himselfe the Empires both of God and man Hitherto Chrisostome And it is manifest to all men that the papaâ— grew tooke increase by the decay of the Empire at the fall of the Monarch they challenged full possession of all dominion both spirituall and temporall Of the same iudgement is S. Hierome writing vpon the same place of Paul vnto Aglasia in the eleuenth question whose words are these Nec vult aperti c. Neither will he openly say that the Romane Empire should be destroied which they yâ— gouerne it thinke to be euerlasting wherefore according to the reuelation of S. Iohn In the forehead of the purple whoore ther is written a name of blasphemy which is Rome euerlasting The same Hierome in his 13. booke of his Commentaries of the Prophesie of Esay vpon the 24. chapter writeth thus Licet ex eo quod iuxta septuaginta c. Forasmuch as the seauentie Interpreters write not the daughter Babylon but the daughter of Babylon some do interpret the rest not Babylon in Chaldea but the citie of Rome which in the reuelation of S. Iohn the Epistle of Peter is specially called Babylon The same in his preface vnto the booke of Didimus De spiritu sancto which he translated out of Greeke into Latin writing to Pauinianus he vttereth these words Cum in Babylone versarer c. Of late saith he when I was in Babylon was an inhabitant of the purple harlot liued after the lawes of the Romaines I thought to intreate somewhat of the holy Ghost The same writing to Marcella a vertuous gentlewoman of Rome whom he allured to forsake Rome to dwell néere vnto him in Bethleem one especiall reason that he vseth to perswade her is this that as Bethleem whither he would haue her to repaire is situated in the holy land and the place consecrated to the birth of Christ so Rome where she desired to remaine was the Babylonicall harlot according to the Reuelation of Saint Iohn appointed for the birth of Antichrist which there should arise and exercise tyrannye and from thence shoulde deceiue the whole world with his wicked wiles Hue vsque Hieronimus Ambrose writing a Commentarie vpon the Reuelation of S. Iohn is of the same iudgement Primasius also a verye auncient writer who lykewise Commenteth vppon the Apocalips expoundeth these Prophesies of Antichrist to bée fulfilled in the Romane Empire Augustine in his worke De ciuitate Dei not once or twise but oftentimes is bolde to call Rome Babylon and Babylon Rome As in his 6. booke and. 17. Chapter he calleth Rome an other Babylon in the West And in his 18â— booke and second chapter hée calleth Babylon of Chaldea the first Rome and Rome of Italy the second Babylon willing men to consider that in the beginning of the Citie of God which was the Church in Abrahams time the first Rome that was Easterne Babylon her enimie was builded in Chaldea about the same time that the first Babylon was destroied least the citie of God should lacke her enimie the second Babylon which is Rome in Italy was erected Hue vsque August ¶ Looke more in Antichrist Babylon If Caput come of Capio which signifieth take TheÌ„ may Rome wel be called so which nothing doth forsake If you decline Capio capis and to the grounds come Her nets are large cannot misse to caâ—ch both all and some RVDIMENTS What these Rudiments were and wherefore they were called poore WEake and beggerly Rudiments ¶ The poore and weake Rudiments be circumcision sacrifices the choise of daies and meates and other obseruation and kéeping as a thing necessarie to obteine euerlasting life the grace of God He calleth them poore or weake because they be not nor consist of themselues whose nature onely consisteth in signifieng And what strength so euer they haue that they haue because they import or signifie some waightie thing Doctor Heynes ¶ The Galathians of Panims beganne to be Christians but by false Apostles were tourned backward to beginne a new the Iewish ceremonies and so in stéed of going forwarde toward Christ they ran backward from him Geneua Sabboth Wherefore the Sabboth was instituted YE shall doe no labour therein but hallowe the sabboth as I commanded your fathers ¶ The foundation of the faith is to beléeue Gods premise that he made the whole world doth also gouerne it further that he knoweth will iudge all things c. Those things did the law require in keping of the sabboth to confesse both with word and signe to giue diligent héed to the hearing interpreting of the law to thinke of the glory of God to reléeue the faithful soule with the foode of the word to minister occasion also vnto the simple that they likewise might attempt such things in their houses amongst their household folks to be pitifull ouer the wearines of such neighbours as laboured sore al the wéeke long reléeue them to attend giue héed to the exercises of the spirit to the consolation and comforting of their neighbours not onely to absteine from outward works and fulfill their appetites and lustes for that did the Lorde forbid The Sabboth should bée applyed to the lawfull seruing of God not to sinfulnesse and wantonnesse It is commaunded to be sanctified and not polluted and defiled with naughtinesse To God alone must wée also kéepe it and call on his name Other Gods or Gods fellowes ought we not to enquire of nor fall downe vnto them But when such occasions come as turne our rest into occupation labour then ought we remember that the Sabboth was ordeined for man not man for the Sabboth So that in the meane season the feare of God and the charitie towards our neighbour which are the chiefe and principall things in the obseruation of the Sabboth be not lightly regarded T. M. A Sabboth of rest it shall be vnto you ¶ Sabboth feasts and new moones signifie the ioye and gladnesse of the conscience the renuing of man and the rest wherein wée rest from our owne workes not doing our wills but Gods which worketh in vs through the Gospell and gladde tidings while wée earnestly beléeue it Exech 20. 12. Exo. 20. 8. 31. 13. Deut. 5. â—4 God rested the seauenth day ¶ What we should learne in this we may plainly sée in the commaundement Kéepe holye the Sabboth day for that day was instituted for this cause because then God rested from his works in that day a rest is commaunded vs that in it we should do no manner of worke and why déerely beloued shall we rest God is not pleased with idlenesse he will not haue vs like the idle men yâ— in the ninth houre of the day stand still idle in the market but God commaunded vs to kéepe that day holy vnto him which is to serue him in it and not our selues
5. 6. BATHES How bathes without God are of no force or vertue IF the Bathes that be in Swicerland◠in Iuliers in Sicilie in Valeria in England and diuers other countreies doe helpe those that are diseased the same is to be attrributed to the goodnesse of God For there is no earthlie things which haue in them any force or vertue to help men except they be made effectuall by the power of him is y◠Omnipotent Neuertheles those benefits which are giuen to vs by meanes are not to be contemned neither ought we to abuse them For all the giftes of God ought to be vsed to the glorie of God to our soules health and for the necessitie of our bodie But we must alwaies beware that we doe not ascribe that to Creatures which belongeth onelie to God Marl. vpon Iohn fol. 147. Of Bath a certaine measure And it contained two thousand Bath ¶ Bath Epha séeme to be both one measure Euerie Bath conteined ten pottels The Epha conteined in drie things that which Bath did in liquor Read Eze. 45. 10. Geneua BEELZABVB An Idoll whom the Philistines worshipped GOe and enquire of Beelzabub the God of Ekron ¶ The Philistines which dwelt at Ekron worshipped this Idoll which signifieth the God of flies thinking that he could preserue them from the biting of flies Or els he was so called because flies were ingendred in great abundance of the Sacrifices that were offered to that Idoll Geneua If they haue called the master of the house Beelzabub ¶ It was the name of an Idoll which signified the God of Flies and in despite thereof was attributed to the Diuell and the wicked called Christ by this name Geneua BEHEMOTH What beast this is thought to be THe word Behema signifieth simplie a Beast and vnder that name are Oxen al other Beasts comprehended Héere it is said in the plurall number Looke vpon Behemoth whom I created with them◠although y◠word Behemoth be the plurall number in the Hebrue yet it is spoken wit of one Beast no moe Howbeit forasmuch as God meant to betoken héere one sort of beasts that is the cause why he setteth Behemoth in the plural number Neuertheles it cannot be coniectured what kinde or beast it is that he speaketh except it be an Elephant by reason of the hugenesse of that beasts bodie c. Caluine vpon Iob. fol. 730. ¶ The Hebrues vnderstand by Behemoth the greatest beast in the earth that is an Elephant Other vnderstand thereby anie earthlie beast that is great but vnto an Elephant doe all the properties héere recited right well agrée wherfore it séemeth most agréeable to the truth that by the word by signified in Elephant T. M. BELEEVE What it is to beleeue TO beléeue is not to doubt of the promises of God but rather to be fullie perswaded of the promises of God that as God hath promised so shall it vndoubtedly chaunce vnto vs. Basill ¶ To beléeue is certainlie to be perswaded and assured in minde through the holie Ghost that by the Lord Iesus we are purged from our sinnes and made the children of God that by his mans nature we are made pertakers of his Diuinitie by his mortalitie we haue obtained immortalitie by his cursse euerlasting blessing by his death life brieflie that by his descending into the earth we ascend into heauen Traheron ¶ To beléeue in the name of Christ is to receiue him as the Sonne of God and the Sauiour of the whole world which is done of vs when we depende whollie vppon him by a sincere faith and trust and commit our selues whollie as disciples vnto him c. Marl. vpon Iohn fol. 18. ¶ To beléeue in God is to be sure that all thou hast is of him and all thou néedest must come of him Which if thou doe thou canst not but continuallie thanke him for his benefites which continuallie without ceasing receiuest of his hande and therto euer crie for helpe for thou art euer in néede canst no where els be holpen And thy neighbour is in such necessitie also wherefore if thou loue him it will compell the◠to pittie him and to crie to God for him continuatlie and to thanke as well for him as thy selfe Tindale fol. 238. How it is prophecied that few will beleeue Christs words Who will beléeue our report and to whom is the Arme of the Lord reuealed The Prophet sheweth that very few shall receiue this their preaching of Christ of their deliuerance by him Iohn 12. 38. Rom. 10. 16. And that none can beléeue but whose hearts God toucheth with the vertue of his holie spirit Geneua Lord who hath beléeued our report ¶ Meaning the Gospell and the good tidings of saluation which they preached Geneua How men are driuen to beleeue through the workes of God Then beléeued they his workes ¶ The wonderfull workes of God caused them to beléeue for a time and praise him Geneua The meaning of this place following He that beléeueth shall not make hast ¶ He shall be quiet and séeke none other meanes but be content with Christ. Geneua I beléeued therfore did I speake ¶ I felt all these things therfore was moued in faith to confesse thē 2. Co. 4. 13. Geneua BEAME What this beame signifieth O Hypocrite cast out first the Beame that is in thine owne eie c. ¶ Thou vnderstandest all Gods lawes falselie and therefore thou kéepest none of them trulie his lawes require mercie and not Sacrifice moreouer thou hast a false intent in all thy workes that thou doest and therefore are they all damnable in the sight of God Hipocrite cast out the Beame that is in thine owne eie learne to vnderstand the law of God truly and to doe thy workes aright and for the intent that God ordeined them and then thou shalt sée whether thy brother haue a mote in his eie or not and if he haue how to plucke it out or els not Tindale fol. 237. BENEDICT Why he is set among the Heretikes THis man was the first founder of the order commonlie called Saint Benedicts and died saith Volateran li. 21. in the yeare of our Lord. 518. He was the first and the onelie deuiser of a seuerall trade of life within y◠first 600. yeares after Christ and because he presumed to inuent a new waie which all the godlie Fathers before him neuer thought of I saith the Authour laied him heere downe for a Schismatike couched him in this Catalogue of Heretikes BERILL The description of Berill and what is betokened thereby THe eight a Berill ¶ This stone glittereth like water when the Sunne shineth vpon it and it is said to heate the hand of him that holdeth it It betokeneth men enlightened with the grace of the holie Ghost which bring other to the loue of heauenlie things by preaching and teaching the same grace Marl. vpon the Apoc. fol. 300. ¶ The Berill is of a pale
is spoken by a figure taking the cup for that which is conteined in the cup. And againe the Hebrues vnderstande by this word cup sometime the manner of punishment which is rendered to sinne as Psal. 11. 6. or the ioie that is giuen to the faithfull As. Psal. 23. 5. and sometime a lotte or condition As Psal. 16. 5. What the Cup of the new Testament signifieth This Cup is the new Testament in my bloud This Cup or Chalice is the new Testament that is this Cup or Chalice which I deliuer vnto you doth signifie the new Testament ¶ Héere it is plaine the Cup is not the new Testament but doth signifie the new Testament Therefore the bread is not the bodie but doth signifie the bodie I. Frith ¶ The signe of the new Testament which is established and ratified by Christs bloud Geneua ¶ As the Cup is the new Testament so the bread is the bodie of Christ. By the new Testament he vnderstandeth the forgiuenesse of sinnes Heb. 8. 12. But the Cup doth onelie represent vnto vs the new Testament that is to saie the forgiuenesse of our sinnes that we haue in the bloud of Christ. Sir I. Cheeke ¶ Héere is a double Metonymia For first the vessell is taken for that which is conteined in the vessell as the Cup for the wine which is within the Cup. Then the wine is called the Couenant or Testament whereas in déede it is but the signe of the Testament or rather of the bloud of Christ whereby the Testament was made neither is it a vaine signe though it be not all one with the thing it representeth Beza What is meant by the Cup of saluation I will take the Cup of saluation and call vpon the name of the Lord. ¶ In the lawe they vsed to make a banket when they gaue solempne thanks vnto God and to take the Cup and to drinke in signe of thanks-giuing Geneua ¶ I will take the Cup c. In token of my deliueraunce The Bible note ¶ He alludeth to the manner that was vsed vnder the law For when they gaue solempne thanks vnto God there was also a feast made whereat was made an holie drinking in token of gladnesse and because this dooing was as a Sacrament of their deliuerance out of Aegypt hée tearmed it the Cup of saluation Caluine Of the cup of blessing Is not the Cup of blessing which we blesse partaking of the bloud of Christ c. ¶ That is to saie they that doe eate of the bread and drinke of the Cup of the Lord with thanksgiuing are the Communion of the bodie and bloud of Christ that is to saie the congregation of them that are washed in the bloud of Chrst beeing made his bodie and members Sir I. Cheeke The Cup of blessing ¶ Of thankesgiuing wherevpon that holye banket was called Eucharist that is a thankesgiuing Is it not the Communion c. A most effectuall pleadge and note of our knitting together with Christ and ingraffing to him Beza Is not the Communion c. ¶ The effectuall badge of our coniunction and incorporation with Christ. Geneua How the Cup is taken for the drinke in the Cup. Drinke of it all for it is my bloud of the new Testament ¶ For it is that is to saie the drinke that is in the Cup or if ye list the Cup is my bloud of the new Testament taking the Cup for drinke by a manner of speaking vsed in all tongues as when we saie I haue dronke a Cup of good wine wée take there the Cup for the wine my bloud of the new Testament that is to saie my bloud for whose shedding sake this new Testament and couenaunt is made vnto you for the forgiuenesse of sinnes Tindale How by the Cup is signified Christs passion Ye shall drinke of my Cup. ¶ By the Cup and Baptime be vnderstood his bitter passion and death as he himselfe testifieth a little after saieng Let this Cup passe from me Sir I. Cheeke How the Cup is taken for the crosse of affliction Are ye able to drinke of the Cup c. ¶ He setteth the crosse before their eyes to drawe them from ambition calling it a Cup to signifie the measure of the afflictions which God hath ordeined for euerie man The which thing also he calleth baptime Geneua Of the Popes golden Cup. Hauing a Cup of golde in her hand ¶ Hee speaketh of vntoward and counterfet doctrine The Pope boasteth himselfe to haue the Scripture but he corrupteth it with his bloudie gloses and maketh men to drinke of the troubled or rather stinking water of puddles in stéede of Gods pure wordes which is the meate and drinke of our saules These blasphemous and abhominable decretals which the Romish Antichrist serueth his guests withal are yet extant howbeit yâ— he serueth them in a golden Cup that is to wit vnder the name of Christs Uicarship vnder the coulour of the Gospell and vnder such glorious names as that all things procéede of the instinct of the holye Ghost and that hée cannot erre c. This is the golden Cuppe which hath beguiled manie c. Marl. vpon the Apoc. fol. 242. CVRSE What this word curse impôrteth AS concerning this word curse let vs marke that it giueth vs not scope to wish the mischiefe or confusion of the partie I meane through desire of vengeaunce as oftentimes wée bée so carried awaie by our passions as there reigneth nothing in vs but heart burning and bitternesse or at least wise a foolish and vndiscrete zeale But whereas it is sayd that Eliphas cursed the wicked mans house it importeth nothing else but that he hold him to that which the scripture teacheth and sheweth vs. And therefore it is not for vs to bée Iudges for it were too great a rashnesse if we should take so much preheminence vpon vs as to saie O that man shall make an euill ende or such a man shall come to shame A man must not presume so farre but it belongeth to God onelie to curse or to blesse Cal. vpon Iob. fol. 80. Of two manner of cuâ—ses Upon mée bée thy curse my sonne ¶ There are two manner of curses in the Scripture the one is in the soule that perteineth to the soule as sinne and wickednesse And the other to the bodie as all temporall miserie and wretchednesse As Gen. 3. and Deut. 23. T. M. Of the curse of good men What strength the curse of holy men oppressed with wrong hath to bring the vengeaunce of God vpon the oppressors may appeare by Ioathan the sonne of Ierobaal and likewise by Eliseus the Prophet And cursed them in the name of the Lord. ¶ Perceiuing their malicious heart against the Lorde he desireth God to take vengeaunce of that iniurie done vnto him Geneua The meaning of this place following Cursed be he that doth the worke of the Lord negligentlie and cursed be he that kéepeth backe his
Deering And went into the Sinagogue on the sabboth day sat down ¶ The truth neuer feareth the light but commeth forth boldly as it appeareth by Paule Barnabas which entered into the common Sinagogue Also héere we doe learne why the sabboth was instituted not for vaine sports and pastimes but that vpon that day the people should giue themselues to praier to read heare the word of God Sir I. Cheekeâ— How the Priests brake the Sabboth and were blamelesse ¶ That on the Sabboth the Priestes in the Temple brake the Sabboth and are blamelesse ¶ Not that the Priests brake the Sabboth in doing that which was commaunded by the lawe but he speaketh this to conâ—ute the errour of the people who thought the Sabboth broken if any necessary worke were done that day Geneua Sée that ye kéepe my Sabboth ¶ The Sabboth beside that it serued to come heare the word of God to seeke his will to offer and to reconcile themselues vnto God It was a signe vnto them also did put them in remembraunce that it was God that sanctified them with his holy spirit and not they themselues with their holy workes T. M. What is meant by the second Sabboth It came to passe in the second Sabboth ¶ Epiphanius noteth well in his treatise where he confuteth Ebion that the time when the Disciples plucked the eares of corne was in the feast of vnleuened bread now wheras in these feasts which kept many daies together as the feast of tabernacles and the passeouer their first day and the last wer of like solemnitie Leâ—â— 23. Luke fitly calleth the last day the second Sabboth though Thâ—ophilact vnderstand it of any of them that followed the first Beza The feasts which conteined many daies as the passeouer and the feast of tabernacles had two Sabboths the first day of the feast and the last Geneua A sâ—ieng of S. Austen concerning the Sabboth It is lesse euill saith Saint Austen to goe to plough then to play vpon one of those daies meaning the Sabboth daies Why the Machabees fought on the Sabboth Obiection The Machabees fought and defended themselues vpon the Sabboth day notwithstanding God had appointed that day to rest Aunswere The Machabees might lawfully defend themselues vpon the Sabboth day for Christ expoundeth the law man is not made for the Sabboth but the Sabboth for the man And the Iewes did euil saith Dâ—do being besieged vpon the Sabboth day to stand to yéeld them vnto their enimies Yet did not the Machabees proclaime yâ— it shuld be lawfull vpon the sabboth day to go to the field The meaning of this place following And beare no burden on the Sabboth day ¶ By meaning the Sabboth day he comprehendeth the thing the is thereby signified for if they trangressed in the ceremony they must néeds be culpable of the rest Read Exo. 20. 8. And by the breaking of this one coÌ„mandemeÌ„t he maketh them transgressours of yâ— who le law for as much as the first second table are conteined therin Geneua The signification of the Latine word Sabbathum Sabbathum was among the Iewes accompted the seauenth day in the which they fasted in remembrance of the seuen daies in the which they were fatigate going fasting in the desart of Arabia or they came to the mount of Sinai S. Austen vpon the Psalmes writeth the Sabbathum is taken three maÌ„ner of waies for ye. 7. day is called by the name in the which almightie God rested after his worke of 6. daies Sabbathum is also eternall quietnesse Moreouer Sabbathum is the conscience of a quiet minde aduaunced by hope of the time to come not being shakeÌ„ or vexed with stormes of things present Eliote Look Winter SACKCLOTH What the wearing of sackcloth signifieth SAckcloth shéering of mens heads renting of their garments and casting of dust and ashes vpon them were â—okens of repentaunce or els of great sorrow among the people of the East countries in olde time Cal. vpon Iob. fol. 29. SACRAMENT What Sacrament is A Sacrament saith S. Austen is the signe of an holy thing ¶ If it be the signe of an holy thing then it is not the very thing it selfe which it doth signifie I. Frith It séemeth to me that a Sacrament is an outwarde signe wherewith the Lord sealeth to our consciences the promises of his good will towards vs to sustaine the weaknesse of our faith And we againe on our behalfes doe testifie our godlinesse towards him as well before him and the Angells as before men We may also with more briefenesse define it otherwise As to call it a testimonie of Gods fauour towards vs confirmed by an outward signe with a mutuall testifieng of our godlinesse towards him Whether of these definitions it differeth nothing in sense from the definition of S. Augustine which teacheth that a Sacrament is a visible signe of an holy thing or a visible forme of an inuisible grace but it doeth better and more certainely expresse the thing it selfe for whereas in the briefenesse there is some darknesse wherin many of the vnskilfull sort are deceiued I thought good in more wordes to giue a fuller sentence that there should remaine no doubt Cal. in his Instit. 4. b. chap. 14. sect 1. A Sacrament as S. Austen defineth it is a signe of an holy thing But if the Sacrament be Christs body as the Papists say it is then can it not be a Sacrament that is the signe of an holy thing for it is the holy thing it selfe So that they must either deny the sacrament to be the body bloud of Christ either els the Sacrament therof For one thing cannot be both the signe the thing signified because they be in that respect most contrary the one to the other Crowley A Sacrament is a visible signe ordeined of Iesus Christ as a seale to confirme vs the better in the faith of the promises the which God hath made vs of our saluation in him Vnet Sacrament is a signe representing such appointments and promises as the Raine-bow representeth the promise made to Noe that God will no more drowne the world Tindale This word Sacrament is as much to say as an holy signe and representeth alway some promise of God as in the olde Testament God ordeined that the Raine-bow should represent and signifie vnto all men an Oth that God sware to Noe and to all men after him that he would no more drowne the worlde with water so the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ hath a promise annexed which the Priest should declare in the English tongue This is my body that is broken for you This is my bloud that is shed for many vnto the forgiuenesse of sinnes This doe in the remembraunce of mée â—aith Christ. Luke 22. 19. and 1. Cor. 11. 24. If when thou seest the sacrament or eatest his body or drinkest his bloud thou haue this promise fast in thy heart
