other of most especial regard and worthy of the best obseruation it seêmeth the Apostle so accounted of the resurrection for what is there more necessarie for our christian meditation then héere to call to minde that it was hee who did redéeme Israel that as he rose powerfullie in himselfe so also did hee in those that beléeue on him that hee rose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according vnto the Scriptures that hee rose by way of equitie for first hee humbled himselfe then God exalted him giuing him a name aboue all names That hee rose by way of power for being without sinne death could not holde him for it was vnpossible he should be holden of death 5 He whom Iohn not long before had séene as a sacrifice offered vpon the Crosse when hee was as the Prophet speaketh without for me to looke vpon now hee séeth him after another manner then amongst théenes nowe walking amongst the seauen candlestickes then cloathed in purple by way of derision nowe cloathed as the Sunne then called a King by those that reproached him now called the King of Kings by them that honor him Wherefore as we haue séene him in his humility so with Iohn also let vs sée him in his glory As we haue séene him fighting for vs in his passion so let vs also beholde him tryumphing for vs in his resurrection for all was for vs. In the passion and resurrection of Christ our Sauiour consisteth the summe of all our happines he dyed for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification vnlesse he had dyed we had not been deliuered from sinne and consequently from death vnlesse hee had rose from the dead wee had not receiued comfort of rysing againe from the dead his passion remoued away that which was euill his resurrection brought vnto vs that which was good As in these two wee haue a double benefit so haue wee a double example in his passion an example of suffering in his resurrection of hope when wee haue suffered Which doth shew in vs two liues the one in the flesh laborious which we must endure the other when wee are deliuered from the flesh which wee must hope 6 Now we must not onely acknowledge with the mouth or beleeue in the heart this sacred truth of the resurrection but we must also be raysed vp to newnes of life for thus much dooth the holy Ghost require of vs in beléeuing the resurrection Wee are sayeth the Apostle buried with him by Baptisme vnto his death that like as Christ was raysed from the dead by the glory of the Father so we also should walk in newnes of life And this is the similitude which wee doe carie of his resurrection This is to set our affection on heauenly things or thinges that are abaue where Christ fitteth at the right hand of God and this is the third thing that we should apply our selues vnto in beléeuing the resurrection from the dead that is first to rise with him from the death of sinne and consequently to be raysed by him vnto a hope of the resurrection vnto eternall life 7 It is wonderfull to consider with how many strange enemies Christ had to do at once with the world the Prince of the world with death and sinne the cause of death Who would haue thought that one shéepe should haue béene able to haue withstoode so manie Wolues but yet heare the triumphant voyce of the conquerour Death where is thy sting Hell where is thy victorie the sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the Lawe The Apostle like a valiant champion goes forth and offers challenge and combate to all these or anie of them Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen If Sathan say that will I because they haue followed the wayes of ungodlines If the world say I will lay to their charge the manie vanities they receiued of me if the Lawe say I will indite them because of transgression if death say I will arrest them by reason of sinns S. Paul answereth them all with a short reply Iesus Christus mortuus est imo resurrexit Iesus Christ is dead yea he is risen from the dead as if hee would say that same rising of Christ from the dead hath beâ—…t you all of all your force and nowe all your Pleas are frustrate Nay howe is the poore Captiue comforted when the Iudge himselfe shall say Who shall detaine this man I haue paâ—… his ransome 8 What a ioyous thing is it nowe to be strengthened in the faith of the Resurrection First in regard of the calamities of this life for what shall dismay vs séeing the members hope to be ioyned with their head Secondly though this life be transitory and troublesome yet Daniel shall be deliuered out of the Lyons den The Doue shall returne to the Arke with a braunch of Oliue when once the flood and waters are fallen Ieremie shal come out of the pit whereinto hee is cast of his enemies Our noble Dauid hauing gotten the victorie is gone triumphantly to raigne in Ierusalem we all his people and armie tracing and trayning after him wee were detayned and held as captiues of cruel enemies but by Christ the enemies are vanquished and wee