Sermons Upon all the Sunday Gospels, Sermon 29
The Sonday next before Easter, cōmonly called Palme sondaye. ¶The Gospell. Math. xxvi.
AND it came to passe, when Iesus hadde finished all these sayinges, he sayd vntounto his Disciples: Ye knowe that after two dayes shalbe Easter and the sonne of man shall bee delyuered ouer to be crucified. Then assembled together the chief Priestes and the Scribes and the elders of the people, vntounto the Palace of the high Priest (whiche was called Caiphae) and healde a Counsell, that they myght take Iesus by subtiltie and kill hym. But they said: not on the holy day, lest there be an vprore amonge the people. When Iesus was in Bethanie in the house of Symon the Leapor, there came vntounto hym a woman, hauynge an Alabaster boxe of precious oyntment and powred it on his head as he sat at the boorde. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignatiō saying: Wherto serueth this wast? This oyntment might hauehave ben well sold, and geuen to the poore. When Iesus vnderstode that, he sayd vntounto them: Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wroughte a good woorke vppon me. For ye hauehave the poore alwayes with you, but me ye shall not hauehave alwayes. And in that she hath caste this oyntment on my body, she did it to bury me. Ueryly I say vntounto you: Wher so euer this Gospell shalbe preached in all the worlde, there shall also this be tolde that she hath done, for a memoriall of her. Then one of the twelue (whiche was called Iudas Iscarioth) wente vntounto the chefe Priestes, and sayde vntounto them? What wyll ye geue me, and I wyll delyuer hym vntounto you? And they appointed vntounto hym .xxx. pieces of syluer. And from that tyme foorth he sought oportunitie to betraye hym. The first daye of sweete bread, the disciples came to Iesus, saying to him: Where wylt thou that we prepare for thee to eate the Passeouer? And he sayde: Goo into the Citie to suche a man, and say vntounto hym: The master saith, my tyme is at hande, I wyll kepe my Easter by thee with my disciples. And the disciples dyd as Iesus hadde appoynted them, and they made redy the Passeouer. When the euen was come, he sat downe with the twelue. And as they dyd eate, he sayde: Ueryly I saye vntounto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceadynge sorowfull, and beganne eueryevery one of them to saye vntounto hym: Lorde is it I? He aunswered and sayd, he that dyppeth his hande with me in the dyshe, the same shall betraye me. The sonne of man truely goeth as it is writen of hym: but wo vntounto that man by whom the sonne of man is betrayed it hadde bene good for that man yf he had not bene borne. Then Iudas, whiche betrayed hym, aunswered and sayde: Master, is it I? He sayd vntounto him: thou hast sayde. And when they were eating, Iesus toke bread, and when he had geuen thanks, he brake it, & gaue it to the disciples, and said: Take, eate, this is my body And he toke the cup & thanked, & gaue it to them saying: Drynk ye all of this, for this is my bloud (whiche is of the new Testament) that is shed for many, for the remission of sinnes. But I say vntounto you, I will not drinke hense forth of this fruite of the vine tree, vntyll that daye when I shall drinke it newe with you in my fathers kyngdom. And when they had sayde grace, they went out vntounto mount Oliuete. Then saide Iesus vntounto them: All ye shalbe offended because of me this night. For it is writtene: I wyll smyte the shepherd, & the shepe of the flock shalbe scattered abrode: but after I am risen again, I wil go before you into Galile, Peter answered and saide vntounto hym: Thoughe all men be offended because of thee, yet wyll I not be offended. Iesus saide vntounto hym: Uerily I saye vntounto thee, that in this same night, befor the Cocke crowe, thou shalte denye me thryse. Peter saide vntounto hym, yea though I shoulde dye with thee, yet wyll I not denye thee, lykewyse also sayde all the disciples. Thenne came Iesus with theym vntounto a farme place (whiche is called Gethsemane) and sayde vntounto the Disciples: Sytte ye here whyle I go and praye yonder. And he tooke with hym Peter, and the two sonnes of Zebede, and beganne to waxe sorowfull and heauye. Then saide Iesus vntounto them: My soule is heauye euen vntounto the deathe. Tary ye heare, and watche with me. And he wente a littell farther, and felle flatte on his face, and praied, sayinge: O my father, if it be possible, let this cuppe passe from me: neuerthelesse, not as I will, but as thou wilte. And he came vntounto the Disciples, and founde them a slepe, and sayde vntounto Peter: What, coulde ye not watche with me one houre? Watche and praye that ye enter not into temptation. The spirite is willyng, but the fleshe is weake. He wente awaye ones again & praied saying: O my father, if this cup may not passe away from me, except I drinke of it, thy wyl be fulfylled. And he came and found them a sleepe agayne, for theyr eyes were heauye. And he left them, and wente agayne and prayed the thirde tyme, saying the same wordes. Then commethe he to his disciples, and sayde vntounto them: Sleepe on nowe and take your rest. Behold the houre is at hande, and the sonne of man is be trayede into the handes of sinners. Ryse, let vsus be goyng, beholde he is at hande that doth betray me. Whyle he yet spake, loe Iudas one of the number of the twelue came, and with hym a greate multitude with swordes and staues, sent from the chief Priests and elders of the people. But he that betrayed hym, gaue them a token, saying: Who soeuer I kysse, the same is he, holde hym faste. And forthe with he came to Iesus and sayde: Hayle Maister, and kyssed hym. And Iesus sayd vntounto hym: Frend wherfore art thou come? Then came they and layde handes on Iesus, and toke hym. And beholde, one of them whiche were with Iesus, stretchede out his hande and drewe his sworde, and stroke a saruaunt of the hye Priestes, and smote of his eare. Then saide Iesus vntounto hym: Put vp thy sword into the sheathe, for all they that take the sworde, shall perysh with the sword. Thinkest thou that I can not now pray to my father, and he shall geue me euene nowe more then twelue legions of Angels? But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfylled? For thus muste it be. In the same houre sayde Iesus to the multitude: Ye be come out as it were to a thiefe with swordes and staues for to take me. I sat dayly with you teachyng in the Temple, and ye toke me not. But all this is done that the Scriptures of the Prophetes myght be fulfylled. Then all the Disciples forsoke him and fled. And they toke Iesus and led him to Caiphas the hye priest, where the Scribes and the Elders wer assembled. But Peter folowed him afarre of vntounto the hie priests palace, & went in, and sat with the seruants to se the end. The chief priests and Elders, and all the counsel sought false witnes against Iesus) for to put hym to death) but founde none, yea when many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two fals witnesses, and sayd: This felowe said, I am able to destroy the Temple of God, and to buyld it agayn in thre daies. And the chief priest arose, and said vntounto him: Answerest thou nothing? Why doo these beare witnes against thee? But Iesus held his peace. And the chief Priest answe, red and said vntounto hym: I charge thee by the liuynge God, that thou tell vsus whether thou be Christ the sonne of God? Iesus said vntounto hym, Thou hast said. Neuerthelesse I saye vntounto you, herafter shal ye se the sonne of man sytting on the right hande of power, and commynge in the cloudes of the skye. Then the hye Priest rent his clothes, saying: He hath spoken blasphemye, what nede we of any more wytnesses? Behold nowe ye hauehave heard his blasphemie, what thynke ye? They aunswered and sayde: Hee is woorthye to dye. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted hym with fistes. And other smote hym on the face with the palme of their handes, saying: Tell vsus thou Christ, who is he that smote thee? Peter sate without in the Court, and a damosel came to hym, sayinge: Thou also wast wyth Iesus of Galilee. But hee denyed before them all, saying: I wote not what thou sayest. When he was gone out into the Porche, an other wenche sawe hym, and sayde vntounto the… that were there: Thys fellowe was also wyth Iesus of Nazareth. And agayn he denyed with an othe, sayinge: I do not know the man. After a whyle came vntounto hym they that stoode by, and said vntounto Peter: Surely thou art euen one of them, for thy speeche bewrayeth thee. Then beganne he to curse and to sweare that he knewe not the man. And immediatlye the Cocke crewe, and Peter remembred the woorde of Iesu, whiche sayd vntounto hym: Before the Cocke crowe, thou shalt denye me thryse: and he wente out, and wept bytterly. When the mornyng was come, all the chiefe Priestes and Elders of the people healde a Councelle agaynste Iesus, to put him to death, and broughte him bounde, and deliuered him vntounto Pontius Pilate the deputie. Then Iudas (whiche hadde betraied him, seing that he was condemned, repented hym selfe and broughte againe the .xxx. plates of siluer to the chiefe Priestes and Elders, sayinge: I hauehave synned, betrayinge the Innocent bloode. And they saide: What is that to vsus? See thou to that. And he caste downe the syluer plates in the Temple, and departed, and wente and hanged hymselfe. And the chiefe Priestes tooke the siluer plates and saide: It is not lawfull for to put them into the treasure, because it is the price of bloode. And they tooke counsel, and bought with them a potters field to bury strangers in. Wherefore the fielde is called Acheldema, that is the fielde of bloud, vntill this day. Then was fulfilled that whiche was spoken by Hieremye the Prophete, sayinge: And they toke .xxx. siluer plates, the price of him that was valued, whome they boughte of the children of Israell, and gaue them for the Potters fielde, as the Lorde appoynted me. Iesus stode before the Deputie, and the deputie asked him, sayinge: Art thou the kinge of the Iewes? Iesus said vntounto hym: Thou sayest. And when hee was accused of the chiefe Priestes and Elders, he aunswered nothinge. Then saide Pylate vntounto hym: Hearest thou not howe many witnesses they laye against thee? and he aunswered him to neuer a worde, in somuche that the Deputie meruailed greatly. At that feast, the Deputie was wont to deliuer vntounto the people a prisoner, whom they would desire. He had then a notable prisoner called Barrabas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pylate sayde: Whether wyll ye that I geue lose vntounto you Barrabas, or Iesus whiche is called Christ? For he knew that for enuy thei had deliuered him When he was set downe to geue iudgement, his wife sent vntounto him, saying: hauehave thou nothing to do with that iust mā: for I hauehave suffred this day many things in my slepe because of him. But the chief Priests & Elders persuaded the people that they should aske Barrabas, and destroy Iesus. The deputie answered and said vntounto them: Whether of the twaine wil ye that I let lose vntounto you? They said Barrabas. Pilate said vntounto them: what shall I do then with Iesus, that is called Christ? They all said vntounto him: let him be crucified. The deputie said: What euil hath he done? But they cried more, saying: Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw yt he coulde preuaile nothing, but that more busynes was made, he toke water, and washed his handes before the people, saying: I am innocent of the bloud of this iust person, se ye. Then answered all the people, and said: His bloud be on vsus, & on our childrē. Then let he Barrabas loose vntounto thē, and scourged Iesus, and deliuered him to be crucified Then the souldiors of the deputie toke Iesus into the cōmon hal, and gathered vntounto him all the cōpany, and they stripped him, and put on him a purple robe, and platted a crowne of thornes, and put it vponupon his head, and a reed in his right hande, and bowed the knee before hym, and mocked hym, sayinge: Haile kyng of the Iewes, And whenne they hadde spytte vppon him, they tooke the reede, and smote hym on the head. And after that they hadde mocked hym, they tooke the roabe of hym agayne, and putte hys owne rayemente on hym, and ledde hym away to crucify hym. And as they cam out, they found a manne of Cyrene (named Symon) hym they compelled to beare hys Crosse. And they camme vntounto the place, whyche is called Golgotha (That is to say, a place of dead mennes skulles) and gaue hym vineger myngled with gaulle to drynke. And whenne he hadde tasted thereof, he woulde not drynke. Whenne they hadde crucifyed hym, they parted hys garmentes, and dydde caste lottes that it myghte bee fulfylled, whyche was spoken by the Prophete: They parted my garmentes amonge theym. and vppon my vesture dydde they caste lottes. And they satte and wacched hym there, and sette vp ouer hys head the cause of his deathe written: Thys is Iesus kynge of the Iewes. Then were the twoo theeues crucifyed wyth hym, one on the ryghte hande, and an other on the lefte. They that passed by, reuyled hym, waggynge theyr heades, and sayinge: Thou that destroyedst the Temple of God, and dyddest buylde it in three dayes, saue thy selfe. If thou bee the sonne of GOD, come downe frome the Crosse. Lykewyse also the hye Priestes mockynge hym wyth the Scrybes and Elders, sayde: He saued other, hym selfe he can not saue. If he bee the Kynge of Israell, lette hym nowe comme downe from the Crosse, and we wyll beleue hym. Hee trusted in God, lette hym delyuer hym nowe yf he wyll hauehave hym. For hee sayde: I am the sonne of GOD. The thieues also, whych were crucified with hym, caste the same in hys teethe. Frome the sixthe hower was there darkenesse ouer all the land, vntyll the nynthe hower. And aboute the nynthe hower, Iesus cryed wyth a lowde voyce, sayinge: Ely, Ely, lamasabathany, That is to saye: My God, my God, why haste thou forsaken me? Some of them that stode there, when they hearde that, sayde: Thys manne callethe for Helias. And streyghte waye one of them ronne and toke a spunge, and whenne he hadde fylled it full of vineger, hee putte it on a reede, and gaue hym to drynke. Other sayde, Lette bee, lette vsus see, whether Helias wylle come and delyuer hym. Iesus whenne hee hadde cryed agayne wyth a lowde voyce, yealded vp the ghoste. And beholde, the vayle of the Temple dydde rent in two partes, frome the toppe to the bottome, and the earthe dydde quake, and the stones rente, and graues dydde open, and manye bodyes of Sainctes whiche slepte, arose and wente out of the graues after hys Resurrection, and came into the holye Citie, and appered vntounto many. When the Centurion, and they that were wyth hym watchynge Iesus, sawe the earthequake, and those thynges, whiche hapned, they feared greately, saying: Truly this was the sonne of GOD. And many women were there, beholdyng hym a farre of whyche folowed Iesus frome Galilee, mynistryng vntounto hym: amonge which, was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Iames and Ioses, and the mother of Zebedes children.
