being all figures of the sacrifice of Christ ordeined of god to bee f Leu. 4.2 offered for the sinnes of the people do euidenly prooue that Gods people for whome Christ was offered are all polluted with sinne It is true that the auncient Israelites were greuously a Exo. 1.11 c oppressed in Aegipt by the tiranny of Pharao from thence b Exod. 14.1 deliuered by the commaundement of God through the conduction of Moses but with all therby is prefigured that we bee all through sinne became slaues to Satan in this world and through the wil of God by the power of Christ deliuered from that spirituall captiuitie The Prophets Christ and the Apostles teache that they for whome Christ died are c Rom. 5.8 steined with sinne d 1. Tim. 1 15 transgressours of Gods lawe e Gal. 3 13. and subiect to his curse Esaye propheciyng of our redemption calleth vs f Esa 53 4. weake g 53.5 wounded and sinfull h 53.6 Christ speaking of the same matter pronounceth i Mat 9 12 That the whole need not a phisition but they that are sicke k Mat. 9.13 And that hee came not to call the righteous but the sinners to repentance And Paule speaking of the accomplishment of oure saluation leaueth it thus recorded l 1. Tim 1 15 This is a true saying and by all means worthy to be receaued that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners * That christ saueth sinners teacheh vs two things our owne misery 2 gods mercye It may be the some wil demaund why I vrge so greatly thys point I answere Chiefly for two causes * 1. our own misery First to teach vs by acknowledging of our sinnes a Mat 23 12 to humble oure selues vnder the mightie hand of god that hee may aduaunce vs b Ioh. 3.16 and to seeke vnto christ by fayth that hee may deliuer vs knowing that c 11 32 God hath shut vppe all in vnbeliefe that hee might haue mercy on all And to this ende doth Paule dispute mightily in the Epistle to the Romaines prouing that d Rom 3 20 by the vvorkes of the law no flesh can be iustified in the sight of God But that e 24 wee are iustified freely by grace through the redemption that is in Christ concluding that f 28. a man is iustified by fayth without the workes of the law * 2 Gods mercy Then to sette before the eyes of our mindes the exceeding measure of the loue of God towardes vs g Io. 3 16 which so loued the world that he hath giuen his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleueth in him shuld not perish but haue eternall life But seeing h Rom 5 10 God hath thus loued vs when we were hys enimies that he reconciled vs vnto himself by the death of his Sonne ought not we then a Eph 5 1 to be followers of god as deare children 2. and to walk in loue as Christ hath loued vs and giuen himselfe for vs to be an offering and a sacrifice of a sweete smelling sauour to god Hetherto concerning the persons for whome christ died euen for vs miserable sinners * 5 This sacrifice was offered to God The fifth circumstance in our redemption diligently to bee considered is vnto whome this holy sacrifice was offered by Christ for our reconciliation This doth Paule in this text euidently shewe when as hee teacheth that it was offered b Eph 5 2 to god When parties at vnitie growe to discorde then is there occasion offered of reconciliation whiche cannot be accomplished but by the good discretion of a dayes-man by whose meanes the partie offending is reconciled to the party offended So stoode the case betweene god and man continued in that perfection c Gen 1 26. wherein God had created him 5.27 But when Man had transgressed the lawes of his God d Gen 3 6.7 by eating of the forbidden fruite then grew there discorde betweene God and Man Man the creature Man the party offending God offended became the partie offending and God the creator the partie offended But such was the peril of this falling out a Gen 2 17 that Man became subiect to gods wrath and iudgment Hence grewe the occasion of an holy reconciliation wherein the fauour of God onely which was offended was to be obtayned for Man onely whiche had offended Christ the Dayesman But what fit days-man could than be found to reconcile man vnto God Onely Christ both God mā as more at large before I shewed And how then God woulde not that this reconciliation should be wrought by diminishing the least iote of his iustice * The iustice of God considered in two pointes 1 obedience punishment Heerein standeth the iustice of God vrged by him in this reconciliation 1. That