sondaye after triuitye sondaye Luc. 14. Mat 22 Apo. 16 A Certayne man ordayned a greate supper and bad manye and sente hys seruaunte at supper tyme to saye to them that were bydden come for all thynges are nowe readye And they all at once began to make excuse The fyrst said vnto hym I haue bought afarme and I must go and see it I pray the haue me excused And an other sayd I haue bought fiue yoke of oxen and I go to proue them I praye the haue me excused And an other sayd I haue maried a wyfe and therfore I can not come And the seruante retourned and brought hys mayster worde agayne therof Then was the goodman of the house displeased and sayd to his seruante Go out quickely into the stretes and quarters of the city and bringe in hyther the poore and the feeble and the halt and the blinde And the seruaunt sayde Lord it is done as thou hast commaunded and yet there is roome And the lorde sayd to the seruauÌ„t Go out vnto the hye ways and hedges and Gen. 19 compell them to come in that my house may be filled For I saye vnto you that none of those menne whyche were bydden shall taste of my supper THE EXPOSITION IN this similitude The grace of God fyrste of all is praysed the great godnes grace mercy of god whiche he hath so mightely shewed vs by his sonne Iesus Christe without any deseruing of our workes in that that he compareth it here to a supper For all suppers are moste chiefely prepared and ordained for myrth and not for heuines that a man shulde eate drinke and be merye Lykewise as a supper here vpon earth is ordayned and prepared to make men merye and lighte harted euen so this greate supper of the grace of god and the gospell hath god prepared for our greate consolacion and comfort wherin we shuld reioyse be mery glad For what other thing is the gospell by the which the great goodnes and mercye of god is shewed vs so gentely and sweetly through Christ then a good and mery tidinges The gospell It could be no lye that the aungell shewed vnto the shephardes when Christ was borne saying Beholde Luce. 2. I bringe you tidinges of greate ioye whiche shall happen vnto all people Neither doth the prophete Dauid monish vs with out cause to reioyse in these dayes of grace saying This is the day which the lord hath made Ps 117 let vs reioyse and be gladde in it Nowe seing that god our mercifull father hath so louingely prepared for vs this supper Supper through Christ without any deseruing of our part Without dout it is a tokeÌ„ of his great loue toward vs specially if we considre that not allonly the Iewes but also al the heitheÌ„ publicans siners ar called hervnto And therfore Christ might wel say Ioh. 3. The loue of god That god so loued the world that he gaue his only son Here thou hearest that alloÌ„ly loue moued god by Christe to prepare this supper of the grace of the gospel Then if loue moued him to prepare this supper so it is a greater token of loue that he hath called vs therunto For what shulde it auayle me that this greate supper is highely praysed coÌ„mended yf I were fayne to sit without the dore were not called nor letten in And that we shuld peâ—ceaue that Christ hath not allonly prepared this supper but hath bidde al men thervnto the euaÌ„geliste saieth here that the lord of the supper sent his seruauÌ„t to them that were bidden to tell them that it was supper tyme and to byd them come for all was readye This seruante signifieth thapostels whiche Christe firste of all sent to preach to the Iewes and after when they hadde despised the preaching of the gospel and made them vnworthy thereof they were sent to the Gentyls Thappostels calleth vs to this supper And what did they preach They said Al things are redy now come Christ hath shewed vs the will of the father Christe hath suffered death for our sinnes is risen for our rightousnes asceÌ„ded vp into heaueÌ„ hath gotteÌ„ vs the holy ghost wherfore al thingê pertaining to our saluacion are ready This did the holy apostels so diligeÌ„tly prech so that Esaias did not speake in vain of them when he said Esai 52 O how bewtiful are the feet of thembassadour that briÌ„geth good tidings precheth helth What caÌ„ we desire any more Helth is obtained vs of meer grace Bi grace we be called vnto saluacioÌ„ This alloÌ„ly is now required of vs that we come Therfore let vs not dispise this supper but rather let vs hast vs to Christe that we may get righteousnes saluacion Secondarily Firste the gospell was preched vnto the Iewes Mat. 15 we se in this similitude the calling of the Iewes to the grace of the gospell and in what wyse they be reiected for ther incredulite For they were the first that shulde be called as Christe hymselfe witnesseth saiyng I am not sent but vnto the loste sheepe of the house of Israell And Paule withe Barnabas in the actes of thapostles sayde Act. 13. It behoued first the word of god to be spoken vnto you c. But how did the Iewes heare the callyng They begon all to excuse theÌ„ contrary to the counsel of the prophet Dauid saiyng Ps 49. To day yf you wil heare his voyce harden not you hartes They wyll not folowe this faithfull counsaile but they excuse themselues wil not come The first saithe The Iewes in obedience and incredulitye I haue bought a farme and muste nedes go forth to looke vpon it I praye the holde me excused The other said I haue boughte a yoke of oxen and muste go forthe to proue them I praye the holde me excused The third sayd I haue maried a wyfe and I caÌ„not come as though he could not be a maried maÌ„ and a christian but this it is From the beginning hath the Iews euer beÌ„ stubborn disobedieÌ„t wretches How ofteÌ„ times I pray you did thei murmur agaiÌ„st god iÌ„ the wildernes How ofteÌ„ did thei prouoke god vnto angre Act. 7. doth not s SteueÌ„ bear witnes that the Iews wer both the betrayers and murtherers of Christ sayiÌ„g Yee stiffe necked ye haue alwayes resisted the holye ghost Now yf he that bought the farme set more by the farme than he didde by the supper for bying of the farme he shulde haue bene damned For he that hath much riches is not damned but he whose hart is set vppon riches â— Co. 6. For as Paule saith we shulde be as hauing nothing yet possessing all thyngs AbrahaÌ„ bought a pece of land of the childreÌ„ of Heth for hys sepulchre and other vses Ge. 24 was he damned for so doinge No For to bye lande and oxen or other cattel pertayneth not to the kiÌ„gdom of Christ but
EXPOSITION THe miracle of Christ mencioned in the gospel of this day is a liuely doctrine sermon All thiÌ„g is subiect to the dyuel with oute the knowledge of Christe For we do not only learn therby the Christ is indued with singuler humanitye and pity and that he is ready to gyue his diligence labour to al meÌ„ but also that al thinges be subdued to the dyuell where Christ is not knowen And to this knowledg can no man come through any workes or mannes wisedom except the father of heauen draw hiÌ„ therto as sâ—ripture witnesseth sayinge on this wise Ioh. 10 No man knoweth the son of God but only the father and he to whome God wyll open yt Yet hathe God lefte vnto vs in this worlde certayne meanes wherby he leadeth vs to that knowledg that is by his worde and gospell that he gaue to his son The gospell to teache and shewe vnto vs whiche he will also to be preched in this world for euer And moreouer also by that he giueth vs the holy ghoste Act. 10 as we se in the actes of the Apost that euery maÌ„ that heareth it receiueth it in faith shal not perish but shal haue euerlasting lyfe And in lyke maner must the gospel or miracle of this day be taken Ioh. 5. in the whiche Christe ys so set forth vnto vs that it is very he the of his mere grace and mercye hath deliuered from the diuell this man miserable poore and destitute of all helpe mannes comforte Wee maye well saye that this man was miserable wretched For besides that he was blynd as saint Mat. saith he was also dumb deafe possessed of a diuel Mat 14 What can we els learne hereby but that all things be subdued to the diuel wher Christ cometh not And in contrary wise that the diuel as sone as Christ by his word is come vnto vs is compelled to avoyd and departe And there is it manifestly declared The dyuel must obeye to Chryste Ioh. 12. the Christe speaketh of Ioh. 12. Now is the iudgement of this worlde nowe shall the prince of this worlde be caste forthe Therefore yf wee wil be partakers of the goodnes of Christe which this gospell sheweth vnto vs then muste we needes knowledge before that we be blinde deafe and dombe And moreouer yt is meete that wee beleue the preachyng of Christ to be trewe To bee possessed of a dyuell namelye that only he doth heale vs from al diseases both bodely and ghostly Which of vs al yf in our hartes we ponder trewly looke vpon our birth natiuity wyl not knowledg confesse that he is possessed of a diuel Psal 50 Wer we not conceiued borne in sinne And doth not sin pertaine to the kingdom of the deuell And to be in the kingdome of the diuel whâ—t is it els but to be possessed of a diuell And in lyke manner it is to be sayde of our blindnes deafnes and dumnes To be blynde We be blinde and se nothing that is we beleue not how Abraham saw Christ and his Apostels Io 4. To be dumbe And we be also dumb to coÌ„fesse Christ of the which confession the apostle speaketh of saying If a man beleue from the hert he shal be made righteous Rom. 10 And if he knowledg god with his mouth he shal be saued And Christ in the gospel saith He the knowledgeth me before men I wyll knowledge hym before my father that is in heauen To be deafe And we be also deafe and heare the trewthe of the gospell vnwyllyngly against our minds And yet muste we nedes heare it if we desire to be brought frome the kingedome of the deuell to the kingedome of Christ Who can take from vs so many defautes The onlye mediatoure betwene god and man our Lord Iesu Christ through whom yf we beleue we shal be saued both body and sowle Secondarilye we learne by this gospell The worlde dothe mock all Christes words deedes howe Christes wordes and deedes be taken and interpretyd of the peruerse and misbeleuing worlde Al was euel that good Christ did how good so euer it were And yf he had not done that miracle before the faces in the sight of the vnbeleuing Iewes doughtles they wolde boldely haue denied anye suche to haue beene done And bycause they can not deny it they say that Christ dyd that miracle through Belzebub the prynce of dyuels And is not this wonderfull blasphemy againste god that so godly precious and so noble an acte and miracle shuld be adscribed to the power of the diuell Mat. 7 An euel tre bringeth not forth good frute Gen. 4. But Caim wyll always hate his brother although there be no cause whye Yea there was nothing done by Christ were it neuer so good godly but cursed incredulity dyd euer detract mock and reproue it Is it not a greate token of godly loue yf a man shulde eate and drynke with publicanes and sinners Mar. 2. whereby they might be conuerted from sinne and repente Yet for that deede was Christe hated and slaundred as though he had coÌ„mitted some great mischefe Yea and was it not to be highelye praised that Christe with so great diligence dyd preach the word of his heauenly father And yet for that founde he no fauoure with the obstinate Iewes but was compelled to heare He is a disturber of the people And suche other lyke Ioh. 7. What happened to the Apostelles after the resurrectioÌ„ of Christ what happened to Paule when he saide I haue wished my selfe to be cursed from Christ for my brethren Rom. 9 He did with so feruent desyre wishe the saluacion of his kinsfolkes after the flesh that by some meanes they might be brought to the faith but he profited not For the Iewes called hym a sedicious persone Act. 26. and Festus sayde he was madde And in lyke manner was yt wyth Christ at this tyme he dyd a noble acte that might haue allured the Iewes to beleue but they not onlye do not beleue but despiseth and slaundreth hys worke Some aske signes and be not content with that is doone And some saye agayne that by the vertue and power of Belzebub the prince of diuels he casteth out the diuel But to be short whatsoeuer Christ doth worketh or teacheth it is verye contrary and repugnant to the worlde and can not be void from blame slauÌ„dre 1 Pet. 2. So that Christ shall alwayes be a stone and rocke to be stombled at Christe defeÌ„deth his doctrine Thirdely we se in this gospell how Christe with greate diligence and feruent zeale of loue dyd defende hys doctrine and godlye workes And althoughe in the ende he answered them that asked signes from heauen and remitted theÌ„ to the signe of Ionas the prophete yet did he moste chiefelye stoppe theyr proude mouthes that did adscribe his doctrine and workes
