thinke well if it were so concluded in the councell of God then are not we guiltie of his death hee aunswereth vnto the same sayth Vnrighteous men broght him therto it is ye your selues that slew him crucified him As if he would say yea euen so behoued it to be that the righteousnes of God for the sinne of mankinde might be satisfied Christ must needs die to recompence and wash away with his bloud the sinne of all the world And yet yee Iewes which haue betrayed Christ and brought him to the crosse are not vniustly accused yee cannot through the fore ordinance of God discharge your selues that ye be without sin seeing ye haue slaine the sauiour of the worlde hee being guiltles By this now we learne that when we do wrong and euill wee may not excuse our selues with the free ordinaunce of God for it is not God but the deuill and our owne wickednes that prouoketh vs to sinne And heere we see that when the grace of GOD through the Gospell is offered vnto the worlde the sinne and vice also wherein the worlde is intangled must be spoken of and touched for no man can bee iustified and come to the helth of his soule through Christ which doth not first know confesse his sin wickednes How can he be made whole that will will not know his owne disease and sicknes Therefore doth Peter sette before their eyes their great sin which they had committed against the innocent sonne of God saying The innocent and righteous whom God had giuen vnto you haue ye slaine and crucified which is a great wickednes sinne Now go to on your behalfe it was euill done and greuously offended but on his behalfe it was so ordayned before Therefore at his death which in the sight of the world was so shamefull and vile yee ought not to bee offended that yee therefore would holde the lesse of him or not receiue and know him for a sauiour For if you looke vpon his former conuersation the same was innocent pure and holie therefore cannot yee doubt but hee was sent of God Besides this ye haue perceyued and seene God to be euerie where in his workes for the tokens and wonders which hee shewed and declared amongst you giue euident knowledge that God was in him wroght in him presently for no man had beene able to doe the tokens that he did vnlesse God had beene with him Which tokens also were spoken of before by the Prophets concerning Christ and by those tokens must ye know and confesse that he is euen the true Messias of whom the Prophets spake Wherefore considering that by his former doctrine godly power ye knowe that hee is the true Messias yee ought not to bee offended that hee as an euill dooer was crucified vpon the crosse for it was the speciall determination of God that Messias should be crucified according to the foresayings of the Prophets Consider yee also that the Prophets likewise spake of his resurrection from death by the which ye may well perceiue that he is the true Messias Thus earnest is Peter beating into them the resurrection from the dead and that out of the Scripture For Christs resurrection from death is a strong argument to proue his godhead as it is taught Rom. 1. Iohn 20. Yea he died saith Peter for our sinnes but nowe he is aliue and risen againe from death death hath no more power ouer him for he liueth for euer and his kingdome is euerlasting Yea vnpossible it was that the sonne of God should corrupt in the earth sepulchre namely he that is the firstling risen from the dead and that from his owne godly power Seeing that these wordes of Peter concerning the resurrection and life of Christ were little credited among the Iewes he alleadgeth the 15. psalm of Dauid who amongst them was in great reputation But now might the Iewes say or thinke Dauid speaketh these words of himselfe and not of Christ that weapon therefore dooth Peter take from them and proueth that the same words may in no wise be referred vnto Dauid but that Dauid as a Prophet hauing knowledge of things to come spake them of Christ in whom they be now fulfilled and thus hee saith YEe men and brethren let me freely speake vnto you of the Patriarch Dauid for he is both dead and buried and his sepulchre remaineth with vs vntill this day Therefore seeing he was a Prophet and knew that God had sworne vnto him with an oath that Christ as concerning the flesh should come of the fruites of his loynes and shoulde sitte on his seate he knowing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ that his soule should not bee left in hell neyther his flesh should see corruption This Iesus hath God raised vp whereof we all are witnesses Doctrine and fruit THe Prophet Dauid speaketh of one whose flesh should not corrupt now could not hee haue spoken this of himselfe for his flesh corrupted in the sepulchre which wee yet haue and his bones lie yet in the sepulchre by the which it may well bee perceiued that Dauid as a Prophet knowing of things to come spake of another which should bee borne out of his owne loynes and seede whom God with a solemne oath had promised to sitte vpon his seate and raigne after him not onely for a season but also that his gouernance kingdome and dominion should be perpetuall and endure for euer And this king is Christ the true Messias who as concerning the flesh was borne of the seede of Dauid and is his sonne If this sonne now of Dauid had after death remained still in death and not risen from death againe how could hee then raigne for euer It is euident therefore that Dauid out of the holy Ghost who had opened this vnto him prophecied it of the resurrection of Christ his sonne the eternall king For though hee as a verie man died indeede vppon the crosse and was then buried yet his soule or life remained not in death neither did his body resolue into corruption as other mens but on the third day he rose again from death to life This must we needs testifie for after his resurrection he appear dost vnto vs. We saw him we heard him we handled him we did eate and drinke with him Heere wee learne that the Saintes in the old Testament vnderstood knew by faith the resurrection and eternal kingdom of Christ seeing they prophecied of it so euidently Here is also proued that Christ died in very deed yet abode not still in death forasmuch as hee ouercame it Also that the power and vertue of his holie passion and death came not onely to the liuing vpon earth but vnto all those that died before him according as Saint Peter in his Epistle and the Article of our beleefe He descended into hel declareth Wherof in the Catechisme vpon the Creed there is made mention sufficient SIthens now that he by the
said hee bowed his head and gaue vp the ghost Doctrine and fruit THE life of all liuing dieth after the fleshe thorow the painefull torment of death doth Iesus depart But by his death hee openeth vnto vs the way of life and taketh from vs euarlasting death This is a precious dear and victorious death which hath slaine our death and conquered vs life againe Let this death euermore continue in our hearts and let our death bee considered in the consideration of his death This shall bring vs comfortable trust and hope when our death striueth in vs so that we shall neither be afraid nor despaire if wee steadfastly beleeue that Christ died for vs and that hee through his death hath opened vnto vs euerlasting life Let vs with deuout heartes consider the death of him that hath redeemed vs and restored vs againe The gracious innocent Lorde Iesus dieth miserable and naked so poore so destitute as no man els And yet vnto God is none so deare although of men hee he most vilely intreated This is euen the reward of the worlde to despise the children of God and to recompence euil for good If the like happen vnto vs we must not thinke it straunge for the seruant is not aboue the Lord. The Lorde hangeth on the crosse hard pearced not onely with nailes but also with ardent loue towards vs sore beaten and hurt in euerie place without succour without helpe without comfort euen as a dead man who is forgotten and out of minde Ponder well O thou good seruant of Christ who and how great hee is that crying with a loud voyce giueth vp the ghost Verilie euen the sonne of GOD as Centurio likewise dooth testifie O deare brethren let vs consider how great our sinnes are for the which the innocent sonne of God dieth Iustly ought all the world to be dead vnto vs in Christ and wee vnto the world And what is our life but a blessed death Hee that learneth not to die in his life is afraide when the houre of death commeth Euery day goe wee one daies iourney vnto death therefore ought wee so to watch so to speake and so to worke as if we would die euen now out of hand Before death wee must learne to die least hee sodainlie take holde vppon vs and make vs afraide Death vnto those that faithfully beleeue is through the death of Christ become the gate to life for their comfort and strong hope is in the woordes of Iesus when he saith he that beleeueth on me though hee were dead yet shall hee liue Item who so heareth my word and beleeueth on him that sent me hath euerlasting life In this promise ought we to liue and die casting away all impediments and such thinges as hinder vs from his loue beeing with heart and minde seperated from the world and vndefiled from the filthines thereof Out of the passion of Christ we must picke out vnto our selues comfortable helpe and medicine so that obediently in al patience we offer vp our selues vnto our heauenly father committing our soules into his handes In life and in death let the death of Christ be our comfort and let vs set it against al fearfull temptations and between the wrath of God and our sinnes O Lord Iesu Christ who in the feeble nature of man hast suffred death for vs vnworthie sinners graunt vs grace feruently in our hearts to beare the pain and loue of thy most bitter death and through the subduing and ouer-comming of al vice and wickednesse to vse and exercise our selues daily in following thy footsteppes and dying with thee And when the end of our life draweth nie that wee then may depart in thy mercie and grace and receiue the ioy of paradise Assist thou vs when we die and defend vs from the olde enemie whom thou through thy death hast ouer-come O Father wee commit our spirite into thy hand thou hast redeemed vs O God of truth Let these be our last wordes when we depart hence Amen AND behold the vaile of the temple rent into two peeces from aboue till beneath and there was an earthquake the stones claue asunder the graues opened they that had slept rose vp and went out of the graues and came after his resurrection into the holie Cittie and appeared vnto manie The captaine and they that were with him which kept Iesus when they saw the earthquake and that he gaue vp the ghost with such a crie and other thinges that there happened they were afraid verie sore and saide Verely this was Gods Sonne Centurio likewise praised God said Verely this was a righteous man And all the people that were there and saw it smote vppon their brestes and returned Doctrine and fruite THe Iewes alway required tokens of Christ and of such there hapned manie nowe in the death of the Lord for the very earth quaketh at their wickednes and blaspheming of God the hard stony rockes with their cracking and cleauing asunder expresse a lamentation on their makers behalfe the vaile in the temple renteth for a declaration that the olde couered thinges in the olde Testament are laid away and the hidde significations of Christ expressed and opened for he is the holy true oblation that taketh away the sinnes of the world he is the vndefiled lambe of God hee is the true high Priest that entreth within the vaile into the sanctuary for the way of holy thinges is opened through his bloud hee is the high Priest that once entred in and with one onely sacrifice doth perfectly cleanse and sanctifie The graues opened for an euidence of his resurrection Centurio knowledgeth that which the harde harted Iewes would not confesse O good faithfull beleeuers let vs not bee harder than the stones let our hearts rent asunder in repentance and sorrow for our sinnes that we may enioye the fruite of the Lords death ANd a farre of stood all his acquaintance among whom were many women that came vp from Galilee followed him and ministred vnto him among whome was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Iames the lesse and Ioses the mother of Zebedes children with manie other that were come to Hierusalem The Iewes then because it was the Sabaoth euen that the bodies shoulde not remaine on the crosse vppon the Sabaoth day for that was the great Saboth day besought Pilate that their legges might be broken and that they might be taken downe Then came the souldiors and brake the legges of the first and of the other which was crucified with him But when they came to Iesus and saw that he was dead alreadie they brake not his legges but one of the souldiours with a speare thrust him into the side and forthwith came there out bloud and water And he that saw it bare record and his record is true And he knoweth that hee saith true that yee also might beleeue These thinges were done that the Scripture might bâ—e fulfilled Yee shall not breake
sepulchre being at hand they laide Iesus into it and Ioseph weltred a great stone afore the entrance of the sepulchre and went his way Now followeth the doctrine and contemplation IN the former little Booke we haue heard of the passion of Christ Nowe if our great sinne put vs in feare making our conscience vnquiet and presse vs with the terrour of euerlasting death damnation wee ought to remember that the lambe of GOD beeing slayne and hanged vp vppon the Crosse for our sinnes hath himselfe satisfied for them all and washed them cleane awaye This holy sacrifice was offred vnto God the father for our welfare and euen the same it is that hath taken awaie the sinne and wickednes of all the world Whatsoeuer is read and spoken concerning the passion of Iesus Christ it is altogether done for our eternall wealth and comfort Now is it described of the holy Euangelistes with what honour and glorie his holy body was buried and that not of mean persons but of noble and famous iust men Ioseph and Nicodemus who while Christ yet liued fauored him and were secretly his Disciples But nowe after his death they steppe forth somwhat more stoutly and boldly begging of Pilate the body of Iesu to burie it In the which act is declared their worthy and valiant beliefe and loue vnto the Lord Iesu For their bodies their estimation and goods must they needes put in ieopardy and procure vnto themselues the hatred and displeasure of all the world if they honorably burie him who in his life time was taken to be an euill doer a deceiuer a sedicious murtherer and so was condemned vnto death But thus it pleaseth God in weakenes to declare his owne strength and glorie Thus the dead wheat corne bringeth foorth fruit in the death of Christ and thus appeareth the power of his death For though he verily and trulie died as touching the body yet after the spirit and in mighty power he liueth yea hee himselfe is the life of all things This is the power and fruite of his passion when a mightie and strong spirit dooth exercise it selfe in faithfull beleeuing harts They that afore were ashamed to go openly vnto the Lord steppe now foorth manfully all fearefulnes sette apart ieoparding their bodies and goodes For besides that they put themselues in perill of loosing their life and estimation they bestow also great cost in linnen cloth in costly sweet ointment For they bury not Iesus as an euil doer but as an honourable man and friend of God according to their custome Loe what a thing it is to cleaue somewhat vnto Christ how feeblie soeuer it bee doone it bringeth alwaie great fruite in his time No man therefore ought to bee reiected that cleaueth anie thing vnto Christ and earnestly seeketh him Faith is strengthened in affliction and aduersitie the death of Christ giueth power vnto the fearefull In death beginneth his honour and glorie to appeare there are all thinges faire and beautifull Centurio giueth testimonie and maketh an honourable confession and so doo they that were vnder him Necessarie it was we should beleeue and confesse that Iesus verilie died vpon the crosse therefore do the Euangelists describe it so perfectly howe his bodie was taken downe from the Crosse by Ioseph and was laid in the Sepulchre To the intent that wee also might beleeue and confesse that he hath broken the bands of death and is from death mightily risen againe For life might not bee holden captiue in death neither might death with the rules thereof alwaies binde him that of all thinges is the life in whome wee liue mooue and haue our beeing Heere we must learne to know the eternall infallible foresight and prouidence of God who for his annointed appointeth afore hande an honourable Sepulchre and mooueth the heartes of his elect to burie the bodie of Iesu which els vndoubtedly had bene vilely cast out remained still vnburied How be it his buriall and rest must needs bee honourable as the Prophet saith Esa 11. For when hee by death had finished the course of his life and the woorke of his father this rest appertained to his honour and the father heard him as hee praied afore Father make thy sonne honourable or glorifie thy sonne This began in the buriall there was the faire white linnen cloth the new sepulchre the honorable men and excellent dead buriers as witnesses of his death there were the hundred pounds of pretious costly oyntment All these thinges were euidences of a glorious new and immortall life which Christ had in his bodie as the firstling of his deed and as we also shall haue according to our measure The sepulchre is newe partly to preuent all wrong suspition for if anie man had lyen in that sepulchre afore it might easily haue beene suspected or talked that Christ was not risen againe from the dead but some other partlie to declare the newnesse of lyfe in Christ and in those that are his as it is sayde afore By this also wee see into what pouertie Christ submitted himselfe hee that in his life time had neyther house nor place where to lay his heade is nowe couered with straunge cloth and layde in a straunge Sepulchre In the which thing though Christs bodie was alwaie vncorrupt we are taught fruitfullye to consider the corruption of our body We are earth and to the earth must wee yeelde and paie earth againe Ashes wee be and into ashes wee must returne Why bragge wee then Why are we proud and high minded seeing that shortly we shall become foule doong and carrion Why haue wee such desire to the wicked worlde considering it casteth vs out so vilely We should alwaie remember that within a small short time we shall be laid down into a foule pit There is the harborow of all fleshe There lie the rich and poore together in one bedde There is no difference betweene noble and base of bloud There neither goods helpe the rich nor subtile craft the wittie There the tender is worms meat and he that a little while agoe went bragging vp and downe in costly apparell is now an vglie smell to the nose There the hardie Giant is faine to play stoupe gallaunts parte The praise and commendacion of such as are puft vp in foolishe pride departeth as the dust before the wind Thus passeth away all mankind and all flesh falleth to the place whence he came being dissolued by reason of originall sinne Wherfore let vs learne in this time so to liue and so to subdue the flesh through the spirite that when the flesh corrupteth our soule may bee taken into eternall peace and rest For all we that be baptized into Christ Iesus are baptized into his death beeing buried with him rhrough baptisme into death that as Christ was raised vp from the dead through the glory of his father so we likewise might walke in the newnesse of life For if we be grassed in him through the
Fruitfull Lessons VPON THE PASSION BVRIALL RESVRRECTION Ascension and of the sending of the holy Ghost GATHERED OVT OF THE FOVRE Euangelists with a plaine exposition of the same BY MILES COVERDALL IOHN 14.6 I am the waie the truth and the life no man commeth vnto 〈…〉 but by me LONDON Printeâ— bâ— Thomas 〈◊〉 â—593 The Author to the Reader SInce our humane imperfections are such as one sinne driueth out another and the frailtie of our natures is so great as hauing touched the brim of the Ocean thereof we neuer cease till we are ouerwhelmed drowned in the bottome of the same since of our selues wee are but graftes of a corruptious tree children of eternall darknesse infidels who bowe the knee to Baal hauing vncircumcised hearts and lying lippes whose mindes are fixed on the world and fastned on Mammon I thought good Christian Reader considering the self loue in vs which haue conuerted the Angels into deuilles which as Augustine witnesseth hath builded the verie Babylon of contempt of God to leuell out a waie for all men to tread a glasse for all men to see an Adamant wherewith all soules may be drawen to the beholding of their vices the loathing of the same and finally the amendement and hartie conuersion for their misdeeds And for that it most euidently appeareth that the iustest man falleth oftentimes a daie and they that discerne errors in themselues and seeing then that they are in the next step to amendement it behoueth vs to consider the weaknesse which is in vs how farre we are fallen and dâ—o fall from the protection of the iust so that in the end we may in the spring of repentance wash away originall and successive sinnes which haue defiled our soules and cleaning to the 〈◊〉 corner stone wheron our saith should be builded withstand the periâ— of perdition which our ghostly enemie hath raised against vs. And â—â—r that truth is neuer knowen but by his contrarie and our nakednesse is not disclosed vnlesse our eies be opened let vs examine our selues and we shall find that these are inseparable errours in vs from which the iustest are not exempted namely blindnes and corruptnes of iudgement 〈◊〉 spirit mistrust in GOD to be slacke and wearie in Gods seruice defaming of Gods truth not to haue God before the eies surmising vanitie 〈◊〉 heart curiositie and nicenesse grudging in our heartes against the enemie bitternesse desire of vengeance a mans good intent greedines to be seen and praised vainglorie ambition proper election maintaining of our owne and disâ—lainfull false vnfaithfull wicked are and 〈…〉 points and feats wherwith the 〈…〉 the good men that keepe themselues from 〈…〉 These and other innumerable vices shall euery 〈…〉 good so euer he be find in himselfe if he search 〈…〉 vprightly and throughly to the bottome 〈◊〉 then that we finde our selues so vicious altogether 〈◊〉 poisoned and wounded vnto death we ought daie and night without ceasing to complaine and lament before God to watch and pray vnto God for remission of our sins yet should we not despaire of life The true Phisition of our soules came downe from heauen through his passion hath he made vs a plaister for our wounds onely let vs vse it and lay it to the sore The faithfull Samaritane poureth oile and wine into our wounds taketh vs vp to cure and to heale vs onely let vs follow him fashion our selues after his image He is the brasen serpent without sinne whome with the eyes of faith we must behold hanging and lift vp vpon the crosse for vs hee taking our sinnes vppon himselfe giueth vs his owne innocencie If the burthen of sinne now oppresseth and grieueth vs we ought to runne vnto him he shall ease vs giue vs rest for his bloud washeth awaie our sinnes him hath the father giuen vnto vs to be our righteousnesse and redemption Besides this great treasure that God hath giuen vs in Christ he is set foorth vnto vs especially in his passion for a patterne or example whereby we may learne to die from sin and finde a preseruatiue against vices to come For selfeloue and high esteeming of a mans owne selfe is the wel-spring of all vice Consider that Christ was not proude himselfe of his owne highnesse but tooke vpon him the shape of a seruant come to serue vs humbled him most lowly loued not himselfe sought not his owne desired not his honor but the honor of his father all despite and reproch fell vpon him If we ponder this by saith all greedy loue of our selues shall fall away The obedience of Iesu in true beleefe considered expelleth and healeth our disobedience and the idolairie of our owne carnall heart With his obedience couereth he the disobedience of all men so farre as we abide in the obedience of faith that Christ be dearer vnto vs than the whole world for the which cause we freely giue ouer our selues into his obedience suffering all things for his sake Pride and vaine-glorie is healed through Christs humilitie and contempt which he suffered for vs manifolde Learne of me saith he for I am meeke and lowly of heart Why are wee so greadie of temporal things when Christ the Lord of heauen and earth became for vs so poore hanging bare and naked vppon the crosse The chast pure life of Iesus Christ expelleth in vs all vncleannesse of the flesh Also his martirdome anguish and trouble which in his flesh hee suffered for vs quencheth the lust and concupiscence of the flesh O how euill doth it become a beleeuer to be irefull and greedie of vengeance when his fore-runner beeing in most humilitie like vnto a sheepe praied for his enemies Enuie and hatred is highly expelled if we consider the excellent deepe loue of Iesu towards vs. Gluttonie and excesse of life shall fall awaie from vs if we well remember that Christ for vs dranke vineger mixt with gall As it is here shewed in certaine points euen so against all vices and blemishes of the soule there may remedie beâ— sound in the passion of Christ if it bee rightly vsed in the contemplation of faith The old Adam ought we to lay aside to mortifie the members vppon earth and to put on Christ the Lord as the new wedding garment In the crosse ought to be our exercise our ioy comfort and life Herevnto also helpeth vs our heauenly father who vnto vs his children whom he most entirely loueth suffreth manifold passions afflictions troubles and anguishes sicknesse pouertie and persecution to come to keepe vs vppon the crosse least we as negligent people gape for temporall earthie things And if we will needs follow our owne lusts he hedgeth our waie with thornes nourturing and humbling vs through trouble that we being tried and purified as the gold in the fire may crie and call vnto him and that we may giue our earthly things seeing we finde no quietnesse in them He bringeth vs into the land of promise howbeit through the
