Sermons on Divinity Humanity and Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Sermons on the Passion · Sermon 1
The firſt Sermon of the paſsion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt.
Math Cap. xxvi.
36 Then went Ieſus with them into a place called Gethſemane, and ſaide vntounto his Diſciples, Sit ye here, while I goe, and pray yonder.
37 And he tooke Peter, and the two Sonnes of Zebedeus, and beganne to waxe ſorrowful, and grieuouſly troubled.
38 Then ſayde Ieſus vntounto them, my Soule is very heauy, euen vntounto the death, tarie yee here, and watch with me.
39 So he went a little farther, and fel on his face, and praied, ſaying, O, my Father, if it be poſsible, Let this cup paſſe from me: Neuertheleſſe, not as I will, but as thou wilt.
WHen any thing is ſpoken, which concerneth our ſaluation, The ſcripture ſetteth before vsus thrée endes. The one is, That wée might know the ineſtimable louelove, which GOD beareth vsus, to the end wée might glorifie him therfore, as he is worthy. The ſecond, That wée ſhould abhorre our ſinnes, as we ought, and to bée truely aſhamed to humble our ſelues before the Maieſtie of our GOD. The thirde, that wée might in ſuch ſorte eſtéeme of our ſaluation, as that it might make vsus forſake the worlde, and whatſoeuer thinge elſe belongeth vntounto this tranſitorie lyfe, and to bée in louelove with this enheritaunce, which was ſo déerely purchaſed for vsus.
And héere we ſée whereon we muſt caſt our eies, and beſtow all our ſenſes, when it is told vsus, that the Sonne of GOD hath redéemed vsus from euerlaſting death, and purchaſed for vsus euerlaſting lyfe. Wée muſt therefore in the firſt place learne, to render vntounto God the prayſe due vntounto him. Now, to ſay truely, he might, if hée had pleaſed) hauehave deliuered vsus from the bottomeleſſe depthes of death after an other ſorte: But his good will was, largely to beſtow and powre vponupon vsus the treaſures of his infinite goodneſſe, when as hée ſpared not his onelyonly ſonne. And our Lord Ieſus would héerein giuegive vsus an excellent pawne of his wonderful care towardes vsus, when as he offred himſelfe willingly to death. For we ſhal neuer bée touched to the quick, nor enflamed to praiſe our God, without we on the other ſide doe examine our eſtate, and be as it were throwne downe into the bottomleſſe pit of hell, knowing what a thing it is to hauehave prouoke his wrath, and to becom our mortall enimie, hauing him as a terrible and fearefull Iudge: ſo that it were a great deale better, that heauen and earth, and all the creatures had conſpyred againſt vsus, then that wée ſhoulde once come néere his Maieſtie, ſo long as he is againſt vsus. Wherfore it is very méete that ſinners ſhould be wounded with the féeling and conceiuing of their ſinnes, that they might know themſelues to bée moſt miſerable, and feare their eſtate, to the end they might thereby knowe how greatly they are beholden and bounde vntounto God, in that he hath compaſſion vponupon them, and ſéeing them in a deſperate caſe, hath very good will to helpe them, without regard of any their worthineſſe, but onlie for their myſeries ſake. And ſo alſo is it (as we hauehave already ſaide) becauſe we are too too much intangled here below, and when as God calleth vsus vntounto him, our mindes and affections, ſo kéepe vsus backe, as that we had néed to make much of the heauenly life, as it is woorthy, and knowe with how déere a price it was purchaſed for vsus. And héere wée ſée why it is told vsus, that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt did not only meane to ſuffer death, and offered himſelfe a Sacrifice to appeaſe the the wrath of God his Father, but alſo, to the ende, that hée might truely and indéede be our pledge, he refuſed not to abide the anguiſhes and griefes, which were prepared for all ſuch as in conſcience are touched, and féele themſelues guiltie of euerlaſting death and condemnation before God. Let vsus then heare rightly note that the Sonne of God, was not contented to offer vp his fleſhe and blood and yéeld himſelfe vntounto death, but would withall, appeare before the iudgement ſeate of GOD, in the name and perſon of all ſinners, ready, there to be condemned: and that becauſe he beare our burden. And therefore we muſt not be aſhamed, ſéeing the ſonne of God hath ſubmitted him ſelfe to ſuch an infirmitie. Neither was it without cauſe that Saint Paule exhorteth vsus, not to be aſhamed of the preaching of the Croſſe, albeit it be to ſome fooliſhneſſe, and an offence to many. For, the more that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt was humbled, we ſée thereby that the offences for the which wée were in arrerages and behinde with God, could not be aboliſhed, without great extremitie. And in déed, we know that he was made weake, that wée might be made ſtrong by his power, and beſides, hée would abide all our ſufferinges, ſinne excepted, to the ende hée