Fruitful Lessons Upon the Passion Burial Resurrection Ascension, resurrection · Commentary 14
Doctrine and fruit.
WHEN Ieſus with manie euidences had certified his Diſciples of his Reſurrection, he ſheweth them now to what excellent glorie, and how high power his heauenly father hath brought him, wherby their hearts might be ſtabliſhed: and how that all thinges are iuſtly ſubdued vntounto him, who through the croſſe hath ouercome, gotten a glorious victorie, and ſuppreſſed the Prince of this world. And though ſome now declare themſelues contrary to his kingdome, and are not obedient vntounto his power, but perſecute and kill him in his members (ſaying:Luke. 19. Wee will not hauehave him to raigne ouer vsus) reſiſting and gathering themſelues together againſt God and his annointed king,Pſal. 2. how mightie ſoeuer they be: yet ſhall he bruiſe them with an iron rodde, and as an earthen veſſell all to breake them: yea they muſt become his foot-ſtoole,Pſal. 109. and hee ſhall raigne for euer.
As if he would ſay: In moſt perfect humilitie, in higheſt patience, and beeing in greateſt contumelie, I hauehave hitherto ſerued you, and all mankinde: but now is the time come, that the Father will glorifie mee, and bring me to high honor, which I had afore the worlde was made,Iohn. 17. Phil. 2. that in my name all knees ſhould bowe: for I am ſette aboue all power, and dominion, hauing all thinges in my hande. From henceforth ſhall I bee worſhipped and honoured of the Angels in heauen, and of all men vppon earth. And foraſmuch as I hauehave receyued a whole power ouer all fleſh, I ſende you, not onelie vntounto the Iewes as afore, but vntounto all nations in the whole worlde,Math. 10. for in my ſelfe hauehave I ſanctified the whole nature of man. Looke therefore that yee declare this ioyfull and gratious meſſage vntounto all men, and plant them in with baptiſme vntounto the Father, to the Sonne, and to the holy Ghoſt. And thoſe whom ye baptize, ſee that ye teach to obſerue and keepe all that ye hauehave receyued of mee. Ye muſt alſo bee ſtout, and not faint harted. Many afflictions, much euill will, great perſecution, ſhal happen vntounto you: but conſider how mightie a Lord ye hauehave, vntounto whom is giuen all power in heauen and earth: hee is able enough to defend and ſaue you from all enemies. And albeit that I goe nowe from you as touching corporall habitation, yet will I bee ſtill remayning with you, with my power, grace, woorking, and protection, vntil the end of the worlde. Wherefore goe your way, ſette your whole delight in mee, keepe your ſelues vntounto me alone, ſo can ye not miſcarrie.
O how excellent and great conſolation is this vntounto all faithfull and beleeuing hearts? O how mightie a ſtrength is it in all aduerſities and daungers of this worlde, to heare and conſider, that all power in heauen and earth is giuen vntounto Chriſt our Lorde and king, vnderunder whoſe protection and winges wee are ſafe and well preſerued? And who cannot vnderſtand that this promiſe reacheth not onelyonly vntounto the twelue Diſciples, vntounto whom it was then made, but vntounto all faithfull beleeuers,Iohn. 17. which through their doctrine are come vntounto Chriſt? For thoſe twelue did not continue in this life vntill the ende of the worlde: and yet hee ſayth: I will be with you vntill the end of the world. Wherefore wee may well perceiue, that Chriſt vntill the end of the world, will be with all faithfull beleeuers: that is to ſay, with his holie church, to inſtruct, teach, ſtrengthen, comfort, defend and deliuer it, againſt all malitious violence of this world.Iohn. 10 In his hand they are ſafe and well kept, & no man is able to plucke them out of his hande. Although the worlde rage, and the deuill the prince of the world, ſette all his power (as great as it is) againſt the Church of Chriſt:Math. 16. yet are not the gates of hel able to doe anie thing againſt it: for it is founded and ſtrongly builded vponupon Chriſt the rocke: and he that is with it vntounto the end of the world, is mightier than all enemies.
