The Death Resurrection and Ascension of Christ, Part 1 (3 of 3)
And Ieſus ſtoode before the gouernor, who ſaid, what accuſation bringe ye againſt this man? They aunſwered, if he wer not an euil doer, we would not hauehave deliuered him vntounto thee. Then ſayd Pilate vntounto them: Take ye him therfore youre ſelues, and iudge him after youre owne lawe. Then the Iews ſaid vntounto him, it is not lawful for vsus to put any man to deathe. That the woorde of Ieſus mighte be fulfilled, which he ſpake, ſignifieng what deth he ſhould dye. Then they began to accuſe him, ſayeng, we hauehave taken this man peruerting the people, and forbiddinge to paye tribute to Ceaſar, and ſayinge, that he is. Chriſt a king, and Pilate aſked him ſaying. Art thou the king of the Iewes? And he aunſwered & ſaide, thou ſayeſt it. Then Pilate ſaid vntounto the high prieſtes & people I find no faulte in this manne. But they wexed more fierce, ſayinge, he ſtirreth the people, teching throughout all Iudea, beginning at Galiley euen to this place. And when Pilate heard mencion of Galiley, he aſked whether the man were of Galiley? And when he knewe that he longed to Herode his Iuriſdiction, he ſente him to Herode, who was alſo at Ieruſalem at that time.
HEre may we ſee by the Iewyſh prieſts & elders, what cōmeth of ſentences decyded & determined before ye iudgemēt be geuē, They had at once cōſpired the death of Chriſt, yea they adiudged hym to death, and therefore they thinke it not mete, that their iudgemente ſhould be counted vniuſt, and that there ſhuld be any farther inquiſition made. If he had not bene an euill doer (ſay they) we would not hauehave deliuered hym vntounto thee: Beholde with what vnſhamefaſtneſſe theſe moſte wicked men doe ſpeake, going about to ouercome the iudge by their impudent cry. So in theſe dayes ſentences are determined and geuen vponupon the Preachers of the goſpell before their cauſe come before lawfull iudges. If he were not (ſay they) an heretike, and worthy to be condempned we would not hauehave taken him: He hath done contrary to the counſels, cōtrary to ye ordinaunces of the fathers: He is a troubler and a deceauer, &c. By theſe cryes they do preuent the mindes of the iudges, that they ſhould think it againſt equitie to make any more inquiſition of thoſe which are brought befor thē, & by & by thei cō maund thē to be had away. The king of peace is falſly accuſed, of ſeditiō and tumulte, which ſtudie of reforming of things getteth much diſpleaſure of all men. VnderUnder the pretence of thys wicked acte, not only Chriſte, but alſo almoſte al the Prophetes are oppreſſed. In that Chriſt was not killed of the Iewes, but of the Gentiles, that is to ſaye, deliuered to the power of the Romaines. The Euangeliſt declareth that it was not done raſhly, for Chriſt had foretold hys diſciples that he ſhould be deliuered to the Gentils. They ioyne many accuſations together, & that by arte & a certayn craftines, of the which ſome touched the Iewes, & others ſome Pilate & the Gentiles, & al this was done to make Chriſt to be hated of all mē, & to alienate the mindes of all men frō him. Pilate litle cared for their accuſations which thei brought againſt Chriſt cōcerning theyr own law, but he reuēgeth ye cauſe of treaſō, thīkīg that that perteyneth to his office. I woulde to God ye princes which do perſecute the Goſpel would obſerue this equitie towardes the godly, whome they examine. There is no cauſe why the magiſtrate ſhould be affeard of the Goſpell & doctrine of Chriſt, which aboliſheth not the Magiſtrate, but rather eſtabliſheth it, & teacheth true obedience.
☞And when Herode ſawe Ieſus, he was exceding glad, for he was deſyrous to hauehave ſene him of a long ſeaſon, bicauſe he had heard many thinges of hym, & he hoped to hauehave ſeene ſome ſigne done by him. Thē queſtioned he with him of many thinges, but he anſwered him nothing. But the high prieſts & ſcribes ſtode forth and accuſed him vehemently: And Herode with hys men of warre deſpyſed hym, and whē he had mocked him & clothed him with a white garment he ſent him agayne to Pilate. And the ſame day wer Pilate & Herode made frēds together, for before they were enemies one to an other.
LEt vsus conſider here the mekenes & obedience of our hed, and capitain, who being him ſelf innocēt, is ſet before vniuſt iuges and tirauntes for vsus treſpaſſers. The Lambe without ſpotte openeth not hys mouth when he is mocked and made a laughing ſtocke to a tyraunt whiche was not worthye to heare the moſt ſwete wordes of Chriſt, & the doctrine of the truth, when as he was not deſyrous of the truthe, but rather curious of newe thynges. Let vsus learne of oure Maiſter, that if we be at any time vniuſtlye accuſed, if we be mocked & deſpiſed, we may be readye to ſuffer pacientlye all reproche for Chriſt and his truth. Let vsus not be reuengers of our owne glory & name. Let vsus remembre that we be worthye of euerlaſting reproch, for we are nothing but a lompe of ſinne. Let vsus ſeke our glorye in the croſſe of Chriſt, for it is the chiefeſt glorye to be out of eſtimaciō in thys world for chriſts ſake. There is no tyme of glory here: If we can ſuffer reproches with Chriſt, we ſhal alſo be partakers of hys glory. He which was god (ſayth Paul made him ſelf of no reputatiō taking vpō him the forme of a ſeruaunt, & became obedient vntounto the Father, euen to the death of the croſſe, wherfore ye father hath exalted him, & brought him to moſt high glorye. And hath geuen hym a name aboue eueryevery name. Therfore thei whiche wil be in dede glorious, muſte learne to ſuffer infamye & reproches wt Chriſt, they muſte alſo follow his humilitie & obedience. Let no man thinke that his glorye is diminiſhed, if that he humble him ſelfe & ſerue others. For by thys meanes his glorye is not diminiſhed but made more noble. How ſoeuer the vngodlye be at diſtance or diſcention in their minds one againſt another yet for al that in the perſecuting of the truth & of rightouſnes thei cā agree togethers.
☞ Thē Pilate called together the high prieſtes and the rulers, and the people, & ſaid vntounto thē: ye hauehave brought thys man vntounto me, as one that peruerted the people, and behold I examining him before you, do finde no faulte in thys man, of theſe thinges whereof ye accuſe hym. No nor yet Herode, for I ſente you to him, & beholde there is nothing worthy of death done by him. Then Pilate entred into the common hall agayne, & called Ieſus and ſayd vntounto him: Art thou the King of the Iewes? Ieſus aunſwered hym, ſayeſt thou that of thy ſelf, or did other tel it thee of me? Pilate aunſwered, am I a Iewe? Thine own nation & the high prieſtes hauehave deliuered thee vntounto me. What haſt thou done? Ieſus anſwered, my Kyngdome is not of thys world: if my kingdome were of this world my ſeruauntes would ſurely fyght, that I ſhould not be deliuered vntounto the Iewes, but now is not my kingdome frō hence: Pilate thē ſayd vntounto him, art thou a king thē? Thou ſayeſt that I am a king: For thys cauſe am I borne, and for thys cauſe came I into ye world, that I ſhould beare witnes to the truth, eueryevery one yt is of the truth hereth my voyce. Pilate ſaid to him, what is the truth? & whē he had ſaide that, he wente oute agayn vntounto the Iewes, and ſaid vntounto them, I fynde in hym no cauſe at all. But ye hauehave a cuſtome, that I ſhoulde deliuer you one looſe at che paſſeouer, wil ye therfore that I loſe vntounto you the King of the Iewes? Then cryed they all agayne, ſaying, not hym but Barrabas. Nowe thys Barrabas was a thiefe whiche was in priſon with the authors of an inſurrection made in the citie, wherin was murther committed. Thē Pilate ſpake vntounto them agayn, willing to let Ieſus loſe. But they cried, ſaying, Crucifye crucifie him. And he ſayd vntounto them the thyrd time, what euil hath he done? I fynde no faulte worthy of death in him. I wil therefore chaſtiſe hym and let him loſe.
