The Treasure of the Church, Lecture 15
The fifteenth Lecture.
Verse 22. The glorie which thou gauest me hauehave I giuen them, that they may be one as we are one.
HEre is another reason of Christs petition for vnitie, taken from the very fountaine and originall thereof, namely▪ their election and fore-ordaining vntounto glorie: for this cause they are glorified in Christ, that they might expresse and shew forth this godly vnion and spirituall coniunction.
Hence then we learne,Doct. 1. that such as are ordained vntounto life and euerlasting glorie, are prepared of God vntounto good workes first, and to the seruice of louelove in this life before they shall be admitted to the next.
1. So the Apostle saith: We are elected to walke in good worksAs he hath chosen vsus in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in louelove, Ephes. 1. 4. And againe, Ye are his workmanship, created in Christ Iesus vntounto good workes, which God hath ordained that we should walke in them, Ephes. 2. 10. Then both good works were ordained for the elect, and the elect ordained to walke in good workes.
3. The holy Apostle thus testifieth of himselfe: Who shall deliuer me from eueryevery euill worke, and preserue me to his heauenly kingdome, 2. Tim. 4. 18. He assureth himself that God will giuegive him grace to abstaine from euill workes, seeing he had ordained him for his kingdome. Christ concludeth Zacheus to be the sonne of Abraham, and child of saluation, because he had expressed liuely fruites thereof in his large restitution and bountifull charitie. Luke 19. 8.
3. Like as Dauid being deputed and appointed to the kingdom of Israell, doth in the meane time prepare and addresse himselfe to walke vprightly, as he saith: I will do wisely in the perfect way til thou commest vntounto me, Pfal. 101. 2. so all they which are ordained to Christs euerlasting kingdome, should walke in Dauids steps. As the bride prepareth and trimmeth her self for her husband, though alreadie espoused: so the elected alreadie by Gods gracious electiō espoused vntounto him in Christ, must adorne and trim themselues by holinesse and vertue, that they may be readie to solemnize the euerlasting mariage feast in heauen.
4. For they must first shew themselues faithful in litle, whom the Lord should afterward make rulers of much, Mat. 25. 23. They must first shew their faithfulnesse in seeking Gods glorie in earth, before they can receiue glorie from God in heauen.
5. First then, seeing glorie is first giuen and decreed to the elect, then followeth their godly vnitie and fruitfull louelove: and the first is bestowed, that the second may follow; not this first foreseene, that the other might be decreed.…lection not of workes but by grace. We see that election is not grounded vponupon the foresight of mens workes▪ but these are fruites and effects of eiection, not causes and beginners of it: as the Apostle sheweth, That the purpose of God might remaine according to election, not by workes, but by him that calleth. Rom. 9. 11.
Secondly, we hauehave here a certaine rule giuen vsus, whereby we may discerne our election, namely, by the fruitfull works of vnitie and charity, which are as seales and pledges of that glorie which is decreed to be giuen vsus in Christ. Thus S. Peter exhorteth: Wherefore brethren, giuegive rather diligence to make your calling and election sure, for if ye do those things, ye shall neuer fall. 2. Pet. 1. 10. And S. Iohn saith, We know we are translated from death to life, because we louelove the brethren. 1. Ioh. 3. 14. There are two bookes,Two books: the booke of life, the book of a m…ns conscience. whereby eueryevery man shall be iudged, the booke of life, and the book of eueryevery mans conscience, as S. Iohn testifieth: The bookes were opened, and another booke was opened, which is the booke of life, Reu. 20. 12. The booke of the conscience is a true copie of the booke of life, here a man shall find how it is written there. The record of a mans conscience, is a certaine and infallible euidence of the record in heauen. Thus S. Paul found written in the booke of his conscience, that because he had fought a good fight, & kept the faith, he doubted not but that a crowne of righteousnes was laid vp for him, 2. Tim. 4. 8. Wherefore by the workes of grace let vsus striue to be assured of glorie: let vsus now …ay as the Church fertilitatis suae conscia, …eni frater, exeamus in agrum: Thus the Church knowing her selfe to be fruitfull: …s Ambrose well applieth that place, saith …o Christ, Come let vsus go forth into the field my brother, Cantic. 7. 11. We must now bring Christ into our field, to shew him our fruites, that he may afterwards bring vsus into his barnes to enioy his glorie.
Verse 23. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.] A third reason is here contained of Christs petition for vnitie in his members: namely, from the adiunct of perfection: they cannot be made perfect without it, neither can any man be a compleat Christian and true member of Christ, vnlesse there be a coniunction also with Christs bodie. So that to this perfection, there are three degrees of vnion expressed: the first of Christ the Mediator with God his Father: Thou in me: the second of Christ with his Church, I in them: the third of the members among themselues, That they may be perfit in one.
1 Here then where Christ saith, I in thē: we are taught that there is no true peace, concord, or vnion, but in Christ. So our Sauiour saith, That in me ye might hauehave peace, Ioh. 16. 23. and the Apostle: foreign, following the truth in louelove: there is no sound and true louelove but in the truth.
2 Dauid fretted in himselfe, and was disquieted, he could find no rest, nor peace, till he went into the Sanctuarie of God, Psal. 73. 17. Thus Saint Paule sheweth, that while he was vnderunder the law, he found nothing but death and condemnation: But I died, and the same commaundement which was ordained vntounto life, was found to be vntounto me to death, Rom. 7. 10. But after he was come to Christ, then he found, that there was no condemnation to them that were in Christ Iesus, Rom. 8. 1. It did not helpe the Apostle, that he was a Pharise, a circumcised Hebrew, Philip. 3. 5. confederate with the high Priest, Act. 10. 1. all this he counted as doung in respect of the knowledge of Christ.
