elect that beleeue in me and follow mee vnder the crosse I will not deceiue you I will shew you no vnfaithfull touch I will not disappoint you into no fools paradise nor false hope wil I bring you If the mansions were not prepared for you in my Fathers house I would tell it you but doubt ye not in my promise fall ye not off from faith hope stay your beleefe and affiance stedfastly vppon mee hope vndoubtedly for the dwellings to come which are ordained and prepared of my Father for you Heere is nothing but miserie and trouble here is no abiding no dwelling but a pilgrimage Heere ye are among straungers but in my Fathers house are many dwellinges not onely for mee but also for you And forasmuch as now through my death I will furnish and perfectly open and make an entraunce into the same dwellings which were prepared for you of my Father afore the creation of the world bee not you therefore dismayed by reason of my death My death shall bee your life and saluation Through my death go I before you make you a way vnto heauen Looke what the Father of his gratious goodnes hath ordained for you from euerlasting that will not hee giue you but through mee Therefore must I die and with my death open you the entrance vnto life And albeit that through my death and ascension I shall corporally depart from you yet will I not faile you neither forsake you Like as by my death I open vnto you the entrance into the heauenly mansions so will I send you my holie spirite who shall furnish you and make you meete for such dwellings That I go from you it is doone for your wealth therefore be not sorie that I open the dwellings vnto you I wil come to you againe and receiue you to my selfe that ye may alwaies be with me in my Fathers kingdome For he that serueth me shall also bee eternally with mee in my Fathers house thither will I bring you through my power and grace feare yee not beleeue in me Thus ye know whither I go namely vnto the Father to worke your welfare yee knowe also through what way yee must followe mee euen through faith and aduersitie Abide yee stedfast in faith and put your trust in me so will I be your faithfull mediatour and atturney in the presence of God my Father And if we would say as Thomas did that we know not the way the Lord Iesus instructeth vs further saith that he is the way the truth and the life This ought we poore sinners well to fasten in our hartes that Christ is the onely way which bringeth vs vnto God and that no man may come vnto the father but by him We should not therefore erect or choose vnto our selues anie other waie Onely by Christ must we come vnto God this hath hee spoken that is the truth it selfe cannot lie In the way is he our guide and by it he leadeth vs vnto himselfe and so by himselfe vnto God Thorough this waie we come to life and though we must die in aduersitie for his sake yet in him we finde eternall life for hee is the life and resurrection Who so beleeueth on him cannot die but commeth out of death into life and though hee die yet shall he liue in him euerlastingly Furthermore we must take sure hold vpon Christs promise which in life and death shal strengthen and comfort vs in that he promiseth vs he will giue vs all that we desire in his name Wherefore in all our necessitie and trouble we ought to haue recourse onely vnto him or vnto God his father in his name And then doe we praie in his name when wee desire that which may serue to the honour of his father that the father may be honored through the sonne and in the sonne when we desire such wholesome good things as the spirit of Christ moueth vs vnto All this doth stirre vp in vs patience peace ioy in the holy Ghost beleefe in Christ who is our God hâ—ad whom by his doctrine and wonderful miracles we haue learned to be verie good in deede The holy Scripture also both of the old and new Testament doth sufficiently declare the same as Esa 7.9.42.49.62 Iere 23.33 Mich. 5. Zach. 13. Mala. 3. What doth hee els in his whole Gospell but euidently and strongly proue that Iesus is verie God as in the 1.2.3.4.5.6.7 Chapters yea in all Christ calleth himselfe the sonne of God teacheth euery where that we ought to beleue on him now if he were not verie true God then had hee deceiued vs then had he taught vs wrong then were he himselfe a false teacher for wee must beleeue in none saue onely in God If Christ nowe were not God how should wee beleeue in him If he were a false teacher then woulde not the father haue commanded vs to heare him then had not he spoken froÌ„ heauen these wordes This is my dearely beloued sonne heare him then had not hee also confirmed his cause with miracles raised him vp from death taken him vp into heauen and set him on his right hand For he hateth all lyers and hath no pleasure in the wicked Iohan. 8. Afore Abraham was I am Christ sayth that the father hath giuen him all power in heauen and earth Matth. 28. Which sentence alone were sufficient and strong inough to proue that Christ is God for God giueth his glorie and honor to none other Esa 42. he sayth also that what the father hath it is his Ioh. 17. And Iohn 20. sayth Thomas vnto Christ My Lord and my God by him were all things created Iohn 1. Col. 1. Then must he needs be God for no creature is the maker or creatour of all things Paule sayth He is the wisedome of God 1. Corinth 1. The wisedome of GOD is eternall Prouerbes 8. Eccle. 24. Romanes 1.9 In the Epistle to the Hebrues what doth Paule else euen from the beginning vntill hee come farre within it but bring in testimonies that Christ is verie God Iohn saith Euerie spirite which confesseth that Iesus came in the flesh is of God Out of the which it followeth that as concerning his diuine nature hee was from euerlasting afore he came in the flesh Item Paule to the Hebrews saith God tooke vpon him the seede of Abraham then must hee needes be eternall God before the humanitie was As also Iohn saith The word was God and the word became man Item No man hath seen God at any time The sonne of God which is in the Fathers bosome hee hath opened it vnto vs. Iohn 3. Saith Christ No man ascendeth into heauen saue hee that came downe from heauen Now canst thou not say that hee came downe as touching his humane nature for that tooke hee first vpon him in the Virgin Mary Luke 1. Then must it needes bee true that he came downe concerning his Godhead as he oft saith I came
