Christ But Iesus said COnsider first what thy Lord in these great paines of the Crosse did doe say or thinke when as amongst all those torments he found no comfort neither outwardly by men nor inwardly in his owne soule Yf he moued his body the woundes of the nayles tormented him if his head the thorns ranne in deeper and pricked him if he stirred not at all his torment was intollerable ouer his whole wearied body Thinke thou yppon these things in all thy labours and afflictions which thou sufferest for thy Lord. Hee reproued no man although he were slaundered diuers wayes But because the mouth speaketh from the aboundance of the hart his wordes euen vppon the Crosse were directed to thy profite and saluation and doe declare most manyfestly that he prayed to his Father incessantly for thee when by reason of his torments he was not able to vtter one word Consider secondly his swan-like song and note the last words of thy Lord which he spake to thee at the poynt of death For euen as the voyce of the Serpent hyssing out of the Tree of the knowledge of good and euill instilled the poyson of sinne so the last wordes of Christ from the Tree of the Crosse were very effectuall for our saluation and full of burning feruour as proceeding from the depth of infinite charitie Hee spake with a loud voyce and weeping teares with great affectiō and deepe sighes in fewe words but with many teares mixed with bloud streaming downe from his head His teares watered his prayers Heb. 5 and his bloud adorned them his eyes pierced his Fathers eares his sighes moued his heart Doe thou listen to these wordes marke them diligently and gather the fruite thereof For by these seauen wordes the wordes and formes of the seauen Sacraments are sanctified the seauen guiftes of the holy Ghost are obtained and the seauen deadly sinnes are driuen away Consider thirdly but Iesus said First whilst the Iewes were busie in crucifying tormenting mocking him Iesus as if he had not marked these thinges yea rather that he migh render good for euill said Secondly hee who hetherto in his owne cause to the admiration of all men held his peace and could not be brought to speake but being adiudged and had also abstayned from the most iust defence of himselfe now in the middest of his torments is not silent in thy most vniust cause but being not intreated intreateth yea and intreateth with most effectuall wordes Iesus said who the Sonne of God To whome to God the Father Where vpon the Crosse When being ready to dye and his vitall spirits being spent How not sitting nor lying easily but vpright vpon his feete with his hands lift vp and spread abroad like Moses in former times Ezo 17. and all bleeding For whome for sinners who were carelesse of their owne saluation for Christ and his frtends pray for sinners Heb. 5. before sinners pray for themselues What he craueth mercy offring his prayers and supplications appealing from this cruell sentence of the Iewes his bloud be vpon vs and vpon our children to a better sentence and full of mercy and desiring that this cruell sentence might be made frustrate Before whome openly in the hearing of his enemies to teach them mercy sweetnesse and in the presence of his Mother and of his friends both because they should bee witnesses of his pardoning them also that they should neuer pray for the reuenge of this sinne O excellent speach of highest merite and worthy to be imitated by all men full of labour charity mercy and piety Haue confidence then in Christ and pray him who by speaking first for sinners before he spake for his Mother left to vs a testimonye how much he esteemeth the saluation of sinners that hee will vouchsafe to haue continuall care of thee now in Heauen Luc. 23 Father forgiue them PAuse vpon euery word Father he doth not say Lord which is a name of seuerity and iustice but Father which is a name of mercy and of the newe Testamēt giuen vnto vs in this place by the bloud merites of Christ that euen as he would be our Brother so we should haue all one father in Heauen He saith therefore O Father knowe me thy Sonne the Father will denye nothing to his sonne I came into the world to this end that thou shouldest receiue thine enemies for thy children Heare me then praying for them For euen as the prayers of the Priestes in the Church shall hereafter be very effectuall which shall conclude in my name in these wordes through Christ our Lord so I doe now pray vnto thee my Father thorough me thy onely begotten Sonne Therefore as thou louest mee thy Son so receiue these my prayers For I ascended this crosse haue suffred all these stripes that I might obtaine mercy and pardon for them If therefore thou doest reiect the prayers of thy sonne and not hear thy sonne thou shalt impose a greater torment on mee then the Crosse it selfe which I suffer that I might take away a greater euill that is that I might turne away thy wrath from them Spare therfore the great dolors of thy Son least he seeme to haue indured them in vaine Thou giuest reward to others labours I desire onely this reward for my paines that thou wilt forgiue these men Forgiue heer our Lord doth the office of a Priest for he prayeth for the sinnes of the people and he cryeth Heb. 5. not only as a Priest but as a sacrifice desiring not a free pardon but offering a full satisfaction His wounds crye his bloud cryeth his spittings his paines and all his members crye Forgiue accept of these torments for their sinnes I haue paied their debtes I giue my bloud for the pryce my paines for the ransom my life in satisfaction my body soule for a sacrifice Be thou therfore merciful for this is a copious redemption A hard thing is required to wit that the Father should forget the death of his onely begotten Sonne and of such and so gteat a Sonne but the Sonne beggeth and hee beggeth with his bloud Secondly hee asketh it not conditionally as he praied for himselfe in the Garden If it bee possible if thou wilt if it may bee done but absolutely Forgiue Both that thou mayest learne to pray to God for pardon of thy sinnes and for his diuine grace without any cōdition because that hath alwayes relation to Gods honour And also that thou shouldest freely forgiue thy neighbours faultes without any condition Thirdly hee prayeth to haue them forgiuē presently and not to bee deferred till after his death For hee would not leaue this life till peace was made with God Parents when they are dying doe often leaue vnto their children small store of goods and those intangled with many difficulties charges debts and contentions But Christ before his death payed all debts with his owne bloud took away all difficulties and charges
them to mocke and deride the sonne of God the king of kings and man trusting in God Consider 4. their euill collections First if hee haue saued others he ought to saue himselfe also 2. If hee be the king of Israell he ought to descend down from the Crosse Thirdly if he trust in God as the Sonne of God God will deliuer him But first he did not therefore saue himselfe because he would saue others by his death Secondly he did not therefore descend downe from the Wood because the King of Israell should raigne from the Wood. Thirdly God did not therefore deliuer his Son because he trusted not to be deliuered by him from the Crosse but by the Crosse to be exalted aboue al creatures and to place thee in glory with him Consider fiftly that euill men giue councell to descend the deuill being the author who said If thou art the Sonne of God throwe thy selfe downe Whereby thou mayest learne that all those descend from the height of perfection which cast away the Crosse from them Doe thou pray deuoutly vnto Christ to rule and guide thee from his Crosse that is from his throne of mercy and also to take thee vpp with him vnto the Crosse The Soldiers also mocked him comming and offering Vinegar saying Luc. 23. if thou art King of the Iewes saue thy selfe COnsider first the great contempt wherewith our Lord was mocked by these base tormentors both in words and deedes First they mocked him vsing wanton and scurrile gestures towards him Secondly they came nearer to him being naked and looked more curiously vpon him according to that of the Psalmist Psal 21 But they considered and looked on mee Thirdly they offered him vineger like Cup-bearers offering a cup to their King Fourthly in their wordes they allude to the tytle of the Crosse King of the Iewes they say he is a rediculous King which cannot saue himselfe vppon whome dependeth all the safety of his subiects Consider secondly that wicked men do acknowledge no other commoditie or saffetie but only in this life but good men desire and seeke after the saluation of their soules as a thing which is common to them with the Angels respecting lesse the safetie of their bodies which the beasts doe inioy as well as they Consider thirdly the infinite loue of Christ thy Lord and spouse of thy soule towards thee who hauing once ascended the Crosse for thy sake could neuer be moued to come downe from thence neither by torments nor by mockings nor by the sorowe of