mankinde keepe the lawe giuen 2. That man-kinde be punished for the law broken And thus was hee affected vnto whome the sacrifice of pacification was to be offered Marke now the discretion of christ our dayes-man In his Manhead hee b 2 Cor. 5 21 obeyeth Gods lawes In his man-head hee is c Pet 2 22 punished for the breache of Gods lawes hee obeyeth Gods law by his innocent life * Obedience yelded by Christs innocent life He is punished for the breache of Gods lawe by his dolorous death By his obedience he satisfieth Gods iustice By his suffering * punishmēt sustained by Christs dolourous death he pacifieth Gods wrath Thus did Christ our dayes-man offer himself obedient and patient to God the partie offended so to winne his fauour to Man the partie offending By thys meanes Christ a 2 Cor 5 21 which neuer committed sinne made himselfe to be reputed a sinner for vs that we which are ful of sin should be reputed in him righteous before God That b Gal 3.13 he becomming accursed for vs 14 we might become blessed thorough him So was it necessary that vnto God this sacrifice shoulde be offered that we therby vnto god might be recōciled Of this point this much may suffice * 6 This sacrifice wrought our full redemption The sixt and last circumstance of our redemption proposed by Paule in this text to oure consideration sheweth vvhat effect this sacrifice wrought and vvhat successe Christ had in this his attempt thus to recōcile mankinde vnto god This point is therfore the more deepely to bee considered because therein eyther is the rising againe into consolation or the downfall into desperation For if Christ preuailed in this his mediation then are wee saued but if hee fayled then are wee damned Paule therefore to heale the wounde of the conscience pearced with sin concludeth that this Sacrifice thus offered by Christ yeelded a Eph. 5 2 as a sweete smelling sauoure in the nose-therles of God By this metaphoricall speach borrowed from the manner of offering
incense and burnt Sacrifices the Apostle sheweth that b Esa 53 10 the deuise of the Lorde prospered in the hand of Christ That is to say that c Gen 3 15 Christ the seed of the woman hath troaden downe the head of the Serpent That d Heb 10 14 christ our high priest with this his one offering hath consecrated vs for euer vnto God whiche are sanctified That Gal 3.13 Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the lawe f Deu 21 23 being him selfe made a curse for vs That g Heb 10 16 the Lord in the bloud of his son hath made with vs his elect his new couenaunt that he will put his lawes in our heartes and write them in our mindes 17 And that hee will remember no more our sinnes and iniquities And this is the mightie effect of the gracious reconciliation mercifully vndertaken wonderfully accomplished by Christ our Lord. I shewed before that the oblations and Sacrifices of the old lawe were all figures of the Sacrifice of Christ and their Priest-hood a sine of his priest-hood Then must it proportionably follow The acceptatiō of christs sacrifice figured in the approbation of the oblations sacrifices of the Fathers that the acceptation of their sacrifices before god was also a figure of the allowance of the sacrifice of Christ a Gen 4.4 So had the Lorde in ancient time respect vnto Habell and vnto his oblation b Heb. 11 4 insomuch that god himself testified of his giftes c Gen. 8.21 So did the Lord smell a sweete fauour from the vvhole burnt offering of Noah after the floud offered vpon the alter d Leu. 9.24 2. Chro. 7 1. So did the Lorde eftsoones send down fire from heauen which consumed the burnt offeringes and the sacrifices whiche in his lawe he had appointed to be offered to him What shall wee thinke Doth the Lord delight in bulles flesh and in the bloud of goates e Psal 5 8 9.10.11 12.13 No But the Lord our god by accepting these sacrifices prefigureth the allowance before hys maiesty of the sacrifice of Iesus christ whereof these were shadowes and figures as before I sayde Thus was a Heb. i9 28 Christ once offred to take away the sins of many 24 is entred into the very heauens to appeare novv in the sight of god for vs * 26. vvho by the sacrifice of himselfe hath put avvaye sinne b Psal 110.4 Heb. 5.6 remaining a priest for euer after the order of Melchisedech and is set dovvn at the right hand of god the Father in povver and glorie c Psal 110.1 Mat. 22.44 vntill his enemies be made hys foot-stoole And this