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
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
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
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
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
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
and trouble To this praier he seeketh and chooseth out a place meete and conuenient for the same for prayer is a lifting vp of the minde in GOD which among the multitude of men and confusion of worldly matters cannot well bee done Therefore Christ sheweth vs what greate diligence wee ought to vse in prayer when the enemie falleth in that the minde maye cleaue vnto GOD constantly and without shrinking and what iesture the bodie ought to shewe in praier Christ also declareth in that hee falleth downe to the earth vppon his face and praieth with the voyce and words God hath no need of our praier but vnto vs is nothing more profitable and better than oft and feruently to pray And the greater the aduersitie is the more ardent and earnest should the praier bee as we see heere in Christ our head whose passion is verie great in bodie and in minde for the which cause also as a verie true man he sheweth the fame his passion and heauines to his Disciples The strongest of all is weake and the comforter of all harts hath need of comfort himselfe hee that expelleth all terror and feare doth himselfe feare and tremble But al this cōmeth to passe for our learning that whē we be in temptations we should not doubt in the helpe of God and that none of vs beeing in daunger and aduersitie and feeling himselfe loth to suffer or pensiue and slow to tame the motions and wickednes of the flesh should therefore shrinke and bee faint harted but with a constant faith to resorte vnto God complaining to him of his trouble with hartie praier that he will bring the hard and painful beginning to a blessed and ioyfull ende that in all aduersitie we may consider as well the excellent and great fruit which proceedeth thereof as also the gratious good will of our heauenly Father to whom we ought wholly and perfectly to giue ouer and offer vp our selues that neither through the multitude of sinnes neither through the greatnes of aduersitie we despaire nor fall away but with his helpe and assistance manfully to go through IEsus came againe to his Disciples and founde them sleeping Then saide hee vnto Peter Simon sleepest thou Couldest thou not watch with mee one houre Watch yee and pray that ye enter not into temptation the spirit is willing but the flesh is weake Doctrine and fruite THE loue of Christ towardes vs is feruent earnest and great but our flesh is so weake that we not onely consider it not but are also so slow that wee sleepe and feele not for whose sakes Christ hath suffered so great things Oft times is there in vs a ready will to take great matters in hande as Peter and the other Disciples did but at the last wee misse and haue many a sore fall Therefore Christ who knoweth vs better than we our selues willing to expell frō vs all pride and presumptuousnes teacheth vs to bee lowly minded and humble to bee euer watching with continual praier to cleaue only vnto him without whom we are able to do nothing and in whome we may do all things and euen so doth he also in his feeblenes which assaulted him as a very true man to the intent that wee alway remembring our owne weaknes might vnderstand how to tame the rebellious flesh in no case to trust it and that wee might bee carefull and vigilaunt least the subtill enemie in temptations come behind vs fall vppon vs and oppresse vs. It is no time to sleepe the battaile is yet a fighting the enemie is yet aliue and as yet beseegeth hee our castle that Christ hath in keeping All is full of snares and dangers which no man is able to escape saue onely hee which in feruent beleefe and prayer doth earnestly watch and stoutly fight yea and that continually vnto the end Neither the present anguish and trouble nor yet Christes exhortation can bring so much to passe in the Disciples as to keepe them from sleepe so little it helpeth where the spirite giueth not life Neuerthelesse Christes talke and admonition vnto his Disciples is not vtterly vnprofitable for that they nowe vnderstand not the same afterwardes when the spirite commeth is made playne and euident vnto them and then are they feruent and earnest in godly prayer Wherefore wee should neuer cease from comforting and exhorting the feeble and weake for though it helpe not at this present the houre shall come that the spirite will make it to haue life and to be fruitfull in them HE went foorth the second time and praied like as afore My father if this cup may not passe except I drinke it thy wil be done Then came he againe and found them sleeping for their eies were heauie they knew not what answere to make him So he left them againe and went and praied the third time like as afore and kneeled downe and said Father if thou wilt take away this cuppe from me Neuerthelesse not my will but thine be done And there appeared vnto him an Angell from heauen comforting him and when he was in the agonie distresse and conflict he praied the longer and his sweat was like droppes of bloud trickling downe to the ground And when he rose vp from praier and came to his Disciples hee found them sleeping for heauines and hee said vnto them What Sleepe ye Sleepe on now and take your rest It is enough vppe and pray that ye enter not into temptation Behold the houre approcheth and the son of man is betraied and giuen into the hands of sinners Vp let vs goe beholde hee that betraieth me is at hand Doctrine and fruite IN the perfect example and mirrour of our life Christ Iesus we find an earnest feruent loue a doctrine how wee ought to behaue our selues in aduersitie First wee see that Christ of an exceeding great loue taketh vpon himself al infirmities of mankinde and becommeth like vnto his brethren in all thinges sinne except beeing a very true man hee is therfore not ashamed before his disciples to acknowledge his infirmitie sorrow heauines and feare and to complaine thereof vnto his father A feare by reason of the death and passion hee receiueth as a verie man for not to feele trouble is not the nature of mā and passion is no passion if it smart not if it bee not felt Christ therefore both in his mind and body feeleth the passion hee feeleth the conflict of death albeit in wrastling withall he ouerthroweth it Oh the exceeding feruent loue of our head and foregoer Iesus Christ who for our helth commeth into so great an agonie and trouble that aboue naturall moysture through the fearefull conflict of the passion death he sheddeth his bloud and sweateth it but with hartie desire runneth he to his heauenly father to him complaineth he of his weaknes and distresse to him giueth he ouer himselfe in al obedience and contentation of mind of him also receiueth he comfort and strength In the
they tooke counsell bought with the same money a potters field to bury strangers in Wherfore the same field is called Acheldema that is the field of bloud vntill this day Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Ieremie the Prophet saying And they tooke thirtie siluer plates the price of him that was vâ—lued whom they bought of the children of Israel and gaâ—â— them for the potters field as the Lord appointed me Doctrine and fruite LIke as we haue had in Peter an ensample of the grace and mercie of God so haue we in Iudas a fearefull and terrible ensample of Gods righteousnesse In Iudas are described vnto vs all vnbeleeuing desperate persons whom the gracious God of his bottomlesse mercie calleth to his goodnes and seruice but they despise it and followe satan who blindeth them and entiseth them through manifold wickednes which they consider not but when they are come into the deepnesse of vice they force not of it The deuill also to whom they surrender themselues to serue and that hath taken possession of their heart blindeth them in such sorte that they ponder not the vilenesse grieuousnesse and greatnes of their sinnes till they haue fully finished the abhomination for if they did consider it they should repent amend How many louing admonitions had Iudas heard of the Lord to dissuade him from his purpose yet all could not helpe At the last openeth hee their eies that they repent but a godly repentaunce they receiue not They beholde the greatnesse and grieuousnesse of the sinne and offence but the greatnes of Gods mercie in Christ they see not by meanes whereof they despaire in theyr sinnes and are damned In the Priests that loath the bloud monie and yet abhorre not to shed the innocent bloud is set foorth before our eyes an ensample of all hypocrites which outwardly appeare to be good and vertuous and yet regard not the godlynes of the spirit A gnat choaketh them and a camell they swallow vp But vnto vs poore straungers and pilgrimes there is prepared and bought through the bloud of Christ a field and Church-yard that wee beeing washed cleane from our sinnes might find eternal rest to our soules Preserue vs O God from couetousnesse and despaire from false hypocrisie treason and bloushedding G lead