Now foraſmuch as the diſciples of Chriſt ſhould bring the heauenly doctrine throughout the whole world, man being yet of himſelfe vnable to comprehend the doings of God: he therefore firſt expounded and declared the Scriptures vntounto them, as Luke mentioneth: and ſeeing they were ſimple vnlearned men, hee opened to them their vnderſtanding. But to the intent they might not think: What ſhould we poore ſimple bodies doe againſt ſo many learned & wiſe men? Who wil arme vsus againſt thoſe that are ſo mightie? Therfore he breatheth vponupon them, & ſaith: Receyue the holie Ghoſt, whome hee there giueth them, and therewith ſtrengtheneth them inwardly, but with much more power and might vponupon Whitſonday: whereupon he commandeth them to wait at Hietuſalem,Ioel 2. where he will ſend them the promiſe of the Father: cloathing the weake with heauenlie ſtrength, as with a garment, and arming them as with a ſhield.
What good thing then can hee lacke, or what euill thing can hurt him, which is his meſſenger (that hath all power in heauen and in earth) and with whome ſuch a king is euer abiding?
But when Chriſt would ſend out his diſciples, he ſaith vntounto them: As my father hath ſent me, ſo ſend I you. Whereunto did the father ſend his ſonne into the world? Euen that hee ſhould open the glorie of the father vntounto the world: that he ſhould declare the will of the heauenly Father: that hee ſhoulde offer health vntounto the worlde. This to doe, Chriſt alſo ſent foorth his Diſciples. He ſent them not to ſeeke after vaine-glorie, after power and riches, after bodilie pleaſure and worldly pompe, but to do as he himſelf did.Luke. 15. Chriſt ſought the loſt ſheepe, brought men vntounto the knowledge and louelove of the true liuing GOD, taught them to lead a vertuous and honeſt life. Hee was a Phiſition,Math. 9. went to the ſicke, helped them, and healed them:Iohn 6. Iohn. 3. he was not come to do his owne will, but the will of his Father: hee was not come to condemne the world, but to ſaue it.
In all this, ought the miniſters of the worde to followe Chriſt, and to do as he did. VntoUnto this new heauenly and godlie life and worke, Chriſt giueth them the holie Ghoſt. For like as hee himſelfe was riſen into a newe life: Euen ſo through his holie ſpirite, will hee graunt and giuegive a newe life vntounto thoſe that are his. Therefore breatheth hee vppon them, to declare, that it is hee, who at the beginning made man, and nowe by his death had quickened him, and renewed him: and that euen he is the fountaine and giuer of the ſpirite. Thus vntounto his Diſciples he gaue the firſtlinges of the promiſed ſpirite, and with it a taſte of more and greater perfection, as an earneſt pennie.
All this declareth, what belongeth to true Apoſtles and Miniſters of the worde, which are ſent of Chriſt (for no man ſendeth himſelfe) what their office is: and that they which ſeeke the pleaſures of the bodie, honor, praiſe, and riches, are not followers of Chriſt, and ſucceſſors of the Apoſtles Wherefore moſt diligently ought wee to pray vntounto GOD, that he will giuegive vsus faithfull Miniſters of the worde, which looking truelie to the worke of Chriſt, maye leade vsus vntounto God.
But foraſmuch as without the holy Ghoſt, nothing can be fruitfully done, we muſt neuertheleſſe praie for his holy ſpirite, who may in vsus ſtirre vp holy thoughts and deuout deſires, directing and mouing our will, and ſo giuing power and ſtrength to accompliſh the works of God, and ſteadfaſtly therin to continue: and that the ſame holy ſpirit may illuminate and kindle our minds, and prouoke them vntounto all good and godly works. Conſidering then, that the keies which were promiſed vntounto Peter, & in him to the whole Church. Matthew 16. are heere giuen of Chriſt, wee will alſo intreate ſomewhat thereof.