flieth from it The peace of Christ reioyceth in the middest of aduersitie and ouercommeth the crosse For faithful beleeuers looke vnto Christ who went before them vnto the father and after his passion and death tooke possession of so high honor and glorie and hath carryed theyr nature vp so high vnto the right hande of the father where hee now ruleth as a mightie king of heauen and earth Oh how great comfort how sure a hope giueth it vnto vs when wee see our owne nature our owne flesh and bones incorporated vnto Christ the onely begotten sonne and eternall word of God in so high honor and glorie how can it be otherwise but wee must needes hope that our weake flesh also shall be taken vp Looke what is past in the head the same shall assuredly be fulfilled in the members for without the members cannot the head be Which thing considered and through true beleefe printed in the heart maketh a man patient and cheerefull in all aduersity giueth peace and ioy in all trouble Let the Prince of this world through his ministers and members stirre vp all vexation against vs yet hath he no vauntage of vs if wee bee in Christ Easily might he finde somewhat in our selues but in Christ nothing such innocencie dooth Christ make vs partakers of Tempt vs he may and thrust at vs but to ouercome vs hee is not able so farre as we abide in Christ In vs is death a punishment of sinne in Christ it is obedience and loue For seeing the father loueth the sonne and of verie loue gaue him vnto death for vs the son would of loue obey the father and as hee also loued vs so would he willingly and obediently suffer death for vs that all the worlde might see his obedience and that wee might learne of him to obey our heauenly Father euen vnto the death and faithfully folow his precept and that likewise whereas it toucheth his glorie we should be afraide neither of aduersitie nor death considering howe obediently hee dyed for our sakes I Am a true Vine and my Father is an husband-man Euerie braunch that bringeth not fruite in mee hee taketh awaie and euerie braunch that beareth fruite hee purgeth that it may bring foorth more fruit Now are yee cleare through the wordes which I haue spoken vnto you Abide in mee and I in you As the branch cannot beare 〈…〉 of it selfe except it abide in the vine no more can yee except 〈◊〉 abide in mee I am the vine yee are the braunches He that abideth in mee and I in him the same bringeth foorth 〈◊〉 fruite for without mee can yee doo nothing If a man bide not in mee he is cast forth as a branch and withered and men gather them and east them into the fire and they burne If yee abide in mee and my words also in you aske what yee will and it shall bee done vnto you Herein is my Father glorified that ye beare much fruit and become my disciples Doctrine and fruite VNder this fayre similitude doeth Christ teach his Church that without him wee can do nothing but in him all things Now forasmuch as hee through his grace hath incorporated vs vnto himselfe wee ought with great diligence to apply our selues that we may abide in him and beare fruit For as long as wee are in him wee liue that is we receiue liuely vertue and sappe of him namely his spirite For who so cleaueth vnto the Lorde and is incorporated vnto him through faith the same is become one spirit with him the first Epistle to the Corinthians and the sixt Chapter For heereby knowe wee that wee are in him and hee in vs in that hee hath giuen vs of his spirit the first of Iohn and fourth Chapter For why the vineyard the branches are of one nature and kinde Thus the onely begotten sonne of GOD tooke our nature vppon him is become man and giueth vs of his spirite and maketh vs to be of a godly mind and spiritual nature Out of the same pith and sap doe all manner of godly vertues and good workes breake forth Gal. 5. Psal 85. For through his grace are we his operation and worke in Christ Iesu created vnto good workes wherein we are bound to walke And seeing we haue receiued Iesus Christ of God the father we ought to walke in him that in him we may be well rooted and stand fast But heereby knowe we that we are in him if we walke as he hath walked For who so saith that he abideth in him then euen as hee walked so must wee doe 1. Iohn 2. But if we woulde saie that wee were in him and had fellowshippe with him and yet would walke in darknesse seeing hee is the light wherein is found no darknesse at all then were wee lyars and went not about with the truth But if wee walke in light as he is light we children of light then haue we fellowship and companie with him the bloud of Christ purgeth vs from all sinne 1. Iohn 1. In Christ Iesu may no man be idle and without fruit 2. Thes 3. who so now is vnthankful to the grace of God doth not practise himselfe in good works to Gods glorie the same is cut off and as an vnfruitfull drie branch throwen into the fire burnt Faith grafteth vs into Christ Loue declareth that wee are planted in it knitteth the members with the head Where the spirite of Christ followeth from the head into the members from the stock into the branches there are fruites of the spirite for by the fruit is the tree knowen Christ through his worde and spirit hath pacified vs that is he hath called and separated vs from the world and from the filthines of the flesh vnto good workes And into his owne seruice and schoole of godly nurtor hath hee admitted vs and written vp our names He hath begonne to purge and clense vs from carnall lustes and from all vncleannes of the world accepting vs into the number of those that dye from the world and that now from hence forth will liue vnto him and bring forth fruite But that is not enough we must also obediently waite vpon the grace that hee hath placed vs in applying our diligence watching and praying that from so high a vocation from so excellent grace and honour wee fall not away againe 1. Cor. 10. It is not enough to haue begonne there must be a stedfast continuance Hee that forsaketh the head againe hath neither spirit nor vertue for without him wee are able to doe nothing Therefore through faith and loue ought wee to abide in him hauing respect vnto him in all thinges so shall wee bring forth much fruite vnto him Then abyde wee in him when wee doe that hee commaundeth vs and loue that which hee promiseth vs. Howbeit these fruites that wee bring forth are not ours but the fathers to him
they might not think What should we poore simple bodies doe against so many learned wise men Who wil arme vs against those that are so mightie Therfore he breatheth vpon them saith Receyue the holie Ghost whome hee there giueth them and therewith strengtheneth them inwardly but with much more power and might vpon Whitsonday whereupon he commandeth them to wait at Hietusalem where he will send them the promise of the Father cloathing the weake with heauenlie strength as with a garment and arming them as with a shield What good thing then can hee lacke or what euill thing can hurt him which is his messenger that hath all power in heauen and in earth and with whome such a king is euer abiding But when Christ would send out his disciples he saith vnto them As my father hath sent me so send I you Whereunto did the father send his sonne into the world Euen that hee should open the glorie of the father vnto the world that he should declare the will of the heauenly Father that hee shoulde offer health vnto the worlde This to doe Christ also sent foorth his Disciples He sent them not to seeke after vaine-glorie after power and riches after bodilie pleasure and worldly pompe but to do as he himself did Christ sought the lost sheepe brought men vnto the knowledge and loue of the true liuing GOD taught them to lead a vertuous and honest life Hee was a Phisition went to the sicke helped them and healed them he was not come to do his owne will but the will of his Father hee was not come to condemne the world but to saue it In all this ought the ministers of the worde to followe Christ and to do as he did Vnto this new heauenly and godlie life and worke Christ giueth them the holie Ghost For like as hee himselfe was risen into a newe life Euen so through his holie spirite will hee graunt and giue a newe life vnto those that are his Therefore breatheth hee vppon them to declare that it is hee who at the beginning made man and nowe by his death had quickened him and renewed him and that euen he is the fountaine and giuer of the spirite