much concerning the last point of our redemption The conclusion exhortatory Seeing threfore brethren that I may conclude the whole with the wordes of holy scripture that by the bloud of Iesus vve may be bold to enter into the holy place Heb. 10.19 By the nevv and liuing vvay 20. vvhich he hath prepared for vs through the vayle that is his fleshe And seeing vve haue an high Priest vvhich is ouer the house of god 21 let vs dravv neere vvith a true heart 22 in assurance of fayth our hearts being pure from an euill conscience 23. And vvashed in our bodies vvith pure vvater let vs keep the profession of our hope vvithout vvauering for he is faythfull that promised And let vs consider one an other 24. to prouoke vnto loue and to good vvorkes .. Not forsaking the fellovvship 25 that vve haue among our selues as the manner of some is but let vs exhort one an other so much the more because ye see that the day draweth neer So shal we be followers of god as deere children and walk in loue euen as Christ hath loued vs * Eph. 5.1.2 and giuen him self for vs to be an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling sauour to god which the Father of heauen and the god of all mercy worke in our hearts for Iesus christes sake by the operation of his holy spirit vnto whom father son and holy ghost three persons and one true omnipotent gracious glorious and eternal god be al honour and glory prayse power and dominion for euer Amen ¶ FINIS
dearely beloued in the Lord that hee giueth vs not onely his blessed worde to become (a) Deu. 8.3 Mat. 4.4 Luc. 4.4 the foode of the soule but also (b) Mat. 22. faythfull Ministers to breake vnto vs the same Hee sent vnto his auncient people descended from Abraham the Patriarche according to the fleshe his holy Prophetes (a) Esa 1.1 Ier. 1.1 Ezech. 1.1 Ose 1.1 Amos. 1.1 Abdi 1.1 Hab. 1.1 Ag. 1.1 Zach. 1.1 Mal. 1.1 * The suÌ„me of the Prophetes doctrine Ier. 7.21.22 to expounde the lawe to them (b) Esa 5.11 to denounce his curses to the obstinate (c) Psal 1.1 to publishe his blessinges to the penitent and (d) Ier. 31.31 to foreshewe the newe couenaunt betweene God and Man in Christe the Messias then to come (e) Esa 8.1 Hab. 2.2 And the same Prophets by the instinct of Gods holy spirite committed to writing for the instruction of the posteritie the summe of the deuine Sermons which they preached to the people Hee hath sent vnto his newe people (f) Io. 11.16 Rom. 3.29 gathered to geather of the beleeuing Iewes and beleeuing Gentiles thorowe faith in Christ his Son his blessed Apostles * The suÌ„me of the Apostles doctrine (g) Mat. 28.19.20 Mar. 16.15 Act. 2.38 to preach repentaunce for the remission of sinnes (h) Rom. 6.1 c. to teache newnes of life to the glory of God (i) Heb. 4.12 and to testifie the performance of the new couenant between God and Man in Christ the Messias in their time exhibited And least the Church of God (k) Num. 12.17 1. Cor. 4.1 which is his houshoulde should want the least crumbe of his heauenly foode the same holie spirite hath mooued the Apostles and Disciples of Christ (a) Io. 20.31 Reuel 1.19 to recorde in writing the historie doctrine and prophesies of the newe couenaunt Soe bountiful a Father is our God which giueth vs plentie of heauenly foode so prouident a Lord is he whiche sendeth vs from age to age faithfull disposers thereof * The suÌ„me of Gods word The summe of the whole word of God so gratiously giuen so faithfully taught and so necessarilie written is contained in two pointes true fayth and godly life * The methode of the Epistle to the Ephesians The Apostle Paule hath exactlie obserued this methode in this his heauenly Epistle written to the Christians of Ephesus For in the first three chapters hee prooueth that we are (b) Rom. 3.20 28. iustified not by our workes (c) Lu. 17.5 but by faith which is the (d) Ephe. 2.8 Gift of God And in the three last chapters he sheweth that works be necessary because they are the (e) Gal. 5.22 fruites of faith (f) Iam. 2.18 whereby our profession is adorned (g) Mat. 5.16 and God glorified O that this lesson were as well practised as it may easely be learned then should we be (a) Ia. 1.22 not onely hearers of the worde but doers of the same The Apostle hauyng taught this doctrine to the Ephesians and that most plentifully for the space of (b) Act. 20.31 three yeares and being therefore become (c) Ephes 3.1 a prisoner in Rome committeth to writing the summe of his