Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

Again, in the ninth Chapter: Peter stayeth many days in y• house of Simon the Tanner, which was a Christian man and dwelt in his own house. And in the eleventh Chapter: the disciples, according to every ones ability sent help to the brethren, which dwelt in Jury. Lo here, as every one, saith he, was of ability. But what ability could any of them have had, unless they had somewhat of their own in possession? In the 16. Chapter? Lydia the woman that sold purple, when she was baptised, did say: If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there. Why said she not, sell my house: but, come into my house: but for because she did so possess her house after she believed, as that she made it common to the Apostles. In the 20. Chapter: Paul doth glory that he hath not desired any mans gold, silver, or precious clothes. But what sense or reason could be in these words, unless it were lawful for Christian men to keep the possession of that, which is theirs. And in the 21. Chapter: Phillip had at Caesarea a house and four daughters, why sold he not his house? Philemon also Pauls host, had both a house and a servant too. It is therefore most plain and evident, that the holy Ghosts meaning is not to have such an order of life observed, as these people do devise, but that every man should govern well his own house and family, & relieve the brethren's necessity, according as his ability will suffer and bear. To this end also do other places belong, 1. Timothy. 5. Titus. 2. 1. Thessal. 4. 2. Thessal. 3. And when in all his Epistles almost, he prescribeth to parents and children, to husbands and wives, to masters and servants, their office and duties what doth he else, but teach how to order our houses & families? thus much thus far.

Againe, in the ninth Chapter: Peter stayeth many dayes in y• house of Simon the Tanner, which was a Christian man and dwelt in his owne house. And in the eleuenth Chapter: the disciples, according to euery ones abilitie sent helpe to the brethren, which dwelt in Iurie. Lo here, as euerie one, saith he, was of abilitie. But what abilitie could any of them haue had, vnlesse they had somewhat of their owne in possession? In the 16. Chapter? Lydia the woman that solde purple, when shée was baptised, did say: If ye haue iudged me to be faithfull to the Lorde, come into my house and abide there. Why sayde shée not, sell my house: but, come into my house: but forbecause shée did so possesse her house after shee beléeued, as that shée made it common to the Apostles. In the 20. Chapter: Paule doth glorie that he hath not desired any mannes golde, siluer, or pretious cloathes. But what sense or reason could be in these woordes, vnlesse it were lawfull for Christian men to keepe the possession of that, which is theirs. And in the 21. Chapter: Phillip had at Caesaria a house and foure daughters, why sold he not his house? Philemon also Paules hoste, had both a house and a seruaunt too. It is therefore moste plaine and euident, that the holie Ghostes meaning is not to haue such an order of life obserued, as these people do deuise, but that euery man should gouerne well his owne house and familie, & relieue the brethrens necessitie, according as his abilitie will suffer and beare. To this end also do other places belong, 1. Timothe. 5.