Zacharies are taken out of the Prophet Malachie iij. Beholde I will send myne Angell or messenger too prepare my way before my face And by and by after shall the mightie one come too his Temple whom you long for and the messenger of the Testament whom you would haue Also Esay the .xl. Chapter The voyce of a cryer in the wildernesse make redy the way for the Lord. And this is the common dutie of all ministers too prepare the way of the Lord that is too say too prepare the hartes of their héerers by their preaching that they may embrace Chryst by faith For when Chryst is comming towards vs and is offering vs his benefites there are lettes cast in his way eyther our owne rechlesselesse or our presumption or trust of our owne woorkes c. These must bée rid away by the ministration that Chryst may bée receyued by fayth and woork effectually in our hartes 10 To giue knowledge of c. An other dutie of Iohn and of all other Prophetes is too teache the Churche concerning the eternall saluation of mankynd Zacharie in the last thrée verses dooth lernedly comprehend both the definition of our saluation or iustification and the chéef causes and effects thereof and also the meane whereby wée may atteyne to it Our saluation or rightuousnesse is the forgiuenesse of sins which is bestowed vppon them that beléeue through the frée mercie of God for and by Iesus Chryst The efficient cause of our saluation is Gods incōprehensible mercie who being led of his owne frée goodnesse forgiueth vs our sinnes The forcing cause or the desert for whiche wée are receyued is Chryst the sonne of rightuousnesse that ryseth from on high The formall cause of our rightuousnesse is the forgiuenesse of sinnes The effectes are the light of the true knowledge of God deliuerance from the darknesse of sinne and death and peace of conscience before God as in Rom. v. is writtē Being iustified by faith wée haue peace too Godwarde thorough our Lord Iesus Chryst Nowe that the summe of the doctrine which Zacharie cōprehendeth in these last verses is considered and expounded after the manner of Logicke Let vs also wey the piththynesse and weyght of the woords 11 Through the bowelles of the mercie of our GOD in which the rysing from on hygh hath visited vs. By the bowels of mercie he méeneth true earnest vnfeyned and hartie mercie For the Gréek woord Splagchna signifieth properly the inward members of fleshe such as the Hart the Liuer and the Lungs bée Therefore in as much as the Harte is the instrument and seate of loue mercie sadnesse and the rest of the affections Hée méenes by the bowels of mercie not a fayned and cold mercie but a burning mercie issewing euen from the very harte After the same manner speaketh Paule Colloss iij. put on the bowelles of compassion Also Philip. ij and elswhere Mercie properly is too bée touched with the feeling of an other bodyes gréefe and too succour euen those that are falne intoo miserie by their owne default of a frankharted kyndnesse which mitigateth rightfull punishments and releaseth somwhat of vttermost or extréeme rigour with which he hath visited vs with whiche frée incomparable mercie Chryst hath visited vs embraced vs helped vs receyued vs intoo fauoure and accepted vs too lyfe and glorie euerlasting Rysing This woord is a nowne and not a participle and it signifieth Christ the day sunne of rightuousnesse rysing or springing from euerlasting out of the substance of the most high Father and shyning intoo ours hartes by his Gospell whereby he kindleth a new light of the knowledge of GOD of ryghtuousenesse and of eternall lyfe This exposition is taken out of Malach. iiij And the sunne of rightuousenesse shall ryse vppon you that feare my name Also Zacha. iij. I will bring foorth my seruaunt the Rysing Zach. vj. Behold the mā whose name is the Rysing Esai lx Vp and bée enlightened O Ierusalem for thy lyght is come and the glorie of the Lord is rysen vppon thée For behold darknesse shall couer the earth and clowdes shall couer the people But the Lordryseth vntoo thée and the glorie of the Lord shall bée séene in thée 12 Too giue lyght to them c. Chryst is the true lyght whiche lighteneth men walking in the darknesse of ignorance of GOD of sinne of death and of endlesse damnation that is too wit by endewing them with the true knowledge of God true rightuousenesse comfort lyfe and glorie euerlasting For customably in the holy Scripture the woord Lyght signifieth the true knowledge of GOD comforte lyfe deliuerance from death and miserie and all things that bée of the best sorte And contrariwyse Darknesse signifyeth ignorance of GOD sinne death and all most sorowfull euilles Zacharie tooke these woordes of the last Verse out of the nynth of Esay The people that walketh in darknesse hath séene a great lyght Lyght is rysen vppon them that dwell in the lande of the shadowe of death Intoo the way of peace Roman v. Being iustifyed by fayth wée haue peace with GOD through our Lorde Iesus Chryst Philip. iiij The peace of God whiche passeth all vnderstanding