with Christ shal raigne with Christ In the glory of his father C. Christ maketh mention of the glorye of his father of the angels lest that his disciples shold iudge of his kingdome according to the present sight for as yet it lay hyd being base and contemned vnder the shew of a seruante He sheweth therfore that he shal be in an other maner of estate when he shal come to be the iudge of the worlde A. For the sonne of man shall come in his glorye all his angels with him and he shal sit vpon the seate of his glory all nations shall be gathered before him Also these thinges serue to terrifie those which delight in their wickednesse vyce which shall not be able to abide his face For although the lord toke vpon him humaine nature yet notwithstanding he abideth vnchanged in the eternall glory of his father and hath loste nothing eyther of his diuine substaunce or glory for he is of lyke substance maiestie and glory with the father All the Angelles serue him beinge the ministers of God and ordeyned to fulfill his cōmandement Whose power howe great it is maye appere in that one angell dispersed the mightye campe of the Assyrians in one night a hundred fowre score fiue thousand of them being slain But and if one angell be of such power what shall they not be able to subdue and ouerthrowe when they being altogether come with the lorde to Iudgement And then shall he revvarde euery man B. This sentence is often vsed in the scriptures the which they peruert who go about to proue that we are iustified by our workes because forsothe we are iudged according to the same when as Chryste speaketh not here of the cause of saluation They consider not that the tree is iudged according to his fruite and yet notwithstandinge that the fruite maketh not the tree but the tree the fruite When we se figges on the tree wee iudge by by the tree to be a fygge tree yet notwithstandynge the fygges are not the cause that it is a fygge tree but when it was made a figge tree then it brought forth figges Euen so in al thinges the worke iudgeth of the worker For it makethe not the worker but is broughte to passe and wrought of the worker In lyke manner good workes do declare a good man to be the sonne of God but they make him not to be the sonne of god Therefore woorkes do not iustifie that is to say they do not make vs the more acceptable vnto God the whiche workes can be nothing elles but synne condempninge if so be they be wrought before thou be purified and regenerated by the spyrite of God because that an euill tree can not bringe forthe good fruite But the lorde describynge his iudgemente saythe after the manner of men that euery man shal be iudged according to his woorkes euen as wee commonly are wonte to iudge Neyther doth he say that euery man shal receyue accordynge to his woorkes as thoughe that our workes were the fyrste cause of our saluation For the specyall cause why we obtaine euerlasting life is the voluntary free wil of God the second cause are the merites of Christ for he died for the saluation of al mankind but this also is a free gyfte of the good wil of god The thirde cause is our Fayth by the whiche we imbrace and receyue this good wyll of God and the merytes of Christe For he that beleueth hath euerlastinge lyfe but that faythe also by the whiche we do beleue is the worke gifte of God in vs for the merite of Chryste Also good woorkes may after a sorte be said to be the cause of our saluation but improperly because euery man shall be rewarded accordyng to his deedes but these also are the gyftes of Goddes good wyll the effects of Christs merites and the fruites of fayth For there is no good woorke acceptable vnto God but that whiche is done for the loue of God the whiche loue no man hath but he whiche beleueth in god And no man can beleue in God but suche as are inspired with the spirite of God whiche pertayneth onely to the sonnes of god This spirite is onely geuen vnto those whose sinnes are remitted and whom he hath chosen before the foundation of the world was layde All the partes therfore of our saluation are a gyfte and woorke of the wyllynge and free wyl of god But we must note here that Christ saide not he shall geue to euerye man accordynge to his faythe the whiche lyeth hyd and whiche euery wicked man boasteth that he hath but accordinge to his woorkes whiche can not be obscure and hid for workes are a seale of our sayth The Apostell Paule speaketh thus of this Iudgement of Christe we must al appere before the iudgement seate of Christ that euery man maye receiue the woorkes of his owne body accordinge to that he hath done whether it be good or bad And in an other place the Apostell saith Thou heapest vnto thy selfe wrathe againste the daye of Iudgement when shal be opened the righteous iudgement of God whiche will rewarde euery man accordinge to his deedes that is to say prayse honoure and immortalitie to them which continue in good doinge and seke immortalitie But vnto them that are rebelles and do not obeye the trueth but follow vnrighteousenes shall come indignation wrath tribulation and anguishe vpon the soule of euery man that dothe euyll C. Let this therfore be the somme that these two do very well agree namely that we are iustified freely because wee are acceptable vnto God without oure merite and yet notwithstandinge that he accordinge to his good pleasure geueth and imputeth and vndeserued rewarde to our woorkes A. As concernynge the whiche matter reade the fyfth chapter goinge before 28 Verely I say vnto you there be standinge here whiche shall not taste of deathe till they se the sonne of man come in his kingedome Verely I say vnto you M. As touching this woorde verely rede the fifth chapter goinge before There be standinge here C. Because the disciples might dought among them selues when this day should come the lord erecteth thē with a more specyall trust saying that it shal not be long ere that he geue vnto some of them a shew of his glory as if he should haue said If you thincke the time to longe before I come I wyll come betime for before you dye that kingdome of God whiche I byd you hope for shall be set before your eies M. Some vnderstode this sentēce of the extreame and last day of iudgemēt thinking that Christ mēt here that Iohn the Euangelist shold not die vntyl the day of iudgement but the Euangelist him selfe sheweth that this opinion of him conceiued was not true Wherefore we must vnderstand that the cōming of the kingdome of God is the reuealing of the heauenly glory
