Sermons on Divinity Humanity and Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Sermons on the Passion · Sermon 5
The fyfth Sermon of the paſſion.
Matthew xxvii.
11 And Ieſus ſtood before the Gouernour, and the Gouernour aſked him ſaying, arte thou the King of the Iewes; Ieſus ſayde vntounto him, thou ſaieſt it.
12 And when he was accuſed of the chiefe prieſt and Elders, hee anſweared nothing.
13 Then ſayd Pylate vntounto him, heareſt thou not how many thinges they lay agaynſt thee?
14 But he anſweared hym not one worde: inſomuch that the Gouernour marueled greatly.
15 Now at the feaſt the Gouernour was wonted to delyuer vntounto the people a priſoner, whom they woulde.
16 And they had then a notable pryſoner called Barabbas.
17 When they were gathered together, Pylate ſayde vntounto them, whether will yee that I let loſe vntounto you Barabbas, or Ieſus which is called Chriſt?
18 For hee knewe well, that for enuy they had delyuered him.
19 Alſo when hee was ſet downe vponupon the iudgement ſeate, his wife ſent to hym, ſayinge, hauehave thou nothinge to do with that iuſt man: for I hauehave ſuffered many thinges this day in a dreame, by reaſon of him.
20 But the chiefe Prieſtes and the Elders had perſwaded the people that they ſhould aſke Barabbas & deſtroy Ieſus.
21 Then the Gouernour anſweared, and ſayde vntounto them, whether of the twayne wyll yee that I let loſe vntounto you? and they ſayd Barabbas.
22 Pylate ſaide vntounto them, what ſhall I doe then with Ieſus which is called Chriſt? They all ſaide vntounto him, let him be crucified.
23 Then ſaide the Gouernour, But what euill hath he done? Then they cryed out the more, ſaying, Let him be crucified.
24 When Pylate ſawe that hee preuailed nothing, but that more tumult was made, he tooke water & waſhed his handes before the multitude, ſaying I am innocent of the blood of this iuſt man: looke you vntounto it.
25 Then anſwered all the people and ſaid, his blood be vponupon vsus, and on our children.
26 Then let he Barabbas looſe vntounto them, and ſcourged Ieſus, and deliuered him to be crucified.
WEe hauehave héere before alreadie ſéene, that our Lord Ieſus ſo willingly offered himſelfe to be made a ſheriffee, for the repairing and blot…ing out of our iniquities through his obedience, as that hée was verie wel contented to be cōdemned. And here we ſée why it is ſaide, that he anſwered to none of the accuſations that were brought againſt him. Hée was able …uſt …i…ally to hauehave done it, but he held his peace, as it is alſo laide of him by the Prophet Iſaiah. Which thing was not done,Iſaiah. 53.7. onelyonly to ſhew his patience, but alſo that we might be able at this day fréely to glorie, that we are iuſt and innocent before God (although our owne conſciences accuſe and condemne vsus) becauſe we knowe hee hath receiued vsus to …y, and that alſo in ſinnes are taken away by reaſon of the perfection thee was found to be in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. And thus we ſee how that the Sonne of God hath purchaſed vsus libertie, that we might be able boldly to glorie that we are the children of God, and taken before him to be righteous, to wit, when he would make no reply for the ſetting foorth of his purenes of life. Now, in verie déede a man would at the firſt ſight, thinke it verie ſtraunge that he held his peace, & yet ſaide, that he was King of the Iewes: For theſe things ſéeme to be cleane contrary. Howbeit,Ioh. 6.15. S. Iohn goeth on further, and ſaith that hée declared, that his kingdome was not of this world: and beſides, ſaid, that he was the Sonne of God: For he proteſted that he was come into the world to defend the trueth. And all this agreeth verie well together: For it muſt néedes be that our Lord Ieſus ſhould ſhewe him ſelfe to bée the King of the Iewes, and the Sonne of God alſo: without yee would hauehave denied the Prophecies; howbeit hée did not this to acquit himſelf: but chooſe rather to hold his peace, and vſe few words becauſe he would be condemned. We hauehave then here to note, that when we heare the ſilence of Ieſus Chriſt ſpokē of, it was, becauſe he would make no excuſe: and therfore held his peace: and yet was he cōtented to ſpeak as much as was néedful. We ſée alſo why. S. Paul ſaith that he made a good confeſſion before Pontius Pylate.1. Tim. 6.13. For if our Lord Ieſus would hauehave ſtood to his defence, the Iudge was alreadie perſuaded of his innocency. And ſo by his ſpeaking he might hauehave had the day. And this was it that made Pylate ſo to wonder: and yet our Lorde Ieſus was contented …o vn…neſſe as much as God had enioyned him to do: not … that he ſhould teach (for that was no place for the purpoſe bu… to confirme and ratefie the doctrine, which before he had de…e…. Nowe we are on the one ſide to note by the way, that the offence which chieflieſt troubled the Iewes, was that he had made a gar…o… & hindred the payment of tribute to the Emperour of Rome: which was a thing to moue the Gouernor being a Pagan, whom the Emperour had ſent thither to wrath. In deed this is very certaine, that our Lord Ieſus ſhewed himſelf to be a king,Iohn. 6.15. but yet no earthly Prince: for we ſée, that whē the Iewes would hauehave crowned him, he withdrew himſelfe and hid him in a mountaine: and thereby he cut the throate of this ſlaunder, becauſe he ſhould hauehave made the Goſpel to hauehave béen euil ſpoken of if he had peruerted the politike order and gouernment of the world. For