THE EXPOSITION.
THIS daye is redde in the Churche, as ye hauehave hearde, the storye of the paynefull Passyon and dreadefulle death of our most louynge Lorde and swete Sauioure Iesus Christe. And although the passion of Christ oughte at all tymes and eueryevery daye,By the passion and deathe of Christ we are deliuered frome the power of Satā. dylygentely to bee remembred of vsus, and of eueryevery Christian, seyng it is that onelyonly and alone precious treasure, whereby wee are delyuered and sette at lybertie frome all the power of helle, from Sathan, synne, deathe, damnation. &c. yet the aunciente Fathers of Christes churche in tymes paste hauehave well prouyded, that we shold hauehave eueryevery yeare a certayne peculiar tyme appoynted for this purpose, in the whyche we myght doo and exercise this eyther priuately or publykely. For by this meanes shall the Passion of Christ be the more dilygently inculked and beaten into the youthe, and also bee the more surelye engraffed in the memorie of the Elder sorte of people. Nowe, forasmuch as the Passion of Christe hathe in tymes paste ben meruaylouslye abused by vayne meditations and cogitations of superstitious and ignorant hypocrites, we wyl at this present leaue all suche vanitie, and declare howe the passion and deathe of CHRIST oughte trewely and profytablye to bee consydered, weyghed, and pondered, vntounto oure synguler consolation and comforte, and also vntounto the amendement of our lyfe and conuersation. Thys shall bee brought to passe, if wee dilygentlye expende, weyghe, ponder, and consyder these principall poyntes followynge.The contētes of this sermō.
Fyrst what the Passion of Christe is.
Secondly, what prouoked and moued hym to suffer thys Passion.
Thirdly, how Christ bothe outwardly and inwardlye suffered.
Fourthly, what fruite and profite he hath procured and gotten for vsus by his Passion.
Fyrst, the passion of Christ is none other thing, then an vnmeasurable dolour, sorowe, torment and payne,What the passion of Christ is. whiche he of a singular & vnoutspekable louelove toward vsus for our synnes, that hee myghte purge them, and vtterly put them away thorow his satisfaction) outwardly in his body, and inwardly in his soule susteined and suffered, tyll at the laste he died on the crosse: which shalbe opened & declared more playnly herafter. Secondly,The causes that moued Christ to suffer. there are fyue causes, that moued Christ to suffer his most dolorous and peinful passion. The first is, our synne, which could none otherwise be clensed purged, and put away but only by the passion & death of Christ. The second cause is, the greate and vnoutspeakable charitie, louelove, and fauor, that Christ and his heauenly father bore toward vsus men, whiche charitie coulde not abyd, that we shoulde perishe and be damned in our synnes. The third cause is, the euerlastyng councell and prouidence of God, wherwith he determyned by this meanes to shewe his louelove, and to deliuer mankynde frome synne.Gen. 3. The fourthe cause is the trewe and faithfull promise whiche he made in tymes paste. Oute of the whiche afterwarde foloweth the blyndnes and indignation of the Iewes, whiche is the fyfte cause.
As touchyng the fyrst cause, I mean our synne, the holy Prophete Esaie speaketh on this maner:The fyrst… cause. He was wounded euen vntounto the death for our synnes, and broken on pieces for our wickednesses.Esa. 53. In these wordes the Prophete declarech, wherfore Christ was so euyll handled, and so greuously punished, verily not for his owne synne. For he is the onelyonly begotten and derely beloued sonne of God, which neuer committed synne, neither was there euer found any guyle in his mouth.1. Pet. 2. yea for our synne, for thyn and myne iniquitie was he wounded and broken on peces. Therfore saith the prophet: For our sinne. Now that he saith (Our) that is, for the synne of all men did he suffer and die. For whē he had ones takē vponupon him our infirmities & diseases, then must he also die for our sinnes and wickednesses,Esa. 53. as the prophete saith in the afore recited chapter, the Lord hath laid the iniquitie of vsus all vponupon hym. And a lytle after the prophete speaking in the person of God, sayth: For the synne of my people hauehave I striken and smitten him. And in the ende of this chapter he saieth: He bare the synnes of many, and paide for transgressors. Dauid in like maner complaineth in a certayne Psalm, and speaking in the person of Christ saith: The rebukes of them whiche rebuked thee (he meaneth the heuenly father) fell on me.Psal. 69. And a litle afore: I paid the things that I neuer toke, We hauehave greuously offended God, dishonored his holy name, and greatly obscured his glorie. All this must Christ pay satisfie & make amendes for it:1. Pet. …. Therfore saith Peter in his fyrst Epistle: Christ suffred ones for our synnes, the iuste for the vniust. Herof doth it folow, that not only the Iewes whiche lyued at that tyme, neither the souldiors, nor yet Pilate, Herode. &c. are gilty of the passion and deth of Christe,Rom. 3. but also all sort of vsus, whyche all without exception hauehave synned. For, for Oure synnes was CHRIST slayne and nayled on the Crosse. Neyther are wee better thenne they that crucified hym. Althoughe that the Iewes dydde not knowe hym as the sonne of GOD, otherwyse they would not hauehave crucified the Lorde of glorye: yet for all that, euen of very malyce and enuie agaynst hym,…. Cor. 3. they layde hand on hym as a gyltlesse manne, accused hym, and flewe hym. But he hadde neuer come to that poynte, if our synnes had not ben: for the whyche hee was stryken,Esa. 3. wounded and slayne. So lykewise made we hym to serue in oure synnes,Our syn was the cause of Christs deth. and through hym much sorow with our iniquities. Therefore lette vsus no more bee angrye with that myserable caytife Iudas, Pylate, Herode, Cayphas, Annas. &c. as the maner heretofore hathe bene: yea rather, lette eueryevery man be angrye wyth him selfe, accuse hym selfe, and impute the fault to hym selfe, as vntounto hym, whych for his synnes dyd cast Christ that innocent lamb of God into this most horrible and intollerable payne.
