LORD IESV CHRIST , who art ascended Prayer . on high , leadest captivitie captive , and giuest gifts unto men ; captivate , and bring into subjection , mine understanding , will , affections ; furnish me with gifts , and guide mine heart , tongue , and pen , that I may thinke , write , and speake , such things as may be for thy glory , the edification of thy Church , and the peace , and comfort of mine owne soule . Amen .

And when he was entred into a ship ] Amongst Preface . other conforts & refreshings , which trauellers have in their journeyes , & voyages in this world , this is none of the least , that being wearied with tedious land-trauell , they may more easily passe by water ; one maine end , of the sea , & of great riuers , wherewith it hath pleased God , to interlace the habitable world , as the naturall bodie with veines of bloud . We have travelled a long and wearisome journey by land , and fetched home the prodigall from a far countrey : now if it please God , and you , we will refresh our selues by water ; we have beene in travell , with the Wise-men , who came from the East ; we have beene in the High Priests house , where Peter denied his Master ; we have beene in the Pharisies house , where the penitent woman washed Christs feet with teares ; we have been in the Temple , where Iudas cast downe his silver ; we have beene in the field , both in seed time , in the parable of the sower ; and in harvest , in the parable of wheat and tares ; we have beene in the garden , in the parable of the sowing , and growing of mustard-seed ; we have beene upon Mount Tabor , in the storie of Christ his transfiguration ; and on Mount Calvarie , where , one of the theeves penitently confessed : we have beene in the wildernesse , in the parable of the shepherd seeking his lost sheepe ; we have beene in the Indies , in the parable of seeking for hidden treasure ; yea we have , in our meditations , beene in the joyes of Heauen , and torments of Hell , in the parab●e of Dives , and Lazarus ; we have beene almost every where : but , upon the sea , in all our travels , we have not taken ship till now ; but now by Gods grace , we will make a sea-voyage . But , as wise mariners , though wind and weather be never so faire and calme , provide for a storme ; so I wish you provide your tacklings ; for I assure you , we shall have a great storme : but feare neither wind nor sea , rock nor sand ; for Christ is our pilot ; and every passenger , though much weather-beaten , yet shall in the end arrive safely at the wished haven : only , as Paul before he tooke ship , kneeled downe and Acts 20. 36. praied ; be not wanting in your private praiers , that God would send us a prosperous journey .

