Helpe They crie out as if they were in extreame danger and they call vpon all men to helpe them as if all religion were in hazard Whereby we see with what furious hatred they were inflamed against Paul onely because in shewing that the full and perfite truth is found in Christ he taught that the figures of the Law had an end Now whereas they conceiue a false opinion hauing seene Trophymus they do more bewray by this headlong lightnes how venemous they be They accuse Paul of sacrilege Why because he brought into the Temple a man which was vncircumcised But they laid a most cruell crime to the charge of an innocent through a false opinion Thus the boldnesse of those men vseth commonly to bee preposterous who are carried away with an opinion conceiued before But let vs learne by such examples to beware of the distemperature of affections and not to let light preiudices haue the raine least we runne headlong vpon the innocent being carried with blind force 30 And the Citie was moued Wee see in this place the vanitie of the common people which count Paul a condemned man before euer they heare him Whereas the citie is moued about godlines it is no maruell but this is a point of peruerse zeale and mad rashnes in that they set themselues against Paule before they knowe his matter For in this corruption of nature frowardnes is ioined with foolishnes so that those will readily of their owne accord make haste to maintaine an euil cause who can hardly be moued with many exhortations to do well This is a hard case that the whole world should be armed against vs at a sodaine through the perswasion of a fewe but seeing it pleaseth the Lorde it should bee so let euery one of vs prepare himselfe by this and such like examples to suffer all manner assaults and to beare and abide albrunts 31 And as they sought to kill him it was told the captaine of the band that all Ierusalem was on an vprore 32 Who tooke with him streightway soldiars and vnder captaines and ranne downe vnto them But they when they saw the chiefe captaine and the soldiars left smiting of Paul 33 Then the chiefe captaine drew neere and tooke him and commanded him to be bounde with two chaines and hee asked what he was and what hee had done 34 And some cried one thing and some another among the people And when he could not know the truth by reason of the tumult he commanded him to be carried into the campe 35 And when he came to the staires it happened that he was carried of the soldiars because of the violence of the multitude 36 For the multitude of people followed crying Away with him 37 And when Paul began to be carried into the campe he saith to the captaine May I speake to thee who said canst thou speake Greeke 38 Art not thou that Egyptian which before these dayes madest an vprore and leddest into the wildernes fower thousand men which were murderers 39 And Paul saide I verely am a man which am a Iewe borne in Tharsus a citizen of no vile Citie of Cilicia But I beseech thee suffer me to speake to the people 40 And when he had giuen him leaue Paul standing vpon the staires beckoned with the hand vnto the people and when there was made great silence he spake in the Hebrew tongue saying 31 As they sought to kill him Assuredly the force of satan appeareth therein in that he driueth the people headlong into such rage that whē they haue shut the doares of the Temple being not content with meane punishment they conspire to put Paul to death Wee must thus thinke with our selues that Sathan doth pricke forward the enimies of godlinesse least their rage how cruell and troublesome so euer it be trouble vs. On the otherside appeareth the wonderfull goodnes of God when as he raiseth vp the chiefe captaine at a sodaine that hee may deliuer Paul from death He himselfe thought vpon no such thing but he came to appease the tumult which was raised among the people but the Lord sheweth a more euident token of his prouidence because Paul his life was deliuered from such present danger without mans counsell Thus doth he suffer the faithful not only to labor but to be almost oppressed that hee may deliuer them from death more wonderfully Luke calleth him the chiefe captaine of the band improperly seing euery chiefe captain was set ouer a thousand which doth also appeare by the text where he saith that the chiefe captaine tooke with him vndercaptaines 32 And when they saw the chiefe captaine Those whose furie neither the maiestie of God ne yet the reuerence of the temple could once stay begin to relent when they see a prophane man Wherby it appeareth that theye were set on fire rather with barbarous crueltie than zeale Nowe whereas the chiefe captaine bindeth Paul with chaines hee declareth thereby sufficiently that he came not to ease him The vnbeleeuers wold attribute this to fortune but the Spirit hath depainted out vnto vs the prouidence of God as in a table reigning amidst the confused vprores of men And though this be very hard that this holy minister of God is so shamefully handled yet the equitie of the chiefe captaine is to be commended if hee bee compared with the Iewes Hee bindeth him with chaines as if he were some euill doer or some wicked person yet doth he vouchsafe to heare him when he is bounde whom they did beat vnmercifully neither doeth hee determin to handle him hardly before he knew his cause Yea this was the best way to mitigate their cruelty because they thought that Paul should be punished immediatly 34 Some cried one thing and some another The madnesse of the raging people doth bewray it selfe on euery side They make horrible outcries whereof one is contrary to another Neuerthelesse they desire with one consent to haue him put to death who was conuict of no offence In the meane season we need not doubt but that they were blinded with a color of holy zeale but the truth of the cause wel known maketh mē truly zealous as it maketh them true martyrs of God but rage bewraieth diuellish madnes Whereas mention is made in this place of the campe or fortresse we must know that the soldiars which were placed to gard the City had a place which was trenched fortified on euerie side which they might defend as if it were a castle from which they might beat backe all assaultes if any sedition were raised For it had not been good for them to haue been dispearsed here and there in diuers Innes seeing the people were treacherous and the Citie troublesome And wee gather by this that the place was high because Luke saith that when they came to the steps Paul was carried of the soldiers And whether the soldiers did lift vp Paul on high that they might bring him safe to the station or campe
certifieth vs that he is alwayes mindfull of his and a perpetuall gouernour of his Church because the holy spirite did discende from heauen to this ende whereby we learne that the distance of place doeth no whit hinder Christ from being present with those that be his at all times Nowe heere is most liuely painted out the beginning of Christs kingdome and as it were the renuing of the worlde For although the sonne of God had gathered togither by his preaching a certaine Church before such time as he departed out of the world yet neuerthelesse that was the best forme of the Church which began then when as the Apostles hauing new power giuen them from aboue began to preach that that onely sheapherd did both die and also rise againe that through his conduct all those which were dispersed farre and wide vpon the face of the whole earth might bee gathered vnto one sheepefolde Heere is therefore set downe both the beginning and also the increasing of â—he Church of Christ after his ascension whereby he was declared to be king both of heauen and earth Furthermore therein appeareth as well the merueilous power of Christ as the great force and efficacie of the Gospel it selfe for in that Christ by a sort of simple soules and of no reputation amongst men being endued also with no eloquence at al hath subdued the whole world so easily by the only voice of the Gospel whereas notwithstanding Satan did resist him with so manie lets he hath shewed a most manifest token of his diuine power and might therein And also we see in the same the incredible force of the Gospel that it did not only come forth shew it self although the whole world did say nay but also with great glorie and maiestie make all that which did seeme stubborn to be obedient vnto Christ. Therfore these few simple creatures did more preuaile against the troublesome tumults of the world with the base simple sound of their mouth than if God should openly haue thrown down lightnings from heauen And on the other side the spirit of God teacheth vs that the kingdome of Christ beginneth neuer sooner to florish but by and by Sathan opposeth himselfe most furiously against the same and vseth all his engines either vtterly to ouerthrow or sore to shake the same Neither are we onely taught that Sathan doth resist Christ as an enimie but also that the whole world doth furiously rage togither against him that he may not reigne ouer them Yea furthermore that is to be set downe as a thing most certaine that wicked men whiles they doe so rage against