unto God without it The Apostle exhorteth us Rom. 12.1 to offer up our bodies a living sacrifice acceptable to God For it is said of Cain That he offered unto the Lord of the fruit of the ground Gen. 4.3 He brought an earthly dead liveless offering and was not accepted But Abel brought of the fat of the flock verse 4. He offered the Firstling of his fold a pure clean lively sacrifice unto which God had respect it was more excellent then his Brothers Heb. 11.4 How came this to pass The Apostle tells us it was by faith The life of faith is in death and by death that liveth when we are dead I am crucified with Christ yet I live and I live in the flesh by the faith of the Son of God Gal. 2.20 He had a life in the flesh after he was dead to the flesh Faith indeed shall cease but 't is not till the end of the second life The principal act of faith is exercised in death the death of Christ and is a conforming vertue or power unto the likeness thereof by mortification and offering up of the flesh with the affections and lusts unto death Gal. 5.24 God accepteth nothing but what is done in this faith by this faith in the Son of God John 15.5 Heb. 11.5 27. We read in 1 Sam. 15.9 That Saul spared Agag the King and the best of the spoil but that which was vile and refuse and good for nothing that he and the people utterly dastroyed Saul was an hypocritical Tyrant ambitiously aspiring to a Kingdom and got it God gave a King in his anger He that aimeth at the Scepter is not the best Saint 28. Saul was a right Machiavilian he knew the high way to the Crown When Ephraim spake trembling he exalted himself in Israel Hos 13.1 When he was mean and low in a poor condition and little in his own sight he could bow and cringe flatter fawn upon and comply with the vulgar bemoan and pitty the burdens of the poor people especially the good people of the land he could stand cap in hand to the meanest and like Absolom court them into a good conceit of his Clemency and care of their well-fare assuring them that if it were in his power to remedy it things should not be carried as they are but first he put himself into a souldiers posture 2. Sam. 15.1,2,3,4,5 Now he rode post in the right rode to be the head of the Tribes of Israel Commander in chief over the military Forces 1 Sam. 15.17 yea God himself might so far have his work to do under his proud design as to give him a Call to be King and fight his battles as is plain in the place cited which might confirm him in a good opinion of himself to undertake the Government especially if some musty Prophesies had been raked together and by a Court-Parasite particularly applyed to him 'T is as common for the highest as the meanest to be deluded and mistake or mis-use many passages of Gods Providence But now he is King he grows covetous and self-ended he falls upon the spoil and the prey of the enemy who seemed before to contemn all self-interest and advantage Sam. 15.19 His feigned and forged excuse of reserving it for Gods worship would not serve his turn How faulty then are those who do not so much as pretend any thing for Gods service but openly convert the common loss into their private gain This is that which will involve a Nation in broils and blood 29. But alas How many such Sauls hath the world seen since Sauls time who can part with that which is not worth the keeping but with-hold from God that which he requireth as his due If God call for the heart they bring him the lip and tongue only If God require spirit and Truth they offer in the mountain and at Jerusalem they put him off with complements out-side service formality and a State-Religion Dissembling Pharisees they exact and pay Tithe of Mint and Rue but neglect Judgement Mercy Faith the love of God and their Neighbour Mat. 23.23 When God commandeth the best and fattest to be given him they put him off with the leanest with the fruit of the ground If they pretend to dedicate the best unto God they intend to make their own advantage out of it They may refrain from Extortion Adultery c. but continue proud heady high-minaed covetous c. yet be very devout too fast twice in the week give a small Alms out of their superfluity and ill gotten goods pay Tithes give their Minister his due and applaud him censure all that be contrary-minded to them as prophane c. Isa 65.4,5 Luke 18.11,12 30. Those sacrifices are acceptable to God that are turned into ashes Psalm 20.3 This must be done by fire the heavenly fire of zeal and love which separateth and consumeth the gross body of flesh and turneth and reduceth all into a pure essential and spiritual body out of which ashet is made the savory salt of the heavenly nature which seasoneth all things And therefore the Lord is said to plead with all flesh by fire Isa 66.16 He hath his fire in Zion and his furnace in Jerusalem Isa 31.9 with which refining fire he doth purifie the sons of Levi that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in Righteousness Mal. 3.3 Mat. 3.12 No oblation in Righteousness but by fire 't is the fire of the Spirit that consumeth the fuel of the flesh Rom. 8.13 We must pass through water and fire before we can come into the wealthly place Psalm 66.12 Without fire we cannot subsist in the natural life much less can we perform the Actions of the spiritual life without it 31. Under the Law the daily sacrifice was not to cease Num. 28.3,4 and this Oblation was to be made by fire He that causeth this to cease is the He-goat Dan. 9.29 Dan. 8.11,12,13 The vile person Dan. 11.21,31 the Beast the Whore the false Prophet that speaketh lyes in the name of the Lord It is Anti Christ that setteth up