of the exposition of the vertues of the first coÌ„maundement out of the .xxxv. chapter of Exodus The vertue that encouÌ„treth Idolatry is true Godlynesse or the true worshipping of God or christian religion which is to acknowledge the one true God the Father the Son and the holy Ghost the maker of heuen and earth aryght and to call vpon him and to worship him with true fayth obedieÌ„ce according as hée hath shewed himself in his own word of the law the Gospel The second place OF whoordom which alwayes is ioyned with miswoorshipping oftentymes in the prophetes is put for idolatry it self The vertue contrary too whoordom is chastitie the orderly exposition whereof may be repeted out of the sixt comandement Now Paule alludeth to the story of the Israelites who béeing called to the sacrifises and feastes of the Idoll Peor did eate of the Idolofferings and committed fornication with the Idoll Peor and with the daughters of Moab Num. xxv The third place OF tempting God whiche is not to obey God paciently in suffring calamities and troubles like as the Israelites grudged at the trouble somnesse of their iourney and wer therfore slain by fyry serpents Num. xxj and not to stay a mans self vpoÌ„ gods word ordinance but eyther to deny God and his works which notwithstanding we know to be done by god As the Pharisies Luke xj attributed vnto Belzebub the miracles wrought by Chryst and the Israelites Exod. xvij deny that the Lord God brought them out of Egypt or to correct Gods coÌ„maundments and ordinances vpon a mans own rashnesse vpon trust of his own wisedom and strength as if a man would go ouer a greate riuer a foote wheras god hath appoynted this order that it should be passed by bridge or by bote The Enthusiastes leauing Gods word by which only he imparteth his light and benefits vntoo vs seeke new enlightnings The Isralites in Num. xiiij and xxj despising Gods ordinaunce and commaundement determine too make them selues a newe Capteine too conuey them ageyne intoo Aegipte When Chryste was willed to cast himselfe downe from the pinacle of the Temple hée aunswerd that God was not too bée tempted who appoynted this order that men should go downe by gréeces The whole exposition of the storie concerning the firy serpentes the brazen serpent set vp by Moyses in the wildernesse which Paul citeth in this place may be fetched out of my exposition of the one and twentith chapter of Num. of this saying Iohn iij. Like as Moyses lifted vp the serpent in the wildernesse The fourth place OF grudging or repining which is a fretting chafing a disobedieÌ„ce ageinst God in troubles punishmeÌ„ts as the Isralites in Num. xj and xiiij murmured and grudged taking the labor and paynfulnesse of their iorney impaciently lyke thanklesse persons forgetting all the benefits and promises of God distrusting him as it were reprouing him of vntruth for not performing the foode defeÌ„ce which he had promised â—othing his preseÌ„t benefits lusting after fleshe and other â—iner fare Of which lusting Paul but eueÌ„ a litle afore sayd Lust not after euil things as they did And in general the doctrine concerning lust coÌ„cupiscence or the hedynesse of al our inclinatioÌ„s affections powers to which right well agréeth this verse of Crates Foule lustfulnesse is euen the ground of euils al that may bee found And also the doctrine of pacience and ryghtfulnesse which lotheth not good things present beareth discommodities incident may bée repeted in this place CoÌ„cerning which these sayings are vsual Sufficient for the day is the trauel therof Also content thy self with things that come too hand And agein An Asse is he in deede whom hard mischaunce can make an Asse But wyse is he that paciently hard stormes can ouerpasse But proprely Grudgyng fighteth ageynst the first commaundement and the countervertue vntoo it is pacience The fifth place IT is a generall lesson concerning punishmentes or miseries that they bée examples whiche warne men to shun Gods displesure and such other penalties For wheras the Israelits were destroyed in the wildernesse by the destroying Aungell or by the minister and executer of Gods wrath punishments all these things befel them that they myght bee as patterns and examples vntoo vs vpon whom the ends of the world are come too put vs in mynde of Gods dreadfull wrath ageynst sinne and of eschuing suche like fallings whiche procure Gods displeasure of the endlesse punnishemeÌ„ts that shal ensue without dout Therefore who so thinketh himselfe too stande and specially which déemeth it lawfull for him to eate of Idolofferings let him looke to it that he fall not into Idolatry dreadfull punnishments lyke as the children of Israell Aaron himself and Salomon also did Therfore we had néed to vse singular wakernesse and heede and earnest prayer least through fond persuasion of oure owne knowledge through the craft of the diuell laying snares for vs in our owne infirmitie wée bee throwneheadlong intoo Idolatry and other horrible calamities For euen those that bée borne a newe and are in very déede godly may slide and by losing grace the holy ghoste may fall intoo euerlasting destruction like as Saule Iudas and others perished The sixt place COncerning temptations and the manner how to put them away and ouercome them I haue giuen some incling vpon the .iiij. chapter of Mathew Temptation is a prouocation or motion to synne and wretchednesse rising of mans infirmitie that is to wit of doutings and miswéenings of the mynd and of sinfull inclinatioÌ„s and affections of the hart or of outward inticements occasioÌ„s which stir vp those sinful inclinations as Dauid by lighting vpon the beautiful shape of Bersabée is tempted of his owne concupiscence and yet is not driuen by the diuel vtterly to despise and hate God as Nero Saul and Iudas were But vnto those that haue the first beginnings of true godlynesse true feare of God true faith there is a most swéete comfort set forth in this saying God is faithful who suffereth vs not to bée tempted aboue our strength as if he shoulde say God louing vs hartily and with stedfast good will embracing all such as haue the beginning of true godlynesse suffreth vs not too bée ouercome and too sinke vnder the allurementes of sin neither wil he lay greater burthens vpon vs than we bée able to beare through but distributeth troubles by geometrical proportion Vpon the stout and manly saincts such as Iacob and Dauid were he layeth a sorer weight and vpoÌ„ them that be weaker he layeth a lighter weight and strengthneth and confirmeth our harts with the holy ghost that they may be able to endure out the payne And he ruleth the fallings out that they may bée too the welfare both of our selues and of others according as it is sayd to the godly all things worke too the beste
shalt thou chaunge them and they shal be chaunged But thou art euen the same and thy yeeres shall not faile Vnto which of the angels said he at any time Sit on my right hand till I make thyne enemies thy footstoole Are they not all ministring spirits sent too minister for their sakes which shall bee heires of saluation The disposement The Epistle pertaineth too the kind of cases that teache The partes or chéefe places are twoo 1 A description of the persone of the sonne of GOD our Lord Iesu Chryst 2 A gathering togither of the witnesses which confirme that Christ is more excellent than the Angels shewe the difference betwéene Christ and the Angels The first place IT is a great and wōderfull benefite of the sonne of God woorthy too bée set out cōtinually with thankfull mynd and voyce that of his excéeding goodnesse cōming foorth from hys secret dwelling place he discouered himselfe to mankynd by assured open testimonies Yea euē he himself clothing him with a visible shape or forme of the manhod that was too bée taken vppon him afterward talked with the first men and the rest of the Fathers face and with his own mouth reueled the promis of grace whereby the first parents were receiued oftentimes renewing the same in his communications had with Abrahā Jsaac Iacob Moyses Dauid Esay Ieremie Daniel c and at the length in the yéere of the world 3962 was borne man of the virgin Marie many yéeres togither sowed the doctrin of his gospel among men confirmed it with miracles Of this excéeding great benefit this epistle maketh mention at the beginning afterward ioyneth ther vnto a description of the sonne of God our lord Iesu Christ The sonne of God is the second persone of the Godhead begotten of the euerlasting father and is the substantiall full image brightnesse of the eternal father more excellent than al the Angels by whom al other things in heauen and earth are created preserued The which sonne tooke mans nature of the virgin Marie so as God and man are one persone Iesus Chryst who by himself through his passion and death hath clenzed our sinnes being raysed ageyne sitteth at the right hand of the father giueth remission of sinnes rightuousnesse eternal life to all that flée to him by fayth This ordinarie descriptiō of the person of gods sonne may by good lerning bée builded out of the testimonies of this first Chapter too the Hebrewes For that the sonne of God is a person of the Godhead