the Gospell doe both fight vnder Sathans banner and are pricked forward by him into so blind furie Hereupon doe arise so many vprores so manie plaguie conspiracies so many diuellish indeuours of the reprobate to ouerthrow the Gospel and to hinder the free passage of the same which Luke setteth downe almost in euery place Lastly like as the Apostles haue indeede tried that the doctrine of the Gospel is a fire and a sword so may we learne by their experience that it will alwaies come to passe not onely by the obstinate malice of Satan but also by the fatall stubbornnes of men that the Gospel shal suffer many conflicts and that thereby many tumultes shal be raised But on the other side he declareth that the Apostles with a stout stomacke with a liuely courage and inuincible valiantnesse of minde did notwithstanding execute the office which they knewe was inioyned them by God also what innumerable troubles they suffered with great perseuerance what werisomnes they passed ouer how patiently they susteined most cruel persecution and lastly how meekely they suffered reproch sorow and calamitie of all sortes And we must learne patience by such examples seeing the sonne of God hath pronounced that the crosse and tribulation shall alwaies accompanie his Gospel we must not pamper and cherish our selues with a vaine hope as though the state and condition of the Church should be quiet prosperous and florishing heere vpon earth Let vs therefore addresse our selues to suffer the like things And that is added as no small comfort for vs that as God hath merueilously deliuered his Church in times past being afflicted and oppressed so many waies so he will at this day be present with vs also For surely seeing that in this booke is declared howe that God by his mightie hand outstretched arme alone doth continually defend his Church being amidst continuall deathes God himselfe by this meanes setteth before our eies his continuall prouidence in procuring the safetie thereof Furthermore here are set downe certaine sermons of the Apostles which intreate in such sort of the great mercies of God of the grace of Christ of the hope of blessed immortalitie of the calling vpon God of repentance and the feare of God and also of other principall pointes of Christian doctrine that we neede not seeke the whole sum of godlinesse any where else But that I may nowe omit the declaration of sound and pure doctrine If that be a thing most needfull to be knowne namely to vnderstand how the Church of Christ first began how the Apostles began to preach the Gospel what successe they had in the same what cruel combats they suffered how manfully they passed through so many lets and impediments how couragiously they triumphed ouer all the pride of the world vnder the reproch of the crosse how wonderfully God was present with them then must wee highly esteeme of this Booke which vnles it were extant the knowledge of so great things should either be quite buried or greatly obscured or wrapped in diuers doubtes For we see that Sathan vsed all his engins that he might to bring to passe that neuer any of the acts of the Apostles might come to light but such onely as were mixed with lies to the end he might bring into suspition what thing soeuer was spoken of them and so by that meanes might plucke out of the mindes of the godly all the remembrance of that age For hee alwaies raised vp either doting fooles or craftie flowters that they might spread abroade a sort of filthie fables vnder the names of other men the blockishnes whereof did much discredite euen the true histories So in those bookes of Peter and Paul which are faigned to be of Linus his doing are conteined such a sort of stinking trifles that they cause the wicked to laugh at them and the godly to loath them So that feigned disputation of Peter with Symon Magus is so ridiculous that it doeth discredite the name of a Christian. The same opinion must we haue of all that mingle mangle which is set before the recognitions and councels of Clement and recited of Gratianus in his fragments they beguile the vnskilful vnder colour of ancient names the wicked boast of those as of oracles no lesse boldly than impudently when as in deede they are filthie toies Sathan did vse such
Iudas For it seemed a straunge thing that hee which was chosen by Christe vnto so excellent a function should so filthilie fall in the beginning of his course Peter remooueth this stone of stumbling when he saith that it was foretolde by the scripture WheÌ„ce we may gather an admonition very necessarie for dailie practise namely that wee ought to attribute this honour vnto the Prophesies of the scriptures that they are able to appease all such feare as wee conceiue of the sodaine euent of thinges For there is nothing which doeth more trouble vs then when we stay still in our owne sense and vnderstanding and prcure vnto our selues lets doubts which the Lord would be readie to cure if so be that we woulde hold fast this one thing that nothing is absurde which he hath foreseene appointed and foretolde that hee might make vs more strong Neither was Iudas therefore excusable because that which befell him was foretolde seeing that he fell away not being compelled by the Prophesie but onely by the malice of his owne heart The oration of Peter hath two parts For in the first place he putteth away the offence which godlie mindes might haue conceiued by reason of the fall of Iudas whence also he gathereth an exhortation that the rest may learne to feare God Secondly he celleth them that it remaineth that they choose an other into his place both which hee proueth by testimonie of Scripture Which the holy Ghost foretolde Such maner of speeches bring greater reuerence to the scriptures whiles wee are taught by them that Dauid and all the rest of the prophetes did speake only as they were directed by the holy Ghoste so that they them selues were not the authours of their prophesies but the Spirite which vsed their tongues as an instrument Wherefore seeing that our dulnesse is so great that wee ascribe lesse authoritie vnto the scriptures than wee ought wee must diligently note such manner of speaches acquaint our selues with them that we may oftentimes remember the authoritie of God to confirme our faith withall 17 Adopted It is worde for word Reckoned And he saith that he was one of the number that he might signifie vnto them that it was needfull that the emptie place shoulde bee filled to the ende that the number might coÌ„tinue whole And to this purpose serueth that which foloweth that hee had obteined a part in the ministerie For thereupon it doth folow that the body should be as it were lame if that part shuld be wanting Surely it was a thing which might make them greatly amased that he whom Christ had extolled vnto so high dignitie should fall headlong into such destruction Which circumstance doeth increase the crueltie of the fact and teacheth the rest to take heed vnto themselues Neither is it to be doubted but that the disciples did remember Iudas with great griefe and sorrow But Peter doth here expresse by name the excellencie of his function that he might make them more attentiue more carefull to prouide a remedie 18 And he truly It seemeth vnto mee a thing like to bee true that this narration of the death of Iudas was put in by Luke therefore it seemed good to me to include it within a Parenthesis that it may be separated from Peter his Sermon For to what ende shoulde Peter heere reckon vp vnto the Disciples those thinges which they alreadie knew well enough Secondly it should haue been an absurd thing to haue spoken after this among them that the field which was bought with the money that was giuen to betray Christe was called of the Hebrewes in their owne mother tongue Acheldima But whereas some doe answere that Peter spoke this vnto the Galileans whose speech did disagree with the Iewish tongue it is but vaine and friuolous In very deede they did somewhat disagree in pronunciation yet not so much but that they did well vnderstand one another like as doe those of Paris and the men of Roan Furthermore howe coulde this bee a fit worde for Ierusalem where Peter made his sermon To what end should hee interprete in Greeke among the Hebrewes their owne mother tongue Therefore doth Luke of himself put in this sentence concerning the death of Iudas least Peter his woordes might seeme straunge through ignoraunce of that historie He possessed a field This word hath a double signification which in my opinion doth rather signifie in this place to possesse than to get yet beâ—â—e it skilleth little whether way wee reade it I leaue it indifferent And hee speaketh after this sort not because Iudas had the vse of the field or that he himself did buie it seeing it was bought after his death But Luke his meaning was that his buriall with the perpetuall note of ignominie was the reward which he had for his falshood wicked act Neither did hee so much sel Christ for thirtie pence as his Apostleship Hee enioyed not the money he only possessed the fielde Furthermore it came to passe through the marueilous prouidence of god that the verie common name of