his mother standing by him nor by the teares of Iohn his kinsman nor by the tears of Marie Magdalen nor by any sorrowe of his friends although he knewe that thereby he might easily end all their troubles Doe not thou therfore when thou hast vndertaken any thing for the loue of thy spouse and for his honor leaue it off for any cause although the world frowne thereat although thy flesh be repugnant although thy mother shewe thee her breasts wherewith shee gaue thee sucke and although thy olde Father lye in the gate passe thou on and tread vppon thy Father for it is piety to bee cruell in this cause Pray vnto God to giue thee this constancy of minde and setting before thine eyes him that was crucified take courage before him and in his presence determine of all thy busines The 38. Meditation of the second worde of Christ And the same thing did the Theeues Mat. 27. Mat. 13. which were crucified with him vpbraide vnto him and one of the theeues which were hanged blasphemed him saying If thou art Christ saue thy selfe and vs but the other answering blamed him saying Neither doest thou feare God which art in the same condemnation Wee indeede suffer iustly for wee receiue worthy punishment for our facts but this man hath done no euill COnsider first the ignominy offered to our Lord in this place either by one theefe according to St. Epiphanius Haere 66 8. lib. 3. de conâ— EuaÌ„ c. 16. â—â—oÌ„ 7. ad Phil. and St. Augustine or else in the beginning by both acording to St. Chrysostome but the one repeÌ„ting the other perseuering For they were most wicked and infamous men and did worthily suffer the accursed death of the Crosse But it did much more afflict our Sauiours heart that hee for whome and with whom hee did shed his bloud should presently bee carryed headlong into Hell Learne hereby that commonly hee which liueth ill dyeth ill as he liued ill except he be changed by Gods speciall grace For a sinner is stricken with his iudgement Aug. ser 3 de num that dying he forgetteth himselfe who liuing was forgetfull of God Consider secondly the wordes of the euill Theefe If thou art Christ saue thy selfe and vs First he wanted faith who desired a miracle that hee might beleeue Secondly he desired temporall life and safety after the manner of all sinners who haue no care of their euerlasting life to come Thirdly he spake this perhaps to please the Iewes which stood by but it profited him nothing to get their fauour because the world euer giueth a false reward to her followers Fourthly hee once vttered this rayling speach but being rebuked he held his peace being better then thy selfe who art neither amended by good admonition nor well pleased with him that aduiseth thee Consider thirdly the mercy of Christ in the good Theefe whose heart hee did not onely instruct by outward signes but also did mollifie it by inward grace so as he profited more in three houres by hearing him teach from the chayre of the Crosse then the Apostles did in three yeares by following our Lord continually and seeing his miracles For so great is the force of the crosse of our Lord that it doth nor onely mooue the sence but also giueth vnderstanding to the hearing and addeth affection to the vnderstanding Therfore this good theefe being depriued of all outward thinges and hauing his body stretched vpon the Crosse gaue openly all that was left vnto him to wit hee consecrated his heart and tongue vnto Christ For hee beleeued with his heart to iustice Rom. 10 and with his mouth hee confessed to saluation being made a teacher from the chayre of the Crosse openly confessing Christ and freely reproouing the vices of the standers by Consider fourthly the wordes of the good Theefe First with great charity hee rebuked his companion when he sinned before hee craued any thing for himselfe of our Lord and hee putteth him in minde of his iminent death for sinners ought to be repressed with the feare of Hell when they will not be moued with Gods benefites Neither doest thou feare God a bolde worde but worthy of a Martyr None of these saith hee feare God and darest thou imitate them being now presently to goe before God thy Iudge Secondly he confesseth his sinne and receiueth the punishment of the Crosse in satisfaction For it is a signe of a good man to
application of them to thy selfe Thy dinner indeed is ready but thou must goe to the table and put the meate in thy mouth thy medicine is made but it is kept in the shop of the Church inclosed in seauen boxes to wit in the seauen Sacraments the price is payed for thee but not yet applyed vnto thee Doe not thou thinke that onely Faith as some Heretiques would haue thee belieue is sufficient for thee thou must goe with thy feete to dinner thou must take thy meate and medicine with thy handes thou must put them into thy mouth and receiue them into thy stomache that is thou must frequent the Sacraments and be diligent in the exercise of vertues that that which was effected giuen for all mankinde may bee accepted for thee applied to thee and profite thee Pray thou our Lord that hee who spent and consummated all his dayes with infinite merits of good works will neuer suffer thee to spend and passe away thy dayes idly and in vaine The 4◠Meditation of the seauenth worde of our Lord on the Crosse And crying againe Mat. 27. Mar. 15. Luc. 23. he saide with a loude voyce COnsider first that as often as Christ spake for himselfe vnto his Father hee cryed with a loude voyce but when he spake to others or for others hee vsed a lower voyce to teach thee First that thou must alwayes deale with God with great affection To others thou openest thy griefes with teares but when thou speakest with God thou art so drye that thou hast scarce any feeling of deuotiō Secondly what grieuous paines the Son of God suffered who with the violence thereof was forced to crye out Consider secondly that Christ for diuers causes cryed out in his prayers when hee was ready to dye Ioan. 11. First to shew that he was Lord of life and death hauing power to yeeld vp his soule and to take it againe at his owne will and pleasure Therfore hee called for death as Nazianzen saith which durst not come In Christo patiente except it had been called Secondly to mooue God the Father to mercy For seeing all mankinde being oppressed with grieuous sinnes was farre off from God hee who carryed the person of all men ought to cal vpon God with a loude voyce being so farre absent Doe thou therefore knock at our Lords eares not so much with loudnes of voice as with affection of hart Thirdly that this voice being sent through the whole world might moue mens hearts and that hearing of the death of God for their sinnes they might be penitent for their offences For at this voyce the Earth was shaken the Rockes were cleft in sunder and the Monuments were opened that thy stony heart might also be broken by the force of this worde of God Not without cause did Marke say his voyce being sent forth that thou shouldst vnderstand that being sent into the world it worketh still in the heartes of men Fourthly that Hell should tremble at this voyce and euen as at the crye of our Lord calling Lazarus the soule of Lazarus returned without delay into his body so now euery one there should prepare himselfe to receiue their Lord being ready instantly to come vnto them The holy Fathers therefore in Limbo reioyced at this voyce and the Deuils in Hell trembled Fiftly to teach thee how to meditate on death not remisly or negligently as of a thing little pertaining to thee nor slowly and dully as of a thing a farre off but often and earnestly of a thing most certaine and at hand so much the more feruently because it is the onely gate to saluation Consider thirdly that in the ninth houre our Lord brake forth into this clamor in the houre I say of prayer and of the euening Sacrifice For then the true hoast was sacrificed vpon the Crosse and being cutt into two partes that is into body and soule was immolated to God the Father by the high Priest with a loud voyce and great labour Ioyne thou thy prayers with Christ his prayer that with his voice they may pierce the Fathers eares Luc. 23. O Father into thy handes I commend my spirit COnsider first that Christ prayed not vnto his Father vppon the Crosse but in the wordes of the Scripture First because hee knewe that these wordes were most acceptable to his Father beeing written by the holy Ghost to teach vs to pray Secondly to teach thee to worship God not according to thy owne fashion vnderstanding but in such manner as the Church indued with the holy Ghost hath appointed thee Consider secondly that Christ vsed this word Father onely twise vpō the Crosse in his first in his last prayer but in his middle that is in his fourth prayer hee called him not Father but God First that thou shouldest like a Son willingly accept that punishment which thy Father sendeth and in thy punishment confesse thy own basenes who art not worthy to bee called the son of God and like a poore creature call vpon God thy Creator for tribulation and aduersity doe teach good men their owne fraile estate