tells us Mat. 5.22 Gen. 4.6 Tit. 1.13 That whosoever is angry with his brother 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rashly inconfiderately without a reason shall be in danger of Judgement Why art thou wrath and why is thy countenance fallen Indeed such may be the case that we ought to be highly displeased with our Brother and rebuke him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sharply bitterly as when he doth that which doth any ways hinder the Glory of God or the good of man Thus Christ was sorely displeased 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he was wroth or had indignation against his own Disciples Mar. 10.14 Get thee behind me Satan said he to Peter a sharp rebuke when he did but unwittingly and out of his respect to his Master too speak that which savoured not of God but tended to hinder the salvation of Mankind Mat. 16.23 But there is a causless anger proceeding from the flesh causing divisions and War 1 Cor. 3.3 Jam 4.1 This cannot be quenched but by crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts Gal. 5.24 When the Apostle had exhorted to be kind and tender-hearted forgiving one another he proposeth a Pattern the following whereof will lead unto the end to which we are exhorted viz. Forgiving one another as God in Christ hath freely forgiven us This he would have us imitate in God as dear Children This forgiveness is by walking in love this love must be conformable to that of Christ to us Eph. 4 32. 5.1,2 There is a gracious Promise Isa 2.4 concerning the coming of Christ that men shall beat their swords into Plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks and the Naâ—ions shall learn War no more When Christ is formed in the hearts of men and they conformed to the heart of Christ we shall see Halcyon days then shall men live in Quietness Love and Peace When the root of Jesse shall stand up for an Ensign then Ephraim shall not envy Judah and Judah shall not vex Ephraim Isaiah 11.10,13 41. Lastly In this knowledge of and conformity unto the death of Christ there is Cornucopia abundance of all things fulness of satisfaction and plenty of all good No good thing will be wanting Psalm 84.11 34.10 Si Christum discis sati est si caetera nescis Si Christum nescis nihil est si caetera discis They that enter into Gods house through this door shall be abundantly satissied with the fatness and goodness thereof Psalm 36.8 65.4 Luke 15.17 John 10.9 All things come with this knowledge of Christ Rom. 8.32 Here is the fatted Calf the paschal Lamb the feast of fat things which the Lord makes unto all people in his holy mountain Isa 25.6 Which mountain may well have respect unto Mount Calvary where our Lord was crucified as the 7th 8th 9th verses of that Chapter seem to intimate for there the Lord feasted all mankind with the riches and sweetness of his love David saith Psalm 17.15 That he should be satisfied when he did awake with Gods likeness God likeness or image is Holiness and Righteousness We must first sleep in Jesus 1 Thes 4.14 by dying with him and then awake unto Righteousness and sin not 1 Cor. 15.34 The Apostle seems to affirm that they have but little knowledge of God who continue in sin It s a great shame and a sign that men are grosly ignorant of the Grace of God and the death of Christ when they shall so audaciously affirm that there is no living without sin so long as we are in the body They deny the first Resurrection in Deed though not in Word They err concerning the Truth and seek to overthrow the faith of some who say that the Resurrection is past already 2 Tim. 2.18 For though Christ be risen as the first fruits from the dead yet the Resurrection is not compleat in the body although it be in the head There 's much of the Harvest to come in when the first fruits are gathered As there are sufferings of Christ behind Col. 1.24 so is there also a Resurrection behind We must suffer too if we will reign with him 2 Tim. 2.12 Great is the Glory that doth follow the sufferings of Christ Luke 24.26 1 Pet. 1.11 When Ruth lay dewn at the feet of Booz it was at an heap of corn and when she arose she was laden therewith Ruth 3.6,7,15 If we humble our selves in conformity to the death of Christ we shall have more then six measures of Barely we shall have an hundred fold here and inherit everlasting life Mat. 19.29 Vnto which blessed state of Rest and Glory God of his infinite Mercy bring us all through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen WHat I have more to say to you in particular my ancient Friends and Acquaintance of * And elsewhere Brinkworth may not seem so pertinent and agreeable to the Subject in hand yet I shall here insert it because I know not whether ever I shall make use of the Press any more hereafter My endeavour is to give you satisfaction concerning those things about which there hath been some disagreement in our Judgements of which I shall give you my understanding and present apprehension very briefly 42. That there is a Prescience and Prevision in the most Holy and only wise God whereby he did and doth fore-know and fore-see from all Eternity all things that are or shall be unto Eternity this I deny not But that there is such an absolute and peremptory Decree in God either according to the Supralapsarian or Sublapsarian opinion reprobating some men irrecoverably and unavoidably to Eternal damnation hating them before they were and necesstating them by vertue of such a Decree to sin after they had a Being unto this I cannot consent 43. For if God had hated any thing before it was be would never have given it a Being as the wise man saith Thou hast Mercy upon all for thou canst do all things and winkest at the sins of men because they should amend for thou lovest all the things that are and abhorrest nothing which thou hast made for never wouldst thou have made any thing if thou hast hated it Wisd 11.23,24 Nor can I believe that there is any impulsion as some say in the Decree of God as a cause or an occasion for man to sin For we must not say that it is through the Lord that we fall away or that he hath caused us to erre for he hath no need of the sinfull man Eccl. 15.11,12 44. These two Texts of those Wise men though Apocryphal prevail more with me then the contrary assertions of all others whatsoever And the Apostle James is positive and clear in this Truth Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with evils neither tempteth he any man Jam. 1.13 So that to affirm there is an inherent coercion in the Decree of God necessitating men unto or towards their final Ruine is to impute