the fielde shoulde bee a note of infamie for the Priestes which had bought the innocent blood of the Traitor Hee sayeth that the Hebrewes did call it by that name in their tongue because hee himselfe was a Grecian borne And hee calleth that the Hebrewe tongue which the Iewes did vse after the captiuitie of Babylon namelie suche as was mixed of the Assyrians tongue and of the Chaldeans tongue It is written in the booke of Psalmes He taketh away by authoritie of scriptures all offence which might haue happened by reason of the falling away of Iudas Yet might this place seeme to bee greatlie wreasted First in that Dauid did not wishe that these things might befall any particular person but in the plurall number hee wisheth them vnto his enemies Secondly it seemeth that Peter doeth applie these thinges amisse vnto Iudas which were spoken of the enemies of Dauid I answere that Dauid doth there speake after this sort of him selfe that hee may describe the condition and state of Christe his kingdome In that Psalme I say is contained the common image of the whole church which is the bodie of the Sonne of God Therfore the things which are there set down must needes haue been fulfilled in the head which are indeed fulfilled as the Euangelists do testifie Now if any man obiect that those things which ther were spoken against the enemies of Dauid do not fitly agree vnto Iudas we may easily gather that they do so much the rather agree with him bicause Dauid doth not respect himselfe as being separated froÌ„ the body of the church but rather as he was one of the members of Christ and so taking vpon him his image he steppeth foorth in his name Whosoeuer shall marke that this singular person was attributed vnto Dauid that he should be a figure of Christe will not maruell if all these things be applied vnto him which were prefigured in Dauid
discouered And this is a general way to establish doctine when men teach nothing but that which is commaunded them by God For what man dare make Moses inferiour to him who as the Spirit affirmeth ought onely to be beleeued for this cause because he faithfully vnfolded and deliuered the doctrine which he had receiued of God But some man may ask this question why he calleth the lawe a liuing speech For this title seemeth to disagree much with the words of Paul 1. Cori. 3.7 where hee saith that the lawe is the ministerie of death and that it worketh death and that it is the strength of sinne If you take liuely speech for that which is effectuall and cannot be made frustrate by the contempt of men there shal be no contrarietie but I interpret it as spoken actiuely for that which maketh to liue For seing that the Law is the perfite rule of godly and holy life and it sheweth the righteousnesse of God it is counted for good causes the doctrine of life and saluation And to this purpose serueth that solemne protestation of Moses when he calleth heauen and earth to witnesse that hee hath set before them the way of death and life In which sense the Lord himself complaineth Ezechiel 20 that his good Law is broken his good commandements wherof he had said He which shal do these things shall liue in them Therefore the Law hath life in it selfe Yet if any man had leiffer take liuing for that which is full of efficacie and strength I will not greatly stande in contention And whereas it is called the ministerie of death that is accidentall to it because of the corrupt nature of man For it doth not ingender sin but it findeth it in vs. It offereth life but wee which are altogither corrupt can haue nothing but death by it Therefore it is deadly in respect of men alone Though Stephen had respect vnto a farther thing in this place for he doeth not onely speake of the bare commaundementes but comprehendeth all Moses his doctrine wherein the free promises are included and so consequently Christ himselfe who is the onely life and health of men We must remember with what men Stephen had to doe They were such as were preposterously zelous of the law who stayed onely in the dead and deadly letter of the Lawe and in the meane season they raged against Stephen because he sought Christ in the Law who is in deede the soule thereof Therefore by touching thâ—â—eruerse ignorance glancingly he giueth them to vnderstande that there is some greater and some more excellent thing hidden in the Lawe than they haue hitherto knowne For as they were carnall content with an outward shew they sought no spiritual thing in it yea they would not so much as suffer the same to be shewed them That he might giue them to vs. This serueth to refute the false accusation wherewith he was falsely burthened For seeing he submitteth his necke to the yoke of the Lawe and professeth that hee is one of Moses his scholers hee is farre from discrediting him amongst others Yea rather hee turneth backe the fault which was laide to his charge vppon those which were the authours of the slaunder That was as it were a common reproch for all the people because the fathers woulde not obey the Lawe And therewithall hee telleth them that Moses was appointed to be a Prophet not onely for his time but that his authoritie might be in force with the posteritie euen when he was deade For it is not meete that the doctrine of God shoulde bee extinguished togither with the ministers or that it should bee taken away For what is more vnlikely than that that should dye whereby wee haue immortalitie So must wee thinke at this day as the Prophetes and Apostle spake vnto the men of their time right so did they write vnto vs and that the force of their doctrine is continuall because it hath rather God to bee the authour thereof than men In the meane season he teacheth that if any reiect the word appointed for them they reiect the counsell of God 39 They refused and were turned away Hee saith that the fathers reiected Moses and hee sheweth the cause also because they gaue themselues rather vnto the superstitions of Aegypt which was horrible and more than blind furie to desire the customes and ordinances of Aegypt where they had suffered such grieuous thinges of late Hee saieth that they were turned away into Aegypt in their heartes not that they desired to returne thither bodily but because they returned in mind vnto those corruptions which they ought not so much as to haue remembred without great detestation and hatred It is true in deede that the Iewes did once speake of returning but Stephen toucheth not that historie now Furthermore he doth rather expresse their stubbernesse when he saieth that they were turned away For after that they had taken the right way hauing God for their guid and gouernour they start aside sodainly as if a stubberne vnbroken horse not obeying his rider shoulde frowardly run backward 40 Make vs. Though the Iewes bee turned backe diuerse wayes yet Stephen maketh choise of one notable example aboue all the rest of their filthy and detestable trecherie to wit when they made themselues a Calfe that they might worship it in steede of God For there can no more filthy thing be inuented than this their vnthankfulnes They confesse that they were deliuered out of Aegypt neither do they denie that this was done by the grace of God and the ministery of Moses yet notwithstanding they reiect the author of so great goodnesse togither with the minister And vnder what colour They pretend that they cannot tell what is become of Moses But they know full well that he is in the mount They saw him with their eies when he went vp thither vntil such time as the Lorde tooke him vnto himselfe by compassing him about with a cloude Againe they know that Moses is absent for their healths sake who had promised that he would returne and bring vnto them the Lawe which God shoulde giue He badde them onely be quiet a while They raise madde vprores sodainely within a small time and without any cause yet to the ende they may couer their madnesse with the colour of some reason they will haue Gods present with them as if God had shewed vnto them no token of his presence hitherto but his glory did appeare daily in the cloud and piller of fire Therefore we see what haste they make to commit idolatrie through wicked contempt of god that I may in the meane season omitte to declare howe filthie and wicked their vnthankfulnes was in that they had so soone forgotten those myracles which they ought to haue remembred euen vntill the ende of the worlde Therefore by this one backsliding it appeareth sufficientlie what a stubberne and rebellious people they were Moreouer it was more expedient for
