suffer them vntill the haruest when the Lorde shall purge and cleanse his stoore Besides this wee ought not to cease with warning and aduertisement with correction doctrine that they may leaue off from their obstinate wickednes And when the congregation of God through his grace is quite of such euill people and discharged of such wicked blemishes God must bee thanked and diligence applyed that no wicked thing breede therein againe But aboue all things must we regard that principall and new commaundement which Christ giueth vs namely vpon the loue that he after a new sorte hath declared and performed by the which loue he reneweth those that are his and plentifully indueth them through the holy Ghost whome hee giueth in their hartes Loue comprehendeth and fulfilleth all lawes therefore Christ leaueth all other commaundements and admonisheth vs onely of loue Loue hath he himselfe shewed vs afore-hand of him must we learne to loue Loue is the assured and vnfailing euidence of the children of God Who so hath not it though he had all other vertues yet hath he nothing neither is it profitable to him that hee hath If he haue loue then hath he all thinges that are necessary for his health saluation Therfore ought we to regard nothing so much as loue There is nothing more acceptable nothing more perfect nothing better in heauen and earth than loue for it is of God and may rest no where else but in God Onlie loue maketh vs godly and shapeth vs likest vnto God namely that loue which springeth and groweth out of a pure heart out of a good conscience and of an vnfeined faith Neuertheles wee must loue one another not with wordes onely and with tongues but with the deede and in the trueth euen with our whole harts as Christ loued vs. IESVS said vnto his Disciples Let not your hartes bee troubled If ye beleeue in God beleeue in mee In my Fathers house are many mansions If it were not so I would haue told you I go to prepare a place for you And if I go to prepare a place for you I will come againe and receiue you euen vnto my selfe that where I am ye may be also and whither I go ye know and the way ye know Then said Thomas Lord we wote not whither thou goest and how is it possible for vs to know the way Then said Iesus I am the way the truth and the veritie No man commeth vnto the Father but by me If ye had knowne me yee had knowne my Father also And now ye know him and haue seene him Philip said vnto him Lord shew vs the Father and it sufficeth vs. Iesus said vnto him Haue I beene so long time with you yet hast thou not knowne me Philip he that hath seene me hath seene the Father And how saiest thou then Shew vs the Father Beleeuest thou not that I am in the Father the Father in me The words that I speake vnto you I speak not of my selfe but the Father that dwelleth in me is he that doth the workes Beleeue me that I am in the Father the Father in me At least beleeue me for the verie workes sake Verely verely I say vnto you he that beleeueth on mee the workes that I do the same shall he do also and greater works than these shall he do because I go vnto my Father And whatsoeuer ye aske in my name that will I doo that the Father may be glorified by the Sonne If ye shall aske any thing in my name I will do it Doctrine and fruite WHen the Disciples of Christ heard of his death and departing what trouble should fall vpon them and what should happen vnto them through the weakenes of the flesh they were verie heauie and dismayed for they had great loue vnto the Lorde and loath were they to departe from him and yet might they not followe him at this time Therfore louingly doth the Lord comfort and strengthen them saying Be not afraide let not your heart be troubled This comfort is spoken vnto vs all for while wee liue heere wee must looke for much trouble and aduersitie whereof springeth many times heauines feare and vnpatiencie in our flesh Therefore Christ who corporally is absent frō vs but present among vs with his grace speaketh vnto vs inwardly by his spirit in our hearts or outwardly by his word and exhortation comfortably strengthening and mightily comforting our feeblenes giuing vs gladnesse also in sorrow To be without aduersitie if it please God otherwise is not good for vs to be rash and heady is hurtfull Therefore bringeth he vs in betweene feare hope that we should turne neither to the right hand nor to the left Much aduersitie suffereth he to come vnto vs so that oft times fearefulnes and sorrow falleth on vs but this keepeth vs in his awe cutteth our combe bringeth downe our pride and humbleth vs. Out of this wee learne that if any humane infirmitie and feeblenes fall vppon vs as it did vpon the Disciples in the Lordes passion wee shall not vtterly despaire nor fall away through fearfulnes but remember that in this time it happeneth so of course that wee must suffer and beare much trouble and aduersitie to the intent that the glorie and power of GOD may bee opened in our weakenesse and