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
Men. 5 The Priestes 6 The Youngmen There are fiue chapters which art thus to be discerned The first chapter is deuided into twoe partes In the first which is begun from the induction or entrance he puts down the true reason of saluation where all these things are to bee considered in dus order 1 The great mercy of God 2 Regeneration by a liuely faith 3 The resurrection of Christ 4 Heauenly inheritance 5 The power of God 6 Faith 7 Triall of Faith 8 Ioy and gladnesse 9 The writinges of the prophets 10 The Gospel 11 Grace 12 Glory In the other part he puts the consequence of this antecedent or that which followeth it and doth exhort the beleeuers to newnesse of life as for example 1 Sobriety 2 Hope of offered Grace as newnesse of life followes faith 3 Obedience 4 Holinesse 5 Inuocation 6 Feare 7 Loue. He ioyneth sets vnto this discourse the most excellent cause of this regeneration to wit that we are redeemed by the pretious bloud of Iesus Christ renewed by the word of God The second chapter is deuided into two partes for in the one hee goes forwarde to exhort the beleeuers to offer spirituall sacrifices and to haue good conuersation to the edification of the faith full And he addes a reason because saieth he all beleeuers are priests and called vnto holinesse of life In the other he appointes the reformation of diuers states in the which he laboureth to the end of this chap. First the subiects to obedience towardes the Magistrates the seruantes to obedience towardes their maysters as hee putteth Christ himselfe for example whoe suffered a greater wrong In the thirde chapter hee first of all speakes concerning the obedience of wiues concerning the modest apparell of wiues and the forbearance of the husband towards his wife Then he warns all menne in generall to exercise themselues in the vertues of true charity and in patience and also in true confession togither with the righteousnes of a good conscience bringing againe the example of charity and patience in Christ Last of all hee sets downe a most excellent place concerning Noes Arke that it was a signe of Baptisme But what he meaneth by the preaching of Christ to certain spirits not beleeuing in the daies of Noah wee are not ignorant and we iudge the true interpretation of this place it to be reserued to the maister himselfe to wit to the Holye Ghost In the fourth chap. he goes forward at one time to exhort al godly men to sobriety to watchfulnesse to modesty to praier to mutuall charity At another time to other fruites of Faith according to the variety of guiftes with patience and ioy in afflictions by dooing good to all men for Christs sake In the 5. chap he insonneth instructeth Ecclesiasticall persons vnder the natures of Priestes sometimes to feede their flocks and at another time to liue wel After that he exhorts youth to obedience and in general he would haue all men to be humbled to trust in God to be sober to watch againste the â—â—â—ersarie the diuel and to resist him in saith Lastly he concludes the Epistle with exceeding consolat oÌ„ that they might know themselues to be confirmed strengthned of God vnto faith The last Epistle of Peter THere are only 3. chapters The first against hypocrisie The 2 against Antichr The 3. against Epicures Peter in the first Chapter woulde haue faith and the vocation of faith to be shewed as moste certaine by good workes least that faith be as a vain dreame without vertue without knowledge continency c. seeing that it is not by the hearing of fables but of the Gospel In the 2. chap he sets forth the same as Christ himself did when he said Mat. 7. take heed of of false prophets Paul act to take heed to your selues c. Also phil 3. Beware of dogs take heed of wicked doers Peter doth warne the godly concerning false teachers and of the comming of Antichrist of whome hee prophesied S. Paule 1 Tim. 4. shewes their damnation by bringing 3. excellent examples 1 of Angels 2 of them that were lost in the floud 3 Of the Sodomites and then he paintes them out in theyr couloures for because they walke after the flesh in concupiscence and vncleannesse Lastly he puts forth a most horrible sentence or iudgement of such in twoe prouerbes of a dogge and a Sowe by the which he expresseth the which hee expresseth that the latter ends of such is worse then the beginning In the third chapter hee warneth the godly that they should beware of Epicures that is to saye of prophane men walking according to their owne concupiscence who onely do regarde this life and not the life to come They haue alwaies in their mouthes Let vs eate and drinke to morrow we shall die After death there is no pleasure Againe that which is aboue vs doth nothing concern vs. Against whom Peter affirmeth with out doubt the last day shall come vnto which both heauen and earth are shal quickly perish in their appointed time reserued for fire Wherfore he affirms that euery one of the godly shoulde studie die to liue in that state as