To the right Honorable the Lorde Henrie^ Earle of Huntington^, Lord HaftingSj&c. Knight of the mofl: honorable order o{ the Garter, and Lord Prepdent of the Qjieenes Maiejiies Counfell eftabliflied in the North partes: Chrifiofher Fetherfione wiflicth incrcafeof Ipirituall gifcs,Ionglifc,an(lhappie daics. F that (right Honorable) t Qiouldeprefixe anic long and tedious Preface before this woorke in commendation of your Honor, I fliould of fome befufpeacdofflatterie.- If in praifc of thefc learned Com- mentaries, itflioulde feemca thing fuperfluous, feeing they fufficiently commende them- fcluesilfinexcufc ofthofcfaulteswhiche arebymecin tranflating hereof comittcd : fome cenfuringC^r^ would condcmne mee, becaufe I would take in hand a worke fo weigh tie^bcing not able to be without fault, and by cra- uing pardon forfaultes, lay open my follie. Omitting thefore thefe thinges which might carrie with them fuch inconucniences, I haftcn vnto that whereof I am chicflic to fpcake ; namely to lay open the caufes mouing mee to dedicate this my fimple tranflation vnto your Honor. Your deferts of Gods church, your fingularzeale, your vnfaigned faith, yourfyncere profefsion, yourefpcciall care to aduaunce Gods glory, and to roote out papiftrie, your faithfulnefle to warde your Prince haue been fuche, that this Realme generally , but my countriemen in the North partSjmy natiuefoylefpecially,hauc Scihallhauc A a great The Spi/lk grcatcaufetoprayfeGodforyouin the day of their vi- litation,euen when itlliall pleafsGodof his great mer- cie to behold them with fauourable countenance, and to take from them in greater meafure that blindneffeand fupcrftition, wherein they had been long time noufled, and being fall bred by the bonc^is notyct (through want ofmeanes) gotten out of the flelli. Seeing all thefe ver- mes areinyouto be found: feeing both this church and countriehaue found you.fabeneficial], whom ought not thefe things to prouoke to iliew all thankfulneffe toward your honor? Againe^ when this hiftorie of the Afts of the Apofdes was firft penned in Greeke by Luke, it was dedi- cated to noble Theophilus : When jM Caluindidthe fe- condtime publiili his Commentaries thereupon inLa^ tine,he prefented them vnto one who was in minde a no- ble Theophilus. Lead therefore this worke nowcpubli- fhcd in Engliflijfliould by dedication bee any whit deba- fcd J hauc made choyfc of your honour, being no leffe a noble Theophilus than thofc before mentioned. Ano- ther thing which is not fo much a caufeasan cncouragc- metjis that courrelie which your honor flieweth to thofc, which prefent vnto you any cxercifes of learning howc fimplc foeuer they becj whereof I hauc had full good ex- pcriencc,euenin my tender yceres: namely, atfuchtimc as I was trained vp in the citie of Carlile, vnder that man in his calling painfuU^and to the common- weal thprofi- table,M.//'^>'f/,whom for that dutie which to him I owCj I name. At which time though thofe cxercifes which vn- to your honour wee then prefented were fimplc , yet were they fo courtcoufly of you rcceiued , that the re- membrance thereof doth euennowc encourage mee to prefumc to offer vrj to you fomc weightier matter. The laftjbut not the leaft,is,th e confideration of that great & vndeferuedkindnefle, which all my friend cs ingenerall, but efpecially , my brother your Honors fcruant,haue found at your hands,which to rip vp at large, would bee joo £cdious.In their behalf thej:fQrc(rightHonorablc)as T>€clicatorie.r^ alfo in mine owne, as a fcnall tcilimonfe of a thankcfull heart, Iprefcnt vntoyour honour this worke; fimple,if yourefped the tranflation, but mofte excellent ifyoir, confider the matter. And thus humbly crauing pardon formyboldnefle, and much more humbly befeeching thcLordeto blefle you in the reading heercof a 1 con-, elude/earing prolixitie. The Lord of heaucn blefle you^ andgraunt that as you haue been heerctoforc a good Thcophilus, fo you may continue to the gloric of God^ thcincreafingof his church,and the profite of this com- monwealth. Vxom MaighfieldmSHJfixXhU 12. oiOdiQ' bcr. 158J. "»wv;)V.y>>v^v''v,j, . ./, VitN^-^^tcit^Vu'ft •'\«^^'5^t ,^it\^ Y^^ Honors mofllmmbk And ohedimi^''^^^^i-'% And in. Chrifie 4t comnMndenuni^'^'^ ^«*.<\ ' ^ ' > *■ "- Chriftopher Fethtfrftofle; • ''^'** .:M»iU*l.- •;;v4 tV^. TheEpiftletotbe Jii?..^}lni-i!j.c "to i-i.-foiff. Reader*. ' -..