deliuered how are we deliuered but by the sonne of God was it not his suffering onely that was as hath beene said the remouing of euill Him selfe saith what profit is there in my blood if I goedowne to corruption as if he would tell vs there were something adioyned héereunto to make his suffering glorious beneficial vnto others and this was his resurrection 9 Euery effect naturally doth shew his cause The resurrection was the effect of his deitie and therefore gaue euident Testimonie he was God Againe his resurrection confirmeth our faith for so doth S. Paul reason against the Pseudo-Apostoli if the dead rise not then is not Christ risen if Christ be not risen then where is our beléeuing but Christ is risen therefore there is a resurrection The head doth not rise without the body The head is risen the body therefore shall rise So the resurrection of Christ is the cause of our resurrection and he rising we all rise The Lord is King sayth the Prophet Let the earth reioyce end the â—…es be glad therof The first fruites being sanctified all the other fruits are hallowed vnto the Lord Thomas bring hiâ—…er thy hand and féele the print of the nailes Blessed are those that haue not seene and yet doe beléeue That which befell Christes body saith S. Austen the third day shall befall our bodies in the last day 10 Foure sortes were there which behelde heard the whole manner of our Sauiours passion and resurrection The first were a kind of men which onely were present as spectators hearing and séeing what was done without further obseruation and these were many of the common people which following their owne
vs his righteousnesse hee gaue himselfe a sacrifice to saue vs and wee giue our selues a sacrifice to serue him Chap. 28. Of Christs resurrection from the dead and how the veritie hereof doth much strengthen our Christian faith LOue saith Salomon is as strong as death wee shall see in the resurrection of our Lord this verified whom we haue considered in his passion dying for our sinnes for héere we find that loue which was stronger then death Now behold we him as a Champion returning from thâ—… spoiles after so many labours and trauailes now méete we him with gratulation Our Dauid hath slaine his ten thousand our Eagle is renued our Phenix is reuiued our Ionas is come safe and sound from the belly of the Whale Our Sunne that went downe in a ruddy cloude is risen againe with glorious beames of light our graine of corne that was cast into the earth is sprung up and flourisheth our Ioseph is deliuered out of prison our Sampson hath caried away the gates 〈◊〉 his enemies our spouse is 〈◊〉 the voyce of the Turtle is â—…ard in our land Christ our reâ—…er is risen from the dead He is risen early that was late in the euening layde in the Sepulâ—…r after his dolefull passion hee is risen hee is risen whereâ—… with the Prophet wee say Sorrowe may endure for a night but ioy commeth in the morning Christ hastened his resurrecâ—…n that his disciples might not 〈◊〉 long dwel in sorrow he would â—…t their mournful harts should 〈◊〉 reciue comfort Christ rose â—…ly the third day to haue layen â—…ger might haue bred doubt of 〈◊〉 rising to haue rose sooner of 〈◊〉 dying Had only the sorrowâ—… Apostles or those women â—…at came mourning vnto the â—…epalcher the ioy of the resurâ—…ion No this was the ioy of thousand thousandes which may say with Dauid This is the day of the Lord wee will reioyce and be glad in it Looke we vnto the passion before mentioned there wee sée wéeping and wayling sorrowe and suffering on euery side The blessed virgine the Disciples full of heauines now all is turned into ioy The Angell appeareth in white the women runne and tell the Disciples they scarce beléeue either the Angels or one another for ioy A little before the stone is refused of the builders Deliuer vnto vs Barrabas nowe is this stone the head of the corner which ioynes together the building of two nations both Iewes and Gentiles A little before we haue no other King but Caesar now is hee a King aboue all Caesars A little before he trusted in God let him deliuer him if he wil haue him Now is he deliuered and God is with him hee with God A little before is he a lamb â—…ed vnto the slaughter but now a Lion of the tribe of Iuda A little before he was in humility and â—…ged of others now is he risen to appeare the Iudge both of quick dead at the right hand of God aboue in glory 2 Wherfore O faithfull Christian man reioyce in the Lorde yea saith the Apostle againe I say reioyce reioyce in the resurrection of thy Sauiour for manie are the benfites that hence â—…rise Nowe is thy Lorde returned from the battaile nay from the conquest ouer the deuill sinne hell and death thanks be vnto God that hath giuen vs the victorie by Iesus Christ our Lord. Beléeue that his resurâ—…ion was the cause of thy resurrection for hee which raysed Christ from the dead shall also rayse these our mortall bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in