the Apostles did consider what particular thing their calling hadde to wit that they should keepe their standing seeing the wolues did inuade the sheepefolde The rigour of Tertullian and such like was too great who did deny indifferently that it is lawful to flie for fear of persecution August saith better who giueth leaue to flie in such sort that the churches beeing destitute of theyr Pastours bee not betrayed into the hands of the enemies This is surely the best moderation which beareth neither too muche with the flesh neither driueth those headlong to death who may lawefully saue their liues Let him that is disposed reade the 180. Ep. to Honoratus That I may returne to the Apostles if they had been scattered here and there with feare of persecution euen at the beginning all men might haue rightly called them hirelings How hurtfull and filthie had the forsaking of the place bin at the present time how greatly wold it haue discouraged the mindes of all men What great hurt should they haue done with their example among the posteritie It shall sometimes so fall out in deede that the pastour may also flie that is if they inuade him alone if the laying waste of the church be not feared if hee bee absent But and if both his flocke and hee haue to encounter with the aduersarie hee is a treacherous forsaker of his office if hee stande not stoutlye to it euen vntill the end Priuate persons haue greater libertie 2 They dressed Steeuen Luke sheweth that euen in the heat of persecution the godly were not so discouraged but beeing alwayes zealous they did those dueties which did belong to godlinesse Buriall seemeth to be a matter of small importance rather than they will foreslowe the same they bring themselues in no small hassarde of life And as the circumstance of time doth declare that they contemned death valiantly so againe wee gather thereby that they were carefull to doe this thing not without great and vrgent cause For this serued greatly to exercise their faith that the bodie of the holy martyr shoulde not bee left to the wilde beastes in whom Christe had triumphed nobly according to the glory of his Gospel Neither could they liue to Christ vnlesse they were readie to be gathered vnto Steeuen into the societie of death Therfore the care they had to burie the martyr was vnto them a meditation vnto inuincible constancie of professing the faith Therfore they sought not in a superfluous matter with an vnaduised zeale to prouoke their aduersaries Although that generall reason which ought alwayes and euerie where to be of force amongst the godly was vndoutedly of great weight with them For the rite of burying doth appertaine vnto the hope of the resurrection as it was ordeined by God since the beginning of the world to this end Wherefore this was alwayes counted cruell Barbarisme to suffer bodies to lie vnburied willingly Profane men did not know why they shuld count the right of buriall so holy but wee are not ignorant of the ende therof to wit that those which remaine aliue may know that the bodies are committed to the earth as to a prison vntil they be raised vp thence Whereby it appeareth that this duty is profitable rather for those which are aliue than for those which are deade Although it is also a point of our humanitie to giue due honour to those bodies to which wee knowe blessed immortalitie to be promised They made great lamentation Luke doth also commend their profession of godlinesse and faith in their lamentation For a dolefull and vnprosperous ende causeth men for the most part to forsake those causes wherein they were delighted before But on the other side these men declare by their mourning that they are no what terrified with the death of Stephen from standing stoutly in the approbation of their cause considering therewithal what great losse Gods church suffered by the death of one man And we must reiect that foolish Philosophie which willeth mē to be altogither blockish that they may be wise It must needs be that the Stoicks were void of cōmon sense who would haue a man to be with out all affection Certaine mad fellowes would gladly bring in the same dotings into the Church at this day and yet notwithstanding although they require an heart of yron of other men there is nothing softer or more effeminate than they They cannot abide that other men should shedde one teare if any thing fall out otherwise than they woulde wish they make no end of mourning God doth thus punish their arrogancy iestingly that I may so terme it seing that he setteth them to be laught at euen by boyes But let vs know that those affections which God hath giuen to mans nature are of themselues no more corrupt than the authour himselfe but that they are first to bee esteemed according to the cause secondly if they keepe a meane and moderation Surely that man which denieth that wee ought to reioice ouer the giftes of God is more like a blocke than a man therefore wee may no lesse lawfully sorrowe when they be taken away And least I passe the compasse of this present place Paule doeth not altogither forbidde men mourning when any of their friends is taken away by death but he would haue a difference betweene them and the vnbeleeuers because hope ought to bee to them a comfort and a remedie against vnpatience For the beginning of death causeth vs to sorrow for good causes but because we knowe that we haue life restored to vs in Christ we haue that which is sufficient to appease our sorrowe In like sort when wee are sorie that the Church is depriued of rare and excellent men there is good cause of sorrow onely we must seek such comfort as may correct excesse 3 But Saul Wee must note two thinges in this place howe greate the cruelty of the aduersaries was and howe wonderfull the goodnesse of God was who vouchsafed to make Paul a Pastour of so cruel a wolfe For that desire to lay wast the Church wherewith he was incensed did seeme to cut away all hope Therefore his conuersion was so much the more excellent afterward And it is not to bee doubted but that this punishment was laid vpon him by God after that he had conspired to put Stephen to death togither with the other wicked men that he shoulde be the ringleader of crueltie For God doeth oftentimes punish sinnes more sharply in the Elect than in the reprobate 4 And they were scattered abroad Luke declareth in this place also that it came to passe by the wonderful prouidence of God that the scattering abroad of the faithfull should bring many vnto the vnitie of faith thus doth the Lord vse to bring light out of darknes life out of death For the voice of the Gospel which was heard heretofore in one place onely doth now sound euerywhere in the meane season we are taught by this example that we must