Thus vnto his Disciples he gaue the firstlinges of the promised spirite and with it a taste of more and greater perfection as an earnest pennie All this declareth what belongeth to true Apostles and Ministers of the worde which are sent of Christ for no man sendeth himselfe what their office is and that they which seeke the pleasures of the bodie honor praise and riches are not followers of Christ and successors of the Apostles Wherefore most diligently ought wee to pray vnto GOD that he will giue vs faithfull Ministers of the worde which looking truelie to the worke of Christ maye leade vs vnto God But forasmuch as without the holy Ghost nothing can be fruitfully done we must neuerthelesse praie for his holy spirite who may in vs stirre vp holy thoughts and deuout desires directing and mouing our will and so giuing power and strength to accomplish the works of God and steadfastly therin to continue and that the same holy spirit may illuminate and kindle our minds and prouoke them vnto all good and godly works Considering then that the keies which were promised vnto Peter in him to the whole Church Matthew 16. are heere giuen of Christ wee will also intreate somewhat thereof These keyes are nothing else than the Gospell Christ now deduceth his oration from the common custome of men Like as things corporal are shut and opened with the key so be the consciences of men shut or bound with the Gospell Thus are these the keies which Christ giueth vnto the Apostles vnburdening of consciences and souls And that commeth to passe when the holy Ghost illuminateth the mind that it vnderstandeth the misteries of Christ committeth it selfe therevnto To bee discharged or vnbound is when the minde that hath despaired of health or saluation is lifte vp to an assured and vndoubted hope To binde is to leaue the obstinate vnbeleeuing minde vnto it selfe Iesus therefore sendeth foorth his disciples to publish this health vnto the whole world and to exclude separate no man from this grace But first he giueth them the holy Ghost as Iohn sayth that is he openeth their mindes that they may vnderstand the Scriptures as Luke saith for what is it else to open the vnderstanding but to giue the holy Ghost Meete is it also and conuenient that they which by the Gospell should beare Christ throughout the whole world should receiue the holy ghost For if they should preach Christ it was necessarie they had Christs spirit seeing that Christ they had one manner of thing in hand as Christ was sent of God so were they sent of Christ Without fruit verily should the ministers of the word preach the gospel if they were not endued illuminated and inspired with the holy Ghost Preach saith he the gospel that is the key wherewith the gate of heauen is opened Who so beleeueth the Gospell when hee heareth it preached and vnderstandeth it feeleth comfort in his conscience that he is deliuered from sinne Now doth the Gospell set before vs not onely the grace of God by Christ throgh the which grace our sinnes are forgiuen vs but also it teacheth and requireth a new life Neyther doth anie man begin a new life vnles he first be ashamed of the former old and wicked life Therefore saith Luke that Christ opened the mindes and vnderstanding of the disciples that they might perceiue the Scriptures namely that he might thus and thus suffer and rise again and that in his name that is in his commandement and power conuersion of life and forgiuenesse of sinnes should bee preached and declared among all people Therefore when the poore sinner through the preaching of the holy Ghost heareth his wicked and sinfull life for the holy gospel rebuketh the world of sinne he beginneth to knowe himselfe a sinner and to be displeased repentant and sorrie for his sinnes he considereth also that he is well worthie of eternal punishment and damnation By meanes whereof through the multitude and greatnesse of his sinnes he vtterly dispaireth in his owne power and righteousnesse and eternall saluation But therewithall he heareth also that Christ by reason of his sins came downe from heauen and dyed for him vppon the crosse washed away al his sinnes with his bloud hath reconciled him with God made him Gods child an eternall inheritour of his kingdome And this he stedfastly beleeueth I pray you doth not such a mans heart leape for ioy when hee heareth that thorough Christ he is discharged of all the sinnes that so sore pressed him The keies therefore are the pure word of God which teacheth men to know themselues and to put their trust in God through Christ With that word with those keies do the ministers of the worde open
gracious father who can right well order and dispose them how when he will as he thinketh best to further his glorie and to edifie his elect children Our care ought rather to bee how we may lead a godly life and beautifie the faith of Christ with good woorkes Wee must looke that wee bee neither vngodlie nor hypocrites but to liue vertuously and innocently in his sight and paciently at his hande to wayte for our deliuerance The kingdome of Christ that is published and offered through the Gospell is not a corporall but a spirituall kingdome neither consisteth it in outward things but in a pure and faithfull beleeuing heart and yet reacheth it throughout the whole worlde and amongst all nations In the hearts of all faithfull beleeuers doth Christ raigne through his spirite and there ouercommeth hee the deuill sinne and death And to the intent they shoulde well vnderstande this kingdome he commaundeth them to waite for the holy spirite whom he had promised them as if he would say Now goe I to my Father now enter I into my kingdome that I may mightily raigne vpon the earth this thing yee vnderstand not but when the spirite is giuen you yee shall perceyue it well All thinges in heauen and in earth are giuen into my power In those that are mine shall I raigne and make them righteous through fayth yea inuincible shall I make them against all enemies heereof shall yee beare witnesse when yee are baptized through the holie Ghost This my kingdome shall ye publish in all nations from one ende of the world to another Thus shall I raigne from sea to sea of the which my kingdome the Prophetes spake so much before Of this kingdome dooth Christ take possession through his ascending vp to the Father at whose right hande and in this kingdome hee sitteth raigning much more mightily in his Church and working more effectuously in those that be his than hee did before when he liued yet corporally with him Thus taking his leaue hee giueth them louing wordes comforteth them and admonisheth them of their office that they all may be diligent therin that they continually direct and lift vp their heartes into that kingdome and that they take in hand to bring all men to the same into the obedience of Christ His blessing hee giueth them saluting them wishing them good and praying hartily vnto his Father for them Thus was hee taken from them and carryed into heauen By the heuen we vnderstand the incomprehensible light in the which God dwelleth which no mortall man can attaine vnto From thence came Christ vnto vs and thither is hee gone againe euen into the inuisible glorie and clearenes of God For the eternall worde and power of GOD dwelling in Gods incomprehensible light from euerlasting became man and had his conuersation vpon earth in all partes sinne excepte as a