Twenty-Five Lectures Upon the Lords Last Sermon and Conference, Lecture 16
THE XVI. LECTVRE, OF CHRISTES DOCTRINE BEFORE HIS PASSION.
IOHN, CHAP. xvi. VERS. 28.29.30.31.32.33.
28 I am come out from the Father, and came into the world: againe, J leaue the world, and goe to the Father.
29 His Diſciples ſaid vntounto him, Loe, now ſpeakest thou plainly; and thou ſpeakeſt no parable.
30 Now know we that thou knoweſt all things, and needeſt not that anie man ſhould aske thee. By this we belieue, that thou art come out from God.
31 Jeſus anſwered them, Doe you belieue now?
32 Beholde, the houre commeth, and is alreadie come, that yee ſhall bee ſcattered euerie man into his owne, and ſhall leaue mee alone: But I am not alone: for the Father is with mee.
33 Theſe thinges hauehave J ſpoken vntounto you, that in mee yee might hauehave peace: in the world yee ſhall hauehave affliction; but bee of good comfort, J hauehave ouercome the world.
BEfore, in this Chapter, Brethren, the Lord fore-warned his Diſciples, that hee was to depart: but hee ſpake to them in a parable, and obſcurely, Yet a little while, and yee ſhall …o… ſee mee: and againe, yee ſhall ſee me: they vnderſtoode him not, nor wiſt not what hee ſpake. Nowe the Lord warneth them of his departure in plaine ſpeaking, and hee ſayeth in plaine wordes, I am come out from the Father, and came into the world: againe, J leaue the world, and go to the Father. Nowe, Brethren, take heede, and yee ſhall marke a difference betwixt this fore-warning of the Diſciples, which is plaine and euident to their vnderſtanding, and the former forewarning, which was obſcure, and not plaine to their vnderſtanding. Before hee proponed the matter in plaine talke, hee proponeth ſundrie conſolations, to prepare them againſt his departure, that they might heare of his departure the more gladlie: for it was an heauie thing for them to heare of his departure, with whome they were ſo well, and had ſuch joye, and ſuch intertainment in this earth. The Lord is verie loath, Brethren, to make the heartes of the Godlie ſadde: Hee is not onelie loath to make their heartes ſadde, and grieue them by death, by afflictions, and by croſſes: but hee is loath to ſpeake the worde that would grieue them: though it were but a worde to make them heauie, hee is loath to vtter it vntounto them: and therefore, ere euer hee doe to them anie thing grieuous, ſadde, or heauie, the Lord vſeth to prepare their heartes to beare with it patientlie, and to furniſhe their heartes with comfort againſt croſſes and tribulations; that when perſecution, and affliction, and ſadde and heauie wordes ſhould come, they ſhould beare all thinges the more patientlie and gladlie. This is the Lordes cuſtome: So all men ſhould beware to grieue the heart of anie man, and chiefelie of the Godlie: I warne thee, bee loath to make the Godlie ſadde: rather we ſhould incline to make the heart of the miſerable creature joyfull, than ſadde. I ſee euer thorow Paul, in his writs, this illumination: hee euer inclineth to ſtirre vp the Godlie to rejoyce. Reade him, and yee ſhall ſee this: Ye hauehave a notable example of him in the 2. Epiſtle to the Corinthians, Chap. 1. verſ. 23. they accuſe him verie ſharplie, that hee came not to them. Hee anſwereth them with a great atteſtation, Nowe the LORDE beare witneſſe against my ſoule, that I woulde not come to you, to ſpare you. And in the next CHAPTER hee ſayeth, That J ſhould not make you ſad, (for there was great matter of ſadneſſe amongſt the Corinthians, by reaſon of their euill behauiour,) for if I ſhould make you ſad, who is there to make mee to reioyce? So, in a word, we ſhould incline to make the heart of a ſinner joyfull: and if wee ſhould bee inforced to ſpeake ſad words, as oftentimes wee are, in this Countrey, by reaſon of the manifolde and groſſe ſinnes reigning in it, yet they ſhould bee throwne out of vsus: Let them all bee in lenitie, that in the matter of ſadneſſe, they who heare them, may finde louelove in them. Paul, in the Epiſtles to the Corinthians, and to the Galatians, ſeemeth to bee ſharpe againſt them at the beginning, and progreſſe; but in the end of the Epiſtles, he vttereth a marueilous louelove to them, to raiſe vp their heartes to rejoycing.