kéepe your hartes Vppon the day of the Visitation of our Ladye ¶ The song of Marie Luke j. MY soule dooth magnifie the Lorde And my spirit hath reioysed in GOD my Sauiour For he hath regarded the lowlynesse of his handmayden For behold from hencefoorth all generations shall call me blissed For hee that is mightie hath magnifyed mee and holy is his name And his mercie is on them that feare him throughout all generations He hath shewed strength with his arme hee hath scatered the proud in the ymagination of their heartes He hath putte downe the mightie from their seate and hath exalted the humble and meeke He hath fylled the hungrye with good things and the rich he hath sent emptie away He remembryng his mercie hath holpen his seruaunt Israell as he promysed too our forefathers Abraham and hys seede for euer The disposement THis song of Maries perteyneth too the kynd of cases demonstratiue For it is a Thankesgiuing where withall Marie in the persone of the whole Church setteth out the benefites of God with prayse vntoo God. First for that God loueth preserueth and defendeth Marie and the whole Church being brought lowe despysed weake ageinst the wisdome and power of féendes tyrantes and all enimies Secondly for that he hath sent his sonne Chryste according too the promises made too the Fathers There bée of the whole Song ten verses Whereof the first twoo conteyne the proposition The next six set out the first benefite that is too wit the wonderfull preseruation of the lowly and weake Churche ageinst the wisdome and power of the whole world And the twoo last set out the second benefite that is too wit the sending of Chryste the Redéemer My soule dooth magnifie the Lorde The proposition I yéeld thankes
art my sonne this day haue I begotten thée And in the Gospell he putteth a difference betwene this only begotten sonne the Saints which are his sonnes by adoption and are beloued of the eternall father and taken in place of Gods sonnes and heires of the lyfe and blissednesse that is with God for the intercession of this only begotten sonne Chryst or the anoynted signifieth the hygh Préest or teacher of the Gospell the Spokesman and Redéemer of the Church the King and conquerour of sin death the Diuell and the restorer of rightuousnesse and lyfe euerlasting This Chryst came by water and blud not in water onely but in water and blud for he bringeth the doctrine of the gospell out of the bosom of the eternall Father concerning the forgiuenesse of sinnes rightuousnesse cōfort the holy Ghost and euerlasting saluation too bée bestowed vppon all that are throughly put in feare which wrestle with the terrours with Gods wrath with sinne and with death and thirst or with earnest desire long after comfort and lyfe and are washed with the water of Baptim in token of remissiō of their sinnes as is sayd in Esai lv All yée that thirst come too the waters and Iohn iiij and .vij. If any man drink of the water that I shall giue him it shall become a fountaine of water flowing vntoo euerlasting lyfe Neyther is he come in water only that is too say he is not only a teacher of the gospel wherwith the thirstie harts of the godly are refreshed but also he is a Redéemer which hath with his blud pacified the wrath of the eternal father ageinst our sins redéemed the whole church from sin death euerlasting damnation And this holy blud of his doth he distribute too vs in his holy supper Ebr. ix By his own blud hath he entered intoo the holy place once for all and hath found eternall redemption Rom. iij. Wée are iustified fréely by the grace of God through the redemption made in Iesu Chryste whom GOD hath set foorth a mercy seate by fayth in his bloud Math. xxvj This is my blud of the new Testament whiche is shed for many in remission of their sinnes And it is the spirit that beareth witnesse that is too say the holy ghost beareth witnesse of the persone office of Chryst namely y this Iesus is Chryst the sonne of god the redéemer that was promised too the church as is sayd Iohn j. Vppon whom thou séest the spirit descending abyding vppon him the same is he that baptizeth with the holy ghost and I sawe bare witnesse that this is the sonne of god Rom. j. Who was certeinly shewed too bée the sonne of God by the spirit of sanctification in that he is risen from death Ageine in the publick ministerie the holy ghost preserueth spreadeth abrode and by testimonies of miracles confirmeth the doctrine concerning the persone and benefits of Chryst Ioh. xv When the comforter shal bée come euen the spirit of truthe whom I will send you from my Father he shall beare witnesse of mée and you also shall beare witnesse bycause you haue bin with mée from the beginning Bycause the spirit is truthe or the witnesse of the holy ghost is true like as in Iohn xv and .xvj. he is called the spirit of truthe bycause he is soothfast and maketh folks soothfast kindleth true knowledge of God true rightuousnesse true lyfe in the beléeuers Of the third place THere bee three that beare witnesse in