flieth from it The peace of Christ reioyceth in the middest of aduersitie and ouercommeth the crosse For faithful beleeuers looke vnto Christ who went before them vnto the father and after his passion and death tooke possession of so high honor and glorie and hath carryed theyr nature vp so high vnto the right hande of the father where hee now ruleth as a mightie king of heauen and earth Oh how great comfort how sure a hope giueth it vnto vs when wee see our owne nature our owne flesh and bones incorporated vnto Christ the onely begotten sonne and eternall word of God in so high honor and glorie how can it be otherwise but wee must needes hope that our weake flesh also shall be taken vp Looke what is past in the head the same shall assuredly be fulfilled in the members for without the members cannot the head be Which thing considered and through true beleefe printed in the heart maketh a man patient and cheerefull in all aduersity giueth peace and ioy in all trouble Let the Prince of this world through his ministers and members stirre vp all vexation against vs yet hath he no vauntage of vs if wee bee in Christ Easily might he finde somewhat in our selues but in Christ nothing such innocencie dooth Christ make vs partakers of Tempt vs he may and thrust at vs but to ouercome vs hee is not able so farre as we abide in Christ In vs is death a punishment of sinne in Christ it is obedience and loue For seeing the father loueth the sonne and of verie loue gaue him vnto death for vs the son would of loue obey the father and as hee also loued vs so would he willingly and obediently suffer death for vs that all the worlde might see his obedience and that wee might learne of him to obey our heauenly Father euen vnto the death and faithfully folow his precept and that likewise whereas it toucheth his glorie we should be afraide neither of aduersitie nor death considering howe obediently hee dyed for our sakes I Am a true Vine and my Father is an husband-man Euerie braunch that bringeth not fruite in mee hee taketh awaie and euerie braunch that beareth fruite hee purgeth that it may bring foorth more fruit Now are yee cleare through the wordes which I haue spoken vnto you Abide in mee and I in you As the branch cannot beare 〈…〉 of it selfe except it abide in the vine no more can yee except 〈◊〉 abide in mee I am the vine yee are the braunches He that abideth in mee and I in him the same bringeth foorth 〈◊〉 fruite for without mee can yee doo nothing If a man bide not in mee he is cast forth as a branch and withered and men gather them and east them into the fire and they burne If yee abide in mee and my words also in you aske what yee will and it shall bee done vnto you Herein is my Father glorified that ye beare much fruit and become my disciples Doctrine and fruite VNder this fayre similitude doeth Christ teach his Church that without him wee can do nothing but in him all things Now forasmuch as hee through his grace hath incorporated vs vnto himselfe wee ought with great diligence to apply our selues that we may abide in him and beare fruit For as long as wee are in him wee liue that is we receiue liuely vertue and sappe of him namely his spirite For who so cleaueth vnto the Lorde and is incorporated vnto him through faith the same is become one spirit with him the first Epistle to the Corinthians and the sixt Chapter For heereby knowe wee that wee are in him and hee in vs in that hee hath giuen vs of his spirit the first of Iohn and fourth Chapter For why the vineyard the branches are of one nature and kinde Thus the onely begotten sonne of GOD tooke our nature vppon him is become man and giueth vs of his spirite and maketh vs to be of a godly mind and spiritual nature Out of the same pith and sap doe all manner of godly vertues and good workes breake forth Gal. 5. Psal 85. For through his grace are we his operation and worke in Christ Iesu created vnto good workes wherein we are bound to walke And seeing we haue receiued Iesus Christ of God the father we ought to walke in him that in him we may be well rooted and stand fast But heereby knowe we that we are in him if we walke as he hath walked For who so saith that he abideth in him then euen as hee walked so must wee doe 1. Iohn 2. But if we woulde saie that wee were in him and had fellowshippe with him and yet would walke in darknesse seeing hee is the light wherein is found no darknesse at all then were wee lyars and went not about with the truth But if wee walke in light as he is light we children of light then haue we fellowship and companie with him the bloud of Christ purgeth vs from all sinne 1. Iohn 1. In Christ Iesu may no man be idle and without fruit 2. Thes 3. who so now is vnthankful to the grace of God doth not practise himselfe in good works to Gods glorie the same is cut off and as an vnfruitfull drie branch throwen into the fire burnt Faith grafteth vs into Christ Loue declareth that wee are planted in it knitteth the members with the head Where the spirite of Christ followeth from the head into the members from the stock into the branches there are fruites of the spirite for by the fruit is the tree knowen Christ through his worde and spirit hath pacified vs that is he hath called and separated vs from the world and from the filthines of the flesh vnto good workes And into his owne seruice and schoole of godly nurtor hath hee admitted vs and written vp our names He hath begonne to purge and clense vs from carnall lustes and from all vncleannes of the world accepting vs into the number of those that dye from the world and that now from hence forth will liue vnto him and bring forth fruite But that is not enough we must also obediently waite vpon the grace that hee hath placed vs in applying our diligence watching and praying that from so high a vocation from so excellent grace and honour wee fall not away againe 1. Cor. 10. It is not enough to haue begonne there must be a stedfast continuance Hee that forsaketh the head againe hath neither spirit nor vertue for without him wee are able to doe nothing Therefore through faith and loue ought wee to abide in him hauing respect vnto him in all thinges so shall wee bring forth much fruite vnto him Then abyde wee in him when wee doe that hee commaundeth vs and loue that which hee promiseth vs. Howbeit these fruites that wee bring forth are not ours but the fathers to him
the worlde also hath not knowen thee but I haue knowen thee these haue knowen that thou hast sent me And I haue declared vnto them thy name and will declare it that the loue wherewith thou hast loued me may be in them and I in them Doctrine and fruite AFter that Christ had committed his vnto the father that he will care for them defend keepe them while they liue in the world he desireth now that it will please him finally also to saue them and to take them to himself into his kingdome With the which praier he giueth a great consolation to his disciples and all faithfull beleeuers that we might be the more cheerefull to serue him considering the high reward that is prepared for vs that for his sake we should ioyfully and stoutly beare all aduersitie seeing he will make vs yea hath made vs alredy partakers of his glory and of his kingdome Oh the great grace and incomprehensible loue of God towards vs who through his mercie and great loue whereas wee were children of wrath and damnation hath made vs his own children elect and beloued and when wee were dead in sinne hath with his son raised vs vp from death reuiued vs made vs sit with him among those of heauen in Christ Iesu to declare vnto the ages to come the riches of his grace in kindnes and loue to vs ward through Iesus Christ Forasmuch nowe as God hath caused the lyght of his glorie euen Christ to shine into our harts and through the light of faith hath kindled and purified our hearts it is meete that in this time we liue as children of light to the intent that men may see the brightnes of those good workes which proceede of faith to the praise of our heauenly father And thogh we be not as yet bodily with Christ yet our heartes and mindes are alwaies aboue there as Christ sitteth at the right hand of God our conuersation and being is in heauen albeit wee are yet in corporall miserie with heart we desire to die and to be with Christ Wee are sure if this earthly house were fallen and broken downe that we haue one euerlasting in heauen Wee are dead but our life is reserued with Christ in GOD. It is not euident yet what wee be but when Christ our lyfe shall shewe himselfe then shall wee also appeare with him in glorie euen when wee shall rise vp and bee taken vp in the ayre and bee with him for euer and see his honour and glorie which the Angelles delight to see and beholde Oh how great pleasure and ioy is it to beholde the eternall light that neuer quencheth in the which no darknesse hath place from the which shall bee expelled and cast out all they that woulde not receiue and know the light which God hath sent into the world to illuminate them but are blinded by the Prince of this world least the the light of the Gospel should shine vpon them No wrong doth the righteous father vnto them when hee plagueth them and taketh the light from them A righteous and iust iudgement is it seeing the gracious Father so mercifully sent them the light of the truth and they yet so maliciously and stubbornly haue despised and refused it yea reason it is that they perish in vntruth in lies in euerlasting blindnes for asmuch as they wold receiue darknes rather than the light lies rather than the truth And considering that they haue forsaken the brightnes of the truth and of the son of God they must needes be cast into vtter darkenes and neuer enioy the light O gracious Father graunt vnto vs which thorow thy sonne haue known thy name that in such knowledge and light of the truth wee may increase more and more that the loue wherewith thou louest thy deare sonne may bee and remaine in vs and that thy onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ our head may in vs his members continue still worke liue and bring forth fruit acceptable vnto thee AND when Iesus had spoken these words he went out with his Disciples as hee was woont ouer the brooke Cedron vnto mount Oliuet into a village called Gethsemani wheras was a garden into the which Iesus went with his disciples Iudas nowe who betrayed him knewe also the place for Iesus vsed oft to come thether with his disciples Iesus sayd vnto his Disciples Sit ye heere till I go yonder and pray And he tooke vnto him Peter and the two sonnes of Zebede and began to be heauy and sony And a feare and terrour came vppon him Thus said he vnto them my soule is heauie vnto the death tarrie ye heere and watch with me And hee went from them as farre as a stones cast Then fell he downe vppon his face to the ground and praied that if it were possible that houre might depart from him And thus hee praied O father vnto thee are all thinges possible take this cuppe from mee howbeit not my will but thy will bee done Doctrine and fruite AFter that Iesus hath established his Disciples in faith and loue comforting and strengthening them against aduersitie and trouble to come in this world promising also vnto them the spirit loue defence and protection of his father hee goeth now to meet his traitour and enemies and beginneth the worke of our redemption Awake vp nowe O thou faithfull and deuout soule and go after thy redemer followe his foot-steps gather vp diligently the drops of his bloud and sprinckle them with a true faith in thine heart take vp the bundle of mirrhe and lay it at thy breast O thou noble bride and spouse of Christ his passion that he suffereth for thee write then in thy minde learne to die from all sinne from thy selfe and from the world that thou maiest bee crucified vnto the world and the world vnto thee Death is vgsome and very terrible vnto the flesh but ioyfull and welcome is it vnto all such as are instructed in the secrete science of God namely that death vnto faithfull beleeuers is an ende of all trouble an enteraunce into a better and eternall lyfe Christ in that he goeth forth to meete death declareth that he wil suffer not of compulsion but willingly whereby he comforteth vs. But whereas he is heauie and trembleth before his disciples and confesseth howe hee feareth death the same is done for our wealth to declare vnto vs the weaknesse and feeblenesse that our flesh receiueth at the sight of aduersitie for in all things sinne except it was his good pleasure to become lyke vnto vs his brethren hee would take vpon him a true man who felte our aduersitie in his owne flesh and so coulde haue compassion on vs. Besides this hee sheweth also to whom our weaknesse ought to resort for comfort and helpe in aduersitie namely to our father in heauen before whome wee must fall downe with deuout and feruent praier and vnto him disclose and open our anguish
and heartely desired to eat this Passah with you afore I suffer For I say vnto you that now from hence forth I will not eat of it till it bee fulfilled in the kingdome of God Now as they did eat Iesus tooke the bread gaue thankes and brake it gaue it to his Disciples and said Take eat this is my bodie which shalbe betraied and deliuered for you doe this in remembraunce of mee Likewise also when they had eaten hee tooke the cuppe rendered thankes and gaue vnto them saying Take and diuide among you and drinke ye all thereof This is my bloud of the new Testament which is shed for you and for many to the forgiuenesse of sinnes I say vnto you that from henceforth I shall not drinke of the fruite of the vine vntill the day that I shall drinke it new with you in the kingdome of my Father And they all dranke therof Now followeth the doctrine and meditation HEre should we children of beleefe diligently ponder and consider what Christ hath done for our sakes namely that hee when hee had fulfilled his ministration committed to him of the father and nowe would offer vp himselfe vpon the crosse for the sinnes of the world and with his owne death deliuer mankind froÌ„ the captiuity of Satan and from eternall death declared how he loued his owne vntill the end and with what desire he longed to eate the Easter lambe with his disciples before hee suffered Giuing them thereby to vnderstand that he was the true pascal lambe which being slaine for vs shuld take awaie the sinnes of the world that the figures of the olde Testament might bee reduced into the truth That like as the Iews to whom with a prescribed ordinaunce it was commaunded yeerely to eate the Easter lambe did the same for a memoriall of their deliuerance out of Aegypt So we beleeuers also might in the new Testament haue a remembrance and exercise of the gracious redemption whereas we by his death are deliuered from the power of darknes of the deuil of sinne brought to eternall life And to the intent now that the remembrance of such excellent benefits grace and merites of the passion of Christ might euer be fresh and new with his disciples and all beleeuers our Lorde Iesus Christ when he now would go vnto death and paie the ransome for the sinnes of all the world he then did eate the Easter lambe with his Disciples to finish the shadowe of the olde Testament and that he might bee remembred thereby he instituted the bread wine for a sacrament and memoriall of his hoâ—ie body and bloud Seeing then that wee are cleansed deliuered and redeemed with so deare worthie a treasure namely with the pretious bloud of Iesus Christ the vndefiled lambe wee ought neuer to forget such an high benefite but at all times with thankfulnes to remember that Christ our Paschall lambe was slayne and offered vp for vs vpon the crosse that we from hence forth should walke in purenesse singlenes and innocencie of life and that when wee in the Supper by true faith do eate his bodie and drinke his bloud we might through him be so strengthened and fedde to eternall life as to abide and liue in him for euer For he is the bread of life that came downe from heauen to nourish and strengthen our weake and hungrie soules yea to make vs dead to liue againe But then eate we his flesh and then drinke we his bloud when wee through true beleefe do ponder consider what hee hath doone and suffered for our sakes then are we partakers of his supper feast wheÌ„ we for his sake do liue as he did for his Fathers sake He gaue himselfe whole vnto vs so ought we to giue our selues whole vnto him and to our neighbour To him through beleefe to our neighbour through charitable loue Through faith we abide in him by working loue hee abideth in vs. The more wee loue the more enioy we of this meate the more wee beleeue the more we loue In this shall all men knowe that we are his Disciples if we loue one another God is loue and hee that abideth in loue abideth in God God in him What greater loue can there be than to giue his owne life for vs The death of Christ ought neuer to come out of our heartes that wee may doe and suffer all thinges for his sake that dyed for vs. The second part WHen supper was ended after that the deuil had put in the heart of Iudas Iscarioth Simons son to betray him Iesus knowing that the father had giuen all things into his hands that he was come froÌ„ God went to God he rose from Supper and laid aside his vpper garments took a towel girt himselfe After that poured he water into a Bason and began to wash his Disciples feet and to wipe them with the towell wherewith he was girt Then came hee to Simon Peter and Peter said vnto him Lord dost thou wash my feet Iesus answered and said vnto him what I doe thou knowest not now but thou shalt know heereafter Peter said vnto him thou shalt neuer wash my feet Iesus answered him If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me Simon Peter said vnto him Lord not my feet onely but also my hands and my head Iesus said vnto him Hee that is washed needeth not saue to wash his feete but is cleane euery whit and ye are cleane but not all for hee knew who should betray him therefore said he ye are not al clean So after he had washed their feete and receiued his clothes and was set downe he said vnto them againe wâ—t you what I haue done to you Ye call me maister and Lord and ye say well for so I am If I then your Lord and maister haue washed your feet ye also ought to wash one anothers feet for I haue giuen you an ensample that yee should doe as I haue done to you Verely verely I say vnto you The seruaunt is not greater than his maister neyther the messenger greater than he that sent him If yee vnderstand these thinges happie are ye if ye do them Doctrine and fruite HEere ought we diligently to consider the vnspeakeable and feruent loue of our Lord Iesus Christ who vntill the ende leaueth nothing vndone that may serue for our welfare Likewise also should we ponder and regard the meeke lowlines of him in that hee the king of heauen doth humble himselfe euen to wash his Disciples feete which thing is accounted base and vile amongst men yea euen vnto the man that betraied him is not he ashamed neyther refuseth to shew such lowlines and worke of loue By this we learne to declare all workes of charitable loue vnto our neighbor and not to bee ashamed how high soeuer we be meekly to do our neighbor seruice though he be poore base and small in
