Sermons on Divinity Humanity and Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Sermons on the Passion · Sermon 8
The eight Sermon of the Pasſion.
Matthew .xxvii.
55 AND there were many women, beholding him a far of, which folowed Ieſus from Galilee, miniſtring vntounto him.
56 Among which was Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of Iames, and Ioſes, and the mother of Zebedes children,
57 When euening was come, there came a riche man from the Citie of Arimathea, named Ioſeph, who alſo had been Ieſus Diſciple.
58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Ieſus: then Pilate, commaunded the body to be deliuered.
59 And when Ioſeph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a cleane linnen cloth.
60 And laide it in his newe Tombe, which hee had heawen out of the rocke, and when hee had rolled a greate ſtone to the dore of the Sepulchre, hee departed.
WE hauehave héeretofore ſéene, and hearde howe our Lorde Ieſus hath ſhewed and ſet foorth the fruite and power of his death in this poore theefe, who ſéemed to be as a loſt and damned ſoule. Now, if all they that before had béen inſtructed by the Goſpell, had fallen away from it, whenas they ſée the ſonne of GOD put to death, a man woulde thinke that the preaching thereof had béen both vaine & vnprofitable. And beſides, we know that the Apoſtles were choſen to this ſtate of life, to be as ye chiefe rulers in the Church. wherefore it is not like that this election of theirs, to this office and eſtate, was a vaine and friuolous thing. And therefore it is héere ſet downe vntounto vsus, that although the Apoſtles left this eſtat, wherin they ſhewed a beaſtly cowardlynes for Saint Peter himſelfe denied our Lord Ieſus, whereby he was as one cut of from all hope of our ſaluation, and worthy to bee taken as a rotten member, yet would not God ſuffer, that the Goſpel which they had before receiued, ſhould be quenched and vtterly aboliſhed. In very déede S. Mat. lyketh rather of the faithful conſtancy of the Women then of the men, and it is to this ende that we might learne to magnify the goodneſſe of God ſo much ye more, who by his power ſtrengthneth our weaknes. To this entent & purpoſe are alſo the wordes of Saint Paule, ſaying, that God hath choſē ye weak ones of this world, to confound the mighty & ſtrong, to the ende they ſhould not glorifye themſelues.1. Cor. 1.27. Since then it was héere this ſpoken of men, and of their great courage, and whiche followed our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt vntounto his death, this might be taken to be as a naturall cauſe: But whenas women being guided by the ſpirite of God, were founde to bee more valyant then thoſe men, who were choſen for the publiſhing of ye Goſpel throughout the world, let vsus by this vnderſtand that it was the work of God, and therfore the prayſe to be giuen to him. Now it is namly ſaide, that theſe women followed our Lorde Ieſus, to ſerue or miniſter vntounto him. Which thing, a great deale more declareth their affection, in profyting by the Goſpell. For this was no trifling power that was in them whenas they would leaue their owne houſes to wander vp and downe hether and thither, both to their great pain, and ſhame alſo. And we know in what ſtate and condition our Lorde Ieſus ſtood, whiles he liued héere in this worlde. For thus he ſaith, ye Foxes had holes, and the Birdes of the ayre neſtes, but that he,Mat. 8.20. had no place wherin to hide his head. Contrarywiſe, we ſée, that theſe women had wherwith to liue quietly and pleaſantly. They then which wandred after this ſort and could hardly get any lodging, féeling hunger & thirſt, & were alſo mightely ſkorned and laughed at, beſides their being chaſed and troubled eueryevery where, and yet ouercame all this geare and bare it pacientlye, wee muſt néedes iudge that God ſtrengthned them. Now, they alſo declared, euen at his death, the hope which they had had in our Lord Ieſus chriſt. For although their harts were dead as it were (as héerafter ſhalbe declared more at full) and that they thought him to be cleane diſpatcht, yet they might perceiue not long after, that they were deceiued. For, he had told them, yt he ſhould reſtore the kingdome of God: & he had alſo ſpoken vntounto them of perfect bleſſednes, & of the ſaluation which he muſt make an ende of. And what of all theſe things? forſooth, héereby we ſée, that although theſe ſéely womens harts were ſore troubled, bicauſe they knew not what wold become of our Lord Ieſus, yet dyd he ſtrengthen thē by his mightie power, & in ende, brought it to ſo paſſe, as that they might both vnderſtand and iudge, that hee had made them no vaine promiſe. For, they looked for the promiſe of his reſurrection, which in ye iudgment of the world was not to be hoped of. Notwithſtāding, we ſée how he exerciſed their faith, to the ende we ſhould not trouble our ſelues beyond meaſure, although to ye outwarde ſhew it might appeare yt God had forſaken vsus, & all the promiſſes of the Goſpell to be as thinges aboliſhed, but that wee ſhould neuertheleſſe Stand faſt & ſure in thē. For if we do not, theſe women will bewitneſſes againſt vsus to our great condemnatiō, if we faile in theſe conflicts. Woulde wee hauehave a groſſer tryall then that whiche they