and debasing of his sonne his obedience his humblenesse offering vp his body vpon the crosse He commeth forth as a bridegroome out of his chamber reioyceth like a mightie man to runne his race Psal 19. 5. The obiect moving the sonne of God is sinne and damnation of mankind which hee would not that it should vtterly perish Therefore saith hee in Esa 43. thou hast made me to serue him with thine iniquities I am he which take away transgressions for mine own sake and I will not remember thy sinnes and also the tyrannie of the divell vpon mankinde The impulsiue cause is the great exceeding loue of God the Father and of the sonne vnto mankinde of whom it is written God so loued the world that hee Psal 103 13. gaue his only sonne c. and David saith As the Father hath compassion over his children so hath the Lord on thē that feare him for he knoweth whereof we bee made he remembreth we are but dust therefore the mercy of God and the intercession of his sonne offering himselfe to be punished for vs is the Impulsiue cause The Subiect or matter of the passion is the very son of God made man as the Prophet saith I was not rebellious neither turned I my backe vnto the smiters Esa 50. 5. my cheekes vnto the nippers I hid not my face from shame and spitting 1. Cor. 2. they haue crucified the Lord of glory The formall cause is the obedience of the person it selfe The finall causes are foure first that God should be worshipped praised for his loue Iustice mercy Secondly that the scripture might bee fulfilled for the satisfying of the will and fore promise of God Thirdly that mankind might thereby be reconciled vn to God and be saved Fourthly that the workes of the Divell might be destroyed Of the difference betweene the passion of Christ and the passion of other Saints of God All Saints and holy men are sinners conceiued and borne in sin but Christ is both everlasting God man free from sin and vnspotted and being righteous and 1 Pet. 3. iust died for the vnrighteous and vniust Moreover there is a difference of the causes of the Passions for all we do suffer for our sins and if we had no sin there should no punishment be laid vpon vs but Christ suffered for vs and laid downe his life for our sins There is also a difference of the passions Touching both the matter and forme thereof we that beleeue although wee suffer the death yet through a stedfast faith and hope which we lay holde vpon Christ Iesus our Savior redeemer our death wil be vnto vs but a sure and ioyful passage vnto eternall life But Christ bearing the sinnes of all the whole world vpon himselfe which the first Adam caused to be committed yet he as a second happy and blessed Adam nay more a mighty Saviour felt for our sakes al the heavy wrath and anger of God which was powred out vpon him and would not deny it but contentedly suffered it yea to be laid and done vpon his own body and so thereby he set vs free from the wrath of God and eternall death Againe although we suffer we do not thereby deserue either vnto our selues or vnto any other life salvation and therefore Christs Passion differeth from all other passion of Saints first in the special property of his owne Passion which is only a sacrifice for our sins secōdly in the persons thirdly in causes fourthly in the matter it selfe as is already said The exemplariall meditation of the Passion of Christ The exemplariall meditation beholdeth Christ as a teacher and observeth him as a guide and leader vnto eternall life and studieth to follow his humility obedience meekenes patience as himselfe saith learne of me for I am meeke and humble heart he that taketh not vp his Crosse followeth me is not worthy of me be ye followers of Christ as deare children and 1. Pet. 2. Christ suffered leaving vnto vs an example that yee should follow his steps 1. Ioh. 2. he that saith he abideth in Christ ought so to walke even as hee walked And Paule 2. Phil. Be yee like minded every man esteeme better of an other then of his own selfe look not every man of his own things only but every man on the things of other men Let the same minde be in you that was in Christ for Rom. 8. It behoueth vs to suffer with Christ that with him we may be glorified Now it is wel known that our Saviour went through many afflictions as whips thornes buffets and the most shamefull death of the Crosse And through all these must hee bee contented to follow Christ Iesus that wil be a Christian if matter so require Therefore our Saviour Christ in his last Testamēt did commend vnto his Father his spirit to the Iewes his body to the good theefe Paradice to the vnrepenting sinner hell to the Apostles his Gospell and to the faithfull affliction for their tryall Furthermore let vs learne that as there were two crosses prepared for Christ Iesus the one of passiō as that wooden crosse whereon his body suffered the other of compassion wherby his soul suffered so there is prepared a double crosse for every good Christian the one of the soule the other of the body The crosse of Iobs body was that power that Satan receaued of the Lord to afflict his flesh the crosse of his soule was the cursed counsell of his wicked wife who said curse God and liue Iob. 2. The crosse prepared for king Davids body was that Saul his father in law and Absolon his sonne sought his death but this was that which afflicted his minde that the man whom he had continually fed should be false hearted vnto his person Pauls body was in many dangers by sea and by land by night and by day by theeues by robbers but that only afflicted his mind that he travailed among treacherous brethren vnto his exemplanal meditation do appertaine these foure parts first the Crosse Secondly comfort Thirdly patience and humilitie Fourthly naturall loue peace and concord The allegoricall meditation is that which considereth the tipes and similes representing such like things as should happen to the Church members thereof The two theeues are an image of the whole mankind subiect vnto death in the midst Christ is a redeemer the one part is freed the other abideth in death the scoffes and taunts are the furies and outrages of Hypocrites whereby the Church is scorned and derided The dividing and tearing of his garments noteth Heretiques tearing the Gospell in peeces and the wicked ones snatching away the faculties and maintenance of the Church A table wherein is set downe a collation of the whole course of Christ compared with the estate of the Church Evē as at the birth of Christ the cleerenes brightnes of God overshined the shepheards So in the primitiue
