Sermons on Divinity Humanity and Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Sermons on the Prophecies · Sermon 2
The ſecond Sermon of the Propheſie of Chriſte.
Iſaiah. liii.
1 WHO will beleeue our report? And to whom is the grace of the Lord reueiled? But he ſhall grow vp before him as a braunche, and as a roote out of a dry grounde.
2 Hee hath neither forme nor beautie: When wee ſhall ſee him, there ſhall bee in no forme that we ſhould deſire him.
3 Hee is diſpiſed and reiected of men: Hee is a man full of ſorowes, and hath experience of infirmities: We hyd as it were our faces from him: he was deſpiſed, and wee eſteemed him not.
4 Surely, hee hath borne our infirmities, and carryed our ſorrowes: yet we did iudge him as plagued and ſmitten of God, and humbled.
WE hauehave already begunne to treatiſe and ſay, that although the Goſpell ſhoulde bée publiſhed throughout the face of the whole earth, yet, yt it ſhould be very hardly receiued, & intreated, by the greateſt number: which thing the Prophet hath alſo ſo declared, to the end the children of God might not bée abaſhed, whenas they ſée the faithleſneſſe of ſuch as hauehave had their eares beaten with the doctrine of ſaluation, and yet hauehave cared no whit at all for the ſame. And is not this a ſtrange kinde of dealing, that when God as much as is poſſible calleth vsus vntounto himſelfe, and laboureth ſo gently and graciouſly to winne vsus, that we ſhould peruerſly drawe our heades out of the collor as wée ſay, and euen for the very nonce refuſe to receiue the benefite thus offered vntounto vsus? A man woulde thinke, that this were an impoſſible thing: and yet wée dayly ſée it by experience. Loe here why it is that the Prophet cryeth out, whenas God, as it were, by the ſound of a trūpet would publiſh his Goſpel, & yet yt there ſhould be notwithſtanding ſo fewe beléeuers, hée addeth the reaſon, that it was very méete that God ſhould ſhew forth his power, to graunt faith vntounto thoſe which naturally would be faithleſſe. What is the cauſe that wée ſée ſo many people reiect, loath, & cōceiue ſo great an hatred againſt the Goſpell, & had rather be like vntounto them which ſo ſet thēſelues againſt God, then quiethly come néere him? What is the cauſe, I ſay? Forſooth, nothing els but yt we imagine we hauehave faith tied to our gyrdels. Howbeit, the Prophet telleth vsus another maner of thing, for he ſaith, that although god cōmaūded that his word ſhould be publiſhed to all both good & bad, yet worketh hée ſuch a ſecrete effect in his choſen, as if he made thē féele his arme & power. And therefore let this bée our obſeruation, that whenſoeuer the Goſpell is preached, it wyll bée but as an vnprofitable ſounde, vntyll ſuch time as our Lorde ſheweth that it is hée him ſelfe which ſpeaketh: neither beſtoweth hee this benefite vponupon all men.
Thus wee ſee, the power of GOD to bee hidde from the reprobate and therfore, that this priuiledge belongeth but to a few, whō he hath choſen & adopted to attaine to euerlaſting life, whenas hée telleth them that the Goſpell is the doctrine of ſaluation: and a moſt infallible trueth, whereto they muſt ſticke. Thus we ſée in ſumme, the meaning of the Prophet in this place. Nowe we muſt heereupō, be fenſed & armed againſt this obiect which the diuel ſetteth before our eyes, whēas we ſée ſuch a mightie number of people withſtand the Goſpel, euen of the greateſt and higheſt in calling: for thē we think it, as a mā would ſay, not to be ye worde of God. And why ſo? verily, becauſe we depend too too much vponupon mē, thus we ſée howe weake and vnſtable our faith is. And therefore let vsus ouercome the worlde, and let vsus vnderſtand that when God ſpeaketh, we muſt ſubmit our ſelues vntounto him: and although none will accompanie vsus héerein, but bée all againſt vsus, yet let vsus for al that, be contented to receiue with a pure and cleane faith, whatſoeuer God ſpeaketh vntounto vsus.