and heartely desired to eat this Passah with you afore I suffer For I say vnto you that now from hence forth I will not eat of it till it bee fulfilled in the kingdome of God Now as they did eat Iesus tooke the bread gaue thankes and brake it gaue it to his Disciples and said Take eat this is my bodie which shalbe betraied and deliuered for you doe this in remembraunce of mee Likewise also when they had eaten hee tooke the cuppe rendered thankes and gaue vnto them saying Take and diuide among you and drinke ye all thereof This is my bloud of the new Testament which is shed for you and for many to the forgiuenesse of sinnes I say vnto you that from henceforth I shall not drinke of the fruite of the vine vntill the day that I shall drinke it new with you in the kingdome of my Father And they all dranke therof Now followeth the doctrine and meditation HEre should we children of beleefe diligently ponder and consider what Christ hath done for our sakes namely that hee when hee had fulfilled his ministration committed to him of the father and nowe would offer vp himselfe vpon the crosse for the sinnes of the world and with his owne death deliuer mankind froÌ„ the captiuity of Satan and from eternall death declared how he loued his owne vntill the end and with what desire he longed to eate the Easter lambe with his disciples before hee suffered Giuing them thereby to vnderstand that he was the true pascal lambe which being slaine for vs shuld take awaie the sinnes of the world that the figures of the olde Testament might bee reduced into the truth That like as the Iews to whom with a prescribed ordinaunce it was commaunded yeerely to eate the Easter lambe did the same for a memoriall of their deliuerance out of Aegypt So we beleeuers also might in the new Testament haue a remembrance and exercise of the gracious redemption whereas we by his death are deliuered from the power of darknes of the deuil of sinne brought to eternall life And to the intent now that the remembrance of such excellent benefits grace and merites of the passion of Christ might euer be fresh and new with his disciples and all beleeuers our Lorde Iesus Christ when he now would go vnto death and paie the ransome for the sinnes of all the world he then did eate the Easter lambe with his Disciples to finish the shadowe of the olde Testament and that he might bee remembred thereby he instituted the bread wine for a sacrament and memoriall of his hoâ—ie body and bloud Seeing then that wee are cleansed deliuered and redeemed with so deare worthie a treasure namely with the pretious bloud of Iesus Christ the vndefiled lambe wee ought neuer to forget such an high benefite but at all times with thankfulnes to remember that Christ our Paschall lambe was slayne and offered vp for vs vpon the crosse that we from hence forth should walke in purenesse singlenes and innocencie of life and that when wee in the Supper by true faith do eate his bodie and drinke his bloud we might through him be so strengthened and fedde to eternall life as to abide and liue in him for euer For he is the bread of life that came downe from heauen to nourish and strengthen our weake and hungrie soules yea to make vs dead to liue againe But then eate we his flesh and then drinke we his bloud when wee through true beleefe do ponder consider what hee hath doone and suffered for our sakes then are we partakers of his supper feast wheÌ„ we for his sake do liue as he did for his Fathers sake He gaue himselfe whole vnto vs so ought we to giue our selues whole vnto him and to our neighbour To him through beleefe to our neighbour through charitable loue Through faith we abide in him by working loue hee abideth in vs. The more wee loue the more enioy we of this meate the more wee beleeue the more we loue In this shall all men knowe that we are his Disciples if we loue one another God is loue and hee that abideth in loue abideth in God God in him What greater loue can there be than to giue his owne life for vs The death of Christ ought neuer to come out of our heartes that wee may doe and suffer all thinges for his sake that dyed for vs. The second part WHen supper was ended after that the deuil had put in the heart of Iudas Iscarioth Simons son to betray him Iesus knowing that the father had giuen all things into his hands that he was come froÌ„ God went to God he rose from Supper and laid aside his vpper garments took a towel girt himselfe After that poured he water into a Bason and began to wash his Disciples feet and to wipe them with the towell wherewith he was girt Then came hee to Simon Peter and Peter said vnto him Lord dost thou wash my feet Iesus answered and said vnto him what I doe thou knowest not now but thou shalt know heereafter Peter said vnto him thou shalt neuer wash my feet Iesus answered him If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me Simon Peter said vnto him Lord not my feet onely but also my hands and my head Iesus said vnto him Hee that is washed needeth not saue to wash his feete but is cleane euery whit and ye are cleane but not all for hee knew who should betray him therefore said he ye are not al clean So after he had washed their feete and receiued his clothes and was set downe he said vnto them againe wâ—t you what I haue done to you Ye call me maister and Lord and ye say well for so I am If I then your Lord and maister haue washed your feet ye also ought to wash one anothers feet for I haue giuen you an ensample that yee should doe as I haue done to you Verely verely I say vnto you The seruaunt is not greater than his maister neyther the messenger greater than he that sent him If yee vnderstand these thinges happie are ye if ye do them Doctrine and fruite HEere ought we diligently to consider the vnspeakeable and feruent loue of our Lord Iesus Christ who vntill the ende leaueth nothing vndone that may serue for our welfare Likewise also should we ponder and regard the meeke lowlines of him in that hee the king of heauen doth humble himselfe euen to wash his Disciples feete which thing is accounted base and vile amongst men yea euen vnto the man that betraied him is not he ashamed neyther refuseth to shew such lowlines and worke of loue By this we learne to declare all workes of charitable loue vnto our neighbor and not to bee ashamed how high soeuer we be meekly to do our neighbor seruice though he be poore base and small in
elect that beleeue in me and follow mee vnder the crosse I will not deceiue you I will shew you no vnfaithfull touch I will not disappoint you into no fools paradise nor false hope wil I bring you If the mansions were not prepared for you in my Fathers house I would tell it you but doubt ye not in my promise fall ye not off from faith hope stay your beleefe and affiance stedfastly vppon mee hope vndoubtedly for the dwellings to come which are ordained and prepared of my Father for you Heere is nothing but miserie and trouble here is no abiding no dwelling but a pilgrimage Heere ye are among straungers but in my Fathers house are many dwellinges not onely for mee but also for you And forasmuch as now through my death I will furnish and perfectly open and make an entraunce into the same dwellings which were prepared for you of my Father afore the creation of the world bee not you therefore dismayed by reason of my death My death shall bee your life and saluation Through my death go I before you make you a way vnto heauen Looke what the Father of his gratious goodnes hath ordained for you from euerlasting that will not hee giue you but through mee Therefore must I die and with my death open you the entrance vnto life And albeit that through my death and ascension I shall corporally depart from you yet will I not faile you neither forsake you Like as by my death I open vnto you the entrance into the heauenly mansions so will I send you my holie spirite who shall furnish you and make you meete for such dwellings That I go from you it is doone for your wealth therefore be not sorie that I open the dwellings vnto you I wil come to you againe and receiue you to my selfe that ye may alwaies be with me in my Fathers kingdome For he that serueth me shall also bee eternally with mee in my Fathers house thither will I bring you through my power and grace feare yee not beleeue in me Thus ye know whither I go namely vnto the Father to worke your welfare yee knowe also through what way yee must followe mee euen through faith and aduersitie Abide yee stedfast in faith and put your trust in me so will I be your faithfull mediatour and atturney in the presence of God my Father And if we would say as Thomas did that we know not the way the Lord Iesus instructeth vs further saith that he is the way the truth and the life This ought we poore sinners well to fasten in our hartes that Christ is the onely way which bringeth vs vnto God and that no man may come vnto the father but by him We should not therefore erect or choose vnto our selues anie other waie Onely by Christ must we come vnto God this hath hee spoken that is the truth it selfe cannot lie In the way is he our guide and by it he leadeth vs vnto himselfe and so by himselfe vnto God Thorough this waie we come to life and though we must die in aduersitie for his sake yet in him we finde eternall life for hee is the life and resurrection Who so beleeueth on him cannot die but commeth out of death into life and though hee die yet shall he liue in him euerlastingly Furthermore we must take sure hold vpon Christs promise which in life and death shal strengthen and comfort vs in that he promiseth vs he will giue vs all that we desire in his name Wherefore in all our necessitie and trouble we ought to haue recourse onely vnto him or vnto God his father in his name And then doe we praie in his name when wee desire that which may serue to the honour of his father that the father may be honored through the sonne and in the sonne when we desire such wholesome good things as the spirit of Christ moueth vs vnto All this doth stirre vp in vs patience peace ioy in the holy Ghost beleefe in Christ who is our God hâ—ad whom by his doctrine and wonderful miracles we haue learned to be verie good in deede The holy Scripture also both of the old and new Testament doth sufficiently declare the same as Esa 7.9.42.49.62 Iere 23.33 Mich. 5. Zach. 13. Mala. 3. What doth hee els in his whole Gospell but euidently and strongly proue that Iesus is verie God as in the 1.2.3.4.5.6.7 Chapters yea in all Christ calleth himselfe the sonne of God teacheth euery where that we ought to beleue on him now if he were not verie true God then had hee deceiued vs then had he taught vs wrong then were he himselfe a false teacher for wee must beleeue in none saue onely in God If Christ nowe were not God how should wee beleeue in him If he were a false teacher then woulde not the father haue commanded vs to heare him then had not he spoken froÌ„ heauen these wordes This is my dearely beloued sonne heare him then had not hee also confirmed his cause with miracles raised him vp from death taken him vp into heauen and set him on his right hand For he hateth all lyers and hath no pleasure in the wicked Iohan. 8. Afore Abraham was I am Christ sayth that the father hath giuen him all power in heauen and earth Matth. 28. Which sentence alone were sufficient and strong inough to proue that Christ is God for God giueth his glorie and honor to none other Esa 42. he sayth also that what the father hath it is his Ioh. 17. And Iohn 20. sayth Thomas vnto Christ My Lord and my God by him were all things created Iohn 1. Col. 1. Then must he needs be God for no creature is the maker or creatour of all things Paule sayth He is the wisedome of God 1. Corinth 1. The wisedome of GOD is eternall Prouerbes 8. Eccle. 24. Romanes 1.9 In the Epistle to the Hebrues what doth Paule else euen from the beginning vntill hee come farre within it but bring in testimonies that Christ is verie God Iohn saith Euerie spirite which confesseth that Iesus came in the flesh is of God Out of the which it followeth that as concerning his diuine nature hee was from euerlasting afore he came in the flesh Item Paule to the Hebrews saith God tooke vpon him the seede of Abraham then must hee needes be eternall God before the humanitie was As also Iohn saith The word was God and the word became man Item No man hath seen God at any time The sonne of God which is in the Fathers bosome hee hath opened it vnto vs. Iohn 3. Saith Christ No man ascendeth into heauen saue hee that came downe from heauen Now canst thou not say that hee came downe as touching his humane nature for that tooke hee first vpon him in the Virgin Mary Luke 1. Then must it needes bee true that he came downe concerning his Godhead as he oft saith I came
one as much as he can comprehend and kindleth spirituall hearts with greater desire He that nowe increaseth in loue that is who so loueth that whereof God giueth him knowledge and desireth to know that which as yet he knoweth not him doth the spirite leade into al truth For the more that loue groweth the more perfect is knowledge And in this schoole of the loue which the spirit poureth into our hearts the faithfull beleeuer learneth more than all bookes and all men can teach him but the more a man learneth can the more must he acknowledge and confes that he can nothing towards that which we shall know when we shall cleerely and perfectly see God face to face Vnto vs shall it bee inough and sufficient that we in spirit and in the truth knowe Iesus Christ which was crucified that he shine and be glorified in our mortall body in our harts mouth and in our whole life AFter a while ye shall not see me again after a while ye shall see me for I go to the father Then said some of his disciples among themselues What is this that he saith vnto vs After a while ye shal not see me againe after a while ye shal see me that I go to my father They said therfore what is this that he saith after a while We cannot tel what he saith Iesus perceiued that they would aske him and said vnto them This is it that ye enquire off betweene your selues that I said After a while ye shall not see me again after a while ye shal see me Verily verily I say vnto you yee shall weepe and lament but the world shall reioyce yee shall sorrowe but your sorrow shall be turned into ioye A woman when she trauaileth hath sorrow because her houre is come But when she is deliuered of the childe she remembreth no more the anguish for ioye that a man is borne into the world And yee now therefore are in soâ—rowe but I will see you againe and your heart shall reioyce and your ioye shall no man take from you Doctrine and fruite AN excellent comfort doth Christ giue here vnto his Disciples who by reason of his deparparting were in great sorrowe and heauines But like as the Disciples of Christ because of his passion abode for a little season in great combrance feare and trouble and yet receiued great ioye out of the Resurrection when hee shewed himselfe vnto them euen so in aduersity ought not we to be faint-hearted but comfort our selues in this that the Lord doth not long leaue those that are his Though hee hide himselfe for a time he shall shortly shewe vs his gratious countenance againe refresh vs with rich comfort The aduersities of faithful beleeuers are not only short but also they end with vnspeakeable ioy After aduersitie and death foloweth euerlasting ioye and eternall life We are here with Christ our head in trouble and on the crosse where the world laugheth at vs and reioyseth For all this ought not wee to be vnquiet in our selues Very shortly will the matter change and turne vpside downe so that their laughter and ioy shal be altered into weeping and eternall sorrow But our heauinesse shall God shortly end with great fruit and ioye and the same ioy shall no man be able to take from vs when we with Christ our head shall euerlastingly bee gladde and reioyce when all teares shall bee wiped away from our eyes and wee discharged of all trauaile and labour of this time IN that daie shall ye aske me no question Verily verilie I saie vnto you Whatsoeuer yee shall aske the father in my name he will giue it you Hetherto haue ye asked nothing in my name Aske and ye shall receiue that your ioy may be full These things haue I spoken vnto you in Prouerbs but the time will come when I shall no more speak to you in prouerbes but I shall shew you plainly of my father At that day shall ye aske in my name And I saie vnto you that I will praie vnto the father for you for the father himselfe loueth you because ye haue loued mee and haue beleeued that I am come out from God I went out from the father and came into the world I leaue the world againe and goe to the father His disciples said vnto him Lo now spekest thou plainly and thou speakest no prouerbe Now are we sure that thou knowest all things and nedest not that anie man should aske thee anie question Therefore beleeue wee that thou camest from God Iesus answered them Now ye do beleeue beholde the houre draweth nigh and is alreadie come that ye shall be scattered euerie man into his owne and shal leaue me alone yet I am not alone for the father is with me These words haue I spoken vnto you that in mee yee might haue peace In the world shall yee haue tribulation but bee of good cheere I haue ouercome the world Doctrine and fruit MAny times doth Christ promise vs whatsoeuer wee praie to obtaine the same of the father of heauen whereby he may stirre vp our hearts faithfully to crie vnto God the gracious and louing father whose loue towardes vs is exceeding great neither can he saie vs nay that hath giuen and bestowed vppon vs his owne sonne yea not onely hath hee sent downe vnto vs his deare and onely begotten sonne to take the nature of man vppon him and to die for vs but hath also into our hearts giuen his holy spirite with whome hee hath sealed vs and certefied vs of his loue pouring the knowledge and loue of Christ into our heartes How can wee then doubt of his loue and faithfulnesse How is it possible that in all our trouble and heauinesse we should not vnto him onely haue recourse seeking helpe and comfort at his hand The sonne for our sake came forth from the father humbled and made himselfe of no reputation tooke all reproch shame and trouble vppon himselfe for our welfare To the father was he obedient vntil the death of the crosse and after that he through his bloud had washed awaie our sinnes and finished the worke of our saluation he arose againe from death through the power might of his father ouercame death for vs and with his ascension opened heauen and prepared an enterance vnto God carrying vp our nature and flesh vnto the honor and glorie which he had from euerlasting giuing vs therein a hope and sure comfort that wee also shal with him haue euerlasting ioy and glory for euer Seeing then that he came out from the father we ought to hearken vnto him and not to despise his word he is the eternall wisedome of God he is the truth no false teacher can he bee forasmuch as hee commeth from God and is his onely begotten son To contemne so deare an embassadour and messenger of God must needs haue great punishment and though we are not able in
to thinke that thou knowest God the highest goodnes of all if thou hadst not him by whom thou art deliuered from sin and eternall plague Whereas GOD the originall of all goodnesse is knowne and our minde through Christ his Sonne assured of his grace namely that hee is fauourable vnto vs and that hee therefore hath seperated vs out of the world to the intent that by his spirit he might make vs like vnto his sonne righteous and blessed there doth there spring in our hartes a comfortable trust vnto God a loue such ioy as nothing in this world may be compared vnto There also doth arise in vs a diligence to keepe his commandements godly and innocently to liue Thus commeth our health originally out of the grace mercie of our heauenly Father who afore the worlde was created did chuse vs in Christ Iesu his Sonne vnto eternall life and in the booke of life wrote vp our names After the same did the Father graunt vnto vs the Sonne gaue him power ouer all men Nowe that wee are giuen vnto Christ hee openeth vnto vs the name of his Father through the outward worde and through his spirite in the heart When wee beleeue in him which to do cōmeth also of him then increaseth the knowledge of God in vs. Out of that knowledge groweth an assured confidence in God the highest good Of this assured trust commeth loue towards him And when God graunteth vs all this he saueth vs and giueth vs eternall life This is an high worthines and honour of Christ in that the father giueth him all things into his hand that he may giue euerlasting life vnto faithful beleeuers No man can haue life but throgh Christ Who so beleeueth not in Christ remaineth in death and the wrath of God-abideth vppon him But then giueth hee vs eternall life when we receiue his worde and knowe that he came out from God and that the father sent him the Sauiour of the world And when wee thus are become faithfull beleeuers then keepe we his commaundementes for faith studieth and is diligent to please God This honour and dignitie of Christ his power and kingdome are first opened vnto the world after his death and crosse in the resurrection and ascension Of the which honour and glorie wee also in due time shall after our measure bee partakers if we suffer with him For the high Priest who hath prayed for vs is heard of the Father and glorified with eternall honor and glorie Wherefore we may not doubt in the remnant that he praieth for still on our behalfe hee shal be and is for his worthines sake heard and hath his request Of this wee will consider more I Pray for them and pray not for the worlde but for them whome thou hast giuen me for they are thine and al mine are thine and thine are mine I am glorified in them And nowe am I no more in the world but they are in the world and I come to the holy father keep them in thy name whome thou hast giuen me that they may be one as we are When I was with thē in the world I kept them in thy name Those that thou gauest mee haue I kept and none of them is lost but the lost childe that the Scripture might be fulfilled Now come I to thee and these wordes speake I in the world that they might haue my ioy full in them I haue giuen them thy word and the world hath hated them because they are not of the world euen as I am not of the worlde I desire not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou keepe them from euill They are not of the world as I am not of the world Sanctifie them with thy truth thy saying is truth As thou sentest mee into the world so haue I sent them into the worlde and for their sakes I sanctifie my selfe that they also might be sanctified through the truth I pray not for them alone but for those also which shall beleeue on mee through their preaching that they all may bee one as thou Father art in me and I in thee and that they may bee also one in vs that the worlde may beleeue that thou hast sent me And the glorie that thou gauest mee haue I giuen them that they may be one as we are one I in them thou in me that they may bee made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loued them as thou hast loued me Doctrine and fruite THIS praier of our high Priest and mediatour Christ Iesus is feruent earnest full of the fire of godly loue ful of great secrets and spirituall instructions Herein may we learne to know what hie honor dignitie and power Christ by his obedience and patience hath obtained with his father wherein consisteth our peace ioy welfare What care and loue Christ beareth towardes those that are his and how he committeth them vnto his father First hee praieth for his Disciples whome hee did choose to publish his truth afterward praieth he for all such as should come to the faith by their preaching vntil the worldes end And for asmuch as the Disciples had a great waightie matter in hand full of danger and aduersitie for they must needs procure to themselues great hatred of the world hee first praieth for them that the Father will strengthen comfort and preserue them thorow his power defend them from all euill In this are we taught diligently chiefly and specially to pray for those vnto whome is committed the preaching of the Gospell for a chargeable and great worke carry they vppon their shoulders by meanes whereof among all others they haue speciall neede of the grace helpe assistance of God But our prayer ought we to frame as Christ hath framed his First we must in our praier to God make speciall mention of his owne grace and mercie whereby hee chusing them to such an office hath giuen them vnto Christ his sonne Forasmuch then as they are the Ministers of him and of his Sonne and seeing the Sonne is so deare worthie beloued vnto the Father our prayer must bee that hee for his Sonnes sake will defende and preserue them as in him and by him they are worthie Secondly considering that for his sake and his word which they declare they are persecuted of the worlde it is requisite that God preserue them in his owne worke For great need haue they of his fatherly protection while they yet liue in the weake feeble flesh and are mortall men Thirdly their office serueth to many mens health and welfare their office is necessary and profitable to the whole world which walketh in blindnesse and darknes for they are the light of the world that thorough doctrine and liuing must shine to manie mens life which without the assistance and helpe of God cannot come passe Thus ought wee to praye for
