Theo. That is certain. For it had been better for them, to have departed their country themselves, yea, to have left wives and Children, then ever to have suffered Jesus Christ to depart from them. And therefore if we well consider the work of Jesus Christ, as well in the possessed which he healed, as in the Genezarians, we may by them learn to know the difference, that is between those that effectually taste of the grace of the Gospel, and such as have not tasted thereof as they ought. These poor possessed tasted thereof:1 and therefore they esteemed nothing in the world so much as Jesus Christ, but offered themselves to follow him, whatsoever did happen. Contrariwise the Genezarians tasted not of this grace, but had only a knowledge of the divine power, which they saw in Jesus Christ, which knowledge made them to fear him, but taught them not to love him, and follow him, thereby to be ⟨image 88⟩made partakers of greater goods, without comparison then that was, which they thought he had spoiled them. The most part of men are thus disposed to Godward:2 because they know the power he hath to punish, they fear him. This fear causeth them to honour and worship him, but not heartily: they fear him as wicked subjects fear their Prince, whom they honour and reverence against their wills, for fear of his power: And therefore all the honour and service, that they do to him, is but only feigned. So the greatest part of men fear and honour God, but yet they wish him so far from them, that they might never hear speak of him, or have to do with him. All they that have not tasted the sweetness of the goodness of GOD, are lead by such Spirit and affection towards him. And this is the cause, that so few receiveth the Gospel as they might. For, seeing it is hard,3 yea, & impossible to follow it, but that it will bring some incommodity, both to the body and goods, of those that faithfully follow it, it seemeth to bring always evil luck followeth it.
Theo. That is certaine. For it had been better for them, to haue departed their countrey themselues, yea, to haue left wiues and Children, then euer to haue suffered Iesus Christ to depart from them. And therefore if we well consider the worke of Iesus Christ, as well in the possessed whiche he healed, as in the Genezarians, we maie by them learne to knowe the diffrence, that is betwene those that effectually taste of the grace of the Gospell, and suche as haue not tasted thereof as thei ought. These poore possessed tasted therof:1 and therefore thei estemed nothyng in the worlde so muche as Iesus Christ, but offered themselues to followe hym, whatsoeuer did happen. Contrariwise the Genezarians tasted not of this grace, but had onely a knowledge of the diuine power, whiche thei sawe in Iesus Christe, whiche knowledge made theim to feare hym, but taught theim not to loue hym, and followe hym, thereby to bee ⟨image 88⟩made partakers of greater goodes, without cōparison then that was, which thei thought he had spoiled them. The moste part of men are thus disposed to Godward:2 because thei knowe the power he hath to punish, thei fear hym. This feare causeth them to honour and worship hym, but not hartely: thei feare hym as wicked subiectes feare their Prince, whō thei honour and reuerence against their willes, for feare of his power: And therefore all the honour and seruice, that thei doe to hym, is but onely fained. So the greatest parte of men feare and honor God, but yet thei wishe hym so farre from theim, that thei might neuer heare speake of hym, or haue to doe with hym. All thei that haue not tasted the swetenesse of the goodnesse of GOD, are lead by suche Spirite and affection towardes hym. And this is the cause, that so fewe receiueth the Gospell as thei might. For, seeyng it is hard,3 yea, & impossible to followe it, but that it wil bring some incommoditie, bothe to the bodie and goodes, of those that faithfully followe it, it seemeth to bryng alwaies euill lucke followeth it.
- 1Divers knowledge of the Gospel.Diuers knowledge of the Gospell.
- 2Fear of God without any love towards him.Feare of God without any loue towards hym.
- 3The cause that letteth many from following the Gospel.The cause that letteth many from followyng the Gospell.
