Theo. Truly, if thy first reason which thou hast alleged would not serve them, me thinketh that the second which thou even now diddest touch, might right well suffice, for them to cast, I will not say, a little water into their Wine, but into their fires. For to take away the lives of men, is no small matter in the sight of the Lord. But the offence is a great deal more heinous, when as men for Gods cause, shall take life away from such, as should rather be preserved, and such also as should be in most estimation, with Princes and Magistrates.
Thus then thou seest what an inconvenience pride bringeth with it, to those that ⟨image 94⟩proud and arrogant: For, seeing they presume so much of them selves as that they will not once vouchsafe to entertain the servants of God, and to be taught by them, as they had need, it is impossible for them to understand the trueth, because they will at no hand understand it. And contrariwise,1 as Jesus Christ showed him self to be the Teacher and Master of the humble and meek, even so rejecteth he out of his School, all high minded, proud, and presumptuous persons. And therefore he gave thanks to God his Father, in that he had revealed his will and trueth unto the poor in spirit,2 and hid it from the mighty and great men of the world.3 For, there are none but the poor and meek in spirit which are capable thereof.
And therefore, the Lord sayeth by the Prophet Isaiah, Whom will I regard, but only the afflicted, and contrite in heart and mind, and him, who trembleth at my words?4 Saint Paul also telleth the Corinthians, That the Lord hath not called many wise, strong, rich, and honourable men of the ⟨image 94⟩world: But the most feeble, most vile, and most contemptible. It is also written, 5That GOD resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. And therefore Saint Paul, diligently admonisheth all Christians not to esteem, 6nor presume over much of them selves.7
Theo. Truely, if thy firste reason which thou hast alleadged would not serue them, mee thinketh that the second which thou euen nowe diddest touche, might right well suffyce, for them to cast, I will not say, a litle water into their Wyne, but into their fires. For to take away the liues of menne, is no small matter in the sight of the Lorde. But the offence is a great deale more haynous, when as menne for Gods cause, shall take life away from suche, as shoulde rather bee preserued, and suche also as shoulde bee in moste estimation, with Princes and Magistrates.
Thus then thou seest what an inconuenience pryde bringeth with it, to those that ⟨image 94⟩proude and arrogant: For, seeing they presume so muche of them selues as that they will not once vouchsafe to entertayne the seruauntes of God, and to bee taught by them, as they had neede, it is impossible for them to vnderstande the trueth, because they will at no hande vnderstande it. And contrariwise,1 as Iesus Christe shewed him selfe to bee the Teacher and Mayster of the humble and meeke, euen so reiecteth he out of his Schoole, all highe mynded, proude, and presumptuous persons. And therefore hee gaue thankes to God his Father, in that he had reuealed his will and trueth vnto the poore in spirite,2 and hidde it from the mighty and great men of the worlde.3 For, there are none but the poore and meeke in spirite which are capable thereof.
And therefore, the Lorde sayeth by the Prophete Isaiah, Whom will I regarde, but onelie the afflicted, and contrite in hearte and mynde, and him, who trembleth at my woordes?4 Saynt Paule also telleth the Corinthians, That the Lorde hath not called manye wise, stronge, riche, and honourable menne of the ⟨image 94⟩worlde: But the moste feeble, moste vyle, and moste contemptible. It is also written, 5That GOD resisteth the proude, and giueth grace to the humble. And therefore Saynt Paule, diligentlye admonisheth all Christians not to esteeme, 6nor presume ouer muche of them selues.7
- 1Jesus Christ is schoolmaster to the humble, and not to the proud.Iesus Christ is schoolemaister to the humble, and not to the proude.
- 2Math. 11.
- 3Isaiah. 66.
- 4[…].〈…〉.
- 51. Pet. 5.
- 6Rom. 12.
- 7Philip. 2.
