Fruitful Lessons Upon the Passion Burial Resurrection Ascension, passion · Commentary 3
Doctrine and fruite.
GOod vertuous children ſhould harken moſt diligently vntounto the wordes of their father, and faſten them in their hartes: but ſpecially thoſe wordes which hee ſpeaketh and committeth vntounto them, now when hee mindeth by death to departe from them, and to take his leaue of them. For the ſame wordes (beeing the laſt) pierce verie deepe into the heart, and are neuer forgotten. Seeing then, that we are Gods children, and Chriſt heere nameth vsus ſo to be, with his Diſciples: wee ought verie diligently to ponder and conſider all his words and doctrine, but ſpecially ſuch as hee vttered vntounto them, when hee now would goe to his paſſion. For there ſhal we find an ardent, earneſt, and feruent doctrine, full of moſt excellent, godlie, and ineſtimable louelove, proponed and thruſt into their heartes, with wordes ſweeter than honie. In this Oration bringeth hee foorth ſpecially that ſame, which moſt of all concerneth his Diſciples. Firſt the eternal wiſedome declareth, that hee is ignorant of nothing, that vntounto him there is nothing hid. Hee knoweth what ſhall happen vntounto them through weakeneſſe of the fleſh, and feare of men: albeit our feeblenes and imbecillitie doth alwaies breake foorth, preſume, and brag more, than wee euer are able to performe, as wee hauehave example in Peter. Such headie raſhneſſe the Lorde rebuketh, admoniſhing vsus of our owne weakeneſſe, and fall.
Moreouer, wee ought to conſider in Chriſt our head and fore-runner, how earneſtly, and louingly, he mentioneth and warneth the traytour, ſetting his great offence before his eyes, and alwaies touching him, to remoue him from his wicked purpoſe. Yet maketh hee mention of him, and of the vice, in ſuch ſort, that hee neuer deſireth his hurt, but onelyonly his conuerſion and amendment. His deſire is, that hee were reformed, not that hee ſhould be bewrayed, or that any harme ſhould happen vntounto him by him or others. Such lenitie and gentlenes ought wee alſo to ſhewe and declare vntounto our enemies, and thoſe that hurt vsus: if it only concerne vsus, we ſhould not be deſirous of vengeaunce. And though wee all ought ſore to mourne in the Church, that is to ſaye, in the Chriſtian congregation, if there be tranſgreſſors and naughty people, applying our diligence the beſt we can, that ſuch bee not therein: yet whereas their vices be ſecret, and as yet not opened, we ought in louelove and patience to beare and ſuffer them vntill the harueſt, when the Lorde ſhall purge and cleanſe his ſtoore. Beſides this, wee ought not to ceaſe with warning and aduertiſement, with correction & doctrine, that they may leaue off from their obſtinate wickednes.
And when the congregation of God through his grace is quite of ſuch euill people, and diſcharged of ſuch wicked blemiſhes, God muſt bee thanked, and diligence applyed, that no wicked thing breede therein againe.
LoueLove.But aboue all things muſt we regard that principall and new commaundement which Chriſt giueth vsus; namely, vponupon the louelove, that he after a new ſorte hath declared and performed: by the which louelove he reneweth thoſe that are his, and plentifully indueth them through the holy Ghoſt, whome hee giueth in their hartes. LoueLove comprehendeth and fulfilleth all lawes: therefore Chriſt leaueth all other commaundements, and admoniſheth vsus onelyonly of louelove.
LoueLove hath he himſelfe ſhewed vsus afore-hand: of him muſt we learne to louelove. LoueLove is the aſſured and vnfailing euidence of the children of God. Who ſo hath not it, though he had all other vertues, yet hath he nothing, neither is it profitable to him that hee hath. If he hauehave louelove, then hath he all thinges that are neceſſary for his health & ſaluation. Therfore ought we to regard nothing ſo much as louelove. There is nothing more acceptable, nothing more perfect, nothing better in heauen and earth, than louelove: for it is of God, and may reſt no where elſe but in God. Onlie louelove maketh vsus godly, and ſhapeth vsus likeſt vntounto God: namely, that louelove which ſpringeth and groweth out of a pure heart, out of a good conſcience, and of an vnfeined faith. Neuertheles wee muſt louelove one another, not with wordes onelyonly, and with tongues, but with the deede, and in the trueth, euen with our whole harts, as Chriſt loued vsus.
IESVS ſaid vntounto his Diſciples: Let not your hartes bee troubled. If ye beleeue in God, beleeue in mee. In my Fathers houſe are many manſions. If it were not ſo, I would hauehave told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come againe, and receiue you euen vntounto my ſelfe, that where I am, ye may be alſo: and whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Then ſaid Thomas: Lord, we wote not whither thou goest: and how is it poſsible for vsus to know the way? Then ſaid Ieſus: I am the way, the truth, and the veritie. No man commeth vntounto the Father, but by me. If ye had knowne me, yee had knowne my Father alſo. And now ye know him, and hauehave ſeene him. Philip ſaid vntounto him: Lord, ſhew vsus the Father, and it ſufficeth vsus. Ieſus ſaid vntounto him: HaueHave I beene ſo long time with you, & yet hast thou not knowne me? Philip, he that hath ſeene me, hath ſeene the Father. And how ſaiest thou then: Shew vsus the Father? Beleeuest thou not, that I am in the Father, & the Father in me? The words that I ſpeake vntounto you, I ſpeak not of my ſelfe, but the Father that dwelleth in me, is he that doth the workes. Beleeue me, that I am in the Father, & the Father in me. At least beleeue me for the verie workes ſake. Verely verely I ſay vntounto you: he that beleeueth on mee, the workes that I do, the ſame ſhall he do alſo, and greater works than theſe ſhall he do, becauſe I go vntounto my Father. And whatſoeuer ye aske in my name, that will I doo, that the Father may be glorified by the Sonne. If ye ſhall aske any thing in my name, I will do it.