might be readie at this day to helpe vsus. For if hée had not felte in his owne perſon the feares, doubtes, and torments, which we endure, he would not be ſo enclined to be mercifull vntounto vsus as hée is. Wée ſay, that he who knoweth not what hunger and thirſt meaneth, will neuer be ſtirred vp to hauehave compaſſion vponupon thoſe that féele it, becauſe they hauehave alwayes taken their eaſe, and liued in pleaſure. Now it is true, that although God in his owne nature ſuffereth not any of our paſſions, yet ceaſeth hée not for all that to be curteous vntounto vsus: but that is becauſe hée is the fountayne of all goodneſſe and mercy. Neuertheleſſe, to the end we might be aſſured that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt knoweth our weaknes to help it, & that we might come the boldlier vntounto him, & hauehave a more familiar acceſſe. The apoſtle ſaith,Hebr. 2.10. yt he would for the ſame cauſe be tēpted euen as we are. So then, we hauehave to obſerue in this text which we hauehave read, yt whē our Lord Ieſus was come into this village of Gethſamene, & namely, into the Mount Oliuet, it was to offer him ſelf willingly to death. And herein, his will was to be diſcharged of the office & charge that was committed vntounto him. For why cloathed he him ſelf with our fleſh & nature, without it were to repaire all our rebellions through his obedience, to the end to purchaſe vsus full & perfect righteouſnes before God his Father? And therefore offered he him ſelf to death, becauſe we might not be reconciled by any other meane, neither yet appeaſe the wrath of God, prouoked by ſin, but by this onelyonly obedience. Thus we ſée why the Sonne of God came fréely vntounto the place, where he knew that Iudas ſhould finde him. And let vsus knowe that it ſo fell out, becauſe our father Adam through his tranſgreſſion, had throwne vsus all downe headlōg into ye bottomleſſe depth, that the ſonne of God who had power ouer all creatures, might be ſubiect, and take vponupon him the ſtate of a ſeruant: as he is likewiſe called the ſeruant of God, & of all his. Sée alſo why S. Paul,Iſaiah. 42.1. in ſhewing vsus how we muſt ſtay our ſelues when we call vponupon God with full aſſurance, & be heard as his children, ſaith that we are reputed righteous through the obedience of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt.Rom. 5.19. For this is as it were a cloake to couer all our ſinnes & offences: ſo that the thing that might hinder vsus for the obteining of grace, might not come into a reckoning before God. But we on the contrary part ſée, that the price of our redemption coſt very deare, when as our Lord Ieſus Chriſt was ſo tormented that hee aboad the very terror & feare of death: inſomuch that hée ſweat droppes of blood, & was as it were lyke one beſides himſelfe, deſiring if it were poſſible that hée might eſcape that diſtreſſe. And therfore ſince we ſée it to be thus, it is good for vsus to come to the acknowledging of our ſinnes. For, it is no time for vsus to rocke our ſelues here a ſléepe through flattery, when wee ſée the Sonne of God plunged in this extremitie, as though he were in the bottomleſſe depthes. Nowe if this onelyonly came to paſſe vntounto a iuſt man, then ought we to be touched, inſomuch as it fell out that a poore innocent ſuffered for our raunſome, which thing came to paſſe to the Sonne of God. But beholde howe the fountayne of life, hath ſubmitted him ſelfe vntounto death: and hee which vpholdeth all the worlde by his power, is now become weake: and hée who hath deliuered the creatures from all feare, hath ſuſteined ſo wonderfull horror. Wherfore, when this is told vsus, it can not be but that euerie of vsus muſt néedes be moſt blockiſh, if we enter not euerie man-into him ſelfe, and being touched with his faultes and iniquities, is not aſhamed before God, and ſo ſigh and grone: and namely, by this meane to be brought vntounto God with true repentaunce. Nowe it is impoſſible for vsus, rightly to conuert vntounto God, without wée condemne our ſelues, and conceiue both the very terror and griefe of the curſe which is prepared for vsus, vntill ſuch time, as wée bée brought againe into fauour with God. But becauſe we may the better conceiue of the whole matter, it is ſaid, that our Lord Ieſus tooke onelyonly thrée of his Diſciples, & left the reſt of the company a good way of: neither had he them through with him, but prayde vntounto God his father ſecretly. Wherfore, when we ſée this, we are to note, that our Lord Ieſus had no companion when he offered him ſelfe an oblation for vsus: But finiſhed whatſoeuer was requiſit for our ſaluatiō. And namely, it is yet better declared vntounto vsus, whē as the Diſciples ſlept, & could not be keptwake, although they had bin ſo oftētimes before warned, that the houre drew neare wherin our Lord Ieſus muſt ſuffer for the redemption of mankinde, & had exhorted them by the ſpace of thrée houres, declaring