the worlde also hath not knowen thee but I haue knowen thee these haue knowen that thou hast sent me And I haue declared vnto them thy name and will declare it that the loue wherewith thou hast loued me may be in them and I in them Doctrine and fruite AFter that Christ had committed his vnto the father that he will care for them defend keepe them while they liue in the world he desireth now that it will please him finally also to saue them and to take them to himself into his kingdome With the which praier he giueth a great consolation to his disciples and all faithfull beleeuers that we might be the more cheerefull to serue him considering the high reward that is prepared for vs that for his sake we should ioyfully and stoutly beare all aduersitie seeing he will make vs yea hath made vs alredy partakers of his glory and of his kingdome Oh the great grace and incomprehensible loue of God towards vs who through his mercie and great loue whereas wee were children of wrath and damnation hath made vs his own children elect and beloued and when wee were dead in sinne hath with his son raised vs vp from death reuiued vs made vs sit with him among those of heauen in Christ Iesu to declare vnto the ages to come the riches of his grace in kindnes and loue to vs ward through Iesus Christ Forasmuch nowe as God hath caused the lyght of his glorie euen Christ to shine into our harts and through the light of faith hath kindled and purified our hearts it is meete that in this time we liue as children of light to the intent that men may see the brightnes of those good workes which proceede of faith to the praise of our heauenly father And thogh we be not as yet bodily with Christ yet our heartes and mindes are alwaies aboue there as Christ sitteth at the right hand of God our conuersation and being is in heauen albeit wee are yet in corporall miserie with heart we desire to die and to be with Christ Wee are sure if this earthly house were fallen and broken downe that we haue one euerlasting in heauen Wee are dead but our life is reserued with Christ in GOD. It is not euident yet what wee be but when Christ our lyfe shall shewe himselfe then shall wee also appeare with him in glorie euen when wee shall rise vp and bee taken vp in the ayre and bee with him for euer and see his honour and glorie which the Angelles delight to see and beholde Oh how great pleasure and ioy is it to beholde the eternall light that neuer quencheth in the which no darknesse hath place from the which shall bee expelled and cast out all they that woulde not receiue and know the light which God hath sent into the world to illuminate them but are blinded by the Prince of this world least the the light of the Gospel should shine vpon them No wrong doth the righteous father vnto them when hee plagueth them and taketh the light from them A righteous and iust iudgement is it seeing the gracious Father so mercifully sent them the light of the truth and they yet so maliciously and stubbornly haue despised and refused it yea reason it is that they perish in vntruth in lies in euerlasting blindnes for asmuch as they wold receiue darknes rather than the light lies rather than the truth And considering that they haue forsaken the brightnes of the truth and of the son of God they must needes be cast into vtter darkenes and neuer enioy the light O gracious Father graunt vnto vs which thorow thy sonne haue known thy name that in such knowledge and light of the truth wee may increase more and more that the loue wherewith thou louest thy deare sonne may bee and remaine in vs and that thy onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ our head may in vs his members continue still worke liue and bring forth fruit acceptable vnto thee AND when Iesus had spoken these words he went out with his Disciples as hee was woont ouer the brooke Cedron vnto mount Oliuet into a village called Gethsemani wheras was a garden into the which Iesus went with his disciples Iudas nowe who betrayed him knewe also the place for Iesus vsed oft to come thether with his disciples Iesus sayd vnto his Disciples Sit ye heere till I go yonder and pray And he tooke vnto him Peter and the two sonnes of Zebede and began to be heauy and sony And a feare and terrour came vppon him Thus said he vnto them my soule is heauie vnto the death tarrie ye heere and watch with me And hee went from them as farre as a stones cast Then fell he downe vppon his face to the ground and praied that if it were possible that houre might depart from him And thus hee praied O father vnto thee are all thinges possible take this cuppe from mee howbeit not my will but thy will bee done Doctrine and fruite AFter that Iesus hath established his Disciples in faith and loue comforting and strengthening them against aduersitie and trouble to come in this world promising also vnto them the spirit loue defence and protection of his father hee goeth now to meet his traitour and enemies and beginneth the worke of our redemption Awake vp nowe O thou faithfull and deuout soule and go after thy redemer followe his foot-steps gather vp diligently the drops of his bloud and sprinckle them with a true faith in thine heart take vp the bundle of mirrhe and lay it at thy breast O thou noble bride and spouse of Christ his passion that he suffereth for thee write then in thy minde learne to die from all sinne from thy selfe and from the world that thou maiest bee crucified vnto the world and the world vnto thee Death is vgsome and very terrible vnto the flesh but ioyfull and welcome is it vnto all such as are instructed in the secrete science of God namely that death vnto faithfull beleeuers is an ende of all trouble an enteraunce into a better and eternall lyfe Christ in that he goeth forth to meete death declareth that he wil suffer not of compulsion but willingly whereby he comforteth vs. But whereas he is heauie and trembleth before his disciples and confesseth howe hee feareth death the same is done for our wealth to declare vnto vs the weaknesse and feeblenesse that our flesh receiueth at the sight of aduersitie for in all things sinne except it was his good pleasure to become lyke vnto vs his brethren hee would take vpon him a true man who felte our aduersitie in his owne flesh and so coulde haue compassion on vs. Besides this hee sheweth also to whom our weaknesse ought to resort for comfort and helpe in aduersitie namely to our father in heauen before whome wee must fall downe with deuout and feruent praier and vnto him disclose and open our anguish
Iesus to kisse him And when he came he stept vnto him and sayd All haile master and with that kissed him Iesus sayd vnto him Friend whereto art thou come Iudas betrayest thou the sonne of man with a kisse Iesus knowing all things that were to come vpon himselfe went forth and sayd vnto them Whom seeke ye They said Iesus of Nazareth Then sayd he vnto them I am he And Iudas that betraied him stood with them Now when Iesus sayd I am hee they went backeward and fell to the ground Then Iesus asked them againe whome seeke ye They said Iesus of Nazareth Then answered Iesus and said I haue tolde you that I am hee If ye seeke me then let these depart that the saying which he spake might bee fulfilled Of them whome thou gauest me I haue lost none Doctrine and fruit CHrist the worthy and strong Captaine when he hath whollie giuen ouer himselfe steppeth forth weaponed going manfully and stedfastlie against the prince of this world and his ministers yeelding and offering himselfe willingly to suffer for vs as Esay saith quia voluit for so was it his will No man had beene able to take him or put him to death if hee had not so willed himselfe for hee had power to leaue his owne life Many times afore did hee giue place to their fury and got himselfe out of the way but when the houre apointed of the father was come he goeth himselfe willingly meeteth death by the way Heere ought we also to learne willingly and stoutly to goe into aduersity if it bee the will of our father if Gods honour and our neighbours welfare so require For like as the father suffreth not his son to die till the houre of death come euen so standeth our life in his hand The limits that hee hath set vnto vs may we neither preuent nor ouer passe neither lieth it in the power of our enemies to kill vs when they will themselues Christ careth for those that are his the enemies are able to doe vs no harme at all no neither in bodie nor goods till the Father giue them leaue Therfore he sayth Let these go The father according to his greate mercie and gracious will thrusteth vs into aduersitie with Christ his deare beloued sonne in such wise so much and at what time he will himselfe Against his will ought we not to striue but patiently and with obedience submit our selues wholy vnto it Oh what an vnspeakable great loue is heere The shepheard dieth to saue the lyfe of the poore sheepe the Lorde goeth vnto death to the intent that the seruants should not die the creator spareth not himselfe to saue his creature If the sonne of God nowe doeth not abhorre to suffer death for vs why would wee then bee ashamed to suffer and die for hys sake And though he be verie God and sheweth his enemies the brightnes of his godly strength in that he so throweth them to the grounde yet will not he in the same houre vse such his diuine power to deliuer himself albeit he admonisheth them therby to cease from their conceiued mallice for his godly strength casteth them downe his mercie grace lifteth them vp again Out of the which great myracle they shuld haue learned not to laie hande on him malitiously they shoulde haue considered that if it had beene his pleasure hee might well haue escaped their handes so that they had not beene able to holde him but the vnbeleeuing rable are blinded indurate and hardned that neither myracle nor kindnes can moue them Oh the high maiestie of Christ how shall vnbeleeuers be able to stand before him when he shal appeare in the iudgement whereas before his weaknesse and humilitie when hee was now to bee iudged himselfe they were not able to stand If his louing voice wherewith hee speaketh so gentlie vnto them and saith I am hee dooth so feare them and throw them down What wil then the horrible voice of the Iudge doe when hee shall say depart yee cursed into euerlasting fire O how innocently and godly ought we to liue before him who is among vs and in vs heareth all our words seeth all our workes sercheth and looketh thorow all our thoughts howe secret so euer they be Christ at this time withdrew his high power and in weaknes of the flesh and in wonderfull high patience stept he forth to suffer By his ensample must wee learne not to take vs to our high estate but with patience and humblenes of mind to meet the enemie Like patience and gentlenes vseth he also towards his traitour whome hee goeth to meet not speaking rough wordes vnto him brawleth not with him rateth him not as he was well worthy but receiueth him with all softnes of mind and gentlenes whereas yet hee came to deliuer betray him into the hands of the wicked and vnto death Neither dooth the Lorde denie him so much as the kisse the token of friendship but louingly also talketh he with him albeit he also maketh mention of his vnfeined and dissembling friendship telling him of it admonishing him if he had not bene hardened to cease from his conceaued treason Wherefore we also must learne of Christ so far as concerneth our owne person and estimation with all mildnesse softnesse of mind patience and greatest loue to meete those that hate vs and betray vs if peraduenture with such loue and gentlenes of minde wee may bring them away from their malice and wickednes Heere also with great feare dread ought we to consider of the iudgement God in Iudas that he being one of the twelue and elect Disciples dooth betray and sell the Lord Iesus his gratious louing Maister Whereby wee are taught how that amongst all men there is nothing throughly perfect and whole seeing that in so holy and small number there is one man so greatly stuffed with wickednesse Therefore he that standeth let him looke that he fall not Lette couetousnes blind no man let the desire of temporall good possesse and rule no mans heart for out of couetousnes the roote of all vice groweth nothing but treason and despaire No righteousnesse no fidelity no truth no honesty can be in that hart wherin greedie couetousnes hath taken root Iudas for verie greedines of money giueth ouer God all loue and hee that afore was a fellowe and companion of the holy congregation of Gods children is become a mate companion and Captaine of the wicked vnbeleeuers hee that was chosen to the preaching of the Gospell is become an enemie persecutor and traitour against the truth O from how high great honour to what shame dishonestie and vile state falleth Iudas who hauing woluish conditions vnder sheepes cloathing doth vnder the token of loue practise treason against the trueth From Iesus the true health hee seperateth himselfe to the children of the Deuill hee getteth him amongst the bloud-thirstie yea euen he that hitherto in outward appearaunce had
and said I am vnguiltie from the bloud of this iust man looke ye to it Then answered all the people said His bloud be vpon vs and vpon our children So Pilat according to theyr desire let Barrabas loose vnto them And Iesus whome hee scourged gaue he ouer vnto them to be crucified Doctrine and fruite PIlate feareth men more than God therfore doth he against God and condemneth the innocent althogh he thinketh to be vnguilty of his bloud The Euangelist maketh mention of the feast of Easter or Passah to the intent wee shoulde consider that Christ the true right Paschall lambe was put to death and slaine for vs. Here we learne what the iudgement of the world is righteousnes is refused and condemned wickednesse vngratiousnesse and murther is deliuered and quite O how lamentably perisheth the righteous no man there is that considereth it or that goeth about to deliuer him The true is giuen ouer to the lyers the innocent to the guiltie the godly to the vngratious the murtherer is chosen before Iesus the annointed sonne of God heere the wicked is preferred before the iust death before life night darknes before the light This nowe in all our troubles when wee are opprest and falsely condemned shal comfort strengthen vs if we set before our eyes the blessed example of Iesus the innocent who for vs was condemned as an euill dooer For wee seruantes are not aboue our Lorde If the Iudge of the quicke and deade bee wrongfully condemned how much more conuenient is it that wee poore guiltie shoulde suffer when wee are iudged whether it bee doone iustly or vniustly Christ for our sake was falsly condemned to take from vs the iust iudgement of eternall damnation which was gone out vpon vs for our sinnes Graunt vnto vs O Lord Iesu that neither thratening nor slaunder driue vs away from the contemned crosse but that with our whole powers we may gladly follow thee O giue vs grace to fasten our flesh with the temptations therof vnto the crosse that we bewailing our former sinnes may withstand and ouercome the temptations that are behind Helpe vs Lorde in the conflict of the spirite lette thy crosse ô Lord bee vnto vs a medecine against all vice and graunt that we alway chearefully take vp our crosse and follow thee Amen THen the souldiers lead Iesus againe into the iudgment hall And when they had mocked him they stripped him out of the purple robe and put his own garments vpon him and lead him forth to be crucified And he bare his owne crosse himselfe and went on towardes the place of execution And as they lead him they caught one that was called Simon of Cyren who came from the field and was the father of Alexander and Rufus him they compelled to carie the crosse of Iesus and laid it vpon him that he might beare it after Christ And there followed him a great companie of people and women which bewailed and lamented him But Iesus turned backe to them and sayd Ye daughters of Ierusalem weepe not for me but weepe for your selues and for your children For behold the daies will come in the which they shall saie Happie are the barren and the wombes that neuer bare and the paps which neuer gaue sucke Then shall they begin to saie to the mountaines Fall on vs and to the hils couer vs for if they doo this in a greene tree what shall be done in the drie And vnto the place of execution there were lead with him two other murtherers to be slaine And they came vnto the place called Golgatha that is a place of dead mens skuls or the place of execution And they gaue him to drinke vinegre mixt with gall but when he had proued it he would not drinke it And they crucified him with him two murtherers the one on the right hand the other on the left and Iesus in the middest That the Scripture might be fulfilled Hee was counted among the euill dooers Doctrine and fruit HEere ought we with deuout hearts to behold our Sauiour Iesus how meekely he taketh the crosse vppon him for our sakes and patientlie beareth it to bring the lost sheep again vpō his shoulders Heere we see our king beare his kingdome vpon his shoulders as Esay the prophet saith He is is not onely led foorth but it is done with great teproch euen as if he were a ring-leader of murtherers and vnthrifts O how was the king of glorie blaspemed and misintreated for our sakes Hee taketh our sins vpon him and dischargeth vs of our burthen In the consideration of this his reproch we shold not weepe ouer him but ouer our selues For if this be done to the innocent sonne of God what are we then worthie of By this also must wee learne patiently to beare our crosse in folowing our fore-goer for he sheweth vs an example before that we should follow his foosteps euen to the death And if we so consider our crosse it shall be light and easie vnto vs. We haue sworne vnder the crosse from the which we must not shrinke if we will follow the Lord. The loue of Iesu Christ shal make all aduersitie sweet and acceptable vnto vs. Our ioy and comfort ought to bee chiefly in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ by whome the world must be crucified vnto vs and we vnto the world He shall cause our slouthfull flesh to bee quicke and diligent and shall kindle our colde heart Hee goeth before vs in the narrowe waie and is a companion of our pilgrimage a helper in all trouble a comforter in all aduersitie a worker with vs in the grieuous trauaile that wee suffer for his sake O Lorde helpe vs to beare the heauie burthens that wee maye bee diligent and apt vnto all good workes Assist vs with thy power and grace helpe vs according vnto thy accustomed mercie teach vs to breake and vtterlie to leaue our owne will Make vs true Crosse-bearers and followers of thee Take from vs all worldlie lust and wilfulnesse what so euer hindereth vs in thy loue that in obedience and patience wee may alwaie followe thee and find rest with thee after aduersitie Thou Lorde wast stripped out of thy apparell and spoyled thereof that wee with vertues might be cloathed The same that was put vppon thee to rebuke and shame is vnto vs become the highest honour Thou wast lift vppe from the earth that thou mightest drawe the heartes of thy faithfull beleeuers vnto thee from all earthlie thinges and kindle them in the loue of hie heauenly things that thou thorow thy death mightest reconcile fully restore all that is in heauen and earth O ye righteous and faithfull that delite to serue God behold with the eies of your hart how our God Lord king and redeemer hangeth on the crosse for vs. let vs consider our louer who for our sakes hangeth naked and bare in great shame reproch before the world He spreadeth out his
furnished with watching and praier may stedfastly stand and with a constant mind despise all bodily prouocations shewing patience in aduersitie not fearing the slaunders and despitefull swordes of the people neyther desiring the prayse and honour of this worlde that in the onely eternal wealth wee may sette all our trust and neuer to goe backe from the crosse for wealth nor woe but that vnder the same banner through true patience meeknesse and obedience wee may finish our life with a blessed ende Amen In the offendor that receiued of Christ the promis of grace there is set before vs a comfortable example of the mercie and loue of God for hee that afore had beene a murtherer and now was become a penitent and repentaunt person assoone as he acknowledged the trespasse and was vnfainedly sorrie for his offences committed confessing Christ the fountaine of life there was promised vnto him forgiuenesse of his sinnes and entrance into ioy Wherby wee see that no true penitent commeth too late and that no conuersion is vnfruitfull if it bee doone vnfainedly from out of the heart Here should we learne to goe into our selues to acknowledge and confesse our sinnes to complaine vnto GOD with lamentation and to desire grace at his hande affirming also that wee are well worthie of all rebuke and shame all punishment payne and aduersitie Neuerthelesse in the consideration of Gods eternal mercie wee ought not to despayre but to turne vs vnto the Bishop and chiefe shepheard of our soules and to saye Lorde remember vs in thy kingdome where thou sittest at the right hande of GOD thy Father so shall wee vndoubtedly heare this chearefull voice To day shalt thou bee with mee in paradise This word of consolation this gratious promise shall strengthen comfort our troubled hart in the carefull terrible houre so that we shal be able quietly to die forasmuch as Iesus so friendly speaketh to vs and receiueth vs so graciously Great and vnsearchable is the mercie of God that pardoneth so great a sinner and offendour and doth not cast him off neither will hee reiect our feruent praier which we in true confidence make vnto him Hee desireth not the death of a sinner but willeth that hee conuert and liue So loued hee the worlde that hee gaue his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth on him should not perish but haue euerlasting life neither came hee to call the righteous but sinners O Iesu bee mindfull of thy promisse thinke vpon vs thy seruantes and when wee shall depart hence speake vnto our soule these louing wordes To day shalt thou bee with mee in ioy O Lord Iesu Christ remember vs thy seruauntes that trust in thee when our tongue cannot speake when the sight of our eies fayleth and when our eares are stopped Suffer not the olde Serpent and wicked enemie the Deuill to finde anie thing in vs though hee subtilly tempt vs and craftily lay wayte for vs. In thee shall we ouercome him for in thee is our strength thou takest al our sinnes vppon thy selfe so that hee shall finde nothing in vs but must departe from vs with shame Lette them bee turned backe and soone confounded but lette our soule alway reioyce in thee and bee ioyfull of thy saluation which thou through thy death hast purchased for vs. IT was neare hande about the sixt houre And beside the crosse of Iesus stoode Marie his mother and his mothers sister Marie the wife of Cleophas and Marie Magdalene Now when Iesus sawe his mother and the disciple standing whom he loued he said vnto his mother Woman behold thy sonne Afterward said hee to the disciple Behold thy mother And from that houre foorth the disciple tooke her for his owne Doctrine and fruite IN the passion of Christ as is mentioned afore it ought to be considered that he was most extremely reuyled and suffered most great paine for our sakes This now appertaineth to the increasing of his paine that hee seeth his mother in all aduersitie who might not helpe him neyther hee her Nowe doth the sworde that Simeon spake of pierce thorow her heart But Iesus seeing her in sorrowe and heauinesse declareth his carefull loue vppon the honour and worthinesse of his dearely beloued mother and giueth her a tutour such an one as will looke vnto her On both the parties maye wee perceyue great loue which wee ought to learne of the Lord and to exercise towardes those that bee committed vnto vs. Neither is it written of the Euangelist for naught that shee stoode for thereby we see that though Marie was in verie greate heauinesse and sorrowe yet behaueth shee not heâ—selfe vnseemelie nor vndiscreetly as carnall men doe in aduersitie manie times Shee standeth demurely and soberly beeing fortified through the strength of the spirite that stayeth her Whereby wee may learne when our deare friendes die not to bee sorie for them beyond measure and discretion But chiefly we learne when aduersitie commeth one to haue respect to another to care for our owne faithfully to coÌ„mit them vnto others that one may brotherly and truly looke to another but specially we ought to be carefull for those which are deare vnto God FRom the sixt houre there was darkenesse vppon all the earth till about the ninth houre and the Sunne was darkened About the ninth houre Iesus cryed with a lowd voyce Ely Ely lama sabacthani that is My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee Some standing there when they heard it said He calleth to Helias Immediately one of them ranne and tooke a spunge and filled it with vineger and put it vppon a reede and gaue him to drinke Other said lette vs see whether Helias will come and deliuer him Doctrine and fruite IN all aduersitie and despight is all bodily and temporall comfort withdrawne from Christ that euen when hee without all consolation dooth suffer most greuous extremitie wee might perceiue his loue The Lord of all creatures that lacketh nothing commeth into so great affliction and necessitie for our sake that hee complaineth himselfe to bee forsaken of him who worketh all things in him This is the voyce of the passible mortall flesh which for vs poore sinners crieth vpon the crosse His patience is our comfort his complaint is our helpe his sicknesse is our health his paine is our satisfaction The Phisitian came from heauen that hee thorow great compassion might giue ouer him selfe into exceeding many torments and rebukes Therfore with the sick he is sicke with those that suffer hee suffereth with the sorrowfull he is sorie with them that suffer violence hee complaineth for his feeble and weake members he praieth And the voyce of the flesh and of naturall sence is neither rebellious nor desperate The fleshe feeleth great paine vndeserued the innocent holy body suffereth sore punishment the Godhead neuerthelesse vseth the highest silence And as for the diuine presence the sensible paine is not minished by it But a merueilous steadfastnes
