thus said he gaue vp the ghost The death of Christ is expressed by three seuerall formes or manners of speech in the Gospell hee * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 breathed out the spirit in this place Christ cryed with a lowd voice and yeelded vp the Ghost Math. 27. 50. he bowed down the head and gaue vp the Ghost Which varietie of words are therfore more seriously to be weighed because in them is expressed a great difference betwixt the death of Christ and others for his alone was willing and therefore hee laid down his soule Iohn 10. 18. so that the Centurion at this wonderfull sight is mooued to beleeue and vttereth so much in plaine termes that he was the sonne of God Marc. 13. 39. Crying with a loud voice yeelded vp the Ghost Hee did not 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now speake as other men doe when the time of their dissolution is come and be ready to cast forth the last breath but of his owne accord with a loud voice calleth vpon death not daring otherwise to presume for to come hee yeelded the Ghost at his own pleasure fulfilling all the e Arnoldus Car 〈…〉 de vltimis septem Christi verbis legall sacrifices and making an end of all the darke and obscure ceremonies Who so sleepeth who so putteth off his garments who so departeth from any place when hee will as Iesus dyeth vnclotheth himselfe of the flesh and leaueth this 2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 world Bowing downe f Tanlâ—rus de meditatiâ—â—â—us vitae Iesu Chrisâ—i cap. 51. his head giuing his last farewell and bidding adew to the earth and offering the kisse of peace In g Geâ—gius Wirth in Harmoniaex Euangelijs lib. 5. cap. 59. vs it is otherwise wee first dye then dow down the head but he boweth downe his head then dyeth declaring that hee is the Lord of death and doth all things according to his owne will hee gaue vp the Ghost being obedient vnto the death Hee left to breath Hee gaue the last breath his holy soule passing out of his vndefiled body Christ died not in h Herâ—tici nonnulli veterâ—s fictè putatiuè tantum passâ—â—â— blasphemed euerunt vt Simoniani Siturniani Basilidiani Marcionitae Manichaei Alij diuinitatem passam esse tradideruÌ„t vâ— Theopaschitae Eutuchiani Seueritae Armâ—niani de quibus Epiphanius Augustinus Theodâ—â—ctus shew and a false appearance but in truth the soule being locally parted and separated from his 3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 body yet the deitie forsooke neither but continued hypostatically vnited to them both the Sonne of God died not in his Godhead but in his humanitie and flesh 1. Pet. 3. 18. for otherwise neither could the iustice of God haue been satisfied nor his truth answered as hath been more fully handled in the first word Vse The benefit and fruit which wee receiue from this his death is manifold 1. First Iustification and the pardon of our sinnes that they come no more into the sight of God Christ is exalted and lifted vp vnto the i Leo primus depassione Domserm 10. crosse and so turned death vpon the author of death and by opposing his passible flesh hath broken all principalitie and aduerse power being content to admit the boldnesse of that ancient enemie against himselfe raging against that nature which was obnoxious vnto him and presuming there to bee a challenger of the debt where he could not find the least signe or token of any sin Therefore that generall and deadly hand-writing of our thraldome and misery is cancelled and the bond of our captiuitie is come into the hand of the Reâ—eemer whom the Father sent to bee a propitiation for our offences 1. Ioh. 4. 10. 2. Secondly deliuerance from the power of the deuill for the seed of the woman hath broken the head of the serpent Gen. 3. 15. and loosed the workes of the deuill 1. Ioh. 3. 8. 3 Thirdly the restitution of our peace for by his bloud we are reconciled Coloss 1. 19. and he hath broken down the partition wall Ephes 2. 14. and tasted of the deadly cup for our sakes The bloud of the k Augustinus de 5. heresibus Phisitian is shed and made the curing medicine of the phrentique patient 4 Fourthly the destruction of death and feare therof so that it is to the godly no more but a bare name yea the birth-day of life the entrance into heauen Threfore the Apostle tryumphingly asketh O death where is thy victorie O graue where is thy sting The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law but thanks be vnto God who hath giuen vs victorie through our Lord Iesus Christ Osea 13. 14. I. Cor. 15. 54 For hee tooke vpon him the nature of mankind that the l Cyrillus lib. 4. in Iohan. cap. 12. Leo primus serm 2 de Natiuitate hac similitudine videntur multùm delectari Patres nam ea â—si sunt Nazianzenus cratione de Paschate Gregor Magnus hom 25. in Euangelia Damascenorth dexae fidei lib. 3. cap. 27. c. deuill the first author of death might bee ouercome by his owne invention for swallowing the baite of his manhood hee is strucken with the hooke of his Godhead Heb. 2. 14. 5 Fiftly the regeneration and restitution of our nature by the holy spirit for Christ hath not onely by his death obteined the pardon but the purging also of our sins and is made vnto vs wisdome righteousnesse redemption and sanctification 1. Corinth 1. 30. Once dead that wee might for euer dye vnto sinne Rom. 6. 6. and liue now no more according to our owne will but his who hath died for vs 2. Cor. 5. 17. m De his vide plura in Dictionario pauperuÌ„ Thus haue I finished the n Augustinus de Ciuit. Dei lib. 22. cap. 30. taske of this worke such as it is small in volume great in labour If any thinke I haue spoken too much let him pardon that if sufficient giue thanks not to me but to God Amen CERTAINE RVLES and directions teaching euery Christian how to die well according to these seuen last words of Christ. Vt of these last words of Christ some very denoute and religious persons haue collected framed an Art how to die well which I will as it were in a little table Christian o Fredericus tertius Imperator aliquando interrogatus qâ—â— in 〈◊〉 praeâ—ipâ—am operam â—omâ— in hac â—â—ta ponere deberet respondit in agnitione Dei â—â—arte mori 〈…〉 Reader represent vnto thy sight that we may learne to number our dayes aright Psal 90. 12. and end our liues with comfort Therefore 1. Let vs forgiue our enemies as Christ here did for if we doe not neither will our heaâ—eâ—ly father forgiue vs Matth. 18. 35. And it is not enough thus to doe in word but the tongue and the heart must concurre in one 2 Let vs take order for
a perpetuall ministerie by which the eyes of the Gentiles should bee opened that they might be conuerted from darknes to light and brought from the power of Satan vnto God that they might receiue forgiuenesse of sinnes and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in him Act. 26. 18. whereof is a notable remarkeable example of the people Publicans and souldiers Luc. 3. 10. 11. and those Iewes who so vehemently desired that Christ might bee crucified and Barrabas a theefe and murderer let loose Act. 2. 36. 41. We obtaine the second freedome when he giueth sauing 2. Liberatio à peccato faith by which we embrace the pardon of our offences and being regenerate the holy Ghost doth so abate and represse the power of sinne that it beareth not rule in vs. And in this sence we are said not to sinne 1. Ioh. 3. 9. because it reigneth not in our mortall bodies that we should obey the lustes thereof so that though in the flesh we serue the law of sin yet in the minde we serue the law of God Rom. 6. 12. 7 23. and so offend not stubbornely and obstinately but bewayle our corruption and bee exercised in continuall repentance For the third deliuerance it shall bee performed when 3. Liberatio à corruptione morte God by his mighty power doth raise our putrified and corrupted bodies from out of the earth vnto glory For then shall we all be Iust Esay 60. 21. the sonnes of God and of the resurrection equall vnto the Angells Luk. 20. 36. That as we haue borne the image of the earthly so shall we beare the image of the heauenly c. And when this corruptible hath put on incorruption and this mortall hath put on immortalitie then shall be brought to passe the saying that is written Death is swallowed vp in victorie r Deridet Apostolus morteÌ„ quae gloriabatur quasi victriu â—cciso seruatore posito in sepulero Arnoldus Carnotensis de oparibus sex dierum O death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victorie The sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the Law But thankes bee vnto God which hath giuen vs victorie through our Lord Iesus Christ 1. Cor. 15. v. 49. 54. 55. 56. 57. From hence we may behold as in a glasse the exceeding iustice mercy wisdome and trueth of God iustice for his First vse wrath could not be appeased nor sinners receiued into fauour without a full and perfect satisfaction made for transgressions committed and therefore hath punished the iniquities of all mankind in his sonne neither doth hee acknowledge or receiue any but such as are clothed with his obedience For the offence committed against the greatest good was to be recompensed with the greatest punishment of the offendor that is the extreame destruction of the nature transgressing for the reward of sinne is death Rom. 6. vers 23. Mercy for s Augustinus in meditationibus when we were dead in trespasses and sinnes wherein in times past we walked according to the course of the world and after the Prince which ruleth in the ayre euen the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience c. and were by nature the children of wrath c. God rich in mercy through his great loue wherewith he loued vs c. hath quickned vs in Christ by whose Grace wee are saued and hath raised vs vp and made vs sit in the heauenly places in Christ Iesus c. Ephes 2. 1. 2. 3. c. And this is that bottomlesse depth t Bonauentinae De stimulo amoris diuins parte 1. cap. 2. Bernardus ser in 4. feria Hebdomadis Panosae of mercy which cannot bee sounded for the father that he might redeeme a seruaunt spared not his owne sonne not the sonne himselfe Wisdome for God did so temper and intermingle his iustice and mercy in this worke of redemption that he remained both infinitely iust and infinitely mercifull Infinitely iust for he punished our sinnes to the full infinitely mercifull laying this burden not vpon vs but vpon our pledge and suerty Christ Iesus for we all as sheepe haue gone astray we haue turned euery one after his owne way and the Lord laid vpon him the iniquitie of vs all Esay 53. 6. And this is that wonderfull worke of God which the Angels bowing themselues downe with reuerence desire to behold and that misterie of godlinesse dimly shadowed by the two cherubims couering the propitiatorie of the Arke of couenaunt a type of Christ and turning their faces one toward another as desiring to looke into it Exod. 25. 20. Trueth For God requireth the deserued punishment our surety vndertaking for vs hath deriued the same together with our sinnes vpon himselfe according to that decree that the breaking of the serpents head should not be without the bruising of the heele of the seede of the woman Gen. 3. 15. euen Christ whom God sent at the fulnesse of time Gal. 4. 4. and he by death ouercame him the deuill who had the power of death Heb. 1. 14. and therefore tooke vpon him our nature For u Thaeodoretus bare man could not heale so deepe a wound because in Adam all haue sinned are corrupted in the roote and conceiued in iniquity Psal 51. 6. neither was this in the power of any Angell a finite creature vnable to beare an infinite punishment or to vphold it selfe from falling For Angels x Augustinus in Enchiridis cap. 100. Fulgentius ad Trasimundum Regem lib. 2. cap. 2. stand by that grace by which we were raised Such an one therefore was to bee sought for whose benefit might renew wisdome informe and power confirme the creature so as eternall equalitie might iustifie the wicked trueth instruct the ignorant strength confirme the weake and he must be not onely man but G 〈…〉 such an helpe did both our nature and case require For neither could y Augustinus Maiesty without humilitie nor humilitie without maiestie restore mankinde therefore is God said to redeeme the Church with his owne bloud Act. 20. 28. and hee is that lambe killed from the beginning of the world Apoc. 13. 8. who was not taken by the handes of the wicked otherwise then deliuered by the determinate counsell and foreknowledge of God and so crucified and slaine Act. 2. 23. 4. 28. For so it was foretold by the mouth of all the Prophets Act. 3. 21. euen that Christ should suffer neither could it be but that the euent must answer the infallible praediction Luc. 24. 26. So he suffered necessarily though by no necessitie That thus the iustice the mercy the trueth and wisdome of God might be made knowen and our freedome from bondage procured 2 Hereby appeareth how z Bernardus in natale Domini serm 3. 6. grieuous a thing sinne is and how Second vse odious vnto God for deepe must needs those wounds be which could not be healed but by