vs not into temptation And whereas we haue sinned grant vs true fruitfull repentance that we neuer forget thy goodnes mercie but immediatly cease from sinne and serue thee continually vntill our end Amen IEsus stood before the deputie Then said the deputy what accusation bring ye against this man They answered said If he were not an euill doer we had not deliuered him vnto thee Then said Pilate vnto them Take yee him and iudge him after your law Then said the Iewes It is not lawfull for vs to put anie man to death that the saying of Iesus might be fulfilled which he spake signifieng what death hee should die Then began they to accuse him sayd We haue found this man peruerting the people forbidding to giue tribute vnto the Emperor naming himself to be Christ a king Pilate asked him said Art thou king of the Iews Then answered he and sayd Thou hast spoken it Then said Pilate to the chiefe Priests and to the people I 〈…〉 nor guiltines in the man Then were they more earnest and said he hath with his doctrine mooued the people to sedicâ—â—â— thorow out whole Iewrie beginning in Galilee and from thence hither vnto this place Nowe when Pilate heard of Galilee he asked if he were a Galilean And when hee perceiued that he was vnder Herods iurisdiction hee sent him vnto Herode who then was at Hierusalem Doctrine and fruite ALL they that hitherto from the beginning of the world haue at any time preached the truth were of the aduersaries noted and accused to be sedicious deceiuers of the people which thing was brought vpon them to rid them out of the way Hereof find we examples enow in the olde and new Testament Ieremy 26.32.38 3. Reg. 18. Amos 7. In Christ and his Apostles we see it euident Therefore haue wee no cause to giue ouer the truth for wee are no better than our maister And though wee bee complained vppon for the truthes sake it ought not greatly to greeue vs for as much as we see that the like happened vnto Christ in whose mouth there was neuer found guile Hee is set forth vnto vs for an example of most perfect patience We that be spirituail Disciples of Christ must goe vnto him to schoole and learne of him meeknes obedience patience and lowlines of mind Beholde our head standeth before an Hethenish vnrighteous Iudge wrongfully and sore is hee accused euen our â—â—uiour our king Lord yea euen he that is iudge 〈…〉 whole world Why should we then 〈…〉 for Gods sake to obey worldly 〈…〉 though they oppresse vs do vs wrong 〈◊〉 innocent as for vs we are in many things guiltie Neuer should the patience of Iesus slip out of our hearts Haue mercie vpon our impatiencie O mercifull Father and print in our heartes the image of thy son grant vs grace to follow his footsteps expell out of vs all feare of worldly accusations false iudgments giue vs such a gentle spirite as when we bee wrongfully accused or vniustly punished is not soone vnquieted ô driue thou out of vs all fumishnesse indignation and selfe will let thy loue increase and growe in vs through the contemning of our selues and whatsoeuer is in vs that striueth or resisteth against thy holie will let the same bee cleane extinct and die AND when Herode sawe Iesus he was exceeding glad for hee was desirous to see him of a long season because he had heard many things of him and he trusted to haue seene some myracle done by him Then he questioned with him many wordes but Iesus aunswered nothing The high Priests and Scribes stood forth and accused him straightly And Herode with his men of warre despised him And when he had mocked him he araied him in white clothing and sent him againe to Pilate And the same daie Pilate and Herode were made friendes together for before they were at variance Doctrine and fruite THe euerlasting wisedome of God is mocked iested at as a desert foole the truth is belied Vs therefore that of nature are foolish and liers it shuld not grieue to be reuiled for Gods sake No answere giueth Christ to the vngodly voluptuous king who of a curious desire woulde faine haue seene or heard some new thing of Christ for at that houre to answere it could not edifie It was a time wherein it pleased him to suffer not to doo miracles Thus the innocent Lord Iesus for vs guiltie is drawen and haled from one vnrighteous iudge to another All reproch shame dishonour and derision taketh he vppon himselfe for our sakes euerie where is hee grieuously accused in euery place is there hurt done
Iesus who being refused of wicked men vpon earth but chosen of God the Father is crowned with eternall glorie and godly honour in heauen No euill saying or curse ought to ouercome vs considering that for the same there is so exceeding ioy prepared for vs of God THen Pilate took Iesus therfore scourged him the souldiers wound a crowne of thorns and put it on his head And they did on him a purple garment and came vnto him and said haile king of the Iewes and they smote him on the face Pilate went foorth againe and said vnto them Behold I bring him forth to you that you may know that I finde no fault in him Then came Iesus foorth wearing a crowne of thorne and a robe of purple And he saieth vnto them Beholde the man When the high Priestes therefore and ministers saw him they cried saying crucifie him crucifie him Pilate saith vnto them Take ye him and crucifie him for I finde no cause in him The Iewes aunswered and said vnto him Wee haue a lawe and by our law hee ought to die because hee made himselfe the sonne of GOD. When Pilate heard that saying hee was the more afraid and went againe into the iudgement hall and sayth vnto Iesus Whence art thou But Iesus gaue him no aunswere Then said Pilate vnto him Speakest thou not vnto mee Knowest thou not that I haue power to crucifie thee and haue power to let thee loose Iesus aunswered thou couldest haue no power at all against me except it were giuen thee from aboue Therefore he that deliuered me vnto thee hath the more sin And from thence forth souâ—ht Pilate meanes to loose him but the Iewes cryed saying If thou let him go thou art not the Emperours friend for whosoeuer maketh himselfe king is against the Emperour Doctrine and fruite HEre in Pilate we learne how hurtful it is when euery one in his office and vocation looketh not diligently about him but slenderly letteth the thing slippe and passe that he earnestly ought to bring to effect Pilate was the deputie of a countrey and knew that Christ had wrong wherof he himself also many times beareth him witnesse with his owne mouth Seeing then that he was a Iudge it appertaineth to his office to iudg right not to suffer the innocent to die For though Pilate doth as if he would discharge Christ yet he mindeth it not earnestly Hee goeth about to let Christ loose neuertheles so farre as hee displease not the Iewes and the Emperour so farre as hee loose not the fauour and friendshippe of men While Pilate now fainteth in the righteousnesse that hee knoweth and is sure of and holdeth not on stoutly as he should to deliuer Christ God suffereth him still to fall till he come to this point that he condemneth the innocent to death against his own conscience Thus goeth it with al those that for the grace of GOD lent vnto them are vnthankfull vnfaithfull in the little It is the part of a righteous Iudge to maintaine iustice and to defend the innocent thogh it should cost him body honour and goods The pride also of Pilate that presumed by reason of his authoritie is brought downe with the wordes of the Lorde there is no power but from aboue therefore should it bee godly vsed the higher powers are Goddes Ministers In the which wordes of Christ the faithfull beleeuers that bee in aduersitie are comforted knowing that no man hath authoritie nor power ouer them except it bee giuen him of God Christ is bound to deliuer vs from the bandes of our sinnes and to place vs in eternall freedome Hee is scourged to take from vs the stripes that we should suffer by reason of our sins yea to heale our wounds is hee sore wounded himselfe Altogether suffereth hee for our sakes thorow his stripes are wee made whole His backe as Esay saith Esay 50. offereth he to the smiters and his cheeks to the nippers to purge vs from all filthinesse of sinne Hee became without beautie as a leper despised spitted vppon and mocked to deliuer vs from eternall shame punishment Wee had deserued all this hee did nothing worthie thereof wee are the cause of his martyrdome Oh the great burthen of our sinnes that the Sonne of the eternall GOD must suffer so sore stripes and cruell payne for vs to reconcile vs with his Father Oh the exceeding great loue which he declareth vnto vs in that hee taketh all rebuke vppon himselfe for vs Oh that wee considered this with true deuotion so that wee might say with Christ and Dauid I am readie to bee scourged and my plague is alwaies before mee O Iesu kindle vs with the fire of thy exceeding loue which thou in so much aduersitie hast well tryed towardes vs. Graunt vs the helpe of thy grace to the strengthening of our weakenesse when the heauie burdens of aduersities fall vppon vs that thorow the terrible ouercharge of them wee be not opprest and throwne downe Giue vs grace so to chasten and subdue our body and flesh that it maye bee subiect vnto