The first Sermon of the Diuinitie of Christe , taken out of the first Chapter of Saint Iohns Gospel .

One Sermon of the Natiuitie of Christ taken out of the second Chapter of Saint Luke .

Nine Sermons of his Passion , death , buriall , and resurrection , taken out of the xxvj . of Saint Matthew .

Seuen Sermons of the mysterie of his death and passion , taken out of the Lij . and Liij . Chapters of Isaiah .

Fower Sermons of his Ascention , and of the commandement which hee gaue vnto his Apostles , taken out of the first of the Actes .

Fowre Sermons of the descending of the holy Ghost at Whitsuntide , and of Peter his first Sermon , taken out of the second of the Acts.

One Sermon of the latter comming of our Lord Iesus Christ , taken out of the first Chapter of the second Epistle to the Thessalonians .

IT is impossible ( right honorable ) for a man to turne himselfe any kinde of way heere in this world , either in calling to minde generally , the heauens and earth , either yet particulerly , the glorious garnishing , light , brightnes , & mouings of the one , and the great plentie of all sortes of beasts , foules , and fruits of the other , together with the infinite diuersitie of flowres , wherewith God , by his heauenly wisedome and goodnesse , euery yeere afreshe , meruellously clotheth , and repareth them , as it were with rich , and beautifull attyres and colours : But that hee , as often ( I say ) as hee beholdeth these so wonderful works of his maiestie , muste euen so often needes confesse that there is set before his eyes , a most large matter & argument for him , to glorifie thee altogether good , & only omnipotent God , who hath not created all things for the vse of man only , but also euen for his delight and pleasure . For hee is so good and glorious a Father to all his children , as that his very meaning is ) so wee take them modestly and thankfully ) to haue vs freely vse his benefits for our necessitie , yea , and receiue them with pleasure , and delight , without scruple of conscience ▪ For els , to what purpose should we haue created such a number of sortes of fruites , differing in substance , strength and nurriture , & of so sundry shapes , in greatnes thicknes , & colour , in smel , tast , & sauor , except it had bin both to strēghten & delight vs ? For doth wine onely strengthen our bodies ? doth it not likewise , as Dauid reckoneth it amongst the benefites of the Almighty , glad the heart of man . And therefore , what is hee that can bee so blockish , as not to thinke as much generally , of all the rest of the benefites of God , which he dayly bestoweth vpon vs , for the sustening of our bodies . Yet notwithstanding , this were not enough for vs , hereupon to acknowledge , as our dutie is , the fatherly care which hee hath ouer our present life , in administring to vs whatsoeuer is needfull for the same : except wee eftsoones learned also heereby , that hee alone , who principally is the father of our soules , ( for , it is hee that hath created and regenerated them ) giueth the foode of euerlasting life vnto them , by the bread of his holy word : to the end we might be drawn as it were by degrees , by our bodily food to attaine vnto spirituall life : and thereby eternally liue in blisse , which neuer shal haue end . And in deed , the eternall God brought the children of Israel heereunto , by that Manna wherwith he fed them in the wildernesse . Whereupon , it will come to passe , that if we doe , as many of them did , who made none other reckoning but of stuffinge their paunches , and thereby looked into none other matter : that wee also shal die , euen as they did . For as it is impossible for vs to liue heere in this world , without the vse of bread and other food , which God the Creator hath ordeined , as means wherby he adioyning thereto his heauenly power , would susteine vs in this corporal life : Euen so likewise is it as impossible for vs to be partakers of euerlasting life , except we be fed with this food of the soule : wherewith being appointed by God , to the same end , the holy Ghoste serueth as it were for an instrument , to cause vs possesse , through a liuely and true faith Christe Iesus , who is alone giuen to vs for life , and without whom , we continually abide in death . Wherefore , seeing the soule is more excellent then the body , the heauenly bread more precious then corruptible bread , and euerlasting life , farre more worth , then the transitory life for a day , it is most certaine , that heauenly benefits are without al comparison , a great deale more excellent then corporal , and to be preferred before them . Now , if wee woulde at the least consider , as in deede wee ought , what a benefite were it , to haue the true feare and knowledge of God , in steede of being