Moreouer, to the end we might not be abaſhed to ſée men ſo wickedly bent as to fight againſt their God, yea euen their Creator, & Redéemer, let vsus therefore vnderſtande, that faith is not giuen to all men, but is a ſinguler gift which God hath reſerued as a precious Iewell for his elect and choſen: and although we vnderſtande that our duetie is to cleaue vntounto him, yet let vsus, notwithſtanding know, that eueryevery of vsus hath not faith of our owne proper motion, but that God hath inlightened vsus, & made vsus ſée by his holy ſpirite and in thus doing hath ſhewed his power: that is to ſay, hath giuē vsus ſuch a liuely féeling thereof in our heartes, as that we may very wel know yt the Goſpell is not of men, but frō him. And this is the effect which we are to conſider of out of this place. To be ſhort, let vsus boldly ſet our ſelues againſt the faithleſnes & ſtubbornes of all ſuch as are the enimies of God, & let vsus march on, whither ſoeuer he calleth vsus, & receiue the benefit which he offereth vsus, to ye end we may be found blameles of this vnthākfulnes, wherof the Prophet accuſeth & condēneth héere, all ſuch as would not obey the doctrine of the Goſpell. Nowe héereupon he ſheweth that they vouchſafed not to beléeue Ieſus Chriſt, becauſe they ſée him as a forlorne and cōtemptible man.R…m. 9.32. 1. Pet. 2.8. We know that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt is called the ſtone of offence and ſtumbling blocke, becauſe the worde ſtumbled at him. And yet God his father gaue him to vsus for another vſe: which is, that wée might bée grounded vponupon his fauour and grace, and as a ſtone vppon which wee myght all ſtande: becauſe there is none other ſure ſtay, but hée. And therefore wée ſtand all in réeling maner, and Hell mouth is wide open to ſwallowe vsus vp. Thus wée ſée that our ſaluation hath no ſure ground worke in this worlde, and therefore muſt we ſtay our ſelues vponupon our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte.Iſaiah. 8.14 Wherefore, ſée why it is ſaide, That he ſhoulde be placed as a precious ſtone, vponupon which the Temple of God ſhoulde bée built, and ſuch a ſure ſtone as ſhoulde bee able to beare the whole building, the Prophet alſo furder ſaith, that he ſhoulde be a ſtumbling ſtone vntounto the kingdome of Iuda, and to the houſe of Iſrael. And according héereunto: it is nowe ſaide that he ſhalbe as A ſmall twigge, and as a roote comming out of a dry and barren grounde: And that when he ſhould be ſéene, no man ſhoulde once vouchſafe to looke on him: but that eueryevery man ſhoulde turne away his face from him, and abhorre him. Wée ſee nowe, that there are but a fewe which will beléeue the Goſpel: for wée ſéeke continually to make a goodly outwarde ſhew, and would gladly that all ſhoulde bée ſéene and come to light.
Nowe, the dealing of the Lorde God was after another maner, when he ment to redéeme vsus: For, (as Saint Paule ſaith) becauſe the worlde woulde not benefite it ſelfe by the wiſedome of God, whenas he in ſuch ſorte ſhewed himſelfe the Creator, as that the very beholding of the heauen & the earth might hauehave ſufficiently made it to hauehave come vntounto him,1. Cor. 1.21. hee then made an alteration in the worlde, and hath vſed as it were, a certaine kinde of fooliſheneſſe to teache vsus For, (as I hauehave ſaide) wée ſhoulde hauehave beene taught by the wonderfull wiſedome of God, which appeared both in the heauens and in the earth vntounto the whole worlde, but wee hauehave béen ouer blockiſhe théerein. And therefore God hath vſed a kinde of fooliſhneſſe, when as he ſent his onelyonly ſonne, who ſubmitted himſelfe to all our infirmities, whom the worlde refuſed, and being borne in a Stable, lead all the dayes of his life like a miſerable poore handicraftes man: and at laſt, wée ſée that all men ſet themſelues againſt him: and ſo raged, as that they deteſted and hated him, and to make fewe wordes, and well crucified him.
Now, this was a death which God curſed: and hée was not only diſfigured with buffetting, ſpitting on, & crowned with thorne but alſo was accurſed, being hanged betwéene two théeues, as if hée had béene the moſt horrible villaine that euer was knowne or hearde of. And this was a terrible kinde of death, becauſe it was accurſed by the law. We ſée how fouly hee was diſfigured: which was the very meane why he became a ſtumbling blocke vntounto the worlde. And therefore, the Prophet namely ſaith that they would not beléeue the Goſpell: becauſe the world could not conceiue it to bée a reaſonable thing, neither yet …llow, that the only Sonne of God, the very glory of the Lorde, ſhoulde bée put to ſuch ſhame and rebuke: This eternall counſell of God, which was from the beginning, coulde neuer ſinke into their braine. And thus wée ſée the meaning of the Prophet. Now it is hereupō ſaid notwithſtanding That he ſhalbe exalted. Although at the firſt there is no ſhewe of it, yet God will increaſe him: and they ſhall ſée, ſaith he, euen before their faces, that although he was miſerable and bare, & a poore twigge, yet that this was no let vntounto his aduancement, nor to his glorious flooriſhing: becauſe that God woulde put his hād & bring it to paſſe. And beſides, he bringeth vsus backe to our ſinnes, that hee might take away our conceiued offence, by reaſon of the ouerthwartnes of our vnderſtanding. Wherfore, to the end we ſhould not refuſe to come vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, by ſéeing him thus diſfigured, the Prophet ſheweth vsus the cauſe why. For, to ſay truely, if we come once to the acknowledging of our ſinnes, and foorthwith conceiue of the wrath of god for the ſame, then ſhall we come to our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, & deſire him to helpe vsus, & be ſo much the more earneſt to receiue his death and paſſion: for wée muſt vnderſtand, that it is the moſt neceſſary remedy that may be, for the euil that is in vsus, Thus in ſume we ſée here the procéeding of ye Prophet. Now, when he maketh compariſon betwéen our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and a ſmal twigge or braunch & a roote in a dry and barren