receaue that filthye price into their threasory But the other haue most gredily drawē vnto thē by violence as wel stollē goods as also goods naughtily vniustly gotten Furthermore it is not ynough to say vnto Iudas See thou to it They should haue chaunged their sentence whē thei knew their error and not haue accused an innocent but defended him And Iesus stoode before the gouernor who said what accusation bringe ye against this man They aunswered if he wer not an euil doer we would not haue deliuered him vnto thee Then sayd Pilate vnto them Take ye him therfore youre selues and iudge him after youre owne lawe Then the Iews said vnto him it is not lawful for vs to put any man to deathe That the woorde of Iesus mighte be fulfilled which he spake signifieng what deth he should dye Then they began to accuse him sayeng we haue taken this man peruerting the people and forbiddinge to paye tribute to Ceasar and sayinge that he is Christ a king and Pilate asked him saying Art thou the king of the Iewes And he aunswered saide thou sayest it Then Pilate said vnto the high priestes people I find no faulte in this manne But they wexed more fierce sayinge he stirreth the people teching throughout all Iudea beginning at Galiley euen to this place And when Pilate heard mencion of Galiley he asked whether the man were of Galiley And when he knewe that he longed to Herode his Iurisdiction he sente him to Herode who was also at Ierusalem at that time HEre may we see by the Iewysh priests elders what cōmeth of sentences decyded determined before the iudgemēt be geuē They had at once cōspired the death of Christ yea they adiudged hym to death and therefore they thinke it not mete that their iudgemente should be counted vniust and that there shuld be any farther inquisition made If he had not bene an euill doer say they we would not haue deliuered hym vnto thee Beholde with what vnshamefastnesse these moste wicked men doe speake going about to ouercome the iudge by their impudent cry So in these dayes sentences are determined and geuen vpon the Preachers of the gospell before their cause come before lawfull iudges If he were not say they an heretike and worthy to be condempned we would not haue taken him He hath done contrary to the counsels cōtrary to the ordinaunces of the fathers He is a troubler and a deceauer c. By these cryes they do preuent the mindes of the iudges that they should think it against equitie to make any more inquisition of those which are brought befor thē by by thei cōmaund thē to be had away The king of peace is falsly accused of seditiō and tumulte which studie of reforming of things getteth much displeasure of all men Vnder the pretence of thys wicked acte not only Christe but also almoste al the Prophetes are oppressed In that Christ was not killed of the Iewes but of the Gentiles that is to saye deliuered to the power of the Romaines The Euangelist declareth that it was not done rashly for Christ had foretold hys disciples that he should be deliuered to the Gentils They ioyne many accusations together that by arte a certayn craftines of the which some touched the Iewes others some Pilate the Gentiles al this was done to make Christ to be hated of all mē to alienate the mindes of all men frō him Pilate litle cared for their accusations which thei brought against Christ cōcerning theyr own law but he reuēgeth the cause of treasō thīkīg that that perteyneth to his office I woulde to God the princes which do persecute the Gospel would obserue this equitie towardes the godly whome they examine There is no cause why the magistrate should be affeard of the Gospell doctrine of Christ which abolisheth not the Magistrate but rather establisheth it teacheth true obedience ☞ And when Herode sawe Iesus he was exceding glad for he was desyrous to haue sene him of a long season bicause he had heard many thinges of hym he hoped to haue seene some signe done by him Thē questioned he with him of many thinges but he answered him nothing But the high priests scribes stode forth and accused him vehemently And Herode with hys men of warre despysed hym and whē he had mocked him clothed him with a white garment he sent him agayne to Pilate And the same day wer Pilate Herode made frēds together for before they were enemies one to an other LEt vs consider here the mekenes obedience of our hed and capitain who being him self innocēt is set before vniust iuges and tirauntes for vs trespassers The Lambe without spotte openeth not hys mouth when he is mocked and made a laughing stocke to a tyraunt whiche was not worthye to heare the most swete wordes of Christ the doctrine of the truth when as he was not desyrous of the truthe but rather curious of newe thynges Let vs learne of oure Maister that if we be at any time vniustlye accused if we be mocked despised we may be readye to suffer pacientlye all reproche for Christ and his truth Let vs not be reuengers of our owne glory name Let vs remembre that we be worthye of euerlasting reproch for we are nothing but a lompe of sinne Let vs seke our glorye in the crosse of Christ for it is the chiefest glorye to be out of estimaciō in thys world for christs sake There is no tyme of glory here If we can suffer reproches with Christ we shal also be partakers of hys glory He which was god sayth Paul made him self of no reputatiō taking vpō him the forme of a seruaunt became obedient vnto the Father euen to the death of the crosse wherfore the father hath exalted him brought him to most high glorye And hath geuen hym a name aboue euery name Therfore thei whiche wil be in dede glorious muste learne to suffer infamye reproches with Christ they muste also follow his humilitie obedience Let no man thinke that his glorye is diminished if that he humble him selfe serue others For by thys meanes his glorye is not diminished but made more noble How soeuer the vngodlye be at distance or discention in their minds one against another yet for al that in the persecuting of the truth of rightousnes thei cā agree togethers ☞ Thē Pilate called together the high priestes and the rulers and the people said vnto thē ye haue brought thys man vnto me as one that peruerted the people and behold I examining him before you do finde no faulte in thys man of these thinges whereof ye accuse hym No nor yet Herode for I sente you to him beholde there is nothing worthy of death done by him Then Pilate entred into the common hall agayne called Iesus and sayd vnto him Art thou the King of the Iewes Iesus