altogether ignorant thereof , and contemning the same : to trust surely in him alone , in stead of trusting too too muche vnto our selues : vnfeinedlye to loue our neighbors , in steade of enuying and hating of them , before wee are regenerate : and to haue a pure and sounde heart belonging to euerlasting life , in steade of all iniquitie , wherein wee bathe and feede our selues as fish in the water ? To bee short , if wee thinke it no small matter , that all supernaturall giftes : altogether abolished in man through sinne , be restored to vs , through Christ Iesus alone : and that , reason , vnderstanding , iudgement , will , and other such naturall giftes , which man had of his Creator , howbeit , corrupted by the same fall , be likewise , through the same Sauiour renued in vs : and to speake in one word , if the image of God , which was defaced by man his disobedience , bee repaired in vs by our Redeemer , who alone hath reconciled vs to God his Father , cleansing vs from our sinnes , making vs his brethren , and enheritors of the kingdome of heauen , freed from the tyranny of sinne , and of the Deuill , empouerishing himselfe to make vs Princes , and companions with Angels , and by his death recouering vs life : If these inestimable benefites ( I say ) be not lightly considered of vs , we should esteeme of them , as it is good reason , aboue all other things , yea , we should leaue & forsake all other things , to seeke and enioy them , and neuer bee wearied with any paine , neither yet faint hearted , seeing it is the bread of the word of God that wee must all , seeke after . And this bread , amongst other vertues , hath this , that is , it maketh him who is daily fed therewith , more and more encrease in the vnitie of faith , vntill such time as hee commeth to the fulnesse of a perfect man . And without fayth there is no saluation , and fayth ( as the Apostle witnesseth ) commeth by hearing , and hearing commeth by preaching of the word , so that without hearing of the word preached , there can be no fayth , and consequently , no saluation . This bread also of the word hath so pleasant a taste , as that if the sweetnesse of honie it selfe , be compared with it , it shall be as bitter as Gal. Surely , the godliest and best fruits of the earth , in respect of this which restoreth the soule , reioyceth the heart , strengtheneth the weake , and comforteth the afflicted , are all but rotten , and no whit pleasant or delightfull . To be short , ouer and besides , that we are with so great pleasure thereby in such sort strengthened , as no tongue is able to expresse , we are moreouer so enriched therewith , as that all the treasures in this world , in regard of it , can be but filthy and stinking . And therefore , euery one is to consider and vnderstande , that the whole felicitie of man , resteth in this spiritual foode . Here is likewise to be ioyned withall , that our labour in trauelling for the same , shal not be lost : For , God the Creator , sendeth vs not at this day ( thankes be giuen to him for it for euer ) scarcitie of this Manna and heauenly doctrine : But most abundantly giueth and poureth it abroad without money , all the world ouer , to all such as hunger after it : But vnto such as are full gorged and lothed therewith , so that they reiect it , and cast it vp againe , by reason of their vnthankfulnesse , it turneth to them in stead of good nutriment , into deadly poison . And contrariwise the more a man desireth it , the more it nourisheth , & doth him good . Wherefore our good God , and louing Father , knowing what neede we haue to be strengthened with this spirituall foode , not for a day only , but euen so long as we shall creepe here vpon the earth , and must haue it put into our mouthes like young children , hath appointed Pastors , & Teachers in his Church , soundly and truly to breake vnto al his faithful ones , this bread of his word , Euen as a father who giuing bread to his children , cutteth euery one such a morsel , as he seeth to bee most necessarie for him . And therefore in this behalfe ( my good Lord ) the Church of England , hath greatly to thanke the lord our God , in that hee hath furnished it , with such a number of godly , faithfull , and sound Ministers , as distribute vnto his people the worde of trueth : For they in stead of confusedly heaping & hudling one thing in an others necke , doe verie familiarly and plainely handle and dispose the matter by peece meale , and after an excellent good order : and in stead of cutting , tearing in sunder , wreasting it into a wrong sense , and resting in the Barke without making a through entrance , doe soundly , perfectly , truely , verie reuerently , and without falsifiyng , deliuer it vnto vs , and feed our soules with the marow thereof .

