my selfe fullest of confusion then the image of Christ is most lyuelye within me The Lord maye hyde his face for a whyle for a moment in hys anger as he dyd from Christ but he must needes returne vnto me wyth euerlasting mercies for the image of his sonne is cleare within me A blessed sorow and woe ful of happines that fashioneth theese dayes of my vanitie into the similitude of the age of Christ that wyth hym at the last I myght raygne for euer A precious countenaunce it is in the syght of God that seemeth without beuty in the eyes of man and an vnspeakeable treasure of ioy and gladnes engrauen in these vessels that are but earth and ashes When Christ is the paterne whose similitude wee doo beare who can be discouraged vnder the crosse We are afflicted on euery syde but not in such a strayte that we are shut from hope We are in pouertie but not ouercome of pouertie We are persecuted but not forsaken We are cast down but we perishe not We are troubled in all things fightings without and terrors wythin but God that comforteth the abiects he wil comfort vs Vnto thys he hath predestinate vs that we shuld be like vnto his sonne in al afflictions and so bee glorified with him in the day of honor Thus fâ—rre we haue heard two special causes why wee ought to reioyce in all temptations the one that so wee leayne true obedience the other that by theÌ„ we be made lyke vnto christ Adde yet vnto these one shâ—ed cause out of the scripture which when you shal haue learned be bold dearly beloued in al the fires of the enemies For beholde in the truth of Iesus I dare be yoâ—t warraÌ„t the greater are your afflictions the lyket you are vnto Christ yea if it should happen you to fal downe into hel Christ hath descended also you shuld then be most like him in his agonies and bloudy sweates The third cause at this time which I wil touch is this God sendeth vs sundrye chasticementes and especially that which is most greuous of al other the anguish of spirit and affliction of the soule for this purpose that we should bee warned in tyme how to turne vnto him and bee free from the plague when it commeth For the iudgementes of God that are daylye preached vnto vs they pearce deepe into the hartes of the true beleuers the word that they heare it worketh mightely in them more sharpe in their eares then a two edged swoord it entreth thorow them euen to the deuidyng asunder of the soule and of the spirit and of the ioyntes of the marowe and examineth all the thoughtes the ententes of the hurt so that it is vnpossible that anye part of them should be hyd but they are all open vnto iudgemeÌ„t and heare the voyce of the lord Then their syn is reuiued in the middest of their bowels their conscience hath no rest they feele death working in their harts and hel is before them They see syn on their right hand and Satan on their left shame vnder their feete an angrye Iudge aboue them the world ful of destruction without a worme gnawing the hart within the poore sinner knoweth not what to do To hide him selfe it is impossible and to appere it is intolerable Then he breaketh out into loud cryings O wretched man that I am who shal delyuer me from the body of this death He geueth no rest vnto his eyes nor sleepe vnto hys eye lyds vntyl he finde hym that is able to saue him froÌ„ this wrath In his bed by night he seeketh him whom his soule loueth in the streetes and open places he enquireth after him and after manye dayes in which he can not finde hym Christ sheweth him selfe at the last a perpetual deliuerer a victorious Lion of the tribe of Iuda in whoÌ„ he hath strong saluation When he hath mourned because of the plague that was before him Christ wyll approch nere and wipe away the teares from his eyes This the Prophet Abacuck setteth forth in hys owne person When I heard saith he the woord of God my bellye trembled my lyps shooke at the voyce rottennes entred into my bones and I trembled in my selfe that I myght haue rest in the day of trouble Euen so dearly beloued it is with vs all The plagues of God because they are pronounced against iniquitie it maketh the Childe of God to feare and tremble that so foreseing the harme hee myght prepare hym helpe and because of the destroyer seeke wythout wearynes vnto the Sauiour Though he hide him self at the first the wounded spirite and troubled hart must needes find him out A great cause of vnspeakeable gladnes though we seeme swalowed vp of pensiue sorow We are full of grief but we are chasticed of the â—ord because we should not be condempned wyth the world We dye with Christ but because we should liue with him We lament weepe but because that Christ might wipe away al teares from our eyes We are delyuered vnto death for Iesus sake but because the lyfe of Iesus shuld be made manifest in our flesh We beare about in our bodyes the mortification of the Lord Iesus but because the life