Sermons on Divinity Humanity and Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Sermons on the Prophecies · Sermon 7
The ſeuenth Sermon of the Propheſie of Chriſte.
Iſaiah. liii.
12 THerefore will I giuegive him a portion with the great, and hee ſhall double the ſpoyle with the ſtrong, becauſe he hath powred out his ſoule to death, and he was counted with the tranſgreſſors, & bare the ſins of many, and prayed for the treſpaſſers.
THE Prophete declareth héere in ſumme, that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte hath not onelyonly ouercome death by death, But that he hath alſo a iuſt title and intereſt to take away the ſubſtance of his enimies, and to make a ſpoyle of them, euen as a conquerour that hath wonne the fielde. In déede I muſt néeds ſay this, that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt inriched not himſelf with the goods of this world. But that which he did was to this end as I hauehave ſaid, to ouercome death. Wee knowe that it was méet yt Satan, who is ſaid to be the Prince of this worlde, ſhould bee diſplaced of his kingdome: For if it had not béen ſo, our eſtate had béene moſt miſerable. And beſides, it was méete that ſinne ſhould beare no more ſway.Ephe. 4.8. Pſal. 68.19. Thus wee ſée how our Lord Ieſus Chriſt made a ſpoyle of his enimies, to wit, becauſe we might be no more vnderunder the tyrānie of Satan, & the bōdage of ſin, but be ſet at libertie. And to ſay the trueth, S. Paule alleadging the ſaying of the Pſalmiſt, ſheweth after what ſort this place was fulfilled, when it is ſaide, That God aſcended on high, and lead captiuitie captiue: and kept his enimies bound and fettered, ſo that they were not able to reſiſt him: receiuing alſo homage and tribute of men. Indéede Dauid in that place ſpeaketh by way of ſimilitude: For when it is ſaid that God aſcended on high, it was becauſe he made a ſhew for a time as though he had béen a ſléepe: ſo yt whē things were after ſuch a cōfuſed maner, it might make the faithfull grone when as they ſee no helpe, and cauſe the wicked to run headlong into all licentiouſneſſe. Wherefore when there ariſe ſuch troubles in the worlde, and that we thinke ourſelues neuer a whit the better for the calling vponupon God, hée is for the time as it were one that were loſt, and that had hid himſelfe. And contrariwiſe, by this reaſon, whenas God hath defended the cauſe of his Church, in deſtroying the enimies therof Dauid ſaith, that he aroſe vp. Howbeit S. Paule ſaith, That this was accompliſhed in the perſon of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, becauſe his maieſtie was darkened, and was had in no eſtimation of men for a ſeaſon. And therefore it was méete, ſaith hée, that he ſhoulde come downe on the earth, and bee contemned of men, that he might in the ende bée ſo exalted, as that he might not onelyonly be ſimply and plainly honoured of men, but that he might alſo make a diſtribution of the ſpoiles and tributes. For where the Pſalmiſt ſaith, That he tooke the tributes which belonged vntounto him, as vntounto one who had brought his aduerſaries in ſubiection, S. Paule ſaith, that hée liberally beſtowed his gifts amongſt men. A man would think at the firſt ſight, theſe were things cleane cōtrary one to another, and yet they right well agrée, becauſe our Lord Ieſus Chriſte was not inriched particularly for himſelfe, for he had no néed of any thing, but it was to this end, as the Pſalmiſt ſaith, to beſtow the ſpoyles on vsus, ſo that not onelyonly they which ſhould fight, ſhould hauehave parte of the bootie, but women alſo who neuer ſet one foote out of doores.Pſal. 68.13. For, to ſay the trueth, we féele how God by the death & paſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, hath filled vsus with his benefites: not for that there was any vertue or induſtry in vsus: For we are of as litle force as women with their diſtaffs, when as we come to the fight. Wherefore, when it is ſaide in this place that GOD will giuegive to Ieſus Chriſt the booties of the enimies which he had conquered, as ſtrong & mightie as they were, it was not only for himſelf, but it was to the end that we might vnderſtand, that the Diuell hath no title nor intereſt in vsus whēas we are partakers of ye death & paſſiō of ye ſonne of god: which we obtain by the mean of ye goſpel And therfore let vsus without hipocriſy, ſubmit our ſelues vntounto our Lord Ieſus, & take him for our king: & not doubt but that in ye firſt place hee will ſurely ſet vsus frée, and beſides, that wée ſhall receiue from his handes all ſuch benefites as we hauehave néede of, and are neceſſary.