-. HouTiafi at length (Chrifiian Reader) through the bleffifjg of God tvherewith he hath blejfedmy IaboHrs,thofe learned Commentaries ofM. Cal- uin vpon the jivts of the ^pojlles, thonghjim- flte-,yet faithfully turned into Englip}:(^ though^ ofmanie Lvras the inmeetesi to attempt this traitell ; yet fitch was the earnefi request of my godlie friendes, thafunlAJfe Ifhouldhaue taken ft in hand, I Jljouldhasiefeemed voide 0f cotirtefie ^ndalfo of care to frofte God his Church. I VPtllnotfland to rif vp thofe commodities ytvhich thou hy reading thefe Commentaries maiefl reape,hut I leaue themto thine own experience, Whd^ my tfauell hath been in thii rvorke, thofe who haue inured like toile^can beH tudge.Andforafmuch as Iknont vpelltha^,0,fffir great paines taken, fome things haue efcaped me, Ibefeech thee( gentle reader)condemne me not rafhlyjbm rather amend them friendlie.If thoufjalt growe fonvard in knowledge ^Y^^e^ng this rvorke, then^raife God,r!pho hath by this meanes vnddrtheeprofite. Godgiue thee good fuccejje in reading, that thereby thou may eji both bee better learned and alfo better li* ued. Thine in the Lor de, Chriflofher Fetherjlone, To To the moft renowmed Prince the Countic Palatine of Vilna,chicfc Marfliall.and head ChanncelUr of the great Dnkedome LethtMniat f^cJiu Lord highly to be retKrencedjlohnQaluiii, Hcras I haue made mention of the name s of thofe kings vntowhom I had dedicated thefc my Com- mentaries ; leaft the change incurre the crime of lightnefTc among certainc vnskilfuJJ men, I mufl brieflie render fome reafon thereof. For although both the remembrance of the father who is dead^ doth rctaine that reucrencc with mec which it dc- fcruethj and I doe alfo as becommeth mee reuc- rencc the fbnnc: yet the importunatenes of certainc did inforce me to put out their names in this fecond edition, who biciog incenfed againft me with a furious hatred and fcare, leaft die maicftic of kings doe pur- chafe Ibme fauor to my writings,do boaft abroad that they did conceiuc fore difplcaflire^hat their name was mixed with the dodrine of the fa- craments which they them felues difalow.l Icaue it indifferent wlicthcc that be true or no,ncither doe I pafle : forafmuch as I did neither hunc after anie priuatc gaine,ne yet feeke to win fauor.But bccaufe itfeemcd to me an vndcccnt and filthie thing,to enforce thofe bookcs vpon men which are,vnwilJing to entertaine them, which doe find willing readers kiough/tiwas worth the declaring noWjthat I neuer did think any thing lefTe : but that I did hope for more courtefie than I found. In tliar truhc there can be no offence, if withdrawing my felfe from the contempt of thofe who loath my dutifulneflc, I fufter them to cnioy thofe delights of theirs which they defire,3nd wherein they delight. Of you (moft fa- mousprince)haue Imadcchoifc not without good caufc,\vhomI mighc put in the place of t\vo:both bccaufe I thinke you moft worthic, to haue your name appeareinthc fpirituall building of Chriftcs temple; neither doe I fcare but that my booke fhall finde the fame fricndfhip at your bandcsjwhich you did vouchfafe to declare towardes mee in your moft gentle letters. But omitting at tliis time the refped of priuatc good will, I will ftay in another thing. Morcouer I may full well applie vnto youthatfpeechwhichi had before with another. Neither am I deter- mined in this place to commend thofe moft excellent venues whcrwith you haue purohafed great authoritic Scfingular fauor with the kingof Polonia:! am rather bent vnto attfcxhortationjthc fiunmc whcrof fhall be this,that with the like rcadines & ioifulnes wherwith you haue at the beginning recciued the pure dodrinc of the Gofpell, that with the like ftoucncs of courage whcnvith you haue hitherto indeuored tomaintain the true worfhip of God, you do with the fame coftancie profecute this courfe vnto the end.It was furely a point of rare vertue,that wheras you iluiknbw chat many did hate nothiogmorc thcn,tban dic£:ank profei* ii:ij A 4 fioo Gon and free ftudie of godlincs,yet fo foone as the truth of the Gofpell of Chriftc did once (hinc and appcarc vnto you,you did not fearc by gl- uing your name to prouoke their hatred againft you. Neither doc thole offices and good turncs dcferuc fmallprayfc, which you did not ccafe to beftow vpon the cheriihing and increafing of the firft beginnings of the Church: although this your dihgencedid purchafe vnto you great enuie amongcft manic noble men,which did not allowe the fame. But becauleyouhaue no leffchardeftraites to pafle through, youmuft of- tentimes ilirre vp and encourage your felfe to ouercomc them alljvntill you hauc finilhed the laft aft : And fo much the more carefully ,becaufc manic princcs,although they fee the eftate of the Church filthily cor- rupt,yet dare they attempt no rcraedic : becaufe that daungcr which they fearc will proceede from innouation, when cuiiles muft bee driucii out of their olde and quiet pofleflion,dcth hmder and keepe them back from doing their dutie. Other forae thmke