but miserable wretched caâ—tifes yet let vs not for all that cease to reioyce in God by reason of the tast which he giueth vs by faith of the heauenly glory enheritance which hée hath so dearely purchased for vs from the which we cannot be put if we hope for it Let vs now fall downe before the maiestie of our good God and acknowledge our offeÌ„ces beséeching him to make vs more more to féele the gréeuousnes of them to be so touched with theÌ„ as that our repentance might continually be mightiller coÌ„firmed that we might grone for them and so walk in the feare of our God as that he might be glorified by vs to the end we might shew wherfore hée hath redéemed vs and learne to consecrate our selues in all puritie to him and to this great Sauiour who hath sanctified him selfe that we might also be pertakers of his holinesse And that it would please him to poure the graces of his holie spirite vpon vs that by the same meanes wée might be cleansed of all the infirmities and corruptions of our flesh That hée would not onely graunt vs this grace but vnto all people c. The seuenth Sermon of the passion Matthew xxvii 45 ANd from the sixt houre there was darknesse ouer all the lande vnto the nineth houre 46 And about the ninth houre Iesus cryed out with a loude voice saying Eli Eli Lamasabachthani That is to say My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee 47 Then some of them which stood there when they heard that saide This man calleth for Elias 48 And by and by one of them ranne and tooke a spoonge and when hee had filled it full of vineger and put it on a reede hee gaue him to drinke 49 The rest saide Let bee Let vs see whether Elias will come to saue him 50 When Iesus had cryed againe with a loude voice hee yeelded vp the Ghost 51 And behold the vayle of the Temple was rent in two peeces from the toppe to the bottome and the earth did quake and the stones rent 52 And graues were opened and many bodies of Saintes which slept arose 53 And after they were come out of the graues after his resurrection came into the holie Citie and appeared vnto many 54 When the Centurion and they that were with him who watched Iesus sawe the Earth quake and the thinges that were done they feared greatly saying Truely this was the Sonne of God WE saw and heard yesterday that al the scorners and blasphemers of the Maiestie of God were no wayes able to hinder and let that the death passion of our lord Iesus should not bring foorth and manifest the power force thereof euen amiddest the most horrible coÌ„temners and vnthankful people of the world For marke and beholde that notwithstanding the hornorablest of the Iewes chiefliest scorned the sonne of God yet had hée compassion of the poore and miserable théefe and graunted him euerlasting life And therefore no man ought to darken and lessen the glorie of the Sonne of God Nowe if any man alledge say that the state of the miserable théefe is not to be compared with the chiefe Gouernours of the Church being the Priestly trybe whom God had chosen for the teaching of the lawe it is out of all doubt that when we speake of the saluation which God of his fré mercy purchased for vs we must not looke for any worthinesse that is to be founde in vs But rather agrée to that saying of Saint Paule 1. Tim. 1.13 That this is a true doctrine that Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners And therefore when wée consider of the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ it is méete that all men should yéeld and confesse them selues to be most miserable and shameful to the end God might poure vpon them by that meanes the treasures of his mercy without any other regard to helpe vs saue that he seeth vs most miserably to be plunged ouer head and eares And because that this théefe was a most abiect man and that God had so sodeinly called him yet séeing the death and passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ which hée suffred for all mankinde was auaileable vnto him the same should a great deale the rather confirme vs. Wherefore it is out of all question that God here thrusteth out his hand as it were to all those who thinke them selues worthie thereof and deserue it or at the least to such as the common people thought the most excellent But when hée pulleth damned soules out of the pyt of hell and when hée sheweth himselfe merciful vnto those who were vtterly voide of all hope of life herein shyneth his wonderful goodnes And this is it which giueth vs an entrance into saluation for although hypocrites confesse that they are greatly beholden vnto God for his grace and fauour yet shut they the gate vpon them selues by reason of their arrogancy for their pride is such as that they cannot submit them selues vnto our Lord Iesus Christ And therfore let vs in the first place be fully resolued that Iesus Christ calleth vnto him miserable sinners which are ashamed of themselues stretcheth out his armes to receiue them For if this be not in vs we shal neuer haue the heart to come vnto him But when we shal be throughly persuaded that hée purchased saluation for those who would acknowledge and submit theÌ„selues to be most miserable and wretched sinners and be vtterly ashamed coÌ„fesse their giltines as in déed they ought before the iudgement seate of God let vs be well assured that we shal soone attain to be partakers of the righteousnes which is héere offred vs which is the obteining of fauour and grace at the handes of God Now héere vpon followeth That from the sixt houre vnto the nineth there was darknesse ouer all the lande Hée speaketh thus cleane contrary to our common maner of spéech for wee woulde say from six houres to nine houres But the Euangelist hath followed the ordinary maner of spéech that was then vsed For wheÌ„ he speaketh of the third houre hée meaneth not at thrée of the clocke but the fore part of the day And here in summe are two things to be considered of The one is that they counted the houres otherwise then we doe at this day for they reckoned the day to beginne from the Sunne rising vnto the going downe which was twelue houres where we take the day to be foure and twentie houres accounting from midnight vntill midnight folowing And therfore the clocks were to be set in such sort as that the houres in Sommer shoulde not be longer then they were in Winter and as the dayes were longer or shorter euen so were the houres longer or shorter The other point is this They deuided the day into foure partes quartered it froÌ„ thrée houres to thrée houres calling euery quarter by the beginning of the first houre Insomuch that the time
