for the faithful believers are not far from the land, when their conversation is in heaven. Without Christ we must begin nothing, without faith may no man please God. In Heb. xi. the night of sin our labour is vain and unprofitable; yea, "whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Upon the right hand must Rom. xiv. the net be cast out; that is, in the office of preaching must respect be had to the only glory of God, and edifying of the 1 Cor. xiv. church, and not to our own profit or preferment.

Christ hungereth after our health: this is the meat which

he desireth, that we do the will of his heavenly Father, that John iv. vi. we put our trust in him and love one another, that we lead a just and innocent life, that we keep ourselves from the filthiness of the world, and bring much people unto God. Such meat is brought unto Christ by the apostles, when they through their teaching do catch men, and bring them unto God. Therefore doth he ask them, whether they have anything to eat. They said, Nay: for afore the receiving of the Spirit they could do nothing; but when he came, they brought many profitable things to pass. The harvest was so great, that they must needs have many workmen.

So when God helpeth the faithful ministers of the word, that they in the ministry of preaching have prosperous success, so that they draw up many men through the net of the gospel, and find much fruit; then the disciples whom Christ loveth, and which love him again, do know that it is the Lord, and that the same cometh not of their own virtue, but of the power of God. And hereof then groweth there in them a great desire to come unto Christ, and to be with him. The office therefore of apostles and of all ministers of the word is this, that when they do what Christ commandeth them, they turn them to Christ again, and ascribe the honour unto him. And if aught would let or hinder them to come unto Christ, they ought to refuse all the same, and to haste unto him with the loss of their life. John knoweth Christ afore Peter; but Peter cometh to the Lord before him : whereby we may note the diversity of ministrations and gifts in the church. Though Peter be more fervent, yet is he not ashamed to learn of John.

The fishers come with the fish unto Christ, the shepherds with the sheep to one manner of salvation. For they are not careful only for themselves, how they may be saved; but

[COVERDALE.]

23

also for those whom they have caught, to bring the same with them unto the shore of eternal rest. It is our salvation, when we become Christ's meat, yea, when Christ is our food and sustenance. For they that in the sea of this world do faithfully labour to draw the fish unto the haven, shall obtain great fruit, and enjoy an eternal banquet at Christ's table in his kingdom. For Christ prepared them a dinner, wherein he set forth unto the ministers of the word, what they ought to do, namely, to feed the people committed unto them. Α great honour is it, to bring much people unto Christ. Great commendation and unspeakable joy shall those teachers have, that faithfully travail in scriptures and word of God.

By the multitude and great number of the fishes that the apostles drew into the net, is figured the multitude of the heathen, who through the preaching in the whole world should be brought into the unity of the faith. And although many schisms and erroneous divisions arise, yet of those that are ordained unto life there shall no man fall out of the net. God knoweth those that be his ;" and they shall alway hearken unto the voice of their Shepherd. Thus shall there ever be one only church, which cannot by us be throughly purged evermore will hypocrites do all their diligence to continue therein, though the makers of division shall not be without great travail and labour. As for such vices as be manifest, great, and offensive, they that be in authority are bound to suppress them, according unto the ordinance of Christ. Matt. v. xiii. xviii.

First, they that be faithful believers, and ordained unto life, do cleave unto Christ their head, and then to the members, that is to say, all faithful Christians. For they that are faithful believers, be knit together in perpetual unity. And although some at this present day be in contention, yet so far as they are of the number of the elect, they will agree together again one with another, afore they depart hence; that they may die in the unity of God's congregation and church, without the which there is no health.

After the great labour that the ministers of the word have in the raging sea, Christ rewardeth his with a very costly and glorious feast in his kingdom: there will he be the bread of life, that feedeth and satisfieth them for ever.

O merciful God, grant unto us all, that we may faithfully

cleave unto thee, and follow thy commandment.

Tame thou

our body and members in honest labour, that we loiter not in vices. O draw our hearts alway upward; that, all temporal things set apart, we may haste only unto thee. 0 gracious Father, give us such faithful fishers, as being true and careful in their office, may with the net of thy holy word draw us out of the raging sea; that we with them, and they with us, may enjoy the everlasting banquet. Amen.

[John xxi. 15—17.]

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon Joanna, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith unto him again. the second time, Simon Joanna, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon Joanna, lovest thou me? Peter was sorry, because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

DOCTRINE AND FRUIT.

