The Passion Resurrection and Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Lecture 49
THE XLIX. LECTVRE, OF THE RESVRRECTION OF CHRIST.
IOHN, CHAP. XXI.
verse 8 But the other Diſciples came by ſhippe, (for they were not farre from land, but about two hundreth cubites) and they dr…we the nette with fiſhes.
verse 9 As ſoone then as they were come to land, they ſawe hote coales, and fiſh layed thereon, and bread.
verse 10 Ieſus ſaide vntounto them, Bring of the fiſhes, which yee hauehave nowe caught.
verse 11 Simon Peter ſtepped foorth, and drewe the nette to lande, full of great fiſhes, an hundreth, fiftie and three: and albeit there were ſo manie, yet was not the nette broken.
verse 12 Ieſus ſaide vntounto them, Come, and dine. And none of the Diſciples durst aske him, Who art thou, ſeeing they knewe that hee was the Lord.
verse 13 Ieſus then came, and tooke bread, and gaue them, and fiſh likewiſe.
verse 14 This is now the third time that Ieſus ſhewed himſelfe to his Diſciples▪ after that hee was riſen againe from the dead.
IN this ſeuenth appearing of Chriſt (Beloued Brethren in the Lord) wee hauehave ſpoken alreadie of the place of His appearing, to vvit, at the Sea of Tiberias: and vve hauehave ſpoken of the perſons to vvhome Hee appeared, vvho vve…e ſeuen in number: the Lord by His ſecret prouidence gathered them together, and kept them together, (albeit ſome vv…uld hauehave ſu…dered from the r…ſt) to the ende the Lord might ſhew Himſelfe v…to them being aſſembled together in one place. W…e hau… ſpoken of their exerciſe, how they vvere fiſhi…g but got little ſucceſſe howbeit they had laboured all the night. We told you alſo of the Lords appearing to them, He ſhewes Himſelfe to them in the morning, and finding yt they had caught nothing, Hee biddes them caſt out the net on the right ſide of the ſhippe: we ſhew you their obedience, albeit they knew Him not, & thought that He had bene a ſtranger, yet vponupon hope of a good ſucceſſe, they caſt out the net. We hauehave heard what ſucceſſe the Lord gaue to this their obedience, the net was ſo filled with fiſhes, that they were not able to drawe it: And laſt, we hauehave heard, how Iohn knew Him firſt, and tolde Peter, and how Peter vponupon a feruent zeale to meete with the Lord, caſts Himſelfe into the Sea, and hazardes his life. Nowe this day, by Gods grace, we ſhall follow out the reſt of the Hiſtorie of this appearing of Chriſt, as namely, how the Diſciples did meete vvith the Lord, and how when they came to the land, miraculouſly they ſaw fiſhes laide on hote coales, and what was the Lords conference and dealing with them, and vvhat vvas the behauiour of Peter, and the reſt of the Diſciples. But to come to the wordes: when Peter had caſt himſelfe into the Sea, and came to the Lord, what doe the reſt of the Diſciples? Are they altogether careleſſe? HaueHave they not alſo a deſire to meete vvith the Lord? Yes, they hauehave a deſire, and they came to the Lord, albeit not ſo ſoone as Peter, For they came by ſhip, for they were not far from land, but about two hundreth cubits. Albeit they came not all ſo ſoone as Peter, yet at the laſt, they al come to ye Lord as vvell as Peter, for they vvere not deſtitute of grace no more than Peter: as zeale caried Peter to ye Lord, ſo Faith & knowledge brings and leades the reſt to the Lord: Peters zeale mooued him to come more ſpeedily, ſuddenly & haſtily to the Lord, but their Faith and knowledge, brought Iohn & the reſt alſo to the Lord, for ſuch is the force of Faith, that albeit it hauehave not ay ſuch feruent zeale accompanying it, as vvas the zeale of Peter, yet at laſt it will leade & conuey a man vntounto Chriſt. Striue aboue all thinges to hauehave Faith, and ſeeke it dayly of the Lord: for if thou hauehave Faith in Chriſt, not only ſhalt thou get a comfortable ſight of Him, heere in thy ſoule, but alſo thou ſhalt ſee Him hereafter face to face: & by the contrarie, if thou want Faith▪ if thou hauehave it not in ſome meaſure, thou ſhalt neuer get a ſight of God to thy comfort: for as the Apoſtle ſayes, Without holineſſ… no man ſhall ſee the Lord, Heb. 12.14 (If thou be not holy, thou ſh…lt never ſee Heaven) ſo ſay I, Without Faith, thou ſhalt neuer ſ…e God, if thou hauehave not Faith, thou ſhal… neuer come to Heauen, Mocke Faith and holineſſ…, as ye pleaſe the Lord ſh… … …ſie this one day, vvithout Faith & holineſſe the gates of Heauen ſhalbe cloſed vponupon thee, thou ſhalt neuer get no portion of life nor glory.
