Exposition of the Festival Epistles and Gospels, Explication of epistles and gospels 1 · Part 2

Exposition of the Festival Epistles and Gospels · Explication of epistles and gospels 1 · Part 2

The Gospell.

MATTH. 4.18.

As Iesus walked by the sea of Galile, he saw two brethren, Simon which was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishers) &c.

IN this Gospell is set downe the

Calling of four Apostles.

Comming of foure Apostles.

In their calling these circumstā ces are cosiderable:

Who? Iesus.

Where? By the sea of Galile.

When? At the beginning of his preaching.

Whom, in

Name,

Peter.

Andrew.

Iames.

Iohn.

Number, two and two.

Nature,

Brethren.

Fishers.

Why? That they might become fishers of men.

How? He saw them, and said vntounto them, follow me and I will make you, &c.

As Iesus walked.] There be foure sorts of Apostles (as ggExpos. prior. in Gaiat. cap. 1.Hierome and hhPostil. in loc.Luther obserue) some be sent only from God, and not by men: immediatly from God the Father, as the ii2. Pet. 1.21.2 Pet 1:21Prophets vnderunder the Law; kkIob. 20.21.Job 20:21Iesus Christ, and llI…. 1.6.Iohn Baptist in the beginning of the Gospell: immediately from God the Sonne, in his state mortall, as the mmMatt. 10.5.Matt 10:5twelue Apostles: in his stare glorious or immortall, as S. Paul, Acts 9.15. Other are sent by men, and not by God; as they who being vnworthie both in respect of their bad learning, and worse liuing, croud notwithstanding into the Ministerie, through alliance, fauour, or simonie. Which occasioned one to say that horses are more miserable then asses, in that horses did post ordinarily to R…me to get asses preferment.

nnYet. p…mata de corrupto stat. ecclesiae per …yricum.Cum Iesu Iudas, cum Simone fur Ananias,

In templo Christs semper sunt quatuor ists.

Other are neither chosen of God, nor called by men, as the false Prophets, of whom it is said in holy scripture, that they ooIerem. 23.21Jer 23:21runne without a warrant; ppPhili. 3.2.18euill workers, enemies of Christs Crosse, qqIohn 10.1.John 10:1theeues climing into the Church at the window, not entring in at the doore, rrMatth. 7.15Matt 7:15rauening wolues in sheepes clothing. See Gospell on the 2. Sunday after Easter, and 8. after Trinitie.

Other are both elected of God, and ordained by men, as the Bishops of Ephesus, Acts 20.28. and other Elders in the Primitiue Church, Acts 14.23. and all orthodoxe Preachers of the word in our age. For as the Gospell and Epistle well accord, how shall they preach vnlesse they be sent? No man (ssLuther & Larymer in loc. although he were more wise then either Salomon or Daniel) ought to take this honour vntounto himselfe, ttHeb. 5.4.Heb 5:4except hee be called of God. I say called of God, either immediatly by himselfe, so Christ here called his Apostles: or else mediatly by uuA…glic. Confes. art. 23. Rogers ibidem. Luther & Kilim in l…c.such as hauehave pub-like authoritie giuen vntounto them in the congregation, to call and send Ministers into the Lords vineyard, and so Christ at this houre calleth Apostles in our Church, in that the conformable Ministers of England are chosen according to his word, as we teach against the Brownists and Ba…rnists; as also canonically consecrated, as wee prooue to the proud pontifician aduersarie. See Doctor Fulke & W…r in Rom. 10. Perkins Treatise of Callings: R…g rs …a Anglican. Conf…ss. art. 23. proposition. 1. & 5. S…l…s is mo…iu…, obseruant, of pontifician spirits, pa. 17. And surely God hath as it were set his hand and seale to the full approbation of our callings, in that hee blesseth our labours in the ministerie for the conuersion of many soules in England. For eueryevery learned and industrious Pastor may tell his people which he begets vntounto God in Christ, as xx1. Cor. 9.2.1 Cor 9:2Paul once told the Corinthians: If I be not an Apostle to other, yet doubtl…sse I am vntounto you; for ye are the …al of mine Apostleship in the Lord.

