Dost thou loue mee Peter Feede my flocke Dost thou loue me Peter Feede my Lambes c. Who though hee answered him to both his questions with Lorde thou knowest I loue thee yet hee treabled his question againe asking him Dost thou loue mee Peter And when hee had receiued his answere that Lorde thou knowest all thinges and thou knowest I loue thee Hee gaue him this commandement Feed my Lambs nowe if wee bee Lambes of Christes flocke where shall wee looke for the milke of his mercie but out of the booke of his most holy and sacred Scriptures who can interprete them vnto vs But his learned and holy Ministers and such as will shewe Christe their loue in instructing his flocke Such a Disciple was Peter and such a Lambe was Mary God sende vs many such Lambs as Mary to run to such Disciples as Peter to talke of nothing but Christ. Now the other was hee whom my Text sayth Iesus loued and Christ beâ—â—ng hir loue of whome shoulde sheâ— better enquire after him than oâ— his beloued See then what is the cause that first leads vs vnto Christ Loue How shall we seeke him but goe to his Ministers for our instruction who by the true administration of his holy Worde doo manifest themselues to bee the beloued of his Mercie Learne then of Mary when to seeke Christe the first day of the weeke in the beginning of our daies then thorough the darkenes of sinne to breake out into the day light of Grace then where to seeke him in his Tombe if there you finde him not runne to his Disciples to enquire for him and to which of them those that by the discharge of their dueties are most likely to be his beloued and thus if you will bee guided by the line of hir loue I doo not doubt but you shall come to hir comsort which as hirs was let ours bee in the onely sight of our most blessed Sauiour sweete Iesus Christ the light that will leade vs through the darke the life that will raise vs vp from death and the loue that will giue vs life for euer to whome in his Redeemer in his holy spirite our comforter and all in one our Lorde King and euerliuing almighty GOD bee ascribed and giuen all Honour Prayse Dominion and Glory both nowe and for euer Amen Mary Magdalens Loue. Vppon the foure fiue sixe seauen and eighth verses which are as followeth The Text. Peter therefore went foorth and the other Disciple and they came vnto the Sepulcher So they ranne both but the other Disciple did outrâ—nne Peter and came first to the Sepulcher And hee stooped downe but went not in then came Simon Peter following him and sawe the linnen cloathes lie and the kerchiefe that was vpon his head c. Then went in also the other Disciple which came first and saw and belâ—eued IN these verses I note foure chiefe pointes to be considered the cause of their going forth the cause of their running why the other Disciple outranne Peter the cause why comming first to the Sepulcher hee stooped downe but went not in Peter therefore went forth and the other Disciple and came to the Sepulcher When Mariâ— had told them what shee had seene it is not said they presently beleeued but they went forth For though shee told a truth yet they would see theÌ„ beleeue for it is said they went forth and came to the sepulcher It should seeme and very likelye that they had some remembrance of Christes wordes spoken before vnto them touching his passion resurrection the third daye and therefore conferring their memories with her wordes they were the readier to goe forth to try the truth of her report Nowe Mary being a woman and so great a sinner as she had bin it was likely she should not obtaine any great credite with the Disciples of Christe But Truth in whose mouth soeuer it be deserues well to bee entertained and nowe the Disciples not hauing any knowledge to the contrarie woulde not sticke at a little trauaile to try the truth of her speech and therefore it is said they went forth You see here she was not blamed for her reporte nor doe wee finde as yet shee was beleeued but only approued so that hereby we are to learne what to report and alwaies to tel truth and to trie out a truth ere we giue credite to a report but if the talke be of Christ and the reporte from the faithfull and that conferring it with the Scriptures we finde any likelyhood of truth wee must not regard who it be man or woman but goe with them for their comfort to the triall of their cause It should seeme now they heard it of none but of Mary for as it is saide of none but of Marie that came earlie to the Sepulcher and from thence ranne to the Disciples and told them what she had seene so it is not like that she had told anie but the Disciples for if shee had some or other would haue beene with the Disciples before her or els haue beene at the Sepulcher before shee had reâ—ained with theÌ„ â—ut the Disciples not hearing of it by any other as I said before calling to memorie some of Christes speeches deliuered vnto them before to trie out the truth they went forth and came to the Sepulcher Nowe here is neyther a beleefe nor distrust a reprehension nor commendation but a proofe and of whome a woman and in what of a truth touching the resurrection or at least as shee thought of the remoouing of Christ But of that I meane God-willing