father no not in anie respect what need so ever he were in It is good therefore saith the Wiseman that parents should not only exercise theÌ„selues in Gods commandements but also haue their children taught in the trade of their way while they are young that when they are old they should not depart from it g Prov. 22 6. but continue h Col 4 2. in their way as children of light i Eph 5 8. that they may be perfect to doe the will of their Father k Heb 13. 21. which is in heaven l 1 Pet. 3. 22. that he may make them swift to heare his word m Iam. 1. 19. Rom. 2. 13. Eccl 4. 17. and carefully prepare themselues to giue thankes and praise vnto God the father in the name of his sonne Iesus Christ n Eph 5. 20. which is the giver of all things o Iohn 3. 27. and thus indeed to this end is man created that he should continually with thankfulnesse set forth the praises of Almightie God as the Prophet David saith let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord p Ps 159 6. Not that God hath any need of our praise q Act 17. 25. but it is needfull for vs to praise him r Philip. 2. 13. Ier. 10 23. Ioh. 15 5. that thereby we may obtaine grace favour at his blessed hands The Sunne hath no need of our aspect to behold him yet wee haue need of his heat and cleerenesse that thereby we may be comforted with his brightnesse and cherished with his heat Moreover David asketh the Lord saying What shall I render vnto the Lord for all his benefits towards me and answering himselfe addeth I will take the cup of salvation and call vpon the name of the Lord. I will saith the Prophet praise the Lord with my whole heart and call vpon him so long as I liue a Ps 116. 12. 13 viz. for his benefits Thus in our prayers and dayly meditations vpon Gods commandements wee ought to obey his will therein diligently b Luk. 10. 27. Deut. 6. 5. Luk. 19. 18. imbrace it dutifully c Mar. 1. 18. and to the very vtmost of our power keepe his commandements effectually d Ioh. 2. 3. Heb. 10. 7. that therby we may avoid the snares of death e Prov. 22. 24. and thinke not to liue forever in the deceitfull cradle of securitie f Esa 47. 7. which dandleth carelesse men in the lap of folly g Eccle. 2. 2. But with all diligence keepe Gods commandements with as great and intire loue as the carelesse Ninivits had to Ionas preaching h Ionah 3. 5. the desperate souldiers to Iohns sermon i Luk. 3. 14. 15 and the obstinate Israelits to Peters perswasion k Act. 2. 37. yea continue daily in the earnest meditation thereof as willing as the Macedonians were in the hearing of Paule when they continued his doctrine vntill midnight o Act. 20. 7. or as the Eunuch in giving eare to Philips sermoÌ„ p Act. 8. 38. or Cornelius the Captaine with a great multitude were to heare Peter q Act. 10. 25. Wee read that K. Agrippa almost became a ChristiaÌ„ at once hearing of Paul r Act. 26. 27. Rom. 12. 1. Oh then let it be farre from the hart of a Christian that may heare reade and daily meditate vpon Gods Commandements to proue so vngratefull as quite to forget and not once to thinke or meditate vpon the same a benefit so great and infinite Finally let our hearts bee pricked on with the feeling of Gods incomprehensible mercies towardes vs in our daily meditations s Ps 1. 2. encouraged by his gratious promises of accepting our poore endeavours to doe him service t 1. Cor. 15. 58 yea ravished with the expectatioÌ„ of such a reward as is assured vs by the death and passion of Iesus Christ u Eph 1. 7. Col. 2. 13. 1. Ioh. 1. 7. 1. Pet 2. 24. Esa 53 5. 2 Cor. 5. 21. And withall let vs bee ashamed of our selues in doing no more * Ps 16. 2. Mat. 25. 36. and condemne the carelesnesse of our owne hearts for doing our best workes so vnperfectly x Ps 130 3. Ps 143. 2. Dan 9 7. 8. Luk 21. 36. Mat. â—4 42. Mich 6 6. Rom. 11. 25. Rom. 12. Mat 10. Prov. 4 13. Eccl. 25. 5. What shall J more say seeing the whole course canon of Scripture runneth that all Christians in their keeping of Gods Commandements should be Attenti vigilantes soliciti instantes ferventes perseverantes sine intermissione that is Attent vigilant carefull instant fervent and perseverant without intermission of the service of God because therein is contained Fons vitae radix prudentiae corona plenitudo sapientiae gloria gaudium quod est felicissimum donum that is the fountaine of life the roote of prudence the crowne and fulnesse of wisdome the glory and ioy which is the most happiest that can bee given to man A blessed gift what wilt thou desire more to moue thee towardes the meditation of the passion of Christ THe second motiue is the Dignity the Maiestie and highnesse of the person suffering for vs. It was not the African Scipio nor Hanibal nor the peerelesse Pompey nor the mighty Persian Cyrus nor Darius nor the renowned Marius nor the Macedonian conquering Monarch Emperious Alexander neither yet Caesar that in the Senate house received of sixtie conspiratours 23 wounds and every of them mortall But it is Iesus the Creatour and preserver of all mankind a Ps 33. 12. it is that Alpha and Omega the beginning and ending which is and which was and which is to come b Rev. 1. 8. Rev. 18. 17. Rev. 11. 17. Esa 44 6. Esa 48. 12. even the Almightie which was crowned with glory and honour c Heb. 2. 9. at whose name all knees shall how d Phil. 2. 10. and at whose feet the foure and twentie Elders laid downe their crownes e Rev. 4. 10. it is the strong God f Ps 24 8. the God of power g Sâ—p 12 16. the high and most mighty God h Eph 2. 14. yea the mighty Lyon of the Tribe of Iuda i Deut 32. 39. the Prince of peace k Eph. 2. 14 Heb. 2. 10. the conquerour of death l Hos 13. 14. 1. Cor 15. 54. Hell m Heb. 2. 14 and sinne n Gen. 18. 25. yea the great iudge of the world o Pet. 2. 25 and bishop of our soules p 1. Pet. 2. 25. Christ Iesus our Saviour q Ier. 17. 10 it is he that is Lord of Hostes the righteous iudge that trieth the reines and harts of all men r Ioh 14 6. it is he that is the way the truth the light and the doore to enter into heauen s Iohn 14 6. if anie man enter in by him he shal be