Christ doth not simply require Love of those that are his but so as without it he will own none for his Disciple And if it be so or rather because it is so truly there are but few true Christians to be found in these dayes for Charity almost among all men waxeth cold and faith and mercifulness faileth every where and is withered instead of which hatred envy discord deceit treachery is sprung up 2. We see how much they are out of the way who would fain be taken for Christians by I know not what Tokens when Charity towards God and their Neighbour is nothing regarded 3. Here we find the difference between Faith and Charity Faith maketh a Disciple of Christ Charity maketh him known to be a Disciple It followeth Simon Peter said unto him Lord whither goest thou John 13.36 Jesus answered him whither I go thou canst not follow me now but thou shalt follow me afterwards Peter said unto him Lord why cannot I follow thee now verse 37. I will lay down my life for thy sake Jesus answered him wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake verse 38. Simon Simon Satan hath desired you Luke 22.31 that he may sift you as wheat But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not verse 32. and when thou art converted strengthen thy brethren And he said unto him Lord verse 33. I am ready to go with thee both into prison and to death And he said I tell thee Peter the Cock shall not crow this day verse 34. before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me It was a sign of great fervency in Peter that he only should interrupt Christ and ask his Lord whither he was going when all the rest held their peace sure he was astonished at the word which Christ spake whither I go ye cannot come and fearing that he should be separated from Christ he could hold no longer but must needs ask the question To whom Christ very sweetly answered Whither I go thou canst not follow me now but thou shalt follow me afterwards which may be understood two wayes 1. He could not follow Christ to Heaven who was now going thither but he should follow him afterwards when he was made a Citizen of the City above he with the rest of the Saints should raign with Christ 2. He was not yet indued with power from on high neither had he that strengthening Spirit to reform him and his Nature therefore he could not scorn the dangers of death nor wholly overcome the terrour thereof 1. The power to break the force of death was only in Christ Therefore thou canst not follow me now because that to go by the Cross is yet very hard and difficult Psal 77.19 As t is said Thy Wayes are in the sea and thy Path in the great waters and thy Foot-steps are not known 2. Again secondly Thou canst not follow me yet because of the imperfection of thy love Rom. 5. There had need be a great fire of Love which so many waters of afflictions cannot quench but hereafter when the Spirit shall shed forth more Love into thy heart then shalt thou follow me 3. Lastly Thou canst not follow me yet It is not in the power of thy carnal will to conquer Death this it the work of Gods Grace his Grace alone must do it I must first set upon it by my death and overcome it I will grapple with it in my Passion and conquer it by my Resurrection Till this be done thou canst not follow me thou canst not but tremble at death T is too strong for thee to conquer and contemn Inded our nature shrinks at death croucheth under it Our Saviours Passion was the first dissolution of Death 1. To this end the Son of God did take upon him the seed of Abraham Heb. 2. that by the death of his flesh he might make Death of none effect and might deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to bondage 2. Again the contempt of Death had its first original from the Resurrection of Christ 1 Cor. 15. From that very time we may say with Paul O Death where is thy sting O grave where is thy Victory Thanks be to God who hath given us the Victory by Jesus Christ our Lord. And that Peter might not think that he should for ever be separated from Christ he saith But thou shalt follow me afterwards alluding to Peters death and tels him in a Riddle what death he should die q.d. as I will go by the Cross to the Father so thou shalt follow me by the Cross Very truly did Christ say Thou canst not follow me now which thee vent of the matter shew'd not long after When poor feeble Peter could not follow his Lord but denied him the third time for fear he should be forced to follow him with the loss of his own life But afterwards he did follow him when he stretched forth his hands and was crucified like a worthy Disciple of his Master But Peter not well weighing what Christ said and too much trusting to his own strength doth reply again Why saith he can I not follow thee now q.d. Dost thou think that I will prove so ingratefull for all thy kindnesses as to desert thee Thou hast chosen me for one of thy Apostles I had a taste of the joyes of heaven upon Mount Tabor I have wrought miracles in thy name indeed what favour hast thou denied me how then can I forsake thee at the greatest pinch of death when my own life shall be never so much in danger Nay I will engage my self and this I promise I love thee so dearly that I will lay down my life for thee I esteem so much of thy love that I value not my own life Indeed Peter thou dost make large promises but thou dost not well understand what thou saist thou hast a good conceit of thy own abilities but art altogether ignorant of thy weakness thou hast not yet tryed nor tasted the force of death if thou hadst thou wouldst not have spoken as thou dost nor wondred why Christ said thou couldst not follow him now I know there are examples enough of such as hazarded their lives for their country or kindred but this proceeded from their carnal affection But if God may be Judge it is not a work of the flesh but of the Spirit to dye for a stranger or to lay down ones life for his enemies Yet such is the property of humane reason that it will not acknowledge its own weakness Peter should have believed what Christ said and not so boldly contradicted him Let it be granted that be did it out of his great affection yet he ought to have believed Christ before himself and have thought with himself thus Surely he knows all things and understands better then I what he saith but what doth Christ reply to this presumptuous confidence