ought wee to bring them foorth vnto his honour must they extend Matth. 5.28 For when Gods light doth appeare and shine in our conuersation many folkes thereby are drawn vnto God The father of heauen is honoured his name is hallowed and then are we his disciples For wee haue learned of him howe Christ was obedient vnto the father and sought his glorie in all things so do we likewise Heereunto ought all our praiers to extend that we may bring and winne much vnto Christ Therein is the father praised whē we bring vnto him much fruit but that might wee not if God had giuen vs his sonne that wee might bee his branches and hee our vine Where faith is there is the holy Ghost which teacheth to wishe and praie for that onely which may serue to Gods honour and that is the cause why he that prayeth obtayneth all his desire for GOD may not giue ouer his glorie Who so vndertaketh to further that him doeth hee assist and helpe AS the Father hath loued mee so haue I loued you Continue ye in my loue If ye keep my commandements ye shall abide in my loue as I haue kept my fathers commaundementes and abide in his loue These things haue I spoken vnto you that my ioy might remaine in you and that your ioy might be full This is my commandement that yee loue together as I haue loued you Greater loue than this hath no man that a man bestowe his life for his friendes Yee are my friendes if yee doo whatsoeuer I commaund you Henceforth call I you not seruauntes for the seruant knoweth not what his Lord doth But you haue I called friends for all things that I haue heard of my father haue I opened vnto you Yee haue not chosen mee but I haue chosen you and ordained you that ye goe and bring forth fruit and that your fruit remain that whatsoeuer ye ask of the father in my name he may giue it you This command I you that ye loue together one another Doctrine and fruit OH how excellent great consolation is this to vs all which beleeue in Iesus Christ and are vndoubtedly assured in ourselues that Christ loueth vs as his owne children and disciples howsoeuer the world iudge vs to be forsaken of him If this loue came right into our heart oh how earnest and feruent should we be to loue him agayne to further his honour to keepe his commaundementes and in charitable loue to serue our neighbors Then should all good workes and keeping of Gods commaundements flowe out of faith namely when we beleeue that God is fauourable and louing vnto vs yea that he is our father and our sonne Iesus Christ our king head and brother This faith worketh through loue for wee coulde not loue God if hee had not loued vs first His grace loue and mercie preuenteth vs. Therefore doth Christ euer still set forth his loue before vs as a light torch to kindle vs in loue towardes him and our neighbours If wee beleeue this grace committing vs cheerfully vnto his loue which he hath declared cōtinually doth practise towards vs if we still abide therein then shall this faith vpon the loue of God worke great things in vs and by vs and shall moue vs with good will gladly and cheerefullie to obserue his commaundements And if wee keepe his commaundements euerie man shall haue an assured token that wee bee and continue in the loue of God that is that we keepe our selues vnto his loue Seeing then that hee loueth vs exceeding much and we finding the same in our hearts through faith doe comfort our selues thereupon there must needs followe loue to our neighbours ioye peace softnesse of minde gentlenes patience c. Gal. 5. Now that Christ doth not slenderly but most notably loue his Disciple and all in them hee proueth it himselfe diuerse waies First in that hee giueth his life for vs and dyeth for vs vpon the Crosse for greater loue hath no man than to dye for his friend Thus Christ with his death and blood sealeth his loue towards vs. Secondly in that hee counteth and esteemeth vs not as seruants but as deare friendes bretheren and heires with him And the same declareth hee in this that all things which hee hath heard of his father and suckt out of that fatherly heart he openeth them vnto vs and writeth the same through his holy spirit in our hearts All his secret his godly will he giueth vs to vnderstād For we which be in Christ do know through an vndoubted faith feele it also in our hearts that God is our father through Christ that in him he hath admitted chosen vs that he is reconciled with vs through the bloud of his deare Sonne that he loueth preserueth and defendeth vs. Therefore doe wee also paciently and chearefully beare all aduersitie in this time for his sake considering wee knowe that so is the good pleasure of our dearest Father Thirdly Christ declareth his excellent loue towards vs in that he did chuse vs afore the world was created loued vs when we were yet his enemies calling vs by his worde and appointing vs to bring forth fruit vnto him Fourthly in that we obtaine at the fathers hand all that we pray and desire in the name of Iesu Are not these sure tokens of an exceeding loue of God towards vs After that we once haue perceiued such loue ô that we alwayes remained therein Which commeth to passe when wee applie ourselues vnto his commaundements and when wee in obedience and patience are content to bee at his will as hee for our sake was obedient vnto his Father euen vntill the death of the crosse Now that wee might knowe what his commandements be he concludeth them in a short summe and saith Loue yee one another together as I haue loued you As if he would say seeing I haue declared my loue so worthily so notably and with so great faithfulnesse towardes you that I haue nor refused to die for you therefore is it my will and so is it reason also that yee likewise shewe such loue one towards another for I haue giuen you example afore that ye should do as I haue done and follow my foot-steppes This shall not onely bee very seemely vnto you but much profite also and greate honour shall it bring you For like as my Father as yee shall shortlie see shall after my passion bring mee vnto glorie so shall hee also doe vnto you so farre as yee endure stedfast in aduersitie and continue in loue one towards another Like as I with great trauaile and labour haue shewed you the way and will of GOD my Father and therefore goe nowe vnto death to make you liuing so ought yee also to bee minded one towardes another Looke that yee serue one another in loue lead all men vnto God and the grace of God which he giueth vnto
the ministers of the word to desire that God throgh his holy name power will defend strength comfort and preserue them in all aduersitie but principally that hee will giue them grace to bee one coupled together in the band of peace loue and vniformitie that they may be of one spirite and of one mind that in one spirite they may further and plant the honour of God that like as Christ neither spake nor did anie thing but that which was acceptable and wel pleasing vnto the father they also in their sayinges and dooinges may haue respect vnto Gods glorie and that they being rooted and fortified in loue bee not vanquished nor ouercome of the pleasures or threateninges of this world Secondly that in all their labour and trauaile in al aduersitie and persecutions hee will put into theyr hartes his owne comfort and spirituall ioy For the worlde hath manifolde mirthes pastimes and pleasures much bragging and wilfulnesse vseth it in the riches and fleshly voluptuousnes thereof But the true Ministers of Christ seeing hee hath seuered them from the worlde must and ought to refraine and absent themselues from all worldly ioy and voluptuousnes yea it is they that ought to diswade the worlde from such wantonnesse and vanitie by meanes of whose faithfull admonition there falleth much hatred and trouble vpon them Neither were it to the furtheraunce of Gods honour and our commoditie to haue them vtterlye taken away out of this worlde Therefore dooth Christ desire and so must wee with him that from euill namely from the Deuill the Prince of this worlde who stirreth the world against them they may of the father in the world be defended and kept Thirdly that he will sanctifie and cleanse them afore other men that they may be holy and pure vessels in the house and temple that is in the Church of God for they are means instruments by whoÌ„ God ministereth his grace and truth vnto men therfore is it also conuenient that they be pure and holy This commeth throgh the truth that God putteth in their mouth and heart by the holy Ghost which inwardly purifieth them But then are they holy when they teach truth and liue godly Into the worlde hath Christ sent theÌ„ as the father sent him into the world The father sent Christ into the world that he should destroy the kingdome of the deuill and of the world that he should declare vnto the world the grace and mercie of God towardes mankinde that he shoulde bring men from sinne and from false idolatrish faith to the true liuing God and to a vertuous conuersation that he with the light of truth should shine vpon those which sate in darknes that he should bring the knowledge of God into the world exhort men to the amendement of life Euen this hath Christ giuen in commission to his Apostles and to all ministers of the worde to doo This is their office this is their ministration vnto this haue they greate neede of the grace power and assistance of God therefore ought we most earnestly to praie for them for if they fail or fal it hurteth the whole Church yea out of the same there groweth slaunder vnto the name of God in the sight of the vnbeleeuers and an occasion of falling to such as are weake of faith Therefore Christ also offered himselfe to the father for them and sanctified them that they might bee pure and holy not in outward apparance but from the heart and in the truth that through their vniformity loue through the word of truth which they preach through the holynes of their doctrine and liuing all men and the whole world might know and vnderstand that God hath sent them yea that God sent his son Christ into the world vnto whome they with mouth and life beare record and who also euery where shineth out of them with wordes and deeds Not onely for them hath Christ praied but also for vs as many as hearken and beleeue the worde of truth preached by them Wherein first wee may perceiue and see the loue faithfulnes and great care of Christ for vs how earnestly the trustie shepheard of our soules committeth his poore sheepe into his fathers protection how faithfully our mediatour and aduocate praieth for vs whereby also he setteth forth a doctrine vnto vs how and what we shal pray of the heauenly father First that he will make vs one by his holy spirite in the truth in the vnitie of faith and in loue vnseparable that we all may be of one mind one body and one spirit in Christ Iesu our head and to keepe the vnitie of the spirit in the bond of peace that we all being illuminated by his spirit may in word and deed yea in our whole life seeke and further the glorie of our heauenly father that we all may bee one among our selues with God whereby all the worlde may spie see and perceiue that we are Gods children and Christs disciples Secondly that of his fatherly goodnes he will defend saue preserue vs his own poore sheep which be in the midst among wolues manifold dangers And seeing we being yet in the world do not liue after the world that it will please him to keepe vs from the euill namely froÌ„ the prince of of this world that thogh the same our enemie doth tempt plague vs he neuer yet haue power to preuaile against vs. Thirdly that inasmuch as we being in sin conceiued and borne haue hetherto liued in sinne seeing that albeit we are cleansed alreadie by his word and faith yet the vncleannes of the flesh and of the world doth daily defile vs it wil please him throgh his truth to purge and sanctifie our bodies our soules and our whole life that wee may become an holy temple of his grace pure cleane holy vessels consecrated sanctified to Gods own vse He hath once purified hallowed vs through the bloud of his son and vnto the father hath Christ sanctified and offered vp himselfe an holy acceptable sacrifice for our sins but the deuill the world and our flesh is euer busie to lead vs away againe from God from true holines Therefore must wee daily pray vnto him that through his holy spirit through his holy truth he wil continually purge clense sanctifie vs that we be not disseÌ„bling hypocrites but godly and vnfained euen from our harts that we be not stained in the filthines of this world but to refraine from all vncleannes thorogh the assistaÌ„ce of his grace that we may also offer vp our bodies an holy acceptable sacrifice to â—od the Lord as he offered vp himselfe vppon the crosse for our sakes FAther I will that they which thou hast giuen me be with me where I am that they may see my glory which thou hast giuen me for thou louedst me before the making of the world O righteous father
stande in death with Christ in subduing of the flesh in mortifying of the body in abiding of the crosse For while they bee in aduersitie vnder the crosse and buried with Christ the greatnesse of the trouble causeth them to thinke that Christ is not risen againe that is they haue nothing but heauines and sorrowe Notwithstanding Christ appeareth vnto them comforteth and refresheth them and maketh them partakers of his resurrection and ioy Heere may wee perceiue and see a great desire and loue vnto Christ in the disciples that runne but specially in Marie Magdalene for seeing that much 〈◊〉 forgiuen her therefore was her loue exceeding 〈◊〉 Peter also and Iohn which were more feruent 〈◊〉 others in the loue of Christ and drew nee◠〈◊〉 others did when the Lorde was taken although the one fled and the other denied him therfore vnto them as to the principall was this opened before others Marie loued Christ verie feruently for many sinnes were forgiuen her many deuils vices were driuen out of her therefore vnto her dyd Christ first appeare The crosse and trouble was not able to bring Christ out of her heart it could not quench her loue vnto Christ the seede of faith was in her heart it had taken roote although it were not yet ripe Verie earnestly and with great diligence seeketh shee him whome shee loueth declaring her feruentnesse by her weeping and her zeale by tarrying still at the sepulchre when the two Apostles were gone awaie alreadie The Lorde therefore forsaketh her not but instructeth her and comforteth her by the Angell appeareth vnto her vnknowen at last talketh with her and maketh himselfe knowen vnto her The Angels which are ministers for the wealth of the elect disswade her from weeping and mourning and bring her tidinges of great ioy for herein nowe is no iust cause to weepe but rather to reioyce seeing that Christ hath ouercome death for vs deliuering and setting vs free from the power thereof and placing vs in eternall lyfe Lyke as the Aungels at the birth of Christ in this mortall life did bring tidinges of ioy so doe they heere also when Christ is risen againe into an immortall life And hervnto also serueth the brightnes of the countenance and whitenes of the clothes for all such are tokens of ioy But some man might maruaile why Christ will not suffer Marie to touch him saying hee would afterward bee touched of the other women of the Disciples and of Thomas yea he prouoketh Thomas and the Disciples thereto It seemeth that Marie with the ointment which she brought with her thought to annoint the bodie of Christ as she did afore in his life time and to reuerence him and to deale with him as with a mortall man which thing Christ forbad her to do Hereafter shall wee heare how hee offreth vnto his Disciples his hands feete and side willing them to touch him But with this inhibition and that commandement he hath respect to one onely thing namelie to deliuer Marie and the Disciples from vnbeliefe from weake faith and doubting Vnto Marie hee will say Touch mee not of a carnall deuocion as though thou wouldst anoint me I need it no more As for such corporall seruice it is not necessary to do it vnto my body any more The cause why I became man was not that yee should alway hang vppon my corporall flesh and honour me with bodely seruice Thou shalt now shortly vnderstand that I haue like power with the father I am in thy heart not yet ascended vp vnto the father That is Thou hast as yet no right knowledge of my Godhead therefore canst thou not now rightly touch me Thus learne wee also to knowe and honour Christ nowe no more after the flesh and to shew no corporall outward seruice vnto his person In spirite will he be worshipped with the faith and loue of the inward minde If anie thing bodily be done of vs the same should be done vnto the poore to the neighbour that hath need thereof Thus may faith loue well vse some outwarde thinges not to doo seruice therewith vnto God but vnto our selues or to our neighbour As when we take and minister bread and wine about in the supper distributing and eating it the same is not done principally to the intent to declare a seruice vnto God but somewhat to prouoke our outward senses and flesh by the exteriour signes that wee may the better consider and ponder the grace of God declared vnto vs in the death of Iesus Christ and that wee may lifte vp our mindes vnto Christ the heauenly foode and liuing bread which inwardly feedeth vs with his flesh and nourisheth vs with his bloud Thereto also hath our sauiour Christ instituted the figuratiue tokens and sacraments of his grace to helpe our infirmitie for Sacraments are gracious euidences of the faith that men haue or shoulde haue to God In the which they comfortably exercise and practise themselues towards Gods promises wherein also they declare the obedience of theyr inwarde saith and that they faithfully beleeue the words and promises of almightie God For the token without beleefe is nothing profitable but rather hurtfull All bodyly seruice that the flesh imagineth pleaseth not God Hee sitteth at the right hande of GOD there ought we to touch him with the lifting vp of a faithfull heart and with the worship which hee through his spirite worketh and directeth into vs for therefore he dyed rose againe and ascended vp into heauen that hee might fulfill all things and raigne truely and spiritually in our heartes Our heartes must wee lifte vp there as Christ sitteth at the right hande of God and our conuersation ought to bee in heauen Whereas the Lorde willed his disciples to touch him it was done to banish theyr doubtfulnesse and to strengthen theyr weake faith Which touching was not required of them as a worshippe but that theyr flesh through the outward handling of his bodie might bee quieted stilled and so is it a proofe and testimonie that hee verily rose with the former bodie rather than a worshipping or seruice Christ dyd not therefore take vppon him his flesh that we should alwaie hang and depend thereon but that we by his humanitie should ascend vp to his godhead for when wee knowe the high and holy mysterie of his Passion and Resurrection with the which hee hath serued our turne wee ought to stirre vp our mindes to knowe the Godhead wherein he is lyke vnto the father Therefore vnto Marie Magdalene also doeth Christ speake of ascending vp to the Father which thing he commandeth to shew the Apostles as if he would say now shortly beginneth mine honor that I as concerning the humanitie receiued shall be taken vp to the glorie which I haue had from euerlasting that is the flesh which I haue taken vpon me for your sakes shall sitte at the right hande of my Father Oh how great a grace is this Oh