the second error when as they imagine that euery one of vs is increased with greater graces as he hath deserued it may easily be refuted First we denie that we haue any good works which God hath not freely giuen vs secondly we say that the right vse of giftes commeth from him also and that this is his second grace that wee vse his former giftes well Thirdly we denie that we deserue any thing by our workes which are alwayes lame and corrupt Good workes do in deed purchase for vs the encrease of grace but not by their owne desert For they cannot be acceptable to God without pardon which they obtain by the benefite of faith Wherefore it is faith alone which maketh them acceptable Thus did Cornelius obtaine more perfect knowledge of Christ by his prayers and almes but in that he had god to be fauourable and mercifull to his prayers and almes that did depend vpon faith Furthermore if good workes be estemed by faith it is of mercy and not of merit that God doth alow them For because faith findeth no worthie thing in vs wherby we can please God it borroweth that of Christ which we want And this is to peruers that though the Papists haue this worde merite euer now and than in their mouthes and cease not to puffe vppe fooles with a vaine confidence yet they bring nothing whereby the studies of meÌ„ may be moued to doe well For they leaue their consciences alwaies in a doubt and commaund men to doubt whether their workes please God or no. Must not mens mindes needs faint when they are possessed with such fear But as for vs though we take merit from works yet when as we teach that there is a reward laid vp for them we prick meÌ„ forward with an excellent sharpe pricke to desire to liue well For we addresse our selues then ioyfully to serue God when wee are perswaded that wee loose not our labour And whereas there appeareth at this day no more plentifull abundance of the giftes of the Spirite but that the more part doth rather wither away we must thank our vnthankfulnes for that For as God did crowne Cornelius his prayers almes holinesse with the most precious pearle of his Gospel so there is iust cause why he shoulde suffer vs to starue being brought vnto hungrie pouertie when as he seeeth vs abuse the treasure of his gospel wickedly and vngodlily Yet here may a questioÌ„ be asked Whether faith require the knowledge of Christ or it be content with the simple perswasioÌ„ of the mercy of god For Cornelius seemeth to haue known nothing at all concerning Christ But it may be proued by sounde proofes that faith cannot bee separated from Christ For if we lay hold vpon the bare maiestie of God wee are rather confounded with his glory then that we feele any taste of his goodnesse Therefore Christ must come betweene that the mind of man may conceiue that God is mercifull And it is not without cause that he is called the image of the inuisible God because the father offereth himselfe to be beholden in his face alone Moreouer seeing that hee is the way the truth the life whether soeuer thou goest without him thou shalt bee inwrapped on euerie side in errours and death shall meete you on euery side We may easily answere conceâ—ning Cornelius All spiritual gifts are offered vnto vs in Christ And especially whence commeth regeneratioÌ„ saue only because wheÌ„ we are ingraffed into the death of Christ Col. 1.15 Iohn 14 6. Rom. 6.5.6 our old man is crucified And if Cornelius were made partaker of the Spirite of Christ ther is no cause why we shuld think that he was altogether void of his faith nether had he so imbraced the worship of the true god whoÌ„ the Iewes alone did worship but that he had also hard somwhat of the promised mediator though the knowlege of him were obscure intaÌ„gled yet was it some Whosoeuer came at that time into Iudea he was enforced to heare somewhat of the Messias yea there was som fame of him spread through countries which were far of Wherefore Cornelius must be put in the catalogue of the old fathers who hoped for saluation of the redeemer before hee was reuealed And it is properly said of Augustine that Peter grounded his faith whereas it hadde nowe before a firme foundation although Augustine thinketh as wee do in the thing it selfe who affirmeth plainely that Cornelius coulde not pray vnlesse hee had faith in his booke of the predestination of Sainctes and other places 5 Now send to Ioppae God dealt most fauourably with Cornelius in that he doth not commaund him to goe himself but to send messengers vnto Peter that he may stay quietly at home that Peter may indure the toyle of the iourney for his sake But let vs not wonder that Cornelius was so courteously handled seeing that God thrusteth the ministers of his worde daily vpon the vnwilling so that he appeareth of his accord to those which doe not seeke him as he saith by Isaias Isa 63.1 But why doth not the Angell rather teache him For this seemeth an inconuenient thing that he resigneth his office to a mortall man for the oracle should haue had greater authoritie Acts. 9.10 then when the gospell is preached to him by a mortall man As when Christ appeared to Paule by a vision hee set notwithstanding Ananias to teach him that he might by such an example establish the ministerie of the preaching of the gospel which he committed to his church so now the Angel giueth place to Peter that hee may execute the office coÌ„mitted vnto him by Christ Therfore whosoeuer will be the disciple of Christ be illuminate by the heaueÌ„ly light of the heauenly wisdome let him not grudge to vse attentiuenesse and docilitie toward the externall voyce of men which Christe vseth as an instrument and whereunto he will haue our faith annexed And wee see how sore God hath punished their furious pride who contemning preaching haue looked for reuelations from heauen For sithence God will be heard in men the ministers to whom he hath giuen his word cannot bee contemned without contempt and reproch of him Neuerthelesse I coÌ„fesse that the spirits must be proued that we hear not without choise whosoeuer doe pretend that they are the ministers of Christe 1. Ioh. 4.1 Rom. 10.17 But because faith commeth by hearing no man shall attaine thereunto which shall refuse and despise the worde when it is preached 7 And after that the Angell which spake to Cornelius was departed hee called two of his seruants and a godly souldiar of those which did wait on him 8 And when he had told them all things he sent them to Ioppe 9 On the morrow as they iourneied and drew nigh to the citie Peter went vp into the highest part of the house to pray about the sixt houre 10 And he was fasting Therefore he would eate
Lord doth testifie that his mind was thorowly set vpon Dauid for no light cause but he commendeth in him som singular thing and by extolling him so highly his intent is to lift vp the mindes of the faithfull vnto Christ in his person Psal 89.21 The place is taken out of the fourescore and ninth Psalme Only Paul putteth in that which is not there to be found that Dauid was the sonne of Isai which amplifieth the grace of God For seeing that Isai was a breeder of cattell it was a wonderfull worke of God to take the least of his sonnes from the sheepefoldes and to place him in the throne of the kingdome By the worde found God meaneth that he had gotten such a man as hee woulde Not that Dauid had brought to passe by his owne trauell and industrie that he should meete God being such a one but the phrase is taken from the cōmō custome of men But the question is Seing that Dauid sel to greeuously how God giueth testimonie of his continual obedience We may answere two waies for God had respect rather vnto the continual course of his life then vnto euery of his particular actions secondly he did thus set him foorth not so much for his owne merite as for his Christs sake Assuredly hee had deserued by one wicked fact eternall destruction for him and his and so much as in him laid the way of the blessing of God was shut vp that there might nothing but vipers seed come of Bersabe But that so filthie a fact 2. Sam 11.2 in the death of Vrias turneth to a contrary end by the wonderfull counsell of God because Salomon is borne and commeth of that vnlooked for wedlock which was full of treacherie and finally polluted with many spots And though Dauid sinned greeuously yet because he followed God all the course of his life he is ptaysed without exception that he shewed himselfe obedient to God in all thinges Though as I haue said before the spirit carieth vs vnto a farther thing Mat. 22.42 and 15.22 yea the common calling of all the faithfull in Christ the head is here depainted out to vs 23 According to promise This clause doth also proue that whiche I haue alreadie said elswhere that in sending Christ the Lorde had respect only vnto his owne faithfulnesse and goodnesse For hee sent him because he had promised so to doe And as the promise doth testifie that saluation was free so it doeth also purchase no small credite to the Gospel because it appeareth by this that Christ came not at a sodaine of whom there was neuer any thing spoken but that he who was promised from the beginning was now giuen in his time But the promises which Luke here toucheth by the way are famous and well knowen And they were so cōmon among the Iewes that they called Christ commonly by no other name but the sonne of Dauid Hee saith that Iesus was raised vp to Israel because though saluation belong to all the whole world Rom. 15.8 yet was he first a minister of circumcision to fulfill the promises made to the fathers He translateth the Hebrew name Iesus into soter in Greeke So that he vttered one thing twise and yet here is no superfluous repetition because he meant to declare that Christe is in deede and doeth performe that which the name