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…

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⟩Cosens by the mothers side: that is, her sisters children: for there were three Maries, and these three were sisters: Marie the virgin, Marie the mother of Iames, & Marie the daughter of Cleophas, whose sonnes these were: their names were Iames, Ioseph, Iudas, and Simon; and they are called the Lordes brethren, because they were kinne vnto him. Therefore note that in holie Scripture there be foure sortes of brethren: Brethren by nature,¹ so Esau and Iacob were called brethren, because they had one father, and one mother: Brethren by nation, so all the Iewes are called brethren,