proper attributes the first of her kindred his mothers sister from the state and condition of life the a Filiam potius fuisse put at Caluinus in commentarijs suis ad Iohennis Euangelium wife of leophas The second from the Country or place of birth Mary Magdalen for b Buntingus in Itinerarij sacri tom 2. Magdala ciui tas siue castrum in occidentale littore maris Galilei sita est habetque planitiem magnam quam D. Marcus c 8. Dalmanutham vocat Magdala was a Castle or Citie wherein shee was borne The forme is the vtterance of the words and that twofold To his mother Woman behold thy sonne to the Disciple Behold thy mother The Euent The Disciple tooke her home vnto him which obedient action is amplified from the circumstance of time from that houre Then stood by the Crosse of Iesus his mother All fower Euangelists make mention of these women Math. 27. 55. 56. Marc. 15. 41. Luc. 8. 2. 23. 15. 5. And S. Iohn in this place For the remembrance of the righteous shall be blessed But there seemeth to bee some opposition or contrariety amongst them in the relation of this history for all the other affirme that they stood a farre off Iohn here in manifest termes that they stood neere vnto the Crosse of Iesus This doubt is soone remoued for wee may vnderstand it that c Augustinus de consensu Enangelistarum lib. 3. cap. 21. Daneus in Enangelium Marci quaestione 66. Iansenius in Harmonia cap. 144. they stood in a distance truly said both to bee neere because they were in the sight of Iesus and farre off in respect of the multitude who enuironed him with the Centurion and Souldiers Or wee may conceiue that the women accompanying Christ our Lord after hee had commended his mother to the care of Iohn the Apostle beganne to goe backe out of the throng of the people and so further off beheld the things which afterward were done But this is admirable that Iohn testifieth of these women for when the Disciples fled and made no appearance forsaking their master Peter denied the Priests scorned him the Iewes were all in an vprore his pensiue and carefull mother and the beloued Disciple stood neere to his Crosse with Mary Cleophas and Mary Magdalen women by nature d Euripides in Medea weake and fearefull e Arnoldus Carnotenfis de 7. vltimus Christi verbis Shee which is a thing most grieuous now died and could not die and concealing the inward torment of her griefe shewed outwardly another countenance so that by it could not be knowne the crucifying of her soule and crosse of her spirit in which shee was a liuing sacrifice well pleasing God c. And here mightest thou see two Altars set vp one in the Soule of Mary the other in the body of Christ Christ offered his flesh Mary her spirit so that she seemed not to stand neare the f Bonaventura in stimulo ameris parte 1. cap. 3. Crosse but to be fastned to the Crosse with her sonne And this was that sharpe two edged sword whereof Simeon prophesied that it should pearce through her soule Luc. 2. 35. The weake sex of women sheweth it selfe here more manlike and of better courage then the Apostles What wee are to gather from hence for instruction let vs heare Saint Paul teaching vs Brethren you see your calling how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and the weake things of the world to confound the mighty and vile things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen and things which are not to bring to nought things that are 1. Cor. 1. 26. 27 c. Lot is laughed to scorne of the vncleane Sodomites and his admonitions derided but he is preserued and hath a place prouided for security then the Lord rayneth vpon them g In praesenti quod suturuÌ„ est Deus voluit declarare iudicium quando super impium populum Gehennam misit è coelo Saluianus de gubernatione siue prouidentia Dei lib. 1. Hell out of Heauen a shower of fire and brimstome for as their sinne was extraordinarie so likewise i Ì„s the punishment Gen. 19. 26. Dauid the least among his brethren young and the keeper of his fathers sheepe is made choise of to be made king annointed with the holy oyle though the other were tall goodly personages for God seeth not as men 1. Sam. 16. 7. Who more contemptible and vile in the eye of the world then Lazarus full of sores extreame poore a beggar pined with hunger cast at the Rich mans dore as a thing abominable and there could not obtaine so much as the crummes from his Table to supply his wants but none more deare beloued of God for being dead hee is carried by the hands of Angels into heauen and placed in Abrahams bosome Luc. 16. 23. And they are tryed with mockings and reproaches tortured vpon the racke and sundry wayes afflicted of whome the world was vnworthy Heb. 11. 36. The h Augustinus in quaestionibus in 〈…〉 s â—ounm Testamentum quest 1. de v rbis Domni serm 59. de Ciuitate Dei lib. 18. cap. 49. lib. 22. cap. 5. Apostles in number few ignorant of all liberall sciences not skilfull in Grammar not armed with Logicall arguments not furnished with Rhetoricall inchanting perswasions but poore rude fishermen sent to cast the nets of saith into the wide sea of the world inclosed in it great fishes learned Philosophers a thing of the most wonder because of the raritie for seldome such are caught Thus Augustine and so i Lib. 1. hist r. Ecclesiasticae c. 18. Zomen maketh mention how in the Councell of Nice an aged Christian simple and vnlearned conuinced brought to the faith a subtile Sophister by the power of the word himselfe confessing it to be so who before deluded and scorned the Bishops and shifted off their arguments when they disputed with him Vse first Fond therefore and vntrue is the position of Cardinall k Lib. de Lcclesia militante 4. cap. 18. nota decima 5. Bellarmine and other Papists who make temporall felicity and worldly glory a note of the Church whereby it may bee knowne and an vnseperable attendant on the faithfull for first the Scripture is manifestly opposite to this their opinion which doth euery where teach that the wicked flourish and spread forth their greene boughes in this life when the godly are withered with sorrowes Iob 21. 7 8. Psal 73. 5. c. And therefore the Prophet desireth that hee might talke with God of his iudgements and bee informed why the way of the wicked doth prosper and why all they are in wealth that rebelliously transgresse c. Ierem. 12. 1. Abacuc 1. v. 3. expostulateth this case with the Lord. And it
hope of his gratious promises and call vpon him in all our tryals and afflictions Thus Iacob when he feared the rage and festered wrath of his brother I pray thee O Lord deliuer me from the hand of Esau Gen. 32. 11. And Dauid thrust from his kingdome by his rebellious sonne Absolom Thou art a buckler for me my glory and the lifter vp of my head Psal 3. 3. Iehosophat environed with the great and sundry troups of his enemies There is no strength in vs to stand before this multitude that commeth against vs neither doe wee know what to doe but our eyes are towards thee 2. Chron. 20. 12. And the Iewes who presently and out of hand should haue been vtterly rooted out by the subtle plots and deuises of Haman betake themselues to prayer and fasting as their onely refuge Hester 4. 16. Great are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth him out of them all Psal 34. 19. Let vs then bee patient in all tribulations submitting our Vse selues humbly vnder the mighty hand of God 1. Pet. 5. 6. And as the eyes of seruants looke vnto the hands of their masters and the eyes of a maide vnto the hands of her mistris so should our eyes waite vpon God vntill he haue mercy vpon vs Psal 123. 2. For we must depend on him alone in him repose our selues and rowle our waies vpon the Lord Trust in him and he shall bring it to passe Psal 37. 