THE BENEFITE OF Christs Death or the glorious Riches of Gods free Grace which euery true beleeuer receiues by Iesus Christ and him crucified First compiled and printed in the Italian tongue And afterwards translated and printed in the French tongue And out of French into English By A. G. 1 Cor. 2. 2. For I determined not to know any thing among you saue Iesus Christ and him crucified Phil. 3. 8. Yea doubtlesse I count all things but losse for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Iesus The third Edition LONDON Printed by I. L. for Andrew Hebb dwelling at the signe of the Bell in Pauls Church-yard 1633. To the Reader THou hast here deliuered to thee good Reader a little Treatise first written in the Italian tongue and printed at Venice after that translated into the French language and printed at Lyons and now translated and printed for thee to reade in the English tongue Enquire not of the Author hee is vnknowne and to know him would doe thee but little good Reade the booke deuoutly regard the matter of it attentiuely it may doe thee much good in these euill dayes This may be counted among the greatest euils with which this age is infected that they which are called Christians are miserably diuided about Christ And yet in truth as the Apostle saith vnto vs there is but one God which is the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him To discourse on this diuision and the cause thereof would be to some pleasing to some it would be displeasing For what one truth can please minds so diuersly diuided would God it could please all to become one in that one Christ whose name we all doe carry In this little booke is that benefit which commeth by Christ crucified to the Christians truly and comfortably handled which benefit if all Christians did truely vnderstand and faithfully embrace this diuision would vanish away and in Christ the Christians should become one To this end reade this booke and much good in Christ may it doe to all them which doe reade it Amen The Contents of this BOOKE CHAP. I. Of Originall sinne and mans wretchednesse CHAP. II. How the Law was giuen by God to the end that we knowing our sinne and not hauing any hope of ability to make our selues righteous by our owne workes should haue recourse to Gods mercy and vnto the Righteousnesse of Faith CHAP. III. How the forgiuenesse of our sinnes Iustification and Saluation depend onely on Iesus Christ CHAP. IIII. Of the effects of liuely faith and of the vnion of mans soule with Christ CHAP. V. In what wise the Christian is cloathed with Iesus Christ CHAP. VI. Certaine remedies against distrust Of the benefit that Christians receiue by Iesus Christ crucified CHAP. I. Of Originall sinne and of mans wretchednesse THe holy Scripture saith that God created man after his owne Image and likenesse making him as in respect of his body impassible and as touching his Soule righteous true good mercifull and holy But after that he being ouercome with desire of knowledge had eaten of the Apple that God had forbidden him he lost the said Image and likenesse of God and became like the bruite beasts and like the diuell who had abused him For as touching his Soule he became vnrighteous vntrue cruell pittilesse and the enemy of God and as touching his body he became passible and subiect to a thousand inconueniences and diseases and not onely like but also inferiour to brute beasts And euen as if our forefathers had obeyed God they should haue left vs their righteousnesse and holinesse as an heritage euen so by being disobedient vnto God they haue left vs the Inheritance of vnrighteousnesse wickednesse and Gods displeasure in such sort as it is vnpossible for vs through our owne strength to loue God or to frame our selues vnto his holy will Nay we be enemies vnto him as to one that must punish our sinnes because he is a iust Iudge and therefore can we not any more trust wholly to his holy mercy To be short our whole nature was corrupted by Adams sinne And like as erst it had superiority aboue all creatures so became it an vnderling to all the bondslaue of Satan sinne and death and condemned to the miseries of hell Also he lost his iudgement altogether and began to say that good was euill and euill good esteeming false things to be true and true things to be false Which thing the Prophet considering saith that all men are lyers and that there is not one that doth good because the diuell like a stout man of Armes ruleth his owne palace that is to wit the world whereof he became the prince and lord There is no tongue that can expresse the thousandth part of our misery in that we being created by Gods owne hand haue lost the said Image of God and are become like the diuell and too like to him in nature and condition willing whatsoeuer he willeth and likewise refusing whatsoeuer he misliketh By reason whereof being giuen vp for a prey to that wicked spirit there is no sinne so grieuous which euery one of vs would not be ready to doe if the Grace of God stay vs not And this our depriuation of righteousnesse and this forward inclination to all vnrighteousnesse and nanghtinesse is called originall sinne the which we bring with vs from out of our mothers wombe so as we be borne the children of wrath and it hath had his first spring from our first fathers and is the cause and fountaine of all the sinnes and iniquities that we commit wherefrom if we will be deliuered and returne againe to our first innocency to recouer the Image of God first of all it standeth vs on hand to know our owne wretchednesse For like as no man will euer seeke to the Physicion except he know himselfe to be diseased or acknowledge the excellency of the Physicion and how much he is bound vnto him except he know his owne disease to be pestilent and deadly euen so no man acknowledgeth Iesus Christ the onely Physicion of our soules except he first know his owne soule to be diseased neither can he perceiue the excellency of him nor how much he is bound vnto him except he first enter into the knowledge of his owne outragious sinnes and of the incurable infirmity which we haue receiued through the infection of our first fathers CHAP. II. How the Law was giuen by God to the end that we knowing our sinne and hauing not any hope of ability to make our selues righteous by our owne works should haue recourse to Gods mercy and vnto the righteousnesse of faith OVR God therefore minding of his infinite goodnesse and mercy to send his onely Sonne to set free the wretched children of Adam and knowing that first of all it behooued him to make them vnderstand their owne misery chose