giuen him by God by the voice of the Angel doth import 24 After that Iohn had preached before the face of his entrance the baptisme of repentance to all the people of Israel 25 And when Iohn fulfilled his course he said Whom doe yee thinke me to be I am not But beholde he commeth after mee whose shoe latchets I am not worthie to loose 26 Men and brethren children of the generation of Abraham and those who among you feare God to you is the worde of this saluation sent 24 Wee knowe what office Iohn had to wit to prepare the way of the Lorde Therefore Paule bringeth in his testimonie that hee may proue to the Iewes that he preached no false Christ but the true Christ of God whom that most famous forerunner had before commended not that mans testimonie is sufficient to proue so weightie a matter but there was another respect to be had to Iohn whom all men almost did thinke to be a prophet of God Therefore hence commeth the authoritie of the testimonie that a cryer sent from heauen and no priuate man speaketh of Christe And Paule reciteth two thinges summarilie concerning Iohn that he taught the baptisme of repentaunce before Christ his comming Secondly that casting from him of his owne accorde the title and honour of the Messias hee submitted himselfe to Christ The baptisme of repentance Baptisme brought in contrarie to the rite and custome of the lawe was a token of great alteration For it was vnlawful to renue any thing before Christes comming The Iewes had in deed in the lawe their baptismes or washinges which were also exercises of repentaunce but Iohn was the authour of new and strange baptism or rather the minister who put them in hope of the restoring long looked for and desired When he calleth it the baptisme of repentance he doth not exclude remission of sinnes but hee speaketh according to the circumstance of the place because this baptisme was a preparation vnto the faith of Christ And we must note the phrase that hee preached baptisme Whereby we are taught that the sacramentes are then rightly administred when doctrine is ioyned with the visible figure For the mouth of the baptiser must not be dumb because the signe is vaine without doctrine 25 When Iohn fulfilled his course The second member of the testimonie that when Iohn drew neere to the end of his course hee sent his disciples to Christ For he had fashioned thē before with the rudimente of baptisme and then he sent them to Christ as they say from hand to hand And this interrogatiō Whom do ye thinke me to be is not a question of one that doubteth For Iohn reproueth and chideth the Iewes because they did falsly giue to him the honour of the Messias though it may be read in one text I am not he whom you take me to be yet the other reading is more vsuall as it hath also greater force to refute the error Furthermore his testimonie doth deserue greater credite in that he doth willingly refuse the honour offered him which he might haue takē to himselfe not without commendation and doth submit himself to another There cannot assuredly be any suspition of ambition or of seeking after honour here which may discredite his words Behold he commeth That is he is about to come the Hebrew phrase which is common enough euen in the new testament whereas he confesseth that he is vnworthie to loose the latchets of Christes shoes It is a prouerbiall figure wherby he abaseth himselfe so much as he can least his greatnesse darken Christ his glory for he meant to do
vnprofitable labour For that religion wherin God hath not the preheminence is nothing worth nether hath it any truth or soundnes And this was the cause that sincere and perfect godlines was neuer found neither did it euer floorish in the more part of the world For they stood only about the remouing of the old Idolatrie and the other thing was in the meane season foreslowed to bring men vnto the true God alone after that they had forsaken Idols They turned in deed the name of an Idol sometimes into the name of God but vnder that colour they did neuerthelesse cherish the old errors which they should haue indeuoured to redresse So the priests of Fraunce begat the single life of great Cybele Nunnes came in place of the vestall virgins The church of al Saints succeeded Pantheo or the church of all Gods against ceremonies were set Ceremonies not much vnlike At length came in the multitude of gods who they thought wold be lawfull and tollerable if they had once decked them with the titles of Saints Corruptions are not by this meanes purged neither are the stables both profane and ful of filth turned into the temple of God but the name of God is mixed with profane pollusions and God himselfe is brought into a filthie stall Wherefore let vs remember that the apostles did not only employ themselues to ouerthrow Idolatrie which had long time reigned in former ages but did also take great heed that pure religion might reigne afterward hauing put all corruptions to flight Who hath made heauen and earth We know that the order of teaching doth require that we begin with things which are better knowen Seing that Paul and Barnabas spake to the Gentiles they should haue in vain assayed to bring them vnto Christ Therefore it was expedient for them to begin with som other point which was not so far separate from common sense that after that was confessed they might afterwarde passe ouer vnto Christ The minds of the men of Lystra wer possessed with that errour that there bee more gods then one Paul Barnabas shew on the contrary that there is but one Creator of the world After that that feined number and multitude of the Gods was taken away there was passage nowe made vnto the second member that they might teach what that god was who was the Creator of heauē earth The case stādeth otherwise at this day betweene vs and the papistes they confesse that there is but one God and they admit the scripture Therefore it remaineth that we proue to thē out of the scripture what God is after what sort he wil be worshipped of men 16 In times past Because the men of Lystra might obiect that that god was vnknowen hitherto Paul and Barnabas preuent them and say that all men wandered indeed in darknesse and that all mankinde was stricken with blindnesse but that they denie that any preiudice must be made according to the peruers ignorance of the worlde These were two no small lets for the vnbeleeuers long antiquitie of time and the consent almost of all nations Paul and Barnabas remoue both in this place If say they men haue erred many yeeres if the world haue wādered without reason iudgement let not therefore the truth of God when it appeareth bee lesse precious to you For seeing that it is eternal and is not chaunged it is an vnmeete thing that the long prescription of yeeres should be set against it They proue that there is no more aide or patronage to be found in the number of men There is no cause say they why the conspiracie of all the whol world should keep you frō cōming to the right way Blindnesse hath got the vpper hande among all people but god doeth nowe appeare and giue light to you Therefore your eyes muste bee open and you muste not slumber and sleepe in darkenes though all people haue beene drowned therein hytherto Their waies If hee had onely saide that men were deceiued vntill that time through gods sufferance we might easily gather thereby that all men can doe nothing els but erre so long as they be not gouerned of god Yet hee speaketh far more plainely when hee calleth errours the wayes of men For we are plainely taught by this what the wisdome and vnderstanding of mans mind can doe in beholding and keeping the way of saluation All people saith he haue walked in their owne wayes that is they haue wandered in darknesse and death it is all one as if hee shoulde say that there is no sparkle of true reason in all the whole world Therfore there is but one rule of true godlines that is that the faithful casting frō thē al confidence in their own wit do submit thēselues to god For the waies of mē are now as thei wer in times past the exāples of all times teach how miserablie blind those men be who haue not the worde of God to giue them light though they thinke they can passe other men in quicknesse of sight Immediately after the Beginning of the world the more part fell away vnto diuers superstitions and wicked worshippings whence came that Saue only because it pleased them to follow their own imaginations Whē it might haue seemed that the world was purged with the flood it fell againe streightway to the same vices Therefore there is nothing more deadly then to leane to our owne wisdome But Paul and Barnabas shew no cause here why the Lord suffred the worlde to erre so long and assuredly wee must count the will of god alone the chiefest law of equity God hath alwaies a good reason for his workes but because it is oftentimes hid from vs it is our dutie reuerently to wonder at his secrete counsell wee must in deed confesse that the world was worthie of such destruction but there can no other reason be brought why the Lord had mercy rather on one age then on another saue only because it seemed good to him that it should bee so Therefore Paul calleth that time which was appointed of God for preaching the gospel Gal. 4.4 the time of fulnes least any other opportunitie be sought And we must remember that which we had in the first chapter that it is not for vs to know the times seasons which the father hath placed in his own power So that the cauill of the papistes is refuted who say that it cānot be that God suffered his church to erre so long For whence I pray you came the Gentiles but from the Ark of Noe when there was a certaine singular puritie of the church Also the posteritie of holy Sem together with others did degenerate Yea Israel the peculiar people of the Lorde was also left for a long time Gen. 9.9 Wherfore it is no maruel if God did punish the contempt of his word with the same blindnesse vnder the reigne of his sonne as he did in times past 17 Notwithstanding he did
