Exposition of the Festival Epistles and Gospels, Explication of epistles and gospels 2 · Part 12
The Gospell
Iohn 14.1.
Iesus said to his disciples, let not your hearts be troubled, &c.
THe Prophet zPsalm. 51.17.Dauid saith, a troubled spirit is an acceptable sacrifice to God, and it aPsalm. 119.71.was good for me that I was in trouble. How then is it true which is here said by the sonne of Dauid, let not your hearts be troubled? answere is made that the passions of the minde as anger, feare, delight, and the like, are in their owne nature, b…. lib. 1. cap. 5.neither simplie commendable, nor yet absolutely vituperable, but either good or bad as their obiects and endes are good and bad. To bee troubled for sinne is a c2. Cor. 7.10.godly sorrow, causing repentance to saluation, not to bee repented of, and therefore grieue for offending God, and d… 4.10.grieuing his spirit, yea grieue much because thou canst grieue no more. e… Iacob.But an inordinate trouble for the things of this world, arising either out of enuy, sluggishnes, or impatience, is forbidden in this sentence, let not your hearts be troubled. The disciples as yet ambitiously sought after worldly honour, conceiuing that Christ ere it were long would f… 1.6.restore the kingdome of Israel, and so prefer them in his kingdome on earth g…. 10.21.at his right hand and at his left, as yet they did expect a crowne not a crosse. Wherefore Christ vnderstanding that they were dismayed at his words, in the former Chapter at the 43. verse (little children yet a little while am I with you, ye shall seeke me, but whether I goe can ye not follow me now) he commeth in this present vntounto that which is h….Euangeli… caput & summa the cheife part in the whole body of his Gospel, namely, to i… 6….1.binde vp the broken hearted, and to comfort such as mourne in Sio…. Isaac the signe of Christ is interpreted laughter, k… cap. 5.insinuating that Christ should be the consolation of Israel, and great ioy to all his people. Luke 2.10.25. scare not (as lMar…, …one notes) is the first word in the first annunciation of his m… Iacob.conception, and the first word in the first annunciation of his n…. 1.10.birth, and the first word in the first annunciation of his o… …18.5.resurrection, and almost the last words in his last exhortation a little before his death, are, let not your hearts be troubled, and p… 6.33.be of good comfort, strengthening his followers, and sweetening his crosse by diuers forcible reasons, in our text by two more principally.
The
1. Is taken from the buckler of faith, ye beleeue in God beleeue also in me.
2. From the holde of hope, in my fathers house are many mansions, &c.
Ye beleeue in God beeleue also in me … Concerning the fourefold reading of these words examine, Iansen. concord: cap. 134. Erasmus annot. & Maldonat. com. in loc. I take them as I find them here, ye beleeue in God, &c. the Saints in olde time qHeb. 11.33.thorough faith hauehave subdued kingdomes, wrought righteousnes, obtained the promises, stopped the mouthes of Lyons, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, of weake were made strong, waxed valiant in battell, and turned to flight the armies of Aliants. In a word faith is a shield where with ye may quench all the fiery darts of the diuell, Ephes. 6.16. If ye beleeue them in God, and cast all your care on him, he that is r2 Cor. 1.3.the father of mercies and God of all comfort, will assuredly so s1. Pet. 5.7.care for you, that yre shall not any longer be troubled in your hearts, a little faith euen so small as a graine of mustard seed is able to remoue mountaines of distrust out of your soule. faith is a buckler, and a buckler guarde th especially the head and the heart, tDiez. com. 1. in s…st. Philip. & Iacob.that is the vnderstanding and the will, uFerus … lot.vt non turbetur intellectus non formidet affectus. Here humane weaknes doth obiect (as Philip at the 8. verse) Lord, shew vsus the father and it sufficeth vsus. It is true that we beleeue God, and beleeue in God also, but yet our hearts are troubled thirsting after his sight and sensible knowledge, we would faine see that we beleeue, so Moses in the 33. Chapter of Exodus, I beseech thee shew me thy glory, to whom answere was made by the Lord, thou can't not see my face, for there shall no man see my face and liue: yet behold, there is a place by me, and thou shall stand and vponupon the ro…ke, and while my glorie passeth by I will put thee in a cleft of the rocke, and will couer thee with mine band whiles I passe by, then I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my backe parts, but my face shall not be seene.
