vncleannesse filth and sinne that hee may bring vs into all trueth and that hee may sanctifie and strengthen vs vnto the ende comforting vs in this Article of death praying Rom. 8. and sighing for vs with gronings that cannot be expressed Witnesses out of the holie Scripture concerning the Holie Ghost Out of the 12. of Zacharie verse 10. I will powre vppon the house of Dauid and vppon the inhabitantes of Ierusalem the spirit of grace and of compassion and they shal looke vpon me whom they haue pearced MEDITATION BY the first Adam alas wee become barraine and vnprofitable were shut out of the grace of God but the Lorde promising the establishmēt of his Church againe by Christ promised to poure out his giftes and graces in great abundance For although that in our fathers dayes God had wrought great fauour vnto the people yet so it is that this is proper vnto Christ to giue vnto vs the spirit of grace mercie and inuocation And this is the richest gift that GOD could impart vnto vs for so much as it is said in the 8. Chapter to the Romans That wee could not knowe how wee were Christes and the children of GOD without this spirit For hee was woonderfullie and extraordinarilie giuen in the day of Pentecost But yet dooth hee dailie ioyne together his woorking with the preaching of the Gospell and woorketh in vs that wee doe call vppon God with full assurance Oh that this spirit of grace is to bee desired 1. Sam. 18. It is not this euill spirit which was giuen vnto Saul that vexed and troubled him but it is the spirit of grace and of compassion This is the Lord that we must woorship in spirit and trueth Out of the 4. Chap. of the Euangelist S. Iohn Iesus said vnto the Samaritane Whosoeuer drinketh of this water shall thirst againe But the water that I shall giue him shall bee in him a well of water springing vp into euerlasting life A MEDITATION OH how hath Dauid truelie felt the vertues of these liuing waters when as he said in the 42. Psalme Like as the thirstie Hart runneth with swift course vnto the riuers of water euen so dooth my soule also long and pant after thy diuine grace For what is it likewise to inioie all the pleasures of the world since that they take not away his thirst neither yet quench this alteration but doe increase and make the people like vnto men filled with dropsies which the more they drinke the more thirstie they are But behold two thinges that this water dooth greatlie recommend vnto vs whereof Iesus Christ talked with the Samaritane It is that they which drinke thereof are no more tormented with thirst feeling in them a well of liuing water that springeth vp alwayes without ceasing and cannot be drawen drie Besides this water that man feeleth in his soule and that runneth about his heart dooth neuer forsake vs but quickeneth vs vnto euerlasting life Therefore blessed are they which doe feele in their soules such a running water which dooth not for a trueth spring out of the vaines of the earth but from the hiest heauens and out of the true heauenlie paradise Now as S. Chrysostome saith This water is the strength and woorking of the spirit of God working by the word of the Gospell For it behooueth that we take heede of the errour of the Massalians and Scuencfieldians Against the Massalians who doe separate the spirite from the worde and doe dreame in the reuelations of the spirite But S. Paule teacheth vs in the 3. to the Galathians That we receiue the spirite through the preaching of faith and in the second Chap. of the 2. Epistle to the Thessalonians hee ioyneth together the sanctification of the spirite and the faith of trueth Moreouer this spirite hath diuers effectes and is by this occasion some times called fire Matth. 3. because that it purifieth and consumeth our euill affections and kindleth in vs a zeale as in the disciples going to Emaus Luke 24. whose heartes burned within themselues hearing Iesus speake Nowe it is also called water thorough his working because that this holy spirite refresheth vs against the burning heat of temptations and also doeth wash and serue to quench the firie dartes of Sathan let it then neuer come to passe Ephes 6. for vs to doe as the ydolaters of whom God complaineth in the 2. Chap. of Ieremiah Who forsaking the fountaine of liuing water digged to themselues dead pittes and drie cesterns that can hold no water Out of the 7. Chap. of S. Iohn vers 38. Ioel. 2. He that beleeueth in me as sayeth the scripture out of his belly shall flowe riuers of water of life Nowe this spake he of the spirit which they that beleeued in him should receiue Out of the 15. of S. Iohn A witnesse of the spirite and of the preaching ioyned together When the comforter shal come whom I will sende vnto you from the father euen the spirite of trueth which proceedeth of the father hee shall testifie of me and yee shall witnesse also because ye haue beene with me from the beginning Out of the 16. of S. Iohn When he is come which is the spirit of trueth hee will leade you into all trueth for hee shall not speake of himselfe but whatsoeuer he shall heare shall he speake Out of the 8. Chap. of the Epistle to the Romanes For if you liue after the flesh yee shall die but if ye mortifie the deedes of the bodie by the spirite yee shall liue For as many as are lead by the spirit of God they are the sonnes of God S. Paule prayeth by the spirite Out of the 15. Chap. to the Romans vers 30. I beseech you for our Lorde Iesus Christs sake and for the loue of the spirite that ye would striue with me by praiers Out of the 3. Chapter of the 1. to the Corinth Knowe ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the spirite of God dwelleth in you Out of the 12. to the Corinth 1. Epistle There are diuersities of giftes but the same spirite and there are diuersities of administration but the same Lorde and there are diuersities of operation but God is the same which worketh all in all But the manifestation of the spirite is giuen to euery man to profite withall Out of the 13. Chap. of the 2. to the Corinth and 13. vers The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the communion of the holy Ghost be with you all Out of the 4. Epistle to the Ephesians vers 30. Griue not the spirite of God by whom ye are sealed vnto the day of redemption Out of the 5. Chap. and the 1. to the Thes Quench not the spirite Despise not prophesying Out of the 1. of S. Iohn 2. Chap. The annointing which yee receiued of me dwelleth in you and ye neede not that any man teache you for the same annointing
this so desired a rest which thou hast prepared for vs. O how sweete louing shall this awaking be when as in our graues we shall heare the voice of thy son to raise vs vp againe in a glorious immortalitie Yet while wee doe awaite for this last comming we recommende our selues vnto thee O heauenly father the peace and preseruation of thy Church superiors magistrates all those which haue neede of thy succour beseeching thee that in this oldenesse of the worlde wherein all kingdoms of the worlde do shake that thou wouldest be the stay of thy poore people and in steede of so many sorowefull daies and yeares as we haue seene we may behold some rest in the middest of thy Church Raise vp daily O Lord some softer father and also some retiring place for thy children that no violent oppression ouerwhelme them and that for thy sonnes sake in whom I trust and vppon whom I rest my selfe So be it Heere followeth a litle Paraphrase and short exposition of the Lordes praier taken out of S. Cyprian almost worde by worde THe doctrine contained in the Gospell is no other thing than the ordinance of our maister God the grounde whereon to builde our hope and to strengthen our faith the foode wherewith to nourish our soule the pylates whereby to guide our shippe in this nauigation the helpes by whom we come to saluation in such sort as when the faithfull heart yeeldeth it selfe to be trainable heere in earth it is a meane to bring it vp vnto heauen It hath pleased God that many thinges were often spoken by the prophetes and heard by them But how much more excellent ought that to be reputed which the father hath sayd and pronounced by his sonne than that which he hath sayde by his seruantes For in them spake the spirite of Christ and he himselfe hath spoken in the later time in his owne voice He doth not now commaund that men prepare the way vnto him that commeth because that he himself is come and discouereth the true way that wee which goe wandering and groping in the darknesse of death may be by the light of his wisedome directed in the way of life Now amongest so many good lessons as he hath left vs for our saluation The forme of praier hee hath chieflie giuen vnto vs the right forme of prayer he that hath made vs to liue hath taught vs also to pray yea he hath done it after his grace goodnesse wherethrough he hath stored vs with all thinges and wrought it vnto the ende that his father might the more willinger heare vs when wee praie vnto him in that praier that his son hath taught vs. He did foretell howe that the houre should come wherein the true woorshippers should worshippe him in spirite and trueth He hath also fulfilled that which he had promised giuing vs his spirite to worshippe him The Lords praier What praier may be now more spirituall than that which hath bin giuen vnto vs by Iesus Christ by whome also the holy spirite hath beene sent vnto vs What praier shal be more true and perfect before God than that which cōmeth from the sonne who is the trueth of Gods owne mouth In manner as otherwise to pray concerning the substance then hee hath taught vs is not alonely an ignorance but also a blockish fault as he rebuketh the Iewes elsewhere how they did despise Gods commaundement to set vp their traditions Let vs therefore pray my brethren euen as hee which is both our God and maister hath taught vs. That prayer is agreeable vnto God when one praieth with a praier that is his and when we make the wordes of his sonne to mount vp vnto his eares The father doth acknowledge his sonnes language when wee doe pray let him that dwelleth in our heart be also in our voice vpon our tongue And seeing that the sonne is our aduocate as often as we doe demaund forgiuenesse for our sinnes let vs take in our mouthes the wordes of our aduocate For seeing that he sayth how all that we shall aske of the father in his name it shal be granted vnto vs whē shal our praiers haue greatest strēgth but then when we shall call vppon him by the peculiar praier which he hath made It behoueth those which pray to keepe a certaine forme in their speach with a staied manner and full of all reuerence humblenesse Let vs remember that it is before Gods face that we presēt our selues Let vs therefore seeke to please him as wel in the behauiour of our bodies as in the conueiance of our voice It is an ill fauored thing and a signe of impudencie to vse much crying out in praier and there is nothing that doeth set it out more than modestie To be short wee doe see that the Lorde doth allowe that praier which is made priuately in secret and in ones chamber a thing that well agreeth with our faith to the ende to make vs vnderstand that God is present throughout all that he heareth and seeth all and that the fulnesse of his maiestie pearceth into the most hidden secret places as the scripture speaketh I am thy God neere at hande and not afarre off If a man be hidden in a priuie or close place doe not I see him Doe not I fill both heauen and earth Then when wee shall come together with our brethren we must in good order solemnise the sacrifices of God not thinking to make our praiers to take place before the Lord with chaunting and crying out God vnderstandeth the heart not with the voice for it is not needeful to aduertise him by a lifting vp of a voice who seeth our thoughts This is it that he often sayth that he is the searcher of hearts hauing the knowledge of our most secret thoughtes We haue a goodly example in the good woman Anna mother of Samuel who prayed vnto the Lord not with a strong or lifted vp voice but secretly soberly and in her heart Her praier was secret but her faith was open shee spake not with the voice but with the heart knowing verie well that the Lorde our God so heareth his and in such sort she receiued in effect that which by faith she had required We haue another example of a praier right wel directed and verie modest in the person of the Publicane He went vp into the temple and made his praier not in a rude and presumptuous maner as the other without lifting vp his head or his forehead he only fell downe confessed with his mouth his sinne that hee felt shut vp in his heart in such sort as God heard the prayer of the humble that rested not vpon his owne innocencie For who is hee that is innocent His praier was humble and hee which aduaunceth and fauoreth the humble heard the poore Publican Thus much cōcerning the fashion and coūtenance that we ought to keepe in our praiers Let vs now consider how our maister
concluded for the third time O peace more cruell than any warre the yeare 1570. in the moneth of August the faithfull of the Church of Orlians thinking to inioy and vse the benefite of the saide peace were daily threatened beaten robbed and were for the most part euen for the space of one yeare let hindered both to inioy the greatest part of their goods as also to gather the Church together vntill the yeare of our Lord 1571. in the month of Septēber by the friendly soliciting that the late Lord Chatilliō Lord admiral through the great zeale goodwill that he had vnto these vertuous and notable men of name the late maister Baylife of Orlians The establishment of the Church of Orlians in the Isle maister Ierome Groslot Lord of the Isle with certaine other notable citizens of the saide citie the Church began to gather together as the peeces of a broken ship in a great sheepwracke vnto the saide place of the Isle a two small miles from Orlians where I was called thither againe to exercise the ministry and to beginne to reare vp this poore tabernacle which was so desolate But as our Lorde Iesus Christ being scarce borne and lodged in a little place at Bethelem forthwith had such kickings and assaults that he was constrained to retire himselfe into Egypt euen so the saide Church of Orlians as a man would say being but about to be borne againe and a litle to gather it selfe together that shee might knowe her selfe felt right soone the encountringes and forces of the enemie the exercise being broken off in the same place for a time through extorted cōmandements and wrasted proclamations such as we reade to haue beene in the fourth of Nehemie when for a time the building of the Tēple was hindered by one Sanbulat and his complices Nowe God graunting grace to this litle flocke to ouerpasse such lets and stops the exercise being a new agreed vpon in the saide place the furie and the slaughter of these papisticall people was no whit appeased in such sort that in steede of taking pitie of v. or vi hundred persons which went out ordinarily euery sunday to heare the preaching and exhortation as women children young and old and that often in vnseasonable times Cruelty against those which returned frō the preaching in the Isle and by verie long iourney they commonly receiued them with flinging of stones with myer and durt cast in their faces with iniuries outrages all kinde of scornings and derisions which the poore faithfull ones yea the women patiently did beare praising God who hadde giuen them this honour to suffer any thing for Iesus Christs sake The day of S. Bartholmewe vntill that that glowning fearfull and blouddie day of the 24. of August in the yeare 1572. was come on which day I made the last Sermon in the said place of the Isley There followed a generall deluge of Christian bloud through out all Fraunce and that which might stint euen one of the fairest and flourishingest Churches in all Fraunce to wit a 700. and more as some say Bourgeses Inhabitantes Counselars Aduocates Doctors and men of all qualities and conditions were cruellie slaughtered and Massacred amongst other there was slaine Monsieur de Champeaux the ancientest Counseller and next in place vnto the President one of the most courteous of all the citie The murther done at Orleans Doctor Taillebois the aduocate Patas maister Iohn Baudet and Gilles le Boiteux two of the most honorable and best affected citizens and so many others without sparing one of the most worshipful and ancient olde men of the citie who all his life long had beene honored amongest the chiefest bourgeses and beloued for his liberalitie and integritie to wit Monsieur Framberge Lorde of Bretache who drawen through the fieldes where he was in a waggen was cruelly striken downe in the suburbes of Portereau he who had all this yeare with great zeale and to his great charges lodged the Church to wit the Lord of the Isle The Massacre of the Lord of the Ile being Bailife of Orlians of whom mention was made before and who was there at the wedding of the king of Nauarre among the most auntient seruantes of his house this man was partlie shot in with Harquebusiers and partlie stricken downe by Halbardes within the citie of Paris Now who seeth not will some man say that yet this wound bleedeth and that ruine droppeth downe without ceasing vpon the desolate as was said in the destruction of Ierusalem in the 9. Chap. of Daniel Lord where are thy former mercies whereon wee doe waite Psal 89. Where is the zeale the strength of the Lord and the compassion of his bowels which are so dull that the Churches of long time in Fraunce bee as though God ruled not in the middest of them Esai 63. Lament ◠Yea who seemeth to haue deliuered his people so into the hands of them of them I say out of which they cannot be recouered and stand vp What hope is then there will some say or what are these remnantes of the Church seeing that the greatest part hath beene lead as it were vnto a butcherie or to slaughter the remnant for the most part forced by impatience is in such sort turned and falne away from the trueth that it seemeth there is no trace or path of a Church left or that euer there had beene anie reformation had at Orlians or in the most part of the other cities These are O alas the thinges that are most true and that which hath bin recited is not the thowsand part of the outrages violences and miseries which haue come to the said Church For what tongue can expresse or what speach can vtter and set forth so manie lamētable cries as well of women as of childrē seeing slaine cruellie before their eyes their husbandes and fathers as well by enforcementes of their bodies as of their consciences and other such like outrages that would make the posteritie euen by onelie thinking of it to quake and tremble and now maketh vs as it were beside our selues when we doe but by the way make anie mention thereof as for example this preface can not bee a full laying out of such lamentable Tragedies neither is it my meaning at this time leauing those to intreate of this argument more at large that can doe it better with an higher stile and that are better informed of all the particularities than I can be But this is to the end that wee may now see and as it were put into the ballance on the one side the afflictions and miseries of the said Church And againe on the other part may see the consolations wherewith the scriptures haue furnished vs to the end we should know whether we haue occasion altogether to droupe and to lose our courage as alas to my great sorrow I see that manie haue done and not rather euen
our selues in thee all the daies of our life to bring forth the fruites to thy honour and glorie and to the comfort of our neighbours Let this faith bee a liuelie faith Galat. 5 6. a speaking faith that may call vppon the name of thy Sonne onelie a woorking faith through Charitie a faith pacient in aduersitie a faith ouercomming the worlde 1. Iohn 5. by the meane of thy inuincible strength and that thou hast a desire to be ours O Lorde this is thy commaundement that wee doe beleeue in the name of thy sonne Iesus Christ 1. Iohn 3. and that wee loue one another But alas we doe knowe that faith is not giuen to all men 2. Thes 3.2 how that it is an old complaint of the Prophets and also of the Apostles which say Esai 53.1 Lord who hath giuen credit or beliefe vnto our preaching Rom. 10. O God and Father there are of the other side so many false Prophets and deceiuers of the worlde that set forth their dreames wordes in steade of thy holie and vnfallible worde and that knowe in the meane time to transforme themselues into Angels of light 2. Cor. 11. so many are the assaultes of miseries and persecutions which make men wilde or fearce to be short so great is the vanitie and weakenesse of our nature that it suffereth vs to be easilie caried away if thou most mercifull Father and mightie GOD diddest not woorke in vs that which thou doest commaund vs Iohn 6. Ephes 3. and if thou thy selfe diddest not bring vs to thy Sonne we could not come vnto him Iohn 16. and vnlesse he did giue vs leaue to come vnto thy throne of grace Rom. 8. we could not approch thereunto if thy spirit did not guide vs into all trueth and yeeld vnto our heartes this witnesse how thou art our Father we could not crie Abba Father Therefore wilt thou graunt vnto vs O thou onelie true God three persons in one substance Actes 1◠God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost according vnto thy promises to purifie my heart through faith making thy abode in thy poore creature keepe my spirit from all temptation of error Iohn 14.23 my heart from delighting in anie other thing than in thy good pleasure and in thy woord and my will to desire none other than thy selfe that art the soueraigne goodnesse which art my all my portion and that hauing thee and louing thee I may despise this world and forsake all vanities to tast and to sauour the delightes of thy dwelling place louing nothing but thee and for the loue of thee 2. Cor. 5. to awaite the blessed houre when as I shall no more by faith Ephes 4. but by sight and that dailie so increasing in faith 2. Timot. 4. I may come vnto the measure and fulnesse of perfect stature one day to receiue the incorruptible crowne of glorie hauing fought the good fight of faith and in the beholding of thy face at thy right hand to feele the true fulnesse of ioy and gladnesse Psalme 16 So be it There is set downe vnto vs a goodlie example and pourtraict of Iacobs wrestling and of the faithfuls victorie in the 32. of Genesis Then there wrestled a man with Iacob vnto the breaking of the daie and when he sawe that he could not preuaile against him he touched therefore the holow of his thigh so that the holow of Iacobs thigh was loosed as he wrestled with him and he said Let me goe for the Morning appeareth who aunswered I will not let thee goe except thou blesse me Then said he vnto him what is thy name And he said Iacob Then said he thy name shall not be called Iacob anie more but Israel because thou hast had power with God thou shalt also preuaile with men A MEDITATION vpon the said text MAns life to be compared vnto the trueth is but a continuall combate vppon the earth and namelie the life of the faithful yea and whosoeuer dooth truelie beleeue ought to make his account that he must suffer manie assaults Now the temptations are not of one kinde wherewith it pleaseth this gratious God to stirre vp those with warfare to whome he hath bestowed anie of his graces Gene. 12. Abraham going forth out of his countrie was tryed and prooued by dearth and not long after through warres which he had vpon his arme or hand and then vnto the measure as he did warfare Gene. 14. he was yet further prooued with a stronger temptation when it was commaunded him to offer his onelie sonne Izaac in sacrifice Gene. 22. Iacob the good Patriarch had truelie his part of temptations with Laban and also of the behalfe of his brother Esau But the fight was verie rude and hard when as the Lord himselfe sought against him For it appeareth that the match was verie ill made when that the Euerlasting should wrestle against a creature which was not but like stubble or as dust in his presence But this was the fight that did get vnto him also the greatest honor and hath richlie beawtified him with this name Israel as if that he had beene the ruler of the Lord. Behold howe the greater that the assaultes are which doe ariue or come vnto the faithfull so much the more is the victorie glorious Therefore let vs not finde it strange neither be discouraged if men doe wrestle against vs at anie time for God himselfe also will so doe when as it seemeth that he will neither cōfort nor heare vs. So wrestled he with Dauid when as he said in the 77. Psalme My soule refused comfort I did thinke vppon God and was troubled I prayed Matth. 15. my soule was full of anguish So wrestled Iesus Christ with the womā of Cana and as it seemed to repulse her altogether But how had she the victorie Euen through faith and perseuerance in such sort as the Lord suffering himselfe to be ouercome said vnto her O woman great is thy faith be it to thee as thou desirest See howe the vnuincible Lord suffereth himselfe to be ouercome by our faith and also by our prayers For first of all hee doth not assaie and prooue all his strength against vs. Secondly he himselfe furnisheth vs with armour and weapon in such sort as wee be as S. Paule speaketh in the 6. to the Ephesians strengthened in the Lorde and in the power of his might force and clothed with all the armours from God Therefore it is not with out some checke mate and without also receiuing some litle wounde as Iacob had a certaine crush in his thigh For hee wil make vs truely feele how we be but men and that we should walke in humblenesse What braue souldier is he that would not haue his Thigh crushed in peeces or else receiue some other sore wounde so that hee might haue the victorie Are not these the markes of the valiant
paine the which also hee hath charged vppon him in short that to the end to haue pitie on vs Hebr. 2. he might partake with our flesh with our miseries to the end to make vs his brethren so to carrie into heauen our nature as the gage of our hope euen as hee hath giuen vnto vs a counterpledge that is to say the holie Ghost as Tertullian hath written verie well speaking of the resurrection and of the flesh of Christ When therefore we say that we doe beleeue in Iesus Christ it is not as if we had manie kindes of faith For there is but one God and one faith Ephe. 4. and the father and the sonne are one as it is said in 10. of S. Iohn To beleeue in Iesus Christ But this is that wee beleeue in God according as he hath shewed himselfe in the making of heauen and earth as also in his holie word that beareth record vnto vs how that the euerlasting Sonne of God Iesus Christ taking our nature in the fulnesse of time to bee the mediator of the couenant of our God the two natures diuine and humane being knitte together hee hath reconciled vs to God his father when by his merite and obedience and through his strength and incomprehensible goodnesse hee hath by his death and passion made satisfaction for our sinnes and by his resurrection ouercome death and hell and is ascended into heauē to make intercessiō for vs so as for the loue of him god loueth vs his righteousnes is imputed to vs as if it were our owne God holdeth vs for righteous so be we sure that neither the law hath power to condemne vs against which we doe set this perfect righteousnes of Iesus Christ neither death nor the diuel shall astonie vs for seeing the Christ for vs hath ouercome the world death all that which was feareful In summe we doe beleeue not onelie the historie of the birth passion death resurrection ascensiō of Iesus Christ But euerie faithful persō dooth apply all the benefits that he hath gotten for vs assuring comforting thēselues in his holie louelie promises doe lay hold vppon him as the true Iesus sauing blessing vs hauing prepared an euerlasting saluation and a most blessed life by his pretious blould For what we shall be dooth not yet appeare but we doe know that when he shal appeare V s e. 13. we shal be like vnto him shall see him as he is And whosoeuer hath this hope in him is purified as he is also pure This say I is the first Maxime first foundation that we doe set against the heretikes and others which know not Iesus Christ true God true man It is the wonderful coūsel of God which hath prouided for vs such a mediator and sauiour as did behooue vs to haue Secondlie we doe set against them the agreemēt of the old new Testamēt cōcerning Iesus Christ where wee see how that which the ceremonies of the law had figured was fulfilled in Christ as it is said in the Epistle to the Hebrewes 1. Iohn 3. for so dooth S. Paul witnesse proue how Christ was the end of the law Lastlie we doe set against thē the effects of this healthful knowledge which giueth peace rest of minde vnto the faithful So as manie haue suffered death with great ioy for the name of Iesus Now on the other part the issue of those who haue blasphemed as Cerinthus Manes Arrius and others were alwayes miserable