directly goe and reach vnto Wee read in the 20 of Iudges of the 700 chosen of Iudg. 20. 16. the Beniamites which every one could fling stones at a haires breadth and misse not wherefore when wee should define sin we must looke vnto the mark which is prefixed and set vp by God vnto all men Sinne therefore is whatsoever doth swarue and decline from the Communion of Almightie God whether it bee in the vnderstanding and thought of man either in will thought or deed and I call the Communion of God the agreement and vnitie with his truth and will So that in this point it is sin not to thinke the same not to will the same and not to doe the same which the omnipotent God willeth As if a man would say it is sin in the kings Court whatsoeuer is wide and discrepant from the kings will and mind which ought to bee as a marke indifferently set vp vnto all Countries to prick vnto Therefore saith the Wiseman Wish the King no evill in thy thought neither speake hurt of the rich in thy Eccl. 10. 20. privy chamber for the foule of the aire shall betray thy voice and with her fethers shall she betray thy words But as the greatnesse and horriblenesse of sin being the third point of the fourth motiue is the matter whereon we now stand so let vs consider how there are foure things that make manifest the greatnesse of sinne These foure causes following shewe manifestly vnto vs the greatnesse of sin The first is the anger of God the curse and thunder of the law Secondly Corporall punishment Diseases corporal death Thirdly eternall punishment Fourthly The Crosse passion and death of the Sonne of God Now the evill of sin appeareth in three things following first the deformitie for God doth loath it Secondly the iniquitie thereof for the Divel doth loue it Thirdly the infirmitie thereof for the whole world is infected with it Touching the first it is said in the holy Scripture in many and sundry places Odio est Deo impius impietas eius God hateth the wicked man and his wickednesse Wis 14. 9. Ps 5. 4. 6. Ps 14 4. Pro. 15. 8. 9. 29 Iob. 11. 52. Esa 1. 15. Psal 4 9. too he hateth all those that worke iniquitie and both the wicked man and his wickednesse are in hatred with him yea the whole life of sinners as much as their very thoughts words and works God hateth And farther more their actions also are abomination in his gratious sight he cannot abide them but saith he that committeth sinne is of the Divell a 1. Ioh. 3 8. and therefore their name shall rot b Prov. 10. 7. their dwelling place shall not remaine c Iob 8. 22. but their destruction shall come suddainely when they least think vpon it d Prov 24. 22. 1 Pet. 3. 10. He doth not only say their houses shall be destroyed e Prov. 14. 11. but also they themselues shall bee no more remembred f Iob 24. 20. because they shall bee taken in the sin of their owne transgressions g Prov. 11. 6. and farther yet hee cannot abide nor permit sinners to praise him or to name his testament with their mouthes as the holy Ghost testifieth And therefore no marvaile if he shew such rigor to sinners at the last day whom he so greatly hateth and abhorreth in this life Therefore let sinners take heed that they by true repentance and stedfast faith in Christ be able to discharge their reckoning lest they chance to heare the dreadfull sentence of Christ Quātum in delitijs fuit tantum dato illi tormentum look how much he Apoc. 18. hath beene in delights so much torment doe you lay vpon him And thus the dissolute sinner is vnto God farre more vile then the bafest creature of all even the Droane Caterpiller or Toad for what is hee else but a filthie dunghill of all abhominations vncleannes the stinke whereof hath infected heaven and earth no perfume could ever allay it in the nostrils of the Lord saving only the Passion of Iesus Christ being a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour to Almightie God We make it very dainty to come neere a Lazarus that is full of botches blaines and sores But how much more are those men to be abhorred who having layne many yeares dead in their sinnes and therefore doe now nothing but putrifie rotte and stinke in them like ougly and loathsome carions lingering in their iniquitie vntill it come to maturitie that God in his iust iudgement and measure of time may lay his heauy curse vpon them when they shall behold the great terrible feareful and angry countenance of that mighty God Iehovah aboue them to be their iudge with a sword of vengance in the one hand to terrifie them and a scabart of iustice in the other hand to iudge them and their sins on the one side to accuse and cry vengance against them and those cursed caitifes a Gen. 3. 14. those ougly monsters b Esa 27. 1. those damned spirits c Mat. 25. 41. those houling helhounds d Psal 22. 16. and roaring Lyons e 1. Pet. 5. 8. wil then and there be in a readines with vasa furoris their vessels of fury on the other side to execute the vengance of Gods eternal sentence and indignation vpō them their consciences within them gnawing without them al damned soules bewailing beneath them the infernal pit of hel open and the cruell fornace ready boiling to deuour them without on euery side of them al the world burning on fire Oh thē what shal they do to go backeward impossible to appeare intolerable Thus much concerning the infirmity of sin how God doth loath it Secondly sinne is evill in that the Diuell doth loue it First let vs consider that it is not gold nor siluer that he would haue but animas peccatrices the very soules of sinners wherewith he is enriched and fed whose note is Da mihi animas cetera tolle tibi giue me the soules take thou the rest yea he is that rauenous bird that desireth and delighteth in the heart of his prey The Diuel being once asked what he best loued answered three things viz Primam Lunam Rotam Solis Canis iram the first quarter of the moone C the circle of the sun O and the rage of a dog R. The second signe and token whereby wee may proue that the Diuel loueth sin is thus he is neuer wearied out with his seeking roaring attempting and earnest following after sin For from the beginning of the world he hath done nothing else but cause procure sin who indeed being once asked of God as in the booke of Iob from whence he came said from compassing the whole Earth Thirdly he loueth sin because he is neuer satisfied therewith for how many thousands and millions of soules hath he vanquished devoured and overcome and yet like
