of the Lord. Gene. 5 Lykewise Henoch of whom it is written that hee walked with God Noe thereby was not onely saued frō drownyng Gen. 7. but also hath obtained this godly title euen to bee called The preacher of righteousnes 2. Pe. 2. A notable tytle What neede I to speake of Abraham Loth Isaac Iacob Ioseph c. which in steed of preachers retained the true faith suerly grounded vpon goddes woorde and by good exāple and doctrine haue taughte the same to their families and posterytie A noble example to all gouernoures parentes and maysters is set forth in Tobie Tob. 1. which as it is written taught his sonne from his youthe vp to feare god and to refraine from euell And to the end that no manne should wante the godly lessons that hee taught lo here they folow Tobi. 4. Haue god in thy thought all the dayes of thy lyfe and beware at any tyme thow cōsent not vnto synne and lest thou lette slyppe the commaundementes of the Lord our God Gyue almes of thy goodes and turne neuer thy face from the poore and so shal it come to passe that the face of the Lorde shall not be turned away from the. Be mercifull after thy power Yf thow haue muche gyue plenteousely Yf thou haue lytle do thy diligence gladly to geue of that lytle For so gatherest thou thy selfe a good rewarde in the day of necessitee Laste of all hee departed this lyfe in peace but yet before he should depart he called vnto him his sonne his sonnes vii children saiyng My children Tob. 14 heare your father Serue the Lord in truth seeke after his wyll and doo the thynge that pleseth him Commaunde your children that they do right gyue almes be mindeful of God and euer to be thankefull vnto him in truthe and with all their power Prynt this godly example in your hartes and for want of a curate let this booke be your teacher if you can not reade lette your childe seruaunt or prentyse reade And hear you and learn to entre in at this straight gate and to walke in the narrow way that leadeth vnto life whiche these godly fathers entred and walked in So doyng you shal be suer as Toby departed in peace to haue a quiet houshold obedient children and faythfull seruauntes yea and that which is great deale better the quietnes peace of conscience through our Lord Iesus Christ to whom with God the father and the holy gost be al thanke prayse and glory Amen Pray ye the Lord of the haruest to send furth labourers into his haruest So be it The Gospell on the fyrste sonday in Aduent Mat. 21. AND when they Mat. 11 Luc. 19. drew nigh vnto Ierusalem and wer come to Bethphage vnto mounte Olyuete then sente Iesus two disciples sayinge vnto them Go into the towne that lyeth oueragaynst you and anone ye shall fynde an asse bounde a colte with her lose them and brynge them vnto me And yf anye man saye ought vnto you say ye the Lorde hath neede of them and straight waye he will let them go All this was done that it myght be fulfylled which was spoken by the prophet saying Es 62. d Zac. 9. b Io. 12. c Tel ye the doughter of Sion beholde the kynge commeth vnto the meek syttyng vpon an asse and a colte the fole of the asse vsed so the yoke The disciples went and dyd as Iesus commaunded them and brought the asse and the colte and put on them theyr clothes and set hym thereon And many of the people spred their garmentes in the way other cut downe braunches from the trees and strawed them in the waye Moreouer the people that went before and they that came after cried saying Hosanna to the sonne of Dauyd Lu. 19. f Io. 12. b Ps 118. Mat. 11 Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lorde Lu. 19. t Io. 12 b Ps 118. Mat. 12 Hosanna in the hyghest THE EXPOSITION SEyng that nowe from the beginnynge of the worlde amonge all Godes elect hath beene hitherto obserued and in this latter dais throughe the synguler grace of God indespite of the deuell by noble victory hath beene recouered and wonne Gen. 15 Abac. ◠Ioh. 3. that only fayth by Christ maketh a man ryghteous good and blessed It shal be therfore very expedient that we whome God hath called to thoffice of preachynge the Gospell faithfully and with all seueritye and treuth do often handle earnestly and beate into the heddes of men the doctrine of faith with repentaunce For suerly the deuel the very enemy of this doctryne slepeth not nor can by any means leaue of his peruerse malice and deceitfulnes For it is trewly alwayes his propertye to sowe cocle that is to say false doctryne amonge wheate Mat. 13 and when he hath done harme amongest the god wheate priuely to wipe hym selfe awaye Therefore when we shall preach or speake any thing of faith to the people we muste wiselye playnly and circumspectly declare what maner of faith it is that scripture so greatly commendeth Whence it commeth what it worketh in vs what her fruictes be and what things be contrary to the same or els our aduersaries shall alwayes be readye to slander and misreport vs saying that thorowe such learninge wee geue occasion to synne and forbidde good workes to be done Therefore that I may briefly sette forth vnto you an exaumple of this thinge ye shall vnderstande that faithe is a trewe trust Fayth and perfect hope in God That God by Christe forgeueth synnes iustyfieth vs and will graunt eternall lyfe of his only grace and mercy without any our merites or workes And such faith haue we not of our selues Rom. 12 but receiue it by the word of God the holy ghost And whē it is so by the word of God and the holy ghoste made liuely and effectuall in vs Righteousnesse of faith Gal. 5. then thorough Christe it maketh vs good iuste and blessed as the prophet Abacuc witnesseth saying The iust mā lyueth by fayth And suche a faythe can not stande without hope loue it must needes break out and by good conuersacion and godlye workes be made apparaunt not after the nature and custome of hypocrisy whiche is contrary to faith but of a voluntary wyl and an vnfayned harte Lo Mat. 7. this is the faithe that wee here speake of which is commended by the testimonye of scripture Eph. 4. And in likewise ye muste instructe of the repentaunce Repentaunce of a christen man That penance is nothing else but with all thy harte to be sory for thy synne to leaue synne and by fayth to cleaue to rigteousnes But of these things we shal speak mor at large an other tyme let vs nowe see what is to be noted in this Gospell ☞ Fyrste of all let vs considre what may alure and prouok vs to the same faith here mentioned of
2 where shee had her childe with her Wherefore yf Christe did not spare his welbeloued mother but will teache that we muste come into heauen through many tribulacions verelye he will not suffre vs to bee withoute vexacion and trouble Act. 14. What thinkest thou that Mary coÌ„ceaued in her mynde when shee had loste her welbeloued sonne Doughteles she thought on this wise Alas God committed this childe to me that I shulde take the charge of hym And how is it that I haue thus loste him Verelye it is throughe my faute And paraduenture God nowe wyll not lette meÌ„ anye lenger take charge of hym Such thoughtes withoute doute dyd very sharpely perse throughe Maryes harte And heere nowe shee hadde not onlye the losse of her sonne but also the losse of faythe whyle shee toke this care thynkinge God is angrye with the and now paraduenture wyll let the no longer norishe his sonne Psa 24 These be the greate weighty temptacioÌ„s that God suffereth his electe sometime to fall in leste they shulde glory in them selfe and not learne to knowe that al perseueraunce and continuauÌ„ce in faith and vertu cometh of hym Christe is found in his worde And Mary findeth comfort no where but in the temple where she founde her sonne not ydel but hauing the word of God before hym And shee receiueth no comfort with her kinesfolkes and frendes nor in the citie of Ierusalem but in the temple So likewise we as often as we fall into tribulacioÌ„ yea into such depe temptacions that no man vnder standeth but he that by experience hath lerned we shulde seeke for helpe and comforte no where but with Christ which neuer offereth hiÌ„selfe to be seene but in the temple that is in his word althogh that oftentimes for a while he wil be hid from our eyes Beleue allonlye and dispaire not Esa 57 for the scripture saith He wyll not be angry for euer The obedience of children Forthly we lerne here the obedience of children towarde their parentes For although Christ saide to his mother that he must be busied in his fathers busines yet he submitted himselfe when he hadde done his fathers busines and went home with his parentes Here do we lerne not onlye that obedience shuld be gyuen to our parentes but howe and in what manner and howe longe also it shulde bee geuen As longe as thy parentes be no hinderauÌ„ce to thi faith in Christ but studieth to set the forward therein and agreeth therein with the then in no wise must thou deny thy dyligente attendaunce toward them Thou hast besydes this for an example the commaundement of God Exo. 20 Honoure thy father and mother And to this commaundement is added a promise which none of the other hath Wherby it appeareth that it is greatly required that this commaundement be obserued But if thy parentes will cal the from thy faith in Christ to olde abuses and mens tradicions then know thou that obedience is no longer to be geueÌ„ to them in as much as pertayneth to religion but we must folowe the saiyng of Christ Mat. 10 Luc. 14 He that hateth not his father and mother c. is not meete for me And in this wise did Christe For when he must be in his fathers busynes then did he forsake Ioseph and Mary But after that busynes done he cometh and is subdued to his parentes againe The second sonday after Epiphany day Io. 2. ANd the third day was there a mariage in Cana a citye of Galile