Fruitful Lessons Upon the Passion Burial Resurrection Ascension, resurrection · Commentary 9
Doctrine and fruite.
WE read in the holy Euangeliſts, that at the firſt Chriſt called his diſciples, namelie, Peter and the others from fiſhing, which they alſo left, and came to Chriſt, who told them that he would make them fiſhers of men. Now when hee wil ſend them out to that office, & depart from them he appeareth againe vntounto them at their fiſhing. And (like as he did afore at their vocatiō) he doth before them a great miracle: in the which hee admoniſheth them of their office, and chargeth them diligently to care for his ſheepe committed vntounto them. But firſt he proueth his reſurrection, to ſtabliſh and confirme their weake faith therby, commaunding them afterward, to bring other folks alſo thereto.
This hiſtorie in it ſelfe is euident enough, therefore ought wee firſt to conſider it after the letter, for the letter alſo teacheth for it ſelf. Chriſt like as he appeared vntounto thoſe that were ſorrowful & mourned: ſo doth he heere appeare vntounto thoſe that labour and trauaile. Chriſt gaue his diſciples authoritie out of the Goſpell,Math 10. 1. Cor 9. that they preach to take a competent honeſt liuing, as foode and neceſſaries of the bodie… and yet did not hee reſtrayne them, that they ſhould not or might not labour, when occaſion ſerueth. Therefore Paule alſo vſed not that liberty at certaine times, but labored with his owne hands and wan his meate. So did the Diſciples of Chriſt exerciſe themſelues in their labour. For when they were come into Galelee, from the feaſt of Eaſter which they had kept at Hieruſalem, afore the holy ghoſt was giuen them, they would not goe idle, and thereby become a burthen vntounto other men: (for he that goeth idle, lieth vponupon other folkes, eating that theirs is, and ouerchargeth them) but vndertake to get their owne lyuing with their handy worke, which they had vſed afore. Whereby wee muſt learne to apply our ſelues vntounto labour, and not to bee idle: for idlenes is the mother of many and great vices. EueryEvery man ought to hauehave an honeſt traiuaile, to bee exerciſed either with the body or with the minde. Who ſo laboureth not, muſt not eat. Man was created to labour,2. Theſ. …. Iob. 5. as the bird to flie. Therfore ought eueryevery father to bring vp his children in honeſt exerciſe from their youth vp, that the deuill get no place in their hearts, which yet commeth to paſſe, if he finde them idle. The firſt commaundement giuen to our forefather Adam after the fall was this: In the ſweat of thy face ſhalt thou eat thy bread.
Now when we in true faith and confidence vntounto God, doe take in hand the worke that he hath committed vntounto our charge, we ought not to doubt, God ſhal proſper it, and giuegive vsus his rich and gracious bleſſing in it, as it is written, Prouer. 3. In althy waies remember the Lord, and hee ſhall direct and order thy doings. Eccleſ. 5.9.
Heere is alſo to bee conſidered, how Chriſt vttereth his godly power before his diſciples, in the great miracle that hee did in their ſight, to confirme our faith in him. For out of the appearing of Chriſt groweth faith, Pſal. 85. And his true reſurrection will hee print in them, in that he appeareth vntounto them, & eateth with them.
Heere wee ſee the ardent deſire of Peter, which leapeth into the ſea, as ſoone as he heareth that it is the Lord: he that afore had denied him, maketh now ſpeedie haſt againe vntounto him. Though wee of mans feebleneſſe and feare, doo fall into ſinne, yet alwaies whē we heare God in his word, we ought forth with to turne againe vntounto him: and ſo ſhall hee with the loſt ſonne, graciouſly receiue and embrace is agayne.Luke. 15.
In that Peter couereth himſelfe being naked, we learne nurture and ſhamefaſtneſſe, to walke & dwell with all honeſtie in the ſight of men, ſpecially in the preſence of our ſuperiours and gouernors.
In the corporall workes and deedes of Chriſt, there is nothing in vaine, nothing without effect. Beſides the outward appearance of the worke, there is deſcribed ſomewhat more excellent, where unto a faithful beleeuer ought to direct the eies of his mind as when he maketh the blind to ſee, it is an outwarde act, and a declaration of his godly power, & an alteration there is outwardly in the eyes of the blinde, in that his fight is reſtored vntounto him againe: neuertheleſſe ouer and beſides the outward worke, there is giuen vsus to vnderſtand, that Chriſt is the true lyght of the whole world, which driueth awaie the blindnes of our hart, and illuminateth the eyes of our mind, according to the Scriptures, Iſay. 42.49. Iohn. 1.9.12. &c.
