hée wyll haue the Mayster take paines to come vnto the Scholler letting Cornelius tarry quietlye at home whilest Peter sustaineth and endureth al the encombraunces and troubles of the waye in trauailin vnto him 1 You haue firste to note oute of thys fauorable dealing of GOD with Cornelius that suche is his louing nature towardes mankinde and so careful is he for their saluation that he daylye thrusteth forth Ministers for the instruction of hys people when as they themselues are in a manner vnwilling to haue them nay that he is many times founde of them whyche soughte hym not and offereth himselfe to them that aske not after him yea when we haue runne from him that he hath come vnto vs So when our first Parentes Adam Eue had hidden themselues for shame of their transgression among the trées of the garden GOD séeketh and findeth them oute and assureth them of comfort in the promised séede So he calleth Abraham out of Vr of the Chaldeis when he wallowed in Idolatrie Lot he draweth as it were violently and against hys will out of the destruction of Sodom Dauid sléeping almost a whole yere in securitie and béeing touched with no remorse of hys filthye adulterie and other haynous offences he awaketh by his Prophet Nathan Paule he conuerteth in the middest of his heate and rage of persecutiō going to Damascus And Peter after thrice deniall and forswearing him he friendly admonisheth of his faulte and fall by a looke But in this case of Cornelius GOD in letting hym tarrye at home and causing Peter to come vnto him had no doubt a further respecte than vnto Cornelius his owne ease and that was that all his whole housholde togither wyth a greate manye of hys friendes and acquaintaunce might receiue the knowledge of the Gospel and the glad tidings of saluation as well as hée For as he is the GOD of all so woulde hée as well haue those that be seruaunts saued as those that be Maisters of whose instruction also if wée be carelesse wée haue one daye an heauye accoumptes and reckenyng to make for it 2 Secondlye in that GOD instructeth not Cornelius by himselfe nor by the Angell whiche bothe he coulde haue done but appointeth hym ouer vnto Peter as before hée dyd Paule vnto Ananias And the Chamberlayne of the Quéene of the Ethiopians vnto Philippe Wée sée here a plaine and euident place for the cōfirmation of the outwarde preaching of the word and the ministerie of the Churche for in as muche as Faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the worde of GOD and none can preache vnlesse he be sent whosoeuer he be that looking for other reuelations meanes and wayes despiseth and contemneth the worde preached by the mouth and ministerie of man despiseth the meanes which GOD hathe ordained for his saluation and to worke in him faith by and sheweth him selfe plainely to be none of Christes disciples nor to haue care to be lightened with the light of the heauenly wisedome in as muche as he refuseth the voice of man whiche CHRIST vseth as an instrument vnto the whyche hée will haue oure faith tyed wherefore hée will not take at the handes of anye man the contempte of this order that I speake not with what horrible examamples GOD hathe punished the bold and wicked attemptes and practises of the Anabaptistes and Enthusiaste Heretikes of oure tymes that casting aside the preaching of the worde will haue all done by Reuelations GOD graunt that the wonderfull errours and wickednesses whiche they haue fallen into maye be admonitions vnto vs to make much of Gods constitutions and ordinances 3 Thirdly as this place commendeth the dignitie of the preching of the word so also in that the Angell reporteth of Peter vnto Cornelius that he shold teach him what to doe it also instructeth vs what maner of person he ought to be which is to be admitted into this high honorable function of the ministerie namely suche a one as can tel Cornelius what to do for to attaine vnto saluation that is suche a one as is able to teach them of his cure charge their dueties vnto the Lord for Paule vnto Titus willeth that he whiche is a Minister be suche a one as holdding fast the faithful word according vnto doctrine maye be able to exhorte with wholsome doctrine to improue those the speak against it And vnto Timothie he wil not haue one made a Minister whiche is a yōg Scholler least he being puffed vp fall into the condemnation of the Diuel What woful daies therfore beloued are these dayes of ours in whiche thousāds of our Ministers are not onely not yong schollers but also no schollers at al not only not able to exhort with wholsome doctrine but also not to reade distinctly and plainely suche as in whome there is no manner of worthinesse that ought to be in a Minister but suche as their gréedie Latrones Patrones I woulde saye allowe of in giuing them liuing I meane their worthy paying for it and then a Quare impedit againste the Bishop that shall deny him institution And hereof commeth it to passe that oure Churches are full of Ieroboams Priests I meane the very refuse of the people suche as in