and the mother of Iesus was called there And Iesus was called and his disciples vnto the mariage And when the wyne fayled the mother of Iesus saide vnto hym They haue no wyne Iesus sayth vnto her womaÌ„ Luc. 2. what haue I to do with the mine hour is not yet come His mother saith vnto the ministers What so euer he saith vnto you do it And ther was staÌ„ding ther vi water pottes of stone after the manner of purifienge of the Iewes contayninge two or thre firkynnes a peece Iesus saieth vnto them fill the water pottes with water And they filled them vp to the brim And he saith vnto them Draw out nowe and beare vnto the gouernoure of the feast And they bare it When the ruler of the feast had tasted of the water that was torned into wyne and knewe not whence it was but the ministers which drewe the water knewe he calleth the bridegrome and saieth vnto hym Euery man at the beginning doth set forth good wine and wheÌ„ meÌ„ be dronken then that which is worse but thou hast kept the good wine vntill nowe This begining of miracles did Iesus in Cana of Galile and she â—ed his glory and his disciples beleued on them THE EXPOSITION FYrst in this gospell it apeareth manifestlye that matrimonye pleaseth God greatlye in so much that Christ was not only preseÌ„t at this mariag Mariag but with his miracle did adorne the same And howe shulde not the creature and ordinaunce of God please hym Gen. 1. It must needes be very good that he himselfe made This is veri necessary to be knowen of euery christian man that will geue him selfe to that state of lyfe Gen. 3. In the first booke of Moises it is shewed that for the transgression of oure first parentes a greate yoke and paine was geuen to matrimony Man saith God in that place shal eate his bread in the swete of his face and woman in sorowes and paine shal conceue and bring forth children and be subiecte to her husbande c. And that sorowe sawe Sainct Paule when he saide Yet shall suche haue the affliction of the fleshe Now then yf this kinde of lyfe so compassed with many troubles and vexacions were not agayne decked with consolations and comfortes of God who I pray you wold loue it or who wold iudg matrimonye to be a good thing ye who could suffre so manye bruntes of all manner aduersities Wherefore we maye here learne that seinge God himselfe did ordaine matrimony and by Christe dydde so noblye sette it forthe that trewly there is nothinge vnder this crosse but the very grace and mercye of God And if therefore vnder this crosse and carkes and laboures of this lyfe is hidden so greate grace of almighty God no man shuld be afrayd or abasshed of that state of lyfe what bruntes or sorows so euer he shal think to abyde but rather shall by all meanes geue his dilygence that in this crosse or sorowe In the crosse we shuld loke to the good wil of God he haue a respecte to the good will of God by the which yf anye afflictions bee sente they are both sente and dryuen awaye also And for that cause wee trauaile in this worlde that oure wyll maye be broken Mat. 19 and Goddes wyll whiche alwayes is good be fulfilled Therefore yf anye manne thynke hymselfe not mete to kepe him chast and wyll auoyde the horrible
beholde there came a certaine ruler worshipped him saiyng My doughter is euen nowe disceased but come and lay thy hand vpō her and she shall liue And Iesus arose folowed him and so did his disciples Mar 5. Luc. 8. Leu◠15 and behold a womā which was diseased with an issue of bloud xii yeres came behynd him and touched the hemme of his vesture For she sayd within her selfe If I may touche but euen his vesture only I shal be safe But Iesus turned him about when he sawe her he sayd Daughter be of good comforte thy fayth hath made the safe and the woman was made whole euen that same tyme. THE EXPOSITION WE haue two examples of fayth in this Gospel One in the Ruler that came to Christ to get helpe for his doughter whiche Ruler sainct Marke calleth Iayrus And another in the woman that was diseased with a bluddy fluxe and healed by Christe In this woman was a perfecte sayth but the rulers fayth as yet was not perfect but weake Fyrst it was a point of fayth in this ruler because he beleued that Christ could rayse his daughter to life though she were dead wherewith he confesseth Christ to be God and a Lorde ouer life and death Then if Christe bee a Lorde ouer death he must nedes bee a Lorde ouer synne forasmuche as Adam through his synne brought death into the worlde and suche a Lorde dothe of death and of synne is he that both death and synne by his death he hath ouercome abrogated and taken away But howe and to what purpose That they should haue no power to cōdempne vs that beleue in Christ For vndoubtedly we can not liue without synne whyle wee bee in this mortal life as it is written Pro. 24 A iust man falleth vii tymes in a day ryseth vp againe But the synne so that we beleue shal haue no power ouer vs nor condempne vs. Lykewise Rom. 6. although this naturall death is not cleane taken awaye yet is it so ouerthrowne that it is no more dampnable vnto vs but is the beginnyng of the true principal life Iho. 11 as Christ saith He that beleueth in me shal not dye euerlastyngly This must wee surely holde fast if we will be christian menne That is we must beleue that by the death and bloud of Christ wee are deliuered from synne death deuil and hell so that we perseuer in a true fayth we shall haue euerlastyng life through Christ And this beleueth Iayrus partly But in asmuche that he beleueth not that Christe by the might power of his worde could make whole his doughter except he had been personally present we must nedes confesse that his fayth was imperfect But what shall we say of the fayth of this woman She surely had so great confidence in Christ that she cōcluded by her selfe that she should bee whole if she might touche only the hemme of his vesture Not that the vesture dyd make her whole for as S. Marke sayth he felte great vertue go from him and speaketh nothyng of the vesture but only the great fayth that she had in Christ Wherfore Christ highly prayseth and cōmendeth the fayth of this woman saiyng Doughter be of good comforte thy fayth hath made the safe Lo there thou hast an example both of perfect and vnperfect fayth Secondarily we see in this gospel howe frendly and familiarly Christe suffered the weakenes and imbecilitie of this Ruler and with the miracle done vnto the woman augmentyng and bryngyng him to more parfect fayth For he sheweth himselfe willyng at the desire of Iayrus foloweth him straight wayes home declaryng with his dede that whiche he had taught before saiyng Mat. 11 Come to me al ye that labour and are laden I wyll ease you But what happened in the way Beholde a woman that had been diseased xii yere with an issue of bloudde holdyng her peace by fayth gat and obtayned health She had determined also by her selfe that in holdyng her peace and in silence would haue gone home againe Mat. 5. But as a citie buylded vpon an high hyll can not be hyd so likewyse it was neither mete nor yet conuenient that suche great high and excellent fayth should be hyd And dothe not Christe say in the Gospell Mat. 10 There is nothyng hyd that shal not bee openly shewed and nothyng secrete that shall not be knowen So likewyse he wyl that the fayth of this woman should be manyfest brought to light And enquireth and sayth Who hath touched me The Apostles ignoraunt of this miracle answered him and sayd The people thruste thee But the woman feared and trembled for she knewe what was done in her came and fell doune before him and tolde him the whole truth Wherin Christ commendeth her fayth before al the people not only that this should bee an example for the people to folowe but also to strength Iayrus fayth that he should not doubte but that suche benignitee and mercy as was shewed vnto this womā should likewyse bee shewed vnto his daughter Could Christe behaue him selfe more gentely or bee indued with greatter loue mekenes pitie and mercy He declareth with the very deede that he can helpe and succour vs in all trouble necessitee yea in the point of death and is ready and willyng therto But we of our nature are so indurate deaffe and blind that we wil neither with holsome doctrin and teachyng nor yet with miracle be moued vnto fayth Truely it is to be feared lest we take and receiue like ende with the styffe necked and blynde Iewes For wee can not excuse oure selues but the same that was spoken vnto the Iewes might likewyse be spoken vnto vs Ioh. 15. where Christe sayd If I my selfe had not come and spoken vnto theim then should they haue had no sinne Is not Christ come through his gospel and hath shewed the same Do we not heare his worde dayly but when do we heare the same for any amēdement of our life I pray the take it once to heart and remembre the goodnes frendlynes myldenes of Christe howe louyngly through his worde and miracles he intyseth allureth vs vnto fayth Howe familiarly he taketh and suffereth our imbecilitee and weakenes and howe feruently he desireth vs to be iust and blessed Let these thynges so moue vs that by the meditacion hereof we may not only encrease in fayth but perseuer in the same and therby get euerlastyng saluacion Thyrdly wee see in this miracle howe the woorkes of Christe are counted and adiudged in the world for foolishenes yea and are skorned and dispised For Christ saiyng The mayd is not dead but sleapeth what did they but laught him to skorne Doest thou not thinke it a miserable thynge that the creature shuld scorne his maker creatour of all thinges That vngracious and blynde fleshe stondeth well in his owne conceite and thinkinge him selfe to haue done a highe feate when it
