chap vnto the ende are described the peregrmations nauigations places of any stay or abode sermons Myracles disputations imprisonments stripes of S. Paule from the day in which the holy Ghost sayd Separate for me Paule and Barrabas to the worke which I haue called them Vntil he came to dwel two yeares in a hired house with the souldier that was his keeper In the meane time he faithfully taught both by sea and land 1 The people of Pathmos chap. 13. 2 The people of Antioch chap. 13. 3 The people of Iconium chap. 13. 4 The people of Listra chap. 14. 5 The people of Ierusalem 15 16 6 The people of Philippi 15 16 7 The people of Thessalo 15 16 8 The people of Berea 17. 9 The people of Athens 19. 10 The people of Corinth 19. 11 The people of Ephesus 19. 12 Trans Miletam Tyre Cesaria cha 20. cha 21 13 Trans Miletam Tyre Cesaria cha 20. cha 21 14 Trans Miletam Tyre Cesaria cha 20. cha 21 15 Trans Miletam Tyre Cesaria cha 20. cha 21 At length being wickedly handled imprisoned and very often presented for the space of a whole yeare and more at Ierusalem and Cesarea with his accusers the Iewes vntil he was compelled to appeale vnto Cesar from chap. 20 vnto 28. Last of all Luke doeth descry the Nauigations of Saint Paule after he appealed to Cesar to goe from Iudea towardâ— Rome and the testimony of Paule at RoÌ„me concerning Christ as you may read in the two last chapters Al which testimony in this most excellent booke seemeth plainely to tend to this that we may obtaine remission of sinnes and eternall life by saith onely in Christ Iesus The epistle of Saint Paule and the rest THe Epistles of the apostles as we haue spoken of before are as it were seales and subscriptions euen so are theyr testimonies and illustrations which are written by the Euangelistes as for example I Paule doe thus subscribe to the Gospell of Matthew I Peter doe thus subscribe The Epistle to the Romans THIS Epistle is a method of holy scripture hee briefely comprehends those thinges which do appertain to christian religion To maye very well bee deuided into foure principall partes From the beginning vnto the fift chapter he puts two propositions and he defendes both the one and the other with strong euidence and arguments The one proposition is legal to weet al men are sinners this he proueth shewing that all gentiles are sinners in the first chapter and afterwards that the Iewes are sinners in the second chapter last of all he infers that all men are sinners in the thirde chapter The other proposition is Euangelicall to weet that men are iustified freely thorough the grace of God by the redemption which is in Christ Iesus He proues by many argumentes that this Iustification is by faith chapter 4 first from the example of Abraham secondly from the definition of iustification thirdly by the order of the cause and the effect the 4. by the cause of the promise From the fift chapter vnto the ninth he deuideth both propositions into their parts and disputeth seuerally of them In the first what sinne is what the lawe is what grace is and by the way he showeth that grace in and thorough Christ had more force effect then sinne in and thorough Adam and her condemneth them that thinke sin to increase through the proaching of grace shewing to the contrarie that no condemnation is to them that are grafted in christ who walk-not after the flesh where hee bringeth chapter 8. for the afflicted and such as liue vnder the crosse froÌ„ that place the afflicted of this life are not woorthye c. vnto the ende of the Chapter 8. excellent consolations 1 Concerning the Manifestation of glory to come 2 Concerning the Like suffering of al creature with vs. 3 Concerning the Sighing of all the ministers of the word 4 Concerning the Hope of eternall life 5 Concerning the Person of the holy ghost 6 Concerning the Doctrine of predestination 7 Concerning the Person of God the father 8 Concerning the Person of the sonne From the 9. chap. vnto the 12. he handleth the place of predestination repeating the question that was put in the beginning of the thirde chapter that is to wit what if certaine of them haue not beleeued shall their vnbeleefe make the faith of GOD of none effect God forbid whence as hauing occasion he first of all disputes of election that we may know to whom this grace doeth appertaine and that also in the 9. cha And after that in the 10. chap. he defines and expoundes the righteousnesse of fayth Last of all he teacheth