atturney your aduocate mediatour so that ye haue lacked nothing neither hath any man hurt you Seeing now I haue hitherto neuer failed you I wil also from henceforth not forsake you but pray vnto my Father who shall sende vnto you the holy Ghost The same shall perfectly bring to your remembrance and be your teacher in al that I haue shewed you hee shall exhort and admonish you aide succour and comfort you so that yee shall not be without consolation He shall be your tutour and defender neither shall he be with you onely for a time as I haue beene but euen in your heartes shall he dwell with you and neuer depart from you Of this helper comforter teacher and tutor shall yee also haue neede for great trouble and persecution shall the world moue against you To ouercom the same is your flesh too feeble therefore will I send you downe from heauen a power whereby in all aduersitie ye may be able to stand fast and to haue the victorie O the vnspeakeable loue of our Lord Iesu Christ who taketh such diligent care for vs and endueth vs with so excellent a gift namely his owne holy spirite With what modestie and sobernesse with how pure and honest behauiour ought wee to walke seeing that God hath into our hartes giuen his holy spirite who vtterly abhorreth and loatheth all vice and all filthines of sinne Great diligence ought we therfore to applie in keeping cleane and vndefiled our bodies and soules which God through his holy spirite hath purified and consecrated to bee his owne dwelling place and temple least we expell the chast spirite of God For in no froward soule abideth hee neither dwelleth hee in that bodie which maketh it selfe slaue and thrall vnto sin The eares of our minde ought we to open and to harken whereof this spirite admonisheth vs and what doctrine hee in our Sauiours words doth teach vs and his motion ought we to followe Afraid ought we not to be he that is in vs is stronger than all our enemies This spirite hath Christ by his prayer and merites obtained of his Father for hee prayed with weeping and teares and was heard for his worthines sake He is called also the spirite of trueth because hee proceedeth of the truth teacheth the trueth and maketh vs true we are else of our owne nature altogether lyers inconstant vntrue and dissembling hypocrites and whatsoeuer the world speaketh doth it is nothing but vanitie and lyes Blessed therefore are they vnto whom God giueth the high gift of his trueth The world that is to say fleshly men and children of the world receiue not this spirite for they despise the word of Christ and laugh it to scorne Therefore God sheweth not himselfe vnto them for they loue him not which thing they declare in that they refuse his word But who so receiueth his word sheweth thereby that he loueth Christ and God him wil God loue againe and open himselfe euer more and more vnto him This is a high reward which God giueth vnto his louers that hee commeth vnto them maketh his dwelling and abideth alwaie with them working all good things in them and by them Therfore ought wee earnestly to heare his worde to loue him and to keepe his commandements And so euen the same his owne spirit which hee gaue vs at the beginning shall hee still graunt vnto vs more perfectly from time to time Thus shall that spirite poure out loue in our harts and indue them with more perfeâ—tion The loue of the world which is not of God the Father shall this spirit roote out and daily consume but the loue of God it shall continually plant and increase The more loue there is the more groweth the knowledge of God yea the more Gods knowledge increaseth the more feruent perfect is loue Grant vs ô gratious Father thy holy spirit to take possession of our heart that it may onely trust in thee loue thee aboue all things keepe thy commandements cleaue still vnto thee for euermore Amen THese things haue I spoken vnto you beeing yet present with you But that comfort which is the holie Ghost whom my father will send in my name he shal teach you all thinges and bring all thinges to your remembrance whatsoeuer I haue taught you Peace I leaue with you my peace I giue vnto you Let not your hart be troubled neither feare Ye haue heard that I said vnto you I go and come vnto you If ye loued me ye would verely reioice because I said I go vnto the father for the father is greater than I. And now haue I shewed you before it come that when it is come to passe ye might beleeue Hereafter will I not talke many words with you for the ruler of this worlde commeth and hath naught in me But that the world may knowe that I loue the father as the father gaue me commaundement euen so doâ— I. Arise let vs go hence Doctrine and fruite THe Lord Iesus continueth his Oration in comforting his Disciples and in telling them what the office of the holy Ghost should be Whereby we learne that all reading and hearing yea and al doctrine bringeth vtterly no fruite if the holy Ghost do not giue vs vnderstanding and teach vs the word of God For the Disciples were ignorant and forgetfull Many thinges that Christ had tolde them they vnderstood not many thinges had they forgotten in many thinges they doubted Such like happen also vnto vs therefore ought wee at all times to pray vnto God that he will send vs his holy spirite to admonish and prouoke vs to comfort and strengthen vs to instruct and teach vs all thinges that are necessarie for vs to saluation Hee is the right heauenly schoolemaister when hee commeth into vs hee expelleth all ignorance away But forasmuch as there remaineth much trouble and aduersitie vnto all faithfull beleeuers while they liue in this time Christ doth therefore promise them his peace against the turmoyling vnquietnes and trouble of this world In the world are many hurley burlyes and aduersities In Christ we find true peace and quietnesse And Christ vnto those that are his giueth such a peace as surmounteth all vnderstanding in the which peace they beeing coupled and knitte are able valiauntly to ouercome all enemies and aduersitie For in as much as they knowe and be vndoubtedly assured through faith that their sins are forgiuen and taken awaie by Christ that the father of heauen is fauorable and gracious vnto them that they be his owne children and inheritours they doe little passe what thing outwardly happeneth vnto them All aduersitie and trouble that outwardlie is layde vpon them is through the inward ioy and peace which they haue in God cleane swallowed vp and so forgotten They settle and staie their harts vppon saluation and eternall peace The peace of the world seeketh quietnesse rest of the bodie throweth awaie the crosse
sepulchre being at hand they laide Iesus into it and Ioseph weltred a great stone afore the entrance of the sepulchre and went his way Now followeth the doctrine and contemplation IN the former little Booke we haue heard of the passion of Christ Nowe if our great sinne put vs in feare making our conscience vnquiet and presse vs with the terrour of euerlasting death damnation wee ought to remember that the lambe of GOD beeing slayne and hanged vp vppon the Crosse for our sinnes hath himselfe satisfied for them all and washed them cleane awaye This holy sacrifice was offred vnto God the father for our welfare and euen the same it is that hath taken awaie the sinne and wickednes of all the world Whatsoeuer is read and spoken concerning the passion of Iesus Christ it is altogether done for our eternall wealth and comfort Now is it described of the holy Euangelistes with what honour and glorie his holy body was buried and that not of mean persons but of noble and famous iust men Ioseph and Nicodemus who while Christ yet liued fauored him and were secretly his Disciples But nowe after his death they steppe forth somwhat more stoutly and boldly begging of Pilate the body of Iesu to burie it In the which act is declared their worthy and valiant beliefe and loue vnto the Lord Iesu For their bodies their estimation and goods must they needes put in ieopardy and procure vnto themselues the hatred and displeasure of all the world if they honorably burie him who in his life time was taken to be an euill doer a deceiuer a sedicious murtherer and so was condemned vnto death But thus it pleaseth God in weakenes to declare his owne strength and glorie Thus the dead wheat corne bringeth foorth fruit in the death of Christ and thus appeareth the power of his death For though he verily and trulie died as touching the body yet after the spirit and in mighty power he liueth yea hee himselfe is the life of all things This is the power and fruite of his passion when a mightie and strong spirit dooth exercise it selfe in faithfull beleeuing harts They that afore were ashamed to go openly vnto the Lord steppe now foorth manfully all fearefulnes sette apart ieoparding their bodies and goodes For besides that they put themselues in perill of loosing their life and estimation they bestow also great cost in linnen cloth in costly sweet ointment For they bury not Iesus as an euil doer but as an honourable man and friend of God according to their custome Loe what a thing it is to cleaue somewhat vnto Christ how feeblie soeuer it bee doone it bringeth alwaie great fruite in his time No man therefore ought to bee reiected that cleaueth anie thing vnto Christ and earnestly seeketh him Faith is strengthened in affliction and aduersitie the death of Christ giueth power vnto the fearefull In death beginneth his honour and glorie to appeare there are all thinges faire and beautifull Centurio giueth testimonie and maketh an honourable confession and so doo they that were vnder him Necessarie it was we should beleeue and confesse that Iesus verilie died vpon the crosse therefore do the Euangelists describe it so perfectly howe his bodie was taken downe from the Crosse by Ioseph and was laid in the Sepulchre To the intent that wee also might beleeue and confesse that he hath broken the bands of death and is from death mightily risen againe For life might not bee holden captiue in death neither might death with the rules thereof alwaies binde him that of all thinges is the life in whome wee liue mooue and haue our beeing Heere we must learne to know the eternall infallible foresight and prouidence of God who for his annointed appointeth afore hande an honourable Sepulchre and mooueth the heartes of his elect to burie the bodie of Iesu which els vndoubtedly had bene vilely cast out remained still vnburied How be it his buriall and rest must needs bee honourable as the Prophet saith Esa 11. For when hee by death had finished the course