verie true man But when hee had fullie finished and throughly ended the worke that was giuen him in commission of his heauenly Father and had obeyed him euen vnto the death for as much as in all thinges hee had honoured and glorified his Father vppon earth it was conuenient that the Father also shoulde glorifie his Sonne And therefore raysed hee him from death and tooke him vp into heauen not after the Godhead for so was hee alwaies in heauen but after the manhoode For his true humane nature which hee tooke vppon him for our sakes is carryed and taken vp out of this world into the inuisible honour and glorie into the highest incomprehensible and into the perfect fruition of the Godhead In this honour and glorie Christ dwelleth and raigneth and yet amongst those that are his doth he finish and performe all things by his spirite hauing gouernance in the harts of the faithfull through beliefe through loue through patience and innocencie of life To the intent now that this kingdome might be erected in the hearts of men it was necessarie that he should giue his disciples commission to publish the same and to prepare mens minds thervnto through the preaching of the Gospell But first hee made the mindes of his disciples readie and apt to receiue the holy ghost whom he afterwards poured into others by them and therefore he commaunded them vntill the spirite appeare and open the worke to waite still at Hierusalem from the which place the kingdome of Christ was afterwardes planted in all the world Of the promise of the spirite reade Esay 44. Iere. 31. Ezech. 36. Ioel. 2. Iohn 19.16 Considering that the mysterie of Christs ascention is great and excellent and that there is notable power contained therein to those that be faithful beleeuers the Euangelists doe therefore describe verie perfectly the time the place the persons with all circumstances and assured testimonies thereof Hee ascendeth vp before his disciples that they might openly and euidently see it with theyr eyes there did appeare Angels as messengers and witnesses from heauen euen two of them that in the mouth of two all trueth might bee established The white apparrell signifieth the euident glorie into the which Christ is taken vp as a noble royall and mightie king and conquerour entring into his heauenlie kingdome Thus the high and glorious king cloathed with our nature is entred into our royall pallace as one that mindeth faithfully to dispatch our matters Hee is our owne mediatour and aduocate in the presence of the Father notwithstanding our sinnes committed wee haue a free entraunce vnto GOD by him Our flesh hath hee in himselfe carryed vp and exalted our nature vnto the right hande of GOD the Father Wherefore wee that are bones of his bones and flesh of his flesh doe iustly conceyue a comfortable and assured hope that our mortall bodyes also shall bee taken vp and haue immortall and eternall ioye The earnest pennie of his spirite hath hee giuen and left behinde him vnto vs and contrariwise hee hath of vs taken an earnest pennie and pledge namely our sinfull and wicked flesh which hee in himselfe hath carryed vp into the kingdome of heauen Nowe where the parcell is there shall also bee the whole summe By this wee that are flesh and bloud haue a comfortable and assured trust that in Christ wee shall haue the possession and inheritaunce of heauen Our sinnes in him are recompenced heauen in him is opened in him is the hope of immortall life sealed and made sure vnto vs Christ the victorious glorious conquerour is able to defend his church So that from henceforth no man shall haue power to condemne his elect and faithfull beleeuers Rom. 8. Heb. 5.7.8.10 That his flesh is with-drawne from vs and taken into heauen it is our great profite to the intent that all our deuotion and Gods seruice may bee directed vpwardes in the spirite and that the mindes of faythfull beleeuers maye bee drawne from earthlie vnto heauenly thinges euen vnto the place where Christ sitteth on the right hande of GOD the Father When the Disciples
God became after sinne like vnto the deuill filthie and shamefull yea altogether carnall hauing nothing more of the spirite in him as the scripture in the booke of creation testifieth For as much now as the miserable man was degenerate from the noble spirituall and godly nature to an vncleane carnall and diuelish disposition becomming altogether flesh hee was able no more eyther to thinke or woorke any spirituall or godlie thing All his thoughts and imaginations are carnall in that he is fallen into eternall death and hath lost the life of the spirite for the affections and lustes of the flesh are death but the desires of the spirite are life and peace The affections of the flesh are enmitie against God for the flesh is not subiect vnto the lawe of GOD neyther can bee they therefore which are in the flesh cannot please GOD. Nowe when man who had taken so hurtfull a fall was brought downe from life vnto death from the grace of God into his wrath life might not bee giuen him againe but by the spirite of God whome man by sinne hath lost Therefore like as the Father at the beginning had created man so fashioneth hee him againe by his Sonne who ouercommeth and destroyeth death and giueth vnto vs againe the way of immortalitie For into a froward soule entereth not the spirite of GOD therefore is it conuenient and necessarie that such soule and corrupt flesh bee purged and cleansed againe By Christ the eternall worde were all thinges created by him therefore after the fall must all things be restored againe for this cause died Christ vppon the crosse to banish the sinne of the worlde and to make satisfaction for it From death also hee riseth agayne to giue vs a certaine and assured hope and an vndoubted pledge of an immortall and eternall life and that hee hath ouercome death and sinne for vs. Immediately after the resurrection he breatheth vpon his disciples and giueth them the holy Ghost to declare that he is the same who at the beginning created our nature and sealed it it with his spirite and that it is euen hee who now in the beginning of a new life must by his spirite renew and restore our decayed nature againe that thus Christ who is the liuing and expresse image of the inuisible GOD may bee fashioned and fourmed of the newe in vs now cannot Christ the image of GOD bee right proportioned and renewed in vs but by the holie Ghost Nowe like as Christ after the resurrection gaue his Disciples the spirite to print into them a newe life whereby they knewe and were assured that hee was the fountaine and giuer of the spirite and therefore hee saide All that the Father hath is mine Item All power is giuen vnto mee in heauen and in earth euen so immediately after the same hee ascended vp into heauen to declare vnto them that he was the Lord of all thinges Out of the high and reall throne where he sitteth at the right hand of God his Father Christ the eternall king sent downe his holie spirite vpon all flesh that we by him might obtaine the old innocencie and saluation againe that the Image of God stained and defiled by sinne might be restored vnto vs and that wee thus might become partakers of eternall life What they be vnto whom God giueth his spirit that see we well heere namely euen vnto those that in vnitie of faith and feruent loue are gathered togither with one accord for of all vnitie he is the fountaine and originall