their conscience abhorre the ministerie and take it onely bicause they know no other way to liue being manye of them vnméete to haue the charge of oure shooes muche lesse to be trusted with the cure of oure soules The Lorde graunte vnto those whome it concerneth to redresse this foule abuse bowels of pitie and compassion with our Sauioure Christe to yearne at the greate ignoraunce of the people in the Countrie for lacke of able teachers in somuche that in some Parishes it were no hard matter to finde many that otherwise than after the manner of Parats mumbling vp the words of their beliefe without all vnderstanding are not able to tell whether there be anye GOD or Christ or no. And you deare brethren of this Citie whom God hath blessed with stoare of good teachers whose number I pray to be increased dayly pray for vs of the countrey that the harueste wyth vs being maruellous great the labourers wonderful fewe it would please the Lord of the haruest to thrust out into his haruest painfull labourers and faithfull Peters in great numbers that may be able to teach Cornelius what to do For lacke of instructions in manye places of theyr dueties vnto God they clean forget their dueties vnto man yea and manye times take weapon againste their lawfull and Godlye Prince whyche if they were well instructed in the word of the Lord ▪ there is very good hope they would feare to do 4 Fourthlye where it is sayde that Cornelius should heare of Peter at Ioppa at the house of one Simon a Tanner we do learne of what sortes of men God commonly vseth to gather his Churche namely of the meanest and lowest estate of the people for the most parte For not many
flesh vouchsafed lineally to descend of those of whome some of them were Heathen as Thamar a Cananite of whome were borne Pharao and Saram as Ruth a Moabite of whome was borne Obed. Doth it not to our great comfort learne vs that are Gentiles that Christe is borne a Redéemer aswell to vs as the Iewes In that immediatlye after the byrth of Christ Wise men came from the vttermoste parts of the East to worship him what are we taught but that the kingdome of Christe should stretche from the Easte vnto the Weaste and from the one Sea to the other Whereas Christe healed the seruaunte of the Centurion cured at Capernaum the sonne of the Courtier for the worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifyeth pertayning or belongyng to the kyng holpe the daughter of the Canaanitishe woman possessed with a Diuell called the woman of Samaria sent Philippe to the Chamberlaine of Candace Quéene of Ethiopia and Peter from Ioppa to this oure Cornelius all whiche were Heathen doeth not all these sufficientlye proue the calling of the Gentiles But why in a matter doubtlesse doe I vse proofes not necessarye I come nowe to speake of the casting off of the Iewes whych I wyll handle brieflye and afterwarde laye before you what wée may learne of the callyng of the one and refusing of the other In the twentith Chapter of Mathew Christe sayeth to the Iewes thus Therfore saye I vnto you The Kyngdome of God shall be taken from you and shal be giuen to a nation whiche shall bryng forth the fruites thereof Paule in the .13 of the Actes speaketh to the obstinate Iewes after this maner It was necessarye that the worde of GOD shoulde fyrste haue béene spoken vnto you But séeing you putte it from you and iudge your selues worthy of euerlasting life Lo we turne to the Gentiles And for confirmation of their so doing they alleadge the wordes of the Prophet I say I haue made thée a light of the GeÌ„tiles that thou shouldest be the saluation vnto the end of the world And to the Romanes he saieth I will prouoke you to enuy by a nation that is not my nation and by a foolish nation I wil anger you And Isaias is bolde and saieth I was founde of them that soughte me not and haue béen made manifest to them that asked not after me And vnto Israell he saieth All the day long haue I stretched oute mine hande vnto a disobedient and gaine-saying people To this purpose maye you reade muche in the .9 and .11 Chapiters of this Epistle Moreouer the Prophetes euerye where are full of threatnings vnto the Iewes that they shoulde be caste oute and the Gentiles taken into their roomths Besides these playne Scriptures it shall not be néedfull for mée to alleadge â—xamples of theyr reiection For alas â—heir miserable and lamentable dispersiâ—n and scattering abroad ouer the face â—f the earth at this daye and greate slaâ—erie and bondage that they liue in in â—he places where they are scattered are â—ufficient testimonies that GOD his â—eauie iudgementes are come vppon â—hem And these thinges wil séeme so muche â—he more wonderfull in oure eies if wée â—onsider with how neare a bande of loue â—nd fatherly kindnesse GOD tyed himâ—â—lfe as it were vnto his people what 〈◊〉 barre of partition and mightie wall of â—paration he set betwéene them and vs â—somuche that as well in Ceremonies â—nd Religion as in other matters of life common trafficke they were straightâ— forbidden