therfore kepte the lord his cruelle and rageyng minde within such limites that it was not polluted with any murther Whiles this persecucion was a doinge at HierusaleÌ„ suche as were disparsed though that feare draue them far of from one place to another yet ceassed not to blase abrode Iesus of Nazareth in theyr walking al aboute Iudea sowed here there as thei went the seade of the gospell for yâ— which selfe same purpose the lorde had suffered theÌ„ so to be scattered ¶ Than came Philip into a citie of Samaria and preached Christe vnto them And the people gaue hede vnto those thinges which Philip spake with one accorde hearing and seyng the miracles whiche he did For vncleane spirites criyng with a loude voice came out of many that wer possessed of them And many taken with palsyes and many that halted wer healed And there was great ioye in the citie Emong whome was also Philip one of the seuen deacons in ordre nexte vnto Steuen This Philip being far driuen from HierusaleÌ„ went down into a citie of Samaria which self same citie is called Sebast. And thither likewyse had cum before a certaine fame of Iesus name of Nazareth of whome Philip preached dyuers other thinges that were not there spoken of before as how he was crucyfied and had rysen the thyrde day after to lyfe agayne and furthermore whan he had been couersauÌ„t the space of fourâ—y dayes with his disciples ascended into heauen and howe he had from thence sente downe to his disciples the holy ghost and that all that woulde from thenceforth beleue in his name should haue prouided for them euen at hande their saluacioÌ„ The vulgar people among the Samarites for of al other those did moste alwaies profit by hearyng the gospell gaue good hede all with one accorde to Philippes wordes For that tale that promysed all men saluacion was wel worthy to be fauoured and more then that the miracles which were not afew in number wrought by Philip affirmed his woordes to be trew For deuilles out of many whiche wer possessed of vncleane spirites euen at hys inuocacion of Iesus name went forthe with a loude crye declaryng that they went not forth willyngly but that they wer enforced by vertue of that healthful name Yea and that was more to meruaile at many that wer taken with the palsye and diuers other that were lame recouered health For these causes the whole citye in eache degre and state was wonderfully glad The farther that they went from Hierusalem and the nearer as their accesse was vnto the heathen the more encrease came of the gospell that they had sowen Beholde howe much profited the Iewes cruelty Philip of a deacoÌ„ became an apostle and for a fewe Hierosolomytes whiche refused theyr teachinges whole cities gladly receyued the doctrine of the gospell But the churche feleth greatter daÌ„mage at their handes whiche beynge in themselues corrupted taketh part with the churche then she doeth by them that openly persecuteth her And of this example is here declared vs that we shoulde take the better hede therby of suche wolfes that are wrapped in shepe skynnes But there was a certaine man called Symon whiche before tyme in thesame citie vsed witchecrafte and bewitched the people of Samaria saying that he was a man that coulde do great thinges Whom they regarded fâ—om â—he least to the greatest saying This man is the power of God whiche is called great And him they set muche by because yâ— of long â—yme he had bewitched theÌ„ with sorceries But as sone as they gaue credeÌ„ce to Philippes preaching of the kingdome of God and of yâ— name of Iesu Christ they were baptised both mâ—â— womeÌ„ Than Simon himselfe beleued also And whaÌ„ he was baptised he coÌ„tinued with Philip wondred beholdyng the miracles signes which wer shewed A man there was amonge the Samarites called Symon a deceyuer of the people and a practiser of delusions and inchauntemeÌ„tes who before that Philip came thither practised in that citie magikes arte by his counterfeyt miracles monstreouse thinges against nature had he made the Samarites fonde on hym and folyshe who were besydes of their owne selues supersticiouse much enclined to deuilysh enchauntemeÌ„tes By meanes of such falsehode and deceyte auaunted he him selfe before the simple and plaine people â–ª whiche were lyghtly perswaded to supersticion bostynge that he was an excellent Prophete vnto whom al the Samarites froÌ„ the highest to the lowest gaue good hede But nothing had he done in Iesus name and therfore they as people astonyed at suche monstruouse sightes whiche he eyther fayned by crafte of iuglyng eyther els broughte to passe by helpe of deuylles sayd this felowe is goddes owne right hande whiche is called mighty Many a day had he bene with them and long had he made them with his sorcery to dote vpon him and therfore whan he had once gotteÌ„ hymselfe a name with theÌ„ of great estimacion many one beleued him in all that he taught But after he perceiued Philip able to worke miracles in dede that more spedely then he coulde dooe and also more surely at thinuocacion of Iesus name and the Samarites quite fallen froÌ„ him to Philippes beliefe who brought theÌ„ a gladsom messâ—ge of the kingdoÌ„ of god of Iesus Christes name not bragging of himselfe as Simon dyd but settyng forth Christes glory with miracles right famously and promysyng eternall saluacion to all that after baptisme once receyued woulde professe that name and sawe many one as well men as women receiue baptisme at the last Symon also himselfe receiued Christes faith and whan he was baptised begon to be of Philippes parte more for ambicioÌ„ and desyre of worldly prayse and vaine glory then for any loue he bare to Iesus For as he was perfytlye sene in all artes magicall so sawe he nothyng done by Philip thorough suche maner falsehede and deceyte wherefore whan he behelde sum miracles set furth by him whiche were of no small weight and valoure as be al welnyghe that enchaunters worke as to make a dragon flyghe or a strawe crepe but deuils to be caste out of a man with a worde and men that were taken with a palsey to be deliuered therof at a word he maruayled much therat as a man greatly astonied by what feate subtilitie or by what power might suche thinges be brought to passe ¶ Whan the Apostles whiche were at Ierusalem heard saye that Samary had receiued the worde of God they sent vnto theÌ„ Peter and Iohn Which whaÌ„ they wer cum praied for them that thei might receiue the holy gost For as yet he was cum on none of tâ—eÌ„ but they were baptised onely in the name of Christ Iesu. ThaÌ„â—ayed they their haÌ„des on the and they receyued the holy goost But whan thapostles whiche than were at Ierusalem had hearde tidinges how the Samarites a sorte of carnall people and thesame not clene voyâ— of idolatrie had louingly receyued at Philippes
woulde speake more of the same matters the sabboth day next folowing in audience of the synagoge And whan the cumpany was dimissed many that were partly Iewes borne and partely other straungers whiche yet lyued accordynge to the trade of the Iewes and were lykewyse desirous to know this kinde of religion folowed Paule and Barnabas coueting to be more playnly and familiarely taught of the Apostles And than talked they with them aparte exhortinge them to continue in that fauoure and grace whiche once they had begun to embrace of free gifte at the hand of god and what they had once begun in the same to procede with continuall increase In the meane time the rumoure of this matter was publisshed far abrode one telling another what he had hard as men commonly do And the nexte Sabboth daye came almost the whole citie together to heare the worde of God But when the Iewes sawe the people they were full of indignacion and spake against those thinges whiche were spoken of Paul speaking against it and rayling on it Than Paul and Barnabas wared bolde and saied it was mete that the woorde of God shoulde fiest haue been preached to you But seeyng ye put it from you and thynke your selues vnworthy of euerlastyng lyfe loe we turne to the Gentiles For so hath the Lord commaunded vs. I haue made the a lighte of the Gentiles that thou be the saluacion vnto the ende of the worlde So the next sabboth daye not onely the Iewes and suche straungiers as obserued the Iewes lawes but also all the whole citie came to the Synagoge to heare the ghospell preached But the Iewes for the most parte of them that had perswaded themselues that this fauoure through beleuing the gospell was promised to suche onely as were carnally dyscended and came of Abrahams stocke whan they sawe that a great multitude of Iewes and suche other as kept their lawe whiche were proselites and Gentiles also were gathered together indifferently the said Iewes grudgeyng in their minde dysdayned at it meruelouâ—y speaking against suche thinges as had ben spoken of by Paule â–ª and not absteyning from vnsitting oprobrius and rayling wordes Whan Paule and Barnabas perceyued their malicious stubbernes remembring that the lord had commauÌ„ded the apostles that if in any place they chaunced to mete with suche as woulde reiecte the ghospell whan it is profered them they shoulde leaue that citie and place shakyng the dust of theyr feete also to such stubberne persons againe sayde freely we haue doen out duties For according to the commaundement of Iesus the lorde the gospel first was to be preached vnto you Suche reputacion Christ had you in But seeyng that you refuse so great fauour that hath ben freely and without suyte profered vnto you thinke your selues vnworthy of eternal life beholde we wyll turne our preaching to the Gentiles And yet wyll not we so dooe vpon our head But Iesus oure lorde so commaunded hys disciples that after they had preached his gospel throughout Iewry they should afterwardes preache it to all nacions vnto the ende of the worlde This was long since prophecied by the prophet Esay that Iesus should saue not the Iewes onely but all the nacions also in the worlde For in his booke of prophecy the father speaketh vnto the sonne in this wyse I haue set the to be a lighte vnto all nacions and to saue all the whole worlde ¶ Whan the Gentiles hearde this thei were glad and glorified the worde of the Lorde and beleued euen as many as were ordeyned vnto eternall lyfe And the woorde of the Lorde was published throughout all the regyon But the Iewes moued the deuout and honest women and the chiefe menne of the citie and reysed persecucion against Paul and Barnabas and expelled theÌ„ out of their coastes But they shoke of the dust of their feete againste them and came vnto Iconium And the disciples were filled with ioye and with the holy ghosts Whan those that were of the gentiles hearde this they muche reioyced not because that the Iewes shoulde perishe but so that they rendred to God thankes that had turned the Iewes incredulitie vnto their saluacion The Iewes spake blasphemously againste this healthfull doctrine but the gentiles beyng sodenly conuerted did receiue it very promptly and readily and glorified the worde of the lorde Whiche worde many of the gentiles beleued but yet not all but as many as god of his mercye had ordeyned to haue euerlasting lyfe whereunto no manne attayneth vnlesse he be called and chosen of god In this wise the worde of god was sowen abrod thorowout all that countrey But the Iewes enuying the gentiles stirred vp certayne deuout women for suche commonly are sooneste deceiued vnder the fayned pretence of holynesse and those that were in estimacion honorable to th entent that all might bee doen with the more autoritic and furthermore they moued diuerse of the head men of the citie and through them caused Paule and Barnabas to bee persecuted and banished them out of their coastes Here marke good Theophilus the crafte that the Iewes had to styrre vp the myndes of men againste those that sincerely preached Iesus Malyce first moueth them that doe counterfet holynesse and soone after thinwarde sorowe of their malicious myndes breaketh out into woordes of reproche Than vpon this sad women and suche as be deuoute be meanes wherby they call the commons vnto sedicion for by the aunciente matrones they stirre vp the rewlers And in this wise were the Apostles drieuen out Than Paule and Barnabas shaking of from them the dust of their feete tooke theyr iourney to Iconium which is a citie in Licaonia The disciples also reioycing that the ghospell had so good successe were replenished with gladnesse and with the holy ghoste The .xiiii. Chapter ¶ And it fortuned in Iconium that they went bothe together into the Synagoge of the Iewes and so spake that a great multitude bothe of the Iewes and also of the Grekes beleued But the vnbeleuing Iewes styrted vp and vnquyered the myndes of the Gentiles against the brethren Long tyme abode they there and quit themselues boldly with the â–ª helpe of the lorde whiche gaue testimony vnto the worde of his grace and graunted signes and woonders to bee dooen by their handes But the multitude of the citie was deuided and parte helde with the Iewes and parte with the Apostles BUt â—han as they were come to Iconium they went together as their custome was into the Synagoge of the Iewes there they preached also the ghospell of Iesus Christe lyke as they had before done at Antioche insomuch that a great numbre aswell of Iewes as of Grecians were conuerted to the faith Here againe likewyse the Iewishe malice was occasion of sedicion For the Iewes that woulde not obey the ghospell beyng not contente to perishe themselues except they might drawe many with them to damnacion stirred vp corrupted the myndes of the gentiles againste them that did beleue But
ceased not to prouoke them to know and loue him by his continuall benefites For he that made the worlde to the vse of man doeth make both fruitful and plentifull the grounde by sending downe rayne from heauen and causeth yerely increase of fruites to suffice aboundantly to the vse of mannes life refreshyng vs plentyfully with soondry kyndes of meates and stirryng our hertes to myrthe with pleasaunte wynes For ye haue not receyued these benefites of Iupiter Ceres or Bacchus whome ye haue hytherto wurshipped but of the same god whome we preache vnto you Than although the apostles had so plainely shewed the trueth in the hearing of all the multitude yet they coulde scarcely stay their handes from doyng sacrifice vnto them ¶ Thither came certaine Iewes from Antioche and Iconium whiche whan they had obtained the peoples consent and had stoned Paule drew him out of the citie supposing he had been dead Howbeit as the disciples stode rounde about him he arose vp and came into the citie And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derba In the meane space while these thinges were done at Listres certayne persones beyng Iewes borne that repined against the ghospell came thyther from Antioche that is in Pisidia and from Iconium whiche Iewes when they had turned many of the people to their minde and opinion that is to say when they had caused them to lay violent handes vpon the apostles whyche thing they had also attempted afore at Iconium they stoned Paule and drew him out of the citie thinking that he had ben dead Thus is mans fortune sodaynly chaunged They were but a litel before taken for gods and should haue had sacrifice done vnto them but now Paule being stoned was cast out of the citie For they were more angry with him because he by reason of his eloquence entised manye to folowe Christe Then the disciples compassed him about there as he was cast and left for dead and woulde haue buried the corps But Paule cumming to himselfe againe arose priuely and entred into the citie and the next daye fled to Derba with Barnabas whither they first of all had purposed to haue gone And whan they had preached to the cytie and had taught many they returned againe to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioche and strengthned the disciples soules again exhorted them to continue in the faith affirming that we must thorow muche tribulacion entre into the kingdome of god And whan they had preached the gospell there in that citie and had taught many thinges and as a man woulde say had cast the seede of the ghospell abrode they returned to Listres Iconium and Antioche making the myndes of the disciples stedfast in the fayth as many as they had conuerted to Christ and geuing them exhortacion to continue in the fayth and that they woulde not for any scare be withdrawen from the truste whiche they had once put in our lorde Iesus nor should not be moued because they heard saye that Paule was stoned at Listres forasmuche as Christ had tolde his disciples that this was the way that through muche trouble they shoulde entre into the kyngdom of heauen So that Paule toke more thought lest those that were weake in the faith shoulde be alienated from Christ seyng how sore he was vexed of the wicked Iewes then that he himselfe passed so muche on it geuing example to Bisshoppes that they ought to folowe thrifty husbande men whiche thinke it not sufficient to plant or â—o sow except they do also their diligence that the same that beginneth to growe may come to his full typing ¶ And whan they had ordeined them elders by eleccion in euery congregacion and had prayed and fasted they commended them to the lorde on whom they beleued And forasmuche as it was requisite to the setting forwardes of the ghospell that the apostles shoulde trauail through many countreyes they set priestes or auncientes who were chosen by the voyces of the comens of euery citie to ouersee them and to supply the towmes of the apostles in their absence and so whan they had vsed generally prayer and fastinge they commytted them to god â–ª that they might profite in him whome they had once professed ¶ And whan they had gon through out Pisidia they came to Pamphilia and whan thei had preached the worde of God in Perga they went downe into the citie of Attalia and theÌ„ce departed by shippe to Antioche froÌ„ whence they were committed vnto the grace of God to the worke whiche they fulfilled These thinges were doen in Antiochia whiche is a citie in Pisidia and whan they had walked ouer that cuntrey they likewise went throughe Pamphilia sowing the gospell in euery place where as it was not sowed alredy and strengthening them that already beleued vntyll they returned to Perga And whan they had there also set all matters in ordre they came to Attalia whiche is a Citie of Pamphilia sumwhat neare the sea From thence againe they toke shypping to Antioche in Syrya whence they firste came whan the office of preaching to the Genttiles was committed vnto them by the elders and when by laying of handes vpon them by prayer and by fasting they were commytted to the grace of god that throughe his helpe it might happely come to passe that they had taken in hande ¶ When they were cum and had gathered the congregacion together they rehearsed al that God had done by them and how he had opened the doore of faith vnto the Gentiles And there they abode long time with the disciples Wherfore whan they were retourned thither as men accoumptable for theyr dooynges they called together the congregacion of the faythfull and opened vnto them all suche thinges as it had pleased god to worke by them shewing them that the fauoure of god had futthered their endeuour and how he had geuen occasion to call the Gentiles to the faith by whiche they myght obtaine saluacion without the obseruing or keping of the heauy burdenous commaundementes of the lawe The .xv. Chapter ¶ The certayn men whiche came downe taught the brethren excepte ye be circumcised after the maner of Moses law ye cannot be saued So whan there was arisen a dissencioÌ„ and disputing not a litell vnto Paulâ— and Barnabas against them they determined that Paule and Barnabas and certayne other of them shoulde goe vp to Ierusalem vnto the apostles and elders about this question PAule and Barnabas continued a long space at Antioche with the dysciples because that in so noble a Cytie as that was a great multitude of faythfull were gathered together of sundry sortes of men whiche dayly encreased more and more And the apostles were glad to tarry longer there where the greatter increase of faythfull men was because the inhabitours of Hierusalem and of that parte of Syria whiche is properly named Iewry dyd more sticke to Moses lawe than any other forsomuche as they were lesse conuersaunte with the Gentiles and because
anye harme that it letteth not a man to make quicke spede in his iourney Therfore it is but one thing that he monisheth whiche permitteth them to vse sandals and forfendeth to weare shooes For he forbyddeth nothyng els but slacknesse in doyng of theyr dutie and exorteth them to vse spedinesse therin Agayne it is but one thyng that he warneth them of whiche geueth them leaue to carie a wande and taketh awaye from them the vse of staues For a wande socoureth and stayeth the walkyng manne and nothyng hyndreth him in his iourneye but rather causeth him to make quicker spede Nowe the staffe as it burtheneth a manne to beare it so is it wont to be caried againste violence Therfore he that permitteth them to vse no other weapon but a waÌ„de only and forbyddeth them to carye a staffe willeth vndoubtedlye that the preacher of the gospell be by no other ayde safely fensed agaynst the assaultes of yuell menne then by the onelye helpe of Christe A wande is mete for a wayfairing man and a staffe for a fighter Moreouer he that hath the haÌ„delyng of the gospell must alwayes goe forwarde to thinges of higher perfeccion and be fardest from desyre of reuengement ¶ And he sayde vnto them wheresoeuer ye enter into an house there abyde styll tyll ye departe thence And whosoeuer shall not receyue you nor heare you when ye departe thence shake of the dust that is vnder your feete for a wytnes vnto theÌ„ Uerely I saye vnto you it shall be easier for Sodome and Gomor in the daye of iudgement then for that citie And they went out and preached that men should repent and they caste out many deuils and annoynted many that were sycke with oyle and healed them â–ª After that Christe hadde plucked this carefulnesse oute of the myndes of his Apostles then went he about to shewe them a waye howe it shoulde cum to passe that they shoulde neuer nede to be carefull for suche thynges Take ye no thought sayth he neither for harborough ne sustenaunce but after ye once be entred into village or citie wheresoeuer it be your chaunce to be receyued be the house neuer so poore and homely there abyde you till suche tyme as you thynke it meete for you to departe sum whither els moued throughe desyre to set forthe and aduauÌ„ce the ghospell And beyng but fewe in number and contented with a litle you shall not be chargeable geastes to anye man It is in manoure impossible that theâ—â— be any where any good towne or citie so farre past all grace and goodnesse wherin there can not one manne be founde who wyll be glad to receiue suche geastes as ye are synce there are manye whiche will not sticke to wage a phisiciaÌ„ with a large salarie and send for him a great waye of Yf you chaunce to cum to any so vnkynde a citie or house that the inhabitauntes therof wyll not receyue you notwithstandyng you bryng them of your owne accorde an heauenly gyft or present wherewith both bodies and soules are healed yet cease you not for a fewe harde harted persones to do thâ— businesse you haue taken in hande but yet departe you out of that citie for a season to other cities and or ere you go awaye embrayde suche persons as would not receiue you with theyr great folye and madnesse Gette you out into the streetes and shake of the dust styckyng on youre feete that they maye call to remembraunce howe there came summe vnto them who freely offered them health and sauetie brought them the ioyfullest message that coulde be and maye further perceyue that lyke as so excellente a good thyng cannot by any manoure of rewarde be worthilye recompensed euen so suche precions ware and marchandise oughte not to be thruste to anye whiche lotheth thesame and is not wyllyng to receiue it and this do you to thintent they maye blame themselues for theyr owne damnacion because they woulde rather perishe when they might haue been saued and also know perfectlye howe you soughte for nothyng els among them but onely the healthe and saluacion of your neyghbours insomuche that you would not endamage them as muche as with the losse of a litle quantitie of dust It becuÌ„meth well ynoughe my ambassadours to vse such manour of proude demeanure againste frowarde and disdainfull persons At your departure speake vnto them this one thyng folowyng althoughe they be not wyllyng to heare it knowe you that whether you receyue vs or receyue vs not the kyngdome of God is cumme If you receyue vs it is cum to your greate wealth and commoditie But yf you receyue vs not yet shall the same cumme to your great euyll and confusion When Christes messengers were furnished with these necessaries for their iourneye they toke their leaue of theyr maister and as it was geuen them in commaundement they moued and exhorted all men to be repentaunte for theyr former lyfe shewyng them how the kyngdome of God was already presente whiche through fayth of the gospell would bring vnto all men perfite ryghteousnesse For the chiefe and principall parte of preachyng of the gospell is for a man to geue faith vnto the doctrine that he heareth and to beleue the promyses WheÌ„ the lorde Iesus had with these and many other lyke lessons diligentlye enstructed his disciples then thesame twelue headmen of the kyngdome of heauen toke theyr iourney and the mattier went forward and had good successe They preached vnto all menne that they shoulde be penitent for their former sinnes and that no man should truste vnto his owne dedes and merites but onely haue sure belefe in the promises of the gohspell And they founde sum that lystened and gaue diligent eare vnto theyr preachyng There lacked not here a ready power to worke miracles whiche made theyr wordes to be beleued thoughe themselues were neuer so symple persons and vnknowen They anoynted the sycke people with oyle and the same were healed They commaunded the hurtfull spirites to go out in the name of Iesu and they wente out That oyle was not a medicine for who heateth all manoure of diseases with one medicine but a sacrament The skynne was outwardly anoynted with visible oyle and the body was made whole But theyr soules whiche anon after shoulde be delyuered from the diseases of vice and synne were to be anoynted with the oyle of grace inuisible by our anoynted Iesus Christe Wherfore it was not by vertue of suche prayers and enchauntmeÌ„tes as witches or magicians vse that they cast out dyuels but by wordes piththy and effectuall through an euangelike fayth This was vndoubtedly the very power of the kyngdom of heauen What was more abiect vile and lessere garded then the Apostles were But the lesse that theyr power was the more manifestlye did it appeare that all that euer was done came to passe by the might and power of God They neyther had riches learning office garde to defende them nobilitie fame nor authoritie To be
vse not to lye it hath been reporâ—ed vnto me as well that Charles the Emperour in case any vacaÌ„t tyme of leysure maye in so great vnquietnesse and troubleous state of the worlde bee gotten doeth gladly bestowe thesame in readyng the ghospell boke as also the moste renoumed Prince Ferdinando brother to thesame Charles muche and often to haue in his handes the Paraphrase vpon the ghospell of Saincte Iohn whiche not very long agon I dedicated vnto hym yea and furthermore that the right noble kyng of Denmarke Christieâ—e which thing maye to your highnes also be well knowen hath bokes of christian religion often tymes in his handes and that he with greate desyrefulnesse vseth to reade my paraphrase vpon the ghospel of Matthew Why than shoulde the ghospel seme to be vnaptly sent vnto those whiche are handlers and louers of the ghospel whiche ghospell certes is to be had and vsed in the haÌ„des of all persones as many as remembre and thinke themselfes to be Christyans Nowe although after the rate of worldely dealyng suche a thyng is moste chiefely to bee geuen as the partie hath nede of to whom it is sent yet after the rule of the ghospell whoso hath already to hym muste nedes be geuen that he may haue plentie Wherfore me thought I should do but as myght best stande with congruence to sende this Euangelical physicion vnto your highnesse for asmuche as thesame is so farre from disdainyng holy scriptures that as your owne writinges dooe testifye ye haue aboue the meane rate profited in the same so that yf a man geue vnto your grace any thing to holy scripture apperteinyng he shall not seme so muche to geue a gifte as to make amendes and recompence for a pleasure receyued Moreouer if this be a thyng specially aboue others in all haste prouided for that in the kinges Emperours courtes there may from tyme to tyme be physicions ready and prest at hande beyng men exactly learned and of approued fidelitie to take charge that the princes be dye be preserued and kept in health howe muche more doeth it stande with congruence that Luke the physicion should there be reslaunte who doeth not with scammony or ellebour preserue the healthful state of the body but doth with an heauenly pocion deliuer the soule froÌ„ diseases that violently hale men to death euerlastyng that is to were that vnknowyng of the truthe mistrustfulnesse vnbelefe towardes God the loue of this worlde ambicion auarice riottous excesse hatred enuye and suche others For these diseases is all the life of mortall men subiect vnto dayly in daunger of falling into them as Iohn thapostle sayeth where he bewayleth that all the whole worlde is set in naughtinesse neyther any thing els to reigne therin but coÌ„cupiscence of the flesh concupiscence of the iyes pryde of the lyfe And in so muche the more peril and hasard of the said diseases do the princes stand as they are more then others made wantons derelynges of fortune and haue lybertie withoute checke or controllemente to fullfyll their owne sensuall lustes and appetites But nowe me seemeth I shall not spende my labour in vayne but to good purpose if I shal in a fewe wordes commend and sette Foorth vnto your highnesse first Luke himself being the physicioÌ„ and then the pocioÌ„ or medicine that he bringeth with hym albeit I put no doubtes but that as well the one as the other is already as in dede they ought to be vnto your godly ze'e and deuocion in most best wyse accepted Forsoth this same is that excellent man Luke an Antiochian by the couÌ„trey nacion that he was borne in And Antioche is a citie whiche was in old tyme of so great fame and power that so muche parte of al the countrey of Syria as reacheth vnto Cicilie butteth vpoÌ„ it had the name geuen it thereof And the sayed Antioche was in this behalf more happie and fortunate then verye Rome it self that Peter the apostle had his first see here in this citie of Antioche and that Paule and Barnabas dyd in the same citie receiue their dignitie of the charge and funccioÌ„ Apostolical Now to our present purpose this Luke was of familiar acquaintaunce and comiersacion with all the Apostles but most specially a folower and disciple of Paule and also a companion of his in all his peregrinacioÌ„ neuer separated nor deuided from his coumpany By linyng in coumpany with the Apostles he wrote his ghospell and by the thynges whiche Paule wrought and did Luke beyng a presente witnesse of theim he wrote the booke whiche he entytled the actes of the apostles And that hystorie of the Actes he continued vntill the second yere of Paul abydyng at Rome that is to say vntill the fowerth yere of Nero the Emperour there Wherof men gather a consecture that the boke was writteÌ„ in the same citie and fully agreed it is amonge the learned men that this same verye Luke it is of whom Paul the Apostle doeth so often tymes make mencion as for eâ—aumple in his second epistle to the Corinthians where he thus saith We haue seÌ„t with him our brother whose lande is in the gospel throughout all the congregacions Again where he writeth to the CollosstaÌ„s he sayth dere Lukes the physicion greteth you And agayne in the secound epystle to Timothe For Demas hath forsaken me louing this preseÌ„t world is departed vnto Thessalonica Crescens is gone into Galacia Titus into Dalmacia onely Lukas is with me Yea and this point moreouer is leaft to vs by auncyent writers that as often as Paul calleth it by the name of his gospell as he doeth to Timothe where he saieth Remembre that Iesus Christ of the seede of Dauid arose again from death accordyng to my gospell c. he â—â—neth of the ghospel of Luke because that like as Marke wrote the history of the gospell at Peters woorde by his settying on so dyd Luke at the word and biddyng of Paule Hierome is of the opinion and iudgement that Luke was more expert in the greke tongue then the other were and by reasoasoÌ„ therof wrote the discourse and processe of the story after a more eâ—act and gromidely sortâ— then the others dyd that is to were takyng his entraunce at the first concepcion of Iohn the Baptist and makyng relacion of verye muche maâ—ter touchyng the natiuitie and concernyng the babehoode â—ea and certayne poyntes furthermore concernyng the childhood of Iesus making also rehersall of many parables and miracles whiche the other euaÌ„gelistes for loue of briefnes had let passe he any thing spoken of And where â—s not one of all the others went any whâ—t ferther then the tyme of the Lorde Iesus beyng assumpted into heauen this man alone did in an other seconde boke make a further continuacioÌ„ of the story concerning the churche howe it first sprang vp and how it grewe more and more to sprede and shew it self Thus muche moreouer the wryters affyrme