with a great price therefore glorifie God in your bodies in your spirits which are Gods God hath powred into vs the holy spirit yea and that plētiously The fift is our victory against sin the devill and the world Be of good comfort I haue overcome the world and Ioh. 16. 33. haue abolished death sinne and the Devill The sixt is saluation and life eternal for if we beleeue that Iesus is dead and is risen even so them which sleepe in 1. Thess 4. 14. Tit. 3. Ioh. 14. 1. Tim. 3. Iesus will God bring againe vnto life through Iesus Christ we are made righteous and heires of eternall life God sent his son into the world that through him we may haue life everlasting Christ came into the world to saue sinners hee Luk. 19. 10. came into the world to saue them which were lost and not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Therefore Mat. 9. 13. every spirit which confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God and every spirit that confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God 1. Ioh. 4. 2 3. The seauenth is A compendious Epitome and Catalogue of the benefits which a Christiā enioieth by the death Crosse and Passion of Christ Through Adams fall thou hast transgressed the whole law By Christs passion death resurrection thou hast fulfilled it Through Adam thou art before God a vile and loathsome sinner through Christ thou appearest glorious in his sight By Adam every little crosse is the punishment of thy sin a token of Gods wrath By Christ the great crosses are easie profitable and tokens of Gods mercy By Adam thou art dead by Christ thou art quickned and made aliue againe By Adam thou art a slaue of the divel and the childe of wrath By Christ thou art the childe of God In Adā thou art worse then a Toad and more detestable before God But by Christ thou art aboue the Angels for thou art ioined vnto him made bone of his bone mystically Through Adam sin and Satan haue rule in thee lead thee captiue By Christ the spirit of God dwelleth in thee plentiously by Adam came death vnto thee and it is an entrance into hell by Christ though death remaine yet it is the only passage vnto life Lastly in Adam thou art poore blind miserable But in Christ thou art rich and glorious thou art king on earth and fellow heire with him in heaven And as sure to be ioint heire and partaker of all the ioyes that heaven containeth as hee is now Adam when hee must needs tast of the fruits that God had forbid him hee made vs all to rue it even vntill this day but here thou seest the fruits that growe not in the earthly Paradise Rev. 22. but in the tree of life which is in the heavenly Ierusalem Now therefore feare no danger be bold in Christ to eate of the fruit as God hath commanded thee it will quicken and reviue thee being dead thou canst do Satan no worse displeasure then to feed on the godly fruit of this Tree and to smell on the sweete leaues which it beareth continually that giue such a refreshing savour THE SECOND PART With what minde we should come vnto the meditation of the passion THE second part vnto the things which we haue already spoken of being well considered followeth that wee bring with vs a true penitent minde the practise and exercise whereof consisteth in these foure points of repentance following 1 Contrition of the heart 2 Vnfayned confession 3 A beleeuing and full confidence setled in the passion of Christ 4 The fruits of faith But first we will speake of repentance To the ende We may instruct our present age with what mind they should come vnto the meditation of the passion is first the contrition of the heart by the nature of Repentance which for the most part little vnderstandeth the doctrine and lesse practiseth the dutie wherefore first we must shew what repentance is Repentance is the constant turning of man in his whole life from all sinnes vnto God which must bee done so directly that he must hate and detest his former evill life purposing to become a new man that God may make him a new heart and a new spirit not Ecles 18. 31. in substance nor quantitie but in qualitie arising from a true and liuely faith with a full perswasion of Gods mercies by the merits of Christ for the forgiuenes of his sinnes But first let vs consider that there bee two 2. Repentāces kindes of Repentance the one a true repentance vnto life the other a false repentance vnto death and example we may haue by Iudas who is said to haue repented 1. The false and which is more to haue confessed his fault which is most of all to haue made restitution and yet it was a false repentance because it sprang not of a true faith but rather of the feare of death which hee saw imminent before his eies of the griefe tediousnese of paine of the horrour of hel and feare of Gods invincible punishment which he knew he must needs abide because he betraied the innocent blood Cain repented yet he was condemned Esau repented yet hee was condemned Antiochus also did repent yet he is condēned because their prolonged repentance sprang not of faith S. Paul saith without faith it is impossible to please God and without faith there can be no true repētance Heb. 11. 6. Thus many Iudasses and desparing wretches wil say whē a minister or preacher goes about to perswade them to amend their liues and returne vnto God by repentance in shewing them that God is more mercifull then man can be sinfull if man will be sorrowfull this or such like answere You say well indeed God is mercifull but alas I am so vnworthy of my selfe and finde so many imperfections in me that I am not worthy of the mercie of God and therefore I cannot expect it Oh marke I beseech you this common obiection is altogether without faith and it riseth not from humilitie but from the pride of the heart and thereby it maketh many carelesse men to distrust in God the reason is because they would not bee beholding vnto God for his mercy but would rather seeme to haue God to be beholding vnto them for their worthinesse But if they would haue God to haue the glory as most of right they should they must not stand vpon their owne infirmities for the more vnworthy they are in their owne sight if they truely repent and be hartily sory for their sinnes with a full purpose to continue in newnesse of life the more worthy will they bee in the sight of God the more acceptable because gods glory is then most magnified who can make their sins Esa 1. 18. if they were as red as crimson to bee as white as snow c.
