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
office or that we shoulde delight in their euill but to the intent that malitious iudgement may be auoyded that there be no villanie done to the annoynted of the Lorde More respect and regard shuld we haue to the word of God that they bring vnto vs than to their liuing and â—aults more to the giuer than to the minister It is not thâ—y that worke but God worketh through his owne power he cannot faile vs in his promise The minister lendeth his hand and mouth but the holie Ghost worketh in the harts of the beleeuers neither can the wickednesse of the Priest diminish or hinder that operation If we our selues haue pure cleane and faithfull beleeuing mindes It is not the vncleannes of the minister that can either defile or hurt vs. This is now the story of the Resurrection of Christ wherein we see how the goodnes of the Lord wondefully striueth with the weake faith of those that are his For when the Angels could not perswade them that he was risen againe he himselfe appeareth vnto them aliue and proueth by many euident testimonies that he is of a truth risen againe and reuiued talketh with them eateth with them offereth himselfe vnto them that they may see him and handle him sendeth the women and certaine disciples for witnesses and leaueth nothing vnattempted that may perswade them For in the faith and beleefe of the resurrection of Iesus Christ lieth all our welfare We must therefore beseech Almightie God to establish in vs this faith and by his spirite mightilie to worke that we from sinne may truely rise againe to a newe and godlie life and afterward with our bodies to enter into an immortall and euerlasting life Hereunto helpe vs God the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost Amen Heere endeth the Sermons vpon the Resurrection of Iesus Christ according to the true copie of the Author and now followeth the Sermons of the Ascension THE ASCENSION OF IESVS CHRIST out of the holie Euangelists IESVS lead his Disciples out into Bethanie And when he had brought them together hee spake vnto them of the kingdome of God commanded them that they should not depart from Ierusalem but to waite for the promise of the father For Iohn saith he baptized with water but ye shall be baptized with the holy Ghost after these few dayes When they therefore were come together they asked of him saying Lorde wilt thou at this time restore againe the kingdome to Israel And he said vnto them It is not for you to knowe the times and the seasons which the Father hath put in his owne power But yee shall receiue power after that the holie Ghost is come vpon you and yee shall be witnesses vnto mee not onely in Ierusalem but also in all Iurie and in Samaria and euen vnto the worlds ende Now when Iesus had spoken these words vnto them he lifted vp his handes and blessed them and was taken vp and a clowd receiued him out of their sight so that hee departed from them and was carried vp in heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God And whilest they looked stedfastly vp towards heauen as he went behold two men stood by them in white apparrell which also said Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing vp into heauen The same Iesus which is taken vp from you into heauen shal so come euen as you haue seene him go into heauen So when they had worshipped him they returned with great ioy into Hierusalem from Mount Oliuet which is from Hierusalem a Sabaoth daies iourney And when they were come in they went vp into a parlour where abode Peter and Iames Iohn and Andrew Philip and Thomas Bartholmew and Mathew Iames the sonne of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes and Iudas the brother of Iames. These all continued still with one accord in the temple lauding praising God and making their praiers with the women and Mary the mother of Iesu and with his brethren Doctrine and fruite CHrist who loued his Disciples declareth vnto them his loue euen vnto the ende yea he neuer ceaseth to loue them For though hee leaue them as concerning his bodilie presence yet with his loue grace and power he is euer still with them Forasmuch now as after sufficient proofe of his resurrection he will depart from them and goe to his Father that had sent him he taketh them forth with him vnto the place from whence he mindeth to depart from them And manifestly before their eyes hee ascendeth into heauen into the glorie of his father that they might be witnesses as well of his glorious ascension as of all other things which they had heard seene before O how feruent words spake hee then vnto them How deepely entred he into their hearts How earnestly printed hee those his last wordes into them The eternall wisedome speaketh nothing vainely nothing slenderly nothing without profite Although the Disciples as men yet somewhat carnall doe aske questions concerning the restitution of a bodily and temporall kingdome yet maketh hee no aunswere vnto their demaund but directeth them vnto that which is for their profie and belongeth to their office drawing their hearts from the earthly kingdom from the which they ought to bee mortified vnto the kingdome of heauen euen vnto the kingdome of God in the which he himselfe is king into the which they now were receiued as citizens that they shuld declare the same throughout the whole world and offer it vnto all men This is the gospell of the kingdom of God which for a testimonie vnto all nations must bee preached in the whole world to witnesse the grace of GOD vnto the elect But to the damned and vnbeleeuers a testimonie of their damnation in that they are conuinced of their owne infidelitie and shall haue no excuse if they contemne and despise the grace offered vnto them By this ought wee also to learne to see such thinges which are most profitable and wholesome vnto vs and which bring vs the nearest way to put our trust in God and to loue our neighbours for that part of the play is ours As for vnprofitable and contentious questions if we meddle not with them then the lesse diuision and the more loue and edifieng in the Church of God shall follow Manie times are wee too much carefull for such things as wee desire our selues as what ende this thing or that will come vnto when God will set vp our prosperitie and what shall bee done hereafter when and how God will punish those that are against vs. And this temptation carnall zeale and curiositie chaunceth oft euen in the hearts of the faythfull as we see heere in the Disciples of Christ Sometimes there bee froward and wicked mindes which pretending to bee Christians seeke out of the Gospell nothing but honour lucre and profite but such bee both false and fained Notwithstanding all these set apart wee ought to commit and refer all things vnto our mercifull creator and
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.