of patience is heere declared to performe the redemption of mankinde This paine and smart is so great that euen the Elements which haue no sence declare tokens of their compassion The Sunne lost his shine and hid his cheerefull light from the wicked rabble hauing as it were a displeasure for the death of their maker Seeing now that the sun mourneth and the earth quaketh much more ought we reasonable men to haue compassion and to consider the death of our maker Behold O faithfull seruant of God how thy foregoer in all his punishment and sorrowfull trouble indureth stil mild and patient and that there is heard no bitternes out of his mouth His praier and complaint sendeth hee vppe vnto his heauenlie Father neither nameth hee any other saue onely God To him alone hee complaineth and openeth his desolation Euen so ought wee to doe when aduersitie reproch or any such thing assaulteth vs wee must not vndiscreetly sorrow or be angrie but runne straight way vnto the Crosse and at the Crosse tarrie and abide a little while with the Lorde If thou be forsaken complaine of thy trouble vnto GOD the Father Consider that Iesus also for thy sake was left in great trouble and anguishe Learne thou likewise to bee soft minded and patient without murmuring or cursing Keepe thee to the onelie comfort of God giue ouer all the ioy of this world so shalt thou not bee forsaken of him All earthlie thinges set apart turne thou thy minde vppe into the Countrey of Heauen Take GOD for thy Father Iesus for thy brother Thou art of a noble high kindred namelie a childe of the euer liuing God O mercifull father wee crie vnto thee in all trouble and call vppon thee through the crucified Iesus Suffer vs not to sincke in great afflictions giue vs not ouer vnto our owne strength but the more the enemie presseth vppon vs the more bee thou our assistance For in all anguishe and trouble thou art the right helper and most faithfull friend If temptation then come vppon vs by thy fatherly will graunt vs grace O Lord patientlie to beare it and to lay the burthen vpon thy mercie that in all trouble we being els destitute of all consolatiō may put our whole trust onely in thee Amen AFter this Iesus knowing that all thinges were nowe perfourmed that the scripture might be fulfilled hee saith I thirst So there stood a vessell by full of vineger Therfore they filled a spunge with vinegar and wound it about with Isope and put to his mouth Assoone as Iesus then receiued of the Vinegar hee answered and saide It is finished Doctrine and fruite ADam satisfied his lust in the forbidden Apple which noisome lust was ocasion of our death But Iesus for the reformation of this concupiscence suffreth also vpon his tongue to restore vs againe from the fall and to conquere vs in this life His bitter drinke is vnto vs a blessed medicine Such great vnthankefulnesse of the Iewes was prophecied by King Dauid in the Psalmes To him that fedde them in the wildernesse with bread from heauen and gaue them water to drinke out of the hard stonie Rocke Euen vnto him for a recompence they giue Vineger and Gall. O the sower and vnnaturall fruite that the LORDE receiueth of his owne Vineyard which he had planted and garnished so faire To vs heere is prepared a soueraigne medicine against glotonie and all voluptuousnes of the flesh thorow the loue whereof God is forgotten and forsaken Now when Christ who is the fulfiller of the law and all the Prophets had whollie and fully perfourmed the will of his heauenlie father hee saith for a conclusion and ende of his life it is finished as hee would say Now is finished all that the old law hath written and spoken of me all that the old Testament figured with oblations and sacrifices with glory and beautie in the Gods seruice Now are truly fulfilled the holy prophesies of the Prophetes and the long wished desires of the holye olde Fathers Nowe is wrought and perfourmed all that belonged concerned the redemption of mankinde It is all as it was promised of God concluded with an honourable blessed end And looke what is behinde shall vndoubtedly be fulfilled in due time I haue accomplished the commandement of my Father who sent me into this world the worke that hee gaue mee to do haue I finished What could I do more for thee O my people that I haue not done Vppon the sixt daye hee finished the worke of the creation of the world And nowe vppon the sixt day and age of the world hee perfourmeth the blessed worke of mans redemption Vppon the sixt day hee created man and made him of the mould of the earth Vpon the sixt day hee restored him againe and deliuered him with his holy bloud Thus all things are finished the great worke of his mercie and most excellent loue is accomplished the way vnto heauen is opened and the deuils power is broken In such hope ought wee valiauntlie to trauaile at this time in this vnconstant world and not to let fall the worke of God that is begun but by his assistance to bring it vnto a blessed ende and stoutly to endure therein It is well-nie come to the point that all shal bee finished the euening and ende of our life commeth on apace wherein we may say with glad harts as Christ our foregoer did It is all finished Wherefore deare brethren let vs euer most diligently and earnestly walke in the way of the truth and of commendable vertues begun exercising our selues in righteousnes We must not think otherwise but to haue battaile against vice against the flesh the world and Satan Daily goe we on a pace towardes death in hope to attain eternal life O that we might say with Paule I haue fought a good fight I haue fulfilled my course I haue kept the faith We must suffer and haue trauaile yet a litle season the time of our deliuerance will shortly be heere O Lord Iesu direct thou all our works according to thy good pleasure illuminate purifie our minds and thoughts Teach vs how wee euer to the praise and honour of thy holy name may meekly beginne diligently doo and blessedly end all our workes and enterprises O giue vs grace faithfully to labour in the Vineyard of the Lord that the heat and trauaile driue vs not back that we faint not that in the schole of heauenly exercise wee may steadfastly indure till wee giue vp the ghost and that through thy mercie after many commendable battails and long striuing wee may say in the last houre of our life It is all finished Vouchsafe thou to bee the finall occasion of our whole life and of all our woorkings so shall it followe that thou wilt bee also our eternall reward ioy and saluation Amen ANd Iesus criyng with a loud voyce said Father into thy hands I commit my spirite And when hee had thus
a bone of him And againe another Scripture saith They shall looke on him whom they pierced Doctrine and fruite OVt of the side of him that sleeepeth vpon the crosse runneth the fountain of wholsom water with the which our vncleannes is washed away and the whole world sprinkled purified and cleansed therewith The heart is opened and wounded loue floweth out the bloud gusheth forth to the washing away of all our sins This is the true stonie rocke which being smitten vpon giueth water vnto our thirstie soules like as Eue was taken fashioned out of the rib side of her husband that slept so is the holie Church the spouse of Christ shapen out of the side of her husband This gate is opened wide to all faithfull beleeuers hee that hideth himselfe in this hole is sure from all hurt and harme Of this holie and godly fountaine who so drinketh once or taketh a draught of the holie loue dooth forthwith forget all his aduersities and griefes and shall bee whole from all wicked heate of temporall lustes and bodilie prouocations feruently shall hee bee kindled in loue and desire of eternall thinges and shall bee replenished with the vnspeakable goodnesse of the holie Ghost and in him shall bee a fountaine and well of liuing water flowing into eternall life By this creepeth the poore sinner into the louing heart of Iesus Christ which with exceeding great kindnes is pierced through and there findeth hee rest and quietnes in the stony rocke Here are opened the conduites and well pipes of life the way of our health wherein we finde rest vnto our soules shadow for heate and trauaile this fountaine of grace is neuer dried vp This is the well of the godly 〈◊〉 that floweth out of the middest of paradise to wate◠the whole earth to moysture the drie hearts to wash away sinne Out of this plentifull well ought wee with great desire to draw and drinke that from henceforth wee liue not in our selues but in him who for our sakes was wounded so deep Our hart must we giue whollie vnto him that hath opened his heart so wide His heart and ours must bee all one Nothing requireth he of vs but the heart Sonne saith he giue mee thy heart Our hart must we giue to the Lord not to the world to eternall wisedome not to lightnes There do the true heardmans sheepe find pasture there are the water brookes of life there may they goe in and out Nothing is there vppon earth that so kindleth draweth and pierceth the heart of man as dooth Christes loue declared vppon the crosse When wee thus surrender our heart vnto the Lorde when wee thus wholly and fully giue ouer our heart into the Lordes hands that hee may keepe and possesse it for euer then haue we blessed peace O Lord Iesu Christ drawe thou our hearts vnto thee ioyne them together in vnseparable loue that they may feruently burne that wee may abide in thee thou in vs that the euerlasting couenant betweene vs may stand sure for euer O wound our hearts with the fiery darts of thy pearcing loue Let them pierce through all our slouthfull members and inward powers that wee beeing happily wounded may so become whole and sound Let vs haue no louer but thy selfe alone lette vs seeke no ioy nor comfort but onely in thee Thus haue we the passion and death of our Lord and redeemer Iesus Christ Now as Paule saith let vs go foorth of the tentes vnto him that for our sake is despitefully crucified without the Citie of Hierusalem and lette vs helpe him to beare his rebuke giuing him thankes and praise for his great loue In his death standeth our life for in his death is our death slaine the sting of death and firme is taken awaye Heere finde wee true life and eternall saluation here sinne is forgiuen and pardon graunted A poena culpa heere mercie is denyed vnto no man for the vertue and merites of the Lordes holie passion is bottomlesse Through his shame commeth eternall honour and glorie vnto vs. His passion is the wholesome playster for all woundes his crosse the ouerthrow of all enemies and victorie against all vice From our whole heartes therefore ought wee to reioyce in the great and blessed fruites of thy holie passion O Lorde Iesu whilest wee are in this feeble life graunt vs so to liue that wee maye direct all our workes desires and intentes according to thy godlie will and pleasure that this our temporall course may bee founde and finished in thy grace that after the ouercomming of all temptations and carefull things we may come to the reward of eternall saluation Teach thou vs dayly to die and by the spirit to subdue the flesh that when the flesh corrupteth the spirit may be taken to eternall rest Graunt vs grace chearefully and continually to cleaue vnto thy holy crosse O giue vs blessed teares of true repentance while the doore of grace standeth open graunt that we may stedfastly blessedly finish the thing which commendably is begun Let our daily exercise bee in the confideration of the passion of Christ let him be our mirrour continually let vs not shrinke from the crosse but indure with Christ in life death with him on the crosse with him in the graue and death so shal we continue in rest peace and quietnesse that when Christ our life shall appeare we may rise vp with him in glorie God the Father Sonne and holie Ghost grant this vnto vs all Amen THE BVRIALL OF IESVS CHRIST OVT of the holie Euangelists NOW when it was late for as much as it was the day of preparation afore the Sabaoth there came a rich man of Arimathia named Ioseph such a principall famous Senatour as was iust and righteous The same had not consented to their counsaile and doings for he also was one of those that waited for the kingdome of God a disciple of Iesu but secretly for feare of the Iewes Boldly went he in vnto Pilate and begged the bodie of Iesu But Pilate wondered if he were now dead alreadie And when hee had learned of the Captaine that it was he graunted him the bodie of Iesu and commended it to bee giuen him Ioseph had bought a white linnen cloth and tooke downe the bodie of Iesus and wrapt it in the faire linnen cloth There came also Nicodemus who was come to the Lord afore by night brought mirrhe and Aloes vppon an hundred pound mixt together So taking the body of Iesu they wound it with clothes and prepared it with sweet ointments according as the maner of the Iewes was to burie And by the place where Iesus was crucified there was a garden and in the garden a new sepulchre There Ioseph laid Iesus in his owne new sepulchre which he had caused to be hewen out of a rocke into the which no man had yet been laid Forasmuch then as it was the Iewes day of preparing the
similitude of his death we shall assuredly also be partakers of his resurrection knowing this that our olde man is crucified with him that the bodie of sin might be emptied and that we should serue sinne no more for he that is dead is made righteous from sin if we now be dead with Christ we beleeue that wee shall also liue with him Looke vpon the whole sixte Chapter to the Romanes We must die from the world and from our owne flesh that the world may be crucified and dead vnto vs as we vnto the world The olde Adam who in vs did liue and rule must bee subdued and mortified that Christ onely may liue and raigne in vs. We must burie our bodies with mirrhe and Aloes that is with lamentation and sorow for our sinnes with weeping with fasting and with abstinence which workes of repentance are bitter vnto the bodie But lyke as those bitter things Aloes and mirrhe doe keepe the bodie from corruption so the crosse and aduersitie sent of God and borne for his sake preserueth our flesh from sinne If we thus die with Christ from the world bee buried in his death we shall rise againe to a new life here and in the world to come so as for death we need not be afraid of it For the sepulchre is new and lieth in the garden which noteth vnto vs the return to the pleasant garden of paradise which is opened vs through the death of Christ for hee as a guide is entered in before vs Iohn 14. Heb. 9.10 that we also after a new sort might escape from death and rise againe to a new life For in the death of Christ is death killed ouercome and wholy nenued and as much as altered into a sleepe For we liue vnto God and our bodyes as the Scripture testifieth shall also liue againe And this is the cause that the Scripture affirmeth those which are dead in Christ to be asleep Esay 26. 1. Thess 4. Afore time had death mightily and openly raigned euen ouer those also that had not sinned like vnto Adam yet had they put on Adams image were therefore subdued vnto the curse but when the second Adam namely Christ appeared purchased lyfe agayne for mankind through the death of his flesh destroying the dominion of death and rising from death againe Then was death renued changed and became like vnto a sleepe for it destroyeth vs not for euer but is a gate and enterance into a better and eternall life therfore haue we a much more perfect hope of the resurrection in Christ than they of olde which therefore buried the bodies so costly and honorably because they hoped in the resurrection to come As for vs wee must bestowe such cost vpon Christ in his members clothing feeding the poore and being ready also to loose all things for his sake Graunt vnto vs O God that as concerning the world and the olde life wee may die with thy sonne our head and be truly buried in his death that with him and in him we may rise againe to a new life that we weak and feeble may with Ioseph and Nichodemu◠grow in vertue and stedfastnes daily laying somwhat to the heape of godly exercises being euer still renued in the spirit that we in our hearts laying vp Christ who dyed for our sakes may so in thankfull remembrance burie him to the intent that our soule bodie may still remaine pure and vnspotted vntill the comming of our Lord Amen MArie Magdalene and Mary Ioses sitting ouer against the sepulchre beheld where Iesus was laide For certaine women there were which comming with him from Galilee and following him beheld the sepulchre and how his bodie was laide Those returned back and prepared sweet odors but vpon the saboth they rested because of the commandement The next daie after the daie of preparation the high Priests and Pharesies came vnto Pilate and said Sir we remember that this deceuer said while he was yet aliue that after three daies hee should rise againe Cause therefore the graue to be kept vntill the third daie least his disciples happily come and steale him awaie and saie vnto the people that he is risen from the dead and so shall the last error bee worse than the first Pilate said vnto them Yee haue watchmen go and keepe it as ye know They went and kept prouided the sepulchre with watchmen and sealed the stone Doctrine and fruite HEre we learne to haue an earnest diligent and feruent loue vnto Christ hearing with what zeale and feruentnes that deuout women 〈◊〉 vnto him and serue him in life and death Him whome they loued in life will they not forsake in death but cheerefully with constant mindes they ieopard their lyfe and goods What auaileth vs then that we cannot shew friendship loue and seruice vnto Christ as well as these women Seeing we haue not Christ alwayes bodily with vs who nowe beeing in his kingdome needeth no corporall ministration seruice we ought to bestow the same vppon his poore ones whom we haue alwaies with vs. Heerein ought wee to spare neither goods nor money to serue please Christ who vnto death did ieopard and giue his body and lyfe for vs. But like as in the women there was a deuout gesture good mind toward Christ so in the Iewish priests and pharesies there was found a great malice and hatred against Christ They were not satisfied in persecuting him while he was aliue but vndertooke also to hinder his resurrection Yet God by his wisdome vseth their wickednesse to the glorie of Christ that euen the enemies themselues albeit against their wil must beare record of his buriall and resurrection in that they keepe the graue with watch men and seale the stone The truth is immortall the more it is opprest the more it breaketh forth Therfore ought we to beware that wee neuer goe about to hinder the truth for if we should so doo we should both labor in vaine procure vnto our selues euerlasting hurt THE RESVRRECTION OF IESVS CHRIST out of the holie Euangelists AND when the Sabbaoth was now past euen the Sabaoth day at euen Marie Magdalene Marie Iames and Salome bought sweete spices that they might come and annoint Iesus The euening when the sabaoth is ended and the first day dawneth after the Sabaoth namely the first day of the weeke while it was yet darke and the Sun brake forth and began to arise the women came to the Sepulchre to see it But there happened first a great earthquake for the Angell of the Lord came downe from heauen and went and rolled backe the stone from the mouth of the sepulchre and sate vpon it His countenance was like the lightening and his raiment white as snow And for feare of him the keepers were astonied and became as dead men And behold some of them that had watched the sepulchre came into the Citie and told the high Priests all
