The Passion Resurrection and Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Lecture 48
THE XLVIII. LECTVRE OF THE RESVRRECTION OF CHRIST.
IHON, CHAP. XXI.
AFter theſe thinges, Jeſus ſhewed Himſelfe againe to His Diſciples at the ſea of Tiberias: and thus ſhewed He Himſelfe:
verse 2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas, which is called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galile, and the ſonnes of Zebedeus, and two other of His diſciples.
verse 3 Simon Peter ſaide vntounto Him, I goe a fiſhing. They ſaide vntounto him, Wee alſo will goe with thee. They went their way, and entred into a ſhippe ſtraightway, and that night caught they nothing.
verse 4 But when the morning was nowe come, Ieſus ſtood on the ſhore: neuertheleſſe the Diſciples knew not that it was Jeſus.
verse 5 Ieſus then ſaide vntounto them, Sirs, hauehave yee any meate? They anſwered Him, No.
verse 6 Then Hee ſaide vntounto them, Caſt out the net on the right ſide of the ſhip, and ye ſhall finde. So they caſt out, and they were not able at all to draw it, for the multitude of fiſhes.
verse 7 Therefore ſaide the Diſciple whome Ieſus loued, vntounto Peter, It is the Lord. When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, hee girded his coate to him (for he was naked) and caſt himſelfe into the ſea.
WEE continue as yet, Brethren, Beloued in Chriſt, in the Hiſtorie of Chriſts appearings, after His Reſurrection, whereof, this which we hauehave ſet downe in the beginning of the 21. Chapter of Iohn, is the ſeuenth, if wee reckone preciſely all the particular appearings, whereof any mention is made in the Goſpel: But if we count only the appearings vntounto His Apoſtles aſſembled together, this is the third in number, as the Euangeliſt himſelfe hereafter telles. In the firſt two appearings He manifeſted Himſelfe vntounto the eleuen beeing aſſembled together in an houſe, the doores beeing cloſed, only Thomas was abſent in the firſt appearing, nowe heere Hee appeares only vntounto ſeuen, beeing together, not in an houſe, but without at the fiſhing. As concerning the particular time of this appearing, what day it was from the firſt daye of His Reſurrection, or howe many dayes it was from His laſt appearing vntounto them, it is not particularly ſet downe: and therefore we will paſſe by it, but the Euangeliſt markes particularly the place of this appearing: for he ſayes, Ieſus ſhewed Himſelfe againe at the ſea of Tiberias, which ſea is otherwiſe called the ſea of Genneſareth, for according to the accuſtomable forme of ſpeaking among the Iewes, a lake is called the Sea. Before wee come to the reſt of the circumſtances of this appearing, it is expedient, that we anſwere to a queſtion that may bee mooued: It may bee asked, What is the cauſe that the Lord appeared ſo oft times vntounto His Diſciples, and ſo many wayes? Had it not bene enough that He had appeared to them once or twiſe? What needed there any moe appearings? To this anſwere: There are many great and weightie cauſes, wherefore the Lord ſo oft times appeared, and firſt: becauſe Faith in the Reſurrection from the dead, is a thing very hardly and with great difficultie is obtained: for among all the Articles of Faith there is none more contrarie to Nature, none appeares to be more vncredible: therefore the Lord, that He might aſſure them that He was riſen, and that they who are in Him, one day ſhall riſe againe, Hee appeared ſo oft times after His Reſurrection. Next, Hee appeared ſo of… to His Diſciples, becauſe they were to be the firſt witneſſes of His Reſurrection to the worlde: and therefore, they needed oft times to ſee the Lorde, to hauehave heard, to hauehave handled Him, and beene conuerſant with Him, they needed all ſortes of helpes to their Faith, that they might hauehave full aſſurance themſelues, that the Lorde was riſen, to the ende, that with the greater aſſurance, and with a full perſwaſion, as the Apoſtle ſpeakes of himſelfe, 1. Theſſ. 