Fruitfull Lessons VPON THE PASSION BVRIALL RESVRRECTION Ascension and of the sending of the holy Ghost GATHERED OVT OF THE FOVRE Euangelists with a plaine exposition of the same BY MILES COVERDALL IOHN 14.6 I am the waie the truth and the life no man commeth vnto 〈…〉 but by me LONDON Printeâ— bâ— Thomas 〈◊〉 â—593 The Author to the Reader SInce our humane imperfections are such as one sinne driueth out another and the frailtie of our natures is so great as hauing touched the brim of the Ocean thereof we neuer cease till we are ouerwhelmed drowned in the bottome of the same since of our selues wee are but graftes of a corruptious tree children of eternall darknesse infidels who bowe the knee to Baal hauing vncircumcised hearts and lying lippes whose mindes are fixed on the world and fastned on Mammon I thought good Christian Reader considering the self loue in vs which haue conuerted the Angels into deuilles which as Augustine witnesseth hath builded the verie Babylon of contempt of God to leuell out a waie for all men to tread a glasse for all men to see an Adamant wherewith all soules may be drawen to the beholding of their vices the loathing of the same and finally the amendement and hartie conuersion for their misdeeds And for that it most euidently appeareth that the iustest man falleth oftentimes a daie and they that discerne errors in themselues and seeing then that they are in the next step to amendement it behoueth vs to consider the weaknesse which is in vs how farre we are fallen and dâ—o fall from the protection of the iust so that in the end we may in the spring of repentance wash away originall and successive sinnes which haue defiled our soules and cleaning to the 〈◊〉 corner stone wheron our saith should be builded withstand the periâ— of perdition which our ghostly enemie hath raised against vs. And â—â—r that truth is neuer knowen but by his contrarie and our nakednesse is not disclosed vnlesse our eies be opened let vs examine our selues and we shall find that these are inseparable errours in vs from which the iustest are not exempted namely blindnes and corruptnes of iudgement 〈◊〉 spirit mistrust in GOD to be slacke and wearie in Gods seruice defaming of Gods truth not to haue God before the eies surmising vanitie 〈◊〉 heart curiositie and nicenesse grudging in our heartes against the enemie bitternesse desire of vengeance a mans good intent greedines to be seen and praised vainglorie ambition proper election maintaining of our owne and disâ—lainfull false vnfaithfull wicked are and 〈…〉 points and feats wherwith the 〈…〉 the good men that keepe themselues from 〈…〉 These and other innumerable vices shall euery 〈…〉 good so euer he be find in himselfe if he search 〈…〉 vprightly and throughly to the bottome 〈◊〉 then that we finde our selues so vicious altogether 〈◊〉 poisoned and wounded vnto death we ought daie and night without ceasing to complaine and lament before God to watch and pray vnto God for remission of our sins yet should we not despaire of life The true Phisition of our soules came downe from heauen through his passion hath he made vs a plaister for our wounds onely let vs vse it and lay it to the sore The faithfull Samaritane poureth oile and wine into our wounds taketh vs vp to cure and to heale vs onely let vs follow him fashion our selues after his image He is the brasen serpent without sinne whome with the eyes of faith we must behold hanging and lift vp vpon the crosse for vs hee taking our sinnes vppon himselfe giueth vs his owne innocencie If the burthen of sinne now oppresseth and grieueth vs we ought to runne vnto him he shall ease vs giue vs rest for his bloud washeth awaie our sinnes him hath the father giuen vnto vs to be our righteousnesse and redemption Besides this great treasure that God hath giuen vs in Christ he is set foorth vnto vs especially in his passion for a patterne or example whereby we may learne to die from sin and finde a preseruatiue against vices to come For selfeloue and high esteeming of a mans owne selfe is the wel-spring of all vice Consider that Christ was not proude himselfe of his owne highnesse but tooke vpon him the shape of a seruant come to serue vs humbled him most lowly loued not himselfe sought not his owne desired not his honor but the honor of his father all despite and reproch fell vpon him If we ponder this by saith all greedy loue of our selues shall fall away The obedience of Iesu in true beleefe considered expelleth and healeth our disobedience and the idolairie of our owne carnall heart With his obedience couereth he the disobedience of all men so farre as we abide in the obedience of faith that Christ be dearer vnto vs than the whole world for the which cause we freely giue ouer our selues into his obedience suffering all things for his sake Pride and vaine-glorie is healed through Christs humilitie and contempt which he suffered for vs manifolde Learne of me saith he for I am meeke and lowly of heart Why are wee so greadie of temporal things when Christ the Lord of heauen and earth became for vs so poore hanging bare and naked vppon the crosse The chast pure life of Iesus Christ expelleth in vs all vncleannesse of the flesh Also his martirdome anguish and trouble which in his flesh hee suffered for vs quencheth the lust and concupiscence of the flesh O how euill doth it become a beleeuer to be irefull and greedie of vengeance when his fore-runner beeing in most humilitie like vnto a sheepe praied for his enemies Enuie and hatred is highly expelled if we consider the excellent deepe loue of Iesu towards vs. Gluttonie and excesse of life shall fall awaie from vs if we well remember that Christ for vs dranke vineger mixt with gall As it is here shewed in certaine points euen so against all vices and blemishes of the soule there may remedie beâ— sound in the passion of Christ if it bee rightly vsed in the contemplation of faith The old Adam ought we to lay aside to mortifie the members vppon earth and to put on Christ the Lord as the new wedding garment In the crosse ought to be our exercise our ioy comfort and life Herevnto also helpeth vs our heauenly father who vnto vs his children whom he most entirely loueth suffreth manifold passions afflictions troubles and anguishes sicknesse pouertie and persecution to come to keepe vs vppon the crosse least we as negligent people gape for temporall earthie things And if we will needs follow our owne lusts he hedgeth our waie with thornes nourturing and humbling vs through trouble that we being tried and purified as the gold in the fire may crie and call vnto him and that we may giue our earthly things seeing we finde no quietnesse in them He bringeth vs into the land of promise howbeit through the
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
