Twenty-Seven Lectures Upon Hebrews, Lectures · Lecture 13
The thirteenth Lecture vponupon the 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. verses, to these wordes: whose house, &c.
2 Who was faithful to him that hath ppointed him, euen as Moses was in all his house.
3 For this man is counted worthie of more glorie thē Moses, in as much as he which hath builded the house, hath more honour then the house.
4 For euerie house is builded of some man, & he that hath built al things, is God.
5 Now Moses verily was faithful in al his house, as a seruant, for a witnesse of the things which should be spoken after.
6 But Christ is as the Sonne, ouer his owne house, &c.
I Tolde you, the Apostle in this Chapter, beginneth a speciall discourse of the prophesie of Christ: first (as you hauehave heard) making an earnest exhortation for vsus to hearken vntounto him.
Nowe, he goeth forwarde, and teacheth what maner of Prophet Christ is, and howe we ought to account him. First, that he was ordeined of God: next, that he was faithfull in his calling, for he saith: He was faithful to him that appointed him: for in that the sonne of god was (as we hauehave hard) thus made man, this was gods appointment, to make him our Prophet: and in that he was appointed of God, he is set forth with his warrant, that he did not glorifie him selfe to be our prophet, but his father gaue him this honour by his glorious voice sounding out of the cloude: This is my beloued sonne in whome I am wel pleased, Christ ordeyned of God to bee our Prophet.heare him: and let vsus take heede, not to refuse, or despise him, that is thus sent of God, and speaketh from Heauen, least we should be found to striue against God. And here, that it is saide: God appointed him: wee see the roote and founteine of this louelove, that Christ should come a sauiour among vsus. It was not onelyonly in the person of the Sonne, who gaue his life for his sheepe: but it was also in the person of the Father, who so loued the worlde, that Hee gaue his onelyonly begotten Sonne, that euerie one which beleeueth should not perish but hauehave life euerlasting. So that we know, as the worke & instrument of our saluation is in Iesu Christ, God and man, who was crucified for our sinnes: so the first cause is in God the Father, who according to his owne purpose and will, hath predestinated vsus in Christ, before the foundations of the worlde were laide, that we should be vessels of honour, to set foorth the praise of his glorie, who had merciemercy vponupon vsus.
And as we must giuegive vntounto our Sauiour Christe, the glorie of our redemption, in the sacrifice of his bodie, or else we denie him to be the Sonne of God: so we must giuegive vntounto the Father, the praise of his merciemercy, that hath freelie loued vsus, and predestinated vsus eternallie vntounto life, or else we denie that he is the Father of our Lord Iesu Christ: for as this is our profession, that Christ hath done the deede: so this is our profession, that God the Father hath appointed him vntounto it. And as the Apostle speaketh here, that God appointed him to be our Prophet: so our Sauiour Christ euer acknowledgeth, that he was sent of his Father.
The second thing here witnessed of Christ, and in which we are assured he is our onelie prophet, & we are prouoked to hearkē vntounto him, is: that He was faithful in all the house of God: This faithfulnes is truth and integritie in discharge of this office committed to him, wherein he set all his care and industrie, that he might be found faultlesse, that like as he was sent of God to be a Prophet to reueale his will: so he did faithfully perfourme it, teaching only ye doctrine & ordinances of his Father: as in many places Christ testifieth this faith in his doing: My doctrine (saith he) is not mine, but his that sent me. Againe, I doe nothing of Ioh. 7. 16.my selfe, but as my father hath taught me so I speake. And Ioh. 8. 18.again: The words that thou hast giuē me, I hauehave giuen thē. How diligently then ought we to heare such a Prophet, Ioh. 17. 8.as hath so faithfully spoken? And here we hauehave all a verie good lesson taught vsus, in the person of Christ, to what calling so euer we be called of God, in the same let vsus be faithfull: if wee be preachers, faithfull preachers: if we be princes, faithful princes: if we be iudges, faithfull iudges: if we be treasurers, faithful treasurers: if we be merchants, faithful merchants: what soeuer we bee, faithfulnesse must bee our praise: for as Saint Paule requireth of all: Hee that hath an office, let him be diligent in his office: so hee giueth this as ye prayse of all diligence. It is required Rom. 13. 1. Cor. 4. 2.of euerie dispenser, that he be found faithfull: and euerie vnfaithfull seruant shalbe condemned in his worke, in the day that his accompt is called for: for he that hath bene vnfaithful in things of this life, which are fraile and fewe: how can he thinke there shall euer be committed vntounto him eternallthings, and infinite in number.