to haue any manner of feâ—â—wshippe or familiarity with the Genâ—les so that the very entraunce of one â—ccirumcised into theyr Temple â—as accompted a Prophanation â—d also a defyling of the same whyche the Lord himselfe saieth by his Prophet Ezechiel Thus saieth the Lorde God O house of Israel ye haue ynough of all your abhominations séeing that ye haue broughte into my Sanctuarie strangers vncircumcised in hearte and vncircumcised in fleshe to be in my Sanctuarie to pollute mine house And by and by after Thus saieth the Lorde God No straunger vncircumcised in hearte nor vncircumcised in flesh shal enter into my Sanctuarie of any straunger that is among the children of Israel And by his Prophet Ieremie the Lorde threatneth to punishe euery one whose foreskinne is not circumcised or cut off But of the Iewes he sayeth by Moses For thou arte a holye people vnto the Lorde thy God the Lorde thy GOD hath chosen thée to be a pretious people to hymselfe aboue all the people that are vppon the earth Also of Ierusalem he speaketh by the Prophete Isaias Arise arise putte on thy strength O Sion putte on the garmentes of thy beautie O Ierusalem the holye Cittie for henceforthe there shall no more come into thée the vncircumcised and the vncleane In respect of these great promises and many more that are in the Scriptures of GOD his greate good will and speciall mercy towardes them togyther with the remembrance of God his miraculous dealyng for their deliuery oute of the handes of all their ennimies and the greate glorie and royalnesse of their Temple of whiche they were wonte so muche to cry the Temple of the Lorde the Temple of the Lorde the Temple of the Lorde as wée reade in Ieremy they vtterlye contemned and despised the Gentiles thinking them to bée wholly debarred from the couenaunte of the LORDE in so muche that they dydde as greatlye abhorre and deteste the name of a Heathen as wée doe nowe the name of a Iewe or Turke or shoulde doe the name of a Papiste so long as they continue in their wicked superstition yea the Apostles themselues a long season coulde not be persuaded that saluation belonged to the Gentiles so that you reade afterwarde in thys storie of the Actes howe Peter was sharpely reproued for preachyng the worde to thys oure Cornelius and others of the Gentiles Forasmuche then as the Iewes to whome as Paule speaketh appertayneth the adoption and the glorie and the couenauntes and the giuing of the law and the seruice of GOD and the promises of whome are the fathers and of whome concerning the fleshe Christe came are as we sée at this day caste off and the Heathen wallowing in superstition and Idolatrye hauyng no Faith no GOD no Religion certaine euerye manne runnyng after the fancies of hys owne brayne are taken in their steade as hathe appeared by testimonye of the worde and manye examples of the same and amongest the reste this of oure Cornelius whome we maye not amisse terme of the first fruites of the Gentiles What haue we to learne for nowe I come to the application of this hitherto spoken of the receyuing of the Heathen and of casting off the Iewes for oure comforte or admonition out of this wonderfull dealing of God bothe towards the one and the other By the off casting of the Iewes béeyng the peculiar and chosen people of GOD wée doe learne fyrste that ingratitude
and hathe broken the yoake of their Tyrannie from this and manye other nations his name be praysed for it and in the ende with the breath of his mouth wil vtterly confounde them As you haue séene in these Iewes a fearefull example of God his wonderfull iustice in casting them off for their offences so in receyuing of the Gentiles you haue to consider a notable proofe and experience of hys surpassing loue and vnspeakeable mercie For what was there in the Gentiles ouerwhelmed with errour blynded wyth ignoraunce prone to all kinde of superstition and straunge Idolatries ouertaken with all sortes of filthynesse and moste horrible and outragious wickednesse that mighte procure hym to fauour them or to shewe hymselfe so bountious a father vnto them Of hys loue therefore of his loue and moste frée fauour was it that he vouchsaued to call them out of this greate darkenesse vnto so maruellous light and knowledge of his truth in his sonne Christ Iesus our moste louing God and mercifull Sauiour There is not therefore anye cause of boasting of our selues or of any thing in our selues for that we are nothing else indéede but a huge masse and heauy lumpe of sinne Let vs therefore ascribe all the whole glorie of our callyng vnto God that mercifullye hath called vs from errour vnto trueth from darkenesse to lighte from wickednesse to holynesse from condemnation to saluation froÌ„ death to life yea froÌ„ Hel to Heauen for vnto all these and a greate manye moe enormities are we by nature enthralled Let vs therefore enter the déeper into a true consyderation of our selues and into a thorough examination of our owne soules and consciences and then finding in our selues what indéede wée be of our