beeing called out of the world he might die boldly confidently The first Epistle of Iohn SAint Iohn the Apostle an Euangelist who wrote this Epistle and leaned at supper time vpon the breast of Iesus Christ and didde draw sweet water out of the well of our Sauiour euen so here he breathed meer loue both of God towards vs and our loue towards our neighbor Gods loue that the same beeing apprchended by faith wee might be iustified freely by grace without workes and obtain euerlasting life Then our loue next that our faith be not idle but that it should work by charity otherwise it is not true faith but onely fained who haue these three signes First not to striue against sinne Secondly not to beware of false doctrin Thirdly to hate our neighbour There are fiue chapters which doeth so agree in one and selfe-same matter as hardly they can be decided one from an other All thinges therein dooth agree with his Gospel chiefly with these two commandements of Christ ye beleeue in God beleeue also in mee Againe I giue you a new commandement that ye loue another which two commanundementes Iohn doth ioyne after this manner in the thirde chapter and this is his commandement that wee beleeue the name of his sonne Iesus Christ and loue one another as he gaue vs commaundement The summe of the Epistle is concerning faith and charity the chapters after a sort are thus to be diuided In the first chapter hauing gotten the good will of the Auditory he puts this exposition of the whole Epistle that we being made clean by the bloud of christ and remaining in the society of Saintes ought not to walke in darknesses that is to say without good workes but in the light that is to say in the exercise
that the Grecians doe retaine the names of Iapetus Ioue Aeolus and many others not knowing whence they sprong but when the storie of Moses doth shew their kindred we must needes confesse that it is more auncient then the monuments of the Greekes a mightie a famous people was that of the Imerians whose posteritie without all doubt was the Cimbrians but their stocke your Greekes know not which the some of the word doth shew to be Gomer the son of Iaphet Nowe there is a kindered among the Egiptians called in their naturall speech and in the Aâ—rabian tongue Mizrai but bookes doe shew Nizraim to be the son of Cham the first antient among the Greekes were the wars of the Argonians and then of the Troianes but the time course of yeers which the Grecians themselues haue obserued doth shewe that the Troiane warre was not long before Dauid and that Hercules was almost of the same time with Sapson So the names histories of the heathen do testifie that the books of the church are the more auncient which is very necessarie for the studious to consider In the third place wee haue set a kinde of doctrine whereof there are two partes the Law and the Gospell and seeing that the knowledg of the law is graffted in the minds of all men reason in all men is inforced to confesse that it is impossible for any nation to be the people of God which do establish lawes contrary to the law of God but this is the common madnes of all the Gentils to call vpon a multitude of Gods and to deuise monstrous fables of the gods and euen in their lawes to yeeld vnto the filthy confusions of lust Some of them also the murdering of men whordoms and adulteries haue bin thought a good seruing of God Reason therfore enforceth to confesse that in the church the law is taught much better This argument also the olde writers haue vsed in confuting the heathen and howsoeuer the Gospel be not knowne vnto reason yet doth it lay open those things whereof the doctrine of the heathen can speake no certainty and yet it cannot bee denied but that the vnderstanding of theÌ„ is necessary forsomuch as man is the Image of God and is made to knowe and praise the Lorde From whence come so many doubtes in the disagreements of the minde and hart whence is that stubbornnesse of the hart and such a burning desire to sin seeing that yâ— law shineth in yâ— mind Are men made to liue in euerlasting sin mysery what is sin whence comes that vast heap of humane myserye whence are those so manye dissentions about God as whether god doeth heare men or why hee shuld regard them Whether after yâ— bodies are once dead there shal be another life in which shal be a differeÌ„ce betweene good bad What men are Gods temple who he doth heare and helpe Of these so waighty matter what great darknesse is there in all the wisedome of the heathen Howe many furies of the Phylosophers who like the sons of Tytan make war with heauen eyther imagining that there is no prouidence or being God to secondary causes and labour to proue that al sins are of necessity Seeing therfore we must confesse that the doctrine of the causes and remedies of euil is necessary for men and yet the wisdome of the heathen seeth it not truly let vs embrace Gods voice in the church seeing hee hath added great testimony therunto Reason acknowledgeth that the law is no wher purely