reason with reason August contra Maxi. li. 3. chap. 14. More weightie is the doctrine of the Scripture and the Prophets then of such as be raised from the dead doe report any thing or if an Angell descend from heauen As for the things they talke they be but seruants that speake them but whatsoeuer the Scripture vttereth the Lord hath spoken it The Lord therfore doth teach vs that we should thinke credit shuld be rather giuen vnto the Scriptures then to all other things Chrisost. de Lazaro concione 4. No man will giue héede to the Scriptures for if we did consider them we shuld not onely not fall into â—rrours our selues but also thereof deliuer other that are deceiued and put them from perill Chrisost. in Epist. ad Heb. Homil. 8. Let vs not bring deceitfull ballances wherein we may weigh whatsoeuer we lust at our owne discretion saieng this is heauie this is light but let vs bring the heauenly ballance of the holy Scripture as from the treasure of the Lord therin let vs weigh what is of more weight Hierome causa 24. quest chap. 1. non adfera How Christ ouercommeth Satan with Scriptures Iesus sayd vnto him it is written againe ¶ Christ woulde not ouercome Satan by his diuine and almightie power but with the Scriptures and word of God to teach vs by his own example to fight against Satan with the holy sacred Scripture which are our heauenly armour the word of the spirit Beza How this place following is to be vnderstood Among the which some things are hard to be vnderstoode c. ¶ That is to say among the which things for he disputeth not héere whether Paules Epistles be plaine or darke but saith that amongest those things which Paule hath written off in his Epistles and Peter himselfe in these two of his owne there are some things which cannot be so easily vnderstood and therfore are of some drawne to their owne destruction that hée saith to make vs more attentiue and dilligent and not to remoue vs from reading of holy things For to what end should they haue written vaine speculations Beza ¶ As no man condempneth the brightnesse of the Sunne because his eyes is not able to susteine the cleerenesse thereof so the hardnesse which we cannot somtime compasse or perfectly vnderstand in the Scriptures ought not to take away from vs the vse of the Scriptures Geneua Of them which say that Scripture hangeth vpon the iudgement of the Church I know saith Caluine that they haue commonly the saieng of Augustine where he sayth he would not beléeue the Gospel saue that the â—uthoritie of the Church moued him therevnto But â—ow vntrue and cauillously it is alleaged for such a meaning by the whole tenour of his writing it is easie to perceiue He had to doe with the Maniches which desired to be beleeued without gaine saieng when they vaunted that they had yâ— truth on their side but proued it not Now Augustine asketh them what they would doe if they did light vpon a man that would not beleeue the Gospell it selfe with what manner of perswasion they wold drawe him to their opinion Afterward he saith I myselfe would not beleeue the Gospel c. saue yâ— the authoritie of the church moued me therto meaning yâ— he himselfe when hée was a straunger from the faith could none otherwise be brought to embrace the gospell for the assured truth of God but by this the he was ouercome by the authoritie of the Church And what meruaile is it if a man not yet knowing Christ haue regard to men Augustine therfore doth not there teach yâ— the faith of the godly is grounded vpon the authoritie of the Church nor meaneth that the certeintie of the gospel hangeth theron but simply onely that there should be no assurednesse of the gospell to the Infidels wherby they might be won to Christ vnles yâ— consent of the church did driue them vnto it And the same meaning a little before he doth plainly confirme in this saieng When I shal praise yâ— which I beléeue scorne the which thou beléeuest what thinkest thou méet for vs to iudge or do but the we forsake such men as first call vs to come know certeine truths after commaunded vs to beléeue things vncerteine And that we follow them that require vs first to beléeue that which we are not yet able to sée that being made strong by beléeuing we may attainâ— to vnderstand the thing that we beléeue not men now but God himselfe inwardly strengthening giuing light to our minds These are the very words of Saint Austen Caluin 1. booke chap. 7. Sect. 3. The Papists say it must be vnderstood after the interpretation of the Church of Rome which is false When the Apostles bad vs trie the spirits whether they be of God or no meant he trow ye we shuld trie them according to the testimony of the Church of Rome When the men of Thessalonica tried the Apostles doctrine whether it wer true or no Asked they yâ— iudgement of the Church of Rome c. Deering Obiection How is the word of God and the Scriptures knowne but by the Church Aunswere The Church was and is a meane to bring a man more spéedely to know the scriptures and the word of God as was the woman of Samaria a meane that the Samaritanes knew Christ but as when they had heard him speake they sayde Now we know that he is Christ not because of thy words but because we our selues haue heard him So after we came to the hearing and reading the Scriptures shewed vnto vs and discerned by the Church we doe beleeue them and know them as Christs shéepe not because the Church sayth they are the Scriptures but because they be so being assured therof by the same spirit which wrote and spake them Bradford in the booke of Mar. fol. 1794. When the Scriptures was in English ¶ Looke Bible Of the burning of Scriptures ¶ Looke Herode SEA Of the diuerse names giuen to this Sea OUer the sea of Galile ¶ This is a lake which is called in the Scripture the sea or lake of Ginnereth which some interpret the sweete sea is called of the Gréeks Genezar or Genazareth Of this Iosephus maketh mention in his third booke of the war of the Iewes 18. chapter S. Iohn calleth it the sea of Tiberias because the citie of Tiberias so called of Herode the Tetrach for the honour of Tiberius Caesar bounded vpon the East part of the same Wherefore by this portion the Euangelist doth more plainly describe the place whither Christ went For the whole lake was not called the sea of Tiberias but onely that part which lay more to the shore vpon the which Tiberias was scituate Marl. fo 188. What the Sea of Glasse signifieth As it were a Sea of Glasse ¶ The Hebrues betoken all manner of
forbiddeth it to fal down before or to honour Images wherfore it is plaine Idolatrie to fal down or to knéele before theÌ„ it cannot be excused nor mocked out with any popish glose of a certein reuerent behauiour before Images For Images be called in scripture abhominatioÌ„ yâ— execrable signes of yâ— destructioÌ„ of yâ— popish Church Dan. 9. And Christ himselfe confirming iâ— addeth Who so readeth the place let him vnderstand it Wherefore when an Idoll or Image or false Gods followe anie of these words Adoro Colo Seruio and such like then beware of that act fall not downe with no reuerent behauiour nor worship thou them but saie with Daniel his fellowes yea as Christ said to the diuell To thy Lord God shalt thou doe reuerent behauiour and him onlie shalt thou serue worship Let these defenders of Idolatrie shew vs one place in al scripture which either commandeth or permitteth anie Idol honour or Image seruice which they call adoration or reuerent behauiour to anie Image if they cannot then let vs saie vnto them as Christ saide to Satan Auoide ye diuels and learne to worship your Lord God and him onelie serue c. Melancthon vpon Daniel HOPE A definition of Hope HOpe is a facultie or power breathed into vs by the holie Ghost whereby we with an assured patient minde wait for that the saluation begun by Christ and receiued of vs by Faith should one daie be perfected in vs not for our merites but through the mercie of God Pet. Mar. vpon the Rom. Hope is an euident shewing of things not appearing a séeing of things not seene a witnesse of darke things a presence of things absent and open shewing of hidden things Cal. in his Insti 3. b. chap. 2. Sect. 4. Hope is a most firme and vndoubted looking after those thinges which we beléeue Bul. fo 34. Hope is a trustie looking after the thing that is promised vs to come as we hope for the euerlasting ioye which Christ hath promised vnto all that beleeue in him Booke of Mar. fo 1112. How hope is of things absent We are saued by hope saith Paule but hope that is séene is no hope for howe can a man hope for that which he séeth but and if we hope for that which we sée not then do we with patience abide for it ¶ Abraham hoped that he should receiue the promised lande when as yet he possessed not one foote of grounde in it but saw it inhabited of most puissaunt nations Moses hoped that he shoâ—ld deliuer the people of Israel out of Aegypt and place them in the land of promise where as yet he saw not the manner and meanes how he should do it Dauid hoped that he should reigne ouer Israel and yet he felt the perill of Saule and his seruants hanging ouer his head so that oftener then once he was in daunger of his life The Apostles holie Martyrs of Christ did hope that they shoulde haue eternall life and that God would neuer forsake them and yet neuerthelesse they felt the hatred of all sortes of people they were banished their Countries and lastlie were slaine by sundrie torments So I say is the hope looking for of things not preseÌ„t things not séene Yea it is a sure most assured looking for of things to come that not of things whatsoeuer but of those which beléeue in faith of those which are promised to vs by the verie true liuing and eternall God For S. Peter saith Hope perfectlie in the grace which is brought vnto you Nowe they hope perfectlie which do without doubting commit themselues wholie vnto the grace of God and doe assuredlie looke for to inherit life euerlasting Bullinger fol. 305. How hope hangeth vpon faith Hope is nothing else but a looking for those things which faith hath beléeued to be trulie promised of God So faith beléeueth that God is true Hope looketh for the performaunce of his truth in coÌ„uenieÌ„t time Faith beléeueth yâ— he is our father Hope looketh for him to shew himselfe such a one toward vs. Faith beléeueth that eternal life is giuen vs Hope looketh yâ— it be one daie reuealed Faith is the foundation whervpon Hope resteth Hope nourisheth and susteineth Faith c. Caluine 3. b. Chap. 2. Sect. 42. Of Augustines Hope Augustine in his booke of Meditation writeth of the confirmation of his Hope in this sorte There bée thrée thinges which doe strengthen and confirme my heart that no lacke of desertes no consideration of mine owne baâ—enesse no regarde of the heauenlie blessednesse canne thrust me downe from the expectation of my hope My soule is fast rooted therein And wilt thou knowe what the matter is I do weigh and consider thrée points in which my whole hope doth consist That is to wit the loue of adoption the truth of the promise and the power to performe Now let my foolish imagination wonder as much as it list saie what art thou Or how great a glorie is this Or by what desert dost thou hope to obtein this thing And I wil boldlie aunswere I know whom I haue beléeued and am assured that God hath adopted me in excéeding great loue and that he is true in his promise and able in performance for he is able to doe what he will Musculus fo 459. HORIMS What manner of people the Horims were A Kinde of Giants and signifieth noble bicause that of pride they called themselnes noble or Gentles Tindale fol. 16. HORNE What this word Horne signifieth AND hath raised vp the horne of saluation ¶ This word Horne in the Hebrew tongue signifieth might it is a Metaphore taken from beasts that fight with their hornes And by raising vp the might of Israel is ment yâ— the kingdome of Israel was defended the enimies therof laied on the ground euen then when the strength of Israel séemed to be vtterlie decaied The Horne of my health c. ¶ He calleth God the horne of his helth bicause by him he had subdued his enimies obteined health It is a borrowed speach of horned beasts which with their hornes defend themselues and driue awaie them that fight against them T. M. ¶ Ye shall vnderstand yâ— the Scripture doth commonlie vse the Metaphore of the word Cornu an Horne for the most perfect and pure strength The translation béeing taken of horned beasts whose power defence be altogether in their hornes The same Metaphore the same words we haue in the Gospel of Luke in the song of Zacharie Et erexit Cornu salutis nobis in domo c. This Horne of saluation is an other manner of horne then yâ— horne which the fables of the Poet doe speake off They haue a pretie and pleasant fable not altogether vnlike to some of our pilgramage fables which was this That Iupiter which in déede was a bastard borne being cast out of his mother at al aduentures as oftentimes bastards be
But if they will teach you things of their owne then heare them not then dde it not For certainly such men séeke their owne and not the things that pertaine to Christ Iesu. ¶ The Chaire of the which our Sauiour Christ maketh mention héere doth not signifie the authoritie of Moses which the Scribes abused but it signifieth the place out of the which they purely red and interpreted the law of Moses ¶ To sit in Mosâ—s chaire is nothing els then to shewe out of the Lawe of God how men ought to liue And although it be not certaine out of what place they didde speake or preach yet notwithstanding their coniectures is probable which referre it to the Pulpet which Esdras made to haue the Laws taught in He therefore sitteth in Moses Chaire which preacheth not of his â—wne braine but by the authoritie and word of God Marl. vpon Math. fol. 521. ¶ So long as the Scribes safe in Moses seate and continued in the pure and simple interpretation of the Lawe teaching those things which the Lord had commaunded and taught in the name of God For Saint Austen very well and according to the minde of Christ expoundeth that the Scribes sitting vpon Moses seate taught the Lawe of God and that therefore the shéepe ought to heare the shepheards by them as by hirelings To the which words he addeth by and by saieng God therefore teacheth by them But if they goe about to teach theyr owne inuentions neither heare them nor follow them To the which sentence agréeth that which the same Father hath in his fourth booke De doctrina Christiana saieng Because the good and faithfull do not heare euery man but obediently heare God himselfe therefore they are heard profitably which also lyue not profitably Therefore the seate not of the Scribes but of Moses constrained them to teach that which was good For in their life they did what them lust but the seate being none of theirs suffered them not to teach what they lusted Marl. vpon Math. fol. 522. ¶ We ought to haue an eye most especially vnto the doctrine of the Preachers whether they sit in Christs chaire or not that is to say whether they teach Christs doctrine or not for by their doctrine we shall be either iustified or condemned and not by their liuing Sir I. Cheeke How Moses did eate the body of Christ ¶ Looke Manna How this place is vnderstood And Moses wrote this Lawe ¶ Before Moses time the doctrine which contained the manner of seruing God was not put in writing but onely deliuered by word of mouth by the fathers to theyr children from one generation to another The Bible note How we are sent to Moses and the Prophets They haue Moses and the Prophets let them heare them ¶ We are bidden to beléeue Moses and the Prophets and not the dead and if we will néedes heare the dead speake Christ ought to be sufficient for vs which being reuiued taught none other doctrine but that which he had taught in his time that is to say Moses and the Prophets Sir I. Cheeke ¶ Which declareth that it is too late to be instructed by the dead if in their life time they cannot profite by the liuely word of God as faith commeth by Gods word so is it maintained by the same So that neither we ought to looke for Angells from heauen or the dead to confirme vs there by onely the word of God is sufficient to life euerlasting Geneua Why Moses was bid to put off his shooes Put off thy shooes from thy feete ¶ Moses could not be suffered to talke with God afore he didde put off his shooes whereby we vnderstande that wée must put awaye all fleshly and carnall lusts and so approach vnto God in faith purenesse of heart Let them héere which will not touche holye things with theyr bare hands without gloues learne of the Angell of the Lorde what they ought for to doe in such things Of Moses death and buriall which maketh against reliques We read of Moses the seruaunt of the Lorde that hée died in the lande of Moab and the Angell of the Lord buryed him in a valley but no man knoweth of his Sepulcher vnto this daye which thing was of purpose by the prouidence of God appointed so that the Iewes might haue no occasion thereby to comâ—nitte Idolatry But if the translating of dead bones had bene either for the glorye of God or commoditie of man the reliques of such a one as Moses was should not haue bene hidden For doubtlesse of all Prophets he was the greatest by the testimonie of God himselfe who called him faithfull in all his house to whom he spake mouth to mouth by vision and not in darke wordes and yet was not his body shrined nor his bones carried in procession nor anye Chappell erected for him Indeed the Diuell did attempt no lesse then to make it matter of superstition for we read that there was a strife betwixt him and Michael about Moses body but the Angell of the Lorde withstood him I. Calfehill MOTHER OF GOD. Wherein Mary the mother of God was most blessed TO be the childe of God is a great deale greater grace then to be the mother of God which Saint Austen proueth thus Beatior â—rgo Maria c. Mary was more blessed or full of grace in that the receiued the faith of Christ then in that she conceiued the flesh of Christ. Motherly kinred coulde haue done Mary no good vnlesse she had borne Christ more blessed in hir heart then shée bare him in hir flesh Againe he sayth Master mea quam c. My mother whom ye haue called blessed therefore is blessed because she hath kept the word of God not because the word in hir was made flesh How mother is taken for grandmother He put downe Miacha his mother ¶ Mother for grandmother As Dauid is oftentimes called father of them of whom he was grandfather And as Zephora Moses wife calleth Raguel father which yet was hir grandfather How the Church is called our mother Forsake not thy mothers teaching ¶ That is of the Church wherein the faithfull are begotten by the incorruptible séede of Gods word Geneua MOVNTAINES How Mountaines heere doe signifie Scriptures LEt them that be in Iewry flye then to the mountaines ¶ That is to say let them that be in Christs profession flye to the scriptures the scriptures of the Apostles and Prophets be the mountaines c Our Lord knowing that there should be such confusion in the last daies therfore commaundeth that Christen men yâ— beléeue in Christ willing to haue an assurance of the true faith shuld haue recourse to nothing els but vnto the scriptures Otherwise if they haue regard vnto any other thing they shal be offendâ—d and perish not vnderstanding what is the true Church and by meanes héereof they shall fall in abhomination of desolation Iewel fo 722. ¶ S.