righteousnesse and euerlasting life are come by Iesus Christ and by him death is slaine whereof Saint Paul maketh a very godly discourse which I purpose to set downe here following Wherefore saith he like as by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne euen so death went ouer all men forasmuch as all men haue sinned For vntill the Law sinne was in the world but sinne was not regarded as long as there was no Law Neuerthelesse death reigned from Adam vnto Moses euen ouer them also that sinned not after the like manner of the transgression of Adam who was a figure of him that was to come But yet the gift is not so as is the offence for if through the offence of one many be dead much more the grace of God and the gift by grace which is by one man Iesus Christ hath abounded vnto many Neither is the gift so as that which entred in by one that sinned For the fault came of one offence vnto condemnation but the gift is of many offences to iustification For if by the offence of one death reigned through one much more shall they which receiue the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousnesse reigne in life through one that is Iesus Christ Likewise then as by the offence of one that fault came on all men to condemnation so by the righteousnesse of one the benefit abounded toward all men to the iustification of life For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be also made righteous Moreouer the Law entred thereupon that the offence should abound neuerthelesse where sinne abounded there grace abounded much more that as sinne had reigned vnto death so might grace also reigne by righteousnesse vnto eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord. By these words of St. Paul we manifestly perceiue the thing to be true which we haue said heretofore that is to wit that the Law was giuen to make sinne knowne which sin we doe also know not to be of greater force then Christs righteousnesse where-through we be iustified before God For euen as Iesus Christ is stronger then Adam was so is his righteousnesse more mightie then the sinne of Adam And if the sinne of Adam was sufficient inough to make all men sinners and children of wrath without any misdeed of our owne much more shall Christs righteousnesse be of greater force to make vs all righteous and the children of grace without any of our owne good works which cannot be good vnlesse that before we doe them wee our selues be made good as Augustine also affirmeth Hereby a man may know in what errour they be who by reason of some great offence despaire of Gods good will imagining that he is not willing to forgiue couer and pardon all sinne hauing already punished and chastised all our sinnes and iniquities in his owne onely begotten and dearely beloued Sonne and consequently granted a generall pardon to all mankinde which euery body enioyeth that beleeueth the Gospell that is to say which beleeueth the happy tydings that the Apostles haue published through the whole world saying We beseech you for Iesus Christs sake Be ye reconciled vnto God for he that neuer knew sinne was made a sacrifice for our sinne that we might become righteous in him The Prophet Esay foreseeing this great goodnesse of God writeth these heauenly words which doe so well paint out the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ and the cause thereof as it is not to be found better described euen in the writings of the Apostles Who saith he will beleeue our report and to whom is the arme of the Lord reuealed But he shall grow vp before him as a branch and as a root out of a dry ground he hath neither forme nor beautie when we shall see him there shall be no forme that wee should desire him Hee is despised and reiected of men he is a man full of sorrowes and hath experience of infirmities we hid as it were our faces from him he was despised and wee esteemed him not Surely he hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrowes yet we did iudge him as plagued and smitten of God and humbled but he was wounded for our transgressions he was broken for our iniquities The chastisement of our peace was vpon him and with his stripes we are healed All wee like sheepe haue gone astray we haue turned euery one to his owne way and the Lord hath laid vpon him the iniquity of vs all he was oppressed and hee was afflicted yet did hee not open his mouth He is brought as a sheep to the slaughter and as a sheepe before the shearer is dumme so hee openeth not his mouth O great vnkindnesse O thing abominable that wee which professe our selues Christians and heare that the Sonne of God hath taken all our sins vpon him and washed them out with his precious blood suffering himselfe to be fastened to the Crosse for our sakes should neuerthelesse make as though we would iustifie our selues and purchase forgiuenesse of our sins by our owne works as who would say that the deserts righteousnesse and bloodshed of Iesus Christ were not enough to doe it vnlesse we came to put to our workes and