others vnto the like rebellion That they ought not to circumcise It was so indeede For Paul taught that both Iewes and Gentiles were set at libertie For these sentences are generall with him ◠Cor. 7.19 Circumcision is nothing Againe we be circumcised by Baptisme in Christ Col. 2.11.16 not with circumcision made with handes Againe let no man iudge you in meate or drinke or in choice of feasts which are shadowes of thinges to come ◠Cor. 10.25 but the body is in Christ Again whatsoeuer commeth into the shambles and whatsoeuer is set before you that eate asking no question for conscience sake Againe Be not inwrapped againe in the yoke of bondage Seeing that he spake thus euery where without exception Gal. 5.1 he freed the Iewes from the necessity◠of keeping the Law And least I stand too long vppon this one place shall be sufficien◠where he compareth the law to a Tutor vnder which the olde churche was as in the childhood thereof But now knowing the grace of Christe it is growen vp that it may be fre from ceremonies in that place he speketh vndoutedlie both of the Iewes Gentiles Also when he saith Gal. 2.14 that the handwriting of the law which did consist in decrees is blotted out and nayled to the crosse by Christe he setteth free the Iewes as well as the Gentiles from the ceremonies which he calleth in that place decrees But seeing that hee did not precisely reiecte ceremonies in teaching that the comming of Christ did make an end of the obseruing thereof that was no reuolting as the enuious Iewes thought it to be Neither were the Elders ignorant of Paul his libertie Therefore seeing they vnderstand the matter very well their meaning is to haue this alone made known to the rude and vnskilfull that Paul meant nothing lesse then to persuade the Iews to contemne the law Therfore they behold not the bare matter but knowing what the common sort thought of Paul by reason of the reports which went about cōcerning him they seek to cure the same Thogh I wote not whether this were more importunate then equal which they required at Paul his hands And by this it appeareth how preposterous the crueltie of men is in receiuing false reports and how fast a false opinion once rashly receiued doth stick It is certain that Iames and his fellowes in office did indeuour to maintaine defend Paul his good report to put away those lies which did hurt his estimation yet let them doe what they can they will speake euill of Paul Vnlesse peraduenture they were too slacke in the beginning that they might gratifie their countrie men so that they were not their own men afterward 22 The multitude must needes come together The verb is a verb neuter as if they should say the multitude must of necessitie com together For it had been an absurd thing that an apostle of such rare report shoulde not come before the whole multitude of the faithfull For if hee had eschewed the light and sight of people the sinister suspition might haue byn increased Neuerthelesse we see how modestly the Elders behaued themselues in nourishing concord when as they preuent the offence of the people in time sauing that they beare too much peraduenture with their infirmitie in requiring a vow of Paul But this moderation must be kept in the church that the pastours bee in great authoritie yet that they rule not proudly as Lords neither despice the rest of the body For the distinction of orders which is the bond of peace ought not to bee any cause of discention 23 Doe that which we say to thee The Elders seeme as I said euen now to be faln vnto a foolish pāpering through too much loue of their natiō But the manifest iudgement of that thing dependeth vpon the circumstances which are hid frō vs at this day yet they knew thē wel The whol body almost did consist vppon Iewes so that they needed not to feare the offending of the Gentiles For in other regions this was the cause of departure because euery man was wedded to his own custome would prescribe a law to others Furthermore they had at Ierusalē many things which might prouoke them to keepe the ceremonies of the law so that they had a greater excuse if they did more slowly forsake them And thogh their zeale wer not void of fault yet as it was an hard matter to reform it so it could not be don at a sodain We see how this superstitiō was scarce in long time pulled from the apostles bicause new disciples came daily vnto the faith the infirmitie was nourished in all together And yet notwithstanding we must not deny but that ignorance was coupled with obstinacie which the Elders did neuerthelesse tollerate least they shuld do more hurt by vsing violent remedies I leaue it indifferent whether they did passe measure or no. Hauing a vow vpon them Though these foure be reckoned among the faithful yet their vow was superstitious Wherby it appeareth that the apostles had much trouble in that natiō which was not only hardned in the worship of the law through long vse but was also naturally malipart almost intractable Though it may be that these men were as yet but nouices therefore their faith was yet but slender scarce well framed wherefore the doctors did suffer them to performe the vow which they had vnaduisedly made As touching Paul bicause he made this vow not moued thereunto by his owne conscience but for their sakes with whose error he did bear the case stood otherwise with him Notwithstāding we must see Sap. 18.18 whether this were one of the indifferent ceremonies which the faithful might omit or keep at their plesure It semeth indeed to haue in it certain thinges which did not agree with the profession of faith But bicause the end therof was thanksgiuing as we said before in the 18. cha there was nothing in the rite it self repugnāt to the faith of Christ 1. Cor. 9.20 Paul did not dout to descend thus far to make his religiō knowen Therefore Paul did that which he saith of himself elswher because he made himself a cōpaniō of those which followed the law as if he him self were in subiection to the law Finally hee was made all things to all mē that he might win all to wit euen vnto the altars so that he might pollute himselfe with no sacrilege vnder a colour of loue It had not bin so lawfull for him to go vnto the solemne sacrifice of satisfaction But as for this part of the worship of God which consisted in a vow hee might do it indifferently so it were not done for religions sake but only to support the weeke But it was neither his intent to worship God with this rite neither was his conscience tied but he did freley submit himself to his weak brethren 24 Which they haue heard of thee are