the winde doth signifie a man inconstant As in Math. 11. 7. and Luke 7. 24. Geneua What is meant by the brused Rede A brused Réede shall he not breake c. ¶ By the brused Réede and smoking flaxe the aduersaries of Christ the Scribes and Pharesâ—es are vnderstoode whose power is likened vnto a brused Râ—ede and their furâ—e wherwith they persecuted the innocent vnto smoking flaxe so that it had bene as easie for Christ to haue destroyed them as it is to breake a sunder a brused Réede or to quench smoking flaxe Some suppose that the same should be vnderstoode of the Publicans and sinners whom he did not contemne nor despise but mercifully called them vnto him Sir I. Cheeke A brused Réede c. ¶ That is he will beare with them that is infirme and weake Geneua READING What profit commeth of reading holy Scripture AVgustine sayth Reading cléereth and purgeth all things who will euer be with God must euermore pray and read Aug. de tâ—mpor sermo â— If we either read not the Scriptures our selues or bée not desirous to heare other read them then are our 〈…〉 dictnes turned into wou 〈…〉 and then where we might haue had remedy we shall haue iudgement Aug. Ser. 55. Heare me ye men of the world get ye the Bible that most wholesome remedy for the soule if ye will nothing else yet at the least get the new testament S. Paules Epistles the Acts that may be your continuall and earnest teachers Chrâ— vpon the Coll. in hâ— 9. Homâ—â— Isidore saith saith that reading bringeth great profit to the hearers Tertulian saith when ye come together to the reading of holy Scripture wée féede our faith with these heauenly voyces we raise vp our affiaunce wée fasten our hope And againe he calleth the reading of thâ— scriptures the féeding of our fayth Let one of you take in hand the holy booke let him call his neighbours about him by the heauenly words let him water their mindes and also his owne Chris. in Gen. hom 6. Being at home we may both before and after meat take the holy booke in hand thereof receiue great profit and minister spirituall foode vnto our soules Chris. in Gen. Homi. 10. Would God we would all doe according as it is written Search the Scriptures Origen in Esay Homi. 10. Harken not héereto onely héere in the Church but also at home let the husband with the wife the father with the childe talke together of these matters and both to and fro let them enquire and giue their iudgements and would God they wold begin this good custome Chrisost. in Math. Homil. 78. Looke Scripture REGENERATION What this word Regeneration importeth THis worde Regeneration importeth as much as a man might say new birth As if after that wée were once borne we are borne yet againe And therefore it importeth forthwith a reformation fo the man which is a rising againe from the dead which is wrought in the spirit as the last resurrection shall be wrought in the flesh Pet. Viret Regeneration standeth chiefly in these two points In mortification that is to say a resisting of the rebellious lusts of the flesh and in newnesse of life whereby we continually striue to walke in that purenesse and perfection wherewith we are clad in Baptime How Regeneration is taken in these places following Ye which followed me in the regeneration c. In this worke whereby the world is chaunged renued and regenerate or to ioyne this word with the sentence following and so take regeneration for the day of iudgement when the elect shall in soule and body enioy their inheritaunce to the end that they might know that it is not sufficient to haue begun once Geneua By the washing of the new birth ¶ Baptime is a sure signe of our regeneration which is wrought by the holy Ghost Geneua How this place is vnderstood Except a man be borne of water and spirit ¶ Nichodemus vnderstoode not the opinion concerning regeneration or newe birth of man Therefore our louing and mercifull Sauiour more plainely expoundeth these things which before he spake mystically teaching that to be borne againe is nothing else but to be borne of water and of the spirit and that the same is the true manner of regeneration But all men for the most part by this sentence of our Sauiour Christ vnderstand Baptime and many of them doe héereby make Baptime so necessary that they affirme it impossible for a man to attaine to saluation except he be washed with the water of Baptime so disorderly they include the assuraunce of our saluation vnder the signe when as the whole Scripture attributeth the grace and power of regeneration to the Holye ghost as maye appeare in diuers places of Scripture but specially by these places noted in the margent And as touching this place we ought to vnderstand the same simply of mans regeneration and not of Baptime For the purpose of Christ was to exhort Nichodemus to newnesse of life because he was not capable of the Gospell vntill he was a newe man Therefore this is the simple meaning of this place That it behooueth vs to be born againe that we may be the sonnes of God and also that the Holy ghost is the Author of the second birth Marl. vpon Ioh. fol. 66. REYNES What they signifie YE shall vnderstand that the reynes or kidneyes of a man is that intire part from which springeth chiefely the strength the desire of naturall generation which effect or desire in man because of all other effects it is the most mightiest therfore the Scripture vseth to call the secrets or the priuie thought or effects of a man by the name of the reynes or the kidneyes Insomuch as when the Scripture saith that God knoweth all our harts our thoughts then the Scripture saith Scrutans corda reâ—es Deus God is the searcher of hearts and reynes that is of the most priuie and secret thoughts that be in man R. Tur. Trye out my reynes and my heart ¶ By the heart and reynes will he signifie the delectations and affections of yâ— flesh which let him to follow God As in the Psa. 16. 7. T. M. ¶ My reynes also teach me in the night ¶ God teacheth me continually by secret inspiration Geneua ¶ Examine my reynes and my heaâ—t ¶ My very affections and inward motions of the heart Geneua Thou hast possessed my reynes ¶ Thou hast made me in all parts and therefore most needes know me Geneua Thou art néere in their mouth and farre from their reynes They professe God in mouth and denye him in heart which is héere meant by the reynes Esay 29. 13. Math. 15. 8. Geneua REIOICE Wherefore we should chiefely reioice REioice because your names are written in heuen ¶ Though we should worke miracles and cast foorth diuells yet ought
man may there choose a conuenient remedie for his disease Basil vpon the first Psal. I. Northbrooke In the word of God is plentie for the strong man to eate there is inough for the childe to sucke There is also milke to drinke wherwith the tender infants of the faithfull be nourished and strong meats wherwith the lustie youth of them that is perfect may receiue the spirituall increasement of holy vertue Fulgentius in his Sermon of the confessours I. Northb. Nothing can deceiue them that search the holy Scriptures for that is the candle whereby the theefe is spied Theophilactus of Lazarus I. N. The Scripture is a flud wherin the little lambe may wade and the great Olyphant may swimme Gregorie in his Epistle to Leonard I. N. The Scriptures are easie to the slaue to the husbandman to the childe and to him that may séeme to be verye simple of vnderstanding Chrisost. in his first Homil. vpon Mat. How Christ and the Church are learned in the Scriptures In the Scriptures we haue learned Christ In the Scriptures we haue learned the Church These Scriptures wée haue commonlye and why doe wee not commonlye retaine both Christ and the Church in them August Epist. 166. Against them that finde fault that the Scriptures be darke The holy spirit hath so nobly and wholesomely tempered the holy Scriptures that he might with the easie places of it serue the greedy hunger of men and with the dark places to take away the loathsomenesse For there is no point almost found in the darknesse of it which is not plainely spoken in some other place Whereby saith Musculus it is manifest inough that if any thing be spoken darkly in some place of the Scriptures the light of it must be sought ought of those places where the matter is more plainly expressed c. Mus. fol. 151. Where things are more plainely vttered in the Scriptures there must we learne how they are to be vnderstood in darke places August li. 83. quest Let vs come saith Chrisostome to the leuell and marke of the holy Scripture which doth expound it selfe And by and by after The sacred Scripture expoundeth himselfe and suffereth not the hearer for to erre Chrisostom in his 2. chap. Gen. Homil. 13. In the Scriptures are all things needfull for our saluation The holy Scriptures béeing inspired from God are sufficient to all instructions of truth Athanasius against the Gentiles Not all things the the Lord Iesus did are written as the Euangelist witnesseth For the Lord both did sayd many things that are not written but these were chosen out to be written which séemed sufficient for the saluation of the vnbeleeuers Augustin to the Bre. in the wildernesse in his 49. treatise vppon Iohn Whatsoeuer is required for our saluation is already conteined in the holy Scriptures He that is ignoraunt shall finde there what he may learne He that is stubburne and a sinner may finde there scourges of the iudgement to come the which he may feare He that is troubled may finde ioyes and promises of euerâ—asting lyfe through the beholding of which he may be stirred to good works Chrisost. in his 19. Homil. vpon Math. Reade the Scriptures wherein ye shall finde fully what is to be followed and what is to be auoided not all thinges that our Lorde Iesus did are written c. As before is sayd Augustine to the brethren in c. For as much as Christ himselfe hath not reuealed these things which of vs will saye they bée these or these For who is there either so vaine or so rash who notwithstanding hée speaketh the truth to whome he lysteth and what he lyâ—teth will affirme without anye testimonie of the Scriptures that these be the things that the Lord would not then open Augustine in the. 96. treatise vpon Iohn If there be anie thing néedfull to be knowne or not to bâ—e knowne we shall learne it by the holy Scriptures if we shall néed to report a falsehood we shal fetch it out from thence if to be corrected to be chastened to be exhorted or comforted to be short if ought lacke that ought to be taught or learned we shall also learne it out of the same Scriptures Chrisost. vpon the. 2. of Tim. the 3. chap. Lyke as in a Merchaunts ship are carried diuerse things necessarie for mans lyfe So in the Scriptures are conteined all things néedfull to saluation Lyra vpon the last chap. of the Prouerbs How holy Scripture is to be read Now to the intent that the reading of holy Scripture may be to our profite we must applye our selues to it not onelye thankfully and reuerently but also with great sobernesse and pure affection ioyning prayer therevnto also For God reuealeth his mysteries out of heauen Dan. 2. 18. He giueth vnderstanding to the lyttle ones Psal. 119. 130. according also as Christ teacheth Mat. 12. 25. Notwithstanding for as much as it is not giuen to all men to read holy writ ther is expresse mention made of hearing which ingendereth faith by the effectuall working of yâ— holy Ghost in mens harts for fayth commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God Rom. 10. 27. Marl. vpon the Apoc. fol. 6. ¶ Looke Search Of the ignoraunce and knowledge of Scriptures Ignoraunce of the Scriptures sayth Saint Hierome is the mother and cause of errours And in an other place he saith the knowledge of the Scriptures is the food of euerlasting life Hierom. in the. 23. of Math. How by the Scriptures all doubts are tried Consider in what daunger they be that haue no care to read the holy Scriptures for by the same Scriptures only the iudgement of this triall must be allowed Origen in his â—0 boo 16. chap. to the Rom. Neuer moue question héereof but onely learne of the holy Scriptures For the onely proues that ye shall there finde are sufficient to proue the Godhead of the holy God We must needes call to witnesse the holy Scriptures for our iudgements and expositions without these witnesses they carrie no credit Origen in his first Homely vpon Ieremy We must read the Scriptures with all dilligence and bée occupied in the lawe of the Lord both day night yâ— we may become perfect exchangers be able rightly to discerne what money is lawfull and what is counterfait Hierom. in his 3. b. and. 5. chap. to the Ephe. I require the voice of the shepheard read me this matter out of the Prophets read me out of the Psalmes read it out of the lawe read it out of the Gospels read it out of the Apostles August in his booke of Pastors the. 14. chap. Neither will I alleadge the Councell of Nice against you nor shall you alleadge the Councell of Arminium against mée By the authoritie of Scriptures let vs weigh matter with matter cause with cause
causes of true repentaunce that bringeth forth wéeping One is for because we haue through negligence omitted many things which we ought not to haue done These are commonly called sins of committing omitting And in the same place he interpreteth this sentence Bring forth worthy fruit of repentance after this manner that wee should wéepe for the sinnes already committed and we should take héede that we doe not the same againe Chrisostome also vpon the Epistle to the Collossians the. 12. homely complaineth that the christians abused teares And when as otherwise teares are good creatures of God they defame them in adioyning them to those things which deserue not weeping Sinnes onely sayth he are to be wept for not onely our owne sins but other mens also Which Paule performed in very deede who in the second to the Corinthians sayde That he was afraide not to come vnto them but so that he was deiected and compelled to wéepe for very many which had fallen and not repented Yea and hée exhorted the same Corinthians to wéepe for other mens sinnes when in the first Epistle he sayd Ye are puffed vp and ye haue not mourned namely for the grieuous crime of an incestuous man And Dauid in his 119. Psalme writeth Mine eyes haue brought forth riuers of waters because they haue not kept thy lawe That holy Prophet wept because of yâ— publike transgressions of the lawe when he sawe the same transgressions perpretated he abundantly powred out teares c. Pet. Mar. vpon Iudic. fol. 63. How godly men doe easilier weepe then laugh Ezechiel in the. 8. chapter commended certeine which wept for the wicked acts of other men And héereof it commeth that when holy men sée horrible spectacles of sinners oftentimes to happen they easilyer burst forth into teares then into laughter for so Christ vsed whom we read to haue oftentimes wept but neuer to haue laughed which selfe same thing also we must doe at this day when as so great and euill an haruest of sins doth on euery side offer it selfe vnto vs. Pet. Mar. vpon Iudic. fol. 63. VVHY Why God doth this or that we ought noâ— to aske WHen it is asked saith S. Austen why God did this thing or that thing we must aunswere that he did it because yâ— it was his will so to doe If thou goest any farther asking why it was his will so to doe thou doest aske a thing which is both greater and higher then the will of God which thing cannot be found out Aug. cont Mad. li. 1. cap. 3. Why God doth more for one then for another If a man doe aske why God doth shew mercye more to one then to another S. Austen maketh aunswere by an apt similitude on this wise If a man haue many debters that doth owe vnto him the like sum of money doth it not lye in his power to forgiue some of them the whole debt to call vpon the other for the whole sum who can lay any thing to his charge for so doing Then marke saith he we are all debters vnto God and haue all deserued euerlasting damnation that he doth then of méere mercy and goodnesse forgiue some and to some againe he doth according to righteous iudgement who shall be so bolde to blame him for it I. Veron Why doth not God will some say giue his grace to all alike when his word is preached but suffereth some to receiue it other to despise it S. Luke in the Act. 13. 48. And they saith he did beléeue yâ— were ordeined before to life euerlasting Againe he could doe it saith S. Austen because he is almighty and why then doth he it not because saith he that he will not And why he will not that doe we leaue vnto him Veron ¶ Looke Predestination Will of God Vaine Questions VVHITE What is vnderstood by the white horse BY the white horse may be vnderstood the first state of the christian Church without blemish By the second seale red horse vnderstand the state of the kingdome of Christ in yâ— time of yâ— martirs By the third scale the beast yâ— black horse ballance measure vnderstand dearth want of victuals with the portion that was allowed for one man for his dayes spending which happened to all the world either when Claudius or â—raianus raigned Emperours By the fourth seale the beast the voyce and the pale horse vnderstand the heretikes which diuers waies vexe the holy Church with false doctrine The fift seale may signifie the right godlye Christian men The sixt seale the great misery affliction which shall rise be procured through Antichrist Marl. ¶ Looke Seale ¶ By the white horse is signified the Apostles and the first disciples of Christ for why yâ— scripture doth so call them These horses were white they were made pure righteous cleane by Iesus Christ and bare him by their preaching the world ouer Such a white horse to the glory of God was Paule when he bare the name of Christ before the Gentiles the Kings the Children of Israel c. Bale What is meant by the white stone And will giue him a white stone ¶ Arethas writeth that such a stone was wont to be giuen to wrastlers at games or els that such stones did in olde time witnesse the quitting of a man Beza ¶ By the white stone is signified the election before God also euerlasting peace and confidence in the grace and fauour of God vnto euerlasting life Sir I. Cheeke ¶ I will also giue him for a token of perpetuall peace and loue that pure and precious stone Iesus Christ so white as the Lily â—loure innocent and cleane from all contagious vices to be his onely and whole wisedome righteousnesse light health and redemption Bale VVHOLE BVRNT OFFERING Wherefore it was called a whole burnt offering ¶ Looke Burnt offering VVHOREDOME How whoredome is taken in the Prophet Ose. THe vse of whoredome or fornication throughout the Prophet is to take another God beside the true God to serue Images and beléeue in them T. M. How whoredome was punished by death Bring ye hir forth let hir be burnt ¶ We sée that the law which was written in mans heart taught them yâ— whoredome should be punished with death albeit no law as yet was giuen Geneua How whoredome being suffered spreadeth abrod Whoredome saith Basil stayeth not in one man but inuadeth a whole Citie For some one young man commeth to an harlot and taketh vnto himselfe a fellowe and the same fellowe taketh another fellow wherefore euen as fire béeing kindeled in a Citie if the winde blow vehemently stayeth not in yâ— burning of one house or two but spreadeth farre and wide draweth a great destruction with it so this euill being once kindled spredeth ouer all parts of the Citie Pet. Mar. vpon Iudi. fo 233. How whoredome is spued out As it spued out the people that were before you ¶
fol. 211. Whether Angels did in verie deede eate and drinke when they appeared Of the Schoole-men some thinke that they did eate in verie déede and other denie it Scotus thinketh that to eate is nothing els then to chawe meate and to conueigh it downe into the bellie and this thing did the Angels wherefore he gathereth that they did eate in verie déede Other doe thinke that to eate is not onelie to chawe the meate and to conueigh it downe into the bellie but moreouer to conuert it into the substaunce of his bodie by concoction through the power of vegitation This forsomuch as the Angels did not therefore they did not eate in verie déede The booke of Tobias is not in the Canon of the Hebrewes but yet it might be applied to our purpose but that there is variance in the copies for in that booke which Munster set out in Hebrewes in the twelfth Chapter Raphel the Angell saith I séemed to you to eate and to drinke but I did not eate neither drinke the common translation hath I séemed to eate to drinke but I vse inuisible meate and drinke Neither text denieth but that the Angell after a certeine manner did eate Pet. Mart. vpon Iudic. fol. 212. How Angels be by nature spirits by office messengers The Scripture declareth of the Angels that they be by nature spirits by office Angels that is to say messengers August Psal. 103. The spirits be Angels when they be spirits they be not Angels when they be sent they be Angels for Angell is the name of the office not of nature Respecting that whereof hée is he is a spirit and in respect of that which he doth he is an Angell Who maketh saith the Apostle Angels his spirits yâ— is to saie he maketh messengers of his spirits in the first Chapter of the Hebrewes They be all serueable spirites sent for the health of the elect Musculus fol. 10. How Angels be not borne but created of God Scripture teacheth vs that Angels be not gotten of God as Christ the onelie begotten of God but that they be created of God and made in like sort as the rest of the creatures That they bée not gotten of God as Christ was The Apostle witnesseth where he saith To which of his Angels did he saie at anie time I haue begotten thée this daie and againe I will be to him a Father and he to me a sonne but whereas in Iob the Angels bée called the sons of God it is not to be vnderstood that they be the naturall sonnes of God as Christ was but because they be the sonnes of grace and adoption as all the elect bée That they be created and made the Prophet Dauid witnesseth Psalme 148. 2. But when and what time they were made there is no mention in anie place of Scripture A man maie gather that they were made at that time when the foundation of the world was set by that we do read in Iob. 38. read the place But it appeareth not by that place plainlie determinatelie when they were created as it is not in anie place declared whereof and how they were made Musculus fol. 10. How Angels are appointed to waite on the faithfull Then said they it is his Angell ¶ There be manie places in the Scriptures where we doe plainlie learne that Angels bée appointed to wait on the faithfull euen from their verie birth Ag. 18. 10. Heb. 1. 14. And in thâ— Psalmes Hée hath giuen commaundement to his Angels that they kéepe thée in thy waie Such a thing is héere meant by his Disciples Sir I. Cheeke ¶ For they did know by Gods word that Angels were appointed to defend the faithfull And also in those daies they were accusâ—omed to sée such sights Geneua How we shall be like vnto Angels But are as Angels of God in heauen ¶ Héere we must note and marke that Christ doth not saie in the resurrection they shall be Angels but they shall bée like vnto Angels For Angels haue no bodies at all but we shall haue our bodies both raised from death and also glorified Sir I. Cheeke How Christ is greater then the Angels proued by this place He maketh his Angels spirits and his ministers a flaming fire ¶ The absolute meaning of which words we must learne of the Apostle himselfe in the 〈…〉 4. ver following where according to this testimonie he hath defined their nature and called them ministring spirits Then in these words he maketh his Angels spirits and his ministers a flaming fire according to the similitude in which their glorie hath bene séene as the Angels that were with Elizeâ—s his seruants sawe them in Chariots of fire The similitude of the beasts which Ezechiel saw were as coles of burning fire and the Seraphins haue their names because they be of firie coulour And these words spirits ministers we must resolue thus ministering spirits So out of this text his argument standeth thus Christ is called the sonne the first begotten sonne whom the Angels worship but the Angels are his ministring spirits therfore Chrisâ— is greater theÌ„ the Angels Deer The opinion that euerie man hath his good and bad Angell is false The opinion yâ— particular men haue of their particular Angell one good an other bad is an heresie saith M. Deering not much vnlike the Maniches who taught yâ— euerie man was violentlie drawne to do good or euill by a good spirit or euill which equalitie of themselues had rule in man c. The first author of it saith he was Empedocles the Philosopher who as Plutarch saith taught tâ—â—t euerie man had two Angels one good and an other bad c. Plut. de Animi Tranqu The degree of Angels falselie proued aunswered The Prophet Ezechiel describing the glorie of the king of Tire he nameth nine precious stones which are in his garments in which place he nameth the same king Cherub comparing him with the Angels therefore these stones signified nine orders of Angels Aunswere Touching the argument of the nine precious stones of the king of Tyrus it is nothing but follie for what though he were coÌ„pared to Angels in glorie because his garment was full of precious stones doth it therefore follow yâ— as manie kinde of stones as were in his gowne so manie orders there should be of Angels If I saw a man clothed in rich colours manie iewels about him so that I would saie he shineth like the Sunne must it néeds follow yâ— as many coulours as are about him so many colours are in the Sun But the thing is all false the king is not there compared to Angels but because the Cherubins yâ— couered the mercie seat were of beaten gold excellent workmanship with that yâ— king is compared called the couering and the anointed Cherub so that the nine precious stones must be nine orders of Cherubins vpon yâ— mercie seate or nine orders of clothing Deering What is
