one as much as he can comprehend and kindleth spirituall hearts with greater desire He that nowe increaseth in loue that is who so loueth that whereof God giueth him knowledge and desireth to know that which as yet he knoweth not him doth the spirite leade into al truth For the more that loue groweth the more perfect is knowledge And in this schoole of the loue which the spirit poureth into our hearts the faithfull beleeuer learneth more than all bookes and all men can teach him but the more a man learneth can the more must he acknowledge and confes that he can nothing towards that which we shall know when we shall cleerely and perfectly see God face to face Vnto vs shall it bee inough and sufficient that we in spirit and in the truth knowe Iesus Christ which was crucified that he shine and be glorified in our mortall body in our harts mouth and in our whole life AFter a while ye shall not see me again after a while ye shall see me for I go to the father Then said some of his disciples among themselues What is this that he saith vnto vs After a while ye shal not see me againe after a while ye shal see me that I go to my father They said therfore what is this that he saith after a while We cannot tel what he saith Iesus perceiued that they would aske him and said vnto them This is it that ye enquire off betweene your selues that I said After a while ye shall not see me again after a while ye shal see me Verily verily I say vnto you yee shall weepe and lament but the world shall reioyce yee shall sorrowe but your sorrow shall be turned into ioye A woman when she trauaileth hath sorrow because her houre is come But when she is deliuered of the childe she remembreth no more the anguish for ioye that a man is borne into the world And yee now therefore are in soâ—rowe but I will see you againe and your heart shall reioyce and your ioye shall no man take from you Doctrine and fruite AN excellent comfort doth Christ giue here vnto his Disciples who by reason of his deparparting were in great sorrowe and heauines But like as the Disciples of Christ because of his passion abode for a little season in great combrance feare and trouble and yet receiued great ioye out of the Resurrection when hee shewed himselfe vnto them euen so in aduersity ought not we to be faint-hearted but comfort our selues in this that the Lord doth not long leaue those that are his Though hee hide himselfe for a time he shall shortly shewe vs his gratious countenance againe refresh vs with rich comfort The aduersities of faithful beleeuers are not only short but also they end with vnspeakeable ioy After aduersitie and death foloweth euerlasting ioye and eternall life We are here with Christ our head in trouble and on the crosse where the world laugheth at vs and reioyseth For all this ought not wee to be vnquiet in our selues Very shortly will the matter change and turne vpside downe so that their laughter and ioy shal be altered into weeping and eternall sorrow But our heauinesse shall God shortly end with great fruit and ioye and the same ioy shall no man be able to take from vs when we with Christ our head shall euerlastingly bee gladde and reioyce when all teares shall bee wiped away from our eyes and wee discharged of all trauaile and labour of this time IN that daie shall ye aske me no question Verily verilie I saie vnto you Whatsoeuer yee shall aske the father in my name he will giue it you Hetherto haue ye asked nothing in my name Aske and ye shall receiue that your ioy may be full These things haue I spoken vnto you in Prouerbs but the time will come when I shall no more speak to you in prouerbes but I shall shew you plainly of my father At that day shall ye aske in my name And I saie vnto you that I will praie vnto the father for you for the father himselfe loueth you because ye haue loued mee and haue beleeued that I am come out from God I went out from the father and came into the world I leaue the world againe and goe to the father His disciples said vnto him Lo now spekest thou plainly and thou speakest no prouerbe Now are we sure that thou knowest all things and nedest not that anie man should aske thee anie question Therefore beleeue wee that thou camest from God Iesus answered them Now ye do beleeue beholde the houre draweth nigh and is alreadie come that ye shall be scattered euerie man into his owne and shal leaue me alone yet I am not alone for the father is with me These words haue I spoken vnto you that in mee yee might haue peace In the world shall yee haue tribulation but bee of good cheere I haue ouercome the world Doctrine and fruit MAny times doth Christ promise vs whatsoeuer wee praie to obtaine the same of the father of heauen whereby he may stirre vp our hearts faithfully to crie vnto God the gracious and louing father whose loue towardes vs is exceeding great neither can he saie vs nay that hath giuen and bestowed vppon vs his owne sonne yea not onely hath hee sent downe vnto vs his deare and onely begotten sonne to take the nature of man vppon him and to die for vs but hath also into our hearts giuen his holy spirite with whome hee hath sealed vs and certefied vs of his loue pouring the knowledge and loue of Christ into our heartes How can wee then doubt of his loue and faithfulnesse How is it possible that in all our trouble and heauinesse we should not vnto him onely haue recourse seeking helpe and comfort at his hand The sonne for our sake came forth from the father humbled and made himselfe of no reputation tooke all reproch shame and trouble vppon himselfe for our welfare To the father was he obedient vntil the death of the crosse and after that he through his bloud had washed awaie our sinnes and finished the worke of our saluation he arose againe from death through the power might of his father ouercame death for vs and with his ascension opened heauen and prepared an enterance vnto God carrying vp our nature and flesh vnto the honor and glorie which he had from euerlasting giuing vs therein a hope and sure comfort that wee also shal with him haue euerlasting ioy and glory for euer Seeing then that he came out from the father we ought to hearken vnto him and not to despise his word he is the eternall wisedome of God he is the truth no false teacher can he bee forasmuch as hee commeth from God and is his onely begotten son To contemne so deare an embassadour and messenger of God must needs haue great punishment and though we are not able in
howe high is the glorie that heere is promised vnto vs in CHRIST The onely begotten sonne of God descended and became man for vs that wee so much as were possible for our nature shoulde ascend vp vnto his Godhead Hee descended downe lowe that when wee are humbled hee might receiue and exalte vs to his owne promotion Hee that of nature is the Lorde tooke vppon him the shape of a seruaunt that of vs which naturally were bond seruauntes hee might make vs Gods children Forasmuch then as hee became man to make vs Gods and children of godly grace Hee tooke vpon him that which is ours to giue vs and to parte with vs that which is his Therefore calleth hee vs brethren and maketh his owne father common vnto vs so that hee is also our Father and our God that same which hee hath of nature doeth hee of grace giue vnto vs. For his spirite beareth recorde vnto our spirite that wee are the children of GOD for wee haue not receiued the spirite of bondage to feare but the spirit of adoption in the which wee cry Father Father Christ also calleth those that bee his not seruants but friends and brethren he will be our God and wee his people our father we his children and his couenant which he hath made with vs shall bee euerlasting for it is sealed and confirmed with the bloud of his onely begotten sonne Now haue wee fellowshippe and companie with God the father the sonne and the holy Ghost But such grace and glorie is inwardly seene with the eyes of faith and felte in the spirite beeing hidde heere in time vnder the shape of the crosse For Christ doth not straight waie by and by declare himselfe openly vnto Marie Magdalene as hee is in his glorie but standeth there as a gardener and speaketh vnto hir by the which voice she knoweth him he long deferreth the comfort permitting her a good while to weepe and lament that the ioy and consolation afterward may bee the greater But the cause why he so long delaieth his helpe and comfort from these that bee his owne is that their inward desires may bee the more feruent and earnest and that hee may stirre vp and kindle their faith Now when the fire is kindled inough then commeth hee with his comfort as it is euident heere in Marie Magdalene and in the woman of Cananee Matthew 26. Moreouer hee sendeth Marie Magdalene from him to bring the Apostles tidings of this glorious exaltation whereas shee doubtlesse had rather haue beene longer with him and to haue had the comfortable fruition of the sight of him Howbeit hee directeth her forth to declare that felicitie and poynteth her to the work of charitable loue to the