onely from this curse but also he wolde haue her to be his mother Looke in the historie of Iosua Booz begat Obed of Ruthe M. This womaÌ„ was of the cuntrey of the Moabites who afterward by diuine inspiratioÌ„ leauinge her countrey and kynred came with her mother in law an Hebrues to the Israelites and being taken to wife of Booz is made the mother of kinges B. that we may therby see howe louing Christe is to euery one but specially to the desolate gentell and mercifull 6 Iesse begat Dauid the king Dauid the king begat Salomon of her whiche was the wyfe of Vri. Iesse begat Dauid the king C. Only Dauid is described with this title of honour because God hath set forth in his persone the type of the Messias and captayne to come Firste the kingdome beganne of Saule But because this happened by the tumult and vnhonest desires of the people the alteration and chaunge was at laste thought lawfull in Dauid specially as pertaining to the league and couenaunt of God in the whiche he promised that he would be a gouernour of his seruauntes for euer For when the people the yoke of God being shaken of required to haue a king he gaue them by and by Saul But God straightwayes â—…tablished his kingdome which was the pledge of true blessednes in the hands of Dauid Therfore let vs here vnderstande that the seconde state of the people is here noted as it was ordained of the lorde M. But the father of Dauid was of no high bloude but vnknowen and of smal reputation Whervpon also Dauid in despite and coÌ„tempt was called of Saule the sonne of Isai Besides Dauid was the yongest least of his brethren and contemned And yet afterwardes he was not onely chosen to the kingdome but also into this dignitie that he should be specially nominated among the aunceters of Christe yea to whom the promise as coÌ„cerning Christ was renewed That we may learne how that God dothe not cast of those that are humble but leauing the proude doth extolle those that are abiectes and despised Dauid the king begat Salomon of her cet C. Nowe is added of the Euangeliste the humane shame and reproche which after a sorte myghte pollute and defile that glory of the heauenly benediction wherof we spake eueÌ„ now that is to say because Dauid begat Salomon of Beersabe whom wickedly by violence he toke from her husbaÌ„d and to th ende he might vse her still deceitfully he betrayed the giltles man and caused him to be slayne of the enemy This filthines in the beginning of the kingdom might make the Iewes not to glory in the flesh For God would haue it knowen and sure that he in appointing that kingdom did nothing regarde or waie mans merites furthermore to the ende Mathew might more specially admonishe vs that sinners are not reiected of Christ because he thought no scorne to haue his aunceters as concerning the fleshe he rather chose to call her the wife of Vrias then by her proper name Beersabe H. It is to be noted therefore in the geneallogie of Christ that none of the holy women are taken but those whom the scripture doth reprehende that he whiche came for sinners being borne of sinners might cleane put away the sinnes of all men 7 Salomon begat Roboam Roboam begat Abia Abia begat Asa Salomon begat Roboam A. In the beginning of this chapter it was shewed why Luke bringeth from this place the generation of Christe not by Salomon but by Nathan the other sonne of Dauid and his posteritie also euen vntill the time of the captiuitie of Babilon M. The scripture maketh mention of RoboaÌ„ that he was euill whose harte was not righte with god His mothers name was Naama an Amonnites WheÌ„ this man raigned Iuda was stricken vanquished and the gould of the temple caried away by Pharao kinge of Egypte also in this mans tyme the tenne tribes rebelled Note therfore here that both the good bad kinges are set forth by the Euangelist RoboaÌ„ begat Abia. M. This maÌ„ also was euill his harte being tourned from god Notwithstanding this man being kyng God had mercy vpon Iuda so that he suffered them not to be geueÌ„ into the hands of Iheroboam king of Israell He had fourtene wyues of whiche he begat .xxij. sonnes and .xvi. daughters Abia begat Asa This man was good and sought the lorde with all his harte euen as did Dauid his father sauing that in the .xxx. yeare of his reigne when that Baasa king of Israel came against him to fight he fled not vnto the lorde but to the king of Sirria and craued his helpe for the whiche being reprehended of the prophet Ananias was displeased and commaunded the prophete to be set in stockes Againe in the .xxxix. yeare of his reigne being sicke he cried not vnto the lorde but rather trusted to the phisitions By this example we are admonished with howe great diligence we ought to praye vnto the lorde that he will giue vs sound and true godlines euen to the ende For it is written The righteousnes of the righteous shall not saue him whensoeuer he turneth away vnfaithfully 8 Asa begat Iosaphat Iosaphat begat Ioram Ioram begat Ozias Asa begat Iosaphat M. This man also followed the footesteps of his father Dauid sought the lorde with a pure harte