that surfete and ouer greate couetousnes of riches with greate violence shall invade The car of the belli In the whiche place againe Christ taketh care for vs and saieth Beware c. Thirdly the Gospell shal be preached euery where as we do nowe euidently se so that wee muste needes confesse and knowledge that these manye yeares hitherto the Gospell hathe not beene so purelye preached as we se in these latter daies Item the son moone and the sterres shal be destitute of their naturall lighte The course of the law And hereto shall folowe the sorowfulnes of the people for the feare and lookinge for those thinges whiche shall chaunce to all the worlde The rombling and noise of the sea and floudes the mouinge of the celestiall powers and diuerse other signes whereof Christe maketh mention Now thou perceiuest what shall signes necessarily happen and moreouer thou hast harde that to those that abide in Christe Rom. 5. thâ—y shall bringe no feare at all Forthermore see in this case that thou take hold of Christe by faithe as suche a Lorde and mayster 1 Pet. 5. that hath taken charge ouer the yea and shall abide with the to the end of the worlde Mat. 28 so shall there bee nothing that shall hurte or feare the. The second aduente of Christe Also Christ in this gospell sheweth the maiestye of his laste comminge for none other cause but to comforte his people and to the wicked he bringeth an horrible fear when he saieth And then thei shal se the sonne of man come in a cloud with a great power and clerenesse as thoughe he shuld say Thou my dispised company hast suffered griefe and paine in this worlde thou haste beene made the ofscouringe of al for my worde in the desence therof thou hast suffered many ieopardies of goodes honoure lyfe 1 Cor. 4 and so forthe Therefore now beholde him in whome thou hast laied or sette all thy trust or hope What thinkest thou nowe by my power where bee they that haue persecuted the Ps 72 whreunto is their power come where is nowe seene the pompe and magnificeÌ„ce of thi enemies Al thei by coÌ„fusioÌ„ shame ar destroyed Rom. 8. being damned both body soule for euer And lyke as thy misery shal now haue an end so shall their perpetuall infelicitye and condemnacion nowe begyn and last for euermore Feare thou not this my power whiche thou nowe seeste it shall make more for the then against the Likewise lette not my maiestye be it neuer so greate trouble the The greater it is the more socoure shalt thou haue at my hande And nowe suffre a while and let vs se what the enemyes of the word of God can do Lo Psa 43 thus it is manifest that the maiestie of Godds iudgement to vs that beleue his worde and for the same alwaies be counted and taken as shepe apoynted to the slaunghter bringeth not feare but rather a comforte To vs I say that beleue in him for wee shall hear that ioyfull voice Mat. 15 Come hither the blessed children of my father And nowe may we plainlye se what it is that saynt Paule saith 2 Tim. 1 I knowe in whome I haue beleuid and am sure that he is able to kepe that I haue committed to his kepyng vnto that day In contrary wise Ioh. 19 the enemies of the word of God shal se whom they haue persecuted and whether Christ shall winke at all those ylles that hathe chaunsed to the electe people of God There shal be wepinge and gnashing of teath there shal be hell euerlasting death Thirdly we haue in this gospell a perfecte admonicion that we shal abiecte and cast away al fleshly truste and securitie Carefulnes hurteth and to geue dilygence to haue perfect knowledge of our selues and to be alwayes readye against the glorious adneÌ„t or comming of our lord Iesu Christ For bycause he hath moued and kindeled our hartê with these wordes Looke vp and lyfte up your heades hath putte awaye all feare He wil also that we be warned to prepare our selues againste these times and this he doth by a rude and homely similitude saying Ye se the figge tree and all other trees when they bring forth their fruicte and theÌ„ you say somer draweth nigh So when ye shal see al these thinges done know you for certain that the kingdome of heauen is at hande And note wel nowe that he wolde vs to vnderstand perceiue that when al these thinges shal be brought to passe that then Christ shall make an end of the world But the wicked shal boldly dispise and saye God seeth not vs Ezec. 9. he hath forsaken the earth c. yet shall christian men geue hede loke for these times Luc. 11. as a faithful seruauÌ„t doth loke his mayster when he shall retourne from the mariages And that thou mayest knowe that hee greatlye desireth that we shuld be mindefull of this day he maketh an ende of his sermon with this worde Watche ye How must we watch Verely it is nedeful that we haue a liuely feruente faith Mat 25 which by loue shulde bee effectuall like vnto the fyue wyse virgines For trewly to watch is to be diligente in faithe To watche To slepe and the workes of God as in the contrary wise to slepe is nothing els but to dispise the worde of God to abide in infidelitie and playnly to doo no good at all Now how many is there emongest vs al that doth loke for that helthful and glorious comming or aduent or watcheth therefore Verelye all the worlde slepeth and routeth 1 Tes 5. Night and darkenes hath ouer compassed all that euer ys Wherfore thou that art the minister of the word of God folowe Christ sette it forth with all instancye and feruentnes Call to repentaunce Correcte the euell Comforte the good and beware leste God require the bloode of the synner at thy hand Ezec. 5. For trewly it is not all in vayne that God hath so purposed and decreede in his minde He hath spoken it and therefore it muste needes bee Heauen and earthe shall passe awaye but his worde shall euer abide If thou do thy dewtye and ceasest not with all thy minde to admonishe and warne althoughe it were so that the more parte wolde not beleue or obey but lyke the Sodomytes encrese synne vpon synne yet wold there be found some good grounde that wold receiue the seede of Godes worde bring forth frute Thy diligence and labour can not lack his reward Mat. 25 as scripture witnesseth saieÌ„g Wel good seruaunt and faithfull bycause thou haste beene faithfull ouer a little I shall set the ouer muche Enter into the kingdome of thy Lorde The thirde sondaye in Aduent Mat. 11. WHen Iohn beyng in prison herd the workes of Christ he sente two of his disciples Esa 35. and sayde vnto him Art thou he that
Yea likewise if Israel shulde haue had no cause to glori or reioise of this child he shuld not haue biÌ„ called the glori of the people of Israel Moreouer marke here nowe whether that al men shal knowe this same sauiour lyght Lo saith SimeoÌ„ he is set to the fal how to the fal Esai 8. Bicause that many shal be offended in him wheÌ„ thei shal se him go in maÌ„ner of a bondmaÌ„ or seruauÌ„t not after the fashioÌ„ of kingê princes And especiallye suche as doth not beleue but put their confidence in their own workes wil attaine to the righteousnes before God by their own workê merites not through his only grace Of the which also S. Paul speaketh in the 10. Rom. 10 cha to the Rom Thei that know not the righteousnes of God sekiÌ„g their own be not subdued to Goddes iustice And thei be such that wheÌ„ they hear the righteousnes of God coÌ„mended yet will they not beleue nor in a maÌ„ner can beleue bicause those thiÌ„gs that they do of their own wil be to be reiected cast awai Wherfore they do persecute this doctrine be offeÌ„ded in Christ do stil remaine in their misbilfee leste they shuld at any time be saued Ther be neuertheles amongst those also very many to whom Christ is set to their vprising but that is to those all only which of them selfe do dispaire knowledge that there is no name vnder the sun Ioel. 2. Act. 4. geueÌ„ to meÌ„ wher through thei shal be saued but only in the name of Christ And such be by Christ reserued to euerlastiÌ„g ioy as the prophet Esai saith Esai 28. Lo I wil set in SioÌ„ in the fouÌ„dacioÌ„ a corner stone euery maÌ„ that beleueth in him shal not be lost Now if thou desire that Christ may not be set to the to stumble at but to thine vprising go to and cast away al the hope of thine own merits embrace Christ as the sauiour of this world Mat. 16 And theÌ„ shal not hel gates preuaile against the. And if thou se the more part of meÌ„ not willing to receiue this doctrine but defeÌ„ding the righteousnes of their works The swerde shulde perse Maryes herte reiectiÌ„g the iustice that cometh by faith theÌ„ remeÌ„bre those wordê that SimeoÌ„ saith that Christ shal be set for asign or token which shal be spokeÌ„ against of meny And think you that it was spoken in vayne that a swearde shulde perse throughe Maryes herte Simeon knew wel inough that our Lord Iesu Christ shuld suffre muche paynes for his doctryne And therefore said vnto Mary that with her welbeloued son she shulde suffre also great sorowes that the secrete thoughtes of many shulde bee opened whiche although they were taken for the moste holyest of al yet shuld they be of all the most wicked Thou hast nowe here the testimony of that iust man Simeon that Christ is the sonne of God the very trew Messias and sauyoure of all the worlde SecoÌ„darely we haue here the testimony of Anne the prophetise concerning Christ Ann propheceeth of Christ And besides that that the euangelist doth describe and set forthe her conuersacion he saith further also that she wheÌ„ the verye houre came knowledged the Lorde and spake of him to euery man that longed for the redemtioÌ„ of Israel Obserue and mark now the order of this testimony Fyrst she prayseth and commendeth God for none other cause but that she knewe in this child not only the greate kyndenes of God but also that all prophecies were fulfilled and that the same acceptable time was come Ephe. 5. wherein Christ shulde be borne and to the whiche also God willed her to be reserued and kepte And trewlye all christen people oughte to geue thankes vnto God the father for his suche greate benefite that throughe this childe he willed vs to bee saued from all euell And certainlye this Anne knoweth and knowledgeth that of oure selues we canne nothing do And therfore praiseth God that he hath voutchsaued to send vs our sauioure from heauen And that al other shulde knowe the same she speaketh of him to all that longed for the redemption of Israell But what speaketh she of him Doughteles nothinge els but euen as Simeon did before Simeon told that the same childe was the lighte and sauioure of the Gentils Anne confirmeth the same and saith He is now presente before oure eyes and euen at hande The saiyng of Anna. whom they loked so longe for She frely confesseth her praiers fasting widowhed and honest conuersation to be of no respecte except by this childe through grace she be made righteous and holy and delyuered froÌ„ euerlasting death Of this place it becometh all women widowes maydens to take example folow the steppes of Anne in the knowledging of Christ in good and honests life and in the trew worshipping of God She perceued very wel that it was necessary for her throgh the truste that she had in this child to be saued that is to be iustified by trewe faith in Christ And here may it wel be vnderstand that faith must be liuely effectual And this certificat or knowledg of faith must we al haue or els trewlye the same faithe that maketh vs iust righteous Righte faith is not in vs but rather a false persuasion and opinion of Christ Christe was very man Thirdely this gospell confirmeth the article of oure faith wherin we knowledge that Christ was borne of the virgin Mary For as I must beleue that this is trew so must I also faythfully beleue that Christ naturaly as al other meÌ„ doth iÌ„cresed in age wit strength wisedome spirit not that the holye ghost was not at the first in him but that the more he was in age the bigger he was the bigger he was the wiser he was And the wiser he was so much the stronger he was in spirite before God in himselfe and before al men And to be short In that that the Euangeliste saith The childe encreased and was strengthed in spirite ful of wisedome and the grace of God was in hiÌ„ he sheweth that the same child euerye day more and more did growe in goodnes and wisedome And we shulde highly wish that our children might be like broght vp The briÌ„ging vp of chyldren that thei might more and more increase and do that is iust good This childe Iesus increased and was strengthned in spirite And we suffre oure chyldren to fall run into their own carnal lust desyre Nor we do any thing care or prouide that by the word of God they may be brought to faith and honest liuing Christ incresed in wisdome And our children increase in folishnes And wilt thou know the cause thereof Their parents be in the faut that wil not instruct bring vp theyr children in goodnes vertu nother teach them the