ΣΤΑΥΡΟΔΙΔΑΧΗ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΑΥΡΟÎΙΚΗ THE Doctrine Dominion OF THE CROSSE In an Historical Narration and Spiritual Application of the PASSION of IESUS Written first in Latin by John Ferus Publique Preacher in the City of Mentz Now turned into English for the good of this Nation By Henry Pinnell Together with a Preface of the Translator containing the Necessity of knowing and conforming unto the Cross of Christ Short considerations of Predestination Redemption Free-will and Original sin He that serveth in his Generation faithfully answereth the end of his Creation fully and shall never lose the hope of his salvation finally LONDON Printed by Robert White 1659. THE PREFACE Reader THE Transcription of the following Treatise is an Account of some vacant time when I was sequesterd from other imployment The subject matter of it did generally concur and sute with that state and measure of Faith I was then in and being perswaded that it may yet be usefull for them whose growth in the Mysterie of the Cross is not come to that perfection as not to need Counsell and Encouragement therein I have for their sake made it publique And though I cannot minister to the strong yet I would gladly be serviceable to the weak What I have here prefixt agreeable to the nature of the ensuing Discourse is done to satisfie the desire of many friends and in hope to profit others The sum of what I have to say is comprehended in this Proposition viz. That there is a Necessity of knowing and conforming unto the death of Christ 2. There doth not want full and pregnant proof of Scripture to confirm the Truth of this Proposition It is a faithfull saying For if we be dead with him we shall also live with him If we suffer we shall also reign with him If we deny him he also will deny us 2 Tim. 2.11,12 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death c. If we be dead with Christ c. Rom. 6.5,8 Let none dream of Justification unto life or of the new birth which only entereth into the Kingdom of God without the likeness and image of Christ in his humiliation And therefore the Apostle doth not content himself with the knowledge only that Christ died but desires also a conformity to his death Phil. 3.10 A strong curb and smart scourge to all notional and licentious Gospellers The reasons also of this Proposition are weighty and considerable 1. As first 3. We can have no benefit of the life of Christ but by conformity to his death Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life also of Jesus might be manifest in our body c. 2 Cor. 4.10,11 What need we carry the death dying and marks of the Lord Jesus in our body and mortal flesh if the life of Christ could otherwise or more easily appear The life of a Believer is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 There 's no coming at the full Glory of this life but by breaking thorow death unto it See Rom. 6.3 c. the place before cited The dead men of God are quickned by the dead body of Christ Isa 26.19 No future Resurrection unto life but by an antecedent death in the body Except the grain of Wheat die it abideth alone and is not quickened John 12.24 1 Cor. 15.36 The touch of a dead Prophet revived the body of another dead man 2 King 13.21 Who is this dead Prophet but the true and spiritual Elisha my Lord that saveth the Lord of my salvation my saving Lord Jesus Christ the great Prophet of the most high God who died for our sins and was raised again for our Justification This Elisha this Jesus let us follow not only from Galilee to Jerusalem but from Jerusalem also here below the outward and litteral Service and Worship unto Mount Calvery and from thence to the Sepulchre thither let us hasten with Mary Magdalen aad the two other Disciples and there let us wait we shall have some Angelical invitation to come near and see the place where the Lord lay The Lord is risen and hath left room enough in his grave to receive all that inquire into the Mysterie of his death Into this Sepulchre let us descend by a true operating saith working a conformity in us unto his death Let us touch not the flesh but the bones of this great Elisha Let us not lay bold on the weakness of the mortal nature but upon the Power of his endless life 2. Secondly 4. Without this conformity there is no freedom from sin We must resist unto Blood striving against sin for without blood there is no Remission And that our minds may not be weary nor faint Let us consider him that suffered such contradiction of sinners Heb. 12.3,4 1 John 1.7 Lev. 17.11 Heb. 9.22 The Prophet Ezekiel describeth the Sickness and Remedy of a sinner under the borrowed speech of a new-born Child Ezek. 16. Which place of the Prophet I think is much mistaken by many who understand it of the natural birth and accordingly from thence conclude all Children guilty of original sin in the common acceptation of it which to me seems most improbable For Children by natural as well as spiritual Propagation are an Heritage and Reward of the Lord Gen. 30.2 Psalm 127.3 Acts 17.28 Our very bodily Being Substance and Existence is the Workmanship of God Psalm 119.73 Psalm 139.5,13,16 Now if Children be guilty of sin as soon as they draw breath yea before they be born this would be some stain upon the Work-manship of God according to whose Will and not according to mans it is that Children are propagated Again One of Gods Laws would be broken by observing another Ordinance of his own which would bring confusion upon the orderly works and methodical ways of God For God hath made a Law That the son shall not bear the Iniquity of the Father Ezek. 18.20 Now if Children should be guilty of Adams sia as soon as they be born it would make many religious and consciencious persons be at a stand concerning marriage which is the first and great Ordinance of God for fear lest they should be Instruments to fill the world with sinners rather than with Saints And indeed how can that state be honorable and the bed undefiled if it should produce nothing but such an unclean Off-spring Heb. 13.4 5. I shall only add this Quaere viz Is Marriage an Ordinance of God instituted among other ends for the propagation of Mankind I suppose it granted I ask then Did God ever make and intend such an Ordinance the observation whereof doth unavoidably increase sin in the world If so How is he acquited fram having a hand in mans sin The wicked heart of man hath shifts and evasions to extenuate and excuse his sin Why He is not so much to be blamed 't was his Fathers and Mothers fault rather then his Hominum quoque