selues we shall learne to set lesse by our painted sheathes and to make better accoumptes of GOD hys infinite and endlesse mercie who hath thoughte good to place vs in the roome of his owne peculiar and chosen people Agayne we sée in the consideration of the manner of GOD his calling vs of the Gentiles to the knowledge of hys Christ not requiring at our handes that we shoulde be circumcised or otherwise tyed to the obseruation of the ceremonies of Moses lawe but onely that we shoulde repente and beléeue the Gospel we sée I say euidentlye hereby that we are not saued by the Lawe nor yet by the workes of the Lawe but onlye by fayth in Christe accordyng as it is written The iuste manne shall â—iue by fayth And againe By the workes of the law no flesh can be saued or iustified by how muche the more so often as I thinke on it and truely I doe manye times thinke on it I doe greately maruayle what madnesse hath ouertaken our Arch-Papistes to besotte themselues and others with a vaine and wicked perswasion of their owne righteousnesse and an arrogante trusting to scale the highe forte of heauen by the broken and rotten ladder of man hys merytes and the corrupte workes and inuentions of their owne idle fancies For if Christe and hys Apostles neuer charged anye with the obseruations of the Mosaicall Lawe as a thing necessarye to saluation and that as appeareth in the wrytings of the Apostles it hath alwayes béene accounted an infallible note of false Apostles to pleade workes and that of GOD hys owne Law in the matter of iustification let then this second note drawn from the manner of God hys callyng of the Gentiles without inioyning them the obseruations of hys owne lawe bée sufficient in a worde to touch the shamelesse boldnesse of the Catolikes that dare shuffle in drosse trumperie of their own forging to claime righteousnes withal that I stand no longer to coÌ„uince those as iniurious to the death and bloudsheading of Christe Iesus who teache that they haue workes sufficient not only to purchase Heauen for themselues but also a surplus and ouerflow to help others withall that will pay swéetely for them in as muche as their owne conscience euery nighte when they goe to bed maye teache them if they truely examine it that of themselues they are not able to thinke so much as one good thought and therefore muste néedes ascribe saluation to the only and alone frée mercie of God in Christe laide holde on by the sure and strong hand of a constant faith workes being no maner of cause thereof at all the whiche Fryer Ferus a man of theyr owne writing vpon this tenth Chapiter of the Actes in moste plaine words doth confesse saying For so in that firste and moste great calling of the Gentiles they oughte to haue beene made equall with the Iewes without all manner of helpe of the Lawe that it mighte be now manifestly knowne that righteousnes commeth of the onely grace and election of God and not of workes than the which what can be spoken more truely more agréeable to the truth The Lord if it be his wil open their eies that in this and all other pointes they maye bowe and yéelde vnto the trueth Thus muche of the reiection of the Iewes and calling of the Gentiles by occasion of GOD his calling Cornelius being a Gentile to the knowledge of his trueth In the seconde braunche of this firste general commeth to be considered Cornelius hys profession and trade of life whiche oure present texte sayeth to bée a Capitaine of the Italian bande at Cesarea for it was an vsuall thing among the Romanes to place in the gret towns or Citties that they wonne garrisons of armed men and souldiours as well to defende them agaynste the inuasions of the Parthians whome besides manye other ennimyes they were often and verye daungerouslye encombred wythall as also to wythstande and kéepe vnder rebellion and tumultuous vproares of the Iewes if at anye tyme they shoulde attempte an insurrection and further that if néede shoulde requyre they mighte vppon shorte warning oute of these garrisons placed in euerye Towne and Cittie gather a iuste and ful army being assaulted to defend themselues These bands consisted some of more and some of fewer Souldioures some footemenne and some horsemenne The fyrste or chiefe bande contayned commonlye a thousande footemenne ouer whych was a Generall and euerye Centurye or hundreth hadde besides hys seuerall Capitayne whyche of the number of Souldiours vnder his conducte was commonlye called a Centurion or Capitayne ouer an hundreth menne Such a one was oure Cornelius who in that he is termed to be Ruler of the Italian bande we maye gather that he was bothe an Italian himself and also in good estimation with the Emperoure For as the Romaynes g thered their garrisons out of sundrye Countrie men of the whyche also they had their names like as this consisting of Italians is thereof called the Italian band so likewise did they make greatest accompts reposed most confidence in the garrisons of their own countreymen out of which also for the most part there were chosen Captaines suche as best liked the Emperoure It is I saye therefore verye