a Religion in the world without the Cross Whosoever is zealous toward God without Self-denial Mortification and conformity to the death of Christ his zeal is not according to knowledge which will make him seek to establish his own in stead of Gods Righteousness Rom. 10.2,3 Whosoever rejecteth the Cross can be no true Christian Wherefore think it not strange concerning this fiery tryal also which is to come upon you as though some strange thing happened unto you But rejoyce rather although 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The righteous is not saved without great labour and pains hard strugling and striving sore Combats and Conflicts 1 Pet. 4.12,13,17,18 Make not that way too wide which God hath made strait All must go the narrow way who would enter into life For every one must be salted with fire and every sacrifice must be salted with salt Mar. 9.49 10. Tenthly 32.
on No man took it from him 1 Kings 20.11 John 10.18 21. Thus Christ when he was in the height of his perfection in perfect Glory filling all in all the fulness and end of the Law for Righteousness the Law-giver above the Law yet in the fulness of time was made of a woman made under the Law became a curse for us to redeem us from the curse of the Law Gal. 3.13 chap. 4.4 By this going back-ward of Christ unto the tenth degree of death we have hope of life to come His going back-ward was his progress to his journeyes end for his ways are not our ways but rather contrary to them Thus our true Joseph having been in prison and taken out from among men is afterward rightly called Zaphnath-paaneah i.e. a man to whom secrets are revealed or in the Egyptian tongue a Saviour of the world Gen. 41.14,45 Isa 53.8 John 3.17 chap. 12.47 Let us imitate our Lord for even hereunto are we called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps 1 Pet. 2.21 Let us resist unto blood striving against sin suffering in the flesh that we may cease from sin Heb. 12.4 1 Pet. 4 1. Ponder these things seriously 6. Sixthly 22. We cannot understand nor submit unto the Gospel unless we know and conform unto the death of Christ The sum of the Gospel is Christ crucified 1 Cor. 2.2 There is a dolefull doom denounced against all those that obey not this Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes 1.7,8,9,10 It is not enough for us to make our boast of the Gospel except we obey it no advantage comes by it Not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of the Father Mat. 7.21 He that doth the Will shall know the Doctrine John 7.17 Now we must know that every man is brutish in his knowledge and born a wild Asses Colt Jer. 10.14 Job 11.12 Psalm 92.6 Wherefore it is necessary that every man take up his Cross dayly and crucifie this brutish man which is so ignorant of the Mysterie of God and altogether uncapable to understand it and put on the new man which is created after God in Righteousness Holiness and Knowledge 1 Cor. 2.14 Eph. 4.22,23,24 Col. 3.9,10 The old must be put off before the new can be put on Obedience is the best Vsher unto knowledge 7. Seventhly 23. The grand Mysterie of iniquity worketh in the contrary Doctrine When the Devil suspected what ruine and desolation was like to come upon his kingdom by the death of Christ he did what possibly he could to save his life by Pilates wife And so he is still stirring some to be enemies to his Cross Phil 3.18 The old subtile Serpent argueth with us as he did with our first Parents Yea saith he doth God require such strictness and circumspect walking doth he think ye delight to afflict his creature the work of his hands will he have thee die mortifie and crucifie thy self Far be it from thee These things shall not happen unto thee Mat. 16.22,23 Hath not Christ suffered for thy sins hath not he made full satisfaction and done all for thee Is there any thing left for thee to do Canst thou add to the vertue of his blood Wilt thou fall back again to the Law and be justified by the works thereof Is not this flat Popery Away away with these legal and pensive thoughts they make thee melancholy dull and indisposed to good things Wilt thou separate not only from the prophane Gentile but from the outward and formal Jew also Canst thou by taking thought add one Cubit to his stature Were not the works finished from the foundation of the world Mat. 6.27 Heb. 4 3. Be not righteous overmuch neither make thy self over-wise Why shouldest thou destroy thy self Eccles 7.16 24. Look upon the high and mighty professors of the world Are not the preud among them happy and they that tempt God by Pride Ambition Covetousness Hypocrisie Perjury breach of Promises Covenants Vows Oaths and Protestations Rebellion Domineering are they not delivered delivered to do all abominations Doth not their Bull gender and faileth not have they not more then heart can wish so that pride compasseth them about as a chain and violence covereth them as a Garment Mal. 3.15 Jer. 7.9,10,11 c. Job 21.10 Psalm 73.4,5,6,7 Take thine ease eat drink and be merry to morrow shall be as this day Thus the crafty Serpent insinnateth his damnable Doctrine by his false Prophets into the minds of simple ignorant presumptuous Gospellers themselves Whereas the true Believer saith It is his meat and drink to do the Will of his Lord and Master John 4.34 To beat down his body and bring it into subjection 1 Cor 9.27 Nothing is more glory to him then such tribulation he takes pleasure in such necessity and distresses for Christs sake and is glad that he can die dayly that the world may be crucified unto him and he unto the world Rom. 5.3 2 Cor. 12.10 1 Cor. 15.31 Gal. 6.14 8. Eightly 25. Without this knowledge and conformity there can be no perseverance in Godliness The Hypocrite will not pray always he cannot many begin to run well but are driven back from obeying the Truth Gal. 5.7 They are clogd with the care of preserving the worldly life they are full yet with their youthfull lusts and the sins of their riper years These youths shall faint and such young men utterly fail because they do not eat and drink the flesh and blood of the Son of man that they might have life and strength to persevere they do not by eating and drinking incorporate the living bread and drink by a lively faith that they might grow thereby Isa 40.30 John 6.33.35,48,51 unto verse 59. 