to intreate more hereafter but to my Text Peter therefore went forth and the other Disciples and came to the Sepulcher What an encounter argumeÌ„t may this be to all men women to tell truth when the Disciples of Christ vpon the report of Mary would go forth with hir not return till they cam to the sepulcher we read that Ananias his wife wer both stroken dead for denying of their and lying to the Disciples of Christ yet here we see Mary for telling of a truth accompanied with the Disciples vnto the graue of Christ learne therefore how dangerous a thing it is to lie vnto the Disciples of Christ especially in naming of Christ the God of all truth and how gratious a thing it is in man or woman to come to the Disciples with a truth or to enquire of any truth touching Christ thus much touching the cause of the Disciples goinâ— forth and comming to the Sepulcher Now is it saide here they ran both but the other Disciple out ran Peter a light beleefe will make many men and women to runne them selues out of breath to see a May game a Beare-bayting or a bauble not worth the loâ—king after but heere was no such report and therefore coulde bee no such beleefe and therefore woulde to God the idle heades of the world would turne their mindes to better matters leaue such toyes
that hee beleeued not at all but that his faith was not yet of that force that Peters was For Peter knowing the Sea woulde not swallowe him when he threwe himselfe into it to come to Christ liuing had now no fear that the earth would shut her mouth vpon him for going in where he had beene buried And therefore boldly he went in and then went in also the other Disciple who saw it and beleeued Heere will I onely trouble you with one note more touching faith you see howe loue brought Mary early in the morning while it was yet darke to the Sepulcher made her runne to the Disciples to tell what she had seene made the Disciples to runne to make tryall of the truth and last made Iohn to outrunne Peter in the race to the Sepulcher but where al this while was faith weake in Mary by reason of her sinnes weake in Iohn by reason of his youth but strong in Peter by reason of his comfort so are there no doubte nowe a daies many that are forward and zealous in Religion that yet doo lacke that strength of faith that Peter had for though a number perhaps would runne with Mary to his Sepulcher to his Disciples to talke of him yet who will venter to go into his graue or will throw himselfe into the Sea in Loue to come to him as Peter did Now it followes they saw and beleeued and why nowe more than before is it said they sawe and beleeued because as yet they knewe not the Scriptures that hee must rise againe from the dead Lo here is a good excuse for the weakenesse of their faith but what excuse can bee laide downe for vs nay what shame is it for vs that hauing the testimonye of their truth seene by them and written by them to vs and for vs that wee will not reade the holie Scriptures or reading so little beleeue them or beleeuing so little regarde them that wee maye iustlie bee saide to bee without eyther faith or loue eyther to seeke or finde Christ or almost to heare or thinke of him eyther in his woorde his Sepulcher or his mercie but God for his mercy sake turn our harts and inspire our soules with the gratious power of his glorious holy spirit that running from the sincke of sin we may come to the sepulcher of Christ and that with Maries sorrow Iohns loue Peters faith we may rise earlie in the prime of our yeares and through the darke of sinne breake out into the day light of grace that maie bring vs to the fight of our soules comfort in the resurrection of our blessed Sauiour to whome nowe sitting at the right hand of God in all absolute power wisedome peace grace and mercie truth bountie loue life and glory with our heauenly Father and his holie spirite one Almightie and euerliuing God bee ascribed and giuen all due honor praise dominion and glorie both now and for euer Amen The Text. And the Disciples went againe to their owne home but Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping as she wept she bowed herselfe into the Sepulcher and saw two Angels sitting one at the head the other at the feete where the bodie of Iesus had laine and they said vnto her woman why weepest thou She saide vnto them they haue taken away my Lord I know not where they haue laide him when she had thus said shee turned her selfe backe and sawe Iesus standing and knew not that it was Iesus Iesus saith vnto hir woman why weepest thou whom seekest thou She supposing it had bin the gardner said vnto him If thou hast borne him hence tell me where thou hast laid him and I will take him away Iesus saith vnto her Mary she turned her selfe and saith vnto him Rabony which is to say Master DEarelie beloued in our Sauiour Christ yee haue hearde before of the Disciples comming to the Sepulcher with Mary yee haue heard of Iohns outrunning of Peter and of Peters first going in into the Sepulcher yee haue I hope noted the fruites of faith and loue in the elect children of God in briefe to seeke Christ either aliue or dead that learning to die with him wee may bee assured to liue with him Now ye