Sermons on Divinity Humanity and Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Sermons on the Prophecies · Sermon 4
The fourth Sermon of the Propheſie of Chriſte.
Iſaiah. liii.
7 HEE was oppreſſed and afflicted, yet did hee not open his mouth: hee is brought as a ſheepe to the ſlaughter, and as ſheepe before her ſherer, is dumbe, ſo he openeth not his mouth.
8 Hee was taken out from pryſon and from iudgement, and who ſhal declare his age? for he was cut frō out of the land of the liuing, for the tranſgreſsion of my people was hee plagued.
WHen the Prophet had ſhewed that eueryevery of vsus was to looke into himſelfe and vntounto his owne ſins, if we woulde receiue any benefite by the death and paſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſte, hée now ſaith, that he ſuffered not cōſtrainedly, but willingly: for, if he had not done ſo, we ſhould neuer hauehave been iuſtified, neither yet ſhoulde any attonement hauehave béen made betwéene God & vsus: to wit, if Ieſus had not repared our tranſgreſſions through his obedience. And therfore if ye death of the ſonne of God had been conſtrained, and that he had not ſubmitted himſelfe willingly, it had not béen a Sacrifice to hauehave blotted out our ſinnes:Rom. 4.9. for S. Paul alſo bringeth vsus backe to this conſideration, whenas hee ſaith that our tranſgreſſions were taken away by the obedience of one man. What was the cauſe that made God become our enimie, and yet is, but, for that wée neuer leaue offending of him? Hée created vsus that he might peaceably and quietlye enioy vsus: but when wée refuſe to beare his yoke, he is of very right to deteſt vsus, and not to allow vsus for his creatures.
We ſée then why it is ſaid, yt our Lord Ieſus was not only chaſtiſed for our ſins & tranſgreſſiōs, but alſo, that he did not once open his mouth, nor yet gaue any foule language: but bicauſe he knew that he was appointed for yt purpoſe, & yt it was the eternall decrée of god his father, he ſhewed himſelfe obedient euen vntounto the death. And therfore when we would hauehave a more féeling of the power of the death & paſſiō of the ſonne of god, let eueryevery man conſider wt him ſelfe, how many ſundry wayes he hath withſtood the will & iuſtice of God. Surely if we doo ſo, we ſhall finde that wee doo nothing els but make war againſt him, and as if we would willingly & wittingly diſpite him. Wherfore we néede neuer be abaſhed, to hauehave the want of ſuch a remedy: to wit, that for the burying of the remē braunce of all our iniquities, the ſonne of GOD muſt obey in our behalfe.
It is true indéede that our Lord Ieſus ſpake before Pylate his Iudge: but he dyd it not to eſcape death,Luk. 23.3. but rather offered himſelf vntounto it: neither would he accept of any occaſion, to be pardoned, becauſe it was very méete that he ſhould be condemned in our name. Wherfor it is not for naught that the Prophet ſaith, that hee was like a dumbe man: and compareth him vntounto a ſheepe, or vntounto A Lambe: hauing regarde vntounto the figure of the auncient ſacrifices: for, when we héere the death and paſſion of our Lord Ieſus ſpoken of, we muſt take it to be a ſacrifice, wherwith God the father was appealed, becauſe that ſinnes (as we hauehave héertofore declared) could not be taken away, to pleaſe God, but by that meane. And to ſay the truth, whenas in the time of the law, men would craue pardon for their ſinnes, there muſt of neceſſitie be ſacrifices done. For they were neuer able to make any recompence: and therefore God tolde them, that it was ſufficient that they builded vponupon the promiſe made vntounto them in the redéemer. Wherefore, to the end the Iewes might vnderſtād, that Ieſus Chriſt ſhould fulfil whatſoeuer was then figured in ye law, this name of a lambe was namly giuē vntounto him, and vnderunder one kinde, the Prophet hath comprehended all: as if he ſhould hauehave ſaide, that Ieſus Chriſt, in his death and paſſion, ſhould firſt take away all our iniquities, becauſe he ſhould ſubmit himſelfe vntounto the will of God his father▪ and beſides, that in the ſecond place, he ſhould be ſacrificed as a Lamb, to the end that by the ſhedding of his blood, all our ſpots ſhoulde be waſhed and made cleane. Wherefore, when we ſhall be rebuked for a great number of falts which we commit, and can neither will nor chuſe but féele ye wrath of God, let vsus hauehave recourſe vntounto that which is héere ſet before vsus. to wit, that it was not for nought that our Lorde Ieſus woulde not anſwer againe, although his afflictions were very extreame, and although God powred vponupon him his whole rigour, yet dyd hée quietly ſuffer all, to the ende wee, by that his obedience might bée reconciled. And by the way, wee are alſo exhorted to faſhion our ſelues after his example: not that we are able, throughly & perfectly to humble our ſelues before GOD, but yet wee muſt ſtriue to doo it.
