part ⟨p. 45⟩of this doctrine pleased them, or could enter into their hearts, but their whole mind was upon their bellies, for sufficing whereof they devised and imagined, that they would appoint Christ Jesus to be their worldly King;⁴ for he had power to multiply bread at his pleasure. Which vain opinion and imagination perceived by Christ Jesus, he withdrew himself from their company, to avoid all such suspicion, and to let them understand,⁵ That no such honours did agree with his Vocation, who came to serve, and not to be served: And when this same people sought him again,⁶ he sharply rebuked them, because they sought him more to have their Bellies fed with corruptible meat, then to have their souls nourished with lively Bread that came down from Heaven. And thus in the people there was just cause why Christ should withdraw himself from them for a time.

Why Christ removed and sent away from him the people, the Evangelist Saint Iohn declareth, saying, When Iesus knew that they were come to take him, ¹