for his owne glorie then for the benefite of man Of the waters God created the great Whales euery thing liuing and mouing which the waters brought forth in abundāce according to their kinde euery fethered foule according to his kinde God saw al that he had made and lo it was very good and al these things were made as good for the necessitie of man God made these creatures for man yea he made them blissed for man saying bring forth fruite multiplie Now when God had thus prouided all things to mans hand set them in so blissed estate then came the course of our creation then he said let vs make man how after what forme in what moulde was he cast In our Image saith the almightie according to our owne likenesse not as other his creatures therfore that this high point of Gods loue might with the déeper consideration enter our harts Moyses repeateth it double Thus God created man in his image in the image of God created he him neyther did he make him sole and comfortlesse but male and female created he them neither when he had made man straight he cast him of set him as it wer a grasing with other his creatures so taking no further care of him but without long delay he gaue him his heauenly blessing he made him a souereigne and a ruler ouer all other his creatures and streight gaue him possession of them God blessed them and sayd bring forth fruite and multiply and fil the earth and subdue it and rule ouer the fish of the sea and ouer the foule of the heauē and ouer euery beast that moueth on the earth Now beholde the loue of God towardes man in his firste creation God viewed all the glorious workes of his fingers and they were all pleasant in his sight but he did moste glorie in man as the perfection of all his workes wherefore hée coulde not but delight in him while he kepte himselfe in that estate man was nowe a blessed man when God had blessed him and blessed euery thing about him wherefore Dauid rauished in manner with the consideration hereof bursteth out in vehemencie of spirite and sayth what is man O Lorde that thou art mindfull of him or what is the sonne of man that thou visitest him for thou hast made him a little lower than God thou haste crouned him with glorie and worship thou makest him to haue dominion ouer the workes of thy handes thou hast put all thinges vnder his féete all shéepe and Oxen yea and the beastes of the field the foules of the aire and the fish of the Sea and that which passeth through the pathes of the Seas besides all this he made him a Prince of Paradise and placed him in a garden of pleasure where he turned him on no side but euery eye was full of the blessing and loue of God. The fifth Chapter ¶ The fall of Adam and his miserable estate by occasion thereof THus God loued the worlde euen in his first foundatiō wherin he shewed manifolde tokens of a fatherlye fauour towardes man but this was not that speciall loue here meante there was yet no néede of that loue let vs therefore nowe consider the occasion of this our necessitie why God shoulde so shewe his mercie towardes vs as is here mentioned let vs search the sore so shall the salue séeme more precious He that can not in himselfe finde what he is of himselfe let him loke vpon Adam as the childe on the father and the true image of vs all so iustly valewing our selues what we are whom God so loueth we shall haue occasion to set the greater price on that loue and it may be as a spur vnto vs stirring vs vnto a further thankefulnesse Nowe therefore when God had so mercifully dealte with Adam settling him in that place of pleasure giuing him such libertie as these wordes do import Thou shalte eate freely of euery tree of the Garden yet leaste the pot might set vp himselfe against the potter least by presumption man shoulde aduance and equall himselfe with his creator it was the good pleasure of the almightie God to giue him this brydle to byte on and to kepe down that stomacke which he foresawe woulde shortly swell with pride so to restraine his libertie as in those wordes is expressed But as touching the tree of knowledge of good and euill thou shalte not eate of it for whensoeuer thou eatest thereof thou shalte dye the death This was the holy commaundement of our heauenly father whiche it had bene the parte of man willingly to haue obeyed alwayes to haue obserued neuer to haue resisted so might he haue kept his possession in Paradise For all the benefites which God had moste plentifully bestowed vppon man he desired but this one thing that is obedience to his will. This was a sacrifice wherewith he woulde be pleased he hath alwayes cryed for obedience euen from the firste man hither vnto but he could neuer get it at any mans handes excepting Christe the righteous For Adam how did he behaue himselfe what obedience shewed he he stopped his eare at the voice of the liuing God his louing Lorde who dealte so mercifully and liberally with him it was forgotten whiche God sayde thou shalte dye and that voyce of the serpent ye shal not dye howe soone did that enter the eare For the man he gaue eare to the Woman the Woman to the Serpent they brake the commaundement they eat of the excepted trée so the blinde led the blinde and they fel togither into the ditch they became subiecte to the curse of God who called them to accompt for their disobedience and gaue to euery one his seueral curse here is the point here lieth the matter a bleeding this is the olde sore as they say bred in the bone that will neuer be gotten out of the fleshe passing mans cunning to cure without a speciall remedie prouided of god O Adam how wert thou bewitched thou wert once in an highe and heauenly estate but thou arte falne flat to the earthe thou werte sure in Paradise but now thou art endaungered to become a firebrand of hell it was swéete meat perchance thou tastedst but thou shouldest haue remembred the sowre sause that followed Coulde not these blessings and manifolde benefites receyued of thy creator coole thy presumptuous courage coulde not the feare of falling into the contrarie plagues and calamities stay thy wilfull appetite O howe didst thou forget that threatning thou shalt dye the death that double deathe the due rewarde of thy sinne But thou shouldest haue bene obedient obedience had bene the waye to haue kepte thee vpright but nowe thou hast receiued thy wages the wages for sinne is death Whilest thou keptst thy selfe within the bounds which thy louing Lorde hadde appoynted for thée then waste thou an happie Adam O thanke God for that nowe arte thou vnhappie and in miserie thanke thy selfe
enimies and at vtter defiance with God. The sixt Chapter ¶ That all Adams posteritie are ioyned with him in the same guiltinesse of sinne and so stand in the same miserable estate NOw the matter standing at this stay if God did so stretch his mercie as that he woulde voutsafe to take vs into his fauour againe to make attonement with vs if we maye perceiue him notwithstanding our frowardnesse to receiue vs as his children then if we did not worthily estéeme that loue we were worthy double damnation But let euery man be thus minded that he standeth in case like with Adam Let euery one consider his necessitie and search his wounde and sée what néede he hath of suche a medicine for some peraduenture there be hauing so little taste of the truthe that they will say what tell ye me of Adam what haue I to doe with him Other not considering their owne infirmitie in whome the inposthume of sinne lyeth so hidden that they will beare themselues as whole and sounde whereas within like painted Sepulchers they are full of corruption hauing nothing in them to shewe when they shall come to be opened but rustie and rotten bones and suche sayings procéede from them as doe declare their hollowe heartes puffed vp with painted hipocrisie and double dissimulation These men will say I am not like Adam or if I had bene in Adams case I would haue looked better before I had made so rashe a leape But O thou man dissemble not with God iudge thy selfe leaste thou be iudged of the Lorde searche the bottome of thy conscience take thy glasse in thine hande is it a true glasse what then findest thou there but the very face of Adam be it neuer so well coloured It is true it is to true euery one of vs are falne we haue sinned euery mothers childe as truely as we are the séede of sinfull Euē it is but vaine to say this if I had bene in Adams coate for we haue each one of vs in our coates cloathed a sinfull Adam or to say if I hadde bene in his case for euery mans skinne is the case of a sinner Nay we maye not so ridde our handes we can not washe our fingers so cleane but that pitche of sinne will sticke faste what soeuer face be set on the mater O thou man that yet knowest not thy selfe that art so benummed of thy senses that thou féelest not the serpent whiche lyeth gnawing at thy héele whiche sléepest in a deade slumber and féelest not the sting of deathe fast fired in thy fleshe