Sermons Upon all the Sunday Gospels, Sermon 15
The seconde Sonday after Twelfth day. ¶The Gospel. Iohn. ii.
ANd the third day was there a mariage in Cana, a citie of Galile, and the mother of Iesus was there And Iesus was called (and his disciples) vntounto the mariage. And when the wyne fayled, the mother of Iesus said vntounto him: They hauehave no wine. Iesus said vntounto her: Woman, what hauehave I to doo with thee? Myne houre is not yet come. His mother said vntounto the ministers: Whatsoeuer he saith vntounto you, doo it. And there were standyng there sixe water pottes of stone, after the maner of Purifyenge of the Iewes, conteynynge two or three firkyns a piece. Iesus said vntounto them: Fyll the water pottes with water. And they fylled them vp to the brymme, And he sayd vntounto them: draw out nowe, and beare vntounto the gouernour of the feaste. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feaste had tasted the water turned into wine, and knewe not whence it was (but the ministers whiche drew the water knew) he called the bridegrome, and sayde vntounto hym: EueryEvery man at the beginnynge dothe set foorth good wyne, and when men be dronke, then that whiche is worse: but thou hast kept thy good wyne vntyll nowe. Thys begynnynge of myracles dyd Iesus in Cana of Galilee, and shewed his glorie, and his Dysciples beleued on hym.
THE EXPOSITION.
THis is ye first miracle, that our Lorde Iesus Christ wrought, wherewith as Iohn saith, his wyl was to open his glorie vntounto his disciples,Christ declareth hymselfe to be God. that by such a signe and myracle, they might knowe hym, and beleue for a suretie, that he is the sonne of God, and the true Messias: Forasmuche as he can doo that that no other man coulde do: that is, to change a creature and to make wyne of water. These thynges are onelyonly in Gods power to doo, whiche is the lorde of all creatures. They are not in mās power. Wherfore this signe and miracle is to be referred and applied to this ende, that we truly learn to know Christ, and that we may flee vntounto hym with a sure trust, when we see oure selues in pouertie, and in any straight combrance, to aske helpe and succour of hym, whiche we shall perceaue at due tyme. This is the chiefest part of this Gospell.
But forasmuch as this is a common doctrine in all sygnes and miracles which Christ wrought, we wyll take this matter nowe specially to bee entreated, that Christ wrought this signe especially at a mariage, that the doctrin as touching matrimonie myght not grow out of vse in the congregation. For it is a thyng most necessary. All men know in how great contempt matrimony was had in the Popedome,The popedom alloweth no matrimonie▪ & with how great praises they extolled virginitie and chastitie, which neuerthelesse coulde be sene in fewe of them. But howe God hath requited these mariage haters the spiritualtie, and hath reuenged the wrong and vilanie done to his ordinance, it is easy to shewe. So that they hated not only mariage, but also cleane extinguished the louelove of womankynd out of their heart. And there was so great contempt and suche hamousnes of these synnes, that it was meruaile, that God droue not mounkes, Nunnes, and Chanons, with all suche lyke, into hell, with a blast of lightnyng. But that we may iudge otherwise of Matrimonie, and that we may not be agaynst it, or flee it, as the Pope dothe, this Gospel may much profite vsus thervnto. For that that the Lord shewed his firste miracle in a mariage, in an vnknowen towne called Cana, Christ honoreth matrimonie.when he was thirtie yeares olde, being nowe baptised of Iohn, and takyng on hym the office of preachyng.
