1 That worde begotten of God before all worldes, 2 and which was euer with the Father, 14 is made man. 6.7 For what ende Iohn was sent from God: 16 His preaching of Christes office: 19 20 The recorde that he bare giuen out vnto the Priestes. 40 The calling of Andrewe, 42 of Peter, 43 Philippe, 45 and Nathanael.

¹ In [Note: [1] The Sonne of God is of one, and the selfe same eternitie or euerlastingnesse, and of one and the selfe same essence or nature, with the Father. ] the [Note: [a] From the beginning, as the Euangelist saith, 1. epistle 1.1. as though he said, that the word beganne not then to haue his being, when God beganne to make all that was made: for the word was euen then when all things that were made, beganne to be made, and therefore he was before the beginning of all things. ] beginning [Note: [b] Had his being. ] was [Note: [c] This word, That, pointeth out vnto vs a peculiar and choise thing aboue all other, and putteth a difference betweene this Worde, which is the Sonne of God, and the Lawes of God, which otherwise are also called the worde of God. ] that Word, and that Word was [Note: [d] This worde With, pointeth out the distinction of persons to vs. ] with God, and that [Note: [e] This word (Word) is the first in order in the sentence, and is that which the learned call (Subiectum) and this word (God) is the latter in order, and the same which the learned call (predicatum.) ] Word was God.

² This same was in the beginning with God.

³ [Note: Col. 1.16. ] [Note: [2] The Sonne of God declareth that same his euerlasting Godhead, both by the creating of all things, and also by the preseruing of them, and especially by the excellent giftes of reason and vnderstanding, wherewith he hath beautified man aboue all other creatures. ] All [Note: [f] Paul expoundeth this place, Coloss.1.15. and 16. verses. ] things were made by it, and [Note: [g] That is, as the Father did worke, so did the Sonne worke with him: for he was fellow worker with him. ] without it [Note: [h] Of all those things which were made, nothing was made without him. ] was made nothing that was made.

⁴ [Note: [i] That is, by him: and it is spoken after the maner of the Hebrewes meaning thereby, that by his force and working power, all life commeth to the world. ] In it [Note: [k] To wit, euen then, when all things are made by him, for els he would haue said, Life is in him, and not life was. ] was life, and that life was [Note: [l] That force of reason and vnderstanding, which is kindled in our mindes to acknowledge him, the authour of so great a benefite. ] the light of men.

⁵ [Note: [3] The light of men is turned into darkenesse, but yet so, that there is clearenesse ynough to make them without excuse. ] And that light shineth in the darkenesse, and the darkenesse [Note: [m] They could not perceiue nor reache vnto it, to receiue any light of it, no, they did not so much as acknowledge him. ] comprehended it not.

⁶ ¶ [Note: Matth.3.1. marke 1.4. luke 3.2. ] [Note: [4] There is an other more full manifestation of the Sonne of God, to the consideration whereof men are in good time stirred vp, euen by Iohns voyce, who is as it were the herault of Christ. ] There was a man sent from God, whose name was Iohn.

⁷ This same came for a witnesse, to beare witnesse of that light, that all men [Note: [n] Through Iohn. ] through him might beleeue.

⁸ He was not [Note: [o] That light which we spake of, to wit, Christ, who onely can lighten our darkenesse. ] that light, but was sent to beare witnesse of that light.

⁹ [Note: [5] When as the Sonne of God saw, that men did not acknowledge him by his workes, although they were endued with vnderstanding (which he had giuen to them all,) he exhibited himselfe vnto his people to be seene of them with their corporall eyes: yet neither so did they acknowledge him, nor receiue him. ] This was [Note: [p] Who onely and properly deserueth to be called the light, for he shineth of himselfe and boroweth light of none. ] that true light, which lighteth euery man that commeth into the world.

¹⁰ [Note: [q] That person of the Word, was made manifest euen at that time when the world was made. ] He was in the world, and the worlde was [Note: Heb.11.3. ] made by him: and the worlde knewe him not.

¹¹ He came [Note: [r] The Word shewed himselfe againe, when he came in the flesh. ] vnto his owne, and his owne receiued him not.

¹² [Note: [6] The Sonne being shut out of the most of his people, and acknowledged but of a fewe, doeth regenerate them by his owne vertue and power, and receiueth them into that honour which is common to all the children of God, that is, to be the sonnes of God. ] But as many as receiued him, to them he gaue [Note: [s] He vouchsafed to giue them this prerogatiue to take them to be his children. ] prerogatiue to be the sonnes of God, euen to them that beleeue in his Name.

¹³ Which are borne not of blood, nor of the [Note: [t] Of that grosse and corrupt nature of man, which is throughout the Scriptures set as enemie to the Spirite. ] will of the flesh, nor of ye wil of man, but of God.
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¹⁴ [Note: Matth.1.16. ] [Note: [7] That Sonne, who is God from euerlasting, tooke vpon him mans nature, that one and the selfe same might be both God and man, which manifestly appeared to many witnesses, that sawe him, amongst whom he was conuersant, and vnto whom by sure and vndoubted arguments he shewed both his natures. ] And that Word was made [Note: [u] That is, man: so that the part is taken for the whole, by the figure Synecdoche: for he tooke vpon him all our whole nature, that is to say, a true body, & a true soule. ] flesh, and [Note: [x] For a season, and when that was ended, he went vp into heauen: for the worde which he vseth, is taken from tents: and yet notwithstanding, his absence from vs in body is not such, but that he is alwayes present with vs, though not in flesh, yet by the vertue of his Spirite. ] dwelt among vs, (and we [Note: Matth.17.2. 2.peter.1.17. ] sawe the [Note: [y] The glorie which hee speaketh of here, is that manifestation of Christ his maiestie, which was as it were layed open before our eyes when the Sonne of God appeared in flesh. ] glorie thereof, [Note: [z] This worde (as) doeth not in this place betoken a likelinesse, but the trueth of the matter, for his meaning is this, that we sawe such a glory, as beseemed and was meete for the true and onely begotten Sonne of God, who is Lord and King ouer all the world. ] as the glorie of the onely begotten Sonne of the Father) [Note: [a] He was not onely a partaker of grace and trueth, but was full of the very substance of grace and trueth. ] full of grace and trueth.

¹⁵ ¶ [Note: [8] Iohn is a faithfull witnesse of the excellencie of Christ. ] Iohn bare witnesse of him, and cryed, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that commeth [Note: [b] That is, He before whom I am sent to prepare him the way: so that these wordes are referred to the time of his calling, and not of his age, for Iohn was sixe moneths older then he. ] after me, was [Note: [c] This sentence hath in it a turning of the reason as we call it, as who would say, a setting of that first which should be last, and that last which shoulde be first: for in plaine speache this it is: He that commeth after me, is better then I am, for he was before me. The like kinde of turning the reason we finde in Luke 7.47. many sinnes are forgiuen her, because she loued much, which is this much to say, she loued much, because many sinnes are forgiuen her. ] before me: for he was better then I.

¹⁶ [Note: Coloss.1.19. and 2.9. ] [Note: [9] Christ is the most plentifull fountaine of all goodnesse, but then he powred out his giftes most bountifully, when as he exhibited and shewed himselfe to the world. ] And of his fulnesse haue all we receiued, and [Note: [d] That is, grace vpon grace, as a man would say, graces heaped one vpon another. ] grace for grace.

¹⁷ For the Lawe was giuen by Moses, but grace, and trueth came by Iesus Christ.

¹⁸ [Note: [10] The true knowledge of God proceedeth onely from Iesus Christ. ] [Note: 1.Tim.6.16. 1.iohn 4.12. ] No man hath seene God at any time: that onely begotten Sonne, which is in the [Note: [e] Who is neerest to his Father, not onely in respect of his loue towardes him, but by the bond of nature, and for that vnion or onenesse that is betweene them, whereby the Father and the Sonne are one. ] bosome of the Father, he hath [Note: [f] Reueiled him and shewed him vnto vs, whereas before he was hid vnder the shadowes of the Lawe, so that the quickneße of the sight of our mindes was not able to perceiue him: for whosoeuer seeth him, seeth the Father also. ] declared him.

¹⁹ ¶ [Note: [11] Iohn is neither the Messias, nor like to any of the other Prophets, but is the herault of Christ, who is nowe present. ] Then this is the record of Iohn, when the Iewes sent Priestes and Leuites from Hierusalem, to aske him, Who art thou?

²⁰ And he [Note: [g] He did acknowledge him, and spake of him plainely and openly. ] confessed and [Note: [h] This rehearsing of one and the selfe same thing, though in diuers wordes, is vsed much of the Hebrewes, and it hath great force, for they vse to speake one thing twise, to set it out more certainely and plainely. ] denied not, and said plainely, I [Note: Actes 13.25. ] am not that Christ.

²¹ And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he said, [Note: [i] The Iewes thought that Elias shoulde come againe before the dayes of Messias, and they tooke the ground of that their opinion out of Mal.4.5. which place is to be vnderstood of Iohn, Mat.11.14. And yet Iohn denieth that he is Elias, answering them in deede according as they meant. ] I am not. Art thou [Note: [k] They inquire of some great Prophet, & not of Christ, for Iohn denied before that he is Christ, for they thought that some great Prophet should be sent, like vnto Moses, wresting to that purpose that place of Deu.18.15. which is to be vnderstood of all the companie of the Prophets & ministers, which haue bene & shall be so the end, and especially of Christ who is the head of all Prophets. ] that Prophet? And he answered, No.

²² Then said they vnto him, Who art thou, that we may giue an answere to them that sent vs? What sayest thou of thy selfe?

²³ He said, I [Note: Isa.40.3. mat.3.3. luke 3.4. ] am the voyce of him that cryeth in the wildernesse, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the Prophet Esaias.

²⁴ [Note: [12] Christ is the authour of baptisme, and not Iohn: and therefore the force thereof consisteth not in Iohn, who is the minister, but wholy in Christ the Lord. ] Nowe they which were sent, were of the Pharises.

²⁵ And they asked him, and saide vnto him, [Note: [l] Hereby we may prooue that the Iewes knew there should be some change in religion vnder Messias. ] Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, neither Elias, nor that Prophet?

²⁶ Iohn answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there is one [Note: [m] Whom al the world seeth, & euen amongst you. ] among you, whom ye knowe not.

²⁷ [Note: Matth.3.11. marke 17. luke 3.16. actes 1.5. and 11. 16. and 19.4. ] He it is that commeth after me, which was before me, whose shoe latchet I am not worthie to vnloose.

²⁸ These things were done in Bethabara beyond Iordan, where Iohn did baptize.

²⁹ ¶ [Note: [13] The body and trueth of all the sacrifices of the Lawe, to make satisfaction for the sinne of the world, is in Christ. ] The next day Iohn, seeth Iesus comming vnto him, and saith, Beholde [Note: [n] This word (that) which is added, hath great force in it, not onely to set foorth the worthinesse of Christ, and so to separate him from the Lambe which was a figure of him, and from all other sacrifices of the Lawe, but also to bring into our mindes the Prophecies of Esay and others. ] that Lambe of God, which [Note: [o] This worde of the present time, signifieth a continuall act, for the Lambe hath this vertue proper vnto him, and for ouer, to take away the sinnes of the worlde. ] taketh away the [Note: [p] That is, that roote of sinnes, to wit, our corruption, and so consequently the fruites of sinne, which are commonly called in the plurall nomber, sinnes. ] sinne of the world.

³⁰ This is he of whom I saide, After me commeth a man, which was before me: for he was better then I.

³¹ And [Note: [q] I neuer knewe him by face before. ] I knewe him not: but because he should be declared to Israel, therefore am I come, baptizing with water.

³² [Note: [14] Christ is proued to be the Sonne of God, by the comming downe of the holy Ghost, by the fathers voyce, and by Iohns testimonie. ] So Iohn bare recorde, saying, I behelde [Note: Matth.3.15. marke 1.10. luke 3.22. ] that Spirit come downe from heauen, like a doue, and it abode vpon him,

³³ And I knewe him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, he saide vnto me, Vpon whom thou shalt see that Spirit come downe, and tary still on him, that is he which baptizeth with the holy Ghost.

³⁴ And I sawe, and bare record that this is [Note: [r] This worde (That) pointeth out vnto vs some excellent thing, and maketh a difference betweene Christ and other, whom Moses and the Prophets commonly call the sonnes of God, or the sonnes of the most high. ] that Sonne of God.

³⁵ ¶ [Note: [15] Iohn gathered disciples not to himselfe, but to Christ. ] The next day, Iohn stoode againe, and two of his disciples.

³⁶ [Note: [16] Christ is set before vs to followe, not as a vaine shadowe, but as our Mediatour. ] And he behelde Iesus walking by, and said, Beholde that Lambe of God.

³⁷ [Note: [17] In this first gathering of the disciples, wee haue shewed vnto vs, that the beginning of saluation is from God, who calleth vs vnto his Sonne by the ministerie of his seruauntes: whom (so preuenting vs) wee must also heare, and followe him home, that being instructed by him, we may also instruct others. ] And the two disciples heard him speake, and followed Iesus.

³⁸ Then Iesus turned about, and saw them followe, and saide vnto them, What seeke ye? And they saide vnto him, Rabbi (which is to say by interpretation, Master) [Note: [s] Where is thy lodging? ] where dwellest thou?

³⁹ He saide vnto them, Come, and see. They came and sawe where hee dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the [Note: [t] The night grewe on. ] tenth houre.

⁴⁰ Andrewe, Simon Peters brother, was one of the two which had heard it of Iohn, and that followed him.

⁴¹ The same founde his brother Simon first, and said vnto him, We haue founde that Messias, which is by interpretation, that [Note: [u] That is, annointed, and King after the maner of the Iewish people. ] Christ.

⁴² And he brought him to Iesus. And Iesus behelde him, and saide, Thou art Simon the sonne of Iona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, a stone.

⁴³ ¶ The day following, Iesus woulde goe into Galile, and founde Philip, and said vnto him, Followe me.

⁴⁴ Nowe Philip was of Bethsaida, the citie of Andrewe and Peter.

⁴⁵ [Note: [18] The good indeuours euen of the vnlearned God doeth so allowe, that he maketh them masters to the learned. ] Philippe founde Nathanael, and saide vnto him, Wee haue founde him of whom [Note: Gene.49.10. deute.18.18. ] Moses did write in the Lawe, and the [Note: Isai.4.2. and 40.10. and 45.8. iere.23.5. and 33.14. ezech.34.23. and 37.24. dan.9.24. ] Prophetes, Iesus that sonne of Ioseph, that was of Nazareth.


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⁴⁶ [Note: [19] We must especially take heede of false presumptions, which shut vp against vs the entrance to Christ. ] Then Nathanael sayde vnto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saide to him, Come, and see.

⁴⁷ [Note: [20] Simple vprightnes discerneth the true Israelites fro the false. ] Iesus sawe Nathanael comming to him, and saide of him, Beholde in deede an Israelite, in whom is no guile.

⁴⁸ [Note: [21] The ende of miracles is to set before vs Christ the Almightie, and also the onely authour of our saluation, that wee may apprehende him by faith. ] Nathanael sayde vnto him, Whence knewest thou mee? Iesus answered, and sayd vnto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast vnder the figge tree, I sawe thee.

⁴⁹ Nathanael answered, and saide vnto him, Rabbi, thou art that Sonne of God: thou art that King of Israel.

⁵⁰ Iesus answered, and sayde vnto him, Because I sayde vnto thee, I sawe thee vnder the figtree, beleeuest thou? thou shalt see greater things then these.

⁵¹ And he saide vnto him, Verely, verely I say vnto you, hereafter shall yee see heauen open, and the Angels of God [Note: Gen.28.12. ] [Note: [x] By these wordes, the power of God is signified which shoulde appeare in his ministery by the angels seruing him, as the heade of the Church. ] ascending, and descending vpon that Sonne of man.

1 Christ turneth water into wine, 11 which was the beginning of his miracles. 12 Hee goeth downe to Capernaum, 13 from thence hee goeth vp to Hierusalem, 15 and casteth the marchandise out of the Temple. 19 Hee foretelleth that the Temple, that is, his bodie shall be destroied of the Iewes. 23 Many beleeue in him, seeing the miracles which he did.

¹ And [Note: [1] Christ declaring openly in an assemblie by a notable miracle, that hee hath power ouer the nature of things, to feede mans bodie, leadeth the mindes of all men, to his spirituall and sauing vertue and power. ] the [Note: [a] After the talke which he had with Nathanael, or after that hee departed from Iohn, or after that hee came into Galile. ] thirde day, was there a mariage in Cana a towne of Galile, and the mother of Iesus was there.

² And Iesus was called also, and his disciples vnto the mariage.

³ [Note: [2] Christ is carefully ynough of our saluation, & therefore hath no neede of others to put him in minde of it. ] Nowe when the wine failed, the mother of Iesus saide vnto him, They haue no wine.

⁴ Iesus saide vnto her, Woman, what haue I to doe with thee? mine [Note: [b] Mine appointed time. ] houre is not yet come.

⁵ His mother saide vnto the seruants, Whatsoeuer he sayeth vnto you, doe it.

⁶ And there were set there, sixe [Note: [c] These were vessels appointed for water, wherein they washed themselues. ] waterpots of stone, after the maner of the purifying of the Iewes, conteining two or three [Note: [d] Euery firkin conteined an hundred pounde, at twelue ounces the pounde: Whereby wee gather that Christ holpe them with a thousand and eight hundred poundes of wine. ] firkins a piece.

⁷ And Iesus sayde vnto them, Fill the waterpots with water. Then they filled them vp to the brim.

⁸ Then he sayde vnto them, Draw out nowe and beare vnto the gouernour of the feast. So they bare it.

⁹ Nowe when the gouernour of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, (for he knewe not whence it was: but the seruants, which drewe the water, knewe) the gouernour of ye feast called the bridegrome,

¹⁰ And saide vnto him, All men at the beginning set foorth good wine, and when men haue [Note: [e] Word for word, are drunken: Nowe this speach, to bee drunken, is not alwaies taken in euill part in the Hebrew togue, but signifieth sometime such store, & plentifull vse of wine, as doth not passe measure, as Ge.43.34. ] wel drunke, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept backe the good wine vntill nowe.

¹¹ This beginning of miracles did Iesus in Cana a towne of Galile, and shewed forth his glorie: and his disciples beleeued on him.

¹² After yt, he went downe into Capernauum, he & his mother, and his [Note: [f] That is, his Cousins. ] brethren, and his disciples: but they continued not many daies there.

¹³ [Note: [3] Christ being made subiect to the Lawe for vs, satisfieth the Lawe of the Passeouer. ] For the Iewes Passeouer was at hande. Therefore Iesus went vp to Hierusalem.

¹⁴ [Note: [4] Christ being ordeined to purge the Church, doeth with great zeale begin his office both of Priest and Prophet. ] And he found in the Temple those that

sold oxen, and sheepe, and doues, and changers of money, sitting there.

¹⁵ Then hee made a scourge of small cordes, and draue them all out of the Temple with the sheepe and oxen, and powred out the changers money, and ouerthrewe the tables,

¹⁶ And said vnto them that solde doues, Take these things hence: make not my fathers house, an house of marchandise.

¹⁷ And his disciples remembred, that it was written, [Note: Psal.69.9. ] The [Note: [g] Zeale in this place is taken for a wrathfull indignation and displeasure of the minde, conceiued of some naughtie and euill dealing towards them whom we loue well. ] zeale of thine house hath eaten me vp.

¹⁸ [Note: [5] Against them which so binde God to an ordinarie calling which they them selues most shamefully abuse, that they will not admit an extraordinarie, which God confirmeth from heauen (and they although in vaine woulde haue it extinguished) vnlesse it be sealed with outward and bodily miracles. ] Then answered the Iewes, and saide vnto him, What [Note: [h] With what mirale doest thou confirme it, that we may see that heauenly power and vertue, which giueth thee authoritie to speake and do thus? ] signe shewest thou vnto vs, that thou doest these things?

¹⁹ Iesus answered, and said vnto them, [Note: Matt.26.61. & 27.40. mar.14.58. & 15.29. ] Destroy this Temple, and in three daies I will raise it vp againe.

²⁰ Then said the Iewes, Fourtie & sixe yeeres was this Temple a building, and wilt thou reare it vp in three daies?

²¹ But he spake of the [Note: [i] That is, of his bodie. ] temple of his bodie.

²² Assoone therefore as he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembred that hee thus sayde vnto them: and they beleeued the Scripture, and the worde which Iesus had saide.

²³ Nowe when hee was at Hierusalem at the Passeouer in the feast, many beleeued in his Name, when they sawe his miracles which he did.

²⁴ [Note: [6] It is not good crediting them, which stande onely vpon miracles. ] But Iesus did not commit him selfe vnto them, because he knewe them all,

²⁵ [Note: [7] Christ is the searcher of hearts, and therefore true God. ] And had no neede that any should testifie of man: for he knewe what was in man.

1 Christ teacheth Nicodemus the very principles of Christian regeneration. 14 The serpent in the wildernesse. 23 Iohn baptizeth, 27 and teacheth his, that he is not Christ.

¹ There [Note: [1] There are none sometimes more vnlearned, then the learned: but as well the learned as the vnlearned must desire wisedome of Christ onely. ] was nowe a man of the Pharises, named Nicodemus, a [Note: [a] A man of great estimation, and a ruler amongest the Iewes. ] ruler of the Iewes.

² This man came to Iesus by night, and sayd vnto him, Rabbi, we knowe ye thou art a [Note: [b] We knowe that thou art sent from God to teach vs. ] teacher come from God: for no ma could do these miracles that thou doest, [Note: [c] But he in whom some part of the excellencie of God appeareth. And if Nicodemus had knowen Christ aright, he woulde not only haue said that God was with him, but in him, as Paul doeth, 2.Cor.1.19. ] except God were with him.

³ [Note: [2] The beginning of Christianitie consisteth in this, that we knowe our selues not onely to be corrupt in part, but to bee wholy dead in sinne: so that our nature hath neede to be created anewe, as touching the qualities thereof: which can be done by no other vertue, but by the diuine and heauenly, whereby we were first created. ] Iesus answered, & said vnto him, Verely, verely I say vnto thee, except a man be borne againe, he can not [Note: [d] That is, goe in, or enter, as he expounded himselfe afterward, vers.5. ] see the [Note: [e] The church: for Christ sheweth in this place, howe we come to be citizens, and to haue ought to doe in the citie of God. ] kingdome of God.

⁴ Nicodemus sayde vnto him, Howe [Note: [f] Howe can I that am old, be borne againe? for he answereth, as if Christ his woordes belonged to none but to him. ] can a man be borne which is olde? can he enter into his mothers wombe againe, and be borne?

