Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

In the Acts of the Apostles we read, that among them of the primitive ¹& Apostolical Church, all things were common: but that which followeth in the same book doth declare what kind of communion that was, which they had. For Luk saith: None of them said that anything was his of that which he possessed. Lo here, the first Christians possessed houses, grounds, & other riches by the right of propriety: and yet they possessed them not as their own goods, but as the goods of other men, & as it were in common, so notwithstanding that the right of propriety did still remain in possessors own hand: & if so be at any time, necessity so required, they sold their lands and houses, and helped the need of them that lacked. If they sold, then that which they sold was undoubtedly their own. For no good man doth sell an other mans substance, but that which is his own, or that which he hath taken in hand to husband as his own. Moreover S. Peter compounding all this controversy saith to Ananias, whiles yt land remained was it not thine own? and when it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it then that thou lyest to the holy Ghost, and keepest back part of the price of the land, and makest notwithstanding as though thou haddest brought the whole price unto us? It was in Ananias his power not to have sold the land, and when it was sold to have kept to himself the whole sum of money: and yet for that deed he should not have been excluded from the Church of the faithful. It was free therefore at that time, even as at this day also it is, either to sell or not to sell their lands and possessions, and to bestow it commonly for the relieving of the poor. Therefore that place in the Acts of the Apostles doth not take away the right of propriety, nor command such a communion of every mans goods as our maddheaded Anabaptists go about to ordain. And for because I perceive that some do very stiffly stick to the letter, and urge that communion of substance: it shall not be tedious to recite unto you (dearly beloved) other mens judgments touching this point, I mean the opinions of them, which by conference of Scriptures have made this matter most plain and manifest.

In the Actes of the Apostles wée read, that among them of the primatiue ¹& Apostolicall Church, al thinges were common: but that which followeth in the same booke doth declare what kinde of communion that was, which they had. For Luk saith: None of them said that anything was his of that which he possessed. Loe heere, the first Christians possessed houses, groundes, & other riches by the right of proprietie: and yet they possessed them not as their owne goods, but as the goods of other men, & as it were in common, so notwithstanding that the right of proprietie did stil remaine in possessours owne hand: & if so be at any time, necessitie so required, they sould their lands and houses, and helped the neede of them that lacked. If they sould, then that which they sould was vndoubtedly their owne. For no good man doth sel an other mans substance, but that which is his owne, or that which hee hath taken in hand to husband as his owne. Moreouer S. Peter compounding all this controuersie saith to Ananias, whiles yt land remayned was it not thine owne? and when it was sould, was it not in thy power? How is it then that thou lyest to the holy Ghoste, and kéepest backe part of the price of the land, and makest notwithstanding as though thou haddest brought the whole price vnto vs? It was in Ananias his power not to haue sold ye land, and when it was sold to haue kept to himself the whole summe of monie: and yet for that deed hée should not haue beene excluded from the Church of the faithfull. It was frée therefore at that time, euen as at this day also it is, eyther to sell or not to sell their landes and possessions, and to bestowe it commonly for the relieuing of the poore. Therefore that place in the Actes of the Apostles doth not take away the right of proprietie, nor commaunde such a communion of euery mans goodes as our maddheaded Anabaptistes goe about to ordeine. And forbéecause I perceiue that some doe very stiffely sticke to the letter, and vrge that communion of substaunce: it shal not be tedious to recite vnto you (dearely beloued) other mens iudgments touching this point, I meane the opinions of them, which by conference of Scriptures haue made this matter most plaine and manifest.