and vnworthines and thereby perswade or rather inforce them to mend their liues that in the end hauing ouercome all aduersities thou shouldest take courage reioyce as a Son For probation worketh hope Rom. 5. which confoundeth not Secondly because the beginnings of Gods word doe most sweetly affect the minde the progresse is hard to sensuality but the fruites which are gathered are most pleasaunt The booke was in the mouth of Iohn sweete as hony Apoc. 10. but being deuoured it made his belly bitter Thirdly because in his first prayer when hee prayed for sinners hee was to gaine authority to his prayer through the loue of a Sonne for none but a sonne could bee heard for so great wickednes In the middle he complained as a man And in this last hauing fulfilled his embassage he desires as a Son to bee called home to his Father Consider thirdly that Christ made this petition to his Father not for feare of iudgment for now his Father had committed all iudgement to him nor for feare of the Deuill whose forces hee had already broken nor for feare of the paines of Hell which now hee came to take from good men and to carry away the spoyles of Hell But first to teach thee neuer to remit or slacke thy inuincible spirit from prayer Secondly that thou shouldest knowe with what confidence he went vnto his Father For hee sayeth not anxiously after the māner of a suppliant I pray thee Father but as it were of mine owne right and authority I commend my spirit Consider fourthly marke euery word of this last prayer which before had bin made by the holy Ghost to this purpose Psal 32. and is now recited by the Son to the Father with addition onely of this word Father Father First I haue remained thy Son in all these so great
after his bloud Consider thirdly this tytle of Iudas who was called Iudas that is he which a little before was knowne to the Disciples and to good people when by the commandement of Christ he distributed the almes whē he wrought myracles when he followed Christ he is now renowned amongst knaues and famous amongst theeues Be thou carefull to celebrate thy name in Heauen rather then in the world or in hell Cōsider fourthly what a grief it was to Christ to see him who was one of the principall of the Church to become chiefe amōg knaues do thou take heede least by the like change of thy selfe thou giuest him cause of sorrowe by falling from being the sonne of God to be a slaue vnto the Deuill and pray with all thy heart that it neuer happē vnto thee The eight Meditation of the falling of the Iewes to the earth Iesus therefore knowing all things which should come vpon him went forward and said whome seeke yee they answeared him Iesus of Nazareth CHRIST went forward to meet them that he might teach thee first that he was not ignorant of the practizes of the wicked Secondly that he made hast to die of his own free wil Thirdly that he is ready to receiue a sinner if he wil reclaime himselfe Wherefore stirre vp thy selfe to the loue of Christ and offer thy selfe wholy vnto him who yeilded himselfe cheerefully into his enemies hands for thy sake whom seeke yee as if he should say cōsider I pray ye whom ye seeke a iust innocēt man who hath vsed to doe euery man good to hurt no man who for your saluation descended down from heauen who at last shall come to be iudge ouer all creatures Doe thou consider these things whensoeuer thou shalt be tēpted to offend God Heb. 10. For as the blessed Apostle St. Paul saith By sinning the son of God is trodden vpon ignominiously vsed Iesus of Nazareth they knew not that he was present for they did not say we seeke thee but Iesus of Nazareth Note that for thee Iesus is sought for to be put to death that is a Sauiour and of Nazareth that is flourishing and adorned with all vertue for none else by his death could deliuer thee from the flames of hell fire Therefore in all thy necessity thou must seeke for him and pray him that thou maiest not seeke him to his shame and death but to thine owne saluation and in seeking thou maist finde him and hauing found him thou maiest alwaies keepe him Ioan. 18. Iesus answeared them I am he and Iudas who betrayed him stood with them Therefore as he said vnto them I am he they went backward and fell vpon the ground COnsider first the power of Christ ouerthrowing a whole company by his worde onely His wrath therefore is to bee feared when hee shall come to Iudge which shewed so great power being ready to suffer Learne hereby to esteeme much the worde of God which bringeth saluatiō to the belieuer perditiō to the incredulous Cōsider secondly the miserable change of Iudas who a little before sate at our Lords table with the Apostles is now ouerthrown amongst the wicked For neither shall the dignity of thy order or religiō excuse thee nor the goodnes of others defēd thee nor the piety of thy former life profite thee whensoeuer thou shalt forsake Christ and follow his enemies and sinne Consider thirdly that one and the same word is a comfort to the good and a terror to the wicked This word I am he did comfort the Apostles sayling on the sea Mat. 26. Ioan. 18 prouoked the Pharisees to watch and heere ouerthrewe the armed men Thou therefore if thou beest good land wilt receiue the word of God with plentifull fruit but if thou beest naught thou wilt take hurt by the best seede Consider fourthly the difference betweene the ruine of wicked men and the fall of the iust the wicked man falleth back not vpon his face because when he suddenly goeth out of this life he falleth shamefully vpon thinges which he seeth not and vnto punishments which he was ignorant of For to fall vpon the face is to acknowledge our sins in this life by pennance to lament them D. Greg. lib. 31. Mora ca 18. ho. 9. in Ezechielem The wicked man falleth backward because he becommeth worse by that which should amend him that euen against his will he shal be compelled to looke vp to heauen Do thou admire the goodnesse of Christ who by so many meanes sought the saluation of his enemies and pray him that he will so strike thy heart with his word that falling vpō thy face thou maiest by humility reconcile the Maiesty of God who is offended with thy sinnes Therefore hee asked them againe whom seeke yee they say vnto him Iesus of Nazareth he saith vnto them I haue told you that I am hee If therefore yee seeke mee suffer these men to goe away that the Speech may bee fulfilled which saide Because whome thou gauest vnto mee I haue not lost any of them COnsider first the malice of the wicked which is pacified neither with sweetnes nor punnishment For the blindnesse of indurate malice doth increase as in these men who being taught admonished who Christ was did not yet acknowledge him For they answered not wee seeke thee but speaking as it were of another they saide Iesus of Nazareth Consider secondly the great care which Christ had of his people of whome in so great perils he was more careful thē of himselfe This is the perfect loue of our neighbors to helpe them though it be to our own losse Thirdly if in so great aduersity he had care of a few Apostles wil he not now being free frō all perils quiet be careful in heauen for his only beloued spouse the whole Church Yes verily he is carefull desirous to helpe euery particular mēber thereof This place is full of comfort to cōsider that our Lord thinketh on thee Consider fourthly how our Lord doth glory in this that hee had not lost any any of his Disciples In like manner how much cause of ioy maiest thou conceaue if no man be the worse by thy words example or negligence but thou hast rather gayned and preserued many Lastly pray thou vnto Christ that hee will neuer cease to haue care ouer thee The ninth Meditation of the kisse of Iudas Mat. 26. Mar. 14. And the Traytor had giuen them a signe saying whome soeuer I shall kisse that is he hold him and carie him warily THe great name of an Apostle wherewith Iudas was honoured is now turned into the name of a Traytor and so this name Iudas which amongst the ancient Israelites was most honourable is become through detestation of that sinne almost ignominious amongst Christians This is the fruite of sinne that good men auoyd all conuersation with the wicked Consider the carefull diligence of this traytor