1 Pet. 2.2 2 Pet. 3.18 But the righteous shall hold on his way and he that hath clean hands that hath washt them in innocency in the innocent blood of the Lamb he shall wax stronger and stronger his light shall be as the shining light which increaseth to a perfect day Job 17.9 Prov. 10.29 and chap. 4.18 But they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength and mount up with wings as Eagles Psalm 103.5 Isa 40.31 The Eagle is sharp of sight swift and lofty in flight it can soar up and look upon the Sun So do all true Believers who have anointed their eyes with the spiritual eye-salve Rev. 3.18 which maketh them quick-sighted but then like Eagles they resort unto the Carkass Mat. 24.28 They have continual Recourse unto the crucified body of Christ refreshing themselves with that heavenly food turning it into the nourishment of their inward and new man and growing up therein unto a likeness and conformity unto that food These do not miscarry nor come short of their aim 9. Ninthly 26. There can be no due performance of any acceptable service
who omitted nothing that might tend to his conversion and reformation Now Christ by this word The Son of man goeth indeed c. but wo to that man c. and teacheth us not to hurt or persecute Christ in his members It is decreed that the righteous shall be afflicted all that will live godly shall suffer persecution But wo to them that do afflict them 1 Tim. 3. Matth. 18. Take heed that ye offend not one of the least of these Yet see the obstinate malice of Judas As he was nothing moved by that eminent Pattern of Charity which Christ gave him at and after Supper so is he as little moved by this hard and horrible commination And lest his silence should bewray him after all the rest had askt concerning themselves he throws out a malepert and snappish answer Is it I Master q.d. Thou canst suspect no such thing of me God forbid that I whom thou hast so far intrusted should prove so base and unworthy See here 1. The impiety of mans heart how it strives if possible to deceive God yea to make God a lyar 2. Notorious hypocrisie he durst call him Master whom he had resolved immediately to deliver to death 3. Obstinacy and impudence added to his malice which are most infallible signes of a most fearful judgement Christ warneth Judas but doth no good on him he foretels his judgement but he turneth the deaf ear Who would not here be afraid yea who would not pray with all his heart that he may never fall under such a judgement and into such hardness of heart Nor doth Christ yet discover him openly but only saith Thou hast said q d. thou hast plainly bewrayed thy self Ask thy own conscience That will accuse thee if I say nothing Indeed thou art that famous Apostle and faithful Minister upon whom I have so well bestowed all my kindnesses and who dost so excellently answer thy name and office Hold thy peace vile Traytor bear thy badge and pack hence to thy old confederates These things Christ spake to the Traytors conscience but did not point him out with the finger a Pattern to us not to disclose the close sins of others As t is a sin to charge a false crime on an innocent person so is it a sin to blazon a secret slip indeed because it is a breach of charity to our Neighbour Now there was leaning on Jesus bosom one of his Disciples whom Jesus loved John 13.23 verse 24. verse 25. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him that he should ask who it was of whom he spake He then lying on Jesus breast saith unto him verse 26. Lord who is it Jesus answered he it is to whom I shall give a sop when I have dipped it And when he had dipped the sop verse 27. he gave it to Judas Iscariot the son of Simon And after the sop Satan entered into him Then said Jesus unto him That thou doest verse 28. verse 29. do quickly Now no man at the Table knew for what intent he spake this unto him For some of them thought because Judas had the bag that Jesus had said unto him Buy those things that we have need of against the feast or that he should give something to the poor verse 30. He then having received the sop went immediatly out and it was night The nameless Disciple so honourably here mentioned was John who was more eminent then the rest for these two things viz. that Christ loved him and that he leaned on his breast and lay in his bosom And though he writeth this of himself yet he doth it without boasting but as it were compell'd to it that his Gospel might be confirmed by his own authority For if all the Evangelists be such competent witnesses that it is gross unbelief to question their testimony in the least This of all other witnesses deserves to be credited who was so conversant with and so near unto the Truth which he relateth that he lay in the very bosom of it he above all mortal men was admitted so nigh unto that word which boiled out of the heart of the Father and was made flesh that he resolved to make his tongue and pen