the spirite and obedient vnto thy will in all things WHen Pilate heard that saying he brought forth Iesus and sate downe to giue sentence in the place that is called the Pauement but in the Hebrue tong Gabatha It was the preparing of the Easter about the sixt houre And he saith vnto the Iewes Behold your king They cried away with him away with him crucifie him Pilate saith vnto them shall I crucifie your king The high Priests aunswered We haue no king but the Emperour And the high Priestes with the Elders of the people accused him in many things but he gaue no answere Pilate asked him further and said makest thou no answere Seest thou not in how many and great thinges they accuse thee But Iesus moreouer gaue no answer so that the deputie maruelled sore at it At the feast he had a custome to let one vnto them loose whom they would desire Now while the people presâ—ed on Pilate began to aske them as hee alwaies did said Whom will yee that I let loose vnto you Barabas or Iesus who is called Christ While Pilate sate in iudgement his wife sent to him said Haue thou nothing to doo with that iust man for this night in sleepe haue I suffered much for him But the high Priests the Elders perswaded the people inticed them that they should aske Barrabas require Iesus vnto death Then answered Pilate and said vnto them whom will ye of these two that I shall let go loose vnto you They said Barrabas Then said Pilate vnto them What shall I then do with Iesus who is called Christ Then said they al let him be crucified The deputie said What euill then hath he done Neuertheles they cried yet more let him be crucified When Pilate saw that he profited nothing but that the vprore was greater he tooke water and washed his hands before the people
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
men cried Away with him crucifie him crucifie him O the wonderfull great lenitie of our Lord Iesus Christ They reuile and misintreat him to the vttermost he praieth for them that they beeing conuerted from their wickednes may acknowledge him the very true son of God to haue appeared in the flesh Here is fulfilled that Esay said hee hath borne the sinnes of many and made intercession for the transgressours that they should not perish Who now being in sinne wil despaire in the mercie of God when the great offenders that crucified and slewe the giuer of all remission found so great grace and goodnes A stedfast hope therefore ought we to conceiue and to bee sure of howe great soeuer our sinne be The hope of life standeth yet open the bowels of mercie are yet readie prepared Onely vnto him let vs resort full gratiously will hee receiue vs so far as wee giue ouer our selues vnto him Heere likewise by the example of our fore-goer wee must learne to forgiue our neighbour to pray also for our enemies and for those that do vs harme If we gladly forgiue that little God will forgiue vs the great If we so do we finde grace and are the children of the heauenly Father As for the recompencing of all despite taking of vengeance wee must commit and refer that vnto our Father who iudgeth righteously O Iesu thou heauenly schoolmaster teach vs this and graunt vs grace to doe it Giue vs also an assured hope of thy mercie and grace that wee fall into no despaire through the multitude of our sinnes but with faithfull minds to consider that for to heale sin thou camest into this world hast shed thy bloud O graunt vnto vs free refuge and sure defence vnder the shadowe of thy winges and vnder the inuincible token of thy holie crosse Receiue vs poore sinners which vtterly trust not in anie good deede or merit of our owne but onely in thy mercie Amen Verie spitefull extremitie is shewed vnto our Sauiour in that he must beholde and see how the vile vnthriftes part his clothes amongst them By this is there set forth vnto vs a doctrine how wee ought to behaue our selues if our temporall goodes bee withdrawne and taken from vs. Wee must bee readier to suffer temporal harme than to bee reuenged or with vnquiet suite at the law to require our owne He that created the whole worlde hath not a corner where to rest his head Hee that beautifieth and decketh all things hangeth bare and naked himselfe Whereby we must learne to be pacient if that which is ours be taken from vs wee must learne to bee content with few thinges and to take in good part things of small reputation and not to grudge but with quiet minds to be thankfull vnto God O Lord grant vnto vs that we appeare not naked and bare before thee cloth vs with the wedding garment of faith and loue and when wee suffer wrong giue vs grace to followe thine example in patience that no sorrowe nor heauinesse for losse of temporall goods lead vs away from thee Amen THey that passed by reuiled and blasphemed him wagging their heades and saieng ha thou that breakest downe the temple and settest it vp againe in three dayes helpe now thy selfe if thou be the Sonne of God come downe from the crosse The high Priestes also mocked him together with the Scribes and Elders and saide amongst themselues He helped others can hee not helpe himselfe If he be Christ the chosen of God the king of Israell lette him come downe now from the crosse we will beleeue him He setteth his hope and trust in God let him deliuer him if hee will haue him for hee hath said I am the Sonne of GOD. The murtherers also that were crucified with him cast the same in his teeth and reuiled him The people stoode there and wayted and the chiefe of them mocked him and saide Hath hee helped others and cannot helpe himselfe and is Christ the chosen of GOD. The souldiers also mocked him came and proffered him vineger and said If thou be king of the Iewes helpe thy selfe One of the murtherers that hanged by him reuiled him also and said If thou bee Christ helpe thy selfe and vs. But the other rebuked him and said Fearest thou not God seeing thou art in the same damnation As for vs we are iustly punished for we receiue according to our deeds but this man hath done nothing amisse And he said vnto Iesus Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdome And Iesus said vnto him Verely I say vnto thee this day shalt thou be with me in paradise Doctrine and fruite IEsus for our sake tooke vpon himselfe the most extreme shame rebuke derision to deliuer vs from eternall villainy and that wee should learne gladly to suffer reproch and shame and to despise the vain-glorie of this world He is mocked contemned of high and lowe of spirituall temporall and of euerie man For they being ful of gal bitternes and poison poure it out with their false tongues and outwarde gestures casting out wicked slaundrous wordes and sharpening their venemous tongs against the innocent sauiour They rather shuld haue bewailed their owne great sinnes but there is no compassion nor mercie in them their harts are stopt Sathan hath the leading of them Yet cannot their malice ouercome good Iesus Through their wickednesse and despite cannot his patience bee vanquished No opprobrious or vile word might cause him to omit the worke of our redemption but hee continueth in loue and performeth it with an honorable ende Euen as hee teacheth vs to endure vnto the end so doth he practise it himselfe and declareth it vnto vs in deede and example We therfore that wil be followers of Iesu Christ shuld set before vs this excellent example of our forgoer and learne to contemne the world and stoutlie to abide in our holie vocation and purpose It is the worke of Christ that we haue in hand and before vs we haue an high perfect example giuer of whom we ought to learne euen Christ Iesus who for our sakes was obedient to the Father vntill the death of the crosse Wherefore seeing we are become children of God throgh grace we must be obedient to our heauenly father looking to his good pleasure bidding the world farewell despising the mocks and scorns therof looking vp euer diligently vnto the crucified Lorde Iesus who waiteth for vs with outstretched armes calleth vs louingly vnto him and for a shorte trauaile promiseth vs eternall rewarde and saith If thou suffer with mee thou shalt raigne with mee If thou dye with mee thou shalt also be crowned with mee O Lord Iesu Christ our fore-goer and protector graunt vs grace stedfastly to continue in our holie vocation and to abide in thy seruice that through no tediousnes or slouth we shrinke or cease from the feruentnes of good workes and holie exercises that we being alway readie