came Christ that he wolde saue sinners And besides this Christe came for sinners Luc. 23. he can of the thefe that hang on the gallowes make a good and righteous man In contrarye wise I haue no cause to presume seing that in matters concerning righteousnes before god no meryte of workes but only grace doth preuaile and must alwayes say Luc. 17 And yf I had done all that euer were commaunded me yet am I but an vnprofitable seruaunte for I haue doone but that I oughte to do And nowe yf also by Christe I am iustified and indued with the excellente giftes of the holye ghoste yet shulde I not bee to bolde and looke ouer highe seinge it is so with al men that he that standeth to day must beware that he fall not to morowe But wee muste alwaies aske of God that he wyll voutchsafe to reserue vs to euerlasting lyfe 1 Cor 10 The election of God Secondarilye Christe putteth a difference in this gospell betwene the election of God wher with he hath predestinate all the electe people to euerlasting lyfe from the beginning of the worlde the vacation of fayth which is by the outwarde word Outwarde worde And trewly if we do well considre and waye the matter it is no small matter The election of God abideth stedfast and vnmouable Nor any maÌ„ that by this election is predestinate to saluacion can be damned or perish 2. TiÌ„ 2. as Christ himselfe witnesseth in the 10. chap. of Iohn The shepe that my father hath geuen me no man shall take oute of my hand And in likewise S. Paule speaketh of this election in the 8. chap. to the Rom. saying The electe remain coÌ„stante Those that he knew before hath he ordeined also before and those that he hath so ordained he hath called And those whom he hath called he hath also made righteous whoÌ„ he hath made righteous he hath glorified also Here we heare that the elect be only iustified glorified by Christ And this is confirmed by that noble example writteÌ„ in the Actes of the Apostles wheÌ„ Paule did preach the gospel of Christ at Antioche Act. 13. in the which sermoÌ„ S. Luke coÌ„cludeth on this wise And ther beleued as many as were ordeined to life In this example yt is manifestly shewed the iustificacioÌ„ lieth not in our workes but in the grace mercy of God This doctrin of the electioÌ„ predestinacioÌ„ of god is very horrible to theÌ„ that be drowned in wordely wisedom and to theire power do resist the gospel For as sone as thei hear of this doctrine by and by they despise and hate it saing Yf it lye not in mine owne power to be saued Rom. 8. I wil do what pleaseth me and wyll not feare any thing at al. And againe to them that be ordeined to lyfe yt is a very helthfull doctrine and full of comforte They as sone as they hear that those be only saued that bee predestinate of God they meken and submytte them selfe they dispaire of them selfe they cal for grace mercy by al meanes maketh hast to Christ And that is euen the very waye to geue to God his honoure Futhermore they learne that God of his grace maketh a man not only good righteous and blessed but that also in all temptacions and tribulacions he wyll comforte and preserue whoÌ„ he hath made righteouse But trewly there be very fewe of those and therefore yt is sayd of Christ that there be many called but fewe be eletcte In Zodome there was not one founde Gen. 19 but only Loth and his householde And before the floode Noah only and his children founde grace Gen. 9. Nu. 14. Ios 14 And into the lande of Chanaan came no more but only Iosua Chaleb Wherfore thou shuldest not meruaile that so fewe beeleue the gospel lin theire harte and folowe it He that is not predestinate of God may not abide nor heare of it Iohn 5 And muche lesse can receaue it Neuerthelesse it is thorow our faut that we be damned Of electionat this tyme this shal be sufficient What meaneth he when he sayeth Many be called Doughteles he speaketh of the outeward calling to fayth which is by the word of God And it was commaunded to the Apostels after the resurrection Go youre waye through oute the whole worlde and preache the gospell to euery creature that he that beleueth and is baptised shal be saued And he that doth not beleue shal be damned And hereof scripture speaketh in the boke of Psalmes Psa 18. Theyr voice shall sounde ouer all the worlde and their wordes wente to the endes of the world And althoughe this calling pertaineth vnto many yet sumtyme it faileth and all that be called abideth not not that any lack shulde be in the word wherby we be called but that we so greatly geueÌ„ to our yl affections lusts be not draweÌ„ inwardly by the holy ghost therfore do we dispise set lytle by this outward callyng which is by the preaching of the gospel Yea also ther be some found that as sone as thei begin to hear the gospel thei shew set out themselues as though they had eueÌ„ deuoured the whole gospell yet it is proued afterward when the tyme of persecution cometh the the seede of this calling Mat. 13 Rom. 10 fell not into a good and fruteful ground but vpon the stones and so withered awaye And S. Paule saieth But euerâ—e man hath not obeyed to the gospell When Christe nowe saieth Manye be called he speaketh of the outewarde callynge of the worlde by the which the gospell is offered to the whole congregacion or to eueri man And when he saith Fewe be electe or chosen then yt is to be vnderstand of predestinacioâ— And neuertheles the preaching which is by the outwarde worde is as well to be often times iterated and repeted as that whereby we be taught That by the holye ghost we be drawen For in the tenth chap. to the Romaynes it is sayd Fayth by hearyng c. The nature and custome of them that iustifi theÌ„ selues Thirdely we learne by the grudging of theym that laboured the whole day for their wages the custome nature of them that iustifi them selues They be in lyke manner affectionate as these laborers were which of very pride and highe stomack do dispise the latter coÌ„mers so seÌ„t into the vineyard by the housholder as though there had ben no couenaunt of wages before Thei think in themselfe to be far better then these miserable siÌ„ners bicause they liued outwardely an honest lyfe and hadde done but yet without faith many workes But hypocrisy neuer doth otherwyse for he can not only be content with his false outward shining wher with he blyndeth mennes eyes but he dispiseth all other theÌ„ himselfe geueth theÌ„ opprobriouse wordes So did the Pharisey dispise the wretched publican which was not so bold to lyfte
abide in the word Thē by by with great violence we run into the snares gynnes of the deuell And if we stedfastly beleue in the worde of god Then neither false prophet nother the deuell himselfe shal deceiue vs. And thē wtout dout he is greater that is in vs then he that is in the world 1. Io. 4 Secondarylye Christe speaketh of the seede that fell vpon the stone which although it sprange vp yet bicause it lacked moysture it withered awaye And so he declareth that the seed that fel on the stone be thei that when they hear the word of God they receiue it with ioy To fall from the worde in tyme of persecution but thei haue no rotes bicause thei beleue but for a while in tyme of temptacion and tribulacion they fall cleane away Wherin Christe sheweth that his gospell shall neuer bee preached withoute aduersaries that shall striue againste it And lykewise that the perfect and trew faith cannot be knowen but by tribulacion and temptacious so proued and tried as gold and siluer is by fier Yf thou wylt then search know what faith I haue and whether it be a trew or a fayned faith mark wel behold my lyfe when I chaunce to fal into temptacion tribulacion And yf then it be a pure and righte fayth and by the worde of god in my harte made liuelye and effectuall then muste I needes saye with sainct Paule Rom. 8. I am sure that nother death nor lyfe nor aungell nor rule or power nother things present or thinges to come nother high nor low nor any māner of creature shal seperate me from the loue of god that is in Iesu Christ Yea and I will frely confesse commend preach the word of god though I shuld dye an hundreth tymes Mat. 10 or forsake all that euer I haue had in this world For it must needes be in such case that other I forsake all and bere the crosse of Christ or else cease to be his disciple any lenger And in contrary wise when my fayth is not pure but fayned trewly thē wyl I not so hate my selfe that for the gospels sake I shuld ronne into daunger of my bodye and lyfe But then wyll I sette moste by and loue my body be it neuer so rotten and full of wormes Wherfore I am constrayned to heare Christ in an other place Mat. 16 saying He that findeth his lyfe shall lose it Cares riches voluptuousnesse be lette hīderāce vnto fayth Thyrdely Christ speaketh of other seed that fel amongest thornes and so sprong vp was choked amongest the thornes And that he expoundeth on this wise The seed that fell amongest the thornes be they that haue herd the worde of god and then thorowgh the cares ryches and voluptuosnes of this worlde be so ouer growne and choked that they can not bryng fourth frute Thow herist here repeted that suche heare the word of god yf then thei heare the word and yet be reiected of Christ I praye the what is the cause or what lettyth whye they be not saued verely euen that be cause they receyued not the worde of god ernestly and in they re hartes and for that they be founde neglegente in fayth loue and honest conuersations and fal from god the creatour vnto creatures Marke here how finely Chryst hath paynted and set oute the mindes and harts of riche men First of all he geueth vnto them cares for we commonly se that the more they haue the more the couet as it is said in the 5. cha Ecclesiastes The couetous man is neuer satisfied of money c. And he geueth also vnto thē the loue and affection of riches and desyre of this worldly lyfe As though he shulde saye To haue greate riches doth not damne a man for there hath beene sins the beginning of the world many deuout and holy men that hath had greate riches and yet neuerthelesse haue obtayned euerlasting lyfe But to sette harte and minde in riches and through them to seeke the pleasures of this lyfe not to knowe that we be but seruauntes and stewardes of suche riches to th entent that the poore and nedye maye be holpen thereby that is the very thing that condemneth a man Wherfore seing it is so with riche men for the more parte that they with all theire diligence seeke and folow the pleasures of this lyfe and do not mortefye the fleshe by the spirite but passe ouer their lyfe in all securitie and wealthe of this world Mat. 19 Christ sayeth also in an other place Soner may a camell runne thorow the eye of a nedle then a riche man entre into heauē And to be briefe Such rich men What condemneth the rich mē and men that abuse their riches in this world haue but smal prayse in scripture and in many places we hear of their condemnacion not bicause they haue much riches or that they be men of great power and might but for that they do abuse their such giftes and take their lusts and pleasure in it and do not make frends to them of their wicked mammon Fourthly Christ speaketh of the seede that fell in the good grounde and sprang vp and brought forth fruict an hundreth fold And that he declared on this wise That that fell in the good ground be thei which with good hert mind Good grounde do hear the worde of god and kepe the same and bring forth fruict in pacience And there be two thinges to be noted in that Fewe christian men First that there be merueilous few christian mē in this earth But of them that in body soule go to the deuel ther is a great nomber how highly soeuer they pretend the name of christians or boaste of the gospell as Christ doth witnes in the 7 chapt of Mathew saiyng The gate is larg and the way is broad that leadeth to perdition and many there be that entreth into the same But the way that leadeth to lyfe is straite the gate very narrow and fewe haue found the same And the other thinge that Christ sheweth vs is this that although the more parte of menne be euell and so abyde yet the word of god shal not be preached in vaine In some corner there shal be found good ground The worde of God is not preached in vayne Esa 55. wherin the good seede of the word of god is sowen shal spring vp and bring forth frute plenteously whereof god speaketh by his prophete Esaias in this wise Lyke as the shoures of rayne and snow descendeth frō heauen and retourneth not thither againe but sinketh into the earth and norisheth the same and maketh it bring forth seede vnto the sower bread to the eater so shal the word that cometh out of my mouth it shal not retourne vnto me empti but shal do all that I wil shall prosper whersoeuer I shal send it And although it seme