priuate Popishe teachers to be sought after and sifted as wel to staye the present mischiefe as also to méete with before hande the hurte that may by suffering them grow hereafter And to ende this matter in whiche albeit I haue in long I hope the necessitie and profite of it shall easily with the godlye procure my pardon I likewise hartily desire all teachers of youth not to suffer themselues to be founde lesse diligent in a good cause than the Papistes in a badde not to be lesse carefull to instructe their children in the feare of the Lorde than the Papistes are to traine vp theirs in Poperie not to be lesse mindeful to teache their schollers the true religion than the Papistes to learne theirs the false As for the rest of you beloued that are here present if any of you with CorneÌ„lius haue laboured all his familie to feare the Lorde you haue like obedient children béene carefull to performe that duetie whiche GOD hathe layde vppon you and so in the Lordes name I exhorte you to go forwarde and those of you that hitherto for want of knowledge haue omitted this duetie of instructing your families with Cornelius in the feare of the Lord nowe that it hathe béene euidentlye proued vnto you to be youre charge no person of what calling soeuer to be excepted adde not I beséeche you to youre knowledge contempte but diligent and spéedie practise and putting it in vre For it is a fearefull thing to fall into the handes of the Lorde Take encouragement by the example of Cornelius goe aboute it in the feare of GOD and earnest calling on his name so shall you haue to youre greate reioycing euerye man in his owne house a godlye Churche and with lesse disquieting of your selues with chiding and fighting you shall haue those vnder youre seuerall chardges in singlenesse of conscience to performe suche dueties towards you as in the feare of God to you they doe owe the which for his sonnes sake I beséeche him to graunte In the fifth braunche of this firste generall containing a descriptioÌ„ of Cornelius and his qualities I haue to speak of his Almes déedes and Prayer and fyrste of his Almes bicause that is first mentioned in my Texte As before wée haue séene by Cornelius religiousnesse feare of God and vertuous instructing his familie his faith towards God so nowe by hys almes appeareth that he bare a godlye and pittifull affection towardes men in relieuing euerye manne as his necessitie séemed moste to require For where it is saide that he gaue to all the people this All is to be restrained to all the poore among the people for it hadde béene no almes to haue giuen to the riche who had ynough alreadie Iohn the Baptiste taughte the souldioures that asked of him their duetie Thâ—t they shoulde strike nor accuse no man wrongfully but be contente wyth their owne wages Cornelius hath plaied the good scholler he hath not only perfectly learned that lesson but hath also taken forth an other learning besids being coÌ„tented with his owne stipend out of the same in loue and of a felowe féeling of the miseries of his poore brethren to contribute vnto their necessities for it cannot be chosen but in whome soeuer there is true Religion and the feare of God in the same also there muste néedes be loue a brotherly compassioÌ„ not only to pitie but also to helpe the wants of those that stande in néede so farre forth as by the portion of good the whiche the Lorde hathe blessed vs withall he hath enabled vs And that out of this loue this â—elow féeling this compassion this pitie did issue in Cornelius his charitable relieuing of the poore the very word it selfe whyche Luke doeth here vse for almes doth planely shewe For it properly signifieth Mercie whiche is an inwarde affection and touching of the hearte rising of the viewe of an other mans miserie and is here put figuratiuely for all outwarde dueties of Charitie whereby we doe good vnto suche as are in pouertie necessitie Wherefore in as muche as Cornelius is here said to haue bestowed much almes amongst all the people it is euident that there was in him a righte Christian hearte and bowels of mercie whiche didde yerne and as it were melt at the calamities of his brethren which did consider the band of vnitie which ought to be betwéene members of all one heade Christ Iesus who in this respect did féede foster and cherishe prouide and care for them as béeing of his own flesh and had regarde to helpe them as the very members of his owne body There is therefore no question but that Cornelius liberalitie and bounteousnesse springing oute of this fountaine of brotherly compassion was no fained counterfaite nor forged but true right and perfecte beneficence almes and liberalitie Wée learne firste out of this great almes of Cornelius that it is not sufficient to haue the name of Faith to be religious to feare God vnlesse also thys faith doe fructifie and bring forth good fruites according to that whyche Iames writeth What auaileth it my brethren thoughe a man saith he