Chriſt taking bread and wine, giueth the ſame to his diſciples to eate and drinke. This (as no man can denie) was an outward act, and they commaunded outwardly to doo it, albeit in the remembraunce of him. Beſides and aboue the outward eating & drinking, the faithfull beleeuer muſt lift vp his heart, and looke with the eyes of faith vntounto that which is ſpiritual, namely, how that Chriſt is the true liuing bread which feedeth our ſoules to eternall life, how his bodie was broken for vsus vponupon the croſſe, how we thorough his death are made liuing, and waſhed awaie from our ſinnes by his bloud. In this is ſet forth vntounto vsus the higheſt louelove of all, namely, that Chriſt gaue himſelfe vntounto the death for vsus, whereby wee are admoniſhed of his grace, yea, not onelyonly in this deſcribed vntounto vsus, but alſo the holy Ghoſt doeth mightily land fruitfully worke the ſame in the heartes of the true beleeuers, which in faith at the ſupper receyue the true body and bloud of Chriſt: whereby theyr heartes are kindled in louelove towardes God and their neighbor, ſo that they dwel in Chriſt, & he in them. &c.
So heere likewiſe the outward fiſhing, repreſenteth a fiſhing ſpirituall. Like as in fiſhing it lyeth not in the fiſhers power or wit to take many or few, but … the power and bleſſing of God. And as the labor of the diſciples is in vaine afore Chriſt commandeth them, but when they hauehave his commandement, and caſt out the net vponupon the ſame, they drawe vp a multi…on of fiſhes: euen ſo commeth it to paſſe at this preſent day that we bring forth no fruit ſo lōg as the holie ghoſt worketh not with vsus inwardly. But when Chriſt biddeth caſt out the net: that is, when hee giueth his ſpirite, wee are able to draw vp many men, and to winne them vntounto Chriſt. For all the night long had they taken nothing, till Chriſt came vntounto them: Euen ſo can we doe nothing if Chriſt bee not with vsus by his ſpirite.Acts. 2. On Whit-ſonday when the ſpirite came vponupon his Diſciples, they brought foorth much fruit, and drue many men vntounto Chriſt.
Heereby declareth Chriſt vntounto them in this taking of fiſh, how it ſhould go in their office, and how the time was now at hand, that they ſhould ſhortlie drawe many men out of the ſea of this worlde vntounto him, and that they ſhould proſper and hauehave good ſucceſſe therein. The world is this wilde raging ſea: the ſhore is the quietnes of eternall life that we hauehave in Chriſt, vntounto whome we make haſt with Peter and the other Diſciples: neither doe wee bring men vntounto our ſelues, but vntounto Chriſt, and to the hauen of euerlaſting life. Faith is not idle, but is alwaies occupied in the Lords buſineſſe, cauſing vsus to contemne all perrils, and to ſpeede vsus a pace vntounto Chriſt with the cloathing of vertues, eſpecially with fayth, the wedding garment: that wee appearing not naked, may make haſt vntounto the land of the liuyng, where Chriſt is, the conquerour of death: For the faythfull beleeuers are not far from the land, when their conuerſation is in heauen. Without Chriſt wee muſt begynne nothing,Heb. 11. without fayth may no man pleaſe God. In the nyght of ſinne, our labour is vayne and vnprofitable:Rom. 4. yea whatſoeuer is not of fayth is ſinne. VponUpon the right hand muſt the net be caſt out: That is, in the office of preaching, muſt reſpect bee had to the onelyonly glorie of God, and edefiyng of the church and not to our owne profit or preferment.1. Cor. 14
Chriſt hungreth after our health, this is the meat which he deſireth: that we doe the will of his heauenly father: that wee put our truſt in him,Iohn 4. and louelove one another: that wee lead a iuſt and innocent life:Iohn. …. that wee keepe our ſelues from the filthineſſe of the world, & bring much people vntounto God. Such meat is brought vntounto Chriſt by the Apoſtles, when they through their teaching doe catche men, and bring them vntounto God. Therefore doth he aske them whether they hauehave any thing to eat. They ſaid: nay, for afore the receiuing of the ſpirite, they could doe nothing, but when he came, they brought many profitable things to paſſe. The harueſt was ſo great, that they muſt needs hauehave many workmen.