5. none is such a Father none so tender ouer vs and louing a Tertullianus de Patientia Commit thy wrongs done vnto him he will be the reuenger thy losse he will restore it thy sorrow hee will comfort thy life he will raise thee vp from death Father into thy hands I commit my spirit Christ vseth heere an especiall * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 terme of b Lexicon Iuridicum ex Brissonio HotomeÌ„no aeijs collectum in vocabulâ— Depositum speech and of singular efficacie I commit my spirit for it signifieth to lay down as a pretious thing presently to be required againe and he to whom it is so committed is bound to a carefull and diligent keeping thereof and to restore the same Christ hath bound vp in the c Athanasius de susceptione humanae naturae bundell of life not onely his owne soule but of all the faithfull likewise and together commended them vnto God and to be quickned by him For we are his members and therefore it is without any question that the soules of the righteous loosed from the body passe into eternall life and the companie of the triumphant Church in heauen For to bee in heauen with Christ in the hand of God in Paradise in Abrahams bosome are phrases aequipollent of one and the same signification Wee know therefore saith St. Paul that if our earthly house of this tabernacle be destroyed wee haue a building giuen of God that is an house not made with hands but eternall in the heauens 2. Cor. 5. 1. And for this cause desireth to depart that he might be with Christ Philip. 1. 23. And Stephen in the last conflict prayeth Lord Iesu receiue my spirit Act. 7. 59. Lazarus after he is dead is said by the Angels to bee caried into Abrahams bosome Luk. 16. 22. And Paradise is promised to the confessing and beleeuing thiefe Luk. 23. 43. Iohn saw the soules of the faithfull vnder the altar in heauen Reuel 6. 8. The holy Ghost pronounceth them blessed who die in the Lord Apoc. 14. 13. And the wise man distinguishing of the two parts of man the soule and the body expresseth the dissimilitude of their condition thus dust shall returne to the earth as it was and the d Epicharmus Sapient is verâ—â— expressit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apud Plutarchum in oratione Consolatoria ad Ap 〈…〉 similem Xenarchi iocum quo nec Graecorum quisquam nac Râ—manorum â—sus est obseruauit vir clarissimus Isaacus Casaubâ—nus in sâ—â—â— ad Athaeneâ—â— animaduersi nibus lib. 13. cap. 3. qui est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quomodo Daâ—id loquutus est Psal 119. Anima mihi assidue est in manu mea spirit to God that gaue it Eccles 12. 7. My purpose is not more fully to prosecute this point the summe of all is this the soules of the iust are in the hands of e Sic mors nihil est aâ—â—d quam â—xi us animâ— dâ—câ—râ—â—re finis exilij laboris consummâ—â—o ad porâ—um applicatio pereorinatiâ—â—is finiâ—â—o â—neris grauissimi depâ—sâ—â—io de domo râ—inosâ— lib. ratio aegriâ—â—dinum â—mâ—ium terminatio reditus in patriam ingressus in gloriam Holcoâ—â—s in 3. cap Sapiâ—â—â—â—â— God Wisdom 3. 1. in peace and rest in their beds Esay 57. 1. 2. Ierome thus speaketh of Blesilla that hauing cast off the burden of the flesh the soule hastened to her Creator and being a pilgrim long in earth came at the last to her ancient possession Vse 1. First by this are ouerthrowen the fantasticall conceits of naturall men and the wicked blasphemies of Heretikes of which sort were the f Diogenes Laâ—rtius Herodotus in Euterpe Malchus de vita Pithagorae Ter 〈…〉 dâ— aâ—â—â—â— in Apologetico cap. 8. Hieronymus adâ—ersus Ruffinâ—m Lactaâ—iâ—s lib. 3. cap. 18. Aâ—â—â— oâ—â—â— de bonâ— mortis cap. 10. Tbeodoretus in haeroticoâ—â—m fabularum compendi% in Epitâ—me 〈◊〉 deâ—retoruÌ„ Pythagorians and Valentinians who imagined a wandring of soules out of one body into another with which idle dotage Iulian the g Sâ—â—rates histâ—r 〈…〉 st lib. 3. cap. 21. Apostata was possessed and therfore boasted that somtime he had been Alexander the great Empedocles could remember when he was a fish and among the Iewes the Phariâ—ies were bewitched with this heathenish folly h Iosephus antiquitatum lib. 18. cap. 2â— de bello Iudaico lib. 2. cap. 8. Herod Antipas seemeth to haue â—asted of this error for when hee heard of the fame of Iesus perswaded himselfe that it was Iohn the Baptist whom he had put to death Math. 14. 2. And in this ranke the Anabaptists are to be marshalled who haue deuised a new kind of soule-sleeping and thinke they are held in this drowsie Lethargy being once separated from the body vntill the day of iudgment when they shall bee awakened But the soules of the godly are said after death when they are departed to prâ—â—sâ— the Lord Reuel â—9 1. 2. to returne vnto him Eccles 12. but this cannot bee if they bee cast into a deepe sleepe Furthermore in this mortall life while the body sleepeth the soule neuer resteth but is occupied much more then when it is free and vnburdened of the i Caluinus de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Petrus Martyr in 1. Cor. 13. Danaeus Isagoges parte 5. l. 1. cap. 19. flesh But I will not bestow more time to confute this absurd and sencelesse opinion against which many learned Diuines haue written so plentifully A second
is but a nest of of straw and clay soone shaken a peeces many haue seene a faire bright morning who neuer beheld the euening as the Sodomites Gen. 19. 24. vpon many the Sunne hath sett in the euening to whom it neuer appeared rising in the morning So was it to the rich glutton in the Gospell Luc. 12. 20. And for this cause let vs liue soberly iustly and godly in this * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now present world Titus 2. 12. For now is the acceptable time now is the day of saluation 2. Cor. 6. 2. heere life is either lost or kept and what shall it profit a man to get the whole world and loose his soule Matth. 16. 26. And therefore let vs worke forth our saluation with feare and trembling Philip. 2. 12. and bee carefull least at any time our hearts be ouerladen with surfetting and drunkennesse and the cares of this life c. Luc. 21. 34. And so I close vp this point with the holy prayer of the Apostle The God of peace sanctifie vs throughout that our spirits and soule and body may be kept blamelesse vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus 1. Thessal 5. 23. But Iesus said Father forgiue them they know not what they doe Hitherto hath been opened some antecedent circumstances of this prayer now followeth the prayer it selfe which Christ made vpon the Crosse In which as in the rest nothing is of little respect nothing to be neglected Among s Pelargus in 7. Christi verba men it is vsuall that wee obserue carefully the last wordes of our friends especially such as are vttered vpon their death beds and esteeme them either as t Plato in Apologia Socratis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prophesies of future euents or as testimonies of their nature and faith for that one day of our departure from hence doth as it were giue sentence of the qualitie of all the daies before past Therefore some called the testaments and last wills of men the looking glasses of their conditions Much more are those words of Christ remarkeable and worthy deepe consideration vttered then when he was ready to vndergoe and suffer a shamefull death for the reconciliation of our sinnes and are as the swanlike song before his funeralls and that not onely an euident witnesse of his innocencie patience and other vertues and certeine infallible proofes of his tender loue toward his Church and wholesome instructions how we may die well and happily but also the perfection of all those actions which are propounded vnto vs for imitation The Holy Ghost hath vouchsafed to record in Scripture the last speeches of the Saints as of Iacob Gen. 49. 1. 2. c. Moses Deut. 31. 32. Ioshua 24. Dauid 2. Sam. 22. 23. Zachary the sonne of Iehoiada 2. Chron. 24. 22. Stephen Act. 7. 