the holy Mount Sion that is in the Church of God so doe they vvith the same Dauid desyre the building of this house of God the florishing of this vine the peace and prosperitie of this heauenly Ierusalem and therefore that vvhich is a meane and furtherance hereunto they doe not onely loue and like but also hiely esteeme and hartily praye for VVherefore right VVorshipfull I thinke it altogether superfluous to goe about vvith vvordes to procure your vvell liking and accepting of these Sermons forasmuch as they tend onely to this ende that the Church of God may by them be edified as in the premisses is of me declared VVhereas in translating them I haue vsed a plaine kynde of stile yet such as sufficiently expresseth the meaning of the author and not studied for curious vvordes eloquēt phrases the cause thereof is for that I preferre plainnesse vvith profit before much curiositie vvith smaller commoditie so that I nothinge at all feare that in this respect they shal be misliked of the godly vvhose misliking onely I endeuour to auoide Thus as it seemes vnto me hauing intreated sufficiently of those thinges vvhich I thought pertinent to my present purpose I doe here conclude desyring the Lord God that he vvill by his holy Spirit alvvayes gouerne and direct you in the true obedience of his blessed vvorde to the glorie of his diuine Name to the profit of your neighbours and comfort of your conscience so shall you assuredly haue prosperous successe in all your affayres and at the last obtaine euerlasting ioyes and endlesse felicitie by the onely meanes of Christ Iesus our Sauiour Your Worships humbly at commaundement W. GACE AN ADMONITION TO THE CHRISTIAN READER FOR the commendation of this worke and the Author thereof there shall not neede I trust at this present any great discourse to be made forasmuch as so many good bookes of the same writer be already set abroad whereby may sufficiently be coniectured what is to be thought of this also Againe because the worke it selfe is such conteining such matter of heauenly consolation that without any further commendation of other it yeldeth cause sufficient to commend it selfe Onely this then remaineth to intreat and exhort the reader but to peruse reade the same who in so doing shall fynde I doubt not neither to lacke great cause in vs to set forth these Sermons nor lesse necessitie in the readers to bestow paines in perusing and reading them for the dignitie of the matter and singular frute therein to be found For what more worthie matter can be thē to set forth Christ in his right glorie in his full riches and royall estate to the hearts and soules of men especially such as are heauie laden and distressed in spirit what more comfortable hearinge or doctrine more true then of forgiuenes and remission of synnes so graciously purchased so freely offered by our Sauiour so cleerely preached by his ministers or what riches more excellent then faith fixed in Christ and hope stablished in the promises of life or what studie more frutefull then to seeke the kingdome of God For where the frute of all other studies decayeth and hath his ende the frute of this study abydeth for euer And therefore not without cause we be so willed by our Sauiour him selfe first to seeke for this kingdome and righteousnes thereof promising withall in an other place that he which seeketh shall fynde In the seeking of which kingdom two special notes we haue to learne and search first the glorie grace of the King secondly the welth and felicitie of the subiects In which two partes as the whole summe of all our spirituall comfort most principally consisteth groūded in the holy Scriptures so of all expositors of the same Scriptures I know none or fewe in these our dayes more liuely to open these comforts vnto vs out of Gods worde then this Doctor and Preacher of these Sermōs here following which as he hath done most effectually first in his owne tounge to his contry people then in Latin to the learned so this translator hath no lesse plainly and faithfully englished the same for the commoditie and vse of our contryfolke of England By whose meanes and industrie this vantage we haue now gayned that we haue gotten vnto vs one good preacher in England more then we had before to the comfort and edification of all such as be disposed to read and learne So that in such townes and villages wherein before were mute ministers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Preacher now may supplie the lacke and there be receiued as their person if they please preaching now in their owne speech vnto them and putting them to no charges of any tythes And in other places where more plentie of learned teachers is yet notwithstanding no hurt shall come to admit this stranger as a coadiutor or felow helper vnto them Whereby I nothing dout but in so doing all such as shal be willing to giue eare to this Preacher as well they that be learned shall fynde wherein to growe in more perfection as