⁵ Iesus answered, Verely, verely I say vnto thee, except that a man be borne of water and of the Spirite, hee can not enter into the kingdome of God.

⁶ That which is borne of the flesh, is [Note: [g] That is, fleshly, to wit, wholy vncleane & vnder the wrath of God: and therefore this worde (Flesh) signifieth the corrupt nature of man: contrary to which is the (Spirit) that is the man ingrafted into Christ through the grace of the holy Ghost, whose nature is euerlasting & immortal, though the strife of the flesh remaineth. ] flesh: and that that is borne of the Spirit, is spirit.

⁷ Marueile not that I said to thee, Yee must be borne againe.

⁸ The winde bloweth where it [Note: [h] With free & wadring blasts as it listeth. ] listeth, and [Page]

thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it commeth, and whither it goeth: so is euery man that is borne of the Spirit.

⁹ [Note: [3] The secrete mysterie of our regeneration which canot be comprehended by mans capacitie, is perceiued by faith, & that in Christ only, because that hee is both God on earth, and man in heauen, that is to say, in such sort ma, that he is God also, and therefore almightie: and in such sort God, that he is man also, and therefore his power is manifest vnto vs. ] Nicodemus answered, and said vnto him, Howe can these things be?

¹⁰ Iesus answered, & saide vnto him, Art thou a teacher of Israel, and knowest not these things?

¹¹ Verely, verely I say vnto thee, wee speake that we know, and testifie that we haue seene: but yee receiue not our [Note: [i] You handle doutfull things and such as you haue no certaine authour for, & yet men beleeue you: but I teach those things that are of a trueth and well knowen, & you beleeue me not. ] witnesse.

¹² If when I tel you earthly things, ye beleeue not, howe should yee beleeue, if I shall tel you of heauenly things?

¹³ For no [Note: [k] Onely Christ can teach vs heauenly things, for no man ascendeth, &c. ] man [Note: [l] That is, hath any spirituall light and vnderstanding, or euer had, but onely that Sonne of God, which came downe to vs. ] ascendeth vp to heauen, but he that hath descended from heauen, [Note: [m] Whereas hee is sayde to haue come downe from heaue, that must be vnderstoode of his Godhead, and of the maner of his conception: for Christ his birth vpon the earth was heauenly, and not earthly, for he was conceiued by the holy Ghost. ] that Sonne of man which [Note: [n] That which is proper to the diuinitie of Christ, is here spoken of whole Christ, to giue vs to vnderstand that he is but one person, wherein two natures are vnited, and this kinde of speach men call, the communicating of proprieties. ] is in heauen.

¹⁴ [Note: Num.21.9. chap.12 32. ] And as Moses lift vp the serpent in the wildernesse, so must that Sonne of man be lift vp,

¹⁵ That whosoeuer beleeueth in him, shoulde not perish, but haue eternall life.

¹⁶ [Note: 1.Ioh.4 9. ] [Note: [5] Nothing els but the free loue of the Father, is the beginning of our saluation, and Christ is he in whome our righteousnesse and saluation is resident: and faith is the instrument or meane whereby we apprehende it, and life euerlasting is that which is set before vs to apprehend. ] For God so loued the worlde, that hee hath giuen his onely begotten Sonne, that whosoeuer beleeueth [Note: [o] It is not all one to beleeue in a thing, and to beleeue of a thing, for we may not beleeue (in any thing) saue only in God, but we may beleeue (of any thing) what soeuer, this sayeth Nazianzene in his oration of the Spirit. ] in him, should not perish, but haue euerlasting life.

¹⁷ [Note: Chap.9.39. & 12.47. ] [Note: [6] Not Christ, but the despising of Christ doeth condemne. ] For God sent not his Sonne into the world, that he should [Note: [p] That is, to be the cause of the condemning of the world, for in deede sinnes are the cause of death, but Christ shall iudge the quicke and the dead. ] condemne the world, but that the [Note: [q] Not onely the people of the Iewes, but whosoeuer shall beleeue in him. ] world through him might be saued.

¹⁸ Hee that beleeueth in him, is not condemned: but hee that beleeueth not, is condemned already, because he hath not beleeued in the Name of that onely begotten Sonne of God.

¹⁹ [Note: Chap.1.9. ] [Note: [7] Onely wickednesse is the cause, why men refuse the light that is offered them. ] And this is the [Note: [r] That is, the cause of condemnation, which sticketh fast in men, vnles through God his great benefite they be deliuered from it. ] condemnation, that that light came into the worlde, and men loued darknesse rather then that light, because their deedes were euill.

²⁰ For euery man that euill doeth, hateth the light, neither commeth to light, least his deedes should be reprooued.

²¹ But he that [Note: [s] That is, he that leadeth an honest life, and void of all craft and deceit. ] doeth trueth, commeth to the light, that his deedes might bee made manifest, that they are wrought [Note: [t] That is, with God, God as it were going before. ] according to God.

²² ¶ After these things, came Iesus & his disciples into the lande of Iudea, and there taried with them, and [Note: Cha.4.1. ] baptized.

²³ And Iohn also baptized in Enon besides Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

²⁴ For Iohn was not yet cast into prison.

²⁵ [Note: [8] Satan inflameth the disciples of Iohn with a fond emulation of their master, to hinder the course of the Gospel: but Iohn being mindefull of his office, doeth not onely breake off their endeuours, but also taketh occasion thereby to giue testimonie of Christ, howe that in him onely the Father hath set foorth life euerlasting. ] Then there arose a question betweene Iohns disciples and the Iewes, about purifying.

²⁶ And they came vnto Iohn, and saide vnto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Iorden, to whom [Note: Chap.1.34. ] thou barest witnesse, behold, he baptizeth, and all men come to him.

²⁷ Iohn answered, and saide, A man [Note: [u] What meane you to goe about to better my state? this is euery mans lot and portion, that they can not better them selues one iote. ] can receiue nothing, except it be giuen him fro heauen.

²⁸ Yee your selues are my witnesses, that [Note: Chap.1.20. ] I sayde, I am not that Christ, but that I am sent before him.

²⁹ He that hath the bride, is the bridegrome: but the friend of the bridegrome which standeth and heareth him, reioyceth greatly, because of the bridegromes voyce. This my ioy therefore is fulfilled.

³⁰ He must increase, but I must decrease.

³¹ Hee that is come from an hie, is aboue all: he that is of the earth, is of the [Note: [x] Is nothing els but man, a piece of woorke made of the slime of the earth. ] earth, and [Note: [y] Sauoureth of nothing, but corruption, ignorance, dulnesse, &c. ] speaketh of the earth: hee that is come from heauen, is aboue all.

³² And what hee hath [Note: [z] What he knoweth fully and perfectly. ] seene and heard, that he testifieth: but [Note: [a] That is, very few. ] no ma receiueth his testimonie.

³³ He that hath receiued his testimonie, hath sealed that [Note: Rom.3.4. ] God is true.

³⁴ For hee whome God hath sent, speaketh the woordes of God: for God giueth him not the Spirit by measure.

³⁵ The Father loueth the Sonne, and hath [Note: Matt.11.27. ] [Note: [b] Committed them to his power & wil. ] giuen all things into his hande.

³⁶ [Note: Abac.2.4. 1.iohn 5.10. ] Hee that beleeueth in the Sonne, hath euerlasting life, and hee that obeyeth not the Sonne, shall not [Note: [c] Shall not enioy. ] see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.

6 Iesus being wearie, asketh drinke of the woman of Samaria. 21 He teacheth the true worship. 26 He confesseth that he is the Messias. 32 His meat. 39 The Samaritanes beleeue in him. 46 Hee healeth the Rulers sonne.

¹ Nowe [Note: [1] This measure is to be kept in doing of our duetie, that neither by feare we bee terrified from going forward, neither by rashnesse procure or plucke dangers vpon our heads. ] when the Lord knew, how the Pharises had heard, that Iesus made [Note: Chap.3.22. ] and baptized moe disciples then Iohn,

² (Though Iesus himselfe baptized not: but his disciples)

³ Hee left Iudea, and departed againe into Galile.

⁴ And he must needes goe through Samaria.

⁵ [Note: [2] Christ leauing the proude Pharises, communicateth the treasures of euerlasting life with a poore sinfull woman and stranger, refelling the grosse errours of the Samaritans, and defending the true seruice of God, which was deliuered to the Iewes, but yet so, that hee calleth both of them backe to himselfe, as one whome onely all the fathers, and also all the ceremonies of the Lawe, did regarde, and had a respect vnto. ] Then came hee to a citie of Samaria called Sychar, neere vnto the possession that [Note: Gen.33.19. & 48.22. iosh.24.32. ] Iacob gaue to his sonne Ioseph.

⁶ And there was Iacobs well. Iesus then wearied in the iourney, sate [Note: [a] Euen as hee was wearie, or, because he was wearie. ] thus on the well: it was about the [Note: [b] It was almost noone. ] sixt houre.

⁷ There came a woman of Samaria to drawe water. Iesus sayd vnto her, Giue me drinke.

⁸ For his disciples were gone away into the citie, to buy meate.

⁹ Then sayde the woman of Samaria vnto him, Howe is it, that thou being a Iewe, askest drinke of me, which am a woman of Samaria? For the Iewes [Note: [c] There is no familiaritie nor friendship, betweene the Iewes, and the Samaritanes. ] meddle not with the Samaritans.

¹⁰ Iesus answered and saide vnto her, If thou knewest [Note: [d] By this word (That) we are giuen to vnderstand, that Christ speaketh of some excellent gift, that is to say, euen of himselfe, whom his Father offred to this woman. ] that gift of God, and who it is that saieth to thee, Giue mee drinke, thou wouldest haue asked of him, and hee woulde haue giuen thee, [Note: [e] This euerlasting water, that is to say, the exceeding loue of God, is called liuing, or of life, to make a difference betweene it, & the water that should be drawen out of a well: and these metaphores are very much vsed of the Iewes, Ier.2.13. Ioel 3.18. Zach.13.11. ] water of life.

¹¹ The woman saide vnto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to drawe with, and the well is deepe: from whence then hast thou that water of life?

¹² Art thou greater then our father Iacob, which gaue vs the well, and hee himselfe dranke

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thereof, and his sonnes, and his cattell?
¹³ Iesus answered, and said vnto her, Whosoeuer drinketh of this water, shall thirst againe:

¹⁴ But whosoeuer drinketh of the water that I shall giue him, shall neuer be more a thirst: but the water that I shall giue him, shalbe in him a well of water, springing vp into euerlasting life.

¹⁵ The woman said vnto him, Syr, giue me of that water, that I may not thirst, neither come hither to drawe.

¹⁶ Iesus said vnto her, Go, call thine husband, and come hither.

¹⁷ The woman answered, and saide, I haue no husband. Iesus said vnto her, Thou hast well said, I haue no husband.

¹⁸ For thou hast had fiue husbands, and he whom thou nowe hast, is not thine husband: that saidest thou truely.

¹⁹ The woman saide vnto him, Sir, I see that thou art a Prophet.

²⁰ [Note: [3] All the religion of superstitious people, standeth for the most part, vpon two pillers, but very weake, that is to say, vpon the examples of the fathers, peruerted, and a foolish opinion of outward things: against which errours we haue to set the worde and nature of God. ] Our fathers worshipped in this [Note: [f] The name of this mountaine is Garizim, whereupon Sanabaletta the Cuthite built a temple by Alexander of Macedonie his leaue, after the victorie of Issica: and made there Manasses his sonne in lawe, high Priest, Ioseph. booke 11. ] mountaine, and ye say, that in [Note: Deut.12 6. ] Ierusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

²¹ Iesus saide vnto her, Woman, beleeue me, the houre commeth, when ye shall neither in this mountaine, nor at Hierusalem worship ye Father.

²² Ye worship that which ye [Note: 2.King 17.29. ] knowe not: we worship that which we knowe: for saluation is of the Iewes.

²³ But the houre commeth, and nowe is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in [Note: [g] This word (Spirit) is to be taken here, as it is set against that commandement, which is called carnall, Hebr.7.16. as the commandement is considered in it selfe: and so he speaketh of (Trueth) not as we set it against a lye, but as we take it in respect of the outwarde ceremonies of the Lawe, which did onely shadowe that which Christ performed in deede. ] spirit, and trueth: for the Father requireth euen such to worship him.

²⁴ [Note: 2.Cor.3.27. ] God is a [Note: [h] By the worde (Spirit) hee meaneth the nature of the Godhead, and not the third person in the Trinitie. ] Spirite, and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and trueth.

²⁵ The woman said vnto him, I knowe well that Messias shall come which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell vs all things.

²⁶ Iesus said vnto her, I am he, that speake vnto thee.

²⁷ ¶ And vpon that, came his disciples, and marueiled that he talked with a woman: yet no man said vnto him, What askest thou? or why talkest thou with her?

²⁸ The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the citie, and said to the men,

²⁹ Come, see a man which hath tolde me all things that euer I did: is not he that Christ?

³⁰ Then they went out of the citie, and came vnto him.

³¹ ¶ In the meane while, the disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eate.

³² [Note: [4] We may haue care of our bodies, but yet so, that we preferre willingly and freely the occasion which is offered vs to enlarge the kingdome of God, before all necessities of this life whatsoeuer. ] But he said vnto them, I haue meate to eate that ye know not of.

³³ Then said ye disciples betweene themselues, Hath any man brought him meate?

³⁴ Iesus saide vnto them, My meate is that I may doe the will of him that sent me, and finish his worke.

³⁵ [Note: [5] When the spirituall corne is ripe, we must not linger, for so the children of this world would condemne vs. ] Say not ye, There are yet foure moneths, and then commeth haruest? Beholde, I say vnto you, Lift vp your eyes, and looke on the regions: [Note: Matth.9.37. luke 10.2. ] for they are white alreadie vnto haruest.

³⁶ [Note: [6] The doctrine of the Prophets was as it were a sowing time: and the doctrine of the Gospel, as the haruest, and there is an excellent agreement betweene them both, and the ministers of them both. ] And he that reapeth, receiueth rewarde, and gathereth fruite vnto life eternall, that both he that soweth, and he that reapeth, might reioyce together.

³⁷ For herein is the [Note: [i] That prouerbe. ] saying true, that one soweth, and an other reapeth.

³⁸ I sent you to reape that, whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entred into their labours.

³⁹ [Note: [7] The Samaritanes doe most ioyfully embrace that, which the Iewes most stubburnly reiected. ] Nowe many of the Samaritans of that citie beleeued in him, for the saying of the woman which testified, He hath tolde me all things that euer I did.

⁴⁰ Then when the Samaritans were come vnto him, they besought him, that he woulde tarie with them: and he abode there two dayes.

⁴¹ And many moe beleeued because of his owne word.

⁴² And they said vnto the woman, Nowe we beleeue, not because of thy saying: for we haue heard him our selues, and knowe that this is in deede that Christ the Sauiour of the world.

⁴³ ¶ [Note: [8] The despisers of Christ depriue themselues of his benefite: yet Christ prepareth a place for himselfe. ] So two dayes after he departed thence, and went into [Note: [k] Into the townes and villages of Galile, for he woulde not make abode in his countrey of Nazareth, because they despised him, and where (as the other Euangelistes write) the efficacie of his benefites was hindered through their marueilous stifneckednesse. ] Galile.

⁴⁴ For Iesus himselfe had [Note: Matth.13.57. marke 6.4. luke 4.24. ] testified, that a Prophet hath none honour in his owne countrey.

⁴⁵ Then when he was come into Galile, the Galileans receiued him, which had seene all the things that he did at Hierusalem at the feast: for they went also vnto the feast.

⁴⁶ [Note: [9] Although Christ be absent in body, yet he worketh mightily in the beleeuers, by his worde. ] And Iesus came againe into [Note: Chap.2.1,12. ] Cana a towne of Galile, where he had made of water, wine. And there was a certaine [Note: [l] Some of Herods courtiers, for though Herod was not a King, but a Tetrarch, yet the loftie name onely except, he was a king, or at least the people called him a king. ] ruler, whose sonne was sicke at Capernaum.

⁴⁷ When he heard that Iesus was come out of Iudea into Galile, he went vnto him, and besought him that he would goe downe, and heale his sonne: for he was euen ready to die.

⁴⁸ Then saide Iesus vnto him, Except ye see signes and wonders, ye will not beleeue.

⁴⁹ The ruler said vnto him, Syr, goe downe before my sonne dye.

⁵⁰ Iesus said vnto him, Go thy way, thy sonne liueth: and the man beleeued the worde that Iesus had spoken vnto him, and went his way.

⁵¹ And as he was nowe going downe, his seruants met him, saying, Thy sonne liueth.

⁵² Then enquired he of them the houre when he began to amend. And they said vnto him, Yesterday the seuenth houre the feuer left him.

⁵³ Then the father knew, that it was the same houre in the which Iesus had said vnto him, Thy sonne liueth. And he beleeued, & all his houshold.

⁵⁴ This second miracle did Iesus againe, after he was come out of Iudea into Galile.

2 One lying at the poole, 5 is healed of Christ on the Sabbath: 10 The Iewes that rashly finde fault with that his deede, 17 he conuinceth with the authoritie of his Father. 19. 20 He prooueth his diuine power by many reasons, 45 and with Moses testimonie.

¹ After [Note: Leuit.23.3. deut 16.1. ] that, there was a feast of the Iewes, and Iesus went vp to Hierusalem.

² [Note: [1] There is no disease so old, which Christ cannot heale. ] And there is at Hierusalem by the place of the sheepe, a [Note: [a] Whereof cattell dranke, and vsed to be plunged in, whereof there could not be but great store at Hierusalem. ] poole called in Ebrew [Note: [b] That is to say, the house of powring out, because great store of water was powred out into that place. ] Bethesda, hauing fiue porches:

³ In the which lay a great multitude of sicke folke, of blinde, halte, and withered, wayting for the mouing of the water.

⁴ For an Angel went downe at a certaine season into the poole, and troubled the water: whosoeuer then first, after the stirring of the water, stepped in, was made whole of whatsoeuer disease he had.

⁵ And a certaine man was there, which had [Page]

bene diseased eight and thirtie yeeres.

⁶ When Iesus sawe him lie, and knew that he nowe long time had bene diseased, he saide vnto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

⁷ The sicke man answered him, Sir, I haue no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the poole: but while I am comming, another steppeth downe before me.

⁸ Iesus said vnto him, Rise: take vp thy bed, and walke.

⁹ And immediatly the man was made whole, and tooke vp his bed, and walked: and the same day was the Sabbath.

¹⁰ [Note: [2] True religion is not more cruelly assaulted by any meanes, then by the pretence of religion it selfe. ] The Iewes therefore said to him that was made whole, It is the Sabbath day: [Note: Iere.17.22. ] it is not lawfull for thee to cary thy bed.

¹¹ He answered them, He yt made me whole, he said vnto me, Take vp thy bed, and walke.

¹² Then asked they him, What man is that which said vnto thee, Take vp thy bed and walke?

¹³ And he that was healed, knewe not who it was: for Iesus had conueied himselfe away from the multitude that was in that place.

¹⁴ And after that, Iesus founde him in the Temple, and said vnto him, Beholde, thou art made whole: sinne no more, lest a worse thing come vnto thee.

¹⁵ ¶ The man departed and tolde the Iewes that it was Iesus, which had made him whole.

¹⁶ And therefore the Iewes did persecute Iesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day.

¹⁷ [Note: [3] The worke of God was neuer the breach of the Sabbath: but the workes of Christ are the workes of the Father, both because they are one God, and also because the Father doeth not worke but in the Sonne. ] But Iesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I worke.

¹⁸ [Note: Chap.7.19. ] Therefore the Iewes sought the more to kill him: not onely because he had broken the Sabbath: but said also that God was [Note: [c] That is, his onely and no mans els, which they gather by that, that he saieth, (And I worke) applying this worde (worke) to himselfe, which is proper to God, and therefore maketh himselfe equall to God. ] his Father, and made himselfe equall with God.

¹⁹ Then answered Iesus, and said vnto them, Verely, verely I say vnto you, The Sonne can doe nothing [Note: [d] Not onely without his Fathers authoritie, but also without his mightie working and power. ] of himselfe, saue that he [Note: [e] This must be vnderstoode of Christ his person, which consisteth of two natures, and not simply of his Godhead: so then he saieth that his Father moueth and gouerneth him in all things, but yet notwithstanding when he saieth he worketh with his Father, he voucheth his Godhead. ] seeth the Father doe: for whatsoeuer things he doth, the same things doeth the Sonne [Note: [f] In like sort, ioyntly and together. Not for that the Father doeth some things, and then the Sonne worketh after him and doeth the like, but because the might and power of the Father and the Sonne do worke equally and ioyntly together. ] in like maner.

²⁰ For the Father loueth the Sonne, & sheweth him all things, whatsoeuer he himselfe doeth, and he will shewe him greater workes then these, that ye should marueile.

²¹ [Note: [4] The Father maketh no man partaker of euerlasting life, but in Christ, in whom onely also he is truely worshipped. ] For likewise as the Father rayseth vp the dead, and quickeneth them, so the Sonne quickeneth whom he will.

²² For the Father [Note: [g] This worde (Iudgeth) is taken by the figure Synecdoche, for all gouernement. ] iudgeth [Note: [h] These wordes are not so to be taken, as though they simply denied that God gouerneth the worlde, but as the Iewes imagined it, which separate the Father from the Sonne, whereas in deede, the Father doth not gouerne the worlde but onely in the person of his Sonne, being made manifest in the flesh: so saieth he afterwarde verse 30 that he came not to doe his owne will: that his doctrine is not his owne, chap.7.16. that the blind man and his parents sinned not, &c. chap.9.3. ] no man, but hath committed all iudgement vnto the Sonne,

²³ Because that all men shoulde honour the Sonne, as they honour the Father: he that honoureth not the Sonne, the same honoureth not the Father, which hath sent him.

²⁴ [Note: [5] The Father is not worshipped but by his Sonnes word apprehended by faith, which is the onely way that leadeth to eternall life. ] Verely, verely I say vnto you, he that heareth my worde, and beleeueth him that sent me, hath euerlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but hath passed from death vnto life.

²⁵ [Note: [6] We are all dead in sinne, and cannot be quickened by any other meanes, then by the worde of Christ apprehended by faith. ] Verely, verely I say vnto you, the houre

shall come, and now is, when the dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God: and they that heare it, shall liue.

²⁶ For as the Father hath life in himselfe, so likewise hath he giuen to the Sonne to haue life in himselfe,

²⁷ And hath giuen him [Note: [i] That is, high and soueraigne power to rule and gouerne all things, in so much that he hath power of life and death. ] power also to execute iudgement, in that he is the [Note: [k] That is, he shall not onely iudge the world as he is God, but also as he is man, he receiued this of his Father to be iudge of the worlde. ] Sonne of man.