ground it is to ſhew, that the beginnings ſhould be baſe & of no valure, ſo that all the worlde ſhould ſcoffe & laugh at them. In the eleuenth Chapter he compareth him vntounto a ſory twigge or braunch ſaying that he ſhould come of the ſtocke of Iſai Dauid his father. And therefore, becauſe the kingly houſe was then baſe, and of no honour, hee ſaid it ſhoulde be as ſometimes it had béen, that Iſai was a countrie man, & his children Neat heardes, & Shepheardes. This houſe in thoſe dayes was nothing, and of no reputation: and beſides, was like vntounto the body of a trée lying on the groūd, which men troode vponupon, and of no eſtimation. Ieſus Chriſte then was like vntounto a ſilly twigge or branche: But it is ſaide ſoone after, that hée ſhould ſo wonderfully growe, as that hée ſhoulde ouerſhadowe the whole worlde. Héere, the Prophet alſo ſheweth, that it muſte néedes bée that our Lorde Ieſus ſhoulde bee thus contemptible at the firſt. For if this had not béen namely declared, they might very well hauehave béen offended, whenas they ſee our Lord Ieſus Chriſt to be thus contemptible as touching the worlde. For it was ſaide, that one ſhould cōtinually ſit vponupon the ſeat of Dauid, & that this kingdome ſhould floriſh, although he held the Sun & Moone. And now behold, that this princely houſe was as it were razed & vtterly defaced: & who would thinke that the promiſe ſhould be accōpliſhed in the perſō of our Lord Ieſus? For, there was no likelihood, that he ſhould hauehave béen reſtored to ye princely eſtate, but whē it is ſaid yt this houſe ſhould as it were come to naught, & he of no more eſtimation, nor hauehave no more rule, & preheminence, & that it ſhould be aſhame, as a man would ſay, to ſée ſuch a deſtruction and confuſion: when the Prophetes, I ſay, hauehave told this much, then hauehave wee a very good entrée, to wit, Ieſus Chriſt. Neither muſt wee bee abaſhed, as at a ſtrange & vnknowne thing, although our Lord Ieſus Chriſt ſhewed himſelf, in ſo baſe a ſtate and condition. For, to ſay the trueth, it is not in this place alone, that the holy Ghoſte hath thus ſaide. Wée ſée alſo what the Prophet Amos ſaith, That God will raiſe this ſeate,Amos. 9.11 Acts. 15.16. which before was ouerthrowne: And this place is alſo ſet downe in the Acts of the Apoſtles, to declare that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte ſhall beginne to raigne, when it ſhal pleaſe God to repare the things that were confounded. And namely it was ſaid, that this kingdome, with the kingly crowne, ſhoulde be trode vnderunder foote as it were, and hauehave no head, vntill ſuch time as the Redéemer were come into the worlde. And therefore all theſe thinges ſhould confirme and ſtrengthen vsus, to the end theſe baſe beginnings of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte might not ſéeme ſtrāge vntounto vsus. Moreouer, by this ſaying of a deſert or barrē land, the Prophet meaneth, that it ſhould ſéeme, that our Lorde Ieſus ſhould no more increaſe or grow vp, then a trée in the deſert, where is neither moyſtneſſe nor any goodneſſe. Behold then he is like vntounto a diſfigured or yll fauoured trée, which wanteth nouriſhmente, and the ſubſtance and moyſture of the earth.
Nowe, it is ſaide that Ieſus Chriſte ſhalbe ſo from the beginning, expreſſing thereby that there ſhoulde be no meanes héere on earth to make him floriſh, but that he ſhould be increaſed frō heauen, & that by the ſecrete power of God his Father: and not be ayded by the worlde, becauſe it is altogether barren & fruitleſſe. And this was not only ſaid of his byrth, but is alſo to be referred to the whole courſe of the Goſpell. In déede, this was a ſigne that Ieſus Chriſt was but a poore twig, whenas he could not get a place to be lodged amongſt men, but was like one that was baniſhed & excluded frō all cōpany, & ſo poorely brought vp as euer was man. And this was to prepare the hearts of the faithful to vnderſtād that Ieſus Chriſt ſhould be reiected & contēned as touching the world: but the principal matter for thē to vnderſtād was, whē he ſhould come to preach the Goſpel, and execute the charge cōmitted vntounto him by God his father. For then they began to ſay, Is not this the Carpē ters ſonne, doe not we know his bringing vp? And in what ſchoole he hath learned to be ſo great a Doctor?Mat. 15.55 And his kindred ſéeing him to be ſo extréemely hated, would hauehave made him beléeue yt hee had béen mad, & that he muſt be tied, & kept frō doing his duty, for feare the people would hauehave ſtoned thē all to death: for they ſaw well enough that this malice would ſtretch it ſelfe foorth to the whole family & kindred, And at laſt, behold Ieſus Chriſt was crucified. So that thē a man would hauehave thought the goſpel had béen cléerely buried with him, & the remembrance thereof quite put out. Who would hauehave ſaid that the Apoſtles had euer béen able thus to hauehave ſet foorth the doctrine of the Goſpell: For, marke what ſimple men they were, ſuch as neuer knew what learning meant, altogether vnacquainted with the holy ſcripture, & vtterly without ſkill & abilitie: and beſides, a refuſe people, whō no man wold vouchſafe to heare, although in very déed they had ſpokē with ye tongues of Angels. And what is to be ſéen herein, but euē a very wildernes? wher are ye honorable ſhewes, & preparatiōs, yt ſhould make kings & princes to ſtoupe to ye goſpel. For ſooth, heere are none at al. But on the cōtrary part, behold naked ſwordes, fire & faggot, to ſtop the courſe therof. Wherfore, we right wel ſée yt it was like vntounto a ſmal graffe planted in a barrē land. And who would ſay yt it ſhould grow to be a trée to ouerſhadow all the world, vnderunder ye which eueryevery mā might ſhroud himſelf? who was euer able to immagine this, ſéeing ſo vnlikely beginnings. Therefore it is not wtout cauſe yt the prophet Iſaiah declareth, yt the world wc is too too much addicted to glory, wil neuer vouchſafe to looke vponupon our Lord Ieſus Chriſte, but rather deſpiſe him, becauſe he is like vntounto a little twigge & ſcience of a trée taken out of a barren land, where was neither water, moyſture, ſubſtance, or yet ſtrength.
