suche subtyl obiections Here out it cōmeth that whiche Dauid the Prophet complayneth of these wicked persons Psal 20 saiyng Lo they haue bent their bowes made ready their arrowes in the quiuer that they may priuily shote at thē which are true in heart So likewyse do these Phariseys here they go to counsel howe they might take Iesus in his saiynges euen the same that they cōcluded they cōmaund their disciples instructyng thē how what they should say vnto him namely this Mayster we know that thou art true teachest the way of God truly carest for no man For thou regardest not the outwarde apparance of men c. Howe goodly are these wolues drest with shepes garmēt They cal Christ a maister al for to constrain him with suche flatteryng wordes to make answer vnto them yet be not they of suche disposicion to become his disciples although ther had been taught neuer so much goodnes vnto thē Furthermore thei adde that he is true teacheth the worde of God truely This is not euil spoken of Christe Iho. 14 For he teacheth not only Gods worde truly but also he is the truth himselfe And this is required of al preachers that they so endeuor them selfes that these wordes may be truly spoken of thē For it is our office to be true to teache Gods word truly Furthermore that thei say Thou carest for no mā nor regardest the outward apparance of men partaineth vnto vs also For the truth is not to be hidden for no mans pleasure but faythfully to bee preached teached yea although his distructiō shuld folow should be put to death as S. Ihon Baptist was And although Christ is excellently described vnto vs by these wordes yet they that were sent did speake it with a false fainyng dissemblyng heart Wherout we may learne the disposiciō of those hypocrites which persecute the word of god Thei omit the head the principal of the thing and bryng in vnprofitable questions They speake nothing with the heart But whatsoeuer thei speake is for that purpose that they may take and tryp the innocētes and good men in their communicacion Secondarily after that the Phariseys had put furth their subtill deuised question Christ knowyng that thei did it to tempt him so he did answer them that it was not spoken in vayne of the wyse man Pro. 21. saiyng There is no wysedome there is no vnderstādyng there is no counsail against the Lord. Therfore he calleth them hypocrites And that thei might wel vnderstand that he knewe their malicious thoughtes he added Why do ye tempte me Whiche wordes by right should haue reuoked the Phariseys and the ministers from their maliciousnes and deceit and caused them to haue amended their liues But they were blynde remayned styll blynd Yet notwtstādyng Christ bad them to shewe him their tribute money and sayd Whose is this ymage superscripcion They sayd vnto him The Emperours Then sayd he vnto them Geue therfore vnto the Emperour that whiche is the Emperours and geue vnto God that whiche is Gods As though he would saye Forasmuche as you are come therto that for your synne you are brought vnder the yoke of the Emperour of Rome you must nedes geue as vnto your head highest lorde here vpon yearth vnder God that whiche belōgeth vnto him Here is to be noted the difference that Christ maketh betwene the kyngdome of God and this worlde For he doth not onely approue and allowe this high power and polliticke life The kīgdome of Christ but also confermeth it For the kyngdome of God or of Christ is spiritual whiche consisteth in the spirite fayth and truth wherfore it commeth not with outwarde doynges but it must be inwardly in vs. Now because that it is a spiritual kyngdome God requireth and wyll be worshypped in spirite Luc. 17 Ihon. 4 and in the trueth as Christ sayth in the fourth chapiter of sainct Ihon. The true worshippers shall worship the father in spirite and in truthe But to worship God in spirite and truth is to loue him with all thy heart Deut. 6. with all thy power and to truste in him For suche fayth and loue geueth God his honor and kepeth his cōmaundementes as Christ sayeth in an other place He that loueth me shall keepe my woorde Ioh. 14 Wherefore when I put my whole truste in god the father through Christe and loue him aboue all creatures then doo I gyue god that pertaineth to god and pull from him none of his honour And herevnto pertaineth the fruteful admonicion of the prophete Dauid saying Psal 28. Adscribe vnto the Lorde O yee mighty ascribe vnto the Lord worshyp strength And contrary wise Cesars kingedō the kyngdome of the Emperour is worldly it is visible in the which the Emperour him selfe gouerneth and beareth rule mightely with hys lordes and prynces as the scripture witnesseth in an other place sayinge Luc. 22. The Kynges of the worlde haue dominion ouer the people and they that beare rule ouer them are called gracious lordes Neuertheles that kingdome is of god Rom. 13 and stablished by goddes ordinaunce in suche wise that he that resisteth this ordinaunce resisteth god him selfe Thinkest thou that princes and greate lordes in the scripture are called goddes in vaine and withoute a cause For if they bee goddes Psa 8◠and are made by god partakers of his magnificence then muste they needes be in goddes steed whose roome they beare Therfore seyng they rule in gods steed it is both meete and conuenient to giue theim that wee are bounde to giue theim But what are those thinges S. Paule setteth them furthe and sayth Geue vnto euery man his dutie Ro 13. Tribute to whom tribute belōgeth Custome to whō custome is due Feare to whom feare belongeth honour to whom honour pertayneth Here thou hearest what thou art bound to geue vnto highe powers But paraduenture thou wilt say Shall I geue obedience vnto a tyrant an vngracious prince or Lord Yea truly thou art bound both to geue obey him For what hast thou to do with his tyranny If the magistrate doth naught contrary to equitie he hath a iudge whom he must answere in that appointed day Iudgement is not here graunted vnto thee except he constrayneth thee to do any thyng against God Then thou mayst say with the Apostles Act. 5. We ought more to obay God then men But if he cōstrayneth the do nothyng against God then hast thou here the sentence of Christe Geue to Cesar that belongeth vnto him and to God that is Gods Whiche answere is so good and godly that they that were sent of the Phariseys meruailed at it And for because they could say nothyng against it They wēt their wayes God graunt vs his grace The gospel on the .xxiiii. sonday after Trinitee sonday Math. 9. WHyles he thus spake vnto them Mat. 5. Luc. 8.
come by these and many mo sectes Furthermore this slaunder is against loue as when I wyll not obey the Magistrate I will not do and paye as other men doo and paye neither beare the common charges as other beare but I wyll be cleane without lawe and haue a singuler prerogatiue afore al other Of this slaunder Christe hym selfe saithe to Peter Mat. â—7 Leaste we shoulde bee a slaunder vnto them go to the sea and cast thy hooke and that fyshe which firste commeth take him vppe open his mouthe and thou shalte fynde a grote take it oute and giue it them for the and me Nowe withoute doubt these slanders shall continue in the worlde vnto the end And especiall the slaunderers of doctrine shall bee both greuous and vehemente But what remedye againste this slaunder Spiritually are the handes and feete cut of I muste cut of that whiche woulde offende me be it either foot hande or eyes that is I must continue in the worde nothing consyderyng what shall chaunce euen thoughe father or mother brother or syster wyfe or children kinne or affinytye monye or ryches woulde plucke me frome it yet muste I sette more by the woorde then by all these For better yt is that I forsake all thynges be they neuer so deere and precious in thys worlde and to bee saued afore god then to haue all menne my friendes and be separated from god And seeynge that god wyll so extremelye punyshe theym that rayse suche slaunders what thynke yee shall come to suche as for those slaunders leaue and forsake the trueth Doubtlesse hee shall punishe theym both alyke Fourthly here is a general admonicion vnto al men that they dispyse none of these lytleones that are dead to the worlde poore in spirit and knyt together one in Christ Yea there is also assygned a cause why they shuld beware of hurtyng them The lytle ones wherfore they are not to be offended Psal 19 For their Angels sayth Christ in heauen alway see the face of my father whiche is in heauen Surely without doubt if God be so mercyful to his seruauntes that he hath appointed Angels vnto this ministery to kepe and defende them doubtles then this wyll please him but a lytle if they be dispised persecuted troubled troden vnder foote For surely the Lord is as careful for them as if these thinges were done vnto himselfe And furthermore he must nedes be discoÌ„tented to se them euil entreated for whose sake he came into this worlde and shedde his precious bloud I pray you who can thynke otherwyse in this behalfe Shall it not prouoke his anger that wee dispyse those whoÌ„ he hath redemed with his death and precious bloud shed For if that lost shepe be so deare to him and he so entyrely loued it that he left nyntye and nyne in the wyldernes and ceassed not seekyng tyll he had founde it why should wee then either persecute or trouble that sheepe Surely he may suffre it but without doubt he wyl not leaue it vnpunished Furthermore he sayth It is not his fathers wyll that one of these lytleones should peryshe Are not these strong reasons that might well refrayne vs from persecutyng of our christian brethren Theyr angels sayth Christe whiche must serue them euer see the face of my father Trueth it is that I wyll be their sauior and my fathers wyll is that