be God the euerlasting Creator and preferring his Gospell before the preaching of the Law moke away the obiections that are made This is the principall proposition of this Epistle and all tend vnto this end that the Iewes to whom he writes leaning Iudaisme should put their hope assuredly in Christ In the third and fourth chapters hee preacheth Christ to be much more excel lent than Moses by making comparison By and by he applyeth the time of the Gospell vnto that which is in the ninth Psalme called to day with an horrible threatning by their example whoe for their incredulity perished in the wildernesse being shut out from the rest in the land of Canaan In the fift sixt and seuenth he begins to describe Christ to be a priest by comparing him with Aron and with Melchisedech In the ende of the fift chapter for the slothfulnesse and dulnesse of the Iewes a dangerous dissession whose description he seemeth willingly to passe In the sixt chapter it seemeth that a place of repentance is denied to an offender to strike a terror into the obstinate In the seuenth chapter he describeth commendeth Melchisedech in which he extolleth the priesthood of Christ In the eight nine and ten he shewes by many graue arguments Christ to be the onely priest and the onely sacrifice for our sinnes which he prefers before al Legal sacrifices calling it the newe Testament out of the 13. chapter of Ieremy Afterwardes he reckoneth the part◠of the Tabernacle chapter 9. that is to wit The gate or portch the holy place and the holy of holiest with their significations In which figures he applies the bloud of Christ purifying the consciences He cals Christ the Mediator of the New testament signifieng the bloud of Christ to be powred out in the new Testament for the remission of sinnes Last of all by repetition hee amplifyeth the same that is to wit The sacrifices of Christe with the sacrifices Leuiticall Psal 39 and 31. chapt At length hee concludes this whole place by an exhortation to settle confidence in the bloud of Christe and performes the duties of mutuall loue by good workes making preparation to the chap. following In the 11 12 and 13 he commendes by examples the faith of the Patriarkes and of other saintes of the old testamant Then hee ioyneth an exhortation for the fruits of Faith patience discipline peace sanctification true repentance obediēce towards the word of the Gospel not only bringing the example of Christ but also threateninges out of the olde Testament In the last chap he reckoneth a heape of good workes with an exhortation to auoide false doctrine and with an exhortation to confesse the true doctrine of Iesus Christ to giue thankes The Epistle of Iames. SOme men thinke that this Epistle is not written by Iames the Apostle which was slaine by Herod not onely because of that place cited out of Genesis concerning Abraham for the Iustification of works contrary to the analogie of Faith but also for other places taken out of the epistle of Peter and Paule and of this Epistle mixed heere and there It is not a methodical epistle as other saye neyther doth it containe one certaine matter but as a man may say dissolued or vnloynted scopes that is to say Sentences not agreeing in order amongst themselues And the summe is that hee vrgeth the Law and good workes against secure carelesse men and boasters of faith with our good workes There are fiue chapters which are thus to be discerned In the first chapt he proponeth parcicularly these 8. sentences 1 Patience is to be shewed in aduersity 2 Diuine wisedome to bee desired of God 3 Wee muste beleeue without wauering 4 We must vse riches rightly 5 And suffer tentations which do rise from concupiscence 6 To heare the heauenlye worde diligently 7 And do good workes being the effect of the word 8 To liue in true religion In the second chapter he handleth onely two thinges the one that poore Christians be not contemned seeing that faith in Iesus Christ dooth not suffer the exception of persons the other concerning good workes by the which faith towards God and our neighbour is shewed as this place is a collation betwixt man and man not betwixt God man where faith only iustifieth whe he faith shew me thy faith by thy works If any do not thus vnderstand Iames. but wil wrest this his sentence to Iustification which auailes before God hee takes away the analogye of faith And the Epistle of Paule to the Romanes which seeing it is absurd the sentence of Iames may admit a profitable interpretation and the analogie of Faith Otherwise places or examples out of Genesis or of the booke of Ioshua concerning iustification might bee cited directly against natural sence of scripture concerning Iustification In the thirde chapter are also twoe places wel handled of the which one is the restraint of the toung that he teach not false doctrine which is to arrogate and vsurpe to himselfe magistracye in the holy scriptures aboue the holy ghost the true teacher and maister whose disciples are all true teachers in the church The other place is concerning the diuine wisdome which is in the doctrine Lawe and Gospel the very light of faith in our mindes and the beginner of obedience agreeing with the law of god according to this saying Thy worde is a lanterne vnto my feet In the fourth chapter there are forewarninges concerning vertues in euery commandement of the Tables as in one knot or heape bound together 1 Concerning the auoiding of contention 2 Of pleasures or desires 3 Concerning prayer 4 The auoiding of adultery 5 Of pride and humility 6 Concerning obedience towardes God and so forth vnto the end of the chapter In the fift chapter he chiefly inueyeth against those that doe abuse their riches I hen hee exhorteth the godly to patience and sufferance and hee dehorts them from the custome of swearinge Then hee perswadeth to haue a care of the weake and to pray one for another Last of all he exhortes to prayer and he commends it by the example of Elias In the end he shewes the true effect of conuersion The first Epistle of PETER THis Epistle is truely Apostolicall as of him which being asked of Christ who he was answered Thou art Christ the son of God Mathew 16. Againe to whom shal we goe thou hast the words of eternall lyfe Iohn 6. For it hath a sweet sauour of the same confession with constancy and sincerity in Faith For he confesseth Christ syncetely taking away saluation from our merits and deliuering the true knoledge of Christ in which he would haue al the Gentiles that are conuerted vnto whom he writes to goe forwarde constantly and to increase from day to day so as they may answer in their liues maners and conuersations to the Gospell of what state soeuer they bee as those whom he numbreth 1 The Subiects 2 The Seruants 3 The Women 4 The
heauinesse If with their speech they mixe fained sighings Crocodiles teares other legerdemaines deuised by Art amongst the which slanders strange positions doe specially increase their authority As Sebastian the Frenchmā reuiled the teachers and called a great volume of the sayings of the prophets apost which in shew seemed not to agre From whence he gathred that we must not iudge after the letter but as the spirit directs And in their Paradoxes they insert thinges to please people inlarge licentiousnesse Some there are which carry about with them the books of Sibils whence they take such Oracles as best befit theyr affections whom they flatter This kind of Idol priest must be taken heed of that rule is firmely to be held Thy word is a lantern vnto my feet And againe To the Lawe and the testimony And againe The Gospel is the power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth and those deceiuers are not to be harkened vnto which crye out that inspirations must else-where be sought for without thinking of the holy worde The saying of the sonne of God must bee helde fast whoe commandeth to preach repentance forgiuenes of sins in his name To this end let our teaching be applyed that repentance faith prayer and newe obedience may increase in vs by the meditation of Gods word and let god be praised with true duties according to that saying Fight thou a good fight holding fast faith a good conscience For traps may be laide by men by the aduancing of Inspiratiōs as we haue often seene By this meanes as by an inchantment the people discerned of seducers Therfore the sonne is sent to reueale vnto all creatures the secret and vnknown promise of reconciliation