6. In all which though there be something worthy especiall note yet aboue all these passing speeches of Iesus Christ our Sauiour Apostle and high-priest of our profession Heb. 3. 1. are deepely to bee engrauen in our hearts To come then to the doctrine and instruction of this place nothing is heere done without the will of God for it is expresly said of the Apostles in their prayer after they were cast out of the Temple and sent away with sharpe threatning by Annas Caiphas the Elders Scribes and others of the kindred of the High Priest that whatsoeuer he suffered was before determined by the counsell of God to be done Act. 4. 28. Therefore in his great extremities and agony in the garden Math. 26. 39. where he swet bloud and the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 clodded droppes trickled vpon the earth Luk 22. 44. an example singular and without Parallel hee acknowledge God for his louing Father When wee wrastle and struggle with most grieuous calamities and bee compassed about with greatest sorrowes yet euen then wee must vndoubtedly perswade ourselues that God standeth no lesse kindly and gratiously affected toward vs then if we did enioy the greatest worldly ease and pleasure that could be and were free from all trouble and griefe whatsoeuer for whom he loueth he doth chastise Prou. 3. 16. And the greatnes of his loue appeareth thus for we are now corrected that hereafter wee might not bee condemned 1. Corinth 11. 32. and feele the Rodde of a father to amendement not the sword of a Iudge for punishment And therfore the Apostle enformeth vs after this fort my Sonne despise not the chastening of the Lord neither faint when thou art rebuked of him for he scourgeth euery sonne whom he doth acknowledge if you bee without chastisement whereof all are partakers then are you bastards and not children Moreouer we had the fathers of our bodies which corrected vs and wee gaue them reuerence should we not much rather be in subiection vnto the father of spirits that we might liue for they verily for a few dayes chastised vs for their own pleasure but he correcteth vs for our benefite that we might be partaker of his holinesse Heb. 12. 5. 6. 7 c. And hereby is brought to passe that many eminent vertues doe spring vp and flourish in vs as Faith 1. Pet. 1. 5. 6. Prayer Esay 26. 16. Patience Iob 1. 21. Humility 2. Chron. 32. 26. Obedience 2. Sam. 15 25. 26. And Dauid else where doth freely and from his heart acknowledge that before he was afflicted he went astray and therefore good that he was troubled Psalm 119 67. 71. For as the stars shine brightest in the darkest night and sweet spices when they are bruised smell most pleasantly so true Christian profession is most apparant vnder the Crosse Therefore wee glory in tribulation saith the Apostle Rom. 5. 3. For God striketh not with a purpose to wound but heale and hee is not more acceptable amiable pleasant and familiar then after he hath made triall of vs by some meanes or other and the sunne of his fauour and loue doth not at any time shine out more clearely then after a showrie darke and tempestuous day But of this point more hereafter Let vs not then grow out of heart though we doe vndergo many calamities and suppose that Gods fauour is lesse towards vs when we be hardly handled vnder them For u 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clemens Alexand. nearest to God fullest of sorrowes A Christian is a x Christianus Crucianus Lutherus Crosse bearer and as one y Seneca de prouidentia ca. 3. 4. no Christian spake in this respect not vnchristianly fathers and mothers do not in one and the same manner shew themselues louing and indulgent to their children c. and God beareth a fatherly mind and affection towards good men and putteth them to labour sorrow losses that so they may gather some strength and betryed and hardned fitted for himselfe and this is no cruelty but a conflict Righteous Abel dedicateth the Church in bloud Gen. 4. 8. Great Elias is weary of his life and
Nazianzenus in prima oratione contra Iulianū cap. 54. 55. Caelius Rhodinginus Antiquarum lib. 6. cap. 11. 12. Ring or Plutoes helmet that they might goe inuisible and haue fit opportunity yet would they not be prouoked to doe any thing amisse 4 Gods mercy for as a father hath compassion on his children so hath the Lord on them that feare him Psal 103. 13. and looketh on him that is poore and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at his word Esay 66. 2. Nothing more sweet then this promise nothing more effectuall to comfort a languishing soule especially such who feele the griefes and calamities vnto which our nature is subiect For if God carry a fatherly affection towards vs then there can be no sinne so hainous no q Mollerus in Psal 103. aduersity so great which may shut vp this way whereby Gods mercy should come vnto vs so we be found among the number of those who feare him that is rest in him aske pardon of sinnes and mitigation of punishment 5. A sufficiencie of those things which r De his omnibus consulatur Dictionarium Pauperum belong to the sustentation and maintenance of this life Therefore feare the Lord all yee his Saints for nothing wanteth to them that feare him the Lyons doe lacke and suffer hunger but they that seeke the Lord shall want nothing that is good Psal 34. 9. 10. He feedeth those who contemne him shall hee neglect those that feare him This were iniustice but there is no vnrighteousnesse with the Lord Godlinesse hath the promise of this life and that which is to come c. 1. Timoth. 4. 8. He then who would haue a perpetuall and infallibly-true prognostication of all euents which can fall out in the world let him looke into the 26 of Leuiticus and the 28. of Deuteronomie because the things mentioned in them are not fore told by starre-gasing s Augustinus de doctrina Christiana cap. 21. Astrologers nor Natiuitie casters who sell vnto men miserable bondage and bring the cursed thing of Ierico into t Origenes in Iosuam Ierusalem and defile the tents of the Lord but of him who is not as man that he should lye nor as the son of man that he should repent Num. 23. 19. All whose words in respect of the u Philo Iudaem certeinty are of like force with oathes 6. Euerlasting life and glory for it shall goe well with them at the last and in the day of their death who feare the Lord Eccles 1. 13. And excellent is that goodnesse which God hath set apart for those that feare him And in that great day of retribution wherin all that doe wickedly shall bee stubble and burnt vp and haue neither root nor branch left to such as feare the Lord shall the sunne of righteousnesse arise and health bee vnder their wings Malach. 4. 2. Serue the Lord therefore in feare and reioyce in trembling kisse the sonne least he be angry and yee perish in the way when his wrath shall suddenly burne blessed are all those that trust in him Psal 2. 11. 12. Rebuked him saying fearest thou not God seeing thou art in the same condemnation Condemnation by a Synecdoche is heere put for punishment and the whole speech is thus much in sence and meaning as if he should haue said Fearest thou not God but addest this to the rest of thy outragious sinnes formerly committed to encrease the number and heape threof thy heynous blasphemie and that now when thou art to stand and be arreigned at the iudgement barre where thou must giue an accompt both of all thy life before passed and of this present impietie And thus the good thiefe sheweth a iust cause of his former reproofe by an argument taken from the likenesse of the condition in respect of punishment When the hand of God lyeth heauy vpon vs specially in any extraordinarie tribulation or agonie of death then we must submit our selues humbly vnder the same And so Dauid thrust out of his kingdome by the subtile practise of his disloyall sonne Absolom yeeldeth himselfe to bee disposed of according to Gods will 2. Sam. 16. 10. was dumbe and opened not his mouth because the Lord had done it Psalm 39. 