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.
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
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
not knowen For the apostels which were in so great heuines feare of death for their synne coulde by none other means receiue comfort tranquilitie of conscience then by hearing the tidinges of the resurrection of Christ And who can deny that they yf thei had ben demaūded as he was had not al don as Peter did Did thei not forsake Christ Fled not thei frō him If they fled then dyd they sinne Ma◠26 after the sayinge of Christe This nyghte shall yee all bee offended in me For he that is offended in Christe must nedes syn Mat. 11 for it is written Blessed is he that is not offended in me Then go to If ther was syn so was there likewise feare and panges of deathe So that it is necessarye that these troubled consciences muste needes receyue comforte throughe the preachinge of the passion and resurrection of Iesus Christe As if the aungell shulde speake to the women Get you hence shortely to the troubled apostels and saye vnto them Christe is a conquerer ouer sinne hell and the diuell Moreouer byd them be of a good chear for Christ is risen frō death the prophecy of Oseas is fulfilled saying Death is swallowed vp in victory Ose 31. Deathe where is this stinge Hel wher is thy victory Tel them also that Christ himselfe wil go before them into Galilee wher they shall see him and haue these things declared of him and that they plucke vp their hartes and doubte not of his resurrection On this wise doth the aungell teache the women to preach instructing them what they shulde saye to the apostels Marke howe that at priestly officeis here inioyned to the women But who did consecrate them Priestes the byshoppe of Rome No. Who then God throughe his sonne Christ oure Bysshop For who so euer beleueth in Christe All Christian mē bee preestes 1. Pet. 2 and throughe hys worde hath receiued the holy ghoste pertayneth to those people and flocke of the which S. Peter speketh without any difference of kindes be they men or women saieng Ye are that chosen generacion that kingely preesthod that holy nacion that peculier people that ye shulde shew the vertues of him whiche hath called you oute of darkenes into hys meruailous lyght Luc. 2. Dyd not Anna the prophetisse exercise this priestely office Dydde not the foure doughters of Phylip prophecy Act. 12. And as touchinge that 2 Co. 14 S. Paule doth not permit a womā to speake in the congregacion thereout it doth not folowe that it is not laufull for women to confesse Christ but that euery thinge shulde be doone in good ordre For it is meete and conueniente for women to holde their peace when men be present that exerciseth the office of teachinge But if suche menne shulde faile who wolde forbidde women to teache For suerly the aungell that commaunded the resurrection to be declared to the apostels by the womē was no foole Finally we altogether whether we be men or women must confesse that we be regenerate into a liuinge hope through the resurrection of Christ Iesu from death For in this confession and knowledge as S. Peter saith consisteth and standeth our iustifieng and saluacion 1 Pet. 1. The fyrste sondaye after Easter Iohn 20. THe same day at nyghte Luc. 24 whyche was the fyrste day of the Sabathes when the dotes were shut wher the disciples were assēbled togyther for feare of the Iewes came Iesus and stode in the middest and sayth vnto them Peace be vnto you And when he had so sayde he sheweth vnto them hys handes and hys syde Then were the disciples glad when they saw the lord Thē said Iesus to them againe Peace be vnto you As the father Esa 61 Mat. 11 Luc. 4. Io. 17. sent me euen so send I you also And when he had sayd those words he breathed on them and sayd vnto thē Because the holy ghost Whose so euer synnes ye remitte they are remitted vnto thē And whose soeuers sinnes ye retayne they are retayned THE EXPOSITION The weakenes of the disciples FYrste of all here we maye marke and se an exaumple of incredulitie in the apostles and howe meekely Christ suffereth their imbecility and weakenes and dothe not straight wayes caste them of The women shewed them that Christ was risen from death and that it was shewed and tolde them by the aungel Luc. 24 but as S. Luke witnesseth they toke their wordes for a iest and dyd not beleue them Yet this notwithstanding at the hearyng of it they were gathered togither But howe Very priuely and with the dores shutte Why so For fear of the Iewes The fear of the disciples Lo behold and marke here ye haue excellently set forth the power and myghte of the fleshe For the Apostles thoughe the women hadde shewed theym yet dyd not they beleue that Christ was risen from death Moreouer they were stryken with so great feare that they gathered togither priuely and ther abode with the dores shut to theim Whoe dare nowe be so bolde as