the world through me publish ye vnto all men though yee must loose your life therefore IF the world hate you yee know that it hated mee before it hated you If yee were of the worlde the world would loue his owne Howbeit because yee are not of the worlde but I haue chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you Remember the word that I said vnto you the seruaunt is not greater than the Lord. If they haue persecuted mee so will they persecute you If they haue kept my sayings they will also keepe yours But all these things will they do vnto you for my names sake because they knowe not him that sent mee If I had not come and spoken vnto them they should not haue had sinne but now haue they nothing to cloake their sinne withall Hee that hateth mee hateth my Father also If I had not doone workes amongst them which none other man did they had not had sinne but nowe haue they seene and haue hated both mee and also my Father euen that the saying might bee fulfilled which is written in theyr owne lawe They haue hated mee without anie cause Doctrine and fruite LIke as Christ in the aforesaid words hath giuen vnto his Disciples and to vs that beleeue in him an excellent consolation in his loue which is infinite great towardes vs so dooth he now comfort vs against such trouble and aduersitie to come as outwardly happeneth vnto vs and against the hate and persecution wherewith the children of the world recompence vs for our loue and well dooing Loue ought wee to haue towards all men such godly loue shall moue vs earnestly to further Gods glorie to bring all men to the knowledge and loue of God and to withdraw them from fleshly lustes and worldly vices When wee now of a godly zeale beginne thus to rebuke vice and to reprehend the carnall lustes of the children of the world then they that are drowned in the shamefull vices of the world and the flesh may not suffer it but hate trouble and vexe vs molest persecute vs and put vs vnto death contemning and despising the worde which wee offer them from GOD whereby they might bee saued and going about by all meanes to roote it out But all this ought not to driue vs backe or discourage vs For in this world must we seeke no high honour nor praise but willingly humble and submit our selues vnder the rebuke and crosse with Christ our head Christ also exhorteth vs to folow his footsteppes and to doe after his example and not to forsake the truth and loue of our neighbour for theyr hatred but constantly to proceed and do our best to guid all men vnto God And if for such our vnfaithfulnes and loue there happen reproach and trouble to vs we ought to reioice that God dooth vs so great honour as to graunt vs to suffer somewhat for his name sake If we liued as do the children of the world wee should not bee hated of them and happily wee needed to feare but little daunger But Christ hath taken vs from the world and chosen and called vs to good works and to innocencie of life Nothing hath he omitted that might serue to our welfare faithfully therefore ought we to follow his vocation not do as the vnthankfull Iewes that despise his doctrine and workes He talketh yet daily with vs prouoketh and calleth vs therefore ought we to cease from sin and not to fashion our selues after the world For if we would liue to please the world to serue it and to hunt after the fauour and praise of it wee should not be faithfull Ministers of Iesus Christ We ought not to look for worldly honor but to haue respect to the eternall glorie which wee shall haue with Christ our head yea so farre as we suffer rebuke and dishonour with him When he liued in this time and practised the truth against the Pharisies hee was reuiled put to shame and death The same happeneth also vnto vs for we are not aboue the Lorde An euill token were it if the world loued vs. Paciently therefore and with ioy ought we to beare such rebuke and shame as happeneth vnto vs for his name sake by those that hate the truth For our honor and reward is great in heauen but after our trouble shall the same be first opened as it happened also vnto Christ our head first after the crosse BVt when the comforter is come whom I will send vnto you from the father euen the spirit of truth which proceedeth of the father he shall testifie of me And yee are witnesses also because ye haue beene with me from the beginning These things haue I saide vnto you that ye should not be offended They shall thrust you out of their synagogues excommunicate you yea the time shall come that whosoeuer killeth you will thinke that he doth seruice vnto God And such thinges shall they doo vnto you because they knowe not the father neither me But these things haue I told you that when the houre is come yee may remember that I tolde you These thinges said I not vnto you at the beginning because I was with you But now I go my way to him that sent me none of you asketh mee Whither goest thou But because I haue said such things vnto you your harts are full of sorrow But I tell you the truth It is expedient for you that I goe awaie For if I go not away that comforter will not come vnto you But if I depart I will send him vnto you Doctrine and fruite FOr as much as it is our bounden duetie to beare witnesse vnto Christ with our mouth and life yet our weake flesh feareth the hatred and resistance of the worlde Christ therefore promiseth vs heere that hee will sende vs strength from heauen namely the holy Ghost first in our harts to bear witnesse vnto Christ and then to open our mouthes that we may testifie the Lord Christ and his trueth manfully and without feare Certaine it is that all they which will liue here godly in Christ Iesu must suffer persecution But seeing that to suffer such aduersitie our flesh is farre too slow colde and feeble God giueth vs the spirit of his son to mooue strengthen and preserue vs in all goodnes This spirit poureth out loue into our hartes expelleth all feare and terror as we see in Peter on Whitsonday maketh vs to ouercome all aduersitie We are braunches in Christ the true vine albeit as yet verie weake and tender soone blowne awaie with the winde or smitten downe other waies but for as much as out of Christ wee receiue yet the sap and vertue of spirite and life wee are in life preserued that wee wither not away Of this now must we bee mindfull in all aduersitie so that without ceasing we pray vnto GOD for his holie spirite who is our instructer comforter and
and trouble To this praier he seeketh and chooseth out a place meete and conuenient for the same for prayer is a lifting vp of the minde in GOD which among the multitude of men and confusion of worldly matters cannot well bee done Therefore Christ sheweth vs what greate diligence wee ought to vse in prayer when the enemie falleth in that the minde maye cleaue vnto GOD constantly and without shrinking and what iesture the bodie ought to shewe in praier Christ also declareth in that hee falleth downe to the earth vppon his face and praieth with the voyce and words God hath no need of our praier but vnto vs is nothing more profitable and better than oft and feruently to pray And the greater the aduersitie is the more ardent and earnest should the praier bee as we see heere in Christ our head whose passion is verie great in bodie and in minde for the which cause also as a verie true man he sheweth the fame his passion and heauines to his Disciples The strongest of all is weake and the comforter of all harts hath need of comfort himselfe hee that expelleth all terror and feare doth himselfe feare and tremble But al this cōmeth to passe for our learning that whē we be in temptations we should not doubt in the helpe of God and that none of vs beeing in daunger and aduersitie and feeling himselfe loth to suffer or pensiue and slow to tame the motions and wickednes of the flesh should therefore shrinke and bee faint harted but with a constant faith to resorte vnto God complaining to him of his trouble with hartie praier that he will bring the hard and painful beginning to a blessed and ioyfull ende that in all aduersitie we may consider as well the excellent and great fruit which proceedeth thereof as also the gratious good will of our heauenly Father to whom we ought wholly and perfectly to giue ouer and offer vp our selues that neither through the multitude of sinnes neither through the greatnes of aduersitie we despaire