Now to marke the forme how he proponeth this ſad newes of his departure: Hee ſayeth not barely, I will goe my way: but firſt, I come downe from the Father, being equall with him in glory: And nowe I goe to him againe, to take vp my glory, which I had with him before all beginning: and it ſhall be for your good, that I goe my way to Heauen, to my Father, for I ſhall ſende you that Comforter. In telling them this, hee giueth them withall to vnderſtand, that they ſhall bee ſo farre from dammage and ſadneſſe, when the Lord ſhall goe his waye, that they ſhall rejoyce: for hee ſhall goe to Heauen, to the Father, and bee more buſie to doe them good, than when he was with them in the earth. So we learne here, a forme of proponing ſad newes vntounto the godly: we ſhould propone them with ſuch a conuoy, that euen in ſad wordes wee ſhould preſent to the hearers ſome matter of joye: and in reproofe, louelove and lenitie ſhould appeare. I will vſe a familiare example: now certainly we hauehave this day an occaſion to tell heauy tidings: and as Chriſt told to his Diſciples, that he was to depart ſhortly; ſo wee may tell, for ought wee ſee, the glorious tidinges of the Euangel is to depart: The Goſpel is to depart: there is ſad tidings: but howe ſhall I tell them in this forme that I hauehave ſaide, for the comfort of the godlie? The glorious Goſpel of Chriſt ſhall ſhortly depart, for the ingratitude of this Land: there is ſad newes. But well is them who loueth Chriſt, and is ſad, and mourneth for his departure, for they ſhall rejoyce. And ſo on the contrary, woe is them who is not ſad at the departure of Ieſus Chriſt: and woe to them who loueth not this glorious Euangel: and woe to them who putteth it away, and are the authors thereof: Woe to the Noble men, and lords of this Land: howbeit they bee leaping, through ſenſeleſſe ſecuritie, in their pride, yet their judgement was neuer ſo neare them: for pride goeth before deſtruction. Now thus much for the words of the Lord. In the words following we hauehave the anſwere of the Diſciples vntounto the Lord: He hath ſpoken plainly to them, that hee will goe his way. Now, ſay they, thou ſpeakeſt plainly, & thou ſpeakeſt no parable: thou ſpeakeſt plainly, that thou wilt goe thy waye, that any man may vnderſtand. This is the firſt part of the anſwere. They vnderſtand nowe when hee ſpeaketh plainly: but they wiſt not what hee ſpake before, when he ſpake in parables. Well, Brethren, it is good to ſpeake of Chriſt, and of the waye to ſaluation plainly, that the pooreſt that heareth may vnderſtand. It is not enough that thou takeſt heed to deliuer ſound and true doctrine, but plain doctrine, and that this doctrine, which is ſound and true, bee ſpoken in ſuch words as becōmeth. Thou oughteſt not only to look that the mater bee ſound, but alſo to take heede to the words, as Paul, 1. Cor. 2. We ſpeake thoſe things that God hath gratified in Jeſus Chriſt, & we ſpeak them not in humane words, but in powerful words of the Spirit. The Spirit hath ay his own mater: & as the mater is heauenly, ſo the words muſt ſauour of Heauē, & of the Spirit: for as the Spirit hath his own mater, ſo hath he his own words. The words muſt be euident & plain, that the vnlearned may be capable of them. We hauehave many places of Paul agreeing to this: In that Chap. verſ. 4. going before, What was my language whē I came to you? ſaith he, it was not in humane eloquēce, but in ſpirituall power: that is, I ſpake ſo, that I made an oculare demonſtration. And 2. Cor. 3. verſ. 12. Hauing ſuch confidence, we ſpeak plainlie. And Chap. 4. verſ. 3. If this Goſpel bee hid, it is hid to them that periſh. So ſay I this day, if this Goſpel be hid, it is hid to them who goe to perdition: and thy perdition is ſealed vp, if thou ſeeſt not this light into thy ſoule, & vnderſtandeſt it not. Into the 3. Chap. to the Galatians, he ſaith, he preached ſo plainly, that in a manner hee crucified Chriſt before their eyes: that is, hee made ſuch an oculare demonſtration of the crucified man Chriſt, that they might hauehave perceiued