notwithstanding in this he sinned that euen at the first he entred into league with the wicked king Achab and assisted him in battayle for the whiche he was sharpely blamed of Iehu the prophete with the whiche being nothing moued after Achab also he was at peace with his sonne Ochosias for the whiche also he was againe reprehended of the prophet Eliezer the sonne of Dodan of Maresa As concerning the which loke in the .ij. booke of Chronicles cap. 17.18.19 20. So that we may se nothing to be perfecte no not in holy men A. Wherfore with the greater carefulnesse we must wishe that the continuall fauour of God may abide with vs to amende our corrupte and vitious nature Iosaphat begat Ioram A. This man followed the wickednes of the house of Achab and made Iuda and Hierusalem to swarue from the lord their god Moreouer he killed all his brethren the sonnes of Iosaphat when that he was stablished in his kingdome whiche wickednes and crueltie the lord suffered not to scape vnpunished Loke in the 21. chap. of the second booke of Chronicles So that many tymes we sée of honest and godly auncestours and elders to spring a wicked posteritie Ioram begat Osias C. In this successioÌ„ whiche Mathew describeth there are thrée kinges omitted as appeareth by the sacred history M. For IoraÌ„ did not beget Hozias but Ochozias Ochozias begat Ioas Ioas Amazias and Amazias begat Hozias otherwise Azarias C. They whiche affirme that these thrée were of Mathewe by obliuion omitted are not to be harde neither is their reason to be
sinners but with hipocrites Iusticiaries proud phariseis whose hipocrisy always resisted the doctrine of Grace For when as they were impure and polluted with sinne yet they wolde in no wise seme so to be because they did alwaies hyde the sayde vncleanenes of their hartes with that externall shewe of sanctimonye and outwarde holines To the ende he might bewraye this he hath restored the vigor and parfecte strengthe of the lawe and therefore he speaketh of hym which doth not onelye couet with the harte but also fulfylleth the same concupisence and bryngeth it to passe in dede Yea and the lawe it selfe condempneth this concupissēce or lust as apereth in Exodus Thou shalt not couet thy neyghbours wyfe The Iewes knew this but they did not consyder that the lust of the hart was before God euen as the actuall deede of adultery Bu. Notwithstandinge lett no man flatter him selfe vpon the wordes of Christ or take occasion to do euyll and saye if luste make me an adulterer I wil brynge the same to efecte or I wyl committ the actuall deede that I mighte not be counted so in vayne For truely thou shalte not be so called or counted without iust cause and thy deseruinge which haste done all that the fylthye adulterar doth sauing the very actual dede which no doubt thou woldest haue done if thou myghtest haue had lybertie time and occasion to the fynishynge of the same Therefore thy vertue dyd not staye thee from adultery but hauinge no power occasion also beinge contrary to thy purpose thou arte let so that thou also arte vniust and an adulterer But for certayne thou dost more greuousely offend and doste deserue more cruell ponishmēt if thou onely quenche not the burnynge fyer of concupiscence but also if thou bridell not thy selfe from the impure and fylthy action But forsomuche as there is no man liuinge whiche at some tyme hath not lusted the lorde approuethe by this lawe that all men are subiect to sin and nede the grace of God and the iustification of Christe whiche is onely iust impoluted and pure and dothe particypate vnto vs his righteousenes by faith by the whiche name the Apostels called fayth and our righteousenes the parfection of the lawe 29. If thy ryghte eie hinder thee plucke him out and cast it frō thee For bet-it is vnto thee that one of thy members perishe then that thy whole body should be cast into hell If thy right eie offende thee C. Because that Chryst mighte seeme to seuerely to vrge men in this natural imbecillitie wekenesse of fleshe and bloud he doth preuent al those mutterings that might be made To be short he declareth that althoughe it be harde sharpe and troublesome whiche the lorde commaundeth yet notwithstandinge we are not thereby excusable because the ryghteousenes of God oughte to be of more pryce vnto vs than all other thinges whiche are deere and preciouse For some mighte saie what shall becomme of vs if the matter be so when as we be so apte to all euyll cogytations and thoughts that we can scarse tourne our selues aboute and caste oure eye on the one syde but strayghtewaye vnloked for one daungerouse snare or other appereth sette and pytched before oure eyes to take vs. To this he faithe Againe and agayne yea continually ye must take héede that you haue a consideration and respecte to your owne infirmitie yea see that ye auoyde all occasion of offence and prouocation neyther let any thinge at no time be so dere vnto you if it bringe to destruction for whose sake you shoulde suffer your selues to be seduced so to incurre the daunger of euerlastynge peryll and payne There is nothinge so neere vnto you nothinge so conioyned and knit nothinge so nere of bloud yea there is nothinge so entierly beloued of you which ought not to be cut of if so be that occasion required yea although it were one of your membres and that the pryncipall and moste necessary as the right eye or the righte hande For there oughte no member be vnto vs of suche estimation and price that for the loue of the same we shoulde forsake God the creatour of our whole body C. Neither yet doth Christ meane that we should mangle our body and destroy the same that we mighte obey God but because al mē wold wishe not to haue their sences so brydled but that they myght haue the free vse of the same Christ teacheth