of his life and the woorke of his father this rest appertained to his honour and the father heard him as hee praied afore Father make thy sonne honourable or glorifie thy sonne This began in the buriall there was the faire white linnen cloth the new sepulchre the honorable men and excellent dead buriers as witnesses of his death there were the hundred pounds of pretious costly oyntment All these thinges were euidences of a glorious new and immortall life which Christ had in his bodie as the firstling of his deed and as we also shall haue according to our measure The sepulchre is newe partly to preuent all wrong suspition for if anie man had lyen in that sepulchre afore it might easily haue beene suspected or talked that Christ was not risen againe from the dead but some other partlie to declare the newnesse of lyfe in Christ and in those that are his as it is sayde afore By this also wee see into what pouertie Christ submitted himselfe hee that in his life time had neyther house nor place where to lay his heade is nowe couered with straunge cloth and layde in a straunge Sepulchre In the which thing though Christs bodie was alwaie vncorrupt we are taught fruitfullye to consider the corruption of our body We are earth and to the earth must wee yeelde and paie earth againe Ashes wee be and into ashes wee must returne Why bragge wee then Why are we proud and high minded seeing that shortly we shall become foule doong and carrion Why haue wee such desire to the wicked worlde considering it casteth vs out so vilely We should alwaie remember that within a small short time we shall be laid down into a foule pit There is the harborow of all fleshe There lie the rich and poore together in one bedde There is no difference betweene noble and base of bloud There neither goods helpe the rich nor subtile craft the wittie There the tender is worms meat and he that a little while agoe went bragging vp and downe in costly apparell is now an vglie smell to the nose There the hardie Giant is faine to play stoupe gallaunts parte The praise and commendacion of such as are puft vp in foolishe pride departeth as the dust before the wind Thus passeth away all mankind and all flesh falleth to the place whence he came being dissolued by reason of originall sinne Wherfore let vs learne in this time so to liue and so to subdue the flesh through the spirite that when the flesh corrupteth our soule may bee taken into eternall peace and rest For all we that be baptized into Christ Iesus are baptized into his death beeing buried with him rhrough baptisme into death that as Christ was raised vp from the dead through the glory of his father so we likewise might walke in the newnesse of life For if we be grassed in him through the
the ministers of the word to desire that God throgh his holy name power will defend strength comfort and preserue them in all aduersitie but principally that hee will giue them grace to bee one coupled together in the band of peace loue and vniformitie that they may be of one spirite and of one mind that in one spirite they may further and plant the honour of God that like as Christ neither spake nor did anie thing but that which was acceptable and wel pleasing vnto the father they also in their sayinges and dooinges may haue respect vnto Gods glorie and that they being rooted and fortified in loue bee not vanquished nor ouercome of the pleasures or threateninges of this world Secondly that in all their labour and trauaile in al aduersitie and persecutions hee will put into theyr hartes his owne comfort and spirituall ioy For the worlde hath manifolde mirthes pastimes and pleasures much bragging and wilfulnesse vseth it in the riches and fleshly voluptuousnes thereof But the true Ministers of Christ seeing hee hath seuered them from the worlde must and ought to refraine and absent themselues from all worldly ioy and voluptuousnes yea it is they that ought to diswade the worlde from such wantonnesse and vanitie by meanes of whose faithfull admonition there falleth much hatred and trouble vpon them Neither were it to the furtheraunce of Gods honour and our commoditie to haue them vtterlye taken away out of this worlde Therefore dooth Christ desire and so must wee with him that from euill namely from the Deuill the Prince of this worlde who stirreth the world against them they may of the father in the world be defended and kept Thirdly that he will sanctifie and cleanse them afore other men that they may be holy and pure vessels in the house and temple that is in the Church of God for they are means instruments by whoÌ„ God ministereth his grace and truth vnto men therfore is it also conuenient that they be pure and holy This commeth throgh the truth that God putteth in their mouth and heart by the holy Ghost which inwardly purifieth them But then are they holy when they teach truth and liue godly Into the worlde hath Christ sent theÌ„ as the father sent him into the world The father sent Christ into the world that he should destroy the kingdome of the deuill and of the world that he should declare vnto the world the grace and mercie of God towardes mankinde that he shoulde bring men from sinne and from false idolatrish faith to the true liuing God and to a vertuous conuersation that he with the light of truth should shine vpon those which sate in darknes that he should bring the knowledge of God into the world exhort men to the amendement of life Euen this hath Christ giuen in commission to his Apostles and to all ministers of the worde to doo This is their office this is their ministration vnto this haue they greate neede of the grace power and assistance of God therefore ought we most earnestly to praie for them for if they fail or fal it hurteth the whole Church yea out of the same there groweth slaunder vnto the name of God in the sight of the vnbeleeuers and an occasion of falling to such as are weake of faith Therefore Christ also offered himselfe to the father for them and sanctified them that they might bee pure and holy not in outward apparance but from the heart and in the truth that through their vniformity loue through the word of truth which they preach through the holynes of their doctrine and liuing all men and the whole world might know and vnderstand that God hath sent them yea that God sent his son Christ into the world vnto whome they with mouth and life beare record and who also euery where shineth out of them with wordes and deeds Not onely for them hath Christ praied but also for vs as many as hearken and beleeue the worde of truth preached by them Wherein first wee may perceiue and see the loue faithfulnes and great care of Christ for vs how earnestly the trustie shepheard of our soules committeth his poore sheepe into his fathers protection how faithfully our mediatour and aduocate praieth for vs whereby also he setteth forth a doctrine vnto vs how and what we shal pray of the heauenly father First that he will make vs one by his holy spirite in the truth in the vnitie of faith and in loue vnseparable that we all may be of one mind one body and one spirit in Christ Iesu our head and to keepe the vnitie of the spirit in the bond of peace that we all being illuminated by his spirit may in word and deed yea in our whole life seeke and further the glorie of our heauenly father that we all may bee one among our selues with God whereby all the worlde may spie see and perceiue that we are Gods children and Christs disciples Secondly that of his fatherly goodnes he will defend saue preserue vs his own poore sheep which be in the midst among wolues manifold dangers And seeing we being yet in the world do not liue after the world that it will please him to keepe vs from the euill namely froÌ„ the prince of of this world that thogh the same our enemie doth tempt plague vs he neuer yet haue power to preuaile against vs. Thirdly that inasmuch as we being in sin conceiued and borne haue hetherto liued in sinne seeing that albeit we are cleansed alreadie by his word and faith yet the vncleannes of the flesh and of the world doth daily defile vs it wil please him throgh his truth to purge and sanctifie our bodies our soules and our whole life that wee may become an holy temple of his grace pure cleane holy vessels consecrated sanctified to Gods own vse He hath once purified hallowed vs through the bloud of his son and vnto the father hath Christ sanctified and offered vp himselfe an holy acceptable sacrifice for our sins but the deuill the world and our flesh is euer busie to lead vs away againe from God from true holines Therefore must wee daily pray vnto him that through his holy spirit through his holy truth he wil continually purge clense sanctifie vs that we be not disseÌ„bling hypocrites but godly and vnfained euen from our harts that we be not stained in the filthines of this world but to refraine from all vncleannes thorogh the assistaÌ„ce of his grace that we may also offer vp our bodies an holy acceptable sacrifice to â—od the Lord as he offered vp himselfe vppon the crosse for our sakes FAther I will that they which thou hast giuen me be with me where I am that they may see my glory which thou hast giuen me for thou louedst me before the making of the world O righteous father