him, euen as he was crucified on the Croſſe. So ſay I, Brethren, as we ſhould ſtriue to ſinceritie of doctrine in the light, ſo wee ſhould ſtriue to deliuer it ſo euidently, and to tell it in ſuch plainneſſe, that it may be plaine to the moſt vnlearned: for it is no ſmall joye, that commeth to the heart of them who would faine vnderſtand and ſee that light, when they heare the word and doctrine deliuered plainly. And on the contrary, when the doctrine is not plaine, it intangleth them who hauehave will to vnderſtand, and they get no joy thereof, but they are left in heauineſſe & ſadneſſe. Paul ſaith, 1. Cor. 14. verſ. 19. J had rather ſpeake fiue wordes with mine vnderſtanding, than ten thouſand in a ſtrange tongue, to none edification.
But I goe forward. In the next part of their anſwere, they profeſſe a wonderfull knowledge to be in the Lord, and that hee was the ſearcher of heartes: Nowe, ſay they, wee knowe that thou knoweſt all things, and needest not that any man ſhould aske thee. This they ſaide, becauſe that in that parable which hee ſpake of before, Verſ. 16. A little while, and yee ſhall not ſee mee: and againe, a little while, and yee ſhall ſee mee; they wi…t not what hee ſpake, but doubted amongſt themſelues: and they thought to aske at him, what was the meaning of it: Yet he preuented them, and tolde them that which they would hauehave asked at him: Thou not onelyonly anſwereſt, ſay they, when thou art asked at; but alſo thou anſwereſt when none asketh at thee. What gather they of this? That hee is the ſearcher of the heartes of men and women: Wee belieue therefore, ſay they, that thou art come out from the Father: becauſe, ſay they, wee ſee thou art more than a man, thou knoweſt our mindes, and what is in our heartes, and that no man knoweth, and therefore of neceſsitie, thou muſt come from the Father.
Wee hauehave to try a little, this faith of the Diſciples: it would ſeeme at the firſt face, to be a good faith, & a good confeſsion they giuegive: but ſurely, will yee looke the anſwere of Chriſt, ſubjoyned in the next Verſ. yee ſhall finde it not to hauehave beene a firme and ſolide faith. They got little thanke for that faith. And if yee marke the ground of this faith, ye ſhall find it of little auaile. Indeede if they had ſaid thus, Becauſe thou telleſt vsus thou came from the Father, we will belieue thee; it had bene better: but we belieue thee. Why? Becauſe thou haſt told vsus, what was in our mindes and thoughts. So this faith is grounded more vponupon a wonder, than on the words of Chriſt. This matter offereth vsus large occaſion of ſpeaking, but I will be ſhort for the preſent. Wonders and miracles may well prepare thee to belieue, and may confirme faith when it is gotten: but all the wonders in the world, cannot worke faith. All the works of God, both ordinarie, and extraordinarie, of his infinit wiſdome, power, and juſtice, woulde neuer make thine heart to ſettle on him, and belieue in him truelie, and if thou getteſt no more. The Gentiles in the worlde, before CHRIST came, they ſawe GOD, his power, wiſdome, juſtice, prouidence, &c. by the workes of his creation; yet they caſt him off, and belieued not. Paul ſayeth, 1. Cor. Chap. 1. verſ. 21. Like as it pleaſeth not the world to know God, in the wiſedome of God: that is to ſaye, in the creation, (a wonderfull and infinite wiſedome,) it pleaſed God to ſaue them that belieue, by the fooliſhneſſe of preaching: for what is this word, and this preaching of the Croſſe of Ieſus Chriſt to the worlde, and to them that periſh, but a fooliſh and idle ſpeach? But what is it, that worketh faith in the heart of man and woman? None outward thing: no ſuch power as is vttered in miracles: but it is the worde of the Croſſe of Chriſt, that worketh fayth, which illuminateth and openeth our heartes. Hee that was borne blind, Chap. 9. verſ. 1. thorowe the miracle of getting his ſight, beganne indeede to thinke well and reuerently of Chriſt, but yet hee belieued not, till Chriſt inſtructed him by his word, ſaying, Belieuest thou in the Sonne of God?
