Sermons on Divinity Humanity and Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Sermons on the Prophecies · Sermon 6
The ſixt Sermon of the Propheſie of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt.
Iſaiah. Liii.
11 HE ſhall ſee of the trauaile of his ſoule, and ſhall bee ſatisfied: by his knowledge ſhall my righteous ſeruant iuſtifie many: for hee ſhall beare their iniquities.
ALthough the Prophet, for a confirmation of that which hée hath alredy ſaid, bringeth in this ſentence: to wit, that the death of the Sonne of God ſhoulde not be vnprofitable, but ſhould yéeld a moſt excellent fruite for the ſaluation of the worlde: yet doeth hée more liuely ſet it foorth then héeretofore hée hath done: For, in the firſt place, hée ſheweth vntounto vsus the louelove whiche Ieſus Chriſt beare vsus, ſaying, That hee ſhall be ſatisfied, by reaſon hée had purchaſed for vsus, by his death, euerlaſting life: and beſides, hee ſheweth in the ſecond place, that hée ſhall not ſuffer onelyonly in his bodie, but in his ſoule alſo. Nowe, we knowe that this ſaying, to be Satiſfied, or to be Contented, importeth or carieth with it, a great deſire. For, many thinges ſhall come to paſſe, which ſhall touch vsus no whit, and we ouerſlip them: yea, and although they be for our commoditie, yet is not for vsus to ſay, that we altogether reſt in them. And a man may hauehave a great number of things, and yet not be contented: For it is poſſible that he hath not the principall, or els that hée hath not the whole: But the Prophet ſheweth that the Sonne of God ſhal be throughly ſatiſfied, neuer reſpecting him ſelfe, when as hée ſhall ſée that hée hath gotten vntounto him his Church, and that poore ſinners ſhal be deliuered from the curſe wherein they were, and ſo be reconciled vntounto God, for the obtayning of the heauenly enheritance. To be ſhort, wée ſée here that our Lorde Ieſus neuer reſpected his owne perſon, but was rauiſhed with the louelove of vsus, wherin hée ſought his whole contentment and felicitie, as if that had béene his onelyonly deſire, louelove, and care. Now, we hauehave againe here to note, that if ſo be we looke for the benefite which our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt purchaſed for vsus, by Fayth, which is dayly offred vntounto vsus by the Goſpell, wée ſhall neuer be voide of our hope. For the Prophet ſayeth, That hee ſhall ſee, by which hée expreſſeth, that God doeth not onelyonly meane to ſhewe his mercy vntounto vsus in the perſon of his Sonne, when as hée deliuered him to death: But will bring it alſo to paſſe by his holy ſpirite, that this his death ſhall not be fruitleſſe, and that many ſhall ſee, & finde by experience, that it was not in vayne, nor for naught, that hée ſuffred ſo great tormentes. And therefore let vsus embraſe our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, to the end we drawing neare vntounto him by fayth, might be made partakers of the fruite of his death & paſſion: and let vsus be aſſured, that whēſoeuer we ſhal at any time eſtrange our heartes from him, that God will not adde this benefit with the reſt, that as his wil was that his Sonne ſhould be our Redéemer, euen ſo alſo ſhould we truly enioy ye benefit which he hath brought vsus, and vnderſtande that it was not in vaine that hée ſuffred ſuch cruell torments for vsus. And this is the thing which we are to conſider of out of this place. As for the ſecond point which is propounded, it is here ſhewed that Ieſus Chriſt ſhould not onelyonly be beaten, ſcourged, and afflicted by the hand of God his father, that he might beare the chaſtiſement which wée were woorthie of, but that his ſoule alſo ſhoulde bée gréeued and vexed. It is not héere ſaid, that hée ſhall ſée the fruite of his ſtrypes, affliction, and death, as the Prophet had before ſaide: But alſo the fruite of the trauayle and griefe of his ſoule. For the woordes which hée vſeth, importeth as much. And therefore hée meant to expreſſe that Ieſus Chriſt was not onelyonly crucified, after hée had aboad the gréeuous tormēts in his bodie, but that hée ſhould goe a great deale farther: to wyt, that hée ſhould be heauy and ſory for vsus, and ſuffer the ſorrowes of death, and be euen ſubiect theretoo for our iuſtification. And to ſay truly, to what purpoſe had it bin, if our Lord Ieſus Chriſt had but openly ſuffred, & in the ſight of the world? For if he had ſuffred but in body, hee ſhould then hauehave bin a Redéemer of bodies onelyonly. But becauſe the principall matter why wée ſhould beléeue in him, is, that we might féele and be fully perſuaded, that death ſhal be no more deadly vntounto vsus, and that wée are freed from the curſe of God, it was méet that our Lord Ieſus ſhoulde féele theſe