1.5 They might teſtifie of that Reſurrection both by viue voyce, and by writting vntounto others, euen to the comming of the Lord Himſelfe, & indeede ſo it came to paſſe: for becauſe Hee appeared and reueiled Himſelfe ſo oft times to them: therefore they had exceeding great libertie and boldneſſe, both in their ſpeaking, and writting: for the frequent ſeeing of Him, hearing of Him, ſpeaking and conuerſing with Him, made them to hauehave a full perſwaſion, and this full perſwaſion made them to hauehave great libertie & freedome: for he that hath not a full perſwaſion in his owne heart, ſhould not take vponupon him to be a witneſſe and preacher of the graces and benefites of God to others, neither will he euer be able to ſpeake of them with freedome, to mooue others to beleeue. Thirdly, He appeared ſo oft vntounto His Apoſtles, not for their cauſ… only, but for our cauſe alſo, who ſhould liue in the ages to come: Hee had reſpect vntounto the weakneſſe of our Faith: for eueryevery particular appearing of Chriſt, ſerues to helpe and further ſomething our Faith, our Faith degree by degree is helped by eueryevery one of them, and all His appearings beeing joyned together, are a ſure and ſtedfaſt ground to our Faith to repoſe vponupon, they ſerue to conſummate our Faith, and to bring it to a full perfection: for when wee heare or reade, that our Lord appeared at any time to His Diſciples, wee ſhould thinke, and ſettle this in our minde, that when Hee appeared vntounto them, Hee appeared vntounto vsus, when they ſaw Him, we ſaw Him: when vvee reade, that the Lord appeared vntounto Peter, I ſhould thinke that He appeared vntounto mee: vvhen Iohn and the reſt of the Apoſtles ſawe Him vvith their eyes. I ſhould ſo eſteeme, that I ſawe Him vvith mine eyes, and whenſoeuer they ſawe Him, I ſhould lay my count, that I ſaw Him: for vvhen that Peter ſayes, That with his eyes he ſaw His Maieſtie, 2. Pet. 1.16. hee pointes out Chriſt as it were with his finger, to bee ſeene with mine eyes. When Paul ſayes, That the Lord was ſeene of him after His Reſurrection, 1. Cor. 15.8. hee pointes out the Lord to be ſeene by me. When Iohn ſayes, Wee declare vntounto you that which wee hauehave heard, which we hauehave ſeene with theſe our eyes, which we hauehave looked vponupon, & theſe handes of ours hauehave handled of that worde of life, 1. Ioh. 1.1. hee ſets the Lord as it were, before my face, that I may ſee Him with mine eyes▪ I may heare Him with mine eares, and may handle Him vvith mine handes, To the end that my ioy may be full, as he ſpeakes there, verſe 4. And therefore, thou who art a faithfull Chriſtian, haſt cauſe to rejoyce, that the LORD ſo oft times appeared to His Diſciples: for it was for thy cauſe, for the helping and confirming of thy weake Faith, that Hee appeared ſo oft, that ſo thy joye may bee the more full. Now I goe forward vntounto the circumſtance of the perſons to vvhom the Lord appeared: There vvere ſeuen of the Diſciples gathered together, for hee ſayes, There were together, Simon Peter, and Thomas, who was called Didimus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilie, and the two ſonnes of Zebedeus, and two other Diſciples. No queſtion it vvas not by fortune, or chance, or raſhly, that ſo manie of the Diſciples met together at this time: but it vvas by the determinate counſell and prouidence of GOD that they vvere aſſembled together, to the ende that hee might manif…ſt and exhibite himſelfe vntounto them, beeing aſſembled together.