PIlate at the firſte ſheweth a certaine ſemblaunce of Iuſtice and equitie, for that he goeth about to deliuer an innocente, and to pluck him out of their handes, and he being an heathen man doth beare witneſſe of the innō cency of Chriſt, but he is vnconſtant and wauering like a rede, and he fowly goeth againſt his conſcience, being moued partly by feare, & partly by gredy deſire to reygne. He ought not to hauehave ſuffred that he, whom he confeſſed to be innocente, ſhould be beaten of the ſouldiours, and muche leſſe to be crucified. For bycauſe, that Chriſt ſayth that hys kingdome is not of this worlde: the Anabaptiſtes abuſe thys ſaying, and would take away Magiſtrates from amongeſt Chriſtians. But they ſhould marke that Chriſt ſpeaketh of him ſelfe, & appoynteth the kingdome of the ſpirite. Chriſt came not to poſſeſſe a kingdome in ye world, but to ſet forth an example of humilitie and obedience. So in lyke caſe no Chriſtiā mā ought in his mind to be deſirous of a kingdome, no though he be choſen to gouerne others. So Chriſt was the king ouer the whole world, as he is alſo at this day, but he coueted not a kingdome, for he came not therfore but for to Preach: and yet for all that he denyed not him ſelf to be a king, but he deſired no kingdome but only of conſciences. So all preachers & miniſters of the word ought to do. For although thei be appointed ouer kingdomes & princes,Iere. 1. …. Cor. 10. yet ought they by no meanes to make ſuite for thē, as Ieremy ſaith, but thei ought to gouerne conſciences with the worde of God. So Paule ſayth, that the weapons of our warfare ar not carnal, but mighty through God to caſt downe holdes, by the which we ouerthrowe the deuiſes, and eueryevery high thyng, that is exalted againſt the knowledge of God, & we leade eueryevery thoughte captiue to the obedience of Chriſt, and we hauehave in a redines vengeaunce againſt al diſobedience. We may boaſt in this authority, whiche God hath geuen vsus for edification and not for deſtruction. I came for thys intent that I might beare witneſſe to the truth: as though he would ſay, I came not to the end to reigne but to beare witneſſe to the truth. To beare witneſſe of the truth, is the Periphraſis of a Preacher.To beare witnes to the truth. So Iohn was ſent to beare witneſſe of the lyghte, that is of the truth. So Chriſt ſayeth to his Apoſtels in the xv Chapter of Iohn, and ye are my witneſſes. Alſo in the laſt of Luke thus it is written, and thus it behoued Chriſt to ſuffer,Iohn. 1. and to ariſe agayn frō the dead the thyrd day, & that repentaunce & remiſſiō of ſinnes ſhoulde be preached in his name amongeſt al nations,Luke. 24 beginning at Ieruſalē. And ye be witneſſes of theſe thinges not only in Ieruſalē,Act. 1. but alſo in al Iury & Samaria, & finally vntounto the vttermoſt part of the earth. The father therfore ſent the ſonne into the worlde, to beare witneſſe vntounto the truth, that is to ſay, to make hym ſelfe knowen of the world, for he is the truth, Iohn the .xviiij. chap. And who ſoeuer hath but euen a crome of the truth within him, the ſame is begotten of him, & heareth his voyce. Chriſt is not onelyonly made equall with wicked perſons, but is caſt muche more lower thē wicked perſons. For the thiefe is looſed but Chriſt is killed. They geue a murtherer his life, but they deſyre to hauehave ye author of lyfe crucified: they chuſe a thiefe and reiecte a Sauiour. By the whiche we are taught not only the maliciouſneſſe of the Phariſeies, but alſo the inconſtancye & ingratitude of the common people. It was not long before that they cried and ſange Hoſanna, and extolled him riding vponupon the Aſſe with great prayſes, ſaying, bleſſed be he which commeth in the name of the Lord. Now they crie as faſte again, he is a deceauer, Let him be crucified. Let no man therfore hunt for prayſe of the people. Let no man glorye, if the common people prayſe hym. The wauering and inconſtante people is by and by perſwaded vntounto a contrarye ſentence, ſo he is curſed in deede that putteth his confidence in man. Pilate beareth witnes more then once of the innocencye of Chriſt, and ſaith that he doth fynde no cauſe of death in him. He is therefore vniuſte, bycauſe he ſuffreth an innocent to bee whypped. But he feared men more then God. A iuſte iudge ought not to punyſhe the giltles to get the fauour of other mē. The Romaines did put to death thoſe whō they had beatē. Although it ſemeth ye Pilate dyd not beate Chriſt to ye intent that he would put him to death, but … by this meanes. he might deliuer hī frō death All theſe thinges are done by the prouidence of God, that Chriſt might ſuffer all the puniſhementes, which euen the moſt wicked do. Here may we iudge the louelove of god the father which thruſteth his well beloued & only begottē ſōne for vsus vntounto moſt greuous punyſhmentes that we might alſo learne to beare pacientlye what things ſo euer ſhall happen vntounto vsus.
¶Then Pilate tooke Ieſus & ſcourged him, and the ſouldiors platted a crown of thorns, and put it on hys heade, and they clothed him wyth a purple garmente, and ſayde, Hayle Kyng of the Iewes & they buffeted him. And Pilate went forth agayne, & ſayd vntounto thē, behold I bring him forth vntounto you, that ye may know that I find no fault in hym at all. Thē came Ieſus forth wearynge a crown of thorns & a purple garmēt, & Pilate ſayd vntounto them: behold the man. Then when the highe prieſtes and officers ſaw him, they cried ſayyng. Crucifye him, crucifie him. Pilate ſaid vntounto them. Take ye him & crucifye him, for I finde no faulte in him. The Iewes aunſwered him, we hauehave a law, & accordinge to our law he ought to dy, bicauſe he made him ſelfe the ſonne of God, whē Pilate then hearde that worde, he was the more afeard and went againe in to the common hall, and ſayde vntounto Ieſus, whence art thou? But Ieſus gaue him no aunſwere. Then ſayde Pilate vntounto him ſpeakeſt thou not vntounto me? Knoweſt thou not that I hauehave powre to crucify the? and hauehave alſo power to loſe the? Ieſus āſwered, thou couldeſt hauehave no power at all againſt me, excepte it wer geuen thee from aboue. Therefore he that deliuered me vntounto thee, hathe the greater ſynne, from thenſe forthe Pilate ſought to loſe Ieſus, but the Iewes cried, ſaying, if thou loſe this man, thou arte not Ceaſars frende, Whoſoeuer maketh himſelfe a kyng ſpeaketh agaynſte Ceaſar.
PIlate is a figure of a tyrannous and negligente iudge, bearing a certayne ſhewe of righteouſneſſe, whē as in dede he hath not ſo much regard to it. So often tymes we outwardly ſhewe one thing, and inwardly in oure hart meane an other thing. He would hauehave ſaued Ieſus ſo that it might be done with Ceaſars fauoure and the Iewes. But if his hart had bene inflamed with the deſire of Iuſtice, he would not hauehave defended an innocent ſo careleſſely and coldly, but ſtoutly and vpryghtly. A iudge ought not to hauehave a reſpect to the fauoure or diſpleaſure of men, but vntounto the rule of equitie and lawe. They which be ſofte and weake, doe by litle and litle ſlippe, till at the length they declyne altogether from the ryght waye Whiche we may ſee by Pilate, who for that he doth not conſtantly proſecute yt whiche he knew to be ryght, is compelled at the length to geue ſentence agaynſt an innocent, his own conſcience accuſing him to the contrary, in cō dempning of whom he condempneth him ſelfe when as he ſaith with arrogant boaſting, that he hath power to loſe Chriſt. Whom the Lord doth gentelly reprehend,Rom. 13. declaring vntounto hym that no man can doe any thyng but ſo farforth as the Lord ſhall permitte. And bycauſe that al power is of God, therfore a Magiſtrate ought not to abuſe the ſame power to oppreſſe innocentes with all, euen as they luſt them ſelues. Alſo this is a comforte vntounto vsus, when as we know that mē cā do nothing vntounto vsus though they bee neuer ſo cruell, but ſo muche as the Lorde ſhall permitte them. Thys muſt we alſo marke, that the Father dyd laye our ſinnes vponupon Chriſte, therefore Chriſt was ſcourged for oure ſynnes, by whoſe ſtripes we are healed, by whoſe woundes oure woundes are cured. He offereth hys backe to them whiche ſtryke hym, and hys cheakes to them whiche buffet hym.Eſay. 53. Eſay. 20. Let vsus therefore with griefe remember the hepe of our ſynnes, which Chriſt ſuffred for in hys bodye, beinge deſpyſed and put to ſhame, that he myghte deliuer vsus from euerlaſtyng ſhame and punyſhmente, Let vsus alſo make readye oure backe and oure whole bodye to beare ſtripes for hym, whiche hath loued vsus with ſo great a louelove, Ieſus holdeth his peace, geuing an example to the Godlye, that they ſhoulde not greatly indeuour to excuſe or deliuer them ſelues when they ſhoulde ſuffer death for the truth.
