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
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
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
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
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
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
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
flieth from it The peace of Christ reioyceth in the middest of aduersitie and ouercommeth the crosse For faithful beleeuers looke vnto Christ who went before them vnto the father and after his passion and death tooke possession of so high honor and glorie and hath carryed theyr nature vp so high vnto the right hande of the father where hee now ruleth as a mightie king of heauen and earth Oh how great comfort how sure a hope giueth it vnto vs when wee see our owne nature our owne flesh and bones incorporated vnto Christ the onely begotten sonne and eternall word of God in so high honor and glorie how can it be otherwise but wee must needes hope that our weake flesh also shall be taken vp Looke what is past in the head the same shall assuredly be fulfilled in the members for without the members cannot the head be Which thing considered and through true beleefe printed in the heart maketh a man patient and cheerefull in all aduersity giueth peace and ioy in all trouble Let the Prince of this world through his ministers and members stirre vp all vexation against vs yet hath he no vauntage of vs if wee bee in Christ Easily might he finde somewhat in our selues but in Christ nothing such innocencie dooth Christ make vs partakers of Tempt vs he may and thrust at vs but to ouercome vs hee is not able so farre as we abide in Christ In vs is death a punishment of sinne in Christ it is obedience and loue For seeing the father loueth the sonne and of verie loue gaue him vnto death for vs the son would of loue obey the father and as hee also loued vs so would he willingly and obediently suffer death for vs that all the worlde might see his obedience and that wee might learne of him to obey our heauenly Father euen vnto the death and faithfully folow his precept and that likewise whereas it toucheth his glorie we should be afraide neither of aduersitie nor death considering howe obediently hee dyed for our sakes I Am a true Vine and my Father is an husband-man Euerie braunch that bringeth not fruite in mee hee taketh awaie and euerie braunch that beareth fruite hee purgeth that it may bring foorth more fruit Now are yee cleare through the wordes which I haue spoken vnto you Abide in mee and I in you As the branch cannot beare 〈…〉 of it selfe except it abide in the vine no more can yee except 〈◊〉 abide in mee I am the vine yee are the braunches He that abideth in mee and I in him the same bringeth foorth 〈◊〉 fruite for without mee can yee doo nothing If a man bide not in mee he is cast forth as a branch and withered and men gather them and east them into the fire and they burne If yee abide in mee and my words also in you aske what yee will and it shall bee done vnto you Herein is my Father glorified that ye beare much fruit and become my disciples Doctrine and fruite VNder this fayre similitude doeth Christ teach his Church that without him wee can do nothing but in him all things Now forasmuch as hee through his grace hath incorporated vs vnto himselfe wee ought with great diligence to apply our selues that we may abide in him and beare fruit For as long as wee are in him wee liue that is we receiue liuely vertue and sappe of him namely his spirite For who so cleaueth vnto the Lorde and is incorporated vnto him through faith the same is become one spirit with him the first Epistle to the Corinthians and the sixt Chapter For heereby knowe wee that wee are in him and hee in vs in that hee hath giuen vs of his spirit the first of Iohn and fourth Chapter For why the vineyard the branches are of one nature and kinde Thus the onely begotten sonne of GOD tooke our nature vppon him is become man and giueth vs of his spirite and maketh vs to be of a godly mind and spiritual nature Out of the same pith and sap doe all manner of godly vertues and good workes breake forth Gal. 5. Psal 85. For through his grace are we his operation and worke in Christ Iesu created vnto good workes wherein we are bound to walke And seeing we haue receiued Iesus Christ of God the father we ought to walke in him that in him we may be well rooted and stand fast But heereby knowe we that we are in him if we walke as he hath walked For who so saith that he abideth in him then euen as hee walked so must wee doe 1. Iohn 2. But if we woulde saie that wee were in him and had fellowshippe with him and yet would walke in darknesse seeing hee is the light wherein is found no darknesse at all then were wee lyars and went not about with the truth But if wee walke in light as he is light we children of light then haue we fellowship and companie with him the bloud of Christ purgeth vs from all sinne 1. Iohn 1. In Christ Iesu may no man be idle and without fruit 2. Thes 3. who so now is vnthankful to the grace of God doth not practise himselfe in good works to Gods glorie the same is cut off and as an vnfruitfull drie branch throwen into the fire burnt Faith grafteth vs into Christ Loue declareth that wee are planted in it knitteth the members with the head Where the spirite of Christ followeth from the head into the members from the stock into the branches there are fruites of the spirite for by the fruit is the tree knowen Christ through his worde and spirit hath pacified vs that is he hath called and separated vs from the world and from the filthines of the flesh vnto good workes And into his owne seruice and schoole of godly nurtor hath hee admitted vs and written vp our names He hath begonne to purge and clense vs from carnall lustes and from all vncleannes of the world accepting vs into the number of those that dye from the world and that now from hence forth will liue vnto him and bring forth fruite But that is not enough we must also obediently waite vpon the grace that hee hath placed vs in applying our diligence watching and praying that from so high a vocation from so excellent grace and honour wee fall not away againe 1. Cor. 10. It is not enough to haue begonne there must be a stedfast continuance Hee that forsaketh the head againe hath neither spirit nor vertue for without him wee are able to doe nothing Therefore through faith and loue ought wee to abide in him hauing respect vnto him in all thinges so shall wee bring forth much fruite vnto him Then abyde wee in him when wee doe that hee commaundeth vs and loue that which hee promiseth vs. Howbeit these fruites that wee bring forth are not ours but the fathers to him