consider it and endeuour theim selues All preachers should cōfirme their saiynges with scripture that whatsoeuer they teache preache or otherwyse do in their office that they do it vpō a good foundacion of the holy scriptures so that they may euer be ready to answere to those as are not sufficiently instructed in their doctrine or workes or that vnderstand not their preachyng For euen Christ him selfe in likewyse approued his doctrine out of the olde testament and the Prophetes and that in many places And did not the Apostles in like maner Howe excellent an artificer dothe Paule shewe himselfe in recityng the textes of the olde Testament For whatsoeuer it be that is buylded vpon that sure foundacion of the holy scripture be it doctrine or worke begon or finished it standeth sure and stedfast Contrary whatsoeuer is not buylded vpon that foundacion there is no remedy it must nedes fall God through Christ geue vs the knowlege of of his holy worde Amen The gospell on the conuersion of S. Paule the Apostels daye Mat. 19. THen aunswered Peter and sayde vnto hym Beholde Mat. 4 Mar. 10 Luc. 18. we haue forsaken all and folowed the what shall we haue therfore Iesus sayde vnto them Verely I saye vnto you that when the sonne of man shall sytte in the seat of hys maiestye ye that haue folowed me in the regeneraciō Luc. 22. shal sit vpon twelue seates and iudge the twelue trybes of Israel Deut. 33 And euery one that forsaketh house or brethren or systers or father or mother or wife or childrē or lands for my names sake Ioh. 13. shall receiue an hundreth fold and shal inheryte euerlastynge lyfe THE EXPOSITION IN the gospell of S. Mathewe ys made mentiō of a certaine ruler which did aske Christ what he shuld do that he might inherite and haue euerlasting lyfe Vnto whom Christ answered saying If thou wylt entre into lyfe keepe the commaundementes And forbicause he dyd aske lyke a iustifier that wolde be iustifed by his owne workes without fayth therefore he receaueth suche an answere as concernyng workes This ioyly felow by and by boasteth and rufleth out as the fashion of iustifiers alwayes is for to do and proudely answered of his works which he had done and sayth All these haue I kepte from my youth vp What lacke I yet Iustifiers are boasters of their workes What shall we say or think of thys vaine and proude confidence Peraduenture he shuld not haue had answered much amysse yf the law had not been spiritual as sainct Paule sayth and had not required the affection of the heart and the inwarde man and not only the outward apparance of workes workes wherin this iustifier was deceiued Nowe for-because that he should learne to knowe his imperfection and hypocrisy Christ sayth vnto him One thyng ye wāt If thou wilt be perfect go thy way sel that thou hast and geue it vnto the poore Here was sodenly a wyndow opened into his heart so that he might haue sene vpō what a feble weake foundacion imperfect fayth he stode But what doth he He goeth not about to do that Ryches are a let vnto life euerlastyng whiche Christ cōmaunded him but left him goeth his wayes Wherout it cōmeth well to passe whiche Christ sayth O how hardly shal they that put their cōfidence in ryches come into the kingdom of god It is easier sayth he for Camel to go thorowe the eye of a nedle than for a riche mā to entre into the kyngdom of heauen c. Whiche thynges when S. Peter had heard that it was no smal thing to leaue all folowe Christ and that he had already done it voluntarily not compelled thervnto he doth aske Christ what shall become of him thother Apostles It cānot be denied but that S. Peter with his brother Andrew frely voluntarily did leaue forsoke al although it was but litle folowed Christ And surely if Peter had been so riche as euer was Cresus yet when he had heard Christ speake in his hart this saiyng Folow me A carnal affectiō was in Peter he would haue left al folowed him Neuerthelesse it was a carnal affectiō in him taking thought for his reward before he had done his diligence or before he had brought his worke to an end And as touchīg this matter it semeth that Peter was like vnto those workmen which when thei were agreed for their wages wēt into the vyneyard but yet requireth a greater reward then thei that came about the ix and xi hour For when did Abrahā I pray you require any such thyng when he was commaunded of God to forsake his fathers house and folowe the Lorde into a strange lande Therfore Peter is set furth in this place as an exāple of mans infirmitee which notwithstādyng Peter s fayth of Christ Christ accordyng to his gētle fatherly affection doth gladly beare take in good part euē as it often tymes chaūsed in the Apostles whō Christ with such lenitie myldnes of mynd did so long beare withall vntill at his tyme he did bryng thē vnto perfection Yea if that good most bountiful Christ should reiect cast away all them whiche were weake in the fayth what should become of vs I beseche you There is not one of vs whiche would not gladly take a reward though he had not deserued the same by any maner of seruice Besides that all wee with good wyll would raigne with Christ though we haue neueer suffered any thyng with him or for him But loke not that that shal so come to passe but thus it shal be He that suffereth with me shall also raigne with me Secōdarily though it be mete and cōuenient that we do our dutie seruice vnto God of very loue of the heart without any respect of reward for the reward shal folowe of his owne accorde yet notwithstandyng Christ sheweth vnto Peter to the other Apostles how he will intreate them and what they shal at length receiue of him And this his promise he also confirmeth with an othe saiyng Verely I say vnto you that when the sonne of man shal sit in the seate of his Maiestie ye whiche haue folowed me in the newe byrth shall syt also vpon the twelue seates and iudge the twelue tribes of Israel Heare howe large a promyse is made in this place vnto the Apostles For he wyll not onely conferre this benefite vnto theim although a greater can not be desired that by him they shall be made good and righteous The reward of the Apostles and if they perseuer vnto the ende in a true fayth partakers also of euerlastyng life by his only grace and mercy but also he wyll make them iudges that in the newe byrthe when we shal be receiued into euerlastyng health they shall sitte nere vnto Christ Of the whiche iudgement sainct Paule also speaketh 1. Cor. 6 Do ye not
all his doctrin life after suche maner that by his grauitee diligēce blamelesse irreprehensible liuyng the worde of the gospel may be set forward magnified as sainct Paule also saith 1. Co. 3. This is required of stewardes of the mysteries of God that they be found faythful And on the other part the hearer cōsidering that this ministery is instituted of God he ought not only to heare receiue worde with al humilitee reuerence but also well to esteme honorably to entertayn the minister for his names sake that instituted the administracion lest it chaunce vnto vs as it did to the Iewes to whō Christ sayd I do glorify my father you do dishonor me And sainct Paule saith Those that rule well and faithfully with the word they are worthye double honour And the same testimonies also gyueth hee to the Galathians that they receyued him as an aungell of god yea and yf it had beene possible they wolde haue digged oute theyr eyes to haue giuen to him To baptise is a work of god And in like maner ought that ministery of baptism to be estemed as a precyous godly gyfte for why we se here it is not the inuencion or imagynacion of mā but it is the instytution and cōmaundement of the lord god himself Furthermore this is wel to be noted that the mystery of the worde and baptisme ought to bee communicate vnto all men And I pray you who may here with good cōscience exclude the infantes Baptisme is permitted vnto infants whō Christ excluded not Wee must preach to al men al men must be baptyzed neither ought the infantes by any meanes to be restrained from baptisme For although as yet they are not apte to heare the outwarde worde yet is god able to teach them inwardly by hys spyrite tyll they maye growe and ware able to hear and receyue the vocall and externe outwarde woorde preached to theim The office of the woorde Thyrdely when Christe hath committed to his apostels preachers the ministery of the word hee also sheweth what māner of word it is that they muste preach teach to the people that is that most cōfortable tidīgs of holy gospel Go forth saith he preach the gospel to al creatures Gospel But what is the gospel It is a glad tidīgs wherin ys offered giuē to vs for Christes merites without any deseruing vpon our behalfe but of mere grace remission of sinnes righteousnes and eternall lyfe And this preachyng must he that is come to the knowlege of his sins by the preachyng of the law receiue with faith nether mai he doubt of this promise if it shal do him any profite In like maner saith S. Paule The gospel is the power of God vnto saluacion to euery mā that beleueth it Here you hear that the gospel is the power of God not wtstanding it must be receiued by fayth In the woorde is the power of God of this you may not doubte but beleue if any fayth be in thyne heart Christes promyse shall here in no wyse deceiue vs if our fayth be perfect like as Christ also here requireth fayth saiyng The worde of God must be preched Whoso beleueth and is baptized shal be saued But he that beleueth not shal be cōdempned We must here note two thynges Fyrst that Christ gaue commaundement to his Apostles to preache onely his worde gospel Where this is well considered pondered in the mynde there shortly vanisheth away and are abolished tradicions dreames doctrynes of men I praye you howe agreeth this that in the causes