see what is here said The Disciples went home againe when they had tried the truth of her report and that their eyes were witnes of more than Mary had yet in her wordes deliuerd for that she had not yet presumed either to goe in or so much as to looke in into the Sepulcher they returned home without hauing further conference with her rather willing to leaue her mourning for her loue than to fill her head full of doubts what might become of hir Lord and therefore it is said they returned to their owne home neither commending her for her truth nor giuing her thankes for her report shee had made nor aduising her to seeke further aâ—ter him nor counsayling her to staye there longer for him but beeing them selues ignoraunt where to seeke him they left her to Gods pleasure to dispose eyther of her staie there or her departure from thence by this I gather that if we shall enquire of the ministers of Gods holy worde touching anye such point as in the holie Scriptures is not laid downe wee must not take it amisse if we be left vnto the mercie of Gods holie spirit for the reuelation of his holy will rather than to â—â—ll our heades with such cogitations as neyther the scriptures doe warrant may perhappes please God nor fall out to our comfort but yet let vs with Mary go to the Disciples of Christ to enquire and learne of them what wee may for our comforte but if we can not be resolued then let vs run to Christ with incessant praier that wee may aske and receiue at the handes of his mercie that he shall in his sacred wisdome finde to bee most to his glorie and our comfort And thus much of the Disciples returning againe to their own home now it followes but Marie stood without at the sepulcher weeping as she wept she bowed her selfe into the sepulcher See here as I haue saide before three excellent notes to bee obserued in the loue of Mary to her Lord Christ Constancie Modestie and Humilâ—â—ie Constancie in that though the Disciples returned home shee stayed still Modestie in that she stood as it is saide without at the Sepulcher Humilitie that shee bowed her selfe to looke in but would not presume to goe in though the Disciples had beene there before her how little is this first part of commendation in Maries loue at these daies followed Let them to whom God hath giuen Grace to finde it in them selues in sorrowfull sighes consesse it to his mercie and with teares of true repentance amend it to his Glorie Oh Constancie the true Testimonie of the harts loue and the suerest token of the soules comforte to loue Christ is a blessed gift of the holy Ghost
all Ages I would be loath to spend time in recounting their names which truly set downe might make a Cathalogue of worthy memorie but I speake to all beloued men women thinke it no scorne to follow Marie in her early rising to seeke Christ for to rise early is holsome for the bodie to walke to Christ is comfortable to the soule suche exercise is better than any physick such a trauail brings the best rest Now Mary came early in the morning while it was yet darke surely sin dooth much darken our eyes that wee cannot see the way to Christ yet repentaunce gaue Mary such a light that shee found the way to his sepulchre and surelye wee must haue our lampes fedde with the oylâ— of her Lords grace or we shall neuer finde the way to her soules comfort when Peeter and Iames were taken vp into the heauens saw Christ in his glory standing betwixt Moses and Eliah he could say Heer is good beeing Lord but after hee was crucified who sought him at his sepulchre Mary Many would perhaps bee glad to rise earely to go vp to heauen to him but who will goe thorough the darke to seeke him at his graue Mary did and such as Mary will Oh blessed Mary so may I well tearme thee for as the Psalmist saith in his Psalme Blessed are they that seeke him with their whole heart in that was she surely blessed for shee sought him with her whole heart by the light of her soules loue orels being in the dark she woulde haue hardlye hitte the way but now where sought she him at his sepulchre where he was buryed see heer the â—trong effects of loue liuing or dead shee could not forget her Lord dead she saw him buryed shee knewe hee was why did she then seek for him loue could not forget him sorrowing to liue without him aliue or dead she wold be glad to se him Now stil note the force of loue in the elect A woman in nature feareful was now valiant the darknes vncomfortable shee thorow the dark sought her comfort and amongst the graues of the dead sought the comfort of her life here was loue voide of feare and faith void of doubt broght a spiritful of sorrowe to seeke her light in the darke and Mary full of griefe to seeke her Lord in his graue Now Mary came early while it was darke the first day of the weeke vnto the Sepulcher Manie will rise earely to looke to their Chickens their Geese their Duckes their Swine or such other things but al things must be looked ouer ere Christ be thought vpon and perhappes not then neyther But as it is written in Luke Chap. 10 vers 41.42 Martha was troubled much about her worke but Mary tooke the good parte so manye take earely iournies but Mary here made the good walke Now though