it to be an abfurdc and foo- liththingjto touch or let hande to difeafes which are vncurablc. Other Ibmc (i cannot tell through what frowardnefle) doc flie from and ab- horrc all manner of reformation. But to intrcate of thofc lets where* witkyou are enuironned on cucrie fide, it were fuperfluous, efpeciallie feeingyouknowcthcm well enough: Yet howfoeucrSathandoethaC- fault you,and with whatcombats Ibcuer he doth exercife you, you can not without great wickcdnefTebeeweancof this holy warfare, which you haueprofcfledvnderChrifte his banner. Furthermore, although youbce forwarde enough of your felfe : yet I hope it will neither bee troublcfome, neither yet vnprofitablc for you tohaueyour piofperous courfe of your earncft ftudje,holpen and furthered with this help'which God docth offer vnto your handes by mec. So often as wee fee thinges toflcd to and fro, and as it were turned topfie turuie in the world, there can no more fit and fure proppe bee found to eftablilhe and flay our weakc confciencesjthanwhen as fetting before our eyes the kingdomc of Chriflc, as it doth nowc appeare,weeconfidcr what hath been the eftate and condition of the fame from the beginning. When we fpeakc ofthekingdomeofChrift,wcemuftrcfpefttwo thinges : thedodrine of the Golpell, whcrby Chrift doth gather vnto himi'elfe a church, and whereby he gouerneth the famc,beeing gathered together: Secondly, the focictie of the godly, who becing coupled togeather by the fincerc faith of the gofpcl ,arc truly accounted the people of God. Both which things howe liuely they are exprcffed by Luke in the Adcs of the Apo* ftlcsjit is better to knowe by the reading of the whole book, than to be- Iceue either my commendation or the commendation of anie man els. For although the fonneof GOD hath alwayes reigned, eucn from the firft beginning of the worlde : yet after that beeing leuea- led in the flefhe , hee pubhfhed his Gofpell, hee begannc then to e- red a more famous Tribunall featc than before, whence hee docth now appcarc moft plainely and to be alfo moft glorious. Ifwc turne our eics hither, they fhalbc feddc,not with a vaine pifture(as f7rj// faith of his i£iiAu)huc with the found knowledge of chofe things from which we : ' mull; /. Calum Efifi.Dtdscat6rie. muft fetch life. And to the end I may rcturne vnto that whereof I deter- mined to (pcakj this is the beft refuge for the confcience of men, where they may quietly reft amidft thcfe troublcfome tempcfts,wherewith the world is Ihaken. Finally, this meditation alone fhall bring to pafle, that that ftiall ncuer befall vs, which too too many experiments do prouc to haue ben trucly fpoken by Ennius in times paft of the more part of men, that reifedome h dritten away fo often as the matter is handledby ■p'loUme. For if in the greateft and moft vehement heat of combats, the fwecte har- monic of inftrunients was of fuch force amongft the Lacedemonians, that it did afwagc that furioufnes and fearcenes which was ingendred in that warlike people, and did temper that violence, which doth then outofmcafureragein thofc natures , which are othcrwifc vnpatient: how much more (hall the kingdome of Chrift do this , by the hcauenlic plcafant tune of the holy Ghoft, which doth not onely tame moft cruel bcaftes, but maketh alfo Lambcs of Wolues, Lyons, andBcaresjwhich turneth fpcares into hookes,and fwords into ploughftiares? Therefore feeing that (moft noble Prince) I offer vnto you fuch kinde of tempera- ture as the nccclfitie of times requireth, I hope that this duetie of mine /hallnotbevnwelcometoyour highnes: fo that indecde you ftiall per- cciue this kind of confirmation to be very profitable & fit, to looke in- to the beginning of the Church, as it is defcribed of Luke, wherein aip- pearcth both wonderfull power of God vndcr the reproch of the croflc, and alfo moft valiant patience of the feiuants of God , vnder the huge burden of troubles,and the fuccefle it feJfe vncredible to the iudgement of thewoiide, bringeth forth moft plentifuUfruite of both. But that I may omit other things which you had better fet out by reading of Luke himfelfe, I will touch one thing which is proper to earthly princes, and the chiefe gouernours of kingdomes and countries: To wit, that ieeing that(the power of the whole world gainefaying,and al men which were then in authoritie being armed to oppreflc the Golpel) a few men , ob* fcure,vnarmed and contemptible, trufting onely to the aid of the truth & the Ipirit, did labor fo ftoutly in fpreading abroad the faith of Chrift, did refufe no paines nor danger,did ftand ftoutly a gainft all aflaults,vn- till at length they gat the viftorie; there remaineth no excufc for Chri- ftiannobles, whoareofanydignitic, feeing