trumpet it out louder than the rest As Paul being in a sort compell'd by the baseness of the false Apostles to commend himself among the Corinthians I am a fool saith he 2 Cor. 11. but ye have compelled me So doth John here by reason of some perverse Hereticks yet out of humility concealeth his own name Now whereas he leaned on his Lords breast that was either 1. By reason of over much sorrow and fear because of the word which Christ had spoken Or 2. Because of the sweetness which he tasted in the former words and works of Christ Or 3. From the abundance or muchness of his love which doth not so much mind what it is about so it may embrace its beloved Or 4. Lastly Out of extraordinary contemplation For t is possible that the extream intensness of his mind might cast him into a trance John 1. And questionless in that Rapture he might learn those sublime high things which afterward he wrote concerning the Divinity of the Word O how happy was this Disciple who lay so familiarly on his breast whom others thought it a great happiness but to see at a distance and to lie but at his feet Shew us thy face Psalm 80. and we shall be saved See the mildness of Christ He doth not thrust back this Disciple that leaned on him though it were at a feast where 't was little good manners so to do but accepted of this his respect and love and took it in good part Now that sweet and quiet repose on his Lords breast was a presage that he only of all the Apostles should die in peace and not suffer a violent death as the rest did as the event made it good And here we see also how truly Christ said Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Matth. 5. John 1. For these draw nearest to God and see him most clearly as this John did We saw saith he his glory c. From this leaning of John upon his Lords breast Peter took occasion to sift out who the Traytor was As we find him every where more eager and hot so now he is streightened solicitous and more inquisitive than the rest of the Apostles He would fain know the Traytor that he might prevent and hinder him lest the whole Colledge should be disgraced by so great a villany For this wicked lewdness of Judas was often cast in the teeth of the Apostles and other Martyrs Peter himself doth not ask the question for he never yet sped so well for his boldness though his love to his Master put him forward Matth. 16. John 13. It was said to him before Get thee behind me Satan And but now at Supper If I wash thee not thou hast
saith he I will smite the Shepheard c. In the Prophet it is thus Awake O sword upon my shepheard and upon the man that cleaveth to me saith the Lord of Hosts smite the shepheard and the sheep shall be scattered c. they are the words of God the Father speaking by a prosopopaeia to his Sword i.e. The wrothfull and mad Troop of the Jews who were armed with Swords and weapons of War to assault Christ when his time was come c. which is not spoken by way of command but Prophesie Let us distinctly consider the words of the Prophet 1. First he speaketh to the Sword and commands it to smite The Sword cannot strike Christ nor any Christian unless God command or permit it So Christ saith to Pilate Thou couldest have no power against me except it were given thee from above John 19. 2. He calleth Christ a Shepheard For he is that one and only Shepheard which God promised Ezek. 34. 3. God doth not call him a Shepheard only but the man which is his fellow by whom his Divine Nature is touched by the Humane For the Son is next of all to the Father he is one with him and altogether of the same substance and this none of the Jews could deny 4. Lastly The Prophet foretelleth the offence of the Apostles The sheep shall be scattered for what can they do when their Shepheard is smitten Christ did not a little affright the Apostles with these words which fear also was much aggravated by the night but lest they should be swallowed up of overmuch sorrow he doth comfort them withall Thus Christ suffers those that are his to be tempted yet will he not let them be wholly overcome And that he may solace them with the greater consolation he foretelleth his Resurrection thereby intending to comfort them again whom the thoughts of his death before had made sad his death being a Token of Gods chastisement for our sins Rom 4. But he was raised for our justification The meaning then is as if he had said It was as yee hear long since even from Eternity concluded in the counsel of God that I the Shepheard of Israel should be slain for the salvation of men and therefore I do most willingly yield my self to suffer It was also concluded in the same counsel of God that I should rise again As soon as ever this shall be accomplished I will be with you in Galilee yea more than that I will be there sooner than yee that I may gather my dispersed sheep together Take this for a Truth and believe it Matth. 