By the … of Galile.] This (as yyRa…anu… apra T…omam. Are…us. Iansen in lec.Interpreters obserue) was not the maine se…, but a little creeke only, The lake Gemz…eth ▪ as wee reade Luke 5.1. but it is called a sea. for tha… the zzGen. 1.10.Gen 1:10Scripture terme…h all gathering together of wa…e…s▪ …eas: and the sea of Galile, for that it bounded vponupon the borders of the aaMaldenat.two Galilees. Consule Plin. hist. lib. 5. cap. 15. Ioseph de bello Iudairo, lib. 3. cap. 18. Strab. … lib. 16. …. 504.

In this lake Peter and Andrew were fishing, Iames and Iohn mend… their nets. Here I no…e with Arctius and bbArdius in l…c.other vntounto your comfort, that almightie God is wont to blesse men especially when they be busied in their proper element, and … in their owne vocations. An Angell being a messenger of gladnesse, appeared vntounto …. ccLuke 1.8.Luke 1:8… the Priests office before God and is … order. An Angell also deliuered the first … of Christs birth vntounto ddLuke 2.8.Luke 2:8shepheards are wha… … night in the field. While Saul ac… f…hers expresse commandement, sought for … found a kingdome. 1. Sam. 9. so Christ here se…ing Peter and Andrew not idle, but casting a net into the … : nor yet ouer-haste, medling in other men, trade; but only labouring in their owne calling (for they were fishers) he saith vntounto them instantly, follow me, and I will make you to become fishers of men A laste person is vn…it for the Clergie, for none but eeMatth. 9.38.Matt 9:38labourers are sent into the Lords haruest. On the contrary, the ffA…et. in lo….curious and ouer actiue spirit is vnprofitable, for he will hauehave one foot in the Church, another in the Court, and if God had made him a Tripos, he would hauehave had a third in the Campe. Miles equi…, …, &c. an hammer is for the Smith, an Homer for the Schoole. Let the shoemaker attend his boot, and the fisher his boat ggP…rkins treat of … l…g….He that comes, to the corne heape, the more he openeth his hand to receiue, the lesse he doth hold: so he that in largeth himself to beare the most office, in a State, these wer shall he sufficiently discharge. The worme hh…. 29. cap. 6.… or …, though it hauehave many feet, is of a very slow pase. ii… 1. pag. 203.So Luther said of Erasmus: Qui…t …ust in omnibus sapere, sespsum decipit. And kkBi…n. pref. loc. C….M…lanc…hon of … …itaries in arts, in omnibus aliqa…, in …. The wittie llMar…u… … grace. lib. 3.Poet trimly,

Omnia cūmfacias, miraris cur facias nil?

(Posth…n…:) rem solam qui sacit, …lle facit.

Againe, Christ called his Apostles in the midst of their fishing, mmChrys. apud Th…. ….that wee might heereby learne to preferre the following of him before the businesse of the world: or Iesus happily walked by the sea, for that he did intend to chuse fishers. nnArlens. ….Hereby teaching vsus not to shunne, but rather to seeke those places where …e may doegood: As the poore cottage, that we may releeue the needie: the house of mourning, that wee may binde vp the broken hearted, and remooue the spirit of heauinesse: the dungeon of Ioseph and Daniel, preaching libertie to the captiues, and opening of the prison vntounto them that are bound. ooKilius.Flecte quod est rigidum, fone qu…d est frigudum, rege quod est deuium.