And we must heere also marke, that it is say de of An accompt of our offices is to be made to God.Christe, He was faithfull to him that called him: that is, to God: for vntounto God wee must make our accompt of eueryevery worke.
It is true, that Kinges make their vnderunder officers, but the offices are all of God: Kinges serue to appoint the persons in this ministerie of man: but God alone appointeth them their work, which 1. Peter.is the ministerie of his iustice, and the safetie of his people, of which he also will aske an accompte, and before him we doe all that we doe. When Iosaphat King of Iudah appointed his iudges and officers, he giueth them this charge: Remember that now you execute not the iudgemēts of man but of the lord. Ther fore in eueryevery office, thou bearest the image of God, 2. Cro. 19. 6& nothing must make thee breake the righteousnes of it: not thy profite, not thy pleasure, not thy kinsman, not thy friend, not thy Father, not thy King: for if thou do, thou hast sinned, and thy sinne will finde thee out in the day in which shalbe saide: Come giuegive account of thy stewardshippe. The Prince may sette thee in the seate of iustice, but the prince must not make thee pe…uert iustice: he may giuegive thee an office, but he cannot giuegive thee thy Quietus est, for the vnfaithfulnesse of thine office: if magistrates & officers knew this, they would not so ambitiouslie sue, as they doe, & when they had obteined they would bee more faithfull then they are: but this is a desperate disease, and for me let it grow til it be rottennesse in their bones: I speake not in hope of any amendment, but I beare witnes of their sinne against the day of vengeance. Further I say nothing, they hauehave made their gaine their God, and with the idol to which they are ioyned, let them alone. In this matter of faithfulnesse, which we hauehave in hande, let vsus learne this: that as it is necessarie in all, so it is especially necessarie in the minister. And to the ende that we may all learne what is the faithfulnesse of a minister, let vsus see what was in Christ, whose faith is the example for all to followe.
It followeth: He was faithful as Moses in all his house: What was the faithfulnes commended in Moses? Exod. 39. 42 Num. 30. …That he did in euerie point, acording to that which God had commaunded, and pretermitted nothing of all that the Lord had saide. This was The faith fulnesse of a true minister.then the faithfulnesse of Christe, to doe nothing but at the will of his Father: and this Saint Iohn witnesseth expresly in many places, that Christe did and saide all things, according to the word and will of his Father.
And thus Sainct Paule, when he would shewe the faithfulnesse of him selfe and his fellowes, he saith: He maketh no merchandize of the worde of …. Co. 2. 17God, nor mingleth it, as vinteners doe their wine, but speaketh as from God himselfe. And in another place, he saith: He doth not mingle deceipt with the word of God. Now, the worde it selfe is called by 2. Cor. 4. 2.Sainct Peter, the milke that is without all deceipt, shewing, whatsoeuer is else of man, it is falshod, and no sweete nourishment of life in it: therefore he that is faithfull, speaketh onelyonly the wordes of Christ, as S. Paule saith, in cleare and manifest declaration of trueth. And expressely in plaine woordes this is taught vsus by Paule, in the first Epistle to the Thessalonians, saying: Our exhortation was not by craftinesse, nor by deceipt, nor by vncleanesse: but as God allowed of vsus to commit his Gospel vntounto vsus, so wee spake: not as studying to please men, but to please God, who tryeth our heartes: neither euer did wee either flatter you (as you know) nor sought subtile meanes to winne ought vntounto our selues (as God is our witnesse.) Here is the image of this faithfull minister, like vntounto Christe, one that preacheth nothing but the worde of God, nor for any cause but for Gods glorie. How many ministers know this, the Lorde alone can tell: but howe fewe followe it, all we this day are witnesses. And I may almoste say heere, as I saide afore of officers: I speake not for any hope I see of amends: for I assure you, it is almost with vsus in the ministerie as it was in Esaies time with y• people of Israel: The whole head is sick and the whole heart is heauie, from the sole of the foote, to the Esal. 1. 6.crown of the head, there is nothing whole therein, but woūds & swellinges and sores full of corruption: from the priests of the highest chaires, to the beggerly curates of the countrie, a generall neglecte is of this faithful teaching of Gods people.
