The affinitie of the faithfull being a verie godlie and fruitfull sermon, made vpon part of the eight chapter of the Gospel of Saint Luke. By Henrie Smith.

Luke 8. 19 , 20 , 21. Then came to him his mother and his brethren , and could not come neare him for the prease : and it was tolde him by certaine which said ; thy mother and thy brethren stand without and would see thee : but he answered and said vnto them , my mother and my brethren are those which heare the word of God and doe it .

HEre Christ is preaching , a great prease hearing , & his mother and his friends interrupting , and Christ againe withstanding the interruption , with a comfortable doctrine of his mercies towardes them which heare the word of God & do it . When Christ was about a good worke , & manie were gathered to heare him , the diuell thought as the Priests and Sadduces did in the fourth of the Acts ; If I let him alone , all the world will follow him , and I shal be like Rahel without children : therefote deuising the likeliest policie to frustrate & difgrace but one of his Sermons , thereby to make the people more vnwilling to heare him againe ; As he set Eue vpon Adam , & made Iobs wife his instrument , when hee could Gen. 3. 6. Iob. 2. 9. not fit it himselfe : so hee sendeth Christ his mother , & putteth in the minde of his kinsmen to come vnto him , at that instant when hee was in this holy exercise ; & call vppon him as he was preaching , to come away , and goe with them .

Christ seeing the Serpents dealing , how he had made his mother his tempter , that al this auditorie might goe away emptie , & say where they came ; Wee heard the man which is called Iesus , and he began to preach to vs with such words as though he would carie vs to heauen ; but in the midst of his Sermon came his mother and brethren to him , that it might be knowen what a kinsman they had , and so soone as hee heard that they were come , suddenly he brake off his Sermon and ministers away from vs to goe and make mercie with them . Christ , I saie ▪ seeing this traine laied by Sathan to disgrace him as hee would do his ministers , did not leaue off speaking , as they thought hee would : but as if God had appointed all this to credit it & renowme him ; that which was noysed here to interrupt his doctrine , he taketh for an occasion to teach another doctrine , that there is another coniunction betweene Christ and the faithfull , than betweene the mother and the sonne which are one flesh : and therefore when they saie ; Thy mother & thy brethren are come to speak with thee , hee pointeth to his hearers and saith ; These are my mother , and my brethren , which heare the word of God and do it ; as if he should saie , I haue a mother in deede which brought mee foorth , but in respect of these which heare the worde of God and do it , shee is like a stepmother , and these are like a natural mother . With this wise aunswere he quieted the auditors , & made them heare him better than they did before : for nowe they thought with themselues ; what man is this which loueth vs more than his mother ? his mother called him , & yet he would not goe from vs : his brethren staye for him , and he maketh as if he did not know them , but sayeth : Who is my mother ? Who are my brethren ? Thus Christ stoode vp ( as I weene ) in an indignation against Sathan , & said ; Sathan , this sermon was not begun for thee , neither shall it ende for thee : this worke was not done for my mother , neither shall it be left for my mother . Thus he caught the Diuell with his owne baite , & made the people more louing and attentiue to him , by that which Sathan thought to disgrace him . He was so armed with the spirite , that let Diuell tempt , or the woman tempt him , or Princes tempt him , all is one .

Here are two doubtes , the first is , the difference betweene the Euangelistes : for Mathewe saith , that Math. 12. 47. Mark . 3. 31. Luk. 8. 10. one brought this message vnto Christ , Marke and Luke attribute it vnto moe ; Both may stand : for the worde which his mother gaue of calling him foorth was receiued of the rest , and so passed amongest manie till it came vnto Christ ; so that one and manie may be saide to bring this message , because one may sende it first , and manie noyse it after .

The seconde doubt is , because Christ had no brethren , how then they saide ; Thy brethren woulde speake with thee .

