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 Gospel. MATTH. 8.23.

And when he entred into a ship, his Disciples followed him, &c.

SAint Matthew reports in this scripture two miracles, one wrought by Christ in the water, another on the land.

• The first is both an Historie.
• The first is both an Mysterie.

The word of God is a p two edged sword; hauing one edge, saith q Tertullian, in the sense of the matter; and an other in the sound of the words; or (as r Ludouicus Viues obserueth) being sharpe in a literall exposition, and sharp in an allegoricall sense. Most Interpreters therefore note that the ship heere mentioned, is a type of the s Church militant, tossed in the world, t which is most like the sea with stormes of persecution, vntill Christ the Master of the ship (who seemes to sleepe for a time) doth awake by the prayers of passengers, and makes a calme.

• In the storie two things are to be considered especially: the shipping of Christ
• In the storie two things are to be considered especially: the sailing of Christ.

• In his shipping two points obseruable:
  • 1. That he entred himselfe.
  • 2. That his Disciples followed him.

• In the sailing two princi∣pall occurrences are to bee noted also: the
  • ...raging of a tempest.
  • ...stilling of a tempest.

• The tempest is said here to be Sudden; Behold there arose.
• The tempest is said here to be Great: so that the ship was couered with waues; and Christ (who was to com∣fort, and help all) was asleepe.

• In the stilling of the tempest, foure things are regardable:
  • 1. Christ awaketh: His Disciples came, and awoke him, saying, Master saue vs, &c.
  • 2. The Disciples are rebuked: Why are ye fearfull, O ye of little faith?
  • 3. The tempest calmed: He rebuked the windes and the sea.
  • 4. The beholders of this miracle won∣dred, saying, What manner of man is this, &c.

Iesus entred into a ship.] As the superstitious u Papists in latter daies, assigned seuerall Saints for seuerall seruices; as Apollonia for the toothach; for hogs, S. Anthony; for horses, S. Loy; for Souldiers, S. Maurice; for Seamen, S. Nicholas, &c. so the grosse idolatrous Heathen in old time, marshalled their gods into seuerall rankes, allot∣ting Heauen for Iupiter, Hell for Pluto, the Sea for Nep∣tune.

Christ therefore to shew their x vanitie, and to mani∣fest himselfe to be the sole Commander of the world; so soone as he had wrought miracles on the land in healing the leper, vers. 3. in curing the Centurions seruant, vers. 13. in casting out diuels, vers. 16. in helping al that were sick, vers. 17. he comes now (saith y Origen) to shew wonders on the sea.

Wee neede not then exhibit supplications either vnto the no gods of the Gentiles, or moe gods of the Papists, importuning the virgin Mary for euery thing, zas if her sonne Iesus were still a babe, not able to helpe. For if we be schollers, he is our saint Gregorie the God of a wisedome; if souldiers, he is our Mars the God ofb hosts: if wee desire to liue in quietnesse, he is the God of c peace: if mariners, he is our Nicholas and Neptune, that enters into the ship,

and calmes the tempest. d If we ascend vp into heauen, hee is there; if we descend downe into hell, he is there also; if wee take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the v••termost parts of the sea, yet thither shall his hand lead vs, and his right hand hold vs: hauing all power ouer all things in all places, and doing whatsoeuer hee will▪ in heauen, earth, sea. Psalm. 139.6.

Saint Mat. vers. 18. of this chapter, and saint Marke, cap. 4. vers. 36. intimate another reason why Christ en∣tred into the ship; namely, to shun the multitudes of peo∣ple; for as the sunne, though a most glorious creature, e oculus mundi, the worlds eye, is regarded little, because it shineth euery day; so ministers, the f light of the world, are eclipsed much by the grosse interposition of earth. It is true that familiaritie breeds contempt, and as true, g cuius persona despicitur, eius praedicatio contemnitur; and therefore h clergie men, as Christ heere, must vpon occa∣sions often withdraw themselues à turbâ turbulentâ.