testifieth of these things wrote these things and we know that his testimony is true There are also many other things that Iesus did which if they should bee waitten euerie one I suppose the world could not contain the bookes that should be written Doctrine and fruite THE former wordes which Christ spake vnto Peter Follow me were spoken vnto him in this meaning that he should followe the foot-steps and passion of Christ namely with worde and deed to goe the waie that Christ had gone But in asmuch as Peter is a figure of the Church Christ spake those wordes not onely vnto him but vnto all faithful beleeuers For the Church of Christ while shee dwelleth heere temporally in many troubles and afflictions she foloweth Christ her spouse and head who also deliuereth her from all aduersitie Shee loueth Christ and in the behalfe of his truth she striueth vntill the death for seeing Christ dyed for all it is meet that they which are his doo follow his foot-steppes To followe Christ is nothing else than stoutly to suffer and ouercome despite and pouertie in this world for his sake And God truly euen in his wrath which wee with our sinnes deserue cannot forget his mercie Ouer and besides the manifolde comfort and helpe which he otherwise declareth vnto vs he hath giuen vs his own sonne to be our mediator by whom if we put our trust in him we should be saued deliuered from eternall death that we liuing from hence forth still in faith hope and charitable loue as pilgrimes in this world and beeing in all troubles aduersities preserued by the corporall and spirituall comfort of God might walke innocently before his sight in him who is become our way vnto God It is no vile thing to suffer to be put to death for Christ and his truths sake yea a man cannot die a more honorable death than when for the truth innocently he suffereth with a good conscience and with an vpright minde No man in deede ought to put himselfe in daunger arrogantly wilfully or for vaine-glorie Wheras Peter asketh a question concerning the disciple whom the Lord loued what he should doo it is a nicenesse and vnprofitable curiositie that serueth nothing to edification and therefore it pleaseth not the Lord. Whatsoeuer edifieth not that ought not we to desire of Christ Let euery man looke to himselfe waiting vpon his owne businesse and office and not to be curious in another mans matter whatsoeuer is not committed vnto his charge and belongeth not vnto him let him not meddle withal Peter loued Christ so did he them also therefore asked he what should become of him and whether he should remayne styll ot die for hee was verie loth and vnwilling to departe from him And so he passed more vpon Iohn than vppon the precept and commission of Iesus Christ Such curious backe looking doth the Lord rebuke Wee many and sundrie times doo regarde and esteeme more the thing that wee loue than that which God commaundeth and biddeth vs. But such loue is verie hurtfull and especially in those that should be soul shepherds Christs wil is that they haue respect to his worke and commandement and with a feruent loue to perfourme the same not medling with other busines not needfull To enquire curiously of other mens matters bringeth not alway profit but much rather vnquietnes Therefore Christ remoouing Peter from such curious questions draweth his mind vnto a better thing namely to follow him As for that which he desireth to know Christ telleth him that it is no point of his charge as if Christ would say what hast thou to doo with other folkes busines Thou hast heard what I haue commanded thee look that thou faithfully do the same What inquirest thou after other mens matters Thus looking diligently and faithfully to our own charge and expelling the affection of the flesh wee should neither desire curiously to aske any thing beyond the will of God neither to looke vpon any other men but vprightly to follow the Lord. Here also we learne that in the commission and final departure of the faithfull there be manifold differēces Some rest in the Lord blessedly without any speciall heauy affliction but some it pleaseth God to bring through sore trauaile and exceeding trouble laying the greater burthen vpon him according as it was tolde Peter afore hand that he should be crucified but not Iohn They now that are admitted to feede Christ his sheepe prepare themselues and bee alwaies readie without any curiosity to follow the will of God Whereas Iohn in the conclusion of his booke refuteth the erroneous opinion of some it is an euidence of his meeknesse and sinceritie It was not so spoken of the Lorde saith hee that the same Disciple should not die whereby Iohn confessed that he himselfe also was mortall His writing wil he haue credited for he hath written nothing saue onely the truth wherof he may well testifie that which he hath seene Yet saith he hath not written all but only that whereby we may obtaine eternall life as wee haue heard sufficiently afore THE eleuen Disciples went away into Galilee into a mountaine whereas Iesus had appointed them And when they saw him they worshipped him but some doubted And Iesus saide These are the wordes which I spake vnto you while I was yet with you that all must needs be fulfilled which were written of me in the lawe of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalmes Then opened hee their wittes that they might vnderstand the Scriptures and saide vnto them Thus is it written and thus it behooued Christ to suffer and to rise againe from death the third day and that repentance and remission of sinne should be preached in his name among all nations and must begin at Hierusalem And ye are witnesses of these thinges And behold I will send the promise of my Father vppon you But tarrie ye in the Cittie of Hierusalem till ye be endewed with power from on high Doctrine and fruite THE Lorde minding to make his Disciples assured of his Resurrection instructeth them first well in his passion which hee declareth out of the Scripture and printeth it in their hearts He teacheth them that it was necessarie that Christ should suffer and die yea euen thus to die namely vppon a crosse vpon a tree On the tree was the transgression committed vpon the tree behooued it the restitution to bee made vpon the tree was death fetched vpon the tree was life giuen vpon the tree must satisfaction bee made for the lustes of the flesh which on the tree were first conceiued And would God that we rightly knew the passion and crosse of our Lorde Iesu Christ then shoulde the glorie of the resurrection be well knowne and loued of vs. O Iesu graunt vs grace right to consider what wherefore and with what loue and feruentnes thou hast suffered for vs then shall our heart feele profitably enioy the sweete fruite of thy
God became after sinne like vnto the deuill filthie and shamefull yea altogether carnall hauing nothing more of the spirite in him as the scripture in the booke of creation testifieth For as much now as the miserable man was degenerate from the noble spirituall and godly nature to an vncleane carnall and diuelish disposition becomming altogether flesh hee was able no more eyther to thinke or woorke any spirituall or godlie thing All his thoughts and imaginations are carnall in that he is fallen into eternall death and hath lost the life of the spirite for the affections and lustes of the flesh are death but the desires of the spirite are life and peace The affections of the flesh are enmitie against God for the flesh is not subiect vnto the lawe of GOD neyther can bee they therefore which are in the flesh cannot please GOD. Nowe when man who had taken so hurtfull a fall was brought downe from life vnto death from the grace of God into his wrath life might not bee giuen him againe but by the spirite of God whome man by sinne hath lost Therefore like as the Father at the beginning had created man so fashioneth hee him againe by his Sonne who ouercommeth and destroyeth death and giueth vnto vs againe the way of immortalitie For into a froward soule entereth not the spirite of GOD therefore is it conuenient and necessarie that such soule and corrupt flesh bee purged and cleansed againe By Christ the eternall worde were all thinges created by him therefore after the fall must all things be restored againe for this cause died Christ vppon the crosse to banish the sinne of the worlde and to make satisfaction for it From death also hee riseth agayne to giue vs a certaine and assured hope and an vndoubted pledge of an immortall and eternall life and that hee hath ouercome death and sinne for vs. Immediately after the resurrection he breatheth vpon his disciples and giueth them the holy Ghost to declare that he is the same who at the beginning created our nature and sealed it it with his spirite and that it is euen hee who now in the beginning of a new life must by his spirite renew and restore our decayed nature againe that thus Christ who is the liuing and expresse image of the inuisible GOD may bee fashioned and fourmed of the newe in vs now cannot Christ the image of GOD bee right proportioned and renewed in vs but by the holie Ghost Nowe like as Christ after the resurrection gaue his Disciples the spirite to print into them a newe life whereby they knewe and were assured that hee was the fountaine and giuer of the spirite and therefore hee saide All that the Father hath is mine Item All power is giuen vnto mee in heauen and in earth euen so immediately after the same hee ascended vp into heauen to declare vnto them that he was the Lord of all thinges Out of the high and reall throne where he sitteth at the right hand of God his Father Christ the eternall king sent downe his holie spirite vpon all flesh that we by him might obtaine the old innocencie and saluation againe that the Image of God stained and defiled by sinne might be restored vnto vs and that wee thus might become partakers of eternall life What they be vnto whom God giueth his spirit that see we well heere namely euen vnto those that in vnitie of faith and feruent loue are gathered togither with one accord for of all vnitie he is the fountaine and originall In contentious and proud hearts dwelleth not the holy Ghost therefore is it meet that we pray Come O holie spirite replenish the harts of thy faithfull beleeuers and kindle in them the fire of thy loue thou that through manifolde tongues hast gathered together all the nations of the heathen in vnitie of faith O take all dissention and discord out of thy holie Church and make vs to be of one mind in vnfained loue without the which wee cannot please thee THere were dwelling at Hierusalem Iewes deuout men out of euerie nation of them that are in heauen now when this was noysed about the multitude came together and were astonied because that euerie man heard them speake with his owne language They wondered all maruelled saying amongst themselues Beholde are not all these which speake of Galilee and how heare wee euerie man his owne tongue wherein we were borne Partheans Medes and Elemytes and the inhabiters of Mesopotamia and of Iewrie and of Capadocia of Pontus and Asia Phrigia Pamphilia of Egypt and of the parties of Lybia which is besides Siren and strangers of Rome Iewes and Proselytes Greekes and Arabians wee haue heard them speake in our owne tongues the great works of God Doctrine and fruite THE eternall wisedome hath indued all good minds diligently to learne and search the thing wherein they thinke to finde that which they desire and what can be more worthie to be desired or more acceptable to the mind of man than eternal life and saluation which onely consisteth in God the highest good of all Now was the sacred scripture giuen of the holie Ghost that man thereby might bee guided and lead vnto saluation and to most excellent felicity For they that exercise themselues in holie scripture studying and perusing it ought thus to doe euen to direct themselues and others vnto life Therefore by the ordinance of God there hath been euer men in all nations which to instruct others haue applyed themselues to the scripture as among the Iewes wee finde Leui of whome in the Prophet Malachie it is written that the lawe of the truth was in his mouth and no wickednes in his lippes that he walked before God in peace and equitie and conuerted many from vngodlines for the lippes of the Priest are sure of knowledge and the law is required at his mouth for hee is a messenger of the Lorde of hosts Thus as it may wel be coniectured there were at Ierusalem congregations of learned men that exercised themselues in the holy scripture For though all wisedome come of God as the fountaine wel no man can be learned whom God himselfe teacheth not yet will not he giue his grace spirite and knowledge to the idle slouthfull and vnthankfull neither to the proud but vnto those that with meeknes feare of God practise themselues in the scripture and that applying vnto feruent praier doe not despise the meanes and gratious giftes granted them of God And if any man will say that all falshood and destruction all erroneous doctrine and discorde were come into the church by such as be learned let him consider that the thing which in himselfe is good ought not for the abuses sake to bee refused remoue the abuse and then the thing is good and profitable Wine is a profitable and wholesome thing created of GOD for the behoofe of man and is neuer dispraised
wildernesse through much trauell and labour Blessed are they that in patience without murmuring suffer the Lorde to worke and doo faithfully follow him All this and more than I can saie ought to be the consideration and exercise when we celebrate the supper of the Lord Iesu that wee so sprinkle the bloud of Christ in our heartes and drinke it into vs that it may worke in vs and bring forth fruit Our eies and hearts we ought to lift vp in to heauen and consider what the bread and wine pointeth vs vnto namely vnto the bodie of Christ that was offered vp vpon the crosse for our sinnes and to his bloud that was shed for the washing awaie of our offences and that we fashion our selues vnto his image and practise also such loue one towardes another This is the proofe that Paul speaketh of with the which a faithfull beleeuer ought to exercise himself before and in the Lords supper examining well his faith and loue which out of the loue of God towards vs is kindled and increased First ought a man to consider the excellent loue of our Lord Iesus Christ who so loued vs that he died for vs. And seeing that he biddeth vs to so high a feast of his grace we ought also to ponder the same in such sorte that wee bee thankfull vnto him and prepare our selues thereafter Saint Paul saith that there is a feeding with milke and a feeding with strong meate which is to bee obserued according to the nature and propertie of those that receiue the meate And in the Church of God there be three sortes of men as the same by the high illuminated goodwise teacher Augustine and by others is written First there be men which hauing spent their former time past in pastime and wantonnesse of the world and considering the carefull end thereof as they be inwardly moued by the grace of God haue vndertaken to cease and refraine from sinne and from all occasions of sinne in most diligent wise as neere as they can with the assistance grace and helpe of God to be circumspect and warie thereof albeit they are yet weake and haue not so strong a spirite as to laie aside and despise all worldly things out of hand And these are the right true beginners of repentant and penitent persons though they be not new beginners yet are they vnto God the Lord so deare that all things cannot sufficiently commend and praise it This is witnessed vnto vs by the holy Gospell of the vnthriftie sonne who when with shamefull riot hee had wantonly consumed his inheritance did in time of his extreame hunger conuert and turne againe to his louing Father and receiued not onely gracious forgiuenesse of his trespasse but also speciall tokens of his fathers loue as the garment the kisse the fat calfe the sweete minstrelsie and melodie This is the first anker of true repentance This is the first state concerning the blessed swineheard who forsaking the hogges wiih the coddes draffe or swillinges that hee sometimes greedily filled his belly withall and returning to his louing father is now in his first comming againe to his mercifull father graciously taken vp receiued and rewarded Who so now with this vnthriftie sonne forsaketh his sinnes and comming agayne in true and heartie repentance vnto God his most louing and gracious Father saith meekely O Father I am not worthie to bee called thy sonne for I haue sinned against heauen and before thee O make nice one of thy hired seruants To him shall the father denie nothing Who so nowe with an vnfained heart and mouth may speake this vnto God and truely and vnfainedly seeketh Iesus assuredly hee findeth him and hath with him a cheerefull supper Looke vnto whom God in his great mercie giueth such a tast of his geace let him render thanks and praise vnto almightie GOD let him nowe looke for it that the Father who hath receiued him will also nourture him in his owne schoole and through manifolde aduersities furnish him prepare him and make him more perfect Hee hath beene fedde with the milke hee must learne also to knowe what harde meate meaneth Through aduersitie and trouble some chaunces hee must bee tempted and proued whether hee haue ought in him of the blessed seede that groweth vpwardes vnto eternall life Which thing shall well appeare and bee made manifest if in time of temptation and troubles hee bee not choaked with the thornes nor troden downe by the high waie side nor withered among the stones but founde fruitfull in a good and fertill ground Other men there bee which are called reformers to whome belongeth somewhat more than there doth vnto the other For like as it appertaineth to the first repentant or prnitent persons that they continually and feruently with the confession of their sinnes vnto God with sorrowe and lamentation with praier watching and chastising of the the bodie doo breake out a waie from theyr olde sinnes harnessing and arming themselues agaynst others for to come and earnestly withstanding and forsaking their owne euill and naughtie customes if they minde to bring foorth fruite and not to fall awaie againe Euen so the reformers in the seconde order and manner after the harde rooting out of vice and wickednesse must still exercise them selues in the will of God and in good works seeking diligently experience thereof in holy Scripture and of those teachers who by reason of long practise and by the Scriptures can declare and teach the same waie When these men in such a stedfast purpose to walke and practise themselues in the will of God with his grace and power doe goe vnto the supper of the Lord they inwardly with ioy and fruit of the godly feast are nourished and refreshed For who so desireth to cleaue vnto vertue and to a godly life shall no where find the same so euidently and plaine as in Christs passion whereof hee is mindfull at the supper with faith and thankesgiuing The third sort of men are â—â—lled perfect not that anie man here in time may be perfect as to lacke nothing or to haue no sinne in him but therefore are they named perfect because theyr exercise is such that after long accustomate doing of vertuous deeds after many spiritual fruits brought forth by them in patience after many temptations which they with the help of God haue ouercome They haue so wholy humbled and cast downe themselues before God being reconciled with him that they are become one spirite with Christ their head whom they cleaue vnto whose crosse and holy passion they follow without fainting so farre as theyr wit and power may suffer being dead from the world the flesh following onely the Lord Iesu Christ suffering with him and liuing with him These with their minds harts step somwhat higher than the others hauing their dwelling in heauen in the sweet contemplation beholding of Gods Almightinesse wisedome and goodnes with feruent deuotion Which men also by inioying of the said feast
