much more then may it be said when hee spake vnto vs by Christ Iesus his sonne Did euer God come so neare a people 5 Wherefore what better meane of enioying heauen before heauen then to meditate of the mysterie of our redemption then often to call to mind the incarnation of the sonne of God his netiuitie his circumcision his fasting his praying at his labours and trauâ—…es his swéet conuersation his behauiour that was so mild and gentle as all the malice of his enemies could not wrest an angry word from hun his curing the sicke cleansing the Leapers dispossessing the deuils raising the dead his preaching his teaching his compassion towards all and after all his most innocent yet sharp suffering and all for our sinnes How should we often in soule goe with the wise men to Bethelem being directed by the starre of grace and there fall downe and worship the little king there offer the gold of perfect charity the frankincense of deuotion the myrth of penetencie and then returne not by cruell Herod or troubled Ierusalem but another way a better way vnto our long and happy home 6 How should wee séeke him sorrowing with blessed Mary and neuer leaue séeking vntill wee find him how should we accompanie him with the Apostles beholding him doing wonderfull miracles how should wee with the women follow him vnto the crosse and there condole his most bitter yet blessed passion how should we descend in meditation whither he descended rise early with Mary Magdalen come to the Sepulcher and sée his resurrection with the men of Galile wonder at his ascension vp into heauen and with ioyfull admiration expect his coÌ„ming againe in the same forme he ascended Last of all how should we with the disciples continue in prayer tarrie at Ierusalem or the vision of peace semblablie the church waiting for the comming of the holy Ghost from aboue How should we euer hold him as Iacob did the Angell not letting him goe vntill he blesse vs 7 The more we loue Christ the more we meditate of his loue where our treasure is that is the thing wee most affect there are also the cogitations of our hearts what greater treasure then Christ the verie Mine where doe lie millions of treasure on whom should we rather bestow our harts then vpón him who is the ioy of our harts or where our best labours then where the best reward of labours is had But to come to that which concernes the direction of lift wherein the whole world shalt thou sooner finde true humility perfect charity obedience patience without example prayer with many coadioyned and allied vertues then in the life of him who was the Lord of vertues consider how humbly he behaued himsâ—…fe in the world how fellow like with his Apostles how mercifull he was to the poore who séemed his speciall familie hee despised none although leapers he flattered none though neuer so glorious frée was he from the distracting cares of the world whose care was his fathers will and mans good how patient was hee in bearing reproches how gentle in aunswers thereby to cure â—…alue the enuie of his aduersaries Then hast O Christian soule faith Saint Austen in the life of Christ a most heauenly medicine to help all thy defects what pride is there that his humilitie doth not abate what anger that his gentlenes doth not leâ—…e what couetousnes that his pouertie doth not salue what heart is there so benummed that his loue doth not inflame in euerie way héere wee haue what to behold What to imitate what to admire here we learne what to flie what to follow Where shal we find the miserie of man better salued the goodnes of God more manifested loue and grace more enlarged then in meditating of the life of Christ The louing Captaine would that the souldier somtimes behold the wounds receiued in his behalfe therby to take comfort and courage The martyr calling to minde Christ crucified vpon the crosse endureth trying and frying flames of greatest persecutions so patiently as if the soule exiled from the bodie by a diuine meditation both body and soule were in part become sencelesse and made to liue not where they liue but where they loue that is to say in Christ. 8 This made the holy men of God so full of deuotion so great despisers of the world as they were their chiefest care was to care for a time to come their continuall meditation was the mystery of mans redemption and the accomplishment of their hope in an other world for this cause and vpon this learning Festus thought Saint Paul had ouerstudied himselfe when all his minde was so often in contemplation had Festus knowne the depth of this knowledge hee would haue thought the Apostle to haue béene learned indéede hee might haue learned by Christes nakednes how to cloath him by his meekenes how to exalt him by his praying for his enemies how to reuenge him that his stripes his speare his thornes his wounds his crosse were more deare and precious then all the diadems in the world When we behold Christ in his passion we see innocencie suffering for sinne humility enduring torment for pride righteousnes for vnrighteousnes what charitie was that which amidst so many paines besought God for the causers and actors of his persecution what silence was that which vnto false accusers aunswered nothing what loue was that which was prodigall of life for his friend no for his verie enemies Neuer was there any such loue as the loue of the sonne of God shewed 9 Merciful Lord what a spacious field doe wee enter when we consider the proiect of Christes life In whom we obserue two natures both resembled to Iacobs ladder whereof the one part stard vpon the earth which was his humanitie the other reached vp to heauen which was his Deitie The descending Angels by this ladder are Gods inercies the ascending are our penitent prayers and therefore Christ is the meane whereby God descends in mercy towards men and men ascend by grace and acceptation vnto God We should often call to minde the life of Christ but when labours and troubles come when by calamities we séele that wee haue offended then wee fall to comparison when wee endure hunger we think of Christes fasting when we are tempted we think of his leading into the wildernes when we suffer reproches we call to mind his suffering and lift vp our harts to heauen and our soules to him who bare our infirmities and therfore we hope will best respect the case of the miserable of whom wee may say with the Prophet WhoÌ„ haue we in heauen but thee 10 Some are not a little delighted to reade the liues of the auncient worthies of the world of Iulius Caesar Scipio and such other but these may sooner delight the fancie then instruct the soule Come wee to the life of Christ all their conflicts were but shadowes all their glory but froath
tribularis fortassâ—… noÌ„ inuocares If thou wert not troubled peraduenture thou wouldest not deuoutly haue called vpon God which is a principal part of Gods worship 6 The world and the tempter both beast of giuing pleasures vnto carnall men but come to the performance these pleasures are very torments Christ promiseth tribulation in the worlde but come to the inward man and there we finde a world of ioy The roote of the tree is bitter but the fruite is pleasant Christ promiseth rest Inuenietis requiem you shall haue rest but it is Requiem animabus rest vnto your soules his burthen it is light by loue and wee are made strong by grace a burthen this is wâ—…nt to vnburthen sinners He that sets vs in this iourney knowes what is fittest for passengers and therefore wee may endure with comfort these outward aduersities when they come Foelix Lepra sayeth one happie leprosie was it that made Naaman worship the God of Israel in his heart The sharpe stormes of the winter they make the trées bare and the windes scattering the leaues they for a time stand as dead yet there remaines still life in the roote In like manner afflictions of the worlde make the members of Christ séeme desolate the stormie winds of persecution scatter abroad the leaues of worldly prosperity yet there is life in the roote there is faith and ioy in the heart 7 There is a difference betwéene the ioy of worldly men and the ioy of those whom Christ hath as it were taken out of the world that is from the loue of the world The former thinke felicity to consist in aboundance of riches in pleasures in glorie and such like all this is but outward and momentarie like a little Sunne-shine in Winter for one faire day it hath oftentimes ten foule and such a number of troubles as almost the former pleasures are dasht and vanish to nothing For the latter of these they haue indéede often outward aduersities but such ioyes within as if all aduersities were nothing this principally commeth to passe by Christes meanes for whatsoeuer he touched he did saâ—…d 〈◊〉 it and therfore hunger thirst persecution they are not nowe so greeuous but worke all for the good of the faithfull The waters of Marâ—… which were so bitter that none could drinke them Moyses but casting in the wood that God appointed him they became swéete the crosses of the worlde were greeuous vntill Christes Crosse was put in amongst them now their taste is altered A strange sight was it in times of persecution to sée a few lambes to ouercome by no other weapons then patience and faith a multitude of Wolues and to reioyce as Tertullian sayeth in the midst of torments Wonderfull is it to heare how Saint Paul endewed with grace from Christ doth euen chalenge and prouâ—…ke tribulation and anguish and hunger yea life and death shall any of you all and if hee would speake like a man of courage to all the aduersities of the world Shall you all separate me froÌ„ the loue of Christ 〈◊〉 you shall not And thus wee sée how in Christ we are armed with inward grace against the world without and all the troubles thereof 8 Another reason which our Samour vseth is I goe to prepare a place for you and therefore â—…e of good hope Moyses to stirre vp the people in times of their distresse speakes vnto them after this manner The land you goe to poâ—…esse is not as Egypt but a champion Countrey and goodly to enioy which the Lorde visiteth with the earlie and the latter rayne We haue promise of a better land then euer Moyses promised In my Fathers house are many mansions The iourney was long and wearisome for Iacob a weake and féeble person as he was yet by reason of inward ioy hee had conceiued in his heart he wel endured it Be it saith S. Austen that wee haue not temporall deliuerance from troubles this sheweth that wee doe not embrace Christian Religion for the commodities of this world but for the ioyes of a life to come which will make amends for all The benefit of a calme is best welcome after a tempest liberty is wont to be most pleasant after a time of bondage you shall sorrow sayth our Sauiour but your sorrow shall be turned into ioy your sorrow and therfore not euery ones sorrow yours who haue béene faithfull vnto the end When the Prophet Dauid spake of the sorrowes of this world hee calleth them waters Saue me O God for the waters are entred euen to my soule Lord saith Peter bid me come vnto thée on the water The same Prophet in another place goeth farther saying The floods are risen O Lord the floods haue lift vp their voyce the floods lift vp their waues the waues of the Sea are mighty and rage horribly but yet the Lord that dwelleth on high is mightier And surely vnto trouble as vnto the raging water hath he said Huc procedes et non procedes amplius hither shalt thou come and thou shalt come no farther watâ—…s as they rage and swell so be they often quench heate cleanse corruption and they serue to temper In the nine and thirtieth Psalme he vttereth with what great griefe bitternes of minde he was vrged to complaine yet remembring himselfe by whose prouidence it came hee sayeth Obmutui non aperui os meum quoniam fecisti I became dumb and opened not my mouth because it was thy doing Chap. 19. How that of our Sauiour exhorting all that would follow him to denie themselues and take vp their Crosse daily doth concerne vs that beare the name of Christians BEing forewarned and armed against the trials of the world before they come it remayneth that wee be readie to vndergoe them when they come Christ shewes vs plainely what wee must looke for if wee will be his Disciples when hee giueth out in open Proclamation Who soeuer will follow me let him denie himselfe In the text of the Euangelist hauing before spoken of his owne suffering hee by and by speakes of their sâ—…ring who would followe him First that they should not thinke that his suffering did absolutely exempt them from all crosses of the worlde for Ego meam vos vestraÌ„ I haue taken vp my crosse and you must take vp yours Secondly hee sheweth himselfe as a carefull Gouernour in the ship who in a calme is wont to instruct the Marriuers against the tempest likely to follow and this hee doth as it were in familiaâ—… manner by shewing what himselfe had done and then what his disciples should doe First what he would suffer and then what they should suffer What Peter and should I not goe to IerusaleÌ„ yes it is not only my case but thine the case of you all Whosoeuer will follow me let him denie himselfe take vp his crosse daily follow me 2 Heere Christ speaketh generally
Philosopher himselfe did concerning the state of felicity Si adsunt ornant si absunt non tollunt If we haue them they help vs if not they doe not vndoe vs because Christians can be rich with a little and content howsoeuer hauing learned with the Apostle both to abound and to went knowing that they brought nothing into this world neither shall they carie any thing out Thinke and thinke againe sayeth S. Austen That wee Christians are not borne for this world or to enioy the riches of the same but wee looke for farther better riches to be receiued and possessed in the world to come 6 It is the insatiable desire of riches which is so often reprehended take héed to your selues least at any time your hearts be oppressed with the cares of this life and that day come vpon you vnawares The Eagle died not so much of age as of hunger of all vices none doth more waxe old with vs then couetousnes what should we be so earnest vpon the world which wee must shortlie leaue how should wee vse the commodities thereof but as the Egyptians did their bondmen for vse onely euermore looking of greater riches else where When Iudas Macabaeus saw his men ouergréedy of a little gaine and thereupon to begin to desist from the battell they had in hand Iudas willeth them to follow on the pursuite of the enemie nowe flying for quoth he in the ende you shall safely take the spoyles or at last you shall haue riches enough Let vs not stay vpon these transitorie things too long forgetting the present occasion we haue in hand but let vs goâ—… forward in the course of Christian profession wee haue vndertaken there will come a time when we shall take the spoile and haue treasure to the vttermost of our desires 7 The touchstone is saide to trie gold and gold is saide to trie men if one should haue offered Alexander the great a commoditie to the value of twentie pound shewed him the meane and manner how to gaine it Alexander would scarce haue harkned or giuen eare to such a motion because his minde was vp pon gaining kingdomes Empires In like manner tell a heauenly minded man of compassing great possessions and laying vp much treasure he will not much respect the discoursing of these matters for why hee mindes the getting of greater matters or the laying vp of treasure in heauen and after this manner did Abraham and Iacob and many others possesse riches hauing their minds euer set vpon