Nowe vvhile the Diſciples are comming to the Lord, They are drawing the net with the fiſhes: Compare this doing of theirs vvith the doing of Peter, & ye vvill ſee, both doe vvell, albeit the manner be diuerſe: Peter left the net, & all ye fiſhes behind, & ſwimmed out haſtily & ſpeedily to meet ye Lord, Iohn & the reſt drawing after them the net full of fiſhes, come to ye Lord, both doe vvell, both their doings are commendable: for zeale ſo caried Peter yt not only he cared not for ye net & the fiſhes, but alſo he hazarded his life, that hee might come to ye Lord: Iohn & the reſt of ye Diſciples, as they knew ye Lord Himſelfe, ſo they eſteeme highly of that benefite vvhichwhich the Lord powerfully & louingly had beſtowed vpō them, as a pledge of His fauour: & therfore they were not careleſſe of the benefite, they miſregarded it not, but they thought it meet, to carrie it with them▪ for His cauſe who had vouchſafed it on them, & ſo both ye one & the other are worthy of praiſe: & hereof we may learne this leſſon: The actions of ye Children of God, wherein they are exerciſed according to ye gift that ye Lord hath diſtributed to eueryevery one, albeit they be very farre different one from another, yet they are all in ſome ſort good & worthy of their owne praiſe, becauſe eueryevery one of them helpes another: for as it is with the giftes & faculties, ſo it is with the actions & operations proceeding from them. Now the gifts & faculties are diuerſe, & yet all are for the well of the body, & eueryevery one of them ſupplies the want of another yea euen ye meaneſt gifts helpe the greateſt, the gift of the foot helpes the gift of the hand▪ and of the eye: Euen ſo, the actions and operations ſlowing from the gifts, ſerue for the well and commoditie of the whole body, & eueryevery one of them ſupplies the want and inlake that is in another, the leaſt may helpe the greateſt in ſome thing that it wants. Ye ſee a proofe of this heere, in the actions & doings of the Apoſtles. Peter left the net, the fiſhes, and all behinde him▪ that hee might cor…e haſtily vntounto the Lord, the thing that in…a…ed in him, the reſt ſupplied, they bring the b…nefite with them, the fiſhes that the Lord had ſent them. Again, albeit that Iohn & ye reſt brought y• fiſhes with them that ye Lo…d gaue th…m as a pledge of …is louelove, yet they were ſomewhat ſlo…e▪ they …a…e… not, as Peter did to come to the …ord: now Pet…r helpe… them in this wa…, for by hi… zeale and forwardneſſe, he ſtirred them v… & prouoked them to a godly e…ulat on.
Wee muſt not incontinently deſpiſe and reject the particular actions of eueryevery one of the children of God, becauſe they are not perfect in all reſpects: for the Lord will not beſtow all gifts at once to eueryevery faithfull man, but wee ſhould conſider all the actions of all the children of GOD gathered together, as it were in a maſſe, and one heape, and ſo, becauſe eueryevery one helpes and ſupplies the want of another, to the well of the whole, we ſhall finde a perfection.
Now, when by ſhip drawing the net with the fiſhes after them, they come to land: What falles out? What finde they? They find a miraculous worke: for it is ſaid, As ſoone then as they were come to land, they ſaw hoat coales, and fiſh laide thereon, and bread. Where euer they came, they ſawe miracles: when they were on the Sea, they found a miraculous multitude of fiſhes incloſed in the net: when they come to the lande, they found another miracle, a fire, and all furniture for their dinner, extraordinarily prepared without the hand of man. No queſtion, theſe things were done by the extraordinarie working and diſpenſation of GOD, to the end, that not only they might aſſuredly know, that the Lord was riſen againe, but likewiſe, that when they conſidered His marueilous and extraordinarie power, they might be perſwaded, that He who roſe from the dead, was not only man, but alſo God: for theſe His vvonderous workes bare witneſſe, that the Godhead dwelt in Him bodily, Iohn ſayes, We ſaw His glorie, as the glory of the only begotten Sonne of God, Ioh. 1.14. How ſaw we this glorie? How diſcerned he it: Euen by theſe & many other ſuch wondrous works: & indeed, it had done them litle good to hauehave knowen, that Chriſt was riſen againe, except they had beene aſſured, that He who roſe vvas God, the Sonne of God, if they had not knowen this, the knowledge of His Reſurrection had not bene ſteadable to Saluation.