that no maÌ„ ought to take offence at the name of Predestination that they are alwaies deceiued that letting passe iustification by faith seeke to begin their saluation from predestination From the 12. chap. vnto the end of the Epistle he sets downe certaine admonitions concerning good works First generally towards euery mans neighbour where he sets downe the endes of good workes as are the workes of confession vocation loue afterwards towards magistrates or superious chap. 13. Last of all towards inferiors that is to say the weake chap 14 15. The last chapter containes salutations or vowes and Euangelical sermons And salutation is not to be thought the least duty of humanity The first Epistle to the Corinthians HOw long Paule did remain at Corinth what he didde there c. looke Act. cha 18 Paule doth most sharply rebuke the Corinthians in this Epistle whom he knew to be attainted with many vices It therfore most chiefly appertames to the lawe for it is a reprehending or rebuking epistle commanding the Corinthians to decline from euil and do good Directly against 1 Sectaries chap. 1 2 3 4. 2 Incestious persons 3 Fomicators 6. 4 Adulterers 7 5 coÌ„tentious persons 8 9 10 11 6 conteÌ„ners of the weak 8 12 13 7 The proud 14. 8 Arrogant persons 15. 9 Them that deny the resurrection from the dead 16. 10 Couetous persons It is deuided very conueniently into fiue principall parts From the beginning vnto the 5. chap he laboureth in the first table of the commandements condemning the wisdome of the world as thinges pernâ—ious and hurtful to the saluation of mankind for it breeds sectes and schismes in Christian religion and the contempt of the Ministers of the Gospell for their pride whoe are pussed vp with mans wisedome From the 5. chap. vnto the 8 hee passeth to the second table and pursues certaine vices First of al hee commandes the incestuous man to be excomunicated and to be auoided After that he reprehends wronges contentions and heresies shewing that iniuries are to be suffered or to be arbitrated rather then to bee adiudged by vnrighteous Iudges By and by he numbreth heapes of vices and particularlye inueighes against the filthy affections of lust highly commending mariage chirst life and virginity From the 8. vnto the 12. he reprehends the
reuenge which the Iewes tooke partly on the sonnes of Haman and partly on other their enemies Thus farre goeth the storie in Hebrue The 4. Acte is of those things which are not in the Hebrue concerning Mardocheâ—â— dreame with the interpretation thereof of the letters published against the Iewes of Mardocheus prayer vnto the 14. cha The 5. Act to the end of the mourning and prayer of Hester of her sute to King Ahasuerus for the Iewes and letters sent foorth contrarye to the former of the sauing of the Iewes and of their appoynting of festiuall daies in remembrance of so great a benefit as God bestowed vppon the Iewes by Hester Ahasuerus and Mardocheus So God is now and alwayes present with his Church and people to helpe them at all neede Glorie bee to Christ for euermore Amen The booke of Iob. THe booke of Iob is named of Iob of whom is saide in the 14. of Ezech. If these three were in the middest of them Noce Daniell and Iob they in their owne righteousnes should deliuer their own soules saith the Lord of Hostes But who wrote this booke Moses as some thinketh or some other it is vncertaine Neither skilleth much to knowe it seeing it is out of question that this booke contayneth the words of the holy ghost The sum of the booke handleth this question Whither the righteons are afflicted of God or not Iob prooues by many firme arguments that God vseth to send manye afflictions to innocent and godlye men onelye for his owne glorie as Christ speaketh af a man borne blinde Iohn 9. But the friends of Iob impugn this sentence and they contend with him in many probable arguments that the godly are not afflicted of God but if they bee afflicted then it is for their sinnes This whole booke is spent betwixt Iob and his 4. friends at length God himselfe dissolues the controuersie This booke containes 42. chap which are thus deuided In the first three chapt is contained history of the diuers afflictions of Iob and the temptations of Sathan that first assailed Iobs children and his possessions but when he suffered all that most patiently at leÌ„gth he set vpon his owne person whereby hee was made so vnpatient thorowe the greatnesse of griefe that he did