was yet speaking the Cocke crowed againe Mat. 26. Mar. 14. And our Lord turned and beheld Peter And Peter remembred himselfe of the word of our Lord Luc. 22. as hee had said that before the Cocke crowe twise thou shalt deny me thrise and Peter going out of doores wept bitterly COnsider first that when Peter was come againe to the fire he beganne to speake more freely with the seruants to the end that he might take away all suspition from himselfe For by his speach hee was iudged to bee a Galilaean Thou therefore who art the seruant of Christ take heede of familiarity with the wicked Let thy communication bee of Heauenly things as thou maiest perceiue the Apostles speaches were in the Acts of the Apostles and by their Epistles For he which is delighted with the vaine speaches of secular men will easily be drawn to imitate their māners and to be warmed with their fire and intrapped with their delights Secondly Peter was knowne by his speach to bee the Disciple of Christ and a Galilaean Doe thou likewise so gouerne thy selfe that all men euen by thy outward cōuersatiō may know thee to be the follower of Christ and a Galilaean that is one flying from the worldly to a spirituall life and aspiring to Heauen Consider thirdly the benignity of Christ towards his seruants He being oppressed with so many miseries did as it were forget himselfe and take care of his Disciple He restrayned him from sinning any deeper and caused him after his third deniall to stay beholding him not with the eyes of his body for that he could not doe being in an vpper chamber and compassed round about with officers but turning to him with the inward beames of his mercy with which he touched his heart illuminated and mollified it For the beholding of Christ doth illuminate the Conscience that sinnes may be knowne euen as the beames of the Sunne doe lighten a Chamber Consider fourthly the order of his Conuersion First the Cocke crowed Secondly our Lord beheld him Thirdly Peter remembred the word of Iesus Fourthly he went foorth Fiftly he wept bitterly If Christ looke not vpon thee the Cocke crowes in vaine Doe thou therefore giue eare vnto the Preachers and Admonishers as vnto Cockes and pray that our Lord will turne vnto thee Obserue the wordes which thou hearest Flye all occasions of euill and doe Pennaunce Heere thou being a most grieuous sinner maiest haue great hope of pardon seeing that the mercy of our Lord gaue so free pardon for this grieuous sinne that Christ neuer obiected it vnto Peter But thou who hast offended with Peter goe not about to excuse thy selfe with Adam but weep with Peter who as St. Clement witnesseth did all his whole life time after the first crowing of the Cock rise vp to his prayers and slept no more that night The 15. Meditation of the false witnesses in the house of Caiphas BVt the chiefe Priests and all the counsaile sought false witnes against Iesus Mat. 26. Mar. 14. that they might put him to death and they did not finde it wheras many false witnesses were come in For many spake false witnesse and their testimonies were not conuenient But at last came two false witnesses and rising vp they gaue false witnesse against him for we heard him speaking I will destroy this Temple of God made with hands and after three dayes I will build another not made with hands and their testimony was not conuenient COnsider first when the high Priest could drawe nothing worthy of death from the wordes of Christ then he asked the standers by who had beene often at his Sermons and euery one spake that which they thought might helpe to condemne him and were very earnest and desirous to finde out some capitall crime according to that saying They searched for iniquities searching they fainted in their seaarch Psal 69 they inuented counsailes which they could not establish Consider secondly the purity of the life of thy Lord which was so great that it was hard to frame such a lye of him as might carrye any colour of truth euen by the testimonie of his aduersaries themselues Learne thou first to accuse no man vniustly For a Detractor and false witnesse are bound to restitution of good name Secondly to auoyd all lyes For a Lyar cannot please euen the wicked Thirdly according to the example of Christ to liue in such order that the very enimies of Faith may finde nothing in thy life to obiect against thee but considering thee by thy good workes may glorifie God our Father Fourthly neuer to seeke out reasons against thy conscience to excuse thy sinne Ioan. 18. For those testimonies are false and not conuenient whereby God is not deceiued nor thy Conscience pacified Consider thirdly these two false witnesses standing vp amongst the rest whose testimonies are especially related either because they were of greater moment that by them thou mightest knowe the vanities of the others or else because they contayne the mysterie of the death of our Lord which was then in handling But they were not conuenient First because the witnesses could not agree together the one saying I will destroy and the other I can destroy Secondly because our Lord had spoke no word of destroying and building againe Ioan. 12. but he said dissolue and I will raise speaking of his death and resurrection Thirdly because he had hurt no man if he had restored in three dayes that which he had destroyed Fourthly because it seemed not to be beyond his power who had raysed Lazarus from death after he had been dead foure daies Fiftly because such kinde of braging words seemed rather worthy of laughter and contempt then of death Learn thou first not to wrest the words of Christ to a contrary sence Secondly not to relate any thing otherwise then it was done Thirdly neuer to iudge euill of the minde or intention of others when their words or deedes may be well interpreted Do thou also suffer together with thy Lord Christ for whose death and destruction so many men tooke so great paines and pray vnto him that thou maiest be instructed in the true vnderstanding of the Scriptures and that hee will neuer suffer thee to fall into haeresie And the high Priest rising vp in the middest of them Mat. 26. Mar. 14. asked Iesus saying Doest thou answere nothing to those thinges which these men obiect against thee and whereof they beare witnes against thee but Iesus held his peace and answered nothing Againe the high Priest said I adiure thee by the liuing God that thou dost tell vs if thou art Christ the Sonne of our blessed God COnsider first when nothing was found worthy of accusation which might seeme as a fault to bee obiected before Pilate the Gentile President the high Priest being angry inuented certaine questions to the end that hee might gather some thinges from his answers His owne conscience informed him that nothing
thou followest pride lust and other vices 3. They mocked him diuers waies as their wanton wickednes did prouoke them He is mocked vpon earth whose Maiestie the Angells in heauen adore But yet because God cannot be mocked doe thou shew thy selfe before him with all submission purity of heart 4. They saluted him saying haile King of the Iewes an excellent speach wherewith thou also maist salute the King of those Iewes which acknowledg their sins sing praises vnto God Blessed art thou if thou hast a King by whome thou maist be sweetly gouernd in this world after this life be made partaker of his Kingdome CoÌ„sider 2. that Christ by seeing and hearing those ignominies did cure all posterity froÌ„ the Serpents hissing into the eares of Eue and from the vanity of her eyes through the curiosity wherof shee infected our eyes Pray our Lord to conuert all these to the profite of thy soule And they spit vpon him and they tooke a reede Mat. 27. Mar. 15. Ioan. 19. and strooke his head with the reede and they gaue him blowes COnsider first 4. other kinds of mockings 1. They spit vpon him defiling in so vnworthy scurrile manner not only his face but his breast also his whole body Yea the body of him Who is the brightnes of glory and the substance of the Father Heb. 1. 1 Pet. 1 whome the Angels desire to behold 2. They take a reede faining to doe him seruice as though they would ease him being weary of the burtheÌ„ of his Scepter 3. They strike his head with the reede that the Thornes might bee deeper fastened into his head Marke how by these blowes the thornes pierced to the very Scull of his head fastned in the ioining of the bones were there brokeÌ„ 4 They gaue him blowes not with their bare hand but being armed against the pricking of the thorns Heer do thou admire together with his other vertues our Lords Charity Patience Meeknes Benignity aboue al his huÌ„ble obedieÌ„ce by which he yeilded himselfe to the will of his tormentors and being commanded to sit downe to lift vp his head to the Thornes to holde the Reede in his hand to expose his Face to blowes hee obeyed without delay Consider secondly that these Ethnicks though they offered many iniuryes to our Lord yet they neuer couered his face that Christ with the eies of his mercy might behold vs louingly and forsaking the Iewes might of Gentiles make vs Christians Thou learnest first not to couer the truth with new opinions nor to decline to Haeresie but openly to professe the true Faith how great a sinner soeuer thou beest Thou learnest secondly not to neglect thy coÌ„science when it pricketh and warneth thee of thy sinnes For the beginning of thy conuersion is when thy conscience reprooueth thee Pray vnto thy Lord that he neuer turne his face from thee that hee preserue thee in the true Faith and adorne thee with true vertues especially with humble and willing obedience that thou mayest faithfully obey thy betters not onely in light and easie thinges but also in great sharpe and difficult matters The 26. Meditation of Pilate his bringing foorth of our Lord to the People Pilate went foorth againe and said vnto them Ioan. 19 Behold I bring him forth vnto you that yee may know that I find no cause in him COnsider first that when Pilate thoght our Lord had beene so cruelly vsed that it would haue moued a stony heart to compassion then hee brought him foorth yet going himselfe a little before to prepare the hearts of the Iewes to pitty The wicked Iudge doth herein condemne himselfe when hee coÌ„fesseth him to bee innocent whome hee had handled so cruelly to please other men Consider secondly Behold I bring for it is a wonderfull thing that God who hath bestowed vpon men so many so great benefits should suffer so many wronges and wounds by meÌ„ Admire thine owne ingratitude God hath brought thee into this world adorned with all goodnes thou bringest him foorth and castest him out of thy heart shamefully misused with thy grieuous sinnes doest not suffer him to rest in thy house which thou hast filled with theft and other sinnes Doe thou rather bring him foorth to bee praysed and adored by the people First by preaching him his will to the people and then by thy good works expressing his holy life That thou mayest say with the Apostles Aâ—d now I doe not liue Galat. 