Mat. 10 and folowe hys steppes 1. Pet. 2. Christ suffered for vs leauinge to vs exaumple that wee shulde folowe his steppes Yea and when thou hearest that he was led by the holye ghost into wyldernes to be tempted of the diuell Yt is the will of god that we be tempted Thou shalte learne thereby that god of his good wyl sendeth al temptacion to his elect that they may in time of temptacion know wherof they neede and with great constancy aske of god both helpe and comforte Euery mannes necessitie shuld prouoke him to pray as the prophete saieth When I was troubled then I cryed to the Lord and he herde me And againe when thou hearest how mightely Christ ouercame the deuyl and how with scripture he ouerthrew his subtill and malicious counsaile thou shalt remembre to learne that no temptaciō may be ouercome but by Christ And also that a christian souldiar shulde haue a strong armoure which is the worde of god when so euer he shall fal into battaile with the deuel Ephe. ◠And what clayme or righte coulde that enemy make to me yf I had none other weapon in tyme of temptacion to defende me withall but this onlye sentence of scripture conceaued through faith Ioh. 16. Haue good hope trust for I haue ouercome the worlde Yet we wyl somewhat se in this place with what crafts and deceites of temptacion the deuell cometh with all to Christe Fyrste The care for the belly he compasseth him with the carke and care of the bellye and that hee attempteth wythe a wonderfull pollecye He sayeth on this wise Yf thou be the son of God Gen. 6. make these stones bread As many as do beleue may be called the chyldren of God And the deuel sayth as it were on this wise Yf thou be the sonne of God as thow doest boaste thy selfe wher then is the care that God taketh for the why doth he not prouide to the meate drinke and all other necessaryes to lyue by what hath God to do with the thinkest thou He taketh much care for the in dede Tarye a while vntill a rosted chicken flye in to thy mouthe And by this meanes goeth the deuell about to bringe Christe from the cōfidēce trust in God and to burthē him with incredulity and vayne carefulnes that yet he might so moue him to forsake God and make of his belly an idol Chryste ouercometh the deuel Deut. 8. But what doth Christ He geueth no place at al to these diabolical instructions but strongely doth perseuer in that faith and truste which he receiued of his heuenly father and saith Man liueth not only by bread but by the worde that procedeth from the mouth of God As though he shuld saye I know very wel that when ther is plenty of bread the lyfe muste be susteined thereby But that is not bicause of the bread but for the word of God wher by the bread is sāctified and power geuen to it to feede and replenish men And yf there be no plenty of bread then must we needes lyue by the word of God yf then faith do wholye depend and hange of this worde and be wrapped therin then must ther nedes be also bread yea and the same muste come from heauen as in the olde tyme Manna was geuen to the children of Israel in wildernes Ps 77 Lo now in this wise doth Christ ouercome the deuell and that for oure comforte that we shulde applye oure selues and prouide as often as we fall into suche temptaciōs that incredulitie raigne not amongst vs but to remembre the exaumple of Christ confirmed with so many promises of god wherethrough we may withstand the carefulnes of the belly ouercome the deuell and all his councell and tread hym vnderfote Secondarly To tempte God the deuel wold faine perswade Christ to tempte god and without any cause why to caste him selfe down from the pinacle of the temple And to bring that to passe he allegeth although it bee falsely a place of scripture assayīg yet by that meanes if he might with his outward appearaunce vnder such a lambes skinne ouercome Christ and moue him to do contrary to the worde of god And note well here that the deuell hath mo wayes then one to circumuente and begile menne and as he is craftye and subtyll a thousande folde so hath he a thousande wayes to bringe men in his snares He knoweth wel inough wherin we be moste weakest and yf he bringe not his purpose to passe one way he assaieth an other He taketh great delite pleasure in oure destruction and cōdemnacion And by cause he coulde not bringe Christ to that poynte to make his belly a god he yet hadde greate hope to bringe that his other porpose to passe to moue him to tempte God and so set hym vp vppon a pinnacle of the temple layng If thou be the son of God cast downe thy selfe hedlinge for it is wrytten Psal 9. He shall giue his angels charge ouer the and with there handes shal they hold the vp that thou dashe not thy foote against a stone But wherfore did the deuel leue out Vt custodiāt te in omnibus vijs tuis that is to say That they shal kepe the in all thy wayes Bicause it was contrary to his purpose and made nothīg for his intent Whervpon Christ obiecteth against him this answere Deut. 6. saying It is also writtē Thou shalt not tempt thi Lord god As though he shuld say God doth mightely defend his will not leaue them in any necessity And moreouer as thou thy selfe doest knowledg he hath geuen in cōmaundemēt to his aūgels to take the charge not only of me but also of all his elect that they maye walke without any offence or slaunder Wherefore shuld I cast my selfe into the water when I maye passe by a bridge or ship And so why shuld I cast my selfe downe hedlīg from the temple whē I may easlye go downe by a ladder The wise man saith He that loueth ieoperdye Eccle. 3. No man ought to put hym selfe in ieoperdy shall fall into the same Lo here now again the diuel is ouercome bi Christ and that with no small argumentes of scripture wherwith he doth confute him Let vs now knowe and perceiue that all these thinges be done for our instruction that we may learne likewise to ouercome the deuell when neede shall require Thirdelye the dyuell is not yet contented nor leaueth of Christ but taketh him vp vpon a great high hyll and sheweth to hym all the kingedomes and glory of the wolde saying All these thinges will I geue vn to the yf thou wylt fall downe and worshippe me The dyuell is lord and prince of the world And of this place we learne that the deuell is the Lorde and Prince of this worlde as Christ also nameth him in the 12. chapter of Iohn Moreouer all those that so depende and hange
you sayeth he If you axe the father oughte in my name hee shall gyue it you also Aske and ye shall receaue Here thou hearest that we shall not praye in vaine Who wold now be slothfull and loth to prayer Christe constraineth vs thorow his commaundement And furthermore that wee shall not thinke to praye in vaine he as I sayde before entiseth vs here with a greate and high promise Wherfore two thinges are heere to bee considered and noted The firste is that we shall pray in none other name theÌ„ all only in Christs name Then we pray in Christs name Christe is oure mediator only wheÌ„ we come vnto god in the faith of Christ in such mind and confidence that he all only is our mediatour by whom all thinges be giuen vnto vs and that without him we can deserue nothing theÌ„ wrath and indignacion Can there bee I beseche you any sainte in heauen or in earth that prayeth for vs vnto god the father as Christ doth For by his merites and aduocacion we do not all only obtaine righteousnes and remission of sinnes but also wee be made his brethren and pertakers of hys preestly office so that we our selues maye go vnto Christ and call vpon him and seke his helpe in all our necessity and nede And that is it that he saieth here And I saye not vnto you that I will pray the father for you for the father him selfe loueth you for bicause you haue loued me and beleue that I am come out from god Al Christian meÌ„ are prestes Seinge therefore that wee haue suche a mediatour yea seing that we our selues are admitted vnto this prestly office by Christ why do we not with true faithe and confidence call vpon him in oure necessitie An other thinge to be noted is this We must considre that in no wyse we do praye that What we ought to desire that shal be against the glorie wyll of god or contrary to our saluacion For it is apparaunt that he wyll not hear such prayer in so much as in the Pater noster he teacheth vs daily to praye that his will be fulfilled Finally when so euer we praye vnto god in our vrgent necessities we shall looke vpon the merites of Christ not vppon oure worthines which commaundeth vs to praye and promised vs to heare vs when so euer we cal vpon him For all the promises of god in Christ are suer and need not to be doubted at For S. Paule saith that all the promises of god ar ye in him and ameÌ„ 2 Cor. 11 Secondaryly it is to be noted that forasmuch as we are fleshly and know not ofte times what we haue neede of as S. Paule saith to the Romanes Christe voutchsaueth here to learne vs Rom. 8. what oure prayer shuld be And as he himselfe faith we ought to praye that our ioye maye be perfect But what manner of ioye is this Truly it shall neuer be temporal nor wordly but spirituall Of the which Phil. 4. S. Paule writeth saying Reioyse in the lorde alwaies and againe I say reioyse But whence cometh this reioysinge Of faith And how is that broughte to passe That is brought to passe when I heare the gospel preached in the which remission of sinnes is geuen to all mortall creatures by Christ Whiche preaching yf I wyll haue it profitable and fruitful vnto me I must needs beleue it which thing I cannot do except it be geuen me through the word by the holy ghoste which muste worke this faithe in me And when this worde and the holye ghoste worke this fayth in me I shall not dout but beleue the Christ hath all only forgeuen me all my sinnes so that they can neither accuse nor condemne me And further that he hath pourchased me a mercifull father in heauen that will acknowledge me for hys son and bring me into euerlasting lyfe And hereoute commeth tranquilitie of conscience and that spirituall ioye TraÌ„quilitie of coÌ„scieÌ„ce 2 Pet. 3. of the whiche this gospell to day speakethe of and it is verye needefull and necessarye that this ioye growe and increase euen as oure faythe oughte to growe and increase yf yt shal be perfecte which thinge doubteles God shal bringe to passe yf we daylye praye vnto hym for it He will that we shall praye alwayes and not with oute a cause For we haue nothinge to geue him But he as a mercifull god creatoure and father forgiueth vs al things And for as much as he commaundeth vs to praye that oure ioye myghte be perfecte lette vs obeye him that wee maye saye withe the virgine Marye Luce. 2. My spirite reioyseth in god my sauioure Thirdelye Chryste shâ—weth vs here the ignoraunce of his disciples and witnesseth that hitherto his learnyng hath beene vnto theim as a prouerbe and that if they shuld vnderstande that doctrine it is needefull that he speake no more through prouerbs but playnly to shew theÌ„ of his father that Is. it is needefull that he sende them the holy ghoste to make them apte to vnderstand his wordes Such ignoraunce and blindnâ—s hath not beene all only in the apostles before the hoâ—y ghost was confirmed in them but also hath ben grafte in all mortall men so that there is not one that vnderstandeth no not one that dothe good Psal 13 Ioh. 3. without they be transformed into a newe creature through the holy ghost We thinke oure selues subâ—ile and wise as thapostels saye here in this gospel Beholde nowe thou speakest playne and shewest vs no prouerbe now we knowe that thou knowest all thinges But this is suche an other folyshe presumption as was in Saint Peter Mat. 26 which promysed that he wold go to prison and to death with Christ and yet that nighte before the cocke crew he denied him thrise which presumption brought him to confusion Wherefore all this is written for vs that we shulde not rashely presume but rather to meke oure selues and to confesse that we as concerning godlye thinges are rude and ignoraunte and that we can not perceyue the mistery of the gospell with oute the holy ghost For the wisedome of the fleshe is foolishnes before god And as much the more we go aboute to boaste oure selues of our subtilty and wisedome concernyng godlynes so much the more we declare and shewe forthe our folysshnes The sixte sonday after Easter Ioh. 15. BVt when the comforter is come Ioh. 14 and. 17. Act. 3. d whome I wyll send you from the father euen the spirit of trewthe whiche procedeth of the father he shall testifye of me And ye shall beare witnes also bicause ye haue beene with me from the beginninge THE EXPOSITION After that our lord Iesus Christ in the laste supper had promised his disciples with dyuers promises to send theÌ„ the holy ghost now he nameth the same spirit by his propre name and declareth vnto vs what vtilitie and profit he shall bringe into the world and saith