righteousnesse which are altogether defiled and spotted with self-loue selfe-liking selfe-profit and a thousand other vanities for which we haue neede to craue pardon at Gods hand rather than reward Neither doe we thinke of the threatnings which S. Paul vseth to the Galatians who hauing beene deceiued by false Preachers beleeued not that the Iustification by Faith was sufficient of it selfe but went about still to be made righteous by the Law Vnto whom Saint Paul saith Iesus Christ shall nothing profit you that iustifie your selues by the Law for you be falne from Grace because that wee through the Spirit of faith waite for the hope of righteousnesse Now if the seeking of righteousnesse and forgiuenesse of sinnes by the keeping of the Law which God gaue vpon Mount Sinai with so great glory and maiesty be the denying of Christ and of his Grace what shall wee say to those that will needes iustifie themselues afore God by their owne lawes and obseruances I would wish that such folkes should a little compare the one with the other and afterward giue Iudgement themselues God mindeth not to doe that honour not to giue that glory to his owne Law and yet they will haue him to giue it to mens lawes and ordinances But that honour is giuen onely to his onely begotten Sonne who alone by the sacrifice of his death and passion hath made full amends for all our sinnes past present and to come as S. Paul and S. Iohn declare Wherefore as often as wee apply this satisfaction of Iesus Christ vnto our soules by faith out of all doubt we obtaine forgiuenesse of our sinnes and become good and righteous before God through his righteousnesse
And therefore after that S. Paul hath said that as touching the righteousnesse of the law he had liued vnblameable he addeth And yet whatsoeuer I haue gained by it I haue accounted it in all respects to bee but losse for the loue of Christ And specially I esteeme all things to be losse for the excellent knowledge of Iesus Christ my Lord for whom I haue counted all things to be losse and deeme them but as dung so I may win Christ and be found in him not hauing mine owne righteousnesse which is of the law but the righteousnes which is by the faith of Iesus Christ which righteousnesse is giuen of God I meane the righteousnesse of faith that I may come to the knowledge of Iesus Christ O most notable words which all Christians ought to haue ingrauen in their hearts praying God to make them to taste it perfectly Loe how S. Paul sheweth plainely that whosoeuer knoweth Christ aright esteemeth all the works of the law to be hurtfull forsomuch as they make vs to swarue from our trust in Iesus Christ to whom euery man ought to impute his saluation and to trust only vnto him alone And to inforce this sentence the more he addeth further that he esteemeth all things but as dung so hee may gaine Christ and be found incorporated in him declaring thereby that whosoeuer trusteth in his owne works and pretendeth to iustifie himselfe by them getteth not Iesus Christ neither is ingrafted into him And forasmuch as the whole mystery of our faith consisteth in the truth hereof to the end we might the better vnderstand what he meant to say he addeth and repeateth oftentimes that he had nothing to doe with all the outward iustification and all the righteousnesse that is grounded vpon the keeping of the law but that he would clothe himselfe with the righteousnesse which God giueth by faith to all them that beleeue that all our sins are fully chastised and punished in Iesus Christ and that Iesus Christ as S. Paul saith is made our wisedome righteousnesse holinesse and redemption to the end as it is written that he which will glory should glory in the Lord and not in his own works Very true it is that in the holy Scriptures there are some texts to be found which being misunderstood seeme to gainesay this holy doctrine of S. Pauls and to attribute iustification and remission of sinnes vnto workes and to charity But those authorities haue already beene well expounded by some who haue shewed plainely that such as haue vnderstood them in the sense aforesaid vnderstood them not aright Wherefore my deare-beloued brethren let vs not follow the fond opinion of the bewitched Galatians but rather let vs follow the truth which St. Paul teacheth vs and let vs giue the whole glory of our iustification vnto Gods mercy and to the merits of his Sonne who by his owne bloodshed hath set vs free from the Soueraignty of the Law and from the tyranny of sinne and death and hath brought vs into the Kingdom of God to giue vs life and endlesse felicity I say yet further that he hath deliuered vs from the dominion of the law insomuch as he hath giuen vs his holy Spirit who teacheth vs all truth and that he hath satisfied the Law to the full and giuen the same satisfaction vnto all his members that is to wit to all true Christians so as they may safely appeare at Gods Throne because they be cloathed with the righteousnesse of his Christ and by him deliuered from the curse of the Law Then can not the law any more accuse vs or condemne vs nor mooue our affections or appetites nor increase sinne in vs. And therefore S. Paul saith that the obligation which was against vs is cancelled by Iesus Christ and discharged vpon the tree of the Crosse insomuch as he hath set vs free from the subiection of the Law and consequently from the tyranny of sinne and death which can no more hold vs oppressed because it is ouercome by Iesus Christ in his resurrection and so consequently by vs which are his members in such manner that wee may say with Saint Paul and with the Prophet Osee Death is quite vanquished and destroyed O death where is thy sting O Hell where is thy victory The sting of Death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the Law But God be