Sermons Upon all the Sunday Gospels, Sermon 32
The second sonday after Easter ¶ The Gospell. Iohn. x.
CHriste said vntounto his Disciples: I am the good shepheard. A good shepheard geueth his life for the sheepe. An hired seruaun…, and he which is not the shephearde (neyther the sheepe are his owne) seeth the wolfe comming, and leaueth y• sheepe, and fleeth, and the Wolfe catcheth and scattreth the sheepe. The hyred seruaunt fleeth, because he is an hyrede seruaunt, and careth not for the sheepe. I am the good shepheard and knowe my sheepe, and am knowen of myne. As my father knowethe me, euen so knowe I also my father. And I geue my life for the sheepe. And other sheepe I hauehave whiche are not of this folde: them also muste I brynge, and they shal heare my voyce, and there shalbe one folde and one shepheard.
THE EXPOSITION.
THis Gospel, as likewise the other workes of Christ, may be handeled two maner of wais. First, cōcerning faith: Secōdly, touching charitie. It is the doctrine of Faith, because it teacheth,The doctrine of faythe: that Christ is the alone shepeheard. that Christ is the alone shepherd, & none other that dieth for his shepe. For vntounto this work, yt Christ dieth for vsus, no mā, no saint, no, nor yet ang…ll was mete, that he might restore man, which was slain of yt deuil in Paradise thorow synne: so that it shold be ye very proper work of this shepherd Christ, with whom none is able to compare, as none of all his other workes, which he dyd in this behalf, I meane, in making satisfaction for our sinnes, can be of any creature imitated,Gene ….3 Rom. 5. folowed, and expressed. Therfore no mā can speake these wordes of himselfe, which Christ pronoūceth in this place:Iohn. … I am the good Shepherd: A good shepheard geueth his lyfe for his shepe: so that by these his wordes he allureth vsus vntounto hym, and teacheth vsus, that we shoulde beleue, that none can be like vntounto hym in accomplishyng the work of our redemption, whyche he broughte to passe by his Passion and deathe. Moyses and the Prophets were men of great authoritie and of singuler excellencie, whiche taughte truly, what we ought to beleue and to do, yea & they suffered many thynges for this their doctrine:The saynctes of god can do nothynge in the worke of our redemption. yet as concernyng this worke, wherof Christ speaketh here, I meane, to dye for the shepe, they are only mercenaries and hirelynges, neither can they defende the shepe agaynst the wolfe. For this is without all doubt, that Moyses and the Prophetes, when they had taught a longe tyme, and done all thyngs aswell as they … were not yet able to recouer them selues out of death: What then could they be able to do for ye shepe against the wolf, whiche is the deuill & death: And verily it is euen as Christ saith: The hireling,The wolfe is the deuyl and death. which is not ye shepherd, & to whom the shepe do not belong, seeth ye wolfe cōming, & forsaketh the shepe, & fleeth, and ye wolf catcheth & scattereth ye shepe. But ye hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, & the shepe do not pertaine vntounto him. Therfore he yt in this perill desireth to be without ieoperdy, & not to be rent & torne of ye wolf, must diligētly take hede, yt he put not his cōfidēce in ye law, or in good works. For ther is no help in the law,Christe only helpethe agaynste the wol…e. yea y• law is rather against vsus, accuseth & condemneth vsus, neither can good workes helpe any thyng in this behalf. Therfore all our trust concernyng our owne righteousnes and good workes must we vtterly caste awaye,Rom. 7. 2. Cor. 3… G…la. 3. and lerne with true faith to resorte vntounto him alone, which saith: I am the good shepehearde. I geue my life for my shepe. For he fleeth not the wolfe, neither is he afraide of him, yea he rather offereth himselfe o the wolfe, for to be rent and torne on pieces,Ioan. 17. then that one of his shepe should perishe and decay. Therfore when we are in dāger we must resort and flee vntounto him alone. And this is one thing that we muste stedfastly beleue. We our selues can do nothyng in this behalfe, but Christe that good shepheard, he alone doth it, and worketh all good thynges for vsus, and commandeth vsus, to embrace it with a sure faith, and stedfastly to beleue it.