nor fall away but with his helpe and assistance manfully to go through IEsus came againe to his Disciples and founde them sleeping Then saide hee vnto Peter Simon sleepest thou Couldest thou not watch with mee one houre Watch yee and pray that ye enter not into temptation the spirit is willing but the flesh is weake Doctrine and fruite THE loue of Christ towardes vs is feruent earnest and great but our flesh is so weake that we not onely consider it not but are also so slow that wee sleepe and feele not for whose sakes Christ hath suffered so great things Oft times is there in vs a ready will to take great matters in hande as Peter and the other Disciples did but at the last wee misse and haue many a sore fall Therefore Christ who knoweth vs better than we our selues willing to expell frō vs all pride and presumptuousnes teacheth vs to bee lowly minded and humble to bee euer watching with continual praier to cleaue only vnto him without whom we are able to do nothing and in whome we may do all things and euen so doth he also in his feeblenes which assaulted him as a very true man to the intent that wee alway remembring our owne weaknes might vnderstand how to tame the rebellious flesh in no case to trust it and that wee might bee carefull and vigilaunt least the subtill enemie in temptations come behind vs fall vppon vs and oppresse vs. It is no time to sleepe the battaile is yet a fighting the enemie is yet aliue and as yet beseegeth hee our castle that Christ hath in keeping All is full of snares and dangers which no man is able to escape saue onely hee which in feruent beleefe and prayer doth earnestly watch and stoutly fight yea and that continually vnto the end Neither the present anguish and trouble nor yet Christes exhortation can bring so much to passe in the Disciples as to keepe them from sleepe so little it helpeth where the spirite giueth not life Neuerthelesse Christes talke and admonition vnto his Disciples is not vtterly vnprofitable for that they nowe vnderstand not the same afterwardes when the spirite commeth is made playne and euident vnto them and then are they feruent and earnest in godly prayer Wherefore wee should neuer cease from comforting and exhorting the feeble and weake for though it helpe not at this present the houre shall come that the spirite will make it to haue life and to be fruitfull in them HE went foorth the second time and praied like as afore My father if this cup may not passe except I drinke it thy wil be done Then came he againe and found them sleeping for their eies were heauie they knew not what answere to make him So he left them againe and went and praied the third time like as afore and kneeled downe and said Father if thou wilt take away this cuppe from me Neuerthelesse not my will but thine be done And there appeared vnto him an Angell from heauen comforting him and when he was in the agonie distresse and conflict he praied the longer and his sweat was like droppes of bloud trickling downe to the ground And when he rose vp from praier and came to his Disciples hee found them sleeping for heauines and hee said vnto them What Sleepe ye Sleepe on now and take your rest It is enough vppe and pray that ye enter not into temptation Behold the houre approcheth and the son of man is betraied and giuen into the hands of sinners Vp let vs goe beholde hee that betraieth me is at hand Doctrine and fruite IN the perfect example and mirrour of our life Christ Iesus we find an earnest feruent loue a doctrine how wee ought to behaue our selues in aduersitie First wee see that Christ of an exceeding great loue taketh vpon himself al infirmities of mankinde and becommeth like vnto his brethren in all thinges sinne except beeing a very true man hee is therfore not ashamed before his disciples to acknowledge his infirmitie sorrow heauines and feare and to complaine thereof vnto his father A feare by reason of the death and passion hee receiueth as a verie man for not to feele trouble is not the nature of mā and passion is no passion if it smart not if it bee not felt Christ therefore both in his mind and body feeleth the passion hee feeleth the conflict of death albeit in wrastling withall he ouerthroweth it Oh the exceeding feruent loue of our head and foregoer Iesus Christ who for our helth commeth into so great an agonie and trouble that aboue naturall moysture through the fearefull conflict of the passion death he sheddeth his bloud and sweateth it but with hartie desire runneth he to his heauenly father to him complaineth he of his weaknes and distresse to him giueth he ouer himselfe in al obedience and contentation of mind of him also receiueth he comfort and strength In the
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
Iesus to kisse him And when he came he stept vnto him and sayd All haile master and with that kissed him Iesus sayd vnto him Friend whereto art thou come Iudas betrayest thou the sonne of man with a kisse Iesus knowing all things that were to come vpon himselfe went forth and sayd vnto them Whom seeke ye They said Iesus of Nazareth Then sayd he vnto them I am he And Iudas that betraied him stood with them Now when Iesus sayd I am hee they went backeward and fell to the ground Then Iesus asked them againe whome seeke ye They said Iesus of Nazareth Then answered Iesus and said I haue tolde you that I am hee If ye seeke me then let these depart that the saying which he spake might bee fulfilled Of them whome thou gauest me I haue lost none Doctrine and fruit CHrist the worthy and strong Captaine when he hath whollie giuen ouer himselfe steppeth forth weaponed going manfully and stedfastlie against the prince of this world and his ministers yeelding and offering himselfe willingly to suffer for vs as Esay saith quia voluit for so was it his will No man had beene able to take him or put him to death if hee had not so willed himselfe for hee had power to leaue his owne life Many times afore did hee giue place to their fury and got himselfe out of the way but when the houre apointed of the father was come he goeth himselfe willingly meeteth death by the way Heere ought we also to learne willingly and stoutly to goe into aduersity if it bee the will of our father if Gods honour and our neighbours welfare so require For like as the father suffreth not his son to die till the houre of death come euen so standeth our life in his hand The limits that hee hath set vnto vs may we neither preuent nor ouer passe neither lieth it in the power of our enemies to kill vs when they will themselues Christ careth for those that are his the enemies are able to doe vs no harme at all no neither in bodie nor goods till the Father giue them leaue Therfore he sayth Let these go The father according to his greate mercie and gracious will thrusteth vs into aduersitie with Christ his deare beloued sonne in such wise so much and at what time he will himselfe Against his will ought we not to striue but patiently and with obedience submit our selues wholy vnto it Oh what an vnspeakable great loue is heere The shepheard dieth to saue the lyfe of the poore sheepe the Lorde goeth vnto death to the intent that the seruants should not die the creator spareth not himselfe to saue his creature If the sonne of God nowe doeth not abhorre to suffer death for vs why would wee then bee ashamed to suffer and die for hys sake And though he be verie God and sheweth his enemies the brightnes of his godly strength in that he so throweth them to the grounde yet will not he in the same houre vse such his diuine power to deliuer himself