When the Lord hath a purpoſe to communicate his graces and benefites in a great meaſure, hee vſes commonlie to call together a number of his owne in one place, that hee may communicate his graces the more liberally vntounto them, beeing aſſembled together: for he giues not his great graces, nor vouchſafeth not his glorious preſence ſo much to priuate perſons alone, as hee does to a companie of the Sainctes aſſembled together, it is to them chiefelie that hee manifeſtes himſelfe. When the Lord was purpoſed to beſtowe the holie Spirite, what does hee? hee gathers the whole number of the Apoſtles together in one place, vponupon the daye of the Pentecoſte, and then hee ſendes vponupon them all, the holie Spirite, in the forme of fierie and clouen tongues (as wee reade in the ſeconde Chapter of the Actes, and the thirde verſe.) Our owne experience may bee a ſufficient proofe vntounto vsus of this, for when finde we the Spirit of God to worke moſte powerfullie, and the graces of God moſte aboundantlie to bee beſtowed vponupon vsus? not when wee are our ſelfe alone, but when we are aſſembled together with ye Saincts to exerciſe the meanes of grace, to heare the worde, to offer vp our prayers together vntounto God, and to be partakers of the Sacramēts: And therefore, if thou wouldeſt hauehave the Spirite of GOD preſent with thee, and looke for anie grace, deſpiſe not the fellowſhip, contemne not the aſſemblie of the Lordes Sainctes. Now amongſt the reſt that are here counted out, we ſee Thomas is reckoned to be one: The firſt time that the Lord appeared to his Diſciples, aſſembled together, the doore beeing ſhut, THOMAS was not preſent: but the ſeconde time that the LORD appeared vntounto them, hee vvas preſent vvith them. Now in this thirde appearing of the Lord to his Diſciples, he is alſo preſent vvith them. This example of THOMAS letteth vsus ſee that a man, vvho is gone aſtraye, and hath wandred out of the way, after that once the Lord mercifully takes him by the hand, and ſets him in the way of grace, that he will be carefull conſtantly to walke into that way with the reſt of the faithfull, who are walking in that way, he will be loath to ſeparate himſelfe from their ſocietie, after that once the Lord beginnes freely to giuegive grace, He ceaſes neuer to heape grace vponupon grace, while grace be crowned with glorie: for it is true, that the Apoſtle ſayes, That Hee who hath begunne the good worke in vsus, will performe it vntounto the day of Jeſus Chriſt, Phil. 1.6. And our Sauiour ſayes, To eueryevery man that hath, it ſhall be giuen, and he ſhall hauehave abundance. So happie is the man in whom the Lord hath once begunne to worke, for He will neuer leaue him, while He performe His worke in him.
Now, when they are met together, what is their exerciſe: They goe to the fiſhing, the occaſion of this exerciſe comes of Peter, hee purpoſed to ſeparate himſelfe from the reſt: and therefore hee ſayes vntounto them, J goe a fiſhing: The reſt cannot bee content to ſunder from him, but they offer their companie to him, and they ſay: We alſo will goe with thee. What made Thomas, and the reſt of the Diſciples ſo vnwillingly to ſunder from Peter, and what made eueryevery one of them ſo deſirous to enjoye the companie of another? Was this by chance or fortoun? No, but it was by the ſpeciall prouidence of GOD, that ſame prouidence that before gathered them together, now keepes and retaines them together, in ſuch ſort, that albeit ſome of them were of purpoſe to hauehave ſundred themſelues from the reſt, yet the reſt will not ſunder from them. The Lord will keepe them together, that Hee may communicate vntounto them ſuch grace as Hee would not beſtowe vponupon them beeing ſundered one from another. He ſhewes Himſelfe, & He vouchſafes His preſence in them to their exceeding joy and comfort, beeing now together, whereas if they had bene ſeparated, if Peter had gone one way, & Thomas another, and the reſt the third, it is not likely, that the Lord would hauehave manifeſted Himſelfe vntounto them. But how is this, that the Diſciples of the Lord, who were ordained and appointed by the Lorde Himſelfe to an higher calling, to the Apoſtleſhip, to be witneſſes and preachers to the world of theſe things which they ſaw and heard of Him, goe to the fiſhing. Might they leaue that high calling, and take themſelues to ſo baſe and contemptible an exerciſe: I anſwere, that heerein they doe nothing amiſſe: for albeit they were appointed and deſigned by the Lord to be Apoſtles, yet in effect they were not as yet Apoſtles, they had not entered to that calling, neither were they meete for it, vntill the time that they were endued with power from on high, and before they had receiued the Holy Spirit in the forme of firie and clouen tongues in the day of the Pentecoſte. And further, what fault was it, albeit they had entred to their office of the Apoſtleſhip, that they ſhould bee exerciſed in an honeſt and lawfull occupation, and ſhould worke with their handes, as we read of the Apoſtle Paul, vvho in ſundrie places profeſſes, that he laboured with his owne hands for his liuing. Read 1. Cor. 4.12. 1. Theſſ. 2.9. 2 Theſſ. 3.8.
