John — Chapter 1

1. Was the Word.) How God the Sonne is call the WORD. The second Person in Trinitie which is the natural, only, and eternal Sonne of God the Father, is called the WORD: not as the holy Scriptures or speaches of the Prophets and Apostles (written and spoken by Gods commandement for the vttering of his diuine wil towards man) be called his word, but in a more diuine, eminent and ineffable sort, to expresse vnto vs in a sort, by a terme agreable to our capacitie, that the Sonne of God so is and so from euerlasting is borne of God the Father, as our prime concept (which is our internal and mental word) is and issueth out of our intelligence and mind. This WORD then, Sonne, or second Person in the holy Trinitie, was and had his being then already, when other creatures (of what sort soeuer) had but their beginning, and therfore cannot be a creature, as many Heretikes before the writing of this Ghospel thought, and as the Arians after taught. The Platonikes. And this first sentence of the Ghospel not only the faithful, but the Platonikes did so admire (as S. Augustine writeth*) that they wished it to be written in gold. *Augu. de Ciu. Dei. li. 10. c. 29.

John fhevveth manifeftly, that vvbofoeuer defire to be partakers No faluatid but Vvith God, muft firit be vnited to the € hurches focietic, learne that faith, and receive thoie Sacra in the Socierie MENS, vvhich the Diiciples recciued ofthe Truth it felf, conueriant with them in fis(h. So faith ofthe Church, Venerable Bede pon this place, Vvinereby vve fee there is no focictie vwth God in {e@cs or fchifs mes, norany wvbere bur in the ynitie ,.felloyv{bip ,.-and communion of that Church vvhich can prouc it {elt to deicend from the Apoftles.

thatthe certainty and eflect thereof is procured by mang nuit concurre free vvill and good vworkes, and that our vvel doing is a meane for ys to attaine tothe cffeed wvith Gods of Gods predeftination, that is , to life euerlafting.and therfore it is ade{perate folly anda predeftination great figne of regrobate perfuns, to fay, If 1 be predeftinace , doe vvhat 1 vvil, 1 (hal be to the ertece faued. Nay, the Apoitle saith, If thou hope to be one of the preceftinace(for knovv it thow thereof. can not) dovvel, that thou maift be the more affured to attaime toshat thou hopeft : or, make it fure by goodyvorkes. The Froteflats in fuch cafes noc much liking thete vvordes, by goed vvorkes chough the faction haue it vniuerfally, and fome Greeke copies alfo, as Beza Jim Tae contefieth, leaue chem out in their tranilations, by their vvonted pollicie.

12. He gaue them power.) Free-wil. Free wil to receiue or acknowledge Christ, and power giuen to men, if they wil, to be made by Christ the sonnes of God: but not forced or drawen therevnto by any necessitie.

14. The Word made flesh.) Humble kneeling at the solemne wordes of Christs incarnation. This is the high and diuine testimonie of Christs incarnation and that he vouchsafed to become man. For the acknowledging of which inexplicable benefit and giuing humble thankes for the same, al Christian people in the world by tradition of the Fathers prostrate themselues or kneele downe, when they heare it sung or said at the holy Masse, either in this Ghospel, or in the Creede by these wordes: ET HOMO FACTVS EST.