9. Ezechias after he receiued the message to set his house in an order for he should not liue but dye chatters like a x Quoties expendimus quae à nobis perperā facta sunt pro cantu cum columba gemilum edamus Hirūdo ore patente in nido pict a auxilij implorati est Hieroglyphicoy Picrius in lib. 22. Hieroglyphicis Crane or a Swallow mourneth like a doue lifteth vp his eyes on high vnto God and desireth comfort Esay 38. 14. Aaron when he is commanded to goe vp to the mount Hor and disrobe himselfe of his Priestly garments and put them vpon Eleazar his sonne and so resigne ouer his office and there be gathered to his Fathers obeyeth Numb 20. 26. Iust it is that wee should beare the wrath of God because wee haue sinned against him Micah 7. 9. Vse In all our calamities therefore how grieuous soeuer they be let vs acknowledge God to berighteous we haue sinned and committed iniquitie and done wickedly saith that great Historiographer of the world now a captiue in Babilor yea wee haue rebelled and departed from thy precepts O Lord and from thy iudgements c. Righteousnesse belongeth vnto thee and vnto vs open shame Dan. 9. 5. 7. And Dauid Righteous art thou O Lord and iust are thy iudgements Psal 119. 137. which verse of the Prophet y Integra historia extat apud Zonarum Annalium tom 3. Glycom Annaliū suorum parte 4. Mauritius the Emperour then vttered when he saw his wife and children put to death before his eyes and fitting himselfe to lay his owne necke vpon the blocke confessed that hee had deserued thus to bee dealt withall who might for a small summe haue redeemed the life of his souldiers taken by the enemy and would not but suffered them all to bee put to the sword For as Gregory truely the Patient that knoweth the rottennesse and putrifaction of his vlcer is willing to bee lanched by the Chyrurgion and hee who vnderstandeth rightly the number and greatnesse of his offences thinketh all which hee suffereth to bee lesse then is deserued entreateth for mercy and willingly beareth the chasticement imposed Ierem. 10. 24. For if God should enter into Iudgement with his seruants no flesh could bee iustified in his sight Psalm 143. 2. And therefore wee must appeale from his iustice to his mercy Heb. 4. 16 We are indeede righteously heere for wee receiue things worthy of that we haue done but this man hath done nothing amisse The blaspheming Iews z Arnoldus Carnotensis de vitimis septom Christi verbis sharpned their poysonful tongs and with one consent cryed out against Christ spewed forth taunts and reproaches vaunted as though they had
question how she should conceiue since she knew not a man thus resolueth her doubt The holy Ghost shall come vpon thee and the power of the most High shall ouershadow thee therefore also that holy thing which shall be borne of thee shall be called the sonne of God Luk. 1. 35. First from hence wee may gather an vndoubted assurance of Vse 2 our saluation For as by the offence of one which is Adam the fault came vpon all men to condemnation so by the iustifying of one Christ Iesus the benefit abounded toward all men to the iustification of life as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of that one shall many also be made righteous Rom. 5. 18. 19. He hath deliuered vs Heb. 2. 14. and blotted out the hand writing which was against vs Coloss 2. 14. Let vs therfore striue that we may be found in him not hauing our owne righteousnesse but his Philip. 3. 9. For the Lord payed the seruants debt the iust suffered the offendors punishment he bare our sinnes vpon his body on the tree and by his stripes we are healed 1. Pet. 2. 24. Vse 2 Secondly this is vnto vs an vnspeakeable comfort the body and soule of Christ our mediator was sanctified in the conception therefore are they a holy and spotlesse sacrifice whereby all our corruption is purged and his bloud doth clense vs from all sinne 1. Iohn 1. 7. By which we that once were farre off are now neare c. for he hath reconciled vnto God both Iew and Gentile by his Crosse Ephes 2. 13. 16. Christ his death hath freed vs from death his life from error his grace from sinne c. Vse 3 Thirdly the fulnesse of his saluation and innocency doth clense our poliuted Masse and at the last shall wholly and perfectly deliuer vs from corruption and by the same spirit wherewith the word sanctified his owne soule and body shall hee in the time appointed of God restore also our soules and bodies vnto his image 1. Corinth 15. 49. 50. For flesh and bloud u Tertullianus de resurrectione vnderstanding the sinnefull quality and not the essentiall substance cannot enter into the Kingdome of heauen Sweete are those words of x Bernardus in sententijs Barnard Mankind was sicke of a threefold disease in his beginning middle and end his birth vncleane his life wicked death dangerous Christ was borne liued and dyed his birth hath clensed ours his life instructed ours his death destroyed ours Lord remember mee when thou commest into thy Kingdom There is in these wordes an y Arnoldus Carnotensis de 7. vltimis Christi verbis Apostrophe wherein the holy thiefe turneth his speech from reprouing his fellow and offereth vp a supplication to Christ and becomming a famous Preacher offereth the sweet smelling odours of prayer and confession and put his blasphemous fellow vnto silence requireth the reward and honor of his victory and fayth Remember me O Lord c. This petition is misticall z Gueuara de monte Caluar parte 2. cap. 21. 22. and full of zeale for in sense and meaning he sayth thus much Oh holy a In hac â—ratiouâ— ista adprimè notanda sunt 1. Quiseam fudit latro 2 Cui Christo in 〈◊〉 vna pendenti 3. Vbi à cruce in qua ipse pepeÌ„dit 4. Quando cum tam morti vicinus esset c. Arnoldus Carnotensis Prophet O blessed Lord Iesu I doe adiure thee by the bloud which thou sheddest and entreate thee by the loue in which thou sufferest that when thou commest into thy Kingdom thou wouldest be mindfull of me And herein may we beholde a wonderfull faith if we consider eyther the person of this petitioner or of Christ to whom he maketh his request Of Christ hee now did hang vpon the Crosse the most despised amongst men most shamefully entreated loaden with tauntes and reproachfull contumelies yet this thiefe acknowledgeth him whom the Disciple b Maximus Episcopuâ— sermone qui est inter Ambrosianos 44. Leo primus de passione serm 2. Ioh. Hussus in Harmonoa passionis ex quatuor Euangâ—lijs denied honoured him suffering whom Iudas kissing betrayed of him the sweete witnesse of peace is treacherously tendred of this the griâ—uous wounds of the Crosse are honoured If the person of the Petitioner that which we heere reade is c Idem ibidem miraculous 1. hee confesseth his sinne 2. the innocency of Christ 3. â—raueth mercy is not withdrawne or held backe neyther by feare of the Iewes standing by nor of his owne torment nor his fellowes blasphemy nor the apparant infirmity of Christ but beleened in him whom he beheld dying in humane weakenesse as a fraile man whom the Apostles denied though they had seene him worke miracles by diuine power And in the course of his forepassed life no d Leo primuâ— de passione serm 2. exhortation perswaded no instruction taught no Preacher kindled this faith he saw none of those things which Christ before had done the healing of the sicke the giuing sight to the blind the raysing of the dead now ceased hee was not brought vp in the Schoole of Christ but in the dâ—nne of theeues where he lost if euer he had any all sense of humanity and godlinesse and yet now acknowledgeth him to to bee a Lord and King whom hee saw partaker of the like punishment asketh and looketh for a Kingdome of one crucified glory from a man extreamely dishonoured saluation from one condemned And indeed this consideration may astonish any For Abraham beleeued God but speaking from e Chrysostomus sermone de lâ—trone Iansenius in concordia Euangdica cap. 143. heauen Gen. 12. 