vs. If thou consider this thou shalt haue consolation agaynst all feare and dread of death for thou mayst say I knowe that my Redeemer liueth Againe I will lay me downe to sleepe and take my rest for the Lord maketh me to dwell in safety Because this was so behâ—…uefull a poynt for the stay of our christian faith Christ appeared so often vnto his Apostles after his resurrection communed with them as at other times so then especially when their hearts did burne within them as hee opened the Scriptures shewing them the veritie of his resurrection The Apostles whose charge was to teach glad tydings vnto the world the first tydings they taught was the doctrine of the resurrection The Euangelists doe most diligently set foorth vnto vs the resurrection of Christ as a thing profitable and ioyfull to all faithfull beléeuers for in the resurrection wee sée how Christ is exalted and what hope wee haue in him This they lay downe with many circumstances both by testimonies before and after before that hee had told his Disciples he must die and rise againe after in that he was conuersant amongst them forty dayes walked in the way with two of them communing of the thinges that â—…re done at Ierusalem and surely in time of sorrow to comâ—…ne of Christ and talke of him in our wearisome iourney of this life shall much comfort vs at this time Christ walketh with them their vnderstanding is opened 3 The women come vnto the Sepulcher and view euery place throughly they finde the stone â—…ed away the linnen cloathes â—…aining a signe his body was not taken away but risen for these were together laid with his body in the Sepulcher the body â—…ne the Angels testifie he is risen what say the Souldiours to this First they confesse a truth afterward corrupted with mony they giue out his Disciples had stolen away his body while they were a sleepe If they were a sleepe howe saw they the Disciples steale away the body If they were not a sléepe how could a fewe weake fishers take away the body from a band or company of armed Souldiours but let them confesse the truth as they did before vnto the high Priests and after when they were charged that they had séene a vision of Angels that he was risen indéede So the veritie is inuincible and the ioy great of the resurrection Wee see a desire and loue to Christ in Peter and Iohn for why they runne to the Sepulcher affection makes vs diligent the women come with sweet odors to annoint the body we haue no swéet odors but manie vnsauorie sins to bring vnto the resurrection there to offer vp the incense of our praise which is the swéetest offering our harts can yéeld Mary commeth néere her Lord Christ saith vnto her Woman touch me not not but that Christ had a body tangible after his resurrection but Mary touch me not doe not so much affect my presence héere on earth as my presence in heauen By this we learne to know and honour Christ as he is risen sitteth at the right hand of God aboue S. Paul writing to Timoâ—…e saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Remember that Iesus Christ is risen from the â—…ad When the Teacher giues his Scholler many lessons if he giue him one amongst that rest with 〈◊〉 Momento Remember this he thinks that of all
sought superiority they knew not what they sought wee sée the same true in the condition of the world When Gyges a great worldling would faine know if any man were more happy then himselfe thinking him most happie which had most riches and most glory it was aunswered him that one Psophidius a poore old man of the Arcadians who was rich with a little and had neuer gone all his life time froÌ„ the place where he was bred and borne but there liued peaceably that this man was far happier then hee If heathen men could so little estéeme of earthly glory what should christians do whom should they thinke most happy but those who most mind the state of happines to come and for worldly glory in the name of God let it goe The Church of Christ is not triumphant glorious in earth but triumphant and glorious aboue in heauen Toby sate musing vpon the shore of the riuer Tigris which with a swift streame ranne by him we sit downe by meditation of the inconstancie of worldlie glory which runneth a long with a maine current calling to mind that glory which is euerlasting in heauen Chap. 10. Of Christes continuall labours trauailes in the world whereby we may take a suruay of our Christian condition heere THe sicke man that is about to take some bitter medicine when he sées but the Phisition himselfe begin vnto him it makes him the more willing to receiue the potion how bitter so euer the labours end trauailes of this transitorie life haue no doubt a very vnpleasing tast to humane pallat but séeing Christ the Phisitian of our soules not onely tooke an assay thereof but euen drunk a full draught for our redemption wee should be the more willing to admit the receiuing of this medicine When wee consider his long watchings