TOuching the double Translation of the text , which I haue added : namelie , that of Geneua , and the Authors owne , Englished by me word for word : the reason thereof shall appeare to the Reader in diuers places of this exposition alluding to the matter : and therefore for shortnesse sake , I passe it ouer with this bare and briefe remembrance . As for the faults , which are but three , they are thus to be amended , in all such bookes as neede correction .

ALL THE gouernement , ( Right Honorable ) of the true , holie , and Catholike Church , which hath ben from the creation of the world , vntil this present age is comprehended in fiue orders or degrees : the first of the Fathers , beginning at Adam , &c: the second of the Patriarches , beginning at Abraham : the third of the Prophets , beginning at Samuel : the fourth of the high Priests , beginning at Iehoshua , otherwise called Iesus : the fift and last of the Apostles , beginning at Saint Iohn Baptist .

Among all which Apostles , none was more wonderfullie called to the preaching of the Gospell , than S. Paule , who being a bold & common blasphemer , a bloudie and mercilesse persecuter , afflicting the flocke of Christ with most terrible torments , was notwithstanding euen in the fire of his furie reclaimed , and became the great teacher of the Gentiles , deliuering vnto them such heauenlie doctrine , as he receiued by diuine inspiration , apt to instruct , exhort , rebuke , correct , and reforme , that the man of God might be made perfect in all good workes .

This Apostle , as before the time of his conuersion , which was in the verie yeare of Christs ascension , he shed much innocent bloud , making hauocke of the members of the Church , with the sword of persecution : so after the renouncing of his apostaticall tyrannie , he saued manie thousand soules , by the preaching of the Gospell , & word of reconciliation .

For he taught the truth of the eternall God , whose minister and vessell of election he was , ordeined to set forth his glorie before the face of the mightie , instantlie , in season and out of season , by the space of thirtie sixe yeares , to manie nations , profoundlie and zealouslie , beginning in the nineteenth yeare of Tiberius at Damasco : continuing it through out a great part of the world , as appeareth by his painfull peregrination : and finishing that good worke of his , in the thirteenth yeare of Nero , whose prisoner he was , and at his commandement put to death in Rome , for the testimonie of the truth , which he sealed with the losse of his life , vnto the glorie of the great God .

This blessed Apostle Saint Paule , was founder of the Church of Christ at Ephesus , where he preached the Gospell of peace most sincerelie : and instructed the Ephesians in the necessarie doctrines of their saluation , and in the deepe points of true religion : as in predestination and election , in faith and iustification , in praier and inuocation , in grace and adoption , in manners and conuersation , &c. as doth manifestlie appeare in his Epistle , written to this people out of bonds and imprisonment .

The exposition wherof ( Right Honorable ) M. Nicholas Hemming , a learned , godlie , & excellent Diuine vndertaking , & accomplishing , hath so orderlie & plainlie opened al the principal points therin conteined , that nothing can seeme doubtfull or difficult , no not to the simple and ignorant : besides that , so briefelie , that the memorie of the reader shall be able to carrie awaie both his method and matter .

Whose worke when I had read and perused , I turned familiarlie into our English tong , because I sawe it was a booke verie like to be beneficiall vnto euerie priuate person . And hauing ended mine honest trauell , I remembred ( among diuers fauourers of learning , and louers of godlinesse ) your good Ladiship : whom as I honor for the same respects , so finding in your Ladiship , among your other vertues , a zealous loue to religion , and to the sincere seruing of GOD , ( rare things in the multitude , what then in the honorable ? ) I haue bene thereby induced , and thus boldlie haue presumed , to prease with this my poore present vnto your Ladiship , in waie of dedication : and doe praie your fauourable protection of the same . Beseeching , euen with humblenesse , that this my homelie handeled Expositor , a straunger borne , and newlie araied with course English cloth , maie finde such fauour in your Ladiships presence , as to be interteined .

Not doubting , but the Author for his excellent learning , and profound knowledge vttered therein , shall thereby be able to withstand all seditious Scismatikes , quarelling Sycophants , impudent Papists , pestilent Pellagians , blasphemous Anabaptists , licentious Libertines , whose perillous opinions are by him confuted : and finallie , all the malicious members of Sathan that old serpents synagogue : to the preferring of the truth , and the increase of Gods glorie , vnto whose protection I commend your good Ladiship : whose happinesse God graunt maie be such , both heere and aboue , as your owne heart would wish , and as my continuall and dailie praier shal be , Amen .