And how soeuer it were that manie times the heresies of those which haue striuen either cōcerning the true diuine nature or cōcerning the veritie of Christs human nature were for a season maintained by violence impudēcie God in this giuing place vnto his iudgements prouing the constācie of his owne yet it is cleare by the Ecclesiasticall Histories how the Lord hath made his trueth dailie to triumph yea that manie times by weake Organes hath confounded the wise men of the world preseruing his trueth the Articles of our faith euen vnto our time whereof wee ought to thanke this good God without ceasing and to beseech him that he will likewise haue pitie also of our posteritie suffer them to inioy this wholesome treasure not suffering that for our vnthankfulnesse and by the damnable and ambitious contentions of certaine wicked members that at this day doe trouble the Churches the trueth should be darkened and this good Sauiour Iesus true GOD and true man should bee misknowne to the world Now to the end that euerie faithfull man might so much the better tast and learne what this sonne of God is and what foundation wee haue to beleeue in him and to hold him for our mediator the holie scripture dooth attribute two names chieflie vnto him Iesus Christ whereof the one is Iesus and the other is Christ to the end that wee may note and marke in the first what is the person of the sonne of God to witte that he is God the sauiour and the word of life manifested in the flesh In the second his Office because that Christ dooth signifie as much as Messias that is to say Annointed which was annointed for vs destined and ordained of the father and dwelling in him in all fulnesse that hee should bee our king our sacrificer and our Prophet and Doctor As concerning the first name which is Iesus it was giuen to the Lord not by aduenture but by a heauēlie Oracle declared by the Angel vnto Ioseph as wee doe reade in the 1. Chap. of S. Matthew Thou shalt call his name Iesus For hee shall saue his people from their sinnes The like was said vnto Marie euen as wee doe reade in the first Chap. of S. Luke Thou shalt beare a sonne and thou shalt call his name Iesus Hee shall be great and shall bee called the sonne of the most highest and the Lorde God shall giue vnto him the Throne of his father Dauid and the Angell speaking vnto the shepheardes in the 2. Chap. of S. Luke interpreting this word of Iesus said Behold I bring you tidings of great ioy that shall be to all the people That is that vnto you is borne this day in the Citie of Dauid a sauiour which is Christ the Lord. Moreouer Irenaeus a right auncient Doctor in the second booke against the heresies of Valentinus witnesseth that the Greekes called him Soter that which the scripture called Iesus that is to say Sauiour The which Iesus Christ was in deed straightway declared himselfe so to bee healing the sicke and raising vp the dead Especiallie by this euerlasting saluation and that saluation of the soules which hee hath gotten for vs who is the true saluation of whome we ought to make reckenning of 8. Pet. 1.5 as S. Peter saith that he should be fullie reuealed in the latter dayes Now such a Sauiour was not Iosua how braue a Captaine soeuer hee
should not perish whom hee had created Therefore behold two natures but knit together in such sort as there is but one onelie Sauiour euen as the soule and the bodie are gathered together in one onely man in the meane time keeping their proprieties as it is knowne that some proprieties are of the bodie others of the soule but let a man marke thē put a differēce betweene those proprieties yet dooth hee not therefore separate the bodie from the soule The scriptures then and also the aunciēt Doctors speaking of Iesus Christ haue sometimes respect vnto the proprietie of the natures And then it is said that Christ knew not the hower of Iudgement when hee was wrapped vp in swadling bandes when hee did increase in all wisdome and had respect but vnto the humane nature Some-times that he is the Image and brightnesse of his father that hee will bee with vs euen vnto the end of the world 1. Cor. 2. hauing respect vnto his nature and diuine Maiestie And sometimes the scripture dooth consider these two natures of Christ knit together When it is said that the Lord of glorie was crucified Wherefore Because that Christ hath yet suffered in the flesh Yet so it is that hee who hath suffered was the Lord of glorie For this flesh is knit with the eternal word of the personall vnion So it is said that God hath redeemed vs by his bloud Actes 20. because that this bloud is the bloud of this bodie which is knitte with the sonne of God As wee doe say for the vnion of the bodie with the soule when a man is dead albeit that there is but the least part dead to witte the bodie the soule being as we know immortal From whence heresies doe proceede This