heauen the Father the VVoord and the holy Ghost and these three are one Let this euident witnesse of the one substāce or only one selfsame being godhead power maiestie glorie of the thrée persones of the godhead bée considered in this place and also let the descriptions differēces of the thrée persones namely of the father of the sonne who in this place and in Ioh. j. Apoc. xix is named the woord of the holy ghost bee repeated out of the place concerning God the cheef poyntes whereof I will anon after expound vppon Trinitie Sunday The fourth place THere are three that beare witnesse in earth the spirit and water and blud and these three are one God hath ordeyned the publike preaching of his Gospell too the intent the true doctrine concerning the sonne of God our lord Iesus Christ who suffered death rose agein for vs myght bée knowen and many men bée conuerted too God by the voyce of his Gospell and so becōme heires of ryghtuousnesse and lyfe euerlasting For God gathereth too himself an euerlasting Church by the sound of his woorde wherby he both rebuketh mennes sinnes and allureth them too repentance and also giueth remission of sinnes and euerlasting saluation too such as repent and beléeue the woord And alwayes too the woord God hath annexed outward signes which lyght intoo the eyes as pictures of his promises which signes haue all one méening all one strength all one vse and all one effect or working with the woord For by these twoo meanes namely the woord and the outward signes or Sacraments dooth God beare witnesse of his sonne and offereth too vs forgiuenesse of sinnes and euerlasting saluation for his sonnes sake and also kindleth encreaseth and strenghtheneth fayth in our myndes And therfore Austin termeth a Sacrament a visible woord And like as Chryst sayeth that the holy Ghost reproueth the world of sinne and beareth witnesse of him and like as it is sayd in Genesis My spirit shall not iudge in man bycause he is fleshe that is too say I will take away the ministerie or vse of the holy Ghoste from men So in this place the woord Spirit must most simply bée vnderstood of the holy Ghost reprouing the world of sinne by the ministerie of the Gospell and bearing witnesse of Chrystes persone and benefites and of the eternall lyfe VVater and blud signifie the Sacramentes of Baptim which is the Lauer of water clēzing vs cleane by the woord from all iniquitie and of the Lords Supper in whiche the bodye and blud of Chryst that was shed for vs is distributed in assurance of remission of sinnes And these three are one that is too say they are directed all too one end and haue all one selfsame force vse and effect For the meanes by which God witnesseth of his sonnes benefites and by which he imparteth remission of sinnes and euerlasting lyfe too vs and wherby he rayseth vp encreaseth and confirmeth our fayth are alwayes toogither Vppon the Sunday called Misericordia or the second Sunday after Easter The Introit THe earth is full of the Lords mercy Prayse yee the Lord. The heauens are stablished by the woord of god Prayse yee the Lord. Reioyce yée rightuous in the Lord praising becommeth the ryghtuous c. Psalm xxxij ¶ The Epistle j. Peter ij CHryst also suffred for vs leauing vs an ensample that yee should folowe his steps which did no sinne
causes why it behooueth our redéemer too bée both God man are twelue which I haue gathered out of the booke of Athanasius concerning the incarnation recited them in another place First it behooued him too be man For like as the impe that is graffed into a trée is borne by the trée and taketh sap and life of it euen so our humane nature shuld haue vtterly perished bin brought to nothing like as the body perisheth that is forsaken of the soule yf the masse of our nature were not vphild and mainteyned by the sonne of God the woorde Secondly forasmuch as man had sinned the order of Iustice required that man should aby the penaltie On the other side it behooued him to bée God that he might be able to pay the full pryce and to vanquish sinne and death and to restore rightuousnesse and lyfe euerlasting The matter wherof the sonne of God our Immanuell tooke mans nature is the virgine Marie according as Esay interpreting the first promis of the séede and the prophesie of Iacob concerning Siloh that is to say the Virgins issue sayeth in this place behold a Virgin shall conceyue and bring forth a Sonne For in asmuch as of the mixture of the séede of man and woman is engendred a nature defiled with sinne according as it is sayde In sinne hath my Mother conceyued mee it was the will of Christ our Immanuell whom it behooued to be vndefiled and faultlesse to bée borne not of the séede of man but onely of the Virgins séede halowed and clenzed by the holy Ghost The manner of this wonderfull cuppling or vnion of the twoo natures is expressed with lightsome and most weyghtie wordes in the Créede of Athanasius The righte fayth therefore is that wée beléeue and confesse that our Lord Iesus Christ is very God and very man