stained and defiled by sin, might be restored unto us, and that we thus might become partakers of eternal life. What they be, unto whom God giveth his Spirit, that see we well here; namely, even unto those, that in unity of faith and fervent love are gathered together with one accord; for of all unity he is the fountain and original. In contentious and proud hearts dwelleth not the Holy Ghost: therefore is it meet that we pray:

Come, O Holy Spirit, replenish the hearts of thy faithful believers, and kindle in them the fire of thy love, thou that through manifold tongues hast gathered together all the nations of the heathen in unity of faith. O take all dissension and discord out of thy holy church, and make us to be of one mind in unfeigned love, without the which we cannot please thee.

[Acts ii. 5-11.]

THERE were dwelling at Hierusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation of them that are under heaven. Now when this was noised about, the multitude came together, and were astonied; because that every man heard them speak with his own language. They wondered all and marvelled, saying amongst themselves: Behold, are not all these which speak of Galilee? And how hear we every man his own tongue, wherein we were born? Partheans, and Medes, and Elemites, and the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, and of Jewry, and of Capadocia, of Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, of Egypt, and of the parts of Lybia which is besides Syren, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians; we have heard them speak in our own tongues the great works of God.

DOCTRINE AND FRUIT.

THE eternal Wisdom hath endued all good minds diligently to learn and search the thing wherein they think

Mal. ii.

to find that which they desire: and what can be more
worthy to be desired, or more acceptable to the mind of
men, than eternal life and salvation, which only consisteth
in God the highest good of all? Now was the sacred scrip-
ture given by the Holy Ghost, that man thereby might
be guided and led unto salvation, and to most excellent
felicity. For they that exercise themselves in holy scripture,
studying and perusing it, ought thus to do; even to direct
themselves and others unto life. Therefore, by the ordi-
nance of God, there hath been ever men in all nations,
which to instruct others have applied themselves to the
scripture; as among the Jews we find Levi, of whom in
the prophet Malachi it is written, that "the law of the truth
was in his mouth, and no wickedness in his lips; that he
walked before God in peace and equity, and converted many
from ungodliness: for the lips of the priests are sure of
knowledge, and the law is required at his mouth; for he
is a messenger of the Lord of hosts." Thus, as it
Thus, as it may well
be conjectured, there were at Jerusalem congregations of
learned men, that exercised themselves in the holy scripture.
For though all wisdom come of God, as the fountain and
well, and no man can be learned, whom God himself teacheth
not; yet will he not give his grace, Spirit, and knowledge
to the idle, slothful, and unthankful, neither to the proud;
but unto those that with meekness and fear of God practise
themselves in the scripture, and that, applying unto fervent
prayer, do not despise the means and gracious gifts granted
them of God.

And if any man will say, that all falsehood and destruction, all erroneous doctrine and discord, were come into the church by such as be learned; let him consider, that the thing which in himself is good, ought not for the abuse's sake to be refused. Remove the abuse, and then the thing is good and profitable. Wine is a profitable and wholesome thing, created of God for the behoof of men, and is never dispraised of any witty man to be evil, because many do abuse it, and is drunken: even so is holy scripture and other profitable sciences to be esteemed as high gifts, although many men, puffed up with pride, blinded in covetousness, and entangled with other affections, have misused the same scriptures.

In the papistry, the universities, colleges, cathedral churches, and monasteries, have highly exalted the pope and his false faith, and by false interpretation of the scripture brought him so far, that the doctrine of the faith and Christ is utterly darkened. Now, whereas lewd learning with false science, with wrong understanding of scripture, have brought such high things, great goods, and plentiful riches to pass, drawing so much people unto themselves; we ought not therefore to cease from reading and exercising of the scripture, but to take upon us to further the true religion and faith of Christ, and to set it forth again with no less diligence than they do theirs. If we will that the true faith of Christ shall grow, continue, and increase, then we must bring the same to pass by true understanding of the scripture, by pure, sound, and wholesome doctrine. With the truth must lies be banished, with sound doctrine must false be rooted out, with the light must darkness be expelled. But how can the true understanding of the scripture, the undoubted, wholesome, and sound doctrine, be had, when men do neither exercise and employ themselves, nor apply their endeavour, study, and diligence therein?