hyperbolically that we must cut of what so euer is contrarye to his wyll And he dothe the same verye warely because men do to licentiousely in this poinct fauour them selues If the mind were pure then a man shold haue his eies and handes obedient to hym In the whiche it is certaine that there is no proper motiō In this therfore we sinne greatly that we are not so carefull in auoiding of daungerouse snares as it becommeth vs B. For we must shun and fle al occasion and the more we fynd our selues inclined and geuen to euyll the more we oughte to refrayne our mynde from the same 30. And if thy righte hande hinder thee cut it of and caste it from thee For it is better for thee that one of thy mēbers perishe then that thy whole body should be cast into hell And if thy ryght hande hynder thee A. This verse tendethe to the same effect that the former did C. The Greke texte hath if it offende thée To offend or hynder is to make a man stomble and fall in the way of the lorde This is a life acceptable vnto God namely to abyde in faithe and loue whereby a man maye go forwarde in the obedience of God. M. Here is to be noted what greate necessitie of auoydinge of offence the lorde propoundeth vnto vs For if that so necessary members and instrumentall helpes of the bodye are not to be reteyned and kepte if they be a hinderaunce vnto healthe what shall we then say of them which so gredely cleaue vnto vile things yea of no reputation but of the vanitie of this worlde that they wyll rather hasarde and put in venture the benefyte of eternall lyfe then they wyll be secluded from them For it is better c. M. This reason is taken of the profyte of preseruing the whole For better it is that som parte perishe then that the health of the whole body shoulde be put in daunger A. The same matter in effecte is handled where he entreateth of auoydyng of offences which foloweth in the .18 chap. 31. It is saide who so euer putteth awaye his wyfe let hym geue her a letter of diuorcement It is sayde Bu. These woordes do parteyne to the lawe of eschewinge adulterye and do teache that truely and vndefiledly we ought to kepe the faythe of wedlocke C. For euen as the Iewes thought that they behaued thē selues falsely and amisse before God yf they kepte not the lawe after a politique order euen so againe what so euer the
the misteries of God to commit them to the scornings iestes and tauntes of the wicked and reprobate Secōdly Christ sought meanes to comforte his disciples that they should not be discouraged so seace to preache to the electe although they sawe the wicked reprobate peruersly to reiect the same Neyther cast ye your pearles M. In respecte of the preciouse price and noblenes of the woorde of God he calleth it a pearle for the which we ought to sel all that we haue as we may reade in the 13. chap. followinge C. Whereby we gather of howe greate price this holy doctrine of the gospell oughte to be vnto vs. M. He sayth your pearles to declare that it is peculiar and proper to the faithfull C. The pure vse of the doctrine of God is to féede the faithfull with the woorde of God as with their corporall meate and that the wicked should be made afraide by the iudgement of god the which if they neglecte geue not that whiche is holye to dogges nor pearles to swyne or Before hogges Bu. By hogges he vnderstādeth such as wholly drown them selues in filthy pleasure with their blasphemies do seeke to defile the doctrine of the Gospell so much as in them lyeth Least they treade them C. By this Christ doth seeme to distynguishe betwene the hogges the dogges attributing to the hogges a brutishe dulnes voide of sēce to the dogges madnes This experience trewely teacheth that there are twoo kindes of contemners As for example what so euer is in the scriptures as concerning the corrupt nature of man frée iustification and eternall election many do tourne the same either to sluggishe slouthfulnes and brutysshe behauiour or elles to the lasciuiousnesse of the fleshe suche are very aptly accorto deserte compared to hogges The other do rent teare with extreame madnes by furiouse reproche the pure doctrine the ministers thereof to the ende they might frustrate the study of wel doinge the feare of God and al care of saluation Although therefore Christ doth declare by bothe names that the aduersaries of the woord of God are incurable notwithstanding by a double similitude he doth shew briefely in what one of thē do differ from an other M. We must also note this that he saith And the other tourninge againe all to rente you For at the fyrst they do feyne modestie that they may learne the secretes of religion but whē they haue learned it they tourne sodeinly they deride they rayle byting and tearing the ministers of the woorde and all suche as are louers of the trueth Thus plaied Alexander the coppersmith Hymenaeus Iuleanus Caesar the apostata Porphirius and Lucianus with other lyke vnto these 7 Aske and ye shall haue seeke and ye shall finde knocke and it shall be opened vnto yon C. This is an exhortation to praye and because we are in this exercise of godlynes which ought to be our greatest care so slowe and negligent he cōmaundeth the same to be done by three manner of speakinges Neyther is it in vaine that he saith Aske seke and knocke for least his doctrine shoulde waxe colde he continueth still in stirringe vp our dulnesse And to the same ende parteineth the promises whiche he addeth ye shal haue ye shall finde it shall be opened vnto you For there is nothing that doth better incourage vs to pray then a sure and vndoubted trust hope to obtaine for they cannot praye aright whiche doubte yea prayer is a vayne and rydiculouse ceremony without faithe Christ therfore to allure vs to this parte of duety effectually dothe not onely charge vs with