distinct frō the father it is manifestly confirmed by the .xliiij. Psal The Lord euen thy Lord hath anoynted thée with the oyle of gladnesse Also this day haue I begotten thée Therefore is he God and a persone distinct from the father that begetteth him That he is begotten of the father the very name of Sonne declareth and so dooth the saying of the second Psalme this day haue I begotten thée That he is the substanciall and full image of the father it is manifest in that he is termed the expresse image of the fathers substance The Gréeke woord Apaugasma signifieth the brightnesse that isseweth from another light Therfore like as light and the brightnesse that isseweth from the light are alwayes togither so the father and the sonne are coeternall That he hath created all things susteyneth al things it is manifest by this saying whō he hath made heire that is to say Lord of al things by whom also he made the worlds that is to say al things in the world By him were al things made My father worketh euē vnto this hour I also work Bearing that is to say carying vpholding and maynteyning all things by the woord of his power that is to say by his almightie woord That he tooke vppon him mannes nature he will shewe more at large in the second chapter Héere he setteth foorth but the chéef office and benefite of Chryste for which he became man when he sayeth By himself purged he our sins This short saying conteyneth a summe of the whole doctrine of the Gospell concerning Chrystes benefites concerning the difference betwéene the Law and the Gospell and concerning forgiuenesse of sinnes or iustification The Lawe purgeth not ne taketh away sinnes but encreaseth sinne and maketh it out of measure sinful Rom. 7. The sacrifises of the Leuites purged not sinne but were figures of Christes sacrifice Our owne woorkes and munkish ceremonies purge not sinnes Only Christ by himselfe that is too say by the sacrifise of his body offered vpon the altar of the crosse hath purged vs and hath for euermore made perfect those that are too be sāctified as is said afterward in the 7. 9. 10. chapters And 1. Iohn 1. The blud of Christ the sonne of God clenseth vs from all sinne and iustifieth vs maketh vs heires of euerlasting saluation and glorie For wee shall bée glorified with Christ who sitteth at the right hand of the Maiestie that is too say reigneth in equal power and maiestie with the eternall father The .ij. Of the difference betweene Christ and the angels TOo the intent this thing may bée the more euident first let the definitions of them bée vnderstood Angels are spiritual substances created by God after his own image and ordeined too sing glory too God on high and too bée ministers vppon earth of the churche or of the heires of euerlasting saluation The description of the sonne of God is recited a litle afore By these descriptiōs and the testimonies cited in the text of the Epistle seuen differences may bee gathered 1 Christ is verely and by nature the sonne of God begotten of the substance of the eternall father Psal 2. This day haue I begotten thée 2. Reg. 7. I wil bée a father too him and he shall bée a sonne too mée The Angels are not verely and by nature the sonnes of God but only by adoption or grace Ergo Christ farre excelleth all the Angels 2 Inuocation is an honor too bée attributed only too God the searcher of hartes according too this saying Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and in general whosoeuer is worshipped is better than he y worshippeth But God cōmaundeth that Christ shalbée called vpon yea euen of the Angels Ps. 96. Worship yée him all yée Angels of God ▪ Ergo Christ is both God and also farre more excellent than all the Angels 3 Christ is the maker of heauen and earth Psa 101. Thou O Lord hast founded the earth from the beginning Angels are substances created as Psal 103. is sayd which makest thine Angels spirites and thy ministers a flame of fire that is too say cléere substances which in shéerenesse force nimblenesse and swiftnesse are like too fire 4 Christ is an euerlasting king bearing a rightful scepter and iustifying all that flée vntoo him Psa 45. Thy throne O God endureth for euer and euer the scepter of rightuousnesse
brethren and fathers herken The God of glory appeered vntoo our father Abraham whyle he was in Mesopotamia before he dwelt in Charran and sayd vntoo him come out of thy countrey and from thy kinred and come into the land which I shall shew thee Then came he out of the lād of Chaldey and dwelt in Charran And after that his father was dead he brought him from thence intoo this lād in which yee now dwell and he gaue him none inheritaunce in it no not the bredth of a foote and promised that he would giue it too him too possesse and too his seed after him when as yet he had no childe God verely spake on this wise that his seede should be a soiourner in a straunge land and that they should keepe them in bondage and entreat them euell 400. yeeres But the nation too whom they shall bee in bondage will I iudge sayd god And after that shall they come foorth and serue me in thys place And he gaue him the couenant of Circūcision And hee begatte Isaac and cyrcumcised hym the eigth day and Isaac begat Iacob and Iacob the twelue Patriarkes And the Patriarkes hauing indignation sold Ioseph intoo Egypt And God was with him and deliuered him out of al his aduersities and gaue him fauour and wisdom in the syght of Pharao king of Egypt And he made him gouernour ouer all his houshold Then came there a dearth ouer all the land of Egypt and Canaan and great affliction that our Fathers found no sustenance But when Iacob herd that there was corne in Egypt he sent our Fathers first And at the second time Ioseph was knowē of his brethren and Iosephs kinred was made knowen vnto Pharao Then sent Ioseph and caused his father to bee brought and all his kin three score and xv soules And Iacob descended into Egypt and died both he and our fathers and were translated into Sychem and were put in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for monye of the sonnes of Emor at Sichem But when the tyme of the promise drewe nye whiche God had sworne to Abraham the people grewe and multiplied in Egypt till another king arose which knewe not of Ioseph The same delt suttely with our kinred and euill entreated our fathers and made them too cast out their yoong children that they should not remayne à lyue The same tyme was Moyses borne and was acceptable vnto God which was nourished vp in his fathers house three moonethes When he was cast out Pharaoes daughter took him vp nourished him vp for hir own sonne And Moses was learned in all maner wysdome of the Egiptians and was myghtie in deedes and in woordes And when he was ful fortie yeere olde it came intoo his hart too visit his brethren the children of Israell And when hee sawe one of them suffer wrong he defended him and auenged his quarell that had the harme doon to him and smote the Egiptian For he supposed his brethren would haue vnderstand howe that God by hys hands should gyue saluation vnto them But they vnderstood not And the next daye he shewed him selfe vntoo them as they stroue and would haue set them at one ageyn saying Syrs yee are brethren why hurt yee one another But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away saying who made thee a ruler and a iudge ouer vs What wilt thou kyll mee as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday Then fled Moyses at that saying and was a straunger in the lande of Madian wher he begat twoo sonnes And when fortie yeares were expyred there appeered too him in the wildernesse of mount Syna an Angell of the Lorde in a flame of fyre in a bushe VVhen Moyses saw it he wondred at the syght And as he drew neer too behold the voyce of the Lord came vntoo him I am the God of thy fathers the God of Abraham the God of Isaac the God of Iacob Moyses trembled and durst not beholde Then sayd the Lord to him Put of thy shoes from thy feete for the place where thou standest is holy ground I haue perfectly seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt and I haue harde their gronyng and am come downe too deliuer them And now come and I will send thee intoo Egypt This Moses whom they forsooke saying who made thee a Ruler and a iudge The same GOD sent bothe a ruler and a deliuerer by the handes of the Aungel which appeared too him in the bushe And the same brought them out shewing wonders and signes in Egipt and in the red sea and in the wildernes xl yeeres This is that Moses whiche sayed vntoo the children of Israell A prophet shall the Lorde our God rayse vp vnto you of your brethren lyke vntoo mee him shall yee heare This is he that was in the congregation in the wildernesse with the Angell whiche spake to him in the mount Sina and with our fathers This man receyued the worde of life to gyue vntoo vs too whom our fathers would not obey but cast it from them and in their hartes turned backe ageyn intoo Egypt saying vntoo Aaron make vs Goddes too goo before vs For this Moyses that brought vs out of the Lande of Egypt we wote not what is become of hym And they made a Calfe in those dayes and offered sacrifice vntoo the ymage