pointes in himſelfe: & ſo comming before God, might be as a wretched malefactor before his Iudge. For, we know that the ſin of man brought not with it a temporall death onelyonly, but alſo a féeling of the enmitie of God, and of his horrible iudgement againſt vsus. And what is that? Forſooth, the moſt inſupportable and terrible thing that poſſibly may be. And therfore it was méet that our Lord Ieſus ſhuld be driuen theretoo, for our deliuerance: and this is it whiche the Prophet at this preſent declareth vntounto vsus. And héere we ſée a great deale the better, howe God hath loued vsus, and what the infinite Treaſures of his grace and goodneſſe are, which hée hath powred out vponupon vsus. Moreouer, wee may alſo verie well vnderſtande, what care and zeale our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt had ouer our ſaluation, when as hée forced not to make his owne bodie anſwere the ſatiſfaction of our ſinnes, but alſo to bring him ſelfe into ſuch an horrible feare, as one that ſhould féele the iudgement of God, who layde holde on him, as vponupon him who had deſerued the curſe which God had pronounced from his owne mouth: to wyt, that it was the verie thing to ſwallowe vsus vp into hell, and a gulfe vtterly to deſtroy vsus. And therefore it was méete that Ieſus Chriſt ſhould féele all this. Nowe, to ſay the trueth, when wée ſée that hée had thereby ſweat water and blood,Luk. 22.3. and that the Angels came downe to comfort him: this could not chooſe but be an wonderfull extream ſorrow and griefe: ſéeing the like example had neuer béen ſéene all the worlde ouer. Thus we ſée the meaning of theſe wordes, Of the trauaile, or griefe of the ſoule of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. Nowe, it is true (as Saint Peter ſayeth) that the ſorrowes of hell could not hold him vnderunder: howbeit it was méet hée ſhould ſtriue with them:Act. 2.24. and in the end hée had the victorie ouer them, but it was not without great and painefull fight. Moreouer, wée are preſently to gather out of this place, that although wée muſt dye, wée muſt not therefore ſay that the death and paſſion of Chriſt was not effectual, nor yet profited vsus ſo much as was expedient: becauſe, the death wherevnto wée are nowe ſubiect, is but a warning vntounto vsus of the curſe of God.
For, if wée were clearely exempt from death, we ſhould then neuer know the grace which was purchaſed for vsus by our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. And we alſo knowe what néede we hauehave to bée humbled, and that God maketh vsus alwayes to féele his wrath: For although we were altogether exempt thereof, yet ought we to think ſtill of it, to the ende we might grone by reaſon of our ſinnes, and therefore magnifie his mercy ſo much the more. Wherefore, the death to ſpeake properly, which all men now dye as it were, is not deadly, to thoſe which hauehave faith in Ieſus Chriſt, becauſe they paſſe out of this life, to liue vntounto God. And therefore when we dye, wée are to comfort our ſelues and reioyce, becauſe we know that God will be mercifull vntounto vsus, and conuert the euill into good, & make death (which before brought with it a mortall wound) to ſerue for a plaiſter. And howe is that? Forſooth, becauſe we ſhall vnderſtande that God will not become a ſeuere Iudge vntounto vsus, & poure out his vengeance vponupon vsus, when as we bring Ieſus Chriſt with vsus, to ſhewe that hée hath made ſatiſfaction for vsus. And therfore death hath not taken ſuch fearefull holde on vsus, as to confound vsus, and bring vsus to diſpaire:Ioh. 6.39. & 10.28. But doe come, fréely to put our ſelues into the handes of God. For, as it ſaid that Ieſus Chriſt commended his ſoule vntounto God his Father, Let vsus vnderſtand, that it was to make him Gardaine of our ſoules, and therefore may wée commende them moſt aſſuredly into his handes: becauſe hée hath ſaid, that whatſoeuer is giuen to him to kéepe, ſhall neuer periſh. Thus then we ſée to what ende this anguiſh of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt ſerueth: and that ouer and beſides he aboad death, and the reſt of the tormentes, yet had hée alſo this terrour of the féeling of God to be his Iudge, as if hée ſhoulde hauehave ſuffred the paynes of hell. Nowe, it is ſo farre off that this is any whit derogatorie from his Maieſtie, as that it is to make vsus a great deale the better vnderſtand, howe greatly hée eſtéemed of our ſaluation, and how deare and precious we and our ſoules were vntounto him. And therefore, although hée was made of no reputation (as before hath béen ſéene) and had neither fourme nor faſhion, why men ſhoulde be deſirous of him, yet was this his light eſtimation of him to exalte him ſo much the more.