whyche bréedest in thy breste the consuming worme of sinne awake out of thy slumber stande vp and hearken to the cry of Esdras in his disputation wyth the Aungell O Adam saythe he what haste thou done for in that thou haste sinned thou arte not fallen alone but thy fall also redoundeth vnto vs that come of thée and so saith the Apostle that by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne and so went death ouer all men for as much as al men haue sinned this floude of sinne it goeth with a higher streame thā the floud of Noe that went euen ouer the top of the Arke for so saith S. Iohn the whole world is set on wickednesse Thus do they say of vs and we can make no better of oure selues we are lost euery one of vs haue gone astray we haue lost our selues in the wilde wood of worldly wickednesse following that blinde guide our owne wilfull appetite Adam he gaue the first onset and we brake not the araye he brake the yce and we are lept into the ditch we are all hong on one hooke like fishe taken with the baite for we haue tasted of the cup of short swéete concupiscence and as Esdras saith we and our fathers haue all one disease meaning sinne that shrewe amongst the shepe of Gods pasture we are al sicke of sinne that is the griefe that Esdras complaineth of Ieremie 31. The fathers haue eaten a sowre grape and the childrens téeth are sette on edge withall This Prouerbe did the people vse in the time of Ieremie murmuring againste God as though they were punished for the offence of their fathers But thus saith the Lord euery one shall die for his owne iniquitie euery man that eateth the soure grape his téeth shall be set on edge Now what father what childe is it that hath not tasted of the sowre grape of sinne Dauid maketh thy confession we haue sinned we haue done wickedly wyth oure fathers recken al the children to the last all the fathers to the firste who is it that hath not eaten with Adam the Apple that grape it sticketh yet in our teeth we are all choked with the core of carnall cōcupiscence that subtil counsell of the Serpent which deceyued the first man it will also deceiue the laste that venime hath infected the whole race the whole broode of Adams birdes Dauid he thus saythe of no worse man than himselfe I was borne in iniquitie and in sinne hath my mother conceyued me Beholde no sooner conceiued in Eue but as soone deceyued of the Serpent and this hath God to lay against vs as he doth againste the Israelites Thy first father hath sinned and thy teachers haue transgressed against me Séeing then we haue tasted one meate seeing that we haue sucked sinne of the forbidden fruite what maye we looke for but to be serued of the same sauce euen that bitter gall the dreadfull curse of God to turne to duste and to dye the death In this state stande we vnlesse God take pitie on vs we are falne we lie flatte on our faces we are become dustie deadly we can not helpe our selues but as the byrd taken in the nette we lie fast fettered our owne eyes not seruing vs to espie any way to winde out we are not able to moue our féeble legs nor to stretch forth our wearie handes our soules are sicke our hearts are faint we must néeds yéelde to our enimie and be taken as prisoners of Satan that fierce Serpent and fierie Dragon The seuenth Chapter ¶ That the sinne wherewith God may charge euery one of vs can neyther be bidden by vs nor excused by blaming any other NOwe by this we maye consider our fall that we are loste without some special remedie and that we haue no part in Paradise we are in darkenesse wythout light sick for sinne panting for breth and bléeding to death But yet before we despaire let vs looke about vs see whither we can espie any hooke to hang oure hope on let vs conferre and take counsel with our father Adam what is to be done if there appeare any staffe to stay on lette vs there catch holde if we haue any thing to say for our selues it is good to speak in time What then shall we say how shall we begin with God let him that thinketh himself best speak first wil he say
thus I am righteous I walke vprightly I haue recouered my selfe with good workes eyther I am not faln either I haue deserued to be restored againe Such indeede was the saying of the Pharisie iustifying himselfe so he layde out before God his fardle of fastings his rustie packe of almes and tithes but howe sped he the nearer the Churche he made himselfe to be the further he was from GOD he departed home righteous in his owne eyes but so muche the more vnryghteous before god O playe not the Pharisies forget not your selues whose children you are what else but the childe of perdition O earth earth that thou shouldst make so much of thy selfe Nay this is not the way to recouer the lost Paradise this was that fooles Paradise whereinto the Galathians were brought and wherefore S. Paule rebuketh them O ye foolishe Galathians who hath bewitched you are ye foolish saith he to séeke your perfection in your fleshe Take héede then S. Paule counteth thee but for a foole if thou go that way to worke as to saye myne owne deserts shall rayse me vp from my fall no it will be but a vaine bragge in thée and the encrease of thy sinne to say I haue no sinne that were but to proue thy selfe a lier for if we saye we haue no sinne we deceiue our selues and the truth is not in vs nay in so saying we make God a lyer so farre as lyeth in vs this therefore is but a stolne feather belonging to a better bird it is the armes of our heauenly king Christ it is his ensigne wherewith he triumpheth ouer his enimies to saye this who of you is able to reproue me of anye sinne let vs not robbe Christe of his honor let vs not make Gods of our selues for who is good but God To say that we are guiltlesse before the iudgement seat of God in that we shall haue a thousande witnesses against vs euen our own conscience crying and conuincing vs it were a better waye to confesse our selues sinners for that waye there may be some hope for if we acknowledge our sinnes God is mercifull to forgiue vs and to clense vs from al vnrighteousnesse This waye did the holyest of all take for what sayth Dauid that chosen of God he cryeth againste thee againste thee onely haue I sinned and my sinne is euer before me this was the confession of the father and his wise sonne Salomon whom God had endued with such giftes what hath he to say but guiltie wherfore he maketh his prayer and as it were aforehande bespeaketh the mercy of God for him and his people for he foresawe as he sayth that there is no man which sinneth not and he maketh this question who can saye I haue made myne heart cleane I am cleane from sinne And Iob a iust man as the markette of mans iustice goeth he saythe vnto God holding vp his hand I haue sinned what shal I doe vnto thée And Paule the elect vessell doth not he also say guiltie when he protesteth thus of himselfe I knowe that in me that is in my flesh there dwelleth no good thing nay he felt the burthen of sinne so heauie on his back that it causeth him to crie with a great grone and déepe sigh Oh wretche that I am who shall deliuer me from this body of death And that holy Apostle Peter what sayde he but guiltie when he sayd vnto our Sauiour departe from me O Lorde I am a sinfull man Let vs therefore followe the wise counsel of the wise sonne of Syrach My sonne sayth he iustifie not thy selfe before the Lorde for he knoweth thyne heart This accompt therefore must we make of our selues we are bare Adams and naked Eues we haue nothing to hide our sinnes but the more we séeke to cloake them the more they doe appeare our own works they be but figge leaues they will not hide our nakednesse we shall be ashamed of them and will be faine to hide our heads from the presence of the Lorde when the coole of the day cōmeth that he wil call vs to accompt But why do I compare them to figge leaues the Prophete hath made a meeter comparison of them what is our righteousnesse like vnto it is almost a shame to speake of them as they deserue they are sayth he like vnto a cloth bespotted with the flowers of a womā O shamelesse hypocrites that can present the moste holy God with the shamefull cloutes and filthy ragges of their owne righteousnesse and offer that a price of their redemption Hath not God then left a lawe of righteousnesse by the whych we shall be iudged Yea verily But who will stande to the triall thereof that he hath kept that law he that thinketh that iustification cōmeth this waye lette him harken a little to the doctrine of S. Paule By the lawe saythe he commeth the knowledge of sinne that is it proueth vs guiltie it conuinceth vs of vnrighteousnesse and there is the office of the lawe but concerning our iustification we knowe saythe he that what soeuer the lawe saythe it sayth it to them which are vnder the lawe that euery mouth may be stopped and all the worlde founde culpable before GOD. And this is his conclusion therefore by the workes of the lawe shall no