God doth not onelie attribute this vnto God that he séemeth to be angrie when he doth chasten and punish sinners but he doth expreslie giue vnto him a certeine commotion also which we doe call anger And I will not grudge to resite his words These things saith he which be naught must of necessitie displease him that is good and iust and he that is displeased with euill is moued when he seeth it done We doe rise to reuenge not because we be hurt and anoied but that discipline maie be kept mens manners corrected libertie refrained This is a iust anger which as it is necessarie in man for the redresse of naughtinesse so is it also in God from whom the example came vnto man For like as it behooueth vs to chasten them which be subiect vnto our iurisdiction so it beséemeth God to chasten the sinnes of all and that he maie doe that he must néedes be angrie For it is naturall for the good to bee moued and stirred at the sinne of an other Therefore they shold haue defined it thus that anger is the motion of the mind meaning to chastice sinne For the definition of Cicero Anger is a desire to reuenge is not much different from that we said afore But the same angerâ— which we maie call either furie or rage ought not to be in man because it is altogether faultie But that anger which belongeth to correction of vice neither ought to be taken from man neither can be taken from God because it is both profitable necessarie for meÌ„ This saith Lactantius by which words he doth not take from God the commotion and sturre of anger but that onelie which is ioined with fault and is vnséemelie also for man Musculus fol. 438. For some when they heard prouoked him to anger ¶ He is angrie héere because they refused wisdome and imbraced follie because they forsooke yâ— word of truth â—olowed vaine deuices because they would not enter into the rest promised them but had more desire to returne to yâ— heauie labour bondage of Aegipt This madnesse of yâ— people the Lord is angrie with as a louing Father yâ— had care ouer them So if we will haue holie anger let it be frée from all hatred reuenge arise onelie for the profit and well dooing of our neighbour Thus we read our Sauiour Christ was angrie when he sawe yâ— frowardnesse of the Iewes who by no admonitions would be made wiser Thus S. Paule prouoketh Timothie when he saith Reproue sharplie rebuke men yâ— they turne not awaie from yâ— truth So S. Iude biddeth vs all if we fall into companie with froward men to saue them with feare as if we would sodeinlie pluck them out of the fire Thus if we can haue our affections moued we are holiâ—â—e angrie for the end of our doings is yâ— profit of our brother Deering By wrath is vnderstood not a disturbance or perturbatioÌ„ of the mind for these things can haue no place in God But as Augustin hath wel interpreted in his booke of yâ— Trinitie Wrath in God signifieth a iust vengeance And God is said to be angrie when he sheweth foorth his effects of an angrie man which are to punish aâ—enge So he is said to repent himselfe that he had made man because like a man that repenteth himselfe he would ouerthrow his worke Pet Mart. vpon the Rom. 107. And the wrath of the Lord wared hotâ—e against Israel c. Wheras yâ— wrath of God wared hot against Israel is not so to be vnderstood as though God had anie affections for that perteineth onelie vnto men But according to the coÌ„mon receiued exposition of these places we féele yâ— God is like vnto men yâ— are angrie after which selfe same reson it is written yâ— he somtime repenteth wherefore God either to repent or to be angrie is nothing els but that he doth those things which men repenting or to be angrie vse to doe for the one do either alter or els ouerthrowe that which before they had done and the other take vengeance or iniuries done vnto them Ambrâ—se in his booke of Noe the Arke the 4. Chapter speketh otherwise of the anger of God for neither doth God saith he thinke as men doe as though some contrarie sentence should come vnto him neither he is angrie as though hâ—â— wore mutable but therefore these things are beléeued to expresse the bitternesse of our sinnes which hath deserued the wrath oâ— God to declare that the fault hath so much so farre increased that euen God also which naturallie is hot moued either by anger or hatred or anie passion séemeth to be prouoked to wrath c. And aptlie is there mention made of the anger before the punishment For men vse first to be angrie before they reuenge Pet Mar. vpon Iudic. fol 70. Of two kindes of Anger He was excéeding wrath c. ¶ There are two kindes of anger the one deserued the other vndeserued The deserued anger is with the which God is prouoked against sinners parents against disobedient children Magistrates against wicked subiects and maisters against negligent schollers and such like He that giueth occasion of such anger offendeth and is in fault bicause the partie against whome the offence is committed is iustlie angrie but such was not the anger of Herod The vndeserued anger is when as they are let by some meanes or other from their wicked intent and purpose He that giueth occasion to these is not in fault With this kinde of anger was Herod angrie therefore the fault was in himselfe and not in the wise men Marl. vpon Math. fol. 24. ANOINTING What is meant by the Anointing of the head But wheu thou fastest anoint thy head c. ¶ To anoint the head is meant as turning the other chéeke and of that the left hand should not knowe what the right did That is that they should auoide all vaine glorie and fast to God and for the intent that God ordeined it for And that with a merie heart and cheerefull countenaunce thereby to seeke the working of God and to be sure of his fauour Such is the meaning and not to binde them that fast to anoint their heades and wash their faces And the manner and phrase of speaking commeth of an vsage that was among the Iews to anoint themselues with swéete and odiferous ointmentes when they were disposed to be merie and to make good cheere As ye sée how Mary of Bethanie powred a boxe of precious ointments vpon Christs head as he sate at supper Tindale Of the anointing of the sicke with Oyle what was meant thereby And they anointed manie that were sicke with Oyle ¶ In healing the sicke the Apostles did vse oyle to signifie thereby that they were healed by the vertue of the holie Ghost which in the holie Scriptures manie times is signified by outward vnction Sir I. Cheeke Looke Oyle ANTES The first
were as white as Snowe and with him was seene Moses and Helias talking with him Et ecce nubes lucida obumbrauit â—os And behold a cléere Cloud did shadow them and close them in and out of the Cloud was heard a voice saieng Hic est filius meus dilectus in quo mihi bene complacui ipsum audite This is my beloued Sonne for whose sake I am pleased and pacified toward all them that beléeue in him and will hearken vnto his doctrine ipsum audite heare him Furthermore in the first chapter of the Actes of the Apostles we read that a Cloud compassed and closed in the bodie of our Sauiour Iesus ascending vp into heauen and so tooke him out of the sight of the Apostles Thus by these manifest places of Scriptures conferred together ye see euidentlie the wordes of the Prophet put in practise when he saith The Lorde hath made the darkenesse his secret closet and the Cloudes of the aire his Tabernacle to compasse him round about Ric. Turnar How the Cloudes are called Gods pauilions and Chariots The Cloudes and all the cope of heauen are tearmed Gods Pauilions or Tents And diuers times it is said that yâ— Clouds are his Chariots namelie because he guideth them and maketh them to goe forward or els doth as it were walke vpon them to make his triumphs Thus you sée how God is presented vnto vs as a Prince in that he vseth the Heauens as his Palaice and his maiestie sheweth it selfe there Againe the Clouds are as ye would saie the pillers of his pauilion to the end we shuld be the more moued to consider the royall workmanship Then séeing it is so let vs learne to yéeld God that which is his owne and let not his glorie be lefaced through our vnthankfulnesse Cal. vpon Iob. 672. COCKATRICE EGGES The meaning of the place following THey breede Cockatrice Egges and weaue the Spiders web ¶ To bréede Cockatrice Egges is to go about that which is mischieuous and wicked to weaue the spiders web is to go about vaine and trifling things which are of no value although they séeme neuer so excellent vnto the doers T. M. ¶ Whatsoeuer commeth from them is poyson and bringeth death Geneua COLDE What it is to be colde I Would thou wert either hotte or colde ¶ In some mens opinion to be colde is as much as to be vtterlie void of faith and to be hot is to persist stedfastlie and stoutlie in faith that is workfull by loue and to be luke warme is nothing els but to be a counterfetter and dissembler that is to saie to be hot and faithfull to outward appearaunce inwardly to be void of faith Marl. vpon the Apoc. fol. 67. I know by thy works that thou art neither hot nor cold c. ¶ Thy works are euidentlie open before me saith the Lord I knowe them in their kinde I sée thou art neither cold nor hot thou art neither a full Infidel nor a full beléeuer neither a perfect Pagan nor a perfect Christian thou art neither constant in thy faith nor yet all without faith Outwardlie thou art hot but within thou art cold as yâ—e Inwardlie thou abhorrest the word of God yet dost thou not outwardlie condemne it I wold thou wert either cold or hot either a Christian or none at all either a perfect louer of the veritie or els a ful hater of it not a dissembling Hypocrite as thou art iudging euill good and good euill calling darknesse light light darknesse making sower swéete and swéete sower allowing fables and lies and contemning the wisedome of God None is so farre from the kingdome of heauen as is a false Christian. Much sooner is he conuerted to the truth that is all colde or all without faith then he that vnder the colour and pretence of Gods lawes maintaineth errors and lies Forsomuch therefore as I finde thee betwéene both neither of both halfe colde halfe hot and neither fullie cold nor hot neither faithfullie giuen to Gods word nor all whole with out it but a false and glosing hyporrite I will begin to vomit thée as a morsell out of season spew thée out of my mouth as a thing out of kinde Thou shalt not be digested Neither shall my word allow thee nor my promise admit thée to rest with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in the kingdome of heauen But thou shalt be throwen forth into exterior darknes wheras shal be wéeping gnasâ—â—ng of téeth I will cast thee out detest thee abhorre thee For much worse are they that abuse or despise yâ— gift of God then they which neuer receiued it c. Bale vpon the Apoc. COALES OF FIRE What the meaning of S. Paule is in this place FOr in so doing thou shalt heape hot coales of fire vppon his head ¶ This place maie be vnderstood two manner of waies either that our gentle kindnesse towards our enimie shal be vnto him a cause of great damnation and so by the coales we shall vnderstand the vengeaunce of God or that our enimie being ouercome by our gentlenesse and as a man might saie being kindeled with loue might repent and become our friend Sir I. Cheeke ¶ Either thou shalt wound him with thy benefit or els his conscience shall beare him witnesse that Gods burning wrath hangeth ouer him Geneua ¶ Thou shalt as it were by force ouercome him insomuch that his owne conscience shall moue him to acknowledge thy benefites and his heart shall be inflamed Geneua ¶ After this sort doth Salomon point out the wrath of God that hangeth ouer a man Beza COMFORTLES The meaning of this place of Iohn I Will not leaue you comfortlesse ¶ Some vnderstande this of the returne of Christ vnto his Disciples after his Resurrection But other some a great deale better referre the same vnto the comming of the holie Ghast As if Christ should haue said ye shall thinke when I am gone from you in my bodelie presence that you are Orphants without a Father but if you consider the matter well I will neuer leaue you For I will come vnto you with the spirit of consolation which shall helpe you with fatherlie affection in all aduersities So beneficiall shall my departure be vnto you so great profite shall my death bring vnto you Marl. COMMAVNDEMENTS OF GOD. How they be impossible for man to fulfill IF thou wilt enter into life keepe the Commaundements ¶ Remember that when God commaundeth vs to do anie thing he doth it not therefore because that we of our selues can doe that he commaundeth but that by the Lawe we might sée and know our horrible damnacion and captiuitie vnder sinne and therefore should repent and come to Christ receiue mercie and the spirit of God to loose vs strength vs and to make vs able to doe Gods will which is the Lawe Now when he saith if thou wilt enter into life kéepe the Commaundements is as much to
the Gentiles are counted as dead men in comparison of the Iewes And afterward where he saith All that are in graues shall heare the voice of the Sonne of man c. He meaneth the generall resurrection which shall be in the last daie Tindale ¶ The Dead shall heare c. ¶ And who be those Dead Surelie no man can bée exempted for where at beginning God to make his doctrine auaileable in vs euen at the drawing of vs out of the spirituall death wherein we were all held for till such time as God enlighteneth vs by his word wée bée blinde till he open our eares we be deafe till he giue vs faith we haue neither soule nor heart True it is that we maie well séeme to haue some outward shewe of life The vnbeléeuers doeate and drinke as well as the faithfull againe they can goe about their businesse yea and oftentimes there séemes to be great vertue in them but all that is nothing because that in as much as they be strangers from God all that is in them is but death and vtter confusion God then must be faine to drawe vs out of death vnto himselfe as the point wherat he must begin to make his word auaileable in vs c. Caluine vpon Iob. fol. 447. How the Dead praise not God The Dead praise not thée O Lord. ¶ It is not ment that they doe not praise him in their minde but is ment they cannot tell his praise to other Caluine ¶ The Dead praiseth not God for the benefits poured dailie vpon the earth for them as they that be aliue do or ought to doe The Bible note ¶ Though the dead set foorth Gods glorie yet he meaneth héere that they praise him not in his Church and Congregation Geneua How this place following is vnderstood Let the dead burie the dead ¶ That is Let Infidells alone with their infidelitie and followe thou me that is beleeue thou in me and goe preach the Kingdome of God Tindale ¶ We maie not followe that which séemeth best to vs but onelie Gods calling And héere by Dead he meaneth those that are vnprofitable to serue God Geneua To doe good to them that be dead what is meant thereby Doe good euen to them that be dead ¶ To do good to them that be dead is to burie their bodies with honour against the daie of resurrection as did Abraham and Ioseph c. To deale faithfullie and trulie with their children committed to thy charge as did Dauid with the children of his friend Ionathan The Bible note Of the dead Israelites O Lord God almightie the God of Israel heare now the praiers of the dead Israelites ¶ Ye must vnderstand that Baruch in his praiers speaketh not of them that wer dead with bodilie death but of the wicked which liuing vnto the world were dead vnto God which figuratiue manner of speaking is oftentimes vsed in the Scripture For in the Gospell of our sauiour Iesus Christ he saith Suffer the dead to burie the dead as if he should saie let the worldlings that be dâ—ad vnto God and good workes burie them that be departed out of this life for that is an office most méet for them but do thou the things that be for the liuing The like phrase or manner of speaking doth the holie Apostle vse when he saith A widdow liuing in deliciousnesse though she be aliue yet she is dead Besides this Baruch by such kinde of words doth set forth the miserable estate of the Children of Israel which were euen as dead men are in the world because of their captiuitie and thraldome straight bondage or slauerie that they were in which was vnto them as a graue or pit that the dead be buried in This is the true vnderstanding of Baruch in this place How this place following is vnderstood How shall we that are dead to sinne liue yet therein ¶ They are said of Paule to be dead to sinne which are in such sorte made pertakers of the vertue of Christ that the naturall corruption is dead in them that is the force of it is put out and it bringeth not foorth his bitter fruits and on the other side they are said to liue to sinne which are in the flesh that is whom the spirite of God hath not deliuered from the stauerie of the corruption of nature Beza Against the custome of giuing the Lords supper and Baptime ouer the Dead It hath bene also decréed and determinded that the Sacrament of thankes-giuing should not be ministred vnto the dead bodies for it is said of the Lorde Take and eate but the dead corpses canne neither take nor eate we must beware that our weake bretheren doe not beléeue that that it is lawfull to baptise ouer the dead vnto whom it is not lawfull to minister the Sacrament of thanks-giuing ¶ This doth sufficientlie declare that both S. Austen all other fathers ought to be vnderstood when they speak of the praiers for the dead of the sacrifice that is offred for them for they are not of opinion that their praiers oblations could help the soules departed out of Purgatorie which began in Austens time to be onlie in question he himselfe daring affirme nothing touching the same I. Veron Whether the dead knowe what we do in this life As concerning that Iob saith that the men which is departed knoweth not what is done héere below nor whether his ofspring be poore or rich it is not to ground an Article of our faith vpon that such as be gone out of this world knoweth not what our state is For Iob spake as a man encombred Therfore we must not take héere anie certaintie of doctrine neither is it greatly for vs to enquire of such matters And why Let it suffice vs that God hath set vs in this world to coÌ„municate one with another euory man ought to employ himselfe vpon his neighbours God hath giuen me such a gift or abilitie and therfore I must applie my selfe yâ— waie Againe one of vs maie praie for another but when he hath taken vs out of this world the said communicating is taken awaie from vs there is no communicating as there was before Neither must we do as the Papists doe who are woont to runne to the deceased Saints as though they had not yet finished their course Now forasmuch as the Scripture teacheth vs not what we ought to doe in this behalfe lette vs leaue that thing in doubt and in suspense whereof we haue no certaine resolution by the word of God For singlenesse of minde is also a thing wherein it behooueth vs to walke c. Caluine vpon Iob. fol. 265 DECEIPT ¶ Looke Guile DEEDES ¶ Looke Workes DEAFE MAN By whose faith this deafe man was healed ANd they brought vnto him one that was deafe and had an impediment in his speach and they praied him to putte his hand vpon him ¶ It séemeth by this mans
foorth For there are diuerse men at this daie and hath beene alwaies which thinke that religion consisteth in often hearing the word of God and in disputing the same at common meeting but our Lorde Iesus Christ pronounceth in Mathew where he saith Whosoeuer therefore heareth of me these words and doth them that true pietie doth not consist in knowledge talking but in the action and conuersation Marl. fol. 148. DOCTOVRS How farre the Doctours ought to be beleeued WE ought to indulge or bring in nothing of our owne head neither to choose that which anie man hath brought in of his owne head or of his owne braine we haue the Apostles for our authors which did not choose of their own braines what they shuld bring in but did faithfully assigne and deliuer vnto nations that which they receiued of the Lord. Therefore if an Angell from heauen should preach anie other Gospell vnto vs wée would pronounce it to be accursed That which hath no authoritie out of the Scriptures or by the Scriptures maie as easilie be contemned as it is proued We doe by good right condemne all new thinges yâ— Christ hath not taught for Christ is the waie vnto the faithfull If Christ therefore hath not that which we doe teach we doe also iudge it execrable Ambrose de vir li. 4. The discussing of our iudgement must be taken onely of the Scripture We haue néede to bring the Scripture for witnesse for our meaning and expositions without these witnesses haue no credit My consent without exception I owe not to anie Father were he neuer so wel learned but only to the canonicall scriptures His reason is this for whereas the Lord hath not spoken who of vs can saie it is this or that Or if he dare saye so how can he proue it I require the voice of the Shepheard reade me this matter out of the Prophets read it me out of the Psalmes read it me out of the Lawe read it out of the Gospell read it out of the Apostles August in Iohn Tract 94. Neither ought we to take the dispensations of all men how catholike so euer or commendable so euer they be as the canonicall Scriptures as though we maie not saue the reuerence that is due vnto such men improue or refuse anie thing of their writings if we finde they meant otherwise then the truth doth allow béeing by the helpe of God found by vs or by other August in Epist. ad Fortuna I am not moued with the authoritie of this Epistle For I doe not take the letters of Ciprian as the canonicall Scriptures but I do trie his writings by the canonical Scriptures and whatsoeuer in them doe agrée with the authoritie of the holie Scriptures I doe receiue it with his commendation and whatsoeuer doth not agrée with Gods worde I doe by his good leaue refuse it August con Cresigramacion li. 2. cap. 32. Trust not me saith S. Austen nor credit my writings as if they were the canonicall Sciptures but whatsoeuer thou findestâ— in the word although thou didst not beléeue it before yet ground thy faith on it now whatsoeuer thou readest of mine vnlesse thou knowe it certeinlie to be true giue thou no certeine assent vnto it August prol li. 3. de Trini Tom. 3. We must be pertakers of other mens saiengs wholy after the manner of Bees for they flie not a like to all floures nor where they sit they crop them not quite awaie but snatching so much as shall suffice for their honâ—eâ— making take their lâ—aue of the rest Euen so wee if waâ—ves wise hauing gotte of other so much as is sounde and agreâ—able vnto truth will leape ouer the rest which rule if we keepâ— in reading and alleadging the Fathers wordes we shall not swâ—rue from our profession the Scripture shall haue the souereigne place and yet the Doctours of the Church shall loose no paâ—te of their due estimation Saint Austen to Saint Hierome saith on this wise I recken not my brother that ye would haue vs so to reade your bookes as if they were written by the Apostles or Prophets DOEG How Doeg was a figure of Antichrist DOeg was a wiâ—ked â—oâ—etous man the kéeper of king Saules Mules who to the satisfieng of his coâ—et 〈…〉 isnesse gaue himselfe to flatterie and to serue the kings turne in all things were it right or wrong insomuch that when hée had falsely accused 〈…〉 that good and godlie Priést vnto the king hée at the k 〈…〉 es commaundement all other reâ—using that wicked déede fell vpon A 〈…〉 melech with the swoorde and slewe both him and all the Priestes of the Lorde to the number of 85. All such cruell and couetous men although sometime they will appeare holie as Doeg did which went to the Eabernacle of common place of praier and was ther occupied as though he had bene an holie man maie bée called Doegs Doeg by interpretation and turning of his name into Latine signifieth Commotâ—â— in English â—ehementlye moued By whom saith Saint Austen is signified Antichrist which with falâ—e signes and fained myracles shall moue all the worlde before the comming of the Lord into iudgement And as Doeg wrought wickednesse for the pleasing of king Saule by whome is signified the Diuell so shall Antichrist moue and stirre the worlde to sâ—nne for the pleasing of the diuell and aduauncing of his kingdome DOGGES Who they be and what is signified thereby A Dogge is counted a vile beast and so vile that in the olde lawe it was forbidden to offer the price the gaine or the â—auntage that was got by the selling of a dog to the building or repairing of the Tabernacle of the Lord. And because dogs be great raueners malicious and enuious beasts therfore the Scribes Pharesies and high Priests of Moses lawe in persecuting of Christ were called dogges Ric. Turnar Giue not that holie things vnto dogges c. ¶ The dogges are those obstinate and indurate which for the blinde zeale of their leauen wherewith they haue sowred both the doctrine also the workes maliciouslie resist the truth and persecute the ministers thereof and are those wolues among which Christ sendeth his shéepe warning them not onelie to be single and pure in their doctrine but also wise and circumspect and to beware of men for they shuld bring them before Iudges kings and slaie them thinking to do God seruice therein That is as Paule to the Romaines testifieth of the Iewes for blinde zeale to their owne false fained righteousnesse persecute the righteousnesse of God Tindale fol. 238. ¶ Declare not the Gospell to the wicked contemners of God whome thou séest left to themselues and forsaken Geneua ¶ This holie thing is Gods word Dogges are they that persecute the word Tindale The meaning of these places following For dogges are come about me ¶ By dogges are vnderstood the tyrannie