18. Mark 16. c. And so indeed it came to pass as appeareth in Matthew and Mark. How great was he that had power to lay down his life and to take it up again John 10. The first shewed his Humanity the other his Divinity His humanity in that he dyed his Divinity in that he rose from the dead He could die and he could live again he could be buried and he could rise again In the one he was like unto us in the other he was not although as Paul saith We also shall rise again in our own order but not of our selves but of the Lord 1 Cor. 15. Now when proud Peter heard this he was again pufft up with the vain confidence of his own strength he answereth again and promiseth great matters Shall I saith he ever distrust thee desert thee be offended at thee Shall I be afraid to lay down my life for thee to die with thee I perceive Lord that thou dost lightly esteem my known and approved Faith Thou dost not know how highly I value thee But be thou sure of this that if all those my fellow-Brethren nay if all the world should be offended at thee yet will I never be offended Here is mans great presumption of himself though man be nothing but very meer vanity it self What dost mean Peter art not ashamed of this thy boasting why dost trust so much to thy own strength dost not hear Christ contradict thee who doth know thee better than thou dost thy self If thou dost esteem Christ at such a rate why dost not believe him and hold thy peace Didst thou ever find him false But his heat of Faith and ardent affection made Peter forget both the frailty of his own flesh and the verity of Christs words The same affection also emboldened the other Disciples to all constancy of service by an undaunted resolution of Faith Nor doth the Lord say any thing to the rest of the Disciples but accepts their good will and takes it in good part But he tels Peter again of his fall in the same words he did before that he might not say he was not warned beforehand but might become more wary for the time to come Verily I say unto thee c. Gods Word doth ever tend to the humbling and beating down our vain boasting in our own strength Jer. 17.5 Cursed be the man that maketh flesh his arm c. There is nothing more dangerous than this vain kind of confidence which yet is so rooted in our Nature that it can hardly be rooted out There be but few that with David can truly say from their heart I will love thee O Lord Psalm 18. my strength the Lord is my Rock c. Hence it was that the more Peter was warned of his own weakness the more pertinaciously did he persist in his presumption But he spake the more vehemently Yea though I should die c. Peter is here a figure of those who presume that they can go through all afflictions and death it self without assistance of Gods Grace These surely blaspheme against God and seek to make him a lyar nor are they able to stand to their own Resolutions Thus Peter 1. He said that he would break thorow stone walls and go thorow fire and water with Christ and all in his own strength 2. When Christ reproved his rashness he blasphemed and would have made Christ a lyar Thus it befals all those that will undertake to do any thing without the help of Grace So true is that of Christ Without me yee can do nothing It is God John 15. Phil. 2. saith Paul that worketh in us to will and to do c. These things happened to the Apostles for our admonition Christ let his Apostles fall fowly that if we have fallen we might not despair Peter fell that afterward he might deal more gently with the people of God Therefore it was said to him when thou art converted strengthen thy brethren It follows Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane Mat. 26.36 John 18.1 verse 2. Where was a garden into the which he entred and his Disciples And Judas also which betrayed him knew the place for Jesus oft-times resorted thither with his Disciples And said unto his Disciples sit yee here Matth. ibid. while I go and pray jonder We heard
so he might mollifie his mind and teach us to do the like The meaning is Friend wherefore art thou come q.d. I invite thee to be friends For as I foreknew what thou wouldst do so now I am ready to forgive thee and to receive thee into former favour and friendship again though thou hast thus sin'd against me Do not sleight my offer but consider what thou art attempting how wickedly thou dealest with me who have deserved no such thing at thy hands Friend wherefore art thou come Who did bring thee to me who forc'd thee hither Was it my fault Have any of mine offended thee But thou art come willingly of thy own accord The rest are commanded and compelled but thou comest and therefore thou hast the greater sin O Judas I pitty thee how doth thy destruction trouble me for whom I now suffer in vain Lo thou art the first on whom my blood hath no effect Why art thou come Surely not to my destruction but thine own because thou art come to destroy me by whom thou shouldest be saved For how can he be saved that would destroy the very Truth Righteousness and Salvation it self And these we may suppose were not spoken to Judas only but to all such as intend mischief to their Neighbours For truly he that wrongs his Neighbour doth first ruin himself Therefore Brethren let us look to it and give all diligence that we be not found false but reall friends of God and Christ As Abraham was called the friend of God James 2. and Lazarus the friend of Christ Joh. 11. And Christ doth not call his Apostles servants but Friends Joh. 15. But Judas was never the better for all Christs counsell It may be he thought that Christ spake this out of fear Therefore after he had kist him Christ cals him yet once more the last time and that with great expression of love and goodness Judas saith saith he dost thou betray the son of man with a kiss Now he doth lay open his sin and touch him to the quick he aggravateth the sin it self that so being terrified therewith he might forbear O Judas what a horrible sin dost thou commit What man durst ever do the like Dost thou only strive to out-strip all other men besides in malice and mischief Beware what thou dost Thou thinkest to cheat me with thy fawning flattery and to hide thy hatred from me But I knew long ago what thy purpose was and what bargain thou drovest with the Jews and what thou meanest by this thy treacherous kiss thou betrayest the Son of Man But consider what an