Sermons on Divinity Humanity and Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Sermons on the Passion · Sermon 4
The fourth Sermon of the paſſion.
Matthew Cap. xxvi.
67 Then ſpatte they in his face, and buffeted him, and other ſmot him with their roddes.
68 Saying, propheſie vntounto vsus O Chriſt, who is he that ſmote thee.
69 Peter ſate without in the hall: and a Mayde came vntounto hym, ſayinge, thou alſo waſte with Ieſus of Galyle.
70 But hee denied before them all, ſayinge, I woat not what thou ſayeſt.
71 And when he went out into the Porche, another Mayde ſaw hym, and ſayde vntounto them that were there, this man was alſo with Ieſus of Nazareth.
72 And againe he denied with an othe, ſayinge, I knowe not the man.
73 So after a while, came vntounto him they that ſtood by, and ſayd vntounto Peter, Surely▪ thou art alſo one of them, for euen thy ſpeach bewraieth thee.
74 Then began he to curſe himſelfe, and to ſweare, ſayinge, I knowe not the man, and immediatlye the Cocke crew.
75 Then Peter remembred the wordes of Ieſus, whiche had ſayde vntounto him, before the Cock crow, thou ſhalt denye mee thriſe. So he went out and wept bitterly.
Chapter xxvij.
1 When the morning was come, all the chiefe Prieſtes, and Elders of the people, tooke counſell againſte Ieſus, to put him to death.
2 And led hym away bound, and deliuered him vntounto Pontius Pylate the Gouernour.
3 Then, when Iudas whiche betrayed hym, ſawe that hee was condemned he repented himſelfe, and brought againe the thyrtie peeces of Siluer, to the chiefe Prieſtes and Elders.
4 Saying, I hauehave ſinned betrayinge the innocent blood. But they ſayde, what is that to vsus? looke thou to it.
5 And when he had caſt downe the Siluer peeces in the temple, he departed and hanged him ſelfe.
6 And the chiefe prieſts tooke the Siluer peeces, and ſaide, it is not lawfull for vsus to put them into the treaſurie, becauſe it is the price of blood.
7 And they tooke counſell, and bought with them a potters fielde, for the buriall of Straungers.
8 Wherefore, that fielde is called, the field of blood, vntill this day.
9 (Then was fulfilled that whiche was ſpoken by Ieremiah the Prophet, ſaying, and they tooke their ſiluer peeces, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Iſrael valued.
10 And they gaue them for the potters fielde, as the Lorde appoynted mee.)
11 And Ieſus ſtood before the Gouernour, and the Gouernour asked him, ſayinge, Art thou the Kinge of the Iewes? Ieſus ſaide vntounto him, thou ſaiſt it. &c.
2. Cor. 2.16.AS Saint Paul telleth vsus that the preaching of the Goſpell is a ſauour of life vntounto thoſe whom God hath called to be ſaued, and a ſauour of death vntounto the reprobate which periſh: euen ſo hauehave wee héere alſo two notable examples ſet before vsus, and worthy the remembraunce, to ſhewe that the death and paſſion of the ſonne of God, was ſaluation vntounto the one, and a condemnation to the other. For in the fall of Peter, wee ſée what the worke was, which muſt draw him from out the bottomleſſe death, wherinto he fell headlong. For, as much as in hym lay, he baniſhed himſelfe the heauenly kingdome, eſtraunged him ſelfe from all hope of ſaluation, and cut hym ſelfe cleane of from the Churche, as a rotten member. And yet the death of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt was it, that muſt doo hym good, although he deſerued it not.
And as for Iudas, it is ſaide, that when hee ſée our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt to be condēned, he deſperatly hung himſelf. Now, he ſhould (as we hauehave ſaid) hauehave taken a good hart wt hym, to hauehave put his truſt in God, by reaſon of the condemnation of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt: bicauſe we are pardoned by the power and vertue thereof. Howbeit, it was méete that theſe two ſpecktacles ſhould héere bee ſet before vsus, to the ende we might the better know, that if we are not called by an eſpeciall grace and fauour, to bee pertakers of the fruite of the death and paſſion of the ſonne of God, it will avayle vsus nothing. And therfore, it is not enough that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt ſuffered, without the benefit which he obtayned for vsus, bée beſtowed vponupon vsus, & we to hauehave the full poſſeſſion therof. And euen then are we moſt aſſured of it, whēas we are drawne vntounto him by Faith. But to the end we might the more perfectly vnderſtand the matter, let vsus follow the text of the Storye as it is ſet downe. It is ſayde, that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt was ſhamefully entreated in the houſe of Cayphas, that they ſpit in his face, buffeted him and ſlaunderouſly ſkorned him, by callinge him a Prophet. Now, all this, was to let vsus vnderſtand, that what ſoeuer he ſuffered in in his owne perſon, was to deliuer and frée vsus before God and his Angels. For there néedeth no ſpitting in our face, to cauſe vsus appeare before God, ſpotted and blemiſhed, becauſe we are not onelyonly deformed and ougly by reaſon of our ſinnes, but alſo full of abhominable infections.