also the vnlearned wherein to be instructed sufficiently to their soules helth in Christ Iesu In whom I wish to thee and to all true Christian readers all spirituall grace and heauenly wisedom to blesse thy studies to prosper thy labours to stablish thy faith to multiplie thy consolations to direct thy wayes and finally to glorifie thee both body and soule in his blessed kingdome for euer Amen I. FOX T. V. A SERMON OF D. MARTIN LVTHER OF THE NATIVITIE OF CHRIST Luke 2. Verse 1. ANd it came to passe in those daies that there came a decree from Augustus Caesar that all the world should be taxed 2. This firste taxing was made when Cyrenius was gouernour of Syria 3. Therefore went all to be taxed euery man to his owne citie 4. And Ioseph also went vp from Galile out of a citie called Nazareth into Iudea vnto the citie of Dauid which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and linage of Dauid 5. To be taxed with Marie that was giuen him to wife which was with childe 6. And so it was that while they were there the dayes were accomplished that she shoulde be deliuered 7. And she brought forth her first begottē sonne and wrapped him in swadling clothes layed him in a manger because there was no roome for them in the Inne 8. And there were in the same countrey shepeheards abiding in the field and watching their flocke by night 9. And loe the Angell of the Lord came vppon them and the glory of the Lorde shone about them and they were sore afrayd 10. Then the Angel sayd vnto them Be not afraid for beholde I bring you glad tydinges of great ioy that shall be to all people 11. That is that vnto you is borne this day in the citie of Dauid a Sauiour which is Christ the Lord. 12. And this shall be a signe to you ye shall finde
God requireth this especially of vs that we doe firmely and constantly trust in him and that we freely doe good and be beneficiall to our neighbours according as God hath of his meere goodnes and mercie bestowed infinite benefits and blessings vpon vs. The Prophet sayth Psal 50 Heare O my people and I will speake I my self will testifie vnto thee O Israell I am the Lord euen thy Lorde I will not reproue thee because of thy sacrifices or for thy burnt offerings for that they be not alway before me I will take no bullocke out of thy house nor goates out of thy foldes for all the beastes of the forest are mine and so are the cattell vpon a thousand hills I know all the foules vpon the mountaines and the wild beastes of the field are at my commaundement If I be hungrie I will not tell thee for the whole world is mine and all that is therein Thinkest thou that I will eate bulls flesh and drinke the blood of Goates After the same sort he sayth vnto vs Behold Israell that is thou faithfull man I am thy God thou art not my God I will giue vnto thee thou giuest nothing to me I will not be angrie with thee for that thou offerest not many things vnto me For whatsoeuer is in thy stable in thy houses in thy court it was all mine before for I haue sent it thither Whereby he briefly reproued the Iewes who did meruelously please them selues in their sacrifices Now because he reiecteth these sacrifices what will he haue to supply the place of them truely euen that which followeth in the same place Offer vnto me praise and thy vowes call vpon me in the time of trouble I vvil heare thee and thou shalt glorifie me That is I wil haue thine hart giue ouer thy self to me account me for a gentle fauourable yea and for thy God and it shall suffize me Wherefore place thy faith trust and hope in him count him for a gentle and louing God cleaue vnto him and in extreme anguish flie vnto him for succour and to none beside him Beleeue and looke for helpe of him then he will helpe thee thou needest not any whit dout Afterward doe good to thy neighbour with a cheereful hart and freely These two things are set forth in this our text as also in many other places beside A SERMON OF D. MARTIN LVTHER WHEREIN IS DECLARED HOWE GRIEVOVSLY GOD PVNISHETH THE CONTEMners of his word Luke 19. Verse 41. AND when he was come neare to Ierusalem he beheld the city and wept for it 42. Saying If thou hadst euē knowne at the least in this thy day those thinges which belonge vnto thy peace thou wouldest take heede but now are they hid from thyne eyes 43. For the dayes shal come vpon thee that thine enemies shal cast a trench about thee compasse thee round and keepe thee in on euery side 44. And shall make thee euen with the ground thy children which are in thee and they shall not leaue in thee a stone vpon a stone because thou knewest not that season of thy visitation 45. He went also into the temple and began to cast out them that sold therein and them that bought 46. Saying vnto them it is written Mine house is the house of prayer but ye haue made it a denne of theeues 47. And he taught daily in the temple And the high Priestes and the Scribes and the chiefe of the people sought to destroy him 48. But they could