hainous crime it is to destroy the innocent Consider also who and what he is whose life thou huntest after Grant it hitherto I have called my self only the son of Man but I will make thee see and know who this son of Man is Thou dost not destroy the son of man only but the Son of God too Thou betrayest them both at once Thou betrayest him that is thy Father by creation thy Lord by preservation thy Saviour by Redemption thy Brother by incarnation thy Master by instruction thy Friend by election and lastly him that will be thy Judge by a finall Retribution See how many sins thou committest at once and all by one kiss Thus thou woundest him by a shew of Love thou sheddest his blood by a seeming work of charity thou seekest his death in a way of peace what can be more odious then this horrid fact We see here how unwilling God is that any man should perish and how grievously they sin who are the occasion of others ruin and destruction As on the other side how honourably they deserve who are the means of others Salvation Jam. 5.20 Here Christ instructeth by his Example and Word By this Example he teacheth us 1. Patiently to bear with wicked men yea to bear the guil and treachery of false Friends as Christ did patiently bear the falshood of Judas for we that are servants ought not to be greater than our Lord. 2. So to love our Neighbour that we wink not at their faults as Christ here calleth Judas Friend yet withall he rebuked him for his sin By those two words which Christ here spake be would warn every man not to be like Judas lest they suffer as he did It were to be wisht that there were but one Judas in the Church of Christ We all indeed cry out against his malice but mean while we do the same things which we blame him for Judas was a covetous man and for filthy lucre he sold Christ He rob'd the poor of their Alms and gifts of charity He did not make it his business to preach Christ He was not converted at the preaching of Christ He took the Body of Christ in his sins He betrayed Christ under a colour of peace He was an hypocrite He was obstinate and impenitent c. How oft do we see these and such like things in a Church Is not he a Traytor that confesseth Christ with his mouth but denyeth him in his works Also he that doth contrary to righteousness truth charity c. for money or any other temporal advantage Likewise he that makes a shew of Love to his Neighbour but hateth him in his heart O cursed generation of Judas how many and deep roots hast thou fastened in the earth But the time will come when all the followers of Judas shall perish together with their Jewish frowardness Mean while let the godly like Christ bear and have patience with wicked men Now when Judas had kissed him no doubt but the rest run upon Jesus to lay hands upon lest the traytors sign being observed they should let him escape Therefore it follows in the Text When they which were about him saw what would follow Luke 22.49 they said unto him Lord shall we smite with the sword Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it John 18.10 and smote the high Priests servant and cut off his right ear the servants name was Malchus And Jesus answered and said Suffer ye thus far Luke 22.51 John 18.11 Mat 26.52 Then said Jesus unto Peter Put up thy sword into the sheath for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father and he shall presently give me more then twelve Legions of Angels The cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it John 18.11 Mat. 26.54 Luke 22.51 But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be And he touched his ear and healed him The Apostles understood not what Christ said at supper when he spake of buying a sword Christ meant the sword of the Spirit but they thought that he had spoken of a material sword Therefore they presently brought him two swords and now when they saw their enemies they asked whether they should fight in his defence But Peter as one hotter then the rest and flusht
with the late miracle which he saw when Christ with a word hurl'd all his enemies to the ground and not thinking of Christs answer draws his sword and falls about him as if he would valiantly perform what he promised Who would not take Peter for a very stout and valiant man that durst signly incounter such a company of armed men If we consider him carnally then he did notably discharge his Engagement that he would die with Christ Did he not lay down his life for Christ when he hazarded it in charging an army of men But his Lord did not so construe it Peter did this more out of carnal confidence than of spiritual faith Now indeed he was bold so long as he saw a divine Power in Christ but presently after Christ hid his Power Peters courage quickly grew cold Whence 't is plain that this his valour proceeded not from faith if it had it would have held out in danger For Faith is most couragious in difficulties There was love and zeal in Peter but not according to knowledge Christians are forbid to fight Mat. 5. If we would overcome the world it must be with another kind of weapon we can do little or nothing with a corporal sword Peter saw that the sons of Zebedee were chid for saying Master Wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume these Samaritans as Elias did Luke 9.54 Know ye not saith he of what spirit ye are of The son of man came not to destroy but to save mens lives This Peter heard and yet now he layes about him as if he would kill them all if he could The flesh ever loves fighting it seeks to revenge it self Peter did not yet understand that Christ must suffer Nay he did not know that Martial Discipline was never