hym at all Thē came Iesus forth wearynge a crown of thorns a purple garmēt Pilate sayd vnto them behold the man Then when the highe priestes and officers saw him they cried sayyng Crucifye him crucifie him Pilate said vnto them Take ye him crucifye him for I finde no faulte in him The Iewes aunswered him we haue a law accordinge to our law he ought to dy bicause he made him selfe the sonne of God whē Pilate then hearde that worde he was the more afeard and went againe in to the common hall and sayde vnto Iesus whence art thou But Iesus gaue him no aunswere Then sayde Pilate vnto him speakest thou not vnto me Knowest thou not that I haue powre to crucify the and haue also power to lose the Iesus āswered thou couldest haue no power at all against me excepte it wer geuen thee from aboue Therefore he that deliuered me vnto thee hathe the greater synne from thense forthe Pilate sought to lose Iesus but the Iewes cried saying if thou lose this man thou arte not Ceasars frende Whosoeuer maketh himselfe a kyng speaketh agaynste Ceasar PIlate is a figure of a tyrannous and negligente iudge bearing a certayne shewe of righteousnesse whē as in dede he hath not so much regard to it So often tymes we outwardly shewe one thing and inwardly in oure hart meane an other thing He would haue saued Iesus so that it might be done with Ceasars fauoure and the Iewes But if his hart had bene inflamed with the desire of Iustice he would not haue defended an innocent so carelessely and coldly but stoutly and vpryghtly A iudge ought not to haue a respect to the fauoure or displeasure of men but vnto the rule of equitie and lawe They which be softe and weake doe by litle and litle slippe till at the length they declyne altogether from the ryght waye Whiche we may see by Pilate who for that he doth not constantly prosecute that whiche he knew to be ryght is compelled at the length to geue sentence agaynst an innocent his own conscience accusing him to the contrary in cōdempning of whom he condempneth him selfe when as he saith with arrogant boasting that he hath power to lose Christ Whom the Lord doth gentelly reprehend Rom. 13. declaring vnto hym that no man can doe any thyng but so farforth as the Lord shall permitte And bycause that al power is of God therfore a Magistrate ought not to abuse the same power to oppresse innocentes with all euen as they lust them selues Also this is a comforte vnto vs when as we know that mē cā do nothing vnto vs though they bee neuer so cruell but so muche as the Lorde shall permitte them Thys must we also marke that the Father dyd laye our sinnes vpon Christe therefore Christ was scourged for oure synnes by whose stripes we are healed by whose woundes oure woundes are cured He offereth hys backe to them whiche stryke hym and hys cheakes to them whiche buffet hym Esay 53. Esay 20. Let vs therefore with griefe remember the hepe of our synnes which Christ suffred for in hys bodye beinge despysed and put to shame that he myghte deliuer vs from euerlastyng shame and punyshmente Let vs also make readye oure backe and oure whole bodye to beare stripes for hym whiche hath loued vs with so great a loue Iesus holdeth his peace geuing an example to the Godlye that they shoulde not greatly indeuour to excuse or deliuer them selues when they shoulde suffer death for the truth ☞ And when Pilate hard that worde he broughte Iesus forthe and satte down for to geue iudgemente in the place which is called the paued place and in Hebrew Gabarha And it was the preparation of the passeouer almost about the sixt hower he saied vnto the Iewes behold your king But they cryed awaye with him awaye with him crucifye him Pilate sayd vnto them shal I crucify youre kyng The high priestes aunswered we haue no kyng but Cesar And the hygh priests with the elders accused him of many thinges And when he was accused of the chiefe priests and elders he aunswered nothing Thē said Pilate vnto him dost thou not here how many witnesses thei brīg agaīst thee And he āswered him not to one word after the insomuch that the gouernor marueyled gretly Now at the feast the gouernour was wont to delyuer vnto the people a prisonner whome they woulde And they had at that time a notable prisonner cal-Barrabas which was in prisō with the authors of a sediciō in the which sedicion they had cōmitted murther when they were gathered then together that the people made a noyse he begā to requir them instātly that he might do as he had alwayse done vnto them Therfore Pilate said vnto them whether wil ye that I lose vnto you Barrabas or Iesus which is caled Christ for he knew ful wel that they hadde delyuered hym for enuye THe Iewes desyred nothing so much as to recouer theyr King But nowe these moste wicked persons doe dissemble that stoutly to destroy Christ whiche tolde thē that he was a king which was that king that was promised vnto them Of which king also there are amongest the Gentiles which witnessed of him For thus writeth Suetonious in the life of Vespasion There spred thoroughoute the whole east an olde and constante opinion that it was destimed that at that time Iury should obtayne the dominion of thinges The Iewes applying that to them selues which was forespoken of the Romaine Emperoure as it appeared in the end rebelled and slewe their president Moreouer they droue awaye the Liuetenant of Siria comming to succoure the gouernour and ouerthrewe the Romaines standerd Thus farre writeth he Where agayne we may learne also the lightnes and inconstancye of the common people when he fed them they would haue made him a King when he inueigheth against theyr peruerse manners they desire to haue him crucified He is therefore a foole and a mad man that sticketh to the fauour of men Thei preferre a thiefe a murtherer before Christ an innocent which is cōmonly sene now a dayes yea amongest those whiche are called by the name of Christ when as varlets and vngodlye men despisers of the truth religion and all godlynes are promoted to the gouernaunce of the common wealth and to common offices but they whiche are honest and simple men are despised And where suche things are done most hardest things are to be loked for to suche common wealthes what shoulde we hope for any other thing when as vngodly men are promoted If so be the a maide clothed with a white garment woulde beleue that she coulde kepe her clothes white amōgst the middest of colliers Shoulde shee not make her self a laughing stocke to all mē And what other thyng is an vncorrupte senate then a certayne vndefiled Virgin decked with moste pure silke And if thou ioyne vnto the same corrupte and naughtie men then is it
more he feeleth consolation the lesse doth the burthen of afflictions trouble him It is pleasaunt to all fleshe to receaue grace or consolation in aduersities but wholly to denye him self and to seeke neyther in him self nor without him selfe any thing but God only in al things Here is the workâ— here is the labour This finally declareth him to be a stoute souldier of Christ Let it not therefore be greuous to vs if we bee forsaken of all men yea and of our most derest frends This is not one dayes worke but it requyreth a longe and continual fight if a maÌ„ wil ouercome him selfe and cleaue only to God A man is hardened by afflictions so that all thynges be they neuer so paynfull will be easye Let vs not therfore despayre if the Lord somtimes hide away withdrawe hys ayde and comforte from vs. Thys is no newe or rare thing to those which are exercised in the waye of God and in the spiritual battayle Courses of thynges are altered so that after rayne and tempestes followeth most pleasaunte fayre weather and calmes The Lord is neuer vnmyndfull of hys how so euer he dissemble sometymes whiche is myghtie to comforte vs after oure longe temptation and that with a great increase of spirituall ioy Wherfore the saintes complayne in their extreme aduersities that they be forsaken of god when as yet for all that in the meane tyme they dispaire not but desyre helpe of God so much the more feruently as they doe acknowledge them selues to bee more forsaken nothyng doubting but that God wil be present in tyme