ad Nisseni libellum de hominis opificio annotationibus dissolued and to remooue out of the weake and fraile house of this mortall life that hee might dwell for euer with God the eternall creator and Iesus Christ his redeemer Philip. 1. 23. Let vs therefore runne speedily with the Apostle vnto the goale and to the h Bernardus de ascensione ser 4. 6. reward of our high calling not by the steps of our body but the affections desires and breathlesse sighes of our soule For God the Father doth expect vs as his children and heires that he might set vs ouer all things God the Son expecteth vs as his brethren and coheires with him that hee might present vs vnto the Father the fruit of his birth and passion God the holy Ghost expecteth vs who is the loue and gratious goodnesse by which we were predestinated from all eternitie and no doubt will haue this benefit fulfilled the whole companie of heauen attendeth for vs and desireth our comming Let vs therefore our selues in most earnest manner desire and long for the same The wicked shall be tormented with such punishment as Another obseruation can neither be i Quantitatem qualitatem poenarum infornalium nulla mortalium assequi potest cogitatio nulla exprimere oratio Augustinus serm 8. de tempore de speculo peccatoris cap 3. Generalitie of the punishmeÌ„t of the wicked conceiued nor expressed and in that day of reuelation and the iust iudgement of God be inflicted vpon them which the Apostle expresseth vnder the tearmes of Anger wrath tribulation and anguish Rom. 2. 9. 10. intollerable and aboue measure grieuous and that in respect of the generalitie diuersitie sharpnesse and continuance of the same and the company among and with whom they shall bee suffered All which seuerall points may easily bee confirmed by the testimonies of holy Scripture the pure fountaines of Israel without borrowing any thing from the muddy puddles of humane conceit Therefore for the generalitie of these punishments it is of large extent reaching to the soule and bodie to all and euery seuerall parts of the one and sundry faculties of the other when both shall be cast into hell fire Matth. 10. 28. The diuersitie is Diuersitie manifold fire vnquenchable the worme neuer dying Esay 66. 24. brimstone Apoc. 19. 20. k Fletus ob ignem qui non extinguitur stridor ob vermem qui non moritur fletus ex dolore stridor ex furore Vide Gregorium de poenaruÌ„ diuersitate Moral lib. 9. cap. 27. dialog lib. 4. Augustinus de Baptis contra Donat. cap. 19. Isidor Hispal de summo bono lib. 1. cap. 32. weeping wayling gnashing of teeth Luc. 13. 28. outward darknesse Matth. 22. 13. and those inflicted according to the proportion of the sinne Therefore our Sauiour Christ saith it shall be easier in the day of iudgement for Tyrus and Sidon Sodome and Gomorrha then for Bethsaida Corazim and Capernaum despisers of the Gospell Matth. 11. 21. c. The sharpenesse vnestimable for hell and the vnsufferable torture of the damned doth without mercy afflict those whom it once taketh hold of in so much that men for the greatnesse of the paine seeke death and cannot finde it desireth it but it fleeth from them Apoc. 9. 6. And a liuely example is l De hac paraboli vide plum moâ—eratum iudicium Augustini lib. 8. de Genesi ad lineram cap. 5. Continuance propounded vnto vs in the person of the rich glutton who by his gesture and the effects sheweth the exceeding greatnesse of his intollerable torment and is said to desire but a litle refreshing a drop of water and cannot obtaine it Luc. 16. 24. The continuance that is endlesse for the punishment though m Gregorius Magnus homilia 6. in Ca 〈…〉 cum Salomnus Paulinus de obitu Celsi Dorotheus doctrina 12. neuer so great yet would be tollerable if there were hope to those miserable wretches of deliuerance but from this they are eternally excluded Wisdom 3. 13. the tormenting fire shall be vnquencheable Matth. 13. 30 the shame euerlasting Dan. 12. 2. the destruction eternall 2. Thess 1. 8. the smoke of the torment shall ascend for euer Apoc. 14. 11. neither are the n Augustinus serm 57. tormentors at any time wearyed neither can the tormented die for there the fire doth so o Tertull. Apologet cap. 45. Ignis arcani subterraneus thesaurus ad poenam destinatus consume that it doth not waste so spend that still it is renued so destroy that it preserueth and the life of those miserable ones made immortall that their punishment might bee endlesse and that iustly For man sinned against the eternall infinite God therefore must the punishment of the offence be eternall and infinite and he p Agitola est haec quaestio Augustini teÌ„poribus an iniusium non sit pro peccatis quamlibet magnis parmo tempore patratis poena damnari sempiterna lib. 21. de Ciuitate Dei cap. 11. Albertus in compendio Theologiae lib. 7. cap. 21. worthy whose life was dead in sinne that his death should liue in torment And this is agreeing with the strict iustice of God that they should neuer be freed from punishment whose minde in life was neuer free from transgression neither should they haue any end of reuenging paine who while they might would neuer make an end to prouoke God by offending woe to those for whom those hellish torments are prepared better they had neuer beene borne then euer bee enwrapped in them The societie and Society company with whom they shall be are the Deuill and his Angels Math. 25. 41. thrust downe into hell deliuered to the chaines of darknesse reserued to damnation 2. Pet. 2. 4. to euerlasting chaines Iud. vers 6. where the q Bernardus in sermonibus satyre shall call to his fellow one to another deuill to deuill smite teare rent kill spoile Esay 34. 34. where the wicked shall haue no rest night nor day Apoc. 14. 115. but be alwaies in sorrow and mourning where r Hugo de anima shall be griefe intollerable incomparable stench dreadfull feare death of soule and body without all hope either of pardon or mercy This may serue for an effectuall and piercing sermon of Vse repentance and be as the loud voice of a cryer in the wildernes of this world sounding into the eares of man Amend For the wicked shall goe to hell and all the nations that forget God Psalm 9. 17. Fruitlesse trees are cut downe and cast into the fire Math. 3. 10. Listen therefore and be attentiue vnto the Apostles admonition Take heed Brethren least there bee at any time in any of you an euill heart and vnfaithfull to depart from the liuing God but exhort one another daily while it is called to day least any of you bee hardned by the deceitfulnesse of sinne Heb. 3. 12. For this life
word of God * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and for the testimony which they maintained are said to crie with a loude voyce vnder the Altar for vengeance Reuel 6. 9. 10. Furthermore it is an vsuall phrase in Scripture concerning the dead that they are gathered to their people as of Abraham Gen. 25. 8. and Aaron Numb 20. 24. therefore that people is and liueth for this cannot truely bee affirmed of the bodies laid and rotten in the graues because they bee no people but carkases and so come not to the company and societie of the Saints And for this cause the Iewes call the place of buriall the house of the liuing x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therefore the soules of the faithfull departed doe liue eternally in the sight of God And that testimony of our Sauiour Christ is most pregnant whereby he doth strengthen and comfort his Disciples against the terror and cruelty of persecutors in this sort Feare yee not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soule Math. 10. 28. And beside all this the dead are often in Scripture stiled y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inter mortem somnum ista est 1. Somnus obrepit nescientbus sic mors 2. Somnus quieteÌ„ praestat laboribus mors curis miserijs omnibus 3. Somnus non animaÌ„ sed corpus occupat Mors non animam sedâ— corpus occidit 4. Somnus alijs laeta alijs tristiae offert somnia Mors alijs solatia alijs tormenta 5. Somnus habet â—esurgendiâ—spem mors resuscuandi 6. Somnus recreator est corporum vt TertuluÌ„anus de anima redintegrator virium probator valetudinis pacator operum medicus laborum ita morsrenouat recreat reparat hominem 7. Somnus facile cedit inclamanti mors Christo excitanti Et apud virtusâ— lioguae authores Grecae Latinae Mors somnas appellatur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nam sic Lycophron in Cassandra 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Orpheus in Argonauticis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In Eumenisi Aesehili mortui 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicuntur Callimachus Epigramate 14. 21. Moschus Iudillio 3. Virgilius 10. Aeneid Dura quies ferreus somnus Horatius Carminum lib. 1. 24. Perpetuus sopor sleeping as 2. Sam. 7. 12. 2. Chron. 9. 31. Dan. 12. 2. 1. Corinth 15. ver 18. Iairus daughter Math. 9. 24. of whom it is remarkeable that Saint Luke saith cap. 8. 55. how when Christ raysed her to life her spirite came againe therefore it was not extinguished with the body And Paul desired to be dissolued and to be with Christ Phil. 1. 22. Lastly to conclude our Lord and Sauiour thus reasoneth against the Saduces who denied the resurrection from the dead and the immortality of the soule Math. 22. 32. Those whose God the Lord is by an euerlasting couenant they must also liue euerlastingly for he is not the z Zanchius de operibus creationis Parte 3. lib. 2. cap. 8. Hemingius in Syntagmate loco De statu animae post mortem corporis God of the dead but of the liuing And the reason is for no eternall couenant is made or kept but with those who liue also eternally because if one part of the confederators vtterly perish then the league made cannot be perpetuall but ceaseth For how can it performe that which it hath promised or how can God make his promise good vnto it except he preserue it aliue But God is the God of Abraham Isaacke and Iacob and therefore they liue And so much hitherto of this for it were needles to heape vp many arguments and proofes for confirmation of that whereof no a Est integer liber Augustini de immortalita te animae Aeneae Dialogus de eadem Nicetas in Thesauro lib. 〈◊〉 cap. 16. Christian doubteth much lesse fitting to adde the reasons of Philosphers b Si cui animus sit Philosophorum rationes cognoscere quibus animae immortalitatem confirmant consulant Platonem l. 10. de Repub. l. 10. delegibus â—eiusdem etiam Pheâ—onem Axiochum Apologiam Socratis Ciceronem Quaestionum Tusculan lib. 1. Xenophongem Institutionis Cyri lib. 8. Macrobium Cardani etiam de hac materia Integrum tractatum Marsilium Ficinum Antonij Poli libros septem de veritate animae rationalis ad Gregorium 13. Bodinum in Theatro Naturae among which it cannot bee denied but that some are demonstratiue yet many thorney and hard to bee vnderstood and scarce intelligible euen to those who are most conuersant in their writings Therfore to end with the words of Nemesius c Lib. de natura homini cap. 2. Let the doctrine of the holy Scriptures suffice content vs whose proofe is infalliable because inspired of God This may be a powerfull motiue to stirre vs vp to the practise of holinesse and abstinence from sinne and all vncleannesse knowing that after this life the soule shall returne and be reunited to the body raysed from death and so eyther enioy eternall happinesse or bee tormented with endlesse punishment for there is a double sentence Goe yee cursed into euerlasting fire appointed for the diuell and his angels or Come ye blessed and possesse the Kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world Math. 25. 34. 41. and they shall come forth that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life and they that haue done euill into the resurrection of condemnation Iohn 5. 29. for the vnrighteous shall not inherite the Kingdome of heauen 1. Corinth 6. 9 neyther any vncleane thing enter into the new Ierusalem Reuel 21. 27. And indeed this is the onely or chiefe reason why men runne headlong into all kind of wickednesse and defile themselues with most vile and base vncleannesse because this opinion is deeply setled in their hearts that the soule and the body doe perish together Wisdome 2. v. 3. 4. And by this you may easily iudge what spirit it is by which the Bishops of Rome are led For it is reported of d Grinaeus Leo the tenth that he procured two famous Philosophers to dispute before him the subiect matter of whose discourse was touching the state of the soule after death the one reasoning so strongly as he could for the immortalitie thereof the other against it and the determination being referred to himselfe as the chiefe moderator tooke vp the controuersie with this conclusion that the speech of the former seemed to bee true but the latter better pleasing and made a more cheerefull countenance adding that the old verse of * Redit in nihilum quod fuit ante nihil Cornelius Gallus liked him wel That which sometime nothing was nothing becomes again But wee must hold this for an vnquestionable and vndoubted truth that God is iust rewardeth the righteous and punisheth the wicked For many of them that sleepe in the dust soall awake some to euerlasting life and some to shame and perpetuall contempt Dan. 12. 2. And hauing