6. but Christ liueth in mee And bringing him foorth let all men vnderstand that there is no cause to bee found in him why he should not be admitted by all men when as thou canst see nothing in him but signes of loue bloud shed for thee stripes and wounds so as it may be truly said of him Cernitur in toto corpore sculptus amor In all his members Loue ingrauen is Then Iesus went foorth carrying his thorny Crowne Ioan. 19. purple garment COnsider first howe thy Lord came forth amoÌ„gst the people Beholde a high place to which they ascended by twenty three marble steps which are kept till this day at Rome with great reuerence and before that a most spacious Court filled with many thousands of people who had assembled themselues out of all Iudaea against the feast of Pasch All these so soone as they espied our Lord coÌ„ming forth with Pilate came preasing nearer that they might better beholde this sadde and horrible spectacle Goe forth also yee Daughters of Ierusalem Cant. 3. and behold King Salomon in the diademe wherewith his Mother the Synagogue of the Iewes hath crowned him Goe theÌ„ also forth O my Soule behold the Diademe and the royall otnaments which thy sinnes haue set vpon thy God Marke attentiuely the whole body of thy peaceable King cruelly torn with his enemyes handes that he might gaine a most assured peace with God for thee for thy conscience Behold his Crowne wouen of boughes decked with thorns and droppes of bloud in liew of precious stones His hands and armes carry cords in stead of bracelets His necke and all his body is tyed with a rope in stead of a belt Chaine of gold The works of his apparrell is scars wounds His diuine CouÌ„tenance with fleame spittings bloud filth is as it were painted or masked and disguised Let these thinges moue horror in others coÌ„passion in thee Mark the words of Isaias Hee hath no beauty nor comelines wee saw him Isa 33 and he had no countenance That is hee looked not like a man and his countenance was as it were hidden looking downe wee esteemed him as a Leaper Doe thou reuerence this attire of thy Lord with the inward affection of thy heart in which hee fought against thy enemies got victory glory for thee For euen as thou esteemest those thinges keepest them carefully by which thy friend hath gotten riches honour for
thee so thou oughtest religiously to meditate worship and imbrace those spittings whips reproaches which haue brought aboundance of so great goods vnto thee For our Lord knoweth his owne attyre and he will more easily receiue thee comming in such garments then in worldly pompe and brauery And hee had rather haue thee to pray and worship him in this poor array then in all thy braue attyre Consider secondly that this sack of the body of Christ which came down from Heauen Ioan. 1 full of grace and truth is now opened and torne in all partes breathing out of his holy bowels a wonderfull sauour so sharpe that it driueth away Deuils Mat. 24. so peircing that it entreth into stony hearts and so sweete that it draweth the Eagles from all partes of the world For where the body shall bee Mat. 24. thither also will the Eagles be gathered Purge thou the nostrils of thy heart purge thou the filth of thy vices that being stirred vp with the sweetnes of the sauour of God Thou mayst runne into the sweet sauour of these oyntments Cant. 1 And pray vnto our Lord to drawe thee after him with his sweetnes to instill into thy heart the loue of his Passion that thou mayest contemne the world in respect therof And he said behold the man by this worde Pilate endeauoured to mooue some commiseration shewing first the bitternes of his punnishment as if hee had said knowe that hee is a man and not a beast if hee haue committed any fault he hath paid wel for it therfore ô meÌ„ take pitty vpon a man it is the part of beasts not to spare the conquered And again behold he is a man a most miserable man whom ye haue accused as King of the Iewes there is no cause why yee should be afraid of this King whome through the great deformity of his body cruell tormeÌ„ts yee can scarce knowe to be a man Doe thou apply these words profitably vnto thy selfe in this maÌ„ner 1. Behold the man he is set before thee to imitate in this habite in these gestures and in this shape of body and minde Abraham was proposed to our Auncestours for an example of life Isa 51 Marke the Rock saith Isaias out of which yee were cut Heere a man is proposed vnto thee of whom our Heauenly Father saith Heare him and the Sonne of God Learne yee of mee Mat. 27. for I am meeke and humble of heart Looke therefore not vpon other mens manners but vpon this mans vpon this face of Christ who although hee be God whose vertues and deedes thou canst not attayne vnto yet he is true man indued with the same frayle and humane nature like thee and other men Thy first Father Adam made thee of a man like to foolish Beastes Psal 84. If thou wilt returne to the auncient dignity of humane nature ioyne thyselfe with this man Secondly beholde the man to whome thou maist flye in all thy necessities these spittings are suffered for thee this bloud is shedd for thee and all these euills are indured for thy sake both that thou shouldest take away thy sinnes and cure thy wounds by these medicines and also that thou shouldest pay them to the eternall Father for thy infinite depts Thirdly behold the man marke what thy sinnes haue brought vnto this man thy pride hath caused these irrisions and this contempt thy couetousnesse this nakednes thy drunkennesse this effusion of bloud thy lust these thornes and thy sloath these bonds O man behold this man but who art thou and what is he thou a man like a worme he a man and God Oh how great glory is due vnto him and how much shame vnto thee yet what is he become for thy sake and what sufferest or doest thou for him Psal 21 he is made a worme and no man a scorne of men and an abiect of the people And this because he would carry thee vp to God But thou being carefull of nothing lesse then of exalting his glory applyest thy selfe about thine own honor wealth and commoditie The 27. Meditation of the third accusation of our Lord before Pilate Ioan. 16 Then wheÌ„ the high Priests and the Ministers sawe him they cryed saying crucifie him crucifie him COnsider first the people holding their peace and inclyning to coÌ„miseration the Priestes and their ministers and flatterers were not pacified That thou maist knowe first that no man is moued more hardly to repent his sinnes then he which sinneth of set purpose and malice For they which fall thorough weakenesse and ignorance are sooner recalled and deserue pardon but they which wittingly and willingly are euill are rather hardned indurate theÌ„ any way ameÌ„ded by admonitions 2. That the enimies of Christ and of his Church are neuer the better for being vsed geÌ„tly curteously For these kind of meÌ„ are to be subdued by thretnings terrors constancy not by sufferance Consider 2. That euen as these wicked men did vpon the sight of the bloud of Christ thirst after his death like dogges vpon the sight of the bloud of a wilde Beast So thou oughtest to be inflamed with the loue of the passion of our Lord by the contemplation of his paines Psal 38. that the fire of Deuotion may be inkindled in thy meditations Consider thirdly how the words of these wicked people did pierce the bowells of thy Lord crucifie him crucifie him of which he foretold in the Prophet I haue left my house I haue put away my inheritance Hiere 12 I haue giuen my beloued soule into the hands of her enemies my inheritance is made vnto me like a Lyon in the woâ—d Sâ—ffer with thy Lord and lament thy sinnes which continually send foorth the same cryes and are bloud-suckers instantly crying Pro. 30 Bring Bring Pilate said vnto them take yee him and crucifie him Ioan. 19. for I finde no cause in him COnsider first that Pilate being moued with disdaine answered somewhat sharply vnto the Iewes Admire thou thy own coldnesse who art a Christian knowest the dignity of Christ and the greatnesse of his paines and doest confesse that thou wert the cause thereof and yet art not moued neither with commiseration towards Christ nor with disdaine against thy selfe Learne iustly to be angry at them which goe about to incite thee and others vnto sinne that is to say at the Deuill and his ministers Say vnto him if thou wilt offend the goodnesse of God I finde no cause in him but of loue reuerence and thankesgiuing Consider 2. Though Pilate was loath to pronounce the senteÌ„ce of death aganst our Lord yet he did not hinder his death but wold put it ouer to other meÌ„ WhoÌ„ thou doest imitate as often as thou leauest to the will of others that mischife which thou thy selfe darest not coÌ„mit Consider 3. That this wicked PresideÌ„t after all this grieuous punishment found no cause in him either of