the worlde also hath not knowen thee but I haue knowen thee these haue knowen that thou hast sent me And I haue declared vnto them thy name and will declare it that the loue wherewith thou hast loued me may be in them and I in them Doctrine and fruite AFter that Christ had committed his vnto the father that he will care for them defend keepe them while they liue in the world he desireth now that it will please him finally also to saue them and to take them to himself into his kingdome With the which praier he giueth a great consolation to his disciples and all faithfull beleeuers that we might be the more cheerefull to serue him considering the high reward that is prepared for vs that for his sake we should ioyfully and stoutly beare all aduersitie seeing he will make vs yea hath made vs alredy partakers of his glory and of his kingdome Oh the great grace and incomprehensible loue of God towards vs who through his mercie and great loue whereas wee were children of wrath and damnation hath made vs his own children elect and beloued and when wee were dead in sinne hath with his son raised vs vp from death reuiued vs made vs sit with him among those of heauen in Christ Iesu to declare vnto the ages to come the riches of his grace in kindnes and loue to vs ward through Iesus Christ Forasmuch nowe as God hath caused the lyght of his glorie euen Christ to shine into our harts and through the light of faith hath kindled and purified our hearts it is meete that in this time we liue as children of light to the intent that men may see the brightnes of those good workes which proceede of faith to the praise of our heauenly father And thogh we be not as yet bodily with Christ yet our heartes and mindes are alwaies aboue there as Christ sitteth at the right hand of God our conuersation and being is in heauen albeit wee are yet in corporall miserie with heart we desire to die and to be with Christ Wee are sure if this earthly house were fallen and broken downe that we haue one euerlasting in heauen Wee are dead but our life is reserued with Christ in GOD. It is not euident yet what wee be but when Christ our lyfe shall shewe himselfe then shall wee also appeare with him in glorie euen when wee shall rise vp and bee taken vp in the ayre and bee with him for euer and see his honour and glorie which the Angelles delight to see and beholde Oh how great pleasure and ioy is it to beholde the eternall light that neuer quencheth in the which no darknesse hath place from the which shall bee expelled and cast out all they that woulde not receiue and know the light which God hath sent into the world to illuminate them but are blinded by the Prince of this world least the the light of the Gospel should shine vpon them No wrong doth the righteous father vnto them when hee plagueth them and taketh the light from them A righteous and iust iudgement is it seeing the gracious Father so mercifully sent them the light of the truth and they yet so maliciously and stubbornly haue despised and refused it yea reason it is that they perish in vntruth in lies in euerlasting blindnes for asmuch as they wold receiue darknes rather than the light lies rather than the truth And considering that they haue forsaken the brightnes of the truth and of the son of God they must needes be cast into vtter darkenes and neuer enioy the light O gracious Father graunt vnto vs which thorow thy sonne haue known thy name that in such knowledge and light of the truth wee may increase more and more that the loue wherewith thou louest thy deare sonne may bee and remaine in vs and that thy onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ our head may in vs his members continue still worke liue and bring forth fruit acceptable vnto thee AND when Iesus had spoken these words he went out with his Disciples as hee was woont ouer the brooke Cedron vnto mount Oliuet into a village called Gethsemani wheras was a garden into the which Iesus went with his disciples Iudas nowe who betrayed him knewe also the place for Iesus vsed oft to come thether with his disciples Iesus sayd vnto his Disciples Sit ye heere till I go yonder and pray And he tooke vnto him Peter and the two sonnes of Zebede and began to be heauy and sony And a feare and terrour came vppon him Thus said he vnto them my soule is heauie vnto the death tarrie ye heere and watch with me And hee went from them as farre as a stones cast Then fell he downe vppon his face to the ground and praied that if it were possible that houre might depart from him And thus hee praied O father vnto thee are all thinges possible take this cuppe from mee howbeit not my will but thy will bee done Doctrine and fruite AFter that Iesus hath established his Disciples in faith and loue comforting and strengthening them against aduersitie and trouble to come in this world promising also vnto them the spirit loue defence and protection of his father hee goeth now to meet his traitour and enemies and beginneth the worke of our redemption Awake vp nowe O thou faithfull and deuout soule and go after thy redemer followe his foot-steps gather vp diligently the drops of his bloud and sprinckle them with a true faith in thine heart take vp the bundle of mirrhe and lay it at thy breast O thou noble bride and spouse of Christ his passion that he suffereth for thee write then in thy minde learne to die from all sinne from thy selfe and from the world that thou maiest bee crucified vnto the world and the world vnto thee Death is vgsome and very terrible vnto the flesh but ioyfull and welcome is it vnto all such as are instructed in the secrete science of God namely that death vnto faithfull beleeuers is an ende of all trouble an enteraunce into a better and eternall lyfe Christ in that he goeth forth to meete death declareth that he wil suffer not of compulsion but willingly whereby he comforteth vs. But whereas he is heauie and trembleth before his disciples and confesseth howe hee feareth death the same is done for our wealth to declare vnto vs the weaknesse and feeblenesse that our flesh receiueth at the sight of aduersitie for in all things sinne except it was his good pleasure to become lyke vnto vs his brethren hee would take vpon him a true man who felte our aduersitie in his owne flesh and so coulde haue compassion on vs. Besides this hee sheweth also to whom our weaknesse ought to resort for comfort and helpe in aduersitie namely to our father in heauen before whome wee must fall downe with deuout and feruent praier and vnto him disclose and open our anguish
they tooke counsell bought with the same money a potters field to bury strangers in Wherfore the same field is called Acheldema that is the field of bloud vntill this day Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Ieremie the Prophet saying And they tooke thirtie siluer plates the price of him that was vâ—lued whom they bought of the children of Israel and gaâ—â— them for the potters field as the Lord appointed me Doctrine and fruite LIke as we haue had in Peter an ensample of the grace and mercie of God so haue we in Iudas a fearefull and terrible ensample of Gods righteousnesse In Iudas are described vnto vs all vnbeleeuing desperate persons whom the gracious God of his bottomlesse mercie calleth to his goodnes and seruice but they despise it and followe satan who blindeth them and entiseth them through manifold wickednes which they consider not but when they are come into the deepnesse of vice they force not of it The deuill also to whom they surrender themselues to serue and that hath taken possession of their heart blindeth them in such sorte that they ponder not the vilenesse grieuousnesse and greatnes of their sinnes till they haue fully finished the abhomination for if they did consider it they should repent amend How many louing admonitions had Iudas heard of the Lord to dissuade him from his purpose yet all could not helpe At the last openeth hee their eies that they repent but a godly repentaunce they receiue not They beholde the greatnesse and grieuousnesse of the sinne and offence but the greatnes of Gods mercie in Christ they see not by meanes whereof they despaire in theyr sinnes and are damned In the Priests that loath the bloud monie and yet abhorre not to shed the innocent bloud is set foorth before our eyes an ensample of all hypocrites which outwardly appeare to be good and vertuous and yet regard not the godlynes of the spirit A gnat choaketh them and a camell they swallow vp But vnto vs poore straungers and pilgrimes there is prepared and bought through the bloud of Christ a field and Church-yard that wee beeing washed cleane from our sinnes might find eternal rest to our soules Preserue vs O God from couetousnesse and despaire from false hypocrisie treason and bloushedding G lead vs not into temptation And whereas we haue sinned grant vs true fruitfull repentance that we neuer forget thy goodnes mercie but immediatly cease from sinne and serue thee continually vntill our end Amen IEsus stood before the deputie Then said the deputy what accusation bring ye against this man They answered said If he were not an euill doer we had not deliuered him vnto thee Then said Pilate vnto them Take yee him and iudge him after your law Then said the Iewes It is not lawfull for vs to put anie man to death that the saying of Iesus might be fulfilled which he spake signifieng what death hee should die Then began they to accuse him sayd We haue found this man peruerting the people forbidding to giue tribute vnto the Emperor naming himself to be Christ a king Pilate asked him said Art thou king of the Iews Then answered he and sayd Thou hast spoken it Then said Pilate to the chiefe Priests and to the people I 〈…〉 nor guiltines in the man Then were they more earnest and said he hath with his doctrine mooued the people to sedicâ—â—â— thorow out whole Iewrie beginning in Galilee and from thence hither vnto this place Nowe when Pilate heard of Galilee he asked if he were a Galilean And when hee perceiued that he was vnder Herods iurisdiction hee sent him vnto Herode who then was at Hierusalem Doctrine and fruite ALL they that hitherto from the beginning of the world haue at any time preached the truth were of the aduersaries noted and accused to be sedicious deceiuers of the people which thing was brought vpon them to rid them out of the way Hereof find we examples enow in the olde and new Testament Ieremy 26.32.38 3. Reg. 18. Amos 7. In Christ and his Apostles we see it euident Therefore haue wee no cause to giue ouer the truth for wee are no better than our maister And though wee bee complained vppon for the truthes sake it ought not greatly to greeue vs for as much as we see that the like happened vnto Christ in whose mouth there was neuer found guile Hee is set forth vnto vs for an example of most perfect patience We that be spirituail Disciples of Christ must goe vnto him to schoole and learne of him meeknes obedience patience and lowlines of mind Beholde our head standeth before an Hethenish vnrighteous Iudge wrongfully and sore is hee accused euen our â—â—uiour our king Lord yea euen he that is iudge 〈…〉 whole world Why should we then 〈…〉 for Gods sake to obey worldly 〈…〉 though they oppresse vs do vs wrong 〈◊〉 innocent as for vs we are in many things guiltie Neuer should the patience of Iesus slip out of our hearts Haue mercie vpon our impatiencie O mercifull Father and print in our heartes the image of thy son grant vs grace to follow his footsteps expell out of vs all feare of worldly accusations false iudgments giue vs such a gentle spirite as when we bee wrongfully accused or vniustly punished is not soone vnquieted ô driue thou out of vs all fumishnesse indignation and selfe will let thy loue increase and growe in vs through the contemning of our selues and whatsoeuer is in vs that striueth or resisteth against thy holie will let the same bee cleane extinct and die AND when Herode sawe Iesus he was exceeding glad for hee was desirous to see him of a long season because he had heard many things of him and he trusted to haue seene some myracle done by him Then he questioned with him many wordes but Iesus aunswered nothing The high Priests and Scribes stood forth and accused him straightly And Herode with his men of warre despised him And when he had mocked him he araied him in white clothing and sent him againe to Pilate And the same daie Pilate and Herode were made friendes together for before they were at variance Doctrine and fruite THe euerlasting wisedome of God is mocked iested at as a desert foole the truth is belied Vs therefore that of nature are foolish and liers it shuld not grieue to be reuiled for Gods sake No answere giueth Christ to the vngodly voluptuous king who of a curious desire woulde faine haue seene or heard some new thing of Christ for at that houre to answere it could not edifie It was a time wherein it pleased him to suffer not to doo miracles Thus the innocent Lord Iesus for vs guiltie is drawen and haled from one vnrighteous iudge to another All reproch shame dishonour and derision taketh he vppon himselfe for our sakes euerie where is hee grieuously accused in euery place is there hurt done