be that came to call vsus all to ye kingdome of heauen and to make vsus partakers therof, meant not to aboliſh earthly kingdoms, ſéeing they are vpholden by him, and his power. And therfore it was not méet that the Goſpell ſhould carry with it any ſuch blame, as that Ieſus Chriſt was come to vſurpe any worldly power, or authoritie. And héere we ſée why he namely ſaieth vntounto Pylate that his kingdome was not of this world. And to ſay the trueth, what were it, and if the kingdom of Ieſus Chriſt were earthly. For what ſhould we get by putting our truſt in him,1. Cor. 15.19. when as we ſée our eſtate to be ſo miſerable in the worlde. Truely the very Infidels are in better caſe then we, conſidering the afflictions which we muſt abide. In déede it is true that God ſendeth his ſcourges ouer the face of the whole earth; and they which deſire as much as is poſſible to be freed from them, ſhal neither will nor chooſe but be ſubiect to a number of miſeries and afflictions. And yet for al this, we ſhal alwayes be more roughly handled: For God muſt firſt begin, to chaſtiſe his owne houſe and Church. And therfore, if our Lord Ieſus had béen an earthly King, it ſhoulde ſéeme that we were méere ſtraungers vntounto him.
Moreouer, let it bée that wée had all the pleaſures in the world, and that by the meane of the Sonne of God, wée were héere as in a Paradiſe, yet ſhoulde our life bée but a ſhadowe, and our felicitie verie ſhort, and tranſitorie. And therefore, we ought verie well to knowe, and be fully perſuaded, that the kingdome of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt is heauenly, that wée might bende our ſelues to the euerlaſting life, wherevnto wée are called. Thus we ſée, that the kingdome of Ieſus Chriſt is euerlaſting, becauſe it conſiſteth not of any thing in this corrupt worlde. Let vsus therefore patiently beare all our aduerſities, conſidering, it neither diminiſheth nor leſſeneth the grace which our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt hath obteined for vsus: for they are euē ſo many helps to our ſaluation, as Paule witneſſeth.Rom. 8.28. And when the worlde ſhall deſpiſe and mocke vsus, & we ſuffer many ſlanders, abide hunger, and thirſt, drawe our legges after vsus, and be harried on euerie ſide, yet muſt we hauehave this conſideration, that God accepteth of vsus. And this is, as if hée chocked vsus by the thinne, and ſaide, Looke vp a ſoft, and ſet not your mindes vponupon theſe worldly matters. This then is the ſumme which wée are héere to obſerue. And to ſay the trueth, it is not without cauſe that our Lorde Ieſus ſpake ſo confidently, that hée was borne and came into the worlde to ſay the trueth: and that whoſoeuer woulde hauehave any good taſte, ſhoulde ſtay him ſelfe vponupon his worde. By this wée ſée, that this is a doctrine of great weight … to vnderſtande that the kingdome of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt is not héere on earth.
For if this had béen a light ſaying, hee would hauehave paſſed it ouer lightly: But when he ſaid that he came into the worlde to tell the trueth, this was as if he would hauehave vsus giuegive good eare, meditate in our heartes, and apply our mindes to this doctrine: this was, to make vsus forſake the world and all the creatures thereof, that wée might come to this heauenly King, and ſéeke after the ſpirituall benefites, which are communicated to vsus in him, to the ende we might enioy them in ſuch meaſure as he knoweth …o be moſt profitable for our ſaluation. And let vsus, of all that which we ſée to bée the verie ſummarie of the Goſpell, note well this ſaying, That Ieſus Chriſt came into the world to ſpeake the trueth: to the end we might herevpon conclude, that whenſoeuer we ſhall giuegive diligent eare vntounto his worde, that it ſhall not be in vaine: becauſe this is a certaine & reſolute concluſiō, that whatſoeuer he had giuen them the choyſe either of Ieſus, or Barabbas, who (as S. Iohn ſaith) was a théefe:Iohn. 18.40. and the other Euangeliſtes ſay, that he was a notorious naughtie man, both a murtherer, and a ſower of ſedition and trouble in the Towne. Now, this was a deteſtable peſtelence of al others: and yet the people cryed out, Let vsus hauehave Barabbas, and let him be pardoned, and Ieſus Chriſt crucified. By this cuſtome of letting looſe a priſoner at Eaſter, we ſée with what fooliſh deuotions men are carried. For they thought the feaſt to be ſo muche the more honourable, in the looſing of a priſoner, and that they did God great ſeruice: and yet all was verie abhominable: For it is ſaide, That he that iuſtifieth the wicked,Prou. 17.15. & he that condemneth the iuſt, euen they both are abhomination vntounto the Lord And therfore it is méete that they which ſit in the place of iuſtice ſhould be of vpright mindes: For when he armeth them with his ſword, he ſaieth not, do as you thinke good your ſelues. For his meaning is, that they ſhould hauehave a fatherly care ouer the people, and to be verie warie how they lift vp them ſelues cruelly, to wrong others, by abuſing of their credit and authoritie, but would hauehave them rather be gentle and pitifull. Yet muſt they puniſh wickedneſſe, for God ſo commaundeth them. But what do we men? Forſooth, we think we honour the feaſt of Eaſter, when as we offende God, and manifeſtly tranſgreſſe his worde. By this wée are admoniſhed not to folowe our owne fantaſies, when the matter concer…eth the ſeruice of God, but altogether doe his will.