Nowe it vvould bee marked, that he ſayes, when they come to land, They ſaw fiſh laide on the coales, and bread. This was for their ſuſtentation: So the Lord manifeſted not only His power in the miracle, but likewiſe His louelove in feeding of them, to the end, that they ſhould not reſt & cōtent themſelues with marueiling at His power, but that vponupon th… conſideration of His g…eat louelove▪ they ſhould be mooued to louelove Him againe intierely, & to put their truſt in Him. Indeede, vve ought to vvonder at the gloriouſneſſe of the perſon the Lord, and at His extraordinarie and maruellous power, for He is, as the Prophet Eſay 9.6 calles Him Wonderfull, but vve ſhould ſo maruell at His power, that in ye meane time vve end…uoure to hauehave a ſenſe of His louelove, that vve may louelove Him againe, & put our truſt in Him: for without the ſenſe of His louelove, our maruelling & vvondering at Him, vvill doe vsus litle good.
Now, let vsus come to the Lords conference vvith the Diſciples, Ieſus ſaide vntounto them, Bring of the fiſhes, which yee hauehave nowe caught. The Lord breakes off firſt the conference: for they carried ſuch a reuerence to the Lord, that they vvould not preſume once to ſpeake: for as the preſence of the Lord vvorketh Faith, and louelove in the ſoule, ſo it vvorkes feare and reuerence of His Majeſtie, if thou vvanteſt feare and reuerence to His Majeſtie, thou neuer foundeſt His preſence in thy ſoule. Now vvhen Hee bids them, Bring of the fiſhes which they had caught, He demands an accompt of the benefite vvhichwhich He had beſtowed on them, and ſo Hee ſhewes, that it vvas not His vvill that raſhly & vnaduiſedly they ſhould hauehave caſt away the benefite vvherewith He had bleſſed them, albeit it vvas but an earthly bleſsing: and hereby vve may ſee, that the fact of Iohn, and the other Diſciples vvas vvorthie of praiſe, vvho left not the fiſhes behind them, but drew the net full of fiſhes to the land.
Againe, it is worthie to be marked, that he aſcribeth the taking of the fiſhes which Hee had encloſed in the net, and freely giuen them to their trauels & labours: for He ſayes, Bring of the f…ſhes which ye hauehave now caught. This forme of ſpeaking, lets vsus ſee, how well the Lord likes, & how highly He counts of the labours which His own Children vndertake at His cōmandement: for albeit we be altogether vnprofitable ſeruants, when we hauehave done all that we can do, Luke 17.10. and all our labours be not ſteadable to Him, nor profitable in thē …elues, yet ſuch is His louelove & fauour towards His own, that both He commends them as profitable ſeruants, & allowes of their workes as ſteadable, and this He does, to the end He may encourage vsus as His children, not to wearie, but to goe forward in well doing: for it is neceſſarie that we be exerciſed in well doing, & go forward in good works: for God hath ordained that we ſhould walke in them, Epheſ. 2.10 that without them it is vnpoſsible to attaine vntounto eternal… life In like maner, when freely He crownes His grace into vsus, Hee calles that crowne, a reward, as if we had d…ſerued it by our labours: for the Lorde vſes to deale with vsus, as a louing father deales vvith His Children, the father will make much of his ſonne, & allure him, & promiſe him an hyre, to moue him to do that thing that he is obliged to do of duty: ſo the Lord dates and allures vsus, and calles the thing which Hee giues vsus freelie, an hyre and rewarde, to the ende, that Hee may encourage vsus to goe forwardes in vvell-doing. Likewiſe, in that perfect forme of prayer vvhichwhich the Lord hath taught vsus, Hee calles that bread which Hee biddes vsus craue from GOD, our bread: as though GOD vvere indebted to giuegive it vntounto vsus, and as if vve had a right vntounto it: vvhichwhich neuertheleſſe vve craue from God as appertaining to Him & not to vsus: yet He teaches vsus to call it our bread, albeit vve hauehave no right to it, to teſtifie His fatherly louelove & fauour towardes vsus. When the Papiſts heare any thing aſcribed to our laboures, & vvhen they heare a rewarde named in the Scriptures; then incontinent they conclude, That vvee merite it at GODS hand. But they deceaue themſelues: for as the Lord aſcribes heere the taking of the fiſhe, vvhichwhich vvas His benefite, and bleſſing vntounto their laboures, vvhichwhich they vndertooke at His commandement. So after this ſame manner, and no otherwiſe, Hee vſes to call that a rewarde vvhichwhich Hee giues vsus freelie, to the ende Hee may encourage vsus vvith the greater pleaſure to doe His vvill.