The next circumstance to be considered, is the time when, and that (as our Euangelist in the 17. verse) was so soone as Iesus began to preach. For pp….as a King who resolues to make warre against an enemie Prince, chaseth his Captaine, and musters his souldiers, and in eueryevery point fits himselfe for the present action: euen so Christ Iesus the King of the Church, intending to qqIohn 12.31.John 12:31cast out of his hold Satan the Prince of this world, calleth his followers, and out of them electeth his Apostles, as chiefe Commanders and Coronels in the very beginning of his preaching, that being trained vp in his schoole, seeing his wonders, and hearing his wisedome, they might bee made fit for that excellent and eminent calling. rrLatymers set. vponupon this G…sp…ll.They were first (as ssCap. 1.39.S. Iohn reports) acquainted with Christ, ttFor this was a second calling, … Iuhym. & Anselm in l…c.afterward made Disciples, and last of all Apostles. And uuMuseul. in loc.therefore Christ here saith, I will make you to become fishers of men. He saith not I doe now make you: but hauing instructed them all his life, and breathing on them the Holy Ghost after his resurrection, hee speakes in the present, xxIohn 20.21.John 20:21as my father sent me, so send I you, yyMat. 28.19.Matt 28:19goe teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and the Sonne, and the Holy Ghost. And that they might be powerfull and profitable teachers of other, he zzActs 2.4.Acts 2:4filled them also with the gift, of the Spirit after such a manner, and in so great a measure, that they aaActs 4.20.Acts 4:20could not but speak… the things which they had heard and seene of Christ. And that not in one corner, or in a few countries onelyonly, but (as it is in the selected Epistle for this day) their sound went out into all lands, and their words into the ends of the world. In the beginning they were rude, bbAretius. Museulus.first Disciples, afterward Doctors, a great while learners afore they were leaders. Hence fathers of the Church are taught not to hauehave foreign, cc1 Tim. 5 22.1 Tim 5:22hastie hands and ouer easie for admittance into sacred orders without tryall and testimonie, 1. Tim. 3. and the children of the Prophets also may learne to be ddIames 1.19.Jas 1:19swift to heare, slow to speake, neuer affecting, much lesse ascending Moses chaire, before God makes them apt and able to teach as well by their holy conuersation as wholesome doctrine. For as the weights and measures of the eeExod. 30.13.Exod 30:13Sanctuarie, to wit, the sicle, talent, and cubite, were of a ffVatal…us. …. ad l…c. Ex…d ex I…se. ….double bignes to those for common vse: so should the vertues in the Ministers of the Sanctuarie be of a sutable size. The which as some Diuines imagine, is implied in the sacrifice for their s…n…es, appointed Leuit. 4. where the Priests offering is commanded to be as much as all the congregations, a young bullocke without any blemish for the Priest alone, ver. 3. and no more for all the people, vers. 14. See Benedictus in the Liturgie, Gospell on Trinitie Sunday, and 8. after Trinitie.

The names of the Disciples heere called, are Simon▪ Andrew, Iames and Iohn: ggA s…mi… …, Item …insinuating tha… a Preacher of the word must be Simon, that is, obedient to the will of God: Andre…s, a stout man in executing his off…ce… Iacobus, a supplanter of vises in h…s a…ditorie: last of all, a Iohn, a…cribing all these good gifts in him vntounto the Father of mercies and God of all grace, hh… epist. 1 …vi…a merito magnus, humilitate infimus. ii….Other assume that the some cardinall vertues are designed by these foure chiefe Apostles, referring Prudence in Peter, I…stice to Andrew, Fortitude to Iames, and Temperance to Iohn.

For their number, it is said he…e, that Iesus called them two and two: first he saw two, then other two: kkAretius.signif… ing that as the binarie number is the least, euen so the Church of little beginnings increase…h vntill her number be ll… 7 9without number: mmMat…. …3.31as a graine of mustard seede when it is sowen is the least of …, but when it is grow…n it is the greatest among herb…s and it is a tree so that the k…ds of heauen build i… the …. O… two and two, because they were Christs instruments in …ming together two people, the … and the …, and so nn…making of …th one. Or Christ happily would neither elect nor send his Apostles one by one, because … him that is alone. Ecclesiast. 4.10. but by two and two and those bre…hren: oo…hereby teaching that Preachers of the word must accord as brethren, of one heart and one souls, Act. 4.…2 hauing one minde in many bodies, pp…, in Psa…m. 132.inter multacorporano… mul…a c…rda. Sa…rimentes in vnu…, at … hominem faciant, as Augustine sweetly. For a qqPro. 18.19. as the translat. Hen. 8.Prov 18:19brother helping a brother is a very strong castle, and they that hold together are like the barre of a palace.