teacher Wee ought to haue respect vnto our fore-goer and finisher of our faith remembring that wee suffer not as theeues and euill dooers but for his sake yea and that of the wicked This shall make our aduersitie and crosse the more easie and light when wee feele the comfort of the spirite and beholde how shamefull a death Christ suffered for vs. Therfore should there no feare make vs to shrinke from the confession of Christ and his trueth Wee are not they that speake but it is the spirite of the Father which speaketh in vs. Wee maye not feare those that kill the bodie we may not bee ashamed of him so shall hee also knowledge vs and make vs honourable in his fathers sight The honour of this world should not bee dearer vnto vs than the glorie of God And though wee die for it yet ought we not to shrinke or stirre from the confession of the trueth This ingendreth manie times much heauines and feare in vs that wee consider onely that which is present little regarding that which is to come and euerlasting And because wee thinke that when GOD thrusteth vs into aduersitie he is farre from vs whereas hee then is most of all with vs by his grace comfort and strength and tryeth vs through the crosse standing behinde the wall and looking through the grate vppon our conflict and battaile yea helping vs to fight and to ouercome Therefore must we not alwayes bee children wee must not hang still at the brest seeking milke as children doo but growe to a perfect age learning to knowe Christ the Lord after the spirite as hee now gouerneth and is a mightie king vnder whose banner wee must fight valiantly and indure the crosse vnto the death throwing behind vs all thinges in this worlde and lifting vp our eyes and harts into heauen whence our helpe commeth and into the which Christ is gone to prepare for vs an euerlasting dwelling ANd when the spirit is come he will rebuke the worlde of sinne and of righteousnes and of iudgment Of sin because they beleeue not on me of righteousnesse because I go to my father and ye shall see me no more of iudgment because the prince of this world is iudged alreadie I haue yet many thinges to say vnto you but yee cannot heare them now Howbeit when hee is come which is the spirite of truth he will lead you into all truth For he shall not speake of himselfe but whatsoeuer he shall heare that shall he speake and he will shew you thinges to come Hee shall glorifie mee for he shal receiue of mine and shal shew vnto you All things that the Father hath are mine Therefore said I that he shal take of mine and shew vnto you Doctrine and fruite IN these wordes doth Christ shew vs the office of the holy Ghost and what he worketh by his disciples and by all faithfull beleeuers in the worlde The whole world is sette vpon wickednesse and iniquitie and when that is rebuked it hateth and persecuteth those that rebuke it Whereout it followeth oftentimes that through imbecillitie and weakenesse of the flesh we cease from rebuking of vice and sinne Now when we find it to be thus that the infirmitie of our flesh and the terrible threatening of the world will hinder vs or vtterly drawe vs backe from the free rebuking of vice wee ought to praye vnto God our Father for to giue vs the spirit of his sonne that he may powre out loue into our hearts and expell all feare that with stoute stomacks and wordes we may reprehend the vyces of the world and valiantly resist them This spirit shall teach vs the thing that neither our flesh nor the world is instructed in All we of nature doe erre and euery one wandreth his owne waie that is euery one foloweth his owne purpose and intent and if we beleeue not in Christ we perish in our sinnes And this is the greatest sin of all wherein the world is wrapt afore it receiue the truth Not to beleeue in Christ is a sinne out of the which all vyce and wickednes dooth growâ— How great this sinne is no man is able to knowe onely the spirit of God openeth it therefore the spirite teacheth vs how farre we goe astray And if we come to Christ from this erronius waie of vnbeliefe all sinnes are forgiuen vs through Christ and not imputed vs to our damnation Neither is it enough to knowe that wee haue erred or doe yet erre but wee must know also which is the right waie wherein when error is forsaken wee must walke to attaine vnto godlines and blisse This right waie doth the spirit also shewe to be euen Christ who is our waie our righteousnes and goodnes which waie neuertheles the world will not goe To beleeue in Christ is the true way to attaine vnto righteousnes and saluation who so now departeth not from the erroneous waie of vnbeliefe and vice and will not walke in Christ the way of all vertue and goodnes which all the world alas so abhorreth the same is conuict that the iudgement of eternall paine doth righteously fall vpon him seeing the light is set before him and he will rather abide perish in darknesse But is not this a iust iudgement that the world should perish in sinne and be punished for euer considering that God hath graciously sent vnto them his owne sonne promising euerlasting lyfe and saluation in him who with his bloud hath washed awaie our sinnes mightily ouercome death sin and the prince of this worlde deliuered vs out of his power and heauie yoake and taken possession of the kingdome and glorie with his father And yet they will not know receiue nor honour Christ as theyr chiefe king and Lord but still serue the prince of this world in vice sin not submit themselues vnder the easie yoake of Christ of his loue and vertues O deare children let vs departe out of the kingdome of darknes into the kingdome of Iesus Christ the sonne of God let vs regarde his word with diligence let vs hearken what God speaketh in vs and though there bee many things that as yet we knowe not many that we do not vnderstand and perceiue we will earnestly praie vnto God for his spirite who is the right schoolmaster and teacher Hee shall lead vs into all truth he shall renue vs in the spirite of our minde and teach vs to vnderstand what the good acceptable and perfect will of God is He shall plant and roote vs in loue that we may comprehend with all Saints what is the length the breadth the height and deapth that wee may also knowe the exceeding loue of the knowledge of Christ that we might bee filled in all godly perfectnes Thus the spirite teacheth vs all truth when he poureth loue into our harts This schoolmaster teacheth all beleeuers here in time euerie
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
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