generall Let vs also liue together in mutuall and Brotherly concord because he himself hath susteined and borne the condemnation which God his father had pronounced against vs all And therefore let vs bende our selues that way and let euery of vs not onely come thither by himselfe alone as I haue already said but also bring his fellowes with him and stirre one another vp constantly to marche forward hauing alwayes respect that our life is as were away which wée must goe through withall and not stay in the middest thereof but from day to day so profite and also take paine to bring them néere who are farre of as that it may be our whole ioy life glory and contentment and in such sorte helpe one another vntyll the time that GOD hath fully and wholy gathered vs together vnto himselfe Let vs nowe therefore fall downe before the Maiestie of our good GOD and acknowledge our sinnes beséeching him to cause vs so to féele them as that wee bée not onely displeased with them but also that wée may bée more and more rydde and cleansed of them and so fight against our selues as that he alone may beare rule in vs and wée well agrée vnto his holy will And in the meane while let vs likewise beséech him that it would please him to haue mercy vpon his miserable worlde and that as it was his will in generall his onely sonne shoulde bee a redéemer for all his Gospell preached to all so also that hée would not suffer vs at this day to bée hard hearted flie form such a benefite But that wée might haue an eie and eare thereto and one of vs drawe on another vntill such time as he hath brought vs to bée perfect with himselfe So that wée may all say with an humble heart O Almightie God and heauenly father c. The second Sermon of the Passion Matthew xxvj 40 AFter that he came vnto his Disciples and found them a sleepe and said to Peter What could ye not watch with me one houre 41 Watch and pray that yee enter not into temptation the spirite in deede is ready but the fleshe is weake 42 Againe he went away the second time and prayed saying O my father if this Cup cannot passe away from mee but that I must drinke it thy will bee doone 43 And he came and founde them a sleepe againe for their eyes were heauie 44 So hee left them and went againe and praied the thirde time saying the same wordes 45 The came hee vnto his Disciples and saide vnto them sleepe hence foorth and take your rest beholde the houre is at hand and the sonne of man is giuen into the handes of sinners 46 Arise let vs goe beholde he is at hande that betrayeth mee 47 And while hee yet spake Loe Iudas one of the twelue came and with him a great multitude with Swordes and staues from the high Priestes and Elders of the people 48 But hee that betrayed him had giuen them a token saying whom soeuer that I shall kisse that is he lay hold on him 49 And foorthwith he came to Iesus and said God saue thee Maister and kissed him 50 Then Iesus saide vnto him Friende wherefore commest thou then came they and laide handes on Iesus and tooke him WE haue this morning séene howe the Sonne of God was strengthened by prayer for the abiding of so hard and dangerous a combate as the appearing before the iudgement seat of god his father to receiue sentence of comdemnation as our pledge or borrowe For it behooued that mans weakenes should be séene in him and yet was this nothing at all derogatorie from his diuine Maiestie although hée was thus made of no reputation for our saluation And wée haue héere besides to note that he prayed not onely once wherein wée sée that hée hath by his example exhorted vs not to faint although we are not hearde so soone as wée woulde Wherefore they that are faint hearted because God answereth them not at the first shew that they knowe not what prayer is For the right rule for vs to come vnto God is to perseuer and continue And therefore the chiefest exercise of our faith is prayer Yet faith cannot be without hope Then there is no question of it that God shoulde féede our homours so soone as wée haue once opened our lippes and framed our petitions But it is méete that hée shoulde delay them and make vs oftentimes to languishe that wée might know what it is to pray earnestly and without hypocrisie and that wée might also declare that our faith is so established vpon the worde of God as that it brideleth to the ende wée might paciently abide vntill such time as the fit opportunitie be come wherein we should be holpen Let vs therefore marke that our Lord Iesus Christ did not pray onely once to God his father but went also againe the second time Moreouer wée are to call to minde the thing before touched to wit that our Lord Iesus Christ hath not here framed a light praier but yet was such an one as if hée were determined to be quite ryd of him selfe yea that hée who is the power of God his father and who vpholdeth the whole worlde yet because he must shewe him selfe a weake man kéeping our place and setled in our person hath shewed that when hée went againe to pray that hée did it not to make a shewe therof as many prophane people imagine that when Iesus Christ appeared hée suffered nothing but to the ende to teach vs that wée are no way able to escape the hande and punishment of God and his curse but by this meane Nowe it is hére declared vnto vs as it was this morning that our Lord Iesus Christ was put to the extremitie because that the burthen which hée had taken vpon him was not to be borne without the inuincible power of the spirite of God had holpen him Neyther must wée thinke this to be any superfluous kinde of spéech when hée repeated these wordes Mat. 6.7 For that which is said in the other text That when wée pray vnto God we must not vse much babble as they doe who vse many repetitions thinking thereby to obteyne verie much is not meant but that we should continue in prayer but it is spoken to this ende to finde fault with the hypocrisie and superstition of those who thinke as a man would say to rend the eares of God therewith to make him beléeue and persuade him to doe that for them which they desire which folly wée haue séene reigne in the world And yet euen among vs how many are there which vse this kinde of sorcerie for although they say not their Aue Maria yet when they haue saide their Pater Noster doe thinke that they haue obteined verie much and thinke that God taketh a reckoning of all the words which they haue thus repeated in their prayer Now I call that right sorcerie for they villainously
Iesus was taken from the crosse to wit that hée was thrust into the side to sée whether he had yéelded vp the Ghoste or not For they hastened not his death so fast as they dyd the two Théeues But when they thought him to bee dead they thrust a Speare into him and then they knewe that he was dead which pleased well the souldiers Now it is true that if we shoulde not be able to bring in the lawe for a testimonie we should haue somewhat a cold pull of it But S. Iohn giueth vs a full proofe that our Lorde Iesus Christe was the true Paschall Lambe since he was by the wonderfull prouidence and counsell of God preserued that there was not abone of him broken Exod. 12.46 Num. 9.12 For it said in Exodus that the Paschal lambe should bée eaten but there should not one bone of him bée broken And why were not the bones of Iesus Christe crushed since it was the common maner at those dayes Surely their will was not to spare him and hée was hanged betwéene two Théeues because they thought him to be the most vyle and detestable person Wée sée then héere that this was the worke of God in kéeping backe the handes of the Souldiers and his will also was that his Sonne should make a spéedie dispatch to the ende hée woulde preserue him and that it might bée an euident signe vnto vs in this place that in him the trueth of this auncient figure shoulde be fulfilled Héere then are wée to obserue that the bones of the Sonne of God were preserued from breaking because we might take him for our Paschall Lambe who shoulde preserue vs from the wrath of God whenas wée are marked with his blood And therefore must