in time no sea so deepe but may be sounded with line lead nothing so hid but in time may be revealed N am verit as est filia temporis time is the mother of truth all only the heart of man excepted which indeed is so secret vnto it selfe that in seaven yeares one man cānot knowe anothers mind But what thought shall not he that made the eie see and shall not he that made the heart vnderstand and accordingly reward that which Ps 93. 9. is closely spoken and secretly conceaued yes verily for he is Scrutator cordis a searcher of the heart reines And therefore vnto thee O thou God Omniscient to whō al harts be open and to whom no secrets are hid do I come confessing my sins most humbly do beg at thy hands according to the multitude of thy mercies Ps 51. 1. to doe away mine offences and giue me an hart to thinke on thee a Prov. 2. 1. a mind that may loue thee b Mark 12 30 a soule that may remember thee c Deut. 9 6 7. and a reason that may alwaies stick fast vnto thee d Mat. 10. 37. 38. Iohn 29. Thirdly wee are comforted in this that the son of God taketh away the sinnes of the world is become our propitiation for our sinnes Now our comfort against Ioh. 16. the world death is set downe in these words Yee shall weepe and the world shall reioyce and yee shall sorrow and your sorrow shall be turned into ioy Boldly therefore doe we thus shake off the world and flie from it Gen. 39. 12. as Ioseph casting off his cloake ran away from his mistris saie O world thou hast done enough with me already Oh leaue me now take thy pleasure of some other as the Divels did the possessed entred the swine Mat. 8. 22. for I desire to be dissolued bee with Christ into whose hands I commend my spirit sweet Iesus receaue my soule And crie with David Lord remēber thy servant in all his troubles with the Publican God be mercifull vnto me a sinner and with the woman of Canaan Iesus Luk. 18. 1◠thou sonne of David haue mercy vpon me O Iesu of Nazareth a Mat. 26. 71. Mat. 1. 24. O fountaine of mercy b Mar. 10 24. remember my spirit c Act. 7. 59. O my life take my soule d Ioh. 14. 6. enter thereinto O my ioy that it alway may ioy in thee e Psal 4. 4. for thou hast redeemed me O God faithfull and true so that I am perswaded that neither Rom. 8 38. 39 death nor life Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creatures shall bee able to separate mee from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Concerning the comfort that is against the feare of the latter iudgement our Saviour Christ saith hee Iohn that beleeueth in me shall not come into condemnation but hath passed from death vnto life they that haue an eie vnto him shall be lightned and their faces shall not be ashamed a Ps 34. 5. Whither then shall I flie but vnto thee which art my Creatour b Col. 1. 16. 17 my redeemer c Gal. 3. 13. my father d Mal. 2. 10. Heb. 12 9. Mat. 23. 9. my brother e Mat. 12. 50. who art set on the right hand of the throne of God f Heb. 12. 2. to be my God g Psal 63 1 Heb 11. 16. my iudge h Ioh 5 22 23 Act. 10 42. Mat. 16. 27. Apoc. 12. my defender my physitian mine all and only Saviour True it is that there was a great battaile in heauen as we read in Apoc. 12. betweene two mightie armies yea and such a battaile as before the birth of the woman there mentioned was never seen or heard of between Michael his Angels with the Dragon For whē as all sinners through Adam were held guiltie by Gods iudgement vnto this huge and mightie masse of mans miseries fell out another no lesse grievous evē a most bitter accuser in heaven the old Serpent who attempted the Lords Saints with a continuall accusation before the tribunall seat of the great iudge whereby it came to passe that none being found to take our matter in hand to plead for vs to defend our miserable case against the complaints of our accuser how could it otherwise be but that this armed and strong enimie must needs still keepe his hold and that in peace so long as there was none to resist him or to stand vp against him in the defence of the poore Saints Insomuch as the invincible power of this cruell accuser could by no power or force of man or Angel bee resisted or any thing weakned vntill the foresaid womā cloathed with the Sunne and the starres the moon vnder her feet brought forth a man child Now lo a certaine new strength courage boldnesse possessed the Saints of God and Angels in heaven wherewith the holy ones of God being strengthned with Michael that is Christ enter battaile with the Divell whom as a vanquished vassall they thrust and tumbled out of heaven and so freed the holy servants of God though charged with a multitude of sinnes of all and every accusation intimated by their bloody adversarie against them But how did they effect this victorie how I pray you came it so to passe not by our owne power or merits but onely by the blood of the lambe in whom and for whom all things are appeased the hād writing of the law which was against vs put out the power of the enimie abated Col 2. 14. Heb. 2. 14 15. 2. Cor. 5. 15. Ioh 5. 22. Gal 3. 13. the head of that hellish Serpent broken the sinnes of all beleevers in Christ are forgiven and all power of iudgement is given vp into his hands who is not only our iudge but our redeemer not only a revenger of our sinnes but also a sacrificer for our sinnes What felicitie then can bee wished greater then this what comfort and consolation more full and cōplete then this that the Saints of God be now so conversant in heaven as they stand not in feare of any thing and so thinke of the terrible iudgement of God as they need not feare the perill and daunger of damnation for what danger is there now when as Sathan being with all his Angels quite overthrowne there is Apoc. 12. 9. none any longer left to cōdemne thee where there is no accuser there is no crime produced for the iudge Rom. 4. 15. to condemne for Eius quod non est non est poena peccatum remissum non est Ergo peccati remissi non est poena that which is not hath no punishment forgiven sins are not Ergo forgiven sinnes haue no punishment as S. Paul saith