Nowe let vsus come to the obedience to this cōmandement of the Lord. As ſoone as Peter heares the Lord bidding them bring of the fiſhes which they had caught, incontinent hee ſtepped foorth, and drewe the nette to land, full of great fiſhes, an hundreth, fift…e and three. Hee is verie readie to obeye. Before, vvhen firſt hee vnderſtoode that it vvas the LORDE, hee vvas carried vvith ſuch a feruent zeale to meete vvith the LORDE, that hee left the nette, fiſhes, and all behinde him. Nowe vvhen hee heares the LORD commanding to bring the fiſhes, there is none of them ſo bent and readie to obeye. Which lettes vsus ſee, that vvhen PETER left all, and caſt himſelfe into the Sea, to meete the LORDE, hee deſpiſed not, neither miſregarded the benefite of the fiſhes, vvhichwhich the LORDE gaue the DISCIPLES. So learne in this example of PETER vvhat is the diſpoſition and behauiour of a ſanctified and holie perſon: for a ſeaſon hee vvill bee rauiſhed and (as it vvere) tranſported, aboue all the pleaſures and outwarde comfortes of the vvorlde: and he vvill bee ſo ſette vponupon the meditation and thinking of thoſe thinges vvhichwhich are ſpirituall, and to enjoye the preſence of the LORD, that ſcarcelie vvill hee once ſo much as hauehave any thought of them, becauſe he countes himſelfe to be a Citizen of the Kingdome of Heauen. Againe, when hee knowes that it is the Lords will, that he ſhould be exerciſed the time of his pilgrimage heere in ſome earthly calling, hee is content to returne backe againe, and to put his hand to worke, exerciſing him in his owne calling, yet in the meane time, when his hande is working, his heart is in Heauen where his treaſure is, when he is exerciſed in his calling, his conuerſation is aboue: and as Paul ſpeakes of him: Hee vſes the world, as though hee vſed it not, 1. Cor. 7.31. That is, When he is exerciſed in worldly things, he hath not his heart fixed on the world: for that is the right vſing of the world: for that man that hath his heart fixed on the world, when he is occupied in a worldly calling, he abuſes the world. If euer in all thine actions thine heart bee glewed to the vvorlde, and thine affections teddered to the earth, if thou hauehave no pleaſure to thinke of Heauen and heauenly thinges, thou mayeſt take that for a ſure token, that as yet thou art not called to the participation of grace.
Nowe, when Peter drawes the net with an hundreth, fiftie and three great fiſhes in it, the Euangeliſt markes, that Albeit they were ſo many, yet was not the nette broken. No queſtion, as the taking of ſo many fiſhes, the hote coales, & fiſh laide thereon, with bread, was effectuate, as ye heard by the ſecret, extraordinarie & miraculous prouidence of God, ſo was this alſo: and all was to this end, that the Diſciples might ſee, that the Godhead dwelt in Him bodily, and that the Godhead, which before the Paſsion, was obſcured, and kept the ſelfe cloſe, did nowe vtter the ſelfe gloriouſly. When Peter hath drawen the net vvith the fiſh, to the land, The Lord ſaide vntounto them, Come and dine. In the former doings, ye hauehave heard, Hee vttered His Godhead, now heere by His familiar and accuſtomed forme of doing, He makes it manifeſt, that Hee vvas man alſo. Yee hauehave heard before, that by the actions of eating and drinking, He prooued, that Hee was not a Spirit, but a man, Luke 24.39. And as Hee is carefull to enforme their mindes, and by theſe actions to perſwade them, that He is both God and man: ſo likewiſe He hath a care of their bodies, and of the ſuſtentation of this temporall life. He knew that by their long & painfull trauell, they were both wearied and hungrie, and had great need of refreſhment, the Lord had a care of this, and Hee feedes them as it were with His owne hand: ſo that at one time, both their ſoules and their bodies are fedde by Him: and this ſhould be thy care, that when thou findeſt that the Lord feedes thy body, and hath a care of this temporall life, that thou alſo ſtriue to finde, that the Lord feedes thy ſoule, & hath a care to bring thee vntounto eternall life. And, indeede, if thou receiueſt theſe temporall benefites which ſerue for the ſuſtentation of thy body with thankeſgiuing and prayer, thou wilt finde, that when the Lord feedes thy body, He feedes alſo thy ſoule.