And in déede, although God ſhewed his highneſſe and infinite Maieſtie in the creation of the worlde, yet hauehave we a farre more large cauſe to glorifie God in the death and paſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, becauſe Ieſus Chriſt abaſed and humbled him ſelfe for vsus and for our ſaluation: and although hée was not robbed of his diuine Maieſtie, yet laye it hyd for a time, and was neuer perceiued by any man. And this is in ſumme, that which the Prophet here handleth, as concerning the payne and greefe of our Lord Ieſus. Now, we ſée herein that hée forgot him ſelfe as it were, and neuer cared for him ſelfe, and the reaſon is, becauſe hée was altogether giuen to ſaue vsus: And ſo anſwered for vsus both in bodie and ſoule, and was our onelyonly pledge. And in this we ſée, that the verie curres who would at this day aboliſh this doctrine, hauehave neyther faith nor religion in them, but bark at it like Maſtifes, they know not why nor wherfore. And although our Popiſh hypocrites who vnderſtand this but by halfes, are yet notwithſtanding, howſoeuer the world goeth, driuen to confeſſe, that Ieſus Chriſt felt moſt terrible panges. In déed they were neuer able fully to define of al that was in it: But yet, how euer it commeth to paſſe, they iumble partly at it. Notwithſtanding, there are here a company of villaynes, more Monkiſh thē they which liue in their Celles, & in thoſe ſtews out of which they come, who hauehave brought their ſtench & infectiō into the Church of God. And therefore this is moſt certaine, yt theſe Dogges which at this day carry the name of Miniſters, and do alſo occupie that place, and yet make a Swynes ſtye of the Church of God, being like Dogges without all religion, and goe about nothing els but to deface and put out of mens mindes all the grace of God, and whatſoeuer els our Lord Ieſus Chriſt hath done for vsus. Now, when we ſée that Satan hath thus puſhed them forward, as to become like ſhameleſſe whores, we ought ſo much the rather to conſider of this Article of our faith: which is, That Ieſus Chriſt was not onelyonly condemned of Pylate, being an earthly Iudge, to the end we might be pardoned before God his Father: and not only crucified, that wée might be deliuered from the curſe: that hée did not onelyonly ſuffer death, that we might be freed from it, But alſo that we at this day might hauehave peace of conſcience, and be glad in that we féele the fatherly louelove of our God, and ſo may be bolde to call vponupon him with open mouth, being aſſured yt he will receiue vsus, & that we ſhal be acceptable vntounto him. And it was méet yt Ieſus Chriſt ſhould be plunged in theſe horrors which he felt, it was alſo méete that he who was the immaculate Lambe of God, ſhould be made like vntounto a wretched malefactor, and that hée who was the mirror & paterne of all holineſſe & perfection, ſhould anſwere for vsus, and become our Borrow euen to that verie pinch, as if hée ſhoulde hauehave béen condemned vntounto the bottomleſſe pit of hel. Moreouer, he vanquiſhed & ouercame all theſe ſorowes (as we hauehave before ſaid) but yet he wreſtled ſtoutly againſt them firſt. Thus we ſée what the meaning of Iſaiah is, when he ſaith, that Ieſus Chriſt muſt ſée trauels & griefes in his ſoule: howbeit we ſée that he was notwithſtanding well contented and fully ſatiſfied therwith, alwayes prouided that we might be redeemed by that meane. And therfore wée may at this day be ſo much the more bold, knowing that if we hauehave a true obedience of fayth, whereby to receiue the ineſtimable benefite which our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt hath obtained for vsus, wée may féele that hée ſuffred not all theſe torments for vsus, in vaine. Wherfore, our vnthankfulneſſe ſhall be ſo much the more inexcuſable, when as we come not vntounto him with ſuch an earneſt zeale, to enioy this ineſtimable benefite whereinto he is entred, and whereof hée hath in our behalfe, taken poſſeſſion, hauing tolde vsus that hée hath reconciled vsus vntounto God his Father, who is readie to receiue vsus as his children. Thus we ſée in ſumme, what we hauehave to conſider of in this place. Now, the Prophet goeth on farther, and ſaith, That by his knowledge, my righteous ſeruant ſhall iuſtifie many. As for this word, Seruant, we hauehave before ſéene, that it is no whit derogatorie from the maieſtie of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt: For, although hée was Lord ouer all Creatures, yet obteined he a newe gouernment in the perſon of a Mediatour, and in our nature, according to that ſaying of Saint Paule to the Philippians, and as we hauehave alſo ſéene partly heretofore:Phil. 2.9. for it was his meaning to become a ſeruant, and to humble him ſelfe vnderunder that ſtate and condition. And therefore it was not in vaine, that hée was called the ſeruaunt of God. Now, this ought to be no ſtraunge thing vntounto vsus: But this ſhould be much more ſtrange vntounto vsus, that Ieſus Chriſt being the verie Sonne of God,Iohn. 17.9. and coequall with God his Father in glorie, ſhould become a ſeruant to men (as it is ſaide in the Goſpell after Saint Iohn) and ſo abaſe him ſelfe vnderunder this condition,Mat. 20.28 as that hée woulde ſerue vsus: and yet notwithſtanding it was ſo in déede. Marke alſo why hée ſaide, I was conuerſaunt amongſt you as a ſeruant, and not as a Maiſter.