A BOOKE OF NOTES and Common places with their expositions collected and gathered out of the workes of diuers singular Writers and brought Alphabetically into order A worke both profitable and also necessarie to those that desire the true vnderstanding meaning of holy Scripture BY IOHN MARBECK 2. Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God is profitable to doctrine to reproue to correction to instruction which is in righteousness that the man of God maye be perfect instructed vnto all good workes Imprinted at London by Thomas East 1581. ¶ TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND HIS ESPECIALL good Lord the Earle of Huntington Knight of the most noble order of the Garter c. Iohn Marbeck wisheth a most happie and prosperous estate with increase of vertue in the feare of GOD. AS THE CHILdren of Israel had inestimable cause to praise the great goodnesse of almightie God and to render condign thanks vnto him for his most mercifull deliueraunce out of their vile captiuity bondage which they so long had susteined vnder that proude resister of Gods omnipotent power king Pharao Euen so Right honourable are we no lesse bound to honour lande and praise the same God with immortall thanks which now of his entire loue pitie and compassion in this our last age of the world hath broken the yoke of our miserable seruitude vnder that proud exalter of himselfe the Romish Antichrist and of the bondmen and slaues of that tyrant hath made vs free men in his sonne Iesus Christ through the true knowledge of his eternall and euerlasting word For as the people that dwel in the country called Cimmeria do remaine in continuall darknes by reason they want the cleere light of the Sunne which is so farre distant from them So were we poore soules during the time of our thraldōe vnder the power of the Pope in like obscuritie shut pend vp as prisoners in the darke dungeon of his Antichristian iurisdiction and alwaies constrained to feed on the scraps of his owne vnsauery and most vnfruitfull traditions diuelish deuices for lacke of the wholsome foode of the Gospell of Iesus Christ whereof the least little sparke could not be permitted to put forth his light among vs. But now my good Lord seeing that all the sleights and grounds of the Popes inuentions which wholy consisteth in false superstitious worshipping filthy Idolatry fained hypocrisie foolish scrupulositie with other the like be cleerly sifted and boulted out from the boulting tub of his Canō laws by infinit godly learned writers especialiye by such as bee here expressed within this volume it shall behoue vs to embrace and lay sure holde on the profound saiengs of those so godly writers or rather vpon the truth vttered by their pens that being weaponed with such artillerie we may be able to resist ouerthrow whatsoeuer the whole Popish army shal assay to assalt vs with all For what is the cause that many at this present day do fall a lusting after Romish religion as did the Israelits to feed on the flesh pots of Aegypts gaine But that they despise to apparell themselues with the armour of Christ esteeming much better their old apparell of Popery although it seeme neuer so vile in the sight of God Which miserable and deceiued sort but yet truly most wilfull froward people that I might by the mercye of God in some measure perswade if not wholy conuert to the truth I haue the rather employed my diligence in collecting these common places sincerely expoūded by the authors themselues that in the reading and earnest study therof there may some sparke of Gods true knowledge kindle aright vnderstanding in them which the Lord graunt that his onely praise glory may therein be shewed And now Right honourable hauing as yet no help for the publishing of my Concordance which without speciall helpe is like to lye not onely helples but also fruitlesse inclosed in an huge volume of mine owne writing wherein I haue spent many yeres in purpose therby to profit the studies of the godly affected in the English tongue so that I am not able as my meaning was to exhibit the same vnto you I shall most humbly beseech your honor to accept and take in good part my simple trauailes in this other worke which God of his goodnes in these mine olde yeres hath now brought forth in me That I may not seeme altogethers vnfruitfull to the Church of God nor vnthankfull vnto you mine especiall good Lord but that at the least a testification of my faithfull hart to Gods people and of my good will to your honour may somewhat therein appeare For whom as dutie requireth I wil remaine during life a cōtinuall intercessour vnto almightie God that his blessings may be multiplied vpon you that abounding in all good gifts both of body and mind you may enioy vpon this earth a long life in perfect health and honour to his glory and to the profit of others and after the end of your race may be blessed for euer in the felicitie of the faithfull Amen THE TABLE A. AAron How long he was before Christ. Fol. 1. How hee is a figure of Christ. eodem A comparison betweene him and Christ. eod What Aarons bells signified eod Abaddon The name of Satan and of the Pope 2. Abhominable Who is abhominable eod Abhomination of Deso How it is vnderstood 3. Abimelech How he is put in the steed of Achis eod Of the vices of Abimelech the sonne of leroboam 4. Abrahā How he is the heire of the world eo What is meant by his bosome 5. How his lye to Abimelech is excused 5 How he did eate Christs bodie 6. Of y◠communication betweene him and the glutton 7. How God tried his faith eod How he is said to be a Prophet eod Of the doubting of Abraham eod Of Abrahams riches eod Absolution No mortal man cā absolue 7. How it standeth not in the will of the Priest 8. Abstinence What it is eod What differēce is betweene it fasting 8 Abuses By whom they ought to be reformed 9. Of whom they ought to be rebuked eo Achab. Of Satans deceiuing of him 10 Accident What an Accident is eod How it is not without his subiect eod Adam The first man y◠God created 11. Of things done by Adam and Seth. eod Cōparison between Adam Christ. eo How he did eat Christs body drāk 12 Of the first Adam earthly the second heauenly eod How Adā was not deceiued but Eue. 13. How the sect of the Adamits sprang vp 14. Adde What it is to adde or to take away eod Adoption How the Lawiers define it 15. Adoration What it is 16. Adultery What a dampnable sin it is eo How the adulterer repenting is forgiuen 17. Aduocate How there is no mo for vs to God but Christ. 18. Afflictiō How they are mesured to vs. eo The difference betweene the afflictions of the godly and vngodly
and the most excellent ministers of God will haue vs worship one God with them by whose contemplation they are all blessed Neither doe we build temples for them for they will not be so honoured of vs because that they knowe that when we are godlie we are the Temples of God Therefore it is well and rightlie written that man was forbidden of the Angell to worship him but one God vnder whom he was his fellow-seruant How this place following is vnderstood Which after his owne imagination walketh in the humblenesse and holinesse of Angels ¶ By religion of Angels saith the olde translation Erasmus By superstition of Angels What S. Paule meaneth héere I cannot well tell except he meane that false Apostles phantasied some hie honour worship to be giuen to holie Angels if they kéepe yâ— law giuen by the ministration of holie Angels and those to displease the Angels yâ— kéepe not the lawe giuen by Angels holie Angels to honour them that obserue the lawâ— So they taught yâ— Angels of God to venge their iniurie displeasures in them yâ— kéepe not the law of Moses So these Pseudo Apostles taught it to be a worshipping of Angels to obserue yâ— lawe the workes of the lawe as necessarie to saluation which thing S. Paule counteth here no honour nor worship of Angels but superstition of Angels a pretence to honour Angels do dishonour them most rebuke to Angels that can be done Or els this place maie be otherwise expounded after this manner That some Pseudo Apostles among the Collâ—sians studied to deceiue them saieng they were the Angels of God sent from God aboue that they had receiued certeine visions of Angels and of holie spirits in some Oracles wherin they were shewed the will pleasure of God what God wold haue done of men in the earth that was that they must néeds kéepe the law of Moses the workes of it or els they said they could not be saued which thing S. Paule reproueth in all his Epistles but most plainlie improued condempned of yâ— Apostles of Christ. Act. 15. Such Pseudo Apostles was among vs sometimes that said holie Angels holie spirits soules of men departed to haue appeared vnto them that they should goe this pilgrimage to this Image or that Image in such a place that they should cause to be said or song so manie Dâ—riges so many Masses found such a foundatioÌ„ for Masses for prescript praiers purchase such Pardons such Indulgenties and manie like reuelations hath bene shewed to men as Pseudo Apostles said by the which meanes they deceiued manie of a long time but thanks be to God their deceit is knowne in a manner to all men how vaine foolish it was how vngodly how perilous contrary to mans saluation how it came not of God but of the diuell was inuented of men and maintained for lucre sake I. Ridley Of good and euill Angels Of good Angels that doe â—erue God and his Church The Epistle to the Hebrewes saith thus Are not all ministering spirits and sent to minister for their sakes which shall be heires of saluation Heb. 1. 14. Of the euill Angell the Lord saith that Satan with his companie is a liar and a murtherer from the beginning And Saint Peter saith The diuell goeth about like a roring lion séeking whom he maie deuâ—ure Iohn 8. 44 1. Pet. 5. 8. How the Angels are not against the authoritie of Magistrates When the Angels which are greater both in power might giue not railing iudgement against them before God ¶ Albeit the Angels condemne the vice iniquitie of wicked magistrates yet they blame not the authoritie and power which is giuen them of God Geneua Whie the Angels be called powers principalities vertues c. Although Angels be called powers principalities vertues it is not for that God hath resigned his owne office vnto them it is not for that he hath dispoiled himselfe of his owne power it is not for that he himselfe abideth idle in heauen But it is for that the Angels are instruments of his power to the ende it should be spread out ouer all c. Caluin vpon Iob. fol. 15. How Angels be called the sonnes of the Gods Among the sonnes of the Gods ¶ He calleth the Angels the sonnes of the Gods because they neither haue had their beginning of the earth nor are clad with corruptible bodies but are heauenlie spirits endued with the glorie of God Not yâ— they bée anie part of gods being or substance as brainsick persons dreame but because God vttereth his mightie power in them therfore is their nature distinguished from ours by this title The effect thereof is that although there shine foorth a greater maiestie is yâ— Angels then in other creatures insomuch that they rauish vs to wonder at them yet come they nothing néere vnto God that they should dimme him with their excellencie or part stakes of souereigntie with him which thing is to be marked aduisedlie because yâ— although God do euerie where auouch yâ— Angels to bée but seruaÌ„ts redie at his coÌ„maundement yet yâ— world being not contented with the one God forgeth to it selfe many Gods Caluin How Angels appearing in humaine bodies were not men Two things are diligentlie héere to be weighed One is whether Angels when they after this sort put on humaine bodies maie be called men I think not For if we vnderstand humaine flesh which is formed borne of a resonable soule vndoubtedlie Angels after that manner cannot be said to haue hamaine flesh What then will some men saie Were the sences deceiued wheÌ„ men sawe them Not so For the sences iudge onelie outward things such things as appeare But what inwardly impelleth or moueth these things which they sée they iudge not That longeth to reason to séeke search out This also is to be added that Angels did not continuallie retaine these bodies bicause they were not ioined to them in one and the selfe same substaunce so yâ— an Angel a bodie were made one person The holie Ghost also although hée was a true Doue where he desceÌ„ded yet was not he together one substance with it wheâ—fore the Doue was not yâ— holie Ghost not yâ— holie Ghost the Doue Otherwise Angels may as we haue before taught enter indéed into a body before made which before had his being as it is read of yâ— Angel which spake in yâ— Asse of Balaâ—m and of the diuell which by the Serpent talked with Eue. But at this present we dispute not of that kinde but onelie saie that Angels working in this manner in the bodies of creatures are not ioined vnto them in one and the selfe same substaunce Wherefore the asse could not bée called an Angell neither was the Angell an Asse euen as the Serpent was not in verie déede the diuell neither was the diuell the Serpent Pet. Mar. vpon Iudic.
are so lightened with theâ—hriâ—ht beames of the Gospell yâ— for all inquisitions imprisâ—nments exquisite torments and cruell burnings that can be deuised they neuer a whitte diminish but mightelie increase as God hath promised that the bloud of the Martyrs should be the séede of the Gospell W. Fulke How Babilon is called the wast Sea This is the heauie burden of the wast Sea ¶ By the wast sea is vnderstood Babilon it is so called because of the excéeding great cruelnesse and tyranme wherewith it exercised the Iewes Héereof is there a prouerbe Babilon is the Sea of euils and euen the wast of the Sea that is the most tempestious and desolate place and that is least possible to be sayled through T. M. How the destruction of Babilon was prophesied long before Thou shalt binde a stone to it and cast it in the middest of Euphrates ¶ Saint Iohn in his Reuelation alludeth to this place when he saith The Angell tooke a Milstone and cast it into the Sea signifieng thereby the destruction of Babilon His wordes be these Then a mightie Angell tooke vp a stone like a great milstone cast it into the Sea saieng With such violence shall the greate Citie of Babilon be cast and shall bee founde no more ¶ That is It shall not be like to other Cities which maie bée builded againe but it shall bée destroied without mercie Geneua ¶ Looke more of Babilon in the word Rome BACKE PARTES OF GOD. What is meant by the backe partes of God ANd thou shalt sée my Backepartes but my face shall not be séene ¶ Shall sée my backparts That is so much of my glorie as in this mortall life thou art able to sée Geneua Death is the hauen that carrieth vs to the place where we shall sée GOD face to face which wée shall neuer sée so long as we be in this mortall lyfe but must couer our faces with Moses and Helias till the face or forepart of the Lorde be gone by Now must we looke on his Backepartes beholding God in his wordes and in his creatures and in the face of Iesus Christ our Mediatour But when this bodie is dissolued by death we shall sée God face to face and knowe him as we are knowne Luther BAPTIME The right signification and vse of Baptime BAptime which is now come in the roome of circumcision signifieth on the one side how that all that repent and beléeue are washed in Christs bloud and on the other side how that the same must quench and drowne the lusts of the flesh to followe the steps of Christ. Tindale fol. 6. ¶ Baptime is a signe of repentance and of forgiuenesse of sinnes whereby God doth testifie that he washeth awaie or forgiueth the sinnes of them that beléeue and also wherby God doth seale and admonish vs of true repentance all the daies of our life Cheeke All we which haue bene baptised into Iesus Christ haue bene baptised into his death ¶ That is that sinne through Christs death maie be abolished and die in vs and that as wée are made cleane outwardlie with water in our Baptime so inwardlie our sinnes maie be washed awaie and cleansed by the bloud of Christ. The Bible note ¶ Baptime is an outward signe representing in vs the â—enuing of the spirit and mortifieng of our members in Iesus Christ by the which we are buried in death with him Tind ¶ Baptime is a Sacrament by the which Iesus Christ doth offer vnto vs the remission of our sinnes and our regeneration vnder the figure of the water as he doth indéed communicate the same vnto vs by his holie spirit Also it testifieth vnto vs that he receiueth vs into his Church as true members of the same And we for our part doe testifie that we acknowledge him for such a one as he declareth himselfe toward vs that we beléeue that he maketh vs partakers of all his great riches Pet. Viret ¶ By Baptime wherewith we be washed out wardlie is signified that we be washed inwardlie by the bloud of Christ the remembrance wherof all the Apostles indeuoured to worke in the mindes of the faithfull Marl. vpon the Apoc. fol. 11. How we be washed by baptime Whereas Saint Paule saith we be washed by Baptime his meaning is that GOD doth thereby both witnesse our washing and therewithall perfourme the thing that is figured For except the truth or performaunce of the thing went ioyntlie with the signe of it it were an vnproper speach to say that Baptime is the washing of the soule And by the waie we must beware that we put not ouer that thing either to the signe or to the minister of the signe which is proper to God onelie that is to saie that we thinke not the minister to be the author of washing vs cleane or the water to purge the filthinesse of our soule Which to doe belongeth onelie vnto Christs bloud Againe we must take héede that no peece of our trust do stick either to the water or to the man for as much as the onelie right vse of the Sacrament is to leade vs straightlie by the hande vnto Christ and there to staie For it is onelie the holie Ghost that renueth and quickeneth vs and no creature or outward worke is able to bring that to passe For if circumcision doe nothing auaile in Christ Gal. 5. 6. Surelie neither auaileth it anie man to bée but onelie dipt in water and to be admitted into the Church except he haue faith that is workefull by charitie which thing the powring on of water perfourmeth not for then should all that bée baptised be faithfull And therefore there is added Through the word Marl. vpon the Apoc. fol. 292. How baptime bringeth no grace examples followe Baptime bringeth no grace with it as doth appeare by Simon the Sorcerer Tindale ¶ Hée hath not put on Christ saith Saint Hierome that hath onelie receiued the washing of the water except also hée receiue the holie Ghost Symon Magus receiued water but because he receiued not the holie Ghost therfore he put not on Christ Iesu. Paule héere iudgeth of Christians as a man iudgeth but God doth not measure and iudge his faithfull onelie by outward signes but by the inwarde thoughts and heartes D. Heines ¶ Cornelius the Centurion receiued the holie Ghost before he was baptised ¶ The gelded man of Quéene Candace beléeued and therefore had grace before he was baptised Obiection The Apostles béeing commaunded to baptise in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holie Ghost they notwithstanding baptised in the name of Iesus Christ onelie Aunswere To baptise in the name of Christ is to baptise according to the institution and commaundement of Christ neither do these words in the name of Christ import that Baptime was ministred in the name of Christ onelie and in none other name beside no more then these wordes Paule the Seruaunt of Iesus Christ doe import
spoken of in the same that in the flame they felt no heate and in the fire they felt no consumption And I constantlie beléeue that howsoeuer the stubble of this my bodie shall be wasted by it yet my soule spirit shall be purged thereby A paine for a time whereon nowithstanding followeth ioie vnspeakable And he much intreated of this place of Scripture Noli timere c. Feare not for I haue redéemed thée and called thée by name Thou art mine owne when thou goest through the water I will bée with thée and the strong floud shall not ouerthrow thée when thou walkest in the fire it shall not burne thée and the flame shall not kindle vpon thée for I am the Lord thy God the holie one of Israel Which he did most comfortablie intreat off as well in respect of himselfe as appling it to the perticular vse of his friendes there present Of whom some tooke such swéet fruit therein that they caused the whole sayd sentence to be faire written in tables and some in their bookes the comfort whereof in diuerse of them was neuer taken from them to their dieng daie In the booke of Mar. fol 1131. His aunswere to a proude Papist BIlney béeing demaunded in dirision by a proud Papist when hée went to his death whie hée wrought no Myraâ—les béeing so holy a man as he was accompted aunswered with milde voice and countenance God onely sayd he worketh myracles wonders he it is that hath wrought this one wonder in your eies that I being wroÌ„gfullie accused falslie belied opprobriouslie and spitefullie handled imprisonned buffeted and condmned to the fire yet hitherto haue I not once opened my mouth with one ill word against anie of you This passeth the worke of nature and is therefore the manifest miracle of God who will by my suffering and death be glorified and haue his truth enhaunced Of the Bill of diuorcement ¶ Looke Diuorcement BINDING AND LOOSING What is meant heereby TO binde and loose is to preach the lawe of God and the Gospel or promises as thou maist sée in the third chapter of the second epistle to the Corinthians wher Paule calleth the preaching of the lawe the ministration of death and damnation and the preaching of the promises the ministring of the spirit and of righteousnesse For when the lawe is preached al men are found sinners and therefore dampned And when the Gospell of glad tidings are preached then are all that repent and beléeue found righteous in Christ c. Tindale fol. 150. Whatsoeuer ye binde on earth c. ¶ That is whatsoeuer ye condemne by my word in earth the same is condempned in heauen And that ye allow by my word in earth is allowed in heauen Tindale In the. 16. Chapter verse 19. he meant this of doctrine and héere of Ecclesiasticall discipline which dependeth of the doctrine Geneua ¶ To binde is to banish the stifnecked and vnrepentant sinner from the congregation of the Saints to loose is when he repenteth and submitteth himselfe to receiue him againe into the fellowship of the elect and chosen people of God Sir I. Chee ¶ God in promising men the forgiuenesse of their sinnes giueth charge and commission to the ministers of his worde to drawe them from death according as it is expreslie saide that the keies of the kingdome of heauen are coÌ„mitted so those which preach the gospell to what end To forgiue sinnes not of their owne authoritie but to the intent that the wretched man bée the better assured of their saluation and not doubt but God receiueth them to mercie Cal. â—pon Iob. fol. 592. BISHOP What a Bishop and his office is IF a man couet the office of a Bishoppe he desireth a good worke c. ¶ Bishop is as much to say as séer to or an ouer séer Which when he desireth to féede Christs flocke with the foode of health that is with his holie word as the Bishops did in Paules time desireth a good work and the verie office of a Bishop But he that desireth honour gapeth for lucre thirsteth great rentes séeketh preheminence pompe dominion coueteth abundance of al things without want rest and hearts ease castles parkes Lordships Earledomes c. desireth not a worke much lesse a good worke and is nothing lesse then a Bishop as Saint Paule héere vnderstandeth a Bishop Tind How Bishops were chosen In choosing of Bishops the people had their libertie long preserued that none should be thrust in that were not accepted of all This therfore was forbidden in the counsell at Antioch that none should be thrust in to them against their wil Which thing also Leo the first doth diligentlie confirme Héerevpon came these saiengs Let him be chosen whom the Clergie and the people or the greater number shal require Againe let him that shall beare the rule ouer all be chosen of all For it must needs be the he that is made a ruler being vnknowne and not examined is thrust in by violence Againe let him be chosen by the Clarks and desired by the people and let him be consecrate by them of that prouince with the iudgemeÌ„t of the Metropolitane The holy Fathers tooke so great héed that the libertie of the people should by no meanes be diminished that when the generall Synode gathered together at Constantinople did ordeine Nectarius they would not doe it without the allowance of the whole Clergy and people As they testified by thrée Epistles to the Synode at Rome Therfore when anie Bishop did appoint a successor to himselfeâ— it was none otherwise stablished vnlesse yâ— who le people did confirme it Whereof you haue not onely an example but also yâ— verie forme in Augustine in the naming of Gradius And Theodorâ—te when he reheraseth that Peter was named by Athanasius to bée his successor by by addeth yâ— the elders of Priests confirmed it the magistrate nobility the people approued it with their allowing shoute Caluine in his insti 4. â— Chap. 4. Sect. 11. Of the ordination of Bishops and Ministers The ordination of Bishops hath nothing proper or peculiar besides fruits commodities that necessarilie depend therof for it is the decrée of the Lord that of them to whome they minister the secrets and mysteries of the heauenlie life they receiue the things that belong to the necessarie vses and maintenaunce of this lyfe As Saint Paule plainlie proueth to the Corinthians 1. Chapter 9. from the. 4. verse to the. 15. And the 1. to Timothie 5. 17. 18. And to the Gal. 6. 6. which thing also Christ teacheth Mat. 10. 10. Luke 10. 17. So the this is the iust right lawe of God that the Bishoppes or ministers are to bée mainteined of the Churches and such a measure is to be kept the they be neither pressed with ouer great néed nor runne riot with too much excesse for in either of them a regard is to bée had to the calling of a