This then, I ſay, that when it ſhall pleaſe his maieſty to make vsus féele his moſt heauy hand, ſo that wée thinke that we are verye hardly dealt withall, yet let vsus holde our peace, and confeſſe that God is iuſt, & full of equitie, and not be hearde once to grudge: but rather gloryfie God by holding our peace, like miſerable ſinners, that are conuinced of their tranſgreſſions, and hauehave not a worde to ſay to the contrary.
Pet. 1.3.18.Loe then how Saint Peter applieth this place: That is, that when wée are afflicted by the hand of God, yea and perſecuted by men, let vsus paciently beare the iniuries done vntounto vsus, becauſe we know yt it is the mind of God to proue & try vsus, or rather to puniſh vsus for our ſins: & let vsus beware we make no vaine excuſes as many men doo, who alledge their infirmitie and ouer great weakneſſe, ſo that they cannot be quiet, ſo long as GOD preſſeth them greuoſly. Howbeit wee muſt frame our ſelues like vntounto the ſonne of God: for, he is our glaſſe and patterne, not that (as I hauehave ſaide) there is in vsus the like power, but yet although wee cannot come néere him, let vsus notwithſtāding ſtriue to come as néere him as we may.Pſal. 38.14. & 39.10. Moreouer, we ſée that Dauid being a frayle man, as we are, did yet put in practiſe this doctrine: as he ſaith in one place, O Lord becauſe I knew yt it was thy heauy hand that was vpō me, therefore I helde my peace. And in another place he ſaieth, ſince thou O Lorde haſt ſlaked the raynes of mine enimies, I hauehave pacientlye ſuffered the wronges and outrages that they hauehave done vntounto mée. héere then we ſée what wee hauehave to learne out of theſe wordes: to wit, that as the Sonne of God was mute, becauſe hee would glorifie God, and would not replye in all his afflictions; euen ſo lykewiſe let vsus ſuffer God to chaſtice vsus when he thinketh good: or els to trie our obedience, in letting loſe the raines to the vngodlye, to perſecut vsus.
Now, it is impoſſible for vsus to reache to it, vntill ſuch time as we be fully reſolued of this doctrine, that our Lorde by holding his peace both before God his father and alſo before men, hath repaired all our ſinnes and iniquities. Moreouer, when we are tolde, that by the holding of his peace he purchaſed vsus righteouſneſſe, we ſée that this ſilence, bred vsus eftſoones this benefit, that hee did it to defende our cauſe, and is now become our mediator vntounto God, hauing his mouth alwayes wide open: to witte, being euer ready to make interceſſion, for the helping of all the offences, whiche wee hauehave committed. For, in as much as he abode extreme perſecution, & neuer gaue any words, he attained to this office, that if we be convinced in conſcience before God, and are to be condemned, for want of abilitie to ſay any thing for our excuſe, yet will hee defende vsus, and God will alſo adiudge vsus for innocentes, becauſe our ſinnes were thus repayred.
Thus we ſée at what end we muſt begin, and then ſhal we hauehave greater courage, and be much better diſpoſed to kéepe our tonges, whenas we ſhall be any way afflicted by the hand of God. And héerevpon the Prophet ſaith, that he was lifted out of anguiſhe, or out of priſon (for the word importeth thus much) & of iudgemet. There are ſome which expound it, as if Ieſus Chriſt had bene put to death by ſome ſodaine violēce: but we are rather told that death ouercame him not, but was raiſed vp againe by the power of God his father.
Now, it is not enough for vsus that we vnderſtande, that our Lorde Ieſus hath ſuffered for our ſaluatiō, and when we hauehave examined our life, we ſhal feele yt without this help, we were al damned & vtterly loſt, & if there were nothing els ſpoken of, but of the death and paſſion of the ſonne of God, we ſhould alwaies ſtande in doubt, for how can it be poſſible that we ſhould hope for life at his hands, ſéeing he himſelf was hedlong caſt down into death? ſurely we ſhould neuer perceiue any diuine nor heauenly power, without the which wee can no way conceiue to put our truſt in him: becauſe wee ſhould ſée nothing but weakeneſſe, which would feare vsus. And as the Prophet hath héeretofore ſpoken of the frute which we receiue by the death and paſſion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, euen ſo doth he now ſay, that it is becauſe he ſhall be lyfted vp by the power of god his father, he was lifted vp (ſaith he) out of anguiſh and iudgemēt. And although he was condemned yet did not God leaue puttinge to his helping hand, but exalted him, that hee might hauehave ye chiefe dominion, and rule ouer all creatures.