Now we come to Chriſtes anſwere: he refuteth this their faith, whereof they bragged ſo greatly: Doe yee belieue now? As hee would ſay, Yee thinke nowe, that yee hauehave faith enough, but yee deceiue your ſelues; for the time ſhall come, that ye ſhall all leaue me: how then can your faith bee ſure? Then marke heere: it is an vnſtable and vaniſhing faith that is grounded and leaneth on miracles: for ſuch a faith cannot abide the perſecution. Yea, I ſay farder, oftentimes it turneth to perſecution. Wee hauehave an example of this, Chap. 2. verſ. 23. where it is ſaid, Manie belieued in his Name, when they ſaw the wonders that hee wrought: but what followeth? Did Chriſt truſt to them? No, it is ſaide, hee would not commit himſelfe to them, becauſe hee knewe them well enough: hee knewe what was within them: they were not to truſt to. A queſtion may bee heere moued, whether if the faith of the Apoſtles was grounded on miracles only, or not? To this I anſwere: Their faith was not grounded onelyonly on miracles, but alſo on the worde: their faith was not euaniſhing and temporall, but a true and juſtifying faith: for when Chriſt ſaide to his Diſciples, Whom ſay yee that I am? Peter, in the name of the reſt, anſwered, Thou art the Christ, the Sonne of the liuing God, Matth… 16. verſ. 16. But it is alſo true, that their faith was mixed with corruption, and earthly conceites: they truſted in him for ſome carnall reſpects: for ſo long as he was with them, they liued in eaſe, they were ſubject to no croſſes, nor they ſawe no cauſe of ſorrowe or mourning: for when the Diſciples of John the Baptiſt came to him, and asked him, why his Diſciples faſted not, as they and the Phariſees did? The Lord anſwered them, Howe can it bee, that the Children of the Bridegroome ſhould mourne, ſo long as they are in the Bridegroom… Chamber? And beſides this, they looked that he ſhould be a wor… lie King, and hauehave great honours into this worlde. So I … worde, that their faith and confidence, for a great parte … worldly reſpect, That he ſhould be a King in Hieruſalem, and wh… ſo great Courteours as they? Though there were no more to t…ſtifie, that their faith, for the moſte parte, was fleſhly, but this, that they had a peartneſſe, and boaſting of faith, it were ſufficient. In the 26. Chap. of Matth. verſ. 33.34. when the Lord ſaith, Verilie, verilie, yee ſhall all bee offended in mee this night: what ſaieth Peter▪ in the name of the reſt? Shall wee leaue thee? Wee ſhall die with thee. So hee, and the reſt, boaſteth of their faith. Well, ſayeth the Lord, Peter, thou boaſteſt now, remember that, ere the Cocke crow, thou ſhalt denie mee thriſe. So, though there were no more but this boaſting of faith, it teſtifieth, that their faith was more fleſhly, than ſpirituall: for worldly & fleſhly confidence, is ay proude: ſo all this cōfidence is with pride: but that ſpirituall faith and confidence, is aye with lowlineſſe. And, O how lowly a faithfull man will be! he will aye feare, and feele his owne weakneſſe. Hee that hath the greateſt faith in Chriſt Ieſus, hath the greateſt lowlineſſe and feare: for the greater the faith bee, hee will hauehave the greater ſenſe of his owne weakneſſe. Yee ſee howe Paul, in the 11. Chap. to the Rom. verſ. 20. ſpeaking to the Gentiles, ſaieth, Bee not proude, thou ſtandeth by fayth, ſtand with feare: where feare is not, there is no faith in Ieſus Chriſt: the man who hath a ſenſe of his owne weakneſſe, gripeth faſteſt to Chriſt. So yee reade of the man in the Euangel, when as the Lord ſaid vntounto him, Belieueſt thou? He ſaith, J belieue, Lord, helpe mine vnbeliefe. So hee or ſhee that belieueth in Chriſt, will hauehave a ſenſe of weakneſſe: for the power of God is aye with a feare and dread: dread, I ſaye, of their weakneſſe, leſt in this battell which wee hauehave againſt nature, nature preuaile ouer the Spirit. This is the nature of him or her who hath true faith in Ieſus Chriſt.