Moreouer, we héere ſée how that the Sonne of God the derye liuely Image of his Father,Heb. 1.13. in whom his glorye and maieſtie ſhineth, hath ſuffered all theſe ſhames, that wee might now appeare before God in his name to obtayne fauour and grace, and thereby acknowledge vsus as his Children, being cleane voyde of all ſpots & blemiſhes. And this is it which we are to conſider of, in this fyrſt place. Now let vsus come to the fall of Peter. It is ſayde, That when a Mayd ſaw him, ſhe tolde him that he was one of Ieſus Diſciples, but he denied it. And that an other Mayde tolde him the like tale, and he agayne denied it. Afterwarde, diuers preſſed him with it, and vrged it more vponupon him, and then hée began to ſweare and curſe him ſelfe, as if he ſhould hauehave ſaide, I pray God I bee damned and come to naught, and the earth open and ſwallow mée vp, If I know him.
Héere then we ſée how horribly and gréeuouſlye Peter fell thriſe, which ought greatly to feare vsus in reading of the Story. Now, we know how zealous hee was:Iohn 24. Moreouer our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt commended him, and was called Péeter to ſignifie vntounto vsus the conſtancy of his faith: he was brought vp in a very good Schoole, and he had heard this doctrine taught, whoſoeuer denieth mée before men,Math. 10.33. I wyll alſo denie him before my father which is in heauen. And yet we ſée how he fell. And héere eueryevery of vsus hath good occaſion to tremble and be afearde: becauſe Peters weakneſſe was no greater then ours, if we be not holpen from aboue: wherfore, in the firſt place we ſée, how fraile we are, ſo ſoone as God taketh his hande from vsus. For mention is not héere made of a ſkorner, nor of a prophane man, neither yet of one who had not taſted of the goſpel, nor that feared God, or yet reuerenced our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. But it was all cleane contrarye: becauſe there were excellent giftes in Peter.Math. 16.17. For the ſonne of God fayde vntounto him, Fleſhe and blood hath not reuealed theſe things vntounto thée, but my father which is in heauen. We ſée then that the holy ghoſt was in Peter. And yet what a combat had he about the denyinge of our Lord Ieſus? yea with a ſilly Mayd. But if a man, had ſo ſpoken vntounto him, or if ſome honorable perſonage had made him afeard, he might hauehave had ſome coulor for himſelfe, but we ſée yt a poore Mayd was enough to cauſe him forſake the hope of lyfe and ſaluation. Let vsus therefore looke vponupon the perſon of Péeter, and we ſhal ſée that God had néede to ſtrengthē vsus eueryevery mynute of an howre, becauſe we are not els able to abide it: and although we hauehave laboured to come néere vntounto his maieſtie, and that wee hauehave done many vertuous déedes, yet ſhall we, in the turning of an hande, be altogether chaunged, without God continueth in vsus an inuincible conſtancie, & therfore let vsus learne to put Paules admonition in practiſe, which is this let him that thinketh he ſtandeth,…. Cor. 10.12 beware he falleth not. It is very true, we are not able to vphold our ſelues, but let vsus runne vntounto him that hath the meane to do it: and in the meane while, let vsus (as Saint Paul ſayeth in another place) walk moſt humbly: ſince it is God that giueth both to wyll and to perfourme, and that of his frée mercy and goodneſſe. For thus it is ſayde, make an ende of your ſaluation in feare and in trembling: as if he ſhould hauehave ſayd, put a part from you all preſumption and negligence Now, when wee ſée how many wayes we hauehave néede of Gods helpe,Phil. 2.12. is it not good reaſon that we ſhould ſtand vponupon our garde, and not preſume any whit of our owne ſtrength, but carefully night and daye call vponupon him, and put our ſelues into his keeping and gouernment. And we are beſides to weigh and conſider, that although the temptations be not great, yet wold they ſoone oppreſſe vsus, if God of his grace dyd not helpe, and remedy them. And they who thinke them ſelues moſt bould, when they are farre from blowes, become euen lyke white lyuered ſouldiers, if there blow neuer ſo ſmall a wind. In very déede if God aſſiſt vsus, we are ſure to ſtande faſt, although there ariſe neuer ſo great tempeſtes. For we vnderſtande by the ſimilitude which our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte bringeth in that if an houſe bee buylt vponupon a rock, although there come neuer ſo great rage of winds and waters, yet will it ſtand faſte: But that which is built vponupon the ſand wyll hauehave a great fall and ſoone decay. So then when we ſhall be built vponupon God,Matth. 7.24. and that hee ſhall holde vsus with his mighty hand, we may very well abide great and ſtout alarmes: But if there were no enemye at all to fighte againſt vsus, yet ſhoulde wee bee ſoone ouerthrowne, if God once holde hymſelfe farre from vsus, and taketh from vsus his hande as wee hauehave ſéene by Peter.