deliuered but in the church And seeing it is certaine that the voice of God is there let vs heare this doctrin of which the Heathen are inforced to confesse that ther is great ignorance in their religion and doctrine and yet the opening of these questions are necessarye for the knowing of God for the which man was made and for true comfort Therefore that kind of doctrine in the Church is most delightfull to good mindes when the pure fountaines are therof tasted I account not in the Church the Romane tyrants and the Monks their chaÌ„pions who haue dispersed throughout the world their filthy poison for the doctrine of the sonne of God and haue transformed the doctrine of the church into heathenish opinions They pray vnto the dead men they command men to worship their breaden God which they carry about in theyr great solemnity they sel sacrifices for the quicke and dead they make Gods worship stage-like vestures and other delusions and confirme their rouing lusts This wicked rout I cal not the church but them which deliuer the sounde doctrine of God deliuered in the bookes of the Prophets Apostles and in the Creeds Many others also doe corrupt the simple truth and the sleights in disputing are delightful to som as in time past to the Stoicks Epicures Academicks But when wee commende this kind of doctrine we do exclude al corruption and toyes in vaine disputings In the 4. place we account the wonderful preseruation of the church in the midst of the ruines of Empires which although it may be gathered vnder the first testimony that is among myracles yet in this it differs from the former bicause it is a perpetual miracle of the continuall presence of God pertains to that special rule The worde of the Lord abideth for euer and not by the helpe of man as it is written Not in an host nor in strength but in my spirit saith the lord God of boasts In the 5. place is the constancy of Confessors accounted which confirm others 2 waies First bicause it is a mannes myracle wherin God strengthens the weak against fear punishments shews his presents many waies euen in their suffrings Many simple men haue raised the dead and done many wonders 2. Bicause the high minds in such as quietly bear affliction doth shew the gospel is powerfull in them that it is the seed of god as Iohn saith wherby eternal life righteousnes and ioy is begun in them 6 This testimony of the gospel in the faithful doth plainly conuince their minds namely the comfort and ioy which is kindled in theÌ„ by the holy ghost wherof Paul saieth you haue receiued the holy spirit whereby wee cry abbâ— father whereby they see howe in great sorrowe they are comforted which vphold themselues with meditation of the Gospel with prayer as Paule saith The spirit helpeth our infirmity These testimonies must be often thought on especially let vs be careful of the sixt least it be taken from vs by the illusions of mad men as the Anabap. c Steukfeldians boast of false inspirations who setting apart Gods worde pretend their reuellations as I haue found out the lies of many such the examples of Munster shewes the maliciousnes of many Steukfild writeth that God communicates with mens minds without any means from whence he proues the diuine motions are kindled not by meditation of the written doctrin but by a faming of
and vncleannesse and other Leuiticall obseruations wherein Christ was shadowed This booke is deuided into many particulars because it containeth many Ceremonial or ecclesiasticall obseruations so that it may wel be called the Ecclesiastical ordinance of Moses From the beginning of the first chap. vnto the 6. some kind of Sacrifices are described as in this booke many are contained wherof some are here mentioned 1 Of the first kinde was the burnt offering as a Sacrifice wholy to bee burned because all of it was to be burnt and nothing thereof reserued as of other sortes some thinges were to be preserued for the priests chap. 1 2 A meate oblation which sacrifice is otherwise called CARBAS a gift or offerings as the oblation of sundry kindes of bread chap. 2 3 A peace offering wherein men being reconciled and obtaining peace did giue thanks vnto God wherefore it taketh his name from peace among the Hebrues that it should be a sacrifice of thanksgeuing with cleane beasts of both sextes offered by one that is receiued and reconciled chap. 3 4 A sin offering a sacrifice that should be offered for the sin of the priest people prince chap 4 5 There are other sorts to bee annexed whereof there is mention made in this book as the sacrifice for the ignorance of the priest Prince and people 6 A trespasse offering 7 A drinke offering in Hebrew called NESICH 8 A sacrifice of vowes of the Hebrues called NEDES when men of their own accord did vow some vow of sacrifice 9 The Ban offering when men cursed themselues if they should take this or that that wherein they cursed themselues was to be offered vnto the Lord. Summarily in the fiue first chap. are described sundry kindes of sacrifices and the causes for the which they were to be offered From the 6. chapter to the 9. are diuers lawes for sacrifice repeated As first of the burnt offering 2. of peace offering 3. Of sinne offering and the preseruing of them From the ninth to the 11. three thinges are set forth to vs for example sake First obedience to God chap. 9. Secondly disobedience towards God chap. 10. Thirdlie a precept of sobrietie From the 11. chap. to the 18. are described not only the vncleane beasts but also other vncleanesse and the purgings of theÌ„ as 1. Of child-bearing women cha 12. 