God of the substance of the Father begotten before all worldes and man of the substance of his mother borne in the world c. The endes and effectes of Christes conception are described in the two names of Immanuell and Iesus For Christ is called Immanuell that is to say God with vs not only for the taking vppon him of our nature but also bycause he is our patrone and aduocate not accusing and condēning vs any more but stāding on our side couering excusing and defending vs embracing vs with brotherly good will and receyuing vs to the felowship of al heauenly good things according as is sayd in these verses Christ is aright our Immanuell not only because he is bloud of our bloud now and flesh of our flesh alike But for that to the Father in heauen for vs al he becōming our Preest and patrone offreth a sweete sacrifise And for that with an earnest zeale of loue he receyueth all that long for his help or couet health at his hand The other name which the Angell Gabriell interpreting this place of Esay attributeth too Christe is Iesus which is as much to say as a sauiour or deliuerer And in déede the highest benefite of all that redound to vs by Christes incarnacion or conception is deliueraunce from sinne from Gods wrath and from curse of the law and the giuing of rightuousnesse saluacion life euerlasting Too the setting foorth of this benefite may all the sayings of the Gospell bée referred out of the whole scripture Of kin to this wonderfulll vnion of the twoo natures in Christ may these things bée named namely the similitudes and shadowes of that wonderfull alyance which are settled in nature That is to wit the vnion of the reasonable soule and of the body in man The coniunction of the Christall humor and the spirite of sight whiche is as it were a little fire in the apple of ones eye And also a péece of iron or stéele red whot The things that fight ageynst it are the chéef errours wherewith the doctrine concerning the conception or incarnacion of the sonne of God is corrupted by the heretikes Valentine Apelles Marcion Nestorius Eutyches Apollinarius and other The Antheme vppon the day of the Annunciation of our Lady sainct Marie THis is the day whiche the Lorde hath made This day hath the Lord looked vppon the affliction of his people and sent redemption This day hath the séede of a woman chased away the death whiche a woman first brought in This day is God become man continuing still the same thing that he was and taking vppon him that which he was not Therfore let vs deuoutly hallow the beginning of our redemption and let vs leape for ioy saying Glory bée to thée O lord This day is God become man This day is God become man c. Vppon the feastday of Iohn Baptist The song of Zacharie ¶ The Epistle Luc. j. BLessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his people And hath raysed vp an horne of saluation vnto vs in the house of his seruaunt Dauid Euen as he promised by the mouth of his holy Prophetes which were since the world began That wee should be saued from our enemies and from the handes of all that hate vs. To fulfill the mercy promised to our Fathers and to remēber his holy couenaunt And to performe the othe whiche he sware to our Father Abraham for to geue vs. That we deliuered out of the handes of our enemies might serue him without feare all the dayes of our lyfe in holynesse and rightuousnesse before him And thou childe shalt be called the Prophete of the hyest for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord too prepare his wayes And too geue knowledge of saluation vnto his people for the remission of sinnes Through the tender mercy of our God whereby the day spring from an hie hath visited vs. To giue light to them that sate in darknesse and in the shadow of death and to guide our fete into the way of peace The disposement THis song of Zacharie perteyneth too the demonstratiue kind For it is a thanks giuing wherby Zacharie setteth out this excéeding great benefite of God for that according too his promises made too Dauid and Abraham he sendeth Chryst the redéemer too deliuer men from sinne from death and from the Diuels tyrannie and too giue them lyght lyfe and soule health euerlasting The partes of this song are two In the first viij verses be setteth out the benefite of the sending of Chryst And in the last foure verses he entreateth of the office of Iohn Baptist and therwithall of Chrystes benefites also Blissed bee the Lord God of Israell who hath visited and redeemed his people The proposition I thanke the Lord the only true GOD who hath discouered himselfe among the people of Israell by his woorde and by assured witnesse of miracles that he hath exhibited Chryst the redéemer according too the promises made too the fathers The woord blisse signifieth ere whiles too wish good too one and ere whiles too praise or glorifie As in the