and reioysed in the woorkes of their owne handes Then GOD turned hym selfe and gaue them vp that they should worshippe the host of the sky as it is written in the booke of the Prophetes O yee of the house of Israell gaue yee too me sacrifices and meat offerings by the space of xl yeeres in the wildernesse And yee tooke vntoo you the tabernacle of Moloh and the starre of your God Rempham figures which ye made to worship them And I will translate you beyond Babylon Our fathers had the tabernacle of witnesse in the wildernesse as he had appoynted them speaking vnto Moyses that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen ▪ which tabernacle also our fathers that came after brought in with Iosue into the possession of the Gentilles which God draue out before the face of our fathers vnto the dayes of Dauid which found fauour before God and desired that he might finde a tabernacle for the God of Iacob But Salomon built him an house Howbeit he that is hyest of all dwelleth not in temples made with handes as sayeth the Prophet heauen is my seate and earth is my footestole what house will yee buyld for mee sayeth the Lord or what place is it that I should reste in hath not my hand made all these things Yee stifnecked and of vncircumcised harts and eares yee haue alwayes resisted the holy Ghost as your Fathers dyd so doo yee Which of the Prophets haue not your Fathers persecuted and they haue slayne them whiche shewed before of the comming of that iust whome yee haue nowe betrayed and murthered And yee also haue receyued
their aūcient sinne with water fresh new Their raimēt whyte betokeneth eke the brightnesse of their mynd It is the shepeherds ioy so fair and whyte a flocke too fynd Therfore also were the reading of this dayes Epistle and the Introit in which mention is made of regeneration ordeyned that the baptized might bée instructed concerning their regeneration or newbirth and of their encounters and victories ageinst the Diuell and the world ¶ The Epistle j. Iohn v. ALl that is borne of God ouercommeth the world And this is the victorie that ouercommeth the world euen our fayth Who is hee that ouercommeth the world but he that beleeueth that Iesus is the sonne of God This Iesus Chryst is he that came by water and blud not by water onely but by water and blud And it is the spirit that beareth witnesse bycause the spirit is trueth For there are three which beare recorde in heauen the Father the woord and the holy Ghoste and these three are one And there are three whiche beare recorde in earth the spirite and water and blud and these three are one If wee receyue the witnesse of menne the witnesse of God is greater For this is the witnesse of God that is greater which he testified of his sonne Hee that beleeueth on the sonne of God hath the witnesse in him selfe He that beleeueth not God hath made him a lier bycause he beleeueth not the recorde that God gaue of his sonne And this is the recorde howe that GOD hath giuen vntoo vs eternall lyfe and this lyfe is in his sonne Hee that hath the sonne hath lyfe and hee that hath not the sonne of GOD hath not lyfe The disposement THis Epistle is of that kynde of caces that instruct The state of it is a doctrine concerning fayth leaning vppon the sonne of God our Lord Iesus Chryst which fayth ouercommeth sin death and receyueth rightuousnesse and euerlasting lyfe The cheefe places are these 1 Of faith wherby wée are borne of God. 2 Of the obiect of fayth or of the persone and benefites of Chryst 3 A testimonie that the thrée persones of the Godhead are all of one substance 4 Of the ministerie of the Gospel and of the Sacraments of Baptim and the Lords Supper The first place THe welspring aud soule of godlynesse and Chrysten lyfe and the originall and head of our endlesse welfare is fayth in the sonne of God our Lord Iesu Chryst our Mediator King and Préest which fayth is in no wyse an ydle and vayne persuasion but the liuely and effectual instrument of our saluation wherby wée receyue intoo vs the true knowledge of God forgiuenesse of sinnes and all Gods benefites yea and euen God himself and ouercome sin and death and obteyne rightuousnesse lyfe and glorie euerlasting Of this true and effectuall faith there is a notable description in this dayes Epistle which wée will vnfold in these woordes Fayth is a true perceuerance of Chrysts persone and benefites of al the whole doctrine deliuered by God and it is an assent wherby wée persuade our selues that all the Articles of the doctrine are true and in especially beléeue that Iesus is the sonne of God and Chryst or the anoynted of God that is too say our King Hygh preest Mediatour and Redéemer And it is an assured trust stedfastly settled in the sonne of God our Lord Iesus Chryst the vanquisher of sin death and the Diuil assuring a man for a certeintie that for Chrysts sake his sinnes are released and himselfe set in gods fauour who receyueth héereth helpeth defendeth and freely rewardeth with lyfe and glorie euerlasting This fayth in Christ ouercommeth the world that is too say sinne and the entycementes of sin and the Diuell himselfe the Prince of the world and death which is the chéef sinew of the Diuels power as is sayd j. Iohn ij If any man loue the world the loue of the Father is not in him for euery thing that is of the world as the lust of the fleshe the lust of the eyes and pryde of lyfe is not of the Father but of the world Now the lyfe of man vppon earth is a continuall warfare and deadly foode ageinst foure cruell and mightie enemies that is too wit the Diuell who is furnished with a thousand pollicies too anoy the sinfull prouocations of our owne nature rebelling ageinst the Lawe of God the persecutions of Tyrants and the afflictions of all sortes bothe of mynd and bodye With these foure enemies must al godly folke fyght continually as long as they are in this world Neyther is any man able too ouercome them saue he that is borne of god But they are borne of GOD that beléeue in Chryst as is sayd in the beginning of this Chapter Euery one which beleeueth that Iesus is Chryst is borne of God and whiche with stedye fayth embrace and hold fast the woord that is deliuered by God and in whom the holy Ghost dwelling purgeth and putteth away the old Leuen or false opinions and sinfull inclinations and affections kindleth in them a new lyght new ryghtuousnesse new lyfe and newe obedience agréeing with Gods will. For in asmuch as all men are conceyued in sinne and borne the children of wrath and bondslaues of the Diuell they can not become the sonnes of God and inheriters of euerlasting lyfe and saluation before such tyme as they bée borne agein or begotten agein of GOD that is too say endewed with true fayth or new rightuousnesse and lyfe God regenerateth or begetteth men a new by twoo meanes by the Gospell concerning Chryste or by the woord receyued by fayth and by the Sacrament of Baptim j. Pet. j. Yée are borne agein of vncorruptible séede by the woord of the liuing god Iohn iiij Except a man bée borne ageine of water and the holy Ghost c. Tit. iij. He hath saued vs by the fountaine of the newbirth And these woordes or termes iust ryghtuouse godly holy beléeuing in Chryste borne of God childe or sonne of GOD new man perfect swéete or vnleuened bread c signifie in a maner all one thing The second place THe chéef obiect of fayth is our Lord Iesus Chryst And it standeth the godly in hand too haue a ryght opinion and beléef concerning the persone office and benefites of Chryst according as Iohn sayeth in this place that wée must beléeue that Iesus is the sonne of God and that he is Chryste and that he came by water and bloud like as also in this dayes Gospell he appoynteth the same end and shooteanker of the storie of the Gospell and of the whole sacred Scripture These things are written too the intent yee should beleeue that Iesus is Chryst the sonne of God and that by beleeuing yee myght haue lyfe in his name The name of Sonne sheweth that Chryst is in very déed and by nature God begotten of the substance of the eternall father as it is sayd in the Psalme Thou