16. Esay but setting vpon his throne of Glory Cap. 6. 1. Moses but appearing in the bush that burnt and was not consumed Exod. 3. 4. 5. others beleeued Christ but when hee was yet aliue and being present saw him call the dead out of their graues Iohn 11. 45. But this beholdeth him dying and prayeth vnto him as setting in heauen and maketh supplication vnto him as a King f Tanlerus in meditationibus de vita Iesu Christi cap. 43. whom the Iewes who knew the Law and the Prophets despitefully crucified acknowledgeth that it is in his power to giue the Kingdome of heauen and that then when his owne Disciples eyther denied or forsooke him Wonderfull therefore was this faith running from that cluster of grapes which was wrung from vnder the Wine-presse of the Crosse I speake not this to the end that any should too much admire this wretched man but worshippe and embrace Christ who at this time so debased in the eye of the world and according to the outward shew declared so great power and vouchsafed such mercy vnto him that so whosoeuer doth reioyce might learne to reioyce in the Lord 1 Cor. 1. 30. So rich is the mercy and so great the loue of God toward
holy stubbornenesse of the Cananitish woman who against all aâ—saults of hard temptations shewed an vndaunted mind and continued stiffe in her purpose and after two repulses presseth on the third time for if God doth not grant presently at our first request he doth not despise his suppliants f Augustinus in Psal 65. tractatu 6. 10 primam Iohan. epistolam but whetteth their desires at the last neareth that wished voice woman great is thy faith bee it vnto thee euen as thou wilt Matth. 15. 28. The third that he might try their constancie and as it were clense them with the g Hieronymus super Abacuâ— Prophetam fire of tribulation and make them appeare more pure Thus stood the case with Iob whom neither the driuing away of his flockes nor the losse of wealth in his heardes nor the sudden death of his children by the ruine of a house nor the loathsome and ouerspreading botches wherewith his body was couered could withdraw him from patience and the deuill but to no purpose and all in vaine assaulted him for by none of these calamities was hee alienated from his obedience due vnto God but stood stedfast and immoueable An example and h Tertullianus de Patientia witnesse vnto vs in the spirit and flesh in his soule and body of true patience that neither for the losse of worldly goods nor of our most dearest beloued nor for the troubles and griefes of our owne bodies wee should faint or fall from God For what a pegeant did hee in that man make of the deuill what a trophe did hee erect to his glory by him the enemie of his glory who at all the lamentable messages which were brought neuer vttered word of discontentment but euer answered blessed be the name of the Lord and reproued his wife as a foolish woman wearied with afflictions one rushing in vpon the necke of another and perswading him to vnlawfull meanes for the auoyding and ending of his suffered miseries c. As the fining pot is for siluer and the furnace for gold so the Lord tryeth the hearts Prou. 17. 3. Iam. 5. 11. Fourthly God in the slownesse of bestowing his benefits commendeth them i Augustinus Chrysost hâ—m 67. in cap. 20. Matthaei Afflictiones sunt 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gemistus Pletho 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Et de his olimplura scripsi ad Psal 130. for such things as wee haue for a long time desired are most delightsome and pleasant vnto vs when they are obteyned in a moment and for a little season hee may hide his face from vs but in euerlasting mercy will hee haue compassion Esay 54. 8. for hee will surely come and not stay Abacuc 2. 3. the later the more comfortably therefore aske seeke knocke Matth. 7. 7. God keepeth that for thee which he will not giue at thy first demaund that thou mayest learne to be an earnest suiter and so obteine great things at his hand Vse Then let vs not vtterly bee discouraged and growe Vse heartlesse if God doe not presently when we euen with passionate and enforced prayers desire comfort and deliuerance answer and heare our petitions but defer his helpe and seeme to passe by our petitions offered For it is vsuall with the Lord to k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theocritus recompence the slacknesse of his comming with abundance of comfort and he that is resolued to be a deuoted seruant of God must beleeue things to flesh and bloud incredible hope for things delayed and loue God though he shew himselfe an enemie and notwithstanding all these continue constant to the end Let vs therefore commit our waies vnto the Lord and trust in him and hee shall bring it to passe Psal 37. 5. And for ourselues not bee sluggish and drowsie in prayer Luke 18. 1. For God doth many times effect his determined purpose by meanes which seeme contrary So when hee will make supply of the best wine he commandeth that water should be filled Ioh. 2. 7. he first killeth then quickneth carieth downe to hel before he bringeth vp to heauen 1. Sam. 2. 6. Ioseph must be worshipped of his brethren this God had long before so appointed but to preuent it they sell him for a slaue yet the same meanes by which they sought to l Gregor Mag. mâ—ralium in Iobum lib. 6. cap. 12. auoide the decree manifested by a dreame furthered the fulfilling therof and they honoured him whom they hated And this is one of Gods m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Haeliodorus in Aethiopicis wonders to bury his children as it were in the graue of miseries and then to raise them vp from death to life Thus the three children are cast into the fiery furnace extraordinarily heated and Daniel into the Lyons den yet these are deliuered and aduanced to the greatest and most high places Dan. 3. 28. 6. 28. Thus God sheweth himselfe wonderfull in his Saints Psal 4. that is leadeth gouerneth and deliuereth them from dangers by admirable meanes which passe the apprehension of our reason and the deepest reach of our vnderstanding For Gods diuine helpe recouereth forelorne humane hopes and supplying grace n Philo Iudaeus apud Eusebium Historiae Eccles lib. 2. cap. 5. beginneth where heartlesse nature endeth And about the ninth houre Iesus cryed with a loude voyce Eli Eli lammah sabacthani that is my God my God why hast thou forsaken mee Cryed with a loude voice In this clause the qualitie of Christ his complaint is expressed and that it was exceeding vehement vttered with great and earnest enforcement of speech for in the daies of his flesh he did offer vp prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares vnto him who was able to saue him from death Heb. 5. 7. And out of question the Apostle had an especiall respect in these wordes vnto those which Christ in his passion with o Paraus in locum compassion now vttered Christ tooke vpon him in respect of the essence our whole humane nature soule and body and therewithall the blamelesse naturall and vncorrupted affections of both of the soule as naturall p Damascenus Orthodoxae fidei lib. 3. cap. 20. Nicetas in thesauro l. 3. c. 37. Ambrosius de incarnationis Dominicae sacramento cap. 7. Danaeus in Isagoges parte 1. cap. 43. Polanus in Syntagmate Theologico lib. 6. cap. 15. ignorance for he increased in wisdome and stature Luke 2. 52. And thus he knew not that there was q In hac 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 explicanda multum se euercuerunt Patres sed facilis est omnium quaestionum responsio non requisiuisse Christum maturas ficus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nam non erat earum tempus sed prococes siue grossos Aretius in quaestionibus in Euangelium Marci quaest 48. de varietate fructuum ficut arboris Theophrastus de causis plantarum lib. 5. cap. 1.