hath faith when he hath no workes can the faith saue him And againe But wilte thou vnderstande O thou vaine man that the faith which is without workes is deade And marke withall I beséeche you the manner of his speache for it maketh being rightly vnderstoode verye muche againste the Popishe Iusticiaries of oure time whiche teache oute of hym that manne is iustified by his workes whiche wordes in déede he vseth he doth not saye What if a man haue faith but what if a man say he haue faith by whiche appeareth that he speaketh of hipocrites and vaine boasters of faith For the true and liuely faith can be no more without workes than the fire withoute heate than water without moisture the Sunne without brightnesse the good trée without his good fruite And where hée sayeth that Abraham with Rahab were iustified by their workes he meaneth that their outward workes before men were testimonies of their inwarde faith before God and not that their workes were the causes of their saluation for so shoulde he be against all the Scriptures whiche teache that Faith onely doth iustifie and so likewise we shoulde make the holye Ghoste contrarye to himselfe whiche were verye wicked so muche as to thinke muche more to speake Wée therefore teache out of this example of Cornelius good déedes and suche other lyke vertuous actions of godlye men togyther with the aucthoritie of the holye Scripture that it is the parte of a Christian to doe good workes yea that whosoeuer he be that doeth no good workes he is indéede no more a true Christian than a deade carcasse a liuing man. Wherefore the Papistes doe vs greate iniurie in filling the eares of the simple and ignorant people that our doctrine is a doctrine of libertie that we teache men to liue looselie and lewdely that we are enimies vnto
good works whereas in very déede we doe the flatte contrarie We will menne to beware that they vse not the libertie of the Gospell for a cloake of maliciousnesse wée teache them to serue the Lorde in feare in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of their life We will men to let their light so shine before men that they séeing their good workes maye glorifie oure heauenlye father whiche is in heauen But herein lyeth the difference betwéene them and vs we teache that Works come after Fayth they that they go before Faith wée that they folow him that is alreadye iustified they that they goe before him that is to be iustified wée that they are the fruites of faith they that they be the trée out of whyche Faith buddeth we that faith is the cause of workes they that workes are the cause of Faith. And with as muche truth maye they teache that lighte is cause of the Sunne that heate is the cause of fire that moisture is the cause of water To be shorte we teache that the worde of the Lorde only is the measure by whiche oure workes are to be moten they that the wil of manne and good intent But howsoeuer they teache or whatsoeuer they saye thus sayeth the Scripture and thus teacheth the worde of God without Faith it is impossible to please God. Whereof I conclude that as after the example of Cornelius a Christian muste doe good workes so must he haue Faith before or else howe glorious soeuer they séeme in the sighte of man before the Lorde they stincke and are abhominable And therefore is it also in this place verye well saide of Cornelius firste that he was a religious man and one that feared GOD and secondly that he gaue muche almes to all the people Thus you sée that in hym went firste faith religion and the feare of God and then that these were not ydle his good workes and déedes doe declare And thus lette Papistes saye what they liste wée teache that in Christians it oughte to be and with their owne eies in a greate manye they may sée it for to be and God graunte that in all those that doe professe hys name and religion it maye be I meane that all suche as doe in worde confesse Christe Iesus to be the Lorde maye in déede with Cornelius so godlye walke that by their liuing before the worlde they maye be taken for Christians Secondlye we haue here a rule gyuen vs howe to examine and trie that whiche we giue to the poore whether it he almes or no. For to haue that whiche is giuen so to be doth not consiste in the greatnesse of that whiche is bestowed but in the minde and disposition of the giuer for who commonly are so liberall or rather in very déede prodigall and lauishe as are hipocrites that in giuing gréedily hawk and hunt after the praise commendation of men and therefore as Christe sayeth blow a Trumpet before their almes but they haue their reward neyther shall the greate sums that they distribute and bestowe euer come into this reckning before the Lord that he wil accept and take it for almes that is for such a worke as doth please him bicause it is not done in such sort as he commandeth That therefore whiche we giue shal then goe before the Lord for almes if it be as the holy ghost here speaketh of Cornelius his liberalitie mercie that is to say if it procéede of loue and of a