Let vsus now then conſider yt if Satan were not ſpoyled, how miſerable we ſhould bée: For he poſſeſſeth and peaceably inioyeth vsus: For as our Sauiour Chriſte Ieſus ſaith:Iuke. 11.21. we are euen as his own proper poſſeſſion and demaines. Wherefore wee had néede that the death and paſſion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte ſhoulde, bring foorth fruite in vsus, and that our enimies being conquered, ſhoulde be eftſoones chaſed away, that Ieſus Chriſte ſhoulde ſo treade on their neckes, as that they ſhoulde neuer bée able to riſe againe, although they went about to deuiſe to do all the miſchiefe they could againſt vsus. And héere he namely ſpeaketh of ſtrong and great men to the ende wée ſhoulde not bée abaſhed at the force, munition, & all the furniture of our enimies: For this were enough to feare vsus, to ſée on the one ſide, our owne weakneſſe, and to know on the other ſide that the Diuell is like a roaring Lion,1. Peter. 5.8. and ſinne to hauehave dominion ouer vsus: this, I ſay, were euen enough to feare vsus, except we were aſſured of this, that neither power, ſtrengthes, nor any thing els whatſoeuer, can let our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte from ſpoyling of all his enimies, from chaſing and bereauing of them of all they hauehave, ſo that which before was hurtfull vntounto vsus, ſhall now be turned to our good and benefite. And this is not onelyonly meant of Satan, the captaine of all the wicked, but alſo of all our Aduerſaries: For, looke how many faithleſſe people there are, euen ſo many furyous enimies hauehave we againſt vsus: and to make fewe words, wée ſée all the worlde almoſt on our toppes. And therefore what ſhoulde become of vsus, if Ieſus Chriſte coulde not ouercome all the ſtrong and mightie ones of the earth? So then, we ſée héere in the firſt place what it is that we hauehave to cōſider of out of theſe words, That Ieſus Chriſt being aſcended, hath not onelyonly held al our enimies captiue, but alſo hath made an vtter ſpoyle of them: and wée hauehave receiued all the giftes which were giuen him for homage, to the end we might be inriched by his liberalitie, being of our ſelues altogether poore and néedy.
Nowe, it is namely ſaid, Becauſe hee hath powred out his ſoule to death. Whereby Iſaiah againe expreſſeth that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, of his owne frée will, offered vp himſelfe for theſe words, to poure out, ſignifieth, that he ſpared not himſelf, nor ſorrowed for the matter. For hée that giueth with a good will, and in the ende ſlacketh his hande, maketh alwayes a ſhewe of ſparing. But hée that powreth out, ſheweth yt he giueth luſtily, & liberrally. So then, it is ſhewed vsus, that our Lord Ieſus was ſo feruently inflamed with the louelove of vsus, as that his life guſhed out like water, and that hée became a willing Sacrifice, thereby to ſhew, that hee deſired nothing els, but for reconcilement vntounto God his father. And this is alwaies for our greater confirmation, to the ende that when wée come vntounto him, we ſhould neuer doubt but that he wold moſt gently and louingly receiue vsus. For, how is it poſſible that he ſhould ſo reiect vsus as members cut of from him, ſéeing hée ſo vtterly as it were, forſooke himſelfe for our ſakes, and ſhed his precious heart blood. Wherefore, when we heare this, we are occaſioned to come more boldly vntounto him, and to aſſure our ſelues that he at this day will make this Sacrifice, which hee ſo fréely offered vp vntounto God his father of great effect by reaſon of the wonderfull louelove hée bare to vsus ward,
Moreouer, forſomuch as the death and paſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt is perpetuall, let vsus vnderſtand, that we are at this day inriched as much as is néedfull, as by experience we féele: For, Ieſus Chriſte muſt néedes helpe vsus in all the diſtreſſes wherewith we are incompaſſed. For otherwiſe how ſhould we do, if his hand were not alwayes vponupon vsus to vphold vsus? Surely it were impoſſible for vsus to ſtand. And therefore he alwaies giueth vsus wherwith to relieue al our néedes and neceſſities. And to ſay the truth, al the graces of the holy Ghoſte are a part of the ſpoyle of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte: For, God his father hath inriched him with them, becauſe we might be as a man wold ſay, familiarly acquainted with them, and the Diuell wil ſtill bee a let that the power of the holy Ghoſt might not hauehave his courſe with vsus: howbeit we are now inriched with them, in aſmuch as al lets are taken away: yea, and (as I hauehave alredy ſaid) that thing that was an hinderance vntounto vsus in this world, is nowe turned to our good and benefite, becauſe our Lorde Ieſus hath made a ſpoyle of all his enimies. Nowe, it is namely ſaid, Becauſe he was accounted amongſt ſinners, and bare the iniquities of many, and prayed for the treſpaſſers. We hauehave alredy heard, that our Lord Ieſus bare the tranſgreſſions of many: and that was becauſe he ſuſteined the puniſhment which was impoſſible for vsus to beare. And beſides, we were too too fraile & weake to ſtand before the maieſtie of God, if we ſhould be burdened with our ſins: becauſe there is no meane in the whole world to be found to diſcharge vsus of them. And therefore it was méete that our Lord Ieſus for the eaſing of vsus ſhould preſent himſelfe in our ſtéede, & be charged with our ſinnes, that they might be imputed vntounto him before God his father, and hée be bound for the paiment of them. For, when a man ſhall onelyonly owe a thing that hée is neuer able to pay, hée is like vntounto one that were ſtiffe and croked, and knewe not which way to turne him, and hath ſuch a burden on his back, as it were, that ſo cruſheth & bruiſeth his ſhoulders, as that it maketh him to ſtoupe again: what ſhal thē become of vsus, who are not debtters to