and shew forth hys power in theyr weakenes We must therefore according to the example of Christe stande stedfaste in afflictions neyther muste we come downe from the crosse how so euer our enemyes rage or bee woode agaynste vs. We shall see streyght waye God will ayde vs from aboue He is ready to succor them which fyghte and hope in hys grace And althoughe he seeme somtymes to vs to deferre or to bee a slepe thys is done to geue vs an occasion to fyght so by that meanes to ouercome These thynges happen vnto vs from oure moste pitifull Father to trye our fayth and to teache vs to acknowlede our weakenes to flye vnto him and to requyre helpe of him Let their doctrine therefore be put awaye from the Churche of Christ whiche affyrme Christ to haue dispayred vpon the crosse But let vs rather thynke thus that the heauenly Phisition tooke vpon him self al euils for vs Heb. 2. that we myght acknowledge that we haue a faithful high priest which can be sicke with them whiche bee sicke and to haue compassion of oure infyrmitie Christ soroweth with them which are sorowfull and the hed powreth out his complaynte for the members which are sicke This voyce is of the fleshe whiche feleth payne yet doth it not rebell nor dispayre Innocent flesh feleth extreme payne a moste holy bodye feleth moste greuous torment which is so wonderful great that euen the insensible creatures beare witnesse that they be sorowfull concernyng a certayne horror for the death of theyr creator Christ expresseth thys vnmeasurable griefe by â—xample and graue wordes ☞ Afterward when Iesus knewe that all thinges were finyshed that the scriptur might be fulfilled he said I thirst And there was set a vessel ful of vineger and they filled a sponge with vineger and ysope and put to hys mouthe Then when Iesus had receaued the vineger he sayde it is finyshed THere is no member in Christ withoute paine and torment Wherin we may perceaue partly the loue of the father which put hys Sonne so forth to all euils for vs and partly the cruelty and ingratitude of the Iews God hath not spared hys owne Sonne sayeth Paule but hath deliuered hym for vs al. The heauenly Phisition setteth before vs a remedy against the disease of our first parents who by the prouocation of the apple would satisfie their appetite whereby synne hath flowed into vs all Christ therfore woulde not offend with his tonge that he might heale thys disease teaching in the meane tyme all the Godly to temper them selues from the delicatenesse pleasures of the body wherby the feare of god doth almost growe out of vse in the hartes of men In that he sayeth it is finyshed he declareth that whatsoeuer thynges were Prophecied of him in the law and Prophetes are now finyshed For al did demoÌ„strate Christ the shaddowes and olde figures were put oute when Christ the true light shined Of the which thing we haue spoken more aboundauntlye in other places Let vs learne here that our saluation is finished in Christ and let vs not seke it any further in other things besides Christ There remayneth nothing whiche can be added vnto it eyther by the Pope or by any creature Thys is left that we should followe the accomplisher of our fayth constantly and stoutely and to abide in our calling euen to the end 2. Tim. 4. 1. Gor. 9. that we may at the length say with Paule I haue fought a good fighte I haue finished my course I haue kept the fayth and that we runne not as in an vncertaine course but that we may win the price ☞ And Iesus cried with a loude voice Father into thy handes I committe my spirite And when he had sayde thus he bowed hys hed and gaue vp the Ghost THe lyfe of al mortall men dieth vpon the crosse as touching the flesh opening vnto vs by his death the way of life and deuouring death by his death An innoceÌ„te dyeth for wicked meÌ„ a laÌ„be wtout spot is made a most acceptable sacrifyce vnto the father for our sinnes Let vs pore wretches therfore flye vnto so healthful a death and draw out our life there Furthermore let vs also learne to dye dayly to the the affections of the flesh we must cast away the world and those thinges which are in the worlde that beynge cleane from the contagiousnes of the world so beynge naked we may follow Christ naked in whome hereafter we must both liue and dye we must offer our selues wholy vnto him which hath offred himselfe for vs in whose mercye we puttinge our trust let vs commend our soules to the father which is a true God hath redemed vs. ☞ And beholde the vayle of the temple was rent into two partes from the top to the botome and the earth did quake and the stones were clouen the graues wer open and many bodies of the saintes which slept arose and came oute of the graues after his resurrection and wente into the hollye citye and appeared to many But when the Centurion and they which were with hym watching Iesus saw the erth quake the things that were done they feared greatly saying trulye this was the sonne of god For when the CenturioÌ„ which stode ouer against hiÌ„ saw that which happened and that he thus crienge gaue vp the Ghost he glorified God
for how can a man hope for the same thing that he seeth Roma viii Therefore we wayte for that by pacience which we see not but onely beleue hope for Let vs be exercised in the meane time vnder the crosse so shal we continually be made perfect by his spirit being hated oppressed in the world that we may the soner aspire vnto our father be very desirous to come to our heauenly coūtrey Heb 13. Titus ii We are straūgers in this world we haue here no abiding citie but we looke for one to come wayting for that blessed hope appearīg of the glory of the great God our sauior Iesus Christ i. Iohn iii ii Cor. iii. And we knowe that whē he appeareth we shal be like vnto him bycause we shal see him as he is and we al representing the glorye of the lord in a glasse with vncouered face are transformed into the same Image frō glory to glorye as it were by the spirite of the Lorde This is signified shewed before as it were in a certayn figure in that Christ openeth him selfe after his resurrection by litle litle leasurely by certain degrees as we see in the women in the trauellers of Emaus in the disciples Sometime he appeareth in the forme of a straūger holdeth their eyes that thei knew him not sometime he talketh with Marye in forme of a gardener sometime he sendeth hys Aungell vnto them sometime he offreth hym selfe to be sene and handled openly sometyme he forbiddeth them to handle him sometime he appeareth at Ierusalem sometime in Galile till he openly ascended into heauen al doubt set asyde they loking vpon him sent his spirite fully vnto them from aboue So God oftentimes deferreth and will not be sene by and by and being called vpon sendeth not succoure strayght waye that our hartes mighte be kindled more more our fayth shine forth more brighte Who vnderstandeth not that Mary Magdalene was pulled away frō Christ with an euil wil whē as he sent her to the Apostels For vndoubtedly shee woulde haue gladlier abiden longer with Christ satiated her minde with the contemplacion fruition of him But it was more necessary to serue her neyghbor that that ioye and so wonderfull comfort shuld also be brought to the Apostles Whereby we learne that we can not fully haue the commoditie of the contemplacion of the Godhead whilst we liue