praised who hath granted vs victory by our Lord Iesus Christ Hee is the blessed Seede that hath crushed the head of the venemous Serpent that is to wit of the diuell insomuch that all those which beleeue in Iesus Christ reposing their whole trust in his grace doe ouercome sinne death the Diuell and hell as Christ hath done He is that blessed Seede of Abraham in the which God hath promised blessednesse to all Nations It behooued euery particular person to fight with the said horrible Serpent and to deliuer himselfe from that curse But that enterprize was so great that all the force of the whole World knit together was not able to goe thorow with it Wherefore our God the Father of mercy being mooued with compassion of our miseries hath giuen vs his onely begotten Sonne who hath deliuered vs from the venime of the Serpent and is himselfe become our Blessednesse and Righteousnesse conditionally that we accept the same renouncing all our owne outward iustifications Then my deare brethren let vs imbrace the righteousnesse of our Lord Iesus Christ and let vs make it ours by meanes of faith let vs assure our selues that we bee righteous not for our owne workes but through the merits of Iesus Christ and let vs liue merrily and assured that the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ hath vtterly done away all our vnrighteousnesse and made vs good righteous and holy before God who beholding vs ingrafted into his Sonne by faith esteemeth vs not now any more as the children of Adam but as his owne children and hath made vs heires of all his riches with his owne begotten Sonne CHAP. IIII. Of the effects of liuely faith and of the vnion of mans Soule with Iesus Christ THis holy faith worketh after such a sort in vs that he which beleeueth that Iesus Christ hath taken all his sinnes vpon him becommeth like vnto Christ and ouercommeth sinne the diuell death and hell And the reason thereof is this namely that the Church that is to wit euery faithfull soule is Christs wife and Christ is her husband For we know how the law of marriage is that of two they become one selfe-same thing being two in one flesh and that the goods substance of either of them become common to them both by means wherof the husband saith that the dowry of the wife is his and likewise the wife saith that her husbands house and all his riches are hers and of a truth so they are for otherwise they should not be one flesh as the Scripture saith After the same manner hath God married
Baptisme we put on Iesus Christ as the Apostle S. Paul affirmeth and consequently we be made partakers of his righteousnesse and of all his goods and vnder this precious robe the sinnes that our frailty committeth lye hidden and couered and are not imputed vnto vs. And so according as S. Paul saith the blessednesse which the Psalmist speaketh of appertaineth to vs namely Blessed are they whose misdoings are forgiuen and whose sinnes are couered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sinne But it standeth a Christian in hand to take good heed that vpon these words he take no liberty to sinne for this doctrine belongeth to none such as honour themselues with the name of Christians confessing Christ with their mouth and yet deny him in their deeds But it concerneth the true Christians who though they fight manfully against the flesh the world and the diuell doe notwithstanding fall daily and are constrained to say Lord forgiue vs our offences These are they to whom we speake to comfort them and to hold them vp that they fall not into despaire as though the bloud of Christ washed vs not from all sinne and that hee were not our aduocate and the atonement-maker for his members And therefore when we be prouoked to doubt of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and that our owne conscience beginneth to trouble vs then must we furnish our selues with true faith and out of hand haue recourse to the precious bloud of Iesus Christ shed for vs vpon the altar of the Crosse and distributed to his Apostles at his last Supper vnder the veile of a most holy Sacrament which was ordained by Christ to the end that we should celebrate the remembrance of his death and that by the same visible Sacrament our troubled consciences might be assured of our atonement with God The blessed Iesus Christ made his last Will when he said This is my body which is giuen for you and This is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many to the forgiuenesse of their sinnes We know that a Testament saith Saint Paul although it be but a mans Testament yet neuerthelesse if it be allowed no man despiseth it or addeth any thing to it and that no Testament is of force till the Testator be dead but hath full power after the parties decease Then did Iesus Christ make his Testament wherein he promiseth forgiuenesse of sinnes and the grace and good fauour of himselfe and his Father together with mercy and euerlasting life And to the intent that the said Testament should be of full force he hath confirmed it with his owne precious blood and with his owne death By reason whereof Saint Paul saith that Iesus Christ is the Mediator of the New Testament that by his dying for the redemption of those transgressions which were in the former Testament they that are called might receiue the promise of the eternall inheritance For wheresoeuer is a Testament there must also be the death of the Testator for the Testament is confirmed by the death of the party insomuch as it is of no value so long as the maker of it is aliue Wherefore we be very certaine and assured by the death of Iesus Christ that his Testament is auaileable whereby all our mis-deeds are pardoned and we made heires of eternall life And for a token and faithfull pledge hereof in stead of a Seale he hath left vs this diuine