they should not perishe Nowe if these wordes wyll not moue vs surely I knowe not what should moue vs to learne to loue christian men and not to despyse theim But commonly it so chaunseth that these poore lytle ones of Christ haue euermore persecucion then fauour in this worlde Wherfore I beseche God graunt vs grace to perseuer in his fayth and paciently for his names sake to suffre persecucion vnto th ende through Christ our Lord. Amen The gospel on sainct Lukes day the EuaÌ„gelist ye shall fynde after Alhalowen day The gospel on sainct Symon and Iudes day Ihon. 15. Greater loue hath no maÌ„ then this that a man bestow his life for his frendes Ye are my frendes if ye do whatsoeuer I coÌ„maunde you Hencefurth call I you not seruauntes for the seruaunt knoweth not what his lorde doth But you haue I called frendes For all thynges that I haue heard of my father haue I opened to you Ye haue not chosen me but I haue chosen you and ordayned you to go and bryng furth fruite and that your fruite should remayne that whatsoeuer ye aske of the father in my name he may geue it you THE EXPOSITION CHrist gaue his disciples this coÌ„maundemeÌ„t of brotherly loue after that last supper when he now knewe the tyme of his passion at hand that immediatly he shuld be taken away froÌ„ them Surely this is an vndoubted truth that there is besydes fayth no woorke in the worlde nor none can be that shal be acceptable vnto God saue onely charitee and loue of my neighbour of the whiche Christ speaketh in this Gospel Or els why should Christ with so great seueritee and earnest admonicion in that his last sermon that euer he made Christes coÌ„maundement of charitee haue geuen and inculcate this precepte of charitee And here note two thynges Fyrst that Christ gaue this precept and not Moses For if it were Moses precept it shuld be a precept as the other preceptes were in the lawe whiche in dede taught coÌ„maunded what should be done and what should bee lefte vndone but thei gaue not the spirit wherby it might be done with free heart and courage But Christ doth not here so but as he sheweth what is necessary to be done euen so he also geueth the spirit that we may be able to do those thinges that he hath coÌ„maunded And this is the onely cause why he him selfe sayth of his preceptes My yoke is swete my burthen light And sainct Ihon in his Epistle Canonical saith His coÌ„maundementes are not heauy Wherefore these woorkes of loue are not hypocrites workes like as the workes of the lawe were whiche the Iewes did without spirit but whatsoeuer a Christian doth in this behalfe he doth it with an whole heart 1 Co. 14 euen as sainct Paule sayth Charitee seketh not the thyng that is her owne For why A christian knoweth that Christe requireth not onely true fayth that worshippeth the father in spirit and truth but also he requireth an vnfayned loue Further note that this loue spryngeth not of her selfe but it spryngeth furth of fayth so that whersoeuer there is no fayth there can neuer bee any true loue Fayth Loue. Fayth heareth the woorde of God taketh holde vpon those thynges that the same worde promyseth in the merytes of Christe and so obtayneth without any merites of workes only of mere grace and mercy remission of synnes righteousnes eternal life Nowe if any maÌ„ wyl in this cause of iustifycacion admyxt the myre of his owne workes he goth cleane out of the way
seruauntes of the houshoulder came and sayde vnto hym Syr didest not thou sowe good seede in thy fielde from whence then hath it tares He sayde vnto them the enuious manne hath done this The seruauntes sayd vnto hym wylte thou then that wee go and weede them vp But he said nay leste while ye gather the tares ye plucke vp also the wheate with them lette both growe togyther vntyll the haruest and in tyme of haruest I wyll saye to the reapers gather ye fyrste the tares and bynde them together in shynes to be brente but gather the wheat into my barne THE EXPOSITION The kiÌ„gdome of heauen THis similitude Christ himselfe at the request of hys disciples hath expounded and in his expositioÌ„ hath sufficiently declared what in the church or christianite which after the manner of scripture he calleth the kingdome of heauen shuld happen and namely that that alwayes the euell shal be admyxte amongest the good vntil Christ in the laste iudgement shal send forth his aungels together and deuide the shepe froÌ„ the goates Wee wil now shew somewhat what is to be chiefely noted here in this gospell concernyng the dortrine of Christ For it must needs be all good holy and helthfull that cometh from the mouth of Christ We cum through Christ only to the father Fyrste in the exposition of this gospell Christe saith that the sonne of man soweth this good sede and the fielde is the world Also the good seede be the children of the kingdome Wherin he teacheth nothinge els but that is in the 14. chap of S. Iohn spoken more plainly in this wyse No man cometh to my father but by me And also in an other place I am the way Ioh. 14 the treuth and life And bicause thorow Christ allonly we be made inheritours of the kyngdome of heauen as the gospell witnesseth yt is therefore very necessary that we geue vnto him that honoure and knowledge hym for such a man that hath made vs christians And trewly to knowledg that Christ by his word and spirite doth make vs christians 1. Cor. 1 And like wise that he is our righteousnesse satisfaccion and redemption is nothing els but freelye to confesse that wee naturallye be synners vnrighteous the children of the deuell in the daunger of eternall damnacion Ephe. 2 and that we can obteine saluacion by none other meanes or wayes but by christ allonly Where is nowe here the glory wisedome merite and fre wyll of man Here must we needs say with Daniel the prophet Dan. 9. To the good lord righteousnesse and to vs open coÌ„fusion And this is the very christian confession yf we confesse our selues siÌ„ners vnrighteous proue to eternall damnacion and Christ to be our goodnes righteousnes and saluacion for as S. Mat. in the firste chapter witnesseth 1. Tim. 2 Iohn 3 Yt is he alone that delyuereth vs from synne And reconcileth vs to his father in heauen And by his spirite doth regenerate vs into a newe creature And verely if he he I saye had not renewed my corrupte nature if I hadde not receiued of his goodnes Iohn 1. I had byn vtterly damned and cursed for euer Howe coulde I withstande if God wolde enter into iudgemente with me and I shulde not pretende and aledge the merites of Chryst There doughteles shall not my merites prevaile no nother once be seene or apear Wherfore it is necessary that of this similitude I learne to knowe what the trewth of the worde of God is namely to repute Christ allonly to bee the very same that maketh me the son and inheritoure of the kingdome of heauen For thus sayth the euangeliste Ioh. 14 No man knoweth the father but the sonne and no man knoweth the sonne but the father and to whome the father will shew it And althoughe workes must needes be done yet is it so that by them we shall not obteine righteousnes before God For yf oure righteousnes were founded and buylded vpon workes it coulde not be but vncertaine and sone ouertourned with a little blaste of wynde In so much that no man loueth so much as he oughte to do nor anye man doth as manye workes and dedes as are required of hym The deuel is enemy to Christe to all that beleue in him Mat. 7 Secondarely this similitude Christ in the expositioÌ„ of the same teacheth vs that sathan the deuel is a perpetual enemy not only of Christ the sower but also of al them that beleue in Christ Christ maketh men good sheweth a narrow way a strait that leadeth to lyfe The deuel maketh meÌ„ naught and euell and sheweth a broade and large waye to damnacion and yet he coueteth allwayes to be there where the children of God be not for anye loue he heareth to them but goethe aboute by all the meanes he can to pul them froÌ„ Christ and hys word and to bring vs to mens traditions And bicause he is ful of subtiltie he knoweth very well that he must work wililye and craftely to deceaue men And therfore in the night and when meÌ„ be in slepe he soweth his tares and cocle That is he tourneth him selfe into an aungel of light as S. Paul saith cometh not 1 Cor. 11 but with great hypocrisy holines He taketh vpon him the name of Christ boasteth glorifieth hymselfe of his workê In so much that he shal bring the elect into errour if it be possible But as Christ saith Mat 24 He is an vtter enemy to his doctrin and name And there is nothing hid vnder that holynes but vtter destruction which the prophete Dauid perceiued very wel when he prayed God that he wold kepe him from the pestilence that walked in darknes from the sicknes that destroyeth in the none day Loke through oute the same 91. Psal And in the 10. chapter of Iohn Christe saith that this thefe how honestly so euer he go he cometh for nothing else but to steale slaye and destroye And hereto it maye be referred also Mat. 7 that in an other place he is called a raueniÌ„g wolfe that is hid in false prophetes Wherfore seing it is so euery one of vs with great diligence shuld beware lest he suffre him selfe to be drawen from God and his worde or els the deuell wyll so longe laye wayte for the vntyll he hathe transformed the into the child of darkenes Nether is he weried with any labour taking no reste day nor night alwaies ready at hande quick diligeÌ„t to oure destruction and condemnacion 1. Pet. 5 as S. Peter witnesseth Thirdely Chryst teacheth vs in this place Alwaies the euell is admixt with the good that the wheat alwaies groweth nigh the tares that is the euel shal be alwaies mingled amongest the good vnto the end of the world I call them euel that be occupied in false doctrine vnbeliefe as all hypocrites heretikes be which wil for the