But hee hath done a great deale worſſe, for hee denyed not our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt for once, but as often as hee was aſked the queſtion. We ſée, that hee forced not to paſſe continually from euill to worſe, as to fall to curſing, whenas he prayd God that hée would curſe him, and ſwallow him vp into the pyt of Hell. And therfore when wee ſée this, let vsus vnderſtand, that hee whiche falleth, whenas he had moſt néede to ſtande vp, will throw him ſelfe continually downe into a greater depth of deſtruction, yea euen vntounto his vtter ouerthrow for euer, without God helpe to remedy him. Thus we ſée what our eſtate and condition is: for euen from the beginning it is a wōder to ſee how we flatter our ſelues of our owne ſtrength and therefore our Lord Ieſus ſheweth vsus by proofe that it is nothinge, and that whenſoeuer there bloweth neuer ſo litle a winde, we are ſoone ouerthrowne. And yet wee perſwade our ſelues, that we are able to ſtand as of our ſelues: But we doo but al this while encreaſe our owne ſorrow, adding ſinne to ſinne, and excéede more gréeuouſly in wickedneſſe. If Saint Peter had bene tēpted an hundred times, in a day, he would hauehave denied Ieſus Chriſte an hundred tymes, and a thowſande in the head of it. Loe in what caſe he had bene, if God had not had compaſſion vponupon him: but he ſpared hym, and woulde not proue him any further. Surely, theſe thrée fals which are heere ſpoken of, are euen enow to ſhew vsus an horrible example, and to make ye haires of our head ſtand vpright, to ſée peter ſo forget him ſelfe the third time, and become a very beaſt in the denying of his ſaluation. But ouer and beſides this, wee are to marke that if hee had bene troubled with any other temptations, hee woulde none otherwiſe hauehave reſiſted them, and that had bene to hauehave caſt him to the déepeſt place of hell, if God had not ſo greatly fauoured him.
And thus wee ſée what profyt wee are to prick out of this doctrine. Now, we heare not theſe thinges, to the ende we ſhould iudge Peter, and condemne his cowardlyneſſe. Yet may we in trueth iuſtly doe it: But yet by the way, wee muſt in the firſt place learne, that in knowing our weakeneſſe, we might likewiſe vnderſtande that there is nothing in vsus, and not be proudlye puffed vp, by attributing to our ſelues through a vaine and fooliſhe opinion, any power or ſtrength. And in the meane while, let vsus alſo know, that for ſo much as ye deuil hath ſo many waies, to deuiſe our deſtructiō yt he wil ſoone compaſſe vsus, ſéeing S. Peter fel whē there was no ſhew of it. And beſides, let vsus at laſt vnderſtande that our Lord Ieſus hath compaſſion vponupon vsus, when hee will not ſuffer vsus to bée tempted aboue our ſtrengthes. For it is certayne, that ye miſchiefe wyll be ſo much the more ſéene, and we ſhall vnderſtand that after we hauehave committed one offence, wee ſhall be ready to redouble it, and neuer hauehave ende, except he, through his goodneſſe holde vsus in. And thus we ſee all the thinges whiche héere are to bee obſerued. But by the way it is ſaide,Luke. 22.61. That after Peter heard the Cock crowe and (as S. Luke reciteth it) after that Ieſus Chriſt had looked vponupon him, he went out and wept bitterly. VponUpon this concluſion, it is ſhewed vsus (as I hauehave before ſaid) that the death and paſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt had preſently brought forth her effect & power, for ſo much as Peter was rayſed vp from ſo horrible a fall. For, was not this a miracle, that God ſhould hauehave compaſſion on him, and that he had already obtayned mercy, after hee had committed ſo deteſt able a falt? we hauehave ſayde that it could not bée excuſed by ignoraunce, as if it had bene a ſmall falt? to denye Ieſus Chriſte: for it was ſaide, and tolde him, that if he rendered not a reaſon and a teſtimony of his faith before men, he was worthy to bee altogether raſed from before the Angelles of God,Luke. 9.26. and his name blotted out of the booke of lyfe: and yet he made no reckoning to redéeme this miſerable and tranſitory lyfe, with ſo villanous and ſtraunge a denyal: not being called to come before ye iudges. He was not extreamely queſtioned withall, for it was but a Mayde that ſpoke to him: and if they had dealt ſomewhat more roughlye with hym, the very worſt had béene this, they woulde hauehave but ſcourged and beaten him lyke a miſerable wretched caytife. And yet he ſtyl forgot the feare of God.