doctrine for the confirmation of the faith of the Ephesians the instruction of the ages to come Herein he imitateth the auncient Prophetes whose maner was briefly (d) Esa 8.1 Abac. 2.2 to put in writing that whiche largely they taught Such loue bare Paul to the flocke of Christ so perfect a paterne is hee of a godly pastor Now for somuch as it is so necessarie to learne to beleue aright (e) Act. 13.39 Rom 3.28 that thereby we may be iustified and to liue a right (f) Mat. 5.16 that thereby God may be glorified I esteemed this text very fitte for this auditorie because therein the Apostle briefly coÌ„prehendeth both those pointes although in an altered order * The distribution of the text first speaking of life and then of fayth If the profession of Christians were nothing els but an idle speculation then were it somewhat to be able to talke 〈◊〉 Religion although wee liued not religiously But Christ the authour of truth and the wisedome of his heauenly father hath taught vs that (a) Mat. 7.21.22.23 â—â—ayn we call him our Lord except 〈…〉 wil of his father reuealed vnto 〈◊〉 his word Iames as a faithfull doâ—â—r in the schole of Christ exhorteth vs to (b) Iam. 1.22 be doers of the word not hearers onely deceiuyng our selues what greater care theÌ„ ought Christians to haue than by their godly liues to make their holy conuersation to shine in the world to the glorye of God the edifying of his Churche to the testimonie in their owne consciences that they be his children * The vse of Gods lawe And lest wee should wander out of the way of righteousnes by framing vnto our selues a fayth according to our foolishe fantasies or a life agreable to our curious imaginatioÌ„s God hath giuen vs his lawe (c) Psal 1.2 to meditate therein both day and night Yea and that we may bee effectually stirred vp to serue our heauenly Father without feare a Luc. 1.74.75 in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our life hee dealeth with vs in his word diuersly For sometimes hee b Deu. 11.27 promiseth his blessinges to vs if we obey his statutes Sometimes he c 28. threatneth his curses if we transgresse his ordinaunces sometimes he d Esa 1.2 prouoketh vs with the remembraunce of his benefites bestowed vpoÌ„ vs Sometimes he e Pro. 3.11 Heb. 12.5 c. Imitation chasteneth vs with his fatherly correction for our ameÌ„dement Vnto these and many other meanes of our instruction set forth vnto vs in Gods word S. Paule in this place addeth the very example of God himselfe to be imitated by vs exhorting vs to be f Eph. 5.1 followers of God as deare children Herein appeareth the godly discretioÌ„ of the Apostle who wel considering that we are as childreÌ„ not able to practise the preceptes of obedience except we haue a paterne to imitate layd before vs nurtereth vs by this meanes in the way of righteousnesse * Now that we erre not in this imitatioÌ„ taught by the Apostle * Foure things are to be obserued in this imitation we must carefully obserue foure thinges The first Who is to be imitated The second Why he that is to be followed is to be imitated The third Wherein he is to be imitated The fourth Of what maner that thyng is wherein hee is to be imitated * 1. God is to be imitated Paule meaning to teache vs by imitation to leade a Christian life proposeth God himselfe to be imitated by vs Saying a Ephes 5.1 Be ye imitators of God Herein we haue a mirror of Gods mercy towardes vs which
loue doth not What loue doth not Paule layeth downe plainly when as hee sayth c 1. Cor. 13.4 Loue enuieth not loue boasteth not it selfe loue is not puffed vp Loue doth none vncomely thinges 5 loue seeketh not her owne thinges loue is not prouoked to anger 6 loue thinketh none euill loue reioyceth not in iniquitie 8 loue neuer falleth away And doe wee such thinges and yet we are in the way Surely then Paule was farre out of the way which thus described the marke of the waye by the negatiues Well my brethren let vs not deceiue our selues for god neither mocketh a Gal. 6.7 nor is mocked * 2. VVhat loue doth But what doth loue that we may know the work of our way by the affirmatiues also Heare Paule speake b 1. Cor. 13. 