neither was there guile founde in hys mouth which when he was reuiled reuiled not ageine when he suffered he threatned not but committed the vengeance too him that iudgeth ryghteously which his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his bodye on the tree that wee beeing deliuered from sinne should liue vntoo ryghteousnesse By whose stripes yee were healed For ye were as sheepe going astray but are now turned vnto the shepheard and Bishop of your soules The disposement THe state of it is an exhortacion to patience and méeknesse taken of the example of Christ who was patient méek And therwithall is annexed a doctrine concerning the merit and benefites of Chrystes passion The châ—ef places are four 1 Of patience in troubles which are not procured by a mannes owne fault but happen too him vndeserued It belongeth too the first commaundement 2 Of méekenesse repressing desire of reuenge forgiuing euen open wrongs for Gods sake the common quietnesse Which perteyneth too the fifth commandemeÌ„t 3 Of the causes and effects of Christes passion or of remission of sinnes and of the health of our soules restored by Chrystes passion 4 Of true turning vntoo God. The first place COncerning patience and méeknesse and putting vp of reproches quietly let the Methodicall or orderly expositioÌ„s bée rehersed out of the declaration of the vertues of the first fifth and eigth commaundements Concerning the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ and the causes and effectes of his passion which is the chéefe place of this Epistle I haue intreated already the last Sunday after Easter Now therefore wée wil vnfold the last sentence of the Epistle of this day which conteineth the Doctrine concerning true conuersion and the right applyment of the benefites of Chrystes passion Yee were as stray sheep but now ye are turned to the shepherd and bishop of your soules These woords are taken out of the .liij. of Esay and out of the parable of Christ concerning the lost shéep Lu. xv and out of this dayes Gospell Iohn x. and out of Ezech. xxxiiij and out of Psalm xxiij and therfore by conferring these places toogither there may bée gathered a cléere proposition All man kynd without Christ wandreth in the thick mist of ignorance of God and in sorowfull darknesse of sinne and death And the wyser and more religious that men bee and with how much the more earnestnesse and endeuer they goe about too know God and too woorship him aryght so muche the more doo they stray aside from the true God and true godlynesse and from the ryghtuousnesse which pleaseth God. The heathen wysemen Philosophers Poets and the folowers of Mahomet doo openly erre first about the béeing of god For either they alow and woorship a monstrous multitude of Gods surmised powers or at leastwise they deny him y is the father of our Lord Iesus Chryst too bee the only true God creator of heauen earth Yea they vtterly abhor this sonne of God who is all one substance with the father Secondly they erre about the will of god For although they vnderstaÌ„d after a sort that the wil of God reueled in his law is this that wée should liue honestly and vprightly eschue the outward offences of slaughter whordom c. yet are they able too determine nothing of certeintie coÌ„cerning gods loue towards vs coÌ„cerning remission of sinnes concerning life without the gospel of Christ After al this not only they but also euen those that boast themselues to be the chéef meÌ„bers of the true church doo erre manifoldly in dooing seruice to God and specially in praying while some chuse the monkish seruices woorks some pilgrimages to Sainctes some masses some pardoÌ„s some other sacrifices some one woork and some another euery man according too his owne fansie trusting therby too pacifie God too earne life and saluation euerlasting The heathen also offred meÌ„ in sacrifise burned their own children in the fire to the intent by so hard bitter a woork to open to theÌ„selues a néerer accesse vnto god But al these run very far a stray from the true way that leadeth too the true God to eternal saluation Neither caÌ„ they by their own power deuises or endeuer return agein into the way onlesse Chryst the shepherd and Bishop of soules séeke them out and laying them vpon his shoulders cary them home too his flocke and shéepfold that is too say onlesse they bée turned too Christ who only is the way that leadeth bringeth conueyeth vs vntoo God and by which alonly wée may come too the true acknowledgement and woorshipping of God and too the blissed and eternal company with god He is the truth or the welspring founder of the true doctrine concerning God and our own soulhealth he bendeth our minds to giue asseÌ„t too the true doctrine and kindleth true faith and true euerlasting good things in the hartes of the godly He is Lyfe that is too say the author and giuer of lyfe and saluacion euerlasting who by his Death hath pacified Gods wrathe and restored ryghtuousnesse and eternall lyfe vntoo vs Neyther commeth any man too the father that is too say No man acknowledgeth calleth vppon woorshippeth God aryght ne becommeth heire of saluation and eternall lyfe onlesse he bée turned by him and too him who is the shepherd and Bishop of our soules Therfore the Hebrewes terme repentance or the ameÌ„dment and chaunging of a wicked lyfe intoo a lyfe that is vertuous and acceptable too God by the notable pithy woord Tâ—sâ—ubah which signifieth turning backe or retyring of the original woord Shub which is as much too say as he is returned he is come backe he hath called himselfe home For all men being turned from God haue strayed like shéepe euery man away by himselfe as Peter sayeth in this place But by the infinite mercye of God they are called too repentaunce that they should returne vntoo God and by comming home too their shepherd Chryst bée coupled too God ageine through Faith and obey him in new lyght ryghtuousnesse and conuersation In generall there bée twoo chéefe poyntes belonging too a good shepherd The one is to féed his shéep or too lead them too wholsome féeding and the other is to defend them from the wolues For vntoo these twoo poyntes may the other things be referred which are spoken of in Ezech. xxxiiij Psal xxiij So good Princes which maintein their subiects in honest awe peace and foyzon the cheefest benefites in this ciuil societie of men and which defend them ageinst outlawes and forrein enemies are shepherds of the people Good and faithfull Bishops or ministers of Churches are shepherdes which lead their hearers intoo wholsom pastures of the Euangelicall doctrine and of the Sacraments wherby God imparteth remissioÌ„ of sinnes ryghtuousnesse euerlasting saluation to the shéep that embrace their voyce by faith and driue away the Woolues that
signifyeth the aire As it is written in the sixthe Chapiter of Saint Mathewes Gospell Beholde the Foules of heauen that is too say that flye in the aire And in the third Chapiter of Salomons Prouerbes The way of an Eagle in the Heauen And in the eight Chapter of the third booke of the kings If the heauen bée shut vp and it raine not Thirdly too bée in Heauen is too enioy the syght of GOD too please GOD and being deliuered from sinne and Death too enioy the wisdome ryghtuousnesse lyfe and ioyes of GOD which are begonne by Faith héere on earth and finished in the euerlasting lyfe in Heauen As Saint Marke in the tenthe Chapter of his Gospell wryteth Suffer chyldren too come vntoo mée for of suche is the kingdome of heauen Fourthly Heauen signifieth the seate and dwelling place of God and of Soules and Aungels namely where God offereth himselfe too the blissed Angels and soules too bée séene face too face As is sayde in the hundred and thrée Psalme of the Prophete Dauid The Lorde hath prepared his seate in Heauen And in the sixte Chapter of Sainct Mathewes Gospell Dure Father which arte in Heauen This heauen in which GOD sheweth himselfe too the Angels and blissed soules openly some lerned men wryght too bée called the heauen of heauens as is sayde in the hundred and thirtéene Psalme of the Prophet Dauid The heauen of heauens too the Lorde but the earth hée hath giuen too the sonnes of men Also the thirde heauen in the second Epistle of Saint Paule too the Corinthians the twelfth chapter where he writeth that he was caught vp aboue the airy heuen or Element and aboue the skye intoo the third heauen that is too wit the heauen of heauens or the Chrystall heauen where he sawe things vnspeakable They are of opiniō y Christ ascended intoo this heauen and that there he imparteth him selfe in his true bodye too bée seene of the blissed Angels and Saintes As the Prophete Dauid sayeth in his three score and eight Psalme Sing vntoo GOD who is ascended intoo the Heauen of Heauens Ephe. iiij He is ascended aboue all heauens that he might fill all things The ryght hand of God dooth in the Scriptures most vsually signifie Gods eternall almyghtynesse maiestie and glorie It is written in the hundred and eightene Psalme of Dauid The right hand of the Lord hath doone mightie things the Lordes right hande is exalted And in the second Chapter of the Historie of the Actes of the Apostles Being exalted by the right hande of God he poured out vppon vs the holy Ghoste that he had promised Also in the thrée score and six Chapter of the prophecie of Esai Heauen is my seate and the earth is my fotestoole All these things hath my hand made And in the fiftenth Chapter of the seconde booke of Moyses called Exodus Thy right hand is magnifyed O Lord. Too sit signifieth too reigne and too execute the power and office of a king As in the ninth Chapter of the Prophete Esai Vppon the throne of Dauid and vppon his kingdome shal he sit Hereupon cometh the seat or Sea of Rome Therefore too sit at the right hand of the Father almightie is the same thing that too reigne in equall almightinesse maiestie and glorie with him is The Prophet Dauid in his hundred and tenth Psalme sayeth thus The Lord sayd vntoo my Lord sit thou at my right hande till I make thyne enemies thy fotestoole This expoundeth the blissed Apostle Saint Paule in the fiftenth Chapter of his first Epistle written too the Corinthians in these woordes Chryste must reigne till he haue made his enimies his fotestoole Sometyme also but very seldome the