to saye that the fleshe can do any thinge in thinges pertayning to our iustifiyng They that be after the flesh are fleshly minded Rom. 8. as Paule witnesseth Nowe if a fleshly man be fleshly minded he can not lyghtly beleue in Christ which rose from death was the first of the dead that rose as the same S. Paule likewise declareth in the actes of the Apostles Act. 26. And in this poynt must the holy ghost worke For when he thorough the word is giuen vs hath made vs newe creatures then shall we no more feare men as the apostles here do but we shall feare god not as a seruaūt feareth his maister but as the welbeloued son whiche diligently will take heede and beware that he doth not that thing that shal prouoke his father that is in heauen to angre Such feare doth Christ teache vs saiyng Mat. 10 Feare not theim that kylle the body but rathet feare him that hath power to kyll both body and sowle for euer Boldnes of theim that hee lightned with the holy ghost Actu 5. Surely all they that be lightened with the holy spirite ar bold do wtout any feare persist and perseuere in the knowledging of the trewth and the gospell Yea very then when they suffre and are rebuked for the truth of the gospelles sake as the Apostels did as the actes of the Apostels witnesseth They departed from the presence of the counsaile reioysing that they were worthye to suffre rebuke for his names sake Nowe bycause that the apostles had not so greate strengthe and faith Christe cometh and appeareth commending and announcynge his peace vnto them And also giueth them his holy ghoste which afterwarde vppon Witsondaye shulde be confirmed in theyr hartes that nothinge shulde be lefte behinde wher throughe theyr faythe myghte bee increased The increduliti of Thō Here wee muste needes bringe in saincte
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
the publicane stondinge a farre of wolde not lyfte vp hys eyes to heauen but smote vpon his breste saying God be mercyfull to me a sinner I tell you thys man departed home to his house iustified more thē the other Mat. 24 Luc. 14 For euery one that exalteth himselfe shal be brought lowe And hee that humbleth hym selfe shal be exalted THE EXPOSITION IN this gospel we fynde two rightousnesses that is to say rightousnes of faith of workes which is here described in these two persons so that we may clerely perceaue that not the rightousnes of workes but the righteousnes of faithe is commended and alowed Therefore we will intreate of the thinges that be here to bee noted of by ordre The description of the pharisey Fyrste we muste considre that hipocritical persō whiche came with the publicane vp into the temple for to pray For he is excellently sette forthe and described with glorious highe workes and manye which notwithstanding howe excellent so euer they were they did not please god bicause thei wer done without faith Who wold haue reproued the praier of the pharisey yf it hadde come oute of a perfecte harte and a trewe faythe and hadde soughte therein the glorye of god and the vtilitye of his neighboure For wee oughte to commende and prayse suche a worke for godly and christian forasmuche as Christe him selfe hathe commaunded it saying that wee oughte alwayes to pray and not to leaue of Luc. 18. but this prayer was not doone in spirite and in the truth Ioh. 4. The glorye of god was not taught therin Wherefore we maye lyken it to the same thinge wherof Esaias speaketh saying Esa 29. This people draweth nighe me with their mouthe and praiseth me highely with their lyppes where as their hart neuerthelesse is farre frome me And that this pharisey did not seke the glory of god the wordes of his prayer plainly declareth yt For he saithe thus Geuing of thāks I thanke the god that I am not as other men Thankes geuynge wherethrough we prayse god for the benefites which we receiue whether they be bodely or ghostely is a good and a christiane worke For how can we be called christiā mē yf we do not knowledg the benefites of god done vnto vs for the same geue thankes Do not we finde such frute of faith in the apostle S. Paule throughe oute all his epistles that is euermore giuing of thankes But vndoubtedly the thankes giuing of this pharisey is not good but very blasphemy toward god bicause he seeketh not the glory of god therin but his owne glory I am not saith he like other mē What maner of giuing thankes shal we call this howe canst thou perceiue here that he geueth god his honour Wher can we know here that god allonly is he which iustifieth vs through Christ For here we se howe the pharise hath no nede of god for he is righteous of himselfe O notable pride But it is so ypocrisy euer hangeth vpō pride where with he extolleth him selfe dispiseth other This pharisey thīketh not sufficiēt that he praiseth hīselfe but he dispiseth al other most highli slaūdreth thē He calleth thē robbers vnrighteous aduoutrers Also this goodly pharisey is allonly