that whiche we ought to do but doth also promise that our praiers shal not be in vain And this also is diligentlye to be noted first that we maye vnderstande that this order of prayer was appoynted and prescribed vnto vs that we might suerly perswade our selues that God is mercyfull vnto vs and redy to here our prayers to graunte vs oure petitions Furthermore so oftē as we are prepared to pray or so often as we fele that the heate and force of prayer hath not in vs his feruent zeale and effecte we must call to mynde howe greatly the lorde inuiteth and calleth vs and howe mercyfully he promyseth that we shall taste his fatherly affections So it shal come to passe that euery man bearing him selfe boulde on the grace and fauour of Christ shal conceiue a sure trust of prayinge and shall freely call vpon god As Paule teacheth in his epistel to the Ephesians But because we are more geuen to distrust then becommeth vs Christ to correcte the same doth iterate one promise with diuers wordes Let vs therefore acknowledge oure nakednesse and imbecillitie neyther let vs dispaire but let vs boldely aske and that constantly For he saithe Aske seeke knocke A. Aske namely that whiche is lawefull and accordynge to his wyl Seeke diligently Knocke with perseuerance continually C. But he vsed the metaphor of seking because we thyncke that to be farre from vs which our nede and necessitie requireth And he vsed the metaphor of knockinge also because the carnall sence of the fleshe imagineth that those thinges are shut from vs which ar not at hande in a readines To this sentence of Christ agreeth the saying of the prophete Seeke the lorde while he may be found call vpon him while he is nie Againe I loue them which loue me and they which seke me early shal fynde mee 8 For who so euer asketh receyueth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shal be opened A. To the ende we mighte be more feruent and desirouse to pray C. Chryste doth here offer vnto vs his fathers grace and fauour as if he shoulde say that god is redy of his owne free wil to heare vs if so be that we pray and that riches are offered vnto vs if that we will aske thē By the whiche woordes he dothe declare that they are iustly ponyshed which wāting necessary thinges seeke not this remedy against their nede It is most certaine when the faithful are often times a slepe the lorde watcheth for them and for their healthe and so preuenteth their praiers For there were nothynge to vs more miserable then if he shoulde looke for our prayers in this slepy and drousy sluggishenes of the fleshe but he dothe not by prouocation but of his owne free will geue vnto vs fayth whiche by order and time goeth before all prayers But because Christ in this place speaketh vnto his disciples he dothe plainely shewe howe his heauenly father woulde make vs partakers of his giftes Therefore although he doth freely bestowe vppon vs all thinges yet notwithstanding he doth commaunde vs to praye to exercise oure faithe and that he might graunt vnto vs which aske those thynges whiche onely come of his mere goodnes Bu. This vndoubted promise of God oughte to stirre and allure all men
take héede of this wickednes in the holye estate of Matrimonye that wée condemne not the same For because that estate is alwayes subiecte to many troubles Sathan goeth about to bringe hatred and infamy to the same to the ende hée mighte make men forsake it And in this point S. Hierom hath sheewed himselfe to peruerse because hée doth not onlye calumniate and speake euill of the holye and deuine order of life but also heapeth vp all the places of opprobry that hee can out of prophane authors and all to defame the honestye thereof But let vs remember that what thinges soeuer are troublesome vnto vs in the estate of wedlocke are accidentall and come by the wickednes of men Furthermore let vs remember that because it began to be a medicine after oure corrupted nature it is no marueile if swete meate haue sower sauce It is not good to Marrye M. This goodnes which they speake of here muste not be referred to eternall life but rather to the commodity of this present life Bu. For the Apostels vnderstandinge that the liberty of deuorcement should be no more so frée that when soeuer they liste they might put away their wyues by and by they also thincke that it is farre better more commodious to marrye no wife at all than to marry her whom they muste for euer receiue and cleaue to For they thincke it a cruell seruitude to suffer at home a froward brawlinge and dronkē wyfe M. Therefore they spake as carnall men not as spirituall C. Wherefore the Lorde refelleth and confuteth their foolishnes 11. Hee saide vnto them All men cannot comprehende this sayinge saue they to whom it is geuen Hee saide vnto them all men cannot cōprehende this E. The Gréeke text hath cānot receyue this sayinge or are not capeable of this saying it signifyeth not to vnderstande euē as wée call that place capeable which is so large that it is able to receiue all that is brought vnto it Euenso the Apostell Paule writing to the Corinthians vseth this woorde sayinge Set your selues at large and beare not yee the yoake with vnbeleuers But that sayinge entereth not into the mindes of all men because they are otherwise affectioned in somuche that there remayneth no roume for the institution ordinaunce of god A. The like woorde also wée maye reade in that which followeth when hee sayth hée that can comprehende it let him comprehende it M. Christe setteth before them the necessity of Matrimony which is such that fewe are seperated from the same as if hée should say None can be free from this sayinge that is from the necessitye of this Maryinge but such to whom the gifte of continencye is geuen from aboue C. For election or choyse is not in