abode? And yet by Faith they obtayned victorye. And therefore let vsus arme our ſelues, when we are tolde of the attemps wherwith Satan goeth about to aſſaile vsus, and let vsus, I ſay, be well appoynted before the blow come, and ſhew our ſelues to be ſo ſetled in ye power of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, that although wee cannot at the firſt perceiue, how the thing which is tolde vsus, may come to paſſe, yet let vsus reſt in him, & doo him this honor, to beléeue, that hee will at laſt ſhew him ſelfe faithfull. And it is very néedefull yt we ſhoulde be thus tryed euen to the vttermoſt. For otherwiſe, we would bée to to fine and nice, and laye our faith to morgage, or els faine vsus héere an earthly paradice, & ſo our ſences woulde neuer be able to raiſe vsus as hie as heauen, yt we might forſake this world. Which thing we may very perfectlye ſée in the mother of Iohn & Iames. For we vnderſtand, yt ſhe was before that, ſo ambitiouſly carried, as yt ſhe would hauehave had our Lord Ieſus ſit in his Kingly throane with all the pompe and brauery that might be, & her ſonnes to ſit by him, as his two Lieftennaunts. For thus ſhe ſaid vntounto him,Math. 20.21 I beſeech thée Sir cōmaund that one of my ſons may ſit on thy right hand, and the other on thy left. Héere we ſée a fooliſhe glorious woman, who woulde faine hauehave ſéene her children in ſome gliſtringe earthly tryumph.
But beholde ſhe ſaw héere a farre other manner of Schole: for ſhe ſaw our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt hanging vponupon the Croſſe, ſo ſhamfully and reprochefully as that all the worlde was againſt him: and there, honge, as if God had curſed and forſaken him. And thus wée ſee, that when we ſhall bee brought vntounto ſuch a ſhame, as that our mindes ſhal be terrifyed with feare & gréefe, that God then taketh from vsus all earthly affections, to the ende we might not be hindered from lifting vp our mindes vntounto heauen and to the ſpirituall lyfe, wherunto we muſt attaine. Which we ſhall neuer be able to come vntounto, except we be cleanſed of al whatſoeuer kepeth vsus back, héere below. Thus we ſée what we are to conſider of touchinge theſe women.Iho. 19.26. And yet for all that, the meaning is not but that there were men alſo (for we know that our Lord ſpake vntounto Iohn and commēded his mother vntounto him). But the intent & purpoſe of the holy ghoſt was to ſet héere ſuch a mirror or glaſſe before vsus, to the ende we might vnderſtand that it was God who guided theſe women by his holy ſpirit by which hee would ſet forth his power and grace, by chooſinge, in mennes iudgementes ſuche féeble and weake inſtrumēts. The like was alſo ſeene in Nicodemus, and in Ioſeph. Indéede S. Matthew, S. Luke, and S. Marke, make mē tion of none but of Ioſeph, becauſe it was he that came to Pilat, & thervpon, Nicodemus tooke hart, when hee ſée himſelfe to hauehave ſo good a guide. True it is that Nicodemus was a Doctor of great eſtimation: and Ioſeph of Arimathea was a riche man, and of hie calling, and a Counſailor alſo (as héere it is ſaid) But yet let vsus ſée whether their zeale was ſuch as that they would geue their liues for our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt or not, and whether they had in their life time forſaken their houſes to follow him.
No, no, but when it came to that, that they muſt giuegive theyr liues, it was God that ſtirred them therto cleane contrary to all worldly iudgement. Héere then we ſée, that God hath made a ſtraunge and wonderfull alteration, in geuing this bouldneſſe to Ioſeph and Nycodemus, that they feared not the rage of the people, when they came to bury our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. Before time, Nycodemus came in the night for feare of being euill ſpoken of, and yet when it was growne euen now to the worſt,Ioh. 3.2. he burieth him. And therfore it cannot be choſen but that God gaue him a new harte: for he came before cloſely, & there was no darkneſſe dark ynough, conſidering his fearefullneſſe and cowardize, if God had not corrected this fault in him. To be ſhort we ſee, what good the death of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte hath done, in that he then powred out the graces of his holy ſpirite, vponupon theſe wretched people, who neuer before durſt declare their faith, nor yet render a reaſon thereof. Wherefore, they doe not onelyonly confeſſe it with their mouth, but that which they did, ſheweth that they had rather bee accounted curſed before the worlde, then yt they would not be the diſciples of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and ſo the thing which they had before obteined, to wit, the free ſaluation which was ſet before them. And héere we alſo ſée, why it is namely ſaid, that Ioſeph looked for the kingdome of God. Now by theſe woordes wée are tolde that God hath forſaken vsus, and we are baniſhed his kingdome, vntyll ſuch time as hée gathereth vsus vntounto himſelfe as his people, in the name of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte. Wherefore, wée ſée how miſerable our eſtate is, vntill our Lorde Ieſus calleth vsus vntounto himſelfe, to conſecrate vsus vntounto God his father. And if this benefite bée taken away from vsus, curſed and confounded are we.