brotherlye pitying the miserie of him which is in néede as reckening him to be one of our own flesh and so in regarde of this neare bande and coniunction which God hath made betwéen vs we do as it wer out of the vowels of mercie and compassion liberallie powre oute vppon hym as one of our own members for the reliefe of his necessitie according to the measure whiche God hathe blessed vs withal For as Paule speaketh Though I feed the poore with all my goods and haue not loue it profiteth mee nothing And the Lord by his Prophet Isay commaundeth vs that we hide not oure face from our owne fleshe So you sée that if our giuing issue out of any other heads than out of loue and a fellowe féeling of the wantes of oure néedie brethren in that they be oure very owne fleshe it is as nothing before GOD. Whereof I conclude that all the large giuings of the Papists of whiche at this daye many make so greate bragges bycause they be not done in a reuerent regarde of the commaundement of the Lorde in Loue and of an inwarde being touched with the calamities of the néedie but for to be well reported of before men whilest they are aliue and to be praied for after they are dead and by the meanes of thē to be deliuered from the paines of Purgatorie so to win Heauen are indéede no almes but Pharisaicall trūpets to win a brittle blast of glorie at the hāds of men They haue therefore as Christe sayeth their rewarde that is to say the thing they soughte for to wit the praise and commendation of mē as for reward at Gods handes they neither haue nor euer shall haue vnlesse in doing theyr almes they sette before them a reuerent regarde of the Lords commaundement and in loue and mercie frame thēselues to helpe their néedie brother Wherefore deare Christians I directe my speeche vnto you whome GOD in great mercie hathe blessed with plentifull increase of the riches of this worlde whereas hée coulde haue made you inferioure to the meanest Lette Cornelius his example who gaue much almes to al the people moue you to be liberall to help the poore as he by giuing franckly to the people of the Iews being none of his natiō did therby testifie his consēt to their religion so by your giuing vnto the godly brethrē and to poore Schollers that stande in néede giue out testimonie that you all hope for one saluation in Christe for whose sake you shewe this mercie in relieuing his and youre members Giue not as Hipocrites and Papistes for praise or for to merite thereby Heauen But let that whiche you doe be done in loue and in mercie and so will it be a swéete smelling sacrifice in the sighte of the almightie And truly it cannot be chosen but if you putte vppon you loue with the tender bowels of pitie and compassion you will be riche in good workes and plentifull in giuing vnto the poore For where there is no giuing there is no loue and little giuing sheweth little pitie whereas greate loue much mercie in such as GOD hathe enriched with abilitie bringeth forth greate giuing and muche almes Deceiue not therefore youre selues with a vaine perswasion of Loue when ye will departe with nothing For loue alwayes bursteth forth into helying the thing that it loueth insomuche that a man will not suffer hys verye dogge to lacke if he loue hym muche lesse his Christian and godlye brother neither
1 Many lessons issue oute of this fruitfull place which deserue large discourses but I will runne them ouer in a worde hoping that the straightnesse of time wherewith I am ouertaken shal obtaine pardon for my shortnesse First therfore once againe to stop the mouths of the quarrelling Papists we teache the this place is a mightie encouragement and a sharpe spurre to pricke forwarde this dull nature of ours vnto good workes in which we are so colde and slouthfull for here we plainelye sée that our godlye exercises oure Christian déedes and good workes be not onelye suche as doe please GOD with whiche he is muche delighted and the whiche hée greatly liketh and verye well accepteth but that he doeth also beautifie and garnishe them with thys noble reward that being vsed to his honour and glorie and the benefite of his Churche he doeth moste plenteouslie and liberally encrease them with a large heape of other giftes blessings and graces For vnto him that hath shall be more giuen and the faithfull seruaunte that is trustie in few thinges and putteth oute his maisters talent vnto gaine shall be sette ouer manye thinges and be made Ruler ouer manye Cityes like as in this place Cornelius bicause God hearde his prayers and accepteth of his almes he directeth hym vnto Peter for full instruction of the Gospell and knowledge of Saluation 2 Secondly for asmuche as it is here saide that Cornelius his prayers and almes déedes were accepted before God it muste néedes followe that Cornelius had faith For whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne And without faith it is impossible to please god It were blasphemy to affirme that GOD is delighted with sin but God is delighted with the prayer and almes of Cornelius if therefore