fleshe be iustifyed Nay let vs not take this waye let vs rather craue a pardon than pleade the law for that we see is a bone that choketh vs all if we stande vpon the plea we are sure to be caste in the great debte of sinne and after to be throwne in that prison of darkenesse neuer to be let loose againe no not til we haue payde the vttermost farthing Yet then we slide we fall here is no holde to be had no reste to be founde whiche way then shall we nowe turne vs Shal we séeke excuses to cloake our offences Shall we say this man or that man prouoked me to wickednesse had not this cause bene I had not transgressed neyther will this cloake serue vs it is not able to kéepe off the smoking raine of Gods wrathe which is poured downe out of heauen vpon all vnrighteousnesse This way was fyrst of al sayed but it would not preuayle with God for when God called Adam to reckening and sayd why hast thou eaten of the tree whereof I commaunded thée that thou shouldst not eate then did Adam put it ouer to Eue and so sayde the woman whiche thou gauest to me she brought of the trée and I did eate then God called the woman saying why hast thou done this and she layde the blame vpon the Serpent hauing no more to say but this The Serpent beguiled me and I did eate But God helde not Adam excused by Eue nor Eue by the Serpente euery one of them beareth his iniquitie and they drinke all of one cup that is of the curse of God so he that giueth euill counsell shal haue the rewarde of
euill and he that followeth euill counsell bycause he hath sinned he muste be payde with the wages of sinne here then are we as far to séeke as at the firste here then are we as farre out of the way as before here is no sure ground for vs to stand on yet that sting of death sticketh as déepe in vs as euer it did The eight Chapter ¶ The distresse and dispaire of man in the viewe of his owne wickednesse HOwe then is there no remedie to be founde must we néedes lie stil sweating in the greace of our own fleshly wickednesse is there none to delyuer vs from this body of death if it be so then sucke on Serpent then death take thy pleasure then craue thy righte graue open thy mouth Hell swallowe vp thy portion for thou God haste forsaken vs thou hast yéelded vp all thy right whyther shall we flée then where may we finde rest for our soules Thy face thou mightie one is alwayes against vs we sweate we burne we frie with the furie of wrath all places are to hote for man to reste on so is thine indignation kindled If I saye I haue done iustly then thou reprouest me as a lyer if I haue sinned then thou wilt streightly looke vnto me and wilte not holde me guiltlesse of mine iniquitie and séeing thou markest iniquitie straightly who shall abide it wherefore then hath thine handes fashioned me O that I had perished in my conception and that none eye had séene me and that I were as I had not bene that my graue had bene my mother beholde I goe and shall not returne euen to the lande of darkenesse into a lande I saye darke as darkenesse it selfe into the shadowe of deathe where is no order but the light is there as darknesse my dayes are as the smoke and my life as the shadowe O ye wormes I am your foode O corruption thou art my father O death thou art my mother out of thee was I taken and into thée I return to thée I bequeath that whyche I hadde from thée this lumpe of earthe this masse of fleshe To whome shall I betake my spirite I maye not long possesse it my selfe séeing thou wilte not haue it thou holy one I muste néedes yéelde it vp as a praye vnto myne enimie The ninth Chapter ¶ That Chryste from the beginning hath bene is and shall be the only staye and comforte of all sortes of men BVt thou sonne of man staye thée a whyle in pacience doe not so gyue ouer thy soule as to saye thy sinne is greater than it may be forgiuen humble thy selfe acknowledge thy rebellion but despaire not cast not thy selfe headlong into Hell is there no remedie to be found on earth then lifte vp thyne eyes to heauen there is a comfort there is a comfort cōming there is a sauing healthe in hande thy wounde is great indeede but there is a strong medicine a tempering thy fall was grieuous but thy rysing vp shall be as wonderfull many and mightie are thine enimies but there is one that shall fight for thée whose name is the Lorde of Hostes and he shall subdue all power Beholde thy creator hath not vtterly cast thée off thou hast found fauor in his sight S. Iohn saith God loueth the world yea suche store of mercie there is with God that although we were his enimies yet he is become our God againe and wyll stand an enimie against our enimies and although he seeth that the imagination of mans heart is euill euen from his youth yet he doth not vtterly cast vs off Goe to then Lorde we beséech thée we haue séene thy iudgements how terrible they are we are full fedde with the gall of thy bitter vengeance now if it be thy good pleasure turne thy face from our sinnes and blot out our offences create in vs a new hart renew a right spirit in our bowels shewe thy selfe once againe a mercyfull God we knowe we are not worthy to be called thy children we haue sinned againste heauen and against earth they bare part of our curse againste thée againste thée haue we sinned but if it be thy good pleasure turne thy louing countenaunce towardes vs Surely there is mercie wyth God he hath heard the gronings and afflictions of his people he is moued wyth compassion and pitie towardes vs beholde we that were shattered in pieces lying still in the sounde of sinne and buried vp in death the Lorde of his infinite goodnesse goth about togather vs vp and to set vs vpright agayne he intendeth to cast Adam in a newe mould and to make him a newe creature not of earth earthly but of heauen heauenly For there is a Lambe a killing whose bloud shall washe awaye our sinnes there is a stone framing it shall be layde in Sion it shal fall vpon our enimie it shal grinde his heade and crushe it in pieces we are but héele hurted but he shall be wounded on the head And it shall be thine owne childe Adam thyne owne séede Eue that shall thus subdue the Serpent So good and gracious is the Lorde he promiseth a victorie his owne mouth hath spoken it and wyth his mightie hande hath he brought it to passe for God so loueth the worlde that he hath sente what hath he sente euen that sauing séede that innocent Lambe prouided from the beginning he hath sent his onely begotten sonne bringing with him that pearle not to perishe with that heauenly treasure to haue lyfe euerlasting héere then maye we caste anchor all other remedies failing vs this is it we muste trust vnto this is the sure pledge of Gods fauor towardes vs without this comforte we had bene altogither comfortlesse but nowe is our ioy full and plenteous This is that ioyfull tydings sent from heauen brought by the Angell belonging to all as well as to those ioyful shepherdes be not afrayd saith the angel for beholde I bring you tidings of greate ioy that shall be to all the people that vnto you this day is borne a Sauiour in the citie of Dauid which is Christe O glorious daye wherein shineth suche a sunne the verye sun of God the bright sunne of righteousnesse in that day so bright were the beames of the sunne that they shyned euē into the dim eyes of Abraham this was the glorious day which he saw with such ioy Nowe by this is God truely become the God of Abraham Isaack and Iacob here is the performance of the heauenly promise and blessed bargaine made for him vs all betwixt Abraham and his God for when it might séeme a hope against hope that aged Abraham should haue any suche séede the Lorde knew that Sara would laugh and wonder at his worde yet the Lorde of his loue wherewith he loued the worlde established his couenaunt wyth them that in them sholude all nations be blessed yea we of England Irelande haue our parte in this blessing and of