Nowe, ſince it is ſo, that Ieſus Chriſt became ſo humble, as to make him ſelfe the ſeruant of men, it is not for naught then that hée is here called the ſeruant of God. And to ſay the truth, he could not otherwiſe hauehave redéemed vsus. I ſpeake now in reſpect that God his Father had ſo decréede it, as we hauehave alredie heretofore ſayde. For, I know that God could, if it had pleaſed him hauehave ſaued vsus without any meane, But we are alwayes to preſuppoſe that it was Ieſus Chriſt which muſt purchaſe life for vsus. And therefore, for the bringing of this matter to paſſe, it was eftſoones méet that he ſhould become a ſeruant: becauſe hee could not otherwiſe hauehave yéelded his obedience vntounto God his Father: and without this obedience, it was impoſſible for him to hauehave repaired our tranſgreſſions and iniquities. Thus then we ſée why he was called a righteous ſeruant. To be ſhort, the Prophet doeth vsus to wit, that becauſe we were, and yet are, rebels to God, vntill ſuch time as he hath reformed vsus by his holy ſpirit: and againe, although after he hath giuen vsus the touch of a good mind, yet are we vnprofitable ſeruants, and tryp and ſtumble euerie hand while: and beſides, when wée ſhall thinke that the ſeruice which we doe him, ſhould be well accepted of him, yet may it be verie well amended, yea & worthie to be reiected: and therefore for the blotting out of our offences, it was méete that the ſeruice and obedience of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt ſhould pleaſe God: and that it ſhould alſo carry with it a right and full ſatiſfaction. This then is the ſumme and effect of his meaning. And herevpon we are to gather, that Ieſus Chriſt did not onelyonly iuſtifie vsus in that he was God, but through the power of his obedience, in that he tooke vponupon him our nature, and therein would accompliſh and fulfill the lawe, which was impoſſible for vsus to doe, becauſe it was ſuch a burthen as would hauehave preſſed vsus all downe, and hauehave broken our neckes. Forſomuch then as our Lord Ieſus Chriſt forſooke himſelfe for our ſaluation, and became obedient vntounto God his Father, we ſée in what ſort he hath iuſtified vsus. Now, he ſpeaketh alſo namely of his knowledge, meaning thereby to expreſſe, that it was not inough that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt performed in his own perſon, all whatſoeuer that was neceſſarie for our ſaluation, but that wee alſo ſhould take faſt hold therof by fayth.
And therefore knowledge is verie requiſite. For how many incredulous or vnbeléeuing perſons doe we ſée periſhe, vntounto whom the death and paſſion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, ſerueth to none other purpoſe, ſaue onelyonly for their greater condemnation, becauſe they treade his moſt holie and precious blood vnderunder their féete, and vtterly refuſe his grace which hee offreth vntounto them.Iohn. 3.14. Numb. 21.9 And ſo, although our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt be lyke vntounto the Serpent whiche was ſet vp in the wilderneſſe, for the healing of all diſeaſes, yet can we for our partes receiue no profite by him, except we know him. For, as it was méete alſo that the braſen Serpent ſhould be looked on in the wilderneſſe, and without which looking on, the byting or ſtinging of the Serpentes was alwayes deadly: Euen ſo at this day, is the Goſpell vntounto vsus as a Scaffolde whereon to ſet vp our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt: or els lyke a Banner to repreſent him vntounto our eyes,3. Cor. 4.1. that we might ſée him a great way of. To bee ſhort, The preaching of the Goſpell (as Saint Paule ſayeth) is not darke: For we may in it beholde the grace of God, appearing in our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, or els the Deuill hath blindfolded our eyes. But howe euer it is, we are throughly to conſider of that which is here ſpoken, that Ieſus Chriſt iuſtifieth not but by his knowledge. In deede it is moſt true, that the verie ſubſtance of our ſaluation muſt come from thence: For, when it is ſaide, that we are iuſtified by Fayth, this is not to exclude Ieſus Chriſt, neyther yet the mercies of God, but rather to lead vsus and bring vsus vntounto them. But to the ende we might the eaſelyer come to the vnderſtanding hereof, we are to conſider in the firſt place, that we are not righteous of our ſelues, ſince we muſt borrowe it of ſome other: For if wee were able ſo to rule and order our life, that it might be all in all anſwerable vntounto the law, and will of God, then in déed we deſerued that hee ſhould accept vsus. And why ſo? Forſooth, becauſe he is to allowe of the good, ſince he is the fountayne thereof: for els, hee ſhoulde deny him ſelfe. And therefore if we coulde frame our lyues to agrée with the lawe of God, and bee ſo perfect as hee requireth, we ſhould then without doubt, be iuſtified by our woorkes, and Ieſus Chriſt (as Saint Paul ſaith) ſhould profite vsus nothing.
Colloſ. 5.4.But contrariwiſe, when we are driuen to borow our righteouſneſſe of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and ſéeke it at his handes: that is as much to ſay, that we are as bare of it, as we ſay, as my nayle.
Wherefore let vsus thus conclude, that the whole worlde is condemned of ſinne, and God ſheweth vsus that wee are all accurſed, when as it is ſaide, that wee muſt come vntounto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. And thus much for this point. Now, to ſay the trueth, the auncient Philoſophers ſpake thus much of vertue: and this hath béene alwayes a common opinion, that God will accept of vsus for our good life and conuerſation: But what are wee the better for all this? For there was nothing but hypocriſie in the beſt liuers, and in ſuch as was thought coulde in no wiſe be touched: and as for the reſt, they were altogether giuen to wickedneſſe: But to ſpeake of thoſe who were thought of all others to bée the moſt able and renowmed people, were notwithſtanding infected with verie gréeuous ſinnes.