Wherefore ( right honourable ) seeing this foode of the soule which is the word of God , is so precious a thing , as that all the kingdomes of the world are not valuable vnto it , I haue taken boldnesse to beseech your honor to be the Patron and defender of this my poore trauell in the translation of these Sermons following , which I haue done for the benefit & good of the meanly lettered sort of my countrimen , verie notably & learnedly handled by M. Iohn Caluin , whose authoritie , & sound dealing in such causes , If I should take in hand to commend , I should seeme , ( as we say ) with a Lanterne to giue light vnto the bright shining Sunne , & therfore wil hold my peace . Againe , the doctrine set down by him in them , affourdeth vnto all the Readers therof so great commoditie of it selfe , as that it needeth not the commendation of any other . And I haue the rather dedicated this my rude translation vnto your Lordship , partly , for that I would shew some peece of my humble dutie vnto your honour , as a publike testimony therof , in respect of being sometimes , as then verie young , brought vp in your L. fathers house : but especially & chiefly , because ( Syr ) you seeke by al means possible , ( the Lord bee thanked for it , & continue you in the same minde all your life long to his glorie ) to vse conference with a certeine godly learned man , for the better reforming of your self and your whole family , to the obedience of the word . Which word as Solomon saieth , Shal guide you when you walke , watch for you when you sleepe , and talke with you when you are awake . Prou. 6.22 And in the verse following hee saieth , That the word is a Lanterne , and Instruction , a light , & correction , for instructions , are the way of life &c. Thus haue I my good Lord , boldly presumed of your noble and gracious curesie , to present these Sermons vnto your honour , beseeching you in the behalfe of the Church of God to accept of them . In the meane while , I shall beseech the Lord our God , the Father of all mercy and consolation , to strengthen you in that good course , which he of his meere loue and singular goodnesse , hath so lately begun in you , that you may bee like vnto a confortable bright shining light in his Church , to shewe your selfe a constant mainteiner of the trueth of the glorious Gospell of his deare Sonne Christ Iesus our Lorde , for the stirring vp of many thereto . And because I feare that I haue troubled your Lordship with an ouerlong Epistle , I most humbly take my leaue , committing both you , and all your affayres , to the protection of the Almighties most sacred Maiestie . London , the vi . of May . 1581.

IT is not vnknowne vnto vs ( Christian Readers ) what the proude secte of the Pharisees was , in whom , although there was nothing els but darknesse , and ignoraunce , yet boasted and bragged they of them selues , to bee the most notable enterpretors of the lawe , insomuche , that from thence they tooke their name , as if the verie marowe , and secret meaning of the scriptures had beene enclosed and fast shut vp in their breastes . And yet in the meane while , in stead of feeding the poore people with true and wholesome doctrine , they instructed them I know not with what mockeries and vaine ceremonies , which they them selues had inuented , cleane besides the worde of God . And so , after the like manner doe our great Doctours of Sorbone , and all our howling Monkes and Fryers deale at this day with vs : of which company , the one sorte of them , although they thinke them selues to be the pillers of the Church , fellowes with the Apostles , and the verie shoppe of the holie Ghost , from whence wee must fetch the full exposition of the scriptures , and the verie assured resolution of all the pointes of religion , yet tell they vs nothing els but vaine and doltish tales , either busie them selues about curious questions , and ful of Sophistrie , besides a thousand other subtleties , seruing to no edification in the whole world . The other sort of them , in stead of the word of God , preach nothing els , but constitutions and ordinaunces of their owne making , for the establishing of the tyrannie of their holie Father the Pope , the verie Antechrist and enemy to the truth : and the third sort , vomit and cast vp arrogant and proude speeches in the Pulpyt against the children of God , & against all such as Iesus Christ hath reuealed him selfe vnto , in these latter dayes , calling them Lutherans , and seditious persons , falsly deuising a thousand leasings against them , and in steade of feeding their miserable starued sheepe with the true foode of the worde of God , they are faine to moysten their soules with those pestilent kindes of poisons , whereas they should be fed with spiritual and heauenly nurriture .

