alway; for of the Father and of the Son there is one only Spirit. Neither may this be applied unto David. For though he, as a just friend of God, be saved and come to heaven; yet did not he immediately after death ascend into heaven with body and soul, that he might be reported to sit at the right hand of God. For his words speak of another, whom he calleth his Lord; namely, in the hundreth and ninth [Psal. cx.] psalm he saith: "God the Father said unto my Lord, even the Son, Sit thou on my right hand.” Matt. xxii. [Acts ii. 36.] So therefore let all the house of Jerusalem know for a surety, that God hath made this Jesus, whom ye have crucified, Lord and Messias. DOCTRINE AND FRUIT. WITH these words doth Peter conclude his oration, exhorting them not to doubt Jesus Christ to be the same anointed Saviour and King, who of God the Father was first promised, and then given for the deliverance of the people of the Jews and of all nations. In this conclusion is comprehended the sum of the whole christian faith; namely, that we believe that Jesus, who was born of the virgin Mary, and crucified of the Jews, is the true Christ, that is to say, Messias, even the king that was ordained and anointed of God, to reign for ever over all faithful believers, Lord of the whole world, and Saviour of all such as put their trust in him. This hath God the Father opened and set forth unto us by miracles, by the resurrection, by the ascension, and by the power of the Holy Ghost, that we might believe it, and not doubt thereof. Therefore saith John, "Whoso believeth that Jesus is Christ, the same is born of God." [Acts ii. 37-41.] WHEN they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter and to the other apostles: Ye men and brethren, what shall we do? Peter said unto them: Repent of your sins, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise was made unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words bare he witness, and exhorted them, saying: Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his preaching were baptized; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. DOCTRINE AND FRUIT. THIS is the fruit and end which followeth out of the preaching of the word of God, that they whose hearts God toucheth, are so sorry for their sins, that it even pierceth them. For God's word is even a sharp two-edged sword, and entereth through to the depth. Blessed are all they which so read and hear the word of God, that they begin to be ashamed of their sins and wickedness, being repentant and sorry therefore. A blessed and wholesome sorrow is that, which riseth and groweth out of the truth, which is opened unto the heart by the Holy Ghost: which Spirit in the heart giveth hope upon the mercy of God, and driveth away all despair. Then beginneth a man to ask, "What shall I do?" Then inquireth he after the will of God; and such a man that so asketh is easy to be helped. Soon is he healed, that, knowing his disease, would fain be made whole. Unto such a man doth the faithful minister of Christ give counsel out of the scripture, and sheweth him the fruit of Christ preached and known. He doth not bid him to bestow money on solemnities and dirges, on images, monas Col. iii. teries, or cowls, in buying of pardons; he doth not will to run unto Rome, or to Lauret1; but requireth of him the best and most profitable thing of all, namely, amendment and conversion of life. Our minds, our works, and manners must be altered, if we will please God. Whoso saith with his heart, that he believeth in Christ, holding Christ for his Saviour and King, must forsake his evil ways, eschewing evil, and doing good. Jere. vii. xi. Isai. i. Nineve stood still upright, when they took upon them true conversion and amendment. As for Hierusalem, though they offered many sacrifices, and fasted much, it helped not: because there was not true reformation and forsaking of sin, needs must they be destroyed, and miserably perish. To botch or patch the matter it will not help; there is no remedy; we must become godly and virtuous of life. It availeth not to dissemble; God looketh into the heart, which he will have pure and unfeigned. Forasmuch then as we through baptism in the faith of Christ have received Christ, and are marked out for him, having once forgiveness of sins through the grace and gift of Christ, let us be of a virtuous life, walking innocently and in the fear of God. Let us die therefore to the innocency which is restored unto us again through Christ let us daily remember to hearken and follow the admonishment of the Spirit, which teacheth us all good things. We are they, unto whom God hath promised his grace of the Spirit, yea, and unto our children also, so far as we abide in his covenants. Let us thankfully receive such excellent grace, dear brethren, being ware that we stain not the temple of Jesus Christ and of his holy Spirit with filthiness of the world; that we never make ourselves partakers in the iniquity of wicked and faithless men; but to lead here a pure and clean conversation with a good conscience before God, our most loving Father; and alway lift up our minds unto the place, where Christ our Lord and King reigneth at the right hand of God, from whence he shall come and take us unto himself. At all times therefore ought we to watch and wait for his coming, that we may joyfully receive him, and be partakers with him in eternal bliss. Here also we learn, how faithful believers use themselves [1 Loretto.] in the outward sacraments. They that, being moved by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost in their hearts, do hear the eternal word preached, giving credit unto it, and gladly receiving it, these do not afterward despise the outward sacraments, which God hath instituted for the welfare of his church, but use the same with all obedience, good-will, and To use the sacraments without faith profiteth not, but rather hurteth; to be loth to use them declareth a compulsion and unbelief. reverence. For though the water in baptism be an outward thing, and cannot cleanse the soul from sin; yet the faithful do know right well, that Christ, the eternal Wisdom in whom they believe, did not institute it in vain; and therefore will not they contemn or leave unexercised the ordinance of their Head, to whom they as members are incorporated by faith. For they know, that Christ with these outward tokens thought to couple and knit together the members of his holy church in obedience and love one towards another; whereby they knowing one another among themselves, might by such exterior things stir and provoke one another to love and godliness. They know also, that sacraments are evidences of the promise and grace of God, which they after a visible and palpable manner do set forth, declare, and represent unto us. These tokens of grace doth no man use more devoutly and with more reverence, than he that in himself is certified and assured of the gracious favour of God; as we see in Cornelius, in Paul, and in Queen Candace's chamberlain. What fruit followeth the preaching of the gospel, it is here evidently seen: for in one day at Peter's preaching, by the working of the Holy Ghost, there came three thousand men to the church of God. God suffereth not his word to pass void and unfruitful. Very earnest therefore and diligent ought we to be, and to spare no trouble, cost, and labour, that the pure and sincere gospel, the word of truth, may every where be preached by good and faithful men; not doubting God will give blessed success thereto, that the seed sown by the minister shall bring forth fruit. [Acts ii. 42.] AND they continued in the apostles' doctrine, in the fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. John i. DOCTRINE AND FRUIT. To endure crowneth and rewardeth all works: "whoso endureth unto the end shall be saved;" without continuance may no good thing be brought to end and fruit. Therefore is it now declared, how the word preached in the church of God bringeth fruit, and what the same fruits be, wherein faithful believers do exercise themselves. Saint Luke mentioneth four things that proceed out of the faith in Christ; for faith is not void nor idle, but worketh without ceasing in them that believe. Therefore here we find a pattern and mirror, how it ought to go in the church of Christ; for where these four things be, there is Christ's church. First, the church of Christ, which is the fellowship of all saints and faithful believers, endureth, abideth, and continueth "in the doctrine of the apostles;" for every thing is preserved with that out of the which it is born. Now is the church of God born first of the word of truth: therefore in the word of truth also must it endure and be kept; daily must it be planted, nourished, and watered with the word and doctrine; the success and the increase doth God give. The doctrine of the apostles is nothing else but the holy gospel, which the Son of God committed unto them, and which they received of him; which also the prophets before Christ spake of by the Holy Ghost. What gospel was preached by the apostles, it is easy to perceive by the aforesaid sermon of Peter, and of others in the Acts, by the evangelists and epistles of the apostles; namely, that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son for it, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life." Also, he died for us, rose again from death, ascended up to heaven, and sitteth there at the right hand of God, being king and high priest for ever; in whose name |