In contentious and proud hearts dwelleth not the holy Ghost therefore is it meet that we pray Come O holie spirite replenish the harts of thy faithfull beleeuers and kindle in them the fire of thy loue thou that through manifolde tongues hast gathered together all the nations of the heathen in vnitie of faith O take all dissention and discord out of thy holie Church and make vs to be of one mind in vnfained loue without the which wee cannot please thee THere were dwelling at Hierusalem Iewes deuout men out of euerie nation of them that are in heauen now when this was noysed about the multitude came together and were astonied because that euerie man heard them speake with his owne language They wondered all maruelled saying amongst themselues Beholde are not all these which speake of Galilee and how heare wee euerie man his owne tongue wherein we were borne Partheans Medes and Elemytes and the inhabiters of Mesopotamia and of Iewrie and of Capadocia of Pontus and Asia Phrigia Pamphilia of Egypt and of the parties of Lybia which is besides Siren and strangers of Rome Iewes and Proselytes Greekes and Arabians wee haue heard them speake in our owne tongues the great works of God Doctrine and fruite THE eternall wisedome hath indued all good minds diligently to learne and search the thing wherein they thinke to finde that which they desire and what can be more worthie to be desired or more acceptable to the mind of man than eternal life and saluation which onely consisteth in God the highest good of all Now was the sacred scripture giuen of the holie Ghost that man thereby might bee guided and lead vnto saluation and to most excellent felicity For they that exercise themselues in holie scripture studying and perusing it ought thus to doe euen to direct themselues and others vnto life Therefore by the ordinance of God there hath been euer men in all nations which to instruct others haue applyed themselues to the scripture as among the Iewes wee finde Leui of whome in the Prophet Malachie it is written that the lawe of the truth was in his mouth and no wickednes in his lippes that he walked before God in peace and equitie and conuerted many from vngodlines for the lippes of the Priest are sure of knowledge and the law is required at his mouth for hee is a messenger of the Lorde of hosts Thus as it may wel be coniectured there were at Ierusalem congregations of learned men that exercised themselues in the holy scripture For though all wisedome come of God as the fountaine wel no man can be learned whom God himselfe teacheth not yet will not he giue his grace spirite and knowledge to the idle slouthfull and vnthankfull neither to the proud but vnto those that with meeknes feare of God practise themselues in the scripture and that applying vnto feruent praier doe not despise the meanes and gratious giftes granted them of God And if any man will say that all falshood and destruction all erroneous doctrine and discorde were come into the church by such as be learned let him consider that the thing which in himselfe is good ought not for the abuses sake to bee refused remoue the abuse and then the thing is good and profitable Wine is a profitable and wholesome thing created of GOD for the behoofe of man and is neuer dispraised
most perfection to vnderstand his doctrine truth and loue for heere in this time is our knowledge vnperfect yet shuld we consider that the father loueth vs and faithfully ought we to crie and praie vnto him for his spirite that shal teach vs all truth so much as is necessarie and profitable for vs which knowledge from daie to daie shall increase till we shal see him face to face and haue the perfect knowledge of him Our nature is weake and feeble the nature diuine is high and incomprehensible we are full of darknes God is the cleere farre passing light but when our darke mist is taken away then in cleere brightnesse shall the godly light open vnto vs. Some first fruits and beginnings of Gods knowledge haue we receiued alreadie God hath cast and planted a litle seed of knowledge in our harts which through his grace and moisture shall daily grow increase and prosper Of such knowledge as we haue of God we may not presume neither of our weak faith nor yet ascribe too much vnto our own strength He that standeth let him looke that he fall not We think many times that we are verie strong in faith but aduersitie sheweth how feeble we bee and how soone we shrinke Therefore in all trouble and distresse of this world we ought to comfort our selues and trust onely in the grace and strength of Christ In him shal we finde peace and quietnesse in him shall we ouercome all our enemies for his ouercomming is our victorie his power is our strength The world is not able to hurt and plague vs more than of our gracious father is permitted vnto them for our wealth While we liue here we are in miserie affliction distresse but seeing the head hath ouercome the members ought not to doubt of the victorie Let vs with stedfast beleefe looke vnto Christ the fountaine of life our foregoer and finisher of our faith let vs stoutly step forth after him let vs go the waie that he is gone and hath troden made before Afflictions shall serue vs vnto high honor as they serued Christ the Lord vnto glorie In Christ we finde the peace rest of our consciences and soules in him we knowe and find the goodnes loue of God the father out of him receiue we power strength comfort eternall life only let vs loke that we turne not the eies of our heart faith away from him Our welfare consisteth in the stedfast beleefe and loue of Iesus Christ the sonne of God Though we many times stumble fall and be proued by sundry temptations and afflictions yet is the same good and profitable for vs that we may the better learn to know our own weaknes and againe the strength and grace of God If it were not profitable for vs Christ had not suffered his Disciples to fall so greeuously But in all distresse he putteth his hand vnder vs and in aduersitie he leaueth vs not alone as hee also left not his owne Sonne alone Though all men flie away from vs yet haue we God with vs. THese wordes spake Iesus and lift vp his eyes to heauen and said Father the houre is come glorifie thy Sonne that thy Sonne also may glorifie thee as thou hast giuen him power ouer all flesh that he should giue eternall life to as manie as thou hast giuen him This is life eternall that they know thee the onely very true God whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ I haue glorified thee on the earth I haue finished the worke which thou gauest me to doo And now glorifie me thou Father with thine owne selfe with the glorie which I had with thee ere the worlde was I haue declared thy name vnto the men which thou gauest me out of the world Thine they were and thou gauest them mee and they haue kept thy sayings Now they knowe that all thinges whatsoeuer thou hast giuen me are of thee for I haue giuen vnto them the words which thou gauest me and they haue receiued them and know surely that I came out from thee do beleeue that thou didst send me Doctrine and fruite CHrist the true onely chiefe Priest who now would offer vp himselfe to the father vpon the crosse for our sins after that hee had loued his owne vnto the end comforting and strengthening them turneth nowe himselfe in an earnest and feruent praier vnto his heauenly father for an ensample and