tytle was ingrauen because it should last for euer and in wood because by the wood he shall alwayes raigne ouer them whome the wood had ouerthrown Thirdly the Hebrue was first in order which the rest doe imitate For our saluation is from the Iewes to whose diuine Scriptures all humane wisdome is to bee directed Fourthly they are written from the left hand to the right to signifie that if thou desirest to be exalted by wisdom with Christ thou must humble thy selfe and not be proud in thy owne conceipt For knowledge puffeth vp 1 Corr. Iac. 3.8 wisedome without Christ is earthly carnall and diabolicall Fiftly the Greeke is before the Latine for first the Grecians and then the Latines were conuerted to the faith and leauing the manners and customs of their fore-fathers followed that doctrine which God gaue to the Iewes in the Hebrewe language that thou shouldest not rely vpon thine owne wisdome but follow them with thy whole heart whome thou knowest to be the seruants of God Pray our Lord to ingraue this tytle in thy heart Iesus of Nazareth King of the Iewes Ioan. 19. COnsider first and marke euery word of this tytle Iesus a Sauiour which name our Lord receiued when hee first shedd his bloud for thee For then seeking thy saluation he gaue part of his bloud as a pledge that he would aftewrards giue it all for thee He then receiued at thy hands circumcision which was the signe of a sinner euen as it is the signe of a theefe to bee boared through the eares that the eternall Father omitting thee a sinner might satisfie his wrath vpon his sonne This name vntill that day was obscure and of small reputation but being fastened to the Crosse it became so glorious that In the name of Iesus euery knee is bowed Phil. 2. Of Nazareth not of Bethlehem although he were borne in Bethlehem First because there was a greater myracle and benefite wrought in Nazareth by the incarnation and conception of our Lord then by his Natiuity in Bethlehem Secondly because Nazareth signifieth flourishing and Christ is an oderiferous flower hanging on the Crosse which rendreth vnto vs the wholesome fruite of grace and glory King who being crowned with a Diadem cloathed with bloud like a purple roabe raigneth vpright and fast tyed by the feete ready to help thee with his hands boared through because he would not keepe his guiftes but bestowe them plentifully vppon thee and with his armes spread that he may imbrace thee when thou commest He did not write Bishop or Priest although he did the office of a Priest but King both because hee once by himselfe immolated the bloudy sacrifice Heb. 10 Ezo 19 1 Pet. 2 by which he did consummate the sanctified and raigneth for euer and euer and also because it is a priestly kingdome a kingly priesthood where Christ being God is king doing all things in power and Christ being man is Priest obtaining all things by sacrifice Of the Iewes sent first to the Iewes not to the gentiles For I am not sent saith our Lord but to the sheepe which perished of the house of Israel Mat. 15 Rom. 15. and the gentiles doe honour God for his mercie that thou maist thanke God that the Messias was taken from the Iewes and offered vnto thee and showe thy selfe in praysing God a true Iewe not by carnall birth but by spirituall circumcision of thy vices and true confession of thy sinnes Consider secondly the true cause of the Crosse was to saue thee to adorne thee with vertues and to gouerne thee sweetly Pray thy Lord to suffer none to rule in thee but only himselfe Therefore many of the Iewes reade this title for the place where Iesus was crucified was neare the Cittie Therefore the Priests said to Pilate doe not write King of the Iewes but that he said I am King of the Iewes Pilate answered what I haue written I haue written COnsider first that many Iewes did see and reade these holy words but they vnderstood them not and therefore scorned them that thou maist learne that none scoffe at diuine things the holy Ceremonies of the Church the Doctrine life of Saints but only they which vnderstand them not Therefore because it is written He shall mocke the mockers Pro. 1. and I will laugh in your distruction do thou take heede and refrayne from these blasphemous scoffings Secondly because the name of Iesus was to be highly honoured and this tytle to be celebrated ouer the whole world and the Crosse it selfe to be imprinted in kings foreheads therefore it was conuenient to haue it first laughed at and scorned For euen as a brasen vessell doth shine brightest after it hath beene fowled and rubbed with dyrt and clay so he shall be most glorious which hath suffered most shame and vexation for Christ Yeelde not then to thy afflictions nor be dismayed since there is so great glory prouided for thee Consider secondly that Christ was crucified not farre from the Cittie for though hee bee throwne out by the inhabitants of the Cittie and of this world yet because it is proper alwaies to him to spare and to be mercifull he goeth not farre but stayeth hard by knocking continually at the gates of our heart to trye if he may be let in Consider thirdly that the wicked cannot indure the very name of the kingdome of Christ because the Crosse of Christ is distastefull to sinners who choose rather to haue a delicate king then one nayled to the Crosse This was the cause as St. Damascene testifieth why the Iewes crucified Christ with his face turned from the Cittie Lib. 4. Act. 11. Cap. 13 and looking towards the gentiles because neither they nor their children should euer receiue him for their Messias Giue thou thankes vnto Christ that he would behold the gentiles from his Crosse thinke vppon thee and bring thee to the knowledge of him Pray him neuer to turne his eyes from thee Consider fourthly Pilates answere Hee indeede set on this tytle but moued thereunto by the instinct of God Therefore that ought not to be vndone which by God had beene done for the glorie of the Crosse and the kingdome of Christ which is his Church wil stand continue though thou shouldest forsake it For if thou wilt refuse this King and his kingdome another shall be called and receiue the Crowne Remember the holy Oyntment and consecrated Oyle in thy baptisme and conformation by which was imprinted in thee the tytle and signe of the Crosse that the marke and badge of Christ might remaine in thee as oyle doth penetract is not easily washed off and that the writing made vppon thee by the finger of God Apoc. 3. might alwaies be imprinted in thy soule Pray then our Lord to ingraue in thee his new name and the name of his holy Citty and write thee also in the booke of euerlasting life The 35. Meditation of the first word of
cōfesse his own faults to extenuate the sinnes of other men if hee can Thirdly hee declareth the innocency of Christ But this man hath done no euill which saying is true only in Christ and in his most holy Mother for hee hath done no sinne neither is their any fraude in his mouth But because he did no sinne therfore hee ought to beare the sinnes of all men and suffer the punishment thereof in his body The good Theefe teacheth vs heere that we should not complaine in aduersities but confesse our sinnes and giue glory to God openly and conuert our soules earnestly vnto God Doe thou imitate this theefe for death is at thy gates or at least lyeth in waite for thee And pray our Lord to strike his sauing feare into thy heart And hee said to Iesus O Lord remember mee when thou shalt come into thy Kingdome Luc. 23 COnsider first that this good Theefe fulfilled the partes of iustice First hee declyned from the euill which he reprehended in his companion and then hee did good turning vnto Christ Secondly according to the doctrine of Micheas Michea 6. Hee exercised Iudgment greuously accusing his sinne hee loued mercy admonishing his companion to conuertion and hee walked carefully with God of whome deuoutly and humbly he craued pardon Cōsider secondly the seuerall fruites of the crosse and affliction according to the seuerall dispositions of men The wicked are not amended but rather blaspheme the good confesse their fault and come nearer vnto God Doe not maruaile then if our Lord grant prosperity in this world to the wicked and affliction to the good which hee doth