himselfe and in his owne minde being made priuie to euerie thing that he either hath committed or not committed doe either condemne or acquite himself And this reason procéedeth frō God who is both prompt writeth his iudgements in the hearts and mindes of men Bullinger What Saint Paules meaning is by this Hauing the conscience seared with an hot yron ¶ Their dull consciences first waxed hard then after canker and corruption bred therein Last of all it was burnt with an hotte yron so that he meaneth such as haue no conscience Geneua ¶ Whose conscience waxed so hard that there grew an hard fleshlinesse ouer it and so became to haue a Canker in it and now at length required of verie necessitie to be burned with an hot yron ¶ Tindale applieth this place to false Teachers whose consciences being seared be witnesses vnto themselues that for their bellie sake and desire of filthie lucre they hide the truth and stablish lies Tindale CONSECRATION What Consecration is GIuing of thanks vnto God for y◠death of his onlie begotten Son Iesus Christ is the true Consecration Sir I. Cheeke Consecration signifieth the whole action of the Supper and not the turning of the Elements Booke of Mar. fol. 1538. Doctor Redman being sicke at Westminster was among other things asked this question by one Master Wilkes what Consecratio was it is quoth Doctor Redman tota actio in ministring the Sacrament as Christ did institute it All the whole thing done in the mysterie as Christ ordeined it that is Consecatio Thus farre D. Redman CONTEMPT How Contempt is defined COntempt consisteth chiefelie in thrée things for either wée contemne onelie in minde when we despise anie man and their goods or when we doe them anie discommoditie not thereby to séeke our owne gaine but onlie to reioice at their discommoditie or lastlie when we adde words or déedes which haue ignominie or contumelie ioined with them Pet. Mar. vpon Iudic. fol. 166. CONTENTION Of the Contention betweene Paule and Barnabas ¶ Looke Paule CONTINENCIE What Continencie is COntinencie is a vertue or power of the mind receiued from the spirit of God which suppresseth affections and doth not in anie wise permit vnlawfull pleasures This is conuersant and doth shew it selfe in the common and vsuall talke of men in pleasures that are allowed in apparell in buildings and dwelling houses in meate and drinke and in other things also c. Bullinger fol. 237. CORNELIVS How Cornelius was iustified by faith and not by workes COrnelius thy praiers and thine almes are come vp into remembraunce before God c. ¶ The praiers and almes of Cornelius pleased God before he was baptised but without faith God cannot be pleased Cornelius therefore as Bede trulie noteth had faith whereby his praiers and almes pleased God for saith he he came not to faith through workes but to workes through faith The Bible note ¶ Inasmuch as by workes no man can be saued as the psalmist openlie affirmeth In thy sight none that liueth can be iustified And againe If thou looke on our iniquities Lord who shall be able to beare them No christen conscience dare be so hardie as to attribute saluation of this man Cornelius to his praier and fasting for first ye see he was a Gentile vncircumcised not kéeping the lawe nor once thinking thereon and therefore must be iustified by faith that came by hearing the glad tidings preached in Christ and therefore must we looke to the words of Luke in the beginning of this Chapter where he saith that he feared God which thing he could not haue done neither yet haue praied nor giuen almes except he had beléeued For how should he haue called on him on whom he beléeued not Thus are we compelled to ascribe his calling vnto faith out of which these fruites of praier and fasting procéeded speciallie séeing that Saint Paule affirmeth that whatsoeuer is not done of faith the same is sinne The christen then and such as will the Scriptures to be true in all places to expound one texte that another maie agrée with it do right well know that his calling our saluation is fréelie giuen of God for his son Christs sake and not for the deseruing of our workes And because faith can receiue this great and free benefite of God and beléeue it to be true and workes neither can beléeue it neither discerne it therfore it is ascribed vnto faith and not to workes If praier or fasting or the holiest worke vnder heauen could saue Christ had neuer néeded to haue suffered such gréeuous paines but vtterly died in vaine Neither should God fréelie chuse vs but our workes should chuse him Understande therefore that by his workes was he not called but by Faith out of which his workes sprong which faith God freelie gaue him as he calleth and saueth vs all Good workes must we do as this man did and that with all loue and earnestnesse and thereto are we bound and without them can it not be knowen whether we be verie christen or no no more then we can knowe a good Trée to be good and neuer felte his fruite But we maie in no condition ascribe iustification or saluation to them for as saith Christ When ye haue done all ye can doe 〈…〉 ye are vnprofitable seruaunts but to faith which onelie can receiue the benefites of Christ and beléeue that he alone hath deserued forgiuenesse for the sinnes of all the world The Apostles were héere first taught and certified by the holie Ghost of the conuersion of the Gentiles Tindale CORNER STONE ¶ Looke Stone CORRVPTION From whence our corruption commeth ADam was not created in the corruption which is spoken off héere but he purchased it of himselfe For God found all the things to be good which he had made Man therefore who is the excellentest of all creatures was not marred after that fashion till he had withdrawen himselfe from God But when he had once seperated himselfe from the Fountaine of righteousnesse what coulde remaine vnto him but naughtinesse and corruption Thus wée sée from whence all our naughtinesse procéedeth that we ought not to blame God for the vices wherevnto we be subiect and vnder which we be helde prisoners according to the Scripture which saith that wee bée solde vnder simie and become the bonde slaues of Satan Wée must not blame God for this but we must learne to knowe that it is the heritage which we haue from our father Adam and therefore we must take the whole blame to our selues before God c. Cal. vpon Iob. fol. 274. COVETOVSNES What Couetousnesse maketh men to doe COuetousnesse is the roote of all euill 1. Tim. 6. 10. Couetousnesse is Image seruice Col. 3. 5. It maketh men to erre from the faith 1. Tim. 6. 10. It hath no part of the kingdome of Christ and God Ephe. 5. 5. It hardened the heart of Pharao that the faith of the miracles of God could not
foorth For there are diuerse men at this daie and hath beene alwaies which thinke that religion consisteth in often hearing the word of God and in disputing the same at common meeting but our Lorde Iesus Christ pronounceth in Mathew where he saith Whosoeuer therefore heareth of me these words and doth them that true pietie doth not consist in knowledge talking but in the action and conuersation Marl. fol. 148. DOCTOVRS How farre the Doctours ought to be beleeued WE ought to indulge or bring in nothing of our owne head neither to choose that which anie man hath brought in of his owne head or of his owne braine we haue the Apostles for our authors which did not choose of their own braines what they shuld bring in but did faithfully assigne and deliuer vnto nations that which they receiued of the Lord. Therefore if an Angell from heauen should preach anie other Gospell vnto vs wée would pronounce it to be accursed That which hath no authoritie out of the Scriptures or by the Scriptures maie as easilie be contemned as it is proued We doe by good right condemne all new thinges yâ— Christ hath not taught for Christ is the waie vnto the faithfull If Christ therefore hath not that which we doe teach we doe also iudge it execrable Ambrose de vir li. 4. The discussing of our iudgement must be taken onely of the Scripture We haue néede to bring the Scripture for witnesse for our meaning and expositions without these witnesses haue no credit My consent without exception I owe not to anie Father were he neuer so wel learned but only to the canonicall scriptures His reason is this for whereas the Lord hath not spoken who of vs can saie it is this or that Or if he dare saye so how can he proue it I require the voice of the Shepheard reade me this matter out of the Prophets read it me out of the Psalmes read it me out of the Lawe read it out of the Gospell read it out of the Apostles August in Iohn Tract 94. Neither ought we to take the dispensations of all men how catholike so euer or commendable so euer they be as the canonicall Scriptures as though we maie not saue the reuerence that is due vnto such men improue or refuse anie thing of their writings if we finde they meant otherwise then the truth doth allow béeing by the helpe of God found by vs or by other August in Epist. ad Fortuna I am not moued with the authoritie of this Epistle For I doe not take the letters of Ciprian as the canonicall Scriptures but I do trie his writings by the canonical Scriptures and whatsoeuer in them doe agrée with the authoritie of the holie Scriptures I doe receiue it with his commendation and whatsoeuer doth not agrée with Gods worde I doe by his good leaue refuse it August con Cresigramacion li. 2. cap. 32. Trust not me saith S. Austen nor credit my writings as if they were the canonicall Sciptures but whatsoeuer thou findestâ— in the word although thou didst not beléeue it before yet ground thy faith on it now whatsoeuer thou readest of mine vnlesse thou knowe it certeinlie to be true giue thou no certeine assent vnto it August prol li. 3. de Trini Tom. 3. We must be pertakers of other mens saiengs wholy after the manner of Bees for they flie not a like to all floures nor where they sit they crop them not quite awaie but snatching so much as shall suffice for their honâ—eâ— making take their lâ—aue of the rest Euen so wee if waâ—ves wise hauing gotte of other so much as is sounde and agreâ—able vnto truth will leape ouer the rest which rule if we keepâ— in reading and alleadging the Fathers wordes we shall not swâ—rue from our profession the Scripture shall haue the souereigne place and yet the Doctours of the Church shall loose no paâ—te of their due estimation Saint Austen to Saint Hierome saith on this wise I recken not my brother that ye would haue vs so to reade your bookes as if they were written by the Apostles or Prophets DOEG How Doeg was a figure of Antichrist DOeg was a wiâ—ked â—oâ—etous man the kéeper of king Saules Mules who to the satisfieng of his coâ—et 〈…〉 isnesse gaue himselfe to flatterie and to serue the kings turne in all things were it right or wrong insomuch that when hée had falsely accused 〈…〉 that good and godlie Priést vnto the king hée at the k 〈…〉 es commaundement all other reâ—using that wicked déede fell vpon A 〈…〉 melech with the swoorde and slewe both him and all the Priestes of the Lorde to the number of 85. All such cruell and couetous men although sometime they will appeare holie as Doeg did which went to the Eabernacle of common place of praier and was ther occupied as though he had bene an holie man maie bée called Doegs Doeg by interpretation and turning of his name into Latine signifieth Commotâ—â— in English â—ehementlye moued By whom saith Saint Austen is signified Antichrist which with falâ—e signes and fained myracles shall moue all the worlde before the comming of the Lord into iudgement And as Doeg wrought wickednesse for the pleasing of king Saule by whome is signified the Diuell so shall Antichrist moue and stirre the worlde to sâ—nne for the pleasing of the diuell and aduauncing of his kingdome DOGGES Who they be and what is signified thereby A Dogge is counted a vile beast and so vile that in the olde lawe it was forbidden to offer the price the gaine or the â—auntage that was got by the selling of a dog to the building or repairing of the Tabernacle of the Lord. And because dogs be great raueners malicious and enuious beasts therfore the Scribes Pharesies and high Priests of Moses lawe in persecuting of Christ were called dogges Ric. Turnar Giue not that holie things vnto dogges c. ¶ The dogges are those obstinate and indurate which for the blinde zeale of their leauen wherewith they haue sowred both the doctrine also the workes maliciouslie resist the truth and persecute the ministers thereof and are those wolues among which Christ sendeth his shéepe warning them not onelie to be single and pure in their doctrine but also wise and circumspect and to beware of men for they shuld bring them before Iudges kings and slaie them thinking to do God seruice therein That is as Paule to the Romaines testifieth of the Iewes for blinde zeale to their owne false fained righteousnesse persecute the righteousnesse of God Tindale fol. 238. ¶ Declare not the Gospell to the wicked contemners of God whome thou séest left to themselues and forsaken Geneua ¶ This holie thing is Gods word Dogges are they that persecute the word Tindale The meaning of these places following For dogges are come about me ¶ By dogges are vnderstood the tyrannie
vnto vs or to make our praier to God for to obteine such things as doe perteine to our saluation sith we be sure of it alreadie Aunswere If we haue a good peece of ground which we knowe most perfectlie to be fruitfull would we not till it still and sowe it that we maie haue some profite of it or wold we let it lie alone because we knowe it to be fruitfull Euen so the elect chosen are as it were plowed and tilled and good seedes still cast into their heartes that they maie bring foorth good and pleasant fruit vnto the Lord. Againe If we goe about that the true elect and chosen of God haue no néede of the preaching of Gods worde because they bée sure alreadie of their saluation we maie also mainteine and vpholde that we haue no néede of meate and drinke sith that we be assured by Gods word that we shall not die before the time that God hath appointed Christ was sure of his saluation and yet continued all night in praier I. Veron ELEMENTS What is signified by Elements AFter the Elements of the world ¶ By the Elements some vnderstand the Sunne the Moone the Starres or the other Elements thinking that there was amonge the Collâ—ssians some that did worshippe these Elements as Gods and desired health and saluation of them putting trust and confidence in them praieng to them and desiring of them prosperous things and of the disposition of these Elements prophesied thinges to come The Apostle heere biddeth them beware they phantasie no such thing by these Elements which are no Gods nor are not to be worshipped as God but as the creatures of GOD made and ordeined for the behalfe and commoditie of man in this world Other vnderstand by Elementa mundi the ceremoniall and iudiciall lawes of the olde Testament thinking them to be necessarie for saluation and that none could bée saued without the obseruing of them as some thought Act 15 â— and among the Galathians 4 9. But Peter and Iames and the residue of the Apostles of Christ thought legall ceremonies and sacrifices not necessarie for saluation but saluation might well bée had without them yea and without all ceremonies for ceremonies now vsed in the Church bée no holie thinges of themselues they make no man holie they be no workers nor works of saluation They be ordeined to signifie and represent other thinges signified by them And heere the Apostle biddeth them beware of such as did call them to the lawe not to Christ to the ceremonies and workes of the lawe and of man decréede and not of God commaunded And héere hée willeth them to beware of all them that exhort men to ceremonies olde customes voluntarie workes lawes statutes decrees traditions of men rather then Gods commaundements Ridley ¶ Looke Rudiments ELEVENTH HOVRE ¶ Looke Houre ELIAS The Iewes opinion of Elias ARt chou Elias and he said I am not ¶ The Iewes thought that Elias should come againe before the daies of Messias and they tooke the ground of that their opinion out of Malachy 4. 5. which place is to be vnderstood of Iohn Math. 11. 14. And yet Iohn denieth that he was Elias aunswering them in deede according as they meant Theo. Beza Beholde I will send you Elias the Prophet ¶ This Christ expoundeth of Iohn Baptist. Math. 11. 14. who both for his zeale and restoring of religion is aptlie compared to Elias Geneua Of the comparing of Elias with Christ and his coaâ—e with the Sacrament Chrisostome saith Elias when he was carried vp in the firie Chariot lefte to his Disciple Elizeus his mantell of Sheepe skinnes but the sonne of GOD when he ascended left vs his flesh But Elias put off his mantell and Christ hath lefte his flesh with vs and ascended hauing it with him Aunswere Chrisostome sheweth in what sorte Christ hath both taken vp his flesh into heauen and also left the same amonge the faythfull in the earth and in the end compareth Elias and Christ together The storie is knowne that when Elias was taken vp in a firie Chariot he lette downe his coate vnto Elizens that stood beneath who tooke it vp and by the power of the same diuided the water of Iordane Upon occasion heereof Chrisostome saith Elizeus receiued the coate made of Sheepe skinnes as a greate inheritaunce more precious then anie golde After that time Elias was double for there was Elias aboue â— and Elias beneath Aboue was the verie true Elias in the naturall substaunce and presence of a bodie beneath was nothing else but Elias coate which coate notwithstanding because of the powers that were wrought with it he called Elias Thus Chrisostome compareth Elias with Christ and Elias coate with the Sacrament And this he saith Christ is aboue and Christ is beneath as he saith Elias is aboue and Elias is beneath For as Elias coate was called Elias euen so the Scarament of Christs bodie is called Christs bodie ELISEVS How he resisted not the king in keeping out his messenger THe Prophet had a speciall warrant by Gods especiall reueling so to bid them and therefore the Prophet did nothing amisse therein c. The cause whereof saith Lyra is annexed for beholde the sound of his maisters féete is after him for after the departure of the messenger Ioram repented and therefore hée followed him to reuoke the precept And saith Caitane that thou shouldest boldlie resist the kings messenger he foretelleth them that the king followed his messenger repenting the he sent him and therfore the king followed the messenger because he repented that he had commanded that Elizeus head shuld be cut off for he came to himselfe againe came personallie to moue his complaint before Elizeus I. Bridges fol. 1084. ELIZABETH How she might be Maries cosin ANd behold thy cosin Elizabeth ¶ Though Elizabeth were of the Tribe of Leui yet she might be Maries cosin For wheras it was forbidden by the lawe for maidens to bée married to men of other Tribes this coulde not let but that the Leuies might take them wiues out of anie Tribe for the Leuites had no portion allowed them when the land was diuided among the people ¶ Notwithstanding the Elizabeth was married to one of the Tribe of Leui yet she was Maries cousin which was of the stocke of Dauid For the lawe which forbadde marriage out of their owne Tribe was onelie that the Tribes should not bée mixt and confounded which could not be in marrieng with the Leuites for they had no portion assigned vnto them Geneua EMANVEL Wherefore Christ was called by this name AND they shall call his name Emanuel which is by interpretation God with vs. Christ is called Emanuel in that hée tooke the flesh of man and ioyned and knit himselfe to vs and became our brother Tindale EMERALDE The description of this stone and what is betokened by it THe fourth an Emeralde ¶ This stone is excéeding gréene aboue