Now, the Euangeliſt markes by the way, interrupting the Hiſtorie, That none of the Diſciples durſt aske Him, Who art thou, ſeeing they knew that H…e was the Lord. No queſtion, the Euangeliſts ſets downe theſe wordes, partly to let vsus ſee, what great reuerence they caried to the Lord, while they ſate at table with Him, and partly, to let vsus ſee, how full and ſure perſwaſion they had, that it was the Lord, for he telles the cauſe, why they durſt not aske Him, who He was, becauſe They knewe that He was the Lord, and it had bene too great boldneſſe and impudencie in them, to hauehave asked that at the Lord which they knewe well enough, and the Lord had reueiled Himſelfe to them ſufficiently before, and now alſo. By this behauiour of the Diſciples, wee may marke what is the nature of Faith, and the force and effect of it in the regenerate man: it is not vnreuerent, but thinkes reuerently of the Lord, whome it apprehends: it is not impudent and ſhameleſſe, but humble and ſhamefaſt: it is not immoderate, it paſſes not meaſure, but it is moderate, and conteines the ſelfe within bounds and meaſure: that is, it is not euermore curiouſly ſeeking many and new reuelations, but it is content with that meaſure, that the Lord hath reueiled: By the contrarie, looke to the nature of infidelitie: it is euer vnreuerent toward GOD, impudent and immoderate: it is neuer content with that meaſure of reuelations, which the Lord hath giuen, but it is euer curiouſly out of meaſure, ſeeking new reuelations: and what if it were for any good end, what if it were, to learne and grow better, then it were ſomewhat more excuſable, but it is all to this ende, that either it may tempt the Majeſtie of God, or els to ſatisfie the immoderate and vnſatiable curioſitie: wee may ſee the example of theſe fruites of infidelitie in ſundrie perſons: as in the Iewes, who as Dauid ſayes, oft times tempted the Lord in the Wilderneſſe by their infidelitie, but chiefly in the Scribes and Phariſes, they euer tempted the LORD: for albeit both by His Word and doctrine, and alſo by His diuine workes and miracles, Hee had ſufficiently reueiled Himſelfe vntounto them, and albeit alſo, they had beene conuicted in their conſcience, that Hee was the Meſsias, yet notwithſtanding of all this, they continue ſtill in tempting of Him, and they ſay, Maſter, we deſire to ſee a ſigne of thee, Matth. Chapter 12. verſe 38. But the LORD anſwered them, An euill and adulierous generation ſeekes a ſigne, but no ſigne ſhall be giuen to it, but the ſigne of the Prophet Ionah. The Papists this day, are very like the Scribes and Phariſes, they cannot be content with that meaſure of reuelation which the LORD hath giuen vsus in the Scriptures, and namely, in the Newe Teſtament, wherein the Myſterie of CHRIST, and the doctrine of Saluation is fully and clearly ſet downe (a clearer reuelation than is there ſet downe ſhall we neuer finde, vntill the LORD come in the cloudes, to judge the world) they cannot be content with all the Miracles, which wee reade wrought in the Olde and Newe Teſtaments, by the Prophets, by the Lord Himſelfe and the Apoſtles, but they are euer ſeeking for new and extraordinarie reuelations, they are ſeeking vnwritten verities (which may be cal…ed vanities, they are euer ſeeking newe miracles and ſuch other toyes and dreames, they can neuer bee content: But wee may anſwere them, as the LORD anſwered the Phariſes: They ſhall get no moe ſignes nor reuelations than they hauehave gotten, alreadie: they are too bold and impudent, after that the LORD hath ſufficiently reueiled Himſelfe, to ſ…eke for new reuelations. This their doing teſtifies ſufficiently, that they hauehave no Faith: for faith is reuerent▪ ſhamefaſt and moderate, keeping the ſelfe within the bounds of Gods reueiled will: but by the contrarie, it beares witneſſe of their infidelitie: for this impudencie and immoderate ſeeking of newe miracles and reuelations are fruites of infidelitie.