By the Popes Canons and lawes, Christe shoulde well and orderlyke hauehave doone this, yf he had opened his glorie in the mariage, before that he was called to the office of teachyng, and anoynted of the holy ghost. But this is an excellente exaumple, not onelyonly against the dreames of the Pope, whiche are caste and thrust out of our church with clapping of handes, and hissyng: but against the sectes to come, which counte this the chief religion, to despise and forsake matrimonie, to go into wyldernes & desert places, where as is a more quiete lyfe, and lesse dangerous then is in matrimonie. In the whiche are greate braulynges, chydyngs, and much trouble with thy wife, with thy children, seruants, euil neighbors &c. The monks set forth their life for an holy life.The lyfe of monkes and priestes. But if they say ye truth, it wer rather to be called a swete, quiet, and an idle lyfe, wher they hauehave liued in great abundance & plentie: wher as y• miserable maried, hath in ye meane time, striued with miseries and hard getting of their liuing: and yet they were clean banyshed and put beside this title, by these pope holy monks, that this kynd of lyfe in matrimony might not be in the kyngdom of God, & go into euerlastyng life. And although this exāple yt Christ hath put forth vntounto his congregation, be magnificent, glorious & euident, yet hath it nothing preuayled with the wicked. It was rehersed in the church, but there was no man there, yt could gather so much light therby, that he could truly ponder the matter on this wise: If it be such a great matter to go to the wildernes, and to the cloister, why came Christ to the mariage? If it be suche an vnholy thyng to be occupied in the worlde, & to become a maried persone, why dyd Christ with his presence and first miracle honour mariage? These tragicall myseries myghte hauehave bene mytigate, if this state of monkerie and heremitage had ben put foorthe but a fewe yeares. But nowe sithe they are not onelyonly against mariage, but also abiure them selues from it by an othe for euer, that is no holy kynd of lyfe, but it is a folowyng of rest and idlenes contrary to Gods commaundement and ordinance.
We therfore lerne & know in this place, how greatly the lord god honoreth ye fift cōmandement. For parents & matrimonie, are not without a familie, without gaines, without housholde stuffe, without other meanes of encreasyng the substāce. All these thynges therfore hath cōmendation by this fact of Christ, as holy thinges: with the whiche, true godlynes may wel be ioyned: that all by Christes example may not despise these things, but hauehave them in great reputation, and magnifie them as thinges cōmaunded of God: and that the doctrine of this Gospell may instruct the youth, to vnderstand that God is highly pleased in the gouernance of a familie, and that there is no neede of newe institutes, as the monks hath corrupted ye path of godlines. For the housholder that applieth all thynges in the gouernyng of his house to the feare of God,Matrimonie is holy. doth wel instructe and fashion his familie, lyueth in suche a kynde of lyfe as is acceptable to God. Yea the wife also, that prouideth for her chyldren all things necessary for that age, let her not seke an holyer kynd of life. The seruā tes also, are subiect to their bodily maisters when they diligently execute their worke and commandement of their maister, and do hyghly please God: and if they hold fast by this principle, that they continue in faith: the vylest and basest workes that they do, are more acceptable to God, then all the fastes, howers, prayers, masses of the monkes, yea and whatsoeuer they boste of,Matrimonye is no prophan thyng. as most chief amongest al their ceremonies & rites.
Wherfore all these thynges that are belonging vntounto mariage, are not to be counted vile, neither is the example of the monkes to be folowed, whiche iudge all these thyngs worldly and vnholy in respect of their owne. Christ with this his dede dothe signifie, where as he is present with the marying persons, that he fauoureth all this kynde, and that God requireth, that all thyngs appertainyng to the housholdes gouernāce myght be had for great and high matters, and not for vnholy thynges. As the first precepte beareth recorde, whiche is the chiefe in the second table. Wherfore lette not the maried persons, nor the seruantes thynke vilely and basely of their offices. For these thynges please God, and God hymselfe hath blessed matrimony, and hath honored it for the nonce, where as he now beyng a Preacher of the Gospelle came to the marriage at his byddyng.