the word of God should be saued by the fiâ—e of this examination F. N. B. the Italian If anie man build vpon this foundation golde siluer precious stones wood haie or stubble c. Heere the Apostle woulde haue vs to be feruent in good workes and earnest to doe wel he wisheth vs to be occupied in yâ— labouâ— which when the iudge of all shall come maie in his sight be acceptable maie to his word be commendable and that we should well beware what works we build vpon our foundation he plainlie sheweth that at the last daie all our dâ—â—ing shall be opened and that then the same shall be so tried as the golde-smith in fining his mettalls trieth out the drosse and base matter from the pure perfect and fine The daie saith he of our Lord shall declare it because it shall appeare in fire The daie of our Lord is the daie of iudgement the thing is so plaine as no man though he be verie peruerse maie denie it But when shall it appeare in fire euen then at the generall iudgement so is the Text. This place is onelye spoken of those which shall be saued of such as build vpon Iesus Christ vpon which foundation as all cannot builde golde precious stones and siluer as all cannot be perfect neither by martirdome be crowned nor yet by good learning shine like the starres of heauen So thereon building being bâ—t wood or haie be it but verie stubble though the worke it selfe be in the ende burned though he himselfe receiue no such reward as yâ— others yet shall he be saued and hom As it were through fire Not through fire but through the greate feare wherein he then shall stand of the iustice and iudgement of God O how comfortable is this doctrine How farre passeth it all their painted fires and â—ained flames of Purgatorie You see now that the Scripture admitteth no such place you sée the right meaning of the Apostle c. L. Euans The meaning of these places following And he heard him from heauen in fire vpon the Altar of whole burnt offerings ¶ God declared that he heard his request in that he sent downe fire from heauen for els they might vse no fire but of that which was reserued still vppon the Altar Leuit. Chap. 6. 13. and came downe from heauen Chap. 9. 14. as appeareth by the punishment of Nadab and Abihu Leuit. cap. 10. â— Geneua Shal be worthie to be punished with heâ—fire ¶ The Iewes vsed foure kindes of punishments before their gouernement was taken awaie by Herode hanging beheading stoning and burning This is it that Christ shot at because burning was the greatest punishment therefore in that he maketh mention of a iudgement a counsell and a fire he sheweth that some sins are worse then other some but yet they are all such yâ— we must giue an account for them and shall be punished for them Beza FIGGE-TREE Of the Figge-tree that Christ cursed ANd spied a Figge-trée in the waie and came to it and found nothing thereon but leaues onelie ¶ By this Figge-tree Christ doth sufficient lie shew that the Iews although they had an appearaunce of holinesse by their ceremonies yet neuerthelesse they had not the fruite of charitie by which he signified yâ— they should worthely be depriued put from this false appearance by the destructioÌ„ of Hierusalem Mar. 13. 2. Luk. 21. 6. Tin Cut it downe whie combereth it the ground ¶ Unles we do beléeue also bring foorth fruite worthie repentance we shall with the vnprofitable figge-trée be cut downe also our talent shall be taken from vs and giuen vnto an other that shall put it to better vse Sir I. Cheeke FIGVRE Proues how the bread in the Sacrament is a figure of Christs bodie THe Lord doubted not to saie This is my bodie when hée gaue a signe of his bodie And after in the same Chapter he expoundeth it For trulie so the bloud is the soule Christ was the stone And yet the Apostle doth not say the stone did signifie Christ but he saith the stone was Christ. ¶ Héere Christ calleth the figure of his bodie his bodie saith S. Austen doth compare the thrée texts of scripture This is my bodie The bloud is the soule Christ was the stone Declaring them to be one phrase and to be expounded after one fashion August contraâ— Adam The Priest saith make vs this â—â—lation acceptable c. For it is a figure of the bodie of our Lord Iesus Christ. ¶ Héere he calleth it plainlie a figure of Christs bodie Ambrose li. 3. de Sacra â—et that saieng be expounded by a figure I saie the thing that is spoken is not true indéede but figured vnder the cloude of an allegorie Hieromâ— aduers. 〈…〉 Ye haue heard that it is a figure Therefore meruaile not â— And béeing a figure require not al things to agrée for otherwise it were no figure Chrisostome in Gen. Homil. 35. First of all thou must take heede that thou take not a figuratiue speach according to the letter for that is it wherof Saint Paule saith The letter killeth For when the thing that is spoken vnder a figure is so taken as if it wer plainlie spoken ther is a fleshlie vnderstanding neither is there anie thing that may better be called the death of the soule August de doct Chri. li. 3. ca. 5. Figures be in vaine serue for no purpose when the things of them signified be present Lactan. insti li. 2. â—ap 1. A figure of a bodie saith Tertulian presupposeth a verie naturall bodie for of a shew or a fancie ther can be no figure But Christ gaue vnto his Disciples a figure of his bodie therefore it must needs follow that Christ had a verie naturall bodie His words be these Christ taking the bread and distributing it to his Disciples made it his bodie saieng This is my bodie that is to say This is a figure of my bodie but a figure it could not bée vnlesse there were a bodie of a truth and indeede for a voide thing as is a fantasie can receiue no figure Tertulian contra Mar. li. 4. There is a figure saith Hilarie for bread and wine be outwardlie seene And there is also a truth of that figure for the bodie and bloud of Christ be of a truth inwardlie seene This Hilarie was within lesse then 350. yeares after Christ. Crisostome affirmeth saieng that if a man vnderstand the words of Christ carnallie he shal surelie profit nothing therby For what meane these words the flesh auaileth nothing He meant not his flesh God forbid but he ment of them that fleshlie and carnallie vnderstood those things that Christ spake But what is carnall vnderstanding To vnderstand the words simplie as they be spoken nothing else For we ought not so to vnderstand the things which we see But all mysteries must be considered
the loue of all worldlie things can be no scholer of Christ to learne his doctrine Tindale What it is to forsake the Lord. And forsooke the Lord God of their Fathers c. To forsake the Lord God of their fathers is to despise and forsake the word of God not so beléeue his promises nor to walke in his commaundements but to imagine another seruice of him then hee himselfe hath assigned in his word T. M. FORTVNE How nothing ought to be ascribed to fortune TO be had in fauour it helpeth not to be cunning but that all lieth in Time and Fortune ¶ Thus the worldlings say to proue that all things are lawfull for them and attribute that to Chaunce and Fortune which is done by the prouidence of God Geneua ¶ Thus the wicked worldlings are deceiued attributing to Fortune that which is ordered by the secret prouidence of God The Bible note Augustine in his booke against the Academites saithe It doth displease me that I haue so often named Fortune albeit my meaning was not to haue anie Goddesse ment thereby but onelie a chaungeable happening in outward things either good or euill Of which word Fortune are deriued these words which no Religion forbiddeth vs to vse Forte forsan forsitan fortasse fortuito y◠is Perhaps peraduenture by fortune by chaunce which yet must al be applied to y◠prouidence of God And that did I not leaue vnspoken when I said For peraduenture that which is commonlie called Fortune is also ruled by sercet order and we call chaunce in things but that whereof the reason and cause is vnknowen I said this indéed but it repenteth me that I did there so name Fortune Forasmuch as I sée that men haue a verie euill custome that whereas they ought to say It pleased God they saie It pleased Fortune Cal. in his inst 1. b. chap. 16. sect 8. ¶ Fortune and aduenture are the words of Panim◠the signification whereof ought in no wise to enter into the heart of the faithful For if all prosperitie be the benediction of God and all aduersitie his malediction there remaineth no place to Fortune in such things as come to men Basil. retract li. 1. ca. 2. FOOTE What the foote doth signifie in scripture My foote standeth right Foote in the scripture is taken for the affection desire or will of the heart As in the Psa. 36. 11. O let not the foote of pride ouertake me T. M. The meaning of this place following At the féete of Gamaliel ¶ That is his dailie hearer The reason of this speach is this for that they which teach sit commonlie in the higher place speaking to their scholers which sit vpon fourmes beneath and therefore he saith At the féete of Gamaliel Beza What the feete of God signifieth As his head signifieth his diuinitie so his féete signifieth his humanitie the which is subiect to Gods deitie as our féete are vnto our heads Psal. 8. 6. Thou shalt put all things in subiection vnder his féete In some places the Preachers of Gods word be meant by the féete as in Deut. 33. 3. They that drawe nigh his féete shall taste of his doctrine FOOTE-STOOLE What this Foote-stoole was ANd a foote-stoole for our God The foote-stoole c. was the mercie seate at which and on which God had promised the Hebrewes to heare them and speake vnto them which was vpon the Arke as it appeareth Exo. 25. T. M. And fall downe before his foote-stoole c. ¶ That is before his Temple or Arke where he promised to heare when they worshipped him as now he promiseth his spirituall presence wheresoeuer his Church is assembled Geneua And remembred not his foote-stoole ¶ Alluding to the Temple or to the Arke of the Couenaunt which was called the foot-stoole of the Lord because they should not set their mindes so low but to lift vp their hearts toward the heauens Geneua Untill I 〈…〉 thy foot-stoole ¶ Christ is the only◠redéemer vnto whom all power are subiect must obay Gene. FOVRE Of the foure Angels ¶ Looke Angels Of the fourth Watch. ¶ Looke Watch. ANd intreate them euill foure hundred yeares ¶ That is not to be vnderstood that they stould be euill intreated the whole foure hundred yeares but by excesse of speach called Hyperbole is signified that they should be euill intreated within the space of 400. yeares The Bible note FOVRTEENE GENERATIONS Vnder whom the fourteene Generations were ruled THe first fourtéene generations from Abraham to Dauid was vnder the rule of Iudges from Dauid vnto the captiuitie of Babilon vnder Kings from captiuitie of Babilon vnder high Priests And the last fourtéene generations from the captiuitie of Babilon ended in Christ. Marl. fol. n. FORME OF GOD. What it is to be in the forme of God Athanasius saith Nature substaunnce kinde and forme be all one thing Leo saith What is it to be in the forme of God He aunswereth it is to be in the nature of God Chrisostome saith The forme of God is the nature of God S. Austen saith As concerning the forme of God Christ himselfe saith of himselfe I and my Father are both one againe he saith The forme is one because the Godhead is one Iewel fol. 88. ¶ Looke Shape of God What it is to take the forme of a seruaunt Leo saith What is it to take the forme of a seruant He answereth doubtlesse it is to take the perfection of nature state of man Chrisostome saith The forme of a seruaunt verelie is the nature of a seruaunt Saint Augustine saith When thou thinkest of the forme of a seruaunt in Christ thinke of the shape of a man if there bée anie faith in thée Againe Wée must beléeue and confesse saith hée that Christ according to his humanitie is visible hath the substaunce and propertie of a bodie is conteined in place forme of a seruant that is to saie in verie truth he tooke man And tooke on him the forme of a seruaunt ¶ If Christ being verie God equall with the Father laide aside his glorie being Lord became a seruaunt and willinglie submitted himselfe to most shamefull death shall we which are nothing but vile slaues through arrogancie tread downe our bretheren and preserue our selues Geneua How this vocable Forme signifieth verie bread wine in the Sacrament S. Paule speaking of Christs incarnation saith that he béeing in the forme of God did humble himselfe taking vpon him the forme of a man By which words S. Paule ment not that Christ was like vnto God and not God indéede nor yet was like vnto man and not verie man indéed but that he was and is verie God and verie man hauing two substances one of his godhead and the other of his manhood vnited together in one person And the auncient Doctors writing of this Sacrament when they speake of the formes of bread and wine do vse this vocable Forme as
for of iust is deriued Iustice. And to say briefely to be iust is to be cleare sound and vpright according to the degrée condition office person which euery man beareth and to aunswere the same in all pointes without blame Each degrée condition estate and person hath his order and Iustite c. Musc. in his Com. pla fo 421. IVSTIFICATION What is vnderstood by Iustification BY iustifieng vnderstande none other thing then to be reconciled to God and to be restored into his fauour and to haue thy sinnes forgiuen thee As when I say God iustifieth vs vnderstand thereby that God for Christs sake merites and deseruings onely receiueth vs vnto his mercie fauour and grace and forgiuenesse of our sinnes And when I say Christ iustifieth vs vnderstand thereby that Christ onely hath redéemed vs bought vs deliuered vs out of the wrath of God and damnation and hath with his works onely purchased vs the mercie fauour and grace of God and the forgiuenesse of our sinnes And when I say Faith onely iustifieth vnderstand thereby that Faith and trust in the trueth of God and in the mercie promised vs for Christs sake and for his deseruings workes onely doth quiet the conscience and certefie hir that our sinnes be forgiuen and we in the fauour of God Tindale in his Prologue to the Romanes To iustifie is nothing els then to acquite him that was accused from all filthinesse as allowing his innocencie sith therefore God iustifieth vs by the intercession of Christ he doeth acquite vs not by allowaunce of our innocencie but by imputation of righteousnesse that we maye be counted for righteous in Christ which are not righteous in our selues Cal. 3. bo chap. 11. sect 3. This word iustifie in the Latine mens eares is as much to say as to make iust lyke as magnifie to make great and sanctifie to make holy And this sence of this word the Diuine schoolemen like well which they that doe followe them doe yet earnestly stand vnto Augustine also doth in diuers places still expound this word of iustifieng in this sence when he saith Beléeuing in him which iustifieth the wicked that is to say of the wicked doth make godly The Apostle Paule out of whose writings this entraunce of Iustification is principally taken vsed the word of iustifieng not in the sence that the Latine eares doe like but in that sence which the holy Scripture vseth it according to the custome of the holy language in which he was born brought vp and instructed in from his childhood In that language to iustifie is as as much to say as to quite a man of his offence and to pronounce him iust The contrary of it is to condemne a man of naughtinesse and wickednesse c. This word iustifie is not to make one iust which is vniust and wicked but is vsed in euery place for to quite a man of his fault and to pronounce and declare him iust Musc. fol. 222. How we are iustified freely and by Faith onely It is also the cause why Faith is plainly called by S. Paule the Faith of the chosen and for the which Iustification is attributed vnto it that honour is giuen vnto it forsomuch as many doth acknowledge himselfe by the same such as he is of his owne nature to wit a poore and miserable sinner the childe of wrath subiect to death and eternall damnation therefore spoyling himselfe of his owne Iustice and of all trust in his owne workes and merites he doth imbrace Iesus Christ to be cladde with his Iustice to the ende that by it his sinnes may be couered in such sort that they come not to count at the iudgement of God and so that the poore sinner by reputed iust as though he had neuer offended and that because the Iustice of Christ is allowed vnto him Faith as though the same were proper to the man to whom it is allowed Pet. Viret All men are sinners and want the glory of God but they are iustified fréely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ. ¶ Héere Paule saith We are iustified fréely If there bée any deseruing lesse or more then it is not freely He saith also Of grace if it be any part of workes then it is not of grace for as S. Paule saith Then grace were no grace S. Ambrose saith vpon this place of S. Paule All men are sinners c. They are iustified fréely saith S. Ambrose for they doing nothing nor nothing deseruing alonely by Faith are iustified by the gifte of God Héere Saint Ambrose saith Men working nothing nor nothing deseruing are iustified by Faith onely D. Barnes ¶ Origen vpon the same tâ—xt saith That the Iustification of Faith is alonely sufficient so that a man do beleeue onely he is iustified though there be no woâ—â—â—es â—oke of him at al. By Faith was the théefe iustified without yâ— workes of y◠〈…〉 for yâ— Lord did not aske him what he had done nor looke for any works of him but did accept him onely for confessing of Christ. Wherefore saith Origen a man is iustified by Faith vnto whome as concerning Iustification the works of the law help nothing ¶ Héere it is plaine by Origen that workes doe helpe nothing to Iustification but Faith onely D. Barnes What thing doth purchase Iustification The same thing that purchaseth remission of our sinnes doth also purchase Iustification For Iustification is nothing els but remission of sinnes Now Faith purchaseth vs remission of sinnes Ergo by Faith we are iustified Now that Faith purchaseth remission of sinnes is well proued by the Article of our Faith Credo remissionem peccatorum I beléeue remission of sinnes Now if I haue not this remission for Faith then Faith deceiueth me For I doe beleeue onely because I would haue remission of sinnes What néede we to beléeue remission of sinnes if I may deserue it by workes D. Barnes What the true way of Iustification is The very true way of Iustification is this First commeth God for the loue of Christ Iesus alonely of his méere mercie and giueth vs fréely the gifte of Faith whereby we doe beléeue God and his holy word sticke fast vnto the promises of God and beléeue that though heauen and earth and all that is in them should perish and come to naught yet God shall be founde true in his promise For this faith sake be we the children of God This is not such a Faith as men dreame when they beléeue that there is one God and beléeue that he is eternall beléeue also that he made the world of naught yea and beléeue that the Gospell is true and all things that God speaketh must be true and fulfilled with other such things This is not the Faith that we be iustified by for Diuells and Infidells haue this faith and also we may atteine to these things by the strength of reasonâ— But the Faithâ— that shall iustifie vs must be of another manner
not onely know Christ but also they knew both Moses and Helias that talked with him notwithstanding they had neuer séene them before The rich man being in hell knew both Abraham and Lazarus being in ioye Saint Gregorie in his Dialogue sayth There is a certeine thing sayth hée in Gods elect and chosen people which is to bee meruayled at for they béeing in Heauen doe not onelye knowe them whome they knewe in this worlde but they shall knowe also the good people which they neuer sawe euen as perfectlye as though they had afore both seene and knowne them For when they in that euerlasting inheritaunce shall sée the auncientâ— Fathers they shall not bée vnknowne to them in sight whome they alwayes knowe in worke For when all there with one cleerenesse do behold God what is it that they shall not there know where they knowe him that knoweth all things How the Heathen doubt not in this doctrine I haue a greate desire sayde Cato the elder to sée your Fathers whome I honoured and â—oued But I wish not onelye to talke with them whome I haue knowne in this world but with such also as of whom I haue hearde and read yea and I my selfe haue written If I were once goinge thetherward I woulde neuer haue minde to tourne hether agayne Againe he sayth O that noble and pleasaunt daye when it shall be my chaunce to come vnto the heauenlye companye and blessed fellowshippe and departe from this troublesome and stinking worlde for then shall I goe not onelye to those men of whom I spake vnto you before but also vnto my Cato who was as worthye a man as euer lyued and as noble And it is written of Socrates that when he went vnto his death among many other things he sayd that it is a most blessed and godlye thing for them to come together which haue liued iustly and faythfully And saith he what a greate pleasure thinke you it to be friendly to talke with Orpheus Mâ—saeus Homerus Hesiodus and such like verily I would dye full oft if it were possible to get those things yâ— I speake of c. Basil. ¶ Looke Luther Labans Gods How easie Labans Gods were to steale away â—Herfore hast thou stolne away my Gods ¶ Chrisostome expounding this complaint of Laban against Iacob for stealing away his Gods saith thus Wherfore hast thou stoln away my Gods O what a passing folly is this be thy gods such ones that a man may steale them And art thou not ashamed to say Wherfore hast thou stolne away my Gods This is resembled to the Sacrament hanging in the Pixe Canopy which be as easie to steale away as Labans Gods wer LABOVRS The meaning of this place following OTher men laboured and ye are entered into their labours ¶ This ought to be vnderstoode of the preaching of the kingdome of God Among the Israelites and among whom the Prophets had laboured alreadie into whose labours the Apostles did enter But when the Apostles did preach amonge the heathen they were the first labourers as Paule saith I haue planted Apollo hath watered Againe I haue layd the foundation and an other hath builded vpon it 1. Cor. 3. 6. and. 10. Sir I. Cheeke LADDER What is signified by this Ladder ANd behold ther stood a ladder vpon the earth yâ— top of it reached vp to heauen ¶ By this Ladder of many steps is signified the degrées of generatioÌ„ by the which Christ after the flesh descended from Adam vnto the virgin Marie which brought him forth which degrées are numbred in the beginning of Mathews Gospell Lyra. ¶ It maye signifie Christ by whose mediation all graces come downe to vs and all helpe and by whom we ascende vp into heauen The Bible note ¶ Christ is the Ladder by whom God man are ioyned together by whom the Angels minister vnto vs. All graces by him are giuen vnto vs and we by him ascend into heauen Geneua LAY MEN. How lay men ought to read the Scripture TAke héede to thy selfe therefore onely that thou forgette not those things which thine eyes hath seene that they depart not out of thy heart all the dayes of thy life but teach them thy sonnes and thy sonnes sonnes Heare O Israel the Lord our God is Lord onely and thou shalt loue yâ— Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soule and with all thy might All these wordes which I commaund thée this day shall be in thy hart and thou shalt shew them vnto thy children and thou shalt talke of them when thou art at home in thy house as thou walkest by the way when thou lyest down and when thou risest vp And thou shalt vinde them for a signe vpon thy hand they shall be warnings betwéene thine eyes and thou shalt write them vpon the poasts of thine house and vpon thy gates c. Thy word is a Lanterne vnto my féete and a light vnto my path Blessed is the man that setteth his delectation in the wil of God and his meditation on Gods lawe night and daye ¶ Héere men bée blessed that studye the worde of God D. Barnes Take the helmet of health and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God ¶ Héere is it lawfull for laye men to haue the spirit of God D. Barnes If anye man come to you and bring not this learning receiue him not into your house nor yet salute him ¶ This was written to a Ladie and her children D. Barnes Christ saith to the Pharesies search Scriptures for in them ye thinke to haue eternall life All Scripture giuen by inspiration of God is profitable to teach to improue to enforme to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God maye be perfect and prepared vnto all good workes You may all interprete Scripture one by one that all may learne and all men maye haue comfort But lette your women kéepe silence in the congregation c. If anye will learne anie thing let them aske their husbandes at home ¶ The women was learned belike for he néede not to commaunde them to kéepe silence and if they were vnlearned And also how should the women learne of their husbands at home except they were learned themselues D. Barnes The noblest of Thessalonica which receiued the worde searched the Scriptures dayly whether those thinges that Paule spake were true or no. Priscilla and Aquila did expound vnto Apollo which was a great learned man the perfect vnderstanding of Scriptures ¶ These wer lay persons of whom this great learned and eloquent man disdayned not to be taught nor was not ashamed to be instructed in the doctrine of Christ of a poore christen man and his wife D. Barnes Also Eunuchus that was the treasurer to the Quéene of the Aethiopians did reade Esay the Prophet the which he vnderstoode not till God sent him Philip to declare it vnto him