☞And when Pilate hard that worde, he broughte Ieſus forthe, and ſatte down for to geue iudgemente, in the place which is called the paued place and in Hebrew Gabarha. And it was the preparation of the paſſeouer almoſt about the ſixt hower, & he ſaied vntounto the Iewes, behold your king. But they cryed awaye with him, awaye with him, crucifye him. Pilate ſayd vntounto them, ſhal I crucify youre kyng? The high prieſtes aunſwered we hauehave no kyng but Ceſar. And the hygh prieſts with the elders accuſed him of many thinges. And when he was accuſed of the chiefe prieſts and elders, he aunſwered nothing. Thē ſaid Pilate vntounto him, doſt yu not here how many witneſſes thei brīg agaīſt thee And he āſwered him not to one word after ye, inſomuch that the gouernor marueyled gretly. Now at ye feaſt the gouernour was wont, to delyuer vntounto the people a priſonner whome they woulde. And they had at that time a notable priſonner cal-Barrabas. which was in priſō with the authors of a ſediciō, in the which ſedicion they had cōmitted murther, when they were gathered then together, & that the people made a noyſe, he begā to requir them inſtātly, that he might do as he had alwayſe done vntounto them. Therfore Pilate ſaid vntounto them, whether wil ye that I loſe vntounto you Barrabas, or Ieſus which is caled Chriſt, for he knew ful wel, that they hadde delyuered hym for enuye.
THe Iewes deſyred nothing ſo much as to recouer theyr King. But nowe theſe moſte wicked perſons doe diſſemble that ſtoutly, to deſtroy Chriſt whiche tolde thē that he was a king, which was that king that was promiſed vntounto them. Of which king alſo there are amongeſt the Gentiles which witneſſed of him. For thus writeth Suetonious in the life of Veſpaſion, There ſpred thoroughoute the whole eaſt an olde and conſtante opinion, that it was deſtimed that at that time Iury ſhould obtayne the dominion of thinges. The Iewes applying that to them ſelues which was foreſpoken of the Romaine Emperoure, as it appeared in the end, rebelled and ſlewe their preſident. Moreouer they droue awaye the Liuetenant of Siria, comming to ſuccoure the gouernour, and ouerthrewe the Romaines ſtanderd. Thus farre writeth he. Where agayne we may learne alſo the lightnes and inconſtancye of the common people: when he fed them, they would hauehave made him a King: when he inueigheth againſt theyr peruerſe manners, they deſire to hauehave him crucified: He is therefore a foole and a mad man that ſticketh to the fauour of men. Thei preferre a thiefe & a murtherer before Chriſt an innocent, which is cō monly ſene now a dayes, yea & amongeſt thoſe whiche are called by the name of Chriſt, when as varlets and vngodlye men, deſpiſers of the truth, religion, and all godlynes are promoted to the gouernaunce of the common wealth, and to common offices, but they whiche are honeſt and ſimple men are deſpiſed. And where ſuche things are done, moſt hardeſt things are to be loked for to ſuche common wealthes: & what ſhoulde we hope for any other thing, when as vngodly men are promoted? If ſo be ye a maide clothed with a white garment woulde beleue that ſhe coulde kepe her clothes white amōgſt the middeſt of colliers. Shoulde ſhee not make her ſelf a laughing ſtocke to all mē? And what other thyng is an vncorrupte ſenate, then a certayne vndefiled Virgin decked with moſte pure ſilke? And if thou ioyne vntounto the ſame corrupte and naughtie men, then is it vnpoſſible, but that the ſenate ſhoulde be ſteyned and corrupted. Pilate wondereth not ſo muche at Chriſtes ſilence, as he doth bycauſe he defendeth not hys owne innocencye, whom he knew to bee an innocente, and to bee deliuered of enuye.
☞And as Pilate was ſyttyng to geue iudgement, his wife ſent vntounto him, ſaying: hauehave thou nothīg to do with that iuſt man, for I hauehave ſuffred many thinges this day in a dreame for him: but the chief prieſts and the elders perſwaded the people, that thei ſhould aſke Barrabas and ſhoulde deſtroy Ieſus: Then the gouernour aunſwered, & ſayd vntounto them, whether of the twaine will ye that I let loſe vntounto you? And they ſayde Barrabas. Pilate ſaid vntounto them, what ſhal I do then with Ieſus which is called Chriſt? They ſaid al vntounto him let him be crucified. whē Pilate ſaw yt he auailed nothing, but that more tumult was made, he tooke water and waſhed his handes before the people, ſayinge I am innocente of the bloud of thys iuſt man, ye ſhall loke to it: and al the pleople aunſwered, his bloud be vponupon vsus and our children. Then he willing to ſatiſfy the people, loſed vntounto them Barrabas, geuing ſentence that it ſhould be as they requyred. And he deliuered Ieſus to do with hym what they wuld to be crucified.
SOme aſcribe vntounto the ſuggeſtion of the deuill, that Pilate is admoniſhed by hys wyfe. But I thynke that it was done of God, bycauſe Pilate ſhoulde want no warnyng. So he admoniſhed Pharao very often tymes, to ſee if he coulde reuoke him by any meanes from hys purpoſe, that Goddes iuſtice myght be excuſed, and oure malice vnexcuſable. God hys prouidence and goodneſſe neuer wāteth, it neuer ceaſeth, but it reuoketh them which ſtraye. It alwayes geueth an occaſion to departe from euell and to doe good. Hys bloud be vponupon vsus (ſay they) whiche came to paſſe in dede, but they ſpeake theſe words in an other meaning. They woulde by thys ſaying ſhew them ſelues to be innocentes, ſo bold a thing is hipocriſie, that it dare boaſt it ſelf for an innocent, when as it knoweth it ſelfe to bee moſt corrupt. Pilate ſlippeth by litle and litle, which knowing Chriſt to be moſt innocente, & to be deliuered of malice, finding alſo no faulte in him, doth for al that ſuffer an innocent to be moſt cruelly beaten wt ſtripes, to demened with al kynde of euils & at the length to be puniſhed with death. Now he ſayth: Take ye him & kil him. And before he ſpake otherwiſe. But a iuſt iudge ought not to do ſo, but ought to defende him whom he knoweth to be an innocent, or to puniſh him which is conuicte of hys cryme. It auayleth nothing to waſh the hands with water, whē as the conſcience within is wounded. Neyther will it ſerue to ſay, looke ye to it, yea he muſt loke to it, which condemneth the iuſte man, and adiudgeth him to death, & alſo letteth looſe him which is giltie. If is not ynough to be once or twyſe cōſtāt, vnleſſe a man continue conſtantly in defending of iuſtice euen vntounto the end, neither ought he to be made affeard from doing ryght, eyther with threatnings or elles with flatteryes. A Iudge muſte contempne both the hatred and the fauoure of all men, he muſt fixe his eyes only vponupon iuſtice, and not to ſatiſfye the will of the people.