Let vsus not therefore fayne a deuotion which ſéemeth good in our owne eyes, but be contented to do the thing which God hath ordeined & allowed. And here we ſée what ariſeth vponupon this kinde of cuſtome, to wit, that we make lawes accordingly at this day: ſo that whatſoeuer is receiued for a common order, ſéemeth to be lawfull. And yet howſoeuer it ſéemeth to vsus, God vtterly condemneth it. Nowe, wee ſée what abuſe hath come heerein, which is this, that this corruptiō hath made Barabbas to be preferred before ye ſonne of God. A man here would at the firſt ſight thinke it very ſtraunge that our Lord Ieſus ſhould be thus lightly eſtéemed of, and a théefe and murderer greatlier priuiledged then he: that he, ſhoulde finde ſuch fauour & grace amongſt men, & Ieſus Chriſt to be ſo ſhamefully & ſlanderouſly handled. For, was it not enough that the ſonne of God was crucified, & aboad a moſt ſlāderous kind of death, without he muſt alſo be greatly tormented. The death of the croſſe was but as a puniſhment for théeues: & it was not onelyonly, as at this day the gallowes ſhould be, but it was as if he ſhould hauehave abidden the whéele. Was it not then enough, that after Ieſus Chriſt had béen buffeted, & ſpetted on, & brought euen downe to the pitte of hell, but that he muſt in compariſon be ſhewed to be accurſed of al ye world? For, if we ſhould iudge of it according to natural reaſō, & looke vponupon the outward ſhew, ſurely we ſhould be cōfounded, but we muſt lift vp the eies of faith a great deale higher, & come vntounto that which before we hauehave ſaid: to wit, that all this was gouerned by ye counſel of God And therfore let vsus not ſtand vponupon that which the people, & Pylate did, but let vsus behold ye vnchangeable decrée of God: which is, yt for the better humbling of vsus, his wil was to hauehave his Sonne ſo ſhamefully to be caſt down, yea to be caſt vnderunder the féete of al the malefactors of the world: béeing crucified betwéene two théeues, as hereafter ſhalbe ſeene. We ſée thē what it is for vsus to obſerue, whē it is here ſaid that Barabbas muſt be let loſe, and Ieſus Chriſt bée made the moſt abhominable man of the world Yet for all this, Pilate went about to hauehave deliuered our Lord Ieſus: but it was by a deuiliſh meane, to wit, by buffeting of him (which they then called puniſhing) & would hauehave let him gone, whē he had ſo puniſhed him, as one that had committed a fault: For by this he pretended to appeaſe the ſtirre of the people. Now, if our Lord Ieſus had bin thus deliuered, what had become of the Goſpell, and of the ſaluation of the world? For this correction which Pylate, brought him to, was a ſigne and token of diſhoneſtie for euer, as if the Goſpell had béen a wicked doctrine, conſidering, that the Iudge of the countrie condemned it: and the perſon of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt was clearely refuſed. And yet, had we all bin loſt, becauſe there was none other meane to recōcile vsus vntounto God, but by the death of his onelyonly ſonne. And thus we ſée that the death of our Lord Ieſus, was the very open way vntounto life. So then, we ſée that the Deuill did the beſt hée could not to hauehave our Lord Ieſus to dye: and yet who clapped, the Prieſtes & their like, vponupon the backes to purſue Ieſus Chriſt vntounto death, but the Deuil himſelfe? This is very true. for hée bewitched them: & as we ſée that God ſendeth the ſpirit of trouble & madneſſe vponupon all the vngodly, ſo that they are one againſt an other: euen as the waues of the Sea beate one an other: euen ſo was the Deuill carried, when as on the one ſide, he went about to aboliſh the memory of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, & beſides, on the other ſide, meant to hinder the redemption of mankinde. But God ſo handled ye matter, as that the verie mouth of the Iudge ſhoulde beare witneſſe of the innocency of his ſonne: & yet for all yt hée hath promiſed he will perfourme. And therfore when Dauid would ſtrengthen him ſelfe againſt all temptatiōs,Pſal. 12. he ſaith that the word of God was like vntounto ſiluer which had béen ſeuen times purified in the fyre. Euen ſo, as oftentimes as we doubt of ye promiſes of our lord Ieſus Chriſt, and ſhal be troubled and gréeued (as that is the ſubtletie of Satan, to make vsus loath our ſelues, & to be out of heart.) Let vsus returne vntounto this teſtimony, that howeuer it is, our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt hath appeared vntounto the world, that he might be a faithful witneſſe for vsus: and let vsus at this day be aſſured, that hée in effect ſheweth vsus, that he hath not giuen vsus all theſe promiſes in vaine, becauſe he will without all doubt performe them. And thus much we hauehave in ſumme to conſider of. Moreouer whē Pylate ſaide, What is the truth? Let vsus note that whē he moued this queſtion, he ſpake it not for any deſire to learne, but after a deſpightful & ſcornfull manner: which is at this day, a vice that reigneth in many. For when wée ſpeak of the truth of God, we mean the doctrine of the Goſpel: And S. Paul alſo ſo calleth it,Ephe. 1.13. to ye end we might make a differēce therof frō all other knowledge. In very déed if any thing be told vsus which hath bin done, yt is a truth: But whē God calleth vsus vntounto him, and would draw vsus from this worlde, that we might come to the heauēly life, this truth ought to be