she came to seeke him where hee was buried yet in hir hart she beheld him crucified for who sees not his death in the sorrow of his hart I am perswaded shall neuer find him liuing in the ioy of his soule But he was crucified for Maries and our redemption and shall not wee with Mary mourne for his Passion Yes let vs with Maries loue looke into his Mercie and following hir sorrow wee shall finde hir comfort and though not at the first as wee wish yet at the last as she did For if we watch the darke night of sin that wee sleepe not in sensualitie but rise early to repentance and walke with a true faith to the finding of our soules felicitie when we haue gone thorough the dark and attended the day wee shall see the stone rowled away and somewhat lest for our comforte when the hardnes is rowled from our hearts we shall enioy the blessing of our soules Which that we may the better attaine vnto let vs watch with Mary walke with Mary and weepe with Mary rise early goe thorough the darke and come to the Sepulcher to seeke Christ in his graue ere wee looke for him in his glorie and though it bee long ere wee see his Person yet shall wee quickly be partakers of hir comforte For shee as you shall hereaâ—â—â—r heare Godwilling sawe him buâ— knewe him not so shall wee bee sure of his Mercy though we see him not Will you then come to Christ Learne to imitate Mary in hir course Who hath many sinnes and findeth much remission let his loue bee great and his sorrowe not little to lacke the comforte of his loue Christ is offended Christ must forgiue Christ must be loued Christ must be sought and that early for feare wee come too late and since wee cannot behold him with our eyes of corruption let vs holde him in the heart of our regeneration let the first day of the weeke be the first beginning of our youth lest when wee growe olde either our spirites be so dull or our eyes so dimme that we shall not be able to rise or at least to walke to seeke Christ Christ dwels a great way from the worlde and â—ee that is ouerladen with sinne must shake off his burthen or hee will neuer come at heauen and hee or shee that will not in the sorrow of their sinnes rise vp to repentance and in Christ his Passion learne the power of Mortification they may perhaps heare much of him and pray much to him but I doubt whether they shall euer come neere him Learne then of Mary whom to loue Christ Why for his goodnes in forgiuenes of hir sins the feeling of his Mercy then louing Christ learne hir sorrowe to bee without him with hir sorrowe hir labour to rise early to seeke him the place where to finde him at his Sepulchre I meane in the Mortification of the flesh that you may glorifie him in the spirite who in forgiuenes of sinnes and redemptioâ— of sinners in comforting the penitent and blessing the faithfull in the perfection of loue deserueth all honour to whome sweete Iesu the blessed sonne of the euerliuing God with our heauenly father and the holy Ghost bee all Glory Honour and Prayse both now and euer Amen Mary Magdalens Loue. Vppon the seconde verse which is as followeth The Text. Then shee ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other Disciple whom Iesus loued and said vnto them they haue taken away my Lorde out of the Sepulcher and we know not where they haue laid him IN this Verse I take foure especiall notes First hir running then to whom shee ranne then how shee spake and last what shee said In the former verse it is said she came to the Sepulcher nowe in this verse it is said shee ranne from the Sepulcher Shee came thorough the darke to seeke Christ in his deade Tombe but nowe it is day shee beginnes to runne to his Disciples to tell what shee had seene hoping perhaps of them to heare somewhat of â—im Seâ— here a notable token of true Constancie in her lâ—â—e through
the staires the sunne the moone the Sâ—ye Were made for man to make him looke on high All these were made out of the mould of loue Was neuer louâ— came euer neeâ—e to this Which dâ—th â— wonder in affection prâ—uâ— Euen when we leaâ— dâ—sâ—rude that lâ—uâ— of his For when our soules did most offences doo him He came himselfe in loue to caâ—l vs to him To make redeeme preseruâ— defend and cheriâ—h His faithfull â—ouâ—es and so in loue to nourish 〈◊〉 in his loue their liueâ— shall nâ—uâ—r pâ—riâ—h But like the Lilly liue and euer flouriâ—â— Are these not points sufficient to approue The true perfection of a piereles louâ— Yet more to say that truely may be sayd In humble honour of thâ—s hâ—auenly loue In mercies sweete to mâ—ke the soule diâ—mayde To see the blessing of thiâ— God aboue The louing spirit liuely to refresh He let his seruants see him in the flesh To see him so as might not hurt their sight For none migâ—t see his high supernall power But in his loue tâ— see that glorious light That gaines that sweete that cuts off euâ—ry sower The second person of himselfe his sonne In whom are all things to his glory done And see the câ—use why so he came vnto vâ— â—is onely loue the onely cause wee liue And when we came what comfort did he doe vs To saue our liues his loue his life did giue And so to sâ—ue vs from the fire of hell That with his loue we might for euer