the high Priests and presumptuous Pharisies sawe that Chryste and his doctrine began somewhat to be accepted of the people they thinking that a derogation to their worships sente out theyr officers to take Christe as he was teaching in the temple but these officers although they came with full purpose to haue apprehended our sauioure yet so were they rauished with hys heauenly preachings and wonderfull wordes flowing from hym so plentifully that they had no power to doe their purpose but retourned agayne making thys answere to their maisters neuer man spake lyke thys man but so was not the malice of those hypocrites stayed and with suche wordes they stormed and stamped against him continually saying vnto those their messangers are ye also deceiued dothe any of the Rulers and of the Pharisies beleeue in him but this people which knowe not the law are cursed So did the Serpēt deceiue them that they did still spit their venome against that vnspotted lambe that sought their saluation they helde hym accurssed that followed Christ this suffered our Sauiour the high Priests could not looke so low as to enterteine hym amongst them the Pharisies and Scribes in their owne conceit were to wise to holy and to good to take him into their company it shoulde haue stayned their good name to be called Christians it was not for their worships to haue professed themselues the disciples of Chryste so was our Sauioure an abiecte an outcast and made of no reputation he was disdained bothe of Priest and Prince and this is maruellous in our eyes But it was the good will of God so to prouide for vs that we shoulde not perish for Christe hereby hathe approued himselfe the true annointed the selfe Sauioure and very Messias and Dauid also a true Prophet saying that the head stone of the corner shoulde be refused of the builders they made no more of Christe than a stone to stumble and to spurne at where then had our Sauioure his conuersation he betooke himselfe as he disdained not the name of a phisition comming to haue the sicke euen to be amongst Publicanes and sinners there was his company to visite poore Publicanes and to saue simple sinners that was his comfort This was the comfortable tydings that he had to send Iohn Baptist into prison The blind see the halt goe the leapers are cleansed the deafe heare the dead rise againe This was his garde he was still busie about these the blinde the Leaper the lame the deafe and the dead in the meane space where was the rich the wise and the welthy Nay they would not be taken for Christes souldiers but the poore saythe he receiue the glad tidings of the Gospell and happie it was that all fell not besides but that ther stoode some at receite to receiue the precious séede sowen by our Sauioure thus we sée a greate péece of the loue of God working in his sonne our Sauioure for what loue is this that the sonne of God shuld so humble himself to set vs in honor with his heuēly father but yet the greatest péece of loue and the chiefe token of gods mercy towards vs is yet behind and that which is vnspoken is more than all that hertofore hath bin spoken that doth S. Paule set forth after a most reuerēt sort howbeit no man may vtter it with worthy words that place which I mean is in the seconde to the Philippians whome he exhorteth by the example of Christ to humilitie and wherein for our purpose is to be séene the loue of God working in hys only begotten euē to the vttermost point that may be imagined within al the compasse of loue and in that he procéedeth by degrée gathering vp in shorte summe all whiche is spoken in our former wordes concerning our Sauioure that it myghte enter into vs with a déeper consideratiō this is his saying let the same minde be in you that was euen in Christ Iesus who being in the forme of God thought it no robberie to be equall with God but he made hymselfe of no reputation and tooke vpon him the forme of a seruante and was made like vnto men and vvas founde in shape as a man Here let vs staye a while and deuide Paules sentence kéeping backe that whiche followeth vntill we haue somewhat considered this parte of Gods loue Christe the sonne of God a verye God a glorious God equal with the father and no wrong neyther is come downe frō the bright heauens to the bare earthe is content to be made of mans mettall taking on him very fleshe well pleased to be cast in the mould and simple shape of man no whit disdaining the wombe of a woman contente to be called the seede of Eue and laying aside his glory and as it were hyding his godhead emptied himselfe of all honoure becomming of the sonne of God the sonne of man like vnto man a very man a seruant of men and what else but a slaue to saue men if there had here a stay bene made yet might not the loue of God but séeme maruellous towardes man But that which followeth in Saint Paule that is muche more maruellous that cannot but inflame the hearte of the Christian with the loue of God breake the stony stomack of the infidel To what may I then compare those wordes following it is a thunderbolt that me thinkes should sound through the whole heauens piercing the clouds and shaking the foundations of the earthe bringing with it a smoking fire by the heate whereof the very mountaines melte lyke waxe ioyned with a wind that hurleth downe the high Ceders of Libanus Harken then O heauen giue eare O earth sée the loue of the almightie he saith the Apostle euen that glorious God beside that he became man in his manhoode he humbled himselfe and became obedient with what humilitie howe farre was he obedient euen to the death what death the death of the crosse Thys is that speciall loue God so loueth the world that he hath giuen his sonne to be a sacrifice for our sinnes to be slayne that we might not perishe and to die that we might haue euerlasting life The eleuenth Chapter ¶ A description of the passion of Christe and the profite that commeth thereby BVt yet that this loue mighte enter déeper and take a more grounded roote in our hartes let vs somewhat consider the deathe of the Lorde let vs sée what a preparatiue he had to his cup let vs marke the maner of his deathe and let vs behold him with our inward eyes in hys pangs as hee hangeth on the crosse thys therefore did our Sauioure forewarne his disciples what should become of him wherin we haue also a warning to consider the loue of God Beholde saith he we goe vp to Ierusalem and the sonne of man shall be deliuered into the handes of sinners vnto the chiefe Priestes vnto the Scribes they shall condemne him to deathe and shall deliuer him to the
where was his sword now wher was his heart when the maid moued him this questioÌ„ art not thou one of this mans disciples what had he then to answer he made then a flat deniall of hys maister he was none of his disciples he knewe no suche man as Christe was and nowe was it tyme for the cocke to crowe for Peter to fall a weeping and a howling there was Christe left alone and giuen ouer on euery side for the shéepe they were all dispersed Now that guiltlesse Lambe with what a sorte of wicked wolues was he beset There was Annas the fyrste Caiphas the high Prieste Pilate the president there was the assembly of Scribes the â—ocke of Pharisies but thankes be to God the heauenly father his Christe had pacience ynough for them all There was in that Lambe bloude ynough for those greedy wolues the rulers and gouernors there were bones ynough for those hungrie dogges the Scribes and fleshe to satisfie that swarme of adders the Pharisies for all those there was pacience ynough with our suffring sauiour being ready to beare what soeuer burthen they might deuise to oppresse him wythall for they bounde him they made a scorne and a mock of him turning him into a strange disguised apparell platting a crowne of thornes vpon his heade adding thereto thorny and gauling wordes beyng haled and tossed to and fro betwixt Pilate the Priestes and the people one crying on this side beholde the man in dispite of his omnipotent godheade on the other syde another company crying hayle Kyng of the Iewes in contempt of this eternall kingdome and yet for further tryall of his pacience some blindfelded hym some buffetted him some moste shamefullye spued theyr spettle on his face then was hée tormented also wyth Pylates bitter scourge yet no resistance made Christ remedie was pacience but that was not thought ynoughe neyther scourging woulde not serue therefore he muste bée committed againe to the handes of Pylate hée muste be examined witnesse is sought and false witnesse is brought in agaynst the truth it selfe yea although Pylate himselfe coulde not but thus depose for his innocencie saying and repeating it often I finde no fault in hym wherefore yet thys friendship was shewed of Pylate that the people contented he shoulde bée let loose according to the custome of the Iewes This was the greatest curtesie that Christe founde he was set agaynste Barrabas an holy God compared wyth a wicked murtherer for so did Pylate put it to the peoples choyse saying Wil ye that I let loose vnto you Barrabas or Iesus whiche is called Christ naye if Christ should haue nowe bene let at libertie then had the Priestes his enimies froÌ„ the beginning lost al their labor wherfore Mathewe reporteth that they counselled the people to quite Barrabas and to aske Christ to be crucified wherefore the sauing and condemnation being referred vnto them when they cried for Barrabas that he might be saued then Pylate speaking somwhat fauourably as he durst on Christes part sayd what shall I do then with Iesus the answere was let him be crucified And Pylate demaunding again what euill hath he done That question might not be heard bycause it coulde not be aunswered but the more they cryed away with him crucifie him This was that rufull crie that Christe was content to heare for all the loue of God that was and shoulde be declared by him towardes the worlde he had this rewarde crucifie him nothing but crucifie him After this hard