albeit he admonisheth them therby to cease from their conceiued mallice for his godly strength casteth them downe his mercie grace lifteth them vp again Out of the which great myracle they shuld haue learned not to laie hande on him malitiously they shoulde haue considered that if it had beene his pleasure hee might well haue escaped their handes so that they had not beene able to holde him but the vnbeleeuing rable are blinded indurate and hardned that neither myracle nor kindnes can moue them Oh the high maiestie of Christ how shall vnbeleeuers be able to stand before him when he shal appeare in the iudgement whereas before his weaknesse and humilitie when hee was now to bee iudged himselfe they were not able to stand If his louing voice wherewith hee speaketh so gentlie vnto them and saith I am hee dooth so feare them and throw them down What wil then the horrible voice of the Iudge doe when hee shall say depart yee cursed into euerlasting fire O how innocently and godly ought we to liue before him who is among vs and in vs heareth all our words seeth all our workes sercheth and looketh thorow all our thoughts howe secret so euer they be Christ at this time withdrew his high power and in weaknes of the flesh and in wonderfull high patience stept he forth to suffer By his ensample must wee learne not to take vs to our high estate but with patience and humblenes of mind to meet the enemie Like patience and gentlenes vseth he also towards his traitour whome hee goeth to meet not speaking rough wordes vnto him brawleth not with him rateth him not as he was well worthy but receiueth him with all softnes of mind and gentlenes whereas yet hee came to deliuer betray him into the hands of the wicked and vnto death Neither dooth the Lorde denie him so much as the kisse the token of friendship but louingly also talketh he with him albeit he also maketh mention of his vnfeined and dissembling friendship telling him of it admonishing him if he had not bene hardened to cease from his conceaued treason Wherefore we also must learne of Christ so far as concerneth our owne person and estimation with all mildnesse softnesse of mind patience and greatest loue to meete those that hate vs and betray vs if peraduenture with such loue and gentlenes of minde wee may bring them away from their malice and wickednes Heere also with great feare dread ought we to consider of the iudgement God in Iudas that he being one of the twelue and elect Disciples dooth betray and sell the Lord Iesus his gratious louing Maister Whereby wee are taught how that amongst all men there is nothing throughly perfect and whole seeing that in so holy and small number there is one man so greatly stuffed with wickednesse Therefore he that standeth let him looke that he fall not Lette couetousnes blind no man let the desire of temporall good possesse and rule no mans heart for out of couetousnes the roote of all vice groweth nothing but treason and despaire No righteousnesse no fidelity no truth no honesty can be in that hart wherin greedie couetousnes hath taken root Iudas for verie greedines of money giueth ouer God all loue and hee that afore was a fellowe and companion of the holy congregation of Gods children is become a mate companion and Captaine of the wicked vnbeleeuers hee that was chosen to the preaching of the Gospell is become an enemie persecutor and traitour against the truth O from how high great honour to what shame dishonestie and vile state falleth Iudas who hauing woluish conditions vnder sheepes cloathing doth vnder the token of loue practise treason against the trueth From Iesus the true health hee seperateth himselfe to the children of the Deuill hee getteth him amongst the bloud-thirstie yea euen he that hitherto in outward appearaunce had
Iesus who being refused of wicked men vpon earth but chosen of God the Father is crowned with eternall glorie and godly honour in heauen No euill saying or curse ought to ouercome vs considering that for the same there is so exceeding ioy prepared for vs of God THen Pilate took Iesus therfore scourged him the souldiers wound a crowne of thorns and put it on his head And they did on him a purple garment and came vnto him and said haile king of the Iewes and they smote him on the face Pilate went foorth againe and said vnto them Behold I bring him forth to you that you may know that I finde no fault in him Then came Iesus foorth wearing a crowne of thorne and a robe of purple And he saieth vnto them Beholde the man When the high Priestes therefore and ministers saw him they cried saying crucifie him crucifie him Pilate saith vnto them Take ye him and crucifie him for I finde no cause in him The Iewes aunswered and said vnto him Wee haue a lawe and by our law hee ought to die because hee made himselfe the sonne of GOD. When Pilate heard that saying hee was the more afraid and went againe into the iudgement hall and sayth vnto Iesus Whence art thou But Iesus gaue him no aunswere Then said Pilate vnto him Speakest thou not vnto mee Knowest thou not that I haue power to crucifie thee and haue power to let thee loose Iesus aunswered thou couldest haue no power at all against me except it were giuen thee from aboue Therefore he that deliuered me vnto thee hath the more sin And from thence forth souâ—ht Pilate meanes to loose him but the Iewes cryed saying If thou let him go thou art not the Emperours friend for whosoeuer maketh himselfe king is against the Emperour Doctrine and fruite HEre in Pilate we learne how hurtful it is when euery one in his office and vocation looketh not diligently about him but slenderly letteth the thing slippe and passe that he earnestly ought to bring to effect Pilate was the deputie of a countrey and knew that Christ had wrong wherof he himself also many times beareth him witnesse with his owne mouth Seeing then that he was a Iudge it appertaineth to his office to iudg right not to suffer the innocent to die For though Pilate doth as if he would discharge Christ yet he mindeth it not earnestly Hee goeth about to let Christ loose neuertheles so farre as hee displease not the Iewes and the Emperour so farre as hee loose not the fauour and friendshippe of men While Pilate now fainteth in the righteousnesse that hee knoweth and is sure of and holdeth not on stoutly as he should to deliuer Christ God suffereth him still to fall till he come to this point that he condemneth the innocent to death against his own conscience Thus goeth it with al those that for the grace of GOD lent vnto them are vnthankfull vnfaithfull in the little It is the part of a righteous Iudge to maintaine iustice and to defend the innocent thogh it should cost him body honour and goods The pride also of Pilate that presumed by reason of his authoritie is brought downe with the wordes of the Lorde there is no power but from aboue therefore should it bee godly vsed the higher powers are Goddes Ministers In the which wordes of Christ the faithfull beleeuers that bee in aduersitie are comforted knowing that no man hath authoritie nor power ouer them except it bee giuen him of God Christ is bound to deliuer vs from the bandes of our sinnes and to place vs in eternall freedome Hee is scourged to take from vs the stripes that we should suffer by reason of our sins yea to heale our wounds is hee sore wounded himselfe Altogether suffereth hee for our sakes thorow his stripes are wee made whole His backe as Esay saith Esay 50. offereth he to the smiters and his cheeks to the nippers to purge vs from all filthinesse of sinne Hee became without beautie as a leper