Rom. 1▪4.This is it which S. Paul ſetteth foorth in the Epiſtle to the Romaines, where he ſaith, that he ſhewed himſelfe to be the ſon of god by his riſing againe. For if we doo but only looke into the lyfe of Ieſus Chriſt, as he liued héere amongſt men, and alſo into his death, we ſhould neuer finde that in him, which is requiſit for our ſaluation. In very déede, the miracles which he dyd, ye doctrine which he preached, and the reſt of the ſignes which he ſhewed, was ſufficient to declare him to be the ſon of god, without our faith were to to weake. And yet ſhould we remaine alwaies in ſhame and doubt to ſée Ieſus Chriſt offer himſelfe, as a common and contemptible man: and beſides, it woulde make vsus more aſhamed and gréeued, whenas we ſhould ſée him in the ende ſubiect to ſo curſed & ſhamefull a death. But when we paſſe from his death, vntounto his reſurrection, then we know, that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt got the victory for vsus. And to the ſame purpoſe is that ſaying of S. Paul to the Corin. that although hée was crucified in weakneſſe,2. Cor. 13.4. yet roſe hée againe by the power of God his Father. So then, the order which the prophet héere kéepeth, tendeth to the ſame ende, that we ſhoulde not ſtand in doubt, but yt our Lord Ieſus Chriſt had life in his hand, and was Lord & maiſter therof. becauſe it was ſéene in his owne perſon. And therefore let vsus vnderſtande, yt the ſonne of God was made of no reputation for our ſakes: bicauſe wee know eftſoones, that he was not ſpoyled of his power: and although he kept it cloſe for a time, yet hauehave we ſuch a ſure teſtimonie thereof in his reſurrection, as that we ſhall not néede to make any excuſe, but fully and wholy beléeue in him: and bouldly ſet our ſelues againſt hel, & ſin: ſéeing Ieſus Chriſt hath triumphed ouer them, and the hande of God ſuſtained him to be exempt of all anguiſhes: and was exalted by himſelfe to be God his Fathers lieutennaunt: & (as I hauehave already ſaid) to hauehave the chiefeſt gouernment in the worlde. This then is the effect of ye which wee are to learne, whenas it is ſaide. that he was lifted from out of priſon, & iudgement. Now, it muſt néedes fal out, yt our Lord Ieſus ſhould diſcend into ye bottomleſſe depthes, before ſuch time as he ſhould be exalted into the glory of heauen: for if he had appeared onelyonly in maieſtie, how is it poſſible for vsus at this day to bee aſſured, that our ſinnes are forgiuen vsus. Surely, wée might ſée the ſonne of God the fountaine of lyfe, but wée ſhould ſée him as one deuided from vsus, and wée ſhould hauehave nothing that is common to him, nor yet once come néere him.
Moreouer, wée ſhould hauehave alwaies matter enough to diſpaire on, becauſe we are guilty of an infinit number of ſinnes And therfore, if our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt had gone downe into the bottomleſſe depthes and had not bene afterwarde exalted into heauen, what had wée ben the better? truly, no whit, but alwayes remaine lyke miſerable caytiues, out of all meaſure diſquieted, and horrybly tormented, by ſéeing the wrath of God continuallye vponupon vsus. But when it is ſaide in the firſt place, that he was condemned, and ſuffered moſt fearefull panges, to the ende we might be freed from them, and be at peace with God (as yeſterday was tolde you) wée now know, that he loueth and fauoureth vsus, & receiueth vsus to mercy: and therefore when we vnderſtande that Ieſus Chriſte was therevpon exalted: wée may alſo very well conclude that it was to draw vsus vntounto him, to the ende we might be partakers of the glory which was giuen vntounto him by God his father.
