Luke — Chapter 6

3. Neither this haue you read.) Heretikes vnderstand not the Scriptures. The Scribes and Pharisees boasted most of their knowledge of the Scripture; but our Saviour often sheweth their great ignorance. Even so the Heretikes that now adayes vaunt most of the Scriptures and of their understanding of them, may soone be proved to understand litle or nothing.

9. Saue a soule.) Hereby it seemeth that Christ (as at other times lightly alwayes) did not only heale this man in body, but of some correspondent disease in his soule.

13. Whom he named Apostles.) The name and dignitie of Apostles. Here it is to be noted against our Aduersaries that deceitfully measure to the simple the whole nature and qualitie of certaine sacred functions, by the primitiue signification and compasse of the names or words whereby they be called; with whom as a Priest is but an elder, and a Bishop, a watchman or Superintendent, so an Apostle is nothing but a Legate or Messenger, and therfore (as they argue) *can make no Lawes nor prescribe or teach any thing not expressed in his mandatum. Know therfore against such deceiuers, that such things are not to be ruled by the vulgar signification of the word or calling, but by vse and application of the holy writers, and in this point by Christs owne expresse imposition. And so this word Apostle, is a calling of Office, gouernement, authoritie, and most high dignitie giuen by our Maister, specially to the College of the Twelue: whom he indowed aboue that which the vulgar etymologie of their name requireth, with power to bind and loose, to punish and pardon, to teach and rule his Church. Out of which roome and dignitie, (which is called in the Psalme and in the Actes a **Bishoprike) when Iudas fel, Mathias was chosen to supply it, and was numbred among the rest, who were as founders or foundations of our religion, as the Apostle termeth them. Therfore to that college this name agreeth by special imposition and prerogatiue, though afterward it was by vse of the Scriptures extended to ***S. Paul and S. Barnabas, and sometimes to the Apostles successors: ****as also (by the like vse of Scriptures) to the first conuerters of countries to the faith, or their coadiutors in that function. In which sense S. Paul chalengeth to be the Corinthians Apostle, and nameth Epaphroditus the Philippians Apostle: as we cal S. Gregorie and his Disciple S. Augustin, our Apostles of England. In al which taking, it euer signifieth Dignitie, Regiment, Paternitie, Principalitie, and Primacie in the Church of God: according to S. Paul I. Cor. 12, He hath placed in his Church, first indeed Apostles &c. Whereby we may see that S. Peters dignitie was a wonderful eminent Prerogatiue and Soueraigntie, when he was the Head not only of other Christian men, but the Head of al Apostles, yea euen of the College of the Twelue. And if our Aduersaries list to haue learned any profitable lesson by the word Apostle, more profitably and truely they might haue gathered, that Christ called these his principal officers, Apostles, or Sent, ✟himself also specially and aboue al other being Missus, that is, Sent, and called also Apostle in the Scriptures; to warne vs by the nature of the word, that none are true Apostles, Pastours, or Preachers, that are not specially sent and called, or that can not shew by whom they be sent, and that al Heretikes therfore be rather Apostates then Apostles, for that they be not sent, nor duely called, nor chosen to preach. *Cal. Inst. li. 4. c. 8. **Ps. 108,8. Act. 1,20. ***Eph. 2,20. ****Act. 14. 1. Cor. 12. Eph. 4,11. 1. Cor. 9,2. ✟Luke 4,18. Heb. 3,1.

14. Simon.) Peters preeminence. Peter in the numbering of the Apostles, alwayes first named and preferred before Andrew his elder brother and senior by calling. See Annotat. Mat. 10,2.

23. The whole night.) The Churches prayers at the times of giuing holy orders. Our Sauiour instantly prayed, alone in the mount without doore, al night long, as a preparation to the designement of his Apostles the day after: to giue example to the Church of praying instantly when Priests are to be ordered, and a lesson to vs al what we should doe for our owne necessities, when Christ did so for other mens.

26. Shal blesse you.] The vanitie of Heretical preachers. This woe pertaineth to the Heretikes of our dayes, that delight to haue the peoples praises and blessings and shouts, preaching pleasant things of purpose to their itching eares: as did the False-Prophets, when they were magnified and commended therfore of the carnal Iewes.

35. Lend, hoping nothing.) Against vsurie. In that we may here seeme to be moued to lend to those whom we thinke not able nor like euer to repay againe, it must be holder for a counsel rather then a commandement, except the case of necessitie. But it may be taken rather for a precept, wherein vsurie, that is to say, the expectation not of the money lent, but of vantage for lone, is forbidden: as by other places of Scripture it is condemned, and is a thing against the Law of nature and Nations. And great shame and pitie it is, that it should be so much vsed or suffered among Christians, or so couered and cloked vnder the habite of other contractes, as it is.