and that it beeing heard faith might be wrought in men and God might communicate himself with vs as Paule saieth Faith is by hearing and hearing by the word of God Wherfore these Idol priests of Cibel which withdraw mens mindes from the written word do reproch the son of God and take away both faith and al the exercise of faith If the writinges of the Prophets and Apostles were taken away so that euery hypocrite might lawfully brotch his counterfait Oracles from his inspirations as from his three footed seate howe great furies would ensue We haue seen example heerof in the Tragedies of Munster elswher Wherefore all holye teachers and hearers with al constancy ought to set themselues against these doting deuises Thy purpose and indeuour therefore O Peter I do commend that thou art an incourager of all the godly vnto reading As Paule saith Be conuersant in reading shewing the way to euery book declaring the arguments of them I woulde to God that our youth were accustomed rather to reading godly praier then to cauilles in disputing for when matters are well opened and no kind of false doctrine approoued there should be an end of disputing and it is a most true saying that to playe the Sycophant is too great diligence And whereas by the wisedome of your noble King and the diligence of godly teachers in your kingdom the studies of your youth are so ordered that no liberty to cauill is permitted vnto them You haue wel prouided for the peace of the church and their wits are accustomed to modesty All things though wel deliuered may be weakened if cauels may be regarded as in time past were those of the Pirchonians and the Academicks Therfore Paule doth strictly charge the Phillippians to hold faste the Canon or the rule of the word Now I beseech the Sonne of God our Lords Iesus Christ to keepe and to gouerne the churches in the kingdome of the Danes and in Germany and to make them to abide for euer one in him Farwell cal Feb. 1557. CONCERNING THE Authority of Gods word and holy Scripture THE authority of Gods worde and holy Scripture ought to be so great with all men that no one should doubt thereof but as we looke vp vnto heauen with our eies so should we thinke that the holy Scripture was brought from Heauen and as he that came from heauen is aboue all so the holy Scripture doth far exceed the doctrine and wisedome of man Christ asked the Pharisies of the doctrine of Iohn the Baptist whether it were from heauen or of men signifying that those two kinds of doctrin did greatly differ one from another the which also Christs disputation with Nichodemus maketh plaine Ioh. 3 The word of God is the holy Scripture of the old and new Testament which is called holy that is seuered from all other writings written by the holy Ghost brought from heauen And Christ deuideth the olde Testament into 3. partes in the last of Luke where hee saith that all thinges must be fulfilled whatsoeuer are written of the sonne of man In the 1 part Moses 2 part The Psal 3 part the Prop. The other partes doe belong to these The new Testament comprehends chiefly Gospels and Epistles which are the seals of the Gospell as I Paule thus subscribe thus I seale the Gospell of Matthewe with my bloud I Peter subscribe I Iohn c. The doctrine of the holy scripture is twoe fold The one The Lawe The other The Gospell But the holy Scripture is commended For the Sufficiencie Truth Profit Authority Dignitie Eternitie thereof 1 Christ shewes the sufficiencie thereof when he saith They haue Moses and the Prophets Againe search the scriptures bicause you thinke in them to hane eternall life And Paule Galat. 1 If any man shall teach any other Gospell let him be accurssed Esa 8 To the lawe and Testymonie you shall not adde neither shall you take from it his Deut 8 and in the 12. cha What I command you doe it thou shalt not adde nor diminish any thing 2 The truth of the scripture is proued by the wordes of Christ Iohn 8 Thy worde is truth Ioh. 2 The old and new Testament is true the true light now shineth Num 23 God is not as man that he should lie 3 The profit of the scripture is shewed by Paule Rom 15 Whatsoeuer things are written they are writtē for our learning that thorow patience comfort of the scripture we might haue hope 2 Tim. 3 all scripture in spired of God is profitable to teach c. 4 The authority thereof is in the laste of Luke all thinges must bee fulfilled which are written of me in Moses in the prophets and in the Psal 2 Pet. 1 Prophesie is not giuen by the will of man but holy men haue spoken as they haue beene mooued by the holy Ghost 5 The dignity thereof appeares Esa 55 as heauen is lifted vp from the earth so are my thoughts differing from your thoughts and Christ sayth giue not holy thinges to dogges neither caste yee pearles amongest swine 6 The eternity thereof as the worde of God abideth for euer And in Luke Heauen and earth shall passe but my word shal not passe Ioh. 16
The Prophesie of Abdiah ABdias signifieth the worship of God that he is the seruant or the worshiper of God He is thought to be the most auncientest of all the Prophets as Ionas in the time of Achab and Ieroboham Kinges of Israell Hee inueyeth against the Edomites who delighted in the afflictions of Israell Edom was the brother of Iacob to weet Esau and as hee hated his brother because his father Isake gaue vnto him the blessing of the first byrth euen so all his posteritie hated the posteritie of Iacob that is to say the Isralites and whensoeuer he coulde he brought trouble vpon theÌ„ adioyning himselfe with their enemies so declaring the vnfaithfullnes of his minde as the Psalmist saith 137. Lord be thou mindefull of the sonnes of Edom in the day of Ierusalem who saith Down with it downe with it euen to the grounde It containes one onely Chapter the some Edomites whereof is this Abdias 1 He Fortells the destruction of the CoÌ„forteth the Iewes Abdias 2 He Sheweth that saiuatioÌ„ is in Sion Abdias 3 He teacheth that no iniury puokes worshiped Abdias 4 He the breethren Abdias 5 He teacheth that god only is to bee The booke of Ionas the Prophet IONAS signifieth a Doue he liued a litle before Esai vnder king Ieroboham hee was a prophet in Israell as it is written in the last booke of the kinges chap 14. after this maner according to the worde of the Lorde as it was spoken by his seruant Ionah the sonne of Aniathias the prophet which was of Gad which is in Hephet But it is manifest that Gad Hephet was a Cittie in the tribe of Zabulon so that Ionas was a Iew and not the sonne of an Ethicke widdow in the dayes of Helias of whom mencion is made Luke 4. as certaine men do imagine of Ionah He is sent into Syria to preach against the Cittie of Niniue which was a famous Citie the Metropolitane of the whole kingdome of the Assirians whence it appeareth that God at that time had not only care of the Isralites but also of the Gentiles It is notablie spoken by Math. chap 12 where it is saide that Ionas was a Type of Christ Dying and Rising againe The wicked and adultorous generation seeketh a signe and a signe shall not bee giuen him but the signe of Ionas the prophet as Ionas himselfe was in the Whales bellye three Dayes and three Nightes so shall the son of Man be in the hearte of the earth three dayes and three nightes There are onely 4. Chap. IN the first is described very largely a miraculous history how Ionas was caste into the sea out of a shippe and how he was swallowed vp of a certaine great fishe and was tossed here there in the whales belly the space of three daies In the second is described the song and thankesgiuing of Ionas vnto God for his deliuerance from the whales belly where he thought euery houre that his life was at an end he praiseth the worke of the lord who onely is of power in heauen and in earth sea and all deepe places In the third we haue a famous ezample of repentaunce in the Niniuites to be followed of all sinners where these thinges are seuerely to be obserued by no means to be pÌ„termitted 1 That God is the god of the gentiles 2 That God is of power good and iust 3 what repentance is 4 That true fasting serueth to repentance In the fourth the carnall carefulnesse of Ionas is described howe hee would haue him respected with the damage and hinderance of his neighbors such is the great imperfection and fleshly feare in mankind yea euen of the saints but in God there is mercy and clemency towardes all sinners truely repenting This doth plainly appeare