of Iesus myght be manifest also in our bodies We haue anguish of spirit and vexation of mynde such as hath not bene froÌ„ the beginning but for this cause y when sudaine destruction shal come vpon the careles world we myght lyft vp our heades and beholde our redemption at hand Let vs then be bolde and in patience possesse our soules For these causes we are now afflicted that we might receiue mercie finde grace to helpe in the time of neede And for this cause we treble and are afrayd that after manye praiers and supplicatioÌ„s we myght be deliuered from the things which we haue feared It foloweth in the Apostle And beyng consecrate hee was made the Author of saluation to all them that obey him In these woordes we are taught what fruit and commodity we haue through these bitter sufferynges of our sauiour Christ and also by what meanes we are made partakers of it The fruit is eternall saluatioÌ„ the meanes to go vnto it is obedience In the first we learne that all promise and hope of lyfe is in Christ alone He hath alone the woordes of lyfe he is alone the bread of life the water of lyfe the author of lyfe the word of life the tree of life the onely life He that beleueth in him he hath euerlasting life and he that dwelleth not in hym shall see no lyfe but the wrath of God abideth on him Take hold of Christ and take hold of lyfe Reach foorth thine hand to anye other thyng and thou reachest vnto vanitie which cannot helpe Looke not for lyfe but where it dwelleth in the flesh of Christ alone there it resteth Death hath raygned in al the world beside led euerye creature into bondage If
¶ A Lecture or Exposition vpon a part of the. v. chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrues As it was read in Paules the. 6. day of December 1572. By Edward Deryng ¶ Prepared and geuen for a New yeres gift to the godly in London and els where for this yeare 1573. ¶ Imprynted at London by Iohn Awdely ¶ To his very louing friend Mayster M. F. THe outwarde afflictions and manyfolde troubles of a great number of Gods Chyldren whose trauaile and labour from day to day I had styll in experience and the inward feeling of many wounded spirites whose wofull sighes and bitter mourninges I beheld in other and had tryed in my selfe it made me verye desirous to seeke for remedies to stop the complaints of so grecuous cryings and to prepare our hartes in a strong defence that the firye dartes of the Deuyl might not wound vs Upon this occasion when I had to expounde that place of the Apostle full of notable comfort That Christ in the dayes of his fleshe offered vp prayers and supplications to hym that was able to saue him from death with strong cryinges and wyth teares and was delyuered from the thynges he feared I taryed the longer in that matter and declared more at large what great boldnes and assurance of hope was offered here vnto al that should obey the word Which when I had done as God gaue me vtterance the poore in spirite to whom I applyed my selfe one or two required me to set it downe in wryting that it might be profitable to many which was comfortable to them I durst not reiect such a good request but though some tyme I differred it yet I neuer forgot it tyll I had written all as I was required Which when I had done I purposed then with my selfe to make it yet more common and set it abroade in print Knowing assuredly wher God would geue it encrease it shoulde bring foorth the fruite of consolation that we myght stand vpryght in the day of euyll Thus hauing perfourmed both the request of other and myne own desire and the tyme fallyng out with the begynning of a newe yeare I thought it not amysse to offer my labour vnto you who I know well would accept it as a New yeres gyft though of no great price yet of great good wyll and though easely obtayned yet not litle to be esteemed And therefore my deare brother whom I loue in Christ and reuerence in the world as many wayes I haue cause so I offer it vnto you The Lorde for his mercies sake worke his own good pleasure that I may haue of you the fruite that I desire and you the grace that you stand in neede of that as God hath greatly blessed you and made you abound in many graces to the glory of his name the comfort of your friendes and the benefite of his people so your ioye that it myght be made perfect you might also abound in this to haue a strong fayth against the day of tryall Which God of hys mercye wyll surely graunt vnto you and finishe the good woorke that he hath begone Though I loue not to speake faire for feare of slatterie â–ª and deceitfull prayses I see what mischiefe they breede yet I feare not to beare you wytnes of your well doing the spirite of God hath planted humilitie more deepe in your brest then that pride and arrogancie can pul it out And in deede the better you are the more effectually you do see your own vnworthynes that all your