God hath fiirniftied them with the fword to defend the kingdome of his fonnc, vnlrfle they bee at leaft as conftant and bold to take vpon them fuch an honorable office. Furthermore, it is not my part to declare how faithfolly and vprightlie I haue behaued my fclfe in interpreting this hiftoric. I hope lurcly my labour ftiall be fruitfull to all men. And as for you(moft wortliie prince) I muft againe rcqueft and befeech you, thatyou doc both priuately ad- dift your felfcwholy vnto Chrift his goucrncmcnt, as you haue of late happily begun; and that you wouldcahb become not onely a faithful! hclpcr,but alfo a moft ftout & valiant ftanderdbcarer in furthering the kingdome of Chrift, vnto fo manie noble men, whom not onely the rc» nowmcoftheirftockc and linage,but alfo the cxcellencie of their ver- mes doth commend. God hath vouchfafcd to bcftowe vpon the rcalme «f Poloola a Gngular priuiloige of honor,chat the better pin of the n haue I ^aide that the Papiftes tnakc boaitof a deade carkailcia itced of the liuelic bodie of ChriA« bccaufe LCatmn EftJl.Dedic4torif* becaafc though they hauc cxtinguifhcd the DoArlne of the Gofpcl (which is the true foule of the Church, & which dulv doth quicken the lamc)yct they do greatly boaft of a (hadowilh & trifling kind of church. Wee make it full well knowne howe corrupt the puritic of doftrinc is a- niongft thera , yea with what monftrous errors it is polluted. They doc not onely couer ail their corruptions vnder the {hadow of the Church : but alfo complaine that we doe great iniurie to the Church, bccaufc wc fay that the lame doeth erre. But they (houlde firfthaue examined the dodrine^that the Church might thereby be knowne. Thefe iuft and ho- ncft iudges wil haue the feigned title of doftrine to haue fufficient force ofprciudice to couer and fupprefTc the difference, and that notto dit. ceiue men. For with what flcights and leigerdemaine would they affaic tobleare euen dafeling eies m fo great light ? Butbecaufe they ac- compt this iibertic of lying a part of their tyrannie, they thinkethey reigne not as tliey woulde, vBlcfTetheyreprochfullymockemiferable Ibules. That wee may fct an example no farther, wee haue fcene in our times, fomctime the Tridentine Fathers, fbnietimes the Fathers of Bo- nonia, who although they were euen at daggers drawing among them-* felues, yet did they fome out their vainc Canons on both fides. And furely if men aflfent to their principles, the triumph fhail be prepared on both fides. There fit there I cannot tell how manic Bifliops,and Abbats peraduenturc an hundred horned beaflcs. If the mofl fine flower of all the nation fhould fhine there, yet fhould it be nothing elfe but a wicked confpiracie againfl God. And nowe after that the Pope hath gathered togither the branne and chips of his vncleane and filthy rotten flockc, (hall the reprcfentatiue Church fuddainly appeare there ? And are they not yet afhamed to cal that,an hoIy,gcneral,and lawful Counccl which doth not deferue fo much,as to be called a vainc and Comicall vifure of a Councel? But as for vs to whom the promifc is made, that AntichrifV, who fitteth in the temple of God , fhall be deflroyed with the breath of the Lords mouth : let not vs (I fay) ceafe to refute this filthle and who- rJfhimpudencie, with thatmoft facred wordc, which thcyfoboldlic raocke: that al men may fee what difference there is betweene the chafl fpoufe of Chrifl, and the (linking whore of BehalJ: betweene the fan- ftuarie of God, and the Brothelhoufe of Satan : betweene the fpirituall houfe of the godly , andtheftie of hogges: andfinallie betweene the true Church, and the court of Rome. There can no more certainc or plaine demonflt^tion be brought concerning this matter either by £»■ elide, either yet by Archimedes, then if the Church,as Luke defcribeth it, be compared with the popifli Synagogue. Neither am I f b fbreit , that 1 would hauc that confufed lumpe , being altogither repugnant vnto the order ofnature, and manner of humanitie, to be agreeable in al points tothcruIeofthcApofllcs, which is Angelicall and heaucnlic. If they can fhew any thing wherein they arc like vnto them, they may triumph for me.But for as much as all thirtgs arc contraric, & althogh the more pare of men become blind willin^'.