better riches to come And heere is the manner how Christian men may enioy riches and hold earthly possessions Si nihil amando possidetis sayeth Gregory etiam possidendo relinquitis If you doe not loue them as you possesse them you do leaue them in possessing them Relinquere possumus etiam retinendo Wee may leaue them euen when we possesse them The reason is we doe not loue them or set our hearts vpon them we rest content with that God hath bestowed vpon vs for that insatiable desire of game in the name of God let it goe A miserie is it vnder the Sunne men liue poore that they may die rich and make no ende of gathering they know not themselues for whom so they may leaue rich Executors but they respect not the state of their néedie soules there are riches that no shipwrack can take from vs. Chap. 22. How Christ exhorteth to forsake Father and Mother and all for his sake WHen we heare by that of Simeon that Christ our Sauiour Was the light of the Gentiles That by him came grace and truth that he is our righteousnes wee reaâ—…ily harken vnto all this and can find in our harts to beléeue it and wee doe well in so doing but when we heare on the other side that in following of him wee must take vp our crosse denie our selues leaue father and mother and all for his sake we draw backward and begin to say with the men of Capernaum Durus est hic sermo This is a hard saying and who is to endure it We perswade our selues we loue Christ and think we haue discharged this loue in a little beléeuing in him No it is not so if wee did loue Christ indéed then would we forsake all strange loue for his sake When Iacob loued Rachael hee left his kindred and Countrey If wee loue Christ indéede then where are the properties of true loue in forsaking all for his sake and giuing him â—…ur hearts 2 All creatures say the Philosophers desire their center and doe no where rest but in their proper spheares the spark of fire tendeth vpward the floods and all waters haue many turnings and windinges but they neuer cease vntill they come into the Sea that common receptacle of all waters the soule of man hath her center which is God shee neuer resteth vntill shee be there and when she is there she would not be remooued Fecisti nos domine propter te inquietum est cor nostrum donec perueniat ad te Lord thou hast made vs for thy selfe and our heart is vnquiet vntill it be with thée we néede not meruaile to sée men which are addicted to the loue of the world or the flesh or anie thing except God how they are often troubled and vexed howe they are weake wearie and full of discontent the reason is they are not in their proper sphere which is in the loue of God It is said that when Christ came into Egypt at his flying from Herod that all the Idols there fel down and sure it is that when the loue of Christ doth come into our harts all the Idoll desires of the world the flesh will fall to nothing No man can serue two maisters that is at one time two maisters commanding contrarie things so doth the loue of Christ the loue of the world Wherfore let vs leaue the one cleaue vnto the other least leaning vnto the one we forsake the other and our selues be forsaken of him 3 And should wee not forsake all the world for Christes sake Should wee not leaue chaffe for gold Puddle water for the fountaine of life Straw and stubble for precious stones nay vile earth for the heauen it selfe when Elizeus followed Elias his maister hee left his Oxen plowing as if hee had now a better husbandry in hand When Christ called his Apostles they left their fishing and yet continued a trade of fishing still for now they should be fishers of men they followed him Peter saith Domine reliquimus omnia Lord we haue left all what was this Al but some old Boate and a few rotten torne nets for these were now in the mending Was this that all yea Peter left more too at this time then Alexander the great could desire for Peter left the loue of the world for the loue of Christ which was more and of more worth then many worlds The
gall the conpunction of the spirit On the other side we must take heede that wee giue not Christ thirsting for our saluation vinegar mixed with gall as these men did that is an euill and sinfull life which is vinegar mixed with the gal of scandalous conuersation 22 The sixt word was when he said Consummatum est It is finished that is all whatsoeuer was spoken of my suffering is now compleate the honour of my Father the good of the faithfull all that I should doe concerning my obedience to his will who gaue mee this worke to accomplish Consummatum est It is finished Nothing remaineth in this suffering but nowe my dying and now I die This our sauiour spake as hauing fought a good fight finished his course this hee spake as one hauing vndertaken a iourney nowe gone through many passages at his iourneyes end he saith Consummatum est It is finished first lifting vp his eyes to heauen Fa-thy will then beholding men vppon the earth faithfull men your health then respecting the breaking of the Serpents head Sathan the vanquishing of thy power Consummatum est It is finished O happy voyce of the Sonne of God! 23 The seauenth word was father into thy hands I commend my spirit S. Luke saith that hee syed this with a loude voyce some of the auncient Fathers â—…ke our Sauiour was nowe â—…ditating vpoÌ„ the one and thirtieth Psalme and comming vnto â—…se wordes in the Psalme In â—…us tuas commendo spiritum â—…eum Hee vttered them with â—…udible voyce Into thy hands I commend my spirit and so gaue 〈◊〉 the ghost This was nowe 〈◊〉 ninth houre of the day when 〈◊〉 Sunne was darkened the â—…th shooke the graues opened 〈◊〉 the Euangelists shewe At â—…s houre Adam sinned Hora 〈◊〉 Adam peccauit Christus exâ—…auit The same houre of the â—…ay wherin Adam sinned Christ â—…ed by dying Christ opened the gate of Paradise which Adam 〈◊〉 sinning had shut vp against 〈◊〉 and his Adam in the Garâ—…en lost life and Christ in the Garden restored life when hee yéelded himself with these words vnto his Father Into thy hands I commend my spirit These words being vttered he gaue vp the ghost his eyes closed his countenance pale his head bended down heauen nor earth euer saw such a sight the God of life the Author of life and life it selfe becomes dead In this word wee may consider many thinges as first that our departing soules should be commended into the hands of our heauenly Father Secondarily somewhat wee haue héere for the strengthning of our faith Christ bending downe his head vttered these wordes not of constraint but voluntarily who euer lay downe to sléepe so peaceably as Christ died when he gaue vp the ghost Man wheÌ„ they are dying they are scarse able to breath at this time Christ speaketh with a loud voyce Father into thy hands I commend my spirit We sée what Christes example doth teach vs to doe in commending our departing soules into the handes of God howe at the houre of his death he prayed he wept spake vnto his heauenly Father And héere also may the Christian man enter into a large field 〈◊〉 meditation vpon many things together We were more insensible then the sencelesse creatures 〈◊〉 wee should not be moued with the passion of our Lorde whose death was our life consider we 〈◊〉 great thinges the Sonne of God hath done for vs and suffered for our redemption consider be how great things they were which he suffered how great his sorrowes were which shewed the greatnes of his loue howe â—…eat his iniuries were when he was falsly accused mocked spetted vppon buffeted whipped crowned with thornes berest of â—…s clothes burdened with his crosse pierced with nailes lanced with a speare and so dyed They shall sée him whoÌ„ they haue pierced When Ioseph saide vnto his brethren I am Ioseph whom you â—…d into Egypt they were so aâ—…onished they had not a word to say when Christ shall say I am your brother I am he whom you crucified how shall they be confounded that crucified him But what ioy shall they haue who beléeue on him Up O Christian soule and with the Doue make thy nest in the holes of this rock Behold the wounds of thy Sauiour Come to this Arke whither all creatures repaire to saue themselues Stand and behold a little with the deuoute women the body of thy Sauiour vppon the Crosse sée him afflicted from top to toe see him wounded in the head to heale our vaine imaginations sée him wounded in the hands to heale our euill actions sée him wounded in the heart to cure our vaine thoughts sée his eyes shut vp which did enlighten the world sée them shut that thy eyes might be turned away from beholding vanity sée those eares which were wont to heare the ioyfull hyâ—…e of the Cherubins Holy holy holy now haue heard a multitude of reproaches sée that countenaunce which was goodly to looke vpon is spetted 〈◊〉 and buffeted The blood of 〈◊〉 cried iustice iustice but 〈◊〉 blood of Christ crieâ—… mercie 〈◊〉 Oh that we had hearts 〈◊〉 meditate of the passion of our 〈◊〉 There is nothing of â—…ch we ought more to thinke 〈◊〉 to speake more to reade or 〈◊〉 to meditate of then of this â—…ause the remembrance héereof â—…tameth to the saluation of 〈◊〉 soules increaseth faith driâ—…th away despaire giueth fortiâ—…e against the afflictions of the â—…ld strengtheneth vs against â—…tatious 〈◊〉 the minde 〈◊〉 ioy causeth a loathing of 〈◊〉 and after a wonderfull maâ—… stirreth vs vp to all deuotion This our Sauiour Christ himâ—…fe well thought vpon when he 〈◊〉 so high a Sacrament so full 〈◊〉 hauenly mysteries for the â—…tinuall renuing in our hearts 〈◊〉 this his most blessed passion 〈◊〉 swéete Iesus should euer vnâ—…fulnes of this loue of thine â—…pe vpon vs Should not thy â—…ous blood soften our adamant hearts who hast deliuered vs from infinite miseries purchased by thy death O infinite goodnes and fréely offered thy selfe hast offered thy selfe vnto thy Father a sacrifice for our sinnes there is no burden heauier then sinne this hast thou eased vs of O blessed Sonne if God while I liue saith the Prophet will I call vpon the Lord yea as long as I haue any being Wee will offer vnto God the sacrifice of thankesgiuing and prayse his name for euer and euer And thus wee meditate of the passion of our Lord who suffered death to ouercome death of which Saint Austen mentioneth a double cause the one that Christ died for vs to deliuer vs the other that those whom he redéemed by his death hee might teach by his grace and by his example instruct for why did the head saith he suffer but to giue the body an example Christ humbled himselfe vnto death euen vnto the death of the crosse we ought also to humble our â—…es to bee crucified vnto the â—…ld and the world to vs vnto 〈◊〉 were our sinnes imputed â—…to
is to the knowledge of our selues then in our heart that is to acknowledge our own infirmities next from our heart that is from the loue of our selues and last of all aboue our heart that is to the loue of Christ. What doth our Christian loue on earth when Christ our head is in heauen The Lord is my portion saith Dauid If wee loue Christ why are not our affections with him in heauen Shee saide vnto Sampson Thou hast saide thou louest me if it were so thy minde would be with me For the Apostles Christ was taken out of their sight but not out of their hearts by his corporall presence he departed from them but for his spirituall presence hee continued with them and therefore as they in heart ascended with him so he still in spirit remained with them by this his spirituall presence which was and is euer the same And heere wee may obserue how Christ departed from his Apostles first hee leadeth them out of the Citie by way of application from the â—…oncourse of sinne secondly hee leadeth theÌ„ to mount Oliuet a place of prayer thirdly hee blesseth them or endueth them with his grace at parting this done he ascendeth and this doing all faithfull beleeuers ascend 9 Thus we sée how Christ ascendeth vp vnto his father how though hee left them as concerning his bodily presence yet with his loue his grace his power he was still with them Concerning the mysterie of his ascension it is very great and excellent the high and glorious King cloathed with our natureâ—… is entred into his royall pallace By this wee that are flesh and blood haue a comfortable and sure trust of our ascending vp into heauen and therefore wee finde cause of ioy in the meditation héereof for foure reasons first that we haue an Aduocate nowe speaking for vs at the right hand of God secondly that where he is wee shall be Assuâ—…am vos ad me ipsum I will take you vnto my selfe thirdly that as he hath taught vs what to doe so also what to hope fourthly that hee hath left vnto vs a comfortable promise in the meane time I ascend vnto my Father and your father 10 And nowe as wee haue héere many good instructions so howe our hope of ascending is confirmed wee sée that nothing may be more ioyfully thought vpon then this while wee are here in this mortall body of ours Esra and Nehemias shewe with howe great desire the Nation of the Iewes were held towardes the earthly Ierusalem after they had beene a while in captiuitie with what desire should wee be â—…ed of our heauenly Ierusalem after our captiuitie héere in this worlde assuredlie there is nothing that wee can meditate of with more ioy then of Christes ascension vp into heauen to the right hand of his Father where he sitteth as now resting for euer which once was in labours of the world at the right hand of Maiestie which amongst men liued at the left hand of aduersitie In the old law the high Priest once 〈◊〉 yéere entered the Holy of Holies wee haue an high Priest saith the Apostle that is entered into the heauens and there maketh intercession for vs. Chap. 30. Of the comming downe of the holy Ghost and how we should in all Christian manner entertaine this diuine spirit IT is expedient for you saith Christ our Sauiour vnto his Apostles That I depart froÌ„ you for if I depart not the comforter which is the holy Ghost will not come It is expedient that I depart from you that I depart No meruaile though the Disciples hearts at these words were full of sorrowe to heare of their maisters departure but that this might be expedient vnto them they could not but wonder howe Wherefore Christ by and by tels them the cause why this should be that is to say his departure from them was that the comforter might come Vnlesse I depart the comforter which is the holy Ghost will not come It is expedient that I depart because euery thing hath his time It was expedient that I should suffer to make a satisfaction for sinne it was expedient that I should die that you might be deliuered from death it is expedient that I ascend that so I may open you the way to ascending it is expedient that I depart from you that so the holy Ghost which is the Comforter may come But what is this saith Saint Bernard This is a great mysterie Vnlesse I depart the Comforter shall not come Was the presence of the holy spirit so opposite vnto the presence of Christes humanitie which was not conceiued but by the operation of the same holy spirit that nowe the one will not come without the departure of the other What is this Vnlesse I depart First the head is glorified then the members are graced The Apâ—…stles for his bodily absence shall haue from henceforth the holy Ghost to supply his presence Behold I am with you vnto the end 2. In the creation when the earth was without forme Spiritus super aquas The spirit moued vpon the waters in the reâ—…mption when the mind of man was without forme the same spirit moued vpon the sinfull waters of our soules Emittis spiritum tuum creabuntur renoâ—…abis faciem eorum Thou senâ—…est out thy spirit saith the Pro phet and they are created and thou shalt renue the face of them God the Father saide Fiat lux Let there be light in this greater worlde God the holy Ghost saide Fiat cognitio Dei in anima hominis Let there be the knowledge of God in the mind of man of man this lesser worlde God the Father sayde Fiat firmamentum Let there be a firmament God the holy Ghost sayde Firmetur voluntas in bonoâ—… Let the will of man be confirmed in that which is good God the Father sayde Let the waters be gathered together in one place God the holy Ghost saide Let many graces be vnited in one soule God the Father said Fiant luminaria in câ—…lo let there be lights in heauen God the holy Ghost saide Let the lights of faith hope and charitie be fixed in the beléeuing soule God the Father said Fiant volatilia Let there be flying fowles God the holy Ghost saide Let there be Meditations in the mind of man soaring vpward God the Father said Faciamus hominem ad imaginem nostram let vs make man according to our owne likenes God the holy Ghost hath saide the selfe same Let him be according to our Image holy as I am holy and thus wee sée our Sauiours saying verified Expedit it is expedient 3 Againe if wee respect our regeneration wee knowe what was our state by nature when the Apostle saith 〈◊〉 The children of wrath but now being borne againe by the holy Ghost we are cast in a new mold and so are become Filii Dei The children of God If wee respect the powers and faculties of the soule the intellectuall