Marke the words, hee ſayth, Beholde, the houre commeth, and is already come, that yee ſhall bee ſcattered euerie man to his owne, and ſhall leaue mee alone. Yee would maruell, hee was euen nowe comforting them, and nowe hee driueth them downe, and ſayeth to them, Yee ſhall leaue mee: that is, eueryevery one of them ſhould depart from him, and ſeeke their owne ſhelter. This is great matter of dejectour. Brethren, looke howe needfull it is to raiſe vp an heart, which is caſten down, and to giuegive comfort to a comfortleſſe ſoule; as needfull is it to caſt downe the heart, which is puffed vp with vaine conceit: and if the proude heart bee caſten downe in mercy, it is for the weale of the creature: There is nothing more meete in this worlde, to prepare vsus againſt the daye of triall, than the dejection of the ſoule: for heere the Lord is preparing his Diſciples againſt the day of affliction, that their faith ſhould be grounded, not on the workes, but on the words of Ieſus Chriſt. There is nothing more needfull, than to trie thy faith wel: and ay look down to thine heart, and looke well to this, that thy confidence riſe not on fleſh and blood. There are many, whoſe confidence leaneth on fleſh and blood, and on nature; thinking that they are ſtrong and ſtout. Take heede that thy confidence bee not on fleſh and blood, but on the Spirite of Ieſus Chriſt: and there is nothing better againſt the daye of perſecution, than to put a difference betwixt the motions of the fleſhe, and the motions of the Spirite; and the ſtrength of the fleſhe, and the ſtrength of the Spirite: For what was Peters bragging, but the ſtrength of the fleſh? For the ſtrength of the fleſh will beguile a good man. So, prepare thy ſelfe this way in trying thy ſelfe: for and if thou doeſt not this, thou ſhalt neuer willingly ſuffer: Yea, when thou ſhalt bee brought before the fire, then thou ſhalt ſtart abacke. Therefore, ſtriue aye to hauehave a ſenſe of the weakneſſe of thy nature. I will glorie in my weakeneſſe, ſayeth Paul. There is none ſtrong in God, but they who are weake in themſelues. And if thou bee ſtrong in thy ſelfe, in fleſhe and bloode, thou haſt no ſtrength of GOD: and doubtleſſe at one time or other, thou ſhalt fall. But when thou feeleſt thy weakneſſe, and ſigheſt and groneſt vnderunder the burthen thereof, thou art ſtrong. Yee heare, that after Paul, ſeeking to be fred of his weakneſſe which hee felt, had gotten this anſwere, My ſhrength, ſayeth Chriſt, is perfected infirmitie. Then, ſayeth hee, I will glorie in mine infirmitie, 2. Corinth. 12. verſ. 9.