certaintie be gathered out of the scriptures and therefore they hold that we must stand to the decrees of men For I demaund of them whether Paul did obserue a right order in disputing or no at least let them blush for shame that the worde of the Lord was more reuerenced in an vnbeleeuing nation then it is at this day among them The Iewes admit Paul suffer him when he disputeth out of the scriptures the Pope and all his count it a meere mocke when the scripture is cited as if God did speak doubtfully there and did with vaine boughts mocke men Hereunto is added that bicause there is at this day much more light in the scripture and the trueth of God shineth there more cleerely then in the law and prophets For in the Gospel Christ who is the sonne of righteousnes doeth shed out his beam with perfect brightnes vpon vs for which cause the blasphemy of the papists is the more intollerable whiles that they wil make the word of God as yet vncertain But let vs know as faith can bee grounded no where els then in the word of the Lord so we must only stand to the testimonie thereof in al controuersies 3 Opening In this place he describeth the sum or subiect of the disputation and he putteth down two members concerning Christ that He must haue died and risen againe that the son of Mary which was crucified is Christ When the question is concerning Christ there come 3. things in question Whether he be who he is what he is If Paul had had to deale with the gentiles he must haue fet his beginning farther because they had heard nothing concerning Christ nether do profane meÌ„ conceiue that they need a mediator But this point was out of doubt among the Iewes to whom the mediator was promised wherefore Paul omitteth that as superfluous which was receiued by common consent of al men But because there was nothing more harde then to bring the Iewes to confesse that Iesus who was crucified was the redeemer therefore Paul beginneth with this that it was meet that Christ should die that he may remoue the stumbling blocke of the crosse and yet we must not thinke that he recited the 〈◊〉 history but he taketh an vndoubted principle that the causes were shewed why Christe must haue suffered rise againe to wit because he preached of the ruine of mankind of sin of the punishment thereof of the iudgement of God and of the eternal curse wherein we be al inwrapped For euen the scripture calleth vs hither when it foretelleth the death of Christ As Isaias saith not simply that Christ should die Isa 53.6 Ib. 5. but plainly expressing because we haue al erred euery one hath gone his owne way he assigneth the cause of his death that God hath laid vpon him al our iniquities that the chastisement of our peace is vppon him that by his stripes we may bee healed that by making satisfaction for vs hee hath purchased righteousnes for vs. So doth Daniel Dan. 9.24 shew the force and fruit of his death in his 9. chapter when he saith that sinne must be sealed vp that eternall righteousnesse may succeed And surely there is no more apt or effectuall way to proue the office of Christ then when men being humbled with the feeling of their miseries see that there is no hope left vnlesse they be reconciled by the sacrifice of Christ TheÌ„ laying away their pride they humbly imbrace his crosse wherof they were before both weary ashamed Therfore we must come vnto the same fountaines at this day from which Paul fetteth the proofe of the death and resurrectioÌ„ of Christ And that definition brought great light to the second chapter It had not beene so easie a matter for Paul to prooue and certainely to gather that the sonne of Mary is Christ vnlesse the Iewes had been taught before what manner redeemer they were to hope for And when that doth once appeare it doth only remain that those things be applied to Christ which the scripture doth attribute to the mediator But this is the summe of our faith that we know that the sonne of Marie is that Christ mediator which God promised from the beginning that done that we knowe vnderstand why he died and rose againe that we do not feigne to our selues any earthly king but that we seeke in him righteousnes and all parts of our saluatioÌ„ Both which things Paul is said to haue proued out of the scriptures we must know that the Iewes were not so blockish nor so impudent as they be at this day Paul might haue drawen arguments from the sacrifices from all the worship of the law whereat the Iewes narre at this day like dogs It is wel knowne howe vnseemelily they rent and corrupt other places of Scripture At that daye they had some curtefie in them also they did somwhat reuerence the scripture so that they were not altogether such as would not be taught at this daye the veyle is laid ouer their hearts so that they can see no more in the cleere light then moales 4 Certaine of them beleeued We see here the fruite of Paul his disputation He prooued flatly that Iesus was Christ 2. Cor. 3.15 who by his death did appease the fathers wrath for vs and whose resurrection is the life of the worlde Yet onely certaine of the Iewes beleeue the rest are blind at noone day and with deafe eares refuse the certaine and playne trueth This is also woorth the noting that whereas onely a fewe Iewes beleeued a great multitude of the Gretians who were farre farther of came vnto the faith To what end can you say they weer noussed vp in the doctrine of the law from their childhood saue onely that they might bee more estranged from God Therefore the Lord doth now begin to shew some tokens of that blindnes in them which the prophetes doe oftentimes denounce vnto theâ—â— Notwithstanding he declareth by this that his couenaunt was not in vaine because he did at least gather some of that people vnto himselfe that the sparkles of the election may shyne in the remnaunt which was saued freely Luke doth moreouer teache that they did not beleeue the sayinges of Paul onely so farre foorth that they subscribed vnto them with a cold consent but that they did testifie their earnest of affection because they had ioyned themselues to Paul and Silas as companions prouoked against themselues the hatred of their nation by the free profession of the Gospel For what meaneth this adioyning saue only because they professed that they allowed that doctrine which he deliuered and that they tooke his part For ther is nothing more contrarie to faith then if when we knowe the truth of God we stand notwithstanding in doubt and are loth to ioyn our selues to any side If any man had rather expound it that they did ioyne them selues to Paul and Silas because
or he was thus tost with the violence of the crowde this was no dutie of fauour But the greater the crueltie of those which followed him was God did more plainly declare that he was fauourable to his seruant in sparing his life least if hee should haue been murdered in the tumult his death should haue wanted due frute 37 May I speake vnto thee Paul offered himselfe to defend his cause which all the seruaunts of God must do For wee must doe our indeuour to make our integritie knowen to all men least through our infamie the name of God bee blasphemed But when the chief captain demandeth whether Paul be not that Egyptiā which was a murtherer which a litle before had ledde away a companie of men let vs learne that how modestly and quietly soeuer the ministers of Christ behaue themselues and howesoeuer they bee voide of all fault yet cannot they escape the reproches and slaunders of the worlde Whiche thing wee must note for this cause that wee maye acquaint our selues with rebukes and that in well dooyng wee may bee prepared too bee euill spoken of When hee asketh him concerning the Egyptian he meaneth not Theudas the sorcerer as some men falsly suppose of whom Gamaliel made mention before in the fift Chapter Ch. 5.37 and of whom Iosephus speaketh more in his twentieth of antiquities For besides that wee reade there that Theudas carried awaie onelie foure hundred menne and the chiefe Captaine reckoneth vp in this place foure thousande and saith that they were all murtherers that is more in that Theudas raised that faction during the reigne of Tiberius or Augustus Caesar whereof remained onlie an obscure report because so soone as a troupe of horsemen was sent after them they were forthwith