seruice of her neighbour For here in time wee cannot as yet come to the beholding sight of God face to face it shall first begin after this time Now while we liue heere wee must serue our neighbour in charitable loue and do him good O God strengthen thou our weake faith in the resurrection of thy beloued son that by it our consciences being examined may well answere Illuminate our mindes and expell out of vs all darkenesse thorow the light and brightnes of the glorious resurrection O strengthen our weaknes throgh the power of thy spirite Raise vs from the death of sinne in the same spirite and power wherein thou hast raised vp thy son from the dead Comfort and strengthen vs in aduersitie and make vs constaunt therein that we may preasse through the same in steadfast hope to the ioyfull and blessed resurrection Kindle in vs the fire of thy godly loue that with earnest and feruent desire wee may seeke and finde thee through Christ Withdraw our hearts from all earthly loue of creatures and from filthines vp to heauen-ward where Christ sitteth at thy right hand that wee may lead a godly and heauenly life vpon earth Set vp the spirituall kingdome of Christ Iesu in our hearts that in vs thy name may be sanctified and thy will performed that wee may become thy vertuous children and neuer displease thee our gracious father that we continuing stil in thy mercifull couenant doe neuer fall away from the companie and fellowship of thee and thy sonne And where as thou hast giuen vs such knowledge grace and vnderstanding graunt that we may make the same knowne vnto many beeing alway readie through charitable loue to serue our brethren Amen It followeth now further in the historie how the women that first were with Marie Magdalene at the sepulchre and being afraid fled away no man saying ought vnto them returned now more stoutlie boldly to the sepulchre to see what would come of that wonderfull terrible matter WHen the women came to the sepulchre found not the bodie of Iesu they were sore troubled in their minds And behold two men stoode by them in shining garments And as the women were afraide bowed down their faces to the earth they said vnto them Why seeke ye the liuing among the dead He is not heere he is risen Remember how hee spake vnto you when he was yes in Galilee saying that the sonne of man must bee deliuered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and the third day rise againe And they remembred the wordes of Iesu returned from the sepulchre and told all these thinges vnto those eleuen and to all the remnant And as they went to tell his disciples behold Iesus met them saying All haile And they came and helde him by the feete and worshipped him Then said Iesus vnto them Bee not afraide Go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee and there shall they see me But when the women namely Mary Magdalene Ioanna and Mary Iacob and other that were with them told these things vnto the Apostles their words seemed vnto them fained things neither beleeued they them Doctrine and fruite LOne is not idle but diligent zealous which thing may well bee perceiued in these women that ran againe to the sepulchre although they had found it empty afore Gladly would they haue found the body and done reuerence to their Lorde whom they loued This feruent zeale of the women confoundeth our coldnes vnmercifulnes towards the poore Oft times do they seeke him that is absent and that with great diligence wee receiue him not when in the poore he commeth vnto vs. No trauel labour nor cost greeueth them as for vs we pitie our substance when wee shoulde distribute to the poore which are Christs O that we could rightly consider how pretious a treasure we gather vnto our selues in heauen when we giue of our goods into the hands of the poore lending the same vnto Christ Then should not wee garnish and build timber and stone but the liuing temples of God keeping them from wind and raine and from decay namely that they suffer no extreme pouertie nor be destitute of helpe Such a
flieth from it The peace of Christ reioyceth in the middest of aduersitie and ouercommeth the crosse For faithful beleeuers looke vnto Christ who went before them vnto the father and after his passion and death tooke possession of so high honor and glorie and hath carryed theyr nature vp so high vnto the right hande of the father where hee now ruleth as a mightie king of heauen and earth Oh how great comfort how sure a hope giueth it vnto vs when wee see our owne nature our owne flesh and bones incorporated vnto Christ the onely begotten sonne and eternall word of God in so high honor and glorie how can it be otherwise but wee must needes hope that our weake flesh also shall be taken vp Looke what is past in the head the same shall assuredly be fulfilled in the members for without the members cannot the head be Which thing considered and through true beleefe printed in the heart maketh a man patient and cheerefull in all aduersity giueth peace and ioy in all trouble Let the Prince of this world through his ministers and members stirre vp all vexation against vs yet hath he no vauntage of vs if wee bee in Christ Easily might he finde somewhat in our selues but in Christ nothing such innocencie dooth Christ make vs partakers of Tempt vs he may and thrust at vs but to ouercome vs hee is not able so farre as we abide in Christ In vs is death a punishment of sinne in Christ it is obedience and loue For seeing the father loueth the sonne and of verie loue gaue him vnto death for vs the son would of loue obey the father and as hee also loued vs so would he willingly and obediently suffer death for vs that all the worlde might see his obedience and that wee might learne of him to obey our heauenly Father euen vnto the death and faithfully folow his precept and that likewise whereas it toucheth his glorie we should be afraide neither of aduersitie nor death considering howe obediently hee dyed for our sakes I Am a true Vine and my Father is an husband-man Euerie braunch that bringeth not fruite in mee hee taketh awaie and euerie braunch that beareth fruite hee purgeth that it may bring foorth more fruit Now are yee cleare through the wordes which I haue spoken vnto you Abide in mee and I in you As the branch cannot beare 〈…〉 of it selfe except it abide in the vine no more can yee except 〈◊〉 abide in mee I am the vine yee are the braunches He that abideth in mee and I in him the same bringeth foorth 〈◊〉 fruite for without mee can yee doo nothing If a man bide not in mee he is cast forth as a branch and withered and men gather them and east them into the fire and they burne If yee abide in mee and my words also in you aske what yee will and it shall bee done vnto you Herein is my Father glorified that ye beare much fruit and become my disciples Doctrine and fruite VNder this fayre similitude doeth Christ teach his Church that without him wee can do nothing but in him all things Now forasmuch as hee through his grace hath incorporated vs vnto himselfe wee ought with great diligence to apply our selues that we may abide in him and beare fruit For as long as wee are in him wee liue that is we receiue liuely vertue and sappe of him namely his spirite For who so cleaueth vnto the Lorde and is incorporated vnto him through faith the same is become one spirit with him the first Epistle to the Corinthians and the sixt Chapter For heereby knowe wee that wee are in him and hee in vs in that hee hath giuen vs of his spirit the first of Iohn and fourth Chapter For why the vineyard the branches are of one nature and kinde Thus the onely begotten sonne of GOD tooke our nature vppon him is become man and giueth vs of his spirite and maketh vs to be of a godly mind and spiritual nature Out of the same pith and sap doe all manner of godly vertues and good workes breake forth Gal. 5. Psal 85. For through his grace are we his operation and worke in Christ Iesu created vnto good workes wherein we are bound to walke And seeing we haue receiued Iesus Christ of God the father we ought to walke in him that in him we may be well rooted and stand fast But heereby knowe we that we are in him if we walke as he hath walked For who so saith that he abideth in him then euen as hee walked so must wee doe 1. Iohn 2. But if we woulde saie that wee were in him and had fellowshippe with him and yet would walke in darknesse seeing hee is the light wherein is found no darknesse at all then were wee lyars and went not about with the truth But if wee walke in light as he is light we children of light then haue we fellowship and companie with him the bloud of Christ purgeth vs from all sinne 1. Iohn 1. In Christ Iesu may no man be idle and without fruit 2. Thes 3. who so now is vnthankful to the grace of God doth not practise himselfe in good works to Gods glorie the same is cut off and as an vnfruitfull drie branch throwen into the fire burnt Faith grafteth vs into Christ Loue declareth that wee are planted in it knitteth the members with the head Where the spirite of