yet in all aduersitie must wee bee manly and stout valiauntly fighting for his names sake And though of weaknesse we bee fallen in the field yet will he haue compassion vpon vs and graciously forgiue our fall For who would not bee afraide to fall when the earnest and feruent Apostle Peter fell so sore and all the other Disciples fledde from the Lorde If this chaunced to the beloued Disciples no man need to thinke the contrary but the like may happen vnto him Hee that standeth let him stande fast in the feare of God and looke that he fall not Christ vnto his owne that stande in this conflict and daungerous battaile giueth the shield or target of faith which they cast vp and receiue all strokes shotte therein Beleeue ye in mee saith he Who so beleeueth in Christ beleeueth in God for Christ is God This faith giueth strength and ouercommeth all aduersitie As if Christ would say Bee not afraide by reason of my bodily absence Thogh ye see me no more frō henceforth with bodily eyes yet with my grace and comfort will not I forsake you but be with you vntill the end of the world I wil alway remaine with you Onely looke that ye beleeue in mee continuing and cleauing fast vnto mee with the beleefe of the hart so will I defend deliuer and saue you for euer Be not afraid for anie aduersitie put your confidence in mee After your trouble there is prepared for you an excellent great ioy and an exceeding vnspeakeable reward For in my Fathers house are many dwellings which from euerlasting haue been prepared for all the
right hand of God is exalted and hath receiued of the Father the promise of the holie Ghost he hath shed foorth this gift which yee now see and heare For Dauid is not ascended into heauen but he saith The Lorde saide to my Lorde Sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy foot stoole Doctrine and fruite WE beleeue that Iesus Christ our king and Sauiour is not onely risen againe from death to life but also is ascended vp into heauen sitteth at the right hand of God and raigneth for euer For though hee heere a season was despised and refused as the stone of the builders yet hath the strong hand of God exalted him and mightily wrought in him Which thing may well bee perceiued by this as Saint Peter heere valiantly concludeth that hee sendeth downe from on high such an excellent gift of the holy Ghost vpon those that are his This is a sure euidence that he mightily raigneth at the right hand of God and hath all things in his hand seeing he hath power of the spirite of God whom he poureth into the hearts of his and that sometime in visible manner For the glorious triumpher ascending vp to heauen with great victorie did after the custome of great kings and let fall his giftes downe vppon vs and parted them among vs namely the gifts of the holy Ghost whom he as man receiued of the Father but after the godhead he had him alwaie for of the father and of the sonne there is one onely spirite Neither may this bee applied vnto Dauid for though hee as a iust friend of GOD bee saued and come to heauen yet did not hee immediatly after death ascend into heauen with bodie and soule that he might be reported to sit at the right hand of God for his wordes speake of another whome he calleth his Lord namely in the hundreth and ninth Psalme he saith God the Father sayd vnto my Lorde euen the Sonne Sit thou on my right hand So therefore let all the house of Ierusalem know for a suretie that God hath made this Iesus whom ye haue crucified Tord and Messias Doctrine and fruit WIth these wordes doth Peter conclude his Oration exhorting them not to doubt Iesus Christ to be the same annointed sauiour and king who of God the father was first promised then giuen for the deliuerance of the people of the Iewes and of all nations In this conclusion is comprehended the summe of the whole Christian faith namely that wee beleeue that Iesus who was borne of the virgine Marie and crucified of the Iewes is the true Christ that is to saie Messias euen the king that was ordained annointed of God to raigne foreuer ouer all faithful beleeuers Lorde of the whole world and sauiour of all such as put their trust in him This hath God the Father opened and set forth vnto vs by myracles by the resurrection by the ascension by the power of the holy Ghost that wee might beleeue it and not doubt thereof Therefore saith Iohn Who so beleeueth that Iesus is Christ the same is borne of God WHen they heard this they were prickt in their hearts and said vnto Peter and to the other Apostles Ye men and brethren what shall we doe Peter said vnto them Repent of your sinnes and be baptised euerie one of you in the name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sinners and yee shall receiue the gifte of the holy Ghost For the promise was made vnto you to your children and to all that are a farre off euen as many as the Lord our God shall call And with many other words bare he witnesse and exhorted them saying Saue your