that his very bones might be told and lots should be cast for his garment Is not this Jesus whose doctrine I preach unto you This is the Master whom David invites us to hear speaking in the person of God To day if you hear his voice harden not your hearts as your Fore-fathers have done in the desart where I was made angry against those who durst distrust my power and censure all my workes for the space of forty yeares Their infidelity shall not go unpunished I will make them know that I can revenge my self in my wrath I sweare they shall not enter into the place of rest which I had prepared for them Behold dreadfull words and you will doe well to be warned by their loss lest you be excluded also from that place of repose which is offered to you As it availed them little to give ear to the relation of those who returned from the land of Promise and informed them of the true state of it because they would not believe what was said so it is not enough to heare the Gospel preached it must be received humbly to the end you may obtaine by faith the fruition of that repose which is spoken of in the passage I alledged It cannot be that repose which God assumed after he had made the world that being no other thing then a cessation from work nor is it likewise the repose of the Sabbath whose institution was before the birth of David In summe it is not that repose which our Fathers tasted in the Land whereinto they were led by Ioshua for that long since is past therefore it must needs be that the Psalmist speaks of another repose more holy a Sabbath more excellent which appertains to the people of God and in which the Just do eternally repose from all their labours as formerly our Lord did repose the seventh day from all his works Moyses could not bring us into that place where this divine Sabbath is celebrated Jesus Christ entred there the first to open it to those who should receive his doctrine This is the Priest deserving adoration who to purifie heaven and earth and to reconcile man to God has not not made use of the bloud of goats and bulls but of his owne which he has shed to the last drop upon the Altar of the Cross The high Priest of the Law was obliged to offer Sacrifices for his own sins as well as those of the People Jesus Christ is the Sovereign high Priest pure holy unpolluted uncapable of any spot consequently needs not offer any victime for himself he hath not received his Priest-hood by way of a carnall birth and succession as the Priests according to Aaron did but hee has been established eternal Priest according to the order of Melchisedec as we learn by those words of the Psalmist which you confess are to be understood of the Messias Our Lord hath sworne thou art an eternal Priest according to the order of Melchisedec If the Levitical Priest-hood which the people received together with the Law guided to perfection that is to say gave true Justice what need was there that another Priest should come according to the order of Melchisedec and if the Priest-hood be transferred it then follows that the Law is also changed because these two things are inseparably linked together Now that there has been a translation of the Priest-hood 't is not to be doubted since he of whom that passage I alledged speaks was of the Tribe of Iuda and not of Levi out of which Moyses ordained that the Priests should be chosen Observe also that the Leviticall Priest-hood was not established by oath as is that which I treat and this circumstance shewes the sanctity and immutability of that thing unto which God has pleased to unite it There were to be many Priests according to the order of Aaron because they were mortal But the Priest-hood of Jesus Christ is eternall as well as himself he has alwaies power to guide those to eternall salvation who believe in him He is alwaies in the functions of his Priesthood that is to say in continual oblation of himself to God and in prayer without intermission for hee that sayes Eternal Priest sayes also Eternal Oblation The Levitical Priests stood during the exercise of their Functions Jesus Christ having once offered the Hoast of his body is seated at the right hand of God according to the words of the Psalmist The Lord said to my Lord Take thy place till I have put thy enemies under my feet Be not you of that number my deare Brethren you that are descended from Abraham the Father of the Faithfull you whose Ancestours have been so holy you to whom those promises were made and for whom Jesus Christ principally came doe not permit strangers to carry away the benediction due to lawful children and having hitherto born the heavy yoke of Moyses doe not fear now to submit your selvs to that of Jesus Christ which is so light and pleasing And in this you will even obey Moyses by whom as you know God promised That after many ages hee would raise a Prophet of your Nation to whom hee would have you attend as to himself The Apostle spake much after this manner his discourse raised great Disputes amongst his Auditours some blaming what others approved some believing others continuing obstinate S. Paul finding hee could gaine little upon them hee told them freely I know well that ye will fulfill the prophesie of Esay to whom God spake in these tearms Goe to the Children of Israel and tell them You shall hear with your ears but shall not understand with your mindes you shall see with the eyes of the body but not with those of the soule for the heart of this people is suffocated with fat they have heard with their ears against their wills being incensed have shut their eyes for feare they should see by their eyes take in by their eares consent by their hearts and wills and so work their conversion and their cure The incredulous Jewes were extreamly offended at these words and more which he added viz. That the news of salvation should be carried to the Gentiles who would imbrace it This discourse gave occasion of much dispute to the Audience who not being able to come to an agreement every one returned home possessed with different thoughts and opinions Hitherto we have proceeded securely following the steps of Saint Luke who ends here his story and leaves the Apostle in the Confusion of Rome where he saies he remained two years and during that time preached the Doctrine of Jesus Christ without any let Receiving with freedome all those who came to see him Hence what concerns the rest of his life we know little yet I will endeavour to ground what I shall adde more of this Subject either upon certaine traditions or from his owne Epistles In the second Epistle which he writes to Tymothy his dear