unto God without it The Apostle exhorteth us Rom. 12.1 to offer up our bodies a living sacrifice acceptable to God For it is said of Cain That he offered unto the Lord of the fruit of the ground Gen. 4.3 He brought an earthly dead liveless offering and was not accepted But Abel brought of the fat of the flock verse 4. He offered the Firstling of his fold a pure clean lively sacrifice unto which God had respect it was more excellent then his Brothers Heb. 11.4 How came this to pass The Apostle tells us it was by faith The life of faith is in death and by death that liveth when we are dead I am crucified with Christ yet I live and I live in the flesh by the faith of the Son of God Gal. 2.20 He had a life in the flesh after he was dead to the flesh Faith indeed shall cease but 't is not till the end of the second life The principal act of faith is exercised in death the death of Christ and is a conforming vertue or power unto the likeness thereof by mortification and offering up of the flesh with the affections and lusts unto death Gal. 5.24 God accepteth nothing but what is done in this faith by this faith in the Son of God John 15.5 Heb. 11.5 27. We read in 1 Sam. 15.9 That Saul spared Agag the King and the best of the spoil but that which was vile and refuse and good for nothing that he and the people utterly dastroyed Saul was an hypocritical Tyrant ambitiously aspiring to a Kingdom and got it God gave a King in his anger He that aimeth at the Scepter is not the best Saint 28. Saul was a right Machiavilian he knew the high way to the Crown When Ephraim spake trembling he exalted himself in Israel Hos 13.1 When he was mean and low in a poor condition and little in his own sight he could bow and cringe flatter fawn upon and comply with the vulgar bemoan and pitty the burdens of the poor people especially the good people of the land he could stand cap in hand to the meanest and like Absolom court them into a good conceit of his Clemency and care of their well-fare assuring them that if it were in his power to remedy it things should not be carried as they are but first he put himself into a souldiers posture 2. Sam. 15.1,2,3,4,5 Now he rode post in the right rode to be the head of the Tribes of Israel Commander in chief over the military Forces 1 Sam. 15.17 yea God himself might so far have his work to do under his proud design as to give him a Call to be King and fight his battles as is plain in the place cited which might confirm him in a good opinion of himself to undertake the Government especially if some musty Prophesies had been raked together and by a Court-Parasite particularly applyed to him 'T is as common for the highest as the meanest to be deluded and mistake or mis-use many passages of Gods Providence But now he is King he grows covetous and self-ended he falls upon the spoil and the prey of the enemy who seemed before to contemn all self-interest and advantage Sam. 15.19 His feigned and forged excuse of reserving it for Gods worship would not serve his turn How faulty then are those who do not so much as pretend any thing for Gods service but openly convert the common loss into their private gain This is that which will involve a Nation in broils and blood 29. But alas How many such Sauls hath the world seen since Sauls time who can part with that which is not worth the keeping but with-hold from God that which he requireth as his due If God call for the heart they bring him the lip and tongue only If God require spirit and Truth they offer in the mountain and at Jerusalem they put him off with complements out-side service formality and a State-Religion Dissembling Pharisees they exact and pay Tithe of Mint and Rue but neglect Judgement Mercy Faith the love of God and their Neighbour Mat. 23.23 When God commandeth the best and fattest to be given him they put him off with the leanest with the fruit of the ground If they pretend to dedicate the best unto God they intend to make their own advantage out of it They may refrain from Extortion Adultery c. but continue proud heady high-minaed covetous c. yet be very devout too fast twice in the week give a small Alms out of their superfluity and ill gotten goods pay Tithes give their Minister his due and applaud him censure all that be contrary-minded to them as prophane c. Isa 65.4,5 Luke 18.11,12 30. Those sacrifices are acceptable to God that are turned into ashes Psalm 20.3 This must be done by fire the heavenly fire of zeal and love which separateth and consumeth the gross body of flesh and turneth and reduceth all into a pure essential and spiritual body out of which ashet is made the savory salt of the heavenly nature which seasoneth all things And therefore the Lord is said to plead with all flesh by fire Isa 66.16 He hath his fire in Zion and his furnace in Jerusalem Isa 31.9 with which refining fire he doth purifie the sons of Levi that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in Righteousness Mal. 3.3 Mat. 3.12 No oblation in Righteousness but by fire 't is the fire of the Spirit that consumeth the fuel of the flesh Rom. 8.13 We must pass through water and fire before we can come into the wealthly place Psalm 66.12 Without fire we cannot subsist in the natural life much less can we perform the Actions of the spiritual life without it 31. Under the Law the daily sacrifice was not to cease Num. 28.3,4 and this Oblation was to be made by fire He that causeth this to cease is the He-goat Dan. 9.29 Dan. 8.11,12,13 The vile person Dan. 11.21,31 the Beast the Whore the false Prophet that speaketh lyes in the name of the Lord It is Anti Christ that setteth up a Religion in the world without the Cross Whosoever is zealous toward God without Self-denial Mortification and conformity to the death of Christ his zeal is not according to knowledge which will make him seek to establish his own in stead of Gods Righteousness Rom. 10.2,3 Whosoever rejecteth the Cross can be no true Christian Wherefore think it not strange concerning this fiery tryal also which is to come upon you as though some strange thing happened unto you But rejoyce rather although 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The righteous is not saved without great labour and pains hard strugling and striving sore Combats and Conflicts 1 Pet. 4.12,13,17,18 Make not that way too wide which God hath made strait All must go the narrow way who would enter into life For every one must be salted with fire and every sacrifice must be salted with salt Mar. 9.49 10. Tenthly 32.
