An exposition of the dominical epistles and gospels used in our English liturgie throughout the whole yeare together with a reason why the church did chuse the same / by Iohn Boys ... ; the winter part from the first Aduentuall Sunday to Lent.

The Epistle. ROM. 12.6.

Seeing that we haue diuers gifts according to the grace that is giuen vnto vs, &c.

a LVther is of opinion, that this Epistle should be ca∣pite breuior, & sine prolixior; shorter in the begin∣ning, longer at the end. For the beginning appertaines vnto the conclusion of the Epistle for Sunday before; and the end to be the beginning of the Epistle for Sun∣day following: yet so, that it may be both read and ex∣pounded, as a text absolute in it selfe. The summe where∣of is, that wee must imploy and improue the manifold gifts of God vnto the glory of his name, and good of his people.

This exhortation is inferred vpon a familiar compari∣son vsed in the words immediatly before: for as we haue many members in one body, and all members haue not one of∣fice; so we being many, are one body in Christ, and euery man among our selues, one anothers members. In which, obserue foure instructions.

First, as the members are not made by their owne ver∣tue, but created by Gods almighty power, before they could execute any function in the body; not members because working, but on the contrary, working because members: In like sort, Christians are not members of Christ through their owne good works, but they doe good works because they be members, and inserted in∣to Christ: as the tree brings forth the fruit, and not the fruit the tree. The Papists then in their works of congrui∣tie, run too much vpon the figure called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; set∣ting the cart before the horse; merit before mercy. Potes à te de ficere (saith b Augustine) sed teipsum reficere non potes; ille reficit, qui te fecit.

Secondly, the members are well c content with their

seuerall offices and place; the foote is not grieued at the heads supremacie, neither doth the nose maligne the eye, nor eye couet to be tongue, but euery one performes his function without any faction: euen so we which are members of Christs mysticall body, must be content with our vocation and calling, d neither enuying such as are a∣boue, nor despising such are vnder vs. e Although there be diuersities of gifts, yet but one spirit: diuersities of administra∣tions, yet but one Lord: diuersities of operations, yet but one God, who worketh all in all.

Are all Apostles? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? haue all the gift of healing? doe all speake with tongues? doe all interpret? It is God who worketh all in all; communicating indifferently spirituall life to all his members; insomuch as the least is a member of his bo∣die so well as the greatest. In this respect all parts are peeres.

Albeit (I say) there be diuers gifts, and diuers measures of gifts, and so by consequence for fashion, and function an imparity; yet because they be f donatiues, grants, and graces, as it is said here, the mighty may not scorne the meane, nor the meane enuie the mighty: no part must be p••rt. g For ••hat hast thou that thou hast not receiued? He that appointed thee mouth or eye, might haue made thee foote or hand. Againe, no member ought to mutter a∣gainst head or fellow; for the mysticall body of Christ is all fa••re: h Tota pulchra es amica mea: now beauty consists in variety of colours, and in a concinne disposition of sundry different parts. i If all the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But God hath in a most sweete order, disposed the members euery one of them in the body: first, Apostles; secondly, Prophets; thirdly, Teachers; then, workers of miracles; after that, the gifts of healing; helpers, gouernours, diuersities of tongues.

Hee then that affects in the Church an hotchpotch paritie, martyrs and marres Christs body, which is,

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. a body fitly knit together by euery ioynt: Ephesians 4.16.

Thirdly, there is a sympathie betweene the members of the naturall bodie; k for if one suffer, all suffer with it; if one member be had in honour, all the members reioyce with it. So Paul in this scripture: Be merie with them that be me∣rie; weepe with them that weepe. Paine is often lessened by pitie; passion is relieued in one by compassion of many. l Minus fit quod patitur vnum membrum, si compatiantur alia membra: nec ipsa mali releuatio fit per communionem cladis, sed per solatium charitatis, vt quamuis alij ferendo patiuntur, alij cognoscendo compatiuntur: Communis fit ta∣men tribulatio, quibus probatio, spes, dilectio, spiritus{que} com∣munis est. He that hath not this fellow feeling, may sus∣pect worthily that hee is not a liuely member of Christ; for his bodie is coupled, and knit together throughout euery ioynt, wherewith one ministreth to another. If then we doe not m beare one anothers burthen, and feele one another miserie, wee are not knit together by the sinewes of loue; and if not knit to the bodie, no part of the bodie.