So when God helpeth the faithfull miniſters of the worde, that they in the miniſterie of preaching hauehave proſperous ſucceſſe, ſo that they draw vp many men through the nette of the Goſpell, and finde much fruite: Then the Diſciples whome Chriſt loueth, and which louelove him againe, doe know that it is the Lorde, and that the ſame commeth not of their owne virtue, but of the power of God. And heereof then groweth there in them a great deſire to come vntounto Chriſt, and to be with him. The office therfore of Apoſtles & of all miniſters of the word is this, that when they do what Chriſt commandeth them, they turne them to Chriſt againe, and aſcribe the honour vntounto him▪ And if ought would let or hinder them to come vntounto Chriſt, they ought to refuſe all the ſame, and to haſt vntounto him with the loſſe of their life. Iohn knoweth Chriſt afore Peter, but Peter commeth to the Lord before him, whereby we may note the diuerſitie of miniſtrations and giftes in the Church. Though Peter bee more feruent, yet is hee not aſhamed to learne of Iohn.
The fiſhers come with the fiſh vntounto Chriſt, the ſhepheards with the ſheepe to one manner of ſaluation, for they are not carefull onelyonly for themſelues how they may be ſaued: but alſo for thoſe whome they hauehave caught, to bring the ſame with them vntounto the ſhore of eternall reſt. It is our ſaluation, when we become Chriſts meat, yea when Chriſt is our foode and ſuſtenance. For they that in the ſea of this world doe faithfully labour to drawe the fiſhe vntounto the Hauen, ſhall obtaine great fruit, and enioy an eternall banquet at Chriſts table in his kingdome. For Chriſt prepared them a dinner, wherein hee ſet foorth vntounto the miniſters of the worde, what they ought to doe, namely, to feed the people committed vntounto them. A great honor is it, to bring much people vntounto Chriſt. Great commendacion, and vnſpeakable ioye ſhall thoſe teachers hauehave, that faithfully trauel in the ſcriptures and word of God.
By the multitude and great number of the fiſhes that the Apoſtles drew in the net, is figured the multitude of the Heathen, who through the preaching in the whole world, ſhould be brought into the vnitie of the faith. And although many Sciſmes and erronious diuiſions ariſe, yet of thoſe that are ordained vntounto life, there ſhall no man fall out of the net. God knoweth thoſe that be his, and they ſhall alway hearken vntounto th… voyce of their ſhepheard. Thus ſhall there euer bee one onelyonly Church, which cannot by vsus be throughly purged: Euermore wil Ipocrites do all their diligence to continue therein, though the makers of diuiſion ſhall not be without great trauail and labour. As for ſuch vices as bee manifeſt, great, and offenſiue, they that bee in authority, are bound to ſuppreſſe them, according vntounto the ordinaunce of Chriſt. Mat. 5.13.18.
Firſt, they that be faithful beleeuers and ordained vntounto life, doe cleaue vntounto Chriſt their head, and then to the members, that is to ſay, all faithfull Chriſtians. For they that are faithfull beleeuers, bee knit togeather in perpetuall vnitie. And although ſome at this preſent day bee in contention, yet ſo farre as they are of the number of the elect, they will agree together againe one with another, afore they depart hence: that they may die in the vnitie of Gods congregation and Churche, without the which, there is no health.
After the great labour that the miniſters of the woorde hauehave in the raging ſea, Chriſt rewardeth his with a very coſtly and glorious feaſt in his kingdom: there will he be the bread of life, that feedeth and ſatisfieth them for euer.
O mercifull GOD, graunt vntounto vsus all that wee may faithfully cleaue vntounto thee, and follow thy commaundement. Tame thou our bodie and members in honeſt labour, that we loyter not in vices. O draw our hearts alwaie vpward: that all temporall things ſet apart, we may haſt onelyonly vntounto thee. O gracious father, giuegive vsus ſuch faithfull fiſhers, as beeing true and carefull in their office, may with the net of thy holie worde, drawe vsus out of the raging ſea: that wee with them, and they with vsus, may enioye the euerlaſting banquet. Amen.
SO when they had dined, Ieſus ſaith to Simon Peter: Simon Ioanna loueſt thou me more than theſe? Hee ſaide vntounto him: Yea Lorde, thou knoweſt that I louelove thee. Hee ſaith vntounto him. feed my lambes. Hee ſaith vntounto him againe the ſecond time: Simon Ioanna, loueſt thou me? He ſayth vntounto him: Yea Lord, thou knoweſt that I louelove thee. He ſaith vntounto him: feed my ſheepe. Hee ſaid vntounto him the third time: Simon Ioanna, loueſt thou me? Peter was ſory, becauſe hee ſaid vntounto him the third time, loueſt thou me? And hee ſaid vntounto him: Lord, thou knoweſt all things, thou knoweſt that I louelove thee. Ieſus ſaith vntounto him: feed my ſheepe.