the hatred of the Trueth doeth procure 9. 23 How great the force of the Trueth is 9. 22. 15. 12. and 19. 9. The Tumults raised by Satan are maliciously imputed to the Gospell 17. 6. The Turkes because of their manifold victories deride the gospel of Christ 25. 19. The schoole of Tirannus at Ephesus 19. 9. Tirants are afraid of innouations 12. 1. How arrogant spiritual Tyrantes are 5. 28. Sidon and Tyrus were proude c … 12. 20. V We must leaue Vengeance tâ— God 7. 7. 16. 37. 23. 3. Vertues signes and woonâ—ers put for miracles 2 22. 4. 30. VVhy Paul speaketh of hiâ— vertues 20. 18. Virgils place 6. 35. 17. 28. Paul saw a Vision 1â— 9. 16. 9. and 22. 18. and 27. 2â— Peter saw a Vision 10. 3. 12. The vse of Vision 9. 10. Difference between Visions dreams 18. 9. The punishment of vnbeleefe 8. 11. All Vnbeleeuers are polluted 10. 28. The vnderstanding of spiritual things is a peculiar gift of God 16. 14. Vnthankfulnes must bee auoyded 10. 41. VnthaÌ„kfulnes of the Israelites 7. 36. 40 The pride of the Italians 10. 1. Vse is the father of wisedome 6. 2. VV VVhy they did Wash the bodies of the dead in times past 9. 37. VVhy it is forbiddeÌ„ to scale the walles 9. 25 The auncient rite of Washing corpses 9. 37. VVay put for sect 19. 25. The waies of the Lord. 13. 10. The wayes of men 14. 16. The malice of the VVicked is likned to fransines 13. 27. The feare of the wicked 16. 38. The manner of the wicked 9. 23. The hatred of the wicked against the trueth Ibidem The obstinacie of the wicked 5. 21. How God vseth the industrye of the wicked 4. 28 The rage of the wicked is set on fire so soone as the light of the Gospell â—â—mmeth neere it 13. 45. The diligence of the VVicked in opprâ—ssing the trueth 4. 1. The godly must despise tread vnderfoot the pride of the wicked 13. 48. 52. The fearâ—â—lnes of the wicked 23. 12. The zeale â—f the wicked 17. 5 How we ought to handle the wicked 4. 11. â— 33. 7. 54. 8. 20. 23. and 13. 1â— 40. 18. 6. 19. 9. and 23. 3. and 2â— 26. and 28. 25. The wicked ioyne hand to hand to oppresse the Gospel 23. 6. The wicked though against their wils confirme the Gâ—spel 4. 21. The wicked doe alwaies inuent some causes to sinne 16. 19. The wicked doe not what hurte they would 2. 43. and 3. â—8 4. 1. 4. 21. 28. 22. 2. 18. 1â— and 25. 1. How the wicked doe obey God 2. 23. The Wicked returne alwayes vnto their nature 24. 27. The wicked are easily seduced by SataÌ„ 2. 22. The wicked doe euen establish the prouidence of God 17. 26. All the wicked are subiect to the prouidence of God 13. 27. The wicked doe sometimes feare men 5. 21. The afflictions of the wicked are the very entry of hell 14. 22. The blindnes of the wicked 5. â—7 and 9. 23. The euil conscience of the wicked 5. 13. 17. The vaine counsels of the wicked 4. 5. 25. 27. and 9. 23. 23. 16. The end of the wicked 1. 20. 8. 20. The fraile vaine felicity of the wicked 12. 20. The destruction of the wicked 9. 5. 12. 20. The iudgement of the Wicked ought worthely to be despysed 16. 1. The lust of the wicked must be bridled 16. 37. The wicked are the children of the diuel 13. 10. The wicked are the bondeslaues of Satan 13. 51. The wicked are the ministers of Satan 21. 11. Howe abhominable the wicked are in the sight of God 13. 9. The wicked must sometimes be set by the eares together 23. 6. The wicked do alwaies waxe worse woorse 8. 1 9. 6. 12. 19. 13. 45. 19. 9. 26. 24 and 28. 29. The wicked must not bee preferred to gouerne the Church 4. 17. The wicked are without excuse 2. 23. 18. 6. and 24. 25. and 28. 27. The liberty of whoring did reigne euery where 15. 19. Whoredome is accursed before God Ibid. Women must not bee kept from the word 18. 26 Word put for thing 5. 32. and 10. 36. VVhence the maiestye of the worde doth come 10. 33. Looke the word of God VVhether good workes be the cause of saluation 10. 35. VVhether good workes doe purchase Gods fauour 10. 35. Good works are commended 23. 8. 9. 36. The reward of works 10. 4. All the worlde must bee subiect to the preaching of the Gospel 1. 2. Contempt of the world 13. 1. How we ought to consider the creation of the world 4. 24. The nature of the world is addicted to external visures 6. 14. The vnthankfulnes of the world 26. 17. The wickednesse of the worlde howe great 14. 19. The difference betweene God and the world 5. 41. How the creation of the worlde is to be considered 4. 24. The world was created by God 14. 15. 17. VVhy God created the worlde in sixe dayes 12. 10. How greatly the world is set vpon superstition 28. 6. The world is gouerned by the counsel of God 17. 26. 28 How farre forth it was lawfull for the faithfull to worshippe in the temple 24. 11. Ciuil woorship must bee distinguished from that which is done for religions sake 10. 25. 54. VVhy bastardly and corrupt worshippings are distinguished froÌ„ the good and sincere 7. 44. 4. VVhat worship is acceptable to God 7. 42. VVidowes chosen to the Deaconship 6. 1. VVe must haue regard of widowes 9. 39. True wisedome 10. 21. Z The Zeale of the Sadduces 5. 17. The bloudie Zeale of Hypocrites 17. 5. VVhat account we ought to make of rash Zeale 5. 17. The madde Zeale of the Iewes 3. 17. and 23. 6. The blynde and furious Zeale of the Papists 5. 17. and 6. 11. 9. 23. ¶ IMPRINTED AT LONdon by Thomas Dawson for George Bishop 1585.