the grace and mercy of the gospell that the church gathered of the gentyles and of the Iewes shal be made one flocke and haue one shepeharde But here marke and take hede in what manner this callyng shal be Christe alone must bringe it to passe and performe yt as he saithe I haue yet other shepe that be not of this folde and those same must I bring also c. Christe muste bringe the gentils whereout it foloweth necessarily that the gentiles of them selues without they be brought by Christe can not come And yf they can not come of them selues it is manifest and playne that we throughe grace and mercye be iustified and saued as saith S. Paule By grace are you saued throughe faythe Ephe. 2. and that not of your selues for it is the gifte of god not of workes least any man shulde boaste him selfe Now yf we are called to righteousnes and euerlasting lyfe by grace why do we then boast vs of oure workes Whervnto is now free wil become why do not you leaue Christe his honoure Wylte thou become a thefe and priuily steale awaye christes honour Is it not sufficient that the pharisies those glorifiers in workes are called theues If ye are wyse take counsayle with the scripture and beleue the same if ye will be saued which saith No man knoweth the father Ioh. 14 but the sonne and to whome the sonne wil reuele it .. Marke diligently that he saith To whō the sonne wyl reuele it And in this gospell he saith also I I I my selfe muste bringe them When Christe doth bringe vs through his word and spirite then do we heare his voyce then do we willingly obey him and mortefie the old Adame in vs. To make shorte we lyue according to goddes will and pleasure Some there be that suppose that by this sentence Ther shalhe one flocke and one shepard is promised through out all the worlde Vnity concord in the doctrine of Christs faythe is not to be loked for vnitie and concorde in the doctrine and faithe of Christe but they be deceyued For this saiyng is fulfilled when both the Iews and gentyles are called by the word of god into the communion of one churche And in th ende of the worlde finally it shal be fulfilled when the faithfull as well of the Iewes as of the gentiles shal be disseuered diuided from the kiddes that is frome the vnfaithfull and taken into the kingdome of Christe Whiche God the father graunt vs through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen The thirde sonday after Easter Ioh. 16 AFter a whyle ye shal not se me Ioh. 7. agayne after a whyle ye shal se me for I go to the father Thē sayde some of hys dysciples betwene them selues What is this that he sayeth vnto vs after a whyle ye shall not se me and agayne after a while ye shal se me and that I go to the father◠They sayde therfore what is this that he saith after a whyle we can not tell what he saith Iesus peceaued that they wolde aske hym and sayde vnto them Ye enquyre of this betwene your selues bicause I sayde After a whyle ye shal not se me and agayne After a whyle ye shall se me Verely verely I say vnto you ye shall weepe and lament but contrary wyse the worlde shall reioyce Ye shall sorowe but Ioh. 2◠your sorowe shal be turned to ioye A woman when she trauayleth hath sorowe bycause he thow◠is come but as sone as she is delyuered of the chyld she remembreth no more the anguyshe for ioye that a man is borne into the world And ye now therefore haue sorowe but I wyll se you agayne and your hartes shall reioyse and your ioye shall no man take frome you THE EXPOSITION Chryste sheweth his passion resurrectiō to his disciples IN this gospell diligently we shall note foure thinges First how Christ shewed before vnto his disciples his passion and resurrection Furthermore in what wise through his resurrection he shuld raign in his kingdome and go to the father This sermon and teaching muste needes be verye necessary whē Christ so oftentimes and with so many wordes repeteth it and sheweth yt his disciples Yea truly it is very needful considering the infirmitie of our flesh and the hard vnderstandynge of these articles Wherefore Christe after the manner of a faithfull maister and instructours ceasseth not contynuallye to inculcate and driue into the apostles hartes suche artycles that in all poyntes he mighte trulye and iustelye execute hys office And this is the exposition and meanynge thereof After a little while I shal be delyuered vnto the Iewes and they shal condemne me scourg me and at the last crucify me And lykewise as Ionas was three dayes and three nyghtes in the belly of the whale Mat. 21 so shall I be three dayes and so manny nyghtes also in the hart of the earth And that is the same that I say vnto you After a little while yee shall not see me and yet after a litle that is the thirde daye whan I am risen frome deathe yee shall see me But that shal be no great whyle for I muste go to the father and receaue my kingdome whiche is spirituall With the whiche hee instructethe and teacheth his dysciples what maner of kyngedome hee shall haue and in what wyse he shall entre into it The kīgdom of Christ Eph. 14 The kyngedome of Chryste lyeth herein That Christe hath ouercomme sinne deathe hell and the dyuell and hathe all the auctorytye and power of the father in heauen and in earthe that hereafter he beinge ordeined the moste mighty kinge vppon the hollye hyll of Sion Psal 2. shuld strength and rule his faithfull and electe through the holy ghoste And into this kīgdom he hath entred through his passion death and sheding of his blode as the prophete Dauyd sheweth before Psa 109 He shall drynke of the brooke in the waye therefore shall he lyfte vp his heade The Apostles knewe yet but little of the spirituall kingedome and thought it shulde haue been temporall vntill suche time that they receiued the holy ghost which opened their eyes and instructed them what manner of kingedome it shulde be how we shulde come vnto it and abide in it And if we desyre to enter into this kingedome and wyl ouercome synne death the diuell and hell it is moste conuenient necessarye that we know Christe oure Lorde and sauioure oure kinge and bysshoppe and that by his bloode wee are reconcyled to the euerlastinge father And we must do also as Paule monissheth vs in the epistle to Timothe sayinge 2 Tim. 2 If wee be dead with him we shall lyue with him also If we be patient we shall also raigne with him If we deny him he shall denye vs. Secondarily here is layde before vs in the apostles an exaumple of our ignoraunce An exaūple of our ignoraunce For as the
will reserue vs to euerlastinge lyfe The fowerth sonday after Easter Ioh. 16. BVt nowe I go my waye to hym that sent me and none of you aske me whether I go But bycause I haue sayd suche thynges vnto you youre hartes are full of sorowe Neuertheles I tell you the trewth it is expediente for you that I go awaye For yf I go not away that comforter wyll not come vnto you But yf I departe Ioh. 14 and .15 Act. 2. a I wyll sende hym vnto you And when he is come he will rebuke the worlde of sinne and of righteousnes and of iugement Of sinne bicause they beleue not on me Of righteousnes bycause I go to my father and ye shall se me no more Of iudgemente bycause Ioh. 12. the prince of this worlde is iudged allreadye I haue yet many thinges to saye vnto you but ye can not beare them awaye nowe Howebeit when he is come which is the spyrite of trewth he wyll leade you into all trewth He shall not speak of hym selfe but whatsoeuer he shall heare that shall he speak and he wyll shewe you thinges to come He shall glorify me for he shal receyue of myne and shal shew vnto you Mat. 11 a 11. ◠Luc. 10. Ioh. 3. Al thinges that the father hath ar myne Therefore sayd I vnto you that he shall take of mine and shewe vnto you THE EXPOSITION IN this present golspel The promise of the holy ghoste we are admonished of thre thinges Firste we haue here of the promise of the holy ghoste which Christe going to the father shulde sende vnto his disciples Moreouer what he shulde do and bringe to passe when he came It is nowe oure parte to note well this promise whiche pertayneth as well to vs as to the Apostles Faythe cowlde not be confirmed in the apostles without the vertue of the holy ghoste So lykewise the holy ghoste coulde not be sente yf Christe hadde not gonne to the father The flesh can dooe nothing but sin Here lerne that oure fleshe canne do nothing but sinne if it be not lightened through the holy ghost and that yt is nothinge but hypocrisy though we do outwardly neuer so manye good workes Luc. 18. as we maye see in the Pharisye which thanked God that he was not lyke other men Item All they that saye vnto me Mat. 7. Lorde lorde shall not entre into the kingedome of heauen but they the fulfil my fathers wyl Likewise learne this that we cannot receiue this spirite by oure good workes but by the merites of Christ as Christe sayeth here It is better for you that I go for yf I go not awaye the comforter cometh not vnto you as thoughe he wolde saye Christe giueth the holy ghoste If the infirmity of your fleshe shal be chaunged into the strenthe of the faith the holye ghoste muste needes bring that to passe in you Nowe if this holye ghost shal be geuen vnto you so muste I needes promote you ther unto and obtaine it through my deserte and benefite Wherefore it is very necessary that I suffre dye and that after my resurrection I ascend vp in to heauen that the holy ghost may visite you lighten you and leade you into all trewthe Than the same spirite shall worke and bringe to passe in you and through you that thinge that he was sent for Will you knowe what that is The holi ghoste shall rebuke the whole worlde Rom. 3. harken to He shall rebuke the worlde Here is the glorye