Vol. 2

CHAPTER IX. 447Is itnothing, think we, to decry them by calumnies,to cause them to be driven away andpersecuted outof envy, to represent their doctrine as false and corrupt,to render them useless in any manner whatever,and to hinder the fruit of the divine word in theirmouth ? Alas, who can express what damage ishereby done to the church, and what crimes a manthus renders himself either directly guilty of, or insome measure accountable for !" 6. And they departed, and went through thetowns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere."They who would imitate Christ, must seek ratherto instruct the poor than the rich, and join, as muchas they are able, bodily relief with spiritual instruction.O wonderful goodness of our blessed Saviour,to be the Saviour of bodies as well as of souls !Hereby he makes it evident, that he came to reformthe whole man, corrupted by sin in the outward manas well as in the inward. If ever such miracles werewrought by any others besides Christ and his servants,let his religion and doctrine be taken for amere human invention; but let it be owned by allfor the true religion, if it be a thing unheard of, thatmen should cure, not only some particular person bychoice, but all manner of sick persons without distinction." 7. ^ Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all thatwas done by him : and he was perplexed, becausethat it was said of some, that John was risen from thedead ;"Ambition and a bad conscience are endless causesof perplexities and disquiets. There is a very great