than I found In that trulie there can be no offence if withdrawing my selfe from the contempt of those who loath my dutifulnesse I suffer them to enioy those delights of theirs which they desire and wherein they delight Of you most famous prince haue I made choise not without good cause whom I might put in the place of two both because I thinke you most worthie to haue your name appeare in the spirituall building of Christes temple neither doe I feare but that my booke shall finde the same friendship at your handes which you did vouchsafe to declare towardes mee in your most gentle letters But omitting at this time the respect of priuate good will I will stay in another thing Moreouer I may full well applie vnto you that speech which I had before with another Neither am I determined in this place to commend those most excellent vertues wherwith you haue purchased great authoritie singular fauor with the king of Polonia I am rather bent vnto an exhortation the summe wherof shall be this that with the like readines ioifulnes wherwith you haue at the beginning receiued the pure doctrine of the Gospell that with the like stoutnes of courage wherwith you haue hitherto indeuored to maintain the true worship of God you do with the same coÌ„stancie prosecute this course vnto the end It was surely a point of rare vertue that wheras you did know that many did haâ—e nothing more then than the frank profession and free studie of godlines yet so soone as the truth of the Gospell of Christe did once shine and appeare vnto you you did not feare by giuing your name to prouoke their hatred against you Neither doe those offices and good turnes deserue small prayse which you did not cease to bestow vpon the cherishing and increasing of the first beginnings of the Church although this your diligence did purchase vnto you great enuie amongest manie noble men which did not allowe the same But because you haue no lesse harde straites to passe through you must oftentimes stirre vp and encourage your selfe to ouercome them all vntill you haue finished the last act And so much the more carefully because manie princes although they see the estate of the Church filthily corrupt yet dare they attempt no remedie because that daunger which they feare will proceede from innouation when euilles must bee driuen out of their olde and quiet possession doth hinder and keepe them back from doing their dutie Other some thinke it to be an absurde and foolish thing to touch or set hande to diseases which are vncurable Other some I cannot tell through what frowardnesse doe flie from and abhorre all manner of reformation But to intreate of those lets wherewith you are enuironned on euerie side it were superfluous especiallie seeing you knowe them well enough Yet howsoeuer Sathan doeth assault you and with what combats soeuer he doth exercise you you can not without great wickednesse bee wearie of this holy warfare which you haue professed vnder Christe his banner Furthermore although you bee forwarde enough of your selfe yet I hope it will neither bee troublesome neither yet vnprofitable for you to haue your prosperous course of your earnest studie holpen and furthered with this help which God doeth offer vnto your handes by mee So often as wee see thinges tossed to and fro and as it were turned topsie turuie in the world there can no more fit and sure proppe bee found to establishe and stay our weake consciences than when as setting before our eyes the kingdome of Christe as it doth nowe appeare wee consider what hath been the estate and condition of the same from the beginning When we speake of the kingdome of Christ wee must respect two thinges the doctrine of the Gospell wherby Christ doth gather vnto himselfe a church and whereby he gouerneth the same beeing gathered together Secondly the societie of the godly who beeing coupled togeather by the sincere faith of the gospel are truly accounted the people of God Both which things howe liuely they are expressed by Luke in the Actes of the Apostles it is better to knowe by the reading of the whole book than to beleeue either my commendation or the commendation of anie man els For although the sonne of GOD hath alwayes reigned euen from the first beginning of the worlde yet after that beeing reuealed in the fleshe hee published his Gospell hee beganne then to erect a more famous Tribunall seate than before whence hee doeth now appeare most plainely and to be also most glorious If we turne our eies hither they shal be fedde not with a vaine picture as Virgil saith of his Aeneas but with the sound knowledge of those things from which we must fetch life And to the end I may returne vnto that whereof I determined to speak this is the best refuge for the conscience of men where they may quietly rest amidst these troublesome tempests wherewith the world is shaken Finally this meditation alone shall bring to passe that that shall neuer befall vs which too too many experiments do proue to haue ben truely spoken by Ennius in times past of the more part of men that wisedome is driuen away so often as the matter is handled by violence For if in the greatest and most vehement heat of combats the sweete harmonie of instruments was of such force amongst the Lacedemonians that it did aswage that furiousnes and fearcenes which was ingendred in that warlike people and did temper that violence which doth then out of measure rage in those natures which are otherwise vnpatient how much more shall the kingdome of Christ do this by the heauenlie pleasant tune of the holy Ghost which doth not onely tame most cruel beastes but maketh also Lambes of Wolues Lyons and Beares which turneth speares into hookes and swords into ploughshares Therefore seeing that most noble Prince I offer vnto you such kinde of temperature as the necessitie of times requireth I hope that this duetie of mine shall not be vnwelcome to your highnes so that indeede you shall perceiue this kind of confirmation to be very profitable fit to looke into the beginning of the Church as it is described of Luke wherein appeareth both wonderfull power of God vnder the reproch of the crosse and also most valiant patience of the seruants of God vnder the huge burden of troubles and the successe it selfe vncredible to the iudgement of the worlde bringeth forth most plentifull fruite of both But that I may omit other things which you had better set out by reading of Luke himselfe I will touch one thing which is proper to earthly princes and the chiefe gouernours of kingdomes and countries To wit that seeing that the power of the whole world gainesaying and al men which were then in authoritie being armed to oppresse the Gospel a few men obscure vnarmed and contemptible trusting onely to the aid of the truth the spirit did labor so