sentence as a lamb to the slaughter so was our Sauioure led out of the Citie to the place of his executioÌ„ hauing the coÌ„panie of his Crosse and bearing it part of the way himselfe Now must our Sauiour be serued as the Serpent in the wyldernesse he must be lifte vp to the crosse beholde he drinketh the cup of that curse Cursed is he that hangeth on the trée This is the true represented Isaacke that humbleth himselfe to the aultar a sacrifice for sinne and the Lorde suffereth that bloudy knife withdrawn froÌ„ Isaack to fall vpon his onely begotten sonne and to pierce his precious bowelles that the water mought runne out whiche shoulde washe away the sinnes of his people O Christians O men and brethreÌ„ this was ours by right but Christe is contented to beare our burthen he is contented to dye to dye the death the shamefull deathe the cursed death of the bitter crosse Nowe beholde the Lamb of God that taketh away the sinnes of the worlde O thou sonne of man sée what the sonne of God suffereth for thy sake sée how he is tormented let his panges enter a little into thy hart that thou mayste consider the loue of God towardes thee lette that pitifull scricke of our Sauiour alwayes ring in thyne eare as when he cryed my God my God why hast thou forsaken me for so did the sorrowes of death gripe him as thoughe he had indéede bene forsaken of his father wherefore he suffered him to be layde in the graue also that he might tast of al our infirmities as well vnder the earth as aboue howbeit nowe was it time for the Lord God to gloryfie his sonne in the heauens which had glorified him on the earth wherefore he might not leaue the soule of his dearely beloued in the graue nor suffer his holye one to sée corruption but hath raysed him vp to his ryght hande there to reigne with glorie vntil he make his enimies and our enimies if we be true Christians his footestoole and thus with the glorie of Christe doth the loue of God fully appeare towardes vs for in all this hath God and his Chryste sought our saluation for the sonne of man came for no other purpose but to saue that which was loste and by these meanes in summe hathe he atchieued the ende of his message he was deliuered to deathe for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification The tvvelfth Chapter ¶ How only faith wrought in vs by the spirit of God and grounded vpon the word of God maketh vs partakers of the fruit of Christes death THus is that worthy worke finished Nowe may Abraham reioyce with ful ioy for his promised séede is performed and he hath poured out his blessing moste plentifully vpon his faithfull children now is Adam truly made vp a new creature thus far is he in the fauor of God that he hath sent his only begotten son to purchase him his pardon God said in his indignation thou shalt die the death but so hath the sonne pleased him that he nowe cryeth thou shalt not perishe but haue life euerlasting Nowe shalte thou liue for so God loueth thée that Christ hath dyed in thy stead now mayst thou stand vpright for so God loueth thée that his Chryste hath falne for thee Chryste is rysen and beholde he so loueth thée that he offereth his gentle hande to rayse thée togyther with himselfe he hath deceyued the serpent
thy selfe will sinne for that Thou waste once in the fauoure of God he shewed hymselfe a moste fauourable father vnto thée whilest thou behauedst thy selfe as an obedient childe but nowe hath he iustly turned thée of Thou wast once the frée friende of God but nowe art become the sworne seruant of sinne and bondslaue of Sathan this is spoken as by the mouth of God. Then are you my friendes if you doe what I commaunde you nowe therefore arte thou an enimie vnto God bycause thou hast neglected his holy commaundement whosoeuer committeth sinne is the seruaunt of sinne therefore arte thou Adam out of Gods seruice he that sinneth is of the Deuill thou haste sinned Adam therefore arte thou not of god Thou didst once receiue a blessing at Gods hande thou didst féele no part of paine God cared altogyther for thée thou tookest no care for thy selfe thou wast warme without clothes naked without shame satisfied without trauel thy meat was put into thy mouth God hadde so blessed euery thing for thée that the earth the herbes the trées the cattell the foules the fishe they gaue thée their fruite and yelded their encrease of their owne accorde in the meane while mightest thou take thy pleasure in thy garden but now thou haste sinned Adam therefore must thou harden thy handes to labour thou must set thy shoulders to heauie burthens thou must buie thy breade dearely with the sweate of thy face this might haue bene foreséene hadst thou not sinned thou néedest not haue sweated but there is no remedie that man may finde Thou art sicke Adam thou art sicke vnto deathe thou hast prouoked the wrath of God thou hast caused him to poure out his vengeance and to open his cup of curses O beholde howe the wrath of God being once kindled ouerrunneth the whole worlde for the disobedience of man sée what a flame riseth of the burning sparke of sinne As before in obedience man was blessed so in disobedience of the iustice of God muste he néedes be cursed harken therefore vnto the dreadfull iudgement and hard sentence pronounced vpon disobedience Adam thus sayth the Lorde bycause thou hast eaten of the tree whiche I commaunded thée thou shouldest not eate of Cursed is the earth for thy sake in sorowe shalte thou eate of it all the dayes of thy life thornes also and thistles shall it bring forthe vnto thee in the sweate of thy face shalt thou eate breade till thou returne to the earth thou art dust and to dust thou shalt returne againe O lamentable fall O pitifull case wherin thou nowe standest Adam so cladde and clogged with the intollerable burthen of sinne so ouerwhelmed with the bloudie floudes of Gods vengeance and curses so pitifully and plentifully poured out vpon thy heade and besides this he may no longen enioye his paradise he is dispossessed thereof he is banished he is turned abrode into the wide worlde whereas nowe he might not so much as come neare the trée of knowledge of good and euill for the which he ventred so far neyther might any longer enioy any part of that libertie as to eate of all other the trees and fruites of the garden lost also the fight of the trée of life These are the wages of sinne payde as debte due vnto a sinfull and disobedient man Let vs therfore by this knowe our selues what we are What is Adam he is but dust he is hated of GOD he is ashamed of himselfe he is cursed he is sicke with sinne he is deade he is twice deade subiecte to mortalitie and subiecte to eternall damnation Crie out then Adam giue thy Children warning that they maye knowe themselues tell them in what case thou standest and what an inheritance thou hast purchased for them Thus sayth your father O children of men he that hath cares to heare let him heare I was once a man a frée man a blessed man full of life as God had breathed into me the light shining rounde aboute me the mercie of God embrasing me on euery side if I behelde the earth there was blessing for me ingraued as it were in the herbs the flowrs the fruits thereof turning me to the firmamēt ther I sawe the sunne the moone the stars in them was God to be séene a blessed God likewise in the waters there were innumerable tokens of Gods tender mercie towards me so far was I in the fauor of my creator I might stand in his presence enioying his ioyfull countenance yea he made me like vnto his own Image But alas wretch that I am whē I was in honor knew not my self forgot my duetie became far vnlike to my God not like to my selfe but altogither like vnto a beast yea rather worse thā a beast for behold the dul ore he knoweth his owner the simple Asse he knoweth his masters crib but I man nay the shadowe of man a very worm no mā I could not bear the yoke of my creator I would not herken vnto his voice I denied him my seruice I haue sinned I haue sinned therfore I am worthily rewarded I presumed am therfore brought low I aduanced my self therefore I am throwne downe I haue eaten without néed therefore I am subiect to hunger I pine away for desire of the fruit of that pleasant garden I thirste as the Harte after the waters of those swéete rūning riuers I am become of the sonne of God the childe of wrath I am cleane altered I haue lost the light I walke in darknesse of a blessed creature I am become a cursed caitife Where may I rest myselfe I haue sinned and my sinne is euer before me against thée alone against thée Lord haue I sinned I dare not present my selfe in thy presence I tremble at thy voyce I am ashamed of my selfe Whither then may I flée what stay may I finde I sinke in sinne O that sting of death howe it pierceth me O death O graue yours is the victorie and thou Sathan mine enimie how ruefully thou roarest thou standest with open mouth readie to deuour me I finde yet no defense Thou subtill serpent that drewest me into this net how thou spettest thy poyson howe busie art thou about my héele how faste hangest thou howe suckest thou my bloude O that I coulde shake thée of or that I might bruse thy heade And thou Eue which shouldest be my comfort thou hast as muche néede of comfort thy selfe thou shouldest haue comforted me but thou hast deceiued me and thy selfe also we are become a cursed couple and with my creator I finde this comfort thou shalt die the death verily it had bene better for me neuer to haue bene made than so to haue falne into the handes of the liuing god This might be a true confession of Adams follye and the description of his estate after his fall wherein we haue to consider what we are of our selues without Christe euen as it were sworne