mediatour betweene GOD and the worlde if hee haue forged daylie Sacrifices that hee maie put them in Christes place if hee haue inuented a thousande satisfactions for sinnes if hee haue brought fained washings from the lake of hell to make drie the bloode of the sonne of God if hee haue put in his place infinite patrons if he haue torne in a thousande peeces that righteousnesse which must bee set whollie from him if in steed of the holie Ghost he haue erected mans freewill it is without all question that the true Christ is banished farre from papistrie For this cause haue I saide that the Papistes make boast of a deade carkasse in steed of the liuelie bodie of Christ because though they haue extinguished the Doctrine of the Gospel which is the true soule of the Church which duly doth quicken the same yet they do greatly boast of a shadowish trifling kind of church Wee make it full well knowne howe corrupt the puritie of doctrine is amongst them yea with what monstrous errors it is polluted They doe not onely couer all their corruptions vnder the shadow of the Church but also complaine that we doe great iniurie to the Church because we say that the same doeth erre But they shoulde first haue examined the doctrine that the Church might thereby be knowne These iust and honest iudges wil haue the feigned title of doctrine to haue sufficient force of preiudice to couer and suppresse the difference and that not to disceiue men For with what sleights and leigerdemaine would they assaie to bleare euen daseling eies in so great light But because they accompt this libertie of lying a part of their tyrannie they thinke they reigne not as they woulde vnlesse they reprochfully mocke miserable soules That wee may fet an example no farther wee haue seene in our times sometime the Tridentine Fathers sometimes the Fathers of Bononia who although they were euen at daggers drawing among themselues yet did they fome out their vaine Canons on both sides And surely if men assent to their principles the triumph shall be prepared on both sides There sit there I cannot tell how manie Bishops and Abbats peraduenture an hundred horned beastes If the most fine flower of all the nation should shine there yet should it be nothing else but a wicked conspiracie against God And nowe after that the Pope hath gathered togither the branne and chips of his vncleane and filthy rotten flocke shall the representatiue Church suddainly appeare there And are they not yet ashamed to cal that an holy general and lawful Councel which doth not deserue so much as to be called a vaine and Comicall visure of a Councel But as for vs to whom the promise is made that Antichrist who sitteth in the temple of God shall be destroyed with the breath of the Lords mouth let not vs I say cease to refute this filthie and whorish impudencie with that most sacred worde which they so boldlie mocke that al men may see what difference there is betweene the chast spouse of Christ and the stinking whore of Beliall betweene the sanctuarie of God and the Brothelhouse of Satan betweene the spirituall house of the godly and the stie of hogges and finallie betweene the true Church and the court of Rome There can no more certaine or plaine demonstration be brought concerning this matter either by Euclide either yet by Archimedes then if the Church as Luke describeth it be compared with the popish Synagogue Neither am I so streit that I would haue that confused lumpe being altogither repugnant vnto the order of nature and manner of humanitie to be agreeable in al points to the rule of the Apostles which is Angelicall and heauenlie If they can shew any thing wherein they are like vnto them they may triumph for me But for as much as all things are contrarie althogh the more part of men become blind willingly at leastwise seeing the whole heauens doe allow vs we may not onely contemne their braine sicke pride without any feare but also freely speake euill of the same In the meane season we haue no small consolation to support vs that howsoeuer the Papists doe set against vs with sterne countenance the name and title of the Church yet we know that we fight onely against the professed enimies of Christ We ought aboue all thinges to desire that the most renowmed king who according to his wisedome hath long agoe spied out the subtile sleights of the Romish court commanding those vain Buls to auoide wherein the Councel boasteth a farr off may at length more freelie applie his minde vnto the earnest and perfect restoring of the Church Yet ought no lingering to keepe you back but euery one of you must with might and maine indeuour to enlarge and spreade abroade those beginnings which are begun to arise so happilie Farewell most excellent Lord and right renowmed Prince The Lord alwaies gouerne you with his spirite amplifie by all meanes your dignitie and blesse your godlie enterprises euen vnto the ende At Geneua the first of August 1560. The argument vpon the Actes of the Apostles TO the intent that all godly men may with more diligence reade this historie and also be more desirous thereof it shall not be without profite briefly to note what commoditie they shall reape thereby This is the chiefest praise that a prophane historie hath namely that it is the maistres of life If that narration of famous deeds which onely teacheth men what they ought to followe or what they ought to eschewe in their common actions deserue such a title of how great praise are the diuine histories worthie which do not onely frame the outward life of man that he may winne praise by vertue but also which it more which declare vnto vs that God from the beginning hath had a speciall regard alwayes of his Church and faithfull congregation that he hath bene alwaies a most iust reuenger of all wrongs done vnto those that haue betaken themselues vnto his tuition and haue committed themselues vnto his custodie that he hath shewed himselfe fauourable and mercifull vnto most miserable and wretched sinners and lastly by teaching vs faith hoised vs high aboue the heauens I say nothing of this that they do euerie where set forth the prouidence of God that they distingush the true worship of God from the false they neuer erre in the difference of vice and vertue Although I omit nowe also those worthie praises which vse most commonly to bee attributed vnto the sacred histories intending onely shortly to touch those which are proper to this booke which wee haue taken in hande Those things which Luke setteth before vs in this place to be learned are not only great but also of rare profite For first in that he sheweth that the spirite of God was sent vnto the Apostles he doth not only proue that Christ was faithful true in keeping his promise made vnto his Apostles but also he