by Ionas and the Niniuites The Booke of Micheas the Prophet MIcheas liued in that time vnder those Kinges as Esayâ— Oseas and Amos liued as plainly appeareth by the title He Prophesied against the two Tribes and against the tenne Tribes that is to say 1 against kinges 2 against Iudges 3 against Priestes 4 against false Prophets aswell in Iudah as in Israell and hee foretelleth their destruction that reiected the worde of God and without his seare followed after vayne thinges In this chiefely he is very famous for that he doeth not onelye promise Christ to come nor doeth not onely declare the benefites of his kingdome but also hee sheweth vs the place of his natiuitye Thou Bethelem Ephrata saieth hee Art not the least amongst the princes of Iuda Out of thee shall arise vnto me a captaine that shall gouerne my people Israell c. which place Matthew cites in the second chap. And there are 7. Chapters which are thus to be deuided In the first three chapt there are Sermons and prophesies of reprose somtimes generally against the Israelites againste the impiety and Idolatry of Iudah and their wicked life and sometimes particular against the chiefe heads aswell in religion as in pollicy but yet with all in the ende of the second chap. the faithfull are comforted thorow the promise of the comming of the true pastour our Lorde Iesus Christ In the 4. and 5. are most excellent promises and consolations concerning the inlarging of the kingdome of Christ by the preaching of the Apostles throughout the whole world In the 6. 7. sometimes he reprooueth the couetousnesse and impiety of the people and sometimes he complains by reason of the great malice of the world in his time In the end he annexed the promise concerning the beginning of Christs kingdom in Ierusalem and afterwares concerning the inlargement thereof by the Apostles amongst all nations and by the way he condemnes their Synagogues The booke of Nahum the Prophet NAhum hath his name of comforting For hee comforteth the afflicted Israelites in this that he prophesieth againste the Assyrians who troubled and vexed Israell and Iudah although by the scripture it cannot be found what time and vnder what king Nahum prophesied Yet it seemeth that he liued after Ionas a little before Esar He forâ—tâ—l the subuâ—sion of Niniuy which was â—â—lleâ— vnto wickednesse after the preaching of Ionas There are three only chapters which are thus to be deuided In the first chapter he prophesieth generally concerning the perdition of the Assirians In the second he foretelleth especially of the comming of the Babylonian enemye In the third hee sheweth the cause of perdition by numbring the horrible wickednes of the Assyrians which were these Fornication theft and lying to weet Fornication in the false worshipping of God or in false doctrine That in iust vexations and publike exactions leuied onely to maintaine their pompe and pride being in contractts and barhaines The ende of this prophesie is the consolation of the Iewes to whom he shewes the preaching of peace without distrust expecting the time of the newe Testament or of the Gospell of Christ in which time euerlasting peace is preached to the
Elephants sent out of the land chap. 6. 8 Alciâ—us the Iew going to Demetrius chap. 7. 9 Nicanor is slaine chap. 7. At length Iudah himselfe after the confederacie made with the Romans chap. 8. was slaine in the battell which was stirred vp amongst the Iewes at the commundement of Demetrius after the death of Nicanor by Bacides and Alcinus the princes of Demetrius the king chap 9. O most godly captaine and heroicall constancy in the iudaicall Religion O most valiauâ—e sighter and defender of this Nation who at length being throwen downe in the truâ— confession most valiantly died for the maintaining of gods glorie From the ninth chapter vnto the thirteenth chapter is described the historie of Ionathâ—s the brother of Iudas Machabeâ—s who dealt with both the Demetrius and Bacides and Aleinus of whome he obtained victorie by the helpe of his brother Symon Afterward hee had his affaires with the young princes of Demetrius the younger vntil Triphon slewe him by subtilty azealovs warriour for Religion and the true worship of god From the 13. chap vnto the 16 is described the history of Simon the brother of Iudas Machabeus and of Ionathas In the last chap vnto the end of the book the succession of Iohn his sonne is described after the death of Simon The second booke of Machabees THe second booke of Machaâ— for the most part is a description of those things which are written in the firste booke chiefly so much as appertains to Iudas Machabeus There are 15. chapters which are thus to be diuided In the fâ—â—st 7. chap is described the affliction of the people of Israell aswell by certaine deceits and trecheries of one Simon as also by the cruell tyranny of Antiochvs Wherein is not onely declared the constancy of Iudas Mâ—chabeus who liued abroad in the desaâ—t but also of the 7. brethren who was crowned in martyrdome together with their mother In the 8. chap. and the rest of the chapt are repeated the valiant acts of Iudas Machabeus vnto the end of the booke So much concerning the bookes of the Machabees and also of all the Bookes of the old Testament to wit The Legall Historicall Doctrinall and Propheticall which are all in number 48. Concerning Ioh. 5. in the which Christ saith Search the Scriptures The end of the Bookes of the olde Testament The Bookes of the Nevv TESTAMENT THE New Testament containes bookes which were written after Christ was made manifest in the fleshe Partly Euangelicall partly Historical In number 27. accounting the least which onely containes one chapt as the epistle of Paule to Philenion the epist of Iude and the two later Epistles of Iohn The bookes of the Euangelists THere are foure Bookes Euangelicall written by 4. Euangelistes to wit Matthew Marke Luke and Iohn they are called Gospels because they seuerally doe comprehende the Gospell of Iesus Christ That is to say Ioyful newes concerning the free remission of sinnes to be obtained by the meanes mediation of Christ The booke of Matthew MAtthew as he is saide to haue been the first of the Euangelists that wrote the Gospell to wit immediatly after the Ascension of Christ euen so he hath obtained the first place amongest them These are the parts principallye of this Gospell From the first chap vnto the 5 are shewed by way of entrance not onelye those thinges which do appertaine to the genealogy and natiuity of Christ As first the numbring of persons in the generations from Abraham vnto Christ 2 the reuealations made to Ioseph 3 The comming of the wisemen 4 The tyranny of Herod But also the life and doctrine of Iohn Baâ—tist and also the baptisiue and tentation of Christ before he began to preach and before he chose his Apostles From the 5. vnto the 8. is described the sermon of Christ which hee made on the mountaine amongst his Disciples and it was a very sermon of the Law by the which as by a foundation being laid he prepareâ— them in order to the ministery of the gospell First of the blessing and the rewards of good works 2 Of the offices of the apostles 3 Of the true interpretation of the law 4 Of almes 5 Of praier 6 Of fasting 7 Of true riches 8 Of confidence in God 9 The sincerity of true iudgement 10 Of continual praier 11 Of natural iustice 12 The auoiding of false doctrine 13 The study of liuing according to the word of god In suâ—â—me this sermon and generall hatration of the lawe sheweth that the law was a schoolemaister vnto Christ From the 8. vnto the 10. hee confirmeâ— his doctrine with excellent myracles benefites with the which both by sea â—â—land he succoureth miserable and afflicted men and shâ—wes himselfe to be our famous From the 10. vnto the 13. he informeth constrâ—â—â—eth and comforteth his Apostles in the mynistery of the word And also afterwardes hee confirmes the Dâ—sciples of Iohn He commendeth Iohn â—e condemneth the increduliâ—â— of many giues thaÌ„ks vnto God the father for his little stocke Last of all besides his disputation with the Phaâ—lsies concerning the Sabaoth concerning Signeâ— c. Againe he shewes by manifest miracles his louing kindnes and also in that he quencheth not the smoâ—king flaxe From the thirteenth vnto the ninteenth first Mathew shewes certaine parabolicall sermons concerning the force and effect of the woorde of God and afterwardes the vndeserued death of Iohn