taught in the school of Christ but that patient submission was alwayes learned there Whereas Peter did that servant no more hurt no thanks to Peters good will but to Christs goodness who useth to do good to unworthy and unthankfull men otherwise fire from Heaven might more justly have consumed this servant or the earth have swallowed him up alive But whereas Peter did in special cut off this servants ear it was not by chance but by the Providence of God and that not without a Mysterie too 1. For First It signified that the Jews should from henceforth lose the true and right hearing or obedience of the Law and Prophets and should interpret all things in a wrong and not in a right sense which also is come to pass 2. But secondly Whereas Christ healed that servant it shewed that in due time they should be inlightned again by Christ when the fulness of the Gentiles was come in Rom. 11. 3. Thirdly Whereas he whose ear was cut off was the servant of the high Preist it she weth that this sort of men viz. the Parasites of great persons have for the most part but one ear only and that the left one whence it is that they only hear and report to their Masters those things only which are false wicked worldly c. but they will neither hearken to nor tell their Lords the truth the Word of God the Righteousness and good service of others 4. But lastly Whosoever is an enemy to Christ hath but one ear for he understandeth all things in a wrong sense and never cometh to the light of Truth The name also of this servant is exprest because of the miracle that was wrought on him in curing his ear again But let us return again to Peter who was now fallen under the power of the sword because he had taken up the sword And no doubt but he had felt the force of other swords if Christ had not protected him by his divine Power What doth Christ therefore do He reproved Peter and forbids him to use any such force or violence and that with many Arguments for Peter by this fact was many wayes to be reproved 1. First because every private person is forbid to use the sword 2. Secondly Because having been so long in the school of Christ he should have learned that the weapons of our warfar are spiritual mighty through God 2 Cor. 10. 3. Thirdly He was an Apostle yea the chief of the Apostles whose duty is to save not to destroy 4. Lastly Peter was most blame worthy in that he gave the first blow before any hurt was done either to him or to Christ Therefore Christ doth justly blame him more than the rest He speaks but one word to the rest Suffer ye thus far saith he q.d. It is a great work of Charity to preserve the life of our Neighbour and to defend him from violence but there is another business now in hand My Father hath appointed me to suffer and to die Let me alone therefore that I may suffer and accomplish those things which the Father hath determined to do by me for the salvation of men Suffer ye yet that I may be apprehended and perfect the work of your Redemption this he said to the other Disciples But he saith more to Peter at first Put up thy sword into his place q.d. Knowest thou not that I did chide thee before and called thee Satan for this very thing Mat. 16. Do not hinder my death but rather study to conform to it Throw away this thy sword with which thou dost kill and slay men My sword which I gave thee doth destroy and cut down sin but preserveth men Put up therefore that outward sword into the sheath or as the other Evangelists say into its place Now the proper place of the material sword is the ordinary Power Therefore hide thy sword here Let that Power use it not thou If the body be sick the Physitian is to cure it not the Plow-man So if any thing be amiss in the Mystical or rather the Politick body it concerns the Power to deal with it not every private person 1. Christ then doth hereby forbid all revenge to private persons as it is written Vengeance is mine I will repay it Deut. 32. 2. Secondly He teacheth us to overcome evil with good according to that Mat. 5. Ye have heard that it hath been said An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth But I say unto you Do good to them that hate you Christians ought not to defend themselves with swords and staves but with Humility Patience Gentleness Courtesies Learn of me saith he for I am meek and lowly in heart Mat. 11. 3. Again Christ doth hereby condemn our wrath and impatience who cannot put up and pass by a hasty word nor be content to requite with the like loss but must revenge our selves double and trebble contrary to that of Paul Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good Rom. 12. 4. Fourthly We are here taught that the Gospel is not to be fought for with worldly weapons and
that so from every bodies charge they might patch up a just accusation against him Caiaphas his Counsel was enough to stir up the people but it was not sufficient to regulate the Office of a Pagan Judge Yet Caiaphas would not have it spoken of him that he oppressed the innocent and therefore had tyrannically put Christ to death Wherefore he laid his plot so that because they could find no just cause yet at least they should seek out some fair pretence to destroy Christ For he knew that the first thing that would be enquired into about the death of the man would be for what cause he suffered and what his crime was that made him deserve to die and if no just reason were given for it the power would be accused of Tyranny This Caiaphas knew well enough therefore he doth first hunt after a sufficient ground to kill Christ The next way to obtain this is by Evidences Testimonies prove the crime and the