²⁸ [Note: [7] All shal appeare before the iudgement seate of Christ at length to be iudged. ] Marueile not at this: for the houre shall come, in the which all that are in the graues, shall heare his voyce.

²⁹ [Note: [8] Faith and infidelitie, shalbe iudged by their fruits. ] And they shal come [Note: [l] Of their graues. ] foorth, [Note: Matth.25.41. ] that haue done good, vnto ye [Note: [m] To that resurrection which hath life euerlasting following it: against which is set the resurrection of condemnation, that is, which condemnation followeth. ] resurrection of life: but they that haue done euil, vnto the resurrection of condemnation.

³⁰ [Note: [9] The Father is the authour and approuer of all things which Christ doeth. ] I can [Note: [n] Looke verse 22. ] doe nothing of mine owne selfe: [Note: [o] As my Father directeth me, who dwelleth in me. ] as I heare, I iudge: and my iudgement is iust, because I seeke not mine owne will, but the will of the Father who hath sent me.

³¹ If I [Note: Chap.8.14. ] should beare witnesse of my selfe, my witnesse were not [Note: [p] Faithfull, that is, worthie to be credited, looke chap.8.14. ] true.

³² [Note: Matth.3.17. ] There is another that beareth witnesse of me, and I know that the witnesse, which he beareth of me, is true.

³³ [Note: Chap.1.27. ] [Note: [10] Christ is declared to be the onely Sauiour be Iohns voyce, and infinite miracles, and by the testimonies of all the Prophets. But the world notwithstanding being addicted to false prophets, and desirous to seeme religious, seeth none of all these things. ] Ye sent vnto Iohn, and he bare witnesse vnto the trueth.

³⁴ But I receiue not the record of man: neuerthelesse these things I say, that ye might be saued.

³⁵ He was a burning, & a shining candle: and ye would for [Note: [q] A litle while. ] a season haue reioyced in his light.

³⁶ But I haue greater witnesse then the witnesse of Iohn: for the workes which the Father hath giuen me to finish, the same workes that I doe, beare witnesse of me, that the Father sent me.

³⁷ And the [Note: Matth.3.17. and 17.5. ] Father himselfe, which hath sent me, beareth witnesse of me. Ye haue not heard his voyce at any time, [Note: Deut.4.12. ] neither haue ye seene his shape.

³⁸ And his worde haue you not abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye beleeued not.

³⁹ [Note: Act.17.11. ] Searche the Scriptures: for in them ye thinke to haue eternall life, and they are they which testifie of me.

⁴⁰ But ye will not come to me, that ye might haue life.

⁴¹ I receiue not the prayse of men.

⁴² But I know you, that ye haue not the [Note: [r] Loue towarde God. ] loue of God in you.

⁴³ I am come in my Fathers Name, and ye receiue me not: if another shall come in his owne name, him will ye receiue.

⁴⁴ How can ye beleeue, which receiue [Note: Chap.12.43. ] honour one of another, and seeke not the honour that commeth of God alone?

⁴⁵ [Note: [s] This deniall doth not put away that which is here said, but correcteth it, as if Christ saide, the Iewes shall haue no sorer an accuser, then Moses. ] Doe not thinke that I will accuse you to my Father: there is one that accuseth you, euen Moses, in whom ye trust.

⁴⁶ For had ye beleeued Moses, ye would haue beleeued me: [Note: Gene.3.15. and 22.18. and 49.10. deut.18 15. ] for he wrote of me.

⁴⁷ But if ye beleeue not his writings, how shal ye beleeue my wordes?

5 Fiue thousande are fedde with fiue loaues and two fishes. 15 Christ goeth apart from the people. 17 As his disciples were rowing, 19 he commeth to them walking on the water. 26 He reasoneth of the true, 27 and euerlasting 35 bread of life. 41. 52 The Iewes murmure, 60 and many of the disciples 66 depart from him. 69 The Apostles confesse him to be the Sonne of God.


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¹ After these thinges, Iesus went his way [Note: [a] Not that he cut ouer the lake of Tiberias, but by reason of the large creekes, his sailing made his iourney the shorter: therefore he is sayde to haue gone ouer the sea, when as he passed ouer from one side of a creeke to the other. ] ouer the sea of Galile, which is Tiberias.

² And a great multitude followed him, because they sawe his miracles, which hee did on them that were diseased.

³ Then Iesus went vp into a mountaine, and there he sate with his disciples.

⁴ Now the Passeouer, a [Note: Leuit.23.7. deut.16.1. ] feast of the Iewes, was neere.

⁵ [Note: Mat.14.16. mar.6.37. luke 9.13. ] [Note: [1] They that followe Christ doe sometime hunger, but they are neuer destitute of helpe. ] Then Iesus lift vp his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude came vnto him, hee sayde vnto Philippe, Whence shall we buy breade, that these might eate?

⁶ (And this he sayde to prooue him: for hee himselfe knewe what he would doe.)

⁷ Philippe answered him, Two hundreth penie worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that euery one of them may take a litle.

⁸ Then saide vnto him one of his disciples, Andrewe, Simon Peters brother,

⁹ There is a little boy heere, which hath fiue barlie loaues, and two fishes: but what are they among so many?

¹⁰ And Iesus saide, Make ye people sit downe. (Nowe there was much grasse in that place.) Then the men sate downe in nomber, about fiue thousande.

¹¹ And Iesus tooke the bread, & gaue thanks, & gaue to the disciples, and the disciples, to them that were set downe: and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

¹² And when they were satisfied, he said vnto his disciples, Gather vp the broken meat which remaineth, that nothing be lost.

¹³ Then they gathered it together, and filled twelue baskets with the broken meat of the fiue barly loaues, which remained vnto them that had eaten.

¹⁴ Then the men, when they had seene the miracle that Iesus did, saide, This is of a trueth that Prophet that should come into the world.

¹⁵ [Note: [2] Christ is not onely not delited, but also greatly offended with a preposterous worship. ] When Iesus therfore perceiued that they would come, and take him to make him a King, hee departed againe into a mountaine himselfe alone.

¹⁶ ¶ [Note: [3] The godly are often in perill and danger, but Christ cometh to them in time, euen in the middest of the tempests, and bringeth them to the hauen. ] When euen was nowe come, his disciples went downe vnto the sea,

¹⁷ [Note: Matt.14.25. mar.6.47. ] And entred into a shippe, and went ouer the sea, [Note: [b] In Mar.6.45. they are willed to go before to Bethsaida, for Bethsaida was in the way to Capernaum. ] towardes Capernaum: and nowe it was darke, and Iesus was not come to them.

¹⁸ And the Sea arose with a great winde that blewe.

¹⁹ And when they had rowed about fiue and twentie, or thirtie furlongs, they sawe Iesus walking on the sea, and drawing neere vnto the ship: so they were afraide.

²⁰ But he said vnto them, It is I: be not afraid.

²¹ Then [Note: [c] They were afraid at the first, but whe they knewe his voyce, they became newe men, & tooke him willingly into the ship, whom they shunned and fled from before. ] willingly they receiued him into the ship, and the ship was by and by at the lande, whither they went.

²² ¶ The day following, the people which stoode on the other side of the sea, saw that there was none other ship there, saue that one, whereinto his disciples were entred, and that Iesus went not with his disciples in the ship, but that his disciples were gone alone,

²³ And that there came other ships from Tiberias neere vnto the place where they ate the bread, after the Lord had giuen thankes.

²⁴ Nowe when the people sawe that Iesus was

not there, neither his disciples, they also tooke shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Iesus.

²⁵ And when they had founde him on the other side of the sea, they sayde vnto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

²⁶ [Note: [4] They that seeke the kingdome of heauen lacke nothing: notwithstading the Gospel is not the foode of the bellie, but of the minde. ] Iesus answered them; and sayde, Verely, verely I say vnto you, ye seeke me not because ye sawe the miracles, but because yee ate of ye loaues, and were filled.

²⁷ [Note: [d] Bestowe your labour and paine. ] Labour not for ye meate which perisheth, but for the meate that endureth vnto euerlasting life, which the Sonne of man shal giue vnto you: for him hath [Note: Chap.1.32. mat 3.17. & 17.3. ] God the Father [Note: [e] That is, whome God the Father hath distinguished from all other men by plating his owne vertue in him, as though he had sealed him with his seale, that he might be a liuely paterne and representer of him: and that more is, installed him to this office, to reconcile vs men to God & bring vs to euerlasting life, which is onely proper to Christ. ] sealed.

²⁸ Then sayde they vnto him, What shall we doe, that we might worke the [Note: [f] Which please God: for they thinke that euerlasting life hangeth vpon the condition of fulfilling the Lawe: therefore Christ calleth them backe to faith. ] workes of God?

²⁹ [Note: [5] Men torment the selues in vain, whe they goe about to please God without faith. ] Iesus answered, and sayde vnto them, [Note: 1.Iohn 3.23. ] [Note: [g] That is, this is the worke that God requireth, that you beleue in me, & therfore he calleth them backe to faith. ] This is the woorke of God, that yee beleeue in him, whome he hath sent.

³⁰ [Note: [6] The spiritual vertue of Christ is cotemned of them which are desirous of earthly miracles ] They sayde therefore vnto him, What signe shewest thou then, that we may see it, and beleeue thee? what doest thou woorke?

³¹ Our fathers did eate Manna in the desart, as it is [Note: Exo.16.14. nom. 11.7. psal.78.25. ] written, Hee gaue them bread from heauen to eate.

³² [Note: [7] Christ, who is ye true and onely author and giuer of eternal life, was signified vnto the Fathers in Manna. ] Then Iesus said vnto them, Verely, verely I say vnto you, Moses gaue you not [Note: [h] He denieth that Manna was that true heauely bread, and sayeth that hee himself is that true bread, because hee feedeth vnto the true and euerlasting life. And as for that, that Paul 1.Cor.10. calleth Manna spirituall foode, it maketh nothing against this place, for hee ioyneth the thing signified with the signe: but in this whole disputation, Christ dealeth with the Iewes after their owne opinion and conceit of the matter, and they had no further consideration of the Manna, but in that it fedde the bellie. ] yt bread from heauen, but my Father giueth you that true bread from heauen.

³³ For the breade of God is hee which commeth downe from heauen, and giueth life vnto the world.

³⁴ Then they said vnto him, Lorde, euermore giue vs this bread.

³⁵ And Iesus saide vnto them, I am that bread [Note: [i] Which haue life, and giue life. ] of life: he that commeth to me, shall not hunger, and he that beleeueth in me, shall neuer thirst.

³⁶ But I said vnto you, that ye also haue seene me, and beleeue not.

³⁷ [Note: [8] The gift of faith proceedeth from the free election of the Father in Christ, after which foloweth necessarily euerlasting life: Therefore faith in Christ Iesus is a sure witnesse of our election, and therefore of our glorification, which is to come. ] All that the Father giueth me, shall come to mee: and him that commeth to me, I cast not away.

³⁸ For I came downe from heauen, not to do mine [Note: [k] Looke aboue Chap.5.ver.22. ] owne wil, but his wil which hath sent me.

³⁹ And this is the Fathers will which hath sent mee, that of all which hee hath giuen mee, I should lose nothing, but shoulde raise it vp againe at the last day.

⁴⁰ And this is the will of him that sent mee, that euery man which [Note: [l] Seeing and beleeuing are ioyned together: for there is an other kinde of seeing which is generall, which the deuils haue, for they see: but here hee speaketh of that kinde of seeing, which is proper to the elect. ] seeth the Sonne, and beleeueth in him, should haue euerlasting life: and I will raise him vp at the last day.

⁴¹ [Note: [9] Flesh can not perceiue spirituall thinges, and therefore the beginning of our saluation commeth from God, who chaungeth our nature, so that wee being inspired of him, may abide to be instructed and saued by Christ. ] The Iewes then murmured at him because hee sayde, I am that bread, which is come downe from heauen.

⁴² And they said, [Note: Mat.13.55. ] Is not this Iesus that sonne of Ioseph, whose father and mother wee knowe? howe then sayth he, I came downe from heauen?
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⁴³ Iesus then answered, and saide vnto them, Murmure not among your selues.

⁴⁴ No man can come to mee, except the Father, which hath sent mee, drawe him: and I will raise him vp at the last day.

⁴⁵ It is written in the [Note: Isa.54.13. iere.31.33. ] [Note: [m] In the booke of the Prophets, for the olde Testament was deuided by them into three seuerall partes, into the Lawe, the Prophets, and the Holy writ. ] Prophetes, And they shalbe al [Note: [n] To wit, they shalbe children of the Church, for so the Prophet Esay expoundeth it, chap.54.13. that is to say, ordeined to life, Act.13.48.and therefore the knowledge of the heauenly trueth, is the gift and woorke of God, and standeth not in any power of man. ] taught of God. Euery man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, commeth vnto me:

⁴⁶ [Note: Matt.11.17. ] Not that any man hath seene the Father, [Note: [o] If the Sonne only hath seene the Father, then it is he only that can teach and instruct vs truely. ] saue hee which is of God, hee hath seene the Father.

⁴⁷ Verely, verely I say vnto you, hee that beleeueth in me, hath euerlasting life.

⁴⁸ [Note: [10] The true vse of Sacramentes, is to ascende from them to the thing it self, that is, to Christ: by the partaking of whom only, we get euerlasting life ] I am that bread of life.

⁴⁹ [Note: Exod.16.15. ] Your fathers did eate Manna in the wildernesse, and are dead.

⁵⁰ [Note: [p] He poynted out himselfe, when hee spake these wordes. ] This is that breade, which commeth downe from heauen, that hee which eateth of it, shoulde not die.

⁵¹ [Note: [11] Christ being sent from the Father is the selfe same vnto vs for the getting and keeping of euerlasting life, that bread and flesh, yea meate and drinke are to the vse of this transitory life. ] I am that [Note: [q] Which giueth life to the world. ] liuing breade, which came downe from heauen: if any man [Note: [r] That is to say, whosoeuer is partaker of Christ in deede, who is our foode. ] eate of this breade, hee shall liue for euer: and the bread that I will giue, is my flesh, which I will giue for the life of the world.

⁵² [Note: [12] Flesh can not put a difference betweene fleshly eating, which is done by the helpe of the teeth, and spiritual eating which consisteth in faith: and therefore it condemneth that which it vnderstandeth not: yet notwithstanding the trueth must bee preached and taught. ] Then the Iewes stroue among themselues, saying, Howe can this man giue vs his flesh to eate?

⁵³ Then Iesus saide vnto them, Verely, verely I say vnto you, Except yee eate the flesh of the Sonne of man, and drinke his blood, yee haue [Note: [s] If Christ bee present, life is present, but when Christ is absent, then is death present. ] no life in you.

⁵⁴ Whosoeuer [Note: 1.Cor.11.27. ] eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternall life, and I will raise him vp at the last day.

⁵⁵ For my flesh is meat in deede, & my blood is drinke in deede.

⁵⁶ Hee that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

⁵⁷ As [Note: [t] In that that Christ is man, he receiueth that power, which quickeneth and giueth life to them that are his, of his Father: and he addeth this word (That) to make a difference betweene him and all other fathers. ] that liuing Father hath sent me, so liue I by the [Note: [u] Christ his meaning is, that though he be man, yet his flesh can giue life, not of the owne nature, but because that flesh of his liueth by the Father, that is to say, doeth sucke and drawe out of the Father, that power which it hath to giue life. ] Father, and he that eateth me, euen he shall liue by me.

⁵⁸ This is that bread which came downe from heauen: not as your fathers haue eaten Manna, and are deade. Hee that eateth of this bread, shall liue for euer.

⁵⁹ These things spake he in the Synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

⁶⁰ [Note: [13] The reason of man can not comprehende the vniting of Christ and his members: therefore let it worship and reuerence that which is better then it selfe. ] Many therefore of his disciples (when they heard this) sayde, This is an hard saying: who can heare it?

⁶¹ But Iesus knowing in himselfe, that his disciples murmured at this, saide vnto them, Doeth this offend you?

⁶² What then if yee should see that Sonne of man ascend vp [Note: Chap.3.13. ] where he was before?

⁶³ [Note: [14] The flesh of Christ doth therefore quicken vs, because that he that is man, is God: which mysterie is onely comprehended by faith, which is the gift of God, proper onely to the elect. ] It is the [Note: [x] Spirite, that is, that power which floweth from the God and, causeth the flesh of Christ, which otherwise were nothing but flesh, both to liue in it selfe, and to giue life to vs. ] spirite that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing: the woordes that I speake

vnto you, are spirite and life.

⁶⁴ But there are some of you that beleeue not: for Iesus knewe from the beginning, which they were yt beleeued not, & who shoulde betray him.

⁶⁵ And hee saide, Therefore saide I vnto you, that no man can come vnto mee, except it be giuen vnto him of my Father.

⁶⁶ [Note: [15] Such is the malice of men, that they take occasion of their owne destruction, euen of the very doctrine of saluatio (vnlesse it be a few, which beleeue through the singular gift of God.) ] From that time, many of his disciples went backe, and walked no more with him.

⁶⁷ Then sayde Iesus to the twelue, Will yee also goe away?

⁶⁸ Then Simon Peter answered him, Master, to whome shall we goe? thou hast the wordes of eternall life:

⁶⁹ And we beleeue and knowe that thou art that Christ that Sonne of the liuing God.

⁷⁰ [Note: [16] The number of the professours of Christ is very small, and among them also there be some hypocrites, and worse then all other. ] Iesus answered them, Haue not I [Note: Mat.26.16. ] chosen you twelue, and one of you is a deuill?

⁷¹ Now he spake it of Iudas Iscariot the sonne of Simon: for hee it was that shoulde betraie him, though he was one of the twelue.

2 Christ, after his cousins were gone vp to the feast of Tabernacles, 10 goeth thither priuily. 12 The peoples sundrie opinions of him. 14 He teacheth in the Temple. 32 The priests commaund to take him. 41 Strife among the multitude about him, 47 and betweene the Pharises and the officers that were sent to take him, 50 and Nicodemus.

¹ After these things, Iesus walked in Galile, and woulde not walke in Iudea: for the Iewes sought to kill him.

² Nowe the Iewes [Note: Leuit.23.34. ] [Note: [a] This feast was so called, because of the boothes and teutes which they pight of diuers kindes of boughs, & sate vnder them, seuen dayes together, all which time the feast lasted. ] feast of the Tabernacles was at hande.

³ [Note: [1] The grace of God commeth not by inheritance, but it is a gift that cometh other waies: whereby it commeth to passe, that oftentimes the children of God suffer more affliction by their owne kinsfolkes, then by strangers. ] His brethren therefore sayde vnto him, Depart hence, and goe into Iudea, that thy disciples may see thy woorkes that thou doest.

⁴ For there is no man that doeth any thing secretely, and hee himselfe seeketh to be famous. If thou doest these things, shewe thy selfe to the worlde.

⁵ For as yet his [Note: [b] His kins folke: for so vse the Hebrewes to speake. ] brethren beleeued not in him.

⁶ [Note: [2] We must not folowe the foolish desires of our friendes. ] Then Iesus saide vnto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway readie.

⁷ The world can not hate you: but me it hateth, because I testifie of it, that the workes thereof are euill.

⁸ Go ye vp vnto this feast: I wil not go vp yet vnto this feast: [Note: Chap.8.20. ] for my time is not yet fulfilled.

⁹ ¶ These things he sayde vnto them, and abode still in Galile.

¹⁰ [Note: [3] An example of horrible confusion in ye very bosome of the Church. The Pastors oppresse the people with terrour and feare: the people seeke Christ, when he appeareth not: when he offereth him selfe, they neglect him. Some also that knowe him, condemne him rashly: a very fewe thinke well of him, and that in secrete. ] But assoone as his brethren were gone vp, then went hee also vp vnto the feast, not openly, but as it were priuilie.

¹¹ Then the Iewes sought him at the feast, and saide, Where is hee?

¹² And much murmuring was there of him among the people. Some said, He is a good man: other sayd, Nay: but he deceiueth the people.

¹³ Howbeit no man spake [Note: [c] Or, boldly and freely: For the chiefe of the Iewes sought nothing so much, as to burie his fame and name. ] openly of him for feare of the Iewes.

¹⁴ [Note: [4] Christ striueth with goodnesse against the wickednesse of the worlde: in the meane season the most part of men take occasion of offence euen by that same, whereby they ought to haue beene stirred vp to embrace Christ. ] Nowe when [Note: [d] About the fourth day of the feast. ] halfe the feast was done, Iesus went vp into the Temple and taught.

¹⁵ And the Iewes marueiled, saving, Howe knoweth this man the Scriptures, seeing that hee neuer learned!


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¹⁶ [Note: [5] Therefore are there fewe to whome the Gospel sauoureth wel, because the studie of godlines is very rare. ] Iesus answered them, and saide, [Note: [e] Looke aboue chap.5.verse 22. and hee speaketh this after the opinion of the Iewes, as if he said, My doctrine is not mine, that is, it is not his whom you take to be a man as other are, and therefore set light by him, but it is his that sent me. ] My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

¹⁷ If any man will doe his will, he shall knowe of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speake of my selfe.

¹⁸ [Note: [6] The true doctrine of saluation differeth from the false in this, that the same setteth foorth the glory of God, and this by puffing vp of men, darkeneth the glory of God. ] Hee that speaketh of himselfe, seeketh his owne glorie: but hee that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no vnrighteousnes is in him.

¹⁹ [Note: Exod.24.3. ] [Note: [7] None do more confidently boast themselues to be the defenders of the Lawe of God, then they that doe most impudently breake it. ] Did not Moses giue you a Law, and yet none of you keepeth the lawe? [Note: Chap.5.12. ] Why goe ye about to kill me?

²⁰ The people answered, and said, Thou hast a deuil: who goeth about to kill thee?

²¹ [Note: [8] The Sabbath day (which is here set before vs for a rule of all ceremonies) was not appointed to hinder, but to further and practise Gods workes: amongst which the loue of our neighbour is the chiefest. ] Iesus answered, and saide to them, I haue done one worke, and ye all maruaile.

²² [Note: Leuit.12.3. ] Moses therefore gaue vnto you circumcision, (not because it is of Moses, but of the [Note: Gene.17.10. ] fathers) & ye on the Sabbath day circumcise a man.

²³ If a man on the Sabbath receiue circumcision, that the [Note: [f] That is to say, if the lawe of circumcision which Moses gaue, bee of so great accompt amongst you, that you doubt not to circumcise vpon the Sabbath, doe you rightly reproue me for healing a man throughly? ] Lawe of Moses should not be broken, be ye angrie with me, because I haue made a man euery whit whole on the Sabbath day?