The second doctrine is, that this act of our shepherd is set forth vntounto vsus for an example, as Peter witnesseth,1. Pet. 2. sayinge: Christ hath borne our sinnes in his body vponupon the tree, that we being dead to sinne, might lyue vntounto righteousnesse, by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were sometime as shepe that runne astray,Christe the good sheparde is setforth vntounto vsus for an ensample. but ye are turned vntounto the shepheard and curate of your soules. This is the doctrine of faythe whiche he afterward applieth vntounto Charitie, saying: Christ hath suffred for vsus, leauyng vntounto vsus an example, that ye shold folow his steppes. As Christe died for vsus, that by his worke he myght redeme vsus without our worke from synne and euerlastyng deathe: so are we bounde one to helpe and confort an other, when soeuer any man beyng in daunger hath nede of our helpe and confort. This is to folowe the example of Christe, that eueryevery christen man also shoulde be a good shepheard. For although I with my death can not redeme other from death and synne (for that is the only worke of thee alone and true shepheard Christe Iesu, as ye hauehave tofore heard) yet may I geue my life, that other by thys example may be allured vntounto the worde, and brought vntounto the knowledge of Christ,…. Ioan. 3. as S. Iohn saith: By this hauehave we knowē the louelove of God, because he gaue his lyfe for vsus: and we are bound also to geue our lyfe for the brethren. For this we right well knowe, howe great the hatred of the world and the deuil is against the word of God. And specially ye Pope laboreth with all mayne to oppresse the word, yea and so many as be the true pastors & preachers therof. Therfore we hauehave nede of faithful and good teachers, whiche, seyng they be redemed by the deth of Christ, ought also they them selues to imitate and folow the example of Christ, and also to die for the sheepe, and to geue their life for the word.Saluacion comethe only by the deathe of Christe. This death redemeth not other (for saluation cometh only by the death of Christ: Notwithstādyng this confirmeth other, and so is God glorified by my blood and death, and my neighbor by this means is cō firmed in the faith, although by it he be not deliuered from death. For that is done only by the deathe of the true shepherd, as it hath ben oftentymes sayde.
And here also come in the mercenaries or hirelynges and the wolues.Mercenaries or hyrelyngs. In the former doctrine of faith are yt mercenaries, Moses, the law, the prophets, and al men be they counted neuer so rightous. For no man is able to defend hym selfe (as I may let other thyngs passe) agaynst the wolfe, that is to say, the deuyll and sinne. But in thys doctrine of charitie,wolues. the wolues are false teachers and tyrantes, which persecute and condemne the doctrine of the Gospell.Trewe shepardes. But the true godly man is not afrayde, whenne he seeth the wolfe, yea rather then he wold be the cause, that any man should be offended, and fall away from the word & the true knowlege of Christ, he wyl ieopard his hed, lyfe, and all that euer he hath, as the exaumples of the Apostles, and of the holy martyrs do abundantly declare.What is required of the preacher of gods worde. These were not afrayd at the cruelnes of the wolfe, that they shold ones flee. So ought it to be nowe. He that professeth him self a teacher of Gods word, and a shepherd of the Lordes flocke, there is so great sinceritie required of hym, that he should onelyonly seke the glorie of God, and the saluation of his neighbour. If he be not only carefull for these things, but hunteth after his owne commoditie and profite: then wyll not he abyde the comming of the wolf. For he wil either cowardly flee, and forsake the shepe, or ells he wyll holde his peace, and suffer the shepe to runne astray without foode, that is to say, without the worde of God. They are the very hyrelynges, whiche teache for their owne priuate lucre and aduantage, and are not content with this, that God geueth them sufficient for theyr dayly foode. For we that ar in the ministerie, ought to require no more then meate, drinke, and cloth, as the Apostle saith: hauyng foode and rayment,1. Tim. 6. Ministers ought only to require meate drynk & cloth.let vsus be contente. For we brought not hynge into the worlde, neyther shall wee carie any thyng out of it. They that require more, are hyrelynges, and care not for the shepe. But on the contrarye parte, a trewe teacher for the safegarde of the shepe, putteth his head, life, goodes, and all that euer he hathe in ieopardie. And thys is the seconde doctrine cōcerning the example of the good and true shepheard CHRIST:A general doctrine. which pertaineth not onelyonly vntounto them that are in the ministerie, but also vntounto al Christians. For all men ought to confesse the truth, and rather to lose their lyues, then to forsake the worde, and to imbrace idolatrie. For this they knowe, that they hauehave a shephearde, whiche to this ende gaue his lyfe, that althoughe they also bee enforced to geue theyr lyfe, yet shall they receaue it agayne, and neuer lose it after.
