than the rigour of the words; and to bring charity with us, which is an interpreter of the law, for else we may miss by extremity.* Further, what meant it that Christ touched him with his hand? And how chanced it that his word and hand went together? Because he would show and declare unto us the profitableness of his flesh, how it was a flesh by which we should all be saved; so that no salvation may be looked for, except by him, and except he is eaten and drunken. (John vi.)

Again, sometimes he healed by his word and divine power only, as it appeareth by the servant of the centurion; to signify unto us, that it was not necessary for us always to have him here bodily. And to assuré us of his help without his bodily presence, he said, "It is good for you that I go from you." (John xvi.) And to signify his power, he used the authority of his word, both in his presence and absence: therefore we may be certain that he can and will help us with his divine power when we call upon him, as well absent as present; for he is every where, and will be with us unto the end of the world, as he promised unto his apostles after his resurrection, saying, "Lo, I will be with you until the end of the world;" which is the greatest comfort that may be unto a Christian heart, for it is a stay to all trouble.

We read further, that he sent him to the priest, and commanded him that he should tell no man. What meant he by this?—He would have him not to be his own judge. There was a law that the leprosy should be examined by the priest, and that the priest should give the sentence whether the leper were clean or unclean. Now Christ would not have this man to be his own judge, and to pronounce himself clean; but biddeth him to go to the ordinary. And this he did for two considerations: the first was to convince the Jews of their own wickedness, in that they would not believe in him, but despised and maliced him. Therefore he sent unto them this man, who had been infected with leprosy, so that when they pronounced him clean, they might see their own wickedness and obstinacy, who would not believe, &c. The second cause was, for the observation of the law, and for that he would give none occasion to carnal liberty. He would have every man in his order, as well the magistrates as the subjects; whereby

* Extreme strictness.

we may learn to follow his example, to keep all good laws and orders, and the rather, for that Christ himself kept them.

Here our papists make ado with their auricular confession, trying to prove the same by this place. For they say Christ sent this man unto the priest to fetch there his absolution; and therefore we must go also unto the priest, and after confession receive of him absolution of all our sins. But yet we must take heed, say they, that we forget nothing: for all those sins that are forgotten, may not be forgiven. And so they bind the consciences of men, persuading them that when their sins were all numbered and confessed, it was well. And hereby, they took clean away the passion of Christ. For they made this numbering of sins to be a merit; and so they came at all the secrets that were in men's hearts: so that no emperor or king could say or do, or think any thing in his heart, but they knew it; and so applied all the purposes and intents of princes to their own advantage: and this was the fruit of their auricular confession. But to speak of right and true confession, I would to God it were kept in England, for it is a good thing. And those who find themselves grieved in conscience might go to a learned man, and there obtain of him comfort from the word of God, and so come to a quiet conscience; which is better and more to be regarded than all the riches of the world. And surely, it grieves me much that such confessions are not kept in England.

Now to make an end; you have heard in this gospel of divers things which I will not rehearse. But I would have you to keep in remembrance the great faith which this man had in our Saviour, (which faith restored him to his health again:) and learn by him to believe as he did, that our Saviour will restore unto us the health of soul and body. Also note here, the great love that our Saviour bare unto this man, steadfastly believing that he will be like loving unto thee when thou callest upon him with earnest prayer. For prayer, as I told you, is altogether:* for prayer with.. faith goeth through the clouds. But it is a great matter to pray, it is ars artium, that is, an art above all arts. Let us therefore give ourselves to prayer and godly living, so that his name may be glorified in us, both now and ever. Amen.

* All in all.

CHRIST STILLING THE TEMPEST.

A SERMON,

Preached on the 31st of January, the fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, 1553.

MATTHEW viii.

And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And behold there arose a tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves; but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us, we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the sea: and there was a great calm.