And therefore let men preſume as much as they luſt, and think howe they will to liue vertuouſly, yet when they hauehave done all they can, and ſet downe many lawes and rules for their gouernment, they ſhall neuer be able to be iuſtified before God by that meane. And why ſo? Forſooth, becauſe ſinne hath taken ſuche déepe roote in vsus, as that it cannot bee pulde out of vsus by mans helpe. To bee ſhorte, wee ſhall neuer bee iuſtified by goyng to Schoole with men, although they teache neuer ſo muche what vertue is. And that which is more, Beholde, God publiſheth the lawe wherein is true and perfect righteouſneſſe: for marke what Moyſes ſayeth, Beholde, ſayeth hee, I pronounce at this day both good and euill: I ſhewe vntounto thee the way both of life and death. But by the way, can wee bee iuſtified by it? Can it ſo order vsus, as that God will take our life to bee good and holie?2. Cor. 3.7. Rom. 4.15. No ſurely, it is all cleane contrarie: For the lawe engendreth death, redoubleth our condemnation, and kindleth the wrath of God againſt vsus.
Thus wee ſee what tytles the holie Scripture giueth vntounto it. And therefore ſince the lawe of it ſelfe cannot iuſtifie vsus, how then is it poſſible for men by their doctrine, ſtatutes, and ordinaunces, make vsus to be truely righteous.
Nowe, if it be aſked howe and wherefore the lawe is not able to iuſtifie: the reaſon is alredie ſet downe. It is true in deed that God declareth vntounto vsus in his lawe, howe wee ought and may attayne vntounto lyfe, if ſo bee wee were ſuche as that there were no let in vsus. Wherefore, although the lawe of God ſpeaketh vntounto vsus, yet it refourmeth not our heartes. For, when God telleth vsus and ſayeth, Beholde, what it is that I require at your handes: But & if in the meane while all our deſires, affections & thoughts bee altogether againſt that which hee commaundeth, wée are not onelyonly condemned, But the lawe alſo, as I hauehave alredie ſaide, maketh vsus ſo muche the more guiltie before the Maieſtie of God. For before the lawe was giuen, wée ſinned through ignoraunce: but nowe, wee ſo wittingly and willingly ſtande againſt him, as that it ſéemeth we woulde euen deſpight him. For we know that the ſeruant which knoweth his Maiſters will, and doeth it not, ſhall be beaten with many ſtrypes. Thus we ſee why it …e ſaid, that the lawe engendreth nothing els but wrath: to wit, that when wée hauehave béen inſtructed in it, it kindleth God his wrath ſo muche the more againſt vsus: and bringeth with it death, but howe? Becauſe forſooth we ſée in it, that we are condemned and vtterly caſt away. What? is it ſo that it announceth not life? no: and yet by the way, we cannot attaine theretoo. And therefore we muſt be iuſtified after an other maner, which is, by the Goſpell. For, God ſaieth not vntounto vsus in the Goſpell, Beholde, yée ſhall doe this or that: But hée ſaieth, Beléeue that my onelyonly Sonne is your Redeemer: embra…e his death and paſſion as a remedie for all your diſeaſes: waſh your ſelues in his blood, and he ſhall purge you, and ye ſhall bee made cleane therewith: ſtaye your ſelues vponupon the ſacrifice whiche hee hath offred vp vntounto mee, and then ſee in what ſort you ſhal bee iuſtified. Wherefore forſomuch as the Goſpell bringeth vsus back vntounto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and commaundeth vsus to ſeeke for all our righteouſneſſe in him, becauſe he hath made full ſatiſfaction for vsus through the free mercy of God, ſee howe we ſhall be iuſtified by his knowledge. Rom. 10.And this is it which Saint Paule handleth in his Epiſtle to the Romanes, For there hee maketh a compariſon betweene the righteouſneſſe of the lawe, and the righteouſneſſe of Fayth. For, he ſayth, that there is this righteouſneſſe in the lawe, when as it ſayeth, Whoſoeuer ſhall doe all theſe thinges, ſhal liue by them. For, this is moſt true, that if wee be able to fulfill all the commaundementes of God, ſo that our life be in ſuch ſort ruled as that it is without ſpot or wrinckle, God hath promiſed to receyue vsus as righteous, that wee ſhall be verie ſure of our rewarde, and not miſſe of it.
Marke then the certayntie that is in the lawe: but tel mée who it is that doeth al that the law commandeth? Surely we goe altogether backward, and a man would thinks (as I hauehave beforeſaid) that wée would go about euen to ſet our ſelues againſt God Thus we ſée yt the gate of ye righteouſneſſe of the law is quite ſhut vp againſt vsus, and that there remayneth nothing els for vsus, but the very curſe of God. But in the Goſpel, it is ſaide, behold, the woorde is in thine heart, and in thy mouth. But how? forſooth, after thi… ſort▪ S. Paule ſpeaketh of it, and ſaith,Rom. 10. …. That if wée will hauehave the word in our heartes and mouthes, wée muſt come vntounto Ieſus Chriſte: becauſe it is hée which wryteth and imprinteth the doctrine of ſaluation by his holy ſpirite: with which doctrine wée hauehave had our eares beaten vnprofitably and in vayne. And therefore ſince our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt putteth his word in our heartes, let … beſéech him to graunt vsus this grace as that we may hauehave a pure and frée affection, to the end we might ſéeke in him whatſoeuer is wanting in vsus. Thus wée ſée howe wée ſhall bée iuſtified by his knowledge: for it is out of al doubte that wée are no way able to bring any ſatiſfaction of our owne with vsus which may pleaſe God, and to make this accompt, as to ſay, wée hauehave deſerued, O Lord, that thou ſhouldeſt receiue vsus: but we ſhould rather ſay, we confeſſe, O Lorde, that wee are miſerable ſinners, bound ouer ſo thy iudgement, and it is impoſſible for vsus to make ſatiſfaction therto, ſo that wée muſt néeds acknowledge that there is no ſufficiēcie in any but in Ieſus Chriſt alone to make ſatiſfaction for the ſame.