The other & greatest part of vnfaithfulnesse, is, when we corrupt and defile the word of God committed vntounto vsus, to mingle it with our owne deuices, & bring it into small account, that we might magnifie our owne traditiōs: this vnfaithfulnes we pray day and night, that the Lord would keepe it from vsus, and we exhort you, in the name of the Lorde, receiue the worde ingraffed in you, whiche can saue your soules, and receiue the immortall seale which is the word of the liuing God by which you may be regenerate, & where in you hauehave the power of God to saluation, through a pure faith: and hauehave no trust in man, for euerie man is a liar. This faithfulnes, by the grace of God, we bring vntounto you, and beseech Iere. 1. 2….you to abide vponupon the foundation of the Apostles 1. Pet. 1. 23.and Prophets: but of this faith, what one …ot or title is left vntounto our aduersaries? Zimrie was as faithful vntounto Elahor, or Hazael to Benhadad, as they hauehave Rom. 1. 16. Ephe. 2. 20.ben faithfull to the Lord Iesu, in this behalfe: for what is it else but to be guiltie of y• death of Christ, 1. Re. 16. 10.to pollute as they hauehave done, his Testament, which was confirmed in his bloud? What is it but to bring him downe againe from heauen, or to raise him vp againe from the dead, to take away from vsus the word of faith printed in our hearts, by the preaching of his Gospell, and to sende vsus to Rome to inquire of our religion? Surely (dearely beloued) I tell Deut. 30. 12 Rom. 10. 6.you true, and yet not I but Paule, nor Paule but Christ, y• he that sendeth vsus beyond the seas, to learn our faith, when we hauehave the word of God at home, he is an vnfaithfull creature, adulterating the word of God, and as one that would pull Christe againe downe from heauen: and all the Decrees, and Decretalles, and Constitutions of the church of Rome, which they hauehave ioyned to Gods word, and tel you, you must needes beleeue them, they are the verie fornications of the whore of Babylon, and hauehave no thing but filthinesse in them: and if any doubt of it, let him consider what hath ben said. This was the faithfulnes of our Sauiour Christe, to speake onelyonly the woordes whiche his Father had commaunded him to speak. This was the faithfulnesse of Christs Apostles, to preache only what our Sauiour Christ had taught them. This is our faithfulnes, to beleeue according to the preachinge of the Apostles, and to be built vponupon their foundation: not the Pope, who hath exalted him selfe, and cōmeth with his dispensatious against God the Father, againste his Sonne Christ, against his Apostles, and maketh Lawes of his owne, what a periured and faithlesse creature is he? And thus farre of the ministers faithfulnesse.