«(^t leaftwifc feeing the whole hca- «cns doc allow vs^ wc may n6t<>ri€^'Contcranc their braincficke pride with« J.Caluin Efifi.Dedicatori^» without any Fcare, but alfo freely fpeake cuUI of the fame. In the meane feafon wc haue no fmall confolation to fupport vs ; that howfocucr the Papifts doc fet againft vs with fternc countcnancc,the name and title of the Church, yet we know that we fieht onely againft the profefled cni- mies of Chrift. Wc ought abouc allthinges to defire, that the moft re- nowmed king, who according to his wifcdomc hath long agoe Ipied out chcfubtilefleightsofthcRottiiih court, commanding thofc vainBuls CO auoide, wherein the Councel boafteth a farr ofF,may at length more freelie applie his minde vnto the carneft and perfcft reftoring of the Church. Yet ought no lingering to keepe you back,but euery one of you muft with might and maincindeuour to enlarge and fpreadc abroadc thofe beginnings which are begun to arifefo happilic. Farewell moft excellent Lord,and right renowmcd Prince: The Lord alwaies goucme you with his fpirite, amplific by all m canes your die[nitic ; and bleflc your godlic cnterprifcs cucn ynto the cnde. At Gcmm, the firft of Tlie argument vpon the A(n:es of the Apoftles. 0 the Inttnt that all godly men may with woYedillgetux reade this hifiorie , and alfo be more defirout thereof : it fhallmtbe without profile , briefly to note what common ditie they fhaUreape thereby. This is the chiefefi fraift that a prophage hifiorit hath, namely, that it is the mai^ fhres oflifejfthat narration offamom deeds which onely teacheth men what they ought to foUovee , or what thejf ought tt efchewe in their comman aStions, deferuefuch x title: of how great praife are the diuine hifiories worthie,which do not onely frame the outward life of man that he may winne praife by vertue ^but alfo (which is more) which declare vnto rs, that God from the beginning hath had a fpeciall re- gard alrvayis of his church, and faith full congregation: that he hath bene alwaies a mofiiufircuenger of all wrongs done vnto thofe, that haue betaken themfe lues >nto his tuition, and haue com mitted themfelues ynte his cuFiodie : that he hath Jhewed himfelfe fauourable and merciftiUvnto mo ft miferable and wretched fin' tiers : and lazily by teaching vs faith,hoifed vs high aboue the heauens ? I fay no- thing of this, that they do euerie where fit forth the prouidcnce of Cod, that they difiingufh the true worfhip ofGodfrom the falfe,they neuer ore in the difference of -vice and ycrtue. Although I omit nowe alfo thofe worthie praifes which yfi ntjfi commonly to bee attributed vnto the ficredhif}ories,intendingonely fhort- Ly to touch thofe, which are proper to this bool^ , which wee haue taken in hande, Thofe things which Lu^e fetteth before vs in this place to be learned, are not only great, but alfo of rare profte : Tor fir fi in that he (heweth that thefpirite of God teas feat vnto the Apoftles, he doth not only proue that chrifi was faithful ^jr true inkeepinghis promife, made vnto his Apoftles: butalfohecetiiftethvs,thathe isahayes mind full of his , and a perpetitallgmernour of his Church : becaufe the holyfpirite did difcendc from heauen to this ende , whereby we learne that the di- fiance of place doeth no whit hinder chriflfrom being prefent with thofe that be his, at all times. T^we heere is mo fi liucly painted out, the beginning ofchrifis kingdome, and as it were the renuing of the worlde. Tor although thefonne cfGod had gathered togither by his preaching, a certaine church, before fuch time as hi departed out oft he world -yet neuerthclejfe, that was the be ft forme of the Church which began then,when as the Apoftles hauing new power giuen them from aboue, hegan to preach, that that onclv fijeapherd didboth die andalfo rife again?, that through hfi conduEJ all thofe which were difperfedfarre andwide, vpon the face of the whole earth , might bee gathe^-ed vnto one fheepefolde. Hecrc is therefore fet downe both the beginning , and alfo the increafing of:he Chu-rch ofchrifi, after his afcenftan , whereby he was declared to be I^i rig both of heauen and earth. Tur- thermore therein appeareth as well the merueilous power of Chri/i , as the great force aiidefpcacie of the Gofpelitfelfc: for in that Chrifi by a fort offimplefoules K andofno reputation amongfimen, being endued alfo with no eloquence at tl,hath /ubduedthe whole w»rldfo eaflly by the only voice of the Gofpel,whcreas notwitff- ftandin^ The Argvmbnt. . paneling Satan didreftfihim whbfo manie lets: he hath fhewcdamofi manlfeft token ofhis diwne power and might therein, ^ndalfo rre/ie in the fame, the in- credible force of the Cojpelythat it did not only come forth ^fhew itfelf^although the wholeworlddidfay nay^ hutalfo with ^eat qlorie andmaiefliet makeallthat which didfeemefitibborn,to be obedient ynto Cmifi.Therfore thefefew (^ftmpU creattttesjiidmore freuaile againfi the troublefome tumults of the world^wiih the bafe (^ fim fie found of their mouth, thanifGodfhouldofenly haue thrown down lightnings from h eauen. ^nd on the other fde, thef^irit of God