not find what they might doe to him for all the people hanged vpon him when they heard him THE summe and scope of this text is this The Lord is troubled and lamenteth for the euils which were to come vpon the contemners of the worde of God Ye haue often times heard what the word of God is what is the frute and commoditie thereof also what Disciples it hath of which nothing is here done or sayd but the punishment and miserie onely is shewed which was to come vpon the Iewes for that they knew not the time of their visitation Which thing let vs well consider of for it pertaineth vnto vs also If they be punished which know not the time of their visitation what shal come vnto them which persecute blaspheme and reprehend the Gospell and Word of God howbeit he speaketh here onely of them which know not the season of their visitation Two wayes to preach against the contemners of Gods word The contemners of God are preached against after two sortes first by threatnings as Christ threatneth them Matth. 11 VVo be to thee Corazin VVo be to thee Bethsaida for if the great works which vvere done in you had bene done in Tyrus and Sidon they had repented long agone in sackecloth and ashes But I say to you it shall be easier for Tyrus and Sydon at the day of iudgement then for you And thou Capernaum which was his owne citie wherein chiefly he wrought miracles vvhich att lifted vp vnto heauen shalt be brought dovvne to hell for if the great vvorkes vvhich haue bene done in thee had bene done among them of Sodom they had remained to this day But I say vnto you that it shall be easier for them of the land of Sodom in the day of iudgement then for you These are the threatnings wherewith he terrifieth them that they shoulde not so neglect the word of God The other way the Lorde here sheweth when as he shedeth teares and is touched with pitie toward miserable and blind men he doth not terrifie or threaten them as being indurate and obstinat but is rather wholy moued with loue and taketh pitie on his enemies and would willingly call them backe but that he could preuaile nothing with them the meanes which he vsed to reclaime them were in vaine Before in Matthew whereas he sharply rebuketh them he dealeth not by loue but by rigour but here is pure loue and pitie as we shall afterwards see First when he drew neare to the citie some went before him and some followed him with great ioy singing and saying Hosanna the sonne of Dauid they spred their garments in the way they cut downe branches from the trees and strawed them in the way and all thinges were done after a goodly maner but in the middest of this ioy Christ beginneth greatly to weepe Christ lamēteth for Ierusalem he suffreth all to reioyce notwithstanding his eyes gushed out with teares when he beheld the citie and sayd If thou haddest euen knowne at the least in this thy day those things vvhich belonge vnto thy peace thou vvouldest take heede but novve are they hid from thine eyes As if the Lorde should say O if thou knewest what belongeth vnto thy peace that thou mightest not be destroyed but stand still thou wouldest yet at this day consider of it and beware Now it were time for thee to know that which should be best for thee but thou art blinde wilt
neglect the time then shall there be no place neither for helpe nor counsell As if he sayd Thou standest here adorned with sumptuous and goodly buildings and there are in thee mighty citizens which are both secure and merie thinking that no daunger hangeth ouer them but after the space of forty yeares thou shalt be destroyed Which the Lorde plainly foretelleth in these wordes The dayes shall come vpon thee that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee and compasse thee round and keepe thee in on euery side and shall make thee euen vvith the ground and thy children vvhich are in thee and they shall not leaue in thee a stone vpon a stone because thou knevvest not that season of thy visitation The careles securitie of the Iewes Now the Iewes as they supposed stoode vnmoueable safe resting vpon the promise of God so that they thought no otherwise but that they should perseuerantly continue so for euer they were secure and thought thus with them selues God will not send such thinges vnto vs we haue the temple wherein God him selfe is resident We haue also plenty of excellent men money and other thinges Goe to then who can doe any hurt or harme to vs Moreouer the Emperour and people of Rome hauing taken the citie seeing it furnished with so many and so great munitions and goodly and excellent buildings merueiled greatly and confessed that it was vnpossible that so great a citie should be taken vnlesse it had bene the speciall will of God Their boasting therefore and confidence in their owne false opinion deceiued them Howbeit the Lord did more earnestly and deepely consider the matter then they when he sayd O Ierusalem if thou knewest those thinges that are knowne to me thou wouldest haue a