Sacrament which not onely giueth our soules assured hope of their euerlasting Saluation but also warranteth vnto vs that immortality of our flesh forasmuch as it is euen now quickned by that immortall flesh of his and in a certaine manner becommeth partaker of the immortality thereof and he that is partaker of that diuine flesh by faith shall not perish for euer But vnto him that receiueth it without the said faith it turneth to a dangerous poyson because that like as when bodily sustenance findeth the stomacke incumbred with euill humors it corrupteth likewise and worketh great annoyance euen so if this spirituall food light into a sinfull soule that is full of malice and mis-beliefe it casteth it headlong into some greater ruine not through it owne default but because that to the vncleane and vnbeleeuer all things are vncleane notwithstanding that the things bee sanctified by the Lords blessing For saith Saint Paul hee that eateth of that bread and drinketh of that cup vnworthily is guilty of the body and bloud of the Lord and he eateth and drinketh his owne damnation because he maketh no difference of the Lords Body For he maketh no difference of the Lords Body which presumeth to the Lords Supper without faith and charity And forasmuch as he beleeueth not that Body to be his life and the cleanser of all his sinnes he maketh Iesus Christ a lyer and treadeth the Sonne of God vnder foot and esteemeth the bloud of the Testament whereby hee was sanctified but as a common or worldly thing and doth great wrong to the Spirit of grace and he shall be punished very sore at Gods hand for this his vnbeliefe and wicked hypocrisie For whereas he reposeth not that trust of his iustification in the passion of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ yet neuerthelesse he receiueth this most holy Sacrament and maketh protestation that he putteth not his trust in any other thing Whereby he accuseth himselfe and is a witnesse of his owne iniquity and condemneth himselfe to euerlasting death by refusing the life which God promiseth him in that holy Sacrament And in this point when the Christian feeleth that his enemies are like to ouercome him that is to wit when he beginneth to doubt whether he haue receiued forgiuenesse of his sinnes by Iesus Christ and that he shall not be able to withstand the diuell and his temptations and that the accusation of his owne doubtfull conscience comes to presse him so as he beginneth to feare lest hell fire should swallow him vp and death hold him in his euerlasting bands by reason of Gods Wrath I say when the good Christian feeleth himselfe in such agony Let him get him to his holy Sacrament with a good heart and stout courage and receiue it deuoutly saying in his heart and answering his enemies thus I confesse I haue deserued a thousand hels and euerlasting death by reason of the great sinnes which I haue committed But this heauenly Sacrament which I receiue at that present assureth me of the forgiuenesse of all my misdoings and of mine atonement with God For if I haue an eye to my workes there is no doubt but I acknowledge my selfe a sinner and condemne mine owne selfe in such wise as my conscience should neuer bee quiet if I should thinke that my sinnes are pardoned me for my workes sake But when I looke to the promises and couenants of God who promiseth mee forgiuenesse of my sinnes by the bloud of Iesus Christ I
am as sure that I haue obtained it and that I haue his fauour as I am sure that hee which hath made the promises and couenants cannot lye nor deceiue and through this stedfast faith I become righteous by Christs righteousnesse where through I am saued and my conscience quieted Hath he not giuen his most innocent body into the hands of sinners for our sinnes Hath hee not shed his blood to wash away my iniquities Why then doest thou vexe thy selfe O my soule put thy trust in the Lord who beareth thee so great loue that to deliuer thee from eternall death it hath pleased him that his only Sonne should suffer death and passion who hath taken vpon himselfe our pouertie to giue vs his riches laid our weakenesse vpon himselfe to stablish vs in his strength become mortall to make vs immortall come downe vnto the earth to aduance vs vp to heauen and become the Sonne of man with vs to make vs the children of God with himselfe Who is he then that shall accuse vs God is he that iustifieth vs and who shall condemne vs Iesus Christ is dead for vs yea and risen againe for vs and he sitteth at the right hand of God making Intercession for vs. Wherefore say with Dauid Why art thou heauy O my soule and why doest thou trouble mee doest thou see nothing but the Law sinne wrath heauinesse death hell and the diuell Is there not now to be seene Grace remission of sinnes Righteousnesse Consolation Ioy Peace Life Heauen Christ and God Trouble mee no more then O my soule for what is the Law what is sinne what is death and the diuell in comparison of these things Therefore trust in God who hath not spared his owne deare Sonne but giuen him to the death of the crosse for thy sinnes and hath giuen thee victory through him This is the sweet doctrine of the Gospell which I desire that all Christians could receiue with Thanksgiuing and an assured faith for then would Christ be nothing but Ioy and sweetnesse to them then would they take heart in the victory of Christs death who indeed was made a curse for vs subiect to wrath putting vpon him our person and laid our sinnes vpon his owne shoulders and he hath made with vs this happy change that is to say hee tooke vpon him our sinfull person and gaue vnto vs his innocent and victorious person wherewith wee being now cloathed are free from the curse of the Law And therefore may euery poore sinner say with an assured confidence Thou Christ art my sinne