meane season he forgetteth not his Disciples but commeth to them exhorteth them to watch and pray hath great compassion with their feeblenes and slouth If we now be the disciples and schollers of Christ Iesu and haue surrendered our selues vppe into the schoole of the heauenly Schoolmaister we ought diligently to looke what Christ here in him selfe doth teach and prescribe vnto vs that wee learning the same of him and following his foot-steppes when temptations of sinne and conflicts of aduersitie troble and death fall in vpon vs may know how to order and frame our selues therein First that wee know our selues to be poore full of faultes mortall men and sinners hauing nothing of our owne but feeblenes So when the temptation of sinne and of the flesh assault vs we must not be ashamed to open such our faults and conflicts vnto God our heauenly Father and to complaine vnto him of them God hath not made vs to bee vtterly without temptation but hath suffered the same to remaine in the flesh that we therby might be exercised prouoked to seeke helpe at him and to learne in how miserable a case we should be if he withdrew his hande from vs When we now feele that the spirit is willing and the flesh weake and that the law of the members withstandeth the law of God in vs that the flesh fighteth and striueth against the spirit we must not be ashamed to confesse our feeblenes before our heuenly Father yea though of weakenes wee had lyen vnder in the battaile already desiring his helpe that we may rise againe and valiauntly to fight it out Thus must wee also doe when the crosse and hatred of the world for Christes sake or that is contrary to our nature falleth vpon vs. The cuppe which the father hath filled in that we shoulde drinke it the same ought wee willingly to drinke and if there growe in our flesh a terrour and feare to tast it we must not be ashamed to complaine thereof vnto our Father forasmuch as we see heere that Christ for our sakes beeing in such heauines and feare did not yet for all that steppe aside from his Fathers will The patience therefore of Christians standeth not in this that they feele no passion or bee not feareful heauy or sorie but in this that no crosse bee so great as to bee able to driue them away from Christ Yea the more the crosse that God the Father hath laid vpon them doth make them to smart the more it presseth them so that they yet beare it the more pretious and more excellent is their patience which patience we ought to declare but not as they that suffer or feele no passion at all For heere wee are instructed and certified of the kindnes of our louing Father that hee is not angrie neyther taketh it in euill part when we complaine to him of our present trouble so that we giue ouer our will vnto his All they therefore that be in afflictions aduersitie and temptations must set this example of the Lorde directly before their eyes and ponder it in their harts Not only is the father not angry when wee complaine vnto him in our necessitie but in all trouble hee sendeth vs his owne helpe and comfort either by his Angell or inwardly by his spirit or outwardly by some other meane he sendeth vs strength giueth vs his hande draweth vs deliuereth vs suffereth vs not to be tempted aboue our power or else in the middest of our aduersitie he giueth vs consolation and strength to ouercome it O how great comfort bringeth this vnto vs in our afflictions in life and death if we ponder weigh and consider the exceeding loue of GOD our heauenly Father who giueth his deare Sonne into so greate trouble that wee might bee deliuered from eternall aduersitie and sorrow If we also remember the loue of our Lorde Iesus towards vs who for our sakes taketh vppon himselfe so great a feare and passion how cannot wee looke for all good thinges at his hande What thing is so great that wee his members would not suffer for his sake if wee behold the head in such anguish and trouble And for as much as hee suffereth all this for the satisfaction of our sins we ought to applie great diligence that we fall not againe into sinne for the which Christ suffered this and from the which Christ with so great a passion hath deliuered and cleansed vs. Wee learne heere also to loue our neighboures to care for them to pittie them if they bee impotent and slowe to pray for their infirmitie seeing wee are all weake and feeble and vnto such weaknesse must we so haue respect that we bee not arrogant nor hold much of our selues when wee see that Peter and others are so full of sleepe sluggishnes that all the admonitions and exhortations of Christ could at that time do little with them But euer in humblenes of minde and in the feare of God ought wee to stand to ascribe all good thinges vnto him to be carefull and watch least the Deuill draw vs into his temptations O mercifull Father giue vs grace with feruent hartes to consider the vnspeakeable loue of thee and of thy Sonne and neuer to forget the same that our fayth and trust in thee may bee strengthened that loue in vs towards thee and our neighbour may bee kindled that aboue all thinges wee may loue thee the welspring of all goodnesse that wee may serue our neighbours in loue care for them and doe them good according to the loue that thy deare Son hath bestowed vppon vs O giue vs patience and stedfastnes in aduersitie strengthen our weaknesse comfort vs in trouble and distresse helpe vs to fight Graunt vnto vs that in true obedience and contentation of mind wee may giue ouer our owne willes vnto thee our Father in all thinges according to the example of thy beloued sonne that in aduersitie we grudge not but offer vp our selues vnto thee without contradiction Giue vs strength constantly to subdue the rebellious and stubborne flesh and to make it obedient vnto the spirit to castaway al temporall and carnall feare to resort oft vnto prayer to bee earnest and feruent therein to mortifie all our owne wils and lustes and vtterly to giue them their leaue O giue vs a willing and cheerefull minde that vvee may gladly suffer and beare all thinges for thy sake SO when Iudas had gotten him a companie of souldiers of the high Priests and of the Pharesies ministers hee came thether with lanthornes linkes and weapons yea the same Iudas Iscarioth one of the twelue as Iesus yet talked with his disciples and with him a great heape of people with swoords staues sent from the high Priests scribes and elders of the people Now had the traitor giuen them a token saying Whom so euer I doo kisse the same is he take him and bring him warily So Iudas went before them and came neere vnto