mercifully for these causes both because the wicked should not offend more deepely by their impatience the good be ioyned more firmely vnto God also that the wicked may haue some reward in this life seeing they are to bee depriued of euerlasting life that eternall reward may be reserued for the good Consider thirdly euery worde of the theefe O Lord a worde of reuerence feare subiection I submit and promise my selfe to bee thy seruant and bondslaue hee doth not say O my Lord For hee speaketh to the Lord creator and possessor of all creatures Remember mee a modest humble petition I aske not a Kingdom nor any honous but only that thou wilt remember mee knowing that thou canst not remēber me not help me I dare desire this remembrance though I am a sinner 1. Because thou hast admitted other sinners praying vnto thee 2. Because thou hast done so many so great thinges in fauour of sinners 3. Because I a sinner hauing giuen ouer my will of sinning doe now beleeue in thee with my whole heart doe intirely loue thee and with my mouth doe openly confesse thee 4. Because I ask nothing but remembrance and pray for nothing but mercy 5. Because it is reason that hee bee partaker of thy rest and glory whome thou hast vouchsafed to be a companion with thee in thy labours torments and death When thou shalt come into thy kingdome I acknowledg thee to bee a King but thy kingdom is not of this world I knowe that the Angells expect thee at thy death and a whole Army of Seruants who shall not carry thee as they did Lazarus but shall attend and followe the comming of thy owne will and power Admire thou the saith of this Theefe who alone when all others blasphemed did beleeue and detest thine owne infidelity who when the whole world belieueth doest scarcely beleeue and pray Christ to increase thy faith and bring thee into his kingdome with this theefe And Iesus saide to him Amen I say to thee Luc. 23. this day thou shalt bee with mee in Paradise COnsider first that Christ answered nothing to the theefe blaspeming that thou mightest learne to pacifie thy anger with the vertue of mildnes and that hee approued the counsel of the other who thought it requisite in necessitie to haue recourse vnto Christ that thou mayest obtaine the guift of councell Consider secondly that Christ as a Priest of the newe Testament did forgiue sinnes and as a Iudge doth assigne merite and rewardes For to the iust Theefe hee promiseth glory and to the vniust to whom he appointeth no crowne of Iustice hee declareth by his silence that the fire of Hell was prepared For Christ giueth glory but the paines of hell are not giuen by Christ but rather proceed frō our sinnes according as the Apostle faith Who shall render to euery one according to his workes Rom. 2. to those truely who according to patience in good worke seeke glory and honour incorruption life euerlasting But to those which are of contention and which doe not yeeld vnto the truth but beleeue iniquity wrath indignation That is it shall be rendred not so much by the will of Christ as through the malice merite of sinne Consider thirdly the benignity of this King of the Iewes 1. Hee doth not reiect a man infamous for theft who beholdeth not the outward opinion of men but the inward disposition of the heart 2. Hee presently heareth him confessing and forgiueth his sinnes 3. He giueth more thē was asked Remēbrance only was craued glory is promised and the same to be rendred by by euen the very same day Consider 4. the words of our Lord Amen this is a worde of confirmation for that thou mayst giue credit to my words I affirme it by that worde which I neuer vse but in affirming great and serious thinges and I promise it to thee openly before all these witnesses I say I the truth who cannot lye whose promise is effectuall I the Lord of the Kingdome dispose of mine owne and of no bodyes else To thee not to all least they might take occasion to deferre their pēnance to the end of their life but to thee alone lamenting earnestly cōfessing thy sins making satisfactiō for them by this thy punishment that if perhaps any sinner at the last instant of his death will conuert himselfe hee may by thy example conceiue hope of pardon For before we sinne wee ought to set before our eyes the innumerable sinners standing before the Crosse of our Lord and yet obtaining no pardon least our Lord perhaps leaue vs and wee perish amongst them for hee who hath promised pardon to the penitent hath not promised repentance to the sinner But after our sinne wee must remember the Theefe least wee dispaire This day presently after thy death that thou mayest acknowledge the vertue of the Crosse For euen as a Conquerour carryeth his noble spoyles in tryumph to shewe the greatnes of his victory so Christ hauing gotten the victory ouer the Deuill tooke this notable prey from him and carryed away the spoyle and lead this Theefe with him into triumph who had before been a most faithfull slaue to the Deuill With mee that thou which hast beene partner with mee in my paines mayest not be depriued of
Sinne receiued his end as Daniel foreshewed All debts are payed Dan. 9. the price of all the sinnes of the whole world is fully numbred to God the Father 2. To the faithfull all their goods are gotten that nothing is wanting to vs in any grace 1 Cor. 2. 3. He hath perfected his Church a new Common wealth and a chosen vineyard for whereas indeede it was begun to bee planted from the beginning of the world but for want of good manuring did not prosper Christ by his Passion prepared al things necessary for it he instituted a Sacrifice Sacraments he ordained Pastors he made new lawes he diuided offices to euery one hee sent the holy Ghost into the harts of the faithfull to be short he perfected it in such manner as he had spoken before Hiere 31 I will consūmate my new Testament vpon the house of Israell vpon the house of Iuda Hee began to write this Testament many ages past which now with this worde as with the subscriptiō of his hand with his bloud and passion as with his seale is signed by him 4. He fulfilled the desire of the Saints heaped aboūdantly his guifts vpō all the faithfull whom he would haue consummated into one ioyned together in perfect charity replenished with the 7. guifts of the holy Ghost Ioan. 17 Do thou therfore who hast receiued so many benefites frō thy spouse neuer leaue to doe his will because his will is thy sanctification 2 Thes 1. and bee thou carefull to keepe whole vnuiolate the white garment and grace of the holy Ghost which thou didest receiue in the Sacraments Consider 4. that many things are consummate by this passion of Christ euen in wicked men First the hate of the Iewes which could not further bee extended 2. The malice of the Deuils who could doe no more against Christ 3. The Kingdome of the Deuil the Prince of this world was ended his forces broken his spoyles taken away he himselfe bound in hel with a chain neuer to be feared more but to be laughed at euen by little children Apoc. 11. Feare not then the assaults of the deuill who can only counsel threaten but cannot compell nor hurt Cōsider 5. that Christ himselfe is also consummate for vs as the Apostle saith Beeing consummate Heb. 5. he was made to all that obey him cause of eternall saluation 1. His bloud is consummate all which he powred out of his veines for thy sake his strength is consūmate which hee exhausted for thee all his goods are consummate both within without which he offred for thee 2. His paines are consūmate an end is come of all his euils glory only remaineth Therefore in this sence It is consummate is a worde of reioycing that his labours are ouercome Now saith he all thinges are perfect Winter is done Cant. 1. the shower is past and gone there is an end of all euils the begining of good For his very Sepulcher shall presently after his death bee glorious Isa 35. Be thou carefull whilst thou liuest that thy death may end all euills open the way to good Thirdly this mortall life is consummate O Father saith hee I now leaue the world and come vnto thee This word one day shal also be spoken vnto thee It is cōsummate thy life must be ended thou must leaue all thinges which thou hast thy riches thy honours thy parents thy wife thy children and thy friends For I haue seene an end of all consummation and wee Psal 118 who brought nothing into this world 2 Tim. 6. without doubt cannot carry away any thing Therefore if with Christ thou hast nothing but troubles and crosses if all thinges in the world be bitter and sower vnto thee the voice of Christ calling thee will not be vnwelcome It is consummate because the houre of thy redemptiō draweth nigh Mat. 24. Eccle. 