neither was there guile founde in hys mouth which when he was reuiled reuiled not ageine when he suffered he threatned not but committed the vengeance too him that iudgeth ryghteously which his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his bodye on the tree that wee beeing deliuered from sinne should liue vntoo ryghteousnesse By whose stripes yee were healed For ye were as sheepe going astray but are now turned vnto the shepheard and Bishop of your soules The disposement THe state of it is an exhortacion to patience and méeknesse taken of the example of Christ who was patient méek And therwithall is annexed a doctrine concerning the merit and benefites of Chrystes passion The châ—ef places are four 1 Of patience in troubles which are not procured by a mannes owne fault but happen too him vndeserued It belongeth too the first commaundement 2 Of méekenesse repressing desire of reuenge forgiuing euen open wrongs for Gods sake the common quietnesse Which perteyneth too the fifth commandemeÌ„t 3 Of the causes and effects of Christes passion or of remission of sinnes and of the health of our soules restored by Chrystes passion 4 Of true turning vntoo God. The first place COncerning patience and méeknesse and putting vp of reproches quietly let the Methodicall or orderly expositioÌ„s bée rehersed out of the declaration of the vertues of the first fifth and eigth commaundements Concerning the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ and the causes and effectes of his passion which is the chéefe place of this Epistle I haue intreated already the last Sunday after Easter Now therefore wée wil vnfold the last sentence of the Epistle of this day which conteineth the Doctrine concerning true conuersion and the right applyment of the benefites of Chrystes passion Yee were as stray sheep but now ye are turned to the shepherd and bishop of your soules These woords are taken out of the .liij. of Esay and out of the parable of Christ concerning the lost shéep Lu. xv and out of this dayes Gospell Iohn x. and out of Ezech. xxxiiij and out of Psalm xxiij and therfore by conferring these places toogither there may bée gathered a cléere proposition All man kynd without Christ wandreth in the thick mist of ignorance of God and in sorowfull darknesse of sinne and death And the wyser and more religious that men bee and with how much the more earnestnesse and endeuer they goe about too know God and too woorship him aryght so muche the more doo they stray aside from the true God and true godlynesse and from the ryghtuousnesse which pleaseth God. The heathen wysemen Philosophers Poets and the folowers of Mahomet doo openly erre first about the béeing of god For either they alow and woorship a monstrous multitude of Gods surmised powers or at leastwise they deny him y is the father of our Lord Iesus Chryst too bee the only true God creator of heauen earth Yea they vtterly abhor this sonne of God who is all one substance with the father Secondly they erre about the will of god For although they vnderstaÌ„d after a sort that the wil of God reueled in his law is this that wée should liue honestly and vprightly eschue the outward offences of slaughter whordom c. yet are they able too determine nothing of certeintie coÌ„cerning gods loue towards vs coÌ„cerning remission of sinnes concerning life without the gospel of Christ After al this not only they but also euen those that boast themselues to be the chéef meÌ„bers of the true church doo erre manifoldly in dooing seruice to God and specially in praying while some chuse the monkish seruices woorks some pilgrimages to Sainctes some masses some pardoÌ„s some other sacrifices some one woork and some another euery man according too his owne fansie trusting therby too pacifie God too earne life and saluation euerlasting The heathen also offred meÌ„ in sacrifise burned their own children in the fire to the intent by so hard bitter a woork to open to theÌ„selues a néerer accesse vnto god But al these run very far a stray from the true way that leadeth too the true God to eternal saluation Neither caÌ„ they by their own power deuises or endeuer return agein into the way onlesse Chryst the shepherd and Bishop of soules séeke them out and laying them vpon his shoulders cary them home too his flocke and shéepfold that is too say onlesse they bée turned too Christ who only is the way that leadeth bringeth conueyeth vs vntoo God and by which alonly wée may come too the true acknowledgement and woorshipping of God and too the blissed and eternal company with god He is the truth or the welspring founder of the true doctrine concerning God and our own soulhealth he bendeth our minds to giue asseÌ„t too the true doctrine and kindleth true faith and true euerlasting good things in the hartes of the godly He is Lyfe that is too say the author and giuer of lyfe and saluacion euerlasting who by his Death hath pacified Gods wrathe and restored ryghtuousnesse and eternall lyfe vntoo vs Neyther commeth any man too the father that is too say No man acknowledgeth calleth vppon woorshippeth God aryght ne becommeth heire of saluation and eternall lyfe onlesse he bée turned by him and too him