nor vntrue.yet the correfpondéce of the partes of the fentéce going be- ‘878’ The heretikes fore and folovving, giue moft plaine this meaning, chat,as during his life be vvould noc (according to gmicio put them ia memorie of che things hetaughrthem, foamter his death ( vvhich he their cultom ) knew Chouid be fhortly)he yvomid not faile to endenour that they mighe be mindcful of ex-lude this the tame. Signifying thachis care over them fhould noe ceale by death, & that by bis incer- fente aitoge- cefsian before God afer his departure,he vvould doe the fame thing for them , chat he did ther by their tefore inhis lite by teaching and preaching. Thisis the (enfe thacihe * Grecke Scholies Oscun, ig Fite trantla- fpeake of, and this is moi proper tothe text , and confonaut to the old vie of this Apoltle pune les, tho. and oiber Apoitalike Sains and fa:hers or the primirive ¢ hurch. S. Clement in kis Epiftieto $. {ames our f ordes brovher, wwitneffeth, that S. Peter S. Peters Fa- encouraging him tetaksaf.er his deceate shecharge of the Apottol:ke Romane ‘ee, pro- ftoral care & mired thac arter bis departure he vvowld nei ceaie io fray for nimi & his t.ockc,thereby to protection of cate him of his Pattoral burden. To. 1 Comes. epii.5- Clem. initio. And $. Leo che Great the Church at- one of his (ucceffurs in the taid See, of:en ateribuceth the goud adnunittration and gouer~ this death. nemenc thereof toS. Peters praiers and a(siftance: name yin chefe goodly vvordes Ser 3 in anniuer/. die alffumpt.at Ponuf, We are mush bound ( faiihhz) togine shannes to our Lord and Redeemer lejus Chryt , thas wash sien (0 great povuer tebim vunom be made tire Prince of she vuole a Churchit :at if im our me aia any § ing ve dune uuel oy be ngheb ordered by us, it is tobe impused to be 1 Gagn, uuorkes and bis poucrnemens , so uulom is yres faid, Andthou being conuerced, connrme thy Lust, Lhe bretaren: ana se turomour Lora aster nu rejurrection jaid chrije, Leede my fheepe. Whiss mevy 102% ala yuitbeur doube the goaly Pafter aoth execute ,confiraning veUUith his enbertations, and mes ceasing to pray for vs, that Uve be cuercome Yurih no tentation. Ge. The Sainas Yea itvvas acommon thing in the primitiue Church among the auncicnt C briftians, and in heauen pray alyvaies dunce among coe faithtui,to Make coucnant in their ule time, thar vvhether ot them vvent for the liuing. &° heancn betore the other, be { hould pray for his trenae and fellovy ycraiuc. See the Eccles > fraftical hiftosie of the holy virginana Martyr Potamizna, promiting ar the houre ot her Mare tysdom, thatatter her death (he vvould procure mercie of God to Batlides one of the touldiars that ledde her to execution, ana lo ine did. Exjeh. li. 6.6, 4. Allo S, Cyprian ep, ¢7 im fine, Les vs, (faith he) pray mutnady one for an other, ana uvbetwer of 5 2UV0 {hal by Gods clemencie be firft sailed for, ler Wis ewe continue, andbis prater mos cease for hisbretrren and jifters in the veorld. Su iaid this holy Mastys at Gaat time vvnen Chritlids vvere fo tar trom Caluinume(vvhich abhorreth .be praiers o§ Saints & praying to them)-hat co be lure,they vargained betore nid to haue the martyrs & other Saindts co pray furtnem. The fame 5. Cyprian auio ia nis booke De difciplina & habisu virginum, in fine, atcer a godl, exboscation inadeio che holy Virgins or Nonnes in his ime, ipeaketh thus varo them: Taste tune memenzete nofirs, cum inespics in Veoss virginitas honerars. that is,, Onely then hase vi in remembrance, vuven your virgsnstie {tal bein te be bemoured. chat is,atter their departure, Feaftesofh Vvhese he inianuaterh the vie of the Cadbokke Church in keeping the fettiual daicsand other Vv eS OF NO- duets tovward che holy Virgins in heauen, 9. Hierom alfo in the tame manner ipeaketh to Helio~ ly Virgins. dorus, faying, that vvheo he zs once in neauen, then be wvil pray fos nim chat exnorted and inated him co cite biciled ftate of the Monaitical tite, Ep. te. 2. . And fo doth he tpeake co the verrucus miatronc Paula after her dearh,de firing her to pray fer Intocation of him in his old age, athiming chat the (nal che more cafily obtaine, the neerer (he is novy ioyned Sanches to ( hrittin heaven. sn Episaph. Paula in fine. Ic vvere to long to reporthowv S. Auguftine defirerh te be holpen by 5.Cy prians praiers (chen and long betcre a $uind in heaven) co the vadesitanding of tbe truth concerning the peace and regiment ofthe Church.li, 5 de Bape. come, Dowarifias c.i7. And in aa othes place .ne tame holy Doctor alleageti the said 5. ( yprian faying , chat great numme Bras Cua, II. OF & PETER. 669 Gen, 7. Gen. 19. Gen. 19, 16. bers of our parents, brethren, children, frendes , and other, expect vs im great folicicude and care. fulnes of our faluation, being ture of their ovvae. 13.1 de pradeft. Sand@orum c. 14.8. Gregorie Na- siaazene in his orations of the praife of $.Cyprian in fine, and of S, Baiil alfo én fine, dectareth hove they pray forthe people. wvhich tvvo Saincts he there inuocateth, as al the auncient fachers did, born generally al Saindts, and (as occafion ferued) particularly their (pecial Patrones. Among the reit {ee hovy holy Ephrem (im erat, deiaud. 5. Deipara) praied to our B. Ladie vvith the {ame ter- mes of Adusocast, Hope, Reconciliatrix, thatthe fairhful yet vie, and the Prore(tants can moc abide. S. Bafil be, de 40 Martyribusinfine, S. Athanafius Ser. in Evang. de 5S. Deipara infing 5. Hilarie wu Pfal.s24. S. Chrylottom he, 66 ad po, etutiochenuem in fine. Theodorete de curat. Gracorum affee uum ii, & in fine, Finaily al che fachers are ful of thefe things: vvha better knevy the meaning of che Scripture and che fente of the Holy Ghoft,then thefe nevy interpreters doe.