vnto the worlde and this we knowe that God hath not giuen him to any other rather than to vs he is our Sauiour if we be so happie as to receiue him for we being graffed in Christe are members of that worlde which God so loueth Nowe adding to this the knowledge by what meanes Christe wrought this reconciliation how he hath throughlye appeased the wrath of the father whiche we see was so kindled against vs and vnderstanding what price he payde for our redemption then shal the loue of God appeare vnto vs by a brighter light as it were in a cléere sunne shining Oure Sauiour saythe my father worketh and I worke we haue séene the worke proper to the father in that he hath sent the sonne and thus farre forwarde we sée our Sauiour in his worke as that according to the determinate will of the father he is come downe into the earthe and hath debased himselfe to the base estate of our frayle flesh so by this the work of our regeneration is in a goodly forwardnesse now doth Adam beginne to moue himselfe to waxe warme and to reuiue with a newe spirit here lyeth the Serpent a bléeding but by this is not the victorie gotten Let vs sée then howe Christe quitteth himselfe and reuengeth our quarell What force what weapons doth he vse far other than man would imagine He ouercommeth with kindnesse his armour is preaching paynes pacience shame rebuke reproch harde handling euill entreatie tauntes in the teeth and sclaunderous reportes scornes and scourgings false accusations vniuste iudgement and in the ende bitter and bloudye death This was the maruellous working of God that oure Sauiour shoulde passe those harde pykes to saue vs from the sworde of the enimie And beholde as soone as he entred into the world he straight gaue the onset he felte incontinently of our infirmities for sée the Lorde of Dauid the King of Kings in his byrth howe simply he lyeth wrapped in swadling cloutes Thus is it described in the Gospell A stable was his best house and a cratche his Cradle for saythe the Euangelist there was no roume for him in the Inne whose was the earth and the store thereof at whose commaundemente were the heauens there was no roume for him to reste in Well therefore might that complainte be made to the confusion of vnkinde beastly man The Foxes haue holes and the birdes of heauen haue nests but the sonne of man howe is he intreated he hath not whereon to reste his heade Neither was he suffered to haue that litle roume wyth reste but he was faine to flée touch and to auoyde from Bethléem into Egypt as when Herode in his furie sent forthe his slaughter men and bloudie butchers with this cōmaundement that they should slea all the male children that were in Bethléem and in all the coastes thereof from two yeares old and vnder seking thereby as it was forewarned by the Angell to murther the childe Iesus whom he heard should be borne King of the Iewes Such a welcome hadde our Sauiour into the world and afterwarde in processe of time being conuersant in Hierusalem and the countrey about with what trauell preached he the kingdome of God how few receiued that glad tydings howe many a myracle did he and what thanks had he and how small were the number of suche as beleeued and woulde be content to be called the followers of Chryste not disdayning the name of a Christian Now when he was most busy about the worke of our saluation as when he was moste occupied in feeding with the worde and conuerting by miracles the reporte that many made of him it was no better but that his owne helde hym as a straunger some sayde he was a sinner some a seducer of the people some a glutton and a drinker of wine some a man starke mad yea some gaue him this good word that he wroughte by the power of Belzebub Bitter wordes for the sonne of God yet this was his paciēce to beare Of the better sorte some tooke him for Elias some for Iohn Baptist and some were so good as to call him a Prophete but fewe were there found of faithfull Peters that iudged so ryght of hym as to say Thou art the sonne of the lyuing god And wyth whome had our Sauioure his conuersation here on earthe he was to be had in suche reputation as of whome the almightie father forespake by thys Prophete euen hym that was bothe a king and a Prophete I haue set my king vpon Sion myne holy mountayne and suche a one was he as Dauid acknowledged to be hys Lorde and souereygne The Lorde sayde vnto my Lorde sitte thou at my right hand c. It had bin therfore the parte of Princes to haue bin alwayes in hys presence and the duetie of Kings to haue kept him company or rather to haue attended on hym as whose shooe latched they were not worthy to vnloose But true is the Prophet in his saying The Kings and Princes of the earth they assembled and bente themselues againste hym there was no company nor comfort with them for the méeke King of Sion and the poore Prince of Ierusalem For we see howe Herode persecuted and hunted him as the Foxe the shéepe from Bethléem to Egypt from one place to another and it was treason to Cesars person to call Christ a King he might not be taken for Cesars friende that woulde speake on Christes parte to mainteyne hys kyngdome But oure Sauiours kyngdome was not of thys worlde therefore no maruell though the kings of the earth were so cruelly set againste hym Our Sauioure was also the annointed of God a Prince and a princely Priest for euer of whose body Melchisedech was the shadowe he was that Doctor admitted and authorised to teache with that heauenly and thundering voyce of the father this is my beloued sonne in vvhome I am vvell pleased heare hym it woulde haue besemed therfore those high priests looked they neuer so high that ruffling garde of Pharisies those greate Doctors the Scribes to haue had their conuersation with him of whome they should receiue their saluation if they had harkened to him then mighte they haue reckened themselues wise if they had followed that good shepehearde then mighte they haue gloried truly as otherwise they dyd vainely that they had bene the leaders of the blinde But Christ was not for their tooth neyther any méete man for their company he was a stone cast aside of those builders although hée approued hym selfe the chiefe corner stone they could not reproue hym yet they refused him they myghte find no fault with hym yet he could find no fauour with them he put them many times to silence and stopped their mouthes in reasoning and argument yet they spared no wordes in misreporting him he soughte all meanes to winne them yet they disdayned him as one vnworthy to haue place amongst them for when that carnall spiritualitie
thirtenth Chapter ¶ That true faith requireth an earnest consideration of mans estate and the loue of God towardes him appearing in the death of Christ THus haue we waded in the bottomelesse sea of Gods loue infinite mercy wherewith he loueth and embraceth the worlde not minding to finde any ende or to search the grounde thereof for we confesse with the Prophete Thy mercy O Lord reacheth vnto the heauens and thy faythfulnesse vnto the cloudes thy righteousnesse is like the mightie mountaines and thy iudgementes are like a greate deepe but by this which is sayde we haue assaid somewhat to tast of the goodnesse of God following herein the prouocation of the Prophete whiche calleth men to the consideration of Gods mercy by this call O tast and sée saith he how gracious the Lorde is Blessed is the man that putteth his trust in his mercy And thus far haue we tasted the loue of God as we might onely picking out the swéete marrowe of that bone which S. Iohn hath cast vs for the comfort of our soules to feede on God so loued the world c. In the which shorte and swéete sentence duely considered and weighed as it is worthy what find we but saluation shewing it selfe vnto vs in a bright glasse and that as is aforesayde it is a knot knitting vp the whole mysterie of our redemption wherefore in the handling thereof we haue passed to this point as that we haue losed and vndone the same and as grace was giuen haue layde out the partes thereof to the viewe of the Reader Now that we may gather vp those pieces and close the knot againe let vs stand a while