confessed the trueth Thus goeth it when temptation breaketh in when the truth commeth into perill and aduersitie then the enemies of the truth declare themselues and hypocrites get them to the aduersaries against Christ then may wee learne to know them Of these the more pittie there bee at this daie in the church of God many which vnder the pretence and colour of truth fight against the truth and that taking the name of Christ in their mouth betraye Christ yea with the sword of their venemous tungs kill Christ and in sheeps cloathing are very wolues false teachers and most noysome enemies whome couetousnes and vaine glorie blindeth And wheras they are not able to roote out Christ with the truth they vndertake to do it with weapons and swords set the princes and powers of the worlde to defende their falshood and tyranny Yea many there bee of those that rebuking Iudas acte doo euen as hee did themselues feyning the trueth when in very deede they persecute the truth O our great slothfulnes whereof wee are admonished in the Disciples that sleepe when wicked Iudas in his vngratious worke so diligently watcheth and earnestly runneth about O that the loue zeale of God might doe as much in vs as the vngratious will in the wicked O that wee which are chosen into the seruice of Christ were so diligent to minister vnto our Father and Lorde as the children of this world are to wait vpon Sathan their maister for nothing doo they omit that may serue to the persecution of the truth O mercifull God graunt vs poore feeble men patience in aduersitie that sodaine wrath ouercome vs not and that bitternesse and desire of vengeance kindle vs not to vse vncharitable wordes and to doe hurt when enemies fall vpon vs and bragge against vs telling vs our faultes whereof wee thinke our selues vnguiltie Graunt vs euer louingly to receiue all aduersitie and that wee may knowe those to bee our best friendes which speake vnto vs and rebuke vs hardest of all Lette no wicked roote of enuie malice and euill will growe in vs no tediousnes nor slouth Giue vs strength to bee willing and patient and with feruent desire to suffer yet more greeuous thinges for thy sake Pull vp the wicked root of couetousnesse and the false shine of feyned spiritualtie out of vs. Oh saue vs that Sathan bring vs not into temptation Graunt vs loue towardes friendes and enemies that we may follow the nature of thee our Father and the example of thy onely begotten Son Iesus Christ Amen THen came they and laide handes on Iesus and tooke him But when they that were with him sawe what would come of it they said vnto him Mayster shal we smite with the sword Iesus answered said Suffer ye thus farre forth Simon Peter had a sword which he drew out smote the seruant of the high Priest cut off his right eare And the seruantes name was called Malchus Then sayde Iesus vnto Peter Put thy word into the sheath Wilt thou not that I shall drinke the cuppe which my Father hath giuen mee All they that drawe the sworde shall perish with the sword Thinkest thou not that I might pray my father to send me now more than twelue legions of Angels But how should the Scriptures be fulfilled It must needes be thus And when Iesus touched his eare he healed it Then began Iesus to speake vnto the multitude that were come to him and to the high Priests and to the chiefe rulers of the temple and to the elders and said Ye are come foorth as to a murtherer with swords and staues to take me whereas I yet being daily in the temple sate and taught and yee tooke mee not But this is your houre and the power of darknesse All this commeth to passe that the Scriptures should bee fulfilled Then the Disciples forsooke him and fledde all from him There was a yong man that followed after who had a white linnen cloth vpon the bare and him they tooke But he left the linnen cloth behind him and ranne away naked The multiude and the captaine and Ministers of the Iewes apprehended Iesus took him bound him lead him first to Annas the chiefe Priest for he was Father in lawe vnto Caiphas which Caiphas was high Priest and was the same Caiphas which gaue counsaile vnto the Iewes that better it were one man to die than the whole people to perish And all the Priestes and Scribes Pharisies and Elders came together Doctrine and fruite PEter declaring his earnest loue which hee bare vnto the Lord vndertaketh to defend him from malitious violence but at the same houre it pleased the Lord to declare and shew not onely his own might and power but also his vnspeakable goodnes euen vnto his enemies therefore is it not his will that anie man on his behalfe should haue harme for he was come to bring health and no hurt and therfore the vncircumcised zeale of Peter which was not directed after the will of God he reiected and reproued commaunding Peter to put vp his sworde into his sheath and the seruants eare that was smitten off he set on againe and healed it for hee was readie to be obedient vnto his Fathers will vnto the death to drinke the cup that the Father had filled for him Yet doth he shew vnto his enemies that he willingly suffereth that if it were not his wil they shuld not be able to take him But he affirmed the houre now to bee heere that the Father had giuen him into the power of darkenesse and that they shewed such violence vnto him that the scripture might be fulfilled The Disciples flie from Iesu their Lorde leaue him to tread the wine presse alone In their weaknes feare and flying is signified the infirmitie of the vnperfect members of the Church which yet when the spirite commeth is strengthened Let no man builde vpon his owne strength but pray vnto God that hee suffer him not to be lead into temptation The gratious Lord Iesus is sold vnto sinners that we which were solde vnder sinne bond and thrall to the prince of this world might be redeemed and deliuered He is content to be bound and taken that we might be quite and free from the snares and caâ—tiuitie of sinne O Iesu Christ the mirrour of all gentle◠〈…〉 mind the example of highest obedience 〈…〉 graunt vs thy seruantes with true deuotion to consider how thou innocent and vndefiled lambe wert bound taken and hailed away vnto death for our sinnes how well content thou wast to suffer such thinges not opening thy mouth in vnpatiencie but willingly offering vp thy selfe vnto death O gratious God how vilely wast thou mishandled for our sakes O Lord let this neuer come out of our harts expell through it coldnes and slouth out of our minds stir vp feruentnes and loue towardes thee prouoke vs vnto earnest praier make vs chearefull and diligent in thy will bind our