of the fleshe the liberty of fre wyll and what so euer is mannes wisedome vtterly caste in the duste Why shuld the holye ghoste rebuke vs yf we were not worthye of rebuke They are all gon out of the waye they be all togither become vnprofitable ther is none that doth good no not one Ye as S. Iohn the baptist saide Esa 40 Mat. 3. All fleshe is as haye and all his glorye as the flowre of the medowe This semed to be rigorously inoughe and more then inoughe spoken to the bysshopes and to those gloryfiers in workes at Ierusalem and also to the papistry of oure tyme if the holye ghoste didde feare theim But he setteth nothing at all for our angre For he was sente to rebuke whiche also hee doth busily And blessed is he that is rebuked of him that by that meanes he may learne to knowe his sinnes For that done the holi ghost leadeth vs further into the faith and knowledg of god so that we being deliuered frome sin through the deseruing and merits of Christ are made the children and heires of god Why the holye ghost doeth rebuke the worlde Secondarily we maye note here wherfore for what cause the holy ghoste will rebuke the worlde Truly for sinne But you will saye Is the worlde ignoraunt that adultrye murdre thefte and suche lyke trespasses are sinne No. But they are ignoraunte that good workes without faith are sinne and that allonly vnbeliefe is the occasion of their damnacion Wherefore it is necessarye and needefull that the holy ghost come that he maye fullye learne and teache vs what sinne is Wherfore let vs considre what Christe calleth sinne Sinne is nothing but infidelitie For they do not beleue in me saieth he Here thou hearest that the greatest sinne vnder heauen is that wee do not beleue in Christ If incredulity be the greatest syn vpō earth then must it needes folow the faith is the most glorious highest thing vpō earth which no mā can deny Faith hangeth on Christ as a faith ful man knoweth that he is saued by Christ so surely doth he good works which are accepted before god for his faith as saith the prophet Thou o lord Iere. 5 lokest alōly vpō faith But incredulity trusteth in his workes Wherfore what so euer goodnes an vnfaithful mā doth outwardli it is not accepted before god for it cometh not of faith For Christ saith He that beleueth not is all ready iudged The worlde Ioh. 5. nature fleshe or reason doth not receaue nor vnderstande this wherefore it is needefull that the holye ghost come to rebuke and teache Moreouer the holy ghost shall rebuke the world of righteousnes How shall we vnderstande that The worlde and reason adscribeth righteousnes to oure workes and both thinke and iudge that righteousnes cometh of mennes workes outewardelye done as the Pharisie boasted himselfe to bee righteous But euer this chaunseth so Luc. 18. that they that wyll mayntaine they re owne righteousnes Rom. 10 bee not subiecte vnto the righteousnes of God Therefore yt is necessarye that the holy ghoste teache shew vs what manner of iustice that is that pleaseth god Frome whence iustice cometh The iustice that pleaseth god procedeth hereoute that I beleue that Christe wente to the Father that is as muche to saye That I beleue that he died for me that he rose and ascended vnto heauen
you sayeth he If you axe the father oughte in my name hee shall gyue it you also Aske and ye shall receaue Here thou hearest that we shall not praye in vaine Who wold now be slothfull and loth to prayer Christe constraineth vs thorow his commaundement And furthermore that wee shall not thinke to praye in vaine he as I sayde before entiseth vs here with a greate and high promise Wherfore two thinges are heere to bee considered and noted The firste is that we shall pray in none other name theÌ„ all only in Christs name Then we pray in Christs name Christe is oure mediator only wheÌ„ we come vnto god in the faith of Christ in such mind and confidence that he all only is our mediatour by whom all thinges be giuen vnto vs and that without him we can deserue nothing theÌ„ wrath and indignacion Can there bee I beseche you any sainte in heauen or in earth that prayeth for vs vnto god the father as Christ doth For by his merites and aduocacion we do not all only obtaine righteousnes and remission of sinnes but also wee be made his brethren and pertakers of hys preestly office so that we our selues maye go vnto Christ and call vpon him and seke his helpe in all our necessity and nede And that is it that he saieth here And I saye not vnto you that I will pray the father for you for the father him selfe loueth you for bicause you haue loued me and beleue that I am come out from god Al Christian meÌ„ are prestes Seinge therefore that wee haue suche a mediatour yea seing that we our selues are admitted vnto this prestly office by Christ why do we not with true faithe and confidence call vpon him in oure necessitie An other thinge to be noted is this We must considre that in no wyse we do praye that What we ought to desire that shal be against the glorie wyll of god or contrary to our saluacion For it is apparaunt that he wyll not hear such prayer in so much as in the Pater noster he teacheth vs daily to praye that his will be fulfilled Finally when so euer we praye vnto god in our vrgent necessities we shall looke vpon the merites of Christ not vppon oure worthines which commaundeth vs to praye and promised vs to heare vs when so euer we cal vpon him For all the promises of god in Christ are suer and need not to be doubted at For S. Paule saith that all the promises of god ar ye in him and ameÌ„ 2 Cor. 11 Secondaryly it is to be noted that forasmuch as we are fleshly and know not ofte times what we haue neede of as S. Paule saith to the Romanes Christe voutchsaueth here to learne vs Rom. 8. what oure prayer shuld be And as he himselfe faith we ought to praye that our ioye maye be perfect But what manner of ioye is this Truly it shall neuer be temporal nor wordly but spirituall Of the which Phil. 4. S. Paule writeth saying Reioyse in the lorde alwaies and againe I say reioyse But whence cometh this reioysinge Of faith And how is that broughte to passe That is brought to passe when I heare the gospel preached in the which remission of sinnes is geuen to all mortall creatures by Christ Whiche preaching yf I wyll haue it profitable and fruitful vnto me I must needs beleue it which thing I cannot do except it be geuen me through the word by the holy ghoste which muste worke this faithe in me And when this worde and the holye ghoste worke this fayth in me I shall not dout but beleue the Christ hath all only forgeuen me all my sinnes so that they can neither accuse nor condemne me And further that he hath pourchased me a mercifull father in heauen that will acknowledge me for hys son and bring me into euerlasting lyfe And hereoute commeth tranquilitie of conscience and that spirituall ioye TraÌ„quilitie of coÌ„scieÌ„ce 2 Pet. 3. of the whiche this gospell to day speakethe of and it is verye needefull and necessarye that this ioye growe and increase euen as oure faythe oughte to growe and increase yf yt shal be perfecte which thinge doubteles God shal bringe to passe yf we daylye praye vnto hym for it He will that we shall praye alwayes and not with oute a cause For we haue nothinge to geue him But he as a mercifull god creatoure and father forgiueth vs al things And for as much as he commaundeth vs to praye that oure ioye myghte be perfecte lette vs obeye him that wee maye saye withe the virgine Marye Luce. 2. My spirite reioyseth in god my sauioure Thirdelye Chryste shâ—weth vs here the ignoraunce of his disciples and witnesseth that hitherto his learnyng hath beene vnto theim as a prouerbe and that if they shuld vnderstande that doctrine it is needefull that he speake no more through prouerbs but playnly to shew theÌ„ of his father that Is. it is needefull that he sende them the holy ghoste to make them apte to vnderstand his wordes Such ignoraunce and blindnâ—s hath not beene all only in the apostles before the hoâ—y ghost was confirmed in them but also hath ben grafte in all mortall men so that there is not one that vnderstandeth no not one that dothe good Psal 13 Ioh. 3. without they be transformed into a newe creature through the holy ghost We thinke oure selues subâ—ile and wise as thapostels saye here in this gospel Beholde nowe thou speakest playne and shewest vs no prouerbe now we knowe that thou knowest all thinges But this is suche an other folyshe presumption as was in Saint Peter Mat. 26 which promysed that he wold go to prison and to death with Christ and yet that nighte before the cocke crew he denied him thrise which presumption brought him to confusion Wherefore all this is written for vs that we shulde not rashely presume but rather to meke oure selues and to confesse that we as concerning godlye thinges are rude and ignoraunte and that we can not perceyue the mistery of the gospell with oute the holy ghost For the wisedome of the fleshe is foolishnes before god And as much the more we go aboute to boaste oure selues of our subtilty and wisedome concernyng godlynes so much the more we declare and shewe forthe our folysshnes The sixte sonday after Easter Ioh. 15. BVt when the comforter is come Ioh. 14 and. 17. Act. 3. d whome I wyll send you from the father euen the spirit of trewthe whiche procedeth of the father he shall testifye of me And ye shall beare witnes also bicause ye haue beene with me from the beginninge THE EXPOSITION After that our lord Iesus Christ in the laste supper had promised his disciples with dyuers promises to send theÌ„ the holy ghost now he nameth the same spirit by his propre name and declareth vnto vs what vtilitie and profit he shall bringe into the world and saith
