The affinity of the faithful being a very godly and fruitful sermon, made upon…The affinitie of the faithfull being a verie godlie and fruitfull sermon, made vpon…

Here be two speakers: one saith; Thy mother and thy brethren are come to speak with thee: the other sayeth; These are my mother, & my brethren, which hear the words of God & do it. The scope of the Evangelist is this, ⟨image 6⟩First, to show that Christ would not hinder his doctrine for mother or brethren or any kinsmen: then to show that there is a nearer conjunction between Christ and the faithful, than between the mother and the son. The first is written for our instruction, & the latter is written for our comfort. Touching the first: he which teacheth us to honour our father & mother, doth not teach us here to contemn father or mother; for it is said, that he was obedient to his parents. This he showed, ¹when being found in the Temple among the doctors, he left all to go with his mother, because she sought him; so he honoured her, that he left all for her. This he showed again at his death, being upon the cross, he was not unmindful of her: for pointing unto John, he said Woman behold thy son: and pointing unto him he said, Behold thy mother; so he commended her to his beloved Disciple ²before he died; therefore this is not a doctrine of disobedience, but ⟨image 6⟩a rule how to obey. As he taught his disciples, to give unto Caesar, that ³which is Caesars, and to God that which is Gods: so he teacheth them here, ⁴to give unto parents that which is parents, & to the Lord that which is the Lords. When God said, Honour thy father and thy mother, he did not ⁵give a commandment against himself, & therefore he saith Honour me, before he saith Honour them. The first commandment of the first table is, Honour God: and the first commandment of the second table is, Honour Parents; lest you should honour your parents before God. When Solomon ⁶