the thinges that had happened Then gathered they themselues with the Elders and tooke counsaile and gaue large money vnto the soldiers saying Say ye that his Disciples came by night and stole him away while yee slept And if this come to the rulers eares wee will perswade him and saue you harmelesse So they tooke the money and did as they were taught And this saying is noised among the Iewes vnto this day Now as the women were in the way going they saide among themselues Who will roule vs the stone away from the doore of the Sepulchre for it was a verie great one as they looked they sawe that the stone was rolled awaie Then went they into the Sepulchre and found not the bodie of the Lord Iesu but saw a young man sitting at the right side clothed in a long white garment and they were afraid But the Aungell sayde vnto them Feare not I knowe whome yee seeke Ye seeke Iesus of Nazareth that was crucified Hee is not heere he is risen as he saide Beholde the place where they laide him But goe yee and tell his Disciples and Peter that he is risen againe from the dead Behold hee goeth before you into Galilee as he said vnto you Lo I haue tolde you Doctrine and fruit THE resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead is verie diligently and perfectly described of the foure Euangelistes for right profitable and necessarie is it for the strengthening and stablishing of our beleefe in Christ And whereas in the description of this historie they speake not all alike the same happeneth to our wealth through the ordinaunce of the holie Ghost that we should exercise our faith therein and applie our diligence perfectly to learne and comprehend the same Resurrection of Christ For where that is right conceyued and beleeued there is faith perfect The Euangelistes nowe in describing Christes Resurrection doo most of all declare to what high honour Christ came after death and that in one order and degree according as our beleefe and weakenesse increaseth and groweth towards perfection At the first is faith in vs feeble and vnperfect but through the grace of him that hath giuen it it daily groweth Verie hard also is it for our naturall reason to receiue and beleeue the resurrection of the dead therefore doe the Euangelistes right diligently and with manie wordes set forth the same resurrection of Christ that our beleefe therein might be assured and stedfast For whosoeuer truely and constantly beleeueth the resurrection of Iesu Christ is readie prepared to beleeue all that concerneth Christ Neither is there anie thing that maketh a man more ioyfull then when he beleeueth that at the comming of the Lorde he shal rise againe and receiue a glorified bodie after Christ and with Christ What can be tedious to suche a faithfull beleeuing man when hee beholdeth so high a rewarde from God Diligently therefore ought we to heare what the holy Euangelists write of his resurrection and to giue credence to the witnesses that saw it First wee heare agayne the great zeale and the feruent loue and diligence of these deuout women in that they desire to shew honour vnto the Lorde being dead but the Angell a messenger of his resurrection commaundeth them to declare this ioy vnto the Disciples and to get them vnto the Lord nowe being aliue Heauenly is the messenger and proclaimer of the resurrection for it passeth farre all natural reason and all flesh Therefore are the women also afraid of him and at the faire brightnes of his countenance and apparel For our feeble flesh is not able to sustaine the glorious shine of the heauenly light and godly clearenes but is afraid at it and feareth Neuerthelesse God by his Angell doth right soon comfort the womens weakenes taketh from them their feare speaketh louingly vnto them maketh them Apostles that is messengers and proclaimers of the ioifull resurrection So little doth God reiect our weaknes that he maketh euen women to be the declarers of his resurrection for he euer delighteth of the last to make the first Forasmuch then as they were the beginners of death in sinne they are heere first afore the Apostles chosen to bee declarers of that immortall life which euen out of death is come forth vnto vs in Christ As Christ with the earthquake died on the crosse so riseth hee with the earthquake which also was heard in the sending of the holie Ghost This signified that through his death and resurrection and by the power of the holy Ghost when the Apostles declare the same in the world the whole world should be moued and chaunged And though the vngratious falshood of the high Priestes vndertooke with their lies to hide and suppresse the trueth of Christs resurrection yet God did directe it an other waie Looâ—â—her with they minded to oppresse the truth 〈◊〉 with the same haue they helped to set it forth and thereby was it signified how the Iewish people should bee blinded and refused And forasmuch as they had no loue vnto the trueth but reiected it it it was moche that they should be blinded and darkened in lyes and that there shoulde errour and blindnsse enough fall vpon them The Angel is not ashamed to call Iesus the crucified for the crosse is the token of Christes victorie through the crosse beganne his honour and glorie through the crosse was death ouercome the crosse is the glorious token of all Christians In the crosse is the exaltation of Christ the heade and of all his members Wee ought not therefore to bee ashamed of the crosse of our Lorde which was crucified for therein standeth our health life and resurrection all our reioicing and glorie Commission is giuen that vnto Peter before other disciples they should declare the Lords resurrectioÌ„ that from the feare wherin he stood by reason of the denial he might be deliuered and so comforted He sendeth them to Galilee thither wil he go before them that they might bee safe from the feare of the Iewes which at that time raged horribly Grant vs O God an earnest zeale and loue vnto the poore in whom we may highly honor Iesus thy son And wheras we throgh the weaknes of the flesh are inclined to bee faint hearted and not able of our selues to behold the bright shine and clearnes of his glorious Resurrection strengthen and comfort thou vs by thy holie Angell that wee may constantly beleeue the Resurrection of thy sonne whereby 〈◊〉 receiuing an holy hope of the life to come 〈…〉 immortall Resurrection of our bodies may be 〈◊〉 also to comfort and strengthen others that be 〈◊〉 O make thou this hard earth of our fleshe to 〈◊〉 and mooue through the power of thy spirit to holie fruitfull pennaunce amendment and confession of our life Preserue vs that wee neuer resist the truth nor take part with lies Graunt vs loue vnto the truth keepe vs from errour and blindnesse Let our ioye bee in the crosse
stande in death with Christ in subduing of the flesh in mortifying of the body in abiding of the crosse For while they bee in aduersitie vnder the crosse and buried with Christ the greatnesse of the trouble causeth them to thinke that Christ is not risen againe that is they haue nothing but heauines and sorrowe Notwithstanding Christ appeareth vnto them comforteth and refresheth them and maketh them partakers of his resurrection and ioy Heere may wee perceiue and see a great desire and loue vnto Christ in the disciples that runne but specially in Marie Magdalene for seeing that much 〈◊〉 forgiuen her therefore was her loue exceeding 〈◊〉 Peter also and Iohn which were more feruent 〈◊〉 others in the loue of Christ and drew nee◠〈◊〉 others did when the Lorde was taken although the one fled and the other denied him therfore vnto them as to the principall was this opened before others Marie loued Christ verie feruently for many sinnes were forgiuen her many deuils vices were driuen out of her therefore vnto her dyd Christ first appeare The crosse and trouble was not able to bring Christ out of her heart it could not quench her loue vnto Christ the seede of faith was in her heart it had taken roote although it were not yet ripe Verie earnestly and with great diligence seeketh shee him whome shee loueth declaring her feruentnesse by her weeping and her zeale by tarrying still at the sepulchre when the two Apostles were gone awaie alreadie The Lorde therefore forsaketh her not but instructeth her and comforteth her by the Angell appeareth vnto her vnknowen at last talketh with her and maketh himselfe knowen vnto her The Angels which are ministers for the wealth of the elect disswade her from weeping and mourning and bring her tidinges of great ioy for herein nowe is no iust cause to weepe but rather to reioyce seeing that Christ hath ouercome death for vs deliuering and setting vs free from the power thereof and placing vs in eternall lyfe Lyke as the Aungels at the birth of Christ in this mortall life did bring tidinges of ioy so doe they heere also when Christ is risen againe into an immortall life And hervnto also serueth the brightnes of the countenance and whitenes of the clothes for all such are tokens of ioy But some man might maruaile why Christ will not suffer Marie to touch him saying hee would afterward bee touched of the other women of the Disciples and of Thomas yea he prouoketh Thomas and the Disciples thereto It seemeth that Marie with the ointment which she brought with her thought to annoint the bodie of Christ as she did afore in his life time and to reuerence him and to deale with him as with a mortall man which thing Christ forbad her to do Hereafter shall wee heare how hee offreth vnto his Disciples his hands feete and side willing them to touch him But with this inhibition and that commandement he hath respect to one onely thing namelie to deliuer Marie and the Disciples from vnbeliefe from weake faith and doubting Vnto Marie hee will say Touch mee not of a carnall deuocion as though thou wouldst anoint me I need it no more As for such corporall seruice it is not necessary to do it vnto my body any more The cause why I became man was not that yee should alway hang vppon my corporall flesh and honour me with bodely seruice Thou shalt now shortly vnderstand that I haue like power with the father I am in thy heart not yet ascended vp vnto the father That is Thou hast as yet no right knowledge of my Godhead therefore canst thou not now rightly touch me Thus learne wee also to knowe and honour Christ nowe no more after the flesh and to shew no corporall outward seruice vnto his person In spirite will he be worshipped with the faith and loue of the inward minde If anie thing bodily be done of vs the same should be done vnto the poore to the neighbour that hath need thereof Thus may faith loue well vse some outwarde thinges not to doo seruice therewith vnto God but vnto our selues or to our neighbour As when we take and minister bread and wine about in the supper distributing and eating it the same is not done principally to the intent to declare a seruice vnto God but somewhat to prouoke our outward senses and flesh by the exteriour signes that wee may the better consider and ponder the grace of God declared vnto vs in the death of Iesus Christ and that wee may lifte vp our mindes vnto Christ the heauenly foode and liuing bread which inwardly feedeth vs with his flesh and nourisheth vs with his bloud Thereto also hath our sauiour Christ instituted the figuratiue tokens and sacraments of his grace to helpe our infirmitie for Sacraments are gracious euidences of the faith that men haue or shoulde haue to God In the which they comfortably exercise and practise themselues towards Gods promises wherein also they declare the obedience of theyr inwarde saith and that they faithfully beleeue the words and promises of almightie God For the token without beleefe is nothing profitable but rather hurtfull All bodyly seruice that the flesh imagineth pleaseth not God Hee sitteth at the right hande of GOD there ought we to touch him with the lifting vp of a faithfull heart and with the worship which hee through his spirite worketh and directeth into vs for therefore he dyed rose againe and ascended vp into heauen that hee might fulfill all things and raigne truely and spiritually in our heartes Our heartes must wee lifte vp there as Christ sitteth at the right hande of God and our conuersation ought to bee in heauen Whereas the Lorde willed his disciples to touch him it was done to banish theyr doubtfulnesse and to strengthen theyr weake faith Which touching was not required of them as a worshippe but that theyr flesh through the outward handling of his bodie might bee quieted stilled and so is it a proofe and testimonie that hee verily rose with the former bodie rather than a worshipping or seruice Christ dyd not therefore take vppon him his flesh that we should alwaie hang and depend thereon but that we by his humanitie should ascend vp to his godhead for when wee knowe the high and holy mysterie of his Passion and Resurrection with the which hee hath serued our turne wee ought to stirre vp our mindes to knowe the Godhead wherein he is lyke vnto the father Therefore vnto Marie Magdalene also doeth Christ speake of ascending vp to the Father which thing he commandeth to shew the Apostles as if he would say now shortly beginneth mine honor that I as concerning the humanitie receiued shall be taken vp to the glorie which I haue had from euerlasting that is the flesh which I haue taken vpon me for your sakes shall sitte at the right hande of my Father Oh how great a grace is this Oh
treasure had Tabitha laid vp in store for when she died it was not stones and stockes that commended her benefits but the bodies of the widows they lamented her death and declared how mercifull she had beene Christ openeth and sheweth himselfe vnto those that earnestly seeke him and those hee suffereth to touch him to the intent that forasmuch as they must declare his resurrection to the Apostles their weake faith must be strengthned to know and to be assured that hee was verily risen againe For not onely the Angell but Christ also himselfe commandeth them so to do He comforteth them and taketh from them the fearfulnes and sorrowe Thus wee ought not to doubt he shall in all aduersitie and trouble meete vs he shall chearfully appeare vnto vs and with his ioyfull presence and resurrection shall hee comfort and preserue vs. But we lacke an earnest and strong faith our harts are slow and cold Diligent we be in seeking of temporall things but godly things wee either despise or neglect Loue hath no rest she ceaseth not to runne and seeke till she finde him whome shee loueth and when she findeth him she holdeth him fast that shee loose him not againe glad is she also to make others pertakers of the treasure that she hath found O God kindle our colde heartes with the fire of faith and loue that we may earnestly seeke thee and that when we haue found thee we may feruently receiue and keepe thee and with a right spirit worship thee Expell all hardnes and vngentlenes out of our hearts make vs louing and mercifull vnto the poore ones Take from vs the terrour of all vndoubtfulnes vnbeleefe and feare of the world and comfort vs in all aduersitie Graunt vs the faith of thy resurrection that we despising all transitory things may set all our comfort and hope in the blessed resurrection to come Amen Heere also we learne how exceeding weake and ignorant our flesh is to receiue and beleeue the truth 〈◊〉 it of God giue not light and strength For a◠〈…〉 of the Apostles were illuminated and 〈…〉 the holy ghost they esteemed the truth 〈…〉 Resurrection opened vnto them by the women to be a foolish and fained thing Neuerthelesse Christ forsaketh not those whom hee hath once imbraced but still openeth himselfe vnto them more and more to expell out of them all dubitation vnbeleefe ANd behold two of them went that same day to a town called Emaus which was from Hierusalem about a threescore furlongs they talked together of all these things that had happened And it chaunced that while they communed together and reasoned Iesus himself drew neare and went with them but their eies were holden that they should not know him And he saide vnto them What manner of communications are these that ye haue one to another as ye walke and are sad And the one of them whose name was Cleophas answered and said vnto him Art thou onely a straunger in Hierusalem hast not knowne the things which haue chanced there in these dais He said vnto them What things And they said vnto him Of Iesus of Nazareth which was a Prophet mightie in deed and word before God all the people how the high Priests our rulers deliuered him to be condemned vnto death haue crucified him But we trusted that it had been he which shuld haue redeemed Israel And as touching all these thinges to day is euen the third day that they were done Yea and certain women also of our companie made vs astonied which came earlie to the sepulchrt and found not his bodie and came saying that they had seen a vision of Angels 〈…〉 that he was aliue And certaine of them that 〈…〉 went to the sepulchre and found it euen so as the 〈…〉 said but him they saw not Doctrine and fruite THE longer the more is set foorth vnto vs the vnoutspeakable loue and trustie faithfulnes of Iesus Christ our lord who forsaketh not those that anie thing loue to talke of him For look whom he admitteth into his schoole those hee teacheth still continually how weake soeuer they bee vntill hee bring them to perfect vnderstanding and expell all doubtfulnes out of their hearts Forasmuch now as these his Disciples speake of him in the way hee getteth him to them albeit hee holdeth their eyes that they knowe him not that by the meanes thereof they themselues with their own words might knowledge confesse their doubtfull wauering weaknes of faith that they might open their disease vnto him hee to giue a conuenient medicine for theyr vnbeleefe that through the long delay frendly talk and opening of the scripture their harts and desires might more and more bee kindled and sette on fire that their doubtfulnes might bee taken away and theyr weake fayth strengthened For though they helde Iesus for a great and principall Prophet and and for an innocent good man yet speake they vncertainely of the matter and their heart wauereth yet were not they assured that hee had ouercome death and by his owne death purchased life for all the world that hee was risen againe into an immor◠〈…〉 made vs vndoubtedly partakers of the 〈…〉 and ioyfull resurrection and eternall life in himselfe Now for as much as they gladly talke and willingly holde of him how feebly and vnperfectly soeuer it bee yet the gratious and louing Lorde approcheth neare vnto them and instructeth them It shall neuer bee vnfruitfull it shall neuer passe without profite but assuredly doo good where Christ is gladlie and with a good heart spoken of Where two or three bee assembled in his name there is hee in the middest among them and infourmeth them That he doth to the Disciples in the way by mouth the same declareth hee alway vnto vs inwardly by his spirite in our harts and outwardly with the scripture and word and with the teachings of good godly men He that well and faithfully vseth the little talent shall not be denied a greater if he earnestly desire it Wheresoeuer he is earnestly feruently thought vpon and talked of there is he present instructeth and teacheth the ignorant For he is not ashamed to resort vnto those that lacke knowledge and be in errour and to talke with them This lowlie and gentle condition ought wee to learne of our head that we shame not to repayre vnto such as are not yet right instructed that wee may infourme them and commune with them We should despise no man that with a single hart seeketh God though as yet wee perceiue much wauering and weake faith in him For if the eternall 〈…〉 was not ashamed to humble himselfe and 〈◊〉 the ignoraunt much more ought wee to dooâ—â—ing we are neither sufficiently instructed in the scripture nor yet diligent and carefull to doe that which we know THen said Iesus vnto them O ye fooles and slow of hart to beleeue all that the Prophets haue spoken Ought not Christ to haue suffred
these things and so to enter into his glorie And hee began at Moses and all the Prophets and interpreted vnto them in all Scriptures which were written of him And they drewe nigh to the towne that they went vnto and he made as though he would haue gone further And they constrained him saying Abide with vs for it draweth toward night and the day is far passed and he went in to tarrie with them And it came to passe as he sate at meate with them he tooke bread and blessed it and brake and gaue to them and their eyes were opened and they knew him and he vanished out of their sight And they said betweene themselues did not our heartes burne within vs while he talked with vs by the way and opened to vs the scriptures And they rose vp the same houre and returned againe to Hierusalem and found the eleuen gathered together and them that were with them saying The Lorde is risen indeed and hath appeared vnto Simon And they told what things were done in the way and how they knewe him in breaking of bread Doctrine and fruite CHRIST sayth Iohn 5. Search the Scriptures 〈◊〉 they testifie of mee Also If yee beleeued Moses ye should beleeue me for he hath written of me Christ therefore willing to strengthen the weake and to teach the vnlearned expoundeth vnto them the Scriptures beginning at Moses and so thorough out all the Prophets For whatsoeuer is written in the Scripture concerning the mercie goodnes and wisedome of God the washing awaie of sinne and satisfieng for the same it belongeth properly to Christ For so worthily and euidently haue they described the passion glory of Christ that one would thinke them not to write of a matter which were to come but done alreadie as it is plaine in the Psalmes and Prophets Psa 22. Esa 53. 1. Pet. 1. c. Thus out of the Scripture we learne partlie the testimonies of the passion and resurrection of Christ partly by what waie Christ came to so high honour and glorie of his father that wee first beleeuing that Chriâ—t dyed for our sinnes and rose againe for our righteousnesse might by his resurrection be sure of a good conscience and consolation of the lyfe to come Secondly that wee in patience and obedience might learne to be obedient to our heauenly father to take vp our crosse and to follow our Lord IESVS Christ if wee will haue ioy with him wee must also suffer and trauaile with him Our head goeth to eternall ioy through aduersitie and trouble and will we enter into it through the pleasure of the worlde and lust of the flesh It passeth the boundes of all â—nitie and comlynesse and honestie for 〈…〉 to bee sluggish and slouthfull when the 〈◊〉 â—keth vppon him such trauell and paine 〈…〉 narrowe gate that wee must enter in at for thorough many tribulations vexations and miseryes must wee come into the euerlasting kingdome of heauen and all they that will liue godly in Christ Iesu must suffer persecution in this world He that will possesse an inheritance must beare and suffer all the charges belonging to the same The eternall inheritance is appointed vs of our heauenly father thorough Christ but with this addition that we receiue the possession of it in such sort as the son hath done namely with and through the crosse and trouble Blessed are they whome God the father maketh partakers of the passion of his onely begotten sonne for who so is a companion with him in suffering shall haue his eternal fellowship in heauen and inioy with him euerlasting blisse and rest Hee that vnderstandeth not this is a foole and slowe of heart to beleeue the Scriptures let that man beseech God to open the Scripture vnto him and to make him vnderstand it Where that commeth to passe ignoraunce vanisheth awaie and the heart is feruent and receiueth vnderstanding for the Lorde is the right and perfect schoole-master that toucheth the hart and pearceth it through with the arrowes of his words and ardent loue In breaking of the bread they knowe the Lorde 〈…〉 life time when he nowe woulde goe 〈…〉 and death tooke bread rendered 〈…〉 it and gaue it them admonishing 〈…〉 â—bit as they dyd the same they shoulde 〈…〉 remembrance of him Whereby they now â—hinâ—â—ng on the same wordes and beeing admonished of the act remember that it is hee Thus the breaking of the bread before our eyes in the supper is an admonishing token that Christs body was broken and dyed for vs on the crosse and the drinke an admonishing token that his bloud was shedde for the washing awaie of our sinnes And so when wee breake the bread and drinke the drinke wee ought thereby to knowe the Lorde thanking him for his death which is our life being mindfull of him and following his great loue wherein hee dyed for our sinnes AS they thus spake it was verie late the same daie which was the first daie in the weeke and where the disciples assembled together the doores were shut for feare of the Iewes Iesus came while they sate at the table and stoode in the middest among them and sayde vnto them Peace bee with you But the disciples were afraid thinking that they had seene a spirite Then sayde Iesus vnto them Why are yee troubled And why doo thoughts arise in your head And hee sayde yet agayne vnto them Peace bee with you And with that shewed he them his hands feet and side and said Behold my hands and feete that it is euen I my selfe handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me haue The 〈…〉 when they had seene the Lord. And 〈…〉 â—â—leeued not for ioy and wondered he sayd 〈…〉 ye anie thing to eate So they offered him a 〈…〉 fish and an honie combe The same hee took◠〈…〉 before them casting in their teeth their vnbeleefe 〈◊〉 â—nes of heart because they beleeued not them which 〈…〉 that he was risen againe from the dead Doctrine and fruite IN that the Euangelists describe the true resurrection of Christ they declare withal vnto whom such a high mystery was opened and shewed For when we heare how the disciples were minded and behaued themselues we learne therby what becommeth vs that we also may beleeue that Christ is truly risen againe yea not only to acknowledge the same with the mouth but also to proue and feele it in the tast of the spirite So haue wee heard afore what the desire ardent loue which God stirred vp in Mary Magdalene dyd bring to passe and what good came of the feruentnesse and diligence of Peter This we see now here for God hath a plesure to stir vp our desire when hee will open himselfe vnto vs. And therefore all the same daie from morning early vntill nyght were the disciples still more and more endued with new ioy that the desire to see Christ might be kindled more and more in them And as they were assembled