Thē the ſoldiors of the gouernor toke Ieſus into the common hall, and there gathered about him the whole bād, and when they had ſtriped hym they put on him a ſcarlet Robe, and they put on his hed a crown platted wyth thorns, and a rede in his right hand, and bowed theyr knees before him, and mocked him, ſaying hayle kyng of the Iewes: and when they had ſpitte vponupon him, they tooke the rede and ſmote hym on the hed: And when they hadde mocked hym, they tooke away the robe from hym, and put hys owne rayment on him, and led him away to crucyfy hym: And he bare hys croſſe & came into a place whyche is named the place of deade mens ſkulles and in Hebrew called G…lgatha. And as they led hym, they toke one Symon of Ciren, whyche came oute of the countrey, and was the father of Alexāder & Rufus, vpō hym they layd the croſſe, and compelled hym to beare the ſame after Ieſus: And there folowed him a greate multitude of people and women, whych women bewayled and lamented hym: But Ieſus tourned backe and ſayde vntounto them: Daughters of Ieruſalem, weepe not for me, but weepe for your ſelues, and for your chrildren, for behold the dayes will come, in the which men wil ſay: bleſſed are the barrein, & the wōbs that neuer bare, and the pappes which neuer gaue ſuck. Then ſhal they begyn to ſay vntounto the mountayns, fal vponupon vsus: and to the hilles, couer vsus for if they do theſe things to a grene tree, what ſhalbe doone to the drye? And there were two others whych were euel doers, led with him to be ſlayne, and when they came to the place whyche is called Caluarie, there they crucifyed him, & ye two other euell doers with him, the one on the right hand, and the other on the left and Ieſus in the middeſt: And the ſcripture was fulfilled which ſayth, he is counted with the wicked.
THe wonderfull great cruelty of the ſouldiors is deſcribed by the Euangeliſtes, whether they were hyred of the Iewiſh prieſts to do it or whether they did it of their owne luſte, ſo that they are rather to bee counted beaſtes then men, which hauehave ſo put away all humanitie. Moſte cruell wolues exerciſe their fierceneſſe vponupon a moſt meke Lambe. neyther can they be ſatiſfied with their outragiouſneſſe by any meanes, they beate hym, thei ſpitte vponupon him, they mocke him, only they deuoure him not. He which clotheth all thinges is ſtriped out of hys clothes. He whiche adorneth all things is made deformed. The mekeneſſe of Chriſt is to bee marked whiche receaueth all reproche in hym ſelfe for vsus, bearyng his owne croſſe to deliuer vsus from euerlaſting puniſhmente. He tooke vponupon him al our ſinnes making ſatiſfaction vponupon the tree for them that we might knowe to whom we ſhould flye, & on whom we ſhould lay the burthen of our ſinnes. Come vntounto me (ſayth he) all ye that labour and are laden and I wil refreſh you. Learne of me bycauſe I am meke and humble of hart. Take my yoke vponupon you, and ye ſhall fynde reſte for your ſoules. Let vsus caſte awaye therefore the burthens of our ſinnes, and ſubmit our neckes vnderunder the commodious and lyghte yoke of the Lorde. Let vsus take vp our croſſe, and followe our capitayne and Prince, by whom the world is crucified vntounto vsus, & we to the world. Bleſſed is he whom the Lord exalteth to ſo great an honour, to make hym companion with hym of hys croſſe. In that yt they bewayle that ye iuſt man is led forth, whome before they requyred to hauehave put to death, it ſetteth forth the inconſtancye, of the foolyſhe common people, and what it is to truſte vntounto them.
Chriſt ſemeth to ſignifie (as far as I cā iudge) by the grene tree perfect things, & by the drye tree, thinges of the Iewes now decaying: As though he would ſay: If ye when things be in ſafety, & that your thinges floryſhe, doe thus, what will be done then when things are deſperate, and whē your enemies ſhal oppreſſe you? If ye dare rage againſt me ſo vniuſtly & furiouſly, when as yet the lawes be in force and of ſtrength, what will they dare doe then when they are deuided amongeſt them ſelues, & whē as common lawes and ryghtes ſhall not be exerciſed by reaſō of warres & ſeditions? Others referre the grene tree to Chriſt, and the drye to the Iewes, as though he would ſay, If they rage ſo agaynſt me, which am innocent, what wil they commit againſt thoſe which hauehave putrified them ſelues in ſinnes. Let eueryevery man abounde in his own ſenſe, Furthermore Chriſt teacheth vsus, why we ſhould weepe, namely ſor our ſinnes, & punyſhment which we hauehave deſerued by ſinning, that we may preuent & turne from vsus the anger of God by true repentaunce by flying from ſinne and conuerting to Chriſt. Let vsus not bee aſhamed to bee infamous for Chriſts ſake, ſeing we ſee Chriſt our hed led amongeſt the wicked doers, and counted for the ryngleader of the vngracious, which committed no ſinne, neither was there guyle found in hys mouth,
☞And Ieſus ſayde: Father forgeue them, for they know not what they doe. And Pilate wrote alſo a title, & put it on the croſſe, And it was written Ieſus of Nazareth kynge of the Iewes: This title then red many of the Iewes, for the place where Ieſus was crucified was neare to the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Greeke and laten: Then ſayde the high prieſts of the Iewes vntounto Pilate, wryte not, The kynge of the Iewes, but that he ſayd, I am kyng of the Iewes, Pilate aunſwered: What I hauehave written I hauehave written. Then the ſouldiours when thei had crucified Ieſus, tooke his garments, and made foure partes, to eueryevery ſouldior a part, & his coat, & the coat was wtout ſeame, being wourn from the top throughout: They ſayd therfore one an other, let vsus not cut it, but caſt lotts for it who ſhal hauehave it, that the ſcrypture myght be fulfilled whych ſayeth: They parted my garmentes amongeſt them, and on my coate dyd caſte lottes. And theſe thynges in dede dyd the ſouldiors.
IEſus ſetteth forth to vsus an example of wonderfull mekeneſſe and louelove, for being reproched with moſt great infamye, and vexed with extreme euils of moſt wicked men, yet doth he make interceſſiō vntounto the father moſt feruently praying for thē which crucified him. Father (ſaith he) forgeue thē, they know not what they do. Thys dyd he to teache vsus to praye alſo for them which hurte and perſecute vsus, & to wyſh them good which curſe vsus. Mat. 5. Some of thē knew ful wel what they did, but Chriſt ſpeaketh ſo mildly, according to his naturall goodneſſe & mildneſſe: and he mitigateth their ſinne to teach vsus pacience and charitie. other ſome marked not what they dyd: Agayne other ſome being ſeduced by the high prieſtes and Phariſees were ignoraunte, what greate miſchiefe ſhould come therof. Oh the inuincible goodnes of Chriſt. Oh the vncomprehenſible louelove. Oh the vnſpeakable gentilnes which could not be ouercome by any euils, by any cruelty, or fierſenes, ſomuch as to ſpeake one harde or vngentle worde were it neuer ſo ſmall. Here is that fulfilled whiche Eſaye Prophecyed,Eſay. 53. he hath borne the ſinnes of many, & he prayed for tranſgreſſours, that they might not periſhe. Who wil now diſpayre of the gooddeſſe of God and forgeueneſſe of ſynnes, when as they obtayne grace and remiſſion of ſinnes, which hauehave crucifyed the fountayne of grace? Let no man therefore dyſpayre of hys ſaluation, though he hauehave ſynned neuer ſo grieuouſlye, ſo that caſtyng awaye hys packe of ſinnes he runne vntounto Chriſt, by true fayth and repentaunce. The gates of Gods mercye are yet open, Chriſte reiecteth no man that is deſyrous of ſaluation and of a newe lyfe. Let vsus remember theſe thynges continuallye, that the fountayne of Gods mercye can neuer bee extinguiſhed by our ſynnes, it can neuer bee emptied,Ioan. 1. zach. 13. of whoſe fulneſſe all men maye drawe, the fountayne of the bloude of Chriſt is euer flowyng in the Churche: for the remiſſion of ſynnes. If we be armed with theſe weapons, then ſhall we be ſafe agaynſt Sathan, whiche is buſilye …ccupied to driue vsus being ouerwhelmed with the heape of ſynnes to deſperations. The ſanctuarye is open to all them whiche beleue in Chriſt, wherein they fynde a ſure defence,Heb. 10. and vnpregnable place of refuge agaynſt all temptations. In that he hangeth naked vppon the Croſſe, and is ſpoyled of hys garmentes by moſte vyle men, it teacheth vsus to beare willingly pouertye, and the robbing of our goodes …lthough they bee moſte wicked which do put vsus to infamye, and ſpoyle vsus of our goods. Let vsus remember we entred naked into the world, and naked ſhall we goe out of it. Let vsus leaue …heſe thynges whiche bee of the worlde, vntounto …he worlde, and make haſte in mynde to oure …eauenlye Father with whome we ſhall dwel …erpetuallye, and hauehave the fruition of heauen…y thynges, which will endure euerlaſtynglye. Let vsus being naked,2. Cor. 5. follow Chriſt which was naked, which will not ſuffer vsus to bee naked, but will clothe vsus with a wedding garment & vnſpeakable glory. They kepe hyd of purpoſe that he made him ſelfe the Sonne of God, to pleaſe the Romaines withall, whoe bare then the chiefe ſwey in all thynges.