II. Thefe rove Epifiies he vvviteth to confirmed tkem in the Ape fies deA rine ard vvarnech them of scormers tlat [raleeme, end ante Demelaci. - We ere Vase arpument heanfuceret>, and gimerl the reaien of Goas yo jong pantence, 1G exhorting te al notes ef live imresbete of that serribie day. 16 Finally grainy Vvarnmy of fucn as misncerprete 5. T auies & piflies & ti: € other Scvipsure:, and inets ve muk wot forany ching fall fromthe true faith. ¥HIS loe the fecond epiftle 1 vyrire te 4B you my deereft,‘in vvhich 1 Girre vp. by Be! admonition your fincere minde: 7 that = Vou may be mindefal of f thofe vvordes preceptes of our Lord and Sauiour. t Knov ving thus orf, that * in the laft daies hal come moc- kers i in deceit »vvalking accordingto their ovvne concupif- cences, t faving, Vv vhereis his promife or his coming? For fincethe time that the fathers flepr, al things do fo perfenére trom the beginning of creature. torthev are yvilfully igno-~ rant of this,that the heauens vvere before, & tne earth, our of vvater,and through vvater,confifting by the vvord of God: 1 bv the vvhich, that vvorld then, being ouerflovved vvith vvatet perifhed. + Butthe heauens vvhich nowv are, & the earth, are by the fame word kept in ftore,referued to fire vnto the day of iudgemét & of the perdition of the impious men. + But this one thing be norignorat of,my deereft,rhat * one dav with our Lord isasa thonfand yeres, & a thoufand yeres as one day. t Our Lord flacketh not his promis , as fome do efteeme it: but he dorh patiently for you, * nor vvilling that any perifh, burthatalreturneto penance. t And* the day of our Lord (hal comeasatheefe in the vvhich the heauens fhal paffe vvich great violence, but the elementes {hal be re- folucd vvith heate.and the earth and the vvorkes vvhich are in it, {hal be burnt. 1 Therfore vvhereas al thefe thinges areto be diffolued: vvhat.maner of men ought youto bein holy. conuerfations and godlineffes, t expecting and hafting vnto the coming of the dav of our Lord,by vvhich the heauens burning {hal be refolued,and the elementes {hal melt vvith the heate of fire? + Bur vvo expect *nevy heavens andanevy earth ac- cording 672 THE SECOND EPISTLE Cra. cording to his promifes, in vvhich iuftice inhabiteth. t Forthe vvhich caufe my deereft,expecting thefe things, 14 labour earneftly co be found immaculate and vn{potted ro him in peace: t and* the tonganimitie of our Lord, doye 15 account faluation as alfo our mott deere brother Paulaccor- ding co the vvifdom giuen him hath vvritten co you ¢ as al- 16 fo in al epiftles, {peaking in thent of thefe things, in the vvhich are’ certaine things hard to be vnderftoode, vvhich the vnlearned and vniftable depraue, as alfo thereft.of the Scriptures,co their ovvne perdition. t You therfore brethré, 17 foreknovving, take heede left ledde afide by theerrour of the vnwife you fal away from your owne ftedfaltnes. t but ig grovv in grace and in knovvledge of our Lord and fauiour lesvs Chrift. To him be glorie both novy and ynto the day of eternitie. Amen.

18. No man hath seen.) How mortal men see God. Neuer man in this mortalitie saw God in the very shape and natural forme of the diuine essence, but men see him only in the shape of visible creatures, in or by which it pleaseth him to shew himself vnto many diuersly in this world: but neuer in such sort as when he shewed himself in the Person of the Sonne of God, being made truey man and conuersing with men.

32. The Spirit.) The B. Trinitie. Here is an euident testimonie of the third Person in Trinitie, which is the Holy Ghost: so that in this one Chapter we finde expresly against al Heretikes, Iewes, and Pagans, set forth the truth of the Churches doctrine concerning the whole Trinitie.

42. Looking vpon him.) Peter by his new name designed to be the Rocke of the Church. This beholding of Simon, insinuateth Christs designement: and preferring of him to be the cheefe Apostle, the Rocke of the Church and his Vicar; and therfore vpon that Diuine prouidence and intention he accordingly changeth his name, calling him for Simon, Caiphas which is a Syriake word, as much to say as Rocke or Stone. And S. Paul commonly calleth him by this name Cephas, whereas other both Greekes and Latines call him altogether by the Greeke word, Peter, which signifieth the selfsame thing*. Whereof S. Cyril saith, that our Sauiour by foretelling that his name should no more now be Simon, but Peter, did by the word itself aptly signifie, that on him, as on a rocke and stone most firme, he would build his Church. *Cephas. Petrus. Li. 2. c. 12. in Iohn.