Nowe in the next wordes, left it ſhould hauehave ſeemed grieuous to them, that they ſhould leaue him alone, hee ſubjoyneth, by waye of correction, But I am not alone: for the Father is with mee. The thing which riſeth of this, is plaine, and I propone it in as manie wordes: The LORD IESVS was neuer left himſelfe alone, euen when hee was in greateſt extreamitie, and when the horrours of death were vponupon him, vponupon the Croſſe, and when hee ſaide, My GOD, my GOD, why hast thou forſaken mee? His GOD had not left him. Indeede it is true, GOD kept himſelfe cloſe, for a time, and let the nature of man, in ſoule and bodie, ſuffer all extreamitie: yet hee ceaſed not in the meane time, to holde vp that nature of man, vnderunder the infinite weight of dolour and wrath: or elſe, hee coulde not hauehave ſtoode, and borne out that burthen to the ende. Yet the LORD IESVS was left comfortleſſe on the Croſſe: and a verie Martyre, who ſuffereth for the trueth, will hauehave greater joye in ſuffering, than CHRIST had when he was on the Croſſe. This is true, looke to Paul, in the ſeconde Epiſtle to Timothie, Chap. 4. verſ. 16. and 17. Howbeit hee was in great trouble, yet the LORD gaue him comfort: In my defence, ſayeth hee, no man was with mee, but all againſt mee: GOD graunt it bee not layde to their charge: yet GOD was with mee, and ſtrengthened mee, and deliuered mee, and ſhall keepe mee till his Kingdome. So Paul had a wonderfull comfort, when hee was brought before the Tyrant Nero. The cauſe of this difference, is, The LORD IESVS was puniſhed for our ſinne, which he tooke vponupon him: The Lord Ieſus was left comfortleſſe, becauſe the Lord puniſhed him for our ſinnes: When the Lord puniſheth, there is no conſolation. Will the Lord ſende on thee ſickneſſe, croſſes, afflictions, &c. to puniſh thee, and take vengeance on thee for ſinne, thou ſhalt hauehave no joye: but if hee be chaſtening thee, thou ſhalt hauehave joy. So the Lord Ieſus, becauſe he ſuffered for thy ſinne, had no conſolation, for he had the paines of Hell on him; and there is no joye in Hell, eſſay it when thou wilt. As for the Martyres, that which they ſuffer, is no puniſhment for ſinne: they ſuffer for the teſtimonie of the trueth, and they hauehave a good conſcience: and the good conſcience will bring joye with it: for the Martyres will hauehave a greater joye, in extreame affliction, and exquiſite tormentes, than without affliction.
Now in the laſt Verſ. hee concludeth this communing with his Diſciples, and theſe are his words, Theſe thinges hauehave J ſpoken vntounto you, that in mee yee might hauehave peace. All tendeth to this ende, that yee maye enjoye that peace and reſt, that gladneſſe and joye thorowe the holie Spirite. This joye bringeth with it, a verie great eaſe and quietneſſe. Well, there are manie eaſes in the worlde: but neuer one wiſt what eaſe was in the ſoule, but hee who findeth this eaſe that is thorowe a good conſcience in CHRIST, and that peace which commeth of the forgiueneſſe of ſinnes.
Woulde yee hauehave the true eſtate of a Chriſtian man, or vvoman? There it is in one word, That they are peaceable hearted, and they are joyfull hearted: The true Chriſtian man, hath the wonderfulleſt peace and joye in the ſoule, that can be. And this was the end of all the ſpeaking of the Lord Ieſus to his Diſciples: and this is the ende of the Goſpel, and of all our preaching, to hauehave a good conſcience, and that peace and reſt in the ſoule. Nowe they neuer knew what reſt and peace was, but they who knowe what it is to hauehave a ſore heart for ſinne; And, O howe ſore the conſcience will bee toſſed, when it hath the taſte of the judgement of God … that body would giuegive a thouſand worlds for a word of that peace: for what is the peace in Ieſus Chriſt? It is the beginning of Heauen: if thou beginneſt not that peace heere, thou ſhalt neuer ſee peace hereafter. And this is the ende of all our ſanctification, and juſtification, to get this peace in Chriſt. And what is Heauen? It is peace and reſt with God, that is our Heauen. So that if thou hauehave no peace and reſt in the ſoule, and neuer findeſt that true peace in Ieſus Chriſt, and that Spirit of joye, all this preaching is vaine to thee: all is vaine to thee, if thou getteſt not that peace. Take heed to it, as yee would ſee this life in Chriſt: and when thou heareſt of this worde of peace, looke thou preaſſe to goe home with a peaceable ſoule: and if thou canſt not get this peace, bee ſadde, and mourne for it, and thou ſhalt get it another time: Bee this wayes exerciſed, that thou mayeſt feele the fruites of this word.