pledge and then he glorieth with Paule and reioiceth saieng Now it is not I that liue but it is Christ that liueth within me These things be practised and vsed among faithfull people and to pure mindes the eating of his flesh is no horrour but honour and the spirite deliteth in the drinking of the holie and sanctified bloud and dooing this we whet not our teeth to bite but with pure faith we breake the holie Bread These be the words of Cipriane De coena Domini The Word saith Origen was made flesh verie meate which who so eateth shall surelie liue for euer which no euill man can eate For if it could be that he that continueth ill might eate the Word made flesh séeing that he is the Word and Bread of life it should haue bene written Whosoeuer eateth this Bread shall liue for euer Origen in Mathew chapter 15. The Authour of this tradition Saint Cypriane said that except we eate his flesh and drinke his bloud we should haue no life in vs instructing vs with a spirituall lesson and opening to vs a waie to vnderstand so priuie a thing that we shuld know that the eating is our dwelling in him our drinking is as it were an incorporation in him beeing subiect vnto him in obaieng ioined vnto him in our wills and vnited in our affections the eating therefore of this flesh is a certaine hunger and desire to dwell in him S. Austen saith vpon the Gospell of Iohn that he that doth not eate his flesh and drinke his bloud hath not in him euerlasting life and he that eateth his flesh and drinketh his bloud hath euerlasting life But it is not so in those meates which we take to sustaine our bodies for although without them we cannot liue yet it is not necessarie that whosouer receiueth them shall liue for they maie die by age sicknesse and other chaunces But in this meate and drinke of the bodie and bloud of our Lord it is otherwise for both they that eate and drinke them not haue not euerlasting life And contrariwise whosoeuer eate drinke them haue euerlasting life Who doe eate and drinke the bodie and flesh of Christ. They which doe beléeue in Christ and doe assuredlie perswade themselues that he died for their sakes they I saie doth both eate the flesh of Christ and drinke his bloud to which vse the Simboles or fignes for that they stirre vp the senses are verie much profitable not that the flesh bleud of Christ are powred into the bread wine or are by any means included in those Elements but because these things are of the true beléeuers receiued with a true faith For they are an inuisible norishment which is receiued onelie in the minde as Augustine hath faithfullie admonished saieng Why preparest thou the téeth and the bellie beléeue and thou hast eaten Pet. Mar. vpon Iudic. fol. 212. What it is to eate God To eate God is to haue the fruition of the diuine nature to be incorporate into God But the Maiestie of God so farre surmounteth the capacitie of man that as he is in himselfe in nature and Godhead no naturall creature is able ot conceiue him but onelie in the face and sight of Iesus Christ the sonne of God Therefore S. Paule saith Christ is the brightnesse of the glorie and the expresse Image of the substaunce of God Iewel fol. 240. Of the true sacramentall eating and of the true eating of Christs bodie The Sacrament that is to saie the Bread is corporallie eaten and chawed with the téeth in the mouth The verie bodie is eaten and chawed with faith in the spirite Ungodlie men when they receiue the sacrament they chaw in their mouths like vnto Iudas the sacramentall bread but they eate not the celestiall bread which is Christ. Faithfull christian people such as bée Christs true disciples continuallie from time to time record in their minde the beneficiall death of our Sauiour Christ chawing it by faith in the cud of their spirit and digesting it in their hearts féeding and comforting themselues with that heauenlie meat Also they dailie receiue not the sacrament therof so they eate Christs bodie spirituallie although not the sacrament therof But when such men for their more comfort confirmation of eternal life giuen vnto thē by Christs death come vnto the Lords holie Table then as before they fedde spirituallie vpon Christ so now they féede corporallie also vpon the sacramentall bread By which sacramentall féeding in Christs promises their former spirituall feeding is increased and they growe and waxe continuallie more strong in Christ vntill at the last they shall come to the full measure and perfection in Christ. This is the teaching of the true Catholike Church as it is taught by Gods word And therefore Saint Paule speaking of them that vnworthelie eate saith that they eate the bread but not that they eate the bodie of Christ but their owne damnation Cranmer fol. 79. ETERNALL LIFE How Eternall life is sometime called a reward ETernall life is sometimes in the holie Scriptures called a reward but then it is not that reward which Paule writeth to be giuen according to debt but is all one as if it shuld be called a recompensation Gods will and pleasure was that there should be this coniunction that after good workes should followe blessednesse but not yet as the effect followeth the cause but as a thing ioined with them by the appointment of God Therefore we maie not trust vnto workes for they are feeble and weake and doe alwaies wauer stagger Wherfore the promises of God depend not vpon them neither haue they in themselues as they come from vs that they can mooue God to make vs blessed We saie therefore that God iudgeth according because according as they are either good or euill we shall obtaine either eternall life or eternall damation But thereby it followeth not that workes are the cause of our saluation Pet. Mar. vpon the Rom. fo 39. EVANGELISTS Who be Euangelists EUangelists were next vnto Apostles and had their Office much like them sauing that they were beneath them in degrée of dignitie These gaue themselues chiefelie to instructing of the people and preaching the Gospell to them as plainlie and simplie as might be of which sort was Timothie and such like For although Paule match Timothie with him in dooing commendations yet doth he not make him his followe in Apostleship but kéepeth that name peculiarlie to himselfe 2. Cor. 1. 1. Col. 1. 1. And in writing to him he saith thus Be watchfull in all things harden thy selfe in afflictions go through with the worke of an Euangelist 2. Tim. 4. 5. EVER How this word Euer is taken ANd to thy séede for euer ¶ Euer is not héere taken for a time without ende but for a long season that hath not his ende appointed T. M. ¶ Meaning a long time and till the comming of Christ. And spirituallie this is
Cor. 15. 52. Tindale How this place following is vnderstood Because his face shall be so deformed and not as mans face ¶ That is his face shall be more deformed then other mens his beautie fouler then the beautie of the sonnes of men The whole sentence meaneth that manie men shall be estonied wheÌ„ they shall sée Christ our sauiour which was excéeding beautifull before all the sonnes of men Psal. 45. 2. so wickedly and violently intreated of the Iewes spit vpon scourged crowned with thorne all be blouded yea greatlier humbled contemned and despised then euer was anie mortall man T. M. FAITH What Faith is FAith is a sure confidence of things which are hoped for and a certeintie of things which are not seene ¶ Faith trust in Christ onelie is the life and quietnesse of the conscience not trust in works how holie so euer they be or appere Works caÌ„not set the heart at rest because we euer think they be not inough nor yet good inough but to few and so fal we to mistrusting after which followeth despairing and so damnation if we leaue not the confidence in them and sticke to faith which canne receiue and beléeue without mistrust that Christs workes on the crosse hath full purged cleansed and loosed vs from our sinnes Againe Faith is a liuely and stedfast trust in the fauour of God wherewith we commit our selues altogether vnto God and that trust is so surelie grounded and sticketh so fast in our hearts that a man wold not once doubt of it though he should die a thousand times therfore and such trust wrought by the holie Ghost through faith maketh a man gladde lustie chéerefull and true hearted vnto God and all creatures by the meanes whereof willingly and without compulsion he is glad and readie to do good to euerie man to suffer all things that God maie beloued and praised which hath giuen him such grace so that it is impossiblâ— to separate good works from faith euen as it is impossible to separate heate and burning from fire Therefore take heede and beware of thine owne fantasies which to iudge of faith good workes will seâ—me wise when indéede they are starke blinde and of all things most foolish Praie God that hée will vouthsafe to worke faith in thine heart or else thou shalt remaine euermore faithlesse faine thou imagine thou enforce thou wrastle with thy selfe and doe what thou wilt Againe Faith is the beléeuing of Gods promises a sure trust in the goodnesse and truth of God which faith iustified Abrahamâ— Gen. 15. was the mother of al his good works which he afterward did for faith is the goodnesse of all workes in the sight of God Good works are things of Gods coÌ„maundement wrought in faith And to shew a show at the commandement of God to do thy neighbour seruice with all with faith to be saued by Christ as God promiseth vsâ— is much better theÌ„ to build an Abbeie of their own imagination trusting to be saued by yâ— fained works of hypocrits Iacob robbed Laban his vnckle Moses robbed the Aegiptians Abraham is about to sley burne his own son al are holy works because they are wrought in faith at Gods commandement To steale rob murther are no holy works before worldly people but vnto theÌ„ the haue their trust in God they are holie when God commandeth them What God commaundeth not getteth no reward with God Holy works of mens imagination receiue their reward héere as Christ testifieth Math. 6. 2. Tindale Faith is an vndoubted beliefe most firmelie grounded in the minde Bullinger fo 30. Againe True faith is the wel-spring root of all vertues good works first of al it satisfieth the minde and desire of man and maketh it quiet and ioyfull Bullinger fol. 54. How Faith is the ground of all good works As a good trée in the time of the yeare bringeth foorth good apples not to make him good for he is good before nor yet this apple is to his owne profit but vnto other mens notwithstanding the good nature the is in him must needs bring it forth So like wise yâ— iust man must needs do good works not by them to be iustified but alonelie in them to serue his brother for he hath no néed of theÌ„ concerning iustification This is the verie true way maner of doing good works how the no man can do goods workes but a iustified man as our sauiour Christ saith either make yâ— trée good and then his fruit must be good or els the tree euill and his fruit also euil for a good trée must néedes bring forth good fruite and a bad euill fruite D. Barnes How Faith iustifieth The faith of true beleeuers is the God iustifieth or forgiueth Christ deserueth it the faith trust in Christs bloud receiueth it certifieth the conscience thereof saueth deliuereth from feare of death dampnation this is it the we meane when we saie faith iustifieth the faith I meane in Christ not in our own works certifieth the conscience the our sins are forgiuen vs for Christs bloud sake Tindale fol. 187. Againe when I saie the faith iustifieth the vnderstanding is the faith receiueth the iustifieng God promiseth to forgiue our sinnes to impute vs for full righteous And God doth iustifie vs actiuely yâ— is to saie forgiueth vs for ful righteous Christs bloud deserueth it saith in the promiser receiueth it certifieth the conscience therof Faith chalengeth it for Christs sake which hath deserued all that is promised cleaueth euer to the promise truth of the promiser pretendeth not the goodnes of the worke but knowledgeth that our works deserue it not but are crowned and rewarded with the deseruinges of Christ. Take an example of young children when the Father promiseth them a good thing for dooing of some trifle and when they come for their reward dalyeth with them saieng What that thou hast done is not worth halfe so much Should I giue thée so great a thing for so little a trifle Ye did promise mée ye said I should haue it why did you promise and whieâ— did you saye so And let him saie what he will to driue them off they will euen saie againe you did promise me so yée did you said I should haue it so ye did But hirelings will pretend their worke and saie I haue deserued it I haue done so much my worke is worthie it c. Tindale fol. 225. That faith the mother of all good workes iustifieth before wée can bring forth anie good worke as the husbaÌ„d marrieth his wife before he can haue anie lawfull children by her Furthermore as yâ— husbaÌ„d marieth not his wife the she shuld coÌ„tinue vnfruitful as before as she was in the state of virginity wherein it was impossible for her to heare fruit but contrariwise to make her fruitfull euen so faith iustifieth
this sentence be interpreted For there could nothing be more foolish then this saieng of Iames if a man would thus interpret it that no man obteineth remission of sinneâ— but because his works are worthie of so great a benefit This interpretation who so sticketh frowardlie by vnderstandeth not what remissioÌ„ of sinnes is or how the coÌ„science ought to be comforted when it seeth that it bringeth no good works to God which are sufficient to please him And this interpretation is cleane contrarie to other open saiengs of the Scripture which teach yâ— remission of sins commeth fréely as yâ— Psalmist saith I said I wil acknowledge mine offence accuse my selfe vnto the Lord thou forgauest me yâ— wickednes of my sin And Ro. 4. 5. To him the worketh not but beleeueth on him yâ— iustifieth yâ— vngodly his faith is couÌ„â—ed for righteousnes What can be more plainlie then yâ— sinnes are forgiue to a wicked vngodly man yâ— worketh not yâ— is not for anie of his works but fréely To conclude if the gospel forgiue not sins but for our good works sake for our worthines it diffe reth not froÌ„ yâ— law it saueth no more theÌ„ yâ— law this I trust wil suffice yâ— good wise For as touching them yâ— bring nothing to this cause but a will to brawle chide wil neuer suffer themselues to be satisfied And yet if we would contend by the number of authorities this one place of Iames is ouerthrowne with many witnesses of Paule if men wil vnderstand by iustificatioÌ„ al one thing in theÌ„ both Therefore Paule saith Faith iustifieth vnderstand thereby yâ— faith causeth yâ— we be counted iust reputed righteous that our sins are not imputed vnto vs but forgiuen vs for Christs sake When Iames saith works iustifie he meaneth thus Works declare vs iust and shew euidentlye that we are righteous Thus shalt thou make them agree Tindale Ye shall vnderstand yâ— S. Paule S. Iames be not contrarie in this matter For Paule to yâ— Romanes Galathians disputeth against them which attributeth iustification to good works And Iames reasoneth against them which vtterlie condemne works Therefore Paule sheweth the cause of our iustification Iames the effects In Paule is declared how we are iustified in Iames how we are knowne to be iustified In Paule works are excluded as not yâ— cause of our iustification in Iames they are approued as effects procéeding thereof In Paule they are denied to go before them that be iustified in Iames they are said to followe them that are iustified Geneua Ioine yâ— liuâ—ly faith of S. Paule with the good works of S. Iames bring both these into one life and then hast thou reconciled them both and so shalt thou be sure to be iustified both before God by Paules faith before men by S. Iames works I. Fox How Faith is nourished If Faith as it is written come by hearing that is as it is added by the worde of God then followeth it of necessitie that there is nothing whereby faith is more nourished mainteined and confirmed then by conâ—tinuall reading and repeating of the worde of GOD. This thiâ—â— testified Tertulian in his Apologie where he saith That to this end holie assemblies are gathered together to heare the word of God The Philosophers saie that if faith be by the word of God then by the same also it is nourished We know moreouer that of workes often repeated are confirmed habits or qualities as contrariwise if a man cease off from actioÌ„s they waxe weake wherfore if a man cease to reade to heare or to repeate the holie Scriptures faith will waxe feeble mâ—him And they which thinke that a liuelie pure faith maie continue in Churches wouâ— often preaching doe excéedinglie erre Chrifostome hath a verie apt similitude of a light or Lamp that burneth which easilie goeth out vnlesse there bee stillâ— Oyle powred into it By the Lampe or Light he vnderstandth Faith and by Oyle the worde of Godâ— and this he there writeth of the Parable of the wise and foolish virgins Pet. Maâ— vpon the Rom fol 326. Faith is nourished by hearing the word of God for the word of God is the foote of Faith according to Saint Paules saieng Rom. 10. 17. Faith commeth by hearing Hemmyng How Faith without Charitie is nothing worth If I had all Faith so that I could moue mountaines out of their places 〈…〉 had no charitie I were nothing ¶ Of this do some gaâ—her that â—aith without charitie cannot iustifie But this cannot be gathered of Saint Paule for it is open that hee speaketh not of this thing whereby that men maie be iustified but only he teâ—heth how they yâ— be iustified must work with charitie It is 〈…〉 that he speaketh not of faith that doth iustifie 〈…〉 but of that faith that doth worke out wardlie the which is called the gift of the holy Ghost as the gift of tongues the gift of prophesies the gift of healing the gift of interpretation as it is open in the Chapter before now is this Faith not giuen to iustifie but onelie to do myracles wonders and signes by And therefore saith Paule If I had all faith so that I could moue mountaines c. Saint Paule deserâ—â—eth this faith calling it faith that worketh by charitie not that it iustifieth by charitie for he saith ther plainly it is neither circumcisioÌ„ nor vncircumcision yâ— is of valure in Christ Iesu but faith He doth heere plainlie exclude from iustification the highest worke of the lawe Circumcision setteth faith alone not the gift of faith that doth miracles but the gift of faith that worketh by charitie D. Barnes ¶ Faith is héere taken for the gift of doing miracles which the wicked may haue Mat. 7. 22. also for that faith called historicall which beléeueth the mightie power of Christ but caÌ„not apprehend Gods mercie through him this diuels haue Iames 2. 19. therefore is separated from charitie but the faith yâ— iustifieth in effect cannot As. 1. Iohn 2. 9. Mat. 17. 20. Geneua How faith â—gendereth charitie That which the schoole-men teacheth yâ— charitie is before faith hope is a madnesse It is faith yâ— first ingendereth charitie in vs how more rightlie doth Barnard teach I beléeue saith he yâ— the testimonie of conscience which Paul calleth the glorie of yâ— godly coÌ„sisteth in thrée things For first of al it is necessarie to beléeue yâ— thou canst not haue forgiuenes of sins but by yâ— pardoÌ„ of god Then yâ— thou canst haue no good workes at all vnlesse he also giue it last of all that thou canst by no workes deserue eternall life vnles it be giuen thée also fréely A little after be addeth yâ— these things suffice not but yâ— there be a certeine beginning of faith because in beléeuing yâ— sinnes cannot be forgiuen but of God we ought also beléeue yâ— they are not forgiuen vs till also we be perswaded by the testimonie of the
weake infirmitie and want of desert Hemmyng ¶ Therefore euerie man in his vocation as he is called first ought to goe forward and encourage others seeing the hire is indifferent for all Geneua FISHERS The meaning of this place following I Will send out manie fishers to take them ¶ By these fishers are vnderstoode the hoastes by whome the Lorde scourged the Iewes and fished awaie their rulers at foure sundrie draughtes were foure of their kings taken and at euerie time some of the chiefe of the people withall but at the last in the time of Zedekiah was all the rest of the people hunted out of those cruell hunters the Chaldees 4. Reg. 25. T. M. ¶ By the fishers and hunters are meant the Babilonians and Chaldeans who should destroie them in such sorte that if they escaped the one the other should take them Geneua The first inâ—enter of fisher-boates ¶ Looke Zabulon FIVE LOAVES Applied to the good indeuour of the Pastour WE haue héere but fiue loaues and two fishes ¶ Though we thinke our selues vnable to teach Christs congregation yet let vs at the commaundement of Christ emploie and bestowe that little that we haue vppon Christs flocke And hée that augmented the fiue loaues two fishes shal also augment in vs his owne gifts Sir I. Cheeke FLIENG Of flâ—ng 〈…〉 time of persecution AND the woman fiedde into wildernesse c. Although the Church knowe most certeinlie that God hath a care for her whose defence is more for her safetie then all the power and fauour of men yet notwithstanding least she might tempt her mainteiner and defender sometimes shee fileth when shée is assailed by enimies and yet for all that she waiteth quietlâ—e for 〈…〉 at the Lordes hande So we reade that Moses fledde for displeasure of the king of Aegypt and abode priuelie with his father in law lethro the Priest of the Madianites by the space of 40. yeares Exo. 2. 21. And also that Dauid and his companie hidde themselues in caues of mountaines for feare of Saules displeasure 1. Reg. 24. 1. And also that Elias hidde himselfe out of the waye by the space of thrée yeares and an halfe to eschewe the wrath of Iezabel 3. Reg. 19. 3. Likewise the hundred Prophets of the Lorde whome Abdias had hidde in two caues for feare of the same lezabel 3. Reg. 18. 4. Concerning which men looke also Heb. 11. 38 â—o did the Lordes Disciples shut the boores to them and kept themselues out of the waie for a 〈…〉 Iohn 20. 19. Paule béeing let downe in a basket by the brethren at Damasco went aside for a while into Arabia Act. 9. 25. Finallie who is ignoraunt of the hiding of 〈…〉 and of other Catholike Bishoppes in the time of the persecutioâ— stirred vp by the Arrians and moreouer of man 〈…〉 Aegypt which sought the innermost courts of the wildernesse by reason of the vngratiousnesse of the same 〈…〉 of whome Eusebius writeth manie thinges in the fourth chapter of his eleuenth booke of the stories of the church c. Marl. vpon the Apoc. fol. 172. ¶ The church was remoued from among the Iewes to the Gentiles which were as a 〈…〉 wildernesse and so it is perfecâ—ted 〈…〉 Geneua Of two manner of fliengs There is a flieng of the bodie a flieng of the minde The one is sometime lawfull and the other neuer The flieng of the bodie is when the true preacher flieth the cruell persecution of tyrants that séekes his death and destruction And this maie he doe lawfullie both by the doctrine and example of Christ. The flieng of the minde is when one flieth from dooing his duetie and will not defend the true doctrine by rebuking and condemning the false Hemmyng FLESH What is vnderstood by flesh FLesh is not vnderstood as though flesh were onelie the which perteineth vnto vnchastitie But Paule calleth flesh héere as Christ doth Iohn 3. All that is borne of flesh that is to wit the whole man with life soule bodie wit will reason whatsoeuer he is or doth within or without because that those al all that is in man studie after the world and the flesh c. Tindale By yâ— déeds of the law no flesh shal be iustified ¶ Flesh in Paule doth not signifie as the schoolmen dreame manifest grose sins for these he vseth to call by their proper names as adulterie fornication vncleanenesse such like but by flesh Paule meaneth héere as Christ doth in the third chapter of Iohn That which is borne of flesh saith he is flesh Flesh therefore signifieth the whole nature of man This flesh saith he is not iustified by works no nor of the lawe Flesh therefore according to Paule signifieth all the righteousnesse wisdome deuotion religion vnderstanding will that is possible to be in a naturall man So that if a man be neuer so righteous according to reason and the lawe of God yet with all his righteousnesse works merits deuotion and religion he is not iustified c. Luther vpon the Gal. fol. 65. That which is borne of flesh is flesh c. ¶ That is fleshlie to wit wholie vncleane and vnder the wrath of God And therefore this worde Flesh signifieth The corrupt nature of man contrarie to which is the Spirit that is the man ingraffed into Christ through the grace of the holie Ghost whose nature is euerlasting and immortall though the strife of the flesh remaineth Beza By the workes of the law no flesh shall be iustified ¶ Flesh is héere taken for man as in manie other places and furthermore hath heere a greater feare for it is héere put to shew the contrarietie betwéene God and man as if you would saie man who is nothing els but a péece of flesh defilâ—d with sâ—â—me and God who is most purs and most perfect in himselfe Beza The meaning of this place following Such shall haue trouble in the flesh ¶ By the flesh he vnderstandeth what things soeuer belongeth to this present life for marriage bringeth with it manie discommodities so that he bendeth more to a sole life not because it is a seruice more agreeable to God then marriage bâ—t for those 〈…〉 which if it were poss 〈…〉 hee would with all men to be void of that they might giue themselues to God onelie Beza What it is to be in the flesh Neither doth Saint Paule in this place where he saith Yée are not in the Flesh meane anie other thing then did the Lord in the Gospell when he said vnto his disciples ye are not of this world Wherefore Ambrose saith that we haue such a nature framed vnto vs as we féele it to be and he addeth moreouer that the wise men of the world are in the flesh because they resist faith and will beléeue those things onelie which are agréeable to reason This place againe teacheth vs that Ambrose by the name of flesh vnderstandeth reason and the higher parts of of