selues from this vntoward generation Then they that gladly receiued his preaching were baptised And the same daie there were added vnto them about three thousand soules Doctrine and fruite THis is the fruit and end which followeth out of the preaching of the worde of God that they whose heartes God toucheth are so sorrie for theyr sinnes that it euen pearceth them for Gods word is euen a sharpe two edged sword and entreth through to the depth Blessed are all they which so reade and heare the word of God that they begin to be ashamed of their sinnes and wickednesse beeing repentant and sorrie therefore A blessed and wholsome sorrow is that which riseth and groweth out of the truth which is opened vnto the heart by the holy Ghost Which spirite in the heart giueth hope vpon the mercie of God and driueth awaie all despaire Then beginneth a man to aske What shall I doo Then enquireth he after the will of God and such a man that so asketh is easie to be helped soone is he healed that knowing his disease would faine be made whole Vnto such a man doth the faithfull Minister of Christ giue counsell out of the Scripture and sheweth him the fruit of Christ preached and knowen He doth not bid him bestow monie on solemnities and Diriges on Images Monisteries or coâ—les inâ—â—â—ying of pardons He doth not will to runne vnto Rome or to Lawret but requireth of him the best and most profitable thing of all namely amendement conuersion of life Our mindes our workes and maners must be altered if we will please God Who so saith with his heart that he beleeueth in Christ holding Christ for his sauiour and king must forsake his euil waie eschuing euill and doing good Iere. 7.11 Isa 1 Niniue stood still vpright when they tooke vppon them true conuersion and amendement As for Hierusalem though they offered many sacrifices fasted much it helped not because there was no true reformation and forsaking of sinne needs must they be destroied and miserablie perish To botch or patch the matter it will not helpe there is no remedie wee must become godly and vertuous of life it auaileth not to dissemble God looketh into the heart which he will haue pure and vnfained Forasmuch then as we through baptisme in the faith of Christ haue receiued Christ and are marked out for him hauing once forgiuenesse of sinnes through the grace and gift of Christ let vs be of a vertuous lfe walking innocently and in the feare of God Let vs die therefore to the innocencie which is restored vnto vs againe through Christ let vs daily remember to harken follow the admonishment of the spirit which teacheth vs all good things We are they vnto whom God hath promised his grace of the spirite yea and vnto our children also so farre as we abide in his couenants Let vs thankfully receiue such excellent grace deare brethren being ware that we stain not the temple of Iesus Christ and of his holy spirit with filthinesse of the worlde that wee neuer make our selues partakers in the iniquitie of wicked and faithlesse men but to leade here a pure and cleane conuersation with a good conscience before GOD our most louing father and alwaie lift vp our minds vnto
howe high is the glorie that heere is promised vnto vs in CHRIST The onely begotten sonne of God descended and became man for vs that wee so much as were possible for our nature shoulde ascend vp vnto his Godhead Hee descended downe lowe that when wee are humbled hee might receiue and exalte vs to his owne promotion Hee that of nature is the Lorde tooke vppon him the shape of a seruaunt that of vs which naturally were bond seruauntes hee might make vs Gods children Forasmuch then as hee became man to make vs Gods and children of godly grace Hee tooke vpon him that which is ours to giue vs and to parte with vs that which is his Therefore calleth hee vs brethren and maketh his owne father common vnto vs so that hee is also our Father and our God that same which hee hath of nature doeth hee of grace giue vnto vs. For his spirite beareth recorde vnto our spirite that wee are the children of GOD for wee haue not receiued the spirite of bondage to feare but the spirit of adoption in the which wee cry Father Father Christ also calleth those that bee his not seruants but friends and brethren he will be our God and wee his people our father we his children and his couenant which he hath made with vs shall bee euerlasting for it is sealed and confirmed with the bloud of his onely begotten sonne Now haue wee fellowshippe and companie with God the father the sonne and the holy Ghost But such grace and glorie is inwardly seene with the eyes of faith and felte in the spirite beeing hidde heere in time vnder the shape of the crosse For Christ doth not straight waie by and by declare himselfe openly vnto Marie Magdalene as hee is in his glorie but standeth there as a gardener and speaketh vnto hir by the which voice she knoweth him he long deferreth the comfort permitting her a good while to weepe and lament