Dominus Iesus mortâ— Crâ—cis ignominiam tulit ad haec tria referri possunt primum filialâ—m obedientiam quae prioris inobedientiae piaculum sâ—lueret Secundum Compassibilem communem miseriam qua Dei iustitiam inflexibilem virgom ferreaÌ„ ad miserecordâ—â— hortabatur Tertium Celeberrimam solenuem victoriam cuius successu ineuitabilis Diaboli mortis potentia in momento gloriâ—se efficaciter erat imminuenda The store-house is opened full of all souereigne l Bonauentuâ—a in Stimulo ameris parte prima cap 10. medecines enter by the windowe of Christes woundes and take from thence Phisicke or remedy curing restoring comforting and preseruing from thence receiue what simples thou desirest what delicate electuaries thou wilt For the merite of Christ suffering is the price of our redemption he was wounded for our transgressions he was broken for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was vpon him and with his stripes we are healed Esay 53. 5. His bloud doth purge vs from all sinne 1. Ioh. 1. 7. And this is the confession of the foure beastes and foure and twentie elders who fall downe before the lambe Thou hast redeemed vs to God by thy bloud out of euery kindred and tongue and people and nation Apoc. 5. 8. 9. And so he is an all sufficient ransome for vs 1. Timoth. 2. 6. which word m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Haec subest verbo huic notio vt sit precium aequiualens quo captiui redempti demittuntur in pristi 〈…〉 libertatem restituuntur Seluecerus in locum Apostoli râ—nsome in the originall but once vsed in the newe testament and in it the proposition where with it is compounded noteth an opposition and sheweth that Christ our deliuerer or redeemer is so sett against Adam the author of all bondage as he is stronger and of greater power then he by whom sinne entered into the world Rom. 5. 17. Now this captiuitie or bondage in which the deuill holdeth man fast bound is threefold The first of blindnes and error For when Eue listened to the contagious and infecting hissing of the serpent that both shee and Adam by eating the forbidden fruit should become like vnto God knowing good and euill Gen. 3. 5. she was ensnared by the first question that euer was n Beda Duo promissa sum mulieri Immortalitas Diuinitas neutrum prouenit fed iumentorum conditio hominum sub vnius similitudinis comparatione damnatione premulgata censetur Arnoldus Carnotensis de operibus sex dieruÌ„ simado illius liber sit de quo non leues suns dubitaÌ„di causae sed censuram omnem Criticis relinquo asked in the world and deceiued by the first lyethen made from whence all their posteritie and off-spring walke in darknes strangers from the life of God through the ignorance which is in them Ephes 4. 18. The second of sinne For whosoeuer committeth sinne is the seruant of sinne Ioh. 8. 34 Nothing more grieuous nothing more base and vnbeseeming a man For as a seruant is not at his owne power and liberty but dependeth wholy vpon his Lord or Master doing that which he willeth and commandeth so the sinner is giuen ouer to the deuill and altogether subiect vnto him and aduersary seeking whom he may deuoure 1. Pet. 5. 8. o Theodericus in Analyse EnaÌ„geliorum dominicalium Seruitus Diaboli 1. vilissima 2. vitiosissima 3. Durissima 4. Necentissima And this estate is 1. most base for hee is constrained to obey infinite lusts which the better sort of Heathen thought dishonorable 2. most wicked for he heapeth sinne vpon sin offence vpon offence euill vpon euill and those contrary each to other and with these vexeth and tormenteth his slaues 3. most grieuous and cruell for the sinner is a drudge to so many deuills as offences 4. most hurtfull for the wages and reward of this seruice is the destruction of soule and body the losse of eternall saluation and endlesse condemnation in hell fire prepared for the deuill and his Angels Therefore partly to make the Romanes ashamed partly to conuict them by the witnes of their owne conscience the Apostle demaundeth of them propounding a comparison of the estate of life in which they serued sinne and that wherin they liued vnto righteousnesse what fruit they had and answereth no other but that whereof they were now ashamed Rom. 8. 21. 22. And it is the confession of the wicked concerning themselues and their endeauours that they were wearied in the way of sinne and destruction and had gone through dangerous wayes and now knowen the way of the Lord. Wisdom 5. 7. The third is of corruption and death For man borne of a woman hath but a short time to liue and is ful of misery Iob 14. 1. the truth of this sentence not words but wounds haue taught Man borne of a p Bernardus in in Hemilia feriae 4. Nebdomadis pa. lib. 2. de consideratione Gregorius Magnus in Moralibus ad 14. cap. Iobi woman therfore with guilt and nothing more contemptible then hee hath a short time therefore with feare so in the very entrance into life he is dreadfully admonished of his departure full of miserie therefore with teares and mourning for the miseries of the body miseries of the soule miseries when hee sleepeth miseries when he waketh For what calamitie can be wanting vnto him who is borne in sinne with a weake body and a barren soule And thus the penaltie of man in a short summe is expressed for after q Leo p 〈…〉 s 〈…〉 3. d 〈…〉 â—io 〈…〉 D 〈…〉 that first and vniuersall ruine thorough which sinne entred into the world and by sinne death went ouer all men none could auoide the rule and souereignitie of the Deuill none shake off the fetters of his cursed and terrible bondage neither could any haue beene reconciled vnto God or had entred into life except the sonne of God coeternall and coequall vnto the father had vouch safed to be the sonne of Man and come to seeke and saue that which was lost Luc. 19. 10. that as by Adam was death so by our Lord Iesus Christ should be the resurrection from the dead and from all the wretchednesse before mentioned hath hee obtained deliuerance for vs of his Father euen then when he offered himselfe vpon the Altar of the crosse and was made vnto vs righteousnesse sanctification wisedome and redemption 1. Cor. 1. 30. But this benefit is not bestowed in one moment but successiuely and by degrees For wee are made partakers of the first freedome or deliuerance 1â— liberasin à caecitaete â—rere when Christ doth call vs by the voice of his Gospell and enlighten our darke vnderstandings with the bright shining beames of his holy spirit For he conuersing heere vpon earth preached deliuerance to the captiues c. Luc. 4. 18. and when hee ascended vp to heauen gaue gifts to men c. Ephes 4. 11. ordeyning
the wounds of the sonne of God And furder a Augustinus serm de tempore 29. we may vnderstand at how high a rate God doth value the transgressions of man from which debt that we might be deliuered he sent not downe to earth an Angell nor Archangell but God The greatnesse of the remedie bewrayeth the greatnesse of the maladie b Leo I. serm l. de passione Such were the fetters in which we were hard bound that we could not be loosed from them but by this meanes so great was the price by which we are redeemed so great is the expense by which we are cured For what returne could there be from impiety to righteousnesse from misery to happinesse except the righteous had bowed himselfe downe to the wicked and the blessed to the miserable c Augustinus serm de tempore 114. Behould therefore holinesse is scourged for the vngodly wisedome is mocked-at for the foolish righteousnesse condemned for the wicked trueth murdered for the lyer and deceitfull sincerity it selfe drinketh vineger for the wretched sweetnesse is filled with gall innocency is accused for the guiltie and life dieth for the dead Let vs not then be ashamed of the Crosse of Christ we haue victorie and triumph by his death for as he the euerlasting son of God was not borne for himselfe but for vs Esay 9. 6. so the same immaculate and spotlesse lambe of God suffered not for himselfe but for vs 1. Pet. 1. 18. 19. wherefore let vs carefully auoyde sinne and crucifie the flesh with the lustes and affections thereof Gal. 5. 24. least wee seeme to tread vnder foote the son of God and accompt the bloud of the testament as an vnholy thing wherewith we are sanctified and dispite the spirit of grace Heb. 10. 29. Vse 3 3 Let vs not doubt of the loue of God towardes vs. For how can he but loue those for whom he gaue his beloued Ioh. 3. 16. And this is Pauls comfort who sometime was a blasphemer an oppressor a persecutor that he was crucified with Christ and the life that he now liued was by faith in the son of God who loued him gaue himselfe for him Gal. 2. 20. And one of our d Thomas Bilneius apud Foxis in Martyrologio owne Martyres standing at the stake ready to offer vp his body a sacrifice for the coÌ„firming of his faith and profession of the Gospell there rehearsing the Apostles creede the summe of his beliefe when hee came to the Article of Christ crucified in most submisse and humble manner bended his body lowe to the ground and gaue God most dutifull thankes so great as he could conceiue for this infinite and vnspeakeable mercy who by the death of his sonne had deliuered vs from out of the power of the Deuill by whom we were taken aliue to doe his will Then brethren e Augustinus lib. de virginitate cap. 54. 55. 56. behould the woundes of Christ hanginge vpon the crosse the bloud which hee shed dying the price which hee offered redeeming the scarres which he shewed after his rising his head is bowed downe to kisse thee his heart opened to loue thee his armes spred abroad to embrace thee his body sacrificed to redeeme thee Wonder with thy selfe how great these giftes are wey them in the ballance of thy heart that he may be wholy fastened of thee in thy soule who was wholy fastened for thee vpon the Crosse And they crucified him This was the purposed intendement of the Iewes priestes and Pharisies to brand Christ with the greatest infamie they could deuise and that euen by the f Tanlerus in meditationibus de vita Christa cap. 37. fellowship if I may so call it of those two theeues between whom he was crucified endeauouring thereby to perswade the people that hee was guilty of the same offences for which they suffered and therefore was placed in the g Iansenius in Harmonia Euangeliorum cap. 143. midst betweene them whereof more afterward that so hee might not only be reckned among the wicked but also accompted as the chiefe so foretould of the Prophet Esay 53. 12. Fulfilled accordingly Mark 15. 28. As Christ the Redeemer of the whole world tooke vpon his shoulders the burden of the sinnes of vs all hangeth crucified betweene two theeues is laden with tauntes and reproaches and esteemed publikely for a most wicked one so we by faith in him and through his absolute obedience are accompted righteous For hee that knewe no sinne was made sinne for vs that we might bee the righteousnes of God in him 2. Corinth 5. 21. In which one diuine Aphorisme of the Apostle the whole summe of the doctrine of our Redemption is briefly comprehended For the Redeemer himselfe is by way of description expressed hee knew noe sinne but was pure vndefiled innocent Heb. 7. 26. h Christus filius crat carnis Adae non filius praeuaricaâ—â—onis Adae S. Bernardus in fesso pensecostis serm 2. the sonne not of the sinne but of the flesh of Adam Luc. 3. 38. and in this place the word sinne signifieth the vitious habite inherent in our corrupt nature from which our blessed Sauiour was most free The manner of the redemption made sinne for vs that is a propitiatory sacrifice or offering for attonement a i Augustinus in Enchiridio cap. 41. Chytraeus in Leuiticum phrase of speech taken from the law Leuit. 7. 2. Osea 4. 8. The fruit and benefite that we might be the righteousnesse of God in him for he came to seeke and saue that which was lost Luk. 19. 10. who being in the forme of God thought it no robbery to be equall with God but k Non sumpsit modo formam serui vt subesset sed mali serui vt vapularet serus peccati vt paenam solueret cum poenaÌ„ non haberet Bernardus in serm feriae quartae in hebdomade paen he made himselfe of no reputation and tooke vpon him the forme of a seruant and was made like vnto men and was found in his shape as a man humbled himselfe and became obedient vnto the death euen the death of the crosse Phil. 2. 7. 8. and putting out the hand writing that was against vs fastened it vpon the Crosse Coloss 2. 14. so cancelled and by death ouercame him that had the power of death the Deuill Heb. 2. 14. and dissolued his workes 1. Ioh. 3. 8. For we fell in the handes of the prince of the world who deceiued Adam made him a Captiue l Nam quum dei opere vintulo tenebatur diaebolici operis apparuit filius dei vt illud solueret hoc sanaret Fulgentius ad Trasimundum Regem lib. 1. cap. 5. and tooke vs as his discended bondmen But our redeemer came and the * Captiuator vsurper was dispossessed what did hee m Augustinus serm de 5. paâ—â—bus duobus piscibus The reioycing of faith to the vsurper he layd