furnished with watching and praier may stedfastly stand and with a constant mind despise all bodily prouocations shewing patience in aduersitie not fearing the slaunders and despitefull swordes of the people neyther desiring the prayse and honour of this worlde that in the onely eternal wealth wee may sette all our trust and neuer to goe backe from the crosse for wealth nor woe but that vnder the same banner through true patience meeknesse and obedience wee may finish our life with a blessed ende Amen In the offendor that receiued of Christ the promis of grace there is set before vs a comfortable example of the mercie and loue of God for hee that afore had beene a murtherer and now was become a penitent and repentaunt person assoone as he acknowledged the trespasse and was vnfainedly sorrie for his offences committed confessing Christ the fountaine of life there was promised vnto him forgiuenesse of his sinnes and entrance into ioy Wherby wee see that no true penitent commeth too late and that no conuersion is vnfruitfull if it bee doone vnfainedly from out of the heart Here should we learne to goe into our selues to acknowledge and confesse our sinnes to complaine vnto GOD with lamentation and to desire grace at his hande affirming also that wee are well worthie of all rebuke and shame all punishment payne and aduersitie Neuerthelesse in the consideration of Gods eternal mercie wee ought not to despayre but to turne vs vnto the Bishop and chiefe shepheard of our soules and to saye Lorde remember vs in thy kingdome where thou sittest at the right hande of GOD thy Father so shall wee vndoubtedly heare this chearefull voice To day shalt thou bee with mee in paradise This word of consolation this gratious promise shall strengthen comfort our troubled hart in the carefull terrible houre so that we shal be able quietly to die forasmuch as Iesus so friendly speaketh to vs and receiueth vs so graciously Great and vnsearchable is the mercie of God that pardoneth so great a sinner and offendour and doth not cast him off neither will hee reiect our feruent praier which we in true confidence make vnto him Hee desireth not the death of a sinner but willeth that hee conuert and liue So loued hee the worlde that hee gaue his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth on him should not perish but haue euerlasting life neither came hee to call the righteous but sinners O Iesu bee mindfull of thy promisse thinke vpon vs thy seruantes and when wee shall depart hence speake vnto our soule these louing wordes To day shalt thou bee with mee in ioy O Lord Iesu Christ remember vs thy seruauntes that trust in thee when our tongue cannot speake when the sight of our eies fayleth and when our eares are stopped Suffer not the olde Serpent and wicked enemie the Deuill to finde anie thing in vs though hee subtilly tempt vs and craftily lay wayte for vs. In thee shall we ouercome him for in thee is our strength thou takest al our sinnes vppon thy selfe so that hee shall finde nothing in vs but must departe from vs with shame Lette them bee turned backe and soone confounded but lette our soule alway reioyce in thee and bee ioyfull of thy saluation which thou through thy death hast purchased for vs. IT was neare hande about the sixt houre And beside the crosse of Iesus stoode Marie his mother and his mothers sister Marie the wife of Cleophas and Marie Magdalene Now when Iesus sawe his mother and the disciple standing whom he loued he said vnto his mother Woman behold thy sonne Afterward said hee to the disciple Behold thy mother And from that houre foorth the disciple tooke her for his owne Doctrine and fruite IN the passion of Christ as is mentioned afore it ought to be considered that he was most extremely reuyled and suffered most great paine for our sakes This now appertaineth to the increasing of his paine that hee seeth his mother in all aduersitie who might not helpe him neyther hee her Nowe doth the sworde that Simeon spake of pierce thorow her heart But Iesus seeing her in sorrowe and heauinesse declareth his carefull loue vppon the honour and worthinesse of his dearely beloued mother and giueth her a tutour such an one as will looke vnto her On both the parties maye wee perceyue great loue which wee ought to learne of the Lord and to exercise towardes those that bee committed vnto vs. Neither is it written of the Euangelist for naught that shee stoode for thereby we see that though Marie was in verie greate heauinesse and sorrowe yet behaueth shee not heâ—selfe vnseemelie nor vndiscreetly as carnall men doe in aduersitie manie times Shee standeth demurely and soberly beeing fortified through the strength of the spirite that stayeth her Whereby wee may learne when our deare friendes die not to bee sorie for them beyond measure and discretion But chiefly we learne when aduersitie commeth one to haue respect to another to care for our owne faithfully to coÌ„mit them vnto others that one may brotherly and truly looke to another but specially we ought to be carefull for those which are deare vnto God FRom the sixt houre there was darkenesse vppon all the earth till about the ninth houre and the Sunne was darkened About the ninth houre Iesus cryed with a lowd voyce Ely Ely lama sabacthani that is My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee Some standing there when they heard it said He calleth to Helias Immediately one of them ranne and tooke a spunge and filled it with vineger and put it vppon a reede and gaue him to drinke Other said lette vs see whether Helias will come and deliuer him Doctrine and fruite IN all aduersitie and despight is all bodily and temporall comfort withdrawne from Christ that euen when hee without all consolation dooth suffer most greuous extremitie wee might perceiue his loue The Lord of all creatures that lacketh nothing commeth into so great affliction and necessitie for our sake that hee complaineth himselfe to bee forsaken of him who worketh all things in him This is the voyce of the passible mortall flesh which for vs poore sinners crieth vpon the crosse His patience is our comfort his complaint is our helpe his sicknesse is our health his paine is our satisfaction The Phisitian came from heauen that hee thorow great compassion might giue ouer him selfe into exceeding many torments and rebukes Therfore with the sick he is sicke with those that suffer hee suffereth with the sorrowfull he is sorie with them that suffer violence hee complaineth for his feeble and weake members he praieth And the voyce of the flesh and of naturall sence is neither rebellious nor desperate The fleshe feeleth great paine vndeserued the innocent holy body suffereth sore punishment the Godhead neuerthelesse vseth the highest silence And as for the diuine presence the sensible paine is not minished by it But a merueilous steadfastnes
of patience is heere declared to performe the redemption of mankinde This paine and smart is so great that euen the Elements which haue no sence declare tokens of their compassion The Sunne lost his shine and hid his cheerefull light from the wicked rabble hauing as it were a displeasure for the death of their maker Seeing now that the sun mourneth and the earth quaketh much more ought we reasonable men to haue compassion and to consider the death of our maker Behold O faithfull seruant of God how thy foregoer in all his punishment and sorrowfull trouble indureth stil mild and patient and that there is heard no bitternes out of his mouth His praier and complaint sendeth hee vppe vnto his heauenlie Father neither nameth hee any other saue onely God To him alone hee complaineth and openeth his desolation Euen so ought wee to doe when aduersitie reproch or any such thing assaulteth vs wee must not vndiscreetly sorrow or be angrie but runne straight way vnto the Crosse and at the Crosse tarrie and abide a little while with the Lorde If thou be forsaken complaine of thy trouble vnto GOD the Father Consider that Iesus also for thy sake was left in great trouble and anguishe Learne thou likewise to bee soft minded and patient without murmuring or cursing Keepe thee to the onelie comfort of God giue ouer all the ioy of this world so shalt thou not bee forsaken of him All earthlie thinges set apart turne thou thy minde vppe into the Countrey of Heauen Take GOD for thy Father Iesus for thy brother Thou art of a noble high kindred namelie a childe of the euer liuing God O mercifull father wee crie vnto thee in all trouble and call vppon thee through the crucified Iesus Suffer vs not to sincke in great afflictions giue vs not ouer vnto our owne strength but the more the enemie presseth vppon vs the more bee thou our assistance For in all anguishe and trouble thou art the right helper and most faithfull friend If temptation then come vppon vs by thy fatherly will graunt vs grace O Lord patientlie to beare it and to lay the burthen vpon thy mercie that in all trouble we being els destitute of all consolatiō may put our whole trust onely in thee Amen AFter this Iesus knowing that all thinges were nowe perfourmed that the scripture might be fulfilled hee saith I thirst So there stood a vessell by full of vineger Therfore they filled a spunge with vinegar and wound it about with Isope and put to his mouth Assoone as Iesus then receiued of the Vinegar hee answered and saide It is finished Doctrine and fruite ADam satisfied his lust in the forbidden Apple which noisome lust was ocasion of our death But Iesus for the reformation of this concupiscence suffreth also vpon his tongue to restore vs againe from the fall and to conquere vs in this life His bitter drinke is vnto vs a blessed medicine Such great vnthankefulnesse of the Iewes was prophecied by King Dauid in the Psalmes To him that fedde them in the wildernesse with bread from heauen and gaue them water to drinke out of the hard stonie Rocke Euen vnto him for a recompence they giue Vineger and Gall. O the sower and