Christ followeth from the head into the members from the stock into the branches there are fruites of the spirite for by the fruit is the tree knowen Christ through his worde and spirit hath pacified vs that is he hath called and separated vs from the world and from the filthines of the flesh vnto good workes And into his owne seruice and schoole of godly nurtor hath hee admitted vs and written vp our names He hath begonne to purge and clense vs from carnall lustes and from all vncleannes of the world accepting vs into the number of those that dye from the world and that now from hence forth will liue vnto him and bring forth fruite But that is not enough we must also obediently waite vpon the grace that hee hath placed vs in applying our diligence watching and praying that from so high a vocation from so excellent grace and honour wee fall not away againe 1. Cor. 10. It is not enough to haue begonne there must be a stedfast continuance Hee that forsaketh the head againe hath neither spirit nor vertue for without him wee are able to doe nothing Therefore through faith and loue ought wee to abide in him hauing respect vnto him in all thinges so shall wee bring forth much fruite vnto him Then abyde wee in him when wee doe that hee commaundeth vs and loue that which hee promiseth vs. Howbeit these fruites that wee bring forth are not ours but the fathers to him
office or that we shoulde delight in their euill but to the intent that malitious iudgement may be auoyded that there be no villanie done to the annoynted of the Lorde More respect and regard shuld we haue to the word of God that they bring vnto vs than to their liuing and â—aults more to the giuer than to the minister It is not thâ—y that worke but God worketh through his owne power he cannot faile vs in his promise The minister lendeth his hand and mouth but the holie Ghost worketh in the harts of the beleeuers neither can the wickednesse of the Priest diminish or hinder that operation If we our selues haue pure cleane and faithfull beleeuing mindes It is not the vncleannes of the minister that can either defile or hurt vs. This is now the story of the Resurrection of Christ wherein we see how the goodnes of the Lord wondefully striueth with the weake faith of those that are his For when the Angels could not perswade them that he was risen againe he himselfe appeareth vnto them aliue and proueth by many euident testimonies that he is of a truth risen againe and reuiued talketh with them eateth with them offereth himselfe vnto them that they may see him and handle him sendeth the women and certaine disciples for witnesses and leaueth nothing vnattempted that may perswade them For in the faith and beleefe of the resurrection of Iesus Christ lieth all our welfare We must therefore beseech Almightie God to establish in vs this faith and by his spirite mightilie to worke that we from sinne may truely rise againe to a newe and godlie life and afterward with our bodies to enter into an immortall and euerlasting life Hereunto helpe vs God the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost Amen Heere endeth the Sermons vpon the Resurrection of Iesus Christ according to the true copie of the Author and now followeth the Sermons of the Ascension THE ASCENSION OF IESVS CHRIST out of the holie Euangelists IESVS lead his Disciples out into Bethanie And when he had brought them together hee spake vnto them of the kingdome of God commanded them that they should not depart from Ierusalem but to waite for the promise of the father For Iohn saith he baptized with water but ye shall be baptized with the holy Ghost after these few dayes When they therefore were come together they asked of him saying Lorde wilt thou at this time restore againe the kingdome to Israel And he said vnto them It is not for you to knowe the times and the seasons which the Father hath put in his owne power But yee shall receiue power after that the holie Ghost is come vpon you and yee shall be witnesses vnto mee not onely in Ierusalem but also in all Iurie and in Samaria and euen vnto the worlds ende Now when Iesus had spoken these words vnto them he lifted vp his handes and blessed them and was taken vp and a clowd receiued him out of their sight so that hee departed from them and was carried vp in heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God And whilest they looked stedfastly vp towards heauen as he went behold two men stood by them in white apparrell which also said Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing vp into heauen The same Iesus which is taken vp from you into heauen shal so come euen as you haue seene him go into heauen So when they had worshipped him they returned with great ioy into Hierusalem from Mount Oliuet which is from Hierusalem a Sabaoth daies iourney And when they were come in they went vp into a parlour where abode Peter and Iames Iohn and Andrew Philip and Thomas Bartholmew and Mathew Iames the sonne of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes and Iudas the brother of Iames. These all continued still with one accord in the temple lauding praising God and making their praiers with the women and Mary the mother of Iesu and with his brethren Doctrine and fruite CHrist who loued his Disciples declareth vnto them his loue euen vnto the ende yea he neuer ceaseth to loue them For though hee leaue them as concerning his bodilie presence yet with his loue grace and power he is euer still with them Forasmuch now as after sufficient proofe of his resurrection he will depart from them and goe to his Father that had sent him he taketh them forth with him vnto the place from whence he mindeth to depart from them And manifestly before their eyes hee ascendeth into heauen into the glorie of his father that they might be witnesses as well of his glorious ascension as of all other things which they had heard seene before O how feruent words spake hee then vnto them How deepely entred he into their hearts How earnestly printed hee those his last wordes into them The eternall wisedome speaketh nothing vainely nothing slenderly nothing without profite Although the Disciples as men yet somewhat carnall doe aske questions concerning the restitution of a bodily and temporall kingdome yet maketh hee no aunswere vnto their demaund but directeth them vnto that which is for their profie and belongeth to their office drawing their hearts from the earthly kingdom from the which they ought to bee mortified vnto the kingdome of heauen euen vnto the kingdome of God in the which he himselfe is king into the which they now were receiued as citizens that they shuld declare the same throughout the whole world and offer it vnto all men This is the gospell of the kingdom of God which for a testimonie vnto all nations must bee preached in the whole world to witnesse the grace of GOD vnto the elect But to the damned and vnbeleeuers a testimonie of their damnation in that they are conuinced of their owne infidelitie and shall haue no excuse if they contemne and despise the grace offered vnto them By this ought wee also to learne to see such thinges which are most profitable and wholesome vnto vs and which bring vs the nearest way to put our trust in God and to loue our neighbours for that part of the play is ours As for vnprofitable and contentious questions if we meddle not with them then the lesse diuision and the more loue and edifieng in the Church of God shall follow Manie times are wee too much carefull for such things as wee desire our selues as what ende this thing or that will come vnto when God will set vp our prosperitie and what shall bee done hereafter when and how God will punish those that are against vs. And this temptation carnall zeale and curiositie chaunceth oft euen in the hearts of the faythfull as we see heere in the Disciples of Christ Sometimes there bee froward and wicked mindes which pretending to bee Christians seeke out of the Gospell nothing but honour lucre and profite but such bee both false and fained Notwithstanding all these set apart wee ought to commit and refer all things vnto our mercifull creator and
