conceiue vnspeakeable were our sinnes therefore vnspeakeable were his sufferings 3 Giue me leaue to take the fruit with the tree The fruit repentance with the passion for more easie passage for out of Christs passion springeth our passion a penitent and godly sorrow for sinne Zach. 12.10 So it behooued Christ to suffer That Repentance might be preached That which God said by Zachary in the 12. Hee would poure vpon the house of Dauid and the inhabitants of lerusalem the spirit of Grace and compassion to looke vpon him whom they had pierced and mourne for him as an onely Sonne Is accomplished by repentance for if the spirit of grace be in vs wee will mourne in compassion for him whom wee haue pierced with our sinnes That which Christ Prophecied of vs Iohn the 12. When I am lift vp from the dead I will draw all men to me takes effect in vs by repentance for if we remember his sufferings wee cannot forget our sinnes and if we loue him for his suffrings we must hate those sinnes that brought him to it Let vs neuer bite at the stone with the dogge whosoeuer were executioners whosoeuer were instruments euery one of vs had an hand in killing the Lord of life and the more hainous sinnes we haue committed the more be our hands imbrued in that innocent bloud let therefore Peter goe weepe bitterly let Mary Magdalen shed a bason of teares let sinners weepe let great sinners howle let the inhabitants of the citty mourne like Hadradimmon in the valley of Megiddo for piercing me saith the Lord Zach 12.13 shall wee sooth and flatter our selues with sleight sorrow then I beseech you consider vnder what terrible tearmes this doctrine of Repentance is commended vnto vs The Scripture not onely speakes of weeping and mourning Acts 2.37 but of Pricking the hearts in the Acts of the Apostles of cutting the foreskin of their harts to make them bleede of Renting the heart as a garment of crucifying our affections see how Repentance is described vnto vs in the very termes of Christs passion weepe for these sinnes which haue caused him to shed the teares of bloud be pricked in heart for these sinnes which haue pierced the Sonne of God cut off the foreskin of thy heart and make it bleed for him which shedde his hart bloud for thee crucifie those affections which haue crucified the Lord of Life I am a foole Beloued so often to vrge this doctrine of Repentance it is so harsh and bitter that you cannot abide it it makes you heauy and melancholly it pinches it cuts it rents your hearts it crucifies your sweet affections I know it is so vnsauory you cannot abide it yet let me tell you with S. Paul that whom God hath foreknowen them hee hath predestinated to bee conformeable to the image of his sonne Rom 8.29 in sufferings for of sufferings hee speakes and that those to whom the spirit of grace is giuen to consider his passion haue also the spirit of compassion to lament as one mourneth for his onely sonne to lament for offending such a gracious God who hath giuen his sonne his onely sonne Christ for the sinnes of the world I might dwell all day vpon this day vpon this for it is a Meditation for the Day but the time and my Text plucks me forward with more speede And to rise from the dead the third day 2 The workes The Resurrection As there was neuer Priest before had the loue to sacrifice himselfe for the people so neuer any had the power to reuiue the Sacrifice he once killed but our High Priest Christ had Loue to lay down his life power to take it vp againe By the first hee shewed himselfe the sonne of man after the flesh By the second hee was declared mightily to bee the sonne of God Rom. 1.3 1. Many shall be raised from death as well as hee who haue lien longer in the graues then he yet no Gods True but Christ was not onely passiuely raised in his flesh but did himselfe actiuely rise in his power Destroy this Temple and I will build it he sayd he would raise himselfe therfore he did it else God would neuer haue raised him by miracle to second and confirme a lie 2. Diuers did rise with him but Christ was the first fruits of them that slept by whose vertue some few eares that were then ripe and heereafter the whole haruest shall be carried into euerlasting barnes 3. Some rose before him Lazarus the widowes sonne Iairus daughter but they were deliuered to their friends againe conuersed amongst men as before and in the end returned from whence they came Act. 13.34 but Christ was the first that rose to eternall life neuer to visit the graue any more More cannot be sayd for this then is expressed in the Reuelation Reu. 1.18 I am aliue and was dead and behold I am aliue for euermore and haue the keyes of hell and death 1. I am aliue and now dead the first that rose againe from death 2. Aliue for euermore neuer to see death againe 3. I haue the keies to open the graue to whom I list and to shut in the rest till the last trumpe For the manifestation of which power the bowels of the earth and her foundations were shaken when the first borne of the dead came forth Mat. 28.2 When you haue perceiued an earth-quake out of your naturall obseruation you say some abundance of spirits exaltations were bent in the body of the earth which by force made her tremble beleeue it it is most true that Spirit that