But how doth the present text pertain unto us? A great tempest did arise, where that ship went, wherein Christ and his Disciples were. Other ships did pass the sea quietly, nothing tossed of the winds, this ship only must be tossed and covered with waves, because Christ was carried in it. For the world can suffer any kind of preaching beside the preaching of Christ: the cause is, for that he condemneth all things of the world,1 and challengeth ⟨p. 322⟩all righteousness to him self, according to that which he saith: He that is not with me, is against me: and again: The Spirit will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement. He saith not: will preach, but, will reprove, and not this or that man, but, the world, and whatsoever is in the world. Against this ship of Christ all this tempest is raised, and it is brought into danger. For the world doth not suffer his own things to be condemned, but Christ can not allow them, & if he should allow them, he had come in vain. For if the world were wise by it self, and did know and follow the truth, what need had there been that Christ & his Disciples should preach? Wherefore it is not a small comfort to Christians,2 especially to Preachers, that they are certain before, that as soon as they shall begin to preach Christ to the world, they must suffer persecution, & that it can not be otherwise. So that it is a sure sign, and therefore to be wished, that it is true Christian preaching, if it be tried with persecution, especially of the holy, learned and wise men of the world. As it is an undoubted sign also, that it is unchristian preaching, if it be praised commonly and honoured of the world, according to that saying Luke 6: Blessed are ye when men hate you, and put out your name as evil, for the Son of mans sake: for so did their fathers to the Prophets. Now mark how our spiritual men do behave them selves, and of what sort their doctrine is: They have got into their subjection the riches, glory, and power of the world, and they that praise them, enjoy the honour and pleasures thereof, their case in all things agreeth with the case of the false Prophets, and yet they dare boast them selves to be Preachers and Teachers of Christ, and worshippers of God.
But how doth the present text pertaine vnto vs? A great tempest did arise, where that ship went, wherein Christ and his Disciples were. Other ships did passe the sea quietly, nothing tossed of the windes, this ship onely must be tossed and couered with waues, because Christ was caried in it. For the world can suffer any kind of preaching beside the preaching of Christ: the cause is, for that he condemneth all thinges of the world,1 and chalengeth ⟨p. 322⟩all righteousnes to him selfe, according to that which he saith: He that is not with me, is against me: and againe: The Spirit will reproue the worlde of sinne, of righteousnes, and of iudgement. He sayth not: will preach, but, will reproue, and not this or that man, but, the world, and whatsoeuer is in the world. Against this ship of Christ all this tempest is raysed, and it is brought into daunger. For the world doth not suffer his owne thinges to be condemned, but Christ can not allowe them, & if he should allow them, he had come in vaine. For if the world were wise by it selfe, and did knowe and followe the truth, what neede had there bene that Christ & his Disciples should preach? Wherfore it is not a small comfort to Christians,2 especially to Preachers, that they are certaine before, that as soone as they shal begin to preach Christ to the world, they must suffer persecution, & that it can not be otherwise. So that it is a sure signe, and therefore to be wished, that it is true Christian preaching, if it be tried with persecution, especially of the holy, learned and wise men of the worlde. As it is an vndouted signe also, that it is vnchristian preaching, if it be praysed commonly and honoured of the world, according to that saying Luke 6: Blessed are ye when men hate you, and put out your name as euill, for the Sonne of mans sake: for so did their fathers to the Prophets. Now marke how our spirituall men do behaue them selues, and of what sort their doctrine is: They haue got into their subiection the riches, glorie, and power of the world, and they that prayse them, enioy the honour and pleasures thereof, their case in all thinges agreeth with the case of the false Prophets, and yet they dare boast them selues to be Preachers and Teachers of Christ, and worshippers of God.
- 1Why the world can not abide ye preaching of Christ. Matth. 12.30. Joh. 16.8.Why the world can not abide ye preaching of Christ. Matth. 12.30. Ioh. 16.8.
- 2A comfort to true Preachers that they know before that they shall suffer persecution.A comfort to true Preachers that they knowe before that they shal suffer persecution.