here but we had neede to serue oure neighbour by charitie Paule acknowledging thys writeth vnto the Philippians after thys sorte What to chose I knowe not Phillip i. for I am constrayned of these two thinges I desire to be loosed and to be with Christ which is much and farre better Neuerthelesse to abide in the fleshe is more nedefull for you And the woman entred into the sepulchre found not the body of the Lord Iesus And it happened as thei wer amased therat behold two mē stode by thē in shining garments And as they were affrayed bowed downe theyr faces to the earth thei said vnto them why seeke ye the liuyng among the dead He is not here but is risen Remember howe he spake vnto you wen he was yet in Galile saying That the sōne of mā must be deliuered into the hands of sinneful men be crucified the thirde daye rise agayn And they remembred his words returned frō the sepulchre tolde al these thinges to the eleuen to al the rest And as they wer going to tel it to the disciples beholde Iesus met thē saying Al hayle And they came held him by the fete and worshipped him Then sayed Iesus vnto thē be not affeard Go tell my brethren that they go into Galile there they shall see me And it was Mary Magdalene Ioanna others that were with them whiche tolde the Apostles these things And their words semed vnto them fained things neither beleued they them DIuerse wayes doth Christe as I haue sayd before declare that he is risen from death in deede but yet to those oute of whose hartes the feare of the crosse had not altogether shakē of Christ which sought hym with a feruent fayth Charitie is diligent neuer ceasseth they go often to one place looke againe being desirous to serue Christ Whose feruentnes doth put to shame our sluggishnes They seke one absent being very desirous of him we eyther disdayne Christ being presente in the poore or els we thinke scorne to bestowe a litle of our money vpon thē They spare no laboure nor coste we are so addicted to thinges that we can let thē go empty away The Lord therefore doth not frustrate the desire of these godly womē but meteth thē saluteth thē frendly offreth him selfe to be felte of thē finallye he comforteth them All these things are done that their weake faith might be strengthened Let vs not doubt therefore at all but that the Lord wil be with vs and comfort vs whē we are in afflictions and temptacions So that we seke the lord and cease not till we fynde hym And behold two of them went the same day to a castle called Emaus whiche was about threscore furlongs distant frō Ierusalē And thei talked betwene thē of al these things that had happened And it came to passe as thei were in talking and reasoning together Iesus also him selfe drewe nere went with them but theyr eyes were holden that they knew him not And he said vnto thē what manner of talke is thys whiche ye haue together as ye walke and be so sad And one of them aunswered whose name was Cleophas and sayd vnto him Arte thou only a straunger in Ierusalem and knowest not the things that are happened there in these dayes To whom he answered what thinges And they sayd vnto him of Iesus of Nazareth whiche was a Prophete mighty in dede and word before god and al the people And how the high priests and our rulers deliuered him to be condemned to death and haue crucifyed hym But we hoped that it had bene he whiche shoulde redeme Israell And nowe as touching al these thynges this is the thyrde day since these thyngs are done yea and certayne women also of our company amased vs which came to the sepulchre before daye lyghte finding not hys body came and sayed that they had seene a vision of Aungels which sayed that he is on lyue And some of them whiche were with vs went vnto the sepulchre and founde it euen so as the women had saide but him they saw not THe same daye namely in the which the Lord had risen Luke 10. two of these seuenty disciples whom the Lorde whē he was yet liuing had chosen wente forth It appeareth that these disciples woulde haue fled for feare namelye of the persecution which they supposed to be at hande This historye also teacheth that it was true which Christ promised namely that he
whose death our synnes dye and perishe Michel v. i. Pet. ii Hebr. xiii Then let vs remeÌ„ber what this capitayne and emperour of our life dothe sette before vs which is geuen vnto vs of God the father not onely for a redemer but also a foregoer and guide of the way that we reiecting all thinges might follow his steps and hauyng our eies fixed vpon him Rom. viii might folow him without the walles of the castel bearing the reproche which he had we might be made semblable vnto the Image of the sonne of god vtterly denieng all vngodlinesse Ad Tit. ii and hurtfull desires Rom. vi yea denying our selues let vs beare the crosse after him being grafted in his deth let vs mortifie the members which are vpon the earth and wheras before we haue set our myndes vpon vnrighteousnes let vs now endeuour our selues to righteousnes and holynes Neither is Christ a painted or graueÌ„ example and so dead but a liuely example and of efficacy which doth shine in the faithfull and is expressed and worketh truely which dothe shew forth it selfe both in worde and in dede and in the whole actions of the life a liuely example I say and such as expresseth all heauenly vertues as charitie obedience modesty long suffring gentlenesse patience purenesse and constancie then which example there is none more perfite or absolute for what greater charitie can there be than for to suffer deth for his enemies neither was this in his childhode as the children were slaine of Herode neither died he after the manner of the riche or honourable men but he died a most filthye and vile death that is to say of the crosse and that betwene .ij. theues I meane he was put to suche a deth as wicked mischeuous men are beyng counted for a disceauer Moreouer Christ toke vpon him in himself whatsoeuer is hard vile and troublesome in this world This I say did Christ choose and toke it vpoÌ„ himselfe for vs lest the flesh might haue any occasion of complaynte Men wyl suffer any thing so that they may escape deth but Christ besides all euils suffred death and that a most bitter deth he despised whatsoeuer is great precious in this worlde he chose and suffred whatsoeuer is vnpleasaunt and euill vnto the flesh as pouerty reproche infamye rebukes blasphemies stripes bonds wouÌ„ds finally death to th end that we mighte learne to despise the world with all his entisementes and to suffer all aduersitie for him with ioye For we cannot approche to heauenly thinges except we cast away despise earthly things he which loueth the world caÌ„not loue god he which despiseth the world whatsoeuer is in the world sauoureth eternal things things of god No aduersitie caÌ„ trouble or throw douÌ„ such a maÌ„ no prosperitie caÌ„ puffe him vp humility obedieÌ„ce haue nede of his exaÌ„ple which being god desceÌ„ded toke vpoÌ„ him our infirmitie being obedieÌ„t vnto the father eueÌ„ to the death By these thinges which we haue forespokeÌ„ I thik it is manifest inough after what sort the deth of Christ should be meditated of vs what is set before vs to be learned by the same what it is to haue grief with him namely to follow his steps which coÌ„mitted no sin neither was ther fouÌ„d any guilem his mouth