There be many men, which be not so cruel as to persecute or to kill the
preachers of God's word; but when they be called to feed upon Christ, to
come to this banquet, to leave their wicked livings, then they begin to
make their excuses; as it appeared here in this gospel, where "the first
said, I have bought a farm, and I must needs go and see it; I pray thee
have me excused. Another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go
to prove them; I pray thee have me excused. The third said, I have
married a wife, and therefore I cannot come." And these were their
excuses. You must take heed that you mistake not this text: for after
the outward letter it seemeth as though no husbandman, no buyer or
seller, nor married man shall enter the kingdom of God. Therefore ye
must take heed that ye understand it aright. For to be a husbandman, to
be a buyer or seller, to be a married man, is a good thing, and allowed
of God: but the abuse of such things is reproved. Husbandman, and
married man, every one in his calling, may use and do the works of his
calling. The husbandman may go to plough; they may buy and sell; also,
men may marry; but they may not set their hearts upon it. The husbandman
may not so apply his husbandry to set aside the hearing of the word of
God; for when he doth so, he sinneth damnably: for he more regardeth his
husbandry than God and his word; he hath all lust and pleasure in his
husbandry, which pleasure is naught.
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