Moreouer, we are alſo to note the wordes of the Prophet which followeth, Who is he that is able to number his yeares. For, by theſe wordes he meaneth to ſhew, that the effect and power of the reſurrection of our Lord Ieſus was for euer, and that it is no temporal thing which many times melteth and vaniſheth away. And this is a very neceſſary point: for, ſome hauehave taken this age, for the eternall generation of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, becauſe he was begotten by God his father from all eternitie. Some other hauehave ſtrayned the woordes of the Prophet this way and that: but when we ſhall looke more narrowly into the matter, there is no doubt, but that he meant to ſhewe, that the honour which was giuen to Ieſus Chriſt, was not for him ſelfe, and his owne perſon, and for a day onelyonly, but that he purchaſed vsus euerlaſting life, for as Saint Paule ſayeth, That inaſmuch as he dyed, he dyed once for ſinne,Rom. 6.10. But in yt he now liueth, he liueth vntounto God, & ſhal neuer die again.
By this he declareth, that the ſacrifice whiche our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt offered, is ſufficient for vsus, becauſe hee hath moſt perfectlye ſanctified vsus by that meane. And therefore it was not néedefull that the Sonne of God ſhould ſuffer any more then once:Heb. 7.27. but becauſe this power was in him, to blot out all our iniquities at once, let vsus bouldly runne vntounto his death and paſſion, and not doubt but that it wil alwayes hauehave this ſtrength in it, as to reconcile vsus vntounto God.
Now, the life wherinto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt entred, is heauenly: for it was ſuch a perfect condition, as could not be amended. And when S. Paul ſaieth, that he liueth vntounto God, it is as muche as that he is now cleane exempt from all our miſeries, and from the condition that hée had before taken, which was to become a mortall man. Wherefore, Ieſus Chriſt hath diſcharged al this geare, and is now rid of all humaine fraileneſſe, to the end that we which are his members, might hope for the like in our ſelues. And ſo let vsus in the firſt place note, yt the Prophet hath héere declared, that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt roſe not agayne, to bée any more ſubiect to death, but hath purchaſed euerlaſting life. In the 2 place we hauehave to learne, yt this was not done onelyonly for himſelfe, but alſo for all his whole Church. For, when it ſaid by the Pſalmiſt, that God was exalted, and tooke the ſpoyle of his enemies: this is to ſhewe, that when our Lord Ieſus chriſt was lifted vp after his death, that it all turned to the common benefit & welfare of his Churche.Pſal. 68.19. The ouercomming then of Satan and of ſinne, was to this end, that we might be deliuered of them, and enioy the fruit of ſuch a conqueſt, and therein triumph. This then is the very effect of that whiche we hauehave to learne out of this place. Now, the whole ſubſtance of ye matter is this, that wée might vnderſtand, how to apply it rightly vntounto our owne vſe. And therfore, when it is ſaide, yt the ſon of God was, lifted vp from out of anguiſh & condemnation, let vsus learn, that when we are moued to become deſperat, to ſet Ieſus Chriſte before our eies, ſince we know that he hath paſſed ye courſe: & that God his father ſtretched out his hand vntounto him, that he might not be oppreſſed, all which was done for our ſakes. Wherfore, we hauehave a very good way to come out of our anguſhes and paines, ſo long as we hauehave Ieſus Chriſt for our Captaine, and follow his ſteps, becauſe, yt whatſoeuer was accompliſhed in him, as being our heade, belongeth to vsus, and the effect thereof will appeare in eueryevery faithfull man. And when his age is ſpoken off, it is to this end, that we might vnderſtande, that hee will bee of power able to defende his Church euen vntounto the ende: for he will not be deuided from his body. In very déede, our eſtate and condition differeth greatly from his, vntill ſuch time as wée be taken out of this world: but in that he is the firſt borne of the dead, he is alſo the firſt fruits of all thoſe which ſhall riſe againe. Let vsus then vnderſtande,1. Cor. 15.20. Coll. 1.18. that becauſe the Sonne of God, is not onelyonly in his owne eſſence or being, and in his deuine maieſtie immortall, but alſo in his fleſh, and humaine nature, that it is to this end, that his church might be alwaies preſerued in this world, & neuer …ecay. True it is, we ſhal ſée great troubles, and indéede a man would think many times, that the church of God, ſhould vtterly periſh: for, if there ariſe neuer ſo ſmall a tempeſt, ye ſurges will by and by, be ſo mightie & horrible, as that a mā would ſay, all were loſt, & cleane daſht. And this is ſo common a thing as may be. For, what outwarde ſhew of maintenaunce can there be to the church of God, whēas it is aſſailed thus on al hands? muſt it not néedes be thought, that it cannot be but vtterlye ouerthrowne, whenas it is thus wonderfully aſſaulted? howbeit, this is the truth of it, we muſt be faine to reſort to our head. Wherfore, ſince the age of our Lord Ieſus is without end, and yt all the changes in the world cannot ſtay him from hauing a very good eye vntounto his church, although the temptations were farre greater, and more violent then they are, yet let not vsus ſhrink at the matter. And this is not to be applied only to the whole company of the faithful, but alſo to eueryevery one of vsus. And therefore let vsus vnderſtand and be throughly perſwaded, that although our Lyfe be but a blaſt, & we ready eueryevery minute to vaniſh