I Heard ( Right Worshipfull ) vpon a time , at the mouth of that good and godlie man , M. Philip Melancthon , that There is no worke more excellent , than to teach & learne the word of God . And it maie bée so verie well . For , without heauenlie doctrine , Ephe. 4. 17. 18. wée proll in most thicke darknesse and ignorance : or ( to vse S. Paules speach ) We walke in the vanitie of our minde , we wander through our owne blinde vnderstanding , and are farre off from the life of God : because our ignorance , and the hardnesse of our heart bringeth to passe , 2. Cor. 7. 10. that we are touched with no féeling at all of sorowe for our sinnes : without which féeling , the voice of the Gospell doth neuer waxe swéete vnto man : but rather lie wide open , and giue vp our selues , to the committing of all filthinesse .

Now , the word of God is a souereigne salue to heale vp these sores : when the same is sincerelie taught , and faithfullie learned . Which thing that kinglie Prophet Dauid knowing well inough , Psa. 119. 9. witnesseth , saieng : In quo mundam , &c. Wherewith shall a young man redresse his waie ? In taking heede thereto according to thy word : which word ( doubtlesse ) he saith in the same Psalme , Psa. 119. 24. is his delight and counsellers . For this cause the same Prophet , Psa. 119. 127. preferreth that verie word , before all the riches of the world , saieng : Diligo mandata , &c. I loue thy commandements aboue gold : yea , aboue most fine gold . Psa. 119. 162. Againe , Laetabor ego super , &c. I will reioice at thy words , Psa. 119. 72. as one that findeth a great spoile . Againe , Melior mihi lex , &c. The lawe of thy mouth is better vnto me , than thousands of gold and siluer .

Dauid therefore confesseth , that the word of God , is the most pretious treasure in the world : and that our life is vncleane , and our waie filthie , vntill they be cleansed by the word of God , as with water of the clearest fountaine . Which thing is then done , when we obtaine faith by hearing , and receiue the holie Ghost . For , then the mistinesse of our mindes is driuen awaie , our vnderstanding is lightened , and our heart which was hard before like a stone , is made fleshie and soft : so that the lawe of God maie bée written therein , euen to be touched with the féeling of sin , to defie and spit at sinne , and to followe the counsels , not of the flesh , but of the spirit , in framing and ordering our life . Séeing the doctrine of Gods word bringeth so manie and great benefites , that notable man ( whom euen now I named ) saith , euen vpon iust cause , that Among all the workes of men , to teach and learne the word of God is the most excellent .

Now , forsomuch as the word of God is a treasure so pretions , & to teach and learne the word of God , a worke so excellent , what shall we saie of the sincere & true teachers of this word ? What shall we saie of them , which deliuered the word of God , as it were from destruction , when it laie ouertroden with the horrible imaginations of men , and deuises of diuels , as in most filthie mire , and made the same faire and cleane with their sound and sincere expositions ? We are greatlie indebted to them , which sée to the prouision of such necessaries as belong to the maintenance of this life , and without which these fraile bodies of ours cannot continue in health : but we are neuer able to requite them with the like , which haue restored and made doctrine pure againe , béeing the verie treasure , without the which we fall from all hope of euerlasting life , and haue deliuered the same doctrine vnto vs , both by word of mouth , and in writing , sound and sincere .

In the number of these I reckon M. Philip Melancthon , M. Philip Melancthon commended . our schoolemaster , a man worthie of the first place next vnder M. Martine Luther : than whom all Germanie neuer bred and brought vp one sharper in wit , quicker in iudgement , perfecter in knowledge , greater in learning , readier & sounder in expounding the scripture roundlie : yea , & more than that , zealouser in godlinesse , and earnester in religion ▪ In consideration of which notable and singular gifts , he is had in great account and estimation , not onelie of them which professe the same religion with vs : but also of the verie enimies of true religion .

When Saint Paule wrote to the Philippians of his time , Phi. 2. 29. concerning Epaphroditus , saieng : Excipite ipsum in domino , & Receiue him in the Lord , with all gladnesse , and make much of such : the holie Ghost meaneth indéed thereby : yea , willeth vs , to take them for Gods instruments : openlie to confesse the benefits which wée receiue by the meanes of such men , to be of God : to reuerence them as our schoolemasters : to loue them as our fathers : to estéeme of them as the builders vp of Gods Church : and to make accompt of them as the most principall pillers of Gods Temple . Thus much doeth godlinesse desire : and their trauels deserue no lesse .

We must not therefore giue them anie place , whose practise it is to deuise slauders , reproches , and foule speaches , thereby doing what they can , to put out so great lights of the Church : who , if they séems to haue done amisse in anie thing , let vs make the best of it , for Christian charitie , and méeknesse sake . It is a true saieng of Xenophon : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Which sound thus béeing expounded : It is a hard matter for men so to do a thing , that it be amisse in no point : and it is hard for them also that do a thing in no respect blame-worthy , not to light vpon some quareling findfault . For the weaknes of men is great , and manie escapes are made in a mans life , which are rather friendlie & fauourablie to be couered , than maliciouslie and enuiouslie to be made worse .