good and thinketh hee hathe satisfied and fulfilled the lawe for bicause outwardly he semeth to haue fulfilled yt and for the same thinketh himselfe righteous before god And in the meane whyle considereth not Rom. 7 the lawe as Paule saieth to bee spirituall that is that the lawe requireth not allonly the outwarde worke but also to be fulfilled with the harte affection and spirite It maye well be that he stole nothing nor with violence and force toke any thing from his neighbour with hys handes And likewise althoughe that he had fulfylled the same withe his herte haue wee nothinge therfore to say Yea surely in this giuing of thāks he hathe stolen and robbed god frō his glory And againe though outwardly with the deed he hathe not ben an aduoultrer Mat. 5. yet he maye haue beene one in his hart All this he doth not beleue but putteth all to this poore publican whom all māner of wais he thinketh worse thē him selfe Thus whā he had boasted him selfe he goeth forth further glorified him againe that he is no glotton nor no dronkard but that he fasteth twise in a weeke Also that he giueth the tenthe of his good to the poore Call you not that glorifying But wher remaineth the saying of Ieremy Lette him that reioyce reioyse in god Ierm 9 The Pharsye doth not thus but he must glorifye himselfe in his owne workes Beholde here thou haste the persone of this righteous and honest Pharisey described A descriptiō of the publican Secondarely we wyll intreate of the publicane whyche is described ferre vnlyke vnto the pharisey For he as the Euangelyst writeth stoode farre of and durste not lifte vp his eyes but knocked on his breste and sayde God be mercifull to me a sinner Here thou hearest no glorifiynge no pryde no dispisyng of other menne but allonlye disablinge of himselfe in so muche that he iudgeth himselfe vnworthy to lyfte vp his eyes towarde heauen or to stand in the middest of the temple as the pharisy did With these gestures this miserable publicane sufficientlye doth declare what he thought of himselfe in his harte but why do not we considre it oute of his wordes God he saieth be mercifull vnto me a sinner The confessiō of sinners Here do I heare the trew confession of sinners which is so necessarye that withoute that no christian man can with any frute heare the comfortable tydinges of the gospell For the preaching of the gospel promiseth vs remissiō of sinnes through Christ but not to them that iustifie themselues but vnto theim that frome the grounde of their hartes knowledgeth themselues to be sinners For so saith Christe I am not come to call the righteous but sinners Mat. 9. For yf I knoweledge not my selfe to bee a sinner howe can my sinnes be forgiuen me Hereto pertayneth that S. Iohn baptist and Christe first of all preached repentaunce For through the preachinge of the lawe our sinnes be declared and shewed that wee maye be brought throughe it to the knowledge of oure selues and acknoweledge that we haue neede of helpe and comforte In this wise also S. Paule saith Rom. 3. that both the Iewes and gentyles are vnder sinne And to conclude Knowledg of sinne is the fyrste degree to come vnto righteousnes and where this knowledge is there is the gospell preached with frute Lyke as Christ sayeth The gospell is preached vnto the poore Mat. 11 that is vnto contrite hartes that knowledg their offences is preached the gospell And wher the gospell is so preched the hearer learneth how that all only through Christe of mere grace wee be iustified and saued Wherout he beginneth to pray with the publican God bee
the Angel added And his kyngdome shall haue none ende Suche a kyngdome of Christ is also excellently described by the Prophete Esaie in the ix chapiter where among other thynges he sayth thus Esai 9. His imperie shal be dilated or multiplied and peace shal be without end vpoÌ„ the throne of Dauid vpon his kyngdome that he may confirme strengthen it in iustice and iudgement froÌ„ thencefurth and for euermore Marke that suche a peace shal be in the kyngdome of Christe whiche shal not endure for a tyme but for euermore And how could this peace be referred vnto Dauid whiche neither had this peace nor yet could geue it vnto other Furthermore in this kyngdome iustice shal be made strong in iudgement Iudgemente Nowe howe shall this be Where as is no knowlege of synnes there can not folowe the iustice of fayth Therfore that I may come vnto the knowlege of synne and after that by fayth attayn vnto the righteousnes of fayth Christ fyrst causeth me so to be throweÌ„ doune at the preachyng of repentaunce that I shall feale my selfe worthy for my synnes to haue hell and eternal dampnacion But then through the preachyng of free remission of synnes for Christes sake I shal be againe comforted and raysed vp so that in tyme commyng I shall feare nothyng for my synnes but I shal stand stedfast in fayth and wayte for eternal health After this maner is iustice