S. Paule vseth it to signifie the verie bread and verie wine or the substaunce of bread and wine not the similitude or likenesse of bread wine without the substance as you fantasie and imagine Craumer 302. FOXES Of the Foxes that Sampson caught ANd Sampson went tooke 300. Foxes c. If a man aske how Sampson got so manie Foxes he must vnderstande that as there are sundrie Regions so are there also in them manie sundrie increase of things In some place there are manie horses and those faire In some place there is great abundaunce of cattell In England there is great plentie of Connies so is there in the Ilands called Baleares In those Regions a man maie easelie in one daie in a little ground take 3. or 400. Conies which to some peraduenture might séeme incredible And so it is said the ther is a verie great abundance of Foxes in Siria speciallie in the borders of Iewrie Wherefore Salomon in his Canticles saith Take Foxes for vs which destroieth the vineyards for they delight most of al in ripe grapes Yea and Dauid saith of the vngodâ—â—e the 〈…〉 be parts of Foxes that is their praie so that their carkasses shall be deuouâ—ed of them And out of the fourth chapter of Nehemias is gathered that the number of them was so great that they could in a manner ouerturne the walles of the citie And Sampson tooke them either by his owne industrie or by the helpe of his friends Pet. Mar. vpon Iudic. fol. 223. FREE How we are free in Christ. THen are the children free ¶ Though we be made frée by the death of Christ yet ought we to be obedient vnto Magistrates and to paie them such tribute as they doe require of vs. Sir I. Cheeke FREE-VVILL How the word Free-wil is not found in all the Scripture THis word Frée-choise or as some men call it Frée-will is not in all the holie Sccipture but is inuented by proud men which would set vp their owne righteousnesse and put downe the righteousnes of God vpon the which also they haue grounded their merites attributing righteousnesse and saluation to their workes by the which thing they denie the merites of the passion of Christ. Rom. 3 24. Gal. 2. 16. The Free-will of man before his fall Frée-will was giuen to man when he was first created by the which he might haue chosen either to sinne or not to sinne August 12. b. 13. cha of the citie of God ¶ All men before sinne had frée-will either to followe the diuell or not Chrisostome in his sermon of the comming of our Lord in his 36. homelie ¶ Man was made good and by his frée-will was he made an euill man And shall he now saith S. Austen being euill make himselfe good seeing that whâ—n he was good he could not keepe himselfe good He hath set fire and water before thée stretch out thine hand vnto which thou wilt ¶ Frée-will before the fall of man was an vpright frée-will before which fire and water was laied of God and the first man did reach his hande to which he would He did chuse fire and forsooke water So the righteous Iudge the same which man being frée did chuse he did receiue he wold haue euill and the same did follow him Augustine in his booke of the new song the 8. chapter But why God did not vphold man with the strength of his stedfast countenaunce that resteth hidden in his owne secrete councell it is our part onelie to be so farre wise as with sobrietie we maie Man receiued indéede to be able if he would but he had not to will that he might be able For of this will should haue followed stedfast continuance Yet is he not excusable which receiued so much that of his owne will he hath thought his owne destruction And there was no necessitie to compell God to giue him anie other then a meane will and a fraile will that of mans fall he might gather matter for his owne glorie Of the free-will of man after his fall Man misusing his frée-will lost both himselfe and his will Augustine in his Ench. to Laurence the 30. chap. No man can beléeue hope or loue vnlesse he will but euen the selfe same will to beleeue to hope loue commeth not but from God Frée-will once made thrall auaileth nothing now but to sinne August ad Boni in his 3. b. 8. chap. That we liue well that we vnderstand aright we haue it of God Of our selues we haue nothing but onelie sinne that is within vs. Aug. de verbis Apost Ser. 10. After that man had sinned with his frée-will we wer cast headlong downe into necessitie as manie as euer came of his stocke Aug. against Fortunatus in the 2. disp It was shewed in Adam what free-will can doe without help it is able inough of it self to do euil but not vnto goodnes except it be holpen of God Au. in his b. of the new song cap. 8. Man is apt and able to wound himselfe but he is not apt able to heale himselfe when he will he maie be sicke not when he will he maie rise Augustine vpon the 98. Psal. All men at the first wer created without fault or vice and all our natures were in health but by the transgression of the same man we haue lost it There hence is drawne mortalitie there hence are so manie corruptions of the minde ther hence is ignorance a difficultie vnprofitable cares and vnlawfull concâ—â—piscenceâ— c. Amb. in his b. of the calling of the Gentiles chap. 3. We had frée-will before sinne to worke well but after sin we had none because we were not able by our owne power and strength after sinne to escape from the power of ye. diuel but as a ship when the sterne is broken is driuen hether and thether where the tempest will so by the diuell we are domen from one sinne to another neither hetherto can doe anie thing but euen as the diuell will And except God deliuer of with his strong hande of his mercie we shall remaine in bondes and chaines of sinnes vnto death Chrisostome in his 36. hom That man of his naturall power without the spirit of God can doe nothing but sin is proued by the words of Christ himselfe He that abideth in me saith Christ bringeth foorth much fruite for without me can ye doe nothing If a man bide not in me he is cast out as a braunch and he shall burne Héere it is plaine that frée-will without grace can doe nothing that is acceptable before God Saint Austen vpon this place of Iohn saith Least anie man should suppose that the braunch of it self could bring foorth at the least waie a little friute therefore saith he not Without me can ye doe a little but Without me can ye doe nothing Therefore whether it be little
the Prophet vpbraid them with in the person of God saieng Thou gauest me not the younge brests c. As who should saie saie not that thou hast giuen me manie sacrifices both because thou gauest them not to me onelie but vnto my Caâ—ues and Baals and other Iâ—oâ—ls And also because I neuer set greatly by them nor greatly required them They greeued mee alwayes when the faith and deuotion of the giuers was awaye The Shéepe of thy burnt offeringes broughtest thou not vnto mée neither diddest thou glorifie mée with thy sacrifices but diddest onelie satisfie thine owne superstitions I compelled thée not to worshippe mee with thine offeringes but because thou so readie offeredst such things vnto Idols after the manner of the heathen I commaunded that they should not be offered vnto other Gods but vnto me Of whose gift thou receiuedst them c. None of all these profited not me in as much as thou leftest off the things which I chieflie required righteousnesse faith and iudgement Math. 23. â—3 T. M. How the Gentiles found that they sought not for What shall we saie then that the Gentiles which followed not righteousnesse haue atteined vnto righteousnesse ¶ So then the Gentiles had no works to prepare and prâ—eure Gods mercie before hand and as for that that the Gentiles attained to that which they sought not for the mercie of GOD is to be thanked for it And in that the Iewes atteined not to that they sought after they can thanke none for it but themselues because they sought it not aright Beza GENTLENESSE What a vertue Gentlenesse is GEntlenesse is when a man is gentle and tractable in his conuersation and in his whole lyfe For such as will bée true followers of the Gospell must not be sharpe bitter but gentle milde curteous and faire spoken which shoulde encourage other to delite in their companie which can winke at other mens faultes or at least expounde them to the best Which will bée well content to yéelde and giue place to other contented to beare with those which are frowarde and intractable as the verie Heathen saide Thou maist know the manners of thy friend but thou must not hate them Such a one was our sauiour Christ as euerie wher is to be séene in the Gospell It is written of Peter that he wept so often as he remembred the swéet mildnesse of Christ which he vsed in his dailie conuersation It is an excellent vertue and most necessarie in euerie kinde of lyfe Luther vpon the Gal. fol. 262. GIVEN To whom it is giuen to know the mysteries of God TO you it is giuen to know the mysteries of the kingdome of God ¶ To you that is to you that are without deceite and are not curious nor trust in anie thinge that perteineth to man it is giuen of my Father of his mercifull goodnesse to know the mysterie that is the secret of the kingdome of God that is of the Gospell in which is taught the kingdome of God which is our righteousnesse peace and ioye in the holie ghost Rom. 10. which is the kingdome of all mercie and the kingdome of forgiuenesse of sins for Christs sake But vnto them that are without that is vnto such as are curious and trust more in their owne works then in the righteousnesse of Christ are all things spoken in parables that is all that they heare is euen as obscure and dark vnto them as though they wer indéed parables which 〈…〉 God therefore suffereth to be done that when they sée they should sée and not discerne and so forth 〈…〉 it followeth in the text Tindale GVIDE Who is the guide of a womans youth WHich forsaketh the guide of her youth and forgetteth the 〈…〉 of her God ¶ Guide of 〈…〉 that is her 〈…〉 which is her head and guâ—â— to 〈…〉 her from whom she ought not to depaâ—t but remaine in his sublertion and not forget the couenant of her God which is the promise made in marriage Geneua GIFT What the gift of God is THat thou stirre vp the gift of God that is in thée◠¶ The gift of God is a certeine liuelie flame kindled in our hearts which Satan and the flesh labour to quench and therefore must nourish it and stirre it vp The Bible note The difference betweene gift and grace Looke Grace GITHITH What it signifieth TO the chaunter vpon Githith c. ¶ Githith after some signifieth as much as for the wine presse after some concerning the Gethites after other some it is an instrument of musicke T. M. ¶ Whether Githith signifie an instrument of musicke or a kinde of tune or the beginning of some notable and well knowne Ballad I leaue it vncerteine For as for those that thinke the Psaline was called so because it was made in the citie of Gith then fetch their fained exposition too farre off Of the thrée former opinions it maketh no greate matter which a man take Caluine GLORIE What Glorious GLorie is nothing else but a praise most abundâ—lie published 〈…〉 63. How glorie doth follow true 〈…〉 Glorie is not to be sought for of men but glorie of her owne accord customablie doth follow true vertue How the glorie of the Lord is taken in this place following And in the morning ye shall sée the glorie of the Lord. ¶ The glorie of the Lord is 〈…〉 〈…〉 for the bright 〈…〉 â—ight that was séene in the Cloude of which glorie the 〈…〉 maketh mention 〈…〉 What is signified by the glorie of God in these places following Because the glorie of the Lord had fulfilled the house of the Lord. ¶ The glorie of the Lord fulfilling the house was a visible Cloude pre 〈…〉 yâ— God ought to be preached praised and magnified throughout the whole worlde in the congrâ—gation of the faithfull As he saith Nu. 14. 22. T. M. For the glorie of the Lord shall appeare ¶ The Prophet calleth the glorie of the Lorde the righteousnesse that shoulde be shewed by the Gospell whereby we shoulde become righteous in the sight of God the father for his sonne Christs merites This glorie shall all flesh sée that is all men as well the Iews as the Gentiles that beléeue A like saieng haue we after in the 60. 1. The glorie of the Lorde shall rise vpon thâ—e T. M. What is vnderstood by glorie in this place following And we saw the glorie of it c. ¶ Iohn saith not we saw his essence but we saw his glorie No man séeth nor hath séene the verie essence of the word But the beleening Apostles saw his glorie The which as it was 〈…〉 séene of three of the Disciples in the mount 〈…〉 Euen so by his glorious resurrection and asceâ—tion it did might 〈…〉 thine and was openlie exhibited to be séene of all the Disciples Therefore by this worde Glorie he vnderstandeth those thinges which set foorth the glorie of the word that is to saie which are certeine sure tokens of
of the letters but the Gospell is in the marking of the sentence of Scriptures This sentence approueth Saint Paule saieng thus The kingdome of God is not in worde but in vertue and Dauid saith The voice of the Lorde that is his worde is in vertue And after Dauid saith Through the worde of God the heauens were made And in the spirit of his mouth is all the vertue of them In the booke of Mar. fol. 644. An exposition of this place following For I am not ashamed of the Gospell ¶ The Gospell is that heauenly message which declareth vnto vs yâ— Iesus Christ is the power of God in whom and by whom God doth set foorth vnto the world all his heauenlie treasures that whosoeuer doth beléeue in him whether he be a Romaine or a Iew Gréeke or other he should not perish but haue lyfe euerlasting Sir I. Cheeke Saint Bede affirmeth that in his time and almost a thousand yeares after Christ héere in Britaine Easter was kept after the manner of the East church in the full moone what daie in the wéeke so euer it fell on and not on the Sundaie as wée doe now whereby it is to be collected that the first preachers in this land haue come out froÌ„ the East part of yâ— world where it was so vsed rather then from Rome Petrus Cluniacensis writing to Barnard affirmeth that the Scottes in his time did celebrate their Easter not after the Romaine manner but after the Gréeks And as the sayd Britaines were not vnder the Romaines in the time of this Abbot of Cluniake So neither were they nor would bee vnder the Romaine Legate in the time of Gregorie nor woulde admit anie primacie of the Bishop of Rome to be aboue them Ghildas saith that Ioseph of Aramathia that tooke downe Christ from the crosse béeing sent hether by Philip the Apostle out of Fraunce he beganne to preach the Gospell first in this Realme in the time of Tiberius the Emperour Nicephorus saith that Symon Zelottes about the same time came into this land and did the like Theodoretus sayth that Saint Paule immediatly after his first deliuerie in Rome vnder the Emperour Nero preched the Gospell in this Ilande and in other Countries of the West Tertulian saith of his time that the countries of Britaiâ—e which the Romaines could neuer attaine vnto are now subiâ—ct to Christ. Origen saith the same GOATE How this Goate doth figure Christ. PUtting them vpon the head of the Goat ¶ Héere this Goat is a true signe of Iesus Christ who beareth the sinnes of the people Esay 53. 5. Geneua Why it is called the scape Goate And the other for a scape Goate ¶ In the Hebrew it is called Azazel which some saie is a mountaine néere Sinai whether this Goate was sent but rather is called scape Goate because it was not offered but sent into the desart as verse 21. Geneua GRACE What Grace is BY grace vnderstand the fauour of God and also the gifte of working of the spirit in vs as loue kindnesse patience obedience mercifulnesse despising of worldlie thinges peace concord and such like Tindale The true definition of grace The true definition of Grace and agréeing to the holy scriptures is the free beneuolence of God whereby he counteth vs déere in Christ Iesus and forgiueth vs our sinnes giueth the holie Ghost an vpright life and eternall felicitie by this definition is séene not onlie what we call grace but also by whom we haue it and with all the principall effects thereof Pet. Mar. vpon the Rom. fol. 140. Receiued grace of all Apostleship ¶ Grace is throughout all the Epistles of Paule taken for the fauour and frée mercie of God whereby he saueth vs fréelie without anie desertes or workes of the lawe In like maner peace is taken for the tranquilitie of the conscience being fullie perswaded that through the merites of Christs death and bloud-shedding there is an attonement and peace made betwéene God and vs so that God will no more impute our sinnes vnto vs nor yet condemne vs. Sir I. Cheeke What it is to reiect grace To reiect and refuse the grace of God is to séeke righteousnesse by the law or to deserue grace by our owne righteousnes What difference is betweene grace and gift Grace properlie is Gods fauour beneuolence or kind mind which of his owne selfe without deseruing of vs he beareth vnto vs wherby he was moued inclined to giue Christ vnto vs with all his other gifts of grace Gift is the holie Ghost his working whom he powreth into the hearts of theÌ„ on whom he hath mercie whom he fauoureth Though the gifts of yâ— spirit increase in vs dailie haue not yet the full perfection yea though there remaine in vs yet euill lusts sinne which fight against the spirit as he saith héere in the seauenth Chapter and in the fift to the Galathians and as it was spoken before in the third Chapter of Genesis of the debate betwéene the womans seede and the séede of the Serpent yet neuerthelesse GODS fauour is so greate and so strong ouer vs for Christs sake that wee are counted for full whole and perfect before God For Gods fauour towardes vs diuideth not her selfe increasing a lyttle and little as doe the giftes but receyueth vs whole and altogether in full loue for Christes sake our intercessour and Mediatour And because the giftes of the spirite and the battell betwéene the spirite and euill lustes are begunne in vs alreadie Of this nowe vnderstande thou the. 7. Chapter where Paule accuseth himselfe as a sinner and yet in the 8. Chapter sayth There is no dampnation to them that are in Christ and that because of the spirite and because the gifts of the spirite are begunne Sinners wée are because the flesh is not full killed and mortified Neuerthelesse in as much as we beléeue in Christ and haue the earnest and beginning of the spirite and woulde faine bée perfect GOD is so louing and fauourable vnto vs that he will not looke on such sin neither will count it as sinne but will deale with vs according to our beliefe in Christ and according to his promises which hée hath sworne to vs vntill the sinne bée full slaine in vs and mortified by death Tindale in his Prol. to the Rom. The difference betweene grace and the Lawe Chrisostome noteth certeine diefferences betwéene the Lawe and Grace The Lawe sayth hée setteth â—oorth a Crowne but first requireth workes and battailes Grace first crowneth and afterwarde bringeth vnto the battayle By this hée teacheth that the righteousnesse which is set forth the Lawe is obteined by workes for wée cannot bée iustified by the lawe vnlesse wée haue accomplished all the thinges which are commaunded in the lawe But that other righteousnesse which wée haue by grace through fayth doth first crowne vs with a newe generation and adoption to be the children of
of strength for it must come from heauen and not from the strength of reason It must also make me beléeue that God the maâ—er of heauen and earth is not onely a Father but also my Father yea and that through the fauour that Christ hath purchased me from the which fauour neither heauen nor earth tribulation nor persecution death nor hell can deuide me But to this sticke I fast that he is not alonely my father but also a merciful father yea and that vnto me mercifull so mercifull that he will not impute my sins vnto me though they be neuer so many nor so great so long as I hang on the blessed bloud of Christ Iesus and sinne not of malice but of frailtie and of no pleasures D. Barnes How Cornelâ—us was iustified Cornelius a Gentile did great almes and praied vnto God alwaies vnto whome the Angell spake on this maner Thy praier and thine almes are come vp into remembraunce in the presence of God Of this text some doe gather that his good workes did helpe to Iustification The solution The Holy ghost hath openly declared himselfe there for he saith that this Cornelius was a deuout man and one that feared God How could this be without that God had taught him inwardly by Faith Yea how could he know God and that deuoutly but by faith Ergo he was iustified before God by his Faith but the world knew not his Iustification And therefore the Holy ghost doth declare his inward Iustification when hée saith that he was deuout and feared God And also doth showe openly the fruits of his Iustification when he saith that he did Almes Moreouer you haue there that the Holy ghost fell on them afore they were baptised in water the which declareth openly that they were iustified before God This well declareth in your owne lawe whose words be these Cornelius Centurion being yet an Heathen man was made cleane by the gifte of the Holy ghost afore all good workes for he was an heathen man D. Barnes ¶ Looke more in Cornelius Iustified by grace what it meaneth Are iustified fréely by his grace ¶ This saieng doth S. Ambrose expound on this wise They working nothing nor acquiting him any whit are iustified by Faith alone by the gift of God This word Fréely although many be therewith offended is also euidently expressed by Paule himselfe in these words Fréely without the lawe without workes it is a gifte and such lyke which thou maist marke for they are all one with this foresaid exposition of S. Ambrose By Faith alone we are iustified which saieng signifieth thus much onely by the beliefe wherewith we beléeue that the mercie of God graunted in Christs bloud doth saue vs are we proâ—ounced righteous The word alone exclude the workes not that thou shouldest not doe them for vnto all good workes commaunded in the Scripture art thou bound and called to walke in them and must earnestly studie and indeuour thy selfe to leaue none of them vndone but that thou shouldest in noâ— condition thinke that thou art thereby iustified or made righteous before God Tindale How this place following is vnderstood The doers of the lawe shall be iustified ¶ So must it bée vnderstood saith S. Austen that we may knowe that they can no otherwise be the doers of the lawe except they be first iustified not that Iustification belongeth vnto doers but that Iustification doth procede all manner of doing ¶ Thus by the minde of S. Augustin we see that Iustification is first giuen that men might be able to doe the workes of the lawe This is also the exposition of the common glose D. Barnes Against those men which doe say they iustifie others Bretheren saith S. Austen we haue Iesus Christ our Aduocate with our Father he is the forgiuenesse of our sinnes he that helde this was in no heresie he that helde this was in no schisme For whereof came the schismes Truly when men do say we be iust when men do say we do sanctifie them that be vncleane we do iustifie the wicked we do pray and we doe obtaine But what saith Iohn If a man doe sinne we haue an Aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ c. ¶ Thus saith he by which words he did no more touch the Donatists then hée should now a dayes if he were a lyue gall them which doe so much chalenge to themselues all the authoritie in the Church to sanctifie and to iustifie men and doe for filthie gaine set the same also ouer vnto others Mus. in his Com. pla fo 224. How God doth iustifie vs. We said in the first Article of the word of iustifieng that to be iustified is as much to say in this matter according to yâ— meaning of the Scripture as to be acquited by grace from sinne to be taken for iust Therefore God doth so iustifie vs that hee forgiueth our sinnes he hideth them doth not charge vs with them any more but doth rather impute Iustice vnto vs not ours which is none but the Iustice of his Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ. And by this imputation of Iustice he maketh vs saued and blessed So the Apostle doth foure times set forth this Iustification to the Romanes least we should séeme to bring any thing with vs of our owne Lyke as Dauid saith he doeth expresse the blessednesse of yâ— man to whom God imputeth righteousnesse without workes saieng Blessed be they whose wickedness be forgiuen and whose sinnes be hidden Blessed is the man to whom God doth not impute sinne It appeareth verye well that the Iustification which is imputed by grace without works is the forgiuenesse of sinne the help vnto saluation For where as he might haue said Blessed hée they whome God doth iustifie without workes he saith Blessed â—e thou whose sinnes be forgiuen and whose sins be hidden Blessed is the man to whom God doth not impute sinne Muscul. fo 225. Iustifieng of the vngodly But beléeueth on him that iustifieth the vngodly ¶ God is said to iustifie the vngodly because he pardoneth his sinnes and of a wicked man maketh him good The Bible note ¶ Which maketh him that is wicked in himselfe iust in Christ. Geneua Of two manner of Iustifications There is two manner of Iustifications vnderstood in holye Scripture the one before God the other before man Of Iustification before God it is truly said of S. Paule Rom. 4. 3. Credidit autem Abraham c. Abraham beléeued God and it was imputed vnto him for righteousnesse And of Iustification before men S. Iames speaketh in the 2. chapter of his Epistle verse 21. Abraham pater noster c. Was not our father Abraham iustified through workes when he had offered his sonne vp vpon the Altar c. And yâ— he so ment appeareth by his very words which followeth within few lines after thus Credidit autem Abraham c. Abraham beleeued God it was reputed vnto him for righteousnesse he was