Fourthly, there is no dead or idle member in the body, but euery one helpes another, and is seruiceable for the good of the whole: the eye doth direct the head, and the hand guard the eye; the nose smels for all, tongue speaks for all, hand workes for all. n The eye cannot say to the hand, I haue no need of thee; nor the hand againe to the feet, I haue no need of you: but euery part seekes anothers and not his owne good.

In like sort, the wise Counseller must see for all; the tall Souldiers fight for all; the iudicious Clerke write for all: as o Occam said vnto the Emperour Lewis; If you will defend me with your sword, I will defend you with my pen. See∣ing wee haue diuers gifts, according to the grace giuen vnto vs; if a man haue the gift of prophecie, let him haue it, &c.

• The duties here men∣tioned are, p partly
  • Publike; If a man haue the gift of prophecie, &c.
  • Priuate; If a man shew mercie, let him do it with cheerfulnes.

• The pub∣like cōcerne things
  • Spiritual, for
    • Doctrine
      • Theoricall; as prophecying and teaching.
      • Practicall; as ex∣hortation.
    • Discipline; let h••m that ru∣leth doe it with diligence.
  • Temporall; if any man giue, let him doe it with singlenes.

If any man haue the gift of prophecie, let him haue it agreeing to the faith] A Prophet in old time foretold things to come: but vnder the Gospell a q Prophet is hee that interprets the Prophets; he that shewes Christ is come, spoken of by y^e mouth of al his holy Prophets euer since the world began. A Preacher is a Prophet, as the word is vsed: 1. Cor. 14.1. and 1. Cor. 13. we know in part, we prophecie in part. A Preacher then must teach agree∣ing to the faith; r that is, according to the Scripture, which is a rule of faith: or according to the s Creede, which is an abridgement of that rule; for t other foun∣dation can no man lay, then that which is laide, Christ Iesus.

He that will edifie Gods house must build vpon Christ, and square al his doctrines according to the rule of truth. u If any man speake, let him talke as the words of God. It is not said here that a Prophet ought to vse no booke but the Bible; no Commentarie but the Creede; for that is too spirituall (as x M••rlorate notes.) He that will preach agreeing to the Scripture, must reade the best exposi∣tors of the Scripture: for, as y Bernard said, all bookes are written for the bettering of the conscience, which

is the booke of the soule: so wee must examine all bookes, especially treatises of Diuinitie, for the better vnderstanding of this one booke, which is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Booke.

Neither is it said here, that the Prophet in the pulpit must speake nothing beside plaine text, but only that hee must exercise his gift according to faiths analogie, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 teaching the wholesome words of Christ; and z consenting to the doctrine which is agreeable to god∣linesse: for whatsoeuer is deduced out of Gods booke by necessarie consequence, must be receiued as his word; let him that hath the gift of prophecie, haue it agreeing to the faith.

Or as a other interpret; to beget and confirme faith in vs euermore. For, if a Prophet rise among you, saying, Let vs goe after other gods and serue them, &c. thou shalt not hearken vnto the words of the Prophet, Deut. 13.1. The true Prophet is he, Cuius in ore v••rbum vitae, cui••s in more vita verbi.

Or, as b Melanct. and c most of the most ancient fathers, according to the proportion of faith and grace giuen. As if hee should say, Whosoeuer is called by the Church law∣fully, to preach the Word, let him abide therein accor∣ding to the measure of his gift: for God hath giuen to some more, to some lesse, and often blesseth him that hath lesse, more then him that hath more. Let euery man ther∣fore exercise his talent with faith and diligence, to the best edification of Gods people comitted to his charge: so likewise, let him that hath an office ••aite on his office; let him that teacheth, take heed to his doctrine; let him that exhorteth, giue attendance to his exhortation, according to the proportion of grace. Let not any suffer his d talents to rust, but imploy them and so multiplie them vnto the Donors glorie; e who gaue some to be Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Euangelists, and some Pastors and Tea∣chers for the gathering together of the Saints, for the worke of the ministerie, and for the edificatiō of the bodie of Christ.

