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.

Verse. 7.

7 Whereof I am made a minister, by the gift of the grace of God, giuen vnto me, through the vvorking of his povver.

VVhereof I am made a mi∣nister, according to the gift of Gods grace, giuen vnto me, ac∣cording to the working of his power.

SAint Paule méeteth them in the téeth, which would charge him with arrogancie, for that he doth so high∣lie aduance his ministerie, & he vseth a certaine shifting off from himselfe to an other. For, he doth not make his owne merit or vertue, but Gods grace, the cause that hée was called to be an Apostle. Againe, he ascribeth it to the working of Gods power, that by his Apostleship, it plea∣sed God to build his Church. For séeing God is able to bring to passe, that things which are not, maie bée: why then might he not of a bloudsucker make a•••• Apostle? why then might he not of an arrogant person, make a wise preacher? why then might he not of a weakling, make a Champion? Let euerie one of vs set before his eies this example of S. Paule, & if we couet & desire to séeme anie thing in y^e house of God, let vs confesse, that it is the gift of God: if anie of vs haue some place of dignitie & account in the Church, let him acknowlege that it was the wor∣king of Gods power: if anie thing that is singular & ex∣cellent proceede from him, let him cast awaie all vaine arrogancie & bragging, let him abase himself before God, let him knowe that greater gifts are giuen him, that he might be more bound to serue others, & not to take vpon him the office of a Controller, to reproue & finde fault with others: but let him honour & reuerence euerie one, according as his place and degrée shall require.

Athanasius noteth vpon this place, that in the mini∣sters of Gods word, three things are necessarie. The first, a stoute and valiant heart that will not shrinke in anie daunger: as heere S. Paule writeth and preacheth Christ boldlie, and with a courage, euen in bonds and imprison∣ment. The second, wisdome and vnderstanding, with∣out

which he is not able to discharge this hard & buisie office. The third, an vpright life, holie, and honest. For it is the dutie of a shepheard to goe before his flock, no lesse in life than in voice: and as well in deed, as in word. When these thrée things shine in the ministers of God, their labour cannot be without plentifull fruit. Contrari∣wise, when the hearts of the ministers are striken dead with the feare of Tyrants, when they are discouraged, when the foundations of their doctrine are not faithfullie laid, when their life is not answerable to the worthinesse of their calling, then the church of God is in a miserable taking. For what shall become of the shéep, when either the shepheard is deuoured of the woolfe, or else vnarmed fléeth from the woolfe, leauing his shéep at hap hazard?

Notes

• Three things ne¦cessarie in the Mini∣sters of Gods vvord.