not onely horribly cursse the day of his natiuity but also praise death before this life where it is to be obserued how diligently sathan persisteth in temptation vntil he make man horribly to sinne against God From the 4 chap vnto the 8 is described the firste disputation betwixt Iob and his friende Eliphaz the Themanite the argument that Eliphaz propounded againste Iob to wit God punisheth men onely for their sinnes Iob answered that he tooke it not to be so and he complaineth of the troblesomnesse of his friendes that they didde more terrifie him then comfort him From the 8 chap to the 11 is written the second Shuhite disputation betwixte Iob and his second friende Bildad concerning the same argument that God punnisheth Iob for his sinnes the which Iob againe denyeth to bee so with a complaint that he did not know the cause of his affliction From the 11 vnto the 15 followes the 3. disputation concerning the same argumeÌ„t betwixt Iob his third friend Zophar the Naamathite to whom Iob did propounde this question Wherfore are good men somtimes in distresse 5. and afterwards he vnfoldeth the question or argument and at length bewails all mens myserie on earth From the 15 vnto the 22 againe Iobs three friendes begin in order to dispute against him First Eliphaz accuseth Iob to be a sinner the which Iob denieth not and then reproues Eliphaz and his fellowes saiing that they were badde comforters Secondly Bildad as he had before saith that God vseth to punish the wicked for theyr sinnes with many plagues he would infer Iob to be wicked because he is much punished of God Iob answereth that his fortitude strength was in the graue Thirdly Zophar alledgeth that it goeth wel with wicked menne but not long and laboureth to prooue that Iob is such a one Iob shewes the contrary to be true in euery part that is to wit that it goeth long well with the wicked in this life but that hee is not wicked From the 22 vnto the 32 Iobs 2 friends Eliphas and Bildad did yet more vehemeÌ„tly set vpon him with the same opinion repliyng herewith according to mans reason as they did before but in vaine was it Iob standeth with a setled minde although hee lay in great mysery Somtimes he teacheth them and sometimes hee addes his complaintes sometimes he purgeth himselfe before his friendes that he was of an vnblameable life From the 32 to the end God himselfe at length doth preach before Iob rehearsing all the works of his power minding to teach him that he was vniustly accused of him Vpon the which sermon in the laste chap Iob repenteth and is restored to his perfection for an example to vs all of true repentance So much concerning the booke of Iob In which was handled concerning the suffering of the saints and of the impatience of flesh and bloud which God pardoneth in his saintes thankes be to God for euer The Psalmes of Dauid PSalmes hath his name or deriuation of singing because it is written in verse to sing More anciently it is called a priuate speaking because that an only speech was had betwixte God himselfe and Christians only It is called a little Bible because it containeth briefly all that is in the Bible As for example 1 Histories 2 Lawe 3 Promises 4 Faith 5 Consolations 6 Repentance Dauid a King and Prophet is the author of the Psalmes the holy Ghost speaking in him Matth. 22 How doth Dauid in spirit call him Lord. There are of the Psalmes in number 150 which are to be deuided 3. maner of waies The first deuision Some are properly called Psalmes others are called Hymnes They are Psalmes as long or as often as Dauid dooth desire any thing of God They are called Hymnes when as he giuer God thanks for a benefit receiued The second deuision The Psalmes according to the Hebrues are deuided into 5. bookes which are discerned or known in the vulgar edition by these notes or marks Amen Amen or So be it So be it The first booke containeth 41. Psalmes which are al Dauids whence all the psalmes are ascribed to him this first book continueth vnto this psal As the Hart desireth the water brooks c. The 2 Book containeth 31 psal which are ascribed in the beginning to the sonnes of Chore being singers they are al Dauids except one of Asaph the last Salomons and this second book continueth vnto this Psalm How good is God vnto Israel The third booke containeth 17 Psalm of which 11 are to bee ascribed to Asaph â—hree to the sonnes of Chore one to Dauid and the two latter are ascribed to two other â—ingers The fourth booke also containeth 17 Psalmes of