If any gi••••, l••t him doe it with singlenes] With an f vp∣right intention, not to bee seene of men, g or to gaine much by giuing a little; for that is not simplicitie, but duplicitie.

Or because Paul speakes of Deacons, publike guar∣dians of the poore, such as wee call Almoners and ouer∣seers; h he would not haue them deale subtilly for their own benefit, but simply for the common good, distribu∣ting the Churches beneuolence committed vnto their charge, without respect of perso••s, according to the se∣uerall necessities of the Saints.

Let him that ruleth, doe it wi•••• diligence] The slothfull and idle person is the diuels shop▪ there he workes, euer busie when men are lasie. Wheref••re i doe that which is in thine hand with all thy power; especially, take heed that thou doe not the worke of the k Lord negligently. That which Christ said of our redemption, euery Christian must say of his particular vocation: It is meate and drinke for me to doe my fathers will. Vnto diligence there are two maine motiues.

• 1. In regard of God, who bestowes his gifts for this end, that they may be well imployed in his holy ser∣uice.
• 2. In respect of our selues: for l vnto euery one that hath, it shall be giuen, and hee shall haue abundance; and from him that hath not, euen that hee hath, shall be taken away.

• The pri∣uate du∣ties are
  • Generall: Hate that which is euill, cleane to that which is good.
  • Particu∣lar, con∣cerning our
    • Faith: Be feruent in spirit: continue in prayer.
    • Hope: Reioyce in hope, be patient in tribulation.
    • Cha∣ritie, in
      • Giuing due re∣spect to
        • Superiours; In gi∣uing honor go one before another.
        • Equals: Be kind one to another with brotherly loue.
        • Inferiours: Distri∣buting to the ne∣cessity of y^e saints: harboring the di∣stressed: equalling our selue•• to thē of the lower sort.
      • Forgiuing: Blesse them that persecute you, &c.

• All which offices are to be performed
  • Freely.
  • Fully.
  • Fitly.

Freely, with cheerefulnes and compassion: Be merie with the merie; weepe with such as weepe.

Fully, without sloth or dissimulation; Let loue be with∣out dissimulation.

Fitly: Applie your selues to the time: for there is a time for all things: and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, doth m fit the place better, then 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. See Luther. postil. Erasm. Mar∣tyr. in loc.

His meaning is not, that we should alter our manners and religion according to the time; like the Polypus and Camelion: for in the beginning of this chapter hee doth aduise the contrarie: Fashion not your selues according to to the world. But that we should apprehend the best hint

to doe good in the Church, euermore redeeming the time: Ephes. 5.16. so shall we be sure to serue God in ob∣seruing the time.

Notes

• a

  Postil. maior. dom. 2. ab Epi∣p••an.
• b

  In Psal. 94.
• c

  Zancbius in Ephes. 4.16.
• d

  1. Cor. 7.20.
• e

  1. Cor. 12.4.
• f

  Sarcerius in loc.
• g

  1. ••or. 4.7.
• h

  Cant. 4.7.
• i

  1. Cor. 12.17.
• k

  1. Cor. 12.26.
• l

  Augustin. epist. 133.
• m

  Galat. 6.2
• n

  1. Cor. 12.21.25.
• o

  Tritten••em. de Scriptor. in vitam Ockam.
• p

  Luther. in loc.
• q

  Aquin. in loc.
• r

  Luther. & Cal∣uin. in loc.
• s

  D. Fulke in loc.
• t

  1. Cor. 3.11.
• u

  1. Pet. 4.11.
• x

  Praefa••. in ex∣posit. N. Testa∣ment.
• y

  De domo in∣terior. cap. ••••.
• z

  1. Tim. 6.3.
• a

  Aquinas in loc.
• b

  In loc.
• c

  D. Fulk. in loc.
• d

  Matth. 25.18.
• e

  Ephes. 4.11.
• f

  Gorran. in loc.
• g

  Aquin. in loc.
• h

  Martyr in loc.
• i

  Eccles. 9.10.
• k

  Ierem. 48.10.
• l

  Matth. 25.29.
• m

  Ambros. in loc.