might take them all and he exhorted himself to use nothing of mercy either to old or young to whom even the most barbarous are wont to shew some compassion and pitty He was entring into the thirty third year of his age and the heat of his youth joyned with the temper of his minde and zeal of Religion easily transported him to resolutions that were extream He was neer to Damasco when an extraordinary light comming from Heaven and invironing him he was thrown downe to the earth and heard a voice that said to him Saul Saul why dost thou persecute me Jesus Christ was uncapable of suffering persecution in his person but he suffered it in his members that were so strictly united to him as he reputed all injuries done unto them done unto his own person This persecutor being affrighted answered Lord who art thou I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou dost persecute continued the voice and it is in vain for thee to kick against the pricks Then Saul astonished trembling and out of himself cryed Lord what wilt thou that I doe It was answered him Rise up and goe into the City and there I will make known to thee what thou oughtest to doe Those who accompanied him were wonderfully astonished at this conference For they heard the sound of a voice but could not distinguish the words nor saw they any body Saul rising up found himself blind The brightness of Heaven had exteriourly blinded him but his soul was delivered from his former darkness and this glorious blinde man shall appear ere long one of the bright Stars of the Church He enquired not what should become of him but made an humble Sacrifice of himself to him whom but a moment before he had persecuted His Conversion was sudden and compleat and so it shall continue to his death He was led by the hand into the City of Damascus where he was three dayes and three nights without eating or drinking but not without receiving the nourishment of heavenly consolations and those great verities whereof he was to be the Apostle Here humane prudence is at a stand that God should choose him a Preacher of faith who but a little before was so furious an enemy to it But the wisedome of heaven wonderfully shewes it self in this conduct for by this appears the efficacy of the grace of Jesus Christ which can soften a heart thus hardened without infringing our liberty and of a mortal adversary make him his most faithful couragious Champion He was to be the Doctor of this new grace necessary to the state of corrupted nature He was to heal the infirmity of the will captivated to concupiscence and rectifie the ignorance of the understanding And how could he better conceive the necessary and efficacy of this celestial remedy then by his own experience Certainly he who had so long time before the heavy yoak of the Law and having his inclinations so contrary to the faith of Christ had yet received it by a meanes so extraordinary whereby the Soule was illuminated and the heart so suddenly mollified so strongly and yet nevertheless so gently could not beleeve that man had the cheifest part in his own conversion and that grace was not a slave to the will but rather a gentle and amorous Mistress which prevents fortifies moves and makes the Soule active He was far from imagining there was any merit in him in order to his election and therefore he might with more efficacy announce unto the Jewes That the works of the Law did not render them worthy to receive the Gospel and to the Gentiles likewise If they were called that it was out of the meer choice and pure goodness of God He was to labour in the conversion of sinners and God to shew him that he must deale mildly and sweetly with them made choise of him even when he was guilty of the greatest sin that man could commit Before for the same reason he had established Saint Peter Head of the Church after he had thrice denyed him Ananias a Priest of very great piety governed then the Infant Church of Damasco Jesus Christ by apparition commanded him to goe into the house of one Jude and told him the street where he should finde a man named Saul borne at Tarsis who was earnest in prayer Ananias astonished took the boldness to answer him in a manner which shewed he was accustomed to the like Visions Saying Lord I have understood from divers persons of the great harm this man hath done to your Church and now he is here in this place with commissions to apprehend all those who invocate thy name Fear nothing answered the Son of God he is no more a persecutor but a vessel of election and an instrument by whom I will work great wonders I have chosen him to announce my doctrine to Nations and to Princes without fearing the fury of one or the power of the other He shall preach to the Children of Israel those truths which he hath endeavoured to abolish and I will let him know what he is to suffer for my name Ananias replying no more went presently and obeyed He found this new Convert and approaching to him laid his hands upon his head saying Saul my dear Brother the Lord Jesus who appeared himself unto you on the way to Damascus that you may see how dear to him your salvation is has sent me to you to the end that in his name you should recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost that you may afterwards pour it forth upon others and acquit your self of the Ministery to which he hath ordained you Immediatly the Scales which covered the eyes of Saul fell from them and he saw as he did before and at the same instant of this miracle he was baptized and received it with such disposition of minde as we may imagine to be in one whose Conversion was so extraordinary and whom Jesus Christ himself took the pains to instruct For Ananias did neither Catechise him nor send him to the Apostles to be Catechised knowing well that he who had drawn him out of the darkness of the Law would have him immediately to receive from him the Heavenly Doctrine of the Gospel as being particularly his Apostle He issued from the water of Baptisme not onely pure but full of courage And unwilling to lose one hour of time without imploying it to the honour of his new Master he began his Function going into the Synagogues and there teaching that Jesus Christ was the Son of God His condition his Doctrine the fame which was spread amongst the Jewes of his zeal for the Law and the designe upon which he came to Damascus made them at the first to hear him with great attention But when he was heard to speak of Christ crucified as of the Messias it was strange to see the astonishment amongst his Audience they could hardly beleive their own eares What said they this man who does now