If it please you , I will first parallel this storie with some other both positive & exemplary Scriptures : the former is in the Psalmes , where the Psalmist saith , They that go downe to the sea in ships , & occupie their businesse in great waters , these see the works of the Lord , and his wonders in the deepe ; for he commandeth and raiseth the stormie wind , which lifteth up the waves thereof ; they mount up to the heaven , and goe downe againe to the depths ; their soule melteth , because of the trouble ; they reele to and fro , and stagger like a drunken man , and are at their wits end ; then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble , and he bringeth them out of their distresses ; he maketh the storme a calme , so that the waves thereof are still ; then are they glad because they be quiet , so he bringeth them to their desired haven : Oh that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodnesse , and declare his wonderfull works to the children of men a a Psal. 107. 23. 5. . Oh what an excellent Comment is that , on this storie ! Other such examples the Scriptures afford ; as a like storie we have in Ionah , when he flying to Tharsis from the presence of the Lord , the Lord raised a wonderfull storme and tempest , the sea wrought and was troublous , the ship like to be broken , so as the mariners were afraid , and cried to their gods , and cast forth their wares into the sea ; but the sea would not be calme , till Ionah was cast into it b b Ionah . 1. 4. . A like we have , in the New Testament , in Pauls dangerous voyage towards Rome , there rising so great a tempest , that all hope to be saved was taken away , and though they cast out the very tacklings and all , yet upon boards , & broken peeces of the ship , all came safe to land c c Acts 27. 14. . The letters of which storie afford many excellent and usefull instructions , and specially to sea-men ; yea and to be laid up for future use of us all ; for howsoeuer we have beene borne , and lived long upon the land , yet it may be , we have beene , or we know not how we may be endangered , and tossed upon sea , before we die . But specially the mysterie doth greatly concerne us all : for preparation whereunto , be pleased to note , that there are many histories in the word , which either are Allegoricall in signification , or may be Allegorically compared and resembled ; we haue good warrant from the Scriptures for it . It is a plaine storie , that Abraham had two sons , the one by a free-woman , Sarai ; the other by a bond-maid , Hagar d d Gen. 16. penult. & 21. 2. : yet the Apostle saith , these things are an Allegorie , and signifie the two Testaments e e Gal. 4. 22. ; or Covenants of Works and Grace . Noahs Arke , wherein eight persons were saved , a true storie f f Gen. 6 , 7 , 8 cap. ; yet S. Peter maketh it a figure of Baptisme , wherby we are saved g g 1 Pet. 3. 21. . The children of Israels passing thorow the red sea , a true storie h h Exod. 14. ; yet the Apostle maketh that also a figure of Baptisme i i 1 Cor. 10. 2. . The children of Israel did drinke of the water out of a rocke , a true storie k k Exod. 17. 6. ; yet the Apostle saith , that rocke was Christ l l 1 Cor. 10. 4. . God fed them with Manna from heaven , a true storie m m Exod. 16. 14. ; yet Christ saith , I am that bread of life , which came downe from heaven n n Ioh. 6. 48 , 51. . Solomons mariage with Pharaohs daughter , a true storie o o 1 King . 3. 1. ; yet representeth vnto vs , Christ his espousing of the Churches of the Gentiles p p Psal 45. 9 , 10. . Many such there might be produced , of which nature this present storie is , ( as all that I have seene commenting on the same , doe unanimously affirme ) And therefore reserving the I. Sea . truth of the storie * * Salva rerum gestarum fide . August . lib. de unitate Ecclesiae , cap. 5. ; by sea here , we may understand this world ; so it is compared by S. Iohn ; Before the throne there was a sea of glasse like Crystall q q Rev. 4. 6. : like a sea ; for as it is sometimes calme , so doth it many times rage , & is in wonderfull motion & agitation , & full of rocks , syrtes , & sands ; by allusion whereunto , the Apostle speaketh of some tossed to and fro , & carried about with winds of doctrine r r Eph. 4. 14. ; yea and speaketh of some , that haue made shipwracke s s 1 Tim. 1. 19. : but a sea of glasse ; for no glasse so brittle , & subiect to cracks , as this world ; but a sea of Crystall too : Sathan is the prince of darknesse t t Eph. 6. 12. , and his children are children of darknesse u u Rom. 13. 12. ; and their works are works of darknesse * * Ibid. ; such subtill and politick plots and projects against the Church , as no eye can see or discerne them : but as a mans eye will easily discerne the least spot , yea or mote in Crystall ; so , and a thousand times more clearely , doth God see and discerne , euen the secretest thoughts of mens hearts , all things being naked , and open before his eies , with whom we haue to doe x x Hebr. 4. 13. ; and the eyes of Christ being like a flame of fire y y Rev. 1. 14. , carrying light which way soeuer it pleaseth him to look . And as the Arke of Noah , so this ship , into which Christ and dis disciples 2. Ship . entred , may represent vnto vs the Church militant , wherein Christ and all the faithfull do passe towards the haven of happinesse ; and in most resemblances is wonderfull fit ; as hereafter more fully .

Thirdly , this great tempest upon the sea , endangering 3. Storme . the ship , doth liuely represent the great troubles and persecutions , which the Deuill and bloudie Tyrants raise in the world , against the true Church of Christ ; threatning , in mans iudgement , the utter ruine & destruction thereof ; whereof David thus speaketh , in one metaphor , The sorrowes of death compassed me , the flouds of ungodly men make me afraid z z Psal. 18. 4. : and againe , If the Lord had not been on our side , when men rose up against us , the waters had overwhelmed us , the streame had gone over our soule : Then the proud waters had gone over our soule a a Psal. 124. 4. . And the Lord thus threatneth , I will bring upon them the waters of the river , even the King of Assyria b b Esay 8. 7. Ierem. 47. 2. . And David thus prayed , Save me O God , for the waters are come into my soule , I am come into deepe waters , where the flouds over-flow me c c Psal. 69. 1. .