Iesus who being refused of wicked men vpon earth but chosen of God the Father is crowned with eternall glorie and godly honour in heauen No euill saying or curse ought to ouercome vs considering that for the same there is so exceeding ioy prepared for vs of God THen Pilate took Iesus therfore scourged him the souldiers wound a crowne of thorns and put it on his head And they did on him a purple garment and came vnto him and said haile king of the Iewes and they smote him on the face Pilate went foorth againe and said vnto them Behold I bring him forth to you that you may know that I finde no fault in him Then came Iesus foorth wearing a crowne of thorne and a robe of purple And he saieth vnto them Beholde the man When the high Priestes therefore and ministers saw him they cried saying crucifie him crucifie him Pilate saith vnto them Take ye him and crucifie him for I finde no cause in him The Iewes aunswered and said vnto him Wee haue a lawe and by our law hee ought to die because hee made himselfe the sonne of GOD. When Pilate heard that saying hee was the more afraid and went againe into the iudgement hall and sayth vnto Iesus Whence art thou But Iesus gaue him no aunswere Then said Pilate vnto him Speakest thou not vnto mee Knowest thou not that I haue power to crucifie thee and haue power to let thee loose Iesus aunswered thou couldest haue no power at all against me except it were giuen thee from aboue Therefore he that deliuered me vnto thee hath the more sin And from thence forth souâ—ht Pilate meanes to loose him but the Iewes cryed saying If thou let him go thou art not the Emperours friend for whosoeuer maketh himselfe king is against the Emperour Doctrine and fruite HEre in Pilate we learne how hurtful it is when euery one in his office and vocation looketh not diligently about him but slenderly letteth the thing slippe and passe that he earnestly ought to bring to effect Pilate was the deputie of a countrey and knew that Christ had wrong wherof he himself also many times beareth him witnesse with his owne mouth Seeing then that he was a Iudge it appertaineth to his office to iudg right not to suffer the innocent to die For though Pilate doth as if he would discharge Christ yet he mindeth it not earnestly Hee goeth about to let Christ loose neuertheles so farre as hee displease not the Iewes and the Emperour so farre as hee loose not the fauour and friendshippe of men While Pilate now fainteth in the righteousnesse that hee knoweth and is sure of and holdeth not on stoutly as he should to deliuer Christ God suffereth him still to fall till he come to this point that he condemneth the innocent to death against his own conscience Thus goeth it with al those that for the grace of GOD lent vnto them are vnthankfull vnfaithfull in the little It is the part of a righteous Iudge to maintaine iustice and to defend the innocent thogh it should cost him body honour and goods The pride also of Pilate that presumed by reason of his authoritie is brought downe with the wordes of the Lorde there is no power but from aboue therefore should it bee godly vsed the higher powers are Goddes Ministers In the which wordes of Christ the faithfull beleeuers that bee in aduersitie are comforted knowing that no man hath authoritie nor power ouer them except it bee giuen him of God Christ is bound to deliuer vs from the bandes of our sinnes and to place vs in eternall freedome Hee is scourged to take from vs the stripes that we should suffer by reason of our sins yea to heale our wounds is hee sore wounded himselfe Altogether suffereth hee for our sakes thorow his stripes are wee made whole His backe as Esay saith Esay 50. offereth he to the smiters and his cheeks to the nippers to purge vs from all filthinesse of sinne Hee became without beautie as a leper despised spitted vppon and mocked to deliuer vs from eternall shame punishment Wee had deserued all this hee did nothing worthie thereof wee are the cause of his martyrdome Oh the great burthen of our sinnes that the Sonne of the eternall GOD must suffer so sore stripes and cruell payne for vs to reconcile vs with his Father Oh the exceeding great loue which he declareth vnto vs in that hee taketh all rebuke vppon himselfe for vs Oh that wee considered this with true deuotion so that wee might say with Christ and Dauid I am readie to bee scourged and my plague is alwaies before mee O Iesu kindle vs with the fire of thy exceeding loue which thou in so much aduersitie hast well tryed towardes vs. Graunt vs the helpe of thy grace to the strengthening of our weakenesse when the heauie burdens of aduersities fall vppon vs that thorow the terrible ouercharge of them wee be not opprest and throwne downe Giue vs grace so to chasten and subdue our body and flesh that it maye bee subiect vnto the spirite and obedient vnto thy will in all things WHen Pilate heard that saying he brought forth Iesus and sate downe to giue sentence in the place that is called the Pauement but in the Hebrue tong Gabatha It was the preparing of the Easter about the sixt houre And he saith vnto the Iewes Behold your king They cried away with him away with him crucifie him Pilate saith vnto them shall I crucifie your king The high Priests aunswered We haue no king but the Emperour And the high Priestes with the Elders of the people accused him in many things but he gaue no answere Pilate asked him further and said makest thou no answere Seest thou not in how many and great thinges they accuse thee But Iesus moreouer gaue no answer so that the deputie maruelled sore at it At the feast he had a custome to let one vnto them loose whom they would desire Now while the people presâ—ed on Pilate began to aske them as hee alwaies did said Whom will yee that I let loose vnto you Barabas or Iesus who is called Christ While Pilate sate in iudgement his wife sent to him said Haue thou nothing to doo with that iust man for this night in sleepe haue I suffered much for him But the high Priests the Elders perswaded the people inticed them that they should aske Barrabas require Iesus vnto death Then answered Pilate and said vnto them whom will ye of these two that I shall let go loose vnto you They said Barrabas Then said Pilate vnto them What shall I then do with Iesus who is called Christ Then said they al let him be crucified The deputie said What euill then hath he done Neuertheles they cried yet more let him be crucified When Pilate saw that he profited nothing but that the vprore was greater he tooke water and washed his hands before the people
armes to call and receiue vnto himselfe vs poore sinners lost children saying Come to me all ye that labour and are laden and I will refresh you He sheweth his woundes out of the which floweth the plentifull riuer and fountaine of his precious deare bloud to the washing awaie of all our filthynesse Hee boweth downe his head to speake friendly vnto vs. Boldly therfore with great comfort and confidence ought al sinners to resort vnto him where they shall find help consolation defence and protection there should they laie downe the heauie burthens of theyr sinnes Vnto vs must al the world be a crosse and we vnto the world onely let Christ the Lord be our life and to die with him our greatest aduantage Farre bee from vs all reioycing saue onely in the crosse of Iesus Christ farre be from vs al confidence in our owne workes merites for all our health consisteth in the crosse of Iesus Christ wherein vndoubtedly we may well set all our hope By him commeth forgiuenesse of sinnes out of him floweth the riches of all deseruing with him is the reward of all righteousnes Through the contempt of our selues and of all temporall things let vs barely nakedly and simply followe the naked and crucified Lord. Teach vs O God to haue delight in contemning our selues and all temporal things and when other folkes are in trouble to be sorrie and praie for them Grant vs grace to wish good vnto those that hurt and punish vs let vs not trust in men for there bee fewe faithfull and constant friends Heere also should we learne not to be grieued if we haue few louers and many enemies for so happened euen vnto Christ our head He had many foes to whome yet he did none euil but much good and receiued great vnthanke for his labour Sweete and acceptable should it bee vnto vs to suffer reproch of the world and to be despised for his sake yea to auoyd all voluptuousnes and ioy of the world saying we are fastned vnto the crosse with Christ To seeke much pastime pleasure of the world becommeth not him that must suffer aduersitie All this learne we in the passion of Christ and in the crosse Blessed is hee that directeth his daily exercise and his whole life there after hee shall enioy the fruit of the tree of life for euer O GOD heauenlie Father looke vppon the face of thine annointed who hanged for vs vppon the crosse Be merciful vnto vs poore sinners which bee laden with great and greeuous sinnes forgiue vs for the most worthie merites sake of thine onelie begotten deare sonne who for our sinnes was beaten and wounded Let him satisfie thee for all our sinnes He is our suretie in thy sight our faithful aduocat and mediatour him thou gladly hearest O father of mercie and graciouslie acceptest his intercession for all