De visibili Monarchia lib. 7. Saunders calleth great and excellent Martyrs No roome heere for the inconstant runagate Campian none for Garnet guilty and conuicted of so strange and hellish a treason as no former age can paralell except happily he be such a Martyr as was his miracle counterfeit and a wispe of straw And by no better right may either the youth Chastell or father Guiguarde infamous for their bloudy and vnnaturall murthers challenge to haue their memories regestred in the catalogue of Saints extolled by g In Apologiae pro Iohanne Chastello parte 3. 5. Vindiciae Ecclesiae Gallicanae Franciscus de Verrona aboue the common and vsuall condition of all other to be noble Gentlemen halfe Gods and their deeds heroycall and so exempt from any staine of sinne But why should we maruell at all these strange Paradoxes For h Prateolus lib. 3. cap. 19. Petilian worshipped Iudas Iscarioth who betrayed his Master as a Martyr a Deuill and the sonne of perdition Ioh. 6. 70. 17. 12. And they shall haue good leaue to be numbred among the antient Martyriani which were also called Satanists i Epiphanius Heresi 80 Augustinus de heresious cap. 57. because with all submisse humility they honoured Satan as protector of their liues and gouernour of all their actions But let these passe and receiue such reward at Gods handes as is their due Because such heretofore hath beene and may hereafter bee the estate of the Church that either through the good workes and purity of k Cyprianus epistola 9. the brethren she be clothed in white or died purple in the bloud of Martyres for among her flowers there be as well roses as lilies let the professors of Christian religion striue and with all diligence endeauour that none suffer as a murtherer or a theife or an euill doer or as a busi-body c. but if any man suffer as a Christian let him not bee ashamed but glorifie God in this behalfe 1. Pet. 4. 15. 16. then shall hee vndertake a good triall l Tertullianus libro ad Martyres De his à Gymnastica sumptis vocabulis Petrus Faber in Agonistica Et Hyronimus Mâ—rcurialis de arte Gymnastica of Maisterie whereof the liuing God is the cheife author the principall ruler the holy Ghost Christ Iesus the ouerseer who hath annointed vs with his spirit and brought vs sorth to this triall the reward a garland of eternity glory in heauen for euer and euer c. They crucified him and the euill doers one at the right hand another at the left In this action lyeth couered a secret misterie For vnder these two malefactors is represented the whole body of all Crux Christi Tribunal mankinde which may well be deuided into two sortes the godly and faithfull who shal be saued the wicked and vnbeleouers who must be condemned and the site and placing of them shadoweth out the difference of their estate For in this position of the m Leo primus serm 4. de passione 〈◊〉 Pelusiota â—pisiolarum lib. 1. epistâ—â— 255. 256. crosse is not obscurely shewed vnto vs that seperation which Christ shall in that day when he commeth to iudgement make of all men the faith of the beleeuing theife beinge a representation of such as shal be saued and the impiety of the n other blaspheming a figure of the damned For he shall appeare in the end of the world in the glory of the Father and flaming fire to take vengeance of those who haue not knowne God and obeied the Gospell and to be glorified in his Saints and made wonderfull in all that doe beleeue 2. Thess 1. 7. 8. Then shall he seperate the sheepe and put them at his right hand and the goates at his left these shal be cast into euerlastinge fire with the Deuill and his Angels and vndergoe that dreadfull sentence depart from me you cursed they shall be put in the possession of the kingdome prepared for them from the beginning of the world with that sweet n Duae sententiae ferentur in iudicio vltimo vna pro bonis altera contra malos sententia pro bonis haec continet primâ— amabilem vocationem venite Secund. diuinaÌ„ benedictionem benedicti Tert. paternam dilectionem patris mei 4. remunerationis retributioneÌ„ percipite 5. praemij assignationem Regnum 6. gloriae praeparationim quod vobis paraâ—um 7. aeâ—ernaÌ„ praedestinationem ab origine mundi In sententia contra malos 1. est à Deo separatio ite 2. maledictio maledicti 3. poena in ignem 4. liberationis desperatio aeternum 5. infelix assâ—ciatio paratum Diabolo Angelis cius Albertus in compendio Theologiae lib. 7. cap. 19. inuitation come yee blessed of my father Math. 25. 31. 32. 34. 41. c. And from hence two especiall doctrines doe arise After the ignominies contumelies sufferinges and afflictions of this life God will giue vnto those that are his rest and glory for to euery one that doth good shal be honor and peace and glory Rom. 2. 10. Glory in the soule and body In the soule for it shall haue the knowledge of God likenes with him and we o Nazianzenus shall see him at the last as he is and neuer be depriued of that sight 1. Ioh. 3. 2. face to face 1. Cor. 13. 12. euen behoulding him as with the eye who is neither comprehensible in humaine vnderstanding nor expressible by any word of man Then God p Bernardus in Psal 91. Sublatis omnibus imperfectionibus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cuâ—us nunc est erodore tunc videbit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cuius hîc ect sperare obtinebit fiâ—miter id quô enitebatur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cuius est anâ—â—re tunc diliget perfectè vnde perfecta visio perfecta dilectio perfecta fruitio Tilenus 2. parte Syntagmatis Theologici loco de vita aeterna shall enlighten fully our vnderstanding with brightnes of wisedome gouerne our will and bound it in the limites of righteousness and quiet our affections so that they shall repose themselues in heauenly peace that whatsoeuer grace hath prepared and begunne glory may perfect And then wee shall bee freed from sinne and misery For as in q Danaeus de homine lib. 1. cap. 5. creation we were so made that we might not haue sinned and by the fall of Adam so corrupted that we cannot but sinne so being glorified shall be so restored that we shall not sinne at all For then shall we be perfectly regenerated Math. 22. 30. 1. Ioh. 3. 2. effectually gouerned in all our actions 1. Corinth 15. 28. and transformed into that Image according to which wee were first made that there might be in vs r Haymo lib. 1. de varietate librâ—rum cap. 1. light without darknes wisedome without errour life without death and be s Sancti duplicem glorificationis stolam habebunt vnam sp alteram carnis stola sp in
denounced vpon Mount Ebal Leuit. 26. 14. besides al which after this life remaineth eternall punishment for the refractary and disobebient 2. Thess 1. 8. The signes of true obedience among other are these 1. If wee perswade our selues that we do not therefore please God because we heare him but that we doe his will Psal 119. 11. Ioh. 10. 27. Math. 7. 26. 2. If wee obey in such things to which no law of man doth enforce vs and whereof God onely who is the knower of the heart can be Iudge Iob. 32. 22. 3. If that thing which is commanded bee contrary and repugnant to nature and yet notwithstanding euen in this wee doe obey So Moses goeth vp to the mount and contented to see the land of Promise willingly there dyeth as the Lord had tolde him Deut. 34. 5. And Abraham hastneth to sacrifice his onely sonne according to the commandement Gen. 22. 3. of which action thus Zeno Bishoppe of Verona f Zeno Verenensis sermone depatientia Basilius Isauriensis sermone de Abrahamo O strange spectacle and worthy whereof God should be the beholder in which it is a hard matter to determine whether the sacrificer or the sacrifice were more patient the countenance of neither once changed the one stretched forth his sword the other his necke the one buildeth the Altar the other bringeth the wood whereon hee was to be burned and both are ioyfull vnder the feare not of humanity but of nature it selfe both shew a wonderfull example of glory a pearlesse and vnmatchable patterne of Gods worshippe to succeeding ages Those who walke after this Rule peace and mercy is vpon them and the Israel of God Gal. 6. 16. Woman behold thy sonne If wee ballance and weigh considerately in our hearts that which is here spoken so many words so many miracles For could not Christ sooner prouide for his mother out of all doubt he could hee is the Lord of the whole world the earth is his and the fulnesse thereof Psal 24. 1. would he not God forbid that such a thought should euer enter into the heart of any Christian once to conceide a thing so blasphemous for now in the extremity of his vnexpected sorrowes and tortures and that incomprehensible ioy whereinto hee was presently to enter and whereof hee made the thiefe partaker Luc. 23. 43. is mindfull of her But in the secret of this deede there is an especiall thing whereof hee would haue vs take knowledge to witte this virgin was descended of the bloud royall the stocke of Dauid and mother of the sonne of God manifested in the flesh yet hath not of her owne wherewith to liue but is poore and therefore committed to another by whome necessary sustenance should bee procured And the truth hereof how meane her estate was may thus appeare both in that shee was despised of all in the time of her trauell thrust g Saluianus de Gubernatione Dei lib. 6. l. 2. contra auaritiam Nulla domus ambitio nisireclinatorium in stabulo mater in faeno filius in praesepio tale elegit mundifabricator hospitium huiusmodi habuit delicias sacrae virginis puerperium paÌ„niculi pro purpura pro bisso in ornatu regio laciniae coÌ„geruntur Cyprianus in sermone de Natiuitate Christi vp into an outroome a stable not vouchsafed a more conuenient place in the Inne and when shee had brought forth her first borne Infant wrapped him in ragged cloutes and laide him in a cratch for want of cradle Luc. 2. 7. But so it must bee for hee came into the world that he might bring man cast out of Paradise for sinne into his heauenly Country and when according to the prescript of Moses law shee was to bee purified bringeth a payre of young pigeons an vndoubted proofe of her pouerty Leuit. 12. 8. For God hauing respect of the poore in stead of a Lambe permitted them to offer a payre of turtle doues or yong pigeons Thus is hee poore in his birth h Bernardus de natali Domini serm 4. idem apud AnselmuÌ„ Tribus exemplis viam nobis o stendit qua eum sequi debemus 1. Paupertatis quia in hoc mundo diuitias habere noluit 2. Humilitatis quia mundigloriam spreuit 3. Pattentia quia mala sustinuit wrapped in ragges poore in his life he had not where to lay his head poore in his death spoyled of his garments diuided by the Souldiers and for which they cast lots Thus did he sanctifie holy pouerty Be of good comfort therefore be of good comfort such as are borne in the basenesse of pouerty for God himselfe is poore with you Doctrine Pouerty and want of things necessary for the sustenance of this life are not of that quality for which we should eyther be vtterly i Optimi viri sâ—pe pauperrimi bonae mentis soror paupertas Petroni us Arbiter in satyrico Aristophanes in Pluto Exemplum in Abdolomino â—pud Q CurtiuÌ„ lib. 4. causas erudiâ—â— persequâ—â—uâ— Aristoâ—eles problematum sectione 24 problemate 4. discouraged or imagine that for these we are lesse in Gods fauour or that hee will not bee so mercifull vnto vs as if our case were better in the worlde Iob is stripped of all yet beloued of God who hath of him an especiall care Iob 1. 8. None more grieuously distressed then Lazarus in his life time Angels attend him dead and place him in Abrahams bosome Luc. 16. 22. Great Elias who for the heat of his burning zeale is said of the ancient to k Epiphamuâ— de vitis Prophetarum sucke â—ire out of his mothers breasts and bridle heauen l Basilius Isauâ—iensis Homili◠〈◊〉 Elia. with his tongue so that neyther dew nor rainefell vpon the earth but according to his word when hee flyeth for feare of Iezabell breathing out threatnings is fed with a dayly portion morning and euening first by the Rauens and afterward by a poore widdow 1. King 17. 4. 13. Ruth a holy woman and one of the Grandmothers of Christ Math. 1. v. 5. constrained by famine goeth dayly to gleane in other mens fields where she might haue leaue such was her neede Ruth 2. 2. They wandred in sheepes skins and goates skins destitute afflicted and tormented of whom the world was vnworthy Heb. 11. 37. And Paul the teacher of the Gentiles complaineth of hunger of thirst of cold of nakednesse 2. Corinth 11. 38. Wee reade in the Ecclesiasticall hystories m Eusebius historiâ— Ecclesiest lib. 3. cap. 20 that when the kinsfolke of our Lord Iesus Christ were accused vnto Domitian for to be of the linage of Dauid which hee desired should be vtterly razed out after he saw their hands partly hardned and brawned partly rent with dayly labour in plowing and tilling the ground contemned their poore condition and they escaped with life Vse first Wee are not to be ouermuch grieued or storme against God if it please him to lay pouerty vpon vs so