right hande of God is in the Scripture so termed not in respect of God but of godly men which please GOD and are defended by God and adorned with euerlasting blisse Like as Christ is sayde too haue set the Shéepe on his right hande and the Gotes on his lefte But this signification perteyneth not too this place Textes in which the Apostles and Prophets speake of Chryst reigning at the ryght hand of the eternall father and making intercession for vs may bée gathered out of Psal cx Rom. viij j. Pet. iij. Eph. j. Col. iij. Heb. j. x. and .xij. Mark. xvj Luke xxij c. Vppon the Sunday called Exaudi or the Sunday after the Ascension ¶ The Epistle j. Peter iiij BEe yee therefore sober and watche vntoo prayer But aboue all things haue feruent loue among your selues for loue shall couer the multitude of sinnes Bee yee harborous one too another without grudging As euery man hath receiued the gift euen so minister the same one too an other as good ministers of the manifolde graces of god If any man speake let him talke as the woordes of god If any man minister let him doo it as of the habilitie which God ministreth to him that God in all things may bee glorified through Iesus Chryst Too whome bee prayse and dominion for euer and euer Amen The disposement THis Epistle is altoogither instructiue cōteyning precepts of good woorks And in order it entreateth of vj. vertues 1 Of sobrietie or stayednesse 2 Of watchfulnesse 3 Of praying 4 Of earnest loue 5 Of hospitalitie 6 Of diligence faithfully executing the labors of a mans vocatiō and employing the gifts that God hath lent him too the profit of others or too the common welfare of the Church and his Countrey and specially too the auauncement of Gods glory And there may bée propounded too the people sermon wise thrée places FIrst concerning prayer vntoo which the vertues of sobrietie and watchfulnesse are very necessary Secondly of louing a mannes neybor wherof hospitalitie is a part Thirdly faithfulnesse in dooing aryght the laboures of a mannes own vocation for the glory of God and the welfare of his neybor The first THe definition and partes of true calling vpon God were resited an eyght dayes ago which are néedful too bee repeted and beaten intoo the héerers heads bycause Prayer is the hyghest woorship of God and the chéefe and most acceptable Sacrifyse too God and the strongest defence of the whole Church and the well spring and storer of the rest of the vertues for the most part and the practyse of the whole doctrine of diuinitie And as there is néede of faith persuading a mannes self for a certeintie that he is in Gods fauor that his prayers are herd for the mediator Chrystes sake and also of patience which is not dismayd with long tarianee in afflictions and of hope awaiting for deliuerance or assuagemēt ▪ So also is ther néed of fobrietie watchfulnesse too make true calling vpon God. For when the body being burthened with the former dayes vyces dooth also ouerlode the mynd and beate downe too the ground that part of the heauenly spirit there can no earnestnesse in Prayer or in any thought concerning God or godly matters bée performed of men
it is sayd I am the Lord and this is my name I will not giue my glorie too an other Now the name of Iehoua is attributed too Christ in Iere. xxiij xxxiij Dan. ix Num. xxj Therfore Christ is verely by nature God. Againe he cōprehendeth a summe of the doctrine concerning these twoo woordes Remission of sinnes and peace purchased by Christ Wherin hée méeneth not bodyly and worldly peace but the appeasement of Gods wrath against our sinnes attonement with God quietnesse and ioy of conscience in all aduersities and in death and lastly desire too mainteyne outward concord and peace Thirdly that faith is not only a bare knowledge of the persone and benefites of Christ but also a trust settled in Christ it appeareth openly be this phrase All that beleeue in him For it is well doone in the schooles that they make this distinction in the maner of spéeches folowing that too beléeue of God is to beléeue him too bée to beléeue God is to giue credit too him and to beléeue his woorde and to beléeue in God is to trust in him too stay vppon him and too repose the whole hope of our saluation in him These six places conteyned in this notable sentence of Peter To him doo all the Prophetes beare witnesse c. Let the studiouse sorte consider and ioyne thereuntoo a summe of the doctrine concerning the Iustifying of man before God out of the writinges that comprehended the substaunce of the Christen doctrine Vppon Trinity Sunday The Epistle Rom. xj O The deepenesse of the riches both of the wisedome and knowledge of God how vnsercheable are his iudgementes and his wayes past finding out for who hath knowen the minde of the Lorde or who hath bin of counsell with him Eyther who hathe giuen vntoo him first and he shall bee recompenced ageine For of him and through him and in him are all things Too him bee glory for euer Amen The disposement of this Sermon concerning the Trinitie THe first and chéefe care of all men ought too bée too knowe God aryght too call vpon him and too set foorth his praise For too that end chéefly wer they created and redéemed by the sonne Neither is there any other higher or greater wisdom than the true knowledge and woorshipping of God which bringeth most assured cōfort in all tribulations and gouernment of lyfe in greatest affaires and saluation glory euerlasting both of body and soule Now forasmuch as vpon this day the Doctrine concerning the vnitie of the béeing of the Godhead and the Trinitie of the persons is woont too bée set foorth in the Churches we wil distribute this dayes doctrine intoo three places 1 What God is 2 That there is but one God only 3 That there are thrée persons in the one being or in the one substance of the Godhead the father the sonne the holy ghost and of either of their properties and differences First what God is GOd wil haue his béeing and wil knowne too mē this only one way according as he hath manifested himselfe in his church by the certen woord that is to wit by the law and the gospel the notable records deliuered by Chryst the prophets Apostles And there is very great ods in the difference béetwéen the heathenish knowing of God the christen For although the heathen by the natural lyght shed into their minds and by this most beautiful Theatre of natural things doo after a sort know God too bée a mynd euerlasting wyse well dooing iust the beholder of things and the iudger of mennes dooings too whom according too that lyght ingraffed in mens minds which discerneth honest dishonest things a sunder obedience is too bée performed yet haue they not knowne eyther the difference of the thrée persons or the will of God reueled in his gospel Yea and contrarie too this knowledge ingraffed in them by nature they allow the Idolatrous woorshipping of the monstrous multitude of Gods and bicause in the confusion of this present lyfe they sée the good ofte tymes in ill case the ill in good case they are ouerwhelmed eyther with Epicurish or with Academish doutfulnesse wherthrough al that religion of theirs is appalled and falleth too the ground But the summe of the Doctrine concerning the béeing of the Godhead which the vsuall description of God compriseth is this God is a béeing or substance spirituall vnderstanding euerlasting soothfast good ryghtuous mercifull chast most frée of infinite power and wisdome and another from the bodyes of the world The euerlasting Father who begate the Sonne his image from before all worlds and the Sonne the coeternall image of the Father and the holy Ghost procéeding from the Father and the Sonne According as the Godhead hath disclosed it selfe which toogither hath created and mainteyneth heauen and earth and all creatures and in mankynd gathereth too it selfe a Churche too the intent that by the same this one and true Godhed which is manifested by assured testimonies and by the woorde deliuered too the Prophets and Apostles may bée acknowledged and called vppon and glorifyed in the eternall lyfe This definition is compacted out of many recordes of Gods woord which may bée plenteously enlarged And it consisteth of foure members First it reckeneth vp in order the twelue properties peculiar too the béeing of god Secondly it reciteth the thrée persons the differences of them Thirdly it declareth the operations of God and his creation preseruation of all things And fourthly it sheweth the chusing of his eternal church by which he wil be knowne magnified The second place THat there is but one God euen the soūder sort of the heathen being conuicted by demonstrations taken of the orderlynesse of causes in nature haue taught And woorthy of remembraunce are these sentences There is one God onely and there is none other God. Also there is but one God wyse mightie and there withall blissefull And ageine there must needes bee some one thing and that immortall whoo was the first mouer of all things and which preserueth them nowe in good gouernance The rule of many is not good let there bee but one gouernour Notwithstanding contrary too this opinion knowne too nature the Heathen men admitted an abhominable sorte of Gods which as Paul sayth truely an idoll is nothing in the world are not euerlasting Gods but eyther surmysed and vaine names or very féendes or else other things created by god Agein in the very church also the Manichées imagined twoo Gods bothe of them myghtie and eternall the one good and the cause of good in nature the other the cause of euil Ageinst these madnesses let this doctrine bée most firmly held that there is but one God almightie euerlasting good ryghtuous the iudge the maker and the preseruer of all things manifested in the Church by the sōne our Lord Iesus Christ sent among vs and by his Gospel deliuered too vs according too the sayings of