according to their beleefe and ferueâ—â— loue receiue the more excellent â—ruites whereby they may expell the temptations that they like not For the deuill keepeth no holy daie he sleepeth not runneth about as a roaring lion he ceaseth not and therefore these men continually get them to their weapons with the consideration of the passion of Christ Abraham the good friend of God must stil driue awaie the rauenous birds from the sacrifice till the Sunne goe downe and till a man cheerefully saie In peace will I laie me downe and take my rest c. This probation must be well taken heed vnto for many men not iustly considering themselues neither right discerning this meate from others receiue the foode of life vnto death Not that this holy bread was instituted and ordained of Christ to hurt any man but because the euil man doth wickedly receiue that which is wholsome abuseth it thorough vnbeleefe Therefore iustly doeth Paul exhort that there be first had a diligent examination of a mans selfe that then he eate of this bread and drinke of this cup. Thus let euerie man take good heed to his owne state and vocation that this banket may set him forward not vnto his hurt but to eternall life Who so taketh not heed vnto this difference to him selfe as alas carnall people do which are not spiritually instructed The same faileth oft in many things and vndertaketh to flie high yea higher than his knowledge power may attaine Hereof then it also proceedeth as we see before our eyes that so fewe folkes come to steadfast amendement namely euen hereof that when men are not exercised in discerning of Gods matters from others a mad headie motion of sensualtie prouoketh them inordinatly to sitte highest at the table wheras yet they are not worthie of the lowest place and so will they forthwith possesse the seate roiall afore they haue found the asses or kept the sheepe as of Dauid Saul in figure it is read But thus ought it not to bee for though the grace of the holy Ghost vse not long fetches about yet commeth no man sodainly to the happiest step I speake after the common course as it beseemeth vs to talke and do in the Church of God namely after the ordinance which he hath appointed vs. Behold Saint Paul being so perfect in the law that the world could not accuse him being also chast earnest feruent and well exercised in all vertues whom God that had separated him from his mothers wombe would cal to his seruice Though he was taken vp into the third heauen and saw secrets that no man can expresse yet doth not he trust so much thereto as by reason of that great grace to magnifie himselfe and to take vpon him the office of preaching before he being taught at Gamaliels feet and baptised and instructed of Ananias had perceiued in himselfe and proued that same which he afterwards out of the perfectnes of the spirit might distribute abrode vnto al Christendome This is peraduenture laughed to scorne of the vnexpert proud worldlynesse but who so hath eares circumcised with the feare of God will thinke more vpon the matter He that will sit now at the table of the high king let him diligently consider what hee receiueth in his soule through faith namely the body end bloud of Iesus Christ which feedeth and nourisheth him to eternall life and draweth him to God altereth him and maketh him steadfast which the outward bread taken with the moueh doth point and leade vnto yea let vs ponder how great loue and what an example Christ ther setteth before him that he also must prepare the like that is that he to his power must follow the loue life and passion of Christ to the intent that hee being wounded with Christs loue fastned with him vpon the crosse may abide in him vnto the end For in the passion of Christ is the instrustion of the way which we ought and must follow vnto eternall life There also is information where and how the same waie and the euerlasting truth is shewed found Thus the penitent sindeth the waie the reformer the vndoubted vnwandring truth the perfect the verie life eternall which is Christ Iesus and there is eternall peace God graunt that all they which reade this little booke and consider this matter may so burne in loue and feruent deuotion that they continue and liue in Christ and he in them for euer Amen THE PASSION OF CHRIST Out of the holy Euangelists THE feast of sweete bread which is also called Easter drue nigh namely after two daies Then sayd Iesus to his disciples Know ye that after two daies shall be Easter and the sonne of man shal be betraied and crucified At the same time were the chiefe priests and councell gathered together in the pallace of the high Priest whose name was Caiphas and there they counselled how they might craftily apprehend take and kill him Howbeit they feared the people Therfore sayd they together Not on the holie daie least there bee an vproare among the people But Satan was entered into Iudas called Iscarioth one of the twelue who went out to the high Priests rulers intending to deliuer him vnto them therefore how he would deliuer Iesus vnto them he told them and sayd What will you giue me and I will deliuer him vnto you When they heard that they were gladde and agreed with him promising him thirtie pence Then promised hee them sought from thence forth oportunity how he might deliuer Iesus vnto them handsomely and without any vprour But afore the feast which is called Passah Iesus knowing that his houre was come and that hee should depart out of this world vnto the Father while he loued his owne that were in the world he loued them vnto the end On the first day of sweet bread when they offer passah the Disciples came to Iesu and said where wilt thou that we go and prepare Passah for thee Then sent he two of his disciples namely Peter and Iohn saying Goe and prepare for vs that we may eat Passah They said where then said he Goe into the citie to one beholde when yee enter in one shall meet you bearing a pitcher with water follow him into the house that he entreth into and say vnto the housholder The maister saith vnto thee my time is now heere that I will eat Passah with thee Where is now the place where the multitude shall be kept Where is the Parlour that I shall eat Passah in with my Disciples then shall hee shewe you a great Parlour that is paued there make ye ready So the Disciples went and found as the Lord had tolde them and they made readie the Passah At euen came Iesus with the twelue and when it was time he sate him down at the table and the twelue with him Now when he sat at the table with his disciples and they did eate hee saide I haue greatly longed
forth from the father And Paul Phil. 2. He tooke vppon him the shape of a seruant Who God Also Iohn 17. he saith Glorifie thou me ô Father with the glorie and honour which I had with thee afore the world was created And 1. Iohn 5. Wee knowe that the Sonne of God is come and hath giuen vs vnderstanding to knowe him who is the true God And we are in him that is true euen in his Son Iesus Christ the same is the true God and the eternall lâ—fe Seeing then that God hath giuen vs his Sonne to bee our righteousnes our sanctification sauiour redeemer raunsome life light and head to beleeue trust in him and finally by him to be saued hee must needs then be the true liuing God els might not neither should our hart trust nor cleaue vnto him This ought a beleeuing heart fully and well to take holde of and steadfastly to stand therevpon IF ye loue me keepe my commaundements and I will pray the father and hee shall giue you another comforter that hee may bide with you for euer euen the spirite of truth whom the world cannot receiue because the world seeth him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shalbe in you I will not leaue you comfortlesse but will come to you Yet a little while and the world seeth me no more but ye see me for I liue and yee shall liue That daie shall ye know that I am in my father and you in me and I in you He that hath my commaundements and keepeth them the same is he that loueth me and he that loueth me shall be loued of my father and I will loue him and will shewe mine owne selfe vnto him Iudas said vnto him not Iudas Iscarioth Lorde what is the cause that thou wilt shewe thy selfe vnto vs and not vnto the worlde Iesus answered and said vnto him if a man loue me he will keepe my sayings and my Father will loue him and wee wil come vnto him and wil dwell with him He that loueth me not keepeth not my sayings and the wordes which yee heare are not mine but the Fathers which hath sent me Doctrine and fruite CHrist promiseth his Disciples that is such as beleeue on him that he will giue them whatsoeuer they make peticion for or desire yea if they loue him For faith without loue is dead hath no strength Where there is faith in man there followeth loue Many of vs say Wee beleeue in Christ and we loue him yet we keepe not his commaundements Such men ought well to note the wordes that Christ heere speaketh Who so loueth me keepeth my commaundements The Disciples thought that they loued Christ right because they were sorie for his departing but Christ teacheth vs that loue consisteth in the keeping of his commaundements If we will declare our loue towardes GOD it must not be done onely with word and tongue but with keeping of his precepts The eies of the Lord behold the righteous and his eares consider their prayers God will not that we whome hee through his grace hath admitted for his own children and purified through faith should goe idle Faith which God giueth vs in our heart standeth not idle wee haue for this purpose receyued it euen to keep his commandements Now is it his commaundement that wee denie and mortifie our selues hate and despise the worlde take vp our crosse vppon vs and followe him stoutly and manfully confessing and acknowledging him before the wicked worlde louing one another as hee hath loued vs innocently and godly leading our liues whereby we may daily receiue the more giftes at his hande For if wee keepe not his grace that hee giueth vs if wee do not continually and daily reforme our selues and with all diligence fashion our liues after his life it is but right that we loose againe what wee haue receiued And if anie man saith it were vnpossible for man to keepe Gods commaundementes as it is true indeed yet vnto vs that beleeue in Christ are all things possible not in our selues but in Christ our head If we abide in him through faith then hard and vnpossible things are light and possible vnto vs for in him that strengtheneth vs we may do all thinges And if wee loue God then for his sake that is beloued wee may doe and suffer all thinges for there is nothing but loue ouercommeth it Our Lorde Iesus Christ fulfilleth the commaundements and will of his heauenly Father So farre as wee now are his members incorporated with him and abiding in him as our head through faith our daily exercise feruentnes and diligence shall bee in vndertaking to perfourme and keepe his commaundementes And if wee out of a true beleefe doe applie such diligence to keepe his preceptes then mâ— it be perceiued that we loue God And if that after such diligence in keeping Gods commandements there be ought lacking as we shal euer heere want some thing wee must crie vnto our heauenly Father and pray O Father forgiue vs our debts and trespasses And then haue wee with him a faithfull mediatour euen Iesus Christ the righteous who maketh intercession for vs and taketh our faults vpon himselfe what wee are not not able that fulfilleth he for vs. Thus is it his first highest coÌ„maundement which he earnestly requireth of vs that wee beleue in him Where the same faith is right it brings with it loue which keepeth al the commandements Now when we begin to breake our mindes off from earthie worldly thinges and to set them vpon godlie heauenly things which Christ calleth vs vnto Then take we in hande to bee obedient vnto God the Father after the example and patterne of Christ for he loued vs first If wee now also loue him and practise our selues in his loue then shall hee helpe vs to keepe his commaundements And to the intent that we may be able to put our trust in him to loue him and to obserue his precepts hee promiseth vs his holy spirite to worke all such things in vs. Hee comforteth also his Disciples and all his elect in this world as if he would say Be not yee afraide neither sorrowfull by reason of my departing Albeit I now die and goe corporally from you vnto the Father yet will I alwaies haue a fatherly loue faithfulnesse and care for you neither will I leaue you friendles as those that are vtterly destitute of al helpe and consolation I will pray vnto the Father so that hee shall sende you another to succour and comfort you While I haue been with you my selfe I haue instructed and taught you in all thinges that were necessary for your welfare Vnto all such workes as are acceptable vnto my father haue I exhorted you vnto all good thinges haue I moued you from all euill haue I defended you in all trouble and aduersitie haue I comforted you I haue beene your teacher your exhorter your
most perfection to vnderstand his doctrine truth and loue for heere in this time is our knowledge vnperfect yet shuld we consider that the father loueth vs and faithfully ought we to crie and praie vnto him for his spirite that shal teach vs all truth so much as is necessarie and profitable for vs which knowledge from daie to daie shall increase till we shal see him face to face and haue the perfect knowledge of him Our nature is weake and feeble the nature diuine is high and incomprehensible we are full of darknes God is the cleere farre passing light but when our darke mist is taken away then in cleere brightnesse shall the godly light open vnto vs. Some first fruits and beginnings of Gods knowledge haue we receiued alreadie God hath cast and planted a litle seed of knowledge in our harts which through his grace and moisture shall daily grow increase and prosper Of such knowledge as we haue of God we may not presume neither of our weak faith nor yet ascribe too much vnto our own strength He that standeth let him looke that he fall not We think many times that we are verie strong in faith but aduersitie sheweth how feeble we bee and how soone we shrinke Therefore in all trouble and distresse of this world we ought to comfort our selues and trust onely in the grace and strength of Christ In him shal we finde peace and quietnesse in him shall we ouercome all our enemies for his ouercomming is our victorie his power is our strength The world is not able to hurt and plague vs more than of our gracious father is permitted vnto them for our wealth While we liue here we are in miserie affliction distresse but seeing the head hath ouercome the members ought not to doubt of the victorie Let vs with stedfast beleefe looke vnto Christ the fountaine of life our foregoer and finisher of our faith let vs stoutly step forth after him let vs go the waie that he is gone and hath troden made before Afflictions shall serue vs vnto high honor as they serued Christ the Lord vnto glorie In Christ we finde the peace rest of our consciences and soules in him we knowe and find the goodnes loue of God the father out of him receiue we power strength comfort eternall life only let vs loke that we turne not the eies of our heart faith away from him Our welfare consisteth in the stedfast beleefe and loue of Iesus Christ the sonne of God Though we many times stumble fall and be proued by sundry temptations and afflictions yet is the same good and profitable for vs that we may the better learn to know our own weaknes and againe the strength and grace of God If it were not profitable for vs Christ had not suffered his Disciples to fall so greeuously But in all distresse he putteth his hand vnder vs and in aduersitie he leaueth vs not alone as hee also left not his owne Sonne alone Though all men flie away from vs yet haue we God with vs. THese wordes spake Iesus and lift vp his eyes to heauen and said Father the houre is come glorifie thy Sonne that thy Sonne also may glorifie thee as thou hast giuen him power ouer all flesh that he should giue eternall life to as manie as thou hast giuen him This is life eternall that they know thee the onely very true God whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ I haue glorified thee on the earth I haue finished the worke which thou gauest me to doo And now glorifie me thou Father with thine owne selfe with the glorie which I had with thee ere the worlde was I haue declared thy name vnto the men which thou gauest me out of the world Thine they were and thou gauest them mee and they haue kept thy sayings Now they knowe that all thinges whatsoeuer thou hast giuen me are of thee for I haue giuen vnto them the words which thou gauest me and they haue receiued them and know surely that I came out from thee do beleeue that thou didst send me Doctrine and fruite CHrist the true onely chiefe Priest who now would offer vp himselfe to the father vpon the crosse for our sins after that hee had loued his owne vnto the end comforting and strengthening them turneth nowe himselfe in an earnest and feruent praier vnto his heauenly father for an ensample and doctrine to his Disciples and all faithfull beleeuers that they in all temptations and afflictions should with an earnest and feruent praier haue recourse vnto the Father of heauen That he taught afore in wordes the same declareth hee nowe in the deede shewing not onely what but also how and after what sort wee ought to pray not onely for our selues but also for those that are giuen and committed vnto vs of God and whom we haue comforted and exhorted Our eyes and handes ought we to lift vp vnto heauen from whence our helpe commeth which doing is a token of a deuout humble lowly mind Yea the eyes not onely of the body but also of the hart and beleefe But vnto this ende principally ought all our prayers to be directed that the heauenly father may bee glorified The deuil the prince of this world throgh his adherents causeth the name and trueth of Christ his doctrine and knowledge to be rooted out despised Seeing then that wee are Gods children wee should in nothing bee so earnest as in sauing the honour of our father in furthering his glory Which thing commeth to passe when we notifie to men vpon earth his grace faithfulnes loue great mercy which he by his only begotten deare son hath declared shewed vnto mankind when we lead men vnto God from earthly vices false Gods seruice when we direct al things to his glorie Thus is Christ also honored and glorified by vs when wee through the Gospell doe publish vnto all men his power and goodnes his honor and glorie when we know that he is our sauiour our righteousnes and sanctifiing when we know that the father hath giuen all things into his power that to those whom the father hath granted to him hee may giue euerlasting life Which life euerlasting consisteth in this that wee knowe the liuing God his sonne Iesus Christ whom he sent into this world For God the father cānot be known without Christ Iesus his sonne neither is there any mo Gods but only one on whom wee hope trust The way to God is Christ whom God therfore sent downe that by him the mercie and grace of the Father might be opened and appeare vnto vs. Wherefore if we wil haue eternal life that is the knowledge of God we must beleeue in Christ and knowe him and by him as the way and mediator we must know God the father Who so refuseth Christ cannot haue the Father What should it helpe thee