his sake to beare vile buffets and all vngentlenes for all this suffreth he for the truthes sake Euen he whome the Angels â—oe worship is blasphemed of vnthrifts hee that giueth true answere is named a blasphemer the righteous Iudge is condemned of the vnrighteous and pronounced to be worthie of death But the gracious Lord is quietly content to keepe silence and dooth suffer and therefore the more humble hee is and submitteth him selfe to bee mis-intreated the more glorious is his victorie With many wicked euill words is he defaced and scorned sore beaten and mishandled That gracious face which the Angels delight to beholde is blinde-folded spitted vpon and buffeted the head the face and necke beaten with many sore strokes Christ is become a straunger vnto all his friends forsaken of al his acquaintance and kinsfolkes a mocking and ieasting stocke vnto all men Euen as if it were a dizard foole is hee laughed to scorne that is wisest of all vppon whom the cruell dogs all the night long practise their vnsatiable malice and pleasure with mocking nipping pulling buffeting spitting and reuiling of him In all this doth his swiftnes of mind and excellent patience abide still constant and vnmoueable wherby we may iustly learne to bee ashamed of our presumptuous brags in our pompe and pride which we vse in our soft and costly apparell where as Christ for our sakes became most poore and vilely reputed Verie euill beseemeth it vs yea a shame it is for vs which of Christ are called Christians and will bee his disciples to seeke bodily pleasure and earthy ioy and sensualitie in all thinges wheras the Lord Iesus our head dooth beare and suffer all that is contrarie therunto O how vnlike are we to our head forgoer How farare wee froÌ„ right true humilitie when for the least wrong and vnaduised word we bee displeased with our brethren and whereas we should giue thanks for being rebuked to our profite we are vnpacient and miscontent O Lord Iesus Christ graunt vs so to consider thy holy passion that it bring fruite in vs make vs pacient when hurt and displeasure is done vnto vs teach vs after thine owne liuing example not to feare the rayling wordes and persecution of wicked people neither to be discouraged for any wrongfull accusation that happeneth vppon vs. Teach vs to see our owne vilenesse how iustly we are of the people reuiled and despised for our sinnes Haue mercie ô lord vpon our vnperfectnes thou wast reuiled that thou mightst take from vs euerlasting shame beaten thou wasâ— that from the stripes which we with our sinnes haue deserued thou mightest deliuer vs spitted vppon and mocked to bring vs from euerlasting confusion to euerlasting honour Wherefore strengthen our minds ô Lord that in lowly shamefastnes wee may paciently suffer and beare the hard wordes and checkes that other folkes giue vs for our sinnes and offences for many mo falser accusations and rebukes hast thou borne with highest patience for vs vile sinners O let the hard strokes and knockes of thy head be vnto vs a swaging of all our bodily paines lette that scornfull blindfolding of thine eyes bee vnto vs a restraint and keeping in of our sight from all wantonnes vanitie lightnes of eies let the vile spitting vpon thy holy face expell out of vs all carnall lustes and teach vs not to regard the outward appearance but to holde and keepe in honour the vertues of the soule That carrying about and scornefull derision which happened vnto thee vndeserued driue froÌ„ vs all dissolute manners and wanton gestures Let that refusing of thy worthines quench in vs all desires of temporall honor let it moue vs vnto things that of the worlde are contemned and in small estimation Giue vs ô Lorde a strong victorie in all patience that from our heart rootes wee may acknowledge and confesse our selues to be most worthie of al contempt and slaunder of all rebuke shame and punishment Amen EArlie in the morning at the break of the day went the chiefe Priests and Elders of the people to counsail 〈◊〉 they might destroy Iesus And they brought him to their Counsaile and said If thou bee Christ tell vs Then said Iesus vnto them if I tell you ye will not beleeue me if I aske you a question you will giue me no aunswere neither let me go But from this time forth shal the sonne of man sitte at the right hand of the power of God Then said they all Art thou then the sonne of God Then said hee Ye say it I am They said What need we any more witnesse We haue heard it our selues out of his own mouth Then arose the whole multitude as many as were there and bound Iesus and led him from Caiphas to Pilate into the iudgement hall And it was earely in the morning They went not into the iudgement hall least they shuld be defiled but that they might eat Passah Then went Pilate forth vnto them and they broght Iesus bound and deliuered him vnto Pontius Pilate the deputie Doctrine and fruite SAthan sleepeth not but watcheth and is diligent to driue his houshold together to destroy Iesus Christ to make him sure and to bring him to his end For they thought if they might haue Iesus once deade then had they rooted out the doctrine of the trueth But foolish and vaine is their deuise for the truth is immortall the more it is opprest the more it breaketh forth againe when men vndertake for to quench it then doth the shine and brightnes therof appeare more glorious Shame therfore and rebuke yea eternall punishment bring all they vppon themselues that withstanding the trueth take it prisoner bind it and deliuer it to the Iudge They thinke they bind the truth but the truth and worde of God cannot be bound for it maketh all thinges free and such as are tangled and wrapt in the snares of sinne those it deliuereth Who so goeth about to bind the truth dooth knitte and snare himselfe with vnlowsable bands and casteth from him the band of loue wherwith God offereth to draw him vnto himselfe and to binde him vnder his yoke Wherefore let vs be obedient vnto the truth and not striue against it for if we vndertake to condemne it it shall so appeare againe in high Maiestie that through the beautifull faire and cleare brightnesse thereof wee shall all perish and be blinded WHen Iudas which had betraied him sawe that Iesus was condemned hee repented so that hee tooke the money the thirtie siluer pence and brought them to the high Priestes and to the Elders of the people and saide I haue sinned in betraying that innocent bloud They said What haue we to do withall Looke thou to that So he cast the money from him in the temple went his way and hanged himselfe in a snare But the high Priestes tooke the money saide It is not lawfull to put it into the treasurie for it is the price of bloud And
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
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