3 The peace, friendship, and confederacie of men, is like the tempering of iron and clay together, that will not be ioyned. Dan. 2. 43. And like as when a man leaneth vponupon a broken staffe, the shiuers thereof will runne into his hand, 2. King. 18. 21. such is the peace and louelove of the world, it in the end turneth to hatred. Such was the friendship betweene Abimelech and the Sichemites, a fire went out from the one and cōsumed the other, Iud. 9. 20.
4 For peace is one of the fruites of the spirit, Gal. 5. 22. therefore as a man cannot gather grapes of thornes, nor figges of thistles, so neither is true peace to be expected in the world without Christ.
5 First then all externall peace, which is not combined and knit together by Christ, can not hold: such was the league betweene godly Iehosophat and wicked Ahab, it brought him into daunger of his life, 1. King. 22. 32. as the ioyning with Ahaziah the sonne of Ahab, was the cause of the losse of Iehosophats shippes, 2. Chr. 20. 37.
Secondly, we learne that there can be no true internall peace, but in Christ: there may be a carnall securitie,Three kinds of false peace. such as was in the old world, that gaue themselues to eating and drinking, till the floud came and destroyed them: but this is farre from true peace. The hypocrite also spareth no cost nor labour to be reconciled, he will bring thousands of rammes, and riuers of oyle, Micah. 6. 6. but he cannot find by his own workes the right way vntounto peace.
A third sort there is, that hauehave a feeling of this peace for a time, but it continueth not. As Ahab found the wrath of God somewhat appeased toward him, after he had humbled himselfe with fasting and sackcloth, 1. King. 21. 27. but he soone returned to his old sinnes, and kindled the wrath of God against him againe. The only true peace then with God is wroght by faith in Christ, Rom. 5. …. And the right concord and vnitie among men is made perfect by the profession of the truth: as the heart of Dauid and Ionathan were linked together in faith and in the feare of God.Paulin. Tom. 4. Hier…m. well saith: Vera est illa necessitudo, & Christi glutina copulata, quam non vtilitas rei familiaris, nec presentia tantùm corporum, non subdola & palpans adulatio, sed Dei timor, & diuinarum Scripturarū studia conciliant: That is true friendship, and ioyned together in Christ, which not priuate profite or the bodily presence, or flatterie; but the feare of God, and the studie of Scripture doth beget.
And hast loued them, Doct. 3.as thou hast loued me] Like as Gods louelove was manifested to Christ, when the holy Ghost descended vponupon him, whereby he was sanctified and replenished in his humane nature with all heauenly gifts and graces: at what time God proclaimed from heauen,Gods louelove best knowne by the graces of sanctification. that Christ was his beloued sonne, Mat. 3. So Gods louelove is not in any thing more euident toward his children, then when he endueth them with his holy Spirit, whereby they are sanctified: and therefore our Sauiour prayeth for their sanctification, that the world may know, that God loueth them.
1 Thus the Apostle testifieth: The louelove of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost, which is giuen vsus. Rom. 5. 5. that is, hereby the louelove of God is apparant toward vsus, because he giueth vsus his spirit, whereby we are sanctified.
2 Thus was the louelove of God confirmed toward the holy Apostle, who prayed, that the temptation of his flesh might depart from him, and receiued this answer: My grace is sufficient for thee. 2. Cor. 12. 9. The assistance of Gods grace was a sure testimonie of his louelove. So the Prophet Dauid prayeth: Make me to heare ioy and gladnesse, that the bones which thou hast broken may reioyce: and againe, Restore me to the ioy of thy saluation, and stablish me with thy free spirit, Psal. 51. 8. 12. He desireth none other testimonie of Gods louelove toward him, but that he may feele the inward comfort of Gods spirit.
3 For Gods louelove is best knowne by his best gifts; the best things he reserueth for those, whom he best loueth. Now the graces of regeneration, the spirituall giftes of faith, hope, and louelove, are without al comparison the most principall. As the Apostle saith: Desire you the best giftes, and I will yet shew you a more excellent way, 1. Cor. 12. 31. and then in the next chapter he treateth of faith, hope, and louelove.
4 Like as Ioseph sent vntounto Beniamin more plentifull measses of meate, Gen. 43. 34. and gaue him richer gifts, and more costly sutes of apparell, then to the rest of his brethren, Gen. 45. 22. so the Lord bestoweth the best gifts vponupon his owne children. As the father caused the fat calfe to be killed for his returned sonne, Luk. 15. so the fatnesse of spirituall graces the Lord vouchsafeth vntounto such, as truly turn vntounto him.
5 The vse of this doctrine is excellent, that we should not grieue to see the prosperitie, ease, and wealth of many worldly men: like as sometime the Prophet Dauid fretted in himselfe at that sight, Psal. 73. 2 But let vsus consider how plentifully the Lord doth recompence to his children the want of things temporall, with the eternall graces of the spirit. Dauid preferreth the light of Gods countenance before the abundance of wine, corne, oyle, or any other worldly endowment, Psal. 4. Augustine saith well: Si Deus tanta dat malis, quanta seruat bonis? If God giuegive such things, as riches, and prosperitie to the wicked, how great gifts hath he in store for his? Say not then in thine heart, why hath not God made me rich, honorable, strong, & beautifull? he hath giuen thee a better portion, the knowledge of his name, an heart to feare him, a conscience to abstaine frō euill. Where as thou seest a rich man giuen to oppression, a prophane person, a senslesse ignorant man: tell me, wouldest thou chaunge states with him? I think not: be content then with thy best lot, and desire still the increase and continuance of spirituall graces.