sweet council together and walked unto the house of God in company c. Though it sound somewhat harsh that wicked men should be in Christs company yet 't is more pleasant to hear that there was but one bad man there And the praise of the other Apostles is so much the more in that they had so naughty a fellow among them yet none of them was seduced by him For no doubt but he attempted to set them against Christ On the other side the condemnation of Judas was so much the heavier in that he lived among godly men and was never the better That odour of the Oyntment which refreshed the rest was the savour of death unto death unto him yea because he was already dead and buryed in his sins he could not endure the savour of life Well then what doth he He takes his course and wholly forsakes the Apostles He departs from God and sideth with the Devil quits the Apostleship Acts 1. Psalm 1. and leaveth his Bishoprick to another He went over to the council of the ungodly he stood in the way of sinners and sat down in the seat of scorners He went to the chief Priests whom he knew certainly that they had resolvedly conspired the death of Christ Jesus and that nothing would hinder the execution if they could but apprehend him without disturbance Which to do none was more sit than one of Christs familiar companions who well knew where Christ was wont to retire himself And one there was among them who loved base lucre above a bountifull Lord. So pernitious a thing is covetousness if it once get into the heart Thus this base fellow runs from the Apostles to the Priests those enemies of Christ and back again from them to the Apostles this notorious Hypocrite thereby endeavouring to cover his wickedness conversing all the while with the Apostles under pretence of Piety Those that would be accounted Christians counterfeit their form and porofession though they still be in league with the enemies of Christ these are dissembling Hypocrites This wretch was not content to cast off his Master and curry favour with his enemies but he must treacherously betray him into their hands What will ye give me saith he and I will deliver him unto you This he said of his own accord without inticing Promises but spitefully and maliciously against Christ As if he had said I understand you have a design to put Jesus to death I shall be ready to assist you therein I am one of his privy Council I know his secrets and retirings I can closely convey him to you without any stir or tumult c. Where observe the malice of this wicked man and his notorious contempt of Christ First In that he came before he was sent for Secondly In that he disdains to call Christ Master but only saith I will dever him unto you Thirdly In that he left the price to their pleasures as one ready to betray Christ for a small matter See what covetousness will do Surely it is the root of all evil 1 Tim. 6. Well may we cry out upon this wretched man that was so careless of his own happiness O miserable wretch what hast thou said What is thy plot Dost thou so love and hunt after money What Doctrine didst thou preach to others when Christ sent thee forth Dost thou love Gold better then Jesus If all Jerusalem and the wealth therein had been offered thee oughtest thou to have done this villany against Christ against thy Lord and Saviour But envy and covetousness will so blind a man that for a little revenge or gain he cares not to sin against God himself It follows Mar. 14.11 And when they heard it they were glad Mat. 26.15,16 And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver Luke 23.6 And he promised and from that time he sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude Behold this Tratour so small a reward as thirty pieces of silver tempts him to commit this cursed fact so basely did he esteem of that precious blood for which a Believer will part with all that he hath and himself too Yet wicked men make no acconnt of it A figure of this sale we have before in Joseph Gen. 37. who was also sold by his own brethren But divine Providence so ordered it that Joseph who had only a body and a soul should be sold for twenty pieces of silver But Christ who besides a body and a soul had also a divine Nature was valued at and sold for thirty pieces of silver Note 1. Where note what kind of Judges those Priests were It was their part to have checkt that Traitour with a just Rebuke and made him an example to all to beware of so doing But they gladly received him encouraged him on enticed him with reward and bribes to make him more bold Such are Magistrates and Princes for the most part who do what in them lyeth to cherish animate allure and reward evil men for their wicked service But the words have an Emphasis in them They rejoyced They rejoyced indeed not so much that Christ was delivered into their hands as that he was betrayed by his own Disciple For now they thought at once to suppress Christ and with him all his followers 2. Note also That the Seller and the Buyers were such as of all men were least to be suspected to do any such thing He that sold him was an Apostle They that bought him were even the chief Priests who by their office were a figure of Christ And we shall hear anon that the Elders of the people who were to administer Justice did not condemn him to death No other Nation denyed and blasphemed him but that which received the Promises of him and were the people of God Whereby is plainly intimated that Christ suffereth more by those that seem to be his friends than by any other as was long since complained of and foretold by David I was a reproach among all mine enemies but specially among my Neighbours c. Psal 31.11 which did now plainly appear to be true For none did more basely account of Christ and more vilifie him to others than those that represented him on earth None more corrupt than those that should do justice None more pervert the Word of God and the Gospel then those that most glory of it who boast that they are Judas that is true confessors of the name of God but are indeed Iscariots that is such as will do any thing for gain In a word None more blaspheme Christ than ticular Christians Let us not then be so angry with Judas and the Jews seeing we do the same our selves and worse They tore his body but kept his coat whole But we rend and tear every member of Christ and break the unity of the faith and of the Church with cross peevishness Briefly We who do now so vilely