and to 1. Tim. 2. come to the knowledge of the truth S. Bernard saith to redeeme a servant God spared not his sonne God spared not his sonne saith the Apostle but delivered him vp for vs all for theeues murtherers enimies c. Fiftly of the infinite loue and affection of our Saviour The 5 point matter of the 4 motiue and cause Pâ—â—u 8. towards mankind Solomon saith in the person of God my delight and pleasure is to be conversant among the sons of men I will remember the mercies of the Lord for the great goodnes towards the house of Esa 63. 7. Israel which he hath giuen them according to his tender loue and according to his great mercies in the ninth verse in all their troubles hee was troubled that is God bare their afflictions as if they had beene his owne The Angell of his presence saved them in his loue and in his mercy hee redeemed them and as a Father saith David hath compassioÌ„ on his childreÌ„ so hath the Lord compassion on them that feare him and as far as Ps 103. 14. the east is from the weast so farre hath hee remoued our sins from vs. Cyrill saith He can no more cease to bee mercifull Cyrill and louing vnto the repentant sinner then hee can cease to be God The tongues of all men living saith Marlorate caÌ„not declare Gods mercies and loue towardes vs nor Marlorate the pennes of all the writers in the world can never sufficiently expresse the same because the multitude of all mans offences in respect of Gods loue and mercies is like a small drop of raine to the greatest sea or like a spiders web before the boisterous wind Taulerus saith that God so loued vs as if the Essence and proper health of him did consist in vs this is that loue which being once as it were quite quenched with the everlasting waters of our iniquities Rursum acceÌ„ditur intercessione atque obedientia filij Dei is again kindled with the intercession obedience of the son of God And the story of Carpus is wel known which Dionysius reciteth vnto Demophilus where these words of Christ are read I so loue mankinde that I had rather die for it than suffer it to perish And what greater loue can there be saith the scripture then a man to giue his life for his friends Thus proue we our Saviour to bee as David saith Ps 86. 15. a pitifull God mercifull and slow to anger yea such a God as his compassioÌ„ is of no short continuance but as the Psalmist Ps 103. 17. saith it endureth for ever and sheweth his loue mercies Deut. 3. 19. vnto thousands of them that loue him The fift motiue of the fift cause is the fruites The 5 cause mouing vs to the earnest meditatioÌ„ of the passion and effects of Christ his Passion that is to say all the benefits of Christ and the applying of these every one of them vnto our selues without doubting without respect of persons without particularity without any respecting of those that do beleeue The first benefites are such as take away from vs things evil and mortal whereof are seauen sorts The first is the freeing vs from Sin Christ was delivered vp for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification Rom. 4. and the bloud of Christ doth cleanse vs from al our sins And without shedding of bloud is no remissioÌ„ Christ is the 1. Ioh. 1. 7. Heb. 9. 22. 1. Ioh. 2. 15. Tit. 2. 14. 1. Pet. 2. propitiation for our sins Christ gaue himselfe for vs that he might deliuer and free vs from all iniquity Christ himselfe hath offered vp our sinnes in his bodie crucified that wee being free from sin might liue vnto righteousnesse The second is the freeing vs from the curse of the law being made a curse for vs Cursed is every one that Deut. 21. 23. hangeth on a tree The third is the freeing vs from the wrath of God God raised Christ froÌ„ the dead putting out the hand writing Gal. 3. 13. Col. 2. 12. 14. of ordinances that was against vs he even took it out Eph 1. 20. Eph. 2. 15. of the way The fourth is the freeing vs froÌ„ the tyranny of the Devil Christ hath destroied through death him that had Heb. 2. 14. Hos 13. 14. 1. Cor. 15. 35. the power of death viz. the devil Our Sauiour Christ also came as S. Augustine saith at such time when learning most flourished and when the greatest Empire the Devil the world the flesh and al other subtil or politique wisdome should acknowledge their wits crafty dealing to be meere foolishnes and all powers weake before God The fift is the freeing vs from the world the vilenesse thereof Christ gaue himselfe for our sinnes that hee Gal. 1. 4. Luk. 1. 74. Gen. 22. 16 17 Ier. 31. 33. might deliuer vs from this present euill world to the end that wee beeing deliuered out of the hands of our enemies might serue him without feare The sixt is the freeing vs from death Christ hath abolished 2. Tim. 1. 10. death and hath brought life and immortality vnto light Christ saith S. Augustine was cloathed with Augustine death for death could not die but in life And as Elizeus made yron to swimme which naturally sinketh saith Cyrill so Christ by his death brought vs backe from death hell which deseruedly we should haue Cyrill entred And therefore in the praise of our Saviours victory S. Paul reioiceth and saith Death is swallowed vp into victory 1. Cor. 15. 54. The seauenth is deliuerance from damnation and hel the sonne of God hath appeared that he might destroie the workes of the deuill and therefore God sent him not into the world that he should condemne the world but that the world through him might bee saued Now followe seauen other benefits which we receiue by the Passion of Christ The first is our reconciliatioÌ„ with God By the death Rom. 5. 10. of the Son of God we are recouciled vnto God when yet we were enemies Christ is our peace And as a corner stone ioineth two wals togither so Christ our true corner stone hath reconciled both Iewes and Gentiles vnto God Eph. 2. 20. Christ hath made peace by the bloud of his owne body Col. 1. 20. shed on the Crosse Christ hath once suffered for our sins the iust for the vniust that he might bring vs to God The second is the remission of sins through Christ we haue redemption from our sins by his bloud euen the whole forgiuenesse of our sinnes The third is righteousnes Christ dyed for al that they which liue should not liue vnto themselues but vnto him 2. Cor. 5. 15. 1. Cor. 15. 3 4. The fourth is the giuing of the holy Ghost Know yee not that your bodies are the temple of the holy Ghost for yee are bought