vnnaturall fruite that the LORDE receiueth of his owne Vineyard which he had planted and garnished so faire To vs heere is prepared a soueraigne medicine against glotonie and all voluptuousnes of the flesh thorow the loue whereof God is forgotten and forsaken Now when Christ who is the fulfiller of the law and all the Prophets had whollie and fully perfourmed the will of his heauenlie father hee saith for a conclusion and ende of his life it is finished as hee would say Now is finished all that the old law hath written and spoken of me all that the old Testament figured with oblations and sacrifices with glory and beautie in the Gods seruice Now are truly fulfilled the holy prophesies of the Prophetes and the long wished desires of the holye olde Fathers Nowe is wrought and perfourmed all that belonged concerned the redemption of mankinde It is all as it was promised of God concluded with an honourable blessed end And looke what is behinde shall vndoubtedly be fulfilled in due time I haue accomplished the commandement of my Father who sent me into this world the worke that hee gaue mee to do haue I finished What could I do more for thee O my people that I haue not done Vppon the sixt daye hee finished the worke of the creation of the world And nowe vppon the sixt day and age of the world hee perfourmeth the blessed worke of mans redemption Vppon the sixt day hee created man and made him of the mould of the earth Vpon the sixt day hee restored him againe and deliuered him with his holy bloud Thus all things are finished the great worke of his mercie and most excellent loue is accomplished the way vnto heauen is opened and the deuils power is broken In such hope ought wee valiauntlie to trauaile at this time in this vnconstant world and not to let fall the worke of God that is begun but by his assistance to bring it vnto a blessed ende and stoutly to endure therein It is well-nie come to the point that all shal bee finished the euening and ende of our life commeth on apace wherein we may say with glad harts as Christ our foregoer did It is all finished Wherefore deare brethren let vs euer most diligently and earnestly walke in the way of the truth and of commendable vertues begun exercising our selues in righteousnes We must not think otherwise but to haue battaile against vice against the flesh the world and Satan Daily goe we on a pace towardes death in hope to attain eternal life O that we might say with Paule I haue fought a good fight I haue fulfilled my course I haue kept the faith We must suffer and haue trauaile yet a litle season the time of our deliuerance will shortly be heere O Lord Iesu direct thou all our works according to thy good pleasure illuminate purifie our minds and thoughts Teach vs how wee euer to the praise and honour of thy holy name may meekly beginne diligently doo and blessedly end all our workes and enterprises O giue vs grace faithfully to labour in the Vineyard of the Lord that the heat and trauaile driue vs not back that we faint not that in the schole of heauenly exercise wee may steadfastly indure till wee giue vp the ghost and that through thy mercie after many commendable battails and long striuing wee may say in the last houre of our life It is all finished Vouchsafe thou to bee the finall occasion of our whole life and of all our woorkings so shall it followe that thou wilt bee also our eternall reward ioy and saluation Amen ANd Iesus criyng with a loud voyce said Father into thy hands I commit my spirite And when hee had thus
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
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
treasure had Tabitha laid vp in store for when she died it was not stones and stockes that commended her benefits but the bodies of the widows they lamented her death and declared how mercifull she had beene Christ openeth and sheweth himselfe vnto those that earnestly seeke him and those hee suffereth to touch him to the intent that forasmuch as they must declare his resurrection to the Apostles their weake faith must be strengthned to know and to be assured that hee was verily risen againe For not onely the Angell but Christ also himselfe commandeth them so to do He comforteth them and taketh from them the fearfulnes and sorrowe Thus wee ought not to doubt he shall in all aduersitie and trouble meete vs he shall chearfully appeare vnto vs and with his ioyfull presence and resurrection shall hee comfort and preserue vs. But we lacke an earnest and strong faith our harts are slow and cold Diligent we be in seeking of temporall things but godly things wee either despise or neglect Loue hath no rest she ceaseth not to runne and seeke till she finde him whome shee loueth and when she findeth him she holdeth him fast that shee loose him not againe glad is she also to make others pertakers of the treasure that she hath found O God kindle our colde heartes with the fire of faith and loue that we may earnestly seeke thee and that when we haue found thee we may feruently receiue and keepe thee and with a right spirit worship thee Expell all hardnes and vngentlenes out of our hearts make vs louing and mercifull vnto the poore ones Take from vs the terrour of all vndoubtfulnes vnbeleefe and feare of the world and comfort vs in all aduersitie Graunt vs the faith of thy resurrection that we despising all transitory things may set all our comfort and hope in the blessed resurrection to come Amen Heere also we learne how exceeding weake and ignorant our flesh is to receiue and beleeue the truth 〈◊〉 it of God giue not light and strength For a◠〈…〉 of the Apostles were illuminated and 〈…〉 the holy ghost they esteemed the truth 〈…〉 Resurrection opened vnto them by the women to be a foolish and fained thing Neuerthelesse Christ forsaketh not those whom hee hath once imbraced but still openeth himselfe vnto them more and more to expell out of them all dubitation vnbeleefe ANd behold two of them went that same day to a town called Emaus which was from Hierusalem about a threescore furlongs they talked together of all these things that had happened And it chaunced that while they communed together and reasoned Iesus himself drew neare and went with them but their eies were holden that they should not know him And he saide vnto them What manner of communications are these that ye haue one to another as ye walke and are sad And the one of them whose name was Cleophas answered and said vnto him Art thou onely a straunger in Hierusalem hast not knowne the things which haue chanced there in these dais He said vnto them What things And they said vnto him Of Iesus of Nazareth which was a Prophet mightie in deed and word before God all the people how the high Priests our rulers deliuered him to be condemned vnto death haue crucified him But we trusted that it had been he which shuld haue redeemed Israel And as touching all these thinges to day is euen the third day that they were done Yea and certain women also of our companie made vs astonied which came earlie to the sepulchrt and found not his bodie and came saying that they had seen a vision of Angels 〈…〉 that he was aliue And certaine of them that 〈…〉 went to the sepulchre and found it euen so as the 〈…〉 said but him they saw not Doctrine and fruite THE longer the more is set foorth vnto vs the vnoutspeakable loue and trustie faithfulnes of Iesus Christ our lord who forsaketh not those that anie thing loue to talke of him For look whom he admitteth into his schoole those hee teacheth still continually how weake soeuer they bee vntill hee bring them to perfect vnderstanding and expell all doubtfulnes out of their hearts Forasmuch now as these his Disciples speake of him in the way hee getteth him to them albeit hee holdeth their eyes that they knowe him not that by the meanes thereof they themselues with their own words might knowledge confesse their doubtfull wauering weaknes of faith that they might open their disease vnto him hee to giue a conuenient medicine for theyr vnbeleefe that through the long delay frendly talk and opening of the scripture their harts and desires might more and more bee kindled and sette on fire that their doubtfulnes might bee taken away and theyr weake fayth strengthened For though they helde Iesus for a great and principall Prophet and and for an innocent good man yet speake they vncertainely of the matter and their heart wauereth yet were not they assured that hee had ouercome death and by his owne death purchased life for all the world that hee was risen againe into an immor◠〈…〉 made vs vndoubtedly partakers of the 〈…〉 and ioyfull resurrection and eternall life in himselfe Now for as much as they gladly talke and willingly holde of him how feebly and vnperfectly soeuer it bee yet the gratious and louing Lorde approcheth neare vnto them and instructeth them It shall neuer bee vnfruitfull it shall neuer passe without profite but assuredly doo good where Christ is gladlie and with a good heart spoken of Where two or three bee assembled in his name there is hee in the middest among them and infourmeth them That he doth to the Disciples in the way by mouth the same declareth hee alway vnto vs inwardly by his spirite in our harts and outwardly with the scripture and word and with the teachings of good godly men He that well and faithfully vseth the little talent shall not be denied a greater if he earnestly desire it Wheresoeuer he is earnestly feruently thought vpon and talked of there is he present instructeth and teacheth the ignorant For he is not ashamed to resort vnto those that lacke knowledge and be in errour and to talke with them This lowlie and gentle condition ought wee to learne of our head that we shame not to repayre vnto such as are not yet right instructed that wee may infourme them and commune with them We should despise no man that with a single hart seeketh God though as yet wee perceiue much wauering and weake faith in him For if the eternall 〈…〉 was not ashamed to humble himselfe and 〈◊〉 the ignoraunt much more ought wee to dooâ—â—ing we are neither sufficiently instructed in the scripture nor yet diligent and carefull to doe that which we know THen said Iesus vnto them O ye fooles and slow of hart to beleeue all that the Prophets haue spoken Ought not Christ to haue suffred