Now, this is namely laide before vsus, to the end we might not bée drawne away through any ſuch offence, but be able redily to come vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. And therefore, when wee heare after what ſort the Goſpell ſhalbe preached vntounto the world, and that we ſée the like of it at this day: to wit, that the church ſhalbe as a ſmall handfull of raſcall people, and that wée ſhalbe abhorred of all thoſe that beare the greateſt ſway in the worlde, let not vsus for al that be faint harted. For we ſée how our Lord Ieſus Chriſt appeared at ye firſt, & although his meaning is that his kingdome ſhould bee conſerued after this maner at this day, yet let not that ſtay vsus from yéelding our obedience vntounto him.1. Cor. 1.25. And ſince we know (as S. Paule ſaith) yt the fooliſhneſſe of God hath ſurpaſſed the wiſdom of man, let not vsus be ſo arrogantly minded as to ſet our ſelues againſt it: But let vsus vnderſtand that as God his meaning was to make his ſonne of no reputation, ſo likewiſe entended he to exalt him aboue the heauens: and let not vsus finde fault with that which he hath ordeined in his ſecrete counſel, but therein reſt our ſelues.
Moreouer, let vsus well cōſider of theſe words, That he ſhall ſprout vp before him. For, if we, through our pride and diſdaine, think to tread Ieſus Chriſte vnderfoote, & kéepe him vnderunder, we deceiue our ſelues: becauſe he ſhal grow vp in deſpite of mans incredulitie, malice, vnthankfulneſſe, and enmitie, but it ſhall be, before God. It is true alſo, that he groweth vp aſwell before the faithfull: becauſe they muſt obediently worſhip him, & acknowledge that the excellēt name which god hath giuē him, is worthie to hauehave eueryevery knée bow vntounto it. But the Prophet hath namely ſaid, that hee ſhall grow vp before God, ſetting héere a ballance as it were betwéene ſuch mē as goe about to ouerthrow & ſuppreſſe the glory of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: and beſides, God his father who will giuegive him his hād, wil bring it ſo to paſſe, as yt nothing ſhalbe able to kéepe him frō attaining vntounto the fruite of his glory and Maieſtie, whereunto hee is called. Thus wee ſée the very naturall and true meaning of theſe wordes, That to the outward ſhewe, our Lorde Ieſus is but as a twigge, in a dry or barren grounde, becauſe there is no meanes in this worlde to make him growe vp: and yet bée as be may, he ſhal growe vp. But how? Forſooth, euen before God.