Luc. 9.17· Myth. 10.16.Nowe Christe goeth foorthe, and maketh mencion of hys shepe, and putteth a difference betwene them and other shepe. And this he doothe for this purpose, to make a diuersitie betwene his doctrine and heresy, or any other doctrine, saying: I am the good shepherd and I knowe my shepe, and my shepe knowe me. As the Father hath knowen me, and I know the father, and I geue my lyfe for my shepe. As though he should say: Thus goeth the matter: If ye wyl be my shepe, and knowledge that I in dede am youre shephearde: so shall ye be withoute perill and daunger. Therfore a true teacher ought to sette foorth none other thyng vntounto men, but Christ alone,Christe onlye ought to be preachede to ye people. that he maye be truely knowen, what he is, and what he geueth that no man turne asyde from his worde, but that he alone be taken for the true and good shepheard, which geueth his lyfe for his shepe. This oughte to be sette foorthe vntounto menne, that they maye knowe theyr shephearde.
Therfore this doctrine is to bee receaued as an ensample, that as Christ dyd and suffred all thynges for vsus: so likewise we shold gladly do & suffre al things for the wordes sake. Whyche twoo thynges are to bee taughte in the Churche. Hee that heareth and vnderstandeth these thynges, is Christes shepe, as he hym selfe sayeth: My sheepe heare my voyce. Hee that teacheth trewely, is a good shepehearde, thys one thynge excepted, that hee canne not geue hys lyfe for the sheepe on suche sorte as our Sauiour Christ dydde. But they that heare not thys doctrine, or wyll not sette it foorthe to the sheepe,Fals teache… are to be esch…wed as the deuyll. are not the sheepe of CHRISTE, neyther are they the trewe shepheardes, but they are in dede hyrelynges, yea and rauening wolues. Suche are not to be herd but to be eschued as the deuill. After this sorte goeth it with the doctrine of the pope, which is full both of errours and heresies. He setteth not forth the wordes of Christ sincerely and purely, when he sayeth: I am the good shepherd,The pope is an hyrelynge and a wo…f…e. and I geue my lyfe for my shepe. But the Pope teacheth thus: He that will be safe against the wolfe, that is to say, against the deuyl, and deathe, he must be his owne shepheard, and loke for help in his owne works. As ye know, what thyngs they taught in the Popedome of the sacrifice of the Masse, of purgatorie, of pilgrimages, of vowes, of the monasticall lyfe,Christs voyce is only to be hearde and folowed. of the workes of supererogation. &c. If therfore we will be true christians, we muste folowe the shepe whiche knowe the voyce of their shephearde, and take hede vntounto that: As for a strangers voyce they knowe not, neyther wyll they heare it. Therfore we ought to send them away from vsus with these words: I know not thy voyce. I heare a wolfe, which goeth about to pluck me away from the flock of Christ. Away, hence with this woluysh houling: I wil folow my shepherd and heare his voice. For so saith Christ here: They shal heare my voyce. And a litle before he said: They folow no strāger, but flee from hym, because they know not the voyce of strangers. For it is not possible, yt a shepe whiche hath begunne to beleue, and hath herd yt voice of his shepheard, & receiued it, shold here & allowe that doctrine, whyche is contrary to the voyce of Christe. The shepe heareth the commaundementes of Emperours, Kynges, Princes, Maiestrates. &c. but it knoweth, that these thynges pertayn not vntounto saluation. For thys worketh not saluation, because this politike and ciuile obedience is declared and shewed. But whē a teacher commethe foorthe with this doctrine, and saythe: If thou wylt bee saued, thou thy selfe muste satisfy for thy synnes. Thou must cause Masses to be sayd for thee. Thou must geue almes, that thy sinnes may be forgeuen thee. Thou must put on S. Francis coule, that thou dying and beynge buried in the same, mayst be saued. &c. In this case the shepe heareth not, but sayth: I know not this voyce. It is the voice not of a shepherd, but of a wolfe.The property of a shepe For thus is the report of this beast, that is to say, of a shepe. It hath this nature and propretie, that amonge all beastes, there is none that hath so quick an eare, and so sharpe and redy sense of hearyng, as the shepe hath, as experience