bodie of Christ which was hanged vpon the crosse for our sinnes was of the Father raysed againe vnto life For if wee beleeue in our heart and confesse with our mouth that God hath raysed him vp from the dead we shal be saued Yea beleeue we must that Christ according to his wordes afore hath through his godly power erected vp againe from death the temple of his bodie Therefore thorow the doubting of Thomas wee learne the mysterie of the resurrection of our own bodies For Christ hath sufficiently proued and Thomas hath confessed that the bodie of Christ which was hanged vpon the crosse is verely risen againe from death Wherin our faith is confirmed to beleeue that our bodies also shall truely and liuely rise againe to eternall life When Thomas is with the other disciples Christ sheweth himselfe vnto him For they that in the vnitie of faith and of vndiuided loue doe not associate and accompanie themselues with other faithfull beleeuers in the Church shall not be partakers of heauenly ioyes Truth it is that to beleeue with the hart iustifieth but the confession that is made with the mouth belongeth vnto health serueth vnto loue and vnitie of the Church and congregation of God without the which there can bee no hope of health He that saith he beleeueth and doth not ioyne himselfe vnto other Christians his faith is vaine and of none effect And therefore did Christ for his church institute the sacraments that is to say exterior signes of his grace that his people might be associate together in the vnitie of faith The Church of God is it that preserueth vs poore ones as did the Arke of Noe afore time in the floud and bringeth vs thorough this raging sea vnto the hauen of eternall saluation Not that the grace and health is therefore to bee ascribed to the elements and outwarde thinges but that it may appeare how effectuous fayth is and what it woorketh through charitable loue in the Church Christ maketh mention of the wordes which Thomas had spoken afore to the Disciples in his absence Namely Except I see in his handes the print c. Therefore sayth Christ Thomas bring thy finger hither and see c. Whereby it is euidently prooued that Christ is God and euen so doth Thomas vnderstand and confesse The woundes are shewed of Christ specially to this intent that his passion might be printed and sealed in mens mindes For a verie deepe and high mysterie is it that Christes side is opened out of the which floweth bloud and water whereby the spirituall and faithfull beleeuing mindes may well perceiue Christes good louing will towardes mankind Now when we looke vpon his handes touching his side inwardly with our desire of inward fayth and considering why and with what loue Christ suffered for vs it shall be no hard thing vnto vs to beleeue his resurrection If Christ were deade but euen as an other pure man or Prophet we could haue no hope of the resurrection Who so beleeueth it commeth soone to this knowledge that immortall life is giuen vnto vs. Now where there is hope of an immortall life there is the Lorde serued with great diligence For if God hath not spared his sonne but giuen him for vs all what good thing then may wee not looke for at his hand If wee bee onely true beleeuers with Thomas then shall God faithfully performe that hee hath promised vs. Christ desireth no more of vs weake feeble ones than that we be not faithlesse but stedfast beleeuers Thomas is immediately obedient vnto the voice of Christ and becommeth foorth with a newe man The Pharisies could by no doctrine by no myracles bee brought to giue credence vnto Christ and to beleeue in him although they sawe Lazarus raysed againe from death malice and hatred did so hinder them But Thomas acknowledgeth him freely to be his Lord and God He seeth and handleth man he confesseth God whom he saw not Hee acknowledged that he whom he saw was his God Lord. Through the same faith was his vnbeleefe and sinne forgiuen him O mercifull God graunt vs loue that we seek not our owne commoditie nor honour but the profit of our neighbours and thy glorie in all thinges Expell out of vs all disdaine greedines vngentlenes headines and flattering of our selues Preserue vs from discord diuision binde vs together in vniforme loue that wee may bee one bodie and of one minde Stablish also our faith that our minds may alwayes bee comforted in the resurrection of thy sonne and immortall life purchased by him Amen ANd many other signes trulie did Iesus in the presence of his Disciples which are not written in this booke These are written that ye might beleeue that Iesus is Christ the sonne of God that ye so beleeuing might haue life through his name Doctrine and fruite LIke as Christ while hee yet liued did miracles before his death to declare his godly power euen so after his rising again from death he worketh manie tokens in the presence of his Disciples to proue his resurrection in the flesh Some of the same are described of the Euangelists not of anie curiositie or for vaine glorie but to confirme our sayth therewith To write all Iohn thought it not needful for who could haue written all Or who could haue fastened and borne them all in minde Who so will not beleeue these few that are written shall neuer beleeue a greater multitude A faithfull beleeuer is well satisfied with these For these that be written of him are therefore written that wee should beleeue that Iesus is Christ the Sonne of GOD and that we through his fayth might haue eternall life Seeing then that all thinges which are written doo extende and serue to this ende that wee might beleeue in him and bee saued by him what lacke wee then Or what can we desire more So that hereby we learne with great diligence to reade to consider and to applie into our owne lyfe whatsoeuer the Euangelistes haue written of Christ as they haue written nothing but that which is altogether excellent deare holie and godlie and such thinges as doe liuely describe sette foorth and print Christ vnto vs that our fayth hope loue patience meeknesse and all good thinges might growe with blessed fruite that wee in our life might become thankfull for such an excellent grace and in no wise to contemne or despise it A scornefull thing is it and the euidence of a greate vnbeleefe whereas some thinke by these wordes to prooue that for as much as all thinges are not written in the booke it is lawfull for certayne men to adde the rest and to deuise and ordayne what they will For in these thinges that are written doth Iohn comprehend the whole sum of fayth which consisteth in this that Iesus is the son of the liuing God who for our saluation came downe from heauen died rose againe purchased for vs eternal life Iesus the son of
Mary is the annointed king and high Priest the sauior of the world promised of God spoken of afore by the Prophets And euen hee it is who being of the heauenly father annointed king euerlasting was to come after Dauid to raigne for euer This king is the redeemer and sauiour of mankind the very true sonne of God If we beleeue in Christ we beleeue in the true God one onely God we honor one onely God we worship Seeing now that we honor worship Christ we worship God for only God is to be worshipped Forasmuch now as we worship the sonne no lesse than the father it is certaine that Christ is of one nature with the father yea this ought we to beleeue that he came downe into this world to die for vs to wash and wipe away our sins to kill sin in our mortal flesh when he maketh vs partakers of his passion mightily worketh in vs by his spirite in mortifieng our carnall desires We must also beleeue that he by his godly power arose againe from death to a new glorious immortall life For if we thought that hee died beleeued not that he were risen againe to life wee should haue no life in him For vs he died for our sakes hee rose againe for our welfare reigneth he for euer A newe godly blessed life worketh hee in vs with his resurrection and after this life haue we in him life euerlasting AFterward did Iesus shew himselfe againe at the sea of Tiberias And on this wise shewed he himselfe There were together Simon Peter and Thomas