bodie of Christ which was hanged vpon the crosse for our sinnes was of the Father raysed againe vnto life For if wee beleeue in our heart and confesse with our mouth that God hath raysed him vp from the dead we shal be saued Yea beleeue we must that Christ according to his wordes afore hath through his godly power erected vp againe from death the temple of his bodie Therefore thorow the doubting of Thomas wee learne the mysterie of the resurrection of our own bodies For Christ hath sufficiently proued and Thomas hath confessed that the bodie of Christ which was hanged vpon the crosse is verely risen againe from death Wherin our faith is confirmed to beleeue that our bodies also shall truely and liuely rise againe to eternall life When Thomas is with the other disciples Christ sheweth himselfe vnto him For they that in the vnitie of faith and of vndiuided loue doe not associate and accompanie themselues with other faithfull beleeuers in the Church shall not be partakers of heauenly ioyes Truth it is that to beleeue with the hart iustifieth but the confession that is made with the mouth belongeth vnto health serueth vnto loue and vnitie of the Church and congregation of God without the which there can bee no hope of health He that saith he beleeueth and doth not ioyne himselfe vnto other Christians his faith is vaine and of none effect And therefore did Christ for his church institute the sacraments that is to say exterior signes of his grace that his people might be associate together in the vnitie of faith The Church of God is it that preserueth vs poore ones as did the Arke of Noe afore time in the floud and bringeth vs thorough this raging sea vnto the hauen of eternall saluation Not that the grace and health is therefore to bee ascribed to the elements and outwarde thinges but that it may appeare how effectuous fayth is and what it woorketh through charitable loue in the Church Christ maketh mention of the wordes which Thomas had spoken afore to the Disciples in his absence Namely Except I see in his handes the print c. Therefore sayth Christ Thomas bring thy finger hither and see c. Whereby it is euidently prooued that Christ is God and euen so doth Thomas vnderstand and confesse The woundes are shewed of Christ specially to this intent that his passion might be printed and sealed in mens mindes For a verie deepe and high mysterie is it that Christes side is opened out of the which floweth bloud and water whereby the spirituall and faithfull beleeuing mindes may well perceiue Christes good louing will towardes mankind Now when we looke vpon his handes touching his side inwardly with our desire of inward fayth and considering why and with what loue Christ suffered for vs it shall be no hard thing vnto vs to beleeue his resurrection If Christ were deade but euen as an other pure man or Prophet we could haue no hope of the resurrection Who so beleeueth it commeth soone to this knowledge that immortall life is giuen vnto vs. Now where there is hope of an immortall life there is the Lorde serued with great diligence For if God hath not spared his sonne but giuen him for vs all what good thing then may wee not looke for at his hand If wee bee onely true beleeuers with Thomas then shall God faithfully performe that hee hath promised vs. Christ desireth no more of vs weake feeble ones than that we be not faithlesse but stedfast beleeuers Thomas is immediately obedient vnto the voice of Christ and becommeth foorth with a newe man The Pharisies could by no doctrine by no myracles bee brought to giue credence vnto Christ and to beleeue in him although they sawe Lazarus raysed againe from death malice and hatred did so hinder them But Thomas acknowledgeth him freely to be his Lord and God He seeth and handleth man he confesseth God whom he saw not Hee acknowledged that he whom he saw was his God Lord. Through the same faith was his vnbeleefe and sinne forgiuen him O mercifull God graunt vs loue that we seek not our owne commoditie nor honour but the profit of our neighbours and thy glorie in all thinges Expell out of vs all disdaine greedines vngentlenes headines and flattering of our selues Preserue vs from discord diuision binde vs together in vniforme loue that wee may bee one bodie and of one minde Stablish also our faith that our minds may alwayes bee comforted in the resurrection of thy sonne and immortall life purchased by him Amen ANd many other signes trulie did Iesus in the presence of his Disciples which are not written in this booke These are written that ye might beleeue that Iesus is Christ the sonne of God that ye so beleeuing might haue life through his name Doctrine and fruite LIke as Christ while hee yet liued did miracles before his death to declare his godly power euen so after his rising again from death he worketh manie tokens in the presence of his Disciples to proue his resurrection in the flesh Some of the same are described of the Euangelists not of anie curiositie or for vaine glorie but to confirme our sayth therewith To write all Iohn thought it not needful for who could haue written all Or who could haue fastened and borne them all in minde Who so will not beleeue these few that are written shall neuer beleeue a greater multitude A faithfull beleeuer is well satisfied with these For these that be written of him are therefore written that wee should beleeue that Iesus is Christ the Sonne of GOD and that we through his fayth might haue eternall life Seeing then that all thinges which are written doo extende and serue to this ende that wee might beleeue in him and bee saued by him what lacke wee then Or what can we desire more So that hereby we learne with great diligence to reade to consider and to applie into our owne lyfe whatsoeuer the Euangelistes haue written of Christ as they haue written nothing but that which is altogether excellent deare holie and godlie and such thinges as doe liuely describe sette foorth and print Christ vnto vs that our fayth hope loue patience meeknesse and all good thinges might growe with blessed fruite that wee in our life might become thankfull for such an excellent grace and in no wise to contemne or despise it A scornefull thing is it and the euidence of a greate vnbeleefe whereas some thinke by these wordes to prooue that for as much as all thinges are not written in the booke it is lawfull for certayne men to adde the rest and to deuise and ordayne what they will For in these thinges that are written doth Iohn comprehend the whole sum of fayth which consisteth in this that Iesus is the son of the liuing God who for our saluation came downe from heauen died rose againe purchased for vs eternal life Iesus the son of
Mary is the annointed king and high Priest the sauior of the world promised of God spoken of afore by the Prophets And euen hee it is who being of the heauenly father annointed king euerlasting was to come after Dauid to raigne for euer This king is the redeemer and sauiour of mankind the very true sonne of God If we beleeue in Christ we beleeue in the true God one onely God we honor one onely God we worship Seeing now that we honor worship Christ we worship God for only God is to be worshipped Forasmuch now as we worship the sonne no lesse than the father it is certaine that Christ is of one nature with the father yea this ought we to beleeue that he came downe into this world to die for vs to wash and wipe away our sins to kill sin in our mortal flesh when he maketh vs partakers of his passion mightily worketh in vs by his spirite in mortifieng our carnall desires We must also beleeue that he by his godly power arose againe from death to a new glorious immortall life For if we thought that hee died beleeued not that he were risen againe to life wee should haue no life in him For vs he died for our sakes hee rose againe for our welfare reigneth he for euer A newe godly blessed life worketh hee in vs with his resurrection and after this life haue we in him life euerlasting AFterward did Iesus shew himselfe againe at the sea of Tiberias And on this wise shewed he himselfe There were together Simon Peter and Thomas which is called Didâ—â—us and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee the sons of Zebedee and two other of his disciples Simon Peter saith vnto them I will go a fishing They say vnto him We also will go with thee They went their way and entred into a shippe immediately and that night caught they nothing But when the morning was now come Iesus stoode on the shâ—â—e but the Disciples knewe not that it was Iesus Iesus saith vnto them Children haue ye any meat They answered him no. And he saith vnto them Cast out the net on the right side of the ship and ye shal find They cast out therfore and anone they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes Then said the Disciple whom Iesus loued to Peter It is the Lord. When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord he girt his coate vnto him for he was naked and sprang into the sea The other Disciples came by shippe for they were not farre from lande but as it were two hundred cubites and they drew the nette with fishes As soone then as they were come to land they sawe hote coales and fish layde thereon and bread Iesus saith vnto them Bring of the fish that yee now haue caught Simon Peter went vp and drew the net to the land full of great fishes an hundred and three and fiftie And for all there were so many yet was not the net broken Iesus saith vnto them Come and dine And none of the disciples durst aske him What art thou For they knew that it was the Lord Iesus then came tooke breade and gaue them and fish likewise This is now the third time that Iesus appeared to his Disciples after that he was risen againe from death Doctrine and fruite WE read in the holy Euangelists that at the first Christ called his disciples namelie Peter and the others from fishing which they also left and came to Christ who told them that he would make them fishers of men Now when hee wil send them out to that office depart from them he appeareth againe vnto them at their fishing And like as he did afore at their vocatioÌ„ he doth before them a great miracle in the which hee admonisheth them of their office and chargeth them diligently to care for his sheepe committed vnto them But first he proueth his resurrection to stablish and confirme their weake faith therby commaunding them afterward to bring other folks also thereto This historie in it selfe is euident enough therefore ought wee first to consider it after the letter for the letter also teacheth for it self Christ like as he appeared vnto those that were sorrowful mourned so doth he heere appeare vnto those that labour and trauaile Christ gaue his disciples authoritie out of the Gospell that they preach to take a competent honest liuing as foode and necessaries of the bodieâ— and yet did not hee restrayne them that they should not or might not labour when occasion serueth Therefore Paule also vsed not that liberty at certaine times but labored with his owne hands and wan his meate So did the Disciples of Christ exercise themselues in their labour For when they were come into Galelee from the feast of Easter which they had kept at Hierusalem afore the holy ghost was giuen them they would not goe idle and thereby become a burthen vnto other men for he that goeth idle lieth vpon other folkes eating that theirs is and ouerchargeth them but vndertake to get their owne lyuing with their handy worke which they had vsed afore Whereby wee must learne to apply our selues vnto labour and not to bee idle for idlenes is the mother of many and great vices Euery man ought to haue an honest traiuaile to bee exercised either with the body or with the minde Who so laboureth not must not eat Man was created to labour as the bird to flie Therfore ought euery father to bring vp his children in honest exercise from their youth vp that the deuill get no place in their hearts which yet commeth to passe if he finde them idle The first commaundement giuen to our forefather Adam after the fall was this In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread Now when we in true faith and confidence vnto God doe take in hand the worke that he hath committed vnto our charge we ought not to doubt God shal prosper it and giue vs his rich and gracious blessing in it as it is written Prouer. 3. In althy waies remember the Lord and hee shall direct and order thy doings Eccles 5.9 Heere is also to bee considered how Christ vttereth his godly power before his disciples in the great miracle that hee did in their sight to confirme our faith in him For out of the appearing of Christ groweth faith Psal 85. And his true resurrection will hee print in them in that he appeareth vnto them eateth with them Heere wee see the ardent desire of Peter which leapeth into the sea as soone as he heareth that it is the Lord he that afore had denied him maketh now speedie hast againe vnto him Though wee of mans feeblenesse and feare doo fall into sinne yet alwaies wheÌ„ we heare God in his word we ought forth with to turne againe vnto him and so shall hee with the lost sonne graciously receiue and embrace is agayne In that
life for his sheepe Such perrill doth Christ promise vnto Peter namely that hee must die and with what death Afore-time when hee was young he sought that which pertained to the flesh he might not away with the crosse but nowe after the receiuing of the holy ghost he is stout and dieth for Christs sake and for his sheepe Beholde such an end had Peter that of loue he dieth for him with whome to die he rashlie promised afore But necessarie it was that Christ should first die for Peters health and that Peter afterward should suffer death for his names sake The presumption and headines of man would haue set the cart before the horse but the euerlasting truth hath appointed this order Peter thought he would haue ieoperded his life for Christ haue redeemed the redeemer but Christ came to giue his life for his sheepe of whom Peter was one Now after that Christ died for those that bee his there is strength giuen in the hearts of such shepheards and sheepe as be faithful to suffer death for Christs sake Death is not now so to be feared of vs that we wold therefore goe backe from the truth for by death do not wee lose life yea Christ hath made death to bee the way vnto life And by his Resurrection he hath set forth vnto vs an example of another life which is immortall Peter was first afraide and feared death and would haue dissuaded Christ that he should not die but now that the precious treasure of Christes bloud is shed hee followeth his redeemer yea euen vnto the death of the crosse goeth hee after him therefore is hee nowe no more a satan but a Peter But from whence commeth such strength into a feeble man Euen from God who dwelleth in the hearts of the faithfull for else is the nature and flesh of man impotent and weake beeing afraid of death which feare naturall heate being abated is the greater in them that are olde And though we all wish to to be with Christ and be desirous of eternall life yet would we faine haue it without any griefe of death if it might be Thus came the conflict of death euen vpon Christ whereby hee declared himselfe verie man but the wil of God had the mastry aboue mans in the wrastling Peter also went not with his wil to death but with his will he both suffered it and ouercame it Christ likewise to comfort vs was heauie who neuertheles came vpon earth that he wold die neither was it necessitie that moued him to die but his owne good will and loue for hee had power to giue his soule and take it agayne Now though the feare of death be great in nature yet is it ouercome through the strength and greatnesse of the loue which wee beare vnto him who is our life euen Iesus Christ And albeit he was the life it selfe yet pleased it him to suffer death for vs. Seeing then that hee alone dyed for vs wee ought not to be ashamed neither should it grieue vs to die also for him specially considering that the publishing of so excellent grace is committed vnto vs. When the shepheard dyeth for the sheepe it is no great matter if the sheepe die for the shepheards sake Forasmuch now as the faithfull shepheard with his loue directeth and encourageth many of the sheepe to die for his names sake how much more meete is it that the shepheards bee the first which ieoparde theyr liues striuing for the truth and euen vnto bloud to resiste sinne when Christ hath put them in trust to feed his sheepe This is now the occasion why our Sauiour Christ telleth Peter of his death afore hande and strengtheneth and incourageth him therevnto for though the will bee constaunt in the saints yet is the flesh feeble and weake No man dieth without paine and griefe which thing is appointed vnto vs by the wisedome of God to the intent no man should kill himselfe For seeing the deuill doth now and then perswade som to murther themselues how should it go if the soule were not so loth to depart frō the body With these words therefore thought nor Christ to make Peter afraid or to discourage him but to furnish him and make him ripe For Peter had a good desire to suffer somewhat for Christs sake neuerthelesse beeing yet young hee could not follow but when he was olde he followed him therefore will Christ perfourme his desire As if Christ would say Peter thou hast hitheto bin weake fearful but I wil strengthen thee so that hence forth thou shalt deny mee no more but manfully die for mee Thou hast bene tender in that thou wast afraid at one womans voyce but now shalt thou stretch forth thy hand to the crosse to be bound For by the stretching out of the handes hee vnderstandeth and signifieth with what death hee should die namely vpon the crosse Which death afore time was most shamefull but after that Christ was hanged vpon the crosse it is now an honorable and glorious death with the which the faithfull doe glorifie God and therefore saith the Euangelist that the Lord would thereby signifie with what death Peter should glorifie God For in Gods quarrell and for Christs sake to die is the highest honour whereof no man ought to be ashamed This ought all soule shepheards to ponder and consider that they faithfully and constantly following Christ the Lord go not from that they haue taken in hand but proceed and bring their course to an honourable ende keeping fidelitie and trust with their Lord and being fully appointed in themselues to die for the sheepe of Christ Therfore should they consider afore hand what things they must suffer for the truth least they destroy that which they haue of long time builded and taught O gracious father strengthen thou vs in thy worke and in thy truth that in the thing which thou hast begun in vs we may steadfastly continue to the end Expell out of vs the feare of death stablish vs thorow thy holy spirite that wee manfully may despise ieoperd this life for the life eternall Grant O God to the shepheards of thy sheepe a feruent loue to the truth and thy glory strengthen them with thy spirit that they valiantly standing by the flocke may euen with their death confirme thy people in the truth PEter turned about and saw the disciple whom Iesus loued following which also leaned on his breast at Supper said Lord who is he that betraieth thee when Peter therefore saw him he said to Iesus Lord what shal he heere doe Iesus saith vnto him If I will haue him to tarrie till I come what is that to thee Follow thou me Then went this saying abroade among the brethren that that Disciple should not die Yet Iesus said not to him he shall not die but if I wil that he tarry til I come what is that to thee the same disciple is he which
testifieth of these things wrote these things and we know that his testimony is true There are also many other things that Iesus did which if they should bee waitten euerie one I suppose the world could not contain the bookes that should be written Doctrine and fruite THE former wordes which Christ spake vnto Peter Follow me were spoken vnto him in this meaning that he should followe the foot-steps and passion of Christ namely with worde and deed to goe the waie that Christ had gone But in asmuch as Peter is a figure of the Church Christ spake those wordes not onely vnto him but vnto all faithful beleeuers For the Church of Christ while shee dwelleth heere temporally in many troubles and afflictions she foloweth Christ her spouse and head who also deliuereth her from all aduersitie Shee loueth Christ and in the behalfe of his truth she striueth vntill the death for seeing Christ dyed for all it is meet that they which are his doo follow his foot-steppes To followe Christ is nothing else than stoutly to suffer and ouercome despite and pouertie in this world for his sake And God truly euen in his wrath which wee with our sinnes deserue cannot forget his mercie Ouer and besides the manifolde comfort and helpe which he otherwise declareth vnto vs he hath giuen vs his own sonne to be our mediator by whom if we put our trust in him we should be saued deliuered from eternall death that we liuing from hence forth still in faith hope and charitable loue as pilgrimes in this world and beeing in all troubles aduersities preserued by the corporall and spirituall comfort of God might walke innocently before his sight in him who is become our way vnto God It is no vile thing to suffer to be put to death for Christ and his truths sake yea a man cannot die a more honorable death than when for the truth innocently he suffereth with a good conscience and with an vpright minde No man in deede ought to put himselfe in daunger arrogantly wilfully or for vaine-glorie Wheras Peter asketh a question concerning the disciple whom the Lord loued what he should doo it is a nicenesse and vnprofitable curiositie that serueth nothing to edification and therefore it pleaseth not the Lord. Whatsoeuer edifieth not that ought not we to desire of Christ Let euery man looke to himselfe waiting vpon his owne businesse and office and not to be curious in another mans matter whatsoeuer is not committed vnto his charge and belongeth not vnto him let him not meddle withal Peter loued Christ so did he them also therefore asked he what should become of him and whether he should remayne styll ot die for hee was verie loth and vnwilling to departe from him And so he passed more vpon Iohn than vppon the precept and commission of Iesus Christ Such curious backe looking doth the Lord rebuke Wee many and sundrie times doo regarde and esteeme more the thing that wee loue than that which God commaundeth and biddeth vs. But such loue is verie hurtfull and especially in those that should be soul shepherds Christs wil is that they haue respect to his worke and commandement and with a feruent loue to perfourme the same not medling with other busines not needfull To enquire curiously of other mens matters bringeth not alway profit but much rather vnquietnes Therefore Christ remoouing Peter from such curious questions draweth his mind vnto a better thing namely to follow him As for that which he desireth to know Christ telleth him that it is no point of his charge as if Christ would say what hast thou to doo with other folkes busines Thou hast heard what I haue commanded thee look that thou faithfully do the same What inquirest thou after other mens matters Thus looking diligently and faithfully to our own charge and expelling the affection of the flesh wee should neither desire curiously to aske any thing beyond the will of God neither to looke vpon any other men but vprightly to follow the Lord. Here also we learne that in the commission and final departure of the faithfull there be manifold differēces Some rest in the Lord blessedly without any speciall heauy affliction but some it pleaseth God to bring through sore trauaile and exceeding trouble laying the greater burthen vpon him according as it was tolde Peter afore hand that he should be crucified but not Iohn They now that are admitted to feede Christ his sheepe prepare themselues and bee alwaies readie without any curiosity to follow the will of God Whereas Iohn in the conclusion of his booke refuteth the erroneous opinion of some it is an euidence of his meeknesse and sinceritie It was not so spoken of the Lorde saith hee that the same Disciple should not die whereby Iohn confessed that he himselfe also was mortall His writing wil he haue credited for he hath written nothing saue onely the truth wherof he may well testifie that which he hath seene Yet saith he hath not written all but only that whereby we may obtaine eternall life as wee haue heard sufficiently afore THE eleuen Disciples went away into Galilee into a mountaine whereas Iesus had appointed them And when they saw him they worshipped him but some doubted And Iesus saide These are the wordes which I spake vnto you while I was yet with you that all must needs be fulfilled which were written of me in the lawe of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalmes Then opened hee their wittes that they might vnderstand the Scriptures and saide vnto them Thus is it written and thus it behooued Christ to suffer and to rise againe from death the third day and that repentance and remission of sinne should be preached in his name among all nations and must begin at Hierusalem And ye are witnesses of these thinges And behold I will send the promise of my Father vppon you But tarrie ye in the Cittie of Hierusalem till ye be endewed with power from on high Doctrine and fruite THE Lorde minding to make his Disciples assured of his Resurrection instructeth them first well in his passion which hee declareth out of the Scripture and printeth it in their hearts He teacheth them that it was necessarie that Christ should suffer and die yea euen thus to die namely vppon a crosse vpon a tree On the tree was the transgression committed vpon the tree behooued it the restitution to bee made vpon the tree was death fetched vpon the tree was life giuen vpon the tree must satisfaction bee made for the lustes of the flesh which on the tree were first conceiued And would God that we rightly knew the passion and crosse of our Lorde Iesu Christ then shoulde the glorie of the resurrection be well knowne and loued of vs. O Iesu graunt vs grace right to consider what wherefore and with what loue and feruentnes thou hast suffered for vs then shall our heart feele profitably enioy the sweete fruite of thy