You must vnderstand that they which are here called Christes brethren , were his Cousins by the Mothers side , that is to saie , his Mothers sisters children : for there were three Maries , and these three were sisters : Marie the virgine , and Marie the mother of Iames , & Marie the wife of Cleophas , whose sonnes these were ; their names were Iames and Ioseph & Iudas and Simon ; and they are called the Lordes brethren , because they were kinne vnto him . Therfore note that in holie Scriptures , there be iiij . sortes of brethren ; brethren by nature , so Esau and Iacob are called Gen. 25. 25 brethren , because they had one father and one mother ; Brethren by Nation , so all the Iewes are called brethren , because they were of one Deut. 15. 22. countrey ; Brethren by affinitie , so all are called brethren which were of one familie , and so Abraham called Gen. 12. 5. Lott his brother and Sara his sister , because they were of one lyne ; Brethren by profession , so all Christians are called brethren , because they are of one Religion : these were brethren of the thirde order , that is by affinitie , because they were of one familie .

Nowe when his mother and his brethren were come to see him , it is said , that they could not come neere him because of the prease ; here were auditours enough : Christ saw now , that his mother could haue no rome to heare him ; but after a while it was lowe water againe . When the shepheard was striken , the sheepe were scattered ; when he preached in the streetes , and in the Temples , and in the fieldes , then many flocked after him : but when hee preached vpon the Crosse , then they left him , which said they would neuer forsake him , then there was as great a prease to see him die , as there was here to heare him preach ; and manie of these which he calleth his mother , and his brethren , & his sister , were his betrayers and accusers , and persecutors ; so inconstant we are in our zeale , more than any thing else . Thus much of their comming to the doctrine .

Here be two speakers : one saith ; Thy mother and thy brethren are come to speake with thee : the other sayeth ; These are my mother , & my brethren , which heare the words of God & do it . The scope of the Euangelist is this , First , to shew that Christ would not hinder his doctrine for mother or brethren or any kinsmen : then to shewe that there is a neerer coniunction between Christ and the faithfull , than betweene the mother and the sonne . The first is written for our instruction , & the latter is written for our comfort . Touching the first : he which teacheth vs to honor our father & mother , doth not teach vs here to contemne father or mother ; for it is said , that he was obedient to his parents . This he shewed , Luke . 2. 51 when being found in the Temple among the doctors , he left all to go with his mother , because she sought him ; so he honoured her , that he left all for her . This he shewed againe at his death , being vpon the crosse , he was not vnmindful of her : for pointing vnto Iohn , he said Woman behold thy sonne : and pointing vnto him he said , Behold thy mother ; so he commended her to his beloued Disciple Iohn . 19. 26. before he died ; therefore this is not a doctrine of disobedience , but a rule how to obey . As hee taught his disciples , to giue vnto Caesar , that Luke . 20. 25. which is Caesars , and to God that which is Gods : so he teacheth them here , Mat. 19. to giue vnto parents that which is parents , & to the Lord that which is the Lords . When God said , Honour thy father and thy mother , he did not Exod. 20. 12. giue a commandement against himselfe , & therefore he saith Honor me , before he saith Honor them . The first commandement of the first table is , Honor God : and the first commandement of the second table is , Honor Parents ; lest you should honor your parents before God . When Salomon 1. King . 2. 16. bad his mother aske him any thing , & denyed her that one thing which shee asked ; he sheweth that the mother should not be obeyed in all things . When Christ said , You haue but one father but one master , hespake of faith and religion ; shewing , that when it concerneth our faith & religion , we shuld respect but one father & one master which is the giuer of our faith , & the mater of our religion .