resembled vnto water because it cleanseth Dauid calleth it a right spirit right because it leadeth vs the right way The Apostle calleth it thâ—… spirit of Adoption because it maketh vs the children of God Somtimes it is called the Teacher of truth sometimes the eternall spirit all which names â—…oe tend to shew the diuers operations of the holy Ghost as 〈◊〉 the former appearance of fire 〈◊〉 stre turnes all things into fire because it expeâ—…eth the coldnes of our hearts bath burneth with inward loue as also shineth by outward charity It teacheth 〈◊〉 directeth it comforteth it cleanseth in a cloud in a Doue in fire in tongues in the winde all which moue vs to pray with the Prophet Emitte spiritum tuum Lord â—…end forth thy spirit and wee shall be created The light of Faith shall arise in vs our 〈◊〉 shall be confirmed in good manâ—… graces shall be collected in one our desires shall mount vpwarâ—… and last of all we shall be holy as is holy 7 Contraâ—…ise without this 〈◊〉 spirit what are we but as 〈◊〉 men of Sodome striken with â—…dnesse not knowing which 〈◊〉 to goe sorrowfull is it to â—…ider the case of Saul who â—…en the spirit of God was with 〈◊〉 hee was a man of courage 〈◊〉 vaâ—…our able to encounter 〈◊〉 the enemies of God but 〈◊〉 once the spirit of the Lord 〈◊〉 departed from him he was â—…ressed as is wonderfull he â—…es to a Sorceresse disguiâ—… himselfe knowes not in the 〈◊〉 what to doe nor which 〈◊〉 to take there was not a 〈◊〉 in the field nor a corner in 〈◊〉 house that could hide him 〈◊〉 his troubled conscience Eâ—…â—…ryed â—…ryed My Father my Faâ—… but Saul might haue cryed â—…en the spirit of the Lorde deâ—…ted from him O my ioy my 〈◊〉 gone his body died once 〈◊〉 his hart often The wife of â—…es in her last breath cryed 〈◊〉 the same might Saul haue 〈◊〉 also O the glory of God is gone when the Prince remoueth all the Princes troope and trayne euery one is remouing to accompanie the person of the Prince so when the Spirit of the Lorde remooueth all ioy all faith all knowledge all loue at once departeth Wherefore the Church doth well and deuoutly pray Et spiritum sanctum tuum ne aufer as a nobis And take not thy holy Spirit from vs. It was Saint Austens prayer Veâ—…â—…ancte spiritus Come holy spirit the cleanser of the vncleane the comforter of the sorrowfull confirme mee that I may keepe thee keep me that I may not loose thee If Sathan â—…de the house once emptie hee entereth by a foule spirit wherefore beséeâ—…h we God that his spirit may euer keepe possession of our hearts Nowe as Christ promised his Apastles the comming of the holie Ghost so did hee also shewe them howe they should be prepared for the receiuing and conseruing thereof for albeit this diuine Spirit were promised before and after the Resurrection 〈◊〉 he would they should be preâ—…red for it that wee should 〈◊〉 to vse meanes for Gods â—…ites promised First they 〈◊〉 wait for it secondarily they 〈◊〉 waite at Ierusalem and â—…re in an vpper roome what 〈◊〉 they doe they are assembled â—…th one accord what else they 〈◊〉 assembled with one accord in 〈◊〉 all which doe shewe vs 〈◊〉 meanes of preparing our 〈◊〉 for the participation of the 〈◊〉 Ghost First faith is neâ—…rie for the Apostles beléeâ—… Secondly hope is necessaâ—… for they expected the accomâ—…ment of the promise Third 〈◊〉 charity is necessary for they 〈◊〉 assembled in loue the Text â—…eth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with one acâ—…d Fourthly holinesse of conâ—…sation is necessarie they were 〈◊〉 vpper roome The Spirit 〈◊〉 God sayeth the wise man â—…eth not in a body subiect to 〈◊〉 Last of all deuotion is â—…cessarie they were all assemâ—… in prayer The seauentie Elders recâ—…ed of the spirit of the Lord at the dore of the Tabernacle where God was worshipped When the Disciples were assembled in prayer the place where they were assembled moued and the holy Ghost came downe vpon them and héere wee sée both of receiuing as also the meanes of entertayning one and the same holy spirit Gregorie saith In terra datur Spiritus vt diligatur proximus e coelo daâ—…ut Spiritus vt diligatur Deus The holy ghost is giuen on earth that we should loue men and the holy Ghost is giuen from heauen that we should loue God This loue of God is neuer idle but alwaies busie héere beneath it was Christes owne rule If you loue me keepe my commaundements it is a signe we loue the great Emperour when wee kéepe his lawes Last of all whereas the receiuing of the holy Ghost is called the earnest of the spirit how manie comforts are there which doe hence consequently ensue when 〈◊〉 substantiail dealer maketh a bargaine or couenant and in part of payment giueth earnest before â—…and the residue behind is as â—…re at the day as if the partie â—…ad it already down God of his â—…nite loue in Christ Iesus â—…ath agréed with beléeuers for the receiuing of heauenly treaâ—…re or treasure in heauen his holy spirit is before giuen in part of payment a good earnest and of the rest behind this earnest is â—…fficient assurance which wee 〈◊〉 receiue at that â—…ay when the â—…onne of righteousnes shall appeare and all his holy Angels â—…ith him Chap 31. How that exhortation of our Sauiour Christ Iohn the twelfth and thirtie siue doth appertaine to vs Christians Ambulate dum lucem habetis vt non tenebrae vos comprehendant Walke while yee haue light least darknes come vpon you THese wordes of our Sauiour Christ spoken in the first place to the people of the Iews are â—…y way of appropriation appliable vnto all but most speciallie vnto them on whom the ends of the worlde are come Walke while yee haue light least darknes come vppon you For in this remnant of time Sathan seeketh in malice to destroy men and God in mercy to saue sinners by whom the day of grace is fitly resembled to a time of light Walke while yee haue light The children of God are called the children of light his Angels are called the Angels of light his doctrine is called the doctrine of light you were darknes saith the Apostle but nowe you are light and are called to an admirable light And so after the sâ—…me manner the time of grace is a time of light our coâ—…nuance in this grace is the light of life which very life hath sometimeâ—… the appellation of light because when death comes as the wise man saith â—…ur light is lost that is the continuance of life which is light And so in regard of the true light which is Christ Iesus himselfe of his doctrine which is a doctrine of light of his grace which is the benefite of light of our conâ—…inuance in the world which is a
direction in all our wayes 6 The first vertue to be learned in the life of Christ which was his humilitie 7 What we learne by Christes leading into the wildernes his fasting and temptation there 8 Of Christes great compassion towards the state of man his continuall doing good in the world and what instruâ—…ions we hence learne 9 How little our Sauiour esteemed popularitie and glorie of the world and howe by his example wee learne to doe the like 10 Of Christes continuall labours trauailes in the world whereby wee may take a suruay of our Christian condition 11 Of his teaching the multitude and his actions before hee taught which doth also teach vs what we should doe 12 Of Christs visiting the sicke his feeding the hungrie curing all that came vnto him which doth lay before vs a most absolute rule of shewing pittie and compassion 13 Of the great meekenes of the Sonne of God in bearing the reproches of the world an instruction vnto vs of suffering patiently 14 Of Christes most milde and penceable coÌ„uersation amongst men which is our Christian direction of passing our time so in this world 15 Of the name of Iesus 16 Of Christes teaching his disciples to pray and the tenour of that diuine forme of prayer so often to be vsed of all deuoute Christians 17 Of Christes often praying speciallie in the Garden when his soule began to waxe sorrowfull and what feruencie in deuotion we heereby learne 18 That christian men may take comfort amidst the calamities of this life by that of our Sauiour Iohn 14. 1. Let not your hearts be troubled where he armeth his Disciples with consolation against troubles 19 Howe that our Sauiour exhorting all that would followe him to denie themselues and take vp their crosse daily doth concerne vs all that beare the name of Christians 20 That Christian men ought to liue in all orderlie and dutifull obedience to Princes and Gouernours 21 That Christians may lawfullie enioy earthlie commodities and possesse riches but how they should be affected towards them 22 Howe Christ exhorteth to forsake Father and Mother and all for his sake 23 Of Christes manie miracles and â—…hat we learne by them 24 What wee learne by Christes most diuine wisedome in answering his aduersaries and all that came vnto him 25 Of Christ our Sauiour what hee did vpon the Saboath and Festiuall dayes and what Christians may gather for the obseruation of the same 26 Of Christs weeping ouer Ierusalem 27 Of his passion and suffering vpon the Altar of the Crosse for the sinnes of the world and saluation of our soules howe often and with what deuotion all Christian men should meditate heereof 28 Of Christs resurrection from the dead and howe the veritie heereof doth much strengthen our Christian faith 29 Of Christs Ascension vp into heauen besides manie good instructions how heereby our hope of ascending is confirmed 30 Of the comming downe of the holy Ghost and howe wee shouldin all Christian manner entertaine this diuine spirit into the mansion of our soules 31 How that exhortation of our Sauiour Christ Iohn 12. 23. Walke while ye haue light least darknes come vpon you doth appertaine vnto vs Christians 32 How that inferred vpon the parable of the ten virgines Math. 25. 13. Watch therefore for you knowe neither the day nor houre when the Sonne of man will come doth expreslie appertaine to all Christians in this life 33 A louing conference had with Christ and the deuoute Christian man touching the state and ioyes of the life to come promised to them that learne of Christ and follow him in this life Disce viuere Learne to liue The first Chapter An exhortation mouing euerie deuout Christian for his better direction in learning to liue often to meditate of the life of Christ. WHilest I was musing sayeth the Prophet the fire kindled what was this fire but the loue of God what was this musing but the bellowes to blow the sparks and kindle the flame of Dauids affection which affection bred destre which desire caused loue which loue moued delight which delight brought forth labour Lord saith he what loue haue I vnto thy statutes all the day long is my studie in them Whereby wee sée that among the exercises of a deuout life there is none that is wont more to eleuate or lift vp the mind to a higher degree of perfection then meditation In meditation what doth more mooue man to loue God then the reuoluing of his benefits Amongst these benefits was there euer any comparable to that So God loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeued in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting So then to meditate of the life of him by whom wee haue eternall life is the verie life of life What is there found that can more arme vs against the vanities allurements of the world or the tribulations and aduersities of the same then continually to haue before the eyes of our mind the memorie of his doings and sayings of his suffering and satisfaction made for the redemption of our soules 2 In which Christian meditation so many vnlooked for motiues to loue God doe occurre when the deuout soule doth recount the ioy inexplicable happines whereunto all doth tend as they may sée me not onely infallible testimonies of grace present but after a sort gladsome presages to the beléeuing hart euen of future glory that is to come Abraham sawe Christ when the couenant was but promised and yet it reioyced his hart wee sée him now the couenant is performed and shall we not reioyce Simeon was a happie man who saw him with the eyes of his body and the faithfull are happy too who still by meditation sée him with the eyes of the soule 3 Euery man saith Senâ—…a that listeth to applie himselfe to reading meditation may haue priuate conference with Zeno Pythagoras Aristotle Theophrastus the Authors of good Arts he shall finde them all at leasure to commune with him But a thousand tunes more truly may it be said of the deuout soule that she may daily commune and conuerse with Iesus Christ the Author of her happines in calling to mind his loue mixed with so many labours the scarres and markes of his suffering which she may behold his diuine precepts which she may obserue his louing comforts which she may receiue in all distresses incident in the life of man 4 Is it not more acceptable to sée God with the sheepheards at Bethelem when the Angels sing then with Moyses when he was flaming in the fierie bush To heare him vpon mount Tabor to preach blessednes after blessednes then vpon mount Sinah when for lightning thundering it was present death for the people to approach Is not the case altered It was said as a testimonie of the loue of God vnto the Israelites Did euer God come so neare a Nation How