Baptist Christs departure into the desarte and his contention with the pharisees the healing of many sicke people the confession of Peter and the rest of the Apostles the transfiguration of Christ the obedience of Christ towards magistrates the comfort of the litle flocke Last of all he treateth concerning offences and the forgiuing of our brethren illustrated by a parable of the vniust steward in which part of thinges done in Gallelie hee sheweth the great care of Christ for the saluation of mankinde and also his great diligence in his office of teaching shewing of miracles From the ninteenth vnto the 26. cha he describeth chiefely the iourney of Christ from Galilie into Iudah and by the way of disputations sometimes with the pharisees and scribes sometimes with his owne disciples foreshewing also his passion healing of two blinde men Afterwardes his entrauÌ„nce into Ierusalem and his most sharpe and last disputation with the Iewes concerning the dueties or office of preaching throughout three whole chapters 21.22.23 of which disputation and reprehension these are the chiefe partes to weet 1 Of the Baptisme of Iohn 2 the two sonnes 3 of the vineyarde 4 of the corner stone 5 the mariage of the kinges sonne 6 the tribute to be giuen to Cesar 7 the wise of the seuen brethren and of the resurrection of the dead 8 the great commaundement in the law 9 of Christ the son of Dauid 10 of the curses vpon the pharises and Ierusalem Last of all he describeth the communication of Christ with the Disciples in the mount of Oliues the destruction
Redemption 8 The remission of sinnes 9 Vocation 10 The gospel of saluation 11 The spirit of promise 12 Faith 13 Loue. 14 The spirit of wisedome 15 The knowledge of vocation 16 The knowledge of gods power 17 Viuification 18 The calling of the Gentiles 19 The passion of Christ 20 The preaching of peace 21 The church gathered out of the gentiles 22 The minister of the word 23 The loue of Christ 24 The fulnesse of God This is the true and perfect treasure of Christians gathered by the breadth length heigth and depth of the loue of Christ The last part from the 4. chap vnto the end of the Epistle consisteth in these fruites of faith which are 1 Humility 2 Lenity 3 Patience 4 Charity towardes our neighbours in all good guifts 5 Newnesse of life 6 Truth 7 Righteousnesse 8 Benignity 9 Mercy 10 Chastity with coÌ„trary vices which a christian ought to auoid Afterwards giuing of thankes with the information of euery mans estate with a description of a christian souldiour that must fight against spiritual wickednesse through his whole life Whose loynes must be girded with the gyrdle of truth fenced with the brest place of righteousnesse and feet shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace 〈◊〉 their hands hauing the shielde of faith theyr heades hauing on the helmet of saluation and on their side the sword of the spirit and let his arrowes bee first prayer 2 obsecration 3 Deprecation 4 Carefulnesse 5. Watchfulnes The Epistle to the Philippians THE Epistle to the Philippians written at Rome by Paul being in bondes although it doth not containe the whole disputation as is in the Epistle to the Romanes and Galathians yet it is an excellent horritory Epistle to constancy that the godly may goe forwarde constantly in the righteousnesse of faith Farthermore concerning this Epistle looke for Actes 16. Although Saint Paul first of al giues thankes 2. prayeth 3. admonisheth 4. praiseth 5. comforteth 6. calleth death aduantage 7. desireth to be dissolued 8. exceedingly reioiceth for that he was neare to be offered 9. contendeth euen to the eude 10. boasteth that our Citty is in heauen 11. looketh for the saâ—â—our to come from thence Notwithstâ—nding as there are foure chapters eâ—en so he handleth foure things most chiefly euery one seuerally in a chapter by it selfe In the first Chapter after saluation entrance he setteth himselfe for example and exhortes them to haue patience in afflictions shewing that the afflictions of the godly doe happen vnto them for their good In the second Chapter he exhorteth them to concorde and vnity least they should do any thing through contempt but that they shoulde serue one another thorough humilitye after the example of Christe who humbleth himselfe c. Farthermore he commendes Timothye vnto them and Epaphraditus faithfull ministers of Gods word In the third he exhorteth them that they auoide false teachers of circumcision or mans merites and that they doe followe onely that doctrine which is concerning the righteousnesse of faith in CHRIST againe hee putteth himselfe for an example for them to followe In the fourth he exhorteth them that they doe consist remâ—ine and continue in the same certaine godly and firme doctrine receiued with ioy and peace Furthermore he giues thanks vnto them for theyr guifts faithfully sent according to the rule of his ministery in the worde of God The Epistle to the Collossians THis Epistle is almoste the same with the Epistle to the Ephesians but it is shorter And as the Epistle to the Galathians is a method of the Epistle to the Romans euen so this Epistle is a method of the Epistle to the Ephesians or a certaine compendious order The summe of this Epistle is that nothing is so contrary to faith and our saluation as when we begin to value weigh or prize by mans reason those thinges which are Gods It is deuided into two principall partes euen as the Epistle to the Romans Galathians and Ephesians to wit into the tree and the fruit or into doctrine of faith and Charity The first 2. chap conteyneth not only that the wisdome to know Christe is the difinition of the Gospell and of faith to wit that hee is our Lord our redeemer our God and reconciliator but also setting downe a graue exhortation to this doctrine of the Gospell and a dehoâ—tation from false doctrine which he pursueth most sharpely setting forth like a true Prophet the Pope and his Munkes in their religion concerning Angels and such like against whose traditions he opposeth onely Christ the conqueror and triumpher ouer death sinne and the Deuill The other two chapters containe Admonitions concerning the maners of Christians that they liue a life worthie their profession that they putting off the olde man may put on the new by charitie and the obseruation of Gods word and they conteyne informations of euery thing in housholde matters and of persons in familiar maner in which hee requireth obedience of women of Children and of seruants and Loue Gentlenes and Iustice of youngmen of oldmen and of gouernours Lastly the studdie of praying and certaine familiar thinges as commendations salutations singular precepts of Paule according to his fashion The first Epistle to the Thessalonians AS in the Actes chap. 17. the diligence of the Thessalonians is commended in the searching of the scriptures euen so Paule in this Epistle doth commend their faith and constancy and doth exhort them to perseuerance It is diuided into two principal partes In the first three chapters he is busied in a certaine continuall narration in which he doth not onely commend the Thessalonians First for the receiuing of the Gospel Secondly for the constancy of Faith Thirdly for their patience in persecution Fourthly for the example of Imitation 5 For the publishing of Gods word 6 For the celebration of Faith but also he remembreth or repeateth his labours studies perils striuings conuersations desire or longing carefulnesse prayers to them for example of perseuerance In summe hee reciteth how he behaued himselfe towards them and what hee didde abide and suffer for their example In the two other chapters he first of all dehortes them from vice and doeth exhort them vnto the exercise of good workes Afterwardes he confirms them concerning the resurrection laying theÌ„ downe foure arguments First of death that it is a sleep 2 of the resurrection of Christ 3 the order of the resurrection Fourthly the life euerlasting By which argumentes they may comfort themselues Last of al he speakes of the sodaine comming of the last day in which he exhorteth them to watch adding in the ende an heape of good workes and of good orders by the which a christian life is gouerned The last Epistle to the Thessalonians THis second Epistle is a correction of the sentence or meaning of the first Epistle concerning the last day that is to say we that liue and remaine c. Likewise the day of the Lord is like a theese c.