who is the shepherd and Bishop of our soules Therfore the Hebrewes terme repentance or the ameÌ„dment and chaunging of a wicked lyfe intoo a lyfe that is vertuous and acceptable too God by the notable pithy woord Tâ—sâ—ubah which signifieth turning backe or retyring of the original woord Shub which is as much too say as he is returned he is come backe he hath called himselfe home For all men being turned from God haue strayed like shéepe euery man away by himselfe as Peter sayeth in this place But by the infinite mercye of God they are called too repentaunce that they should returne vntoo God and by comming home too their shepherd Chryst bée coupled too God ageine through Faith and obey him in new lyght ryghtuousnesse and conuersation In generall there bée twoo chéefe poyntes belonging too a good shepherd The one is to féed his shéep or too lead them too wholsome féeding and the other is to defend them from the wolues For vntoo these twoo poyntes may the other things be referred which are spoken of in Ezech. xxxiiij Psal xxiij So good Princes which maintein their subiects in honest awe peace and foyzon the cheefest benefites in this ciuil societie of men and which defend them ageinst outlawes and forrein enemies are shepherds of the people Good and faithfull Bishops or ministers of Churches are shepherdes which lead their hearers intoo wholsom pastures of the Euangelicall doctrine and of the Sacraments wherby God imparteth remissioÌ„ of sinnes ryghtuousnesse euerlasting saluation to the shéep that embrace their voyce by faith and driue away the Woolues that
Hither may the ten commodities of persecution and afflictions bée referred And to the minor I aunswer Wée Christians are in déede most full of miseries but it is but the turning of a hand bycause sinne sticketh still in vs which must bee doone away by affliction and death Howbeit in the meane while euen in the very afflictions wée finde Gods presence and help and wonderful deliueraunces and wee are strengthened by the holy Ghost so as wée may assure our selues that no afflictions can plucke vs away from Gods louingnesse wherewith he loueth vs for his Sonne our Lord Iesus Christes sake according to this saying Iohn x. No man shall pull my shéepe out of myhandes Hither to I haue shewed the state of the Epistle and set out the argumentes after the order of Logicke And I dare auouche that there is no one part of the sermons of the Prophetes Apostles that in so few woords conteyneth larger wisedome me places of Christian doctrine more effectuall comfort in sorowes and calamities more vehement motions more force of persuasion perâ—ing into mens mindes and more notable figures and ornamentes of Rhetoricke than dooth this Epistle which is wont to bée read in the Church as this day And therefore I will bréefly picke out the rest of the places of doctrine whereof there bée testimonies in this Epistle j. Of the causes why the Church before the rest of mankind should bée vnder the crosse and of true comforts too béé set ageynst it ij Of Gods predestination which is Gods eternall purpose or decrée of chosing his Church out of al mankind of such as are called into that company by mercy for his sonnes sake and so of euery one seuerally that shall continue in the fayth to their departing out of this lyfe iij. Of the Churche and of the wonderfull gathering preseruation gouernement and Glorification of the Churche iiij This saying Whom he hath chosen them also hath he called conteyneth a moste swéete and comfortable doctrine namely that there is no where any election too euerlasting Saluation but in the companie of them that bée called that is too say whiche héere Chrystes Gospell And that GOD in déede worketh effectually in the visible congregation of this called church imparting rightuousnesse and glorie euerlasting vnto men Therfore let vs not séeke for Gods chosen or for his churche among Turks Hethenfolks and others that are ignorant of the gospell v. Of the benefits of the Son of God which was giuen for vs. vj. Of mans iustification before God which is the absolution of the sinfull man from the accusation of the lawe and from endlesse damnation and the imputation of rightuousnesse wherthrough for Chryst the mediators sake who dyed and is rysen ageyn and maketh intercession for vs he is accepted for rightuouse by the frée mercy of god and receiued to lyfe and glorie euerlasting vij Of the kingdom of Chryst sitting at the right hand of God or reygning in equall power with the eternall Father viij Of the préesthoode of Chryste pacifying the Father with his sacrifise and intercession ix Of the stedfastnesse of election and of the certeyntie of fayth that leaneth vnto Gods louingnesse to vs wards and beleeueth that both the whole church is preserued by God ageinst the furiousnesse of féends and vngodly folke and also that euery godly person that continueth in faith shall be saued Concerning these nyne places let the full exposition bée taken out of the writings that conteyn the sum of the doctrine