do not for any suche purpose wryte paraphrases because I would shake or strike the gospell out of mennes handes but to thentente it maye be read the more commodiouslye to a mannes mynde and with the more fruite lyke as meates are sauced to the ende they maye be taken with the better will and the more delectacion Yea and of one ferther poynte also must I here warne a reader that is somewhat grosse of vnderstanding whiche is that it bee not myne owne woordes that I do any where speake in the paraphrase leste the thyng whiche vnder the persone of the Euangeliste is humbly and truely spoken maye seme to bee arrogauntlye spoken vnder myne owne persone The lord Iesus geue his spirite vnto you moste noble kyng to the ende that vnder your proteccion beeyng a true Christian Prince in dede the veritie of the gospell maye from daye to daye more and more reigne and flourishe Yeuen at Basill the .xxiii. daye of August in the yeare of our Lorde M.D.xxiii The life of saynt Luke written by S. Hierome LUke a phisicion and borne in Antioche was not ignoraunte of the Greke toungue as his wrytynges do shewe he was a folower and disciple of the Apostle Paule and a companion of all his peregrinacion He wrote a volume of the ghospell of whome the same Paule sayeth in this maner We haue sent with him a brother whose praise is in the ghospell throughout all the congregacions And agayne to the Colossians Moste dere Luke the phisicion greteth you And to Timothie Luke is with me alone Be sette foorth also anotheâ— speciall goodlye booke whiche is entitled the Actes of the Apostles the storie wherof came euen full to Paules tyme beeyng and tarying two yeares at Rome that is to saye vntill the fourth yeare of Nero the Emperour there Whereby we do well perceyue that the sayde booke was made in the same citie Therfore as for the circuites of Paule and of Tecla the virgin and all the tale of Leo by hym baptised we rekon emong the scriptures that are called Apocrypha For what manier a thyng is it that a companion whiche neuer went from his elbowe shoulde emong his other matâ—ers bee ignoraunt of this thyng alone Tertullian whiche was nere vnto that tyme reporteth that a certayne priest in 〈◊〉 beeyng an affeccionate fauourer of the Apostle Paule was coÌ„uicte before Iohn for beeyng authour of thesame booke and that the priest confessed him selfe to had 〈◊〉 the thyng for the loue that he bare to Paule and the booke by reason therof to had escaped hym Some wryters deme that as often as Paule in his Epistles saieth accordyng to my ghospell he signifyeth of the woorke of Luke and that Luke learned the ghospell not onely of the Apostle Paule who had not been conuersaunte with the Lorde in the fleshe â—ut also of the rest of the Apostles whiche thyng Luke himselfe also declareth in the begynnyng of his owne worke saying As they haue deliuered them vnto vs whiche from the beginning sawe themselues with their â—yes and were ministers of the thynges that they declared The gospell therfore he wrote as he had hearde but the Actes of the Apostles he composed as he had seen He liued .lxxxiiii. yeares not hauyng any wife Buried he was at Constantinople vnto whiche 〈◊〉 his bones were remoued and conueyed out of Achaia together with the bones of Andrewe the Apostle in the .ix. yere of Constantius the Emperour The Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Ghospell of S. Luke The prologue ¶ For asmuche as many haue taken in hand to sette foorth the declaracion of the actes that are come to passe emong vs lyke as they deliueâ—ed them vnto vs that first sawe them themselues and were ministers of the woorde I thought good also now that I had gotteÌ„ the knowlege of all thynges from the begynnyng to wryte theÌ„ diligentlye vnto the in ordre good Theophilus to the ende that thou mightest knowe the trueth of those woerdes of the whiche thou art enfourmed IN the histories of worldly affaires vpon consideracioÌ„ that not a lytle aswel delectacion as also profite is takeÌ„ of the knowlege of thynges there is customably required an vpright trueth of reporting thesame But muche more oughte this vpright trueth to be in makyng relacion of the Ghospell the whiche not onely doeth muche delite the mynde hauyng litle els to do or is very commodious and profitable vnto this transitory lyfe but also is necessary vnto true godlinesse without the which no man atchiueth eternal saluacion and the blisse that neuer shal decaye of the lyfe euerlastyng For it were no matier of daungier thoughe a manne did not knowe what man Hannibal was or Alexander what actes Epaminondas or Scipio hath doen what matâ—ers Solon Lycurgus or Draco haue writen what doctrine Socrates Plato or Aristotle taughte albeit the knowleage of these thynges also after the rate of mans state and case in this world hath their fruite But whatsoeuer person shall not knowe the father the sonne and the holy ghoste whosoeuer shall not learne what actes the soonne of God Iesus Christe hath dooen on yearth for the saluacion of mankynde what he hathe taught what he hath promised vnto suche as doe constauntely cleue to the doctrine of the ghospell what he hath threatned vnto suche persones as doe either litle regarde or els doe playnely despise thesame suche an one shall not possibly bee hable to auoyde but that beeyng excluded out of the coumpanye of Gods children and shut out from the ioyes of the heauenly lyfe he shal bee adiudged with the wicked to the tormentes of the diepe pitte of hell whiche neuer shall haue ende And in dede at the first by meane of thapostles beeyng therunto chosen of our Lorde hymselfe and by the residue of his disciples beyng enspired with the holy ghost the ghospell in dede by liuely voice and by mouth onely but yet with moost vpright certaintye and assured trueth is begonne to bee spred abrode throughout all coastes and countreyes of the worlde and dooeth daylye yet still ferther and ferther renne abrode Yet forasmuche as the synceritie of reportyng the whiche goyng from man to man by mouth onely issueth successiuelye to a great noumber is more lightlye corrupted then suche reporte as is sette out and left from one to another in writyng therefore Mathew the Apostle one of the twelue whom our Lorde Iesus beeyng yet coÌ„uersaunte on yearthe had specially appointed and chosen to this office and also Marke the disciple of Peter the Apostle were by inspiracion of the holy ghoste admonished to put the summe of the whole story of the ghospell in writyng not myndyng ne goyng about by preuencion to take awaye from others any libertie to write of the same matiers but rather leste any person beyng craftilye deceiued by false Apostles shoulde folowe the Iewes facions or fonde fables in stede of the gospell Notwithstandyng lyke as not euery manne did at that tyme with eguall synceritie and
redempcion in Israell Now had the lorde Iesus receyued witnesse of his cumming into this world of Aungels of the virgyn Marie of her spouse Ioseph who had neuer hadde to do with her of zacharie being a prieste of the young babe Iohn being yet in his mothers woumbe vnborne of Elizabeth being a maried woman of shepeheardes of wyise menne called Magians of Scribes who gaue vndoubted sentence and iudgemente oute of the prophecie in what place Christe shoulde bee borne of Herode being in drede and feare leste some eiuyll shoulde growe to him by Christes natiuytie of Symeon who was neyther pryeste ne leuite but an vpright liuyng man and nothyng els nowe remayned that he myghte haue semblable testymonie of a wedowe too So greate was the efficacye and vertue of thys young babe not yet shewing furthe his full mighte and power that he rauyshed all thynges with the spiryte of God enspiryng the humble and poore sorte with the holye ghoste stryekyng the proude with sore trouble of mynde and with feare so that of these preambles of thinges it might without anye dyfficultie bee gathered what chaunge of the worlde was lykelye in tyme comming to be whan the same childe being once come to full age would openlye vtter foorthe that same godlye voyce of hys and whan he shoulde through doing miracles daily more and more weare famouse whaÌ„ he should dye and arise agayne to lyfe and whan he shoulde plenteouslye power furthe the holye ghoste from heauen vpon all suche as beleued on hym So then nexte after an olde manne that had long tyme liued withoute anye wife foloweth and olde woman that had many yeres liued a wedowe without an housbande For a certayne woman there was called Anna whiche had that name geuen her of the thyng that was in her that is to saye of Grace for hyghlye endued she was with the spyryte of prophecye She was the daughter of Phanuell beeyng a manne of good fame and muche commended and of the tribe of Aser whiche trybe beyng the eyght in order emong the twelue dooeth vnder a certayne pryuie fygure sygnifye the blyssednesse of the resurreccyon whiche solemnytye the doctryne of the ghospell hath added to the hallowyng of the Sabbothes that the Iewes dydde vse For Aser in Hebrue is as muche to saye in Englyshe as Blissed Thys Anna in that she was so ferre stryeken in age seemed to haue beene delayed from dying and preserued in thys lyfe for none other purpose but that being an olde woman she mighte according as she had afore tymes with moste feruente prayers wyshed and desired see the young babe that was promysed whiche shoulde bryng healthe and saluacyon to the people of Israell For the holye ghoste had put in hâ—r minde that he was alreadye borne euen by the same suggestion of the spirite of God whiche Symeon had tofore bene enspired withall came thys Anna vpon them euen in the veraye same houre whyle these thynges whiche we haue alreadye tolde were in doyng within the temple This Anna in the tyme whan virginitie was not yet honourable neto bee gloryed of emong the Iewes had liued with an housbande of her owne by the space of seuen yeres from her maydenhood So muche tyme she was contente because of the custome to bestowe in hauing an housbande for brynging furthe of chyldren But all the resydue of her lyfe she consecrated to the onelye seruing of god in contemplacion For she contynued in the state of wedowhod about the space of fourescore and foure yeres After that she had once assayed wedlocke although she were yet of lustie age and in the veraye floure of her tyme yet had she no manyer mynde ne thoughte to marrye any more agayn but eueÌ„ as a woman being dead to the world and now wholy dedicated vnto god she almoste neuer departed from the temple but was there busilye doing sacrifice vnto him with euangelical oblacions not only in the day time but also by night offering herselfe vnto the lorde a liuely a reasonable and an acceptable hoste For her bodye she offered with often fastyng and her soule with deuoute meditacyons and prayers And euen while the aforesayde rytes and ceremonies of purificacion were in doing within the temple in the veray houre whyle Symeon is in hys prophetycall talke in the veraye momente whyle all thinges are full of holye and godlye wordes both of reioysing and of thankes geuyng for thys heauenlye young babe thys Anna too euen as god woulde haue it commeth emong them that she also might be a witnesse of the same childe that borne he was and that she myghte ioyne the affeccyons of her hearte with the ioyfulnesse of the others extollyng and hyghelye praysyng the bounteouse goodnesse of god for that he had caste so mercifull an iye vpon his people Neyther did she whan she was in coumpaigny and presence of others kepe secret the thing that she had seene with her iyes and the whiche she hadde learned by Goddes inspiracyon but she woulde euermore bee speaking and talking of thys chylde vnto all suche as were in Hierusalem and loked for the redempcion of the people of Israell And thys was enough for a womanne being a wedowe onelye in the temple to talke and to auouche that Christe was come and the same to entimate and disclose vnto a fewe persones abrode beeyng desyrouse and hungrie of it For that same tyme was not yet come which was reserued for the Apostles whan they shoulde bee replenished with the holy gost of the whiche Apostles it is sayde in the Psalme of Dauid Into all the yearthe is theyr sonne gone furth and their wordes into all the endes of the worlde throughout ¶ And whan they had perfourmed all thynges accordyng to the lawe of the Lorde they returned into Galile to theyr owne citie Nazareth And the childe grewe and waxed strong in spirite and was filled with wisedome and the grace of God was vpon hym All thinges being at the last fully and ordrely executed as muche as the lawe of Moyses had prescribed for the purificacyon of women late delyuered of childe they returned into Bethleem where the chylde was borne But whan king Herode beeyng doone to wete by the Magians that there was a newe king of the people of Israell borne had commaunded all the infantes to bee flayne as many as within two yeres daye next afore passed had bene borne in Bethleem and in all the circuite of the same lordeship or countie Ioseph being aduertised and warned in his slepe so to doe conueighed awaye prieuelye bothe the childe and the mother that bore it into Egipte and there made their abode vntill the death of the wieked kyng That thyng done they eftesons returned at the warnyng of an aungell not into Bethleem leste some occasyon of shewing ferther crueltie mighte perchaunce thereby haue bene geuen to the sonne of Herode who had at that tyme succeded his father in a porcion of his
the maliciouse imaginacions of the same vnto the people but by demaunding a question touched and hit theyr conscience throughly home saying I woulde with all my hearte learne of you that professe the knowlage of the lawe whether it bee leefull to helpe the neighboure with dooyng him a good turne on the sabboth daye or elles to leaue the neyghbour destitute of succour in his woe and distresse whoÌ„e a man is able to helpe And whether is it lawfull to saue a mans lyfe on the sabboth daye or els to caste awaye the same For he playnely casteth away an other mans lyfe that whan it lyeth in his power to saue it doeth not saue it And whan the lorde had caste his iyes round about and no man there was that would make any aunswere he sayd vnto the man holde furth thy hand And immediatly he stretched furth his hande at libertie whiche afore was lame and shrounken together and in such case that it could not stiere a whit So great was the vertue and power of Iesus bidding him to stretche it furth What shoulde the Scribes and Phariseis in this case doe The miracle was more euidente then that it coulde bee denyed and veray common reason did allow that a godly thing it was at any manyer tyme to helpe to the preseruacion of men but hauing been long accustomed to the olde soureswig of Moses lawe they coulde not awaye with the muste of euangelicall charitie Wheras of these actes theyr duetie had bene to acknowlage the power of the Godhead and to acknowlage the autour and firste maker of the lawe they are turned into starke staring madnesse And now euen out of hande they enter a consayll emong themselues of commyttyng murder what way they might destruie Iesus bring him to his death This was with those ioyly captaynes of religion a thing lawfull to dooe on the sabboth day wheras to the same it was a mattier of conscience to geue helth to a man being in extreme miserie on the Sabboth daie And it fortuned in those daies that he went out into a mountaine for to praye and continued all night in prayer to god And assoone as it was daye he called his disciples and of them he chose twelue whome also he called Apostles Simon whom he also named Peter and Andrewe his brother Iames and Iohn Philip and Bartholomewe Mathewe and Thomas Iames the sonne of Alpheus and Simon whiche is called Zelotes and Iudas Iames sonne and Iudas Iscarioth the same that was the traytâ—ur The lorde Iesus eftesons departing from the cities and from the greate resorte of people sequestred himselfe and went vnto a mountayne to pray and all the same night did he passe ouer in deuoutly praying vnto god teaching vs a lesson thereby in case we shall bee willyng to beginne any thyng whiche we woulde fayne haue to be luckie and prosperouse in the proceding of it that we than beginne of making our earneste prayer that it maye please God handesomelye and fauourably to sende the good ayde of his spirite vnto the thinges that we goe about to enter And whan it was brode day lighte he called vnto him his disciples whome he had now as perpetual companyons witnesses of those thinges whiche he