Exposition of the Dominical Epistles and Gospels, Section 17
The Gospel. MATTH. 8.23.
And when he entred into a ship, his Disciples followed him, &c.
SAint Matthew reports in this scripture two miracles, one wrought by Christ in the water, another on the land.
The first is both an Historie.
The first is both an Mysterie.
The word of God is a pHeb. 4.12.two edged sword; hauing one edge, saith qLib. contra Praxeam.Tertullian, in the sense of the matter; and an other in the sound of the words; or (as rIn Augustin. lib. 14. de Ciuit. cap. 12.Ludouicus Viues obserueth) being sharpe in a literall exposition, and sharp in an allegoricall sense. Most Interpreters therefore note that the ship heere mentioned, is a type of the sConsule Luther. Melancth. Latymer. Culman. in loc.Church militant, tossed in the world, tVide Pontan. in loc.which is most like the sea with stormes of persecution, vntill Christ the Master of the ship (who seemes to sleepe for a time) doth awake by the prayers of passengers, and makes a calme.
In the storie two things are to be considered especially: the shipping of Christ
In the storie two things are to be considered especially: the sailing of Christ.
In his shipping two points obseruable:
1. That he entred himselfe.
2. That his Disciples followed him.
In the sailing two principall occurrences are to bee noted also: the
raging of a tempest.
stilling of a tempest.
The tempest is said here to be Sudden; Behold there arose.
The tempest is said here to be Great: so that the ship was couered with waues; and Christ (who was to comfort, and help all) was asleepe.
In the stilling of the tempest, foure things are regardable:
1. Christ awaketh: His Disciples came, and awoke him, saying, Master saue vsus, &c.
2. The Disciples are rebuked: Why are ye fearfull, O ye of little faith?
3. The tempest calmed: He rebuked the windes and the sea.
4. The beholders of this miracle wondred, saying, What manner of man is this, &c.
Iesus entred into a ship.] As the superstitious uD. Fulk in 1. Tim. 2.5.Papists in latter daies, assigned seuerall Saints for seuerall seruices; as Apollonia for the toothach; for hogs, S. Anthony; for horses, S. Loy; for Souldiers, S. Maurice; for Seamen, S. Nicholas, &c. so the grosse idolatrous Heathen in old time, marshalled their gods into seuerall rankes, allotting Heauen for Iupiter, Hell for Pluto, the Sea for Neptune.
Christ therefore to shew their xGran…t. Dom. 3. post. octau. Epiphan. con. 2.vanitie, and to manifest himselfe to be the sole Commander of the world; so soone as he had wrought miracles on the land in healing the leper, vers. 3. in curing the Centurions seruant, vers. 13. in casting out diuels, vers. 16. in helping al that were sick, vers. 17. he comes now (saith yHom. 6. in di… script. loc.Origen) to shew wonders on the sea.
Wee neede not then exhibit supplications either vntounto the no gods of the Gentiles, or moe gods of the Papists, importuning the virgin Mary for eueryevery thing, zErasmus colloq. de peregrinat. Religionis ergó.as if her sonne Iesus were still a babe, not able to helpe. For if we be schollers, he is our saint Gregorie the God of aDan. 2.20.wisedome; if souldiers, he is our Mars the God of bEsay. 3.1.hosts: if wee desire to liue in quietnesse, he is the God of cHeb. 13.20.peace: if mariners, he is our Nicholas and Neptune, that enters into the ship, and calmes the tempest. dPsal. 139.7.If we ascend vp into heauen, hee is there; if we descend downe into hell, he is there also; if wee take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the v…termost parts of the sea, yet thither shall his hand lead vsus, and his right hand hold vsus: hauing all power ouer all things in all places, and doing whatsoeuer hee will▪ in heauen, earth, sea. Psalm. 139.6.
Saint Mat. vers. 18. of this chapter, and saint Marke, cap. 4. vers. 36. intimate another reason why Christ entred into the ship; namely, to shun the multitudes of people; for as the sunne, though a most glorious creature, eOnid.oculus mundi, the worlds eye, is regarded little, because it shineth eueryevery day; so ministers, the fMatth. 5.14.light of the world, are eclipsed much by the grosse interposition of earth. It is true that familiaritie breeds contempt, and as true, gBernard. ser. 2 de Resurrectione Domini.cuius persona despicitur, eius praedicatio contemnitur; and therefore hSoarez tract. 3. in 8. Matth.clergie men, as Christ heere, must vponupon occasions often withdraw themselues à turbâ turbulentâ.
Bartholomaeus Ang…icus mentioneth a lake in Ireland, in which if a staffe be pight, iDe propri…tatibus …erum, lib. 15. cap. 80.and tarieth any long time therein, the part that is in the earth, is turned to iron, and the part in the water to stone, onelyonly the part aboue the water remaines in his own kind. So it is with Aarons rod, and with the crozier staffe; if it sticke long in the common puddle, it will not diuide the waters aright, but become so rusty as iron, so stonie as flint; onelyonly that rod is like it selfe which is aboue the waters, aboue the streame, aboue the people. The vulgar is like tapestrie, the further, the fairer, but the neerer you come, the worse they are. He that is pinned as a cognosance to the towne coate, and depends vponupon the common sleeue, kScaliger.pendet magis, arbore quam qui pendet ab al…â, is as base as a signe that hangs on a painted maypole. Paul then had good cause to desire that he might be deliuered from lThess. 3.2. foreign.vnreasonable men; and Christ here to decline troublesome troopes, entring into a ship with his disciples.