When Paul said , Children obey your parents in the Lorde , hee meaneth Ephes. 6. 1 that we should not obey them against the Lorde : as when he saith , Obey Princes for conscience ; he meaneth that we should not obey them Rom. 13. 5 against conscience . Therefore , when it commeth to this , that the earthly father commaundeth one thing , & the heauenly Father commaundeth another thing , then as Peter aunswered the Rulers , so thou maist answere thy parents , Whether is it Act. 4. 19. meete to obey God or you ? then these are the hands which thou must cut off , then these are the eyes which thou must pull out ; or else they should be as deare vnto thee as thy hand or thine eye . In MATHEW , Aman must for sake his father & mother Mat. 19. 5. to dwell with his wife ; but in LVKE , He must for sake father and mother , and wife to dwell with Christ ; for , He that for saketh father or mother or wife for me , shall receiue more ( saith our Sauiour : ) nay , he which doth not hate father and mother & wife for me , Luk. 14. 26 cannot be my Disciple ( saith he again in the same Euangelist ) : shewing that our loue towards God should be so great , that in respect of it , our loue towardes men shoulde seeme to bee but hatred . Thus hee that obeyed his parents more than wee , yet would haue vs search some sentence , some example in scripture of not obeying them too ; because it is such a hard poynt to know how far they are to be obeied which are set in authoritie ouer vs . As none but God spake alwayes right ; so none but God must alwayes bee obeyed : wee are not called onely the sonnes of men , but the sonnes of God . Therefore , as Christ answered his mother when shee would haue him tourne water into wine ; Woman what haue Iohn 2. 4. I to doe with thee ? So we should answere father , and mother , and brethren , and sisters , and rulers , and misters , and wife too , when they will vs to doo that which is not meete ; Sathan what haue I to doo with thee ? for else it were to turne wine into water . Peter was not Sathan : but when hee tempted Christ like Sathan , Christ aunswered him , as hee aunswered Sathan , Come behind mee Sathan ; shewing , that wee shoulde giue no more attention to father or mother , or master or wife , when they tempt vs to euill , than wee should giue to Sathan , if he should tempt vs him selfe .

Three things children receiue of their parents , life , & maintenance , and instruction : For these three they owe other three : for life they owe loue ; for maintenance they owe obedience ; for instruction they owe reuerence : For life , they must be loued as fathers : for maintenance , they must be obeyed as masters : for instruction , they must be reuerenced as Tutors . But as there is a King of Kings which must be obeyed aboue Kings : so there is a father of fathers , which must be obeyed aboue fathers . Therefore , you must aunswere like the sonne when he was bid to goe vnto the vineyard , I will goe : and sometimes you must aunswere as Christ aunswered , I must doe my Fathers busines , I haue no other busines .

When two milch kine did carrie the Arke of the Lorde vnto Bethshemesh , their Calues were shut vp at home , because the Kine shoulde not staye , when they heard their Calues bleat after them : so when thou goest about the Lordes busines , thou shalt heare a crye of thy Father and mother , and thy brethren and thy sisters , and of thy kindred to staye thee ; but then thou must thinke of another father , as Christ thought of another mother : and so as these Kine went on , till the Lord brought them where the Arke should rest ; so shalt thou goe on , till the Lorde bring thee where thou shalt rest . It is better to flye from our kinred as Abraham did , than to stay with some friends as Sampson did with Dalila .

I may saye , beware of kinsmen , as well as our Sauiour sayeth , Beware of men ; for this respect of cosenage 1. Sam. 2. hath made Elie his sonnes priestes , and this respect of cousenage hath made many like priestes in Europe This respect of cousenage brought Tobia into the Leuites chamber : and this respect of cousenage hath brought manie gentlemen , into Preachers liuings : as Christ preferred his spirituall kinsmen , so wee preferre our carnall kinsmen : many priuiledges , manie offices , many giftes , wee being by this tempted , haue stooped to this voice ; Thy mother calleth thee ; or Thy kinsmen would haue thee .

As this voyce came to Christe whiles hee was labouring : so manie such voyces come to vs whiles wee are labouring ; One saith , pleasure woulde speake with you ; an other sayeth , profite would speake with you ; Another sayeth , ease would speake with you ; an other sayeth , abundance woulde speake with you ; Another sayeth , a promotion woulde speake with you ; Another sayeth , Delight woulde speake with you .