stoutly in spreading abroad the faith of Christ did refuse no paines nor danger did stand stoutly against all assaults vntill at length they gat the victorie there remaineth no excuse for Christian nobles who are of any dignitie seeing God hath furnished them with the sword to defend the kingdome of his sonne vnlesse they bee at least as constant and bold to take vpon them such an honorable office Furthermore it is not my part to declare how faithfully and vprightlie I haue behaued my selfe in interpreting this historie I hope surely my labour shall be fruitfull to all men And as for you most worthie prince I must againe request and beseech you that you doe both priuately addict your selfe wholy vnto Christ his gouernement as you haue of late happily begun and that you woulde also become not onely a faithfull helper but also a most stout valiant standerdbearer in furthering the kingdome of Christ vnto so manie noble men whom not onely the renowme of their stocke and linage but also the excellencie of their vertues doth commend God hath vouchsafed to bestowe vpon the realme of Polonia a singular priuiledge of honor that the better part of the nobility bidding adue to wicked superstitions which are as many corruptions and pollutions of the worship of God should desire with one consent a true forme of godlines and a well framed and reformed order of the Church It is well knowne that these men were not a little aided by your authoritie But there remaine more cumbats both for you and also for them than that like ouerworne souldiers you should giue your selues to idlenesse and rest First although no forraine enimy trouble you you shal haue busines inough to withstande those euils which are at home with you You haue sufficiently tried with how many sleights Sathan is furnished that he may worke some pollicie to ouerthrow that holy concorde amongst brethren wherein consisteth the safetie of the Church That befalleth you which is common euerie where for troublesome men to thrust in themselues when things are out of order who whilest they see a few and those weaklings troubled by a great multitude and that they do with much adoe defend the trueth which is couered with the thicke clouds of false accusations they doe more easilie come vpon them vnawares And by this subtiltie doeth that chiefe worker of all disceite and guile seeke the ruine of the Church not onely by cutting mangling and pulling in pieces the vnitie of the faith but by burdening the name of Christ with false enuie because the companies of the godly amongst whom these wicked knaues mixe themselues seeme to bee certaine receptacles and sinkes of all filthinesse So whilest that Stancharus a man of a troublesome nature doth through that ambition wherewith hee is wholelie set on fire spread abroad amongst you his dotings hereupon brake out that contention which threatneth some scattering abroade and you were laide open vnto the slaunders of many because it was thought that his sect did spreade it selfe farther Beholde on the other side a certaine Phisition called George Brandata worse than Stancarus because his errour is more detestable and because hee hath in his minde more secrete poison For which cause these also are the more worthie to be reprooued at whose hands the vngodlinesse of Seruetus hath found such fauour of such a suddaine For although I am perswaded that they are farre from those peruerse and sacriligious opinions yet they should haue taken better heede and not haue suffered this foxe craftilie to creepe into their companie because such plagues wil neuer be wanting neither will Sathan euer cease to bring abroad into the forefront such champions as haue giuen ouer themselues to serue him that hee may trouble the beginninges of the Gospel it is for you to bee continually in a redinesse and to the ende you may preuent greater euils you must set downe a right and godly manner of gouernment which is the faithfull keeping of holie peace For as it is manifest that puritie of doctrine is the soule of the Church so wee may full well compare Discipline vnto the Sinowes wherewith the bodie being bounde and knitte togither doth maintaine his strength Now on the otherside the vngodlinesse of other enimies ought to sharpen your studdie and earnestnesse I meane the preachers of Antichrist of Rome who to the end they may disceiue the ignorant doe continually with shrill voice sounde out the name of the Church There is no controuersie amongst vs about the Church but all graunt that the authoritie thereof ought to bee reuerenced of all the children of God saue onely that they vnder false colour of honor do make the shadowish name of the Churche subiect to their lustes we do so reuerence the Church from our heart that we account it great wickednesse to prophane the sacred name thereof That I may omitte other godlie ministers of pure and sound doctrine I my selfe haue againe and againe heretofore in manie places handled this question when mention is made of the Church whose heade is the sonne of God and which he who is the fountaine of life eternall doth alwayes quicken by his spirite how ridiculous a thing it is to bring forth a bodie without an heade and secondly a deade carkasse The hireling flatterers of the Pope doe crie out that they haue the Church But we can knowe by no meanes better whither this be true or no than when wee looke vnto the heade As for that it is manifest that it is cut off by their sacrilegious violence For how shall Christ retaine the place of the heade being dispoiled of all his power throwne downe from his gouernment depriued of his dignitie Vppon this condition hath the heauenlie father made him the heade of the Church that he may gouerne all men from the greatest to the least by the doctrine of his Gospel that hee may bee the onely priest to reconcile the father continuallie as hee hath once appeased his wrath by the sacrifice of his death that his death may continuallie purge our sinnes that his blood may be the only washing that his obedience may be a perfect satisfaction that hee may be a continuall and sole intercessour through whose meanes our prayers may be hearde that hee may be a faithfull defendour and tutour that hee may by his aide defende vs that the vices of our fleshe beeing tamed hee may refourme vs vnto righteousnesse and holinesse that hee alone may beginne and finish in vs a blessed life If the Papistes haue left him any of these thinges let them haue the Church on their side But if the Pope oppressing mens consciences with his fearce and more than cruell tyrannie haue disanulled and taken awaie Christ his gouernement if hee haue brought in a forme of gouernement altogither contrarie to the doctrine of the Gospel if hee haue inuented a newe and straunge priesthood that hee may thrust in himselfe being but a mortall man to bee the