Now, when they agree to remaine together, They went their way, and entred into a ſhip ſtraightway, and they goe to take fiſh, and to ſeeke bodily food for themſelues, but the Lord in the meane time, is calling them to a better thing, euen to ſee the Lord, and to enjoy His gracious preſence, which was a great deale better, than all their fiſhing, and all that they could hauehave gained by that exerciſe: and Peter, after that once he knew that it was the LORD which ſpake to them, counted more of His preſence, than of all the huge and great number of fiſhes, that were incloſed within the nette: for hee leaues them all, after that once he knew that it was the Lord that ſpake, and ſhewed Himſelfe preſent vntounto them, yea, he caſtes himſelfe into the Sea, and hazardes his life, to the end he may come ſpeedily and ſoone vntounto the Lord. The Lord, who euer hath a regarde of His owne, makes all their actions, and their ſufferings, to tend to their vvell and comfort, yea, to ſerue and further them to eternall life. When thou goeſt to performe any thing, vvhen thou addreſſeſt thy ſelfe to any worke vvhat euer it be, vvhether it be husbandrie, fiſhing, marchandiſe, or any other exerciſe, I giuegive thee my counſell, endeuoure euer to entertaine in thy ſoule a ſenſe and perſwaſion of the louelove of God, and if thou ſo doeſt, thou ſhalt finde, that when the members of thy body are exerciſed in their labour, that thy ſoule likewiſe ſhall make a progreſſe ſtraightway to Heauen. Well, they goe to the fiſhing, but vvhat ſucceſſe hauehave they at the firſt? Not very great, their ſucceſſe was very ſlender: for it is ſaid, That night they caught nothing. How came this to paſſe? Was it through their vnskilfulnes? No, it was by the ſecret prouidence and direction of God, who often times delayes the ſucceſſe of the labours of His owne, and will not anſwere their expectation at the firſt, to the ende, that in His owne appointed time He may giuegive it more aboundantly to their greater cōfort: for this is the Lordes accuſtomed dealing vvith His owne children, Of ſet purpoſe He vvill diſappoint them for a time, to their greater benefit and comfort thereafter. When Paul vvrites to Philemon concerning his ſeruant Oneſimus, vvho had fled away from him, he ſayes, It may be that he hath departed for a ſeaſon, that thou mighteſt receiue him for euer. Next, the Lord vſes to diſappoint the hope of His own for a ſeaſon, becauſe that ſerues more to the glory of God, than if they got it at the firſt time: for vvhen men finde a proſperous ſucceſſe in all their vvayes, and all thinges anſwering to their deſire, ſcarcely doe they conſider and diſcerne Gods bleſſing: yea, manie times it comes to paſſe, that in ſuch caſes men aſcribe the praiſe of all to themſelues, to their owne vviſedome, their trauels and laboures; they flatter themſelues, & ſacrifice to their owne nette: But vvhen they ſee themſelues, notwithſtanding of all their trauels, diſappointed of their hope, and thereafter finde a bleſſing and good ſucceſſe; then they plainly diſcerne, that all things proceed from the bleſſing and fauourable prouidence of God, and therfore giues to the Lord the praiſe and glory of all. Laſt, vvhen He delayes the ſucceſſe vvhichwhich His owne hope for in their laboures, Hee giues them a faire recompence for the vvant of the temporall benefit for a ſeaſon, and He giues them a ſpirituall benefit to their ſoule: for vvhen thereafter He giues them a ſucceſſe, He makes them to ſee His bleſſing, and opens their heartes, and looſes their mouthes, to ſounde His praiſe, vvhichwhich is better than any earthly benefit that can be beſtowed vponupon man. When the Diſciples had long laboured without ſucceſſe, at laſt the Lord comes, for th'Euangeliſt ſayes, When the morning was nowe come, Ieſus ſtood on the Sea ſhore. Howbeit the Lord vvill long abſent Himſelfe from His own, and giuegive them no ſenſible bleſſing in their trauels, yet at the laſt hee vvill come in his owne due time to their great comfort.