care of thy peace peace in the Scriptures is when the matters and affaires of any haue good successe thou thinkest that thou hast glad and merie dayes that it is well with thee and that thy affaires are in a prosperous state but if thou knewest howe thine enemies shall by siege afflict thee keepe thee in on euery side and bring thee into such distresse that they shall make thee euen with the ground destroy all thy buildings and leaue not a stone vpon a stone thou wouldest surely conueniently receiue the word whereby thou mightest enioy both true peace and all good thinges The reading of the historie of the destruction of this city doth make much to the right vnderstanding of this text A description of Gods wrath and most grieuous vengeance poured vpon the Iewes for their contēpt and disobedience God had plainly so ordained that at the feast of Easter at which time they came to Ierusalem out of all quarters the citie should be besieged and there were then gathered togither as Iosephus reporteth about thirty hundred thousand mē vpon whom the Lorde would shewe his grieuous indignation and wrath All the Apostles and Christians were departed and gone into the cuntrie of Herod not farre from Ierusalem The Lord tooke out the wheate and put the chaffe togither on an heape nowe there was so great a multitude of people that they might seeme to exceede not onely a citie but euen a kingdom And they were driuen into so great calamitie that all their vittells were spent and none at al left vnto them so that they were constrained to eate the strings of their bowes olde shoes dressing them in such maner as they could yea through the exceeding famine they were driuen to kil their owne children the souldiers tooke the flesh of children rosted from the mothers smelling the sauour of the rosted flesh two streetes of pigeons dunge was vnto them in steede of salte and was also very deare finally there was so great miserie so great slaughter and shedding of blood that it would not haue bene meruell for a stone to haue bene moued with pitie He that had seene it would haue thought that God could not haue bene so grieuously angry and so greatly haue afflicted a people Both houses and streets were filled with carkases dead through famine Notwithstanding the Iewes remained stil so obstinate and without vnderstanding that they gloried of God and would not yeelde them selues vntil the Emperour set vpon them with his whole power and tooke the citie which they were able to keepe no lenger And when as some of them were so craftie that they deuoured golde that it might not be takē from them the Romane souldiers thought that they had all so done whereupon they flewe about two thousand and hauing ript their bellies sought for golde There was such a slaughter manquelling made that it seemed a miserable thing euen to the Gentiles wherefore Cesar commaunded that they should not be so slaine but led captiue and sould The Iewes were then sould so cheape that thirty were bought for a penny they were then dispersed through the whole world and were coūted the most abiect people of all other as also at this day they are the most contemptible nation in the earth For they liue spred here and there without cities and cuntries of their owne neither can they be againe gathered togither into one place so that they shall neuer be able any more to erect their Priesthood and kingdom as they hope they shall Thus God reuenged the death of Christ all the Prophets thus were they recompensed for that they knewe not the time of their visitation Wherfore let vs be here admonished The example of the Iewes ought to admonish and moue other to know the time of their visitation for it belongeth not onely vnto vs but euen vnto all Germanie It is no iesting matter or sport neither is there any cause why we should perswade our selues that it will fall out otherwise with vs. The Iewes would not beleeue that euill should come vpon them vntil they had sufficiently tried it And we at this day are visited by the benefite of God he hath opened vnto vs a treasure his sacred and holy Gospell whereby we know his will and see how much we were subiect to the power of Satan but no man wil receiue this Gospell yea we contemne it and that which is more miserable we persecute and blaspheme it God is patient it pleaseth him to trie vs a while if we be not watchfull so that the word be againe taken from vs the same wrath and indignation which was poured forth vpon the Iewes shal also be poured forth vpon vs. For there is the same Word the same God the same Christ at this day that there was at that time whereupon vndoubtedly the punishment shal be the same or at the least as grieuous both in soule and body We make almost a sport trifling matter of the Gospel For no man embraceth it from his hart no man frameth his maners according vnto it Which is a manifest argument of blindnes O thing surely most miserable I feare lest the matter will shortly come to that passe that