The epistle of the blessed apostle Saint Paule which he, in the time of his trouble and imprisonment, sent in writting from Rome to the Ephesians. Faithfully expounded, both for the benefite of the learned and vnlearned, by Nicholas Hemming ... Familiarlie translated out of Latine into English, by Abraham Fleming. Heerein are handled the high mysteries of our saluation, as maie appeare by the table of commonplaces necessarilie annexed by the same A.F. Perused and authorised.

TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL, LEAR∣ned, godlie, and excellent Diuine, M. Henrie of Hertoghenbosch, of the auncient house of the Bruchoffens, Deane of the Chapter of Lunden in Den∣marke, and his beloued brother in Christ, NICHOLAS HEMMING wisheth health and welfare.

I Heard (Right Worshipfull) vp∣on 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 doc∣trine,* 1.1 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,* 1.2 that we are touched with no féeling at all of sorowe for our sinnes: without which fée∣ling, 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 faith∣fullie learned. Which thing that kinglie Prophet Dauid knowing well inough,* 1.3 witnesseth, saieng: In quo mun∣dam, &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,* 1.4 is his delight and counsellers. For this cause the same Prophet,* 1.5 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.* 1.6 Againe, Laetabor ego super, &c. I will reioice at thy words,* 1.7 as one that findeth a great spoile. Againe, Meli∣or 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 hea∣ring, and receiue the holie Ghost. For, then the mistinesse of our mindes is driuen awaie, our vnderstanding is ligh∣tened, 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 pre∣tions, & 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 exposi∣tions? 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 re∣quite 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 Melan∣cthon,* 1.8 our schoolemaster, a man worthie of the first place next vnder M. Martine Luther: than whom all Germa∣nie neuer bred and brought vp one sharper in wit, quic∣ker 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 no∣table and singular gifts, he is had in great account and estimation, not onelie of them which professe the same re∣ligion with vs: but also of the verie enimies of true re∣ligion.

When Saint Paule wrote to the Philippians of his time,* 1.9 concerning Epaphroditus, saieng: Excipite ipsum in domino, & Receiue him in the Lord, with all glad∣nesse, 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 re∣uerence 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 spea∣ches, thereby doing what they can, to put out so great lights of the Church: who, if they séems to haue done a∣misse in anie thing, let vs make the best of it, for Christi∣an charitie, and méeknesse sake. It is a true saieng of Xenophon: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 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 vpō 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 ma∣keth 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 edificati∣on 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 ac∣compt.* 1.10 Saint Paule was a worthie and chosen instru∣ment of God, than whom not one of the Apostles labou∣red more,* 1.11 nor spread the Gospell of Christ further. Ti∣tus also, who remained in the Isle of Crete, was lesser than Saint Paule,* 1.12 both in giftes and labours: and also in degrée of calling. Héere I acknowledge and giue Saint Paule his title,* 1.13 to be the great teacher of the Gentiles: and as for Titus, I reuerence him accor∣ding to his place, who learned at S. Paules mouth those things, which afterwards he deliuered to his hea∣rers.

In like sort, I acknowledge and reuerence M. Mar∣tine 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 mi∣nister 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 be∣waile,* 1.14 & beséech God to set to his owne hand to the buil∣ding. 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 to∣ward the building of Gods Church: in whose number, although I graunt my selfe to be the verie least: yet not∣withstanding, I am of this minde,* 1.15 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 pub∣lished 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 wor∣ship 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,* 1.16 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 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 mis∣like 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, mi∣stresse Anne your wife, who (as I heare saie) hath in∣creased 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 di∣uinitie 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 labou∣rers.

From Coppenhagen, these Calends of Nouember. 1564.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ephe. 4. 17. 18.
• * 1.2

  2. Cor. 7. 10.
• * 1.3

  Psa. 119. 9.
• * 1.4

  Psa. 119. 24.
• * 1.5

  Psa. 119. 127.
• * 1.6

  Psa. 119. 162.
• * 1.7

  Psa. 119. 72.
• * 1.8

  M. Philip Melan∣cthon commen∣ded.
• * 1.9

  Phi. 2. 29.
• * 1.10

  Acts. 18. 3 & 20. 34
• * 1.11

  2. Cor. 11. 22. 23. 24, &c.
• * 1.12

  1. Thes. 2. 9. 10.
• * 1.13

  Tit. 1. 5.
• * 1.14

  Psal. 127. 1.
• * 1.15

  Mat. 25. 14, &c.
• * 1.16

  Mat. 6. 1. 2