pertainyng to our iustificacion any other doctryne should be admitted but the only worde of God In ceremōies excercises because of youth ther might be obserued tradicions and cōstitucions of menne but in this matter of iustifycacion the woorde of God onely is to be admitted The second note is The sacramentes haue their power of the worde that Christe ioyneth together the ministerye of the worde and baptisme For this wyll he teache in it that baptisme and the sacramētes haue their power of the woorde and can by no meanes bee disseuered from the worde For as concernyng baptisme what authoritee could it haue if the worde were not ioyned with it Doubtles the water shuld be nothyng but styll remayne water But ioyne the worde to it and consider well the commaundement annexed to it then shall not the water be simple water but as S. Paule calleth it it is a washyng of regentracion of newe byrthe and renewyng of the holy gost And therfore is it that Christ sayth in this gospel Who so beleueth and is baptized he shal be saued Signes and miracles do confirme the worde Fourthly Christ sheweth here what tokens shal folowe vpon them that beleue In my name sayth Christe they shall cast out deuils they shall speake with newe tongues take away serpentes c. As he would say My worde is before the world a dispised worde neither haue you whiche must preache it as yet obtayned any authoritee afore men so that they may receiue your preachyng and doctryne without myracles signes wherfore this wyll I do I wyll geue you power to dryue out deuils to speake with newe tonges to heale the sycke c. And whosoeuer that after your worde and doctrine shal be by those tokens and sygnes confyrmed wyll beleue you and be baptized certaynly he shall obtayne remission of synnes and life eternal But whoso beleueth not all excuses set a part shal be damned Vpon this it necessarily foloweth that myracles sygnes were excedyng necessary at the fyrst beginnyng to preache the gospel For if any authoritee and power should be geuen to this dottryne it was necessarye to establishe it and confirme it with so excellent and noble myracles lyke as the lawe also was before confyrmed by sygnes and myracles Notwithstandyng those sygnes wherby the lawe was confirmed were farre more horrible then were the sygnes in the beginnyng of the Gospell For the sygnes that were wrought in the beginnyng of the gospel were very pleasant if you compare them to those sygnes that were shewed in the beginnyng of the lawe And the preachyng of the gospel also is farre more gladder tidynges more comfortable to the heart then is Moses with al his preceptes lawes Nowe in our tyme to requyre lyke myracles and sygnes it is vnsittyng vnreasonable and vnlawfull But if wee wyl so do Christ answereth and sayth Mat. 8. This aduouterous generacion seeketh a sygne and other shall not be geuen to it but the sygne of the prophet Ionas c. For we haue the gospel of Christ confirmed with miracles and sygnes of the Apostles and that sufficiently established surely he that wyll not beleue it can with no miracles nor sygnes be brought vnto the fayth Fyftly The ascencion of Christ we haue in this gospell an article of oure fayth of the ascencion of Christ
shal come or do we loke for an other Iesus answered end layde vnto them Go and shewe Iohn agayne that ye haue heard and seene Esa 6. c The blynde receaue theyr syghte the lame walk the lepers are clensed and the deafe heare the deade are raysed vp and the poore receiue the glad tidynges of the Gospell And happy is he that is not offended by me And as they departed Lu. 11. d Iesus began to say to the people concerninge Iohn What went ye out in the wildernes to see A reed that is shaken with the wynd Or what went ye out for to see A man clothed in softe rayment Beholde they that weare softe clothing are in kinges houses But what went ye out for to see A prophete Verely I say vnto you and more then a prophete For thys is he of whom it is written Mal. 3. Mar. 1. Behold I send my messanger before thy face whiche shall prepare thy way before the. THE EXPOSITION FYrste of all in this gospell we are taught The office of a preacher what besemeth the ministers of the worde to obserue as well in their lyuyng as in theire learnynge For Saint Iohn is here so sette before our eyes that no man can denye but that he was a good preacher as for the office of a trewe preacher is this together with the faith that is in Christe What penauÌ„ce is iÌ„ scripture earnestly also to teach instructe of penauÌ„ce PenauÌ„ce I cal wheÌ„ a maÌ„ with his hert is sory for his sinne willinge to amend and after that to liue iustely as scripture speaketh of this penaunce Flee from euell and do good Psal 30 Ephe. 4 and He that hath stolen let him steal no more It is alwaies necessarye that I acknowledge my syn and corrupt nature if the preaching of Christ shall any thing profite me Now seyng that I must come to suche knowledg of corrupte nature and hatred of my synne then must needes the minister of Goddes worde sette before me the law fear me ther with Esa 40 shewing vnto me that all fleshe is as haye the glory thereof like the floure of the felde that is That I am a greate damnable sinner and that of my selfe I can nothinge doo and so muche the lesse shuld glorye or magnifie my selfe Knowlâ—â—ge of synne is sprituall pouertie And where suche knowledge of sinne is there the gospel is sowen with fruict in the whiche through Christ allonly is geueÌ„ vnto vs remission of syns And peradueÌ„ture this is the pouertye that Christ speaketh of in this gospel These two thiÌ„gs shalt thou find in S. Iohn First he speaketh of penauÌ„ce ccoÌ„cludeth euery maÌ„ to be vnder sin lest thei shuld glori in the selues And for that cause dothe baptise in water as a token of penaunce Rom. 3. And after he hath brought the people into the knowledge of theire sinne he teacheth the Gosspel Iohn 1. saiyng Behold the lambe of God that takith away the sinne of the worlde And in this wise vseth saynt Iohn the office of a good preacher and continueth in the same in so muche that he sendeth his disciples to none other but to Christe not that he doughteth of Christ but that thei should also learn that Christ is the only sauiour of the world and the very samet hat sainct Iohn testifieth of Christ also praiseth him for his coÌ„tancy and stablenes sayinge He is no reede that wauereth hither thither with the wind nor is of that sorte that to daye teacheth this and to morowe in contrary wyse And to this purpose it pertaineth also that Iohn is more then a prophete Which thing againe muste be referred to his office The prophets before him did only prophecie that Christe our Lorde and saue oure shulde come Iohn poynting with his fynger dyd shewe him then present The lyfe of sainte Iohn Wyll ye heare any more of the life of Iohn then is mentioned in the third chapter of Mathew Hear what Christ sayeth here He is not clothed in softe garmentes as who saith His lyfe is not set in voluptuousnes but is mortefied from all carnall concupiscence and pride and liueth iustly to Gods worde Neither sytteth he in the palace of a kynge but in fetters and cheynes Now lyke as Saint Iohn did sincerely execute his office and kepte him selfe in good conuersation so likewise it becommeth the ministers of the Gospell to do Also in this gospell the person of Christ is so touched and set forthe The goodnes of Christ that thow maist know wel him to be gentel meke and lowly For he dyd not hardly intreat or driue away the discipls of Iohn althogh they were of small fayth but gentely in worde and deede did instructe them And saide Go your way and tell Iohn what ye haue seene The blynd doth see and the lame doth go c. As who sayeth Iohn knowech very well by the prophete what workes Messias shal do and yet go you and shew vnto him what ye haue sene that afterward he may tel you whether I be the same Messias that the prophecy speketh of or whether any other be lokid for Esa 35. Thys be the words of the prophet God hiÌ„ selfe shall come and redeme vs. Then shall the blind see and the defe here Then shale the haiting lepe like the harte and dume men shall speke And Christ further saith Poore meÌ„ do hear the glad tidings of the preachers of the gospel As he shuld say again Hitherto ye haue had Moyses the law But Moyses could not geue you the spirite wherwith ye myght haue fulfilled the lawe And nowe ye heare of an other maner lernyng that is the gospell verely by the which they that be poore in spirit and knowledg their synnes do frely through Christe receiue remission of synne without merite of workes and shal be pertakers of the kyngdom of heauen with the childreÌ„ of God so that they beleue in Christ Rom. 1. The very poore And in suche wiâ—e also speaketh S. Paule The gospel is the power of God to euery man that beleueth to be saued thereby And Christe speaketh by these wordes Tel Iohn Lo yt is preached to the poore people that is to them that be contrite in herte and be destitute of all helpe and comforte A ioy ful mesage trewly that through my benifyte they shal hereafter haue a mercyful God remission of all sinnes iustice and euerlasting helth by very grace and mercye withoute any merite of workes And now yf Iohn hear of these thinges agayne yt muste playnly be manifest vnto you whether I be Messias or not And he knoweth wel ynough wher to suche message is sente vnto hym namely that he shulde shewe it to men Lo in this wise Christe teacheth Iohnes disciples not with wordes alonly but with deeds also that they might beleue and obtayn euerlasting lyfe Now if any man were taught outwardely by this worde