x….This rocke, is Christ as Paul in another case, 1. Cor. 10.4. and the Church is a d…ue in the holes of the rocke, Ca…t. 2.14. Whosoeuer then is placed in Christs Church, and hath faiths eye, may see God in his y… 1. 19.hinder parts as in the world hee passeth by, that is, in his workes of creation, and redemption, and preseruation of his people though he may not read Gods priora, yet he may know Gods po…teriora, beholding him in his wonders, in his words, in his sacraments, in his sonne principally being z…. 3.the brightnes of his glory and expresse character of his person as Christ in our text, he that hath seene mee, hath seene also my father, I am in the father, and the father in mee. a….Hereby prouing himselfe to be God. 1. For that we must only beleeue in the Creator, and not in any creature. 2. b….Because God only knowes the secret perturbation of the heart, and c….if ye beleeue that I am God, ye must also confesse that I am a d…. 46.present helpe in trouble, willing and able to relieue you, for if e…. 8.31.God be with you who can stand against you. Why then are your hearts troubled, as if he should hauehave said; f….albeit I am to suffer death as man, yet I will on the third day raise my selfe againe from the dead as God: it is expe…hent for you that I dye for your sinnes, and rise againe for your iustification, and so prepare a place for you in my fathers house, that where I am there you may be also.
In m… fathers house are many mansions … Saint Paul hauing at large disputed of the resurrection in his first Epistle to the Corinthians 15. Chapter, prouing that the dead shall rise againe by manifest and manifold arguments taken out of the bookes as well of nature as of Scripture; concludeth in fire, therefore my beloued brethren, …: sumoutable, … alwayes in the … of the Lord, for as much as we know that your labour is not in vaine. So Christ in the Gospell vntounto his …ollowers, g…. 16.33.In the … and all the wicked of the world …all hMat. 10.22.hate you for my names sake, they shall scourge you in their Synagogues, and persecute you from City to City, not affording to much as an iMat. 8.20.hole Wherein to rest your head in peace, yet let not your hearts be troubled as long as in my fathers house there be mansions, and I goe to prepare a place for you. The Church militant on earth is often called in holy k1. Tim. 3.15. Heb. 3.2.Scripture Gods house, l….wherein he hath a great many mansions as mEphes. 3.17.dwelling in our hearts by faith, and we likewise hauehave many places of preferment some being Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Euangelists, and some Pastors, and Teachers, Ephes 4.11. It is true that God and we too dwell here, but it is (saith nIob. 4.19.Iob) in houses of clay whose foundation is in the dust, or (as Paul speakes) in earthly tabernacles set vp to day and pulled downe to morrow: oHeb. 13.14.non habemus hic manentem ciuitatem, in this world we hauehave no continuing City. For our kingdome which cannot be shaken, Heb. 12.28. Our habitation which is euerlasting, Luke 16.9. Our inheritance that fades not away, 1. Pet. 1.4. Our dwelling place mentioned in our text by Christ is not made with hands, but eternall in the heauens, 2. Cor. 5.1. Our best houses on earth albeit neuer so gorgeous, and neuer so glorious, hauing (if it be possible) walles of gold, and windowes of Saphire, are not withstanding no better then Innes for strangers and pilgrimes, 1. Pet. 2.11. Our pVide Maldonat. in loc.mansions and places of abode for euer are in Hierusalem aboue, which is without either death or danger, Apocalyp. 21.4. Wherefore seeing we beleeue in God, and qTit. 2.13.looke for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Sauiour Christ (who when he commeth againe shal reciue vsus vntounto himselfe, that where he is in his fathers house, there we may be also) let vsus say with rPsalm. 43.5.Dauid, … by art thou so heauie O my soule? and why art thou so disquieted within mee? O put thy trust in God and hee shall one day sPsalm. 36.8.satisfie thee with the plenteousnes of his house, tErasmus. Marlorat. Iansen.for there is not only roome for Christ in Gods house, but also place for all his followers: the mansions of heauen are many the least of all his souldiers, if they u1. Tim. 47.fight a good fight, and continue x1. Apoc. 2.10.faithfull vntounto death, is rewarded with an y1. Pet. 5.4.incorruptible crowne of glory, hauing for his inheritance, no lesse then a whole kingdome. Againe, these mansions are many, zAugustine, Aresius, …Maldonat.because the Saints in heauen hauehave diuerse degrees of glory. So Paul, 1. Cor. 15.41. There is another glory of the Sunne, and another glory of the Moone, and another glory of the Starres, for one Starre differeth from another in glory: aSee Luther, Anselme. Lombard. in loc. Pauli.so likewise in the resurrection of the dead A bPaludensis.great vessell and a little, dipped in the same well, hold notwithstanding diuers measures, according to their capacity: so in Gods house, eueryevery chosen vessell of honour is filled vp to the brim with the water of life, but the better hath vndoubtedly the bigger mansion, he that held more charity here, shall hauehave more clarity hereafter. Yet (as Au gustine notes vponupon our text) Non erit aliqua inuidra imparis claritatis, quoniem regnab it in omnibus vnit as charitatis.