Wherefore , dearely beloued brethren in our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ , whensoeuer that God sendeth vnto vs any good and faithfull teacher , who sincerely and purely deliuereth vnto his Auditorie the worde of the Lorde , wee ought to make a meruellous great account of him : for , we shal finde verie few such men as will faithfully acquite them selues of their charge and function : and we ought amongst other things greatly to reuerence all those whom God hath endowed with speciall graces and the gift of enterpreting ▪ Euen as at this day the faithful Pastor and good seruant of God Iohn Caluin , hath made that precious talent which God bestowed vpon him verie profitable , whose Sermons yelde vnto vs a good testimony therof , which also , ( in the iudgement of indifferent men ) were not slightly made , nor hastily hudled vp , but duely & truely premeditated and rightly deliuered vnto the capacitie of his flocke , hauing alwayes in open shew , the liuely impression of the benefit of the Lord Iesus in their hearts . Neither are these like vnto common places caught in a net , either yet bosome Sermons , which may serue for any text of scripture , as a stoole for al feete : But are true , sincere , plaine , and meete expositions seruing for the text which he had to treate of : neither are they stuffed with friuolous exhortations : either yet filled with ambitious inuectiues . For , as it is verie needful that the superstitions of Poperie shoulde , by the worde of God , bee daily enueighed against , to the ende they , might be cleane rinsed and scowred out of our heartes , as a strong sauour wherewith we haue beene seasoned euen from our infancie , yet if the place which hee handled did not orderly speake against such abuses , hee woulde not passe the boundes of his Texte , and crye out , vpon them : as the Papists , alwaies , and to no purpose , like Mastife Curres barke and baye against the Gospell , renued in this latter age of the worlde : But his manner was to holde a plaine and direct course , tending to edification , without omitting any thing which might serue and make for the honour of God , and instruction of his Auditorie . I woulde , if it pleased God , there were a great many moe his lyke : For then I knowe , that the Church of Christ , should be greatly eased and furthered : But it is out of al doubt , that our vnthankfulnesse is the cause why God sendeth not moe faithfull Pastours at this present then are : for if there bee any that will duetifully discharge their office , and deliuer the word of God freely ( as Saint Paule commaundeth ) reproouing sinne , and setting them selues against iniquitie , for the maintenaunce of his honour , by whom they are sent , they are foorthwith furiously dealt with , rayled on , and slaundered . As questionlesse , the partie before saide , who for his vprightnesse , and great fidelitie by him vsed in the executing of his charge , hath gotten such a mightie number of enemies , as that they which neuer see nor heard him , neither yet euer read two wordes of his woorkes , haue wished his death . Howbeit , God be thanked for it , his good conscience and the testimonie which hee had before God , his Angelles , and the faithful which daily heard him , did so assure him that men did him wrong for wishing of him so great hurt , as that they encouraged him , constantly to pursue the Lordes workes . He sawe howe hardly his maister was dealt with , and after him the Apostles : and therefore it greeued him not to follow their steppes , because he knew that God was of power able to defende and keepe his pledge , and that they which suffred for his sake , should be taken to be worthie of the kingdome of heauen . Nowe , because all men could not bee of that Church whereby they might be partakers of the heauenly foode which this good shepheard many yeares ceased not to administer : and that it was very expedient that they which were newly come to the charge which hee had , might see his manner of teaching , and so followe it : and likewise , that they which thought hee did nothing els but speake euill and crye out against the Pope , and all his rable of shauelinges , thundring against their traditions , without any other handling of the Scripture , or els that hee went about none other thing but to bring the people vnto a carnal libertie , and thereby cast of the obedience and subiection which they ought to Kinges and Princes , to the end therefore that they might read his Sermons , and thereby see that hee hath great iniurie done vnto him in hauing this blame laide vpon him , and cease the yl opinion which they haue conceiued of him , many godly honest men determined to prynt a certein of them , but especially Lawrence of Normandie , whose zeale and godly conuersation is sufficiently wel knowne , & hath for many yeares bestowed all his studie & trauel to prynt bookes for the edifiyng of the Church . In verie deede , I must needes say thus much ( as I haue in the preface of the Sermons of the tenne Commaundementes let you before vnderstande ) that the Authour was not willing nor yet consenting heretoo : not that hee woulde hinder the benefite and fruite that hereby might redounde to the Church : but wished that his Sermons might passe no further then vnto his owne flocke : as well for that they were specially made for his sheepe , vnto whose capacitie he framed him selfe the best he could : and therefore thought that an other order and disposition were more requisite therin for the publishing them abrode in the view of al the world : but as for the ouer looking of them to the ende to polish them , ouer and besides that his leasure would not serue him , hee would neuer busie himselfe about the matter . For if he himselfe had meant to haue put them foorth , he intended to haue made new homilies of them , and better penned , and not to haue published any thing sodenly spoken by him . Neuerthelesse , we seeing the great benefite which might come by the putting abrode of these Sermons , were not afeard somewhat to displease and disobey him heerein , to the end we might make you partakers of those excellent riches , which wee possesse in this litle Angle and corner of the world , so abhorred and detested , howbeit precious in the sight of the Lord . In deede we were so much the bolder , by reason of the liberal dealing of our honorable Lords and magistrates , who desiring the aduancement of the Church of God , haue priuiledged vs to print them .