teacheth rs,that the kinffbme ofchrifi beginneth neuerfoomr tofiorip^^but by and by Sathan tf- fofeth himfclfe moftfurioufy againfi the fame , andyfeth all his engines either ytterly to oucrthrow, or fore to Jha^e the fame. T^ehher are we cncly tat(ght, that Sathan doth rcfifl Chrift as an enimiejbut alfo that the whole world doth furicuf- ly rage togither againfi him,that he may not rcigne oner them. Tea^furthermore that is to befct downe as a thingmofl certaine , that wicked men whiles they doe fo rage againfi the Cojpell, doe both fight ynder Sathans banner, and are picked forward by him intofo blind fur ie. Hcfeupon doe arifefo many yfrures, fo manie flaguie conJpiracies,/o many diuellifh indcuoms of the reprobate jo cucrihrcw the Cof^el, and tohinder the frcefaffage of the fame , which Luh^fet'teth dowtie al- rnoft in euery place. Laflly, like as the ^foflles haue indeede tried, that the do- ihrine of the Gof^elis afire andafword,fo may we leame fy their experience that it willalwates come topaffe, not onely by the obflinate malice ofSatan,but alfo by thefatalljiubbornnes of men, that the Gofpel fhal fuffer many confliSfs, and that thereby mary tumultesfhalbe raifed. But on the other fide he declcreth that the ^po files with afloutftomacke,with a liuely courage, and inuincible yaliantneffe tfminde , did notwithflanding execute the ojf.ce which they k^ewe was inioyned them by God: ^ alfo what innumerable troubles they fuffer ed with ^■eatperfeite- ranee, whatwerifomnes they paffed ouer , how patiently they fufleinedmofi cruel ferfecution j and laflly how meekcly they fuffer ed reproch,forow, and calami tie of ^fortes. .And we mufi leame patience by fuch examples, feeing thefonne of God hath pronounced that the croffe and tribulation /hall alwaies accompanie his Gef- fel: we mufi not pamper and cherifJj ourfelueswithayaine hope, as though the fiateand condition of the Church fhould be quiet, froj^erous, and fori fhing heere ypon earth. Let ys therefore addreffc ourfelues to fuffer the like things. Jndthat is added as no fnaU comfort forys, that as God hath merueiloufly deliuered his church in times pafljbeing affliffed,and opprefedfo many waies:fo he will at this day he prefent with ys a/Jo : Forfurely feeing that in this booke is declared howe that God by his might ie handdr outflretchedarme alone, doth continually defend his Chsfrch,being amidfl continuaU deathes: God himfelfe by this meanes fcttcth before our eiei his continuaU prouidence in procuring thefafet/e thereof. Tmther- more here arefet downe certaine fermons of the Jpo files, which intreate in fuch fort of the neat mercies ofGod,ofthe ^ace ofchrifl,ofthe hope ofbleffcdimmor- talitie,ofthe calling ypon God,of repentance andthefeare ofGod,andalfo of other frincipallpointes ofchriflian doShine, that we neede not feeke the whole fum of godlineffe arry where elfe . But that I rriay nove omit the declaration of found and fure doEhine : if that be a thingmofl needfull to he k^owne , namely : toyndir- fland how the Chttrch ofchrifl fir ft began: how the jipo files began to preach the ^oJ}eli vhatfwcefft they had in thejamt, what cruel cmbatitheyfufftred, hev IMttf The ArgvmbkT. &Unfu!ly they p.ijpd through fo many lets,andmpedfme)tt.t,hcw eoWAgioufly th^ triftmbhed otter allthefride of the world, ynder the reproch of the croffejjov van^ der fully God rrasfrefcnt with themr then mufi wee highly efieemc of this Eooket whi:h vnles it were extant, the knowledge of foment things (Jjould either be quite btiricd, or^entty obfcured, orwrappedin diners doubtes. Tor we fee that Sathan \>fedaUhis engins that he might,to bring topajfe,thM neuerany of the aSts of the jlpoflles might come to light, but fuch oncly us were mixed with lies j to the end he might bring into fuj^ition what thing foeuer wojf^oken of them , *ndfo fy that meanes tnight plucky out of the mindes of the godly , all the remembrance of thai age. Torhee alwaiesraifedyp , cither doting foolcs, or craftie flowters, that they might /pread abroade a fort offilthie fables , >mier the names of other men}, the hlockifhnes whereof did much difcredite euen the true hifioriesSo in thofe booses cfVeter and Vaul which arcfaigned to be of Linus his doing, are conteined fitch ttfort ofjiinking trifles,that they caufe the wicked to laugh at them,and the god- ly to loath themSo that feigned dijputation ofVeter with Symon Magus,isfo ri- diculous, that it doeth difcrediie the name of a Chrifilan. The fame opinion mufi ve haue of all that mingle mangle which isfet before the recognitions and couticels of Clement, andrecited ofGratianus in his fragments , they beguile the -vnskilfui ynder colour of ancient names,the wicked