God became after sinne like vnto the deuill filthie and shamefull yea altogether carnall hauing nothing more of the spirite in him as the scripture in the booke of creation testifieth For as much now as the miserable man was degenerate from the noble spirituall and godly nature to an vncleane carnall and diuelish disposition becomming altogether flesh hee was able no more eyther to thinke or woorke any spirituall or godlie thing All his thoughts and imaginations are carnall in that he is fallen into eternall death and hath lost the life of the spirite for the affections and lustes of the flesh are death but the desires of the spirite are life and peace The affections of the flesh are enmitie against God for the flesh is not subiect vnto the lawe of GOD neyther can bee they therefore which are in the flesh cannot please GOD. Nowe when man who had taken so hurtfull a fall was brought downe from life vnto death from the grace of God into his wrath life might not bee giuen him againe but by the spirite of God whome man by sinne hath lost Therefore like as the Father at the beginning had created man so fashioneth hee him againe by his Sonne who ouercommeth and destroyeth death and giueth vnto vs againe the way of immortalitie For into a froward soule entereth not the spirite of GOD therefore is it conuenient and necessarie that such soule and corrupt flesh bee purged and cleansed againe By Christ the eternall worde were all thinges created by him therefore after the fall must all things be restored againe for this cause died Christ vppon the crosse to banish the sinne of the worlde and to make satisfaction for it From death also hee riseth agayne to giue vs a certaine and assured hope and an vndoubted pledge of an immortall and eternall life and that hee hath ouercome death and sinne for vs. Immediately after the resurrection he breatheth vpon his disciples and giueth them the holy Ghost to declare that he is the same who at the beginning created our nature and sealed it it with his spirite and that it is euen hee who now in the beginning of a new life must by his spirite renew and restore our decayed nature againe that thus Christ who is the liuing and expresse image of the inuisible GOD may bee fashioned and fourmed of the newe in vs now cannot Christ the image of GOD bee right proportioned and renewed in vs but by the holie Ghost Nowe like as Christ after the resurrection gaue his Disciples the spirite to print into them a newe life whereby they knewe and were assured that hee was the fountaine and giuer of the spirite and therefore hee saide All that the Father hath is mine Item All power is giuen vnto mee in heauen and in earth euen so immediately after the same hee ascended vp into heauen to declare vnto them that he was the Lord of all thinges Out of the high and reall throne where he sitteth at the right hand of God his Father Christ the eternall king sent downe his holie spirite vpon all flesh that we by him might obtaine the old innocencie and saluation againe that the Image of God stained and defiled by sinne might be restored vnto vs and that wee thus might become partakers of eternall life What they be vnto whom God giueth his spirit that see we well heere namely euen vnto those that in vnitie of faith and feruent loue are gathered togither with one accord for of all vnitie he is the fountaine and originall In contentious and proud hearts dwelleth not the holy Ghost therefore is it meet that we pray Come O holie spirite replenish the harts of thy faithfull beleeuers and kindle in them the fire of thy loue thou that through manifolde tongues hast gathered together all the nations of the heathen in vnitie of faith O take all dissention and discord out of thy holie Church and make vs to be of one mind in vnfained loue without the which wee cannot please thee THere were dwelling at Hierusalem Iewes deuout men out of euerie nation of them that are in heauen now when this was noysed about the multitude came together and were astonied because that euerie man heard them speake with his owne language They wondered all maruelled saying amongst themselues Beholde are not all these which speake of Galilee and how heare wee euerie man his owne tongue wherein we were borne Partheans Medes and Elemytes and the inhabiters of Mesopotamia and of Iewrie and of Capadocia of Pontus and Asia Phrigia Pamphilia of Egypt and of the parties of Lybia which is besides Siren and strangers of Rome Iewes and Proselytes Greekes and Arabians wee haue heard them speake in our owne tongues the great works of God Doctrine and fruite THE eternall wisedome hath indued all good minds diligently to learne and search the thing wherein they thinke to finde that which they desire and what can be more worthie to be desired or more acceptable to the mind of man than eternal life and saluation which onely consisteth in God the highest good of all Now was the sacred scripture giuen of the holie Ghost that man thereby might bee guided and lead vnto saluation and to most excellent felicity For they that exercise themselues in holie scripture studying and perusing it ought thus to doe euen to direct themselues and others vnto life Therefore by the ordinance of God there hath been euer men in all nations which to instruct others haue applyed themselues to the scripture as among the Iewes wee finde Leui of whome in the Prophet Malachie it is written that the lawe of the truth was in his mouth and no wickednes in his lippes that he walked before God in peace and equitie and conuerted many from vngodlines for the lippes of the Priest are sure of knowledge and the law is required at his mouth for hee is a messenger of the Lorde of hosts Thus as it may wel be coniectured there were at Ierusalem congregations of learned men that exercised themselues in the holy scripture For though all wisedome come of God as the fountaine wel no man can be learned whom God himselfe teacheth not yet will not he giue his grace spirite and knowledge to the idle slouthfull and vnthankfull neither to the proud but vnto those that with meeknes feare of God practise themselues in the scripture and that applying vnto feruent praier doe not despise the meanes and gratious giftes granted them of God And if any man will say that all falshood and destruction all erroneous doctrine and discorde were come into the church by such as be learned let him consider that the thing which in himselfe is good ought not for the abuses sake to bee refused remoue the abuse and then the thing is good and profitable Wine is a profitable and wholesome thing created of GOD for the behoofe of man and is neuer dispraised
the world through me publish ye vnto all men though yee must loose your life therefore IF the world hate you yee know that it hated mee before it hated you If yee were of the worlde the world would loue his owne Howbeit because yee are not of the worlde but I haue chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you Remember the word that I said vnto you the seruaunt is not greater than the Lord. If they haue persecuted mee so will they persecute you If they haue kept my sayings they will also keepe yours But all these things will they do vnto you for my names sake because they knowe not him that sent mee If I had not come and spoken vnto them they should not haue had sinne but now haue they nothing to cloake their sinne withall Hee that hateth mee hateth my Father also If I had not doone workes amongst them which none other man did they had not had sinne but nowe haue they seene and haue hated both mee and also my Father euen that the saying might bee fulfilled which is written in theyr owne lawe They haue hated mee without anie cause Doctrine and fruite LIke as Christ in the aforesaid words hath giuen vnto his Disciples and to vs that beleeue in him an excellent consolation in his loue which is infinite great towardes vs so dooth he now comfort vs against such trouble and aduersitie to come as outwardly happeneth vnto vs and against the hate and persecution wherewith the children of the world recompence vs for our loue and well dooing Loue ought wee to haue towards all men such godly loue shall moue vs earnestly to further Gods glorie to bring all men to the knowledge and loue of God and to withdraw them from fleshly lustes and worldly vices When wee now of a godly zeale beginne thus to rebuke vice and to reprehend the carnall lustes of the children of the world then they that are drowned in the shamefull vices of the world and the flesh may not suffer it but hate trouble and vexe vs molest persecute vs and put vs vnto death contemning and despising the worde which wee offer them from GOD whereby they might bee saued and going about by all meanes to roote it out But all this ought not to driue vs backe or discourage vs For in this world must we seeke no high honour nor praise but willingly humble and submit our selues vnder the rebuke and crosse with Christ our head Christ also exhorteth vs to folow his footsteppes and to doe after his example and not to forsake the truth and loue of our neighbour for theyr hatred but constantly to proceed and do our best to guid all men vnto God And if for such our vnfaithfulnes and loue there happen reproach and trouble to vs we ought to reioice that God dooth vs so great honour as to graunt vs to suffer somewhat for his name sake If we liued as do the children of the world wee should not bee hated of them and happily wee needed to feare but little daunger But Christ hath taken vs from the world and chosen and called vs to good works and to innocencie of life Nothing hath he omitted that might serue to our welfare faithfully therefore ought we to follow his vocation not do as the vnthankfull Iewes that despise his doctrine and workes He talketh yet daily with vs prouoketh and calleth vs therefore ought we to cease from sin and not to fashion our selues after the world For if we would liue to please