mans hande as though in those cases hée might do what him liste If any man thinke it profitable for him to be without a wyfe and so without any tryall had before addicteth and giueth himselfe to the law of singlenes hée is greatly deceiued For God which pronounced sayinge it is good for man that the woman be adioyned vnto him to be a helper taketh punishment on those that do contemne this order because mortall men do truste to muche to themselues when they goe aboute to set themselues frée from the heauenly callinge Saue they to vvhom it is geuen C. The Lord here bringeth in one cause in stede of all other for the which wee muste take a wyfe because it is the specyall gyfte of continencye For whenne hée sayth that all cannot comprehend it saue they to whō it is geuen hée plainly declareth that it is not geuen to all Wherby their pryde is conuinced which are not afrayed to arrogate that vnto themselues which Christe so manifestlye taketh away For they which are not endued with the gift of continency oughte to knowe that they are created of God to marrye Neither trulye is wedlocke a necessary euill as certaine blasphemous persons against the institution and ordinance of God do affirme but it is rather a necessary remedy against euill Wherefore excepte wée cure and take awaye the disease which is naturallye ingraffed in vs by wedlocke wée sinne against god Howbeit Christe doth not here onlye speake of the suppressinge of lust but also hée sheweth that hée woulde haue all those which haue not the gift of continency to vse wedlocke not onely to remedye the euill which is in them but also to obey the ordinance of god B. But whereas the Popes chaste Chaplines do affirme that euery man may obtaine the gift of continency by prayer let vs know that expresly they speake against our sauiour Christ who sayth All men cannot comprehende this saying but they to whom it is geuen But why also do they not praye that they be not ouercome with surfeting dronkennes with the cares of this life Yea why do they not obtaine by their prayers that they maye be blessed after they departe this life The which thing were much better For faythfull prayer is onely for the thinge concerning the which the minde of him that prayeth is certainly perswaded that it will make to the glory of god Now it is not the will of God that all men should liue chaste or a single life therefore all singlenes doth not make to the glory of God wherefore all mē ought not to pray for it Furthermore there are some which thincke that this gifte is giuen to very manye which will not acknowledge that it is geuē vnto them But they that so say speake euē as absurdlye as if they should say that a man hath had a great while in his hands some notable gift at the hād of the Prince which hée hath wished for and yet that he knoweth not of it neither will acknowledge it For truly there can be nothinge more aceptable to a godly man called to the kingdome of heauē than that hée may be made more fit and apte to the busines of the kingdome of heauen Wherefore if he haue the gift of continency hée will abstaine from wedlocke as from a great greuous burthē There are many which falslye perswade theimselues that they haue this gifte and hee which hath this gift in déede notwithstanding knoweth not of the same is not lyuinge Euen as there are manye which thincke that they haue the fayth of Christe which fayth in déede they haue not but there are none which hauing the right faith in Christ in déede that can thincke that they haue it not for that is contrary to the nature of fayth Let euery man therefore submit himselfe to the will of God if hée haue the gift of continency let him vse it to the glorye of God if hee haue it not let him then vse the ordinary meane which God hath appointed namely wedlocke The which beinge taken let him therewith be contented A. As concerning the which matter reade the Iudgement of Paule which is a faithfull interpreter
the Phariseies were gathered together Iesus asked them sayinge VVhile the Phariseis vvere gathered together M. The Phariseies were nowe gathered together to suborne and craftelye to set forthe some one whiche by puttynge forthe a question mighte tempte and intangle Christe the whiche thinge they went about a littell before to brynge to passe by the Lawyer of whom we spake euen now but in vayne When as therfore the Phariseies were gathered together whiche tooke vnto them selues the knoweledge of the lawe and the prophetes and yet were ignorante of the comminge of Christe because they dyd not greately desyer the same neyther vnderstode his maiestie and glory it is not without cause yf Chryste demaunde of them sayinge 42 VVhat think ye of Christ VVhose sonne is hee They said vnto him the sonne of Dauid VVhat think ye of Christ B. This is thought to be the laste talke that our Sauyoure Christ had with the Phariseies and his aduersaries by the whiche he wente about to prouoke them to knowe him except those thinges whiche he aunswered them to when he was taken of them By these wordes therefore he wente about to stirre vp theyr mindes and to admonishe them of his kingedome if so be that there were any amongest them which were curable the they might loke for Chryst to be greater than the carnall kinge yea and more excellente than Dauid his father For those that were carnal hoped for nothing but carnal things VVhose son is he C. The Euangelistes Marke Luke do more plainely expresse why Christ demaunded this question namely because a wicked opinion preuayleth among the Scribes that the promised redemer sholde be one of the sonnes successors of Dauid which shold bring nothing with him more excelent than the humaine nature For by by at the beginning Sathan by all meanes possible wente about to supplante some false fayned Christ whiche