Churches in this sorte Although a man had lyen with our Ladye Christs mother and had begotte her with childe yet were he able by the Popes pardons to pardon the fact How he wrote to Pope Leo. In the yeare of our Lorde 1518. the tenth yeare of King Henry the eight Luther wrote first to Leo Biopsh of Rome concerning the vse of pardons and in certeine priuate disputations called in doubt diuerse things concerning the Bishops supremacie for which after he was troubled lastly proclaimed an heretike vnder the defence and maintenaunce of Frederike◠Duke of Saxonie he preached writ against his power All Germanie soone after forsooke the Bishop of Rome and so was the whole state of Religion by his meanes altered among them Sleadane How he was troubled with the lusts of the flesh When I was a Monke I thought by and by that I was vtterly cast away if at any time I felt the lust of the flesh that is to saye if I felt any euill motion fleshly lust wrath hatred or enuie against my brother I assaide manie wayes to helpe to quiet my conscience but it wold not be for the concupiscence and lust of my flesh did alwaies returne so that I coulde not rest but was continually vexed with these thoughts This or that sinne thou hast committed Thou art infected with enuy with impaciencie and such other sinnes therefore thou art entered in this holy order in vaine and all thy good works are vnprofitable If then I had rightly vnderstood the sentences of Saint Paule The flesh lusteth contrary to the spirite and the spirit contrary to the flesh and these two are one against another so that ye cannot doe the things that ye would do I shuld not haue so miserablye tormented my selfe but shoulde haue thought and sayde vnto my selfe as now commonlye I doe Martin thou shalt not vtterlye be without sinne for thou hast flesh thou shalt therefore féele the battell thereof according to that saieng of S. Paule The flesh resisteth the spirit Dispaire not therefore but resist it strongly and fulfill not the lusts therof thus doing thou art not vnder the lawe c. Luther vpon the Gal. fol. 251. Let all troubled consciences comfort themselues by this example of Martin Luther and say as he sayde The question that Luther put foorth a little before his death Luther a little before his death moued this question to his friends as they sate at supper Whether we should know one an other in the lyfe to come or no and when they were al desirous to learne of him What saith he chaunced to Adam He had neuer seene Eue but what time god shaped her he was cast into a meruailous dead and sound sléepe But awaking out of the same when he sawe her he asked not whence shée is nor whence shée came but sayth Shée is flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones But howe knewe he that Uerily béeing full of the holy Ghost and replenished with true knowledge of God he spake thus In lyke manner shall we also in another life bée renued with Christ and shall knowe more perfectlye our parents wiues children and whatsoeuer is besides then Adam that time knew Eue. Sleadane Luthers praier before his death O God my heauenly Father the father of our Lord Iesus Christ and of all consolation I giue thée thanks that thou hast reuealed vnto me thy sonne Iesus Christ whome I haue beléeued whome I haue professed whome I haue loued whom I haue set foorth and honoured whome the Bishoppe of Rome and all that wicked rabell doe persecute and dishonour I beséech thée my Lorde Iesus Christ receiue my soule my heauenly Father although I be taken out of this lyfe albeit I must leaue this bodye yet knowe I assuredly that I shall remaine with thée for euer and that no man can take me out of thy hand Slea What sects is sayd to rise out of him Looke Sect. Macedonius Of his crueltie and tumult he caused in the Church MAcedonius a Priest of Constantinople taught that the holy Ghost was a creature and no God Betwéene this man and one Paulus was great strife whether of them should succéede Alexander in the Bishoprick of Constantinople So that Hermogenes maister of the chiualrie was slaine of the people when he came with the Emperours authoritie to stablish Macedonius whom the Arrians fauoured And being Bishoppe of Constantinople he practised extreame crueltie in the Church constraining the Christians to receiue the Communion with the Arrians in such wise that if women or children refused to doe the same he did either cut off their paps or by such other cruell torments force them therevnto He caused much tumult and businesse in the Church till at last a Sinode was assembled at Constantinople of 180. Bishops against him Cooper ¶ Macedonius at the first being an Arrian deposed by Acacius sect could not quiet himselfe but fell from the Arrians into an other heresie He denied the Godhead of the holye Ghost terming him the seruant and drudge of the Father and of the sonne This opinion they say Marathonius Bishop of Nicomedia taught before him These heretiks be called Pneumatomachoi Socrat. li. 2. chap. 25. Epiph. haeraes 73. MAGI What the Magies were BEholde there came wise men from the East to Hierusalem ¶ Wise men or Magi in the Persians tongue signifieth Philosophers Priestes or Astronomers and are héere the first fruites of the Gentiles that came to worshippe Christ. Geneua ¶ The wise men called Magi that came fom the East were neither kings nor Princes but as Strabo sayth which was in their time sage men among the Persians as Moses was among the Hebrewes He saith also that they were the Priests of the Persians Tindale MAGISTRATE What a Magistrate is THE worde Magistrate is deriued from Maister and signifieth the authoritie office of them which do eyther by right of inheritance gouerne subiects peoples or cities either haue y◠rule appointed thē by free electiō choise some do deriue the word Maister from the Latin Aduerbe Magis which is to say More for that master can do no more them others and excelling them in dignitie and authoritie Some doe drawe the worde Maister from the Gréeke word Menisos which signifieth greatest But whether that Maister come of the Aduerbe Magis either of the Greeke word Mènisos euerie way Magistrates do represent y◠authoritie office of Maisters And we be also therby enformed that it were méete for them which doe rule others to aduance and passe them whome they do rule in the prerogatiue of wisdome and authoritie Musc. fol. 546. How Magistrates are the Ministers of Gods iustice As the true Church doth acknowledge the ministers of the Gospell as the true ministers of God ordeined by him for the administration of spirituall things euen so doe shee knowledge the Magistrates as ministers of his iustice ordeined of him for the confirmation of the publike peace and
the Priests eare for that is but mans inuention but to God in the heart and before all the Congregation of God how that we be sinners and sinfull and that our whole nature is corrupt and inclined to sinne and all vnrighteousnesse and therefore euill wicked and damnable his lawes holy and iust by which our sinfull nature is rebuked And also to our neighbour if we haue offended any man perticularly Then Contrition sorrowfulnesse that we be such damnable sinners and not onely haue sinned but are wholly inclined to sin still Thirdly Faith of which our olde Doctors haue made no mention at all in the description of their Penaunce that God for Christs sake doth forgiue vs and receiue vs to mercie and is at one with vs will heale our corrupt nature And fourthly satisfaction or amends making not to God with holy works but to mine neighbour whome I haue offended if anye open crime be found in me and submitting of a mans selfe vnto the Congregation of the Church of Christ. And note this as satisfaction and amends making is counted righteous before the world and a purging of sinne so that the world to whome I haue made a full amends hath no farther to complaine euen so faith in Christs bloud is counted righteousnesse and a purging of all sinne before God Moreouer he that sinneth against his brother sinneth also against his Father almightie God as the sinne committed against his brother is purged before the world with making amendes or asking forgiuenesse Euen so is the sinne committed against God purged through faith in Christs bloud onely for Christs â—ake Iohn 8. 24. Except ye beleeue that I am he ye shall dye in your sinnes that is to say If ye thinke that through anye other Sacrifice or satisfaction to God-ward then me ye remaine euer in sinne before God how soeuer righteous you appeare before the world Wherefore now whether ye call this Motanoe Repentaunce Conuersion or toâ—â—ing againe to God either amending c. Or whether ye say repent be conuerted turne to God amend your liuing or what ye list I am content so ye vnderstande what is meant thereby as I haue now declaâ—ed Tindale fol. 37. HOW repentaunce is attributed to God I will repent of the plague that I thought to bring vppon them ¶ When the Scripture attributeth repentaunce vnto God it is not that he doth contrary to that which he hath ordeined in his secret counsell But when he threateneth it is a calling to repentaunce and when he giueth man grace to repent the threatening which euer containeth a condition in iâ— taketh no place And this the Scripture calleth repentaunce in God because it so appeareth to mans iudgement Geneua The Lord repented of the plague ¶ In the diuine nature there is no such affections or chaungâ—ablenesse But God is sayde after the mauner of men to repâ—â—it when he doth not execute that he had denounced or doth deferre the plague which he had threatened Geneua I repent me that I made Saule King ¶ God in his eternall counsell neuer chaungeth nor repenteth as ver 29. though he séemeth to vs to repent when many things goeth contrarye to his temporall election Geneua ¶ The repentaunce of God is onely chaunging of the deede And as the affection of mercie and of fatherly loue is attributed vnto God euen so doth the Scripture attribute vnto God after his manner of speach to affliction of anger and of fury and of repentaunce also for men cannot otherwise speake of God T. M. ¶ It repented the Lord that he had made man ¶ God doth neuer repent but he speaketh after our capacitie because he did destroy him and in that as it were did disaâ—owe him to be a creature Geneua Of Esaus repentaunce And founde no place of repentaunce ¶ Nouatus did not well vnderstande this place gathering thereby that they which doe of a fraylenesse sinne though they repent neuer so truly ought not be receiued to fauour againe For heere is not one word spoken of remission of sinnes but of the right of the first borne which being sold for a vile messe of poâ—age could not be recouered againe though he sought it with teares Sir I. Cheeke The meaning of this place following My repentings are rouled together ¶ Meaning that his loue wherewith he first loued them made him betwéene doubt and assuraunce what to doe and héerein appeareth his fatherly affection that his mercie towards his shall ouercome his iudgements as he declareth in the next verse Geneua Of two manner of repentaunce I finde saith Frith to Rastall two manner of repentaunce one is without faith is such a repentaunce as Iudas Rastals Christen men which continue still in sinne haue at latter end which doth rather purchase them an halter then the remission of sinnes Another repentance followeth instification remission of sins is a florishing fruit of faith for when by faith wee do perceiue the fauour kindnesse yâ— our louing father hath shewed vs in his sonne Iesus Christ and that he hath reconciled vs vnto himselfe by the bloud of his sonne then begin we to loue him the more we hate the body of sinne and lament and be sory that our members are so fraile that they cannot fulfill the lawe of God and so in mourning and bewailing our infirmitie it causeth vs to abstaine both from meate and drinke and worldly pleasures which is the pure fasting that we talke off but you vnderstand it not And this repentaunce commeth not to purge the sinnes which is committed before but onelyâ— taketh an occasion by the sinnes before committed to know what poyson there remaineth in our flesh and seeketh by all meanes to make vs hate this body of sinne and to subdue it with all manner of workes that God hath appointed to the intent that it should in time to come no more displease God our most mercifull Father which of gentlenesse so often pardoneth and forgiueth vs as I touched before This is the manner of repentaunce which I finde in scripture but this helpeth that we should sinne no more but what Rastall dreameth I wote not But to expresse the vttermost what I meane by repentaunce marke this example If a man builde an house which doth cost him much labour and money and haue layed no sure foundation but that when a tempest commeth his house doeth fall then will he be very sorie and repent that he hath so foolishly bestowed his money and labour Notwithstanding all this great sorrow and repentaunce cannot set vp his house againe which is fallen but onely it taketh an occasion by the ruine of the house to teach the owner wit against another time yâ— when he buildeth againe he may make a sure foundation Euen so though thou repent neuer so much that cannot get remission of thy sinnes that is but that must be pardoned onely by the faith in Christs bloud Neuerthelesse it doth
how God worketh in the outward visible sacrament but his meruailous worke is in the worthy receiuers of the sacraments The wonderful worke of God is not in the water which onely washeth the body but God by his omnipotent power worketh wonderfully in the receiuers therof scouring washing and making them cleane inwardly as it were new men and celestiall creatures This haue all olde Authors wondred at this wonder passeth the capacitie of all mens wits how damnation is turned into saluation and of the sonne of the Diuell condemned into hell is made the sonne of God an inheritour of heauen This wonderfull worke of God all men may meruaile and wonder at but no creature is able sufficiently to comprehend it And as this is wondred at in the sacrament of Baptime how he that was subiect to death receiueth lyfe by Christ and his holy spirite so is this wondred at in the sacrament of Christs holy Table how the same lyfe is continued and endured for euer by continual feeding of Christs flesh and his bloud And these wonderfull workes of God toward vs we be taught by Gods hoâ—y word and his sacraments of bread wine water and yet be not these wonderfull workes of God in the Sacraments but in vs. Cranmer fol. 74. How the sacrament may be poysoned Pope Victor the third was poysoned in the Sacrament The Emperour Henry the seuenth was poysoned by a Dominike Frier named Barnardmus de monte policiano in receiuing the sacrament and yet may it be none other substance but the body and bloud of our Sauiour Christ God and man where if he had bene man they had poysoned him first but if he hadde bene God he would first haue espyed their poyson because hée cannot be deceiued And because he cannot deceiue he would not haue poysoned the Emperour who mistrusted nothing A. G. How the Sacrament was cast into the fire and burnt This wicked Pope Heldibrand sought by all meanes how he might destroy Henry the Emperour and on a time demaunded of the Sacrament of Christs body as the Heathen vse to doe of their Idolls what successe he should haue against him And because the sacrament spake not gaue him no aunswere he threw it into the fire maugrie all the Eardinalls that were about him said to the sacrament most blasphemously Could the Idoll gods of yâ— Heathen giue theÌ„ answere of their successe and canst not thou tell me How there is but two sacraments ¶ Looke Two When the sacrament was forbidden to be ministred in both kinds The sacrament was forbidden to be giuen in both yâ— formes vnto lay men in the generall Councell at Constaunce which was in the yere of our Lord. 1415. The words of the Councell Although Christ after supper ordeined this worshipfull Sacrament and gaue it vnder both the formes of bread and wine to his Disciples yet that notwithstanding the authoritie of the holy Canous and the laudable and approued custome of the Church hath ordâ—ined that the lay men should not receiue it Sacraments of the Elders compared to ours Chrisostome bringeth a very apt similitude in his Homely which he made vpon these words of Paule Our Fathers were baptised into Moses And in his vii Homely vpon the Epistle to the Hebrues Paintâ—rs saith he when they intend to 〈…〉 a King first draw out the proportion vpon a table with shadows and darke colours but yet in such sort that a man may by that deliniation although it be some what obscure easely perceiue that the Image of a King is there painted and harsemen Chariots such other like things which things are not yet straight way known of all men But afterward when the Painter hath layed on fresh colours and hath finished the worke those things which before by those first lines appered scarce begon and rude are now manifestly and opresly perceiued Such saith he were the sacraments of the Elders if they be compared with ours By these words it is manifest that Chrisostome was of yâ— opâ—nion that one and the selfe same thing is represented in our sacraments and in the sacraments of Elders although in theirs more obscurely and in ours more manifestly Pet. Mar. vpon the Rom. fol. 82. SACRIFICE What a Sacrifice is A Sacrifice is a voluntary action wherein we worship God and offer vnto him somewhat wherby we testifie his chiefe dignitie and dominion and our seruitude and submission towardes him Pet. Mart. vpon the Romanâ—s fol. 411. Againe A sacrifice saith he is a voluntary and a religious action instituted of God to offer vnto him our things vnto his glory and that thereby we may with a straighter â—and be coupled vnto him in holy societie To this definition of sacrifices must be added a perticipation Certaine sacrifices are propiciatorie and other of thankes giuing By the first kinde God is made mercifull vnto vs by the power and iust merite thereof but of this sort we haue but onely one forasmuch as onely by the death of Christ the eternall Father is neconciled vnto vs and by the merites of this one onely Oblation the sinnes of the elect are forgiuen but in the other kinde of sacrifice wée giue thankes vnto God we celebrate his name to our power wée obey his will Pet Mar. vpon Iudic. fol 63. Of two manner of sacrifices The sacrifice of reconciliation or redemption is to delyuer sinners from the wrath of God which doeth onely pertaine to our Sauiour Iesus Christ whereof all the Leuiticall sacrifices were but shadowes signes The Sacrifice of praise or thanks giuing is all the workes of the faithful wherewith they praise and laud God and labour to be ioined with him c. S. Austen himselfe doth expound it August lib. 10. de ciuita Dei cap. 6. I. Veron One kinde of sacrifice there is which is called a propiciatory or mercifull sacrifice that is to say such a sacrifice as pacifieth Gods wrath and indignation and obtaineth mercie and forgiuenesse for all our sinnes and is the raunsome of our redemption from euerlasting damnation And although in yâ— olde Testament there were certaine sacrifices called by that name yet in very deede there is but one such sacrifice whereby our sinnes be pardoned and Gods mercie and fauour obtained which is the death of the Sonne of God our Lorde Iesus Christ nor neuer was any other sacrifice propiciatory at anye time nor neuer shall be This is the honour glory of this our high Priest wherein he admitteth neither partner nor successour For by his one obsation he satisfied his father for all mens sinnes and reconâ—iled mankinde vnto his grace and fauour And whosoeuer depriue him of this honour and goe about to take it to themselues they be very Antichrists and most arrogant 〈…〉 phemers against God and against his Sonne Iesus Christ whome hee hath sent Another sacrifice there is which doeth not reconcile vâ— vnto God but is made of them