Wherfore, when we ſée this, let vsus ſo much the more thinke of our ſelues, that it muſt néedes be that God would powre out the infinite treaſures of his goodneſſe, whenas he made Peter to be a pertaker of the fruite of the death and paſſion of his ſonne. Héere is thē a myracle, to cauſe vsus all to be in an admiration, that Peter obtayned forgiueneſſe for ſo hainous an offence: as appeareth by his repentance. For this is moſt ſure, that if a man be touched to the quicke, after hee hath fallen, and wéepeth and growneth before God for his pardon, it is a token that God hath already receiued him, and reconciled him vntounto him ſelfe. For repentaunce, is a ſinguler gift procéeding from the holy Ghoſt, ſhewing vsus that god is mercyfull vntounto vsus, & would not hauehave vsus to periſh, but draweth vsus vntounto him ſelf. And this we ſée to be in Peter: wherfore it foloweth, yt the death and paſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt was already available vntounto him, after a wonderful maner, as hath bene before ſaide. But let vsus héere in the firſt place note, that S. Peter aboad ſtill ſleepy and blockiſhe, vntill ſuch time as he perceiued the token which our Lord Ieſus had tolde him of, to wit, that the Cock ſhould not crow till he had denied him thriſe, or els that the Cocke ſhould not crow the ſecond time, before Peter had made his thrée denials. Since then it is ſo, if our Lord Ieſus Chriſt had not forewarned him, he had ſtoode ſtyff in his ſin, & bene plunged alwaies in deſtructiō, knowing yt we had neede to be ſtil called vponupon whēas we hauehave commited any offence. For if God ſhould take away his grace from vsus, & not exhort vsus to turne vntounto him, without doubte, Satan would preuent vsus, and al our ſences would become blockiſh, ſo that we ſhould hauehave no one good motiō to returne into ye way of ſaluation. And this is it which we are ouer & beſides, to beholde in the perſon of Peter. But when S. Luke telleth ye Ieſus Chriſt looked on him, we are héereby the better taught, yt it is not enough that we be pricked forward, and be pulled by the eare to returne vntounto God, but Ieſus chriſt muſt alſo caſt his looke & countenance vponupon vsus. Now, this is true, that he ſpeaketh not heere, but of ye looke of the eyes: but although our Lord Ieſus be not conuerſaunt wc vsus in a viſible maner: yet without doubt, vntil ſuch time as he caſteth his eie vponupon vsus, we ſhal be altogether dulled in our ſinnes, & neuer think ether of wéeping or groning, & although wee hauehave prouoked the wrath of God, & although he hath bent his bow, and drawn his ſword, yet wyll we ſtill be negligent, vntil ſuch time as our Lorde Ieſus chriſt cauſeth vsus to féele yt he hath not forgotten vsus, & would not hauehave vsus periſh, but wyll draw vsus out of deſtruction. And to proue this to be ſo, we dayly heare Sermons, by which we are exhorted to repentaunce: but how are we touched with them? nether were there euer, any mo admonitions: and beſides, doo not al thē creatures of God ſtirre vsus vp to come vntounto him? ſurelye, if there were but one drop of wiſdome in our mindes, would not the very riſing of the Sunne call vsus to an acknowledgement of the worſhip of God. And beſides, if we beholde how the earth and the Elements doo their duties, and the beaſtes and trées theirs, this were enough to ſhew vsus that we muſt ſubmit our ſelues vntounto his maieſtie, to the end he might be gloryfyed in vsus: and yet we thinke no whit at all of it. But the Cock may crow as lowde as hee luſt, and not ye Cocke alone, but God alſo cauſeth al his creatures both in heauen and earth to crye out, to exhort vsus to come vntounto him: and that which is more, he vouchſafeth to open his holy mouth both by his law, Prophets, & Goſpel, and ſaieth vntounto vsus, returne vntounto mee O yée people: and yet we ſée our ſelues to be ſo dull and blockiſh, as is monſtrous. And therefore our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt muſt looke vponupon vsus with his eye of mercy, as hée dyd vponupon Péeter, that he might draw out of vsus true gronings, to be witneſſes of our repentaunce. For, where it is ſaide, that Peter wept bitterly, it was to this ende to declare vntounto vsus the ſorrow whereof Saint Paul ſpeaketh, that is to ſaluation, and therefore we ſhould not flye it,2. Cor. 7.10. but ſéeke after it & although we naturally deſyre to be continually in pleaſure, and to féele no croſſe, yet muſt we be brought to bee ſorrowfull, for when God afflicteth vsus, our hartes muſt néedes bée gréeued in that we hauehave offended him: for this ſorrow bringeth vsus to quietnes, & maketh vsus to reioyce both before God & the Angels. And we ſhall anone ſée that Iudas repented him, but it was after another and diuers maner. But we finde by Peters wéeping, that he was greatly diſpleaſed with his ſinne, and returned forthwith vntounto Ieſus Chriſt. We are alſo to note, that he went out to weepe. Surely, this procéeded of weakneſſe, becauſe he was a fearde that the company ſhould ſée him repent. But be as be may, no doubt of it when he wept by him ſelfe, it was a good token that hee was touched with his ſinne and offence: becauſe he ſought not to hauehave men to be witneſſes of his repentance, but wept alone before God. And in this we ſée what it is for vsus to doo: for if we onelyonly bewaile our ſinnes and tranſgreſſions in the ſight of men, by this we ſhew our hypocryſie: but when we withdraw our ſelues from company and examine our