who omitted nothing that might tend to his conversion and reformation Now Christ by this word The Son of man goeth indeed c. but wo to that man c. and teacheth us not to hurt or persecute Christ in his members It is decreed that the righteous shall be afflicted all that will live godly shall suffer persecution But wo to them that do afflict them 1 Tim. 3. Matth. 18. Take heed that ye offend not one of the least of these Yet see the obstinate malice of Judas As he was nothing moved by that eminent Pattern of Charity which Christ gave him at and after Supper so is he as little moved by this hard and horrible commination And lest his silence should bewray him after all the rest had askt concerning themselves he throws out a malepert and snappish answer Is it I Master q.d. Thou canst suspect no such thing of me God forbid that I whom thou hast so far intrusted should prove so base and unworthy See here 1. The impiety of mans heart how it strives if possible to deceive God yea to make God a lyar 2. Notorious hypocrisie he durst call him Master whom he had resolved immediately to deliver to death 3. Obstinacy and impudence added to his malice which are most infallible signes of a most fearful judgement Christ warneth Judas but doth no good on him he foretels his judgement but he turneth the deaf ear Who would not here be afraid yea who would not pray with all his heart that he may never fall under such a judgement and into such hardness of heart Nor doth Christ yet discover him openly but only saith Thou hast said q d. thou hast plainly bewrayed thy self Ask thy own conscience That will accuse thee if I say nothing Indeed thou art that famous Apostle and faithful Minister upon whom I have so well bestowed all my kindnesses and who dost so excellently answer thy name and office Hold thy peace vile Traytor bear thy badge and pack hence to thy old confederates These things Christ spake to the Traytors conscience but did not point him out with the finger a Pattern to us not to disclose the close sins of others As t is a sin to charge a false crime on an innocent person so is it a sin to blazon a secret slip indeed because it is a breach of charity to our Neighbour Now there was leaning on Jesus bosom one of his Disciples whom Jesus loved John 13.23 verse 24. verse 25. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him that he should ask who it was of whom he spake He then lying on Jesus breast saith unto him verse 26. Lord who is it Jesus answered he it is to whom I shall give a sop when I have dipped it And when he had dipped the sop verse 27. he gave it to Judas Iscariot the son of Simon And after the sop Satan entered into him Then said Jesus unto him That thou doest verse 28. verse 29. do quickly Now no man at the Table knew for what intent he spake this unto him For some of them thought because Judas had the bag that Jesus had said unto him Buy those things that we have need of against the feast or that he should give something to the poor verse 30. He then having received the sop went immediatly out and it was night The nameless Disciple so honourably here mentioned was John who was more eminent then the rest for these two things viz. that Christ loved him and that he leaned on his breast and lay in his bosom And though he writeth this of himself yet he doth it without boasting but as it were compell'd to it that his Gospel might be confirmed by his own authority For if all the Evangelists be such competent witnesses that it is gross unbelief to question their testimony in the least This of all other witnesses deserves to be credited who was so conversant with and so near unto the Truth which he relateth that he lay in the very bosom of it he above all mortal men was admitted so nigh unto that word which boiled out of the heart of the Father and was made flesh that he resolved to make his tongue and pen trumpet it out louder than the rest As Paul being in a sort compell'd by the baseness of the false Apostles to commend himself among the Corinthians I am a fool saith he 2 Cor. 11. but ye have compelled me So doth John here by reason of some perverse Hereticks yet out of humility concealeth his own name Now whereas he leaned on his Lords breast that was either 1. By reason of over much sorrow and fear because of the word which Christ had spoken Or 2. Because of the sweetness which he tasted in the former words and works of Christ Or 3. From the abundance or muchness of his love which doth not so much mind what it is about so it may embrace its beloved Or 4. Lastly Out of extraordinary contemplation For t is possible that the extream intensness of his mind might cast him into a trance John 1. And questionless in that Rapture he might learn those sublime high things which afterward he wrote concerning the Divinity of the Word O how happy was this Disciple who lay so familiarly on his breast whom others thought it a great happiness but to see at a distance and to lie but at his feet Shew us thy face Psalm 80. and we shall be saved See the mildness of Christ He doth not thrust back this Disciple that leaned on him though it were at a feast where 't was little good manners so to do but accepted of this his respect and love and took it in good part Now that sweet and quiet repose on his Lords breast was a presage that he only of all the Apostles should die in peace and not suffer a violent death as the rest did as the event made it good And here we see also how truly Christ said Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Matth. 5. John 1. For these draw nearest to God and see him most clearly as this John did We saw saith he his glory c. From this leaning of John upon his Lords breast Peter took occasion to sift out who the Traytor was As we find him every where more eager and hot so now he is streightened solicitous and more inquisitive than the rest of the Apostles He would fain know the Traytor that he might prevent and hinder him lest the whole Colledge should be disgraced by so great a villany For this wicked lewdness of Judas was often cast in the teeth of the Apostles and other Martyrs Peter himself doth not ask the question for he never yet sped so well for his boldness though his love to his Master put him forward Matth. 16. John 13. It was said to him before Get thee behind me Satan And but now at Supper If I wash thee not thou hast
