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.
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
Cilicia establishing the Churches 36 Let vs visit our brethren In this historie we must first note how carefull Paul was for the Churches which he had ordained Hee laboureth in deed at Antiochia profitablie but because hee remembred that hee was an Apostle ordained of God and not the pastour of one particular place hee keepeth the course of his calling Secondly as it did not become him to be tied to one place so he thinketh with himselfe that he was bound to all whom he begat in the Lord therefore he will not suffer them to want his helpe Moreouer the worke that was begunne in those places could not be neglected but it woulde shortly after decay Yet it is to be thought that Paul stayed stil in the Church of Antiochia vntill he saw the estate thereof well ordered and concord established For we knowe and trie what great force principall Churches haue to keepe other lesser Churches in order If there arise any tumult in an obscure streete or if there fal out any offence the rumour goeth not so far neither are the neighbours so much mooued But if any place be excellent it cannot quaile without great ruine or at least but that the lesser buildings shal be therewith sore shaken both far and wide Therefore Paul in staying a time at Antioch did prouide for other Churches and so we must no lesse looke vnto his wisdome than his diligence in this example because oftentimes the immoderate heat of the Pastours in going about matters doeth no lesse hurt than their sluggishnes How they doe Paul knewe that amidst so great lightnesse and inconstancie of men and as their nature is inclined to vice if there be any thing well ordered among them it doeth seldome continue stable for any long time and especially that Churches doe easily decay or growe out of kind vnlesse they be looked too continually There ought nothing vnder heauen to bee more firme than the spirituall building of faith whose stabilitie is grounded in the very heauen yet there be but fewe in whose mindes the worde of the Lorde doth throughly take liuely roote therefore firmnes is rare in men Againe euen those who haue their anchor firmely fixed in the trueth of God doe not cease notwithstanding to be subiect to diuerse tossings wherby though their faith be not ouerturned yet hath it neede of strengthning that it may be vnderpropped and stayed Moreouer we see how sathan doeth assault and with what subtile shiftes hee goeth about priuily to pull downe sometimes whole Churches sometimes euery one of the faithfull particularly Therefore it is not without cause that Paul is so carefull for his scholars least they behaue themselues otherwise then is to be wished and therefore is hee desirous in time to preuent if there be any inconuenience risen which cannot be vntill he haue taken view 37 And Barnabas gaue counsell Luke doth here set downe that doleful disagreement which ought to make all the godly afraid for iust causes The societie of Paul and Barnabas was consecrated by the heauenly oracle They had long time laboured being of one mind vnder this yoke whereunto the Lord had tied them they had by many eâ—â—eriences tried the excellent fauour of God Yea that wonderful successe mentioned heretofore by Luke was a manifest blessing of God Though they had bin almost drowned so often in so many tempestes of persecution and were set vpon so sore by infinite enimies though domesticall sedition were euery where kindled against them yet they were so farre from being pulled in sunder that their agreement was then most of al tried But now for a light matter and which might easily haue bin ended they breake that holy bond of Gods calling This could not fall out without great perturbance to al the godly Seing that the heat of the contention was so great and vehement in these holy men who had long time accustomed themselues to suffer all things what shall befall vs whose affections being not as yet so brought to obey God do oftentimes rage without modestie Seing that a light occasion did seperate them who had long time amidst so great trials retained vnity holily how easily may satan cause those to be diuided who haue either none or at least a colde desire to foster peace What great pride was it for Barnabas who had no more honorable thing than to be Paul his companion that he might behaue himselfe like a sonne toward his father so stubbernely to refuse his counsell Peraduenture also some might thinke that Paul was not very courteous in that hee did not forgiue a faithfull helper this fault Therefore we be admonished by this example that vnlesse the seruants of Christ take great heed there be many chinkes through which Satan will creepe in to disturbe that concorde which is among them But nowe we must examine the cause it selfe For some there bee who lay the blame of the disagreement vppon Paule and at the first hearing the reasons which they bring seeme probable Iohn Marke is reiected because he withdrew himselfe from Pauls companie but hee fell not away from Christ A yong man being as yet vnacquainted with bearing the crosse returned home from his iorney He was somewhat to be born with for his age being a freshwater soldiar he fainted in troubles euen at the first dash he was not therefore about to bee a slothfull soldiar during his whole life Now forasmuch as his returning to Paul is an excellent testimony of repentance it seemeth to be a point of discourtesie to reiect him For those must bee handled more courteously who punish theÌ„selues for their owne offences of their own accord There were also other causes which ought to haue made Paul more courteous The house of Iohn Mark was a famous Inne Sup. 12.12 his mother had intertained the faithful in most greeuous persecution when Herod al the people were in a rage they were wont to haue their secreat meetings there as Luke reported before Surely he ought to haue borne with such a holy couragious woman least immoderate rigor should alienate her she was desirous to haue her son addicted to preach the gospel now what a great griefe might it haue bin to her that his pains industry should be refused for one light fault now wheras Iohn Mark doth not only bewayle his fault but in very deed amend the same Barnabas hath a faire colour why he should pardon him Yet we may gather out of the text that the Church did allow Pauls counsel For Barnabas departeth and with his companion hee saileth into Cyprus There is no mention made of the brethren as if he had departed priuily without taking his leaue But the Brethren commend Paul in their prayers to the grace of God whereby appeareth thar the Church stoode on his side Secondly whereas God showeth forth the power of his Spirit in blessing Paul doth blesse his labours with happy successe of his grace leaueth Barnabas as it were