But a queſtion may bee mooued vponupon theſe wordes: When hee ſayes: And none of the Diſciples durſt aske Him, Who art thou, ſeeing they knew that Hee was the LORD. Is it vnlawfull for vsus to ſeeke increaſe and growth of knowledge? Yea, are we not commanded to ſeeke it dayly? Sayes not the LORD, Seeke, and ye ſhall finde: aske, and it ſhall bee giuen you: knocke, and it ſhall bee opened vntounto you? Luke Chapter 11. verſe 9. Yea, is it not ſaide, The violent take the Kingdome of Heauen by force, Matth. Chap. 11. verſ. 12. And doth not the Lord recommend importunitie and earneſtneſſe in crauing, by the Parable of the widowe, who importunated the vnrighteous Iudge? To this I anſwere: It is lawfull, indeede, to ſeeke continually the increaſe and growth of knowledge, as well as of all other ſpirituall graces: yea, it is a thing that the Lord recommends vntounto vsus & commands. But of what knowledge ſhould we ſeeke the increaſe? Only the knowledge of theſe thinges that are reueiled and ſet downe in the Olde and New Teſtament: it is the Lords will, that wee euer grow in knowledge of theſe thinges, and that we goe from knowledge to knowledge. But this increaſe of knowledge is farre different from curioſitie in ſeeking new reuelations, beſides the thinges that are reueiled in the writes of the Prophets and the Apoſtles. The Lord likes well growth of knowledge, but Hee miſlikes curioſitie: yea, I ſay to thee, if thou ſeekeſt a clearer and more ample reuelation, than that which is alreadie ſet downe in the Olde and New Teſtament, thou offendeſt highly the Majeſtie of God: for by ſo doing thou denieſt that Chriſt when Hee came into the world, brought with Him a full and perfect reuelation of all things neceſſarie. Read what the Apoſtle Paul ſayes, Rom. 10.6.
Now, to end ſhortly: In the laſt wordes of our Text, wee hauehave ſet downe the Concluſion of this appearing of Chriſt, whereof we hauehave ſpoken, wherein hee telles, that it was the third in number: for hee ſayes, This nowe is the third time, that Ieſus ſhewed Himſelfe vntounto His Diſciples, after He was raiſed againe from the dead. I thinke he calles it the third in number, not abſolutely, but in reſpect of the Diſciples, and ſo the words import: for it is ſaid, This is the third time that He ſhewed Himſelfe vntounto His Diſciples: for if we number preciſely the particular appearing of Chriſt after His Reſurrection vntounto this time, whereof wee hauehave any mention made in the Scripture, we will finde that this is the eight in number, He ſhewed Himſelfe firſt to Marie Magdalene: Next, to other certaine women: Thirdly, to the two Apoſtles, who were going to Emmaus: Fourthly, to Simon Peter: Fifthly, to lames, as we may read, 1. Cor. 15.6. Sixtly, to the Diſciples aſſembled together in Ieruſalem, Thomas only being abſent: Seuenthly, to the ſame Diſciples aſſembled together, Thomas beeing preſent with them: Eightly, He appeared vntounto theſe ſ…uen, at this time when they were fiſhing. Nowe it was not without cauſe, that the Lord reueiled Himſelfe ſo oft after Hee roſe againe. No queſtion Hee did it not onelyonly to confirme the Diſciples of the trueth of His Reſurrection, but alſo for our cauſe, that wee might hauehave ſtedfaſt faith, and full aſſurance, that Hee is riſen againe for our comfort, And it is the Lords will, that when wee reade, that there were ſo many that ſaw Him with their eyes, heard Him, ſpake with Him, handeled Him, and haunted with Him, wee ſhould bee fully perſwaded and aſſured of His Reſurrection. But I will not inſiſt in this matter, becauſe I hauehave ſpoken of it alreadie. Nowe ſeeing the Lord has had ſuch a great care of our faith, that by beleeuing we might hauehave comfort, ſeeing ſo oft times, and to ſo manie Hee appeared, the LORD make theſe meanes effectuall, to worke and to encreaſe faith in vsus, that both in our life, and eſpeciallie in the houre of death, wee may hauehave matter of rejoycing in Him: To vvhome, vvith the Father, and the Holie Spirit, bee all praiſe and honour, AMEN.