Theſe keyes are nothing elſe than the Goſpell,Of the keies. Chriſt now deduceth his oration from the common cuſtome of men. Like as things corporal are ſhut and opened with the key: ſo be the conſciences of men ſhut or bound with the Goſpell. Thus are theſe the keies which Chriſt giueth vntounto the Apoſtles, vnburdening of conſciences and ſouls. And that commeth to paſſe, when the holy Ghoſt illuminateth the mind that it vnderſtandeth the miſteries of Chriſt, & committeth it ſelfe therevnto. To bee diſcharged or vnbound, is, when the minde that hath deſpaired of health or ſaluation, is lifte vp to an aſſured and vndoubted hope. To binde, is, to leaue the obſtinate & vnbeleeuing minde vntounto it ſelfe. Ieſus therefore ſendeth foorth his diſciples, to publiſh this health vntounto the whole world, and to exclude & ſeparate no man from this grace.
But firſt he giueth them the holy Ghoſt (as Iohn ſayth) that is, he openeth their mindes that they may vnderſtand the Scriptures, as Luke ſaith: for what is it elſe to open the vnderſtanding, but to giuegive the holy Ghoſt? Meete is it alſo and conuenient, that they which by the Goſpell ſhould beare Chriſt throughout the whole world, ſhould receiue the holy ghoſt. For if they ſhould preach Chriſt, it was neceſſarie they had Chriſts ſpirit, ſeeing that Chriſt & they had one manner of thing in hand: as, Chriſt was ſent of God, ſo were they ſent of Chriſt. Without fruit verily ſhould the miniſters of the word preach the goſpel, if they were not endued, illuminated, and inſpired with the holy Ghoſt.
Preach (ſaith he) the goſpel, that is the key wherewith the gate of heauen is opened. Who ſo beleeueth the Goſpell when hee heareth it preached, and vnderſtandeth it, feeleth comfort in his conſcience, that he is deliuered from ſinne.
Now doth the Goſpell ſet before vsus, not onelyonly the grace of God by Chriſt, throgh the which grace our ſinnes are forgiuen vsus, but alſo it teacheth and requireth a new life. Neyther doth anie man begin a new life, vnles he firſt be aſhamed of the former old and wicked life.Luk. 24 Therefore ſaith Luke, that Chriſt opened the mindes and vnderſtanding of the diſciples, that they might perceiue the Scriptures, namely, that he might thus and thus ſuffer, and riſe again: and that in his name, that is, in his commandement and power, conuerſion of life, and forgiueneſſe of ſinnes ſhould bee preached and declared among all people.
Therefore when the poore ſinner through the preaching of the holy Ghoſt, heareth his wicked and ſinfull life (for the holy goſpel rebuketh the world of ſinne) he beginneth to knowe himſelfe a ſinner, and to be diſpleaſed, repentant and ſorrie for his ſinnes: he conſidereth alſo, that he is well worthie of eternal puniſhment and damnation. By meanes whereof, through the multitude and greatneſſe of his ſinnes, he vtterly diſpaireth in his owne power and righteouſneſſe, and eternall ſaluation. But therewithall, he heareth alſo, that Chriſt (by reaſon of his ſins) came downe from heauen, and dyed for him vppon the croſſe, waſhed away al his ſinnes with his bloud, hath reconciled him with God, made him Gods child, & an eternall inheritour of his kingdome. And this he ſtedfaſtly beleeueth: I pray you doth not ſuch a mans heart leape for ioy, when hee heareth, that thorough Chriſt he is diſcharged of all the ſinnes that ſo ſore preſſed him?