shoulde not be the true mediatour of God and man And because God had so often times promised that Christ should come of the séede and sprynge out of the loynes of Dauid this perswasion was so depely rooted in the hartes of al men among the Iewes that they coulde in no wise abide to haue him depriued of the humaine nature Sathan therfore suffered Christ to be acknowledged to be a trew man and the sonne of Dauid because he sholde in vaine haue gone about to take away this part of fayth being so euident common amōg al men but that which was worse he spoyled him of his deitie as though he should be some one of the sonnes of Adā And after this sorte the hope of the euerlasting life to come spiritual righteousnes was abolished But so sone as Christ was declared vnto the worlde the Heretiques went about by many subtil meanes deceites to ouerthrowe one while his humaine nature an other while his diuine nature least that he should either haue full power to saue vs or elles least we shold haue familiar accesse vnto him But because the houre of his deathe was at hande the lorde hym selfe thoughte good to make his deitie Godhed known that the trust of al the godly might be reposed in him without all feare or doubting For if he were onely a man it were neither lawefull for vs to glory in hym nor yet to hope for saluatiō by him Now let vs note that his purpose and intente was not so much for his owne sake to declare him selfe to be the sonne of God as it was to ground our faith vpon his heauenly power For as the infirmitie of the fleshe by the whiche hee made him selfe nere of kynne vnto vs dothe incourage vs that we should not doubt to come vnto him euen so if we sholde haue onely respect vnto the same we shall be rather filled with feare and desperation than with any god trust and confidence Notwithstanding we must note that the Scribes are not reprehēded because they did teach Christ to be the sonne of Dauid but because they immagined him to be a mere man which should come from heauen to put vpon him the nature and person of a man Neither doth the Lord altogether speake of himselfe but simplely sheweth that the Scribes do wickedlye erre in that they loked that the redemer should come onely of the earth and humaine progeny And althoughe it was an olde opinion amonge them yet notwithstandinge wee gather by this our Euangelist Mathewe that they were asked before the people what they thought They said vnto him the sonne of Dauid Bu. It was euident by many promises of Scripture that Christ should come of the seede of Dauid A. but they which dayly redde these promises and interpreted them to the people loked for nothinge to be more in the person of Christ then a man Therefore they make aunswere vnto Christe whiche was most common and vsuall amongest them namely that the Messias was the sonne of Dauid 43 Hee saide vnto them howe then doth Dauid in spirite call him Lorde sayinge Hovve then doth Dauid M. Christ our sauiour doth not reprehende the Phariseis as we said euē now because they cōfessed him to be the sonne of Dauid but because men commonlye denied him whiche shoulde be the Messias to be nothyng elles but an earthlye kinge which should bringe the people of God into a certaine earthly libertye and that he should so inlarge the tereene and transitory kingdome that it should extēd it selfe euen to the endes of the worlde that hee shoulde be of the tribe of Dauid for this cause I say he thought good in the presence of some to geue them occasiō to haue a farther cōsideration of his glory maiesty namely that he was not the sonne of Dauid according to the flesh but also the sonne of Dauid Dauids lord For in respect that he toke fleshe of the virgin Mary his is the sonne of Dauid in respecte that hee was conceiued by the holye ghoste he is the sonne of God and Dauids lord Therfore this is no new or late inuented error For this impietie raigned among the phariseis long before be came into the worlde So that the deuill hath soughte frō the beginning as it is saide already to take awaye the deitie godheade from Christ that by that meanes al the saluation of mankind might be vtterly quite ouerthrowen In spirite The Euangelist Marke hath Inspired with the holye ghoste And the Euāgelist Luke in stede of both these hath In his boke of Psalmes C. But Christ declareth that Dauiddyd speake in the spirit expresly with great emphasis and force For he opposeth and setteth the prophesie of the thing to com against the testimony of the thing presēt And the cauill by the which the Iewes at this day excuse thē selues is this They say that by this prophesye the kingedome of Dauid is celebrated as though he apointing God to be the author of his raygne wolde rise against the mad enterprises beastly practises of his enemies
and that wee coulde not be deliuered from the same except Christ should haue bene made giltye in earthe wee will neuer be ashamed to glorye and reioyce in bondes Moreouer so often as we heare that Christ stode in sorrowfull and base forme before Pilate let vs thereby gather occasion to beleeue the bearing our selues bould of the intercessor wee maye come into the presence of God with cherefulnes To the same ende also it pertayneth which followeth by and by as concerninge his sylence Christ helde his peace when the hye Priestes vrged him on euerye syde that by his sylence hee might open our mouthes For herevppon commeth that power vnto vs whereby wee crye Abba father And the Debitye asked him saying Art thou the kinge of the Iewes Howbeit it is probable that there were manye things spoken on both sides whereof the Euangelistes make no mencion not withstandinge all other thinges set a part Pilate chieflye standeth vpon the matter of seditiō because if he had founde Christe in any point to be a troubler of the common