4. Loue suffereth long loue is bountifull loue reioyceth in the trueth 6 Loue beleueth all thinges 7 loue indureth all thinges And can wee be in the way except we do these things No vndoubtedly For this is the vndoubted marke of the waye O then deare brethren let vs bring forth the fruites of Loue that it may appeare we walke in loue So shall wee be blessed being c Iam. 1.22 not onely hearers of the word but doers therof So shall we not deceiue our owne selues Wee delight greatly to talke of Loue God graunt we may learne to walk in Loue. And this muche of the marke of the waye wherein all true Christians ought to walke * 3. The manner of walking in this way must be a continuall exercise of godlynesse Now wee come to the third circumstance of this waye of righteousnesse which is the path for the childrâ— of God vpon earth to walke in Foâ— it is not inough to walke in this way whereof I first spake and by the marke to know the way which point was lastly handled but we must also learne the maner of walking whereby our iournieng is brought to an happy end And this is the maner of our spirituall walking that we walke continually in the Loue of God and our Neighbour a Gen 17 7 The league whiche God made with Abraham and hys seed b Gal 3 9 which are we if we be indued with the fayth of Abraham was not momentary but perpetuall c Gen 17 1 7 And this is the league that the almighty wil be our God in perfourming hys good promises and deliuering vs froÌ„ euils not for an houre or a day or a yeare but for euer and that we walk before him and be perfect not for an houre or a daye or a yeare but d Luc 1.74 74 all our liues long For as the protection of God to vs his people is continual so is it meet that our obedience vnto him our God shuld be continual also and this continuall exercise of godlyâ—esse did god inioyne Abraham and â—s in Abraham when as at the coueâ—aÌ„t making he said vnto him a Gen 17 1 Hithâ—aller lephanai which by the proprietie of the Hebrue verbe in the coniugaâ—ion Hithpael wherein it is vsed doth signifie a continuall walkyng before the Lord in perfect obedieÌ„ce vnto his lawes And least we should want a coÌ„fortable example to lead vs on in this coÌ„tinuall exercise of dutifull obedieÌ„ce to our God b Gen 5 22 24 In Hebrue Ijthallec in English Hee walked continually Enoch is reported to haue walked continually with the Lord all his life loÌ„g c Gen 5 23 euen 365 yeares in that hee folowed not the naughtinesse of his age neither was steined with the corrupt worshipping of god with other but worshipped him continually according to his commaundementes in fayth integritie of hart and innocencie of life whom the Lord of his free fauour d Gen 5 24 Heb 11 5 did translate that hee should not see death Oh happy man so long in seruice with so good a Lord Oh blessed god acceptyng so mercyfully in the Messias the obedience of his seruaunt And shall we leaue soâ— sweete an example vnimitated Oâ— shall we neglect so great graces oâ— perpetually blisse purposed vnto vs in so certaine an example god forbid For there can be nothing in this lyfe more sweete then continually to serue the Lorde neither can there bee any thyng after this life more excellent then continually to liue with the Lord. And both these thynges are proposed vnto vs in this excellent example Oh let vs then my brethren not thinke it tedious to walke continually in loue Now let vs consider on the contrary part how perilous a thing it is not to walke continually in due obedience before the Lord whiche the Apostle intendeth here when as he exhorteth vs a Ephe. 5.12 to walke in loue Herein the example of the Israelites behauiour in their coÌ„myng forth of Egypt may stand vs in good steede For god b Num. 14.22.23.29.30 denied entraunce into the land of promise c Exod 3.8.17.13.5.32.3 Deut. 6.3.11.9 whiche flowed with milke and honie vnto all those Israelites which in their hartes turned backe in the wildernes to Egypt a Num. 14.24.30 and graunted the same â—nely vnto Iosuah and Caleb his serâ—auntes whiche walked continually iâ— the way with chearefull myndes in full assuraunce of the performance of gods promisses But besides the truth of the historie b Psal 95.11 Heb. 4.8.9 the temporall rest in the land of promise is a figure of the euerlastyng rest in the kingdome of heauen If therefore God thus punished the neglecting of his temporal gifts how much more wil he be reuenged vpon the contemners of the spiritual graces We may not then looke my brethren to enter into the kyngdome of God except we walke on coÌ„tinually in loue which is the way that leadeth into euerlasting life We know litle in the spirituall rynnyng if we know not c 2. Tim. 2 9 that they onely receiue the garland which runne to the