which being railed on with euil wordes i. Pet. â—â— replied not euil words again being troubled with euils he threatened not but referred the vengeance to him which iudgeth iustely let vs also learn the like things that we may be strong without feare coÌ„staÌ„t if any thing be to be suffered for Christ his sake for the truth and for righteousnesse that with a couragious minde we maye beare reproches rebukes and deathe that there be nothing so hard nothing so greuous â—om viii which we should not be ready to beare for him This is to bee made like fashioned vnto Christ to suffer that which he suffered to do that which he did to glory and reioyce if any thing happen to bee suffered for Christ for god forbid that we should seeke any other glory in this worlde Rom. v. then in the crosse of our lorde Iesus Christ Gala. vi by whome the worlde is crucified vnto vs and we to the world ii Cor. vi ii Cor. iiii ii Cor. v. whose markes lette vs beare in our bodies in muche suffring in afflictions in necessities in tribulations in stripes in imprisonmeÌ„ts in seditions in labor in watching in fasting in purenesse c. We are alwayes deliuered vnto the deathe for Iesus sake that the lyfe of Iesus might be made manifest in our flesh The loue of god doth constraine vs that we diligently weying this that if one man died for all men then all we before were deade and that one died for all that they which liue hereafter might not liue to themselues but to him which died and rose againe for them Let vs neuer therefore be weary ii Cor. iâ—â—â— for although our outward man be corrupted the inwarde man neuerthelesse shal be renewed euery day for the smalnesse of our affliction which endureth but a very smal time shall get vnto vs an euerlasting weight of glory aboue measure i. Pet. iiii so that in the meane time we regard not those thinges which we see that is to say whiche dure but for a tyme but those thinges which are not sene that is to say eternall thinges Wherfore seing Christ hath suffered for vs in the fleshe Let vs also be armed with the same cogitation that he which suffreth in the fleshe hath ceassed from sinne for this purpose that now he shuld not lyue according to the lustes of the fleshe the rest of the time which is in the flesh but according to the wil of god let it suffice vs that we al our life tyme before haue liued accordyng to the manner of Gentiles when as we were conuersant in wantonnesse in lustes dronkeÌ„nes gluttony bibbings and bancketings and in detestable worshipping of ymages let vs not meruaile as though some new thing hapned vnto vs if that we be tried by fier for this is done to trye vs withal but let vs reioyce that God thinketh vs worthye to suffer any thing for hym and that we shoulde bee made parteners of Christ his afflictions in the reuelation of whose glory we shal also ioy with great reioising if we suffer rebukes slaunders for the name of Christ we are blessed bicause the glory and spirit of god remayneth vpon vs. For if we haue died with Christe we shal also liue with him â—â— Tim. ii Rom. vi if we haue suffred with him we shal also raign with him no man is crowned but he whiche lawfully wrestleth Let vs therfore suffer afflictioÌ„ as good souldiors of Christe whiche haue made promise to Christ in the sacrameÌ„t of baptisme â—â—b xii being apointed to go on his warfare grafted
in his deth Therfore let vs not be wrapped with the businesse of this life lette vs not be defiled with worldly desires let vs run by patience in the battell which we haue set before vs hauing an eie to Iesus which is the capitaine of faith and finisher who setting before himselfe ioye suffred the crosse contemning reproches and rebukes let vs diligently consider that he suffred such gainsaying of synners that we beyng weried in our myndes should not faynt Let vs thinke how vile a thing it is to shrink away from such a capitayne or for vs to bee so sluggish when as he fighteth so strongly so valiauntly Let vs consider how euil it becommeth the members to be proud high minded and enuious when as the hed doth so huÌ„ble it selfe and is so feruent in charitie Let vs also weighe how great infamy it is for a capitaine to take vpon him so many woundes lastly of all death ii Tim. ii Act. xiiii Eccle. ii Iacob i. Ioan. xiii the souldiors to be a slepe and geue themselues to rioring whosoeuer therfore will liue godly in Christ Iesus must prepare themselues to suffer persecutions and by many tribulacions must striue to come to euerlasting life they must abyde in the feare of god and prepare their myndes to temptations and kepe theÌ„selues pure froÌ„ this world Christ hath geueÌ„ vs an exaÌ„ple that we shuld do euen as he hath done Luke 22. ¶ Now the feaste of vnleauened bread drew nighe which is called the Passeouer namely after two daies IT was commaunded vnto the Iewes that on the feaste daye of the Passeouer Exod. xii xiii xiiii when they did eat the lambe they should eate vnleauened cakes 7. dais after which figure Paul openeth in the 1. Cor 5 sheweth that we must purge the old leaueÌ„ for that a littel leaueÌ„ doth leaueÌ„ al that is mingled with It is meete for such as ar born of new by Christ to liue a new innoceÌ„t life that they may be as it wer a certain new dough vnleauened For our Passe ouer Christ saith he is offred vp a lamb without spot Let vs therfore celebrate this festiuall day not with old leauen neither with the leaueÌ„ of malice wickednesse but with bread wantyng leauen that is with sinceritie and truth The Passeouer of the Iewes hathe a figure of the libertye whiche should come by Christ for euen as in the old tyme god saued the children of Israel in Egipte froÌ„ the murther with which the Egiptians were punished namely whose doores were sprinckled with the bloud of the Lambe and after that he led them forth with a mightye arme safe and sound thorow the red sea and so deliuered theÌ„ from the most greuous yoke of Pharao So also he saueth those by Christ whiche beleue from euerlasting deth and hath deliuered theÌ„ froÌ„ the power of darkenesse traÌ„sferryng them into the kingdome of his beloued son Colo. i. by whoÌ„ they haue redemptioÌ„ namely remission of sinnes by his bloude Iohn i. and this is the cause why Christ would die at this time that we might vnderstand that is that lambe of god whiche should take away the sinnes of the world and they which are washed with his bloud shuld be safe froÌ„ the destroyer Iohn iii. for so God loued the worlde that he gaue his onely begotten sonne â—or it that euery one whiche beleued in hym might not perishe but haue life euerlastyng Iohn v for they which do beleue in Christe doe come vnto no iudgemeÌ„t or punishmeÌ„t but haue passed froÌ„ deth to life yea although thei wer dead yet shall they haue life in him which is the resurrection and life But where as Marke saieth it was Easter and Mathew Iohn â—â— after two daies shal be Easter Luke expoundeth it and saith the festiuall day of the Passeouer drewe â—ere or was at haÌ„d that is it should be shortly namely after ij dayes It is therfore a preueÌ„ting of the time But the feast of the Passeouer by Iohn doth seme to be the day followyng the eatyng of the Lambe So the daies of swete bread are put for the Passeouer bicause they came both togethers ¶ Then the highe priestes and the elders were gathered together