they were not sinne then were they done in faith and therefore Cornelius hadde nowe alreadie faith God is saide to bée wel pleased with them it followeth therfore inuincibly that they procéeded of Faith. Cornelius therefore hadde faith yea and also faith in Christe for without Christe if we beholde the bare Maiestie of God we shal be so farre off from receiuing any comforte or féeling anye taste of his goodnesse that we shall haue oure eies dazeled with the brightenesse thereof and oure selues ouer-whelmed with the glorie of the same And I praye you can it be that without Christe Cornelius coulde be enlightned with the spirite of Christe I meane the Spirite of regeneration or newe birth manifeste and euident tokens whereof are his religion and feare of god For God chalengeth in Ezechiel this honoure vnto himselfe to frame the harte to his feare godlinesse to make it new and to driue out the stone hardnesse of it to cause it to walke in his statuts and to do his iudgements and kéepe them The fame therefore of the Messias being then so rife amongest all the Iewes yea and among other nations also farre off it cannot be but that Cornelius his faith hadde some grounde on him albeit not in suche fulnesse as it pleased God afterwarde to reueale vnto him Wherefore lette the Papists lay their hand vpō their mouth whiche abuse this place shamefully twoo wayes the one to proue that before Faith a manne maye doe good works whyche maye serue as preparatiues vnto Faith and secondlye that oure workes doe deserue at the handes of GOD encrease of hys good giftes and graces in vs according vnto the seuerall merites of euerye one of vs For the fleshlye manne is so farre off from preparing himselfe of hys owne power to winne the grace of GOD that hée doeth not perceiue the thyngs of GOD neither can doe And as for deseruing the Scripture playnelye teacheth that Faith it selfe from whence all other good workes do spring is the onely gifte of GOD and therefore muste Workes the fruites of the same be so likewise Wherefore if we haue nothing but that we haue receiued Why doe we boaste as if it were oure owne and not receiued Yet when they haue prated for their merits vntill their tongues ake and cried out for their deseruings till their throates be hoarse againe they bring nothing that maye stir vp a man to doe well but leaue vs alwayes in doubte whether oure workes please God or no nay they flatly affirme that it is highe arrogancie and greate presumption for a man to assure himself of saluation whereas we denying that oure workes can deserue any thing and yet teaching that there is a rewarde laide vp for them of mercie which faith taketh hold on in Christ do by this meanes stirre vppe and pricke forwarde the godly to good works whē as they knowe they shall not lose their laboure the recompence whereof albeit it please the Lorde in many places of the Scripture to terme by the name of a Rewarde yet hereof cannot be concluded deserte but it is rather a speciall token of Gods greate fatherlye loue that thus crowneth in vs his owne good giftes who otherwise dooing oure vttermoste are nothing else in deede and in oure owne selues and nature but vnprofitable seruauntes 3 Thirdly wée maye gather of the nature of contraries that as God rewardeth the religion feare of God godlye bringing vppe of his houshold prayer and almes déedes of Cornelius with more plentifull abundaunce of spirituall giftes and knowledge of his Gospell as he vseth in his children daily by a newe and verye sensible increase to multiplye his graces as it were by degrées vntill he bring them to perfection so the little store of heauenly vertues that this day is to be founde amongest vs oure slownesse in prayer oure slackenesse in the déedes of Charitie oure vnwillingnesse to laboure for the edifying one of an other our wearinesse in hearing the word of God and our lesse profiting after the preaching of the Gospell are manifest tokens of Gods iuste reuenge of oure greate vnthankefulnesse so that if wée shall still goe on in hiding in the ground oure Maisters talent it shall in the end be taken from vs and giuen vnto those that haue vsed their talentes to gaine and we for oure deseruings be caste out into vtter darkenesse In the seconde parte of this speache of the Angell vnto Cornelius is sette downe a charge and commaundement for hys instruction what hée oughte to doe in whiche hée is tolde the place whither to send Ioppa to whom there to sende vnto one Simon a Tanner for whome to sende for one Simon surnamed Peter to what ende hée should send for hym namely that he mighte teach hym what to do or as it is in some readings speake wordes vnto hym whereby hée shoulde bée saued and his whole house Wherein appeareth the greate goodnesse of GOD towardes Cornelius in easing hym of all the burthen and trouble of the iourney and laying it vppon Peter whome he hadde appoynted for hys teacher And whereas reason and duetie woulde that the Scholler shoulde goe vnto the maister yet héere suche is the gentlenesse of GOD that