wrought Out of them he pieked out a certayne nouÌ„ber of special persons whome for this only coÌ„sideracioÌ„ he named apostles because he entended to send them abrode shortelye after as ambassadoures of the gospel throughout all the worlde and theyr office to be nothing els to do but what they had in commission froÌ„ him The names of the said Apostles are these first Symon who afterwarde had his name geuen him in the Sirians tongue and was called Cephas in Greke petros in Latine saxum in Englysh a stone for none other cause verayly but for his sound constant professioÌ„ by the which whaÌ„ the people were in a wauering maÌ„mering what he was Peter being as the voyce of all thapostles together pronouÌ„ced the sentence that Iesus was the soÌ„ne of the liuing god Unto Peter was Andrew his own brother associate as a felowe Then Iames and Iohn Philip and Bartholemewe Mathewe and Thomas Iames the sonne of Alphei and Simon surnamed zelotes Iudas the sonne of Iames and Iudas Iscariothe who afterward betrayed Iesus whome Iesus chose not vnaduisedly as one that wist not what he did but by prouydence to the entente that he woulde by exaumple of this Iudas teache all creatures what an horrible mattier it is to abuse the fauourable goodnesse of oure salueour towarde vs. Yea and in all the whole noumber of the Apostles was there not so muche as any one that was a man eyther of power or of rychesse or of learnyng not one that was eyther a Pharisee or a Scribe or a bishop He pieked them out vnlearned and rawe or grene in cunning euerye one of them to the ende and purpose that he might poure newe wyne into newe bottels And he came downe with them and stode in the plaine fielde and the compaignye of his disciples and a great multitude of people out of all Iewrie and Hierusalem and from the sea coaste of Tyre and Sydon whiche came to heare hym and to bee healed of theyr diseases and they that were vexed with foule spirites and they were healed And all the people pressed to touche hym for there went vertue out of him and healed them all These Apostles thus chosen vnto hym he came downe from the mountayne vntil he were come into a certayn plaine that was able to receiue a great multitude of people For suche thynges as require purytie of moste perfeccion are to be dooen in the mountayne Emong thynges of moste hyghe perfeccion deuoute prayer hath the firste place the next place hath the special chosing out of them to whome the despensacion and stewarding of goddes word is to be committed There were presente also the residue of his disciples and a veraye great noumber of all sortes of the people besides which had come thither out of all Iewry yea and from Hierusalem selfe too and also from the cities of Tyrus and Sydon lying on the sea coast For the hounger of hearing the gospell preached had drawen thither many folkes euen out of ferre parties and many the hope to receiue bodely health had semblably allured For euery one that came Iesus deliuered from all kindes of diseases or impedymentes that they were holden with Yea and they also whiche were vexed of vncleane spirites were made whole And all this geare was doen of hym so lightly and so easily that some with a mere woorde of bidding were restored to theyr helth and others he healed in a moment sodainly with the onely touching of his garmente that he ware For there was in him the fountayn and fulnesse of the effectual vertue and power of God which proceded from hym none otherwise then light doth from the sonne or heate from the fyer and so brought he health vnto all persones
see that you gladly and freely vse your power to the healâ—yng of al peoples diseases and miseries see that ye corrupte not the synceritie and purenesse of preachyng the ghospell by any suspicion of dooyng it for aduauntage and lucre Than appoynted he vnto them in playne wordes what it was that they ought to teache For he gaue them in commission no suche thyng as to teache the ceremonies of the lawe whiche shoulde with in a short tyme be abolished not to teache blynde constitucions of men as the Scribes and Pharises vsed to teache when they go rounde about bothe the sea and the lande to make one selie proselite or nouice of their secte But he gaue them in commauÌ„demente to teache that the kyngdome of God was at hande Which kyngdom of God did not now consist in outwarde thynges to bee dooen with the bodye but in spirite and vertue And thus muche to preache vnto the rude ignoraunt people was for that present tyme at the begynnyng sufficient for preparyng of mennes hertes vnto an higher doctrine And for because the carefulnesse of thynges necessarie for the sustentacion of the bodye should by no meanes lette them from the buisinesse of the ghosphell he sayed vnto them Carrye no kynde of baggage aboute you on the waye â–ª neither staffe to defende you withall ne scrippe to kepe your meate in for store ne purse wherein to putte any money for expenses or charges necessarie no nor twoo coates for bee ye well assured that ye shall not any where lacke any one of all these thynges yf ye shall with pure hertes according to the tenour of my commaundement diligently prouide and labour that the ghospell go forwarde and dayly encrease For euery where shal there be whose voluntary ientilnesse liberalitie shal geue as muche as for you beeyng men that lyue from hande to mouthe and can bee content with a litell maye at all tymes be sufficient Neither shall ye haue any cause to be peâ—sife or carefull where or how to bee enterteined for lodgeyng or harbour for wheresoeuer ye can knowe of any that are woorthie and mete for the kyngdome of god turne ye into theyr houses and there continue at soiourne leste yf ye should euery other whyle bee flyttyng from one house to another ye maye seme to haue dooen it for sekyng of deyntie fare But beeyng content with suche chere as ye shall there fynde tarie ye so long in the houses of thesame persones vntill the good procedyng and encrease of the ghospell shall aduertise you to go forward to another place but if it shall any where so happen that no bodye will receiue you into theyr house yet acknowlage and remembre the woorthynesse and dignitie of your office and bee not ouer earnest to thrust into their lappes whether they will or no the thyng which euery creature ought moste specially to craue but streightwayes forsake ye that same citie beeyng so ferre from takyng any kynde of commoditie by suche persones as wilfully reiecte your preachyng that ye shake of and caste backe agayne vnto them yea euen the veraye duste that maye happily chaunce to haue stycked on your feet playnly testifying and protesting vnto them that ye haue frely preached the kyngdome of God vnto them and that they haue made themselfes vnworthie of so great a gifte freely profered vnto them Whan Iesus had with these and many other woordes mo enstructed and armed his Apostles foorth they went twoo and twoo together and goyng round about to euery towne and village they preached euerywhere that the kyngdome of God was come And whersoeuer they found any menne possessed with deuils or sicke or in daungier of any other impediment of the bodye they healed them in the name of Iesus And this was the firste rudimente and entreaunce of the Apostles preachyng And Herode the Zetrarche heard of all that was doen by hym and he doubted because that it was sayed of some that Iohn was arisen agayn from death and of some that Helias had appered and of some that one of the olde Prophetes was arysen agayne And Herode sayed Iehu haue I beheaded but who is this of whom I heare suche thynges And he desired to see hym By reason of these thynges the name of Iesus was so bruited abrode and made so famous that the reporte of all his workynges and doynges came eueÌ„ to the eares of Herode the Tetrarche For whereas he knewe not Iesus and heard sate that a certain man there was who at the byddyng of his word could and did cast out deiuils did put awaye diseases did restore the lame and suche as were taken and had their sinowes shrounken did make clene the lepres did rayse vp the dead to life agayn he was in great doubte and wonderously troubled in his mynde what man this might be so sodaynly sprong vp Some boasted abrode that Iesus was Iohn whom Herode a litle tofore had flayne and the same Iohn to haue returned to lyfe agayne and therefore beyng now as it were made halfe a God to bee wexed mightye in dooyng of suche great miracles Others said that he was Helias whom beeyng taken vp in a fiery chariot the Iewes did loke for that he should cum agayn accordyng to the prophecie of Malachias Agayne sum supposed he was sum other of the olde Prophetes the memorie of whiche Prophetes was high and holy and was had in great reuerence among the Iewes Howbeit Herode fearing on his owne behalf yf Iohn were reuiued again whom he had put to death reckening it a thing vncredible that a man once dead should be returned again to life saied As for Iohn I mine own self haue caused to be beheaded who beyng dispatched rid out of the world I thought there had none been left a liue which would haue enterprised to do any suche great matters And what felow is this of whoÌ„ I heare much greater thinges theÌ„ euer Iohn wrought And hereupoÌ„ he earnestly sought sum occasioÌ„ to haue a sight of him not to be made better thereby but to satisfie his own curiositie to knowe all thynges orels in case he should so thinke good to do euen thatsame by him that he had doen by Iohn afore But Iesus forasmuche as he knew Herodes mynd welinough would not cum where to be seen of him For he was not cum for any such purpose to fede or delite the iyes of wicked princes with his miracles but to bring the simple poore folkes to helth nor to be beheaded did not like him who had predestinate vnto himself the high exalted standard of the crosse And the Apostles returned and tolde him al that they had doen. And he toke them and went aside into a solitary place high vnto the citie called Bethsaida whiche whan the people knew they folowed him And he receiued them and spake vnto them of the kingdom of god and healed them that had nede to be healed After this the twelue returned home again
therfore sent messagers afore hym twoo or three of the Apostles to prepaire him some harbourgh and place of soiourneyng within a certaine citie of the Samaritanes throughe whiche his iourney laye And whan they came the tounesmen had shutte the gates of the citie against them because they coniectured by the veray facions and couÌ„tenaunce of the Apostles that they were gooyng towardes Hierusalem For the Samaritanes in consideracyon that all theyr woorshyppyng of God was in a mountaine of their owne hated and abhorâ—ed all such as went to HierusaleÌ„ in the way of deuocion to worship God there Upon this Iames and Iohn who hadde been sente on the sayed message when they sawe the vncourtesie of the inhabitauÌ„tes there whiche woulde not suffre them so much as to come within the precincte of their towne walles beeyng euen all out of pacience sayed to the Lord Maister is it thy pleasure that we bidde fier to come downe from heauen as Helias ons dyd whiche may consume these felowes But Iesus because he woulde shewe howe great the mildenes of a teacher of the ghospell ought to bee bridleed their wrathefulnesse with a sharpe rebuke saiyng Take ye not the dede of Helias for your exaumple He beyng led with the spirite brought the wicked people of that tyme to confusion But as for ye doe not yet vnderstand what spyrite ye ought to bee of That same spirite of the ghospel is more meke then so There shall hereafter come a time of redresse and vengeaunce But vntill that daye the sonne of man is come not to cast awaie mennes liues or soules but to saue them They that do now at this presente kepe vs out of their towne wil peradueÌ„ture an other day hereafter take vs in They are therefore to bee saued that they maie bee in case to repent emende And so leauyng the towne they turned an other waye to an other litle towne By these wordes Iesus toke out of theyr stomakes al desirefulnesse of doing vengeaunce and taught vs to vse fauourable bearyng towardes suche as at the firste begynnyng woulde exclude and kepe out the doctrine of the ghospel from theim allegeyng that it was enough to leaue such for a season vntil they might at a tyme of occasion bee conuerted to a better mynde And it chaunced that as they were walkyng in the waie a certaine man saied vnto him I will folowe the whither soeuer thou goe Iesus saied vnto hym Foxes haue holes and birdes of the ayre haue nestes but the sonne of man hath not where to laie his head Againe it fortuned as they wente that a certaine man of his own voluntarie mynde sayed vnto Iesus I will folowe the whithersoeuer thou shalt goe And Iesus myndyng to shewe that suche as broughte not with them myndes mete for suche a weighty matter were not to bee admitted to the fraternitie of preaching the ghospel for that better it were not to take the matter vpon theÌ„ then to geue it ouer again after it were once taken in hande sayed vnto him Foxes haue holes of theyr owne in the earth and birdes of the aier haue theyr nestes in the trees but the sonne of man hath not anye place where to put hys head in Suche an one therefore as hathe anye thing in this worlde whereon to sette hys delite or whereon to set his ful reste and quiet is no mete folower of the sonne of man He muste renounce all thynges that will folowe me And he saied vnto another folowe me And thesame saied Lord suffre me first to go and buirie my father Iesus saied vnto hym leat the dead buâ—rie their dead But go thou and preache the kyngdom of God An other saied Lord I wil folow the but leaâ—e me first go bid them farewel which are at home at my house Iesus saied vnto him No man that putteth his handes to the plough and looketh backe is apte to the kyngdome of God Againe whan he had cast his iye on a certaine other man he saied vnto hym folowe me But he made this aunswere Maister geue me leaue fyrste to buirie my father But Iesus geuyng a bywoorde that the cause of saluacion is to bee preferred before all poyncâ—es of carnall duetye sayed vnto hym Leate the dead buirye theyr deade but gooe thou and shewe abrode the kyngdome of God By thys exaumple dyd the Lorde forfende the excuses of suche men whiche vnder the colour of naturall affeccion and dutie dooe putte of and delaye the care and earneste appliyng of eternall saluacion And yet a wurse â—orte of menne then those are they whiche vnder the colour of fyndyng stoppes and lettes about the affaires of theyr housholde do prolong drieue of fro morowe to morowe the matter of saluacion whiche oughte euen at the first occasioÌ„ streight way to be gone through withal For there came an other man to hym who beeyng commaunded to folowe him aunswered Maister I will come after thee doe nomore but suffre me to goe bidde my familiar frendes and my housholde farewell Than saied Iesus whosoeuer hath ons put his hande to the plough and than afterwarde loketh backe again is not apte for the kyngdome of God This matter of the ghospell is an high matter and an hard to come to whiche whoso hath ons enterprised thesame must with a peâ—pertuall appliyng of it procede stil and goe forwarde to thynges of more and more perfeccion and neuer turne his mynde awaye to the vyle cares of transitorye thynges of this worlde The .x. Chapter After these thinges the Lorde appointed other seuenty also and sent them two and two before him into euerie citie and place whether he himself would come Therfore he saied vnto them the haâ—uest is great but the labourers are fewe Praie ye therefore the lord of the haruest to send forth labourers into the haruest Goe your waies Behold I send you forth as lambes emong woulfes Beare ye no wallet neither scrip nor shooes and salute no maÌ„ by the waie Into whatsoeuer house ye entre first sate Peace be to this house And if the sonne of peace be there your peace shall teste vpon hym yf not it shall turne to you againe And in the same house tarrye styll eatyng and drinkyng suche as they geue For the labourer is woorthye of his rewarde AFter these thinges the Lord chose and toke out of the noumbre of his disciples other seueÌ„tie also as he had tofore chosen his twelue Apostles and sent them two and two before hym into euerye citie place whether he himself had determined to come to the end that by theyr preaching teaching before thei might prepare and make ready the myndes of the people against the cumming of the Lord. These dyd he euen so enstructe howe to preache and teache his ghospel as he had before taught the twelue and he shewed and opened the cause why he had so encreased the noumbre of preachers saiyng The harueste is greate but the labourers are fewe praye ye