in the house of the high priest whose name was called Caiphas consulting togethers howe they might take him and kill him by guile but they feared the people and therfore thei said amoÌ„gst themselues not on the feast day lest peradueÌ„ture there be a commotion made by the people THen this woorde then is not referred vnto the time in the whiche he speaketh these thinges but to the tyme wherein they were gathered together The audacitie of the flesh is here to be noted which wheÌ„ it goeth about to lye in wait against the truth it consulteth diuers wayes and in those counsels choseth and obserueth occasion and tyme for the purpose Wherfore then they lay theyr heds together when as the people were busily occupied in preparyng of the lambe They which resist the truth do assemble lay theyr wittes together Psal ii against their lord to destroy him bicause he was contrary to their works They inuente diuers causes to accuse hym withal knowing that as sone as he were takeÌ„ all the people woulde forsake him But howe impudent so euer the flesh is it feareth neuerthelesse where as nothing is to be feared For wheÌ„ they had agreed that he should not be takeÌ„ on the festiual day yet neuerthelesse by the ordinaÌ„ce of god he was takeÌ„ on the feast day that without any vprore that hapneth ofteÌ„times vnto the wicked which they feare yea which they seke by al means possible to auoid This we may perceaue in the couÌ„sel of Caiphas who thought it better that one should be takeÌ„ away thaÌ„ that the whole natioÌ„ should perish and furthermore if Christ should be taken away to take hede that the Romanes shoulde not oppresse them But whilest these folishe men do auoyde one vice they runne into the contrary The Iewes hoped that if Christe were rid out of the way that then the people wuld forsake him but after the deth of Christ many more beleued came vnto Christe thaÌ„ there did before when as in one daye manye thousandes receaued the faithe They feared lest if Christ liued the Romanes would haue taken away their countrey and nation which hapned vnto them 40. yeares after So God derideth the counsels of the vngodly bryngeth to passe that they are snared and takeÌ„ in their owne counsels And the selfe same thing in our dayes doth the Pope the Cardinals the Bishoppes the Monkes and euill senators but they hide their counsels yea they adorne them with the title of honesty religioÌ„ ¶ And SathaÌ„ had entred into the hart of Iudas Iscariot which was one of the xii he weÌ„t his way to the chief priests magistrates eueÌ„ with this mind to betray him vnto theÌ„
and let vs abyde in him by faithe and he in vs by loue let vs do and suffise all thinges for him which died for our sakes ¶ And when supper was done when the diuell had put in the hart of Iudas Simon Iscariot to betray him Iesus knowing that his father had geuen him all thinges into his haÌ„des and that he came from God should go vnto God he rose from supper and put of his garmentes and when he hadde taken a linnen towell he girded himselfe with it then he poured water into a basen and began to washe the fete of hys disciples and to wype them wyth the lynnen towell wherewyth he was girded GOd setteth before vs in Christ an example which oughte neuer to goe out of our sight namely of all vertues Let vs consider his vnspeakable charitie ioyned wyth a singuler humilitie God therfore teacheth vs in Christ charitie humility liberality gentlenesse strength long suffring and constancie Let vs do good vnto all men both to our freÌ„des and to our enemies neyther let vs looke for any other thyng for our benefits then hatred and most greuous persecutioÌ„ Yet let vs not in the meane while be drawne away from doyng good neither let vs at any tyme cease This is that which Paule saith al that will liue godly in Christ Iesus must suffer persecutioÌ„ He which amoÌ„gest mortal men wil planâ— vertues and set forth righteousnes must put forth himselfe wholy to the hatred of all men and must vowe him selfe for rightuousnesse and eueÌ„ as Christ could not be plucked away by no reproches or hatred i. Thes iâ—â— from rightuousnesse and truth from charitie and wel doing but that he obeied the father euen to the deth and constaÌ„tly suffered whatsoeuer the vngodly didde vnto him loued his so wel vnto the end So also must al the godly do They must constantly go forward to do good in the myddest of all euels neither must they faynt or be wery at any time as ouercome wyth the hatred of euill men Christ loued and did good euen vnto his death he serued and profited all men and therby got nothing but extreme hatred and most cruell death To departe out of this world and go to the father is a periphrasis of his death as though he would say Iesus knowing that he should dye nowe but as we haue tolde you the Hebrew periphrasis haue great emphases and are of more efficacy than if the sentence had ben set forth plainly and wtout figure What is to dye For by these woordes he sheweth declareth a great consolatioÌ„ vnto the faithful namely that the deth of the faithfull is no other thing but to leaue the worlde â—nd to go to God And is not this a great coÌ„solation to leaue the world that is al wickednesse all infidelitie al labour and affliction to go vnto God which is the most good and also the most louing father who woulde not reioyce when he heareth this that by deathe he is deliuered from al euils and endued with all good thinges And to the christians to die is no other thing than to leaue the world and to goe vnto God whereas otherwyse if we shuld die without Christ deth were the most terriblest thing that could be vnto all fleshe The Euangelist therefore by these wordes doth make death pleasant and acceptable and doth declare what death also what the pain of sin is made vnto vs by the death of Christ namely the end of all euils and the beginning of a new and euerlasting life Therfore worthely saith Dauid that the death of the saints is precious in the sight of God wheÌ„ as in the meane time the death of sinners is moste yll The farther we departe from the worlde so much the nerer we come vnto God Agayne the more we come and addicte our selues vnto the worlde the more we departe from God betwene these two there is no meane neither maiest thou cleaue to both of them but in that the Euangelist doth say that the diuel did put this treason into the hart of Iudas he doth it to declare that these wicked deedes and mischiefes are done by the diuel as of the author of them that is to say by his instrumeÌ„ts For in dede there be in man certain good affectioÌ„s created of God but by mans faulte they are corrupted and made euill as the couetous desire of thinges These affections dothe the diuell snatche vnto himselfe and draweth vnto hym whatsoeuer he catche and vseth them at his owne pleasure So that which is created good in vs of God the deuill draweth to our destruction He put of his garments c. It is a kind of speaking which describeth the thing manifestlye and as it were setteth it beefore our eyes ¶ Then he came vnto Simon Peter and Peter said vnto him wilt thou washe my feete Iesus aunswered what I do thou knowest not now but thou shalt know hereafter Peter said vnto hym Thou shalte neuer washe my feete Iesus aunswered If I washe thee not thou shalt haue no part with me Simon Peter saide vnto him Lord not