destroied Notwithstanding it seemeth to me that Iosephus is deceiued in that where he saith first that Cuspius Fadus was sent by Claudius and then hee addeth that Theudas was of him ouercome seing I haue before shewed that that former insurrection was made at such time as Claudius was but a priuate man Though he disagree much with Lukes narration euen in the number seing he saieth that there were about thirtie thousand made partners in the sedition vnlesse happily we expound it thus that after hee was put to flight by Felix he fled into the wildernesse with fower thousand And it had bin an absurd thing that the number should be made ten times greater as also that a troupe hauing no skill in warre or being altogither without courage shoulde haue bene defamed with the name of murderers For as Iosephus doeth witnesse that seducer had deceiued the simple and credulous common people with false promises boasting that he was a prophet of God which would lead the people dry foote through the midst of Iordane But the same Iosephus putteth the matter out of doubt when hee saith that an Egiptian a prophet did gather together a band of men vnder Foelix the president and did carry them into mount Oliuet whereof foure hundred were slaine two hundred taken and the residue dispearsed The historie was fresh in memorie Againe forasmuch as the authour of the sedition was escaped the region filled with murtherers it is not without cause that the chiefe captaine demaundeth of Paul when he seeth all men so hate him whether he were that Egiptian Luke recordeth no longer conference had betweene the chiefe captain and Paul yet it is likely forasmuch as both of them vnderstood the Greeke tong that they had farther talk Wherby it came to passe that so soone as Paul had wel purged himself he had licence graunted him to speake to the people For the chiefe captaine would neuer haue suffered a wicked man to make any publik speech in a citie which was so sore suspected CHAP. XXII 1 MEN Brethren and fathers heare mine excuse which I make nowe before you 2 And when they heard that he spake to them in the Hebrew tongue they kept the more silence And he said 3 I truely am a man a Iewe borne in Tharsus a citie of Cilicia and brought vp in this citie at the feete of Gamaliel and taught according to the perfect maner of the Lawe of the fathers and was zealous towarde God as yee all are this day 4 And I persecuted this way vnto death binding deliuering into prison both men and women 5 As the chiefe priest doth beare me witnesse and all the order of Elders Of whom also I receiued letters vnto the brethren and went to Damascus to bring them which were there bounde to Ierusalem that they might bee punished 2 Though wee may gesse by the beginning of this speech what was Paul his drift yet because he was interrupted we know not certainelie what hee was about to say The summe of that part which is resited is this that Forasmuch as he was well and faithfully instructed in the doctrine of the Law he was a godlie and religious worshiper of God in the sight of the world Secondly that hee was an enimie to the Gospell of Christ so that hee was counted among the priests one of the principall maintainers and defenders of the Law Thirdly that he did not change his sect vnaduisedly but that being tamed and conuict by an Oracle from heauen he gaue his name to Christ Fourthly that he did not embrace vnknowne things but that God appointed him a faithful teacher of whom he learned al things perfectly Lastly that when he was returned to Ierusalem and sought to doe good to his countrimen God did not permit him So that he brought not the doctrine of saluation vnto forraine nations without good consideration or because hee hated his owne nation but being commanded by God so to do Men Brethren and fathers It is a wonder that hee giueth so great honour yet to the desperate enimies of the Gospel for they had broken al bonde of brotherly fellowship and by oppressing the glory of God had spoiled themselues of all titles of dignitie But because Paule speaketh in this place as some one of the people he speaketh so louingly vnto the bodie it selfe and vseth towards the heads words honourable without dissembling and surely because their casting off was not made knowne as yet though they were vnworthie of any honour yet it was meete that Paul should reuerently acknowledge in them the grace of Gods adoption Therefore in that he calleth them Brethren and Fathers hee doth not so much regard what they haue deserued as into what degree of honour God had exalted them And all his Oration is so framed that hee goeth about to satisfie them freely in deede and without flattering yet humblie and meekely Therefore let vs learne so to reuerence and honour men that wee impaire not Gods right For which cause the Popes pride is the more detestable who seing hee hath made himselfe an high Priest without the commaundement of God and the consent of the Church he doth not onely chalenge to himselfe all titles of honour but
it a litle The old interpreter dealeth more plainely in a little Because translating it word for word he left it to the readers to iudge at their pleasure And surely it may fitly be referred vnto the time as if Agrippa had said Thou wilt make me a Christian streight way or in one moment If any man obiect that Paules answere doth not agree thereto we may quickly answere For seeing the speech was doubtfull Paul doth fitly apply that vnto the thing which was spoken of the time Therefore seing Agrippa did meane that he was almost made a Christian in a small time Paul addeth that he doth desire that as wel he as his companions might rise from small beginnings and profite more and more and yet I doe not mislike that that en oligo doth signifie as much as almost This answere doeth testifie with what zeale to spread abroad the glory of Christ this holy mans breast was enflamed when as hee doeth patiently suffer those bounds wherewith the Gouernour had bound him and doth desire that hee might escape the deadly snares of Satan to haue both him also his partners to be partakers with him of the same grace being in the meane season content with his troublesome and reprochfull condition We must note that he doth not wish it simplie but from God as it is he which draweth vs vnto his son because vnlesse he teach vs inwardly by his Spirit the outward doctrine shall alwayes wax cold Gal. 6.17 Except these bonds It is certaine that Paul his bonds were not so hard no yet did they cause him such sorrowe wherein hee did oftentimes reioyce which he doth mention for honours sake as being the badge of his ambassage but hee hath respect to those to whom hee wisheth faith without trouble or crosse For those who did not as yet beleue in Christ were farre from that affection to be readie to striue for the Gospel And surely it behooueth all the godly to haue this gentlenesse and meekenesse that they patiently beare their owne crosse and that they wish well to others and studie so much as in them lieth to ease them of all trouble and that they doe in no case enuie their quietnesse and myrth This courtesie is farre contrarie to the bitternesse of those who take comfort in wishing that other men were in their miserie 31 They spake togither In that Paul is acquitted by the iudgement of them all it turned to the great renowne of the Gospel And when Festus agreeth to the rest he condemneth himselfe seing he had brought Paul into such straites through his vniust dealing by bringing him in daunger of his life vnder colour of chaunging the place And though it seemeth that the appeale did hinder the holy man yet because this was the onely way to escape death he is content and doth not seeke to get out of that snare not onely because the matter was not euen nowe safe and sound Sup. 23.11 but because hee was admonished in the vision that hee was also called by God to Rome CHAP. XXVII 1 ANd after that it was decreed that we should saile into Italie they deliuered both Paul and also certaine other prisoners to a Centurion named Iulius of the bande of Augustus 2 And we entred into a ship of Adramythium purposing to saile by the coastes of Asia and we launched forth hauing Aristarchus of Macedonia a Thessalonian with vs. 3 And the next day we arriued at Sidon Iulius did courteously intreat Paul and suffered him to go to his friends that they might refresh him 4 And when we were gon thence we sailed hard by Cyprus because the windes were contrarie 5 And when we had sailed on the sea which is ouer against Cilicia and Pamphilia we came to Myra a Citie of Lycia 6 And when the Centurion had found there a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italie he put vs in it 7 And when we had sailed slowly manie dayes and were scarce come ouer against Cnidus because the wind did let vs we sailed hard by Creta beside Salmone 8 And with much adoe we sailed beyond it and came to a certaine place which is called the faire Hauens neere vnto which was the Citie of Lasea 1 Luke setteth downe Pauls voyage by sea most of all to this ende that wee may knowe that hee was brought to Rome wonderfully by the hand of God and that the glory of