the ThessalonioÌ„s were terrified with these wordes of Saint Paul whence they gathered that the last day should be in their â—ime or age Therfore Saint Paul correcteth himselfe and denieth the last day to be at the dores or at hand prophecying concerning the king dome of Antichrist and of his horrible fâ—lling from the Gospell going before the day of Iudgment what Paul respected in this prophesie and what hee did forsee in spirit for to come as in the first of â—imothie 4. or from the effect and euent of the latter seeing it is a manifest matter all the saithfull doe knowe that he prophecied of the Pope of Rome In the first chapt Paul commendes in the Thessalonians 1 Faith 2. Loue 3. perseuerance in the Crosse shewing a difference betwixte the rewarde of the Godly and the paines of the wicked that the wicked so soone as they giue ouer their impietie and persecuting of the godlye that they goe forwarde constantly and so runne that they may receiue their rewarde 1. Corinth 9. In the 2. chap. is interpreted the sentence or meaning of the first epistle concerning the last day by the prophesie of the desolation of the Romane empire together and of the kingdome of Antichrist that he should reigne in the church before the last day of Iudgment also should bring to passe that his commandemeÌ„ts should be kept aboue or before Gods commaundements by whose tyranie men being oppressed shoulde fall from the saith giue themselues ouer to mans traditions Furthermore vnto the ende of the prophesie he reioyceth as well for the eternall election as the vocation of the Thesalonians in Christ and by the way hee commendes his owne offiâ—e vnto them In the thirde chapter he apointeth certaine admonitions chiefly against anidle life that men should not learn to do ill as they that by doing nothing but that euery man should eate his bread in the sweat of his browes In the ende he puts the finall cause togither and the manner of exhorting that the excommunicated person may be shamed when he sâ—es himselfe shunned of all men For he may learne to acknowledge his fault and in the meane time he bee corrected as a brother that by no meanes hee bee accounted as an enemy The first Epistle to Tymothy THis first Epistle to Tymothy although it preacheth to all men yet notwithstanding it must be moste familiarly knowne to the ministers of the gospel For Tymothy was a bishop a faith full minister of Gods word For Paule after he had circumcised him and called him to the ministery of the worde He had him sometimes as his companion sometimes as his messenger in his apostolicall office vntil he was placed ruler ouer the churches of the Ephesians in the word of God Therefore Paule did instruct him being yet a young manne in those thinges which did truely and properly appertain to the office of a bishop and wisheth particularlye vnto him besides grace and peace mercy also as bishops and pastourâ— haue neede of more comfort then other in that they suffer beyond all others Therefore let the faithful preachers of the worde esteeme of this epistle as most especiallye vnto them There are sixe chapters in this booke which are thus to be discerned In the first chap after Paule had detested fables and wicked doctrine hee shewes or deliuereth a breefe rule for the vse and effect of the Law and of the Gospell setting himselfe for an example that he might warne and admonish Tymothy concerning the sum of christian doctrine which a Byshop ought to professe In the second chapter he willeth chiefly that men and specially women bee warned by Timothy In which worde Men hee comprehendeth the whole house that they doe pray for all men in general for the Magistrate more particularly whom God saith He would all men to be saued by christ the mediator Last of all that they do pray in al places or wheresoeuer the place or occasion of praier shall be And that women doe adorne and decke themselues not with sumptuous and gorgeous apparell with precious stones or with golde but with vertue and good works that the habite may testifie the integrity and shamefastnesse of their life And afterwardes hee takes away from them the office of teaching and authority ouer the husbands Lastly he commends their offices and comforteth them In the third chapter he shewes what kind of men the ministers of gods word ought to bee and also their wiues At somtimes approuing those things which ought to be at other times disallowing of those things which ought not to bee He requireth in a Bishop or Deacon vnder which hee comprehendes the ministers of Gods word Besides integrity of life and Mariage 1 Sobriety 2 Modesty 3 Chastity 4 Hospitality 5 Dexterity in teaching 6 Equity 7 Houshold care 8 A good testimony And on the contrary he condemnes in them 1 Drunkennesse 2 Much babling 3 Desire of filthy lucre 4 Fighting or quarrelling 5 Couetousnesse 6 Pride In the Wiues of Ministers are required 1 Shamefastnesse towardes hir Husband 2 Taciturnity towardes hir Neighbours 3 So briety towardes her selfe 4 Piety towardes God In the end of the chapter he describs the guift of God adioyning thereunto the ministery of the Gospell of Christ according to his humanity In the fourth chapter he warneth all godly men to beware of false doctrine with their signes and markes to wit for bidding mariage and meates which like a prophet he foretels and appoints forth so liuely as if he liued in the middest of popery There are in Popery first the spirit of errour Secondly the doctrine of Deuils Thirdly hypocrisie Fourthly seared consciences Fiftlye forbidding mariage Sixtly forbidding meats On the contrary Paule willeth Tymothie to exercise himselfe and to performe his office diligently towardes his neighbour thorough the workes of godlinesse In the fift chapter châ—efely he reckoneth three sortes of widdowes the ritch hee would haue to gouerne their owne houses the poore he would haue to bee nourished at the chardge of the Church and the younger he would haue to mary in the Lord afterwardes he would that honour should be ministred and giuen to the ministers of the word of god He warneth Tymothie of al things faithfully In the sixt chapter after the instruction of seruants he concludeth the Epistle with a graue exhortation from false doctrine and from couetousnesse faithfully admonishing Tymothie that he do remaine in the true doctrine and in true temperance following godlinesse faith and charity hee would haue ritch men to be forbidden of these three thinges First pride Secondly confidence in ritches Thirdly abuse of ritches And he would haue Tymothie to be a straunger from idle disputations The last Epistle to Tymothy PAule proceedes forwarde euen out of the prison to warne Tymothy that hee doe keepe the true pute doctrine of the Gospell with a good conscience as it were a treasure of hie price committed to his charge Furthermore the Holy ghost
preacheth by saint Paule not onely to Tymothye but to all the gouernors and teachers of the Church who had receiued the true doctrine of the Gospell Wherefore this Epistle ought to be most deare of very good account and speciall reckoning to the Ministers of the Gospell There are 4. chapters which are thus to be deuided In the first chapter after gratulation he warneth Tymothy First for the stirring vp of the grace of God 2 That he be not ashamed of the gospell of the bondes of Paule 3. To suffer affliction 4 For the retaining of the forme of whol some doctrine 5. to keepe that good which was committed vnto him hee inserteth also an excellent and most Euangelicall saying He that hath sowed vs c. which makes against Iustification by the works for the only grace of God and also commending his office and the house of Onismus against the falling away of the people of Asia from the gospell In the 2. chapter after the commendation of the doctrine chiefely hee exhorteth him to suffer afflictions bringing forth excellent arguments from the reward then hee is exhorted from the contentions and vaine ianglings of men shewing that it is no maruell if the good and euill be together in the church when as in a ritche mans house there are vessels appointed some to honour some to dishonour Last of all in this chapter is chiefelye handled that hee would haue him to deuide rightly the word of trueth least he should confound the lawe and the Gospell in the handling thereof But to vrge the law against