THE FIRST part of this Ghospel: of the preparation to Christs manifestation.
Iohn (the Eremite, of whom the Prophets) preaching pennance, and liuing himself accordingly,
baptizeth the people to prepare them to Christ, 7. telling them that it is not his, but Christs
Baptisme, in which they shal receaue the Holy Ghost. 9. IESVS there is manifested from Heauen:
12. and by and by he also goeth into the wildernes 14. Beginning in Galilee, 16. after that he hath
called foure Disciples, 21. he preacheth in Capharnaum, confirming his doctrine with beneficial Miracles,
to the great admiration of al: 35. then also (but first retiring into the wildernes) in al the rest of
Galilee, with like miracles.
1. THE beginning of the Ghospel of Iᴇꜱᴠꜱ Cʜʀɪꜱᴛ the Sonne of God.
2. As it is written in Esay the Prophet: (
*
Mal. 3,1.
Isa. 40,3.
Behold I send mine Angel before thy face, who shal prepare thy way before thee. )
3. A voice of one crying in the desert. Prepare ye the way of our Lord, make
straight his pathes.
4.
*
Mat. 3,1.
Luke 3,4.
Iohn 1,15.
Iohn was in the desert baptizing, and preaching the Baptisme of pennance
✟
Iohns baptisme put them in hope only of remission of sinnes as a preparatiue to Christes Sacrament
by which sinnes were in deede to be remitted. Aug. li. 5 de bapt. c. 10.
vnto remission of sinnes.
5. And there went forth to him al the countrie of Iewrie, and al they of
Hierusalem, and were baptized of him in the riuer of Iordan,
Confessing their sinnes.
Confession.
A certaine confession of sinnes there was euen in that penance which Iohn
preached, and which was made before men were baptized. Wherby it is cleere
that Iohn made a preparation to the Sacrament of Penance which afterward
was instituted by Christ, as wel as he did by baptizing prepare the way
to Christs Baptisme.
confessing
Their sinnes.
Particular confession.
He doth not say that they confessed them selues to be sinners, which may be done
by a general confession: but that they confessed their sinnes, which is a
particular confession.
their sinnes.
6. And Iohn was
Clothed.
Iohns example of pennance.
The Holy Ghost thought it worthy of special reporting how straitly this
Prophet liued, and how he abstained from delicate meates and apparel.
See Mat. 6,3.
clothed with camels haire, and a girdle of a skinne about his loines:
and he did eate locustes and wild honie.
7. And he preached, saying: There commeth a stronger then I after me, whose latchet of
his shoes I am not worthie stouping downe to loose.
8. I haue baptized you
With water.
Baptisme in water.
Iohn with water only, Christ with the Holy Ghost, not only, as the *Heretikes hold,
that say water is not necessary, but with water and the Holy Ghost, as it is plaine
Io. 3. vnles a man be borne againe of water and the Holy Ghost, he shal not
enter into the Kingdom of Heauen.
*Calu. li. 4. inst. c. 15.
with water; but he shal baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
9. And it came to passe, in those daies came Iᴇꜱᴠꜱ from Nazareth of Galilee; and was
Baptized of Iohn.
The humility of Christ not disdaining his seruants Baptisme. Which is an example
for al faithful not to disdaine Christs Sacraments of any Priest, be he neuer so
simple, being by the Catholike Church lawfully called.
baptized of Iohn in Iordan.
10. And forthwith comming vp out of the water, he saw the Heauens opened, and
The Spirit.
The B. Trinitie.
Expresse mention of the B. Trinitie; the Father speaketh from Heauen, the Holy
Ghost appeareth in the likenesse of a doue, the Sonne also is recommended vnto
vs. Ambros. li. 1. de Sacramen. c. 5.
the Spirit as a doue descending, and remaining on him.
11. And a voice was made from Heauen: Thou art my beloued Sonne, in thee I am wel
pleased.
12. And forthwith the
*
Mat. 4,1.
Luke 4,1.
Spirit droue him out into the
Desert.
Christs example of pennance.
Christ doing pennance by long fasting, solitarinesse, and conuersing with wilde
beastes, gaue example and instruction to the Church for Lent fast, and to holy
Eremites of retiring them selues to the wildernesse and prayer.
desert.