abundant spirit of the Diety inseparably vnited to the precious body of Christ euen in the hart of the earth could not be shut vp in the earth maruell not then at that great extraordinary miraculous earth quake for then were the fetters of Golgatha shaken off like Peters in prison then was the wombe of the graue rent and the power of death shaken in peeces for saith Peter it was impossible that Christ should be holden of death holden he was for a time Acts 2.24 but a very short time the third day was the furthest of this humiliation for the manifestation of the truth of his death he could rise no sooner his fathers loue to him and his owne loue to his Church would suffer him to lie no longer If Ioseph in collaterall affection to his brethren could not suffer them aboue three daies in prison Gen. 42.18 but the third must call them out could God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ suffer his onely Sonne to be longer imprisoned in the bonds of death who so lately pacified his Fathers wrath for vs and so patiently endured those bitter passions in him vndeserued nay to compare God with God if hee taught his Church to challenge his promise vnder these tearmes in the Prophecy of Hosea Hos 8 2. After two daies will he reuiue vs and the
this word Honour which is commended to the fauourable opinion of the world to bee blowen to and fro with the breath of mens nostrils there is an heauenly substance to bee disposed of to bee placed after death according to thy death either in euerlasting Tabernacles or perpetuall torments Wherefore endangering thy selfe in single combat not onely to die but to die the death not onely to perish but to perish and come to a fearefull end not onely to be cut downe but cut downe and cast into the fire Then poize these two the blemish of honour with the hazard of euer lasting life in the ballance of thy iudgement and accordingly make resolution I presume none will deny but in our vsuall and daily quarrels the danger is great and rufull for any Christian to consider but in a case of necessity when otherwise neyther Court can cleare me nor the deuise of man giue remedie there laying apart all personall respects abandoning all affections of Honour without any desire of reuenge only for triall of right I le commend my cause to the proofe of Armes and sentence of weapon to be directed by Diuine iudgement If your resolution be such let mee commend vnto you a double consideration of cause and person 1 Is thine iniury so hainous as may not be borne and the triall so difficult as neyther can bee manifested by Record of Writte Ier. 32.44 nor decided by testimony of two or three witnesses established by our Sauiour nor indeed by Oath Ioh. 8.17 which the Apostle makes the vpshot of all controuersies amongst men If thy quarrell be such Heb. 6.16 thou appealest to the iudgement of Weapon 2 Then in the second place examine thy selfe if respecting the priuate iniury and blemish of honour thou canst meet thine enemy in the field and leaue all sinister affections at home if thou canst carry Christian Charity in thine heart and the weapons of Death in thy hands If thou canst commend a prepared soule to thy Sauior intend to shed that bloud for which his bloud was shed on the crosse If thou canst expect the reward of Gods saints in heauen determine to cast out thy brothers soule in a wrong cause then see you haue warrant and keepe thy resolution but vnderstand that this thy passage into heauen if there be any such after all honest pretences mans witte can deuise all the Differences the Law can afford are bestowed vpon it will prooue as hard and narrow a passage for thy soule as a Nedles eye for the huge Cammell What shall we say then Is there no redresse for the blemish of honour and reputation Yes beloued there will come a day when the most secret cause will be made manifest when all the Courts in the world shall be iudged ouer againe till which time God hath reserued many causes vntried for his owne Court. Therefore saies St. Paul 1 Cor. 3.5 Iudge nothing before the time till the Lord come who will lighten things that are hidde in darkenesse and then shall euery man haue praise of God haue patience then till the trumpe blow and the walls of Iericho fall flatte to the ground Till the Heauens passe with a noyse and the elements melt with feruent heate then shalt thou meet the iudge of the world and receiue sentence according vnto right then shall thine honour bee restored seuen fold in the sight of Men Angels there meane while resolue thy selfe like a Christian if thy supposed honour affect thee in case of Gods honour or the safety of thy soule cast it off better it is for thee to enter heauen lame in honour maimed in reputation in the sight of the world then hauing all sound to be cast into hell fire I speake not after the manner of men else would I perswade that it were not a world could ecclipse true honour Well true or supposed honour shall I suffer disgrace till the last trumpe This is an hard interim I would to God I could releeue you Shall I with S. Augustine adfratres in Eremo commend vnto you the example of our Sauiour who beeing disgraced and shamefully dishonoured of his enemies the first oblation he offered vpon the Altar of the Crosse