wherein hee passed whole nights in prayer his often iourneying from place to place to instruct and teach in euery City his fasting his suffering all a long from his very infancie his flying into Egypt what shall we else behold in him but a life full of labours and trauailes neuer ended but with losse of life was it not thy birth O Christian soule which was then to be brought forth when our Rachel trauailed vnto death was it not thy cause for which our Iacob endured so many yéeres seruitude hee who with one drop of blood could haue redéemed a worlde would notwithstanding suffer so many labours so many trauails that no labours whatsoeuer might dismay vs. 2 At fiue seuerall times did he so farre procéed in labours as there ensued the effusion of his blood first in his circumcision there hee began to redéeme vs secondly in his prayer in the garden there he shewed how he affected vs Thirdly when he was scourged there hee cured vs by his stripes fourthly when hee was fastned to the Crosse there he payed the price and ransome for our sinnes fiftly when his side was opened with the speare there was an issue made for the streames and riuers of grace all these were done for our redemption and yet remaine for our instruction By the first we learne to labour in cutting off the vnlawfull desires of sinne by the second to mourne with sighes and groanes for our sinnes by the third to mortifie the pleasures of the flesh by the fourth to be crucified vnto the world by the flâ—…t to haue our harts wounded with a daily remembrance of his vnspeakeable loue 3 The holy man Iob suffered as greâ—…t tryals and troubles we thinke as great might be but for all that Christes were greater for looke wee into his whole life sée we therein euery age goe we to euery place where he was conuersant in nay take wee a view of his sacred person and therein sée wee euery part suffering Euery age in his infancie how cold and hard was his cradle at Bethelem how busie was he with the doctors in the Temple To come to further yéeres what hatred did he endure most vndeseruedly of the Iewes euen hatred vnto the death Euerie place he suffered hunger in the Desert resistance in the temple sorrow in the garden contumelies in the Iudgement Hall and erucifying it selfe without the Citie Euery part his eyes suffered teares his eares reproches his tast suffred gal his head pricking of thorus his hands the pearcing of nailes his whole body is sacrificed as an offering for sin Now there is no reason that the seruant should be aboue the maister When Ionathans Armour-bearer sawe Ionathan goe vp the hard and steepie rockes he told him he would goe with him when we sée our Ionathan go before vs in the trauails labours suffered for vs should we not be emboldned to endure labours though no way answerable vnto his yet such as are agréeable with the condition of our life séeing wee are going into the land of promise by the desert of this world 4 Strange it was that Dauid a man after Gods own hart as the scripture speaketh should be so much afflicted as hee was Strange it was that Daniel a man beloued of God as the Angell told him strange it was I say that these of all others should be so much in labours and trauailes of the world as they were But considering that the life of man is but as the dayes which goe before the Sabbaoth of rest wee doe the rather lesse meruaile We sée the Sonne of God himselfe treading the wine presse alone and a man full of labours as the Prophet speaketh we sée his dearest friends in the world his owne Apostles yea the blessed virgin her selfe found this life no other but a state subiect to many and great sorrowes What should we otherwise thinke of it saith one Tota vita Christiani hominis secundum Euangelium Crux martyrium All the life of a Christian man according vnto the Gospell is no other but a Crosse and martyrdome This martyrdom saith Isidore is twofold the one In aperta passione in open suffering the other In occulta virtute in inward or hidden vertue that is a minde ready to suffer But how is it saith S. Austen that Christ cals those that labour to refresh them How is his yoake swéete when hee cals from rest to labour and sends those that are at quâ—…et to worke in his vineyard The rest that he giues saith the same Father is spiritual Iohn is banished into Patmos but Iohn heares melodie from heauen 5 Besides these spirituall labours wee knowe Adam in the time of innocencie laboured and that God hath made nothing to be idle that he will haue no Ciphers in his Arithmeticke or slothfull seruaunts in his vineyard Euery thing in nature doth accomplish his ende by a kinde of motion and therefore much more man of all other who by slothfulnesse doth become a very burthen of the earth For in this vice wit vnderstanding and all honest endeuours lie buried as it were in a loathsome