stablished by iudgement in the kyngdome of Christ Vpon this againe it foloweth that this seate of Dauid which here is promised vnto Christ is nothyng els but a spiritual kyngdome of Christ whiche is gouerned and ruled by the scripture of the EuaÌ„gely or gospell Neither can it staÌ„d in any maner other thyng then in spirite and trueth For it can not bee a corporall kyngdome For why these thynges that wee haue nowe spoken of and the corporal kyngdome that Dauid sometyme gouerned differre as farre as heauen and yerth And to speake briefly Christ him selfe in the gospel of Luke concludeth this saiyng The kyngdome of God is within you Luc. 17 Thyrdly wee haue here a noble ensample of true fayth in Mary For although at the fyrst she was abashed at the Angels worde and afterwarde also wondered right sore ExaÌ„ples of fayth in Mari howe she should be the mother of the Lord seyng that she knewe no man Yet now when she heareth that the holy ghost should worke all this in her she gladly committeth her selfe vnto the wylle of God with great mekenes lowlynes and beleueth the Angel whiche God had sent vnto her Wherfore also Elizabeth highly praised this fayth Luc. 1. saiyng Blessed art thou which hast beleued for those thynges shal be accoÌ„plished in thee which were tolde thee from the Lord. Nature of fayth For this is the true nature of fayth which appeareth here in Mary to beleueue the worde to leane vnto the worde and to cleaue vnto the worde yea though that thyng whiche the worde speaketh of can in no wise be compreheÌ„ded by mans reason For why shuld it bee called fayth but that it beleueth thynges inuisible not apparaÌ„t yea incoÌ„preheÌ„sible to maÌ„ Thus did AbrahaÌ„ wheÌ„ coÌ„trary vnto hope he beleued iÌ„to hope For as S. Paul saith He was not weake in faith neither coÌ„sidered his own body dead in maÌ„ner for he was now almost an hundreth yeare old nor the baraine wombe of Sarah He staggered not thorow vnbeliefe at the promise of god but he was stronge in faith and gaue to god the honoure ful certefyed that whatsoeuer god promised he was able to performe it Inlike manner must we do Whensoeuer god speaketh any thing whiche I can not obtaine nor perceiue by my reason or wisedome it becometh me not to dispute by what meanes it maye come to passe but thus muste I saye Behold I am ready the lordes bonde seruaunt and gladly do I meekely submitte my selfe captiue vnto thy woorde althouge I perceiue it not nor can not comprehende it Thus did Mary when the aungell had saide The holy ghost shall come ouer the and the power of the moste highest shall ouershadowe the. c. Marye sayd Beholde the Lordes hande mayden be it done to me accordynge to thy woorde Nowe if yee will doo vnto Marye suche seruice as shall please her beeleue the promise of god as shee beleued it Feare god as Mary feared god liue as shee liued and thou shalt possesse eternall lyfe as Marye doth As Christe promised Who so euer doth the wil of my father that is in heauen he is my brother sister and mother God graunte vs all that wee maye doo well Amen THE PASSION OF OVR Lorde Iesu Christ parted into syxe Sermons The fyrste sermon Mat. 26. Mar. 14 Luce. 22 WHen the eueÌ„ was come he sate doune with the twelue And as they did eate he sayd Verely I saye vnto you that Ioh. 13. one of you shall betraye me And they were exceedinge sorowfull and began euery one of them to saye vnto him Lorde is it I Hee answered and sayde He that dippeth hys hand with me in the dishe the same shall betray me Psal 61 The sonne of man truly goeth as it is written of hym but wo vnto that man by whom the son of man shal be betrayed It had been good for that man yf hee hadde not beene borne Then Iudas which betrayed hym aunswered and sayde Maister is it I He saide vnto hym Thou haste saide Whan they were caryng Iesus tooke breake and whan he had geuen thankes he brake it and gaue it to his disciples and sayde 1 Cor. 9. Luce. 22 Mar 18. Take eate this is my body And he tooke the cuppe and thanked and gaue it them saying Drynke ye all of thys for this is my bloude which is of the new testament that is shedde for many for the remission of sinnes But I say vnto you I wyll not drynke hensforth of thys frute of the vinetree vntyll that daye when I shall drynke it newe with you in my fathers kyngedome Mat. 14 And when they hadde sayde grace they wente oute vnto mount Oliuer THE EXPOSITION WE haue deeâ—ly beloued not with out cause recited vnto you oute of the gospel of Math. the text of the Lords supper that we purpose at this tyme to treat vpon vnto your louing charity For so it see we think it profitable to councel and helpe the weak which about this time ar wont for the more part of a custome to come vnto the coÌ„munion of the lordes supper participat of it and therefore they shall loue and more gladlye desire some briefe instruction in this matter The beginninge of this gospell declareth with how greate humanitie and gentlenes Christ prouoked Iudas vnto repentaunce adding also vnto yt Christs pacience calleeth Iudas to repentaunce that except he did repent that daÌ„nacion in soul and bodye was prophecied to chaunce vnto hym But who tolde