wée come to this point that since he is our Paschall Lamb wée must eftsoones bee dewed and sprinckled with his blood for without that the shedding of it will doe vs no good But when we shall accept him with this Sacrifice and séeke remission of our sinnes also thereby because we know that vntyll hée hath washed and cleansed vs wée are very filthie then are wee be dewed with his blood through the spinckling of the holy ghost vpon our soules and so are made cleane and God accepteth and taketh vs for his people and we are assured that although his wrath and vengeance bée ouer all the worlde yet looketh hée on vs with his eye of mercy and alloweth vs for his children Wée sée then in this place what wée are to consider when it is saide That the bones of our Lorde Iesus were not broken to the end we might vnderstand that the thing which was declared by figure in the law was verified in his body And besides it is also saide That water and blood issued out of his side and hee that sawe it beare witnesse thereof When wée sée that water blood issued so out wée must remember that it was hee as Saint Iohn sayeth in his Canonicall Epistle 1. Iohn 5.6 who by his sacrifice wrought our purgation and peace for the blotting out of all our sinnes In very déede Blood when one is dead wil waxe thicke by nature and from it will very thinne water come because the colour and thickest of the blood wil goe from it But howeuer it is Saint Iohn saieth that GOD woulde shewe for what cause the death of his sonne profiteth vs to wit Heb. 9 2◠in the first place hée is at peace with vs by reason of the shedding of blood for as it is saide There can bée no remission of sinnes without the effusion of blood For beholde why Sacrifices were vsed from the beginning of the worlde And God hath saide that hée would be mercifull to all miserable sinners which put their truste in him But yet he woulde haue sacrifices to bee offered as if hée should haue said that men should be fréely forgiuen their sinnes because they can bring nothing of their own with them to obteine it But must haue a mediator to recompence it Wée sée then that the blood which ranne downe from the side of our Lorde Iesus witnesseth vnto vs that the Sacrifice which hée offered was a satisfaction for all our iniquities so that we are discharged of them before God True it is we must cōtinually féele our selues to be gilty that we might bée humbled and brought to true repentance and bée cléerely voide of all presumption But howeuer it is wée are assured that God acquitteth and pardoneth vs in the name of his sonne when we come to acknowledge our sinnes and iniquities And why so Because the sacrifice of his death is sufficient to blot out the memory of al our transgressions It is the water then that cleanseth Wherefore to the end we might be washed from all our spots let vs vnderstande that the meaning of our Lord Iesus Christe was that water shoulde issue out of his side to declare that hée is in very déede our puritie and that wée must séeke for none other remedy to washe vs from all our filthinesse And thus wée sée howe water and blood came from him by which meane wee are throughly saued in him and therefore must make no wandlesses to séeke our ayde els where But when wée shall consider more néerely of the matter wée shall sée a very notable similitude betwéene the blood and the water which issued out of the side of our Lorde Iesus Christe and the Sacraments of the Church in which the thing that was perfourmed in his death is allowed and sealed vnto vs. For after hée had suffered whatsoeuer was requisite for our saluation and fully satisfied GOD his Father by sanctifiyng and purchasing vs full righteousnesse hée would that all the whole matter should bée witnessed vnto vs in the two sacraments of his owne institution I speake of two because there are no moe instituted in his worde But Baptisme and the Supper For all the reste is but a vaine imagination deuised by the rashe boldenesse of men Thus wee see that our Lorde Iesus Christe powreth out the vertue of his death and passion aswel vpon Baptisme as on the holy Supper For Baptisme is a witnesse vnto vs that hée hath so washed and cleansed vs from all our filthinesse as that God receiueth vs vnto his fauour as if wée came cleane and neate before him Now wée must vnderstand that the water in Baptisme worketh not this effect For howe can a corruptible Element washe and cleanse our soules But the matter is because water issued out of the side of our Lorde Iesus Christ And therefore when wée woulde that Baptisme should doe vs good let vs goe vnto him who was crucified for vs and when we would féele the fruit therof let vs runne vnto our Lord Iesus Christ who would haue vs séeke for euerie parte and parcell of our saluation in him without wandring and whéeling hither and thither And besides wée haue in the holie Supper a testimony that Iesus Christ is our
death that there was no more hope of saluation for vs but now the sting therof is broken yea the poyson therof is so cleÌ„sed wiped away that we being humbled by death it serueth vs at this day for a medicine and is no more deadly because Iesus Christe hath swallowed vpp all the curse which was in it Nowe let vs sée what it is that wée haue too kéepe in mynde whiche is that sonne of God in crying out O my Father if it be possible let this drinke be taken from me did not regard onlie the suffringes in his bodie neither the shame of men nor yet the leauing of the worlde for he could easily abide all these things But hée respected his comming before God and before his iudgement seate to make an account for all our sinnes and to behold al the curses of God which were prepared For when as there was but one only sinner what was this to the wrath of GOD And when it is said that God is against vs wil display his power to confound vs Alas what shall become of vs Now it hath so fallen out that Iesus Christ did not onely striue against suche a feare but against all the cruelties that might bee heaped vp together And therefore when wée sée GOD call to a reckoning all those who haue deserued euerlasting condemnation and are guiltie of sinne and that hée himselfe is there to pronounce suche sentence as they haue deserued who will not conceyue all the deathes doubtes and terrors which may bée in euery one And then what a destruction will there bée in this Nowe it hath fallen out that our Lorde Iesus Christe himselfe alone without anie helpe hath borne such a burden Let vs therfore iustly weight the sorow of the Sonne of God therevpon let vs returne to the thing which wee haue already touched which is yâ— on the one side we might knowe how déere our saluation how precious our soules were vnto him when as hée woulde bring himselfe into so great extremitie for our sakes and in acknowledging that that wee haue deserued Let vs sée what our estate had béene if hée had not holpen vs. And in the meane while let vs reioyce when as wée sée death to haue no more power ouer vs that may hurt vs. In verie déede wée shoulde naturally alwayes feare Death and flie it But it is to this ende that wee should thinke vpon that inestimable benefite whiche the Sonne of God hath purchased by his death alwaies consider that it commeth through death it selfe which death importeth the wrath of God which wrath is as it were the