Fruitful Lessons Upon the Passion Burial Resurrection Ascension, passion · Commentary 9
Doctrine and fruite.
LIke as Chriſt in the aforeſaid words hath giuen vntounto his Diſciples, and to vsus that beleeue in him, an excellent conſolation in his louelove, which is infinite great towardes vsus: ſo dooth he now comfort vsus againſt ſuch trouble and aduerſitie to come, as outwardly happeneth vntounto vsus, and againſt the hate and perſecution wherewith the children of the world recompence vsus for our louelove and well dooing. LoueLove ought wee to hauehave towards all men: ſuch godly louelove ſhall moue vsus earneſtly to further Gods glorie, to bring all men to the knowledge and louelove of God, and to withdraw them from fleſhly luſtes and worldly vices. When wee now of a godly zeale, beginne thus to rebuke vice, and to reprehend the carnall luſtes of the children of the world, then they that are drowned in the ſhamefull vices of the world and the fleſh, may not ſuffer it, but hate, trouble, and vexe vsus, moleſt, perſecute vsus, and put vsus vntounto death, contemning and deſpiſing the worde which wee offer them from GOD (whereby they might bee ſaued) and going about by all meanes to roote it out.
But all this ought not to driue vsus backe,Exhortation to patienes. or diſcourage vsus: For in this world muſt we ſeeke no high honour nor praiſe, but willingly humble and ſubmit our ſelues vnderunder the rebuke and croſſe with Chriſt our head.1. Pet. 3. Iohn. 13. Chriſt alſo exhorteth vsus to folow his footſteppes, and to doe after his example, and not to forſake the truth, and louelove of our neighbour for theyr hatred, but conſtantly to proceed and do our beſt to guid all men vntounto God. And if for ſuch our vnfaithfulnes and louelove, there happen reproach and trouble to vsus,Acts. 5. we ought to reioice, that God dooth vsus ſo great honour, as to graunt vsus to ſuffer ſomewhat for his name ſake. If we liued as do the children of the world wee ſhould not bee hated of them, and happily wee needed to feare but little daunger. But Chriſt hath taken vsus from the world, and choſen and called vsus to good works, and to innocencie of life. Nothing hath he omitted, that might ſerue to our welfare: faithfully therefore ought we to follow his vocation, & not do as the vnthankfull Iewes, that deſpiſe his doctrine and workes. He talketh yet daily with vsus, prouoketh and calleth vsus: therefore ought we to ceaſe from ſin, and not to faſhion our ſelues after the world.Rom. 12. For if we would liue to pleaſe the world, to ſerue it, and to hunt after the fauour and praiſe of it, wee ſhould not be faithfull Miniſters of Ieſus Chriſt. We ought not to look for worldly honor, but to hauehave reſpect to the eternall glorie, which wee ſhall hauehave with Chriſt our head, yea ſo farre as we ſuffer rebuke and diſhonour with him. When he liued in this time, and practiſed the truth againſt the Phariſies, hee was reuiled, put to ſhame and death. The ſame happeneth alſo vntounto vsus; for we are not aboue the Lorde. An euill token were it, if the world loued vsus. Paciently therefore and with ioy ought we to beare ſuch rebuke and ſhame, as happeneth vntounto vsus for his name ſake, by thoſe that hate the truth. For our honor and reward is great in heauen: but after our trouble ſhall the ſame be firſt opened, as it happened alſo vntounto Chriſt our head firſt after the croſſe.
BVt when the comforter is come, whom I will ſend vntounto you from the father (euen the ſpirit of truth, which proceedeth of the father) he ſhall testifie of me. And yee are witneſſes alſo, becauſe ye hauehave beene with me from the beginning. Theſe things hauehave I ſaide vntounto you, that ye ſhould not be offended. They ſhall thrust you out of their ſynagogues, & excommunicate you: yea the time ſhall come, that whoſoeuer killeth you, will thinke that he doth ſeruice vntounto God. And ſuch thinges ſhall they doo vntounto you, becauſe they knowe not the father, neither me. But theſe things hauehave I told you, that when the houre is come, yee may remember that I tolde you. Theſe thinges ſaid I not vntounto you at the beginning, becauſe I was with you. But now I go my way to him that ſent me, & none of you asketh mee; Whither goest thou? But becauſe I hauehave ſaid ſuch things vntounto you, your harts are full of ſorrow. But I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I goe awaie. For if I go not away, that comforter will not come vntounto you. But if I depart, I will ſend him vntounto you.