that the ioy and consolation afterward may bee the greater But the cause why he so long delaieth his helpe and comfort from these that bee his owne is that their inward desires may bee the more feruent and earnest and that hee may stirre vp and kindle their faith Now when the fire is kindled inough then commeth hee with his comfort as it is euident heere in Marie Magdalene and in the woman of Cananee Matthew 26. Moreouer hee sendeth Marie Magdalene from him to bring the Apostles tidings of this glorious exaltation whereas shee doubtlesse had rather haue beene longer with him and to haue had the comfortable fruition of the sight of him Howbeit hee directeth her forth to declare that felicitie and poynteth her to the work of charitable loue to the seruice of her neighbour For here in time wee cannot as yet come to the beholding sight of God face to face it shall first begin after this time Now while we liue heere wee must serue our neighbour in charitable loue and do him good O God strengthen thou our weake faith in the resurrection of thy beloued son that by it our consciences being examined may well answere Illuminate our mindes and expell out of vs all darkenesse thorow the light and brightnes of the glorious resurrection O strengthen our weaknes throgh the power of thy spirite Raise vs from the death of sinne in the same spirite and power wherein thou hast raised vp thy son from the dead Comfort and strengthen vs in aduersitie and make vs constaunt therein that we may preasse through the same in steadfast hope to the ioyfull and blessed resurrection Kindle in vs the fire of thy godly loue that with earnest and feruent desire wee may seeke and finde thee through Christ Withdraw our hearts from all earthly loue of creatures and from filthines vp to heauen-ward where Christ sitteth at thy right hand that wee may lead a godly and heauenly life vpon earth Set vp the spirituall kingdome of Christ Iesu in our hearts that in vs thy name may be sanctified and thy will performed that wee may become thy vertuous children and neuer displease thee our gracious father that we continuing stil in thy mercifull couenant doe neuer fall away from the companie and fellowship of thee and thy sonne And where as thou hast giuen vs such knowledge grace and vnderstanding graunt that we may make the same knowne vnto many beeing alway readie through charitable loue to serue our brethren Amen It followeth now further in the historie how the women that first were with Marie Magdalene at the sepulchre and being afraid fled away no man saying ought vnto them returned now more stoutlie boldly to the sepulchre to see what would come of that wonderfull terrible matter WHen the women came to the sepulchre found not the bodie of Iesu they were sore troubled in their minds And behold two men stoode by them in shining garments And as the women were afraide bowed down their faces to the earth they said vnto them Why seeke ye the liuing among the dead He is not heere he is risen Remember how hee spake vnto you when he was yes in Galilee saying that the sonne of man must bee deliuered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and the third day rise againe And they remembred the wordes of Iesu returned from the sepulchre and told all these thinges vnto those eleuen and to all the remnant And as they went to tell his disciples behold Iesus met them saying All haile And they came and helde him by the feete and worshipped him Then said Iesus vnto them Bee not afraide Go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee and there shall they see me But when the women namely Mary Magdalene Ioanna and Mary Iacob and other that were with them told these things vnto the Apostles their words seemed vnto them fained things neither beleeued they them Doctrine and fruite LOne is not idle but diligent zealous which thing may well bee perceiued in these women that ran againe to the sepulchre although they had found it empty afore Gladly would they haue found the body and done reuerence to their Lorde whom they loued This feruent zeale of the women confoundeth our coldnes vnmercifulnes towards the poore Oft times do they seeke him that is absent and that with great diligence wee receiue him not when in the poore he commeth vnto vs. No trauel labour nor cost greeueth them as for vs we pitie our substance when wee shoulde distribute to the poore which are Christs O that we could rightly consider how pretious a treasure we gather vnto our selues in heauen when we giue of our goods into the hands of the poore lending the same vnto Christ Then should not wee garnish and build timber and stone but the liuing temples of God keeping them from wind and raine and from decay namely that they suffer no extreme pouertie nor be destitute of helpe Such a