Our Sauiour Christ could hauehave walked on the water, as he did, Mat. 14. or else drie vp the water, as hee did for the children of Israel, Exod. 14. but he did neither, for if hee should hauehave vsed his omnipotent power in eueryevery thing, as God, no bodie would hauehave beleeued him to bee man; hee did therefore take this course in the whole course of his life to manifest both. If hee were not God, whom did mLuk. 1.Gabriel call Lord? If not man, whom did Mary beare in her wombe? If not God, whom did the nMatth. 2.wisemen worship? If not man, whom did oLuke 2.Ioseph circumcise? If not God, who promised pLuke. 23.Paradise to the thiefe? If not man, who hanged on the crosse? qOrigin. vbi supra, & Ludolphus de vitâ Christi, part. 1. cap. 46.If not God, who rebuked the windes and the seas? If not man, who slept in the ship? If not God, who raised the tempest? If not man, who went into this barke?
His disciples followed him. A ship, as rIn Matth. cap. 13. & postil. catholic. Dom. 5. post. …at. co…. 1.Hilary notes, doth fitly resemble the Church of Christ; for as a ship is small in the foredecke, broade in the middle, little in the stearne: so the Church in her beginning and infancie, was verie little; in her middle age flourishing, but in her old age, her companie shall be so small, and her beleefe so weake, that when the sonne of God shall come to iudge the sonnes of men, he shall scarse finde any faith on earth: Luk. 18.8.
It is sPontan. in loc.obseruable, that Christ and his Disciples failed all in one ship: he did enter in first, and his Disciples followed. tAthanagoras orat. pro Christianis.Vnus mundus docet vnum esse Deum: The world being but one teacheth vsus that there is but one God; one God, that there is but one Church; one Church, one truth: and therefore as the Church is called by u1. Tim. 3.15.Paul, Columna veritatis; so by Salomon, Columba vnitatis. Cant. 6.8. My doue is alone.
Noes Arke represents the xAmbros. ser. 11 & Cyprian. epist. lib. 1. ep. 6.Church: all in the Arke were saued, all out of the Arke perished. All that continue with Christ, in his ship are secure, though the Sea make a noise, and the stormes arise: but hee that vtterly forsakes the ship, and swims either in the cockboate of heretikes, or vponupon the windie bladders of his owne conceits, shall neuer touch the land of the liuing. As in Salomons Temple there were three roomes, the porch, the body, the sanctum sanctorum; so likewise in Christianitie, we cannot enter into the holiest of holies, but by the Church, nor into the Church, but by the porch of baptisme. First, there must be shipping; then, sailing; last of all, arriuing. First, wee must be shipt with Christ in baptisme; after, saile with him in the Pinnisse of the Church, or else wee shall neuer anchor in the hauen of happinesse.
Saint Matthe… doth vse the word follow, signanter; insinuating, that all Christs disciples ought to follow him, as himselfe saith: yMatth. 16.24.If any will be my disciple, let him forsake himselfe, and take vp his crosse, and follow me.
Some in their high towring thoughts and immoderate zeale, run before Christ, as zLuke 9.54.Iames and Iohn: other goe cheeke by iole with him, as Pelagians, and all such as mingle their merit with Christs mercy, making him but halfe a mediator, mediatum dimidiatum mediatorem. Other follow Christ, but a far off, as Peter, Matth. 26.58. Other follow Christ neere, but not for Christ, not for louelove, but for loaues, as the people, Iohn 6.26. Few follow him in a troublesome sea, as the disciples here.
aDiez. con. 1. in loc.The people followed him in the plaine, not vp to the mountaine, nor into the sea: but Christ leauing the multitude, would hauehave his company tossed in the waues of affliction, bThomas ex Chrysost. in loc.lest they should be puffed vp with presumption and pride.
cIn mirabilibus historys.Apollonius writes of certaine people that could see nothing in the day, but all in the night. In like maner, manie men are so blinded with the sunshine of prosperity, that they see nothing belonging vntounto their good; but in the winter night of misery, dZepper. in loc.schola crucis, schola lucis; no such schoolehouse as the crosse house. The eMat. 9.Palsiman lying in his bed, desired to be brought vntounto Christ. fAlexander ab Alexand…o, l. 1. cap. 2.Ptolomaeus Philodelphus, being so sickly, that hee could not follow worldly delights as he was wont, gaue himselfe to reading, and builded that his renowned Library. The disciples here seeing the wonders of the deepe, and dangers of the sea, were humbled in feare, and raised vp in faith.