declareth. For if neuer so many crye and call, it regardeth them not. It refuseth all, excepte her owne shephearde. Hys voyce shee knoweth and heareth: Unto that she goeth and maketh haste. In lyke maner yong lambes euen in the greatest flockes: eueryevery one knoweth the bleatyng of his owne damme, and foloweth that so long, tyll at the last he hath founde her. Christ hath respect to this nature of the shepe, and compareth his Christians wyth theym, that they also after the same maner should moste diligently hearken to the voyce of the shephearde, that they be not deceaued. And this is his meanynge, that where the voyce of Christ is not, his shepe can not be allured nor moued there to geue any eare.Howe shepe are to be folowed. And herein he geueth vsus a playne commandement, that if we will be his shepe, we muste hauehave fyne and picked eares, whiche may discerne the voice of CHRIST frome all other, although those voyces seme to be neuer so clere, pleasant and swete.
Therfore in this place it is to bee learned, that wee geue diligent attendance to heare the word of GOD yea, and that alone, and none other, that thorowe it we maye be able to sette oure selues agaynste all the subtilties, of the ennemie, whyche he craftily gothe about to conueye into our heartes, and also beware of false and corrupte doctrine.A fals teacher is neuer to be trusted. For a woolfe is euer a wolfe, neither can he geue ouer his nature. If he hath not hys purpose by false doctrine, then doothe he inwardly imagine disceit thorowe pestilent and poysonfull thoughtes. Here must thou followe the shepe, and saye: I care not for thys voyce. It is the voyce of a wolfe, and not of a shepheard. The voyce of my shephearde is: I am the good shepheard, and I gaue my lyfe for my shepe. But thou woldest bryng me to that poynt, that I shoulde despaire, hauehave no hope of saluation in my shepheard, and flee from hym. Thus maist thou hauehave healpe and comforte agaynste that tentation, wherwith the deuyll goeth about to dismaye thee, to take away thy courage, to driue thee into erroure, to make thee sorowfull, and to brynge thee vntounto desperation.The louelove of christ toward vsus. We must therfore aboue all thyngs diligently heare, and certainly knowe the voyce of oure shephearde: by thys meanes shall there bee betweene vsus mutuall knowledge and louelove. For howe can he hate vsus, when he bestoweth his lyfe for vsus, taketh awaye from vsus death, synne, and all euyls, and freely geueth vsus euerlasting life. These thynges can come to vsus by none other voyce. Lette vsus therfore so much the more diligently embrace it, and make muche of it.
Moreouer, this is greately to oure comforte, that Christe in thys Sermon calleth hym self a shepheard and tearmeth vsus, whyche hauehave and heare his voyce, sheepe. For by this meanes a Christian hath no cause to complayne, that hee is destitute, and wantethe a shepheard. He may want money, substance, health. &c that it may appere, that we be left confortlesse & with out a shepherd among wolues,Math. 10. as Christ also sayde to his disciples: Behold, I send you as shepe in the mids of wolues. And we daily se none other thing then this miserable face, that the church is redy to bee deuoured of Antichriste, euen as a shepe of the wolfe.Psal. 1…1. It semeth as though we had no shepherd, that careth for vsus: and yet he neyther sleapeth nor slombreth, that kepeth Israell. But thus muste it nedes be,The voyce of the shepheard christe is the only cōfort of the churche. that we shold loke for none other cōfort but only at the voice of this our shepherd, wherof Christ himself saith: My shepe heare my voice. He that heareth the voice of Christ, and foloweth it: He may in this behalf glory, that he truly knoweth his shepheard, and that his shepheard also knoweth him. For he that regardeth the word, & foloweth that, the deuill can not hurte him. For what soeuer chanceth concernyng his lyfe, goodes, wife childrē. &c. He kepeth alway freshe in memorie this voyce of his shepheard: Thou arte my shepe: for thou hearest my voyce, and knowest me, and I knowe thee: so that all his cogitation, meditation, studye, and exercise is altogether in the woorde and faythe, and in nothyng els at all, as Christe hym selfe sayeth: I knowe my sheepe, euen as my father knoweth me, and I know my Father.