crime makes lyable to death Thus innocent Naboth was hated by King Ahab to the very death 1 King 21. but that he might rid him out of the way there must be good ground for that and to bring this about there were false witnesses suborned and so sentence of death was pronounced against the innocent The same did some ungodly men attempt against Daniel whom truth it self miraculously delivered from his false witnesses Dan. 6. So Saint Steven was stoned to death by false witnesses Act. 7. The like proceedings were there in the judging of Christ See what righteous Judgement and what a holy Council was here Christ was now in hold bound buffered and many wayes abused by the servants and yet no man knows why or wherefore he was accused Wicked men use to condemn before they know the crime Thus Saul cut off the Priests of the Lord before he heard them or before they were convinced by any 1 Sam. 22. So Jehoiakim slew Vrijah the Prophet Jer. 26. Ungodly men say as they did Jer. 18. Come let us smite him with the tongue and let us regard none of his sayings Thus Satan hurryeth the hearts of wicked men with a spirit of giddiness But these men exceed and do more For they labour all they can to find out false witness against Christ knowing they could find no true evidence And all this they do in the night of the Passover when they should have eaten the Lamb. Mean while they accuse Christ as a transgressour of the Law whereas but of late he had eaten his Lamb with great devotion But those wicked men did most notoriously neglect the Law and greedily thirst after innocent blood In this Council there was nothing but wrath envy hatred and violence raigned All the cry was kill slay destroy crucifie c. This is that Council of which the holy Patriarch Jacob of old spake saying Simeon and Levi are Instruments of cruelty O my soul enter thou not into their secret cursed be their anger for it was fierce c. Gen. 49. In this Council was fulfilled that which David in the person of Christ foretold long since in many of his Psalms They gaped upon me as a ramping and roaring Lyon Psalm 22. Again They that seek my hurt speak mischievous things and imagine deceits all the day long Psalm 38. Again They have sharpened their tongues like a Serpent Adders poyson is under their lips Psalm 140. Their throat is an open sepulchre c. Psalm 5. False witness did rise up they laid to my charge things that I knew not Psalm 35. They opened their mouth wide against me and said Aha Aha our eye hath seen it ver 21. This thou hast seen keep not silence O Lord be not far from me False witnesses are risen up against me and such as breath out cruelty Psal 27. See how many things David prophesied of this Council Their rage was nothing humane but altogether hellish and devilish for they did not rave to satisfie their rage but rather to kindle and inflame themselves more yet Therefore they let nothing slip that may encrease their fury But what good did they get by forging false witness against Christ For however many false witnesses came yet no full proof could be made of any charge For what one witnessed for a truth the next varied from him so their witness did not agree just as it was in the story of Susana And no wonder for when Testimonies are false in themselves they can never agree together Here then the great and unblemishable innocency of Christ was cleared and fully proved to all men as one whom so many false witnesses were not able to accuse falsly and so many enemies that took their oaths against him could not find so much as the shadow of any cause against him First then let Christians here learn so to live that their enemies may not be able to speak ill of them Secondly but let Bishops and Ministers be here taught by this Example that they behave themselves blamelesly Finally That Christs innocency may yet shine more brightly two false witnesses arise this was their proper name by which they wree called inasmuch as they did not rightly relate the words or meaning of Christ These stand up and are confidently perswaded that they shall bring in just ground enough to make away with Christ O desperate knaves how durst ye lye so against the very Truth yea against God himself to curry favour with a wicked man Is this your keeping the Law which commandeth that none should bear false witness against his Neighbour Go to speak on we will hear what ye have to say We say they did hear him say that he could destroy the Temple of God c. Here they tell a lye at first they speak false not only as base fellows but as per jur'd Rogues Our Lord Christ never spake those your words how then could you hear them from him But thus indeed he did say Destroy this Temple and in three dayes I will raise it up And that we may know of what Temple he spake John saith He spake this of the Temple of his Body John 2. The Jews Temple was built with hands but Christs Temple that is his Body was built without the workmanship of man How do these words of Christ agree with the Testimony of these Villains Christ speaks of his Body which not he but the Jews would destroy he would only raise up the same again But these witnesses speak of the Temple of stone which was built in the dayes of Esdras and Zorobabel which Temple also Christ highly honoured as Haggai prophesied chap. 2. The dissolution and destruction of this Temple belonged to Titus the Emperour and the Romans Why do ye not hale him before your Tribunals and produce your witnesses against him who did indeed destroy your Temple Could ye find no claw at Christ but your Temple Thus did ye afterward to Saint Stephen Act. 6. But what 's become of your Temple now We