vntounto them continually without ceaſing, that his death approched. Yet notwithſtāding all this, they ſlept ſtil. Wherein is ſhewed vntounto vsus, as in a liuely picture, yt it was méet that the ſonne of God ſhould take vpō him all our burdēs: neither was it fit that he ſhould looke for any other. And it was to none other end, but that we ſhould take vp our ſelues for ſtraying, as we ſée the miſerable Infidels doe, who can not be contented to ſtay them ſelues vponupon our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, but imagine that they muſt hauehave Patrons, & Aduocats, as if there were many Redéemers. For we ſée namely, the blaſphemies which reigne in that curſed papacy, that the merits of Saints muſt ſerue to helpe the death and paſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, that by the ſame we might be freed & diſcharged towardes God For although (ſay they) there was a generall forgiueneſſe for the fault of originall ſinne, and of actual ſinnes, yet muſt they be mingled together: and the blood of Ieſus Chriſt is not ſufficient except the Martyres, had ouer and beſides, merited: and therfore we muſt alſo hauehave recourſe thether, to the end God might be mercifull vntounto vsus. Nowe, when the Deuil hath after this maner ouerune the whole world, ſo much the more ought we to beware, that we holde vsus faſt vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, & knowe that it is in him alone yt we muſt finde all perfection of ſaluation. And ſée why it is namely ſaide in the Prophet Iſaiah, That God wondred,Iſaiah. 63.5. when hee ſée that there was none on ye other ſide to vphold. It is verie true that God right well knew, that he alone muſt make our ſaluation perfect: But it was to the ende that wée might be aſhamed, and not bée deceiued with hypocriſie, as if wée brought nothing with vsus for the helping of the forgiueneſſe of our ſinnes, & for the cauſe of God to receiue vsus into his louelove and fauour: ſo that, we might not runne hither & thither to finde out Mediators. And therefore, for the cutting off, of all this geare, it is ſaide that God holpe him ſelfe with his owne arme, and ended all by his iuſtice, without any companion. Nowe this is declared vntounto vsus euen as it were before our eyes, when it is ſaid, that thrée of the chiefe of all the Diſciples, ſlept like miſerable beaſtes: in whom was nothing els but beaſtly blockiſhneſſe: which thing was as it were a Monſter againſt nature. to ſée them ſléepe in ſuch extremity. And to the end we might withdraw our confidence from all Creatures, and ſhut it wholly vp in our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, ſée why it is ſayde, That hée wente forwarde to the combate. Moreouer, in that he went to God his father, hée ſheweth vsus the remedy for the eaſing of all our griefes, for the mytigating of our ſorowes, and euen for the rayſing of our ſelues vp agayne, when as wée ſhall bée as it were cleane throwen downe. For if wée bée grieued and vexed, wée knowe that God is not in vayne named the Father of Conſolation.2. Cor. 2.3. Againe, if wée bée ſeparated from him, where muſt wée finde power and ſtrength but in him? But by the way, wée ſée that hée woulde in no wiſe let his buſineſſe be vndone. Let vsus then héere beholde the Sonne of GOD, who, when wée are in ſorow and anguiſhe guideth vsus by his exāple vntounto the true refuge, But let vsus alſo note what forme of prayer hée vſeth, O my Father, if it bee posſible, Let this cup paſſe from mee, or this drinke: For this is ſpoken by way of ſimilitude, when hée ſpeaketh of a Cruſe, Glaſſe, or a Cuppe? Becauſe the Scripture calleth afflictions, bytter drinkes, to the ende wée might knowe that nothing commeth by chaunce: But that God as an Houſholder diſtributeth to eueryevery man as pleaſeth him. For like as a Father will geue vntounto eueryevery of his children his portion, or a Maiſter to his ſeruantes, Euen ſo doeth God ſhewe that hee ſcourgeth and afflicteth them with his owne hand: And likewiſe when we hauehave any benefits, it cōmeth of his frée goodnes, and geueth vsus as much of thē as hee thinketh to be good for vsus. And after this cōmon maner it is, yt our Lord Ieſus ſaith that death is to him ſo bitter drink, & would gladly hauehave it to paſſe frō him, yea If it were posſible, In very déed, about this, might many queſtions be moued: For it ſhould ſéeme at ye firſt ſight, that Ieſus Chriſt had forgoten our ſaluatiō, or rather in flying frō ye light, ment to leaue vsus in deſtructiō, by reaſō of ye feare that he had cōceiued. Now, this wil neuer agrée wt yt which we hauehave ſaid: & eſpecially, ye louelove which he hath ſhewed vsus ſhould be greatly darkened. But we néed not to enter into ſuch ſubtill diſputations: Bicauſe we know that a paſſiō, oftētimes ſo taketh away ye mind of a man, as that he thinketh not either of one thing or of an other: But béeing vexed with the preſent griefe, he there caſteth himſelfe, without hauing any other regard for the vpholding of himſelfe. Wherefore, when our minds are thus rauiſhed, we cannot ſay that the reſt is cleane blotted out of our heartes, and that wee hauehave no affection. As for example, A man that conſidereth of ſome affliction of the Churche, namely, of a particular affliction, hée will pray vntounto GOD as if the reſt of the worlde were nothing to him. Nowe, is it therefore for vsus to ſay, that this is an vnkinde man, and hath no care of his brethren, who hauehave as great néde alſo to be prayed for? No: But it is becauſe that this affection hath taken ſuche a mightie poſſeſſion in him, as that the reſte of his affection, is as it were ſeparated for a time. Wée reade, that Moſes prayed to bee blotted out of the Booke of life: Nowe, if wée woulde cull the greater from the leſſe,Exod. 32.32. wée woulde ſay that Moſes blaſphemed againſt GOD, becauſe hée ſpake, as if GOD had béene chaungeable. For they whom GOD hath ordayned to euerlaſting life, can neuer periſhe: And therefore it ſéemeth that Moſes ſtriueth héere with GOD, and that hée will doe as wée doe, who chaunge our councell and determinations. And beſides, howe honoured hée GOD when as hée knewe himſelfe to bée of the number of the choſen, and knew that God had marked him euen from his childehood to commit ſo notable a charge vntounto him, as to bée the Leader of his people, and yet deſired to bée razed and cut of from GOD? And whither then was this gone? nowe, a man might make many argumentes: But the ſolution is eaſie, For Moſes hauing ſo feruent a zeale for the ſaluation of the people, and ſéeyng beſides, the horrible threat which God had pronounced by his owne mouth, forgotte himſelfe for a minute of time, and deſired nothing els but the helpe of the people.
Let vsus then ſée howe our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte behaued himſelfe. For if it was méete that hée ſhoulde ſuffer an hundreth deathes, yea a Myllion, without doubte hée was prepared for that purpoſe before: Howebeit, ſuche was his will, not for himſelfe, but for vsus, to abide the anguiſhes whiche plunged him into it as wée ſée. And thus much for this poynt. Nowe for the ſeconde, If it bée aſked, howe our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, who is ſaide to bée altogether righteous, the Lambe without ſpotte, and the verie rule and glaſſe of all righteouſneſſe, holineſſe, and perfection, could will, contrarie to God his will. This is the anſwere, that God is the whole perfection of righteouſneſſe and iudgement. For although the Angels are conformable to the will of God, and wholy obedient vntounto him, yet is their will ſeparate: For, becauſe they are creatures, they may hauehave affections which apperteine not to God. But as for vsus who are compaſſed about with this lump of ſinne, we are ſo blockiſh as that we are verie farre from the will of God: for our deſires excéede, yea and are oftentimes verie manifeſtly Rebellious. But if we cōſider of man as he was in his pureneſſe, to wit, without this corruption of ſinne, yet without doubt his affections ſhall come nothing nigh vntounto Gods, and yet not bée corrupt. As if Adam were not thus peruerted as hée is, but had continued in the ſame eſtate, wherein hée was created, yet had hee abidden heate and cold, and might hauehave ſuffered cares, and feares, and ſuch other like. And ſuch a one we ſée was our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. For we know that his affectiōs were without ſpot or blot, and they all were ſquared vntounto the obedience of God, but yet (becauſe hée had taken our nature vponupon him) hée was ſubiect to feare and to this terror wherof we euen now ſpake, and vntounto cares and ſuch like. We cannot ſée this in vsus, no more then in pudly water a man can iudge of anything. And thus we ſée how theſe earthly affections cauſe vsus to flote from one ſide to an other, and ſo toſſe vsus, as that God had néede to vpholde vsus: But the affections which we that are deſcended of Adam hauehave, are like vntounto clay excéedingly tempered with infection, ſo that we cannot ſée what this paſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt was, if we meaſure it as we are men. For when we do any thing to a good end, & our affection of it ſelf is iuſt, and allowed of God, yet ſhall we continually fayle therein. For is not this a good and holie thing, for a father to louelove his chilren? And yet for all that, this is ſinne in vsus: becauſe there is not that order and moderation that is required in the ſame: for amongeſt all the vertues which wée may hauehave, GOD maketh vsus to ſée that there are vices in them, to the ende our pryde might the better bée abated, and wée might alwayes hauehave occaſion to caſte downe our heades, and bée aſhamed, ſéeing our verie goodneſſe is corrupted through ſinne which dwelleth in vsus, and wherewith wée are filled, and full fraught.