the euill the wicked and obstinate that they may be deliuered to the magistrate to be punished or to be excommunicated and to comfort the afflicted and godly with the Gospell In the end of the chapter he sheweth that repentance is the gift of God In the the third chapter to the first perils to weet the falling away of the people of Asia and of others from the gospell of Christ he addeth another perill and setteth foorth false teachers verye largely whom he foretels that shoulde come in the latter daies against whome he exhorteth Tymothie by his constancy he might be profitable also to all his posterity Furthermore as in the former Epistle euen so Paule in this place by the light of Gods spirit foreseeth the impiety of the Bishoppe of Rome and those thinges which haue been done in Rome these 900. yeares In the ende he commendeth the sacred scripture then which commendation nothing can bee more excellently spoken From the fourth chapter he concludeth the Epistle by protestations in which he doth most earnestly charge Tymothie to the worke of an Euangelist shewing that the time of his dissolution was at hand that he had fought a good fight then with some fewe pointes of curtesie he endeth the Epistle he wrote this Epistle out of doubt a little before his martyrdome The Epistle to Tytus ALbeit this Epistle is not such a method as is the Epistle to the Romans yet notwithstanding it containeth the summe briefely of all christian religion in which he first instructeth and informeth teachers so that these three chapt might be deuided according to three principall states to weet Religion Pollicy and Domesticall gouernment or rule of an houshold The last of which he placeth in the middest because for the preseruing thereof God ordained the other two Very fitly was annexed to this information the place of Iustification Againe and again that to the same as to a marke all things might be directed aymed and referred In the first chapter he discerneth Religion and as in the Epistle to Tymothy euen so here hee describeth vnder the name of a Bishop all the ministers of the Gospell what manner of people they ought for to be in life doctrine Now for the faithfull themselues at an other time by reason of false teachers which he paintes out vnto the end of the chapter he sets foorth to beholde their impiety as it were in a glasse in which our Papistes may the more rightly looke into themselues In the second chapter he drawes a table as it were of household manners and he reformeth the life of euery state concerning houshold affaires where vnder the name of Young he admonisheth Tytus himselfe that he should shewe himselfe in all thinges an example of good workes then he sheweth the reason to weet the appearaunce of the grace of God in this that CHRIST gaue himselfe for vs that we should liue in him modestly iustly and godly In the third chapter he giues preceptes concerning pollicy and of obedience to be giuen towards magistrates He teacheth that all subiects are to bee warned by Titus adding therunto great causes out of the Lawe and Gospell to wit that we are all debters to the same Againe bringing in that most excellent place of Iustification wherein he takes away saluation by workes and doth ascribe it to the only mercy of God thorough our mediatour Christ Where he shewes very euidently the forme maner of our redemption That whosoeuer coueteth to bee a new man it is necessarie for him to beleeue and to bee baptized In the end he dehorts to good workes and to auoide foolish and heretical questions The Epistle of Paule to Philemon THis Epistle shewes the wonderfull loue of Paule towardes his neighbour in this that he studied to reconcile Onisemus to his maister Phylemon with great humility of minde and with sweet wordes first he commends Philemons faith and charity Afterwards he puts forth his petition for Onesimus being conuerted to the faith Last of al with sweete affections hee takes vppon himselfe the faulte of Onisemus doeth reconcile him to his maister not now as a seruant but as a deare beloued brother in Christ a great example of charity and study of concord in Paule The Epistle to the Hebrues ALthough it bee doubtfull whether this bee the Epistle of saint Paule because of some places in the 9 10 and 12 chapters Out of the which it is prooued by some that it was not Paule that wrote it Yes neuer thelesse the Epistle hath the authoritye of the holye Ghost as appeares by the scope therof He deliuers plainly christ to be true God and true manne yea our onely sâ—â—â—our and redeemer and the greater part of the Epistle stands on comparison by which it conuinceth the Lord of all namely Christ the naturall and euerlasting sonne of God He compares Christ 1 with the Angels chap. 1 2. 2 with the Moses chap. 3 and 4. 3 with the Aron chap. 5. 4 with the Melchisedeth chap. 6 and 7. 5 with the Sacrifices of the law 8.9 10. It hath 13. chapters which for the better declaration of them though not altogither exactly may be thus deuided In the first two chapters after his entrance wherein he briefly describeth the diuinity and humanitye of Christ and shewes him to be much more excellent then the Angels by nine argumentes in which he preached Christ to
Men. 5 The Priestes 6 The Youngmen There are fiue chapters which art thus to be discerned The first chapter is deuided into twoe partes In the first which is begun from the induction or entrance he puts down the true reason of saluation where all these things are to bee considered in dus order 1 The great mercy of God 2 Regeneration by a liuely faith 3 The resurrection of Christ 4 Heauenly inheritance 5 The power of God 6 Faith 7 Triall of Faith 8 Ioy and gladnesse 9 The writinges of the prophets 10 The Gospel 11 Grace 12 Glory In the other part he puts the consequence of this antecedent or that which followeth it and doth exhort the beleeuers to newnesse of life as for example 1 Sobriety 2 Hope of offered Grace as newnesse of life followes faith 3 Obedience 4 Holinesse 5 Inuocation 6 Feare 7 Loue. He ioyneth sets vnto this discourse the most excellent cause of this regeneration to wit that we are redeemed by the pretious bloud of Iesus Christ renewed by the word of God The second chapter is deuided into two partes for in the one hee goes forwarde to exhort the beleeuers to offer spirituall sacrifices and to haue good conuersation to the edification of the faith full And he addes a reason because saieth he all beleeuers are priests and called vnto holinesse of life In the other he appointes the reformation of diuers states in the which he laboureth to the end of this chap. First the subiects to obedience towardes the Magistrates the seruantes to obedience towardes their maysters as hee putteth Christ himselfe for example whoe suffered a greater wrong In the thirde chapter hee first of all speakes concerning the obedience of wiues concerning the modest apparell of wiues and the forbearance of the husband towards his wife Then he warns all menne in generall to exercise themselues in the vertues of true charity and in patience and also in true confession togither with the righteousnes of a good conscience bringing againe the example of charity and patience in Christ Last of all hee sets downe a most excellent place concerning Noes Arke that it was a signe of Baptisme But what he meaneth by the preaching of Christ to certain spirits not beleeuing in the daies of Noah wee are not ignorant and we iudge the true interpretation of this place it to be reserued to the maister himselfe to wit to the Holye Ghost In the fourth chap. he goes forward at one time to exhort al godly men to sobriety to watchfulnesse to modesty to praier to mutuall charity At another time to other fruites of Faith according to the variety of guiftes with patience and ioy in afflictions by dooing good to all men for Christs sake In the 5. chap he insonneth instructeth Ecclesiasticall persons vnder the natures of Priestes sometimes to feede their flocks and at another time to liue wel After that he exhorts youth to obedience and in general he would haue all men to be humbled to trust in God to be sober to watch againste the â—â—â—ersarie the diuel and to resist him in saith Lastly he concludes the Epistle with exceeding consolat oÌ„ that they might know themselues to be confirmed strengthned of God vnto faith The last Epistle