When a man is in a good waye , and studyeth the Scriptures to bee a teacher in the Church of GOD , a voice commeth into his eare , as this came to Christ , and sayth ; thy friendes would haue thee to studie the Lawe , or thou shalt attaine to no preferment : For the reuerendest of that profession , are by the vylest of the people contemned ; and so sometimes Ionas turneth his sayles from Niniueh to Tharshish . Ioh. 1.

If he be a Diuine alreadie , and preach his conscience in reproouing sinne , a voice commeth to him againe , as this did to Christ , and sayeth ; Thy friendes would haue thee be quiet , or thou wilt be enuyed for that which thou sayest ; or there be fellowes which lye in wait to returne scornings for thy paines . so somtimes with a litle intreatie , he beginneth to drawe vp his hande and laye his fingers to his mouth , and preach peace when hee is sent with warre .

Thus are wee cumbred like our master before our sermons , and in our sermons , and after our sermons ; euen of those sometimes which shoulde incourage vs , and therefore as Christ saieth , Beware of men ; so Mat. 10. 14. I saye , beware of kinsmen .

So soone as the children bee borne , their Parents bring them to the Temple and baptise them , and offer them vnto GOD : but as soone as they are able to serue him , they tempt them awaye from him , some to the Lawe , some to Physicke , some to marchaundise , and some to husbandrie , and had rather they should be of any other Tribe than of the Tribe of Leni , which serueth in the Temple : hee which wil be hindred , shall haue blocks enough : but we must learne to leape ouer all as Christ did ouer this . If wee shoulde leaue father and mother , and wife , and children for Christ ; much lesse shoulde wee care for labour , or losse , or shame , or trouble , or displeasure : for wee would venture these for our friends . Thus much of his naturall kindred : nowe of his spirituall kinred .

Here is another Genealogie of Christ , which MATTHEW and LVKE neuer spake of ; As CHRIST sayeth , I haue another bread which you knowe not : So he sayeth , that I haue other kinsmen , which you knowe not .

Saint IOHN writing to a Christian Ladie which brought vp her children in the feare of God , calleth her The elect Ladie ; shewing , that 2. Iohn . 1. the chiefest honour of Lordes and Ladies , and Princes , is to be elect of God . LVKE speaking of certaine Beroeans which receiued the worde Act. 27. 11. of GOD with loue , calleth them more noble men than the rest ; shewing that God counteth none noble but those which are of a noble spirite . As Saint Iohn calleth none elect but the vertuous , and Saint Luke calleth none noble but the religious ; so our Sauiour Christ calleth none his kinsmen but such as are righteous : these are my mother , and my brethren which heare the worde of God and do it .

As Abrahams children are not counted after the flesh , but after the Spirite : So Christes kinsmen are not counted after the : flesh but after Gen. ● . the Spirite : for the flesh was not made after the Image of God , but the Spirite : therefore God is not called the father of bodies , but the father Heb. 12. 9. of Spirites .

Now God which is a Spirite preferreth them which are kinne vnto him in the spirite : therefore Esau was not blessed , because he was of Isaacks flesh : but Iacob was blessed because he was of Isaacks spirite . As wee loue in the flesh , so Christ loueth in the spirite : therefore hee calleth none his kinsmen , but them which heare the worde of God and doe it .

It seemeth that Paul thought of this saying when he said , till Christ Galla. 4. 10 be reformed in you . If Christ be found in vs , as Saint Paul saith , then wee are Chists mother : euerie one which will haue Christ to be his Sauiour , must be Christ his mother .

The virgin asked the Angel , how shee could beare Christ , seeing shee had not knowen a man : so you may aske how you can beare Christ seeing he is borne alreadie . As there is a second comming of Christ : so there is a seconde birth of Christ . When we are regenerate and borne againe , then Christ is borne in vs againe . The virgin Marie was his mother by the flesh , and the faithfull are his mother by the Spirite . Againe , the Holie Ghost did conceaue him in her : & the Holie Ghost likewise did conceaue him in them : Hee was in her wombe , and hee is in their hearts : Shee did beare him , and they doe beare him : Shee did nurce him , and they doe nurce him . This is the seconde birth of Christ . As the soule of man may be called The Temple of the Holie Ghost : so it may also be called the wombe of the sonne ; that is , the mother of Christ .