ought to bee fet out of the pure worde of God alone is onely made and patcht togither amongst the papists of the superstitious inuentions of men They haue translated vnto the merites of workes the hope of saluation which ought to haue rested in Christ alone The inuocation of God is altogither polluted with innumerable profane dotinges of men Finallie whatsoeuer is heard amongst them it is either a deforming of the Apostles doctrine or else a cleere ouerthrowing and destroying of the same Therefore we may as easily refute the foolish arrogancie of the papists as they can cloake their dealings with the title of the Church For this shall bee the state whether they haue retained the puritie of doctrine from which they are as farre as Hell is from Heauen But they are wise ynough in that point because they will haue no controuersie moued about doctrine But wee as I haue said may freely contemne that vaine visure forasmuch as the Spirit of God doth pronounce that the Church is principallie to bee esteemed and discerned by this marke if the simplicitie or puritie of the doctrine deliuered by the Apostles doe florish and be of force in the same In fellowship This member and the last doe flowe from the first as fruites or effectes For doctrine is the bonde of brotherlie fellowship amongst vs and doth also set open vnto vs the gate vnto God that wee may call vppon him And the supper is added vnto doctrine in steede of a confirmation Wherefore Luke doeth not in vaine recken vp these fowre thinges when as hee will describe vnto vs the well ordered state of the Church And wee must endeuour to keepe and obserue this order if we will bee truely iudged to bee the Church before God and the Angels and not onely to make boast of the name thereof amongst men It is certaine that he speaketh of publike praier And for this cause it is not sufficient for men to make their praies at home by themselues vnlesse they meete altogither to pray wherein consisteth also the profession of faith 43 And there came feare vppon euery soule and manie wonders and signes were wrought by the Apostles 44 And all those which beleeued were ioyned togither and had all things common 45 And they sold their possessions and substance and did part them to all men as euery man had neede 43 And there came Hee signifieth vnto vs that the shewe and sight of the church was such that it made others afraid which did not cōsent vnto doctrine And that was done for the preseruing and furthering of the Church When there ariseth any sect all men set themselues stoutly against the same and as noueltie is odious the Iewes woulde neuer haue suffered the Church of Christ to stande one minuite of an houre vnlesse the Lorde had restreined them with feare as with a bridle Furthermore Luke noteth the manner of feare that it was no such feare as bringeth men vnto the obedience of Christ but such as causeth men to stande in a doubt and so consequently doth as it were so binde them hande and foote that they dare not hinder the Lordes worke Like as there be some at this day who will willingly be ignorant of the Gospel or at least are so holden with the cares of this worlde that they cannot throughly ioyne themselues vnto Christ and yet they are not so harde hearted but that they confesse that the trueth is on our side and therefore the rest is as it were in the midde way neither doe they fauour the crueltie of the wicked because they are afraid to striue against God And whereas hee saith Euery soule he speaketh thus by Synecdoche For it is certaine that many did contemne the hande of God and that othersome were striken with no great feare but that they did furiouslie rage togither against the Church But Luke his meaning was this that there appeared such power of God in the Church that the people for the most part had not one word to say And many woonders This member serueth also to the shewing of the cause For the miracles serued to make them afraide togither with other workes of God although this was not the onely reason but one of many why they were afraid to set themselues against God who was on that side as they did gather by the myracles whence wee gather that they are not onely profitable for this to bring men to God but also to make the wicked somewhat more gentle and that they may tame their furiousnesse Pharao was a man of desperate stubbernes Exo. 8.8 c 19. and yet wee see how miracles doe sometime pearce his obstinate heart He forgetteth them by and by but when the hand of God is heauie vppon him hee is compelled through feare to yeelde To bee briefe Luke teacheth that the Iewes were by this meanes kept backe that the Church which might easilie haue beene destroied might haue got vp her heade Which thing wee haue oftentimes tried euen in our time And he doth not onely declare that they were bridled with feare least they shoulde bee so bolde as to attempt so much as they lusted to doe hurt to the Church but that they were also humbled with reuerence to the glorie of the Gospel 44 And all Whereas I haue translated it ioyned togither it is worde for worde in saint Luke Into the same or into one which may be expounded of the place as if hee should haue saide that they were wont to dwell togither in one place Notwithstanding I had rather vnderstande it of their consent and agreement as hee will say in the fourth Chapter That they had one heart Actes 4.32 And so hee goeth forwarde orderlie when as he beginneth with their minde Hee addeth afterward their bountifulnesse as a fruite proceeding thence Therefore hee giueth vs to vnderstande that they were rightly ioyned togither with brotherlie loue amongst themselues and that they did in deede declare the same because the rich men did sell their goods that they might help the poore And this is a singular example of loue and therefore doth Luke recorde the same to the ende wee may knowe that wee must releeue the pouertie of our brethren with our plentie But this place hath neede of a sound exposition because of fantasticall spirits which do feigne a communalty or participation togither of gods whereby all policie or ciuile gouernment is taken away as in this age the Anabaptists haue raged because they thought there was no Church vnlesse all mens goods were put and gathered togither as it were in one heape that they might all one with another take thereof Wherefore we must in this point beware of two extremes For many vnder colour of policie doe keepe close and conceale whatsoeuer they haue they defraude the poore and they thinke that they are twise righteous so they take away no other mens goods Othersome are caried into the contrary errour because they would haue all things