2. Leperous men chap. 13. 3. Menstruous women chap. 15. 4. Dead carcases From the 18. chap. to the 23. not only the degrees of consanguinity is described in the 6. precept but other precepts with a larger explication of them is repeated From the 23. chap. vnto the end doe follow other diuine ordinances as of feasts and for the poore Secondly of vowes tithes then Sermons and exhortations to the obedience of Gods word with threatninges that the offendors shal be punished Hitherto was set forth the booke of Leuiticus which deliuereth the lawes and ordinaces of Moses concerning the outward worship of God which did not onely discerne the Iewes from the Gentiles but also they exercised themselues therein not that sins could be taken away before god with burnt offerings because the forgiuenesse of sinnes is by the only sonne of God But that by this outward disciplin which had a reward anexed vnto it they might serue God 4. Of the book of Numery THis book hath his name of numbring bicause the people of God are numbred after their tribes are ordred for the exercise of religion their places of abode and their offices are distributed apponited for euery seuerall tribe Here are repeated also many transgressions of the people many daungers many punishments many blessings of God bestowed vpon the people as they were betweene mount Sinay and the land of promise Al which matters haue reference vnto Christ for whom the common-weale of Israel was set vp The prophesy also of Balaam concerning the kingdome of Christ is in this book From the beginning of the book to the 5 chap. are numbred generallye first all the Tribes of the people of Isr the tents of euery tribe are placed about the tabernacle Then particularly the tribe of Leuy is numbred vnto whome by themselues their offices are appointed From the 5 ch to the 7 are diuers lawes described as 1. of casting out the hoast 2. of Ielousy 3. of Nazarits vnto which in thâ—end of the 6 chap. is anexed a forme of blessing which our ministers do vse in steade of Itâ—missa when the supper of Christ is ended whereof there be these particulars 1 The Lord blesse thee and keep thee 2 The Lord lighten thee with his countenance haue mercy on thee 3 The Lorde lift vp his countenance vpon thee and giue thee peace From the 7 to the 11 are sundry ordinances described for the noble guifts of Princes which were offered in the dedication of the Tabernacle being erected of the altar as the ordination of consecrating the Leuites in the 8 chap. the ordination of the feast of the passeouer in the 9 cha the ordination of the trumpets in the 10 chap. which part is ordained in the end of the 10 chapt praier of Moses before the lifting vp disposing of the Arke From the 11 to the 17 are described fearfull examples whereby men ought to bee brought to feare as 1. The murmuting of the people for flesh and the punishment of their murmuring 2. The sedition of Aron and Marie his sister who was punished with Leprosie against Moses 3. The vnfaithfulnesse of the spies of the land of Canaan which put the people in feare 4. The murmuring and weeping of the people and the punishment of theyr incredulity 5. The punishment of those that sin of ignorance pride c. and of one that gathered sticks vpon the sabaoth day 6. The sedition and punishment of Corah Dathan Abiron From the 17 to the 21 besides the myracles of Arons rodde bearing blossomes is described the dignity office and reward of the priests and Leuites with the making of the sprinkling water of the ashes of a Cowe wherunto is added the story of Arons death and of his sister Mary From the 22 to the 25 after the Conquest in battell against the Cananites is discribed a fearefull example of Murmuring punnished with fierie serpents where the brasen serpent represents Christ Iohn And then in the other 3 chapters is discribed the blessing of the people and balams prophesie of Christ From the 25 to the 28 besides the dreadfull punnishment of Fornication the people are againe numbred before the diuision of the lande of Canaan the law of inheriting is published From the 28 to the 31 is discribed the ordayning of Sacrifices in euery feast as Sacrifice 1 Of the daily sacrifice 2 Of the Sabaothes 3 Of the new moones 4 Of the passeouer 5 Of Whitsontide 6 Of Trumpets 7 Of Propitiation 8 Of Tabernacles 9 Of Collection ¶ To these is added a Discription of sundrie Vowes From the 31 to the eude
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