Before those wordes , it is sayde , that Christ asked , Who is my mother ? and who are my brethren ? As if hee should saye ; You thinke that I am affected to my kinsmen as you are : But I tell you , that I count them my kinsmen , which heare the worde of GOD and doe it .

To shewe that Christ loueth vs with an euerlasting loue , he sheweth , that he doeth not loue vs for any temporall things , but for that which endureth for euer . If Christ loued vs as ISAAC loued ESAV for Venison ; then wee might misse the blessing as ESAV did . But as IOHN saith , He loued in the trueth ; so Christ loueth in the trueth . To loue in the trueth , is the true loue . Euery loue but this , at one time or other , hath turned into hatred ; but the true loue ouercommeth hatred , euen as the trueth ouercommeth falshood .

No we see this loue , Christ calleth them by the names of loue , his mother , his brethren , and sisters . In the sixth to the ROMANES , they are called his seruaunts ; If that be not enough , in the fifteenth of saint IOHN , they are called his friends ; If that be not enough , in the thirde of MARKE , they are called his kinsmen ; If that be not enough , in the 24 Chapter of LVKE , there he calleth them his brethren ; If that be not enough , in the first of MARKE , they are called his children ; If that be not enough , here they are called his mother ; If that be not enough , in the fifth of the CANT. they are called his spouse : to manifest that he loueth them with all loues ; the mothers loue , and the brothers loue , and the sister loue , and the masters loue , & the friends loue . If all these loues could be put together , yet Christes loue exceedeth them all ; and the mother , and the brother , and the sister , and the childe , and the kinsmen , and the friends , and the seruaunt , would not doe and suffer so much amongest them all , as Christ hath done and suffered for vs alone ; Such a loue wee kindle in Christ , when wee heare his worde and do it ; that wee are as deere vnto him as al his kindred together .

Nowe as wee are his mother , so wee should carrie him in our hearts , as his mother did in her armes ; as we are his brethren , so we should preferre him , as Ioseph did Beniamin ; as wee are his spouse , so wee Gen. 43. 34 shoulde embrace him , as Isaac did Rebecca : if thou be a kinsman , do like a kinsman .

Nowe wee come to the markes of these kinsmen ; which I may call the armes of his house . As Christ saieth , By this all men shall knowe my Disciples ; if they loue one another : So hee sayeth : by this shall all men knowe my kinsmen , if they heare the worde of God and doe it . Here it is continuallie saide , Hee which Psal. 11● . heareth the worde of God , and doeth it : both are one : for his worde is his will : and therefore it is called his will .

As hee spake ( therefore ) of doing ; so hee speaketh of a certaine rule which hee calleth The worde of God : whereby all mens doinges must be squared : for if I doe all the workes that I can to satisfie an others will , or mine owne will , it auaileth mee nothing with God , because I doe it not for God . Therefore hee which alwaies before followed his owne will ; when hee was stricken downe to the ground , and began to repent , he cryed out , Act. 9. Lorde , what wilt thou haue mee to do ? as if he should saye ; I will doe no more as men would haue mee , or as the diuell would haue mee , but as thou wouldest haue mee . So Dauid praide , Teach mee O Lorde to do thy will ; not my will : for wee woulde not to be taught to doe our owne will , euerie man can goe to hell without a guyde . Here is the rule , nowe if you liue by it , then you are knit to Christ . As other kindreds go by birth or by marriage , so this kindred goeth by faith and obedience . Hearers are but halfe kinne , as it were in a farre degree : But they which heare and doe , are called his mother , which is the nearest kinne of all . Therefore if you haue the deede , then you are kinne in deed . There is no promise made to bearers , nor to speakers , nor to readers , but all promises are made to beleeuers and to doers .