And therefore, let it not diſmay vsus, when wée ſhall ſée men make a ieſt at the Goſpell, & to become as a flaunderous and ſhamefull thing, by reaſon of the pride of the faithleſſe: But when wée ſhall ſée the enimies of the trueth ware to arrogant, and lift vp their hornes againſt our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and furiouſly fight againſt him, let vsus turne away our faces from it: and not be ſo fooliſhe as to ſet light by the ſonne of God, becauſe it is not the blinde, & ſuch as Satan poſſeſſeth, and who are altogether bewitched, that doe praiſe and magnifie him and his worthines: but let vsus rather looke vntounto God, and then ſhall wée be throughly inſtructed in our faith. For ſince Ieſus Chriſte ſo groweth vp before God his Father, it is good reaſon that we for our partes ſhoulde magnifie him, and yéelde him the honour that belongeth vntounto him: To bée ſhort, let vsus learne to ſtay our ſelues wholy vponupon god, & thē we may boldly & fréely ſtand againſt all the world. And although there bee no reckoning made of the word of God, yet let vsus yéeld our obedience vntounto it as it were vntounto himſelfe. And why ſo? Forſooth becauſe that God ſhould be far dearer vntounto vsus then an infinite number of thoſe gaineſayers which would withdrawe vsus from comming vntounto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. And this is a very neceſſary point for vsus euen at this day: For (as wée hauehave ſaide) we ſée that the mightieſt and wiſeſt men of this worlde, fight notwithſtanding againſt the Goſpell, yea euen they which are not contented to be called Chriſtians only, but which alſo will be aboue all others, in the higheſt degrées, and yet are theſe men, I ſay, but Satans ſupporters to aboliſh the trueth of God, & ſuch as ſet thēſelues againſt our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt & his word. If this, I ſay, feare vsus let vsus conſider wel of ye which is héere ſaid, That if we ſée men ſo obſtinate & hard harted, as that they wil not receiue the ſonne of God when he offereth himſelfe vntounto them, wée ought to ſet our ſelues againſt euen the mightieſt of thē: becauſe then are but doung in reſpect of God. In very déede, as for the preſent time, they are of ſo great Maieſtie as that to our ſéeming all the world ſhould bowe & tremble before thē: But if we would lift vp our mindes vntounto God, & looke vntounto him, wtout doubt wee woulde care no more for al theſe fray baggles, then for a ruſh. Thus we ſée how we ſhould lift vp our faith to the end yt nothing which is héere below, might bee any let why Ieſus Chriſt ſhould not rule ouer vsus. And this is it which we hauehave to cō ſider of in this place. But becauſe God worketh after a ſtrange & incomprehenſible maner, it ſhoulde confirme vsus a great deale the more. For if the Goſpell were preached by men of great eſtimation, ſo that kings and princes, and al honourable eſtates eueryevery where ſubmitted thēſelues vntounto it, & that it might bee thus cōcluded whereunto we muſt ſticke, This is the heauenly trueth which we muſt agrée vntounto? And eueryevery man is to fauour it, and to put to all his force and ſubſtance. Nowe, this were like vntounto a far groūd well tylled, planted with trées & vines, & ſowen with wheat, which at the world helpeth, & ſpareth for no coſt. When land, then, is this tilled, & hath raine in due ſeaſon: and ſhould continue ſo, euer after: and to be ſhort, no coſt to be ſpared: Why? Surely this were the very naturall & kindly handeling of ground: and therefore a man woulde thinke, that God had not put his hande herevnto. But when wée ſée what diſputations and reſiſtances are at this day to oppreſſe the goſpel, & what a number of hired tongues for the ſame purpoſe (for not only the popiſh hypocrites at this day, let out their tongues like cōmon harlots to blaſpheme God & his word, but alſo a many of curres euen amongſt vsus) yet ſhal we beſides likewiſe ſee what crueltie they vſe againſt the poore childrē of God, laying cōtinually ſtrange platfourmes to the deuiſing of Edict, vponupon Edict, to bring this doctrine vtterly to naught. We ſhall alſo ſée at this day what vile and ſcornefull ſpéeches prophane men wil hauehave, becauſe they would aboliſh al religion. And therefore when we looke vponupon al theſe things we muſt néedes cōclude that God is aboue them al, & the doctrin victorious, & procéedeth frō him▪ Wherfore, this ought to confirme vsus, yt although we ſée there is nothing in the world to aduaunce ye dominion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, & the doctrine of his goſpel, but yt al things rather hinder it: yet notwithſtanding, that it findeth an entrāce & kéepeth his courſe. In the meane while we are conuinced of vnthākfulnes, if we take any offence thereat, ſéeing God calleth vsus vntounto himſelf, & ſheweth vsus, that it is his hādy worke: and therefore we muſt neceſſarily conclude, that it is miraculous, to ſée the goſpel thus proſper. Thus we ſée in ſumme, how we muſt put in practiſe this doctrin in theſe daies. Yet there is ſomthing more, and that is this, that Ieſus Chriſt muſt be diſfigured. The Prophet hath already ſaide, That hee ſhould be like vntounto a ſmall twigge: But that which is more, he ſhould bee contemned, refuſed, & not once vouchſafed to be looked on, neither ſhould there be any thing in him, that were to be deſired. And this is to declare, that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt ſhould, as we hauehave already ſaid, be vily eſtéemed of the world, and ſuffer al reproch and ſhame, as if men had not onelyonly forſaken him, but God alſo. Now to ſéek our ſaluation, which is a thing ſo greatly to be deſired, in him, in whom is no kinde of likelihood, this ſhould ſeeme to be a great abuſe. And therefore, if we wil come to Ieſus Chriſt, we muſt ouercome this tēptatiō. Now, this is a very neceſſary point, firſt, bicauſe the Iewes looked for an earthly kingdō: for this was ſo couetous & proud a natiō as yt they thought god could not ſhew himſelf merciful vntounto thē except he heaped on thē great riches of ye worlde, yt they might liue gloriouſly, & in al pleaſure: thus we ſée, what a redemer it was yt they looked for: and yet had God throughly aduertiſed thē, that the redemer ſhould be like vntounto a litle twig whō ye world ſhuld refuſe. And this admonitiō was not only neceſſary for thē, but alſo as neceſſary for vsus euē at this day: for this offēce remained after ye reſurrectiō of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, for S. Luke ſaith, yt the Gentiles made a mocke as it were, at Ieſus Chriſt, & the Iewes were venimouſly & maliciouſly armed againſt him, & ſtumbled at him as at a ſtūbling ſtone. And of theſe exāples, we hauehave ynough euen at this day with vsus. Wée are therfore to conſider ſo much the more of this doctrine, that is, that it muſt néedes bée that the ſonne of God muſt be thus miſhappen, and yll fauoured, and that there ſhoulde bée nothing in him woorthy commendation, in the ſight of the worlde: for by the way, we muſt alwaies hauehave this note which S. Iohn ſpeaketh of, that the glory of the ſonne of God appeared in him: howbeit ther were many blind fooles which neuer vnderſtood thus much. Now, when the Prophet Iſaiah ſaieth, that Ieſus Chriſt ſhalbée like a miſhappen & forlorne man, & ful of deformity, he ſignifieth héereby that it was impoſſible for a naturall man to vnderſtande that hée was ſent to ſaue them, & that hée ſhould hauehave all power both of life and death, and that the fulnes of al righteouſneſſe, wiſedome, and holineſſe ſhoulde bée in him no man, I ſay, was able to conceaue this in his head. Thus we ſée how this place is to be taken: For although our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt had done many notable miracles which teſtified his heauēly power, yet for all that, he remayned ſtil diſfigured and the faithleſſe perceiued it neuer a whit.