Now , when we see that we were to make choyse of such a great number of collections as were of them , we thought it best to set a few of them abrod to the end that as we see them thankefully receiued , so also we might goe forward in putting foorth of moe . This then is the order which wee haue taken .

In the first place , we haue set downe a congregation vpon the beginning of the Gospell of S. Iohn , where is largely handeled the diuinitie of our Lord Iesus Christ . Now by this word Congregation , I meane a certaine assemble , which is made one day in the weeke at the Church , where euery Minister in order handleth some text of the scripture , more like the maner of a reading then of a preaching : that being done , if any of the rest vnto whome the spirite of God hath reuealed any thing tending to the better vnderstanding and laying open of that which hath beene spoken , hee hath free libertie to speake .

After that foloweth the Sermon , touching the natiuitie of Iesus Christ . Next to it wee haue placed the Sermons of his death and passion , of his resurrection and ascention , of the comming downe of the holy Ghost vpon the Apostles , Of the first Sermon that Peter , made after he had receiued the holy Ghost . Last of al , we haue set downe a Sermon treating of the last comming of Iesus Christe .

After we had thus doone , and thinking to haue finished this booke it pleased God to graunt vs to come to the hearing of the most excellent sermons that are possibly to be hard or spoken , vpon the end of the fiftie two Chapter of the Prophet Isaiah , & vpon al the fiftie three , wherin the mistery of the death and passion of our Lorde Iesus Christe is set foorth , and so liuely pictured out that a man would thinke that the holy Ghost meant to set before our eyes Iesus Christ condemned in our name , and nayled to the crosse for our sinnes , to the end that he suffering the punishmente for them which was due to vs , and bearing the wrath and iudgement of God for our sakes , hath deliuered vs from eternal death , which Sermons doe so agree with the Sermons going before , which wee haue heere set downe , that wee coulde not choose to ioyne them vnto them , because we woulde not bereaue you of so great a benefite . Moreouer , wee haue had respect to choose out those Sermons aswell as we coulde , which were vpon such dayes as the Lordes Supper was administred in this Churche , aswell for that that there is a farre greater and more effectuall vehemencie in them , as also for that the point of this Sacrament is therein more cleerely shewed , for the which at this day , is the greatest contention and striefe in the worlde . And therefore we haue determined hereafter too deliuer vnto you the Sermons , which this godly learned man hath made vpon the tenth and the eleuenth Chapter of the Epistle of S. Paul to the Corinthians , wherein is manifestly set foorth the true institution of the Supper & the corruption and abuse which sithence haue come vnto it , liuely refuted . Wherefore , if wee perceiue that these presents like you , wee will vse all the meanes possible that God shal graunt vs , to make you partakers of the heauenly riches , which he vouchsafeth vpon his seruants heere in this Church . In the meane while wee beseech you dearely beloued to follow that blessed coursse , and not feare the threats and cruelties of tyrants , who thinke at this day to do god high seruice in persecuting Iesus Christ in his members : and set before you this incorruptible crowne and euerlasting prepared for you , if you constantly perseuere vnto the ende in your holy calling , knowing that the sufferings which you abide in this present life , are not worthie the glory of the life to come : wherevnto wee may attaine through Iesus Christ our Lord .