despised spitted vppon and mocked to deliuer vs from eternall shame punishment Wee had deserued all this hee did nothing worthie thereof wee are the cause of his martyrdome Oh the great burthen of our sinnes that the Sonne of the eternall GOD must suffer so sore stripes and cruell payne for vs to reconcile vs with his Father Oh the exceeding great loue which he declareth vnto vs in that hee taketh all rebuke vppon himselfe for vs Oh that wee considered this with true deuotion so that wee might say with Christ and Dauid I am readie to bee scourged and my plague is alwaies before mee O Iesu kindle vs with the fire of thy exceeding loue which thou in so much aduersitie hast well tryed towardes vs. Graunt vs the helpe of thy grace to the strengthening of our weakenesse when the heauie burdens of aduersities fall vppon vs that thorow the terrible ouercharge of them wee be not opprest and throwne downe Giue vs grace so to chasten and subdue our body and flesh that it maye bee subiect vnto the spirite and obedient vnto thy will in all things WHen Pilate heard that saying he brought forth Iesus and sate downe to giue sentence in the place that is called the Pauement but in the Hebrue tong Gabatha It was the preparing of the Easter about the sixt houre And he saith vnto the Iewes Behold your king They cried away with him away with him crucifie him Pilate saith vnto them shall I crucifie your king The high Priests aunswered We haue no king but the Emperour And the high Priestes with the Elders of the people accused him in many things but he gaue no answere Pilate asked him further and said makest thou no answere Seest thou not in how many and great thinges they accuse thee But Iesus moreouer gaue no answer so that the deputie maruelled sore at it At the feast he had a custome to let one vnto them loose whom they would desire Now while the people presâ—ed on Pilate began to aske them as hee alwaies did said Whom will yee that I let loose vnto you Barabas or Iesus who is called Christ While Pilate sate in iudgement his wife sent to him said Haue thou nothing to doo with that iust man for this night in sleepe haue I suffered much for him But the high Priests the Elders perswaded the people inticed them that they should aske Barrabas require Iesus vnto death Then answered Pilate and said vnto them whom will ye of these two that I shall let go loose vnto you They said Barrabas Then said Pilate vnto them What shall I then do with Iesus who is called Christ Then said they al let him be crucified The deputie said What euill then hath he done Neuertheles they cried yet more let him be crucified When Pilate saw that he profited nothing but that the vprore was greater he tooke water and washed his hands before the people
a bone of him And againe another Scripture saith They shall looke on him whom they pierced Doctrine and fruite OVt of the side of him that sleeepeth vpon the crosse runneth the fountain of wholsom water with the which our vncleannes is washed away and the whole world sprinkled purified and cleansed therewith The heart is opened and wounded loue floweth out the bloud gusheth forth to the washing away of all our sins This is the true stonie rocke which being smitten vpon giueth water vnto our thirstie soules like as Eue was taken fashioned out of the rib side of her husband that slept so is the holie Church the spouse of Christ shapen out of the side of her husband This gate is opened wide to all faithfull beleeuers hee that hideth himselfe in this hole is sure from all hurt and harme Of this holie and godly fountaine who so drinketh once or taketh a draught of the holie loue dooth forthwith forget all his aduersities and griefes and shall bee whole from all wicked heate of temporall lustes and bodilie prouocations feruently shall hee bee kindled in loue and desire of eternall thinges and shall bee replenished with the vnspeakable goodnesse of the holie Ghost and in him shall bee a fountaine and well of liuing water flowing into eternall life By this creepeth the poore sinner into the louing heart of Iesus Christ which with exceeding great kindnes is pierced through and there findeth hee rest and quietnes in the stony rocke Here are opened the conduites and well pipes of life the way of our health wherein we finde rest vnto our soules shadow for heate and trauaile this fountaine of grace is neuer dried vp This is the well of the godly 〈◊〉 that floweth out of the middest of paradise to wate◠the whole earth to moysture the drie hearts to wash away sinne Out of this plentifull well ought wee with great desire to draw and drinke that from henceforth wee liue not in our selues but in him who for our sakes was wounded so deep Our hart must we giue whollie vnto him that hath opened his heart so wide His heart and ours must bee all one Nothing requireth he of vs but the heart Sonne saith he giue mee thy heart Our hart must we giue to the Lord not to the world to eternall wisedome not to lightnes There do the true heardmans sheepe find pasture there are the water brookes of life there may they goe in and out Nothing is there vppon earth that so kindleth draweth and pierceth the heart of man as dooth Christes loue declared vppon the crosse When wee thus surrender our heart vnto the Lorde when wee thus wholly and fully giue ouer our heart into the Lordes hands that hee may keepe and possesse it for euer then haue we blessed peace O Lord Iesu Christ drawe thou our hearts vnto thee ioyne them together in vnseparable loue that they may feruently burne that wee may abide in thee thou in vs that the euerlasting couenant betweene vs may stand sure for euer O wound our hearts with the fiery darts of thy pearcing loue Let them pierce through all our slouthfull members and inward powers that wee beeing happily wounded may so become whole and sound Let vs haue no louer but thy selfe alone lette vs seeke no ioy nor comfort but onely in thee Thus haue we the passion and death of our Lord and redeemer Iesus Christ Now as Paule saith let vs go foorth of the tentes vnto him that for our sake is despitefully crucified without the Citie of Hierusalem and lette vs helpe him to beare his rebuke giuing him thankes and praise for his great loue In his death standeth our life for in his death is our death slaine the sting of death and firme is taken awaye Heere finde wee true life and eternall saluation here sinne is forgiuen and pardon graunted A poena culpa heere mercie is denyed vnto no man for the vertue and merites of the Lordes holie passion is bottomlesse Through his shame commeth eternall honour and glorie vnto vs. His passion is the wholesome playster for all woundes his crosse the ouerthrow of all enemies and victorie against all vice From our whole heartes therefore ought wee to reioyce in the great and blessed fruites of thy holie passion O Lorde Iesu whilest wee are in this feeble life graunt vs so to liue that wee maye direct all our workes desires and intentes according to thy godlie will and pleasure that this our temporall course may bee founde and finished in thy grace that after the ouercomming of all temptations and carefull things we may come to the reward of eternall saluation Teach thou vs dayly to die and by the spirit to subdue the flesh that when the flesh corrupteth the spirit may be taken to eternall rest Graunt vs grace chearefully and continually to cleaue vnto thy holy crosse O giue vs blessed teares of true repentance while the doore of grace standeth open graunt that we may stedfastly blessedly finish the thing which commendably is begun Let our daily