And therefore this place of the Prophet hath fully béene accompliſhed,Pſal. 45.3. that there was no gloriouſnes in Ieſus Chriſt to draw mē to like of him. It is very rightly ſaide of the Pſalmiſt, that he ſhuld be gloriouſly and beautifully lifted vp aboue al mankind: But this is a ſpiritual beautifulneſſe, accordingly as we hauehave already ſaid, That the glorie of the ſonne of God appeared in him: euen vntounto al thoſe that had had their eyes, and were able to ſée him. Loe then how our Lord Ieſus Chriſt hath ſurpaſſed all men in beautie: becauſe God had geuen him infallible markes & tokens, wherby hée might be known that he was in very déed, the liuely image of God his father.Iohn. 1.14. We hauehave then ſufficient reaſon ynough to magnifie our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt: Howbeit the worlde knew it not. And ſo, we muſt come backe againe vntounto the ſaying of the Prophet, that eueryevery man hath turned his backe, and cloſed vp his eyes, as againſt a moſt horrible and deteſtable thing. What? to ſeeke for lyfe in death? to truſt to him that coulde not helpe himſelf? to ſéeke ſtrength and power in him, that was ſo weake? what a thing were this? To be ſhort, we al know, & hauehave had too too much experience in our ſelues, yt as our Lord Ieſus Chriſt was abaſed in his death euē ſo wil our faith he caſt downe headlong, if it be not vpholden from elſwhere. When there is any queſtiō of the ſetling our ſelues vpō our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, in running, & truſting fully & wholly to him, then this cōſideration cōmeth into our minds, what, how be this? why he was ſo abaſed in his death, as yt a man would thinke al were marred, & cleane loſt. Thē muſt wee hauehave recourſe to this ſaying of the Prophet: that although hee was abaſed in his death, yet ye God exalted him aboue al the reſt of his creatures. And thus muſt we lift vp our faith vntounto the heauens. But, hée as be may, let vsus learne not to take any offence, at the crucifiyng of the ſonne of God neither yet at the ſhames & ſlanders which he ſuffered in his owne perſon, nor at the diſdaining of his members at this day, and at all the reproches which are done vntounto them in the whole world: let not al theſe dooings, I ſay, withdraw vsus frō continually remaining firme & conſtāt in ye faith of the Goſpel, Now, becauſe this cō bate or cōflict is hardly to be performed, marke why ye prophet bringeth vsus back to ye reaſō, why our Lord Ieſus ſuffred: for, to ſay truly, it is impoſſible for vsus to truſt vntounto ye ſōne of god, vntil ſuch time as we are ſurely & certainly perſuaded of the fruit & benefit which cōmeth vntounto vsus by his death & paſſiō. And why ſo? forſooth, becauſe at ye firſt ſight (as I hauehave already ſaid) a mā would cōdemne it to be a fooliſh thing, yt a mortal man ſhould be the Author of life: that he ſhould die no ſimple death, but ſuch a ſlanderous death, as God curſed, euen to be hanged as a théefe vponupon the Gallow trée. Now whē we ſhoulde ſée all this geare, no doubt of it, wée ſhould be brought into ſuch a maruellous hatred of the matter, as that we ſhould neuer be able to come vntounto Ieſus Chriſt, but héere is the righteſt remedie that we hauehave, that we vnderſtād why he died, how his death hath profited vsus, & what benefit we hauehave receiued by it: & then wée ſhall auoyde all offences. As for exāple, if griefe & ſorrow oppreſſe my hearte, and doe beholde the onelie Sonne of God to bée, as it were, troade vnderunder foote, and abhorred of all men, I muſt néeds enter into a cōſideration with my ſelfe: For if I looke but only into Ieſus Chriſt, I ſhal paſſe it ouer, & make no reckoning of it: but if in the firſt place I looke vntounto my ſelfe, & afterwarde come vntounto him, then ſhal I finde a good ſauour and taſte in his ſuffering. And how ſo? Forſooth if I conſider with my ſelfe that I am a miſerable ſinner, and hauehave ſo prouoked the wrath of God againſt me, as that he is become mine enemy, and my Iudge: if then I thinke of my ſinnes, and therevpon doe conceyue what an horrible and terrible thing the wrath of God is, and that hée is my iudge to caſt mée into the bottomleſſe pitte of hell, then will I begin to ſay, Goe to now, what meane haſt thou to make an attonement betwéen God and thée? Art thou able any way to ſatiſfie him, only for the leaſt offence that thou haſt committed againſt him? Alas no, thou arte no way able. Can I with trauelling by Sea and lande all the worlde ouer, be able to make recompence? Can the Angels