men according as one sayth Glory accompanieth vertue as the shadow doth the body wherefore too séeke glorie is too séeke vertue And contrarywise by the contempt of good report or glorie vertue must nedes be contemned also And therfore Paule in this place forbiddeth not simply the desyre of Glorie but the desire of vayneglorie For many doo séeke after the naked commendation and the emptie shadowe of glory and prerogatiue without true vertue Secondly either they chalenge and face their betters or else deface them to the intent too seeme greater themselues by fyndyng fault with them like as Zoilus defaced Homere the Tribunes Scipio and Minutius the maister of the horsemen defaced the dictator Fabius Thirdly they repyne and are sorie that any other excel them or are counted better than themselues and thereuppon endeuour too put them too a foyle or to ridde them out of the waye that they themselues only may bée a flote as Saule enuyed Dauids glorie Pompey enuyed Iulius Cesars preferment 4. Or they bée too streyghtlased and vnappeasable towardes such as bée falne or disteyned with some blemishes of doctrine or maners to the entent they themselues may be counted the better the holier as the Nouatians who vtterly denyed forgiuenesse too such as fel after baptim 5. Or otherwise being puft vp with an ouerwéening of their own wisedom rightuousnes strēgth stand highly in their owne conceyt set great brags or commendations vppon themselues as the Pharisie Luk. xviij And Pyrgopolinices in Plautus and Thraso in Terence 6. Or else not trying their own worke they take in hand vnnecessary and vnrightful dooings out of their vocation vpon truste of their owne strength lyke as Antonie Pompey Antiochus the greate and others haue moued néedelesse warres And in the Church Valentine Arius and others haue sowed straunge opinyons These syxe sortes of vayne and false glorye doothe Saincte Paule forbydde in this place and willeth men too trye theyr intentes and dooings and diligently too wey examin them that they may agrée with the squire and rule of Gods wil and commaundement So shall wée haue true glory in our selues that is the recorde and allowment of God and our owne conscience iudging aright and wée shall not hang vppon the reprofe of other ▪ men or vpon the liking or disliking of the vnskilful multitude For as Plutark saith in the life of Tmoleon The action must not only be good and iust but the glorie which is sought therby must be sure and stable that in doing we may be allowed And Cicero in the same méening sayth Thou must vse thyne owne iudgment If thou like thy selfe in allowing of right things then shalt thou not only ouercom but thou shalt ouercome all men and all things Therefore determine vppon this poynt that honestie and noblenesse of mynd is alone the beautifullest of all things and so much more beautiful if it passe not for the multitude nor hunt foropen prayse but delyght only in it selfe Yea and in myne opinion all things séeme the more commednable that are doone without vaunting and without calling of the people too witnesse Not for that it is vtterly to be eschued for al weldooings desyre too bée shewed in the open lyght but for that there is no stage more noble for vertue than a mans owne conscience This is the chéefe place of the firste parte of this Epistle And herewithall let consideracion be had of notable sentences that concerne the louing and softe admonishment of suche as erre or fall in doctrine or misbehauior of manners according too the processe Math. xviij and the gentle instructing and receyuing them ageine and which concern mildnesse in bearing with y blemishes and infirmities of other folks for Gods sake the cōmon quietnesse and finally which concerne the brydling of statelynesse and pride which fight ageinst the first commandement Let him which is instructed communicate all good things to him that instructeth Of thankfulnesse wel doing towards al the godly specially towards the techers THe Gréeke woorde Catecheim signifieth proprely too teach or instruct by woord of mouth so as the things giuē out may be required agein of the lerners Of echeo to sound ▪ comes Catecheo too herken or too receiue the sounde of any man Thereof commeth Catechesis which is suche a manner of instruction wherein the Doctrine is deliuered too the héerers by woord of mouthe and the héerers on the other side are made too recite and render what they haue herd Now forasmuch as this trade of teaching which is doon by examinatiō is the best and most profitable In olde tyme the sum of the Christen doctrine was woont too bée taught after this maner in the Churche too nouices béefore they were baptised And héereuppon remaineth yet the name of Cathechisme which is vsed for a bréef summe of the christen doctrine comprehended in a certeine order Paule in this place willeth his scholer or héerer that learneth the true Doctrine concerning God too communicate all good things too his teacher that is too wit too render too him ageine true reuerence foode cloth and all duetifulnesse of a thankfull mynd And hee addeth arguments of honestie and profit amplyfied with a similitude taken of seede tyme and haruest God commaūdeth thankfulnesse toward scholemasters and looketh vppon our hartes and abilities dreadfully punisheth the choorles but recompenseth the liberalitie and other good déedes of the godly with bounteous rewards And like as husbandmen the more séede they sowe the greater encrease of corne they receiue at haruest tyme Euen so the bountifuller stypend the schollers giue too their teachers so muche the greater rewardes bothe Ghostly and bodely shal they bée adorned withal agein at Gods hand Also Paul addeth a generall sentence concerning the rewardes of liberalitie and other good woorkes He that soweth in the flesh that is too say hée that doothe the déedes of the flesh or he that giueth himselfe too sinnefull lustes and wickednesse shall reape corruption that is too say he shall perishe and bée cast intoo euerlasting Death But hee that sovveth in spirit or obeyeth the holy Ghost shall bée rewarded with euerlasting rewardes And therefore euen in this respect let vs endeuer too benefite others with more foreward mindes and not suffer our selues too bée discouraged with some mens vnthankfulnesse slaunders and other ouerthwart matters Héere may bée repeted the whole Doctrine concerning benefiting out of the seuenth of the ten commaundements and concerning thankfulnesse out of the exposition of the fourthe commaundement Vppon the .xvj. Sunday after Trinitie ¶ The Epistle Ephes iij. I Desire that you faint not bicause of my tribulatiōs that I suffer for your sakes which is your praise For this cause I bowe my knees vntoo the father of our Lord Iesus Chryste which is father of all that is called father in heauen and in earth that hee would graunt you according too the
too endure it And héer withall let the whole doctrine concerning the true calling vppon God bée repeted in this place which must not roue douting too what God a man speaketh as Hecuba prayeth in Euripides O Iupiter who so euer thou art right hard too bée knowne nor bée directed too surmysed Gods or dead men but must speake vntoo the one true God the father of our Lord Iesus Chryst who hath disclosed himselfe in his Church by his assured woord by recorde of miracles and by sending his sonne our Lord Iesus Chryst which was crucifyed and raised ageine for vs that he myght set vs at one with the eternall father and make our requestes and prayers welcome and acceptable too him Of this true God the father of our Lord Iesus Chryst and of vs all of whom as of their father and creator all Angels and men and all things visible and inuisible in heauē and in earth haue their béeing and preseruacion let vs request not only the ordinarie and flyghtfull commodities of this present life but in especially the souereine and most néedfull gifts that according too his rich glorie and excéeding great goodnesse he will giue vs his holy spirite too strengthen vs with faith and stedfastnesse in the true acknowledgement of Iesus Chryst as touching the inward man which béeing borne a new by the woord of the Gospell and the woorking of the holy Ghoste may no more liue after the flesh but after the sprite that Chryst may dwell and bée effectuall in vs in such wyse that through the feruent and incomprehensible kyndnesse or loue of God towardes vs which he hath shewed by sending his sonne j. Iohn iiij Rom. v. wée béeing grounded in steadie fayth and fastened with déepe rootes may bée able