meane season he forgetteth not his Disciples but commeth to them exhorteth them to watch and pray hath great compassion with their feeblenes and slouth If we now be the disciples and schollers of Christ Iesu and haue surrendered our selues vppe into the schoole of the heauenly Schoolmaister we ought diligently to looke what Christ here in him selfe doth teach and prescribe vnto vs that wee learning the same of him and following his foot-steppes when temptations of sinne and conflicts of aduersitie troble and death fall in vpon vs may know how to order and frame our selues therein First that wee know our selues to be poore full of faultes mortall men and sinners hauing nothing of our owne but feeblenes So when the temptation of sinne and of the flesh assault vs we must not be ashamed to open such our faults and conflicts vnto God our heauenly Father and to complaine vnto him of them God hath not made vs to bee vtterly without temptation but hath suffered the same to remaine in the flesh that we therby might be exercised prouoked to seeke helpe at him and to learne in how miserable a case we should be if he withdrew his hande from vs When we now feele that the spirit is willing and the flesh weake and that the law of the members withstandeth the law of God in vs that the flesh fighteth and striueth against the spirit we must not be ashamed to confesse our feeblenes before our heuenly Father yea though of weakenes wee had lyen vnder in the battaile already desiring his helpe that we may rise againe and valiauntly to fight it out Thus must wee also doe when the crosse and hatred of the world for Christes sake or that is contrary to our nature falleth vpon vs. The cuppe which the father hath filled in that we shoulde drinke it the same ought wee willingly to drinke and if there growe in our flesh a terrour and feare to tast it we must not be ashamed to complaine thereof vnto our Father forasmuch as we see heere that Christ for our sakes beeing in such heauines and feare did not yet for all that steppe aside from his Fathers will The patience therefore of Christians standeth not in this that they feele no passion or bee not feareful heauy or sorie but in this that no crosse bee so great as to bee able to driue them away from Christ Yea the more the crosse that God the Father hath laid vpon them doth make them to smart the more it presseth them so that they yet beare it the more pretious and more excellent is their patience which patience we ought to declare but not as they that suffer or feele no passion at all For heere wee are instructed and certified of the kindnes of our louing Father that hee is not angrie neyther taketh it in euill part when we complaine to him of our present trouble so that we giue ouer our will vnto his All they therefore that be in afflictions aduersitie and temptations must set this example of the Lorde directly before their eyes and ponder it in their harts Not only is the father not angry when wee complaine vnto him in our necessitie but in all trouble hee sendeth vs his owne helpe and comfort either by his Angell or inwardly by his spirit or outwardly by some other meane he sendeth vs strength giueth vs his hande draweth vs deliuereth vs suffereth vs not to be tempted aboue our power or else in the middest of our aduersitie he giueth vs consolation and strength to ouercome it O how great comfort bringeth this vnto vs in our afflictions in life and death if we ponder weigh and consider the exceeding loue of GOD our heauenly Father who giueth his deare Sonne into so greate trouble that wee might bee deliuered from eternall aduersitie and sorrow If we also remember the loue of our Lorde Iesus towards vs who for our sakes taketh vppon himselfe so great a feare and passion how cannot wee looke for all good thinges at his hande What thing is so great that wee his members would not suffer for his sake if wee behold the head in such anguish and trouble And for as much as hee suffereth all this for the satisfaction of our sins we ought to applie great diligence that we fall not againe into sinne for the which Christ suffered this and from the which Christ with so great a passion hath deliuered and cleansed vs. Wee learne heere also to loue our neighboures to care for them to pittie them if they bee impotent and slowe to pray for their infirmitie seeing wee are all weake and feeble and vnto such weaknesse must we so haue respect that we bee not arrogant nor hold much of our selues when wee see that Peter and others are so full of sleepe sluggishnes that all the admonitions and exhortations of Christ could at that time do little with them But euer in humblenes of minde and in the feare of God ought wee to stand to ascribe all good thinges vnto him to be carefull and watch least the Deuill draw vs into his temptations O mercifull Father giue vs grace with feruent hartes to consider the vnspeakeable loue of thee and of thy Sonne and neuer to forget the same that our fayth and trust in thee may bee strengthened that loue in vs towards thee and our neighbour may bee kindled that aboue all thinges wee may loue thee the welspring of all goodnesse that wee may serue our neighbours in loue care for them and doe them good according to the loue that thy deare Son hath bestowed vppon vs O giue vs patience and stedfastnes in aduersitie strengthen our weaknesse comfort vs in trouble and distresse helpe vs to fight Graunt vnto vs that in true obedience and contentation of mind wee may giue ouer our owne willes vnto thee our Father in all thinges according to the example of thy beloued sonne that in aduersitie we grudge not but offer vp our selues vnto thee without contradiction Giue vs strength constantly to subdue the rebellious and stubborne flesh and to make it obedient vnto the spirit to castaway al temporall and carnall feare to resort oft vnto prayer to bee earnest and feruent therein to mortifie all our owne wils and lustes and vtterly to giue them their leaue O giue vs a willing and cheerefull minde that vvee may gladly suffer and beare all thinges for thy sake SO when Iudas had gotten him a companie of souldiers of the high Priests and of the Pharesies ministers hee came thether with lanthornes linkes and weapons yea the same Iudas Iscarioth one of the twelue as Iesus yet talked with his disciples and with him a great heape of people with swoords staues sent from the high Priests scribes and elders of the people Now had the traitor giuen them a token saying Whom so euer I doo kisse the same is he take him and bring him warily So Iudas went before them and came neere vnto
men cried Away with him crucifie him crucifie him O the wonderfull great lenitie of our Lord Iesus Christ They reuile and misintreat him to the vttermost he praieth for them that they beeing conuerted from their wickednes may acknowledge him the very true son of God to haue appeared in the flesh Here is fulfilled that Esay said hee hath borne the sinnes of many and made intercession for the transgressours that they should not perish Who now being in sinne wil despaire in the mercie of God when the great offenders that crucified and slewe the giuer of all remission found so great grace and goodnes A stedfast hope therefore ought we to conceiue and to bee sure of howe great soeuer our sinne be The hope of life standeth yet open the bowels of mercie are yet readie prepared Onely vnto him let vs resort full gratiously will hee receiue vs so far as wee giue ouer our selues vnto him Heere likewise by the example of our fore-goer wee must learne to forgiue our neighbour to pray also for our enemies and for those that do vs harme If we gladly forgiue that little God will forgiue vs the great If we so do we finde grace and are the children of the heauenly Father As for the recompencing of all despite taking of vengeance wee must commit and refer that vnto our Father who iudgeth righteously O Iesu thou heauenly schoolmaster teach vs this and graunt vs grace to doe it Giue vs also an assured hope of thy mercie and grace that wee fall into no despaire through the multitude of our sinnes but with faithfull minds to consider that for to heale sin thou camest into this world hast shed thy bloud O graunt vnto vs free refuge and sure defence vnder the shadowe of thy winges and vnder the inuincible token of thy holie crosse Receiue vs poore sinners which vtterly trust not in anie good deede or merit of our owne but onely in thy mercie Amen Verie spitefull extremitie is shewed vnto our Sauiour in that he must beholde and see how the vile vnthriftes part his clothes amongst them By this is there set forth vnto vs a doctrine how wee ought to behaue our selues if our temporall goodes bee withdrawne and taken from vs. Wee must bee readier to suffer temporal harme than to bee reuenged or with vnquiet suite at the law to require our owne He that created the whole worlde hath not a corner where to rest his head Hee that beautifieth and decketh all things hangeth bare and naked himselfe Whereby we must learne to be pacient if that which is ours be taken from vs wee must learne to bee content with few thinges and to take in good part things of small reputation and not to grudge but with quiet minds to be thankfull vnto God O Lord grant vnto vs that we appeare not naked and bare before thee cloth vs with the wedding garment of faith and loue and when wee suffer wrong giue vs grace to followe thine example in patience that no sorrowe nor heauinesse for losse of temporall goods lead vs away from thee Amen THey that passed by reuiled and blasphemed him wagging their heades and saieng ha thou that breakest downe the temple and settest it vp againe in three dayes helpe now thy selfe if thou be the Sonne of God come downe from the crosse The high Priestes also mocked him together with the Scribes and Elders and saide amongst themselues He helped others can hee not helpe himselfe If he be Christ the chosen of God the king of Israell lette him come downe now from the crosse we will beleeue him He setteth his hope and trust in God let him deliuer him if hee will haue him for hee hath said I am the Sonne of GOD. The murtherers also that were crucified with him cast the same in his teeth and reuiled him The people stoode there and wayted and the chiefe of them mocked him and saide Hath hee helped others and cannot helpe himselfe and is Christ the chosen of GOD. The souldiers also mocked him came and proffered him vineger and said If thou be king of the Iewes helpe thy selfe One of the murtherers that hanged by him reuiled him also and said If thou bee Christ helpe thy selfe and vs. But the other rebuked him and said Fearest thou not God seeing thou art in the same damnation As for vs we are iustly punished for we receiue according to our deeds but this man hath done nothing amisse And he said vnto Iesus Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdome And Iesus said vnto him Verely I say vnto thee this day shalt thou be with me in paradise Doctrine and fruite IEsus for our sake tooke vpon himselfe the most extreme shame rebuke derision to deliuer vs from eternall villainy and that wee should learne gladly to suffer reproch and shame and to despise the vain-glorie of this world He is mocked contemned of high and lowe of spirituall temporall and of euerie man For they being ful of gal bitternes and poison poure it out with their false tongues and outwarde gestures casting out wicked slaundrous wordes and sharpening their venemous tongs against the innocent sauiour They rather shuld haue bewailed their owne great sinnes but there is no compassion nor mercie in them their harts are stopt Sathan hath the leading of them Yet cannot their malice ouercome good Iesus Through their wickednesse and despite cannot his patience bee vanquished No opprobrious or vile word might cause him to omit the worke of our redemption but hee continueth in loue and performeth it with an honorable ende Euen as hee teacheth vs to endure vnto the end so doth he practise it himselfe and declareth it vnto vs in deede and example We therfore that wil be followers of Iesu Christ shuld set before vs this excellent example of our forgoer and learne to contemne the world and stoutlie to abide in our holie vocation and purpose It is the worke of Christ that we haue in hand and before vs we haue an high perfect example giuer of whom we ought to learne euen Christ Iesus who for our sakes was obedient to the Father vntill the death of the crosse Wherefore seeing we are become children of God throgh grace we must be obedient to our heauenly father looking to his good pleasure bidding the world farewell despising the mocks and scorns therof looking vp euer diligently vnto the crucified Lorde Iesus who waiteth for vs with outstretched armes calleth vs louingly vnto him and for a shorte trauaile promiseth vs eternall rewarde and saith If thou suffer with mee thou shalt raigne with mee If thou dye with mee thou shalt also be crowned with mee O Lord Iesu Christ our fore-goer and protector graunt vs grace stedfastly to continue in our holie vocation and to abide in thy seruice that through no tediousnes or slouth we shrinke or cease from the feruentnes of good workes and holie exercises that we being alway readie
of patience is heere declared to performe the redemption of mankinde This paine and smart is so great that euen the Elements which haue no sence declare tokens of their compassion The Sunne lost his shine and hid his cheerefull light from the wicked rabble hauing as it were a displeasure for the death of their maker Seeing now that the sun mourneth and the earth quaketh much more ought we reasonable men to haue compassion and to consider the death of our maker Behold O faithfull seruant of God how thy foregoer in all his punishment and sorrowfull trouble indureth stil mild and patient and that there is heard no bitternes out of his mouth His praier and complaint sendeth hee vppe vnto his heauenlie Father neither nameth hee any other saue onely God To him alone hee complaineth and openeth his desolation Euen so ought wee to doe when aduersitie reproch or any such thing assaulteth vs wee must not vndiscreetly sorrow or be angrie but runne straight way vnto the Crosse and at the Crosse tarrie and abide a little while with the Lorde If thou be forsaken complaine of thy trouble vnto GOD the Father Consider that Iesus also for thy sake was left in great trouble and anguishe Learne thou likewise to bee soft minded and patient without murmuring or cursing Keepe thee to the onelie comfort of God giue ouer all the ioy of this world so shalt thou not bee forsaken of him All earthlie thinges set apart turne thou thy minde vppe into the Countrey of Heauen Take GOD for thy Father Iesus for thy brother Thou art of a noble high kindred namelie a childe of the euer liuing God O mercifull father wee crie vnto thee in all trouble and call vppon thee through the crucified Iesus Suffer vs not to sincke in great afflictions giue vs not ouer vnto our owne strength but the more the enemie presseth vppon vs the more bee thou our assistance For in all anguishe and trouble thou art the right helper and most faithfull friend If temptation then come vppon vs by thy fatherly will graunt vs grace O Lord patientlie to beare it and to lay the burthen vpon thy mercie that in all trouble we being els destitute of all consolatiō may put our whole trust onely in thee Amen AFter this Iesus knowing that all thinges were nowe perfourmed that the scripture might be fulfilled hee saith I thirst So there stood a vessell by full of vineger Therfore they filled a spunge with vinegar and wound it about with Isope and put to his mouth Assoone as Iesus then receiued of the Vinegar hee answered and saide It is finished Doctrine and fruite ADam satisfied his lust in the forbidden Apple which noisome lust was ocasion of our death But Iesus for the reformation of this concupiscence suffreth also vpon his tongue to restore vs againe from the fall and to conquere vs in this life His bitter drinke is vnto vs a blessed medicine Such great vnthankefulnesse of the Iewes was prophecied by King Dauid in the Psalmes To him that fedde them in the wildernesse with bread from heauen and gaue them water to drinke out of the hard stonie Rocke Euen vnto him for a recompence they giue Vineger and Gall. O the sower and vnnaturall fruite that the LORDE receiueth of his owne Vineyard which he had planted and garnished so faire To vs heere is prepared a soueraigne medicine against glotonie and all voluptuousnes of the flesh thorow the loue whereof God is forgotten and forsaken Now when Christ who is the fulfiller of the law and all the Prophets had whollie and fully perfourmed the will of his heauenlie father hee saith for a conclusion and ende of his life it is finished as hee would say Now is finished all that the old law hath written and spoken of me all that the old Testament figured with oblations and sacrifices with glory and beautie in the Gods seruice Now are truly fulfilled the holy prophesies of the Prophetes and the long wished desires of the holye olde Fathers Nowe is wrought and perfourmed all that belonged concerned the redemption of mankinde It is all as it was promised of God concluded with an honourable blessed end And looke what is behinde shall vndoubtedly be fulfilled in due time I haue accomplished the commandement of my Father who sent me into this world the worke that hee gaue mee to do haue I finished What could I do more for thee O my people that I haue not done Vppon the sixt daye hee finished the worke of the creation of the world And nowe vppon the sixt day and age of the world hee perfourmeth the blessed worke of mans redemption Vppon the sixt day hee created man and made him of the mould of the earth Vpon the sixt day hee restored him againe and deliuered him with his holy bloud Thus all things are finished the great worke of his mercie and most excellent loue is accomplished the way vnto heauen is opened and the deuils power is broken In such hope ought wee valiauntlie to trauaile at this time in this vnconstant world and not to let fall the worke of God that is begun but by his assistance to bring it vnto a blessed ende and stoutly to endure therein It is well-nie come to the point that all shal bee finished the euening and ende of our life commeth on apace wherein we may say with glad harts as Christ our foregoer did It is all finished Wherefore deare brethren let vs euer most diligently and earnestly walke in the way of the truth and of commendable vertues begun exercising our selues in righteousnes We must not think otherwise but to haue battaile against vice against the flesh the world and Satan Daily goe we on a pace towardes death in hope to attain eternal life O that we might say with Paule I haue fought a good fight I haue fulfilled my course I haue kept the faith We must suffer and haue trauaile yet a litle season the time of our deliuerance will shortly be heere O Lord Iesu direct thou all our works according to thy good pleasure illuminate purifie our minds and thoughts Teach vs how wee euer to the praise and honour of thy holy name may meekly beginne diligently doo and blessedly end all our workes and enterprises O giue vs grace faithfully to labour in the Vineyard of the Lord that the heat and trauaile driue vs not back that we faint not that in the schole of heauenly exercise wee may steadfastly indure till wee giue vp the ghost and that through thy mercie after many commendable battails and long striuing wee may say in the last houre of our life It is all finished Vouchsafe thou to bee the finall occasion of our whole life and of all our woorkings so shall it followe that thou wilt bee also our eternall reward ioy and saluation Amen ANd Iesus criyng with a loud voyce said Father into thy hands I commit my spirite And when hee had thus
treasure had Tabitha laid vp in store for when she died it was not stones and stockes that commended her benefits but the bodies of the widows they lamented her death and declared how mercifull she had beene Christ openeth and sheweth himselfe vnto those that earnestly seeke him and those hee suffereth to touch him to the intent that forasmuch as they must declare his resurrection to the Apostles their weake faith must be strengthned to know and to be assured that hee was verily risen againe For not onely the Angell but Christ also himselfe commandeth them so to do He comforteth them and taketh from them the fearfulnes and sorrowe Thus wee ought not to doubt he shall in all aduersitie and trouble meete vs he shall chearfully appeare vnto vs and with his ioyfull presence and resurrection shall hee comfort and preserue vs. But we lacke an earnest and strong faith our harts are slow and cold Diligent we be in seeking of temporall things but godly things wee either despise or neglect Loue hath no rest she ceaseth not to runne and seeke till she finde him whome shee loueth and when she findeth him she holdeth him fast that shee loose him not againe glad is she also to make others pertakers of the treasure that she hath found O God kindle our colde heartes with the fire of faith and loue that we may earnestly seeke thee and that when we haue found thee we may feruently receiue and keepe thee and with a right spirit worship thee Expell all hardnes and vngentlenes out of our hearts make vs louing and mercifull vnto the poore ones Take from vs the terrour of all vndoubtfulnes vnbeleefe and feare of the world and comfort vs in all aduersitie Graunt vs the faith of thy resurrection that we despising all transitory things may set all our comfort and hope in the blessed resurrection to come Amen Heere also we learne how exceeding weake and ignorant our flesh is to receiue and beleeue the truth 〈◊〉 it of God giue not light and strength For a◠〈…〉 of the Apostles were illuminated and 〈…〉 the holy ghost they esteemed the truth 〈…〉 Resurrection opened vnto them by the women to be a foolish and fained thing Neuerthelesse Christ forsaketh not those whom hee hath once imbraced but still openeth himselfe vnto them more and more to expell out of them all dubitation vnbeleefe ANd behold two of them went that same day to a town called Emaus which was from Hierusalem about a threescore furlongs they talked together of all these things that had happened And it chaunced that while they communed together and reasoned Iesus himself drew neare and went with them but their eies were holden that they should not know him And he saide vnto them What manner of communications are these that ye haue one to another as ye walke and are sad And the one of them whose name was Cleophas answered and said vnto him Art thou onely a straunger in Hierusalem hast not knowne the things which haue chanced there in these dais He said vnto them What things And they said vnto him Of Iesus of Nazareth which was a Prophet mightie in deed and word before God all the people how the high Priests our rulers deliuered him to be condemned vnto death haue crucified him But we trusted that it had been he which shuld haue redeemed Israel And as touching all these thinges to day is euen the third day that they were done Yea and certain women also of our companie made vs astonied which came earlie to the sepulchrt and found not his bodie and came saying that they had seen a vision of Angels 〈…〉 that he was aliue And certaine of them that 〈…〉 went to the sepulchre and