Te seconde cause is, the excedynge great charitie,The seconde cause. louelove, and mercye of GOD, whyche he shewed vntounto vsus miserable men & wicked synners without any merite or desert on our behalfe,Rom. 8. wherwyth the heauenly Father beyng prouoked, spared not only his begoteen sonne, as Sainct Paule sayth, but for vsus delyuered him vp euen vntounto death.1. Iohn. 4. This declareth Saint Iohn in his Epistle, saying: In this thyng hath the louelove of God appeared, that he sente his onelyonly begotten sonne into the worlde, that we myght lyue thorough hym In thys is louelove, not that we loued God, but that he loued vsus, and sent his sonne to make satisfaction for oure synnes. And Christe hym selfe saythe:Iohn. 3. GOD hathe so derely loued the worlde, that he hath geuen hys onelyonly begotten sonne, to the ende, that all that do beleue in hym, shoulde not peryshe, but hauehave lyfe euerlastynge. Thys Charytie and LoueLove moued CHRIST alsoo to obeye hys Father in thys behalfe, so that he came down into this world, and toke oure synnes vponupon hym as the Prophete Esaie saeith: In his louelove and in his fauour hath he redemed them.Esa. 63. Rom. 5. And S. Paule saith: God setteth forth his louelove meruailously towarde vsus in this, that when we were yet synners, Christ dyed for vsus. And Christ hym self saith, No man hath a greater louelove then thys,Iohn. 15. that a manne shoulde geue his lyfe for his frendes. Of these places of the holy scripture tofore alledged, it appeareth euidently, that the seconde cause of the death of Christ is, the louelove of God towarde all mankynde, whome oure miserable and wretched state, did so greatly moue and strike with tender compassion, that he sent his onelyonly begotten Sonne (whyche also of very louelove towarde man,Philip. 2. obeyed hys fathers wyll, euen vntounto the deathe, the moste ignominious and spitefull death of ye crosse) into this worlde, and gaue hym ouer into the handes of synners, that he by his death and passion myght delyuer vsus from euerlasting death & damnation. Wherof we may learne to louelove one an other, and so to bee mynded one to an other, as Christe was mynded towarde vsus.…. Epistle. 5. Of this thyng dothe S. Iohn admonyshe and teache vsus in his Epistle, where he saieth: In this hauehave we knowen louelove, that he gaue his lyfe for vsus, & we ought to geue our liues for our brethren. Paule also in his epistle to the Philippians, exhorteth vsus, that after the examples of Christ we shold humble our selues, and serue one an other, euen as Christ serued vsus.
The thirde cause is, the euerlastynge councelle and prouidence of God,Acts. 2. which by his vnoutspeakable wisdome, determined from euerlastynge to delyuer mankynd by the death of his sonne, before the world was made, as Peter in his sermon testifieth, wher he after many wordes of the crucifying of Christ, saith thus: Hym (Christ) hauehave ye taken by the handes of vnrighteous persōs, after he was deliuered by ye determinate councel, & foreknowledge of god, and hauehave crucified & slayne him. And Christe himselfe in the gospell telleth aforehande in many places, & geueth his disciples forewarning, how that this passion & death shal chaunce and comme vntounto him by the euerlasting councell and decree of his heauenly father,Iohn. 16. as he said also vntounto Pilate: Thou shouldest hauehave no power at all ouer me, excepte it were geuen thee from aboue.
The fourth cause is the faith and trueth of God.The iiii cause For when this councel was determined from euerlasting, then god wold not hauehave it kept in secret, but did make open the same before, many times: and promised that Sauiour in many places of scripture by his holy Prophetes, as S. Paule testifieth in his epistles. This promes wolde god as ye euerlasting truth performe,Rom. 1. & according to his promes sende the Sauiour, suffer him to be crucifyed and slaine, as witnesseth. S. Peter in ye Chronicle of ye Apostles actes writtē by blessed. Luke God, saith he, hath performed those thinges,Act. 3. whiche he before declared by the mouth of all his Prophetes. That Christe should suffer &c. Christe also speaketh thus after his resurrection with the two Disciples, that were iourneying towarde Emaus: It was necessarie, that all thinges shoulde be fulfilled,Luk. 24. that are written of me in the lawe of Moises, in the Prophetes, & in the Psalmes. What testimonies there are of the passion of Christ in the scriptures of the olde Testament, ye may easelye see in the Euāgelicall historie of the passion & death of Christe, whiche I wolde wyshe you diligentlye to note for the confirmation of your faith in this behalfe.
The last cause is the induration or excecation andThe .v. cause. blyndnes of ye Iewes which thorow their great cōtumacie & stubburnes, & thorow their impenitēcie or vnrepētaūt heart, being forsaken of god, were punished, & blinded yt they should heare and not vnderstād, that they should see with their eyes and discerne nothynge,Esa. 5. Iohn. 12. Act. 28. as it is written in the scriptures. By this meanes they flewe the sonne of God, and so prouoked the fyerce vengeance and hote wrath of God against them, as the Apostle sayth: The wrath of God is comme on them,…. These. 2. euen to the vttermost.