If you aske God , Who shall rest in the holie mountaine ? he sayeth , the Psalm. 15. 2 man which walketh vprightly & doeth Iustice : Here are none but doers .

If yee aske Christ , Who shall enter into the kingdome ? Hee saith , Not they which crye Lorde , Lorde , though Mat. 7. 21 they crye twise Lorde ; But they which doe the will of my Father : Here are none but deedes . If you aske him againe , howe you may come to heauen ? hee sayeth , Keepe the commaundements . If you aske him Luk. 18. againe , who are blessed ? He sayth : Blessed are they that heare the worde Luk. 11. of God and doe it . If you aske an Angell , who are blessed ? He sayeth , Blessed are they that keepe the wordes Reuel. 21. 7. of this booke . If you aske the Prophet Dauid , who are blessed ? Hee sayeth , The man is blest that keepeth Psal. 106. 3. iudgement , and doeth righteousnes . If you aske Salomon , who are blessed ? Hee sayeth , The man is blest Pro. 29. 18 that keepeth the Lawe . If you aske Esay , who are blessed ? He sayeth , He which doeth this , is blessed . If Esa. 56. 2. you aske Iames , who is blessed ? He sayth , The doer of the worde is blessed Iam. 1. 25. in his deede . Here you see al these are none but doers . Thus blessing and doing runne together , lest any man should looke to be blessed without obedience . Christ calleth Loue , the greatest commandement : but Salomon calleth Obedience , the ende of all : as though without obedience , all were to no ende . When Micah had gotten a Leuite into his house ; now he sayth , I know the Lord will be good vnto mee , seeing I haue a Leuite in my Iud. 17. 13. house : so manie thinke , when they haue goten a Preacher into their parish , now the Lord wil be good vnto vs : now Christ will loue vs : now we are good sonnes seing we maintaine a Preacher amongest vs : But Micah was not blest for a Leuite , nor you for a Preacher . But as you would haue vs doe as wee teach ; so GOD would haue you doe as you heare : for you shall bee no more saued for hearing , than wee for speaking .

When God created the tree , he commaunded it to bring foorth fruit ; so when he created Faith , he commaundeth vs to bring foorth workes ; and therefore it is called a liuely Gen. 1. faith . When our Sauiour woulde proue himselfe vnto Iohn Baptist to be the Messias in deede , he saith to his disciples ; tel what things you haue heard & seene : not onely heard but Luk. 7. 22. seene . So if we will proue our selues to be Christes kinsmen in deede , we must worke that which may be seen as well as heard . Iohn Baptist was not onely called the voice of a cryer , Ioh. 1. 13. & 5. 35. which might be heard , but a burning lamp which might be seene : so all which are crying voices , must be burning lamps . Iames doth not saie , let me heare thy faith , but let mee see Iam. 2. 18. thy faith . As the Angels put on the shape of men , that Abraham might Gen. 18. 2. see them : so faith must put on works that the world may see it . The works Ioh. 5. 36. which I do ( saith Christ ) beare witnes of me : so the works which wee do must beare witnes of vs . Therefore Christ linketh faith and repentance together ; Repent , & beleeue the Gospell : Therefore I conclude , Mar. 1. 15. That which Christ hath ioyned , Mar. 10. 9. let no man separate .

Thus I haue shewed you Christ preaching , and a great prease hearing ; The conclusion . his kinsfolkes interrupting , & Christ againe withstanding the interruption . By this you may see what a spite the diuel had to hinder one sermon ; therefore no maruell though hee cause so manie to bee mute , no maruell though he stand so against the learned ministerie ; No maruell though hee raise such slaunders vpon Preachers ; no maruell though he write so many books against the Christian gouernment in the Church ; no maruell , though he make so manie ingrossers of church liuing , that being themselues without conscience , are vnwilling to haue the cure of soules committed to any other than such as themselues : for these men make him the god of this worlde . The Diuell is afraide that one Sermon will conuert vs , and wee are not mooued with twentie : so the diuell thinketh better of vs , than wee are .