Wherfore we ſhould moſt humbly cōfeſſe this: & ſay that we are forlorne & damned creatures vntil ſuch time as our Lorde Ieſus reacheth out his hand to p… vsus out of the pit of hell Now here we confeſſed all this to be ſo: And beſides, wee knowe that our Lorde Ieſus alſo ſupplyeth all our wantes. For, if wée …ée foule and filthie, his blood waſheth vsus, wherewith wee … …eane. If wee bee fallen in debte, not onelye vntounto GOD …ut alſo vntounto Satan, as too our enemie,Ephe. 5.1. the payment was made … the death and paſſion of the Sonne of GOD▪ And if wée bée defyled, and not to bée abidden, the Sacrifice which our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte offered is ſuche a ſweete ſmelling ſauour as that all our wickedneſſe is defaced.
Thus then we ſée how we are iuſtified by the knowledge of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. And according to this doctrine, wée ſée in ye firſt place, yt we muſt not ſéeke far for our righteouſnes, becauſe we ſhal find it in the perſō of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, in yt he is clothed with our nature, & is become our brother: & this is a matter of great importāce: for if we ſhould be iuſtified by ye diuine eſſēce or nature of our lord Ieſus Chriſt, we muſt néeds be far of frō his righteouſnes, and wee were neuer able to come néere it. But when we are tolde that the righteouſneſſe which he beſtoweth on vsus, was fulfilled in his humane nature: marke then howe much more familiarly wee may come vntounto him. Cōſider alſo why Satā would ſo fain cōfound this doctrine, and there are likewiſe ſome fantaſtical ſpirits, which fondly dreame that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, as he is God, iuſtifieth the faithful. But wee muſt (as I hauehave already ſaide) ſéeke for our righteouſnes very farre of, & that were ynough to make vsus fainthearted, & to make vsus alſo vaniſh away before wee came at him. But cōtrariwiſe, as he is a mortal mā, he calleth vsus vntounto himſelfe, and made himſelf a Mediator, becauſe we might ſéeke for our righteouſnes therein. And this is a point worthy the obſeruation: & beſides, let vsus alwayes come vntounto this knowledge. And becauſe the faithleſſe ſhut the gate vponupon themſelues, and ſo ſpoyle thēſelues of the benefit which they ſhould receiue by our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, let vsus therfore be diligēt to receiue the teſtimonie which is geuē vntounto vsus by the Goſpel. We bring you (ſaith S Paule) the Ambaſſade in the name of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, beſéeching you to reconcile yourſelues vntounto God. S. Paule ſetteth downe a double reconciliation,2. Cor. 5.10. the one is, the ſacrifice which our Lord Ieſus Chriſt made for vsus in his owne perſon, the other is that which wée dailie obtayne through fayth, when as GOD telleth vsus, that although wée hauehave mooued him to anger, yet is hée continually readye to forget our faults, and tread them vnderunder his féete, ſo that we make accompt of the benefit which he offreth vsus.
And therefore, let vsus learne too eſteeme of the Goſpell a greate deale more then heeretofore wee hauehave done: and vnderſtande, that it is to this ende too make vsus Partakers of the death and paſſion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte. For wee are ingraffed into his bodie, & made his members, and al whatſoeuer is his, is alſo ours, and that through the aptneſſe of the Goſpell: and for this cauſe it is, that Saint Paul ſaith,Rom. 1.16. that the Goſpell is the power of God vntounto ſaluation, to all that beléeue: ſhewing héereby, that if we refuſe to be ſaued by the Goſpell, it is as much as if we reiected the ſaluation which God woulde obtaine for vsus in the perſon of his Sonne, and wherunto hée dayly bideth and exhorteth vsus. And this is the ſumme and effect of that which we hauehave héere to obſerue.
And therefore, we ought ſo much the more make eſtimation of the Goſpell, whenas we ſée that it was in popery ſo darkned, yea and in ſuch ſorte, altogether defaced, as that the poore ſoules were vtterly famiſhed. For, although it was ſomewhat ſlightly preached, yet left they alwaies the poore people doubtfull, and ſuperſticious, without hauing any aſſueraunce of the mercy of God. Yea, and the Papiſtes ſaye, that wee muſt not preſume to aſſure our ſelues of the louelove of God, but onelyonly liue vponupon coniectures and geſſes. Howbeit this is to make the fruite of the death and paſſion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt of none effect. And therefore let vsus learne ſo to benefite our ſelues by the Goſpell, as that we may bee certified that God loueth vsus, and taketh vsus for his owne deare children. Wherfore, let vsus (as I hauehave already ſayde) ſo much the more praiſe and magnifye this grace, whenas wée ſée the greateſt part of the world to be ſo farre from it.