found it euen so as the 〈…〉 said but him they saw not Doctrine and fruite THE longer the more is set foorth vnto vs the vnoutspeakable loue and trustie faithfulnes of Iesus Christ our lord who forsaketh not those that anie thing loue to talke of him For look whom he admitteth into his schoole those hee teacheth still continually how weake soeuer they bee vntill hee bring them to perfect vnderstanding and expell all doubtfulnes out of their hearts Forasmuch now as these his Disciples speake of him in the way hee getteth him to them albeit hee holdeth their eyes that they knowe him not that by the meanes thereof they themselues with their own words might knowledge confesse their doubtfull wauering weaknes of faith that they might open their disease vnto him hee to giue a conuenient medicine for theyr vnbeleefe that through the long delay frendly talk and opening of the scripture their harts and desires might more and more bee kindled and sette on fire that their doubtfulnes might bee taken away and theyr weake fayth strengthened For though they helde Iesus for a great and principall Prophet and and for an innocent good man yet speake they vncertainely of the matter and their heart wauereth yet were not they assured that hee had ouercome death and by his owne death purchased life for all the world that hee was risen againe into an immor◠〈…〉 made vs vndoubtedly partakers of the 〈…〉 and ioyfull resurrection and eternall life in himselfe Now for as much as they gladly talke and willingly holde of him how feebly and vnperfectly soeuer it bee yet the gratious and louing Lorde approcheth neare vnto them and instructeth them It shall neuer bee vnfruitfull it shall neuer passe without profite but assuredly doo good where Christ is gladlie and with a good heart spoken of Where two or three bee assembled in his name there is hee in the middest among them and infourmeth them That he doth to the Disciples in the way by mouth the same declareth hee alway vnto vs inwardly by his spirite in our harts and outwardly with the scripture and word and with the teachings of good godly men He that well and faithfully vseth the little talent shall not be denied a greater if he earnestly desire it Wheresoeuer he is earnestly feruently thought vpon and talked of there is he present instructeth and teacheth the ignorant For he is not ashamed to resort vnto those that lacke knowledge and be in errour and to talke with them This lowlie and gentle condition ought wee to learne of our head that we shame not to repayre vnto such as are not yet right instructed that wee may infourme them and commune with them We should despise no man that with a single hart seeketh God though as yet wee perceiue much wauering and weake faith in him For if the eternall 〈…〉 was not ashamed to humble himselfe and 〈◊〉 the ignoraunt much more ought wee to dooâ—â—ing we are neither sufficiently instructed in the scripture nor yet diligent and carefull to doe that which we know THen said Iesus vnto them O ye fooles and slow of hart to beleeue all that the Prophets haue spoken Ought not Christ to haue suffred
in loue vniformitie for those two things please God wel Christ commeth and appeareth vnro them He openeth himselfe vnto those that longing after him are coupled in loue and vniformitie being assembled doo hold themselues together for where loue is there is God where discord is and diuision there is the deuill O deare brethren let vs regard charitable loue let vs care for our brethren that the brotherhood be not broken and that loue be not spotted for els farewel saith No man needeth to boast himselfe of faith that hath not charitable loue but stirreth vp and seeketh diuision Moreouer we see here that the disciples of Christ stood in great danger of their bodies and life for when the Iewes had no more power to rage agaynst Christ they raged agaynst his disciples Looke what men are partakers of the crosse and passion of Christ they verily shall vnderstand the high mysterie of his resurrection For vndoubtedly God with his owne consolation shall visite and comfort those that suffer anie danger harme for his names sake Forasmuch then as the good disciples of Christ must still bee in conflict and battel with the Iewes the Lord speaketh vnto them with this comfortable worde Peace bee with you as if he shuld saie be of good cheere your matter shal stand in good case in mee yee shal haue peace be safe quiet how hard so euer it go outwardly Feare not be not afraid howsoeuer the Iews doo rage ye shall doo right well This salutation was common among the Iewes therefore doeth Christ also vse it Such a charge gaue hee lykewise vnto his Disciples when hee sent them to preach that entering into an house they should saie Peace be to this house And though the disciples were somewhat amazed and afraide at the first blush yet was theyr gladnesse great when they were throughly instructed that it was the Lorde Now was fulfilled that which Christ had said and promised vnto them afore Io. 16 Yee shall mourne and the world shall reioyce but I will see you againe Your sorrow shall be turned into gladnesse your heart shall reioyce and your ioye shall no man take from you For the ioye of a faythfull beleeuing heart is constant and endureth If the resurrection of Iesus Christ were truely and rightly beleeued and the same ioye comprehended as it ought to bee all sorrowe must needs vanish all hurt and aduersitie must needes bee little regarded For what can bee grieuous vnto a man when by faith hope hee is assured that hee in a glorified immortall bodie shall arise agayne with Christ his head and haue euerlasting ioy with him And this is the cause that Christ appeareth so ofte vnto his disciples instructing them so much and so perfectly of his resurrection euen to make them steadfast in this faith and to assure them of this ioy Therefore sheweth hee them his bodie and giueth it them to handle The palpable bodie certifieth them that it is a true bodie the immortall bodie sheweth that it is glorified and of highest honor the printes of the woundes declare that it is euen the selfe same bodie that it was afore Hee sheweth them the tokens of victorie as a mighty ouercommer of death and so doth hee the woundes that hee had gotten for them in the battell and likewise the side that was opened declaring his great loue His woundes sheweth he to them to heale the wounds of theyr vnbeleefe As if hee would say looke vppon mee and fight manfullie Without a battaile shall no man bee crowned But vnto him that ouercommeth in the conflict will I graunt to eate of the bread of Heauen and will crowne him for euer Where as hee eateth before them it is done for the probation of the true humaine nature and not for the great necessitie of the bodie To them was it verie needfull not vnto Christ Euen so we knowing howe to further our neighboures faith must and ought manie times to doe somewhat and to leaue somewhat vndone that for our selues wee need not O GOD graunt vs true loue and vniformitie Take from vs all Scisme and diuision gather vs togeather through thy holie spirite remooue all discord and variaunce out of thy holie Churche Giue vs patience in aduersitie sende thy godlie comforte and ioye vnto all such as bee in distresse and trouble for thy names sake Strengthen the weake lift vppe the feeble establish the doubtfull and in the battaile helpe those which bee thine owne that they lie not vnder but that in thee they may ouercome all daunger and harme Amen THomas one of the twelue which was called Didimus was not with them when Iesus came The other disciples therefore sayd vnto him We haue seene the Lord. But he said vnto them Except I see in his handes the print of the nailes and put my finger into the print of the nailes thrust my hand into his side I will not beleeue And after eight daies again his disciples were within and Thomas with them Then came Iesus when the doores were shut and stoode in the midst and saide Peace bee vnto you And after that sayd he to Thomas Bring thy finger hether and see my hands and reach hether thy hand thrust it into my side and be not faithles but beleeuing Thomas answered and said vnto him My Lord and my God Iesus saith vnto him Thomas because thou hast seene mee thou hast beleeued Blessed are they that haue not seene and haue beleeued Doctrine and fruit THat which was spoken afore is heere euident and plaine namely that Christ openeth himselfe vnto those which are desirous of him and long after him associating themselues together one with another in true loue and being partakers of the passion crosse Forasmuch then as Thomas is lesse feruent and therefore absent from the rest hee sawe not Christ with the other disciples but when he obtained a desire to see Christ was assotiate and ioyned to the other he became also partaker of the ioye that they had And here we learne the nature and condition of true beleefe which is an illumination of the grace of God yea a verie godly propertie that he maketh others partakers of his holy and glorious ioyes and that through loue which seeketh not her owne profit neither is disdainefull to the intent that the glorie of God may be preferred among all men Therefore the Disciples of the Lord make Thomas their companion partaker of such gladnesse as they had receiued of Christs Resurrection opened vnto them for hee was verie faithlesse and too stiffe in his owne opinion Which vnbeliefe God suffered to happen vnto him and to continue somewhat the longer that his slacknes and lacke of faith might serue to our commoditie that through his vnbeliefe wee might bee prouoked vnto faith for as much as we heare that he so perfectly proouing seeing and feeling the thing came so to an vndoubted faith that wee also might beleeue that the
bodie of Christ which was hanged vpon the crosse for our sinnes was of the Father raysed againe vnto life For if wee beleeue in our heart and confesse with our mouth that God hath raysed him vp from the dead we shal be saued Yea beleeue we must that Christ according to his wordes afore hath through his godly power erected vp againe from death the temple of his bodie Therefore thorow the doubting of Thomas wee learne the mysterie of the resurrection of our own bodies For Christ hath sufficiently proued and Thomas hath confessed that the bodie of Christ which was hanged vpon the crosse is verely risen againe from death Wherin our faith is confirmed to beleeue that our bodies also shall truely and liuely rise againe to eternall life When Thomas is with the other disciples Christ sheweth himselfe vnto him For they that in the vnitie of faith and of vndiuided loue doe not associate and accompanie themselues with other faithfull beleeuers in the Church shall not be partakers of heauenly ioyes Truth it is that to beleeue with the hart iustifieth but the confession that is made with the mouth belongeth vnto health serueth vnto loue and vnitie of the Church and congregation of God without the which there can bee no hope of health He that saith he beleeueth and doth not ioyne himselfe vnto other Christians his faith is vaine and of none effect And therefore did Christ for his church institute the sacraments that is to say exterior signes of his grace that his people might be associate together in the vnitie of faith The Church of God is it that preserueth vs poore ones as did the Arke of Noe afore time in the floud and bringeth vs thorough this raging sea vnto the hauen of eternall saluation Not that the grace and health is therefore to bee ascribed to the elements and outwarde thinges but that it may appeare how effectuous fayth is and what it woorketh through charitable loue in the Church Christ maketh mention of the wordes which Thomas had spoken afore to the Disciples in his absence Namely Except I see in his handes the print c. Therefore sayth Christ Thomas bring thy finger hither and see c. Whereby it is euidently prooued that Christ is God and euen so doth Thomas vnderstand and confesse The woundes are shewed of Christ specially to this intent that his passion might be printed and sealed in mens mindes For a verie deepe and high mysterie is it that Christes side is opened out of the which floweth bloud and water whereby the spirituall and faithfull beleeuing mindes may well perceiue Christes good louing will towardes mankind Now when we looke vpon his handes touching his side inwardly with our desire of inward fayth and considering why and with what loue Christ suffered for vs it shall be no hard thing vnto vs to beleeue his resurrection If Christ were deade but euen as an other pure man or Prophet we could haue no hope of the resurrection Who so beleeueth it commeth soone to this knowledge that immortall life is giuen vnto vs. Now where there is hope of an immortall life there is the Lorde serued with great diligence For if God hath not spared his sonne but giuen him for vs all what good thing then may wee not looke for at his hand If wee bee onely true beleeuers with Thomas then shall God faithfully performe that hee hath promised vs. Christ desireth no more of vs weake feeble ones than that we be not faithlesse but stedfast beleeuers Thomas is immediately obedient vnto the voice of Christ and becommeth foorth with a newe man The Pharisies could by no doctrine by no myracles bee brought to giue credence vnto Christ and to beleeue in him although they sawe Lazarus raysed againe from death malice and hatred did so hinder them But Thomas acknowledgeth him freely to be his Lord and God He seeth and handleth man he confesseth God whom he saw not Hee acknowledged that he whom he saw was his God Lord. Through the same faith was his vnbeleefe and sinne forgiuen him O mercifull God graunt vs loue that we seek not our owne commoditie nor honour but the profit of our neighbours and thy glorie in all thinges Expell out of vs all disdaine greedines vngentlenes headines and flattering of our selues Preserue vs from discord diuision binde vs together in vniforme loue that wee may bee one bodie and of one minde Stablish also our faith that our minds may alwayes bee comforted in the resurrection of thy sonne and immortall life purchased by him Amen ANd many other signes trulie did Iesus in the presence of his Disciples which are not written in this booke These are written that ye might beleeue that Iesus is Christ the sonne of God that ye so beleeuing might haue life through his name Doctrine and fruite LIke as Christ while hee yet liued did miracles before his death to declare his godly power euen so after his rising again from death he worketh manie tokens in the presence of his Disciples to proue his resurrection in the flesh Some of the same are described of the Euangelists not of anie curiositie or for vaine glorie but to confirme our sayth therewith To write all Iohn thought it not needful for who could haue written all Or who could haue fastened and borne them all in minde Who so will not beleeue these few that are written shall neuer beleeue a greater multitude A faithfull beleeuer is well satisfied with these For these that be written of him are therefore written that wee should beleeue that Iesus is Christ the Sonne of GOD and that we through his fayth might haue eternall life Seeing then that all thinges which are written doo extende and serue to this ende that wee might beleeue in him and bee saued by him what lacke wee then Or what can we desire more So that hereby we learne with great diligence to reade to consider and to applie into our owne lyfe whatsoeuer the Euangelistes haue written of Christ as they haue written nothing but that which is altogether excellent deare holie and godlie and such thinges as doe liuely describe sette foorth and print Christ vnto vs that our fayth hope loue patience meeknesse and all good thinges might growe with blessed fruite that wee in our life might become thankfull for such an excellent grace and in no wise to contemne or despise it A scornefull thing is it and the euidence of a greate vnbeleefe whereas some thinke by these wordes to prooue that for as much as all thinges are not written in the booke it is lawfull for certayne men to adde the rest and to deuise and ordayne what they will For in these thinges that are written doth Iohn comprehend the whole sum of fayth which consisteth in this that Iesus is the son of the liuing God who for our saluation came downe from heauen died rose againe purchased for vs eternal life Iesus the son of
Peter couereth himselfe being naked we learne nurture and shamefastnesse to walke dwell with all honestie in the sight of men specially in the presence of our superiours and gouernors In the corporall workes and deedes of Christ there is nothing in vaine nothing without effect Besides the outward appearance of the worke there is described somewhat more excellent where unto a faithful beleeuer ought to direct the eies of his mind as when he maketh the blind to see it is an outwarde act and a declaration of his godly power an alteration there is outwardly in the eyes of the blinde in that his fight is restored vnto him againe neuerthelesse ouer and besides the outward worke there is giuen vs to vnderstand that Christ is the true lyght of the whole world which driueth awaie the blindnes of our hart and illuminateth the eyes of our mind according to the Scriptures Isay 42.49 Iohn 1.9.12 c. Christ taking bread and wine giueth the same to his disciples to eate and drinke This as no man can denie was an outward act and they commaunded outwardly to doo it albeit in the remembraunce of him Besides and aboue the outward eating drinking the faithfull beleeuer must lift vp his heart and looke with the eyes of faith vnto that which is spiritual namely how that Christ is the true liuing bread which feedeth our soules to eternall life how his bodie was broken for vs vpon the crosse how we thorough his death are made liuing and washed awaie from our sinnes by his bloud In this is set forth vnto vs the highest loue of all namely that Christ gaue himselfe vnto the death for vs whereby wee are admonished of his grace yea not onely in this described vnto vs but also the holy Ghost doeth mightily land fruitfully worke the same in the heartes of the true beleeuers which in faith at the supper receyue the true body and bloud of Christ whereby theyr heartes are kindled in loue towardes God and their neighbor so that they dwel in Christ he in them c. So heere likewise the outward fishing representeth a fishing spirituall Like as in fishing it lyeth not in the fishers power or wit to take many or few but 〈◊〉 the power and blessing of God And as the labor of the disciples is in vaine afore Christ commandeth them but when they haue his commandement and cast out the net vpon the same they drawe vp a multiâ—â—on of fishes euen so commeth it to passe at this present day that we bring forth no fruit so loÌ„g as the holie ghost worketh not with vs inwardly But when Christ biddeth cast out the net that is when hee giueth his spirite wee are able to draw vp many men and to winne them vnto Christ For all the night long had they taken nothing till Christ came vnto them Euen so can we doe nothing if Christ bee not with vs by his spirite On Whit-sonday when the spirite came vpon his Disciples they brought foorth much fruit and drue many men vnto Christ Heereby declareth Christ vnto them in this taking of fish how it should go in their office and how the time was now at hand that they should shortlie drawe many men out of the sea of this worlde vnto him and that they should prosper and haue good successe therein The world is this wilde raging sea the shore is the quietnes of eternall life that we haue in Christ vnto whome we make hast with Peter and the other Disciples neither doe wee bring men vnto our selues but vnto Christ and to the hauen of euerlasting life Faith is not idle but is alwaies occupied in the Lords businesse causing vs to contemne all perrils and to speede vs a pace vnto Christ with the cloathing of vertues especially with fayth the wedding garment that wee appearing not naked may make hast vnto the land of the liuyng where Christ is the conquerour of death For the faythfull beleeuers are not far from the land when their conuersation is in heauen Without Christ wee must begynne nothing without fayth may no man please God In the nyght of sinne our labour is vayne and vnprofitable yea whatsoeuer is not of fayth is sinne Vpon the right hand must the net be cast out That is in the office of preaching must respect bee had to the onely glorie of God and edefiyng of the church and not to our owne profit or preferment Christ hungreth after our health this is the meat which he desireth that we doe the will of his heauenly father that wee put our trust in him and loue one another that wee lead a iust and innocent life that wee keepe our selues from the filthinesse of the world bring much people vnto God Such meat is brought vnto Christ by the Apostles when they through their teaching doe catche men and bring them vnto God Therefore doth he aske them whether they haue any thing to eat They said nay for afore the receiuing of the spirite they could doe nothing but when he came they brought many profitable things to passe The haruest was so great that they must needs haue many workmen So when God helpeth the faithfull ministers of the worde that they in the ministerie of preaching haue prosperous successe so that they draw vp many men through the nette of the Gospell and finde much fruite Then the Disciples whome Christ loueth and which loue him againe doe know that it is the Lorde and that the same commeth not of their owne virtue but of the power of God And heereof then groweth there in them a great desire to come vnto Christ and to be with him The office therfore of Apostles of all ministers of the word is this that when they do what Christ commandeth them they turne them to Christ againe and ascribe the honour vnto him And if ought would let or hinder them to come vnto Christ they ought to refuse all the same and to hast vnto him with the losse of their life Iohn knoweth Christ afore Peter but Peter commeth to the Lord before him whereby we may note the diuersitie of ministrations and giftes in the Church Though Peter bee more feruent yet is hee not ashamed to learne of Iohn The fishers come with the fish vnto Christ the shepheards with the sheepe to one manner of saluation for they are not carefull onely for themselues how they may be saued but also for those whome they haue caught to bring the same with them vnto the shore of eternall rest It is our saluation when we become Christs meat yea when Christ is our foode and sustenance For they that in the sea of this world doe faithfully labour to drawe the fishe vnto the Hauen shall obtaine great fruit and enioy an eternall banquet at Christs table in his kingdome For Christ prepared them a dinner wherein hee set foorth vnto the ministers of the worde what they ought to doe namely to feed the people
