Fruitfull lessons, vpon the passion, buriall, resurrection, ascension, and of the sending of the holy Ghost Gathered out of the foure Euangelists: with a plaine exposition of the same. By Miles Couerdall.

ANd behold, two of them went that same day to a town called Emaus, which was from Hierusalem about a threescore furlongs, & they talked together of all these things that had happened. And it chaunced, that while they communed together and reasoned, Iesus himself drew neare and went with them: but their eies were holden, that they should not know him. And he saide vnto them: What man∣ner of communications are these, that ye haue one to another as ye walke, and are sad? And the one of them (whose name was Cleophas) answered and said vnto him: Art thou one∣ly a straunger in Hierusalem, & hast not knowne the things which haue chanced there in these dais? He said vnto them; What things? And they said vnto him: Of Iesus of Naza∣reth, which was a Prophet, mightie in deed and word before God & all the people, & how the high Priests & our rulers deliuered him to be condemned vnto death, & haue crucifi∣ed him. But we trusted, that it had been he which shuld haue redeemed Israel. And as touching all these thinges, to day is euen the third day that they were done. Yea and certain wo∣men also of our companie made vs astonied, which came

earlie to the sepulchrt, and found not his bodie, and came saying: that they had seen a vision of Angels, 〈…〉〈…〉 that he was aliue. And certaine of them that 〈…〉〈…〉 went to the sepulchre, and found it euen so as the 〈…〉〈…〉 said, but him they saw not.

Doctrine and fruite.

THE longer the more, is set foorth vnto vs the vnoutspeakable loue and trustie faithfulnes of Iesus Christ our lord, who forsaketh not those that anie thing loue to talke of him. For look whom he admitteth into his schoole, those hee teacheth still continually (how weake soeuer they bee) vntill hee bring them to perfect vnderstanding, and expell all doubtfulnes out of their hearts. Forasmuch now as these his Disciples speake of him in the way, hee get∣teth him to them, albeit hee holdeth their eyes that they knowe him not: that by the meanes thereof, they themselues with their own words might know∣ledge & confesse their doubtfull wauering, & weak∣nes of faith: that they might open their disease vnto him, & hee to giue a conuenient medicine for theyr vnbeleefe: that through the long delay, frendly talk, and opening of the scripture, their harts and desires might more and more bee kindled and sette on fire: that their doubtfulnes might bee taken away, and theyr weake fayth strengthened. For though they helde Iesus for a great and principall Prophet, and and for an innocent good man, yet speake they vn∣certainely of the matter, and their heart wauereth:

yet were not they assured that hee had ouercome death, and by his owne death purchased life for all the world, that hee was risen againe into an immor¦•• 〈…〉〈…〉 made vs vndoubtedly partakers of the 〈…〉〈…〉 and ioyfull resurrection, and eternall life in himselfe.

Now for as much as they gladly talke and wil∣lingly holde of him (how feebly and vnperfectly so∣euer it bee) yet the gratious and louing Lorde ap∣procheth neare vnto them, and instructeth them. It shall neuer bee vnfruitfull, it shall neuer passe with∣out profite, but assuredly doo good, where Christ is gladlie and with a good heart spoken of. Where two or three bee assembled in his name, there is hee in the middest among them, and infourmeth them. That he doth to the Disciples in the way by mouth, the same declareth hee alway vnto vs inwardly by his spirite in our harts, and outwardly with the scrip∣ture and word, and with the teachings of good god∣ly men. He that well and faithfully vseth the little ta∣lent, shall not be denied a greater, if he earnestly de∣sire it.

Wheresoeuer he is earnestly & feruently thought vpon, and talked of, there is he present, & instructeth and teacheth the ignorant. For he is not ashamed to resort vnto those that lacke knowledge, and be in er∣rour, and to talke with them.

This lowlie and gentle condition ought wee to learne of our head, that we shame not to repayre vnto such as are not yet right instructed, that wee may infourme them, and commune with them. We

should despise no man, that with a single hart seeketh God, though as yet wee perceiue much wauering and weake faith in him. For if the eternall 〈…〉〈…〉 was not ashamed to humble himselfe, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the ignoraunt, much more ought wee to doo•• ••ing we are neither sufficiently instructed in the scrip∣ture, nor yet diligent and carefull to doe that which we know.

Notes

• Luk. 24.