all their pompe but miserie to his conflicts to his glory who vanquished when hee was conquered and ouercame death when he suffered death subduing the Prince of darknes with all his power with a few meane men made a conquest ouer the whole world by a force in outward shew cleane contrarie to all victorie to wit by his word which in the sight of the world séemed féeblenes What hart is not moued at the remembrance of his woorthie actes who would not celebrate vnto the Lord a swéete Sabaoth of Meditation and hither bring all his prayers and prayses Surely wee will doe little for him who hath done so much for vs if wee keepe not at least a remembrâ—…nce of so many graces so many mercies bestowed vpon vs should we be wearie to meditate of his life who was not wearie to doe and suffer so many things to restore vs to eternall life 11 God saith Deliciae meae cum filijs hominum My delight is to be with the sonnes of men And the godly say deliciae nostrae cum filio Dei Our delight is to be with the sonne of God Saint Hierome writeth of certaine holy women so deuoted this way Vt caro esset pene nescia carnis That flesh saith hee almost forgat it was flesh they did so dwell in the contemplation of Iesus Christ â—…hat they séemed in place onely remote but in affection to ioyne with that holy companie of heauen there beholding in that splendent Theator the King of Kings sitting vnder the state of glory The Athenians erected a place called Asylum whither the poore and distressed repairing â—…ght finde refuge How God hath exalted our Lorde Iesus vnto the right hand of his throne in glory and there for his sake erected an Asylum of grace whither all sorrowfull and afflicted minds repayring may plead priuiledge and a satisfaction against sinne hell death and the deuill faith in him doth tell vs as much When the accuser of the brethren doth â—…ay a remembrance of their sinnes vnto the charge of Gods chosen and thereby séeketh to cast them downe by despaire by and by they flie to meditate of Christes loue and how al-sufficient a sacrifice he was for the satisfaction of their sinnes and how readie he is to embrace in the armes of his mercie and couer vnder the shadow of his wings all that crie come vnto him 12 Would wee haue a president of all perfection to stand before vs why Salomons wisedome is but ignorance Sampsons strength but weakenes Hazaels swiftnes but slownesse Methusalâ—…hs age not a day being once compared with the perfection of the sonne of God The loaues which Christ tooke were but few in number but when he brake them and his disciples distributed them they did excéedingly encrease and multiply The life of Christ when at first wee consider the same it séemes not so much but falling to meditate thereupon and to distribute it as it were amongst faithfull beléeuers it encreaseth so wonderfullie as wee can truly say with them in the Gospel vve neuer saw it after this fashion in effect we neuer thought it so admirable 13 The people in the wildernes were directed by a cloud in their passage towards the land of promise we haue for our iourney not a materiall cloud but the life of him that sits aboue the clouds vpon whom the eye of our soule euermore fixed we may goe forward or stay as this heauenly direction shal giue vs ayme 14 Last of all how mindfull I pray you we should be to meditate of Christ not onely in respect of the time present but chiefly for the time to come this was in Saint Pauls thought when hee thought of his departure hence desiring to be dissolued and to be with Christ. Iacob leauing the world his mind was vpon Shiloh or on him whom God would send when he said Expectabo salutare tuum Lord I will wait for thy saluation O Iesu saith Saint Austen whether I speake of thee I write of thee I read of thee me thinks I am present with thee as if a remembrance of his redéemer did wake with him and sléepe with him 15 The law was a shadow of good to come this good was Christ when the Sunne is behind the shadow is before when the Sunne is before the shadow is behind so was it in Christ to them of old this Sunne was behind and therefore the law or shadow was before to vs vnder grace the Sunne is before and so now the ceremonies of the law these shadowes are behind yea they vanished away Iosua succeeded Moses Christ the law Moses dies Iosua leades the people Iosua brings the people ouer Iordan which Moses could not doe The Fathers eate Manna in the Desert we haue the liuing bread which came downe from heauen In blessing their posterities the Patriarkes mentioned the promised séed in comforting the distressed the Prophets fore-told the Sauiour to come all their solemne sacrifices were but figures and signes of some excellent subiect their many hymnes diuine songs were reioycings at his comming before he came in their highest deuotions nothing was more mentioned then that God would respect his people and Abraham to whom in mercie the multiplying of the same mercie by the promised ofspring was mentioned so by this wee sée the faithfull all a long minded nothing more then him in whom all the Nations of the earth should be blessed 16 For the beleeuers vnder grace surely they should be so addicted to meditate of him who wrought the great work of their redemption as that they ought to haue their hearts replenished with an incessant reuoluing of his loue séeing their faith is confirmed by a consideration of his merits their hope by a remembrance of his promises their duty by calling to minde his benefits their fortitude by a contemplation of his assistance their liues directed by his life who was the mirror of the world for perfection and true holmes the Prophet Esay saith This is the way walke in it Chap. 2. That the life of a Christian should be passed ouer in this world in a holy and vertuous conuersation IT is the manner of Princes and gouernours forthwith vpon their inuestures to places of greatest dignitie seriously to recount with theÌ„selues to what authority amongst men God hath called them what to doe how to gouerne and in conclusion which way to demeane themselues like themselues thâ—…t is to say aunswerable vnto their place and calling This care we find to haue béen in king Salomon who in regard of the dignitie whereunto God had called him besought God before riches and honour to giue him an vnderstanding heart No lesse care should a Christian man haue whom God hath in mercy called to the state of grace a calling of excelleâ—…cie no lesse care I say shâ—…uld hâ—… hâ—…ue forthwâ—…th to sit downe and consider for what cause he was redeemed to what end what will onedâ—…y be
he is not a Phisition which is a Phisition in name It was said indéede vnto him that came to the mariage amice friend but if we math the sequell it was in effect said Amice non amice Friend in profession but nothing so in action in name but not in nature howe camest thou in hither not hauing a wedding garment When you sée saith Saint Chrysostome the leaues withered you may gesse the trée is not found at the roote when you sée the actions of life but so so is all will at the roote Are wee not rooted in faith the bud the leafe the flower the fruite all is from the roote The fire so long as it is fire it hath heate and faith so long as it is faith it hath effects Wherefore wee must take héede that wee deale not with our holy calling as Amon did with Dauids seruants when he visguised them and cut their garments in the middest Let vs not separate those whom God hath ioyned together a good profession a good conuersation good learning and good liuing A man saith Syrach may be knowne by his looke and one that hath vnderstanding may be perceiued by his gesture nay a mans garment and therefore much more his life declare what he is 9 Looke wee into the liues of the former Christians whose remembrance wee honour in our very thoughts and whose vertues we cannot but adâ—…re if we reade how they spent their time wee shall finde that their whole course was a continuall exercise of pietie they were iust in promise they needed no other surety but their word they were moderate in diet plaine in attire keeping a Decorum in all their actions They did not only with Simeon see Christ with their eyes but also take him vp in their hands and carie him about in their liues wee are for the most Christians in shew they were Christians in deede wee outwardly professe somwhat but there is a heart within meanes nothing lesse they inwardly and outwardly were the same Assuredly hee said well that said it they were happy in respect of vs who receiued with humilitie one vniforme faith vpon this foundation they did build good life we are still hampering and hammering about the very foundation and neuer settle our selues to worke not as hirelings for a reward nor as seruaunts for feare but as children for loue Tertullian setting downe the hardest censure of their greatest aduersaries sayth That excepting they would not sacrifice vnto their Idols their holinesse was such as it made their very persecutors to stand amazed at them and to crie out what a miserie is this that wee are more wearie of tormenting then these men are of enduring torments Nay it made the greatest Emperours themselues to feare poore Christians as Herod did Iohn Baptist because hee was a holy man and one that feared God Saint Basill affirmeth that the very beholding of their constancie in suffering made manie heathen men suffer with them The deuoute lyfe of a poore Captiue Christian woman as Sozoâ—…ne wryteth made a King and all his familie embrace the fayth of Iesus Christ and Eusebius sheweth that Maximinius the Emperour could not but woonder to see howe sedulous they were in doing good when their very enemies were euen consumed with miserie they tooke from their owne sustenance and small store they had to releeue them they buried their dead and neuer ceased to follow them with the works of charitie They were so religious so humble so iust so charitable as they made great tyrants to giue out Ediâ—…ts with Nabuchodonozor that none should worship any other God but the God of the Christians â—…ulian the Apostata writing to Arsatius Bishop of Cappadocia said Christiana religio propter Christianorum erga omnes â—…uiusuis religionis mortales beneficentiam propagata est This same Religion which they call Christian is spread farre and wide by reason of the great beneficence of those whom they call Christians doe shew to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ortall men of what religion so euer whence we see that the greatest enemie of the faith of Christ could not but acknowledge the sincerity of former Christians Mercifull Lord to compare our coldnes with their seruent deuotion our negligence with their industrie our faint loue with their burning charity wee shall finde such ods as we may sorrow to see our owne defects in this case Calling to minde the learning of the ancient Fathers wee may thinke they did nothing but reade séeing their workes that they did nothing but write considering their deuotion that they did nothing but pray 10 How was God glorified in these and how is God glorified in vs when wee truly serue him To this end Christ willed lys Disciples that their light should shine before men Saint Peter exhorteth that by our good works we glorifie God in the day of visitation in effect that we honour Christ by our Christian behauiour which behauiour saith Saint Cyprian is to doe the will of God which will is that we haue Stabilitatem in fide modestiam in verbis in factis institiam in operibus misericordiam in moribus disciplinam cum fratribus pacem and so foorth Stedfastnes in faith modestie in words vprightnes in action in works mercy in manners discipline and peace towards our brethren Ought not our vprightnes to be inwardly because vnto God outwardly because vnto the glory of God By this saith our Sauiour shal men know that you are my disciples when he spake of loue which loue is the accomplishment of the whole law Euery Generall in the field hath his colours whereby he and his companie are knowne Holinesse is Christes banner vnder which we all traine and kéepe a séemely Christian marche following Christ our Captaine finisher of our faith Our enemies are the assaults of sin and temptations of sathan our weapons are the shield of Faith the helmet of saluation the sword of the spirit Our conquest is a crowne of glory I haue sought saith the Apostle a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith from henceforth is laide vp for mee a crowne of righteousnes 11 Looke we vp into heauen who are there reioysing who â—…e nowe tryumphant in glory but those who were sometime militant in the works of grace who are now in that celestiall societie of Angels and there beâ—…olo the presence of God himselfe but the pure in heart and those who somtimes liued godly in the world To cast our eyes downward to whom is that wofull dungeon of darknesse so often denounced but vnto dissolute and loose seruaunts who neuer thinke on their masters returne and the account which will one day be required at their hands The schooleâ—…en do wel distinguish of a double punishment the one Damni and the other Sensus The one of losse and the other of seeling of losse when they loose for euer in glorie him whom
fighteth for you So may it be said vnto euery Christian man whose armour is the shielde of faith the sword of the spirit whose battaile is temptation whose grand Captain is Christ Iesus our Sauiour whose conquest is an immortall crowne of euerlasting glory be of good courage pluck vp a good heart the Lord of heauen earth is with thée and for thée in the conflict Chap. 8. Of Christes great compassion towards men his continuall doing good in tâ—… world and what instructions wee hence learne WHen wee enter into consideration of the great compassion of the sonne of God towardes the distressed state of man wee finde it a worke of inspeakeable mercy In the creation Dedit te tibi O man God gaue thée thy selfe but in the redemption Dedit se tibi God gaue thee himselfe In the creation of all things necessarie for man onlie sixe dayes were passed but in mans redemption thrée thirtie yâ—…res were expired in the creation pauca dixit hee spake few things in the redemption of man multa dixit mirabilia fecit hee spake many things hee did wonderfull things Adam in the state of innocencie for perfection left all his posteritie farre behind his reason was vncorrupt his vnderstanding pure his will obedient he was for knowledge of heauenly matters an excellent Diuinâ—… for the nature of things a déep Philosopher for power hee had a whole world to commaund Adam had nothing which was necessarie nowe wanting vnto him that when he saw he had all things which hee could desire in earth hee might then turne his desires towards heauen his dutie for all is to kéepe the law of his God He hath one precept amongst these many blessings this one precept is most vndutifully broken Adam vnlesse mercie step in thy felicitie and the felicitie of all thy posterity is at an end therefore behold a helper when thou art now in the pawes of the Lyon The seede of the woman shal break the Serpents head Here the Serpents hope is turned into a curse and in Christ who was to come Adams dread is turned into a blessing Behold loue which affected Adam more then Adam did affect himselfe 2 Now Christ the promised séede being come hee compares himselfe vnto that Samaritane who tooke compassion vpon the wounded man This wounded man may resemble humane nature the Priest and the Leuite that passed by the offerings and sacrifices of the law the Samaritane Christ who beholding man in this case with the eye of mercy bound vp his wounds poured in the softning oyle of grace and searching wine of contrition layeth him vpon his own nature and righteousnes therof taketh out the two Testaments bringeth him to the holy hostage of his Church commandeth his Priests to take care and charge of him and promiseth that one day they shall finde they haue not lost their labour 3 In consideration of mans fall sayth Saint Bernard mercie began to knocke at the bowels of God the Father which mercie brought with her peace as a companion on the other side trueth accompanied with iustice began to approach and contradict mercie Betweene these sisters began a long controuersie Mercie sayeth vnto God O God man this creature of thine would haue compassion shewed him being now so miserable No sayth Truth and Iustice Lorde fulfill thy word Adam that day thou eatest thou shalt die Mercie replies but thou hast made mee mercie but if thou shew no mercie I am not on the contrarie Truth saith and I am truth vnlesse I take place I abide not for euer God the father commits the deciding of all vnto God the sonne before whom Truth and Mercie speake the same things Truth saith if Adam perish not I perish and Mercie sayth if Adam be not conserued I languish Well let death be good and let both haue that they desire let Adam die and yet for all that let Adam haue mercy and liue O admirable wisedome but how can death be good séeing the death of sinners is worst of all Let one be found which of loue may die and yet is not subiect to death The motion séemed good but where may any such be found Truth séekes about the earth and cannot find one cleane from sinne no not an Infant of one day mercy goeth vp to heauen and there findes none that hath this loue as to leaue life for sinners these sisters returne at the time appointed not finding that which was required At the last peace calling them aside and comforting them sayeth You knowe there is none that doeth good no not one hee that gaue you this counsell when all is done must surely giue you help whereat the vmpire began to procéede and calling the Angell Gabriel said Goe tell the daughter of Sion Behold her king commeth Let these sisters now accord in one and let that of the Prophet be confirmed Mercie and truth are met together righteousnes peace haue kissed each other now Truth thou shalt haue thy right for Adam shal die and Mercy here is thy desire Adam shall be restored to life O happy harmony who euer reade of such wisedom and loue it was Gods goodnes to think vpon vs it was his bounty to reléeue vs this is the fountaine froÌ„ whence our riuers come the Sea from which all our waters arise Here mercy is the wine that gladdeth mans heart and loue is the oyle that makes him to haue a chéerefull countenance Martha said Lord he whom thou louest is sick as if the loue of Christ were enough to moue him to a worke of loue Thus much of Christes compassion towards the state of man in general 4 For his continuall doing good in the world his pitty was euer pardoning his wisedome was euer teaching his liberality was euer giuing his compassion was euer helping all his teaching whereunto did it tend but vnto the remission of sinnes all this tends to our consolation For his sincerity of life while he walked in the world Tertullian bids the Romaines but reade their owne Registers there they should finde mention of the faultlesse conuersation of Iesus the sonne of the virgin Mary his doing good was in effect our good looke what was due to his obeence to wit loue to his desert to wit reward to his humility to wit honour to his sorrow to wit ioy to his death to wit life to his victory to wit tryumph all is attributed vnto vs. His merites became our merites his suffering our satisfaction his ioyes our ioyes hee fed many in the wildernesse with materiall bread and he imparted the bread of life vnto whole multitudes that came to heare his most diuine doctrine If we respect his goodnes hee was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 goodnes it selfe if his clemencie he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 placability it selfe for curing the diseased a Phisitian both of body and soule for reléeuing those that were miserable he was a priuiledged place whereunto al might repair as
stand some runne headlong they wel know not whither in the bent of their owne wils others are wauing vp and downe in opinions all are as a body cleane out of course and subiect to a dissolution on the contrarie where gouernours ordaine a law and all harken vnto the law because a law without partialitie doth speake indifferently vnto all there is obedience there is concord there is continuance in wel doing 2 Nowe for those of all other who liue vnder the lawe of lawes to wit the law of grace for those I say before all other to shewe all dutifull obedience to rulers and gouernours placed ouer them by God what more séemely more Christian branches of one vine stones of one building fellowes in one familie children of one Father members of one head nay heires of one Kingdome what more beséeming then amongst these people to obey rulers and rulers to obey God When Moyses is praying Iosua leading Israell obeying God blessing and prospering all O happie are the people that are in such a case The water saith Saint Cyprian that is separated from the fountaine drieth the bough that is cutte from the trée withereth the light that is remooued from the Sunne vanisheth the people all say hee that will not obey Iosuah let him die Christian Religion as it doth bind men in duty and deuotion to God so doth it also containe them within the lists and limits of duty and obedience towards man knowing that the powers that are are ordained of God The onely example of our Sauiour Christs obedience doth ouerthrow at one touch the loftie and Babylonicall building of stubborne spirits who refuse conformitie and obedience to gouernment amongst men At his very birth obedience was shewed when the B. Uirgine came to Bethlem to be taxed his Circumcision was his obedience to the law his presentation in the Temple was the same his paying tribute and exhorting others to do the like shewed how much hee allowed and established ciuill obedience to superiours and gouernours in giuing euery one his due The Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paule exhort héereunto the one willing vs to obey for Gods sake the other for conscience sake The practise of the Primitiue Church not only in laying down their liues when rulers were tyrants but when the Church had the countenance of authority vnder those good Emperours Constantine Iouiman Theodosius Valetninian others sheweth howe dutifully and orderlie Christians liued for obedience aboue all Nations and people of the world Eleutherius commendeth Lucius a King of this land for his gouerning the people according to the lawes of God and S. Ambrose praiseth Valentinian for the same 3 Now where is the opinion of those men who thought themselues fréed from obedience by a vaine surmise of Christian libertie surely it is so slender as almost it is not worth the refuting the misunderstanding of some Scriptures which they haue hammered in the forge of their weake braines haue caused them to roue and range into humors forth are they wont to be striken with a spirit of giddines that would be singular and aboue others Princes of the Nations beare rule amongst you it shall not be so What a farre set consequent is this and a silly reasoning The Apostles must not haue a tyrannical authority one ouer another as Nero Caligula and such tyrants had therefore Christian people should not liue in obedience to superiours We are fréed from the law therefore called to Christian liberty but subiection taketh away liberty If free then where is restraint S. Peter tels vs that ignorant men peruert scriptures the answere is plaine Christian liberty fréeeth vs from the bondage of the law and the seruitude of sinne but most fitly agréeth with obedience to rulers and in rulers to God himselfe who saith By me Princes raigne The Apostle telleth vs that in the latter dayes Men shall be louers of themselues disobedient headie high minded hauing a shew of godlinesse and from such he saith Turne away Saint Iude also saith These are murmurers and complainers walking after their owne lusts but edifie your selues saith he in your most holy faith 4 The first precept is Peare God the second Honour the King as if the wiseman would say both goe together To shew that we must homage our hearts to our heauenly Father It is so manifest as none cannot but know it yet séeing we liue in that calamitie of times wherein men forget almost whose creatures they are we had néed to be put in mind of this duty which we owe vnto the king of kings Faith saith he is our Father obedience saith Ergo worship him Our alleageance towards him is deuotion loue nature hath taught vs to acknowledge as much The light which is borne with vs doth shew vs we haue a duty to performe to the God of heauen The greatest Emperors of this world are his subiects they haue God ouer them men beholding what they do Aske the poore and naked Indians they will tell vs that religion is no matter of pollicie that there is another magistrate then the magistrate of this world to whom in nature they yéeld obedience We are all Gods creatures by existence his Clyents by law his children by adoption his people by obedience Thousand thousands serue him in glory who knowes as veritie sits as maiestie loues as charitie and rules as equity Heathen Philosophers can tell vs it is ingrafted in man to pray to offer sacrifice If wee are distressed wee séeke vnto God if wee haue want we craue succour of him the submission therefore of our soules is the tribute wee should giue while the soule is the soule 5 Now as wee shew our obedience to God so ought we shew obedience also to those who haue a subordinate power and are set ouer vs by God it is not thée said the Lord to Samuel but it is me whom this people haue refused It is not so much the ruler set ouer them by God as God himselfe whom disobedient people refuse to obey hee that resisteth the power saith the Apostle resisteth the ordinance of God because there is no power but of God For the cōfirmatiō of this we finde that God hath punished from time to time murmurers mutinous people as by that of Dathan Corah Abiram whom he made an example for others and the Apostle S. Paule hath reference to this when hee sayth Neither murmure you as some of them murmured and were destroyed of the destroyer These came vpon them for an example Wish no euill in thine heart vnto the ruler of the people for the bird of the aire shal disclose it Should we not honour them whom God hath honoured And loue them whom God hath loued Doe we not sit down vnder their gouernment as vnder a shadow kéeping vs from the heate and stormes when wee are defended from inuasion abroad and
oppression at home When the Queene of the South came from farre to heare the wisedome of Salomon beholding his princely order magnificent state shee had heard much but saw more what doth she but by and by begin to magnifie the Author of Salomons estate O blessed be the Lord thy God saith she which loued thee to set thee on the throne as King in stead of the Lord thy God because thy God loueth Israel for euer to mâ—…ke thee King to doe equitie and righteousnes As if she would haue saide O Salomon such a state such a gouernment such a peace such a time such a temple such wisedome it is not of man nor from man Blessed be the Lord thy God which loued thee to set thee on the throne of Israel 7 Affectionate were the harts of the people to Dauid their king whom God had set ouer them what should Dauid aduenture himselfe O no better it were that many miscarie yea tenne thousand say the people as it were with teares of thankfulnesse God saue our Dauid for iâ—… Dauid goe the light of Israel is extinguished they would not the least hurt should befall him who was the stay of them all and therefore as humble suters seemed to begge his preseruation at the handes of God Those of Beâ—…hulia sayde to Iudith thou art the reioycing of our Nation good Iudith thou hast done much good in Israel blessed be thou of God The Apostle willeth that praiers and supplications and giuing of thanks be made for all for Kings and all that are in authoritie that wee may liue a peaceable life vnder them in all godlinesse and honestie Great cause had the men of Israell to beseech God that Iosias might continue with them for if hee were taken away it was because hee should not sée the euill to come O saith the Prophet saue and deliuer Dauid from the hand of strange children that there be no leading into captiuitie nor no complayning in our stréetes And thus should we adde vnto obedience loue to loue prayer for whom God amongst men hath set in commission with himselfe to rule for him His debetur saith Tertullian honor propter excellentiaÌ„ timor propter dataÌ„ potestatem obedientia propter morale debitum amor propter affectionis operationeÌ„ To these honour is due for their excellencie feare for their power giuen them obedience for ciuill dutie tribute for the preseruation of peace loue for affection which bringeth forth prayer and piety so what should Christians of all other in the world but honour them whom God hath placed in his owne roome for the establishing of his owne lawes worship heere beneath amongst men and specially appointed ouer his Church which is the company of Christian people for the quiet and conseruation thereof according to that of the Prophet spoken â—…ong before Kings shal be thy nursing Fathers and Queenes thy nursing Mothers Chap. 21. That Christians may lawfully enioy earthly commodities and possesse riches but how should they be affected towards them MAn who consisteth of two parts the one earthly the other heauenly hath answerable hereunto meanes alotted him of God for the preseruation of either and therefore first temporal things for the state being and in good tune eternall for the time to come Before God created man he first made him prouision and God said Adam haue dominion ouer the fish of the Sea the fowles of the ayre euery thing that moueth vpon the earth and againe Adam I haue giuen thée euery hearbe bearing seede and euery trée in which is fruit and so euery thing serues Adam and Adam is onely to serue God Abrahams seruant sayde God hath blessed our Maister Abraham meruailously hee hath giuen him Shéepe Oxen siluer and gold men seruants and mayde seruants Iacob speaking of his two bands or great heards of shéepe and Cammels that went befoâ—…e him saith With my staffe or without any prouision at all a poore lone man as it were came I ouer this Iordan Lord I am not worthy of the least of thy mercies As if Iacob should haue said these Kine and Bullockes these Asses and Foales all this substance round about me They are the mercies of God and so come from the great store-house of heauen There was a man in the land of Uz called Iob an vpright and iust man and one that feared God and eschewed euill saith the holy Scripture The next thing mentioned of Iob is his substance was very great yea hee was the greatest of all the men of the East hee was withall iust vpright one that feared God he did not forget God when hee shold most haue remembred him that is when he was blessed and prospered by him but as hee abounded in riches amongst men so did he also encrease or abound in deuotion towards God whoÌ„ he feared Iob did sacrifice euery day Héere was right possessing of earthly substance rich godly together rich in godly actions this was a rich man indéede when both met together If riches encrease there is the encrease of riches which are giuen from God himselfe Set not thy heart vpon them there is the vse of riches and with what prouiso we doe enioy them 2 To call in question whither Gods people may possesse earthly coÌ„modities is an inuention more strange then true hee which would haue euery Trybe a part alotted for an inheritance for them and theirs amongst his people did entend no other but that they should successiuelie haue an inheritance to possesse and why hee hath giuen the earth and earthly things vnto the sonnes of men The lawes of nature and Nations tell vs that amongst men there must be meum tuum mine and thine and the Gospel doth well accord with this as requisite amongst Christians Accipe quod tuum est take that which is thine or that which God hath alotted thée out and giuen thee to enioy The Apostles say where shal we buy so there was possessed wherewithall to buy It was a méere irreligious rapinous and scoffing deuise of Iulian to spoile and pray vpon both the goods of the Church and people of God after this manner If thou wilt be perfect leaue all that thou hast onely séeke treasure in heauen this is fittest for men of your profession who haue renounced the world The like saide Foelix that was a great agent vnder the before named Iulian beholding the munificence and ornaments of the Church with what sumptuous vessels is the sonne of Marie ministred vnto in short time this vnhappy Foelix did come to wretched end The like said Auxentius when hee would haue the Church and Church possessions to wast and consume them as hee list but S. Androse tels him if Naboth would not leaue his Fathers inheritance should I quoth he leaue Christs inheritance These be but shifts pretended when the greatest persecutors of Christians could formally tell them Their God was no