onelye my feete but also my handes and my head Iesus sayd vnto hym He that is washed hath no nede but to washe his feete but is altogether cleane and ye be cleane but not all for he knew which of them shoulde betray him and therfore he sayd ye be not all cleane HEre is set forthe in Christ an example of singuler charitie and humilitie in Peter the blindnesse and curiosity of humain wisdom Christ perfourmeth the same in dede which he had taught in worde for in the eleuenth chapter of Mathew The submission of the mynde he saith learne of me bicause I am meke and humble in hearte he therfore expresseth humilitye in him selfe for what greater a basenesse can there be than for the sonne of God and the Kyng of Kinges to humble himselfe to the feete of his seruantes â–ª Let vs hereby learne to throwe downe our selues to attribute nothing to our selues and to boast nothing at all yea and loke how much the more in estimation we bee so muche the more let vs humble our selues So sayeth Paul in the xij to the Romanes ij to the PhilippiaÌ„s But in Peter is declared the stubbornnes of the flesh which inquireth after captiue al things curiously neither doth it obey God but his owne reason but it should haue made his vnderstaÌ„ding vnto the obedieÌ„ce of Christ Peter vnderstode what Christ would do for he did se that he would wash his feete but he vnderstode not what Christ meÌ„t by this washing Therfore Christ saieth that whiche I do that is that which I entend thou knoweâ—â— not that is thou vnderstandest not thou perceiuest it not we are so dul and so sluggish that after we haue sene things done it is loÌ„g before we can vnderstaÌ„d them neither do we know what they mean God ofteÌ„times signifieth by som outward thing that which at
aunswered hym sayest thou that of thy self or did other tel it thee of me Pilate aunswered am I a Iewe Thine own nation the high priestes haue deliuered thee vnto me What hast thou done Iesus answered my Kyngdome is not of thys world if my kingdome were of this world my seruauntes would surely fyght that I should not be deliuered vnto the Iewes but now is not my kingdome frō hence Pilate thē sayd vnto him art thou a king thē Thou sayest that I am a king For thys cause am I borne and for thys cause came I into the world that I should beare witnes to the truth euery one that is of the truth hereth my voyce Pilate said to him what is the truth whē he had saide that he wente oute agayn vnto the Iewes and said vnto them I fynde in hym no cause at all But ye haue a custome that I shoulde deliuer you one loose at che passeouer wil ye therfore that I lose vnto you the King of the Iewes Then cryed they all agayne saying not hym but Barrabas Nowe thys Barrabas was a thiefe whiche was in prison with the authors of an insurrection made in the citie wherin was murther committed Thē Pilate spake vnto them agayn willing to let Iesus lose But they cried saying Crucifye crucifie him And he sayd vnto them the thyrd time what euil hath he done I fynde no faulte worthy of death in him I wil therefore chastise hym and let him lose PIlate at the firste sheweth a certaine semblaunce of Iustice and equitie for that he goeth about to deliuer an innocente and to pluck him out of their handes and he being an heathen man doth beare witnesse of the innōcency of Christ but he is vnconstant and wauering like a rede and he fowly goeth against his conscience being moued partly by feare partly by gredy desire to reygne He ought not to haue suffred that he whom he confessed to be innocente should be beaten of the souldiours and muche lesse to be crucified For bycause that Christ sayth that hys kingdome is not of this worlde the Anabaptistes abuse thys saying and would take away Magistrates from amongest Christians But they should marke that Christ speaketh of him selfe appoynteth the kingdome of the spirite Christ came not to possesse a kingdome in the world but to set forth an example of humilitie and obedience So in lyke case no Christiā mā ought in his mind to be desirous of a kingdome no though he be chosen to gouerne others So Christ was the king ouer the whole world as he is also at this day but he coueted not a kingdome for he came not therfore but for to Preach and yet for all that he denyed not him self to be a king but he desired no kingdome but only of consciences So all preachers ministers of the word ought to do For although thei be appointed ouer kingdomes princes Iere. 1. ◠Cor. 10. yet ought they by no meanes to make suite for thē as Ieremy saith but thei ought to gouerne consciences with the worde of God So Paule sayth that the weapons of our warfare ar not carnal but mighty through God to cast downe holdes by the which we ouerthrowe the deuises and euery high thyng that is exalted against the knowledge of God we leade euery thoughte captiue to the obedience of Christ and we haue in a redines vengeaunce against al disobedience We may boast in this authority whiche God hath geuen vs for edification and not for destruction I came for thys intent that I might beare witnesse to the truth as though he would say I came not to the end to reigne but to beare witnesse to the truth To beare witnesse of the truth is the Periphrasis of a Preacher To beare witnes to the truth So Iohn was sent to beare witnesse of the lyghte that is of the truth So Christ sayeth to his Apostels in the xv Chapter of Iohn and ye are my witnesses Also in the last of Luke thus it is written and thus it behoued Christ to suffer Iohn 1. and to arise agayn frō the dead the thyrd day that repentaunce remissiō of sinnes shoulde be preached in his name amongest al nations Luke 24 beginning at Ierusalē And ye be witnesses of these thinges not only in Ierusalē Act. 1. but also in al Iury Samaria finally vnto the vttermost part of the earth The father therfore sent the sonne into the worlde to beare witnesse vnto the truth that is to say to make hym selfe knowen of the world for he is the truth Iohn the .xviiij. chap. And who soeuer hath but euen a crome of the truth within him the same is begotten of him heareth his voyce Christ is not onely made equall with wicked persons but is cast muche more lower thē wicked persons For the thiefe is loosed but Christ is killed They geue a murtherer his life but they desyre to haue the author of lyfe crucified they chuse a thiefe and reiecte a Sauiour By the whiche we are taught not only the maliciousnesse of the Phariseies but also the inconstancye ingratitude of the common people It was not long before that they cried and sange Hosanna and extolled him riding vpon the Asse with great prayses saying blessed be he which commeth in the name of the Lord. Now they crie as faste again he is a deceauer Let him be crucified Let no man therfore hunt for prayse of the people Let no man glorye if the common people prayse hym The wauering and inconstante people is by and by perswaded vnto a contrarye sentence so he is cursed in deede that putteth his confidence in man Pilate beareth witnes more then once of the innocencye of Christ and saith that he doth fynde no cause of death in him He is therefore vniuste bycause he suffreth an innocent to bee whypped But he feared men more then God A iuste iudge ought not to punyshe the giltles to get the fauour of other mē The Romaines did put to death those whō they had beatē Although it semeth the Pilate dyd not beate Christ to the intent that he would put him to death but 〈◊〉 by this meanes he might deliuer hī frō death All these thinges are done by the prouidence of God that Christ might suffer all the punishementes which euen the most wicked do Here may we iudge the loue of god the father which thrusteth his well beloued only begottē sōne for vs vnto most greuous punyshmentes that we might also learne to beare pacientlye what things so euer shall happen vnto vs. ¶ Then Pilate tooke Iesus scourged him and the souldiors platted a crown of thorns and put it on hys heade and they clothed him wyth a purple garmente and sayde Hayle Kyng of the Iewes they buffeted him And Pilate went forth agayne sayd vnto thē behold I bring him forth vnto you that ye may know that I find no fault in