mammon Mammon And in like manner these worke maisters as thei be called haue their priuate god that is the trust in their own works and merites Of the which false god Esaias sayth Esa 2 They haue worshipped the workê of they re owne handes And I pray you what shuld the birth of Christ haue profited those men if it had been shewed vnto them Mat. 7. Holy thinges maye not be caste to dogs nor perles to swyne He that putteth his trust in any other creature then in Christ to him Christ is vnprofitable Lykewyse he that by any other meanes seketh his iustificacion but by Christ to him also is Christ vnprofitable as S. Paule in manye places wytnesseth his eristle to the Galathians saiyng Gal. 2 Yf Iustificacion come by the lawe then died Christ in vayne And bycause Christe here requireth suche a herte that shuld not put hope or trust in any wordely goodes or in his owne power and righteousnes but should holy stycke to his passion Mat. 5. death and merite Therfore he chose none but poore folkes and not such as wer pore in this world after the flesh but poore in spirite that is they that knowe all they re owne sinnes frailnes misbeleue and corrupt natur and abid only in his word And to them also saithe he in an other place Mat. 11 Come to me al ye that be laden and I shall refreshe you Also If any man thirst let him come to me Iohn 7 and I shal geue him drinke These and such like wordes the riche men and they that wil be iustified by their owne workes do not receue nor regarde of the whiche the blessed virgin Mary in her songe singeth Quod dimittantur inanes They are seÌ„t awai empty Luc 2 Therfore this birth of Christ ioiful messaÌ„ger is shewed onli to the pore shepards Thirdely we may learne of this gospell that when this helthfull birth of Christe is layde forthe vnto vs by the ministers of the gospell which for the more part in scripture be signified by aungels and we therby assertained Mal. 2. that our saluacion consisteth in the same wee maye in no wise so dooe that wee shuld be forgetful of so great a benefit or be founde vnkind therin Thanks geuing but rather shuld with continual thaÌ„kes geuing praise and extol the same and alwaies sing with the angels Glory be in heauen vnto God c. Here God is praised of the Aungels heauenly company chiefly for this cause that he of his onlye grace mercy hath geuen his onlye begotten son a sauioure to the world that through him the way shuld be to euerlasting lyfe for al men and that by his goodnes syn deth the deuel and hel shuldde taken away Ys not this benefite worthy of praise coÌ„mendacioÌ„ Yes trewly no man can geue worthy thankes therefore Neueuertheles yet we must persist to say with the prophet Dauid Ps 146 My soule praise the Lord I wil praise the Lord in my lyfe I wil sing to my God as longe as I lyue And considre here that this honour and thankes geuing can not bee yelded to God where this oure Christe is not or not throughly knowen And that no peace or good will can abide with vs without Christ Ioel. 17 And in contrary wise wher Christ abideth and by his word is wel knowen ther also the heuenly father is knoweÌ„ praised extolled as such a father that hath geueÌ„ vs his only son Christ for a sauiour into al the world And there also is found the trew peace when we beleue that God the father wil not vs to bee damned but of his ineffable grace wil receiue and geue vs euerlastinge lyfe by Christe Who I praye you wolde not be of good chere when he hereth the aungels bring this peace quietnes of harte to vs And besides all this God reioyseth in vs through his sonne And againe they that beleue doth reioyce in all his workes singing without ende Glory be in heauen to god peace in earth good wil to men The gospel on the first sonday after Christemas Luc. 2. AND his father mother meruailed at those thinges whiche were spoken of him And Simeon blessed them and sayde vnto Mary his mother Beholde this chylde is sent to be the fall and vprysinge againe of many in Israel and for a signe whiche is spoken againste And moreouer the sweard shal perse thy soule that the thoughtes of many hertes may be opened And there was a prophetisse one Anaa the doughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Aser which was of greate age and had lyued with her husbande seuen yeares from her vyrginitie And she had bene a widowe aboue foure score foure yere which departed not from the temple but serueth God with fastinges and prayers nyght and day And she came forth that same hour and praysed the Lorde and spake of hym to al them that loked for the redemptioÌ„ in Ierusalem And when they had performed al thinges according to the law of the Lord they returned into Galile to theyr owne city Nazareth And the chylde grewe and waxed strong in spirite and was filled with wisedome â— Reg. 2. and the grace of God was vpon hym THE EXPOSITION IN this gospell we haue sufficieÌ„t testimony of Christ that he is the trew Messias the blessed sede of AbrahaÌ„ in that which all people shuld be saued SimeoÌ„s testimoni of Christ First we haue the great testimonye of Simeon which of long time had loked for the consolation coÌ„fort of Israel was enformed by the holy ghost that he shuld not se deth before he saw Christ And when Ioseph Mary had in the day of purificatioÌ„ takeÌ„ the childe Iesus set hiÌ„ before the lord in Ierusalem according to the custom made their host oblacion Lo Simeon also through the holy ghost came in to the temple toke the child in his aâ—mes called him the sauiour sent froÌ„ God the lighte of the gentiles and glorye of the people of Israel What it is to blesse And afterward wished al thinges prosperous ioyfull to the child and his parentes and that is signified by that that he did blesse them as it appeareth in the 24. cha of gen And theÌ„ said he to Mari Lo this child is set to the fal and vprisinge of many in Israel And for a signe which shal be spokeÌ„ against Of these words of Simeon it is manifest that Christ is the trew Messias sauiour of the world promised in holi scripture or els why wold he cal him the lyght sauiour glory of Israel yf he could not help saue iustiâ—i Iohn 1. Yea if he wel not the very sauiour by whom we take our saluacion verely he mighte seme but a dispised sauiour And besides this he shuld not haue byn called the light of the GeÌ„tilê if he shuld not haue lightned al meÌ„
vp his eyes in to heauen to saye Luc. 15. God haue mercy vpon me a sinner Luke the 18. chap. Likewise the elder brother disdained his yonger brother that was loste when he retorned came to himselfe againe Mar 14 And in like manner Iudas dispised that simple wretched woman which in the house of Simeon the leper powred out vpoÌ„ Iesus head a box of costly oyntment And also the Iewes dispised Christe when he didde eate and drinke amongeste the publicans and sinners But what sayed Christe to that Verely I saye vnto you that sinners and whores shall enter into the kingdom of heauen before Mat. 21 you What doth not the houshoulder here think so to when he saieth Shall I not do with mine owne what pleaseth me And in this we miserable sinners haue one speciall thing and prerogatiue before those great high holy men that when we do good workes we haue no respect thereto nor do them for that cause that therefore we may aske heauen of God as dewe dette to vs but wee beleue in hym that maketh the sinner righteous and oure fayth is imputed to vs to iustificacion Rom. 4 And forbicause the iustifiers do aske their rewarde as dette and couenaunt and not of grace therefore yt happeneth to them that they be made of the firste the laste Nor yet shal they leaue or forsake their pride so grafte in them which alwaies foloweth them but alwaies they shall iudge and condemne and often tymes haue in theire mouthes and call here tyckes heretickes vntil they them selues be condemned The sonday called Seragesima Luc. 8. WHen much people wer gathered together and were come to him out of all cityes he spake by a similitude ♣ The sower wente oute to sowe his seade and as he sowed some fell by the way syde and yt was troden downe and the foules of the ayre deuoured yt vp And some fell on stone and as soone as it was spronge vp it wythered awaye bycase it lacked moystenes And some fell among thornes and the thornes sprange vp with it and choked it And some fell vpon good ground and bare frute and hundreth folde And as he sayd these thynges he cryed He that hath eares to hear let him heare And his diciples asked hym saiyng what manner of similitude is this And he sayde Vnto you it is geuen to knowe the secrets of the kyngdome of God but to other by parables that wheÌ„ they see they shoulde not se Mat. 12 Mar. 4 and when they heare they shoulde not vnderstande The parable is thys Esa 6. c Mat. 13 Mar. 4. Ioh. 12. Act. 28. f Rom. 11 Mat. 13 Mar. 4. The feede is the worde of God Those that are beside the waye are they that heare then cometh the deuell and taketh away the word out of theyr hartes lest they shuld beleue and bee saued They on the stones are they which when they heare receiue the worde with ioye and these haue no rootes which for a while beleue and in tyme of temptacion go awaye And that which fell amonge thornes are they which when they haue herde go forthe and are choked wyth cares and ryches and voluptuous lyuing and bring forth no frute That which fell in the good ground are they which with apure and good herte hear the worde and kepe it and bring forth frute through pacience THE EXPOSITION THe similitude of the gospel of this day Christ himselfe hath sufficiently expounded I wold wishe that all we might receiue the grace of God not only to vnderstand the same but to haue it written in our hartes that we might oftentymes thinke theron For seing that Christ himselfe with a loude voyce saied He that hath eares to hear let hiÌ„ harkin we may well perceiue that it is not geuen to euery man to heare