sheweth vs so great grace and fauoure and voutchsafeth to haue his kingdome in vs and whiche doth dayly deliuer and defend vs frome all false doctrine and temptacion of the diuell and finally Mat. 17 frome all euell withoute doubte in the life to come will graunte vs also euerlastingly to lyue and raigne with him without ende So that in any wise we take hede in the mean season that we loue and beleue his worde and fulfill his will To this pertaineth the sayinge of S. Paule where he saith that we are the temple of god 1 Cor. 6. And also in an other place that god lyueth dwelleth and moueth in euerye one of vs Act. 17. as it is written in the actes of the apostels Thirdely this gospell learneth vs wherefore and for what cause the holy ghost shal be sent which Christe before with so many wordes promiseth to sende for thus he saieth That Comforter The office of the holy goâ— euen the holy ghoste whom my father shall send in my name he shall teach you al thinges and bring all to your remembraunce what so euer I haue tolde you Whereoute it is euident and playne that the holy ghost is sent into the worlde to teach Now yf wee cannot know god in Christ without the holy ghost muste be presente and learne vs so muste it needes folowe that we as of our selues can do nothing Ioh. 3. in those thinges that pertayne to godlynes and saluacion And that without we are lightned of this spirit there is nothinge in vs but darkenes The fleshe is darknes Ioh. 1. as S. Iohn the Euangelist witnesseth saying The lyght shineth in the darkenes and the darkenes comprehended it not Wher is now I besech you the glory of the flesh what can oure reason and oure wisedome bringe to passe Thinke you that the holye ghoste was promised to the apostels and all goddes electe without a cause But I wolde haue the verely beleue that Christ did well perceaue and know that no mortall man coulde haue come vnto the knowledge of god then by this spirite Wherefore else wolde he haue promised and sente it Nowe for as it is expediente playne that the office of the holy ghost is to teache not part or halfe but al. Print this in thine harte that foloweth He shall bring in to your remembraunce all that I haue spoken For I heare not in this place that he shall teache anye other thinge than Christ taughte before but onlye that he shal bring into the disciples remembraunce the â—â—ataynge whâ—ch Christe had preached The holy ghoste dothe in spite Hereto pertaineth that the foresayde spirite shal be sente in Châ—istes name Moreouer yf the holy ghost shall teache no newe thinge vnto thapostels but make them meete to take and vnderstand the preachinge of the gospell who then hath giuen such power to the Romish spiritualtie to ordaine and make in the church so many traditioÌ„s of men against this text Let a christian man learne here also that the doctrine of Christ is sufficient to our saluacion as S. Peter sayd vnto Christ Thou haste the wordes of euerlasting lyfe And in no wise forget that no mortall man can vnderstande this doctrine of Christ excepte it be written in the harte of man through the holy ghost as the prophet Ieremy clerely sheweth in the 31. chapiter The peace of Christe Fourthely Christ promiseth his peace vnto hys disciples and all his elect in this gospel And there is a notable vehemeÌ„t significaâ—â—oÌ„ in this worde My peace For Christe sheweth here a difference betwene his peace the peace of the world The peace of the worlde The peace of the world thoughe it be an excellente gyft and a gift that all only cometh of god for the which accordinge to the doctrine of S. Paule a Chrâ—stiane man is bounde to praye yet notwithstanding yt is teÌ„poral not song durable And it may oft chaunce that outwardly I shal fele peace inwardly warrâ— in the conscience But it goeth not so with theim aâ—â— peace For though that it haue outwardly resistaÌ„ce and is teÌ„pted yet nowithstanding it remaineth vnmouable not due not â—uerâ—â—â—e bicause it knoweth that with Christ the prince of the world hath no â—ight in him 〈…〉 Christe that god in heauen is a merciful father 〈◊〉 him Yâ— knoweth that nothing can chauÌ„ce vnto him against the good wil of god and that persecution shal not indure for euer Ioh. 14 Finallye Act. 14. that throughe suche lyke tribulacion he shal haue a celestial entringe into glorye This peace Christ left and did giue vs. Furthermore as Christe gaue vs this peace of his great mercy and grace without any deseruing so that it is necessary that we comprehend it in our hartes with fayth For works can do nothing in this behalfe as witnesseth S. Paul saiyng Rom. 5. Bicause therfore that we are iustified by faith we haue peace with god Fiftely this gospel teacheth vs The worde of god doth comforte vs in persecucion that in persecutioÌ„ tribulacion is nothinge so suer comfortable as to be furnished armed with the word of god And for that cause Christe shewed before vnto his disciples that he shulde suffre his passion therby entre into the glory of his father saiyng And now I haue tolde you before yt come that when it is come to passe ye maye beleue Rom. 15 And in lyke manner saieth S. Paule What so euer things are written afore tyme are written for oure learninge that we thorough pacience and comfort of the scripture might haue hope Therefore in as muche as the confession and knowledg of the worde of god and the gospel cannot be brought to passe in this worlde withoute persecution seynge that the diuel is so playne an enemye and aduersarye thereof it is meete and couenience to al trewe Christiane menne to bee so instructed and armed with the worde of god that our house buylded vpon a rock do not fal in tyme of persecution stormes of temptacion Mat. 7 and great windes Whiche God graunte to vs euerye one Amen The gospell on Trinitye sonday Iohn 3. THere was a man of the pharyseis naâ—â— Nicodemus a ruler of the Iewes Ioh. 7. The same came to Iesus by nyght and sayde vnto hym Rabbi we know that tho◠〈◊〉 a teacher come from god for no man couâ—â— do suche miracles as thou doest except god were with him Iesus aunswered and lord vnto him Verely verely I say vnto the excepte a man be borne frome aboue he can not se the kyngedome of god Nicodemus sayth vnto hym how can a man be borne when he is olde can he enter into his mothers wombe and be borne again Iesus answered Ioh. 4. and. 7. Tit. 3. a Rom. 8. Verelye verely I saye vnto the Excepte a man be borne of water and of the spirite he cannot entre into the kingdome of god Ioh.
and set hym on hys owne beaste and broughte hym to a cōmon ynne made prouision for hym And on the morowe when he departed he toke out two pence and gaue them to the hoste and sayd vnto him Take cure of hym and what so euer thou spēdest more whē I come againe I wyll recompence the. Whiche now of these thre thynkest thou was neighboure vnto hym that tell amongest the theues And he sayd He that shewed mercy on hym Then sayd Iesus vnto him Go and do lykewise THE EXPOSITION Whithe apostels were called blesed IN the beginning of this gospell we see howe the Apostles were pronounced and declared blessed And though at that tyme yt was allonly spoken to thappostels yet notwithstanding yt is vniuersally spoken vnto all the worlde And for as much as they be so counted let vs therfore serch out the cause why He saith on this wise Blessed at the eyes which see that ye se Thoughe Christ speaketh here simply of his person his office and myracles yet notwithstanding yf we wyl esteme count blessed the apostels and those that saw Christe that is knew Christe so is it very needfull necessary that thei haue the inward sight of the hart which is faith For what had profited them the outward bodelye seing of Christ if thei had not had in likewise the inward seing For if the outward seing might haue attained gotten saluaciō so had Pilate Annas Caiphas and Herode bene saued forasmuche as they both saw Christ with their bodely eyen also spoke with him It saueth nor helpeth no more a man to se Christe with hys bodely eyen then it did the Iewes their boasting in their father Abraham Ioh. 8. Here be requiered greater things But which ar they A pure hart that beleueth the worde of god and Christ the truth and the same Messias that was promised vnto vs and also to beleue and knowledg him the sauioure of the worlde And suche faith and confession hadde the apostles when the holye ghoste was not yet openly giuen but hidde For Christ asking theym Wyll ye also go awaye Ioh. 6. Peter answered in the name of theim all Lord to whom shuld we go thou haste the worde of euerlasting lyfe and we beleue and know that thou arte Christ the son of the liuing god Doth not this seeme vnto the an excellēt glorious confessiō which confessiō pleased Christ so highly that he said Blessed art thou Symō Bar Iona for flesh bloud hath not reueled this thing vnto the but my father that is in heauē Wherout it is euidēt that the apostels saw not Christ allōly with their bodely fleshly eien but also saw hī spiritualli wherby they gat obtained blessednes In that thei sawe Christ they ar to be preferred before kinges prophetes forbicause they knewe Christe not only through his word but also they saw his personage and myracles and were a lyue at that tyme in the which his diuine and godly grace through the gospell was diclared vnto the world For Abraham desyered to see this day and saw it in spirite and reioysed therein Iohn 8. But he could not come therevnto to see him bodely And bicause we in these dayes can not see Christ bodely to be conuersaunte amongest vs to preache and to do miracles to eate and drink amongest vs let vs therefore indeuour our cogitacions and thoughts to se and know him spiritually And in so doyng the sayīg of Christ vnto Thomas shall be perfurmed in vs wher he saieth Blessed at they that see not Ioh. 20. and yet beleue Secondarely when Christe had pronounced his disciples blessed for their faithe sake beholde there stode vp a scribe and tempted him and sayde Maister what muste I do to inherite euerlastinge lyfe In the which properly is discribed vnto vs the nature of hipocrisy For hipocrites euer treate of works yea they truste in works and therfore euer they bee speaking of theim Doth yt not seeme vnto the a folishe thinge to dispute of the frutest before the tree be planted What preuayleth it to know what is written and commaunded in the law If I know not how to fulfyl it For that knowledge dothe not alōly not preuaile but also worketh angre wrath accordyng to the sayinge of S. Paule Rom. 4 Wherefore it is necessary for theim that desier to be saued to in quiernot only what manner of work they shuld do but howe and when the lawe is fulfilled For the lawe is spirituall Rom. 5. as S. Paule writeth to the Romaines And if the lawe then be spiritual so can it not be fulfilled with outwarde workes which haue outwardely a shine but it is necessary that it bee fulfilled in the spirite and inward affection Furthermore for as muche as the spirite and the affection pertaine necessarily to the fulfilling of the lawe to what purpose is this questiō of the scribe Yet thou shalte note that he answered bothe wisely and truly to that questiō that Christ obiected against him In the lawe is written Thou shalte loue thy lorde god with all thy harte with all thy sowle with all thy strength with all thy mind and thy neighbour as thy selfe This only wanted and lacked whiche Christ bringeth in Do this saith he thou shalte lyue And forbicause he didde not enquire by what meanes or how that same mighte be fulfilled it appeareth thereby that he was one of those scribes that iustified himselfe and so styll remayned And though he of presumption pryde which euer doth folowe hipocrisy enquired no more of that thinge that he cōmoned of yet must not we leaue ther but are bounde to knowe what is the lawe and what it worketh and what the gospell is and what it bringeth to passe The lawe The lawe is a doctrine that teacheth me what I am bound to do and to eschewe and vndoubtedly the effecte thereof is nothing else then that it sheweth vs our offences and our sinne For whersoeuer the lawe is preached there I do heare what thinge I am bounde to do and to leaue but in dede I perceiue that of myne owne power I can not do nor bringe to passe that thinge that is commaunded me to do by that meanes meeked and brought low I come to the knowledg of my corrupte nature syn Also I find that wtout the holy ghost I can not fulfyl the law Hereto then pertaineth the gospell The gospell that glad ioyfull tidings of Christ which declareth sheweth me how that my sinnes be forgiuē me through Christ which gospel brīgeth with him the holy ghost a working faith in me so that now I shal fulfil the law not by coaccion but willynglye But this scribe careth not for these thīgs Mat. 7. wherfore Christ wold not cast that which was holy vnto dogs Thirdely when this scribe iustifieng him selfe asked Christ who was his neighbour Christ by a symilitude layeth it