For althoughe God from euerlastinge had determined that his sonne Christ shoulde suffer and dye, and it could none otherwise be, but as God had before decreed, yet were not the Iewes excused. For they founde no cause of death in hym.Act. 13. And although they did not know, that he was the sonne of God, yet they knewe this for a certentie, that he was a godly and innocent man, whome they of mere enuye and malice slewe, as Pilate againste hym selfe testified this, saying: I fynde no cause of death in hym. Therfore they sought an other thyng,Iohn. 19. then god did, whiche appointed his Sonne to suffer and to dye, that he by his sufferance and death myghte deliuer them that beleue, from synne, death, deuill and hell, and that he by his resurrection myght be glorifyed, and become of moste worthie renoume. But Satan with his mēbers, the Scribes and Phariseyes sought an other thyng, euen to slea Christe, to bringe Christ to shame, and vtterly to roote hym out of remembraunce, both hym and his doctrine, that there might be no more mention made of hym. And so the wicked Iewes thorow their enuie, their blinded heart, and their vngracious coūcel executed contrary to theyr wyll and deuice, the decree and determination of the heauenly father, wherby thorowe the merciemercy of (Christ dying for them) health and saluation chaunced to so many as beleue. Yea the vugodlye Iewes worthelye blynded, were deceaued of their purpose, and aduaunced Christ (whome they determined vtterly to destroye) vntounto glorie, as it is written: The Lorde bringeth the councell of the heathen to naughte,Psal. 33. and maketh the deuices of the people to be of none effect. But the councell of the Lorde shall endure for euer, and the thoughtes of his hearte from generation to generation.
When we earnestlye consider these causes, then shall we see, how miserable and damnable synners we are, verely euen suche, as coulde none otherwise be saued, but only by Christe, so that for vsus and for our saluation he muste neees dye, yea and that the most ignominious and spitefull death of the crosse. Again, we shall see the moste brenninge heart and incomparable fyre of the louelove of our heauēly father and of his sonne Christ, which hauing no regard to our synnes, nor yet that we were his enemies, died for vsus, that we shold not perishe in our synnes.
Moreouer we see, how faithfull and true god is,God performeth what so euer he promiseth. and that all his wordes and promises will take place and procede against all the violence, force, power, strength, crafte and suttiltie of the deuill and the worlde, and that heauen and earthe shall sonner fall, perishe and cōme to naughte, then one iote or title of gods worde shalbe founde vntrue and false. By the first we learne of the lawe,Synne haynous in the sighte of God. howe greate and horrible a thynge synne is before the eyes of Gods maiestie, for the abolishing wherof, the onelyonly and innocent sonne of God must be scourged, and dye so bytter, ignominious and spiteful death, yea and that onelyonly to take awaye other mennes synnes. By the second we learne the Gospell and the louing, gentle, and mercifull hearte of GOD toward vsus, whiche for vsus & for our saluation sent his only begotten sonne that incomparable treasure into this world, and suffred him to be nayled on the crosse. By the third we learne assuredly to truste and beleue the promise of God, and not to feare the vngodly and wicked persecutours, forasmuche as we see, that he hath so faithfully and so abundantly performed by his sonne all that euer he promised. Again, he hath confounded and brought to shame the deuill and all his children of this worlde, and hath made frustrate and voyde all their deuices, councels and imaginations, in so muche that where as they thought with this their worke vtterly to kyl, confounde and extinguish Christ, they hauehave moste of all aduaunced Christe vntounto his great honour and glorie, and by this meanes brought to passe, that all the faithfull shall receaue saluation by this crucified Christe. For howe could Satan and the stifnecked Phariseyes thincke, that Christ by death vntounto life, by buriall vntounto resurrection, by ignominie and contempt vntounto glorie and honoure, shoulde be brought, and made king and ruler ouer all creatures both in heauen and in earth? But mightie is the lorde our God to performe his promise, and to confounde the worlde with his God the deuill, as he both doth and shall do euen vntounto the very ende of the worlde. But now followeth the third thing,Of Christes Paynes both Inwardlye & outwardly. which we ought to consider about the passion of Christ. This is howe great paine and affliction Christe suffered inwardly & outwardly. Of ye externall passion & outward suffring we hauehave abundantly in the Euāgelical history, where we rede, how he was taken, be spitted, whypped, beaten, crowned with thornes, and at the last crucifyed & put to death. Of the inwarde passion and suffrynge, that he had in his hearte and conscience, when he must striue with death, which was before his eyes, hell and deuill, Luke writeth in his gospell on this maner:Luc. 22. he was in an agonie, and prayed the longer, & his sweat was lyke droppes of blood, tricklynge downe to the grounde. Of the whiche wordes the excedyng greate horror and torment, whiche Christ suffered in his conscience, may be estemed and iudged, and how horrible the sight of death, of sinne, which he toke on him, of hel and deuil was before hym, seing that his sweate contrary to al reason of nature was bluddye, and so came from hym: Againe, in that the cōfortour & creatour of all the worlde was cast into such necessitie & feare, that his father sent an Angel vntounto him for to conforte him, as Luke in the aforesaid place doth also testifye. That stryffe of death is fearefull beyond all measure, and taketh awaye all strength of nature, as we see in condemned persons, whiche are sodenlye taken to be put vntounto death. What a meruelous torment & anger appeareth there in them, til nature hath made her selfe captiue to death, so that the payne and death it selfe may iustly seme to be nothyng in comparison of that great agonie, trouble and feare? How excedyng greate & vnmeasurable it was in Christe, his bloudy sweate that came from him doth manifestly declare, whiche thing was neuer done nor hearde of any other. This calamitie and fearefulnes was afterwarde wonderfully encreased, when he hanging vponupon the crosse was forsaken of all his disciples & frendes: again, mocked, scorne and spitefully rayled on of his enemyes, in somuche that he being in suche an agonie, cried out vntounto his heauenly father, sayinge: O my god, O my God, why hast thou forsakē me? wherof we may rede more at large in the xxij. Psalme of Dauid. In the whiche psalme the Prophete hath exactly painted & set forth the bytter complaintes and the afflicted conscience of Christe miserable and forsaken:Psalm. 