And behold there arose a great tempest] Vntill Christ was in the ship, there was no storme. While men hauehave pillowes sowed vnderunder their elbowes, all is peace; gLuther. postil. ex Culman. con. 1. in loc.but so soone as Christ rebukes the world of sinne, hEsay. 57.20.the wicked are like the raging sea, that cannot rest, whose waters cast vp dirt and mire.
Iohn Baptist raised such a storme by preaching against Herod, that it cost him his head. When Paul preached at Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, &c. there followed alway tumults and vprores among the people. When Luther first preached the Gospell, instantly there was great thundering frō Rome, a great tempest in Germany, France, England, Scotland, and in the whole Christian world, which all the Popes Buls and calues too, could not appease.
This storme was not by chance, but raised by iAquin. Ludolphus, Beauxamis in loc.Gods prouidence, who brings the winds out of his treasures, Psal. 135.7. and the tempest was kOrigen. in cat. Thom. in loc.great, that the miracle might be great: the greater the tempest, the greater was the triall of the disciples faith.
In so much that the ship was couered with waues] The Church is often in danger, lLudolphus & Pontan. in loc.but it cannot be drowned; mMatth. 16.18.hell gates cannot ouercome it. nTertu…ian.Robur fidei concussum, non excussum. Albeit Satan goe about daily like a roa…ing lion, seeking whom he may deuoure, yet there shall be some still, whom he shall not deuoure.
He was asleepe] oPsal. 121.4.He that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleep. He did sleep as man, but watch as God. pCant. 5.2.I sleep, but mine heart waketh. qThomas ex Origen. in loc.He seemes onelyonly to sleep, that we might wake: rEmissenus hom. in loc.Nobis dormit Iesus, nobis surgit à somnô. sLudolphus in loc.Christus videtur non attendere, patientiam bonorum, poenitentiam impiorum expectans. He doth as it were neglect vsus for a time, for the greater manifestation of his tZ…pperus in loc.power, and our patience.
His disciples came to him, and awoke him] Almighty God likes in our necessity this importunity: Psal 50.15. Call vponupon me in the time of trouble. Psal. 91.15. He shall call vponupon me, and I will heare him. And therefore learne by this example, uLuther. postil. maior. in loc.to come to Christ, to cry to Christ in all extremity, renouncing your selues, and relying vponupon him onelyonly; Master, saue vsus, or else we perish.
He said vntounto them; Why are ye fearfull; O yee of little faith?] xCulman. con. 1. in loc.It was great faith in that they followed Christ into the ship; but little faith in that they feared.
yTheophylact. in loc. See B. …atymer ser. in loc.He saith not, O ye of no faith, but O ye of little faith. It was impossible to come vntounto God, and call vponupon Christ without faith; in saying, we perish, they shewed infidelity; but in praying, saue vsus, they manifested faith.
Againe, he doth not say; zPontanus in loc.yee of little courage, or ye of little charity; but ye of little faith: because faith is the ground of all other vertues, and in aMelancthon. in loc.aduersity most vsefull. If we belieue that Christ is our Captaine in the ship with vsus, who can be against vsus? And therefore Paul, Ephes. 6.16. Aboue all, put on the shield of faith, wherewith ye may quench all the fiery darts of the diuell.
Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea] Christ reprehends the disciples a little, but instantly grants their requests; his reprehensions had not so much sting as bZepperus in loc.honie, for a great calme followed a little chiding: cPsal. 107.25.at his word the stormy wind ariseth, which lifteth vp the waues of the sea: They are caried vp to heauen, and downe againe to the deep: their soule melteth away because of the trouble. They reele to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits end. But when they cry to the Lord in their trouble, he deliuereth them out of their distresse: for he maketh the storme to cease, so that the waues thereof are still.
A great calme followed a great tempest; dThomas in loc.Decet enim mag…um magna facere. Christ spake but one word to the violent windes and vnruly seas, and they both obeyed his command. eHeb. 1.1.He doth at sundry times, and in diuers maners speake to vsus, and yet wee will not hearken vntounto his voice. fOrigin. hom. 6. in di…ersos scripturae locos.The spectators of this act might therefore wonder to see the senslesse water and weather obey more then man, indued with reason and religion.
The men maruelled:] gLudolphus ex Augustin.Ideo premantur iusti, vt pressi clament; clamantes exaudiantur, exauditi glorificent Deum; A great storme caused in the disciples a great feare; great feare, great deuotion, great deuotion occasioned Christ to worke this great miracle; this great miracle moued this great admiration; What is this man that commands as a God?
And when he was come to the other side.] Two points are
to be considered in this miracle principally; the
Gratiousnesse of Christ, in curing two possessed of diuels.
Vngratiousnesse of the Gergesites, preferring a peece of bacon before the Gospell, hogs before Christ. Such as respect their tithe pig, more then their Pastor, are Gergesites, and deserue that Christ should depart out of their coasts.
I will not in particular examine these, but in stead thereof, insert a few notes, vponupon the last verse of the first Chapter, appointed to be read at morning praier this Sunday; preached at Pauls Crosse. Ian. 29. 1608.