boafi of thofe as oforacles,no leffe boldly thxn impudently, when as in deede they are flthie toies.Sathan dfdvfefuch liber- tie to lie, that we might haue no certaine thing left vs, aftei- Chrifis afcenfon. Sa that -vnlelfe this workofLuk^ were extant,ii might feeme that Chriji icing taken vp into heauen, left no fruit of his death or refurreSiion ypon ea-th. Fondlfhould haue yanifl}ed away with his bodie. IV c fhould not know that Cbrifi wasfo recei" ued into his cclefliall glorie,that neuertheles hee beareth rule in all the world: we fhouldmt know that the GoJ^elwaspublifljedby the Jpofiles, and fo came from them ynto vs, though by the meanes of others : we fhould no-t kftow that they were infpired by the holy Ghofi , leoH they fhould teach any thingbut that which wat Suine, to the end our faith mi^it be grounded onely ypon the vnfallible yoitie of Cod. Lafi of all we (houlde not kpowe that that Trophefie ofEfaias was fulfilled^. -I^hereia he foretold that the law fhould come out ofSion, and the word of the Lord out of lerufalem. Seeing this booke proceeding no doubt from t^hefpirite of Qod, taketh from ys all doubting of thefe thinges, wee muii count defame as a ^eat treafure, as I haue faidicfhre not without cxufe, andnome againc conftrme the fame. The Gommentaries of M.f o. Calum vpon the Adcs of the Apoftles, :T CHAP. I. H< former Jpeech truelj haue vt hadji Theo^hllus,ofd thin^t vhich IcfUs began to do and teach^ Euen yntill that day ^ rvherein after hehadgiuertcommatmdetmnt bythchoUeGhohtothe^^oflUs, which he hadchofen, hcwat Hat he may paflc oucr vnto thofc things which followed the afccnfion of Chrift: he briefly ga- thcreth the fum of all thofe , which before hee had handled in the former booke, that he may annexe this thereunto. And he briefly fctteth downe this defcription of the h iftoric of the Gofpcl , that it is a narration of thofc tbinges which Chrift did & faid fo long as he was con- ucrfant vpon earth.Furthermore whereas they interpret this common- lie, that there was firft in Chrift puritic of life, before fuch time as hec began to prciachjit maketh nothing vnto Luke his mind.Truth it is,that ,tlie manticr^ of a good and godly teacher ought fo to be framed,that he jfpcake firft. with his Iife,then with his tonguc,otherwife he ftiould differ 4iothingfromaftage plaier. But Luke hath refpcft rather vnto that Luk.a4.Tj?; which He had faid about the end of his Gofpcl, namely, thatChrift was a prophet mightie in deed and word,that is, fuch a one as did cxccll no ielTe m deeds than in wordsrAlthough there be but fmall difference be- twixt chefc two places.For the mightincs of works which is commcded there, doth belong vnto his miraclcsjbut this,To do,doth reach further U\myopinion,!nameIy, that vndcr the fame are comprehended all the [famous a6ls which were proper vnto his miniftrie, wherein his death 5c refurrcdion arc the chiefcft.For the office of the Mcffias did not oncly confift in doftrinc, but it was alfo bchoueful that he {hould make peace betwccncGod and man , that he fhquldbe a redeemer of the people, a rcftorcr of the kine^dome, and an auihor of eucrlafting fclicitie JM thefe ■ thmgs,! fdy,as they were proniifcd of the MefliaSjfo were they loked for ^t his hands. Now we fee that the fcm of the Gofpcl confifteth of thcfc tvyo paits,namely of thcdodriaof Chriftj& of his aftes: for as much as he did not onely bring vnto men that embaffagc which was giuen him in charge of his fathcnbutalfb performed al things that could be requi- red of the Mcfrias.He bc^an his kingdome,he pacified God with his fa- rriflcc, he purged mans fins with his owne precious blood, hee fubducd death and the diuel,he reftorcd vs vnto true libcrtie,he purehafcd righ- tjcouf^ic^&lifeforvs. And to the end, that whatfocucr he cither did of faid might be ccrcainc,hc pr9uc)ftheffAceoffitHirtUdt^es,4mdhem^ ^ The Commentaries ofM.Io, Cain, CHAP, u treateth ofthektngdomeofGod. 4 ^ndwhen hee had gathered them toguhei-, hee commanded them thatthef p7otM not def art from lerufMem: but that theyfljould waitefor the^romife of theTathcr: whereof, faith hey)eeha»eheardofn:e: J Becaufe lohn truclj baftifed tcith water : butj/ou Jhallbe baplfed vitbtbf holy Gho.fi,after a few dates, 3 Vnto whom &c. He addeth this, that he might make the rcfurredi- on to be beleeucd,as a thing raoftneceflane to be knowne,and without the which the whole Gofpclfallethflactothe ground, neither rcmai- ncth there any more faith. And_that I may omit to fpeakc of other diC- commodities that come by beingignorant of the refurrcftion of Chrifti the Goipel loleth his whole authontiCjVnleUe wc know and be alio Fully perfwaded that Chrift being aliuc , fpeakcth vnto