to comprehend what is the bredth and length and depth and heigth of gods excéeding great goodnesse and mercy towards vs which he hath shewed by sending his sonne whereof is spoken in Psal Cij As far as the East is from the West so farre hath he set our iniquities from vs As high as the heauen is aboue the earth so hyghly is the Lords mercy stablished vpon them that feare him That wee may after some sort know the great and woonderfull loue of Chryste towardes vs which is farre more excellent and greater than that man can attaine too it and vnderstand it And that wee may bee filled with all fulnesse of God. That is too say that wée may bée filled too the full with heauenly lyght wisdome ryghtuousnesse and lyfe by God who shall bée all in all and that God himselfe dwelling in vs euerlastingly may euermore shine in vs and lyghten and fulfill our hartes with the flames of all vertues The fourth place IN thankes giuing wherewith he closeth vp this Epystle there is a notable text too bée considered for men too set ageinst Stoicall destinie For the Stoikes surmyse that God is bound too second causes or too the order of nature so as he cānot doo otherwyse thā as the second causes doo suffer This imagination which is slaunderous to God and hindereth the true calling vpon God in daungers that are vnauoydable by mannes wit is cléerely confuted by this sentence of Paules God is able aboue all things and abundantly too help beyond all that wee can aske or conceyue Like as hée helped Moyses standing at the red sea Ezechias beseeged of Sennacherib and the thrée Israelites in the burning Ouen at Babylon what tyme they were destitute of all mannes ayd and counsel and of all second causes altering the vsuall and accustomed order of nature And this is the peculiar and chéese wisdome of Gods Churche too settle our selues in God and his woord by faith and with quiet mindes stedfastly too wait for the promised deliuerance euen when wée were vtterly destitute of all second causes Vppon the .xvij. Sunday after Trinitie ¶ The Epistle Ephe. iiij I VVhich am a prisoner of the Lordes exhorte you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherwith ye are called with al lowlinesse and mekenesse with humblenesse of minde forbearing one another through loue and bee diligent too keepe the vnitie of the spirit through the bond of peace beeing one body and one spirite euen as ye are called in one hope of your calling Let there bee but one Lorde one faith one baptisme one God and father of all which is aboue all and through all and in you all The disposement THis Epistle is of that sort of cases that persuade And the state of it is this Bee yee one minded It perteineth to the fifth commaundement of the ten Most weightie surely and necessarie in all trades of lyfe is the doctrine that concerneth the cunning too mainteine concord with ones companyons Which thing is set out more lernedly in this Epistle than any where else I will therfore tell 1 What vertues are chéefly néedfull too the maintenance of concorde 2 Of the causes that ought too moue and kindle euery mā too the endeuer of mainteining concorde First Of the vertues that are needfull to the mayntenance of concord PAule exhorteth the Ephesians and all godly folk too walke woorthye the vocation too which they are called that is to say too rule all the intentes endeuers and dooings of their lyfe in such wyse as they may agrée with their calling and the woord of GOD whereby they are called too the setting foorth of Gods glorie and too mutuall loue and concord For of all mennes deuyses and dooings these must bée the twoo chéef endes First that Gods glorie and the true doctrine cōcerning God may bée spred farre abrode and secondly that the fellowship and concord of the Church may bée cherished j. Corint x. Doo all things too the glorie of God and bée not a stumbling blocke too the Church But the foundation or head and welspring of all christen concord is the agréement in doctrine concerning GOD like as the sonne of God prayeth Iohn xvij Father I pray that they may bée one in vs And héere Paule counselleth them to endeuer too keepe the vnitie of the spirit that is too say to kéepe a consent in the one true doctrine which the holy ghost hath deliuered too the church And he reherseth in order three vertues whereof wee haue neede to the mayntenance of concord with our fellowes The vnderstanding of whiche will bée the cléerer if wée adde notable examples The first is Lowlynesse which represseth pryde that picketh quarelles without a cause whereof there are flames in euery man by nature For eche one coueteth by nature too séeme better than others and too bée reuerenced as Gods among men and too kéepe downe and darken others that are thought too shadowe their excellencie Out of this fountayne spring most or rather all debates in all kindes of lyfe Therfore such as bée of our companie haue néede of such a lowlynesse of mynde that they may abase them selues beneath others Like as Abraham Gen. xiij
alreadye and will hereafter call all the deade ageyne too lyfe shoulde be a lyar But for asmuch as these thyngs are manifestly false and impossible it followeth that the proposition out of whiche these thinges ensue is false And therefore the playne contrarye is true namely that the deade shall ryse The fourth argument IT is impossible that the best and holyest part of mankynd should bee created only too the miseries of this present lyfe and too eternall destruction For séeing that God is ryghtuous and also a iudge it must néedes fall out that the godly and the ryghtuous must at one time or other bée in good case and the wicked in ill case But those that liue godlyly in Chryst Iesu are of all men most miserable in this lyfe Ergo it must néedes bée that there remayneth an other hauen and another lyfe in which the godly béeing raysed from death shalbée set frée from all miserie and bée crowned with eternal blisse and glorie The fifth argument BVt now is Chryst risen from death and is the first frutes of the dead Fifthly he repeteth the first Argument and reason which holdeth of consequence expounding and enlarging the consequence with many woordes Chryst is rysen ageine Ergo all the dead shall ryse He proueth the consequence For like as by Adam death entered vppon all men So by Chryste the cause and author of lyfe all men shal bée called too lyfe agein In this order that the first frutes or fyrst of them that ryse ageine from death bée Chryst himself Then those that bée Chrystes or which haue departed out of this life in the faith of Chryst shall rise at Chrystes comming too iudgement Afterward shall bée the ende of the world or of worldly things when he shal deliuer vp his kingdom too God the father that is too say when he shall bring vntoo his Father all the whole Church gathered toogither on earth by the ministerie of the Gospell too the entent that all kingdomes being abolished and all power as well of Diuels as men suppressed yea and the ministerie of the sonne of God whereby he gathered his Church in this world cessing onely GOD without other meanes may reigne in the godly and bée all in all filling all things with his lyght wisdome ryghtuousnesse lyfe blissednesse and glorie vnspeakable The sixth Argument THe very maner of Baptim whereby wée are first graffed intoo the churche or body of Chryste betokeneth that wée looke assuredly for the resurrection from death for they are baptized ouer the deade or ouer the graues of the dead as it is vsed in these dayes also protesting in the behalfe of the dead that they beléeue of a certeintie that they shall returne too lyfe ageine according as the Créede whiche wée hold professeth in our Baptim And the very dipping in the water and taking out agein is a token and representation not only of the abolishment of sinne and of the regeneration and renewing of the soule but also of the death of our bodyes and the rysing of them ageine The .vij. Why are wee also in daunger euery houre HErepeteth the .iiij. Argument and amplifyeth it by an absurditie of Epicure heathnishnesse ensewing it which he describeth in woordes taken out of the .xxij. of Esai And he expresseth the reproof of it in a verse of Menanders Euill communication corrupteth good manners With whiche agréeth this saying of Theogius Thou mayst lern good of the good but if thou kéepe companie mith the wicked thou marrest thyne owne mynd The .viij. Argument of a like LIke as séedes that are cast intoo the ground doo rotte there and spring vp agein and eche of them yéelde foorth most goodly frute in their kynd So our bodyes being sowen intoo the ground and buryed shall certeinly liue agein ryse ageine much more beautifull and bryght than they were héere vppon earth This comparison hath Stigelius expressed in very trim verses This corne that growes of bodye voyd of blud in lyuely plyght Immortall honor after death our bodyes dooth behyght Deepe vnderneath the turned clod the dryed seedes lye hid In which a man would ill suppose that any strength abid Yet growing vp by secret meane they ryse agein and beare A greater strength encreast too more thā heretofore they were Euen so our courses being layd too rot in holowe graue A lyuely