gates are open only to the rich and such as bring presents with them Hence Isaiah saith They judge not the fatherless neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them Isa 1. So chap. 59. Truth is fallen in the street and Equity cannot enter When Peter was shut out John makes way to bring him in but to his great loss It had been better for him he had never come in His Brother Andrew formerly gave him a much more happy entrance to Christ Iohn 1. For here he is in a sort led away from Christ In Caiaphas's house there was neither Truth nor Equity to be found But what Christ foretold must come to pass Thou shalt deny me thrice Now was fulfilled that which Christ shewed him long ago in a kind of Figure When the Disciples were all in danger together upon the Sea Mat. 14. Christ came to them walking on the water When Peter heard his voyce he offered of his own accord to go to him and he also walking on the Sea to go to Christ when he saw the wind was rough he was afraid and when he was almost drowned the Lord caught him by the hand In that Miracle was foreshewed what here came to pass For here the Lord did truly walk above the waters while his Disciples were toyling in the Sea because when his Apostles were offended he endured Tribulation quietly at his pleasure and suddenly rose up a Conquerer of Death So did Peter also walk upon the waters to go to Jesus for being yet mindfull of his former love he followed Christ in the confidence of that little Faith he had left although it was afar off But he saw a strong gust of wind coming against him and so was afraid for fear he denyed by denying he had been drowned if the Lord had not stretched out his hand to hold him Hear now who was that wind It is said when she that kept the door saw him If you consider the maid her self she was but a little cloud But if you look to that Council of those Malignants which Peter did so dread then you will find this maids word was crabbed it was indeed a very blustering wind Thus Satan that sifter of the Apostles layeth his plot so as to begin his crafty Temptations with a woman which sex did heretofore open the door of deceit to our first Parent in Paradise Gen. 3. But t is possible the maid might take pitty on Peter and speak to him to warn him that if he were one of Jesus his Disciples he should make haste and be gone out of sight And her words seem to imply as much For she did not accuse him nor speak positively Nor did she rail on Christ calling him a Deceiver but only a man Finally she did but ask Peter the question whether he were not one of that mans Disciples What doth Peter answer her Woman saith he I am not I know him not I do not know what thou sayst See how easily that strong Pillar was shaken with the blast of one breath Take notice what it was that Peter denyed and before whom He denyed that he belonged to Christ He that denies himself to be one of Christs must needs give up himself to the Devil Peter doth not deny before the Souldiers or the high Priest but before the Damosel What is now become of his former courage Is it not plain enough to be seen now that he took the Sword before for Christs Defence out of carnal affection and not out of a spiritual discerning If he were such a stout Champion in a just quarrel why doth he not now so much as with a word vindicate Christs innocency I say not fight for him with his Sword If he denyed before a maid the meanest of women what would he have done before Kings and Princes But we are all the same that Peter was Before the Lord comes to Judgement and while we are yet ignorant of our own weakness we are wont to be proud of our Power and as it were all on fire with zeal for God but in the Judgement of the Lord we are as wax before the fire and as the dust which the wind scattereth from the face of the earth so we melt and moulder away Psalm 1. Peter then is a Type of those who attempt to do any thing without the Grace of God it so falls out that they both accuse Christ of a lye and what they boast they will do they never perform They charge Christ with a lye for he saith Without me ye can do nothing John 15. And they are never as good as their word For Paul saith The good that I would that do I not but the evil that I would not that I do Rom. 7. Whence we may infer that the Evangelists did not so exactly set down this story of Peter out of any desire to inveigh against or aggravate the sins of other men but only for our instruction And it is most worthy of our observation For 1. We see here that not the least word of Christ was spoken in vain which is a great confirmation of our Faith For otherwise if but one word of Christ had failed we might have doubted all the rest 2. Here we see that there is as little as comes to nothing placed in mans power For as iron which of it self is hard yet will easily be blunted with stones unless it be hardened with liquors or something else so the mind of man although it boast that it can scorn all perils for the love of Truth yet will it be overcome with the sharp brunt of opposition if it be not strengthened by the Grace of the Holy Spirit If Peter a man of so great Faith and Love who lived so long with Christ and was so familiar with him that he gave him a taste of the Heavenly Joy in his Transfiguration did fall so fowly what may be expected of us There is no security any where so long as we are in this mortal body An Angel fell in Heaven Adam in Paradise Peter in the world Who then should not dread the incomprehensible height of Gods Judgements Well therefore doth Paul admonish Be not high minded but fear Rom. 11. Again Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall 1 Cor. 10. Thou art righteous in thy own conceit but thou canst not tell whether thou art so in the sight of God Nay thou knowest not what thou mayst be to morrow Look on holy Peter Who would have believed that either he or any man else should have fallen from so great confidence and love into such fickleness and impiety without mighty opposition On the other hand who would have thought that that Thief should have been saved A man can be in no safer condition than to continue with all carefulness in deep humility to hope in Gods Mercy not to boast himself in his own merits or foolishly to censure and judge others When thou seest any man sin be he never so bad