Now, more touching this comparison here made betwene Christ and Moses, there is no doubt but ye Apostle vseth it the more to ioyne the Hebrues vntounto Christe: for howe they accompted of Moses he knewe well, and what soeuer was spoken of him, they did willingly applie them selues to marke it, & learne it, & his praise did winne their affections to be more equally bent to learne Christ. Taking this occasion, he beginneth his comparison, making this as common both to Christ & Moses: that either of them ruled in the house of God, and either of them was faithful in his charge: but yet so, as Christ was much more honourable, & therefore to be of vsus acknowledged our onelyonly Prophet. The place heere alledged that Moses was faithful, is written in the 12. of Numbers, where GOD giueth him this testimonie, and therefore maketh it a warrant, that God had chosen him aboue all other Prophets, to whom he would more clearely and fully reueale his will: and therefore, none in all the children of Israel, not Aaron, not Myriam, not any to presume against him.
A notable place and very fit for the Apostles purpose: for directly it teacheth, that likewise Christe, who of all other was moste faithfull, was also most glorified of his Father, to be a Prophet aboue al prophets: & where he saith, That Moses was faithful in all his house: that is, in all the people of Israel, whiche was his Church, called in the Scripture manie times The house of GOD, to shewe in how nighe a bonde God had taken them: & that he addeth (All) it sheweth, that to eueryevery one, Moses was ordeyned of God a Prophet to reueale all the will of God, neither any part of it was concealed from him that he knew it not, neither kept secret by him that hee woulde not declare it, but faithfull in all his house, whome in all things eueryevery one should followe: and in this was an image of Christ to come, who in al ye house of God should be absolutely faithful aboue all other that euer were before or after. Heere we hauehave two especial things to learne. Christ was faithful in Christe is perfect in his worke of the Churche, and wee can not adde any thing to better it. Eph. 5. 17,al his house: if in all his house, then is there no peece of the house of God which Christ hath not built vp vntounto perfection: for if any little parte or parcel of it, be least by Christe imperfect, then in it he was not faithfull, to finishe the worke that God had giuen him. Our Sauiour Christ then if we wil receiue him with all his praise, and giuegive him the glorie of all his work, we must confesse he hath built a perset house, and made full all the holinesse of his Saincts, that they might be washed from all vncleannesse, and at the last be presented by him, vntounto his father a glorious church, not haueing spott, or wrinckle, or any like: for he is faithfull in all the house of God, our faith, our hope, our louelove, our wisedome, our woorshipping of God, our order, our gouernment, Christ hath taught vsus all, and he is vntounto vsus all, and him alone we must set to leade vsus in all our wayes. If we shoulde attribute vntounto him the greate and highest mysteries, our predestination, our redemption, our iustification, our sanctification, &c, and say, in such hard pointes he hath instructed vsus, but other thinges he hath leaft to be done by man: what were this but to say, Christ was faythfull in building the stately roomes of his Fathers house, to make the parlour, or hall, or great chamber, but nothing else: so, manifestly robbing Christe of his glorie, that he was not faithfull in all his house? And how are we blinded, if we do beleeue it: he that abased himselfe so lowe, that he refused not the shame and curse of the crosse, what meane we to think, he did not abase him selfe to be with vsus in our owne likenesse, and reueale vntounto vsus & teach vsus all the wil of God, what soeuer we ought to know or do? Let them go, them selues alone, and let not vsus walke in their counsell, who dare require more then Christ hath taught, or to presume to speake more then they hauehave learned of him: which is, to make him vnfaithfull in some part of the house.
An other thing in this, is to be marked: if Christ were faithful in al his house, then are they no part of this house, whiche are not built vp by him: he hath not only made all perfecte, but he hath also done it alone, and not onelyonly he buildeth the house, but they alone are the house who are built by him: so that we if we wilbe this house, we must knowe and feele his workmanship in vsus: and who soeuer knoweth him not, he hath no place in the house of God: for the faithfullnesse of Christ is in euerie part of it, which faithfulnesse, if it hauehave not wrought in vsus, we belong not vntounto it. And thus farre of this comparison with Moses, in whiche first the Apostle giueth them both their praise, that they were faithful in all the house of God.
Now least the comparison should seeme equal, or Moses shoulde be accounted as great as Christe: euen as before he hath giuen Moses his due praise, to testifie how he honoured so great a Prophete of God: so nowe he sheweth the greate excellencie of Christ aboue Moses, that the Iewes may also learne to honour their Messias, as it beecommeth them.