these things and so to enter into his glorie And hee began at Moses and all the Prophets and interpreted vnto them in all Scriptures which were written of him And they drewe nigh to the towne that they went vnto and he made as though he would haue gone further And they constrained him saying Abide with vs for it draweth toward night and the day is far passed and he went in to tarrie with them And it came to passe as he sate at meate with them he tooke bread and blessed it and brake and gaue to them and their eyes were opened and they knew him and he vanished out of their sight And they said betweene themselues did not our heartes burne within vs while he talked with vs by the way and opened to vs the scriptures And they rose vp the same houre and returned againe to Hierusalem and found the eleuen gathered together and them that were with them saying The Lorde is risen indeed and hath appeared vnto Simon And they told what things were done in the way and how they knewe him in breaking of bread Doctrine and fruite CHRIST sayth Iohn 5. Search the Scriptures 〈◊〉 they testifie of mee Also If yee beleeued Moses ye should beleeue me for he hath written of me Christ therefore willing to strengthen the weake and to teach the vnlearned expoundeth vnto them the Scriptures beginning at Moses and so thorough out all the Prophets For whatsoeuer is written in the Scripture concerning the mercie goodnes and wisedome of God the washing awaie of sinne and satisfieng for the same it belongeth properly to Christ For so worthily and euidently haue they described the passion glory of Christ that one would thinke them not to write of a matter which were to come but done alreadie as it is plaine in the Psalmes and Prophets Psa 22. Esa 53. 1. Pet. 1. c. Thus out of the Scripture we learne partlie the testimonies of the passion and resurrection of Christ partly by what waie Christ came to so high honour and glorie of his father that wee first beleeuing that Chriâ—t dyed for our sinnes and rose againe for our righteousnesse might by his resurrection be sure of a good conscience and consolation of the lyfe to come Secondly that wee in patience and obedience might learne to be obedient to our heauenly father to take vp our crosse and to follow our Lord IESVS Christ if wee will haue ioy with him wee must also suffer and trauaile with him Our head goeth to eternall ioy through aduersitie and trouble and will we enter into it through the pleasure of the worlde and lust of the flesh It passeth the boundes of all â—nitie and comlynesse and honestie for 〈…〉 to bee sluggish and slouthfull when the 〈◊〉 â—keth vppon him such trauell and paine 〈…〉 narrowe gate that wee must enter in at for thorough many tribulations vexations and miseryes must wee come into the euerlasting kingdome of heauen and all they that will liue godly in Christ Iesu must suffer persecution in this world He that will possesse an inheritance must beare and suffer all the charges belonging to the same The eternall inheritance is appointed vs of our heauenly father thorough Christ but with this addition that we receiue the possession of it in such sort as the son hath done namely with and through the crosse and trouble Blessed are they whome God the father maketh partakers of the passion of his onely begotten sonne for who so is a companion with him in suffering shall haue his eternal fellowship in heauen and inioy with him euerlasting blisse and rest Hee that vnderstandeth not this is a foole and slowe of heart to beleeue the Scriptures let that man beseech God to open the Scripture vnto him and to make him vnderstand it Where that commeth to passe ignoraunce vanisheth awaie and the heart is feruent and receiueth vnderstanding for the Lorde is the right and perfect schoole-master that toucheth the hart and pearceth it through with the arrowes of his words and ardent loue In breaking of the bread they knowe the Lorde 〈…〉 life time when he nowe woulde goe 〈…〉 and death tooke bread rendered 〈…〉 it and gaue it them admonishing 〈…〉 â—bit as they dyd the same they shoulde 〈…〉 remembrance of him Whereby they now â—hinâ—â—ng on the same wordes and beeing admonished of the act remember that it is hee Thus the breaking of the bread before our eyes in the supper is an admonishing token that Christs body was broken and dyed for vs on the crosse and the drinke an admonishing token that his bloud was shedde for the washing awaie of our sinnes And so when wee breake the bread and drinke the drinke wee ought thereby to knowe the Lorde thanking him for his death which is our life being mindfull of him and following his great loue wherein hee dyed for our sinnes AS they thus spake it was verie late the same daie which was the first daie in the weeke and where the disciples assembled together the doores were shut for feare of the Iewes Iesus came while they sate at the table and stoode in the middest among them and sayde vnto them Peace bee with you But the disciples were afraid thinking that they had seene a spirite Then sayde Iesus vnto them Why are yee troubled And why doo thoughts arise in your head And hee sayde yet agayne vnto