☞And they whyche paſſed by reuyled hym waggyng theyr heddes ſaying: Art thou he that deſtroyedſt the temple, and buyldeſt it agayne in three dayes? Saue thy ſelfe if thou be the ſonne of God, come down from the cros. Lykewiſe alſo the hygh prieſts mockyng hym wyth the ſcrybes and elders, ſaid, he hath ſaued others, can can he not ſaue hymſelf? If he be the kyng of Iſrael. Let him come down now frō the croſſe, & we wyll beleue hym, he truſteth in God, let hym delyuer hym now, if he wyl hauehave hym, for he ſayde, I am the ſonne of God: The ſame alſo the thieues whyche were wyth him caſt in hys teeth and reuiled him:If he will that is if he fauor hym. Namely one of the euel doers, whych honge by hym rayled on hym ſaying, if thou be chryſt ſaue thy ſelfe and vsus: but the other aunſweared and rebuked him ſayinge feareſt not thou god, ſeing thou arte in the ſame condemnation? And we are in dede rightouſly, for we receue thynges worthye of that we hauehave done, but this man hath done no euell. And he ſayd vntounto Ieſus, Lord, remember me when thou comeſte to thy kingdome: And Ieſus ſaid vntounto hym, Verelye I ſaye vntounto thee, thys daye ſhalte thou bee with me in paradiſe.
IN Chriſt is ſet forth vntounto yt faythfull a moſt abſolute example of all vertues, which ſhuld neuer be ſeperated from their ſight, being alſo beſides that the price of our redemption. He tooke vponupon hym for our ſake all manner of reproche, he is reuiled frō the loweſt to the higheſt, no man pitieth him, no man hath compaſſion on him being afflicted, no man comforteth him, they rage agaynſt him moſt cruelly without mercy, and yet could not hys goodneſſe be ouercome by theyr malice. Nothing coulde plucke hym backe, from the worke of oure ſaluation, which he had begonne, nothing coulde withdrawe him from hys office. Let vsus follow our hed, and deſpiſe what ſoeuer is delectable & glorious in the world,Math. 10. Luke. 21. let vsus alſo willingly ſuffer reproche, following the ſteppes of hys humilitie & pacience. Let there be nothing ſo hard nothing ſo paynefull to feare vsus awaye from our vocation. For in pacience we ſhall poſſeſſe our ſoules, and he whiche abideth to the ende ſhall be ſaued. Let vsus not be aſhamed to be euill ſpokē of for Chriſt: Let vsus not be aſhamed of the witneſſe of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, neither let vsus be abaſhed if any afflictions be to be ſuffred for his ſake.…. Tim. 1. For if we hauehave bene partakers of his croſſe, we ſhall alſo be parteners of his glory. All thinges though they be neuer ſo hard or paynefull ſhall be welcome vntounto vsus, if we ſhall conſidre that our hed hath ſuffred the ſame thinges before. In the thiefe is ſet forth an example of Gods louelove and grace, whiche is not denyed, yea euen to moſte greate ſinners, if that with a true fayth they call vponupon God by Chriſt, if they acknowledge Chriſt to be theyr Sauiour, if they repente from the bottome of the harte. Let vsus alſo acknowledge our ſinnes with the thiefe, Let vsus acknowledge remiſſion of ſinnes to come by Chriſt, and we ſhall finde the lyke comforte at his handes. We muſte in the meane time acknowledge and confeſſe that we are worthye both of eternall death and alſo of infamye for our wickedneſſe, and we muſt caſt our ſelues vponupon the grace of Chriſt, which is our righteouſneſſe and life: when our conſciences are ſore troubled, and as it were in mā ner deſperate, we muſte runne vntounto Chriſt, & ſaye, Remember me Lorde in thy Kingdome. Great is his mercye which loued vsus and gaue his Sonne for vsus, that by him we might liue. He deſireth not the death of a ſinner but that he may be conuerted and liue. I expound paradiſe for all kinde of ioye and pleaſure, this daye ſhalt thou reioyce with me, and hauehave the fruttion of eternall pleaſures. By theſe wordes is the error of the ſlepers confuted, whiche ſaye, yt the ſoules departed out of the bodye do ſlepe: The ſoules of the Godly ſlepe not, but as ſone as they bee looſed from the bodyes they are in vnſpeakeable ioye with Chriſt.
☞And it was aboute the ſixte howre, and there ſtoode by the croſſe of Ieſus, his mother & his mothers ſiſter Mary the wife of Cleophas and Marye Magdalen. Then when Ieſus ſaw his mother, and the diſciple whome he loued ſtanding by, he ſaid vntounto hys mother, woman beholde thy ſonne. Then ſayd he to the diſciple behold thy mother. And frō that howre the diſciple toke her for hys.
WE hauehave now very often ſpokē of the moſt great infamye whiche Chriſt ſuffred, and of the extreme ſorrow wherewith he was afflicted, which declareth his exceding great louelove towards vsus, when as nothing is more vnpleaſaunt vntounto man, then loſſe of his fame & glory. Moreouer what is more greuous vntounto ye fleſh then to bee beaten and wounded? It is meete the refore that we louelove him, whiche of his vnſpeakable louelove hath ſuffred moſt greuous thinges for our ſakes, ſo that he mighte deliuer vsus frō euerlaſting puniſhment & infamye. It happeneth ſomtimes yt in afflictions, ye preſence of frendes, doth bring cōfort & mitigate ye ſorrow. But in Chriſt al thynges are otherwiſe, for he receaueth no conſolation by his Mother ſtanding by, but a more greuous ſorowe, when as neyther he cā helpe his mother, nor his mother him. In the meane time his fayth and louelove towards his mother ceaſſeth not, but he dying cō mendeth her to his welbeloued Diſciple, which ſhoulde thenceforth take care ouer her in his ſtede. But in that Iohn writeth that his Mother ſtode by the croſſe, it is not done without a reaſon, and a certaine Emphaſis, for by theſe wordes is ſignified that there was a conſtancye of fayth with an exceding greate modeſtye in his Mother, which conſtancye might mitigate her vnmeaſurable ſorow, yea and myghte fortifie her, and ſtaye her vp. This vertue being in the beleuers maketh them, that they can commit nothing vnworthily in trouble, neither can they altogether fall, the Lorde aſſiſting thē with his hand.
☞And from the ſixte howre there was darknes ouer the whole earth vntounto the ninth howre, and the ſunne was darkned, and about the ninth howre Ieſus cryed wyth a loud voyce, ſayenge. Ely, Ely lama azaſthaui. That is, my God, my god, why haſt thou forſaken mee? And ſome of them that ſtode by there whē they heard it ſaid: thys mā calleth Helias, and ſtraight wayes one of them ran and tooke a ſponge and fylled it with vineger & put it vponupon a reede, and gaue it him to drinke, but other ſayde, let be, let vsus ſee if Helias will come and ſaue hym.