end of the race Wee are ignorauÌ„t in the spirituall husbandry if we bee ignoraunt d Luc. 9.26 that hee whiche putteth his hand to the plow and looketh backe is not worthy of the kingdome of God Wee wotte not to whome blessednesse belongeth if we wot not that it belongeth to them onely a Mat 10 22 24 13 Mar 12 13 whiche perseuer vnto the ende So then it followeth that nothing is more required in the children of God than a contiâ—all exercise in all godlinesse How caâ— we be starres in the Lords firmamenâ— b Dan 12 3. Mat r 3 43 except we shine continually in holines Or souldiers in his campe c Mat. 24 42 25 13 26 41 Mar. 13 33 except we stand continually vpon our watch against the spirituall aduersary Or trees of his garden of Eden d Psal 1 3 except we grow continually by the vertue of the sappe of his spirite And can wee be his passengers vnto the heauenly Ierusalem e Mic 2.10
and without In which description as all thinges are most excellent so this is most comfortable vnto the elect that whereas he saw no temple he yealdeth the reason a Reue. 21 22 23 For the Lorde God almightie and the lambe are the temple of it Adding And this city hath no need of the sun neither of the moone to shine in it for the glory of God did light it the lambe is the light of it 24 And the people which are saued shall walk in the light of it And the kinges of the earth shall bring their glory and their honour vnto it And the gates of it shall not be shut by daye 25 for there shall be no night there 26 And the glory honor of the Gentiles shall bee brought vnto it 27 And there shall enter into it none vncleane thing neyther whatsoeuer worketh abhomination or lyes but they which are writteÌ„ in the lambs booke of life O gracious God which in mercie hast prepared so glorious a place for thy seruauntes Thy name be praysed Thy name be praysed But calling to mind our filthines through sinne let vs a Reuel 7.14 washe our robes through faithfull repentance in the bloud of the lamb that they may become white and let vs glorifie Gods name by a godly life that it may appeare that we are his children Otherwise wee may not promise to our selues the fruition of that rest And this much concerning the ende of the way which is euerlasting life * 4. The loue wherein God must be imitated must be vnfained sincere and free Now followeth the fourth end last point of the text How God is to be imitated in loue And this doeth Paule laye downe in these wordes b Ephe. 5.2 Euen as Christ hath loued vs and hath giuen himselfe for vs to be an offering and a sacrifice of a sweete smelling sauour to God Heere the Apostle sheweth what maner of loue it is by the practising whereof God is imitated Namely that wee loue God and one an other vnfeynedly sincerely and freely without regard of merite For not euery shew of loue is allowed before God but that loue onely * The obiect of our loue double whiche is agreeable to the nature of that whiche is loued Then since the obiect of our loue is double a Mat 22.37 39 mar 2.30 31. luc 10.27 god and our Neighbour let vs view their natures apart * 1. God God is b Ier. 10.10 Ioh. 17.3 1. thes 1.9 true c Leu. 11.44.19.2.1 Pet. 1 16. holy and the d Iam. 1.17 fountayne of all goodnesse Therefore it is meete that we should loue him for himselfe with an vnfayned sincere and free loue Our Neighbour be it hee be an heathen yet is he an excellent creature of God e Gen. 1.26 27.5.1 made after his image and similitude * 2. Our neighbour Therfore to be beloued for the Creators sake vnfaynedly sincerely freely How much more ought our loue to be such toward our Christian neighbor considering f Ephe. 4.24 Col. 3.10 that in him the image of God g Rom. 5.17 which was decayed by Adam is renued through christ h Ioh. 1.12 wherby hee is become thorough grace the child of God a Rom. 8.17 and the heyre of euerlasting life So then it foloweth that as we ought to loue god with an vnfayned sincere and free loue because he is our father so should we loue one an other vnfaynedly sincerely freely because we are his children And this is that manner of loue whiche if we practise b Ephe. 5.1 we become folowers of God as deare children * The loue whereby we imitate God two waies described But that I digresse not from my text marke I beseeche you my brethren how Paul describeth this manner of loue two wayes in the text First by a double example theÌ„ by proofe of the second example * 1. By example Examples in