ſet in the higheſt degrée, and ſhould make no reckoning of the reſt in reſpect of it. Let vsus nowe conſider how the world reuerenceth the word of the Goſpel. The wyſeſt worldlinges (for ſo they are accompted) are ſo preſumptuouſly blind, as when that is ſpoken of vntounto them, will thus ſay, what I beſéech you? HaueHave wée liued thus many yéeres in the worlde, and doe you thinke we knowe not the Goſpel, nor any thing els. But they wil al be aſhamed whenas they ſhalbe tolde that the truth of the Goſpel hath béen buried, and that they ought to looke more narrowly vntounto it: Now héerevpon we heare wel enough howe they ſcoffe and ieſt. And euen ſo fared it with Pylate. For becauſe the Emperour had ſent him to be his Lieutenant in the Countrey of Iudea, hée thought hée had greate wrong done him, when a man ſpake of a truth which he knew not of. What? (ſayeth hée) thinkeſt thou that wée are all fooles? and doe nothing elſe but lie? Are wée not able to diſcerne betwéene good and yll? And is it méete for thée to reprooue mée and ſay, I knowe not the trueth, who am héere ſet in office, and doe repreſent the perſon of the Emperour? Thus wée ſée the meaning of Pylate, which is, hée proudely ſwelled like a Toade, and woulde not bée ſo taken, as to bée once thought, that hée was not able to diſcerne betwéene good and bad.
And indéede, we ſée that hée tarried not to heare what our Lord Ieſus woulde ſay, but caſte out theſe deſpitefull woordes, and wente his way. Since then it is ſo, let vsus conſider with our ſelues, that although there bée at this day, many Pylates which refuſe to learne in the ſchoole of GOD, and to become teacheable, as if they were wiſe enough, yet let not vsus geue ouer ſubmitting of our ſelues vntounto his obedience, but accept of that which our Lorde ſheweth and ſetteth before vsus: becauſe wée knowe that the truth wil not grow vp in our mindes, by reaſon they are ful of vanitie and leaſinges, and we plunged ouer heade and eares in darkeneſſe, vntil ſuch time as God draweth vsus out of it.
And therfore, let vsus vnderſtād yt the truth farre paſſeth our minds and powers, and that GOD muſte bée our Maiſter, to bring vsus vntounto it: & wée alſo very young and féeble, to receiue yt which hée ſheweth vsus: and let vsus holde this trueth for ſo precious a Iewell, as that when wée hauehave compaſſed both heauen and earth, & thinke wée hauehave learned all, that it is all but ſmoke, and wil ſléete away, vntil ſuch time as we buyld vponupon this moſt certaine & vnchangeable woorde. And this is the effect of that which héere wee are to conſider of. Now, it is by & by ſaid, That as Pilate was ſet downe in the iudgement ſeate, his wife ſent vntounto him and prayed him not to cō dēne Ieſus Chriſt, becauſe ſhe had byn troubled with many things in her dreames▪ of him. No doubt of it, it was ye wil of God, diuers wayes, to teſtify of his innocencie: yea euen by Pylates owne mouth (as already hath bin ſaid, & as herafter ſhalbe ſeene more at large) not but that God had concluded what ſhould become of his onelyonly Sonne. And ſo, forſomuch as his will was that hée ſhoulde be the Sacrifice, to take away, the ſinnes of the worlde, it muſt néeds be yt the Scripture ſhould be fulfilled. But it muſt alſo néeds fal out yt our Lord Ieſus muſt be proued a iuſt & an innocēt man, yt we might ye better vnderſtand that he was condēned for our ſakes, of which condēnation we were guilty: & that whēſoeuer we heare of the death and paſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, wée ſhoulde continually remember our ſinnes and iniquities. Hereupon it is ſaid, That Pilate deſired to let looſe our Lorde Ieſus: For although he had the chiefeſt authority, without controlmēt, yet becauſe he was in a ſtrange countrey, and amongſt a mutinous companie, yea, & had a garriſon in the towne, the ſedition troubled him. And here we ſée what the cauſe was why he would ſubtilly & friendly procéed in the matter, Forſooth it was by reaſon that hée would hauehave appeaſed the people. Then it is ſaid, that hée offred them their auncient cuſtome, which was, That eueryevery Eaſter hee ſhoulde let looſe vntounto thē whatſoeuer priſoner they would. For his meaning was that hée ſhould die, yt he might be ye ſacrifice, wc ſhould be offered for our ſaluatiō & redēption. God hath but one only & plain wil & meaning, but it is wonderful to vsus, & his procéedings are ſo ſtrange, that we muſt be faine to caſt down our eyes, and yet confeſſe that our Lord Ieſus hath ſuffered, but not as mē would, but becauſe yt we ſhould hauehave ſuch a pawne of ye infinite louelove of God, & that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt might declare it, wherby he might ſhew how precious & déer yt ſaluatiō of our ſoules are to him, & therfore let vsus wel cōſider of al theſe thinges. Moreouer, in the end Iohn ſaith, That although Ieſus Chriſt was ſcourged, yet that the people ſtrayned themſelues, to cry out the lowder, to hauehave him put to death. Thē Pilat rehearſed againe, that he heard that Ieſus was the ſonne of God: which were the wordes that touched him, and was more a fearde of that, then he was before. And marke why he aſked, whence art thou? and when Ieſus Chriſt helde his peace, knoweſt not thou (ſayeth he) that I hauehave power to looſe and condemne thée. Now, we ſée heere why the Iewes brought in, ſuch an accuſation againſt our Lord Ieſus Chriſt.