13. And he was in the desert fourtie daies, and fourtie nights: and was tempted of
Satan, and he was with beasts, and the Angels ministred to him.
14.
⋮
The Ghospel vpon Christmas eue & vpon S. Ioseph day the 19, of March.
And
*
Mat. 4,12.
Luke 4,14.
after that Iohn was deliuered vp, Iᴇꜱᴠꜱ came into Galilee, preaching the Ghospel
of the Kingdom of God,
15. and saying: That the time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand:
✟
He doth not preach beleefe or faith only, but pennance also.
be penitent, and beleeue the Ghospel.
16.
*
Mat. 4,18.
Luke 5,2.
And passing by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother, casting nets
into the sea (for they were fishers)
17. and Iᴇꜱᴠꜱ said to them: Come after me, and I wil make you to become fishers of men.
18. And immediatly leauing their nets, they folowed him.
19. And being gone thence a litle further, he saw Iames of Zebedee, and Iohn his brother,
and them repairing their nets in the ship:
20. and forthwith he called them. And leauing their father Zebedee in the ship with his
hired men, they folowed him.
21. And
*
Mat. 4,13.
Luke 4,31.
they enter into Capharnaum, and he forthwith vpon the Sabboths going into the
Synagogue, taught them.
22. And they were astonished at his doctrine. For he was teaching them as hauing power,
and not as the Scribes.
23. And
*
Luke 4,32.
there was in their Synagogue a man in an vncleane Spirit; and he cried out,
24. saying: What to vs and to thee Iᴇꜱᴠꜱ of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy vs? I
know who thou art, the Sainct of God.
25. And Iᴇꜱᴠꜱ threatned him, saying: Hold thy peace, and goe out of the man.
26. And the vncleane Spirit tearing him, and crying out with a great voice, went out of
him.
27. And they marueled al, inso much that they questioned among them selues, saying:
What thing is this? what is this new doctrine? for with power he commandeth the vncleane Spirits
also, and they obey him.
28. And the bruit of him went forth incontinent into al the countrie of Galilee.
29. And immediatly
*
Mat. 8,14.
Luke 4,42.
going forth out of the Synagogue, they came into the house of Simon
and Andrew, with Iames and Iohn.
30. And Simons wiues mother lay in a fit of a feuer: and forthwith they tel him of
her.
31. And comming neere he lifted her vp taking her by the hand: and incontinent the ague
left her, and she ministred vnto them.
32. And when it was euening after sunne set, they brought to him al that were il at
ease and that had Diuels.
33. And al the citie was gathered together at the doore.
34. And he cured many that were vexed with diuerse diseases; and he cast out many Diuels,
and he suffred not them to speake that they knew him.
35. And rising very early, and going forth he went into a
Desert place.
Solitarie contemplation.
Christ vsed very often to retire into solitary places, no doubt for our example to
teach vs that such places are best for prayer and contemplation, and that we should
often retire our selues from worldly matters to solitary meditation of heauenly things.
desert place: and there he
prayed.
36. And Simon sought after him, and they that were with him.
37. And when they had found him, they said to him, That al seeke for thee.
38. And he saith to them: Let vs goe into the next townes and cities, that I may preach
there also; for to this purpose am I come.
39. And he was preaching in their Synagogues, and in al Galilee, and casting out Diuels.
40. And a
*
Mat. 8,2.
Luke 5,12.
leper commeth to him beseeching him; and kneeling downe saith to him: If thou wilt,
thou canst make me cleane.
41. And Iᴇꜱᴠꜱ hauing compassion of him, stretched forth his hand; and touching him, he
saith vnto him: I wil. Be thou made cleane.
42. And when he had spoken, immediatly the leprosie departed from him, and he was made
cleane.
43. And he threatned him, and forthwith cast him forth.
44. And he saith to him: See thou tel no body, but goe, shew thyselfe
✟
Our Sauiour euen when he healed the leper by extraordinarie miraculous power, would not yet
breake order, but sent the partie to the Priest.
to the high
Priest, and offer for thy cleansing the things that Moyses
*
Leu. 14,3.
commanded, for a testimonie to them.
45. But he being gone forth, began to publish, and to blase abrode the word: so that
now he could not openly goe into the citie, but was abrode in desert places, and they came together
vnto him from al sides.