howe high is the glorie that heere is promised vnto vs in CHRIST The onely begotten sonne of God descended and became man for vs that wee so much as were possible for our nature shoulde ascend vp vnto his Godhead Hee descended downe lowe that when wee are humbled hee might receiue and exalte vs to his owne promotion Hee that of nature is the Lorde tooke vppon him the shape of a seruaunt that of vs which naturally were bond seruauntes hee might make vs Gods children Forasmuch then as hee became man to make vs Gods and children of godly grace Hee tooke vpon him that which is ours to giue vs and to parte with vs that which is his Therefore calleth hee vs brethren and maketh his owne father common vnto vs so that hee is also our Father and our God that same which hee hath of nature doeth hee of grace giue vnto vs. For his spirite beareth recorde vnto our spirite that wee are the children of GOD for wee haue not receiued the spirite of bondage to feare but the spirit of adoption in the which wee cry Father Father Christ also calleth those that bee his not seruants but friends and brethren he will be our God and wee his people our father we his children and his couenant which he hath made with vs shall bee euerlasting for it is sealed and confirmed with the bloud of his onely begotten sonne Now haue wee fellowshippe and companie with God the father the sonne and the holy Ghost But such grace and glorie is inwardly seene with the eyes of faith and felte in the spirite beeing hidde heere in time vnder the shape of the crosse For Christ doth not straight waie by and by declare himselfe openly vnto Marie Magdalene as hee is in his glorie but standeth there as a gardener and speaketh vnto hir by the which voice she knoweth him he long deferreth the comfort permitting her a good while to weepe and lament that the ioy and consolation afterward may bee the greater But the cause why he so long delaieth his helpe and comfort from these that bee his owne is that their inward desires may bee the more feruent and earnest and that hee may stirre vp and kindle their faith Now when the fire is kindled inough then commeth hee with his comfort as it is euident heere in Marie Magdalene and in the woman of Cananee Matthew 26. Moreouer hee sendeth Marie Magdalene from him to bring the Apostles tidings of this glorious exaltation whereas shee doubtlesse had rather haue beene longer with him and to haue had the comfortable fruition of the sight of him Howbeit hee directeth her forth to declare that felicitie and poynteth her to the work of charitable loue to the seruice of her neighbour For here in time wee cannot as yet come to the beholding sight of God face to face it shall first begin after this time Now while we liue heere wee must serue our neighbour in charitable loue and do him good O God strengthen thou our weake faith in the resurrection of thy beloued son that by it our consciences being examined may well answere Illuminate our mindes and expell out of vs all darkenesse thorow the light and brightnes of the glorious resurrection O strengthen our weaknes throgh the power of thy spirite Raise vs from the death of sinne in the same spirite and power wherein thou hast raised vp thy son from the dead Comfort and strengthen vs in aduersitie and make vs constaunt therein that we may preasse through the same in steadfast hope to the ioyfull and blessed resurrection Kindle in vs the fire of thy godly loue that with earnest and feruent desire wee may seeke and finde thee through Christ Withdraw our hearts from all earthly loue of creatures and from filthines vp to heauen-ward where Christ sitteth at thy right hand that wee may lead a godly and heauenly life vpon earth Set vp the spirituall kingdome of Christ Iesu in our hearts that in vs thy name may be sanctified and thy will performed that wee may become thy vertuous children and neuer displease thee our gracious father that we continuing stil in thy mercifull couenant doe neuer fall away from the companie and fellowship of thee and thy sonne And where as thou hast giuen vs such knowledge grace and vnderstanding graunt that we may make the same knowne vnto many beeing alway readie through charitable loue to serue our brethren Amen It followeth now further in the historie how the women that first were with Marie Magdalene at the sepulchre and being afraid fled away no man saying ought vnto them returned now more stoutlie boldly to the sepulchre to see what would come of that wonderfull terrible matter WHen the women came to the sepulchre found not the bodie of Iesu they were sore troubled in their minds And behold two men stoode by them in shining garments And as the women were afraide bowed down their faces to the earth they said vnto them Why seeke ye the liuing among the dead He is not heere he is risen Remember how hee spake vnto you when he was yes in Galilee saying that the sonne of man must bee deliuered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and the third day rise againe And they remembred the wordes of Iesu returned from the sepulchre and told all these thinges vnto those eleuen and to all the remnant And as they went to tell his disciples behold Iesus met them saying All haile And they came and helde him by the feete and worshipped him Then said Iesus vnto them Bee not afraide Go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee and there shall they see me But when the women namely Mary Magdalene Ioanna and Mary Iacob and other that were with them told these things vnto the Apostles their words seemed vnto them fained things neither beleeued they them Doctrine and fruite LOne is not idle but diligent zealous which thing may well bee perceiued in these women that ran againe to the sepulchre although they had found it empty afore Gladly would they haue found the body and done reuerence to their Lorde whom they loued This feruent zeale of the women confoundeth our coldnes vnmercifulnes towards the poore Oft times do they seeke him that is absent and that with great diligence wee receiue him not when in the poore he commeth vnto vs. No trauel labour nor cost greeueth them as for vs we pitie our substance when wee shoulde distribute to the poore which are Christs O that we could rightly consider how pretious a treasure we gather vnto our selues in heauen when we giue of our goods into the hands of the poore lending the same vnto Christ Then should not wee garnish and build timber and stone but the liuing temples of God keeping them from wind and raine and from decay namely that they suffer no extreme pouertie nor be destitute of helpe Such a
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