gatherer of money or possessor of riches that their account should not be for thinges transitorie wherefore they did them good in vnburdening them of these troublesome possessions and as for greater reuenewes downe with them downe with them euen to the ground 3 There was no fitter way as these men thought of ruinating Christs religion then by taking away those meanes whereby the exercise of Religion was continued and surely it was so for soone would the publike practise of religion decay were there not some meanes by temporall commodities for the continuance thereof To this end therfore endowments were first alotted out by God to the tâ—…e of Leui and since hath he stirred vp good men to shewe great bountifulnes this way The people neuer thought it a burden to bring vnto the tabernacle and the well disposed haue béene glad they had somewhat to dispose for the setting forth of the seruice of God accounting it a mercy of God they had the honour to doe good For the vse therefore and exercise of Christes Religion wée sée in the first place not onely how lawfully but howe religiously these temporall and earthly possessions may be enioyed and that the Church may vse lawfullie those benefits wherewith God hath blessed her For the state of Christians in generall both the hungry conceite of those of whom Epiphanius maketh mention in former times and the running fancie of the Anabaptists of latter time who would bring in a mingle mangle partly consisting of a platonicall communitie and affected pouertie is most dissonant froÌ„ the state and gouernment of Christians who should rather be helpfull then chargeable to others by works of deuotion hospitalitie and such like honour God Pharao cries vpon the Israelites to haue them make their stint and number of bricke and yet takes away that which might yéeld them meanes to accomplish their worke Christians must féed Christ in the hungrie cloath him in the naked harbour him in the harbourlesse let these men shew how this shold be done if earthly riches be not possessed but riches say they are the Mammon of iniquitie and the possession of them is the roote of euill True some men haue hurt themselues with weapons not vsing them as they ought as these doe in misapplying of holy Scriptures therfore take away the vse of both generally from all This is a farre fet inference and from the rule of common reason That riches are called the riches of iniquity it is not so said as if they were in themselues so but the default is that oftentimes they become so by the fault of those that possesse them It is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the matter of money but it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that same loue of money that is the roote of euill Sathan soonest preuailed with Iudas that bare the bagge yea that loued the bag This was the cause of that our Sauiour spake How hard it is for rich men to enter into the kingdome of heauen because rich men for the most part are so caried away with the loue of riches so that they oftentimes forget forgoe the loue of God for a little drosse and baggage of the worth This was the cause that made the young man in the Gospel sorrowfull euery word of our Sauiour was a sworde that did pearce his heart Goe and therfore make no delay sell therefore depart froÌ„ hence out of hand All that thou hast and therefore thy whole substance Giue and therefore fréely bestow vnto the poore and therefore to them that cannot recompence thée againe The text saith He was rich and went away sorrowfull and surely so it is that rich men in these cases are much sorrowfull Christ our Sauiour likeneth riches to thornes and if riches be in couetous mens hearts no meruaile though they haue many sorrowes for the nature of thornes is they are pricking and choking and they grow thick 4 Now though riches sometimes and to some men are the occasion of euill when we séeke them to follow vanities and liue without controlement it doth not therefore follow that they are so generally vnto all True it is that we should not trust in such vncertaine riches nor stay our selues vpon these inferiour and transitorie things but minde a state of all continuance to come yet this renouncing of the world in affection and loue doth not enioyne an vtter contempt of all earthly benefits which wee may vse to the good of our selues others yet somtimes forsake for the loue of heauenly things When Christ our Sauiour saide Feare not them which can kill the body he doth not exclude all reuerence and feare to be giuen vnto such but the meaning is doe not so feare them as you neglect to feare him which hath power to kill both body and soule When hee sayeth Labour not for the meate that perisheth but labour for the meate which perisheth not Hee doth not thâ—…eby dehort vs from labouring for the meate which perisheth but this is spoken per modum comparationis by way of comparison that is doe not so labour for the meate that perisheth that you neglect to labour for the meate that perisheth not So when hee sayeth First seeke the Kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof It is not contradictorie to that of the Apostle Prouide afore hand thinges necessarie Prouide for thinges necessarie hath his time so that our Sauiours Primum quaerite regnum Dei be first remembred First séeke the Kingdome of Heauen and the righteousnes therof It was not saide in solicitudine in carefulnes but in labore that is in labour thou shalt eate thy bread nay it is not so much the care as the inordinate care of earthly thinges which the Gréeke text hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is there dehorted The care for the life present and thinges necessarie thereunto is in the Apostle commended but in the Euangelist the care of heauenly things is preferred hee that prouideth afore hand for thinges of this life as hee that giueth his virgine into marriage doth well but hee that prouideth for thinges appertayning to the life to come as hee that giueth not his Uirgine doth better The desires of thinges necessarie for our aboade heere are manie but the desire of and for our heauenly being is more commendable Rachell was the fairer though Lea was the fruitfuller our onely care to possesse heauen and heauenly thinges is like Marthas part which Christ said should neuer be taken from her 5 This notwithstanding a sufficiencie for the maintenance of life the lawfull vse of worldly goods possessions may be continued so we vse them as Mariners doe their oares to help them along till they come to the Hauen or as Way-faring men doe their staues which willingly they lay aside when their iourney is done the scope is that wee be indifferent vnto riches thinke of them in Christianitie as the
Apostles indéede saith Saint Austen left not much but yet looke what they were willing to â—…eaue for the loue of Christ and we shall finde it more then many kingdomes By this example of the Apostles wee learne to forsake thrée things for the loue of Christ by their Nets the pleasures of the flesh which are wont to take men and snare them by the ship the riches of the world which doth carie vs away from the hauen of true rest by their father and mother those thinges that are néerest and dearest to vs in the world all these must wee leaue for the loue of Christ. 4 There is a néerer coniunction betwéene Christ the faithfull then there is with father and mother of them wee haue Esse naturae a being in nature but of Christ Esse gratiae a being in grace of them our being of Christ our well being To honor father and mother is the fist commaundement but to honour God is the first commaundement of the law to shew that to honour God is aboue all It is sayde Man shal leaue father and mother and liue with his wife but he must leaue father and mother wife and all to dwell in loue with Iesus Christ. S Ierome sayth if my father stoode wéeping on his knées before me and my mother were behinde mee pulling mee backe Iâ—… all my bâ—…hren sisters kâ—…folkes and children on euery side were about to 〈◊〉 â—…e in a sinfuâ—… life I would despise them all fling oâ—… my mother runne ouer my Father to goe to Christ who calleth me Whosoeuer hateth not his Father for my sake a strange speech to heare charity it selfe speake of hate and much more to exhort it but consider how it is spoken not litterally or simply to hate for how could hee speake so that so much honoured his Father and mother and gaue a law for the performance of this duty of loue but if Father and mother will be loued more then Christ or draw vs from his loue then as God said vnto Abraham get thée from thy owne Country and kindred so get thée in this case from Father and mother yea goe a step farther animam tuam a Gods name forsake thy owne life forsake all rather then forsake the loue of Christ O take not away Beniamin sayes Iacob for if Beniamin be gone the ioy of Israel is gone O leaue not the loue of Iesus Christ for if that forsake vs all the world cannot comfort vs. In the eight of S. Mathewes Gospel one excuseth himselfe for not following Christ saying Maister suffer me to burie my Father hee had a loue to Christ marie regard of his father stayes him from the performance of any duty but our Lord admits no excuse of carnall affection when he cals the father saith S. Austen is to be honoured but euermore God is to be preferred the father in earth should haue honour but the Father in heauen more 5 One compareth the state of a distressed man vnto that steward in the Gospell who was called by his maister suddenly to giue an account of great substance committed to his charge this man not able in the world to make any account being afraide his dealings had bin so slender to look his master in the face in this distressed condition hee knowes not what to doe he must giue an account a great account and a great account suddenly at last hee be thinkes himselfe of three friends he had and he resolues in this necessitie to make tryall of them what they would doe for him Hee comes vnto the â—…rst of these friends opening his griefe this friend tels him that he could finde in his hart to doe him good but hee had so many to pleasure that he must nâ—…des be pardoned for this tâ—…me and so leaues him This done he commeth vnto his second friend and sheweth him as vnto the first his miserable estate prayes him to speake a good word for him surely saith he I would speake for thée but to tell thée a plaine truth when I come before thy M. I shal rather speake against thée then for thee nowe was this distressed man more sorrowfull then euer hee hath one onely friend which hee had often iniuried and therefore was ashamed to go vnto him yet at last hee comes and makes his moane vnto him This friend had no sooner heard the case of this miserable distressed man but forthwith hee goes and makethfull satisfaâ—…tion and account in his owne person for all the debt The first of these thrée friends is the world which hath so manie to pleasure as the distressed sinner findes little comfort if at any time he craue helpe of it The second friend is the law of God which will rather speake against him then for him The tâ—…ird is our Lord Iesus the surest friend of all whose loue is more déere vnto vs then heart can conceiue this is the friend that will stand by vs when all faile vs should wee not therefore forsake all for his sake Should we with Deâ—…as follow the world because it hath a littâ—…e more pleasure then Paul No S. Paules crowne of glory will make amendes for all 6 What should possesse our harts wholy rather then the loue of Christ The soule is as an house possessed of a tenant which is the loue of God that when the desire of earthly thinges doth come there is no roome the house is taken vp before Way faring men when they see the Iâ—…ne fuâ—… they passe along Wandring desires when they sée our hearts full of the loue of God away they goe In the Gospell by S. Luke a certaine mâ—…n sayes vnto our Sauiour Lord I will followe thee Christ telleth him that the Foxes had holes the birdes had nests but the Sonne of man had not where to hide his head In effect if thou wilt follow mee for proâ—…s sake and a little commâ—…dity héere thou art not fit to be one of my Disciples for if thou doe follow me it must be for loues sake and this loue for my sake must make theé forsake all Non attenditur quantum relinquitur sed qua voluntate It is not so much regarded howe much wee leaue as with what wil we leaue all things in the world 7 We reade that soâ—… heathen Philosophers haue left all earthlie cares for the loue of learning but much â—…ore â—…uld wee doe it in following Christ because too many cares of this worlde doe much trouble vs as much seruing did Martha Chap. 23. Of Christes many myracles and what we learne by them THat wee might learne to know him to be the true Messias which was sent into the world Christ confirmed his heauenly doctrine by many heauenly déedes that those whom his teaching could not moue at least his dâ—…uine working might compell The people were content to heare his sermons so they might sée his myracles and Christ was content they should sée his myracles so