righteousnes is as a defiled cloth and the more you approch vnto God the more you abhorre your selfe and know that in your flesh ther dwelleth no goodnes Abraham our father Iob Esay and many other â–ª men of excellent vertue in the syght of God they haue bene all astonished to see how their righteousnes hath bene scattered awaye as the cloudes of the heauens Paule cryeth out O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me froÌ„ this body of death But because we haue an enemie that spareth not to display all our corruptions before our eyes to the ende hee myght make vs dispaire therefore we may be bold to the strengthening of our hope to set before vs againe the spirituall graces that woorke within vs to assure our selues that we be borne of god So our Sauiour Christ praysed many that beleued on hym so dyd hys Apostels so maye we And our heauenly father wyll ratefie and confirme our wordes when we speake the truth according to the measure of faith that euerye one hath receaued So S. Iohn byddeth vs all be bold and not be deceaued He that doth the thinges that are righteous him selfe is righteous and lyke vnto Christ in whom he is sanctified So may I say vnto you the grace of God hath wrought happely in you in these yeares and condition of lyfe that so vnfaynedly you haue sought the lord It can not be of your selfe who are not able so much as to think a good thought but it is of him whose seede abideth in you And although because you haue that treasure in a brittell vessell you see sometime the fruite of olde â—dam and the prickes of his transgression within your bowels yet feare not hys malice that hath wrought this wo. You are bought with dearer price then that syn may raygne againe within you and he that hath purchased you hee wyll not so suffer hys enheritaunce to bee spoyled It is necessary you should know your synne or you could not vnderstande how great were your redemption But your synnes cannot seperate you away from hym who hath buried them in the earth and wyll not see them anye more When you shall ascend to come into hys sight the earth wyll holde her own and keepe your synnes behynde you The pearcing Serpent shall not clyme to accuse you nor the crooked Serpent shall hyde your redemption from you Your care is cast vppon hym that careth for you you know hym who hath spoken All power is geuen vnto me in heauen and in earth You know hym who hath a name aboue all names that in the name of Iesus all knees shall bowe Euen hee hath bought you wyth a price and you are not your own If it be possible for you to perish then is it possible agayne that Christ shoulde suffer iniurie This boldnes you haue through hym who hath made manifest his grace vnto you that you denying impietie and worldly concupiscence should lyue soberlye purelye and godlye in this present lyfe and looke for the blessed hope that shal be reuealed when all secretes shall bee opened To whych issue and happye ende of lyfe the Lorde bryng both you and yours in the felowship of hys Sayntes to prayse hys holy name when he shal make vnto you hys glory vnspeakeable and crowne it wyth immortalitie AMEN Fare well in Christ Iesu and pray for me The. 26. of DeceÌ„ber 1572. Yours in the Lord to commaunde Ed. De. ⧠An exposition of a part
and was also heard in the things which he feared And being him selfe the sonne yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered and being consecrate was made the authour of eternall saluation to them that obey hym These wordes my deare brethrē we haue now in hand to search examine what the spirit teacheth vs so much the more carefully to be harkned vnto of vs how much the more plainly it setteth foorth vnto vs the great loue compassion that Christ beareth toward vs Two thinges especially here the Apostle testifieth First the sufferinges of our sauiour Christ then the benefite that we enioy by the same according as hys sufferinges were onely for our sake His sufferinges what they were how great sorow oppressed hym he sheweth by those effectes which his sorowes brought forth that is praiers supplications cryinges teares feare and anguish of spirite whych things waited euer vpon him euen to the accomplishing of all his passions whych was the death of hys crosse The fruite that we do reape of those afflictions whych he suffered is the saluation of our soules eternall life if we wyl obey him In thys description of hys sufferinges though the thynges are set forth which were cōmen and vsuall vnto him al his life yet it appeareth especially the Apostle meaneth that greatest conflict of sorow which he had a litle before his passion described by the Euangelistes in all similitude like vnto this which the Apostle here declareth For as it is here said he made praiers noting by the word that they were many in number so it appeareth in the Gospell that beside other praiers three tymes he repeated