and my curse or rather I am thy sinne and thy curse and contrariwise thou art my Righteousnesse my Blessing and my Life my Grace of God and my Heauen And thus if wee by faith doe behold this brazen Serpent Christ hanging vpon the Crosse wee shall see the Law sinne death the diuell and hell killed by his death and so may with the Apostle Paul sing that ioying heart Dittie Thankes be to God who hath giuen vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ And so with these Thankesgiuings with these or such other like thoughts must wee receiue the Sacrament of the body and blood of our Lord Iesus Christ After this manner is all fearefulnesse driuen out of the soule of the Christian and charitie is increased faith strengthened the conscience quieted and the tongue neuer ceaseth to praise God and to yeeld him infinite thanks for so great a benefit This is the vertue efficacie and only trust of our soule This is the Rocke whereupon if the conscience bee builded it feareth neither tempest nor the gates of hell nor Gods wrath nor the Law nor sinne nor death nor the diuels nor any other thing And forasmuch as the substance of the Lords Supper and Table consisteth in this diuine Sacrament When the Christian is at it he must hold his eyes fastened continually vpon the passion of our gracious Sauiour beholding him on the one side vpon the crosse loden with all our sinnes and GOD on the other side punishing chastising and whipping his owne onely begotten and deare beloued Sonne in stead of vs. O happy is that man that shutteth his eyes from all other sights and will neither heare nor see any other thing then Iesus Christ crucified in whom are laid vp and bestowed all the treasures of Gods wisedome and diuine knowledge Blessed say I is he that feedeth his minde with so heauenly a food and maketh himselfe drunken in the loue of God with so sweet and singular a liquor But before I make an end of this matter I will first aduertise the Christian that Saint Austin hath ordinarily beene wont to terme this holy Sacrament the bond of charitie and the mystery of vnitie And hee saith that whosoeuer receiueth the mystery of vnitie and regardeth not the bond of peace receiueth not the Sacrament to his owne behoofe but as a witnesse against himselfe Therefore wee must vnderstand that the Lord hath ordained this holy Sacrament not only to make vs sure of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes but also to inflame vs to peace vnitie and brotherly charitie For in this Sacrament the Lord doth after such a manner make vs partakers of his body as hee becommeth all one thing with vs and wee with him By reason whereof forasmuch as hee hath but one body whereof hee maketh vs partakers it is meet that we also should by such partaking become all one body together among our selues And this vnion is represented by the bread of the Sacrament which as it is made of many graines mingled and kneaded together in such wise as one of them cannot bee discerned from another So also must we bee ioyned together after such a sort and so vnited together into one agreement of minde as no diuision may creepe in And this doth Saint Paul shew vs when he saith Is not the cup of blessing which wee blesse the communion of the blood of Iesus Christ is not the bread that wee breake the communion of the body of Iesus Christ whereas we be many yet are wee but one bread and one body forsomuch as we be all partakers of one bread By these things we vnderstand that when we receiue his most holy communion wee must consider that wee are all of vs ingrafted into Christ and are all become members of one selfe-same body that is to wit of Iesus Christ in such wise as we cannot offend defame or despise any of our brethren but we must therewithall offend defame and despise our said head Iesus Christ neither can we be at variance with any of our brethren but in like wise we must be at oddes with him Also we cannot loue him except wee loue him in our brethren Looke how much care we haue of our owne body so much must we haue of our Christian brethren who are the members of our body And like as no part of our body feeleth any griefe which spreadeth not it selfe into
all the other parts so ought wee to determine with our selues that our brother feeleth not any inconuenience which should not mooue vs to compassion With such manner of thoughts must we prepare our selues to this holy Sacrament quickning vp our spirits with a feruent loue to our neighbourward For what greater spurre can we haue to pricke vs to loue one another then to see that Iesus Christ by giuing himselfe vnto vs not only allureth vs to giue our selues one to another but also by making himselfe common to vs all maketh vs also to be all one selfe-same thing in him In respect whereof we ought to couet and procure that in all of vs there may be but one minde one heart and one tongue accorded and vnited together in thoughts words and deeds And wee must marke well that as oft as wee receiue this holy and worthy Sacrament wee bind our selues to all the duties of charitie as not to offend any of our brethren nor to leaue any thing vndone that may bee profitable and helpefull in their necessitie But if there come any to this heauenly Table of the Lord that are diuided at variance with their brethren the same must assure themselues that they eate vnworthily and are guiltie of the body and blood of the Lord and that they eate and drinke their owne damnation for that there wanted nothing on their behalfe but that the body of Iesus Christ was rent and plucked in pieces againe whilest they by hatred are diuided from their brethren that is to wit from the members of Iesus Christ and haue not any part with him and yet neuerthelesse in receiuing this holy communion pretended to beleeue that their whole saluation consisteth