The. Why man, there is almost nothing else in it. For we our selves, have sometimes been all in this estate. And that which is ⟨image 105⟩more, all men are such by their own nature, until such time as, Jesus Christ cometh unto them, to drive out the devil, who maketh them so deaf, dumb, and blind. And therefore,1 so often as we see any man converted to the Gospel, we must think it to be such a work, even a most excellent work of god: neither ought we less marvel at the matter, then if we saw him healing: the deaf, dumb, & blind demoniacs before our eyes. And by this we may judge, what grace God showeth to those kinds of people, out of when Jesus Christ driveth the Devil, by the preaching of the gospel; that they might see the light of God, which without all comparison, is a great deal more to be desired; then the light of the Sun, and make them▪ hear the voice of their shepherd Jesus Christ, and open their mouths to preach & declare his praise and glory.2 For, there is no harmony of the mouth, nor yet of musical instrument, to pleasant to the bodily ear, as the voice o• god is pleasant to the ears of the souls, of the children of God. And as this greatly delighteth them; to hear this so sweet and pleasant a voice, even so likewise is it as ⟨image 105⟩great a delight to them, to have their mouths open, to magnify and sanctify the name of God,3 and to call upon him incessantly. And contrariwise, we may judge in what a cursed estate they are, who be deprived of this benefit of the Lord. For, it is even as much as if we saw the Devil visibly reign amongst the deaf, dumb, & blind, never ceasing tormenting of them, both in soul and body, more cruelly, then the most tormentious hangman in the world is able to devise to torment the most wicked man that might possibly be committed into his hands.
The. Why mā, there is almost nothing els in it. For we our selues, haue somtimes been all in this estate. And that which is ⟨image 105⟩more, al men are such by their owne nature, vntill such time as, Iesus Christ commeth vnto them, to driue out the diuel, who maketh them so deafe, dumbe, and blinde. And therefore,1 so often as we see any man conuerted to the Gospell, wee must thinke it to bee such a worke, euen a most excellente work of god: neither ought we lesse maruel at the matter, then if wee sawe him healing: the deafe, dumbe, & blynde demoniacks before our eyes. And by this we may iudge, what grace God sheweth to those kindes of people, out of whē Iesus Christe driueth the Diuell, by the preaching of the gospel; that they might see the light of God, whiche without al cōparison, is a great deale more to bee desired; then the light of the Sunne, and make them▪ heare the voyce of theyr shephearde Iesus Christe, and open theyr mouthes to preach & declare his prayse and glory.2 For, there is no harmonie of the mouth, nor yet of musicall instrument, to pleasant to ye bodily eare, as ye voyce o• god is pleasant to the eares of the soules, of the children of God. And as this greatly delighteth them; to heare this so sweete and pleasant a voyce, euen so likewise is it as ⟨image 105⟩great a delight to thē, to haue their mouths open, to magnifie and sanctifie the name of God,3 and to call vpon him incessantly. And contrariwise, we may iudge in what a cursed estate they are, who bee depriued of this benefite of the Lord. For, it is euen as muche as if wee sawe the Diuell visibly raigne amongst the deafe, dumbe, & blinde, neuer ceasing tormenting of them, both in soule and body, more cruelly, then the moste tormentious hangman in the world is able to deuise to torment the most wicked man that might possibly be committed into his handes.
- 1Deaf, dumb, & blind Demoniacs, healed by the gospel.Deafe, dumbe, & blinde Demoniacks, healed by the gospell.
- 2The grace, which God showeth to men, by the preaching of the gospel.The grace, whiche God sheweth to men, by the preaching of the gospel.
- 3What a cursed estate they are in, which are deprived of the gospel.What a cursed estate they are in, which are depriued of the gospel.