For application hereby we are taught religiously and Vse with reuerence to meditate vpon the passion of Christ Now the meditation is threefold First historicall testifying that Iesus the sonne of the Virgin Mary crucified and dead vnder Pontius Pilate is the true Messias promised to the Fathers foretold of the Prophets in whom all things are exactly fulfilled who redeemed the world and gaue a price of r Huius sanguis tam potens ad priuilegium tam diues fuit ad pretium vs si vniuersit as captiuâ—rum in Red-â—â—ptorem suum crederet nullum planè tyrannica vincula retinerent Leo ferm 7. de passione Dom. greater value then the world And in this part of meditation these circumstances are remarkable first who suffereth 2. what 3. where 4. when 5. why euen that hee might deliuer man from sinne the wrath of God and eternall death and bestow vpon him blessing and euerlasting life for there is one God and one Mediator between God and man euen the man Christ Iesus 1. Timoth. 2. 5. The second spirituall s Lutherus in concione de Christi passione meditanda when we considerately and deeply discusse the impulsiue and small causes of his passion with the effects and fruitfull application thereof which being rightly balanced in our hearts doe represent before our eyes 1. The seueritie and rigour of Gods iustice which Christ perfectly obeying the law and susteyning the punishment due to mankind hath fully satisfied 2. The grieuousnesse of the wrath of God against sinne which could not bee mitigated and appeased but by the bloud and death of his onely begotten sonne the greatnesse of the medicine sheweth the greatnesse of the wound Esay 53. 5. 3. The abundant riches of the mercy and loue of God who so loued the world that he spâ—reâ— not his owne and onely sonne but gaue him for vs all Rom. 8. 32. Ioh. 3. 16. 4. The t Vulâ—era Christi Ciuitates Refugij Fidenter dico quod ex me mihideest Vsurpâ— mihi ex vulneribus Domini Bern. serm 6. in Cant. exceeding loue of the Sonne toward vs who willingly the Dietie resting and not shewing forth it selfe did vndergoe so many miseries and laid downe his soule for our sake Ephes 5. 2. The third exemplarie that we should imitate his vertues obedience toward the Father loue towards his Church huntilitie mildnesse patience faith and hope of endlesse glory as both himselfe and Apostles exhort Matth. 11. 29. Ioh. 13. 14. Phil. 2. 5. 1. Pet. 4. 1. c. THE SEVENTH AND LAST WORD a VVord of Obedience and Deuotion LVKE 23. VER 46. And when Iesus had cryed with a loude voyce he said Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and hauing said thus he gaue vp the Ghost THE ANALYSIS THis is the happy End of Christ his passion and as it were a triumph wherein he doth professe God to bee the faithful keeper of his soule and is the last word hee vttered vpon the Crosse In which two things offer themselues to our consideration the word it selfe and the circumstances thereof The circumstances are partly precedent partly consequent Precedent two one of time when he had cryed the other of the manner how it was pronounced with a loude voyce Subsequent and those twofold first of time hauing saide thus second of an Action following he gaue vp the Ghost The word it selfe in which be obseruable 1. the person commending his soule necessarily implied in the verbe of the first person Christ Iesus I commend 2. the commende if I may frame such a word God Father 3. the thing commonded my spirit 4. the place of keeping that which is committed Into thy hands Or according to the vsuall distribution of circumstances Who what to whom when where And when Iesus had cried with a loude voyce This speech Theophilact calleth a word of freedom wherby he procured liberty for vs taken out of the prison of hell and was not naturall for men who are afflicted with long and grieuous torment drawing neere vnto death doe vsually faint and speake with a languishing and scarce audible voice their strength being consumed and wasted a Barnardus sermone in â—eria 4. hebdomadae penosae To die is great infirmity but to die thus great power he alone could lay downe his soule and take it vp againe Doct. Christ willingly by no constraint dyed Ioh. 10. 17. therefore the Prophet by a peculiar phrase of the Hebrew tongue vnusuall in other languages expresseth the same when hee saith that b Renueâ—herus in 53. caput Esaiae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alexius Rharturus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his soule made it selfe a sacrifice for sinne Esay 53. 20. and in the Gospell commending his loue towards vs he doth it vnder the figuratiue name of Baptisme Luc. 12 20. I haue a c De varia vocabuli Baptismi acceptione Damâ—scenus fidei Orthodox lib 4. cap. 10. Baptisme to be baptized with and how am I strayned vntill it be accomplished thereby manifesting his vehement and earnest desire and therefore foretelleth his Disciples how hee must suffer and goeth vp with them vnto Ierusalem the place appointed for his death Math. 20. 17 If hee would not haue vndergone his d Georgius Wirth de vita Christi ex Euangelijs l. 〈◊〉 cap. 39. passion he might haue auoided it which he foreknew and easily made frustrate all the the plots and vtterly ouerthrowne the power of the Iewes Math. 26. 53. but hee yeelded and therfore first goeth into the garden well known to Iudas the traytor Secondly meeteth his enemies who came to apprehend him thirdly asketh whom they seeke fourthly openeth himselfe vnto them vnknowne before fiftly by his word striketh them to the ground and suffereth them to rise againe sixtly reproueth Peter vsing the sword in his defence seuenthly admitteth not the assistance and protection of Angels which he might haue done eightly exerciseth not his almighty power for his escape and safety which hee shewed in healing of Malchus but suffered himselfe to be taken led away vnto Caiphas and Pilate Ioh. 18. 1. 2. 3. c. For so it e Non ex necessitate passio Christi fuit sed voluntaria neâ— captus est a Iudaeis sed à seipso â—blâ—tus quando vult â—apitur quando vult elabitur quando vult suspenditur quando vult tenetur Ambrosâ—n 4. Lucae was requisite both for the effecting of our iustification Rom. 5. 6. 7. and making the attonement with God 2. Cor. 5. 19. The vse of this doctrine is that we should willingly giue our selues againe to him who gaue himselfe for vs. So Paul I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God that yee present your bodies a liuing sacrifice holy acceptable to God which is your reasonable seruice and be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renuing of your minds that ye may proue what is that good that acceptable and perfect wil of God Rom. 12. 1.
vse and that serueth both for instruction and also for comfort that we alwaies cast our selues vpon God and depend on him For it is blasphemous that the Papists haue done k In Psalterio beaâ—ae Mariae corrupting the words of that Psalme from whence this testimonie is alleged turning them thus O Lady in thy hands I commit my spirit vnderstanding the virgin Mary And let vs not doubt what shall become of vs when we are dead as the Heathen who haue no future hope so l Spartianuâ— in Adrianâ— Adrian the Emperour now at the point of death is reported to haue made these verses Animula vagula blandula Hospes comesque corporis Quae nunc abibis in locae Pallidula rigida nudula Nec vt soles dabis iocos which a Renerend * Doct. King now Bishop of London in his 8. Lecture vpon the Prophet Ionas Prelate of this land thus sometime englished My floting fond poore darling Bodies guest and equall Where now must be thy lodging Pale and starke and stript of all And put from wonted sporting But we be taught by the holy Scriptures that there is a kingdome prepared for vs Matth. 25. 34. and immortalitie purchased by Christ 1. Pet. 1. 4. Therefore let euery one make Dionisius prayer his owne Sweet Lord Iesu thy last word vpon the crosse bee my last word in this life and when my speech is taken away that I can vtter no more words accept the sighs and desire of my heart so that I may rest among those who shall come from the East and from the West and sâ—t down with Abraham Isaac Iacob in the kingdom of heauen Mat. 8. 11. Thirdly we must not listen and giue eare to the patrons and Vse 3. defendors of the apparition of Ghosts and spirits which they themselues first misâ—ed doe imagine that they bee the soules of men departed now broyled in Purgatorie or tormented in hell and would perswade others to enterteine the same error But it is without all controuersie that neither the soules of the godly nor wicked after they bee once dissolued from the body doe wander in earth for there is no returne from death Iob 20. 