them Peace bee with you And with that shewed he them his hands feet and side and said Behold my hands and feete that it is euen I my selfe handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me haue The 〈…〉 when they had seene the Lord. And 〈…〉 â—â—leeued not for ioy and wondered he sayd 〈…〉 ye anie thing to eate So they offered him a 〈…〉 fish and an honie combe The same hee took◠〈…〉 before them casting in their teeth their vnbeleefe 〈◊〉 â—nes of heart because they beleeued not them which 〈…〉 that he was risen againe from the dead Doctrine and fruite IN that the Euangelists describe the true resurrection of Christ they declare withal vnto whom such a high mystery was opened and shewed For when we heare how the disciples were minded and behaued themselues we learne therby what becommeth vs that we also may beleeue that Christ is truly risen againe yea not only to acknowledge the same with the mouth but also to proue and feele it in the tast of the spirite So haue wee heard afore what the desire ardent loue which God stirred vp in Mary Magdalene dyd bring to passe and what good came of the feruentnesse and diligence of Peter This we see now here for God hath a plesure to stir vp our desire when hee will open himselfe vnto vs. And therefore all the same daie from morning early vntill nyght were the disciples still more and more endued with new ioy that the desire to see Christ might be kindled more and more in them And as they were assembled
somwhat by experience wherby they haue learned humilitie and nurture The first thing that Christ in his examination requireth of those which must guide the people is a great feruent and notable loue to GOD. Without this loue shall soule shepheardes doo no good This loue to GOD shall bring with it loue towardes the sheepe committed vnto them For as much then as at this day the loue of Christ is so greatly quenched therefore are manie Curates and soule shepheardes so faint and colde to preach and teach Christ They burne not in the loue of God against vice they print not vertue and godlinesse feruently into the people for there is no loue of Gods name in them Seeing then that they haue no heauenly zeale vnto the glorie of GOD and to the amplyfiyng of his name it is no maruaile that their preaching is so cold and vnfruitfull Therfore saith our Sauiour Christ vnto Peter Agapas me Louest thou mee For Agapao among the Greeks signifieth feruently earnestly right hartily to loue yea to loue with a great good will And this word he vseth in the two first questions In the third question he saith Phileis me Louest thou me Phileo signifieth so to loue that one be louing to another shew him friendship therefore doth Peter take the Lorde himselfe to witnesse As for the high excellent loue hee dare not bragge of it but saith Philose which is as much to say as I haue hitherto doone all that becommeth a friend to do If any derogation or hinderance bee done to thy honour and name I am hartily sorie for it as a friend is iustly greeued if his friend be vilely intreated Thus the Lorde with the three questions layeth hard vnto Peter for a notable loue is it that hee requireth of those to whom he committeth his sheepe in his absence Peter had a good conscience knew no falshood or deceite by himselfe but bare a notable and feruent loue vnto Christ yet by reason of his former fall and this oft questioning he was partly out of quiet fearing least peraduenture there laye yet hid in him some secret thing that displeased the Lord or were against him or that happily he should not stand in such fauour with Christ Therefore said he Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest the harts of all men and wotest that I beare thee a good heart and friendly mind which wordes proceed of a meeke feruent hart Christ knoweth better how we loue him than we our selues Thus a shepheard oght to haue an ardent loue vnto Christ and yet not to stand high in his owne conceit or to bragge of himselfe although he loue and bee garnished with vertues more than other men Wherein may it bee perceiued that a soule shepheard loueth Christ and is his friend Verely in louing his sheepe which Christ hath cōmitted to him Therefore saith Christ alway vpon the same Feede my sheep But Christ vseth here two distinct words First he saith Vosce that is feed them pasture them fodder them Secondly he saith Poimene that is bee thou vnto them a heardman take thou care for them as it beseemeth a shepheard be thou a shepheard vnto my sheepe keepe them from the wolfe from al such hurt First he requireth of him a feruent loue then committeth hee his sheepe vnto him a treasur◠great deare redeemed bought with the pretious bloud of Christ As if he would say If thou loue me declare the same in care and loue toward my sheep whom I commit to thy charge The sheepe are Christes not the shepheards As forsuch shepheards as keepe them so that they make them hang vpon themselues those loue themselues not Christ They that seeke their owne glorie profit and lucre among them are not faithfull shepheards Against such doth crie the threefold voice of Christ Feed keepe my sheepe mine saith he not thine Feed them oppresse them not flay them not Feede them not thy selfe Seeke my glorie not thine own For some there bee which as Paule with weeping teares complaineth that seeke themselues not the glorie of Iesus Christ Of these spake Paule also afore 2. Timoth. 