preacheth by saint Paule not onely to Tymothye but to all the gouernors and teachers of the Church who had receiued the true doctrine of the Gospell Wherefore this Epistle ought to be most deare of very good account and speciall reckoning to the Ministers of the Gospell There are 4. chapters which are thus to be deuided In the first chapter after gratulation he warneth Tymothy First for the stirring vp of the grace of God 2 That he be not ashamed of the gospell of the bondes of Paule 3. To suffer affliction 4 For the retaining of the forme of whol some doctrine 5. to keepe that good which was committed vnto him hee inserteth also an excellent and most Euangelicall saying He that hath sowed vs c. which makes against Iustification by the works for the only grace of God and also commending his office and the house of Onismus against the falling away of the people of Asia from the gospell In the 2. chapter after the commendation of the doctrine chiefely hee exhorteth him to suffer afflictions bringing forth excellent arguments from the reward then hee is exhorted from the contentions and vaine ianglings of men shewing that it is no maruell if the good and euill be together in the church when as in a ritche mans house there are vessels appointed some to honour some to dishonour Last of all in this chapter is chiefelye handled that hee would haue him to deuide rightly the word of trueth least he should confound the lawe and the Gospell in the handling thereof But to vrge the law against the euill the wicked and obstinate that they may be deliuered to the magistrate to be punished or to be excommunicated and to comfort the afflicted and godly with the Gospell In the end of the chapter he sheweth that repentance is the gift of God In the the third chapter to the first perils to weet the falling away of the people of Asia and of others from the gospell of Christ he addeth another perill and setteth foorth false teachers verye largely whom he foretels that shoulde come in the latter daies against whome he exhorteth Tymothie by his constancy he might be profitable also to all his posterity Furthermore as in the former Epistle euen so Paule in this place by the light of Gods spirit foreseeth the impiety of the Bishoppe of Rome and those thinges which haue been done in Rome these 900. yeares In the ende he commendeth the sacred scripture then which commendation nothing can bee more excellently spoken From the fourth chapter he concludeth the Epistle by protestations in which he doth most earnestly charge Tymothie to the worke of an Euangelist shewing that the time of his dissolution was at hand that he had fought a good fight then with some fewe pointes of curtesie he endeth the Epistle he wrote this Epistle out of doubt a little before his martyrdome The Epistle to Tytus ALbeit this Epistle is not such a method as is the Epistle to the Romans yet notwithstanding it containeth the summe briefely of all christian religion in which he first instructeth and informeth teachers so that these three chapt might be deuided according to three principall states to weet Religion Pollicy and Domesticall gouernment or rule of an houshold The last of which he placeth in the middest because for the preseruing thereof God ordained the other two Very fitly was annexed to this information the place of Iustification Againe and again that to the same as to a marke all things might be directed aymed and referred In the first chapter he discerneth Religion and as in the Epistle to Tymothy euen so here hee describeth vnder the name of a Bishop all the ministers of the Gospell what manner of people they ought for to be in life doctrine Now for the faithfull themselues at an other time by reason of false teachers which he paintes out vnto the end of the chapter he sets foorth to beholde their impiety as it were in a glasse in which our Papistes may the more rightly looke into themselues In the second chapter he drawes a table as it were of household manners and he reformeth the life of euery state concerning houshold affaires where vnder the name of Young he admonisheth Tytus himselfe that he should shewe himselfe in all thinges an example of good workes then he sheweth the reason to weet the appearaunce of the grace of God in this that CHRIST gaue himselfe for vs that we should liue in him modestly iustly and godly In the third chapter he giues preceptes