God did manie waies appeâ—re excellent in his doings and sayings euen in the very iourney which did more establish his Apostleship He is deliuered to be carried with other prisoners but the Lorde doth afterward put great difference betweene him and the euill doers who were in bonds as well as he Yea moreouer we shall see how the captaine doth lose him and let him be at libertie when the rest lie bound I know not what bande that was which Luke calleth the band of Augustus vnlesse peraduenture it be that which was commonly called the Pretors bande before the monarchie of the Cesars And Luke setteth downe in plaine words that they were put in a ship of Adramittium because they shoulde saile by the coast of Asia For Adramittium is a Cittie of Eolia I cannot tell out of what hauen they launched because they could not saile with a straight course to Sidon vnlesse the Mappes doe greatly deceiue mee Wee may well gesse that they were brought thither either because they coulde finde a shippe no where else or else because they were to take the other prisoners of whom mention is made out of that region And there continued with vs. Luke seemeth so to commende one mans constancie that he nippeth the rest For there were moe which did accompanie him to Ierusalem whereof we see two onely which remained with him But because it may be that the rest were letted with some iust causes or that Paule refused to haue them to minister vnto him I will say nothing either way Neither is it an vnmeete thing to say that Luke had some especiall reason for which he doth commend this man aboue the rest albeit he was but one of many Surely it is likely that hee was a rich man seing he was able to beare the charges whereat he was by the space of three yeares hauing left his house Sup. 17 1â— Sup. 20.4 For wee heard before that many of the chiefe families in Thessalonica did receiue Christ Luke saith for honours sake that Aristarchus and Secundus came with Paule into Asia Therefore let it suffice vs to hold that which is certaine and good to be knowne that there is set before vs an example of holy patience because Aristarchus is not wearied with any trouble but doth willingly take part with Paul in his trouble and after that he had beene in prison with him two yeares hee doth now crosse the seas that hee may likewise minister to him at Rome not without the reprochings of many besides the losse of his goods at home
wer growen out of kinde religion was depraued and corrupted among them with many errours yet the very name of the lawe and the worship of the temple were greatly reuerenced Furthermore Paul denieth not but that he did freely omit those ceremonies whereto the Iewes were superstitiously tied yet he cleereth himselfe of the crime of reuolting whereof he might be suspected Therefore vnderstande those ordinances of the fathers whereby the children of Abraham and the disciples of Moses ought according to their faith to haue beene distinguished from the rest of the Gentiles And surely in that he did cleeue so holily to Christe who is the soule and perfection of the lawe hee is so farre from impairing the ordinances of the fathers that none did better obserue the same 19 I was enforced to appeale This appeale was full of hatred and enuie for this cause because the authoritie and libertie of the Iewish nation did seeme to be sore opprest who coulde haue been content to haue liued with their owne lawes Secondly because his defence was ioyned with infamie losse of all the people Therfore he answereth this obiectioÌ„ also because he was enforced with the stubbornnes of his enemies to flie to this fortresse For he is excused by necessitie because hee had no other way to escape death And after that hee had excused that which was done alreadie he promiseth that he wil so handle his matter hereafter that he will not labour against the Iewes 20 For the hope of Israel Wee must vnderstande much more vnder these wordes then Luke expresseth as we gather out of the answer where the Iewes speak of the sect to wit repeating his speeche which Luke omitteth Therfore Paul entreated of Christ that it migh plainlie appeare that neither the lawe nor the temple did profite the Iewes anye thing without him because the couenaunt of adoption is grounded in him and the promise of saluation is in him confirmed Neither did they doubt but that the restoring of the kingdome did depend vpon the comming of the Messias and euen at that time their miserie and decay did increase the hope and desire of him Wherefore Paul saieth for good causes that he is bounde for the hope of Israel Whereby we be also taught that no man doth hope aright but hee which looketh vnto Christ and his spirituall kingdome for when he placeth the hope of the godly in Christ he excludeth all other hopes 21 But they said vnto him wee neither receiued letters from Iudea touching thee neither did any of the brethren come and shewe vs or speake any euill of thee 22 But we will heare of thee what thou thinkest for as concerning that sect we know that it is spoken against euery where 23 And when they had appointed him a day many came to him to his lodging to whom he expounded and testified the kingdome of God and persuaded them of Iesus out of the lawe of Moses and out of the prophetes from morning till night 24 And certaine beleeued those things which were spoken but certaine beleeued not 21 Neither by letters The Priestes and Scribes did not hold their peace because they were become more gentle towarde Paule or to the end they might spare him that proceeded rather of coÌ„tempt or els of despaire because they neither knew how to oppresse him when he was so farre from them and his carrying into Italie was to them in steede of a graue For they did lord it no lesse carelesly then proudly so that no body did trouble them at home Furthermore though the Iewes come not altogether rightly prepared to heare yet they shewe some desire to learne when as they doe not refuse to heare the defence of his doctrin which is spoken against euery where For many doe stop the way before themselues with this preiudice because they cannot abide to hear that which is refused by common iudgement but subscribe to the opinion of other men to the condemning of doctrine which they know not Neuerthelesse this is not without fault as I said that they obect gain-saying to cause hatred or to procure euill suspition as if it had not beene said before by Isaias that god should be a stone of offence to al the people It is vncertaine whether vpon the day appointed Paule disputed all the day or they reasoned one with another saue only because we may gesse by the circumstance of time that Paul did not continue speaking still For he could scarse haue framed a speech which could haue continued from morning to night Wherefore I doe not doubt but that after the Apostle had briefly expounded the summe of the gospel he graunted libertie to the hearers to propound questions did make answere to the questions which wer obiected to him But we must note the state of the disputatioÌ„ which Luke saith is double For Paul taught first after what sort the kingdome of God was amoÌ„gst them and principally what manner chiefe felicitie and glory that was which was promised to theÌ„ which the prophets doe so highly extoll For seeing that many of them did dreame of a fraile estate of the kingdome of God in the world did place the same falsly in idlenesse pleasure and in plentie of present good things it was necessary that it should be rightly defined that they might know that the kingdome of God is spirituall whose beginning is newnesse of life and the end thereof blessed immortalitie and the heauenly glory Secondy Paule exhorted them to receiue Christe the authour of the promised felicitie And againe this second point had two members for it could not be handled profitably and soundly vnlesse he did expound the office of the promised redeemer secondly vnlesse he did shewe that he is alreadie giuen and that the sonne of Mary is he in whom the Father 's hoped It was in deed a common maxime among the Iewes that the Messias should come and restore all things into perfect order But Paul laboured another point which was not so well knowen that the Messias was promised who should with the sacrifice of his death make satisfaction for the sinnes of the world who should reconcile GOD to men who should purchase eternal righteousnes who should fashion meÌ„ after the image of God being regenerate with his spirit who should finally make his faithful seruants heires with him of eternally life And that all those thinges were fulfilled in the person of Iesus Christe crucified He could not entreat of those things but he must needes call backe the Iewes from their grosse and earthly inuentions into heauen and also take away the stumbling blocke of the crosse seeing he taught that there was no other way or meanes whereby we are reconciled with God And let vs note that as Luke doth testifie Paul tooke all that which he spake of Christe out of the law and prophets For true religion differeth from all feigned religâ—ons because the worde of God alone is the rule thereof Also the church of