Nowe, this then was a wonderfull power & ſtrength to waite for the kingdome of God, becauſe the Iewes were made Baſtards vntounto it, and in the opinion of the worlde, the occaſions therof were very great. For the Prophets had foretold, that at the returne of the people out of Babylon,Agge. 2.10. that God woulde become ſuch a redéemer vntounto them: that his kingdome ſhould floriſh moſt honorably & that the temple ſhould be built more gloriouſly then euer before it was: that they ſhould inioy al the pleaſures that might be, & lead a moſt bleſſed life, that all men ſhould be in quiet, & no talk be had but of reioyſing in God, of bleſſing his name, and of yéelding him praiſe, & thanſgiuing. And this is it which the Prophets promiſed. But how fared it with the people? Forſooth their neighbours dyd eate & drinke thē vp, they gréeued, & vexed them, & there was ſuch tyranny vſed, as yt innocēt blood was ſpilt throughout al ye towne, the booke of the law burnt, & eueryevery man forbidden vponupon paine of death not once to read it, & ſuch cruelties cōmitted, as were horrible. The temple alſo was altogether polluted. And what became of the houſe of Dauid? Forſooth, it was cut cleane downe, & at laſt: the whole ſtate became worſe & worſe. And therfore no maruel, although ſo rude a people & ſo giuen ouer to all their deſires & luſtes, had not almoſt fallen from the true religion, and béen cleane out of heart: becauſe we ſée that the number of thoſe which paciently ſuffered,Luk. 2.25.36 Mat. 2.19. and were conſtant in faith, were very rare and fewe. And of this number were Simeon, Anna the Propheteſſe, and Ioſeph. But what? The holy Ghoſt ſetteth downe vntounto vsus in ſo great a multitude, amongeſt the Iewes, and in a countrie ſo notably peopled, foure or fiue, as a thing which was not ordinary, and witneſſeth that it were they onelyonly who looked for the kingdome of God: and it was to this end, yt we might learne, that when things were confounded & in a deſperate caſe, that we ſhould then looke ſtedfaſtly vponupon God. And becauſe his trueth is infallible & vnchangeable, let vsus bée conſtant vntounto the end, & ouercome all troubles, offences, and griefes of the world, neither let vsus when we ſigh & grone, ceaſe to go on whither our Lord calleth vsus, which is, let vsus paciently abide vntyll his kingdome bée eſtabliſhed in vsus, and in the meane while let it ſuffice vsus that hée hath giuen vsus a pawne from his holy Spirite, by which hee witneſſeth vntounto vsus our frée adoption. And therefore, when God ſheweth, that hee taketh vsus for his children, and engraueth the ſame in our heartes by his holy Spirite: and beſides, when wée hauehave the doctrine of the Goſpell dayly ſounding in our eares, Let our faith be confirmed, and let vsus not ſlyde, albeit all thinges were ſo confounded, as could not be poſſibly be more wiſhed. And thus wee ſée what it is that we hauehave to conſider of out of this place. Wee are alſo to note the thing that Saint Iohn reciteth before our Lord Ieſus was taken from the croſſe: to wit, that hée was thruſt into the ſide, to ſée whether he had yéelded vp ye Ghoſte or not. For they haſtened not his death ſo faſt, as they dyd the two Théeues: But when they thought him to bee dead, they thruſt a Speare into him: and then they knewe that he was dead: which pleaſed well the ſouldiers.