the worde of God and kepe the same For as S. Paule witnesseth in the third cha of his first epist to the Cor Plant we may The outwarde worde water may as wel as we can but the encrease cometh of no maÌ„ but of God And that we may learn how god bi the outward preaching of his word doth also inwardly through the holye ghoste worke in oure hartes there ar fower kiÌ„des of herers laied here before vs. Fyrste of all Christe speaketh of the seede that fel by the waies syde and was trodden vnder foot and the foules of the aier eate it vp And he calleth the seed the worde of God and the byrdes he calleth the deuel which by innumerable means pluck and rote vp the word of God out of meÌ„nes hartes And he speaketh as though he shulde saye on this wise False christiaÌ„s Many there be that hear the gospel wyll in any wise be called christian men moreouer they vse the sacraments liberty of a christian maÌ„ but trewly they shal obtain of me nothing els but the vayne name that they so greatly glory in And out wardly they shew a certaine grauiti and face of holynes but inwardely they be filled with al malice And why so Bicause they haue receyued the word of God vnder a pretext as it were vnder a shadow or visarde it neuer descended into they re hartes neither were they kindeled any thinge therewith whereby a man myghte perceiue it to haue been any thing liuely or effectual in them There haue entred in false doctours and secte maisters which thorow their deceitful exposition of scripture haue suppressed and troden vnder foot the good seede of the word of God Iere. 5. 27 Of whom the prophet Ieremy saith That they shall speak their lyes in the name of the lorde 1. TiÌ„ 1. And S. Paule called the doctrine of those men idle speach They haue adioyned themselues to suche doctoures forsaking the fountayne of the water of lyfe and folowe with all desire and couet to drinke the troubled and muddye water infected with mans tradicions and hereticall lerning And afterward cometh in the deuell which is signified by the byrdes And bicause his ministers the false techers haue with their false preachiÌ„g prepared to hiÌ„ his waies he goeth forth entreth priuily iÌ„to their hartê so that thei beiÌ„g brought froÌ„ the trew doctrine of Christ shall both body soule run into the snares of the deuel And those deceits snares The deuell of noone dayes be the very deuel of that none tyde that the 90 psal speaketh of And now forasmuch as we haue perfect knowledg that the deuel layeth netê snares for vs as wel by his false prophets which by the peruerse expositioÌ„ of scripture go about to deceiue vs As also by his owne gyles and inspiracioÌ„s yt shal be very necessary that we so establish our lyues that by no meanes we be brought froÌ„ the trew simple doctrine of Christ For as sone as we begin to despise and set litle by that word of god that is shewed vnto vs by Christ We must
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
The hired seruaunt flieth bicause he is an hyred seruaunt and careth not for the sheepe I am the good sheephâ—rd and knowe my sheepe and am knowen of myne As my father knoweth me euen so knowe I also my father And 2 Tim. 2 Mat. 11 Mar. 10 Luc. 10. I geue my lyfe for the sheep And other sheepe I haue whych are not of this folde them also muste I bringe and they shall heare my voice and there shal be one folde and one shepeharde THE EXPOSITION The good shephard The hierynge IN this similitude firste of all a good shepeherd and a hyred seruaunte be compared and the nature and propertie of both be described But this is to be noted that this present gospel is part of the similitude which Christe in the 10. chapt of Iohn put forth to the Phariseis of the dore the sheepefolde the shepharde and the porter For the Phariseis herde and taught the lawe but they vnderstod not Moyses which did not all only require of them the outeward workes but rather the affection of the harte Wherof it came that they coulde not teache the rightousnes of faith that was accepted before god nor yet could print it rightly in peoples hartes Then for as muche as in the steede of this righteousnes they taughte the righteousnes of workes and soughte saluacion by an other meane then by the seede of Abraham promised vnto theim willing other also to seke the same Therfore Christ sayd not withoute a cause in the beginning of this similitude that they entred not in at the dore but that they were theues murtherers For there cannot be begonne or raysed vppe in the church greater mischiefe or murther then to teache to trust in workes Phil. 3. Dogges Of the which doctoures Paule speketh when he saith Beware of dogges beware of euel workers He calleth the false prophetes dogges that for theyr owne lucre and aduauntage wil not teache the people the righteousnes of faithe but the righteousnes of workes against the wholsome doctrine of Christe And Christe called theim hyred seruauntes Wherefore Forbycause they care not for the sheepe bycause they regarde not the helth and saluacion of the sheepe neyther wyll daunger them selues therfore And so it is written in the prophete Soph. 3 Her prophetes are lyghte persones c. For the hyred seruaunt tarieth while he findeth aduauntage but when he perceyueth none aduauÌ„tage he flyeth awaye ye thoughe the wolfe shuld eate vp all his sheepe But Christ doth not so for he saith I am a good shepehard c. Surely all only Christ is the good shepeharde for he hath got and obteyned for his sheepe through his death the pasture and feeding of euerlastinge lyfe Out of this office of Christ we may knowe what mynde Christ beareth toward vs. For he beareth vs such affection that he will saue vs and not destroye vs. Howe doth he confirme that vnto vs In feedinge dyinge Feedyng is in the scripture a common terme Feding and is as much to saye as to teache goddes word rightly without mingling therwith false doctrine as thou seeste in the laste chapiter of Iohn where Christe saithe Peter feede my sheepe And in the actes of the apostels Act. 1â— The holye ghoste hath sette you to be bysshoppes to feede the congregation of god With this feedinge with this doctrine hathe god fyrste serued his sheepe and afterwarde with his death and shedinge of his precious blode that they being saued for euer shulde not be a praye to the wolues Who to dye wolde not beleue suche a shepharde Who wolde desire other feeding Now compare Christ and the hiered seruaunte togyther Christe seeketh the commoditie and profyte of the sheepe The hierelynge seeketh his owne wealthe and commoditye The one hath the worde of lyfe the other of condemnacion The one quickeneth the other slayeth The one refresheth and comforteth the other chargeth and troubleth mennes consciences The one abideth with the shepe in al need and necessitye and the other flyeth away Briefely Christ is allonly the good shepeharde which thorough his doctrine and death hath made vs iuste righteous and hollye Secondarily wee haue here in this gospell a meruailous coÌ„fortable saying in that that Christe repeteth that he is the good shepeharde c. In the which wordes he declareth what thought and care he taketh for his sheepe that they be well kept and haue good feeding And that wee shulde vndoubtedly bee suer that he careth for his sheepe he ioyneth and addeth that he knoweth vs none otherwise then the father acknowledgeth him and hee the father For Christe and the father be one substance vndeuided so that Christ can not be seperated from the father nor the father from Christ For if Christe coulde be seperated from the father then coulde there not be one god And that meaneth the father Mat 17 when he sayeth Here is my welbeloued son in whome I delite heare him Whiche is euen as much to say as to heare obey Christ my son is to heare and obey me Lykewise here the son meaneth the same thinge when he sayethe Ioh. 1â— I and the father are one Also to Phylippe he saith Ioh. 14 Phylyppe he that seeth me seeth the father Hereoute thowe mayest lyghtelye gather howe that Christe acknowledgeth the father and lykewyse howe the father acknowledgeth Christe Nowe If Christ knoweth vs as he knoweth the father the father knoweth Christe so muste wee needes be one body and one substaunce with hym Yea euen his brethren Then when I am one body and one substaunce with Christe my lorde when I am Christes brother will not he defend me wil he forsake and leaue me withoute comforte No suerly but will knowe me and stand by me vntil the consumacion and ende of this worlde So that and if I as a shepe were in the middest of the wolues ther were no ieoperdy only yf this Christ wold acknowledge vs. But howe can I bring that to passe that I may be the brother of Christe and grafte in him and that I maye knowe hym as he knowethe me Or howe doth he acknowledge me Before the foundacion of the worlde was layde he dyd electe me and predestinate me to saluacion 1 Tim. 2 of his greate mercye withoute any deseruing of workes And after that he became manne he called me throughe his worde to the same saluacion so that yf I nowe beleue in him he and I bee one This to beleue frome the botome of oure hartes What is to knowe Christe is to knowe Christe in the whiche knowledge consisteth oure ryghteousnes and saluacion as yt is wrytten in the gospell of Iohn Ioh 17 Thys is the euerlastynge lyfe that they knowe the that thow only arte the trewe god and whom thou hast sente Iesu Christ The calling of the Heithen Thyrdly wee haue here the callynge of the Gentyles how that they shall come to the knowledg of theyr sinnes and to