concerning pollicy and of obedience to be giuen towards magistrates He teacheth that all subiects are to bee warned by Titus adding therunto great causes out of the Lawe and Gospell to wit that we are all debters to the same Againe bringing in that most excellent place of Iustification wherein he takes away saluation by workes and doth ascribe it to the only mercy of God thorough our mediatour Christ Where he shewes very euidently the forme maner of our redemption That whosoeuer coueteth to bee a new man it is necessarie for him to beleeue and to bee baptized In the end he dehorts to good workes and to auoide foolish and heretical questions The Epistle of Paule to Philemon THis Epistle shewes the wonderfull loue of Paule towardes his neighbour in this that he studied to reconcile Onisemus to his maister Phylemon with great humility of minde and with sweet wordes first he commends Philemons faith and charity Afterwards he puts forth his petition for Onesimus being conuerted to the faith Last of al with sweete affections hee takes vppon himselfe the faulte of Onisemus doeth reconcile him to his maister not now as a seruant but as a deare beloued brother in Christ a great example of charity and study of concord in Paule The Epistle to the Hebrues ALthough it bee doubtfull whether this bee the Epistle of saint Paule because of some places in the 9 10 and 12 chapters Out of the which it is prooued by some that it was not Paule that wrote it Yes neuer thelesse the Epistle hath the authoritye of the holye Ghost as appeares by the scope therof He deliuers plainly christ to be true God and true manne yea our onely sâ—â—â—our and redeemer and the greater part of the Epistle stands on comparison by which it conuinceth the Lord of all namely Christ the naturall and euerlasting sonne of God He compares Christ 1 with the Angels chap. 1 2. 2 with the Moses chap. 3 and 4. 3 with the Aron chap. 5. 4 with the Melchisedeth chap. 6 and 7. 5 with the Sacrifices of the law 8.9 10. It hath 13. chapters which for the better declaration of them though not altogither exactly may be thus deuided In the first two chapters after his entrance wherein he briefly describeth the diuinity and humanitye of Christ and shewes him to be much more excellent then the Angels by nine argumentes in which he preached Christ to
the wing of good workes togither with the true confession of sinnes In the second chapter after the cumgelicall common place of Christ the aduocate and our propitiator First he reproues them of lying who doth boast of faith and doeth no good and affirmes that those that are to be reproued as yet do lacke faith Afterwards he warneth euery age that they woulde remaine in those things which they had receiued of God Lastly he commandeth that they eschew false opinions and the vnrighteous desires of the world and Antichrist By annointing he vnderstandeth the holy ghost He cals Antichrist false Apostles who were then and afterwardes he speakes of others as of Heretikes of whom some haue denied the Diuinitie and some the humanity of Christ Furthermore vpoÌ„ this excellent place He that saith himselfe to be and remaine in Christ he ought to walke as he walked I am not ashamed to write S. Augustines most excellent exposition out of his booke of the life of a Christian cha 14 who saith as followeth 1 He is a Christian who Shewes mercy to all 2 He is a Christian who Is moued with the iniurye of all 3 He is a Christian who Suffereth not a poore man to be oppressed hee being in place 4 He is a Christian who Helpes the miserable 5 He is a Christian who Succoureth often the needy 6 He is a Christian who weepes with them that weep 7 He is a Christian who Feeles the griefe of another as his owne 8 He is a Christian who Is prouoked to weep by the weeping of another 9 He is a Christian who whose house is common to all men 10 He is a Christian who Whose gate is shut againste no man 11 He is a Christian who whose talke no poore man is ignorant of 12 He is a Christian who In whose house bread is offered to al men 13 He is a Christian who Whose goodnesse all menne knowes 14 He is a Christian who Of whom no man feels wroÌ„g 15 He is a Christian who Serues God day and night 16 He is a Christian who continually do meditate and thinke vpon gods commandements 17 He is a Christian who Is made poore in the world that he may be ritch with God 18 He is a Christian who With men is counted ignominious that hee may appeare