Now, it remaineth that the Prophet addeth and ſaieth, that he layde downe his ſoule for many. Whereby he ſignifieth, that wee are not iuſtified by a certaine vaine imaginatiue faith, in onelyonly beléeuing that there is a God, and by a confuſed knowledge and generall conceit to vnderſtande, that Ieſus Chriſt hath ſuffered death and paſſion: but becauſe wée are made partakers, by fayth, of the ſacrifice that was offered for vsus, to the ende God might bée fauourable vntounto vsus, and not impute our ſinnes and iniquities any more vntounto vsus. Surely, the Papiſts are ſo blockiſh and brutiſhe, as that when they would ſhew that we are not iuſtified by Faith only, they reaſon after this maner, we are (ſay they) iuſtified by the mercy of God: and therefore not by faith onelyonly: Moreouer they ſay, we are iuſtified by the death and paſſion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt: and therefore no more, by faith onelye: it is much like as if a man woulde ſay, we are made warme by heate, and therefore not by the Sunne: wée are lightned by the light, and therefore not by the Sunne.
Now, let vsus héere note, yt when we ſpeake of faith, it is to this end to bring vsus back to the Goſpell: for (as I hauehave already ſaide) héere are two kindes of righteouſneſſe. For we are ſaide to be iuſtified by the law, whenas wee hauehave fulfilled all whatſoeuer God hath commaunded vsus therein. Now, it is impoſſible to come to the perfection thereof and therefore wée ſée that wée are bare of this righteouſneſſe, and vtterly cut of from it.
There is alſo another kinde of righteouſneſſe, and that is the righteouſneſſe of Ieſus Chriſt, for after wee hauehave bene throughlye examined and tried, we are ſure to be founde guilty of malice and wickedneſſe, ſo that wée muſt needes bée afearde, bicauſe wee feele God to be ſo armed in wrath againſt vsus, as that he doth nothing els but thunder out vengeance vponupon vsus to throw vsus down into the pitte of hell. And therefore, when we are driuen to this ſo great an extremitie, beholde how Chriſt graunteth vsus a remedy to mitigate and aſſawge all our ſorrowes: which is this, he certefieth vsus, that hée him ſelfe alone will be altogether ſufficient to bring vsus the ſauing helth which he hath purchaſed for vsus. Thus we ſée, that wée are iuſtified, by faith, wherefore wée may perceiue that the Prophet ſpeaketh after the ſelfe ſame manner that Saint Paul ſpake, after his time, that is, hee maketh vsus in the firſt place to come vntounto the death and paſſion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, beholding him crucified for our ſakes, and beſides, that wee are aſſured by the Goſpell that whatſoeuer Ieſus Chriſte dyd and ſuffered, belongeth and is to be applyed to vsus at this day, becauſe the Father would not hauehave this his death to be vnprofitable: but that it ſhould bée a Sacrifice full of power and effect, to fruictifie dayly in vsus. And this is the ſumme of that which wée hauehave, to remember out of this place. But by the way, let vsus héere note, that this knowledge of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt is no vaine thing: as many, when the knowledge of the Goſpell is tolde them of, vnderſtande it, for they think it ſufficient, if they doo but ſleightly conceiue of that whiche is taught: but wée are taught to take our Lorde Ieſus to be the only cauſe of our ſaluation.
Whiche thinge wée are ne…er able to doo without wée liuely féele that wée are loſt in our ſelues: and beſides, that as God ment to receiue vsus once for al to his mercy, euen ſo he at this day encreaſeth the ſame in vsus. And to ſay the trueth, it is impoſſible for vsus to attain to this knowledge, except we be inlightened with his holy ſpirite. Which whē we hauehave obteined, it is an vndoubted ſigne yt god meaneth to worke in vsus, to the ende he woulde put vsus into the poſſeſſion of that righteouſneſſe, from the which wée were before very farre of, Wée ſee then that God would gladly hauehave the Goſpell preached. But yet that is not enough: for, we ſhoulde vnderſtande no more of it, then an high Almane (as we ſay) vntill ſuche time as he inwardly touched vsus with his holy ſpirite (thus wée ſée from whence faith procéedeth) and then are we the true & good diſciples of Ieſus Chriſt, able to feele the fruite of this doctrine. And this is it, which the Prophet here ſheweth vntounto vsus. Now, he again maketh a recitall of Ieſus Chriſt his bearing of ſinnes, whereby he meaneth to declare, that he made ſatiſfaction for them, and that our ſinnes ſhould be ſuch a charge as ſhould caſt vsus headlong into the bottomeles pit of hel if we were not holpen & eaſed by our lord Ieſus Chriſt. For what is meant by ſin, but the very wrath of god? For, if God but once hold vp his finger, it is enough to deſtroy and ouerthrow the whole world: for it is ſaid, that with his breath the rockes ſhould riue in péeces,Pſal. 104.32. & the mountaines bee ſoftned & melt like waxe. Wherefore, if God ſheweth the leaſt token of his fury and wrath, there is nothing ſo firme & ſure in the worlde, but ſhall melt away: and what ſhall become of vsus then, who are ſo fraile creatures, when as God ſhall ſhewe vntounto vsus the face of a terrible iudge, & call vsus to an account? Were it not méete that we ſhoulde hearken vntounto his voice: howebeit the only ſigne that hee will giuegive vsus to ſummon withall ſhalbe a bottomeles depth to ſwalow vsus vp in. And therfore it cannot be choſen but that our ſinnes muſt néeds bée a burden not able for vsus to beare. Nowe, there is an infinite number of them in vsus: and we hauehave not the ſhoulders to ſtand vnderunder them and to beare them. But although our Lord Ieſus Chriſt ſuffered in the weakneſſe of his fleſh, yet did the power of the ſpirite, which he had alwaies vphold him.2. Cor. …3.4. Colloſ. 