¶ That was a lay man also and an Infidell and was not forbidden of God to reade Scriptures D. Barnes Let the word of God dwell in you plenteously The Doctours affirmations My bretheren reade holye Scripture in the which you shall finde what you ought to holde and what ye ought to flye What is a man reputed without learning what is he is hée not a Shéepe or a Goate Is he not an Oxe or an Asse is he anye better then an horse or a mule the which hath no vnderstanding It is not sufficient that yée heare the diuine Scriptures in the Church but also in your houses either reade them your selues or els desire some other to read them giue you diligent eare to it If thou wilt that thy children bée obedient vnto thée vse them to the worde of God but thou shalt not saye that it belongeth onelye to relygious men to studye Scriptures but rather it belongeth to euerye Christian man and speciallye vnto him that is wrapped in the businesse of this world and so much the more because hée hath more néede of helpe for hée is wrapped in the troubles of this world Therfore it is greatlye to thy profite that thy children shoulde both heare and also reade holye Scriptures for of them shall they learne this commaundement Honour thy Father and Mother c. I beséech you that you will oftentimes come hether and that you will diligentlye heare the lesson of holye Scripture And not onelye when you bée héere but also take in your hands when you bée at home the holy Bible and receiue the things therein with great studie for thereby shall you haue great vauntage c. O Paula and Eustochium if there bée anie thing in this lyfe that doth preserue a wise man and doth perswade him to abide with a good will in the oppressions and thraledomes of the worlde I doe recken that speciallye it is the meditations and studye of holye Scriptures séeing that wée doe differ from other creatures speciallye in that that wée bée reasonable and in that that wée canne speake Nowe is reason and all manner of wordes conteyned in the Scripture whereby we maye learne to knowe GOD and also the cause wherefore wée bée created Wherefore I doe sore meruayle that there bée certeyne men the which giue themselues to slouthfulnesse and will not learne these things that bée good but recken those men worthye to bée reproued that haue that good minde ¶ This was written to two women that were learned D. Barnes Heare me ye men of the worlde gette you the Bible that most wholesome remedye for the soule if ye will nothing else yet at the least get the newe Testament Saint Paules Epistles and the Actes that may be your continuall earnest teachers Which of you all that be héere if it were required could say one Psalme without the booke or any other place of holy Scripture not one doubtlesse but this is not onely the worst but y◠you be so slow and remisse of spirituall things and to diuelishnesse ye are hotter then fire But men will defende this mischiefe with this excuse I am no religious man I haue a wife and children and house to care for this is the excuse wherewith ye doe as it were with a pestilence corrupt all thinges for you doe recken that the study of holy Scripture belongeth onely vnto religious men when they be much more necessarie vnto you then vnto them c. ¶ Héere may we sée that this damnable reason I will read no Scripture it belongeth not vnto me was in the heartes of lay men in Chrisostomes dayes D. Barnes Ye may commonly sée that our doctrine is knowne not onely of them that that are the Doctours of the Church and ministers of the people but also euen of Tailers and Smiths and Weauers and of al Artificers yea and further also of women and that not onely of them that be learned but also of labouring women and Sewsters and seruants handmaides neither also the Citizens but also the countrie folks do very well vnderstand the same Ye may finde euen the verye Ditchers Cowheards and Gardiners disputing of the holy trinitie and of the creation of all things Looke more in the word Scripture Of lay mens books Looke Images How lay men may baptise Tertulian in his booke De Baptismo saith That lay men may bapiise Ambrose in the 4. ad Eph. saith that in the beginning it was lawfull for all men to baptise Hierome ad Luciferanos affirmeth that it was lawfull for lay men to baptise if necessitie doe require Zuinglius affirmeth the same The opinion of Iohn Caluine Now saith he if it be true that we haue set downe the Sacrament is not to be estéemed of his hand by whom it is ministred but as it wer of the hand of God from whence it certainly commeth Héereof we maye gather that nothing is added or taken from the dignitie of it by him by whom it is ministred And therefore among men if an Epistle be sent so y◠the hande and seale be knowen it skilleth not who or what manner of person carieth it Euen so it is sufficient for vs to knowe the hand and seale of the Lord in his Sacraments by whom soeuer they be deliuered Heere is the errour of the Donatists confuted who measured the worthinesse of the Sacrament to the worthinesse of the Minister Such be now a daies our Anabaptists which denie vs to be right baptised because we were baptised by wicked and Idolatrous persons in the Popes Church and therfore they furiously vrge rebaptization against whose folly wée shall be sufficiently defended if we thinke we were baptised in the name of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy ghost and therefore Baptime not to be of man but of God by whom soeuer it be ministred How lay men haue ministred the Sacrament S. Augustine saith In necessitie when the Bishop or Priest or any other Minister cannot be found and the daunger of him that requireth doth constraine least he should depart this lyfe without this Sacrament we haue heard that euen lay men hath giuen the Sacrament that they haue receiued ¶ Read the storie of Serapion LAIENG ON OF HANDS Whereof this custome of laieng on of hands arose THis custome of laieng on of handes is taken of the olde Fathers For in Gen. 48. 14. The Patriarke Iacob laied his hands vpon the head of Manasses and Ephraim the sonnes of Ioseph which custome afterward was confirmed to the Iewes for a Lawe and so continued till the comming of Christ who vsed the same and deliuered the vse thereof vnto his Apostles to the which Ceremonie praier was then ioyned As it doth appere in the 19. of Mathew when children were brought vnto Christ that he might lay his hands vpon them That he should lay his hands vpon them ¶ The laieng on of hands was a
congregation of such pure doctrine and perfect liuing that he made all that professed Christ to followe his example To be short philo the eloquentest writer of yâ— Iews perceiuing the first congregation of Alexandria yet to perseuer in the Iewish religion wrote a booke of their conuersation as it were in the praise of his Nation and as Luke sheweth how all thinges were common amonge the beléeuers at Hierusalem So did he put in writing al that euer he sée done at Alexandria during the time that Marke there taught preached He died in the eight yeare of Neros reigne was buried at Alexandria In whose place succéeded Aniamis Erasmus Of the martirdome of this Euangelist This Marke was the first Bishop of Alexandria and preached the Gospell in Aegypt and there drawne with ropes vnto the fire was burned and afterward buried in a place called there Bucolus vnder the raigne of Traianus the Emperour Booke of Mar. fol. 52. What the Marke in the right hand signifieth And made all c. to receiue a marke in their right hand and in their forehead c. ¶ Wherby he meaning the Pope renounseth Christ for as faith the word the Sacraments are yâ— christians markes so this Antechrist will accept none but such as will approue his doctrine so that it is not inough to confesse Christ beléeue the Scriptures but a man must subscribe to yâ— popes doctrine Moreouer their chrismatories greasings vowes othes shauings are signes of this marke Insomuch yâ— no nation was excepted yâ— had not many of these marked beasts Ge. Markes to know the false Apostles by There are two markes to know the false Apostles by The one is when they leaue Christ serue their bellies the other when they regard not the holy Scriptures preach lyes and their owne fantasies as S. Paule saith they serue not Christ but their owne bellies and with swéete and flattering words deceiue the hearts of the innocents Rom. 6. 18. MARS STRETE What Mars strete is PAule stoode in the middest of Mars strete ¶ This was a place so called as you woulde saye Mars hill where the Iudges sat which were called Areopagitae vpon weightie affaires which in olde time arrained Socrates and afterward condempned him of impietie Theo. Beza MARTIR What maketh a Martir IT is not the death but the cause of the death that maketh a Martir Saint Austen saith Tres erant in cruce c. There were three hanged on the crosse The iust was the Sauiour the second to be saued the third to be dampned The paine of all thrée was one but the cause was diuerse Iewel fol. 30. It is no hard matter by words to testifie the truth But those testimonies are most weightie which are sealed with bloud and with death Howbeit this is to be knowne as Augustine putteth vs in minde that the paines and punishmentes or death make not martirs but the cause For otherwise manye suffer many gréeuous things which yet are not martirs for the same Augustine to Bonifacius of the correction of the Donatists and in many other places testifieth that there were in his time Circumcelliones a furious kinde of men which if they coulde finde none that would kill them oftentimes threw themselues downe headlong and killed themselues These men saith hée are not to be counted for martirs Wherefore there séeme to be thrée things required to cause a man to be a martir First that the doctrine which he defendeth be true and agréeable with the holy Scriptures The second is that there be ioyned integritie and innocencie of lyfe that he not onely by his death but also by his lyfe and manners doe edifie the Church The third is that they séeke not to dye for boasting sake or desire of name or fame c. Pet. Mar. vpon the Rom. fo 233. How Martirs ought not to be worshipped Cyrillus in his sixt booke Contra Iulianum sayth We neyther say that the holy Martirs are Gods neither are we wont to worship them but rather we doe honour them with laudes and praises because they did stoutly fight for the truth yâ— they might keepe the sinceritie of faith MASSE How the Masse as they call it was vsed at the first FIrst they sayd Confiteor and acknowledged themselues to be sinners And then the Priest prayed in generall for all estates and degrees and for increase of grace and in especially if neede required Unto which prayers the people harkened and sayd Amen And then the Gospell and glad tidings of sorgiuenesse of sinnes was preached to stirre our faith and then the Sacrament was ministred for the confirmation of yâ— faith of the Gospell and of the testament made betweene God and vs of â—orgiuenesse of sinnes in Christs bloud for our repentance and faith As ye sée how after all bargaines there is a signe thereof made eyther clapping of hands or bowing a pennie or a grote or a peece of golde or giuing some earnest And as I shewed you after a truse made they slewe beasts for a confirmation And then men departed euerye man to his businesse full certified that their sinnes were forgiuen and armed with the remembraunce of Christs passion death for yâ— mortifieng of the flesh all the day after And in all these was neither the Sacrament neither other ceremonies of the Masse Image seruice to God holy déeds to make satisfaction for our sinnes or to purchase such worldly things as the Gospell teacheth vs to despise And now compare this vse of the Masse to ours sée whether yâ— Masse be not become yâ— most damnable Idolatry Image seruice that euer was in the world Tindale fol. 427. How the Popish Masse is falsified vpon S. Iames. The Papists doe bragge that S. Iames did vse their manner of Masse at Hierusalem S. Marke at Alexandria and S. Peter at Antioch But they haue no historie touching this matter worthy Though they vsed yâ— Lords supper as Christ our Maister did and as Paule also at Corinth yet they did not vse it as the péeuish Papists doe now the Masse That Ignatius Policarpus Ireneus make mention of is not like the popish Masse They confesse yâ— Basilius Magnus Hierome Ambrose vsed an other order in the administration of the Lords supper then is now vsed and that diuerse haue vsed diuerse fashions therin by their owne words Therefore it is manifest that this kinde of Massing is not the ordinance of Christ but inueÌ„ted by mans wit and pollicie without the word of God Thus saith the prechers of the Gospell at Basil. Bibliander S. Gregory saith that the Apostles had no peculiar manner in celebrating the Masse but that they only sayd yâ— Lords praier whose words be these The manner of the Apostles was yâ— onely at the saieng of the Lords praier they consecrated the sacrament D. Barnes fol. 356. By whom the Popish Masse was patched Who so list to know the often alterations and chaunges of
God by a mediatour and a meane which was onely borne without sinne liued and was slaine vnto the rising againe of the flesh and to euerlasting lyfe August in his Enchirid to Laurence the. 32. chap. Saint Paule saith Vnus est Mediator c. Ther is one mediatour betwéene God and man Christ Iesus being manâ— Upon this place S. Austen saith thus Paulus non facet se mediatorem c. Paule maketh not himselfe a mediatour betwéene God and the people but requireth that they pray all one for an other béeing all the members of the bodie of Christ. August contra Epist. perminiani li. 2. chap. 8. Againe in the same booke he writeth thus of Saint Iohn St. Iohannes ita dicerit c. If Iohn would say this haue I written vnto you that ye sinne not and if ye sin ye haue me your mediatour before God I will intreate for your sinnes as Permenian the heretike in a certeine place made the Bishop a mediatour betwéene God and the people what good faithful christen man could abide him Who would looke vpon him as the Apostle of Christ and not rather to thinke him to be Antechrist Tell me woman sith thou art a sinfull and wicked woman how durst thou goe vnto him I know saith she what I do Beholde the wisdome of the woman Shée prayeth not vnto Iames Shée entreateth not Iohn She goeth not vnto Peter She did not get her selfe vnto the company of the Apostles She sought for no mediatour but for all those things She tooke repentance for her companion which did fulfill the roome and place of an aduocate and so she did goe to the high fountaine Chrisost. in his 12. Ho. of the woman of Ca. There is no néed of porter of a mediatour of minister say onely Lord haue mercie vpon me we haue no néede of aduocates with God nor of any running and gadding about for to speake faire vnto other For although thou be alone and without an aduocate and praye vnto God by thy selfe thou shalt obteine thy petition Chrisostome in his Sermon of going forward in the Gospell Saint Austen saith Christen men doe mutally commende themselues in their praiers But he for whom none maketh intercession but he for all he is the onely true mediatour Paule the Apostle though he were a principall member vnder yâ— head yet because he was a member of the body of Christ knew that the greatest truest Priest of the Church entred not by a figure into the inward places of the vaile to heauen to a holinesse not shadowish but eternall commendeth himself also to the praiers of the faithfull neither doth he make himselfe a mediatour betweene the people and God but praieth that all the members of the bodie of Christ should mutuallye praye for him because the members are careful one for another of all the members yet trauailing in earth may ascend to the head which is gone before into heauen in whom is apeacement for our sinnes For if Paule were a mediatour the other Apostles should also be mediatours and if there were many mediatours then neither Paules owne reason stood fast in which he had sayd for there is one God one mediatour betweene God men the man Christ in whoÌ„ we also are one if we kéepe the vnitie of faith in the bonde of peace Againe in another place but it thou séeke for a Priest he is aboue the heauens wher he maketh intercession for thée which in earth died for thée Yet do we not dreame yâ— he falleth downe at the fathers knées and in humble wise intreateth for vs but we vnderstand by the Apostle the he so appeareth before the face of God that the vertue of his death auaileth to be a perpetuall intercession for vs yet so that being entered into the Sanctuarie of heauen vnto the ende of the ages of the worlde he alone carrieth to God the prayers of the people abiding farre off in the porch Caluine in his Instit. â— booke chap. 20. Sect. 20. Brethren saith Saint Austen we haue Iesus Christ the iust for our aduocate with the Father he is the propiciation for our sinnes He which held this committed no heresie he which held this opinion committed no Scisme For wherevppon are Scismes committed When men doe saye we be iust wée doe make holye vncleane we doe iustifie the wicked we doe desire and we doe obteine But I beséech you by the way howe much more past shame be they which doe saye we doe determine we doe commaunde and what sayde Iohn And if a man doe sinne we haue an aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the iust But some man will saye Doe not the Saintes then praye for vs Doe not the Bishoppes and superintendentes pray for the people Marke the Scriptures and sée that the ouerséers also doe commend themselues to the people For the Apostle saith to the people prayeng togethers for vs also The Apostle prayeth for the people and the people prayed for the Apostle we doe praie for you brethren but pray fo vs also Let al the members pray together one for an other let the head make meanes for all This saith Augustine in yâ— place in which words he doth plainely openly attribute the office of intercession which perteyneth to the chiefe Priest to none but to Christ the head Againe he writeth thus But if the Apostle shuld haue sayd thus This I write vnto you to the intent yee should not sinne and in case anye man doe sinne you haue a mediatour to the Father I doe praye for your sinnes as Perminianâ—s in one place doth make the Bishoppe mediatour betweene the people and GOD what good and faythfull Christen folkes could abide him Who wold estéeme him as yâ— Apostle of Christ and not rather an Antichrist for all christen men do commend themselues one to an other in their praiers but he for whome none doth intreate but he himselfe intreateth for al. He is yâ— only and true mediatour forasmuch as the figure of him was resembled in the Priest of the olde Testament there is none sound theâ—â— that euer prayed for the Priest Musculus fol. 149. The man Christ Iesus alone which gaue himselfe a raunsome for al men is our sufficieÌ„t mediatour aduocate intercessour as the holy Scripture teacheth in diuers places Whosoeeuer therefore refuseth to pray vnto this man Christ Iesus to be his mediatour and aduocate vnto God the father and flyeth to other without all doubt he is an enimie vnto Christ and to the vttermost of his power he laboureth to make Christ as they vse to say Iaâ—ke out of office For since the time of his ascention his chiefe and principall office is to be our intercessour mediatour and aduocate ¶ Looke more at Aduocate MEEKE Who are meeke THe meeke are such as are not easilye prouoked by iniuries who by euery offence are not wayward froward but are rather readie
to suffer anie thing then they will bée lyke vnto the wicked finally they are such which doe not resist euill but doe ouercome euill 〈…〉 dooing that which is good Marl. fol. 77. How the meeke shall pssesse the earth Blessed are the méeke for they shall possesse the earth ¶ By the earth vnderstand all that we possesse in this worlde which all God will keepe for vs if wée bée soft and méeke And whatsoeuer 〈…〉 arise yet if we will be patient and abide the end will goâ— on our side As it is written in the Psalme 37. 9. The wicked shall bée wéeded out but they that abide the Lords leasure shall inherit the land And againe within a while the wicked shall be gone thou shalt see his place where he was and he shall be away but the meeke shall inherite the earth Euen as Be still and haue thy wilt of a little medling commeth great 〈…〉 for a patient man shall weare out all his enâ—mied Tindale fo 210. How that God doth guide the Meeke in iudgement Dirigit mansuâ—tos in iudicio docebit mitos viaâ— suas Them that bée méeke shall be guide in iudgement and such as be gentle them shal he teach his waies ¶ To guide yâ— méeke in iudgement is not meant onely to be their helpe onely when they shall come before the Iudges of this world but to guide them in iudgement iâ— héere meant to make them through his grace knowledge of his law to liue orderly vprightly in all their doings with right iudgement true discerning of vertue froÌ„ vice This great gift doth God of his gratious goodnes giue vnto men that be sinners but yet saith the Prophet not to all manner of sinners but onely to those yâ— be méeke gentle Vniuersa via Domini misericordia veritas requirentibus testamentum eius testimonia eius All the wayes of the Lord are mercie truth but yet sayth the Prophet Requirentibus testamentum eius testimonia eius Unto such as kéepe his couenaunt and testimonies To the sturdy rebellious sinners Via Dominni odor mortis fuit The wayes of yâ— Lord is a deadly sauour and a pestilent stinke which neuerthelesse of themselues and namely to all good men are Odor vitae the sweete odour of life So that to the wicked the wayes of the Lorde his commaundements are the occasion of their great damnation but vnto the méeke and such as feare the Lord they are light vnto life ouerlasting through the mercie and truth graunted vnto vs in and by Iesus Christ our Lord. Riâ— Turn MELCHISEDECH How he is a figure of Christ. WIthout Father without Mother without kinne c. ¶ So called because that Moses maketh no mention of his parents kinsfolkes but as he had bene sodeinly sent of God into the world to be a figure of Christ or euerlasting Priest and shortly taken out of the worlde againe So Christ as touching his humanitie had no Father and concerning his diuinitie had no mother Geneua ¶ It is sayd that Melchisedech is without father mother because that no mention at all in Scriptures is made of his parents nor yet of his genealogie And thus doth the Scripture declare yâ— he is a liuely figure of Christ which as touching his Godbead is without mother being begotten of his father without all beginnings and as touching his manhood is without father being conceiued by the mighty operation of the holy Ghost Sir I. Cheeke How Melchisedech and Sem is one person Lyra sayth that Melchisedech was the same person which in Scripture is called Sem the first son of Noâ— And S. Paule Heb. 7. saith that Melchisedech was without father without mother without kinne and hath neither beginning of his dayes nor yet end of his lyfe So that by this it should séeme Melchisedech Sem not to be one person To this aunswere is made on this wise that the Apostle reporteth Melchisedech to be without father mother because the Scripture maketh no mention of them not that he was without parents kinsfolks c. For although yâ— Scripture make mention of yâ— father mother of Sem and of his Genelogie yet it is not vnder the name of Melchisedech but vnder the name of Sem. And so is yâ— Apostle to be vnderstood that vnder the name of Melchisedech no mentton is made in the Scripture of his father and mother Lyra. The meaning of Saint Paule in making mention of Melchisedech Saint Paule writing to the Hebrewes goeth about to disswade them from the vaine confidence they had in the sacrifices and ceremonies of Moses lawe to perswade them to put their trust in that onely sacrifice that Christ had offered himselfe once for all And least they shoulde reiect his doctrine as hauing no ground in holy Scriptures he putteth them in minde of Melchisedech who was a figure of Christ and of his Priesthoode which was also a figure of Christs Priesthoode First he was a figure of Christ saith Saint Paule in that he was called Melchisedech which is by interpretation the king of righteousnesse the king of Salem which is the king of peace And in that hée was a Priest of the most high God and hath neither beginning nor ende of dayes noted in holy histories his Priesthoode séemed to be an euerlasting Priesthood and therfore saith Saint Paule he is likened to the sonne of God that is euerlasting and hath an euerlasting Priesthoode and is alwaie able to saue them that séeke saluation at his handes because he lyueth euer to make intercession for vs. This is the minde of Paule And not that Melchisedech was a figure of Christ and of his Priesthood in that he vsed to offer to God a sacrifice of bread and wine c. Crowley How Melchisedech is brought in of the Papists to mainteine the sacrifice of the Masse Melchisedech say they was a figure of Christ for hée was yâ— Priest of the highest And as Dauid saith Christ is an eternal Priest after the order of Melchisedech and therefore he offered bread and wine vndoubtedly Melchisedech was a figure of Christ but Saint Paule manifestlye declareth in what thinges he was the figure of Christ. In the rehearsing of the honours and dignitie of Melchisedech which is that he was an eternall Priest and king of peace and righteousnesse There is not one word of bread and wine They cannot finde in the booke of Genesis that Melchisedech did sacrifice vnto God but that he offered bread and wine to Abraham for sustenaunce of his people as Christ offered to vs his worde Melchisedech brought bread and wine and Abraham paide him tithe Christ after the same sorte gaue vs the Sacrament of his bodye and bloude but he did not offer it to God The Scripture sheweth forth Melchisedech vnder the figure of an eternall and onely Priest But the Papists appoint other Priests to bée Christs Uicars after his ascention into