Againe , by this wee may knowe howe to withstande temptations : whether it be the father , mother , brother , sister , kinsman , rulers , master , or wife , that tempteth . As Christ would not knowe his mother against his father : so thou shouldst not knowe any father or mother , or whosoeuer against God . If a mothers sute may be refused somtimes , a mightie mans wil may be refused too ; he which can turne his hinderance to a furtherance , as Christ did here , may make vse of euerie thing .

Againe , by this you may learne how to choose your friend . As Christ counted none his kinsmen , but such as heare the worde of God & do it : So wee should make none our familiars , but such as Christ counteth his kinsmen .

Againe , by this you may see the difference betweene Christ and the world : Christ calleth the godly his kinsmen , though they be neuer so poore : wee scorne to call the poore our kinsmen , though they be neuer so honest ; so prowd is the seruaunt aboue his master . Againe , by this yee may knowe how Christ is to be loued ; for when he calleth vs his mother , he sheweth vs the waye how to loue him like a mother : for in deede he is the mother of his mother , and his brethren too .

Againe , by this all vaunting & boasting of kindred is cut of . Glorie not that thou hast a gentleman to thy father , but that thou hast God to thy father . Glorie not that thou hast Kings to thy brethren , but glorie that thou hast the Lorde to thy brother . Hee which called Abraham his father , fried in hell fier , because God was not his father . Luke . 16. If Marie might not be prowde of such a sonne as Christ , much lesse may wee bragge of any friend or sonne that wee haue .

Againe , by this you may knowe whether you be kinne to Christ : as those priestes were shut out of the Temple which could not count their Genealogie from Aaron ; so they shall bee shut out of heauen which cannot reckon their pedegree from Christ .

Here are the Armes now whereby you may shewe what house you come of : If you heare the worde of God , and doe it , then Christ saith vnto you , as he said vnto them : these are my mother and my brethren & my sisters ; you women are his sisters , & you men are his brethren : and if you be Christes brethren , then are you Gods sonnes : and if yee be Gods sonnes , then are yee his heires , for all Gods sonnes are called heires . Rom. 8. 17

Lastly , by this yee may knowe the diuels kinsmen : for if Christ counted none his kinsmen , but they which heare the worde of God ; then they which doe not , hear the word of God , but contemne it , are the diuels kinsmen : and therfore Christ sayeth , You are of your father the aiuell ; for the diuell and the wicked Iohn . 8. 44 are as nere kinne , as Christ and the faithfull .

Now as Dauid sayeth , Seemeth it a light thing vnto you to be the sonne of a King , seeing I am a poore man and 1. Sam. 18. 23 of small reputation ? so I may say , seemeth it a light thing vnto you to be the sonnes of a King , the King of Kings , seeing you are pooremen , and of small reputation ? It is counted a great honour to Abraham , Isaac and Iacob , that God was not ashamed to be called their God . What an honour than is this , that God is not ashamed to be called our Father , nay our brother ; as though we were matches with him . If the Israelites had such care to marrie with the seruaunts of God ; what a blessing is this , to marrie with the sonne of God . Therefore , if anie affect rich kinsmen , or great marriages : here is a greater than Salomon to marrie with you ; this kinsman of ours is nowe gone vp into heauen , that we may haue a friend in the court . IOSEPH desired the Butler to remember Gene. 40. 14. him when hee stoode before PHARAOH , and he forgot , though he had pleasured him : but a theefe desired Christ to remember him when hee came into his kingdome , and Luke . 13. 42 he receiued him into Paradise the same daie , though hee had alwaies offended him ; to shew that though wee haue beene as bad as theeues , yet wet may haue hope in Christ . Therfore I may conclude , you haue heard the worde . If you goe awaie and doe it : then you are mother , brethren and sisters of this heauenly King : to whom with the Father & the Holie Spirite , be all honour and glorie for euer and euer .

Amen . FINIS .