For their condition: our blessed Sauiour (in rrCuloss. 2.3.whom are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge) did ssMusculus. Beauxamu. Pontan.not chuse the disputants of the world, whose wit was great; nor the nobles, whose petigree was great; nor the Pharisies, whose credit was great; nor the Priests, whose authoritie was great: but he called ignorant and ignoble fishers, of little worth and lesse learning, to be the trumpetters of his Gospel, and bel-weathers of his flocke; that the tt1. Cor. 1.27.28.1 Cor 1:271 Cor 1:28foolish things of the world might confound the wise things, and the weake things ouerthrow the mightie things, and things that are not, bring to nought the things that are. uuIudg. 15.16Judg 15:16Sampson in slaying a thousand Philistines with the iawbone of an asse, was a type hereof (as xxApud Ecauxam. H. r. tom. 1. sol. 140.Prosper obserues) insinuating that Christ by the yy1. Cor. 1.21.1 Cor 1:21foolishnesse of preaching should confound his enemies, and saue such as beleeue. Nay Christ chose some notorious sinners for his Apostles, as bloudie Saul, and couetous Matthew; that his abundant grace might be manifested in their persons, as well as in their preaching; demonstrating that in themselues, which is the summe of all their sermons, namely, that Iesus Christ zzMatth. 9.13Matt 9:13came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. This is a true saying, and by all meanes worthie to be receiued, that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners, of whom I am chiefe, 1. Tim. 1.15. The greatest Apostle whilome was the greatest oppressor of the Church, a blasphemer, a persecutor, aaAct. 9.1.Acts 9:1breathing out threatnings, and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord: and therefore his auditors might well & cedere & credere grant and beleeue that Iesus is a sauiour of his people. But this extraordinary calling, and singular action of Christ is bbCaluin. Muscuius.no patterne for Prelates (as phantasticall spirits imagine) to send into the Ministerie leud and ignorant persons, as if the more faultie were the more fit, and the more sillie the more sufficient: for the same Christ by the pen of his Apostle Paul in that excellent Epistle to Timothy (which cc…pist, …O … ….Hierom: calles speculu… Sacerdony, as the whole Scripture is ddIames 1.23.Jas 1:23speculum Christ… ni… ) sets downe these directions for the choice of a Pastoar, h…e must be well reported of, euen …f them whi…h are w…thout, vnreproneable, watching, sober, …est, barberous, apt to teach. And albeit at their first comming (a…d hauehave shewed a little before) these fishermen were rude, yet afterward they were so furnished with all parts of knowledge and varietie of language, that their heaven exceedingly ccA… 2.6.wondred at their wisdome, and ffA… 4 13.knew that they had beene with Iesus.

ggLu… ….Other hauehave rendred other reasons, why Christ in the beginning of his preaching chose fishermen for his Apostles. As namely, to them that God is no respecter of persons: as also for that he knew the poore would follow him immediately, whereas hhMat…. 19.24.it is easier for a camel… …o goe… …orow th…eis of a needle, then for a rich man to enter into the kingdom… of God. For being inuited to the great Supper, he saith, iiLu…e 1….1….I hauehave bought a farme, and I must needs go… to see it: or I hauehave bought fiue yoke of ouen, and I goe to pro…ise them, &c.

Let vsus examine now why Iesus called them, and …ha is that they might be made … of m…n: not hunters but fishers. In old time the Prophets and Apostles were fishers, kk….in our time more like hunters, ll….according to that of the Prophet …eremy, 16.16. B…hold, … the Lord. I will …end out many fishers, an … them, and … I will end out many … they s…ll … them &c Here…ofore the Preachers as fishers inclosed many fish in their net a… one draught; but in our age …e resemble hunters, of er…a great no… long and loud crying. … catch either no…h…ng, or else very little. Io… was but one man, and he preached vntounto … but one sermon, and that a short se…mon as coaching the number of words; and yet he turned all …he whole Citie, rich and poore, prince and people. mm….Wee (God be praised) are many preachers, and we preach many sermons, and such as hauehave a tall bite, nipping inuec…iues against …nne; yet England repents not in sackcloth and ashes. Iohn Baptists sermon was short, Behold the Lambe of God, which taketh away the sinne of the world. nnVide Ferum & Pontan. in loc.S. Andrews sermon shorter, We hauehave found the Messias: and yet (as wee read in the first chapter of Saint Iohns Gospell) Andrew was caught by the one, and Peter by the other. The sermon of S. Peter, Acts 2, was exceeding briefe, yet it caught about thre… thousand soules: in our time scarcely one soule taken in many sermons. And the fault is partly the fishers, and partly the fishes, as I hauehave shewed at large, Gospell 5 Sund. after Trinitie

I will make you fishers of men] ooMusculus in loc.Not of money, as if the sharing of the sheep and fish were the white they should aime at. Antichrist of Rome was not in a pulpit these ppTriall of truth.nine hundred yeares, and so by consequence succeeds not Peter in fishing with his net: but onelyonly in fishing with his hooke, Matth. 17. where it is said, that Peter cast an angle into the sea, and tooke a fish in whose mouth he found a pi…ce of twenty pence. Such a kinde of fishing the Romane Peters vse; for Pope Leo the tenth exacted so much of the lay-men, and wasted so much of the Churches treasure, that whereas other were Popes no longer then they li…ed, hee was qqG…i…ciardin. Fist. lib. 14.said to be pope many yeeres after he was dead. Which occasioned a learned rrAc…s. Sy… c…us …i. …. 3.Poet to write thus of him:

Sacra sub extremâ si furiè requiritis, horâ

Cur Leo non …otuit sumere? vendiderat.