22. where also thou shalt fynde in what angore and affliction he was for our synnes. And here let vsus lerne (as we sayde before) the highe hatred, greate displeasure, and extreme wrathe, that God beareth against synne, in so muche that because of that he woulde not spare his only begotten and dearely beloued son, nor yet forgeue him, seinge he toke vponupon him the cause of other mens sins, as we may see in the Prophete Esaye. And S. Paule sayeth:Esa. 53. Rom. 8. He spared not his onelyonly begotten sonne. This signified Christ also, when he spake to the women on this wise: If they do this in a moyste tree, what shall be done in a seare & drie tree? As though he should say: Learne of me,Luke. 22. whiche beare other mens syns, and in my selfe am innocent, righteous and holy, what punishmentes ye hauehave deserued, and what shall chaunce vntounto you, which by nature are synners and wycked, & can do nothing that good is. Therfore Christ warneth the women to wepe vponupon thē selues, which with their sinnes had deserued that payne and punishment, that he nowe must suffer. In consideration wherof s. Peter sayth:1. Pet. 4. If the righteous shall scaslye be saued, where shall the sinner & the vngodly appeare? for God hath here plainly and euidētly set forth before our eyes in Christ his anger, wrath & displeasure against sinne, seinge that he suffred the highe goodnes, innocencie, wisedome iustice, euen his onelyonly begotten sonne to to cōme because thereof into extreme pouertie, paine, contempt, & ignominie, as though he were ye greatest enemie that god hath, & suche one as is not worthy to liue on the groūd. yea god did so shew him self toward him, as thoughe he had geuen him ouer for euer & euer & wold neuer after be reconciled vntounto him, as Christe miserablye complaineth in the xxij. psalme. And al this came to passe for other mens sinnes, whiche Christe tooke vponupon him. O how horribly shal god auenge sins in them, that naturally are prone and bent vntounto sinne,Synners. and cane none otherwise then sinne and do wickedly seing he declared this so seuerely in his sonne, in whō notwithstanding he had a singuler delight and great pleasure? O howe greuously shall he punishe them,Math. 3.17. whiche confesse not their sinnes, yea whiche wilbe counted holye and righteous, and wyl by no meanes receaue Christe to be their sufficient Sauiour and perfecte redemer to purge and put away their sinnes,Hippocrites. but will rather cleaue to their owne righteousnes, to their owne workes, and to the merites an intercessiōs of other? Therfore let all true and faithfull Christians diligently cōsider this matter, and with all study and labour beware of sinne and of the wrath of god, seing it coste the sonne of God the price of his lyfe, seinge also that for the aduoydinge of the same he was enforced to suffer most greuous payne, greate & bytter sorowe, and at the laste the moste ignominious and shamefull death of the crosse, that by this meanes he mighte apeace the wrath of GOD kyndled againste man for synne, delyuer man from synne, reconcile man to his heauenly father, and make him enheritour of euerlasting glorie.
Fourthly let vsus consider the fruites and profites of the passion and death of Christ. For this is our ioye and comforte,The fruites of Christes passiō & death. verely as they be greate, so are they infinite and innumerable, if they were diligently and at large wayghed, pondered, and considered, for Christe is that true wheat corne,Iohn. 12. wherof he himselfe speaketh in the Gospell of Iohn, sayinge: verely verely I saye vntounto you, except the wheate corne fall into the groūde, & die, it abideth alone. But if it dye, it bring forth much fruite. Of these many fruites we will declare some, yea and those the cheife and principall. For those being knowen and perfectly beleued, no man shall lyghtly wauer in his conscience, nor yet despaire thorowe pusillanimitie and wekenes of minde, but he shalbe conforted and lyfted vp with a sure hope of the merites of Christes passion, and alwayes stand firme and constante in all assaultes of the enemie.
The first fruite of Christes passion, is that Christe God & man by his death hath redemed and deliuered vsus from the curse of the lawe.The firste fruites of Christes passion. For seinge the hearte of man by nature is euil, and there is no man that doth good, but all sorte of vsus before the iudgement of God are synners and lyars: the curse of the lawe by this meanes cōmeth vponupon vsus, and condempneth vsus as despisers and transgressours of the lawe,Gene. 6. Psal. 13. Rom. 3. Psal. 115. Deut. 27. and saith: Cursed be eueryevery one, that abideth not in all thynges, that are written in the boke of the lawe, that he maye do them. From this curse and iudgement of the lawe hath Christe deliuered vsus, which hath taken vponupon him our cause and satiified the lawe, that so many as put their confidence, faith, and truste in him, he shoulde make free from suche curse,Christ by his passion hath deliuered vsus from the curse of the lawe. sentence and iudgement of the lawe, and so by his death hath redemed and deliuered vsus from the lawe, so that it can no more condemne vsus,Gala. 3. as sainct Paule testifieth in his Epistle to the Galathians, sayinge: Christe hath deliuered vsus from the curse of the lawe, whyle he became accursed for our sake. Nowe howe Christe became accursed.Deut. 27. Paule declareth more at large and sayth: It is written: Cursed is eueryevery one, that hangeth on the tree. This sentence of the lawe was generall ouer all, that were crucified and put to death on the crosse. Among whom Christe also came,Esa. 53. and outwardly suffered the ignominie and curse of the lawe, and was reputed, taken and iudged as a malefactour and wycked person. But Christe by suffrynge vnworthely the outwarde curse & condēnatiō of the law, ouercame & did vtterly put away ye inward curse & cōdemnatiō of the law: so yt for euer after it cā no more bynd vsus, nor hurte so many as beleue in Christ. For although outwardly wee are cursed, euill spoken of, despised and condemned, as it chaunced vntounto Christe, and muste nedes so likewise cōme to passe with vsus (for we must be made cōformable and like vntounto Christ in bearing the crosse) yet inwardly we are free and blessed,Rom. …. and the curse of the lawe can not preuaile againste vsus,Galat. 4. neither can the lawe it selfe any more accuse vsus and condemne vsus. For if God thorowe Christ be with vsus, who can be againste vsus? So lykewise reade we in sainct Paules epistle to the Galathians: when the fulnes of tyme was comme, God sent his sonne, made of a woman, made subiect to the lawe, that he might deliuer them, that were bounde to the lawe. Christe for our sake fel into the lawe, that is to saye, into the payne of the lawe, that we might be deliuered from the same, and obtaine that portion of enheritaunce,Es…. 55▪ whiche is due to the sonnes of God. Wherof the prophete Esaye also sayeth: ye are frely bought, ye shall frely bedeliuered. S. Peter also sayth:1. Pet. 1. we are deliuered by the precious blood of Christ that innocent lambe of God.
The second fruit & profit of the passion of Christ is, that by it we are made free from sinne:The second fruit of christs Passion. and it is in a maner all one with the first. For when we be free frō the lawe, then are we also free from sinne: not that we synne not, or can not offend, but that synne is no more imputed vntounto vsus, nor brought in againste vsus by the law. Therfore saith blessed. S Iohn in his epistle. The blood of Christ maketh vsus cleane from all synne.1. Iohn. 1. And Paule in his epistle to the Hebrues sayth, that the blood of Christ purgeth our conscience from deade workes to serue the lyuing God.Heb. 9. Again to the Corinthians he sayeth:2. Cor. 5. God made hym that knewe no sin, synne for our sake, that in him we might be made that righteousnes, whiche is alowed before God. Christe for our sake was made sinne, that is to say, a sacrifice and oblation for synne,Deliuerās frō syn by the passion of Christ. & by this meanes hath he recō ciled vsus vntounto god, and made vsus before god, of vnrighteous, righteous, of sinneful & wicked perfect & good.