is to be noted because the most part of heresies doe come forth in that whereas either a man confoundes the natures of Christ or that one sundereth the natures and they leaue not this ground or this foundation that wee haue in the scripture to wit that there is but one Christ And that this Christ is as mediatour knit vnto two natures and to acknowledge them it is necessarie that the proprieties do remain For how should we knowe the humane nature if it were inuisible and in all places as some dreame What God should Iesus be if he were created euen as Arritus did blaspheme The humane nature therefore of Christ hath reciued great prerogatiues Prerogatiues of Christs humane nature as to be sanctified from the beginning by the holy Ghost to be knit with the diuine nature and to abide in the same so as of this man it is sayde that he is the sonne of God as in hauing all fulnesse of grace all treasures of wisedome in the eternall worde which is declared and laide abroade in the humane nature and so farre forth as was needeful and might bring to him To be short we must holde that as the humane nature taken to the sonne of God hath not weakened the diuinitie So hath not the diuinitie swallowed vp the deity nor consumed the humanitie as the Schuencfeldians thought For our sauiour is true God and man and not a man deified Moreouer we must haue daily remembraunce of our religion which is faith whereunto all curiosities are contrarie These mysteries as this is the greatest of all and the true secret of God hauing ordeined that his euerlasting sonne should take vppon him humane nature that in our flesh he might make satisfaction for our sinnes These mysteries I say we doe beleeue them when as all humane reason all discourse and all the worlde woulde say or thinke to the contrarie And in thus beleeuing wee are not lead by opinion or ill grounded but assured of a most certaine knowledge that is more surer than all the sciences of the world because that it proceedeth from the shewe of the spirite of God Heere followe certaine goodly places of the conception and birth of Iesus Christ out of the 1. Chap. of S. Luke THe Angell sayde vnto Marie Lo thou shalt conceiue in thy wombe and beare a sonne and shalt call his name Iesus He shall be great and shal be called the sonne of the most high and the Lorde God shall giue vnto him the throne of his father Dauid And hee shall reigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdome shall be none ende Then sayd Marie vnto the Angell how shall this be seeing I know not man The Angell aunswered and sayde vnto her the holy Ghost shall come vpon thee and the power of the most high shal ouershadowe thee therefore also that holie thing which shall be borne of thee shal be called the sonne of God Therefore beholde three great prerogatiues in this childe that is giuen vnto vs. First this person is the sonne of God Secondly eternall king established for Messias and true restorer of the throne of Dauid and of the Church head and chiefe thereof that which a man cannot speake of anie creature Thirdly he is the holy as many times he is so called in the prophets and hath in such sort taken our nature as he hath made it holy frō his mothers wombe This conception therefore by the holy Ghost is not that the spirite had beene as the father or as if his body were of a spiritual substance But the Angell sayth that which seemed vnpossible that a virgin should conceiue shal be done by the vertue of Gods spirit to whome nothing is harde and the same spirite shall make the virgine not alonely to conceiue and beare a sonne but also to conceiue and beare him which shall be holy and making holy all mankinde making holy the natiuitie and conception of all those that are of his faithfull chosen Wherfore Christ was baptised For that that he was baptised and circumcised was not in the respect of him that he had neede of it he who washed and circumcised our heartes but because that he had brought himselfe vnder the lawe in our name and being made our pledge had charged vpon him our sinnes to make vs learne in what reuerence wee ought to haue the Sacramentes Out of the 1. of S. Iohn ver 14. This worde was made flesh and dwelt among vs and we sawe the glorie thereof I say the glorie as of the onely begotten sonne of the father full of grace and truth Out of the 1. Chap. of the Epistle of S. Paule to the Romanes God which had promised heeretofore the Gospell concerning his sonne which was made of the seede of Dauid according to the flesh and declared mightilie to be the sonne of God touching the spirite of sanctification and by the resurrection from the dead that is to say our sauiour Iesus Christ Out of the 16. Chap. of the Romanes To him nowe that is of power to establish you according to my Gospell and preaching of Iesus Christ by the reuelation of the mysterie which was kept secret since