9. the spirit passeth and commeth not againe Psal 78. 39. and in what place the tree falleth in the same it lyeth Eccles 11. 3. So Dauid answereth the demand of his seruants asking why he mourned not for his young sonne being now dead when hee was before so sorrowfull Can I bring him againe any more I shall goe to him but he shall not returne to me 2. Sam. 12. 23. These visions then and apparitions are nothing else but the deceits and illusions of Sathan m Augustinus de Ciuit. Dei lib. 13. cap. 8. For the soules of the godly are at rest the soules of the wicked in torment vntill the bodies of the one shall rise againe vnto eternall life and of the other vnto euerlasting death Neither of n Tertullianus de Anima their owne accord nor by the commandement of any else doe they wander vp and down but euill spirits practise this craft to faine that they are the soules of the departed and if a o Chrysost in 8. Math. hom 29. serm 4. de Lazaro cry bee heard I am the soule of such an one this Proceedeth from the fraud and treacherie of the deuill For God doth not permit that any one once dead should come again and tell the liuing what things are there done and to this end that we should rather beleeue the Scriptures then any other reports And indeed from hence p Athanasius quaestionibus ad Antiochâ—nos quaest 11. ariseth many grosse errors for the deuils can take vpon them the shape of men and by this meanes spred abroad their lyes Therefore the voices which some say they do hear are nothing els but old wiues fables childish mockeries no smal number wherof haue been deuised by the crafty iugling and q Insigne exemplum de Monachis Aurelianeâ—sibus recitaâ— Sâ—â—idâ—nus lib. 9. 〈◊〉 annum 34. Et alterum Chitraeus de Parocho quodâ—m lib. de vita morte hanc flultitiaÌ„ nimâ—am hominum credulitatem salsè derideâ— Erasmus in Exorcismo siue Spectro similes olim in Pagâ—nis saâ—erdotilus fraudes deprehensas fuisse patefactas refert Theodoretus lib. 5. historiâ— cap. 22. S 〈…〉 plura desideret consulat Aretium problematuÌ„ part 2. loc 146. Titulo de spectras â—auaterum de spectris lemuribus c. cosening impostures of Baals Priests whereof both the records of our owne times and the histories of former ages will afford plentifull examples I conclude therefore with that religious and discreet admonition of Saint Augustine r De vnitate Ecclesiae cap. 16 Let no man say that therefore it is true because hee or shee affirmeth that sleeping or waking they haue seene such and such a vision but remoue farre out of your minds these either forgeries of deceitfull men or wonders of lying spirits Father into thy hands I commit my spirit I commend my spirit that is my soule for the word spirit is oftentimes in Scripture vsed in this sense as Eccles 12. 7. 1. Corinth 2. 11. Heb. 12. 23. and doth aptly expresse the nature thereof that it is spirituall and therefore immortall The soule is not subiect to death neither doth it perish with the s Tertul. de resurrectione carnis Irenaeus lib. 2. cap. 63. 64. 65. Cyprianus de duplici Martyrio Ambrosius de fide resurrectionis cap. 31. 32. Fulgentius ad Mominium lib. 1. Barnardus in 8. versuÌ„ Psal 91. body wherefore they are manifestly distinguished Gen. 2. 7. where Moses thus speaketh The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrels the breath of life and man became a liuing soule In which sentence there bee included three arguments confirming this truth the first the soule is not made of the earth but inspired of God the second that it is called an t Pelargus in locum Phagius in suis ad Paraphrasin Chaldaicam notis Imbreathing a diuine and heauenly thing the third and last in the word of the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 duall number signifying not life but liues long life this present now and the future hereafter Againe when Cain had murthered Abel his bloud is saide to cry vnto God Gen. 4. 10. and the word there vsed in the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Originall is as much as to complaine for exceeding u Martyrium Abelis ad omnia mundi tempora pertinet nostras mentes de animae immortalitate futuro iudicio poenis de vita aeterna conuincit Buchalcherus in Chronologia griefe where there is no mention of the body but the bloud the receptacle of the soule if therefore it doth make complaint then liueth with God and accuseth his vnnaturall brother And so the soules of them that were killed for the
word of God * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and for the testimony which they maintained are said to crie with a loude voyce vnder the Altar for vengeance Reuel 6. 9. 10. Furthermore it is an vsuall phrase in Scripture concerning the dead that they are gathered to their people as of Abraham Gen. 25. 8. and Aaron Numb 20. 24. therefore that people is and liueth for this cannot truely bee affirmed of the bodies laid and rotten in the graues because they bee no people but carkases and so come not to the company and societie of the Saints And for this cause the Iewes call the place of buriall the house of the liuing x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therefore the soules of the faithfull departed doe liue eternally in the sight of God And that testimony of our Sauiour Christ is most pregnant whereby he doth strengthen and comfort his Disciples against the terror and cruelty of persecutors in this sort Feare yee not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soule Math. 10. 28. And beside all this the dead are often in Scripture stiled y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inter mortem somnum ista est 1. Somnus obrepit nescientbus sic mors 2. Somnus quieteÌ„ praestat laboribus mors curis miserijs omnibus 3. Somnus non animaÌ„ sed corpus occupat Mors non animam sedâ— corpus occidit 4. Somnus alijs laeta alijs tristiae offert somnia Mors alijs solatia alijs tormenta 5. Somnus habet â—esurgendiâ—spem mors resuscuandi 6. Somnus recreator est corporum vt TertuluÌ„anus de anima redintegrator virium probator valetudinis pacator operum medicus laborum ita morsrenouat recreat reparat hominem 7. Somnus facile cedit inclamanti mors Christo excitanti Et apud virtusâ— lioguae authores Grecae Latinae Mors somnas appellatur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nam sic Lycophron in Cassandra 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Orpheus in Argonauticis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In Eumenisi Aesehili mortui 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicuntur Callimachus Epigramate 14. 21. Moschus Iudillio 3. Virgilius 10. Aeneid Dura quies ferreus somnus Horatius Carminum lib. 1. 24. Perpetuus sopor sleeping as 2. Sam. 7. 12. 2. Chron. 9. 31. Dan. 12. 2. 1. Corinth 15. ver 18. Iairus daughter Math. 9. 24. of whom it is remarkeable that Saint Luke saith cap. 8. 55. how when Christ raysed her to life her spirite came againe therefore it was not extinguished with the body And Paul desired to be dissolued and to be with Christ Phil. 1. 22. Lastly to conclude our Lord and Sauiour thus reasoneth against the Saduces who denied the resurrection from the dead and the immortality of the soule Math. 22. 32. Those whose God the Lord is by an euerlasting couenant they must also liue euerlastingly for he is not the z Zanchius de operibus creationis Parte 3. lib. 2. cap. 8. Hemingius in Syntagmate loco De statu animae post mortem corporis God of the dead but of the liuing And the reason is for no eternall couenant is made or kept but with those who liue also eternally because if one part of the confederators vtterly perish then the league made cannot be perpetuall but ceaseth For how can it performe that which it hath promised or how can God make his promise good vnto it except he preserue it aliue But God is the God of Abraham Isaacke and Iacob and therefore they liue And so much hitherto of this for it were needles to heape vp many arguments and proofes for confirmation of that whereof no a Est integer liber Augustini de immortalita te animae Aeneae Dialogus de eadem Nicetas in Thesauro lib. 