away, yet notwithſtanding that we hauehave a lyfe which laſteth for euer, becauſe we are the members of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. Moreouer, let vsus eftſoones learne, to walk through this world, ſince this is not our life, which we héere preſently enioy, but a pilgrimage which we muſt paſſe on quickly, vntil ſuch time as we hauehave come vntounto our quiet enheritance. Thus we ſée, yt in hoping for euerlaſting life, wee muſt forſake all this, which is but a ſhadow: & not ſuffer our ſences to be ēfolded in that which we openly ſée, and may occaſion vsus to tarry ſtil héere in this world: for ſurely, as many as hauehave their mindes ſet héere on this lyfe, without doubt doo thereby ſeperate themſelues from the ſonne of God, and are vnworthy to hauehave any part or portion with him in his euerlaſting kingdome. And therfore, let vsus forſake this world, if we wil ioyne our ſelues vntounto ye ſon of god. Furthermore, becauſe this doctrine might take ye better holde of vsus, ye prophet cryeth out he ſaieth not that the age of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt ſhall be onelye euerlaſting, but caſteth it out as a man meruelouſly abaſhed, ſaying, Who ſhall be able to number his yeares. Wherfore we are admoniſhed to ſtriue againſt all temptations: & although we be ſome times hindred this way and that: & be as it were caſt downe wtout mouing, yet let vsus reſiſt, & with much to doo enforce vsus, vntill ſuch time as wée hauehave attained vntounto this which is héere ſhewed vsus: to wit, ye mans reaſon is not able to vnderſtande, nor yet any mouth able to expreſſe the age of our Lord Ieſus. And for the bringing of this matter about we muſt be alſo very wel aduertiſed to ſurmoūt all our thoughts, whēas we fal in reaſoning of putting our truſt in our lord Ieſus Chriſt, & folow him, for the partaking of the heauē ly enheritaunce, which he hath purchaſed for vsus. Neither muſt we ſtick to our own opinion and fantaſy, whenas this doctrine ſhal be well treated of, as if it were to bée debated by words. But let vsus know this, that although our faith hangeth vponupon hearing, yet ſhall it neuer hauehave through aſſurance, except it receiue ſuch a teſtimony from God and from his holy ſpirite, as ſurpaſſeth whatſoeuer the tong of man is able to expreſſe. For this cauſe, muſt wée not dwell in our owne vnderſtandinges, and iudge as we thinke beſt, but let vsus know that it is a wonderfull and an in comprehenſible ſecret, ye the ſonne of God became a mortall man, and ſubiect to death, that wée might be exempt from it, and that now, in the middeſt of al our weaknes, we ſhould hauehave neuertheles life euerlaſting which muſt be obtained by fayth, vntil ſuch time as it be throughly manifeſted vntounto vsus at his comming, in the laſt day. And this is the effect of that which wée are to learne out of this place. Now the Prophet goeth on further, and ſaieth, That hee was cut of from out of the lande of the liuing, & receued the wounds which were due to his people. This is a confirmation of that which wée lately handeled: to wyt, that the age of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt ſhould not ſerue for himſelf alone, but alſo for the whole body of his Church, wherevnto hee is vnited, and bounde as it were with an inſeperable bonde. For the Prophet ſheweth, that without it, it might be ſaide that the death and paſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt ſhould be vnprofitable. Now this were a blaſphemie not to be borne, to think that ye ſon of God came downe into ye world, to abide ſo cruel a death, and to hauehave the iudgement of God fall ſo on his head, as that he beare the puniſhment for our ſinnes, and was taken to bee the greateſt malefactor in ye world: & yet al this not to profit his faithful ſeruants ani thing at all, yt might well inough be ſaide, yt this were, as a man would ſay, a very ieſt. Wherfore, ye prophet bringeth vsus back to this cōſideration, yt we ſhould well vnderſtand, for what end & purpoſe our Lord Ieſus was thus ſcourged & beaten. And this came not by fortune, as hath ben before declared. Nether muſt wée looke only vntounto that which men did, and to thoſe which vniuſtly ſlew him, but wée muſt lift vp the eies of our faith vntounto the counſell of God, by which he had ordained yt Ieſus Chriſt ſhould be ſacrificed, to the ende hée might purchaſe remiſſion of our ſinnes for vsus. Wherefore, ſince it is ſo, we are alwaies to conclude, that Ieſus Chriſt ſuffered not for himſelfe, but receyued the woundes which were due to vsus, we are héere in this firſt place exhorted to enter into the knowledge and examination of our ſins, whenas the death & paſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt is ſet before vsus. It is very true ye God therein powreth out the infinit treaſures of his goodnes: for, indéede, when S. Paul hath ſaide that we ar iuſtified by our lord Ieſus, & yt in ſtaying our ſelues vponupon his death & paſſion, we may boldly preſent our ſelues before god, & be glad that hée wil alwaies except of vsus. After Saint Paul, I ſay, hath handled this doctrin, that although we be miſerable ſinners, yet wil not God caſt vsus off, but vpholde vsus, becauſe hée receiueth vsus in the name of his only ſon, he goeth on farther, & ſayeth, I beſéech you Brethren euen in the bowels of the goodnes and merciemercy of God. Wherin he ſheweth, that in the ſuffering of Ieſus Chriſt, we hauehave a teſtimony of the infinit louelove of god: as if he wold lay open his hart, and ſhew vsus his bowels to teſtefye vntounto vsus how deare and precious wée and our ſoules are vntounto him.