they profite yet more being admonished by his iudgements Therfore by all those punishments which we read haue been laid vpon men in times past and do daily see to be laid vpon them doth God call vs back from the enticements and libertie of sinning For our flesh must be brideled euer now and then after this sort because one bridle will scarce serue the turne There was another maner feare in the strangers yet no such feare as brought them vnto the sincere worship of God yet notwithstanding it was such as caused them to giue the glorie to God 12 And by the handes of the Apostles were done manie signes and woonders amongst the people And they were all with one accord in the porch of Solomon 13 And of the other durst no man ioyn himselfe to them but the people magnified them 14 And the multitude of those that beleeued in the Lorde both of men and women grew more and more 15 So that they brought foorth the sicke into the streetes and laid them in beds and couches that at the least way the shadowe of Peter as he came might shadow some of them 16 And a multitude of the next cities came together to Ierusalem bringing their sicke and those which were vexed with vncleane spirites which were all healed 12 He returneth to myracles of another sort which are more proper to the gospel to wit whereby Christe doth not only declare his power but also his goodnesse to the end he may allure men vnto himselfe with the sweetnesse of his grace For he came to saue the world and not to condemne it Therefore whereas the sicke are healed and other are deliuered from diuels these benefites done to the bodie doe represent the spirituall grace of Christ and therefore they agree with his natural office that I may so speake That feareful signe which was shewed in Ananias and Saphira came to passe exraordinarilie Luke saieth that the church was encreased by myracles because they serue for faith as wee haue said to prepare some to confirme other some Whereby that is proued againe which I haue said els where that myracles must neuer be separated from the word Luke sheweth the multitude of myracles by this in that the sicke were brought foorth euerie where that they might bee healed For God meant thus to set foorth the Gospel of his sonne especiallie at the beginning that he might for a certaintie testifie to the Iewes that that restoring of all thinges was present which was so often promised and in which all their hope was reposed as they themselues did pretende and make semblance It is welknowne that Couches were certaine little beddes in which the men of olde were woont to rest at noone Because they might the more easily carrie them out they laide the sicke in them And they were all with one accorde He signifieth vnto vs that they were woont to meete togither at certaine houres not onely for doctrine and prayers sake but that they might winne other vnto the Lord as occasion was giuen For euerie man liued at home at his owne house but they had their meetings there as assuredly no bodie of the Church can otherwise continue For if euery man wil be his owne teacher and pray apart by himself and if there be no meetings assemblies how excellentlie so euer the Church be ordered and appointed yet must it needs decay and come to nought He saith that they were all of one mind to the end we may know that they did all keepe that order willingly that no man was so disordered as to keepe himselfe at home neglecting the publike assembly Wherein they shewed a token not only of modestie but also of constancie For they could not doe this without daunger seeing the place was so famous For which cause the agreement of them all to put them selues in hazard was so much the more worthie of commendation 13 And of other durst no man This was the second fruit of the myracles in that those which beleeued not being conuict with the excellent power of God dare not despise the Apostles but are rather enforced to reuerence the church Yet that might seeme an absurd thing that being terrified with myracles they flie from God and his people I aunswere that they were letted through their owne fault from comming And it is not to be doubted but that God doth call vs vnto himselfe by myracles Therefore whosoeuer they bee that goe not so farre as willingly to imbrace the grace of God which shineth in them they are letted and hindered by their owne peruerse and euill conscience Yet this is some frute in that God wringeth some feare out of them although Luke doth ascribe this not only to the myracle but rather comprehendeth all togeather which might seru◠to the encreasing of the dignitie of the Churche For al thinges were so ordered that there shined there a certain diuine maiestie for they did no lesse differ frō the other than Angels from men For there is a certaine secrete maiestie in holie discipline and in sincere godlinesse which doeth euen fast binde the wicked whither they will or noe But we knowe not at this day of what sort the same is yea rather we cause our selues to be despised togither with the Gospel through our profane libertie of euil liuing Furthermore the punishment of Ananias and his wife did not a little terrifie the wicked and keepe them from breaking in vnaduisedly into the companie of those men where God had shewed himself so sharp a iudge Yet we must note that he speaketh of men which were indifferent in this place of those which wer not of the worst sort For ther wer at that time many at Ierusalem whom neither the reuerence of signes neither yet of the angelical holines of the godly could moue Therfore Luke meaneth moderate men in whom there was some feed of the feare of God like as we see at this day certain whō the vanitie of the world keepeth back frō submitting their necks vnto the yoke of Christ yet because they smel out some diuine thing in our doctrin they dare not despise the same yet wee may see also in what deadlie grins Satan insnareth all those which haue not the spirit of Christ that they do not only feare to prouide for thēselues but purposely auoide those remedies which are offered them vnto saluation They both see allow those things which are both holy and profitable and yet notwithstanding they are either carried headlong vnto things which are worse or els they wex drowsie in their filthines 15 The shadow of Peter as he came The Papists abuse this text not only to the end they may cōmend feigned myracles which they say are done at the graues of martyrs but also that they may boast of their reliques Why say they shall not the graue or garment or the touching of the bones of Peter haue power to heale as well as his shadowe had this power I answere we