〈◊〉 cap. 16. Christian doubteth much lesse fitting to adde the reasons of Philosphers b Si cui animus sit Philosophorum rationes cognoscere quibus animae immortalitatem confirmant consulant Platonem l. 10. de Repub. l. 10. delegibus â—eiusdem etiam Pheâ—onem Axiochum Apologiam Socratis Ciceronem Quaestionum Tusculan lib. 1. Xenophongem Institutionis Cyri lib. 8. Macrobium Cardani etiam de hac materia Integrum tractatum Marsilium Ficinum Antonij Poli libros septem de veritate animae rationalis ad Gregorium 13. Bodinum in Theatro Naturae among which it cannot bee denied but that some are demonstratiue yet many thorney and hard to bee vnderstood and scarce intelligible euen to those who are most conuersant in their writings Therfore to end with the words of Nemesius c Lib. de natura homini cap. 2. Let the doctrine of the holy Scriptures suffice content vs whose proofe is infalliable because inspired of God This may be a powerfull motiue to stirre vs vp to the practise of holinesse and abstinence from sinne and all vncleannesse knowing that after this life the soule shall returne and be reunited to the body raysed from death and so eyther enioy eternall happinesse or bee tormented with endlesse punishment for there is a double sentence Goe yee cursed into euerlasting fire appointed for the diuell and his angels or Come ye blessed and possesse the Kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world Math. 25. 34. 41. and they shall come forth that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life and they that haue done euill into the resurrection of condemnation Iohn 5. 29. for the vnrighteous shall not inherite the Kingdome of heauen 1. Corinth 6. 9 neyther any vncleane thing enter into the new Ierusalem Reuel 21. 27. And indeed this is the onely or chiefe reason why men runne headlong into all kind of wickednesse and defile themselues with most vile and base vncleannesse because this opinion is deeply setled in their hearts that the soule and the body doe perish together Wisdome 2. v. 3. 4. And by this you may easily iudge what spirit it is by which the Bishops of Rome are led For it is reported of d Grinaeus Leo the tenth that he procured two famous Philosophers to dispute before him the subiect matter of whose discourse was touching the state of the soule after death the one reasoning so strongly as he could for the immortalitie thereof the other against it and the determination being referred to himselfe as the chiefe moderator tooke vp the controuersie with this conclusion that the speech of the former seemed to bee true but the latter better pleasing and made a more cheerefull countenance adding that the old verse of * Redit in nihilum quod fuit ante nihil Cornelius Gallus liked him wel That which sometime nothing was nothing becomes again But wee must hold this for an vnquestionable and vndoubted truth that God is iust rewardeth the righteous and punisheth the wicked For many of them that sleepe in the dust soall awake some to euerlasting life and some to shame and perpetuall contempt Dan. 12. 2. And hauing
our outward estate and dispose therof Thus Christ commended his mother to the care of Iâ—hn the Euangelist by him to bee prouided for And God commandeth Ezechias now sicke to set his house at a stay Esay 58. 2. And this hath alwayes beene the practise of the godly to preuent thereby future inconueniences which might insue as appeareth in Abraham Cen. 25. 5. 6. and Dauid 1. King 1. v. 33. 34. c. 3 Wee must acknowledge and bewayle that time of our life which we haue formerly mispent so did the good theefe not trusting in any works or merites of our owne but craue pardonat Christs hands for all our offences committed It is a righteous confession of Bernard I haue liued wrâ—tchedly forgiue O Lord my transgressions it is sufficient for â—e vnto all righteousnesse to haue thee mercifull against whom I haue sinned And repent speedily life is here eyther lost or gained No repentance is too late so it be true so long as wee continue in this world yet put not off deluded by vain hopes thy conuersion vnto the last breath for why should we appoint that time in which wee are not masters of our owne thoughts 4 Pray feruently Christ out of the 22. Psalme powred forth the complaints of his soule vnto the father And for this cause haue in a readinesse some choice places of Scripture and by continuall meditation make them familiar vnto thee that they may bee helpes and furtherances in stirring vp and kindling thy deuotion Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth Eccles 12. 1 for cursed is he that consecrateth the beautifull flower of his youth vnto the diuell and leaueth the corrupt dregs of old and decaied age for God Hide the commandements of God in thy heart thâ—â— thon sinne not against him Psal 119. 11. The p Gregorius magnus homiliâ— sexta in Ezâ—chielâ—m Word of God sheweth his nature in the reformation of thy life excellency in promises of reward dread fulnesse in terrors of punishment â—t is holy in precepts glorious in promises terrible in threatnings 5 Thirst after the kingdom of God and desire it as the Hart doth the forntaineâ— of water Psal 42. vers 2. For as those who trauell in the night doe long to see the morning arise and the day dawning so the godly wandring in the thicke misty darkenes of the world doe expect with desire that blessed light of which the Prophet In thy light weâ— shall see light Psal 6. v. 9. Wherof they haue some taste in thiâ— life as Peter in mount Tabor Matth. 17. v. 4. and Paul when he was taken vp into the third heauen 2. Cor. 12. v. 4. in that to come we shall behold the things themselues and bee partakers of the ioyes which now are not seene wherein no voyce of mourning shall be heard Esay 65. 19. but God shal wipe all teares from our eyes Reu 22. 4. and Christ our Lord set a crown of glory vpon the heades of his children 1. Pet. 1. 4. Monacha St Augustines q Augustin Conf. l. 9. c. 10. mother discoursing of these the like things with her sonne rauiâ—â—ed by the consideration therof brake forth What doe I here I am delighted with nothing of this life let vs fliâ— let vs flie from hence out of the miseries of this world to the eternall ioyes of heauen 6 When wee are tempted of the diuell let vs oppose against him this Consummatum est of Christ it is finished and driue him baeke with the word It is that rod and staffe by which wee are comforted Psal 23. vers 4. and sword of the spirite Ephes 6. 17. with which wee may fight prosperouslie against sinne and Sathan and a shield to those that trust in the Lord Prou. 30. 5. 7 Resigne thy soule to God and die in the middest of humble and hearty prayers As they who desire to sleepe quietly procure themselues a bed of soft feathers euen so those who would haue an happy departure out of this life and rest sweetly in Christ must be frequent and continually exercised in prayer Lord Iesus saith Stephen receiue my spirite c. and he fell a sleepe Act. 7. 60. And Polycarpus standing at the stake ready to be consumed to ashes giueth God hearty thanks that vouchsafed to make him worthy to suffer death for his sake Iohn Hus ledde forth to the place of his Martyrdome yeelded his blessed soule with these words Iesu thou Sonne of God who didst suffer for vs haue mercy vpon me It is reported of the Emperour r Gulielmus Zenocharus de vite Charâ—li 5. lib. 5. Charles the fift that a little before his death he had cominually in his month that of the Prophet In thee O Lord haue I put my trust let mee not bee confounded deliuer me in thy righteousnesse Into thy hands I commend my spirit thou hast redeemed me O God of truth And let vs all continue in prayer and supplications and sende Ioachimus Aâ—eust in Postilla libelle peculiari de Artc â—â—oriâ—ndâ— conscripte forth vnto God the sighes of sorrowfull and contrite heartes These are the heauenly weapons the spirituall defences and the diâ—iâ—â— Armour FINIS AMa amorem illius oui amore tui amoris descendit in vterum virginis ibi amorem suum amori tuo copulanitâ— humiliando se sublimando te coniungendo lumen suae aeternit at is limo tuae mortalitatis Augustinus de catechizandis rudibus MEditatio Dominicae passionis praecellit omnia mundi huius exercitia si cum deuotionis intimae feruore fuerit continuata conscientiam meditant is purificaet intellectum in omni cogitatione verit at is illuminat affectum in Dei amorem suauiter inflammat facit omnia huius mundi oblectamenta contemnere nulla quantumlibet dura vel contraria formidare libidinem exterminat luxuriam tam ment is quam corporis edomat invidiam fugat gulam refrenat auaritiam sedat acediam inflammat iram mitigat superbiam radicit us extirpat Mentem denique quam passio Christi veraciter occupat nulla rei carnalis passio fatigat Tritemius in Operibus spiritualibus homil 16. de Quadragesimae jejunio HOdie crux sixa est seculum sanctificatum est Hodiâ— crux fixa est Daemones dispersi sunt Hodie crux fixa est mors subuersa est Hodie crux vicit mors victa est Hodie Diabolus vinctus est homo solutus Deus glorificatus est Augustinus in sermone de Parasceue FINIS