Moreouer, as for our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt (as I hauehave alreadie ſaid) it is not for vsus to meruel (foraſmuch as he was mā) although his will differed from the will of God his Father: But yet wée muſt not hereby iudge that there was any ſinne and tranſgreſſion in him. And (as wée hauehave before ſaide) wée héerein eſpecially ſée, the ineſtimable louelove hée beare vsus, whenas hée ſo greatly feared death, that yet of his owne good will hée ſubmitted him ſelfe thereto. And beſides, when as hée neither withſtood it, nor yet gaineſaide the ſupping vp of this drinke wherein hée felt no bitterneſſe, what a thing was this for vsus to bée in this manner redéemed? Howbeit this might ſéeme to bée a merry ieſt: neuertheleſſe, when it ſo fell out that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt had endured ſuche anguiſhes, it was a ſigne that hée ſo loued vsus, as that hée forgot him ſelfe, and ſuffered the whole tempeſt to light vponupon his owne head, that wée might bée deliuered from ye wrath of God. Now, there remaineth for vsus to note, when the Sonne of God was after this manner tormented, that it was not becauſe hée was to depart out of this lyfe: For if there had béene none other thing but the ſeparation of the ſoule, from the bodie, together, with the tormentes which hée was to ſuffer in his bodie, this had béen no ſuch affliction.
But let vsus conſider of the qualitie of his death: and let vsus chiefly come to the originall thereof. For death did not onelyonly diſſolue the man, but made him alſo to féele the curſe of God. For ouer and beſides that, that God taketh vsus out of his world, and that wée leaue this preſent lyfe, Death is vntounto vsus an entraunce as it were into the gulfe of hell. And therefore, when wee heare death ſpoken of, wée muſt néedes bee ſeparated from GOD, and cut off from all hope of ſaluation, without wee had this remedie, to wyt, that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt hath ſuffered for vsus, to the ende that the wounde which came by reaſon of it, might bee no more deadly. For without him, we were ſo wounded by death, that there was no more hope of ſaluation for vsus: but now the ſting therof is broken: yea the poyſon therof is ſo clēſed & wiped away, that we being humbled by death, it ſerueth vsus at this day for a medicine, and is no more deadly, becauſe Ieſus Chriſte hath ſwallowed vpp all the curſe which was in it. Nowe let vsus ſée what it is, that wée hauehave too kéepe in mynde, whiche is, that ſonne of God in crying out, O my Father, if it be poſſible, let this drinke be taken from me, did not regard onlie the ſuffringes in his bodie, neither the ſhame of men, nor yet the leauing of the worlde: (for he could eaſily abide all theſe things) But hée reſpected his comming before God, and before his iudgement ſeate, to make an account for all our ſinnes, and to behold al the curſes of God which were prepared. For when as there was but one only ſinner, what was this to the wrath of GOD? And when it is ſaid that God is againſt vsus, & wil diſplay his power to confound vsus, Alas, what ſhall become of vsus? Now, it hath ſo fallen out, that Ieſus Chriſt did not onelyonly ſtriue againſt ſuche a feare, but againſt all the cruelties that might bee heaped vp together. And therefore when wée ſée GOD call to a reckoning all thoſe who hauehave deſerued euerlaſting condemnation, and are guiltie of ſinne, and that hée himſelfe is there to pronounce ſuche ſentence as they hauehave deſerued, who will not conceyue all the deathes, doubtes, and terrors, which may bée in eueryevery one. And then what a deſtruction will there bée in this? Nowe, it hath fallen out that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte himſelfe alone without anie helpe, hath borne ſuch a burden.