alone that maketh all thynges holy forsoth ye vnderstand that corporall enoyntyng must ceasse the priesthood of the lawe together with the oblacions and sacrifices of thesame to be abrogated For Iesus was neuer enoynted with thatsame holy oyntement which the lawe did veray scrupulously teache for to make threatenyng death vnto those persones whosoeuer had couÌ„trefeited or practised the lyke confeccioÌ„ or had applied thesame â—nto any secular vses For the enoynting of the body maketh nothyng at all â—o the effecte or purpose of the priestes but that it was a signe of the spirituall enoynting wherwith Christe was enoynted accordyng as I recited erewhyle out of the prophecie The spirite of God is vpon me for the Lorde hath enoynted me Wherunto the psalmiste Dauid accordeth speaking of Messias Therfore the God thy God hath enoyncted thee with the oyle of gladnesse aboue all thy compiers What the Prophete promised ye sawe perfourmed whaÌ„ Iesus was baptised in fluime Iordane For the holy ghoste came in a visible lykenesse and lighted on the toppe of his head and the voice of the father was heard who had enoynted his soÌ„ne with the oyle of gladnesse aboue the Prophetes and Patriarkes yea and aboue all mortall creatures whiche eyther in tyme past haue been or nowe at this present be or herafter shal be This heauenly and spirituall enoyntyng hath sette an ende to the priestehood of Moses institutyng whiche thyng Daniel doeth forthwith clerely bryng in sayinge And in the middes of the weke hostes sacrifice shall faill Neyther any other thyng it was that God ment speakyng by Esai as one whose stomake arose and stode against their corporall sacrifices of beastes What care I for the multitude of your killyng of sacrifices sayeth the Lorde I am full The burnt sacrifices of wethers and the greace of the fatte beastes and the bloud of calfes and lambes and goates I will none of Nowe ferthermore Daniel did he not manifestly foreshewe the destruccion throwyng downe of the citie of Hierusalem to gether with the Temple therof And dyd not Christe prophecie thesame vnto his disciples with wepyng iyes lamenting and bewailyng the wofull case and extremitie of thesame citie people For it grieued God already beeyng as he is spirituall and made him wery to enhabite a temple made and built vp with the handes of man He was nothyng delited with the offreynges of beastes slain in sacrifice He founde a misse and a lacke of an other citie on whiche thatsame name Hierusalem myght truely light he missed and wanted an other temple mete for hym to dwell in builded of himselfe consecrated and hallowed with his owne spirite other sacrifices oblacions an other nacion circumcised in herte on whom the name of Israel might truly agree Nowe is there nothing of perpetual coÌ„tinuaunce that may be seen with bodily iyes thynges that are not seen are euerlasting and therfore mete semely for God who is eternitie selfe neuer to haue end But yet these shadowes of thinges visible were geueÌ„ for a time to the grosse and vntrained people to the ende they might one daye in processe of tyme by these fyrste introduccions growe and procede forwarde to thynges of the minde But Iesus whose stomake stode muche against aswel the citie as also the temple and the nacion and the sacrifices of the olde lawe doeth by the Prophetes declare euidently enough what maner thynges he wished from thensforth to haue in stede of these others nowe rehersed Haue ye not read what Esai wrote of the heauenly Hierusalem Thou shalt sayth he from hensforth be called the citie of the righteous man the feithfull citie Sion shall be redemed in iudgemente and they shall bryng hir home again in righteousnesse Ye heare a new buildyng of the citie whiche is the churche or congregacion built vp of liuyng stones the corner stone wherof and the foundacion wherof is veray Christe himselfe And this is the stone whom the prophecie of the mistical Psalme did signifie where it sayeth The stone whiche the builders refused and cast asyde thesame is made to be the head stone of the corner And ye haue heard Christ himselfe obiecting the testimonie of this scripture vnto the Phariseis who attempted and did the best they could to cast aside the stone which God had choseÌ„ Yea and of thissame stone an other Prophete also maketh mencion I shall lay in the foundacion of Sion a stone approued and tryed a corner stone a stone of price founded in the foundacion And did not the tune of Christes woordes wheÌ„ he liued agree with the woordes of thys prophecie at what tyme he propouned a parable of an house builded vpoÌ„ a sounde rocke of stone which house no violent blaste or rage of wyndes or waters could be hable to plucke out of his place wherin veraily he signified himselfe to be the fouÌ„dacion of the churche against whom no not yâ— gates of hell are hable to preuaill as he did one day freely promise vnto his disciple Peter SalomoÌ„ builded a teÌ„ple at HierusaleÌ„ according to the appoyntement and ordeinaunce of Moses But lyke as he beeyng a peacefull kyng did beare the image and figure of Messias who restored a perpetuall peace and atonemente for euer betwene God and man so the sayed Temple being built vp with mannes labour conteined the figure of the Temple wherof Christe himselfe was the builder a chiefe workeman as the Lord many yeres agon spake by his Prophete Nathan vnto Dauid as ye reade in the secound boke of the kinges Thou shalt not be he that shalt builde me an house to dwell in but I shall reise thy sede after the whiche shall come forth of thy wombe he shall builde vp an house to my name and I shall establish his throne euen for euer and euer And verayly that the woordes whiche spoken by the sayed Prophete doe not agree to be spoken of Salomon euen this poynte though there were nothyng els doeth plainly proue and conuince because in Salomons throne euen nowe at this present daie there sit straunge borne aliens and all the whole people of the Iewes shall shortely be dispersed and scattred abrode into all nacions of the worlde The saied house which Salomon built in Hierusalem was a buisie thyng with slaughter of beastes with fumigacions with washynges and veray troubleous with perfumes But this house whiche Christe hath builded is made acceptable through faith inuisible this house knoweth no ende For the Prophete in thesame place afore alleged speaketh in this maner And faithfull shall thy house be and thy kyngdome euen for euer before my face and thy throne or seate shal be firmely established for euer These promisses are the vainest of the worlde and the moste full of lyes yf they be taken according as the lettre renneth to concerne Salomon or Dauid eyther For Dauid he deadly foiled his kyngdome with aduoutrie coupled with murdre and Salomon was through the
euen the verai same thing whiche Christ himselfe hath promised vnto you I am with you euen vntyll the consummacion of the worlde Nowe in stede of the bloudie slaughter of beastes whiche the priestes of Moses lawe did vse what kynde of sacrifice shall succede the prophete hath not leaft vnspoken For the psalmiste by inspiracion sayeth thus Sacrifice thou vnto God the sacrifice of laude and paie thy vowes vnto the highest call on me in the daye of tribulacion and I will deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me And agayne in thesame place Whoso offreeth me thankes and prayse honoureth me and to hym that ordreeth his conuersacion right wyll I shewe the saluacion of God And in another place Sacrifice ye the sacrifice of righteousnesse and truste ye in the Lorde Ye haue here nowe hearde a threfold manier of sacrifice that is to wete the sacrifice of prayers or vowes whereof Christe hath thus taughte you Whatsoeuer ye shall aske my father in my name he wyll geue it vnto you the sacrifice of laude and prayse whiche it is euidente enoughe that he solemnely executed and accomplished many tymes rendring thankes vnto his father and the sacrifice of righteousnesse whiche geueth and perfourmeth the strength and power of lyfe to the innocente and the seruiceable attendaunce of charitie towardes the nedie And of this righteousnesse dyd he in propre persone shewe vnto you a perfecte exaumple spendyng his own soule and lyfe for his shepe beeyng founde onely and alone emong men in whome no fraude ne guyle was He taught this thing also out of the prophetes wordes saying thus Goe ye and learne what these woordes of the Prophete dooe meane Mercye wyll I haue and not sacrifice In the spirituall temple than vnder the moste highest prieste Christe there shall not nowe bee geuen distribucion of rawe meate out of the fleashe of calfes of goates or of shepe but of the precious bodye and bloud of Iesus Christe whiche he hath once for all offred to th ende that it maye al tymes bee spirituallye taken of his enoynted renewyng vnto themselues after a certaine manier the death of their head king by that thankefull commemoracion Forsouth this is the hoste whiche shall shortely be offred all the world ouer by the priestes whom God hath enoynted of whiche sacrifice Malachias spoke afore in the spirite of Prophecie I haue no wyll in you saieth the Lorde of hosâ—es and gyfte wyll I none take of your hande For from the arisyng of the sunne vnto the goyng downe my name is greate in all nacions and in euery place there is sacrificed and offreed vnto me a clene oblacion And this was it whiche was foretolde to Hely the prieste also that it should come to passe that whosoeuer should come into the newe temple should saye Leat me goe I beseche thee to one syde of the priesthode that I maie eate a morsell This is thesame sacrifice whiche Christe in Estur supper gaue vnto his disciples puttyng foorth breade vnto them whiche he sayed to be his body and geuyng them the cuppe whiche he sayed to bee the cuppe of his bloude by whiche his bloud he consecrated vnto them a newe testamente that is to saye a bande and league of frendeshyp neuer to dye ne decaye All these thynges yf ye twoo haue not sene on your owne parties yet at leastewyse ye mighte haue hearde it of his twelue speciall Apostles by meane of whom he hath wylled all that hath been wrought and dooen to come to the knowlage of all creatures Lyke as Christe cummyng from heauen hath turned all carnall thynges into ghostly the citie the temple the priesthode the sacrifices so woulde he also his kyngdome to bee newe And for thesame cause did he muche vse to call it the kyngdome of heauen because ye should not looke for any suche manier thyng as ye see many in the kyngdome of the worlde For although he were the Lorde of all yea euen before he came downe into the yearth yet was there a ghostlye kyngdome whiche because he would recouer vnto his father he became obedient to thesame vnto the death of the crosse For by that meanes hath he ouercomed and vanquished his aduersarie that waie hath he deliuered his people and made them free by that meanes hath he recouered enlarged and establisshed his kyngdome vnto his father And in dede the Prophete promised Messias by the title of a kyng and a captaine but he assigneth a double cummyng of hym the former whiche your selues haue seen humble and peaceable For he came to heale and not to strieke in the waye of vengeaunce But he shall come in the ende of the worlde with maiestie garded and encoumpaced round about with many thousandes of Aungels to iudge the quicke and deade And now in this tyme because he hath come lowe and mylde many haue taken slaundre of conscience insomuche that euen those same twelue also whome he had out of all the coumpanie specially chosen out as moste feithfull and trustie vnto hym beeyng strieken in a drede haue fled euerie man his waye for feare yea and one hath reneagued hym too saying that he neuer knewe hym But if ye woulde diligentlye compare the writing of the Prophetes with the thynges whiche ye haue seen wrought and doen there should be no cause why ye should bee offended or slaundred but there is cause why ye should acknowlage hym who came suche an one as he was promised to come Consider ye what Zacharie sayeth Beholde thy kyng shall come vnto the righteous and a salueour beeyng hymselfe in fourme of a poore man mountyng vpon an asse and vpon a colte the foale of a she asse He that so came came not to make battaile but to destruie the battayles of the worlde whiche are made and kepte vnder Satans banners For the Prophete bryngeth in byanby after And I shall scattre soondrie waies abrode the carte from Ephraim and the horse from Hierusalem and the bowe of battayle shall be destruied and he shall speake peace to the nacions and his power shall bee from sea to sea Ye sawe him entre the citie of Hierusalem with this pompe partly to mocke the kyngdomes of this worlde and partly because he would putte you in good remembraunce of the prophecie And now marke ye well this poynte whether Esai did promise hym of any other sorte For euery violent takyng of booties and forceable ruffleyng and garment embrewed with bloud shall be for burnyng the meate of fyer For a lytle one is borne to vs a sonne is geuen to vs princely power is set vpon his shoulder and his name shall be called the meruaylous a Counsaillour the God of strength the father of the world to come the Prince of peace his empier shal be multiplied there shal be no ende of peace He shall sitte vpon the seate of Dauid and vpon his kingdome that he may conserue thesame and make
any thyng that his brothers necessitie requyred But the apostles which were as chiefe pieres of thys newe citie beeyng dispurueyed of worldely goodes but ryche in gyftes of the holy ghost augmented theyr company euery day more than other bearyng wytnes of our Lord Iesus Christes resurreccion with wonderfull great stedfastnesse of mynde and myghty power in workyng of miracles For his resurreccion was pryncipally to be perswaded by witnes of miracles For many one at his death had been present and not a fewe had been pryuy to his buriall And so lyued thys newe comminaltie vnder ryght valyaunte Capitaynes hauyng aboundaunce of all thinges for what they lacked in goodes was supplied and borne out with mutuall loue and concorde For although many one were poore yet was there none amongest them that lacked For as many as were possessioners eyther of landes or houses made sale of them and brought the pryce therof and laied it at the Apostles feete that they whom reuerently as fathers they regarded myght distribute the same goodes in common at theyr owne pleasure Fynally there was no lesse vpryghtnes amongest them that dealed the pryce of mennes possessions then was with those whiche brought it Trueth and vpryght dealyng is seldome founde among stewardes of housholde and layers out of money But here was that distribucion made among them accordyng to euery mannes necessitie without any choyse had of persons There was in this company one Ioseph whome the apostles by syrname called Barnabas whiche woorde in the Sirians toung betokeneth sonne of comforte by bloud and auncestry a Leuyte borne in Cipres This Ioseph bycause he dyd excell among other in great giftes and qualities of the mynde by reason wherof he was called Barnabas for the ioyfull comforte that the multitude had of his accesse was an example for many to folowe that lyberaliâ—ie whiche was semely for the ghospel For wheras he had lande in Cypres he solde it and brought the pryce therof and layed it at the Apostles feete as though it had been a vyle thyng and woorthy to be despised But yet were the Apostles of suche holynes that they would take nothyng therof for them selues aboue other The .v. Chapter ¶ A certayne man named â—nanias with Saphira his wyfe solde a possession and kepte awaye parte of the pryce his wyfe also being of counsell and brought a certayne part and layed it downe at the apostles feete But Peter said Ananias howe is it that Sathan hath fylled thyne herte that thou shouldest lye vnto the holy ghost and kepe awaie part of the pryce of the landes Pertayned it not vnto the onlyâ— after it was solde was it not in thyne owne power why hast thou conceiued this thing in thine herte thou hast lyed not vnto meÌ„ but vnto God Whan Ananias heard these wordes he fell downe and geue vp that ghost And great feare came on all them that hearde these thynges And the young men arose vp and put him aparte and carryed him out and buryed hym BUt lyke as Barnabas playne trueth without colourable deceite moued many to folowe his lyberalitie so was here an exaÌ„ple to put al people in feare that in matters of spiritual charge one should not deceyue an other For the holy ghost loueth playnes of hearte and hateth al deceite dissimulacion In like maner Iudas among the twelue Apostles was an example that no man shoulde put affiaunce in hymselfe but that eche manne should with all carefull diligence continewe in doyng his dutie There was of this companie a certayne man called Ananias one farre