Nazianzenus in prima oratione contra Iulianū cap. 54. 55. Caelius Rhodinginus Antiquarum lib. 6. cap. 11. 12. Ring or Plutoes helmet that they might goe inuisible and haue fit opportunity yet would they not be prouoked to doe any thing amisse 4 Gods mercy for as a father hath compassion on his children so hath the Lord on them that feare him Psal 103. 13. and looketh on him that is poore and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at his word Esay 66. 2. Nothing more sweet then this promise nothing more effectuall to comfort a languishing soule especially such who feele the griefes and calamities vnto which our nature is subiect For if God carry a fatherly affection towards vs then there can be no sinne so hainous no q Mollerus in Psal 103. aduersity so great which may shut vp this way whereby Gods mercy should come vnto vs so we be found among the number of those who feare him that is rest in him aske pardon of sinnes and mitigation of punishment 5. A sufficiencie of those things which r De his omnibus consulatur Dictionarium Pauperum belong to the sustentation and maintenance of this life Therefore feare the Lord all yee his Saints for nothing wanteth to them that feare him the Lyons doe lacke and suffer hunger but they that seeke the Lord shall want nothing that is good Psal 34. 9. 10. He feedeth those who contemne him shall hee neglect those that feare him This were iniustice but there is no vnrighteousnesse with the Lord Godlinesse hath the promise of this life and that which is to come c. 1. Timoth. 4. 8. He then who would haue a perpetuall and infallibly-true prognostication of all euents which can fall out in the world let him looke into the 26 of Leuiticus and the 28. of Deuteronomie because the things mentioned in them are not fore told by starre-gasing s Augustinus de doctrina Christiana cap. 21. Astrologers nor Natiuitie casters who sell vnto men miserable bondage and bring the cursed thing of Ierico into t Origenes in Iosuam Ierusalem and defile the tents of the Lord but of him who is not as man that he should lye nor as the son of man that he should repent Num. 23. 19. All whose words in respect of the u Philo Iudaem certeinty are of like force with oathes 6. Euerlasting life and glory for it shall goe well with them at the last and in the day of their death who feare the Lord Eccles 1. 13. And excellent is that goodnesse which God hath set apart for those that feare him And in that great day of retribution wherin all that doe wickedly shall bee stubble and burnt vp and haue neither root nor branch left to such as feare the Lord shall the sunne of righteousnesse arise and health bee vnder their wings Malach. 4. 2. Serue the Lord therefore in feare and reioyce in trembling kisse the sonne least he be angry and yee perish in the way when his wrath shall suddenly burne blessed are all those that trust in him Psal 2. 11. 12. Rebuked him saying fearest thou not God seeing thou art in the same condemnation Condemnation by a Synecdoche is heere put for punishment and the whole speech is thus much in sence and meaning as if he should haue said Fearest thou not God but addest this to the rest of thy outragious sinnes formerly committed to encrease the number and heape threof thy heynous blasphemie and that now when thou art to stand and be arreigned at the iudgement barre where thou must giue an accompt both of all thy life before passed and of this present impietie And thus the good thiefe sheweth a iust cause of his former reproofe by an argument taken from the likenesse of the condition in respect of punishment When the hand of God lyeth heauy vpon vs specially in any extraordinarie tribulation or agonie of death then we must submit our selues humbly vnder the same And so Dauid thrust out of his kingdome by the subtile practise of his disloyall sonne Absolom yeeldeth himselfe to bee disposed of according to Gods will 2. Sam. 16. 10. was dumbe and opened not his mouth because the Lord had done it Psalm 39. 9. Ezechias after he receiued the message to set his house in an order for he should not liue but dye chatters like a x Quoties expendimus quae à nobis perperā facta sunt pro cantu cum columba gemilum edamus Hirūdo ore patente in nido pict a auxilij implorati est Hieroglyphicoy Picrius in lib. 22. Hieroglyphicis Crane or a Swallow mourneth like a doue lifteth vp his eyes on high vnto God and desireth comfort Esay 38. 14. Aaron when he is commanded to goe vp to the mount Hor and disrobe himselfe of his Priestly garments and put them vpon Eleazar his sonne and so resigne ouer his office and there be gathered to his Fathers obeyeth Numb 20. 26. Iust it is that wee should beare the wrath of God because wee haue sinned against him Micah 7. 9. Vse In all our calamities therefore how grieuous soeuer they be let vs acknowledge God to berighteous we haue sinned and committed iniquitie and done wickedly saith that great Historiographer of the world now a captiue in Babilor yea wee haue rebelled and departed from thy precepts O Lord and from thy iudgements c. Righteousnesse belongeth vnto thee and vnto vs open shame Dan. 9. 5. 7. And Dauid Righteous art thou O Lord and iust are thy iudgements Psal 119. 137. which verse of the Prophet y Integra historia extat apud Zonarum Annalium tom 3. Glycom Annaliū suorum parte 4. Mauritius the Emperour then vttered when he saw his wife and children put to death before his eyes and fitting himselfe to lay his owne necke vpon the blocke confessed that hee had deserued thus to bee dealt withall who might for a small summe haue redeemed the life of his souldiers taken by the enemy and would not but suffered them all to bee put to the sword For as Gregory truely the Patient that knoweth the rottennesse and putrifaction of his vlcer is willing to bee lanched by the Chyrurgion and hee who vnderstandeth rightly the number and greatnesse of his offences thinketh all which hee suffereth to bee lesse then is deserued entreateth for mercy and willingly beareth the chasticement imposed Ierem. 10. 24. For if God should enter into Iudgement with his seruants no flesh could bee iustified in his sight Psalm 143. 2. And therefore wee must appeale from his iustice to his mercy Heb. 4. 16 We are indeede righteously heere for wee receiue things worthy of that we haue done but this man hath done nothing amisse The blaspheming Iews z Arnoldus Carnotensis de vitimis septom Christi verbis sharpned their poysonful tongs and with one consent cryed out against Christ spewed forth taunts and reproaches vaunted as though they had
question how she should conceiue since she knew not a man thus resolueth her doubt The holy Ghost shall come vpon thee and the power of the most High shall ouershadow thee therefore also that holy thing which shall be borne of thee shall be called the sonne of God Luk. 1. 35. First from hence wee may gather an vndoubted assurance of Vse 2 our saluation For as by the offence of one which is Adam the fault came vpon all men to condemnation so by the iustifying of one Christ Iesus the benefit abounded toward all men to the iustification of life as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of that one shall many also be made righteous Rom. 5. 18. 19. He hath deliuered vs Heb. 2. 14. and blotted out the hand writing which was against vs Coloss 2. 14. Let vs therfore striue that we may be found in him not hauing our owne righteousnesse but his Philip. 3. 9. For the Lord payed the seruants debt the iust suffered the offendors punishment he bare our sinnes vpon his body on the tree and by his stripes we are healed 1. Pet. 2. 24. Vse 2 Secondly this is vnto vs an vnspeakeable comfort the body and soule of Christ our mediator was sanctified in the conception therefore are they a holy and spotlesse sacrifice whereby all our corruption is purged and his bloud doth clense vs from all sinne 1. Iohn 1. 7. By which we that once were farre off are now neare c. for he hath reconciled vnto God both Iew and Gentile by his Crosse Ephes 2. 13. 16. Christ his death hath freed vs from death his life from error his grace from sinne c. Vse 3 Thirdly the fulnesse of his saluation and innocency doth clense our poliuted Masse and at the last shall wholly and perfectly deliuer vs from corruption and by the same spirit wherewith the word sanctified his owne soule and body shall hee in the time appointed of God restore also our soules and bodies vnto his image 1. Corinth 15. 49. 50. For flesh and bloud u Tertullianus de resurrectione vnderstanding the sinnefull quality and not the essentiall substance cannot enter into the Kingdome of heauen Sweete are those words of x Bernardus in sententijs Barnard Mankind was sicke of a threefold disease in his beginning middle and end his birth vncleane his life wicked death dangerous Christ was borne liued and dyed his birth hath clensed ours his life instructed ours his death destroyed ours Lord remember mee when thou commest into thy Kingdom There is in these wordes an y Arnoldus Carnotensis de 7. vltimis Christi verbis Apostrophe wherein the holy thiefe turneth his speech from reprouing his fellow and offereth vp a supplication to Christ and becomming a famous Preacher offereth the sweet smelling odours of prayer and confession and put his blasphemous fellow vnto silence requireth the reward and honor of his victory and fayth Remember me O Lord c. This petition is misticall z Gueuara de monte Caluar parte 2. cap. 21. 22. and full of zeale for in sense and meaning he sayth thus much Oh holy a In hac â—ratiouâ— ista adprimè notanda sunt 1. Quiseam fudit latro 2 Cui Christo in 〈◊〉 vna pendenti 3. Vbi à cruce in qua ipse pepeÌ„dit 4. Quando cum tam morti vicinus esset c. Arnoldus Carnotensis Prophet O blessed Lord Iesu I doe adiure thee by the bloud which thou sheddest and entreate thee by the loue in which thou sufferest that when thou commest into thy Kingdom thou wouldest be mindfull of me And herein may we beholde a wonderfull faith if we consider eyther the person of this petitioner or of Christ to whom he maketh his request Of Christ hee now did hang vpon the Crosse the most despised amongst men most shamefully entreated loaden with tauntes and reproachfull contumelies yet this thiefe acknowledgeth him whom the Disciple b Maximus Episcopuâ— sermone qui est inter Ambrosianos 44. Leo primus de passione serm 2. Ioh. Hussus in Harmonoa passionis ex quatuor Euangâ—lijs denied honoured him suffering whom Iudas kissing betrayed of him the sweete witnesse of peace is treacherously tendred of this the griâ—uous wounds of the Crosse are honoured If the person of the Petitioner that which we heere reade is c Idem ibidem miraculous 1. hee confesseth his sinne 2. the innocency of Christ 3. â—raueth mercy is not withdrawne or held backe neyther by feare of the Iewes standing by nor of his owne torment nor his fellowes blasphemy nor the apparant infirmity of Christ but beleened in him whom he beheld dying in humane weakenesse as a fraile man whom the Apostles denied though they had seene him worke miracles by diuine power And in the course of his forepassed life no d Leo primuâ— de passione serm 2. exhortation perswaded no instruction taught no Preacher kindled this faith he saw none of those things which Christ before had done the healing of the sicke the giuing sight to the blind the raysing of the dead now ceased hee was not brought vp in the Schoole of Christ but in the dâ—nne of theeues where he lost if euer he had any all sense of humanity and godlinesse and yet now acknowledgeth him to to bee a Lord and King whom hee saw partaker of the like punishment asketh and looketh for a Kingdome of one crucified glory from a man extreamely dishonoured saluation from one condemned And indeed this consideration may astonish any For Abraham beleeued God but speaking from e Chrysostomus sermone de lâ—trone Iansenius in concordia Euangdica cap. 143. heauen Gen. 12. 16. Esay but setting vpon his throne of Glory Cap. 6. 1. Moses but appearing in the bush that burnt and was not consumed Exod. 3. 4. 5. others beleeued Christ but when hee was yet aliue and being present saw him call the dead out of their graues Iohn 11. 45. But this beholdeth him dying and prayeth vnto him as setting in heauen and maketh supplication vnto him as a King f Tanlerus in meditationibus de vita Iesu Christi cap. 43. whom the Iewes who knew the Law and the Prophets despitefully crucified acknowledgeth that it is in his power to giue the Kingdome of heauen and that then when his owne Disciples eyther denied or forsooke him Wonderfull therefore was this faith running from that cluster of grapes which was wrung from vnder the Wine-presse of the Crosse I speake not this to the end that any should too much admire this wretched man but worshippe and embrace Christ who at this time so debased in the eye of the world and according to the outward shew declared so great power and vouchsafed such mercy vnto him that so whosoeuer doth reioyce might learne to reioyce in the Lord 1 Cor. 1. 30. So rich is the mercy and so great the loue of God toward