CHriſt in all his torments both of body and mynde, hath nothing to lighten his payne though it were neuer ſo litle: the Lord did thruſt hym down and drowne him in all euils, and tooke awaye from him all comforte, to the end we ſhould not diſpaire if the lord ſomtimes withdrawe his comforte from vsus in temptations and ſeme to be a ſlepe. In the meane tyme Chriſt declareth in hym ſelfe to bee of the true nature of man, and ſheweth the weakeneſſe of the fleſhe, to put them to ſhame, whiche fayne that Chriſt had a fantaſticall bodye, or do take from hym the felyng of payne. Alſo the vayne and hipocritical opinion of the Stoikes is here confuted which make their wiſe mā to be with out griefe. Chriſt is not ſo and yet was there neuer any at any tyme eyther more holy than he, or els more abſolute in vertue, but he groneth, he wepeth, he is ſorrowful, and he complayneth to the Diſciples of hys lot, he crieth that he is forſaken, when as neuertheleſſe in an other place he ſaith, that he is not alone,Pſalm. xvi. but hys father is with him, yea his Diſciples forſaking him. We ſee therefore that thys is ſpoken after the faſhion of men, & that in our perſon, who toke vponupon him ſelfe all our infirmitie, but yet without ſinne. The Lord teacheth vsus by this figure, what he requireth of thē which worſhip him, namely to denye thēſelues wholly and to be redye to follow theyr capitayne in all thynges, yea though the conſolation of god be abſent or withdrawne. For it is not ſo great a matter to beare the croſſe, if a man feele pr… ſent conſolation. For the more he feeleth conſolation, the leſſe doth the burthen of afflictions trouble him. It is pleaſaunt to all fleſhe to receaue grace or conſolation in aduerſities, but wholly to denye him ſelf, and to ſeeke neyther in him ſelf nor without him ſelfe any thing, but God only in al things. Here is the work…, here is the labour: This finally declareth him to be a ſtoute ſouldier of Chriſt. Let it not therefore be greuous to vsus if we bee forſaken of all men, yea and of our moſt dereſt frends. This is not one dayes worke, but it requyreth a longe and continual fight, if a mā wil ouercome him ſelfe and cleaue only to God. A man is hardened by afflictions, ſo that all thynges be they neuer ſo paynfull will be eaſye. Let vsus not therfore deſpayre if the Lord ſomtimes hide away & withdrawe hys ayde and comforte from vsus. Thys is no newe or rare thing to thoſe which are exerciſed in the waye of God and in the ſpiritual battayle. Courſes of thynges are altered, ſo that after rayne and tempeſtes, followeth moſt pleaſaunte fayre weather and calmes. The Lord is neuer vnmyndfull of hys, how ſo euer he diſſemble ſometymes, whiche is myghtie to comforte vsus after oure longe temptation, and yt with a great increaſe of ſpirituall ioy. Wherfore the ſaintes complayne in their extreme aduerſities that they be forſaken of god, when as yet for all that in the meane tyme they diſpaire not, but deſyre helpe of God ſo much the more feruently, as they doe acknowledge them ſelues to bee more forſaken, nothyng doubting, but that God wil be preſent in tyme, and ſhew forth hys power in theyr weakenes. We muſt therefore according to the example of Chriſte ſtande ſtedfaſte in afflictions, neyther muſte we come downe from the croſſe, how ſo euer our enemyes rage or bee woode agaynſte vsus. We ſhall ſee ſtreyght waye God will ayde vsus from aboue. He is ready to ſuccor them which fyghte and hope in hys grace: And althoughe he ſeeme ſomtymes to vsus to deferre or to bee a ſlepe, thys is done to geue vsus an occaſion to fyght, & ſo by that meanes to ouercome: Theſe thynges happen vntounto vsus from oure moſte pitifull. Father to trye our fayth and to teache vsus to acknowlede our weakenes, to flye vntounto him and to requyre helpe of him. Let their doctrine therefore be put awaye from the Churche of Chriſt, whiche affyrme Chriſt to hauehave diſpayred vponupon the croſſe. But let vsus rather thynke thus, that the heauenly Phiſition tooke vponupon him ſelf al euils for vsus,Heb. 2. that we myght acknowledge that we hauehave a faithful high prieſt, which can be ſicke with them whiche bee ſicke, and to hauehave compaſſion of oure infyrmitie.
Chriſt ſoroweth with them which are ſorowfull, and the hed powreth out his complaynte for the members which are ſicke. This voyce is of the fleſhe, whiche feleth payne, & yet doth it not rebell nor diſpayre: Innocent fleſh feleth extreme payne, a moſte holy bodye feleth moſte greuous torment, which is ſo wonderful great that euen the inſenſible creatures beare witneſſe that they be ſorowfull concernyng a certayne horror for the death of theyr creator. Chriſt expreſſeth thys vnmeaſurable griefe by …xample and graue wordes.
☞Afterward when Ieſus knewe that all thinges were finyſhed that the ſcriptur might be fulfilled, he ſaid, I thirſt. And there was ſet a veſſel ful of vineger, and they filled a ſponge with vineger and yſope, and put to hys mouthe. Then when Ieſus had receaued the vineger, he ſayde, it is finyſhed.
THere is no member in Chriſt withoute paine and torment. Wherin we may perceaue partly the louelove of the father, which put hys Sonne ſo forth to all euils for vsus, and partly the cruelty and ingratitude of ye Iews. God hath not ſpared hys owne Sonne (ſayeth Paule) but hath deliuered hym for vsus al. The heauenly Phiſition ſetteth before vsus a remedy againſt the diſeaſe of our firſt parents, who by the prouocation of the apple, would ſatiſfie their appetite whereby ſynne hath flowed into vsus all. Chriſt therfore woulde not offend with his tonge, that he might heale thys diſeaſe: teaching in the meane tyme all the Godly to temper them ſelues from the delicateneſſe & pleaſures of the body, wherby the feare of god doth almoſt growe out of vſe in the hartes of men. In that he ſayeth, it is finyſhed, he declareth that whatſoeuer thynges were Prophecied of him in the law and Prophetes, are now finyſhed. For al did demōſtrate Chriſt, & the ſhaddowes and olde figures were put oute, when Chriſt the true light ſhined: Of ye which thing we hauehave ſpoken more aboundauntlye in other places. Let vsus learne here that our ſaluation is finiſhed in Chriſt, and let vsus not ſeke it any further in other things beſides Chriſt. There remayneth nothing whiche can be added vntounto it eyther by the Pope, or by any creature. Thys is left that we ſhould followe the accompliſher of our fayth conſtantly and ſtoutely, and to abide in our calling euen to the end,2. Tim. 4. 1. Gor. 9. that we may at the length ſay with Paule, I hauehave fought a good fighte, I hauehave finiſhed my courſe, I hauehave kept the fayth, and that we runne not as in an vncertaine courſe, but yt we may win the price.
☞And Ieſus cried with a loude voice, Father into thy handes I committe my ſpirite, And when he had ſayde thus he bowed hys hed and gaue vp the Ghoſt.
THe lyfe of al mortall men dieth vponupon the croſſe, as touching the fleſh, opening vntounto vsus by his death the way of life, and deuouring death by his death. An innocēte dyeth for wicked mē, a lābe wtout ſpot is made a moſt acceptable ſacrifyce vntounto the father for our ſinnes: Let vsus pore wretches therfore flye vntounto ſo healthful a death, and draw out our life there. Furthermore let vsus alſo learne to dye dayly to the the affections of the fleſh: we muſt caſt away the world, and thoſe thinges which are in the worlde, that beynge cleane from the contagiouſnes of the world, & ſo beynge naked we may follow Chriſt naked, in whome hereafter we muſt both liue and dye: we muſt offer our ſelues wholy vntounto him which hath offred himſelfe for vsus, in whoſe mercye we puttinge our truſt, let vsus commend our ſoules to the father which is a true God, & hath redemed vsus.
☞And beholde the vayle of the temple was rent into two partes from the top to the botome, and the earth did quake and the ſtones were clouen, & the graues wer open, and many bodies of the ſaintes which ſlept, aroſe and came oute of the graues after his reſurrection, and wente into the hollye citye, and appeared to many. But when the Centurion, and they which were with hym watching Ieſus, ſaw the erth quake & the things that were done, they feared greatly ſaying, trulye this was the ſonne of god. For when the Centuriō, which ſtode ouer againſt hī, ſaw that which happened, and that he thus crienge gaue vp the Ghoſt, he glorified God ſaying. Truly this man was iuſte & ye ſon of God. And al the peple that came together to that ſight, and had ſene the thinges whych happened retourned ſmiting theyr breaſts.
THe vayle is rent, this is of the kind of examples which are called pure or dombe. where examples teache and ſpeake with deedes and without wordes. The like wherof is when Ezechiell is cōmaunded to burn ſome of the clipped heares, and to caſt awaye other ſome. Alſo when as Tarquinius walkinge in a gardein did out of with a ſtaffe before his ſōs ſeruant the chief toppes of the poppye. So the vayle being rent doth teach vsus that al fygures ar accōpliſhed in Chriſt, and whatſoeuer hath bene hidden or kept ſecret in the old teſtament is now expounded, the dayle beyng takē away & his bloud being ſhed entred into the Sanctū Sanctorum. So he ſpake by the earth quake & by other ſigns to declare, firſte the vnworthines of the thinge, which the earthe coulde not beare whilſt his creator ſuffred.