Iohn 22. left behind him (as Petrarcha reports) two hundred and …ftie tunne of gold, in so much that an ssC…ru. V cem apud …. ub. ….d. Cat. … s. …at 4.odde fe…low made this iest of him, Erat Pontisex maxi …, si non vi…tute: pecunia tamen maximus. Pope Sixtus Quintus (called of Englishmen in a by-word for selling ou… kingdome to Philip of Spaine, Six Cinque) throug… his into…lerable couetousnesse tt…elat. of re… g… … t…e …. §. 37.left in his exchequer fiue millions: his successor Gregory the 14. wasted foure of them in tenne moneths and lesse, beside his ordinarie reuenewes, in riot and pompe. The pontificians exceedingly condemne the Protestant Preachers, because being maried & hauing children, they take care to prouide for their familie: but their uuSee D. Suths. & rela…. of re… …o…, ibi sup & sar. An…. Cam. … 1520. cum pri…e…egio parl… …in…i.own Popes and Prelates are more greedie to scrape for their bastards and minions, then our men hauehave bin to prouide for their honest wiues and legitimate issue. Happily some men of corrupt mindes among vsus, as most among them, enter into the Ministerie, as xxPlu…r….Stratocles and Dromoclidas into the Magistracie, tanquam ad aure am messem, and so they be fishers of money, not of men; or if they fish after men, it is to finger their meanes. As the Friers in old time professed wilfull pouertie so long, yy…. prol. before the book of Numbers.vntill they robbed the whole world, and became Lords of all. And at this houre the Iesuites are so couetous, that they maligne all other orders, except the Capu…hi…. And the reason hereof is plain, zz… Qu ….because the Capuchin saith hee would hauehave nothing, and the Iesuite would hauehave all. aaS…eld…m… … concerning de pont…fi… …, pag. 5.A wittle Libeller in Spaine described the Capuchin Friers shooting from the purse, the Franciseanes aiming wide of it, and the Iesuites hitting it in the very middest. I hauehave read of bbWilying …am El…. 3. …ann. 1361.Vrbane the fifth, how that when hee was a poore Chaplaine in the Court of Rome, he should vponupon a time say to a familiar friend, If all the Churches in the world should fall at once, … of them I thinke verily would light on my head. After being elected Pope, his old acquaintance told him at his in…hronization, Once (holy father) you complained that you were Parson of no Church, and now behold, God hath out of the riches of his wisedome and merciemercy so disposed, as that all the Churches in the world are committed only to your charge. Let vsus be ccMat… 2….21Matt 2:21faithfull in a little, dd1. …et. ….7.casting our care on God, who careth for vsus. If any forsake with these Disciple… his nets and ship, & suos & …u…, to follow Christ, hee shall receiue an hundred fold at this present; houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands with persecutions, and in the world to come eternall life. Mark. 10.30. auarice is a sinne in any man, heresie in a Clergie man.

Fishers of men, in generall (as ccCom. in loc.Musculus obserues) not of great men and learned men onelyonly: for that is Peters fault to neglect his cure that hee may follow the Court, as if the …oules of poore men in the country were not worthie to be fished for. Not of good men and brethren only, for that is a schismaticall tricke, such I trow be caught already; we should therefore rather cast how to cast our net for other. A scabbie sheepe is of the flocke so well as the bell-weather, and because scabbie, wants our helping hand more then the whole.