on this wise When the comforter whom I shall sende you from the father even the spirite of truthe c. Firste wee se here how Chryst nameth the holy ghoste by hys propre name The coÌ„fortet and calleth him a comforter Whoe hath made oure conscience so suer that we beleue that by Christe we be made the sonnes of God and crye Abba deere father but allonly this same comforter Rom. 7 Gal. 4. Who maketh vs withoute anye feare or abashement at the confessioÌ„ of this faith Who comforteth vs and aideth vs in all our calamities and miseries which we must suffre here in this worlde for his names sake None other but this spirite of truthe whiche procedeth frome the father and is the same good spirite for the which the prophet Dauid so earnestly prayeth to obtaine in the 50. psalm For this we se in the examples of the apostles that wheÌ„ the holy ghost was not yet confirmed in them they lefte their maister and fled from him they also denied him lockte them selues vp now here now there in corners But after that the holy ghost was confirmed in theyr hartes they confessed Chryste boldelye and bare witnes that he was risen In so muche that in persetution and tribulacyon they reioysed and tooke greate pleasure as we reade in the actes of the apostels Act. 5. The holy ghoste maketh vs faithfull Now forasmuche as this holy ghost by reason of his office maketh tru men and faithfull and boldeth and comforteth vs in coÌ„fessing and shewing of the trewth so lykewise by his office he shall testifie of Christ Then yf he shal testifie of Christ he shal teache no other thing then the same that Christe taughte and preached before that is he shall instruct the apostles and make theÌ„ meete to receiue the doctrine of Christe and wryte the gospell in their hartes for as muche as of their owne power they canne not perceiue the learnynge of Christe The wisedome of the fleshe can not bringe it to passe but the holye ghoste muste needes do it as the lorde promised by hys prophet Ieremye saiynge Ier. 31. I wyll plante my lawe in the inwarde partes of â—heym and wryte it in their hartes and wyll be their God and they shal be my people And frome henseforth shall no man teache his neighboure or his brother and saye Knowe the lorde But shall all knowe me frome the lowest vnto the highest sayth the lorde Hereof it is euident and playne that without the holy ghoste wee can neither saye the truthe nor yet beleue the truthe Secondarily we be taught and learned The office of the apostels what thoffice of the apostles is which is no more but to testifye and beare witnes of Christe To beare witnes signifieth in scriptures Testifiing to speake and teache not that we thinke good but that God comaunded And therefore is Christe in the psalm called a faythfull witnes in heauen Psal 88. And lykewyse Esaias sayeth Beholde I shall gyue him for a witnes amonge the folke for a prince and capitaine vnto the people Nowe forasmuche as the holye ghoste and the apostles muste testifie of the selfe same thinge it is to bee thoughte that theyr witnes muste bee both one And that the holy ghoste bare witnes in the apostles it is apparaunte accordynge to Christes sayinge You be not they that speake but the spyrite of your father The papistes saiynge that is in you speakethe Where bee they nowe that hitherto haue taught and preached that Christe hathe reueled to the apostles and to the fathers a higher thing then is contained in the gospell Whome shall I beleue Christ or else theyr chatteringe and vnprofitable ianglinges Christe saithe the holy ghoste shall beare witnesse of him and make the folke mete to receaue and vnderstand the gospell And plainlye that we shall be taughte none other thinge of him then that he hymselfe taughte And these ianglers chatter that we must teache higher thinges then is contayned in the gospell After my iudgemente it is beste that wee obeye and beleue hym that hath this testimony and witnes of the father Mat. 7. This is my dere sonne in whome I delite heare him And he that is not contente with the doctrine of Christ of the which not allonlye the Apostels but also the hollye ghoste beareth witnesse lette him chose himselfe an other kinde of learninge and byde the aduenture of yt I had leuer bee suer then doubtefull herein The worlde persecuted the gospell Thyrdelye wee bee taughte in this gospell that the doctrine of Christe of which aswell the holye ghoste as the apostels shall beare witnesse shall not please this worlde For the worlde shall curse and abhorre all those as heretiques that shall confesse this doctrine And when they haue tourmented and persecuted withe all kyndes of tourmentes the apostles and faithfull menne they shall thynke they haue doone a highe seruice vnto God But what sayeth Christe All these thynges shall they dooe vnto you bycause they neyther knowe the father nor me Beholde the fortune that this holy and precious worde of the gospell and the faythfull shall haue in this world If thou wylte confesse Christe looke for no merye nor quiete dayes For Paule saieth 2. Ti. 2. All they that wyll lyue godlye in Christe Iesu muste suffre persecution And in an other place hee sayeth If I shulde please menne Gala. 1. I were not the seruaunt of Christe Seeynge than that for the confessing of Christe I muste suffre persecution it is needfull that I bee well instructed and armed with the worde of God and that wee knowe it to be the wyll of God that with suche temptacion our faythe shulde bee proued And when wee knowe this wee shall not lightelye bee offended but what so euer the worlde for Christes name putteth vnto vs wee shall patientely suffre it For this is oure comforte that they that persecute vs neyther knowe Christe nor the father thoughe they thinke and boaste them selfe neuer so high Moreouer lette vs not be ignoraunte Rom. 8. that the persecutioÌ„s tribulacioÌ„s of this world be not to be compared to the ioye and blysse that is prepared for vs. And therewith lette vs comforte our selues that we maye lyue with a quiete mynde in this present worlde through Christe oure lorde Amen The gospell on Whytsonday Ioh. 14. Yet a litle while and the worlde seeth me no more but ye se me for I lyue and you shall lyue That day shall ye knowe that I am in my father and you in me and I in you Ioh. 15. 1 Ioh. 5. 2. Ioh. 1 He that hath my commaundementes and kepeth them the same is he that loueth me And he that loueth me shal be loued of my father and I wyll loue hym and wyll shewe myne owne selfe to hym Act. 15 Iudas saieth vnto him not Iudas Iscarioth Lord what is done that thou wylt shew thy selfe vnto vs
vnfearful open mouth let him shewe that this their vniust dealyng is euil and vnrighteous as in ded it is nothyng els but vnrighteous and wycked Tit. 1. And therfore also is it that S. Paule requireth in a bishop that he bee mightie and able to exhorte with true doctryne and to conuince the againsayers Thyrdly wee haue nowe the fall of sainct Peter The presumpcion and rashnes of fleshe whom we ought diligently to consider and marke For we not only beholde in him how foolish rashe and vnwise the presumption of man is but also we learne in him that when a manne hath by frailtye fallen he shulde not by and by dispaire but muche rather looke vnto the goodnesse and clemencye of Christe by the which Peter was againe receiued obtained remission of all his sinnes Doubteles it was a greate presumption that hee promised to go with Christ euen vnto the very death and by this presumtion fel he into so great sinne For how shuld fleshe wishe for death seing that very nature hathe so disposed the flesh that she rather desireth a quiet and pleasant liuinge For euen he that is indued with the holye ghost hath much a do to take heed least in death he be ouercome or dispair much lesse may we thinke that of our owne strength we maye be able to stande againste it Wherefore we oughte to be very circumspecte and ware that we presume not but that we stand in fear euermore yet for all that contynually beseching god the father that he will voutchsafe for his sonne Christes sake to comforte vs with his holy spirite that we be ouercome in no temptacion but that euermore wee maye perceiue and feele his helpe strength and consolacion For certainly this is truthe that the prophet saith The lorde is my helper Ps 117. I will not feare what man can doo to me The clemēcy of Christ towarde synners And thoughe it chaunce sometyme while we liue here that we fal yet let not our heart giue ouer nor we maye not dispaire but by and by arise againe and also call againe for the grace and mercy of god For surely Christe hath euen now the same mynd Anabaptistes erroure that he had then when he receiued Peter againe into his fauoure The Anabaptystes of this our tyme deny that those maye retorne again to grace which ones knew the truth and afterward againe fell into synne and as muche as in them is poore Peter and wee all should perishe and be perpetually cōdempned But sett their folishe bablyng light for they bee vayne and vayne they continue But rather consider thou howe Peter fell and was againe receiued into grace and so shalte thou gette profite by consideryng it In what place Peter fell And note diligently in what place Peter fel commytted that great sinne namely he fell in the Byshoppes palace And of this place mayst thou learne howe great ieopardy it is to preachers of the woorde of God often to vse the courtes of great men of the worlde and especially for these consideracions Fyrst Ieopardyes of the courtes of great men it is an honesty for a man as courtyers repute it oftē to haunt voluptuous pleasures with a certain pride dignitie to excell other whiche thynges in deede as suche tempatacions maye easely moue and breake a right godly man Then furthermore Sathan him selfe also is very