doctrine to his Disciples and all faithfull beleeuers that they in all temptations and afflictions should with an earnest and feruent praier haue recourse vnto the Father of heauen That he taught afore in wordes the same declareth hee nowe in the deede shewing not onely what but also how and after what sort wee ought to pray not onely for our selues but also for those that are giuen and committed vnto vs of God and whom we haue comforted and exhorted Our eyes and handes ought we to lift vp vnto heauen from whence our helpe commeth which doing is a token of a deuout humble lowly mind Yea the eyes not onely of the body but also of the hart and beleefe But vnto this ende principally ought all our prayers to be directed that the heauenly father may bee glorified The deuil the prince of this world throgh his adherents causeth the name and trueth of Christ his doctrine and knowledge to be rooted out despised Seeing then that wee are Gods children wee should in nothing bee so earnest as in sauing the honour of our father in furthering his glory Which thing commeth to passe when we notifie to men vpon earth his grace faithfulnes loue great mercy which he by his only begotten deare son hath declared shewed vnto mankind when we lead men vnto God from earthly vices false Gods seruice when we direct al things to his glorie Thus is Christ also honored and glorified by vs when wee through the Gospell doe publish vnto all men his power and goodnes his honor and glorie when we know that he is our sauiour our righteousnes and sanctifiing when we know that the father hath giuen all things into his power that to those whom the father hath granted to him hee may giue euerlasting life Which life euerlasting consisteth in this that wee knowe the liuing God his sonne Iesus Christ whom he sent into this world For God the father cānot be known without Christ Iesus his sonne neither is there any mo Gods but only one on whom wee hope trust The way to God is Christ whom God therfore sent downe that by him the mercie and grace of the Father might be opened and appeare vnto vs. Wherefore if we wil haue eternal life that is the knowledge of God we must beleeue in Christ and knowe him and by him as the way and mediator we must know God the father Who so refuseth Christ cannot haue the Father What should it helpe thee
of patience is heere declared to performe the redemption of mankinde This paine and smart is so great that euen the Elements which haue no sence declare tokens of their compassion The Sunne lost his shine and hid his cheerefull light from the wicked rabble hauing as it were a displeasure for the death of their maker Seeing now that the sun mourneth and the earth quaketh much more ought we reasonable men to haue compassion and to consider the death of our maker Behold O faithfull seruant of God how thy foregoer in all his punishment and sorrowfull trouble indureth stil mild and patient and that there is heard no bitternes out of his mouth His praier and complaint sendeth hee vppe vnto his heauenlie Father neither nameth hee any other saue onely God To him alone hee complaineth and openeth his desolation Euen so ought wee to doe when aduersitie reproch or any such thing assaulteth vs wee must not vndiscreetly sorrow or be angrie but runne straight way vnto the Crosse and at the Crosse tarrie and abide a little while with the Lorde If thou be forsaken complaine of thy trouble vnto GOD the Father Consider that Iesus also for thy sake was left in great trouble and anguishe Learne thou likewise to bee soft minded and patient without murmuring or cursing Keepe thee to the onelie comfort of God giue ouer all the ioy of this world so shalt thou not bee forsaken of him All earthlie thinges set apart turne thou thy minde vppe into the Countrey of Heauen Take GOD for thy Father Iesus for thy brother Thou art of a noble high kindred namelie a childe of the euer liuing God O mercifull father wee crie vnto thee in all trouble and call vppon thee through the crucified Iesus Suffer vs not to sincke in great afflictions giue vs not ouer vnto our owne strength but the more the enemie presseth vppon vs the more bee thou our assistance For in all anguishe and trouble thou art the right helper and most faithfull friend If temptation then come vppon vs by thy fatherly will graunt vs grace O Lord patientlie to beare it and to lay the burthen vpon thy mercie that in all trouble we being els destitute of all consolatiō may put our whole trust onely in thee Amen AFter this Iesus knowing that all thinges were nowe perfourmed that the scripture might be fulfilled hee saith I thirst So there stood a vessell by full of vineger Therfore they filled a spunge with vinegar and wound it about with Isope and put to his mouth Assoone as Iesus then receiued of the Vinegar hee answered and saide It is finished Doctrine and fruite ADam satisfied his lust in the forbidden Apple which noisome lust was ocasion of our death But Iesus for the reformation of this concupiscence suffreth also vpon his tongue to restore vs againe from the fall and to conquere vs in this life His bitter drinke is vnto vs a blessed medicine Such great vnthankefulnesse of the Iewes was prophecied by King Dauid in the Psalmes To him that fedde them in the wildernesse with bread from heauen and gaue them water to drinke out of the hard stonie Rocke Euen vnto him for a recompence they giue Vineger and Gall. O the sower and vnnaturall fruite that the LORDE receiueth of his owne Vineyard which he had planted and garnished so faire To vs heere is prepared a soueraigne medicine against glotonie and all voluptuousnes of the flesh thorow the loue whereof God is forgotten and forsaken Now when Christ who is the fulfiller of the law and all the Prophets had whollie and fully perfourmed the will of his heauenlie father hee saith for a conclusion and ende of his life it is finished as hee would say Now is finished all that the old law hath written and spoken of me all that the old Testament figured with oblations and sacrifices with glory and beautie in the Gods seruice Now are truly fulfilled the holy prophesies of the Prophetes and the long wished desires of the holye olde Fathers Nowe is wrought and perfourmed all that belonged concerned the redemption of mankinde It is all as it was promised of God concluded with an honourable blessed end And looke what is behinde shall vndoubtedly be fulfilled in due time I haue accomplished the commandement of my Father who sent me into this world the worke that hee gaue mee to do haue I finished What could I do more for thee O my people that I haue not done Vppon the sixt daye hee finished the worke of the creation of the world And nowe vppon the sixt day and age of the world hee perfourmeth the blessed worke of mans redemption Vppon the sixt day hee created man and made him of the mould of the earth Vpon the sixt day hee restored him againe and deliuered him with his holy bloud Thus all things are finished the great worke of his mercie and most excellent loue is accomplished the way vnto heauen is opened and the deuils power is broken In such hope ought wee valiauntlie to trauaile at this time in this vnconstant world and not to let fall the worke of God that is begun but by his assistance to bring it vnto a blessed ende and stoutly to endure therein It is well-nie come to the point that all shal bee finished the euening and ende of our