3. Men shall be louers of themselues couetous c. Where the wicked roote of selfe loue is in a Curate there followe all the vices which hee in the same place maketh mention of Who so nowe will bee a louer of Christ and a faythfull shepheard sciences that they may be fruitfull and comfortable to the whole Christian congregation If this might come to passe then should there be no lacke of wise counsellors and actiue men profitable to be in common authoritie and also amongst christian people there shuld be found men meet to be made ouer-seeers in the ministery of Gods word with which men the people should be wel worthily prouided for Good vertuous teachers bring foorth a vertuous and godlie people And doubtlesse the meaning of those that gaue such goodes to monasteries churches was at the first that they thoght therby to serue God and to doe good vnto the poore If such goods then as heeretofore haue beene euill bestowed bee now profitably and blessedly turned to the honour of God and commoditie of the whole Church then is the last will and meaning of the founders fulfilled They also that must pay such rentes tithes goods will be the readier so to doe if they see that the same is well and profitably bestowed Then shall not they vntruly but faithfully performe and pay all thinges when they consider that they doe seruice vnto God himselfe Graunt vs all O God to harken and be obedient vnto the voice of true shepheards and giue vs hearts to haue in great honour and worthily to esteeme of such faithfull shepheards as vppon earth are thy Ministers and stewards by whome and in whome thou speakest to vs and with vs that wee shewing vnto them all reuerence and honour which they be worthie of for thy sake may giue them honest liuinges and consider howe that Christ thy sonne our Lorde teacheth the same Math. 10. and Paule thy seruaunt 1. Cor. 9. Reason it is seeing they sow spiritual things vnto vs that they of vs reape thinges corporall O Lord remooue away the contempt of thy woorde and ministers for the same neuer escaped without great punishment and harme IESVS said vnto Peter verely verilie I say vnto thee When thou wast young thou girdest thy selfe and wentest whither thou wouldest but when thou art olde thou shalt stretch out thine hand and another shal gird thee and lead thee thither as thou wouldest not This hee said signifyng with what death he should glorifie God And when he had spoken this he said follow me Doctrine and fruite IT is not sufficient to haue begunne except the soul shepheard continue in his office and faithfulnesse For to take the cure and charge of the sheepe bringeth great danger losse trauaile and labour with it Many a time must a faithfull shepheard ieoperd his
testifieth of these things wrote these things and we know that his testimony is true There are also many other things that Iesus did which if they should bee waitten euerie one I suppose the world could not contain the bookes that should be written Doctrine and fruite THE former wordes which Christ spake vnto Peter Follow me were spoken vnto him in this meaning that he should followe the foot-steps and passion of Christ namely with worde and deed to goe the waie that Christ had gone But in asmuch as Peter is a figure of the Church Christ spake those wordes not onely vnto him but vnto all faithful beleeuers For the Church of Christ while shee dwelleth heere temporally in many troubles and afflictions she foloweth Christ her spouse and head who also deliuereth her from all aduersitie Shee loueth Christ and in the behalfe of his truth she striueth vntill the death for seeing Christ dyed for all it is meet that they which are his doo follow his foot-steppes To followe Christ is nothing else than stoutly to suffer and ouercome despite and pouertie in this world for his sake And God truly euen in his wrath which wee with our sinnes deserue cannot forget his mercie Ouer and besides the manifolde comfort and helpe which he otherwise declareth vnto vs he hath giuen vs his own sonne to be our mediator by whom if we put our trust in him we should be saued deliuered from eternall death that we liuing from hence forth still in faith hope and charitable loue as pilgrimes in this world and beeing in all troubles aduersities preserued by the corporall and spirituall comfort of God might walke innocently before his sight in him who is become our way vnto God It is no vile thing to suffer to be put to death for Christ and his truths sake yea a man cannot die a more honorable death than