thys one Father if it be possible let this cup passe frō me And as it is sayd he made supplications humblyng hym selfe low vnder the hand of hys Father so it is said in the Gospel that thē he kneeled downe fell vpon his face and so prayed vnto God. And as the cause of his praiers is here mencioned to be deliuered frō death so the words of his praier in the Gospel are lyke Father if it be possible let thys cup passe from me meanyng the death of his crosse to which he was condēned And as here is mencioned his great and lowd crying so there the Euangelist sayth he cryed out with a lowde voyce My God my God why hast thou forsakē me And like as here is said he praied with weeping teates so there is witnessed that he was sorowful and greuously troubled that his soule was heauy euen vnto death that in a great agonye hys sweate was lyke vnto drops of bloud A wofull kynde of weeping but such was his compassion that we might haue sure hope And as here is said he was deliuered from his feate so at that tyme when all hys spirites were troubled the Angell came from heauen to bryng him comfort These similitudes they are all so agreable that it is euident the Apostle respected especially aboue other this part of his passiō in which hys perfect loue and vnchaungeable affection towarde vs shined in most fulnes of beuty in that it was so feruent and so deepely rooted that neither feare nor trembling nor anye anguishe of spirite coulde make it shake nor the force of death nor any bloudy sweates could pull it out of his bowels In this one sentence dearely beloued ther is more for vs to learne then either eye hath seene or eare hath heard or all fleshe in this lyfe shall attayne vnto It is the deapth of the gloryous Gospell which the Angels do desire to behold But to note vnto you somethings in which our faith maye be strengthened we haue to learn by the example of our sauiour Christ in this place that in all temptacions we should approche vnto our God and make our complaintes vnto him who is onely able ready for to helpe vs He hath not forgot hys promise that he hath made of old Cal vpon me in the day of thy trouble and I wyll delyuer thee He is a place of refuge and of sure defence a strong tower against al assaultes The ryghteous man that shal hasten vnto him he shal be surely saued The author and finisher of our fayth he is gone before vs we shall be surelye partakers of the same mercy It skilleth not how great our tēptacions ar into whych we are fallē nor how many in number the Lord wyll deliuer vs out of all It skilleth not howe manye one sins are nor how great in our eyes that haue procured out troubles the Lord wyl scatter thē as the cloudes from the heauens and they shal not turne away his louing countenance from vs Let vs looke on thys paterne Iesus Christ that is set before vs It would crush our flesh in peeces to beare with hym the wayght of his afflictiōs from which he was deliuered and it woulde make our teares to bee as drops of bloude to be partakers of so great anguish of spirit as he sustained and yet it was not so great but the comfort of the Angell sent from hys Father was much greater So that by praier he obtained a most excellent victory hath brused the Serpentes head broken all his force And why shuld we then bee discouraged If our syns be as crimosin or if they be red lyke scarlet yet they are the syns of our own bodies but not ours onely but also the synnes of the world they rested all vpon Christ our Sauiour and yet he prayed for delyuerance and hath obtained and therfore we may say with boldnes Forgeue vs our trespasses If the loue of Christ were so great to beare the syns of vs all and of them euery one hath gotten forgeuenes how shuld not we that ar laden with our own syns lift vp our heads into great assurance of hope and heare with ioy fulnes the word of promise I wyll bee mercyfull to their vnryghteousnes and I wil remember their syns and their iniquities no more And what though our afflictions are exceeding many that the whole head be sicke and the whole hart be heauy that frō the sole of our foote vnto our heades there bee nothyng whole in our bodies but al woūdes and swellings and sores full of corruption yet all this is nothing vnto his passions by whole stripes wee are healed And these troubles are nothing vnto his mighty cryinges who was compassed about for our sakes with feares and horrours til his sweate was as drops of bloud and hys bones brused in hys fleshe Then let the whyps and scourges of our chasticement be greuous and let vs yet bee beaten if the wyll of God so be with Scorpions Christ in great compassion suffering wyth our infirmities ▪ hath borne yet a more heauy waight of iniquities hath bene deliuered So that if we obey we are partakers of his mercies we haue ful perswasion that neither death nor lyfe nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor