my selfe fullest of confusion then the image of Christ is most lyuelye within me The Lord maye hyde his face for a whyle for a moment in hys anger as he dyd from Christ but he must needes returne vnto me wyth euerlasting mercies for the image of his sonne is cleare within me A blessed sorow and woe ful of happines that fashioneth theese dayes of my vanitie into the similitude of the age of Christ that wyth hym at the last I myght raygne for euer A precious countenaunce it is in the syght of God that seemeth without beuty in the eyes of man and an vnspeakeable treasure of ioy and gladnes engrauen in these vessels that are but earth and ashes When Christ is the paterne whose similitude wee doo beare who can be discouraged vnder the crosse We are afflicted on euery syde but not in such a strayte that we are shut from hope We are in pouertie but not ouercome of pouertie We are persecuted but not forsaken We are cast down but we perishe not We are troubled in all things fightings without and terrors wythin but God that comforteth the abiects he wil comfort vs Vnto thys he hath predestinate vs that we shuld be like vnto his sonne in al afflictions and so bee glorified with him in the day of honor Thus fâ—rre we haue heard two special causes why wee ought to reioyce in all temptations the one that so wee leayne true obedience the other that by theÌ„ we be made lyke vnto christ Adde yet vnto these one shâ—ed cause out of the scripture which when you shal haue learned be bold dearly beloued in al the fires of the enemies For beholde in the truth of Iesus I dare be yoâ—t warraÌ„t the greater are your afflictions the lyket you are vnto Christ yea if it should happen you to fal downe into hel Christ hath descended also you shuld then be most like him in his agonies and bloudy sweates The third cause at this time which I wil touch is this God sendeth vs sundrye chasticementes and especially that which is most greuous of al other the anguish of spirit and affliction of the soule for this purpose that we should bee warned in tyme how to turne vnto him and bee free from the plague when it commeth For the iudgementes of God that are daylye preached vnto vs they pearce deepe into the hartes of the true beleuers the word that they heare it worketh mightely in them more sharpe in their eares then a two edged swoord it entreth thorow them euen to the deuidyng asunder of the soule and of the spirit and of the ioyntes of the marowe and examineth all the thoughtes the ententes of the hurt so that it is vnpossible that anye part of them should be hyd but they are all open vnto iudgemeÌ„t and heare the voyce of the lord Then their syn is reuiued in the middest of their bowels their conscience hath no rest they feele death working in their harts and hel is before them They see syn on their right hand and Satan on their left shame vnder their feete an angrye Iudge aboue them the world ful of destruction without a worme gnawing the hart within the poore sinner knoweth not what to do To hide him selfe it is impossible and to appere it is intolerable Then he breaketh out into loud cryings O wretched man that I am who shal delyuer me from the body of this death He geueth no rest vnto his eyes nor sleepe vnto hys eye lyds vntyl he finde hym that is able to saue him froÌ„ this wrath In his bed by night he seeketh him whom his soule loueth in the streetes and open places he enquireth after him and after manye dayes in which he can not finde hym Christ sheweth him selfe at the last a perpetual deliuerer a victorious Lion of the tribe of Iuda in whoÌ„ he hath strong saluation When he hath mourned because of the plague that was before him Christ wyll approch nere and wipe away the teares from his eyes This the Prophet Abacuck setteth forth in hys owne person When I heard saith he the woord of God my bellye trembled my lyps shooke at the voyce rottennes entred into my bones and I trembled in my selfe that I myght haue rest in the day of trouble Euen so dearly beloued it is with vs all The plagues of God because they are pronounced against iniquitie it maketh the Childe of God to feare and tremble that so foreseing the harme hee myght prepare hym helpe and because of the destroyer seeke wythout wearynes vnto the Sauiour Though he hide him self at the first the wounded spirite and troubled hart must needes find him out A great cause of vnspeakeable gladnes though we seeme swalowed vp of pensiue sorow We are full of grief but we are chasticed of the â—ord because we should not be condempned wyth the world We dye with Christ but because we should liue with him We lament weepe but because that Christ might wipe away al teares from our eyes We are delyuered vnto death for Iesus sake but because the lyfe of Iesus shuld be made manifest in our flesh We beare about in our bodyes the mortification of the Lord Iesus but because the life of Iesus myght be manifest also in our bodies We haue anguish of spirit and vexation of mynde such as hath not bene froÌ„ the beginning but for this cause y when sudaine destruction shal come vpon the careles world we myght lyft vp our heades and beholde our redemption at hand Let vs then be bolde and in patience possesse our soules For these causes we are now afflicted that we might receiue mercie finde grace to helpe in the time of neede And for this cause we treble and are afrayd that after manye praiers and supplicatioÌ„s we myght be deliuered from the things which we haue feared It foloweth in the Apostle And beyng consecrate hee was made the Author of saluation to all them that obey him In these woordes we are taught what fruit and commodity we haue through these bitter sufferynges of our sauiour Christ and also by what meanes we are made partakers of it The fruit is eternall saluatioÌ„ the meanes to go vnto it is obedience In the first we learne that all promise and hope of lyfe is in Christ alone He hath alone the woordes of lyfe he is alone the bread of life the water of lyfe the author of lyfe the word of life the tree of life the onely life He that beleueth in him he hath euerlasting life and he that dwelleth not in hym shall see no lyfe but the wrath of God abideth on him Take hold of Christ and take hold of lyfe Reach foorth thine hand to anye other thyng and thou reachest vnto vanitie which cannot helpe Looke not for lyfe but where it dwelleth in the flesh of Christ alone there it resteth Death hath raygned in al the world beside led euerye creature into bondage If
things to come nor height nor deapth nor anye other euent are shal be able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our lord Yea greater boldnes then this if it be possible to dwel within vs the Apostle here hath offered it in Christ iesu If all the syns were vpon hym and all sorowes in his flesh and yet frō them al God hath heard his praiers why should we not be sure that our syns sorowes they shall be done away Why shuld we not be sure that God him self hath appointed vnto al that mourne in Syon as the Prophet saith to geue vnto them beutye for ashes the oyle of ioy for mournyng the garment of gladnes for the spirite of heauynes Let vs therefore be bold dearely beloued for he was wounded for our transgressions broken for our iniquities the chasticement of our peace was vpō him These prayers are ours these supplications for vs auailable for moe synnes then we are able to commit This is our victory that shall ouercome the world euen our fayth In all miseries and multitudes of woe we are not sonken so deepe in sorow as he that for our sakes made prayers and supplications wyth strong cryinges and with teares and was delyuered from his feare The seconde poynt that we haue here to learn in this example of our Sauiour Christ is to knowe vnto whom we should make our prayers in the day of trouble which the Apostle testifieth in these words that Christ made his prayers vnto hym that was able to saue him frō death A rule to be kept of vs in all maner of our peticions and supplications whatsoeuer to make them knowen vnto him that can graūt our request that is vnto god Thys rule was kept of the Church of God from the begynning When men were once turned from their Idoles then in all their prayers they began to call vpon the name of the lord And God him self at no time doth more sharplye reproue hys people then when they woulde aske of those that had no power to helpe them This lesson that poore Leaper so defiled in flesh had yet humblye learned and wyth a pure hart hee prayed accordingly Lord if thou wylt thou cāst make me whole Vpon thys foundation our sauiour Christ hath built vp all the prayers of his true Disciples adding it as a special clause vnto the prayer that he taught them For thine is the kingdome the power and the glorye for euer and euer Amen Then let vs learne so manye as wyl pray in spirit to make our praiers vnto hym alone who is able to saue vs It is the sacrifice of the new Testament that he hath appoynted vs that we should offer vp vnto him and not vnto other the fruit of our lyps which may confesse his name And because this doctrine hath ben troden downe vnder feete and defited by the man of syn wyth all spiritual vncleanes I beseche you adde vnto this one reason or two more that you may answer the aduersary be able to stand in the day of euill When our sauiour Christ was purposed to teache his Disciples a true forme of prayer a perfect paterne vnto which they must frame their peticions or it is vnpossible they shuld be accepted he teacheth them that their begynning must be frō hence Our Father whych art in heauen What blessyng so euer wee woulde haue or from what plague so euer we would bee delyuered hee alone must be the person of whō we craue to whom thys name callyng doth belong Our Father whych art in heauen If thys name bee none of his hee is no Patrone to bee called on or if we wyll needes call vpon him we geue hym thys name whether it bee his or no. Christ is our good warrant who hath made this the beginning of al christian praier Our Father whych art in heauen Therfore the Idolaters of all ages that haue made thē selues Saintes to pray vnto according to the number of their prayers so they haue multiplied their Idoles the Chyldren of God to whom they haue sacrificed they shall wytnes agaynst them in the day of christ And you my deare brethren agaynst all your enemies defend thus the holynes of your praier that you know no other waye of speakyng then as you are taught Our Father Adde yet vnto this one reason more which you learne of S. Paul and I doubt not but you shall be well established in this present truth We know al and do confesse that we are able to doo no good thing of our selues but all our sufficiencie is of God we are not able so much as to thinke a good thought Yea the very wisedome of the flesh is enmitie vnto all ryghteousnes so true it is that the Prophet sayth Euerye man is a beast in his own vnderstāding And how much lesse then are wee able to offer vp vnto God that most precious sacrifice of praier and thankes geuyng to make it acceptable in his sight if we consult with our own flesh and bloud after the wyl of man so make our praiers vnto God We must needes acknowledge our own infirmities and confesse with S. Paule that we knowe not what to praye as we ought but it is the spirite of God that maketh request for the Saintes accordyng to the wyl of God and in thys holy spirit alone we must pray if we loke for the mercy of our Lord Iesu Christ to eternall life The spirit that beareth rule in our hart he must teache vs althinges or els we can doo nothing that God aloweth Now the voyce of this spirite that alwayes soundeth within vs it speaketh not thus either Sancta Maria or Sancta dei genitrix neyther S. Paule praye for vs nor S. Peter pray for vs These are but the spicinges of the dronken cups of Rome the soūdes of words which the spirites of errours haue blowen But the holy spirit of God that teacheth vs how to pray it crieth thus in our hartes Abba Pater Our Father whych art in heauen As Christ hym selfe hath beene our scoolemaister of no other prayer so the spirite that he hath geuen vs it knoweth no other sound but Abba Father these are the beginninges of our praiers If we speake not vnto hym to whom doo wee bow our knees If we wyll make the spirite subiect to any other let vs take hede that we greue not the holy spirite of God by which we be sealed agaynst the day of redemption Thus much I haue added to the example of our sauiour Christ who made his prayers to his Father who alone could deliuer him that he might the more assuredly be bold to abide in his steps It followeth in the text with great cryinges and wyth teares Here we haue to note in what measure our sauiour Christ was afflicted euē so far that he cried out in this bitternes of hys soule This the Euangelistes do expresse in moe woordes testifiyng
Lord wyll so is it done the name of the Lord bee praysed for euer Now might Iob be sure of the strong patience which should bryng forth hope that neuer should be confounded Our brethren before vs which so constantly haue holden the professioÌ„ of their faith that the flames of fire could not make it wauer they had a good witnes that their election was sure when they might speake by experience that neither life nor death could remoue them from the loue of god Thus the good grounde is knowen what it is when the heate cannot scortch it nor brears and thornes turne the good corne into weedes but through all stormes it wyl geue nourishment to the seede tyl it geue greater encrease to Gods honour and glory The best of vs all let vs thank God for this profitable experience for before it come vnto vs we know not how great the rebellion of the flesh wyl be The Apostels of Christ they bragged not a little that they would neuer forsake their Maister Christ he alone had the words of eternal life and they would not chauÌ„ge hym for an other They beleued hym they knewe hym to bee Christ the sonne of the lyuing God and ther was no other Sauiour But when they saw the swordes and staues the rulers offeÌ„ded the people in an vprore the crosse at hand their courage fell downe they forsooke hym all fled away Peter was not a litle stoute as hym selfe was perswaded hee would neuer forsake Christ though he should dye for hys name and for proofe of his courage he drewe hys sword and stroke so veÌ„terously that he had almost slayne one He seemed to be at a point fully resolued that he would not leaue his Maister tyl the sword should deuide them but alas thys boldnes was but a blast of wordes