vnlyke vnto his owne name because he throughly not consented to the gracious fauour of God This Ananias had a wyfe called Saphira not vnlyke vnto the housbande Whan that Ananias more ambicious of honour theÌ„ desirous of perfite holynesse sawe dyuerse persons hyghly commended of all menne for their free sincere lyberalitie he solde his lande laied vp parte of the money his wyfe being pryuy therunto and allowing the same that of the two partes wherein his money was deuided the one shoulde purchase him prayse of the people with an estimation also or fame of holynesse the other woulde he kepe for himselfe yf any nede should happen distructing doubtlesse the holy ghoste and more caring or prouiding for himselfe then for the whole company of his brethren rekenyng thus with himselfe yf other dye for hunger I am sufficiently prouided for Suche forecasting was not besemyng a man that should put his whole affiance in Christe who promysed that they shoulde wante nothyng that seketh for the kyngdome of god and the rightwysenes therof neyther was this imaginacion mete for hym whiche shoulde bee of one will wyth other and of one mynde Whan he had brought to the apostles feete parte of the money that his liuelode was solde for Peter vnderstandyng by inspiracion of the holy ghoste whiche was in him aboundauntly the mannes vngodly dissimulacion sayed Ananias where as thou hast once dedicate thy selfe to the holy ghost and seen his power by so many tokens euidently declared why hast thou suffered the deuill nowe eftesones to put this in thy mynde to take by stelth awaye parte of that money whiche thou receyuedst for thy lyuelode as though thou couldest face downe the holy ghost with a lye who can in nowyse be deceyued and to bryng into this companie suche a presidente moste daungerouse If we had constrayned thee to sell thy liuelode against thy will some cause peraduenture it might haue been for to dissemble nowe sence thou diddest this of thyne owne free wyll whiche thou haste done to what purpose auayled it to deface that thyng with hypocryse whiche should haue bene to other an example of liberalitie Mightest not thou haue kept thy lande in thyne owne hand yf thou wouldest and moreouer after thou haddest solde it couldest not thou haue reserued the money wholy vnto thy selfe They for theyr trueth playne dealyng are well commended whiche of theyr owne free will bringeth forth all that they haue For we enforce no man thus to doe yf he be not willyng to thesame Upon what occasion than hast thou stablyshed in thy minde thus to disseÌ„ble in this matter It is not man that thou hast made this lye vnto but almightie god Yf thou thinkest that god may be deceyued thyne opinion of him is false and vngodly But yf thou beleue that he is pryuie to all thynges eyther thou despisest his righteousnesse or els thou thynkest that he fauoureth falsehood Ananias than perceyuing that thapostles knewe hys falsehood sodaynly fell downe as one that had be stricken to the herte with a sharpe rebuke and yelded vp the ghoste One for an example suffered death that many myght be therby preserued For after that this facte was bruted abrode it made many sore afrayed that none durste enterpryse any suche lyke offence against the holy ghost Young men remoued thence the dead corse and whan they had carryed it foorth buryed it
the name of Iesus yea as one that endeuoured hymselfe to expresse the vertuous steppes of thapostles But forasmuche as exceliente vertue procureth it selfe enuie lyke as dothe the sterne wynde draw to hym the white cloudes certayne rose vp againste Steuen of diuers felowshyppes of the whiche one was called Libertines another Cyrenites sum of Alexandria an other sorte of suche that came out of Cilicia and Asia For to these countreyes whiche were ioynyng vnto Siria aboue al other were the Iewes dispersed all these sortes as though they had be of one conspiracie arose together against Steuen dysputyng with him and yet coulde not all they although manye in numbre stand in reasoning against this one yong mans wisdome the liuely force of his courage for because the holy ghost whoÌ„ he was ful of spake in him Than sent they men whiche sayed we haue heard him speake blasphemous woordes against Moises against God and they moued the people and the elders the Scribes and came vpon him and caught him brought him to the councel brought forth false witnesse whiche sayed This man ceaseth not to speake blasphemous woordes againste this holy place and the law for we heard him saie this Iesus of Nazareth shal destroy this place and shal chaunge the ordinaunces whiche Moyses gaue vs. And all they that sate in the couÌ„cel loked stedfastly on him saw his face as it had ben the face of an angell Marke me here the maner and fashion of the wicked Whan they had caste of al trueth vnable to make theyr partie good in disputacion thei fell to practise of foregeyng lyes and beyng once put to the wurse by wisdome of the holye ghoste they gaue themselues wholy to the practyse of diuilyshe deceytes For they brought in certaine men with false witnes that saied thei heard Steuen spoâ—ke blasphemous wordes against Moyses against god And there was none offence among the Iewes that more deserued deathe than did blasphemy and more detested with the people Consider here good reader lyke inuencions againste the seruaunte as wer before practised againste the Maister They brought in false accusers bycause they would not be seen in theyr owne persons to reuenge the inwarde grief of their mindes whiche thei had conceiued for the blancke they wer put vnto beyng menne of themselues insufficient to cope with Steuen in disputacion An hainouse crime â—ought they out by their false ymaginacion against him and cloked theyr cankred malice with a pretensed loue to religion Than wer the people with the elders also Scribes by meanes of these false tale tellers whiche had been preuelye sent in sore moued against Steuen insomuche as all they with one assent together toke hym violently awaye and haled hym before the councell Here came they furth before them that wer the hyred recordes for to playe out their partes and to saye this man haue neuer done breaking out into blasphemouse woordes againste this place bothe holy and with all vs honorable and agaynste Moyses lawe that was delyuered vs of god For we hearde hym saye that Iesus of Nazareth woulde destroye this place and chaunge the ordinaunces that Moyses gaue vs. But this was Steuens reporte vpon relacion of the apostles howe Iesus had prophecied to them that the temple and citie lykewyse should be of theyr enemyes ouerthrowen euen from the foundacion for the peoples infidelitie This rehersall of Steuen craftely they wrested to a false and sâ—launderouse accusacion A man myght well affirme these to bee thesame persones the accused Iesus reportyng thus of his woordes we hearde hym saiynge I wyll destroye this temple and sette vp an other in thre dayes But Steuen at this sharpe and cruel accusacion was nothing moued in his mynde for he was cleare in his conscience insomuch that he from the botome of his herte appeared in his very countenaunce to be innocent For the minde that knoweth euel by it self is neuer out of feare This his stedfastnes in couÌ„tenaunce put his accusers soone to rebuke for theyr shameles falshood For those that sate there in counsayle beholdynge hym and markyng well howe boldelye he toke the offence that was layed to his charge same hym so lytle discouraged at the matter or dismayde that his face seemed to vtter by countenaunce sum thynge aboue mannes excellencie and a certayne chearfulnes withall and maiestie besemyng for an Aungell to haue The .vii. Chapter ¶ Than sayed the chief priest is it euen so And he saied ye meÌ„ brethren fathers herken The god of glory appeared vnto our father Abraham whaÌ„ he was in Mesopotamia before he dwelt in â—harran saied vnto him Get the out of thy countrey and from thy kinâ—ed cum into the lande which I shal shewe the. Than came he out of the lande of Chalde and dwelt in Charran And froÌ„ thence whaÌ„ his father was dead he brought him into this lande in which ye nowe dwel and he gaue him none inheritauÌ„ce in it no not the bredeth of a foote And promysed that he would geue it to hym possesse to his feede after hym when as yet he had no childe THan demauÌ„ded the high prieste of the accused person to thintent he might frame his senteÌ„ce in iudgement towardes him after forme of lawe as he did before in condemning Christe this questioÌ„ whether he had ought to answer to those thiÌ„ges whether he would acknowledge the offence that was brought againste him Than Steuen beyng inspyred with the holye ghoste beganne in this wise to make answere to the playnte profoundly with a rehersall made euen from the beginning Honorable audience all that here be presente eyther brethren by trade of our cuntrey religion either els by reason of auncientnes and authoritie fathers geue eare to me in my defeÌ„ce of innocencie as ye haue done to mine accusers paciently I haue neyther vsed to speake contumeliously against god neither against Moyses nor against the temple but my endeuoure hath been not disagreynge here from Moyses to aduaunce goddes glory and that spirituall temple am I a buyldyng like as god commaunded me wherin god that is the very spirite is best pleased It is no blasphemy for a man to set furth that thing to the vttermost of his power whiche Moyses shadowed in figures whiche the prophetes being inspired with goddes holy spirite hath before spoken of whiche the sonne of god the was sent downe to earth for the same purpose hath both begonne and put his owne in credite withall to finyshe which the holy ghoste now perfourmeth for all peoples saluacioÌ„ through them that beleue the gospel But to striue so obstinately against the will of god beyng so well knowen and so bounteous towarde al men is naught els then to hate god is none other thing than to blaspheme god Whiche obstinate maner this nacion hath not of late daies begonne but what they haue begonne longe agoe to do now they neuer ceasse to continewe so that nowe we
wer vanquished in their accion by piththy reasons There was nothing here spoken by him of god but godlye nothing of Moses but honorably of the lawe nothyng but accordyng to the meaning therof of the temple nothynge contumelyously And yet their hartes for anger were a breakyng in sundre and thei grinded their teethe togither lyke woode men and frantyke So loth were they to see their owne glorie dimynished and his glorye published and praysed whose glorye alone god woulde haue openly declared to all men If he hadde praysed Moyses or Abraham they woulde haue forborne hym but now that Iesus should be alyue that he should stande on the ryght hande of god lyke as Dauid prophecied that coulde not they abide But as they had be al stryken than or turned into a fury or madnes thei stopped their eares againste so holsome doctrine and communicacion and ran al at once vpon Steuen violently with outragious cries And as though he had ben thā conuict and condemned for blasphemie they cast hym oute of the citie expressyng in this one poynte alone Moyses lawe and there they stoned hym And the witnesses as though they had gotten the vpperhande of hym whose dewtye was after Moyses lawe to cast the first stone to thintente they myght the redier be to that cruel murther layed downe their garmētes at a young mans feete called Saule who than of ignoraunce and loue towarde hys countrey law fauoured the wicked parte Soone vpō this they began to stone Steuen who neither contended againe neither spake woordes to thē of any reproche but made to him whome he had seen his inuocacion and sayde Lorde Iesu take to the my soule Therby mayst thou know him to be Iesus disciple For in lyke maner sayed he vpon the crosse father I commend my spirite into thy handes After this whyle the stones flygh on euery syde and he was kneling vpon the grounde he cried out aloude with an highe voyce and an inwarde great affeccion of mynde and sayed lorde laye not this vnto their charge for they know not what they do how playnly doth the seruaunt expresse his mayster This was the laste woorde before his deathe after the whiche he departed this lyfe as it were with a sounde slepe in the lorde in whome whosoeuer dyeth doth not dye in very dede but falleth into a slepe and shall agayne after he hath taken his pleasaunt test awake to lyfe euerlasting It besemeth as many as be trewe christians to dye in suche a mynde And so Steuen ryghte well agreyng to his name deserued first of all the crowne of martyrdome and offered vp to the Lorde the first fruytes of sacrifice that were seamely for the gospell The .viii. Chapter Saule consented vnto his death And at that tyme there was a great persecuciō against the congregacion whiche was at Ierusalem And they wer all scattered abrode throwout the regions of Iewry and Samaria But deuout persons dressed Steuen and made greate lamentacion ouer hym As for Saul he made hauocke of the congregacion entred into euery house drewe out both men and women thrust theim into prison Therfore they that were scattered abrode went euerye where preachyng the woorde of God SOme there were emong that multitude whiche were not than perswaded that Iesus was the sonne of God and so by meane of suche ignoraunce their offence was the lesse thoughe it excused them not of murther forasmuche as they beyng so blinded of their owne inordinate desyres had leauer auenge then learne the trueth Yet of all other none were lesse to be holden excused than the byshoppes scribes and phariseis Sum agayne there were whiche of very ignoraunce not of any malice beleued that it was a pleasant sacrifice to god to dispatche the worlde of them whiche went aboute to subuert the lawe that god had left to man Albeit charitie of the gospell excuseth yea those thinges whiche cannot be with man excused Amongest those that of plaine ignoraunce did amysse and of no maliciouse mynde Saule was accompted one who was borne in the Isle Tarsus a young man fauoryng Moyses lawe excedyngly whiche afterwarde became of a rauenynge woulfe a meke lambe of a cruel persecutor of Christes gospell and egre defender of the lybertye therof But stones verely cast he none that tyme at Steuen but was assentyng to them that had condemned and stoned hym and for this purpose kepte he their garmentes that he myghte be accounted one amongest the rest of them that stoned him And yet were not the malyciouse Iewes quieted in their mindes with the murther of this one person but a wonderful great persecution begūne sone after to ryse against the church of Christ whiche than was at Hierusalem in somuche as all they were scatered into sondry coastes of Iudea and Samaria sauyng the twelue apostles whiche were more constante in mynde and stedfast than other were neyther coulde the maliciouse Iewes ought do agaynst them no more coulde they agaynst the other but vpon Iesus the lordes sufferaunce The lorde had permytted them in tyme of persecucion to flye from citie to citie And this theyr fliyng proceded not so muche of anye feare the disciples were in as it came of the wil and ordinaunce of god that of their teachinges as it were of seedes cast in many places abrode a plentifull haruest myght the soner cum forth in Christes religion The twelue apostles and no moo like faithfull shepherdes shranke not awaye for all the great storme but abode styll by it at Hierusalē But sum well dysposed persones because they perceiued Steuen vnworthely oppressed by subornate witnesse caused the dead body to be buried Of suche a godly loue or affecciō was Ioseph moued and Nycodemus to prouide dyligently for the lorde Iesus funeralles but Steuens death was celebrate after the Iewishe facion or maner with weapynge and wailynge of good men For Christen people taketh the death of suche that dye for Christes glory to their great Ioye and comforte and as it were for the victorie of goddes enemyes and yf there be any teares shedde it is not for his sake that is dead but eyther for suche manquellers that purchaseth them selues helle either els for Christes flocke beyng destitute of a necessary shepherd In these daies Saul whiche had before declared at the stoning of Steuē sum tryal of his zeale began of a great displeasure that he had conceyued against the Christiās lyke an hungry woulfe that teareth in peces scattereth abrode a flocke of shepe euē so to wast goddes congregacion pursuynge them that fledde searching them oute that lay hid walkynge about to euery house and wher he thought any to be of Christes professiō furiously there russhed he in haling men and lykewyse women into prison more cruell the trueth to say then were the priestes Scribes of the which none at al put womē to any trouble or busines This did that yong man of a good zeale but of a noughty iudgemēt And