Secondly to ſhake of as it were an old garmēt declaring that it would one day put on a newe face by his preaching, which now ſuffred, and that it ſhould be moued by the preaching of the Goſpell. Where the Goſpell & death of Chriſt is Preached there do the foundacions and corners of the earth tremble: the fleſhe quaketh & is troubled when that it heareth that hys workes are nothing worthe,Prolip…. and that the death of Chriſt hath thoroughly payed all thinges. But in that it is written that the dead dyd aryſe agayne, that is done by a figuratiue ſpeache of Hebrewe. For fyrſt he ſetteth forth as it were by a generall propoſition, all things that were done but yet at ſundrye times, then he entreateth of eueryevery perticular thing, for by and by he returneth to his buriall. So the dead did then ryſe agayne from death and come into the citie when Chriſt was now riſen, which is the firſt fruites of thē which ſlepe: and that they might teſtifie that they liued in deede, they appeared vntounto many that the Iewes might the eaſlyer beleue yt they ſhoulde alſo one day ryſe againe, when as they ſee Chriſt & their elders to hauehave riſen agayne. So the ſtones doe deteſt the vnworthyneſſe of the thyng, and the hardneſſe of the Iewes, which do crucifie theyr Sauiour. Moreouer alſo they doe ſignifie the Gentiles whiche be a harde people, and yet for all that, they ſhould be clouen and ſubdued to the Goſpell: Into the holy citie. So was Ieruſalem called in the olde tyme: but it was ſo corrupted with naughtineſſe and wickednes, that it was made rather a denne of theues. Eſay. 1. The bodye of Chriſt (as it ſemeth) was cōmitted to the Centurion and his ſouldiours to bee watched, for the ſouldiers crucified him. This Cē …urion when he ſawe the wonderfull thynges that happened, knewe that Chriſte was more then a man, which he teſtified and confeſſed wt … loude voyce. Theſe thinges are not written without a cauſe: As though the Euangelyſte woulde ſay, Though that man were a Gentile and a warrior, neuertheleſſe he gaue God the glory. To geue God the glorye after the He…rewe Phraſe, is to beleue the truth, to cōfeſſe the true god, & to cleaue vntounto the truth. Firſt …e calleth him a iuſte man, and thys is the firſt …egree vntounto fayth, and then he calleth him the …onne of God. The ſmyting of the breaſt, hath …n admiration with griefe and ſhame. For thei which cryed crucifie him, now are ſory and are …ricked in conſcience. Wherby is noted beſides …he grief which followed of ſinne, alſo the incō …tancye of the people whiche before tooke the prieſtes part, and now take Chriſtes part.Pricking of conſcience followeth wicked acts So …o late at laſt commeth ſhame and puniſhment. So in lyke caſe came it to paſſe in our firſt Fa…her Adā, that he was aſhamed bicauſe he was …aked, when as he was alſo neuertheleſſe na…ed before hys ſinne. He whiche bendeth hys mynde to commit wickednes, perſuadeth with …imſelfe that he can be hidden, but it commeth …o paſſe otherwiſe, for the day of the Lord re…ealeth al thinges, & alſo the conſcience it ſelf.1. Cor. 3. But put caſe it be not made manifeſt here, yet for al that it ſhalbe reueled at the comminge o… the lord before the whole world.Math. 10. Time vteret… al things, & ther is nothīg ſo ſecret which ſha… not one day be reuealed. After ſinne folowet… ſhame, feare and trouble.
☞Then the Iewes bicauſe it was th… preparation of the paſſouer, that th… bodyes mighte not remayne vponupon the croſſe on the Sabaoth daye (for that Sabaoth day was a hygh day) deſyred Pilate that theyr legs migh… be brokē & the bodyes taken down. The ſoldiors therfore came & brake the legges of the fyrſte, and alſo o… the ſeconde whyche were crucifyed wyth hym, but when they came vntounto Ieſus, and ſaw that he was alredy deade, they brake not his bones, but one of the ſouldiours thruſte a ſpeare into his ſide, and incontenently there ran foorth water and bloud, and he which ſawe it bare witnes & hys witnes is true: and he knoweth that he ſpeketh the truth, that ye alſo myght beleue.Exod. 12. For theſe things wer done that the ſcripture might be fulfylled, ye ſhall not breake a bone of hym. And againe an other ſcrypture ſayeth. They ſhall looke vponupon hym, whome they hauehave perſed.
THe preparacion whereof is here ſpoken, I take to be for the Sabaoth following, and not for the eating of the lamb, for that was almoſt paſt, but ye .vii. daies laſted ſtil, in which they did eat vnleuened bred. And this ſabaoth bicauſe it fel within the dayes of the paſſeouer was called a gret day, becauſe it was the moſt ſolemn. The euāgeliſt doth manifeſtly enough declare that all theſe thinges were not doone raſhly, but that the truth mighte correſponde with the fygures. The Church is built out of the ſyde of Adam ſleaping, and out of the ſame floweth forth water to waſhe the ſinnes of the whole worlde. The gate is opened that there might be a ſanctuary in that place for all beleuers, and a hole made in the rocke, where as many as labor do fīde reſt, ther ye hart opened yt we might nothing doubt of louelove. This founteyne of Gods mercy neuer ceaſeth to ſpreade abrode, of whoſe fulnes all they which thurſte do drinke and are refreſhed, that it mighte be made in them a foūteine of water ouerflowing to eternal life: Let vsus therfore draw water out of the fauntaynes of our ſauiour, that we may herafter lyue vntounto hym alone, which is ſo woū ded for vsus, which doth open his harte vntounto all men, and ſayth, geue me your hart O my children. Here ſhal the ſhepe of Chriſt find the ryuers of life, and the gate thorough which they goe in and out at. I woulde to God the Lorde would woūd our harts with his louelove,Pro. 23. that we might ryghtly weigh & cōſider ſo gret a louelove to yt which we cā neuer worthely enough āſwer, no though we ſhould dye a. M. times for him Let vsus learne therfore by the death of Chriſt to acknowlege our own deth, which as it was dew vntounto vsus, ſo alſo was it taken away by hys death. Let vsus alſo learn to dye vntounto ſinne, and affections, and take vp our croſſe and followe Chriſt, that when Chriſt ſhal appeare, we alſo may appere with him in glory.
☞And when the euen was come, becauſe it was the preparation of the paſſeouer, which went before the Sabaoth, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Ioſeph a counceller and an honeſte ſenator, a good man and a iuſt, he did not conſente to the counſell and deede of them, whiche alſo hymſelfe wayted for the kyngdome of God, and therwithall was a diſciple of Ieſus, but ſecretlye for feare of the Iewes, he taking boldenes went vntounto Pilate and aſked the body of Ieſus. And Pilat meruelled if he were alredy dead, and called vntounto hym the centurion, and aſked him if he had bene anye while deade, and when he had knowne the trueth of the Centuriō, he gaue ye body to Ioſeph who bought a ſilken cloth, and toke down the body and wrapped it in a cleane ſilken clothe. And there came alſo Nycodemus, whych came to Ieſus before by night, bringinge myrhe and aloes mingled togethers about one hundreth poundes. Then toke they the body of Ieſus, & wrapped it in lynnen cloth wyth the ſpices as the manner is of the Iewes to bury. And there was in the place where he was crucifyed a gardeyn, and in the gardeyn a new ſepulchre, wherein was neuer man yet layde. Then Ioſeph put the body of Ieſus in hys new tombe, which he had hewen oute in a ſtone, there therefore layd they Ieſus, becauſe the Iewes preparation day, for the tombe was nere. And when he had roled a great ſtone to the dore of the ſepulchre he departed.