Howbeit this is not ſett downe, to the ende wée ſhoulde ſléepe and take pleaſure in our ſins: For the more that God ſheweth himſelf lyberal in the perſon of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, ſo much the more ought wee to féele, what a gréeuous thing it is for vsus to become his enemies, and fight againſt his iuſtice, and cauſe him to ſet himſelfe againſt vsus: for, the grace which God ſheweth vsus in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, ought to draw vsus continually to repentaunce. Now, the papiſtes at this day, go about falſely to accuſe vsus of the doctrine which we preach, which is this, that we muſt be ſaued by the frée mercy of God, hauehave our whole recourſe vntounto Ieſus Chriſt, bicauſe we knowe that therein wee hauehave all our perfection of rightuouſnes. Now forſooth Sir, ſay they, you hauehave made a great ſpeake, for, then eueryevery man may liue as he luſt, and they néede neuer care any more for the offending of God.
Indéed, theſe dogs may bark thus, becauſe they neuer knew what it is to taſt of the forgiueneſſe of ſinnes. For theſe hipocrites make a ſkorne at God, and at all religion, and hauehave neuer learned, what it is to tranſgres the law of God. And wee alſo ſée, how iollily they thinke themſelues diſcharged, if they hauehave once ſong a Maſſe, bleated, and maſked, and they think that God is as well pleaſed with this, as a young Child is pleaſed with a pudding.
Thus we ſée how theſe ſkorners of God, can blaſpheme ye goſpell, but when we hauehave come once to the acknowledgment of our ſins, and know to what ende the ineſtimable grace of God is preached vntounto vsus, without doubt wée ſhoulde bee touched with repentance, and be mortally wounded with the horror of anguiſhe and payne, when wée ſée God to bee our enimie, becauſe wée hauehave prouoked him to wrath. And this is héere the meaning of the prophet, that Ieſus Chriſt hath ſuſtained ye wonds which were due to vsus. Wherin he ſheweth yt we can neuer liuely féele, what good the death and paſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt hath done vsus, except we be inwardly throughly touched with the offending of our God, wherby wee hauehave made him to become as our Iudge & enemy, vntill ſuch time as we be reconciled vntounto him by his méere goodneſſe and mercy.
Now, this is ſufficiently declared to vsus in the holy Scripture: but héerein reſteth the whole matter, that wée applye our witte and ſtudie thereto.Math. 11.28 Neuertheleſſe, be as be may, we ſée that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt calleth none but ſuch as doo labor, and are heauy laden.
By this he excludeth all ſuch as ſléepe in their iniquities, and flatter them ſelues in them, or els which giuegive them ſelues to al lycenciouſneſſe, without any feare of God. And therefore, they which are thus giuen ouer to all wickedneſſe, cannot poſſibly come néere vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, for who ſhall giuegive vsus an entraunce vntounto him, but the voyce whiche calleth vsus? Euen ſo fareth it with them, who are ſo proude and preſumptiouſlye blinde, as that they make them ſelues beléeue that they are righteous through their owne deſerts, and ſurely, he ſhutteth the gate againſt all ſuch kind of people, ſo that they can hauehave no hope that our Lord Ieſus chriſt bringeth them any comfort or ſolace. And why ſo? forſooth, becauſe he thus ſaith, come vntounto mée, who are they? All the world. Indéed, this is true that he calleth all the worlde, howbeit hee maketh a diſtinction of it, for thus he ſaithe, all yée that labor and are heauy loden. For, after he had called all ſuch as had néede of his helpe, hée ſheweth that none can be partakers thereof but ſuch as doo labor and are heauy loden.