3. sentent distinct 19. crucified vpon the tree for vs we are then loosned Confession of the aduersaries from the fetters and chaines of the deuill so that he cannot finde any thing wherfore after this life he should punish vs for by his death the onely true sacrifice what sinne soeuer there was in regard whereof the deuill held and made vs liable to punishment that hath Christ taken away so that he cannot by his temptation preuaile against vs no not in this life Though there be c Petrus à Soto in Iustitutionibus Christianis Roffensis contra Lutherum de Purgatorio nothing in Scripture which do plainly proue a Purgatorie yet many things are to be beleeued which are not written But whatsoeuer hath not authoritie from the Scriptures we may so iustly deny it which be Ieromes words as it is affirmed We know that so long as we liue in this world wee may be helped by the counsell and with the prayers one of another but when we shall once come and be cited to stand at the Tribunall and Iudgment seat of Christ then neither Iob nor Daniel nor Noah can entreat for any With what probabilitie then doe the Tridentine Fathers decree that the soules held fast in Purgatory may be released through the intercessions of the faithfull but especially relieued by the acceptable sacrifice of the Masse d Lib. 2. de Purgaterio cap. 7. 14. Bellarmine doth ingenuously confesse that the Church hath not yet determined where this * TantuÌ„ abâ—sse hunc ignem à purgandis peccatis putarunt Graecâ— vt ijs augendis maximè conducere receptam de illo opinionem putarunt ideoque explosam illam condemnatamâ— fuisse à Sancta Quinta vniuersali Synodo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apoligia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 philosophia medicinable place should be whether in his green florishing medow or in some Noblemans house an honorable prison or in a darke and streight dungeon And indeed it is hard euen for those to finde a place for that which is no where who by their refined wits can vnderprop accidents to stand without subiects e Dialog lib. 4. 40. 55. Beda histor Eccles lib. 5. cap. 1â— Eugubinus de lib. 10. cap. 27. Pope Gregorie who carieth the title to be Great dare not presume to define any thing thereof vpon the sodaine yet some other boldly affirme that it is in f Historia Lombardiâ—a Legenda 157. Danaeus Isagoges Christianae lib. 5. c. 51. St. Patrickes hole in Ireland others that it was found out by one Odillo to bee in Aetna a mountain of Sicilie or in the Popes kitchin in which a true fire is well maintayned by the reuenewes of this imaginarie flame But I take my hand from the table and recall my selfe least I should commit like folly in confuting this monstrous and idle fiction as the authors did in deuising it and that which seemeth to be spoken to the honor of God should tend to his iniurie for no man can euer perswade these fellowes to forsake their conceiued errors but like the Giant Antaeus when they be cast downe take stubbornnesse for strength or as Eutolida who are so farre in loue with their owne sancies as she was with her beauty when she saw herselfe instead of a better glasse in the water that they obiect continually their old wornesophistications g De his omnibus copiosissimè nobiliss dectiss Plâ—ssâ—us de sacrificio Missae supposititio lib. 3. cap. 8. 9. 10. 11. Et Eusebius Captiuus in Actis primi diei titulo De Purgatorio and cauills and repeat so often ouer that they become lothsome No end of disputation can be had with these neither will they suffer any moderator to take vp the question and therefore I leaue them to themselues This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Who is this that shall be in Paradise and with Christ and this day euen the thiefe not onely not brought vp and instructed in the schoole of Christ but by committing detestable murthers and vnnaturall bloud-shedding had enraged himself endeuoured to extinguish all sense of humanitie yet neuertheles he who for his wickednes was condemned to shame is by his faith translated into glory and the crosse was rather to him an occasion of saluation then a place of torment A blessed thiefe therefore who while he suffered deserued punishment obteyneth the heauenly kingdome for vnto him a man poenally crucified and humbly confessing the Lord saith this day shalt thou be with mee in Paradise Arise therefore ô man learne to forgiue others offending g Arnolduâ— Carnotensis de vltimis septem Christi verbis Agebat mysterium qui soluebat precium in Petro demonstrans non in se Iustum quicquaÌ„ debere praesumere In latrone nullum impium posse perire â—imeat bonus ne pereat per superbiam 〈◊〉 desperet malus de multa malitia sua August lib. 2. de symbolo in Psal 68. increase not the number of transgressions defer not the time of pardon the mercy of God is not streightned toward any nor so soon ended that he cannot take away many transgressions let there be one to aske there will not be wanting one to heare let there be a repentant offendor there will be a gratious forgiuer This Poenitent is not enioyned fasting for many yeeres to goe barefoote or weare sackeloth but at one instant confesseth is iustified is glorified Consider the time marke the person it is the last howre and a sinnefull person many were his offences and of long continuance mercy in a moment taketh them all away grace and pardon doth not successiuely by little and little file off or eat out his trespasses but the holy Ghost by asound suddenly made from heauen discendeth and all the putryfied rottennesse of his sinnes is dried vp neither doth there remaine any token of a corrupted wound which is cleansed with the waters of mercy Lazarus buried foure h Idem de resuscitatione Lazari quatriduani de verbis Dom. in Euangeliâ—m secunduÌ„ Iohan. serm 52. daies and lying in his graue stinketh now raised languisheth not with any feeblenesse commeth forth is loosed from his bands setteth at the table and eateth Symon is clensed no stayne of the leprosie appeareth in him no deformitie disfashioneth his countenance hee enterteyneth Christ and offereth no signe of feare or infection to such as attended their Master and eat with him Mary Magdalen falleth downe at Christ his feete i Quot in so habuit oblectamenta tot de se invenit holocausta convertit ad virtutâ—m numerum numeruÌ„ criminuÌ„ vt totum seruiret Deo in pâ—nitentia quicquid ex se Dâ—uÌ„ contempserat in culpa Gregor Mag. hom 33. weepeth prayeth washeth them with her teares wipeth them with the haire of her head kisseth and annointeth them with oyntment he doth not cast in her teeth her former lewd and infamous life nor vpbraid hir by
the lusts i Augustinus ex huius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lectione totus est conuersâ—s vt de se scribit 〈…〉 essionum 〈…〉 essionum lib. 8 c. 12. therof Rom. 13. 13. 14. that we may be pure Phil. 1. 10. such as can abide to bee tryed by the k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sunne-light and in all humble submission acknowledge how deepely wee are engaged to Christ our Lord King and Teacher by whom wee are taught true vndesiled religion and abandoning the errors and barbarous customes of Paganisme doe worship the liuing God and reiecting the toyes and follies by which the Heathen were misled and deceiued doe rightly apprehend his benefits and shew forth the vertues of him who hath called vs from darknesse vnto his marueâ—lous light 1. Pet. 2. 9. Now from the sixth howre was there darknesse ouer all the land vnto the ninth howre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some interpret the wordes of the Euangelist l Sixtus Seuensis biblioth sacr lib. 6. cap. 124. Caluinus in Ha 〈…〉 niâ— Euangeliorum Bezâ— in notis matoribus ad nouum Testamentum Tossanus in Harmonia Andreas Libanius de vniuersitate originibus reruÌ„ lib. 5. ad opâ—s diei 4. Hexameri ouer all the earth by a limitation ouer all that Region vnderstanding onely Iudâ—â— but without the preiudice to any other or detraction from their skill wee may vnderstand them that this eclipse was vniuersall miraculous and supernaturall obserued by Apollophanes and Dionisius Areopagita when they were in Aegipt in the Citie Heliopolis of which more afterward While the wicked doe vniustly murther the iust and lay violent hands vpon the m Bernardus in feria 4. hebdomâ—dae paen sae Augustinus Sermone de tempere 114. sonne of God most mercilesse and cruell murtherers at this their impious and detestable fact the whole frame of the world changeth countenance looketh pale and wanne Euery n Athanasius ad Epictetum creature withdraweth it selfe and will not behold the death of their Lord and is abashed at his o Saluianus de gubernatione Dâ—i lib. 6. hanging on the Crosse now the Sunne in his height possessing the Midde-heauen for the sixth howre from the rising thereof by the account of the Ancient p Brecheâ—s in Commentarijs ad Titulum digesti de verboris significatione lege 2. § 1. is our noone withdraweth his light and as it were cloathed in a mourning robe sheweth in that sorte hee can compassion and sorrow for his Creator so distressed so tormented as though the Father whose nature is subiect to no affection nor can bee touched with any griefe nor shed teares did command the Creature to lament and performe the funerall rites of his sonne in his stead and ioyne it selfe a second mourner with the q Tanlerus in meditationibus vitae Iesu Christi cap. 48. Ludolphus de vita Christi parte 2. cap. 63. vnspotted virgine who then alone bewayled the passion of Christ And this so strange an obscuration of the Sunne was famous among the heathen r Phlegon author exactus Olympiadum apud Originâ—m lib. 2. aduersus Celsum Easebium in Chronico cuius fragmenta edidit Graecè Lumen ilâ—ud literarum Iosepbus Scaliger apud quem Africans quoddam de ea Eclipsi testimonium extat quem consule ad Eusâ—bium illius animaduersiones who left it to memory by writing to haue beene so great that the starres appeared in heauen And Tertullian s Orosius lib. 7. cap. 4. Apologetici cap. 21. boldly chargeth the Romans that they had this strange wonder of the world registered in their Records Neither could Plinie be ignorant thereof who kept a diligent memoriall of all the Roman estate and euents befalling in the same but yet would neuer open this which he knew the Princes and Emperors would haue to bee kept secret and smothered vp in forgetfulnesse For the t Lib. 4. De Asse doctrine of Christ was nothing plausible among those proud and haughty minded men giuen to pleasures and delights which teacheth humility patience and suffering affliction And at this time indeed Christ was extreamly deiected and cast downe and as it were trampled vnder the feet of death neither could there bee deuised a lower degree of abasement then that wherein now hee was yet at this very instant the father left him not without testimony of his innoceÌ„cy as we heard before to say nothing of the free and ingenious speech of Pilate in the confessor thiefe and now the Deity which dwelt in Christ though it shewed not itselfe in freeing the manhood from death for that was not expedient because appointed by the immutable decree of the father that hee must die yet brake forth into u Iansenius in Harmonia cap. 143. astonishing miracles vndoubted witnesses that this man who in so great shame and reproach did hang vpon the Crosse was the Lord of glory and life and x Glâ—rificatâ—s est Christus in conspectuseniotum in Ierusalem quando fuit crucifixus Petrus de la Cauelleria in tractaâ—u cui titulus Zâ—luâ— Christi contra Iudaeos Saracenos c. therefore senselesse and vnreasonable creatures least they should seeme to bee wanting in duety to their Creator do as they are able yeeld him all honor * Doctrine In the extremest disgrace and basest contempt God beginneth to honour his sonne and so will hee doe vnto all his whom hee hath adopted through grace and made the members of Christ Iesus Ioseph is taken out of prison aduanced to the highest toppe of dignity receyueth for his iron fetters a chaine of gold for his cloake cast off to auoide his mistresse enforcing allurements a roabe of silke for his seruile condition a ring the signe of freedom changeth the filthy prison for a stately pallace his base dishonour is turned into glorious soueraignety Gen. 41. 42. Pharao despiseth Moses his seruants and Courtiers haue him in great reuerence Exod. 9. 20. Daniel and his companions are carried captiues into Babylon sundry times accused through Enuy brought into danger of their liues God is present with them and they exalted to manage the greatest affaires of state in the land of their thralome Dan. 3. 28. 6. 28. Wherefore let vs alwayes submit our selues vnto God and Vse serue him in all holinesse and righteousnesse for hee will honour those who honour him 1. Sam. 2. 30. and that in life and in death and after death In life beautifying them with inward gifts of the mind as of illumination Thus the name of Solomon is spred ouer the world for his diuine wisdome so that the Queene of Sheba came from the vttermost ends of the earth to heare him 1. King 3. 12. 2. Chron. 9. 1. 23. Math. 12. 42. of sanctification when according to the promise made he doth write the reuerent feare of his name in their hearts and by the effectuall power of his holy spirite bow them to obedience