in the participation and vnion with Iesus Christ Then let vs goe my brethren to the receiuing of this heauenly bread to celebrate the remembrance of our Lords passion and to strengthen and fortifie the beliefe and assurance of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes with the remembrance thereof and to quicken vp our minds and tongues to praise and exalt the infinite goodnesse of our God and finally to cherrish brotherly loue and to witnesse the same one to another by the straight vnion which all of vs haue in the body of our Lord Iesus Christ Besides prayer and the remembring of Baptisme and the often resorting to the most holy communion there is one other very good remedy against distrust and fearefulnesse which is no lesse friend to Christian charity namely the remembrance of our predestination and election to eternall life grounded vpon the Word of God which is the Sword of the H. Ghost wherewith we may beat backe our enemies Reioyce ye in this saith the Lord that your names are written in heauen There is no greater ioy in this life nor any thing that more comforteth the Christian that is afflicted tempted or falne into any sinne then the remembrance of predestination and the assuring of our selues that we be of the number of them whose names are written in the Booke of life and which are chosen to be fashioned like vnto the Image of Iesus Christ O how vnspeakeable is the comfort of him that hath this faith and museth continually in his heart vpon this exceeding sweet predestination whereby he knoweth that although he fall often yet notwithstanding God his Father who hath fore-ordained him to euerlasting life holdeth him vp and reacheth out his hand vnto him continually And he saith continually in himselfe If God haue chosen me and predestinated me to the glory of his children who can hinder me If God bee with vs saith S. Paul who can be against vs Nay rather to the end that the Predestination may be accomplished in vs he hath sent his deare-beloued Sonne who is a most sure earnest penny and pledge vnto vs that we which haue receiued the Grace of the Gospell are Gods Children chosen to eternall life This holy Predestination maintaineth the true Christian in a continuall spirituall ioy increaseth in him the indeauour of good workes and inflameth him with the loue of God and maketh him enemy to the world and to sinne Who is so fierce and hard-hearted which knowing that God of his mercy hath made him his child from euerlasting will not by and by be inflamed to loue God Who is of so vile and base courage that hee will not esteeme all the pleasures all the honours and all the riches of the world as filthy mire when he knowes that God hath made him a Citizen of heauen yea these are they that worship God rightly in spirit and truth receiuing all things as well in prosperity as in aduersity at the hand of God their Father and euermore praising and thanking him for all as their good Father who is righteous and holy in all his workes These being inflamed with the Loue of God and armed with the knowledge of their predestination feare neither death nor sin nor the diuell nor hell neither know they what the wrath of God is for they see none other thing in God but loue and fatherly kindnesse towards them And if they fall into any troubles they accept them as tokens of Gods fauour crying out with S. Paul Who is it that shall separate vs from Gods loue shall tribulations shall anguish shall persecution or hunger or nakednesse or perill or sword as it is written For thy sake are we killed all the day long and counted as sheepe appointed to the slaughter But in all these things we get the vpper hand through him that hath loued vs. Wherefore it is not for nought that Saint Iohn saith how the true Christians know right well that they must be saued and glorified and that by reason of the same affiance they make themselues holy as Iesus Christ is holy And when Saint Paul exhorteth his Disciples to a good and holy life he is wont to put them in remembrance of their election and predestination as of a thing of very great force to stirre vp the minds of the true Christians to the louing of God and to the performance of good workes And for the same cause our good Lord Iesus Christ speaketh openly of this holy predestination as one that knew of how great importance the knowledge thereof is to the edifying of his elect But perchance thou wilt say to me I know well that they whose names are written in heauen haue cause to liue in continuall ioy and glorifie God both in word and deed but I know not whether I am of that number or no and therefore I liue in continuall feare specially because I know my selfe to be an exceeding weake and fraile sinner from the violence whereof I am not able to defend my selfe but that I am ouercome of it daily And furthermore forasmuch as I see my selfe continually afflicted and troubled with diuers temptations mee thinkes I doe as it were behold with mine eyes the wrath of God scourging