heauen If a man shuld agrée with them that Christ offred to God bread and wine yet they cannot proue that he killed himselfe in sacrifice vnder bread and wine Also if Christ offered nothing but bread and wine the Priests of the olde lawe did much better in killing of liuing creatures to offer them in sacrifice The Papists cannot tell what to say And when they bring authoritie of Scripture it maketh against and are confuted with their owne saieng as one that is slaine with his owne weapon This is the exposition of the Prechers of Basil. Of the heresie of these heretikes called Melchisedechiani Melchisedechiani were heretiks which honoured Melchisedech and sayd that he was greater then Christ and that he was no man Epiph. heraes 55. MEMORIALL How the Sacrament is a memoriall of Christs death Looke Sacrament MEANE Hovv the meane is best THe counsell that Phoebus gaue to Phaeton his sonne hath neuer hurt any man which is this Medio tutissimus ibis The best way is to tempt the meane or the middest neither to be discouraged in y◠reading of y◠scriptures because of the multitude of the great difficults therein neither yet to be too bolde with the plainenesse of certeine places to take vppon thée to discusse the high and mysticall places thereof kéeping this rule ye shall finde the wordes of the Prophet most true The testimonie of y◠Lord giueth wisdome to all men that be simple and méeke and lowly in heart Ri. Turnar MENANDER Of this mans erronious opinions MEnander a Sorcerer and the Disciple of Symon Magus a Samaritane sayd that he was the great power of God come downe from heauen that the world was made by Angells hée called himselfe a Sauiour he sayd saluation was to be purchased by his Baptime and that such as were therewith baptised should neuer die no not in this world Euse. li. 3. chap. 23. Ireneus li. 1. chap. 21. Epiph. heraes 22. MENE The interpretation of this word SOme do thus diuide it that both the years of the life of the king and also the time of the kings reigne was numbred But this subtiltie séemeth not substantiall Therfore I thinke saith Caluine that this word was added twise for confirmatition as though the Prophet should say y◠the number was now fulfilled For in account it is easie to faile as the prouerb saith Wherfore y◠Balthasar might vnderstand that his life and his kingdome was now at an end God doth affirme that the number is full and perfect as though he should say that there shuld not be added one minute of an houre to the tearme appointed And thus doth Daniel himselfe interpret the same God saith he hath numbred thy kingdome that is God hath appointed determined an ende of thy kingdome so that it must needs come to an ende because the time is accomplished c. Caluine vpon Daniel fol. 89. ¶ This word Mene is doubled not onely to exaggerate the certaintie of the matter but also as some thinke the one to signifie the ende of the King the other the ende of the kingdome The Bible note ¶ This word Mene is twice written for the certaintie of the thing shewing that God had most surely counted Signifieng also that God hath appointed a tearme for all kingdomes and that a miserable ende shall come on all that raise themselues against him Geneua MEN PLEASERS Who they be that please men DOe I now perswade men or God Either doe I séeke to please men ¶ Paule purgeth himselfe from the slaunders of those his enimies that said he sought the peoples fauour by his flattering tongue to the intent he might brag of the multitude of his scholars and so to be praised of men Men in Scripture is taken for sinners These please men that please the wicked wherefore let vs please the godly displease the wicked These please men that teach mens traditions D. H. What it is to be men seruaunts or seruaunts of men Be not men seruaunts ¶ To be men seruaunts or the seruaunts of men héere is to doe anye thing for the fauour of men by which they fall from the fauour of God while they dispising Christ doe hang on men more regard mens precepts and ordinaunces then the institutions of God yea then God himselfe This forbiddeth S. Paule héere and not to deny to be seruaunts vnto our Maisters to whom we be bound according to the common order appointed in Common-wealths to these we are straightlye commaunded in sundry places of the Scripture to be with loue and diligence in all things agréeable to Gods holy word Tindale Men of diuers natures and properties Seneca writeth of one Senesius that he would haue all things that were necessary for seruice excessiue great wherevpon hée was called Senesius the great Plinie writeth of one Crassus that he was neuer perceiued to laugh at any time Socrates was neuer séene either more pensiue either more merry at one time then at another Pomponeus the Poet neuer niesed Antonius was neuer séene spet Theophrast writeth that Peninus liued onely by water Aristotle writeth of a girle being noursed with poyson in hir infancie liued afterward with the same as we doe with meate Albert witnesseth that at Collen in Almayne hée sawe a young woman which from hir youth vsed to picke spiders out the walls where she might sée them and liued with that kinde of meate all hir life time S. Austen in his 4. booke of the Citie of God doth write of a certaine man which he sawe in his time that would shake his eares as an horse doth sometimes one eare sometimes another and sometimes both together though Aristotle be of that opinion that man onely of all other beastes cannot moue his eares Saint Austen saith farther that the same partie without moouing his head or putting too his hande would raise vp all the haires of his head and cast them before his face and likewise cast them behinde againe Plinie in his 7. booke and also Solinus saith that in Aphrike was a Famuly which looking with an euil eye vpon any mans Medowe or vpon the trées would incontinent make them drie and wither away Plinie affirmeth also that in his time nigh vnto Rome ther was a Famuly that would go vpon a great fire not be touched therewith Also he writeth of another Famuly called Marci or Martias that would heale the sting or biting of serpents with onely putting their hands vpon them Swetonus saith that Tiberius béeing sodainly awaked in the night would for a good season sée as well as though there had bene a candell burning by him and after a while sée nothing Curtius writing of Alexander saith that his sweate that came from him rendred a most swéete sent and odor and many other Authors affirme the same MERCES As concerning this Latine word Merces ¶ Looke Reward MERCIE What mercie is and how it
works that I haue they come of thée First of all thou must beléeue that thou canst not haue remission of sinnes but through pardon and forgiuenesse of God And then next that thou canst haue no good worke except hée giue it thée Last of all that euerlasting life cannot be deserued with any workes except it be giuen vnto thee also fréely What worthy thing doe we that we maye be founde in the heauenly spirits The Apostle saith I iudge that the afflictions of this time are not worthy of that glory that shall be reuealed in vs therefore I take him to be the sounder Diuine the faithfuller Catholike and more agréeable to the holy scriptures that vtterly denyeth all such kinde of merits Waldensis in his booke against Wicleffe Meritum meum c. My merite saith Saint Barnard is the mercie of God So long as God is not poore of mercie so long cannnot I be poore of merite If his mercie bee great then am I great in merite This is the whole merite of man if he put his whole affiaunce in the Lord. Forasmuch as all men are shut vp and closed vnder sinne now the saluation of man standeth not in mans merits but in Gods mercie For nothing thou shouldest saue them What is meant by these words For nothing thou shouldest saue them This is the meaning Thou findest nothing in them wherefore thou shouldest saue them and yet thou sauest them Thou findest nothing wherefore thou shouldest saue them but thou findest wherefore thou shouldest saue them but thou findest wherefore thou shouldest condemne them Aug de verbis Apostoli sermo 15. Againe Deserued paine would throwe all men into death vnlesse the vndeserued grace of God deliuered some from it Trust in mens merits leadeth to desperation and therefore S. Cypriane saith They teach vs night in stéede of day destruction in stéede of health desperation vnder the colour of hope infidelitie vnder the pretence of faith Antichrist vnder the name of Christ. Doth he thanke that seruaunt ¶ Christ doth héere with a lyuely example teach vs that nothing is due to our merites or much rather that we deserue nothing at all Our duetie is to walke diligently and with all feare in the commaundements of God and if he rewardeth vs any thing it is of his mercie and goodnesse Sir I. Cheeke How the name of merite ought to be abolished The name of merit if we will speake properly ought to be banished out of our mouths I knowe that the fathers somtimes vsed that word but yet not properly But that worde is not found in all the holy Scriptures For the nature of merite is that there be a iust proportion and equall consideration betwéene that which is giuen and that which is taken But betwéene the good things which we looke for those things which we either suffer or doe there is no proportion or agréement For Saint Paule saith that the passions of this time are not worthy the glory to come which shall be reuealed in vs. Farther merit hath ioyned vnto it debt which thing Paule testifieth when he saith that to him which worketh reward is rendered according vnto debt is not imputed according to grace Which selfe same Paule writeth expresly that the grace of God is eternall life Lastly vnto the nature of merite there is required that that which is giuen pertaineth to the giuer and be not due vnto him which receiueth it but workes are not of our selues for they are called the gifte of God which he worketh in vs. Wherefore Augustine verye wisely saith that God doeth crowne his giftes in vs. Now if our workes be due vnto him which we cannot denie then vndoubtedly the nature of merite is vtterly taken away c. Pet. Mart. vpon the Rom. fol. 39. Saint Austen saith Let merites of men héere holde theyr peace which haue perished by Adam and let the grace of God raigne by Iesus Christ. Againe The Saints giue nothing to their owne merits they will giue all to none but to thy mercie O God In another place When man seeth that whatsoeuer good he hath he hath it not of himselfe but from his God he séeeth that all that is praised in him is not of his owne merites but of the mercie of God You sée how taking from men yâ— power of dooing well he also throweth downe the dignitie of merit And Chrisostome saith Our workes if there be any which followe the frée calling of God are repaiment and debt but the gifts of God and grace and bountifulnesse and the greatnesse of liberall giuing But leauing the name lette vs looke vpon the thing I haue verely before alledged a sentence out of Barnard as it sufficeth to merit not to presume to merite so to want merits sufficeth to iudgment but by adding foorthwith an exposition he sufficiently mitigateth the hardnesse of yâ— word where he saith Therefore care thou to haue merites when thou hast them knowe that they are giuen hope for fruit the mercie of God and so thou hast escaped all daunger of pouertie vnthankfulnesse and presumption Happy is the Church which neither wanteth merites without presumption nor presumption without merites And a little before he had largely shewed how godly a meaning he vsed For of merites saith he why should the Church be carefull which hath a stedfaster and a surer cause to glory of the purpose of God God cannot denye himselfe he will doe that which he hath promised If there be no cause why shouldest aske by what meanes may we hope for good things Specially when thou hearest sayd Not for your sakes but for my sake it sufficeth to merite to know that merites suffice not Caluine in his Inst. 3. b. cha 15. sect 2. S. Barnard saith Non est qua gratia intret c. Where merite hath taken vp the roome ther is no place for grace to enter Bar. super Canti Ser. 17. Saint Augustine saith Hoc est electio gratia c. This is the election of grace because 〈…〉 good merites of manâ—â— are preuented For if it were giuen by any good merites then wer it not giuen frée but rendred as ought And by this means it is not by a true name called grace where reward is As the saine Apostle saith it is not imputed according to grace but according to dutie But if that it be true grace yâ— is to say fréely giuen it findeth nought in man to whom it may be worthely owing August lib. de patientia cap. 2. Of two kindes of meriting There be two kindes of meriting that is to say of good and euill The good kinde of meriting is by Christ through Christ for Christ and in Christ. That is by casting all our care on him onely hauing him continually beaten and crucified before our eyes and crucifieng our selues vnto the world hauing no trust in our selues nor in any worke that we can doe or any other for vs setting
them their trespasse or as some men say for peace obteined after victory in battell As before in the. 20. cha ver 24. and after in the. 32. 6. T. M. PELAGIVS Of his heresie PElagius a Britaine and a Monke of Bangor wrote notable bookes as Geonadius sayd before he fell into heresie his heresies were these That man without the grace of God was able to fulfill all the Commaundements of God that man had frée will that the grace of God was giuen vnto vs according to our merits that the iust haue no sinne in this life that children haue no originall sinne that Adam should haue dyed if he had not sinned Aug. li. de haeres Polidor PENAVNCE What this word penaunce is and how it was inuented PEnaunce is a word of their owne forging meaning the Papists to deceiue vs withall as many others are In yâ— scripture we finde Poenitentia Repentaunce Agite poenitentiam Doe repent Poeniteat vos Let it repent you Metanoyte in Gréeke Forethinke you or let it forethinke you Of repentance they haue made penaunce to blinde the people to make them think yâ— they must take pain do some holy déeds to make satisfaction for their sins namely such as they inoine them As thou maist sée in the Chronicles wheÌ„ great kings tyrants which with violence of sword conquered other kings lands slew all that came to hand came to themselues and had conscience of their wicked deeds then the Bishops coupled them not to Christ but to the Pope and preched the Pope vnto them made them submit themselues and also their Realmes vnto the holy Father the Pope and to take penaunce as they call it that is to say such Iniunctions as the Pope and Bishops wold command them to doe to build Abbeyes and to endow them with lyuelode to be prayed for for euer And to giue them exemptions priuiledge license to do what they lust vnpunished c. Tind What true penaunce is The most high penitenciarie Christ when he gaue defined true penaunce or repentaunce said Goe sinne no more And Ambrose saith True penaunce is to cease from sinne Our Church maisters of penaunce doe bring the word repentaunce vnto that that the poore seduced people doe think that they haue repented sufficiently for their sins in case they obserue the same which was appointed them for their penaunce according to the number manner time and tide giuen them by their ghostly father although they neuer feele one iot of true repentaunce in their hearts nor yet did accomplish it in worke Mus. fo 215. To doe penaunce and repent what it is To doe penaunce as Diuines speake and to correct our life is to cast out of our minde all the purpose and manner of our liuing those things which be contrary to the will of God whether we our selues receiued them by our affection and errour or whether they were deliuered vnto vs by some other men as it wâ—re with hands and to doe yea and with greatest studis to ensue those things which are agréeable vnto the supreame law and most perfect reason that is to say vnto the minde of God So that he which before time did supersticiously worship things created let him now religiously worship only the true liuing God which before was periured maye now keepe his Oth and performe those things wherevnto he is sworne which before was an homicide may now abhorre from slaughter and bloud which before was a breaker of wedlocke an vncleane person may now holde Matrimony in holy reuerence and lyue chastly which did hurt his bretheren with crafte and guiles may now abstaine from iniuries and doe good to as many as he is able to profite c. Bibliander fo 76. PENIE How a peny is taken in Scripture ANd they tooke him a peny ¶ A penie is euer taken for that the Iewes call a sickle and is worth ten pence sterling Tindale ¶ Before in the. 17. Chapter verse 24. there is mention made of Didrachme héere a penie whereas the Didrachme is more by the seuenth part then a penie so that there seemeth to bée aiarre in these two places But they may be easily accorded thus The penie was paied to the Romanes for tribute according to the proportion they were rated at the Drachme was payed for euery one to the Temple which also the Romanes tooke to theÌ„selues when they had subdued Iudea Theo. Beza PEOR What Peor is IS the wicked déede of Peor too little for vs c. ¶ The wicked déede of Peor for the wicked Idolatry done to Peor Peor or as some will Phogor was an Idoll of the Moabites which was worshipped in an hill in Moab called Peor where the Israelites not onely committed carnall whoredome with the women of the Moabites but also spirituall whoredome that is became Idolaters worshipped that Idoll Peor which yâ— Moabites did For which they were plagued so yâ— there died of them foure twentie thousand at yâ— time As ye read Nu. 25. 3. T. M. PEPVZIANI What manner of Heretikes they were PEpuziani were Heretikes which came out of the Uillage Pepuza Their abiding was in Galatia and Cappadocia They were called Quintilliani and Priscilliani because that Christ in the forme of a woman lay with Quintillia a maide or as some say Priscilla and reuealed vnto hir diuine mysteries Women and Priests among them their sacrifice is a lyke with the Montanists Epiph. haeres 49. PERFECTION To be perfect what it is YE shal be perfect as your father in heauen is perfect ¶ The text saith not he shall be as perfect as God but perfect after his example To be perfect in the Scriptures is not to bée a Monke or a Frier or neuer to sinne For Christ teacheth not héere Monkes and Friers but his Disciples and euery Christian man and woman and to be in this life altogether without sinne is impossible But to be perfect is to haue pure doctrine without false opinions and that thine heart be to followe that learning Tindale ¶ We must labour to attaine vnto the perfection of God who of his frée liberalitie doth good to them that are vnworthy Geneua Walke before me saith God to Abraham and thou shalt be perfect ¶ Which is as much to say as if thou wilt haue me alwayes before thine eyes thou shalt proceede to perfection The lyke is sayde in Mathew 19. 21. If thou wilt bée perfect goe and sell all that thou hast c. Not that this young man for so doing was by and by perfect but by that he went forward to perfection Lyra. If thou wilt be perfect kéepe the commaundements ¶ S. Austen saith that God giueth vs that keeping and moueth vs to be good willers or els we would neuer will but euill Wherein perfection consisteth Perfection consisteth not in selling all that we haue and giuing to the poore onely but in following Christ in bearing
his Crosse and in mortifieng the peruerse and crooked disposition of the flesh We ought alwaies to beare in minde the saieng of our Sauiour Christ If any man will follow me let him deny him selfe and take vp his Crosse and follow me c. Marl. fo 432. How mans perfection is vnperfect Thou shalt loue thy Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soule with all thy power Ye shall not turne neither to the right hand nor to the lefte Accursed is he that standeth not in euery thing that is written in the law to performs the same And S. Iames saith Who so offendeth in one commaundement is guiltie in all And Christ saith Be ye perfect not meaning your selues by your owne abilitie but as your father is perfect which is in heauen And yet héerby he meaneth not the perfection that is in God and his Angells but onely the perfection that is required in man I beseech you saith S. Hierom hath God commaunded me that I should be the same that God is that there should be no difference in perfection betwéene me and my Lord the Creator that I should be aboue the highnesse of Angells or that I shuld haue that the Angells haue not I sayd it is possible that a man maye be without sinne if he want not will the power of God assisting him And yet I finde that besides Christ in whom all men shall be quicknesse to life there was neuer man nor neuer shall be who being in this life shall haue this perfection Wherefore doth Christ say Be ye perfect wherefore doeth Paule say As many of vs as be perfect c. Heereto S. Hierom aunswereth thus What then doe we think or what ought we to thinke that be not perfect We ought to confesse that we are vnperfect and that we haue not yet gotten nor taken that perfection that is required This is the true wisedome of a man to know himselfe to be vnperfect And as I might say the perfection of all iust men liuing in the flesh is vnperfect He hath much profited in this life that by his profiting hath learned how farre he is from the perfection of righteousnesse Our very righteousnesse it selfe is so great in this life that it standeth rather in forgiuenesse of our sinnes then in perfection of righteousnesse Iewel fo 316. 317. 318. ¶ Looke Sound PERGAMVS What Pergamus was CHurch which is at Pergamus ¶ Pergamus was the name of a famous Citie in olde time in Asia where the kings of the Atalians were alwaies resident The faith of them of Pergamus is much cōmended because they remained constant euen in the very heate of persecution Theo. Beza PEARLE What a Pearle in Scripture doth signifie NEither cast ye your Pearles before swine ¶ A Pearle hath his name among the Grecians for the orient brightnesse that is in it And a Pearle in auncient time was in great estimation among the Latines for a Pearle that Cleopatra had was valued at two hundred and fiftie thousand Crownes and the word is now borrowed from that to signifie the most precious heauenly doctrine Theo. Beza PERIVRIE How periury is made lawfull by the Popes law YE shal vnderstand that these two worthy Martirs of Iesus Christ Iohn Hus and Hierom of Prage were called to the generall Councell holden at Constaunce and faith was made to them that by safe conduct they should come safe and returne safe and yet were they contrary to the faith taken and burned And least that holy Councell should séeme to doe anye thing wherein all their sect did not consent they made this Antichristian lawe in the 19. Session Presens sancta Synadus c. This present holy Counsell doth publish and declare that there can no preiudice hurt or hinderaunce come to the Catholike faith or to the Ecclesiastical iurisdiction by reason of any safe conduct graunted by the Emperour by Kings or other Princes of the earth to any which either be heretikes or defamed of heresie for what bond or promise soeuer the same Princes haue made vnto them their safe conduct notwithstanding it is lawfull for any compitent Ecclesiasticall Iudge to enquire of the errours yea although they come to y◠place of iudgement trusting vpon their safe conduct so that otherwise they would not haue come Neither he that maketh any such promise any whit bound to performe it if he haue done that that lay in him otherwise I. Pon. PERMISSION Of Gods permission or suffering WE must note that when either the Scriptures or Fathers doe séeme God to be the cause of sinne this word permission is not there so to be added as though he only suffered men to sinne and by his prouidence or gouernment wrought nothing as concerning sinnes Indéede he letteth them not though he can but vseth them and sheweth in them his might and not onely his patience which thing Augustin vnderstood right wel and disputed against Iulianus he confuted that sentence wher it is sayd that God suffereth sinne onely according to patience and proueth that his might is also therevnto to be added by the words of Paule who wrote vnto the Romanes If God by much patience haue suffered vessells of wrath prepared for destruction to shewe forth his anger and to make knowen his might And vndoubtedly there are many things in the holy scripture which cannot alwaies be dissolued by the word of permission or patience For the heart of the King is said to be in the hand of the Lord so that he inclineth it whether soeuer it pleaseth him And Iob testifieth that it was so done as God would But as touching the sinne of the first man when yet nature was not viciated corrupted we graunt y◠the cause therof came from the will of Adam suggestion of the Diuell we saye that God permitted it because when hée might haue withstood and letted it he would not doe it but decreed to vse that sinne to declare his Iustice and goodnesse Pet. Mar. vpon Iudic fol. 167. PERSECVTION What persecution is PErsecution is an obstinate pursuing to destroy by the which there is no place of rest and quietnesse giuen but the destruction of Innocents is sought with all kinde of violence and deceits Mar. vpon Math. fol. 81. They which doe follow vpon any man for to be reuenged so that they make no ende of pursuing of him nor leaue from that which they had begun withal be rightly called persecuters although that at length they be compelled to leaue off contrary to their determination and purpose as it betideth to all persecuters which are at the last constrained whether they will or not to breake off the race and course of their persecution Some doe take the word of persecuting or pursuing to be a ful following or pursuing in all poynts As when an Hound followeth the Deare a drye foote vp hill and downe through thick and thinne c. Both senses be applyed