the world to serue it and to hunt after the fauour and praise of it wee should not be faithfull Ministers of Iesus Christ We ought not to look for worldly honor but to haue respect to the eternall glorie which wee shall haue with Christ our head yea so farre as we suffer rebuke and dishonour with him When he liued in this time and practised the truth against the Pharisies hee was reuiled put to shame and death The same happeneth also vnto vs for we are not aboue the Lorde An euill token were it if the world loued vs. Paciently therefore and with ioy ought we to beare such rebuke and shame as happeneth vnto vs for his name sake by those that hate the truth For our honor and reward is great in heauen but after our trouble shall the same be first opened as it happened also vnto Christ our head first after the crosse BVt when the comforter is come whom I will send vnto you from the father euen the spirit of truth which proceedeth of the father he shall testifie of me And yee are witnesses also because ye haue beene with me from the beginning These things haue I saide vnto you that ye should not be offended They shall thrust you out of their synagogues excommunicate you yea the time shall come that whosoeuer killeth you will thinke that he doth seruice vnto God And such thinges shall they doo vnto you because they knowe not the father neither me But these things haue I told you that when the houre is come yee may remember that I tolde you These thinges said I not vnto you at the beginning because I was with you But now I go my way to him that sent me none of you asketh mee Whither goest thou But because I haue said such things vnto you your harts are full of sorrow But I tell you the truth It is expedient for you that I goe awaie For if I go not away that comforter will not come vnto you But if I depart I will send him vnto you Doctrine and fruite FOr as much as it is our bounden duetie to beare witnesse vnto Christ with our mouth and life yet our weake flesh feareth the hatred and resistance of the worlde Christ therefore promiseth vs heere that hee will sende vs strength from heauen namely the holy Ghost first in our harts to bear witnesse vnto Christ and then to open our mouthes that we may testifie the Lord Christ and his trueth manfully and without feare Certaine it is that all they which will liue here godly in Christ Iesu must suffer persecution But seeing that to suffer such aduersitie our flesh is farre too slow colde and feeble God giueth vs the spirit of his son to mooue strengthen and preserue vs in all goodnes This spirit poureth out loue into our hartes expelleth all feare and terror as we see in Peter on Whitsonday maketh vs to ouercome all aduersitie We are braunches in Christ the true vine albeit as yet verie weake and tender soone blowne awaie with the winde or smitten downe other waies but for as much as out of Christ wee receiue yet the sap and vertue of spirite and life wee are in life preserued that wee wither not away Of this now must we bee mindfull in all aduersitie so that without ceasing we pray vnto GOD for his holie spirite who is our instructer comforter and
teacher Wee ought to haue respect vnto our fore-goer and finisher of our faith remembring that wee suffer not as theeues and euill dooers but for his sake yea and that of the wicked This shall make our aduersitie and crosse the more easie and light when wee feele the comfort of the spirite and beholde how shamefull a death Christ suffered for vs. Therfore should there no feare make vs to shrinke from the confession of Christ and his trueth Wee are not they that speake but it is the spirite of the Father which speaketh in vs. Wee maye not feare those that kill the bodie we may not bee ashamed of him so shall hee also knowledge vs and make vs honourable in his fathers sight The honour of this world should not bee dearer vnto vs than the glorie of God And though wee die for it yet ought we not to shrinke or stirre from the confession of the trueth This ingendreth manie times much heauines and feare in vs that wee consider onely that which is present little regarding that which is to come and euerlasting And because wee thinke that when GOD thrusteth vs into aduersitie he is farre from vs whereas hee then is most of all with vs by his grace comfort and strength and tryeth vs through the crosse standing behinde the wall and looking through the grate vppon our conflict and battaile yea helping vs to fight and to ouercome Therefore must we not alwayes bee children wee must not hang still at the brest seeking milke as children doo but growe to a perfect age learning to knowe Christ the Lord after the spirite as hee now gouerneth and is a mightie king vnder whose banner wee must fight valiantly and indure the crosse vnto the death throwing behind vs all thinges in this worlde and lifting vp our eyes and harts into heauen whence our helpe commeth and into the which Christ is gone to prepare for vs an euerlasting dwelling ANd when the spirit is come he will rebuke the worlde of sinne and of righteousnes and of iudgment Of sin because they beleeue not on me of righteousnesse because I go to my father and ye shall see me no more of iudgment because the prince of this world is iudged alreadie I haue yet many thinges to say vnto you but yee cannot heare them now Howbeit when hee is come which is the spirite of truth he will lead you into all truth For he shall not speake of himselfe but whatsoeuer he shall heare that shall he speake and he will shew you thinges to come Hee shall glorifie mee for he shal receiue of mine and shal shew vnto you All things that the Father hath are mine Therefore said I that he shal take of mine and shew vnto you Doctrine and fruite IN these wordes doth Christ shew vs the office of the holy Ghost and what he worketh by his disciples and by all faithfull beleeuers in the worlde The whole world is sette vpon wickednesse and iniquitie and when that is rebuked it hateth and persecuteth those that rebuke it Whereout it followeth oftentimes that through imbecillitie and weakenesse of the flesh we cease from rebuking of vice and sinne Now when we find it to be thus that the infirmitie of our flesh and the terrible threatening of the world will hinder vs or vtterly drawe vs backe from the free rebuking of vice wee ought to praye vnto God our Father for to giue vs the spirit of his sonne that he may powre out loue into our hearts and expell all feare that with stoute stomacks and wordes we may reprehend the vyces of the world and valiantly resist them This spirit shall teach vs the thing that neither our flesh nor the world is instructed in All we of nature doe erre and euery one wandreth his owne waie that is euery one foloweth his owne purpose and intent and if we beleeue not in Christ we perish in our sinnes And this is the greatest sin of all wherein the world is wrapt afore it receiue the truth Not to beleeue in Christ is a sinne out of the which all vyce and wickednes dooth growâ— How great this sinne is no man is able to knowe onely the spirit of God openeth it therefore the spirite teacheth vs how farre we goe astray And if we come to Christ from this erronius waie of vnbeliefe all sinnes are forgiuen vs through Christ and not imputed vs to our damnation Neither is it enough to knowe that wee haue erred or doe yet erre but wee must know also which is the right waie wherein when error is forsaken wee must walke to attaine vnto godlines and blisse This right waie doth the spirit also shewe to be euen Christ who is our waie our righteousnes and goodnes which waie neuertheles the world will not goe To beleeue in Christ is the true way to attaine vnto righteousnes and saluation who so now departeth not from the erroneous waie of vnbeliefe and vice and will not walke in Christ the way of all vertue and goodnes which all the world alas so abhorreth the same is conuict that the iudgement of eternall paine doth righteously fall vpon him seeing the light is set before him and he will rather abide perish in darknesse But is not this a iust iudgement that the world should perish in sinne and be punished for euer considering that God hath graciously sent vnto them his owne sonne promising euerlasting lyfe and saluation in him who with his bloud hath washed awaie our sinnes mightily ouercome death sin and the prince of this worlde deliuered vs out of his power and heauie yoake and taken possession of the kingdome and glorie with his father And yet they will not know receiue nor honour Christ as theyr chiefe king and Lord but still serue the prince of this world in vice sin not submit themselues vnder the easie yoake of Christ of his loue and vertues O deare children let vs departe out of the kingdome of darknes into the kingdome of Iesus Christ the sonne of God let vs regarde his word with diligence let vs hearken what God speaketh in vs and though there bee many things that as yet we knowe not many that we do not vnderstand and perceiue we will earnestly praie vnto God for his spirite who is the right schoolmaster and teacher Hee shall lead vs into all truth he shall renue vs in the spirite of our minde and teach vs to vnderstand what the good acceptable and perfect will of God is He shall plant and roote vs in loue that we may comprehend with all Saints what is the length the breadth the height and deapth that wee may also knowe the exceeding loue of the knowledge of Christ that we might bee filled in all godly perfectnes Thus the spirite teacheth vs all truth when he poureth loue into our harts This schoolmaster teacheth all beleeuers here in time euerie