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
you Yet notwithstādīg it is so couered with the crosse that it can be seen or knowē of no mā but of him to whom it is geuen of God to se it Thyrdly The blindnes of Iudges that order matters for frēdship or fauour here is set furth the example of a wicked Iudge in Pylate For he although he well considered the innocency of Christ was well ascertained that he had not deserued the death as he himself also confessed yet for the frendship fauor of the Iewes only he deliuered Iesus to the ministers to be scourged to be crouned with thornes to bee spyt vpon stryken Besydes all this was it not a great blyndnes hee was scourged and most vyllainously entreated Furthermore he brought him furth sayd Behold I bring him furth to you that you may know that I haue founde in him no cause worthy death If thou fynde no cause in him worthy of death I pray the Pylate why dyddest thou delyuer him to the Iewes to be scourged and sufferest the souldiers seruantes to vse so great tyrannye and euyl agaynst hym Or wherefore sayest thou afterwarde Take him you and crucify him accordyng to your lawe as for me I fynd no cause in hym Is this the offce of a Iudge to deliuer an innocent cōuict by no wytnesse into the hādes of his enemyes Euen thus surely it cōmeth to passe when men wyll be Iudges and retayne the fauour of menne as it chaunsed here vnto Pylate But what sayth God in this matter Forsoth thus In waye of iudgement bee not thou an acceptor of persones Deu. 1. that is In iudgement thou shalt do to a straunger and vnknowen as to thy frende and acquayntaunce Deale with the poore as with the ryche And briefly be to one man as to another so that no man maye haue iust occasion to complayne either of violence tyranny affection or fauour parcialitee or iniustice But this dothe not Pylate here regarde but lest he should lese Cesars fauour he willyngly doth that thyng for the Iewes pleasure that he was very well ascertayned to be vniust and vntrue For why with his owne mouthe he pronounceth that he founde no cause in Christ worthy death and yet presumeth he to doo this horrible facte to condempne Christe and to adiudge him to deathe Nowe lette vs not thynke but that euen in oure tyme lyke iniquitee maye bee founde Pylate somtyme iudgethe in oure tymes yea dayly lyke ensamples are doone before our eyes if menne wyll at the least open theyr eyes and looke vpon theim For where Christ oure Lorde is and reigneth by his woorde spirite and Gospell there muste it needes bee also that the poore Christians suffre all tyranny of the enemyes of the Gospel yea though theyr behauour be suche that they offende and hurte no man Furthermore it is impossible but suche as bee aduersaryes of the trueth shall together conspire against it yea though they before were most vtter enemies as in this place we se Pylate Herode do Euen so in our tyme wee see them that before were mortal enemies at dissencion with in them selues nowe they become hye louers frendes and agree in one to persecute the gospel and to murther innocentes But be thou of a good cōfort thou I say that hast receiued the trueth louest it We haue this Christ whiche rose frō death the thyrd day ouercame all his enemies and aduersaries furthermore hath receyued al power in heauen and yearth This Christ if we continue stedfast in faith vnto the ende wyll take our part stād on our side saue vs so that we shal neuer be seperate from him Fourthly The truth is euerie-s sted out of coūtenaunce Pylate again skornfully asketh Christ saiyng What is truth takyng occasiō to aske that question because he heard Christ say I came into the worlde for this intent that I might beare wytnesse vnto the truth And as in this place we lerne that the truth gospel shal euer by this worlde be mocked dispised iested out of countenance and that mans reason nor any wyt of man can by it selfe take or apprehēd it so also must we know what Christ in this place calleth the truth Truthe Neither may wee take this diffinicion of the truth out of our owne brayne but of the gospel of S. Ihon where Christ himself teacheth defineth it Thy sermon or worde O father sayth he is the truth But what sermon is it or what maner woorde is it Truely none other sermon or worde but the same woorde of his heauenly father that is to say the most holy gospel For this is suche a worde of so great power that it is able to comfort the brused feareful cōsciences and geueth the holye ghoste whiche leadeth vs from all hipocrisy whiche most of al thinges is enemy vnto the truth And of this worde also speaketh the apostle Paul sayinge Rom. 1. The gospell is the power of god vnto health or saluacion to euery manne that