of heauen helpe mée? No ſurely. Why then it is Ieſus Chriſt alone that muſt appeare for mée in my name, & he muſt bée my pledge and warrant. Thus we ſée that the death and paſſion of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt ſhalbee no more any fooliſhneſſe vntounto vsus: but wee ſhall thinke that becauſe wée were thus accurſed, and had no remedie to find fauour at the handes of GOD, ſince we had ſo prouoked him to bée our enimie, it could not bée choſen but that wee muſt néeds bée eftſoones ſubiect to Satā & vntounto his tiranny, vntil ſuch time as Ieſus Chriſt had deliuered & quited vsus of thē, Thus we ſée how we ſhould begin to magnifye the infinit goodneſſe of this our God, which is an abhorring our ſinnes, and by being a ſhamed of them as much as is poſſible. We alſo ſée how this imaginatiue offence and fond deuice of the death and paſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, ſhall bee blotted out, to wit when we ſhal enter into the conſideratiō of our ſelues, and truly trie our ſinnes, and acknowledge that we are ſo deteſtable vntounto God, as that he him ſelfe muſt néedes come in the perſon of his ſonne to make ſatiſfaction for them, & to repayre our iniquities, to the ende we might be reconciled vntounto him. And this is héere the order of the Prophet On the one ſide he ſayeth, that Ieſus Chriſt ſhall hauehave nether forme nor faſhion, and that nothing ſhall be founde in him worthy to bée deſired. And that which is more, to ſée him a farre of, would make a mans hart yarne. Howbeit, when he had ſaid all this, he addeth, Now, it was for our ſins, that he was afflicted. As if he had ſaide, Ah miſerable blind ſoules, you make no reckoning of the ſonne of God: yea and eueryevery of you through your vnthankfulneſſe ſhutteth the gate ſo hard vponupon him-as that you are no way able to come néere him, to obtaine the ſaluation which he bringeth you. And what ſhould be the cauſe? truly, for that you hauehave not knowne your ſins, that you might be humbled, and becauſe you are drowſy and blockiſh, and féede your ſelues with your vaine flatteries: but looke into your miſeries & corruptions, and then wyll you be aſhamed of your ſtate & conditiō, & acknowledge that you hauehave none other meane, but Ieſus Chriſt alone to be your mediator, who taketh vponupon his owne perſon, the thing which made you the enimies of God, who becommeth your pleadge, & maketh him ſelfe as a poore ſinner, to lay vponupon his own ſhoulders ye burthē of your ſins. Now, when you ſhal think vpō all theſe things, thē wil you find ſome good ſauor to ſubmit your ſelues vntounto ye ſonne of God: & not cleaue any more to your vain fantaſies, nether yet be offended that Ieſus Chriſt was thus bacely accompted of, whenas you ſhall vnderſtande in what condemnation you hauehave deſerued, and the recompence and ſatiſfaction due for ye ſame. Moreouer, ye Prophet namly ſaith, we hauehave ſeene him, & diſdained him, therby to declare, yt our Lord Ieſus ſhould not only be contē ned & reiected of the ſmaleſt nūber of people, but euen of the greteſt nūber of his peculier people. for whē ye prophet ſetteth hī in ye ranke of thoſe which had refuſed our Lord Ieſus, he had a regard vntounto ye people of the Iewes, whereof he came: and he ment alſo, ouer and beſides this, to ſhewe that this was the common opinion as a man would ſay, that Ieſus Chriſt was reiected in all places. And therefore we are ſo much the more ſurely armed, not to tie our ſelues to mens fantaſies, when as we ſhall not onelyonly ſée in this behalf hundreths of infidels, but alſo great troupes, and mightie armies, yea Myllions, that a man ſhall hardly finde thrée or foure amongſt an hundreth, which will quietly ſubmit them ſelues vntounto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt: and albeit we ſée it to be thus, yet let vsus for all that cleaue faſt vntounto him. Thus we ſée in ſumme, what we hauehave to cō ſider of, in this place. For, if we ſhould at this day come to voyces, and a fewe weake people ſhould beholde it, what? would they ſay, There is but a ſmall handfull of men which beléeue the Goſpell: howbeit, if they were the greater number, I could bée well contented to goe that way: but for mée, to thruſt my ſelfe into ſo ſmall a company, and forſake the greater multitude, what a folly were that? Now, the Prophet, to the end hée might cut the throat of theſe obiections, ſayeth, that there woulde not be aboue foure or tenne at the moſt, but that all men for the more parte, woulde refuſe to obey