diuerse thinges Therefore resolue these wordes thus They coulde not resist the wisedome which the Spirite of God gaue him For Luke meant to expresse that they fought not on both sides as men but that the enimies of the Gospell were therefore discouraged ouercome because they did striue against the spirit of God which spake by the mouth of Stephen And forasmuch as Christ hath promised the same Spirite to all his seruants let vs onely defende the truth faithfully and let vs craue a mouth and wisedome of him and we shall be sufficiently furnished to speake so that neither the wit neither yet the babling of our aduersaries shall bee able to make vs ashamed So the Spirit was as effectuall in our time in the mouth of the Martyrs which were burnt and it vttereth the like force nowe daily that though they were ignorant men neuer trained vp in any schooles yet did they make the chiefe diuines which maintained poperie no lesse astonished with their voice onely than if it had thundered and lightened 11 Then they suborned men which said We haue heard this man speak blasphemous words against Moses and God 12 And they mooued the people and the Elders and the Scribes And inuading him they tooke him and brought him into the Councell 13 And they brought forth false witnesses which said This man ceaseth not to speake blasphemous words against this holy place and the Law 14 For wee haue hearde him say that this Iesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall chaunge the ordinances which Moses hath giuen vs. 15 And when all which sate in the Councell had beholden him they saw his face as it had bene the face of an Angell 12 Being ouercome with the power of the Spirite they giue ouer disputing but they prepare false witnesses that with false and slaunderous reports they may oppresse him Whereby it appeareth that they did striue with an euill conscience For what can bee more vnmeete than in their cause to leane vnto lies Admit hee were a wicked man and guiltie yet hee must not haue false witnesse borne against him But hypocrites which shrowde themselues vnder zeale doe careleslie graunt themselues leaue to doe that Wee see how the Papistes at this day corrupt manifest places of Scripture and that wittingly whiles that they will falsely wrest testimonies against vs. I confesse in deede that they offend for the most part through ignorance Yet can we finde none of them which doeth not graunt himselfe libertie to corrupt both the sense and also the woordes of the Scripture that they may bring our doctrine into contempt yea they slaunder vs monstrously euen in the Pulpit If you aske these Rabbines Whether it bee lawfull to slaunder a man or no they will denie that it is lawfull generally but when they come vnto vs good zeale doth excuse them because they thinke that nothing is vnlawfull which may burthen vs or our cause Therefore they flatter themselues in lying falsehoode and dogged impudencie Such hypocrisie did also blinde them of whom Luke speaketh in this place which vsed false witnesse to put Stephen to death For when Sathan reigneth hee doeth not onely pricke forwarde the reprobate vnto crueltie but also blinde their eies so that they thinke that they may doe whatsoeuer they will We are especially taught by this example how daungerous the colour of good zeale is vnlesse it be gouerned by the Spirit of God for it breaketh out alwayes into furious madnesse and in the meane season it is a marueilous visure to couer all manner of wickednesse 14 We haue heard It shall full well appeare by Stephens defense that hee neuer spake any thing touching Moses or the Temple without reuerence And yet notwithstanding this was not laide to his charge for nothing For hee had taught the abrogating of the Lawe But they are false witnesses in this and suborned to lie because they corrupt purposely those thinges which were well and godlilie spoken So Christ was enforced to cleare himselfe that hee came not to destroie the Lawe but to fulfill the Lawe because when hee had preached of abrogating the Ceremonies the wicked wrested this vnto an other purpose as if he meant to abolish and take away the whole Lawe Furthermore they wrested that wickedlie vnto the Temple of Ierusalem which hee spake of his bodie What was it not obiected to Paule that hee taught That euil is to bee done that good may come thereof Therefore there is no cause why wee shoulde woonder at this day that that is so falsely misconstrued which wee teach godlily well and profitablie Yea wee must rather perswade our selues thus that the doctrine of the Gospel can neuer be handled so warilie and moderately but that it shall be subiect to false accusations For Sathan who is the father of lying doeth alwayes bestirre himselfe in his office Againe because there be manie thinges which are contrarie to the reason of the flesh men are enclined to nothing more than to admit false reportes which corrupt the true and syncere sense of doctrine This malice of Sathan and the sleights ought to make vs more warie and more circumspect that no preposterous thing or any thing that is vnproperly spoken escape vs wherewith they may be armed to fight against vs. For we must carefullie cut off from the wicked that occasion whereat they snatch And if wee see that doctrine which is by vs well and godlily deliuered corrupted deformed and torne in peeces with false reportes wee must not repent that we haue begunne neither yet is there any cause why we shoulde be more slacke hereafter For it is not meete that wee should be free from the poysoned and venemous bytings of Sathan which the son of God himselfe coulde not escape In the meane season it is our parte and duetie to dash and put away those lies wherewith the truth of God is burdened like as we see Christ free the doctrine of the Gospel from vniust infamie Onely let vs so prepare our selues that such indignitie and vnhonest dealing may not hinder vs in our course Because wee teach that men are so corrupt that they are altogither slaues vnto sinne and wicked lustes the enimies doe thereuppon inferre this false accusation that wee denie that men sinne willingly but that they are enforced thereunto by some other meanes so that they are not in the faulte neither beare any blame yea they say farther that we quench altogither all desire to doe well Because wee denie that the workes of holy men are for their owne worthinesse meritorious because they haue alwayes some faulte or imperfection in them they cauill that wee put no difference betweene the good and the euill Because wee say that mans righteousnesse consisteth in the grace of God alone and that godly soules can finde rest no where else saue onely in the death of Christ they obiect that by this meanes wee graunt libertie to the flesh to doe what so euer it will that