For when Christ the sonne of God was in the earth he shewed none other power yt he had, but as though it had ben in the free choise of the deuill and of wicked men, to deale with hym, euen as they them selues lusted. GOD seemed vtterly to forgette hym, euen as thoughe he neyther cared for hym, nor knewe hym. But when Christ hanging on ye crosse cōplained & said My God, my God, why haste thou forsaken mee?Math. 27· when he dyed on the Crosse, when he was buryed, and the deuyl in a maner persuaded, that CHRIST had no GOD,: thenne was it euidentely declared, that the Father knewe hym. For hee dydde delyuer hym frome hell and deathe. So (sayeth Christe) shall the matter goe with you. But lette not thys trouble you, when all thynges shall so comme to passe, as though I dydde not knowe you.A Christen man in thys lyfe is alwaye subiect to the crose. For a Christen man in thys worlde, muste be assaulted and combred with calamities, crosses, myseryes, afflictions, troubles, and wyth all kynde of aduersities, so that there shall appeare no difference at all betwene hym and the vngodlye. For outwardly the lyfe and deathe of bothe are in a manner all one: yea, that more intollerable and harder is: It seemeth outwardly, that the condition and state of a Christian manne before GOD is worse, thenne the state of any Ethnicke and infydelle. For hee is more troubled, and oppreste wyth many mo tentations and afflictions. But let not this moue thee, but holde faste with toothe and nayle that he sayth: I knowe my shepe.
Christe knoweth hys in ye myddest of trobles.But here thou hearest the deuil and reason making this obiection: howe can God hauehave any care of thee, seyng thou arte so myserably afflicted and troubled? Answer thou thus: I knowe, that he knoweth me: Neither dothe thys make my faythe to faynt, that I dye and suffer all this trouble. For I know his voyce, and I truste vntounto that, that as a shepheard vntounto hys shepe,Constancie in the tyme of trouble decl… rethe a true Christiane. he putteth forth his voyce vntounto me, whyche I ryght well knowe, and sayth: I am thy shepheard: I dyed for thee: I gaue my life for thee. This worde I heare and beleue. This is the only and sure token vntounto me, that he knoweth me, and I know hym agayn. And although I nowe feele and perceaue otherwise, then Christe here speaketh: yet shal not all this make me to fainte, nor to plucke my fayth from his worde. All thinges are full of the crosse in this worlde for a Christen man. But those troubles are shorte, transitorie, and of no continuance: Againste all these thynges the word teacheth me, that here after I shal hauehave euerlasting life. And although I feele death,Rom. 8. 1. Cor. 10. 2. Cor. 1. 2. Cor. 1.4. & must nedes dye, as other do, that beleue not in Christ: what then? the voice of my shepehearde, whiche maketh for me, doth most highly conforte me. He that beleueth in me, sayth he, shall neuer dye euerlastingly. Again: I geue my lyfe for my shepe. Therfore I doubte not, but that my moste faithfull shepehearde Christe Iesu knoweth me.Iohn. 3.5.8. But this knowledge is therfore thus hydde and kepte secret, that it maye be an exercise and triall of my fayth. Otherwise if straightwayes after baptisme we shoulde be comme cleane, righteous, and immortall, we shoulde nede neither the worde nor faith. But for asmuch as the worde remayneth, it necessarilye requireth fayth:1. Cor. 10. 1. Iohn. 3. neyther shall oure matters hauehave altogether good successe, before that great daye of Iudgement. For then shall we se oure shepehearde face to face, euen as he is: and beholde all this matter without fayth.