sinners O gracious Lord Iesu sonne of the eternall God who of verie loue towards vs tookest vpon thee our weake fleshe vndefiled from all sinne and diddest offer vp the same flesh vnto thy father vpon the Altar of the crosse for the safegard of the worlde haue mercy vppon vs thy seruauntes for thy euerlasting goodnes and for the infinite merites sake of thy holie passion For thy deseruing excelleth al mens sins and much greater is the aboundance of thy mercie then all our wickednesse Therefore flie wee vnto thee vnder the protection of thy holy crosse with sighing hearts seeke we helpe grace and remedy for our woundes Receiue vs that are fledde vnto thee Heale vs that be sick make vs iust and righteous that be sinners Drawe thou vs vppe an high O Lord Iesu from all worldlie thinges binde vppe our fleshe with thy feare wound vs with thy sweet loue that nothing els take holde of our heart saue onely Iesus Christ Out of the woundes of Iesu and out of the running out of his bloud doe wee receiue hope There finde wee medicine for our soules aboundance of grace and perfect forgiuenesse Whatsoeuer we receiue of sinfull vices whatsoeuer wee commit with bodily sensualitie the same is altogether washed and refourmed in the fountaine of Christs bloud O the vnoutspeakable loue which the sonne of God beareth towards his Church that he washeth and clenseth it with his owne bloud with the bloud of the new Testament that it may be holy pure and without spot Not with siluer and golde doth GOD redeeme his creature but with the precious bloud of his owne sonne O deare children let vs not tread vnder foote the bloud of the holie Testament let vs not be vnthankefull vnto our Sauiour Thy holie bloud O Iesu make vs pure and cleane from all sinne and sanctifie vs thoroweout that our spirite soule and bodie may cheerefullie waite for thy comming and liue with thee for euer IESVS said O Father forgiue them for they knowe not what they doe Pilate wrote a superscription of the matter and fastened it aboue at the head of the crosse The superscription was written in the Greeke Latine and Hebrew with these woordes Iesus of Nazareth king of the Iewes This superscription did many of the Iewes read for the place where Iesus was crucified was neere vnto the Citie and the superscription was written in Greeke Latine and Hebrew Then said the high Priestes of the Iewes vnto Pilate write not king of the Iewes but that he called himselfe king of the Iewes Pilate answered What I haue written I haue written The souldiers when they had crucified Iesus they tooke his garmentes and made foure parts to euery souldier one part and also his coat The coat was without seam wrought vpon thorow out Then said they together let vs not deuide it but cast lottes for it who shall haue it that the scripture might be fulfilled saying They haue parted my raiment among them and for my coat they cast lots And the souldiers did such things in deed Then sate they downe and kept him There stood also much people and beheld Doctrine and fruit THE last wordes which Iesus spake vppon the crosse ought all faithful beleeuers wel to write in their hearts and therein diligently to keepe them First he spake a louing friendly word a word ful of grace sweet comfort to al sinners sufficient and enough to breake al hardnes of hart and to prouoke fruitfull repentance Father forgiue them O how great goodnes and louing kindnes is this how ready is Iesus vnto mercy how well willing is hee to forgiue his louers that sheweth himselfe so mild and gracious vnto his enemies No angrie word no displeasure poureth hee out against those that crucified him no vengeance nor plague desireth he to fal vppon that vngracious people but speaketh most sweet woordes full of ardent loue O Father forgiue them c. In these words apeareth his exceeding great loue with vnoutspeakable softnes of mind which thorow no mallice might bee ouerome They like madde and bloud thirstie
similitude of his death we shall assuredly also be partakers of his resurrection knowing this that our olde man is crucified with him that the bodie of sin might be emptied and that we should serue sinne no more for he that is dead is made righteous from sin if we now be dead with Christ we beleeue that wee shall also liue with him Looke vpon the whole sixte Chapter to the Romanes We must die from the world and from our owne flesh that the world may be crucified and dead vnto vs as we vnto the world The olde Adam who in vs did liue and rule must bee subdued and mortified that Christ onely may liue and raigne in vs. We must burie our bodies with mirrhe and Aloes that is with lamentation and sorow for our sinnes with weeping with fasting and with abstinence which workes of repentance are bitter vnto the bodie But lyke as those bitter things Aloes and mirrhe doe keepe the bodie from corruption so the crosse and aduersitie sent of God and borne for his sake preserueth our flesh from sinne If we thus die with Christ from the world bee buried in his death we shall rise againe to a new life here and in the world to come so as for death we need not be afraid of it For the sepulchre is new and lieth in the garden which noteth vnto vs the return to the pleasant garden of paradise which is opened vs through the death of Christ for hee as a guide is entered in before vs Iohn 14. Heb. 9.10 that we also after a new sort might escape from death and rise againe to a new life For in the death of Christ is death killed ouercome and wholy nenued and as much as altered into a sleepe For we liue vnto God and our bodyes as the Scripture testifieth shall also liue againe And this is the cause that the Scripture affirmeth those which are dead in Christ to be asleep Esay 26. 1. Thess 4. Afore time had death mightily and openly raigned euen ouer those also that had not sinned like vnto Adam yet had they put on Adams image were therefore subdued vnto the curse but when the second Adam namely Christ appeared purchased lyfe agayne for mankind through the death of his flesh destroying the dominion of death and rising from death againe Then was death renued changed and became like vnto a sleepe for it destroyeth vs not for euer but is a gate and enterance into a better and eternall life therfore haue we a much more perfect hope of the resurrection in Christ than they of olde which therefore buried the bodies so costly and honorably because they hoped in the resurrection to come As for vs wee must bestowe such cost vpon Christ in his members clothing feeding the poore and being ready also to loose all things for his sake Graunt vnto vs O God that as concerning the world and the olde life wee may die with thy sonne our head and be truly buried in his death that with him and in him we may rise againe to a new life that we weak and feeble may with Ioseph and Nichodemu◠grow in vertue and stedfastnes daily laying somwhat to the heape of godly exercises being euer still renued in the spirit that we in our hearts laying vp Christ who dyed for our sakes may so in thankfull remembrance burie him to the intent that our soule bodie may still remaine pure and vnspotted vntill the comming of our Lord Amen MArie Magdalene and Mary Ioses sitting ouer against the sepulchre beheld where Iesus was laide For certaine women there were which comming with him from Galilee and following him beheld the sepulchre and how his bodie was laide Those returned back and prepared sweet odors but vpon the saboth they rested because of the commandement The next daie after the daie of preparation the high Priests and Pharesies came vnto Pilate and said Sir we remember that this deceuer said while he was yet aliue that after three daies hee should rise againe Cause therefore the graue to be kept vntill the third daie least his disciples happily come and steale him awaie and saie vnto the people that he is risen from the dead and so shall the last error bee worse than the first Pilate said vnto them Yee haue watchmen go and keepe it as ye know They went and kept prouided the sepulchre with watchmen and sealed the stone Doctrine and fruite HEre we learne to haue an earnest diligent and feruent loue vnto Christ hearing with what zeale and feruentnes that deuout women 〈◊〉 vnto him and serue him in life and death Him whome they loued in life will they not forsake in death but cheerefully with constant mindes they ieopard their lyfe and goods What auaileth vs then that we cannot shew friendship loue and seruice vnto Christ as well as these women Seeing we haue not Christ alwayes bodily with vs who nowe beeing in his kingdome needeth no corporall ministration seruice we ought to bestow the same vppon his poore ones whom we haue alwaies with vs. Heerein ought wee to spare neither goods nor money to serue please Christ who vnto death did ieopard and giue his body and lyfe for vs. But like as in the women there was a deuout gesture good mind toward Christ so in the Iewish priests and pharesies there was found a great malice and hatred against Christ They were not satisfied in persecuting him while he was aliue but vndertooke also to hinder his resurrection Yet God by his wisdome vseth their wickednesse to the glorie of Christ that euen the enemies themselues albeit against their wil must beare record of his buriall and resurrection in that they keepe the graue with watch men and seale the stone The truth is immortall the more it is opprest the more it breaketh forth Therfore ought we to beware that wee neuer goe about to hinder the truth for if we should so doo we should both labor in vaine procure vnto our selues euerlasting hurt THE RESVRRECTION OF IESVS CHRIST out of the holie Euangelists AND when the Sabbaoth was now past euen the Sabaoth day at euen Marie Magdalene Marie Iames and Salome bought sweete spices that they might come and annoint Iesus The euening when the sabaoth is ended and the first day dawneth after the Sabaoth namely the first day of the weeke while it was yet darke and the Sun brake forth and began to arise the women came to the Sepulchre to see it But there happened first a great earthquake for the Angell of the Lord came downe from heauen and went and rolled backe the stone from the mouth of the sepulchre and sate vpon it His countenance was like the lightening and his raiment white as snow And for feare of him the keepers were astonied and became as dead men And behold some of them that had watched the sepulchre came into the Citie and told the high Priests all
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