Fishers of men, not of women only; for that is an hereticall tricke, ff2. Tim. 3.6.2 Tim 3:610 leade captiue simple women laden with sins, and led with diuers lusts. As Simon Magu… the first heretike broched his dangerous opinions by the helpe of the strumpet Helena; Nicolas the founder of the filthie Familists had troupes of women euer accompanying him; Apelles had Philomene for his mate; Montanus had Prisea and Maximilla women of great birth and opulent estate; Donatus had Lucilla for his mistresse; Arius the Princes owne daughter for his Patronesse, as ggT…m. 2. f. 253S. Hierome notes in his Epistle to Cresiphon against the Pelagians. hhIes…ites Cit. lib. 1. cap. 10.Postelliu the lesuite had an old beldame called mother Iane, and the rest of that ranke (as the iiQuod. 3. art. 10.Quodlibeticall discourse auoweth) hauehave deluded many young gentlewomen, and deuoured many widowes houses. And this kinde of fishing they learned from Satan himselfe, who did first attempt the woman, and then tempt the man, vsing the wife as a trap to catch her husband. And the reason why the deuil and his agents are fishers of women rather then of men, is because they be lesse able to resist, and more willing to repo… a new▪fangled opinion: in one word, for that their …its are shorter, and their tongues longer

Fishers of men, not of children, as Seruetus absurd…y cauillesh: Ergo, sai…h he, P…e…hers may not baptise little infants. Answer is made by kkI…s…it. lib. 4. … 1… § 3….Caluin and other, that men hee…e signifie…h all mankinde of wh…tsoeuer age or sex. Christs commandement is expresse, llMatt. 28.19.Matt 28:19reach all nations, baptising them, &c. and Mark. 10.14. suffer the little children to come vntounto me. There be young mmIoh 21.15.John 21:15Lambes in his fold so well as old sheepe. nnMa…. 18.14it is not his Fathers will that one of these little ones should perish, for ooMat. 19.14Matt 19:14of such is the kingdome of heauen. See Melancthon loc. com. tit. baptis. infant. Caluin. vbi…up. in margin. Master Iohn Philpots letter concerning this argument apud Fox in his martyrdome. Bucan. loc. com. …it. baptis quest. 35.

Little children must be caught and brought vntounto Christ, and after these minumes are baptised in the sacred font, they must be catechised and further instructed in the principles of holy religion, that they may know what a solemne vow they hauehave made by their godfa…hers and godmothers. And forasmuch as eueryevery man is a Priest and a Prince in his owne house, you must bring vp your child…en in ppEphes. 6 4.Eph 6:4instruction and information of the Lord, drawing them vntounto God while they be young, lest afterward being past correction, they say with the wicked in the second Psalme: Let vsus breake their bonds asunder, and cast array their cords from vsus.

qqEur…p…d …pa…d … Cem. de lib. ….Ni… fundamenta stirpis l…cta sint probe,

Misero… necesse est esse deinceps posteros.

The rrMatt. 13 47Matt 13:47draw-net of the Church incloseth all kinde of fish, and therefore the Preachers are fishers of all sorts of men. None is too good, or too bad, or too rich, or too poore, or too young, or too old to be brought vntounto God. I will make you fishers of men indefinitely, not of this or that man in particular. Andrew must fish for all, especially for such as are committed vntounto his peculiar charge. Acts 20.28. Take heed to your selues, and to ak't he flocke, whereof the holy Ghost hath made you ouerseers. Our principall care must be to reduce such as are vnderunder our proper cure from the linke and seas of their sin, to righteousnesse and holinesse, ssI…er. Are… …. Musi…nus.by preaching of the word to draw them out of the shadow of death, out of the pit of ignorance to the maruellous light and sunne-shine of the Gospell. And that we may performe this, it is required on our part that we be painfull, either casting our nets into the sea, or else mending them in our ship; and skilfull also, that we may know to cast our nets on the ttIohn 21 6.John 21:6right side of the ship. uuLaure…. Pisan. euangel. paradox.Omnis ignorantia mala, Sacerdotis autem pessima. The blinde leading the blinde drawes him not out of the puddle, but rather hurleth him into the ditch, Matth. 15.14.