All the charges therefore and expenses, which heretofore have been bestowed upon the unprofitable and noisome learned men, ought now to be converted to godly colleges and studies; to the intent that little seeds, which God hath laid up in young wits, may fruitfully grow, be planted, and brought forth. "If thou seek wisdom, as the gold," saith Salomon, "thou shalt find it." Gold is with great travail and labour digged out of the inward and secret veins of the earth, and of the high hills; it raineth not down upon men's heads even so must knowledge and wisdom be gotten with great travail and diligence, not with loitering and idleness. But when God giveth us his gifts, we must look that we be not unfaithful in them, but use and bestow them to his glory and edifying of his church. Where godliness cometh to knowledge, or where they two are together in one man, God is highly to be thanked for so excellent a gift and grace, and greatly is such a gift to be had in estimation; but where as pride, heaviness, contention, greediness, and self love, is in a learned man, there is not a more hurtful poison found upon the earth.

1 Cor. viii.

O God, thou that of thy grace and fatherly love hast given so good and excellent gifts with singular light of all sciences; grant unto such as be learned a heart and mind, that in all things they may have respect only to thy glory, and that in all their readings, writings, teachings, and doctrines they may prefer the same. For "knowledge puffeth a man up, but love edifieth.” O suffer not thy holy and excellent gifts to be stained, defiled, and marred, with the filthy dirt of men's affections. Grant that our studies be not heathenish, but godly and christian. Preserve the tender and good youth from wicked and ungodly schoolmasters; that the pure hearts which thou hast consecrated to be a temple for thee and thy holy Spirit, be not polluted with vice and filthiness.

Acts ii.

[Acts ii. 12-21.]

THEY were all amazed, and wondered, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Other mocked, saying: These men are full of new wine. But Peter stept forth with the eleven, and lift up his voice, and said unto them: Ye men of Jewry, and all ye that dwell at Hierusalem, be this known unto you, and with your ears hear my words. For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day but this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit in those days, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams : and on my servants, and on my handmaids, I will pour out of my Spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy : and I will shew wonders in heaven above, and tokens in the earth beneath, blood, and of fire, and the vapour of smoke; the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

DOCTRINE AND FRUIT.

WHEN the truth is published in the church of Christ, and the power of God uttereth itself, there be always some simple people, that of good mind seek to know that which they understand not, and therefore they demand questions: unto those the Lord doth gladly open himself. But again there be others, that despise, slander, mock, and abhor all holy things, as in the old and new testament we have many witnesses of the same. Jerem. xx. xxvi. xxxii. John viii. x. xi. Acts xvii. For the natural man understandeth not the 1 Cor. ii. things that appertain unto God. And thus do they most of all, which, being puffed up in the wisdom and science of men, have not yet attained to the spirit and right kernel of the scripture: in the sight of which men the wisdom of 1 Cor. i. God, and preaching of the cross of Jesus Christ, is but a derision and foolishness. But blessed are they, that in the singleness of their heart, with pure minds, in meekness, obedience, and in the true fear of God, submit themselves unto his doctrine. From them cannot God hide himself; Matt. xi. but openeth their minds, that they may understand the Luke xxiv, scriptures. For they that of a good mind do here ask the question, "What meaneth this?" are afterwards converted by Peter's preaching. Peter, the fervent disciple of Christ, the faithful shepherd of Christ's sheep, as soon as he receiveth the Spirit, is bold to step forth, and to confess him whom before he had denied.

But first he persuadeth that the disciples were not drunken for if such vice were in the ministers of Christ, and they truly convinced thereof, it should bring unto the gospel and name of Christ great hinderance, stain his doctrine, and make it to be despised and subject. Most diligent therefore ought we to be in keeping us from such vices, whereby our office, ministration, and doctrine might be suspect and set at nought. Yet must we not defer too long in answering such evil reports: for more diligence must we apply in setting forth the name and glory of God, than in defending and maintaining our own estimation.

Thus the apostle Peter, in answering that objection concerning drunkenness, doth shortly pass over, and saith;

Matt. xi.