Now it is true, that if we ſhoulde not be able to bring in the lawe for a teſtimonie, we ſhould hauehave ſomewhat a cold pull of it, But S. Iohn giueth vsus a full proofe that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte was the true Paſchall Lambe, ſince he was, by the wonderfull prouidence and counſell of God, preſerued, that there was not abone of him broken.Exod. 12.46. Num. 9.12. For it ſaid in Exodus, that the Paſchal lambe ſhould bée eaten, but there ſhould not one bone of him bée broken. And why were not the bones of Ieſus Chriſte cruſhed? ſince it was the common maner at thoſe dayes. Surely, their will was not to ſpare him, and hée was hanged betwéene two Théeues, becauſe they thought him to be the moſt vyle and deteſtable perſon. Wée ſée then héere, that this was the worke of God, in kéeping backe the handes of the Souldiers, and his will alſo was that his Sonne ſhould make a ſpéedie diſpatch, to the ende hée woulde preſerue him, and that it might bée an euident ſigne vntounto vsus in this place, that in him the trueth of this auncient figure ſhoulde be fulfilled. Héere then are wée to obſerue, that the bones of the Sonne of God were preſerued from breaking, becauſe we might take him for our Paſchall Lambe, who ſhoulde preſerue vsus from the wrath of God, whenas wée are marked with his blood. And therefore muſt wée come to this point: that ſince he is our Paſchall Lamb, wée muſt eftſoones bee dewed and ſprinckled with his blood: for without that, the ſhedding of it will doe vsus no good: But when we ſhall accept him with this Sacrifice, and ſéeke remiſſion of our ſinnes alſo thereby, becauſe we know that vntyll hée hath waſhed and cleanſed vsus, wée are very filthie, then are wee be dewed with his blood, through the ſpinckling of the holy ghoſt vponupon our ſoules, and ſo are made cleane: and God accepteth and taketh vsus for his people, and we are aſſured that although his wrath and vengeance bée ouer all the worlde, yet looketh hée on vsus with his eye of mercy and alloweth vsus for his children. Wée ſée then in this place, what wée are to conſider, when it is ſaide, That the bones of our Lorde Ieſus were not broken, to the end we might vnderſtand, that the thing which was declared by figure in the law, was verified in his body. And beſides, it is alſo ſaide, That water and blood iſſued out of his ſide, and hee that ſawe it, beare witneſſe thereof. When wée ſée that water & blood iſſued ſo out, wée muſt remember that it was hee, as Saint Iohn ſayeth in his Canonicall Epiſtle,1. Iohn. 5.6. who by his ſacrifice wrought our purgation and peace, for the blotting out of all our ſinnes. In very déede, Blood, when one is dead, wil waxe thicke by nature, and from it will very thinne water come, becauſe the colour and thickeſt of the blood wil goe from it. But howeuer it is, Saint Iohn ſaieth, that GOD woulde ſhewe for what cauſe the death of his ſonne profiteth vsus, to wit,Heb. 9.2…. in the firſt place, hée is at peace with vsus by reaſon of the ſhedding of blood, for as it is ſaide, There can bée no remiſſion of ſinnes without the effuſion of blood. For beholde why Sacrifices were vſed from the beginning of the worlde. And God hath ſaide, that hée would be mercifull to all miſerable ſinners which put their truſte in him: But yet he woulde hauehave ſacrifices to bee offered, as if hée ſhould hauehave ſaid, that men ſhould be fréely forgiuen their ſinnes, becauſe they can bring nothing of their own with them to obteine it. But muſt hauehave a mediator to recompence it. Wée ſée then that the blood which ranne downe from the ſide of our Lorde Ieſus, witneſſeth vntounto vsus, that the Sacrifice which hée offered, was a ſatiſfaction for all our iniquities, ſo that we are diſcharged of them before God. True it is we muſt cōtinually féele our ſelues to be gilty that we might bée humbled, and brought to true repentance, and bée cléerely voide of all preſumption. But howeuer it is, wée are aſſured that God acquitteth and pardoneth vsus in the name of his ſonne, when we come to acknowledge our ſinnes and iniquities. And why ſo? Becauſe the ſacrifice of his death is ſufficient, to blot out the memory of al our tranſgreſſions. It is the water then that cleanſeth. Wherefore, to the end we might be waſhed from all our ſpots, let vsus vnderſtande, that the meaning of our Lord Ieſus Chriſte was that water ſhoulde iſſue out of his ſide, to declare that hée is in very déede our puritie, and that wée muſt ſéeke for none other remedy to waſhe vsus from all our filthineſſe. And thus wée ſée howe water and blood came from him, by which meane wee are throughly ſaued in him, and therefore muſt make no wandleſſes, to ſéeke our ayde els where. But when wée ſhall conſider more néerely of the matter, wée ſhall ſée a very notable ſimilitude betwéene the blood and the water which iſſued out of the ſide of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, and the Sacraments of the Church, in which the thing that was perfourmed in his death is allowed and ſealed vntounto vsus. For after hée had ſuffered whatſoeuer was requiſite for our ſaluation, and fully ſatiſfied GOD his Father, by ſanctifiyng, and purchaſing vsus full righteouſneſſe, hée would that all the whole matter ſhould bée witneſſed vntounto vsus, in ye two ſacraments of his owne inſtitution. I ſpeake of two: becauſe there are no moe inſtituted in his worde, But Baptiſme, and the Supper. For all the reſte is but a vaine imagination, deuiſed by the raſhe boldeneſſe of men. Thus wee ſee that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte powreth out the vertue of his death and paſſion, aſwel vponupon Baptiſme, as on the holy Supper. For Baptiſme is a witneſſe vntounto vsus, that hée hath ſo waſhed and cleanſed vsus from all our filthineſſe, as that God receiueth vsus vntounto his fauour, as if wée came cleane and neate before him.