life commeth on apace wherein we may say with glad harts as Christ our foregoer did It is all finished Wherefore deare brethren let vs euer most diligently and earnestly walke in the way of the truth and of commendable vertues begun exercising our selues in righteousnes We must not think otherwise but to haue battaile against vice against the flesh the world and Satan Daily goe we on a pace towardes death in hope to attain eternal life O that we might say with Paule I haue fought a good fight I haue fulfilled my course I haue kept the faith We must suffer and haue trauaile yet a litle season the time of our deliuerance will shortly be heere O Lord Iesu direct thou all our works according to thy good pleasure illuminate purifie our minds and thoughts Teach vs how wee euer to the praise and honour of thy holy name may meekly beginne diligently doo and blessedly end all our workes and enterprises O giue vs grace faithfully to labour in the Vineyard of the Lord that the heat and trauaile driue vs not back that we faint not that in the schole of heauenly exercise wee may steadfastly indure till wee giue vp the ghost and that through thy mercie after many commendable battails and long striuing wee may say in the last houre of our life It is all finished Vouchsafe thou to bee the finall occasion of our whole life and of all our woorkings so shall it followe that thou wilt bee also our eternall reward ioy and saluation Amen ANd Iesus criyng with a loud voyce said Father into thy hands I commit my spirite And when hee had thus
said hee bowed his head and gaue vp the ghost Doctrine and fruit THE life of all liuing dieth after the fleshe thorow the painefull torment of death doth Iesus depart But by his death hee openeth vnto vs the way of life and taketh from vs euarlasting death This is a precious dear and victorious death which hath slaine our death and conquered vs life againe Let this death euermore continue in our hearts and let our death bee considered in the consideration of his death This shall bring vs comfortable trust and hope when our death striueth in vs so that we shall neither be afraid nor despaire if wee steadfastly beleeue that Christ died for vs and that hee through his death hath opened vnto vs euerlasting life Let vs with deuout heartes consider the death of him that hath redeemed vs and restored vs againe The gracious innocent Lorde Iesus dieth miserable and naked so poore so destitute as no man els And yet vnto God is none so deare although of men hee he most vilely intreated This is euen the reward of the worlde to despise the children of God and to recompence euil for good If the like happen vnto vs we must not thinke it straunge for the seruant is not aboue the Lord. The Lorde hangeth on the crosse hard pearced not onely with nailes but also with ardent loue towards vs sore beaten and hurt in euerie place without succour without helpe without comfort euen as a dead man who is forgotten and out of minde Ponder well O thou good seruant of Christ who and how great hee is that crying with a loud voyce giueth vp the ghost Verilie euen the sonne of GOD as Centurio likewise dooth testifie O deare brethren let vs consider how great our sinnes are for the which the innocent sonne of God dieth Iustly ought all the world to be dead vnto vs in Christ and wee vnto the world And what is our life but a blessed death Hee that learneth not to die in his life is afraide when the houre of death commeth Euery day goe wee one daies iourney vnto death therefore ought wee so to watch so to speake and so to worke as if we would die euen now out of hand Before death wee must learne to die least hee sodainlie take holde vppon vs and make vs afraide Death vnto those that faithfully beleeue is through the death of Christ become the gate to life for their comfort and strong hope is in the woordes of Iesus when he saith he that beleeueth on me though hee were dead yet shall hee liue Item who so heareth my word and beleeueth on him that sent me hath euerlasting life In this promise ought we to liue and die casting away all impediments and such thinges as hinder vs from his loue beeing with heart and minde seperated from the world and vndefiled from the filthines thereof Out of the passion of Christ we must picke out vnto our selues comfortable helpe and medicine so that obediently in al patience we offer vp our selues vnto our heauenly father committing our soules into his handes In life and in death let the death of Christ be our comfort and let vs set it against al fearfull temptations and between the wrath of God and our sinnes O Lord Iesu Christ who in the feeble nature of man hast suffred death for vs vnworthie sinners graunt vs grace feruently in our hearts to beare the pain and loue of thy most bitter death and through the subduing and ouer-comming of al vice and wickednesse to vse and exercise our selues daily in following thy footsteppes and dying with thee And when the end of our life draweth nie that wee then may depart in thy mercie and grace and receiue the ioy of paradise Assist thou vs when we die and defend vs from the olde enemie whom thou through thy death hast ouer-come O Father wee commit our spirite into thy hand thou hast redeemed vs O God of truth Let these be our last wordes when we depart hence Amen AND behold the vaile of the temple rent into two peeces from aboue till beneath and there was an earthquake the stones claue asunder the graues opened they that had slept rose vp and went out of the graues and came after his resurrection into the holie Cittie and appeared vnto manie The captaine and they that were with him which kept Iesus when they saw the earthquake and that he gaue vp the ghost with such a crie and other thinges that there happened they were afraid verie sore and saide Verely this was Gods Sonne Centurio likewise praised God said Verely this was a righteous man And all the people that were there and saw it smote vppon their brestes and returned Doctrine and fruite THe Iewes alway required tokens of Christ and of such there hapned manie nowe in the death of the Lord for the very earth quaketh at their wickednes and blaspheming of God the hard stony rockes with their cracking and cleauing asunder expresse a lamentation on their makers behalfe the vaile in the temple renteth for a declaration that the olde couered thinges in the olde Testament are laid away and the hidde significations of Christ expressed and opened for he is the holy true oblation that taketh away the sinnes of the world he is the vndefiled lambe of God hee is the true high Priest that entreth within the vaile into the sanctuary for the way of holy thinges is opened through his bloud hee is the high Priest that once entred in and with one onely sacrifice doth perfectly cleanse and sanctifie The graues opened for an euidence of his resurrection Centurio knowledgeth that which the harde harted Iewes would not confesse O good faithfull beleeuers let vs not bee harder than the stones let our hearts rent asunder in repentance and sorrow for our sinnes that we may enioye the fruite of the Lords death ANd a farre of stood all his acquaintance among whom were many women that came vp from Galilee followed him and ministred vnto him among whome was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Iames the lesse and Ioses the mother of Zebedes children with manie other that were come to Hierusalem The Iewes then because it was the Sabaoth euen that the bodies shoulde not remaine on the crosse vppon the Sabaoth day for that was the great Saboth day besought Pilate that their legges might be broken and that they might be taken downe Then came the souldiors and brake the legges of the first and of the other which was crucified with him But when they came to Iesus and saw that he was dead alreadie they brake not his legges but one of the souldiours with a speare thrust him into the side and forthwith came there out bloud and water And he that saw it bare record and his record is true And he knoweth that hee saith true that yee also might beleeue These thinges were done that the Scripture might bâ—e fulfilled Yee shall not breake
