Fruitful Lessons Upon the Passion Burial Resurrection Ascension, passion · Commentary 16
Doctrine and fruite.
AFter that Chriſt had committed his vntounto the father, that he will care for them, defend & keepe them, while they liue in the world: he deſireth now that it will pleaſe him, finally alſo to ſaue them, and to take them to himſelf into his kingdome. With the which praier, he giueth a great conſolation to his diſciples, and all faithfull beleeuers, that we might be the more cheerefull to ſerue him, conſidering the high reward that is prepared for vsus: that for his ſake we ſhould ioyfully and ſtoutly beare all aduerſitie, ſeeing he will make vsus (yea hath made vsus alredy) partakers of his glory and of his kingdome.
Oh the great grace and incomprehenſible louelove of God towards vsus, who through his merciemercy and great louelove, whereas wee were children of wrath and damnation, hath made vsus his own children, elect and beloued: and when wee were dead in ſinne, hath with his ſon raiſed vsus vp from death, reuiued vsus, & made vsus ſit with him among thoſe of heauen in Chriſt Ieſu,Eph. 2 to declare vntounto the ages to come, the riches of his grace in kindnes and louelove to vsus ward, through Ieſus Chriſt.
Foraſmuch nowe as God hath cauſed the lyght of his glorie, euen Chriſt, to ſhine into our harts, and through the light of faith, hath kindled and purified our hearts, it is meete, that in this time we liue as children of light, to the intent that men may ſee the brightnes of thoſe good workes which proceede of faith, to the praiſe of our heauenly father.Math. 5 And thogh we be not as yet bodily with Chriſt, yet our heartes and mindes are alwaies aboue,Col 3. there as Chriſt ſitteth at the right hand of God: our conuerſation and being is in heauen, albeit wee are yet in corporall miſerie, with heart we deſire to die, and to be with Chriſt.Phil. 1 2. Cor. 3 Wee are ſure if this earthly houſe were fallen and broken downe, that we hauehave one euerlaſting in heauen. Wee are dead, but our life is reſerued with Chriſt in GOD. It is not euident yet what wee be, but when Chriſt our lyfe ſhall ſhewe himſelfe, then ſhall wee alſo appeare with him in glorie: euen when wee ſhall riſe vp, and bee taken vp in the ayre, and bee with him for euer,1. Theſ. …. and ſee his honour and glorie, which the Angelles delight to ſee and beholde.
Oh how great pleaſure and ioy is it, to beholde the eternall light that neuer quencheth, in the which no darkneſſe hath place: from the which ſhall bee expelled and caſt out, all they that woulde not receiue and know the light which God hath ſent into the world to illuminate them, but are blinded by the Prince of this world,2. Cor. 4 leaſt the the light of the Goſpel ſhould ſhine vponupon them? No wrong doth the righteous father vntounto them, when hee plagueth them, and taketh the light from them. A righteous and iuſt iudgement is it, ſeeing the gracious Father ſo mercifully ſent them the light of the truth, and they yet ſo maliciouſly and ſtubbornly hauehave deſpiſed and refuſed it: yea, reaſon it is, that they periſh in vntruth, in lies,Iohn. 3. & in euerlaſting blindnes: for aſmuch as they wold receiue darknes rather than the light, lies rather than the truth. And conſidering that they hauehave forſaken the brightnes of the truth, and of the ſon of God: they muſt needes be caſt into vtter darkenes, and neuer enioy the light.
O gracious Father, graunt vntounto vsus, which thorow thy ſonne hauehave known thy name, that in ſuch knowledge and light of the truth, wee may increaſe more and more: that the louelove wherewith thou loueſt thy deare ſonne, may bee and remaine in vsus, and that thy onelyonly begotten ſonne Ieſus Chriſt our head, may in vsus his members continue ſtill, worke, liue, and bring forth fruit acceptable vntounto thee.
AND when Ieſus had ſpoken theſe words, he went out with his Diſciples (as hee was woont) ouer the brooke Cedron, vntounto mount Oliuet, into a village called Gethſemani, wheras was a garden, into the which Ieſus went with his diſciples. Iudas nowe, who betrayed him, knewe alſo the place, for Ieſus vſed oft to come thether with his diſciples. Ieſus ſayd vntounto his Diſciples: Sit ye heere, till I go yonder and pray. And he tooke vntounto him Peter and the two ſonnes of Zebede, and began to be heauy and ſony. And a feare and terrour came vppon him. Thus ſaid he vntounto them, my ſoule is heauie vntounto the death: tarrie ye heere and watch with me. And hee went from them as farre as a ſtones caſt. Then fell he downe vppon his face to the ground and praied: that if it were poſsible, that houre might depart from him. And thus hee praied: O father, vntounto thee are all thinges poſsible: take this cuppe from mee: howbeit not my will, but thy will bee done.