gracious father who can right well order and dispose them how when he will as he thinketh best to further his glorie and to edifie his elect children Our care ought rather to bee how we may lead a godly life and beautifie the faith of Christ with good woorkes Wee must looke that wee bee neither vngodlie nor hypocrites but to liue vertuously and innocently in his sight and paciently at his hande to wayte for our deliuerance The kingdome of Christ that is published and offered through the Gospell is not a corporall but a spirituall kingdome neither consisteth it in outward things but in a pure and faithfull beleeuing heart and yet reacheth it throughout the whole worlde and amongst all nations In the hearts of all faithfull beleeuers doth Christ raigne through his spirite and there ouercommeth hee the deuill sinne and death And to the intent they shoulde well vnderstande this kingdome he commaundeth them to waite for the holy spirite whom he had promised them as if he would say Now goe I to my Father now enter I into my kingdome that I may mightily raigne vpon the earth this thing yee vnderstand not but when the spirite is giuen you yee shall perceyue it well All thinges in heauen and in earth are giuen into my power In those that are mine shall I raigne and make them righteous through fayth yea inuincible shall I make them against all enemies heereof shall yee beare witnesse when yee are baptized through the holie Ghost This my kingdome shall ye publish in all nations from one ende of the world to another Thus shall I raigne from sea to sea of the which my kingdome the Prophetes spake so much before Of this kingdome dooth Christ take possession through his ascending vp to the Father at whose right hande and in this kingdome hee sitteth raigning much more mightily in his Church and working more effectuously in those that be his than hee did before when he liued yet corporally with him Thus taking his leaue hee giueth them louing wordes comforteth them and admonisheth them of their office that they all may be diligent therin that they continually direct and lift vp their heartes into that kingdome and that they take in hand to bring all men to the same into the obedience of Christ His blessing hee giueth them saluting them wishing them good and praying hartily vnto his Father for them Thus was hee taken from them and carryed into heauen By the heuen we vnderstand the incomprehensible light in the which God dwelleth which no mortall man can attaine vnto From thence came Christ vnto vs and thither is hee gone againe euen into the inuisible glorie and clearenes of God For the eternall worde and power of GOD dwelling in Gods incomprehensible light from euerlasting became man and had his conuersation vpon earth in all partes sinne excepte as a verie true man But when hee had fullie finished and throughly ended the worke that was giuen him in commission of his heauenly Father and had obeyed him euen vnto the death for as much as in all thinges hee had honoured and glorified his Father vppon earth it was conuenient that the Father also shoulde glorifie his Sonne And therefore raysed hee him from death and tooke him vp into heauen not after the Godhead for so was hee alwaies in heauen but after the manhoode For his true humane nature which hee tooke vppon him for our sakes is carryed and taken vp out of this world into the inuisible honour and glorie into the highest incomprehensible and into the perfect fruition of the Godhead In this honour and glorie Christ dwelleth and raigneth and yet amongst those that are his doth he finish and performe all things by his spirite hauing gouernance in the harts of the faithfull through beliefe through loue through patience and innocencie of life To the intent now that this kingdome might be erected in the hearts of men it was necessarie that he should giue his disciples commission to publish the same and to prepare mens minds thervnto through the preaching of the Gospell But first hee made the mindes of his disciples readie and apt to receiue the holy ghost whom he afterwards poured into others by them and therefore he commaunded them vntill the spirite appeare and open the worke to waite still at Hierusalem from the which place the kingdome of Christ was afterwardes planted in all the world Of the promise of the spirite reade Esay 44. Iere. 31. Ezech. 36. Ioel. 2. Iohn 19.16 Considering that the mysterie of Christs ascention is great and excellent and that there is notable power contained therein to those that be faithful beleeuers the Euangelists doe therefore describe verie perfectly the time the place the persons with all circumstances and assured testimonies thereof Hee ascendeth vp before his disciples that they might openly and euidently see it with theyr eyes there did appeare Angels as messengers and witnesses from heauen euen two of them that in the mouth of two all trueth might bee established The white apparrell signifieth the euident glorie into the which Christ is taken vp as a noble royall and mightie king and conquerour entring into his heauenlie kingdome Thus the high and glorious king cloathed with our nature is entred into our royall pallace as one that mindeth faithfully to dispatch our matters Hee is our owne mediatour and aduocate in the presence of the Father notwithstanding our sinnes committed wee haue a free entraunce vnto GOD by him Our flesh hath hee in himselfe carryed vp and exalted our nature vnto the right hande of GOD the Father Wherefore wee that are bones of his bones and flesh of his flesh doe iustly conceyue a comfortable and assured hope that our mortall bodyes also shall bee taken vp and haue immortall and eternall ioye The earnest pennie of his spirite hath hee giuen and left behinde him vnto vs and contrariwise hee hath of vs taken an earnest pennie and pledge namely our sinfull and wicked flesh which hee in himselfe hath carryed vp into the kingdome of heauen Nowe where the parcell is there shall also bee the whole summe By this wee that are flesh and bloud haue a comfortable and assured trust that in Christ wee shall haue the possession and inheritaunce of heauen Our sinnes in him are recompenced heauen in him is opened in him is the hope of immortall life sealed and made sure vnto vs Christ the victorious glorious conquerour is able to defend his church So that from henceforth no man shall haue power to condemne his elect and faithfull beleeuers Rom. 8. Heb. 5.7.8.10 That his flesh is with-drawne from vs and taken into heauen it is our great profite to the intent that all our deuotion and Gods seruice may bee directed vpwardes in the spirite and that the mindes of faythfull beleeuers maye bee drawne from earthlie vnto heauenly thinges euen vnto the place where Christ sitteth on the right hande of GOD the Father When the Disciples
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
right hand of God is exalted and hath receiued of the Father the promise of the holie Ghost he hath shed foorth this gift which yee now see and heare For Dauid is not ascended into heauen but he saith The Lorde saide to my Lorde Sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy foot stoole Doctrine and fruite WE beleeue that Iesus Christ our king and Sauiour is not onely risen againe from death to life but also is ascended vp into heauen sitteth at the right hand of God and raigneth for euer For though hee heere a season was despised and refused as the stone of the builders yet hath the strong hand of God exalted him and mightily wrought in him Which thing may well bee perceiued by this as Saint Peter heere valiantly concludeth that hee sendeth downe from on high such an excellent gift of the holy Ghost vpon those that are his This is a sure euidence that he mightily raigneth at the right hand of God and hath all things in his hand seeing he hath power of the spirite of God whom he poureth into the hearts of his and that sometime in visible manner For the glorious triumpher ascending vp to heauen with great victorie did after the custome of great kings and let fall his giftes downe vppon vs and parted them among vs namely the gifts of the holy Ghost whom he as man receiued of the Father but after the godhead he had him alwaie for of the father and of the sonne there is one onely spirite Neither may this bee applied vnto Dauid for though hee as a iust friend of GOD bee saued and come to heauen yet did not hee immediatly after death ascend into heauen with bodie and soule that he might be reported to sit at the right hand of God for his wordes speake of another whome he calleth his Lord namely in the hundreth and ninth Psalme he saith God the Father sayd vnto my Lorde euen the Sonne Sit thou on my right hand So therefore let all the house of Ierusalem know for a suretie that God hath made this Iesus whom ye haue crucified Tord and Messias Doctrine and fruit WIth these wordes doth Peter conclude his Oration exhorting them not to doubt Iesus Christ to be the same annointed sauiour and king who of God the father was first promised then giuen for the deliuerance of the people of the Iewes and of all nations In this conclusion is comprehended the summe of the whole Christian faith namely that wee beleeue that Iesus who was borne of the virgine Marie and crucified of the Iewes is the true Christ that is to saie Messias euen the king that was ordained annointed of God to raigne foreuer ouer all faithful beleeuers Lorde of the whole world and sauiour of all such as put their trust in him This hath God the Father opened and set forth vnto vs by myracles by the resurrection by the ascension by the power of the holy Ghost that wee might beleeue it and not doubt thereof Therefore saith Iohn Who so beleeueth that Iesus is Christ the same is borne of God WHen they heard this they were prickt in their hearts and said vnto Peter and to the other Apostles Ye men and brethren what shall we doe Peter said vnto them Repent of your sinnes and be baptised euerie one of you in the name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sinners and yee shall receiue the gifte of the holy Ghost For the promise was made vnto you to your children and to all that are a farre off euen as many as the Lord our God shall call And with many other words bare he witnesse and exhorted them saying Saue your selues from this vntoward generation Then they that gladly receiued his preaching were baptised And the same daie there were added vnto them about three thousand soules Doctrine and fruite THis is the fruit and end which followeth out of the preaching of the worde of God that they whose heartes God toucheth are so sorrie for theyr