man may there choose a conuenient remedie for his disease Basil vpon the first Psal. I. Northbrooke In the word of God is plentie for the strong man to eate there is inough for the childe to sucke There is also milke to drinke wherwith the tender infants of the faithfull be nourished and strong meats wherwith the lustie youth of them that is perfect may receiue the spirituall increasement of holy vertue Fulgentius in his Sermon of the confessours I. Northb. Nothing can deceiue them that search the holy Scriptures for that is the candle whereby the theefe is spied Theophilactus of Lazarus I. N. The Scripture is a flud wherin the little lambe may wade and the great Olyphant may swimme Gregorie in his Epistle to Leonard I. N. The Scriptures are easie to the slaue to the husbandman to the childe and to him that may séeme to be verye simple of vnderstanding Chrisost. in his first Homil. vpon Mat. How Christ and the Church are learned in the Scriptures In the Scriptures we haue learned Christ In the Scriptures we haue learned the Church These Scriptures wée haue commonlye and why doe wee not commonlye retaine both Christ and the Church in them August Epist. 166. Against them that finde fault that the Scriptures be darke The holy spirit hath so nobly and wholesomely tempered the holy Scriptures that he might with the easie places of it serue the greedy hunger of men and with the dark places to take away the loathsomenesse For there is no point almost found in the darknesse of it which is not plainely spoken in some other place Whereby saith Musculus it is manifest inough that if any thing be spoken darkly in some place of the Scriptures the light of it must be sought ought of those places where the matter is more plainly expressed c. Mus. fol. 151. Where things are more plainely vttered in the Scriptures there must we learne how they are to be vnderstood in darke places August li. 83. quest Let vs come saith Chrisostome to the leuell and marke of the holy Scripture which doth expound it selfe And by and by after The sacred Scripture expoundeth himselfe and suffereth not the hearer for to erre Chrisostom in his 2. chap. Gen. Homil. 13. In the Scriptures are all things needfull for our saluation The holy Scriptures béeing inspired from God are sufficient to all instructions of truth Athanasius against the Gentiles Not all things the the Lord Iesus did are written as the Euangelist witnesseth For the Lord both did sayd many things that are not written but these were chosen out to be written which séemed sufficient for the saluation of the vnbeleeuers Augustin to the Bre. in the wildernesse in his 49. treatise vppon Iohn Whatsoeuer is required for our saluation is already conteined in the holy Scriptures He that is ignoraunt shall finde there what he may learne He that is stubburne and a sinner may finde there scourges of the iudgement to come the which he may feare He that is troubled may finde ioyes and promises of euerâ—asting lyfe through the beholding of which he may be stirred to good works Chrisost. in his 19. Homil. vpon Math. Reade the Scriptures wherein ye shall finde fully what is to be followed and what is to be auoided not all thinges that our Lorde Iesus did are written c. As before is sayd Augustine to the brethren in c. For as much as Christ himselfe hath not reuealed these things which of vs will saye they bée these or these For who is there either so vaine or so rash who notwithstanding hée speaketh the truth to whome he lysteth and what he lyâ—teth will affirme without anye testimonie of the Scriptures that these be the things that the Lord would not then open Augustine in the. 96. treatise vpon Iohn If there be anie thing néedfull to be knowne or not to bâ—e knowne we shall learne it by the holy Scriptures if we shall néed to report a falsehood we shal fetch it out from thence if to be corrected to be chastened to be exhorted or comforted to be short if ought lacke that ought to be taught or learned we shall also learne it out of the same Scriptures Chrisost. vpon the. 2. of Tim. the 3. chap. Lyke as in a Merchaunts ship are carried diuerse things necessarie for mans lyfe So in the Scriptures are conteined all things néedfull to saluation Lyra vpon the last chap. of the Prouerbs How holy Scripture is to be read Now to the intent that the reading of holy Scripture may be to our profite we must applye our selues to it not onelye thankfully and reuerently but also with great sobernesse and pure affection ioyning prayer therevnto also For God reuealeth his mysteries out of heauen Dan. 2. 18. He giueth vnderstanding to the lyttle ones Psal. 119. 130. according also as Christ teacheth Mat. 12. 25. Notwithstanding for as much as it is not giuen to all men to read holy writ ther is expresse mention made of hearing which ingendereth faith by the effectuall working of yâ— holy Ghost in mens harts for fayth commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God Rom. 10. 27. Marl. vpon the Apoc. fol. 6. ¶ Looke Search Of the ignoraunce and knowledge of Scriptures Ignoraunce of the Scriptures sayth Saint Hierome is the mother and cause of errours And in an other place he saith the knowledge of the Scriptures is the food of euerlasting life Hierom. in the. 23. of Math. How by the Scriptures all doubts are tried Consider in what daunger they be that haue no care to read the holy Scriptures for by the same Scriptures only the iudgement of this triall must be allowed Origen in his â—0 boo 16. chap. to the Rom. Neuer moue question héereof but onely learne of the holy Scriptures For the onely proues that ye shall there finde are sufficient to proue the Godhead of the holy God We must needes call to witnesse the holy Scriptures for our iudgements and expositions without these witnesses they carrie no credit Origen in his first Homely vpon Ieremy We must read the Scriptures with all dilligence and bée occupied in the lawe of the Lord both day night yâ— we may become perfect exchangers be able rightly to discerne what money is lawfull and what is counterfait Hierom. in his 3. b. and. 5. chap. to the Ephe. I require the voice of the shepheard read me this matter out of the Prophets read me out of the Psalmes read it out of the lawe read it out of the Gospels read it out of the Apostles August in his booke of Pastors the. 14. chap. Neither will I alleadge the Councell of Nice against you nor shall you alleadge the Councell of Arminium against mée By the authoritie of Scriptures let vs weigh matter with matter cause with cause
¶ This word spirit is to be taken heere as it is set against that commaundement which is called carnall Heb. 7. 16. as the commaundement is considered in it selfe And so he speaketh of truth not as we set it against a lye but as we take it in respect of the outward ceremonies of the lawe which did onely shadow that which Christ performed in déede Beza ¶ God being of a spirituall nature requireth a spirituall seruice and agreeable to the nature Geneua How the spirit of God maketh intercession for vs. But the spirit maketh great intercession for vs c. ¶ The right forme affection of praier commeth by the holy Ghost who maketh intercession for vs not that he prayeth mourneth but that he so stirreth our heartes that we lift them vp to heauen earnestly and seruently which is the true praier The Bible note Who is of else spirit of truth and who is not Euen the spirit of truth c. ¶ The spirit which Christ did promise shal teach onely these things which Christ had taught before whosoeuer therfore doth teach any other doctrine besides Christs doctrine he is not of the spirit of truth but of the spirit of leasing Sir I. Cheeke Of the spirit that Christ promised to send The spirit saith hâ— which I will 〈…〉 from my father shall lead you into all truth but howâ— Because saith he he shal put you in minde of all those things that I haue told you Ther he giueth warning that there is nothing more to be looked for of his spirit but that he should enlighten our minds to perceiue the truth of his doctrine Therfore Chrisostome Sermo de sanc adon spi. Iohn 12. 〈…〉 10. saith excellently wel Many saith he do boast of the holy spirit but they which speak their owne do falsely pretend that they haue him As Christ testified that he spake not of himselfe because he spake out of the lawe the Prophets So if any thing beside the Gospell be thrust in vnder the title of the spirit let vs not beléeue it because as Christ is the fulfilling of the lâ—we and Prophets so is yâ— spirit of the Gospell Câ—â— in his Inst. 4. b. cap. 8. Sect. 13. Why the holy Ghost is called the spirit of truth Who is the spirit of truth He is called the spirit of truth not onely because he is true but because he maketh the men in to whom he entereth true whereas all that they doe without the spirit is none other thing but lyes Tindale So called because he worketh in vs the truth Geneua Of the spirit of southsaieng A certeine damosell possessed with the spirit of southsaieng met vs. Which could tell things past gesse at things to come which knowledge in many things God permitteth to the diuell to this end as Austen writeth that he might thâ— more mightely deceiue those that woulde beleeue him The Bible note Of the spirit of the Prophets For the spirits of the Prophets are in the power of yâ— Prophets Héere he speaketh not of the holy Ghost in whose power all men ought to be but of the seuerall gifts of the spirit which are now in the power of them that haue them that they may alwaies without contention vse them to yâ— odifieng of the Church of Christ. Sir I. Cheke Spirits of the Prophets yâ— is the doctrine that they doe bring as being put in minde by the spirit of God The Bible note Or learning which Gods spirit moueth them to vtter Ge. Of the spirits in prison And preached vnto the spirits in prison ¶ It is vnknowne to vs where this prison was for the holy Scripture speaketh nothing of it In the Gospell it is called the bosome of Abraham It is sufficient for vs to know and beléeue that all the soules of the Saintes or faythfull which dyed since the beginning of the world are saued by the bloud of Christ howbeit the Gospell was sundrie wayes preached vnto the dead For vnto the holy Patriarkes deliueraunce and saluation vnto the vnfaythfull deserued dampnation was preached Sir I. Cheeke ¶ Christ being from the beginning head and gouernour of his Church came in the dayes of Noe not in the bodye which he then had not but in the spirit and preached by the mouth of Noe for the space of an hundred and twentie yeares to the disobedient which would not repent and therfore are now in prison reserued to the last iudgement Geneua How to serue God in the spirit To serue God in the spirit is to honour God with a true â—ffection procéeding from a pure and cleane heart and not by Images or other visible and corruptible things or else by shewes and outward ceremonies Pet. Viret SPIRITVALL Who they be that be spirituall ALL be spirituall men which are lead by Gods spirit hée who hath more abundaunce of Gods spirit is more spirituall Of a lyke manner S. Paule speaking to the married sorte in Rome as wel as to the rest said Vos non estis in carne sed in spiritu You be not in the flesh but in the spirit And Saint Iohn in his first Chapter nameth all to be spirituall that beléeue in Christ for flesh and bloud is not able to bring foorth such a child And if the outward admission were able to make a man spirituall then should Iudas and such lyke who had the outward election yet inwardly folowed the spirit of the flesh of the Diuell be worthely called spirituall But our Sauiour Christ reasoning with Nichodemus maketh a plaine proofe by euident demonstration that onely such as be endued with Gods spirit be worthy of the name spirituall and that such as bée not borne of Gods spirit bée not spirituall but carnall And in the same place the Lord hath giuen a generall resolution that no man can enter into the kingdome of heauen vnles he become a spirituall man and be borne a newe not onely of water but also of the holy Ghost Ponet fol. 34. For the spirituall iudgeth all things ¶ Who is that spirituall Not such as we now call men of holy Church but all that haue the true interpretation of the law in their hearts The right faith of Christ the true inteÌ„t of works which God biddeth vs to worke He is spirituall and iudgeth all things is iudged of no man Tindale The naturall man perceiueth not the things of the spirit of God c. but he that is spirituall discusseth all things ¶ Paule doth call him spirituall which is renued by the spirit of God and béeing gouerned by the same spirit doth examine and trye all things with the true touchstone of Gods word which is set forth vnto vs by the inspiration of the same spirit that hée is inclined withall but he himself that is to say the spirit is iudged of no man Héere also the naturall man is taken for him which being without
be degraded from all their degrées of Ecclesiasticall office and made irriguler because they haue sought to liue by filthie gaine contrary to the expresse word of God Pope Martin in the Councell he called saith If a man forgetting the feare of God the holy scriptures which do say Hée that hath not giuen his money to vsury shal enter into the Tabernacle of God do after knowledge had of this generall councel commit vsury or take Centesimam vsuram which is twelue in the hundred or by any filthy trade doth make his gaine taking for diuers sorts of things for either wine or corne or any other thing els by buying and selling more then he hath layed out shall be put out of the Clergie for euer Pope Leo doth also forbid the same in the laitie being very sory yâ— any christian man shuld be an vsurer saieng that yâ— Clergie ought to be the more sharply punished for such offence because all others should be the more afraid to offend when the Clergie is not spared The decree saith further that no almes ought to be giuen of euill gotten good which cannot be worse gotten then by vsury A statute made against vsurie by a Christian Emperour called Leo. Although saith this godly Emperour many of our auncestors haue thought that lending for vsury might be admitted onely for that the creditours were so hard as men loth els to lend yet we haue thought it most vnworthy among the Christians to be vtterly abhorred eschewed as a thing forbidden by the law of God Therefore our Maiestie doth commaunde that it be not lawfull for any man to take vsury for any cause least whiles we go about to keepe the lawes statutes of men we do transgresse thereby the law of God But whatsoeuer any man doth take the same shall be receiued into the principall Places of scripture against vsurie If thou lend mony to any of my people that is poore by thée thou shalt not be an vsurer vnto him neither shalt thou oppresse him with vsurie If thy brother be waxen poore fallen into decay with thée receiue him as a stranger or a soiourner let him liue by thee thou shalt take no vsury of him nor yet vantage but shalt feare thy God that thy brother may liue with thée thou shalt not lend him thy money vpon vsury or lend him of thy foode to haue an aduantage by it for I am yâ— Lord your God which brought you out of the land of Aegypt to giue you the land of Canaan and to be your God Lord who shall enter into thy Tabernacle he aunswereth He that giueth not his mony vpon vsury and taketh no reward against the innocent The soule yâ— sinneth shall dye If a man be godly doe that is equall right yâ— taketh not other mens goods by violence yâ— parteth his meate to the hungry that clotheth the naked that lendeth nothing vpon vsury yâ— taketh nothing ouer this is a righteous man he shall surely liue saith the Lord but he that gréeueth the poore néedie yâ— robbeth spoileth that giueth not the debter his pledge again yâ— lendeth vpon vsury taketh more ouer shal this man liue no he shal not liue seing he hath done al these abhominations he shall dye and his bloud shall be vpon him Of whom a man may take vsury Unto a straunger thou maist lend vpon vsury c. ¶ This was permitted for a time for the hardnesse of their hearts Aske vsury of him onely whom thou desirest worthely to hurt and with whom thou maist lawfully wage battaile for of him thou maist lawfully demaund vsury and be bold to bite him therewith because thou maist kil him without offence He fighteth without weapon that taketh vsurye yea hée doth reuenge himselfe of his enemie without any swoord that doth exaxt vsurie of his enimie And truely there is no cunninger way to vndoe a man then by vsurye for vnder the coulour of pleasuring him he is vndone before he be aware D. Wilson fol. 23. Lend one to another hoping for nothing ouer and aboue that you did lend whereby not onely all contracts and vsuries vpon lone in respect of time are forbidden but the verye hope also to looke for a good turne againe or any thing else ouer and aboue the principall is vtterly barred and cleane taken awaye Neither is your exposition sound Maister Ciuilian in this behalfe that would haue Christs meaning to be that men should neuer looke for their principall againe for then Christ might haue said giue freelyâ— whereby is included a cléere renouncing to aske backe a gift giuen wheras in â—â—nding it was neuer so meant in common reason that a man should neuer hope to haue his own againe Neither will men loose their principall except some great matter moue them as the extreame pouertie of the party or some other lyke thing c. VVAY What it is to prepare the way and path of the Lord. PRepare ye the way of the Lord make his paths straight ¶ To prepare the waye of the Lord is to receiue gladly his grace béeing offered vnto vs and with repentaunce and amendement of lyfe to passe awaye those things that may offend the eyes of his diuine maiestie To make his paths straight is to interpret or expound his holy law after the spirit to seeke Iesus in the spirit For they yâ— do yet sticke to the letter of the lawe and séeke to be iustified by their owne works knowing not the righteousnesse of God which consisteth in the spirit faith and truth doe walke in crooked paths Sir I. Cheeke Prepare ye the way of the Lord. ¶ Meaning Cyrus Darius which should deliuer Gods people out of captiuitie and make them a readie way to Hierusalem And this was fully accomplished when Iohn the Baptist brought tidings of Iesus Christs comming who was the true deliuerer of his Church from sinne and Satan Math. 3. 3. Geneua What the way of sinners is That abideth not in the way of sinners c. ¶ The way of sinners is their manner and ordinaunces in which they walke as it were in a way Way in the Scripture is taken for whatsoeuer we do or goe about be it good or bad as in the last verse of this Psalme T. M. What the way of truth is I haue chosen the way of truth ¶ The way of truth is the life that is ordered after the word of truth which is conteined in the Scripture Therein saith Dauid that he hath walked not in feined traditions and holynesse imagined by himselfe or by any mortall man In yâ— same significatioÌ„ vseth S. Peter this word 2. Pet. 2. 1. and 2. There shall be false teachers c. by which the way of truth shall be euill spoken of T. M. Take from me the way of lieng ¶ Instruct me in thy word whereby my minde may be purged
we thus cleaue to God with strong faith beléeue his words Then as sayth Paule God is faithfull that he will not suffer vs to be tempted aboue that we are able or aboue our strength that is to sayâ— if we cleaue to his promises and not to our owne fantasies and imaginations he wil put might and power into vs that shall be stronger then all temptations which he shall suffer to be against vs. Tindale fo 81. What is vnderstood by watchmen For his watchmen are all blinde c. ¶ By those blinde watchmen vnderstand the chiefe Priests yâ— Scribes Pharesies c. which were the peruerters and deprauers of the law of God These for filthy lucre sake abolished the true seruice of God and were the chiefe causers of the forsaking of Israel They were sluggish and sought not that which was for the edification of the people and for the glory of God but that which was for their owne priuate profit and pleasure They were slothfull to roote out vice and to plant vertue and driuen into the profound déepe sléepe of ignorance of idlenesse of lecherousnesse of pride As oft as the Prelates of the people Bishops Abbots and they that auaunt themselues for religious be such there hangeth a great scourge ouer the whole flocke of Christ. T. M. ¶ He sheweth that the affliction shal come through the fault of the gouernours Prophets and pastours whose ignorance negligence auarice obstinacy prouoketh Gods wrath against them Geneua I haue made thée a watchman to the house of Israel ¶ By this watchman are figured Bishops Priests aâ—d Preachers which must take the occasion of their speaking and exhorting at the mouth of God and speake not in their owne but in his name T. M. He sheweth that the people ought to haue continually gouernours teachâ—rs which may haue a care oner them and â—o warne theÌ„ euer of the daungers which are at hand Eze. 33. 2. Ge. The meaning of this place following The voice of thy watchmen shall be heard ¶ The Prophets which are thy watchmen shall publish this thy deliueraunce This was begun vnder Zorobabel Ezra Nehemiah but was accomplished vnder Christ. Geneua Of the watchman that Daniel speaketh of And behold a watchman and an holy one came downe from heauen Meaning the Angell oâ— God which neither eateth nor sleepeth but is euer ready to doe Gods will and is not infect with mans corruption but is euer holy and in that that he commaundeth to cut downe this tree â—e knew that it shoulde not be cut downe by man but by God Geneua What the fourth watch meaneth And in the fourth watch of the night The Hebrewes diuided the night inâ—o â—oure parts which they called the foure watches wherefore the fourth watch was next to the morning and was called the morning watch As in the. 1. Reg. 11. 11. Tindale VVATER How it is not water that doth wash away our sinnes ARise and be baptised and wash away thy sinnes We ought not to thinke that water washeth away our sinnes but the mercy and grace of God which is signified and represented vnto vs by the water Ye shall note that by a figure named Allocosis the same is ascribed vnto the outward signe which doth onely perteine vnto the grace election of God Sir I. Cheeke He sheweth that sins cannot be washed away but by Christ who is the substance of Baptime in whom also is comprehended the father and the holy Gost. Geneua The meaning of this place following Whosoeâ—er drinketh of this water c. To drinke this water is to beléeue credit the word of God and to receiue the testimony of Christ which thing onely can quench the thirst of the soule Sir I. Cheeke What is signified by water and spirit Except a man be borne of water and spirit ¶ Héere by the water he vnderstandeth the worde and grace of God and also the illumination of the holy Ghost which is that heauenly water that Esay the Prophet doth speake of saieng All that be a thirst come vnto the waters Iohn 4. 14. and. 7. 38. Iere. 2. 13. By the spirit he vnderstandeth the inspiration of the holy Ghost and the heauenly working of the spirit of God So that this place helpeth them nothing that doe affirme that the children of the faithfull are damned and that they shall neuer enter into the kingdome of heauen if they dye before they canne be baptised Sir I. Cheeke ¶ This place of Iohn is not to be vnderstood of the outwarde signe of holy Baptime but simply of the inward and most spirituall regeneration of the holye spirit which when Nichodemus vnderstoode not perfectly the Lorde figured and made the same manifest by Parables of water and of the spirit that is to saye of the winde or the aire by Elements very base and familyar for by an by hée addeth That which is borne of flesh is flesh c. Againe The winde bloweth where it lysteth c. Which must néedes bée meant of the ayre For the other part of the comparison followeth So is euery one that is borne of the spirit Bullinger fol. 1048. ¶ By this is signified the Baptime which is the mortification of the flesh preached by Iohn Baptyst and the renuing of the spirit which is remission of sinnes obteined by Christ. Tindale What the water of Siloh doth signifie Forsomuch as the people refuse the still running water of Siloh c. ¶ Hee calleth the kingdome of Dauid which figureth the kingdome of Christ the still running water of Siloh which thing agréeth verie well vnto Christ that was meeke and lowlye of heart Math. 11. 29. Zach. 9. 9. Beholde thy king commeth vnto thée poore and lowly c. He raigneth in still and peaceable consciences Siloh was a spring at the foote of the hill of Syon which hath not continally water but springâ—th certeine houres and dayes and commeth with a great sound by the bottome of the ground and rifts and holes of an hard rocke The manner of speaking is borrowed of the despised littlenesse of the water which signifieth the small estimation and pouertie of the christen T. M. ¶ Looke Siloh What is meant by the water of the Sea The water of the sea shall bée drawne out Nilus shall sinke away and be dronke vp ¶ The water of the sea c. Aegipt as stories shew receiueth no raine forth of the aire but is ouerflowed with yâ— water Nilus at certein times 14. 15. or 16. cubits high froÌ„ the ground for if it increse to any lesse height the Countrey scapeth not a dearth sayth Plinie And therefore by the scarcenesse and want of water is the desolation of the land described Nilus is heere called by diuerse names Sometime the Sea sometime riuers sometime wells sometime pondes c. For that fludde runneth seuen sundry wayes and it is called the Sea not onelye because the Hebrewes call