that is his Church and consequently deprived of the food which he has prepared to nourish his Spouse during her Pilgrimage and if they eat it they shall eat their judgement the body of Jesus Christ shall enter into their breasts and there engrave in characters undeleble the arrest of their death and whilest they think to receive a pledge of their salvation it shall prove the assurance of their damnation For they will be not onely guilty persons but persons already condemned and adjudged to death and the separation of them from the Elect shall be justly grounded upon the litle distinction they made of the body and bloud of the Sonne of God taking ordinary meat with more care and circumspection Alas there are but too many who are guilty of this Sacriledge Men know them not but they cannot lye hid from God who reads their most secret thoughts and sees clearly the evil dispositions of their carnal soules We see young men perish in the flower of their age we behold strong and lusty men fall into languishing diseases of which we know not the cause Suddain death dayly takes away divers persons who in respect of their age and health might have promised themselves a long life These accidents are ordinarily attributed to natural causes but beleeve it 't is a secret punishment for the profanation of the body of Jesus Christ Therefore judge your selves to the end you be not judged Yet be not seized with so great a fear as to hinder you from approaching to him who is as wel bread to strengthen the weak and fraile as to nourish the strong and is a medicine as well as food Eat dayly of this bread but then let your life correspond with your food and as the one is heavenly let not the other savour of the corruption of the Earth As you eat of the same bread and drink of the same cup at the Table of your Father so let there be a perfect union in your desires and in your thoughts as to be one thing This bread which is made of many graines of corn and the wine which is drawne from many grapes teach you to unite your hearts by charity You must be to one another as one bread by an amorous communication of your gifts either spiritual or temporal that all shadow of division even of singularity may be banished from the Church Goe on then my dear Brethren in such a manner as may answer the Sanctity of your name and vocation You are called Christians and this name shewes your Royal Unction and Priesthood together You are of that Kingly Stock doe not then make your selves slaves of sinne which is the most infamous and cruel Master you can choose You are Priests therefore cloath your selves with justice Offer your selves to God as a holy Host immaculate by Jesus Christ our Lord who is the Eternal Priest by whom and in whom our oblations are made acceptable to the heavenly Father I behold here persons of all conditions and therefore I will briefly set down some rules how to performe the duty of Christians Husbands and Wives I would have you know that marriage which has joyned you together is a great Sacrament in Jesus Christ and his Church It represents the adorable union of the heavenly Espouse and this Chaste Bride whom he has purified from all uncleanness by the word of life so that she who before was black and soyled in the time of her disorders now appears more white then Lilies without any spot or wrinckle to dishonour her He has not onely expressed his love to her by these favours but also given his life for her and made his bloud the Seale of his love Therefore love your Wives after this model and consider their bodies as a thing that is yours and consequently ought to be the subject of your care But as the love which Jesus Christ beares to his Church is pure so let the love which you bear to the companions of your bed be likewise pure As Jesus Christ beares with the frailties of his Church so you must bear the infirmites of those whose Sex being more fraile is more excusable and may better claim to be supported when you love them you love your selves for marriage makes that you are two in one flesh Wives be you subject to your husbands as to those who hold the place of our Lord over you they are your heads as Jesus Christ is head of the Church The head conducts the rest of the body take them therefore for the guides of your life and repose more trust in their conduct then in that of your own reason As the Church is subject to the will of Jesus Christ be you obedient to the wills of your husbands never give them any cause of anger nor occasion to distrust you Think not of pleasing any but them to that end adorn your selves modestly as Sarah did and those holy women in times past who were so carefull of gaining the hearts of their husbands as they called them their Lords and were much more carefull in the adorning of their souls then bodies Curled hair with affectation your costly Jewels garments of gold and silver and other dressings of vanity by which you desire to draw the eies of others upon you are unworthy of a Christian wife and indeed in stead of setting her forth renders her deformed Fathers and Mothers breed your Children in the fear of our Lord Suffer them not in your presence to offend him unto whom they appertain more then to your selves and for whose service you ought to bring them up Be carefull rather to make them good then rich and breed them rather for heaven then the earth Never provoke them to anger nor make them despair by holding too vigorous a hand over them but rather use indulgence towards them to reduce them to reason if they fly out Children obey your Fathers and Mothers the observance of this command for your encouragement is recompenced with the promise of a long life The honour which you give them returns to God who is the fountain of all Paternity both in heaven and earth Bear with their froward humors shun all occasions of displeasing them and assuredly believe you can never acquit your selves of the obligations you owe in duty to them You that are servants respect your Masters with a sincere and upright heart and believe that in serving them as you ought you serve Jesus Christ Do not render them service only when they look upon you for hope of reward or fear of punishment but do it in conformity to the faith and religion you profess Consider your selves as Servants of our Lord for the love of whom you serve men whose providence you ought to adore that has put you in that condition Think not of freeing your selves of that bondage but to use it well and to make it voluntary Expect from him the rewards due to your service your fidelity and diligence with love and