commaundeth Thou wylte saye vnto me Why then is the lawe geuen and what is her office I aunswere with S. Paule Rom. 3. By the lawe commeth the knowledge of syn c. and for this pourpose shee serueth and is necessarye Shee bringeth me to the knowledge of imbecillitie and weakenes peruerse and frowarde nature synnes which canne throughe no worke be expelled dryuen away so than that I by that meanes am made the apter redyer to hear embrace the doctrine of Christ of the diuine grace goodnes Thirdely like as we haue had in this gospell a question partaininge to the lawe so wee haue here nowe an other question partaininge to the gospell After that an answere was giuen vnto the Pharisees according to their questioÌ„ which was the fyrst and greatest commaundement in the lawe Christe asked them again sayiÌ„g What think ye of Christ whose son is he They answere The son of Dauid Then Christ said vnto them How then did Dauid in spirite Ps â—09 call him lorde saying The lord sayd vnto my lorde Syt thou on my right hande c. Here were the pharisees taken at a baye how crafty or subtyle so euer they were And while they were ignoraunt therin knew not how Christ was the son and the lorde of Dauid they shewed them selfe to haue little vnderstanding in the mistery of the gospell And although the Pharisees had no vnderstaÌ„ding therin yet al they that will be counted christen men muste both know it and beleue it For what other thinge is the gospell then a swete and comfortable preaching of Christe the sonne of Dauid that hee for vs became man and came into the worlde to redeme saue vs through his death passion And the he is called as coÌ„cerning the flesh the son of Dauid Whose sonne Christ is is for the greate excellent promise that was made of Christ vnto Dauid So likewise we knowledgiÌ„g him to be the lord of Dauid we coÌ„fesse him to be very god man sent from the father into the worlde that by him we shulde be saued This so excellent a mistery is hidden from the Pharisees all that iustifie them selues but vnto vs that know worship the father in Christ Christ in the father it is plainly opened well knowen This preaching of Christ that he is the sonne and lord of Dauid agreeth wel with the question of the law The lawe openeth sin but it forgiueth not sinne for that high power is only giuen vnto Christ our lord the son of Dauid Also the lawe teacheth what we ought to do and forbere but she giueth not the spirite which canne do that the lawe commaundeth Wherfore ther belongeth besides the preaching of the lawe which doth humiliat vs the preaching of the sonne and lord of Dauid that is the goâ—pell which may pacifye our troubled consciences may giue vs the holy ghost to teach vs willyngly and for loue to do that thing that god requiret of vs. Which knowledg god the father graunt vs through Christ our lord Amen The ninetenth sonday after trinity sonday Mat. 9. HE entred also into a ship and passed ouer came into his owne citie And behold Mat. 2. Luc. 5. b they brought to him a man sick of the palsy lying in a bed And when Iesus sawe the faith of theÌ„ he sayd vnto the sick of the palsy Son be of good chere thy sinnes be forgyuen the. And behold certain of the scribes said within them selues this maÌ„ blasphameth And when Iesus sawe their thoughts he said Wherfore think ye euell in your harts Whether is easyer to say Thy synnes be forgiueÌ„ the or to say arise walk But that ye may know that the son of maÌ„ hath power to forgeue sinnes in earth Then saith he vnto the sick of the palsy Actu 3. and. 9. f Mar. 2. Luc. 5. c Ioh. 5. b Arise take vp thy bed and go vnto thine house And he arose and departed to his house But the people that saw it meruailed and gloryfied God which had giuen suche power vnto men THE EXPOSITION IN this gospel is haÌ„dled one of the most principal articles of our faith that is remission of sinnes Wolde god that we might learn vnderstand this article For it is a necessary thing for vs to know how our sinnes be forgiuen vs. Sin is a terrible word briÌ„ging with him euerlastiÌ„g damnacioÌ„ if we abide perseuer therin Furthermore sinne so highly displeaseth god that he wold not be pleased with no other satisfaccioÌ„ thaÌ„ with the passion death of his onli son Iesus Christe our lorde Moreouer ther is scarce ani other word that hath more coÌ„solation comfort in it theÌ„ remissioÌ„ of syns hath in especial if we knowe froÌ„ whence it coÌ„meth and how we may apprehende it The whiche thyng we may perceiue in this gospel They offered vnto Christ a maÌ„ sicke of the Palsey that he should heale him But what did Christ He knewe full well The disease of the soule that the disease of the soule was muche more dauÌ„gerous then the disease of the body And though he intended to heale take awaye the bodily disease of this man that had the palsey yet he did and brought to passe fyrst that whiche was more nedefull necessary afterward healed the body And that is the cause why he is called a physicion in the gospel because he doth chiefly take away the diseases of the soule as he sayth of him selfe The whole nede not the Physicion Mat. 9. but they that are sicke Christ of his mere grace for geueth synne Wherfore he sayd to the maÌ„ that had the Palsey My soÌ„ne be of a good chere thy synnes bee forgeuen thee Here thou hearest the name of synne and hearest also that ioyfull name of forgeuyng And if diligently thou wylte considre who it is that speaketh these thynges thou mayst lightly perceiue and fynde what he is that wyl forgeue vs our synnes so that we knowlege and confesse theim and desire grace we may perceiue I say that it is Iesus Christe oure Lorde to whom is graunted of God the father this power to forgeue synne as the Angell wytnesseth saiyng Mat. 1. He shall saue his people from their synne And as wee necessarily may note and marke here that remission of synnes is and commeth of mere grace by Christe without any deseruyng of woorkes so lykewyse it is to bee noted howe gentely and mercyfully Christ here in this place doth shewe him selfe This man that had the palsey prayeth and desireth onely for his bodily health and Christ healeth him both in body and soule yea and maketh him the sonne and heyre of God and sayth Sonne be of a good chere O vnspeakeable charitee whiche can not bee expressed O mercyfull and louyng Lorde can there be shewed greatter grace to this maÌ„ that had the Palsey The sinnes are two maner of wayes forgeueÌ„ Esa 34 But
his spirit so long shall that fayth whiche Christ requireth of vs with so many woordes bee no greater in vs then it was here in S. Thomas Many there be which suppose that fayth is so common a thyng that it is in euery mannes freewylle to beleue who wyll that Christe dyed rose againe the third day Whiche if it were so in deede what needed Christ to saye these words Suppose you that the sonne of man Luc. 28. when he commeth shall finde faithe vppon earthe Moreouer what was the cause that the Apostels in the tyme of the resurrection of Christ were so rude and ignoraunt in the matter of fayth and iustificacion Nor it is not to be thought that suche thinge happened only vnto S. Thomas and not to the reste of the Apostests except that wee wyll saye that all suche tokens and actes which we fynde in the story of the resurrection of Christ fyrst doon through angels and then by Christe himselfe whereby the Apostels in this article were confirmed were vanities and lyes I may suffre euery man to say herein his pleasure Yet doo I thus thinke and can approue yt by many testimonies of scripture that no mortal man how well learned or wise so euer he be how good or sharpe witted so euer he be can learne or be instructed in the faith of Christ The holy ghoste worketh faithe in vs. Esai 54 except the singular grace of the holy ghoste drawe him and instruct him therin The prophete sayth They shal be all taught of god Then if I can instructe and teache my selfe in those thinges that concerne our faythe what need hath god to teach me Vpon this reason S. Iohn the euangelyst saith Hee came into his owne Iohn 1. and his owne receyued him not If faith be such a light and an easye thinge to come by what was the cause that the Iewes were so ignoraunt in the comynge of their Messias whiche were taught and brought vp in the lawe Or for what cause dothe the lyghte shine in darkenes and the darkenes can not comprehende it Wherefore it is meete that wee learne hereout that it is not in euery mannes power to haue fayth but that it is a gyfte and a woorke of God only as we fynde in this place of sainct Thomas that in no maner of wyse he would beleue excepte he sawe with his eyen and felte with his fyngers Secondarily wee fynde in this ensample howe paciently and gently Christe suffereth suche imbecilitee and weakenes in his seruauntes Yea he turneth suche mekenesse into a strong fayth For as we reade in the history of the resurrection howe he fyrst did appeare vnto the women and the Apostles so he dothe seeme here likewyse in this place vnto the vnfaythfull Thomas because he should not styl perseuer in incredulitee but should become faythfull He came the eight daye after his resurrection vnto the disciples and besydes that he saluted theim with his peace he shewed vnto Thomas his handes and his feete saiyng Bryng thy fynger hither and see my handes and reche hether thy hande and thrust it into my syde and bee not faythlesse but beleuyng Is not this a highe and an excellent pacience and gentylnes in suche wyse to suffre the weakenes of his electe And I beseche you howe could bee done vnto Thomas a greatter pleasure For except he had sene and felt he would not haue beleued And yet was Christ so good and so full of pitie that Thomas had all his wylle and mynde For besydes that he rebuked him with most gentle and swete woordes he suffered him to put his fynger in his syde O good Lord what great affection and loue thynkest thou dothe he beare to his electe seruauntes Doth not this place approue and confirme the same saiyng that he vsed whyle he was yet in this mortal life saiyng Mat. 11 Come vnto me all ye that labour and are laden and I wyl ease you Note also here howe Christ throughly learneth and instructeth Thomas bothe with wordes and tokens The wordes wherewith he is taught driueth away and expelleth his incredulite which wordes are so layde against him that therby thou mayest perceiue no greatter synne to be vpon yearth then is incredulitee Whereout Incredulite is a great sinne as out of a fountayne and sprynge floweth all other synnes For he sayth Bee not faythlesse but beleue As though he would saye If thou fall from the fayth thou art vtterly vndone But if thou bee faythfull and beleuest hereafter do not doubt of the merites of my resurrection then trust surely that this incredulitee shall not in any wyse hynder or hurte thee but shall so and in suche maner of wyse be forgeuen thee that hereafter I wyll neuer remembre it more For I require nothyng els for this great benefite whiche I haue purchased for the whole world through my bitter passion then only a faythfull heart whiche shall not putte his confidence in no creature whether it bee in heauen or in yearth excepte onely in my merites and deseruyng Beholde howe with these wordes thapostle is reduced and brought to true fayth And likewyse as he is strengthened and comforted with wordes so also is he holpen with signes tokens Signes confirmeth fayth which for the most part is shewed to confirme our fayth And yet it is done after a most symple maner by reason he may the easyer be brought to a true fayth and beleue Who would not put and set his trust in suche a mercyfull and a gentle Lorde Who would set his hope in any other except him onely Thirdly this Gospel prayseth and commendeth tranquilitee Peace of conscience quietnes and peace of conscience and sheweth likewise howe that Christ hath communicated the same to the Apostles And of this peace Christ speaketh before his passion Iho. 14 saiyng Peace I leaue with you my peace I geue vnto you not as the worlde geueth geue I vnto you c. With the whiche wordes Christ maketh a difference betwene a ciuile a christian fayth The peace of the wolrde lyeth in ciuile and corporal thynges wherevnto if ryches and goodes chaunce plenteously it maketh menne very negligent and careles incase it bee not prouided and preuented through the word of God But a christian peace cōsisteth in spiritual thynges which maketh a man hardy strong in persecution and temptacion and suche a one as when extreme necessitee and the honour of God dothe so require they shall not onely not fear the deuil with the world and all their adherentes but also shal dispise them and set nothing by them Act. 5. as we see the Apostles did after that the holy ghost was confirmed in them Suche a fayth doth Christ worke in his seruantes and is apprehended of theim onely that with a true fayth knowledge embrace Iesus Christ their lord And this peace I haue so longe as I beleue in Christ And nowe if I do not beleeue it