beleueth It was necessary for Christ to bear witnes to those thinges as he sayth vnto Pilate that is he muste needs in his preachinge set forth this truth which truth is none other but the worde of god and the gospell whereby ys sette forthe vnto all men the good will of god toward all those that receiue and professe his gospell But nowe if I wyll know this truthe and by the knowledge of it attaine vnto eternall health I maye not go aboute it scornefully as Pylate dothe in this place But I must doo as the Tessalonians dyd in the actes of the apostels Act. 17. Those that receiued the worde were very studious and dayly searched the scriptures whether it were so as the Apostels preached For if I do so without doubt the vnderstanding and sence of the scripture shal not be denayed me but aboundantly giuen vnto me Psa 18. as the scripture testifieth The witnesse of the lord is faithfull giuing wisdome vnto babes And to this pertaineth it that Christe saithe in Iohn Search the scripture for thei beare witnes of me The fowerth sermon on the passion Ioh. 19. THen Pylate took Iesus therfore scourged him Ma. 27 Mar. 15 And the souldiers wounde a croune of thornes and put on his heade And thei did on him a purple garmente and came vnto him and sayd Hayl kyng of the Iewes and they smote him on the face Pylate went forth againe and said vnto them Behold I bringe him forthe to you that ye may know that I fynd nofaute in him Then came Iesus forthe wearinge a croune of thorne and a robe of purple And he saieth vnto them Beholde the man Mat 27 Mar. 15 Luc. 23. When the high Priestes therfore and ministers sawe him they cryed saying Crucifye him Crucifye him Pilate saithe vnto them Take ye hym and crucifi hym for I fynd no cause in him The Iewes answered hym We haue
of the fyrste and of the other whiche was crucyfyed with hym But when they came to Iesus and sawe that he was deade already they brake not his legges but one of the sowldiers wyth a speare thruste hym into the syde forth with came therout bloude and water And he that sawe it bare record and his record is true And he knoweth that he sayth true that ye myght beleue also For these thynges were done that the scripture myghte be fulfilled Exod. 12 Ye shall not break one bone of hym And agayn another scripture sayeth ♣ Zac. 12 They shall looke on hym whome they pearsed Mat. 26 Mar. 15 Luce. 23 After this Ioseph of Aramathia whych was a disciple of Iesus but secretly for fear of the Iewes besought Pylat that he myght take doune the body of Iesus And Pylate gaue him licence He came therfore and toke the body of Iesus and ther came also Nicodemus whiche at the beginninge came to Iesus by nyght and brought of Myrre and Aloes myngeled togither about an hundreth pound wayght Then toke they the body of Iesus and wounde it with linnen clothes with the odoures as the maner of the Iewes is to bury And in the place where he was crucified there was a garden and in the garden a newe sepulchre wherein was neuer manne layde There layde they Iesus therfore because of the preparyng of the Sabboth of the Iewes for the sepulchre was nye at hand THE EXPOSITION WE haue treated dearely beloued in these former sermons very plainly vpon the prisonment or bindyg scourgyng spittyng vpon derision or scornyng lastly the very death of oure Lord Iesus Christ and accordyng to these articles we haue diligently put in your memory that the very chiefe and principal cause why Christ should suffre this was our synnes Furthermore we haue declared vnto you what vtilitee and profite commeth by this passion vnto those that by fayth apprehend it acknowledgyng theyr sinnes and beyng for the same confounded for feare in their consciences that is to say they obtayne forgeuens of synnes accordyng as blessed S. Peter testifyeth saiyng 1. Pet. 3 Christ ones suffered for oure synnes the righteous for the vnrighteous and to bryng vs to God he was mortified in the fleshe but quickened in the spitite And nowe foloweth what was done after his death before he was buryed The Euangelist writeth thus Then the Iewes because it was the preparyng day besought Pylate that the legges of those that wer crucifyed might be broken and that they might be taken doune and Pylate agreed to their peticion and permitted it But was it so done in dede They broke the theues legged but not Christes And this was done that the scripture shuld be fulfylled as the Euangelist allegeth whiche sayeth You shall not breake a bone of him And again an other scripture said Zac. 12 The aduersaris cā do no more then is permitted thē Psa 21. They shall see him whom they haue pearsed But what lessons haue we in this History First we must here marke and learn that the aduersaries of Christ could procede no further in their malice and furor against him thē was permited them of God And although Christ before was come into that angwyshe and necessitye that he cryed My god My god wherfore hast