; from whence St. Gregory says well and rightly,
that the Holy Scripture is like a water, wherein an "elephant
swimmeth, but a little sheep goeth therein upon his feet."
I remember a Fable, said Luther, which fitteth very well for these
times, and for this purpose, discoursed of before. A Lion, said he,
making a great feast, invited all the beasts thereunto, and with
them also he invited swine. Now, as all manner and sorts of
dainties were brought and set before the guests, the swine demanded
if Brewer's grains might be had for them. Even so, in these days it
is with our Epicures; we Preachers bring and set before them in the
Church the most dainty and costly dishes, as Everlasting Salvation,
Remission of Sins, and God's Grace; but they, like swine, cast up
their snouts, and root after Dollars, Crowns, and Ducats; and,
indeed, said Luther, "what should a cow do with nutmegs?" She would
rather content herself with oat-straw.
When we have God's Word pure and clear, then we are secure, we are
negligent and regard it not, we think it will always so remain; we
do not watch and pray against the devil, who is ready to tear the
Word out of our hearts. It goeth with us as with travellers, who,
so long as they are on the right way, are secure and careless; but
when they go astray into woods or by-ways, then they are careful
which way to take, whether this or that way be the right: even so
are we secure by the pure doctrine of the Gospel; we are sleepy and
negligent; we stand not in God's fear, nor defend ourselves with
prayer against the devil.
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