Fruitful Lessons Upon the Passion Burial Resurrection Ascension, passion · Commentary 28
Doctrine and fruite.
THe euerlaſting wiſedome of God is mocked & ieſted at, as a deſert foole, the truth is belied. VsUs therefore that of nature are fooliſh and liers, it ſhuld not grieue to be reuiled for Gods ſake. No anſwere giueth Chriſt to the vngodly voluptuous king (who of a curious deſire, woulde faine hauehave ſeene or heard ſome new thing of Chriſt) for at that houre to anſwere, it could not edifie. It was a time wherein it pleaſed him to ſuffer, not to doo miracles. Thus the innocent Lord Ieſus, for vsus guiltie is drawen and haled from one vnrighteous iudge to another▪ All reproch, ſhame, diſhonour, and deriſion, taketh he vppon himſelfe for our ſakes, euerie where is hee grieuouſly accuſed, in eueryevery place is there hurt done vntounto him, and after many queſtions and examinations, they hang him vp vponupon a croſſe. Thus the high God is brought low, as if he were moſt vile, the almightie is defaced, as if he were moſt weake of all: the wiſeſt of all, is laughed to ſcorne, as if hee were a naturall foole: the moſt vnguiltie is handled as an euill doer.
This ſpectacle ought wee verie diligently to behold, for wee are laden with grieuous burdens of all wickedneſſe, and hauehave for our iniquitie deſerued ſo much, that wee are worthie of all rebuke, ſhame, and confuſion, yet are wee vnpatient, when wee bee deſpiſed. Neuertheleſſe all ſuch vile intreating doth Chriſt ſuffer for our ſakes, to deliuer vsus from eternall … and confuſion, which wee iuſtly hauehave de….
O Lord take from vsus all wantonneſſe and pride. … vsus, thy ſeruaunts, wilfully & … our bodies, whereas thou Lord, king of heauen, are ſcornefully deſpiſed in a fooles coate? O Lord ſet thou before our eies and heartes the contempt and deriſion that was done vntounto thee. Teach vsus to followe thee thorough the contempt and hatred of our ſelues, and to reioyce when wee are deſpiſed.
Let vsus neuer ſet our hope vponupon men, vponupon praiſe, vponupon honour, vponupon power, vppon monie: but that from the bottome of our harts, we may be able to deſpiſe all temporall things, and louelove thereof, and firmly and ſteadfaſtly to followe after thee, O Lord Ieſu, our welfare, that as touching all the rebuke and contempt which thou for vsus, poore vnworthie ſinners, haſt ſuffered, wee may beare the ſame in the perpetuall remembraunce of our heart, and neuer forget it, Amen.
PIlate called together the high Prieſts and chiefe rulers with the common people, and ſayde vntounto them: Yee hauehave brought this man vntounto mee, as one that peruerteth the people. And behold, I examined him before you, & finde no fault in this man, of thoſe things whereof yee accuſe him, no nor yet Herode. For I ſent you to him, & lo, nothing worthie of death is done vntounto him. So Pilat went againe into the iudgement hall, and called Ieſus, and ſayde vntounto him: Art thou the king of the Iewes?
Then anſwered Ieſus Speakeſt thou that … others tolde it thee of me? Pilate anſwered▪ … Iew? Thy people and thy high Prieſtes … vntounto me: What hast thou done? Ieſus anſwered … … dome is not of this world: if my kingdome were of this world aſſuredly my miniſters would fight for mee, that I ſhould not be giuen ouer vntounto the Iewes. But now is not my kingdome from hence. Then ſayd Pilate, Then art thou a king. Ieſus aunſwered: Thou ſayeſt it, I am a king. For this cauſe was I borne, & for this cauſe came I into the world, that I ſhould beare witneſſe vntounto the truth. Who ſo is of the truth, heareth my voyce. Then ſayde Pilate vntounto him, What is truth? When hee ſayde this, hee went foorth againe to the Iewes, and ſayde vntounto them: I finde no fault in him. But ye hauehave a cuſtome, that I ſhoulde deliuer one vntounto you looſe at Eaſter. Will ye that I looſe vntounto you the king of the Iewes? Whome will ye that I ſhall let goe? Barrabas, or Ieſus which is called Chriſt. For he knew, that the Prieſtes had of enuie and hatred deliuered him vp. Then cried they all, and ſayd: Not him, but Barrabas. As for Barrabas, he was a murtherer, who becauſe of an vproare made in the Citie, and for man-ſlaughter, was layde in priſon. Then ſpake Pilate farther with them, willing to let Ieſus looſe. But they cried, Crucifie him, crucifie him. Then ſaid he vntounto them the third time: What euill then hath he don? I finde no cauſe in him. Therfore will I puniſh him, and let him go.