beautie afterward in glorious state shall haue When death hath hild thē downe awhyle anon they shal aryse ▪ Eternally too liue in lyght with God aboue the skies Right many and notable tokens of the resurrection hathe God imprinted in the whole nature of things which too consider after a reuerent and godly fashion it is behouefull The day dooth dayly fade intoo nyght and is buryed in darknesse But in the morning killing his death and breaking out of his graue of darknesse it becommeth alyue agein as Tertullian sayeth And this entercourse of dayes and nyghts is fynely expressed in this Gréek ridle A father there is that hath sonnes nine and three And eche of those sonnes eke hath children thrice ten Not one like another some fair and white bee Some black all immortall yet dead now and then The Moone dying euery mooneth quickeneth agein and recouereth hir lyght that shée had lost The beames of the Starres whiche are dimmed by the rysing of the Sunne are kindled agein in the nyght The foure seasons of the yéere Lenton Sommer Haruest and Winter doo fade and returne by mutuall course In Springtyme the earth that was dead and barrein in the winter becōmeth lyuely agein bringeth foorth herbes grasse floures and frutes The trées are clad agein with leaues floures and fruites The swallowes which were dead and buryed in the waters in wintertyme recouer lyfe agein in the Springtyme Flyes also and other Cutfoules whiche were killed with cold recouer their former force and lyfe by warmth The Phenix bréedeth ageine with fyre and hir own asshes For shée perisheth too liue and yet shée ingenders hirself atteyning immortalitie by the benefite of death as Lactantius sayeth Finally all this most beautifull Theater of heauen and earth which was made of nothing giueth vs to vnderstand that God who made all things of nothing may with much more ease at the latter day restore our flesh or bodyes agein which haue bin somewhat before than he made them at the beginning But in thinking vppon this Article let vs alwayes haue our myndes and our eyes fastened vppon our Lord Iesus Chrystes death and resurrection and vppon the promises concerning the restitution of our bodyes and the eternal lyfe too ensue without fayle after this lyfe warranted by the Resurrection of himself and the raysing vp of Lazarus and others Iohn xj I knowe he shall ryse agein in the resurrection at the last day Iesus sayd vntoo hir I am the resurrection and lyfe He that beléeueth in mée yea though he were dead he shall liue Iohn
this heauenly promisse of his concerning the sending of Christ 6 The othe which he sware too our father Abraham that he would giue vs. 7 That we being deliuered from the hand of our enimies might serue him without feare 8 In holynesse and ryghtuousnesse before him all the dayes of our lyfe The construction of the sixth verse is clipt for there wanteth too keepe or too performe the othe which he sware too our father Abraham The promisse concerning Chryst made vntoo Abraham confirmed by God with an othe is too bée séen in Genes xxij By my selfe haue I sworne sayth the Lord thy séede shal possesse the gates of their enimies and all nations of the earth shall bée blissed in thy séede This othe of Gods is set out with many woordes by Paul. Heb. vj. For God deliuering the promisse too Abraham bycause he had no greater by whom he myght sweare sware by himself For God méening too shew his vnchaungeable purpose more at the full too the heires of promisse assured it with an othe that by twoo vnchaungeable things in which it was impossible for God to lye wée myght haue stedfast comfort c. Galath iij. No man breaketh a mannes Testament or addeth any thing too it Vntoo Abraham and too his séede were the promisses giuen He sayth not in thy séedes as in many but in thy séede as in one which is Chryst c. But if the inheritance come by the law then is it not by promisse But God gaue it too Abraham by promisse That he would giue vs that we being deliuered c. Too bée deliuered out of the handes of our enimies is too bée set frée from sinne Death the Diuels tyrannie and euerlasting damnation and too obteine the forgiuenesse of sinnes too bée receyued intoo Gods fauoure too bée endued with the holy Ghost and too bée accepted too euerlasting lyfe Therefore too bée deliuered frō the hands of our enimies is in this place the same thing that too bée iustified Iohn viij He that woorketh sinne is the bondslaue of sinne If the sonne make you frée you shalbée frée in déede Rom. viij The lawe of the spirite of lyfe hath set mée frée from the law of sin and death Also let like sayings bée layd too them out of j. Corinth xv Rom. vj. And let vs know that the deliuerances out of the hand of Pharao or out of Egipt and out of the Captiuitie of Babilon were figures of this deliuerance by Chryste These woordes without feare may bée expounded by the saying of Paule Hebr. ij Chryst by Death destroyed him that hathe power of Deathe that is too wit the Diuell and delyuered those which through feare of Death were held in bondage all their lyfe VVee myght serue him in holynesse c. Therefore are wée sette frée from sinne and Death that héereafter wée should no more serue sinne but God in holynesse and rightuousnesse imputed and begonne Holynesse and ryghtuousnesse are woordes almost of one signification For Holy betokeneth properly one that is cleane pure voyd of all sinne and spot and acceptable too god Now God is perfect holy But wée in this lyfe are holy and ryghtuous by hauing imputed too vs the holynesse and ryghtuousnesse of Chryste through Faith and by enterance intoo newe ryghtuousnesse or obedience towardes Gods lawe which ryghtuousnesse pleaseth God not for the selfe woorthynesse thereof but for Chrystes sake only through fayth Therefore too God in holynesse and ryghtuousnesse is nothing else but too acknowledge God aryght and through fayth too beléeue that our sinnes are forgiuen vs for Christes sake and in this Fayth too begin a new obedience or life that pleaseth God according too all the commaūdements of god In fine Zacharie in these verses comprehendeth the whole Doctrine of Iustification and good woorkes Before him as in the third Chapter of the Romaines By the déedes of the lawe shall no man bée iustifyed before him or in his sight Philippians the third Chapter That I may bée found before him not hauing myne owne ryghtuousnesse which is of the lawe but the ryghtuousnesse which is through the faith of Chryst which is of god All the dayes of our lyfe All our lyfe long and not on certeine dayes as in the lawe Esay lxvj There shall bée Sabboth vppon Sabboth that is too say a continuall Sabboth The second part of the song of Zacharie 9 ANd thou childe shalt bee called the Prophet of the hyghest c. The foure last verses entreate of the office of Iohn Baptist and of all ministers and therewithall they conteine the Doctrine of Chrystes benefites or of our iustification and eternall saluation And he reckeneth vp thrée speciall benefites First Chryst is the Sauioure that releaseth sinne Secondly he is the lyght that enlyghteneth all that sitte in darknesse Esa. ix Thirdly he is the author of peace towards God and towardes men Concerning these matters a larger exposition is too bée fetched out of the summe of the christen Drctrine Now will I a little expound the pitthynesse of certeine woordes the considering of which will make the things themselues the more lyghtsome Shalt bee called the Prophet of the hyghest Of this woord Prophet there bée chéeflye foure significations vsually in the Scryptures First a Prophet among the people of Israell is a persone called immediatly by God too rebuke sinne too set foorth the Gospel concerning Chryst and too rule the counsels and deuyses of ciuill gouernment as Elias Esay c. Secondly a Prophet in generall signifyeth one that foretelleth things too come As Agabus foretold of the famine Actes xj Thirdly it signifyeth a teacher raysed vp by God and endued with singular giftes for the setting vp ageine of Gods doctrine and seruice decayed Such a one was Iohn Baptist who purged the Doctrine concerning Chryst which was defaced with the erroures of the Pharisies sharpely rebuked Idolatrous woorshippings repaired the Church of God and with his finger poynted out Christ who was then exhibited Such Prophets also were Austine and Luther Fourthly a Prophet in general signifyeth an expoūder of Scripture or a teacher of the Churche j. Corinth xiiij Thou shalt bee called that is too say thou shalt bée he shalbée called the sonne of the hyghest that is too say he shall bée the sonne c. Thou shalt goo before the face of the Lord too prepare his wayes Like as Princes when they are comming towardes a Citie or too Churchward haue of their garde that go before them make them way through the thicke preace of men ageinst they come that they bée not stayed with the thronging of the people So did Iohn Baptist go before Chryst too prepare his way First too shewe him openly too the Churche of his tyme And secondly too prepare the hartes of men by his preaching that they might by faith receiue and embrace Chryst comming vntoo them y Chryst on the other side myght bée woorkfull in them These woordes of