our owne will but his 2. Cor. 5. 17. Secondly ioyfull to the Diuell who teacheth euill and 2 Diabolo laetificatiuum delighteth in filthinesse and that three wayes 1. in regard of subiection for he that committeth sinne is the seruant of sinne Iohn 8. 34. nothing more base 2. of assimilation or likenesse and of this murthering Caine is said to bee of the diuell who was a murtherer from the beginning 1. Iohn 3. 8. 12. 3. of inhabitation for such the diuell possesseth dwelleth in them so an euill spirite is saide to vexe Saul 1. Sam. 16. 14. and in the Parable when he goeth out of a man to returne againe and bring seuen other worse then himselfe there to take vp his lodging and his end shall be worse then the beginning Math. 12. 43. 44. Thirdly most hurtfull to man for without repentance it 3 Homini summe nociuum depriueth of the blessing of grace present and of future glory Of grace If the righteous turne away from his righteousnesse and commit impiety according to the abominations of the wicked man all the righteousnesse that he hath done shall not bee remembred Ezech. 18 24. And this is the threatning to the Church of Ephesus who vnlesse shee remember her fall and rise againe by repentance and doe her first workes the Candlesticke shall be remoued out of his place Apoc. 2. v. 5. that is she shall cease to be any longer a Church I purpose not to heape vp eyther more confirmatory testimonies or examples yet may not let passe that one so famous a myracle of iudgement vpon the abuse of a miracle of mercy which is that in the persecutions of the Christians in Africa raysed by the Arrians when their tongues were pulled out by the rootes and notwithstanding spake distinctly and vttered both the miseries they endured and the truth of their profession Among whom two dishonouring their profession by committing vncleannesse with women were strucken k Iustinianus Imperator ipse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cedicis lib. 1. titulo 27. de officio Praetoris Africae lege quas Gratias Marcellinus comes in Chronico qui illud addit precepisse Hunericum adolescentis linguam à natiuitate muti praescindi eundemque mox loquutum esse gloriamque Deo in primo vocis exordio dedisse Paulus Diaconus lib. 16. non procul à fine Procopius Caesariensis Vandalicorum lib. 1. Aeneas Gazaeus in Theophrasto dumbe and could speake no more for euer God would not haue them declare his ordinances nor take his couenant any longer in their mouthes c. who were partakers with the adulterers Psal 50. 16. 17. 18. Of Glory for no vnclean thing shall enter into the new Ierusalem Apoc. 21. 27. Neyther shall any vnrighteous person nor fornicators nor Idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselues with mankind nor theeues nor couetous nor drunkards nor raylers nor extortioners shall inherite the kingdome of God 1. Cor. 6. 9. l Fulmen est hoc terribile quo innumera heminum multitudo ad infernum deturbatur capienda est Apostoli sententia disiunctiuè nō copulatiuè vt de singulis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intelligatur comminatio sed nec eo trahenda est oratio quasi qui vnius vel plurium reus factus est exolui reatu nulla ratione queat notandum probe in hunc sensum referri etiam ebrietatem cui hodie dediti sunt ferè omnis loci ordinis homines in qua laudis laetitiae materia vulgò quaeritur The sentence of condemnation is passed against all and euery one of these offenders except it bee reuersed by repentance and amendment of life Therefore let vs listen vnto that admonition of the Wise man Feare God and keepe his commandements for this is the whole man the Lord shall bring euery worke into iudgement with euery secret thing whether it be good or whether it bee euill Eccl. 12. 13. 14. and we must all appeare before the iudgement seate of Christ that euery one may receiue the thinges done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad 2. Cor. 5. 10. Therefore let vs endeour waiting looking for that day that wee may be found of him in peace without spot and blamelesse 2. Pet. 3. 14. For the m Via peccati ingredientes contaminat progredientes obstinat egredientes exterminat Bernardus in sententijs way of sinne in the first entrance thereunto defileth in the progression hardneth at the going out destroyeth THE FIFTH WORD A VVORDE OF want and distresse IOHN 19. vers 28. 29. After this Iesus knowing that all things were now accomplished that the Scripture might bee fulfilled saith I thirst now there was set a vessell full of vineger and they filled a sponge with vineger and put it vpon hysop and put it to his mouth THE ANALYSIS THis is the fifth word I thinst And this thirst of Christ is described from the circumstance of time when he suffered it when hee knew that all things were accomplished from the end that the Scripture might be fulfilled from the manner how it is quenched with vineger from the persons who offered the same the souldiers propounded generally they filled a sponge with vineger particularly by the instrument a sponge filled with vineger and the application put to his mouth from the occasion There was set a vessell full of vineger c. After this Iesus knowing that all things were now accomplished Christ now sheweth that none of all these things which he suffered fell out by chance or fortune but were long before determined and set downe that they should be so And heere ariseth a question how it may truely bee said that all things were fulfilled seeing Christ was not yet dead nor risen againe and neuerthelesse these are specially required to the perfecting of our redemption for he was deliuered for our offences and raised againe for our iustification Rom. 4. 25. which manner of speech doth not exclude the merit of Christs death from the act of our iustification but by a figure called Synecdoche comprehendeth all those things which Christ did and suffered for our sakes Now because there is a twofold a Duplex est Imputatio vna 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qua videlicet peccata non imputautur Altera 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quaimputatur institia imputation one by the remoouing of the contrary whereby our sinnes are not laid to our charge another by way of position whereby wee are accounted righteous therefore when the seuerall benefits are distinguished and each appropriated to his speciall cause it is truely affirmed that his death ouercame our death and his returne vnto life purchased life for vs. And because whatsoeuer befell Christ in life and death had been vnprofitable and to no purpose except he had ouercome death therefore is our iustification ascribed to his resurrection for it is the complement and fulfilling of all
his Fathers kindnesse shewed and his owne faithfull admonition giuen vnto him 2. Chron. 14. 21. Religious Iosiah falleth by the sword of Pharo Necho 2. King 23. 29 Herod Antipas murthered Iohn the Baptist and Agrippa Iames the Apostle Mathew 14. 10. Act. 12. 1. 2. And those Saints of whom the world was vnworthy are tryed with diuersitie of torments Hebrewes 11. 36. c. Therefore if it shall please God so to deale with vs for the comforting of our soules confirmation of our faith and strengthning of our hope in such distesse and â—â—ial Let vs then Religiously thinke vpon these thinges First h Grinaeus in ProphetaÌ„ Abaâ—ne that this commeth not to passe without the especiall prouidence of God for two Sparrowes are folde for a farthing and one of them doth not fâ—ll vnto the ground without the will of our Father Mathew 10. 2â— So Dauid when hee was constrained to flie for feare of his vnnaturall Sonne Absoiom who rose vppe against him hee submitteth himselfe in that humble forme If it please the Lord 2. Samuel 15. 26. for none falleth into the hands of men but such whom God giueth ouer vnto them Psal 66. 12. Secondly let vs also know that God hath iust causes why hee so doth for by this meanes to the glory of his mercy and iustice hee doth eyther proud vs as hee did Iob by the Chaldeans Sabeans and the Diuell Iob. 1. 14. 15. or profitably humble vs and bring vs to the better knowledge of him and our selues and thus hee gaue Rehoboam and his people into the hands of Sheshacke that they might know a difference betweene his seruice and the seruice of the Kinges of the earth 2. Chron. 12. 8. or hee doth thereby mildely as a father chasten and correct those that are his and therefore wee reade so often in the booke of the Iudges that hee deliuered his people into the handes of their enemies but had pitty vpon them and sent Sauiours as Chapter 3. 8. 9. 9. 4. 16. 6. 1. 14. c. Thirdly howsoeuer for a season God seeme to hide his countenance yet in due time and when it is the best hee will send deliuerance Thus Paul sayth that he was taken from the mouth of the Lyon meaning Nero i Eusebius historiae Eccles l. 2. 6. 22. 2. Tim. 4. 17. for hee is the Father of mercies and God of all comfort 2. Corin. 1. 3. whose bowels are troubled and surely will haue compassion Ieremy 31. 20. Onely let vs crie vnto him in our affliction for hee seeth our trouble and beholdeth our miseries and will heare in a time appointed Psalme 9. 10. and not suffer vs to be tempted aboue that wee shall bee able to beare 1. Corinth 10. 13. nor the righteous be moued Psalme 55. 22. THE SIXTH WORD A VVORDE OF Perfection and Perseuerance IOHN 19. vers 30. Now when Iesus had receiued of the vineger he said It is finished THE ANALYSIS THis word of Christ is a Commentarie of the a Deuteronomium secunduÌ„â—â—cat Arnoldâ—â— Carnotensis in praefatione ad septem â—ltimâ— Christi verba Theodorus Beza homil 32. in hist passionis olde Testament and summe of the New and therefore worthy of diligent and earnest consideration and whereof carefull application is to be made for the comfort of our whole life For in it is expressed that office and charge which he receiued of the Father wherein is conteyned the reall and actuall execution or performance of those things which were requisite for our deliuerance from death and obtevning of euerlasting life which was promised vnto the Fathers immediately after the fall and successiuely figured and shadowed in the whole forme of the ceremoniall worship And in it two things be obseruable 1. The speech it selfe It is finished 2. The time when it was pronounced after he had receiued of the vineger Now when Iesus had receiued of the vineger Both the fact of Christ that he receiued of the vineger and the time of receiuing hitherto deferred are diligently to be weighed for therefore now he tasted thereof because God had so decreed and he had performed all those things which were enioyned him and in this declared the highest degree of obedience to the Father both in his suffering and also in the order and manner of suffering and giueth vs an example in all things to obey God and not depart one iot from his commandements But of obedience I haue spoken already in the former wordes He said It is finished This is Christ his song of triumph ouercomming death by dying preuayling in suffering and finishing the whole worke of redemption For he being the Priest and the sacrifice after he had offered himselfe vnto the Father by his owne bloud entred in the holy place and obteined eternall redemption for vs Heb. 9. 12. And that nothing should be defectiue or wanting to the perfection of this propitiatorie sacrifice he endeth this holy action performed vpon the crosse with that clause It is finished You see the b Augustinus tractat 31. 47. in Euang. Iohannis power of Christ dying for he willingly expected this time vntill all those things were fulfilled which were foretold he must doe before his death after they were done he said It is finished Thus he departed from hence by his power who came not hither of necessitie and because c Arnolduâ— Carnâ—tensis de vltimis septem Christi verbâ—â— it was written in the volume of the booke that the Sonne should doe the will of the Father and this thing was long delayed and in sundry sorts praefigured he brought that to light which in so many ages had laid hidden and suffered not the people laden with sinne any longer to be burdened with superfluous and vnprofitable worship For this had not been religion but superstition to mingle the dregs of old ceremonies with the pure wine of the Gospell And also would haue them vnderstand that not onely the end of his sufferings was come but also of those legall obseruances and that the truth being present the shadowes must vanish that the Ephod was to bee folded together and the Teraphim no more applyed whatsoeuer Aholiab and Bezaleel either embrodered or engraued was to giue place to liuely instructions and the typicall robes to the truth shewing it selfe in his owne and perfect beauty Therefore in the end of Christs suffering was the end of the law and whatsoeuer it commanded anciently to be performed by the bloud of goates and calues c. orincense or sacrifices for the explation of sinnes that grace hath brought to a compendious summe and shortning the tediousnesse of so long a iourney appointed one bloud one incense and one burnt offering conteyning all the rest with such moderation that how poore soeuer the man be he should haue sufficient to purchase this neither doth place or person exclude any from the accesse vnto so great a benefit The Chuch therefore hath one lambe c. For now being at