It followeth: Now, this man is counted worthie of more glorie then Moses, euen as much as he whiche buildeth the house, hath more honour then the house: for euerie house is builded of some man, but he that hath built all thinges, is God.
Here, in one especial point the Apostle reserueth vntounto Christe a singular honour aboue all other, and aboue Moses: that is, that Moses was so faithfull a ruler of the house of God, that yet hee was himselfe a part of it: But Christe is so a ruler of it, that he hath also built it himselfe. Now then, seeing the workeman is more honourable then the house, & euerie parte of it. Christ is so much more honourable then Moses.
This reason, we see, is taken of the similitude of a house, a thing vsuall in our life, and vnderstood of all: and seeing it pleaseth God, to teach vsus wisedome by so base similitudes, we are so much more excuselesse if we will not learne.
Will you see the difference betweene Christe and Moses? Looke vponupon a house, & him that made it. When you see a faire house, who hathe the praise? The stone and timber, and other matter: or else the workeman that built them vp together? So is it with Christ and Moses: Moses was faythfull, it is true: and so is the stone and timber good, and sound, and verie apt to abide the hewing, til you can frame it together. But what is this to compare it with the workman▪ Be it neuer so good, it is a lump without fashion, and neuer wil hauehave beautie in it, except the workeman set to his hand: euen so Moses, because hee is fleshe and bloud, whiche nature our Sauiour Christ hath sanctified to be a vessell of the grace of God, hee was an apt matter to be made euen a beautiful portion of this house: but what is this to Christe, without whome Moses had perished in his owne corruption, and his nature had bene lost, no peece of it to come into the house of God?
Seeing then Moses is as a parte of a house, and Christe as the buylder, who hath set it vp: Moses may hauehave the praise, that he was set in an honourable place: but the praise is not his owne, but the workmans that set him in: if we make a comparison betweene them.
In this similitude of the Apostle, that it might be a sul persuasion to the Iewes, they must knowe certeinly, bothe that Moses is but a parte of the house, and that Christ is the buylder of it.
The first is a thinge without controuersie, that Moses was a parte of the house: for how was hee else one of Gods Saints? or what comforte could he hauehave had of all the promises made to Israel: if his owne portion had not bene in them, by beeing one of Israel? The other, that Christe hath built this house, the Apostle proueth it thus. It must needes be, that euerie house must be built of some bodie, and therfore the house of Israel, in which Moses was so faythfull, was also built by some man: it grewe not alone, no more then timber and stones can ioyne together alone to make a house: who was it then hath built … or who made it? who? but euen hee that made all things, and that is God him selfe: if then, as we hauehave taught, Christ be God & the wisdome of his father, by whome all thinges were made, in heauen and in earth: and if he hath taken our nature, that in one person God and man, hee might be a faithfull ruier in this house of god: then he ruleth as the builder, as the maker, so much more glorious then all other, as the builder of the house is more glorious then the house it selfe: this is the plaine meaning of the Apostle in these thirde and fourth verses. Now if it be here obiected: OnelyOnly God is the builder, therefore Christ beeing man, is also a part of the house: We graunt it, he is a part, because he is as one of vsus, hath part with vsus, and we with him, he our head, and we his bodie: but as he is a part, as he is man: so he is the builder, as he is God: & therfore taking mans nature into the person of the Deitie, to glorifie it with his owne glorie, he in this person God and man, is now also the builder of the house: and therefore, al other must giuegive him the preeminence of honour. If it be againe obiected, that Moses was also a builder, as S. Paul calleth him self a builder & a wise builder, 1. Cor. 3 10.it is true, that this name is giuen them, but only improperly, Rom. 15. 20as vntounto the instrumentes by whiche God buildeth: for otherwise Paule may plant and Apollo may water: but there is no growing into ye house of God, except Christ, who is God him selfe; giuegive increase: for he is onelyonly the effectual builder. He (as the prophet Dauid saith) euen the most high, hath Psal. 87. 5.stablished her: & by him all the bodie being coupled and knit together by euerie ioint for furniture therof Eph. 4.receiueth the increase of a perfect bodie, and is made a glorious house of God.