²⁴ [Note: Deut.1.16. ] [Note: [9] We must iudge according to the trueth of things, least the persons of men doe turne vs and carie vs away. ] Iudge not [Note: [g] By the shew that I make: for I seeme to bee but an abiect and rascal of Galile, and a carpenters sonne, whome no man maketh accompt of: but marke the matter it selfe well, and iudge the tree by the fruite. ] according to the appearance, but iudge righteous iudgement.

²⁵ ¶ [Note: [10] Many doe marueile that the endeuours of the enemies of God haue no successe: yet in the meane season they doe not acknowledge the vertue and power of God. ] Then saide some of them of Hierusalem, Is not this he, whom they goe about to kill?

²⁶ And beholde, he speaketh openly, and they say nothing to him: doe the rulers know in deede that this is in deede that Christ?

²⁷ [Note: [11] Men are very wise to procure stoppes and stayes to themselues. ] Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when that Christ commeth, no man shall knowe whence he is.

²⁸ ¶ [Note: [12] The trueth of Christ doeth not hang vpon the iudgement of man. ] Then cried Iesus in the Temple as hee taught, saying, Ye both knowe mee, and knowe whence I am: yet am I not come of my selfe, but he that sent me, is true, whome ye knowe not.

²⁹ But I knowe him: for I am of him, and he hath sent me.

³⁰ [Note: [13] The wicked cannot doe what they list, but what God hath appointed. ] Then they sought to take him, but no man layde handes on him, because his houre was not yet come.

³¹ Now many of the people beleeued in him, and said, When that Christ commeth, will he doe moe miracles then this man hath done?

³² [Note: [14] As the kingdome of God increaseth, so increaseth the rage of his enemies, till at the length they in vaine seeke for those blessings absent, which they despised when they were present. ] The Pharises heard that the people murmured these thinges of him, and the Pharises, and high Priestes sent officers to take him.

³³ Then saide Iesus vnto them, Yet am I a little while with you, and then goe I vnto him that sent mee.

³⁴ [Note: Chap.13.33. ] Ye shall seeke me, and shall not finde me, and where I am, can ye not come.

³⁵ Then saide the Iewes amongs themselues, Whither will he goe, that we shall not finde him? Will he goe vnto them that are [Note: [h] Worde for worde (to the dispersion of the Gentiles or Grecians) and vnder the name of the Grecians bee vnderstandeth the Iewes which were dispersed amongst the Gentiles, 1.Peter 1.1. ] dispersed among the Grecians, and teache the Grecians?

³⁶ What saying is this that hee saide, Ye shall seeke mee, and shall not finde mee? and where I am, cannot ye come?

³⁷ [Note: [15] There are two principles of our saluation: the one is, to be throughly touched with a true feeling of our extreme pouertie: the other, to seeke in Christ onely (whom we catche holde on by faith) the aboundance of all good things. ] Nowe in the [Note: [i] The last day of the feast of Tabernacles, that is, the eight day, was as high a day, as the first. ] last and [Note: Leuit.23.36. ] great day of the feast, Iesus stoode and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come vnto me, and drinke.

³⁸ Hee that beleeueth in mee, [Note: Deut.18.15. ] as saith the [Note: [k] This is not read worde for worde in any place, but it seemeth to be taken out of many places where mention is made of the giftes of the holy Ghost, as Ioel 2.Esa.44. but especially in Esa.55. ] Scripture, out of his bellie shall flowe riuers of water of life.

³⁹ ( [Note: Ioel 2.28. actes 2.17. ] This spake hee of the Spirite which they that beleeued in him, should receiue: for the [Note: [l] What is meant by the holy Ghost, he expressed a litle before, speaking of the Spirit which they that beleeued in him should receiue. So that by the name of holy Ghost, are meant the vertues and mightie workings of the holy Ghost. ] holy Ghost was not yet giuen, because that Iesus was not yet [Note: [m] That is, those things were not yet seene and perceiued, which were to shew and set foorth the glorie of the onely begotten. ] glorified.)

⁴⁰ [Note: [16] There is contention euen in the Church it selfe about the chiefe point of religion: neither hath Christ any more cruell enemies, then those that occupie the seate of trueth: yet can not they doe what they woulde. ] So many of the people, when they heard this saying, said, [Note: Deuter.18.15. ] Of a trueth this is that Prophet.

⁴¹ Other saide, This is that Christ: and some said, But shall that Christ come out of Galile?

⁴² [Note: Micha.5.2. matth.2.5. ] Saith not the Scripture that that Christ shall come of the seede of Dauid, and out of the towne of Beth-leem, where Dauid was?

⁴³ So was there dissension among the people for him.

⁴⁴ And some of them would haue taken him, but no man layde handes on him.

⁴⁵ [Note: [17] God from heauen scorneth such as are his sonnes enemies. ] Then came the officers to the hie Priests and Pharises, and they said vnto them, Why haue ye not brought him?

⁴⁶ The officers answered, Neuer man spake like this man.

⁴⁷ Then answered them the Pharises, Are yee also deceiued?

⁴⁸ [Note: [18] False pastours are so fond and foolish, that they esteeme the Church of God according to the multitude and outward shewe. ] Doeth any of the rulers, or of the Pharises beleeue in him?

⁴⁹ But this people, which know not the Law, are cursed.

⁵⁰ Nicodemus said vnto them, ( [Note: Chapter 3.2. ] he that came to Iesus by night, and was one of them.)

⁵¹ Doth our Law iudge a man before it heare him, [Note: Deut.17.8 and 19.15. ] and knowe [Note: [n] What he hath committed, who is accused. ] what he hath done?

⁵² They answered, and said vnto him, Art thou also of Galile? Searche and looke: for out of Galile ariseth no Prophet.

⁵³ [Note: [19] There is no counsell against the Lord. ] And euery man wet vnto his owne house.

3 The woman taken in adulterie, 11 hath her sinnes forgiuen her. 12 Christ the light of the world. 19 The Pharises aske where his Father is. 39 The sonnes of Abraham. 42 The sonnes of God. 44 The deuill the father of lying. 56 Abraham sawe Christes day.

¹ And Iesus went vnto the mount of Oliues,

² And early in the morning came againe into the Temple, and all the people came vnto him, and he sate downe, and taught them.

³ [Note: [1] Whiles the wicked go about to make a snare for good men, they make a snare for themselues. ] Then the Scribes, & the Pharises brought vnto him a woman, taken in adulterie, and set her in the middes,

⁴ And said vnto him, Master, we foud this woman committing adulterie, euen in the very acte.

⁵ [Note: Leuit.20.10. ] Now Moses in our Law commanded, that such should be stoned: what sayest thou therefore?

⁶ And this they saide to tempt him, that they might haue, whereof to accuse him. But Iesus stouped downe, & with his finger wrote on the groud.

⁷ [Note: [2] Against hypocrites which are very seuere iudges against other men, and flatter themselues in their owne sinnes. ] And while they continued asking him, hee lift himselfe vp, and sayde vnto them, [Note: Deut.17.17. ] Let him that is among you without sinne, cast the first stone at her.
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⁸ And againe hee stouped downe, and wrote on the ground.

⁹ And when they heard it, being accused by their owne conscience, they went out one by one, beginning at ye eldest euen to the last: so Iesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the mids.

¹⁰ [Note: [3] Christ would not take vpon him the ciuill Magistrates office: hee contented himselfe to bring sinners to faith and repentance. ] When Iesus had lift vp himselfe againe, and sawe no man, but the woman, hee saide vnto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

¹¹ She said, No man, Lord. And Iesus said, Neither do I condemne thee: go and sinne no more.

¹² [Note: [4] The worlde which is blinde in it selfe, can not come to haue any light but in Christ onely. ] Then spake Iesus againe vnto them, saying, I [Note: Chap. 1.5.and 9.5. ] am that light of the worlde: hee that followeth mee, shall not walke in darkenes, but shall haue that light of life.

¹³ [Note: [5] Christ is without all exception, the best witnes of the trueth, for he was sent by his Father for that purpose, and was by him approued to the world by infinite miracles. ] The Pharises therefore saide vnto him, [Note: [a] Thou bearest witnes of thy selfe, which thing by all mens opinion is naught, and for a man to commende himselfe is very discommendable. ] Thou bearest recorde of thy selfe: thy recorde is not true.

¹⁴ [Note: Chap.5.31. ] Iesus answered, and sayde vnto them, [Note: [b] That which he denied afore, Chap. 5.31. must be taken by a maner of granting, for in that place hee framed himselfe somewhat to the humour of his hearers which acknowledged nothing in Christ but his humanitie, and therefore he was content they should set light by his owne witnes, vnleße it were otherwise confirmed. But in this place hee standeth for the maintenance of his Godhead, and praiseth his Father, who is his witnes, and agreeth with him. ] Though I beare recorde of my selfe, yet my recorde is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go: but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I goe.

¹⁵ Ye iudge after the flesh: I [Note: [c] I doe nowe onely teache you, I condemne no man: but yet if I lust to doe it, I might lawfully do it, for I am not alone, but my Father is with me. ] iudge no man.

¹⁶ And if I also iudge, my iudgement is true: for I am not alone, but I, and the Father, that sent mee.

¹⁷ And it is also written in your Lawe, [Note: Deut.17 6.and 19.15. mat.18.16. 2. cor.13.1. heb. 10.28. ] that the testimonie of two men is true.

¹⁸ [Note: [d] The Godhead is plainely distinguished from the manhode, else there were not two witnesses: for the partie accused is not taken for a witnes. ] I am one that beare witnes of my selfe, and the Father that sent me, beareth witnes of me.

¹⁹ [Note: [6] No man can know God, but in Christ onely. ] Then saide they vnto him, Where is that Father of thine? Iesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor that Father of mine. If ye had knowen me, ye should haue knowen that Father of mine also.

²⁰ These wordes spake Iesus in the [Note: [e] This was some place appointed for the gathering of the offrings. ] treasurie, as hee taught in the Temple, and no man layde handes on him: [Note: [7] We liue and die at the pleasure of God and not of men: Therefore this one thing remaineth that wee goe forwarde constantly in our vocation. ] for his houre was not yet come.

²¹ [Note: [8] Because that men doe naturally abhorre heauenly thinges, no man can be a fitte disciple of Christ, vnlesse the Spirite of God frame him: in the meane season notwithstanding, the worlde must of necessitie perish, because it refuseth the life that is offered vnto it. ] Then saide Iesus againe vnto them, I goe my way, and ye shal seeke me, and shal die in your sinnes, Whither I goe, can ye not come.

²² Then said the Iewes, Will he kill himselfe, because he saith, Whither I goe, can ye not come?

²³ And hee saide vnto them, Ye are from beneath, I am from aboue: ye are of this world, I am not of this worlde.

²⁴ I said therefore vnto you, That ye shall die in your sinnes: for except ye beleeue, that I am he, ye shall die in your sinnes.

²⁵ [Note: [9] He shall at the length know who Christ is, which will diligently heare, what he saith. ] Then saide they vnto him, Who art thou? And Iesus saide vnto them, Euen [Note: [f] That is, I am Christ, and the sauiour, for so I told you from the beginning that I was. ] the same thing that I said vnto you from the beginning.

²⁶ [Note: [10] God is the reuenger of Christes doctrine despised. ] I haue many things to say, & to iudge of you: but he that sent me, is true, & the things that I haue heard of him, those speake I to the world.

²⁷ [Note: [11] Euen the contempt of Christ maketh for his glory: which thing his enemies shall feele at length to their great smart. ] They vnderstoode not that hee spake to them of the Father.

²⁸ Then said Iesus vnto them, When ye haue lift vp the Sonne of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I doe nothing of my selfe, but as

my Father hath taught me, so I speake these things.

²⁹ For he that sent me, is with me: the Father hath not left me alone, because I do alwayes those things that please him.

³⁰ ¶ As hee spake these thinges, many beleeued in him.

³¹ [Note: [12] The true disciples of Christ continue in his doctrine, that profiting more & more in the knowledge of the trueth, they may be deliuered from the most grieuous burden of sinne, into the true libertie of righteousnesse and life. ] Then saide Iesus to the Iewes which beleeued in him, If ye continue in my worde, ye are verely my disciples,

³² And shall know the trueth, and the trueth shall [Note: [g] From the slauerie of sinne. ] make you free.

³³ [Note: [h] Some of the multitude, not they that beleeued: for this is not the speache of men that consent vnto him, but of men that are against him. ] They answered him, Wee be [Note: [i] Borne and begotten of Abraham. ] Abrahams seede, and were neuer bonde to any man: why sayest thou then, Ye shalbe made free?

³⁴ Iesus answered them, Verely, verely I say vnto you, that whosoeuer committeth sinne, is the [Note: Rom.6.20. 2 pet.2 19. ] seruant of sinne.

³⁵ And the seruant abideth not in the house for euer: but the Sonne abideth for euer.

³⁶ If that Sonne therefore shal make you free, ye shalbe free in deede.

³⁷ [Note: [13] Our wicked maners declare, that we are plainely borne of a deuilish nature: But we are changed, and made of the housholde of God, according to the couenant which hee made with Abraham by Christ only, apprehended and layde holde on by faith: which faith is knowen by a godly and honest life. ] I know that ye are Abrahams seede, but yee seeke to kill mee, because my worde hath no place in you.

³⁸ I speake that which I haue seene with my Father: and ye doe that which ye haue seene with your father.

³⁹ They answered, and saide vnto him, Abraham is our father. Iesus said vnto them, If ye were Abrahams children, ye woulde doe the workes of Abraham.

⁴⁰ But nowe ye goe about to kill mee, a man that haue told you the trueth, which I haue heard of God: this did not Abraham.

⁴¹ Ye do the workes of your father. Then said they to him, We are not borne of fornication: we haue one Father, which is God.

⁴² Therefore Iesus sayde vnto them, If God were your Father, then woulde ye loue mee: for I proceeded foorth, and came from God, neither came I of my selfe, but he sent me.

⁴³ Why doe ye not vnderstande my [Note: [k] Or, language, as though he said, you do no more vnderstand what I say, then if I spake in a strange and an vnknowen language to you. ] talke? because ye cannot heare my worde.

⁴⁴ [Note: 1.Iohn.3.8. ] Ye are of your father the deuill, and the lustes of your father ye will doe: hee hath bene a murtherer from the [Note: [l] From the beginning of the world: for as soone as man was made, the deuill cast him headlong into death. ] beginning, and [Note: [m] That is, continued not constantly, or remained not. ] abode not in the [Note: [n] That is, in faithfulnesse and vprightnesse, that is, he kept not his creation. ] trueth, because there is no trueth in him. When hee speaketh a lie, then speaketh hee of his [Note: [o] Euen of his owne head, & of his owne braine or dispositio. ] owne: for he is a liar, and the [Note: [p] The authour thereof. ] father thereof.

⁴⁵ And because I tell you the trueth, yee beleeue me not.

⁴⁶ [Note: [14] Christ did throughly execute the office, that his Father inioyned him. ] Which of you can rebuke me of sinne? and if I say the trueth, why do ye not beleeue me?

⁴⁷ [Note: 1.Ioh. 4.6. ] He that is of God, heareth Gods wordes: yee therefore heare them not, because ye are not of God.

⁴⁸ [Note: [15] The enemies of Christ make their brauerie for a while, but the Father will appeare at his time to reuenge the reproch that is done vnto him in the person of his sonne. ] Then answered the Iewes, and said vnto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritane, and hast a deuil?

⁴⁹ Iesus answered, I haue not a deuil, but I honour my Father, and ye haue dishonoured me.

⁵⁰ And I seeke not mine owne praise: but there is one [Note: [q] That is, that will reuenge both your despising of me, and of him. ] that seeketh it, and iudgeth.

⁵¹ [Note: [16] The only doctrine of the Gospell apprehended by faith, is a sure remedie against death. ] Verely, verely I say vnto you, If a man keepe my word, he shall neuer [Note: [r] That is, he shall not feele it: for euen in the midst of death, the faithfull see life. ] see death.


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⁵² [Note: [17] Against them which abuse the glory of ye Saints, to darken Christes glory. ] Then said the Iewes to him, Now know we that thou hast a deuill. Abraham is dead, and the Prophets: and thou sayest, If a man keepe my worde, he shall neuer taste of death.

⁵³ Art thou greater then our father Abraham, which is dead? and the Prophets are dead: whome makest thou thy selfe?

⁵⁴ [Note: [18] There is nothing farther off from all ambition then Christ, but his Father hath set him aboue all things. ] Iesus answered, If I honour my selfe, mine honour is [Note: [s] This is spoken by maner of a graunt: as if he had sayd, be it so, let this report which I giue of my selfe, be of no force: yet there is another that glorifieth me, that is, that honoureth my Name. ] nothing worth: it is my Father that honoureth me, whome ye say, that hee is your God.

⁵⁵ [Note: [19] There is no right knowledge of God, without Christ, neither any right knowledge of Christ without his worde. ] Yet ye haue not knowen him: but I knowe him, and if I should say I know him not, I should be a liar like vnto you: but I knowe him, and keepe his worde.

⁵⁶ [Note: [20] The vertue of Christ shewed it selfe through all former ages in the fathers, for they sawe in the promises, that he should come, and did very ioyfully lay holde of him with a liuely faith. ] Your father Abraham [Note: [t] Was very desirous. ] reioyced to see my [Note: [u] A day is a space that a man liueth in, or doeth any notable act, or suffereth any great thing. ] day, and he [Note: [x] With the eyes of faith, Heb.11.13. ] sawe it, and was glad.

⁵⁷ Then sayd ye Iewes vnto him, Thou art not yet fiftie yeere olde, & hast thou seene Abraham?

⁵⁸ Iesus sayd vnto them, Verely, verely I say vnto you, before Abraham was, I [Note: [y] Christ as he was God, was before Abraham: and hee was the Lambe slaine from the beginning of the worlde. ] am.

⁵⁹ [Note: [21] Zeale without knowledge, breaketh out at length into a most open madnes: and yet the wicked cannot doe what they list. ] Then tooke they vp stones, to cast at him, but Iesus hid himselfe, and went out of the Temple: And hee passed through the middes of them, and so went his way.

1 Christ giueth sight on the Sabbath day, to him that was borne blinde: 13 Whome, after hee had long reasoned against the Pharises, 22. 35 and was cast out of the Synagogue, 36 Christ endueth with the knowledge of the euerlasting light.

¹ And [Note: [1] Sinne is the beginning euen of all bodily diseases, and yet doth it not followe, that God alway respecteth their sinnes, whom he most sharply punisheth. ] as Iesus passed by, he sawe a man which was blinde from his birth.

² And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sinne, this man, or his parents, that he was borne blinde?

³ Iesus answered, [Note: [a] Christ reasoneth here, as his disciples thought, which presuppose that there come no diseases but for sinnes onely: whereupon be answereth that there was an other cause of this mans blindenes, and that was, that God his worke might be seene. ] Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents, but that the workes of God should be shewed on him.

⁴ [Note: [2] The workes of Christ, are as it were a light, which lighten the darkenesse of the world. ] I must worke the workes of him that sent me, while it is [Note: [b] By (day) is meant, the light, that is, the light some doctrine of the heauenly trueth: and by night is meant the darkenes which commeth by the obscuritie of the same doctrine. ] day: the night commeth when no man can worke.

⁵ As long as I am in the world, [Note: Chap.1.9. and 8.12. and 12.35. ] I am the light of the world.

⁶ [Note: [3] Christ healing the man borne blinde, by taking the signe of clay, and afterward the signe of the fountaine of Siloam (which signifieth Sent) sheweth that as he at ye beginning made man, so doeth he againe restore both his body and soule: and yet so, that hee himselfe commeth first of his owne accord to heale vs. ] Assoone as he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spettle, and anointed the eyes of the blinde with the clay,

⁷ And sayd vnto him, Go wash in the poole of Siloam (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came againe seeing.

⁸ [Note: [4] A true image of all men, who as they are of nature blinde, doe neither them selues receiue the light that is offered vnto them, nor suffer it in other, and yet make a great adoe amongst themselues. ] Nowe the neighbours and they that had seene him before, when he was blinde, sayd, Is not this he that sate and begged?

⁹ Some said, This is he: and other sayd, He is like him: but he himselfe sayd, I am he.

¹⁰ Therefore they sayd vnto him, Howe were

thine eyes [Note: [c] This is an Hebrewe kinde of speach, for they call a mans eyes shut, when they cannot receiue any light: And therefore they are sayde to haue their eyes opened, which of blinde men are made to see. ] opened?

¹¹ He answered, and sayd, The man that is called Iesus, made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and sayde vnto me, Goe to the poole of Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and receiued sight.

¹² Then they sayd vnto him, Where is he? He sayd, I can not tell.

¹³ ¶ They brought to the Pharises him that was once blinde.

¹⁴ And it was the Sabbath day, when Iesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.

¹⁵ Then againe the Pharises also asked him, how he had receiued sight. And hee sayd vnto them, He layd clay vpon mine eyes, & I washed, and doe see.

¹⁶ [Note: [5] Religion is not assaulted by any meanes more, then by pretence of Religion: but the more it is pressed downe, the more it riseth vp. ] Then said some of the Pharises, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath day. Others sayd, Howe can a man that is a sinner, doe such miracles? and there was a dissension among them.

¹⁷ Then spake they vnto the blinde againe, What sayest thou of him, because he hath opened thine eyes? And he sayd, He is a Prophet.

¹⁸ Then the Iewes did not beleeue him (that he had bene blinde, and receiued his sight) vntill they had called the parents of him that had receiued sight.

¹⁹ And they asked them, saying, Is this your sonne, whom ye say was borne blinde? How doeth he nowe see then?

²⁰ His parents answered them, and sayd, We know that this is our sonne, & that he was borne blinde:

²¹ But by what meanes hee nowe seeth, we know not: or who hath opened his eyes, can we not tell: he is olde ynough: aske him: hee shall answere for himselfe.

²² These wordes spake his parents, because they feared the Iewes: for the Iewes had ordeined already, that if any man did confesse that he was Christ, he should be excommunicate out of the Synagogue.

²³ Therefore sayde his parents, Hee is olde ynough: aske him.

²⁴ Then againe called they the man that had bene blinde, and sayd vnto him, [Note: [d] A solemne order, whereby men were constrained in olde time to acknowledge their fault before God, as if they should say, Consider thou art before God, who knoweth the whole matter, and therefore see thou reuerence his maiestie, & doe him this honour rather to confeße the whole matter openly, then to lie before him, Iosh.7.19. 1.Sam.6.5. ] Giue glory vnto God: we know that this man is a [Note: [e] He is called a sinner in the Hebrew tongue, which is a wicked man, and maketh as it were an arte of sinning. ] sinner.