The keies therefore are the pure word of God, which teacheth men to know themſelues, and to put their truſt in God through Chriſt. With that word, with thoſe keies do the miniſters of the worde open. For they that ſo are taught & inſtructed by the word of God, that they put all their confidence in God, through Chriſt, thoſe verily are looſed and diſcharged of their ſins. But he that either wil not heare, or when he heareth, will not receiue and beleeue this grace declared to the world through Chriſt, & offred vntounto him by the miniſters of the word, him doo the miniſters bind, that is, they leaue him ſtil in his error according as Chriſt commandeth his diſciples, Mat. 10. that from ſuch as will not receiue and heare their word, they ſhal depart, & ſhake off the duſt from their ſhooes vponupon them. Thus dyd Paul binde, Act. 13.18.
To bind then with the word, is nothing elſe, but (when the word of the grace of God is preached, & not receiued) to leaue ſuch impenitent people, and to hauehave no fellowſhip, neyther ought to do with the deſpiſers of the truth and grace. For in the daie of iudgement, it ſhall bee eaſier vntounto Sodome and Gomorrha, than vntounto ſuch.
Now although the word that the Apoſtles preach, is not theyr own, but Gods, & no man may cleanſe, vnbinde, and diſcharge from ſinne, but onelyonly God, yet Chriſt of his grace, and (according to the propertie of the Scripture) aſcribeth ſuch vntounto the Apoſtles. For the gracious father of his aboundant louelove and kindneſſe (and by reaſon of the couenant that he hath made with vsus) doeth oft aſcribe vntounto vsus many things, which can properly belong vntounto none, ſaue onelyonly to himſelfe. Neither is this any maruell, ſeeing he hath giuen vsus his onelyonly begotten and moſt deare ſonne, to be our owne: for how cannot he geue vsus al things with him?
Notwithſtanding, we ought not by reaſon hereof to be high minded and proud, and to aſcribe vntounto our ſelues, that which onelyonly is Gods: but much rather to be thankfull for his grace, and diligent in our vocation, faythfully to employ and beſtow the high treaſure & gifts of God, and not to abuſe them. This thing therefore extendeth not ſo farre, as that euerie one man (properly to ſpeake) doth of his owne power and authoritie forgiue ſinne. But foraſmuch as the Apoſtles and miniſters of the word, doo publiſh and declare remiſſion of ſinne, they bring the keyes and forgiue ſinnes miniſterially, and as miniſters. Neuertheleſſe, if here withal the ſpirit of God do not worke in the hearer to beleeue the word when it is prached, then is not the ſinne forgiuen: All the power therefore and working is Gods.
Thus the Apoſtles may damne no man, but vndoubtedly they may by the word declare damnation to the vnbeleeuers. Where an aſſured promiſe of grace is declared, there ſinnes are forgiuen.The holy Ghoſt that worketh in the Apoſtles forgiueth the ſinnes. Nowe when the Apoſtles ſhew vntounto ſinners remiſſion of ſinne, they doo it out of the holy Ghoſt, and are not deceiued: for they preach, that our ſinnes are pardoned vsus through Chriſt, who hath made ſatisfaction for them. If this faith vponupon Chriſt, bee liuely in vsus,Note this conditiō wel ſo that we abhorre ſinne, and bee deſirous of heauenly things, then are our ſinnes forgiuen vsus through the holy Ghoſt, for no man can ſay, that Ieſus is the Lord but by the holy Ghoſt.
The key there extendeth to this end, that the miniſter declare remiſſion of ſinnes thorough Chriſte. Who ſo now beleeueth the Goſpell preached, ſhall be ſaued: hee that beleeueth not ſhall bee condemned. And ſeeing that faith is an inwarde thing in the ſoul inſpired of God, the miniſter cannot know who in the ſight of God beleeueth, or beleeueth not: for God onelyonly knoweth the heart. Howbeit by the outward confeſſion, which is done with the mouth, & by receiuing of the preaching, and by the fruits, the miniſter may iudge. For who ſo receiueth the word, openly confeſſing Chriſt, and doeth not outwardlie defile himſelfe with vile deedes, to ſuch the miniſter openeth with the key, and diſchargeth them: that is, he taketh them into the Church of Chriſt, numbereth them among the people of God, and receiueth thē into the kingdom of heauen. As for thoſe that wil not heare the worde preached, or that when they heare it, doo refuſe it, not confeſſing Chriſt, or vttering theyr vnbeleefe with foule groſſe and open vices, thoſe the miniſter bindeth: that is, hee ſhutteth them out of the Church, and baniſheth them out of the realme of heauen. To him that is in the Church, is forgiueneſſe of ſinnes promiſed: who ſo deſpiſeth charitable louelove, hath not faith: vponupon ſuch one remaineth ſinne ſtill, and the wrath of God.