I goe to prepare a place for you] It is said, Matth. 25. 34. That the mansions in Gods house were prepared before the foundation of the world; how then is it true that Christ at this time goeth to prepare a place? cLather. Ra…ert.Answere is made, that the mansions indeed are prepared from all eternity, but the men who shall inhabit them, as yet were vnprepared. It was expedient therefore that the redeemer of the world should die for their sinnes, and rise againe for their iustification, and ascend into heauen to take possession of this kingdome, and to set open the doores of these prepared mansions vntounto his followers, as also to send vntounto them a conforter, and a conductor, euen the spirit of truth, who might leade them in the right way to this place. So Saint d…. 68.Augustine acurely, Parat quodammando mansiones, mansionibus parands mansores Hee prepareth a place, by making men sit for the place. eSee … in loc.For election is in Christ, and through Christ, and so consequently, none come to the Father but by the Sonne, wee passe by the kingdome of grace, to the kingdome of glory, for without fHeb. 12.14.holinesse it is impossible to see God. Touching other readings, I referre you to lansen. concord. cap. 134. and Erasmus annot. in loc.
Lord we know not whether thou goest] S. Thomas and S. Philip were so good proficients in Christs schoole, that their master in the former chapter at the 10. verse, said of them and of the res… of their fellowes (excepting Iudas the traitor) ye are cleane; and Saint gIob. 6.68.Peter as the hBullinger in loc. cital.mouth of the company professed openly, to whom shall we goe, thou hast the words of eternall life, and we beleeue and know that thou art the Christ, the sonne of the liuing God: And yet their faith in the houre of tentation (as you see) was so weake, that Saint Thomas said, Lord we know not whither thou goest. And Saint Philip, Lord shew vsus thy Father, and it sufficeth vsus. Now these things are written for our iLuther. post in loc.comfort; for if these great pillars of the Church had such a shake, let vsus not despaire, though happily sometime many mountaines of distrust arise in our troubled harts. Assure thy selfe thou hast a good measure of faith, if thou feele want of faith. kTaffin markes of Gods children.As a woman that seeleth the mouing of the child in her body, though very weake, assureth her selfe that she hath conceiued and goeth with child: so if wee hauehave these good affections, and vnfaigned desires of faith in our soule; if hungring and thirsting after righteousnes wee say with the man in the lMark. 9.24.Gospell, I beleeue, Lord help mine vnbeleefe: let vsus not in any case doubt, but that we hauehave the holy spirit (who is the giuer of these godly motions) dwelling in vsus, and so consequently that wee hauehave true faith. It is said, Psalm. 10.19. that the Lord heareth the desire of the poore, yea that he fulfilleth the desires of all such as feare him, Psalm. 145.19. It is sufficient then (in the middest of any grieuous tentation) if thou truly desire to repent and beleeue. For God (m2. Cor. 8.12. accepting the will for the deed) n… epist. is carelesse.taketh a heart desirous to repent and beleeue, for a penitent and a beleeuing heart indeed. It is recorded in the 20. chapter of S. Iohns Gospell, that Mary Magdalene seeking Christ at his sepulchre, found afore the felt him. He talked with her, and stood high her, and comforted her; and yet the text saith at the 14 verse she knew not that it was Iesus. In like fort the spirit of Christ is sometime present with vsus, and within vsus, oRom. 8.26.helping our infirmities, albeit we hauehave little sight or sense therof; he is a secret friend, and doth vsus often most good when we least perceiue it. Saint Thomas here said, we know not the way nor whither thou goest, and yet truth it selfe anowed the contrary, whither I goe ye know, and the way ye know. They knew the way, but they did not know that they knew, saith pTra…t. 69. in lo…n.Augustine, Sciebant …, sed se scire nesciebant. See the long of S. Simeon, and the grace of our Lord, &c. in the Liturgie,