²⁵ Then he answered, and sayd, Whether hee be a sinner or no, I can not tell: one thing I know, that I was blinde, and nowe I see.

²⁶ Then sayd they to him againe, What did he to thee? howe opened he thine eyes?

²⁷ Hee answered them, I haue tolde you already, and yee haue not heard it: wherefore would yee heare it againe? will yee also be his disciples?

²⁸ [Note: [6] Proude wickednes must needes at length breake forth, which in vaine lieth hid vnder a zeale of godlines. ] Then reuiled they him, and sayd, Be thou his disciple: we be Moses disciples.

²⁹ We know that God spake with Moses: but this man we know not from whence he is.

³⁰ The man answered, and sayde vnto them, Doutlesse, this is a marueilous thing, that ye know not whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.

³¹ Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him heareth he.

³² Since the world began, was it not heard, that any man opened the eyes of one that was borne blinde.
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³³ If this man were not of God, hee could haue done nothing.

³⁴ They answered, and sayd vnto him, [Note: [f] Thou art naught euen from thy cradle, and as we vse to say, there is nothing in thee but sinne. ] Thou art altogether borne in sinnes, and doest thou teach vs? so they cast him out.

³⁵ [Note: [7] Most happie is their state, which are cast furthest out of the Church of the wicked (which proudly boast themselues of the name of the Church) that Christ may come neerer to them. ] Iesus heard that they had cast him out: and when he had found him, he sayd vnto him, Doest thou beleeue in the Sonne of God?

³⁶ He answered, and sayd, Who is he, Lord, that I might beleeue in him?

³⁷ And Iesus sayd vnto him, Both thou hast seene him, and he it is that talketh with thee.

³⁸ Then he sayd, Lord, I beleeue, and worshipped him.

³⁹ [Note: [8] Christ doeth lighten all them by the preaching of the Gospel, which acknowledge their owne darkenes, but such as seeme to themselues to see clearely ynough, those he altogether blindeth: of which sort are they oftentimes, which haue the hiest place in the Church. ] And Iesus sayd, I am come vnto [Note: [g] With great power and authoritie, to doe what is righteous and iust: as if he said, these men take vpon them to gouerne the people of God after their owne lust, as though they sawe all things, and no man but they: but I will rule farre otherwise then these men doe: for whome they accompt for blinde men, them will I lighten, and such as take them selues to be wisest, them will I drowne in most große darkeneße of ignorance. ] iudgement into this world, that they [Note: [h] In these wordes (of seeing and not seeing) there is a secret taunting and checke to the Pharises: for they thought all men blinde but themselues. ] which see not, might see: and that they [Note: Chap.3.17. and 12.47. ] which see, might be made blinde.

⁴⁰ And some of the Pharises which were with him, heard these things, & sayd vnto him, Are we blinde also?

⁴¹ Iesus sayd vnto them, If ye were blinde, ye should not haue sinne: but nowe ye say, We see: therefore your sinne remaineth.

1 Christ proueth that the Pharises are the euill shepheards, 8 and by many reasons, that himselfe 11. 14 is the good shepheard: 19 And thereof dissension ariseth. 31 They take vp stones, 39 and goe about to take him, but he escapeth.

¹ Verely, [Note: [1] Seeing that by Christ onely we haue accesse to the Father, there are neither other true shepheards, then those which come to Christ them selues and bring other thither also, neither is any to be thought the true sheepefolde, but that which is gathered to Christ. ] verely I say vnto you, Hee that entreth not in by the doore into the sheepefolde, but climeth vp another way, he is a theefe and a robber.

² But he that goeth in by the doore, is the shepheard of the sheepe.

³ To him the [Note: [a] In those dayes they vsed to haue a seruant alwayes sitting at the doore, and therefore hee speaketh after the maner of those dayes. ] porter openeth, & the sheepe heare his voyce, and he calleth his owne sheepe by name, and leadeth them out.

⁴ And when hee hath sent foorth his owne sheepe, he goeth before them, and the sheepe follow him: for they know his voyce.

⁵ And they will not follow a stranger, but they flee from him: for they know not the voyce of strangers.

⁶ This [Note: [b] This word (parable) which the Euangelist vseth here, signifieth a darke kinde of speach, when words are taken from their naturall meaning, to signifie another thing to vs. ] parable spake Iesus vnto them: but they vnderstoode not what things they were which he spake vnto them.

⁷ Then sayd Iesus vnto them againe, Verely, verely I say vnto you, I am that doore of the sheepe.

⁸ [Note: [2] It maketh no matter, how many, neither how olde the false teachers haue bin. ] All, that [Note: [c] These large termes must be applied to the matter he speaketh of. And therefore when he calleth himselfe the doore, he calleth all them theeues and robbers which take vpon them this name of Doore, which none of the Prophets can, for they shewed the sheepe that Christ was the doore. ] euer came before me, are theeues and robbers: but the sheepe did not heare them.

⁹ [Note: [3] Only Christ is the true Pastor, and that only is the true Church, which ackowledgeth him to be properly their only Pastor: To him are opposite theeues which feede not the sheepe but kill them: and hirelings also, which forsake the flocke in time of danger, because they feede it onely for their owne profite & gaines. ] I am that doore: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saued, and shall [Note: [d] That is, shall liue safely: So vse the Iewes to speake, as Deut.26.6. and yet there is a peculiar alluding to the shepheards office. ] go in, and go out, and finde pasture.

¹⁰ The theefe commeth not, but for to steale, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might haue life, and haue it in abundance.

¹¹ [Note: Isai.40.11. ezek.34.23. ] I am that good shepheard: that good shepheard giueth his life for his sheepe.

¹² But an hireling, and hee which is not the shepheard, neither the sheepe are his owne, seeth the wolfe comming, and hee leaueth the sheepe, and fleeth, and the wolfe catcheth them, and scattreth the sheepe.

¹³ So the hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheepe.

¹⁴ I am that good shepheard, & knowe mine, and am knowen of mine.

¹⁵ As the Father [Note: [e] Loueth me, aloweth me. ] knoweth me, so know I the Father: and I lay downe my life for my sheepe.

¹⁶ [Note: [4] The calling of the Gentiles. ] Other sheepe I haue also, which are not of this folde: them also must I bring, and they shall heare my voyce: and [Note: Ezech.37.22. ] there shalbe [Note: [f] The certaine marke of the Catholike Church throughout all the world, which hath one head, that is Christ, the onely keeper, and onely shepheard of it. ] one sheepefolde, and one shepheard.

¹⁷ [Note: [5] Christ is by the decree of the Father, the only true shepheard of the true Church, for he willingly gaue his life for his sheepe, and by his owne power rose againe to life. ] Therefore doeth my Father loue me, because [Note: Isai.53.7. ] [Note: [g] Hee speaketh in the time that nowe is, because Christes whole life, was as it were a perpetuall death. ] I lay downe my life, that I might take it againe.

¹⁸ No man taketh it from me, but I lay it downe of my selfe: I haue power to lay it downe, and haue power to take it againe: this [Note: Actes 2.24. ] commandement haue I receiued of my Father.

¹⁹ ¶ [Note: [6] The Gospel discouereth hypocrisie, & therefore the world must needes rage when it commeth forth. ] Then there was a dissension againe among the Iewes for these sayings,

²⁰ And many of them sayd, He hath a deuill, and is mad: why heare ye him?

²¹ Other sayd, These are not the wordes of him that hath a deuill: can the deuill open the eyes of the blinde?

²² And it was at Hierusalem the feast of the [Note: [h] The feast of the Dedication was instituted by Iudas Maccabeus & his brethren, after the restoring of Gods true religion, by the casting out of Antiochus his garrison, 1.Mac.4.59. ] Dedication, and it was winter.

²³ [Note: [7] The vnbeleeuers and proude men, accuse the Gospel of darknes, which darknes in deede, is within themselues. ] And Iesus walked in the Temple, in Solomons porche.

²⁴ Then came the Iewes round about him, and sayd vnto him, Howe long doest thou make vs dout? If thou be that Christ, tell vs plainely.

²⁵ [Note: [8] The doctrine of the Gospel is proued from heauen by two witnesses: both by the puritie of the doctrine, and by miracles. ] Iesus answered them, I tolde you, and ye beleeue not: the workes that I doe in my Fathers Name, they beare witnes of me.

²⁶ [Note: [9] It is no maruell that there doe but a few beleeue, seeing that al men are by nature vntamed beastes: yet notwithstanding God hath his, which hee turneth into sheepe, and committeth them vnto his Sonne, and preserueth them against the crueltie of all wilde beastes. ] But ye beleeue not: [Note: [i] Hee giueth a reason why they beleeue not, to wit, because they are none of his sheepe. ] for ye are not of my sheepe, as I sayd vnto you.

²⁷ My sheepe heare my voyce, and I knowe them, and they follow me,

²⁸ And I giue vnto them eternall life, & they shall neuer perish, neither shall any plucke them out of mine hand.

²⁹ My Father which gaue them me, is greater then all, and none is able to take them out of my Fathers hand.

³⁰ I and my Father are one.

³¹ [Note: Chap. 8.59. ] [Note: [10] Christ proueth his dignitie by diuine workes. ] Then ye Iewes againe tooke vp stones, to stone him.

³² Iesus answered them, Many good workes haue I shewed you from my [Note: [k] Through my Fathers authoritie and power. ] Father: for which of these workes doe ye stone me?

³³ The Iewes answered him, saying, For the good worke we stone thee not, but for blasphemie, and that thou being a man, makest thy selfe God.

³⁴ Iesus answered them, Is it not written in your Lawe, [Note: Psalm.82.6. ] I sayd, Ye are gods?

³⁵ If hee called them gods, vnto whome the

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worde of God was giuen, and the Scripture cannot be [Note: [l] Voyde and of none effect. ] broken,
³⁶ Say ye of him, whome the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the worlde, Thou blasphemest, because I said, I am the Sonne of God?

³⁷ If I doe not the workes of my Father, beleeue me not.

³⁸ But if I doe, then though ye beleeue not mee, yet beleeue the workes, that ye may knowe and beleeue, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

³⁹ [Note: [11] Christ fleeth danger, not of mistrust, nor for feare of death, nor that he would be idle, but to gather a Church in an other place. ] Againe they went about to take him: but he escaped out of their handes,

⁴⁰ And went againe beyonde Iordan, into the place where Iohn first baptized, and there abode.

⁴¹ And many resorted vnto him, and saide, Iohn did no miracle: but all thinges that Iohn spake of this man, were true.

⁴² And many beleeued in him there.

1 Christ, to shewe that hee is 25 the life and the resurrection, 14 commeth to Lazarus being dead, 17. 34 and buried, 43 and raiseth him vp. 47 As the Priestes were consulting together, 49 Caiaphas 50 prophecieth that one must die for the people. 56. 57 They commaunde to seeke Christ out, and to take him.

¹ And [Note: [1] Christ in restoring the stinking carcase of his fried to life, sheweth an example both of his mighty power, and also of his singular good wil toward men: which is also an image of the resurrection to come. ] a certaine man was sicke, named Lazarus of Bethania, the [Note: [a] Where his sisters dwelt. ] towne of Marie, and her sister Martha.

² (And it was that [Note: Ch.12.3. mat.26.7. ] Mary which anointed the Lord with oyntment, and wiped his feete with her heare, whose brother Lazarus was sicke.)

³ Therefore his sisters sent vnto him, saying, Lord, beholde, he whome thou louest, is sicke.

⁴ When Iesus heard it, he saide, This sickenes is not vnto [Note: [b] That is to say, sent for the purpose to kill him. ] death, but for the glorie of God, that the Sonne of God might be glorified thereby.

⁵ ¶ Nowe Iesus loued Martha and her sister, and Lazarus.

⁶ [Note: [2] In that, that God seemeth sometimes to linger in helping of vs, hee doth it both for his glory, and for our saluation, as the falling out of the matter in the ende, plainely proueth. ] And after he had heard that he was sicke, yet abode hee two dayes still in the same place where he was.

⁷ Then after that, said he to his disciples, Let vs goe into Iudea againe.

⁸ [Note: [3] This only is the sure and right way to life, to folowe God boldly without feare, who calleth vs and shineth before vs in ye darknes of this world. ] The disciples saide vnto him, Master, the Iewes lately sought to [Note: Chap.7.30. and 8.59. and 10.33. ] stone thee, and doest thou goe thither againe?

⁹ Iesus answered, Are there not [Note: [c] All things are fitly wrought and brought to passe in their season. ] twelue houres in the day? If a man walke in the day, hee stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.

¹⁰ But if a man walke in the night, hee stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

¹¹ These things spake he, and after, he said vnto them, Our friend Lazarus [Note: [d] The Iewes vsed a milder kinde of speach, and called death a sleepe, wherupon in other languages the place of buriall where the dead are layde waiting for the resurrection, is called a sleeping place. ] sleepeth: but I goe to wake him vp.

¹² Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleepe, he shalbe safe.

¹³ Howbeit, Iesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of the naturall sleepe.

¹⁴ Then saide Iesus vnto them plainely, Lazarus is dead.

¹⁵ And I am glad for your sakes, that I was not there, that ye may beleeue: but let vs go vnto him.

¹⁶ Then saide Thomas (which is called Didymus) vnto his felow disciples, Let vs also goe, that we may die with him.

¹⁷ ¶ Then came Iesus, and found that he had lien in the graue foure dayes alreadie.

¹⁸ (Nowe Bethania was neere vnto Hierusalem, about fifteene furlongs off.)

¹⁹ [Note: [4] God who is the maker of nature, doeth not condemne naturall affections, but sheweth that they ought to be examined by the rule of faith. ] And many of ye Iewes were come to Martha

and Marie to comfort them for their brother.

²⁰ Then Martha, when shee heard that Iesus was comming, went to meete him: but Mary sate still in the house.

²¹ Then said Martha vnto Iesus, Lord, if thou hadst bene here, my brother had not bene dead.

²² But now I know also, that whatsoeuer thou askest of God, God will giue it thee.

²³ Iesus said vnto her, Thy brother shall [Note: [e] That is, shall recouer life againe. ] rise againe.

²⁴ Martha said vnto him, I know that he shall rise againe [Note: Chap.5.29. luke 14.14. ] in the resurrection at the last day.

²⁵ Iesus saide vnto her, I am the resurrection and the life: [Note: Chap.6.35. ] he that beleeueth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he liue.

²⁶ And whosoeuer liueth, and beleeueth in me, shall neuer die: Beleeuest thou this?

²⁷ She said vnto him, Yea, Lord, I beleeue that thou art that Christ that Sonne of God, which should come into the world.

²⁸ ¶ And when she had so saide, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

²⁹ And when she heard it, shee arose quickly, and came vnto him.

³⁰ For Iesus was not yet come into the towne, but was in the place where Martha met him.

³¹ The Iewes then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they sawe Marie, that she rose vp hastily, & went out, folowed her, saying, She goeth vnto the graue, to weepe there.

³² Then when Mary was come where Iesus was, and sawe him, she fell downe at his feete, saying vnto him, Lord, if thou haddest bene here, my brother had not bene dead.

³³ [Note: [5] Christ tooke vpon him together with our flesh, all affections of man (sinne onely excepted) and amongst them especially, mercie and compassion. ] When Iesus therefore saw her weepe, and the Iewes also weepe which came with her, hee [Note: [f] These are tokens that he was greatly mooued, but yet they were without sinne: and these affections are proper to mans nature. ] groned in the spirit, and was troubled in himselfe,

³⁴ And saide, Where haue ye layde him? They said vnto him, Lord, come and see.

³⁵ And Iesus wept.

³⁶ Then saide the Iewes, Beholde, how he loued him.

³⁷ And some of them saide, [Note: Chap.9.6. ] Coulde not he, which opened the eyes of the blinde, haue made also, that this man should not haue died?

³⁸ Iesus therefore againe groned in himselfe, and came to the graue. And it was a caue, and a stone was layde vpon it.

³⁹ Iesus saide, Take ye away the stone. Martha the sister of him that was dead, said vnto him, Lorde, he stinketh alreadie: for he hath bene dead foure dayes.

⁴⁰ Iesus saide vnto her, Saide I not vnto thee, that if thou diddest beleeue, thou shouldest see the glorie of God?

⁴¹ Then they tooke away the stone from the place where the dead was layde. And Iesus lift vp his eyes, and saide, Father, I thanke thee, because thou hast heard me.

⁴² I knowe that thou hearest me alwayes, but because of the people that stand by, I said it, that they may beleeue, that thou hast sent me.

⁴³ As hee had spoken these things, hee cried with a loude voyce, Lazarus, come foorth.

⁴⁴ Then he that was dead, came forth, bound hande and foote with bandes, and his face was bound with a napkin. Iesus said vnto them, Loose him, and let him goe.

⁴⁵ ¶ Then many of the Iewes, which came to [Page]

Mary, and had seene the thinges, which Iesus did, beleeued in him.

⁴⁶ [Note: [6] The last point of hard and yronlike stubburnes is this, to proclaime open warre against God, and yet ceaseth not to make a pretence both of godlines, and of the profite of the common wealth. ] But some of them went their way to the Pharises, & told them what things Iesus had done.

⁴⁷ Then gathered the hie Priests, & the Pharises a [Note: [g] The Iewes called this councill Sanhedrin: and the word that Iohn vseth, is Synedri. ] councill, and said, What shall we doe? For this man doeth many miracles.

⁴⁸ If we let him thus alone, all men will beleeue in him, and the Romanes will come and [Note: [h] That is, take away from vs by force: For at that time, though the high Priests authoritie was greatly leßened and decayed, yet there was some kinde of gouernement left among the Iewes. ] take away both our place, and the nation.

⁴⁹ [Note: [7] The raging and mad companie of the false Church, perswade themselues that they cannot be in safetie, vnlesse he be taken away, who onely vpholdeth the Church: And so likewise iudgeth the wisdome of the flesh in worldly affaires, which is gouerned by the spirit of giddinesse or madnesse. ] Then one of them named Caiaphas, which was the hie Priest that same yere, said vnto them, Ye perceiue nothing at all,

⁵⁰ [Note: Chap.18.14. ] Nor yet doe you consider that it is expedient for vs, that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

⁵¹ [Note: [8] Christ doeth sometimes so turne the tongues, euen of the wicked, that euen in cursing, they blesse. ] This spake hee not of himselfe: but being hie Priest that same yere, he prophecied that Iesus should die for that nation:

⁵² And not for that nation onely, but that he shoulde gather together in one the children of God, which [Note: [i] For they were not gathered together in one countrey, as the Iewes were, but to be gathered from all quarters, from the East to the West. ] were scattered.

⁵³ Then from that day foorth they consulted together, to put him to death.

⁵⁴ [Note: [9] We may giue place to the rage of the wicked, when it is expedient so to do, but yet in such sort, that we swarue not from Gods vocation. ] Iesus therefore walked no more openly among the Iewes, but went thence vnto a countrey neere to the wildernes, into a citie called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

⁵⁵ ¶ And the Iewes Passeouer was at hande, and many went out of the countrey vp to Hierusalem before the Passeouer, to purifie themselues.

⁵⁶ Then sought they for Iesus, and spake among themselues, as they stoode in the Temple, What thinke ye, that he cometh not to the feast?

⁵⁷ Nowe both the hie Priestes and the Pharises had giuen a commaundement, that if any man knew where he were, he should shewe it, that they might take him.

2 As Christ is at supper with Lazarus, 3 Marie anoynteth his feete. 5 Iudas findeth fault with her. 7 Christ defendeth her. 10 The Priestes would put Lazarus to death. 12 As Christ commeth to Hierusalem, 18 the people meete him. 20 The Grecians desire to see him. 42 The chiefe Rulers that beleeue in him, but for feare doe not confesse him, 44 hee exhorteth to faith.

¹ Then [Note: Chap.26.77. marke 14.3. ] Iesus, sixe dayes before the Passeouer, came to Bethania, where Lazarus was, who died, whom he had raised from the dead.

² There they made him a supper, and Martha serued: but Lazarus was one of them that sate at the table with him.

³ Then tooke Mary a pound of oyntment of Spikenarde very costly, and anoynted Iesus feete, and wiped his feete with her heare, and the house was filled with the sauour of the oyntment.

⁴ Then said one of his disciples, euen Iudas Iscariot Simons sonne, which should betray him:

⁵ [Note: [1] An horrible example in Iudas of a minde blinded with couetousnes, and yet pretending godlinesse. ] Why was not this oyntment sold for three hundreth pence, and giuen to the poore?

⁶ Nowe he said this, not that he cared for the poore, but because hee was a theefe, and [Note: Chap.13.29. ] had the bagge, and bare that which was giuen.

⁷ [Note: [2] This extraordinarie anoynting which was for a signe, is so allowed of God, that hee witnesseth how he will not be worshipped with outward pompe, or costly seruice, but with almes. ] Then said Iesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying she kept it.

⁸ For the poore alwayes yee haue with you, but me ye shall not haue alwayes.

⁹ [Note: [3] When the light of the Gospell sheweth it selfe, some are founde to be curious, and others (which least ought) to be open enemies: others in a rage honour him, whome they will straightway fall from: and very fewe doe so reuerently receiue him as they ought: Notwithstanding Christ beginneth his spirituall kingdome in the mids of his enemies. ] Then much people of the Iewes knewe that hee was there: and they came, not for Iesus sake onely, but that they might see Lazarus also, whome he had raysed from the dead.

¹⁰ The hie Priestes therefore consulted, that they might put Lazarus to death also,

¹¹ Because that for his sake many of the Iewes went away, and beleeued in Iesus.

¹² ¶ [Note: Matth.21.8. marke 11.8. luke 19.35. ] On the morowe a great multitude that were come to the feast, when they heard that Iesus should come to Hierusalem,

¹³ Tooke branches of palme trees, and went foorth to meete him, and cried, Hosanna, Blessed is the King of Israel that commeth in the Name of the Lorde.

¹⁴ And Iesus found a yong asse, and sate thereon, as it is written,

¹⁵ [Note: Zech.9.9. ] Feare not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King commeth sitting on an asses colte.

¹⁶ But his disciples vnderstoode not these thinges at the first: but when Iesus was glorified, then remembred they, that these thinges were written of him, and that they had done these things vnto him.

¹⁷ The people therefore that was with him, bare witnesse that hee called Lazarus out of the graue, and raised him from the dead.

¹⁸ Therefore mette him the people also, because they heard that he had done this miracle.

¹⁹ [Note: [4] Euen they which goe about to oppresse Christ, are made instruments of his glory. ] And the Pharises said among themselues, Perceiue ye howe ye preuaile nothing? Beholde, the worlde goeth after him.