gulfe of hell Moreouer that when we are to fight against this feare we might know that our Lord Iesus Christ hath so prouided for al these feares as that wee might euen in the middest of death it selfe come with bolde countenance before our God True it is that wée shoulde before all thinges humble our selues and must as we haue beforesaide bée touched with the iudgement of God and with the terror thereof if wée intend to hate our sinnes and bée displeased with them howbeit in the meane while when God calleth vs vnto him wée must then come with chéerefull countenance And see also what boldnesse is graunted to all the faithfull 2. Tim. 4.8 for Saint Paule saith That our Lorde Iesus Christe hath prepared a crowne for all those which looke for his comming Wherefore if we hope not for life in comming before the heauenly Iudge without doubt hée will refuse vs and not know vs neither will hee allowe of vs although wée professe our selues to bée Christians And surely we cannot waite for our Lorde Iesus Christ without we bée resolued and perswaded that he hath so fought against the feares of death that wée are thereby made free and that hée obteined victory for vs. And although wée are to fight to the ende wée might féele our infirmities and thereby haue recourse vnto God which might continually draw vs to a true confession of our sinnes so that God himselfe might bée declared to him alone to bee iust yet notwithstanding let vs assure our selues that Iesus Christe hath so fought as that he hath got the victorie not onely for himself but for vs also And neuer doubt but that by this meanes we may now ouercome all cares feares and terrors and call vpon God séeing wée are assured that he continually stretcheth foorth his armes to imbrace vs. And héere we sée what we must obserue which is we must know that this is no speculatiue doctrine when it is saide That our Lorde Iesus Christ hath abiden the horrible feares of death because he felt that he was before our iudge as our pledge to the end that in the power of that combate we might get aduantage ouer our infirmities constantly abide in calling vpon the name of God doubting but that hée will heare vs and bée continually ready of his goodnesse to receiue vs vnto himselfe so that by that meanes we shall passe both through life and death fier and water and so might all féele that our Lorde Iesus hath not fought in vâ—ine for the obteining of such a victory for all such as come vnto him in faith Héere then wée see in summe what it is that wée must remember But yet by the way wee sée that wée must fight against our affections and without wée so doe it is impossible for vs to remoue our finger but that wee shall eftsoones prouoke the wrath of GOD. For beholde our Lorde Iesus Christe who was both pure and sounde as wée haue already declared But if any man aske what his will was it was in very déed the weake will of a man but yet no sinfull will as the will of those who were corrupted in Adam for there was not one spot of sinne in him Loe héere a man voide of all sinne But howeuer it was yet must he in the ende striue and indeuour to forsake himselfe and cast all this vnder his féete that hee might yeeld his obedience vnto his father And nowe let vs see what shall become of vs what are our affections and thoughtes Rom. 8.7 Euen so many enimies saith Saint Paule as fight against God Wée see heere that God saith that we are altogether wayward that whatsoeuer the mind of man deuiseth is nothing els but leasing and vanitie yea we shew our selues euen from our childhood to be seasoned with the whole infection of sinne For the very yong children who come into the worlde and whose wickednesse appeareth not are notwithstanding young serpents full of the poyson of malice and disdaine And héere wée sée what our nature is euen from the beginning what then will wee be I beséeche you when wée come to ryper yéres Surely as I haue already saide we are so very wicked as that we cannot thinke one only thought which shal not be very many rebellions against God insomuch that we shall neuer be
able to giue our selues either to one thing or other but that we shall swarue from the right rule yea and spurne as it were dispituously against his Maiestie And therefore what conflict is it that wée can set in order to doe any good For when we sée that our Lord Iesus Christe in whom was nothing but purenesse and righteousnesse was not able to submit himself vnto God his father without he had denied himselfe is it not to bee doubted that we are any way able throughly to performe it Let vs then learne to fight more couragiously But because we see we cannot and that all our strength and power bendeth it selfe rather to doe euill and not one droppe of goodnesse in our nature but so weake as that wée shoulde be ouercome an hundred times euery minute of an houre let vs come to him that was made weake that wée might as S. Paule saieth be filled with his power And therefore since our Lorde Iesus Christe hath thus denied him selfe let vs learne if wée will bée his Disciples to doe the like And because wée sée that wée cannot of our selues attaine thereto but goe altogether backewarde let vs beséeche him 2. Cor. 13.4 that hée woulde by the power of his holy spirite haue dominion in vs to strengthen vs as it is said that hée suffered in the infirmitie of his fleshe but was raised vp againe through the power of the spirite that we might bée partakers of the afliction which hée susteined and féele the fruit and excellencie of his power in vs. Heere nowe wée sée in effect what it is that wée must beare in minde when it is saide that Christe gaue ouer his owne will that hee might fully and wholy submit himselfe vnto God his Father Notwithstanding we haue heere continually to remember that the Sonne of GOD determined not onely to set foorth himselfe héere for an example or glasse but to shew vs how dearely our saluation cost him For the Deuill meaning to darken the infinite grace of GOD which hath béene shewed vs hath saide That Iesus Christe was onely as it were a patterne of all vertue For marke how these hypocriticall pratling Iacke dawes in Popery behaue them selues who although they cannot set down what obedience is nor yet what it is to forsake a mans selfe yet they say that whatsoeuer the Euangelist hath written of Iesus Christe is to this ende that wée shoulde followe him and bée like vnto him Now this is somewhat But yet not all neither the principall matter For an Angell might very well haue béene sent to haue tolde vs that wee muste followe him But when Iesus Christe became the redéemer of the worlde hée of his owne good will submitted himselfe vnto this miserable condition as héere wée see And therefore must wée alwayes vnderstande that when wée can finde nothing in our selues that may giue vs any hope of saluation it remaineth that wée must séeke for that in him which is wanting in vs. For wee are neuer able to obteine the grace and fauour of GOD nor yet come néere him without wee come as poore Beggers vnto Iesus Christe which can neuer bee doone vntyll such time as we knowe our miseries and wants and to be short except we know vtterly our vnablenesse wee sée then what it is that wee are to remember to the end that after we haue vnderstood that the whole perfection of our life is to obey God and to forsake