If mariage hadde not ben holy inough, hee myght hauehave alledged for his excuse the holynes of his office. and so absented hym selfe. But he beynge the chief prelate of all other, is not lette by his moste holy office to come to the mariage, whiche is the first foundation of all housholdynge. But getteth vntounto all such commendation & estimation, that who soeuer are in thys kind of lyfe, doo highely esteme the iudgemente of God, in that he hath so placed them in that roume, that whether they be man and wyfe, either chyldren, eyther seruantes of the familie, they may be sure, that their office is after the will of GOD. Christ honoreth mariage.For who woulde not bee moued with this notable exāple of Christ, in that that Christ beyng so great a teacher, yea and God him self, is not onelyonly a renoume, but also an healpe to mariage. declaring there his good wyll most euidentely? This doctrine is first necessary against heretikes. And wee can not be at this time without it in the congregation for because of the sectes,Complaintes agaynst mariage. which diminishe the estimation of matrimonie, and raileth on it, as thoughe in it were an occasion of all discōmodities, with seruantes children, neighbours, wyfe, houshold stuffe, so that sufficient care of God, and of his kyngdome may not bee had. And therfore they seke an other deuise, they take vponupon them to lyue vnmaried, they make them selues colledges and abbeys, where they may lyue withoute suche paines. Then after that by the authoritie of the dyuell, they hauehave folowed these deuises, eueryevery man embraceth a rule and kynde of lyuynge, that semeth beste vntounto hym selfe.
Against this perill this doctrine is necessarie, and the example of Christ most euident, whiche at the mariage was not the cause of separation or diuorcement But that their copulation myght be more straighter & narower & more beneficiall with them selues, he doth as a man would saye admonyshe them, by his owne beneuolence and goodnes. For yf he would hauehave disallowed the mariage there made, he would not hauehave ben presente at an vnlaufull thynge. If he hadde not fauoured with all his hearte the maried persones, and sones, and thereby hadde declared the fauour of God towarde the maried, he woulde not hauehave blessed the mariage by the gyft of excellent wyne, neyther would he hauehave geuen a token in this to the maried, what succour and comfort they shold surely fele at Gods hand in such miseries,Christ blesseth the maried persons. yf they feare God.
And thys is one meanynge in Christes exaumple, that hereby it myghte be gathered, that Matrimonie ought to be honoured and counted among the moste godly sortes of lyuyng, agaynst the phantasticall imaginations of the monkes, whych so longe before were reproued by the Iudgement of the Apostles,1. Timo. 14. where as they are called seducynge spirites, and the doctrine of deuyls, forbyddynge to marry, and to eate meates, The other meanynge is, to the comfort of the maryed persones, that they may surely beleue, that God is presente with them, bee they neuer so muche vexed wyth pouertie, nede, and other myseries. OnelyOnly lette thys bee thy care, that thou neuer lacke this gueste at thy feast: neyther bee thou any longer ruled with suche rules and Canons. Thenne doubtlesse he shall alwayes for thy sake make wyne of water, when he shall so prosper thy dooynges with hys blessyng, that thou shalte neuer be lackynge of the greate glorye of GOD, where as he also in thy tribulations, whyche doo seeme paste all cure, shall succoure thee at hys tyme appoynted.
The examples dayely chauncynge in mannes trauayle shewe thys to be trewe. For when the maried persones are godly, they feele the blessynge of God, in preparynge theyr lyuyng: the whiche is promysed by the Psalme: Ecce dat dilectis suis dormientibus. Psal. 27.Beholde, he geuethe to his electe euen when they sleape. Lette vsus take an experience hereof, from the craftesmen (I meane of the godlye, and them that laboure dilygently in theyr vocation) yf the whole summe of their gaines that they can gette by theyr yeares labor,God blesseth the labours of the faithfull. were put before them in a plaine summe and number, they woulde vtterly despaire to fynde them and theirs thereby. But the prime blessynge of God is amonge them, where as necessaries are ministred vntounto them, when they perceaue it not, and are geuen vntounto them by Goddes secrete woorkynge, so that they may perceaue Goddes priuye lyberalitie and bounteousnesse in theyr moste scarcitie. To bee shorte, the presence of Christe shall bee perceaued in all oure houses,Math. 6. yf we se onelyonly to thys, that we caste not of the sekynge of the kyngedome of GOD, thenne no doubte he wyl daylye tourne water into wyne for vsus. He blesseth oure breade and loaues, that a fewe maye suffise manye, that symple meates maye seme to vsus moste delicate,A great comfort. that the garmentes maye not soone be worne, so that yf wee coulde marke with attente eyes, we myghte saye thys: Lorde, it is manyfeste, that all the gouernaunce and ordrynge of mariage belongeth to thee, and that the offices thereof pertayne vntounto thy seruice. For thy redynesse and good wylll appeare most euidentlye in the maryage at Cana, and is yet seene, where as thou doste so louyngly make prouysion for the godly maried persons. Wherfore I wil count this thyng for no lighte and vnholye thinge, but wyll decke and sette foorth for my poore mariage, that I maye at least seme willyng to folowe the moste euident example of Christe thy sonne.