resurrection then shall our lyfe become new and of another sort if we take vpon vs true pennance beeing sorie for our sinnes conuerting vs vnto thee amending and chaunging our conuersation Which with the gratious forgiuenesse of our sinnes is declared and promised vnto vs in the Gospell according to thy commaundement O what a ioyfull message is this that such greate grace should out of Sion bee shewed vnto vs which come of the heathen From this grace is no man shut out it is common vnto euerie man vnlesse the vnthankfull exclude himselfe as doo they that loue darknesse more than the light and they that disdainfully inclose thy grace and hedge in thy Church which thou by the preaching of repentance and forgiuenes of sinnes hast commaunded to bee gathered vnto thy selfe in the whole world not only at Hierusalem but also in Samaria and Galilee euen vnto the ende of the world O God suffer vs not to be subiect vnto vain-glorie and headines remoue all contention and strife out of thy holie Church Preserue vs from scismes and all dissention knitte vs together in vniforme loue which is an vndoubted token of thy children It behooued Iesus Christ to suffer not for himselfe but for our sakes to become the sacrifice for our sinnes that hee so satisfiyng the iustice of GOD might make amends for our trespasse and deliuer vs from death It behooued him also to ryse agayne that hee by his power might rayse vs vp from the death of sin to a new life by his own resurrection to make vs assured of ours and of immortall life IEsus came to his Disciples and said vnto them To me is giuen all power in heauen in earth As my father hath sent mee so send I you And when hee had thus spoken hee breathed vppon them and sayde Receiue ye the holy Ghost Whose sinnes yee forgiue they are forgiuen and whose sinnes yee reteyne they are reteyned Goe therefore and teach all people baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the sonne and of the holie Ghost teaching them to obserue all thinges whatsoeuer I haue commaunded you And beholde I am with you euerie day vntill the ende of the worlde Goe yee therefore into the whole worlde and preach the Gospell vnto all creatures Who so beleeueth and is baptized shall be saued but he that will not beleeue shall be condemned The tokens which shall follow those that beleeue are these In my name they shall cast out deuils They shall speake with new tongues They shall take away serpentes And if they drinke anie venemous thing it shall not hurt them They shall lay handes vppon the sicke and they shall be whole Doctrine and fruit WHEN Iesus with manie euidences had certified his Disciples of his Resurrection he sheweth them now to what excellent glorie and how high power his heauenly father hath brought him wherby their hearts might be stablished and how that all thinges are iustly subdued vnto him who through the crosse hath ouercome gotten a glorious victorie and suppressed the Prince of this world And though some now declare themselues contrary to his kingdome and are not obedient vnto his power but persecute and kill him in his members saying Wee will not haue him to raigne ouer vs resisting and gathering themselues together against God and his annointed king how mightie soeuer they be yet shall he bruise them with an iron rodde and as an earthen vessell all to breake them yea they must become his foot-stoole and hee shall raigne for euer As if he would say In most perfect humilitie in highest patience and beeing in greatest contumelie I haue hitherto serued you and all mankinde but now is the time come that the Father will glorifie mee and bring me to high honor which I had afore the worlde was made that in my name all knees should bowe for I am sette aboue all power and dominion hauing all thinges in my hande From henceforth shall I bee worshipped and honoured of the Angels in heauen and of all men vppon earth And forasmuch as I haue receyued a whole power ouer all flesh I sende you not onelie vnto the Iewes as afore but vnto all nations in the whole worlde for in my selfe haue I sanctified the whole nature of man Looke therefore that yee declare this ioyfull and gratious message vnto all men and plant them in with baptisme vnto the Father to the Sonne and to the holy Ghost And those whom ye baptize see that ye teach to obserue and keepe all that ye haue receyued of mee Ye must also bee stout and not faint harted Many afflictions much euill will great persecution shal happen vnto you but consider how mightie a Lord ye haue vnto whom is giuen all power in heauen and earth hee is able enough to defend and saue you from all enemies And albeit that I goe nowe from you as touching corporall habitation yet will I bee still remayning with you with my power grace woorking and protection vntil the end of the worlde Wherefore goe your way sette your whole delight in mee keepe your selues vnto me alone so can ye not miscarrie O how excellent and great consolation is this vnto all faithfull and beleeuing hearts O how mightie a strength is it in all aduersities and daungers of this worlde to heare and consider that all power in heauen and earth is giuen vnto Christ our Lorde and king vnder whose protection and winges wee are safe and well preserued And who cannot vnderstand that this promise reacheth not onely vnto the twelue Disciples vnto whom it was then made but vnto all faithfull beleeuers which through their doctrine are come vnto Christ For those twelue did not continue in this life vntill the ende of the worlde and yet hee sayth I will be with you vntill the end of the world Wherefore wee may well perceiue that Christ vntill the end of the world will be with all faithfull beleeuers that is to say with his holie church to instruct teach strengthen comfort defend and deliuer it against all malitious violence of this world In his hand they are safe and well kept no man is able to plucke them out of his hande Although the worlde rage and the deuill the prince of the world sette all his power as great as it is against the Church of Christ yet are not the gates of hel able to doe anie thing against it for it is founded and strongly builded vpon Christ the rocke and he that is with it vnto the end of the world is mightier than all enemies Now forasmuch as the disciples of Christ should bring the heauenly doctrine throughout the whole world man being yet of himselfe vnable to comprehend the doings of God he therefore first expounded and declared the Scriptures vnto them as Luke mentioneth and seeing they were simple vnlearned men hee opened to them their vnderstanding But to the intent
God became after sinne like vnto the deuill filthie and shamefull yea altogether carnall hauing nothing more of the spirite in him as the scripture in the booke of creation testifieth For as much now as the miserable man was degenerate from the noble spirituall and godly nature to an vncleane carnall and diuelish disposition becomming altogether flesh hee was able no more eyther to thinke or woorke any spirituall or godlie thing All his thoughts and imaginations are carnall in that he is fallen into eternall death and hath lost the life of the spirite for the affections and lustes of the flesh are death but the desires of the spirite are life and peace The affections of the flesh are enmitie against God for the flesh is not subiect vnto the lawe of GOD neyther can bee they therefore which are in the flesh cannot please GOD. Nowe when man who had taken so hurtfull a fall was brought downe from life vnto death from the grace of God into his wrath life might not bee giuen him againe but by the spirite of God whome man by sinne hath lost Therefore like as the Father at the beginning had created man so fashioneth hee him againe by his Sonne who ouercommeth and destroyeth death and giueth vnto vs againe the way of immortalitie For into a froward soule entereth not the spirite of GOD therefore is it conuenient and necessarie that such soule and corrupt flesh bee purged and cleansed againe By Christ the eternall worde were all thinges created by him therefore after the fall must all things be restored againe for this cause died Christ vppon the crosse to banish the sinne of the worlde and to make satisfaction for it From death also hee riseth agayne to giue vs a certaine and assured hope and an vndoubted pledge of an immortall and eternall life and that hee hath ouercome death and sinne for vs. Immediately after the resurrection he breatheth vpon his disciples and giueth them the holy Ghost to declare that he is the same who at the beginning created our nature and sealed it it with his spirite and that it is euen hee who now in the beginning of a new life must by his spirite renew and restore our decayed nature againe that thus Christ who is the liuing and expresse image of the inuisible GOD may bee fashioned and fourmed of the newe in vs now cannot Christ the image of GOD bee right proportioned and renewed in vs but by the holie Ghost Nowe like as Christ after the resurrection gaue his Disciples the spirite to print into them a newe life whereby they knewe and were assured that hee was the fountaine and giuer of the spirite and therefore hee saide All that the Father hath is mine Item All power is giuen vnto mee in heauen and in earth euen so immediately after the same hee ascended vp into heauen to declare vnto them that he was the Lord of all thinges Out of the high and reall throne where he sitteth at the right hand of God his Father Christ the eternall king sent downe his holie spirite vpon all flesh that we by him might obtaine the old innocencie and saluation againe that the Image of God stained and defiled by sinne might be restored vnto vs and that wee thus might become partakers of eternall life What they be vnto whom God giueth his spirit that see we well heere namely euen vnto those that in vnitie of faith and feruent loue are gathered togither with one accord for of all vnitie he is the fountaine and originall In contentious and proud hearts dwelleth not the holy Ghost therefore is it meet that we pray Come O holie spirite replenish the harts of thy faithfull beleeuers and kindle in them the fire of thy loue thou that through manifolde tongues hast gathered together all the nations of the heathen in vnitie of faith O take all dissention and discord out of thy holie Church and make vs to be of one mind in vnfained loue without the which wee cannot please thee THere were dwelling at Hierusalem Iewes deuout men out of euerie nation of them that are in heauen now when this was noysed about the multitude came together and were astonied because that euerie man heard them speake with his owne language They wondered all maruelled saying amongst themselues Beholde are not all these which speake of Galilee and how heare wee euerie man his owne tongue wherein we were borne Partheans Medes and Elemytes and the inhabiters of Mesopotamia and of Iewrie and of Capadocia of Pontus and Asia Phrigia Pamphilia of Egypt and of the parties of Lybia which is besides Siren and strangers of Rome Iewes and Proselytes Greekes and Arabians wee haue heard them speake in our owne tongues the great works of God Doctrine and fruite THE eternall wisedome hath indued all good minds diligently to learne and search the thing wherein they thinke to finde that which they desire and what can be more worthie to be desired or more acceptable to the mind of man than eternal life and saluation which onely consisteth in God the highest good of all Now was the sacred scripture giuen of the holie Ghost that man thereby might bee guided and lead vnto saluation and to most excellent felicity For they that exercise themselues in holie scripture studying and perusing it ought thus to doe euen to direct themselues and others vnto life Therefore by the ordinance of God there hath been euer men in all nations which to instruct others haue applyed themselues to the scripture as among the Iewes wee finde Leui of whome in the Prophet Malachie it is written that the lawe of the truth was in his mouth and no wickednes in his lippes that he walked before God in peace and equitie and conuerted many from vngodlines for the lippes of the Priest are sure of knowledge and the law is required at his mouth for hee is a messenger of the Lorde of hosts Thus as it may wel be coniectured there were at Ierusalem congregations of learned men that exercised themselues in the holy scripture For though all wisedome come of God as the fountaine wel no man can be learned whom God himselfe teacheth not yet will not he giue his grace spirite and knowledge to the idle slouthfull and vnthankfull neither to the proud but vnto those that with meeknes feare of God practise themselues in the scripture and that applying vnto feruent praier doe not despise the meanes and gratious giftes granted them of God And if any man will say that all falshood and destruction all erroneous doctrine and discorde were come into the church by such as be learned let him consider that the thing which in himselfe is good ought not for the abuses sake to bee refused remoue the abuse and then the thing is good and profitable Wine is a profitable and wholesome thing created of GOD for the behoofe of man and is neuer dispraised
gifts which the God of mercie had promised before and now performed them But this satisfaction concerning drunkennes and this instruction of the ignorant is made with all meeknes and yet with sinceritie and stedfastnes not lordly or braggingly although he was highly endewed with the holy Ghost Thus we that be Ministers of Christ and teachers of his congregations ought not by reason of our office or high giftes to take too much vppon vs that with bragging or arrogancie wee would outface the weake but worthily and valiantly with sinceritie truth of the scripture to instruct such as be ignorant and out of the way Our mouth is an instrument of the holy Ghost and of the truth not of any lightnes bragging or presumption This word prophecie is taken not onely to tell shew before of godly and high thinges but also to harken vnto the same and to perceiue them this maketh for the vnderstanding of this place For the holy Ghost declareth by Ioel and promiseth also as he dooth by Ieremie that the knowledge of GOD should bee common in all the world and that from the least vnto the most euerie one should be instructed in Gods knowledge through the guiding of the spirit which knowledge before time was common onely to the Iewes and Scribes but by Christ is such abundant and plentifull knowledge of God powred out in all the world through his holy spirit who worketh in the Church vntill the ende not onely in Scribes from whome such high mysteries of Gods wisedome are oftentimes hidde but vnto simple vnlearned fishers and to others that in the sight of the world are not esteemed Yea richly powreth he out of his holie spirite vppon all flesh vnto euerie one his measure as it best pleaseth him no man excludeth hee from his grace his knowledge suffereth he to flow ouer all the earth as a water floud vnto all those that are his seruantes and hand maides This is the deare and excellent treasure which in stead of it that was giuen before by the incarnation of Christ is now offered that the knowledge of God which by the holy Ghost is the preaching of the Gospell is come forth into all the world whereas before it was manifest only amongst the Iewes For after the death of the Lorde finished vpon the crosse was the Gospell published in all the world by the which preaching the children of God dispersed abroad are gathered together The holie Ghost also who was before in the godly did by his giftes and operations worke much more mightily strongly after the death and ascension of Christ than before by the which holy Ghost the captiuitie of of the law and ceremonies is taken away heauenly freedome giuen to the children of God For as much as to know Christ his kingdome it minisâ—â—eth true godlines and eternall life Peter in his oration trauelleth especially to this end that the Iewes being there present which helde Christ for a wicked doer and put him to death might know him to be the true sauiour of the world and to be risen againe from death and therefore hee alleadgeth the prophecies which in Christ were fulfilled As if I would say Behold Ioel tolde before of the time that these your children should prophecie now ye see it performed in them whereby ye may well perceiue that the kingdome of Messias which is a spirituall thing is now begun already In the which kingdom must bee not onely Iewes which haue the outward temple ceremonies but all as call vpon the name of the Lord wheresoeuer they be in the world Vnto the Iew was promised a sauiour neuertheles such one as shuld not onely saue them but also the whole world and whose kingdome should be euerlasting that hee also should deliuer and bring them yea all mankind from the captiuitie of the prince of this world Of these things there were amongst the Iewish people many signes and figures whereby in bodily and corporall thinges God did partly set foorth these thinges spirituall which they also which are spirituall and elect amongst the people of the Iewes vnderstood right well though darkely in that they with the eyes of inward fayth had a further respect than to gaze onely vppon the outwarde corporall things Thus God the holie Ghost by visible thinges lead and taught them euen as a yong scholler is first taught by letters and syllables vnder the schoolmaister vntill the time that the glorious kingdom came that in Christ the true Messias all things were reformed and became spirituall Thus had the Iewes the corporall kingdome of Dauid and of other kinges and thus for their sinnes they were brought vnto Babylon into captiuity By the which captiuitie was figured the greeuous bondage and thraldome of mankind vnder the violent power of the deuill But when they were in captiuitie at Babylon God comforting them by his Prophets promised to bring them thence and to restore them to their owne land in the which deliuerance was figured the redemption of the world by Christ This custome had all the Prophets that when they told the people before hand and promised of Gods behalf deliuerance out of the captiuity before they came into it they alwaies made mention also of the punishment of the sinnes that should go before Prosperitie shall come said they but first there must bee an horrible plague for sinne the iustice of God must first be satisfied Thus doth Ioel heere also in whom partly we learne that God will not suffer our sinnes to passe without punishment as wee see also in the greeuous captiuity of all mankinde that God will haue the sinne so worthily satisfied that euen his only begotten sonne by whom no sinne was committed must therefore die and by his innocent death 〈…〉 sinnes If God now spared not his onely 〈…〉 how may we then think that he will 〈…〉 sinfull life to passe without punishâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 we paciently and with good will beare the 〈◊〉 â—â—nishment of our sins sent vnto vs of God and conuerting from our sinnes doe turne vs to the gratious father that beateth vs God vndoubtedly shall send vs grace prosperitie and welfare and help vs out of all miserie Once we must eyther liue a godly and innocent life and throghly amend our selues or els sinne must bee punished and euery vncleane thing must in the fire punishment of Gods wrath be consumed Againe though we were vertuous godly yet is God of this nature that he maketh his chosen to bee like fashioned vnto the image of his sonne and by much aduersitie and trouble hee leadeth them vnto ioy Euen as it behooued Christ to suffer so to enter into his glory The punishment of sinne is harde and the iudgement of the Lorde as often as he commeth to recompence sinne is sharp which the Prophet partly by bodily thinges dooth describe as other Prophets do also The sunne shall be turned into bloud c and
right hand of God is exalted and hath receiued of the Father the promise of the holie Ghost he hath shed foorth this gift which yee now see and heare For Dauid is not ascended into heauen but he saith The Lorde saide to my Lorde Sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy foot stoole Doctrine and fruite WE beleeue that Iesus Christ our king and Sauiour is not onely risen againe from death to life but also is ascended vp into heauen sitteth at the right hand of God and raigneth for euer For though hee heere a season was despised and refused as the stone of the builders yet hath the strong hand of God exalted him and mightily wrought in him Which thing may well bee perceiued by this as Saint Peter heere valiantly concludeth that hee sendeth downe from on high such an excellent gift of the holy Ghost vpon those that are his This is a sure euidence that he mightily raigneth at the right hand of God and hath all things in his hand seeing he hath power of the spirite of God whom he poureth into the hearts of his and that sometime in visible manner For the glorious triumpher ascending vp to heauen with great victorie did after the custome of great kings and let fall his giftes downe vppon vs and parted them among vs namely the gifts of the holy Ghost whom he as man receiued of the Father but after the godhead he had him alwaie for of the father and of the sonne there is one onely spirite Neither may this bee applied vnto Dauid for though hee as a iust friend of GOD bee saued and come to heauen yet did not hee immediatly after death ascend into heauen with bodie and soule that he might be reported to sit at the right hand of God for his wordes speake of another whome he calleth his Lord namely in the hundreth and ninth Psalme he saith God the Father sayd vnto my Lorde euen the Sonne Sit thou on my right hand So therefore let all the house of Ierusalem know for a suretie that God hath made this Iesus whom ye haue crucified Tord and Messias Doctrine and fruit WIth these wordes doth Peter conclude his Oration exhorting them not to doubt Iesus Christ to be the same annointed sauiour and king who of God the father was first promised then giuen for the deliuerance of the people of the Iewes and of all nations In this conclusion is comprehended the summe of the whole Christian faith namely that wee beleeue that Iesus who was borne of the virgine Marie and crucified of the Iewes is the true Christ that is to saie Messias euen the king that was ordained annointed of God to raigne foreuer ouer all faithful beleeuers Lorde of the whole world and sauiour of all such as put their trust in him This hath God the Father opened and set forth vnto vs by myracles by the resurrection by the ascension by the power of the holy Ghost that wee might beleeue it and not doubt thereof Therefore saith Iohn Who so beleeueth that Iesus is Christ the same is borne of God WHen they heard this they were prickt in their hearts and said vnto Peter and to the other Apostles Ye men and brethren what shall we doe Peter said vnto them Repent of your sinnes and be baptised euerie one of you in the name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sinners and yee shall receiue the gifte of the holy Ghost For the promise was made vnto you to your children and to all that are a farre off euen as many as the Lord our God shall call And with many other words bare he witnesse and exhorted them saying Saue your selues from this vntoward generation Then they that gladly receiued his preaching were baptised And the same daie there were added vnto them about three thousand soules Doctrine and fruite THis is the fruit and end which followeth out of the preaching of the worde of God that they whose heartes God toucheth are so sorrie for theyr sinnes that it euen pearceth them for Gods word is euen a sharpe two edged sword and entreth through to the depth Blessed are all they which so reade and heare the word of God that they begin to be ashamed of their sinnes and wickednesse beeing repentant and sorrie therefore A blessed and wholsome sorrow is that which riseth and groweth out of the truth which is opened vnto the heart by the holy Ghost Which spirite in the heart giueth hope vpon the mercie of God and driueth awaie all despaire Then beginneth a man to aske What shall I doo Then enquireth he after the will of God and such a man that so asketh is easie to be helped soone is he healed that knowing his disease would faine be made whole Vnto such a man doth the faithfull Minister of Christ giue counsell out of the Scripture and sheweth him the fruit of Christ preached and knowen He doth not bid him bestow monie on solemnities and Diriges on Images Monisteries or coâ—les inâ—â—â—ying of pardons He doth not will to runne vnto Rome or to Lawret but requireth of him the best and most profitable thing of all namely amendement conuersion of life Our mindes our workes and maners must be altered if we will please God Who so saith with his heart that he beleeueth in Christ holding Christ for his sauiour and king must forsake his euil waie eschuing euill and doing good Iere. 7.11 Isa 1 Niniue stood still vpright when they tooke vppon them true conuersion and amendement As for Hierusalem though they offered many sacrifices fasted much it helped not because there was no true reformation and forsaking of sinne needs must they be destroied and miserablie perish To botch or patch the matter it will not helpe there is no remedie wee must become godly and vertuous of life it auaileth not to dissemble God looketh into the heart which he will haue pure and vnfained Forasmuch then as we through baptisme in the faith of Christ haue receiued Christ and are marked out for him hauing once forgiuenesse of sinnes through the grace and gift of Christ let vs be of a vertuous lfe walking innocently and in the feare of God Let vs die therefore to the innocencie which is restored vnto vs againe through Christ let vs daily remember to harken follow the admonishment of the spirit which teacheth vs all good things We are they vnto whom God hath promised his grace of the spirite yea and vnto our children also so farre as we abide in his couenants Let vs thankfully receiue such excellent grace deare brethren being ware that we stain not the temple of Iesus Christ and of his holy spirit with filthinesse of the worlde that wee neuer make our selues partakers in the iniquitie of wicked and faithlesse men but to leade here a pure and cleane conuersation with a good conscience before GOD our most louing father and alwaie lift vp our minds vnto