to this word of persecuting The first is touched in Samuel Saule sought or pursued for Dauid euery day but the Lord did not deliuer him into his handes What is it els to séeke a man euery day to slay him but to persecute him continually Of the second we doe read in the same Chapter where he saith But in case he doe hyde him in the earth I will search for him amongst or out of all the thousands of Iuda He meaneth that he will search for Dauid diligently in euery corner and that he will omit nothing touching the persecution of him And Dauid vsed this word properly in the Psalme saieng I will persecute mine enimies and ouertake them I will not returne till they shrinke I will breake them so that they shall not be able to stand they shall fall vnder my féete When he saith I will persecute mine enimies and ouertake them he doth expresse the purpose of them which doe persecute which is bent to this ende to ouertake and catch them whom they doe persecute And whereas he doeth adde I will not returne vntill they doe shrinke it declareth his earnest diligence and desire in the persecution or following And that poynt I will breake them and crush them together that they shall not be able to stand they shall fall vnder my féete expresseth the reuenge which the persecutour entendeth to take vppon him when hée doeth persecute And these bée the partes of full and perfect persecution continually without ceasing to persecute to catch and to reuenge Musculus fol. 516. How some persecution is iust and some wrong If that be the true Church saith Augustin which suffereth persecution not that which doth it so said the Donatist let them aske of the Apostle what church Sara signified when the did persecute hir hand-maid for he saith that the frée woman our mother the heauenly Hierusalem that is to say the true Church of God was figured in that woman which afflicted hir handmayd And a little after Againe I demaunde in case that the good and holy doe persecute none but onely suffer whose saieng suppose they that the same is in the Psalme where we read I will persecute mine enimies and ouertake them and I will not tourne till they shrinke Therefore if we speake and acknowledge the truth that is a wrongfull persecution which the vngodly maketh vpon the Church of Christ and that persecution is iust which the Church of Christ maketh against the vngodly Thus saith Augustine Musculus fol. 518. How the Church doth persecute The Church saith Augustine in the place before doth persecute by louing to reforme and to call men backe from errour and to make them to profite in the truth And it is like the persecution of a louing mother and not of a spitefull stepdame Such I would haue the Church persecution saith Musculus when the rulers of the Church shall in the name of the Church persecute not the innocent but the hurtful more politikely then Church lyke But whereas the false shepheards vnder pretence of heresie and schisme doe persecute not the Goates which they cherish but the true shéepe of Christ which doe follow the voice of their onely shepheard and doe abhorre the voice of straungers with banishment and out-lawe prison wrongfull iudgements snare sword faggot and fire what shall we call it els but the tyranny of Antichrist whereas Augustine sayd that is a wrongfull persecution which the vngodly maketh against the Church of Christ he might well haue added therevnto and that in ten times more wrongfull which the malignant Church worketh against the godly But in his time the Romish Tyranny had not yet so openly set vp hir shamelesse head to practise all kinde of persecutions and publike oppressions of them that would discent from them Musculus fol. 519. Wherefore the true Christians are persecuted Blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake ¶ If the faith of Christ and lawe of God be written in thine heart that is if thou beleeue in Christ to be iustified from sinne or for remission of sinne and consentest in thine heart to the lawe that it is good holy and iust and thy dutie to do it and submittest thy selfe so to do and therevpon goeth forth and testifieth that faith righteousnesse openly vnto the world in word and déede Then will Satan stirre vp his members against thée and thou shalt be persecuted on euery side but bée of good comfort and faint not Call to minde the saieng of Saint Paule 2. Timothy 3. 12. Now all that will lyue godlye in Christ Iesu shall suffer persecution c. Tindale Chrisostome saith Doth the Shéepe persecute the Wolfe at any time No but the Wolfe doth persecute the Shéepe For so Cain persecuted Abel not Abel Cain So Ismael persecuted Isaac not Isaac Ismael so the Iewes persecuted Christ not Christ the Iewes So the Heretikes persecute the Christians and not the Christians the Heretikes Therefore ye shall knowe them by their fruites Againe Chrisostome saith in the same place Whomsoeuer ye sée reioyce in the bloud of persecution he is a Wolfe Iewel fol. 2. Moses saith Ismael plaied or sported with Isaac But Saint Paule saith the same plaieng and sporting was persecution For thus he writeth He that was after the flesh persecuted him that was after the spirit D. Heynes How the Christians in persecution doth multiply The Christians saith S. Austen were bound were imprisoned were beaten wer tormented were burnt and yet wer multiplied c. The miserable ende of certaine cruell persecutors Saule did murder himselfe Achitophel hanged himselfe Iudas did the lyke Sennacherib murdered of his owne sons Herode and Antiochus murdered by lyce Pilate murdered of himselfe Nero murdered of himselfe Dioclesian and Maximianus Emperours deposed themselues Maximinus eaten vp with lyce Maxentius and Pharao both drowned in their owne harnesse PETER Why Peter is called chiefe of the Apostles THey say that Peter was chiefe of the Apostles verely◠as Appelles was called chiefe of Painters for his excellent cunning aboue other euen so Peter may be called chiefe of the Apostles for his actiuitie and boldnesse aboue the other But that Peter had anys authoritie or rule ouer his bretheren and fellow Apostles is false contrary to the Scripture Christ forbad it euen the last houre before his Passion and in diuers times before and taught alway the contrary Tindale fo 143. Of Peters confession When Peter had professed the very true confession of Christ that he was the Sonne of God Christ said to him Thou art Peter and vpon this Rocke I will build my Church that is to say vpon the faith whereby thou hast confessed and acknowledged me And that Christ by this Rocke wherevpon he said he would build his Church did vnderstand and meane himselfe Saint Austen doth write in an Homely which he hath written vpon this place where he saith If Christ would haue layed the
beléeue to sée them As soone therefore as our soules shall enter into the celestiall ioye prepared for vs in Christ we haue the very sight and fruition of that euerlasting blisse which we beléeued and hoped to come vnto and therfore when Christ saith to Peter I haue praied that thy faith shall neuer faile it is ment of the confession that Peter made when he said Thou art Christ the Sonne of God This thy confession Symon Peter this thy faith shall neuer faile vnto the worlds ende And that it may the better stande and flourish see that thou Symon Peter after thou shalt be throughly conuerted which shall bée after my Passion and receiuing of the Holy Ghost in a visible signe Confirma fratres tuos Sée that thou do confirme thy bretheren exhort them comfort them and encourage them manfully to resist Satan and all his people and to cleaue to the faith that thou hast confessed Ric. Turnar When Christ praied for Peter that his faith should not faile it did not follow therfore that he was Pope and could not erre for he erred after that time sundry times and namely when he expressely denyed Christ the Sonne of God But when Christ perceiued Peters timerous boldnesse that shortly after he would shamefully denie him to arme and strengthen him against the temptation which should ensue least the greatnesse of the fault might hurle him downe into desperation hée sayd vnto him Satan goeth about to sifte you lyke Chaffe and to vndoe and destroy you yea you had bene already vtterly lost if I had not praied for you and for thée especially Peter by name that thy faith shoulde not faile because thou wilt fall fowler then the rest And I knowe that God hath heard my prayer For although thou wilt denye me with thy mouth yet thou wilt not denye me with thy heart Thou wilt sinne but sinne shall not raigne in thée so that in thy heart thou shalt not yéelde to naughtie temptations I will suffer thée to haue a foule fall that by the meanes thereof thy timerous boldnesse may be brideled and rebuked And againe that after when thou shalt come to thy selfe and perceiue thine owne infirmitie thy heart shall be touched with compassion against those that shall sinne raising them vp with knowledge and confirming and boldening them with thine example Barnar Ochine Peter I haue praied for thée that thy faith shall neuer faile and thou being once conuerted confirme thy bretheren ¶ Surely that speaketh onely of the fall of Peter knowen to Christ by his godly prescience whereof he gaue him an inckling that after the time of his fall he should not dispaire but retourâ—e againe and confirme his bretheren as he euer being most seruent of them was wont to doe The place doth plainlye open it selfe it cannot be otherwise taken but this to be the verye meaning of it and not to be spoken but to Peter For els his successours must first fayle in the faith and then conuert and so confirme the bretheren Tonstall in the b. of Mar. fol. 1212. Christ sayd to Peter I haue praied for thée that thy faith shal neuer faile ¶ Saint Austen saith Numquid pio petro rogabat c. Did Christ praye for Peter and did hee not praye for Iohn and Iames. Againe This night hath Satan desired to thresh you as it were wheate but I â—aue praied to my father not for Peter onely but for you that your faith may not faile Origen saith Numquid audeamus dicere c. May we dare to say that the gates of Hell shall not preuaile against Peter but shall preuayle against the other Apostles and Rulers of the Church Were the â—â—yes of the kingdome of Heauen giuen onely to Peter And shall no holye man els receiue the same Naye all the thinges both that were sayde before and also that followe after as spoken to Peter are common and belong vnto them all Peters seate what it is Peters seate is no stoole or chayre for what hath the kingdome of God to doe with such baggage but it is a spirituall thing Christ saith in the Gospell The Scribes and Pharesies sit in Moses seate what was Moses seate there a Chayre or a Temple or the Church or Synagogue of the Lord Nay verely for Moses came neuer there But Moses seate was Moses Lawe and doctrine Euen so Peters seate is Peters doctrine the Gospell of Christ which Peter taught and the same doctrine is Peters keyes So that Peters seate Peters keyes and Peters doctrine is all one thing Now is Peters doctrine Paules doctrine and the doctrine of all the twelue Apostles indifferently for they taught all one thing Wherefore it followeth that Peters keyes and Peters seate be the keyes and seate of Paule also and of all the other xij Apostles and are nothing saue the Gospell of Christ. And thus as Peters doctrine is no better then Paules but one thing euen so Peters seate is no greater nor higher or holyer then the seate of the other xij Peters seate now is Christs seate Christs Gospel on the which all the Apostles sate and on which this day sitteth they only which preach Christ truly Wherfore as Antichrist preacheth not Christs doctrine which is Christs Gospell he sitteth not on Peters seate but on the seate of Satan whose Uicar he is and on the seate of his owne lawes and ceremonies and false doctrine wherevnto he compelleth all men with violence of sword Tindale 359. How Peter was rebuked of S. Paule There was a fault in Peters conuersation not any errour in his doctrine or preaching for in their doctrine Peter Paule agréed wonderfull well It is not good and profitable saith S. Austen to correct an open fault in secret An open correction is better then a secret loue Pro. 27. 5. D. Heynes How Peter had a wife ¶ Looke Apostles How Peter suffered nothing for the truth against his will And lead thée whether thou wouldest not ¶ Not that Peter suffered ought for the truth of God against his will for we read that he came with ioye and gladnesse when he returned from the Councell where he was whipped but because this wil commeth not from the flesh â—ut from that gifte of the spirite which is giuen vs from aboue therefore he sheweth ther shuld be a certaine striuing and conflict or repugnacie which also is in vs in all our sufferaunces as touching the flesh Theo. Beza How Peters power was no greater then the rest of the Apostles As Peter was Christs Uicar euen so was Paule and the other Apostles and the one no lesse then the other If it be true that Saint Cipriane doeth write which is also consenting to Scripture He saith thus That Christ spake vnto Peter saieng I say quoth our Sauiour that thou art Peter and vpon this Rocke of stone shall I build my Congregation the gates of hell shal not ouercome it to thée wil I giue the
ordeined by his decrée If any man héere inueigh against the foreknowledge of God he rashly vnaduisedly stuÌ„bleth For what matter is there I beséech you why the heauenly Iudge should be accused for yâ— he was not ignoraÌ„t of yâ— which was to come Therfore if there be anie iust or coulourable complaint it toucheth Predestination Neither ought it to serue an absurditie which I say that God foresawe not onley the fall of the first man in him the ruine of his posteritie but also disposed it after his own wil. For as it belongeth to his wisdome to foreknow all things that shall be So it belongeth to his power to rule gouerne all things with his handâ— And this question Augustine very well discusseth as â—e doth other saieng We must wholesomely confesse yâ— which we must rightly beleeue that the God and Lord of all things which created all things very good and foreknew that euill things should spring out of good and knew that it more perteined to his almightie goodnesse euen of euill things to doe well then not to suffer them to be euill That he so ordered the lyfe of Angels men that in it hée might first shew what frée will could doe then yâ— the benefit of his grace and iudgement could doe Cal. in his Insti 3. b. cap. 23. Sect. 7. They aske how it commeth to passe that of two betwéene whom no deseruing putteth any difference God in his election passeth ouer the one and taketh the other I â—on the other side do aske them whether they thinke that in him that is taken there is anie thing that may make the minde of God to encline toward him If they confesse as they néedes must that there is nothing it shall followe that God looketh not vppon man but from his owne goodnesse â—otâ—heth a cause why to do good to him Whereas therefore God chooseth one man refusing another this commeth not of respect of man but of his mercie alone which ought to haue libertie to shew forth and vtter it selfe where and when it pleaseth him For wee haue in an other place also shewed that there were not from the beginning manye called noble or wise or honourable that GOD might humble the pride of the flesh so farre is it off that his fauour was bound vnto persons Cal. in his Insti 3. b. cha 23. Sect. 10. Of Gods mercie and our vndeseruing in Predestination In giuing that vnto some which they doe not deserue he doth shew his frée mercie and grace but in not giuing it to al men hée doth declare what all did deserue He is good in shewing mercye to some he is iust in punishing the rest Places out of S. Austen for Predestination Christs shéepe heare his voice and he calleth his own shéepe by name for he hath their names written in the booke of lyfe he calleth his owne shéepe by name Héereof commeth it that the Apostle sayth The Lord knoweth who they be that be his Augustin his 45. treatise vpon Iohn I haue kept those that thou hast giuen me and no man of them is perished saue onely the childe of perdition that the Scripture might be fulfilled He that betraied Christ is called the son of perdition because he was prodestinate vnto destruction according to the Scripture which in the. 109. Psal. chiefely is prophesied of him August in his 107. treatise vpon Iohn Wherefore is that man or that man and wherefore is not that man and that man predestinate Aske not of mée I am a man I turne me to the depth of the Crosse I doe not enter farre in I am afraide I am no seacher in his iudgements are vnsearchable thou art a man I am a man it was a man that sayde O man what art thou that disputest with God Augustine in his Epistle to Paulinus 7. Sermon But thou wilt saye wherefore made hée mée to honour and an other to dishonour What shall I aunswere Wilt thou heare Augustine that wilt not heare the Apostle sayeng O man what art thou that disputest with God There are two lyttle children borne if thou séekest a due or a right both are made of one lumpe of perdition but wherefore the Mother beareth one to grace and the other choketh being asléepe What wilt thou saye vnto me what did he deserue that was â—â—oked vp by his mother in sleeping both of them deserued no good But the Potter hath power ouer the clay of the same lumpe to make one vessell to honour and an other to dishonour wilt thou dispute with me Rather wilt thou wonder and cry out with mée O the great depth of his riches let vs agrée together in feare least we perish in erâ—our Augustin in the same booke and. 12. Sermon The Predestination of God by no meanes doth make that the children of God should bée made the children of the Diuells oâ— of the temple of the holy Ghost the temple of Diuells or of the members of Christ the members of an harlot But rather Predestination doth make that of the children of the Diuell are made the children of God or of theâ— temples of diuells are made the temple of the holy Ghost oâ— of the members of an Harlot are made the members of CHRIST because he hath bounde the strong man and spoiled him of his armour Obiection If God doe finde all men guiltie let him punish them all alike If he finde them vnguiltie let him with-hold the rigour of his iustice from them all Aunswere Sith saith Saint Austen that in the first man all the whole 〈…〉 of mankinde did fall into condempnation the vessellâ— that are made of it vnto hoâ—our are nâ—â— the vessells of their owne righteousnesse but of the mercy of GOD and some are made vessells to dishonour it ought not to bée imputed vnto anye vnrighteousnesse or iniquitie but vnto iudgement Againe that God doth recompense due punishment vnto them whom he doth reproue and giueth vndeserued grace vnto them whome hée doth choose he is deâ—â—uered from all blame by the similitude of a creditour in whose power it lyeth to forgiue some the whole debt and to make the other to paye the vttermost farthing Therefore God maye giue his grace to whom he wil because that he is mercifull not giue it to al men because yâ— he is a righteous Iudge In giuing that vnto some which they do not deserue he 〈…〉 his free mercy and grace and not giuing it to all men he doth declare what we all doe deserue The similitude If a man hath many debters that do all owe vnto him the like summe of money doth it not lye in his power to forgiue some of them the whole debt and to make the other to paye to the vttermost farthing who canne laye anie thing to his charge if he will so doe Then marke we are debters vnto God for we haue all deserued euerlasting dampnation That then hée doth of his frée mercie
not that the Lord there speaketh of the fault of sinne Now if it be so what is that to their Purgatory forasmuch as by their opinion y◠paine is ther suffered of those sins whereof they deny not the fault to be forgiuen in this present lyfe But that they may no more carpe against vs they shall haue yet a plainer solution When the Lord meant to cut off all hope of pardon from so hainous wickednesse he thought it not inough to say that it should neuer be forgiuen but the more to amplifie it he vsed a diuision wherin he comprehended both the iudgement that euery mans conscience féeleth in this life and the last iudgement that shall be pronounced at the resurrection As though he shoulde haue sayde Beware ye of malitious rebellion as of most present damnation for he that of set purpose shall endeuour to quench the light of the holy Ghost shall not obeteine pardon neither in this lyfe which is giuen to sinners for their conuersion nor in the last day when the lambes shall be seuered by the Angels of God from the Goates and the kingdome of heauen shall bée cleansed from al offences Then they bring forth also that parable of Mathew Agrée with thine aduersarie least he delyuer thée to the Iudge and the Iudge to the Sergeant and the Sergeant to the prison from whence thou shalt not gette forth vntill thou haue paide the vttermost farthing If in this place the Iudge doe signifie God and the aduersarie plaintiue the Diuell the Sergeant the Angell and the prison Purgatory I will gladly yéeld vnto them But if it bée euident to all men that Christ meant there to shew into how many daungers mischifes they cast themselues y◠had rather obstinatly pursue the extremitie of the lawe then deale according to equitie and good right to the end to exhort his Disciples the more earnestly to agrée with equitie where then I pray you shall Purgatory be found Cal. in his Inst. 3. b. cha 5. Sect. 7. How Purgatorie came from the Heathen As for the fansie of Purgatory it sprang first from the heathen and was receiued among them in that time of darknesse long before the comming of CHRIST as it maye plainely appeare by Plato and Virgil in whome ye shall finde described at large the whole common weale and all the orders and degrées of Purgatory Saint Austen sayth the olde Heathen Romanes had a sacrifice which they called Sacrum Purgatorium a Purgatory sacrifice Iewel 300. An Argument of Purgatory It is impossible that remission or purging from sins shuld be made without bloud Paule to the Hebrues But in Purgatory ther is no bloud but fire Ergo in purgatory it is impossible that remission or purging from sinnes should be made Obiection Purgatory is good to feare men from sinne Aunswere Christ and his Apostles thought hell fire inough yet besides the fleshly imagination cannot stande with Gods word what great feare can there be of that terrible fire which thou maist quench almost for thrée halfe pence How our sinnes are onely purged by Christ. By his owne person he hath purged our sinnes ¶ These words by his owne person haue an Emphasis or vehemencie which driueth away all sacrificing Priests from such office of sacrificing séeing that which he hath done by himselfe he hath not left to be perfected by other so that the purging of our sins may more truely be thought done past then a thing to come and to be done Latimer Doctor Readmans opinion of Purgatory Being asked what his opinion was concerning Purgatory and what the Schoolemen iudged thereof he aunswered that the subtill reasons of the Schoolemen concerning Purgatorie séemed to him to be no lesse vaine and friuolous then disagréeing from the truth Adding thereto that when we be rapt vp to the clowdes to méete Christ comming to iudgement with a great number of Angels in all glorie maiestie then euerie one shall be purged with fire as it is written The fire shall goe before him and shall flame round about his enimies and the fire shall burne in sight and round about him shall be a greate tempest saieng that diuerse of the olde writers approued this his sentence concerning Purgatory Booke of Mar. fol. 1540. PVRPLE AND LINNEN WHich was clothed in Purple Linnen ¶ Uery gorgeously and sumptuously for Purple garments were costly and this fine linnen which was a kinde of linnen that came out of Achaia was deare as golde Beza PVTTING ON OF HANDS Looke Laieng on of hands Queene of Heauen Who it was they called the Queene of Heauen AND the women kneded dough to make cakes to the Quéene of heuen That is they sacrifice to the Sunne Moone and starres whom they called the Quéene of heauen Geneua As to burne incense to the Quéene of heauen c. It séemeth that the Papists gathered of this place their Salua Regina Regina coeliletare Calling the virgin Mary Quéene of heauen so of the blessed virgin and mother of our sauiour Christ made an Idoll For heere the Prophet condempneth their Idolatrie Read the fourth of Kings chap. 21. verse 5. Epiphanius saith Ne quis comedat de errore c. Let no man eate of this errour touching S. Mary For though the trée be faire yet is not this fruit to be eaten Although Mary be beautifull holy honorable yet in she not to be adored But these women worshipping S. Mary renue again y◠sacrifice of wine mingled in the honour of the Goddesse Fortuna prepare a table for the diuell not for God as it is written in the Scriptures they are fed with the meat of wickednesse And againe Their women boult flowre and the children gather stickes to make fine Cakes in the honour of Queene of Heauen Therefore let such women be rebuked by the Prophet Ieremy and let them trouble no more the worlde and let them not say we worshippe the Quéene of Heauen Iewel fol. 313. QVESTIONS AS touching Questions Saint Paule saith to Timothy thus In these things I would haue thée confirmed these be good and profitable for men but foolish questions and questions of vanities those shunne for they vnprofitable and vaine Of good questious Naaman asked Elias the Prophet whether if his maister should goe vp to the Idols Temple and worship he might do so or no. The Eunuchus asked Philip the exposition of these words He was lead as a shéepe to the slaughter Act. 8. 23. Esay 52. 7. Iohn asked this question Art thou he that shall come or shal we looke for an other Mary asked this question How can these things be done vnto me sith I haue no knowledge of man Thomas asked this question Lord tell vs the way that is Lord what is the way Peter asked this question Lord whether shall we goe Thou hast the words of eternall life Nichodemus asked this question