In very déede, the offence whiche might the rather moue the Gouernour of the Country, was, becauſe hee tooke vponupon him a kingdome: But when they ſée that their malice was diſcouered, and that Pylat right well knewe that they were but fained leaſings, they thereupon ſaid, we hauehave a law by which he ought to dye. And that, they reſerued for their priuiledge, to the ende they might not reaſon about religion. For the Romaines who were prophane people, and ſerued their idols onelyonly for faſhions ſake, would maintaine their dominion, eueryevery man as hée was minded. And thereupon they ſaide, hee hath made him ſelfe the Sonne of God, and therefore hath he blaſphemed. It is true, that if our Lorde Ieſus had not bene the redéemer of the world, hee had bene worthy to hauehave dyed, for callinge of him ſelfe the onelyonly Sonne of God: For we are all the Children of God, ſéeing hée hath adopted vsus by his grace, and this is the common vaine, and phraſe of the holy ſcripture. And they which hauehave receiued any ſpecial grace, as Princes, and magiſtrates, are called the Sonnes of God another way.
Wherefore, by a farre greater reaſon, may Ieſus Chriſt,Pſal. 82.…. who was perfectly anoynted with the graces and vertues of the holy Ghoſt, very well be called the Sonne of God. But if hee had not bene the redéemer of the world, and had called himſelfe, for honors ſake the onelyonly ſonne of God, ſurely it had bene a deadlye offence. But how fell it out, that the Iewes accuſed him heereof? In the firſt place we are to note that it was for want of knowledge of the ſcriptures, becauſe they knew not that he which ſhould be the redéemer, ſhould be manifeſted, to be the liuing God. And therfore becauſe they had no knowledge of the Scripture, nor acquainted therewith but were lyke vntounto brut beaſtes by reaſon of their negligence, ſée why they were ſo bould to condemne Ieſus Chriſt.
The like raſhneſſe we ſée to be in al thoſe which are ignorant. For when we ſhall at this day heare them crye, thou hereticke: they ſpeake it not becauſe they are able to proue it, but the moſt doltiſh of them are carried with ſuch a rage, as that they wyll (forſooth) he zealous, of the honour of God, and yet know why nor wherefore. Moreouer, they muſt enquire whether Ieſus Chriſt was the Meſſias, or not: howbeit the Iewes refuſed him without aſking any queſtion.
