it no robbery him to be equall with god that is by no oniuste tytull he thought he had possessed that honoure and no iniury was done to god the father for Christe is god as the father is god and Christe and the father be one Iohn 17. saith Christ I and my father are one And therfore he knew he shulde not lose that tytul that he shulde be equall with the father in substaunce and deite nor feared not the losynge of it as these do that by robbery or vnlawfully get ony name or tytull of honour or dygnite Christe beynge by nature god thought it no robbery him to be equall with the father If christ dyd humble him selfe our lorde and kynge it is a shame for vs seruauntes and subiectes to be prowde seyng we haue nothyng good but of him by him for his sake as Iohn teacheth Iohn 1. All thynges are by him and without him nothynge is made This place sheweth in Christe two natures that is to saye his dyuyne nature and his humayne nature after his dyuyne nature he is god and alwaye equall to the father after his humayne nature he humbled him selfe and toke the shape of a seruaunte vpon him and in shape and maner of lyuynge was a man and toke all the infirmites of man vpō him synne onely excepted for he neuer sinned nor in him was any crafte founde and thus Christ dyd humble him selfe that by his humblenes he shulde exalte vs and brynge vs to heauen and by his example of humilite reproue our arrogante hartes and stomakes and teache hūblenes of harte mynde in wordes workes not onely christ humbled him selfe ī the shape of a seruante or as a seruaunte but also he humbled him selfe to death and that to the death of the crosse that by his death we shulde be delyuered from death for by death he ouer came death and brought vs that was ded by synne to eternall lyfe vnto the whiche we shulde neuer haue comed if Christ had not suffered death for vs to brynge vs to lyfe Therfore hath god exalted him and gyuen him a name which is aboue all names that in the name of Iesus euery kne shulde bowe both of thynges vnder the earth and that all tonges shulde confesse that Iesus Christ is the lorde vnto the prayse of god the father Because before he shewed the humylyte of Christ and that vnto the death of the crosse that no man shulde thynke Christe alwaye to be in that humblenes of the crosse or thynke that Christe was so receyued of the father of heauen as he was of the worlde nowe he sheweth of the exaltacion or of the glory of christ that folowed his humblenes of the crosse that no man shulde thynke men to lose any honour or glory by humilyte but rather to get therby hye honours with men and great glorye with god For the scrypture sayth Math. 19. That he that humbleth them selfe shall be exalted and he that exalteth him selfe shall be humyliated and made lawe And here of a rewarde that is of exaltyng he exhorteth men to humylyte after the example of Christ Iesus we may be ashamed to be proude whē our lorde and mayster is humble and yf we wyll or desyre to be exalted let vs be humble and lowly in our selfes for the waye to hye honours be by humylite and by the crosse although flesshe and worldly wysedome do not iudge so but the contrarye 2. He sayth that god hath exalted Christe Iesus to hye honours and gyuen him a name aboue all names whiche saynge are to be vnderstanded not so that Christ was not alwaye in hyest honours or that his name was not alwayes aboue all other names after his deite and diuine nature by the which he was lyke to the father one with him ī substāce deyte glory but this is spokē after his humayne nature and after it he was exalted to hye honours and to a name aboue al other names and his name is taken in this place as oftymes in scripture for his powre and maiestye whiche Christ had aboue all other powres maiesty aboue all creatures of the worlde that all creatures in the worlde in heauen and in earth shulde be obedient to him shulde bowe their knees to him and gyue him honour and reuerence and acknowledge him to be lorde ouer all creatures 3. And that all tonges shulde confesse that Iesus Christe is the lorde vnto the prayse of god the father God hath exalted Christ Iesus also that all tonges of angelles of men and of all other creatures shulde confesse Christe Iesus to be lorde ouer all them and that of him haue they helth lyfe and saluation and of none other but of him alone and by him and in him and that vnto the glory of god that all thynges shulde be done to goddes glorye and that o to honour Christ is to the glorye of the father Wherfore my deare beloued as ye haue alwaye obeyed not onely in my presence but now also moch more in my absēce euen so worke out your owne saluation with feare and tremlyng For it is god whiche worketh both the wyll and the dede euen of his owne good wyll Of these wordes that go before he now as it were gathereth a conclutiō after this wise you se what is the loue of Christe towardes you that dyd redeme you from synne death hell the deuyll and all the thraldome of the deuyll and that by no corruptyble thynge but by his precious bloode 1. Peter 1. you also haue barde what was Christes humilite vnto the death of the grosse for our sakes to bryng lyfe vnto vs all by his death and how he sought alwayes the health and saluation of other do you suche lyke as Christe dyd be humble and meke louyng and charitable alwaye seke the profyt of other and contynew in the same and you shall be exalted with Christ vnto glory not by your selfes but by Christ And here he exhorteth them after this maner derebelouyd hetherto you haue bene obedient to my counsell whiche I dyd gyue you for your heithe both in my presence and absence and you haue bene folowers of Christ walkyng accordyng to your vocatiō now do that I desyre of you for your profyt and here he prayseth them for their trew obedience to him that by that meanes he myght make them nowe more obediente to his holsome counselle and do them with more gladnes So we learne that we shulde do good not onely in the presence of the pastor but also in his absence as the seruaunte is bonde not onely to do well in his maisters presence but also in his absence Ephe. 6. For in so doyng they serue god which is present alwaye and alwaye do se them and loke vpon them and they trewly and faythfully seruynge their maister do serue god So let vs alwaye be obedient to god and to his worde be humble and meke sekynge alwaye thynges profytable to other and we shall
good thynges be punyshed and by punishement taught to vse good thynges better with thankes gyuynge to god lyke wyse I wyshe and desyre that the readyng of holy scryptures shulde not be forbyden all laye men and women but forbyden suche as do abuse them and do not take theÌ„ and rede them to theyr comfort in Christ and for amendement of theyr lyues and that such myghte haue them lawfully to teache them and their housolde vertu and godlynes 3. Here also we maye learne that Paule althoughe he preached goddes worde purely and syncerly yet he had many enemyes and aduersaries yea of that sorte that preached the gospell as he dyd to the people and so they wolde be counted as to preache the gospell of god for goddes glory and for the edifienge of the people for enuy and hatred they had to Paule and to brynge Paule in more hatred to Nero the Emperour and by that meanes to encrease Paules paynes and tormentes for they knewe that Nero wolde be more ferse and cruel agaynst Paule the more the gospell of god shulde be preached abrode and more publyshed Here we maye se what enuy and malyce do and that wycked men sometyme pretende holynes that they maye do displeasure to him whom they enuy and to bryng him to more tormentes and paynes as these aduersares of Paule dyd preache not purely nor syncerely but of enuy and of contention And yf there was such in Paules tymes that so enuyed saynte Paule lette vs not meruell yf there be such in our tyme that enuy all good preachers and wolde brynge them to paynes presone and tormentes Also here we maye se that as impiete destruction of the people was persuaded to Nero for the health and saluatioÌ„ of his people so to many christen prynces and hye ruelers it was persuaded the translation of the holy scriptures in the mothers tonge to be the destruction of the people so prynces haue erred for a tyme but thankes be to god that error is taken awaye from many prynces and hye ruelers and the treweth in the place of errour persuaded that the holy scriptures in the mother tonge be very profytable for all meÌ„ that wyll vse them well and these that do abuse them let them be punyshed in example to other that other may feare to abuse the holy scriptures of god gyuen for our saluation 4. Some preache Christ of a good wyll Nowe he toucheth the other parte saynge some men preache Christ purely and syncerly and of a good wyl and they be which of charyte and of loue to goddes glory the health of the people preache goddes worde truly nothyng elles regardynge but goddes glory and the edyfyenge of Christes people not sekynge thereby theyr owne lucre avantange honour and glorye Here we may se that in Paules lyfe there was some good preachers some euyll preachers nor euery one dyd not thynke well of Paule for some thought him an heretyke and a deceyuer of the people and therfore they labored with all diligence to increase his paynes and studed to brynge Paule to shame rebuke turmentes and death other there was that knewe Paule to preache the truth and to defende the gospell by his afflyctions and they made bolde by his constancy and pacience to preache and publyshe Chrstes gospell without all feare and that in the courte and hall of Nero. But here peradueÌ„ture some wyll aske dyd all know paule to preache the truethe no for god dyd not lighten euery mans mynde with the lyght of treuth for some dyd counte the treuth to be