haue prophane affaires taken in hand euen for some priuate gaine where that is set aside which is otherwise accounted no small part of the worship of God 3 Therefore brethren looke out Now we see to what end Deacons were made The worde it selfe is in deede generall yet is it properly taken for those which are stewards for the poore Whereby it appeareth howe licenciously the Papists doe mocke God and men who assigne vnto their Deacons no other office but this to haue the charge of the patten and Chalice Surelie we neede no long disputation to proue that they agree in no point with the Apostles But if the readers bee desirous to see anie more concerning this point they may repaire vnto our Institution As touching this present place the Church is permitted to choose For it is tyrannous if any one man appoint or make ministers at his pleasure Therefore this is the most lawful way that those be chosen by common voices who are to take vpon them any publike function in the Church And the Apostles prescribe what manner persons ought to be chosen to wit men of tried honestie and credit men endewed with wisedome and other gifts of the Spirite And this is the meane betweene tyranny and confused libertie that nothing be done without the consent and approbation of the people yet so that the pastours moderate and gouerne this action that their authoritie may be as a bridle to keepe vnder the people least they passe their bounds too much In the meane season this is worth the noting that the Apostles prescribe an order vnto the faithfull least they appoint any saue those which are fit For wee doe God no small iniurie if wee take all that come to hande to gouerne his house Therefore we must vse great circumspection that we choose none vnto the holy function of the Church vnlesse we haue some triall of him first The number of Seauen is applied vnto the present necessitie least any man shoulde thinke that there is some mysterie comprehended vnder the same Whereas Luke saith full of the Spirit and wisdome I do interpret it thus that it is requisite that they bee furnished both with other gifts of the Spirit and also with wisedome without which that function cannot bee exercised well both that they may beware of the liegerdemane of those men who being too much giuen vnto begging require that which is necessary for the pouertie of the brethren and also of their slanders who cease not to backbite though they haue none occasion giuen them For that function is not onely painefull but also subiect to manie vngodly murmurings 4 And we will giue our selues vnto prayer They shewe againe that they haue too much busines otherwise wherin they may exercise themselues during their whole life For the olde prouerbe agreeth hereunto verie fitlie which was vsed sometimes in the solemne rites Doe this Therefore they vse the word proscarteresai which signifieth to be as it were fastned and tyed to any thing Therefore Pastours must not thinke that they haue so done their dutie that they need to do no more when they haue daily spent some time in teaching There is another manner of study another maner of zeale another maner of continuance required that they may in deede boast that they are wholie giuen to that thing They adioyne thereunto prayer not that they alone ought to pray for that is an exercise common to all the Godly but because they haue peculiar causes to praie aboue all other There is no man which ought not to be carefull for the common saluation of the Church howe much more then ought the Pastour who hath that function enioyned him by name to labour carefullie for it Exod. 17.11 Rom. 1.10 1. Corin. 3.7 So Moses did in deede exhort others vnto prayer but hee went before them as the ring leader And it is not without cause that Paule doth so often make mention of his prayers Againe wee must alwayes remember that that wee shall loose all our labour bestowed vppon plowing sowing and watering vnlesse the encrease come from heauen Therefore it shal not suffice to take great paines in teaching vnlesse wee require the blessing at the hands of the Lord that our labour may not bee in vaine and vnfruitfull Heereby it appeareth that the exercise of prayer is not in vaine commended vnto the ministers of the word 5 Stephen full of faith Luke doth not therefore separate faith from the Spirite as if it also were not a gift of the Spirite but by Spirit hee meaneth other gifts wherewith Stephen was endewed as zeale wisedome vprightnesse brotherly loue diligence integritie of a good conscience secondly hee expresseth the principall kinde Therefore he signifieth that Stephen did excell first in faith and secondly in other vertues so that it was euident that hee had abundance of the grace of the Spirite He doth not so greatlie commende the rest because vndoubtedly they were inferiour to him Moreouer the auncient writers doe with great consent affirme that this Nicholas which was one of the seauen is the same of whom Iohn maketh mention in the Reuelation to wit Apoca. 2.15 that hee was an authour of a filthie and wicked sect for as much as hee would haue women to be common For which cause we must not be negligent in choosing ministers of the Church For if the hypocrisie of men do deceiue euen those which are most vigilant and careful to take heed what shall befall the carelesse and negligent Notwithstanding if when we haue vsed such circumspection as is meete it so fall out that wee bee deceiued let vs not be trobled out of measure for as much as Luke saith that euen the Apostles were subiect to this inconuenience Some will aske this question Then what good shall exhortation doe to what vse serueth prayer seeing that the successe it selfe sheweth that the election was not wholy gouerned by the Spirite of God I answere that this is a great matter that the Spirit directed their iudgements in choosing sixe men in that he suffereth the Church to goe astray in the seuenth it ought to seeme no absurd thing For it is requisite that wee bee thus humbled diuers wayes partly that the wicked and vngodly may exercise vs partly that being taught by their example wee may learne to examine our selues throughly least there bee in vs any hidden and priuie starting corners of guile partly that we may be more circumspect to descerne and that wee may as it were keepe watch continually least wee bee disceiued by craftie and vnfaithfull men Also it may bee that the ministerie of Nicolas was for a time profitable and that he fel afterward into that monstrous error And if so be it he fell in such sort from such an honorable degree the higher that euery one of vs shall bee extolled let him submit himselfe vnto God with modestie and feare 6 Hauing prayed they laide their hands vpon them Laying on of handes was