Nowe leſt they ſhould thinke, that this peace which hee promiſed them, ſhould want ſorrow, and that they ſhould neuer be troubled, he putteth this out of their mind, and ſayeth, In the worlde yee ſhall hauehave affliction: your peace ſhall be without peace: The reſt of a Chriſtian, is no reſt: your joye ſhall bee with ſadneſſe, and your comfort with heauineſſe: inwardly yee ſhall hauehave joye, but outwardly ye ſhall hauehave heauineſſe. This heauineſſe which the godlie hauehave, is ſo farre from that, that it taketh away their pleaſure, that their joye riſeth of tribulation: and then they hauehave greateſt joye, when they are ſoreſt vexed, and in greateſt tribulations. Take heed to it, came not the ſame to paſſe in the Diſciples? they had neuer ſuch a joye, as they had then, when as ſoone after Chriſt departed, and was glorified in the Heauens, they were brought in before the Councill, and ſcourged for the Name of Ieſus Chriſt, and commanded ſtraitly, that they ſhould neuer ſpeake in the Name of Ieſus: then they went out with joye, that they were counted worthie to ſuffer for that Name: They had not ſuch ioye all the time that they were with Chriſt in the world.
Yet he giueth them a comfort againſt theſe tribulations, Yet b… of good comfort, all theſe affl…ctions ſhall hauehave an ende, they ſhall ende with victory to you: J hauehave ouercome the world. If we looked not for an ende of theſe troubles, howbeit wee had aye this peace with troubles, yet it would be heauy to vsus: therefore the Lord comforteth them with this, that in the end they ſhall hauehave a ſolide joy, and all teares ſhall bee wiped away, and they ſhall get the victory: not in themselues, but in him that hath gotten the victory. The Lord Ieſus is the only Conquerour, and he it is, that is only victorious, and hath ouercome the worlde and the Deuil. But as for vsus his members, (1. Epiſt. Iohn, Chap. 5. verſ. 4.) this is the victory that hath ouercome this worlde, euen our fayth. Faſten thee on him who hath gotten the victory, and then the Battell is perfected. To ſpeake it properly, we hauehave not a battell with the Deuill, to get the victory; but to keepe Chriſt by fayth: for the Deuill, and all our enemies, are ouercome, and the battell is ſtricken, and the fielde is wonne. Chriſt ſitting on the Croſſe, vanquiſhed the Deuil, and tooke him, and ledde him captiue in a triumph: all the Deuils are reſerued in chaines to that great day: So we hauehave not a battell, for the victorie is wonne already: but all our victory is to keepe fayth in him, who hath ouercome our enemies, and purchaſed the victory to vsus: and all the battels of the Deuill, are to twin vsus and Chriſt: and all the battels wee hauehave with him, are about fayth: for if the Deuill be able to twin vsus and this fayth, we hauehave done with Chriſt: and therefore al the exhortations of the Apoſtles, are to ſtand in faith. Looke the 6. Chap. to the Epheſians. What then ſhould I exhort you to? or what ſhoulde bee our exhortations to them who are fighting? (And woe to them who are not fighting againſt theſe deadly enemies: wee ſhould all bee ſweating in the battell.) Let eueryevery one crie to another▪ Sticke faſt to Chriſt, hold the gripe, and let it not goe, and hold on the way, and ſtriue on a little while, and thou ſhalt brooke Ieſus Chriſt, and all his graces: and thou ſhalt leaue ouer, and repoſe, and reſt vponupon him ſweetly, vntill that daye that he come, and deliuer thee from all trouble: then thou ſhalt be crowned with that Crowne of glory, which hee hath purchaſed with his blood. To him therefore, with the Father, and the holy Spirit, be all praiſe, honour, and glory, for euermore.
AMEN.