It followeth now in the fifte verse. And Moses was faithfull in all his house, as a seruaunt for the testimonie of the things which should be spoken, but Christ as the sonne is ruler of his house.
Here is an other difference, in which our sauiour Christ farre exceedeth Moses, and that is: that Moses was in the house of god as a seruant, but Christ as the sonne. Nowe, howe muche more honour the sonne hath in his Fathers house, then he that is a seruant, so farre Christe is aboue Moses, and aboue all.
And in this, the Apostle needed not vse many wordes: for the trueth in all was cleare, that Moses was a seruant: all confessed, & God calleth him oft his seruant Moses. And that Christ was the sonne, no man doubted, and the Scripture giueth him plainely the title of the Sonne of God.
This was vntounto the Iewes a verie plaine, and a very strong persuasion: for though they had beene alieuated from this Sonne of Dauid, whome the Apostle preacheth vntounto them, neuer so much: yet they must needes confesse it, Moses was but a seruaunt, the Messias must bee the Sonne: therefore hee to rule in the house for euer, and Moses to giuegive him place.
So now, this high honour of the Sonne of God, beeing giuen to this Christ crucified among them, they could not be offended at the wordes, but were wisely to consider, whether this was he they looked for or no: which by tryall and searching of the Scriptures, when they shoulde finde true, then Christe should hauehave the glorie of our redemption, which thinge, the Apostle nowe so carefully goeth about.
Heere, we hauehave all taught vsus a lesson of good humilitie, and howe to knowe our selues, and what place we hauehave in the church of God. Who is there among vsus, dare aduaunce him selfe aboue Moses? yet Moses was but a seruaunt. Whiche of vsus is so great as an Apostle? Yet Paule sayth, We confesse …. Cor. 4. 5.our selues to be seruants of the Church.
To the ende there should bee no mo maisters but Christe, it was necessarie all other should bee seruaunts: and to the ende he might bee Lorde alone, so GOD ordeined it, that all his ministers The ministers are fellowes, & Christ is onelyonly our maister and Lord.should bee fellowes: so they are all fellowe seruaunts that are appointed of God, for the ordering of his house.
Moses, in singlenesse of heart, was, and was called a seruaunt: Paule a seruaunt: Peter a seruaunt: all seruaunts for the woorke of the ministerie, to buylde vpp the bodie of the Sainctes of God: this is Gods ordinance from the beginning. But of late, one is risen vp, a beast full of hypocrisie, more lowely in name then any Apostle, or Prophet, and calleth him selfe a seruaunt of seruauntes: but as proude in spirite as the whoore of Babylon, which maketh her selfe Ladie ouer Kinges and Emperours.
And this deceiuer hathe thus, as wee see, prophaned the Lords Sanctuarie, and exercised tyrannie in his Churche: hee hathe driuen out the seruants which laboured in paine and lowlinesse to gather together, by preaching, all the people of God, and hath set maisters in their steede, after his owne likenesse, who too too long hauehave nowe kept the Churche of Christ in bondage, and ceasse not to striue to keepe it in bondage still.
And therefore, we ought the more earnestly to praye, that God would giuegive vntounto the nource▪ fathers, and nources of his Churche, that is, to Kinges and Princes, wisedome to see it: and then we shoulde hauehave hope, that they shoulde also finde grace to amende it. But let vsus returne to the Apostle.
When he hath thus shewed, that Moses was but a seruaunt, he telleth after, wherein his seruice was, and what was his faithfulnesse in it.