our affections and thoughts and whatsoeuer els that is in our nature which is to make vs agréeable vnto him when wee vnderstand this much we must craue at the handes of God that which we haue not And that wée might know also that our Lorde Iesus Christ is not deliuered vnto vs for an example onely but is eft soones declared vnto vs that if we be separated from him our life must néedes bee accursed and that in death we sée the bottomlesse depthes of the curse and that gulfe of Gods wrath to swallowe vs quite vp and that not onely one feare but a million of feares haue laide fast holde on vs and al the creatures of God crie for vengeance on our behalfe And therfore let vs haue this féeling because we might acknowledge our sinnes sigh and be ashamed of our selues and take boldnesse to come vnto God with true humilitie and repentance Let vs likewise estéeme of the goodnesse and mercy of our God as héere is shewed vs and haue our mouthes wide open to pay vnto him the Sacrifice of thanksgiuing and depart from the inticements of Satan who hath pitched his nettes to holde vs still in this worlde Let vs also leaue our commodities and pleasures that wee might come vnto this heauenly inheritance which hath béen so dearely purchased for vs and because we haue to communicate the Supper of the Lorde the next Sunday and that God after he hath opened vnto vs the kingdom of heauen setteth before vs a spirituall banket let vs bée so much the more touched with this doctrine And to say the trueth when wée dayly eate and drinke for the refreshing of our hungry bodies God therein sheweth vs sufficiently that he is our father and careth for these earthly bodies insomuch that we cannot eate one morsell of bread but that it witnesseth vnto vs that God is careful ouer vs. But in the Supper is a speciall reason for God doth not there fill our bellies but lifteth our mindes vp into the kingdome of heauen hee setteth before vs our Lorde Iesus Christe his sonne for meate and drinke And Iesus Christe is not onely contented to receiue vs to his Table but intendeth therewith to bee our féeder for hee sheweth vs in effect that his fleshe is meate in déede and his blood drinke indéede Wherefore when wée sée our Lorde Iesus thus gently to bid vs vnto him are not wée too too villanous if we holde not our selues back from doing of any thing that may withdraw vs from him And although we come but as men trailing our legges after vs yet let vs stil be displeased with our sins that we might obey him and streine our selues so much as is possible to be rid of this worlde and come to the kindgdome of heauen And therefore let euery one consider to what ende the holy Supper serueth For when we see that our Lord Iesus calleth vs vnto it that we might be partakers of his death and passion let vs inioy the fruite which he hath obteined for vs by that meane be fully resolued that God alloweth vs for his children and with open mouth claime him for our father Let vs also bring with vs a true faith because we knowe wherefore God the father sent our Lorde Iesus vnto vs and is at this day a Mediator as he hath alwayes béen And thereupon set vs labour to bée so vnited to him as that we may knowe that this is not onely spoken to euery of vs in particuler but to euery of vs in
are to consider of that which hath bene before spoken to wit that the death and passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ is not effectuall to all men because it is a speciall grace whiche God bestoweth vpon his chosen whenas hee toucheth them by his holy spirit and although they fal yet lifteth he them vp agayne yea though they stray lyke wandring shéepe yet gathereth he them together agayne and giueth them his hand to bring them to the fould For wee sée how Iudas was cleane rased out from amongst the number of Gods Children and therfore it was méete his condemnation should bee séene and layde wide open before the face of the whole worlde And so let vs learne as we haue already said altogether to acknowledge the inestimable goodnesse of our God For as he hath declared his loue vnto mankynde when hee spared not his onely begotten sonne but put him to death for sinners Euen so declareth he vnto vs the especall loue he beareth vs whenas he toucheth vs with the acknowledging of our sinnes by his holy spirit and causeth vs to grone that wee might bee brought vnto him by true repentaunce Wherefore the entraunce whiche wee haue to come vnto our Lorde Iesus Christe commeth not from our selues but because that God gouerneth vs pleaseth to shew his choice Now these circumstaunces are greatly to be noted wee sée that Iudas who was one of our Lorde Iesus Christ his Disciples wrought myracles in his name and yet what became of him let vs learne carefully to feare and walke and submit our selues wholye vnto our God beséeche him not to suffer vs so shamefully to fall as dyd this miserable man And agayne let vs also beséech him that if we shal fal at any time into the like to lift vs vp by his power that we may returne vnto him not with such repentaunce as Iudas dyd but with a true and right confession For the wicked as it is said by the prophets Ieremiah and Ezechiel will laugh God to skorne as much as is possible because they take pleasure glory in their sinns and in the end become lyke shameles whores But yet God at the last maketh them to féele their sinnes and so terrifieth them as that they chafe and cry out alas neuerthelesse they doe not thus of any hope they haue neither doe they present them selues before God But are rather pushed forward with a fury and flye from him as farre they can and woulde bee glad to pluck him out of his thorne by the eares For there is no speaking to thē because they are angry and rebelliously whet their téeth against him Howbeit we must be brought to another kinde of repentaunce whiche is we must not become like wilde and sauage beastes séeing we cannot escape the hande and heauy iudgement of God but let vs confesse our sinne and abhorre it and stil draw néere vnto God with out enforcement and worship him willingly confesse the we are worthy of destruction but yet let vs be assured that although we are guilty of an hundred thousand deathes that hee will alwayes haue compassion on vs for we sée how Peter repented But the repentaunce of Iudas ought to shewe vs that it is not enough that we féele our sinnes bt we must be fully brought home vnto God And this is a very notable thing to consider because we sée that a great number and almost all men doo flatter themselues for they thinke that if they haue in worde acknowledged their offences be they neuer so haynous that they are cleane discharged of them as if their mouthes were fully cleansed Agayne if a man be earnest with them they think they are offered great wronge What saye they haue I not confessed my falts and haue I not repented me And this is al the reckoning that they make of it as if God were a yong child who would be appeased with a smiling dissembling coūtenance ful of leasing hipocrysy Howbeit this is our cōmon māner for we would appease god we know not how euē as it is said with such a repentance as Iudas repēted Wherfore let vs feare and tremble when God giueth vs warning causeth vs to féele our sins not stay altogether vpon it for that is no true repentance but this is the true triall by which we must know whether we be true penitent sinners or not which is whenas we of our owne accord séeke to be at peace with God forsake not his iudgmēt yea seing he receiueth vs to mercy Which he wil do whenas we shal condem our selues for whsoeuer shal be his own iudge condēne himself before God before Angels men the man I say shall bée iustified pardoned because hee desyreth none other thing but to haue God mercyfull vnto him This then is the summe and effect of that which we are héere to obserue Now Iudas must néedes make this confession because the priests might be so much the more without excuse The Euangelist likewise maketh this recital that we might the better behold how Satan had blinded al these reprobates and that euery of vs might looke narowly into himselfe And when God setteth before vs such exampels of his yre vengeance and to be short that we like men betwitched and voyd of sence reason become so beastly as to throw our selues headlonge into an hellishe furie This is to make euerye of vs to stoupe and to cause vs know that wee may oftentimes fall into the same were if not that our God preserueth vs by his grace and goodnesse But by the way let vs beware that we fight not agaynst our own consciences as the priestes did for as many as so harden themselues against God shal in the end fall into such a reprobate sence as that they shall be cleane without all reason for after they haue once so excéeded against GOD they will also bee past all shame before men For it is good reason that the whole worlde should sée their beastlinesse and that there shamlesnes should be so knowne as that euery man might abhorre their villanie Héere then wee sée why the Euangelist maketh this recitall that when Iudas came to restore the siluer the priestes were no whit moued therewith Indéede they sayde it was not lawfull to put it into the treasury because it was the price of blood And héere also we may sée that hypocrits will alwaies be sure to haue some fine shifttes or other to shadow and couer their iniquities but it is all to mock God For they neuer come perfectly and soundly vnto him For what is this to say ho surely we wyll neuer put this siluer amongst the holye offerings because it is the price of blood Now I pray you tel mée from whence came this siluer truly we know this that the priests liued vpon the offerings of the temple as at this day they whiche in popery are called prelats and churchmen glottonously consume the
dealt with him whom God had appoynted to bee the euerlastinge Shepheard of this people And this is most certaine that because the people could not abide that God shoulde bee their Gouernour yet our Lorde Iesus hath alwaies played the office of a mediator although he neuer shewed him selfe in our humane nature And this is it which we ought héere still to remember to the ende that we for our partes might learne séeinge that God hath bene so fauourable vnto vs to gather vs together as it were vnder his protection and to take vs to be of his fould and deliuereth vnto vs our Lord Iesus Christ for our shepherd let not vs in such sort wound him as to gréeue his spirit through our rebellious and vnthankful dealing and not pay him as we saye with nifles and trifles but let vs take him for our God and Kinge since he hath pleased so to vouchsafe it and consecrate our selues vnto him all the dayes of our lyfe and not pay hym with counterfet coyne but yéelde vnto him both our bodies and soules For it is good reason that wee should yéelde vnto him all gouernment ouer vs and we to be only his séeing he séeketh onely our saluation Now to conclude it is sayd that when our Lorde Iesus was brought before Pylate hee made no answer and that Pylate asked him saying why speakest thou not doest not thou see that these men witnesse against thee and that he held his peace insomuch that the Iudge wondered at hym Now wee are héere in the first place to call to minde that when our Lorde Iesus Christ appeared before an earthly Iudge it was to this ende that we might be deliuered from the condemnation which we haue deserued to féele Isai 45.23 before the heauenly Iudge For we know that we cannot goe from that which is spoken of by the Prophet Isaiah that euery knée must bowe before the maiestie of God And therefore since God is the Iudge of the whole world how is it possible that wee can stande before his face for there is none of vs all but must needes be enforced to say that we are worthy to be condemned an hundred thousand times And although we haue lyued but one yeare yet haue we committed an hundred thousand faults which deserue euerlasting condemnation and is so engraued in our hartes as that we cannot denie it Wherefore since God is clearer sighted then we how can it bee that he should not condemne vs séeing euery of vs must néedes in sundrye wise condemne hym selfe howbeit we sée our Lord Iesus Christ to bée driuen to this extremitie as that he was accused before an earthly Iudge and so prophane a man as that there was nothing in hym but couetuousnesse and ambition And therefore since the sonne of God was brought thus lowe it was to this ende that wee might vnderstand and know that wee might bouldlye present our selues before the maiesti of God for the receiuing of vs so that we should neuer néede to feare couragiously to come before his tribunal seat because we are sure that he wyll haue mercy vpon vs. Moreouer we know that Iesus Christ hath power authoritie dominion to be Iudge ouer the whole world and that when Pylate had thus condeÌ„ned him it was to this end that we might bouldly come vnto him because we know that he shall come to be our Iudge And againe that we might vnderstand because he held his peace that his meaning was to abide to be condemned for vs and not answere for his iustification since hee knewe hee must bee condemned for our sakes For although he was without falâ— yet bare hee all our sins vpon him And therfore it is no wonder though he helde his peace and were ouercome for otherwise hee could not haue performed the office of a Mediator without he had bene condemned and confessed that he was worthy to dye for our cause And this is the meaning why our Lorde Iesus Christ held his peace that wee might with open mouth call vpon God and beséech him of pardon for all our sins and transgressions Let vs now fall downe before the maiestie of our good God and acknowledge our offences beséeching him to touch vs vnfeynedly and to the quick that wee might grone and wéepe before him for the same And although they be great and gréeuous yet that hee would not suffer vs to be desperately shut out but to bee alwayes subiect runne vnto him And forsomuche as of our selues we are blockish and shall be neuer able to attayne thereto let vs beséeche hym to looke vpon vs with his eye of mercye as hee hath ordayned our Lorde Iesus Christ to haue care ouer vs as a Shepharde hath ouer his Shéepe that he woulde also so gather vs vnto himselfe as that we folow not the war of destruction from the which he hath pulled vs but walke in that good way wherinto hee hath brought vs. Let vs also beséeche him so to continue vs in it as that we prouoke not his heauy wrath against vs and therby forsake vs for being any longer our Shepherd But to defend vs with his favour and grace and offer vp such sacryfices vnto him as that wee might know that he hath not lost his labour in gouerninge of vs but that we might answere his holy calling And for somuch as it hath pleased him to draw vs vnto him and châ—se vs for his people and enheritance although we are no waye able to satisfie the hundreth part of our duty yet that it would please him to vpholde vs through his goodnesse and that we might alwayes make an estimation of the benefit of the death and passion whiche our Lorde Iesus Christ hath suffered vntill such time as we are rydde of all our sinnes and bee clothed with the perfection whereunto he hath at this day called vs. That hée woulde not onely bestow this grace vpon vs but vp on all people and nations of the worlde c. The fyfth Sermon of the passion Matthew xxvii 11 And Iesus stood before the Gouernour and the Gouernour asked him saying arte thou the King of the Iewes Iesus sayde vnto him thou saiest it 12 And when he was accused of the chiefe priest and Elders hee answeared nothing 13 Then sayd Pylate vnto him hearest thou not how many thinges they lay agaynst thee 14 But he answeared hym not one worde insomuch that the Gouernour marueled greatly 15 Now at the feast the Gouernour was wonted to delyuer vnto the people a prisoner whom they woulde 16 And they had then a notable prysoner called Barabbas 17 When they were gathered together Pylate sayde vnto them whether will yee that I let lose vnto you Barabbas or Iesus which is called Christ 18 For hee knewe well that for enuy they had delyuered him 19 Also when hee was set downe vpon the iudgement seate his wife sent to hym sayinge haue thou nothinge to do with that iust man for I haue suffered many
the first place what it is that we haue to cōsider of out of these words That Iesus Christ being ascended hath not onely held al our enimies captiue but also hath made an vtter spoyle of them and wée haue receiued all the giftes which were giuen him for homage to the end we might be inriched by his liberalitie being of our selues altogether poore and néedy Nowe it is namely said Because hee hath powred out his soule to death Whereby Isaiah againe expresseth that our Lorde Iesus Christe of his owne frée will offered vp himselfe for these words to poure out signifieth that he spared not himself nor sorrowed for the matter For hée that giueth with a good will and in the ende slacketh his hande maketh alwayes a shewe of sparing But hée that powreth out sheweth that he giueth lustily liberrally So then it is shewed vs that our Lord Iesus was so feruently inflamed with the loue of vs as that his life gushed out like water and that hée became a willing Sacrifice thereby to shew that hee desired nothing els but for reconcilement vnto God his father And this is alwaies for our greater confirmation to the ende that when wée come vnto him we should neuer doubt but that he wold most gently and louingly receiue vs. For how is it possible that he should so reiect vs as members cut of from him séeing hée so vtterly as it were forsooke himselfe for our sakes and shed his precious heart blood Wherefore when we heare this we are occasioned to come more boldly vnto him and to assure our selues that he at this day will make this Sacrifice which hee so fréely offered vp vnto God his father of great effect by reason of the wonderfull loue hée bare to vs ward Moreouer forsomuch as the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ is perpetuall let vs vnderstand that we are at this day inriched as much as is néedfull as by experience we féele For Iesus Christe must néedes helpe vs in all the distresses wherewith we are incompassed For otherwise how should we do if his hand were not alwayes vpon vs to vphold vs Surely it were impossible for vs to stand And therefore he alwaies giueth vs wherwith to relieue al our néedes and necessities And to say the truth al the graces of the holy Ghoste are a part of the spoyle of our Lorde Iesus Christe For God his father hath inriched him with them because we might be as a man wold say familiarly acquainted with them and the Diuell wil still bee a let that the power of the holy Ghost might not haue his course with vs howbeit we are now inriched with them in asmuch as al lets are taken away yea and as I haue alredy said that thing that was an hinderance vnto vs in this world is nowe turned to our good and benefite because our Lorde Iesus hath made a spoyle of all his enimies Nowe it is namely said Because he was accounted amongst sinners and bare the iniquities of many and prayed for the trespassers We haue alredy heard that our Lord Iesus bare the transgressions of many and that was because he susteined the punishment which was impossible for vs to beare And besides we were too too fraile weake to stand before the maiestie of God if we should be burdened with our sins because there is no meane in the whole world to be found to discharge vs of them And therefore it was méete that our Lord Iesus for the easing of vs should present himselfe in our stéede be charged with our sinnes that they might be imputed vnto him before God his father and hée be bound for the paiment of them For when a man shall onely owe a thing that hée is neuer able to pay hée is like vnto one that were stiffe and croked and knewe not which way to turne him and hath such a burden on his back as it were that so crusheth bruiseth his shoulders as that it maketh him to stoupe again what shal thē become of vs who are not debtters to a mortall man but euen vnto the liuing God not debters of gold and siluer but of our sinnes which deserue as the scripture telleth vs his fearefull indignation Thus we sée howe the iudgement of euerlasting death was prepared for vs vntill such time as our Lord Iesus Christ had discharged vs therof And to say truly how had we béen euer able to haue discharged it except hée who had a most triumphant power ouer all creatures had placed himselfe in our stéed and supplied our wants Thus wée sée howe our Lord Iesus Christ bare the sinnes and iniquities of many Iohn 3.16 Rom. 8.32 Indeede this saying of many is oftentimes taken for all True it is that our Lord Christ offered vp himselfe for all the worlde for it is not spoken by thrée or foure when it is said God so loued the worlde that hée spared not his onely sonne But by the way we must note that which the Euangelist further saith in this place That whosoeuer beléeueth in him shold not perish but haue euerlasting life We sée then that our Lord Iesus Christe suffered for all so that neither great nor small can excuse themselues at this day since by him we may be saued And therefore the vnbeléeuers who by their wickednesse turn a side depriue themselues héereof are at this day twise guiltie For what colour can they set in it to excuse their vnthankfulnes in that they receiue not the benefit wherof they might be partakers through faith Wherfore let vs heere learne that although we should come by heapes vnto our Lord Iesus Christe one of vs should be no let to another but that hee is able to suffice euery of vs. Indéed if the questiō were to be holpen eased by a mortal man it were another matter For if one should come say I beséeche you beare this burthen for mée and another say asmuch and so an hundreth at once surely although hée were very desirous to helpe and ease them all it could not be chosen but that they woulde make his shoulders crack for it were impossible for him to be of that strēgth to beare al that they would lay vpō him And so likewise if the question were of borrowing for put the case that they were hungry and thirstie and should goe to some man beséech him to giue vs meat and drink and it may bée that hée were well able to bestow meat and drink of a dosen persons But if there should come such a great number as that his victualles shoulde faile him wée should sée him come short of his reckoning So then with vs mē it is méete that whē a great number haue néede that there shoulde be also many to help and aide them but when wée come to Iesus Christ wée neede not feare the want of his abilitie for when euery man shall haue his portion yet hath hée neuer a whit the lesse
and terrefie the whole worlde and all mankinde that we might worship God with one accorde and bée obedient vnto him But by the way we must be wakened because we are too too blockish and we must also lay aside all arrogācie that wée might be brought to obey his Maiestie séeing wée right well know that we are most miserable and no better then dust and ashes yea our soules also are verie corrupt vntil it pleaseth the Lord to renue them Moreouer when the holie Ghost came downe in such a likenesse to wit in clouen and firie tongues that was the more liuely to expresse vnto vs howe God would worke by the preaching of the Gospell If a man speake his voice vanisheth away in the ayre Rom. 1.16 and dyeth Nowe it is saide that the Gospell is the power of God vnto saluation to all beléeuers What can a sounde which flyeth in the ayre and vanisheth bring vs to the kingdome of heauen There is no man liuing that is able of him selfe to make the least flye that is it is saide That the image of God is repaired in vs ◠Pet. 1.23 and that wee receiue this incorruptible séede whereby we might attaine to this heauenly glorie be companions with the Angels be transfigured euen into the glory and immortalitie of our Lorde Iesus Christ and be partakers as S. Peter saieth 2. Pet. 1.4 of the diuine nature And may all this be done by the voice of a man No sure But it is here namely saide that the holie Ghost is linked with an inseparable bonde vnto the word preached For why tooke hée vpon him this shape of tongues Surely there is alwayes some likelihood betwéene the visible signes and th◠trueth which is figured in them And therefore we are to consider wherefore the holy Ghost appeared in the fourme of tongues forsooth it was to shew that hée woulde be in the mouthes of the Apostles and woulde giue them whatsoeuer was requisite for the executing of their office and commission and likewise so blesse their labour as that it should not be vnprofitable Nowe we knowe in the first place that the most able man that is to be found cannot vtter one word without the spirit of God gouerneth him And herein God sheweth what we are 1. Cor. 12.3 séeing wée are not able to open our mouthes to speake one word to his glory which shall turne to any purpose without it come from him It must therefore néedes fall out that the spirite of God gouerned the Apostles for els they had become dumbe We sée besides how groase headed they were For they might haue bin more quick and sharpe witted but that God meant to shew vnto vs as in a glasse by their groasenesse what we are vntill such time as he hath enlightned vs with his grace In déed when the Apostles kept company with our Lord Iesus whō they tooke to be their maister they verie soberly obeyed his doctrine But in the meane while what was their knowledge without doubt we sée that they were verie beastes insomuch that when we consider of them howe litle they profited in so good a Schoole their slacknesse should make vs ashamed Howbeit this their dealing hath greatly profited vs For behold they were chaunged in the minute of an houre whereby the grace of God hath shined a great deale the more because wée sée they spake so wonderfull mightely of the secretes of God whereat euerie man was abashed where before it was thought to be nothing Moreouer let vs consider of their power and constancy surely they all quayled and it should séeme that their fayth was dead and of no force For mark how Peter euen one of the chiefest of them villainously forsooke his Maister and yelded himself the bondslaue of Satan Wherefore it was God that must put too his hand because it was impossible for any man to helpe it And so let vs obserue that it was not without cause that the spirite of God appeared in the likenesse of tongues because it was a declaration that God by that meane had allowed and sealed vp the doctrine of the Gospell to the ende we might reuerently and humbly receiue it and not reason from whence it came séeing God hath stretched foorth his arme and declared him selfe to be the Authour thereof And besides it is not without cause that they were clouen and fierie tongues For we know how mankinde had deuided it selfe by the estraunging of it selfe from God And the platforme that was layde for the building vp of the Tower of Babylon Gen. 11 7. was the cause that men vnderstood not one an other nor yet spake one to the other so that they thought that God of verie anger had deuided them Howe falleth it out then that the Apostles hauing been alwayes enclosed as simple and vnlearned people in this corner of Iudea were able to publish the Gospell throughout the worlde if God had not accomplished that which before hee had promised to wit Isaiah 19.18 that all languages and nations should know him In déede it was said that all men should speake the Hebrew tongue that they might agrée together in one true fayth But it is more manifestly set foorth when as it is saide that all the faithfull of what nation soeuer they were should call vpon God with one accord and crye Abba Rom. 8.15 Father notwithstanding their sundry languages Thus we sée how the spirite of God would poure abroad the power of his tongues Ephes 2.14 to the end that all men might call vpon the name of God that we might all be made partakers together of this couenant of saluation which apperteined onely to the Iewes vntill the wall was broken downe And herein we sée the vnspeakeable goodnesse of God in conuerting of yll into good For if we séeke for the cause why there are so many languages in the worlde we must néedes confesse it to be the curse of God and yet herein appeareth his wonderfull fatherly goodnesse and mercy to haue the glad tydinges of euerlasting life to be caried through the world in all languages Thus we sée howe God hath conuerted euill into good And therefore we haue hereby the more to glorifie and blesse his holy name because wee knowe that the diuersitie of tongues haue not letted him to declare vnto all the worlde that hée meaneth to receiue all such as had before estraunged them selues from him and thrust them all as it were into his bosome vntill suche time as hée hath brought them together into the heauenly enheritance And thus much for this Howbeit this were not enough to haue the Gospell preached and to haue God to be knowne all the world ouer without this doctrine had foorthwith power liuely to touch mens heartes that they might be brought to obedience This then was the cause why the fyrie tongues appeared Yea verely For in the first place we had néede to be purged because we are altogether