The Euangelist maketh speciall mention, that Iesus mother was presente also, peraduenture she was the bride mother in the mariage.Mary the virgin helpeth mariage al so. For shee thynketh, that the matter belongeth to her, when there chanced nede in the feast. It appeareth, that the mariage was suche, in the whiche nothyng was lackynge, but that that was necessarie. And here Mary also, by her exā ple testifieth, that mariage is not to be despised, as som superstitious people despise it. For shee is not thereat only in the highest rome, but she hath Iesus her sonne, and his disciples, whiche are moste honorable guestes ioyned vntounto her in this office also. O what glorie and boasting would the monkes make, if this great company of sainctes, that is to saye, Christe with his mother & his disciples, had ben sene on this wyse in theyr matters? The moste holy mother thynke it no scorne to shewe her labour and diligence in the moste vylest and base seruice at the mariage.
All these thynges lacke onelyonly the voyce of God protestyng and pronouncynge, that we may beholde this kynde of lyfe, and consyder it, accordyng to her propre nature and true dignitie. The whiche God hath in so hygh estimation, that his pleasure is, that his sonne and his mother, shoulde be as a renoume and healpe at the mariage feast.
The examples are great, yet they nothyng preuaile among the Papistes, neither can housholders be moued therby sufficiently. The dyuel is the cause thereof, whiche suffereth not this lyght to appeare vntounto them, that they may perceiue that whatsoeuer belongeth to the seruice of housholds, that that is taken of God as his owne. For if men wolde thinke this for a suertye,The state of matrimonie ought to be estemed of vsus also. the seruantes wold counte their workes, to be done as a most pleasant shewe in ye sight of God, they wold obey their masters most gladly, and wolde beware of all offence with all diligence. And when they were chidden, they wold take it in good worth, so that they knewe yt this kinde of lyfe were for a suerty acceptable to God. They wold euer beholde this shewe, that Christ him self was present in the mariage, & that he declared his singuler good will towarde maried persons & gouerners of housholdes: least this should seme greuouse vntounto them, if they take any labour or paynes in the doing of the busines of the housholde.
But they that are so stubburne, that they regarde not these thinges, neither are they moued therby, hauehave stonie hearts, wher as they may hauehave this power,Stony hearts euē to serue God in their house, yet they care not to do it: or if they do it, they are not moued therby, they shew not thē selues to be ioyfull, as in a prosperous case. If the hand mayde wolde know her base works to be of such felicitie, that they might be cōpared with y• works of Marie done at the mariage, should not this cause her to be ioyfull and of good trust in all her busynes? Ueryly the works & taskes, that belonge to this state, are very vile. But the persons, that iudge truely of things, are excellent. Bycause they know, that whatsoeuer ther is of this sort, it pleaseth God. Whatsoeuer the iudgemēt of the worlde be as touching these matters, be not thou ruled therby, whiche folowest true godlynes. For this is the reason, to iudge that great, and to be the very seruice of God, whiche God hath commanded, be it neuer so base and vyle.
Howe fortunat should this lower state be, if it could acknowledge her felicitie, that God alowed all their doynges as his true seruice, where as contraryly all the Mounkes muste nedes be discouraged, bycause they hauehave no commaundement of God makinge for theyr institution of lyfe. There is none amongest all in this seruile kynd of lyfe, But, if he would consyder his sort of lyuinge after this maner, would take great pleasure of this, that he perceaueth that God and all the Angels beholde and alowe his worke. Yea and hereby should they fynde their masters more gentle vntounto them, if they would with all diligence shew fidelitie in their office, and they should at due tyme hauehave sufficient commoditie therby. For faithfull and godlye seruantes are worthie of honour. But although this be verye true of his nature, yet can not men be brought in beleife that it is so. All men set more by the inuentions of man, as touchyng the worshippe of God after this or that sorte, than that that God hath commanded as concerning the gouernance of a familie. Wherfore it chaunceth worthelie to the vnkynde, against the fyfte precepte, that they faule to Mounkerie, and besides that by doyng all that they can, yet do they neuer obtayne their desyer,The vnmaried were punished for their vnkindnes. but offende God most greuously by their great disobedience, for he neuer gaue them any commandement as touching their trade of lyfe.