Now, wée muſt vnderſtand that the water in Baptiſme worketh not this effect. For howe can a corruptible Element waſhe and cleanſe our ſoules? But the matter is, becauſe water iſſued out of the ſide of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. And therefore, when wée woulde that Baptiſme ſhould doe vsus good, let vsus goe vntounto him who was crucified for vsus, and when we would féele the fruit therof, let vsus runne vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, who would hauehave vsus ſéeke for euerie parte and parcell of our ſaluation in him, without wandring and whéeling hither and thither. And beſides, wée hauehave in the holie Supper a teſtimony, that Ieſus Chriſt is our Shepheard, and that vnderunder the bread, and wine, hée preſenteth vntounto vsus his bodie and blood. Héere then wée ſée the whole perfection of our ſaluation, when as wée are thus cleanſed, and that God accepteth vsus as if wée were pure, and righteous, and are ſo acquited before him as giltleſſe, becauſe our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt hath made full ſatiſfaction for vsus. Thus we ſée howe wée muſt profite by the Sacramentes, by directing our whole fayth vntounto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and not to encline vntounto creatures. Wée ſée alſo howe wée ought to be confirmed by the ſuffring of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and let it be alwayes freſhe in our mindes, when as God ſheweth vsus euen to our faces, of what valure the iſſuing out of blood & water from the ſide of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, is. And ſo, this is in ſumme the thing which we are to conſider of, concerning the perſing of the ſide of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. And beſides, when it is ſaide, That the Scripture was accompliſhed, let vsus vnderſtand, that this was ſpoken long before this time, that all was gouerned by the ſecrete Councell of God: and although the Souldiers knew not what they did, yet God effectually executed that which he had ſpoken, aſwell by Moſes, as by his Prophet Zachary. Wée hauehave alreadie ſéene the teſtimony of Exodus: and Saint Iohn hath alſo put too the ſaying of the Prophet Zachary, whoſe words are theſe. They ſhall ſee him whom they had perced. In déede God vſeth in that a ſimilitude: For,Zach. 12.20. hée ſetteth him ſelfe againſt the contemners of his worde, whoſe heartes were rebelliouſly and wickedly hardened. Well (ſaieth hée) they thinke they make warre agaynſt the Preachers of my word, and that they may by this meane ſtop them. Notwithſtanding, it is againſt mée they fight, and whenſoeuer they contemne and refuſe my word after this maner: it is as if they wounded me with the ſtabbe of a dagger: and ſo ſhal they ſée him whō they had perſed. But this was truely accompliſhed in the perſon of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, for they perſed him in his mortal body. And thus we ſée how he was manifeſted to be ye liuing God, who was in all ages ſpoken of by his Prophetes, ſince we ſée that whatſoeuer was ſpoken, was accompliſhed in his perſon. Now, it is afterward ſaid, that when Ioſeph had obteined of Pilate to take away the bodie of Ieſus from the Croſſe, to bury him, that he tooke a cleane linnen ſhéete, and bought ſwéete ointments alſo (which as S. Iohn ſaieth,Iohn. 19.39. coſt a great ſumme of mony) of Myrrhe and Aloes, and buried him in a new Tombe, which hée had newe made and heawen out of a rocke. In this Sepulcher or Tombe, our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt firſt began to ſhew the iſſue of his death: which was, that hée ſhoulde verie ſpéedely glorifie himſelfe in his reſurrection, and it was the will of God eftſoones to manifeſt it. And here we ſée an infallible teſtimony, that amongeſt ſo many confuſions which we read in this hiſtory, that might trouble vsus, and as it were ſhake our Fayth, we may perceiue that God had alwayes care of his onelyonly Sonne, as of the head of his Church, and of his welbeloued: not to the end onelyonly that we ſhould truſt in him, but that wée ſhould alſo by litle & litle looke vntounto it, that ſince we are the members of his bodie, that the Fatherly care of God will ſtretch it ſelf not onelyonly vntounto vsus, but alſo to eueryevery one els which truſt in him. But by the way, this queſtion might be aſked, why our Lorde Ieſus would be ſo ſumptuouſly buried. For it ſhould ſéeme, that it was a ſuperfluous thing, to vſe the coſtlineſſe of Aloes & Myrrhe, and ſuch lyke. And to ſay the trueth, what profiteth this a dead man, to be waſhed, and annointed, or to hauehave any other glorious ſhew.