of Peter THere are only 3. chapters The first against hypocrisie The 2 against Antichr The 3. against Epicures Peter in the first Chapter woulde haue faith and the vocation of faith to be shewed as moste certaine by good workes least that faith be as a vain dreame without vertue without knowledge continency c. seeing that it is not by the hearing of fables but of the Gospel In the 2. chap he sets forth the same as Christ himself did when he said Mat. 7. take heed of of false prophets Paul act to take heed to your selues c. Also phil 3. Beware of dogs take heed of wicked doers Peter doth warne the godly concerning false teachers and of the comming of Antichrist of whome hee prophesied S. Paule 1 Tim. 4. shewes their damnation by bringing 3. excellent examples 1 of Angels 2 of them that were lost in the floud 3 Of the Sodomites and then he paintes them out in theyr couloures for because they walke after the flesh in concupiscence and vncleannesse Lastly he puts forth a most horrible sentence or iudgement of such in twoe prouerbes of a dogge and a Sowe by the which he expresseth the which hee expresseth that the latter ends of such is worse then the beginning In the third chapter hee warneth the godly that they should beware of Epicures that is to saye of prophane men walking according to their owne concupiscence who onely do regarde this life and not the life to come They haue alwaies in their mouthes Let vs eate and drinke to morrow we shall die After death there is no pleasure Againe that which is aboue vs doth nothing concern vs. Against whom Peter affirmeth with out doubt the last day shall come vnto which both heauen and earth are shal quickly perish in their appointed time reserued for fire Wherfore he affirms that euery one of the godly shoulde studie die to liue in that state as beeing called out of the world he might die boldly confidently The first Epistle of Iohn SAint Iohn the Apostle an Euangelist who wrote this Epistle and leaned at supper time vpon the breast of Iesus Christ and didde draw sweet water out of the well of our Sauiour euen so here he breathed meer loue both of God towards vs and our loue towards our neighbor Gods loue that the same beeing apprchended by faith wee might be iustified freely by grace without workes and obtain euerlasting life Then our loue next that our faith be not idle but that it should work by charity otherwise it is not true faith but onely fained who haue these three signes First not to striue against sinne Secondly not to beware of false doctrin Thirdly to hate our neighbour There are fiue chapters which doeth so agree in one and selfe-same matter as hardly they can be decided one from an other All thinges therein dooth agree with his Gospel chiefly with these two commandements of Christ ye beleeue in God beleeue also in mee Againe I giue you a new commandement that ye loue another which two commanundementes Iohn doth ioyne after this manner in the thirde chapter and this is his commandement that wee beleeue the name of his sonne Iesus Christ and loue one another as he gaue vs commaundement The summe of the Epistle is concerning faith and charity the chapters after a sort are thus to be diuided In the first chapter hauing gotten the good will of the Auditory he puts this exposition of the whole Epistle that we being made clean by the bloud of christ and remaining in the society of Saintes ought not to walke in darknesses that is to say without good workes but in the light that is to say in the exercise
the wing of good workes togither with the true confession of sinnes In the second chapter after the cumgelicall common place of Christ the aduocate and our propitiator First he reproues them of lying who doth boast of faith and doeth no good and affirmes that those that are to be reproued as yet do lacke faith Afterwards he warneth euery age that they woulde remaine in those things which they had receiued of God Lastly he commandeth that they eschew false opinions and the vnrighteous desires of the world and Antichrist By annointing he vnderstandeth the holy ghost He cals Antichrist false Apostles who were then and afterwardes he speakes of others as of Heretikes of whom some haue denied the Diuinitie and some the humanity of Christ Furthermore vpoÌ„ this excellent place He that saith himselfe to be and remaine in Christ he ought to walke as he walked I am not ashamed to write S. Augustines most excellent exposition out of his booke of the life of a Christian cha 14 who saith as followeth 1 He is a Christian who Shewes mercy to all 2 He is a Christian who Is moued with the iniurye of all 3 He is a Christian who Suffereth not a poore man to be oppressed hee being in place 4 He is a Christian who Helpes the miserable 5 He is a Christian who Succoureth often the needy 6 He is a Christian who weepes with them that weep 7 He is a Christian who Feeles the griefe of another as his owne 8 He is a Christian who Is prouoked to weep by the weeping of another 9 He is a Christian who whose house is common to all men 10 He is a Christian who Whose gate is shut againste no man 11 He is a Christian who whose talke no poore man is ignorant of 12 He is a Christian who In whose house bread is offered to al men 13 He is a Christian who Whose goodnesse all menne knowes 14 He is a Christian who Of whom no man feels wroÌ„g 15 He is a Christian who Serues God day and night 16 He is a Christian who continually do meditate and thinke vpon gods commandements 17 He is a Christian who Is made poore in the world that he may be ritch with God 18 He is a Christian who With men is counted ignominious that hee may appeare glorious with God and his Angels 19 He is a Christian who Hath nothing fayned in his hart 20 He is a Christian who whose minde is simple immaculate 21 He is a Christian who Whose conscience is faithfull and pure 22 He is a Christian who Whos 's whole mind is in god 23 He is a Christian who whose whol hope is in christ 24 He is a Christian who Desires heauenly thinges rather then earthly 25 He is a Christian who doth despise humane things that he may posses diuine Thus farre S. Augustine In the 2. chapter he continueth an exhortation concerning newnesse of life by many arguments taken first from the loue of God towards vs. 2 From the hope of eternall life 3 From the offices of Christ which are to take awaye sinnes Fourthly to dissolue the workes of the diuell 5. From the efficient cause of righteousnesse to witte from God 6. From the vprightnesse of a good conscience 7 From the promise and commandement 8 From the loue of Christ towardes vs. In the fourth chapter he exhortes to take heed of the doctrine of Antichrist and to confesse the doctrine of Christe Afterwardes he goes forward vnto the end of the chapter to admonishe them concerning charity hauing once made a sweet comparison betwixt the loue of God towards vs and our loue towards God and our neighbour as betwixt the efficient cause and the effect In the fift chapter hee followeth after faith whence proceeds al good workes to whom victory is ascribed which hee sheweth must be confirmed by three testimonies to wit the spirit water and bloudâ— that is to save by the worde of God and the two sacramentes Afterwardes he makes them more certaine of life euerlasting togither with the hearing of the word Last of al he discerneth sinne not to be vnto death from the consideration of that sinne that is committed against the holy ghost pardonable from vnpardonable But they are sinnes against the sonne which proceed through the weaknesse of the flesh from them that beleeue in the sonne of God and doth repent And sinnes which are done by yâ— wicked against the holy ghost are first the resistance of the knowne truth 2 Repining at the good guifts of our brethreâ— 5 final impenitency The second Epistle of Iohn IN this one chap. of this Epistle of Iohn first he cals himselfe an Elder because he was a priest the chief Apostle now being olde for he liued in the time of Traâ—â—ne the Emperour vnder whom he died as it is â—â—unde in the histories in the yeare of Christ 101. and of his owne age ninety Afterwardes he exhorteth his elect Lady excellent both for her byrth and also for her vertue First to loue then to perseuerance in the doctrine of Christe Lastly he warneth to excommunicat the haters of Christ The third Epistle of Iohn IN this one chapt of this Epistle Iohn names three men of the which first he names Gaius to whom he writes and calles him his sonne commending him for the trueth or word of God next for loue lastlye for his hospitality The other was Diotrephus a wicked Bishop not onely as an inuector and backbiter but also being no houskeeper and an hater of christian brethren and also an excommunicater he sharply reproues him and rebukes him The third was Demetrius whom hee commendeth sometimes by the testimony of others and sometimes by his own profe testimony for the truth that is to say for his knowledge and obedience toward the word of God The Epistle of Iude. THis Iudas was surnamed Thaddeus the sonne of Alpheus brother to Iames the younger as men call him and of Simon and this Apostle wrote this one chap onely of this in which throughout he answereth to the second chapter of the second epistle of Peter First he threatneth horrible punishmentes to heretikes and false teachers bringing forth the example first of the Egyptians 2 Of the Angels 3 Of the Sodomites 4. Of Caine. 