that was according to the custome but now there is another reason For in appointing a publike fast which vsed to be done in hard matters and of great importance they prouoke both themselues and others vnto an earnest feruentnesse in prayer For this is oftentimes added in Scripture as a helpe to praier But it was a matter of such weight to erect the kingdome of Christ amongst the Gentiles the teachers of Antioch do not without cause earnestly pray the Lord that he will inable his seruants And that was not the end of their praier that God would by his Spirit of wisdome discretion gouerne their iudgments in choosing because al disputation or doubting concerning this matter was taken away but that God would furnish those with the Spirit of wisdome and strength whom he had alreadie chosen to himselfe that he would strengthen them with his power against all the inuasions of Satan and the world that he would blesse their labors that they might not be vnfruitful that he would open a gate for the new preaching of the gospel The laying on of hands which Luke reckneth vp in the third place was a kinde of consecration as we haue said Chapter 6. Acts. 6.6 For the Apostles retained the ceremonie which was vsed amongst the Iewes according to the old custome of the Law as also kneeling such rites which were profitable to exercise godlinesse In sum this is the end why they laid their hands vpon Barnabas and Paul that the church might offer them to God and that they might with their consent declare that this office was inioyned them by God For the calling was properly Gods alone but the externall ordaining did belong to the Church and that according to the heauenly Oracle 4 Therefore when they were sent forth by the holy Ghost they went to Seleucia and thence they sailed into Cyprus 5 And when they were at Salamis they preached the word of God in the Sinagogues of the Iewes And they had Iohn also for their minister 6 And when they had passed ouer the Iland vnto Paphos they found a certaine false Prophet a Iew named Baâ—-iesus 7 Who was with Sergius Paulus the Proconsul a wise man When he had called Barnabas and Paul he sought to heare the word of God 8 And Elimas the Sorcerer for so is his name expounded resisted them seeking to turne away the Proconsull from the faith 9 And Saul which was also called Paul being full of the Ghost and looking stedfastly on him 10 Said O thou that art full of all deceit and wickednes thou sonne of the diuel thou enimie of all righteousnes doest thou not cease to peruert the streght waies of the Lord 11 And now behold the hand of the Lord is vpon thee and thou shalt be blinde not seeing the sunne for a time and forthwith there fell vppon him mist and darknesse and going about he sought some to lead him by the hand 12 Then the Proconsull seing what had happened he beleeued wondring at the doctrine of the Lord. 4 Being sent out by the holy Ghost There is no mention made heere of the Election made by the Church because it was altogither a diuine calling the Church did onely receiue those who were offered them by the hand of God He saith that they came first to Seleucia which was a Citie of Syria There was indeede a countrie of the same name but it is more likely that Luke speaketh of the Citie which was not far from Cyprus by sea 5 He saith that they beganne to preach the Gospel first in Salamis a famous Citie of Cyprus Notwithstanding they seem to begin amisse for whereas they were sent specially to the Gentiles they preach the word of God neuerthelesse to the Iewes I answere that they were not so addicted to the Gentiles that setting aside the Iewes it stoode them vppon to goe streight to the Gentiles For when God did make them teachers of the Gentiles he did not depose them from the office which they had heretofore exercised So that there was no reason to let them but that they might take paines both with Iewes and Gentiles yea farther it was meete that they shoulde beginne with the Iewes as we shall see in the end of the Chapter Moreouer Luke addeth by the way that they were holpen by Iohn for his meaning is not that hee was their minister for any priuat vse or for the vses of bodie but rather in that hee was their helper to preach the Gospel hee commendeth his godly studie and industrie Not that the degree of honour was equall but because the labour was common to all for which cause hee had the lesse excuse afterward seing that he forsooke the holy calling 6 When they had passed ouer It is to be thought that this their passage was not altogither without fruit and assuredly Luke would neuer haue passed ouer with silence a generall repulse but it was sufficient for him to say that they were not idle in the office of teaching in their iorney seeing that he maketh haste vnto a famous historie which he will set downe immediatly And forasmuch as Salamis situate vpon the East coast did looke toward Siria it was requisite that Paul and Barnabas should passe through the midst of the Iland vnto the otherside that they might come to Paphus For Paphus was a Cittie situate vppon the Sea coast toward the South Furthermore though all the Iland were dedicated to Venus yet Paphus was the principall sea of the Idol For which cause the goodnesse of God is more wonderfull in that he would haue the light of his Gospel to pearce into such a filthy and cruel den For we may thereby gather what manner integritie and chastity and honestie and temperance was in that Cittie in that religion did grant libertie to the inhabitants to commit all manner shamefull and haynous offences They found a certaine false Prophet Seing that religion was quite corâ—upt among the Iewes it is no maruel if they fell away vnto many wicâ—ed superstitions And for as much as they had hitherto professed that they worshipped a certain peculiar god this was a fair colour to deceiue withall seeing that they might pretend the name of the vnknowne God at their pleasure but this is a wonder how it was possible for Eâ—imas with his iuggling to cosin a graue and wise man For we know that the Iewes were at that time hated of all the world and especiallie of the Romans and with hatred was coupled extreame contempt of them Nowe Luke doth not without cause expresly commende Sergius his wisedome least any man should thinke that his foolishnesse and lightnesse was subiect to the seducings of the Sorcerer His meaning was in deede to shewe in a cleare myrrour howe friuolous and vaine mans wisedome is which cannot beware of such grosse subtiltie of Sathan And assuredlie where the trueth of God doeth not appeare the more men seem to be wise the more filthylie foolish are