By this we are to learne, that if wee will hauehave ſuch a zeale as God lyketh of, wee muſt bee ruled by a true knowledge and bee taught by his worde. For we may vtter whoat wordes, but they ſhall be but ſo many of Satan his rages, if we ſpeake not like the Schollers of God: becauſe hee is the onelyonly competent Iudge, and reſerueth this office to himſelfe, to ſhewe vsus, what his wyll is. Seing then it is ſo, let vsus follow the word of God ſimplye, and bee quiet: and let our zeale be ruled by it, & this is it which we are to obſerue in the firſt place. But when it is ſaide, That Pylate was more afearde then hee was before, when hee hearde the Sonne of God ſpoken of: heere we ſée in the perſon of a wretched pagan, that a little ſéede of religion moued and pricked him, and ſo ſolycited his conſcience as that he knewe not which way to turne him. Hée ſée Ieſus Chriſt altogether deformed, and hee him ſelfe had cauſed him to be ſcourged and he was before that very ſhamfully vſed, with ſpitting and buffeting in the houſe of Cayphas to be ſhort, a man vtterlye diſpiſed and forſaken of all men: and yet the name of God moued Pontius Pilate, and engendred in him a meruelous feare. What then ſhall we do whenas we ſhal become lyke vntounto brute beaſtes. For when any man ſhal ſpeake to vsus of God, if we be not ſome way kept in & reſtrained, we ſhal after the example of Pylate, be condemned in the latter day, we ſhal at this day ſée ſuch deuiliſh and horrible ſkorners, that if a man ſay vntounto them, beholde what God ſheweth vsus, and alleadge his worde, and allow of that which they refuſe, they care not, but wyl ſtoppe their eares, hood wynke their eyes, and their myndes are otherwyſe occupied, and ſo proude, as that there is no ſpeaking of giuing eare: For thus they pleaſe them ſelues we are at a good poynt (ſay they) and ſo it ſhall be: It is euen ſo, yet looke vponupon Pilate, who neuer had heard a word of the doctrine of God, yea he cōtemned the law ſo that what ſoeuer the Iewes dyd, he thought it to be but a fonde deuiſed thing, and worſhipped his Idols: yet the name of GOD touched him, and hee conteined himſelfe thereby, whenas hée hard it ſpoken of. And did hée this for any Maieſtie or pompe that he ſée to bee in Chriſte Ieſus? No, for, the very name of God was it, that mooued him to this reuerence. What then ſhall become of them who ſhall bée condemned by this feare of Pilat, ſo long as they followe their accuſtomed maner of life, ſo that there can bee nothing wrong from them, although a man doe not onelyonly talke vntounto them of the name of God, and ſpeake as it were ſometimes glaunſingly, but offereth alſo both to teache them, & point thē out with the finger, the teſtimonies of the Scripture? If they vouchſafe not to conſider of it, nor yet giuegive any diligent attendance therto, muſt it not néedes bée, but that the Diuell hath altogether poſſeſſed them, and giuegive vsus to vnderſtande that they are very monſters, who hauehave quite giuen ouer all the ſéede of Religion, and obſtinately ſet themſelues againſt God, in diſpite of nature? And this is it which we hauehave to conſider of. Nowe howeuer it is, wée on the contrary part alſo ſée, that whatſoeuer feare wée hauehave, and whatſoeuer our mindes and vnderſtanding can comprehende for the honouring of God, wyll bée like none other thing but as a bright lightning, which flaſheth in our faces, and is ſoone gone. For how did Pilate feare God, wee ſée that it ſtande him not, but ſhewed ſo great crueltie, as if God had neuer béene? Thus wée ſée, that they who are not gouerned by the ſpirite of God, ſhall on the one ſide bee ſo poſſeſſed with feare, as that they ſhall at ſometymes bee made to ſtoupe: But yet they newe gi…e ouer …ting vp of their hornes, quickely forgetting themſelues,Exo. 8.8.28. &. 9.17. & 10.17. & Ex. 8.19. and dulling theyr conſciences to doe wickedly. For wée ſée that Pharao was many times put in feare, when as hée ſaide, I beſéech thée pray vntounto God for me, And when he ſée the wo…de of God ſo apparantly Surely, quoth hée, this is the finger of GOD, and I muſte needes ſubmit my ſelfe vntounto him. But within a while after hée became worſe, then euer hee was, euen ſo fared it with Pilate. Nowe, this is to admoniſhe vsus, that wee make not accompt of the feare of GOD, as of a blaſte of winde, but let it bee ſtrongly rooted in our hearts. For how did Pilate feare God, Forſooth it was ſuch a feare as made him only to be more inexcuſable. And here wee may ſée why God awakeneth the cōſciences of thoſe that are a ſléepe, and would vtterly caſt of the yoke, which bringeth them to a more narrow conſideration of themſelues, ſo that they ſhalbe made, ſpite of their téethes, to acknowledge their miſeries, and féele their ſinnes, although they woulde walter themſelues aſléepe in them. And therefore all the doubtes, which all the contemners of God and the wicked hauehave, are euen ſo many adiournaments or dayes ouer, which God graunteth them, to make them voide of all excuſe of ignorance. But anon after, they let ſlippe the Reine, and runne at randon, without any ſtay: as héere wée ſée Pilate did. At the beginning hée was greatly afearde, but ſoone after hée returned to his olde byas againe. For thus he ſaide to Ieſus, Knoweſt not thou that I hauehave power to looſe, and condemne thee? Let vsus héere in the firſt place note, that if he had béene a théefe, yet could not he once remoue his finger, without God had giuen him power. Howe then durſt Pilate warrant himſelfe ſuch an outragious licence, to condemne and pardon as pleaſed him. And ſurely it were much better to ſet at libertie all Théeues, to robbe and ſpoyle in the woods, then to ſet men in ſo honorable a place. who take pleaſure and delight in their authoritie, and neuer hauehave any care of conſcience, but bring the whole worlde vntounto confuſion.