was prayer for his enemies that were not so fit it was writ adfratres in eremo but I know to whom I speake Shall I commend the Prophet Dauids example who dishonourably reuiled of Shimei reuenged not againe but dealt honourably with lame Mephibosheth the remnant of his enemies house Yea but Dauid was a Prophet altogether swallowed vp with diuine contemplation we are not of that precise coat yea but Dauid was a Prince and well wist what true honor meant a valiant Prince whose arme would encounter a bow of steele and by the might of his God spring ouer a wall yet herein was his glory to shew kindnes to his deadly foe 2 Sam 9.3 Remaines there not one saith Dauid of the house of Saul on whom I may shew the saluation of God Honourable Dauid that thought it the most honour to be likest God in shewing mercie to his enemies All my Fathers house saith Mephibosheth to Dauid were but dead men before my Lord the King Posse nolle nobile To reuenge a quarrell argues skill and courage but to forgiue or not regard an iniury that is right Honourable Wherefore to conclude this point Mar. 8.35 that which our Sauiour Christ pronounced in the Gospell of Marke is as truely to be meant of honour as of life Whosoeuer will saue his honour shall loose it and whosoeuer shall lose his honour for my sake and the Gospels shall saue it Be it then farre from dust and ashes to seate himselfe in Gods place crying vengeance is mine I will repay it to extoll his owne honour before Gods least he that sits in heauen laugh them to scorne and the Lord should haue them in derision This is one point in which vaine man the Sonne of Adam does affect to become a God Like one of vs. If it would please Almighty God to looke downe from Heauen vpon the sonnes of men Psal 13.2 hee might behold more presumptuous and aspiring gods amongst men or would hee come downe from heauen to make triall of these cries that are come vp to him Gen. 18.21 as himselfe speaketh in the 18. of Genesis would it please him to take a view of his own dwelling place the holy house of his habitation he should perceiue one of Adams vnhallowed sonnes seated in his roome houzed within the holy stones of Sion his chambers chaires adorned with the Churches robes himselfe and his family fed with Tithes and Offrings would not this prouoke Almighty God to take my text for good sooth and say behold the man is become a god like one of vs harboured in our sanctuary and serued with our Priests like one of vs honored and worshipped in consecrated Tithes and holy offerings like one of vs whiles
it must bee quenched by water and bloud the worke of God and the course of Nature put out of ioynt by sinne therefore it must be reduced into order by the suffering for sinne Our Nature did thus offend therefore our Nature must thus suffer man sinned man must die thus far doth the iustice of God proceed 2 But that this suffering should be translated from one person to another from the offender to the innocent from vs vnto Christ is a worke of mercy of such mercy as was denied to our betters the Angels when they fell and suffered in their owne persons yet such a worke of mercy as doth not any whit crosse his iustice 1 First it is true that God saide by Ezekiel The same soule that sinnes shall die Ezek. 18.4 the punishment of one mans sinne shall not bee exacted of another but Christ the annointed Priest did willingly enter pose himselfe betwixt God and vs volenti non fit iniuria 2 T is true again that being innocent though he would in loue yet in duety hee may not offer himselfe to die for malefactors may not leaue his station Iniussu imperatoris may not offer that iniury to the publique body whereof he is a member but Christ the annointed king of heauen and earth hath absolute power ouer his life Iohn 10.18 I haue power to lay downe my life and power to take it vp againe 3 T is true that no creature admit he loued vs would suffer so that admit also he had liberty giuen to lay downe his life for vs yet no creature in heauen or earth could satisfie God for the least sinne but Christ the Son of the liuing God did conferre the dignity of his person vpon the passion of the humanity Oportuit Christum verbum Christ the annointed Priest of God did in loue sacrifice himselfe for vs Christ the annointed King had power in iustice to lay downe his life for vs Christ the Sonne of the liuing God was worthy in person to answere his Father for any offence committed against him Christ the Prophet told vs before his death and heere againe how it behoued him to suffer whereby that mystery is reuealed which the wisedome of flesh and bloud could neuer haue found How mercy and truth are met together how righteousnesse and peace haue kissed each other 3 Come wee to the third Sic pati so to suffer and wee find more in the worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then the tongues of men and Angels be able to expresse which is the same with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the 26. verse ought not Christ to suffer these things and so it behooued Christ to suffer all one who list to looke effectually into Christs sufferings let him put his hand into his bosome and say Ita fecimus nos quae non oportuit ergo oportuit Christum haec pati We haue not so done