ſinnes and offences, and be then ſorrowfull, that argueth that we are no hypocrites, but that we know who is our Iudge, and doo there beſéech him of pardon and forgiuneſſe, knowing alſo that it is the office of God, to pull all damned ſoules out of the pitte of hell. And this is the ſumme which wee are to conſider, of that whiche is héere mentioned, of Peters fall, and of the thrée denialles, by which hee deſerued to bee cleane cut of from the Kingdome of God, if ſo bee Ieſus Chriſt had not ſtretched out the power of his death & paſſion, to bring him to repentaunce, as héere it came to paſſe, now, it is ſaide anone after, that the Prieſtes and gouernours tooke counſell to condemne hym: But becauſe they had no power to doo it, they brought him manacled and bound vntounto Pontius Pilate, the gouernour of ye Country, who had authoritie, After this, it is ſaid in the Goſpel, ye Iudas repented him, when he ſée ye Ieſus Chriſt was condemned, and caſt them the mony, which he had receued for a reward, for his treachery, & therwt cōfeſſed his falt. Howbeit, ye prieſts would not receiue the mony, but bought a field of a Potter, wherin was potters earth, which ſerued to none other purpoſe, for it was good, neither for tyllage nor ſéede. And this Fielde they bought to burye the dead bodies: whiche they did vnderunder a coulor of deuotion: for they ſaide it was not lawfull to put that ſiluer among the offerings of the temple. And herevpon the Euangeliſt ſayeth, that that which the Prophet had ſpoken of was accompliſhed, yt the thirtie pence which the children of Iſraell valued God at, might bee beſtowed vponupon a potters yarde. Héere we are to conſider of that which hath bene before ſpoken, to wit, that the death and paſſion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt is not effectuall to all men, becauſe it is a ſpeciall grace whiche God beſtoweth vponupon his choſen, whenas hee toucheth them by his holy ſpirit, and although they fal, yet lifteth he them vp agayne, yea & though they ſtray lyke wandring ſhéepe, yet gathereth he them together agayne, and giueth them his hand to bring them to ye fould. For wee ſée how Iudas was cleane raſed out from amongſt the number of Gods Children, and therfore it was méete his condemnation ſhould bee ſéene and layde wide open before the face of the whole worlde. And ſo let vsus learne (as we hauehave already ſaid) altogether to acknowledge the ineſtimable goodneſſe of our God. For as he hath declared his louelove vntounto mankynde, when hee ſpared not his onelyonly begotten ſonne, but put him to death for ſinners: Euen ſo declareth he vntounto vsus the eſpecall louelove he beareth vsus, whenas he toucheth vsus with the acknowledging of our ſinnes by his holy ſpirit, and cauſeth vsus to grone, that wee might bee brought vntounto him by true repentaunce.
Wherefore, the entraunce whiche wee hauehave to come vntounto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, commeth not from our ſelues, but becauſe that God gouerneth vsus, & pleaſeth to ſhew his choice. Now, theſe circumſtaunces are greatly to be noted: wee ſée that Iudas who was one of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt his Diſciples, wrought myracles in his name: and yet what became of him? let vsus learne carefully to feare and walke, and ſubmit our ſelues wholye vntounto our God: & beſéeche him, not to ſuffer vsus ſo ſhamefully to fall, as dyd this miſerable man. And agayne, let vsus alſo beſéech him, that if we ſhal fal at any time into the like, to lift vsus vp by his power, that we may returne vntounto him: not with ſuch repentaunce as Iudas dyd, but with a true and right confeſſion. For, the wicked as it is ſaid by the prophets Ieremiah and Ezechiel, will laugh God to ſkorne as much as is poſſible: becauſe they take pleaſure, & glory in their ſinns, and in the end become lyke ſhameles whores. But yet God at the laſt maketh them to féele their ſinnes, and ſo terrifieth them as that they chafe and cry out alas: neuertheleſſe, they doe not thus of any hope they hauehave neither doe they preſent them ſelues before God: But are rather puſhed forward with a fury: and flye from him as farre they can, and woulde bee glad to pluck him out of his thorne by the eares. For there is no ſpeaking to thē, becauſe they are angry, and rebelliouſly whet their téeth againſt him. Howbeit we muſt be brought to another kinde of repentaunce: whiche is, we muſt not become like wilde and ſauage beaſtes, ſéeing we cannot eſcape the hande and heauy iudgement of God: but let vsus confeſſe our ſinne, and abhorre it, and ſtil draw néere vntounto God, with out enforcement: and worſhip him willingly, & confeſſe ye we are worthy of deſtruction: but yet let vsus be aſſured, that although we are guilty of an hundred thouſand deathes, that hee will alwayes hauehave compaſſion on vsus, for we ſée how Peter repented. But the repentaunce of Iudas ought to ſhewe vsus, that it is not enough that we féele our ſinnes, bt we muſt be fully brought home vntounto God. And this is a very notable thing to conſider: becauſe we ſée that a great number, and almoſt all men doo flatter themſelues: for they thinke, that if they hauehave in worde acknowledged their offences, be they neuer ſo haynous, that they are cleane diſcharged of them, as if their mouthes were fully cleanſed. Agayne if a man be earneſt with them, they think they are offered great wronge. What? ſaye they, hauehave I not confeſſed my falts? and hauehave I not repented me? And this is al