hope of his gratious promises and call vpon him in all our tryals and afflictions Thus Iacob when he feared the rage and festered wrath of his brother I pray thee O Lord deliuer me from the hand of Esau Gen. 32. 11. And Dauid thrust from his kingdome by his rebellious sonne Absolom Thou art a buckler for me my glory and the lifter vp of my head Psal 3. 3. Iehosophat environed with the great and sundry troups of his enemies There is no strength in vs to stand before this multitude that commeth against vs neither doe wee know what to doe but our eyes are towards thee 2. Chron. 20. 12. And the Iewes who presently and out of hand should haue been vtterly rooted out by the subtle plots and deuises of Haman betake themselues to prayer and fasting as their onely refuge Hester 4. 16. Great are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth him out of them all Psal 34. 19. Let vs then bee patient in all tribulations submitting our Vse selues humbly vnder the mighty hand of God 1. Pet. 5. 6. And as the eyes of seruants looke vnto the hands of their masters and the eyes of a maide vnto the hands of her mistris so should our eyes waite vpon God vntill he haue mercy vpon vs Psal 123. 2. For we must depend on him alone in him repose our selues and rowle our waies vpon the Lord Trust in him and he shall bring it to passe Psal 37. 5. none is such a Father none so tender ouer vs and louing a Tertullianus de Patientia Commit thy wrongs done vnto him he will be the reuenger thy losse he will restore it thy sorrow hee will comfort thy life he will raise thee vp from death Father into thy hands I commit my spirit Christ vseth heere an especiall * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 terme of b Lexicon Iuridicum ex Brissonio HotomeÌ„no aeijs collectum in vocabulâ— Depositum speech and of singular efficacie I commit my spirit for it signifieth to lay down as a pretious thing presently to be required againe and he to whom it is so committed is bound to a carefull and diligent keeping thereof and to restore the same Christ hath bound vp in the c Athanasius de susceptione humanae naturae bundell of life not onely his owne soule but of all the faithfull likewise and together commended them vnto God and to be quickned by him For we are his members and therefore it is without any question that the soules of the righteous loosed from the body passe into eternall life and the companie of the triumphant Church in heauen For to bee in heauen with Christ in the hand of God in Paradise in Abrahams bosome are phrases aequipollent of one and the same signification Wee know therefore saith St. Paul that if our earthly house of this tabernacle be destroyed wee haue a building giuen of God that is an house not made with hands but eternall in the heauens 2. Cor. 5. 1. And for this cause desireth to depart that he might be with Christ Philip. 1. 23. And Stephen in the last conflict prayeth Lord Iesu receiue my spirit Act. 7. 59. Lazarus after he is dead is said by the Angels to bee caried into Abrahams bosome Luk. 16. 22. And Paradise is promised to the confessing and beleeuing thiefe Luk. 23. 43. Iohn saw the soules of the faithfull vnder the altar in heauen Reuel 6. 8. The holy Ghost pronounceth them blessed who die in the Lord Apoc. 14. 13. And the wise man distinguishing of the two parts of man the soule and the body expresseth the dissimilitude of their condition thus dust shall returne to the earth as it was and the d Epicharmus Sapient is verâ—â— expressit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apud Plutarchum in oratione Consolatoria ad Ap 〈…〉 similem Xenarchi iocum quo nec Graecorum quisquam nac Râ—manorum â—sus est obseruauit vir clarissimus Isaacus Casaubâ—nus in sâ—â—â— ad Athaeneâ—â— animaduersi nibus lib. 13. cap. 3. qui est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quomodo Daâ—id loquutus est Psal 119. Anima mihi assidue est in manu mea spirit to God that gaue it Eccles 12. 7. My purpose is not more fully to prosecute this point the summe of all is this the soules of the iust are in the hands of e Sic mors nihil est aâ—â—d quam â—xi us animâ— dâ—câ—râ—â—re finis exilij laboris consummâ—â—o ad porâ—um applicatio pereorinatiâ—â—is finiâ—â—o â—neris grauissimi depâ—sâ—â—io de domo râ—inosâ— lib. ratio aegriâ—â—dinum â—mâ—ium terminatio reditus in patriam ingressus in gloriam Holcoâ—â—s in 3. cap Sapiâ—â—â—â—â— God Wisdom 3. 1. in peace and rest in their beds Esay 57. 1. 2. Ierome thus speaketh of Blesilla that hauing cast off the burden of the flesh the soule hastened to her Creator and being a pilgrim long in earth came at the last to her ancient possession Vse 1. First by this are ouerthrowen the fantasticall conceits of naturall men and the wicked blasphemies of Heretikes of which sort were the f Diogenes Laâ—rtius Herodotus in Euterpe Malchus de vita Pithagorae Ter 〈…〉 dâ— aâ—â—â—â— in Apologetico cap. 8. Hieronymus adâ—ersus Ruffinâ—m Lactaâ—iâ—s lib. 3. cap. 18. Aâ—â—â— oâ—â—â— de bonâ— mortis cap. 10. Tbeodoretus in haeroticoâ—â—m fabularum compendi% in Epitâ—me 〈◊〉 deâ—retoruÌ„ Pythagorians and Valentinians who imagined a wandring of soules out of one body into another with which idle dotage Iulian the g Sâ—â—rates histâ—r 〈…〉 st lib. 3. cap. 21. Apostata was possessed and therfore boasted that somtime he had been Alexander the great Empedocles could remember when he was a fish and among the Iewes the Phariâ—ies were bewitched with this heathenish folly h Iosephus antiquitatum lib. 18. cap. 2â— de bello Iudaico lib. 2. cap. 8. Herod Antipas seemeth to haue â—asted of this error for when hee heard of the fame of Iesus perswaded himselfe that it was Iohn the Baptist whom he had put to death Math. 14. 2. And in this ranke the Anabaptists are to be marshalled who haue deuised a new kind of soule-sleeping and thinke they are held in this drowsie Lethargy being once separated from the body vntill the day of iudgment when they shall bee awakened But the soules of the godly are said after death when they are departed to prâ—â—sâ— the Lord Reuel â—9 1. 2. to returne vnto him Eccles 12. but this cannot bee if they bee cast into a deepe sleepe Furthermore in this mortall life while the body sleepeth the soule neuer resteth but is occupied much more then when it is free and vnburdened of the i Caluinus de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Petrus Martyr in 1. Cor. 13. Danaeus Isagoges parte 5. l. 1. cap. 19. flesh But I will not bestow more time to confute this absurd and sencelesse opinion against which many learned Diuines haue written so plentifully A second
vse and that serueth both for instruction and also for comfort that we alwaies cast our selues vpon God and depend on him For it is blasphemous that the Papists haue done k In Psalterio beaâ—ae Mariae corrupting the words of that Psalme from whence this testimonie is alleged turning them thus O Lady in thy hands I commit my spirit vnderstanding the virgin Mary And let vs not doubt what shall become of vs when we are dead as the Heathen who haue no future hope so l Spartianuâ— in Adrianâ— Adrian the Emperour now at the point of death is reported to haue made these verses Animula vagula blandula Hospes comesque corporis Quae nunc abibis in locae Pallidula rigida nudula Nec vt soles dabis iocos which a Renerend * Doct. King now Bishop of London in his 8. Lecture vpon the Prophet Ionas Prelate of this land thus sometime englished My floting fond poore darling Bodies guest and equall Where now must be thy lodging Pale and starke and stript of all And put from wonted sporting But we be taught by the holy Scriptures that there is a kingdome prepared for vs Matth. 25. 34. and immortalitie purchased by Christ 1. Pet. 1. 4. Therefore let euery one make Dionisius prayer his owne Sweet Lord Iesu thy last word vpon the crosse bee my last word in this life and when my speech is taken away that I can vtter no more words accept the sighs and desire of my heart so that I may rest among those who shall come from the East and from the West and sâ—t down with Abraham Isaac Iacob in the kingdom of heauen Mat. 8. 11. Thirdly we must not listen and giue eare to the patrons and Vse 3. defendors of the apparition of Ghosts and spirits which they themselues first misâ—ed doe imagine that they bee the soules of men departed now broyled in Purgatorie or tormented in hell and would perswade others to enterteine the same error But it is without all controuersie that neither the soules of the godly nor wicked after they bee once dissolued from the body doe wander in earth for there is no returne from death Iob 20. 9. the spirit passeth and commeth not againe Psal 78. 39. and in what place the tree falleth in the same it lyeth Eccles 11. 3. So Dauid answereth the demand of his seruants asking why he mourned not for his young sonne being now dead when hee was before so sorrowfull Can I bring him againe any more I shall goe to him but he shall not returne to me 2. Sam. 12. 23. These visions then and apparitions are nothing else but the deceits and illusions of Sathan m Augustinus de Ciuit. Dei lib. 13. cap. 8. For the soules of the godly are at rest the soules of the wicked in torment vntill the bodies of the one shall rise againe vnto eternall life and of the other vnto euerlasting death Neither of n Tertullianus de Anima their owne accord nor by the commandement of any else doe they wander vp and down but euill spirits practise this craft to faine that they are the soules of the departed and if a o Chrysost in 8. Math. hom 29. serm 4. de Lazaro cry bee heard I am the soule of such an one this Proceedeth from the fraud and treacherie of the deuill For God doth not permit that any one once dead should come again and tell the liuing what things are there done and to this end that we should rather beleeue the Scriptures then any other reports And indeed from hence p Athanasius quaestionibus ad Antiochâ—nos quaest 11. ariseth many grosse errors for the deuils can take vpon them the shape of men and by this meanes spred abroad their lyes Therefore the voices which some say they do hear are nothing els but old wiues fables childish mockeries no smal number wherof haue been deuised by the crafty iugling and q Insigne exemplum de Monachis Aurelianeâ—sibus recitaâ— Sâ—â—idâ—nus lib. 9. 〈◊〉 annum 34. Et alterum Chitraeus de Parocho quodâ—m lib. de vita morte hanc flultitiaÌ„ nimâ—am hominum credulitatem salsè derideâ— Erasmus in Exorcismo siue Spectro similes olim in Pagâ—nis saâ—erdotilus fraudes deprehensas fuisse patefactas refert Theodoretus lib. 5. historiâ— cap. 22. S 〈…〉 plura desideret consulat Aretium problematuÌ„ part 2. loc 146. Titulo de spectras â—auaterum de spectris lemuribus c. cosening impostures of Baals Priests whereof both the records of our owne times and the histories of former ages will afford plentifull examples I conclude therefore with that religious and discreet admonition of Saint Augustine r De vnitate Ecclesiae cap. 16 Let no man say that therefore it is true because hee or shee affirmeth that sleeping or waking they haue seene such and such a vision but remoue farre out of your minds these either forgeries of deceitfull men or wonders of lying spirits Father into thy hands I commit my spirit I commend my spirit that is my soule for the word spirit is oftentimes in Scripture vsed in this sense as Eccles 12. 7. 1. Corinth 2. 11. Heb. 12. 23. and doth aptly expresse the nature thereof that it is spirituall and therefore immortall The soule is not subiect to death neither doth it perish with the s Tertul. de resurrectione carnis Irenaeus lib. 2. cap. 63. 64. 65. Cyprianus de duplici Martyrio Ambrosius de fide resurrectionis cap. 31. 32. Fulgentius ad Mominium lib. 1. Barnardus in 8. versuÌ„ Psal 91. body wherefore they are manifestly distinguished Gen. 2. 7. where Moses thus speaketh The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrels the breath of life and man became a liuing soule In which sentence there bee included three arguments confirming this truth the first the soule is not made of the earth but inspired of God the second that it is called an t Pelargus in locum Phagius in suis ad Paraphrasin Chaldaicam notis Imbreathing a diuine and heauenly thing the third and last in the word of the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 duall number signifying not life but liues long life this present now and the future hereafter Againe when Cain had murthered Abel his bloud is saide to cry vnto God Gen. 4. 10. and the word there vsed in the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Originall is as much as to complaine for exceeding u Martyrium Abelis ad omnia mundi tempora pertinet nostras mentes de animae immortalitate futuro iudicio poenis de vita aeterna conuincit Buchalcherus in Chronologia griefe where there is no mention of the body but the bloud the receptacle of the soule if therefore it doth make complaint then liueth with God and accuseth his vnnaturall brother And so the soules of them that were killed for the