Bartholomaeus Ang••icus mentioneth a lake in Ireland, in which if a staffe be pight, i and tarieth any long time therein, the part that is in the earth, is turned to iron, and the part in the water to stone, onely the part aboue the water remaines in his own kind. So it is with Aarons rod, and with the crozier staffe; if it sticke long in the common puddle, it will not diuide the waters aright, but become so rusty as iron, so stonie as flint; onely that rod is like it selfe which is aboue the waters, aboue the streame, aboue the people. The vulgar is like tapestrie, the further, the fairer, but the neerer you come, the worse they are. He that is pinned as a cognosance to the towne coate, and depends vpon the common sleeue, k pendet ma∣gis, arbore quam qui pendet ab al••â, is as base as a signe that hangs on a painted maypole. Paul then had good cause to desire that he might be deliuered from l vnreaso∣nable men; and Christ here to decline troublesome troopes, entring into a ship with his disciples.

Our Sauiour Christ could haue walked on the water, as

he did, Mat. 14. or else drie vp the water, as hee did for the children of Israel, Exod. 14. but he did neither, for if hee should haue vsed his omnipotent power in euery thing, as God, no bodie would haue beleeued him to bee man; hee did therefore take this course in the whole course of his life to manifest both. If hee were not God, whom did m Gabriel call Lord? If not man, whom did Mary beare in her wombe? If not God, whom did the n wisemen worship? If not man, whom did o Ioseph cir∣cumcise? If not God, who promised p Paradise to the thiefe? If not man, who hanged on the crosse? q If not God, who rebuked the windes and the seas? If not man, who slept in the ship? If not God, who raised the tem∣pest? If not man, who went into this barke?

His disciples followed him. A ship, as r Hilary notes, doth fitly resemble the Church of Christ; for as a ship is small in the foredecke, broade in the middle, little in the stearne: so the Church in her beginning and infancie, was verie little; in her middle age flourishing, but in her old age, her companie shall be so small, and her beleefe so weake, that when the sonne of God shall come to iudge the sonnes of men, he shall scarse finde any faith on earth: Luk. 18.8.

It is s obseruable, that Christ and his Disciples failed all in one ship: he did enter in first, and his Disciples fol∣lowed. t Vnus mundus docet vnum esse Deum: The world being but one teacheth vs that there is but one God; one God, that there is but one Church; one Church, one truth: and therefore as the Church is called by u Paul, Columna veritatis; so by Salomon, Columba vnitatis. Cant. 6.8. My doue is alone.

Noes Arke represents the x Church: all in the Arke were saued, all out of the Arke perished. All that conti∣nue with Christ, in his ship are secure, though the Sea make a noise, and the stormes arise: but hee that vtterly forsakes the ship, and swims either in the cockboate of heretikes, or vpon the windie bladders of his owne con∣ceits,

shall neuer touch the land of the liuing. As in Salo∣mons Temple there were three roomes, the porch, the body, the sanctum sanctorum; so likewise in Christianitie, we cannot enter into the holiest of holies, but by the Church, nor into the Church, but by the porch of bap∣tisme. First, there must be shipping; then, sailing; last of all, arriuing. First, wee must be shipt with Christ in bap∣tisme; after, saile with him in the Pinnisse of the Church, or else wee shall neuer anchor in the hauen of hap∣pinesse.

Saint Matthe•• doth vse the word follow, signanter; in∣sinuating, that all Christs disciples ought to follow him, as himselfe saith: y If any will be my disciple, let him forsake himselfe, and take vp his crosse, and follow me.

Some in their high towring thoughts and immoderate zeale, run before Christ, as z Iames and Iohn: other goe cheeke by iole with him, as Pelagians, and all such as mingle their merit with Christs mercy, making him but halfe a mediator, mediatum dimidiatum mediatorem. Other follow Christ, but a far off, as Peter, Matth. 26.58. Other follow Christ neere, but not for Christ, not for loue, but for loaues, as the people, Iohn 6.26. Few follow him in a troublesome sea, as the disciples here.

a The people followed him in the plaine, not vp to the mountaine, nor into the sea: but Christ leauing the mul∣titude, would haue his company tossed in the waues of affliction, b lest they should be puffed vp with presump∣tion and pride.