glorious with God and his Angels 19 He is a Christian who Hath nothing fayned in his hart 20 He is a Christian who whose minde is simple immaculate 21 He is a Christian who Whose conscience is faithfull and pure 22 He is a Christian who Whos 's whole mind is in god 23 He is a Christian who whose whol hope is in christ 24 He is a Christian who Desires heauenly thinges rather then earthly 25 He is a Christian who doth despise humane things that he may posses diuine Thus farre S. Augustine In the 2. chapter he continueth an exhortation concerning newnesse of life by many arguments taken first from the loue of God towards vs. 2 From the hope of eternall life 3 From the offices of Christ which are to take awaye sinnes Fourthly to dissolue the workes of the diuell 5. From the efficient cause of righteousnesse to witte from God 6. From the vprightnesse of a good conscience 7 From the promise and commandement 8 From the loue of Christ towardes vs. In the fourth chapter he exhortes to take heed of the doctrine of Antichrist and to confesse the doctrine of Christe Afterwardes he goes forward vnto the end of the chapter to admonishe them concerning charity hauing once made a sweet comparison betwixt the loue of God towards vs and our loue towards God and our neighbour as betwixt the efficient cause and the effect In the fift chapter hee followeth after faith whence proceeds al good workes to whom victory is ascribed which hee sheweth must be confirmed by three testimonies to wit the spirit water and bloudâ— that is to save by the worde of God and the two sacramentes Afterwardes he makes them more certaine of life euerlasting togither with the hearing of the word Last of al he discerneth sinne not to be vnto death from the consideration of that sinne that is committed against the holy ghost pardonable from vnpardonable But they are sinnes against the sonne which proceed through the weaknesse of the flesh from them that beleeue in the sonne of God and doth repent And sinnes which are done by yâ— wicked against the holy ghost are first the resistance of the knowne truth 2 Repining at the good guifts of our brethreâ— 5 final impenitency The second Epistle of Iohn IN this one chap. of this Epistle of Iohn first he cals himselfe an Elder because he was a priest the chief Apostle now being olde for he liued in the time of Traâ—â—ne the Emperour vnder whom he died as it is â—â—unde in the histories in the yeare of Christ 101. and of his owne age ninety Afterwardes he exhorteth his elect Lady excellent both for her byrth and also for her vertue First to loue then to perseuerance in the doctrine of Christe Lastly he warneth to excommunicat the haters of Christ The third Epistle of Iohn IN this one chapt of this Epistle Iohn names three men of the which first he names Gaius to whom he writes and calles him his sonne commending him for the trueth or word of God next for loue lastlye for his hospitality The other was Diotrephus a wicked Bishop not onely as an inuector and backbiter but also being no houskeeper and an hater of christian brethren and also an excommunicater he sharply reproues him and rebukes him The third was Demetrius whom hee commendeth sometimes by the testimony of others and sometimes by his own profe testimony for the truth that is to say for his knowledge and obedience toward the word of God The Epistle of Iude. THis Iudas was surnamed Thaddeus the sonne of Alpheus brother to Iames the younger as men call him and of Simon and this Apostle wrote this one chap onely of this in which throughout he answereth to the second chapter of the second epistle of Peter First he threatneth horrible punishmentes to heretikes and false teachers bringing forth the example first of the Egyptians 2 Of the Angels 3 Of the Sodomites 4. Of Caine. 5 Of Balaam 6. Of Chore he sets them forth in their colours Afterwards he describes what manner of people they are as Peter did in which description whom it concerns in our time it is not hard to iudge Lastly he exhortes all godly menne to perseuerance First in faith 2 in the holy ghost Thirdly in prayer Fourthly in Loue. Fiftly in looking for Gods mercy 6 In compassion 7 In newnes of life In the end he woulde haue the godly to keepe the faith and to beware of false doctrine The Reuellation of S. Iohn THe Ecclesiasticall historie shewes how Iohn being vnder the Emperour Domitian was banished into the Hand of Pathmos there wrote this Apocalyps or Reuelation