Now the fishers of men for the catching of soules ought to preach and presse two points especially, xxMelanc…h. Comanl c.repentance and faith. Almightie God himselfe, the first fisher of men, in his very yyG…n. 3.first draught (when the worlds sea was not so tempestuous as it is now) stood vponupon these two principally. First, hee rebuked Adam for his sinne, that he might repent: and then he shewed how Christ is the propitiation for his sinne, the seed of the woman shall breake the serpents head, that he might beleeue. The Patriarkes and Prophets vrged these points vntounto the men of their age. Iohn Baptist, the last of the Prophets, and first of Apostles, a midling as it were betweene both, inculcated often these two, zzMatth. 3.2. Marke 1.4Matt 3:2Mark 1:4repent, and aaIoh. 1.29.36John 1:29John 1:36behold the lambe of God All the sermons of Christ (as our Euangelist reports in the verse before my text) consisted of these two likewise, from that time Iesus began to preach and say, amend your liues, for the kingdome of heauen is at hand. If any then desire to know whether the fishers of men hauehave caught him or no, let him examine his owne heart, whether he be repentant and faithfull. If he feele sorrow for his sin, and comfort in his Sauiour; if he confesse his fault as the bbIuke 18.13Publican, O God be mercifull to mee a sinner: and confesse his faith as ccIohn 1.41.John 1:41Andrew: Wee hauehave found the Messias: if crying with teares hee can vnfainedly say, Lord I beleeue, helpe mine vnbeleefe: it is a manifest argument that the fishers of men hauehave drawne him out of the dead sea into the land of the liuing, out of the darke waters into the glorious light of the Sun of righteousnesse.

Heere the Gospell and Epistle meet againe: Preachers are fishers of men, because men are iustified by faith, and faith commeth by hearing of the word, and the word is brought vntounto you by the mouth of the Preachers. And therefore you must honour their holy function, as Gods ordinance for the ddEpist. 4.12.gathering together of the Saints, and edifying of the body of Christ. Abhorre the positions of eeMe… c…en in Rom. 10.Rom 10Stenckfeldius, ffS…e Angers in Ang…ean. C…nfess. art. 23.Anabaptists, Familists, holding that the word is not taught by the sermons of Peter and Andrew, &c. but only by the reuelation of the Spirit. As also the practises of vncharitable Martinists, Barrowists, Brownists, openly breathing out slander, secretly threatning s…aughter against the Disciples of the Lord, making it their greatest vertue to meddle with the Preachers vice: so that whereas Andrew should catch them, it is apparant that they labour principally to catch Andrew. But the best is, in the meane while they lose themselues among themselues, hauing almost as many factions, as there be fractions in their seuerall inuectiues. ggSedul. epist. lect. prefix a…. loge…. S. Franc…su….In is…a Babylons sectae dissectae, their sects are now so diuers and aduerse, that as hhI. Sc…rarus appa…at. pag. 14one said, Luigando res non dir…mitur, sed perimitur.

The last of all the remarkable circumstances in our text is, how Iesus called his Disciples, and that is, hee saw them, and saith vntounto thens follow me, and I will make you &c. that is, as iiH…m…in loc.Ardens in a short glosse pithily, Vidit, per electionem: vocanit, per fidem: iussit se sequi, per obedientiam: pramium promisit, per ob…dientie reminerationem. kkRom. 8.30.Rom 8:30According to that of Paul, whom he did predestinate, them he called: and whom he called, them also hee iustified: and whom hee iustified, hee also glorified. For faith is a consequent of election, obedience of faith, and remuneration of obedience. He called his Apostles here by word only, follow me. llPin…an.Goe not before me nor beside me, but come after me, for I am the way, the tru…h and the life Where note the mmMa…ras.power of his word, hee spake and it was done, he called and they came immediately. But we reade in the 5. of Luke, that he called these by working a wonder also; for whereas they laboured all night and caught nothing, he commanded them to let down their net, and they tooke such a multitude of fish, that they filled two ships vntill they did sinke. Where Diuines obserue that Christ accommodates himselfe euermore to his present auditors, as hee called the nnMattb. 2.wise men of the East, addicted vntounto the studies of Astrologie, by a starre: and conferring with a woman of ooIohn 4.John 4Samaria, who came to draw water at Iacobs Well, hee tooke occasion to speake of the water of life, saying, Whosoeuer drinketh of the water that I shall giuegive him, shall neuer …e more a thirst: and in the 6. chapter of S. Iohns Gospell, hee did instruct the Capernaits who followed him only for loaues, by a similitude taken from bread and meat, willing them to labour for the true bread of heauen, and for the meat that endureth vntounto euerlasting life. By whose example fishers of men are taught to become pp1. Cor. 9.22.1 Cor 9:22as weake to the weake, that they may winne the weake: being all things to all men, that by all means they may saue some.