when for the truth innocently he suffereth with a good conscience and with an vpright minde No man in deede ought to put himselfe in daunger arrogantly wilfully or for vaine-glorie Wheras Peter asketh a question concerning the disciple whom the Lord loued what he should doo it is a nicenesse and vnprofitable curiositie that serueth nothing to edification and therefore it pleaseth not the Lord. Whatsoeuer edifieth not that ought not we to desire of Christ Let euery man looke to himselfe waiting vpon his owne businesse and office and not to be curious in another mans matter whatsoeuer is not committed vnto his charge and belongeth not vnto him let him not meddle withal Peter loued Christ so did he them also therefore asked he what should become of him and whether he should remayne styll ot die for hee was verie loth and vnwilling to departe from him And so he passed more vpon Iohn than vppon the precept and commission of Iesus Christ Such curious backe looking doth the Lord rebuke Wee many and sundrie times doo regarde and esteeme more the thing that wee loue than that which God commaundeth and biddeth vs. But such loue is verie hurtfull and especially in those that should be soul shepherds Christs wil is that they haue respect to his worke and commandement and with a feruent loue to perfourme the same not medling with other busines not needfull To enquire curiously of other mens matters bringeth not alway profit but much rather vnquietnes Therefore Christ remoouing Peter from such curious questions draweth his mind vnto a better thing namely to follow him As for that which he desireth to know Christ telleth him that it is no point of his charge as if Christ would say what hast thou to doo with other folkes busines Thou hast heard what I haue commanded thee look that thou faithfully do the same What inquirest thou after other mens matters Thus looking diligently and faithfully to our own charge and expelling the affection of the flesh wee should neither desire curiously to aske any thing beyond the will of God neither to looke vpon any other men but vprightly to follow the Lord. Here also we learne that in the commission and final departure of the faithfull there be manifold differēces Some rest in the Lord blessedly without any speciall heauy affliction but some it pleaseth God to bring through sore trauaile and exceeding trouble laying the greater burthen vpon him according as it was tolde Peter afore hand that he should be crucified but not Iohn They now that are admitted to feede Christ his sheepe prepare themselues and bee alwaies readie without any curiosity to follow the will of God Whereas Iohn in the conclusion of his booke refuteth the erroneous opinion of some it is an euidence of his meeknesse and sinceritie It was not so spoken of the Lorde saith hee that the same Disciple should not die whereby Iohn confessed that he himselfe also was mortall His writing wil he haue credited for he hath written nothing saue onely the truth wherof he may well testifie that which he hath seene Yet saith he hath not written all but only that whereby we may obtaine eternall life as wee haue heard sufficiently afore THE eleuen Disciples went away into Galilee into a mountaine whereas Iesus had appointed them And when they saw him they worshipped him but some doubted And Iesus saide These are the wordes which I spake vnto you while I was yet with you that all must needs be fulfilled which were written of me in the lawe of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalmes Then opened hee their wittes that they might vnderstand the Scriptures and saide vnto them Thus is it written and thus it behooued Christ to suffer and to rise againe from death the third day and that repentance and remission of sinne should be preached in his name among all nations and must begin at Hierusalem And ye are witnesses of these thinges And behold I will send the promise of my Father vppon you But tarrie ye in the Cittie of Hierusalem till ye be endewed with power from on high Doctrine and fruite THE Lorde minding to make his Disciples assured of his Resurrection instructeth them first well in his passion which hee declareth out of the Scripture and printeth it in their hearts He teacheth them that it was necessarie that Christ should suffer and die yea euen thus to die namely vppon a crosse vpon a tree On the tree was the transgression committed vpon the tree behooued it the restitution to bee made vpon the tree was death fetched vpon the tree was life giuen vpon the tree must satisfaction bee made for the lustes of the flesh which on the tree were first conceiued And would God that we rightly knew the passion and crosse of our Lorde Iesu Christ then shoulde the glorie of the resurrection be well knowne and loued of vs. O Iesu graunt vs grace right to consider what wherefore and with what loue and feruentnes thou hast suffered for vs then shall our heart feele profitably enioy the sweete fruite of thy