weeping and mourning heereafter they shall haue all teares wiped froÌ„ their eyes The prophet Ezechiel when hee came to sée the glory of the Lord in the Sanctuarie he was brought about by the North wee passe along by many sorrowes and then come to sée the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the lyuing Of mournfull euents Ieremie said This is my sorrow and I will beare it causes of wéeping and wailing are somtimes offered Eli saide it is the Lord let him doe as it séemeth good vnto him hee that nowe goeth forth wéeping shall surely returne saith the Prophet Dauid bring his stâ—…aues with him those that a time mourne with Christ shall reioyce when the laughing world shall weepe Christ sowed in teares it was that wee all should reape in ioy Chap. 27. Of Christs passion his suffering vpon the Altar of the Crosse for the sinnes of the world and saluation of our soules how and with what deuotion all Christians should meditate thereof ALthough in meditating the holy vertues of Christ our Sauiour which worthily require our most deuotionate consideration wee are much moued I doubt it not yet when we begin to call to minde his passion then ought wee to be euen caried away from our selues by admiring his goodnes towardes vs And héere is it saide to deuoute soules as it was to the disciples in the Garden hic sedete sit yee here Let vs not say vnto Christ with the Iewes come down froÌ„ the crosse but let vs fasteÌ„ our selues to his crosse Let vs goe with the blessed virgine to mount Caluâ—…rie and stand by a while beholding in mournfull manner what is done and when wee haue beheld vntill they haue done crucifying the sonne of God then with Ioseph and Nichodemus let vs take downe and annoynt his crucified body with the swéetest perfumes of prayers and prayse our hearts can yéeld putting it in the new Sepulcher of our holiest meditation of them who thus doe it may be saide as Dauid saide to those who brought him word they had honourably buried their maister Saule Blessed are you of the Lord the Lord recompence you this mercie The Lord to recompence them this deuotion that thus doe And blessed be they of the Lord c. who thus reuerence the Lord of Lords 2 And now to enter a while into the consideration hereof Christ louâ—…dvs saith the Apostle and gaue himselfe a sweet smelling sacâ—…fice and oblation vnto God Wherein wee may consider these thrée thinges first the mouing cause to wit loue Christus dilexit nos Christ loued vs. Secondarily the offering which this loue caused him to offer Obtulit seipsum hee gaue himselfe Thirdly the end why hee gaue this offering Vt esseâ—… propitiatio Dei patris That hee might be a reconciliation for man with God the Father For the first to wit loue the mouing cause of all if a mother loue her child because it cost her paine neuer Mother bought her sonne with so great paine as Christ bought vs. What greater loue is there then for one to giue his life for his friend yet greater was thy loue O holie Sonne of God who gauest thy life for vs that were thine enemies Doubtlesse saith the Apostle one will scarce die for a righteous man and yet one is found to die for vs that were vnrighteous and then too when it was in his power to die or not to die These things may be coÌ„sidered that his loue that loued sinners that the Sonne of God his loue to incite our affection to him hee thâ—… had not sinnes of his owne a signe he suffered for the sinnes of others The greatest perfection and force of loue say the Philosophers is the force vnitiue and this was neuer in any so forceable as in Christ when he would vnite vnto himselfe his Church or Congregation which accordeth with that of the holy Ghost Let a man so loue his wife as Christ loued the Congregation The wife is chargeable but farre more chargeable was the Congregation to the Sonne of God 3 For the offering it selfe it was himselfe Aaron and all his sonnes neuer made such an offering as this was he gaue himselfe a sacrifice Why was there nothing in heauen or earth that could haue béene offered else Was there no other sacrifice to be had but innocent Isaack Must none be approoued to make a reconciliation for man but the sonne of man was sinne then so heynous that nothing could â—…eanse the contagion thereof but the death of an innocent Lambe Stand and heare a little O sinfull man thy Sauiour himselfe speaking vnto thée For thy sake doe I suffer all this for thy sake doe I offer my selfe as thou séest a sacrifice vpon the Crosse all this doe I doe for the loue of thée thy sinnes are the thornes that pearced my head the speare that opened my side thy delicates was the vinegar and gall that I dranke thy libertie and loosenesse was the nailes that fastned mee to the Crosse sée whither thy sinne thy vanities O man haue brought mee Behold me suffering for thée to reconcile thée vnto my Father Doth hee not by this O Christian man enflame thée with his loue strengthen thée with his merite and comfort thy sorrowfull heart with his aboundant mercie if he were punished for vs then were we punishable of our selues When nowe iustice had taken place and began to waxe â—…ercer and fiercer amongst the rest of the people Aaron makes spéede takes the censer in his hand puts on fire goes quickly vnto the Congregation to make an attonement for them This attonement hath our Aaron made for vs all wheÌ„ he offered no other offering then himselfe 4 What hath man more to offer or to giue then his goods his honour and his life all this hath Christ offered and giuen for vs his goods when he left his kingdome in heauen his honor when he was reproched of men his life when he yéelded vp the same for all vpon the Altar of the Crosse. But how many indignities did he suffer before he came to the accomplishment heereof when as like a méeke Lambe hee was caried and recariâ—…d from iudgement to iudgement when hee was mocked and scorned of all forts In his suffering it selfe wee may consider amongst whom where and when he suffered amongst whom euen his owne people Pilat saide Thine owne Nation hath deliuered thee vnto me Where at Ierusalem the Kings Citie and there without the gate of the same Citie in a place called Calâ—…arie where théeues murderers were wont to suffer When was al this done but in the chiefest solemnitie of the Iewes at which time no â—…all concourse of people from all places were assembled might behold what was done accorâ—…ng to that O vos omnes qui transitis per viam attendite si est dolor sicut dolor meus O all you that passe by beholde and see if there were euer sorrow like my sorrow From
vs his righteousnesse hee gaue himselfe a sacrifice to saue vs and wee giue our selues a sacrifice to serue him Chap. 28. Of Christs resurrection from the dead and how the veritie hereof doth much strengthen our Christian faith LOue saith Salomon is as strong as death wee shall see in the resurrection of our Lord this verified whom we haue considered in his passion dying for our sinnes for héere we find that loue which was stronger then death Now behold we him as a Champion returning from thâ—… spoiles after so many labours and trauailes now méete we him with gratulation Our Dauid hath slaine his ten thousand our Eagle is renued our Phenix is reuiued our Ionas is come safe and sound from the belly of the Whale Our Sunne that went downe in a ruddy cloude is risen againe with glorious beames of light our graine of corne that was cast into the earth is sprung up and flourisheth our Ioseph is deliuered out of prison our Sampson hath caried away the gates 〈◊〉 his enemies our spouse is 〈◊〉 the voyce of the Turtle is â—…ard in our land Christ our reâ—…er is risen from the dead He is risen early that was late in the euening layde in the Sepulâ—…r after his dolefull passion hee is risen hee is risen whereâ—… with the Prophet wee say Sorrowe may endure for a night but ioy commeth in the morning Christ hastened his resurrecâ—…n that his disciples might not 〈◊〉 long dwel in sorrow he would â—…t their mournful harts should 〈◊〉 reciue comfort Christ rose â—…ly the third day to haue layen â—…ger might haue bred doubt of 〈◊〉 rising to haue rose sooner of 〈◊〉 dying Had only the sorrowâ—… Apostles or those women â—…at came mourning vnto the â—…epalcher the ioy of the resurâ—…ion No this was the ioy of thousand thousandes which may say with Dauid This is the day of the Lord wee will reioyce and be glad in it Looke we vnto the passion before mentioned there wee sée wéeping and wayling sorrowe and suffering on euery side The blessed virgine the Disciples full of heauines now all is turned into ioy The Angell appeareth in white the women runne and tell the Disciples they scarce beléeue either the Angels or one another for ioy A little before the stone is refused of the builders Deliuer vnto vs Barrabas nowe is this stone the head of the corner which ioynes together the building of two nations both Iewes and Gentiles A little before we haue no other King but Caesar now is hee a King aboue all Caesars A little before he trusted in God let him deliuer him if he wil haue him Now is he deliuered and God is with him hee with God A little before is he a lamb â—…ed vnto the slaughter but now a Lion of the tribe of Iuda A little before he was in humility and â—…ged of others now is he risen to appeare the Iudge both of quick dead at the right hand of God aboue in glory 2 Wherfore O faithfull Christian man reioyce in the Lorde yea saith the Apostle againe I say reioyce reioyce in the resurrection of thy Sauiour for manie are the benfites that hence â—…rise Nowe is thy Lorde returned from the battaile nay from the conquest ouer the deuill sinne hell and death thanks be vnto God that hath giuen vs the victorie by Iesus Christ our Lord. Beléeue that his resurâ—…ion was the cause of thy resurrection for hee which raysed Christ from the dead shall also rayse these our mortall bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in vs. If thou consider this thou shalt haue consolation agaynst all feare and dread of death for thou mayst say I knowe that my Redeemer liueth Againe I will lay me downe to sleepe and take my rest for the Lord maketh me to dwell in safety Because this was so behâ—…uefull a poynt for the stay of our christian faith Christ appeared so often vnto his Apostles after his resurrection communed with them as at other times so then especially when their hearts did burne within them as hee opened the Scriptures shewing them the veritie of his resurrection The Apostles whose charge was to teach glad tydings vnto the world the first tydings they taught was the doctrine of the resurrection The Euangelists doe most diligently set foorth vnto vs the resurrection of Christ as a thing profitable and ioyfull to all faithfull beléeuers for in the resurrection wee sée how Christ is exalted and what hope wee haue in him This they lay downe with many circumstances both by testimonies before and after before that hee had told his Disciples he must die and rise againe after in that he was conuersant amongst them forty dayes walked in the way with two of them communing of the thinges that â—…re done at Ierusalem and surely in time of sorrow to comâ—…ne of Christ and talke of him in our wearisome iourney of this life shall much comfort vs at this time Christ walketh with them their vnderstanding is opened 3 The women come vnto the Sepulcher and view euery place throughly they finde the stone â—…ed away the linnen cloathes â—…aining a signe his body was not taken away but risen for these were together laid with his body in the Sepulcher the body â—…ne the Angels testifie he is risen what say the Souldiours to this First they confesse a truth afterward corrupted with mony they giue out his Disciples had stolen away his body while they were a sleepe If they were a sleepe howe saw they the Disciples steale away the body If they were not a sléepe how could a fewe weake fishers take away the body from a band or company of armed Souldiours but let them confesse the truth as they did before vnto the high Priests and after when they were charged that they had séene a vision of Angels that he was risen indéede So the veritie is inuincible and the ioy great of the resurrection Wee see a desire and loue to Christ in Peter and Iohn for why they runne to the Sepulcher affection makes vs diligent the women come with sweet odors to annoint the body we haue no swéet odors but manie vnsauorie sins to bring vnto the resurrection there to offer vp the incense of our praise which is the swéetest offering our harts can yéeld Mary commeth néere her Lord Christ saith vnto her Woman touch me not not but that Christ had a body tangible after his resurrection but Mary touch me not doe not so much affect my presence héere on earth as my presence in heauen By this we learne to know and honour Christ as he is risen sitteth at the right hand of God aboue S. Paul writing to Timoâ—…e saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Remember that Iesus Christ is risen from the â—…ad When the Teacher giues his Scholler many lessons if he giue him one amongst that rest with 〈◊〉 Momento Remember this he thinks that of all
part and the will the intellectuall part to disceâ—…ne the will to desire heauenly thinges these were restored by the holy spirit If we respect our sâ—…nctification we were as Naaman the Syrian vntill our waâ—…ing in this Iordan therefore is the spirit of God called Spiritus sanctus the holy Spirit eyther to discerne it from other spirits or else of the powerfull effect when it makes vs holy If wee respect the darknes of our vnderstanding the holy ghost is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Illuminatio an â—…lightning of the minde of man If wee respect the strengthening of our â—…aith against terrours of conscience within The spirit of God doth beare witnesse saith the Apostle to our spirit whereby wee crie Abba Father If we respect the calamities of the world without Christ promising to send his Apostles this holy spirit sayde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The comforter or Aduocate shall come vnto you to chéere vp their sorrowfull soules in all aduersities If wee respect the mortification of the flesh the same Apostle tels vs that wee doe this by the helpe of the holie spirit If wee respect the vnderstanding it was deafe and dumb vntill the holy Ghost said Ephata And what neede wee more to shewe howe expedient it was for vs and still is that we be partakers of the holy spirit without the vitall spirit what is the mortall body but an earthly carkasse without this holy spirit what is the soule of man but a Sepulcher of sinne That there doth dwell in vs a liuing spirit our liuing actions shewe that there is in vs a diuine spirit our diuine actions approue When heathen mâ—…n did perceiue that there was something in them which did moue them to argue to discourse to compare thinges present with things to come they did straightway gather that there was in man more then a lumpish bodie and therefore they inferred that there was a soule but when the children of God doe finde something within them that makes them to pray to repent that â—…pes them from falling into a thousand vndooinges they straightwayes perceiue that there is a man within the man to 〈◊〉 the diuine spirit of God himselfe Motum sentimus modum â—…scimus we feele the motion we know no the manner God gaue the people Angels food from heaâ—…en they called it Manna saying Lord what is this Hauing diâ—…ine inspirations from aboue which we find mouing in vs good desires we say Lord what is this This is the holy Ghost And therfore for this article of our beléefe it may be said we doe not so much heate with our â—…ares or sée with our eyes Credo in spiritum sanctum but finde it true in our verie soules I beleeue in the holy ghost 4 That this holy Ghost is God by our beléeuing in him we acknowledge as much Peter said vnto Anaâ—…ias Why hast thou lyed vnto the holy Ghost he by and by addeth Thou hast not lied vnto any man but vnto God The holy ghost therefore is God The Apostle S. Paul saith to the Corinthians Know you not that your bodies are the Temples of the holy Ghost Hee by and by willeth them to glorifie God in their bodies The holy Ghost therefore is God Whosoeuer hath power of cleansing from sinne the same is God but this power hath the holy Ghost the holy Ghost therefore is God Et tetigit labia et abstulit peccati saith Esay Hee touched my lips and tooke away my sinnes Last of all to whom so euer wee giue glory the same is God but as vnto the Father and vnto the Sonne glory is giuen so also is it vnto the holy ghost The Cherubins crie three times Holy holy holy as speaking vnto thrée and yet in the wordes following Lord God of Hosts as appliable vnto one Wee meruaile when we consider that men shall goe to God but we doe not so much meruaile at this that God doth come to men 5 A familiar thing is it amongst those that loue to leaue pledges of loue Ionathan to shew his loue to Dauid left with him the coate that was vpon him and other things his sword his â—…ow â—…s pledges of his loue Elias wheÌ„ he was taken vp into heauen left â—…is cloake with his seruant