falsed and lees and the gospell to be heresy and dyd hate it as now yet some do call gods worde heresy and trew preachers of it heretykes and do hate them and persequute them the cause is they are not lyghtned with the light of truth but be blind in it whether that blyndnes hath deserued theyr malyce which hath bliÌ„dyd them or the prynce of this world haue blynded theyr eyes that they can not se nor yet here the truth of gods word preached 5. So that Christe be preached whether it be by occasion or trew meanynge I reioyse there in and wyll reioyse Here the apostle reioseth the worde of god to be preached how so euer it be preached of them that preache whether they do it of a good mynde or of an euyll purpose and intente it is better the worde of god to be publyshed abrode then to be hyd vnder the candelstyke and so hyd to profyt none for publyshed it profytes some and goâ—th not in vayne Esaye 55. For although they that preache it of an euyll mynde to hurt other or to make other more punished do not profyt them selfes so doynge nor do no profytable worke to them selfes yet they do a worke profytable to other wyll they nyll they they promote goddes glory so god order the matter of wycked men So here we maye learne that Christe maye be shewed of euyll men whiche profyt not them selfes so doyng but other so euyll men some tymes do workes profytable to other but not to them selfes yf it had not ben a good worke and pleasante to god Christ to be openly preached of euyll men Paule wolde not haue reioysed in it wherfore we may se that it is better an euyll man to gyue a peny to a poore man and to speake well of god then to gyue nothynge at all or to speake nothynge of god that is good this worke done of an euyll man is not merytorius as they call it for it is not done in fayth but it is called bonum opus in genere a good worke in it selfe yf it were done of a good faythfull maÌ„ and of a good intent it shulde haue his rewarde but bycause it commeth from an euyll man and of no good purpose it lacketh his rewarde before god for god doth not esteme workes done out of fayth of an euyl maÌ„ such workes be not acceptable before him nor he promyseth lyfe euerlastynge to suche as labor without fayth and lacketh charyte suche workes do not profyt to opteine eternal felicite and endles Ioye with Chiste 1 Corin. 13. For I know the same shall chaunce to my saluation through your prayer and mynystrynge of the spirite of Iesu Christe as I looke for and hoope that in nothynge I shall be ashamed but that with all confydence as alwayes in tymes past eueÌ„ so now Christ shall be magnyfyed in my body whether it be through lyfe or through death For Christe is my lyfe and deathe is to me auauntage Before he hath shewed the euyll purposes of them that preached Christe of contention and of a preteÌ„sed holynes and not of a good mynde or wyll but to hynder the gospel whiche they promoted so doynge although they inteÌ„ded the contrary and also to haue added to Paule more greuous paynes and affliccions Now he declareth that his aduersares culde not hurte him nor brynge him to death but rather the contrary he trusted throughe their
humylle prayer and adminystration of the spirite of god gyuen to him whiche can and wyll make all the labors of the aduersares vayne and make them to serue goddes truth and to be profytable to goddes mynisters rather then hurte to them Nowe howe Paule surely trusted the euyll purposes of his aduersares to be profytable to him and to the gospell of god by two thynges the one is by their prayer for he knewe the prayer of a iuste man to be moche worth before god Iame. 5. And therfore he vsed moche prayer and desired oftymes the prayers of other to teache vs to do suche lyke Secondly he hoped the euyll doynges of his aduersares not to hurte but rather to forder the gospell by the admynystration of the holy ghost to whom nothyng is impossible or dyfficulte but he wyll do what thyng that shall be most to goddes glory to the forderaunce of his worde and the health of the people 2. As I loke for and hope that in nothynge I shall be ashamed The apostle sheweth that his hope shuld neuer deceyue him for he was sure that these that put their ful trust hoope in god shulde not be confunded shulde neuer haue cause to mystrust god shuld at the lenght opteyne that thynge they hopeth for of god as it is wrytten oftymes in Dauids psalter our fathers haue hoped in the good lorde and they are not confounded they haue opteyned the thynge they hoped yea also he suerly trusteth that as god hath ben present with him other tymes and in places in his afflictions so he trusted that god wolde not leue him now destitute his ayde and healpe but wolde be with him and healpe him and delyuer him to the preferrement of the gospel Here we maye learne of Paule to desyre other to praye for vs and knowe the prayers of other to be profytable and to haue a sure trust in god and hope that god wyll not leue his seruauntes without helpe and comforte although for a tyme he suffer them to be in affliccions 3 As Christ alwayes in tymes past euen so now shall be magnifyed in my body whether it be through lyfe or thorugh death Here the apostle showeth what thynge he hoped of god that Christ shuld be alwayes magnified by him both in lyfe and in death that yf so be it he shulde lyue he wolde preache and teache alwhere Christes glorye and make it famous to al the worlde that al mē aboue all worldly thynges shulde desyre and study to set forthe honour and glory to god and to our sauiour Iesu Christe and to thynke them borne for this ende and purpose and moste speeyally byshoppes prelates pastours and curates whose hole study shulde be to promote goddes worde by pure and syncere preachynge of it and so by it puerly preached Christe shulde be magnifyed in their bodyes that is by them lyuyng in this lyfe in their bodyes sayeth he and yf it shulde chaunce me to dye as to suffer death for the gospells sake I do nothynge dowte but there by my death Christe Iesus shulde be magnifyed and that he is the onely sauyour and that there is no saluation with out him that there is none other in whome we shall be saued but onely in Iesu Christe and yf I shall suffer death for the gospelles sake I shulde haue no hurt by that but moch profyt whiche thynge I desyre that I myght be delyuered from moch sory payne and many euylles in this worlde to come to the heuēly ioyes that last alwaye vnto the which I cannot come without I be firste delyuered from this mortall body by bodely death after the example of Christ which first did suffer death and so entred into his glory so must they do that shal be partakers of his glorye Here we learne of Paule that death is more profytable to good men then lyfe But in as moch as to lyue in the fleshe is frutful to me for the worke I wote not what I shall chose for both these thynges lye harde vnto me I desyre to be loused to be with Christ which thynge were moch better for me but to a byde in the fleshe is more nedefull for you And this am I sure of that I shall abyde and contynew with you all for the furtheraunce and ioye of your fayth that ye maye abundanly reioyce in Christe Iesu through me by my commyng to you agayne The apostle openeth now more plainlye why he sayde his death shulde be to him auaūtage for by it he shulde be delyuered from the myseries wrechednes paynes tormentes and afflicciōs of this worlde and that he shuld be with Christ in heauen in glory and ioye and to lyue in this lyfe he knew it was but payne and labor for him 2. what I shall chose I wote not Two thynges came to the apostles mynde the one what was good for him only the other what was more profyt to the people of christ Iesu as for him selfe he knew it was moche better for him to dye then lyue for by that meanes he shulde be delyuered from trobles of the worlde from imprysonmēts and chaynes frō rebukes tauntes of the worlde but for the people he knewe his lyfe shulde be moch more profyt then is death for he knewe he shulde more profyt the people bryng thē to saluation by faythfull preachynge of goddes holy worde and for the peoples sake lokynge to their profyt he dyd not desyre death but rather to lyue in his fleshe that he myght bryng them to Christ and so to eternall saluation with Christ But of these two consydered all thynges he chosed rather to dye then to lyue not that he refused labors or to suffer paynes of imprysonment or of fetters or of death for these thynges he was contented to suffer but that he myght be delyuered out of the myseres and wretchednes of this lyfe and that he myght come to the eternall fylycite and ioye with Christe Iesu in heuen alwayes to be in blisse Here we learne of Paule death rather to be desyred then lyfe and deathe of good mē to be moche better to them then this presente lyfe that they shulde be no longer pylgrymars or far frō god but alwayes to be presēt with hī in glory filycite And therfore holy mē desyred of god to be dissolued frō this body this noughty world full of noughtynes vnhappynes that they shulde displese god no more that they shuld be wrapped no lēger ī the euyls myseres of this world ful of al euylnes that they myghte be with god in ioye in heuenly glory so after the example of good men shulde we al desyre rather death thē lyfe as they dyd The apostle here reproueth them that feare death and shrynketh in theyr bodyes when they here of death as doth carnall and worldly men whose harte mynde is all vpō carnall pleasures worldly desyres honours and dignytes for the fleshe feareth death and shrynketh at