THis worde Decurio, in the olde tyme did ſignifie to Latten men a ſenator, and rather taketh hys name of Curia, that is to ſaye, of the courte, and not of thys woorde Decem which ſignifieth ten. Ioſephe is called Iuſte, not that he was without ſinne. but bycauſe he abhorring from the councell of the vngodly, conſented not to the death of Chriſt, and bicauſe he wayted for the kingdome of heauē. So alſo are we iuſte if we receaue Chriſte by fayth whom they wayted for, and if we keepe our ſelues vnſpotted from thys worlde▪ For Chriſt is our righteouſneſſe: That man ſetteth forth an example both of greate conſtancie and alſo of fayth. For in how great a daunger doth he put him ſelfe, when as he conſenteth not or els withſtandeth the enterpriſes of the malicious? Who ſeeth it not to be a preſent daunger for any man to aſke the bodye of Ieſus in ſo great hatred, and crueltie, and to burye it honourably? But fayth if it be a true fayth, attempteth great and perillous thinges with an inuincible courage. When as then the Euangeliſte ſaith that he was a noble and riche mā, we muſte not regard that onelyonly in him, but the Euangeliſt ſetteth forth hys couragious mind and great fayth. As though he woulde ſaye, although he were ſuche a man, yet coulde neyther fauoure, nor feare nor ryches make hym declyne from the truth to conſent to the endeuoure of the wicked. Beſides that he was ſo ſtoute, that alſo after hys death, whē as others blaſphemed and contemned him, he wente vntounto the iudge nothing abaſhed, neither feared he to burye him, whom all men had condemned. Let vsus thinke the ſame of Nicodemus, & hauehave a regard not of what power and riches he was, but of how great fayth, and boldenes of minde. Let vsus marke with how great an argumente they beare witnes of their fayth which do put themſelues forth to the diſpleaſure of all men and to the daunger of lyfe for Chriſtes ſake. If they had followed him in his lyfe time, they had not vttered ſo greate fayth, as when they cleaue vntounto him being vilelie reproched & condemned: neyther are they aſhamed to honoure hym very noblye whom all men deteſted as a wicked one. They therefore whiche before hyd thēſelues and diſſembled the matter for feare, come now forth with glorye, to the example of al the faythful. It commeth to paſſe ſomtimes yt they which be very timorous, do when time ſerueth fyght more couragiouſly and ſtoutely, namely takyng harte agayne vntounto them. We learne here alſo that riches and power may be ioyned wt fayth, and they adde a great honoure to the beleuers. Riches hinder nothyng if the eye be ſimple and the mynd faythful. To waite for the kingdome of heauen is a Periphraſis of the faythful: He loked for the kingdome of god, that is he was a faythfull man he beleued. And ſurely his faith was no ſmal faith, which durſt thinges being yet freſhe in the middeſt of the rage of the furious and malicious mē, aſke the body of Chriſt. There was in theſe men a perfect and an approued vertue, whiche as it ſticketh vntounto god, ſo cā it neuer bee made aſhamed or fall. In that he putteth Ieſus into his own Sepulchre, he declareth his vehemente louelove towardes Ieſus. For we be all ſuche louers of our ſelues that we wil not ſo much as lend our neighbors any thing of ours. He roleth a ſtone to ye gate of the graue, yt the bodye of the innocent might not be violated by the vnbeleuers, which is a tokē of an earneſt care & of godlines And God vſeth this thyng for a witnes of the reſurrection wherfore god often tymes doth diſpoſe the workes whiche we doe, otherwyſe then we purpoſed, In the meane it is not done without the ordinaunce of God that Chriſt is put into a newe tombe, wherein none had euer bene buryed, leaſt the enuye of the Phariſees would falſly hauehave alledged Chriſt to hauehave ryſen by the power of an other. But in all theſe things doth the prouidence of God ſhine forth, which ſtyrreth vp the hartes of the Godly to this thing, to burye the moſt holy body of their Chriſt honourably, leaſt it ſhould lye or be caſt forth withoute renowne and vnburyed, & that by the honourable burial the prophecy of Eſay in the xi. Chapiter, mighte be fulfilled, ſaying, and his reſt ſhal be gloryous. Nowe after hys humiliation and ignominye beganne the tyme of glorification, and of a newe and immortall life which Chriſt the fyrſt fruites of thē which ryſe agayne from the dead ſheweth forth.Ioan. xvii. The graue is new, the linnen white and cleane that all thinges might ſignifie a certayne newnes vntounto thoſe whiche are baptiſed in the death of Chriſt, being buryed with him in hys death.
Rom. vi.And Marye Magdalene and Marye Ioſe beheld where he ſhould be layed, ſitting ouer agaynſte the Sepulchre for there followed hym women which came with him from Galiley theſe ſawe the graue, and howe hys bodie was layed. And they being retourned prepared odours & oyntments, and they reſted on the Sabboth day according to the commaū dement: But the nexte daye that followed the preparation of the paſſeouer, the high prieſtes and Phariſees aſſembled vntounto Pilate: ſaying, Syr we remēber that that deceauer ſaid, while he was yet aliue: After three dayes I will ryſe agayne. Commaunde therefore that the ſepulchre be made ſure vntill the thyrde daye, leaſt his Diſciples come, & ſteale him away, and ſaye vntounto the people. He is ryſen from the dead, and ſo ſhall the laſt error be worſe then the fyrſt. Pilate ſayde vntounto them, ye hauehave a watch, go and make it as ſure as ye can. And they went theyr waies, and made the Sepulchre ſure, ſealed the ſtone, and ſet watche men to kepe it.
IN theſe women is an example of Godlyneſſe and diligente louelove, as they had followed the Lorde in hys lyfe tyme, ſo doe they not forſake hym when he is dead. They runne and watche with a Godlye penſiueneſſe, hauyng an earneſt care to annoynte hys bodye. This example ought we to followe, for there is no let but that we may beſtowe this godlines vponupon Chriſt, but yet in his membres, for that he after this is no more with vsus in his body. Let not vsus be aſhamed to ſerue Chriſt & to be liberall vntounto the poore. Let it not repente vsus if any thyng depart frō our goods, whē as we may ſee that he hath geuen his life for vsus, which doth ſo much commend the poore vntounto vsus, when as we may ſee alſo theſe women & honeſt mē to hauehave ſpared no coſte, for to bury the body of Chriſte moſte honourablye. For we learne here what great griefe & ſorowe they had which dare not cōfeſſe Chriſt openly for feare, & yet neuertheleſſe they ceaſe not to runne priuily, & to watch, to admoniſhe, and to helpe that they might doe Chriſt ſeruice at the leaſte by ſome waye. We which may profeſſe the doctrine of Chriſt frely without feare & daūger, ought to pray for theſe to helpe thē with our ſeruice, & ſuccour thē wt our benefites, to cheariſh thē in cōforting thē & exhorting, &c. Cōtrarilie in the prieſtes & Phariſees is ſet forth an example of enuie, for they wer not yet fatiſfied with the putting of Chriſt to death, but alſo they muſte perſecute him being now dead, & ſhadowe his glorye. They are toſſed with infernall madnes, with enuie, feare & curioſitie. The vngodly are inwardly vexed & fearefull how ſo euer outwardlye they ſet a face on the matter, We remēber (ſay they) that that deceauer, &c. Such bitter words doth enuie vſe til it come to deſtruction. The Phariſaicall infidelitie had perſwaded to it ſelfe that the light & ſauior of the world was a deceauer They be like vntounto thoſe which crye alſo nowe of dayes that the doctrine of the Goſpel is hereſie. And if ſo be that Chriſt be a ſeducer and a deceauer, what nede theſe wicked mē to be affeard of him? Doth God raiſe vp deceauers frō death? Wil god aſſiſte thoſe which cleaue vntounto lies? No truly: What are they affrayed of thē? This feare declareth that they beleued otherwiſe, thē they confeſſed by mouth, thei cal him a deceauer, but yet thei iudge hī to be ſomwhat more noble: their conſcience putteth thē in remembrāce that he was the ſonne of God, or at the leaſt greater thē a man. And if it ſo be that thei were perſuaded that he was the Sonne of God, why then did they crucifie him? So the vngodlye do alwaies ſhew forth in ſome parte that they knowe and beleue that thyng to bee true, which thei impugne, perſecute & purſue. So Herode feared leaſt Iohn wer riſen again. So alſo an other Herode feared leaſte a childe new borne ſhould poſſeſſe the kingdome. Thei make ſafe & ſeale the ſepulchre but what they brought to paſſe by all theſe things, the honourable Reſurrection of Chriſt doth ynough declare. Vaine therfore ar the enterpriſes of the vngodly which labour to oppreſſe & to quenche the truth. For there is no councell againſt the Lord, & the truth cā not be oppreſſed, but it appeareth alwayes more bright. Let no mā therfore be affeard of the power of ye world, though it be neuer ſo great, ye Lord is ſtrōger & mightier, he which cleaueth vntounto him ſhal neuer be put to ſhame.