thou forsaken me yet euen then the heauēly father toke the care and custodi of him so that nothīg might chaūce vnto him but that which before was cōprehended in the scriptures testified of him And as in this place he tooke the care for his son and so defēded him that his bones wer not broken euen so wil he mercifully conserue and keep al that beleue that receiue the word of his son Iesu Christ and continue in it vnto the ende so that nothynge may be able to chaunce vnto them but only that which is the good wil of god as we haue an example in Dauid Dauid whome god suffered for a time to be persecuted yea and banished of Saul yet at the laste he made hym king and brought him to honor Also take insample of Iob Iob. in whome god apointed Sathan bothe the tyme and measure how farre he shuld tempt goddes seruant Truth it is the world may take away our liues if god wil so permit them but the eternall lyfe whiche onlye is obtayned by Christ that can no man take from vs. We also learn in this place of this history that seyng the wordes spoken of the paschall lambe in the seconde booke of Moyses ar here by the euangelist applied and referred vnto Christ In this I saye we learne Christe is the true paschall lambe that Christe is therfore the true paschal lambe signified by that lambe in the old testament and now offered vppon the crosse for our sinnes by cause all that beleue in him shall not perishe nor be ashamed but shal haue lyfe euerlasting Doubtles this knewe S. Iohn when he saide Ioh. 1. Beholde the lambe of god which taketh away the sinnes of the worlde And Paule also called Christe the paschall lambe sayinge after this manner 1 Cor. 5. Our Paschall Christe is offered vp for vs. Therfore let vs kepe our feaste not in olde leuen nor in leuen of malice wickednes but in vnleuened bread that is purenes and truthe True holynes of the heart Now to cleaue to this true paschal lamb whose bones according to the scripture wer not broken and by fayth to be planted in him bringeth a farre other holynes then any the Iews had which sought it in extreme outwarde thinges that is it bringeth holynes of the hearte whiche consysteth in spirite faith and truth Secondarily the Euangelist saithe that one of the souldiers opened with a spere Christes syde by and by ther ran forth bloud and water And furthermore though he saith he himself saw it yet bringeth he againe the scripture that ther might bee a more sure testimony out of the prophete Zacharye Zach. 12 Apoc. 1. whiche saith They shall see into whom they thrust their spear Now is this a sure testimony ful of cōfort especially vnto vs taketh away al doubtes from our hartes as if infidelity shuld think Christ is not our redemer hee is not verye god c. These blasphemers I saye are put away for why we see that all thinge that is doone here in the passion of Christ is consonant agreable with the scripture And what signifieth it the there stremeth out bloud water The bloud of Christe signifieth the remissiō of sins frō the side of Christ By the blud Christ wold shew vnto vs that remission and forgiuenes of sinnes shuld euermore continue in his Church as wtout doubt it was obtained thorow the same his most precious blud But for whō was it obtained Suerly for those that come to it bi knowledgīg of their sins and by faith But to the vnbeleuer this most precious treasure may not be propounded
continually therfore is it nedeful that we may haue contynually remission of synnes in the Churche of Christ and the christian ought to knowe that these wordes Thy synnes are forgeuen thee are wordes for all tymes that neuer shal be disanulled but contynue for euer Thyrdly Hypocrites alwayes murmur against God this gospel cōtaineth the grudgynges of the Phariseys against Christ whiche ryse vpon this occasion that Christ receyued the synful womā and forgaue her all her synnes The cheife of theim was Symon whiche sayd wtin himselfe If he were a Prophete surely he should knowe who and what woman it is that toucheth him for she is a synner Of these cogitacions a man may perceyue what is the nature of hypocrisy Nowe this is the nature of hypocrisy Nowe this is the nature of hypocrites to esteme them selues highly to boast crake theyr owne merytes to set vp their owne righteousnes to contempne all other as we may see in many examples of the holy gospell And doubtles this hypocrisy is a thyng borne within all menne yea so soore rooted that it can not bee plucked out tyll the holy ghost come newe create that olde Adam makyng him a newe creature ◠9. as Esaias sayth For all they are wicked and hypocrites and all their mouthes haue spokē foly But Christ in this place could not ouerpasse it but he telleth Symon his hypocrisye Thou sayeth he gauest me not water for my feete as the custome is of this countrey when I came into thy house thou gauest me no kysse thou enbalmedst not my head with oyle But this synner hath done al this yea that with