our Easter lambe who also was offered vp Vpon the fiftith day when the fruites began now to be ripe readie to be reaped the haruest also being great and the labourers few then sent God his spirit to prepare and furnish the Disciples that they from amongst the heathen might gather fruite togeather vnto 〈…〉 â—ore time when the children 〈…〉 out of Egypt the law was gi◠〈…〉 people vpon the fift day euen 〈…〉 â—nient that vpon the fift day the holie 〈…〉 be giuen to the Disciples which ho◠〈…〉 is both an interpreter and fulfiller of the â—we The place where the holie Ghost was giuen is Sion for there Christ commaunded his Disciples to waite and from that place should the law of GOD according to the saying of the Prophets proceede foorth into the whole world Therefore like as afore time the law was giuen vpon mount Sinay euen so was the spirit giuen vpon mount Sion Vppon Sinai did God at that time with some terrible thinges declare his might and power his plague also and vengeance which should fall vppon those that despised his lawe and therefore was there such fearefulnes through lightnings thunderings and other like terrible thinges Here there is heard a noyse mightie vehement but not horrible feareful in the which winde is signified that the doctrine of the spirit shuld speedily with power breake in through the world and bring fruit and that no man should be so mightie as to hinder the strength therof euen as the wind in his course can by no man be kept backe Whereas fierie tongues do appeare and are seen it signifieth the manifolde speeches and instruction which the spirit giueth to Christs Disciples the zeal also feruentnes that he worketh in their harts making them altogether fire and kindling them in such sort that euen their words are feruent and pierce afterwards into the hearts of others A◠〈…〉 feare and coldnes remoueth he out of the 〈…〉 they are not afraid manfully to steppe foorth 〈…〉 all the people although not long before 〈…〉 not abide but fledde from the Lord. Now they confesse him to bee the Sauiour of all the world whom they before had denyed Whereas the tongues were diuided it signifieth the diuersitie of the giftes of the spirite Christ promised them in Marke 16. that they should speake with other tungs or with a new speech or language which promise is now performed vnto them The tongues of Christian men ought to be garnished with gentlenesse and with the holie Ghost that no foule or wanton talke proceed out of their mouth The tongues that pronounce and confesse Christ the eternall truth his sincere spirit must not lie neither talke anie vnclean hurtfull nor venemous thing for vnto all such is the spirite enemie Therefore are they not fleshly but fierie and spirituall tongues out of the which the fire of the spirite hath consumed all moisture of worldly and carnal wantonnes and God with his owne loue hath kindled them How could the Apostles else haue been instructors of the whole world if the spirite had not taught them the diuersitie of tongues Oh the great wisedome and grace of God who at all times for our wealth hath set forth and offered vnto vs poore men his high spirituall heauenly things vnder corporall and visible tokens For how might we carnall men els vnderstand godly matters if they were not exhibited with visible and bodily thinges 〈…〉 God alwaies this custome that hee 〈…〉 â—nto vs his high gifts vnder those tokens 〈…〉 most knowen of vs and likest vnto those 〈…〉 which hee offereth vs and so with humaine 〈◊〉 hee couereth diuine and godly thinges Not that God is closed or shut in with things of men but that celestiall and heauenly things forsoorth vnto vs by such as bee earthly might be of vs the better vnderstood For els euery man of knowledge wotteth well that the holy Ghost is not a dooue neither a winde a tongue fire nor water For GOD is not a thing corporall neither a thing that can bee felt or comprehended with outward senses Notwithstanding things inuisible are the better knowen and perceiued of vs when they be set forth and represented by visible thinges namely by such as haue some similitude with the inuisible and spiritual things And so farre as naturall things may set foorth heauenlie matters doe perfectly describe before our eies the nature and propertie of them Therefore doth the spirite appeare in the fourme of firie tongues and with a sound that thereby the two principall senses of man might bee mooued namely his hearing and seeing for the sound toucheth the eares and the fire mooueth the sight Like as Christ also in the supper with bread and wine to mooue the outward senses of man thought to represent his body and bloud For by bread is signified vnto vs the true body of Christ which died for vs vppon the crosse and by wine the bloud that was shed for our sinnes which true flesh and bloud they that beleeue doe at the supper eate and drinke through faith By the which foode and sustenance their soules are vpholden to the gratious and eternal life Thus with exterior tokens it pleased the wisedom of God to guide the outward senses of his Disciples into the obedience of faith and vnder the same to signifie and declare the strength operation of the holie Ghost For like as the winde bloweth through the whole earth piercing moouing and altering all priuie and secrete places Euen so the spirit of God goeth through all things searching all secret corners and inward mindes of men Mightily also hee woorketh in mens hearts kindling and chaunging them He is the cleare pure and hote fire that consumeth all filthines of sinne inspiring mens harts and drawing them vpward to God Without this spirit may a man worke no fruitfull thing yea thinke no good thing For man is nothing but flesh neither considereth hee of himselfe ought that is spirituall or godly but onely carnall thinges Forasmuch now as the wisest most gratious God knoweth this so to bee whereas hee hath made man his creature to haue fruition of himselfe he wil not suffer him to corrupt in the flesh but giue him his owne holie spirite God the father through Christ his eternal word did shape man out of the mould of the earth created him after his owne similitude and liâ—â—nes Now is God a spirite therefore the image of God in man must needs be spirituall which image in the inward man is such a thing as partly dooth expresse and declare God that created him But when man being deceiued through the deuil fell into sinne and lost this image then the proportion of Gods pure spirite in whome his image was printed was defaced and the image of God lost his beautie So that the noble man who at the first was of God so faire and goodly fashioned and beautified in the similitude of