And therfore a man would think, that this agreed not with the doctrine of the Goſpell, where as it is ſaide, that wée ſhall bée rayſed vp agayne at the latter day, by the wonderfull power of our God. Wherefore, it ſéemeth that all thoſe pompes ſhoulde be naught ſet by, and be cleane forgotten. And héerevpon it might be thought, that Ioſeph his religion was but fooliſh, which ſhould darken the hope of the reſurrection. Howbeit wée hauehave héere to note, that the Iewes vſed theſe kinde of Ceremonies, vntill the time our Lord Ieſus Chriſt had accompliſhed all whatſoeuer was requiſite for our ſaluation. And the buryall at thoſe dayes were as the Sacrifices, waſhinges, and lightes of the Temple, and ſuch lyke. And becauſe they were rude people, it was méete they ſhould be handled like yong children. In verie déed, buryall was taken to be an holie thing all the world ouer, and it was the wil of God, that it ſhould be engrauen in the heartes of the verie paganes, becauſe they might hauehave no excuſe, when as they would be ſo beaſtly, as not to hope for a better lyfe. Nowe, the Paganes abuſed the ſame: But be as be may, it will be caſt in their téethes at the latter day, that they were ouer curious in the burying of the dead, for there was not ſo barbarous a nation in the world, which made not great account thereof. And yet they knew not why they did ſo, no more then they knew the meaning of their ſacrifices: howbeit, this is enough to condemne them, inſomuch as they departed from the trueth of God, and corrupted the teſtimony that was giuen them, which ſhould hauehave brought them to the beliefe of the heauenly lyfe. But howeuer it is, The Buriall of it ſelfe, was alwayes as a myrror of the reſurrection: For they put the bodie into the grounde, to be kept for a time. For if there were no reſurrection, it were no matter if they had been caſt out of the dores to hauehave bin eaten of Dogs, or wilde beaſts: But they honourably buried them, that they might not be pulde in péeces, although they were ſure, they turned to duſt. In déede the Iewes obſerued many Ceremonies. And yet the Egyptians farre paſſed them: But this their great ſorrowing, lamenting, and tearing of their haire, were all but bragges. This then was the manner of the Egyptians, whom the Deuill had bewitched, becauſe they peruerted all good order. But the Buriall of the Iewes, ſtrengthened their beliefe of the reſurrection. And ſo, according to that which I hauehave ſaide, our Lorde Ieſus would be buried after the auncient faſhion, becauſe hée had not as yet, by his reſurrection, fully accompliſhed our ſaluation.
This is true, that at his death, the vayle of the Temple rent in ſunder, wherein God ſhewed, that that was the ende and perfection of all thinges̄, and that the figures and ſhadowes of the lawe ſhould laſt no longer. Howbeit the world ſée not this, neither was any man able to conceiue, that all the figures of the lawe, were ended in Ieſus Chriſt. And therefore his will was to be buried. And thus much for this point. Let vsus now alſo vnderſtand, that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt hath purchaſed vsus life by his reſurrection, ſo that wee muſt goe ſtrait to him, wtout ſéeking any other meanes to direct vsus, then ſuch as hée hath aſſigned vsus. We hauehave alſo alreadie ſaide, that hée hath ordeined two Sacramentes for our better confirmation. If the manner of the Iewes buriall had béen neceſſarie for vsus, no doubt, Ieſus Chriſt would hauehave had it continue in his Church. But hée would not that we ſhould ſtay our ſelues vpō this earthly and childiſh Elements. And therfore it is enough for vsus to vſe the plaine order of burying, & leaue the ſwéet ointments which figure vntounto vsus the reſurrection, and was manifeſted in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Wherefore we ſhould but ſeparate our ſelues from him, if we would be thus baſely and ſimply inſtructed. For marke what Saint Paul ſaieth,Coloſ. 3.2. That if our affection be on things aboue, we muſt ſéeke it in fayth and in ſpirit, and be conioyned vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt:Coloſ. 12.8.9. & 18. that we ſhould bend our ſelues to him, and not be nuſſeled in any thing which might withdraw, hinder, or kéepe vsus backe from being vnited to him as vntounto our head, ſince his body is ſaid to be the Temple of God. And thus much wée are to conſider of for buryall. Howbeit this is alſo to be remembred, that hée was laide in a newe Tombe, which was not made, but by the ſingular prouidence of God: For he might verie wel hauehave béen buried in a Tombe which had ſerued for that purpoſe long before. For Ioſeph of Arimathea had many aunceſtors, and in ſuch wealthy mens houſes, there was a commō Tombe made for the nonce. Notwithſtanding, God had otherwiſe prouided for the matter, and would hauehave our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt to be laide in a newe Tombe, wherin neuer man had béen laide. Neither was it without cauſe that hée was called the firſt fruites of the reſurrection, and the firſt borne of the dead: who had béen made partakers of life before our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. For we read that Lazarus roſe again. Wée ſée alſo that Enock & Elie were taken vp, and neuer felt any naturall death, but were gathered together into an incorruptible life: Howbéeit al this hangeth vponupon the reſurrection of our Lord Ieſus. And therfore we muſt take him to be as the firſt fruites. In the law, the fruites of the yéere were conſecrated to GOD, by the only bringing of an eare of Corne, and a bunche of Grapes, to lay vponupon the Au…ter. Now when this was offered to God, it was a generall conſecrating of al ye fruits of the yéere. When ye firſt born alſo were cōſecrated to God, it was a declaratiō of ye holines of the tribe of Iſrael, & that God accompted it for his inheritaunce, which he had reſerued to himſelfe, and contented himſelfe with this people, as if a man would be contented with his Patrimonie, Euē ſo, let vsus vnderſtand, yt when we come to our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, we are al cō ſecrated and offered in his perſon, to the end we might at this day, receiue life through death, & that it ſhould no more be deadly as before it was. And thus we ſée what we are to obſerue as concerning the new Tombe: that is, that the buriall of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt muſt bring vsus vntounto his reſurrection.