Hitherto concerning the calling of Simon▪ Andrew, Iames and Iohn. Let vsus now come to their comming. Simon and Andrew straight way lest their nets, Iames and Iohn immediately lest their ship, and their father, and followed him. They came straight way, without qqAresius.inquisition or rrMuscuius.delay, considering only who called, and not disputing why hee called. And they came willingly without any grudging or griefe, leauing nets, and ship, and father, and ssMatt. 19.27.Matt 19:27all things or the world, to follow Iesus, whose kingdome was not of ttI…h 18.36.this world, whose pouertie was so great, that hee was borne in uuLuke 2.7.Luke 2:7another mans house, and buried in another mans xxMatt. 27.60Matt 27:60tombe, as not hauing yyMatt. 8.20.Matt 8:20wherein to rest his head. zzAug …p. 89.They forsooke all that little they had, and all the great things they desired to hauehave. They did not aaC…i…tan. M…seulu…. Ar…ius in loc.abandon vtterly their estate (for S. Peter afterward vsed his ne…s and followed his trade, Iohn 21.3.) but they so subdued their will vntounto Gods will, as that they counted all things, bbPhilip 3. 8.Phil 3:8losse to winne Christ. Apostoli (quoth ccEpist. ad Pam…si. tim. 1 fol. 166.Hierome) quantum ad d…u…s nibil, quantum ad voluntatem, totum mundum pari…er reliquerunt. Iesus eueryevery day calleth vsus vntounto him, either by the good motions of his spirit, or by his word in the mouth of his Preachers, or else by strange iudgements, or extraordinarie mercies. And therefore let vsus, I beseech you, forsake the vaine pompe of the world, the carnall desires of the flesh, and all other nets and lets whatsoeuer hindering our comming, that wee may follow him immediately. For if the Disciples heere followed him in his humiliation and pouertie; what a sinne, yea what a shame will it be, not to follow him now, sitting at the right hand of God in the heauen of heauens, a Lord of Lords, higher then the highest, a King of glorie, ddRem. 10.12.rich vntounto all that call vponupon him, eeEphes. 3.20.Eph 3:20able to doe for his followers exceeding abundantly aboue all that they can aske or thinke.

These followed him ffArdens.in

Bodie, being ggAct. 1.21.Acts 1:21conuersant with him, and witnesses of all hee did and said.

Minde, for nothing could hhRom. 8.35.Rom 8:35separate them from the louelove of Christ.

Life, learning of him to bee meeke, and mercifull as he was mercifull, exhorting their auditors to be ii1. Cor. 11.1.1 Cor 11:1followers of them as they were followers of Christ.

Death, for as he suffred on the Crosse to make their peace: so Peter and Andrew were crucified, and Iames slaine with the sword in his quarrell, and Iohn (as wee finde in Ecclesiasticall historie) was by the commandement of the tyrant Domitian cast in feruent is olei kkHieron. in Mat… 10. & Mat West …ad an. 95.Matt 10dolium, or as other, llBeronius annal com. 1. ad … 92.solium, into a vessell or bath of hot boiling oile, from which he was notwithstanding by Gods hand deliuered miraculously without any hurt. Though happily neuer occasion shall be giuen vsus to die for the Lord, yet let vsus so follow him in our liues and in our loues, as that we may die in the Lord. Let vsus mmCel ss. 3.5.mortifie our earthly members, our feet, that we nnPsalm. 1.1.Ps 1:1stand not in the way of sinners; our eies, that wee may not delight in vanities, or wantonly ooIob 31.1. Matth 5 28.Job 31:1Matt 5:28behold a woman: our hands, that we may ppEph…s. 4.28.labour and worke the thing which is good: our mouth, that it bee not full of qqPsalm. 14 6.Ps 14:6cursing and bitternesse: our hearts, that they be not exercised with rr2. Pet. 2.14.2 Pet 2:14auarice: that forsaking our selues to follow him only, which is our saluation: as we ssR…m. 8 17.suffer with him, euen so wee may be glorified together with him. Amen.

Almightie God, which didst giuegive such grace vntounto thy holy Apostle S. Andrew, that hee readily obeied the calling of thy sonne Iesus Christ, and followed him without delay: grant vntounto vsus all, that wee being called by thy holy word, may foorthwith giuegive ouer our selues obediently to follow thy holy commandements, through the same Iesus Christ our Lord.