to thinke that thou knowest God the highest goodnes of all if thou hadst not him by whom thou art deliuered from sin and eternall plague Whereas GOD the originall of all goodnesse is knowne and our minde through Christ his Sonne assured of his grace namely that hee is fauourable vnto vs and that hee therefore hath seperated vs out of the world to the intent that by his spirit he might make vs like vnto his sonne righteous and blessed there doth there spring in our hartes a comfortable trust vnto God a loue such ioy as nothing in this world may be compared vnto There also doth arise in vs a diligence to keepe his commandements godly and innocently to liue Thus commeth our health originally out of the grace mercie of our heauenly Father who afore the worlde was created did chuse vs in Christ Iesu his Sonne vnto eternall life and in the booke of life wrote vp our names After the same did the Father graunt vnto vs the Sonne gaue him power ouer all men Nowe that wee are giuen vnto Christ hee openeth vnto vs the name of his Father through the outward worde and through his spirite in the heart When wee beleeue in him which to do cōmeth also of him then increaseth the knowledge of God in vs. Out of that knowledge groweth an assured confidence in God the highest good Of this assured trust commeth loue towards him And when God graunteth vs all this he saueth vs and giueth vs eternall life This is an high worthines and honour of Christ in that the father giueth him all things into his hand that he may giue euerlasting life vnto faithful beleeuers No man can haue life but throgh Christ Who so beleeueth not in Christ remaineth in death and the wrath of God-abideth vppon him But then giueth hee vs eternall life when we receiue his worde and knowe that he came out from God and that the father sent him the Sauiour of the world And when wee thus are become faithfull beleeuers then keepe we his commaundementes for faith studieth and is diligent to please God This honour and dignitie of Christ his power and kingdome are first opened vnto the world after his death and crosse in the resurrection and ascension Of the which honour and glorie wee also in due time shall after our measure bee partakers if we suffer with him For the high Priest who hath prayed for vs is heard of the Father and glorified with eternall honor and glorie Wherefore we may not doubt in the remnant that he praieth for still on our behalfe hee shal be and is for his worthines sake heard and hath his request Of this wee will consider more I Pray for them and pray not for the worlde but for them whome thou hast giuen me for they are thine and al mine are thine and thine are mine I am glorified in them And nowe am I no more in the world but they are in the world and I come to the holy father keep them in thy name whome thou hast giuen me that they may be one as we are When I was with thē in the world I kept them in thy name Those that thou gauest mee haue I kept and none of them is lost but the lost childe that the Scripture might be fulfilled Now come I to thee and these wordes speake I in the world that they might haue my ioy full in them I haue giuen them thy word and the world hath hated them because they are not of the world euen as I am not of the worlde I desire not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou keepe them from euill They are not of the world as I am not of the world Sanctifie them with thy truth thy saying is truth As thou sentest mee into the world so haue I sent them into the worlde and for their sakes I sanctifie my selfe that they also might be sanctified through the truth I pray not for them alone but for those also which shall beleeue on mee through their preaching that they all may bee one as thou Father art in me and I in thee and that they may bee also one in vs that the worlde may beleeue that thou hast sent me And the glorie that thou gauest mee haue I giuen them that they may be one as we are one I in them thou in me that they may bee made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loued them as thou hast loued me Doctrine and fruite THIS praier of our high Priest and mediatour Christ Iesus is feruent earnest full of the fire of godly loue ful of great secrets and spirituall instructions Herein may we learne to know what hie honor dignitie and power Christ by his obedience and patience hath obtained with his father wherein consisteth our peace ioy welfare What care and loue Christ beareth towardes those that are his and how he committeth them vnto his father First hee praieth for his Disciples whome hee did choose to publish his truth afterward praieth he for all such as should come to the faith by their preaching vntil the worldes end And for asmuch as the Disciples had a great waightie matter in hand full of danger and aduersitie for they must needs procure to themselues great hatred of the world hee first praieth for them that the Father will strengthen comfort and preserue them thorow his power defend them from all euill In this are we taught diligently chiefly and specially to pray for those vnto whome is committed the preaching of the Gospell for a chargeable and great worke carry they vppon their shoulders by meanes whereof among all others they haue speciall neede of the grace helpe assistance of God But our prayer ought we to frame as Christ hath framed his First we must in our praier to God make speciall mention of his owne grace and mercie whereby hee chusing them to such an office hath giuen them vnto Christ his sonne Forasmuch then as they are the Ministers of him and of his Sonne and seeing the Sonne is so deare worthie beloued vnto the Father our prayer must bee that hee for his Sonnes sake will defende and preserue them as in him and by him they are worthie Secondly considering that for his sake and his word which they declare they are persecuted of the worlde it is requisite that God preserue them in his owne worke For great need haue they of his fatherly protection while they yet liue in the weake feeble flesh and are mortall men Thirdly their office serueth to many mens health and welfare their office is necessary and profitable to the whole world which walketh in blindnesse and darknes for they are the light of the world that thorough doctrine and liuing must shine to manie mens life which without the assistance and helpe of God cannot come passe Thus ought wee to praye for
of any witty man to bee euill because many doe abuse it and is drunken Euen so is holie scripture and other profitable sciences to be esteemed as high giftes although many men puft vp with pride blinded in couetousnes and intangled with other affections haue misused the same scriptures In the Papistry the Vniuersities Colleges cathedrall Churches and Monasteries haue highly exalted the Pope and his false faith and by false interpretation of the scripture brought him so farre that the doctrine of the faith and Christ is vtterly darkened Now whereas lewd learned with false science with wrong vnderstanding of scripture haue broght such high thinges great goodes and plentifull riches to passe drawing so much people vnto themselues we ought not therefore to cease from reading and exercising of the scripture but to take vppon vs to further the true religion and fayth of Christ and to sette it foorth againe with no lesse diligence than they doo theirs If wee will that the true fayth of Christ shall growe continue and increase then wee must bring the same to passe by true vnderstanding of the scripture by pure sounde and wholesome doctrine With the trueth must lyes bee banished with sound doctrine must false bee rooted out with the light must darknesse bee expelled But how can the true vnderstanding of the scripture the vndoubted wholesome and sound doctrine bee had when men doo neyther exercise and imploy themselues nor applye theyr endeuour studie and diligence therein All the charges therefore and expences which heretofore haue been bestowed vpon the vnprofitable and noisome learned men ought now to be conuerted to godly Colleges and studies to the intent that litle seeds which God hath laid vp in yong wits may fruitfully growe be planted and brought forth If thou seeke wisedome as the golde saith Salomon thou shalt finde it Gold is with great trauaile and labour digged out of the inward and secrete veines of the earth and of the high hilles it raineth not downe vpon mens heads euen so must knowledge wisedome bee gotten with