Neuertheleſſe let vsus looke wel to our ſelues: for al whatſoeuer that muſt ſerue our faith, hath béene accompliſhed in the perſon of the Sonne of GOD: And although wée hauehave a ſure teſtimonie that it is ſufficient for vsus, yet by reaſon of our groſeneſſe & weakeneſſe, wée are very farre from comming vntounto Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. And therefore let eueryevery of vsus which acknowledge our offences, ſéeke remedy for them, & be of good courage. For we ſée how Ioſeph & Nicodemus did. Now, here are two things to be conſidered of for our example. The firſt is, that they had no cléere inſight in the fruite of the death and paſſion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. Wherefore their vnderſtanding was groſſe, and their faith very weake. The other is, that notwithſtanding this extremitie, yet fought they againſt all temptations, and came to looke for our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt who was dead, to put him into the Tumbe, proteſting that they hoped to come to the bleſſed reſurrection which was promiſed them. And although we feele our ſelues weake, yet let it not diſcourage vsus. It is true indéed, that we are weake, and God may reiect vsus, when as hée ſhal roughly entreate vsus. But yet when we ſhall féele theſe wantes, let vsus vnderſtand that he will accept our deſire, although it be imperfect.
Moreouer, ſince at this day, our Lorde Ieſus is riſen in glory, and although we muſt here ſuffer many miſeries and calamities, and that a man would thinke he were daily crucified in his members, as in déed, the vngodly as much as in thē lieth doe: yet let not vsus quayle for al this, becauſe we knowe that we cannot be put beſide that, which is promiſed vsus in the doctrine of the Goſpel: and although wee muſt runne through a number of afflictions, yet let vsus alwayes hauehave an eye vntounto our heade. For Ioſeph and Nicodemus neuer had the aduantage that wée at this day hauehave, which is, they neuer beheald the power of the ſpirite of God, which is ſhewed in the reſurrection of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and yet was not their faith for all this wholly morgaged. And ſince our Lorde Ieſus calleth vsus now vntounto him, and telleth vsus allowde that hée is aſcended into heauen, to the ende he might gather vsus altogether, let vsus conſtantly perſeuere both to ſéeke him, and follow him, and that it is no hurt for vsus to die with him, ſince we ſhalbe partakers of his glory. And Saint Paule exhorteth vsus to be like vntounto Ieſus Chriſt, not onelyonly as touching his death, but alſo as concerning his buriall. For there are ſome that coulde bée contented to die wt our Lord Ieſus Chriſt for a minute of an houre, but it wold grieue them to doe it any longer. And for this cauſe I hauehave ſayde, that wée muſt not die for a while, but wée muſt alſo paciently abide, at laſt to be buried. I call this dying, whenas God ſéeth vsus ſo ſuffer for his names ſake: for although wée bée not at the firſt, condemned, and brought to the ſtake, yet when wée are afflicted, this is a kinde of death which wée muſt paciently abyde. But becauſe wée are not by and by humbled, it is méete wée ſhoulde bée longer time ſcourged, and bée contented, and paciently beare it. For as the Diuel neuer ceaſeth to deuiſe whatſoeuer may withdrawe vsus, and make vsus growe woorſe and woorſe: Euen ſo muſt wée al our life long fight againſt him. And although this be a very hard and grieuous condition, yet let vsus tary til the time bee come, that God calleth vsus vntounto him, and not bée wéery in confeſſing our fayth, and therein followe Nicodemus, but not in his temerouſnes. For when he firſt came vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, hée kept himſelfe very couert and cloſe, and was afearde to ſhewe himſelfe a true Diſciple (for wée knowe that the confeſſion of our faith is required in vsus)Iohn. 2. & 2….1…. But when hée came to bury him, he declared, and confeſſed that he was of the number of the faithfull company. Wherefore ſince he did ſo, let vsus at this day follow his conſtancy. And although the worlde hateth and deteſteth our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt and the doctrine of his Goſpell, yet let vsus ſtick vntounto it. Let vsus alſo vnderſtande, that the greateſt benefite and contentation that wee can continuallye hauehave is this, whenas God accepteth and liketh of our ſeruice, and beſides, although wée muſt ſuffer & abide troubles here in this worlde, yet let vsus knowe this yt becauſe he hath gloryouſly ryſē againe, that he dyd it not to the ende to make a ſeparation betwéene him and vsus, but that hee would when he ſée his good time gather vsus vntounto him ſelfe.