c Apollonius writes of certaine people that could see nothing in the day, but all in the night. In like maner, ma∣nie men are so blinded with the sunshine of prosperity, that they see nothing belonging vnto their good; but in the winter night of misery, d schola crucis, schola lucis; no such schoolehouse as the crosse house. The e Palsiman lying in his bed, desired to be brought vnto Christ. f Pto∣lomaeus Philodelphus, being so sickly, that hee could not follow worldly delights as he was wont, gaue himselfe

to reading, and builded that his renowned Library. The disciples here seeing the wonders of the deepe, and dan∣gers of the sea, were humbled in feare, and raised vp in faith.

And behold there arose a great tempest] Vntill Christ was in the ship, there was no storme. While men haue pillowes sowed vnder their elbowes, all is peace; g but so soone as Christ rebukes the world of sinne, h the wicked are like the raging sea, that cannot rest, whose waters cast vp dirt and mire.

Iohn Baptist raised such a storme by preaching against Herod, that it cost him his head. When Paul preached at Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, &c. there followed alway tu∣mults and vprores among the people. When Luther first preached the Gospell, instantly there was great thunde∣ring frō Rome, a great tempest in Germany, France, Eng∣land, Scotland, and in the whole Christian world, which all the Popes Buls and calues too, could not appease.

This storme was not by chance, but raised by i Gods prouidence, who brings the winds out of his treasures, Psal. 135.7. and the tempest was k great, that the miracle might be great: the greater the tempest, the greater was the triall of the disciples faith.

In so much that the ship was couered with waues] The Church is often in danger, l but it cannot be drowned; m hell gates cannot ouercome it. n Robur fidei concussum, non excussum. Albeit Satan goe about daily like a roa••ing lion, seeking whom he may deuoure, yet there shall be some still, whom he shall not deuoure.

He was asleepe] o He that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleep. He did sleep as man, but watch as God. p I sleep, but mine heart waketh. q He seemes onely to sleep, that we might wake: r Nobis dormit Iesus, nobis surgit à somnô. s Christus videtur non attendere, patientiam bonorum, poenitentiam impiorum expectans. He doth as it were neg∣lect vs for a time, for the greater manifestation of his t power, and our patience.

His disciples came to him, and awoke him] Almighty God likes in our necessity this importunity: Psal 50.15. Call vpon me in the time of trouble. Psal. 91.15. He shall call vpon me, and I will heare him. And therefore learne by this example, u to come to Christ, to cry to Christ in all extremity, renouncing your selues, and relying vpon him onely; Master, saue vs, or else we perish.

He said vnto them; Why are ye fearfull; O yee of little faith?] x It was great faith in that they followed Christ into the ship; but little faith in that they feared.

y He saith not, O ye of no faith, but O ye of little faith. It was impossible to come vnto God, and call vpon Christ without faith; in saying, we perish, they shewed infidelity; but in praying, saue vs, they manifested faith.

Againe, he doth not say; z yee of little courage, or ye of little charity; but ye of little faith: because faith is the ground of all other vertues, and in a aduersity most vse∣full. If we belieue that Christ is our Captaine in the ship with vs, who can be against vs? And therefore Paul, Ephes. 6.16. Aboue all, put on the shield of faith, wherewith ye may quench all the fiery darts of the diuell.

Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea] Christ reprehends the disciples a little, but instantly grants their requests; his reprehensions had not so much sting as b ho∣nie, for a great calme followed a little chiding: c at his word the stormy wind ariseth, which lifteth vp the waues of the sea: They are caried vp to heauen, and downe a∣gaine to the deep: their soule melteth away because of the trouble. They reele to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits end. But when they cry to the Lord in their trouble, he deliuereth them out of their distresse: for he maketh the storme to cease, so that the waues thereof are still.

A great calme followed a great tempest; d Decet enim mag••um magna facere. Christ spake but one word to the violent windes and vnruly seas, and they both obeyed his command. e He doth at sundry times, and in diuers ma∣ners

speake to vs, and yet wee will not hearken vnto his voice. f The spectators of this act might therefore won∣der to see the senslesse water and weather obey more then man, indued with reason and religion.