knowledge of sinne and of Gods anger and wrath powred out vpon the sonne of God then to be illuminated with a new light cleernesse and to reioice and settle it sure in faith that Gods anger is pacified by his sonne and for his sake that our sinnes be forgiven vs and everlasting life restored vnto vs whereby wee may repose our whole confidence in God being fully and assuredly resolved that remission of our sinnes everlasting righteousnesse and life is given Heb. 2. 4. Eph 2 7 8 9. Rom. 5. 1. Rom. 3. 24. 25. Act. 10. 43. Rom. 1. 17. 1. Ioh. 3. 36. 1. Cor. 1. 30. 1. Cor. 2. 2. 1. Ioh. 5. 10. not to others only but to vs also and that freely through the mercy of God for the merits of Christ alone by whom we are made righteous before God and heires of eternall life because our only satisfaction and holinesse of Christ is our righteousnesse before God and we cannot apply it vnto our selues any other way then by faith In this meditation a godly mind seeth rightly considereth what the Passion is for what the Passion of Christ is these wordes in the 27 of Matthews Gospell v. 46. doe very evidently declare viz. Iesus cryed with a lowd voice saying Eli Eli lamasabachthani my God my God why hast thou forsaken me Obserue the manner how Iesus delivered these words viz. crying out that with a lowd voice for even as a vapour drawne vp by the vertue of the Sun and Starres ascending vp into the middle region through the heat that is in it and the cold compassing it breaketh out into a violent stroke and a vehement noise which causeth the thunder even so Christ through the extremitie that his humanitie suffered for our sinnes was driven to break out into this thundering voice and cry alowd Quare dereliquisti me why hast thou forsaken me God indeed had forsaken him vntill his anger was pacified and his wrath appeased Notwithstanding that hee feeleth himselfe as it were wounded with Gods wrath and forsaken for our sins yet he ceaseth not to put his confidence in God and call vpon him Which is written to teach vs in all affliction to trust still in God be the assaults never so grievous to the flesh And yet this lowd crying noyse was not of the feare of death for should not hee that saveth all men be able to saue himselfe Neither feare of his enimies nor paines of his torments as commonly it fareth with men who suffer many torments at the hands of their enimies without giving any knowledg or note vnto their adversaries of their paine sorrow or griefe for so might he as well as any haue borne it out with silence Saul sheathed his sword in his owne bowels Sampson brought death vpō his own head rather thē the Philistines should triumph over him But it was our sinnes and the heavy burthen thereof the waight whereof none else could ever haue borne which this deepely tormented Christ did vndergoe Through the which our sinnes iniquities God was so highly displeased that they being laid vpon his sons shoulders made him to cry out with a lowd voice about the ninth houre of the day saying O my God my God why hast thou for saken me Oh therefore I beseech you let the horrour of it be fresh in our memories the meditation imprinted in our thoughts so that our hands may tremble and shake for feare and our whol bodies quiver and quake with terrour of it when any evill imagination is hatched in our hearts or any wicked deed should be acted with our hands that we may be terrified from nourishing sin within our bosome that laid so heavie a burthen and so mightie a Crosse vpon our sweet crucified Iesus to make him cry with so lowd a voice Oh what envie had robbed the hearts of the Iewes and dispoiled all their sences of common humanitie yea what infernall phrensey what Tyrannous impietie what execrable Tyranny can bee compared to this Iewish crueltie that they could finde no remorse of pittie to bestow one mite of mercy to help ease the intollerable paines of our grievous Saviour when he cryed with so lowd and pittiful voice saying O my God my God why hast thou for saken me a Mat 27. 46. whose bloody sweat came trickling downe to the ground b Luk. 22. 44. yet notwithstanding their eies were more hard then a rocke that they could not yeeld one teare of pittie hearts more vnapt then Adamant to relent with any tender compassion when they saw so wofull dolefull a spectacle which was forcible enough to haue drawne streames of teares out of the driest eie that ever was in the head of man and to haue incited a multitude of heavie and sorrowfull groans out of the hardest hart that ever God made Oh! was there ever crueltie like vnto this that they should bee attempting spitting smiting and mocking the sonne of God put the crown of thornes on his head nayle him to the Crosse and when he was a thirst to giue him vineger to drinke and crucifie him So that now I say what the Passion of Christ is these words do plainely teach vs viz O my God my Mat. 27. 48. God why hast thou for saken me My soule is thirsty even Mat 26. 38. vnto death these many other examples may shewe vs the Crosse of Christ The first by diet when he fasted Mat. 4. 2. Mat. 26. 26. forty daies and forty nights the second by Electuarie when hee gaue his most precious body and bloud in his last supper the third by sweat at his agony in the garden the Luk. 22. 44. Mat. 27. 30. fourth by plaister when his face was spitted vpon by the Iewes the fift by potion when he tasted vineger mixed Ioh. 19. 29. with gall the sixt by letting bloud when his hands and feet were pearced yea when his hart vaine was striken Ioh. 19. 34. his sides goared with a speare But this one thing more note that no man could take his life from him but he laid Iohn 10. 18. Act. 2. 24. 1. Ioh 1. 2. 1. Ioh 4 9. Ioh. 3. 16. Mat. 1 23. 1. Tim. 3. 16. it downe himselfe for he being both God and man had power both to lay downe his life power to take it vp againe that hee might by the power of his godhead sustaine in his flesh the burthen of Gods wrath and recouer for vs that righteousnesse which we by the fall of Adam had lost And herein are we also taught a doctrine of his double nature viz his deity which hath many things that in the humanity was never performed and his humanitie having diverse things not answerable vnto the godhead wherevpon speaketh a Father in this manner Whē Christ suffered death in his flesh vpō the Crosse the godhead and manhood were still togither but his godhead did not suffer that we might be iustified not only in