Let vsus therfore iuſtly weight ye ſorow of the Sonne of God, & therevpon, let vsus returne to the thing which wee hauehave already touched which is, y• on the one ſide we might knowe how déere our ſaluation, & how precious our ſoules were vntounto him, when as hée woulde bring himſelfe into ſo great extremitie for our ſakes: and in acknowledging that that wee hauehave deſerued, Let vsus ſée what our eſtate had béene, if hée had not holpen vsus. And in the meane while, let vsus reioyce, when as wée ſée death to hauehave no more power ouer vsus that may hurt vsus. In verie déede, wée ſhoulde naturally alwayes feare Death, and flie it: But it is to this ende, that wee ſhould thinke vponupon that ineſtimable benefite whiche the Sonne of God hath purchaſed by his death: & alwaies conſider, yt it commeth through death it ſelfe, which death importeth the wrath of God, & which wrath is as it were the gulfe of hell.
Moreouer, yt when we are to fight againſt this feare, we might know yt our Lord Ieſus Chriſt hath ſo prouided for al theſe feares, as that wee might euen in the middeſt of death it ſelfe, come with bolde countenance before our God. True it is, that wée ſhoulde before all thinges humble our ſelues, and muſt as we hauehave beforeſaide, bée touched with the iudgement of God, and with the terror thereof, if wée intend to hate our ſinnes, and bée diſpleaſed with them: howbeit in the meane while when God calleth vsus vntounto him, wée muſt then come with chéerefull countenance. And ſee alſo what boldneſſe is graunted to all the faithfull:2. Tim. 4.8. for Saint Paule ſaith, That our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte hath prepared a crowne for all thoſe which looke for his comming. Wherefore, if we hope not for life in comming before the heauenly Iudge, without doubt hée will refuſe vsus, and not know vsus, neither will hee allowe of vsus, although wée profeſſe our ſelues to bée Chriſtians. And ſurely we cannot waite for our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt without we bée reſolued and perſwaded that he hath ſo fought againſt the feares of death, that wée are thereby made free, and that hée obteined victory for vsus. And although wée are to fight, to the ende wée might féele our infirmities, and thereby hauehave recourſe vntounto God, which might continually draw vsus to a true confeſſion of our ſinnes, ſo that God himſelfe might bée declared to him alone to bee iuſt: yet notwithſtanding let vsus aſſure our ſelues that Ieſus Chriſte hath ſo fought as that he hath got the victorie, not onelyonly for himſelf, but for vsus alſo: And neuer doubt but that by this meanes we may now ouercome all cares, feares, and terrors, and call vponupon God, ſéeing wée are aſſured that he continually ſtretcheth foorth his armes to imbrace vsus. And héere we ſée, what we muſt obſerue, which is, we muſt know that this is no ſpeculatiue doctrine, when it is ſaide, That our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt hath abiden the horrible feares of death, becauſe he felt that he was before our iudge as our pledge, to the end that in ye power of that combate we might get aduantage ouer our infirmities, & conſtantly abide in calling vponupon the name of God, doubting but that hée will heare vsus, and bée continually ready, of his goodneſſe to receiue vsus, vntounto himſelfe: ſo that by that meanes we ſhall paſſe both through life and death, fier, and water: and ſo might all féele, that our Lorde Ieſus hath not fought in v…ine for the obteining of ſuch a victory, for all ſuch as come vntounto him in faith. Héere then wée ſee in ſumme, what it is that wée muſt remember. But yet by the way wee ſée that wée muſt fight againſt our affections, and without wée ſo doe, it is impoſſible for vsus to remoue our finger, but that wee ſhall eftſoones prouoke the wrath of GOD. For beholde our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte who was both pure and ſounde, as wée hauehave already declared: But if any man aſke what his will was, it was in very déed the weake will of a man: but yet no ſinfull will, as the will of thoſe who were corrupted in Adam: for there was not one ſpot of ſinne in him. Loe héere a man voide of all ſinne: But howeuer it was, yet muſt he in the ende, ſtriue and indeuour to forſake himſelfe, and caſt all this vnderunder his féete, that hee might yeeld his obedience vntounto his father. And nowe let vsus ſee what ſhall become of vsus, what are our affections and thoughtes?Rom. 8.7. Euen ſo many enimies (ſaith Saint Paule) as fight againſt God. Wée ſee heere, that God ſaith that we are altogether wayward, & that whatſoeuer the mind of man deuiſeth, is nothing els but leaſing and vanitie: yea we ſhew our ſelues, euen from our childhood to be ſeaſoned with the whole infection of ſinne. For the very yong children who come into the worlde, and whoſe wickedneſſe appeareth not, are notwithſtanding young ſerpents full of the poyſon of malice and diſdaine. And héere wée ſée what our nature is euen from the beginning what then will wee be (I beſéeche you) when wée come to ryper yéres? Surely (as I hauehave already ſaide) we are ſo very wicked, as that we cannot thinke one only thought, which ſhal not be very many rebellions againſt God: inſomuch, that we ſhall neuer be able to giuegive our ſelues either to one thing or other, but that we ſhall ſwarue from the right rule, yea, and ſpurne as it were diſpituouſly againſt his Maieſtie. And therefore what conflict is it that wée can ſet in order to doe any good? For when we ſée that our Lord Ieſus Chriſte, in whom was nothing but pureneſſe and righteouſneſſe, was not able to ſubmit himſelf vntounto God his father, without he had denied himſelfe, is it not to bee doubted that we are any way able throughly to performe it. Let vsus then learne to fight more couragiouſly: But becauſe we ſee we cannot and that all our ſtrength and power bendeth it ſelfe rather to doe euill, and not one droppe of goodneſſe in our nature, but ſo weake as that wée ſhoulde be ouercome an hundred times eueryevery minute of an houre, let vsus come to him that was made weake, that wée might (as S. Paule ſaieth) be filled with his power. And therefore ſince our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte hath thus denied him ſelfe, let vsus learne, if wée will bée his Diſciples to doe the like. And becauſe wée ſée that wée cannot of our ſelues attaine thereto, but goe altogether backewarde, let vsus beſéeche him,2. Cor. 13.4. that hée woulde by the power of his holy ſpirite hauehave dominion in vsus to ſtrengthen vsus, as it is ſaid, yt hée ſuffered in the infirmitie of his fleſhe, but was raiſed vp againe through the power of the ſpirite, that we might bée partakers of the afliction which hée ſuſteined, and féele the fruit and excellencie of his power in vsus. Heere nowe wée ſée in effect what it is that wée muſt beare in minde, when it is ſaide that Chriſte gaue ouer his owne will, that hee might fully and wholy ſubmit himſelfe vntounto God his Father. Notwithſtanding, we hauehave heere continually to remember, that the Sonne of GOD determined not onelyonly to ſet foorth himſelfe héere for an example or glaſſe, but to ſhew vsus how dearely our ſaluation coſt him. For the Deuill, meaning to darken the infinite grace of GOD, which hath béene ſhewed vsus, hath ſaide, That Ieſus Chriſte was onelyonly as it were a patterne of all vertue. For marke how theſe hypocriticall pratling Iacke dawes in Popery behaue them ſelues, who although they cannot ſet down what obedience is, nor yet what it is to forſake a mans ſelfe, yet they ſay, that whatſoeuer the Euangeliſt hath written of Ieſus Chriſte is to this ende that wée ſhoulde followe him, and bée like vntounto him. Now, this is ſomewhat: But yet not all, neither the principall matter For an Angell might very well hauehave béene ſent, to hauehave tolde vsus that wee muſte followe him: But when Ieſus Chriſte became the redéemer of the worlde, hée of his owne good will ſubmitted himſelfe vntounto this miſerable condition, as héere wée ſee. And therefore muſt wée alwayes vnderſtande, that when wée can finde nothing in our ſelues that may giuegive vsus any hope of ſaluation, it remaineth that wée muſt ſéeke for that in him, which is wanting in vsus. For wee are neuer able to obteine the grace and fauour of GOD, nor yet come néere him, without wee come as poore Beggers, vntounto Ieſus Chriſte, which can neuer bee doone, vntyll ſuch time as we knowe our miſeries and wants: and to be ſhort, except we know vtterly our vnableneſſe, wee ſée then what it is that wee are to remember, to the end that after we hauehave vnderſtood, that ye whole perfection of our life is to obey God, and to forſake our affections and thoughts, and whatſoeuer els that is in our nature which is to make vsus agréeable vntounto him: when wee vnderſtand this much, we muſt craue at the handes of God, that, which we hauehave not: And that wée might know alſo, that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt is not deliuered vntounto vsus for an example onelyonly, but is eft ſoones declared vntounto vsus, that if we be ſeparated from him, our life muſt néedes bee accurſed, and that in death we ſée the bottomleſſe depthes of the curſe, and that gulfe of Gods wrath to ſwallowe vsus quite vp, and that not onelyonly one feare, but a million of feares hauehave laide faſt holde on vsus, and