a mortall man, but euen vntounto the liuing God? & not debters of gold and ſiluer, but of our ſinnes, which deſerue as the ſcripture telleth vsus his fearefull indignation. Thus we ſée howe the iudgement of euerlaſting death was prepared for vsus, vntill ſuch time as our Lord Ieſus Chriſt had diſcharged vsus therof. And to ſay truly, how had we béen euer able to hauehave diſcharged it, except hée who had a moſt triumphant power ouer all creatures, had placed himſelfe in our ſtéed, and ſupplied our wants? Thus wée ſée howe our Lord Ieſus Chriſt bare the ſinnes and iniquities of many.Iohn. 3.16. Rom. 8.32. Indeede this ſaying of many, is oftentimes taken for all. True it is that our Lord Chriſt offered vp himſelfe for all the worlde, for it is not ſpoken by thrée or foure, when it is ſaid, God ſo loued the worlde that hée ſpared not his onelyonly ſonne. But by the way, we muſt note, that which the Euangeliſt further ſaith in this place, That whoſoeuer beléeueth in him ſhold not periſh, but hauehave euerlaſting life. We ſée then that our Lord Ieſus Chriſte ſuffered for all, ſo that neither great nor ſmall can excuſe themſelues at this day, ſince by him we may be ſaued. And therefore the vnbeléeuers who by their wickedneſſe turn a ſide, & depriue themſelues héereof, are at this day twiſe guiltie. For what colour can they ſet in it to excuſe their vnthankfulnes, in yt they receiue not the benefit, wherof they might be partakers through faith. Wherfore let vsus heere learne, that although we ſhould come by heapes vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſte, one of vsus ſhould be no let to another, but yt hee is able to ſuffice eueryevery of vsus. Indéed if the queſtiō were to be holpen & eaſed by a mortal man, it were another matter. For, if one ſhould come & ſay, I beſéeche you beare this burthen for mée and another ſay aſmuch, and ſo an hundreth at once: ſurely, although hée were very deſirous to helpe and eaſe them all, it could not be choſen but that they woulde make his ſhoulders crack: for, it were impoſſible for him to be of that ſtrēgth to beare al yt they would lay vpō him, And ſo likewiſe if the queſtion were of borrowing, for put the caſe that they were hungry, and thirſtie, and ſhould goe to ſome man & beſéech him to giuegive vsus meat and drink, and it may bée that hée were well able to beſtow meat and drink of a doſen perſons: But if there ſhould come ſuch a great number as that his victualles ſhoulde faile him, wée ſhould ſée him come ſhort of his reckoning. So then, with vsus mē, it is méete yt whē a great number hauehave néede, that there ſhoulde be alſo many to help and aide them: but when wée come to Ieſus Chriſt, wée neede not feare the want of his abilitie, for when eueryevery man ſhall hauehave his portion, yet hath hée neuer a whit the leſſe, and others alſo ſhal find inough at his hands, for the moe of vsus that come vntounto him, the richer ſhall we finde him to help our néede. And therefore we hauehave héere to note, that it is not for naught that the prophet ſaieth, that he bare the ſinnes of many: to wit, to the ende we ſhould not malice and enuy our neighburs, as if wée could not be holpen, bicauſe ſome of them hauehave to much of him. This then is the ſumme and effect of that which we are to learne out of this place.
Moreouer, it is ſaid, That it was, becauſe hee was accounted amongeſt tranſgreſſors. We are héere to obſerue in the firſte place, that hée muſt néedes be hanged betwéene two théeues, that hée might ſuffer all the condemnation that wée deſerued, and to the ende that wée might hauehave a more ſure and certaine pawne, that God his Father hath pardoned and forgiuen vsus all our ſinnes and iniquities.
Marke alſo why Saint Mark aleadgeth this ſaying of the Prophet,Mark. 15.2… yt there were two Théeues hanged with our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, to ſhewe, that hée was taken to bée a moſt deteſtable and curſed man: and to the end it might bee openlye ſéene that hée was placed in ye rank with all ſhame & rebuke, becauſe we ſhould at this dai be exempt from ye wrath of god, & from ye puniſhment of ye euill déeds which we had deſerued: and where before we were caſt down euen vntounto the pit of hell, wee might now bee coupled together with the Angels of heauen, who altogether worſhippe God, and hauehave fulfilled all righteouſneſſe. All this benefit then hauehave wee by this, in that it hath pleaſed our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt to take vponupon him this place and to become a malefactor, to the end he would bée thought the moſt ſhamefull amongſt men.
Thus wee ſee how the ſhame of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt hath exalted vsus on hie, to the ende ſinne ſhould not be laide to our Charge, and we to be free from all condemnation. For, wherein conſiſted our ſaluation if our ſinnes were not couered and taken away? ſurely we were neuer able to come to this by any other meane, without the ſonne of God as S. Paul ſaith, were our redemption, that is to ſay,1. Cor. 1.30. he was the price and paiment of that which wee owed, to the end, that we might now be quitted and diſcharged therof. And therfore it was not for naught that the Prophet ioyned theſe two thinges together: and dayly ſheweth vsus, as héeretofore hath béene ſaide, that wée hauehave wherefore to gloryfie our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, in that he was put to all the ſhame that might bée, ſéeing the fruite and commoditie that wée reape thereby. For if our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt ſhould hauehave done that onelyonly, for a ſhew and token of humilytie, it had béene too too bare a matter: but hée did it to this end and purpoſe, that we might finde that in him, which we want, and that it might alſo be the remedy for the ſame thing which might gréeue and oppreſſe vsus.