saith that the soules of good men be with Christ and yf they be with Christ they lacke no ioye ne comforte glory or felicite Saynte Paule sayth here I desyre to be dissolued froÌ„ this mortall body and to be with Christ he thought to be with Christe yf he were dissolued from this corruptible body and lyke it is spoken 2. Cor. 5. As longe as we be in this body we be farre from god therfore we wolde be farre from this body and to be present with god suche as be present with god be in ioye and felicite And. Math. 26. Christe sayde to the thefe crucifyed with him vpon the crosse this daye not to morowe or at the last iudgement thou shal be with me in paradise Sapience 3. Confyrmeth this thynge sayng If the iuste man be preuented by death he shal be in refreshmeÌ„t and agayne the same sayth that the soules of good men be in the handes of god and no tormentes of malice touche them they appere to the eyes of the wicked to dye but they be iÌ„ peace Also Lu. 16 sheweth playnly that Lazarus was in ioye and comforte and the ryche man in paynes and tormentes These places of holy scriptures and many mo that myght be brought for the same purpose doth sufficiently proue that the soules of good men departed this lyfe are with god and with Christe in ioye blysse peace refresshynge comforte and in rest without all payne of malyce as the holy scriptures afore alleged doth sufficienly proue As touchyng the secode thynge that bryngeth men in feare to dye I thynke we nede not to feare that bugge for that place is vncertaine to vs and the name of it the state and condition of soules departed as the kynges booke sayth spekyng of the thirde place called sumtyme purgatory yf they be not with god or in hell The holy scriptures doth appere to make no mention of it and then be the same authoryte it is affirmed by the same it may be confuted as sayth Ierome Mat. 23. And yf it be suche a thynge as byshoppes of Rome maye robbe and spoyle at their pleasure and wyll not yf there be any suche paynes as they haue sayd or feyned to be then they be very vncharytable and vnmarcyfull charyte requireth to do to thy neyghbour as thou wold be done to Marcy persuadeth delyueraunce from paynes and tormentes and yf money which bought popes pardones indulgence in pylgrymages and in masses sayde ad scala celi myght ryd men out of the great paynes of that place then it appereth that ryche meÌ„ was alwaye happy for they be their monye byenge perdons was sone delyueryd out of paynes and poore men euer vohappy that had not money to bye pardons for they must lye styll in tormentes but how that doth agre with Christes saynge Luke 6. I can not tell he sayth woo be to you ryche that laught for you shall wepe not all ryche men shall wepe but suche as abuse their ryches but of this third place I wyl not speke but this the scriptures doth saye that he that dyeth in the fayth of Iesus Christ he resteth in peace with Christe yf he dye out of faithe he is iudged he that beleuyth hath lyfe and he that do not beleue is now iudged Iohn 3. He speaketh of a trew and lyuely faith workynge by charite at all oportunite and occasion gyuen and after his habilite And as for the thirde bugge that bryngeth men in feare of death that is the thynge that shulde feare men and plucke them from synne and synfull lyuynge lesse they come to the paynes of hell and there be in tormentes euer more without ende to the which paynes they shall come that here lyue wyckedly contrary to the wyll and coÌ„maundement of god yf they before death do not repente and amend and call to god for grace and mercy and opteyne pardon and remyssioÌ„ of synnes and walke in a new lyfe hauynge sure fayth in Christ hope and charite contynew and increase in them 2. Here we may learne of Paule rather to desyre death then lyfe and death is rather to be desyred of trewe christians then to be dred and that for many causes moch ê“fyt to vs Fyrst where is a trew fayth it maketh them certayne of eternall lyfe as sayth saiÌ„t Iohn 3 He that beleueth hath eternall lyfe vnto the which we can not come without the death of the body therfore death is to be wysshed of vs that we maye come to lyfe Seconde If we beleue god to be our father and yf we loue him aboue all creatures in this worlde we wyll desyre aboue all thynges to come vnto our father so louynge so kynde so meryfull full al goodnes ryches and glory to our father we can not come excepte before by death we be seperated from our mortall bodyes therfore let vs desyre death that we maye come to our heauenly father whome we loue aboue all thynges Thirdly As longe as we are in this mortall bodye we be farre from god 2. Cor. 5 To be preseÌ„t with god we alway desyre to be preseÌ„t with god we can not without we be ded froÌ„ this corporall body death therfore is not to be feared but desired that we maye be presente in glory with god Fourthly Pylgrames and strangers farre from home desyreth euer homewardes and is not mery nor quiet tyll they come home where their treasure ryches frendes landes and possessyons be we christians as longe as we be in this lyfe we be as strangers and geastes farre from home wandrynge with moche care and heuy hartes hauynge heare no dwellynge place Hebre. 12. But sekynge the habitation to come whiche is in heauen where is our home our ryches our treasure layd vp surely keped for vs our landes and possessions yea a kyngdome an empyre our frendes and kynsfolkes thether we can not come excepte before by deeath we forsake this corruptyble body death therfore is of vs all greatly to be desyred and not to be dred for by it we enter to take possession of our heauenly inheritage ioye and blysse Fiftely As longe as we are in this noughty body we are subiected to many euylles and moch mysery many sicknes diseases as to feuers agues palsey dropsye gout pockes pestylence and to many other sorowes paynes and trobles from the whiche all death delyuereth vs and without death we can not bedelyuered from them therfore death is to be wysshed that we maye be delyuered from all myserys and wretchednes of this presen lyfe Syxtly No hurte or dammage we suffer by the death of the body but get moche profyt and commodite by death we be delyuered froÌ„ mortalyte and made immortall we are ryd from paynes and brought to ioye receyue life and heauenly saluation and then we shal be lyke to god in glory in eternall felycite and in heauenly inheritaunce to the which Christ hath called vs and redemyd vs with his preceous bloode and in heauen we shal be
in all gentyll facyon he had to the gospell preached by Paule he moueth them to fauour and helpe all his helpers in the gospell whose names he sayth are not for goten with god how so euer they are conteÌ„ned or despised of men but are in the booke of lyfe written and inrolled not to be blotted out agayne And here we may lerne that it is a worke acceptable to god to be a worker of the gospell or a felowe to him that laboreth in the gospell to preach teache or set it forwardes or to mynister to such necessares to fauore them to helpe them yf they nede or be in presone or to put them selfe in peryll or danger for the helpyng of theÌ„ that set forthe gods worde trwely and sincerely And this is a great coÌ„forte for these that suffer for the gospels sake and contynew in the same patiently to the ende that their names are wrytten in the booke of lyfe before god and shall not be raysed out agayne although here peraduenture before men they be conteÌ„ned despised for euyl doers or euyl speakers punished or put to death yet remayneth their names in the booke of lyfe with god which knoweth them as his seruantes Reioyse in the lorde alwaye and agayne I saye reioyse Let your softnes be knowne to al meÌ„ The lorde is euen at hande Be not carefull but in all thynges let your peticious in prayer and supplycation with geuynge of thankes be knowen before god And yâ— peace of god which passeth al vnderstandynge kepe your hartes and myndes in Christ Iesu The apostle exhorteth men to reioyce in the lorde and not in no other thynge of this worlde not in honoures ryches meÌ„ frendes kynred golde syluer landes possessions noâ— in wysdome or in prudence of the flâ—eshe or in strength of body as the prophete acharye 9. byddeth sayng Let not the wyse man reioyce in his wysdome nor the ryche in his riches nor the strong man in his streÌ„gth but he that wyll reioyce let hiÌ„ reioyce in that he knoweth me sayth god by his prophete whiche I am god that maketh iudgemeÌ„t iustice and faith therfore he that wyll reioyce let him reioyce in god which is the author of all goodnes delyuerer from all euylls and aduersites Therfore sayth the apostle 1. Cor. 1. He that wyll reioyce let him reioyce in god and so shall his Ioye be full sure constante permanent and perfecte And here he rebuketh such as reioyce more in worldly thynges then in god as these that reioyce in ryches landes possessions in men in maiestrates in nobilite of stocke in their religion instition of lyuyng in conynge lernyng or in suche lyke more then in god all such be here reprouyd reioyce therfore in the lorde alwaye in all tyme and in all places 2. â— your softenes be knowne to all men Now he teacheth them good and godly maners and commaundeth them to put on all good maners and innocency of lyuynge and wyileth their holy conuersation of lyuynge to be knowne to all men not onely to good men but also to the euyll that euery man myght take example of godly vertu of them and folow theÌ„ in vertuous lyuyng so gloryfye god with them which is in hauen as is wryten Math. 5. And good example of lyuiÌ„g helpeth very moche to vertue and oftymes one folowes another in vertu or iÌ„ wickednes 3. The lorde is at hande Lesse modest meke and paciente meÌ„ shulde thynke them selfes forsaked of god or shuld despare of god or of his goodnes as he had left theÌ„ forsakeÌ„ theÌ„ suffering them to be afflicted of the euyl or to want necessaries he sayth that god is nye to all modest good and godly men that he for getteth them not although he suffereth them to lacke comfort