exercise bee in the confideration of the passion of Christ let him be our mirrour continually let vs not shrinke from the crosse but indure with Christ in life death with him on the crosse with him in the graue and death so shal we continue in rest peace and quietnesse that when Christ our life shall appeare we may rise vp with him in glorie God the Father Sonne and holie Ghost grant this vnto vs all Amen THE BVRIALL OF IESVS CHRIST OVT of the holie Euangelists NOW when it was late for as much as it was the day of preparation afore the Sabaoth there came a rich man of Arimathia named Ioseph such a principall famous Senatour as was iust and righteous The same had not consented to their counsaile and doings for he also was one of those that waited for the kingdome of God a disciple of Iesu but secretly for feare of the Iewes Boldly went he in vnto Pilate and begged the bodie of Iesu But Pilate wondered if he were now dead alreadie And when hee had learned of the Captaine that it was he graunted him the bodie of Iesu and commended it to bee giuen him Ioseph had bought a white linnen cloth and tooke downe the bodie of Iesus and wrapt it in the faire linnen cloth There came also Nicodemus who was come to the Lord afore by night brought mirrhe and Aloes vppon an hundred pound mixt together So taking the body of Iesu they wound it with clothes and prepared it with sweet ointments according as the maner of the Iewes was to burie And by the place where Iesus was crucified there was a garden and in the garden a new sepulchre There Ioseph laid Iesus in his owne new sepulchre which he had caused to be hewen out of a rocke into the which no man had yet been laid Forasmuch then as it was the Iewes day of preparing the
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
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
they might not think What should we poore simple bodies doe against so many learned wise men Who wil arme vs against those that are so mightie Therfore he breatheth vpon them saith Receyue the holie Ghost whome hee there giueth them and therewith strengtheneth them inwardly but with much more power and might vpon Whitsonday whereupon he commandeth them to wait at Hietusalem where he will send them the promise of the Father cloathing the weake with heauenlie strength as with a garment and arming them as with a shield What good thing then can hee lacke or what euill thing can hurt him which is his messenger that hath all power in heauen and in earth and with whome such a king is euer abiding But when Christ would send out his disciples he saith vnto them As my father hath sent me so send I you Whereunto did the father send his sonne into the world Euen that hee should open the glorie of the father vnto the world that he should declare the will of the heauenly Father that hee shoulde offer health vnto the worlde This to doe Christ also sent foorth his Disciples He sent them not to seeke after vaine-glorie after power and riches after bodilie pleasure and worldly pompe but to do as he himself did Christ sought the lost sheepe brought men vnto the knowledge and loue of the true liuing GOD taught them to lead a vertuous and honest life Hee was a Phisition went to the sicke helped them and healed them he was not come to do his owne will but the will of his Father hee was not come to condemne the world but to saue it In all this ought the ministers of the worde to followe Christ and to do as he did Vnto this new heauenly and godlie life and worke Christ giueth them the holie Ghost For like as hee himselfe was risen into a newe life Euen so through his holie spirite will hee graunt and giue a newe life vnto those that are his Therefore breatheth hee vppon them to declare that it is hee who at the beginning made man and nowe by his death had quickened him and renewed him and that euen he is the fountaine and giuer of the spirite Thus vnto his Disciples he gaue the firstlinges of the promised spirite and with it a taste of more and greater perfection as an earnest pennie All this declareth what belongeth to true Apostles and Ministers of the worde which are sent of Christ for no man sendeth himselfe what their office is and that they which seeke the pleasures of the bodie honor praise and riches are not followers of Christ and successors of the Apostles Wherefore most diligently ought wee to pray vnto GOD that he will giue vs faithfull Ministers of the worde which looking truelie to the worke of Christ maye leade vs vnto God But forasmuch as without the holy Ghost nothing can be fruitfully done we must neuerthelesse praie for his holy spirite who may in vs stirre vp holy thoughts and deuout desires directing and mouing our will and so giuing power and strength to accomplish the works of God and steadfastly therin to continue and that the same holy spirit may illuminate and kindle our minds and prouoke them vnto all good and godly works Considering then that the keies which were promised vnto Peter in him to the whole Church Matthew 16. are heere giuen of Christ wee will also intreate somewhat thereof These keyes are nothing else than the Gospell Christ now deduceth his oration from the common custome of men Like as things corporal are shut and opened with the key so be the consciences of men shut or bound with the Gospell Thus are these the keies which Christ giueth vnto the Apostles vnburdening of consciences and souls And that commeth to passe when the holy Ghost illuminateth the mind that it vnderstandeth the misteries of Christ committeth it selfe therevnto To bee discharged or vnbound is when the minde that hath despaired of health or saluation is lifte vp to an assured and vndoubted hope To binde is to leaue the obstinate vnbeleeuing minde vnto it selfe Iesus therefore sendeth foorth his disciples to publish this health vnto the whole world and to exclude separate no man from this grace But first he giueth them the holy Ghost as Iohn sayth that is he openeth their mindes that they may vnderstand the Scriptures as Luke saith for what is it else to open the vnderstanding but to giue the holy Ghost Meete is it also and conuenient that they which by the Gospell should beare Christ throughout the whole world should receiue the holy ghost For if they should preach Christ it was necessarie they had Christs spirit seeing that Christ they had one manner of thing in hand as Christ was sent of God so were they sent of Christ Without fruit verily should the ministers of the word preach the gospel if they were not endued illuminated and inspired with the holy Ghost Preach saith he the gospel that is the key wherewith the gate of heauen is opened Who so beleeueth the Gospell when hee heareth it preached and vnderstandeth it feeleth comfort in his conscience that he is deliuered from sinne Now doth the Gospell set before vs not onely the grace of God by Christ throgh the which grace our sinnes are forgiuen vs but also it teacheth and requireth a new life Neyther doth anie man begin a new life vnles he first be ashamed of the former old and wicked life Therefore saith Luke that Christ opened the mindes and vnderstanding of the disciples that they might perceiue the Scriptures namely that he might thus and thus suffer and rise again and that in his name that is in his commandement and power conuersion of life and forgiuenesse of sinnes should bee preached and declared among all people Therefore when the poore sinner through the preaching of the holy Ghost heareth his wicked and sinfull life for the holy gospel rebuketh the world of sinne he beginneth to knowe himselfe a sinner and to be displeased repentant and sorrie for his sinnes he considereth also that he is well worthie of eternal punishment and damnation By meanes whereof through the multitude and greatnesse of his sinnes he vtterly dispaireth in his owne power and righteousnesse and eternall saluation But therewithall he heareth also that Christ by reason of his sins came downe from heauen and dyed for him vppon the crosse washed away al his sinnes with his bloud hath reconciled him with God made him Gods child an eternall inheritour of his kingdome And this he stedfastly beleeueth I pray you doth not such a mans heart leape for ioy when hee heareth that thorough Christ he is discharged of all the sinnes that so sore pressed him The keies therefore are the pure word of God which teacheth men to know themselues and to put their trust in God through Christ With that word with those keies do the ministers of the worde open