Iesus Christ doe continually reioyce with an vnspeakeable and glorious ioy notwithstanding that they be afflicted with diuers temptations And therefore when the holy Scripture threatneth and frayeth the Christians they must vnderstand that it speaketh to such as are so licentious that forsomuch as they keepe not the thankefulnesse and honesty that belong to Gods children they must bee handled as seruants and held in awe vntill they come to taste and feele how sweet and pleasant the Lord is and vntill such time as faith worke his effects in them and that they haue so much childly loue as may suffice to keepe and maintaine them in honesty of Christian conuersation and in following the example of our Lord Iesus Christ And when the selfe-same Scripture exhorteth Christians to the true feare it meaneth not that they should feare the iudgement and wrath of God as though it were presently ready to condemne them for as I haue said already by the record which the holy Ghost giueth to their spirit they know that God hath chosen them and called them of his owne meere mercy and not for their deserts By reason whereof they doubt not at all but that by the self-same goodnesse and mercy he will maintaine them in the happy state wherein he hath placed them And after such manner the Scripture exhorteth them not to slauish feare but to childish feare that is to wit that like good children they should bee loth to offend against the Christian Religion or to commit any thing against the dutie and honesty of Gods true children and likewise to grieue the holy Ghost that dwelleth in them to the end that knowing the corruptednesse of our nature we should alwayes be heedfull and diligent and neuer haue any trust in our selues for in our flesh and in our minds doe the appetites and affections continually dwell which as deadly enemies of the soule lay a thousand snares and baites for vs incessantly labouring to make vs proud ambitious lecherous and couetous This is the feare whereunto the whole Scripture exhorteth the Christians that haue once tasted how sweet the Lord is and which bestow all their endeauour in following Christs foot-steps who cast not from them this holy feare because they labour to put off the old man And the good Christians must neuer bereaue themselues quite and cleane of this childly feare which is the singular friend of Christian charitie like as the slauish feare is such an enemy vnto it as they can by no meanes dwell together And by the foresaid things a man may plainly perceiue that the good Christian ought neuer to doubt of the forgiuenesse of his sins nor of Gods fauour Neuerthelesse for the better satisfying of the Reader I purpose to set downe herevnder certaine authorities of the holy Doctors which confirme this foresaid truth St. Hilary in his fifth Canon vpon Matthew saith It is Gods will that we should hope without any doubting of his vnknowne will For if the beleefe be doubtfull there can be no righteousnesse obtained by beleeuing And thus we see that according to S. Hilary a man obtaineth not forgiuenesse of his sinnes at Gods hand except he beleeue vndoubtedly to obtaine it And good right it is that it should be so For he that doubteth is like a waue of the Sea which is tossed and turmoyled with the wind And therefore let not such a one thinke to obtaine any thing at Gods hand But let vs heare S. Austin who in his Manuell counselleth vs to driue away the said foolish imagination which intendeth to dispossesse vs of the foresaid good and sage assurednesse Let such foolish imagination saith he murmure as much as it listeth saying Who are thou how great is that glory by what deserts hopest thou to obtaine it I answer assuredly I know in whom I haue beleeued and I know that hee of his great loue hath made me his sonne I know he is true of his promise and able to performe his word for he can doe what he will And when I thinke vpon the Lords death the multitude of my sinnes cannot dismay me for in his death doe I put all my trust His death is my whole desert it is my refuge it is my saluation my life and resurrection and the mercy of the Lord is my desert I am not poore of desert so long as the Lord of mercy faileth me not And sith the mercies of the Lord are many many also are my deseruings The more that he is of power to saue the more am I sure to be saued The same S. Austin talking with God in another place saith that he had despaired by reason of his great sinnes and infinite negligences if the Word of God had not become flesh And anon after he saith these words All my hope all the assurance of my trust is settled in his precious bloud which was shed for vs and for our saluation In him my poore heart taketh breath and putting my whole trust in him I long to come vnto thee O Father not hauing mine owne righteousnesse but that righteousnesse of thy Sonne Iesus Christ In these two places St. Austin sheweth plainely that the Christian must not be afraid but assure himselfe of righteousnesse by grounding himselfe not vpon his owne workes but vpon the precious bloud of Iesus Christ which cleanseth vs from all our sinnes and maketh our peace with God Saint Bernard in his first Sermon vpon the Annunciation saith most euidently that it is not ynough to beleeue that a man can haue forgiuenesse of his sinnes but by Gods mercy nor any one good desire or ability to doe so much as one good worke except God giue it him no nor that a man cannot deserue eternall life by his workes but if God giue him the gift so to beleeue But besides all these things saith Saint Bernard which ought rather to be counted a certaine entrance and foundation of our faith it is needfull that thou beleeue also that thy sinnes are forgiuen thee for the Loue of Iesus Christ See how this holy man confesseth that it is not ynough to beleeue generally the forgiuenesse of sinnes but he must also beleeue particularly that his owne sinnes are forgiuen him by Iesus Christ and the reason is ready at hand namely that forasmuch as God hath promised thee to accept thee for righteous through the merits of Iesus Christ if thou beleeue not that thou art become righteous through him thou makest God a lyer and consequently thou makest thy selfe vnworthy of his grace and liberality But thou wilt say to me I beleeue well the forgiuenesse of sinnes and I know that God is true but I am afraid that I am not worthy to haue so great a gift I answer that the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes shall not be a gift or free grace but a wages if God should giue it thee for the worthynesse of thy workes But I reply vpon thee that God accepteth thee