The eleuenth Chapter. Of Christian life; wherein is treated of diuers vocations, of friendship, of the confession of Christ, also of the example of Naaman the Syrian, which is largelie expounded, the vse of riches, and of pouertie.
A Verie excellent sentence is that of Paule, 1 in the first to the Corinthians, the tenth chapter; Let no man seeke his owne, but euerie man an others wealth. Wherein is bréeflie comprehended, that we should perpetuallie in all our actions, haue before our eies the edifieng of our neighbour: 2 which the apostle did excellentlie well performe, when as he would be made all things to all men. As touching the words, 3 they haue like signification in name. For we are not to séeke our owne, as touching the flesh, and pleasures; but in the meane time there is no let, but that we ought to séeke the kingdome of heauen, saluation, and eternall life, which things be ours. Otherwise the apostle should be against himselfe, who saith in the epistle to the Philippians; 4 With feare and trembling worke ye your saluation. And also vnto Timothie; 5 Attend vnto thine owne selfe, and to doctrine. Afterward, when it is said; 6 that We should care for those things which be other mens: that also must not be vnderstood, as touching the flesh and pleasures. For as we are not to séeke these things in our owne selues, so must we not prouide, that they may be in our neighbours. But those things, which Paule speaketh; namelie, 7 of [other mens] we ought to prosecute as touching saluation, eternall life, and obteining of the kingdome of heauen vnto them. Of the louing of our owne selues, there is no manifest precept extant in anie place of the holie scriptures: yet is there a commandement giuen vs, that We should loue our neighbour, 8 as our owne selues. Wherein the holie scripture séemeth to determine, that the same loue is graffed in vs by nature: for what things soeuer God hath made, they be of such a nature, as they desire most of all to preserue themselues.
9 Which naturall loue of a mans owne selfe, when the first man had defiled through sinne, he transferred the same being corrupted, into his posteritie. Wherefore we are instructed by the lawe, to correct the same: which shall be doone, if in like sort as we haue loued our selues, we haue such regard of our neighbour in loue, as we haue of our selues. Therefore it is said; Loue thy neighbour, as thy selfe. Let it not trouble vs, bicause else-where in the scripture we heare it spoken, that we should hate our selfe: as when it is said in the gospell; 10 He that hateth not his owne soule, can not be my disciple: and vnto Timothie; 11 Men louing them selues are reprooued. And this doubt is easilie resolued: for we may doo both, 12 that is to wit, hate our selues, and loue our selues. For we our selues beare hatred against our selues, séeing (as the apostle saith) We knowe right well, that in our flesh dwelleth no good thing. And by the flesh, we vnderstand a man that is seuered from the grace and spirit of Christ; 13 in whom séeing there is much euill, and nothing that is good, he deserueth hatred, and not loue. But againe we loue our selues in the Lord, in whom we be now a new creature: for we earnestlie wish, that the good things which be begun in vs, may euerie daie be made perfect more and more.