The third frut of Christes Passion.Now forasmuch as we be free from the curse of the lawe and from sinne: it foloweth, that we also are free and safe from death, deuil, and hel: whiche is the thirde fruite and profit of Christes passion. For seing death is the stipend and rewarde of synne,Rom. 6. as the Apostle sayeth: and synne is abrogated and taken awaye from vsus by the passion and death of Christe:Deliuerance frō deathe deuill & hell. it foloweth that death is also taken awaye, so that it hath no power againste vsus. Therfore doth Christe threaten death by the Prophete,Ose…. 13. and sayeth: O death, I will be thy death. For seinge that Christe was the true lyfe,Iohn. 11. he could not be ouercome of death, but he being ye noble cōquerour & valiant victoure of death, toke awaye the stynge from death, and flewe hell, as Christe him selfe saith by the aforesaid Prophet:Osee. 13. I wil deliuer them from hel, & from death wil I make them safe, So was Satan also cast out,Iohn. 12. as Christe sayth in the gospel of Iohn, so that he can not execute against vsus the paine of hell & death.1. Pet. 1. And al this is comme to passe, because Christ hath fulfilled the law for vsus, and purged our sinnes by the sprinklyng of his blood.
The fourth fruite & profite of the passiō of Christ is,The fourth fruit of christs passion. that we are not only deliuered from the law, sin, death, hel & deuil, but we are also thorow ye merites of christs passiō receaued into the grace and fauour of god. For he hath satisfyed the father for vsus, and hath reconciled vsus vntounto him, as Paule testifieth, sayinge:Rom. 5. when we were yet enemies, we were reconciled vntounto God by the death of his sonne. Again:2. Rom. 5. God hath reconciled vsus vntounto hym by Iesus Christ. ones again: God the father hath deliuered vsus from the power of darcknes,Coll. 1. and hath translated vsus into the kyngdome of his welbeloued sonne. Yea we are not only by the death of Christe reconciled and set at one with God the Father,We are reconciled to God the father by ye passiō & death of Christ. but also wyth all the Angels and heauenly spirites. For when the father thorowe his sonne fauoreth vsus, and is mercifull vntounto vsus, then do al creatures the same thorowe him, and be at concorde and perfecte agrement with vsus, as S. Paule saith: It pleased the father that all fulnes shoulde dwell in hym,Coll. 1. and by him to reconcile all thynges vntounto hymselfe, pacifying by the blood of his crosse things both in heauen and in earth. And ye which some time were farre of, and enemies in your minde thorow euil workes, hath he nowe reconciled in the body of his fleshe by death, that he shoulde make you holy, blameles, and without fault in his sight. And in many other places it is declared, how we are reconciled & set at one with the father, and made heires of the kingdome of heauen thorowe Christe.
The fyfte fruit and profite of the passion of Christe is the newe testament,The fyfte fru…t of christs passion. whiche he promiseth vntounto vsus, and bequethe vntounto vsus remission of synnes, sealed and confirmed with the death and blood of Christe, as it is written: He is the mediatour of the new Testament, that thorow death whiche chaunced for the redemption of those transgressions that were in the firste Testament,Heb. 9. they whiche were called, mighte receaue the promesse of eternall inheritaunce.In the newe testament confirmed by the death of christ is bequethed vntounto vsus remission of sinnes. For whersoeuer a testament is, there muste also be the death of him that maketh the testament. For the testament taketh authoritie, when men are dead: for it is of no value, as long as he that made it, is a liue. Of these wordes it euidently appeareth, that the newe testament (wherin we hauehave remission of sinnes) is sealed and ratifyed by the death of Christ.Mat. 26. 1. Cor. 1. Therfore doth Christ cal the cuppe, the cuppe of the newe Testament in his bloud, which is shedde for remission of sinnes.
The .vi. fruit of Christs passion.Last of all, Christ with his death and passion hath goten vntounto vsus this fruite and profit, that our crosse & suffrance pleaseth GOD, that after this it should no more be a cursyng or payne, but an holy blessynge and mortifying of our olde Adam and wicked fleshe. And by this meanes our tribulation, persecution, and death is an holy and acceptable sacrifice vntounto god.Our suffrings please God. And all this comme to passe thorow the merite of Christ and his death, as Paule sayth to the Romains: Those whiche he knewe before,Rom. 8. he also ordeined before, that they shoulde be lyke fashioned vntounto the shape of his Sonne, that he might be the firste begotten sonne among many brethren. As the sacrifice of Christ and his death was a pure and acceptable sacrifice to god:Psal. 116. so likewise the death of al the Christians shalbe an holy sacrifice to god, not for the dignitie of it selfe, but for Christ, of whose fulnes all we hauehave receued, euē grace, for grace.
Now forasmuch as we knowe the fruit and profite, and also the whole worke,Iohn. 1. that CHRIST hath broughte to passe by his passion and death: let vsus nowe at the last learne also, howe we maye be made partakers of the same, and fromhensforth so frame oure lyfe & compose our maners agreable therunto, that we maye folowe Christe oure Sauiour, and be knowen to be lyke vntounto hym, yea and his very disciples.