Wherefore, when we are ſo reconciled vntounto God, as that wée obtaine righteouſneſſe thereby, and full forgiueneſſe of our ſinnes, Beholde, wée néede not then be a feard to come vntounto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, albeit his crucifying in the view of the worlde, ſéemeth at the firſt bluſh, to bée very ſhamefull: and yet wée ſée, that hée ſo triumphed ouer Satan & ſinne, as that he hath made vsus righteous, and canceled the obligation that was againſt vsus, ſo that wee may now come bouldly to God, with good aſſuraunce that wée are righteous: and with open mouth glorifie him for it, wherfore before we were moſt horribly condemned. And this is the effect of that which the Prophet meaneth, againe to put vsus in minde of.
After all theſe thinges, he ſaithe, that he praid for the treſpaſſers. This is namely put in, to ſhew that Ieſus Chriſt in his death and paſſiō, plaid the part of a prieſt: for if this had not ben done alſo, we ſhuld neuer hauehave had al ye was requiſit for ye aſſurāce of our ſaluatiō True it is, that forſomuch as the death and paſſion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt is the ſacrifice whereby our ſinnes are wiped away, and his blood our waſhing and cleaſing, his obedience the avoliſhing of all our rebellions, & the obteining of our righteouſnes by this we hauehave wherin to reioyce. Howbeit this is not all: Becauſe it is ſaid, That whoſoeuer calleth vponupon the name of God ſhall bee ſaued. Neuertheleſſe,Ioel. 2.3…. howe were it poſſible for vsus to hauehave recourſe vntounto God? What boldnes were it for vsus to pray, and cry out with open mouth and ſay, O our father? Were not this ouermuch preſumption to come thus pure and cleane to God, and vaunt our ſelues to bée his children, if we had not the word to beare vsus in it? And againe, where ſhoulde wee find ſuch an Aduocat and Proctor that would doe ſo much for vsus, except we come to Ieſus Chriſte? Thus then we ſée what the Prophet meant to adde for a concluſion of that which went before. To wit, that Ieſus Chriſt praied for the treſpaſſers. Now, this is very true, yt he praied of god his father when he was on the Croſſe, that he would pardon and forgiue his perſecutors. For theſe are his wordes, Father, ſaith he, I beſéeche thée pardon thē, for they know not what they do.Luke. 23.34. Here we ſée what a prayer our Lord Ieſus made for the treſpaſſers, & for his enimies who ſo cruelly handeled him, & by whoſe handes he was crucified. But it was not the meaning of the Prophet to ſpeake only of this eſpeciall prayer, but rather to declare the Sacrificing of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. And by the way let vsus here wel conſider, that it was not for naught that he ſpake here of the Treſpaſſers. It is ſaid a litle before, that he beare the ſinnes of the people of God, and ſuffered for the tranſgreſſions of many: But now the Prophet attributeth another name to thoſe for whom Chriſt praied, & calleth thē tranſgreſſors. When he ſpake of the people of God, it was to ſhewe that thoſe whom a man would thinke to be moſt excellent & righteous, had néede of forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, which they could neuer hauehave had, had it not béen that Ieſus Chriſte had ſhed his moſt precious heart blood for the waſhing & cleanſing of them. And thus muche then for this point: That if we would be of the Church, & be allowed to be of the congregation of God, we muſt néedes vnderſtand, yt it is becauſe Ieſus Chriſt is our redéemer, and therefore let vsus not feare to come in great companies to him, & rather then faile let eueryevery one bring his neighbour with him, becauſe he is able to ſaue vsus al. Moreouer, it is here ſet downe, that we are all tranſgreſſors to the end we might throughly conſider of our ſins: For we know our ſelues to be ſo bold and raſh, as that we will oftētimes be more ſhamefaſt & ſober in requiring of any thing at the hands of amortall man, thē we wil be when we come before the Maieſtie of god. Now the Prophet, héere pulleth downe all the Peacocks plumbs, when he calleth vsus tranſgreſſors: as if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, O you curſed & wicked ones, what are you that dare preſume to cal vponupon God by the name of father? Frō whence hauehave you this dignitie? What is he ye dareth once enterpriſe to come before the preſence of the Maieſtie of god, and ſay, I am one of thy children? Away (ſaith he) and goe hide your ſelues, for you are al malefactors, and in comming before God, you come before your Iudge, and therefore you ought to tremble & be vtterly aſhamed. Howbeit the onelyonly remedy to aſſure your ſelues is this, that when you call vponupon ye name of