for a tyme and helpe but in tyme of nede god sendeth to them both comforte and helpe for he is carefull for them and nye to all that wyll call vpoÌ„ him in vnite and in trewthe 4. Be not carefull He moueth them not to be carefull nor to mystrust god that he wyll not geue vnto them all thynges necessarye when they shall haue nede or that he wyll not delyuer them from trouble and afflyctions that chauÌ„ce to them and that they shulde not dowte in these thynges he sayde the lorde was at hande to helpe them at their nede and that they shuld not be careful for their lyuyng with a mystrust in god he byddeth them here as teacheth more largely Christe Math. 6. And here he taketh a waye couetuousnes or vnmercefull layng vp of riches to lyue in olde age as some say mystrustynge god thynkiÌ„g that god wyll not giue vnto them necessaryes in age as he dyd in their yougth Let vs put a waye all suche dyffydence of god and let vs seke first his kyngdom and his iustice and god wyll gyue vs all necessaryes without our trustles carefulnes as is promysed Mat. 6. And here the apostle doth not forbyd labour or a godly prouydence but he forbyddeth carefulnes mystrustynge god and vnmarcifull layng vp in store from the poore 5. But in all thynges let your peticions in prayer and supplycatioÌ„ with geuing of thankes be knowne before god Now he teacheth how we shal haue al necessares and by what meanes that is of god the father marcyfull geuer of all good thynges that by humble meke and faythfull prayers made after the wyll of god desyrynge necessares as it shall please god to gyue them appoyntynge with god no tyme no place nor maner of gyuynge but referryng all to his dyuyne wyl and pleasure and yf in these prayers we shall coÌ„tinew desyrynge these thynges that shall be to the glory of god and for our helth and saluation at the length we shall optayne of god these our petycioÌ„s made in faith for Christes sake alwayes geuyng thankes to god for his benefytes gyuen to vs takyng prosperite and aduersite as we shulde do that is not proude in prosperite nor yet comforties heuy or sadde in aduersyte no ther murmuryng agaynst god nor yet enuyenge others felycyte and ioye 6. And the peace of god whiche passeth all vnderstondyng kepe your hartes and myndes in Christe Iesu Here is shewed what foloweth them that beareth prosperyte and aduersite as they shuld do that they haue peace quietnes in their hartes and coÌ„science with god whiche peace haue none but such as be iustyfied by fayth Roma 5. we iustifyed by fayth haue peace with god the euyll sayth peace peace but to hym is no peace withe god as saith the prophete And this peace or quietnes of the conscience it farre passeth all thynges that maye be apprehended of the vnderstandynge and this to be trewe sheweth the conscience of such as fall in desperation of goddes mercy for their synnes as Cayn Iudas dyd And also it is declared in the cananes which was almost ded without harte comforte spirite or lyfe in their bodyes when they harde the chyldren of
myghtes strength / power or merytes / but to be of god onely / and of his fre grace / and goodnes This place sheweth that we of our owne fre wyll / with out the grace of god / are not able to begynne any good worke / nor to go forth with it / nor to fynysh it / for we of our selfes are not able to thynke any good thought as of our selfe / but all our abylyte is of god 2. Cor. 3. Of our selfe we are not able to wyl any good worke / for god worketh in vs / wylling of good thynges for his good wylles sake Philip. 2. And christe sayth in Iohn 6. with out me you can do no thyng / then what shall we ascribe / to our fre wyll with out christ / and without the grace of god / surely nothynge that is good / euyll commeth of our selfe / and all goodnes of god the father of lyght Iames. 1. And yf these be trew as they be in very dede / then me thynkes that they erre and are to be blamed that saye that we of our fre wyll may do good / maye assent and receyue the grace of god / offered to all men / or not to assent to it / and forsake it yf we lyste / at our pleasure / and fre wyll / oâ— els our wyl they saye con not be fre or called a fre wyll of these men I wolde aske one question whether to assent to the grace of god offered and to receyue it is good or no and yf it be good / as I truste none wyl denye / then it is of god the father / not of vs. Iames. 1. To this question sancte Augustyne make answere / and sayth that in outwarde workes indifferent nother good nor euyll of them selfes / that we haue a certayne fre lyberty to do them / or not to do theÌ„ / as to lyfte vp a straw or to laye it downe agayne but to do any thynge that is acceptable to god / or merytorius as they were wonte to calle workes pertaynyng to our iustification / or to the saluatioÌ„ of a christen man / we can not without the grace of god / nor yet to wyll it / nor to assent to it / it holy hanges of god / and of his grace / and not of vs or of our merytes or good wyll without goddes workyng in vs / and makynge our wyll yll of it selfe good and conformable to his wyll / for the grace of god healeth our euyll wyll / maketh it agreyng to his godly wyll / and so conformable to it / that we wyllyngly and frely and with gladnes do these thynges that god wylleth and coÌ„maundeth / so we holped with the present grace of god of a good wyll and gladly do the workes of god not we do goddes workes but rather the grace of god in vs. Augustin in his boke of grace fre wyll thus sayth Cooperando deus in nobis perficit quod operando incepit quoniam ipse vt velimus operatur incipiens qui volentibus cooperatur perficiens propter quod ait hic apostolus quoniaÌ„ qui operatur in vobis opus bonuÌ„ perficiet vsque in diem Iesu christi vt ergo velimus sine nobis operatur cum auteÌ„ volumus sic volumus vt faciamê° nobiscuÌ„ cooperatur tameÌ„ sine illo vel operante vt velimus vel cooperante cum volumus ad bona pietatis opera nihil valemus Beda hec colligit verba ex augustino in hunc locuÌ„ Pauli 3. As it becometh me to iuge of you all In these wordes the apostle sheweth his harty and louyng mynde towardes these Philippians that he dyd not flatter nor deceyue them with feyned and deceytfull wordes but symply as he thought of them so he spake and iudged of them for he culde thinke none other but that good begynnyng shulde haue a good endynge / and here he teacheth all in theyr yougth to vse and exercyse vertuosnes for as the common sayng is he that in his yougth no vertu wyl vse in age all honour wyll him refuse a sayenge not more coÌ„mon then trew / and also they saye that tymely crowketh the tre that good cammoke will be vse therfore in yougth trew vertu and gette godly learnyng that thou maye haue honour amonges men and glory with god euerlastynge The cause why he thought iuste and conuenient thus to thynke of them because the grace of god leueth or forsaketh no man which before do not leue and forsake god and well doynge and therfore he thought that god wolde not forsake them doyng well and euer goyng for wardes in the knowlege of goddes worde / and in holy workes commaunded by it to be done of the christians and to walke in theÌ„ Ephe. 2 And therfore he thoughte that god wolde worke in them mo and mo good workes and that he wolde not leue them vntyll the hower of death and vntyll the daye of the lorde wheÌ„ he shall come to iudge the quycke and dead and to rewarde all good workes that is to saye all these workes that god hath wroght in vs God is so good and lovynge that these workes whiche he workes in vs he calleth our workes and wyll rewarde them as yf they were onely our workes and not by his grace Esay 36. sayeth / Lorde thou hatst wrought in vs al our workes Also Lyra here sayth as the begynnynge of a meretorius worke is of god so is the contynuance and the ende of it of god The apostle speaketh these wordes not that he wolde make them proude or to be negligeÌ„t to do well but rather that he shulde prouoke them the more to go forwarde in wel doyng to encrease the good hoope he had conceyued and not to lose by negligence the grace of god the assystent helpe and ayde of the lorde 4. Bycause I haue you in my herte as those that are partakers with me of grace in my bondes in defendynge and stablysshyng of the gospel Here be tokeÌ„s of loue towardes them shewed that he remembreth them in herte and in his bondes and presonmeÌ„t which was not for his fautes but for the gospell of god whiche bondes was not to him any shame or rebuke or hinderance to the gospell of god but to his great laude and prayse and to the forderaunce and increasement of the gospell and that by his bondes the gospell was not slaundered but promoted defended and surely confirmed of the whiche we maye learne afflictions persequutions inprysonment bondes chaynes and fetters to the trewe preachers and reachers of goddes worde to be no new thyng to be no shame nor rebuke to suche faythful prechers although fleshe and carnall wosdome other wayes do thynke and iudge flesshe iudgeth affliccions persequucions impresonments to be shamefull to hynder the worde of god but god do make these affliccions to promote his gospell and encrease it and makes the wysedome of the flesshe and of the wordly wysemen to be folyshnes