belongeth vnto the politike ordre may therfore lawfully be done But if I wolde so sticke and cleaue to wordly thinges that I shulde forget heauenly thinges that shuld damne me After this maÌ„ner we speake of mariag To haue a wyfe is a good thiÌ„g lauful But if I loue mi wife better thaÌ„ god it is to my damnacion Therfore S. Paule teacheh vs â— Co. 7. that they that haue wyues bee as though they had none that is in the acknowledging of the gospel I shall not permit my wyfe to be an impedimeÌ„t vnto me but rather for the gospels sake if nede require I shal be readye to forsake wyfe children and all Finally those men outwardely appeare here to be good menne but whyle they wyll not beleue the gospelle of Christe thys sentence goethe vppon theim None of those men that were called shal cast of my supper The calling of that heithens Thirdely we se here that while the chiefe in Iury did dispise this supper how god called thervnto all sinners whores and publicanes oute of euerye strete of the towne that they shuld knowledg there sinnes and are grace and pardon of Christ Also we see here the gentyles that were not named the people of god nowe to be called to this excellente and great supper Here is two thinges also to be noted Fyrste that it hath pleased god to call the pore and the weak that is those that be of a contrite harte a louely spirite and by the preaching of the law be come vnto the knowledge and repentaunce of their sinnes For by those wordes compell them to come in properly we vnderstand the preaching of the law For suche be lette into this supper that is they be comforted through the gospell Luc. 1. as the virgine Marye saythe He filleth the hungry with good thingê and letteth the riche go emptye The seconde that thow shalte marke is that after the resurrection of Christe all prophecies Osee 2. both of the reiecting of the Iews and of the calling of the gentiles must needs be fullfilled To go into the streetes of the towne is none other thinge then to preach the gospel to al men as Christ sayth in the gospel of Iohn Ioh. 10. I haue yet other sheepe that be not of this folde and those must I bringe The calling of the gentiles wel considered in faith causeth a man to haue great coÌ„fort For who wolde now be discomforted when we hear that god all only for incredulity hathe reiected his people whiche didde excell vs withe so greate priuileges and receaued vs sinners vnto his mercye grace that neuer did good at al Wherfore good people lett vs beware that we now being called to this supper of grace be not loth to come therevnto in which supper we shall euerlastingly see and taste howe good and sweete the lorde is Psal 35. and .85 Which god the father graunte vs through his son our lord Iesus Christe Amen The gospell on the thirde sonday after trinity sonday Luc. 15. Mat. 9. Mar. 2. THen resorted vnto him all the publicanes sinners for to hear hym And the phariseys and scribes murmured saiyng He receueth sinners and eateth with them But he put forth this parable vnto theÌ„ saiyng Mat. 18 What man of you hauing an hundreth sheep if he lose one of theÌ„ doth not leaue nynty nine in the wildernes and goeth after the which is lost vntill he fynd it And wheÌ„ he hath found it he layeth it on hys shoulders with ioye And as sone as he cometh home he calleth togither his louers and neighbours saiyng vnto them Reioyse with me for I haue founde my sheepe which was loste I say vnto you that lykewyse ioye shal be in heauen ouer one sinner that repenteth more then ouer ninty and nine iuste persones which neede no repentauÌ„ce Eyther what woman hauinge ten grotes yf shee lose one doth not lyghte a candle and sweepe the house and seeke dilligently tyll she fynd it and when she hath found it she calleth hir louers hir neigh boures togither saiynge Reioyse with me for I haue founde my grote which I hadde loste Likewyse I saye vnto you shall therbe ioye in the presence of the aungels of God ouer one sinner Luc. 5. that repenteth THE EXPOSITION THis gospel teacheth vs first of al how that publicans sinners drew nigh vnto Christ to heare hym And although they were receaued and defended of Christe Psal 5. yet he is not suche a God that hathe pleasure in synne Therefore it is conuenient that we learn to know a difference betwene sinners Vnshameful sinners There be sinners of such vnshame fastenes that they lyue in open sinnes and in suche wyse encrease therein that they forget god and all honesty and glory and reioyse in moste abhominable things and seke prayse in wickednes And these villanes for the greate crymes and grosse sinnes Pro. 2. whiche they do vse and daylye committe euen the worlde counteth and taketh them for knaues and vagabundes not worthy that any diuine scripture shuld make muche rehersall of theym There bee also other sinners which outwardly faine holynes but ar in their hartes most mischieuous wretches Againste whom both the prophets and the gospell cryeth out Esay 3. Esa 52. Esaias accuseth them for this mischiefe bycause they call good euell and euell good and make lyghte darkenesse and darkenesse light c. and Dauid witnesseth of theÌ„ that in their hartes they thinke that there is no god Psal thoughe outwardly they appeare neuer so good and holy Doth not this apeare also in the gospell Christ saith Mat. 5. Excepte youre righteousnes exceede the righteousnes of the scribes and Phariseis ye canne not entre into the kingdome of heauen And suche hypocrits here in this gospell Christ calleth iuste not that be fore god they be iust but that they think themselues to bee iuste and neede not repentaunce SiÌ„nes that acknowledg ther sinnes There be also synners whiche knowledgynge theyr offences bee sorye for theyr euell deedes and drawe vnto Christe for to aske pardone and grace Suche a synner and publicane was Zacheus which ioyfully receaued Christ our lord into his house and at the hearing of his word sayd Behold I geue halfe my good to the poore and if I haue defrauded any man I restore him four fold Of suche sayth Christ in on other place Mat. 9. I am not come to cal the iust but sinners to repentaunce Suche publicans and sinners drawe nowe nighe vnto Christ And why To heare his worde For they feele their sin they knowledge their sinne they seeke grace that they might be delyuered frome the borden of sinne Now forasmuch as grace remission of sines rightousnes and saluacion is offered and giuen vnto them through the worde of Christe withoute any worke or deseruinge Moreouer for as muche as the doctrine of Christe is the doctrine of lyfe it becometh
The ioy of Simeon Thirdelye here note in howe greate myrthe in what great ioy this old man triumphed as it were when the eyes of his hearte were opened to knowe his Messias Nowe saide he O lord thou lettest thy seruaunt depart in peace accordyng to thy promise Oh howe noble a thinge is a heart that beleueth well For I praye you what thinge careth Simeon for nowe when he knoweth his king and fauiour Doutles nothing nowe can make him pensiue or sorowfull Neither careth he much whether he liue or dye As though he shulde saye Oh lorde God I haue with great and feruent desire longed to see thy sonne the sauiour of the worlde and now by thy goodnes and mercye I haue that I euer desired And therfore now I feale my felfe in so great ioye that it is all one to me whether I liue or dye Phi. 1. Now if I must liue longer I knowe that my sauiour yea the sauiour of al the whole worlde is come and therfore there is nothyng can make me sorowfull But if I must dye then am I sure that death is to me auantage Yea verely oh Lord I heartely desire to be dissolued be with thee For I am sure that neither synne nor death nor deuil nor hell can hurt me for asmuche as I haue seen thy sonne my lorde and I haue knowen him as my Messias and sauiour Beholde howe after this maner Symeon maketh his song and declareth what fayth he hath in this childe And what dothe he more Sufficeth it that he only beleueth Christ is sauiour before all people and that this ioye tickleth his heart onely Nay not so But he would make this ioy knowen vnto all men and he sayth That God hath prepared this sauiour before the face of all people Wherevnto A light to lighten among the Heathen and the glory of thy people of Israel Surely that is it that I would so gladly haue hard spoken of And I beseche you what thyng might wee poore heathen require more Wee were bonde vnto this tyme in darkenes great incredulite vtterly ignorant what we shuld do to attaine euerlasting saluacion But God hath set furth this light and nowe hath he ended this miserye Who hath done this This childe of whom Symeon speaketh suche excellent thynges And by what thyng hath he brought this to passe By his helthsom doctrine and gospell For as he only is the glory of his people when they acknowledge him by faith so also is he a light vnto vs when he wolde that his most holy worde shuld come vnto vs. For then in deede began it to be fulfilled that the prophet longe before sawe in spirite and saide The people that dwelt in darknes sawe a great lyght c. Wherfore deerely beloued let vs with harty affection indeuour oure selues that in as much as we are made the childrē of god by the worde of god that we acknowledge the same with Simeon and be thankefull And neuer admitte to seeke remission of sinnes iustice and eternal health at any other then this childe whom Simeon acknowledgeth and nameth the sauioure of the whole worlde Who with the father and the holy ghoste preserue and keepe vs all Amen The gospell on saynte Mathias the apostels daye Math. 11. AT that time Iesus answered and sayd I thank the O father lorde of heauen and earth bicause thou haste hid those things from the wife and prudent hast shewed them vnto babes verely father euē so was it thy good pleasure Mat. 12 Luc. 10. Ioh. 3. Al things are giuen ouer vnto me of my father ♣ Ioh. 7 8. b 10. b And no man knoweth the son but the father neither knoweth any man the father saue the sonne and he to whom so euer the sonne wyll open hym Come vnto me all ye that laboure and are laden and I wyl case you Eccle. 