HERE in this gospel we have a remarkable story, and a wonderful miracle which our Saviour did, being with his disciples upon the sea; which story is written for our doctrine and instruction, that we may comfort ourselves withal, when we are in like trouble in the tempests of this world. For we may learn here many good things, if we consider the story itself, and the circumstances thereof. The evangelist saith that our Saviour, accompanied with his disciples, went into a ship, where he laid himself upon a pillow and slept; which sleep shows his very manhood,* as you shall hear afterward. Now whilst he thus lay asleep, lo there arose suddenly so great a tempest, that they thought they should all have perished; such fearful weather lighted upon them. The disciples being sore astonished at this horrible weather, wist not what to do. At the last they remembering themselves, ran to our Saviour who lay there asleep, crying, "Lord, we perish:" or, else as the evangelist Mark saith, "Lord, carest thou not that we perish?"

* Human nature.

He being awaked, first rebuked them because of their unbelief; after that he rebuked the wind, and commanded the tempest to leave off and cease.

The disciples seeing before the horrible tempest, and now the sudden calmness made through his word, marvelled much; for they never before had seen such things. They had never heard that any man had power to rule the sea and the wind before this time; and therefore they were astonished at it, and said, "O what a man is this, which ruleth with his word the sea and the wind!" This is the sum of this gospel, which contains many good things for our instruction, learning, and comfort.

First, we may learn here, that the ship signified the congregation of Christ and his church. The disciples being in the ship are preserved through Christ; so all those who are in the church of Christ shall be saved and preserved by him. The others, who are without this church, shall be damned and perish.

"

Learn here also by the example of the disciples of Christ two things. The first, not to presume too much; that is to say, not to stand in your own conceit, thinking yourself to be perfect in faith. Secondly, not to despair because of your imperfections. The disciples thought themselves perfect and strong in faith, before they came into this tempest; but what doth our Saviour? Perceiving their presumption, he sends a tempest to bring them to the knowledge of themselves; and then, they, feeling the weakness of their faith, ran to our Saviour crying for help; whereby every man may learn, not to think too much of himself. And when he feels himself very weak, he may not despair, but run to Christ, as these disciples did; by which, although their heart was weak and feeble, yet were they preserved.

Moreover, we learn here that our Saviour Christ is both very God and very man. His Godhead appeared in that the wind and waters obeyed him, and reformed themselves according to his word. For what king or emperor is in the whole world, that can or may command the wind or seas? None at all: yea, if the whole world should be set together with all their power and wits, they would not be able to do any such thing. Therefore learn here to know the majesty of Christ, his power and stay,* and to believe him to be very God. Secondly, learn here to know his manhood: for the evangelist saith," He slept;" which * Strength to support.

signifies his very manhood, and that all things were in him that are in us, except sin; and that he can have compassion with us, for he himself hath been in all miseries and troubles as well as we, as St. Paul testified to the Romans. He slept here for weariness, he ate, he drank, he wept, and in him were all these infirmities, and chiefly for two causes: first, to signify unto us his very manhood: secondly, to comfort us with his example, that when we are in trouble and miseries we might think and know that our Saviour Christ will have compassion upon us; for he himself hath tasted of all trouble, and therefore he will be the more inclined to help and assist us with his Holy Spirit.

Also we may note here, that the disciples of our Saviour had passed many a time before upon the water, and yet they were never so troubled, nor in such danger. What means this that they are in trouble now, when our Saviour is with them, and never before when they were not with him? For it was no dangerous water, it was but a little pond:* what meaneth it then that this marvellous tempest so suddenly arose? It signifies that all those who believe in Christ, and take his part, and study to live after his will and commandment, and forsake the world and all wickedness, all such, I say, must have much trouble and affliction. For it is the will of God, that those who seek to be saved, shall be proved and tried through the fire of tribulation; as appears here by the disciples, who were never before in such trouble and danger; for they never had what is called "good luck," as the most part of worldlings commonly have, (for all things go well with them, and after their mind,) but as soon as they receive Christ into their ship, that is as soon as they believe in him, and receive his word, they shall have trouble and affliction; whereof we have a great number of examples in the Scriptures, which plainly teach us, not to seek by the gospel good cheer in this world, but rather misery and adversity. But the most part of gospellers are contrary minded; for they seek good cheer and promotion through the gospel, which is a horrible abuse of God's most holy word.

1

Moses, that excellent prophet of God, as long as he was in Pharaoh's house, he was well: he had all things

* The sea of Galilee is a lake about eighteen miles long and six broad; so that when compared with the sea it was but as a pond.