²⁰ ¶ Nowe there were certaine Greekes among them that [Note: [a] After the solemne custome: the Grecians were first so called by the name of the countrey of Greece, where they dwelt: but afterward, all that were not of the Iewes religion, but worshipped false gods, and were also called Heathens, were called by this name. ] came vp to worship at the feast.

²¹ And they came to Philippe, which was of Bethsaida in Galile, and desired him, saying, Syr, we would see that Iesus.

²² Philippe came and tolde Andrewe: and againe Andrewe and Philippe tolde Iesus.

²³ And Iesus answered them, saying, The houre is come, that the Sonne of man must bee glorified.

²⁴ [Note: [5] The death of Christ is as it were a sowing, which seemeth to be a dying to the corne, but in deede is the cause of a farre greater haruest: and such as is the condition of the head, so shall it be of the members. ] Verely, verely I say vnto you, Except the wheate corne fall into the grounde and [Note: [b] A wheate corne dyeth when it is changed by vertue of the ground, and becommeth a roote of a fruitefull blade. ] die, it bideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth foorth much fruite.

²⁵ [Note: Matth.10.39. and 16.25. marke 8.35. luke 9.24. and 17.33. ] He that loueth his life, shall lose it, and he that hateth his life in this world, shall keepe it vnto life eternall.

²⁶ [Note: Chap.17.34. ] If any man serue me, let him followe me: for where I am, there shall also my seruant be: and if any man serue me, him will my Father honour.

²⁷ [Note: [6] Whilest Christ went about to suffer all the punishment which is due to our sinnes, and whilest his diuinitie did not yet shewe his might and power so farre, as this satisfaction might be throughly wrought, nowe, when he is striken with the great feare of the curse of God, he cryeth out and prayeth, and desireth to be released: yet notwithstanding hee preferreth the will and glory of his Father before all thinges, whose obedience the Father alloweth euen from heauen. ] Now is my soule troubled: and what shall I say? Father, saue me from this [Note: [c] To wit, of death that is nowe at hande. ] houre: but therefore came I vnto this houre.

²⁸ Father, [Note: [d] So then, the Fathers glorie is Christ his glorie. ] glorifie thy Name. Then came there a voyce from heauen, saying, I haue both glorified it, and will glorifie it againe.

²⁹ Then saide the people that stoode by, and heard, that it was a thunder: other said, An Angel spake to him.

³⁰ [Note: [7] Christ foretelleth to the deafe, the maner of his death, the ouercomming of the deuill and the worlde, and in conclusion his triumphe. ] Iesus answered, and said, This voyce came not because of me, but for your sakes.

³¹ Now is the iudgement of this world: nowe shall the prince of this world be cast out.


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³² [Note: Chap.3.14. ] And I, if I were [Note: [e] Christ vsed a worde, which hath a double meaning, for it signifieth either to lift vp, or to rid out of the way: for his meaning was to put them in minde of his death, but the Iewes seeme to take it another way. ] lift vp from the earth, will drawe [Note: [f] Chrysost. and Theophyl referre this worde, All, to all nations: that is, not to the Iewes onely. ] all men vnto me.

³³ Nowe this sayd he, signifying what death he should die.

³⁴ The people answered him, We haue heard out of the [Note: Psal.89.36. and 110.4. and 117.2. isai 40.8. ezech. 37.25. ] Law, that that Christ bideth for euer: and howe sayest thou, that that Sonne of man must be lift vp? Who is that Sonne of man?

³⁵ [Note: [8] Vnmeasurable is the mercie of God, but an horrible iudgement foloweth, if it be contemned. ] Then Iesus sayd vnto them, Yet a litle while is [Note: Chap.1.9. ] the light with you: walke while ye haue that light, lest the darkenes come vpon you: for hee that walketh in the darke, knoweth not whither he goeth.

³⁶ While ye haue that light, beleeue in that light, that ye may be the [Note: [g] That is, partakers of light. ] children of the light. These things spake Iesus, and departed, and hid himselfe from them.

³⁷ ¶ [Note: [9] Faith is not of nature, but of grace. ] And though he had done so many miracles before them, yet beleeued they not on him,

³⁸ That the saying of Esaias the Prophete might be fulfilled, that he sayd, [Note: Isai.53.1. rom.10.16. ] Lord, who beleeued our report? and to whome is the [Note: [h] The arme of the Lord, is the Gospel, which is, the power of God to saluation to all that beleeue: And therefore the arme of the Lord is not reueiled to them, whose hearts the Lord hath not opened. ] arme of the Lord reueiled?

³⁹ Therefore could they not beleeue, because that Esaias saith againe,

⁴⁰ [Note: Isai.6.9. matt. 13.14. mar.4.12. luke 8.10. acts. 28.26. rom.11.8. ] He hath blinded their eyes, and hardned their heart, that they shoulde not see with their eyes, nor vnderstand with their heart, and should be conuerted, and I should heale them.

⁴¹ These things sayd Esaias when he sawe his glory, and spake of him.

⁴² [Note: [10] Such as beleeue, are not only fewe in nomber, if they be compared with the vnbeleeuers, but also the most of those fewe (yea and that especially the chiefest) doe feare men more then God. ] Neuertheles, euen among the chiefe rulers, many beleeued in him: but because of the Pharises they did not confesse him, least they should be cast out of the Synagogue.

⁴³ [Note: Chap.5.44. ] For they loued the prayse of men, more then the prayse of God.

⁴⁴ [Note: [11] The summe of the Gospel, and therefore of saluation, which Christ witnessed in the middest of Hierusalem by his crying out, is this: to rest vpon Christ, through fayth, as the onely Sauiour appointed and giuen vs of the Father. ] And Iesus cryed, and sayd, He that beleeueth in me, beleeueth [Note: [i] This worde, Not, doeth not take any whit of this from Christ which is here spoken of, but is in way of correction rather, as if he sayd, He that beleeueth in me, doeth not so much beleeue in me, as in him that sent mee. So is it in Marke 9.37. ] not in me, but in him that sent me.

⁴⁵ And he that seeth me, seeth him that sent me.

⁴⁶ I [Note: Chap.3.19. and 9.39. ] am come a light into the world, that whosoeuer beleeueth in me, should not abide in darkenes.

⁴⁷ [Note: Chap.3.17. ] And if any man heare my wordes, and beleeue not, I iudge him not: for I came not to iudge the world, but to saue the world.

⁴⁸ He that refuseth me, and receiueth not my wordes, hath one that iudgeth him: [Note: Mar.16.16. ] the worde that I haue spoken, it shall iudge him in the last day.

⁴⁹ For I haue not spoken of my selfe: but the Father which sent me, hee gaue me a commaundement what I should say, and what I should speake.

⁵⁰ And I knowe that his commaundement is life euerlasting: the thinges therefore that I speake, I speake them so as the Father sayde vnto me.

4 Christ rising from supper, 15 to commend humilitie to his Apostles, washeth their feete. 21 Hee noteth the traitour Iudas 26 with an euident token. 34 He commendeth charitie. 37. 39 He foretelleth Peter of his deniall.

¹ Nowe [Note: Matth.26.2. marke 14.1. luke 22.1. ] [Note: [1] Christ no lesse certaine of the victorie, then of the combate which was at hand, vsing the signe of washing the feete, doeth partly thereby giue an example of singular modestie, and his great loue toward his Apostles in this notable act, being like very shortly to depart from them: and partly witnesseth vnto them, that it is he only which washeth away the filth of his people, and that by litle and litle, in their time and season. ] before the feast of the Passeouer, when Iesus knewe that his houre was come, that he should depart out of this world vnto the Father, forasmuch as he loued his [Note: [a] Them of his housholde, that is, his Saints. ] owne which were in the world, vnto the end he loued them.

² And when supper was done (and that the deuill had now put in the heart of Iudas Iscariot, Simons sonne, to betray him)

³ Iesus knowing that the Father had giuen all things into his [Note: [b] Into his power. ] hands, and that he was come forth from God, and went to God,

⁴ He [Note: [c] In that he is said to rise, it argueth that there was a space betweene the ceremonie of the Paßeouer, and this washing of feete, at what time it seemeth that the Supper was instituted. ] riseth from supper, and layeth aside his vpper garments, and tooke a towel, and girded himselfe.

⁵ After that, hee powred water into a basen, and began to wash the disciples feete, and to wipe them with the towell, wherewith he was girded.

⁶ Then came he to Simon Peter, who sayd to him, Lord, doest thou wash my feete?

⁷ Iesus answered and sayd vnto him, What I doe, thou knowest not nowe: but thou shalt knowe it hereafter.

⁸ Peter said vnto him, Thou shalt neuer wash my feete. Iesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou shalt haue [Note: [d] Vnleße thou suffer mee to wash thee, thou shalt haue no part in the kingdome of heauen. ] no part with me.

⁹ Simon Peter sayd vnto him, Lord, not my feete onely, but also the hands and the head.

¹⁰ Iesus sayd to him, He that is washed, needeth not, saue to wash his feete, but is cleane euery whit: and ye are [Note: Chap.15.3. ] cleane, but not all.

¹¹ For hee knewe who should betray him: therefore sayd he, Ye are not all cleane.

¹² ¶ So after he had washed their feete, and had taken his garments, and was set downe againe, he sayd vnto them, Knowe ye what I haue done to you?

¹³ Ye call me Master, and Lorde, and ye say well: for so am I.

¹⁴ If I then your Lorde, and Master, haue washed your feete, ye also ought to wash one an others feete.

¹⁵ For I haue giuen you an example, that ye should doe, euen as I haue done to you.

¹⁶ Verely, verely I say vnto you, [Note: Chap.15.20. matth.10.24. luke 6.40. ] The seruant is not greater then his master, neither the [Note: The word signifieth an Apostle, which is any one that is sent from another. ] ambassadour greater then he that sent him.

¹⁷ If ye know these things, blessed are ye, if ye doe them.

¹⁸ ¶ [Note: [2] The betraying of Christ was not casuall, or a thing that happened by chaunce, but the Father so ordeined the cause of our saluation, to reconcile vs vnto himselfe in his Sonne, and the Sonne did willingly and voluntarily obey the Father. ] I speake not of you all: I know whom I haue chosen: but it is that the Scripture might be fulfilled, [Note: Psalm.41 9. ] He that eateth bread with me, hath lift vp his heele against me.

¹⁹ From henceforth tell I you before it come, that when it is come to passe, ye might beleeue that I am he.

²⁰ [Note: Matth.10.40. luke 10.16. ] Verely, verely I say vnto you, If I send any, he that receiueth him, receiueth me, and hee that receiueth me, receiueth him that sent me.

²¹ When Iesus had sayd these things, he was troubled in the Spirit, and [Note: [e] Hee affirmed it openly and soothed it. ] testified, and said, Verely, verely I say vnto you, that one of you shall betray me.

²² [Note: Matth.26.21. marke 14.18. luke 22.21. ] Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.

²³ Nowe there was one of his disciples, which [Note: [f] Iohn his leaning was such, that sitting downe in his bed, his head was towarde Iesus his head: so that it was an easie matter for him to touch Iesus his bosome: for it is certaine that in olde time men vsed not to sit at the table, but to lie downe on the one side. ] leaned on Iesus bosome, whom Iesus loued.
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²⁴ To him beckened therefore Simon Peter, that he should aske who it was of whom he spake.

²⁵ He then, as he leaned on Iesus breast, saide vnto him, Lord, who is it?

²⁶ Iesus answered, He it is, to whome I shall giue a soppe, when I haue dipt it: and hee wet a soppe, and gaue it to Iudas Iscariot, Simons sonne.

²⁷ And after the soppe, Satan entred into him. Then sayd Iesus vnto him, That thou doest, doe quickly.

²⁸ But none of them that were at table, knew, for what cause he spake it vnto him.

²⁹ For some of them thought because Iudas had the bag, that Iesus had sayd vnto him, Buy those things that we haue neede of against ye feast: or that he should giue some thing to the poore.

³⁰ Assoone then as he had receiued the soppe, he went immediately out, and it was night.

³¹ ¶ [Note: [3] We haue to consider the glorifying of Christ in his ignominie. ] When hee was gone out, Iesus sayd, [Note: [g] This verse and the next folowing, are a most plaine and euident testimonie of the diuinitie of Christ. ] Nowe is the Sonne of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.

³² If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorifie him in himselfe, and shal straightway glorifie him.

³³ [Note: [4] The eternall glory shall flowe by litle and litle from the head into the members. But in the meane time, we must take good heede, that we passe ouer the race of this life in brotherly loue. ] Litle children, yet a litle while am I with you: ye shall seeke me, but as I sayde vnto the [Note: Chap.7.34. ] Iewes, Whither I goe, can ye not come: also to you say I nowe,

³⁴ [Note: Leuit.19.18. matt.22.39. chap.15.12. 1.iohn 4.21. ] A newe commaundement giue I vnto you, that ye loue one another: as I haue loued you, that ye also loue one another.

³⁵ By this shall all men knowe that ye are my disciples, if ye haue loue one to another.

³⁶ [Note: [5] An heauie example of rash trust and confidence. ] Simon Peter said vnto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Iesus answered him, Whither I goe, thou canst not follow me nowe: but thou shalt followe me afterward.

³⁷ Peter sayd vnto him, Lord, why can I not followe thee now? [Note: Matth.26.33. marke 14.29. luke 22.33. ] I will lay downe my life for thy sake.

³⁸ Iesus answered him, Wilt thou lay downe thy life for my sake? Verely, verely I say vnto thee, The cocke shall not crowe, till thou haue denied me thrise.

1 He comforteth his disciples, 2. 7 declaring his diuinitie and the fruite of his death, 16 promising the comforter, 17 euen the holy Spirit, 26 whose office he setteth out. 27 Hee promiseth his peace.

¹ Let [Note: [1] He beleeueth in God that beleeueth in Christ, and there is no other way to confirme our mindes in greatest distresses. ] not your heart be troubled: ye beleeue in God, beleeue also in me.

² In my Fathers house are many dwelling places: if it were not so, [Note: [a] That is, if it were not so as I tell you, to wit, vnleße there were place ynough not onely for me but for you also, in my Fathers house, I woulde not thus deceiue you with a vaine hope, but I woulde haue tolde you so, plainely. ] I would haue tolde you: I go to [Note: [b] All this speach is by way of an allegorie, whereby the Lord comforteth his owne, declaring to them his departure into heauen, which is, not to reigne there alone, but to goe before and prepare a place for them. ] prepare a place for you.

³ [Note: [2] Christ went not away from vs, to the ende to forsake vs, but rather that he might at length take vs vp with him into heauen. ] And if I go to prepare a place for you, I wil [Note: [c] These wordes are to be referred to the whole Church, and therefore the Angels said to the disciples when they were astonished, What stand you gasing vp into heauen? This Iesus shal so come as you sawe him go vp, Act.1.11. and in all places of the Scripture, the full comfort of the Church is referred to that day when God shall be all in all, and is therefore called the day of redemption. ] come againe, and receiue you vnto my selfe, that where I am, there may ye be also.

⁴ [Note: [3] Christ only is the way to true & euerlasting life, for he it is in whom the Father hath reueiled him selfe. ] And whither I go, ye know, and the way ye knowe.

⁵ Thomas sayd vnto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest: how ca we then know ye way?

⁶ Iesus sayd vnto him, I am [Note: [d] This saying sheweth vnto vs both the nature, the will and office of Christ. ] that Way, and that Trueth, and that Life. No man commeth vnto the Father, but by me.

⁷ [Note: [e] It is playne by this place, that to knowe God, and to see God, is all one: Nowe where as he sayd before, that no man sawe God at any time, that is to be vnderstood thus, without Christ: or were it not through Christ, no ma could euer see, nor sawe, God at any time: for as Chrysostome sayth, the Sonne, is a very short and easie setting forth of the fathers nature to vs. ] If ye had knowen mee, ye should haue knowen my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and haue seene him.

⁸ Philippe sayd vnto him, Lord, shewe vs thy Father, and it sufficeth vs.

⁹ Iesus sayd vnto him, I haue bene so long time with you, and hast thou not knowen mee, Philippe? he that hath seene me, hath seene my Father: how then sayest thou, Shewe vs thy Father?

¹⁰ [Note: [4] The maiestie of God sheweth it selfe most euidently, both in Christes doctrine and deedes. ] Beleeuest thou not, that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? The wordes that I speake vnto you, I speake not of my selfe: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the workes.

¹¹ Beleeue me, that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me: at the least, beleeue me for the very workes sake.

¹² [Note: [5] The approuing of the vertue of Christ is not included within his owne person, but it is spread thorow the body of his whole Church. ] Verely, verely I say vnto you, he that beleeueth in me, the workes that I doe, hee shall doe also, and [Note: [f] That is, not I only doe them, but I can also giue other men power to doe greater. ] greater then these shall he doe: for I goe vnto my Father.

¹³ [Note: Chap.16.23. mat.7.7. mar.11. 24. iames 1.5. ] And whatsoeuer ye aske in my Name, that will I doe, that the Father may be glorified in the Sonne.

¹⁴ If ye shall aske any thing in my Name, I will doe it.

¹⁵ [Note: [6] Hee loueth Christ aright, which obeyeth his commaundements: and because the same is accompanied with an infinite sort of miseries, although hee be absent in body, yet doeth he comfort his with the present vertue of the holy Ghost, whome the world despiseth, because it knoweth him not. ] If ye loue me, keepe my comandements,

¹⁶ And I wil pray the Father, and he shal giue you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for euer,

¹⁷ Euen the [Note: [g] The holy Ghost is called the Spirit of trueth, of the effect which he worketh, because he inspireth the trueth into vs, whereas otherwise he hath trueth in himselfe. ] Spirit of trueth, whome the [Note: [h] Worldly men. ] world can not receiue, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye knowe him: for he dwelleth with you, and shalbe in you.

¹⁸ I will not leaue you fatherles: but I will come to you.

¹⁹ Yet a litle while, and the world shal see me no more, but ye shall see me: because I liue, ye shall liue also.

²⁰ At that day shall ye knowe that I am [Note: [i] The Sonne is in the Father after such sort, that he is of one selfe same substance with the Father, but he is in his disciples in a certaine respect as an ayder and helper of them. ] in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

²¹ He that hath my commandements, & keepeth them, is he that loueth me: and he that loueth me, shall be loued of my Father: and I will loue him, & wil [Note: [k] I wil shew my selfe to him, and be knowen of him, as if he saw me with his eyes: but this shewing of himselfe is not bodily, but spiritually, yet so plaine as none can be more. ] shewe mine owne selfe to him.

²² [Note: [7] We must not aske why the Gospel is reueiled to some rather then to other, but we must rather take heede, that we embrace Christ who is offered vnto vs, and that we truely loue him, that is to say, that we giue our selues wholy to his obedience. ] Iudas sayd vnto him (not Iscariot) Lorde, what is the cause that thou wilt shewe thy selfe vnto vs, and not vnto the world?

²³ Iesus answered, and sayd vnto him, If any man loue me, he will keepe my worde, and my Father will loue him, and we wil come vnto him, and wil dwell with him.

²⁴ He that loueth me not, keepeth not my wordes, & the worde which ye heare, is not mine, but the Fathers which sent me.

²⁵ [Note: [8] It is the office of the holy Ghost to imprint in the mindes of the elect in their times and seasons, that which Christ once spake. ] These things haue I spoken vnto you, being present with you.

²⁶ [Note: Chap.15.26. ] But the Comforter, which is the holy Ghost, whom the Father wil send in my Name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, which I haue tolde you.


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²⁷ [Note: [9] All true felicitie commeth to vs by Christ alone. ] Peace I leaue with you: my peace I giue vnto you: not as the worlde giueth, giue I vnto you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor feare.

²⁸ [Note: [10] So farre is it, that we should be sorie for the departing of Christ from vs according to the flesh, that we should rather reioyce for it, seeing that al the blessing of the members dependeth vpon the glorifying of the head. ] Ye haue heard howe I saide vnto you, I goe away, and will come vnto you. If ye loued me, ye would verely reioyce, because I said, I goe vnto the Father: for the Father is [Note: [l] This is spoken in that, that he is Mediator, for so the Father is greater then he, in as much as the person to whom request is made, is greater then he that maketh the request. ] greater then I.

²⁹ And nowe haue I spoken vnto you, before it come, that when it is come to passe, ye might beleeue.

³⁰ [Note: [11] Christ goeth to death, not vnwillingly, but willingly, not as yeelding to the deuill, but obeying his Fathers decree. ] Hereafter will I not speake many things vnto you: for the prince of this world commeth, and hath [Note: [m] As who woulde say, Satan will by and by set vpon me with all the might he can, but he hath no power ouer me, neither shall he finde any such thing in me as he thinketh he shall. ] nought in me.

³¹ But it is that the world may knowe that I loue my Father: and as the Father hath commanded me, so I doe. Arise, let vs goe hence.

1 By the parable of the vine, 2 and the branches, 5. 6 he declareth howe the disciples may beare fruite. 12. 17 He commendeth mutuall loue. 18 He exhorteth them to beare afflictions patiently, 20 by his owne example.

¹ I [Note: [1] We are of nature drie and fit for nothing, but the fire: Therefore that we may liue and be fruitfull, we must first be graffed into Christ, as it were into a vine, by the Fathers hand: and then be dayly shred with continuall meditation of the word and the crosse: otherwise it shall not auaile any man at all to haue bene graffed, vnlesse he cleaue fast vnto the vine, and so drawe iuyce out of it. ] Am that true vine, and my Father is that husband man.

² [Note: Matth.15.13. ] Euery branch that beareth not fruite in me, he taketh away: and euery one that beareth fruite, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruite.

³ [Note: Chap.13.10. ] Nowe are ye cleane through the worde, which I haue spoken vnto you.

⁴ Abide in me, and I in you: as the branche cannot beare fruite of it selfe, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

⁵ I am that vine: ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, & I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruite: for without me can ye doe nothing.

⁶ [Note: Coloss.1 23. ] If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branche, and withereth: and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they burne.

⁷ [Note: 1.Iohn 3.22. ] [Note: [2] He abideth in Christ, which resteth in his doctrine, and therefore bringeth foorth good fruite: And the Father will denie such an one, nothing. ] If ye abide in me, and my wordes abide in you, aske what ye wil, & it shalbe done to you.

⁸ [Note: [a] As who would say, Herein shall my Father be glorified, and herein also shall you be my disciples, if you bring foorth much fruite. ] Herein is my Father glorified, that ye beare much fruite, and be made my disciples.

⁹ [Note: [3] The loue of the Father towardes the Sonne, and of the Sonne towards vs, and ours towardes God and our neighbour, are ioyned together with an vnseparable knot: and there is nothing more sweete and pleasant then it is. Nowe this loue sheweth itselfe by the effects: a most perfect example whereof, Christ himselfe exhibiteth vnto vs. ] As the father hath loued me, so haue I loued you: [Note: [b] That is, in that loue, wherewith I loue you: which loue is on both partes. ] continue in that my loue.