to make sport with fools abusing him with most contumelious words and actions Who is not sensible what a horrid thing it was to deride him whom the Father had sent for our salvation And yet they now flout and fleer at Christ who likewise talk and prate of his Words and Works and Sacraments 2. They spit upon him or spit even in his face To spit on a man is far greater disdain then simply to mock or strike him For that which we spit on we account a nasty stinking thing Behold here the bread of Angels is loathsom to men they abuse that Face which the Angels desire to behold they bespatter him whom their Fathers so longingly desired saying cause thy face to shine and we shall be saved Psalm 80. Here that of Isaiah is truly fulfilled He hath no form or comliness and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him We esteemed him not Truly he bare our griefs Isa 53. 3. They buffeted him The Jews had a custom that they thought they could never sufficiently misuse one that had offended God and so thought that they had performed a most acceptable service to God if they had poured out their wrath by spitting and all sort of despite upon him then they took themselves for most dear children of God because they were fervently and burning hot zealous for him and did stoutly vindicate his wrong Hence they did not blush to do those things which the basest fellow in the world would have been ashamed of But they knockt Christ on the head and Satan now doth the like to them 4. They cover his face First that they might not be moved to pitty him for his face was most lovely and enamored all that beheld it He was truly fairer then the children of men Psalm 45. Secondly They were so malicious that they could not devise what to do to him And therefore by the just Judgement of God the Veil is yet upon their heart according to that Let their eyes be blinded that they see not 5. They stroke him on the face with the palms of their hands with scoffing words Prophesie thou Christ c. speaking it in scorn as to one that fain would be accounted by the people for a Prophet and the Messias when indeed he was not And many other they spake blasphemously against him Many things saith he which neither the Evangelists nor the Prophets wrote of Not such as the former but other things saith he they tauntingly spake against him And what great how grievous and what unheard of things did our Lord suffer for us this Night Here that Prophesie was fully verified I gave my back to the smiters and my cheekt to them that plucked off the hair I hid not my face from shame and spitting Isa 50. Unthankfull man get thee gone and seek after the joyes of this world since the Lord hath suffered such unworthy things for thee See what solace Christ had in the Paschal Night which was the greatest and gladsomest Festival of the Jews Behold what great thanks he had from his people that Night wherein he did them the greatest kindness heretofore That night they did sprinkle their Door-posts with the blood of the old Lamb. But they besmear this true Lamb with most execrable and cursed spittings O the strange frowardness of men O unutterable patience of Christ O the never sufficiently admired patience of God! Had it been any wonder if he had even destroyed the whole world for this one horrid fact Truly the Lord is very patient and long-suffering But thus the Scriptures must be fulfilled and thus man must be Redeemed As for our part Dear Brethren let us 1. Consider seriously all and every of these Premises particulars for no man can with words ever sufficiently express them Consider them every one in order Compare the persecutors with him that was persecuted Think of them as if they were now before your eyes and done afresh in your sight meditate upon them in the inmost parts of your heart Thy Saviour is set at naught They Master is spit on Thy Lord is buffeted Thy God is more basely handled than ever any man was dealt with on earth Hear this understand it consider it well ponder it throughly whosoever thou art that dost acknowledge thy self to be a sinner For they are our sins Brethren I say our sins are they that brought Christ to this pass If we had not sinned in Adam and Eve our innocent Christ had never suffered these things In this various and manifold Passion we see as before our eyes how unrighteous how guilty how full of sin we are and especially have been Look how vile Christ outwardly in the body did appear or seem before men so vile were we inwardly in our souls before God and such as Christ was here such must we have been for ever if he had not undertaken all these things 2. Let us give him thanks who by his reproach and contempt delivered us from eternal shame 3. Learn we also patiently to bear what wrong and scorn is offered to us For if our Lord Christ was thus mocked spit on scoft at contemned and made a laughing stock as he had before told his Apostles he should Luke 18. and was beaten with more stripes then any can express why should not we his servants and schollers suffer the like This no other way must we go to Heaven even by death to life by shame to glory He that refuseth this when according to the will of God to do it may be called a prudent man indeed but he will never go for a true Christian Know therefore that Christ did not suffer these things only as his work but also for our Example that is He did not only suffer these things for us but his Will is that we also should suffer patiently the like things if need require 4. But above all let us take heed that we do not reproach Christ which the unthankfull Christians now in these our dayes make no bones to do and never leave slandering him For they buffet him who confess him with their words but deny him in their works A buffet is that which is given behind the back They spit on Christ who defile their souls with filthy thoughts or laugh at godly men for serving God Or lastly such as contemn their true Prelates or Ministers They strike Christ on his face with the palms of their bands who disturb and vex their Neighbour in his presence and before his face or that take the Sacraments or administer them with unwashen hands They cover Christs face who when they sin in secret are more afraid of men then of God Also they who sin out of wilfull and affected ignorance So they who wittingly cheat and defraud their Neighbour c. Of these and such like do thou beware O Christian whosoever thou art For all these redound to the injury of Christ But study rather in word and