ready our fleshe is exceadyng weake so that without doubt here needeth great carefulnes and studious hede to be taken But what shal the preacher of Gods truth do here Forsoth thus He may not haue to great loue vnto the courtly daintie fare nor to muche acquaint himselfe with those whiche in the court do seke none other thyng but voluptuous pleasures honor porte in suche thynges haue their heauen but he ought diligently to remembre his office and geue all his care and studye well to rule with the sworde of God and continually to whet that vpon theim Doubtlesse the maner of courtiers is suche that for a tyme thou shalt be welbeloued accepted and thou shalt haue geuē the swete wordes enough especially if thou seldom talke of the truth and can well lyft a great chalice and be a fayre Masser But if thou wylt play the true preacher and tell euery man his vice and synne as in deede it shal be thy duetie surely thou shalte sone perceiue whether moo Iosephes Danyels dwell in the court or els Herodes and Aman. And to say the truth Herode could very well abyde Ihon Baptist Ihon Baptyst payde for his fauor in Herodes court Mar. 6 Mat. 11 and gladly hearde he him But when Ihon rebuked him for the adultry by and by all his fauour was lost Ihon was fayne to pay no lesse then his head for the great fauor he had in the court Finally In kynges and prynces courtes thou shalte fynde very fewe Daniels but as Christ sayd suche as are clothed in fyne softe sylkes so that thou shalt haue great nede to be verye ware and wyse if thou wylte dwell and be conuersant among courtiers The fourth sermon on the Passion of our Lord Iesu Christ Ihon. xviii THen led they Iesus from Cayphas into the hall of iudgement It was in the mornyng and they them selues went not into the iudgement hall lest they should be defyled but that they might eate the passeouer Pylate then went out vnto theim sayd what accusaciōs bryng you against this man They answered and sayd vnto him If he were not an euil doer wee would not haue deliuered him vnto thee Then sayd Pylate vnto them take ye him and iudge him after your owne lawe The Iewes therfore sayd vnto him it is not lawful for vs to put any manne to death That the woordes of Iesus might bee fulfylled Ma. 20 whiche he spake signifiyng what death he should dye Ma. 26 Then Pylate entred into the iudgement hall againe called Iesus and sayd vnto him Art thou the kyng of the Iewes Mar. 15 Luc. 23. Iesus answered Sayest thou that of thy self or hath any other told it thee of me Pylate answered Am I a Iewe Thyne owne nation hye priestes haue deliuered the vnto me What hast thou done Iesus answered My kyngdom is not of this world if my kyngdome were of this worlde then would my ministers surely fight that I should not be deliuered to the Iewes but nowe is my kyngdome not from hence Pylate therfore sayd vnto him Arte thou a kyng thē Iesus answered Thou sayst that I am a kyng Ihon. 6 For this cause was I borne and for this cause came I into the worlde that I should beare wytnesse vnto the truth And al that are of the truth heare my voyce Pilate sayd vnto him What thing is truth And when he had sayd this he wēt out againe vnto the Iewes and sayth vnto them Ma. 27 Mar. 15 Luc. 23. I fynde in him no cause at all
deny that vnbeleif is the fountayn of all euil especially if he compare fayth whereof scripture speaketh with her effectes with incredulitee and her frutes For so comparyng them it shal be an easy thyng to perceyue howe good and what a great thyng fayth is and howe excedyng an euil vnbeliefe is The scripture euery where testifieth this of fayth and doubtles suche is the nature of it that it vtterly dispayreth of all the workes that mā other dothe or can do nor putteth no trust or confidence in none of them but alonely seketh at Christ that righteousnes that is of value afore God of mere grace and mercy without any merytes or deseruynges of woorkes And this fayth is of suche power that when it is true and right it obtayneth also by Christe remission of synnes righteousnes and eternall health yea of the chyldren of the deuyl it maketh the sonnes and heyres of God as S. Paule wryteth in the Epistle to the Romaynes saiyng Rom. 8. Surely whosoeuer are led by the spirite of God these are the children of God For ye haue not receiued the spirit of bondage agayne to feare but ye haue receyued the spirit of adopcion by whō wee cry abba father Thesame spirit testifyeth together with our spirit that we are the sonnes of God If wee bee chyldren then are wee heyres also Namely heyres of God and annexed heyres of Christ c. And doubtles thus it is with true fayth Contrary vnbelief hath his peculyar nature and suche is his condicion that it determyneth his owne righteousnes and eternall lyfe to come of his owne woorkes and not of the meryte of Christ whiche can not bee but to the great iniury of the passion of oure Lorde Iesus Christe by whose meryte onely the heauenly father is pacifyed Incredulite alwayes robbeth Christ of his honour 1. Iho. 3 And what greater contumely and blasphemy may be done vnto our Lord Christ then to dispoyle him of his honour and to ascribe vnto our woorkes that thyng whiche iustly ought to be attributed onely vnto his merite grace For dothe not the scripture say He is the obtainyng of grace or propiciacion for oure synnes Agayne in the fyrst Epistle to the Corinthians Christe is made vnto vs sayth sainct Paule wysedome from God and righteousnes and sanctifiyng and redempciō Those then that agayne say the merytes of Christ and with woordes crye out against it asmuche as in them lyeth go about to suppresse it they do with al theyr study seke righteousnes eternal helth by the merites of their own workes And those wtout dout are false christians euē thesame the Christ speketh on in Mat. that thei shuld come vnder his name sai Mat 24 Lo heree is Christe c. And thus shall it chaunce to thē that they shal neuer haue the righteousnes eternall health and inheritaunce of the sonnes of god but a vaine prayse and a deceyuable glorye that onlye shall they obtayne And why For in all theyr workes they sought nothing els then the phariseis did whome Christe blameth in the gospell of Mathew and saith Mat. 6. that they did their workes for this intent that they might be glorified of menne And S. Paule saith Ro. 10. They beynge ignoraunte of the righteousnes that is alowed and giuen of god and seekinge to set vppe a righteousnesse of theyr owne they were not subiect to the righteousnes of god To this pertaineth also the promise of the holy ghost wher Christe saithe Ioh. 16 When the holy ghost shall come he shall rebuke the world of sin bicause they beleued not in me c. In this place wee heare again that vnbeliefe is so great a sinne that needs muste the holy ghost be giuen frome heauen to rebuke men of their vnbeliefe Who can now think it meruail though Christe often times so sore blamed rebuked vnbelief in his disciples again in so highlye praised and avaunced faith It is therfore dearlye beloued our part studiously to avoide vnbelief and by al means to embrace the true faith of Christ that by it we may be iustified before god and haue eternall lyfe Secondarily The worde Baptisme in this gospell ys committed vnto the apostels the offyce to preache the worde of god and accordynge to the same worde the administration of Baptisme And suerly this commaundemēt of Christ highly setteth out praiseth and extolleth the vocation of the Apostels and also the ministers of the worde which euery christian man ought diligently to consyder pythely to root it in his heart For where men are assured that the Apostels and ministers of the worde come not forth vncommaunded nor do not headilye of their owne autoritye vsurpe this office of teaching bu are sent to preache and baptise frome the Lorde oure God there without doubt the office of preaching and administration of the sacramentes shal be esteemed accordinglye in highe honoure and dignitie Therefore doubteles it is very necessary for euery christian diligently to obserue marke and learne this gospell as wherin we ar taught that highe honour ought to be giuen to the administracion of the worde and sacraments as to thinges that Christ himselfe the only begotten sonne of god so earnestly commaunded to his beloued Apostles and also adourned these thinges with his owne worde But lette vs now heare what wordes Christe spake to his disciples Go said he into the whole world and preach the gospell to euery creature Who so beleueth is baptized shal be saued but who so beleueth not shal be damned In this text there are two thinges especially cōmaunded the Apostles that is to teach the gospel and to baptise As it is also more euidently plainly declared by the euangelist Math. where Christ saith thus to his apostels Mat 20 Go ye your waye therefore and teache all nacions and baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of holy Ghost And teache them to keepe all thinges whatsoeuer I haue cōmaunded you In these wordes againe we perceiue that these two thynges are cōmaunded chiefly to the Apostles that is to teache and to baptise Nowe it is nedeful that we with al diligence marke this cōmaundement as a thyng that Christ so studiously and earnestly yea as euidently as was possible expresseth beateth it into his disciples memorye and that for none other cause but to declare that he specially taketh cure and regardeth the administracion of his holy worde and the sacramētes and to admonishe vs that we also beare attribute vnto these his ordinances their right honor geue vnto them their due glory But amōg al men the ministers of this word ought well to consider take diligēt hede vnto this cōmaundemēt of Christ For seyng that the office to teache is the ordinance cōmaundement of the most best most mighty god therfore the ministers part is in this office cōmaundement of God so to behaue him selfe to order