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
of a long and werisome iourney vnles he be also brought in danger of his life by those which lay in waite for him Let all the seruants of Christe set this mirrour before their eyes that they may neuer faint through the wearisomnes of straits Notwithstanding when Paul doth iourney another way that he may auoid their laying in wait he sheweth that we must haue regard of our life so farre foorth that wee throw not our selues headlong into the midst of dāgers And those who accompanie him giue no smal testimonie of their godlines and we see how precious his life was to the faithful when as a great many beeyng chosen out of diuers countries to be his companions do for his sake take a hard sharp iourney not without great charges Luke saith that Paul tarried at Philippos so long as the daies of vnleauened bread did last bicause he had at that time better opportunitie offered to teach And for as much as it was vnknown as yet that the law was disanulled it stoode him vpō to beware least by neglecting the feast day he shuld be thought among the rude to be a contemner of God Though for mine owne part I thinke that he sought principally opportunity to teache because the Iewes were then more attentiue to learne 7 And vpon one day of the Sabbothes when the disciples were come together to breake bread Paul disputed with them being about to take his iourney on the morrow and he prolonged his speech vntil midnight 8 And there were manie lightes in an vpper chamber where they were gathered together 9 And a certaine young man named Eutichus sitting in a window being fallen into a deepe sleepe as Paul disputed long time being more ouercome with sleep he fel down from the third loft downward and was taken vp dead 10 And when Paul came downe he fel vpon him imbracing him said Be not yee troubled for his soule is in him 11 And when he was gone vp and had broken bread and had eaten hauing had long conference vntill it was day he departed 12 And they brought the boy aliue and were not a litle comforted 13 But when we had taken ship we loosed to Asson thence to receiue Paule for so had he appointed being about to goe by land 7 And in one day Either doth he meane the first day of the week which was next after the Sabboth or els some certaine Sabboth Which latter thing may seeme to me more probable for this cause because that daye was more fit for an assēbly according to custome But seeing it is no new matter for the Euangelists to put one insteed of the first Mat. 26.1 Luk. 24.1 Ioh. 20.1 according to the custome of the Hebrew tongue it shal very wel agree that on the morrow after the Sabboth they came together Furthermore it were too cold to expoūd this of any day For to what end is there mentioned of the Sabboth saue only that he may note the opportunity choise of the time Also it is a likely matter that Paul waited for the sabboth that the day before his departure he might the more easily gather al the disciples into one place And the zeale of them al is woorth the noting in that it was no trouble to Paul to teach vntil midnight though he were ready to take his iourney neyther were the rest weary of learning For he had no other cause to continue his speech so long saue onely the desire and attentiuenes of his auditory To breake bread Though breaking of bread doth sometimes signifie among the Hebrewes a domestical banquet yet do I expound the same of the holie supper in this place being moued with two reasons For seeing we may easily gather by that which foloweth that ther was no smal multitude gathered together there it is vnlikely that there could any supper be prepared in a priuate house Again Luke wil afterward declare that Paul tooke bread not at supper time but after midnight Herevnto is added that that he saith not that he tooke meate that he might eate but that he might onlie tast Therefore I thinke thus that they had appointed a solemn day for the celebrating of the holy supper of the Lord among themselues which might be commodious for them all And to the end Paul might remedy after a sort the silence of longer absence he continueth his speech longer then he did commonly vse to doe That which I spake of the great number of men is gathered thence because there were many lights in the vpper chamber which was not done for anie pompe or ostentation but only for necessities sake For when there is no need it is ambition vanitie which maketh men bestow cost Furthermore it was meet that all the whole place should shyne with lights least that holy company might be suspected of some wickednes or dishonestie adde also another coniecture if the chamber had bin emptye those which were present would not haue suffered Eutichus to sit vpō a window For it had bin filthy licenciousnes in despising the heauēly doctrin to depart aside into a widow seing ther was room inough elswhere 9 When he was faln into a deep sleep I see no cause why some interpreters shuld so sore sharply condēn the drousines of the yong mā that they should say that he was punished for his sluggishnes by death For what maruell is it if seeing the nighte was so farre spent hauing striuen so long with sleepe he yeelded at length And whereas against his will and otherwise then he hoped for hee was taken and ouercome with deepe sleepe we may guesse by this that he did not settle himselfe to sleepe To seeke out a fit place wherein to sleep had bin a signe of sluggishnes but to be ouercome with sleep sitting at a window what other thing is it but without fault to yeelde to nature As if a man shoulde faint through hunger or too much wearisomnes Those who being drowned in earthly cares come vnto the word lothsomly those who being ful of meate and wine are thereby brought on sleepe those who are vigilant ynough in other matters but heare the woord as though they did not passe for it shal be iustly condemned for drousines but Luke doth in plaine words acquit Eutichus when he saith that he fel downe being ouercome with deepe sleepe after midnight Moreouer the Lord meāt not only by the sleep but also by the death of this yong man to awake stir vp the faith of his that they might more ioyfully receiue Paul his doctrine might keep it deeply rooted in their minds It was in deed at the first no small temptation but such as might haue shaken euen a most constant man full sore for who woulde haue thought that Christ had bin chiefe gouernor in that company wherein a miserable mā through a fal became dead Who would not rather haue thought this to be a signe of Gods curse But the Lord by