is not possible that I can haue any peace in my conscience towarde God for my synnes sake whiche alwayes accuseth me in my conscience nor wyll not suffre me to come nor attaine to this spiritual peace Fourthly The cōfession of Thomas wee fynde here an excellent confession in Thomas in whiche he knowlegeth Christ to bee his God and his Lorde And this confession is so nedefull and necessary without the whiche no man can haue the true righteousnes that preuaileth before God nor entre into the kyngdome of heauen But note also howe afore that Christe had shewed his handes and his feete vnto Thomas he could not haue this cōfession Handes and fete what it is in scripture Handes and feete in scripture betokeneth often tymes workes and conuersacion Therfore when Christ sheweth vs his handes and feete that is When he hath brought vs to that point throught his spirite and worde that we acknowlege his merites passion death and finally all his workes onely to be the cause of our righteousnes and saluacion then may we saye with the Apostle My Lorde my God and put all our trust in him accordīg to the saiyng of Dauid Ps 54. Set your trust in the Lorde and he shall care for you When Christ doth not in suche wyse shewe vs his handes and fete so is it for vs vnpossible to make any such confession For sainct Paule sayeth not without a cause to the Corinthians saiyng 1. Co. 12 No man can say that IESVS is the Lorde then through the holy ghost Wherefore it is Christe that must bryng vs to this confession Further note that Thomas beyng enflamed with the holy ghost calleth Christ his god This such lyke sentences by the whiche it is proued that Christ is the true naturall God ought diligently to bee noted and surely layde vp in our mindes and especially nowe in this last and perilous tyme. Wherfore it is very necessary when suche errors abuses crepe in whiche God forbid that wee bee well instructed with this confession of Thomas lest wee bee vtterly drawen from the true fayth of Christe With this confession of Thomas sainct Ihon in his canonical Epistle agreeth very aptely 1. Iho. 5 where he calleth Christ very God and euerlastyng light whiche is freely confessed Christ to be the true God He that wyll these admonicions notwithstandyng be deceiued on his perill be it For we truely through the helpe of God wyll stand liue and dye in this article in suche hope and trust that the almightie God of his great mercy goodnes will maintayn vs here euerlastyngly through his only sonne our Lord Iesus Christ Amen The Gospell on sainct Stephin his day the Martyr Math. 23. WHerfore beholde Mat. 10 Luc. 11. Ioh. 16 Act. 6. and. 7. I sende vnto you prophetes and wyse men ◠Scribes and some of theim ye shall kyll and crucifie and some of theim shall ye scourge in your synagoges and perse cure theim frō citie to citie that vpō you may come all the righteous bloud whiche hath been shedde vpon the yearth frō the bloud of righteous Gen. 3. Abel vnto the bloud of Zacharye the sonne o◠Barachias 2. Pa. 24 whom ye flewe betwene the temple and the altar Verely I say vnto you all these thynges shall come vpon this generacion Luc. 13. O Ierusalem Ierusalem thou that kyilest the prophetes and stonest theim whiche are sent vnto thee howe often would 4. Es ◠I haue gathered thy children together euen as the Henne gathereth her chickyns vnder her wynges and ye would not Behold Psal 9. your house is lefte vnto you desolate For I say vnto you ye shall not see me hencefurth tyll that ye say * Ps 118 Luc. 9. Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lorde THE EXPOSITION IN this Gospell Christ handeleth the Iewes somewhat roughly like as one that almost had made an ende of his course runnyng and nere to his death ready to be offered vppe Yea he reproueth them in suche wyse of their blyndnes maliciousnes and their indurate heart and that with so great vehemency and so ernestly that he could not hardlyer assault them And that their ingratitude shuld be the better knowen vnto them and be brought to light he reciteth vnto theim the great benefites that God from the beginnyng of the worlde had visited theim with all yea and that whiche was yet commyng before that their great cicie of Ierusalem should bee destroyed And sayd howe he sent theim Prophetes Wysemen and Scribes and euer had sought all meanes and occasions to bryng them through their preachyng to saluacion yet al would not helpe Prophetes He calleth Prophetes those whiche throughe the inspiracion of the holy ghost and by the commaundement of God prophecie and teache the people the will of God And which haue been taught of no mā except of God onely as Moses was Wyse men And he calleth wyse men those that haue learned and heard all their wysdome of other good men and are ready to vtter it againe to all men as was Aaron in the olde Testament and sainct Stephin in the newe Testament Scrybes Scribes he calleth those whiche not onely throughe preachyng the woorde of God but also through their diligent labour in writyng teache other menne and profiteth theim highely as were many after the Apostles tyme and likewyse in our tyme there be many that haue done muche good in the church of Christ and dayly yet dothe Of the whiche in another place Christ sayth Mat. 13 Euery Scribe taught vnto the kyngdome of heauen is like an housholder which bringeth furth of his treasure thynges newe and olde Out of whiche woordes lightly may bee gathered the greate benefites that God had shewed vpon the Iewes And how I pray you can be so wyse or wel learned that can comprehend with words al the benefites that god had shewed vnto the Iewes from that tyme that he had brought them out of Egypt and deliuered them frō bondage A great benefite to haue the word of God And yet amongst all other this was the greatest highest benefite that he had geuen them his worde without doubt a most precious and excellent gyfte Whiche gyfte was so great Rom. 4 that as sainct Paule sayth they farre excelled vs Heathen people forasmuche as God hadde committed his woorde vnto theim And the prophete Dauid boasteth Psal 16 that god had doone no suche thinge to all nations lyke as he had done vnto the Iewes But they shewed them selues againe so vnthankefull that it constrained god to take awaye that same worde from them as wee see in the eight chapiter of the prophet Amos saying Beholde the tyme commeth sayeth the lorde god Amos. 8 that I shall sende an hunger into the earthe not the hunger of breade neither the thruste of water but an hunger to heare the worde of the lorde And the truthe of
beleuest that all this was done for thy wealth then receyuest thou that glad tidynges which preacheth vnto the that thou shalt not perishe but art deliuered from all thy synnes and shalt liue with Christ eternally Is not this a wonderous great profyte that thou hast by the passion of Christ where are I pray you nowe Note this ye sectaries that sell your merites to other those iusticiaries whiche ascribe their saluacion not vnto the passion and death of oure Lorde Iesu Christ but vnto the merites of their owne workes Surely they erre exceadyng sore that so beleue For doubtlesse our owne woorkes were neuer able to performe so great a thing but Christ Christ I say Christ only is he that by his death passion and by the effusion of his precious bloudde geueth freely and maketh vs to possesse eternal helth For he is made vnto vs wisedome from God 1. Cor. 1 and righteousnes and sanctificacion and redempcion Secondarily wee heare nowe of the Euangelist Ihon that when Christ had ended that his last supper had finished that excellent sermon made then vnto his disciples he went furth with his disciples ouer the broke called CedroÌ„ into a certain garden to pray Prayer requireth a secrete place 1. Ti. 2. Some men wyll say what meaneth this that Christ taryeth not within the house Shuld prayer be bound vnto certaine prescrybed places Nay truly For sainct Paule wylleth that in euery place we holde vp our handes vnto God Yet that notwithstanding suche is the nature of feruent and earnest prayer that it may bee farre better and deuoutlyer done Mat. 6 in some secrete place or as Christ sayth in thy chambre then in suche places where is great resort of people Ma. 14 as we also see in the gospel of Mathewe howe Iesus weÌ„t alone into the mountaine to pray But then specially is it agreable that he that prayeth be alone and farre from other when his necessitee panges of his mynd are great that he may so much the more frely shed furth his whole heart before the Lorde his God and in his lappe laye furth all his aduersitee whatsoeuer it be And now what thynke you moued Christ to departe asyde into the garden to pray Necessitee compelleth men to pray Surely that exceadyng great anguishe of his heart For nowe he knewe that the tyme was come of his passion whiche he so sore feared that he sayd My soule is sorowfull vnto the death And againe O my father if it be possible let this cuppe passe froÌ„ me You heare in this place howe great feare how great anguishe how great tribulacion and pensiuenes was in the fleshe of Christ And doubtlesse the same feare inuaded him when he haÌ„gyng vpoÌ„ the crosse cryed out with the saiyng of the Psalmist Oh God Oh my God why hast thou forsaken me Psa 21. But nowe ponder what Christ doth in suche necessitee froÌ„ whence he asketh comfort helpe Christ asketh at his heaueÌ„ly father Doubtles he hath no maner of helpe comfort or hope but in his heaueÌ„ly father at whose hand also he loketh for all coÌ„solacion seyng that it was impossible for any creature to helpe in suche necessitee and trouble And although he muste needes drynke of the cuppe of his passion yet was he comforted strengthned by his heauenly father whiche sent an Angel from heauen to comfort him Luc. 22. which altogether was done for vs. For this infirmitee of Christe that wee here see was made our strength For surely we could neuer haue been able to ouercome any temptacioÌ„ but only by Christ Whensoeuer therfore in our necessitee wee aske any thyng of oure heauenly father for Christes sake we shal doubtles for Christ obtayne helpe comfort and all oure heartes desire and bee assured of most sure consolacion Thirdely when Christe hadde ended his prayer Iudas came with the seruantes of the Bishoppes and Phariseis to betraye his Maister and Lorde to delyuer him into the handes of the Bishops and Priestes Is not this an horrible thing to speake especially that an Apostle betrayed Christe Before he had preached the gospell before hee hadde done myracles yea and so behaued him selfe that he seemed nothing vnlyke the other Apostles Besydes this it was not longe before that he sate at one table with Christ and his Apostles and was partener of his Supper and hadde hearde with howe greate pacience and meekemes although in close wordes the lorde had called him vnto repentance Yet notwithstandinge he was so sore indurate and blynded that for a little vyle money he selleth hys Lord Ther is no truste in man and betrayeth him vnto the Iewes Who canne nowe haue any truste in manne seeyng this traytour dare be so bold as one that hathe none euell in his mynde or thynketh no harme to kysse Christe Who also shall boast himselfe of the gyfte that God hath gyuen him before hee come vnto a blessed and christian end Doutles it was not said for noughte Mat 24 Hee that perseuereth vnto the ende shal be saued There are manye that haue a good begynnyng when they firste beginne to beleue as we haue experience of suche in our times For ther haue been some whiche in the beginning when the gospell beganne to florysh were so feruent and excedinge herty that in manner they dyd durste oute all togither with feruent loue and seemed as they wold at ones deuour the whole gospell But a verye small numbre is there of theim that haue continued the same hartye good mind vnto a good fortunable and perfecte ende Wherefore this is euer true that our sauiour Christ saith Mat. 1â— The last shal be fyrst and the fyrst laste What nedeth mo wordes When suche men ones fall frome the gospell they runne into suche enuye and hatred against it that without doubt they would do as Iudas here doth to his lorde and maister if god woâ—d permitte vnto them occasion to do it Howe often I praye you complaineth S. Paul of such false brethren Note this O chrisâ—ian reader do it Therfore all christian men haue a greate cause without ceassyng to offre prayers vnto god by Christe that not only he wold bring vs vnto the trew and right faith but also that of his great mercy and vnspeakable goodnes he voutchsafe to conserue vs in the same vnto the ende Fourthely we see in this place Christe wyllinglye gaue him vnto the crosse howe willyngly Christe gaue himselfe vnto the crosse for so saithe the texte Then Iesus knowinge all thinges that shulde come vnto him hee wente to meete theym and sayde Whome seeke ye They answered hym Iesus of Nazareth And Iesus sayd vnto them I am he Is it not fulfilled in this place that the prophete sayd Esa 53. Hee shall bee ledde as a sheepe vnto the slaughter and as a lambe before the sherer so shal he hold his peace and he shall not open his mouth And