There is also in manie a great lightnesse , which maketh men to be sharper iudges against others , that haue not offended at all . As for our weaknesse , let vs lament it : and as for our lightnesse , ( which is the cause that they are euill thought of , whose labours are greater , and their gifts excellenter , ) let vs leaue it : giuing God thankes , who sendeth into his Church , for the edification or building vp thereof , such healthfull instruments .

And although verie great thankes ( as méete is ) are due to them , which haue found out & made redie the first waie : yet notwithstanding , others that haue followed after in their place , and trie all the masteries they maie , for the edification or building vp of the Church , and the knitting together of the Saints , are not to bée sette at naught : but euerie one in his place is to be had in accompt . Acts. 18. 3 & 20. 34 Saint Paule was a worthie and chosen instrument of God , than whom not one of the Apostles laboured more , 2. Cor. 11. 22. 23. 24 , &c. nor spread the Gospell of Christ further . Titus also , who remained in the Isle of Crete , was lesser than Saint Paule , 1. Thes. 2. 9. 10. both in giftes and labours : and also in degrée of calling . Héere I acknowledge and giue Saint Paule his title , Tit. 1. 5. to be the great teacher of the Gentiles : and as for Titus , I reuerence him according to his place , who learned at S. Paules mouth those things , which afterwards he deliuered to his hearers .

In like sort , I acknowledge and reuerence M. Martine Luther , & M. Philip Melancthon , as the principall and chiefest teachers that euer Gods Church had in our age : the like I doe also to all , and euerie one of them in their place , as the healthfull instruments of God in his Church : by whose workes I set great store , & am also right glad , that it was my lucke to be of their number , which acknowledge & reuerence M. Mart. Luther , & . M. Philip Melancthon , their schoolemaisters For , out of the riuers , which they fetcht from the fountaines of Israel , I confesse my selfe to haue drawne that which I set abroch , and teach in this Vniuersitie of Coppenhagen , as a minister of the Gospell of God , and according to the order of my calling .

I despise no man , I thinke not better of mine owne opinions than of other mens iudgements : but I yeeld and submit my selfe to the Catholike Church of God , as my iudge : which Church I de●●●re to be , not the Fathers and Mothers of Neptune counsell : but those that i●boare Augusta confession : that is to saie , all such as holde the Creeds sound & vncorrupt : in what place so euer they be scattered . I condemne no man , if he disagree from mee : so that he ouerthrowe not the foundation : that is to saie , the Créeds .

I acknowledge the weaknesse of vs all , which I both bewaile , Psal. 127. 1. & beséech God to set to his owne hand to the building . Nisi enim Dominus , &c. For except the Lord build the house , they labour in vaine that build it . I allow euerie ones endeuour , that bestowe anie paines at all toward the building of Gods Church : in whose number , although I graunt my selfe to be the verie least : yet notwithstanding , I am of this minde , Mat. 25. 14 , &c. that the talent which God hath giuen me , must not lie hid vnoccupied .

And because it is not my séeking , to serue the hearers present onelie , but those that are absent also : yea , the whole Church of Christ , I haue put some of mine owne writings to the presse , caused them to bée printed , & sent them abroad . With like aduisement also , I haue published these my notes vpon the Epistle of S. Paule to the Ephesians : beeing willing to haue them come abroad vnder your name ( Right worshipfull : ) that some token of my thankfulnesse to you wards maie be séene , whom it hath pleased , not onelie to stand my good & sincere friend , all the time that you tarried in this realme : but also to vouchsafe the bestowing of verie manie benefits vpon me : as for those great benefits & good deeds , which you haue done to our Vniuersitie , & to euerie student of the same , I let them passe vnspoken . For I know , your worship is of their number , which had rather do good , ( God beholding it , ) than to be praised of men , and to hunt after vaine glorie at their mouth . For they that doe so , Mat. 6. 1. 2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , receiue their reward . For they are hirelings which serue for hire , and not the children of God , which doe God seruice of their owne accord .

Well maie your worship fare , and I praie you take in good part the gift that I send , fauourablie iudgeing of the same , according to your manner : and if anie thing mislike you , let me haue vnderstanding thereof . For your iudgement ruleth me much . Once againe I wish you well to fare , with that right honest Gentlewoman , mistresse Anne your wife , who ( as I heare saie ) hath increased your houshold with a yong babe . God grant that it maie turne to his glorie , and to yours , and the mothers ioie and comfort . I praie you haue me commended to M. Tyco your Bishop , M. Vessele your Chaunter , M. Balthasar your Archdeacon , M. Magnus your diuinitie reader , M. Iohn Spandemager , who hath taken great paines , these thirtie yeares and more in the Lords vineyard : and all my other brethren , my fellowe labourers .