Peter couereth himselfe being naked we learne nurture and shamefastnesse to walke dwell with all honestie in the sight of men specially in the presence of our superiours and gouernors In the corporall workes and deedes of Christ there is nothing in vaine nothing without effect Besides the outward appearance of the worke there is described somewhat more excellent where unto a faithful beleeuer ought to direct the eies of his mind as when he maketh the blind to see it is an outwarde act and a declaration of his godly power an alteration there is outwardly in the eyes of the blinde in that his fight is restored vnto him againe neuerthelesse ouer and besides the outward worke there is giuen vs to vnderstand that Christ is the true lyght of the whole world which driueth awaie the blindnes of our hart and illuminateth the eyes of our mind according to the Scriptures Isay 42.49 Iohn 1.9.12 c. Christ taking bread and wine giueth the same to his disciples to eate and drinke This as no man can denie was an outward act and they commaunded outwardly to doo it albeit in the remembraunce of him Besides and aboue the outward eating drinking the faithfull beleeuer must lift vp his heart and looke with the eyes of faith vnto that which is spiritual namely how that Christ is the true liuing bread which feedeth our soules to eternall life how his bodie was broken for vs vpon the crosse how we thorough his death are made liuing and washed awaie from our sinnes by his bloud In this is set forth vnto vs the highest loue of all namely that Christ gaue himselfe vnto the death for vs whereby wee are admonished of his grace yea not onely in this described vnto vs but also the holy Ghost doeth mightily land fruitfully worke the same in the heartes of the true beleeuers which in faith at the supper receyue the true body and bloud of Christ whereby theyr heartes are kindled in loue towardes God and their neighbor so that they dwel in Christ he in them c. So heere likewise the outward fishing representeth a fishing spirituall Like as in fishing it lyeth not in the fishers power or wit to take many or few but 〈◊〉 the power and blessing of God And as the labor of the disciples is in vaine afore Christ commandeth them but when they haue his commandement and cast out the net vpon the same they drawe vp a multiâ—â—on of fishes euen so commeth it to passe at this present day that we bring forth no fruit so loÌ„g as the holie ghost worketh not with vs inwardly But when Christ biddeth cast out the net that is when hee giueth his spirite wee are able to draw vp many men and to winne them vnto Christ For all the night long had they taken nothing till Christ came vnto them Euen so can we doe nothing if Christ bee not with vs by his spirite On Whit-sonday when the spirite came vpon his Disciples they brought foorth much fruit and drue many men vnto Christ Heereby declareth Christ vnto them in this taking of fish how it should go in their office and how the time was now at hand that they should shortlie drawe many men out of the sea of this worlde vnto him and that they should prosper and haue good successe therein The world is this wilde raging sea the shore is the quietnes of eternall life that we haue in Christ vnto whome we make hast with Peter and the other Disciples neither doe wee bring men vnto our selues but vnto Christ and to the hauen of euerlasting life Faith is not idle but is alwaies occupied in the Lords businesse causing vs to contemne all perrils and to speede vs a pace vnto Christ with the cloathing of vertues especially with fayth the wedding garment that wee appearing not naked may make hast vnto the land of the liuyng where Christ is the conquerour of death For the faythfull beleeuers are not far from the land when their conuersation is in heauen Without Christ wee must begynne nothing without fayth may no man please God In the nyght of sinne our labour is vayne and vnprofitable yea whatsoeuer is not of fayth is sinne Vpon the right hand must the net be cast out That is in the office of preaching must respect bee had to the onely glorie of God and edefiyng of the church and not to our owne profit or preferment Christ hungreth after our health this is the meat which he desireth that we doe the will of his heauenly father that wee put our trust in him and loue one another that wee lead a iust and innocent life that wee keepe our selues from the filthinesse of the world bring much people vnto God Such meat is brought vnto Christ by the Apostles when they through their teaching doe catche men and bring them vnto God Therefore doth he aske them whether they haue any thing to eat They said nay for afore the receiuing of the spirite they could doe nothing but when he came they brought many profitable things to passe The haruest was so great that they must needs haue many workmen So when God helpeth the faithfull ministers of the worde that they in the ministerie of preaching haue prosperous successe so that they draw vp many men through the nette of the Gospell and finde much fruite Then the Disciples whome Christ loueth and which loue him againe doe know that it is the Lorde and that the same commeth not of their owne virtue but of the power of God And heereof then groweth there in them a great desire to come vnto Christ and to be with him The office therfore of Apostles of all ministers of the word is this that when they do what Christ commandeth them they turne them to Christ againe and ascribe the honour vnto him And if ought would let or hinder them to come vnto Christ they ought to refuse all the same and to hast vnto him with the losse of their life Iohn knoweth Christ afore Peter but Peter commeth to the Lord before him whereby we may note the diuersitie of ministrations and giftes in the Church Though Peter bee more feruent yet is hee not ashamed to learne of Iohn The fishers come with the fish vnto Christ the shepheards with the sheepe to one manner of saluation for they are not carefull onely for themselues how they may be saued but also for those whome they haue caught to bring the same with them vnto the shore of eternall rest It is our saluation when we become Christs meat yea when Christ is our foode and sustenance For they that in the sea of this world doe faithfully labour to drawe the fishe vnto the Hauen shall obtaine great fruit and enioy an eternall banquet at Christs table in his kingdome For Christ prepared them a dinner wherein hee set foorth vnto the ministers of the worde what they ought to doe namely to feed the people
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
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