I… followeth: For a testimonie of the things which should after be spoken. For this purpose, Moses was a seru…unt, and in the perfourmaunce of this duetie, Moses was faithfull: he was a seruaunt, to beare witnesse vntounto the people of all the woordes which God should speake vntounto them, that is, a seruant faithfully declaring all the lawe of God: for these wordes. The thinges which should after be spoken… though they be truely vnderstoode of the Gospell of Christ, because in the figures of the lawe, it was shadowed: and Moses also himselfe did beare witnesse of Christe: yet beecause here is comparison made betweene Christ and Moses, distinctly speaking of both their callinges: therefore I rather take these words of the Apostle here, onelyonly to be spoken of the lawe giuen by Moses: so, Moses was a seruāt to beare witnesse of all the thinges which should be spoken of the Lorde. Here is the full office and whole authoritie of a true seruant, faithfully to doe his maisters message.
And Moses, the most renouned of all Prophets and greatest among the people of Israel, what was he? A seruant, to declare vntounto the people all that the Lorde had spoken. Who is he now will presume aboue Moses, to speake of his owne head, ordinances, and lawes which the Lord hath not made? who wil establish decrees of his own in the house of God? Whosoeuer he be, he shal carrie his iudgement: he is not a seruaunt, as Moses was: because he beareth not witnesse only to the wordes that God hath spoken: but he exalteth him selfe to be a maister, and hath a mouth that speaketh proude things, because he presumeth in the house of God, to giuegive lawes & orders of his own: for if he were a seruant, he would do the worke of a seruant, and beare witnesse what his maister had saide.
And here by this place, we may wel expound it that the Apostle Paule, Iames, Peter, write thē selues the seruants of Iesu Christ. The word it self is manifest proof, they speak nothing but the words of Christ, no decree, no cōstitutiō, no order was of their own, they were but seruants: but al was of the Lord Iesu Christ, who was their onelie maister: and as their name giueth this testimonie vntounto them, so Paule openly affirmeth it in plaine wordes before king Agrippa, that euen to that day, he neuer witnessed any Acte. 26. ….thing, neither to great nor little but only that which Moses before, & all the prophets had said, should cōe to passe. Then let not ye papists heereafter say, when we speak against all their vaine deuises, that they are traditions left by the Apostles: for as they hauehave not the Apostles places, but in stead of seruauntes are made Lordes: so they hold no whit of the Apostles doctrine: or if they wil still auouche it, that the Apostles hauehave deliuered all such things as they teach, then they must shew where Moses or the prophets Rom. 12.hauehave foretolde it: for the Apostles were seruauntes to beare witnesse onelyonly of such things, as God had spoken by his seruants before them, that is, by Moses & the prophets, without whose warrāt whatsoeuer cōmeth, we may boldly say, we vtterly refuse it.
It followeth: But Christ as the sonne is ouer his house. In this name (Sonne) hee doeth not onelyonly giuegive preeminence to rule in ye house, but a perpetuity to dwel in that house, and to reigne (as the scripture sayth) in the house of Iacob for euer: So that, beeing the sonne of God, who is heire of al things, he ruleth in this house as Lord & gouernour, whose commaundement alone doeth stand. And againe, beeing the Sonne of God, eternallie begotten of his Father, hee euer did and shall do to the end, rule and hauehave the souereigntie in this house: and who soeuer he bee, in this house, shal presume against ye Sonne, as a rebellious seruant, he shalbe cast out of the house, and an other shall hauehave his roome. Therfore, euen as before the Apostle made his exhortation, that they would consider this Apostle & high Priest of their prosession: euen so let vsus, & humble our selues vnderunder this high Lord in the house of God: let vsus obey his voice and (as Solomon sayth) be more redie to heare, then to offer the sacrifice of fooles: and let vsus be all faithful in our callinge, that before him we may hauehave a good accompt: especially the minister, that he will be a faithfull seruant, keeping his fellowshipp in the church of God, and bearing witnesse of all that the Lord hath spoken. And now let vsus pray &c.