vnpossible but that the senate shoulde be steyned and corrupted Pilate wondereth not so muche at Christes silence as he doth bycause he defendeth not hys owne innocencye whom he knew to bee an innocente and to bee deliuered of enuye ☞ And as Pilate was syttyng to geue iudgement his wife sent vnto him saying haue thou nothiÌ„g to do with that iust man for I haue suffred many thinges this day in a dreame for him but the chief priests and the elders perswaded the people that thei should aske Barrabas and shoulde destroy Iesus Then the gouernour aunswered sayd vnto them whether of the twaine will ye that I let lose vnto you And they sayde Barrabas Pilate said vnto them what shal I do then with Iesus which is called Christ They said al vnto him let him be crucified wheÌ„ Pilate saw that he auailed nothing but that more tumult was made he tooke water and washed his handes before the people sayinge I am innocente of the bloud of thys iust man ye shall loke to it and al the pleople aunswered his bloud be vpon vs and our children Then he willing to satisfy the people losed vnto them Barrabas geuing sentence that it should be as they requyred And he deliuered Iesus to do with hym what they wuld to be crucified SOme ascribe vnto the suggestion of the deuill that Pilate is admonished by hys wyfe But I thynke that it was done of God bycause Pilate shoulde want no warnyng So he admonished Pharao very often tymes to see if he coulde reuoke him by any meanes from hys purpose that Goddes iustice myght be excused and oure malice vnexcusable God hys prouidence and goodnesse neuer waÌ„teth it neuer ceaseth but it reuoketh them which straye It alwayes geueth an occasion to departe from euell and to doe good Hys bloud be vpon vs say they whiche came to passe in dede but they speake these words in an other meaning They woulde by thys saying shew them selues to be innocentes so bold a thing is hipocrisie that it dare boast it self for an innocent when as it knoweth it selfe to bee most corrupt Pilate slippeth by litle and litle which knowing Christ to be most innocente to be deliuered of malice finding also no faulte in him doth for al that suffer an innocent to be most cruelly beaten with stripes to demened with al kynde of euils at the length to be punished with death Now he sayth Take ye him kil him And before he spake otherwise But a iust iudge ought not to do so but ought to defende him whom he knoweth to be an innocent or to punish him which is conuicte of hys cryme It auayleth nothing to wash the hands with water wheÌ„ as the conscience within is wounded Neyther will it serue to say looke ye to it yea he must loke to it which condemneth the iuste man and adiudgeth him to death also letteth loose him which is giltie If is not ynough to be once or twyse coÌ„staÌ„t vnlesse a man continue constantly in defending of iustice euen vnto the end neither ought he to be made affeard from doing ryght eyther with threatnings or elles with flatteryes A Iudge muste contempne both the hatred and the fauoure of all men he must fixe his eyes only vpon iustice and not to satisfye the will of the people TheÌ„ the soldiors of the gouernor toke Iesus into the common hall and there gathered about him the whole baÌ„d and when they had striped hym they put on him a scarlet Robe and they put on his hed a crown platted wyth thorns and a rede in his right hand and bowed theyr knees before him and mocked him saying hayle kyng of the Iewes and when they had spitte vpon him they tooke the rede and smote hym on the hed And when they hadde mocked hym they tooke away the robe from hym and put hys owne rayment on him and led him away to crucyfy hym And he bare hys crosse came into a place whyche is named the place of deade mens skulles and in Hebrew called Gâ—lgatha And as they led hym they toke one Symon of Ciren whyche came oute of the countrey and was the father of AlexaÌ„der Rufus vpoÌ„ hym they layd the crosse and compelled hym to beare the same after Iesus And there folowed him a greate multitude of people and women whych women bewayled and lamented hym But Iesus tourned backe and sayde vnto them Daughters of Ierusalem weepe not for me but weepe for your selues and for your chrildren for behold the dayes will come in the which men wil say blessed are the barrein the woÌ„bs that neuer bare and the pappes which neuer gaue suck Then shal they begyn to say vnto the mountayns fal vpon vs and to the hilles couer vs for if they do these things to a grene tree what shal be doone to the drye And there were two others whych were euel doers led with him to be slayne and when they came to the place whyche is called Caluarie there they crucifyed him the two other euell doers with him the one on the right hand and the other on the left and Iesus in the middest And the scripture was fulfilled which sayth he is counted with the wicked THe wonderfull great cruelty of the souldiors is described by the Euangelistes whether they were hyred of the Iewish priests to do it or whether they did it of their owne luste so that they are rather to bee counted beastes then men which haue so put away all humanitie Moste cruell wolues exercise their fiercenesse vpon a most meke Lambe neyther can they be satisfied with their outragiousnesse by any meanes they beate hym thei spitte vpon him they mocke him only they deuoure him not He which clotheth all thinges is striped out of hys clothes He whiche adorneth all things is made deformed The mekenesse of Christ is to bee marked whiche receaueth all reproche in hym selfe for vs bearyng his owne crosse to deliuer vs from euerlasting punishmente He tooke vpon him al our sinnes making satisfaction vpon the tree for them that we might knowe to whom we should flye on whom we should lay the burthen of our sinnes Come vnto me sayth he all ye that labour and are laden and I wil refresh you Learne of me bycause I am meke and humble of hart Take my yoke vpon you and ye shall fynde reste for your soules Let vs caste awaye therefore the burthens of our sinnes and submit our neckes vnder the commodious and lyghte yoke of the Lorde Let vs take vp our crosse and followe our capitayne and Prince by whom the world is crucified vnto vs we to the world Blessed is he whom the Lord exalteth to so great an honour to make hym companion with hym of hys crosse In that that they bewayle that the iust man is led forth whome before they requyred to haue put to death it setteth forth the inconstancye of the foolyshe common people and what it is to truste