as it behooued vs therefore so it behooued Christ to suffer for as sacrifices were proportioned to offences so in Christ the Truth it selfe so many and so great our sinnes therefore so many and so great his sufferings all sinne is vniust some inhumane some horrible For Christ an innocent to dye against iustice for doing good to dye is against humanity for the Sonne of the liuing God to die is horrible Some are sinnes of ignorance some of infirmity some wilfull sinnes As we sinne blindfold so did he suffer as we sinne of weakenesse so did Christ suffer such infirmity that an Angell comforted him we sinne willingly with what alacrity was he pained For shamefull sinne he suffred shamefull punishment for strange and vnnaturall sins a strange and vnnaturall griefe the sweat of bloud in a frosty night for excrable and cursed sinnes an execrable and cursed death the hanging vpon a tree Our sinnes as a Leprosie spread ouer all the powers of soule and body the vnderstanding darkened the will peruerted the affections infected the sences corrupted the members instruments of vnrighteousnesse vnto wickednesse Christs sufferings as generall His vnderstanding troubled in the 12. of Iohn How is my soule troubled what shall I say Father saue me from this houre his will distracted Not my will but thy will bee fulfilled his affections tormented his loue abused his compassions scorned his griefe intollerable all parts of his body afflicted his head with thornes his eyes with teares his face with buffets his eares with reproches his mouth with vineger his hands and feete with nailes his body furrowed with stripes and his heart diuided with a speare O Quid dicam Christ paid the transgression of euery commandement 1 Wee had forsaken the true God against the first commaundement Christ was forsaken of his Father 2 We bowed our knees to grauen images in dishonour of God Christ had knees bowed to him in derision 3 The name of God had beene taken in vaine of man Christ was so blasphemed that his diuine workes were ascribed to the Deuill 4 We had broken his Sabboth the precious body of the Sonne of God was subiect vnto death fettered in the bonds of Golgotha all the Sabboth long 5 Wee had dishonoured Father and Mother Christ to whom all honour is due submitted himselfe to the forme of a seruant 6 Man had committed Murder Christs bloud was shed for it 7 Man committed adultery Christ as an vncleane person was spit vpon 8 Man had stollen Christ hanged among theeues for it 9 Man bore false witnesse Christ had many false witnesses against him 10 Man coueted another mans goods 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hee exhausted himselfe or as it is in the Prophet Daniel Hee had nothing to be coueted Phil. 2.7 Dan. 9.26 Illa fecimus nos quae non oportuit ergo oportuit Christum haec pati So many and so great our sinnes Therfore so many and so great his sufferings I cannot number how many shall I tell you how great Great bee the indignities that God receiued at their hands on whom he bestowed so many blessings enen then dishonoured when hee shewed mercy Christ suffered by them to whom he shewed much good euen then when he suffered Hee kissed Iudas while Iudas betrayed him hee healed Malchus eare while Malchus came to apprehend him hee prayed for them while they were crucifying of him he pleaded for them while they were scoffing at him hee saued them whiles they killed him There 's a mystery of iniquity a bottomlesse vnspeakeable vnconceiueable gulfe of sinne so were his sufferings when there was presented before him Death in his full strength Hell neuer mastred before by any that came within the confines of it the Deformity of sinne the heauy Wrath of God vnappeased when hee felt and saw himselfe flesh and bloud left alone to encounter all these for the Diuinity inseparably vnited to his humanity did notwithstanding contract her beames and deny the sweet influence of comfort This was the mystery of that passion which the hart of man can neuer bee able to
third will he raise vs vp and we shall stand in his sight may not the head of the Church and his onely Sonne challenge it much more Adde vnto this his tender loue to his small weake and distressed Church when the faith of his owne Disciples was going out I will not beleeue saith one wee had thought saith another this had beene hee that should haue redeemed Israel verily it was time to rise to strengthen these bruised reeds and cherish these smoaking flaxes vpon the day God was to giue sentence vpon men for sinne hee staid till the heat of the day was ouer in the third of Genesis Gen. 3.8 but vpon this day being to preach remission of sinne hee rose betimes while it was darke It was the loue of God and his tender affection to the Church which he had so lately and so deerely bought made him rise so soone and appeare so often the same day to minister comfort to distressed soules The summe of which comfort followeth That remission of sinnes might be preached Remission of sinnes which springeth naturally out of his resurrection The 2. fruit as repentance out of his passion for as Christ died for our sinnes that sinne might die in vs by repentance so did hee rise againe for our iustification which consists in remission of sinnes this is