other fortitude but a certain rash and immoderate fiercenesse Therefore there was in Paul wonderful force of the Spirit who standing amidst such beastes which sought to pull him too and fro stoode firme in the sound synceritie of the Gospel and did valiantly withstand and endure as well the dogged malapertnes of the former sect as the pride and craftie cauillings of the other And hereby we see more plainly what small agreement there is betweene the heauenly wisedome and the wisedome of the flesh For though the whole multitude were offended with the gospel yet the Philosophers were captaines and standerd-bearers in assaulting the same For that did principally appeare in them which Paul himselfe speaketh of the wisedome of the flesh that 1. Cor. 1.11 It is an enimy to the crosse of Christ so that no man can be fit to learn the principles of the Gospel vnlesse he first abandon the same Other some said Luke setteth before vs two sorts of men which both were farre from godlinesse and yet the one sort is worse than the other Those who are desirous to heare that againe which they call newe first they are mooued not with any right desire to learne but with vaine curiositie Secondly they thinke vnhonourablie of the worde of God in that they count it prophane noualtie Yet because they giue eare and that being in doubt vntill they may know farther of the matter they are not quite past hope But the rest who proudly refuse that which is offered yea condemne it reprochfully do shut the gate of saluation against themselues For this railing did proceede from monstrous pride what meaneth this Babler Because they neither vouchsafe to heare Paule also reprochfully refuse him as if he were some common iester Moreouer they do not loath his doctrine through rash zeale but do openlie tread vnder foot that which is brought vnto them concerning religion though as yet they know it not because these are ashamed to learn any thing of a base and obscure fellowe who had hitherto professed themselues to be teachers of all the whole world A declarer of new diuels They doe not take diuels in euill part as the Scripture vseth to do but for the lesser gods or angels who they thought were in the midst betweene the highest God and men whereof Plato maketh mention oftentimes As touching the summe of the matter we must note that those things which Paul spake concerning Christ and the resurrection seemed to them to be new diuels Whence we gather that our faith is principally distinguished and discerned from the superstitions of the Gentiles by these marks because it setteth forth Christ to be the sole mediatour because it teacheth vs to seeke for saluation only at his hands because it commādeth vs to seeke remission of our sins in his death wherby we may bee reconciled to God because it teacheth that men are renewed fashioned againe by his spirit who were before prophane slaues to sin that they may begin to liue righteously holilie Again because frō such beginnings as do plainly declare that the kingdome of God is spiritual it lifteth vp our minds at length vnto the hope of the resurrection to come For as concerning other things though the Philosophers do not reason purely yet they say somwhat Yea they speak much concerning eternal life the immortality of the soul but as touching faith which sheweth free reconciliation in Christ regeneration whereby the Spirit of God doth restore in vs the image of God concerning calling vpon God and the last resurrection not a word 19 They brought him to Mars street Though this were a place appointed for iudgement yet Luke doth not meane that Paul was brought before the seat of the iudges that he might plead his cause before the iudges of Mars street But that hee was brought thither where was most commonly a great assēblie of people that the serious disputation might be had before a great and famous audience And admit we graunt that he was brought before the iudgement seat yet the end doeth declare that he was not presented to the iudges but that hee had free libertie to speake as before an audience And that which followeth shortly after touching the nature and conditions of the men of Athens doth sufficiently declare that their curiositie was the cause that Paul had such audience giuē him that he had such a famous place granted him to preach Christ in that so many came togither For in any other place it had bin a crime worthy of death to speake in the market or in any other publike place hauing gathered a companie of people togither but there because those who did carrie about trifles had libertie granted thē to prate by reason of the immoderate desire they had to heare newes Paul was permitted to intreat of the misteries of faith being requested Gaue themselues to nothing else The two vices which Luke reciteth do almost alwaies go togither For it falleth out seldome that those who are desirous of noualties are not also bablers For that saying of Horace is most true Flie a demander of questions for the same is also a blab And surely wee see that curious men are like rent Barrels Furthermore both vices came of idlenes not only because the Philosophers spent whol dayes in disputing but because the common sort was too much set vpon noualty neither was there any crafts man so base there which would not thrust in himself to set in order the state of Grecia And surely that which Luk saith here is witnessed by al writers both Greeke Latin that there was nothing more light couetous or froward than that people Wherefore there could neuer be any certaine gouernment set downe in that Citie which was notwithstanding the mystres of sciences Therfore in principal power they had notwithstanding no long liberty neither did they euer cease off from attempting things making many hurliburlies vntil they brought themselues al Grecia to vtter ruine For whē their state was decaied yet did not they forsake their boldnes Therefore Cicero doth laugh at their folly because they did no lesse fiersely set forth their decrees then than whē they were lords ouer Grecia Now though there were smal hope to do any good among curious mē yet Paul did not neglect the opportunity if peraduenture he might gain some of a great cōpanie to Christ Neither was this any small praise for the Gospel in the most noble place of the Citie and as it were in a common Theatre to refute and openly to reproue all forged and false worshippings which had reigned there euen vntill this day 22 And standing in the midst of Mars street he saith Men of Athens I see you in all things as it were more superstitious 23 For passing by beholding your maner of worshippings I found also an altar wherein was written To the vnknowen God Therefore whom you worshippe ignorantly him doe I preach vnto you 24 God who