Nowe the time is marked vvhen the Lord comes, to vvit, in the morning: hee tarries away all the night, and comes in the morning. The Scripture compares the time in the vvhichwhich vvee liue vvithout Chriſt, vntounto the darke night: for as in the night no man can vvalke, nor be exerciſed in the vvorke of his calling, no more can any man vvithout Chriſt vvalke in the vvay of ſaluation, nor doe anie thing acceptable to God. Againe, his preſence and comming is compared to the morning; for as in the morning, vvhen the Sunne riſes, men may ſee the way, and walke in the way, and bee exerciſed in the workes of their calling. So when CHRIST, that Daye-ſtarre beginnes to ariſe, that Sunne of Righteouſneſſe beginnes to ſhine v…to the ſoules of His owne, then they ſee the way of ſaluation, and they hauehave courage and pleaſure to walke therein, and to doe the workes of light, which are acceptable vntounto GOD: when Hee is abſent, there is nothing but night and darkneſſe, when He returnes againe, there is light. DAVID ſeemes to allude vntounto this pr…ſence of Chriſt, by His Spirite in the ſoule, when hee ſayes in the xxx. PSALME, verſ. v. Weeping may abide at euening, but …oye commeth in the morning.
Nowe howbeit the Lord ſtood before them on the ſhore, Neuertheleſſe the Diſciples knewe not that it was IESƲS. Howe this comes to paſſe, that they knawe Him not, it is vncertaine, for the cauſe is not ſet downe, neither will wee curiouſlie inquire for it: it may bee, and it is likelie, that their eyes were cloſed that they could not diſcerne and knowe Him, whome otherwiſe they ſawe preſent before them. The example of theſe Diſciples lets vsus ſee what is the naturall diſpoſition of the children of God: They ſought not the Lord fi…ſt, yea, when H…e offers Himſelfe vntounto them, they know Him not. So it is with vsus all by nature, neither can we ſeeke God, neither can wee ſo much as once thinke of the ſeeking of Him, neither when Hee offers Himſelfe vntounto vsus vnſought, can we d…ſcerne Him and knowe Him by nature: Except God by His Spirite preuent vsus, and illuminate the eyes of our mindes, & open our hearts, and make vsus to knowe Him, wee will neuer ſeeke Him, nor knowe Him, but wee ſhall euer remaine in darkneſſe.
Yet albeit they knowe not the Lord, Hee beginnes to ſhew Himſelfe vntounto them, and Hee breakes off conference vntounto them, Sirs, have yee anie meate? And by this ſpeach Hee p…epares them to that good ſucceſſe and bleſſing which He was to giuegive to their trauels: And this Hee does, by bringi…g them to a confeſſion of their want and needfulneſſe: for when hee inquires at them, if they had anie meate, they anſwered him, No. They confeſſe their want: for marke, Brethren, how the Lord will hauehave thy ſoule to bee prepared before Hee communicate His bleſſing. Thy skant, thy neede, and thy pouertie, though it were neuer ſo great, will not doe the turne; it will not mooue the Lord to bleſſe thy trauels, if there be no more: No, Hee requires further of thee, Hee will hauehave thee to acknowledge, to feele, and to confeſſe thy pouertie. The Lord pitties not, but abhorres proude and ſturdie beggers. Hee does to His owne as a louing father does to his ſonne: Albeit the father ſee his ſonne in great pouertie and neede, lacking foode and rayment; yet if hee come proudly and ſtubburnly by the doore & preſence of his father, hee will not know him, nor helpe him, howbeit hee hauehave ſubſtance & wealth enough; vntounto ſuch time as he is humbled and come to himſelfe. Euen ſo the Lord, when wee are in miſerie, in great want and neede, and will not acknowledge nor confeſſe it vntounto Him: He will not know vsus, nor beſtowe His bleſſinges vponupon vsus till we be humbled. Now whē the Lord has prepared them with the confeſſion of their owne want, thereafter He giues them the bleſſing, Caſt out the net on the right ſide of the ſh…p: and thē He promiſes them a good ſucceſſe, for He ſayes, Ye ſhall find. But what needed y• Lord to bid thē caſt out the nets, that they might get fiſhes? Might not the Lord hauehave giuen them fiſh enough without their trauell & labour? Might He not by His omnipotent power hauehave cōmanded