Moreouer let the studious consider eche seueral woord the vehemencies the phrases and the notable ornaments of figures as first the Gradation of four steps 2. the Homaeoteleuts 3. the Homoioptots 4. the rife interrogations 5. the subiections 6. the often Antithesies 7. the streynes beginning all with one woorde 9. the heaping vp of things 10. the Iscolies and similitudes c. Vpon the feast day os S. Mathew the apostle and euangilist ¶ The Epistle Ephes iiij VNto euery one of vs is giuen grace accordyng to the measure of the gift of Chryst VVherfore he sayth He is gone vp an hye and hath ledde captiuitie captiue and hath giuen giftes vnto meÌ„ That he ascended what meaneth it but that he also desceÌ„ded first into the lowest partes of the earth He that descended is euen the same also that asceÌ„ded vp euen aboue al heuens to fulfil al things And the very same made some Apostles some Prophetes some Euangelistes some Shepeherdes and some teachers that the Saincts might haue al things necessary to worke and minister withal to the edifying of the body of Chryst til we euery one in the vnitie of fayth and knowledge of the sonne of God growe vp vnto a perfect man after the measure of age of the fulnesse of Chryst The disposement IT is of that kynd that is instructiue For it is a doctrine of the ministerie of the Gospell and of the teachers or ministers of the Gospel The chéef partes thereof are thrée applyed to places of Instruction j. The efficient cause from whence springeth the ministerie of the Gospel and by which it is preserued is the sonne of God our Lorde Iesus Christe who is ascenddd intoo heauen and reigneth at the right hand of the father that he may giue gifts too men ij The speciall or particular kyndes or degrées of ministers of the Gospell 1. Apostles 2. prophets 3. Euangelists 4. Shepherds 5. Teachers or instructers of yong beginners iij. The finall cause for which the ministerie of the gospell is ordeined and for whiche it is maynteyned is that the true knowledge of God and the true and vncorrupte doctrine of the gospell might bée continued and spred abrode among men And that ther may from time to tyme be gathered a church that rightly acknowledgeth woorshippeth and glorifieth God euerlastingly And these are the chéefe benefits of this epistle And héere withall let other of the notabler places be obserued j. Of the diuersitie of gifts in the church which Chryst distributeth to eche seuerall person according as he thinketh good that they may be employed to further the common profite of the whole church ij A description of the triumph of Chryste the conquerour leading prisoner the prisonership of sin death and the diuell and ascending into heauen and reigning at the right hand of the father iij. A witnesse of the two natures in Chryste cuppled by personall vnion to be set ageinst Arius Nestorius and Eutyches iii. j A witnesse of the almightinesse and euery where being of Chryst v. Of the ministration of the gospel and of the sending of teachers and renuers of the doctrine I wil at an other tyme speake more at large of the other parts of the Epistle which conteyn most ample doctrine But at this tyme I will bréefly ouerrun onely one place concerning the ministerie of the Gospell which peculiarly perteyneth to the storie of this dayes feast God created men to the intent he may gather himselfe
the holynesse and ryghtuousnesse propre vntoo God and too bée imparted too vs for thy Sonnes sake and concerning the Gospell by which alonely God will bée glorifyed and by which the glory may bée giuen too God not only for ryghtuousnesse and almightinesse but also for mercy and soothfastnesse How bée it concerning the benefites of Angels let the héerers beare in mynde specially these twoo textes of the Psalme Psalme thirtie and thre The Angel of the Lord pitcheth his tentes about or entrencheth those that feare the Lord and shall deliuer them which saying is taken out of the .xxxij. of Genesis Where Iacob beholding the host of Angels named the place Mahanaim that is too say the camp or host of god Psalm xcj. He hath giuen his Angels charge of thée too keepe thée in all thy wayes These hath GOD made kéepers of our soules bodyes lyfe name houses children and substaunce These chase away the Diuels when they practyse the destruction of the Churche or of any seuerall persone And doubtlesse they fight ageinst the féendes according as the lesson of this dayes Epistle and the tenth Chapter of Daniel testifie And although wée vnderstand not what maner of encounters they bée yet considering the greatnesse of our daungers let vs the more earnestly giue thankes too God for these kéepers and gather toogither the sayings and stories of the holy Scripture and of other wrytings too our instruction and comfort The Angels deliuer Loth out of Sodom Genes xix And an Angell succoureth Agar and Ismael Genes xxj xvj Angels come vntoo Abraham and beare Rebecca companie Genes rviij xxij xxiiij and in other places An Angell deliuereth Iacob out of all perils Genes