committed vnto them A great honor is it to bring much people vnto Christ Great commendacion and vnspeakable ioye shall those teachers haue that faithfully trauel in the scriptures and word of God By the multitude and great number of the fishes that the Apostles drew in the net is figured the multitude of the Heathen who through the preaching in the whole world should be brought into the vnitie of the faith And although many Scismes and erronious diuisions arise yet of those that are ordained vnto life there shall no man fall out of the net God knoweth those that be his and they shall alway hearken vnto thâ— voyce of their shepheard Thus shall there euer bee one onely Church which cannot by vs be throughly purged Euermore wil Ipocrites do all their diligence to continue therein though the makers of diuision shall not be without great trauail and labour As for such vices as bee manifest great and offensiue they that bee in authority are bound to suppresse them according vnto the ordinaunce of Christ Mat. 5.13.18 First they that be faithful beleeuers and ordained vnto life doe cleaue vnto Christ their head and then to the members that is to say all faithfull Christians For they that are faithfull beleeuers bee knit togeather in perpetuall vnitie And although some at this present day bee in contention yet so farre as they are of the number of the elect they will agree together againe one with another afore they depart hence that they may die in the vnitie of Gods congregation and Churche without the which there is no health After the great labour that the ministers of the woorde haue in the raging sea Christ rewardeth his with a very costly and glorious feast in his kingdom there will he be the bread of life that feedeth and satisfieth them for euer O mercifull GOD graunt vnto vs all that wee may faithfully cleaue vnto thee and follow thy commaundement Tame thou our bodie and members in honest labour that we loyter not in vices O draw our hearts alwaie vpward that all temporall things set apart we may hast onely vnto thee O gracious father giue vs such faithfull fishers as beeing true and carefull in their office may with the net of thy holie worde drawe vs out of the raging sea that wee with them and they with vs may enioye the euerlasting banquet Amen SO when they had dined Iesus saith to Simon Peter Simon Ioanna louest thou me more than these Hee saide vnto him Yea Lorde thou knowest that I loue thee Hee saith vnto him feed my lambes Hee saith vnto him againe the second time Simon Ioanna louest thou me He sayth vnto him Yea Lord thou knowest that I loue thee He saith vnto him feed my sheepe Hee said vnto him the third time Simon Ioanna louest thou me Peter was sory because hee said vnto him the third time louest thou me And hee said vnto him Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I loue thee Iesus saith vnto him feed my sheepe Doctrine and fruite FOR as much as Peter had taken a speciall greeuous fall Christ lifteth him vp with a speciall comforte but so that hee setteth forth vnto all Shepheards of his sheepe what theyr office is Peter had many sinnes forgiuen him therefore was it meete that hee should loue the Lord the more And seeing hee had thrise denied hee maketh nowe a three-fold confession so that now the song doth no lesse seruice vnto loue than it serued feare afore Christ sheweth him that hee is receiued againe vnto grace so that hee may safely put his trust in him seeing he committeth vnto him his owne sheepe As if Christ would say As for thy deniall I will no more remember it And for an euidence hereof I put thee in trust to keepe my sheepe In no wise doe I refuse thee but a shepheard of my sheepe will I make thee Neither doth he cast him in the teeth with his deniall but saith If thou loue mee then take vppon thee the care of the brethren The loue that thou hast willed to declare vnto mee in all thinges and wherein I delight the same declare thou now vnto my sheepe whom I so dearely haue bought Thy life that thou wouldest haue offered for mee giue nowe for my sheepe Now to the intent Peter should not say that hee were expelled from the Apostâ—eship through his deniall the Lorde therefore giueth him a new commission to keepe his sheepe As for Peter hee was no more so rash and foolish hardie but answereth more aduisedly than afore and taketh the Lord to witnes for hee remembreth how it had happened vnto him alreadie therefore standeth hee not arrogantly in his owne conceite neyther speaketh hee agaynst the Lorde so wittie and circumspect is hee become thorough the fall Arrogant had hee beene and high minded and therefore through the denyall he fell very sore But his weeping through faith and sure confidence purifieth him againe and in loue he becommeth more feruent pondering that much is forgiuen him so that where sinne was great grace is more abundant and plentifull Rom. 5. In Peter is the office of the other Apostles and of all preachers of the worde described for heere may wee see who are meet to be called to guide the people and what care and diligence they ought to take for them But here principally we must note this that Christ minding to stablish his speciall excellent doctrine did euer first worke a notable token and miracle As when he fed the fiue thousand men with few loaues he taught immediatly vpon the same how wee must bee sustained with the bread of heauen Euen so here when the Disciples had taken a great heape of fishes at Christes commaundement and were afterward fedde of him hee tolde them immediately vpon the same what their office is and that they should looke euen so to nourish and feede those that are committed vnto them This was spoken vnto Peter and in him to all others Christ who searcheth and knoweth all harts doth not aske this question as one ignorant or as one that first would proue learne but to teach faith and to declare it vnto others Such a question demaundeth he Math. 16. WhoÌ„ say the people that the son of man is shewing therby what confession faith he requireth of those that are his Euen so here the schoolemaister of the whole world minding to put them in trust wil declare vnto them with this question how they ought to be and the same wil hee print sure into them with this threefold interrogation Here also will the Lord teach how necessary it is that he who is to be made a shepheard teacher of christian people be first well knowne proued and tried that in many things afore-hand he bee found faithfull It is not requisite to take children vnto such an office but such godly and apt men as haue beene tried tempted namely such men as haue proued suffered and felt
the place where Christ our Lord and king raignneth at the right hand of God from whence he shall come and take vs vnto himselfe At all times therefore ought we to watch and wait for his comming that we may ioyfully receiue him and bee partakers with him in eternall blisse Heere also we learne how faithfull beleeuers vse themselues in the outward Sacraments They that being moued by the inspiration of the holy Ghost in theyr hearts doo heare the eternall word preached giuing credite vnto it gladly receiuing it these doo not afterward despise the outward Sacraments which GOD hath instituted for the welfare of his Church but vse the same with all obedience good will and reuerence To vse the Sacraments without faith profiteth not but rather hurteth to be loth to vse them declareth a compulsion and vnbeleefe For though the water in baptisme be an outward thing and cannot cleanse the soule from sinne yet the faithfull doo know right well that Christ the eternall wisedome in whom they beleeue did not institute it in vaine and therefore will not they contemne or leaue vnexercised the ordinance of theyr head to whome they as members are incorporated by faith For they knowe that Christ with these outwarde tokens thought to couple and knit together the members of his holy Church in obedience and loue one towards another whereby they knowing one another among themselues might by such exteriour things stirre and prouoke one another to loue and godlynesse They know also that the sacraments are euidences of the promise grace of God which they after a visible and palpable manner do set forth declare and represent vnto vs. These tokens of grace doth no man vse more deuoutly and with more reuerence than he that in himselfe is certified and assured of the gracious fauour of God as we see in Cornelius in Paul and in Queene Candaces chamberlaine What fruite followeth the preaching of the Gospell it is heere euidently seene for in one daie at Peters preaching by the working of the holy Ghost there came three thousand men to the Church of God God suffereth not his word to passe voide and vnfruitfull Verie earnest therefore diligent ought we to be and to spare no trauell cost and labor that the pure and sincere Gospell the word of truth may euerie where be preached by good and faithful men not doubting God wil giue blessed successe thereto that the seed sowen by the minister shall bring forth fruit AND they continued in the Apostles doctrine in the fellowship in the breaking of bread and in praiers Doctrine and fruite TO indure crowneth and rewardeth all workes who so indureth vnto the end shall bee saued without continuance may no good thing bee brought to end and fruit Therefore is it now declared how the word preached in the Church of God bringeth fruit and what the same fruites be wherein faithfull beleeuers do exercise themselues Saint Luke mencioneth foure thinges that proceed out of the faith in Christ for faith is not voide nor idle but worketh without ceasing in them that beleeue Therefore here we finde a patterne myrrour how it ought to goe in the Church of Christ for where these foure things bee there is Christes Church First the Church of Christ which is the felowship of all Saintes and faithfull beleeuers indureth abideth and continueth in the doctrine of the Apostles for euerie thing is preserued with that out of the which it is borne now is the Church of God borne first of the word of truth therfore in the word of truth also must it indure and be kept daily must it be planted nourished and watered with the worde and doctrine the successe the increase doth God giue The doctrine of the Apostles is nothing else but the boly Gospell which the sonne of God committed vnto them which they receued of him which also the Prophets before Christ spake of by the holy Ghost What Gospel was preached by the Apostles it is easie to perceiue by the aforesayd Sermon of Peter and of others in the Acts by the Euangelists and Epistles of the Apostles namely that God so loued the world that he gaue his only begotten Sonne for it that whosoeuer beleeueth on him should not perish but haue eternall life Also he dyed for vs rose agayne from death ascended vp to heauen and sitteth there at the right hand of God being king and high Priest for euer in whose name all knees must bow without whom there is none other name giuen vnto men in whome wee must bee saued than the onely name of Iesus whose bloud washeth awaie our sins and he is the onely perpetuall mediation betweene God and vs. In this doctrine continueth the Church beeing builded vpon the sure rocke Iesus Christ and is not moued or driuen awaie by euerie winde of strange and inconstant doctrine Shee hearkneth not to the voice of anie other but of Iesus her shepheard In the doctrine of the Apostles there is no deceit no guile no poison And in this doctrine is found none of those things which certayne yeres after the Apostles were brought in by Romish Bishops as Masses Diriges Cloisters worshipping of Idols setting vp of Images buying of pardons forbidding of this or that meate First now doth faith in Christ bring forth this fruit in the Church namely in faithfull beleeuers that it draweth them to the doctrine of the truth by the which they became beleeuers and in the same it maketh them to continue that they neyther hearken nor giue credite to anie false errronious doctrine for they do verie assuredly know that such doctrines are not wholesome but venimous and hurtfull But in the Gospell of our sauiour Iesus Christ and in the doctrine of the holie Apostles they are sure to finde the truth which nourisheth and preserueth them vnto eternall lyfe The Church of God abhorreth all vntruth for she knoweth it is of the deuill but of the trueth is she desirous for she knoweth that the same commeth of God and bringeth vnto GOD againe This Euangelicall truth and doctrine of the Apostles in the which the Church of God and all the members of Christ must continue hath beene of long time euen from the beginning comprehended in certayne Articles which wee call the Creede whereof there is sufficient mention made in the Catechisme Among the true children and seruauntes of God also there is no schisme doubt nor diuision concerning the head and chiefe Articles in the which they are well and firmely established fully perswaded and of one minde and consent And whereas there be some men which ouer-reach and goe beyond this marke willing other men and compelling Christians as farre as in them lyeth thereto teaching those to bee heretikes and damned that cleaue to the onely doctrine of the Apostles The same commeth and proceedeth of the presumptuous arrogancie of flesh who esteemeth his owne inuention more than that which God speaketh As when they saie
that wee will not once regard or thinke anie such thing whereby wee might the sooner forsake the diuision and stiffenesse of our heart and in friendly vnitie and brotherly loue to doe good one vnto another Christ therefore the restorer of our decayed nature and the onely true and eternall light came into this worlde to illuminate and lighten our blinde eyes to crie with his voyce vnto vs that bee dumbe and to sette that agayne before our eyes which wee our selues haue made darke and dimme Hee cryeth vnto vs in his Gospell with a loude voyce so that no man canne saie hee hath not heard it Hee is the heauenly schoolemaster the eternall wisedome the fountayne of all knowledge the onely and true teacâ—â—â— the whole building of his Church the foundation and roofe the beginning and ende of all his commaundementes hath hee sette and comprehended in onely loue exhorting vs to loue vnitie and friendshippe and saying that men heereby shall knowe vs to bee his disciples if we loue â—hem vnto that which faith inwardly considereth and looketh vpon These tokens are instituted to signifie and represent vnto vs high and greate things to gather together and vnite the Church that beeing dispearsed euerie where ouer the face of the whole earth might gather together into one communion and fellowshippe in Christ and bee made partakers of his promises and inioye those comfortable blessings which hee hath promised from the beginning namely such as bee faithfull and true beleeuers and that the exteriour and outwarde sense might from all corporall thinges bee withdrawen to that which is spirituall for the eyes see the bread which representeth the bodie of Christ they see as the bread is broken so was the bodie of Christ broken vpon the crosse for our sinnes and that as the wine is poured in and out so was the precious bloud of Iesus Christ shedde to wash awaie all our sinnes The eares doe heare Christes wordes spoken by the Minister in the person of Christ Iesus by the which the promise is renewed by which meanes those that are his and of his Church are by a certaine feeling and comfort in their soules and consciences refreshed The tast vppon the tongue the smell in the nose and lykewise the handling and so each other member in his seuerall office euerie one of them hath his delight and operation in confessing acknowledging and dooing his seruice vnto saith But for what cause our sauiour Christ dyd specially vse bread and wine before anie other corporall things to signifie his death and shedding of his bloud it may well and easily bee perceiued by the nature of faith With bread is the bodie fedde and sustayned with wine are mennes heartes made merrie Forasmuch then as faith the life of our soules through the flesh of Christ spiritually eaten is nourished and sustained and seeing our minde is moistened and refreshed with true and perfect ioy thorough the bloud of Christ shedde for vs there was nothing more meere nothing more expedient nothing more necessarie for this Sacrament than bread and wine Moreouer through the bloud of Christ are all other oblations and sacrifices cleane layde aside and therefore Christ minding to finish the high sacrifice vppon the crosse testified and declared before hand that his bodie beeing offered vp and his bloud shed shoulde bee sufficient to wash awaie all mens sinnes and that from thence forth there shoulde not neede anie other sinne offering in the which there must bloud bee shedde Therefore woulde hee with euident and plaine wordes testifie and saie This is my bodie which is giuen for you doo this in remembrance of mee This is the cuppe of the new Testament in my bloud which shall bee shedde for many to the forgiuenesse of sinnes To the intenâ— thâ—n that this excellent and worthie propitiation and sacrifice should not out of theyr eyes and heartes he added visible signes not bare signes but seales of his couenant as was the Circumcision and Passah and common tokens of loue and friendshippe amongst men euen bread and wine which haue no bloud to declare that all bloud for sinne is onely in Iesus Christ Christs minde was also in one bodie to couple and knit together in one bodie the whole multitude of his Church To signifie this that there was nothing more apt and sit than wine and bread for like as out of many cornes is made one paste and one bread and like as out of many grapes one wine floweth together euen so by faith and loue become they all one bodie that eate of one bread and drinke of one cup. And euen from the beginning of the world it hath alwnyes beene the vse among men that with breade and wine they haue made and confirmed great friendshippe and league And euen so Christ with the distributing of the bread among his disciples would establish an euerlasting friendship with them The fourth thing now in the Church of Christ is prayer namely as Christ taught them to praie vnto the father of heauen that the kingdome of his Sonne might still growe and increase that his glory might arise and spread it selfe throughout all the worlde that his name might bee hallowed and his will fulfilled c. This is the necessariest thing of all and if we lacke this in vaine are all our good workes in vaine are all the honest actions of a ciuill lyfe in vaine are all godly exercises nothing prospereth wee goe about no oblation is sanctified all is impuritie that wee eyther doo or thinke the holy Apostle Paule willeth vs to praie continually God graunteth not the presence of his spirite to anie thing but vnto praier Without the presence of Gods spirite vnprofitable is the worde preached vnprofitable are the Sacraments ministred vnprofitable shall all thinges bee vnto vs so that praier is most requisite Let vs therefore praie vnto almightie God to increase in vs the spirite of Prayer that with our soule and spirite wee may praie continually for spirituall giftes that they may dayly increase in vs to his glorie Graunt this the great giuer of all good giftes for his mercie sake To whom bee all honour glorie power dominion and thankes for euer and euer Amen A Praier O Mercifull God preserue our heartes from pride from vaineglorie and from shamefull couetousnesse giue vs grace to abide in thy holy vocation and to be thankfull for thy grace that the fall of thine Apostle beeing alwayes before our eies we may walke in thy feare before thee For if we stand we must take heed that we fall not neither despise those that as yet doo not stand Make vs to continue thy grace for nothing haue wee sauing onely thaâ— which we haue receued of thee And if of weaknesse we fall put thy hand vnder vs O Lorde and suffer vs not to despaire in sinne but cause vs with repentance and sorow for our offence to resort vnto thee Oh keepe vs that we neither despaire nor betraie thy dearely beloued sonne whome