too saith the Apostle say Abba Pater twise Father both according to the Hebrew Gréeke shewing that God is now Father of Iew and Gentile Hee saith If it be possible referring the graunt of his petition to the will of God if it may stand with the same wil and not otherwise Hee prayeth for the remouing of that Cup yet so that looking to obedience he goeth forward towards his suffering and saith Fâ—…at voluntas tua Thy will be fulfilled What of humane desire he before mentioned hee now in action procéedeth to relinquish as if he would say Let not that be done which I haue spoken according to humane affection but let that be done for which I was sent into the world and now am willing to suffer That which he required as man to wit the remouing of the Cup he now leaueth as resoluing whollie to procéede with the will of God But was the will of Christ any way differing from the will of his Father No verily for hee saith Non quaero voluntatem meam sed voluntatem eius qui misit me I séeke not my owne will but the will of him that sent me and this manner of conditionall prayer should be remembred of vs in praying not our wils but Lord thine be fulfilled 8 Hee prayeth the third time the same thing shewing that hee goeth to pray and to pray the selfe same thing too not of forgetfulnesse but of very feruencie Whereby wee may obserue that to pray and pray againe is a part of high deuotion The Doue went forth of the Arke the first time and returned sorrowfull as she went out still the waters were vp she goeth forth the second time then the flood is abated and shee brings a branch of Oliue a signe of quiet peace First a sorrowfull prayer goeth forth still the waters of aduersitie are vp the prayer goeth forth againe behold the waters are fallen prayer brings a crop of Oliue ioy and tranquillity of mind 9 At the end of Christs praying the Angels appeare comforting him they who at this time séeme to haue presented themselues in the presence of God the Father astonished at the agonie of his Sonne came foorth and pray for the remoouing of this Cup answer is made my sonne hath of méere loue and mercie vndertaken the redemption of man by the effusion of his blood which could be brought to passe by no other meanes which the Angels hearing they returned to Christ and in honouring they comfort him and in comforting they honour him And héere obserue wee three thinges First that our Sauiour prayeth long before hee receiueth an aunswere to shew wee must not by and by giue ouer Secondly that the greater his agonie was the longer his prayer was to shewe that in greatest agonies wee should continue long in prayer Thirdlie in that the Angels came and comforted him to signifie that if wee continue with constancie the Angels reioyce ouer vs In that the drops of blood came downe it shewed the greatnesse of our Sauiours conflict wherein hee seemed both to doe and to suffer his blood was true blood according to his naturall existence but yet myraculous and supernaturall if we respect the manner for it is aboue nature to poure out together water blood which Christ did both aliue and dead behold O Christian soule thy redéemer and Sauiour cast into sweate for thy sinnes In this it is manifest how bitter his passion was whose onely thought so much chaunged nature Of this our Sauiours sweating may be gathered these seuerall obseruations first the greatnes of his agonie secondly that this agonie caused sweate when it was a cold night thirdly this sweate falling vpon the earth wee may gather that the earth or men inhabiting the earth haue benefit héereby 2 Now was presented before the eyes of the Sonne of God on the one side Gods iust iudgment and wrath towards man yet vnappealed on the other side death and hell as yet not vanquished himselfe left as it were alone to enter the conflict putting forth his hand to receiue the cup and yet he beginneth to pull it in againe but after a little while goeth forward with full resolution to the worke well begun which hee brought to a most happie end Let the deuout man learne in all the pressure of aduersity to set before him Christes agonie in the garden be it that doubtfull obiects betwéene feare and sorrow doe much obscure our naturall delights héere haue wee for times of trouble a president to follow but chiefely in the aganie of death when sick man are panting and labouring for life they are said then especially to endure an agonie for then beginneth a conflict nature drawing one way and obedience to the will of God another the spirit goeth forward and the flesh draweth backward besides many thoughts occurre about leauing the world and going to answere for our time here spent with manie other things seldome before thought vpon Our Sauiour was in an agonie when death approached whence Gregorie saith Appropinquante morte certamen adest nec immerito tune enim anima terretur cum post pusillum hoc inuenit quod in aeternum mutari non possit Death approaching an agonie is present and not without cause for then is the soule put in great feare when after a little while she findes that which neuer will be changed