the fiſh to hauehave incloſed thēſelues within the nets? Yes no doubt, without their trauell & labour He might hauehave filled the ſhip aboū dantly with fiſh: yet it was His pleaſure & good will yt they ſhould worke & labour, & take paines vponupon thē, firſt before He g…ue them any bleſſing: He would not bleſſe thē with a good ſucceſſe, except they laboured. Further ye may ſee here, how great pleaſure and liking the Lord has to ſee men painful in their calling: for albeit they had bin moleſted & troubled all the night with labouring, yet the Lord will hauehave thē to caſt out their net again in the morning, to the end yt He might giuegive a bleſſing to their trauels. Indeed it is true that Hee deſires not our labour, as if it could ſtād Him in any ſtead: He giues not a ſucceſſe to it as if it merited any thing at His hands: for Hee giues ſucceſſe & increaſe only for His own names ſake, and for His Chriſts ſake, without any merit of ours: for if He had not reſpect to Himſelfe & His Chriſt, if we tooke neuer ſo great paines, we would find but a ſober ſucceſſe. Many find by experience, yt without Him, if they would paine themſelues from morning till euening, they can find no ſucceſſe. Yea, when the Lord withdrawes His bleſſing, the children of God themſelues finde the proofe of this Peter and the reſt of the Diſciples who were with him, toyled and pained themſelues all the night without anie ſucceſſe or profite. Then the cauſe chiefely why the Lord requires our trauell and labour, is becauſe it is an ordinarie meane appointed by Him, whereby we ſhould finde and receiue His bleſſing, and it is a part of our ſeruice and duety that the Lord has appointed to vsus. For when with a ſimple and vpright heart, wee are labouring in our calling, wee are ſeruing the Lord. Therefore Paul charges the ſeruants, to bee obedient to their masters with ſingleneſſe of heart, as vntounto Christ: meaning that in their ſeruice done to their maſters, they ſerue not ſo much men, as Chriſt, Epheſ. 6.5. Now the Diſciples obeyed this commandement of the Lord, for they cast out the net, and they were not able to draw it for the multitude of …iſhes. This their obedience is very commendable: albeit they had bene troubled and wearied all the night, and had caught nothing: yet at the requeſt of a ſtranger, a man whom they knew not, whom they ſuppoſed to be no more but a common man, readilie they yeeld obedience, & cast out the net. And this their readineſſe teſtifies, that they had exceeding great patience & conſtācie in enduring of trauell, notwithſtanding of all their labour & paines preceeding. What was the cauſe of this their patience? Euen partlie becauſe their long labouring and paines that they had taken without any ſucceſſe, had humbled and tamed them: if they got no fiſh, they got a better benefite, they were ſomewhat mortified, and learned patience, partly becauſe they had an hope of a good ſucceſſe, & that the Lord ſhould bleſſe them at the laſt, therefore patientlie they endure in labouring: for we ſee commonly, that hope of vantage will ſuſtaine a man, and cauſe him to endure much trouble & labour. And this hope, if it bee in the Lord, who neuer leaues His owne, makes the patience and enduring of labour to gette a good ſucceſſe. So long as thou liueſt, caſt hope neuer off, if it vvere no more, but becauſe by it thou glo…ifieſt God: for by faith and hope to obtain all good things which are neceſſary either to ſoule or bodie from the handes of the Father of lightes, from whome all good things deſcend, we glorifie Him in the multitude of His mercy. By the example of the Diſciples let vsus learne, that when we hauehave troubled and pained our ſelues very long and find but ſober ſucceſſe of our trauels, at leaſt to be humbled and mortified, and to continue conſtantly in labouring waiting patiently for ye Lords bleſſing: for as ye d…ſciples in the end found a better ſucceſſe than they could hauehave looked for: (They founde the net to bee filled with ſuch a multitude of fiſhes, yt they were not able to draw it) ſo ſhall we find in th'end, yt our patient waiting for ye Lords bleſſing ſhal not be frui…leſſe and without ſucceſſe.