pricked forward with an opinion vnaduisedly cōceiued Therfore let knowledge be present that it may gouern zeale And now it is said that zeale was the cause of diligence because Apollos gaue himselfe to teach diligently But and if that man being not yet throughly perfectly taught in the Gospel did preach Christ so diligently and freely what excuse doe those men hope to haue who know that more perfectly and fullie which he knew not as yet if they doe not indeuour so muche as in them lieth to further and aduaunce the kingdome of Christ Luke doth attribute zeale to the spirite therefore because it is a rare and peculiar gift neither doe I so expound it that Apollos was mooued and pricked forward with the instinct of his mind but by motion of the holy Spirite 26 Whom when Priscilla By this it appeareth how farre Priscilla and Aquila were from the loue themselues and from enuying another mans vertue in that they deliuer those things familiarly and priuately to an eloquent man which he may afterward vtter publikely They excelled not in the same grace wherein hee did excell and peraduenture they might haue been despised in the congregation Moreouer they most diligently helpe him whom they see better furnished as well with eloquence as the vse of the scripture so that they keepe silence and he alone is heard Againe this was no small modestie which was in Apollos in that hee doeth suffer himselfe to bee taught and instructed not only in an handicraftsman but also by a woman Hee was mightie in the scripture and did surpasse them but as touching the accōplishment of the kingdome of Christ those doe pollish and trim him who might seeme to bee scarce fit ministers Also we see that at that time women were not so ignorant of the word of God as the Papistes will haue them forasmuch as wee see that one of the chiefe teachers of the Churche was instructed by a woman Notwithstanding wee must remember that Priscilla did execute this function of teaching at home in her owne house that shee might not ouerthrowe the order prescribed by God and nature 27 When he was determined Luke doth not expresse for what cause Apollos would goe to Achaia Notwithstanding wee gather out of the text that he was not allured with any priuate commoditie but because more plentifull frute in spreading abroade the Gospell did shewe it selfe there because the brethren did more encourage him with their exhortation and did spurre him when hee did alreadie runne Which they would not haue done vnlesse it had been for the common profite of the Church For it had been an absurd thing to intreate a man to depart to another place whose faithfull industrie they alreadie vsed and did knowe that they should haue neede of him afterward vnlesse there had been som better recompence offered And I take it that the brethren of Ephesus wrote to those of Achaia not onely that they shoulde prouide lodging for the man but also that they shoulde suffer him to teache This is holy commendation in deede when wee studie to extoll euerie good man with our testimonie and consent least the giftes of the holie ghost which he hath giuen to euery man for the edifiyng of the church lie buried When he came The brethren forsawe this who had alreadie had experience thereof when they exhorted him to addresse himselfe to that iourney which he had alreadie in minde conceiued And whereas it is saide that he helped the faithfull much wee may take it two wayes eyther that he helped those who were not so well furnished and that hee did support them to beat downe the pride of their enemies for euery man was not able to haue weapon in readinesse to vndertake a harde combate against old enemies who woulde neuer haue yeelded vnlesse they had been inforced or that hee aided them least their faith shoulde faile being shaken with the gainsaying of the enemies which thing doth oftentimes befall the weake I take it that they wer holpen both waies that hauing a skilfull and practised captaine they gate the victorie in the conflict Secondly that their faith was fortified with a new prop that it might be without danger of wauering Furthermore Luke semeth to note that the brethren were holpen with this stoutnesse and constācie when as he sayth that he disputed publikely with the Iewes For this was a signe of zeale and boldnesse not to flie the light Whereas in the ende of the sentence these wordes are vsed through grace it doth either agree with the worde going before they beleeued or els it must be referred vnto the helpe wherewith he helped the brethren The former interpretation is nothing hard For the meaning thereof shall be this that the faithful were illuminate by the grace of God that they might beleeue as if he had said The brethren who were alredie called by the benefite of God vnto faith were furthered Yet the other text seemeth to agree better that Apollos in imparting that grace which hee had receiued with the brethren did helpe them So that through grace shall import as muche as according to the measure of the grace receiued 28 Hee ouercame the Iewes By this it appeareth to what vse that abilitie which Apollos had in that he was mighty in the holy scriptures did serue to wit because he had a strong and forcible proof to reproue and ouercome the enemies withall Also the state of the disputation is briefly set downe that Iesus is Christe For this was out of question among the Iewes that Christe was promised to bee the deliuerer but it was a hard matter to perswade thē that Iesus the son of Mary was this Christ through whom saluation was offered Therefore it was expedient for Apollos so to dispute concerning the office of Christe that hee might proue that the testimonies of the Scripture were fulfilled in the sonne of Mary and that hee might thereby gather that hee was Christe Also this place doth testifie that the scripture is profitable not onely to teach but also to breake the obstinacie of those which doe not obey and followe willingly For our faith should not otherwise bee firme enough vnlesse there were an euident demonstration extaunt there of those thinges which are necessarie to be knowen for saluation Surely if the lawe and the prophetes had so great light that Apollos did thereby proue manifestly that Iesus is Christe as if he did point out the matter with his finger the adding of the Gospel muste bring this to passe at least that the perfect knowledge of Christe may bee fet from the whole scripture Wherfore it is detestable blasphemie against God in that the papists say that the scripture is darke and doubtfull For to what end should god haue spoken vnlesse the plaine inuincible truth should shew it selfe in his words And wheras they infer that we must stand to the authority of the church they are not to dispute with heretiks out of the scriptures