our workes he will make vs righteous godly and blessed so that we beyng delyuered from the handes of our enemies may serue him all the dayes of oure lyfe not in outwarde ceremonyes and seruices as in tymes past but in holynes and righteousnes that is accepted before him He requyreth the heart he asketh faith he wil be worshipped in spirite and truth and will not be fylled with outwarde woorkes that lacke faith as men haue done in times past Thus you see that Zacharias by the holy ghost acknowledgeth the grace of the gospell that shoulde come therfore he praiseth and glorifieth god as one ascertayned that by this grace we al shal be saued The lorde our god gyue vs grace bothe that wee maye know it and also that for it we may giue thanks to god our father and glorifie him for euer Amen The gospell on sainct Peter and Paules daye Math. 16. WHē Iesus came into the coasts of the cytye whych is called Cesarea Philippi he asked hys disciples saying Mar. 8. Luc. 9. Who do men say that I the sonne of man am They say Some saye thou art Iohn Baptist some Helias some Hieremias or one of the numbre of the prophetes He sayeth vnto theym But whom saye yee that I am Simon Peter answered and sayde Luce. 9. Iohn 6 Thou arte Christe the sonne of the lyuyng god And Iesus answered sayde vnto him Happy art thou Simon the sonne of Ionas for flesh and bloud hath not opened that vnto the Iohn 6 but my father which is in heauen And I saye also vnto the that thou art Peter and vpon thys rocke 1 Co. 10. Esa 28. I wyll buyld my congregacion And the gates of hell shall not preuayle agaynst it And wyll giue vnto the the keyes of the kyngedome of heauen and * mat 18 what so euer thou byndest in earthe shall bee bounde in heauen and what so euer thou losest in earth shall be loed in heauen THE EXPOSITION The cōfession of the Apostles WE haue fyrst set forth in this gospel that excellent confession of S. Peter and the other Apostels wherein they confesse that hee is Christe the sonne of the lyuynge god This confession is so excellente and noble yea and so christian that wee dare boldlye saye that where this confession is not doubteles there is no saluacion at all as the Apostell Saynte Paule witnesseth Rom. saying The hearte beleueth vnto righteousnes and the mouthe confesseth vnto saluacion Fyrste CHRIST asketh what opinyon the people had of hym and whome they sayde he was The Apostels aunswered him Some saye thou arte Iohn the Baptist some saye Helias some Hieremias or one of the prophetes Christe was not ignoraunte what was spoken of him and also he knewe it better then the apostels could tell him that where the gospell is preached there muste nedes arise manye lyes whiche are imagined not only against the truth but also against them the preach the truthe whereout it chaunceth often times that the worlde rageth and waxeth woode with them Therfore nedes must it be that Christ aposing his disciples sought some other thinge at his apostels that is to sai their cōfession of faith as ye shal hear For thus he saith But whome say you that I am Thē answered Petre in the name of them al The fayth of the Apostels Thou art the same Christ the son of the liuyng god Considre inwardly this confession thou shalt see that the faith of al the Apostels was a true and a righte faith excepte that as yet it was not confirmed with the crosse and that yet the holy ghost was not come vpon them Fyrst of all they confesse that he is the same Christ that is to saye the same anointed and capitaine whom god had longe before promised Esai 55 to theyr fathers and whome they hadde so long time looked for that doubtles he shuld come and fulfyll all suche thinges as the holy scriptures hadde prophecied of Furthermore also they confesse that he is Christe sonne of the lyuing god sente into this worlde that by hys meryte passion and deathe all menne myghte bee made good righteous and blessed And thus as it is in dead conueniente to do they confesse the same one Christ to be both god and man For as concernyng his humane nature hee is the sonne of Dauyd annoynted of the father kinge and Prieste and that after the order of Melchisedech and God hathe gyuen vnto him the seate of Dauid that is the spirituall kyngedome whyche is admynistred by the spyryte that hee maye sytte vppon it eternallye But as concernynge his godheade he is the sonne of the liuing god one in substance essence or being and maiestye with the father so that neither mai the father bee separate from the son nor the sonne from the father as sainct Paule sayth Collo 2 In Christ dwelleth all fulnesse of the godhead corporally Nowe whosoeuer with suche fayth after this maner as the Apostles here dyd confesseth Christe without doubt he shall also with the Apostles be made partaker of eternal saluacion as Christ here sayth vnto Peter like as to al his disciples Blessed art thou Symon the sonne of Iona c. Secondarily we see in this gospel that this confession commeth not of oure strengthes but by the reuelacion of God For assone as Peter had in the name of them all declared what opinion thei had of him Fleshe bloud in scripture by and by Christe sayd Fleshe and bloud hath not opened it to thee but my father which is heauē Shal then our fleshe that is reason wyt prudence freewyll and the strengthes of man bee of no value in matter of our iustificacion confessyng of God Surely nothing For without doubt here nothyng is of value but mere grace and mercy Nowe if it be grace than I beleue that I may do good woorkes that I can confesse Christ as the Apostles do in this place nedes must I let flesh contynue as fleshe and bloud as bloud so the inasmuche as partayneth vnto our saluacion the flesh not only can do nothing but also it can do nothyng but synne as S. Ihon the Euangelist sayth Ihon. 1 As many as receiue him he gaue them power to be made the sōnes of God to those that beleue in his name which are not borne of bloudes nor of the will of the fleshe nor of the will of mā but they are borne of God Doth not the Euāgelist here cleane refuse reiect in matter of iustificaciō al together that is borne of bloudes or of the wyl of fleshe or of the wylle of man Euen so it is necessary that we consider here in this place the cōfession of Peter and the other Apostles that it came not of their reason wysedome or frewyll For surely Christ would in this worde dryue backe make blunt ouerthrow our presumpcion and meke that pride that is borne in vs that we shuld
not their wordes to conuince theim that they may be cast awaye and dampned for euer In summe Christ promiseth his Apostles those that haue folowed him despisyng the pouertie of the worlde and the contempte hatered of the Phariseys do obay him that thei shal haue his kyngdome perpetual saluacion euerlastyng ioy whiche promise is not to the Apostles only but to all that beleue in him and cōtinue vnto the ende in his fayth Whiche God graūt vs through his only sonne our Lord Iesus Christ Amen The gospel on sainct Mathewes day the Apostle and Euangelistes day Math. 9. ANd as Iesus passed furth from thence he sawe a mā named Mathewe sittyng at the receyte of custome and he saith vnto him folowe me And he rose folowed him And it came to passe as Iesus satte at meate in his house beholde many Publicanes also synners that came sat doune with Iesus and his disciples And when the Phariseys sawe it thei said vnto his disciples Why eateth your mayster with Publicans synners But when Iesus heart that he sayd vnto them They that be strong nede not the Phisicion but they that are sicke Go ye rather and learne what that meaneth Osee 6. Mat. 11 I wyll haue mercy and not sacrifice For I am not come to call the righteous but synners to repentaunce THE EXPOSITION WE haue here fyrst in this Gospel the callyng of the holy Apostle S. Mathewe vnto his office to preache the Gospell And it is very necessarye to consider and looke well vppon this and suche lyke callynges For we see howe great euil they are authors of and what great hurt thei do that forsake wife and children and vncalled take vpon them the office of preachyng The callyng is tow maner o◠wayes Exo 3. Verely the lawfull callyng is wrought of God either immediatly or mediatly By God immediatly were called in the olde testament Moses the prophetes and in the newe testament S. Paule And these certainly approued their vocacion with good doctrine myracles that it was of God Act. 9. And mediatly from God were called the other Apostles which also after the resurrection of Christ chose certaine other ordayned appointed them to be preachers Nowe this meane organe is Christ whiche chose in the name of his father certayne disciples appointed theim to preache the gospel Of this vocacion whiche is by certain meanes S. Paule speaketh manyfestly For this cause I left that in Candy or Creta to amēd suche thynges as want and to sette in euery toune byshoppes c. But nowe some man wyll say Howe shal I know whether this vocaciō done by meanes betwene God vs be true and godly seyng that the Papistes and Anabaptistes call and appoint suche as be of their sectes to preachyng I answere This may be knowen by the doctrine of him that is called For if it be agreale to the word of God then is that vacaciō tru lawful And suche a preacher is to be heard receiued had in good honour estimaciō That he ought to be heard Christ sayth Who that heareth you heareth me Who casteth furth you he casteth furth me That he ought to be had in good estimacion S. Paule sayth Priestes that gouerne well are worthy double honour especially suche as labour in the woorde and doctryne But if he boast his sendyng ministery callyng neuer so