corps to take sum pitie or compassion for her death There stode about Peter all the wydowes who among other ministeries whiche were prayse worthye chiefely were commended for seruing the holye in all their necessities they mourned her with wepyng teares whiche they let fall more of pitie towarde the poore whome she was wunt to refreshe with many good turnes then for her â—ake that was departed Their weapyng was then a sufficient openyng to hym of theyr myndes what they desyred to haue They called not to rehearsall her good dedes but brought forth to syght the coates and other garmentes whiche Dorcas had already made to clothe the holye withall But this her indeuour in doyng good was by death interrupted Then Peter hauing in remembraunce Iesus example where as he raysed vp the chiefe priestes doughter of the Synagoge after the multitude of those that mourned were first of all put oute of doores commaunded them all to go furth For the widowes were onely they that mourned And weping is a let to prayer And moreouer because that women whiche of their owne nature are weake spirited shoulde not be troubled at the rysyng vp of the deade bodye he would haue none of them to be present â–ª but he all alone prayed knelyng on his knees For the holy ghost by whom all miracles are wroughte is not at all times in like force with maÌ„ But his vertue by prayer is quickened like as fayth is also without the whiche no miracle at al is wrought Whan Peter had made his prayers and conceyued spirituall strength of the holye ghoste he turned hym to the bodywarde and sayde Tabitha rise vp Than shee as these wordes were spoken awaked as though shee had ben in a slepe and loked vpon Peter And after that she had behelde him well sate her down agayne Peter than putting forth his hande to ayde her withall set her vp beyng thaÌ„ on liue and lastly After this maner must they be lifte vp vnto godlines whiche be of their owne selues weake First of all muste god be prayed vnto that he would take mercy vpon them That done they muste be taughte what to do rebuked for theyr lyfe mispent and exhorted to amende Finally they muste haue ayde as Dorcas had to be lyfte vp by good example to more perfeccion of lyfe Whan Peter had called the holy brethren and widowes whome he before had bidden go forthe into the chambre againe whiche were likewise their selues occupyed in praier lokyng for the mercifulnes of the Lorde he shewed them the woman on lyue for them all to beholde That miracle was soone bruyted abrode ouer all the citie of Ioppa and caused manye one to beleue in Christe For that is the very chefe commoditie that cummeth of miracles For it shoulde not otherwyse muche auayle to call one or two amongest so manye thousandes that come by tymes into this worlde and departe thesame vnto lyfe againe whiche muste neuertheles soon after dye And this was an occasion for Peter to tarye manye dayes at Ioppa For where shoulde he that fissheth for mennes soules abide more to his contentacion than there as manye cummeth vnto his nette All this meane whyle abode Peter the chiefe of all the apostles and he that by reason of so greate myracles whiche he hadde wrought both was famous and mighty at one Simons house a tanner by his occupacion The .x. Chapter ¶ There was a certaine man in â—esatea called Cornelius a capitaine of the souldiers of Italy a deuoute man one that feared God with al his houshold whiche gaue muche almes to the people and praied God alway The same sawe by a vision cuâ—deÌ„tely about the ninth houre of the daie and auÌ„gel of god cumming in vnto hym saying vnto him Cornelius when he loked on hym he was afrayde and sayde what is it Lorde He sayd vnto him Thy praiers and thy almes are cum vp into remembraunce before God And now send men to Ioppa call for one Simon whose sirname is Peter He lodgeth with one SimoÌ„ a tanner whose house is by the sea side He shal tell the what thou oughtest to do And when the aungel which spake vnto him was departed he called two of his housholde seruauntes and a deuout souldier of them that awayted on him tolde them all the matter and sent them to Ioppa HYtherto had none of the apostles bene conuersaunt among the heathen but by occasion was that chamberlaine whiche came from Ethiop induced to Christes religion And yet sum of the gentiles were the better that they dwelt nere vnto the apostles For in Cesarea the most floryshing citie of Palestine whiche to fore was called StratoÌ„s castle was a certaine manne named Cornelius captaine ouer a band of meÌ„ which wer of Italie This maÌ„ though by trade of his auncestry he were heathen by reason of his office a man of armes yet as one that desyred to be a christen man he was a good lyuer and feared god Like him was all his whole houshold For it is commenly seene that the residue of the housholde do frame themselues in condicions like vnto the maister of the house He in two poyintes chiefly declared hymselfe meete to take vpon hym Christes religion in liberally refreshing the neady poore and in continuall prayer to the lorde He knowledged the true god for that he learned by reason that he was conuersaunt among the Iewes He knew that his fauour was chiefly obtayned by beyng beneficiall to the poore and by coÌ„tinuall prayer It remayned alwaye certaine that he whiche had already abundauntly ynoughe shoulde haue more geuen hym This man beyng in his prayer not muche before supper tyme the nynth houre of the daye did euideÌ„tly see a vision the angel of god cummyng towardes hym and callyng hym by name Cornelius as though he had ben familiarly acquaynted with hym But Cornelius beholding than the angel and beyng sore afrayed by reasoÌ„ of the maiestie of so rare a personage sayde Lorde what art thou The angell aunswered thy prayers are not spente in vayne neyther yet thy almes dedes wherwith hitherto thou hast earnestly called vpon god to be mercifull to the. For what thou hast bestowed to refreshe the poore the lord vouchesafeth to couÌ„te it bestowed vpon himselfe he wil reward thee in their behalfe which are not able to require Wherfore thou hast not emploied thy benefite on him that wil forget it Thou haste done for thy parte accordyng to his wyll he agayne on thother parte wyll accomplishe that thy requeste whiche thou haste continually by prayer desyred The lorde hath heard thy praiers because thyne eares were not stopped from the poore Nowe therfore this must thou doo without delaye that from hence forwarde the lorde maye shewe vnto the his bountifull goodnes Sende sum of thy seruauntes to the citie Ioppa and enquire there for a certaine man named Simon and desyre hym to cum speake with thee this man in the iyes of the
the word to no manne but vnto the Iewes onely Sum of theim were menne of Cypres and Cyrene whiche whan they wer cum to Antioche spake vnto the Grekes and preached the Lorde Iesus And the hande of the lorde was with them and a great number beleued turned vnto the lorde For they that by reason of sore persecucion after Steuens death were dispersed wente from vyllage to village and from citye to citie vntyll they came to Phenice and sum to the Yle Cypres whiche lyeth ryghte ouer agaynste Phenice sum also scattered to Antioche whiche deuideth Phenyce from Cilicia preachyng to euery man the doctrine of the ghospell which they had receyued of the Apostles and yet durst not they communicate it to anye man but those that were Iewes not because they hated all menne besydes but of a certayne godly feare whiche they had forasmuche as they thoughte that it was not lawfull to gyue to dogges the holye whiche to do the Lorde had forbydden theym Aboute thesame tyme arose vp certayne menne that were coÌ„uerted to the fayth borne parte in Cypres and parte in Cyrene which entryng into the citie of Antioche durste boldly speake of Christe to the Grecians and preached oure Lorde Iesus vnto theym and they prospered the matter succedyng very well as the wyll of God was that it shoulde do who gaue strength and courage to the setters furthe of his name For among them also a great numbre that gaue credence to the ghospell were conuerted to the Lorde Tydynges of these thynges came vnto the earâ—s of the congregacion whiche was in Hierusalem And they sent furth Barnabas that he shoulde go vnto Antioche which when he was cum and had seene the grace of God was glad and exhorted them al that with purpose of herte they would continually cleaue vnto the lorde For he was a good man and full of the holye ghost and fayth and muche people was added vnto the Lord. Than departed Barnabas to Tarsus for to seke Saule And when he had founde hym he brought hym vnto Antioche The knowleage of this matter by noysyng of it abrode from one to another came to the eares of the churche whyche was at Hierusalem And for this purpose the leuite Barnabas a man whiche was borne in Cypres one of suche perfeccion as was semely for an apostle was sent thyther by the apostles to see what was dooen there and that he yf he perceiued it to be agreable to the will of god shoulde allowe it by the authoritie of thapostles So great heede they tooke in receyuyng the heathen to be partetakers of the ghospell although thapostles muche desyred that it shoulde so be partelye leste that it shoulde be afterwardes called backe or broken of the Iewes as a thyng vnaduisedly or rashely doone and partely left the gentyles shoulde verye muche mistruste theymselues in that that they had dooen as thoughe the lawe of Moyses must haue been their helpe and theyr staye But after that Barnabas was cum to Antioche and perceiued that the Grecians had obtayned them lyke fauoure of god thorowe fayth wythout obseruacion of the lawe as the Iewes had he muche reioyced that the numbre of the faythfull was encreased and exhorted them all that they shoulde stande stedfaste in theyr purpose and stycke to God For he was a good man and replenished with the holye ghoste And therefore came it to passe by meanes of hys preaching that manye moe dyd ioyne wyth the other numbre that professed the Lorde And because that Antioche is adioyning to Cilicia the very nerenesse of the place moued hym to seke for Paule whiche was more meete for thys office than anye other forasmuche as he was chosen of Chryste to glorifie hys name among the Gentiles and prynces of the yerth For the disciples had brought hym to Cesarea a citie of Phenice what tyme he fledde frome Ierusalem and thence he went to Tarsus Whom after he had founde there he brought to Antioche because he hoped to wynne moe by hys meanes whyche was an apostle specially chosen to this office in so great a cytie as that was and so muche frequented bothe of Grecians and also Iewes ¶ And it chaunced that a whole yeare they had theyr conuersacion witâ— the congregacion there and taught muche people insomuche as the disciples at Antioche were the first that were called Christen And so they continued together at Antioche a whole yere wyth the congregacion of the faythfull that were there gathered together in a greate numbre aswell of Grecians as of Iewes whiche was afterwardes muche increased by accesse of no smalle multitude of people gathered together by the preachyng of Paule and Barnabas insomuche that they whiche before were called disciples because the name of Christe was odious at Antioche firste were called of the principall authour of their religion al Christians that professed Christes doctrine ¶ In those dayes came prophetes from the citie of Ierusalem vnto Antioche And there stode vp one of them named Agabus and signified by the spirite that there should be great dearth throughout all the worlde which came to passe iâ— the Emperoure Claudius dayes Than the disciples euery man accordyng to his habilitie purposed to sende succour vnto the brethren whiche dwelt in Iewry which thyng they also dyd and sente it to the elders by the handes of Barnabas and Saule Aboute this season certayne Prophetes came frome Hierusalem to Antioche among whome one whose name was Agabus standyng vp in the congregacion inspired with the spirite of God certified theym that there shoulde come greate famyne ouer all the whole woorlde The whiche came to passe in Claudius Cesars tyme that succeded Caligula And because that the Iewes whiche were conuerted to the fayth and dwelled in Hierusalem were for the moste parte poore men and partly had giuen all that they had in commen and manye of theym by reason that they professed Iesus Christes name had been spoiled of their goodes by the priestes they prouided that those whyche had abundantlye ynoughe specially amongest the Gentyles and had receiued the ghospell shoulde euerye man gyue a porcion and the money so gathered shoulde be sente to the christen menne that dwelled in Iewrye for their sustentacion so that no maunne was compelled to gyue any thyng but that euery man should geue that that he coulde fynde in his herte with a good wyll to depart withall accordyng to the valew of his goodes And euen as they had ordeyned so was it doen And the same money was sent to Hierusalem by Paule and Barnabe to the elders that they should distribute it as they thought beste to those that had nede therof ¶ The .xii. Chapter At the same tyme Herode the kyng stretched furth his handes to bere certayne of the congregacion And he killed Iames the brother of Iohn with a sworde And because he saw that it pleased the Iewes he proceded farther and tooke Peter also Than were the dayes of swete breade And whan
it was euen so Than sayd they it is hys â—ungell But Peter continâ—ed knocking and when they had opened the doore and saw hym they were astoâ—ied And whan he had beckened vnto them with the hand that they myght holde their peace he tolde them by what meanes the Lorde had brought hym out of the prison And he sayed goe shewe these thynges vnto Iames and to the brerâ—râ— And he departed and went into an other place Then Peter lookyng about hym and perfectly knowyng in what part of the citie he was cummyng to hymselfe sayde Nowe I perceyue it is no dreame that is done but the Lorde pytiynge those that be hys hath sente hys Aungell and hath delyuered me out of the handes of Herode whiche had decreed to put me to deathe and hath disappoynted bothe the cruell kyng and also the earnest expectacion of the multitude Than as he was in consultynge and deuising with hymselfe whither he myghte mooste safely goe thynkyng that he woulde make hys dysciples and felowes to be partakers of thys hys ioyfull chaucne wente to the house of Mary that was the mother of Iohn not the same Iohn that was brother to Iames but that was otherwise called Marke in whose house many were assembled praying wyth one assente for the delyuery of theyr pastoure And whan Peter knocked at the wicket of the gate whyche was towardes the streate syde a lytle mayden came foorthe softely to harken what the matter was Her name was Rhoda Whome Peter perceyuyng to come to the doore wylled her spedely to open the doore Whan she heard Peters voice beeyng halfe amased for sooddayn ioye did not open the doore but runnyng backe agayne into the house broughte theym woorde that Peter was at the doore But they beeyng well assured howe safe Herode had caused Peter to bee kepte aunswered to the mayden Surely thou arte peuyshe But whan shee contynued styffely affirmyng that it was true that shee had sayed some of theym sayd it is not Peter but his ghoste or angell that speaketh lyke him For they were of this opinion that euery man hath an Angell to be hys keper and guyde whiche often tymes woulde take mannes lykenes vpon hym But when as Peter styll knocked they opened the doore and whan they sawe Peter come in they woondred at hym But Peter hearyng the greate noyse of those that reioyced that he was come agayne beckened to theym with his hande that they shoulde holde theyr peace and harken wythoute noyse what he woulde saye leste that any manne shoulde perceyue the matter that had chaunced by so straunge and vnaccustomed noyse that they made Whan sylence was made he shewed theym all the matter as it had chaunced in ordre howe the Lorde had broughte hym out of the pryson by the guydyng of his aungell And looke sayde Peter that Iames the brother of the Lorde be certified hereof he was than bysshope of Hierusalem and the reste of the brethren that they maye bee partakers with vs of thys ioye In thys wyse the good God dooeth myxte sadnesse with myrthe and myrthe wyth sadnesse that we shoulde not vttrely despayre After Peter had spoken these woordes he forthwith departed thence and went into an other place wheras he myghte more safely bee hydde for feare leste Herode whose contynual endeuoure in crueltie he had experyence of shoulde agayne espie him out Assone as it was daye there was no lytell to dooe emong the souldiers what was becum of Peter Whan Herode had