great trauaile and diligence not with loytering and idlenesse But when God giueth vs his giftes wee must looke that we be not vnfaithfull in them but vse and bestow them to his glorie and edifiyng of his Church Where godlinesse commeth to knowledge or where they two are together in one man God is highly to bee thanked for so excellent a gift and grace and greatly is such a gift to bee had in estimation but whereas pride heauines contention greedines and selfe loue is in a learned man there is not a more hurtfull poyson found vpon the earth O God thou that of thy grace and fatherly loue hast giuen so good and excellent giftes with singular light of all sciences graunt vnto such as be learned a heart and mind that in all things they may haue respect onely to thy glorie that in all their readings writings teachings and doctrines they may prefer the same For knowledge puffeth a man vp but loue edifieth O suffer not thy holy and excellent gifts to be stayned defiled and marred with the filthy durt of mens affections Graunt that our studies bee not heathenish but godly and Christian Preserue the tender and good youth from wicked and vngodly schoolmaisters that the pure hartes which thou hast consecrated to be a temple for thee and thy holy spirit be not polluted with vice and filthines To testimoniall amazed and wondered saying one to an◠〈…〉 What meaneth this Other mocked saying 〈…〉 of new minds But Peter stept forth 〈…〉 and lift vp his voice and saide vnto them 〈…〉 and all ye that dwell at Hierusalem be this 〈…〉 you and with your eares heare my wordes for these are not drunken as yee suppose seeing it is but the third 〈◊〉 of the day but this is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel And it shall be in the last daies saith God I will poure out of my spirite in those daies and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophesie and your yong men shall see visions and your olde men shall dreame dreames And on my seruantes and on my hand-maides I will poure out of my spirite in those daies and they shall prophesie and I will shew wonders in heauen aboue and tokens in the earth beneath bloud and fire and the vapor of smoke the sunne shal bee turned into darknesse and the moone into bloud before before that great and notable day of the Lord come And it shall come to passe that whosoeuer calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saued Doctrine and fruite WHen the truth is published in the church of Christ the power of God vttereth it selfe there be alwaies some simple people that of good minde seeke to knowe that which they vnderstand not and therefore they demaund questions vnto those the Lorde dooth gladly open himselfe But again there be others that despise slander mocke and abhorre all holy things as in the old and new Testament we haue many witnesses of the same Ierem. 20.26.32 Iohn 8.10.11 Acts. 17. For the naturall man vnderstandeth not the thinges that appertaine vnto God And thus doe they most of all which beeing puffed vp in the wisedome and science of man haue nor yet attained to the spirite and right kernell of the scripture in the sight of which men the wisedome of God and preaching of the crosse of Iesus Christ is but a derision and foolishnes But blessed are they that in the singlenes of their heart with pure minds in meeknes obedience and in the true feare of God submit themselues vnto his doctrine from them cannot God hide himself but openeth their mindes that they may vnderstand the scriptures For they that of a good mind do here aske the question What meaneth this are afterwardes conuerted by Peters preaching Peter the feruent Disciple of Christ the faithful shepheard of Christs sheepe as soone as he receiueth the spirit is bolde to steppe foorth and to confesse him whom before he had denied But first hee perswadeth that the Disciples were not drunken for if such vice were in the Ministers of Christ they truly conuinced thereof it should bring vnto the Gospell and name of Christ great hinderaunce staine his doctrine make it to be despised and subiect Most diligent therefore ought we to bee in keeping vs from such vices whereby our office mniistration and doctrine might bee suspect and set at naught Yet must we not deferre too long in aunswering such euill reports for more diligence must we apply in setting foorth the name and glorie of GOD than in defending and maintaining our owne estimation Thus the Apostle Peter in answering that obiection concerning drunkennes dooth shortly passe ouer and saith Brethren these are not drunken as ye suppose for why the time doth not permit it is yet too earely in the morning Immediately vppon the same he proceedeth forth to admonish them of the excellent graces and
the thinges that had happened Then gathered they themselues with the Elders and tooke counsaile and gaue large money vnto the soldiers saying Say ye that his Disciples came by night and stole him away while yee slept And if this come to the rulers eares wee will perswade him and saue you harmelesse So they tooke the money and did as they were taught And this saying is noised among the Iewes vnto this day Now as the women were in the way going they saide among themselues Who will roule vs the stone away from the doore of the Sepulchre for it was a verie great one as they looked they sawe that the stone was rolled awaie Then went they into the Sepulchre and found not the bodie of the Lord Iesu but saw a young man sitting at the right side clothed in a long white garment and they were afraid But the Aungell sayde vnto them Feare not I knowe whome yee seeke Ye seeke Iesus of Nazareth that was crucified Hee is not heere he is risen as he saide Beholde the place where they laide him But goe yee and tell his Disciples and Peter that he is risen againe from the dead Behold hee goeth before you into Galilee as he said vnto you Lo I haue tolde you Doctrine and fruit THE resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead is verie diligently and perfectly described of the foure Euangelistes for right profitable and necessarie is it for the strengthening and stablishing of our beleefe in Christ And whereas in the description of this historie they speake not all alike the same happeneth to our wealth through the ordinaunce of the holie Ghost that we should exercise our faith therein and applie our diligence perfectly to learne and comprehend the same Resurrection of Christ For where that is right conceyued and beleeued there is faith perfect The Euangelistes nowe in describing Christes Resurrection doo most of all declare to what high honour Christ came after death and that in one order and degree according as our beleefe and weakenesse increaseth and groweth towards perfection At the first is faith in vs feeble and vnperfect but through the grace of him that hath giuen it it daily groweth Verie hard also is it for our naturall reason to receiue and beleeue the resurrection of the dead therefore doe the Euangelistes right diligently and with manie wordes set forth the same resurrection of Christ that our beleefe therein might be assured and stedfast For whosoeuer truely and constantly beleeueth the resurrection of Iesu Christ is readie prepared to beleeue all that concerneth Christ Neither is there anie thing that maketh a man more ioyfull then when he beleeueth that at the comming of the Lorde he shal rise againe and receiue a glorified bodie after Christ and with Christ What can be tedious to suche a faithfull beleeuing man when hee beholdeth so high a rewarde from God Diligently therefore ought we to heare what the holy Euangelists write of his resurrection and to giue credence to the witnesses that saw it First wee heare agayne the great zeale and the feruent loue and diligence of these deuout women in that they desire to shew honour vnto the Lorde being dead but the Angell a messenger of his resurrection commaundeth them to declare this ioy vnto the Disciples and to get them vnto the Lord nowe being aliue Heauenly is the messenger and proclaimer of the resurrection for it passeth farre all natural reason and all flesh Therefore are the women also afraid of him and at the faire brightnes of his countenance and apparel For our feeble flesh is not able to sustaine the glorious shine of the heauenly light and godly clearenes but is afraid at it and feareth Neuerthelesse God by his Angell doth right soon comfort the womens weakenes taketh from them their feare speaketh louingly vnto them maketh them Apostles that is messengers and proclaimers of the ioifull resurrection So little doth God reiect our weaknes that he maketh euen women to be the declarers of his resurrection for he euer delighteth of the last to make the first Forasmuch then as they were the beginners of death in sinne they are heere first afore the Apostles chosen to bee declarers of that immortall life which euen out of death is come forth vnto vs in Christ As Christ with the earthquake died on the crosse so riseth hee with the earthquake which also was heard in the sending