muche yet his doctryne be against the worde of God take it for an vnfallyble truth he is sēt of Sathan And suche in very dede are the Papistes and Annabaptystes whose doctryne almoste in euerye article is playne contrary against the worde of God Nowe in this vocacion of Mathewe note these 11. thinges Fyrst that Christ called a symple vnlearned plain man to the office of preachyng This sheweth plainly that God choseth those thynges that are folishe afore the worlde to shame those that the worlde hath in high estimacion Another to note is that he called vnto the office of Apostleship a synner a Publican And by this he sheweth that he is not a respector of personages and also that he came into the worlde to saue synners The obedience of Mathewe Secondarily this Gospell prayseth and setteth furth the obedience of Mathewe For by and by as he had heard the voyce cōmaundement of Christ he obayed and folowed him Yea he folowed Christ both spiritually also corporally The woorde that Christ sayd to him Folowe me not only sounded in the eares of his body but it also entred into his very heart and made him prompt and glad to forsake all thynges and to folowe Christ For if the spirite of God had not made that worde liuely and able to worke in his heart he had not doubtles so sone forsaken his office ryches For surely we know right well the nature of richemen The nature of richmen Mat 19 euen by the wordes that Christ himselfe spake saiyng It is easyer for a Camel to go through the eye of a nedle then for a riche man to entre into the kyngdome of heauen And here note the power of the worde when it is spoken for it is not so light a thyng or of so lytle price as some vngodly esteme it And Christ sayth also in another place of the same woorde You are not those that speake but the spirite of your father that speaketh within you You heare that Christe wyll not separate his spirite and his woorde So wee see in this gospel that this word of Christ Folow me did illuminat with the holy spirit the heart of Mathew and wrought in him so great faith desire loue toward Christ that by by nothing considering his acompt which yet he had not mad to the magistrates he forsooke al togither and folowed Christ As S. Paul saith Al that is written is writen for our learning therfore ought wee to set before our eyes this obedience of Mathew and learne by it to obei in al things that god cōmaundeth and requireth of vs. As for exāple If thou be called vnto matrimony and haue not the gift of continency folow god which saith of this thing Gen. 2. Therfore shal mā forsake father and mother and kepe himself vnto his wyfe and thei shal be two in one flesh If thou be called to any office in the common welth and ciuyle adminystracion be ready faithful obedient For this vocacion that is done by the superior Magistrates is as S Peter saith of god himselfe 2. Pet. 5 If thou be called to the office of preaching and art apte to that office be obediente do thy callynge For in this case Christ saith Folowe me Thirdely we se in this gospel Christe came for sinners that Christ eateth drinketh with publicans sinners so that in this dede he sheweth testifieth that he came into thys worlde for sinners Note that I say for siners For though al the
aske annye benefytes of him either corporal or spiritual wee ought to looke into his gospel and promises that we may know of theym what thinges hee wylleth vs to wyll and to aske Of corporall thinges Christ sayth Your heaueÌ„ly father knoweth what nede ye haue of all those things Seke therfore first the kingdome of god his righteousnes and al these things shal be cast vnto you Of spiritual things and heauenly goodnes the gospel of Christ is ful of them As for this thing came Christ specially that al which beleueth in him shuld not perish but haue euerlastiÌ„g life Therfore thou hast here put vnto thee the treasure of al good things which thou doest not wyll onely aske but also thou maist claim if thou doest tarry in Christe and his wordes tarry in the. In conclusion Let vs pray vnto the heauenly father for his grace that he wil graunt vs through his holy spirit that we may acknowledge Christ our sauiour and abide in him Amen The gospell on S. Lukes daye Luce. 10 AFter these thinges the lord apointed other seuenty and two also and sent them twoo two before hym into euery city place whether he him selfe would come Therfore said he vnto them Mat. 9. the haruest is great stut the labourers ar fewe Pray ye therefore the lorde of the haruest to send forth laborers into his haruest Go your wayes Beholde I sende you forthe as sheepe amonge wolues Beare no wallet neither scrippe nor shoes and Mat. 10 salute no man by the waye 4 Re. 4 Mat. 20 Luc. 9. Into what house so euer yee enter fyrst saye Peace be to this house And if the sonne of peace be there your peace shal reste vpon him if not it shal turne to you again And in the same house tarry styll eatyng and drynkyng suche as they geue For the labourer is worthy his rewarde THE EXPOSITION HEre in this Gospel is fyrst to bee noted the earnest and diligent fauor of Christ towardes maÌ„kynd That where as he had sent into Galilee as it appeareth in the chapter which goth before this twelue ambassadours or messingers whom he did call Apostles to preache the kyngdome of God and to confirme thesame preachyng with miracles so when he perceiued the great desyre of the people to heare this his Gospel of the kyngdome of God was goyng from Galile vnto Iury he did chose out of his disciples other .lxxii. to go before him preache two and two together Now therfore let vs heare with what commaundement and prerogatiues they wer seÌ„t to preach The occasioÌ„ why he sent theÌ„ he shewed saiyng The haruest is great but the labourers are fewe Here are fewe wordes but waightie thinges are to be noted in theim Fyrst that those whiche desyre to heare the gospel of Christ are likened vnto the haruest For in husbandry euery thyng hath his tyme and grothe vntil the sedes are rype and ready to be reaped Fyrst the ground is plowed then sowen after the sedes spryng vp into grasse groweth vp vnto stalkes at length the sedes increase and are reaped and caryed into the barnes The husbandry of Christes â—elde In lyke maner doth it chance with the husbandry in Gods felde First Moses with his law did tyl the ground afterwarde the Prophetes didde sowe in the tyme of Iohn the baptist the ayres did apeare last of al when Christ was come and had sent forth hys Apostels came the haruest and the corne was caried into Goddes barne Now for asmuche as the tyme of preachinge of the gospell of Christe is the haruest time let vs see what the corne is that is caried into this barne What the corne is which is broghte together into the barne of god The corne is partly the people whiche thoroughe the preachinge of the gospell are gathered into the barne of Christes churche and partely also those good thinges which men doo gather out of the gospell through faith But what be those is it not suche wheat and barly as the bely is fed with all No suerly but the thinge whiche the faithfull do gather in the haurest of the gospell are spiritual namelye righteousnes before god and men wherof the fyrste is by faith through Christ for the iust lyutth by his owne faith the seconde through obediens and the frutes of faith and laste of all the life euerlasting and heauenly ioye This is that corne whiche is gathered in the haruest of the gospell Greate payne must be taken in husbandrye Secondarilye it is to be noted that as in this temporal haruest nothing is gathered into the barnes without greate sweat and labour for ther must be diligent watch bothe daye and nighte and the heate of the daye muste be tolerated and borne and the handes must be hardened so likewise when ye shall gather the spiritual corne much aduersitie is to be suffered For the more you do labour suffre the more corne yee shall gather into your barnes Wherfore seynge that nowe is the time of our haruest let vs not be idle and slothful but cherefullye let vs take in hand the paines of the haruest for he that doth gather in the heruest saith Salomon is a wise child but he that is slothful in the sommer is a childe of confusion And O thou sluggard go to the Emmet considre her waies learne to be wise She hath no guyde nor ouerseer nor ruler yet in the sommer she prouideth her meate and gathereth her fode togither in the haruest Thirdely Christ saith True preachers are optained of god Pray the lorde of the haruest to send forth laborers into his haruest Wher with is vndoubtedlye signified that the trewe preachers are not shaken as the prouerbe is from the trees but that it is needefull for vs to get them froÌ„ heaueÌ„ with our praiers You wil say peraduenture Shall not we then study and cause our children to be taught in holy scripture shal we only make a coÌ„mon prayer and haue a preacher suddeÌ„ly sent doune from heauen Verely Christe wold haue vs to be diligent in the educatioÌ„ of our youth in the study of his holye scripture For it is the duety both of the Magistrats also of the parents to help prouid that youthe yea that all menne if it bee possible be brought vppe in the study of goddes holye scripture that euerye one maye bee readye to the ministration of the gospell But in so dooynge we muste remembre that it is not oure industrye laboure and studye that prouydeth the true preacher of the Gospell but it is oure heauenly fathers gyfte frome whome commeth euerye good and perfete gyfte And therefore we muste adde vnto our dylygent laboure prayers that god will vouchesafe to geue the increase that he wyll illuminate those that we haue brought vp in learnyng and now haue called to the ministery of the church with his holy ghost that they may sincerely preach the