dwell What loue was this to leaue his heauenly seate Amoâ—g his angeâ—s all in glorie serued To câ—me to mâ—n who diâ— too ill intreate The sacred loue that hath his life preâ—â—ruâ—d From being honourde praisde and gloriâ—ide To be disgraced whipte and crucifide In loue â—e lâ—st â—is highâ—st heauenly pleasures Aboue his angels in their â—eapâ— of ioyâ—s To liue on earth in soâ—rowes â—ut of mâ—aâ—ures With chaunge of nothing but the worlds annoyes In toyle and trauailâ— long in loue he sâ—ught vs And wâ—th his death at last full dearely bâ—ught vs. Oh wofull trauaile that he vndertooke To bring our liues vnto his sacred loue Which paine nor crosse nor death it selfe forsooke That to our faith might his affection proue Which lâ—fâ— the spirite of his loue beâ—inde him To â—hew the loue that seekes him how to finde him In loue hâ— came that he might comfort doe vs In loue went from vs to prouide our places In loue he sent his comforter vnto vs In loue he guides vs with his holy graces In loue he made bought keepes and guides vs thus And shall not we loue him that â—o loude vs. Yes my deare Lord be thou my dearest loue For Christ his sake let my soule neuer leâ—ue thee Who in thy loue thy liuing truth doth proue That mâ—kes me finde the world doth all decâ—iue me â—nd were there truth on earth as there is none Yet were thy loue the ioy of life alone And lâ—t these tâ—ares be witnes of my loue Which first doo begge remission of my sinne â—nd in râ—pentance doo but mercy moue To ope the gates of grace and lâ—t me in Where humble faith but at thy feete may fall With my soules seruice loue and life and all Fâ—rget O Lord my workes of wickednes Whereby my soule with sorrow is oppressed And with the finger of thy holineâ— In mercy touch my spirit so distressed And saue my life that draweth nigh to hell Loue me a little and I shall be wâ—ll Loue no sweete Lord mercy I craue no more My sinnes are such I dare not speake of loue But in thy merâ—y to thy loue restore My hâ—mble faith that may but mercy proue And 〈◊〉 â—ppâ—â—ue that all the world may see The 〈◊〉 loue betwiâ—t my God and mee Oh call me home and make me heare thy call And heare thee so that I may runne vnto thee And hold me fast that I may neuer fall But that my soule may euer â—â—ruice doo thee Shew some good token that the world may know My soule is blest whom thou hast loued so And while I liue here in this wretched vale Of fearefull danger of inâ—ernall death Where earthly pleasures take those soules to sale Which haue their bargaiâ—e in the hâ—ll beneath Let my soules loue and lifâ— and labour bee To seeke my ioy my loue and life in thee Make me not rich lest I forget to thinke From whence I haue the comfort of my hart Nor in such want let thy poore seruant sinke That I be driuen to craue the needy part Giue me but meanes the needy to relieue To feede thy flocke and not the Wolfe to grieue Let me not listen to the sinners songes â—ut to the Psalmes thy holy saints doe sing Nor let me follow tyrants in their wronges But kisse the rocke where righteousnes doth spring Let not mine eye affect the outward part But let me loue the vertue of the hart And let my life be to behold thy loue And let my loue be but to liue in thee And so to liue that all the world may prâ—ue The gratiâ—us good my God hath done for mee To call my soule out of this world of woe In faithfull loue to serue my Sauiour so And when they see the blot of all their blame To loue the worlde but all in wretched toyes And doe confes with inward blushing shame They are but sorrowes vnto heauenlie ioyes They may with me forsake all wordly pleasure And make thy loue an euerlasting treasure For Lord by thee we are in thee we liue And in thy loue the liuing cannot die And since thy death did our liues wholy giue For thy loues sake shall we affection â—lie No my deare Lord let life be death to me So I may die to liue in loue with thee A ioyfull life were such a death indeede From earthly paine to passe to heauenly pleasure A ioyfull line for louing hearts to reade To leaue the flesh to take the spirits treasure Whose glorious sence vnto the sunne doth fall That all is nothing to that all in all And I alas of many thousand soules Vnworthie most of his high worth to write Who in his mercies true record inrowles The louing substance of the soules delight Must mercie crie for scare my loues presuming Of too high sence may be my souls consuming And with the teares of true repentant loue Looking vpon the wonders of that woâ—der That 〈…〉 pâ—â—fection may appâ—oue The 〈◊〉 â—isedâ— me of the world put vnder 〈…〉 wit as short to pâ—nâ—e his praise As 〈◊〉 nâ—ghts in light of clearest dayes And say but this in grace and glories height Wheâ—â— vertue loue doth liue fâ—r â—uer crowned Aâ—d all the Hoaâ—â— of heauen and heauens await Vppon the highe◠〈◊〉 the heauâ—â—s râ—nowned Whom Saiâ—ts and Angelâ— tâ—eâ—blâ—ng doo adore To him alone be all praise câ—eâ—more All honour pâ—aise and glory euer bee Vnto my â—ouing euerlâ—uing King This king of life who â—o hath lâ—ued mee To giue my soule thiâ— gratiouâ— power to sing In hart and mind in man and â—ngels loue All gloâ—ious glory be to God aboue FINIS Nicholas Britten