imitatioÌ„ be the playnest documentes so that they be perfect Now consider the godly discretion of Paule For he heere confirmeth his doctrin by two examples agaynst the which none exception can be takeÌ„ * 1. Of the father The first example of this vnfayned sincere and free loue is God the Father c Ioh. 3.16 who so loued the worlde that hee gaue his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life If we consider this gracious dealing of god with vs we shall finde it to be a most perfect mirrour of his free loue towardes vs what soeuer herein we way For if we examine the causes of the loue of God to vs ward When in vs whiche are most vniust and most vnholy there was no cause why the most iust and most holy God should loue vs this loue flowed froÌ„ his owne bountie as from a Iam. 1.17 1. Ioh. 4.10 the fountaine of all goodnesse If we search into the manner of the loue wherewith God loued vs so and so exceedingly that he gaue to ransome vs from our spirituall bondage b 1. Pet. 1.18 not siluer gold or precious stones not onely a creature to saue vs creatures c Heb. 2.16 not an angell to deliuer vs men d Ioh. 3.16 but his own sonne yea his onely Sonne e Mat 1.23 God to remayne God and man f Heb. 10.5 to be a sacrifice g Phil. 2.8 by an ignominious death to bee offered for vs h 1. Cor. 6.20.7.23 1. Pet. 1.19 euen the price of our redemption If we take a vewe of the ende for the which God loued vs we shall perceaue that it was not to the benefite of himselfe or of his Sonne a Rom. â— â—5 For God in himselfe and of himselfe without his creatures is absolutely blessed but to our benefite b Rom. 4.3.4 that wee through him being saued c Mat. 25. â—4 with him might liue blessedly for euer If we ponder what God whiche so dearly hath loued vs requireth againe at our handes verely nothing d Ephe 2.8 but that hee giueth vs e Rom. 5.1 a liuely fayth to receaue Christ f â— Cor. 1 â—0 that in him we may receaue all thinges necessary for our saluation g Ephe. 1.4 and that wee be holy and without blame before him in loue So then ought we to loue as the Father hath loued vs vnfaynedly sincerely and freely that we may be found h Ephe. 5. â— followers of God as dear childreÌ„ But if anie obiect that the loue of the Father is not mentioned in the text and thereupon inferre that I digresse froÌ„ the same I answere It is included in the little word Cai so that the sentence may be thus translated i 1. Ephe. 5. â— Euen as Christ also hath loued vs whereby by a secret speache the loue of the Father is insinuated as in
playne tearmes the loue of the Sonne is proposed * 2. Of the sone The second example of this vnfayned sincere and free loue is God the Sonne a Ioh. 10.11 who as a good shepheard gaue his life for vs his sheepe b Rom. 5.6 who being iust 8. died for vs vniust who when as yet we were sinners 10. died for vs who wheÌ„ we were Gods enimies reconciled vs vnto him by hys owne death that by hys life we being reconciled might be saued If therefore wee thus loue as Christ hath loued vs vnfaynedly sincerely and freely without all regarde of merite c Ephe. 5.2 then walke we in loue then are we followers of Gods as beloued children d Act. 11.26 we are called Christians of christ let vs resemble him in maners els are we our name notwithstanding monsters we take our selues to bee the Disciples of Christ let vs then learne to practise the precepte of Christ which he teacheth vs saying e Io. 13.34 A new commaundement giue I vnto you that ye loue one an other as I haue loued you that yee also loue one an other VVe would be all reputed the children of our father that is in heaueÌ„ But a Mat. 5.45 he maketh his sunne to arise on the euill and the good and sendeth rayne â—n the iust and vniust Let vs then that we may be his children b Mat. 5.44 loue our ennimies blesse them that curse vs doe good to them that hate vs and pray for them that hurt and persecute vs. Let vs consider as Christ teacheth vs c Mat. 5.46 that if we loue them which loue vs we shall haue no revvard for the publicans do euen the same 47 And if vvee be friendly to our brethren onely vve doe no singuler thing for euen the Publicans do likevvise 48 But we must be perfect as our Father whiche is in heauen is perfect Neither can there be any precept fuller of equitie then this d Ephe. 5.2 Walke in loue euen as Christ hath loued vs Wherein it is required that we whiche are beloued of God in Christ should loue our brethren