¹⁰ If ye shall keepe my commandements, ye shall abide in my loue, as I haue kept my Fathers commandements, and abide in his loue.

¹¹ These things haue I spoken vnto you, that my ioy might remaine in you, and that your ioy might be full.

¹² [Note: Chap 13.34. 1.thes.4.9. 1.iohn 3.11. and 4.21. ] This is my commandement, that ye loue one another, as I haue loued you.

¹³ Greater loue then this hath no man, when any man bestoweth his life for his friendes.

¹⁴ Ye are my friendes, if ye doe whatsoeuer I commaund you.

¹⁵ [Note: [4] The doctrine of the Gospel (as it is vttered by Christes owne mouth) is a most perfect and absolute declaration of the counsell of God, which pertaineth to our saluation, and is committed vnto the Apostles. ] Henceforth call I you not seruants: for the

seruant knoweth not what his master doeth: but I haue called you friends: for all things that I haue heard of my Father, haue I made knowen to you.

¹⁶ [Note: [5] Christ is the authour and preseruer of the ministerie of the Gospel, euen to the worldes ende, but the ministers haue aboue all things neede of prayer and brotherly loue. ] Ye [Note: [c] This place teacheth vs plainely, that our saluation commeth from the onely fauour and gracious goodnesse of the euerlasting God toward vs, and of nothing that we doe or can deserue. ] haue not chosen me, but I haue chosen you, and ordeined you, [Note: Matth.28.19. ] that ye goe & bring foorth fruite, and that your fruite remaine, that whatsoeuer ye shall aske of the Father in my Name, he may giue it you.

¹⁷ These things commaunde I you, that ye loue one another.

¹⁸ [Note: [6] It ought not onely not to feare, but rather confirme the faithfull Ministers of Christ, when they shalbe hated of the world as their Master was. ] If the worlde hate you, ye knowe that it hated me before you.

¹⁹ If ye were of the worlde, the world woulde loue his owne: but because ye are not of ye world, but I haue chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

²⁰ Remember the word that I said vnto you, [Note: Chap.13.16. matth.10.24. ] The seruant is not greater then his master. [Note: Matth.24.9. ] If they haue persecuted me, they will persecute you also: if they haue kept my worde, they will also keepe yours.

²¹ [Note: [7] The hatred that the world beareth against Christ, proceedeth of the blockishnesse of the minde, which notwithstanding is voluntarie blind, so that the worlde can pretend no excuse, to couer their fault. ] But [Note: Chap.16.4. ] all these things will they doe vnto you for my Names sake, because they haue not knowen him that sent me.

²² [Note: [d] As who would say, If I had not come, these men would not haue stucke to haue said still before Gods iudgement seate, that they are religious, and voide of sinne: but seeing I came to them, and they cleane refuse me, they can haue no cloke for their wickednes. ] If I had not come and spoken vnto them, they shoulde not haue had sinne: but nowe haue they no cloke for their sinne.

²³ He that hateth me, hateth my Father also.

²⁴ If I had not done workes among them which none other man did, they had not had sinne: but nowe haue they both seene, and haue hated both me, and my Father.

²⁵ But it is that the worde might be fulfilled, that is written in their [Note: [e] Some time by this word, Lawe, are meant the fiue bookes of Moses, but in this place, the whole Scripture: for the place alleaged is in the Psalmes. ] Lawe, [Note: Psalm.35.19. ] They hated me without a cause.

²⁶ [Note: [8] Against the rage of the wicked, we shall stand surely by the inwarde testimonie of the holy Ghost: But the holy Ghost speaketh no otherwise, then he spake by the mouth of the Apostles. ] But when that Comforter shall come, [Note: Chap.14.26. luke 24.49. ] whom I will send vnto you from the Father, euen the Spirit of trueth, which proceedeth of the Father, he shall testifie of me.

²⁷ And ye shall witnesse also, because ye haue bene with me from the beginning.

1 He foretelleth the disciples of persecution. 7 He promiseth the Comforter, and declareth his office. 21 He compareth the afflictions of his, to a woman that trauayleth with child.

¹ These [Note: [1] The ministers of the Gospel must looke for all maner of reproches, not onely of them which are open enemies, but euen of them also which seeme to be of the same housholde, and the very pillars of the Church. ] thinges haue I saide vnto you, that ye should not be offended.

² They shall excommunicate you: yea, the time shall come, that whosoeuer killeth you, will thinke that he doeth God seruice.

³ And these things will they doe vnto you, because they haue not knowen ye Father, nor me.

⁴ [Note: Chap.15.21. ] But these things haue I tolde you, that when the houre shall come, ye might remember, that I tolde you them. And these things said I not vnto you from ye beginning, because I was wt you.

⁵ But now I go my way to him that sent me, and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?

⁶ But because I haue saide these thinges vnto you, your hearts are full of sorowe.

⁷ [Note: [2] The absence of Christ, according to the flesh, is profitable to the Church, that we may wholy depend vpon his spirituall power. ] Yet I tell you the trueth, It is expedient for you that I goe away: for if I goe not away, that Comforter will not come vnto you: but if I depart, I will send him vnto you.
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⁸ [Note: [3] The Spirit of God worketh so mightily by the preaching of the worde, that he constraineth the world, will it, nill it, to confesse it owne vnrighteousnesse, & Christs righteousnesse and almightinesse. ] And when he is come, he will [Note: [a] He will so reproue the worlde, that the worldlings shalbe able to pretend no excuse. ] reproue the [Note: [b] He respecteth the time that folowed his ascension, when as all gainesayers were manifestly reproued, through the powring out of the holy Ghost vpon the Church: So that the very enemies of Christ were reproued of sinne, in that they were constrained to confesse that they were deceiued, in that they beleeued not, and therefore they said to Peter, Actes 1. Men and brethren, what shall we doe? ] worlde of sinne, and of righteousnesse, and of iudgement.

⁹ Of sinne, because they beleeued not in me:

¹⁰ Of [Note: [c] Of Christ himselfe: For when the worlde shall see, that I haue powred out the holy Ghost, they shalbe constrained to confesse that I was iust, and was not condemned of my Father, when I went out of this worlde. ] righteousnesse, because I goe to my Father, and ye shall see me no more:

¹¹ Of [Note: [d] Of that authoritie and power, which I haue both in heauen & earth. ] iudgement, [Note: [e] That is, because they shall then vnderstand and know in deede, that I haue ouercome the deuil, and doe gouerne the worlde, when all men shall see, that they set themselues against you in vaine, for I will arme you with that heauenly power, whereby you may destroy euery high thing which is lifted vp against the knowledge of God, 2.Cor.10 12. ] because the prince of this world is iudged.

¹² [Note: [4] The doctrine of the Apostles, proceeded from the holy Ghost, and is most perfite. ] I haue yet many things to say vnto you, but ye cannot beare them nowe.

¹³ Howbeit, when he is come which is the Spirit of trueth, he will leade you into all trueth: for he shall not speake of himselfe, but whatsoeuer he shall heare, shall he speake, and he will shew you the things to come.

¹⁴ [Note: [5] The holy Ghost bringeth no newe doctrine, but teacheth that which was vttered by Christes owne mouth, and imprinteth it in our mindes. ] He shall glorifie me: for he shall receiue of mine, and shall shewe it vnto you.

¹⁵ All thinges that the Father hath, are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shewe it vnto you.

¹⁶ [Note: [6] The grace of the holy Ghost is a most liuely glasse, wherein Christ is truely beholden with the most sharpe sighted eyes of faith, and not with the bleared eyes of the flesh: Whereby we feele a continuall ioy euen in the midst of sorowes. ] A [Note: [f] When a litle time is once past. ] litle while, and ye shall not see me: and againe a litle while, and ye shall see me: [Note: [g] For I passe to eternally glory, so that I shalbe much more present with you then I was before: for then you shall feele in deede what I am, and what I am able to do. ] for I goe to the Father.

¹⁷ Then said some of his disciples among them selues, What is this that he saieth vnto vs, A litle while, and ye shall not see me, and againe, a litle while, and ye shall see me, and, For I goe to the Father.

¹⁸ They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A litle while? we know not what he sayeth.

¹⁹ Now Iesus knew that they would aske him, and said vnto them, Doe ye enquire among your selues, of that I said, A litle while, & ye shal not see me: and againe, a litle while, and yee shall see me?

²⁰ Verely, verely I say vnto you, that ye shall weepe and lament, and the worlde shall reioyce: and ye shall sorowe, but your sorowe shalbe turned to ioye.

²¹ A woman when she traueileth, hath sorowe, because her houre is come: but assoone as she is deliuered of the childe, she remembreth no more the anguish, for ioy that a man is borne into the world.

²² And ye nowe therefore are in sorowe: but I will see you againe, & your hearts shal reioyce, and your ioy shall no man take from you.

²³ And in that day shall ye aske me nothing. [Note: Chap.14.13. mat.7.7.& 21.22. mar.11.24. luk 11.9. iam.1.5. ] Verely, verely I say vnto you, whatsoeuer ye shall aske the Father in my Name, he will giue it you.

²⁴ Hitherto haue ye asked nothing in my Name: aske, and ye shall receiue, that your ioye may be full.

²⁵ [Note: [7] The holy Ghost which was powred vpon the Apostles after the Ascension of Christ, instructed both them in all the chiefest mysteries and secretes of our saluation, and also by them the Church, and will also instruct it to the end of the world. ] These things haue I spoken vnto you in parables: but the time will come, when I shall no more speake to you in parables: but I shall shew you plainely of the Father.

²⁶ [Note: [8] The summe of the worship of God, is the inuocation of the Father in the Name of the Sonne the Mediatour, who is alreadie heard for vs, for whom he both abased himselfe, and is nowe also glorified. ] At that day shall ye aske in my Name,

and I say not vnto you, that I will pray vnto the Father for you:

²⁷ For the Father himselfe loueth you, because ye haue loued me, [Note: Chap.17.8. ] and haue beleeued that I came out from God.

²⁸ I am come out from the Father, and came into the worlde: againe I leaue the worlde, and goe to the Father.

²⁹ [Note: [9] Faith and foolish securitie differ very much. ] His disciples saide vnto him, Loe, nowe speakest thou plainely, and thou speakest no parable.

³⁰ Nowe knowe wee that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should aske thee. By this we beleeue, that thou art come out from God.

³¹ Iesus answered them, Doe you beleeue nowe?

³² [Note: Matth.26.31. marke 14.27. ] [Note: [10] Neither the wickednesse of the worlde, neither the weakenesse of his owne, can diminish anything of the vertue of Christ. ] Beholde, the houre commeth, and is already come, that ye shalbe scattered euery man into his owne, and shall leaue me alone: but I am not alone: for the Father is with me.

³³ [Note: [11] The suertie and stay of the Church dependeth onely vpon the victorie of Christ. ] These thinges haue I spoken vnto you, that [Note: [b] That in me you might be throughly quieted. For by (peace) is meant in this place, that quiet state of minde, which is cleane contrary to disquietnesse and heauinesse. ] in me ye might haue peace: in the world ye shall haue affliction, but be of good comfort: I haue ouercome the world.

1 Christ prayeth that his glorie together with his Fathers may be made manifest. 9 He prayeth for his Apostles, 20 and for all beleeuers.

¹ These [Note: [1] Iesus Christ the euerlasting high Priest, being readie straightwayes to offer vp himselfe, doeth by solemne prayers consecrate himselfe to God the Father, as a sacrifice, and vs together with him selfe: Therefore this prayer was from the beginning, is, and shalbe to the ende of the world, the foundation and grounde of the Church of God. ] things spake Iesus, and lift vp his eyes to heauen, and saide, [Note: [2] He first declareth, that as he came into the worlde to the end that the Father might shewe in him, being apprehended by faith, his glorie in sauing his elect, so he applied himselfe to that onely: and therefore desireth of the Father, that he woulde blesse the worke which hee hath finished. ] Father, that houre is come: glorifie thy Sonne, that thy Sonne also may glorifie thee,

² [Note: Matth.28.18. ] As thou hast giuen him power ouer [Note: [a] Ouer all men. ] all flesh, that he shoulde giue eternall life to all them that thou hast giuen him.

³ And this is life eternall, that they knowe thee to be the [Note: [b] He calleth the Father the onely very God, to set him against all false gods, and not to shut out himselfe and the holy Ghost, for straightwayes he ioyneth the knowledge of the Father and the knowledge of himselfe together, and according to his accustomed maner, setteth foorth the whole Godhead in the person of the Father: So is the Father alone said to be King, immortall, wise, and dwelling in light which no man can attaine vnto, inuisible, Rom.16.27. 1.tim.1.17. ] onely very God, and whom thou hast sent, Iesus Christ.

⁴ I haue glorified thee on the earth: I haue finished the worke which thou gauest me to doe.

⁵ And nowe glorifie me, thou Father, with thine owne selfe, with the glorie which I had with thee before the world was.

⁶ [Note: [3] First of all he prayeth for those his disciples, by whom he woulde haue the rest to be gathered together, and commendeth them vnto the Father, (hauing once reiected the whole companie of the reprobate) because he receiued them of him, into his custodie, and for that they embracing his doctrine, shall haue so many and so mightie enemies, that there is no way for them to be in safetie, but by his helpe onely. ] I haue declared thy Name vnto the men which thou gauest me out of the world: [Note: [c] He sheweth hereby that euerlasting election and choise, which was hidden in the good will and pleasure of God, which is the ground worke of our saluation. ] thine they were, and thou [Note: [d] He sheweth how that euerlasting and hidden purpose of God is declared in Christ, by whom we are iustified and sanctified, if we lay holde on him by faith, that at length we may come to the glorie of the election. ] gauest them me, and they haue kept thy worde.

⁷ [Note: Chap.16.27. ] Nowe they knowe that all things whatsoeuer thou hast giuen me, are of thee.

⁸ For I haue giuen vnto them the wordes which thou gauest me, and they haue receiued them, and haue knowen surely that I came out from thee, & haue beleeued yt thou hast sent me.

⁹ I pray for them: I pray not for the worlde, but for them which thou hast giuen me: for they are thine.


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¹⁰ And al mine are thine, and thine are mine, and I am glorified in them.

¹¹ And nowe am I no more in the world, but these are in the worlde, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keepe them in thy Name, euen them whome thou hast giuen mee, that they may bee [Note: [e] He praieth that his people may peaceably agree, and be ioyned together in one, that as the Godhead is one, so they may be of one minde and one consent together. ] one, as we are.

¹² While I was with them in the worlde, I kept them in thy Name: those that thou gauest me, haue I kept, and none of them is lost, but the childe of perdition, that the [Note: Psal.109.7. ] Scripture might be fulfilled.

¹³ And now come I to thee, and these things speake I in the worlde, that they might haue my ioy fulfilled in themselues.

¹⁴ I haue giuen them thy word, & the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world.

¹⁵ [Note: [4] Hee sheweth what maner of deliuerance he meaneth, not that they shoulde be in no daunger, but that they being preserued from all, might prooue by experience that the doctrine of saluation is true, which they receiued at his mouth to deliuer to other. ] I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou keepe them from euill.

¹⁶ They are not of the worlde, as I am not of the world.

¹⁷ [Note: [f] That is, make them holy: and that is said to be holy, which is dedicated, and made proper to God onely. ] Sanctifie them with thy trueth: thy word is trueth.

¹⁸ [Note: [5] Hee addeth moreouer, that the Apostles haue a vocation common with him, & therefore that they must bee holden vp by the selfesame vertue to giue vp themselues wholy to God, whereby he being first, did consecrate himself to the Father. ] As thou diddest send me into the world, so haue I sent them into the world.

¹⁹ And for their sakes sanctifie I my selfe, that they also may bee sanctified through the [Note: [g] The true and substantiall sanctification of Christ, is set against the outward purifyings. ] trueth.

²⁰ [Note: [6] Secondarily he offreth to God the Father all his, that is, howe many so euer shall beleeue in him by the doctrine of the Apostles: that as hee cleaueth vnto the Father, receiuing from him all fulnesse, so they being ioyned with him, may receiue life from him, and at length being together beloued in him, may also with him enioy euerlasting glory. ] I praie not for these alone, but for them also which shall beleeue in mee, through their woorde,

²¹ That they all may bee one, as thou, O Father, art in me, and I in thee: euen that they may be also one in vs, that the worlde may beleeue that thou hast sent me.

²² And the glory that thou gauest me, I haue giuen them, that they may be one, as we are one,

²³ I in them, and thou in mee, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the worlde may knowe that thou hast sent mee, and hast loued them, as thou hast loued me.

²⁴ [Note: Chap.12. 26. ] Father, I will that they which thou hast giuen me, be with me euen where I am, that they may beholde that my glorie, which thou hast giuen mee: for thou louedst me before the foundation of the world.

²⁵ O righteous Father, the worlde also hath not knowen thee, but I haue knowen thee, and these haue knowen, that thou hast sent me.

²⁶ [Note: [7] He communicateth with his by litle and litle, the knowledge of the Father, which is most full in Christ the Mediatour, that they may in him be beloued of the Father, with the selfe same loue wherewith he loueth the Sonne. ] And I haue declared vnto the thy Name, and will declare it, that the loue wherewith thou hast loued me, may be in them, and I in them.

1 By Christes power, whome Iudas betraieth, 6 the souldiers are cast downe to the ground. 13 Christ is lead to Annas, and from him to Caiaphas. 22. 23 His answere to the officer that smote him with a rod. 28 Being deliuered to Pilate, 36 he declareth his kingdome.

¹ When [Note: [1] Christ goeth of his owne accorde into a garden, which his betraier knew, to be taken: that by his obedience hee might take away ye sinne that entred into the world by one mans rebellion, & that, in a garden. ] Iesus had spoken these things, hee went foorth with his disciples ouer the brooke [Note: Mat.26.36. mar.14.32. luke 22.39. ] Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entred, and his disciples.

² And Iudas which betraied him, knewe also the place: for Iesus oft times resorted thither

with his disciples.

³ [Note: Matt.26.47. mar.14.43. luke 22.47. ] [Note: [2] Christ who was innocent, was take as a wicked person, that we which are wicked might be let goe as innocent. ] Iudas then, after hee had receiued a band of men and officers of the high Priests, and of the Pharises, came thither with lanternes and torches, and weapons.

⁴ [Note: [3] Christes person, (but not his vertue) was bounde of the aduersaries, when and howe he woulde. ] Then Iesus, knowing all things yt shoulde come vnto him, went foorth and said vnto them, Whom seeke yee?

⁵ They answered him, Iesus of Nazareth. Iesus sayde vnto them, I am hee. Nowe Iudas also which betraied him, stoode with them.

⁶ Assoone then as hee had saide vnto them, I am hee, they went away backewardes, and fell to the grounde.

⁷ Then he asked them againe, Whome seeke yee? And they sayd, Iesus of Nazareth.

⁸ [Note: [4] Christ doeth not neglect the office of a good pastour, no not in his greatest danger. ] Iesus answered, I said vnto you, that I am he: therefore if ye seeke me, let these go their way.

⁹ This was that the worde might be fulfilled which hee spake, [Note: Chap.17.12. ] Of them which thou gauest me, haue I lost none.

¹⁰ [Note: [5] Wee ought to conteine the zeale we beare to God, within the bounds of our vocation. ] Then Simon Peter hauing a sword, drewe it, & smote the hie Priests seruant, and cut off his right eare. Nowe the seruants name was Malchus.

¹¹ Then sayde Iesus vnto Peter, Put vp thy sworde into the sheath: shall I not drinke of the cuppe which my Father hath giuen me?

¹² Then the bande and the captaine, and the officers of the Iewes tooke Iesus, and bound him,

¹³ [Note: [6] Christ is brought before an earthly high Priest to be condemned for our blasphemies, that wee might be quitted of the euerlasting high Priest himselfe. ] And led him away to [Note: Luke 3.8. ] Annas first (for he was father in lawe to Caiaphas, which was the hie Priest that same yeere)

¹⁴ [Note: Chap.11.50. ] And Caiaphas was he, that gaue counsel to the Iewes, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

¹⁵ ¶ [Note: [7] A liuely example of the fragility of man euen in the best, when they be once left to themselues. ] [Note: Mat.26.58. mar.14.54. luke 22.54. ] Nowe Simon Peter folowed Iesus, & another disciple, and that disciple was knowen of the hie Priest: therefore he went in with Iesus into the hall of the hie Priest:

¹⁶ But Peter stood at the doore without. Then went out the other disciple which was knowen vnto the hie Priest, and spake to her that kept the doore, and brought in Peter.

¹⁷ Then saide the maide that kept the doore, vnto Peter, Art not thou also one of this mans disciples? He sayd, I am not.

¹⁸ And the seruants and officers stoode there, which had made a fire of coles: for it was colde, & they warmed themselues. And Peter also stood among them, and warmed himselfe.

¹⁹ ¶ ( [Note: [8] Christ defendeth his cause but slenderly, not that hee would withdrawe him selfe fro death, but to shewe that he was codemned as an innocent. ] The hie Priest then asked Iesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

²⁰ Iesus answered him, I spake openly to the world: I euer taught in the Synagogue and in the Temple, whither the Iewes resort continually, and in secret haue I sayde nothing.

²¹ Why askest thou mee? aske them which heard mee what I sayde vnto them: beholde, they knowe what I sayd.

²² When he had spoken these thinges, one of the officers which stoode by, smote Iesus with his rod, saying, Answerest thou the hie Priest so?

²³ Iesus answered him, If I haue euill spoken, beare witnes of the euil: but if I haue well spoken, why smitest thou me?

²⁴ ¶ [Note: Matt.26.57. luke 22.54. ] Nowe Annas had sent him bound vnto Caiaphas the hie Priest)

²⁵ [Note: Mat.26.69. mar.14.59. luke 22.55. ] [Note: [9] After that men haue once fallen, they can not only, not lift vp themselues by their owne strength, but also they fall more and more into worse, vntill they be raised vp again, by a newe vertue of God. ] And Simon Peter stoode and warmed himselfe, & they said vnto him, Art not thou also of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.
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²⁶ One of the seruaunts of the hie Priest, his cousin whose eare Peter smote off, saide, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?

²⁷ Peter then denied againe, and immediatly the cocke crewe.