Matrimonie is the best kynde of lyfe.Wherfore this example is not lightly to be estemed, but hereby ought true godlynes encrease, that eueryevery man for his parte may diligently furder matrimonie, whiche God hath made gloriouse by his commandement. For mariage preserueth Kynges and Prynces, and that not onlye bycause Kynges and Princes springe of mariage, but also bycause that if maried persons were not, they should hauehave neither men, people, or yearlie reuenewes. For by the gouernance of housholdes it is prepared wherby therafter, all offices necessarie amonge men as well hyghe as low are mayntayned. Wherfore God hath ordayned matrimonie to be as a wel springe of all other commodities in the earth.
This councell of God is to be knowen,God blesseth the maried. that we might doo all things with the more ioyfull heartes, and that this kynde of lyfe might be commended and furthered of vsus. But let the maried persons seeke especially herby necessarie succour and confort for them selues. For if they be godly and feare God they hauehave this hystorie as a most certayne pledge, that God will helpe the busines of the maried with a continuall blessing, and correcte and mynish their incommodities. As he testifieth in this place. For it is not to be refused for this, that the maried shall nedes suffer affliction in the flesh. But when CHRIST is taken to the mariage, and all the matter is referred to the worshippe of God, then is it sure, that Gods blessinge and helpe shall not be lacking.
This much therfore is to be learned as concerning this present matter, and all ought to know this, these things are put forth in preaching to ye entēt, yt al might hauehave yt excellēt will at length, to magnifie matrimonie and to count it for a renoume, if they be but maried or if they can but bestow som what to the furdering of mariage. And fyrst let them see to them selues by this doctryne, that they be not leade of the fantasticall spirites to superstition whiche count these thinges to be vnholy either to be maried, either to gouerne a familie. But he that would lyue with the fauour of GOD, muste attayn thervnto by chastinge and kepinge vnderunder the body.The Anabaptistes forsake mariage. The whiche is the dreame of the Anabaptistes now a days. They forsake their wyues, their chyldern, their familie. And this they take for religion, bycause of the perturbation of mynde, that ther of doth ensue. But this is very deceit, and the dissemblinge of hypocrites. For it is not paynefull in dede, that one taketh on hym of his owne accorde. That that is enioyned men, against their will, is much more paynefull. Wherfore they are against it, leaste they should be fayne to suffer diuers paynes and grefes. For there are innumerable bandes, that bynd the maried.
These bandes the Anabaptistes breake, and take them selues to libertye, least they should be fayne to stryne with these common myseries, as other maried men do. They take no great penance on them, when they shake of this yoke. For this yoke is of a moste hardest sort, when one is bound to a yokefelow, he is in daunger to his Prince, and bound to his neighbours to helpe them, where as al godly offices comme and springe on eueryevery part, by louinge and sufferinge. For there are many thynges brought to sight, to hearinge, & to other knowledge, whiche are moste paynfull to fele, and we wold wish to be ridde from them, yet must we endure, neither must we yelde or be discoraged by thē. For although al things are ful of miseries & paynes, yet this recōpenseth & maketh amendes for them al, in that that God doth greatly fauour matrimonie, and is especially delighted with this functiō of ye maried. This felicitie is worthy of thanks & great ioy, that he maketh vsus partetakers therof, & excludeth not vsus out of this most gloriouse sacrarie and acceptable state. If thou shalt be vexed with pouertie, thou must not despaire. As he declareth here in this mariage, that he is delighted with such helpinge of the maried. This ought now to be learned out of this Gospell, and we must call for the helpe of God, that we may neuer forget it, and that we neuer cease diligently to serue oure vocation according to the commaundement of God: to whom be glorie for euer. Amen.