vs from the hcauens; Wherciinto Luke hath chicfeft refped in this placcTherefore that the truth hereof might not be called in queftion, he faith that it was proued by many iignes and tokens. Thofe which Erafmus,following an old ini tcrprecev,docth call argumcncs,! haue tranflated proofes.For Ariftoilc doth call that Tecmerion in the firft booke of his Rhctorikes,which is nci ccflarie in figncs. This is therefore that which I faid before, that Chrift did make manifcll his rclurreftion vnto his Apoftles by cuidcnt tokens %vhich did feme inflccd of neceflary proofcs , leaft they ftiould doubt 6f the fauie. Furthermore he doth not recken vp thole tokens and figncs : fauingonely that he faith,that Chrift did appearc vnto them about the (pace of a month and one halfe oftcntimcs.If he had but once appeared vnto them,it might haue bin fomwhat fufpiciousibut in (hewing himfelf fo often vnto them, he diffolucth all doubtes which might arife in their piinds, &by thismeanesalfoheputtethawaythereproch oftheigno^ rance,whic.h he faid was in the Apoftles,leaft it difcredit their prechingi He intreateth of the kingdome of God. He tcUcth vs againc that the Apo-i files therafelucs were well taught, before fiich time as they tookc vpon the to teach others.Therforc whatfocuer things tliey vttcred&brought to light,eJther by word or by writing,touching the kingdom of god,the}^ are thofe fpceches which Chrift himfelfc vttered.And heereby doth he briefly fetdowne the end ofthcdoftrinc of the Gofpel: namclie, that God may reignc in vs.Regcnerationis the beginning of this kingdome, &thc end iherofis bleiTedimmortalitie: the midle proceedings arc in a more ample going forward >, he fcparatcth vs from the world. And like as etcr*. nail death is prepared for all thofc which liue after the flcfh ; fo in as much as the inward man is renewed in v$,thatwe may go forward in ^he Ipirituall life , we drawe nccrer vnto the perfedion of the kingdomc of God: which is the focietieof theeloric of God. Therefore God will rcigne in and amongft vs now,thathe may at length make vs partakers ofhis kingdom. Hereby we gather that Chrift didprincipally intrcat of the corruption of mankind} of the tyrannic of fin, whofc bondflaues we are; of the curfTe & guiltines of eternall death,whercunto we al are fub- ieft, & alfo of the meancs to obteine faluation, of the remiflion of fins; of the denying of the flefh, of Ipirituall righteoufnes, of hope of eternal Iife,and of fuch like things. And if we will be rightlic inftrufted in Chri- ftianitie, we maft applic our ftudies to thcfe things. 4 Gathering them togither he commanded, ^c. Thcy had before done the dutie of Apoftlesj but thatlafted but a while : and fccondlie fo farre forth that they might with their preaching awake the lewes to hearc. their mafter. And (o that commandement to teach,which Chrift had gi- uen them whiles he liued with them vpon earth,was as it were a certain entrance into their Apoftlclhip which was to come,for which they were not yet ripe.Therforc their ordinarie fundion was not laid vpon them, vntill fuch time as Chrift was rifen againe : but they ftirrcd vp their na* tion,as(I haue faid) like criers,that they might giuc eare to Chrift.And, then at length after the refurreftion they were made Apoftles , to pub. lifh abroad throughout the whole world, that dodlrine which was com- mitted to the. And whereas after they were ma . ' - r -'\ : And they were fomfhandedittjftaytogitherjbccaufc they iiiould all haue one fpiricc giucn them. If they had bin dilperfedjthe vnitie thouli not haue bin fo w'elknownft. Though they were fcattcred abroad after- ward in diuers places,ycTbbcaufe theybt9Ught that vyhich they had fro f»ne & the fame fountain, Jt wasal oncjas ifpiey aiwaiQ^hiavl had al one wouthi Fuvthern>oreitvtaS)Gxpcdi9ni; thfitjihcyrtvoukl begin to preach tUc,GpfpfiVftt^4ryfaicra. ,, thajCi^ie P^op^|ioi^ht U ^yiS^fida • There .^r .oH-I € 7los Comment Aries of M.Io,CntH, CHAI^.'*i7 tQj , fliaIlaIawgooutofSyon,&thcwordoftheLortIoutofIerufaIcm.Al- '- * '^' though theparticJple/z»j.\iz beleeucd God, I Imowe -faieth Paule whom Ihxiuc bcleeacd.' And heere hee puttcth them in minde of rhofe tliinges which are writ- ^hinIohhthei4.andi5r. and I'-fi. I will pray the father, andheefliall giueyou another comforter, that hce may continue with you : Ifaic TqJ^j^ j^j^. theSpiiitcof trueth, &c, Againe, I haue fpoken thefe thingesvnto 1 4.1 J. y°" i whiles I amwithyou. And the Spirit whom my Father fhall fend lohn.ij.z^'- i^'^\yn^t^i'c,' fhall teach you allthinges,&c. And againe , Vv^hen the lohn. 16.7. Spirite of trueth fhall dome, whom! will fendc from my father, he fliall lohn'. 7, 58. ^^'^^ witnefTc of me. And