Citie And there is a threefolde reason why Luke maketh mention of their excellencie of byrth Wee knowe howe hardlie men come downe from their high degree what a rare matter it is for those who are great in the world Iames 1.11 to vndertake the reproch of the crosse laying away their pride and to reioyce in humilitie as Iames commandeth Therefore Luke commendeth the rare efficacie and working of the Spirit of God when he saieth that these noble men were no whit hindered by the dignitie of the flesh but that embracing the Gospel they prepared themselues to beare the crosse preferred the reproch of Christ before the glory of the world Secondly Luk meant to make known vnto vs that the grace of Christ standeth open for all orders and degrees In which sense Paul saith that God would haue al men saued least the poore and those who are base do shut the gate against the rich though Christ did vouchsafe thē the former place 1. Tim. 2.4 Therefore we see that noble men and those who are of the common sort are gathered together that those who are men of honour which are despised grow together into one bodie of the church that al men in general may humble thēselues extoll the grace of God Thirdly Luke seemeth to note the cause why there were so manie added and the kingdom of Christ was in such short time so spread abroad and inlarged at Thessalonica To wit because that was no smal helpe that chiefe men and men of honour did shewe other men the way because the common sort is for the most part mooued by authority And though this were no meet stay for faith godlines yet is it no strange thing for God to bring the vnbeleeuers who wonder as yet in error to himselfe by crooked and by wayes Receiued the worde This is the first thing which he commendeth in the men of Thessalonica that with a willing and ready desire they receyued the Gospell Secondlie that they confirmed their faith by diligent inquisition So that their faith and godlinesse are commendod in the beginning for forwardnesse and in processe they are praysed for their constancie and feruent desire they had to profit And surely this is the first entrance into faith that we be readie to follow and that abandoning the vnderstanding and wisedome of the fleshe 1. The. 2.13 wee submit our selues to Christ by him to be taught and to obey him Also Paul himself in adorning the Thessalonians with this title doeth agree with Saint Luke As touching the second member this diligence is no smal vertue wherunto Luke saith the faithfull were much giuen for confirmation of their faith For many who at the first breake out giue them selues straightway to idlenes while that they haue no care to profite and so loose that small seed which they had at the first But two inconueniences may bee in this place obiected For it seemeth to be a point of arrogancie in that they inquire that they may iudge it seemeth to bee a thing altogether disagreeing with that readines wherof he spake of late◠secondly for as much as inquisition is a signe of doubtfulnes it followeth that they were before indued with no faith which hath alwayes assurance certaintie ioyned and linked with it Vnto the first obiection I answere that Luke his words ought not so to be vnderstood as if the Thessalonians tooke vppon them to iudge or as though they disputed whether the truth of God were to be receiued they did onely examine Pauls doctrine by the rule and square of the scripture euen as golde is tried in the fire For the Scripture is the true touchstone whereby all doctrines must be tried If any mā say that this kind of trial is doubtful forasmuch as the Scripture is oftentimes doubtful and is interpreted diuerse wayes I say that we must also adde the iudgement of the Spirit who is not without cause called the Spirit of discretion But the faithfull must iudge of euerie doctrine no otherwise than out of and according to the Scriptures hauing the Spirit for their leader and guide And by this meanes is refuted that sacrilegious quippe of the Papists Because there can be nothing gathered certainely out of the Scriptures faith doth depend onely vpon the determination of the Church For when the spirit of God doth commend the men of Thessalonica he prescribeth to vs a rule in their example And in vaine should we search the scriptures vnles they haue in thē light enough to teach vs. Therfore let this remaine as a most sure maxime that No doctrine is worthie to be beleeued but that which we find to bee grounded in the scriptures The pope will haue all that receiued without any more adoe whatsoeuer he doth blunder out at his pleasure but shall hee bee preferred before Paul concerning whose preachtng it was lawfull for the disciples to make inquisition And let vs note that this is not spoken of any visured councell but of a smal assembly of men whereby it doth better appeare that euerye man is called to reade the scripture So likewise making of search doth not disagree with the forwardnesse of faith for so soone as any man doth harken and being desirous to learne doeth shew himselfe attentiue he is now bent and apt to be taught though hee do not fully giue his consent For examples sake An vnknowen teacher shall profes that he doth bring true doctrine I will come being readie to heare and my mind shall be framed vnto the obedience of the truth neuerthelesse I wil weigh with my selfe what manner doctrine it is which he bringeth neither wil I embrace any thing but the certaine trueth and that which I know to be the trueth And this is the best moderation when being fast bound with the reuerence of God we heare that willingly and quietly which is set before vs as proceeding from him Neuertheles we beware of the seducing subtletie of men neither doe our minds throw thēselues headlong with a blind rage to beleeue euery thing without aduisement Therefore the searching mentioned by Luke doth not tende to that end that we may be slow and vnwilling to beleeue but rather readines with iudgement is made the meane betweene lightnes stubbornnesse Now must we answeare the second obiection Faith is contrarie to doubtfulnes he which inquireth doubteth therefore it followeth that for as much as the Thessalonians inquire and make search touching the doctrine of Paul they were voyde of faith as yet But the certaintie of faith doth not hinder the confirmation thereof I call that cōfirmation when the trueth of God is more and more sealed vp in our hearts whereof notwithstanding we did not doubt before For examples sake I heare out of the Gospel that I am reconciled to god through the grace of Christ and that my sins are purged through his holy blood there shal be some testimonie vttered which shall make me beleeue this