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
resurrection then shall our lyfe become new and of another sort if we take vpon vs true pennance beeing sorie for our sinnes conuerting vs vnto thee amending and chaunging our conuersation Which with the gratious forgiuenesse of our sinnes is declared and promised vnto vs in the Gospell according to thy commaundement O what a ioyfull message is this that such greate grace should out of Sion bee shewed vnto vs which come of the heathen From this grace is no man shut out it is common vnto euerie man vnlesse the vnthankfull exclude himselfe as doo they that loue darknesse more than the light and they that disdainfully inclose thy grace and hedge in thy Church which thou by the preaching of repentance and forgiuenes of sinnes hast commaunded to bee gathered vnto thy selfe in the whole world not only at Hierusalem but also in Samaria and Galilee euen vnto the ende of the world O God suffer vs not to be subiect vnto vain-glorie and headines remoue all contention and strife out of thy holie Church Preserue vs from scismes and all dissention knitte vs together in vniforme loue which is an vndoubted token of thy children It behooued Iesus Christ to suffer not for himselfe but for our sakes to become the sacrifice for our sinnes that hee so satisfiyng the iustice of GOD might make amends for our trespasse and deliuer vs from death It behooued him also to ryse agayne that hee by his power might rayse vs vp from the death of sin to a new life by his own resurrection to make vs assured of ours and of immortall life IEsus came to his Disciples and said vnto them To me is giuen all power in heauen in earth As my father hath sent mee so send I you And when hee had thus spoken hee breathed vppon them and sayde Receiue ye the holy Ghost Whose sinnes yee forgiue they are forgiuen and whose sinnes yee reteyne they are reteyned Goe therefore and teach all people baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the sonne and of the holie Ghost teaching them to obserue all thinges whatsoeuer I haue commaunded you And beholde I am with you euerie day vntill the ende of the worlde Goe yee therefore into the whole worlde and preach the Gospell vnto all creatures Who so beleeueth and is baptized shall be saued but he that will not beleeue shall be condemned The tokens which shall follow those that beleeue are these In my name they shall cast out deuils They shall speake with new tongues They shall take away serpentes And if they drinke anie venemous thing it shall not hurt them They shall lay handes vppon the sicke and they shall be whole Doctrine and fruit WHEN Iesus with manie euidences had certified his Disciples of his Resurrection he sheweth them now to what excellent glorie and how high power his heauenly father hath brought him wherby their hearts might be stablished and how that all thinges are iustly subdued vnto him who through the crosse hath ouercome gotten a glorious victorie and suppressed the Prince of this world And though some now declare themselues contrary to his kingdome and are not obedient vnto his power but persecute and kill him in his members saying Wee will not haue him to raigne ouer vs resisting and gathering themselues together against God and his annointed king how mightie soeuer they be yet shall he bruise them with an iron rodde and as an earthen vessell all to breake them yea they must become his foot-stoole and hee shall raigne for euer As if he would say In most perfect humilitie in highest patience and beeing in greatest contumelie I haue hitherto serued you and all mankinde but now is the time come that the Father will glorifie mee and bring me to high honor which I had afore the worlde was made that in my name all knees should bowe for I am sette aboue all power and dominion hauing all thinges in my hande From henceforth shall I bee worshipped and honoured of the Angels in heauen and of all men vppon earth And forasmuch as I haue receyued a whole power ouer all flesh I sende you not onelie vnto the Iewes as afore but vnto all nations in the whole worlde for in my selfe haue I sanctified the whole nature of man Looke therefore that yee declare this ioyfull and gratious message vnto all men and plant them in with baptisme vnto the Father to the Sonne and to the holy Ghost And those whom ye baptize see that ye teach to obserue and keepe all that ye haue receyued of mee Ye must also bee stout and not faint harted Many afflictions much euill will great persecution shal happen vnto you but consider how mightie a Lord ye haue vnto whom is giuen all power in heauen and earth hee is able enough to defend and saue you from all enemies And albeit that I goe nowe from you as touching corporall habitation yet will I bee still remayning with you with my power grace woorking and protection vntil the end of the worlde Wherefore goe your way sette your whole delight in mee keepe your selues vnto me alone so can ye not miscarrie O how excellent and great consolation is this vnto all faithfull and beleeuing hearts O how mightie a strength is it in all aduersities and daungers of this worlde to heare and consider that all power in heauen and earth is giuen vnto Christ our Lorde and king vnder whose protection and winges wee are safe and well preserued And who cannot vnderstand that this promise reacheth not onely vnto the twelue Disciples vnto whom it was then made but vnto all faithfull beleeuers which through their doctrine are come vnto Christ For those twelue did not continue in this life vntill the ende of the worlde and yet hee sayth I will be with you vntill the end of the world Wherefore wee may well perceiue that Christ vntill the end of the world will be with all faithfull beleeuers that is to say with his holie church to instruct teach strengthen comfort defend and deliuer it against all malitious violence of this world In his hand they are safe and well kept no man is able to plucke them out of his hande Although the worlde rage and the deuill the prince of the world sette all his power as great as it is against the Church of Christ yet are not the gates of hel able to doe anie thing against it for it is founded and strongly builded vpon Christ the rocke and he that is with it vnto the end of the world is mightier than all enemies Now forasmuch as the disciples of Christ should bring the heauenly doctrine throughout the whole world man being yet of himselfe vnable to comprehend the doings of God he therefore first expounded and declared the Scriptures vnto them as Luke mentioneth and seeing they were simple vnlearned men hee opened to them their vnderstanding But to the intent