Fruitful Lessons Upon the Passion Burial Resurrection Ascension, passion · Commentary 40
Doctrine and fruite.
OVt of the ſide of him that ſleeepeth vponupon the croſſe, runneth the fountain of wholſom water, with the which our vncleannes is waſhed away, and the whole world ſprinkled, purified, and cleanſed therewith. The heart is opened and wounded, louelove floweth out, the bloud guſheth forth, to the waſhing away of all our ſins. This is the true ſtonie rocke, which being ſmitten vponupon, giueth water vntounto our thirſtie ſoules: like as Eue was taken & faſhioned out of the rib & ſide of her husband that ſlept: ſo is the holie Church, the ſpouſe of Chriſt,Epheſ. …. ſhapen out of the ſide of her husband. This gate is opened wide to all faithfull beleeuers: hee that hideth himſelfe in this hole, is ſure from all hurt and harme. Of this holie and godly fountaine, who ſo drinketh once, or taketh a draught of the holie louelove, dooth forthwith forget all his aduerſities and griefes, and ſhall bee whole from all wicked heate of temporall luſtes and bodilie prouocations: feruently ſhall hee bee kindled in louelove and deſire of eternall thinges, and ſhall bee repleniſhed with the vnſpeakable goodneſſe of the holie Ghoſt: and in him ſhall bee a fountaine and well of liuing water,Iohn. 7. flowing into eternall life.
By this creepeth the poore ſinner into the louing heart of Ieſus Chriſt, which with exceeding great kindnes is pierced through: and there findeth hee reſt and quietnes in the ſtony rocke. Here are opened the conduites and well pipes of life, the way of our health, wherein we finde reſt vntounto our ſoules, & ſhadow for heate and trauaile: this fountaine of grace is neuer dried vp. This is the well of the godly … that floweth out of the middeſt of paradiſe, to wate… the whole earth, to moyſture the drie hearts, to waſh away ſinne.
Out of this plentifull well, ought wee with great deſire to draw and drinke, that from henceforth wee liue not in our ſelues, but in him who for our ſakes was wounded ſo deep. Our hart muſt we giuegive whollie vntounto him, that hath opened his heart ſo wide. His heart and ours muſt bee all one. Nothing requireth he of vsus but the heart. Sonne (ſaith he) giuegive mee thy heart. Our hart muſt we giuegive to the Lord, not to the world: to eternall wiſedome, not to lightnes. There do the true heardmans ſheepe find paſture, there are the water brookes of life, there may they goe in and out. Nothing is there vppon earth that ſo kindleth, draweth, and pierceth the heart of man, as dooth Chriſtes louelove declared vppon the croſſe. When wee thus ſurrender our heart vntounto the Lorde, when wee thus wholly and fully giuegive ouer our heart into the Lordes hands, that hee may keepe and poſſeſſe it for euer, then hauehave we bleſſed peace.
O Lord Ieſu Chriſt, drawe thou our hearts vntounto thee, ioyne them together in vnſeparable louelove, that they may feruently burne: that wee may abide in thee, & thou in vsus, & that the euerlaſting couenant betweene vsus may ſtand ſure for euer. O wound our hearts with the fiery darts of thy pearcing louelove. Let them pierce through all our ſlouthfull members and inward powers, that wee beeing happily wounded, may ſo become whole and ſound. Let vsus hauehave no louer but thy ſelfe alone, lette vsus ſeeke no ioy nor comfort, but onelyonly in thee.
Thus hauehave we the paſſion and death of our Lord and redeemer Ieſus Chriſt.Heb. 12. Now (as Paule ſaith) let vsus go foorth of the tentes, vntounto him that for our ſake is deſpitefully crucified without the Citie of Hieruſalem, and lette vsus helpe him to beare his rebuke, giuing him thankes and praiſe for his great louelove. In his death ſtandeth our life, for in his death is our death ſlaine: the ſting of death and firme is taken awaye. Heere finde wee true life and eternall ſaluation: here ſinne is forgiuen, and pardon graunted A poena & culpa: heere merciemercy is denyed vntounto no man, for the vertue and merites of the Lordes holie paſſion is bottomleſſe. Through his ſhame commeth eternall honour and glorie vntounto vsus. His paſſion is the wholeſome playſter for all woundes: his croſſe the ouerthrow of all enemies, and victorie againſt all vice.
From our whole heartes therefore ought wee to reioyce in the great and bleſſed fruites of thy holie paſſion.
O Lorde Ieſu, whileſt wee are in this feeble life, graunt vsus ſo to liue, that wee maye direct all our workes, deſires, and intentes, according to thy godlie will and pleaſure: that this our temporall courſe may bee founde and finiſhed in thy grace: that after the ouercomming of all temptations and carefull things, we may come to the reward of eternall ſaluation. Teach thou vsus dayly to die, and by the ſpirit to ſubdue the fleſh: that when the fleſh corrupteth, the ſpirit may be taken to eternall reſt. Graunt vsus grace, chearefully and continually to cleaue vntounto thy holy croſſe: O giuegive vsus bleſſed teares of true repentance, while the doore of grace ſtandeth open: graunt that we may ſtedfaſtly & bleſſedly finiſh the thing which commendably is begun.
Let our daily exerciſe bee in the confideration of the paſſion of Chriſt, let him be our mirrour continually: let vsus not ſhrinke from the croſſe, but indure with Chriſt in life & death: with him on the croſſe, with him in the graue and death, ſo ſhal we continue in reſt, peace, and quietneſſe: that when Chriſt our life ſhall appeare, we may riſe vp with him in glorie. God the Father, Sonne, and holie Ghoſt, grant this vntounto vsus all. Amen.