sawe that theyr Schoolemaister was taken away from them into heauen they perceiued and considered the thing that they knewe not before although Christ had told it them Iohn 6. Namely that by the Ascension they should receyue vnderstanding Therefore they worshipped Iesus Christ and according vnto his commaundement they returned to Hierusalem where they kepte themselues vntill the time that the spirite came neyther were they idle but continued in the holie fellowshippe and godlie exercises with praier and deuotion preparing and making themselues readie vnto the comming of the spirite By occasion heereof all nicenesse curiositie and contentious questions all pride vaine-glorie and fonde affections and desires sette aparte wee ought with vpright mindes and with the eyes of faith to be alway taken vp into heauen and there to haue our dwelling where Christ our head sitteth at the right hand of God king and Lord of all thinges our faithfull aduocate and mediatour Then shall true godlynesse increase then shall vertue blessedlie grow and bring forth fruit in vs if wee with steadfast faith doe consider that our Lord Iesus Christ dyed for our sakes rose againe from death and is exalted at the right hand of God raigning mightily aboue all things in heauen and finishing our saluation if wee in spirite and in the truth worship and honour him as the eternal God confessing with a true faith that all power is giuen vnto him of God the father that he careth for vs and that for our healths sake hee ruleth and shall raigne vntill all things be brought vnder his feet In the meane time he dayly in his church purifieth al his members by his spirit cleansing them still more and more from all their sinnes And when hee shall haue rooted out all sinne in his elect ouercomming death the last enemie so that God shall be all in all then shall Christ also giue vp his kingdome vnto God the father namely the mediation for our sinnes the purging of the same defence against the deuill and deliueraunce from death For then shall there be no more sinne in the elect so that he shal not need to be mediator for them to purge from sinne to defend against the deuil or to deliuer from death Oh mercifull father graunt vs perfectly to know thy blessed and glorious kingdome of Christ thy sonne drawe vp our hearts in such sort that we with all obedience maye yeelde our selues into this kingdome seeing and regarding onely those thinges that are aboue and wholy applying our selues vnto this ende that the same heauenly kingdome may be farre spread abroad and knowne vnto all men To the intent that as for all worldly things wherin many foolish people set all their saluation but in vaine men may vtterly refuse them and hartily with bodie and soule and with their whole life may giue ouer themselues perfectly vnto the onely Lord Iesus Christ the true God For thy good pleasure it was O God that in him all perfectnes should dwell and that by him al things towards thee should be reconciled and pacified through his bloud whether they be in heauen or in earth Graunt vs O God vnitie and brotherly loue in thy holie Church kindle our harts to feruent and deuout prayer make vs diligently to watch circumspectly to waite for the comming of thy beloued sonne that we neither be drunken in excesse and bodilie lust nor intangled with the snares of this world but that we hauing alwayes the eyes of our heart open and praying with vpright mindes may chearefully meet our redeemer ioy with him for euer To him be eternall praise and honor Amen THE SENDING OF THE HOLY GHOST WHen the fiftie daies were come to an end they were all with one accord together in one place and sodainely there came a sound from heauen as it had beene the comming of a mightie winde and it filled all the house where they sate And there appeared vnto them clouen tongs like as they had bin of fire and it sate vpon each one of them and they were all filled with the holy Ghost and beganne to speake with other tongues euen as the same spirit gaue them vtterance Doctrine and fruite HEere the Euanglist Luke describeth how that after Christ entered into his glorie the Gospell euen the heauenly doctrine and grace was opened vnto the world downe from heauen by a glorious and great miracle For though the lawe which is the will of God and also the Gospell that is his grace hath from the beginning beene alwayes in the worlde namelie in the heartes of Gods elect children yet was each one of them at seuerall times gloriously vttered vnto the worlde by manifest and apparant myracle And like as the holie Ghost was in the heartes of the faythfull beleeuers for after the Resurrection hee gaue the spirite vnto the Disciples euen so heere hee giueth them the spirite with an open myracle and with a more perfect woorking and power For the spirite which Christ gaue them after his Resurrection when he breathed vpon them was euen this day with more perfection that is to say his operation and strength declared it selfe more euidently and more perfectly and shewed his presence by the visible miracle Thus is it heere described how the promise of Christ and of the Prophets made as concerning the holie Ghost were fulfilled and how the same holie Ghost who is the teacher of the trueth the earnest pennie of saluation the wedding ring of grace and ioye of the minde was giuen Nowe when it is saide that the holie Ghost is giuen vnto men the same may bee vnderstood of the giftes and operations of the holie Ghost for though GOD may bee comprehended of mans minde yet can he not bee included or shut therein Neuerthelesse his giftes according to his will and pleasure are poured and measured into our heartes vnto euerie one so much as maye ferue◠〈…〉 â—fite Who so is desirous to knowe 〈…〉 Ghost is promised vnto faithfull bele◠〈…〉 reade Ezech. 36.39 Ioel. 2. Math. 3. Now 〈…〉 God the Father hath promised by his Mini◠〈…〉 same also doth Christ his sonne promise whereâ— wee may see that the sonne hath like power with the father and that there is but one onely spirite of them both as wee may reade Luk. 12. Iohn 7.14.15.16.20 But before wee come to the sending of the spirite wee will first substantially and well peruse the storie and looke what maye bee gathered thereof For heere is nothing written or sette downe in vaine The Euangelist doth heere make mention of the fift day vpon the which this great wonder was don In the which there lyeth hidde a notable mysterie The Iewes from the day that they offered the Easter Lambe told fiftie dayes and vpon the fiftith day was the feast of weekes In the which feast they kept holyday offering vnto GOD a willing sacrifice of the first fruites when they cutte them downe Wee beginne to number from the resurrection of Christ
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