the summe of the Gospell defined in the first to the Romanes Rom. 1.16 to bee the power of God to saluation to all that beleeue for as the power of darkenesse shewed neuer more in force then at his death so was the power of light at his resurrection that our Sauior Christ could go downe into the depth of death with so many milstones about his necke with the sinnes of the world vpon his backe and that hee could there shake them all off Rize vp the Sonne of righteousnesse like a Giant leaue all our sinnes in the bottome of the gulfe neuer to rise vp in iudgement to our condemnation This I say is the remission of sinnes and this is the power of God to saluation to all that beleeue And that we may beleeue it The mini stration we must preach it that Repentance and Remission of sinnes might be preached How shall ye beleeue in him of whom ye haue not heard how shall ye heare without a Preacher In the tenth to the Romanes Thankes be to God you heare Rem 10.14 and I make no doubt but you would bee glad to heare the glad tidings of saluation the remission of sinnes preached for it makes you happy Blessed is the man whose iniquities are forgiuen and whose sinne is couered but I beseech you consider the tenor and order of this commission you must heare of repentance before remission else wee shall build the roofe before wee lay the foundation for as sure as Christ did suffer before hee rose so must you suffer the passion of repentance before you can be iustified by remission Pardon me Right Honourable and well-beloued It is my taske to prouide the sharpe sauce the sowre hearbs of Repentance before you can tast and truely relish the Paschall Lambe at Easter you must weepe and mourne with Christ at the Crosse before you can reioyce with him at the resurrection you must put on sackcloath before Scarlet humble your selues before God before you can triumph with him that came from Edom in redde coloured garments from Bozra Esay the 63. and the first Thinke not that that austere doctrine of repentance did end with Iohn Baptist or that you can banish it out of the Citty into the wildernesse for as Iohn Baptist did beginne his preaching Matthew the 3. In the same manner did Christ begin his when Iohn was cast into prison Marke the first Repent and beleeue the Gospell for the kingdom of God is at hand So by his Example are we directed and so by his name are we authorized to preach to you 2 In his name 1 If you aske by what authority wee doe these things The authority my text is our warrant we come in his name At whose name euery knee doth bow both of things in Heauen and in Earth vnder the earth we are the Ambassadors of Christ the annointed King of Kings 2 If you take exception to our weakenesse beeing earthen vessels full of frailty men of polluted lipps like your selues Though of our selues wee are no more in vs then empty pitchers or Rams hornes yet we come in the name of our graund Captaine Christ who by the shining lampes of his Gospell in our empty pitchers can put our enemies to flight in the name of the praise of the high God who by blowing of these hornes with the powerfull spirit of his mouth is able to ouerthrow the walls of Iericho nay the very gates of Hell 3 If you thinke we take too much vpon vs that we are busie-bodies that we are they that trouble Israell disturb the Conscience more then needes we are sent in his name who hath laid this Oportet vpon vs So it behooued Christ to suffer and so it behooueth vs to preach equally are these two applied together 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So it behooued Christ to suffer who if he had not suffered euerlasting woe had lyen vpon you and so it behoueth vs to preach wee haue receiued the ordinance of God by imposition of hands we be set apart for this businesse wee haue put our hands to the plough there is a necessity lies vpon vs we may not be scared away with a white cloath Woe vnto vs if wee preach not the Gospell 4 If our message of repentance be vnwelcome because it sets your Conscience vpon the racke till you haue made a penitent confession of your sinne Remember wee come in his name who suffered greater torment for you to teach you mortification by his passion the sacrifice of a broken heart made acceptable to the bloudy sacrifice of his Sonne 5 And then but not till then behold we come in the name of him who rose from the dead to raise vp your soules by the spirit of consolation In the name of him who rose the third day betimes to bring speedy comfort to a troubled spirit 6 To conclude wee come in the name of Christ the Lord annointed whose name is a sweet oyntment powred out to cure your soules by gentlenesse we come not by force of armes compelling but by forcible perswasions alluring Iaphet to dwell in the tents of Sem yea wee beseech you in the name of Christ that you would bee reconciled vnto God So did Paul intreat the Corinthians and so doe wee desire you for the commission is without limitation extending to all Nations Among all Nations Before his death 3. The extent It was onely to the lost sheepe of the house of Israell but when the stone which the builders refused at his Death was become the cheefe corner stone at the resurrection then were two walles knit together the Iew and the