God, you hauehave an inuincible defenſe by the power & interceſſion of the Mediatour. For without him there is no hope of your ſaluation, but are altogether dead in your ſinnes. And therefore vnderſtand you, that you had néede hauehave the ſonne of God to be betwéene you & him, & to make interceſſion for you, by playing the Prieſtes part. We ſée then here why the Prophet namely calleth vsus al treſpaſſers & tranſgreſſors, to wit, to the end we might know that the gate is ſhut vponupon vsus, & are vnworthie to come neare vntounto God: and that we are all oppreſſed & confounded, if we run not to that help: For without this remedy, we muſt néedes periſh and rotte in our wretchednes and miſeries. Now, when we are thus humbled, then may we come to our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, Becauſe we knowe that it is he that ſpeaketh for vsus, & that by him alſo wée may boldly call our ſelues the children of God. For when wée come to pray, & ſay, O our father which art in heauen: we muſt néedes acknowledge that our mouthes, as cōcerning our ſelues, are filthie, & therfore not worthie once to call God, our Creator, & it is ſo farre of in déede, as that we ought not to bee ſo preſumptuous as to take our ſelues for his children. And yet our Lord Ieſus Chriſt ſpeaketh for vsus,Heb. & ſo by his mean our prayers & ſupplications are ſanctified: For ſo it is ſaid in the Epiſtle to the Hebrewes, That by him it is by whom we render vntounto god the ſacrifice of praiſe, & all our praiers, and that he is our mediator, in whoſe name at this day, we cal vponupon God our Father. And therefore wee may boldly glorifie our ſelues in that he will take vsus for his children. Wée ſée then howe we are to put this place in practiſe. Now we ſée that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt hath verified this, when he prayed for his, as appeareth in the Goſpell after S. Iohn, Looke vntounto them,Iohn. 17.11. holy Father which thou haſt giuen mée: for now I goe out of the world. Thoſe that thou gaueſt mée I hauehave kept, & none of them is loſt, but ye loſt child: but thoſe whom thou gaueſt me in charge, hauehave I kept. Nowe I pray for them, & not onelyonly for them, but alſo for al thoſe which ſhal beléeue on me through their preaching, I pray not for the worlde, but for thoſe whom thou haſt giuen me, that thou wouldeſt bleſſe & ſanctifie them, that they might alſo be one as we are. When then we ſee the ſonne of God pray: and ſée him alſo, who is God eternall, ſo to abaſe himſelf, as to become a peticioner, and offer vp his ſupplication vntounto God his father in our name: ſhould not we here acknowledge an infinite goodneſſe? And wee are in the firſt place alwaies to conſider of that which hath gone before: to wit, that wée ſhall doe nothing els but prophane the name of God with calling vponupon him, if we do it not in the name of Ieſus Chriſt, And why ſo? Forſooth, becauſe our mouthes are filthie & vncleane: yea & we our ſelues full of corruption: & no better then ſtinking wormes: but becauſe our Lord Ieſus Chriſt abaſed himſelfe euen vntounto the ſtate of a Begger, & to become a peticioner vntounto god his father for vsus: there ſhould be a ſure & ſetled ſtaiednes in vsus, whē there ariſeth any queſtion in the framing of our prayers at this day. It is true, that as the Prophet Iſaiah ſaith: that Ieſus Chriſt praied for the trāſgreſſors, euē ſo likewiſe ſaith he himſelf yt he praied not for al the world for ſuch as take pleaſure in their iniquities, & continue obſtinate, for ſuch men are quite & cleane cut of frō this benefite & priueledge which is onelyonly reſerued for the children of God. And therefore if we remain ſtill in the world, & be ſeparated frō our Lord Ieſus Chriſt without doubt, no whit of the prayer which he made vntounto God his father, apperteineth vntounto vsus, neither ſhall it doe vsus any good: But let vsus hearken to that which he ſaith, Behold,Iohn. 17.6.2… I hauehave ſhewed thy word vntounto them, & they beléeued it. I pray for thē ſaith he, and not onelyonly for them (to wit the Diſciples) But alſo for all thoſe which ſhall beléeue their preaching. And therefore let vsus at this day vnderſtande that wée are made companions with the Diſciples, and Apoſtles of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and that this prayer which hée once made, will very well ſerue our turnes, and leaue an open way for our prayers, ſo that we receiue the doctrine of the Goſpell, in faithful obediēce. Wherfore we néed not now ſtād in doubt how to frame our petitions: For ſince we know that Ieſus Chriſt hath prayed, we hauehave no more to ſay, howe ſhall we be aſſured that the power of this prayer ſhall doe vsus good? Forſooth, let vsus beléeue