sinnes that it euen pearceth them for Gods word is euen a sharpe two edged sword and entreth through to the depth Blessed are all they which so reade and heare the word of God that they begin to be ashamed of their sinnes and wickednesse beeing repentant and sorrie therefore A blessed and wholsome sorrow is that which riseth and groweth out of the truth which is opened vnto the heart by the holy Ghost Which spirite in the heart giueth hope vpon the mercie of God and driueth awaie all despaire Then beginneth a man to aske What shall I doo Then enquireth he after the will of God and such a man that so asketh is easie to be helped soone is he healed that knowing his disease would faine be made whole Vnto such a man doth the faithfull Minister of Christ giue counsell out of the Scripture and sheweth him the fruit of Christ preached and knowen He doth not bid him bestow monie on solemnities and Diriges on Images Monisteries or coâ—les inâ—â—â—ying of pardons He doth not will to runne vnto Rome or to Lawret but requireth of him the best and most profitable thing of all namely amendement conuersion of life Our mindes our workes and maners must be altered if we will please God Who so saith with his heart that he beleeueth in Christ holding Christ for his sauiour and king must forsake his euil waie eschuing euill and doing good Iere. 7.11 Isa 1 Niniue stood still vpright when they tooke vppon them true conuersion and amendement As for Hierusalem though they offered many sacrifices fasted much it helped not because there was no true reformation and forsaking of sinne needs must they be destroied and miserablie perish To botch or patch the matter it will not helpe there is no remedie wee must become godly and vertuous of life it auaileth not to dissemble God looketh into the heart which he will haue pure and vnfained Forasmuch then as we through baptisme in the faith of Christ haue receiued Christ and are marked out for him hauing once forgiuenesse of sinnes through the grace and gift of Christ let vs be of a vertuous lfe walking innocently and in the feare of God Let vs die therefore to the innocencie which is restored vnto vs againe through Christ let vs daily remember to harken follow the admonishment of the spirit which teacheth vs all good things We are they vnto whom God hath promised his grace of the spirite yea and vnto our children also so farre as we abide in his couenants Let vs thankfully receiue such excellent grace deare brethren being ware that we stain not the temple of Iesus Christ and of his holy spirit with filthinesse of the worlde that wee neuer make our selues partakers in the iniquitie of wicked and faithlesse men but to leade here a pure and cleane conuersation with a good conscience before GOD our most louing father and alwaie lift vp our minds vnto
that Images must bee had in Churches that pardons must bee bought with money and such lyke things which are not grounded in the doctrine of Christ nor of the Apostles nor mencioned in the Articles of the right and true auncient beleefe but inuented by the fantasie couetousnes of men The second thing that must bee constantly and inuiolably kept in the Church of God is the communion and fellowshippe namely that none looke vnto his owne singular profite that no man seeke himselfe but that euerie member looking one to another what hee lacketh supplye the same helping him and comforting him and giuing him the best counsell he can This friendly loue and louing fellowshippe ought to bee among Christians All temporall and outwarde goods ought to bee common among them Not as some fondly thinke that I must defraud another of that which is his or take it agaynst his will whether hee wyll or no or that I shoulde goe idlely and loytering eating and consuming that which other men labour and trauaile for or to thinke that when I doo seruice and am profitable to no man euery man shall giue and serue mee Christian loue which groweth out of the beleefe and doctrine of the Gospell must distribute the goods and make them common it must not bee anie mans greedie desire presumption nor wilfulnesse that shall doo it All faithfull beleeuers are one bodie nowe lyke as in the bodie one member serueth to the profite and wealth of another so ought one Christian to helpe and serue another in loue The eye looketh not to himselfe onely but vnto the whole bodie the mouth eateth for the whole bodie and for all the other members the stomacke digesteth for all the whole bodie and for all the members Thus ought it to bee lykewise among the spirituall members of the bodie of our sauiour Iesus Christ No man must bee wise and learned for himselfe onely no man ought to be rich for himselfe but euerie mannes giftes must serue to the profite one of another and to the edyfieng and sustaining of the whole bodie Euery one is bound to serue the bodie according to the gift and measure which the spirit of God hath distributed vnto him Among all liuing creatures there is none created to a more louing and friendly societie and fellowshippe than man Heerevnto serue all sciences and handie crafts that men after a friendly manner agreeing among themselues may relieue one anothers necessitie and want and helpe beare one anothers burthen Heereunto serue all inwarde giftes of the minde as reason and iudgement will and remembraunce Also the speech giuen of God vnto man whereby one is knowen and discerned and made priuie one to another And therefore is man borne into this world without anie defence or weapon bare naked and feeble whereas all other creatures liuing in this worlde bring with them euerie one his weapon and defence The Beare hath his clawes and teeth the horse his hoofe the oxe his hornes the hedghegge his prickes and the serpent his poyson c. Onely man is borne smooth and vnweaponed to signifie that hee must not bee madde furious and terrible but milde louing and gentle there must bee one minde one meaning and one will Man also commeth into the worlde bare and naked weake feeble and impotent not able to doo anie manner of thing to helpe himselfe but must stande vnto the curtesie of another for if he be not helped releeued and succoured he coulde not choose but perish there were no remedie Whereby almightie God will declare that there is no man that eyther may or can liue without the helpe and comfort of another Thus the poore wretched and distressed childe lying vppon all foure whome if it were not for pittie no man woulde take vp but let it lye still is helped nourished and brought vp of the mother nourse c. Other folkes must cherish it by other folkes helpe must it liue for nothing doeth it bring with it into this worlde wit must begge and borrowe euerie thing and therefore it weepeth and crieth This teacheth vs to doo good to bee obedient louing and thankfull to our parents and vnto those which bring vs vp and doo cherishe vs that wee recompence them according to our power By this also wee learne to helpe others and to haue compassion of them when they are in need remembring and considering out of what miserie and pouertie other folks haue helped and brought vs. Who is hee that is at this present so rich so mightie and strong in this worlde if hee wyll liue but hee must vse the helpe and seruice of poore and feeble folkes as the Husbandman the Miller the Baker the Shepheard the Weauer c. yea the higher and greater anie man is in office or authoritie so much the more must he vse and haue the helpe of other people that are not so great as himselfe Therefore doeth GOD sette vp some so high that they must make prouision and helpe all those which are ynder them seeing that they must haue the vse of them all For the poore and they that bee vnder must supporte and beare vp the rich and mightie as pillers doo the house that they fall not For without the helpe and seruice of such are not they able to liue in theyr dignitie and calling one daie Therefore it is ordayned of Almightie God in his secrete wisedome that certayne Countries lacke some things whereof others haue sufficicient and too much that one might bee sustayned by another and that no man shal be inough to him selfe GOD hath giuen vnto man remembraunce to the intent that hee shoulde neuer forget the benefites which hee from his youth vpwardes hath receiued of others and dayly doth receiue without the which hee cannot liue And also agayne remember and forget not howe and in what manner hee ought to behaue himselfe in loue in compassion in succour and in faithfulnesse towardes those that haue anie wayes neede of his helpe To this is hee moued when he considereth and pondereth in his thoughts the weaknesse feeblesse and necessitie of mannes corrupt nature which constraineth vs to lacke so manye things Heereof groweth vnitie loue and fellowship among men when we cast and call to our minds thus eyther hee hath beene or is nowe profitable vnto vs or he doth good vnto ours of whom wee haue profite or heereafter hee may doo vs some good This to bee so there is not anie man that can denie And whereas wee perceiue not this and are not of one minde friendly and fellowes in loue and good wyll one towardes another but giuen vnto such variaunce dissention strife and discorde it commeth through the darknesse of our owne wicked and frowarde natures and dispositions Forasmuch now as our eies are so blinded that wee see not Gods ordinance and creation in man our eares are so stopped that wee will not heare the playne and perfect voyce of nature our vnderstanding and remembrance so dull and blunt