you Yet notwithstādīg it is so couered with the crosse that it can be seen or knowē of no mā but of him to whom it is geuen of God to se it Thyrdly The blindnes of Iudges that order matters for frēdship or fauour here is set furth the example of a wicked Iudge in Pylate For he although he well considered the innocency of Christ was well ascertained that he had not deserued the death as he himself also confessed yet for the frendship fauor of the Iewes only he deliuered Iesus to the ministers to be scourged to be crouned with thornes to bee spyt vpon stryken Besydes all this was it not a great blyndnes hee was scourged and most vyllainously entreated Furthermore he brought him furth sayd Behold I bring him furth to you that you may know that I haue founde in him no cause worthy death If thou fynde no cause in him worthy of death I pray the Pylate why dyddest thou delyuer him to the Iewes to be scourged and sufferest the souldiers seruantes to vse so great tyrannye and euyl agaynst hym Or wherefore sayest thou afterwarde Take him you and crucify him accordyng to your lawe as for me I fynd no cause in hym Is this the offce of a Iudge to deliuer an innocent cōuict by no wytnesse into the hādes of his enemyes Euen thus surely it cōmeth to passe when men wyll be Iudges and retayne the fauour of menne as it chaunsed here vnto Pylate But what sayth God in this matter Forsoth thus In waye of iudgement bee not thou an acceptor of persones Deu. 1. that is In iudgement thou shalt do to a straunger and vnknowen as to thy frende and acquayntaunce Deale with the poore as with the ryche And briefly be to one man as to another so that no man maye haue iust occasion to complayne either of violence tyranny affection or fauour parcialitee or iniustice But this dothe not Pylate here regarde but lest he should lese Cesars fauour he willyngly doth that thyng for the Iewes pleasure that he was very well ascertayned to be vniust and vntrue For why with his owne mouthe he pronounceth that he founde no cause in Christ worthy death and yet presumeth he to doo this horrible facte to condempne Christe and to adiudge him to deathe Nowe lette vs not thynke but that euen in oure tyme lyke iniquitee maye bee founde Pylate somtyme iudgethe in oure tymes yea dayly lyke ensamples are doone before our eyes if menne wyll at the least open theyr eyes and looke vpon theim For where Christ oure Lorde is and reigneth by his woorde spirite and Gospell there muste it needes bee also that the poore Christians suffre all tyranny of the enemyes of the Gospel yea though theyr behauour be suche that they offende and hurte no man Furthermore it is impossible but suche as bee aduersaryes of the trueth shall together conspire against it yea though they before were most vtter enemies as in this place we se Pylate Herode do Euen so in our tyme wee see them that before were mortal enemies at dissencion with in them selues nowe they become hye louers frendes and agree in one to persecute the gospel and to murther innocentes But be thou of a good cōfort thou I say that hast receiued the trueth louest it We haue this Christ whiche rose frō death the thyrd day ouercame all his enemies and aduersaries furthermore hath receyued al power in heauen and yearth This Christ if we continue stedfast in faith vnto the ende wyll take our part stād on our side saue vs so that we shal neuer be seperate from him Fourthly The truth is euerie-s sted out of coūtenaunce Pylate again skornfully asketh Christ saiyng What is truth takyng occasiō to aske that question because he heard Christ say I came into the worlde for this intent that I might beare wytnesse vnto the truth And as in this place we lerne that the truth gospel shal euer by this worlde be mocked dispised iested out of countenance and that mans reason nor any wyt of man can by it selfe take or apprehēd it so also must we know what Christ in this place calleth the truth Truthe Neither may wee take this diffinicion of the truth out of our owne brayne but of the gospel of S. Ihon where Christ himself teacheth defineth it Thy sermon or worde O father sayth he is the truth But what sermon is it or what maner woorde is it Truely none other sermon or worde but the same woorde of his heauenly father that is to say the most holy gospel For this is suche a worde of so great power that it is able to comfort the brused feareful cōsciences and geueth the holye ghoste whiche leadeth vs from all hipocrisy whiche most of al thinges is enemy vnto the truth And of this worde also speaketh the apostle Paul sayinge Rom. 1. The gospell is the power of god vnto health or saluacion to euery manne that beleueth It was necessary for Christ to bear witnes to those thinges as he sayth vnto Pilate that is he muste needs in his preachinge set forth this truth which truth is none other but the worde of god and the gospell whereby ys sette forthe vnto all men the good will of god toward all those that receiue and professe his gospell But nowe if I wyll know this truthe and by the knowledge of it attaine vnto eternall health I maye not go aboute it scornefully as Pylate dothe in this place But I must doo as the Tessalonians dyd in the actes of the apostels Act. 17. Those that receiued the worde were very studious and dayly searched the scriptures whether it were so as the Apostels preached For if I do so without doubt the vnderstanding and sence of the scripture shal not be denayed me but aboundantly giuen vnto me Psa 18. as the scripture testifieth The witnesse of the lord is faithfull giuing wisdome vnto babes And to this pertaineth it that Christe saithe in Iohn Search the scripture for thei beare witnes of me The fowerth sermon on the passion Ioh. 19. THen Pylate took Iesus therfore scourged him Ma. 27 Mar. 15 And the souldiers wounde a croune of thornes and put on his heade And thei did on him a purple garmente and came vnto him and sayd Hayl kyng of the Iewes and they smote him on the face Pylate went forth againe and said vnto them Behold I bringe him forthe to you that ye may know that I fynd nofaute in him Then came Iesus forthe wearinge a croune of thorne and a robe of purple And he saieth vnto them Beholde the man Mat 27 Mar. 15 Luc. 23. When the high Priestes therfore and ministers sawe him they cryed saying Crucifye him Crucifye him Pilate saithe vnto them Take ye hym and crucifi hym for I fynd no cause in him The Iewes answered hym We haue
come by these and many mo sectes Furthermore this slaunder is against loue as when I wyll not obey the Magistrate I will not do and paye as other men doo and paye neither beare the common charges as other beare but I wyll be cleane without lawe and haue a singuler prerogatiue afore al other Of this slaunder Christe hym selfe saithe to Peter Mat. â—7 Leaste we shoulde bee a slaunder vnto them go to the sea and cast thy hooke and that fyshe which firste commeth take him vppe open his mouthe and thou shalte fynde a grote take it oute and giue it them for the and me Nowe withoute doubt these slanders shall continue in the worlde vnto the end And especiall the slaunderers of doctrine shall bee both greuous and vehemente But what remedye againste this slaunder Spiritually are the handes and feete cut of I muste cut of that whiche woulde offende me be it either foot hande or eyes that is I must continue in the worde nothing consyderyng what shall chaunce euen thoughe father or mother brother or syster wyfe or children kinne or affinytye monye or ryches woulde plucke me frome it yet muste I sette more by the woorde then by all these For better yt is that I forsake all thynges be they neuer so deere and precious in thys worlde and to bee saued afore god then to haue all menne my friendes and be separated from god And seeynge that god wyll so extremelye punyshe theym that rayse suche slaunders what thynke yee shall come to suche as for those slaunders leaue and forsake the trueth Doubtlesse hee shall punishe theym both alyke Fourthly here is a general admonicion vnto al men that they dispyse none of these lytleones that are dead to the worlde poore in spirit and knyt together one in Christ Yea there is also assygned a cause why they shuld beware of hurtyng them The lytle ones wherfore they are not to be offended Psal 19 For their Angels sayth Christ in heauen alway see the face of my father whiche is in heauen Surely without doubt if God be so mercyful to his seruauntes that he hath appointed Angels vnto this ministery to kepe and defende them doubtles then this wyll please him but a lytle if they be dispised persecuted troubled troden vnder foote For surely the Lord is as careful for them as if these thinges were done vnto himselfe And furthermore he must nedes be discoÌ„tented to se them euil entreated for whose sake he came into this worlde and shedde his precious bloud I pray you who can thynke otherwyse in this behalfe Shall it not prouoke his anger that wee dispyse those whoÌ„ he hath redemed with his death and precious bloud shed For if that lost shepe be so deare to him and he so entyrely loued it that he left nyntye and nyne in the wyldernes and ceassed not seekyng tyll he had founde it why should wee then either persecute or trouble that sheepe Surely he may suffre it but without doubt he wyl not leaue it vnpunished Furthermore he sayth It is not his fathers wyll that one of these lytleones should peryshe Are not these strong reasons that might well refrayne vs from persecutyng of our christian brethren Theyr angels sayth Christe whiche must serue them euer see the face of my father Trueth it is that I wyll be their sauior and my fathers wyll is that they should not perishe Nowe if these wordes wyll not moue vs surely I knowe not what should moue vs to learne to loue christian men and not to despyse theim But commonly it so chaunseth that these poore lytle ones of Christ haue euermore persecucion then fauour in this worlde Wherfore I beseche God graunt vs grace to perseuer in his fayth and paciently for his names sake to suffre persecucion vnto th ende through Christ our Lord. Amen The gospel on sainct Lukes day the EuaÌ„gelist ye shall fynde after Alhalowen day The gospel on sainct Symon and Iudes day Ihon. 15. Greater loue hath no maÌ„ then this that a man bestow his life for his frendes Ye are my frendes if ye do whatsoeuer I coÌ„maunde you Hencefurth call I you not seruauntes for the seruaunt knoweth not what his lorde doth But you haue I called frendes For all thynges that I haue heard of my father haue I opened to you Ye haue not chosen me but I haue chosen you and ordayned you to go and bryng furth fruite and that your fruite should remayne that whatsoeuer ye aske of the father in my name he may geue it you THE EXPOSITION CHrist gaue his disciples this coÌ„maundemeÌ„t of brotherly loue after that last supper when he now knewe the tyme of his passion at hand that immediatly he shuld be taken away froÌ„ them Surely this is an vndoubted truth that there is besydes fayth no woorke in the worlde nor none can be that shal be acceptable vnto God saue onely charitee and loue of my neighbour of the whiche Christ speaketh in this Gospel Or els why should Christ with so great seueritee and earnest admonicion in that his last sermon that euer he made Christes coÌ„maundement of charitee haue geuen and inculcate this precepte of charitee And here note two thynges Fyrst that Christ gaue this precept and not Moses For if it were Moses precept it shuld be a precept as the other preceptes were in the lawe whiche in dede taught coÌ„maunded what should be done and what should bee lefte vndone but thei gaue not the spirit wherby it might be done with free heart and courage But Christ doth not here so but as he sheweth what is necessary to be done euen so he also geueth the spirit that we may be able to do those thinges that he hath coÌ„maunded And this is the onely cause why he him selfe sayth of his preceptes My yoke is swete my burthen light And sainct Ihon in his Epistle Canonical saith His coÌ„maundementes are not heauy Wherefore these woorkes of loue are not hypocrites workes like as the workes of the lawe were whiche the Iewes did without spirit but whatsoeuer a Christian doth in this behalfe he doth it with an whole heart 1 Co. 14 euen as sainct Paule sayth Charitee seketh not the thyng that is her owne For why A christian knoweth that Christe requireth not onely true fayth that worshippeth the father in spirit and truth but also he requireth an vnfayned loue Further note that this loue spryngeth not of her selfe but it spryngeth furth of fayth so that whersoeuer there is no fayth there can neuer bee any true loue Fayth Loue. Fayth heareth the woorde of God taketh holde vpon those thynges that the same worde promyseth in the merytes of Christe and so obtayneth without any merites of workes only of mere grace and mercy remission of synnes righteousnes eternal life Nowe if any maÌ„ wyl in this cause of iustifycacion admyxt the myre of his owne workes he goth cleane out of the way