thou thorough thy Gospell doest send vnto vs for without him is no safegard but eternall death damnation From which keep vs good Lord for thy mercies sake Amen FINIS Iohn 13. Luk. 22. 1. Cor. 5. Esay 53. Iohn 1 Exod. 12. 〈◊〉 67. 1 Pet. 1. 1. Iohn 1. 1. Cor. 11. 1. Cor. 9. 1. Pet 2. Iohn 6. Iohn 15. Iohn 13. 1. Ioh 2.3.4 Iohn 15. Loue. Humblenes The exhortation and warning of Christ The presumption rashnes of Peter The dignitie and worthines of the disciples The foreknowledge of Christ The presumptuousnes of Iudas Treason commeth of the deuill Loue. Aduersitie Patience Meeknes The feare of God Faith Eternall reward Christes death our life The fruite of the death of Christ Christ is the onely way He that loueth worketh Psal 34. Gods commandement All things possible to beleeuers Loue ouercommeth all things Faith Loue keeping of the coÌ„mandements The office of Gods spirite Comfort strength in aduersitie We must all be â—aught of God which is don by the spirite The peace of Christ through the spirit Phil 4. Worldly peace Our nature exalted in Christ Comfort in aduersitie The deuill hath nothing in the faithfull We must suffer that we may bee obedient vnto the father To abide in Christ Eph. 2 Col. 2. What it is to abide in Christ Punishment of vnthankfulnes How the faithfull are cleane 1. Pet. 1. Faith bringeth fruite The good workes are not open What wee ought to pâ—aâ—e Entirely doth Christ loue those that are his Iohn 4. Loue is an euidence of faith What foloweth out of the loue of God Tokens of Gods loue to vs. Iohn 1. 1. Cor. 2. Rom. 5. Ephes 1. Rom. 5. We are chosen to bring forth fruit We ought to indure in loue Phil. 2. The commandement of God is loue Iohn 13. 1. Pet. 2. Exhortation to patienes 1. Pet. 3. Iohn 13. Acts. 5. Rom. 12. Math 26. Acts. 1. Rom. â— 2. Tim. 3. Rom. 8. Rom. 5. Acts· 2. Iohn 15. 1. Pet. 4. Math. 10. Luke 9. Iohn â—â— Cant. â— 1. Cor. 14. Heb. 5. Psal 120. Iohn 1â— 1. Iohn 5. 1. Ioh. 4. Isa 53. Ioh. 8. Vnbeliefe is the originall of all vices Ioh. 14. 1. Cor. 1. Ioh. 3. Col. 1. Psal 84. Ephe. 4. Rom. 12 Ephe. 3. 1. Cor. 13. 1. Cor. 2. 2. Cor. â— Iohn 4 2. Cor. 4 Heb. 1 1. Cor. 13 Iohn 17. How wee should pray The sanctifiyng of Gods name should we chiefly desire What it is to honour the Father Iohn 14. Christ is the way to God The knowledge of God eternall life The order of our health What it is to keepe Gods commandements Iohn 17.9 How the Ministers of the word should be praied for Math 5. Ephe 4. Phil. 2. Col. 2. Iohn 15. 1. Cor. 4. Ezech. 36 Phil 2. Ephe 2. Iohn 13. Math. 10. Psal â—3 1. Cor. â— 2. Cor. 6 Iames· â— Iohn 17 Eph. 2 Math. 5 Col 3. Phil. 1 2. Cor. 3 1. Thes â— 2. Cor. 4 Iohn 3. Heb. 2. Rom. 7. Gal. 5. Esa 53 Iohn 10 Iob. 2 Math. 5 Rom. 12. Esay 53. 1. Thes 5. Ephes 4. 1. Tim. 3. Math. 15. 2. Tim. 2. Iohn 8. Esay 9. 1. Pet. 3. Gal. 5. Math. 11. Zach. 13 Apoc. 2. Psal 83. â— Psal 119. Ephes 5. 3. Pet 1. Heb. 10. Thes 5. Psal 22. Esay 53. 1. Pet 2.3 Math. 24. Phil. 2. â— Tim. 2. Ezech. 18. Iohn 3 Math 9. 1. Thes 4. Psal â—â— Esay â— Iohn 17. 2. Tim. 4. Iohn 11 Iohn 3. Heb. 10. Exod. 12. Zach. 11. Ephes â— Iohn 7. Heb. 12. Math. 27. Marke 15. Luk. 23. Iohn 19. Iohn 19. 1. Cor. 1. Iohn 12. Iohn 17. Rom. 6. 1. Cor. 15 Marke 16. Luk. 24. Math. 28. Iohn 20. Math. 28. The crosse is the glorious victorious token of the faithfull Marke 16. Iohn 20. Angus he beleeued that the bodie was taken away Math. 14. Math. 20. Iohn 11. Luke 7. The number of seauen for many Mark 16 2. Cor. 5 God is a spirit with thâ— spirit will hâ— be worshipped Col 3. Phil 3. Psal 22. Rom. â—â— Iohn 15. Iere. 31. The glory of the faithfull is hid vnder the crosse Rom. 6. 1. Iohn â— Math. 28. Acts 9. Luk. 24. Luke 24. Luk. 10. 2. Tim. 2. Apoc. 2. Acts. 2. Rom. 10. Iohn 2. Rom. 8. Math 10. 1. Cor 9. 2. Thes â— Iob. 5. Luke 15. Acts. 2. Heb. 11. Rom. 4. 1. Cor. 14 Iohn 4. Iohn â— Luk. 7. Iohn 6. Phil. 3. Math. 16. Petrus of the rocke Iohn 10 2. Cor. 5. Rom. 7. Math. 26. 2. Tim. 4. Math. 28. Esay 2. Psal 109. Iohn 5. Math Iohn Marke 28. Marke 16. Luke 19. Psal 2. Psal 109. Iohn 17. Phil. 2. Math. 10. Iohn 17. Iohn 10 Math. 16. Ioel 2. Luke 15. Math. 9. Iohn 6. Iohn 3. Of the keies Luk. 24 The holy Ghost that worketh in the Apostles forgiueth the sinnes Note this conditioÌ„ wel Luke 1â— Heb. 13. 1. Tim. 5. 2. Cor. 5 Iohn 13. Math 28. Acts. â— Ezod 25. Deut. 16 Math. 9. Iohn 4. 〈◊〉 2. Mich. 4. Note Ephes 4. Col. 4. Of signes Genes 6. Rom. 8. Sap. 1. Iohn 20. Heb. 1. Col. 1. Gal. 4. Iohn 16. Math. 28. Col 3. Ephes 4. Mal. 2. 1. Cor. 8. Acts. 2. 1. Cor. 2. 1. Cor. 1. Math. 11. Math. 11. Luk. 24. Ioel. 2. Ierem 31. Math. 11. 1. Cor. 12. Esay 11. Psal 75. Iohn .11 Esay 40. Ierem. 31. Luk. 24. Esay 13. Ierem. 15. Amos. â— Esay 56.57 Ezech. 5. Psal 88. 2. Reg 7. Psal 109. Psal 11â— Eph. 4 Math. 22. Col. 1 Iohn 1. Mark 16. Rom. â— 1. Ioh. 2. 1. Tim. â— Mat. 7 16â— Eph. 4.
confessed the trueth Thus goeth it when temptation breaketh in when the truth commeth into perill and aduersitie then the enemies of the truth declare themselues and hypocrites get them to the aduersaries against Christ then may wee learne to know them Of these the more pittie there bee at this daie in the church of God many which vnder the pretence and colour of truth fight against the truth and that taking the name of Christ in their mouth betraye Christ yea with the sword of their venemous tungs kill Christ and in sheeps cloathing are very wolues false teachers and most noysome enemies whome couetousnes and vaine glorie blindeth And wheras they are not able to roote out Christ with the truth they vndertake to do it with weapons and swords set the princes and powers of the worlde to defende their falshood and tyranny Yea many there bee of those that rebuking Iudas acte doo euen as hee did themselues feyning the trueth when in very deede they persecute the truth O our great slothfulnes whereof wee are admonished in the Disciples that sleepe when wicked Iudas in his vngratious worke so diligently watcheth and earnestly runneth about O that the loue zeale of God might doe as much in vs as the vngratious will in the wicked O that wee which are chosen into the seruice of Christ were so diligent to minister vnto our Father and Lorde as the children of this world are to wait vpon Sathan their maister for nothing doo they omit that may serue to the persecution of the truth O mercifull God graunt vs poore feeble men patience in aduersitie that sodaine wrath ouercome vs not and that bitternesse and desire of vengeance kindle vs not to vse vncharitable wordes and to doe hurt when enemies fall vpon vs and bragge against vs telling vs our faultes whereof wee thinke our selues vnguiltie Graunt vs euer louingly to receiue all aduersitie and that wee may knowe those to bee our best friendes which speake vnto vs and rebuke vs hardest of all Lette no wicked roote of enuie malice and euill will growe in vs no tediousnes nor slouth Giue vs strength to bee willing and patient and with feruent desire to suffer yet more greeuous thinges for thy sake Pull vp the wicked root of couetousnesse and the false shine of feyned spiritualtie out of vs. Oh saue vs that Sathan bring vs not into temptation Graunt vs loue towardes friendes and enemies that we may follow the nature of thee our Father and the example of thy onely begotten Son Iesus Christ Amen THen came they and laide handes on Iesus and tooke him But when they that were with him sawe what would come of it they said vnto him Mayster shal we smite with the sword Iesus answered said Suffer ye thus farre forth Simon Peter had a sword which he drew out smote the seruant of the high Priest cut off his right eare And the seruantes name was called Malchus Then sayde Iesus vnto Peter Put thy word into the sheath Wilt thou not that I shall drinke the cuppe which my Father hath giuen mee All they that drawe the sworde shall perish with the sword Thinkest thou not that I might pray my father to send me now more than twelue legions of Angels But how should the Scriptures be fulfilled It must needes be thus And when Iesus touched his eare he healed it Then began Iesus to speake vnto the multitude that were come to him and to the high Priests and to the chiefe rulers of the temple and to the elders and said Ye are come foorth as to a murtherer with swords and staues to take me whereas I yet being daily in the temple sate and taught and yee tooke mee not But this is your houre and the power of darknesse All this commeth to passe that the Scriptures should bee fulfilled Then the Disciples forsooke him and fledde all from him There was a yong man that followed after who had a white linnen cloth vpon the bare and him they tooke But he left the linnen cloth behind him and ranne away naked The multiude and the captaine and Ministers of the Iewes apprehended Iesus took him bound him lead him first to Annas the chiefe Priest for he was Father in lawe vnto Caiphas which Caiphas was high Priest and was the same Caiphas which gaue counsaile vnto the Iewes that better it were one man to die than the whole people to perish And all the Priestes and Scribes Pharisies and Elders came together Doctrine and fruite PEter declaring his earnest loue which hee bare vnto the Lord vndertaketh to defend him from malitious violence but at the same houre it pleased the Lord to declare and shew not onely his own might and power but also his vnspeakable goodnes euen vnto his enemies therefore is it not his will that anie man on his behalfe should haue harme for he was come to bring health and no hurt and therfore the vncircumcised zeale of Peter which was not directed after the will of God he reiected and reproued commaunding Peter to put vp his sworde into his sheath and the seruants eare that was smitten off he set on againe and healed it for hee was readie to be obedient vnto his Fathers will vnto the death to drinke the cup that the Father had filled for him Yet doth he shew vnto his enemies that he willingly suffereth that if it were not his wil they shuld not be able to take him But he affirmed the houre now to bee heere that the Father had giuen him into the power of darkenesse and that they shewed such violence vnto him that the scripture might be fulfilled The Disciples flie from Iesu their Lorde leaue him to tread the wine presse alone In their weaknes feare and flying is signified the infirmitie of the vnperfect members of the Church which yet when the spirite commeth is strengthened Let no man builde vpon his owne strength but pray vnto God that hee suffer him not to be lead into temptation The gratious Lord Iesus is sold vnto sinners that we which were solde vnder sinne bond and thrall to the prince of this world might be redeemed and deliuered He is content to be bound and taken that we might be quite and free from the snares and caâ—tiuitie of sinne O Iesu Christ the mirrour of all gentle◠〈…〉 mind the example of highest obedience 〈…〉 graunt vs thy seruantes with true deuotion to consider how thou innocent and vndefiled lambe wert bound taken and hailed away vnto death for our sinnes how well content thou wast to suffer such thinges not opening thy mouth in vnpatiencie but willingly offering vp thy selfe vnto death O gratious God how vilely wast thou mishandled for our sakes O Lord let this neuer come out of our harts expell through it coldnes and slouth out of our minds stir vp feruentnes and loue towardes thee prouoke vs vnto earnest praier make vs chearefull and diligent in thy will bind our
stubborne flesh with the cords of thy feare and nurture yoke vs vnder thy holie worke and obedience Yea thy bands make quite free from all sinnes thy bandes keepe vs and drawe vs in that we run not at large in curiositie worldly vanitie they preserue vs in thy holy seruice vnder continual nurture and blessed perseuerance O grant that it bee light and not greeuous vnto vs to breake and yeelde our selues that wee doo not loath nor abhorre to bee enfourmed taught lead and corrected against our owne selfe will Graunt that wee neuer become disobedient vnquiet stubborne busie headie and contentious that wee neuer bee found fighters neyther such as vse brawling and scoulding Make thou vs quyet milde soft minded tractable and meeke euer readie and not loth to keepe thy commaundementes Bow downe our necke vnder the yoake of thy obedience helpe vs through straite exercises to tame and ouercome our flesh and wicked dispositions which wee are most inclined vnto O Lord Iesus Christ graunt vnto vs whome thou hast deliuered that fully and perfectly wee may yeelde our selues vnto thee committing vs wholly vnto thy spirite and to haue alwayes before our eyes and hearts that wee are euen as sheepe appointed to the butcherie and shammels that we defende not our selues in ire and greedinesse of vengeaunce for thou hast numbred our haires and giuen vs thine Angels to bee our keepers Wherefore preserue thou our mindes from displeasure and desire of reuengement graunt vs a milde friendly stomacke towardes our enemie that we may loue him speake good vnto him pray for him recompence him good for euill that wee may bee readie to offer the other cheeke also And when wee stand in anie daunger O graunt vs that we do nothing which doth euil become thy children and that is not agreeable vnto thine example ANd Annas sent him so bounde vnto Caiphas the high Priest The souldiers tooke Iesus and lead him vnto the high Priest Caiphas there as the Scribes the Elders and Pharisies were come together But Peter followed after a farre off into the pallace of the high Priest and so did another Disciple the same Disciple was knowne to the high Priest and went in with Iesu into the high Priests pallace But Peter stood without at the doore Then the other Disciple who was knowne to the high Priest went out and spake to the damosell that kept the doore and brought Peter in So Peter went in and sate with the seruants to see the end They had a fire and coales kindled in the middest of the pallace and sate about it Peter also sate amongst them and warmed him by the fire The other seruants also stood round about the fire and warmed themselues for it was colde and Peter beeing with them stoode and warmed himselfe Nowe when the high Priestes maide that kept the doore sawe Peter and spyed him by the light of the fire she saide Wast not thou also with Iesus of Nazareth the Galilean Art not thou likewise one of his Disciples Another said he also was with him Then Peter denied before them all and said Woman I knowe him not I am not hee neither wote I whereof thou speakest And when hee was gone out into the porch the cocke crew Then there spyed him another Damsell which said vnto those that were there This fellow also was with Iesus of Nazareth Then denied hee againe with an oath and saide I neuer knewe the man After a little while as it were about an houre others that stood there spyed him and saide Verely thou art one of them for thou art a Galilean thine owne speech bewraieth thee Then saide one of the Priests seruantes a kinsman of his whose eare Peter had smitten off Did not I see thee with him in the garden But Peter began to sweare and to curse himselfe to make great protestation that hee neuer knew the man Immediately while he yet spake the cocke crew againe And the Lord turned him about and he held Peter Then Peter remembred the word that Iesus had said vnto him Afore the cocke crow twise thou shalt denie mee three times And hee went forth and wept bitterly Doctrine and fruite O The sodaine change O the great inconstancie of mans weaknesse O the vnsearcheable iudgementes of God! Not long heretofore would Peter haue gone with Christ his maister into prison death But now he is so afraid at the words of one Damosell that hee denieth the Lord. Of the which fall Christ told Peter and the other Disciples afore for a warning but they beleeuing it not became presumptuous and ascribed too much vnto themselues therfore the Lord suffereth them to fall that they may learne what they haue of themselues and what they haue of God yea that we all may see what the Apostles were afore the receiuing of the holy Ghost and what they became after the power that was giuen them from aboue Afore they receiued the holy Ghost they were weake feeble inconstaunt and wauering but when God hath cloathed them with power from aboue they became feruent earnest and steadfast Greeuously dooth Peter fall in deniyng of his maister which thing yet turneth to the wealth of him all men to the intent that thereby we might learne how hurtfull and daungerous it is for a man to trust to himselfe to his own strength and not onely vnto God without whome we are able to doe nothing that good is Good godly people do fall many times and thorow feare and greatnes of the battaile they should vtterly giue ouer if they were not fortified and preserued by the power of God Therefore the mercie of God which continually careth for vs hath brought to passe and appointed that such examples should be noted in the scripture to teach vs to declare vnto vs his power goodnesse in euerie thing Thus the sinnes falles of holy and vertuous men are set before vs partly to the intent that if we stand we should so continue vpright looking well to our selues that we fall not and partly that if we be fallen we should learne to rise vp again to amend our liues and to bewaile our sinnes And so haue the holye Euangelistes perfectlie and vniformelie described the fall and deniall of Peter not that thereby they thought to deface Peter or to publishe and make knowen his trespasse but that the power of GOD in him might be knowen and praised As for such sinnes as holy men commit through weaknesse and ignorance God vseth them to his glorie and our commoditie that with the woundes of his Saintes he might heale ours and that the shipwracke of the godly might bee vnto vs a sure port hauen Peters fall serueth first to the knowledge and praise of the power and goodnesse of God in that we see how mightily he setteth Peter vp again strengtheneth him howe graciously hee forgiueth him his sinnes that we which are fallen should not despaire but hope for assistance and forgiuenesse of