al the creatures of God crie for vengeance on our behalfe. And therfore let vsus hauehave this féeling, becauſe we might acknowledge our ſinnes, ſigh, and be aſhamed of our ſelues, and take boldneſſe to come vntounto God with true humilitie and repentance. Let vsus likewiſe eſtéeme of the goodneſſe and mercy of our God as héere is ſhewed vsus, and hauehave our mouthes wide open to pay vntounto him the Sacrifice of thankſgiuing, and depart from the inticements of Satan, who hath pitched his nettes to holde vsus ſtill in this worlde. Let vsus alſo leaue our commodities and pleaſures, that wee might come vntounto this heauenly inheritance, which hath béen ſo dearely purchaſed for vsus, and becauſe we hauehave to communicate the Supper of the Lorde the next Sunday, and that God, after he hath opened vntounto vsus the kingdom of heauen, ſetteth before vsus a ſpirituall banket, let vsus bée ſo much the more touched with this doctrine. And to ſay the trueth, when wée dayly eate and drinke for the refreſhing of our hungry bodies, God therein ſheweth vsus ſufficiently that he is our father, and careth for theſe earthly bodies: inſomuch that we cannot eate one morſell of bread but that it witneſſeth vntounto vsus, that God is careful ouer vsus. But in the Supper, is a ſpeciall reaſon: for God doth not there fill our bellies, but lifteth our mindes vp into the kingdome of heauen, hee ſetteth before vsus our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte his ſonne, for meate and drinke. And Ieſus Chriſte is not onelyonly contented to receiue vsus to his Table, but intendeth therewith to bee our féeder: for hee ſheweth vsus in effect, that his fleſhe is meate in déede, and his blood drinke indéede. Wherefore, when wée ſée our Lorde Ieſus, thus gently to bid vsus vntounto him, are not wée too too villanous, if we holde not our ſelues back from doing of any thing that may withdraw vsus from him? And although we come but as men trailing our legges after vsus, yet let vsus ſtil be diſpleaſed with our ſins, that we might obey him, and ſtreine our ſelues ſo much as is poſſible, to be rid of this worlde, and come to the kindgdome of heauen. And therefore let eueryevery one conſider, to what ende the holy Supper ſerueth, For when we ſee that our Lord Ieſus calleth vsus vntounto it, that we might be partakers of his death and paſſion, let vsus inioy the fruite which he hath obteined for vsus, & by that meane be fully reſolued, that God alloweth vsus for his children, and with open mouth claime him for our father. Let vsus alſo bring with vsus a true faith, becauſe we knowe wherefore God the father ſent our Lorde Ieſus vntounto vsus, and is at this day a Mediator as he hath alwayes béen. And thereupon, ſet vsus labour to bée ſo vnited to him, as that we may knowe yt this is not onelyonly ſpoken to eueryevery of vsus in particuler, but to eueryevery of vsus in generall. Let vsus alſo liue together in mutuall and Brotherly concord, becauſe he himſelf hath ſuſteined and borne the condemnation which God his father had pronounced againſt vsus all. And therefore let vsus bende our ſelues that way, and let eueryevery of vsus not onelyonly come thither by himſelfe alone (as I hauehave already ſaid) but alſo bring his fellowes with him, and ſtirre one another vp, conſtantly to marche forward: hauing alwayes reſpect that our life is as were away which wée muſt goe through withall, and not ſtay in the middeſt thereof: but from day to day ſo profite, and alſo take paine to bring them néere, who are farre of, as that it may be our whole ioy, life glory, and contentment, and in ſuch ſorte helpe one another, vntyll the time that GOD hath fully and wholy gathered vsus together vntounto himſelfe.
Let vsus nowe therefore fall downe before the Maieſtie of our good GOD, and acknowledge our ſinnes, beſéeching him to cauſe vsus ſo to féele them, as that wee bée not onelyonly diſpleaſed with them, but alſo that wée may bée more and more rydde and cleanſed of them, and ſo fight againſt our ſelues, as that he alone may beare rule in vsus, and wée well agrée vntounto his holy will. And in the meane while, let vsus likewiſe beſéech him that it would pleaſe him to hauehave mercy vponupon his miſerable worlde: and that as it was his will in generall, his onelyonly ſonne ſhoulde bee a redéemer for all, & his Goſpell preached to all, ſo alſo yt hée would not ſuffer vsus at this day to bée hard hearted, & flie form ſuch a benefite: But that wée might hauehave an eie and eare thereto, and one of vsus drawe on another, vntill ſuch time as he hath brought vsus to bée perfect with himſelfe. So that wée may all ſay with an humble heart, O Almightie God, and heauenly father, &c.