Fourthly , Christ his being on sleepe , in this 4 Christ his sleepe . storme , when the ship was in such danger , doth represent Christ his seeming to neglect his Church , in her persecutions , and to leave his people in their enemies hands ; about which they thus expostulate , Why doest thou absent thy selfe , in this needfull time of trouble d d Psalme 10. 1. ? we crie , and thou hearest not e e Psal. 22. 2. : O God , how long shall the Adversarie doe this dishonour , how long shall the enemie blaspheme thy name , for euer : why withdrawest thou thine hand , eve thy right hand ? plucke it out of thy bosome : arise O God , plead thine own cause f f Psal. 74. 10 , 11 , 22. . Arise , O Lord to save me , g g Psal. 3. 7. &c. And againe , more plainly in the metaphor of my text : Arise O God in thine anger , lift up thy selfe , because of the rage of mine enemies , and awake for me , to the iudgement that thou hast commanded , h h Psal. 7. 6. &c. And again , Awake , why sleepest thou ? O God , arise , cast us not off for ever , wherefore hidest thou thy face , and forgettest our affliction and oppression i i Psal. 44. 23. ? The like in other places , whereof more hereafter .

The Disciples comming unto Christ , and as it 5 Called upon and awaked . were with out-cries awakening him , doth shadow out the prayers of the faithfull , who in the distresses of the Church , doe day and night call and crie to him to awake , arise , and defend his Church , whereof I have even now alledged some examples out of the Psalmes .

Christ his arising , and rebuking winds and seas , 6 Causing a calme . and causing a great calme , doth represent Gods entring into judgement with the enemies of his Church , apparently rebuking them , with sudden death , or some great and visible judgement , whereupon great peace commeth to Gods Church and people . So that I know no Story , which may be allegorized , by greater authority from the Scriptures , than this . And as by authoritie of the Scriptures , so of the learned Fathers ; witnesse that short metaphrase of Tertullian , lib. de Baptismo , cap. 12. a very learned , and one of the ancientest Fathers , for there were but Iustin Martyr and Irenaeus before him ; Clemens Alexandrinus was his synchronos , or coetaneus , viz. within two hundred yeares after Christ ; so rarely qualified , humanis & divinis disciplinis , that both Ierom and Lactantius commend him : and Cyprian usually called for his works , thus , Da magistrum . Sixtus Senens . Navicula , Ecclesia est , quae mari , .i. seculo , fluctibus . i. persequutionibus inquietatur , Domino per patientiam velut dormiente , donec orationibus sanctorum suscitatus , compescat seculum , & tranquillitatem suis reddat . I need not translate it , it is but the summe of that you have heard before . And so I hope that handling it according to letter and mysterie , as if it were a reall parable , it wil prove profitable unto us . For our more orderly proceeding wherein , we will first observe the Context , and then the parts of the Text.

For the Context . In the former part of the Chapter , 1 Context . the Euangelist shewes that Christ had wrought divers miracles : he had cleansed a Leper , restored a Centurions servant , cured Peters wives mother of a fever , cast out devils out of the possessed , healed many that were sicke , and instructed by word of mouth some that would have beene his disciples ; but all this was done upon the land . * * in terra : jam transit ad mare . Ludolph ▪ ex Origen . Now he will to sea , and there worke miracles , and really instruct his Apostles , that he may declare himselfe to be Lord both of sea and land .

In Christ his transfretation over the sea of Galilee Analysis . with his Disciples , two things are principally to be noted , viz. first , their shipping , in this 23 vers. and secondly , their sailing in all the rest . In their shipping , two things , viz. the persons , and the means ; who , and wherein : the persons are knowne by their number , ( He , and his Disciples ) and their order ; Hee went before , and ( the Disciples followed him : ) the meanes , or vessell wherein they passed , ( a ship . ) In their sailing or passage , three things are to be noted , viz. 1. their danger : 2. their deliverance : 3. the effect . In declaration of their danger , wee are to note the cause , and greatnesse of it : the ordinary cause of their danger was ( a tempest ) which is described , first , by the qualitie ( it arose suddenly ) and secondly , by the quantitie , it was ( great . ) Secondly , the greatnesse of their danger is declared by two circumstances , viz. ( the ship was even covered with waves ) and secondly , ( Christ was on sleepe . ) As concerning their deliverance out of this danger , two things are to bee noted , viz. first , the procuring ; and secondly , the performing thereof . In the procurement of deliverance , three things are to be noted , viz. first , to whom in this distresse they seek for deliverance , ( his Disciples came to Him : ) secondly , what they doe being come to him , ( they awaken him : ) thirdly , what they say unto him ; wherin observe , 1. a great Suit ( Lord save us . ) 2. A weightie Reason ( wee perish . ) In the performance of deliverance thus procured , note a double Reprehension : 1. Of his disciples : and he reproveth them for two things , viz. first , excesse of feare , ( why are yee fearefull ? ) 2. Defect of faith ( O yee of little faith . ) In the second , we are to note two things , viz. Preparation , ( he arose ) 2. Reprehension , ( he rebuked the winds and seas . ) The effect of this deliverance is two-fold , first in winds and seas , ( there was agreat calme : ) secondly , in disciples and beholders ; & that is twofold , viz. first admiration , ( the men marvelled ) and secondly , proclamation ( who is this , that even the winds and seas doe obey him ? ) Thus I have made readie the ground , laid the foundation , proposed a modell , laid in a readinesse the materials ; the halfe of my work is now over , but the whole profit therof to you remains . Of these parts therfore now orderly for our further instruction and edification . And first of their shipping ; and therein , first of the Passengers : and of them the first and chiefest commeth orderly in the first place to be considered , Part. 1. ( He. ) Who is that ? mentioned in the verse immediatly before my Text , whereunto this is a relation , ( Iesus . )