lefte that goddes name may not be called on but in a trwe matter when nede shal be with great honour and reuerence accordyng And for the same I praye that your loue maye encrease more more in all maner of knowlege and in all experyence that ye maye proue what is best that ye maye be pure and such as hurte no mans conscience vnto the daye of christ fylled with the frutes of ryghtusnes which come by Iesus christ vnto the glory prayse of god Consyder here good reader what Paule desyreth in his prayers to these Philippians he desireth them to be increased more and more in charyte and in all knowledge and spirituall vnderstandyng of god and of christ Iesu and in these he teacheth vs what thyng we shulde desyre to other to wisshe charyte and spirituall knowleg to be increased more and more to other / he also teacheth that it is the office of euery good christiane to desyre and get more and more knowlege of god and of christ Iesus and that we maye as longe as we lyue euer gette more and more knowelege of god that no man be he neuer so well learned shulde thynke him to haue all knowlege of god or so suffient lerned that he shulde desyre no more knowlege and as they do increase in spirituall knowleg so he wolde haue them increase in fayth anâ— in charite and in godly lyuynge And this place is agâ—ns these men that wolde the laye people that be very ignorant of god of his worde to haue no more knowlege then they haue and be sory they haue so moch knowlege in goddes worde as they haue this place reproueth all them that be ydle and wyll not learne or study to haue spirituall knowlege but be so ydle that they had rather spende the hole daye yea the hole weke and moneth at tables cardes dyse then to here a sermone to reade a chapter of the new testameÌ„t or of the olde such be many curates and blynde prestes and pastours in inglande that be ignorant in goddes worde and will not study to haue more knowlege but wyll spende the hole daye and weke at tables and cardes raylyng vpon learned meÌ„ and trew preachers of goddes worde callyng them heretykes and saynge it was a mery worlde wheÌ„ there was not so moch spoken of goddes worde nor so moch knowlege cursyng and bannynge them that broughte so moche knowlege of it to men / sayng they wolde go a huÌ„dreth myle barfot to burne such heretyke knaues â–ª well how so euer they rayle of trewe preachers that seketh only goddes glory the helth of such blynde guydes or blynde prestes and the saluation of the people commytted to their spirituall charge suche ydle curates or people be here reproued and admonished to study to gette more spirituall knowlege of christe Iesu / also this place â—ecketh all them that coÌ„tempneth and dispiseth holy scripture and the holy learnynge of it that wyll not come to sermonnes and lecâ—ours of holy scripture when they maye but wyll walke in the churche in the tyme of the sermonde or kepe them ydle at hoâ—e or euyll occupyed when they knowe there is a sermonde of goddes worde or wyll at that tyme get them to brekefaste that they absent them from the sermoÌ„de so they fâ—ee from god to the deuyll forsake their saluation and ronnes hedlynges into death and dampnation excepte they repent and amende This place also maketh agayne all them that go about to persuade the laye people that it is sufficient knowlege for them to learne and knowe their pater noster so they cal our lordes prayer and that they haue no nede to know any more of goddes holy doctrine but these that be wyse lette them leue suche doctryne and they them selfes vse all diligence to learne more and more knowlege of goddes holy worde and teache all other so to do and increase in the same and as they increase in learnynge so let them increase in godly lyuynge 2. That you maye proue what is best that you may be pure and such as hurte no mans conscience vnto the daye of christ fylled with the frutes oâ— ryghtuosnes which come by Iesus christ vnto the glory and prayse of god Here is the cause declared why he desyred them to get all spiâ—ytuall learnynge and inâ—rease in the same that they myght disceâ—ne and trewly iudge what is good what is euyll what is for their saluation what is agaynste it that they myghte knowe lyghte from darkenes and darkenes from lyghte swete from soure and soure from swete and not to iudge lyghte darkenes and darkenes lyght lyfe to be death and death lyfe and so to runne into dampnation thretned to suche â—uyll iudgers Esaye 5. And here he requireth of euery manne that they shulde haue a pure and iuste iudgement whiche can not be with out trew knowlege of gods holy worde by the whiche good is knowne from euyll and lyghte from darkenes lyfe from death and this place reproueth and condempneth all vntrewe and false iudgementes preposterous iudgementes in matters perteynynge to saluation of the soule Lacke of knowlege of holy scripture is and hath bene the cause of moche myschefe and of many peryllous and false iudgementes in the worlde as had all they that iudged christe Iesus that innocent lambe that neuer dyd synne in whose mouth was founde no disceâ—t nor falsed or crafte to be a synner a dronkerd a deuourer of meate lyke in sinne to publicanes and syfiers whose company he vsed to make them good as â—e dyd in dede that called him a blasphemer of god a deceuer of the people that caste out deuylles in the name of Beelzebub and that he had a deuyll with in him / suche was the false iudgementes here reproued of the scriâ—es and pharyseis of christ Iesus So Tertullus the orator Actes 24. Called saynt Paule an here tyke and a pestileÌ„â— man his doctrine heresy so now a dayes many call the doctryne of the gospell of god new doctryne and heresy and the teachers of it heretykes all such false iudgements the apostle here reproueth and condempneth them that so iudge to hell fyre Esaye 5. If they do not here repente and amende and learne better knowlege that they iudge better and more trewly Also here is reproued all preposterous iudgementes as was all the iudgementes of them that preferred voluntary workes as pylgrymage offerynge vp of candells to images gyltynge of images and such lyke not coÌ„maunded of god before the workes of marcy commaunded of god to the christiaÌ„s to do ignorance was the cause why voluntary workes was preferred before goddes commaundemeÌ„tes yf men had knowen workes of mercy to be more thankefull to god better to haue pleased him and more acceptable to him I thynke many good men moch gyuen to voluntary workes more then to workes of marcy for more they dyd bestowe vpon suche voluntary workes then they dyd gyue for the relefe of the poore yea they were moch
the voyce of death as Christe dyd after his humane nature but he ouer came death that we shulde nothynge feare death of the body which we know shall aryse agayne an immortalle body 1. Cor. 15. But yf we will consyder the matter well as we shuld do there is no cause why we shulde feare death bicause deth is the det of nature which detre we must nedes paye nyll we wil we for the sifie of Adame brought to vs naturally therfore we must al dye the death of this mortalbody suffer that payne imflicted for syfie Many places of holy scripture sheweth vs that we shall dye Paule to the Hebreus 9. Sayth that it is decreed of god that all men ones shall dye Eclesiasticus 2. sayth also that the wysemā and foole dyeth the learned and the vnlaerned Paule 1. Cor. 15. All we shall slepe but all shall not be chaunged All we shall stande before the iustyce of Christ to gyue a counte for these thynges we haue done in our bodyes whether it be good or euyll Roma 14. we haue commed naked from our mothers wombe and we shall retourne agayne naked 1. Timo. 6. Then seynge we can not eschew death why do we feare death it is a folyshnes to feare that thynge that through feare can not be auoydyd Ther fore there is no cause why we shulde feare death but this is to be feared that we do not prouyde for death as we shulde do that we do not prepare vs to dye as we shuld do that the death of the body might bring vnto vs no hurt ne dāmage but moch profyt ioye blysse Dyuerse examples sheweth vs playnly tha◠we all shall dye Abraham Isaac Iacob Moyses Iosephe Dauyd Esay Hieremy Danyell Christ and his apostles all Patryarkes Prophetes our Fathers Mothers Graunfathers Graunmothers Prynces Kynges Emperours Lordes Hearles Dukes Prestes Munkes Channons that was before is al ded for they were mortal so shal we all dye whether we be good or euyll as they were the tyme of death the maner of it the place is to vs vncertayne but as the houre of death is most vncertayne so there is nothynge more certayne vnto vs then that we all shall dye from this corporall and this present lyfe Death as Christ sayth Mat. 24 Shall come to vs lyke a thefe in the houre that he is not loked for Example in the stowe seruante and in the folyshe virgyns Mat. 25. Also the lyfe of man is assembled to grasse Esay 40. To a shadowe or to a cloude Sap. 2 whiche shortly passeth away And. Iob. 14. saith that a man borne of a woman lyueth a lytyll tyme is fylled with all miseres and goeth away as a floure and is trodē downe and fleeth as ashadow and neuer taryeth in one state Therefore let vs not make moch of our panted sheth that is of our freale and corruptyble bodye a lumpe of hearth whiche is as a tente to tary in for a lytell tyme as Peter sayth 2. Peter 1. Let vs thynke that yf the house of this tabernacle shuld be destroyed we haue a buyldynge with god a byldynge euerlastynge in heauen not made by mannes hande 2. Cor. 5. Therfore let vs watche that death stele not vpon vs slepynge and come vpon vs vnwares and vnprouyded lesse we be excluded out from heauen and frō heuenly ioyes let vs take good heed that the dore be not shytte to vs and we not suffered to come in let vs prouyde for death that when god shall come and call vs by corporall death we be not then founde sloo and vnprofytable seruaunces not lokynge for the commyng of the lorde leste he be angry with vs and deuyde vs and put our partes with hypochrytes where as shal be wepynge and gnasshynge of teath let vs be readye altymes for death and then we shall not feare death let vs haue a trewe fayth in Christe puere charyte to our nighbors and lyue vertuously and then death shal be wellcome to vs at all tymes ¶ There is thre thynges that maketh death terryble and fearfull to men but they are not to be feared The fyrste is an euyll opiniō of late dayes creped in and rysen by the anabaptistes or by other ignorant in goddes holy worde Some there be that thinketh the soules of good faythfull men departed this present lyfe do not go to rest peace glory with Christe but that they slepe with out perceyuynge good or euyll and that they lacke the ioye of heuen tyll the daye of iudgemente this euyll opynyon maketh some to feare corporal deth but let this euil opynyō feare no mā to dye to depart his presēt lyfe for they that dye ī Christ be blyssed and in peace reste comforte and with Christe and so in ioye and blysse as I shall shewe more at large by the holy scriptures of god The secōde thyng that maketh men to feare death is the olde inueterated opynyon of the thyrde place somtyme called purgatory in to the which place all the soules as they haue sayde goeth of them whiche is in this worlde hathe not fully satysfyed for their synnes by workes here in this presente lyfe done and in that thirde place greuously punyshed with great paynes and intollerable punyshmentes which nothynge dyffer frō the paynes of hell as they saye but that the paynes of purgatory called haue an ende the paynes of hell haue no ende but alwayes shall endure and be more greuous and greuous to suche as shall suffer in hell and the paynes therof but yf we lyue well and dye in Christ we shall not nede to feare the paynes of this thirde place after this lyfe for holy scripture put good men in more comfort then so as a none by goddes grace ye shall redde here by holy scriptures The third thing that maketh men to abhore death is the paynes of hell thretened of god to euyll lyuers for their synnes to be iustly punished whiche paynes men shulde feare in dede and leue lyuynge euill and liue wel after goddes lawes as they haue professed to lyue Men persueryng whē they shulde dye and chaunge this corporall lyfe and that they must go ether to heauen purgatory or to hell and that noue goeth strayght to heauē without he haue ful satisfied for his synnes here as fewe or none do yf any do yet the euyll opynyon sayth that they shall not go to heauen tyll the daye of the last iudgement but to that tyme be with out ioye and blysse and yf they shall go to the thirde place or to hell they be in extreme paynes and tormentes men these thynges consyderynge it is no meruell thoughe they feare death howe can they not feare death that thynketh their lyfe after this presente lyfe not to be better but moch worse in paines and great punishmentes But these thre bugges shulde not make vs to feare to dye in Christ For the fyrste opinion is an euyll opynyon and contrary to the holy scriptures whiche
in such ioye glory as no tonge can tel nor eye hath euer seen nor heare harde nor mans hartâ— can not compasse that glorye and ioye that god hath prepared for them that loue him 1. Cor. 2. But to these ioyes and felycytes we can not attayne vnto excepte we firste dye and be delyuered from our mortall bodyes these thynges yf we wyll consyder them well and deaply in our hartes wey them there is no cause why we shulde feare death of the body but rather we shulde desyre it as Paule and other holy men dyd desyrynge to be out of this corruptible and noughty body and to be present with god 3. I desyre to be lowsed and to be wtih Christe Paule desyred to be dyssolued from his mortall body that he myghte be with Christ so shulde we do and not to feare death but desyre death yf it were so the wyll of god for death is not to be feared to good meÌ„ but rather to be desyred for the death of good men sayth the prophete is precious in the syght of the lord And therfore many good men hath desyred death and to be delyuered from this body lode with synne that they myght be with god and with Christe Iesu in glory 4. But to abyde in the flesshe is more nede full for you Paule sheweth here although it were better for him selfe to dye then lyue yet he sayth that it shulde be more profyt for these Philippians that he shulde lyue then dye and that they shulde haue more profyt by his lyfe then by his death by the which sayng he doth appere to saye that sayntes can not profyt men so moche beynge ded as yf they were lyuing and so there prayers not to profyt men here lyuing so moch as dyd their pure preachynge of the gospell when they lyued vpon hearth and in their corporall bodyes 5. And this am I sure of that I shall abyde and contynewe with you all for the furtheraunce and ioye of your fayth that ye maye abundantly reioyse in Christe Iesu through my commynge to you agayne Not howe sure Paule was that he shulde retourne agayne to thes Philippians and abyde and contynew amonges them and that to their profytes bothe to the increasemente of their fayth and also to their greatter reioyse in god by his commyng to them here we learne that god shewethe sometyme to some these thinges that do folow as here paule sheweth his delyueraunce and commynge to these Philippians and the profyt of his commyng Also this place wylleth that the commynge of the byshop or pastor to his cure shulde not be without spirituall profyt for his flocke that it shulde be to the increasment of fayth by pure and syncere preachynge of goddes worde and that they shulde more and more reioyse in god knowynge goddes benefites the better by the worde of god purely preached by the byshoppe pastor or curate And this place doth somethyng reproue these bysshoppes that be duÌ„me and wyl not preache when they come into their diocese that wyll not feade their people with the foode of the soule but suffer them to perysse without foode for them how shulde byshoppes increase the trew faith of the people that wyll not preache to the people goddes worde for as fayth commeth by hearynge of goddes worde so it is increased by the same worde And as Paule more regarded these thynges that shulde be profytable to other then to him selfe so shulde all other do both byshoppes pastores curates and all the laye people but alas for petye few or none seketh others profyt but their owne and so they be well lyue in ease rest pleasure they care not what become of other what paynes or tormentes other suffer but let euery one amende this faute and study to be profytable as well to other as to him selfe for we be not borne for our selfes alone but to gloryfye god and to profyt other by wordes consell workes and dedes as god hath gyuen his gyftes and talentes for that purpose not all gyftes be gyuen to one but to dyuers that euery one shulde be an helper to an other and euery one nedes healpe of another Onely let your conuersacion be as it becommeth the gospell of Christ that whether I come and se you or els be absent I maye yet here of you that ye contynew in one spirite and one soule laborynge as we do to mayntayne the fayth of the gospell and in nothyng fearynge your aduersares whiche is to them a token of perdicion but vnto you a tokeÌ„ of saluation and that of god Now the apostle exhorteth them that they wolde lyue as it becommeth the profession of the gospell and as it becommeth christians that haue professed Christe in baptyme and him to serue their liftyme and to frame them selfe after Christes doctrine that whether he come vnto them or be absent from them preachynge Christe to other people nations and countres accordyng to his vocation and callynge of god And heare the apostle teacheth all men to lyue as it becommeth christians to lyue whether their bysshop pastor curate be present with them or absent from them that they maye optayne eternall lyfe prepared by Christ in heauen 2. That ye contynewe in one spirite and one soule laborynge to mayntayne the fayth of the gospell as we do To what thynge he exhorted theÌ„ to specially here is shewed that they shulde contynew in one spirite that is in spirite of vnite and concorde with all dilygente studyeng to maintayne defende and increase the fayth of the gospell that is fayth in Christ gotteÌ„ by the gospell preached Ro. 10 And to helpe them that labor for to set forth or preache Christes gospell and to helpe soâ—our and comforte them yf it shall happen these that preache Christes gospell or other wayes sette it furth to be caste in preson in fetters and chaynes as oftymes chaunces to them and here he calleth them that putteth theÌ„ selfes in iopardy of losse gooddes fauour of men and daunger of imprisonment and death of body to maintayne the fayth of the gospell to fyght for the fayth of it and to feare no aduersares nor yet their tormentes or punyshmentes for the gospell sake knowyng that they are blyssed before god that suffer for Christe and for his gospell Iohn 12. And shall fynde lyfe with Christ how so euer they be here in this world estemed or counted or waht cruell death soeuer they shall suffer here for the gospell 3. And in nothynge feare your aduersares whiche is to them a token of perdition but vnto you a token of saluation and that of god That none shulde thynke they suffered hurte or dammage of their aduersaries whiche cast in preson or put to death the faythfull preachers or setters forth of the gospell he saith that persequution imprysonmeÌ„t or other cruelnes of enymes vsed to good mynisters of goddes worde to be to them no hurt but profyt no perditioÌ„ but saluation to them that pacyenly for the
fame and name to men well learned in holy scriptures as Timotheus was and to them that do not seke onely their owne fylthy lucre carnall ease reste or pleasure but aboue althynges these thynges that pert ayne to Iesus Christ and to the health and profyt of other and specially the health of their soules that be committed to their spirituall charge leste the bysshoppes suffer payne for the bloode of them that peryshe by their negligēce and the bloode of such as peryshe be required of their handes which commytted cure of soules to the vnlerned and to the blynde that one blynde shulde lede another and so bothe fall in the diche and that is the great cause why the worlde is so blynde and ignoraunte and haters of goddes worde or so lytell regarde it for as the prest is so is the people for the most parte yf the curate loue god his worde the people do lykewyse loue god and his word yf the curat be ignoraunt and vnlerned blynde both in lernynge iudgement and in affection his flocke oftimes be such like and so both the vnlerned curat or pastor and his flocke hatynge god and his worde shall peryshe in their fautes And the byshoppes that commytted the cure of his shepe to such gready wolfes and lyons 2. For all other seke their owne not that which is Iesus Christ The apostle complay neth of mynisters of the gospell and of other that was about him that sought rather their owne glory and profyt then the glory of god or the profyt of other much more we now in our tyme may complayne vpon such vnfayth full gospellers as they wolde be called which not regarde goddes glory or his worde furder then it do make for their carnall lyberty worly profyt honours and dignites and voluptuous lyuynge and yet they wyll be called gospellers and fauerers of goddes word whē their workes do shew that they fauer goddes worde onely for their carnall pleasures and worldly commodites and make goddes word to serue for their carnall purposes and so they abuse goddes worde but by such talkers and not doers of goddes worde the holy word of god heareth euyll and be euyll reported of For many saith that there is no man so carnall so sensuall so couetous so desyrous of gooddes ryches landes possessions honours dignites so crafty so false in worde and dede so disobedient to all good order as some of these be that wolde be called gospellers or fauorers of goddes worde But although some be suche carnall men and abusers of goddes holy worde despisynge all good ordinaunce for their carnall lyberty to be fulfylled yet the more parte of the gospelers as I trust be good men and vseth the gospell to goddes glory and to the profyt of their owne soules and of other fleyng all carnall lyberte obeynge with gladnes to all good and godly ordynaunces And for one or two euyll all is not to be contempned nor to be rayled on or estemed euyll but he that abuseth a good thynge he is wordy blame rebuke and punish ment and none other 3. But ye know the profe of him for as a chylde vnto the father so he mynistred vnto me in the gospel you know Timotheus wel anough I nede not greatlye to commēde him to you whose learnynge sobryete is knowen well enought to you he hath serued and mynisterd here at Rome to me in presone as the sonne shulde serue his father with as greate dyligence and faythfulnes And him I truste to send shortly vnto you after that I shall know what shal become of me for the apostle loked that he shulde shortly be called before Nero to iustice and then other to be put to death or elles to be delyuered out of prisone and out of bondes but rather he thought he shulde be delyuered from the cruelty of Nero and as sone as this shulde be done he promysed to send to them Timotheus to their comforte and reioyce as he trusted to the lorde to whose wyll he commytted the hole matter teachynge vs so to do in all thynges and not to be sloughfull or negligente in our office or in our vocation Neuerthelesse I thought it necessary to sende vnto you the brother Epaphroditus which is my cōpanion in laboure and felowe souldier and youre apostle my mynyster at my nede for somoch as helonged after you al was full of heuynes because ye had harde that he was sycke And no dowte he was sycke and that nye vnto death but god hadde mercy on him and not of him onely but on me also lest I shuld haue had sorowe vpon sorowe Paule dyd not sēde to the Philippiās now Timotheus whome he commendyd to them so hyghly but one Epaphroditus a faythfull mynister and preacher of the gospell and the apostell and trew pastor of these Philippiās this Epaphroditus brought to Paule in prisone money and other necessary thynges send frome the Philipians to helpe and comforte him in prisone This Epaphroditus Paule dyd sende agayne to the Philippians with much prayse and cōmendations for his diligent seruice to him in prysone and for his faythfull mynistration of the gospel This place sheweth that it is lawfull somtymes and good to prayse faythfull mynisters and diligente in their vocation not that therby they shulde be proude in their selfes but more humble and meeke and more studious to increase vertue and good lernynge for the whiche they be commēded of good men although they them selfes thynketh them not to be wordye such commendations For they that desyre prayse or laude of men they lost their rewarde before god Math. 6. They for that desyre be onwordy prayse and they shal lacke their praise of god they desire or loke for of mē 2. It appereth of this place that Epaphroditus whome Paule here calleth his felowe and companyō and the appostell of these Philippians that he was their peculiar and proper pastor assigned and appoynted specially to these Philippians and that he had of thē aboue all thynges necessarye for his lyuynge and that he gathered of them certaine monye or subsydye and caryed it to Paule in prysō and there serued him prouyded for paule such thynges as was necessary for Paule Epaphroditus beynge absente from the Philippians his proper flocke and sent to Paule seruynge him in prison for lacke of other mynisters doth shewe that the proper pastor maye be somtymes absent from his flocke for a tyme and for certayne causes as here Epaphroditus was absēt from these Philippiās so they be absent for lyke causes as he was so that in their absence their fllocke be not lefte without a faythful pastor as Paule left Titus in Cret and Timotheus at Ephesus when he went abrode preachyng the gospell of Christ Iesus to other people and nacions of the gentyls wynnynge them to Christ So I wolde desyre that all pastores and byshoppes that yf they be absent from their speciall cure that they shulde not be ydle lyue in carnall pleasure
sicknes or other aduersite And this place reproueth euil pastors that be nother loued of their parysh bycause of necgligence of their office and also for their vnprofitablenes amoÌ„ges their flocke Behold the apostell was very carefull for these Philippians he wolde rather lacke the necessaryâ— seruice of Epaphroditus theÌ„ they shuld lacke their comforte and ioye by the absence of him from them for Paule was not sory for the ioye of these Philippians but rather was without sorow and all heuines that he myght do the office of charite the better that is to reioyce with them that reioyceth and wepe with them that wepes 2. Receyue him in the lorde therfore with all gladnes He that byddeth them receyue Epaphroditus sende to them with all gladnes and in the lord and to set moch not onely be him but also be all them that be suche lyke as he is that is faythfull preachers and teachers of goddes worde which be wordy double honour 1. Timo. 5. And reuerence not for their owne sakes but for the worde they preache and for their maysters sakes whose worde and wyll they teache And this place iecketh all them that rayle vpon preachers teachers or setters forth of goddes holy worde and that coÌ„temneth or despyseth such preachers or maketh of them a laughynge mockynge stocke bycause they do not approue the maners and facions of this worlde 3. Make moche of suche for because of the worke of Christ He wylleth them to make moch of Epaphroditus and of such faythfull mynisters of goddes worde that careth not for them selfes but for other and careth not what paine or labours they take so they may profit other yea that careth not for their life 's for the gospels sake as this Epaphroditus refused no laboures to serue Paule in prisone and hadde none or lytell respecte to his owne body and by reason of his great paines he cast him selfe into sicknes that he was nye death he chused rather to serue Paule in prison with the infyrmyte of his body then to be in health to folowe the worldly honours and pleasures of the fleshe 4. To fulfyll the seruyce whiche was lackynge on your parte towardes me Here is the cause shewed why Epaphroditus was so diligent to serue Paule and put him selfe in suche iopardy of syckenes it was to fulfyll their offyce and deuty they ought to haue done to Paule therfore he sayth that deuty you ought to haue done to me this Epaphroditus hath fulfylled it in your presence to me by his seruyce done to me for you therfore you shuld receyue him with gladnes and loue him And here you se what seruyce the people owe to their pastor besydes the gyuynge to him sufficieÌ„t lyuing for him and his necessary mynisters and that one maye supply sometyme the offyce or dewty of another And let euery man be diligent in his office or vocatioÌ„ that he is called to of god and not tender him selfe his flesshe to moch or make to moch of him selfe for we shulde not study to lyue longe but to lyue well for to lyue longe it is not in vs but in god who knoweth the tyme and houre of death whiche be vnknowne to vs nor yet the maner of our death nor the place where we shall dye nothynge is more certayne then that we shall dye but nothynge more vncertayne then the houre place and maner of death Therfore let vs be ready at altymes to dye and loke euery day for death and prepare for it hauynge a sure fayth adorned with hope and charyte and then we shall not care howe sone death come to vs. ¶ The thyrde Chapter to the Philippians MOreouer my bretherne reioyce in the lorde where as I wryte euer one thing vnto you it greueth me not and maketh you the surer Beware of dogges beware of euyll workes beware of dyssention For we are the circumcisioÌ„ euen we that serue god in the spyrite and reioyce in Christe Iesu and haue no confydence in the flesshe The apostle speaketh after this sorte hetherto I haue taught you that Christes passion was sufficient for your saluation without the workes of the lawe and that nother circumcision nor sacrifice coÌ„maunded in the law be necessary for your saluation but that you maye be saued by Christe without the workes of the law Now from hence forth se you reioyce in nothyng but in the lorde for as without the sonne there is no lyght so without Christ there is no ioye no peace no iustice no reconciliacion to the father no remission of synne no waye to heauen no truth no lyfe but Christ is all these thynges to the beleuer in god alone therfore reioyce as I haue written before so I wryte styll and I am not asshamed to wryte to you the same thynges of Christe and it is sure for you to truste these thynges And here we lerne of Paule to reherse one thynge ones or twyse specially yf they be thynges necessary to be knowne and shulde be sure fyxed in the hartes and stomakes of the people and therfore it is no rebuke to reherse suche thynges diuers tymes that they may be knowne and iÌ„ mindes fyxed more surely although some saye ouer much of one thynge is nought yet I saye with the apostle that a good tale maye be twyce tolde as this That in Christ be all thynges perteynynge to our saluation without the worke of the law 2. It is sure to you As he wolde saye althought I wryte so ofte one thynge and am not ashamed of it for it is sure for you to know the same thynge and to confyrme you to that doctrine that is alwayes one and lyke it selfe teachyng the treweth and shewynge the waye that bryngeth to lyfe and not apply your selfes to that doctrine that now teacheth one thyng and then another new thynge and is contrary to it selfe and teacheth dyuersites of whiche incertayne doctrine speaketh saint Paule 2. Tino 4. Sayng the tyme shal come when they shall not here hole and holsome doctrine but after their owne lustes shall hepe vnto them doctors whose eares do yche and they plucke their eares from the trweth and they shall turne them to fables and lyes Here we maye lerne the propertye of trew doctrine it is alwaye constant and one thynge teache it do not teache nowe one and now another or the contrary it taught before it is alwayes constant to it selfe it sheweth trueth no fables nor lyes as the false doctrine doth teache lyes errours heresy pleasure and lustes of men now one new thynge now another to please men with al and that doctrine trâ—uly is to be suspected that sheweth moche diuersites of religion fayth iustice remyssion of synne dyuers wayes to come to eternall lyfe with Christ Iesu 3. Beware of dogges beware of euyll workers beware of dissencion Thre thynges he monissheth them to beware of and to flee them The first is he wylleth them to beware af dogges he meaneth pseudoposteles whom he calleth dogges for
as dogges do barke erre girne gnasshe and byte alwayes enuiynge other and tredyng vnder the foote that dogge that is ouer throune and byte him and kyll him yf they can so the pseudoposteles do hate enuy barke ageynst trew preachers of goddes holy worde do byte them both by their slanderous tonges with raylyng iestyng vpon them callyng them loulers heretykes deceyuers of the people abiectes rounagates apostates ragget newfangled knaues and many other lyke names call them trede them vnder their fete and kepe them downe in the myre or in prison bytynge them with bondes cheynes fetters bringyng in and sekyng false witnes agaynst them and all to kyll yf they can the trew preachers teachers setters forth of goddes holy worde these pseudoposteles saint Paule calleth dogges whō he wold thē to eschew flee in no wyse gyue credence to them or to their false doctryne not agreynge with holy scriptures but greatly dissentynge Seconde he mony sheth them to be ware of euyll workers these pseudoposteles he calleth euyll workers not because they denyed good workes but because they preferred their owne good workes as their traditions ceremonies lawes costomes and other decrees made of them selfes without goddes worde aboue the preceptes and commaundementes of god or at the leste made them equail with goddes lawe thynkynge no lesse offence before god to breke one of their tradicions then to breake goddes cōmaundement yea they thought it more offence and greatter puny shment was had for the breakyng of an small tradicion of man then for goddes cōmaundement brokyn examples of this was many both in religion and out of religion before comysares chauncelars and officiales but to al these Christ thretneth euerlastyng wo. Math. 15. Saynge wo be to you that maketh voyde the commaundemēt of god for your traditions Also he calleth pseudoposteles euyll workers bycause they made equall the workes of the lawe as circumcision and other workes of the law with the kepyng of goddes commaundement and thought them as necessary as the other workes of god commaunded and that without the workes of the law no man culde be saued as without circumcision no man to come to eternall saluatiō which saint Paule writeth agayne through out all his epistels and also it was decreed of the apostels Actes 15. Circūcisiō not to be necessary for saluatiō but saluatiō to come to the gentyles without circumcisiō there is no necessite of circumcision to saluation Thridly he calleth pseudoposteles euyl workers that they dyd their workes not in that name or ende they shuld be done for they did all their workes that they myght be sene of men and haue the vayne prayse and glory of the worlde and so they lost their rewarde before god Math. 6. Fynally they dyd their good workes that they shuld merite and deserue the grace of god reconciliation to the father agayne remission of synnes and satisfaction for their synnes and lyfe euerlastyng and that of the merite and wordynes of their outwarde worke so to their workes they attrybuted their iustification and saluation And therfore the apostell moueth them to be ware of such workers of iniquite and not to folowe them nor their workes nor to worke after them Fortly he wylleth them to beware of dissention which these pseudoposteles cause that preache circumcision as a thynge necessary for saluation and without it no man to be saued These preach not circumcision but concision dissention for they preachyng circumcision as necessary to saluation they preache not circumcision but concision and separation from Christ and they seperate the people of god from god and from Christ by their euyll doctrine and he calleth circumcision concision as we alludynge of a good thynge out of order saye it is deformed when other call it reformed chaūging a letter or a sylable kepyng a lyke sounde in the word not moch differyng from wordes before spokē 4. For we are the circumcision euen we that serue god in the spirite and reioyce in Christe Iesu and haue no comforte in the flesshe Here the apostle teacheth carnall circumcision whiche false apostles so much estemed and preached and of necessite inforced and required not to be necessary to saluation as false prophetes dyd saye contendyng vs to be purged from oure synnes and grafted in Christe onely by externall circumcision and not by Christe but Paule here teacheth the contrarye and boldlye pronounceth them to be made the people of god not by circumcisiō but by Christe and to be purged from their synnes onely by Christe and that they are the trewe circumcision that haue mortified and cut awaye all carnall affections and lustes of the flesshe which do worshyp Christe in the spirite serue him by a trewe fayth and by parfyte charyte and reioyce in Christe and haue no confidenre in the flesshe trustynge helth and saluation to come none other way but onely by Christe and by his death to vs all And here he wylleth vs not to reioyce in mē in the lawe ceremonies outward sacrifyces in connynge lernynge in ryches honours worldly wysedom or policye but he that wyl reioyce let him reioyce in the lorde Hieremi 9 Gala. 6. He wolde also we shulde not trust in the fleshe in carnall sacrifices and in outwarde workes to truste to be saued by them by the wordynes of the outwarde worke but that we shulde trust to be saued onely by the marcy of god and by Iesus Christ onely Thoughe I haue wherof I myght reioyce in the flesh yf any other man thynke that he hath wherof he myhht reioyce in the fleshe moch more I whiche was circumcised on the eyght daye one of the people of Israell of the trybe of Beniamyn an hebreue of the hebrues as concernyng the law a pharisey as concernyng feruentnes I persequuted the congregacion and as tochyng the ryghtuousnes whiche is in y◠law I was vnrebukeable Here is more at large expressed what it is to trust in the fleshe by the fleshe he vnderstandeth circumcision workes of the law the stocke of Iewes he came of his fathers as Abraham Isaac and Iacob the holy secte of the pharises and their holy institution of lyuyng his good zeale he had to kepe the lawe of Moyses for the which he persequuted thē that openly professed Christe or Christes religion defēded in the which thynges outwardly yf anye man myght reioyce or trust in them moche more sayth Paule he him selfe myght reioyce and trust in them and gyue no place to no man in these thynges but other to be equall without the pseudoposteles or els to excede them all Marke that it helpeth moche to affirme any thyng when he that affirmeth maye declare him selfe equall to them that wolde extolle them selfe aboue other as here the apostle shewed him selfe to be equall with the pseudoposteles bostynge thē selfes as farre aboue Paule when they were inferiours to him as tochynge the fleshe we lerne here that it is good to take example of our selfe yf we wyll teach humilyte and