that wee will not once regard or thinke anie such thing whereby wee might the sooner forsake the diuision and stiffenesse of our heart and in friendly vnitie and brotherly loue to doe good one vnto another Christ therefore the restorer of our decayed nature and the onely true and eternall light came into this worlde to illuminate and lighten our blinde eyes to crie with his voyce vnto vs that bee dumbe and to sette that agayne before our eyes which wee our selues haue made darke and dimme Hee cryeth vnto vs in his Gospell with a loude voyce so that no man canne saie hee hath not heard it Hee is the heauenly schoolemaster the eternall wisedome the fountayne of all knowledge the onely and true teacâ—â—â— the whole building of his Church the foundation and roofe the beginning and ende of all his commaundementes hath hee sette and comprehended in onely loue exhorting vs to loue vnitie and friendshippe and saying that men heereby shall knowe vs to bee his disciples if we loue â—hem vnto that which faith inwardly considereth and looketh vpon These tokens are instituted to signifie and represent vnto vs high and greate things to gather together and vnite the Church that beeing dispearsed euerie where ouer the face of the whole earth might gather together into one communion and fellowshippe in Christ and bee made partakers of his promises and inioye those comfortable blessings which hee hath promised from the beginning namely such as bee faithfull and true beleeuers and that the exteriour and outwarde sense might from all corporall thinges bee withdrawen to that which is spirituall for the eyes see the bread which representeth the bodie of Christ they see as the bread is broken so was the bodie of Christ broken vpon the crosse for our sinnes and that as the wine is poured in and out so was the precious bloud of Iesus Christ shedde to wash awaie all our sinnes The eares doe heare Christes wordes spoken by the Minister in the person of Christ Iesus by the which the promise is renewed by which meanes those that are his and of his Church are by a certaine feeling and comfort in their soules and consciences refreshed The tast vppon the tongue the smell in the nose and lykewise the handling and so each other member in his seuerall office euerie one of them hath his delight and operation in confessing acknowledging and dooing his seruice vnto saith But for what cause our sauiour Christ dyd specially vse bread and wine before anie other corporall things to signifie his death and shedding of his bloud it may well and easily bee perceiued by the nature of faith With bread is the bodie fedde and sustayned with wine are mennes heartes made merrie Forasmuch then as faith the life of our soules through the flesh of Christ spiritually eaten is nourished and sustained and seeing our minde is moistened and refreshed with true and perfect ioy thorough the bloud of Christ shedde for vs there was nothing more meere nothing more expedient nothing more necessarie for this Sacrament than bread and wine Moreouer through the bloud of Christ are all other oblations and sacrifices cleane layde aside and therefore Christ minding to finish the high sacrifice vppon the crosse testified and declared before hand that his bodie beeing offered vp and his bloud shed shoulde bee sufficient to wash awaie all mens sinnes and that from thence forth there shoulde not neede anie other sinne offering in the which there must bloud bee shedde Therefore woulde hee with euident and plaine wordes testifie and saie This is my bodie which is giuen for you doo this in remembrance of mee This is the cuppe of the new Testament in my bloud which shall bee shedde for many to the forgiuenesse of sinnes To the intenâ— thâ—n that this excellent and worthie propitiation and sacrifice should not out of theyr eyes and heartes he added visible signes not bare signes but seales of his couenant as was the Circumcision and Passah and common tokens of loue and friendshippe amongst men euen bread and wine which haue no bloud to declare that all bloud for sinne is onely in Iesus Christ Christs minde was also in one bodie to couple and knit together in one bodie the whole multitude of his Church To signifie this that there was nothing more apt and sit than wine and bread for like as out of many cornes is made one paste and one bread and like as out of many grapes one wine floweth together euen so by faith and loue become they all one bodie that eate of one bread and drinke of one cup. And euen from the beginning of the world it hath alwnyes beene the vse among men that with breade and wine they haue made and confirmed great friendshippe and league And euen so Christ with the distributing of the bread among his disciples would establish an euerlasting friendship with them The fourth thing now in the Church of Christ is prayer namely as Christ taught them to praie vnto the father of heauen that the kingdome of his Sonne might still growe and increase that his glory might arise and spread it selfe throughout all the worlde that his name might bee hallowed and his will fulfilled c. This is the necessariest thing of all and if we lacke this in vaine are all our good workes in vaine are all the honest actions of a ciuill lyfe in vaine are all godly exercises nothing prospereth wee goe about no oblation is sanctified all is impuritie that wee eyther doo or thinke the holy Apostle Paule willeth vs to praie continually God graunteth not the presence of his spirite to anie thing but vnto praier Without the presence of Gods spirite vnprofitable is the worde preached vnprofitable are the Sacraments ministred vnprofitable shall all thinges bee vnto vs so that praier is most requisite Let vs therefore praie vnto almightie God to increase in vs the spirite of Prayer that with our soule and spirite wee may praie continually for spirituall giftes that they may dayly increase in vs to his glorie Graunt this the great giuer of all good giftes for his mercie sake To whom bee all honour glorie power dominion and thankes for euer and euer Amen A Praier O Mercifull God preserue our heartes from pride from vaineglorie and from shamefull couetousnesse giue vs grace to abide in thy holy vocation and to be thankfull for thy grace that the fall of thine Apostle beeing alwayes before our eies we may walke in thy feare before thee For if we stand we must take heed that we fall not neither despise those that as yet doo not stand Make vs to continue thy grace for nothing haue wee sauing onely thaâ— which we haue receued of thee And if of weaknesse we fall put thy hand vnder vs O Lorde and suffer vs not to despaire in sinne but cause vs with repentance and sorow for our offence to resort vnto thee Oh keepe vs that we neither despaire nor betraie thy dearely beloued sonne whome
thou thorough thy Gospell doest send vnto vs for without him is no safegard but eternall death damnation From which keep vs good Lord for thy mercies sake Amen FINIS Iohn 13. Luk. 22. 1. Cor. 5. Esay 53. Iohn 1 Exod. 12. 〈◊〉 67. 1 Pet. 1. 1. Iohn 1. 1. Cor. 11. 1. Cor. 9. 1. Pet 2. Iohn 6. Iohn 15. Iohn 13. 1. Ioh 2.3.4 Iohn 15. Loue. Humblenes The exhortation and warning of Christ The presumption rashnes of Peter The dignitie and worthines of the disciples The foreknowledge of Christ The presumptuousnes of Iudas Treason commeth of the deuill Loue. Aduersitie Patience Meeknes The feare of God Faith Eternall reward Christes death our life The fruite of the death of Christ Christ is the onely way He that loueth worketh Psal 34. Gods commandement All things possible to beleeuers Loue ouercommeth all things Faith Loue keeping of the coÌ„mandements The office of Gods spirite Comfort strength in aduersitie We must all be â—aught of God which is don by the spirite The peace of Christ through the spirit Phil 4. Worldly peace Our nature exalted in Christ Comfort in aduersitie The deuill hath nothing in the faithfull We must suffer that we may bee obedient vnto the father To abide in Christ Eph. 2 Col. 2. What it is to abide in Christ Punishment of vnthankfulnes How the faithfull are cleane 1. Pet. 1. Faith bringeth fruite The good workes are not open What wee ought to pâ—aâ—e Entirely doth Christ loue those that are his Iohn 4. Loue is an euidence of faith What foloweth out of the loue of God Tokens of Gods loue to vs. Iohn 1. 1. Cor. 2. Rom. 5. Ephes 1. Rom. 5. We are chosen to bring forth fruit We ought to indure in loue Phil. 2. The commandement of God is loue Iohn 13. 1. Pet. 2. Exhortation to patienes 1. Pet. 3. Iohn 13. Acts. 5. Rom. 12. Math 26. Acts. 1. Rom. â— 2. Tim. 3. Rom. 8. Rom. 5. Acts· 2. Iohn 15. 1. Pet. 4. Math. 10. Luke 9. Iohn â—â— Cant. â— 1. Cor. 14. Heb. 5. Psal 120. Iohn 1â— 1. Iohn 5. 1. Ioh. 4. Isa 53. Ioh. 8. Vnbeliefe is the originall of all vices Ioh. 14. 1. Cor. 1. Ioh. 3. Col. 1. Psal 84. Ephe. 4. Rom. 12 Ephe. 3. 1. Cor. 13. 1. Cor. 2. 2. Cor. â— Iohn 4 2. Cor. 4 Heb. 1 1. Cor. 13 Iohn 17. How wee should pray The sanctifiyng of Gods name should we chiefly desire What it is to honour the Father Iohn 14. Christ is the way to God The knowledge of God eternall life The order of our health What it is to keepe Gods commandements Iohn 17.9 How the Ministers of the word should be praied for Math 5. Ephe 4. Phil. 2. Col. 2. Iohn 15. 1. Cor. 4. Ezech. 36 Phil 2. Ephe 2. Iohn 13. Math. 10. Psal â—3 1. Cor. â— 2. Cor. 6 Iames· â— Iohn 17 Eph. 2 Math. 5 Col 3. Phil. 1 2. Cor. 3 1. Thes â— 2. Cor. 4 Iohn 3. Heb. 2. Rom. 7. Gal. 5. Esa 53 Iohn 10 Iob. 2 Math. 5 Rom. 12. Esay 53. 1. Thes 5. Ephes 4. 1. Tim. 3. Math. 15. 2. Tim. 2. Iohn 8. Esay 9. 1. Pet. 3. Gal. 5. Math. 11. Zach. 13 Apoc. 2. Psal 83. â— Psal 119. Ephes 5. 3. Pet 1. Heb. 10. Thes 5. Psal 22. Esay 53. 1. Pet 2.3 Math. 24. Phil. 2. â— Tim. 2. Ezech. 18. Iohn 3 Math 9. 1. Thes 4. Psal â—â— Esay â— Iohn 17. 2. Tim. 4. Iohn 11 Iohn 3. Heb. 10. Exod. 12. Zach. 11. Ephes â— Iohn 7. Heb. 12. Math. 27. Marke 15. Luk. 23. Iohn 19. Iohn 19. 1. Cor. 1. Iohn 12. Iohn 17. Rom. 6. 1. Cor. 15 Marke 16. Luk. 24. Math. 28. Iohn 20. Math. 28. The crosse is the glorious victorious token of the faithfull Marke 16. Iohn 20. Angus he beleeued that the bodie was taken away Math. 14. Math. 20. Iohn 11. Luke 7. The number of seauen for many Mark 16 2. Cor. 5 God is a spirit with thâ— spirit will hâ— be worshipped Col 3. Phil 3. Psal 22. Rom. â—â— Iohn 15. Iere. 31. The glory of the faithfull is hid vnder the crosse Rom. 6. 1. Iohn â— Math. 28. Acts 9. Luk. 24. Luke 24. Luk. 10. 2. Tim. 2. Apoc. 2. Acts. 2. Rom. 10. Iohn 2. Rom. 8. Math 10. 1. Cor 9. 2. Thes â— Iob. 5. Luke 15. Acts. 2. Heb. 11. Rom. 4. 1. Cor. 14 Iohn 4. Iohn â— Luk. 7. Iohn 6. Phil. 3. Math. 16. Petrus of the rocke Iohn 10 2. Cor. 5. Rom. 7. Math. 26. 2. Tim. 4. Math. 28. Esay 2. Psal 109. Iohn 5. Math Iohn Marke 28. Marke 16. Luke 19. Psal 2. Psal 109. Iohn 17. Phil. 2. Math. 10. Iohn 17. Iohn 10 Math. 16. Ioel 2. Luke 15. Math. 9. Iohn 6. Iohn 3. Of the keies Luk. 24 The holy Ghost that worketh in the Apostles forgiueth the sinnes Note this conditioÌ„ wel Luke 1â— Heb. 13. 1. Tim. 5. 2. Cor. 5 Iohn 13. Math 28. Acts. â— Ezod 25. Deut. 16 Math. 9. Iohn 4. 〈◊〉 2. Mich. 4. Note Ephes 4. Col. 4. Of signes Genes 6. Rom. 8. Sap. 1. Iohn 20. Heb. 1. Col. 1. Gal. 4. Iohn 16. Math. 28. Col 3. Ephes 4. Mal. 2. 1. Cor. 8. Acts. 2. 1. Cor. 2. 1. Cor. 1. Math. 11. Math. 11. Luk. 24. Ioel. 2. Ierem 31. Math. 11. 1. Cor. 12. Esay 11. Psal 75. Iohn .11 Esay 40. Ierem. 31. Luk. 24. Esay 13. Ierem. 15. Amos. â— Esay 56.57 Ezech. 5. Psal 88. 2. Reg 7. Psal 109. Psal 11â— Eph. 4 Math. 22. Col. 1 Iohn 1. Mark 16. Rom. â— 1. Ioh. 2. 1. Tim. â— Mat. 7 16â— Eph. 4.
ought wee to bring them foorth vnto his honour must they extend Matth. 5.28 For when Gods light doth appeare and shine in our conuersation many folkes thereby are drawn vnto God The father of heauen is honoured his name is hallowed and then are we his disciples For wee haue learned of him howe Christ was obedient vnto the father and sought his glorie in all things so do we likewise Heereunto ought all our praiers to extend that we may bring and winne much vnto Christ Therein is the father praised whē we bring vnto him much fruit but that might wee not if God had giuen vs his sonne that wee might bee his branches and hee our vine Where faith is there is the holy Ghost which teacheth to wishe and praie for that onely which may serue to Gods honour and that is the cause why he that prayeth obtayneth all his desire for GOD may not giue ouer his glorie Who so vndertaketh to further that him doeth hee assist and helpe AS the Father hath loued mee so haue I loued you Continue ye in my loue If ye keep my commandements ye shall abide in my loue as I haue kept my fathers commaundementes and abide in his loue These things haue I spoken vnto you that my ioy might remaine in you and that your ioy might be full This is my commandement that yee loue together as I haue loued you Greater loue than this hath no man that a man bestowe his life for his friendes Yee are my friendes if yee doo whatsoeuer I commaund you Henceforth call I you not seruauntes for the seruant knoweth not what his Lord doth But you haue I called friends for all things that I haue heard of my father haue I opened vnto you Yee haue not chosen mee but I haue chosen you and ordained you that ye goe and bring forth fruit and that your fruit remain that whatsoeuer ye ask of the father in my name he may giue it you This command I you that ye loue together one another Doctrine and fruit OH how excellent great consolation is this to vs all which beleeue in Iesus Christ and are vndoubtedly assured in ourselues that Christ loueth vs as his owne children and disciples howsoeuer the world iudge vs to be forsaken of him If this loue came right into our heart oh how earnest and feruent should we be to loue him agayne to further his honour to keepe his commaundementes and in charitable loue to serue our neighbors Then should all good workes and keeping of Gods commaundements flowe out of faith namely when we beleeue that God is fauourable and louing vnto vs yea that he is our father and our sonne Iesus Christ our king head and brother This faith worketh through loue for wee coulde not loue God if hee had not loued vs first His grace loue and mercie preuenteth vs. Therefore doth Christ euer still set forth his loue before vs as a light torch to kindle vs in loue towardes him and our neighbours If wee beleeue this grace committing vs cheerfully vnto his loue which he hath declared cōtinually doth practise towards vs if we still abide therein then shall this faith vpon the loue of God worke great things in vs and by vs and shall moue vs with good will gladly and cheerefullie to obserue his commaundements And if wee keepe his commaundements euerie man shall haue an assured token that wee bee and continue in the loue of God that is that we keepe our selues vnto his loue Seeing then that hee loueth vs exceeding much and we finding the same in our hearts through faith doe comfort our selues thereupon there must needs followe loue to our neighbours ioye peace softnesse of minde gentlenes patience c. Gal. 5. Now that Christ doth not slenderly but most notably loue his Disciple and all in them hee proueth it himselfe diuerse waies First in that hee giueth his life for vs and dyeth for vs vpon the Crosse for greater loue hath no man than to dye for his friend Thus Christ with his death and blood sealeth his loue towards vs. Secondly in that hee counteth and esteemeth vs not as seruants but as deare friendes bretheren and heires with him And the same declareth hee in this that all things which hee hath heard of his father and suckt out of that fatherly heart he openeth them vnto vs and writeth the same through his holy spirit in our hearts All his secret his godly will he giueth vs to vnderstād For we which be in Christ do know through an vndoubted faith feele it also in our hearts that God is our father through Christ that in him he hath admitted chosen vs that he is reconciled with vs through the bloud of his deare Sonne that he loueth preserueth and defendeth vs. Therefore doe wee also paciently and chearefully beare all aduersitie in this time for his sake considering wee knowe that so is the good pleasure of our dearest Father Thirdly Christ declareth his excellent loue towards vs in that he did chuse vs afore the world was created loued vs when we were yet his enemies calling vs by his worde and appointing vs to bring forth fruit vnto him Fourthly in that we obtaine at the fathers hand all that we pray and desire in the name of Iesu Are not these sure tokens of an exceeding loue of God towards vs After that we once haue perceiued such loue ô that we alwayes remained therein Which commeth to passe when wee applie ourselues vnto his commaundements and when wee in obedience and patience are content to bee at his will as hee for our sake was obedient vnto his Father euen vntill the death of the crosse Now that wee might knowe what his commandements be he concludeth them in a short summe and saith Loue yee one another together as I haue loued you As if he would say seeing I haue declared my loue so worthily so notably and with so great faithfulnesse towardes you that I haue nor refused to die for you therefore is it my will and so is it reason also that yee likewise shewe such loue one towards another for I haue giuen you example afore that ye should do as I haue done and follow my foot-steppes This shall not onely bee very seemely vnto you but much profite also and greate honour shall it bring you For like as my Father as yee shall shortlie see shall after my passion bring mee vnto glorie so shall hee also doe vnto you so farre as yee endure stedfast in aduersitie and continue in loue one towards another Like as I with great trauaile and labour haue shewed you the way and will of GOD my Father and therefore goe nowe vnto death to make you liuing so ought yee also to bee minded one towardes another Looke that yee serue one another in loue lead all men vnto God and the grace of God which he giueth vnto
the world through me publish ye vnto all men though yee must loose your life therefore IF the world hate you yee know that it hated mee before it hated you If yee were of the worlde the world would loue his owne Howbeit because yee are not of the worlde but I haue chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you Remember the word that I said vnto you the seruaunt is not greater than the Lord. If they haue persecuted mee so will they persecute you If they haue kept my sayings they will also keepe yours But all these things will they do vnto you for my names sake because they knowe not him that sent mee If I had not come and spoken vnto them they should not haue had sinne but now haue they nothing to cloake their sinne withall Hee that hateth mee hateth my Father also If I had not doone workes amongst them which none other man did they had not had sinne but nowe haue they seene and haue hated both mee and also my Father euen that the saying might bee fulfilled which is written in theyr owne lawe They haue hated mee without anie cause Doctrine and fruite LIke as Christ in the aforesaid words hath giuen vnto his Disciples and to vs that beleeue in him an excellent consolation in his loue which is infinite great towardes vs so dooth he now comfort vs against such trouble and aduersitie to come as outwardly happeneth vnto vs and against the hate and persecution wherewith the children of the world recompence vs for our loue and well dooing Loue ought wee to haue towards all men such godly loue shall moue vs earnestly to further Gods glorie to bring all men to the knowledge and loue of God and to withdraw them from fleshly lustes and worldly vices When wee now of a godly zeale beginne thus to rebuke vice and to reprehend the carnall lustes of the children of the world then they that are drowned in the shamefull vices of the world and the flesh may not suffer it but hate trouble and vexe vs molest persecute vs and put vs vnto death contemning and despising the worde which wee offer them from GOD whereby they might bee saued and going about by all meanes to roote it out But all this ought not to driue vs backe or discourage vs For in this world must we seeke no high honour nor praise but willingly humble and submit our selues vnder the rebuke and crosse with Christ our head Christ also exhorteth vs to folow his footsteppes and to doe after his example and not to forsake the truth and loue of our neighbour for theyr hatred but constantly to proceed and do our best to guid all men vnto God And if for such our vnfaithfulnes and loue there happen reproach and trouble to vs we ought to reioice that God dooth vs so great honour as to graunt vs to suffer somewhat for his name sake If we liued as do the children of the world wee should not bee hated of them and happily wee needed to feare but little daunger But Christ hath taken vs from the world and chosen and called vs to good works and to innocencie of life Nothing hath he omitted that might serue to our welfare faithfully therefore ought we to follow his vocation not do as the vnthankfull Iewes that despise his doctrine and workes He talketh yet daily with vs prouoketh and calleth vs therefore ought we to cease from sin and not to fashion our selues after the world For if we would liue to please the world to serue it and to hunt after the fauour and praise of it wee should not be faithfull Ministers of Iesus Christ We ought not to look for worldly honor but to haue respect to the eternall glorie which wee shall haue with Christ our head yea so farre as we suffer rebuke and dishonour with him When he liued in this time and practised the truth against the Pharisies hee was reuiled put to shame and death The same happeneth also vnto vs for we are not aboue the Lorde An euill token were it if the world loued vs. Paciently therefore and with ioy ought we to beare such rebuke and shame as happeneth vnto vs for his name sake by those that hate the truth For our honor and reward is great in heauen but after our trouble shall the same be first opened as it happened also vnto Christ our head first after the crosse BVt when the comforter is come whom I will send vnto you from the father euen the spirit of truth which proceedeth of the father he shall testifie of me And yee are witnesses also because ye haue beene with me from the beginning These things haue I saide vnto you that ye should not be offended They shall thrust you out of their synagogues excommunicate you yea the time shall come that whosoeuer killeth you will thinke that he doth seruice vnto God And such thinges shall they doo vnto you because they knowe not the father neither me But these things haue I told you that when the houre is come yee may remember that I tolde you These thinges said I not vnto you at the beginning because I was with you But now I go my way to him that sent me none of you asketh mee Whither goest thou But because I haue said such things vnto you your harts are full of sorrow But I tell you the truth It is expedient for you that I goe awaie For if I go not away that comforter will not come vnto you But if I depart I will send him vnto you Doctrine and fruite FOr as much as it is our bounden duetie to beare witnesse vnto Christ with our mouth and life yet our weake flesh feareth the hatred and resistance of the worlde Christ therefore promiseth vs heere that hee will sende vs strength from heauen namely the holy Ghost first in our harts to bear witnesse vnto Christ and then to open our mouthes that we may testifie the Lord Christ and his trueth manfully and without feare Certaine it is that all they which will liue here godly in Christ Iesu must suffer persecution But seeing that to suffer such aduersitie our flesh is farre too slow colde and feeble God giueth vs the spirit of his son to mooue strengthen and preserue vs in all goodnes This spirit poureth out loue into our hartes expelleth all feare and terror as we see in Peter on Whitsonday maketh vs to ouercome all aduersitie We are braunches in Christ the true vine albeit as yet verie weake and tender soone blowne awaie with the winde or smitten downe other waies but for as much as out of Christ wee receiue yet the sap and vertue of spirite and life wee are in life preserued that wee wither not away Of this now must we bee mindfull in all aduersitie so that without ceasing we pray vnto GOD for his holie spirite who is our instructer comforter and