or altered 1 In this agonie of agonies and all other wee learne by our Sauiours example to haue recourse vnto prayer hee prayed in the Garden hee prayed on the Crosse to shewe that in times of distresse wee should principally apply our selues to prayer Moyses prayed at the Sea Daniell prayed sitting amongst the Lyons Iob on the dunghill Paule at midnight when hee was in the prison and héere Christ our Sauiour in his agonie when he not onely prayed but with great feruencie alone to shew that the minde is best eleuated vnto God when sometimes in our sorrowes wee goe aside to pray as hee himselfe heere prayeth hee withall exhorts his Disciples to pray that they enter not into temptation and surely no better remedie against temptation then prayer which prayer is the very whip scourge of euil motions When the théese heareth the good man of the house to cry and call for help he thinks there is no tarying for him if good friends be within hearing Cornelius Cornelius Thy prayers are come vp before God Wouldest thou exercise thy selfe in a spirituall life pray wouldest thou attaine the swéetnes of heauenly things pray wouldest thou haue God helpe thée in time of extremitie pray wouldest thou be deliuered from temptation pray Betwéene Babylon and Ierusalem there is a trustie messenger that often passeth thither which is well acquainted in the Kings Court and is very gracious with the King himselfe for hee shall haue audience and dispatch as soone as hee comes This messenger is prayer that euen in the silence of the night ascendeth into secret
they were nearest destruction Was it for the ouerthrow of the wals and goodly buildings that Christ wept no it was for the sinnes of Ierusalem which should be the cause of all this What affection was héere in the eternall Sonne of God to wéepe for sinfull men Euen then was hee weeping when they were most reioycing and laughing The Phisition most weepes when the frauticke man is or séemes to be most merrie because hee knowes then the daunger is greatest and therefore giues ouer to administer Phisicke any more leauing him to be lamented of his good friends 3 O that thou hadst knowne in this thy day those thinges that belong vnto thy peace Which wordes were weeping wordes and vttered with an interrupted voyce and as it were for verie sorrowe breaking oft in the middest by a manner of spéech called Aposiopesis when there was something more to be spoken but very sorrowe would not suffer him to vtter it I wéepe but O Ierusalem which art now reioycing if thou diddest know the thinges which doe belong vnto thy peace thou wouldest as well weepe for thy selfe as I doe weepe for thee Thou hast had a day of peace but there is a day comming full of sorrowe and persecution O Ierusalem because thou wouldest not accept the one thou art like shortly to rue the miserie of the other In this Christ lamented their forgetfulnesse of their estate in prosperitie they remember not what is to come after all And thus heare wee a mournfull Phisition wéeping for his wilfull patient which would not be healed nor receiue help though it were offered with teares 4 The most dolefull desolation that came vpon this Citie so mighty in promesse so glorious in fame so rich in all abundance is set forth by those who haue mentioned the tragicall ende which befell about the fortieth yée le after our Sauiour suffered the beholding thereof made Eleazar one of the inhabiters at the very time to breake out into this or the like mournfull oration O Ierusalem thou great and goodly Citie of the worlde where is now the beauty of Sion the ioy of the whole earth where is thy glory where is thy magnificence O Ierusalem Where is that Sanctum sanctorum where are thy Priests who were attendant vpon God as Angels Where are thy sages thy young men O from what glory art thou fallen to what reproach and infamie O Ierusalem Ierusalem Who can reade with drie eyes the most wofull ende of this Citie and people They refused the father and the sonne and God sent Titus and Vespasian the Father Sonne that neuer left them vntill they were vtterly defaced O Ierusalem strongly did thy enemies besiâ—…ge thâ—… but thy sinnes did more strongly assault thee They sold the Sauiour of the worlde for thirty pâ—…e and what followed in the captiuitie thirtie Iewes were solde for a pennie The Lord Iesus was apprehended vpon mount Oliuet and upon mount Oliuet was Ierusalem first besieged the Lord Iesus was crucified at the Passeouer and at the Passeouer was all Iewrie as it were shut vp in a prison Ierusalem sacked and in such sort as the Romanes themselues confessed saying That vnlesse this people had offended the God of heauen they could neuer haue preuailed against them as they did A eleâ—…n hundred thousand saith the Historie changed life with death and that within the circuite of a short time Thus haue we heard of Christes weeping ouer Ierusalem and the cause which moued him to weepe by which without farther application