FORASMUCH as Peter had taken a special grievous fall, Christ lifteth him up with a special comfort; but so, that he setteth forth unto all shepherds of his sheep, what their office is. Peter had many sins forgiven him; therefore was it Luke vii. meet that he should love the Lord the more. And seeing he had thrice denied, he maketh now a three-fold confession; so that now the tongue doth no less service unto love, than it served fear afore. Christ sheweth him, that he is received again unto grace; so that he may safely put his trust in him, seeing he committeth unto him his own sheep. As if Christ would say: "As for thy denial, I will no more remember it. And for an evidence hereof, I put thee in trust to keep my sheep. In no wise do I refuse thee; but a shepherd of my sheep will I make thee.” Neither doth he cast

John vi.

him in the teeth with his denial, but saith: "If thou love me, then take upon thee the care of the brethren. The love that thou hast willed to declare unto me in all things, and wherein I delight, the same declare thou now unto my sheep, whom I so dearly have bought. Thy life that thou wouldest have offered for me, give now for my sheep'." Now, to the intent that Peter should not say he were expelled from the apostleship through his denial, the Lord therefore giveth him a new commission to keep his sheep. As for Peter, he was no more so rash and foolish-hardy; but answereth more advisedly than afore, and taketh the Lord to witness. For he remembereth, how it had happened unto him already: therefore standeth he not arrogantly in his own conceit, neither speaketh he against the Lord; so witty and circumspect is he become through the fall.

Arrogant had he been, and high-minded; and therefore through the denial he fell very sore. But his weeping, through faith and sure confidence, purifieth him again; and in love he becometh more fervent, pondering that much is forgiven him; so that where sin was great, grace is more abundant and plentiful. Rom. v.

In Peter is the office of the other apostles, and of all preachers of the word, described: for here may we see, who are meet to be called to guide the people, and what care and diligence they ought to take for them.

But here principally we must note this, that Christ, minding to stablish his special excellent doctrine, did ever first work a notable token and miracle. As when he fed the five thousand men with few loaves, he taught immediately upon the same, how we must be sustained with the bread of heaven; even so here, when the disciples had taken a great

[The author appears to have had the following passage of Chrysostom in view: Καὶ τί δήποτε τοὺς ἄλλους παραδραμὼν τούτῳ περὶ τούτων διαλέγεται; ἔκκριτος ἦν τῶν ἀποστόλων . . . . ἅμα δὲ καὶ δεικνὺς αὐτῷ, ὅτι χρὴ θαῤῥεῖν λοιπὸν, ὡς τῆς ἀρνησέως ἐξεληλαμένης, ἐγχειρίζεται τὴν προστασίαν τῶν ἀδελφῶν, καὶ τὴν μὲν ἄρνησιν οὐ προφέρει, οὐδὲ ὀνειδίζει τὸ γεγονός· λέγει δὲ, ὅτι, εἰ φιλεῖς με, προΐστασο τῶν ἀδελφῶν, καὶ τὴν θερμὴν ἀγαπὴν, ἣν διὰ πάντων ἐπεδείκνυσο, καὶ ἐφ' ἡ ἀγαλλιάσω, νῦν δεῖξον, καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν, ἣν ἔλεγες θήσειν ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ, ταύτην ὑπὲρ τῶν προβάτων ἐπιδὸς τῶν ἐμῶν. Chrysostom. in Evang. Joann. cap. xxi. Homil. lxxxvi. p. 566. Vol. I. in Nov. Test. Ed. Paris. 1636.]

heap of fishes at Christ's commandment, and were afterward fed of him, he told them immediately upon the same, what their office is, and that they should look even so to nourish and feed those that are committed unto them. This was spoken unto Peter, and in him to all others.

Christ, who searcheth and knoweth all hearts, doth not ask this question as one ignorant, or as one that first would prove and learn; but to teach faith, and to declare it unto others. Such a question demandeth he, Matt. xvi. : "Whom say the people that the Son of man is?"-shewing thereby, what confession and faith he requireth of those that are his. Even so here the schoolmaster of the whole world, minding to put them in trust, will declare unto them with this question, how they ought to be, and the same will he print sure into them with this threefold interrogation. Here also will the Lord teach, how necessary it is, that he who is to be made a shepherd and teacher of christian people be first well known, proved, and tried, and that in many things aforehand he be found faithful. It is not requisite to take children unto such an office, but such godly and apt men as have been tried and tempted; namely, such men as have proved, suffered, and felt somewhat by experience, whereby they have learned humility and nurture.

The first thing that Christ in his examination requireth of those which must guide the people, is a great, fervent, and a notable love to God. Without this love shall soulshepherds do no good. This love to God shall bring with it love towards the sheep committed unto them. Forasmuch then as at this day the love of Christ is so greatly quenched, therefore are many curates and soul-shepherds so faint and cold to preach and teach Christ. They burn not in the love of God against vice, they print not virtue and godliness fervently into the people; for there is no love of God's name in them. Seeing then that they have no heavenly zeal unto the glory of God, and to the amplifying of his name, it is no marvel, that their preaching is so cold and unfruitful. Therefore saith our Saviour Christ unto Peter, Agapas me (ἀγαπᾷς με)? Lovest thou me? For agapao (ἀγαπάω) among the Greeks signifieth fervently, earnestly, and right heartily to love; yea, to love with a great good will; and this word he useth in the two first questions. In the third