Nowe to goe forwarde. They knewe not the Lord when at His command they caſt the nette into the Sea: but nowe, when they ſee ſuch a marue…lous draught of fiſhes incloſed within their nets, they beginne to conceiue that it was the Lord that ſpake to them. The firſt man who diſcernes Him, is IOHN, who deſcribes himſelfe heere to bee the Diſciple whome the Lord loued: and commonlie he deſcribes himſelfe in the Goſpell by this ſtile, and that becauſe hee found the louelove of God ſpred abroade in his heart by His Holy Spirit in an exceeding great meaſure. IOHN ſaide vntounto PETER, It is the LORD. The thing that makes IOHN to knowe that it was the Lord that ſpake, was the extraordinarie and marueilous ſucceſſe that they found in their trauels: for in that ſucceſſe hee ſawe and conſidered not onelie an exceeding great power, but alſo a wonderfull bountifulneſſe and liberalitie, whereupon hee gathers, that it was the Lord that ſpake vntounto them, and commanded them to caſt out the nette, and directed them in their labour, and made them to gette ſuch ſucceſſe. Learne then heere by IOHNS example, when the Lorde beſtowes His benefites and graces on thee, and when thou ſeeſt His workes, by His workes and benefites to aſcende to God the giuer of them, and in them to acknowledge Him and His eſſentiall properties, His power, His bountifulneſſe, His merciemercy, His prouidence, &c. For if wee weigh rightlie, and deepelie conſider the benefites and workes of God in them, wee will finde as it were a ſeale of the majeſtie of God, of His power, of His merciemercy, of His liberalitie and bountifulneſſe, which ſhould mooue vsus to lift vp our eyes to Heauen, to beholde the Lord, who is the worker and giuer of all, that ſo with chearefulneſſe and pleaſure wee may glorifie Him: for this is our greateſt happineſſe and felicitie to glorifie the majeſtie of our God in all thinges. There are manie, who when as they ſee the wonderous workes of God, and daylie receiue benefites of Him, they ſo reſt vponupon the outwarde workes and benefites, that they neuer aſcende to God, the author and giuer of them, to ſee Him, and to glorifie Him. But miſerable are they who ſo does, what euer they bee: for by ſo doing, they not onelie depriue themſelues of happineſſe, but alſo they turne the bleſſinges of God into a curſe to them.