we may consider as Gregorie saith that their destruction is our admonition If the naturall braunches were cut off the wild may feare When Scipi saw Carthage burne hee wept being asked the reason for that saith he I know not what shall become of Rome who can but sorrow when he cals to mind that Ierusalem sometimes the Garden of the world is come to vtter desolation 5 For thrée causes did Christ our Sauiour wéepe and at three seueral times First Christ wept that wee should haue by so much the more our hope and confidence in him when wee sée him wéeping which procéeded of meere compassion Secondarily Christ wept to teach vs to weepe and bewaile our owne miserie as hee did the miserie of others Thirdlie he wept to shew vs when we should wéepe euen then when wee thinke our selues in greatest securitie At thrée times also did he wéep first in raysing Lazarus there he bewayled mans miserie Secondarily ouer Ierusalem there hee bewayled mans securitie Thirdly vpon the Crosse there hee bewayled mans infirmitie If our Sauiour Christ were séene to weepe in the presence of others wee may easily conceiue that secretly in the dayes of his flesh he often offered vp groanes as the Apostle speaketh with strong crying and teares vnto him that was able to deliuer him 6 Now what may we learne by this weeping loue of Christ Shall we sée saith Cassiodor the Prince himselfe wéeping and we in the meane while solace our selues in pleasure Is he a good childe that beholding his father sit in sackcloth and ashes will stand by laughing and sporting as nothing mooued Shall the Sonne of God wéepe for thy sinnes and wilt thou delight thy selfe in vaine mirth O Christian soule mourne a little when the house is on fire wee bring water when the soule is â—…lamed with vnlawfull desires wee bring the teares of repentance Call to minde that doctrine of Christ Blessed are they that mourne Harsh doctrine but sweetened with a â—…ssing It was the prayer of Saint Austen O God giue me the grace of teares And there is in godly mindes saith S. Ambrose a certaine delight to wéepe flendi voluptas The vnwise make but a sport of sinne sayeth Salomon their heart is as a barren land where all remembrance of God is forgotten but the wise man is conuersant in the house of mourning Pharaoh his host were drowned in the Sea as sinne and the works of sinne are in the teares of repentance Those who were diseased found cure in the troubled poole We lost our felicitie by delightfull eating and wee recouer our selues by mournfull chastening There is saith the wise man A time to reioyce and a time to mourne Many take their time of reioycing but cannot hit vpon the time of mourning O that we did knowe at the least in this our day those things that doe belong vnto our peace better is it to mourne heere then heereafter When wee are moued to mournfull passions let vs remember with how small pompe and pleasure Christ passed his time in the worlde who passed it in often weeping The two Kine carying the Arke they lowed all the way as they went and yet neuer stayed vntill they came to the place appointed we goe on wéeping in this vale of teares but yet kéepe on the way still vntill we come vnto our iourneyes end â—…nd then an ende of wéeping Heere as in Romah a voyce is heard of
gall the conpunction of the spirit On the other side we must take heede that wee giue not Christ thirsting for our saluation vinegar mixed with gall as these men did that is an euill and sinfull life which is vinegar mixed with the gal of scandalous conuersation 22 The sixt word was when he said Consummatum est It is finished that is all whatsoeuer was spoken of my suffering is now compleate the honour of my Father the good of the faithfull all that I should doe concerning my obedience to his will who gaue mee this worke to accomplish Consummatum est It is finished Nothing remaineth in this suffering but nowe my dying and now I die This our sauiour spake as hauing fought a good fight finished his course this hee spake as one hauing vndertaken a iourney nowe gone through many passages at his iourneyes end he saith Consummatum est It is finished first lifting vp his eyes to heauen Fa-thy will then beholding men vppon the earth faithfull men your health then respecting the breaking of the Serpents head Sathan the vanquishing of thy power Consummatum est It is finished O happy voyce of the Sonne of God! 23 The seauenth word was father into thy hands I commend my spirit S. Luke saith that hee syed this with a loude voyce some of the auncient Fathers â—…ke our Sauiour was nowe â—…ditating vpoÌ„ the one and thirtieth Psalme and comming vnto â—…se wordes in the Psalme In â—…us tuas commendo spiritum â—…eum Hee vttered them with â—…udible voyce Into thy hands I commend my spirit and so gaue 〈◊〉 the ghost This was nowe 〈◊〉 ninth houre of the day when 〈◊〉 Sunne was darkened the â—…th shooke the graues opened 〈◊〉 the Euangelists shewe At â—…s houre Adam sinned Hora 〈◊〉 Adam peccauit