the reckoning that they make of it: as if God were a yong child who would be appeaſed wt a ſmiling & diſſembling coū tenance, ful of leaſing & hipocryſy. Howbeit this is our cōmon mā ner, for we would appeaſe god we know not how: euē as it is ſaid with ſuch a repentance as Iudas repēted. Wherfore, let vsus feare and tremble when God giueth vsus warning, & cauſeth vsus to féele our ſins, & not ſtay altogether vponupon it: for yt is no true repentance: but this is the true triall by which we muſt know whether we be true penitent ſinners or not: which is, whenas we of our owne accord, ſéeke to be at peace with God, & forſake not his iudgmēt, yea, ſeing he receiueth vsus to mercy. Which, he wil do whenas we ſhal condem our ſelues: for whſoeuer ſhal be his own iudge, & condēne himſelf before God, & before Angels, & men, ye man I ſay, ſhall bée iuſtified & pardoned, becauſe hee deſyreth none other thing but to hauehave God mercyfull vntounto him. This then is the ſumme and effect of that which we are héere to obſerue. Now, Iudas muſt néedes make this confeſſion, becauſe the prieſts might be ſo much ye more without excuſe. The Euangeliſt likewiſe maketh this recital, that we might the better behold how Satan had blinded al theſe reprobates: and that eueryevery of vsus might looke narowly into himſelfe. And when God ſetteth before vsus ſuch exampels of his yre & vengeance, and (to be ſhort) that we, like men betwitched, and voyd of ſence & reaſon, become ſo beaſtly, as to throw our ſelues headlonge into an helliſhe furie: This is to make euerye of vsus to ſtoupe, and to cauſe vsus know that wee may oftentimes fall into the ſame were if not that our God preſerueth vsus by his grace and goodneſſe. But by the way let vsus beware that we fight not agaynſt our own conſciences, as the prieſtes did: for as many as ſo harden themſelues againſt God, ſhal in the end fall into ſuch a reprobate ſence, as that they ſhall be cleane without all reaſon: for, after they hauehave once ſo excéeded againſt GOD, they will alſo bee paſt all ſhame before men. For it is good reaſon that the whole worlde ſhould ſée their beaſtlineſſe, and yt there ſhamleſnes ſhould be ſo knowne, as that eueryevery man might abhorre their villanie. Héere then wee ſée why the Euangeliſt maketh this recitall, that when Iudas came to reſtore the ſiluer, the prieſtes were no whit moued therewith. Indéede, they ſayde it was not lawfull to put it into the treaſury, becauſe it was the price of blood. And héere alſo we may ſée, that hypocrits will alwaies be ſure to hauehave ſome fine ſhifttes or other, to ſhadow and couer their iniquities, but it is all to mock God: For they neuer come perfectly and ſoundly vntounto him. For, what is this to ſay, ho, ſurely we wyll neuer put this ſiluer amongſt the holye offerings, becauſe it is the price of blood. Now, I pray you tel mée, from whence came this ſiluer? truly, we know this, that ye prieſts liued vponupon the offerings of the temple: as at this day, they whiche in popery, are called prelats and churchmen, glottonouſly conſume the offrings, and neuer care to what vſe they put them. But although the Prieſts took from the oblations of the temple, the ſiluer which they gaue to Iudas, they neuer cared, nor yet reſpected it: & now they make a doubt to put yt ſiluer againe into the Treaſurie. But by your leaue, they thruſt back Iudas as it were after a ſcoffing maner, & as if they ſhould hauehave ſayd, now ſir, this villaine hath betraied his maiſter, & it is no matter to vsus whether he hath done well or yll: neuertheleſſe, becauſe we for our partes wyll not be pertakers of his offence, and make cleane handes of it (becauſe they had beſtowed this mony to ſuch an vſe) wee will buy a fielde with it to bury ſtraungers in. As who ſhould ſay, that they had ſatiſfied God well enough, & that hee coulde deſire no more at their handes, although they had offended in that thing which they dyd. Thus we ſée, yt hypocrits will be ſure to hauehave wherewith to make ſatiſfaction, and ſo thinke by this meane to buy out them ſelues: howbeit theſe are but childiſh toyes. Neuertheleſſe, let vsus vnderſtand, that this thing is ſet downe vntounto vsus, yt we might know, that when we hauehave fallen, we ſhould acknowledge our falts indéede, and not goe about the buſh this way and that way, but wholy and fréely condemn our ſelues, & this is it, which we are héere ſhewed. But in the meane while, let vsus beſéech the Lorde to take away the wymples wherwith Satan goeth about to blindfould vsus, that wée ſtand not ſtiffe in our flatteries, therby to excuſe our naughtines, and let vsus more and more make a good tryall to condemne all our ſins, & confeſſe thē truly. Moreouer, we ſée alſo how god ouerthroweth the opinion of hypocrits, ſo that in the end they are cleane put by, their pretended purpoſe. For, the prieſts woulde gladly hauehave blotted out their offence, that it might neuer hauehave come in queſtiō againe: and this was their pretence, whenas they bought a field to bury ſtraungers in But God turned all quite and cleane againſt their meaning: for the Field was to be called the bloodye, & murthering field, euerlaſtingly to remaine in the mouthes of men, women and children: ſo that this deteſtable falt whiche the prieſtes committed, might be daylye made knowne and manifeſted, that it might bee ſaide, this is the bloody fielde, which was bought with the price of treaſon. And who were they that dyd it? Forſooth, euen the prieſtes and heads of the people.
