The experience of the same winds and floods, we may see in the Acts of the Apostles. For when Peter & the rest builded the house of God,1 that is to say, taught men their salvation by the merits and passion of Christ: there arose such winds and floods, that the builders were put into prison, and the building in great danger. When S. Stephen builded the congregation with Gods word in Christ,2 whiles he was building,3 such winds and floods of malice assaulted him, that his brains were knocked out. When Ananias and the rest planted & builded the house of God, that is to say, converted the infidels unto the faith of Christ at Damascus:4 there arose such winds and tempests at Jerusalem, that Saul came from thence towards Damascus, with commission from the high priests, to kill the builders, & to overthrow all they had builded. Let us leave off the examples of holy men, & see what happened to the head & chief captain ⟨p. 55⟩all Saints & good builders,5 our saviour Jesus Christ. When he called the world from ignorance to knowledge, from death to life, and from damnation to salvation: there arose such winds and storms, that, had he not been the rock it self of strength and invincible power, he had been overthrown clean, and his buildings turned upside down. For before he was of age to be borne,6 in his mothers belly, the devil went about to slander him as a bastard: and would have persuaded the same to the godly man Joseph, spoused in marriage to the blessed virgin Mary. He had no sooner put his head out of his mothers belly: but straight way Herodes sword was whet and bent to kill him. Within a little while after, the devil stirred up his own kins-folk & countrymen,7 to cast him down from a hill top, and to break his neck: and at length killed him indeed. But what was the outgoing of this builder? Forsooth, Father into thy hands I commend my spirit. And what was the assurance of his building,8 that is to say, in what surety stood his disciples and followers in the middest of these winds & great storms?9 Doubtless,10 Christ commended them to the custody and protection of his heavenly father the rock & sure stone of all salvation: from whom winds, floods, temptations, persecution, death, sin, nor the devil himself, with all his company of wicked spirits, be able to remove the simplest of all Christs flock.
The experience of the same windes and floudes, we may sée in the Actes of the Apostles. For when Peter & the rest builded the house of God,1 that is to say, taught men their saluation by the merites and passion of Christ: there arose such winds and flouds, that the builders were put into prison, and the building in great danger. When S. Stéeuen builded the congregation with Gods word in Christ,2 whiles he was building,3 such windes and floudes of malice assaulted him, yt his braines were knocked out. Whē Ananias and the rest planted & builded the house of God, yt is to say, conuerted the infidels vnto the faith of Christ at Damascus:4 there arose such windes and tempests at Hierusalem, that Saul came frō thence towards Damascus, with commission from the high priestes, to kill the builders, & to ouerthrow all they had builded. Let vs leaue off the examples of holie men, & sée what hapned to the head & chiefe capteine ⟨p. 55⟩al Saints & good builders,5 our sauiour Iesus Christ. When he called the worlde from ignorance to knowledge, from death to life, and from damnation to saluation: there arose such winds and storms, that, had he not béene the rocke it selfe of strength and inuincible power, he had béene ouerthrowen cleane, and his buildings turned vpside downe. For before he was of age to be borne,6 in his mothers bellie, ye diuel went about to slaunder him as a bastard: and woulde haue persuaded the same to the godlie man Ioseph, spoused in marriage to the blessed virgin Marie. He had no sooner put his head out of his mothers bellie: but streight way Herodes sworde was whette and bent to kill him. Within a little while after, the diuell stirred vp his owne kinse-folke & countriemen,7 to cast him downe from a hill toppe, and to breake his necke: and at length killed him indéede. But what was the outgoing of this builder? Forsoothe, Father into thy handes I commend my spirite. And what was the assuraunce of his building,8
- 1To build the house of God: is to teach salvation in Christ.To builde the house of God: is to teache saluation in Christe.
- 2Act. 5.
- 3Act. 7.
- 4Act. 9.
- 5If Christ had not been the rock of strength it self: he had been cast down.If Christe had not bene the rocke of strength it selfe: he had bene cast down.
- 6Christ was slandered before he was borne Matth. 1. 2 Christ per sequuted as soon as he was borne.Christ was slandered before he was borne Matth. 1. 2 Christ per sequuted as soone as he was borne.
- 7Christs own kinse folk were raised against him Luke. 4.Christes own kinse folke were raised against him Luke. 4.
- 8Christ slain.Christe slaine.
- 9Luke. 23.
- 10Christ commended his disciples to the protection of his Father, John. 17.Christe commended his disciples to the protection of his Father, Iohn. 17.