sought for him and founde him not he examined the kepers and commaunded them to bee had away And he descended from Iewry to Cesarea and there abode Herode was dyspleased with them of Tyre and Sydon But they came all with one accorde and made intercession vnto one Blastus the kinges chaumbers sayne and desired peace because their countrey was nourished by the kynges prouysion But as sone as it was daye the souldiers to whose custody he was committed seeyng the chaynes remayne whole and that the prysoner was escaped the doores beeyng shutte were sore amased maruaylyng what was become of Peter And Herode whan he had sente for Peter to thyntente that he myght bryng him foorth beefore the people and so to condemne hym to death and founde hym not in the pryson after examynacyon hadde of the kepers commaunded them to warde that he myghte at laysure put theym to execucion But God euer mercyfully tenderyng those that loue hym restrayned Herodes rage aswell prouydyng for the safetye of the Apostles as also of the souldiers For it was not sytting that the safegarde of Peter shoulde be occasion that the innocentes shoulde suffer the paynes of death And in the meane space it it befel that Herode had occasion to take hys iourney to Cesarea a citie of Palestine He was offended with thinhabitours of Tyre and Sydon and dyd euen than purpose in his mynde to wage battayll agaynste theym But they hearyng of that repaired wyth one accorde vnto hym and fyrste desiryng the fauoure of one Blastus whyche was chyefe of the kynges priuie chaumbre and obteyning the same sued for peace forasmuche as they thought it expedient for them to haue the frendshyppe of hym beyng a kynge that dwelte so nere theym Because that their ryches and welthynes in Tyre and Sydon stoode moste by marchaundysynge and therefore it was theyr commoditie and vauntage to bee at league wyth the countreys that adioyned nere vnto them and that they could not wage battell without theyr great hynderaunce hauyng not free passage for occupiers to cary out and bryng in marchaundises ¶ And vpon a day appoynted Herode arayed him in his royall apparell and set hym in his seate made an oâ—acion vnto them And toe people gaue a shout saying it is the voice of a God and not of a maÌ„ And immediately the angel of the Lord smoâ—e hym because he gaue not God the honour and he was eaten of wormes gaue vp the gost And the woord of God grew and multiplied And Barnabas and Paule returned to Hierusalem when they had fulfilled their office and toke with them Iohn whose sirname was Marke After these matters were pâ—acibly ended whan as vpon a certayne solemne feaste or high daye that was by vowe kepte holy for the health of the Emperour by occasion whereof the chiefe rulers of the whole countrey were assembled thither the seconde daye that the playes were kepte for they continued many dayes Herode was speakyng vnto the people out of an hyghe place or pulpet before the people hauyng on hym a gorgeous garmente that was very richely and coningly wouen and enbrodered with bothe syluer and also gold when that the brightenes of the Sunne beames shyning on the laâ— and bosome of the kinges garment by reason of refleccioÌ„ glistered vpon euery mans iyes that no man might abyde the bryghtenes thereof euen as it had been lyghtening the multitude with flattery made a shout thereat praysyng hym sayd
〈◊〉 but Iudas departed alone to Hierusalem Paule and Barnabas continued in Antioche teaching and preaching the worde of the Lorde with other manye After this done they were dismissed with the letters and message whan they came to Antioche they delyuered the letters to the congregacion Which whan they were in audience of them al rehearsed the whole multitude reioysed with great comforte because the Apostles and elders and commons of Hierusalem had vouchesafed by theyr authoritie to staye theym in that opinion whiche they had already conceyued in theyr myndes And than Iudas and Sylas hauyng the gyfte of expoundyng scriptures satisfyed euerye man in those thynges that were not namelye expressed in the letters accordyng to the commission of the Apostles And as large they exhorted the brethren and made them stedfaste in theyr mynde wyllyng them to contynue in that that they had begonne And whan they had taryed there a good sorte of dayes they were dimissed of the brethren in peace and were permitted to returne vnto theym that hadde sente theym And forasmuche as Sylas thought it best to tarrye there Iudas returned alone to Hierusalem In the meane space Paule also and Barnabas remayned at Antioche teaching indifferentlye bothe Iewes and also Gentiles preaching saluacion vnto euery manne to be obteyned yf they woulde beleue the Gospell that is to saye the worde of God ¶ But after a certayne space Paule sayde vnto Barnabas Let vs go agayne and visite out brethren in euery citie where we haue shewed the worde of the Lord and see how they do And Barnabas gaue couÌ„sel to take with theÌ„ Iohn whose sirname was Marke But Paule would not take him vnto theyr cuÌ„pany which departed froÌ„ theÌ„ at Pamphilia and went not with theÌ„ to the worke And the contencion was so sharpe betwene them that they departed asonder one from another and so Barnabas toke Marke sailed vnto Cipres And Paule chose Silas and departed beyng coÌ„mitted of the brethren vnto the grace of god And he went through Syria and Cilicia stablyshyng the congregacions TheÌ„ came he to Derba to Listra coÌ„maunding them to kepe the preceptes of the apostles elders And after a good space Paule became carefull for the disciples that he hadde lefte at Cypres and in Pamphilia Than he sayde vnto his cumpanion Barnabas Let vs go visitte our brethren that be abrode in all cities wheras we haue preached the woorde of God and see how they do Barnabas allowed hys sayinges but hys mynde was to haue Iohn whiche otherwyse was called Marke to go with them whom they before had brought out with them whan they toke theyr iourney thytherwardes In whiche matter Paule dissented or disagreed from hym thynkyng hym not mete to be receyued in parte of that businesse seeyng that he before tyme of hys owne accorde had forsaken them before they had finished that businesse whiche they had taken in hande and had sayled backe from Pamphilia to Antioche And they were so earneste in disputing or reasonyng this matter that where as none woulde gyue place to other one departed from the cumpany of the other Not because that anye greuous displeasure was arysen betwene so greate apostles but because that both contended to bryng to passe that they thought expedient for setting furth the Gospell And we haue here example lefte vs not streyght wayes to esteme euyll whatsoeuer disagreeth with our opinion It is no matter to be of a dyuerse opinion so that mennes myndes do agree in furtheryng the ghospell And god also prouyded this that by the dissencion of the Apostles whan two chiefe capitaynes wer disseuered the ghospell should sprede more at large then yf they had continued together in one companye as they had done before And then Barnabas taking Marke with him sailed into Cypres whiche was hys natiue countreye And Paule takyng to hym Sylas whiche as god woulde had remayned at Antioche euen as it had bene for the nones and of a purpose that Paule shoulde not be destitute of a sad man to beare him cumpanye and a manne that â—as in good estimacion beyng dimissed of the brethren and committed to the grace of god toke his iourney whither euer he had any token of hope that the gospel should haue increase So he went ouer to Syria and Cilicia wheras he hymselfe was borne and echewhere stablyshinge the cumpanyes of suche disciples as he before had gotten there and encreasyng also the number of them as his purpose before was coÌ„maunded them to kepe those thinges that the apostles and elders had decreed at Hierusalem as concerning eschewinge the cuÌ„pany of such as were wurshyppers of Idolles and eschewyng whoredome strangled beastes and bloud and that they were none otherwyse bound to kepe Moses lawe Whan all these thinges were done in Cilicia he returned againe to Derba and after to Listres The .xvi. Chapter And beholde a certaine disciple was there named Timotheus a womans sonne which was a Iewesse and beleued but his father was a Greke Of whom reported well the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium Hym woulde Paule that he should goo forth with him and tooke circumcised him because of the Iewes whiche wer in those quarters For they all knewe that his father was a Greke ANd beholde there was a certaine disciple whose name agreed with his dedes and was called Timothie as a man woulde saye in estimacion with God who was borne of Parentes that were of sondry sectes For his mother beyng nowe a widowe was a Iewe borne and had of late bene conuerted from the faythe and peruerse beliefe of the Iewes vnto the true faith of Christe And his father was a gentile This Timothie for hys vertuous disposicion and lyuing was muche spoken of among all the brethren that were at Listres and also at Iconium And so Paule desiring nothyng more than by all meanes dayly to enlarge the boundes of the gospell searched out in euery corner suche as might serue his turne euen as ambicious kinges are accustomed to do whiche beyng wholy gyuen to enlarge theyr dominions care for nothynge more then to get mete capitaynes and rulers to whome they may commit their affaires But it is not sufficient for him that is captayne or guyed in matters of the ghospell to haue meane qualities nor yet to be of an vpright behauioure but he muste haue commendacion of all good men leste that an euil name going on him thoughe it be false may hurte the furthering of the gospel Wherfore Paule was desyrous to haue Timothie to beare him cumpany in his iournies because he was good and estemed also of all good men to bee good and vertuous And whan he had obteined hym to ioyne with hym he circumcised him not because he thought he myght therby obteyne saluacion whiche onely fayth coulde doe but leâ—te the Iewes shoulde make any commocion of whome there was no small noumber in those partes he vouchesafed rather to suffer Timothie to lese a lytle piece
of skinne which yf he had styll kepte he had not bene the better nor yet the worse for lacke of it then by occasion thereof to turne awaye the Iewes myndes from the gospell whose stubbrenesse he knewe well enough The Gentiles were free from the burden of the lawe by the decree that the apostles had made at Ierusalem Paule beeyng present And circumcision was a profession made to obserue the lawe and as a token therof But the Iewes were not yet openlye delyuered from the yoke of the lawe whiche ought by litle and lytle to be abolisshed Wherfore seeyng that it was euident by al tokens that Timotheus mother was a Iewe borne and his father a paynym by occasion whereof he had not been hytherto circumcised Paule tyghte well perceyued that the Iewes woulde make sedicion yf they myght haue neuer so lytle a cause and speciallie yf Timothie whiche was halfe a Iewe borne were not onely made pertaker of the gospell without circumcision but also called to the office of a preacher Wherfore Paule in those dayes did beare so muche with theym hauyng euer respecte only to further the gospell and to kepe men in quietnes whiche had professed Christ the authour of all true peace As they went through the cities they deliuered them the decrees for to kepe that wer ordeyned of the apostles elders which were at Hierusalem And so wer the congregacions stablished in the fayth and encreased in numbre dayly And not only thus did he but whatsoeuer cities they wer that he wente by he commaunded those that of heathen wer becum christen to kepe those thynges that had bene decreed by the apostles and elders at Hierusalem for the whyche purpose Iudas and Sylas had been sente before to Antioche leste the Iewes should fynde any faulte therwith And god furthered Paule in all hys businesse For the congregacions of the disciples wer both establyshed in the fayth of the gospel and dayly also augmeÌ„ted many persons beyng day by day conuerted to the fayth Whan they had gon throughout Phrigia and the countreye of Galacia and wer forbydden of the holy ghost to preache the word in Asia they came to Mysia soughte to go into Biâ—hiâ—ia But the spirit suffred them not But whan they had goen through Mysia they came downe to Etoada And whan they had trauayled ouer Phrygia and Galacia with greate profite in wynnyng many to the fayth although thei were but a grosse and a rude people and were muche desyrous to take their iourneye towardes that parte whiche is properly called Asia the holy ghoste woulde not suffer theym to preache the gospell there And this the secrete and priuie wyl of God obeied they forasmuche as it is not sittyng that manne should withstand god And so chaungeyng their entent they turned to Mysia fast borderyng vpon that couÌ„treye which is properly called Asia Thence they attempted to take their iourney towardes Bithinia turnyng theym northwarde For that was a noble prouince of the Romaynes and therfore they hoped there to haue great auauÌ„tage But the spirite of Iesus whiche was theyr guide would not permit them to go thither the cause why is vncertayne Wherefore returnyng backe towarde the weste whan they had goen ouer Mysia they came to Troas That same is a citie of Phrigia ioynyng nere vnto the sea and otherwyse called Antigonia ¶ And a vision appered to Paule in the nighte There stoode a man of Macedonia prayed hym saying cum into Macedonia and help vs. After he had sene this vision immediatly we prepared to go into Macedonia beyng certifyed that the lord had called vs to preache the gospel vnto them WheÌ„ we loosed forth then from Troada we came with a strayght course to Samothracia and the next day to Naples from theÌ„ce to Philippos which is the chief citie in the partes of Macedonia a free citie We wer in that citie abydyng certayne dayes And on the Sabboth dayes we went out of the citie besides a riuer where men wer wont to pray And we sate downe spake vnto the women which resorted thyther There had Paule a visioÌ„ in his slepe which shewed him whither he should goe The vision was this There stoode by hym a certayne man appareled lyke a man of Macedonia which entreated hym and sayde Cum to Macedonia and helpe vs. And he that so appered was the Aungell that is defendout of that countreye And as soone as Paule had sene that vision â–ª whiche hadde once or twyse before bene forbydden by the holy gost to preache the ghospell we that were his cumpanions were very glad of it For I also that wrote thys was in that iourneye and by and by we prouyded al thinges to take our iourney to Macedonia beyng assured that God had called vs thyther to preache the gospell vnto theym the whiche we doubted not but God woulde prospet them wel And in thys wyse leauyng Troas and â—aylyng by Chersonesus we ariued at Samothrace the Yland whiche is situate directly against Chracia And from thence the nexte daye we came to Naples whiche is a citie on the sea syde in the marches of Thracia and Macedonia And from thence to the citie Philippos whiche is a free citie and the first that ye come vnto whan ye go from Naples In this citie abode we certayne dayes lookynge for a good tyme and occasion to begynne the matter wherfore we came And on the sabboth daie we walked foorth of the citie into a certayne place wythout the gates that was nere to a riuer where as a greate multitude of the people together did customably resorte assemble for to make their praiers And as we were there syttyng our talke was vnto certayne wemen that wer come thyther and we were preachyng vnto them Iesus of Nazareth ¶ And a certayne woman named Lydia a seller of purple of the citie of Thyatira whiche worshipped God gaue vs audyence Whose herte the lorde opened that she atteÌ„ded vnto the thynges whiche Paule spake When she was baptised her houshould she besought vs saying If ye thynke that I beleue on the lorde cum into my house and abyde there And she constrayned vs. Emonge theym was one whiche was veraye deuout whose name was Lidia a seller of purple and one that was borne in the citie Thyatira whiche is a citie in Lidia And emong all other that hearkened vnto Paules preachynge of Christe god opened her herte diligently to heare those thynges that Paule taughte And so after that she was Christened with all her housholde she desyred Paule and his companions saying If ye haue thought me one not vnworthye to be receyued by meane of baptisme your instruction as a partaker of the ghospel I pray you do so much also for me as to cum into my house and do it honour with youre presence and take not me as an Ethnicke as I was erewhiles but take me as I am nowe renewed by fayth of the gospell throughe your ministery By