Christus exâ—…auit The same houre of the â—…ay wherin Adam sinned Christ â—…ed by dying Christ opened the gate of Paradise which Adam 〈◊〉 sinning had shut vp against 〈◊〉 and his Adam in the Garâ—…en lost life and Christ in the Garden restored life when hee yéelded himself with these words vnto his Father Into thy hands I commend my spirit These words being vttered he gaue vp the ghost his eyes closed his countenance pale his head bended down heauen nor earth euer saw such a sight the God of life the Author of life and life it selfe becomes dead In this word wee may consider many thinges as first that our departing soules should be commended into the hands of our heauenly Father Secondarily somewhat wee haue héere for the strengthning of our faith Christ bending downe his head vttered these wordes not of constraint but voluntarily who euer lay downe to sléepe so peaceably as Christ died when he gaue vp the ghost Man wheÌ„ they are dying they are scarse able to breath at this time Christ speaketh with a loud voyce Father into thy hands I commend my spirit We sée what Christes example doth teach vs to doe in commending our departing soules into the handes of God howe at the houre of his death he prayed he wept spake vnto his heauenly Father And héere also may the Christian man enter into a large field 〈◊〉 meditation vpon many things together We were more insensible then the sencelesse creatures 〈◊〉 wee should not be moued with the passion of our Lorde whose death was our life consider we 〈◊〉 great thinges the Sonne of God hath done for vs and suffered for our redemption consider be how great things they were which he suffered how great his sorrowes were which shewed the greatnes of his loue howe â—…eat his iniuries were when he was falsly accused mocked spetted vppon buffeted whipped crowned with thornes berest of â—…s clothes burdened with his crosse pierced with nailes lanced with a speare and so dyed They shall sée him whoÌ„ they haue pierced When Ioseph saide vnto his brethren I am Ioseph whom you â—…d into Egypt they were so aâ—…onished they had not a word to say when Christ shall say I am your brother I am he whom you crucified how shall they be confounded that crucified him But what ioy shall they haue who beléeue on him Up O Christian soule and with the Doue make thy nest in the holes of this rock Behold the wounds of thy Sauiour Come to this Arke whither all creatures repaire to saue themselues Stand and behold a little with the deuoute women the body of thy Sauiour vppon the Crosse sée him afflicted from top to toe see him wounded in the head to heale our vaine imaginations sée him wounded in the hands to heale our euill actions sée him wounded in the heart to cure our vaine thoughts sée his eyes shut vp which did enlighten the world sée them shut that thy eyes might be turned away from beholding vanity sée those eares which were wont to heare the ioyfull hyâ—…e of the Cherubins Holy holy holy now haue heard a multitude of reproaches sée that countenaunce which was goodly to looke vpon is spetted 〈◊〉 and buffeted The blood of 〈◊〉 cried iustice iustice but 〈◊〉 blood of Christ crieâ—… mercie 〈◊〉 Oh that we had hearts 〈◊〉 meditate of the passion of our 〈◊〉 There is nothing of â—…ch we ought more to thinke 〈◊〉 to speake more to reade or 〈◊〉 to meditate of then of this â—…ause the remembrance héereof â—…tameth to the saluation of 〈◊〉 soules increaseth faith driâ—…th away despaire giueth fortiâ—…e against the afflictions of the â—…ld strengtheneth vs against â—…tatious 〈◊〉 the minde 〈◊〉 ioy causeth a loathing of 〈◊〉 and after a wonderfull maâ—… stirreth vs vp to all deuotion This our Sauiour Christ himâ—…fe well thought vpon when he 〈◊〉 so high a Sacrament so full 〈◊〉 hauenly mysteries for the â—…tinuall renuing in our hearts 〈◊〉 this his most blessed passion 〈◊〉 swéete Iesus should euer vnâ—…fulnes of this loue of thine â—…pe vpon vs Should not thy â—…ous blood soften our adamant hearts who hast deliuered vs from infinite miseries purchased by thy death O infinite goodnes and fréely offered thy selfe hast offered thy selfe vnto thy Father a sacrifice for our sinnes there is no burden heauier then sinne this hast thou eased vs of O blessed Sonne if God while I liue saith the Prophet will I call vpon the Lord yea as long as I haue any being Wee will offer vnto God the sacrifice of thankesgiuing and prayse his name for euer and euer And thus wee meditate of the passion of our Lord who suffered death to ouercome death of which Saint Austen mentioneth a double cause the one that Christ died for vs to deliuer vs the other that those whom he redéemed by his death hee might teach by his grace and by his example instruct for why did the head saith he suffer but to giue the body an example Christ humbled himselfe vnto death euen vnto the death of the crosse we ought also to humble our â—…es to bee crucified vnto the â—…ld and the world to vs vnto 〈◊〉 were our sinnes imputed â—…to