5 Of Balaam 6. Of Chore he sets them forth in their colours Afterwards he describes what manner of people they are as Peter did in which description whom it concerns in our time it is not hard to iudge Lastly he exhortes all godly menne to perseuerance First in faith 2 in the holy ghost Thirdly in prayer Fourthly in Loue. Fiftly in looking for Gods mercy 6 In compassion 7 In newnes of life In the end he woulde haue the godly to keepe the faith and to beware of false doctrine The Reuellation of S. Iohn THe Ecclesiasticall historie shewes how Iohn being vnder the Emperour Domitian was banished into the Hand of Pathmos there wrote this Apocalyps or Reuelation
that the Grecians doe retaine the names of Iapetus Ioue Aeolus and many others not knowing whence they sprong but when the storie of Moses doth shew their kindred we must needes confesse that it is more auncient then the monuments of the Greekes a mightie a famous people was that of the Imerians whose posteritie without all doubt was the Cimbrians but their stocke your Greekes know not which the some of the word doth shew to be Gomer the son of Iaphet Nowe there is a kindered among the Egiptians called in their naturall speech and in the Aâ—rabian tongue Mizrai but bookes doe shew Nizraim to be the son of Cham the first antient among the Greekes were the wars of the Argonians and then of the Troianes but the time course of yeers which the Grecians themselues haue obserued doth shewe that the Troiane warre was not long before Dauid and that Hercules was almost of the same time with Sapson So the names histories of the heathen do testifie that the books of the church are the more auncient which is very necessarie for the studious to consider In the third place wee haue set a kinde of doctrine whereof there are two partes the Law and the Gospell and seeing that the knowledg of the law is graffted in the minds of all men reason in all men is inforced to confesse that it is impossible for any nation to be the people of God which do establish lawes contrary to the law of God but this is the common madnes of all the Gentils to call vpon a multitude of Gods and to deuise monstrous fables of the gods and euen in their lawes to yeeld vnto the filthy confusions of lust Some of them also the murdering of men whordoms and adulteries haue bin thought a good seruing of God Reason therfore enforceth to confesse that in the church the law is taught much better This argument also the olde writers haue vsed in confuting the heathen and howsoeuer the Gospel be not knowne vnto reason yet doth it lay open those things whereof the doctrine of the heathen can speake no certainty and yet it cannot bee denied but that the vnderstanding of theÌ„ is necessary forsomuch as man is the Image of God and is made to knowe and praise the Lorde From whence come so many doubtes in the disagreements of the minde and hart whence is that stubbornnesse of the hart and such a burning desire to sin seeing that yâ— law shineth in yâ— mind Are men made to liue in euerlasting sin mysery what is sin whence comes that vast heap of humane myserye whence are those so manye dissentions about God as whether god doeth heare men or why hee shuld regard them Whether after yâ— bodies are once dead there shal be another life in which shal be a differeÌ„ce betweene good bad What men are Gods temple who he doth heare and helpe Of these so waighty matter what great darknesse is there in all the wisedome of the heathen Howe many furies of the Phylosophers who like the sons of Tytan make war with heauen eyther imagining that there is no prouidence or being God to secondary causes and labour to proue that al sins are of necessity Seeing therfore we must confesse that the doctrine of the causes and remedies of euil is necessary for men and yet the wisdome of the heathen seeth it not truly let vs embrace Gods voice in the church seeing hee hath added great testimony therunto Reason acknowledgeth that the law is no wher purely deliuered but in the church And seeing it is certaine that the voice of God is there let vs heare this doctrin of which the Heathen are inforced to confesse that ther is great ignorance in their religion and doctrine and yet the opening of these questions are necessarye for the knowing of God for the which man was made and for true comfort Therefore that kind of doctrine in the Church is most delightfull to good mindes when the pure fountaines are therof tasted I account not in the Church the Romane tyrants and the Monks their chaÌ„pions who haue dispersed throughout the world their filthy poison for the doctrine of the sonne of God and haue transformed the doctrine of the church into heathenish opinions They pray vnto the dead men they command men to worship their breaden God which they carry about in theyr great solemnity they sel sacrifices for the quicke and dead they make Gods worship stage-like vestures and other delusions and confirme their rouing lusts This wicked rout I cal not the church but them which deliuer the sounde doctrine of God deliuered in the bookes of the Prophets Apostles and in the Creeds Many others also doe corrupt the simple truth and the sleights in disputing are delightful to som as in time past to the Stoicks Epicures Academicks But when wee commende this kind of doctrine we do exclude al corruption and toyes in vaine disputings In the 4. place we account the wonderful preseruation of the church in the midst of the ruines of Empires which although it may be gathered vnder the first testimony that is among myracles yet in this it differs from the former bicause it is a perpetual miracle of the continuall presence of God pertains to that special rule The worde of the Lord abideth for euer and not by the helpe of man as it is written Not in an host nor in strength but in my spirit saith the lord God of boasts In the 5. place is the constancy of Confessors accounted which confirm others 2 waies First bicause it is a mannes myracle wherin God strengthens the weak against fear punishments shews his presents many waies euen in their suffrings Many simple men haue raised the dead and done many wonders 2. Bicause the high minds in such as quietly bear affliction doth shew the gospel is powerfull in them that it is the seed of god as Iohn saith wherby eternal life righteousnes and ioy is begun in them 6 This testimony of the gospel in the faithful doth plainly conuince their minds namely the comfort and ioy which is kindled in theÌ„ by the holy ghost wherof Paul saieth you haue receiued the holy spirit whereby wee cry abbâ— father whereby they see howe in great sorrowe they are comforted which vphold themselues with meditation of the Gospel with prayer as Paule saith The spirit helpeth our infirmity These testimonies must be often thought on especially let vs be careful of the sixt least it be taken from vs by the illusions of mad men as the Anabap. c Steukfeldians boast of false inspirations who setting apart Gods worde pretend their reuellations as I haue found out the lies of many such the examples of Munster shewes the maliciousnes of many Steukfild writeth that God communicates with mens minds without any means from whence he proues the diuine motions are kindled not by meditation of the written doctrin but by a faming of