When there was no remedy but Christ must be had to Caiphas Peter began to faynt and to draw behinde When the peril was more encreased and they began to cry Crucifige Peter was more afraid and began to sweare he knewe hym not So great infirmitie is in mortall flesh experience is the greatest warrant to know what it can beare It is our bounden dutye and the Lord requireth it that we shoulde determine wyth our selues in all thinges to approue our selues the witnesses of his Gospel in pacience in afflictioÌ„s in necessities in stripes in tumultes in labours in watchinges in fastings in honour in dishonour in good report in shame in lyfe in death and our comfort is great when we bee perswaded of these thynges that we would contemne them But how violently the flesh wyll fight agaynst vs we can not well declare tyll we haue made the triall We therefore dearelye beloued whom it hath pleased God so keepe in heauines through many temptations we haue here a salue agaynst the woundes of sorow Our afflictions do teach vs how farre we can obey the lord If in al griefe of body I can say with patieÌ„ce I haue held my peace O Lord because thou hast done it then I know that in all sorowes of flesh I haue glorified God and my hart rejoyceth If my mynd be full of anguish and sorow so that al hope be faint within me if I can say yet vnto my soule I wyll wayte patientlye for the Lordes leasure then I knowe assuredlye God hath made me obedient and he wil heare my praier So that this experience hath bred in me the hope that shall neuer be confounded I may speake the wordes which the heauens shal seale vnto wyth everlastyng truth Neither fire nor swoord nor principalities nor powers shal remoue me from the loue where with God hath loued me A sure token of this saluation I haue found in myne afflictions When I traueiled in sorrowe both of bodye and mynde I founde the grace to say O Lord do thy wil. This is no smal cause why we shuld reioyce when God doth make vs worthy to feele the trial of our faith So dearelye beloued faynt not in your mourninges but endure paciently you know not the happynes of that which seemeth your miserye Let thys be the first cause why wee should be glad of temptations And to th end we may help our coÌ„mon infirmities let vs learne yet more why it is good for vs to be brought low A most notable commoditie the Apostle rehearseth where he writeth to the Romanes Those whoÌ„ God hath foré knowen hee hath also predestinate to be made lyke vnto the image of his sonne Loe my deare brethren theese are the healthfull couÌ„sels of the Lord toward vs that we should bee made lyke vnto hys sonne Christ in manye afflictions that at the last we might be also like him in eternal glory These are the ritches of Gods vnsearchable wisedome Death once raigned through sâ—n and he hath found a way to rise from it againe into greater glory This victorye because it was to great for Saint or Angel to obtain he hath apointed it to be the worke of his onely begotten Sonne who hath made it perfect in a most excellent conquest He hath taken vpon hym our nature to make it strong in his owne person hee hath filled it with the fulnes of miseries wyth al sorowes of flesh with all anguish of minde with persecutioÌ„ with death with synne with hel with condemnation from al these by the mightye power of his Godhead he is rysen againe in our fleshe ascended vp into glory and sytteth on the ryght hand of Maiestie and of power being a mighty Sauiour vnto euerye one that shal follow hym So that this is our glory in al afflictioÌ„s we are fashioned by them into the similitude of Christ we are made lyke vnto him So it pleased God when he would bring many children into glorye to consecrate the Prince of their saluation through afflictions and to make both him that sanctifieth and those that are sanctified all of one that they that suffer wyth hym should also raygne with him they that dye with hym should also lyue with him So we wheÌ„ we feele many troubles to rest vpon vs we may say now we are lyke vnto Christ especially wheÌ„ we feele that greatest trouble fullest of bitter sorow that is the mynde oppressed it maketh vs especiallye lyke vnto hym that wee may say with Paule Now we supply in our flesh the remnant of the afflictions of Christ. Let me looke into the whole course of my life and what soeuer pleaseth me best health honour ritches fauour authority frendship wife children in all these thynges I cannot yet behold the liuely image of christ Affliction and trouble a minde broken with remembraunce of synne a troubled spirite these are the beginninges of great reioycinges wyth the horrours of death and a constience burdened wyth the wrath of god Here light shineth out of darknes and hope out of dispaire As I thincke my selfe furthest of from the Lord so in deede I am nearest vnto him And when I thinke