Whereto that of Isaias doth aunsweare Take counsel togeather Pro. 21.30 Esa 8.10 and it shall come to nought speak the worde and it shall not stande This is set before our eyes to be considered in this present historie as in a glasse The matter was almost dispatched that Paul shoulde come out on the morrowe to be slaine as a vowed sacrifice But the Lord doth shewe that his life is most safely kept so that whatsoeuer men goe about all is in vaine As for vs let vs not feare but that his prouidence whereof he shewed some token then reacheth euen vnto the defending of vs because this promise continueth sure Luk. 21.18 There shall not an hayre fall from your heads c. Moreouer it is woorth the noting that hee woorketh sometimes by meanes vnlooked for to saue those that be his that hee may the better exercise our faith who would haue thought that a boy woulde haue disclosed their laying await which those who were partners in the conspiracie thought was knowen to none but to themselues Therefore let vs learn to leane vnto and stay our selues vpon the Lord though we see no ordinary way to saue our selues who shal find a way euen through places where nothing can passe 17 And when Paul had called vnto him one of the Centurions he saieth Bring this young man vnto the chiefe captaine for he hath a certaine thing to shewe him 18 And he tooke him and led him vnto the chiefe captaine and said Paul the prisoner called me vnto him and desired me to bring this young man vnto thee who hath somewhat to say to thee 19 And the chief captaine tooke him by the hand and went aside with him and asked him what is it that thou hast to say to me 20 And he said the Iewes haue cōspired together to desire thee that thou bring foorth Paul into the councell to morrow as if they would know somewhat more certainly of him 21 But doe not thou obey them for more then forty of them lay in wait for him who haue bound themselues with a curse that they will neither eate nor drink vntill they haue slaine him And now they be readie waiting that thou shouldst promise 22 Therfore the chief captain let the young man goe and commaunded him tell no man that thou hast told me these things 23 And when he had called vnto him two vnder captaines he said make readie two hundred souldiars that they may goe to Cesarea and horse men seuentie and two hundreth “ Or Iauelings with dartes at the thirde houre of the night 24 And make readie beasts that they may set Paul thereon and bring him safe to Foelix the gouernour 17 Calling vnto him Paul was not so desirous of life but he would haue made hast to die if the Lord had thought it good so to bee but because he knoweth that he serueth Christ vppon that condition that he may no lesse liue then die to him he doth not neglect to auoid the danger which was reuealed to him And though he be fully persuaded that God is the keeper of his life yet hee doeth not wait vntill God put foorth his hand out of heauen to worke a myracle but doth rather vse the remedy which is offered him nothing douting but that it is appointed by God Thus must all the ministers of Christ deale that being furnished with inuincible constancie so farre as their calling requireth they feare not danger and yet that they cast not away themselues through rashnesse Let them call vpon the name of the Lorde cheerefully euen amidst the pikes and yet let them not contemne those helpes which are offered Otherwise they shall be iniurious to God in that they are not only not moued with his promises but also despice the means which he hath appointed for their deliuerance 19 Taking him by the hand In that the chiefe captaine did shewe himself so courteous to the young man in that he lead him by the hand into a secret place in that he vouchsafed to heare him so gently all this must be attributed to the grace of God who promised to giue his people fauour in the sight of the Egyptians who vseth to mollifie harde hearts to tame fierce spirites and to fashion those vnto al humanitie whom he hath determined to vse as meanes to helpe those that be his A man trained vp in the warres might no lesse haue giuen this young man the repulse whom he knew not then haue despiced Paul his sute Therefore the Lord who hath in his hand the hearts of men did frame the profane man to giue eare vnto him Also it was well that he knewe before how furiously they raged against Paul that hee might the more willingly succour a miserable and forsaken man Those who are in authoritie are taught by this example what a great vertue curtesie is If it had bin an hard matter to come to him he might through ignorance haue deliuered Paul to the Iewes to bee put to death So often times Magistrates doe fall into many and great offences through their owne pride because they will not admit those who woulde giue them good counsell Calling vnto him And here we see the prouidence of God yet more manifestly For though this bee the drift of the chiefe captaine to preuent a publike vprore whereof he should haue giuen an account before the Gouernour yet hee executeth the counsell of God in deliuering Paul For he was to gather souldiars together also the citie must needs be stripped of the garrison and the voyage required some cost Therefore we must so consider the wisedome of the chiefe captaine that our faith lift vp her eyes into heauen and vnderstand that God doth guide the heart of a profane man by a secret instinct and that hee is at length a guide to Paul and the souldiars that hee may come safe to Cesarea The third houre of the night was the end of the first watch Therefore it is all one as if the chiefe captaine did commaunde that the souldiars be in readinesse at the second watch Exod. 3.21 Luke calleth those who carried dartes Lancearios who being more lightly weaponed were placed in the winges when as the souldiars which pertained vnto the legions were more fit for set warre 25 And he wrote a letter after this sort 26 Claudius Lysias to the most mightie Ruler Foelix sendeth greeting 27 This man beeing taken of the Iewes and almost killed of them did I rescue comming vppon them with souldiars after that I knewe that hee was a Romane 28 And beeing desirous to knowe the cause for which they did accuse him I brought him into their councell 29 Whom I perceiued they accused of questions of their lawe hauing in him no crime worthie of death or of bonds 30 And when I was certified of the laying await of the Iewes I sent him streight way vnto thee and gaue commandement to his accusers that they shoulde tell those things before