the Goſpel, and then we ſhall follow the Apoſtles and Diſciples and be linked together with them. Would we make the ſonne of God a lyer, who is the euerlaſting and vnchangeable trueth? I thinke there is none that would. Now hee hath ſpoken it with his owne mouth, that all they that will receiue the preaching of the Goſpell, are linked to this prayer, and comprehended within it. Since then it is ſo, although on the one ſide wee are miſerable tranſgreſſors, and therefore not worthie to come néere vntounto God, yet when we by the meane of the Goſpell, doe imbrace through faith the promiſes therein conteined, then may wée preſent our ſelues vntounto the Lord, becauſe he wil not only accept vsus, foraſmuch as his onelyonly Sonne hath made interceſſion for vsus, but that we may alſo at this day call vponupon him, and be likewiſe, as hee himſelf ſaith, Companions with him,Iſaiah. 8.18. Heb. 2.13. for theſe are his wordes, Behold mee, and the ſeruants which thou haſt giuen mée. He offereth himſelfe héere in the firſt place (as hath already béen declared in the viii. Chapter) and then bringeth with him his whole company. Now it is ſaid, that hee, and all the company which were giuen vntounto him, were there redy to worſhip God his Father. And therefore there is no doubt but that we ſhall all be linked together in this prayer, & in all the prayſes & thankes giuing vntounto the Lord, and that Ieſus Chriſt doth as a man would ſay, powre out and become as it were, the chiefe chaunter, to bring vsus into our prayers, ſo that by his meane the ſound of our voices do in ſuch ſort ioyne together, as that they make very ſwéet & pleaſāt harmony. For, when we & the Angels of heauen ſhal pray together to God, will not this be a moſt excellent priuiledge? But, when the ſonne of God wil vouchſafe to be ſo familiar wt vsus, as to ſay, come your wayes, & I will be your ſpokes man, would not this meruellouſly rauiſh vsus? Moreouer, his was figured in the Lawe whenas the high Prieſt did not onelyonly offer vntounto God the Sacrifices, but ioined alſo with them prayers & ſupplications. And therfore vnderunder the auncient ſhadowes, no Prieſt could make interceſſiō vntounto god, and be made acceptable without the ſheading of blood: howbeit, hée ioyned alſo with blood prayers, that the ſinnes of the people might be forgiuen, and that God might receiue ſuch to mercy, as were worthie to be reiected. Thus we ſée that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt hath taken away the figures of the lawe, and hath fulfilled and ended them in his owne perſon. That is, hée hath offred vp blood for the waſhing away of our ſinnes, not the blood of Calues,Hebr. 9.14 and ſhéepe, as the maner was in the lawe, but euen his owne precious blood, which was conſecrated by the holie Ghoſt, to the ende wée might be wholly ſanctified by him. And yet hée ioyned prayers with the effuſion of blood. And therefore we ſée why at this day he is called our Mediatour, and maketh interceſſion for vsus. And when Saint Paule ſpeaketh of prayers, hée ſaieth,1. Tim. 2.5. That there is one God, and Mediatour, euen the man Ieſus Chriſt. Hée might verie well hauehave ſayde, There is one God, and one Ieſus Chriſt who is the eternall word of God, and of the ſelfe ſame eſſence, glorie, and maieſtie.
Nowe, hée vſeth not this kinde of ſpéech: But hée ſaieth, there is one God, and one Mediatour betwéene God and men, euen the man Ieſus Chriſt: As if hée ſhould hauehave ſayde,Hebr. 4.15. Hebr. 7.27. & 9.7. Behold the Sonne of God, who after hee had taken vponupon him our nature, and was made man lyke vntounto vsus, ſinne except, maketh now interceſſion for vsus. Nowe, the Prieſtes in the olde time, néeded to pray for them ſelues (and ſo they did) and for the ſinnes of all the people, in which number they were alſo comprehended. But our Lord Ieſus as touching him ſelfe, néeded not ſo to doe: neither is there any cauſe why he ſhould for his parte, craue pardon for any ſinnes that hée had committed: but maketh interceſſion for vsus.Rom. 8.31 And therefore when Saint Paule would enbolden vsus to come vntounto God, hée namely ſaith, If God be on our ſide, who ſhall be againſt vsus? For, although we hauehave many enemies, yet let vsus not be afeard: and vntounto whom muſt we yéeld an account of the beſtowing of our whole life? Who alſo is our Iudge? Forſooth, euen the man Ieſus Chriſt, and he him ſelfe alſo is our Aduocate, to make interceſſion, and an agréement betwéene God and vsus. It is euen he that muſt obtayne grace for vsus. Wherfore we may with good courage come before the maieſtie of God, yea, & boldly preſent our ſelues before his iudgement ſeat, ſince we hauehave Ieſus Chriſt to ſtand there betwéene him and vsus.