our Ionathan hath left with vs a pledge of loue a pledge of our heaâ—…enly inheritance that is to come â—…ur Elias hath left vs a cloake O precious garment our nuptiall ornament This is that cloathing which doth couer our vnrighteousnes let vs make much of this garment wherein wee come with Iacob for a blessing When the woman of Samaria heard our Sauiour Christ tell of a water which being once drunk of the party should neuer thirst againe she said Lord giue me of this water So when wee doe heare of that spirit which doth sanctifie our soules cleanse our sinnes comfort our consciences â—…minate our vnderstanding strengthen our faith and is as a pledge vnto vs of Gods diuine loue nay of glory to come as the woman saide Lord giue mee of this water so may wee all say Lord giue vs of this spirit 6 The excellent effectes of this diuine spirit may be gathered by the manner of the appearing of the same spirit as in a cloude at our Sauiours transfiguration in forme of a Doue at his Baptisme and vpon the Apostles in fierie tongues The cloude may signifie moysture or the dew of heauen The Doue the diuine verities of humility meekenes and peace the fierie tongues of fierie because the seauen giftes of the holy Ghost haue the seauen qualities of fire it purgeth by the gift of feare it sofâ—…eth by the gift of pietie it adorneth by the gift of knowledge â—…t maketh solid by the gift of fortitude â—…t lifteth vp by the gift of counsell it â—…lightneth by the gift of vnderstanding it burneth by the gift of charity Of tongues to shewe that these giftes as they burne inwardly so do they speake â—…utwardly nay of clouen tâ—…ngs 〈◊〉 it were one tongue deuided inâ—… many for to shewe thâ—… diuers â—…guages giuen by this spirit Furthermore the appearing 〈◊〉 the holy Ghost was visible in 〈◊〉 tongues and sure it is wee â—…st shew signes of Gods spirit 〈◊〉 as it doth kindle in charitie so 〈◊〉 it speake charitably The 〈◊〉 Ghost is reâ—…embled vnto the 〈◊〉 and there was a mightie 〈◊〉 at the coÌ„ming downe therâ—… First to shewe that the docâ—…ino of the Gospell should nowe â—…ake out into the world that 〈◊〉 none can keepe backe the force of the wind so should none be able to hinder the passage of this â—…octrine Secondarily the wind â—…ceably beâ—…reth downe whatâ—…uer doâ—…h resist it so did the â—…rking of this spirit Thirdly 〈◊〉 wind is wont to carie vp the 〈◊〉 against the mayne streame 〈◊〉 swiftest tides that runne so doth the holy Ghost beare vs vp against the strongest current of naturall inclination Againe the holy Ghost is
should not be interrupted by any necessities of the body as the Massilians dreamed but pray alwayes is vnderstoode euery day and at all times that no sinne may hinder vs from God good works and therefore it is saide Vt digni habeamini that ye mâ—…y be accounted worthy to auoid these things 10 Watch for ye knowe not the day nor houre Nemo quaerat quando venit sed vigilet vt paratum inueniat Let no man saith S. Austen séeke curiously when the Iudge commeth but let him make himselfe ready against his comming the vncertainty of the time doth cause feare the ignorance of the signes may lead into error so wee alwayes liue that alwayes wee may be watchfull Wee may knowe the signes but ought not search after the knowledge of the time it selfe it is vnsearchable When we see in an old man the signes of age we gather his time is not long when hee shall die we know not so beholding the world troubled charity waxing cold we know these are signes of a decaying age yet somtimes age continueth howe long none knoweth this is the very reason our Sauiour himselfe vseth to stir vs vp to watchfulnes Watch because you know not the day nor houre when the Sonne of man commeth If the Housholder watch for the sauing of his substance howe much more should euery one be watchfull for the sauing of his soule In the Housholder three things are obserued first he endeuoureth to knowe the deceite of the théefe secondly to prouide for the custody of himselfe thirdlie he careth that his house be not broken vp and thus he watcheth not one but euery houre of the night that at what houre so euer he be assaulted hee may be found stirring 11 Those who looke for the comming of the Bridegroome haue their lights in their hands that is their shining workes these lights are burning that is ardent in charity they are shining that is to say giuing good example of piety These watch in the day that is open the eyes of their faith when the light of the Gospell of Iesus Christ shineth these watch in the night that is when the world is giuen to all iniquitie the workes of darknes Foure things there are which may make men to wake the first is the crowing of the cocks that is the calling of those to whom God hath said O Sonne of man I haue made thee a watchman The Cocke beateth with his wings and wakeneth himselfe first and then with his voyce wakeneth others The second thing to make men wake is the rising of the Sunne this Sunne is the light of grace a shame is it for men to sléepe when as now long agoe the Sunne is risen vpoÌ„ them The Sunne riseth saith the prophet and man goeth forth vnto his labour The night is past and the day is come neere let vs walke saith the Apostle as in the day The third thing to make men awake to the feare of the théefe or the day of iudgement which is as the comming of a théefe in the night the carelesse it will seaze vpon and spoile them but vnto the watchfull it can doe no harme It was said vnto the rich man hac nocte This night shall thy soule be taken from thee It was said of the bridegroomes comming At midnight there was a crie made behold the Bridegroome commeth goe out to meete him The fourth thing to make men awake is care of their goods wee haue a great charge vnder our hands and a charge of so great care that wee had neede watch early and late For the carelesse Salomon sayeth Sleepe on so shall necessitie come vppon thee like an armed man Many are so heauie a sléepe that no calling will awake them there shall a voyce one day sound in their eares that shall awaken them I pray God not affright them whether they will or no. That which I say vnto you sayth our Sauiour I say vnto all Watch. The night of death may steale vpon men before they be aware the day of iudgement will come when they thinke not of it Watch for you know not the day nor houre Watch you know not when the Maister of the house will returne Whether in the morning of childhoode or in the third houre of youth or in the sixt houre of strength or in the euening of age Watch for you knowe not the time Should they sleepe in securitie vntill they sleepe their last God forbid God forbid Chap. 33. A louing conference had with Christ and the deuout Christian man touching the state and ioyes of the life to come promised to them that learne of Christ and followe him in this life Christ. AWake Awake O Christian soule and stand vp from the dead how long wilt thou sléepe in this dangerous securitie of a sinfull life Arise arise the light of my grace and truth hath shined vnto thee how long wilt thou preferre the loue of this transitorie world before the loue of mee thy Redéemer and Sauiour Christian man O Lorde Iesus Christ thy mercie is great in staying for my conuersion in vouchsafing to remember mee so forgetfull of my loue and duty towardes thée my Lord now I wretched creature prostrate my selfe before thee Lord what wilt thou that I doe Christ. If thy desire be to knowe my will O my beloued this desire of thine doth meruaâ—…lously please me for my delight is in thy saluation thou knowest for thy sake I came from heauen for thy sake endured I the griefes and troubles of the worlde for thy sake suffered I many reproaches of mine enemies I vndertooke thy dolours to giue thée my glory I suffered thy death that thou mightest receiue life I was buried in the earth that thou mightest be raysed vp to heauen now thy sinnes are more gréeuous vnto me then much suffering I endured for thée this is that I require séeing thou wouldest know my will giue me thy life for whoÌ„ I haue giuen my life Christian man Lord I perceiue thy will and my owne weakenes how should walke as I ought in consecrating my life vnto thée Christ. If thou wilt dedicate thy selfe vnto me first loue mee alwayes and aboue all thinges next to know howe thou shouldst walke after my wil sée thou often meditate of my life once led amongst men when thou wilt be humble thinke howe I was humbled when thou wilt suffer patiently call to minde with what patience I suffered when thou wouldst be obedient thinke of my obedience when thou art oppressed with enemies remember I had enemies too and call to mind that I prayed for them Christian. I sée most mercifull Sauiour that thou requirest loue aboue all thinges which I yéeld thée willingly as I ought but Lord for to beare these crosses of the world I finde it too difficult to humane nature so as almost I know not what to say Christ. If thou loue me as thou sayest thou doest thou néedest not take scandale at the
troubles of the world Thou knowest I dispose all things swéetly great peâ—…ce there is to them that loue mee shouldest thou be impatient at the least thinges beholding me suffering great Wilt thou a worme refuse to endure a word spoken against thée and sée mee loaden with reproaches thou canst for the loue of the world suffer tribulation rise early late take thy rest and wilt thou doe nothing for my loue Christian. I beséech thée O mercifull Lord Iesus strengthen me with thy grace against all aduersities for I willingly yéeld my selfe vnto thy will Christ. Be not afraide to suffer somewhat for my sake behold I am with thée for whom thou sufferest And behold I come quicklie and my reward is with mee Consider what I haue saide In my fathers house are many mansions there haue I prepared a place for thée Call to minde that the dearest friends I euer had in the worlde haue endured the same sufferings Christian. O my Sauiour I am more delighted in hearing and beléeuing this then I am able to expresse I knowe not whether I may more reioyce to beholde thée dying vpon the Crosse or raigning amongst the Angels to sée thée subiect vnto all or exalted aboue all O swéete Iesus howe should I praise thée I remember that of the Prophet Rectos decet collandatio Praise becommeth the righteous Lord I am not righteous shall I not therefore praise thée thy poore creatures doe the same and therefore I will not be silent O my God draw my minde from all earthly things that it may onely reioyce in thée Where are ye all my desires come and enter the Courts of the Lord with ioy Christ. Thou hast O Christian man peraduenture some taste of my loue in that thou art so desirous to praise mee in that thou dost as ioyfully behold â—…e borne of a virgine as God from euerlasting In beholding mee thy redéemer suffering for thy sinnes thy loue is acceptable vnto me and shall finde loue againe in thy greatest labours but the best is to come when thou shalt reape the fruite of all then no aduersity shal touch thée then shalt thou beholde my presence in glory and therfore let happines moue thee to séeke happines Christian. O swéete Iesus when shal I sufficiently loue thée When shall I duly remember thy benefites thy méekenes thy patience thy bountie with all reuerence and deuotion If thou be my redéemer where is my duty if my Sauiour where is my affection O good Iesus seeing thou hast done all this for me what shall I doe vnto thée Nay séeing thou hast reserued such ioyes as I am not able to comprehend let me not liue but to loue and know thée Christ. It sufficeth that thy wil oâ—… intention is good which I respect more then many sacrifices when thou doest offer me thy obedience vpon the Altar of thy humble desires for which desires I haue recompence thou shalt finde as much when thou commest to receiue the same when for a cup oâ—… colde water thou shalt receiue a whole fountaine of the water of life when for two untes thou shalt haue giuen thée the whole treasure of the temple then shalt thou enioy immediate fellowship with me in my kingdom where I am there shalt thou also be then shalt thou come from the troublesom sea of this life to the hauen of rest there shalt thou sée me enioy me alwayes euery where blessed shall that life be for the continuance therof it is eternall for the certaintie it is without change for the place it is in heauen for the companions they are multitudes of saints Angels for the greatnes of the felicitie there is an euerlasting Sabaoth Christian. I am rauished O my Sâ—…uiour with the very meditation of thy heauenly reward when I coÌ„sider that in thy presence there is fulnes of ioy and at thy right hand are pleasures for euer more O happy and happy againe are they which are once freed and set at liberty to come to thy Kingdome O Kingdome of all conâ—…unce séeing there is found ioy without sadnes health without sicknesse aboundance without want light without darknes life without death all good without any euill all bitternes all trouble all punishment all discord all feare is away O ioy excéeding all ioyes when shall I enter into thée O my redéemer when shall I behold thée the verie end of my desires I nowe perceiue there is a reward for the righteous and therefore what blindnes doth possesse the minds of men in loosing the frâ—…ition héere of O what folly is it in theÌ„ to spende their time in vanitie nay in the harsh discord found in the loue of earthly things and lose that ioyfull harmâ—…me of heauen when all the Saints in that blessed societie shall say The Lambe that was slaine is worthie to receiue power and riches and wisedome and strength and honour and glory and praise There they enioy that perfect felicitie where sorrow is neuer felt complaint is neuer heard losse is neuer feared when all labours and trauailes shall cease then shall vertue shew her selfe where vice shall not be able to looke vp or appeare then shall the world which séemed before so glorious be consumed to nothing onely the iust shal then receiue a crowne of glorie The consideration héereof is able to draw mortall men from all the allurements of a sinfull life and to enflame their hearts in the fire of the loue of God for who would not finde in his heart to honor that God which hath prepared so excellent thinges for those that serue and honour him Who would not turne all his endeauours all his desires to walk before him in holinesse of life whose reward is without measure in the life to come This is the profit of this consideration â—…ely to moue vs to returne loue vnto him who hath first loued vs. And nowe O most mercifull Iesus I beseech thée by thy sorrowes which thou sufferedst by thy blood which thou sheddest yea by that infinite loue which thou bearest towardes vs encrease in vs true loue of thée O redéemer of the world Christ. Consider yet a little farther thy creation and what excellencie and dignitie thy Creator bestowed vpon thée weâ—…gh with what loue and with what worship hee is againe to be honoured Surely when creating and ordaining the vniuersalitie of visible and inuisible thinges hee had â—…sposed to make humane nature with high counsaile handled he the worthines of thy creation as one whom he decréed to honour before all the creatures in the world behold therfore the highnes of thy creation and recount more and more thy dâ—…ty of rendring loue Let vs make saith God man after our owne image Marke therfore diligently what it is for thée to be created to the image of God vnderstand that image is one thing similitude is another for examples sake vnreasonable beasts may haue a similitude with man but the image of man none can