I am the way, the truth, and the life] That is (as qCor. in loc. … calui… & Mul…rat.Ferus) Exorduins salutis, ergo via: medium salutis, ergo veritas: finis salut is ergo v…a. The beginning of heauenly happinesse, and therefore the way: the meane, and therefore the truth: the end, and therfore the life. rFerat vbi s. p.… incipientium, veritas … oficientium, vita perfectoruus Or as sIn loc. …. & The ….Euthymius, if I am the way, then I am able to bring you to the man ie…s in my fathers house: if the truth. I he not in s…ying, I goe to prepare a place for your if the life, then neither tRom. 3.38.Angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor death it selfe, shall separate you from me; but I will receiue you to my selfe that where I am, there ye may be also. Or as u….Leo the great. The conuersations sancte, veritas doctrine, diuine, vita beati…udinis sempiterne. The which is expressed by S.xSer. 2. … dom. Bernard, in these words elegantly, Via in example, verita promise, vita in premio: The …, in my workes, and the truth in my words, and the life in my rewards, y….Via ducens, veritas listens, vita pascens. zBernard. tarct. de gradibus bamilit. in prim.With such as wāder in a bie way, I am the high way: to such as are doubting in the way, I am the truth: vntounto such as are wearied vntounto. heir heauie burthen in their courses, I am the life. Or as Cyril vponupon the place, for as much as we shall ascend to the mansions in Gods house by faith, hope, charity, (of all which onelyonly Christ is the donor) he may be tearmed the way, for giuing vsus an aIob. 13.15.34.example yt we should louelove one another, as he hath loued vsus: yt truth, in deliuering such infallible rules of faith: & the life, by cōforting vsus with an assured hope that we shal one day raign with him in his fathers house for euermore. Thus Christ is bVide Iansen. concord. cap. 134 & stapleiud de vita Thomae. Apost. pag. 5.6.via, in qua per charitatem ambulare: veritas, cui per sidem adhaerere: vita, ad quā per spē attolli de bemus: cTract. 69. … Iohn.or as Aug. Christ is the truth, & the way, qua itur; & the life, quo itur. And in dDe doct. Christ. lib. 1. cap 34.another place, Permi, v: nitur ad me, prouenitur in me permanetur in me.
eMaldonat. in loc.Other taking this phrase for an hebraisme, construe it thus, I am the true way leading to life which is euerlasting. Or, I am the way to truth and life, making truth and life but Epitheta to way. Or I am the way, and the true light going before you in the way to life, as hee doth fAretius. Cal…in.expound himselfe in the words immediately following, No man commeth to the father but by me, called gIob. 1.4.5.else where the light, as well as here the life; which occasioned hSer. 2. de ascens. dom.Bernard to say, Nos populus …uas, & oues pascus tue sequamur te, per te, ad te. I will end this obseruation with a meditation of S. iLib. de bono mort. 5. cap. 12.Ambrose, Ingrediamur banc viam, reneamus veritatem, vitam sequamur. Via est que perducit, veritas est que confirmat, vita qua per se redditur. Suscipe nos domine quasi via, confirma quasi veritas, vinifica quasi vita, nam in te sumus, vinimus mouemur; mouemur quasi in via, sumiu quasi in veritate, viuimus quasi in vita eterna.
This one sentence doth afford many comforts vntounto troubled hearts; if Christ bee the way to life, there is kAct. 4.12.none other name whereby we must be saued, lBernard. ser. 2. in ascens. dom.Aliter qui vadit, cadit. If the truth, all other religions opposite to the Christian faith are …ither ignorant fantasies, or else arrogant heresies. It the life, let vsus nor despaire in death, …ur mIob 19 25.redeemer hueth, he which is the nIohn 11.25.resurrection and the life, shall at the last day raise our vile bodie, making it like oPhilip. 3.21.his glorious body, receiuing vsus to himselfe, that where he … in his fathers house, there wee may be also.