Moreouer, let vsus not maruell although our Lorde Ieſus roſe againe the third day: for it is very good reaſon that hee ſhould hauehave ſome more priuiledge then the common order of the church.
And héerein is the ſaying of the Pſalmiſt fulfilled. Thou ſhalt not ſuffer thine holy one to ſée corruption.Pſal. 16.10. And therefore it was méete that the body of our Lord Ieſus ſhould remaine vncorrupt vntill the third day: but it was for that time, ſo appoynted and eſtabliſhed by the counſell of GOD his Father. Howbeit wee, hauehave no time aſſigned, but the laſt day. And therefore let vsus abyde troubles and miſeries ſo long as it pleaſeth GOD, and let vsus vnderſtand that he wyll in the ende, when hee ſéeeth conuenient time, reſtore vsus, after wee hauehave bene caſt quite and cleane downe, For therevnto Saint Paul exhorteth vsus,1. Cor. 15.10. when as hée ſaieth, that Chriſt Ieſus is the firſt fruites: whiche is, to pull backe that feruent zeale wherewith wee are often times too too much carryed awaye: for by our wylles wee woulde flye without winges, and wee are gréeued with God for houldinge vsus ſo longe heere in this worlde, becauſe hée wyll not bringe vsus to heauen euen at the fyrſt,2. Kin. 2.11. and carry vsus vp in a fiery Charit as Eilas was: to be ſhort, we would faine triumph before we hauehave fought a blow.
Now, that we might withſtand this deſire, and theſe fooliſh luſts, Saint Paul telleth vsus that Ieſus Chriſt is the firſt fruites, & wée muſt be contented that by his death we hauehave a ſure pawne of the reſurrectiō. Neuertheles, bicauſe he ſitteth at ye right hād of god his Father hauing all rule and dominion both in heauen and earth: and although his maieſtie hath not as yet appeared, and that our life is hid in him, let vsus become like wretched dead people, and although we ſéeme to be liuing héere in this world, yet let vsus bée as men quite forlorne: and abide all this, vntill the comming of our Lord Ieſus: For euen then ſhall our life be made manifeſt by him, when as he ſhall thinke it good. And thus we ſée what it is that wée muſt obſerue about the buriall of our lord Ieſus Chriſt, vntil ſuch time, as we attaine to the reſt, which will be a declaration, that he hath not onelyonly made ſatiſfaction for all our ſinnes, but alſo hath by his victorie, obteined all perfect righteouſneſſe for vsus, by whiche meane we are become acceptable at this day vntounto the maieſtie of God, both to hauehave frée acceſſe vntounto him, and alſo to call vponupon his holie name.
And in this confidence and beliefe, Let vsus fall downe before his diuine maieſtie, beſéeching him to receiue vsus all to his mercy, and that we may not ceaſe to hauehave recourſe vntounto his frée goodnes, how miſerable & wretched ſoeuer we bée. And although we dayly prouoke his heauy wrath and indignation againſt vsus, and iuſtly deſerue that hée ſhould forſake vsus, Let vsus patiently wayte vntill hée ſheweth the fruit and power of the death & paſſion which his onelyonly Sonne hath ſuffred, by which we are reconciled, and not doubt but that hée will be alwayes our Father, ſo long as hée wil graunt vsus this fauour, as that we may be able to ſhew our ſelues his true children. Let vsus alſo beſéech him that hée will cauſe vsus to declare this by the effect, in ſuch ſort, as that we deſire nothing els but to be wholy his: and as hée hath very dearely bought vsus, ſo wee may alſo of right, fully and wholly agrée to ſerue him. And forſomuch as our weakneſſe is ſuch, as that we are not able to diſcharge the hundreth part of our duetie, without hée worke it in vsus by his holy ſpirite: becauſe the infirmities of our fleſh doe alwayes beare ſuch a reſiſting and ſtriuing ſway, as that we doe nothing els but euen créepe, where we ſhould in déede march as becommeth vsus, Let vsus beſéech him to ryd vsus of all together, that we might be vnited to him by that holy bond which bée hath ordeined, to wit, our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt his onelyonly Sonne. That hée will not onelyonly graunt vsus this grace, &c.