that wee will not once regard or thinke anie such thing whereby wee might the sooner forsake the diuision and stiffenesse of our heart and in friendly vnitie and brotherly loue to doe good one vnto another Christ therefore the restorer of our decayed nature and the onely true and eternall light came into this worlde to illuminate and lighten our blinde eyes to crie with his voyce vnto vs that bee dumbe and to sette that agayne before our eyes which wee our selues haue made darke and dimme Hee cryeth vnto vs in his Gospell with a loude voyce so that no man canne saie hee hath not heard it Hee is the heauenly schoolemaster the eternall wisedome the fountayne of all knowledge the onely and true teacâ—â—â— the whole building of his Church the foundation and roofe the beginning and ende of all his commaundementes hath hee sette and comprehended in onely loue exhorting vs to loue vnitie and friendshippe and saying that men heereby shall knowe vs to bee his disciples if we loue â—hem vnto that which faith inwardly considereth and looketh vpon These tokens are instituted to signifie and represent vnto vs high and greate things to gather together and vnite the Church that beeing dispearsed euerie where ouer the face of the whole earth might gather together into one communion and fellowshippe in Christ and bee made partakers of his promises and inioye those comfortable blessings which hee hath promised from the beginning namely such as bee faithfull and true beleeuers and that the exteriour and outwarde sense might from all corporall thinges bee withdrawen to that which is spirituall for the eyes see the bread which representeth the bodie of Christ they see as the bread is broken so was the bodie of Christ broken vpon the crosse for our sinnes and that as the wine is poured in and out so was the precious bloud of Iesus Christ shedde to wash awaie all our sinnes The eares doe heare Christes wordes spoken by the Minister in the person of Christ Iesus by the which the promise is renewed by which meanes those that are his and of his Church are by a certaine feeling and comfort in their soules and consciences refreshed The tast vppon the tongue the smell in the nose and lykewise the handling and so each other member in his seuerall office euerie one of them hath his delight and operation in confessing acknowledging and dooing his seruice vnto saith But for what cause our sauiour Christ dyd specially vse bread and wine before anie other corporall things to signifie his death and shedding of his bloud it may well and easily bee perceiued by the nature of faith With bread is the bodie fedde and sustayned with wine are mennes heartes made merrie Forasmuch then as faith the life of our soules through the flesh of Christ spiritually eaten is nourished and sustained and seeing our minde is moistened and refreshed with true and perfect ioy thorough the bloud of Christ shedde for vs there was nothing more meere nothing more expedient nothing more necessarie for this Sacrament than bread and wine Moreouer through the bloud of Christ are all other oblations and sacrifices cleane layde aside and therefore Christ minding to finish the high sacrifice vppon the crosse testified and declared before hand that his bodie beeing offered vp and his bloud shed shoulde bee sufficient to wash awaie all mens sinnes and that from thence forth there shoulde not neede anie other sinne offering in the which there must bloud bee shedde Therefore woulde hee with euident and plaine wordes testifie and saie This is my bodie which is giuen for you doo this in remembrance of mee This is the cuppe of the new Testament in my bloud which shall bee shedde for many to the forgiuenesse of sinnes To the intenâ— thâ—n that this excellent and worthie propitiation and sacrifice should not out of theyr eyes and heartes he added visible signes not bare signes but seales of his couenant as was the Circumcision and Passah and common tokens of loue and friendshippe amongst men euen bread and wine which haue no bloud to declare that all bloud for sinne is onely in Iesus Christ Christs minde was also in one bodie to couple and knit together in one bodie the whole multitude of his Church To signifie this that there was nothing more apt and sit than wine and bread for like as out of many cornes is made one paste and one bread and like as out of many grapes one wine floweth together euen so by faith and loue become they all one bodie that eate of one bread and drinke of one cup. And euen from the beginning of the world it hath alwnyes beene the vse among men that with breade and wine they haue made and confirmed great friendshippe and league And euen so Christ with the distributing of the bread among his disciples would establish an euerlasting friendship with them The fourth thing now in the Church of Christ is prayer namely as Christ taught them to praie vnto the father of heauen that the kingdome of his Sonne might still growe and increase that his glory might arise and spread it selfe throughout all the worlde that his name might bee hallowed and his will fulfilled c. This is the necessariest thing of all and if we lacke this in vaine are all our good workes in vaine are all the honest actions of a ciuill lyfe in vaine are all godly exercises nothing prospereth wee goe about no oblation is sanctified all is impuritie that wee eyther doo or thinke the holy Apostle Paule willeth vs to praie continually God graunteth not the presence of his spirite to anie thing but vnto praier Without the presence of Gods spirite vnprofitable is the worde preached vnprofitable are the Sacraments ministred vnprofitable shall all thinges bee vnto vs so that praier is most requisite Let vs therefore praie vnto almightie God to increase in vs the spirite of Prayer that with our soule and spirite wee may praie continually for spirituall giftes that they may dayly increase in vs to his glorie Graunt this the great giuer of all good giftes for his mercie sake To whom bee all honour glorie power dominion and thankes for euer and euer Amen A Praier O Mercifull God preserue our heartes from pride from vaineglorie and from shamefull couetousnesse giue vs grace to abide in thy holy vocation and to be thankfull for thy grace that the fall of thine Apostle beeing alwayes before our eies we may walke in thy feare before thee For if we stand we must take heed that we fall not neither despise those that as yet doo not stand Make vs to continue thy grace for nothing haue wee sauing onely thaâ— which we haue receued of thee And if of weaknesse we fall put thy hand vnder vs O Lorde and suffer vs not to despaire in sinne but cause vs with repentance and sorow for our offence to resort vnto thee Oh keepe vs that we neither despaire nor betraie thy dearely beloued sonne whome
thou thorough thy Gospell doest send vnto vs for without him is no safegard but eternall death damnation From which keep vs good Lord for thy mercies sake Amen FINIS Iohn 13. Luk. 22. 1. Cor. 5. Esay 53. Iohn 1 Exod. 12. 〈◊〉 67. 1 Pet. 1. 1. Iohn 1. 1. Cor. 11. 1. Cor. 9. 1. Pet 2. Iohn 6. Iohn 15. Iohn 13. 1. Ioh 2.3.4 Iohn 15. Loue. Humblenes The exhortation and warning of Christ The presumption rashnes of Peter The dignitie and worthines of the disciples The foreknowledge of Christ The presumptuousnes of Iudas Treason commeth of the deuill Loue. Aduersitie Patience Meeknes The feare of God Faith Eternall reward Christes death our life The fruite of the death of Christ Christ is the onely way He that loueth worketh Psal 34. Gods commandement All things possible to beleeuers Loue ouercommeth all things Faith Loue keeping of the coÌ„mandements The office of Gods spirite Comfort strength in aduersitie We must all be â—aught of God which is don by the spirite The peace of Christ through the spirit Phil 4. Worldly peace Our nature exalted in Christ Comfort in aduersitie The deuill hath nothing in the faithfull We must suffer that we may bee obedient vnto the father To abide in Christ Eph. 2 Col. 2. What it is to abide in Christ Punishment of vnthankfulnes How the faithfull are cleane 1. Pet. 1. Faith bringeth fruite The good workes are not open What wee ought to pâ—aâ—e Entirely doth Christ loue those that are his Iohn 4. Loue is an euidence of faith What foloweth out of the loue of God Tokens of Gods loue to vs. Iohn 1. 1. Cor. 2. Rom. 5. Ephes 1. Rom. 5. We are chosen to bring forth fruit We ought to indure in loue Phil. 2. The commandement of God is loue Iohn 13. 1. Pet. 2. Exhortation to patienes 1. Pet. 3. Iohn 13. Acts. 5. Rom. 12. Math 26. Acts. 1. Rom. â— 2. Tim. 3. Rom. 8. Rom. 5. Acts· 2. Iohn 15. 1. Pet. 4. Math. 10. Luke 9. Iohn â—â— Cant. â— 1. Cor. 14. Heb. 5. Psal 120. Iohn 1â— 1. Iohn 5. 1. Ioh. 4. Isa 53. Ioh. 8. Vnbeliefe is the originall of all vices Ioh. 14. 1. Cor. 1. Ioh. 3. Col. 1. Psal 84. Ephe. 4. Rom. 12 Ephe. 3. 1. Cor. 13. 1. Cor. 2. 2. Cor. â— Iohn 4 2. Cor. 4 Heb. 1 1. Cor. 13 Iohn 17. How wee should pray The sanctifiyng of Gods name should we chiefly desire What it is to honour the Father Iohn 14. Christ is the way to God The knowledge of God eternall life The order of our health What it is to keepe Gods commandements Iohn 17.9 How the Ministers of the word should be praied for Math 5. Ephe 4. Phil. 2. Col. 2. Iohn 15. 1. Cor. 4. Ezech. 36 Phil 2. Ephe 2. Iohn 13. Math. 10. Psal â—3 1. Cor. â— 2. Cor. 6 Iames· â— Iohn 17 Eph. 2 Math. 5 Col 3. Phil. 1 2. Cor. 3 1. Thes â— 2. Cor. 4 Iohn 3. Heb. 2. Rom. 7. Gal. 5. Esa 53 Iohn 10 Iob. 2 Math. 5 Rom. 12. Esay 53. 1. Thes 5. Ephes 4. 1. Tim. 3. Math. 15. 2. Tim. 2. Iohn 8. Esay 9. 1. Pet. 3. Gal. 5. Math. 11. Zach. 13 Apoc. 2. Psal 83. â— Psal 119. Ephes 5. 3. Pet 1. Heb. 10. Thes 5. Psal 22. Esay 53. 1. Pet 2.3 Math. 24. Phil. 2. â— Tim. 2. Ezech. 18. Iohn 3 Math 9. 1. Thes 4. Psal â—â— Esay â— Iohn 17. 2. Tim. 4. Iohn 11 Iohn 3. Heb. 10. Exod. 12. Zach. 11. Ephes â— Iohn 7. Heb. 12. Math. 27. Marke 15. Luk. 23. Iohn 19. Iohn 19. 1. Cor. 1. Iohn 12. Iohn 17. Rom. 6. 1. Cor. 15 Marke 16. Luk. 24. Math. 28. Iohn 20. Math. 28. The crosse is the glorious victorious token of the faithfull Marke 16. Iohn 20. Angus he beleeued that the bodie was taken away Math. 14. Math. 20. Iohn 11. Luke 7. The number of seauen for many Mark 16 2. Cor. 5 God is a spirit with thâ— spirit will hâ— be worshipped Col 3. Phil 3. Psal 22. Rom. â—â— Iohn 15. Iere. 31. The glory of the faithfull is hid vnder the crosse Rom. 6. 1. Iohn â— Math. 28. Acts 9. Luk. 24. Luke 24. Luk. 10. 2. Tim. 2. Apoc. 2. Acts. 2. Rom. 10. Iohn 2. Rom. 8. Math 10. 1. Cor 9. 2. Thes â— Iob. 5. Luke 15. Acts. 2. Heb. 11. Rom. 4. 1. Cor. 14 Iohn 4. Iohn â— Luk. 7. Iohn 6. Phil. 3. Math. 16. Petrus of the rocke Iohn 10 2. Cor. 5. Rom. 7. Math. 26. 2. Tim. 4. Math. 28. Esay 2. Psal 109. Iohn 5. Math Iohn Marke 28. Marke 16. Luke 19. Psal 2. Psal 109. Iohn 17. Phil. 2. Math. 10. Iohn 17. Iohn 10 Math. 16. Ioel 2. Luke 15. Math. 9. Iohn 6. Iohn 3. Of the keies Luk. 24 The holy Ghost that worketh in the Apostles forgiueth the sinnes Note this conditioÌ„ wel Luke 1â— Heb. 13. 1. Tim. 5. 2. Cor. 5 Iohn 13. Math 28. Acts. â— Ezod 25. Deut. 16 Math. 9. Iohn 4. 〈◊〉 2. Mich. 4. Note Ephes 4. Col. 4. Of signes Genes 6. Rom. 8. Sap. 1. Iohn 20. Heb. 1. Col. 1. Gal. 4. Iohn 16. Math. 28. Col 3. Ephes 4. Mal. 2. 1. Cor. 8. Acts. 2. 1. Cor. 2. 1. Cor. 1. Math. 11. Math. 11. Luk. 24. Ioel. 2. Ierem 31. Math. 11. 1. Cor. 12. Esay 11. Psal 75. Iohn .11 Esay 40. Ierem. 31. Luk. 24. Esay 13. Ierem. 15. Amos. â— Esay 56.57 Ezech. 5. Psal 88. 2. Reg 7. Psal 109. Psal 11â— Eph. 4 Math. 22. Col. 1 Iohn 1. Mark 16. Rom. â— 1. Ioh. 2. 1. Tim. â— Mat. 7 16â— Eph. 4.