And therfore, when we ſhall féele our burden, and ſo groane vnderunder it, as that we are able to beare no more, ſée what a way is laide open vntounto vsus, to come vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, becauſe he hath ſtretched out his armes to imbrace vsus. For, we ſhall ſée héerafter, yt hée was ſent vntounto thoſe whoſe hartes were abaſed and caſt downe. Wherfore, wée muſt bée ſacrificed after this maner, that wée might bée made like vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt.
In very déede, the ſacrifice which he offered, is our full hope and aſſuraunce: to wit, we muſt not preſume to adde any thing vntounto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt: becauſe he hath purchaſed ful ſaluation, by his ſacrificing of him ſelfe vntounto God his father: but by the way, it is méete that wée ſhoulde be threatned by the iudgements of God, to the ende we might vnderſtand, how gréeuos a thing it is, that wée béeing poore wormes of the earth, ſhould lift our ſelues vp againſt the maieſtie of our creator, and violate his iuſtice, conſidering that we are placed héere in this world to ſerue and honor him. And therfore let vsus hauehave a liuely féeling of this, that wee might come vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt.
Now it ſhould ſéeme héere at the firſt ſight that the Prophet had ſet downe a ſtraunge reaſon, when hée ſaith, bicauſe hee was cut of from the lande of the liuing. For, in aſmuch as Ieſus Chriſt was exalted, and hath now the rule both in heauen and in earth, it ſhuld ſéeme yt this was no fit meane, without he had firſt bene as one cut of: For this glory, wherein now he is, he alwayes had,Iohn. 17.5. before the world was made according to the ſaying of S. Iohn. And therfore Ieſus Chriſt as touching his deuine eſſence or being, obtained vntounto himſelfe no ſtraunge thing.
Now, to bee caſt downe into the bottomleſſe pitte of death as it were, was not the way to come vntounto heauenly glory: and to be condemned by a mortall man, is not like that he ſhould be made iudge of the whole worlde. Howbeit, the meaning of God was ſuch, as yt he would worke beyond mans reaſon: neither muſt wée bring our counſell hether with vsus, and think that wée are able to amend this counſel, which wée know, to be the cauſe and ſpringhead of our ſaluation: but let vsus moſt humbly gloryfy God, becauſe hee woulde hauehave his ſonne to be thus cut off from the lande of the liuing. Now the Prophet namely ſpeaketh after this manner, as though Ieſus Chriſt had bene vtterly aboliſhed: and would not make mention onelyonly of a common death, but euen of ſuch a death as ſhould vtterly root him out, as if the remembrance of him had bene cléerelye aboliſhed and defaced. For although of neceſſitie, all men muſt dye, & thereby are cut of from the land of the lyuing, yet hath this ben ſpecially ſéene in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, that his death was to hauehave ſhut him quite out from the company of men. For (as we hauehave already ſaid) it was a moſt ſhamefull death, and curſſed of God: and beſides, it was almoſt euen the very gulfe of hell: yet not yt Ieſus chriſt was ſwalowed vp of it: howbeit he ſtraue mightely againſt the anguſhes of death. And therefore it is not for naught that ye prophet ſetteth him downe héere as one that had ben aboliſhed from amōgſt mē. Neuertheles how euer it is he obtained by this menes ſuch maieſtie in this nature of ours, as yt at this day he being our brother,Eph. 2.8. yet ceaſeth not alſo to become our iudge. And marke what S. Paul ſaith of it, that he rendred himſelf obedient vntounto death, yea euen to the moſt curſſed death of the Croſſe, in ſaying that he rendred himſelfe obedient, he noteth vntounto vsus that which wee hauehave already declared out of the prophet, to wit, that, that which our Lord Ieſus Chriſt ſuffered, was willingly done. But becauſe wee are guilty before god, & are his enemies, it is ſaide yt Ieſus Chriſt ſubmitted himſelf: for as S. Paul ſaith, he who had all power and authority, tooke vponupon him the forme of a ſeruant, & the ſtate of thoſe yt were vnderunder ye yoke. Thus we ſée how obedient he was all his lyfe long, & would be vnderunder the law. And not only in this, but although he felt ye horrible panges of death, which made him ſweat water & blood, & draue him to ſay, O father, if it be poſſible, I beſéech thée,Mark. 14.36 let this ſo ſower a cup paſſe ouer mée: neuertheles he reſtraineth himſelfe & ſaith: yet