The men maruelled:] g Ideo premantur iusti, vt pressi cla∣ment; clamantes exaudiantur, exauditi glorificent Deum; A great storme caused in the disciples a great feare; great feare, great deuotion, great deuotion occasioned Christ to worke this great miracle; this great miracle moued this great admiration; What is this man that commands as a God?

And when he was come to the other side.] Two points are

• to be considered in this miracle principally; the
  • Gratiousnesse of Christ, in curing two possessed of diuels.
  • Vngratiousnesse of the Ger∣gesites, preferring a peece of bacon before the Gospell, hogs before Christ. Such as respect their tithe pig, more then their Pastor, are Gergesites, and deserue that Christ should depart out of their coasts.

I will not in particular examine these, but in stead thereof, insert a few notes, vpon the last verse of the first Chapter, appointed to be read at morning praier this Sun∣day; preached at Pauls Crosse. Ian. 29. 1608.

Notes

• p

  Heb. 4.12.
• q

  Lib. contra Praxeam.
• r

  In Augustin. lib. 14. de Ciuit. cap. 12.
• s

  Consule Luther. Melancth. Laty∣mer. Culman. in loc.
• t

  Vide Pontan. in loc.
• u

  D. Fulk in 1. Tim. 2.5.
• x

  Gran••t. Dom. 3. post. octau. Epiphan. con. 2.
• y

  Hom. 6. in di∣•••••• script. loc.
• z

  Erasmus col∣loq. de peregri∣nat. Religionis ergó.
• a

  Dan. 2.20.
• b

  Esay. 3.1.
• c

  Heb. 13.20.
• d

  Psal. 139.7.
• e

  Onid.
• f

  Matth. 5.14.
• g

  Bernard. ser. 2 de Resurrectio∣ne Domini.
• h

  Soarez tract. 3. in 8. Matth.
• i

  De propri••ta∣tibus ••erum, lib. 15. cap. 80.
• k

  Scaliger.
• l

  Thess. 3.2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• m

  Luk. 1.
• n

  Matth. 2.
• o

  Luke 2.
• p

  Luke. 23.
• q

  Origin. vbi supra, & Ludol∣phus de vitâ Christi, part. 1. cap. 46.
• r

  In Matth. cap. 13. & postil. ca∣tholic. Dom. 5. post. ••at. co••. 1.
• s

  Pontan. in loc.
• t

  Athanagoras orat. pro Chri∣stianis.
• u

  1. Tim. 3.15.
• x

  Ambros. ser. 11 & Cyprian. epist. lib. 1. ep. 6.
• y

  Matth. 16.24.
• z

  Luke 9.54.
• a

  Diez. con. 1. in loc.
• b

  Thomas ex Chrysost. in loc.
• c

  In mirabili∣bus historys.
• d

  Zepper. in loc.
• e

  Mat. 9.
• f

  Alexander ab Alexand••o, l. 1. cap. 2.
• g

  Luther. postil. ex Culman. con. 1. in loc.
• h

  Esay. 57.20.
• i

  Aquin. Ludol∣phus, Beauxamis in loc.
• k

  Origen. in cat. Thom. in loc.
• l

  Ludolphus & Pontan. in loc.
• m

  Matth. 16.18.
• n

  Tertu••ian.
• o

  Psal. 121.4.
• p

  Cant. 5.2.
• q

  Thomas ex Origen. in loc.
• r

  Emissenus hom. in loc.
• s

  Ludolphus in loc.
• t

  Z••pperus in loc.
• u

  Luther. postil. maior. in loc.
• x

  Culman. con. 1. in loc.
• y

  Theophylact. in loc. See B. ••atymer ser. in loc.
• z

  Pontanus in loc.
• a

  Melancthon. in loc.
• b

  Zepperus in loc.
• c

  Psal. 107.25.
• d

  Thomas in loc.
• e

  Heb. 1.1.
• f

  Origin. hom. 6. in di••ersos scripturae locos.
• g

  Ludolphus ex Augustin.