So then we ſée, that when hypocrits go about to hide and muffle their miſdéeds, then God ſo much the more diſcouereth their villanies, and cauſeth all men to knowe, and abhorre theyr deteſtable ſhamleſneſſe. And héere wee ſée the reaſon why wee hauehave ſaide, that we ought ſo much the more aduiſedlye to come vntounto God, & lay open our ſinnes, which is to this ende, yt it would pleaſe him to bury thē euen in the ſight of himſelf, of his Angels, and of the whol world, whenas we, for our partes hauehave thus acknowledged them. And in the end, the Euāgeliſt alledgeth one place out of ye prophet, to ſhew, that this is not only recited becauſe of Iudas ſin, & of the diueliſh obſtinacie of the prieſts, but for the condemnatiō of all the people in generall. For there it is ſaid, that that which was written by the Prophete was accompliſhed, That God was valued at thirtie péeces of ſiluer,Zach. 11.13 & the ſame was caſt into the Potters fielde, now Zachariah, out of whom this place is taken, compareth our Lord Ieſus vntounto a ſhepheard, & ſaith that whē he meant to gouern the people of the Iewes, he tooke his ſtaffe or ſhepheards crooke called beautie, that he might be able to ſay, that the eſtate of this people was ſo wel appointed as was poſſible, if it could hauehave byn contented to hauehave byn guyded by the hand of God. And could they deſire any thing more? Now to prooue that this is true, I pray you what great ioy & felicity could we hauehave, if God were not careful ouer vsus, & playd the part of a ſhepheard amongſt vsus. And thus we ſée what a gouernment God vſed ouer this people, whenas this wand is ſpoken of, and not of a ſtaffe to lay on them and vtterly to bruiſe them, but to guide & gouerne the ſhéepe peaceably which were tractable & teacheable. Howbeit it is ſaid that he tooke a wand the ſecond time, as indéed, when the people returned from the captiuity of Babylon, God thruſt himſelfe into the office of a ſhepheard: For after ſo horrible an ouerthrow as was before, he gathered the people together, that he might peaceably gouerne them vnderunder his hād. But in the end they dealt ſo vnthankfully with him, as yt he could not chooſe but cléerely forſake them. And therfore he ſaid Ah Sirrha I ſée wel ynough howe it fareth with you: and I doe nothing els but loſe both my time and trauel amongſt you. And there he ſpake after the maner of men. Well, goe to now, diſpatch me at once, & pay me, that I were gone And thervpon they brought him thirtie péeces of ſiluer. What quoth hée, is this the rewarde & pay which I ſhall hauehave of you? For when hée ſpake of the thirtie pence, hée had reſpect vntounto the oblations that were offered in the Tē ple. For as they hypocritically vſed them without faith and repentaunce) they were no better then vayne ceremonies and yet notwithſtanding the Prieſtes made great accompt of them.
And after this ſorte, deale the Papiſtes at this daye, for when they hauehave made a great number of whim whames, and glorious deuotions, they by & by think that God is as a man would ſay greatly behoulden to them. Now, God ſayeth for all this, that they are but apiſh toyes. For, ſayeth he, what hauehave I got by you? yée ſée wel enough that I hauehave but a Shepheardes paye, and yée think I am bound vntounto you for it. Tuſh, tuſhe, it is nothing ſo, for I hauehave no néede of it: goe your wayes and caſt it into the Potters houſe, & fill vp your holes and cranies therewith: go your waies I forgiue you, and beſtow it on your Potters clay. As if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, If you like to hauehave it in your temple, ſtuffe that with it? For I wil hauehave no part nor portion with you, and wil rydde my hands clearly of it: and think not yt I wyll be contented in bringing me héere as it were trifles for pay: for be you aſſured that I lyke not of any of all this geare. And this is the ſumme and effect which the Prophet ment hereby. Now, we know that, that which was then foretolde of our God, was fulfilled in the perſon of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, who is our very God manifeſted in the fleſh.