fol. 102. 103. Who brought singing first into the West Church Saint Austen in his booke of Confessions testifieth that singing in the west Church happened in the time of Ambrose For when that holy man together with the people watched euen in the Church least he should haue béene betraied vnto the Aâ—ans he brought in singing to auoide tediousnesse and to driue away the time The iudgement of diuerse learned men concerning singing Franciscus Petrarcha in his booke De remedijs vtriusque fortunae declareth that S. Athanasius did vtterly forbid singing to be vsed in the Church at seruice time because saith hee he would put away all lightnesse and vanitie which by the reason of singing doth oftentimes arise in the mindes both of the singers and of the hearers We ought saith S. Hierome to sing to make melodye and to praise the Lord rather in minde then in voice And this it is that is sayd Singing and making melodie to the Lord in your hearts Let young men sayth he heare these things yea let theÌ„ heare whose office it is to sing in the Church that they must sing to God not in the voice but in the hart neither must their throate be annointed after the manner of game plaiers with swéete ointments that in the church singing more sit for game-players should be heard but in feare in worke in knowledge of the Scriptures ought they to sing in the Lord. Let the voice of the singer so sing that not the voice of him yâ— singeth but the wordes that are read may delight It is without doubt sayth Saint Ambrose a great incrudelitie and vnfaithfulnesse to thinke thus of the power of God that thou canst not be heard except thou criest out Let thy worke cry let thy faith cry let thy minde cry let thy passions sufferings cry let thy bloud as the bloud of holy Abel cry wherof God said to Cain the voice of thy brothers bloud crieth vnto me For he heareth in secret which maketh cleane in secret We cannot heare man except he speaketh vnto vs but vnto God not words but thoughts doe speake Guilhelmus Durandus saith that the vse of singing was ordeined for carnall and fleshly men and not for spirituall godly minded men Rat. Di. Off. Saint Gregory did greatly disalow certeine deacons of Rome in his time which when they ought by their office to haue giueÌ„ their mindes to the preaching of the Gospell and the prouision for the poore set all their pleasure on pleasaunt singing not caring how they liued afore God so that with their voices they might please the world He was therefore compelled to make a decrée that all such as be in the holy ministrie should from thence forth vnder the paine of excommunication giue their mindes no more to singing but applye themselues to the studies of the holy Scriptures and the reading of the Gospell S. Iohn Chrisostome saith on this manner It is the dutie of a deuout minde to pray to God not with the voice or with the sound of the voice but with the deuotion of the minde and with the faith of the heart Againe he sayth the crieng of the voice is not the worke in praier vnto God whome we knowe that he beholdeth the secrets of the heart but the crieng of faith the deuotion of a godly pure minde Therfore the best way to pray is to pray with hart minde spirit soule inward maÌ„ Erasmus Roterodamus expresseth his minde concerning the curious manner of singing vsed in Churches on this wise and â—aith Why doth the Church doubt to follow so worthy an authour Paule Yea how dare it be bolde to descent from him What other thing is heard in Monestaries in Colledges in Temples almost generally then a confused noise of voices but in the time of Paule there was no singing but saieng onely Singing was with great difficultie receiued of them of the latter time and yet such singing as was none other thing then a distinct and plaine pronunciation euen such as wée haue yet among vs when we sound the Lords praier in the holy Canon And the tongue wherin these things were sung the common people did then vnderstand and aunswered Amen Now what other thing doth the common people heare then voyces signifieng nothing And such for the most parte is the pronunciation that not so much as the wordes or voices are heard onely the sound beateth the eares When plaine song prick-song and descant were brought into the Church Pope Gelasius Pope Gregory the first S. Ambrose with other brought in first of all the plaine song into the Churches Antonius Guil. Durand Pope Vitalian being a lustie singer and a fresh couragious Musition himselfe brought into the Church pricke song Descant and all kinde of swéete and pleasaunt melodie and because nothing should want to delight the vaine foolish and idle eares of fond and fantasticall men he ioyned the Organs to the curious musikell Thus was Paules preaching and Peters praieng turned into vaine singing and childish plaieng vnto the great losse of time and to the vtter vndoing of christen mens soules which liue not by singing and piping but by euery word that commeth out of the mouth of God In the yeare c. 653. Theo. Basil in his b. of Reliques ¶ Looke Musicke SINGLE LIFE What the fruites of single lyfe among the Priests are NOt onely they doe not that they teach but also cruelly without mercy they lay their iniuÌ„ctions vpon others not coÌ„sidering each mans abilitie Such be they that forbidde men to marry And from that thing that is lawfully to be done driue force men to an vnreasonable purity They binde lay on heauie burdens and cause men to fall vnder them And often time we sée them that teach such things to doe contrary to their owne saiengs They teach chastitie and yet kéepe no chastitie They doe all things for the commendation of men and vaineglory that they may be séene and noted of the people And commonly they be such as loue the highest places at feasts and bankets and to be saluted and honoured in the market places of the people to be called Rabby that will be called Bishops Priests and Deacons Origen in Mat. tract 24. They refuse marriage but not lust or pleasure For they estéeme not chastitie but hypocrisie and yet the same hypocrisie they will haue called chastitie Epiphan contra Origen heraef 42. Chrisostome writeth of the vowed and chast women in his time saieng we may say saith he that marriage is a great deale better then such virginitie héereafter it were better ther were no virgins at all The name of virginitie continueth still but virginitie it selfe in their bodies is quite gone They liue more in pleasure then harlots in the stewes Ther is often and dayly running for midwiues to virgins houses This manner of virginitie of women amongest men is more
fol. 96. ¶ The soules of the Saintes are vnder the Altar which is Christ meaning that they are in safe custodye in the heauens Geneua How Christs soule was heauie My soule is heauie euen vnto death ¶ Héere we learne that Christ did not onely take an humane body vpon him but also an humane soule So that he was both a perfect man and perfect God else if the Godhead had ben vnto him in stéed of his soule he could not haue bene heauy Sir I. Cheeke Of Christs soule descending into hell That his soule should not be left in hell ¶ Saint Augustine writing of the presence of God vnto Dardanus 2. chap. alleadgeth this saieng of the Apostle and thereby goeth about to proue that the soule of Christ went downe in very déed to hell but that he suffered nothing there Other doe affirme that it is sayd by a figuratiue manner of speaking that he went downe to hell because that the merit of his death and passion was profitable to them that after died in the faith of Abraham Some againe by the word Inferi doe vnderstand the graue I would wish we should alwaies studie to vnitie and peace and leaue these vnfruitfull questions Sir I. Cheeke ¶ Looke Christs descending into hell Thou shalt not leaue my soule in hell ¶ That is thou shalt not forsake me that my soule shall dye and that followeth neither shalt thou suffer thy Saints to see corruption signifieth thou shalt not suffer my body to abiâ—â— in the graue and so to corrupt So doth Peter expound this place of Christ. Act. 2. 27 and Paule Act. 13. 7 T. M. ¶ This is chiefly spoken of Christ by whose resurrection all his members haue immortalitie Geneua Wherein the soule of man and beast do differ In man the soule by which he knoweth iudgeth and hath discreation is called liuing The soule of beasts haue none other facultie but to giue mouing vnto their bodies Caluine Of the apparition of soules The soules that is departed from the body cannot wander in this countries or regioÌ„s for the soules of the righteous are in the handes of God and also the soules of sinners are straight waies after their departure led away it is made manifest by the rich man and Lazarus Chrisostome in his 29. Homil. vpon the. 8. of Mathew T. M. But the Lord doth say in an other place this day will I fetch againe thy soule from thée Therefore the soule after it is once gone from the body cannot wander heere among vs and not without a good cause For if they that go in a iourney if they chaunce to come into some vnknowne country cannot tell whither to goe except they haue a guide how much more shall the soule being departed from the bodie when she entereth into life and way that is altogether new vnto her bée vncerteine and ignorant whither she may goe except shée gette a guide It may be proued by many places of Scripture that yâ— soules of the righteous men doe not wander heere after their death For Stephen sayth Lord receiue my spirit And Paule did desire to be loosed and to be with Christ. The Scripture also doth say of the Patriarke and he was layd to his Fathers being dead in a good age And that the soules of sinners cannot abide there neither heare the rich what he sayth marke and weigh what he doth aske and not obteine If the soules of men might be conuersant héere he would haue come himselfe as his desire was and certified his bretheren of the torments of hell By the which place of the scripture this is also most manifest and plaine that the soules after they be gone out of their bodyes are lead into a certein place from whence they come not againe at their owne will and pleasure but doe tarry there for the dreadfull day of iudgement God forbid that we should beléeue that the soule of any Saint much lesse of a Prophet haue ben fetched vp by the diuel being taught that Satan himselfe is transformed into an Angell of light much more into a man of light and that he shall also affirme himselfe to be God and worke wonderfull signes for to subuert euen the very elect if it were possible But although the vertue of God hath called againe certein soules into their bodyes for to teach vs that he might doe it by his owne right it shall not therefore be communicated or graunted vnto the confidence and boldnesse of Magitians or Sorcerers and vnto the deceitfulnesse of dreames and lyeng Poets but when in the example of the resurrection the vertue or power of God doth bring againe the very soules into the bodies it is shewed with a whole full truth and which can bée touched and handled that is a shape and forme of veritie or that is a true and vnfeined shape or forme so that thou maist iudge that all fetching vp appearing of the dead without bodies are méere illusions and deceitfulnesse There be such now a dayes which are wont to say Who hath seene what is done in hell who euer came to bring vs word But let them heare what Abraham sayth for if we doe not beléeue the Scriptures we wold not beléeue them neither that should come from hell The Iewes haue well declared the same which because that they beléeued not the Scriptures would in no wise beléeue them that were raised againe from the dead but wold haue slaine Lazarus that was raised againe And although many were raised againe from death after that Christ was crucified yet did they not let to persecute the Apostles most cruelly afterward Theophilact vpon the 16. of Luke I. N. The spirit of Samuel which the woman Sorcerer raysed vp to Saule was not the soule of Samuel but the diuell which appeared in Samuels lykenesse for to deceiue Saule Aug. to simpl 3. quest Of soules departed S. Austen writeth that the soules of the Saints be in the secret receptacles vntill they shall receiue the crowne of glorie in the day of iudgement Againe in an Epistle he wrote to Saint Hierome A soule saith he after bodely death shall haue rest and than after that shall take her body that she may haue glory S. Barnard saith the swéetnesse which the soules of the Saints haue at this present is great but it is not yet perfect for it shall be made perfect when they shall sit on seates as Iudges When they haue put of their bodies they be forthwith brought into rest but not into the glorie of the kingdome He saith farther that there be thrée estates of the soule The first is in the body as in a tabernacle the second after death as in a porch of the temple the third in heauen with his glorified body The meaning of this place following And shall winne his soule for a praye ¶ That is shall escape daunger It is all one with that which goeth before he
sin yet all sin do not make men yâ— children of the diuel For yâ— children of God do sin also for if they say they haue no sin they deceiue themselues truth is not in themâ— but by yâ— meanes they sin by the which they are yet the children of this world but in yâ— respect yâ— they are the children of god they sin not at all for euery one that is borne of God sinneth not But vnbeléefe maketh the childe of the diuell which sin is called theyr owne as though it were alone if it be not expressed what manner of sinne it is I. Gough The meaning of this place followiâ—g That the thoughts of many may be opened ¶ That is many shall shew themselues openly to be Christs enimies And many againe shall confesse Christ yea and that with vtter perill and shedding of their bloud Hemmyng ¶ This chiefly appeareth when the Crosse is layed vpon vs whereby mens hearts are tryed Geneua THRESHING Of two manner of threshing THe Hebrues haue 2. words Dash which signifieth to thresh but yet then when we occupie to threshing beasts The other word is Chabat which is also to thresh but yet with â—lailes without beasts Pet. Mar. vpon Iudic. fol. 114. What is ment by threshing of the mountaines Thou shalt thresh the mountaines ¶ I will make thée able to destroy thiâ—e enimies be they neuer so mightie this chiefly is referred to the kingdome of Christ. Geneua Whereto the threshing of Gilead is compared Because they haue threshed Gilead c. ¶ If the Sirians shal not be spared for committing this crueltie against one Citie it is not possible that Israel shuld escape punishment which hate committed so many and grieâ—ous sins against God man Gen. THVNDER What the cause is that maketh thunder THunder is a sound caused in the cloudes by the breaking out of a hot and drie exhalation boating against the edge of the cloude It is heard in Spring Summer by reason of the heate of the Sunne that then draweth vp many exhalations which méeting in the middle region of the ayre with colde and moyst vapors are together with them inclosed in a hollow cloud But when the hot exhalation cannot agrée with the coldnesse of the place by this â—â—riâ—e being driuen together made stronger kindeled it wil néedes â—reake out with sodaâ—â—e violent eruption causeth the noise which we call thunder A similitude is put by great Authors of moist wood yâ— cracketh in the fire we may adde héerevnto the breaking of an Egge in the fire of an Apple or any like thing for what soeuer holdeth withholdeth inclosed any hot winde so that it cannot haue no vent it wil séeke it selfe a way by breaking the skin shell or case It were no euil comparison to liken Thunder to the sound of a Gunâ— which be both caused of the same or very like causes c. W. F. Thunder after the opinion of Aristotle is a natural thing Facta tamen â—t â—nqule secunduÌ„ natuâ—â—ordinatam Neuertheles saith he yet a thing of an vncertain doubtfull nature or of a â—sordred nature This thundring is nothing els but a crack a rsibling in the clouds yâ— cause efficient being the sun the planets the cause materiall being the hâ—t drye exhalations seeking a way out of yâ— clouds In the scripture both in the old testament in the new there is oâ—ten mention made of thundring which God miraculously sent down froÌ„ heuen aboue In the 9. of Exo. ve 23. God plagued K. Phaâ—â—o because he wold not let the childreÌ„ of Israel depart out of Aegipt with thuÌ„der lightning hail stones In the 1. Reg. 7. When yâ— Philistines made warre against yâ— Israelites thinking to haue destroyed them all the Lord with a sodaine great Thunder cracke did make the Philistines so sore afraid that they ranne away and were slaine the most parte of them Also in the new Testament Iohn 12. Christ a lyttle before he should suffer his Passion praied vnto his Father saieng Father delyuer me from this houre but therefore came I into this houre O Father glorifie and set out thy name thy might and power And immediately there came a voyce from heauen saieng on this wise Glorificaâ—i iterum glorificabo I haue glorified it and I will glorifie it As he might say I haue glorified it in thée my sonne since the first houre of thine Incarnation with manifest wonderfull great miracles Et iterum glorificabo and I will glorifie my name in thée after the time of thy glorious Resurrection and Ascention more then euer I haue done through the comfort of the Holy ghost which shall so worke in the hearts of men that then shall my name in thée my sonne Christ begin to flourish in such wise as it neuer did before When this voice was heard there was such a stout noyse heard from heauen that the people that followed Christ Dixerunt Tonitrium factum esse They said it was a Thunder Such a Thunder was heard vpon the daye of Pentecost at the comming downe of the Holy ghost Now héere is to be noted that the Thundering of God mentioned in the old Testament were euer to fraye and to make men agast but the Thundering of God mentioned in the new Testament were so tempered that they did not feare but comfort men wherein is manifestly declared a Maiestie to be both in the Law in the Gospell but yet the one to driue vs to God for feare of the rodde and the other with the loue of euerlasting reward to imbrace Christ. Of whom the words of the Prophet Dauid Psal. 18. bée verefied as well in yâ— letter as in the Allegory when he saith Intonuit de coelo Dominus altissimus dedit vocem suam The Lord from heauen hath thundered and the highest hath declared his voice Ric. Turnar The Lord also thundered out of heauen c. ¶ By all the things héere rehearsed is described the power might maiestie of almightie God which he declareth in tempests of which the whole 29. Psal. intreateth And in Iob. 37. are lyke things mentioned to yâ— setting out of his power Oftentimes we read that when he would more openly more expresly declare his power vnto men caused thunder lightening and earthquakes c. As in Exo. 19. 16. when the law was giuen 1. Reg. 12. 18. when the people desired a king Mat. 27. 51. when Christ was on yâ— Crosse. Act. 2. when the Holy ghost came vpon the Apostles Act. 4. 3â— when they prayed With such lyke words doe some suppose that God did at one time or other shew his benefite to Dauid and confirmed his promises with shaking yâ— earth sending thunder lyghtening hayle cloudes stormes other terrible tokens wherwith he holy Dauid ouerthrew his enimies Neither letteth it yâ— the Scripture mentioneth not thereof in any place for it mentioneth not the Tempest which Esay prophecied
of Abraham of whom it is written 30. yeares before he offered his sonne Isaac Abraham beléeued it was reckoned vnto him for righteousnesse Gen. 15. 6. wherby we doe euidently sée that Saint Iames meaning is that Abrahams fayth was no idle fayth but such faith as made him obedient to God which thing he did well declare when he did so willingly offer his sonne at Gods commaundement All that S. Iames goeth about then is to proue that faith cannot be without good works And as by fayth onely we are iustified before God so by good workes procéeding from a liuely fayth wée are iustified before men Heere wée learne also that where no good workes be there is no true iustifieng fayth but a lyght vnprofitable beléeue such as is in diuels and yet we must beware that we ascribe no parte of our iustification before God vnto our good works Sir I. Cheeke Ther can be no good work reckoned to be in any man but in him alone whose sinnes God hath forgiuen Forasmuch as our best déeds are lame and corrupt Therefore they are héere called the doers of good works whom Paule calleth zelous and louers of good works But this estimation and iudgement dependeth vpon the fatherly clemency and acceptation of our God who alloweth that freely for good which deserueth to be reiected as euill and vnperfect c. Marl. fol. 170. Indéede works doe iustifie taking iustifie to be to declare iust Euen as white haires do make a man olde because they be a signe of age But works doe this before men not before God Nor they cannot take hold of forgiuenesse of sins deliuerance from their deserued condemnation For then it should be false that the Apostle saith we be iustified fréely by his grace for to him that worketh the reward is imputed vnto him for a duety and not vpon grace and fauour Wherfore the errours of those men is too grose to deceiue any of them which hath looked ouer the holy Scriptures neuer so slightly Nor it doth not agrée with the sense neither when they will haue iustifie to be as much as to make iust For works doe not go before him that is to bée iustified â—but doe followe him which is alreadye iustified witnesse Augustine and workes doe come of grace and not grace of workes witnesse the same Augustine de fide opere cap. 14. Musculus fol. 227. Of workes done before faith Saint Austen condemneth all our good workes before faith as vaine and nothing worth Read him In probo Psal. 31. That worketh not how it is vnderstood To him that worketh not but beleeueth ¶ That dependeth not on his workes neither thinketh to merit by them Gene. That is which meaneth not to obteine saluation through the worthinesse of his works The Bible note How workes are not the causes of felicitie Works indeed are to be had but not as causes wherfore Christ admonished vs saieng When ye haue done al these things say we are vnprofitable seruants we haue done but the thing which we ought to doe Neither passe we any thing vpon their caueling which say yâ— therfore we are vnprofitable seruaÌ„ts because our good works being no coÌ„modity vnto God forasmuch as God néedeth none of our good works but say they it caÌ„not be denied but yâ— we are by good works profitable vnto our selues Wée graunt indéed that it is profitable vnto vs to liue well But that vtilitie is not to be attributed vnto our workes that they should be the causes of our blessednesse to come Wee haue nothing in vs whereby we can make God obstruct or bound vnto vs. For whatsoeuer we doe the same doe we wholy owe vnto God and a great deale more then we are able to performe Wherfore as Christ admonisheth The Lord giueth not thanks vnto his seruant when he hath done his duetie And if the seruant by wel doing cannot binde his Lord to giue him thanks how shal he binde him to render vnto him great rewards Pet. Mar. vpon the Rom. fol. 29. Of workes loue and faith Works are the outward righteousnesse before the world may be called the righteousnesse of the members and spring of inward loue Loue is the righteousnesse of the hart springeth of faith Faith is the trust in Christs bloud and is the gift of God Ephe. 2. 8. Tindale How our good workes are the workes of God Although it be written that God will render to euery man according to his works yet is yâ— so to be vnderstood yâ— if they be good works they are for none other cause caled any maÌ„s works but for that they are wrought in him namely by the power of the spirit of God whereby they are in very déede the workes of God S. Austen most truely saith that God crowneth in vs his owne gifts for as touching vs we deserue nothing but death Pet. Mar. vpon the Rom. fol. 367. How we deserue nothing by our good workes Wo be to all our iustice saith S. Austen if it be iudged setting mercy a part Therefore this is a christen sentence worthy to be beaten in al mens heads Let not thy left hand know what the right hand doth Let our right hand worke those things which be good and pleasant vnto God And in the meane season let our heartes depend vpon the grace of Gods goodnesse onely not thy left hand write into thy kalender those things which be somewhat well done by the right hand Let the note of our owne good works be in Gods hand not in our owne Whatsoeuer he doth reward vs either in this life either in the life to come let vs thanke his grace for it and not our deserts Musculus fol. 234. Of the vnablenesse of our workes If the séeking of righteousnesse and forgiuenesse of sinnes by the kéeping of the law which God gaue vpon mount Sinai with so great glory and maiestie by the denyeng of Christ of his grace what shall we say to those yâ— will néeds iustifie themselues afore God by their owne laws and obseruances I wold wish that such folks should a little compare the one with the other and afterward giue iudgement themselues God minded not to do that honour nor to giue that glorye vnto his owne law yet they wil haue him to giue it to mens laws ordinaÌ„ces But that honour is giuen onely to his onely begotten son who alone by the sacrifice of his death passion hath made ful amends for all our sinnes past present and to come as saith S. Paule Heb. 7. 25. The meaning of this place following Work out your own saluatioÌ„ with fere trembling ¶ S. Paul saith we must work out our saluation with feare trembling But this feare riseth in consideration of our weaknesse and vnworthinesse not of any distrust or doubt in Gods mercy but rather the lesse cause we haue to trust in our selues the morâ— cause we haue to trust in God Iewel fol. 76.