And when Iesus was entred . ] Our Saviour went divers times , and on severall occasions , into ships : sometimes , for more conveniencie in his preaching 1. For preaching . and ministery of the Word : So when there were great multitudes gathered together to him , he went into a ship , and sate , and the whole multitude stood on the shore : And he spake many things to them in parables k k Matth. 13. 2. : And at another time ; the people pressing upon him to heare the word of God , as he stood by the lake of Gennezareth , he seeing two ships , entred into one of them and sate downe , and taught the people out of the ship l l Luke 5. 1. : That , as out of the ship they used to cast their nets , and catch fishes , he might by his example teach the Apostles how to cast the net of the Gospell , and catch men ; as he said unto them , Follow mee , and I will make you fishers of men m m Matth. 4. 19. 2 : Sometimes also being weary with trauel , and with preaching of the For recreation . Gospell , for the refreshing of himselfe and his Disciples : As they withdrew themselves from the multitude , he saying unto them , Come apart into a desert place , and rest a while , for there were so many comming and going , they had no leasure so much as to eat ; so they departed into a desert place by ship privately n n Marke 6. 31. . So good and gracious Christ was , knowing the bodies of his Disciples , not to be iron nor brasse , but flesh and bloud , subiect to faintnesse and wearisomenesse , to allow them refreshings and recreations ; though , alas , it was but a poore refreshing , and for a little while : For the people saw their departure , and ranne on foot thither out of all Cities , and he had compassion on them , and began to teach them , and healed all their sicke o o Marke 6. 34. Matth. 14. 13. Luke 9. 10. 11. . Thus could hee scarce ever take rest . If he sit downe wearie on Iacobs Well to rest him , by and by comme●● a woman to ●raw water , and giveth him occasion of a large discourse . Though wearied with the labour of the day , yet even on the night time , Nicodemus commeth to him to be instructed p p Iohn 3. 2. . If he goe into the desert , the people are there as soone as he , and he must teach , and heale , and feed them . If he enter into a ship , no sooner on sleepe , but his Disciples awaken him , because of a storme ; that as he had not whereon , so he could no where rest his head q q Matth. 8. 20. .

Even such are the occasions of doing good , which Application . God offreth to his servants , who are his Stewards , Husbandmen , and labourers , that their work goeth round with the yeare , they must follow it , in season and out of season r r 2 Tim. 4. 2. : labour to wearisomenesse , and yet never be wearie of labour ; but as the proverb is , lay weary to weary , and comfort themselves with that of Saint Iohn , Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord , for so saith the Spirit , they rest from their labours , and their workes follow them s s Revel. 14. 13. .

But it may seeme , there were other two more special causes of his entring into ship , & going to sea with his Disciples at this time ; viz. First , that he 3. The working of the miracle . might proceed from doctrine to miracles , which may be observed still to be his manner ; As having preached upon the mountaine , he was no sooner come downe , but he cleansed a Leper , healed the Centurions servant , cured Peters wives mother , and many that were diseased ; for his miracles were as the seale of his doctrine , as himselfe hath said , The workes that I doe , beare witnesse of me , that the Father hath sent me t t Iohn 5. 36. . And againe , If I doe not the workes of my Father , beleeve me not ; but if I doe , though ●●● beleeve not mee , beleeve the workes u u Iohn ●● ▪ 37. . Now if wee compare this with the other Euangelists , it will appeare , that Christ had taught the people many things in parables * * Marke 4. 34. Luke 8. 22. , and therefore went purposely to the sea , that he might by miracle there ( as it were ) seale the truth of that doctrine which he had taught , and delivered ; for as our Saviour asked Philip , Whence shall we buy bread , that these may eat ? did it onely to prove him , for he himselfe knew what he would doe x x Iohn 6. 6. : So our Saviour knew what he would doe on the sea , and for what worke he purposely went thither at this time .