6 Take my yoke vpon you learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart ye shal find rest vnto your soules For my yoke is easye 1. Ioh. 5 and my burthen is lyghte THE EXPOSITION TO the right vnderstandyng of this presente Gospell Two natures in Christe it is necessary that we consider wel two natures in Christ And verely if these two natures bee well and christianly cōsidered it shal open and make plaine many places of the godly scriptures which at the fyrst sight might seme to be contrary so that in very dede there shall appeare in them no repugnauncye at all As for an example I and my father are one And again in another place My father is greater then I. Nowe if you referre this sentēce vnto Christes deuine nature the other vnto his humaine nature I pray you shall not these saiynges well agree And in like maner must thou nedes do in this gospel For that he geueth thankes to his father it belongeth to his manhod and that he sayth All thynges are geuen me of my father it must be referred vnto his godhead But wherfore geueth Christ thankes vnto his father Forsoth because the worde whiche is contemned of Corazin and Bethsaida is hyd frō the wyse and prudēt and is reueled or opened vnto yong children Wise prudent men In this place he calleth theim wyse and prudet that trust to their ownes wysdome and by their owne wyttes and vnderstandynges will searche out all thynges Of whom also the prophet sayth Wo to you that are wise in your owne eyes Esai 5. prudent in your owne conceites Suche wysedome and suche prudence that is suche as will not be subdued and submit it selfe captiue vnder the worde of God and to the folishe preachyng of the crosse shal neuer bee able to perceiue any thyng at all of the matter of his iustificacion nor in any thyng that appertayneth to the glorye of God And why God can by no meanes nor will suffre suche pride as cōmonly cōmeth of carnal wysedome as it is written God resisteth the proud 1. Pe. 5. and geueth grace vnto the lowly Furthermore wee see that suche as are carnally wyse and ciuily prudent menne very seldome they come vnto the knowlege of God But who then are they that are admitted vnto the knowlege of God and vnto fayth Forsothe litle children And in this place Christe calleth theim children Childrē or babes that dispayre of theim selues of all their carnall wysedome and prudence that only considereth and depely fyxeth in their heart those thynges whiche Christ taught preached wrought Knowyng also that in matter appertainyng vnto the honour of God to righteousnes our saluacion or our own carnall wytte is of no waytte nor value but onely the worde of God Wysmē And knowyng also that no man can kmowe or apprehende that iustice without the reuelacion of God And nowe vnto the fyrst nōbre that is of carnall wyse men and prudent pertayne the hye priestes Phariseys and Scribes and all iusticiaries that from
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
To whome with the father and the holy ghost be all honor and glorye for euer euer Amen The gospel on Easter Tuesday Luke .24 AS they thus spake Iesus himselfe stode in Ioh. 20 the myddes of theim and sayeth vnto theim Peace bee vnto you it is I feare not But they were abashed and afrayde and supposed that they had seen a spirite And he sayd vnto them Why are ye troubled and why do thoughtes aryse in your heartes Behold my handes and my fete that it is euen I my selfe Handle me and see for a spirite hath not fleshe and bones as ye see me haue And when he had thus spoken he shewed them his haÌ„des his feete And whyle they yet beleued not for ioy and wondered he sayd vnto them Ioh. 21. Haue ye here anye meate And they offered hym a peece of a broyled fyshe and of an hony combe And he tooke it and dydde eate before them And hee sayde vnto theim Mat. 16 These are the woordes I spake vnto you whyle I was yet with you that all muste needes be fulfylled whyche were wrytten of me in the lawe of Moyses and in the Prophetes and in the Psalmes Actu 17 Then opened hee theyr wyttes that they myghte vnderstand the scriptures and sayd vnto them Thus is it written and thus it behoued Christ to suffre and to ryse againe from death the thyrde day and that repentaunce and remission of sinnes shoulde be preached in hys name amonge all nacions THE EXPOSITION OVr sauiour Christ to the intent that this article of his resurrection might be perfectly inculcate and beaten into the hertes of his disciples sheweth himselfe opeÌ„ly vnto them And this manifestacion and appearinge was not doone as the other were before onlye to twayne or three disciples but it was shewed before theim all Thomas excepted which at this tyme was absent and it was doone immediatelye as they were come from Emaus declaring what they had sene to the other Apostels which answered theim saying that Christe is risen in deede and hath appeared to SymoÌ„ And as they were thus talking Iesus himself as this gospell witnesseth stode amongest them saide Peace be with you Thre thinges did Christ at this apearinge Fyrste he gaue and offered vnto theym Peace of God as vnto his intierly beloued disciples his diuine peace and not a corporall or wordely peace for hee sayde before Ioh. 15. The worlde shall hate you but this was a peace of conscience whiche the holye scripture calleth commonlye the peace of god As when sainct Paule wished this peace to the Philippians Phil. 4 hee vseth these woordes The peace of god whyche exceedeth all vnderstanding mought keepe your heartes and myndes in Christe Iesu Suche a peace is it that Christ calleth his peace as a peace that the worlde canne not giue Ioh. 14 when hee saide I leaue you peace my peace I giue to you Hear you not now that Christe maketh a very plaine distinction or difference from the worldly peace callynge this peace his his I saye his peace For doubtelesse this peace canne not stande where as fayth is not Rom. 5. For as Saynte Paule teacheth thys peace springeth and floweth oute of fayth And therefore yf wee wyll attayne vnto thys peace wee muste with greate and contynuall diligence applye the woorde preache teache heare and receiue it For of the woorde commeth faithe by faythe wee beynge iustified we are at peace wyth God Rom. v. Furthermore this peace is neuer to any other theÌ„ to christians which haue apprehended the gospell by faythe and haue by the same conceiued a consydence and suer hope that in tyme commynge no synne canne accuse or condemne them The world doubteles is verye ignoraunte of this peace For the worlde knoweth none other peace but that whiche liueth in ydelnes and bringeth the vayne voluptuous plasures and ioyes of thys lyfe neyther hath it any persecution or tribulation intermedled with it Peace of conscience stoÌ„deth sure agaynste all persecutions Ioh. 16. as this peace which we cal the peace of god hathe But yet is this peace of god a peace that standeth sure and indeed the true peace yea though all the worlde be enemye vnto it Lyke as Christe testifieth saying Yee shall haue persecutions in the worlde but in me you shall haue peace Secondarilye Christe confirmeth fayth in the Apostels when heere hee sheweth theym his handes and feete and also eateth with theym as anye other man did Surely Incredulitye is an horrible thiÌ„g incredulity muste needes bee an horrible thinge seinge that Christe taketh suche greate paynes to deliuer the Apostels from it A lytle before they confessed that Christe had truely rysed and appeared vnto Simon they hadde hearde also that hee hadde talked wyth the twoo dysciples in Emans and gyuynge thankes hee hadde broken the breade vnto theym yet this notwithstandynge when hee came vnto theym salutynge theym so peaceablye yet they were astonished doubtynge whether they myghte thinke it Christe or a ghoste suche as men saye walkeâ—â— after men bee deade But what dydde Christe to this Casteth hee theym of Christe beareth our infirmitye bycause of this their infirmytie Naye truely But becommeth a seruante vnto theym seruynge theym bothe wyth woordes and deedes yea and also with hys holye ghost to bring them vnto faith and saue them For it is euident by the gospell of S. Iohn that euen then he gaue to theim his holye ghost whom also after in the Witsonday he stablished in them Now how indurate and blinded yea obsessed with al the feendes of hell are those heartes that wyll not beleue this our so friendly gentle and mercifull lord god What greater thing or what more could hee do for his disciples Fyrste he rebuketh their incredulitie with wordes saying Why are ye troubled and wherefore doo cogitacions ascende into your heartes But for as much as they yet beleued not hee shewed to them his handes and feete sayinge I am euen hee Touche me on euerye parte and looke vppon me for spirites haue not fleshe and bone as you see me haue They yet not beeleuynge and wonderynge for ioye he asketh them sayinge Haue yee anye thynge to eate And hee dydde eate beefore theym parte of a fyshe and an honye combe that at the laste they myghte by this see hee was no deade ghoste nor spiryte but he hadde truely rysen from the deathe Surely this it is to beare the weakenes of theym that be weake The goodnes of Christ Now that man whom this so great goodnes of Christe moueth not to faith wheresoeuer it be preached doubteles there is nothinge that euer shall moue him Christe teacheth the scripture Thyrdely Christe teacheth his disciples oute of the holy scriptures sayinge These are the wordes that I haue spoken vnto you when I was yet with you that all thinges muste needes bee fulfylled that are written in the lawe of Moyses in the prophetes and