Nowe, wée ſée héere (as I hauehave ſaid) that Pilate his feare neuer tooke déepe roote in him, but was onelyonly a puft of winde. Wherefore let vsus learne to hauehave aſure and conſtant feare of God, that we may walk in his obedience, and valiantly fight againſt whatſoeuer might put vsus by, and alwayes thus reſtraine our ſelues, as that we prouoke not him to wrath, who hath all power ouer vsus. And this is it which wée are héere to conſider of. Let vsus alſo beſides conſider, that the glory which Pilate attributed to himſelfe, is notwithſtanding turned to his great ſhame. For his enimies coulde neuer ſpeake worſe of him then for this: to wit, that hee woulde be taken to be a man of no diſcretion to diſcerne betwixte good and bad: and yet hée boaſted himſelfe of it. Héere therefore wée ſée, that the higher the diſpiſers of God think to aduance them ſelues, they muſt alwayes feele, that they are the more ſhamefully to bée throwne downe: and God ſo giueth them ouer into a reprobate ſence, as that they bragge of their iniquities, that they might become deteſtable both in heauen and earth. What is there then for vsus to doe? Forſooth, let vsus learne to glory in that which is good, and hauehave an eye to doe the thing that is lawefull. For they which glory in their mightineſſe, and in their authoritie, without doubt doe prouoke the Lorde to anger, becauſe they hauehave many times gotten their riches and credit by vnlawfull meanes, as by rioting, crueltie, and all kindes of extortion. Wherfore when they glory héerein, it is as it were to ſet them ſelues againſt the Lord. For he that hath gotten eueryevery way by ſpoyle, will ſay I am wealthie: and ſée, he wil ſay, I hauehave gotten, whenas he hath ſucked the blood of the poore out of them. But howe? Surely, by deceipt and wicked practiſes, in robbing the one, and glutting the other. Another man, through abition, and vnlawful meanes, is aduaunced to ſome honor, and héerevpon forſooth, this man would bée greatly feared. And this kinde of dealing is manyfeſtly to ſtande againſt God, And therefore (as I hauehave ſaid) let vsus learne to glory in that which God alloweth and liketh of. True it is, that although there bée valure in vsus, yet is it not lawfull to vſurpe the commendation which God reſerueth to himſelf, and for the which wée ought to honor him, becauſe, all that we hauehave commeth of his frée gifte. Wherefore, wée muſt not without doubt, glory in our ſelues, as if that which God giueth vsus apperteined vntounto vsus: But, I ſay, our glory ſhoulde be onelyonly in this, that it hath pleaſed God to adopt vsus for his children, and hath giuen vsus his grace to walke in his feare, and power alſo to abſtaine from euill. And héerin, ought to be all our glory. And beſides, if wée bée of no reputation in the worlde, let vsus beſéeche him to graunt vsus pacience, and rather deſire to liue in this eſtate, then to bée exalted, and yet to reioyce and bée glad, but not as the worldlinges doe, who, make thē ſelues ſuch ſporte, as that there is nothing that is able to holde them in. And therefore the ſumme and effect wherein wée muſt glory: is this, to wyll and deſire no more then God woulde hauehave vsus to doe, and ſet our ſelues againſt whatſoeuer hée miſliketh of, although the worlde and all ſuch as commit tyranny, and excéede in doeing wickedly, reioyce in it. Wherefore let vsus gladly and willingly leaue all theſe glories, deſiring nothing els but to hauehave God to acknowledge and allow vsus for his children. And this is in effect, the thing which wée hauehave héere to conſider of.
Nowe, for a full concluſion, it is ſaide, That when Pilate ſawe he preuailed nothing, and that the people made a greater ſtirre, hee waſhed his handes, and ſaide, I am innocent of the blood of this man. Wée hauehave already ſaide, that our Lorde Ieſus muſte bée founde innocent, euen by the Teſtimonie of the iudges owne mouth. For where it is laide that Ieſus Chriſte was condemned, and ſuffered vnderunder Pontius Pilate, it is not ſufficient for vsus that wée hauehave vnderſtood the Hiſtory. But wée muſt eftſoones acknowledge that Ieſus Chriſte was not onelyonly innocent, but was alſo the fountaine of all holineſſe and perfection. Why then was he condemned?Iohn. 1.29. 1. Pet. 1.19. Galat. 3.13. it ſhoulde ſéeme that héere are two diuers and ſundry thinges. For, it is ſaide, that hée is the vnſpotted Lambe of God. And becauſe hee was the Lambe of God, it was méete that hee ſhoulde bée condemned as a Sacrifice. This worde, Lambe, importeth that hée muſt bée offered vp. And what is it that the law calleth Sacrifices? Forſooth, it is ſinnes, and curſes. And wée ſée why it is ſaid that our Lord Ieſus was accurſed for vsus: to wit, he receiued vntounto himſelfe, the curſe which was due for our ſinnes. Thus wée ſée in what qualitie and ſtate hée was condemned: becauſe GOD had eſtabliſhed, that hée ſhoulde bee as it were the Lambe, which ſhoulde be offered for a Sacrifice. Howbeit it was méete hée ſhoulde bée knowne to be without ſpot, and his puritie be openly ſéene, to the ende wée might take holde of our ſinnes, vntyll the time wée knowe Ieſus Chriſte to bée the myrror of all perfection, and enter into the tryall and examining of our ſinnes, and bée diſpleaſed with them, and condemned, and we ſhould