state hee woulde haue condemned him without delaye This is the cause why hee asked if he were a kinge M. S. Iohn sayth Then Pilate entered into the Iudgement haule againe and called Iesus and sayd vnto him Arte thou the kinge of the Iewes Nothinge coulde be done withoute tumulte because they were seditiouslye bente Hee entereth therefore into the Iudgement haule And truly his purpose is to absolue set Christe at liberty but Christ himselfe that he mighte obey his father offereth himselfe to be condemned and this is the cause that hee aunswereth so sparinglye For seinge hee had a Iudge so gentle an fauourable and whiche hearde him willingly it was an easye matter for him to defende his cause but he considereth to what ende hee came into the worlde and wherefore hee is now called of the father Therefore hee willinglye houldeth his peace least he should escape death And as concerninge this question whiche Pilate demaunded here of Christ namelye whether hee were a kinge it was done by the procurement of the Iewes who burthened him with the same faulte But he did make this demaunde as concerninge the kyngdome of Christ because if hee coulde cleare himselfe of that matter hee would set him at libertye Iesus sayth vnto him thou sayest In S. Iohns Gospell Christ maketh this aunsweare Speakest thou this of thy selfe or hath some other toulde it thee of mee The which aunsweee tendeth to this ende that there is no cooller in that accusation So that it contayneth an ouerthwarte refutacion as if hee shoulde saye This faulte is vndescretely obiected to mee seing there is no likelyhoode thereof whereby I might iustlye he suspected But Pilate seemeth not to take it well that Christe shoulde demaunde why hee suspected him And therefore in displeasure and reproche hee sayth that if any thinge were amisse it was longe of his owne nation I saith he sit a Iudge straungers do not accuse thee but thine owne country men there is no cause therefore why thou shouldest make me partaker of your discorde and contencion By mee and the Romaines ye mighte liue quietlye but ye wearye and trouble your selues yet I accordinge to my office which I am cōstrayned to take muste see that peace and quietnes be maintained Thy hye Priestes accuse thee what hast thou done A. A horrible sighte to behoulde Christe standeth bounde before the Iudge beinge striken with fistes spitted vppon lookinge for nothinge but the sentence of death and yet notwithstanding what hee had done it was not knowne Whereby wee leane that there was nothinge true or had any likelyhoode of truthe that coulde be layed to Christes charge and yet for all that the vniuste and most wicked sentence of death was pronoūced against him Iesus aunswereth My kingdome is not of this worlde By these woordes hee confesseth that hee is a kinge but he putteth awaye and pourgeth the reproche so muche as was sufficient to proue his innocensye For he affirmeth that his kingedome doth not withstande pollitique order as if hee should saye I am falselye accused to be a troubler of thinges and to renue matters in the publique state I preached of the kingdome of God but that is spirituall therefore there is no cause why yee shoulde haue mee in suspicion of desieringe a kingdome But this defence of Christ was before Pilate but the same is a profitable doctrine to all the godlye to the ende of the world For if the kingdome of Christ were earthly it shoulde be vnstable and transitory because the fashion of this world passeth away but now seinge it is sayde to be Heauenly it proueth that the same shall abyde for euer Euenso if it shoulde come to passe that the whole worlde should be destroyed and that there shoulde be before oure eyes horrible motions and earthquakes yet let our mindes hauinge respect vnto the kingdome of Christ abyde firme and stable If wee be cruelly vexed of the wicked yet notwithstandinge there abydeth for vs perfect saluation in the kingdome of Christ which is not subiecte to the pleasure of men Furthermore wee are taughte what the nature of this kingdome is For if it shoulde make vs blessed accordinge to the fleshe and shoulde bringe vnto vs riches pleasures and whatsoeuer could be wished for the vse of this present life it woulde be but earthly and of this worlde which hath but a time but now although to loke vnto oure estate be myserable yet notwithstandinge our perfect felicitye doth abyde for euer Hereby also wee learne who they are which pertaine vnto this kingdome namelye they whiche are renued by the spirite of God and do meditate a heauenly life in holynes and righteousnes Howbeit we must also note that it is not denyed but that the kingdome of Christ is in this world For wee know that it hath the proper abydinge place in our minds euen as Christ also sheweth in another place The kingdome of God is within you But to speake properlye the kingdome of God dwellinge in vs passeth throughoute the whole worlde because the conditiō thereof is altogether diuers Christ addeth If my kingdome were of this worlde then woulde my mynisters surely fight that I should not be deliuered to the Iewes but now is my kingdome not from hence Hee proueth that hee desyereth not an earthlye kingdome because no man made any tumulte nor toke any weapon in hande For if any priuate man vsurpe vnto himselfe a kingdome it is necessary that hee get power and force by factious men In the kingdome of Christe there is no suche thinge it followeth therefore that he is no earthly kinge Question But it may be demaunded in this place whether it be not lawful to defende the kingdome of Christe with weapons For when the Princes are commaunded to kisse the sonne of God they are not onelye commaunded to submit themselues priuately to his imperye and power but also to bende all theyr force to defende