Thus then we ſée what is the effect of that which we hauehave to conſider of, when as this ſaying of interceſſion is here ſpoken of. To be ſhort, as often as the death and paſſion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt is talked of, let vsus ioyne theretoo eftſoones the prayer which he made once for all, to the ende it might remaine for euer, and woorke his effect: For it is not nowe needfull for our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt to kneele on his knees before God his Father, to pray vntounto him: In deede it is ſaide, that he will make alwayes interceſſion for vsus. But howe? Forſooth, euen by the power of his death and paſſion, and by the prayer that is made at this day. For, through the power thereof we are heard, as if he him ſelfe at this day ſpake for vsus, and beſides (as I hauehave ſaide) all our prayers are ſanctified by him, otherwiſe they ſhould be but prophane. And to ſay truely, as often as ye faithfull prepare themſelues to pray vntounto God, They (where the Papiſts ſprinkle holy water, as they call it, about, and charme & coniure, or rather maſk & mumme) ſhould féele that their praiers are beſprinckled with the blood of Ieſus Chriſt, to the ende they might be pure and cleane, and that God might receiue them as a ſwéete ſmelling ſacrifice. And herevpon, let vsus vnderſtande that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt was not a ſacrificing Prieſt for a day onelyonly, but kéepeth that office ſtill euen vntounto this day, and for euer, that we might alwayes féele the fruit therof. Now, if this had been rightly knowne, men woulde not hauehave exceeded (as hath come to paſſe) in ſo many villainies & ſuperſtitions. For, we ſée howe the Papiſts at this day wander about lyke miſerable ſtray beaſts, not knowing which way or path to take, to pray vntounto God. For they hauehave an infinite number of Patrones and Aduocates, and euerie man buildeth vponupon his owne Patrone and Aduocate. In déede, they hauehave many common and ordinarie ones, but yet after al their kyries (as they ſay) euerie man will ſay his deuotions to ye Saint which he hath forged vntounto him ſelf. Thus we ſee how Ieſus Chriſt is robbed of his honour and glorie. And this is out of all doubt, that when they are not contented with Ieſus Chriſte, it muſt bee that the Deuill hath poſſeſſed them, and put them in ſuch a furie, as it were, to deſpight God, who ſpeaking of Ieſus Chriſt in giuing him that office, they hauehave giuen the right of it to this bodie & that. As the Papiſtes as this day, call the virgine Marie their Mediatrix. Nowe, the Deuill goe with all their prayers: For this is as much as if they forſooke God, and our lord Ieſus Chriſt. And it cannot be choſen but that the virgine Mary her ſelfe cryeth out for vengeance againſt them,Iohn. 5.45. becauſe they hauehave made a deteſtable Idoll of her, and robbed Ieſus Chriſt of the honour of this ſacrifice, ratefied by God with a ſolemne oth: and hauehave done all they can to falſefie the whole ſcripture. The Papiſtes think that the virgine Mary will help them, but ſhée will rather (as I hauehave alredie ſaide) call for vengeance againſt them, for the wrong which they hauehave done her: For, if they ſhould ſpit on her, & do her all the villainies that were poſſible to be done, without doubt, they could not deuiſe to do her a greater ſhame, then to call her a Mediatrix. And why ſo?Pſal. 110.… Hebr. 5.6. & 7.17. Forſooth, becauſe it is ſaid, that Ieſus Chriſt was appointed to be the Sacrificer of God his Father. And how? Truely euen with a ſolemne oth. I hauehave ſworne (ſaieth hée) and doe not repent mée of it.
Here then we ſée whervpon we ſhould lay our foundation, to wyt, vponupon the interceſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, becauſe (as Saint Paule ſaieth to the Epheſians) we may come neare vntounto God,Epheſ. 3.… and preſent our ſelues vntounto him, when as our Lord Ieſus Chriſt ſhall guide vsus the way, who (as I hauehave alredie ſaide) is hée, that muſt bring vsus into the fauour with him. Now, what would the Papiſts doe? Forſooth, euen make the ſacrifice of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt of none effect, and to be nothing at all. And when they will come with ſuch a Deuiliſh boldneſſe as to ouerthrow the vnchaungeable decrée of God, how can they hope any way to be heard? Let vsus therefore conclude, that all this doctrine was cleane buried in Poperie. And why ſo? Verely, I know they will ſay, that we are vnworthy to come before the Maieſtie of God, That is verie true, and who doubteth thereof? But let vsus conſider by the way, where it is that we muſt ſéeke for our dignitie, muſt we not ſéeke it in Ieſus Chriſt alone? And yet will they runne, to the virgine Mary, to Saint Michaell, and to the Apoſtles: and beſides, they will hauehave their Saintes of their owne deuiſing, whiche were neuer heard of in the whole worlde before, or elſe whiche were canonized at the Popes pleaſure, euen in the bottome of hell. Loe, here are their goodly Patrons and Aduocates. But, let it be that wée graunted the Papiſtes all this, That their Saints which neuer were, or els which were half Deuils, & phantaſticall ſpirites, had béene Apoſtles and Martyres, and had liued as holily as were poſſible, had not they, I beſéech you, as great néede of a Medyator as the reſt. This is moſt certaine, that the Virgine Marie could not finde grace before the Maieſtie of God, without the head and principall▪ it was as néedfull for her that Ieſus Chriſt ſhould be her Redéemer, as well as oures. The Apoſtles, Martyres, Patryarches,Mat. 11.28 and Prophetes, had alſo the ſelfe ſame néed to runne vntounto this common Redéemer of all men. And what ſhall we doe when we goe about to ſéeke him? Wherefore, forſomuch as the Apoſtles doe ſende vsus vntounto Ieſus Chriſt, and hauehave tolde vsus that it is hée that muſt be our guide and ſtay, and who inuiteth vsus ſo louingly, ſaying, Come vntounto mée, &c. Let vsus not draw backward, nor royle abroade, but boldly drawe néere vntounto him. For, hée ſpake not theſe woordes onelyonly for the behoofe of the Apoſtles, Martyres, or for the Virgine Mary, But his meaning was to entertaine vsus all with him ſelfe, as in déede it is moſt neceſſarie for vsus. Let vsus, I ſay, learne not to wander too and fro when we pray vntounto God, and let vsus alſo vnderſtande what a good turne hée hath done vsus, when as it hath pleaſed him to draw vsus from out of this bottomleſſe confuſion of Poperie, and ſheweth vsus an open plaine way to come vntounto him, to wit, Becauſe Ieſus Chriſt is our Interceſſour.