hauehave béene, had he not deliuered and fréed vsus. Nowe, when Pilate had taken the Baſon and waſhed his hands, that was ouer trifling a a Ceremony and a very fooliſh faſhion: as though he coulde hauehave diſcharged himſelf before God for it: Howbeit, when he attempted to appeaſe the rage of the people, that was not to make his excuſe vntounto God, For, he proteſted not before God, that he was innocent: but ſaid only to the people, looke well to your ſelues my maiſters: For, as for my ſelfe I am innocent. As if hée ſhoulde hauehave ſaid, it is you that inforce mée to doe this. But all this (as I hauehave ſaid) wil not excuſe him. Neither did he the duetie of a Iudge: For he ſhoulde hauehave choſen rather to die an hundred times, then to hauehave declined from the doing of his duetie, whenas he ſée ſuch troubles in the worlde, yea, hée ought to hauehave had this magnanimitie with him, to do the thing which he knew to be both good and iuſt. But when he ſaw the people in this heat, he was contented to be carried as pleaſed them. Notwithſtanding, he muſt, in ſpite of his bearde, be a witneſſe of the innocency of Ieſus Chriſte, euen for the iuſtifiyng of him by his owne mouth. And yet he would néedes condemne him, howbeit therein lyeth al our comfort: for we know that when we are at this day brought to appeare before the iudgement ſeat of God, it is not to the end wee ſhoulde bee condemned. But becauſe the blood of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt which was ſhed for vsus, is the true and right clenſing and waſhing of our ſoules, hée receiueth vsus as pure and cleane. And thus wée ſee whereunto wée muſt truſt. Yet for all this, we héere what the Iewes ſay: for they are ſo headlong caried, by the ſtrength of Satan, as that they crie out, His blood be vponupon vsus and vponupon our children. Now they were Gods inheritance, and the very elect and choſen amongeſt all the nations of the earth, and yet they gaue ouer this honor, and all the promiſes of ſaluation, and this holy aliance which God had eſtabliſhed with their line. And héere we ſée how they were deproued of al the benefites which God had before diſtributed vntounto them, becauſe they came of the ſeede of Abraham: and it came ſo to paſſe that the blood of our Lorde Ieſus muſt fall on their heads euen to the vtter deſtruction of them and their poſteritie, as before he had alſo declared▪ For thus it is ſaide,Mat. 23.3… It muſt néedes be that your iniquitie muſt be great, and yt the blood of Martyres euen from the iuſt Ab…, vntounto Zachare as the ſonne of Ba…acheas whom yée ſomtime ſlew, do put you in remembrance, and that you might ſée that you hauehave béen alwaies murderers of the Prophets, and by that meane hauehave wa…ed againſt God and his worde. Thus we ſée that the blood of our Lorde Ieſus, which ſhoulde bee the ſaluation of the whole worlde, but ſpecially of the Iewes, becauſe the firſt begotten, apperteineth to them, hath cryed for vengeance againſt them. Howbeit, let vsus nowe learne to plunge our ſelues in, and beſéeche the Lorde to light vponupon vsus after another maner, both vponupon vsus and vponupon our children particularly: that is to ſay, yt we myght be waſhed & cleanſed of thē, whēas we ſée our ſelues, by reaſō of our ſins, to be abominable in ye ſight of god, vntil ſuch time as we be waſhed: and let vsus ſuffer the blood which hath béene ſhed for our redemption, to light vponupon vsus, and bée deawed with it, by the power of the holy Spirite (as Saint Peter ſaieth in his Canonicall Epiſtle) and hauehave great regarde howe wée refuſe the grace which God offereth vntounto vsus,1. Pet. 1.2. which ye Iewes loſt through their vnthankfulnes, and prouoked him more and more to wrath. And therefore let vsus at this day diſpoſe our ſelues and bée ready to receiue the cleanſing of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, which wée cannot lay holde on, but by faith, and beſéeche the Lorde, that wee may not receiue this waſhing in vaine: but that wée may from day to day hauehave all our ſpots wyped away. Let vsus alſo deſire our God that it woulde pleaſe him to increaſe in vsus this puritie, which our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte purchaſed for vsus, vntil ſuch time as wée are come vntounto his kingdome, where we ſhalbe diſcharged of all the corruptions of our ſinnes.
Let vsus nowe fall downe before the Maieſtie of our good God, and acknowledge our offences, beſéeching him that wée may hauehave ſuch a liuely féeling of them, as that it may make vsus runne with a greater deſire to the remedie which is ſet before vsus: (to wit, to the death which his onelyonly Sonne ſuffered. And that wee may come with ſuche repentance, as may obteine mercy at his handes: and that, not onelyonly for a day, but that it may alſo continue with vsus both in life and death. And in the meane while that wée myght bée ſo renued by his holy ſpirite, as yt wée might perſeuer in ſeruing and glorifiyng of him as he is worthie, and wholy cléene vntounto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte: that ſince hée died, and is ryſen againe, wee might liue and die in him, & ſeeke nothing els, but to make our ſelues conformable and fitte vntounto his worde. And ſo, Let vsus all ſay, O Almightie God, and heauenly father, &c.