Fruitful Lessons Upon the Passion Burial Resurrection Ascension, passion · Commentary 10
Doctrine and fruite.
FOr as much as it is our bounden duetie to beare witneſſe vntounto Chriſt with our mouth and life, & yet our weake fleſh feareth the hatred and reſiſtance of the worlde,Math 26. Acts. 1. Chriſt therefore promiſeth vsus heere, that hee will ſende vsus ſtrength from heauen: namely,Rom. …. the holy Ghoſt, firſt in our harts to bear witneſſe vntounto Chriſt, and then to open our mouthes, that we may teſtifie the Lord Chriſt, and his trueth manfully and without feare. Certaine it is, that all they which will liue here godly in Chriſt Ieſu,2. Tim. 3. muſt ſuffer perſecution. But ſeeing that to ſuffer ſuch aduerſitie, our fleſh is farre too ſlow, colde and feeble, God giueth vsus the ſpirit of his ſon,Rom. 8. Rom. 5. Acts· 2. to mooue, ſtrengthen and preſerue vsus in all goodnes. This ſpirit poureth out louelove into our hartes, expelleth all feare and terror (as we ſee in Peter on Whitſonday) & maketh vsus to ouercome all aduerſitie.
Iohn. 15.We are braunches in Chriſt the true vine, albeit as yet verie weake and tender, ſoone blowne awaie with the winde, or ſmitten downe other waies: but for as much as out of Chriſt wee receiue, yet the ſap and vertue of ſpirite and life, wee are in life preſerued that wee wither not away. Of this now muſt we bee mindfull in all aduerſitie, ſo that without ceaſing we pray vntounto GOD for his holie ſpirite, who is our inſtructer, comforter, and teacher. Wee ought to hauehave reſpect vntounto our fore-goer and finiſher of our faith, remembring, that wee ſuffer not as theeues and euill dooers,1. Pet. 4. but for his ſake, yea and that of the wicked. This ſhall make our aduerſitie and croſſe the more eaſie and light, when wee feele the comfort of the ſpirite, and beholde how ſhamefull a death Chriſt ſuffered for vsus. Therfore ſhould there no feare make vsus to ſhrinke from the confeſſion of Chriſt, and his trueth. Wee are not they that ſpeake, but it is the ſpirite of the Father which ſpeaketh in vsus.Math. 10. Wee maye not feare thoſe that kill the bodie,Luke 9. we may not bee aſhamed of him: ſo ſhall hee alſo knowledge vsus, and make vsus honourable in his fathers ſight. The honour of this world ſhould not bee dearer vntounto vsus than the glorie of God. And though wee die for it,Iohn. … yet ought we not to ſhrinke or ſtirre from the confeſſion of the trueth.
This ingendreth manie times much heauines and feare in vsus, that wee conſider onelyonly that which is preſent, little regarding that which is to come, and euerlaſting. And becauſe wee thinke that when GOD thruſteth vsus into aduerſitie, he is farre from vsus: whereas hee then is moſt of all with vsus by his grace, comfort, and ſtrength, and tryeth vsus through the croſſe, ſtanding behinde the wall,Cant. …. and looking through the grate vppon our conflict and battaile, yea, helping vsus to fight, and to ouercome. Therefore muſt we not alwayes bee children, wee muſt not hang ſtill at the breſt, ſeeking milke as children doo:1. Cor. 14. Heb. 5. but growe to a perfect age, learning to knowe Chriſt the Lord after the ſpirite, as hee now gouerneth, and is a mightie king: vnderunder whoſe banner wee muſt fight valiantly, and indure the croſſe vntounto the death, throwing behind vsus all thinges in this worlde,Pſal. 120. Iohn. 1…. and lifting vp our eyes and harts into heauen, whence our helpe commeth, and into the which Chriſt is gone, to prepare for vsus an euerlaſting dwelling.
ANd when the ſpirit is come, he will rebuke the worlde of ſinne, and of righteouſnes, and of iudgment. Of ſin, becauſe they beleeue not on me: of righteouſneſſe, becauſe I go to my father, and ye ſhall ſee me no more: of iudgment, becauſe the prince of this world is iudged alreadie. I hauehave yet many thinges to ſay vntounto you, but yee cannot heare them now. Howbeit when hee is come which is the ſpirite of truth, he will lead you into all truth. For he ſhall not ſpeake of himſelfe: but whatſoeuer he ſhall heare, that ſhall he ſpeake, and he will ſhew you thinges to come. Hee ſhall glorifie mee, for he ſhal receiue of mine, and ſhal ſhew vntounto you All things that the Father hath are mine. Therefore ſaid I, that he ſhal take of mine, and ſhew vntounto you.