Let vsus reſt our ſelues there, without turning either to the one ſide or yet to the other. For this is out of all doubt, that if our prayers be not ordered and ſquared according to the worde of God they are altogether vayne and of none effect, and God vtterly reiecteth them: and beſides, they can not be made in Fayth, without the certaintie of them procéedeth from the trueth of God. Now then if wée would build our Prayers vponupon fayth, they muſt be agréeable vntounto the worde of God, and wée muſt followe that which hée commaundeth vsus: and that is, wee muſt take Ieſus Chriſt for our Interceſſour, Aduocate, and Mediator. Thus wée ſée what a proppe it is which hée giueth vsus, and what the foundation is wherevpon wée muſt ſtay our ſelues, that we might not be ſhaken like Réedes with euerie winde.
Wée ſée alſo why hée ſo often ſaieth,Ioh. 14.15. & 15.16.16.24. Whatſoeuer yée aſke my Father in my name, hée will giuegive it you. Yea, and we our ſelues likewiſe ſée, that although the faythfull who liued vnderunder the law, ſée not ſo clearely as we at this day ſée, by reaſon of the Goſpell, yet had they Ieſus Chriſt euer before their eyes, euen vnderunder that figure which was giuen them. For thus they ſay,Pſal. 84.9. Looke vponupon the face of thy Chriſt, O Lord, and heare vsus for thine annointed ſake. Daniell likewiſe ſaieth, O eternall God, heare vsus for the Lordes ſake: and this kinde of ſaying is in the Pſalmes verie often repeated. In déede, all this was ſpoken by Dauid: but it was becauſe hée was a figure of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. And beſides;Dan. 9.17. when Daniell ſaieth, For the Lordes ſake: hée verie well declareth that it was the Redéemer that was promiſed, and whoſe comming was then neare at hand. Howbeit, Ieſus Chriſt ſpeaketh more plainly,Iohn. 16.24. and ſaieth, Hethertoo hauehave yée aſked my Father nothing in my name: But aſke now, and it ſhall be giuen you. As if hée ſhoulde hauehave ſaide, Hethertoo yée hauehave not knowne that mine office was to be a Mediator betwéene God my Father and you. And in déede, hée was not as yet aſcended into heauen, neither had he yet brokē the vayle of the Temple, that we might hauehave acceſſe vntounto him.Hebr. 9.24. But we may nowe come verie familiarly vntounto him, becauſe the vaile of the Temple is broken, and Ieſus Chriſt is entred, not into a materiall Sanctuary (as the Prieſts in the old law did) but into heauen in the maieſtie of God his Father, that there with him wée might finde grace: So yt the Throne of God is not now a Throne of maieſtie to feare vsus, but hée graciouſly, and after a Fatherly louing maner calleth vsus, becauſe wee came vntounto him in the name, and by the mean of this Prieſt which was appointed for vsus. Thus then we ſée, that the interceſſion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt is alwayes profitable, and an inuicible ſtrength for vsus: and that ſo forcible alſo, that whē we come vntounto him, he will ſo heare vsus, as that we ſhall by proofe féele, that whoſoeuer calleth vponupon the name of the Lorde, ſhall be ſaued.Ioel. 2.32. Rom. 10.22. And although the Prophet Ioell ſpake theſe wordes before the comming of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, yet the faithfull who liued in the time of the lawe, did ſo practiſe it, as that we our ſelues, by their example, ought to be conformable and aſſured (we, I ſay, that hauehave the full perfection and accompliſhment of all that was ſhadowed vnderunder the law) that whē we come to pray, and call vponupon our God in the name of him who was eſtabliſhed our Mediator, we ſhould in trueth alwayes féele him to make interceſſion for vsus, to the ende that all our petitions might be heard.
Let vsus nowe fall downe before the Maieſtie of our good God, and acknowledge our offences: beſéeching him to make vsus more and more féele them, that it might bée ſo to our humbling, as yt wée might daily fight againſt them, and be ſpoiled of all together: and that we might ſéeke to be clad with his righteouſneſſe, and enriched with the giftes of his holy ſpirite, to the end we might appeare pure and innocent before him. And forſomuch as we had néede to be daily reconciled vntounto him by meane of the Mediator, that it would pleaſe him to graunt vsus the grace to pray vntounto him with a ſure hope and truſt, ſo that we ſtaying our ſelues on him, might by true faith and power, embraſe the promiſe which hée hath made vsus,Mat. 11.…8. when as hée ſaieth, Come vntounto mée all yée that labour and are heauy laden, and I wil eaſe and refreſh you: So that we may féele that the office of the Mediator which was giuen him, is not in vain and of no effect: But that by his meane wée might at this day bée heard, and our petitions and ſupplications ſo dedicated and conſecrated vntounto him, as that God would receiue and allowe them. Let vsus therefore beſéech him, that hée will not ſhewe this fauour to vsus alone, but alſo vntounto all people and nations of the world, &c.