2.1.5. And marke howe hee himſelfe (as Saint Paule ſayeth) tryumphed vponupon the Croſſe. And therefore wée muſte alwayes come backe againe to the ſaying of the Prophete: and Saint Peter alſo is a good expoſitour heereof, when hee ſayeth, That hee beare our ſinnes▪ vpō the trée.1. Pet. 2.24 Indéed the vertue of the trée did no way help our Lord Ieſus Chriſte for the bearing of our ſinnes: howbeit it is ſaid hee bare thē on the tree, becauſe yt whē he was crufied, he was as one accurſed of God, and had receiued the whole curſe wherein wee were plunged. All this then he tooke vponupon him, to the end that we might féele the fruite thereof, and reioyce in the victory, whereof at this day he hath made vsus partakers. And therefore if wee be ouercharged, let vsus come vntounto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte that we might be eaſed, and acknowledge him to be the meane, becauſe we are ſo diſcharged by him of al our debts, as yt we muſt not once imagine that we are euer able to make ſatiſfaction, or payment, when as we ſhal come to make our Audite before God, we muſt therfore beginne at this end to be vtterly aſhamed: and beſides, not ſtand in doubt but that we are nowe diſcharged, ſince our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte hath borne our burden: and that wee may alſo be bold, becauſe we knowe that we are freed from the iudgement of God. This then is the ſumme of that which we are héere to conſider of, That forſomuch as we hauehave once for all beene ſanctified through the Sacrifice which Ieſus Chriſte offered vp, whenas he conſecrated himſelfe vntounto the ſeruice of God, as he then ſaide: wee muſt at this day lay all our ſinnes on his backe,Gala. 3.10 Deut. 27.29 and ſéeke our full righteouſneſſe in him: for the perfourming wherof, let vsus lend our eares to the hearing of the Goſpell, becauſe we knowe that God with a louing voice calleth vsus vntounto himſelf, requiring no impoſſible thing at our handes, which might make vsus diſpaire: as it is ſaide in the Lawe, Curſed be he which doeth not fulfill all theſe things (which was to exclude vsus from all hope of ſaluation) But that it is héere tolde vsus, that although we are miſerable ſinners, yet that God applyeth a conuenient remedy vntounto vsus: which is, that we comming vntounto our Lorde Ieſus like poore beggers, might be iuſtified by him and be holpen in ſuch a neceſſitie as in deede wee are. And beſides, that we might vnderſtande, that when our Lorde is called Righteous, Rom. 10.6.it is to ſhewe vsus that we are iuſtified by him. inaſmuch as he hath taken vponupon him our nature, that we might hauehave familiar recourſe vntounto God, for the inioying of ſuch a benefite: and not ſay, Who ſhall aſcend vp into heauen? For, when Saint Paule alleadgeth this place of Moſes, he ſheweth, that when wee heare the Goſpell preached, we muſt not make any long diſcourſes, to knowe whether God bee neare vsus or not. For that were to plucke Ieſus Chriſte out of his heauenly throne. And likewyſe, that we myght no more ſay, Who ſhall goe down into hell? For Ieſus Chriſte deſcended thither, to the ende we might be aſſured that hee hath fetcht vsus out thence, and playeth nowe the parte of a Mediator: and meaneth to make vsus ſuch partakers of his righteouſnes, as that wee ſhall be clothed therewith, and hauehave ſuche poſſeſſion thereof, as that it ſhall dwell in vsus, and that by it we might with a full hope be ſo lifted vp vntounto God his father, as to call vponupon him without doubting.
Let vsus nowe fall down before the Maieſtie of our good God, and acknowledge our offences, beſéeching him to make vsus ſo too féele them, as that we may truely repent vsus of them, and dayly amend our liues, vntill ſuch time as we hauehave ſo muche profited, as that we may be ioyned vntounto that perfection of his righteouſneſſe whereunto wée muſt bende our ſelues, and alſo ſeeke to attaine vntounto it all the dayes of our life. And in the meane whyle in ſuche ſort magnifie the grace of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, as that wee may wholy reſt therein: ſo that we might no more wonder after our falſe and deceitefull imaginations, which Satan continually laboureth to ſet before vsus (as at this day the miſerable worlde is ſeduced and beguiled with. But let vsus vnderſtande that all the perfection of our ſaluation reſteth in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: & then let vsus by no meane decline from him, but in ſuch ſorte poſſeſſe him as we may be wholy contented with him, and that he alſo may altogether take pleaſure in vsus: and to be ſhort, that we may féele, that his death and paſſion, hath béen auailable & profitable vntounto vsus. That it would pleaſe him to graunt vntounto vsus onelyonly, this grace & fauour. But vntounto all people and natiōs of the world. &c.