²⁸ ¶ [Note: Mat.27.2. mar. 15.1. luke 23.1. ] [Note: [10] The Sonne of God is brought before the iudgement seate of an earthly and prophane man, in whome there is founde much lesse wickednesse, then in the princes of the people of God: A liuely image of the wrath of God against sinne, and therewithall of his great mercie, and last of all, of his most seuere iudgement against the stubburne contemners of his grace when it is offred vnto them. ] Then led they Iesus from [Note: [a] From Caiaphas house. ] Caiaphas into the common hall. Nowe it was morning, & they themselues went not into the common hall, least they should be [Note: Actes 10.28. & 11.3. ] defiled, but that they might eate the Passeouer.

²⁹ Pilate then went out vnto them, and said, What accusation bring yee against this man?

³⁰ They answered, and saide vnto him, If hee were not an euill doer, we woulde not haue deliuered him vnto thee.

³¹ Then sayde Pilate vnto them, Take yee him, and iudge him after your owne Lawe. Then the Iewes sayde vnto him, [Note: [b] For iudgements of life and death, were taken from them, fourtie yeres before the destruction of the temple. ] It is not lawfull for vs to put any man to death.

³² It was that the worde of Iesus [Note: Mat.20.19. ] might be fulfilled which he spake, [Note: [c] For Christ had foretolde that he should be crucified. ] signifying what death he should die.

³³ [Note: Mat.27.11. mar.15.2. luke 23.3. ] So Pilate entred into the common hall againe, and called Iesus, and sayde vnto him, Art thou the king of the Iewes?

³⁴ Iesus answered him, Saiest thou that of thy selfe, or did other tell it thee of me?

³⁵ Pilate answered, Am I a Iewe? Thine owne nation, and the hie Priestes haue deliuered thee vnto me. What hast thou done?

³⁶ [Note: [11] Christ auoucheth his spirituall kingdome, but reiecteth a worldly. ] Iesus answered, My kingdome is not of this worlde: if my kingdome were of this worlde, my seruants would surely fight, that I should not be deliuered to the Iewes: but nowe is my kingdome not from hence.

³⁷ Pilate then said vnto him, Art thou a King then? Iesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a King: for this cause am I borne, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should beare witnes vnto the trueth: euery one that is of the trueth, heareth my voyce.

³⁸ [Note: [12] It was requisite that Christ shoulde be pronounced innocent, but notwithstanding (in that that hee tooke vpon him our person) was to be codemned as a most wicked man. ] Pilate said vnto him, [Note: [d] He speaketh this disdainefully and scoffingly, and not by way of asking a question. ] What is trueth? And when he had saide that, hee went out againe vnto the Iewes, & said vnto them, I finde in him no cause at all.

³⁹ [Note: Matt.27.15. mar. 15 6. luke 23.17. ] But you haue a custome, that I shoulde deliuer you one loose at the Passeouer: will yee then that I loose vnto you the King of ye Iewes?

⁴⁰ [Note: Actes 3.14. ] Then [Note: [e] Woorde for woorde, made a great and foule voyce. ] cried they all againe, saying, Not him, but Barabbas: nowe this Barabbas was a murtherer.

1 Pilate, when Christ was scourged, 2 and crowned with thorne, 4 was desirous to let him loose: 8 but being ouercome with the outrage of the Iewes, 16 Hee deliuereth him to be crucified. 26 Iesus committeth his mother to the disciple. 30 Hauing tasted vineger, hee dieth: 34: and being deade, his side is pearced with a speare. 40 Hee is buried.

¹ Then [Note: Mat.27.27. mar.15.16. ] Pilate tooke Iesus & [Note: [1] The wisdom of the flesh, chuseth of two euils the least, but God curseth that same wisdome. ] scourged him.

² And the souldiers platted a crowne of thornes, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple garment,

³ And saide, Haile, King of the Iewes. And they smote him with their roddes.

⁴ [Note: [2] Christ is againe quitted by yt same mouth wherewith he is afterwarde condemned. ] Then Pilate went foorth againe, and said vnto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may knowe, that I finde no fault in him at all.

⁵ Then came Iesus foorth wearing a crowne

of thornes, and a purple garment. And Pilate said vnto them, Beholde the man.

⁶ Then when the hie Priests & officers sawe him, they cried, saying, [Note: [a] They will haue him crucified, who by an olde custome of theirs, they should haue stoned & hanged vp as conuict of blasphemie: but they desire to haue him crucified after the maner of the Romanes. ] Crucifie, crucifie him. Pilate said vnto them, Take yee him and crucifie him: for I finde no fault in him.

⁷ The Iewes answered him, We haue a lawe, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himselfe the Sonne of God.

⁸ ¶ [Note: [3] Pilates conscience sighteth for Christ, but straightway it yeeldeth, because it is not vpholden with the singular vertue of God. ] When Pilate then heard that woorde, he was the more afraide,

⁹ And went againe into the common hall, and saide vnto Iesus, Whence art thou? But Iesus gaue him none answere.

¹⁰ Then saide Pilate vnto him, Speakest thou not vnto me? Knowest thou not that I haue power to crucifie thee, & haue power to loose thee?

¹¹ Iesus answered, Thou couldest haue no power at all against me, except it were giuen thee from aboue: therefore he that deliuered me vnto thee, hath the greater sinne.

¹² From thence foorth Pilate sought to loose him, but the Iewes cried, saying, If thou deliuer him, thou art not Cesars friende: for whosoeuer maketh himselfe a King, speaketh against Cesar.

¹³ ¶ [Note: [4] Pilate condemneth himselfe first, with the same mouth, wherewith he afterwarde condemneth Christ. ] When Pilate heard this woorde, hee brought Iesus foorth, & sate downe in the iudgement seate in a place called the Pauement, and in Hebrewe, [Note: [b] Gabbatha signifieth an high place, as iudgement seates are. ] Gabbatha.

¹⁴ And it was the Preparation of the Passeouer, and about the sixt houre: and hee sayde vnto the Iewes, Beholde your King.

¹⁵ But they cried, Away with him, away with him, crucifie him. Pilate sayde vnto them, Shall I crucifie your King? The high Priestes answered, We haue no King but Cesar.

¹⁶ [Note: [5] Christ fasteneth Satan, sinne and death to ye crosse. ] Then deliuered he him vnto them, to be crucified. [Note: Mat.27.31. mar.15.25. luke 23.26. ] And they tooke Iesus, and led him away.

¹⁷ And he bare his owne crosse, and came into a place named of dead mens Skulles, which is called in Hebrewe, Golgotha:

¹⁸ Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Iesus in the middes.

¹⁹ ¶ [Note: [6] Christ sitting vpon the throne of the crosse, is openly written euerlasting king of all people, with his owne hande, whose mouth condemned him for vsurping a kingdome. ] And Pilate wrote also a title, and put it on the crosse, and it was written, Iesvs Of Nazareth The King Of The Ievves.

²⁰ This title then read many of the Iewes: for the place where Iesus was crucified, was neere to the citie: and it was written in Hebrewe, Greeke and Latine.

²¹ Then saide the hie Priests of the Iewes to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Iewes, but that he sayd, I am King of the Iewes.

²² Pilate answered, What I haue written, I haue written.

²³ ¶ [Note: [7] Christ signifieth by the diuision of his garments amongst the blouby bouchers, (his coate except, that had no seame) that it shall come to passe, that hee will shortly diuide his benefites, and enrich his very enemies throughout the worlde: but so notwithstanding that the treasure of his Church shall remaine whole. ] Then the [Note: Mat.27.35. mar.15.24. ] souldiers, when they had crucified Iesus, tooke his garments (and made foure partes, to euery souldier a part) and his coat: and the coat was without seame wouen from the toppe throughout.

²⁴ Therefore they sayde one to another, Let vs not deuide it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be. This was that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which sayth, [Note: Psal.22.18. ] They parted my garments among them, and on my coate did cast lots. So the souldiers did these things in deede.

²⁵ ¶ [Note: [8] Christ is a perfect example of all righteousnesse, not onely in the keeping of the first, but also of the seconde table. ] Then stoode by the crosse of Iesus his

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mother, and his mothers sister, Marie the wife of Cleopas, and Marie Magdalene.
²⁶ And when Iesus sawe his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loued, he said vnto his mother, Woman, beholde thy sonne.

²⁷ Then saide he to the disciple, Beholde thy mother: and from that houre, the disciple tooke her home vnto him.

²⁸ ¶ [Note: [9] Christ when he hath taken the vineger, yeeldeth vp the Ghost, drinking vp in deede that most bitter and sharpe cuppe of his Fathers wrath in our name. ] After, when Iesus knew that all things were performed, that the [Note: Psalm.69.22. ] Scripture might be fulfilled, he said, I thirst.

²⁹ And there was set a [Note: [c] Galatinus witnesseth out of the booke called Sanhedrim, that the Iewes were wont to giue them that were executed, vineger mixed with frankincense to drinke, to make their braines somewhat troubled: so charitably the Iewes prouided for the poore mens consciences, which were executed. ] vessell full of vineger: and they filled a spondge with vineger: and put it about an Hyssope stalke, and put it to his mouth.

³⁰ Nowe when Iesus had receiued of the vineger, he saide, It is finished, and bowed his head, and gaue vp the ghost.

³¹ [Note: [10] The body of Christ which was dead for a season (because it so pleased him) is wounded, but the least bone of it is not broken: and such is the state of his mysticall body. ] The Iewes then (because it was the Preparation, that the bodies should not remaine vpon the crosse on the Sabbath day: for that Sabbath was an hie day) besought Pilate that their legges might be broken, and that they might be taken downe.

³² Then came the souldiers and brake the legges of the first, and of the other, which was crucified with Iesus.

³³ But when they came to Iesus, and saw that he was dead alreadie, they brake not his legges.

³⁴ [Note: [11] Christ being dead vpon the crosse, witnesseth by a double signe, that he onely is the true satisfaction, and the true washing for the beleeuers. ] But one of the souldiers with a speare [Note: [d] This wounde was a most manifest witnesse of the death of Christ: for the water that issued out by this wound, gaue vs plainely to vnderstand, that the weapon pearced the very skinne that compasseth the heart, which is the vessell that conteineth that water, and that being once wounded, that creature which is so pearced and striken, can not chuse but die. ] pearced his side, and foorthwith came there out blood and water.

³⁵ And he that sawe it, bare recorde, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might beleeue it.

³⁶ For these things were done, that the Scripture shoulde be fulfilled, [Note: Exod.12.46. num.9.12. ] Not a bone of him shalbe broken.

³⁷ And againe an other Scripture saith, [Note: Zach.12.10. ] They shall see him whom they haue thrust through.

³⁸ [Note: Matth.27.57. marke.15.42. luke 23.50. ] [Note: [12] Christ is openly buried, and in a famous place, Pilate witting and suffering it, and that by men which did fauour Christ, in such wise, that yet before that day, they neuer openly folowed him: so that by his buriall, no man can iustly doubt either of his death, or resurrection. ] And after these things, Ioseph of Arimathea (who was a disciple of Iesus, but secretly for feare of the Iewes) besought Pilate that he might take downe the bodie of Iesus. And Pilate gaue him licence. He came then and tooke Iesus body.

³⁹ And there came [Note: Chap.3.2. ] also Nicodemus (which first came to Iesus by night) & brought of myrrhe and aloes mingled together about an hundreth pound.

⁴⁰ Then tooke they the body of Iesus, and wrapped it in linnen clothes with the odours, as the maner of the Iewes is to burie.

⁴¹ And in that place where Iesus was crucified, was a garden, and in the garden a newe sepulchre, wherein was [Note: [e] That no man might cauill at his resurrection, as though some other that had beene buried there, had risen. Theophyl. ] neuer man yet laid.

⁴² There then laide they Iesus, because of the Iewes Preparation day, for the sepulchre was neere.

1 Marie bringeth worde that Christ is risen: 3 Peter and Iohn 4 runne to see it. 15 Iesus appeareth to Marie 19 and to the disciples that were together in the house. 25 Thomas, before faithlesse, 29 nowe beleeueth.

¹ Nowe [Note: Marke 16.1. luke 24.1. ] [Note: [1] Marie Magdalene, Peter and Iohn, are the first witnesses of the resurrection: and such as cannot iustly be suspected, for that they themselues could scarcely be persuaded of it, so farre is it off, that they should inuent it of set purpose. ] the first day of the weeke came Marie Magdalene, early when it was yet darke, vnto the sepulchre, and sawe the stone taken away from the tombe.

² Then she ranne, and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Iesus loued, and saide vnto them, They haue taken away the Lorde out of the sepulchre, and we knowe not where they haue laid him.

³ Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they came vnto the sepulchre.

⁴ So they ranne both together, but the other disciple did outrunne Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

⁵ And he stouped downe, and sawe the linnen clothes lying: yet went he not in.

⁶ Then came Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and sawe the linnen clothes lye,

⁷ And the kerchiefe that was vpon his head, not lying with the linnen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by it selfe.

⁸ Then went in also the other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he sawe it, and beleeued.

⁹ For as yet they knewe not the Scripture, That he must rise againe from the dead.

¹⁰ And the disciples went away againe vnto their owne home.

¹¹ ¶ [Note: Matth.28.1. marke 16.5. ] But Marie stoode [Note: [a] That is, without the caue, which the sepulchre was cut out of. ] without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she bowed her selfe into the sepulchre,

¹² [Note: [2] Two Angels are made witnesses of the Lords resurrection. ] And sawe two Angels in [Note: [b] In white clothing. ] white, sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feete, where the body of Iesus had laien.

¹³ And they said vnto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She said vnto them, They haue taken away [Note: [c] Marie spake as the common people vse to speake: for they speake of a dead carkeise, as they doe of a whole man. ] my Lord, and I know not where they haue laide him.

¹⁴ [Note: [3] Iesus witnesseth by his presence, that he is truely risen. ] When she had thus said, she turned her selfe backe, and sawe Iesus standing, and knewe not that it was Iesus.

¹⁵ Iesus saith vnto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She supposing that he had bene the gardener, said vnto him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

¹⁶ Iesus saith vnto her, Marie. She turned her selfe, and said vnto him, Rabboni, which is to say, Master.

¹⁷ [Note: [4] Christ which is risen, is not to be sought in this world according to the flesh, but in heauen by faith whither he is gone before vs. ] Iesus saith vnto her, Touch me not: for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but goe to my [Note: [d] By his brethren, he meaneth his disciples: for in the next verse folowing, it is said, that Marie tolde his disciples. ] brethren, and say vnto them, I ascend vnto [Note: [e] He calleth God his Father, because he is his Father naturally in the Godhead, and he saith your Father, because he is our Father by grace, through the adoption of the sonnes of God: that is by taking vs of his free grace to be his sonnes, Epiphanius. ] my Father, and to your Father, and to my God, and your God.

¹⁸ Marie Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seene the Lord, and that he had spoken these things vnto her.

¹⁹ ¶ [Note: Marke 16.14. luke 24.36. 1.cor.15.5. ] [Note: [5] Christ in that that he presented himselfe before his disciples suddenly through his diuine power, when the gates were shut, doeth fully assure them both of his resurrection, and also of their Apostleship, inspiring them with the holy Ghost, who is the directour of the ministerie of the Gospel. ] The same day then at night, which was the first day of the weeke, and when the [Note: [f] Either the doores opened to him of their owne accorde, or the very walles themselues were a passage to him. ] doores were shut where the disciples were assembled for feare of the Iewes, came Iesus and stoode in the middes, and saide to them, Peace be vnto you.

²⁰ And when he had so saide, he shewed vnto them his handes, and his side. Then were the disciples glad when they had seene the Lord.
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²¹ [Note: Matth.28.18. ] Then saide Iesus to them againe, Peace be vnto you: as my Father sent me, so sende I you.

²² And when he had saide that, he breathed on them, and saide vnto them, Receiue the holy Ghost.

²³ [Note: [6] The publishing of the forgiuenesse of sinnes by faith in Christ, and the setting foorth and denouncing the wrath of God in retayning the sinnes of the vnbeleeuers, is the summe of the preaching of the Gospel. ] Whosoeuers sinnes ye remit, they are remitted vnto them: and whosoeuers sinnes ye reteine, they are reteined.

²⁴ ¶ [Note: [7] Christ draweth out of the vnbeliefe of Thomas, a certaine and sure testimonie of his resurrection. ] But Thomas one of the twelue, called Didymus, was not with them when Iesus came.

²⁵ The other disciples therefore saide vnto him, We haue seene the Lord: but he said vnto them, Except I see in his handes the print of the nailes, and put my finger into the print of the nailes, and put mine hand into his side, I will not beleeue it.

²⁶ ¶ And eight dayes after, againe his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Then came Iesus, when the doores were shut, and stood in the middes, and said, Peace be vnto you.

²⁷ After saide he to Thomas, Put thy finger here, and see mine hands, & put forth thine hand, and put it into my side, and be not faithlesse, but faithfull.

²⁸ Then Thomas answered, & said vnto him, Thou art my Lord, and my God.

²⁹ [Note: [8] True faith dependeth vpon the mouth of God, and not vpon fleshly eyes. ] Iesus said vnto him, Thomas, because thou hast seene me, thou beleeuest: blessed are they that haue not seene, and haue beleeued.

³⁰ ¶ [Note: Chap.21.25. ] [Note: [9] To beleeue in Christ the Sonne of God and our onely Sauiour, is the ende of the doctrine of the Gospel, and especially of the historie of the resurrection. ] And many other signes also did Iesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this booke.

³¹ But these things are written, that ye might beleeue, that Iesus is that Christ that Sonne of God, and that in beleeuing ye might haue life through his Name.

1 Iesus appeareth to his disciples as they were a fishing, 6. 7 whom they knowe by a miraculous draught of fishes. 15 He committeth the charge of the sheepe to Peter, 18 and foretelleth him of the maner of his death.

¹ After these things, [Note: [1] In that, that Christ here is not onely present but also eateth with his disciples, he giueth a most full assurance of his resurrection. ] Iesus shewed himselfe againe to his disciples at the sea of Tiberias: and thus shewed he himselfe:

² There were together Simon Peter, & Thomas, which is called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galile, and the sonnes of Zebedeus, and two other of his disciples.

³ Simon Peter said vnto them, I go a fishing. They said vnto him, We also will goe with thee. They went their way & entred into a ship straightway, and that night caught they nothing.

⁴ But when the morning was nowe come, Iesus stoode on the shore: neuerthelesse the disciples knewe not that it was Iesus.

⁵ Iesus then said vnto them, Syrs, haue ye any meate? They answered him, No.

⁶ Then he said vnto them, Cast out the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall finde. So they cast out, & they were not able at all to draw it, for the multitude of fishes.

⁷ Therefore said the disciple whom Iesus loued, vnto Peter, It is the Lord. When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lorde, he girded his [Note: [a] It was a linuen garment, which coulde not let his swimming. ] coate to him (for he was naked) and cast himselfe into the sea.

⁸ But the other disciples came by shippe (for they were not farre from land, but about two hundreth cubites) and they drewe the net with fishes.

⁹ Assoone then as they were come to land, they sawe hoate coales, and fish laide thereon, and bread.

¹⁰ Iesus saide vnto them, Bring of the fishes, which ye haue nowe caught.

¹¹ Simon Peter stepped foorth and drewe the net to land, full of great fishes, an hundreth, fiftie and three: and albeit there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

¹² Iesus saide vnto them, Come, and dine. And none of the disciples durst aske him, Who art thou? seeing they knewe that he was the Lord.

¹³ Iesus then came and tooke bread, and gaue them, and fish likewise.

¹⁴ This is now the third time that Iesus shewed himselfe to his disciples, after that he was risen againe from the dead.

¹⁵ ¶ [Note: [2] Peter by his triple confession is restored into his former degree from whence he fell by his triple deniall: and therewithall is aduertised, that he is in deede a pastour, which sheweth his loue to Christ, in feeding his sheepe. ] So when they had dined, Iesus said to Simon Peter, Simon the sonne of Iona, louest thou me more then these? He said vnto him, Yea Lord, thou knowest that I loue thee. He said vnto him, Feede my lambes.

¹⁶ He said to him againe the second time, Simon the sonne of Iona, louest thou me? He said vnto him, Yea Lorde, thou knowest that I loue thee. He said vnto him, Feede my sheepe.

¹⁷ He said vnto him the [Note: [b] It was meete that he that had denied him thrise, should confesse him thrise, that Peter might neither doubt of the forgiuenesse of his so grieuous a sinne, nor of his restoring to the office of the Apostleship. ] third time, Simon the sonne of Iona, louest thou me? Peter was sorie because he said to him the third time, Louest thou me? and said vnto him, Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I loue thee. Iesus saide vnto him, Feede my sheepe.

¹⁸ [Note: [3] The violent death of Peter is foretolde. ] Verely, verely I say vnto thee, When thou wast yong, thou [Note: [c] They that tooke farre iourneyes, especially in the East countrey and in those places where the people vsed long garments, had neede to be girded and trussed vp. ] girdedst thy selfe, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be olde, thou shalt stretch foorth thine hands, and another shall [Note: [d] He meant that kinde of girding which is vsed toward captiues, when they are bound fast with cordes and chaines, as who would say, Nowe thou girdest thy selfe as thou thinkest best, to goe whither thou listest, but the time will be, when thou shalt not gird thee with a girdle, but an other shall binde thee with chaines, and carie thee whither thou wouldest not. ] gird thee, and lead thee whither thou wouldest [Note: [e] Not that Peter suffered ought for the trueth of God against his will, for we reade that he came with ioy and gladnesse when he returned from the Councill where he was whipped, but because this will commeth not from the flesh, but from that gift of the Spirit which is giuen vs from aboue, therefore he shewed there should be a certaine striuing and conflict or repugnancie, which also is in vs, in all our sufferances as touching the flesh. ] not.

¹⁹ And this spake he signifying by [Note: [f] That is, that Peter shoulde die by a violent death. ] what death he shoulde glorifie God. And when he had said this, he said to him, Folowe me.

²⁰ [Note: [4] We must take heede, that whiles we cast our eyes vpon other, we neglect not that which is inioyned vs. ] Then Peter turned about, and sawe the disciple whom Iesvs loued, folowing, which had also [Note: Chap. 13.23. ] leaned on his breast at supper, and had saide, Lorde, which is he that betrayeth thee?

²¹ When Peter therefore sawe him, he saide to Iesus, Lord, what shall this man doe?

²² Iesus said vnto him, If I will that he tarie till I come, what is it to thee? followe thou me.

²³ Then went this worde abroade among the brethren, that this disciple shoulde not die. Yet Iesus saide not to him, He shall not die: but if I will that he tarie till I come, what is it to thee?

²⁴ [Note: [5] The historie of Christ is true and warily written: not for the curiositie of men, but for the saluation of the godly. ] This is that disciple, which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things, and we know that his testimonie is true.

²⁵ [Note: Chap.20.30. ] Nowe there are also many other things which Iesus did, the which if they should be written euery one, I suppose the world coulde not conteine the bookes that shoulde be written, Amen.