xlviij The Angels go before the Israelites and defend them at their going out of Egipt and in the wildernesse An Angell appéereth too Iosua An hoste of Angels defend Elizeus ageinst the Syrians iiij Reg. vj. Angels make a slaughter in the hoste of Sennacherib and deliuer Ezechias iiij Reg. xix Esay xxxvij An Angell leadeth Peter out of prison Act. xij A childe called Cygnaeus being in the middes of winter left in a wood ouercouered with snow was kept and fed the space of full thrée dayes toogither by the ministerie of an Angell Simon Grynaeus escaped the handes of certeine Serieantes by the warning of an Angell which storie woorthy of remembrance Philip Melancthon recyteth in his exposition of the .x. chapter of Daniel But the benefites of the good Aungels will the better bée perceiued if wée consider the manifold dangers that hang ouer our heads by meanes of the Diuell The third place THe Diuell is of the Hebrues named Sathan that is too say an enimie or foe The Gréekes call him Diabolos that is too say a slanderer He is a cruel suttle mercylesse spitefull enimie of God and of all mankind and specially of Gods church At the first truly all Angels were created good by God but some Angelles through Pride and Ambition wherethrough they sought for a hygher degrée of the image of God fell and were cast by God intoo endlesse damnation Now although in this lyfe wée bée not able too serche out the cause why God suffereth the euill Angels which are the authors of all sinne and wickednesse séeing he could vtterly destroy them if he listed yet must wée bothe thinke vppon and also beléeue the things that are reported in the woord of god Iohn viij He was a murtherer from the beginning abode not in the truthe Therfore there is no truthe in him when he speaketh lyes he speaketh of his owne For he is a lyer and the father of lying He is a lyer and the father of lying that is too say he dréepeth into mennes mindes false and wicked opinions concerning God and Epicurish and Academicall doutings he rayseth vp corruptions of Gods woord he confirmeth Epicurish blasphemies and al vntruthes in the first and second Table And this Sathan like an enimie or a Serpent in déede led Eue and all the whole world astray as it is sayd in the Epistle He is a murtherer for by his outrageous crueltie and most trayterous craftes he practyseth mischéefe too our soules too the lyfe of our bodyes too our wyues children landes and houses and finally manaceth destruction too whole realmes and kingdomes Ageinst this cruell enemie fighteth our Michael the sonne of God who came too destroy the woorkes of the Diuell He being captaine of the holy Angels casteth the Diuel out of heauen and out of the heauenly Church Therfore let vs giue God thanks y he hath appoynted the Angels too bée our kéepers in so great daunger of our soules and bodyes and of all that euer wée haue And let vs endeuer by godlynesse and chast behauyor too reteine them still Vppon the feast day of all Sainctes ¶ The Epistle Apoc. vij AFter this I beheld lo a great multitude which no man could number of all nations and people and tongues stode before the seat and before the Lambe clothed with long whyte garments and palmes in theyr handes and cryed with a loude voyce saying saluation bee ascribed too him that sitteth vppon the seat of our God and vntoo the Lambe And all the Angels stode in the cōpasse of the seat of the elders and of the foure beastes and fell before the seat on their faces and woorshipped God saying Amen Blissing and glory wisdome and thankes and honour and power and might bee vntoo our God for euermore Amen And one of the elders answered saying vntoo mee what are these which are arayed in long white garments and whence came they And I said vntoo him Lord thou wottest And he sayde too me these are they which came out of great tribulation and made their garments large and made them white in the bloud of the Lambe therfore are they in the presence of the seat of God and serue him day and night in his temple and he that sitteth in the seat will dwell among them They shall hunger no more neither thirst neyther shall the funne light on them neither any heat For the Lambe which is in the middest of the seat shall feede them and shall leade them vntoo fountaines of liuing water and GOD shal wype away all teares from their eyes The disposement ALl the whole booke of the Apocalyps is a Prophesie concerning the persecutiōs and troubles that were too come vppon the christen Churche and wherewithall it should bée disquieted partly by Tyrantes and partly by Heretickes through the instinct of the Diuell And euer now and then there * This is to be vnderstode of the memoriall of the promysed seede kept alwayes in the hartes of the faithfull and renued by preching and talk and not of the keeping of any appointed holyday Twoo natures in Chryst Why Christ is called the woord The sonne of God was alwayes with the fathers Why Christ is called the womans seede The creede of Athanasius Gods mercie and louing kindnesse