The sermons of Master Henry Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his…The sermons of Maister Henrie Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his…

The second doubt is, because Christ had no brethren, how they said; Thy brethren would speak with thee?

The second doubt is, because Christ had no brethren, how they said; Thy brethren would speake with thee?

You must understand, that they which are here called Christs brethren, were his ⟨p. 238⟩Cousins by the mothers side: that is, her sisters children: for there were three Maries, and these three were sisters: Mary the virgin, Mary the mother of James, & Mary the daughter of Cleophas, whose sons these were: their names were James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon; and they are called the Lords brethren, because they were kin unto him. Therefore note that in holy Scripture there be four sorts of brethren: Brethren by nature,¹ so Esau and Jacob were called brethren, because they had one father, and one mother: Brethren by nation, so all the Jews are called brethren,² because they were of one Country: Brethren by consanguinity, so all are called brethren which are of one family,³ and so Abraham called Lot his brother, and Sarah his sister,⁴ because they were of one line: Brethren by profession, so all Christians are called Brethren,⁵ because they are of one Religion: These were Brethren of the third order, that is of Consanguinity, because they were of one Family.

You must vnderstand, that they which are heere called Christes brethren, were his ⟨p. 238⟩