and sée what rockes we haue passed let vs looke backe and view the wonderfull worke of God declaring his loue to our saluatiō we know therfore what a losse we had in Adam being depriued vtterly of the fauor of God for so God loued the world in the first foundation that we stoode in the state of innocencie comparable with the glorious Angels of heauen we were fashioned of earthe but not endangered to turne againe into earth we were made men but like vnto God ours matter and substance was earthly but our forme and fashion was heauenly the patterne whereafter God made vs was his own image being in subiection to god our creator but reigning as souereignes ouer all Gods creatures blessed in oure selues in our séede walking on a blessed earth enioying at will the fruits flours of pleasant paradise that image of heauē all our senses they were sette vpon pleasure wythout any lothsomenesse what sounded in the eare but the swéete and cōfortable voyce of Gods blessing Gods blessing was alway in our eies yea what was in oure mouth but Gods blessing Our labor was rest our reste was continuall our paines was pleasure and oure pleasure was eternall we sweated not for we had no neede to trauell we were ignorant of euill tasting of no corruptiō free from infirmities standing in the presence of God without feare beholding his glorious countenance without shame hauing health without danger of sickenesse enioying life without feare of death the fleshe and the spirite neuer striued the body obeyed the soule and the soule saued the body they were knit togyther with a fast bynding bande so that they might not departe the one from the other yea then was the body in better case than is nowe the soule separate from Chryste the soule was not subiecte to death nor the body in case to be corrupted of the duste neyther hell nor the graue nor dust nor death no not the feare of them mought touch or trouble vs so standing as God hadde appointed And such was the loue of God that he gaue all those heauenly commodities as a state of inheritance to our firste father to him and his heires for euer O goodly gift of God wherein the date is euer and a day and nothing betwixt heauē and earth excepted but only that the fruit of one tree might not be tasted But O fraile flesh O lykerishe lippes of earthly Adam that knewe not himselfe and considered not how mercyful and louing a God he had of his creator it did not content him to be a mā but he would be a God a Gods name he did not content him to rule and reigne ouer the insensible and vnreasonable but he woulde set his foote as farre forwarde as his Creator in whose handes he was as the brittle claye in the potters fingers Therefore when that man had so giuen ouer the seruice of God as rashly to break his holy commaundement and to deuour the forbidden fruite what then myghte the righteous Lorde doe of his iustice but plucke downe that presumptuous stomacke but set his face with furie against rebellious man but hate him but curse him and cleane caste him off as one that despised his goodnesse vnworthy of his fauour and vtterly to be reiected as the seruant of the Serpent the slaue of sinne and a méete helhounde for the Deuill Verily so are we without Chryste cursed creatures children of disobedience childrē of perdition euer rebelling againste the ryghteous God seruing the fleshe with his appetites gyuen ouer to concupiscence the lost sonnes of the lost father nothing heauenly but altogyther earthly vsing the worlde and the present life as a shadowe whose ende is eternall darkenesse and as a course to runne headlong to Hell being nothing but naked soules ashamed to stande in the sight of God no not the best of all were we as holy as holy Dauid but must be faine to saye after hym I haue sinned as whose righteousnesse are but rotten ragges all to bespotted with the foule blurre of sinne whose hope is desperation whose life is without lyght and whose desert is death So are we falne and our féete serueth vs not to get vp againe we are taken prysoners in captiuitie with the Deuill and we are not so ryche as to redéeme our selues for our desertes are but such that when we haue reckened all that we can doe yet are we but vnprofitable seruants but who is he that commeth so neere perfection as to performe that duetie to set his brother equall in loue wyth himselfe and to sette God before himselfe and that in al times all places and al respectes and who then is he that dare aduenture the tryall hereof and to stande to the extremitie of the lawe S. Paule hath tryed that way and gyueth vs a faire warning as that the lawe stoppeth euery mouth no flesh shall be founde righteous by that rule Let vs then cast aside those figge leaues whyche can not hide our nakednesse that is the deserts of the fleshe the deedes of the law for this waye we maye be sure to méete with that curse Cursed is he that abydeth not in all that is written in the lawe Let vs not make so litle of the loue of Christ and so much euacuate his crosse as to iustifie our selues by any lawe
broughte as a shéepe before hys shéerer that openeth not his mouth so was he brought before Annas Cayphas Herode and Pylate of whome he heard euill wordes ynough to moue his pacience but it was vnmoueable therefore he gaue them the hearing and answered their quarrelling questions with humble silence for pacience and silence they were two of the sharpest weapons he mainteyneth his kingdome withall Another saying of our Sauioure is this I gaue my backe vnto the smyters and my chéekes vnto the nippers I hid not my face from shame and spitting how that was tried true we know when our Sauiour was so roughly handled of Souldiers vnder Pilate now layd on with fistes now smitten with rods and how shamefully he was bespetted the Euangelist dothe most faithfully report and howe he helde hys backe to the tormenters what backbyting he had as well by euill entreatie as misreportes thereof Pylats bitter scurge may be for witnesse sufficiente another Scripture saythe he is broughte as a shéepe to the slaughter in suche manner did our Sauiour goe out of Ierusalem to the place of hys execution called Caluaria where hee was offered vp an innocent lambe and slayne as a sacrifice with bloude for our offences And so dothe the Prophete crie in the person of Christe pouring out hys complaintes and declaring the terrible pangs that he had on hys Crosse I am saythe he become a worme and not a man a shame of men and the contempt of the people all they that sée me haue me in derision they make a mow at me and nod the head saying he trusted in the Lorde let hym deliuer hym let hym saue hym séeing hée loueth hym agayne hée saythe I am lyke water poured out and all my bones are out of ioynt mine hart is lyke waxe it is moulten in the midst of my bowells my strength is dried vp lyke a potsherde my tongue cleaueth to my iawes and thou hast brought me into the dust of deathe for doggs haue compassed me and the assembly of the wicked hathe enclosed me they pierced my handes and my féete they gaue me gall in my meate and in my thirst they gaue me vineger to drinke they parted my garmentes amongst them and cast lottes vpon my vesture rebuke hathe broken my hart and I am full of heauinesse and I looked for some to haue pitie on me but there was none and for comfort but I founde none These were the sighes and sobbes vttered of the Prophet to be verified of our Sauioure whiles he was in that terrible horror and dreadfull anguish of soule as he lay like a lambe broken to the crosse and most bitterly bléeding to deathe for so farre dyd he submit himselfe in the cause of our redemption that he is made the most perfect patterne of all pacience so did the loue of God work in him that he was consumed euen of very zeale to hys house so was he turmoyled and tormented brused and broken racked and rent into péeces for euill deseruing seruauntes for our disobedience hée performed the vttermost poynt of obedience as Sainte Paule saythe he was obedient to the death the deathe of the crosse The fourtenth Chapter ¶ The sweetenesse of Gods loue fealt by a true and liuely fayth THis was the price paid for our redēption this was the purchase of our pardon euen the most precious bloudshéeding of the only begottē son of God so hath the merciful Lord stretched his loue towards the world in Christ euen to the top of the crosse and so to the bowels of the earth the bottome of the graue from whence he is risen to the right hand of the father ther to reigne vntill he haue troden his enimies cleane vnder his féete Now we to whome belonged nothing but shame and reproch may fréely glory without all suspition of vanitie we that in ourselues had no cause but to lament haue nowe good leaue to reioice reioicing in the Lord now may we withoute all feare triumph ouer our enimies with that sure Souldier of Christ say O death wher is thy sting O graue where is thy victorie May we now stay ourselues but to fal in admiration