of the holie Ghost This signified that through his death and resurrection and by the power of the holy Ghost when the Apostles declare the same in the world the whole world should be moued and chaunged And though the vngratious falshood of the high Priestes vndertooke with their lies to hide and suppresse the trueth of Christs resurrection yet God did directe it an other waie Looâ—â—her with they minded to oppresse the truth 〈◊〉 with the same haue they helped to set it forth and thereby was it signified how the Iewish people should bee blinded and refused And forasmuch as they had no loue vnto the trueth but reiected it it it was moche that they should be blinded and darkened in lyes and that there shoulde errour and blindnsse enough fall vpon them The Angel is not ashamed to call Iesus the crucified for the crosse is the token of Christes victorie through the crosse beganne his honour and glorie through the crosse was death ouercome the crosse is the glorious token of all Christians In the crosse is the exaltation of Christ the heade and of all his members Wee ought not therefore to bee ashamed of the crosse of our Lorde which was crucified for therein standeth our health life and resurrection all our reioicing and glorie Commission is giuen that vnto Peter before other disciples they should declare the Lords resurrectioÌ„ that from the feare wherin he stood by reason of the denial he might be deliuered and so comforted He sendeth them to Galilee thither wil he go before them that they might bee safe from the feare of the Iewes which at that time raged horribly Grant vs O God an earnest zeale and loue vnto the poore in whom we may highly honor Iesus thy son And wheras we throgh the weaknes of the flesh are inclined to bee faint hearted and not able of our selues to behold the bright shine and clearnes of his glorious Resurrection strengthen and comfort thou vs by thy holie Angell that wee may constantly beleeue the Resurrection of thy sonne whereby 〈◊〉 receiuing an holy hope of the life to come 〈…〉 immortall Resurrection of our bodies may be 〈◊〉 also to comfort and strengthen others that be 〈◊〉 O make thou this hard earth of our fleshe to 〈◊〉 and mooue through the power of thy spirit to holie fruitfull pennaunce amendment and confession of our life Preserue vs that wee neuer resist the truth nor take part with lies Graunt vs loue vnto the truth keepe vs from errour and blindnesse Let our ioye bee in the crosse
of Iesu Christ thy sonne and our life in his resurrection that wee with him in him may truly rise againe hereto a godly righteous and sober life and in the world to come to the blessed life euerlasting Amen AND the women went out quickly and fled from the sepulchre for they trembled and were amazed Neither said they any thing to anie man for they were affraid Mary Magdalen ranne and came to Simon Peter and to the other Disciple who Iesus loued and said vnto them They haue taken the Lord away out of the Sepulchre we wote not where they haue laid him Then went Peter foorth and the other Disciple and came to the Sepulchre They both ranne together and the other Disciple out-ranne Peter and came sooner to the sepulchre And hee stouped downe and saw the linnen cloathes lying yet went he not in Then came Simon Peter following him and went into the Sepulchre and saw the linnen clothes lying and the napkin that was about his head not lying with the linen cloths but 〈◊〉 togeather in a place by it selfe Ther went in 〈…〉 Disciple which came first to the Sepulchre 〈…〉 and beleeued For as yet they knewe not the 〈…〉 hee should rise againe from death And the 〈◊〉 Disciples went away againe vnto their owne home But Marie stood without at the Sepulchre weeping And as shee wept shee bowed herselfe into the Sepulchre and saw two Aungels in white sitting the one at the head the other at the feete where they had laide the bodie of Iesus And they said vnto her Woman why weepest thou She said vnto them For they haue taken away my Lorde and I wote not where they haue laid him When shee had thus said she turned her selfe backe and saw Iesus standing and knew not that it was Iesus Then said Iesus vnto her Woman why weepest thou Whom seekest thou She supposing that he had beene a gardener saide vnto him Sir if thou haue borne him hence tell me where thou hast laid him and I will fetch him Iesus said vnto her Marie She turned her selfe and said vnto him Raboni which is to say Maister Then said Iesus vnto her Touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father But go to my brethren and say vnto them I ascend vp vnto my father and your father vnto my God your God Marie Magdalene came tolde the disciples which had been with the Lord now were weeping and mourning that she had seen the Lord and that he had spoken such things vnto her But though they heard that he was aliue that Mary had seen him yet they beleeued not Doctrine and fruite THE Euangelists do most diligently set forth to vs the resurrectioÌ„ of Christ as a thing necessary profitable and ioyfull vnto all faithfull beleeuers For in the resurrection we see how Christ 〈◊〉 and what hope we haue in him But this resurrection do the Euangelists teach according as mans 〈◊〉 â—standing may comprehend it For if Christ had sodainly at once opened himselfe to his Disciples so that other exhortations warninges were not gone before then should they haue taken it but for a plain fantasie and vision as they did when the Lorde appeared vnto them vppon the water Therefore the Euangelistes describe the matter verie distinctly and sundrie wayes so that no man can bee able to suspect anie deceyte First how the women and men came to the sepulchre looked and went in and how they viewed euerie thing throughly not once but oft and manie times the clothes wherein the Lorde was wrapped the heade kerchiefe euerie thing folden together in his seuerall place and how they saw and perceyued that the bodie was not there that the Sepulchre was open the stone rolled away and how the Aungels and heauenly spirits testified that hee was risen agayne Yet for all this they are weak and beleeue it not stedfastly but bee as yet in a doubt Thus GOD permitteth them to wauer and to bee feeble of beleefe and doth not throughly perswade them forthwith and that altogether for our sakes Hee might well sodainely haue certified and assured Thomas and them at the first but thus is it better both for them and vs. For the more a sicke man feeleth his owne disease and woundes the more acceptable is the medicine vnto him The weaker that our beleefe is the more cause haue wee to call vpon God for the increase of faith the more weaknesse we find in our selues the farther are we in debt and the more bound to praise God When hee maketh vs strong and seeing it is his onely strength that staieth vs we ought the lesse to reioyce in our owne Christ in his life time had oft tolde them afore of his resurrection but their mind was so dul that they vnderstood it not neither perceiued they that great mysterie The resurrection of the bodies they could not comprehend but alway vnderstood it otherwise There was much written thereof and that with euident woordes in the Scripture as in the sixteenth Psalme and in the figure of Ionas and yet could not they vnderstand it Which thing neuertheles to beleeue Christ had giuen them occasion sundrie wais As in that hee raised vp Lazarus other which were dead and made them aliue againe In all his preaching and doctrine he declared that this was vnto him in no wise vnpossible by reason of the diuine power working in him For all this the disciples are yet so weake that they vnderstand it not all Therfore doth the godly wisedome lead them still by little and little to make them stronger declaring vnto them certaine assured euidences as that the bodie was not in the sepulchre but that the clothes lay there wrapt together for these were vndoubted tokens that he was risen vp againe For if any man had taken him out of the sepulchre as Magdalen thoght he could not haue had so much time and leisure as to loose vp the bands and to vndoo the clothes from the bodie but had taken and carried awaie the clothes and bodie together For the clothes dyd cleaue hard fast to the bodie partly by reason of the 〈◊〉 and partly through the Aloes and Myrrhe than the bodie was dressed withall But for all this they are weake still and in doubt vntill such time as the Lord himselfe doth strengthen them Therefore euen Marie also as feruent as shee is iudgeth not the bodie to be risen againe but to bee stollen and priuily carryed awaie thus God openeth himselfe vnto whom and when hee will for though wee see sometimes many great and wonderfull workes though wee reade and heare much of the Scriptures yet remaineth our hart still ignorant neither doth the doctrine take effect till Christ open it and till he himselfe be schoole-master within Who so would rather haue another and higher sense or exposition than this it may bee vnderstood that Christ appeareth vnto those which mourne and weepe and