our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt. And no doubt of it, his meaning was to finde fault perticulerly with the Iewes: For wée hauehave alredie alledged out of the eight Chapiter, that hée ſhould be a ſtumbling blocke to theſe two houſes, to wit, to the trybe of Abraham. Wée ſée then, that a man would hauehave thought that the people whom God had ſpecially choſen to him ſelfe, muſt néedes hauehave knowne their Redéemer. For, to whom was Ieſus Chriſt promiſed? Forſooth, euen to the Iewes: For it is ſaide, that he was the Miniſter of the Circumciſion, to the ende hée might accompliſhe the promiſes made vntounto the Fathers.Rom. 11.8▪ Pſal. 118.22 And therefore the Iewes muſt néedes bée acquainted with Ieſus Chriſt before he appeared vntounto the worlde, and with eaſe receiue him: Nowe, it is ſayde, that the principall and chiefe builders refuſed him, to wyt, the Princes and heades of the people. And euen ſo fareth it at this day: For, not onelyonly Turkes, and Infidelles refuſe Ieſus Chriſt, but alſo verie many falſe Chriſtians in name: yea, and wée ſhall hauehave numbers that profeſſe the Goſpell, who many tymes, become prophane, and villainous ſcorners of God, and woulde gladly that all the doctrine of ſaluation were clearely aboliſhed: for the ſhewe that they make of it, is onelyonly for the ſhame of men. But howeuer it is, we are ſure of this, that Ieſus Chriſt ſhall be refuſed and contemned: and if it had not béen ſo foretold of, our fayth might very wel hauehave bin ſhaken. But this ſaying of Iſaiah is a verie good ſtaffe for vsus to leane vntounto, euen as vntounto a ſure rock, when as we ſée all the worlde thus ſtumble at him, as to ſée ſome, to ſet them ſelues furiouſly againſt him & his doctrine, ſome to ſcorne him, and put out their tongues to ſpeake euill of all religion. But yet let vsus notwithſtanding, conſtantly perſeuere in our Fayth. Surely, it is greatly to be wiſhed for, that we might ſée Ieſus Chriſt a far off, and ſubmit our ſelues vntounto him, becauſe hée is the true Glaſſe and patterne of al holines. Howbeit, the more we ſée the world refuſe him, the greater ought our fayth to be. For howe is it poſſible for vsus to diſcerne, that Ieſus Chriſt is the Redéemer of the worlde? Forſooth, let vsus conſider what all the Prophets hauehave ſaide of him. For, to ſay truely, this is the onelyonly Glaſſe, wherein we muſt beholde the onelyonly Sonne of God: For, behold the true teſtimonies which God hath ſent down from heauen to ſet a ſure marke of him, that ſhould be the Redéemer, to wit, that all the worlde ſhould forſake him, and eueryevery man lift him ſelfe vp againſt him. And therefore ſince it is ſo, let vsus receiue him with this condition, and not doubt, that although it ſéemeth to vsus, that we ſhould be vtterly ouerthrowne, and troad vnderunder foote through the boldneſſe and pride of the vngodly, yet that God will magnifie our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, and ſo ſtrengthen our fayth by his holie ſpirit, as that it ſhall hauehave victorie vntounto the end: and that as our Lorde Ieſus hath ouercome the Deuill, as in the end, both hée, and all his Supporters, muſt be made his footeſtoole: euen ſo likewiſe, will hée cauſe vsus to tryumph with him to march vponupon all thoſe which perſecute, and lift them ſelues vp ſo furiouſly againſt vsus, and againſt all thoſe which contemne, and deſpight him.
Nowe, let vsus fall downe before the Maieſtie of our good God, and acknowledge our offences, beſéeching him to cauſe vsus ſo to féele them, as that we may grone and ſigh for them, ſo that we being after, truely humbled, may come to our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, knowing that in him muſt be all our helpe and comfort. And forſomuch as, it pleaſed God his Father to puniſh him for our ſinnes, Let vsus ſet all our affection vponupon him: and be ſo willingly gréeued for our prouoking of our God vntounto anger, as that we may hauehave, both our ſelues, and our ſinnes, in deteſtation and hatred, vntill ſuch time as we be throughly cleanſed of them. And that it would pleaſe him in the mean time ſo to aſſiſt vsus, as that we neuer dout, but that hée will be alwayes mercifull vntounto vsus, becauſe that Ieſus Chriſt hath not once onelyonly ſuffred to aboliſh our ſinnes, but alſo, daily offreth vsus forgiueneſſe of the ſame, when as we ſéeke that, at his handes, which is wanting in vsus. So let vsus beſéech him, that hée will not onelyonly graunt vsus, this grace, but vntounto all people and nations of the world, &c.