Uerely then shall we be partakers of the benefites of Christ, of the fruites and profites of his passiō,How we may be made partakers of the frutes of Christs Passion. whē we beleue, that we all were damned synners: againe, that Christe euen of mery louelove and fauour vntounto oure profit and singuler cōmoditie without all our merite and deserte, suffered all that euer he suffered: Item, that by none other mediatour nor worke, but by Christ alone and by his merite we can be saued,Rom. 8. so that the passion, death, resurrection, life, righteousnes, and innocencie of Christ, with all that euer he hath, is oure owne, & frely geuen vntounto vsus of oure heauenly father. Wherfore sainct Iohn sayth: he gaue them power to be made the sonnes of God,Iohn. 1. euen so many as beleue in his name. It is certen and sure, that none can be the sonne of God, except he be holy, godlye, and righteous. But this can we not be of our selues, of oure owne strengthes and workes. Therefore he sayth, that Christe geueth this vntounto vsus. It then foloweth, that by Christe we hauehave receaued that, which we had not before, neither could we deserue to hauehave it with oure workes. Whereby then did this chaunce vntounto vsus? verely by faith.By fayth are we made the sons of God. For Iohn saith. That he gaue them power to be made the sonnes of god, euē so many as beleue in his name. This power then hauehave they only yt beleue, not in their owne workes & righteousnes, but in the name of Christ, which is Iesus, that is to saye a Sauiour, euen that they shoulde beleue, that he is the only, alone, and true sauiour, without whom we can do nothinge,Iohn. 15. and without whose merites all our workes, although neuer so holy and good, are damnable & cursed. Thus by faith we do all our thinges. By faith,Faith in christ obtaynethe all good thinges at the hande of god. yea by fayth alone we obtayne all that euer Christ hath, and are partakers of the same, as his innocencie, holines, righteousnes, wysedome, perfectiō, the kingdome of heauen, and euerlasting lyfe: not that faith is our worcke, and therefore so nobly recompensed,The nature of faythe. but that it is the hande, organ, and instrument, wherewith we take and laye hande on Christe oure Sauiour. For all thinge is prepared, geuen, and purchassed for vsus before, and fayth doth no more, but take & embrace this benefite, cleueth surely vntounto it, & doubteth not, but that Christ hath obtayned & performed al things for her. For Christ is frely geuen vntounto vsus to be our sauiour,Rom. 3. whō ye father hath set forth vntounto vsus to be our mercistocke, so that whosoeuer wil hauehave & enioye euerlasting saluatiō,Ther is no saluation but by fayethe in Christ alone. must hauehave and enioye it by Christ, and by none other. Therfore ought we all to laye hand on him with a strōg and vnshaken faith. But he that wil not laye hand on him, & receaue him as his one, only, alone, & omni sufficiēt Sauiour, but sticke to his owne workes & righteousnes, he wtout faile shalbe dā ned for euer and euer.Iohn. 1. For to this ende hauehave we Christ geuen vsus of god the father to be oure Sauiour, that by him we should hauehave power. to be made the sonnes of God, I meane al suche as beleue in his name, denie and forsake them selfes and their workes, & only ioye, reioyce, and glory in the name of Christe, wyshing and desieringe only by that name to be made holy and acceptable before the presence of gods maiestie.
When we hauehave thus thorow faith and confidence in Christ Challenged vntounto vsus Christ & all his merites,The lyfe and maners of Christe are to be folowed of all true Christians. with all the fruites▪ commodities and profites, that he gat eyther by hys lyfe or by his death, as oure owne and proper goodes: then let vsus also endeuour oure selfes to set CHRIST afore vsus as an example, whose lyfe and conuersation, whose actes and dedes, we in oure lyfe and conuersation, in all our actes and dedes, ought to folowe. For although (as we heard afore) we deserue nothyng by oure workes, yet maye we not be wythout good workes in this life.Christe a sauiour and an Example. Therfore let vsus frame all oure lyfe and all that euer we do after the example of CHRSIT, whome the scripture setteth foorth vntounto vsus two maner of wayes. Fyrste, as a Sauiour. And this is the principall parte of our righteousnes. Secondlye as an example,Rom. 6. that wyth hym we shoulde mortifye and slea olde Adam, as sainct Paule sayth: So manye of vsus as are baptised in Christe, are baptised into his death: that is to saye: that we shoulde crucifye wyth hym oure fleshe and wycked lustes, suppresse them, and geue no place to the lewde appetite of the fleshe. So do we declare our selues to be true Christians, as the Apostle sayethe:Galat. 5. They that belong vntounto Christ, hauehave crucified the fleshe with the affectes and lustes therof. For he that truly knoweth synne, and the wrath of God against synne, and howe dearely Christ boughte vsus therefore,The propertie of a true Christian. and payde oure raunsome that we might be deliuered from it: wil vndoubtedlye hate synne from the verye botome of his hearte. And when he shall not be able to resiste it, it wil maruellously trouble him. Yea he wil be inwardly sory, and study all meanes possible, how he maye represse that synne, and be able to tame & restrayne that wicked fleshe. Again, if he truly beleue, howe louinge, merciful and gētle god hath shewed hymselfe toward him thorow Christe our Sauiour, and how god hath pleasured hym frely and without deseruing: he shall greatly be prouoked and styrred vp to laboure and to study,Math. 5. how he maye serue and please god againe, and for his sake louelove his neighbour, whome god hath commended vntounto hym, not onelyonly if he be his frende, but also though he be his vtter ennemie.Rom. 5. For Christ receaued him, & by his passion and death saued hym, euen then when he was his enemie.
Galat. 5.Thus doth the true, diligent, and earnest consideratiō of the passiō of Christe worke in vsus true fruites and good workes, that is to saye, the mortifying and crucifying of olde Adam, as Paule saieth. They that hauehave put on Christ (he meaneth by faith) or,2. Cor. they that be of Christ hauehave crucifyed their fleshe withall her concupiscences: yea if any man be in Christ, he is a newe creature: so that we in the passion, crosse, and death of the olde man,Rom. 8. should be made like to Christe, to his passion and death. For so hath god ordayned. Thus breifly hauehave we declared, how we ought trulye to consider the passion of Christ with the fruites and causes therof: By the which passion & deth we ar deliuered from Sathan, from synne,The benefits that we hauehave goten by the passion & death of Christe. from the curse of the law, from desperation, from death, from hell, from the wrathe of God, and from euerlastyng damnation, and are translated and remoued vntounto the heauenly countrey, that glorious kyngdome of the moste glorious God. Last of all, we opened vntounto you, how we ought by faith to take and chalenge vntounto vsus those moste singuler and inestimable benefites, & so forme and frame our conuersation and lyfe after the example of Christ, that it may outwardly appere, that we be the thankfull disciples of Christ, and the faithful and louing children of the heauenly Father. And for as muche as we can not doo this of our owne strengthe and power, let vsus moste humbly pray vntounto God, that he for Christ Iesus sake, may geue vsus his strength and spirite, that we may liue before him in pure faith & vnfained louelove, & in the great day of the Lord appere fautlesse among the dere and welbeloued children of God, and so heare out of his mouthe which suffered and dyed for vsus, this moste swete and comfortable saying:1. Cor. 1…. Come ye blessed of my father, possesse the kyngdome whych was prepared for you from the begynnyng of the worlde. To this lord CHRIST our alone Sauiour and most perfect redemer, with God the father, & the holy ghost, our moste swete conforter, be all honor, glorie & praise for euer. Amen.