of gods infinite mercie and say with the Apostle O the déepenesse of the riches of God with the Prophet O Lorde what is man that thou visitest him or what is the sonne of man that thou so regardest him No man can haue greater loue than to giue his life for hys friendes What then mighte we now aske more at Gods hands what péece of loue is there nowe left which god hath not fully bestowed vppon vs for Christ is that good shephearde which layth downe his life for his shéepe O Lord what is man that thou shouldest so regard him O that mē would consider this loue of God which S. Iohn maketh so much of that he repeateth it again and againe In this saith he appeared the loue of God toward vs bycause God sente hys only begotten sonne into the world that we might liue through him And agayne herein is loue saith he not that we loued him but that he loued vs and hath sente hys sonne to be a reconciliation for our sinnes Let this sentence be well weighed The loue of God is a well conteyning the water of life whose operation is reconciliation whose riuers are righteousnesse whose streames wipe awaye the sands of sinne whose little drops refresh the hote hart of man flaming and boyling with the smoking fire of Gods furie and besides this it is a fountaine not forced but fréely springing of it selfe so saythe S. Iohn it is not a reward for a desert it is not loue for loue one for another but it is loue for hatred mercy without merite fauoure for falshoode pitie for obstinacie pardon for rebellion the payment of honoure for the debte of shame bringing hope for desperation and lyfe vnlooked for in place of deserued death thus dothe S. Iohn lay foorth the loue of GOD before vs as it were still harping on thys one string God so loueth the vvorlde and on thys playeth S. Paule also not without great pleasure in such sort that I thinke where it entreth the eare it may not but muche moue the hart for first he putteth the Ephesians in mind of their old estate in what case they stoode before they were called to the grace of the gospell that they so knowing them selues might the better knowe God hys goodnesse towardes them ye were saith he dead in trespasses and in sinnes yée in time past walked according to the course of the world and after the Prince that ruleth in the aire euen the spirite that worketh in the children of disobedience and here ioyning himselfe and his fellowes with the Ephesians among whome we also had our conuersation in times past in the lusts of our flesh and were by nature what were they the children of wrath as well as others Such were they such children are we
so he himselfe maketh comparison I am the breade of life your fathers did eate Manna in the wildernesse and are deade I am the liuing bread whiche came downe from heauen if any maÌ„ eate of this breade he shall liue for euer finally that God by the hande of his seruant Iosua conducted his people and sette them safe in the possession of CanaaÌ„ that lande so long looked for so commended that it should flow with milke and hony therein did he shew himselfe as a mightie so a most mercyfull God but blessed be the father of our Lord Iesus Christ whiche according to his abundant mercy hath begotten vs againe vnto a liuely hope by the resurrectioÌ„ of our Lorde Iesus Christ from the deade to an inheritance immortall and vndefiled and that fadeth not away This is that eternal possession whiche Christ hath purchased for vs with the price of his precious bloude euen the eternall and glorious kingdome of his heauenly father O blessed Bées that may be so happy as to swarme about Christ and to suck the swéete hony flowing from the floures of that Canaan verily there is heauenly hony eueÌ„ such as the eye hath not séen the eare hath not heard neyther yet hath euer entred into the heart of man that is it which God hath prouided for his beloued it was vndoubtedly a great losse which we had in Adam But thankes be vnto God we haue founde more in Christ than we enioyed before So saint Paule maketh conference of both estates for if by the offence of one death reigned through one much more shall they which receyue the aboundance of grace and of the gifte of righteousnesse reigne in life through one that is Iesus Christe O Lorde what is man that thou shouldest be so mindfull of him But herein is loue that Christe hath purchased vs a newe Paradise is gone to prouide vs a kingdome euen of his own kingdome doth he make vs fellow heires he rayseth vs togyther with him to the heaueÌ„ly places and with his crowne of thornes he hath gotten vs the crowne of glorie that euer florisheth and neuer fadeth although we eate not the fruite of the trée of the knowledge of good and badde yet may we be sure to auoyd the châ—king peare I meane to perish althogh we meete not with the trée of life which stood in the old Paradise yet in the high pillar of the Almightie God comming to Christe his heauenly table we shal not misse the worthy fruit to haue life euerlasting The fiftenth Chapter ¶ The assurance of such as take holde of Gods mercie freely offred in Christe THus haue we looked on and ouerlooked the beautifull worke of God concerning our regeneration in Chryste Iesus our Lorde we haue assayed to drawe vp that which was layd abrode now therfore to knit vp the knot and to make a through styche let vs cast asyde all selfe loue and sticke onely to the loue of the liuing God the true fountaine and wel of the water of life bearing still in mynde the saying of S. Iohn God so loueth the worlde and that he saithe herein is loue not that we loued him and that oure loue is but a fruite of the roote for so he saith therefore we loue him bicause he loued vs first let vs therefore begin to recken there where we haue to fetch all good things whether it be loue light or life eueÌ„ from that first fountaine whiche S. Iohn hath so set abâ—och before vs saying he loued vs first remeÌ„ber what he saith in whom God sheweth all his mercie without me ye can do nothing and what he saith to them that take parte with him to you nothing shall be vnpossible and aboue all things let vs consider the conditioÌ„ vnder which that deede of gifte passeth God hath giuen his sonne that whoso beleueth in him he should haue loue and life with God So doth God drawe vs vnto Christe as he pronounced by his Prophet he that beléeueth on him shall not be ashamed And Christe calleth vs vnto him come vnto me al ye that are heauy laden how may we come but by the foote of faith for whom he calleth theÌ„ he iustifieth and we being iustified by fayth haue peace towardes God through oure Lorde Iesus Christe by whome also we haue accesse through faythe sayth the Apostle vnto this grace wherein we stand for want of fayth it was that Christe was not receiued of his owne but the beloued beleeuers they receiued him to them he gaue the power to be the sonnes of God they are knit fast to Christe they are the body and he is the heade they are frée by him they are frends in one house felowes in one inheritance and sonnes of one father with our Lorde Iesus O how happy are we if we haue faithe for then are we chosen we are called we are iustified we are glorified God is on our side who may stand against vs what shall we now dout to obtaine at Gods hands for he that spared not his sonne but gaue him for vs al howe shall he not with him giue vs all things also we are Gods chosen who shall lay any thing to our charge Christ is dead he is rysen euen he to whome all iudgement is committed he maketh earnest sute and continuall request he pleadeth for vs who shal then condemne vs who shal separate vs now from the loue of Chryst Shall tribulation or anguishe or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword in all these things sayth S. Paule we are more than conquerors through him that loued vs And vpon this is he so bold that he sayth I am persuaded that neyther death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things presente nor things to come nor heigth nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lorde O let vs set this example of faithfull Paule before vs let vs holde fast the loue of God with him howe came he by that bolde and mightie spirite by the grace of God I am that I am sayth he againe we haue boldnesse and entrance by fayth in him that is in Christ Iesus wherefore his exhortation shall be moste necessarie at al tymes watch ye saith he stand fast in the faith quit you like men be strong let vs put on the armor of God let vs not feare to enter the fielde hauing Christ our Captaine aboue al let vs be sure to take with vs the shielde of faithe that hath S. Iohns warrant that therewith we may conquer the world as Christ hath done and S. Paules that therewith we maye quenche the fierie dartes of the wicked and S. Peters also that with the mightie force of faith we may mousell vp the bloudy mouth of that roring Lyon so we being armed and fortified with fayth we maye walke free without all feare now we