applying a remedie doth forthwith rid the minds of his of all perturbation 10 He lay downe vpon him We know that the Apostles in working miracles did sometimes vse certaine externall rites whereby they might giue the glorie to God the authour And nowe whereas Paul doeth stretch himselfe vppon the young man I thinke it was done to no other end saue onely that he might more stirre vp himselfe vnto prayer It is all one as if he should mixe himselfe with the dead man And peraduenture this was done for the imitation of Elizeus of whom the sacred historie doth report the same thing Yet the vehemencie of his affection did more moue him that the emulation of the Prophet For that stretching of himselfe vpon him doeth more prouoke him to craue his life with all his heart at the handes of the Lorde So when he embraceth the bodie of the dead man by this gesture he declared that hee offered it to God to be quickned and out of the text wee may gather that hee did not depart from imbracing it vntill he knew that the life was restored againe Bee yee not troubled We must note that Paul tooke great care principally for this cause least that sorowfull euent should shake the faith of the godlie and should trouble their mindes Neuerthelesse the Lorde did as it were seale vp establishe that last Sermon which Paul made at Troas when he sayeth that his soule is in him hee doeth not denie that he was dead because by this meanes he should extinguish the glorie of the myracle but the meaning of these wordes is that his life was restored through the grace of God I doe not restraine that which followeth to wit that they wer greatly comforted vnto the ioy which they had by reason of the young man which was restored to life but I do also comprehend the confirmation of faith seeing God gaue them such an excellent testimony of his loue 13 When wee had taken shippe It is vncertain why Paul did choose rather to goe by lande whether it were because sayling might be to him troublesome or that as he did passe by hee might visite the brethren I think that hee did then eschew the seas for his healthes sake And his curtesie is greately to bee commended in that he spared hys companions For to what ende did hee suffer them to departe saue onelie that hee might ease them of the trouble So that we see that they did striue among them selues in curtesie and good turnes They were ready and willing to doe their duetie but Paul was so farre from requiring thinges streitly at their handes that of his owne accord and curteously he did remit those dueties which they were readie to doe yea setting aside his own cōmodity he cōmāded them to do that which was for their comfort It is well knowen that the citie Asson is by the describers of countries attributed to Troas The same as Plinie doeth witnesse was called Appolonia They say that it was a free Citie of the Aetolianes 14 And when we were come togither at Asson hauing receiued him we came to Mitylenes 15 And sailing thence the day following we came ouer against Chios and on the morrow we arriued at Samos and hauing tarried at Trogyllium we came to Miletum 16 For Paul purposed to saile beyond Ephesus least he should spend the time in Asia For he made hast if it were possible for him to keepe the day of Pentecost at Ierusalem 17 And hauing sent messengers from miletum to Ephesus he called the Elders of the Church 18 Who when they were come to him he said vnto them Yee know from the first day wherein I entred into Asia how I haue bin with you at all seasons 19 Seruing the Lord with all humilitie of minde with many teares temptations which hapned to me by the laying in wait of the Iewes 20 So that I haue kept nothing back which might bee for your profite but did shew to you and teach you publikely and through euery house 21 Testifiyng both to the Iewes and Grecians the repentance which is towarde God and the faith which is toward our Lord Iesus Christ 16 For Paul purposed It is not to be douted but that he had great weightie causes to make hast not that he made so great account of the day but because strangers did thē vse to come together to Ierusalē out of al quarters Forasmuch as he did hope that he might doe som good in such a great assembly he would not foreslow the opportunitie Therfore let vs know that the worship of the law was not the cause that he made so great hast but he set before his eyes the edifying of the church partly that he might shew to the faithfull that the kingdome of Christ was enlarged partly that if there were any as yet strangers from Christ hee might gaine them partly that he might stoppe the mouthes of the wicked Notwithstāding we must note that he did in the meane season prouide for other churches For in sēding for the elders of Ephesus to Miletum he sheweth that he did not neglect Asia And whereas they come together when they be called it is not only a token of concord but also of modestie For they were manie yet doeth it not irke them to obeye one Apostle of Christe whome they knewe to bee indued with singular giftes Moreouer it appereth more plainely by the text that those are called elders not which were gray headed but such as were rulers of the Church And it is an vsual thing almost in all tongues that those be called elders fathers who are appointed to gouern others though their age be not alwaies according 18 Yee knowe Paul in this sermon standeth principally vpon this that he may exhort those pastours of Ephesus by his owne example to doe their duetie faithfully For that is the true kinde of censure and by this meanes is authority purchased to doctrine whē the teacher prescribeth nothing which he himselfe hath not done in deed before And it was no vnseemly thing for Paul to speake of his vertues There is nothing lesse tollerable in the seruauntes of Christ then ambyrion and vanity but for as much as all men know full well what modestie and humility was in the holie man hee needed not to feare least he shoulde incurre the suspition of vayne boasting especially seeing that beyng inforced by necessitie he did declare his faithfulnesse and diligence that other might take example thereby He doth in deede greatly extoll his labours patience fortitude and other vertues but to what ende Surely not that he may purchase commendation at the hands of his auditory but that this holy exhortation may pearce more deeply and may sticke fast in their myndes He did also shoote at another marke that his integritie and vprightnesse in dealing might serue afterward to commende his doctrine And he citeth eie witnesses least he seem to speake of things vnknowen I call those