all congregations of waters the Sea generallye but also because it was of olde time a constant opinion after the storyes that it hath his originall beginning from the Occean Sea Ye may also vnderstand by the drinesse of Nilus that it ouerflowed not the lande contrary to the olde accustomed manner thereof Some had leauer haue this to be figuratiuely applyed As there be certeine waters of the Gospell which the holy Ghost giueth so are there also the troubelâ—us waters of Aegypt that is of worldly doctrine Therefore when the word of God is ouerheard those waters drye vs. For the holy Ghost reprehendeth the world of sinne and openeth and declareth the works of darknesse In these waters doe Réede and Rush grow that is vaine trifling works such as are the works of hipocrits which after the outward shew and appearance séeme fresh but are within vaine and naught worth ¶ Hee sheweth that the Sea and Nilus their greate riuer whereby they thought themselues most sure shoulde not bée able to defend them from his anger but that he woulde â—â—nd the Assirians among them that they should kéepe them vnder as slaues Geneua The meaning of this place following Iesus Christ that came by water and bloud ¶ The water and bloud that came out of his side declare that we hauâ— our sinnes washed by him he hath made full satisfaction for the same Geneua How water in the Sacrament signifieth the people The people is anexed in the Sacrament through the mixture of water therefore I meru 〈…〉 le much that they are so contentions and will not see that as the water is the people so the wine is Christs body that is to say in a mystery because it representeth Christs bloud as the water doth the people Cipriane ad 〈…〉 Whiles in the Sacrament water is anneâ—ed with the wine the faythfull people is incorporate ioyned with Christ and is made one with him with a certeine knot of perâ—â—ct charitie ¶ Now whereas he sayth that we are ioyned and incorporate with Christ what fondnesse were it to contend sith we are there onely in a mysterie and not naturallye I. Frith VVAVE OFFERING What it signified ANd waue them for a waue offering ¶ This sort of offeringâ— after the Priest had lif 〈…〉 d vp was moued into euery side of all coasts to signifie that God was Lord of all the earth Tâ—e Bible note This sacrifice the Priest did moue toward the East West North and South Geneua ¶ Waue offering because it was wauen in the Priestes hands to diuerse quarters Tindale VVEDDING GARMENT What the wedding garment is and who be clothed therewith WHich had not on a wedding garment ¶ Many doe in vaine héere contend about the wedding garment whether it be fay â— or an holy and godly lyfe Séeing that fayth can neither be separated from good workesâ— neither canne good works procéede but from fayth But the onely meaning of our Sauiour Christ was this that we are called of the Lords vpon this condition that we should by the spirit be made lyke vnto him And therefore that wee might continuallye abide in his house wée must put off the olde man with all his pollutions and defiling spottes of sinne and must frame and giue our selues to a newe lyfe that our apparell maye aunswere so honourable a calling They therefore are clothed with this wedding garment which haue put on the Lord Iesus Christ and the new man which after God is shaped in righteousnesse and holynesse and as the wedding garment doth declare the minde to bee ioyfull affected towarde the wedding dinner and to reuerence the same euen so also by this wedding garment there is required that the guestâ— be such which with ioy with reuerence of the diuine maiestie and with giuing of thankes should obteine and enioy the heauenly benefits Marl. fol 499. ¶ The wedding garment is Christ himselfe whom in Baptime we put on through â—aith where from procéedeth loue and charitie which is the common badge of all true faithfull christians Sir I. Cheeke ¶ They that with their mouthes doe professe the Gospell and the true christian religion and so doe associate and a fellowship themâ—elues with the church and congregation and bee not inwardly sanctified with the spirit of God be without the bridegromes liuâ—rie ¶ Faith in Christs bloud maketh the marriage betwéene our soules and Christ and is properly called the marriage garment or the signe Tindale VVEDLOCKE ¶ Looke Marriage VVEAKE AND SICKE The meaning of Saint Paule in this place FOr this cause many are weake and sicke among you ¶ For this cause that is â—or lacke of good examining of our selues many are weake sicke in the faith many asleepe haue lost their faith in Christs bloud for lacke of remembrance of his body breaking bloudshedding not yâ— only but many are weak and sick euen striken with bodily diseases for abusing the SacrameÌ„t of his body eating the bread with their téeth not his body with their heart minde peraduenture some slaine for it by the stroke of God which if they had truely iudged and examined themselues for what intent they came thether why it was instituted should not haue ben so iudged chastened of the Lord. For the Lord doth chasten to bring vs to repentance and to mortifie our rebellious members that we may remeÌ„ber him Héere ye may shortly perceiue the minde of Paule Tindale fol. 164. ¶ Looke Examine VVEEKES How the weekes in Daniels prophesie be taken A Wéeke in Daniels prophesie is not taken for a wéeke of dayes but for a wéeke of years so that euery wéeke is counted for seuen yeares And the halfe yeare that he speaketh of is taken for the thrée years an halfe wherin Christ héere in earth stablished his Testament A wéeke is taken for seauen yeares As in Leuit. 25. 8. where the 70. wéekes that Daniel speaketh of are 190 yeares T. M. Then number 7. weeks of yeares ¶ A wéeke is sometimes taken for the number of 7. daies as before 23. 15. sometime for yâ— number of 7. yeares as heere and in Dan. 9. ver 24. 25. 26. T. M. VVELLES What the welles of the Sauiour are WIth ioy shall ye drawe water out of the welles of the Sauiour ¶ The wells of the Sauiour are the word of God the doctrine of the Gospell and promises of Christ wherewith trembling soules and afflicted consciences are refreshed Out of these saith he that they shal drawe water not out of mens traditions which are but puddles T. M. ¶ The graces of God shall be so abundant that ye may receiue them in as great plentie as waters out of a fountainâ— that is full Geneua VVENT OVT FROM VS What is meant by this place of Iohn Looke Vs. VVEEPE Causes why we should weepe AVgustine in his 4. Sermon of the first Sundaye in Lent writeth that there bée two
shew mercie and compassion is onely his blessed will and pleasure Proues of Gods will out of holy Scripture I will harden Pharaos heart and multiply miracles wonders in the land of Aegypt The Lord hath made all things for his owne sake yea euen the wicked for the day of euill I will shew mercie c. Which is expounded a little before Exo. 33. 19. Who hath saued vs and called vs with an holy calling not according to our workes but according to his owne purpose grace which was giuen to vs through Christ before the world was ¶ Looke Predestination Calling Why. How we ought in all things to commit our selues to the will of God If thou wilt thou canst make me cleane ¶ In all our troubles and aduersities in diseases and sicknesse let vs put our selues wholly vnto Gods plesure and wil which knoweth best and will alwayes doe the thing that is expedient for his glory and the saluation of our soules Sir I. Cheeke VVILDERNESSE What is signified by wildernesse BUt the desart and wildernesse shall reioyce ¶ By the desarte and wildernes is signified the country of the heathen which were without grace and without the fruite of good and vertuous liuing Psa. 107. 33. It is a borrowed speach taken of the roughnesse and vnfruitfulnesse of the wildernesse T. M. ¶ He prophecieth of the full restoring of the Church both of the Iewes and Gentiles vnder Christ which shal be fully accomplished at the last day albeit as yet it is compared to a desart and wildernesse Geneua The barraine nature of mankinde shal be made fruitfull by grace promised in Christ. The Bible note How the Lord doth turne the wildernesse into riuers I turne the wildernes into riuers That is I make the doctrine of truth so generall and so easie to all men that whereas wer before wast wildernesses by which vnderstand the errors of the heathen wherwith they had made all vnfruitfull drye shall now by the grace of the Holy ghost be riuers of the water of veritie where all was full of Idolatrye of abhomination and of stinking errors ther shall the harts of the chosen be watered with godly wisdome through the Gospell glad tidings and shal be endued with faith whereby they may both profite themselues and other and so shall they be fruitfull Wildernes is often thus taken as before Esay 35. T. M. The meaning of this place following Wher shall we get so much bread in the wildernes We are all in a wildernesse so many as be in this vale of misery Christ is our Pastor shepheard which feedeth vs with his blessed word in the wildernesse that is to say among so many traditions of wherewith we are burdened S. I. Cheeke VVINE Of olde wine in new vessells NEither do we put new wine into olde vessells A mind that is nourished in blinde ceremonies superstition is not a méete vessell to receiue the pleasaunt wine of the gospel S. I. C. ¶ Olde wine was wont to be put after the manner of oyle into Goates skins euen as we do put it into our wine vessells They therfore that are skilfull in vintage or making of wine brew their new wine into new vessels for they which put new wine into olde vessells suffer double losse that is to say when the new wine worketh or spourgeth the vessells breake the wine perisheth Marl. fol. 135. What is signified by wine and oyle The oyle and wine see thou hurt not The dulcet wine and the fragrant oyle see thou hurt not saith the said voyce hinder not the word of God which is the swéet wine yâ— replenisheth the heart with gladnesse the wholsome oyle yâ— comforteth the soule in trouble delicious it is in aduersitie solatious in all weaknes Corrupt not the text with false gloses take not from vs the swéetnes therof defraud vs not of yâ— fruitfull sauor let the text be whole the fruit vncorrupt the iudgment right that shal well be if nothing be added vnto it nor nothing taken from it Bale What is signified by wine milke Come buy wine milk without any mony c. ¶ The word of God is called wine milke wine because it reioyceth the heart in that it pacifieth the conscience setteth it at rest milke because it nourisheth and increaseth the little ones in faith as ye haue 1. Pet. 2. 2. And as new borne babes desire the reasonable milke T. M. ¶ By waters wine milke and bread he meaneth all things necessary to the spirituall life as these are necessary to the corporall life Geneua The forbidding of wine and strong drinke Thou shalt not drinke wine nor strong drinke Some think that Nadab Abiu being ouercome with drink did not their ser-seruice lawfully wherevpon they thinke that this lawe of forbidding wine and strong drinke was made The Bible note How wine remaineth in the Sacrament He tooke the Cup and when he had giuen thankes he gaue it to them saieng Drinke ye all of it for this my bloud of yâ— new Testament that is shed for many for the remission of sinnes I say vnto you that I wil not drinke henceforth of this fruite of the vine vntill that day when I shall drink it new with you in the kingdome of my father ¶ Heere Christ himselfe calleth it the very fruit and generation of the grape as it was afore That it was wine saith Clement that was blessed at yâ— supper Christ himselfe shewed his disciples saieng I will no more drinke of the fruit of this vine vntill I shall drinke â— with you in the kingdome of my father Clem. de pedago li. 2. cap 2. The wine pressed out of clusters many â—rapes our Lord called his bloud Cipr. li. 3. Epist 6. Ther was wine in the mysterie or sacrament of our recâ—ption when our Lord said I will not drinke henceforth of this fruite of the vine Aug. de eccl dogmat ca. 75. Iewel fo 263. VVINDE What the foure windes doe signifie â—Olding the foure windes of the earth ¶ The spirit is compared to winde and the doctrine also and though ther be one spirit and one doctrine yet foure are heere named in respect of the diuersitie of the foure quarters of the earth where the Gospell is spread and for the foure writers thereof and the preachers of the same through the whole earth Geneua They withhold the foure windes of the earth the doctrine of the spirit which God hath sent to be blown the world ouer they withstand resist stop vexe and euermore persecute Bale How the preachers of the Gospell are likened to winde That the winde should not blow vpon the earth ¶ Like as the winde raiseth vp clouds openeth the earth moysteth it maketh it fruitfull maketh it to looke cheerefully with flowers fruits euen so the preaching of the Gospell shadoweth yâ— harts of earthly
of Abraham of whom it is written 30. yeares before he offered his sonne Isaac Abraham beléeued it was reckoned vnto him for righteousnesse Gen. 15. 6. wherby we doe euidently sée that Saint Iames meaning is that Abrahams fayth was no idle fayth but such faith as made him obedient to God which thing he did well declare when he did so willingly offer his sonne at Gods commaundement All that S. Iames goeth about then is to proue that faith cannot be without good works And as by fayth onely we are iustified before God so by good workes procéeding from a liuely fayth wée are iustified before men Heere wée learne also that where no good workes be there is no true iustifieng fayth but a lyght vnprofitable beléeue such as is in diuels and yet we must beware that we ascribe no parte of our iustification before God vnto our good works Sir I. Cheeke Ther can be no good work reckoned to be in any man but in him alone whose sinnes God hath forgiuen Forasmuch as our best déeds are lame and corrupt Therefore they are héere called the doers of good works whom Paule calleth zelous and louers of good works But this estimation and iudgement dependeth vpon the fatherly clemency and acceptation of our God who alloweth that freely for good which deserueth to be reiected as euill and vnperfect c. Marl. fol. 170. Indéede works doe iustifie taking iustifie to be to declare iust Euen as white haires do make a man olde because they be a signe of age But works doe this before men not before God Nor they cannot take hold of forgiuenesse of sins deliuerance from their deserued condemnation For then it should be false that the Apostle saith we be iustified fréely by his grace for to him that worketh the reward is imputed vnto him for a duety and not vpon grace and fauour Wherfore the errours of those men is too grose to deceiue any of them which hath looked ouer the holy Scriptures neuer so slightly Nor it doth not agrée with the sense neither when they will haue iustifie to be as much as to make iust For works doe not go before him that is to bée iustified â—but doe followe him which is alreadye iustified witnesse Augustine and workes doe come of grace and not grace of workes witnesse the same Augustine de fide opere cap. 14. Musculus fol. 227. Of workes done before faith Saint Austen condemneth all our good workes before faith as vaine and nothing worth Read him In probo Psal. 31. That worketh not how it is vnderstood To him that worketh not but beleeueth ¶ That dependeth not on his workes neither thinketh to merit by them Gene. That is which meaneth not to obteine saluation through the worthinesse of his works The Bible note How workes are not the causes of felicitie Works indeed are to be had but not as causes wherfore Christ admonished vs saieng When ye haue done al these things say we are vnprofitable seruants we haue done but the thing which we ought to doe Neither passe we any thing vpon their caueling which say yâ— therfore we are vnprofitable seruaÌ„ts because our good works being no coÌ„modity vnto God forasmuch as God néedeth none of our good works but say they it caÌ„not be denied but yâ— we are by good works profitable vnto our selues Wée graunt indéed that it is profitable vnto vs to liue well But that vtilitie is not to be attributed vnto our workes that they should be the causes of our blessednesse to come Wee haue nothing in vs whereby we can make God obstruct or bound vnto vs. For whatsoeuer we doe the same doe we wholy owe vnto God and a great deale more then we are able to performe Wherfore as Christ admonisheth The Lord giueth not thanks vnto his seruant when he hath done his duetie And if the seruant by wel doing cannot binde his Lord to giue him thanks how shal he binde him to render vnto him great rewards Pet. Mar. vpon the Rom. fol. 29. Of workes loue and faith Works are the outward righteousnesse before the world may be called the righteousnesse of the members and spring of inward loue Loue is the righteousnesse of the hart springeth of faith Faith is the trust in Christs bloud and is the gift of God Ephe. 2. 8. Tindale How our good workes are the workes of God Although it be written that God will render to euery man according to his works yet is yâ— so to be vnderstood yâ— if they be good works they are for none other cause caled any maÌ„s works but for that they are wrought in him namely by the power of the spirit of God whereby they are in very déede the workes of God S. Austen most truely saith that God crowneth in vs his owne gifts for as touching vs we deserue nothing but death Pet. Mar. vpon the Rom. fol. 367. How we deserue nothing by our good workes Wo be to all our iustice saith S. Austen if it be iudged setting mercy a part Therefore this is a christen sentence worthy to be beaten in al mens heads Let not thy left hand know what the right hand doth Let our right hand worke those things which be good and pleasant vnto God And in the meane season let our heartes depend vpon the grace of Gods goodnesse onely not thy left hand write into thy kalender those things which be somewhat well done by the right hand Let the note of our owne good works be in Gods hand not in our owne Whatsoeuer he doth reward vs either in this life either in the life to come let vs thanke his grace for it and not our deserts Musculus fol. 234. Of the vnablenesse of our workes If the séeking of righteousnesse and forgiuenesse of sinnes by the kéeping of the law which God gaue vpon mount Sinai with so great glory and maiestie by the denyeng of Christ of his grace what shall we say to those yâ— will néeds iustifie themselues afore God by their owne laws and obseruances I wold wish that such folks should a little compare the one with the other and afterward giue iudgement themselues God minded not to do that honour nor to giue that glorye vnto his owne law yet they wil haue him to giue it to mens laws ordinaÌ„ces But that honour is giuen onely to his onely begotten son who alone by the sacrifice of his death passion hath made ful amends for all our sinnes past present and to come as saith S. Paule Heb. 7. 25. The meaning of this place following Work out your own saluatioÌ„ with fere trembling ¶ S. Paul saith we must work out our saluation with feare trembling But this feare riseth in consideration of our weaknesse and vnworthinesse not of any distrust or doubt in Gods mercy but rather the lesse cause we haue to trust in our selues the morâ— cause we haue to trust in God Iewel fol. 76.
Looke Saluation Of the workes of darknesse and of the spirit For ye were sometimes darknesse ¶ They are called darknesse that walke yet in the night of incredulitie misbeléefe doing the works of darknesse which are whooredome adultery wantonnesse c. but they are contrariwise called the children of light that bring forth the fruits of the spirit Gal. 5. 21. How they know not God that denieth him in deedes They confesse they know God but with works they deny him ¶ As infidelitie is the headspring of all wickednesse and vice so on the contrarie side faith is the original well fountaine of all vertue and godlynesse Which faith is declared not onely by works but by such déeds works as God hath commaunded vs in his holy and sacred Scriptures And where no such works be speake they neuer so godly ther is no true liuely faith Sir I. Cheeke VVORLD What the world signifieth in this place ANd the world knew him not◠The world in this place signifieth all men for it cannot be taken in a straighter sense In the sentence going before the world was made by him In other places of Scripture the world signifieth y◠reprobate onely Héere the world is condemned of vnthankfulnesse vnkindnesse that it hath not embraced but shamefully refused reiected his maker It is vnnaturall it is horrible abhominable that men should not acknowledge him by whom they haue euen this that they be men Trah Why Paule doth call this world present and euill To deliuer vs from this present and euill world ¶ Hée calleth this whole world which hath bene is and shall be the present world to put a difference betwixt this and that euerlasting world which is to come Moreouer he calleth it an euill world because that whatsoeuer is in this worlde is subiect to the mallice of the Diuell reigning ouer the whole world◠For this cause the world is sayd to be the kingdome of the Diuell for ther is nothing else in this world but ignorance contempt blasphemy and hatred of God Also disobedience against all the words and works of God In and vnder the kingdome of this world are we c. Luther vpon the Gal. fol. 20. Of the disputers of this world Where is the disputer of this world ¶ He that is so subtile in discussing of questions and héerein Paule reprocheth euen the best lerned as though not one of them could perceiue by his owne wisdome this mysterie of Christ reuealed in the Gospell Geneua The meaning of this place following We haue receiued not the spirit of the world Wée are not moued with that spirit which techeth things wherwith the world is delighted which men vnderstand by nature◠Ge. VVORME How Christ compareth himselfe to a worme EGo sum vermis non homo I am a worme and no man The scorne of men the outcast of the people ¶ How truly and how iustly Christ might say I am a worme no man euery man knoweth that hath read either the. 26. of Mathew or the. 14. of S. Marke how the Iewes did spit in his face did buffet him with fists so vilely intreated him as no man could be worse and therefore it is very properly said of the Prophet◠I am a worme and no man A worme is a vile thing in daunger of treading on and killing with euery mans foot No man regardeth it no man loueth it nor pittieth it though he be a right good man To expresse therefore liuely and properly the vile reputation of Christ at the time of his passion it is verye aptly sayde Ego sum vermis non homo c. Beside this Saint Austen supposeth him to bée called Vermis for an higher consideration Why is Christ called Vermis saith he Because he aunswereth he was mortall he was borne of the flesh and begotten without the companieng together of man and woman in the act of generation And therefore he sayth thus Sicut vermis calefaciente sole de puro limo formatur sic spiritu sancto c. As the worme is ingendered of the pure and onely slime or mudde being made hotte with the warme Sunne Euen so the holy Ghost illustrating and halowing the heart of the virgin She was conceiued with childe without any humane act of ingendering wrought therein In consideration whereof Christ comparing himselfe to a worme sayth by Dauid I am a worme and no man that is I am not conceiued after the manner fashion of man Thus farre Saint Austen Ric. Turnar VVORMEVVOOD How false teachers heretiks be compared to wormewood THe name of the starre was called wormewood Wormewood is an hearbe faire inough vnto the eye◠but very bitter to the tast Euen so be heretiks and as many as fauour Antichrist the more they seeme to excell in holines the more do they annoy Marl. ¶ The nature of wormwood is to withdraw all sweetnesse These meaning pernitious heretikes with their bitter heresies and their noysome doctrine destroyed y◠pits of Abraham they troubled the text they mixed the truth with falshoode they poysoned the waters they tooke away the louesomnes of them they left them vnpure and vnperfect not that they can be so of themselues but of their false working they made them vnpleasaunt vnprofitable yea and most perillous vnto many c. Bale ¶ The third plague came vpon the starres of heuen that is vpon the most holiest people which were taken for the spirituall state order as Monkes Friers Priests which through their hipocrisie haue heaped vnto themselues money goods and treasures and haue gotten lands and dominions for the which great diuision was among them And whereas the world shuld haue learned of them faith loue and knowledge it was nothing but slaundered offended deceiued seduced and sore hindered by them both in faith and in godly liuing behauiour both which were vtterly decayed in these persons to the great vndoing and destruction both of body and soule And thus the swéete honnye of Christian loue and concord among these Orders is turned into bitter wormwood by the which many soules are destroyed Erasmus in his Paraphrase VVORSHIP What is meant by worshipping BY worshipping whether it was in the olde Testament or new vnderstand the bowing of a mans selfe vpon y◠ground as we oftentimes as we knéele in our praiers boow our selues and lye on our armes and hands with our faces to the ground Tindale fol. 11. ¶ Whereas the Latin word of worshipping is of that nature that it signifieth both to serue and obserue and honour it is aptly referred to God so that all that seruice obseruation reuerence and deuotion whereby we doe worship God as wel inwardly in our hearts as outwardly in deede is called the worship of God Muscul. fol. 351. ¶ To worship God is the first precept euen to beléeue him to be our God and to haue no strange Gods in his sight that