whom the Father loueth in the Sonne as tenderly as hee loueth vs. And thus haue I taught you my brethren folowing Paules steppes in this place by the example both of the Father and of the Sonne what manneâ— of loue God requireth at our handes that we may proue a Ephe. 5.1 followers of him as deare children * 2. By proof of this example Now foloweth in the texte the second way whereby Paule describetâ— the manner of loue by the practisâ— whereof wee become followers oâ— God when as hee sayth b Ephe. 5.2 And hatâ— giuen himselfe for vs to be an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling sauour to God c Ephe. 5.2 Paul hauyng lastly proposed Christ himselfe vnto vs as a perfect paterne after the which we must fashion that our loue wherein wee must walke that wee may be found d Ephe. 5.2 followers of God as deare children forgetteth not to proue vnto vs the perfection of the paterne of our imitatioÌ„ I mean of the loue of christ by the excellent effecte whiche came thereof namely our full and perfect redemption e Heb. 9.25 wrought by the oblation of Christ heere mentioned The rule of Christ is f Mat. 7.17.12.33 Luc. 6.43.44 that the tree is knowne by the frute so that the bad fruit sheweth the tree to be bad and â—he good fruite sheweth the tree to â—ee good Then followeth it that â—he loue of Christ to vs-wardes is most perfect a Ioh. 3.16 the fruite whereof is â—ur saluation and euerlasting life yet â—till note beloued that the loue of Christ is here proposed vnto vs not â—o muche to bee contemplated alâ—hough it deserue a most reuerend coÌ„templation as to be imitated But forsomuche as vnder this effecte of Christes loue b Ioh. 13.1 wherewith he loued vs vnto the end the worke of our whole â—edemption offereth it selfe to be considered it shall behoue me following my texte to deliuer the same vnto you as God shall inhable me more particularly * In our redemption wrought by a sacrifice 6. circumstances to bee-noted The effect of Christes loue towardes vs as I haue sayd c Ioh. 3.15 is our redemption and our redemption is wrought by a sacrifice and in this sacrifice as Paule here describeth it Sixe circumstances are to be considered The first who was the sacrificer The second How he sacrificed The third 14 what and of what kind the sacrifice was The fourth For whom it was sacrificed The fifth To whome it was sacrificed The sixt what effecte the sacrificâ— wrought VVhen I shall briefly hauâ— intreated seuerally of these six pointâ— I will conclude and commit you â— the grace of God * 1. Christ is the sacrifice Man was created by GOD in the beginning a Gen. 1 26 after his image anâ— similitude b Ephe. 4 24. in righteousnesse and trâ—â— holinesse But alas through the fall â— Adam in Man the image and similâ—tude of God is defaced and his rigâ—teousnesse and true holinesse is cleaâ— blotted out c Ephe. 2.1.3 so that now vve are deâ— in our trespasses and sinns being by natuâ— the children of wrath d Rom 3 23 and depriued the glory of God Nowe let vs consâ—der the mercy of God VVhen wâ— were not able by our owne powâ— to deliuer oure selues from this vâ—speakable miserie phe 1 4 into the which thâ—rough sinne wee were fallen e Goâ— had deuised before the foundation of tâ—â— world to restore vs to libertie by aâ— holye conciliation to bee made bâ—twene him and vs. But let vs coâ—sider how the case stoode God keâ— his couenaunt which hee made with Man Man brake the couenant which hee made with God God the Creator was offended Man the Creature had offended God needed not to seeke a reconciliation with Man a Rom. 1.25 who of him selfe without Man is blessed Man durst not seeke a reconciliation with God who of him-selfe without God b Leu. 27 26 Gal. 3.10 is curssed * Two thinges in the Sacrificer to be noted 1 his Substance 2 his Office Who then might become a fitte mediatour of peace as wel in respect of his substance or person as of his function or office Behold the c Ro. 16.25 reuelation of the misterie vvhich vvas kept secret since the world began d 1. Cor. 2.7.8 euen the hid vvisedome vvhich God had determined before the vvorlde vnto our glorye vvhiche none of the Princes of this vvorld hath knovven * 1 The Sacrificer by his substaÌ„ce or person is god man e Gal. 4 4.5 When the fulnesse of time vvas com God sent forth his sonne made of a vvoman made vnder the lavv that he might redeeme vs vvhiche vvere vnder the lavve that vve might receiue the addoption of