Church the glory of God shined over the Apostles that they might finde Christ in the Scriptures as the shepheards saw him swadled in his cloaths As in the first yeare after Christ was borne Herod endeavoreth crueltie exerciseth it vpon infants that there by he might destroy Christ So in the first yeare of the Iubile of the new Testament tyrants exercised cruelty vpon all the Apostles As Christ fled into Egypt and there continued vntill the death of Herod So the doctrine of Christ long suffered persecution corruptions and lurked in the assemblies and companies of the godly vntill the death of Tyrants Hereticks Domitian Dioclesian Iulian c. As Mary lost Christ in the 12 yeare of his age and in vaine sought him among his kinsfolkes and at last found him in the Temple amongst the Doctors opposing and asking them questions So the Virgin Mary even the Church in the 12 yeare of Iubile being troubled with many heresies had vtterly lost Christ had she not found him in the Temple that is in holy Scriptures Propheticall and Aposticall After the 30 yeare of Christ as Iohn Baptist teacheth in the wildernes repentance and faith in Christ who is baptised and as it were with the figure pointed out and shewed forth vnto the people So in the 30 yeare of our Iubile the true sincere doctrine of the Church both of the law and the Gospell began by little little to be restored in the desert not in the Hals of the high priests and Palaces of the Caesars and kngs of the world but in a few certaine schooles and cities As neither Iohn Baptist nor Christ himselfe did openly teach in the Temple at Ierusalem whenas the high Priests did possesse the same but in the wildernes or in Galile So the doctrine of the Gospell hath no place in the kingdome of the Pope but either privatly as it were in a desert or else vnder certaine Princes limits of some kingdomes is it heard and favoured As in the time of Christ Satan stirred and raised vp divers tumults and vproares through blasphemous Iudas of Galile Simon Magus such like So perturbers and hereticks doe alwaies hurt the Church by their bringing in and giving of scandalous offences stum bling blocks As Christ after three yeares and almost halfe preached afterward suffereth is crucified dieth is buried riseth againe ascendeth vp into heaven and raigneth in eternall glory So after three yeares and a halfe after the yeare of Iubile from the renewing of true doctrine after many sufferings of the godly which are every where common the Church shal bee freed glorified forever but the whole time shal not fully be expired for the daies shall be shortned THE FOVRTH PART Which containeth the Types Figures Allegories similes and such like of the old Testament or prophesies of the Prophets AS out of Adams sleeping is a Rib taken thereof Evah is made so out of the celestial or second Adam that is Christ sleeping on the Crosse and making himselfe to be as it were nothing in his Passion and death was the church framed and made his Spowse Eph. 5. Abel both in name and deed is despised who notwithstanding is iust and innocent hee is caried forth into the field and is slaine of his brother Caine Gen. 4. brethren Christ became a very worme for vs and is slaine of his Isaac being ready to bee offered of his Father is a Type and figure of Iesus Christ Gen. 22. Ioseph is not borne of foule Laea but of faire Rachel which word signifieth labours and wearines Christ is not borne of the Gentiles but of the Iews Esay 11. of the stocke of Iesse Mich. 3. in Bethlehem where Rachel was buried Ioh. 4. and Bethlehem signifieth the house of bread Ioseph is sent forth to seeke out his brethren to refresh thē and recover thē againe to his father Christ is sent from the father vnto mankinde which was lost to seeke it and reconcile it vnto God Ioseph is divested of his Pall and stately coate cast it into the Cesterne Christ is dealt withal and handled as a man bereaved of al divine glory forsaken of God and as one in whom there was no grace or goodnes he is apprehended c. Ioseph is sold of the Ismaelites and is lead into Egypt when as his brethren thought him quite cast away Christ is sold and put away of the Iewes given to the Gentiles and to the people whose king and Saviour he becommeth when as the Iewes thought him to be of no reputation Ioseph is with lies accused of his impudent mistresse and is cast into prison Christ is falsely accused of the Iews heretiques crucified and throwne into the graue guiltlesse Ioseph lieth in prison betweene two guilty offenders a butler baker of whom the one is slaine the other is saved innocent Christ is condemned between two theeues of whom the one on the right hand is saved the other condemned Ioseph freed out of prison is honoured Christ escaping out of perils and dangers is crowned with honour and glory Iacob and Ioseph do come togither againe reviving in spirit and there is one folde and one house of the Iewes and the Egyptians Christ the beleeuers at the day of iudgement shall all meete togither and out of al Nations there shal be one people in Christ for ever The flaying of the pascall lambe Exod. 12. was a Type and figure of Christ as it is writtē Ioh. 1. Behold the Lambe of God which taketh away the sins of the world the vnleavened bread doth signifie purity sincerity of the doctrine and life Evangelicall the sacrifices of sins and offences Lev. 14. were Types figures of the true pacifying sacrifice as Heb. 5. The quicke Goate that was spent and bearing the iniquities of the children of Israel Levit. 16. is Christ made the slaughter for our sins A red Cow without spot Num. 16. is offered vp for our sins Christ is the Red Cow being for the weaknes of Nature taken in the state of humiliation without sin cleanseth vs by his bloud from all sins as the brazen Serpent lifted vp vpō a poale Num. 21. healeth those that are bitten with Serpents Ioh. 3. so Christ the son of man must be lift vp to ascend into heaven to heale the sins of the whole world Ionah lying three daies in the whales belly is a Type and figure of Christ dying buried and rising againe the third day FINIS A SPECIALL TABLE OF THE COMmon places briefely containing the principall things handled in this Treatise First the chiefe and principall motiues and causes that should moue and stirre vs vp to the earnest meditation of the passion The first motiue is the severe commandement of Almightie God pag. 1. The second is the dignitie the maiestie and highnesse of the person suffering for vs. 7 The third motiue is the weaknes of our nature 10 The fourth motiue that should stirre vs vp to the