suche diligence that I can not cast her from me for it is done of fayth and loue Thou lothest her as a synner but I for the faythe 's sake that she hath in me do receyue her as a doughter and inheritour of God And thoughe before tymes her sinnes were great Fayth makes vs children of God yet nowe is the loue greater that she hath to me By like maner Christ stopped the mouthes of the other Phariseys that sat at meate with him so that they sayd within theim selfes What is this he that also forgeueth sinnes For Christ by by addeth to this Thy fayth hath made the safe go thy way in peace As who sayth You wonder are offended that I am not offended toward this poore woman but knowe you that I not onely wyll receyue her but also wyll make her more righteous then you are For why she beleueth in me and setteth her whole fayth vpō me Therfore wyll I forgeue her all her synnes obtayne her peace in conscience afore God that she shall nomore be accused for her synnes How thynke you sounded these wordes in the Iewes eares Yet were they made neuer the better by these wordes They were hypocrites hypocrytes they continued euen as we all shuld do if the holy spirit of God bryng vs not frō our hypocrisy vnto his truth God through Christ graunt that we may attaine vnto it Amen The gospel on sainct Iames day the Apostle Mathew 20. THen came to him the mother of zebedes children with her sōnes Mar. 10 worshippyng him desiryng a certaine thyng of him And he sayth vnto her What wylt thou She sayd vnto him Graunt that these my two sonnes may sytte the one on thy right hand and the other on the lefte in thy kyndome But Iesus answered sayd Ye wote not what ye aske Are ye able to drynke of the cuppe that I shal drinke of and to be baptised with the baptisme that I am baptised with They say vnto him we are He sayd vnto them Ye shal drinke in dede of my cuppe and be baptised with the baptisme that I am baptised with But to syt on my right hand and on my left is not myne to geue But it shall chaunce vnto them that it is Mat. 25 prepared for of my father THE EXPOSITION FYrst we see here in this gospel the ignorance of the Apostles Iames Ihon whiche had often heard of Christ although thei did not receiue it nor printed it in their memory that Christes kingdome shuld be a spiritual kyngdom euen within them Yea they were yet so ignoraunt that they thought they should without any crosse at all been wholly promoted and made great Lordes and so reigne with Christe accordyng to the pompe and glorye of this worlde But these so fond imaginacions dare they them selues not vtter vnto Christe althoughe they set not a litle by these but moued their mother to go to Christ to proue whether she might obtayn that they desired But what was their request Forsoth that in the kyngdome of Christe whiche they thought a worldely kyngdome one might haue his seate vpō the right hand another vpon the lefte hand and so to enioy the honor of this worlde Here it had been the mothers duetye to bryng her sonnes from this purpose mynde to haue enstructed them muche better But in these matters that appertayne to the kyndome of Christ the mother is as blynde ignorant as her sonnes She would gladly haue had her sonnes promoted and made great men euen as customably many mothers boast the pompe ryches with their children But the kyngdome of Christ is not so ordered to haue in it muche pōpe boasting but as it is a spirituall kyngdome euen so it hath onely a spiritual scepter namely the worde and the holy gospel And nowe this worde is suche a worde that it bringeth with it not a pleasant lyfe but contradiction persecucion 1. Cor. 1 insomuche that S. Paule calleth it the worde of the crosse saiyng The worde of the crosse is to them that perishe folye but to vs that obtayne health it is the power of God If then it be the worde of the crosse how can we haue in the kyngdome of Christe other pleasure pompe or honours of this worlde It is not to be loked for but nedes must wee here suffre by many tribulacions we must entre into the kyngdome of God as sainct Luke testifyeth of Christ also Luc. 24 Esa 53. that he must needes suffre and ryse agayne from the dead so to entre into his glorye But as yet Iames and Ihon vnderstoode not this therefore they iudged it should bee in the kyngdome of Christe as it was in other ciuyl kyngdomes And surely as these Apostles were then ignoraunt of the kyngdome of Christ so doubtles are wee excepte wee bee lightened by the holy ghost Secondarily The presūpcion of man wee haue here also an example of the presumpcion of manne For besydes theyr peticion whiche was against God they dare also saye that they were able to drynke the cuppe whiche the Lorde should drynke and to bee baptised with the baptisme whiche the Lorde should be baptised in What iudge you of this presumpcion Euen so sayd Peter to Christe that he would go with him into
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