not my will, but thine be done. Now herevpon S. Paul ſaith yt God his father, for this cauſe, exalted him, & gaue him a name aboue all other names, yt eueryevery knée at this day might bow vntounto. Wherfore, let vsus vnderſtand that Ieſus Chriſt himſelf, hath euen in our nature, an excellent maieſtie, to ye end we might come to him in full aſſurance: for, vponupon what condition is he made iudge ouer all the world? forſooth, it is becauſe yt he is not onelyonly made our Brother, but alſo for yt he offred himſelf to be our pledge & borrow and hath borne al our ſins. He was ſcourged & beaten by the hand of god, yt we might be healed of ye wounds which we deſerued to hauehave and for this cauſe is he now exalted, to ye ende we might bouldlye draw néere vntounto him. Now this is very true, yt the wicked ones, & the deuils, muſt in deſpite of their téethes, féele that the ſon of God is far aboue them, for he muſt tread all his enemies vnderunder his féet.Pſal. 110.1… Howbeit, we for our parts ar to do him honor willingly, to ſubmit our ſelues quietly vntounto him, & acknowledge the, maieſtie that was giuen vntounto him in his humane nature, to the ende we might hauehave wherewith to glory & triumph againſt ſin. Now, yt this is ment by the perſon of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, ſufficiently appeareth, by ye words of S. Luke, for when the Eunuke was come to worſhip at the temple of Ieruſalem, he read this place,Luk. 8. …2. & it was expounded vntounto him by Philip, whom God had ſent by the liuelye miniſterie of an Angell, to the end he might come to this poore blinde & ignorant man which ſought after God, hauing as yet no knowledge of him. Howbeit this place was in ſuch ſort expounded vntounto him, as that with once preaching he was conuerted vntounto our lord Ieſus Chriſt, crauing and requ…ering that he might be baptiſed in his name.
And this is a thing that ſhould greatly touch vsus: for in the firſt place we are admoniſhed, that although we are not able at the firſt chop to hauehave the ſound vnderſtanding of the doctrine of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and what fruit we gather out of that which is dayly preached vntounto vsus, yet muſt we not diſpaire for all that, but ſearch out of ye Scripture that thing which we know not, and then, God hauinge pittie on vsus, will giuegive vsus his hand, and ſet vsus in the right way. And ſince this poore & ignorāt mā, who gaue himſelf to read in ye bible, & knew not what it meant, was thus conuerted vntounto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt: let vsus take good héede howe we play the ſluggards: but rather follow the Counſell of the Pſalmiſt, who ſaith: To day if yée heare his voyce harden not your heartes.Pſal. 95.8. And therefore, let vsus take ſuch a taſt of the doctrine which is here preached vntounto vsus, as that wee may bee brought vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and ſo accept of him, as that we may cleaue vntounto him with a ſure and conſtant faith: that we may profite thereby, and be ſtrengthened euen to the end: ſo that after we are truely humbled, we may come and offer our ſelues vntounto our God, and beſéeche him of pardon and forgiuenes: and although we are vnwoorthy, yet let vsus not leaue lifting vp of our heades vntounto heauen, and fully aſſure our ſelues, that God will accept of vsus in the name of this great and mighty Redemer. And although he was for a little while caſt downe, yet let vsus come backe to this poynt, that he was notwithſtanding exalted aboue the heauens, that (as S. Iohn ſaith) he might draw vsus vntounto himſelf,Iohn. 22.32. for thus it is ſaid, when I ſhal be exalted out of this world, I will draw al things vntounto my ſelfe.
Let vsus now fal downe before the maieſty of our good God, and acknowledge our offences beſéeching him to make vsus otherwiſe féele them, then héeretofore we hauehave done, and that it would pleaſe him to open our eies, and … touche our hartes, as that wee may ſubmit our ſelues wholy vntounto him, and holde the meane whiche is ſet downe vntounto vsus in his worde, that is, to hate our ſelues, and deteſt al our ſinnes, ſo that wée may be able to receiue ye grace which he hath once ſhewed vsus in our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and which hée would hauehave vsus now inioy by the meane of the Goſpell. And ſo let vsus all moſt humbly ſay, O almighty GOD and heauenlye Father, thou haſt promiſed to héere all our requeſtes. &c.