When IOHN hath informed PETER that it was the Lord, vvhat does PETER? It is ſaide, When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, hee girded his coat to him (for hee was naked) and cast himſelfe into the Sea. He ſhewes a great zeale and forwardneſſe: for in my judgement this doing of PETER proceeded not from fooliſh hardineſſe, and inconſiderate raſhneſſe, but from a true zeale and feruent deſire to meete with the Lord. Nowe, will yee compare IOHN and PETER together, ye will find great diuerſitie of giftes: IOHN knewe the Lord firſt, and that by ſight: PETER knew the Lord next, but by hearing, for IOHN informed him. IOHN was before PETER in faith & knowledge: but PETER, who comes behinde, paſſes IOHN, who was his teacher, & had inſtructed him, for he is more zealous than IOHN was: IOHN exceeded in knowledge, but PETER exceeded in zeale. This lets vsus ſee the trueth of that ſentence of PAVL, One and the ſelfe ſame Spirit worketh all gifts, distributing to eueryevery mā ſeuerally as he willeth, 1. Corinth. 12.11. Euen in the Apoſtles themſelues: for euen among them ſome excelled in one gift, and ſome in another: IOHN excelled in knowledge, and had knowledge of the glorious perſon of Ieſus Chriſt, and namelie, of His diuinitie, as his Euangell declares (for it is full of high myſteries & ſublime doctrine of Chriſt) aboue the reſt of the Apoſtles. PETER excelled in zeale and forwardneſſe, and was more ardent in zeale than the reſt, as wee may reade in the Goſpell: PAVL excelled in labouring, and painfulneſſe in preaching of the Goſpell: for hee ſayes himſelfe, I laboured more aboundantlie than all the Apostles, 1. Corinth. Chap. 15. verſ. 10. The LORD gaue not all graces to anie one of them, but to euerie one ſuch a meaſure of grace as Hee pleaſed: neither had it beene expedient to themſelues, nor ſo profitable to others: It had not beene expedient to themſelues, becauſe it might hauehave beene that they would hauehave comtemned and deſpiſed others in reſpect of themſelues. It had not beene ſo profitable to others, becauſe others would hauehave enuied them for their great perfection of graces. And ſo by this meanes, the bodie of IESVS (euen His Church, which ſhould bee compact and ſtraitlie joyned together) would hauehave beene miſerablie rent aſunder.
On the other part, this inequalitie and diuerſitie of giftes that the Lord giues to men, is a ſpeciall meane to joyne and knitte together the members of the miſticall bodie of CHRIST: for as in the bodie of man the inequalitie and diuerſitie of functions & giftes that are giuen to ſeueral members, joynes and holds together ye mēbers of ye body: euē ſo yt inequality & diuerſity of ſpiritual graces giuen to eueryevery mēber of ye body of Chriſt, eueryevery one hauing neede of the helpe of another, joynes and holdes together the members, to make vp one compact bodie. Rea…e of this in the firſt Epistle of Sainct Paul to the Corinthians, Chap. 12. verſ. 24.25.
Nowe I ſhall onelie marke one thing, and ſo I ſhall ende: All the night preceeding, when the Lord Ieſus was abſent, Johns faith and Peters zeale were languiſhing and dwining: but in the morning when Chriſt returnes, both Johns faith and Peters zeale beginne to reuiue, and to gette newe ſtrength and vigour. Whereof we may learne, that this grace of faith, knowledge, and zeale, is wakened and raiſed vp by Chriſt, who is the onelie matter and object of them: for our faith and knowledge proceedes of His gracious light, which ſhines in our darke ſoules: Our zeale proceedes from the Spirite of Chriſt, who by His comming kindleth a burning fire in our heartes, and makes vsus to burne with zeale, who before were colde in the ſeruice of God. PAVL ſayes, God that commanded light to ſhine out of darkneſſe, is Hee, who hath ſhined in our heartes, to giuegive the light of the knowledge of the glorie of God in the face of Ieſus Christ. 2. Cor. Chap. 4. verſ. 6. The wordes import, that all faith and knowledge of God that wee hauehave, is by looking vntounto the face of Ieſus: For when wee looke vntounto His face, the beames of that glorie which ſhines in it, is conueyed into our ſoules, and lighteneth them, and ſo workes faith and knowledge in them. And when wee ſhall gette a full ſight, and ſee Him as Hee is clearelie face to face, then wee ſhall bee like to Him in glorie: for His glorie ſhall transforme vsus into this ſame image from glorie to glorie, 2. Cor. cap. 3. verſ. 18.
Then ſeeing that no grace can either bee wrought or entertained in the ſoule, without the preſence of the Lord Ieſus, and the beholding of His countenance, wee ſhould bee carefull conſtantlie to looke to His face, and beholde His glorie in the mirrour of the worde, ſo long as wee are in this pilgrimage, that ſo hereafter wee may ſee Him face to face, and ſo bee made partakers of His glorie, which Hee hath purchaſed to all them that louelove Him by the ſhedding of His owne blood. To Him, therefore, with the Father and the Holie Spirite, bee all praiſe and glorie:
AMEN.