4. But O how bitter is the remembrance of death to a man hauing peace in his substance It is Consummate COnsider first that Christ had spoken somthing before of his consūmation as in Luke Behold we goe vp to Hierusalem Luc. 18. and all thinges shall bee consummate which are written by the Prophets of the Sonne of man Hee gaue also some beginning to this cōsummation when hee saide in his last supper Ioan. 15 I haue consummate the worke which thou gauest mee that I should doe But in the altar of the Crosse all thinges are consūmate neither could any thing bee consūmate before his passion on the Crosse because without shedding of bloud there is no remission of sinnes Heb. 9. and a testament is not confirmed but by the death of the testator Consider secondly the manner of his consummation to wit the notable constancy of thy Lord and his inuincible courage First hee perfected all thinges alone I haue trodden saith he the presse alone Isa 6. and amongst the people there was not a man with mee that thou shouldst neuer giue ouer the study of piety deuotion though thou wert forsaken of all men For God seeth and helpeth thy endeauours who because he would not be wanting to thee in thy labours denyed his helpe and assistance to his Sonne Secondly hee submitted all his members filled them with torments that thou shouldst spare no labor for the seruice of thy spouse Thirdly hee perseuered euen to the end of his worke Thou oftentimes conceiuest a good worke but thou doest seldome begin it and more seldome proceed in it and scarce euer bring it to an end Pray our Lord to graunt thee the guift of fortitude that thou neuer faint in the study of vertues Consider thirdly with what liberality hee inuiteth thee to those thinges which hee hath consummated by these his labors My Bulles saith hee and my Fowles are killed Mat. 22. come to the marriage For in this passion First Sap. 17. All spirituall daintyes are found for euery man his tast and necessity as the Scripture reciteth concerning Manna Secondly it is the medicine of all diseases Thirdly it is the payment of all debts Do thou therefore inioy this liberality of Christ and being wholy melted into his loue desire to know nothing else but Iesus Christ and him crucified ◠Cor. 2. Consider fourthly that by this word It is consummate God the Father is asked by Christ whether any thing bee wanting to our perfect saluation and that also all creatures yea euen our enemies are as it were iudicially cyted to consider what is wanting and to speake it before the death of Christ For our Lord professeth that hee will pay to the full if there be any punishment yet remaining Behold the liberall mind of thy Lord. Pray him then that laying aside all couetousnes thou mayest bee indued with this bountiful liberality Cōsider fiftly that these great riches of Christ are so prouided for thee that thou oughtest to make
taken so out of the side of our Lord sleeping the Church should bee deduced For out of his side issued bloud water by which both Baptisme is signified whereby the faithful are regenerate washing their body with water and purging their soule with bloud also the Sacrament of the Eucharist by which the faithfull being regenerate in Christ are as it were strengthened with meat preserued aliue Fiftly that thou mightest enter into the inmost parte of his heart as it were by a gate in the side of a Tower For by this wound onely is the way opened into the Church Gen. 6 and into the wine Cellar that is into the secret mysteries of Christ Sixtly that hereafter we should make no more doubt of the humanity of Christ seeing we finde heer the 4. Elements and the 4. vitall Humours plainly shewed by the bloud and water For there are three saith the Apostle which giue testimony in the earth of the humanity of Christ 1 Ioan. 5. the Spirit the Water and Bloud Seauenthly that his Resurrection might bee the more admirable whē he should come to liue againe whose breast and heart the Soldiour had pierced with his launce and that thou shouldest not doubt of the resurrection of thy own body Come thou hither and according to the councel of the Prophet drawe the flowing springes of water from this mysticall true Rocke and sucke good nourishment as frō thy Mothers breastes and pray our Lord to wash thee with the water of his side and to strengthen and maintaine thee with his bloud And hee which sawe it hath giuen testimony Ioan. 19 his testimony is true and hee knoweth that he saith true that yee also may beleeue for these things were done that the Scripture might be fulfilled Exo. 12. Yee shall not break a bone of him and againe another Scripture saith They shall looke on him Zach. 12 whome they pierced COnsider first that these three thinges spoken of before to wit that the legges of our Lord were not broken that his side was opened and that there issued foorth bloud and water are proued by a three-fold testimony of Moses of the Prophet and of the Apostle who declareth by many words that he was an eye witnes hereof that thou shouldest knowe that this was a matter of great weight from the meditation whereof thou shouldest not easily depart Consider secondly that the Commandement giuen in Exodus touching the paschall Lambe is fitly applyed in this place vnto Christ For he is the true Lambe who beeing so cruelly sacrificed tooke away the sinnes of the world with whose flesh thou oughtest to satisfie thy selfe with all speed and desire Therefore those thinges which are commanded about the eating of the Lamb in the figure ought also to bee obserued diligently in the holy Communion And first we must take heed that we breake not a bone that is that wee search not into his diuine power nor breake our brotherly charity For euen as the diuine nature and Maiestie which is signified in a bone suffred no euil vpon the Crosse so in the Communion of this most holy Sacrament nothing concerning the Diuine power ought to be curiously searched into or doubted of And as by the passion of our Lord the power of the Church was not broken or taken away but augmented and increased so by receiuing of the Eucharist the forces of the Church ought to bee vnited and strengthened and her charity not to bee abated and weakened Consider thirdly that Zacharias the Prophet heere cyted by the Euangelist spake of the future comming of Christ to iudgement For then shall all the wicked see the Iudge comming marked with his holy wounds shewing to the good his bowels of charity powred out for them and vpbrayding to the wicked the manifold sinnes wherewith they had wounded him together with the number of benefites which hee had bestowed vpon them Pray thou our Lord to open and shewe vnto thee his wounds to the comfort and saluation of thy soule The 48. Meditation of his taking downe from the Crosse When the euening was come because it was the Parascheue Mat. 27. which is before the Sabaoth behold there came a certaine rich man from Aramathia Mar. 15. a Cittie in Iurie Luc. 23. called Ioseph who was a Senatour Ioan. 19 a good man and a iust who himselfe also was a Disciple of Iesus but secret for feare of the Iewes COnsider first that Christ our Lord who about the nynth houre of the day that is about three in the after noon had yeilded vp the ghost did hang at the least 2. houres dead vpon the Crosse that thou with the eyes of thy soule shouldest continually meditate vpon him both aliue and dead and shouldest neuer forget this so great a benefite of his death Consider secōdly by whom by what manner of man he would be taken down from the Crosse to wit by him whose riches nobility and authority gaue courage to demand the body of Christ for hee was rich noble and a Decurion that is a Senatour of Hierusalem and whose integrity of life commended him vnto God Consider thirdly the power of the bloud of Christ which gaue courage to a noble man and one that was timerous to confesse Christ openly and to take him downe from the Crosse with his owne hands Pray thou our Lord to confirme thy strength to perform those thinges couragiously which seeme hard and difficult to nature Cōsider fourthly what manner of man Christ would haue thee to bee that he might commend his body vnto thee that thou mightest preserue it profitably in the sepulcher of thy heart First Rich not to the world least thou fall into the snare of the Deuill but hauing thy treasure layed vp in Heauen Secondly Noble a worthy Sonne of God Thirdly a Decurion which word in this place signifieth not a man of warre but a Counsailor or Senatour that thou shouldest order thy life according to the wholsome counsailes of God Fourthly of Aramathia a Citty of Iurie which was the countrey of the Prophete Samuell Aramathia signifieth high Iudaea or Iurie confession and praise that thou shouldest alwaies be conuersant with thy mind in the high Heauens that is in the countrey of the Saints confesse thy sinnes vnto God sing his praises vnto him with his holy angels Fiftly Ioseph which was the name of that Patriarch who long before prepared with great pomp the funerall of his Father Iacob and the name also of the Virgins spouse who was the first man that tooke the infant Iesus in his armes and cherished and brought him vpp This name signifieth increase for God would haue thee to increase in vertues to proceed in deuotion and with great charity alwaies to helpe thy neighbours Sixtly a good mā that in thy selfe thou shouldest be indued with grace and leade an vnspotted life Seauenthly iust and vpright towards thy neighbour Eightly the Disciple of