which is called Didâ—â—us and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee the sons of Zebedee and two other of his disciples Simon Peter saith vnto them I will go a fishing They say vnto him We also will go with thee They went their way and entred into a shippe immediately and that night caught they nothing But when the morning was now come Iesus stoode on the shâ—â—e but the Disciples knewe not that it was Iesus Iesus saith vnto them Children haue ye any meat They answered him no. And he saith vnto them Cast out the net on the right side of the ship and ye shal find They cast out therfore and anone they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes Then said the Disciple whom Iesus loued to Peter It is the Lord. When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord he girt his coate vnto him for he was naked and sprang into the sea The other Disciples came by shippe for they were not farre from lande but as it were two hundred cubites and they drew the nette with fishes As soone then as they were come to land they sawe hote coales and fish layde thereon and bread Iesus saith vnto them Bring of the fish that yee now haue caught Simon Peter went vp and drew the net to the land full of great fishes an hundred and three and fiftie And for all there were so many yet was not the net broken Iesus saith vnto them Come and dine And none of the disciples durst aske him What art thou For they knew that it was the Lord Iesus then came tooke breade and gaue them and fish likewise This is now the third time that Iesus appeared to his Disciples after that he was risen againe from death Doctrine and fruite WE read in the holy Euangelists that at the first Christ called his disciples namelie Peter and the others from fishing which they also left and came to Christ who told them that he would make them fishers of men Now when hee wil send them out to that office depart from them he appeareth againe vnto them at their fishing And like as he did afore at their vocatioÌ„ he doth before them a great miracle in the which hee admonisheth them of their office and chargeth them diligently to care for his sheepe committed vnto them But first he proueth his resurrection to stablish and confirme their weake faith therby commaunding them afterward to bring other folks also thereto This historie in it selfe is euident enough therefore ought wee first to consider it after the letter for the letter also teacheth for it self Christ like as he appeared vnto those that were sorrowful mourned so doth he heere appeare vnto those that labour and trauaile Christ gaue his disciples authoritie out of the Gospell that they preach to take a competent honest liuing as foode and necessaries of the bodieâ— and yet did not hee restrayne them that they should not or might not labour when occasion serueth Therefore Paule also vsed not that liberty at certaine times but labored with his owne hands and wan his meate So did the Disciples of Christ exercise themselues in their labour For when they were come into Galelee from the feast of Easter which they had kept at Hierusalem afore the holy ghost was giuen them they would not goe idle and thereby become a burthen vnto other men for he that goeth idle lieth vpon other folkes eating that theirs is and ouerchargeth them but vndertake to get their owne lyuing with their handy worke which they had vsed afore Whereby wee must learne to apply our selues vnto labour and not to bee idle for idlenes is the mother of many and great vices Euery man ought to haue an honest traiuaile to bee exercised either with the body or with the minde Who so laboureth not must not eat Man was created to labour as the bird to flie Therfore ought euery father to bring vp his children in honest exercise from their youth vp that the deuill get no place in their hearts which yet commeth to passe if he finde them idle The first commaundement giuen to our forefather Adam after the fall was this In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread Now when we in true faith and confidence vnto God doe take in hand the worke that he hath committed vnto our charge we ought not to doubt God shal prosper it and giue vs his rich and gracious blessing in it as it is written Prouer. 3. In althy waies remember the Lord and hee shall direct and order thy doings Eccles 5.9 Heere is also to bee considered how Christ vttereth his godly power before his disciples in the great miracle that hee did in their sight to confirme our faith in him For out of the appearing of Christ groweth faith Psal 85. And his true resurrection will hee print in them in that he appeareth vnto them eateth with them Heere wee see the ardent desire of Peter which leapeth into the sea as soone as he heareth that it is the Lord he that afore had denied him maketh now speedie hast againe vnto him Though wee of mans feeblenesse and feare doo fall into sinne yet alwaies wheÌ„ we heare God in his word we ought forth with to turne againe vnto him and so shall hee with the lost sonne graciously receiue and embrace is agayne In that
somwhat by experience wherby they haue learned humilitie and nurture The first thing that Christ in his examination requireth of those which must guide the people is a great feruent and notable loue to GOD. Without this loue shall soule shepheardes doo no good This loue to GOD shall bring with it loue towardes the sheepe committed vnto them For as much then as at this day the loue of Christ is so greatly quenched therefore are manie Curates and soule shepheardes so faint and colde to preach and teach Christ They burne not in the loue of God against vice they print not vertue and godlinesse feruently into the people for there is no loue of Gods name in them Seeing then that they haue no heauenly zeale vnto the glorie of GOD and to the amplyfiyng of his name it is no maruaile that their preaching is so cold and vnfruitfull Therfore saith our Sauiour Christ vnto Peter Agapas me Louest thou mee For Agapao among the Greeks signifieth feruently earnestly right hartily to loue yea to loue with a great good will And this word he vseth in the two first questions In the third question he saith Phileis me Louest thou me Phileo signifieth so to loue that one be louing to another shew him friendship therefore doth Peter take the Lorde himselfe to witnesse As for the high excellent loue hee dare not bragge of it but saith Philose which is as much to say as I haue hitherto doone all that becommeth a friend to do If any derogation or hinderance bee done to thy honour and name I am hartily sorie for it as a friend is iustly greeued if his friend be vilely intreated Thus the Lorde with the three questions layeth hard vnto Peter for a notable loue is it that hee requireth of those to whom he committeth his sheepe in his absence Peter had a good conscience knew no falshood or deceite by himselfe but bare a notable and feruent loue vnto Christ yet by reason of his former fall and this oft questioning he was partly out of quiet fearing least peraduenture there laye yet hid in him some secret thing that displeased the Lord or were against him or that happily he should not stand in such fauour with Christ Therefore said he Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest the harts of all men and wotest that I beare thee a good heart and friendly mind which wordes proceed of a meeke feruent hart Christ knoweth better how we loue him than we our selues Thus a shepheard oght to haue an ardent loue vnto Christ and yet not to stand high in his owne conceit or to bragge of himselfe although he loue and bee garnished with vertues more than other men Wherein may it bee perceiued that a soule shepheard loueth Christ and is his friend Verely in louing his sheepe which Christ hath cōmitted to him Therefore saith Christ alway vpon the same Feede my sheep But Christ vseth here two distinct words First he saith Vosce that is feed them pasture them fodder them Secondly he saith Poimene that is bee thou vnto them a heardman take thou care for them as it beseemeth a shepheard be thou a shepheard vnto my sheepe keepe them from the wolfe from al such hurt First he requireth of him a feruent loue then committeth hee his sheepe vnto him a treasur◠great deare redeemed bought with the pretious bloud of Christ As if he would say If thou loue me declare the same in care and loue toward my sheep whom I commit to thy charge The sheepe are Christes not the shepheards As forsuch shepheards as keepe them so that they make them hang vpon themselues those loue themselues not Christ They that seeke their owne glorie profit and lucre among them are not faithfull shepheards Against such doth crie the threefold voice of Christ Feed keepe my sheepe mine saith he not thine Feed them oppresse them not flay them not Feede them not thy selfe Seeke my glorie not thine own For some there bee which as Paule with weeping teares complaineth that seeke themselues not the glorie of Iesus Christ Of these spake Paule also afore 2. Timoth. 