Therfore it is not to be doubted, but that so sone as a man is baptised, there chaunceth vntounto hym high… glorie, so that he is vtterly without synne, and endued with perfect and euerlastynge righteousnes.Marc. 16. For so saith Christe: He that beleueth and is baptised, shall be saued. But this is not perceaued with our sences, neither can reason attaine ther vntounto, & yet is it true,, if we iudge after the worde, and determine according to the voyce of our shephearde. Wherfore this only remaineth, that we holde fast the worde, and by no meanes cast it awaye, til al these thinges be reueled & brought to light in that euerlasting lyfe that is to cōme, which we now heare in the worde, and beleue. For as this life, & the life to cōme do differ: so is it impossible, that the true feling and experience of those thinges sholde chaunce in this life, which are to be felt and perceaued in the life to comme. Therfore it is a matter of greate waight to knowe a Christen man, yea he can not be perfectly knowen in this lyfe. For what man can saye this, that he is in euerlasting lyfe? And notwithstanding we must confesse, that this child, which is vexed with death, sinne, and all kynd of miseries, where no point of euerlasting lyfe appeareth, immediatly after his baptisme biginneth in this worlde euerlasting life. But howe commeth this thing to passe?Iohn. 3. There is nothing sene, neither doth any thing appeare besydes the olde and accustomed lyfe. But yet for all that aboue that accustomed and defyled lyfe, God hath ordained euerlasting lyfe. wherin we also liue accordynge to the worde and faith, although we do not yet se and feele it. And this it is to knowe a true Christian, not to iudge hym after the iudgement of reason and mans vnderstandinge, but by the voyce and worde. As a shepes lyfe is in the voyce. For when she is destitute of her shepeheardes voyce, she can not escape the danger of wolues. For without the shepeheardes voice, she can not be kept in order and safetie.The word of god only conforteth ye true Christian. when she heareth that, she is safe and without all perill. But when that is ones lost, she is in danger on eueryevery side. After the same maner goeth it with the Christians: if the worde be lost, there remayneth no conforte: But the worde being safe, they beholde Christ their shepheard, and what so euer maketh for their saluation thorowe Christe, that is to say, forgeuenes of synnes and euerlasting lyfe. Therfore hauing this assured hope, a true Christian serueth his vocation, doth his worke, eateth, dryncketh, yea and in the middest of his crosse and trouble he is ioyefull and merye. For he is altogether geuen to heare the voyce of his shepheard, and accustometh hym selfe to iudge not after the sence and course of reason, but accordinge to the voyce and worde. And this it is that Christ sayth here: I knowe my shepe, and my shepe know me: as the father knoweth me, and I knowe the father, & I geue my lyfe for my shepe.
This thing must we learne, and diligently consider in our heartes, that we be not offended, nor forsake the voyce of our shephearde, though the Christians be afflicted and troubled, yea and dye, as other do. For this is the alone knowledge of the Christians, that they cā saye: As concernynge the outwarde life I do no see any difference betwene the godly & the vngodly. Yea many times the state of the Christians is harder and more intollerable, & they are incombred with mo miseries, then other are. But in the worde there is greate difference, namely that the Christians & the vngodly hauehave much diuersitie betwene them, not as cōcerning outwarde thinges, but that the Christians heare the voyce of theire shepeheard, which the Ethnickes and Infidelles heare not: nor yet the Turkes, Iewes, and Papistes, but only the shepe of Christ. As touching all other external thinges, there is no difference.
Wheras Christ speaketh of other shepe, which must also be broughte, that there maye be one shepehearde and one flocke: that began immediatly to be brought to passe after the sending of the holy Ghoste,Math. 23. Marc. 16. when the Gospell was preached thorow out the worlde: and by the Ministers of the word it is yet practised, & shall be vntounto the ende of the worlde: not that by this meanes all men without exception shall be conuerted vntounto the Gospell. For that will the deuill neuer suffer: and the worlde also moste extremely hateth the worde, and will not abyde to be reproued. Therfore there is no hope, that the varietie of religions should be taken awaye. But this is to be one shepehearde & one flocke, that god doth accept so many as euer receue the Gospell, as his sonnes, for Christes sake, whyther they be Iewes or Gentiles. For this is the alone true religiō, to folowe this shepehearde Christ, and to heare hys voyce,What the true religion is. and to be obedient to the same, whiche thynge graunt vsus that true and only shepeheard and Byshop of our soules, Iesus Christe, with the father & the holy ghoste: to whome be glorie honour, and prayse for euer and euer. Amen.