Wherefore it muſt néedes be that this place ſhould be veryfied by a viſible manner, and that Ieſus Chriſt ſhoulde bee valued at thirtie pence onelyonly, that is to ſaye,1 Tim. 3.16. the people very vnthankfullye dealt with him▪ whom God had appoynted to bee the euerlaſtinge Shepheard of this people. And this is moſt certaine, that becauſe the people could not abide that God ſhoulde bee their Gouernour, yet our Lorde Ieſus hath alwaies played the office of a mediator, although he neuer ſhewed him ſelfe in our humane nature. And this is it which we ought héere ſtill to remember, to the ende that we for our partes might learne, ſéeinge that God hath bene ſo fauourable vntounto vsus to gather vsus together as it were vnderunder his protection, and to take vsus to be of his fould, and deliuereth vntounto vsus our Lord Ieſus Chriſt for our ſhepherd, let not vsus in ſuch ſort wound him, as to gréeue his ſpirit through our rebellious and vnthankful dealing, and not pay him (as we ſaye) with nifles and trifles, but let vsus take him for our God and Kinge, ſince he hath pleaſed ſo to vouchſafe it, and conſecrate our ſelues vntounto him all the dayes of our lyfe, and not pay hym with counterfet coyne, but yéelde vntounto him both our bodies and ſoules. For it is good reaſon that wee ſhould yéelde vntounto him all gouernment ouer vsus, and we to be only his, ſéeing he ſéeketh onelyonly our ſaluation. Now to conclude it is ſayd that when our Lorde Ieſus was brought before Pylate hee made no anſwer, and that Pylate aſked him, ſaying, why ſpeakeſt thou not? doeſt not thou ſee that theſe men witneſſe againſt thee? and that he held his peace, inſomuch that the Iudge wondered at hym. Now, wee are héere in the firſt place to call to minde, that when our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt appeared before an earthly Iudge, it was to this ende, that we might be deliuered from the condemnation which we hauehave deſerued to féele,Iſai. 45.23. before the heauenly Iudge. For we know that we cannot goe from that which is ſpoken of, by ye Prophet Iſaiah, yt eueryevery knée muſt bowe before the maieſtie of God. And therefore, ſince God is the Iudge of the whole world how is it poſſible that wee can ſtande before his face? for there is none of vsus all, but muſt needes be enforced to ſay, that we are worthy to be condemned an hundred thouſand times. And although we hauehave lyued but one yeare, yet hauehave we committed an hundred thouſand faults, which deſerue euerlaſting condemnation, and is ſo engraued in our hartes as that we cannot denie it. Wherefore, ſince God is clearer ſighted then we, how can it bee that he ſhould not condemne vsus, ſéeing eueryevery of vsus muſt néedes in ſundrye wiſe condemne hym ſelfe? howbeit we ſée our Lord Ieſus Chriſt to bée driuen to this extremitie, as that he was accuſed before an earthly Iudge, and ſo prophane a man, as that there was nothing in hym but couetuouſneſſe and ambition. And therefore ſince the ſonne of God was brought thus lowe, it was to this ende that wee might vnderſtand and know that wee might bouldlye preſent our ſelues before the maieſti of God, for the receiuing of vsus, ſo that we ſhould neuer néede to feare couragiouſly to come before his tribunal ſeat, becauſe we are ſure that he wyll hauehave mercy vponupon vsus. Moreouer, we know yt Ieſus Chriſt hath power, authoritie, & dominion to be Iudge ouer the whole world: and yt when Pylate had thus condē ned him, it was to this end that we might bouldly come vntounto him, becauſe we know, that he ſhall come to be our Iudge. And againe, that we might vnderſtand, becauſe he held his peace, that his meaning was to abide to be condemned for vsus, and not anſwere for his iuſtification, ſince hee knewe hee muſt bee condemned for our ſakes. For although he was without fal…, yet bare hee all our ſins vponupon him. And therfore it is no wonder though he helde his peace, and were ouercome: for otherwiſe hee could not hauehave performed the office of a Mediator, without he had bene condemned, and confeſſed that he was worthy to dye for our cauſe. And this is the meaning why our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt held his peace, that wee might with open mouth call vponupon God, and beſéech him of pardon for all our ſins and tranſgreſſions.
Let vsus now fall downe before the maieſtie of our good God, and acknowledge our offences, beſéeching him to touch vsus vnfeynedly and to the quick, that wee might grone and wéepe before him for the ſame. And although they be great and gréeuous, yet that hee would not ſuffer vsus to be deſperately ſhut out, but to bee alwayes ſubiect & runne vntounto him. And forſomuche as of our ſelues we are blockiſh, and ſhall be neuer able to attayne thereto, let vsus beſéeche hym to looke vponupon vsus with his eye of mercye, as hee hath ordayned our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt to hauehave care ouer vsus, as a Shepharde hath ouer his Shéepe, that he woulde alſo ſo gather vsus vntounto himſelfe, as yt we folow not the war of deſtruction from the which he hath pulled vsus, but walke in that good way, wherinto hee hath brought vsus. Let vsus alſo beſéeche him ſo to continue vsus in it, as that we prouoke not his heauy wrath againſt vsus, and therby forſake vsus for being any longer our Shepherd: But to defend vsus with his favour and grace, and offer vp ſuch ſacryfices vntounto him, as that wee might know that he hath not loſt his labour in gouerninge of vsus, but that we might anſwere his holy calling. And for ſomuch as it hath pleaſed him to draw vsus vntounto him, and ch…ſe vsus for his people, and enheritance although we are no waye able to ſatiſfie the hundreth part of our duty, yet that it would pleaſe him to vpholde vsus through his goodneſſe, and that we might alwayes make an eſtimation, of the benefit of the death and paſſion, whiche our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt hath ſuffered, vntill ſuch time as we are rydde of all our ſinnes, and bee clothed with the perfection whereunto he hath at this day called vsus. That hée woulde not onelyonly beſtow this grace vponupon vsus, but vp on all people and nations of the worlde. &c.