3. Men shall be louers of themselues couetous c. Where the wicked roote of selfe loue is in a Curate there followe all the vices which hee in the same place maketh mention of Who so nowe will bee a louer of Christ and a faythfull shepheard sciences that they may be fruitfull and comfortable to the whole Christian congregation If this might come to passe then should there be no lacke of wise counsellors and actiue men profitable to be in common authoritie and also amongst christian people there shuld be found men meet to be made ouer-seeers in the ministery of Gods word with which men the people should be wel worthily prouided for Good vertuous teachers bring foorth a vertuous and godlie people And doubtlesse the meaning of those that gaue such goodes to monasteries churches was at the first that they thoght therby to serue God and to doe good vnto the poore If such goods then as heeretofore haue beene euill bestowed bee now profitably and blessedly turned to the honour of God and commoditie of the whole Church then is the last will and meaning of the founders fulfilled They also that must pay such rentes tithes goods will be the readier so to doe if they see that the same is well and profitably bestowed Then shall not they vntruly but faithfully performe and pay all thinges when they consider that they doe seruice vnto God himselfe Graunt vs all O God to harken and be obedient vnto the voice of true shepheards and giue vs hearts to haue in great honour and worthily to esteeme of such faithfull shepheards as vppon earth are thy Ministers and stewards by whome and in whome thou speakest to vs and with vs that wee shewing vnto them all reuerence and honour which they be worthie of for thy sake may giue them honest liuinges and consider howe that Christ thy sonne our Lorde teacheth the same Math. 10. and Paule thy seruaunt 1. Cor. 9. Reason it is seeing they sow spiritual things vnto vs that they of vs reape thinges corporall O Lord remooue away the contempt of thy woorde and ministers for the same neuer escaped without great punishment and harme IESVS said vnto Peter verely verilie I say vnto thee When thou wast young thou girdest thy selfe and wentest whither thou wouldest but when thou art olde thou shalt stretch out thine hand and another shal gird thee and lead thee thither as thou wouldest not This hee said signifyng with what death he should glorifie God And when he had spoken this he said follow me Doctrine and fruite IT is not sufficient to haue begunne except the soul shepheard continue in his office and faithfulnesse For to take the cure and charge of the sheepe bringeth great danger losse trauaile and labour with it Many a time must a faithfull shepheard ieoperd his
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
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
right hand of God is exalted and hath receiued of the Father the promise of the holie Ghost he hath shed foorth this gift which yee now see and heare For Dauid is not ascended into heauen but he saith The Lorde saide to my Lorde Sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy foot stoole Doctrine and fruite WE beleeue that Iesus Christ our king and Sauiour is not onely risen againe from death to life but also is ascended vp into heauen sitteth at the right hand of God and raigneth for euer For though hee heere a season was despised and refused as the stone of the builders yet hath the strong hand of God exalted him and mightily wrought in him Which thing may well bee perceiued by this as Saint Peter heere valiantly concludeth that hee sendeth downe from on high such an excellent gift of the holy Ghost vpon those that are his This is a sure euidence that he mightily raigneth at the right hand of God and hath all things in his hand seeing he hath power of the spirite of God whom he poureth into the hearts of his and that sometime in visible manner For the glorious triumpher ascending vp to heauen with great victorie did after the custome of great kings and let fall his giftes downe vppon vs and parted them among vs namely the gifts of the holy Ghost whom he as man receiued of the Father but after the godhead he had him alwaie for of the father and of the sonne there is one onely spirite Neither may this bee applied vnto Dauid for though hee as a iust friend of GOD bee saued and come to heauen yet did not hee immediatly after death ascend into heauen with bodie and soule that he might be reported to sit at the right hand of God for his wordes speake of another whome he calleth his Lord namely in the hundreth and ninth Psalme he saith God the Father sayd vnto my Lorde euen the Sonne Sit thou on my right hand So therefore let all the house of Ierusalem know for a suretie that God hath made this Iesus whom ye haue crucified Tord and Messias Doctrine and fruit WIth these wordes doth Peter conclude his Oration exhorting them not to doubt Iesus Christ to be the same annointed sauiour and king who of God the father was first promised then giuen for the deliuerance of the people of the Iewes and of all nations In this conclusion is comprehended the summe of the whole Christian faith namely that wee beleeue that Iesus who was borne of the virgine Marie and crucified of the Iewes is the true Christ that is to saie Messias euen the king that was ordained annointed of God to raigne foreuer ouer all faithful beleeuers Lorde of the whole world and sauiour of all such as put their trust in him This hath God the Father opened and set forth vnto vs by myracles by the resurrection by the ascension by the power of the holy Ghost that wee might beleeue it and not doubt thereof Therefore saith Iohn Who so beleeueth that Iesus is Christ the same is borne of God WHen they heard this they were prickt in their hearts and said vnto Peter and to the other Apostles Ye men and brethren what shall we doe Peter said vnto them Repent of your sinnes and be baptised euerie one of you in the name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sinners and yee shall receiue the gifte of the holy Ghost For the promise was made vnto you to your children and to all that are a farre off euen as many as the Lord our God shall call And with many other words bare he witnesse and exhorted them saying Saue your selues from this vntoward generation Then they that gladly receiued his preaching were baptised And the same daie there were added vnto them about three thousand soules Doctrine and fruite THis is the fruit and end which followeth out of the preaching of the worde of God that they whose heartes God toucheth are so sorrie for theyr sinnes that it euen pearceth them for Gods word is euen a sharpe two edged sword and entreth through to the depth Blessed are all they which so reade and heare the word of God that they begin to be ashamed of their sinnes and wickednesse beeing repentant and sorrie therefore A blessed and wholsome sorrow is that which riseth and groweth out of the truth which is opened vnto the heart by the holy Ghost Which spirite in the heart giueth hope vpon the mercie of God and driueth awaie all despaire Then beginneth a man to aske What shall I doo Then enquireth he after the will of God and such a man that so asketh is easie to be helped soone is he healed that knowing his disease would faine be made whole Vnto such a man doth the faithfull Minister of Christ giue counsell out of the Scripture and sheweth him the fruit of Christ preached and knowen He doth not bid him bestow monie on solemnities and Diriges on Images Monisteries or coâ—les inâ—â—â—ying of pardons He doth not will to runne vnto Rome or to Lawret but requireth of him the best and most profitable thing of all namely amendement conuersion of life Our mindes our workes and maners must be altered if we will please God Who so saith with his heart that he beleeueth in Christ holding Christ for his sauiour and king must forsake his euil waie eschuing euill and doing good Iere. 7.11 Isa 1 Niniue stood still vpright when they tooke vppon them true conuersion and amendement As for Hierusalem though they offered many sacrifices fasted much it helped not because there was no true reformation and forsaking of sinne needs must they be destroied and miserablie perish To botch or patch the matter it will not helpe there is no remedie wee must become godly and vertuous of life it auaileth not to dissemble God looketh into the heart which he will haue pure and vnfained Forasmuch then as we through baptisme in the faith of Christ haue receiued Christ and are marked out for him hauing once forgiuenesse of sinnes through the grace and gift of Christ let vs be of a vertuous lfe walking innocently and in the feare of God Let vs die therefore to the innocencie which is restored vnto vs againe through Christ let vs daily remember to harken follow the admonishment of the spirit which teacheth vs all good things We are they vnto whom God hath promised his grace of the spirite yea and vnto our children also so farre as we abide in his couenants Let vs thankfully receiue such excellent grace deare brethren being ware that we stain not the temple of Iesus Christ and of his holy spirit with filthinesse of the worlde that wee neuer make our selues partakers in the iniquitie of wicked and faithlesse men but to leade here a pure and cleane conuersation with a good conscience before GOD our most louing father and alwaie lift vp our minds vnto