The fourth and last , was the triall of their faith , 4. Triall of his Apostles faith . who having been now some good time with him , he would make triall of their proficiencie , as God tried Abraham y y Gen. 22. 1. : not that God was ignorant what was in Abraham , or Christ ignorant , what was in his Apostles ; but they were ignorant what was in themselves , and presumed they had more faith , than they had : wherefore it pleased our Saviour Christ , by bringing them into this danger on the sea , to let them see the weaknesse of their faith , and by doing such a miracle strengthen it , and make them in all future dangers , to rest more stedfastly on his Almightie power , and not feare any evill , by water or land .

In whom we may behold , and learne for our instruction , Doctr. what is the Lords usuall manner of dealing with his Disciples . No Schoole-master doth Simile . make that triall of his scholars , of their proficiencie , that God maketh of his , concerning their profiting , and growth in Knowledge , Faith , Repentance , Confirmation . Patience , Zeale ; none shall be long in his Schoole , but he will trie them , either by sicknesse of bodie , discomfort of soule , losses , crosses , dangers ; by water or land , false doctrine , evill example ; one way , or other ; All that live godly shall be sure of their trials z z 2 Tim. 3. 12. . The Apostle saith , That is no strange thing a a 1 Pet. 4. 12. ; yea , as the Apostle Paul saith , They that are without correction , are Bastards , and not sonnes b b Heb. 12. 8. : So they that are without trials , are Bastards , and not sonnes ; all Gods children are partakers thereof : you cannot be ignorant of the great trials of Abraham , Isaack , Iacob , Ioseph , Moses , David , Iob , the Children of Israel in the wildernesse : it is our common condition , and therefore good counsell that Syracides giveth , My son , if thou come to serue the Lord , prepare thy soule for temptation c c Ecclus. 21. .

Thou canst not be long with Christ on the land , Prevention . but hee will have thee into the ship , thou must to the storme ; and yet all for the best : in regard whereof , Saint Iames hath pronounced , Blessed is the man that endureth temptation , for when he is tried , he shall receive the crowne of life , which the Lord hath promised to them that love him d d Iames 1. 12. . And Saint Peter saith , Our faith being tried , and found more precious than gold that perisheth , shall be found unto praise , and honour , and glory , at the appearing of Iesus Christ e e 1 Pet. 1. 7. .

Oh , if the graces of God , as Knowledge , Faith , Vse . Patience , Humilitie , Zeale , doe appeare in excellent measure , as they did in Abraham , Iob , David , and others , specially the holy Martyrs ; how greatly is it for Gods honour , and their true comfort and happinesse ? but if these be very weake and feeble in us , and humane frailtie exceedingly appeare ; yet how profitable is it , to know our wants ? as for those Apostles , to know how weake their faith was , that so they might walke in greater humilitie , and pray the more earnestly , Lord increase our faith f f Luk. 17. 5. .

Wherefore be not afraid of the storme , ( if thou Exhortation . beest sound at the heart ) it shall be for thy good : which made David so pray , Examine me , ô Lord , and prove me , try my reines and my heart g g Psal 26. 2. : And againe , Search me , ô God , and know mine heart , try me , and know my thoughts , marke well if there be any way of wickednesse in me h h Psal. 139. ult. . For howsoever David knew his integritie , yet the heart of man is deceitfull above all things , who can finde it i i Ierem. 17. 9. ? and he desired to know , if his faith were weake , or any wickednes lay lurking in any secret angle and corner of his heart ; as holy Iob suspected himselfe , Though I were perfect , yet will I not know , that is , justifie mine owne soule k k Iob 9. 21. : and S. Paul in jealous humilitie confesseth , I know nothing by my selfe , yet am I not hereby iustified : he that iudgeth me is the Lord l l 1 Cor. 4. 4. . Thus in an holy & humble jealousie , we should be glad to know if there be any weaknesse or wickednesse in us . The manifestation whereof in his Apostles , was a principall motive to leade them to the sea and into this storme .