Now what the Apoſtles & Miniſters of the word doo, that doo they not in theyr owne name, not in their own power: but as they which are ſent of God and that declare his word, the holy goſpell, out of the power of God, euen out of the holy Ghoſt, who being giuen vntounto them, doth ſpeak and work by them. What theſe binde, is bound before God, and in heauen, for out of God is it that they iudge: and what they vnbinde, is vnbound before God, for God wyll ratifie and allowe what they doo, that beeing ſent of him, keepe themſelues in exerciſe, and meddle within his word and commiſſion. As for him that is not ſent of God, and declareth not his worde and Goſpell, but of his owne proper power will binde one man, and vnbinde another, ſet this man in heauen, & that man in hell: is it any maruell if ſuch one do many times miſſe and be called a wolfe and not a ſhepheard, ſeeing his proceedings commeth not of God?
Heere alſo we learne, with what deſire and thankfulneſſe, wee ought to receiue the miniſters of God, that bring vsus his holy word, and comfort of our conſcience: how wee ought to eſteeme them that hauehave the holy Ghoſt, who ſpeaketh vntounto vsus by them.Luke. 1… Heb. 13. For if we deſpiſe them, we deſpiſe God himſelfe. S. Paul therefore exhorteth vsus, to be obedient vntounto them, & to hauehave them in worthie eſtimation that ſhew vsus the word of God. Worthie they be of double honour, partly, for that through them God ſpeaketh, whoſe miniſters and ambaſſadors they bee:1. Tim. 5. for the higheſt king of all ſendeth them out vntounto vsus with his commiſſion, partly, for that they be charged with ſo dangerous and heauie an office and trauell. For,2. Cor. 5 though as concerning themſelues they liue iuſtly, well, and blameleſſe, yet if they regarde not the life of theyr ſheepe, but neglect them, they muſt looke for greate and ſore puniſhment. Not only for themſelues muſt they giuegive account, but for al the ſoules that are committed vntounto them, if one of them periſh throgh their negligence. Wee ſhould not therefore hauehave reſpect to the infirmitie or baſeneſſe of the miniſterie, but vntounto him that ſent him, and whoſe commiſſion hee executeth. When a Prince or king ſendeth out a meane ſeruant with a commiſſion and charge, who will deſpiſe him without the wrath and indignation of the prince? How can we then contemne the miniſters of the high eternall king, without plague and puniſhment?
This be ſpoken, not that vnworthie and vnmeet men ſhould be placed in ſo high an office, or that we ſhoulde delight in their euill: but to the intent that malitious iudgement may be auoyded, & that there be no villanie done to the annoynted of the Lorde. More reſpect and regard ſhuld we hauehave to the word of God that they bring vntounto vsus, than to their liuing and …aults: more to the giuer than to the miniſter. It is not th…y that worke, but God worketh through his owne power, he cannot faile vsus in his promiſe. The miniſter lendeth his hand and mouth, but the holie Ghoſt worketh in the harts of the beleeuers, neither can the wickedneſſe of the Prieſt diminiſh or hinder that operation. If we our ſelues hauehave pure, cleane and faithfull beleeuing mindes. It is not the vncleannes of the miniſter that can either defile or hurt vsus.
This is now the ſtory of the Reſurrection of Chriſt, wherein we ſee, how the goodnes of the Lord wondefully ſtriueth with the weake faith of thoſe that are his. For when the Angels could not perſwade them that he was riſen againe, he himſelfe appeareth vntounto them aliue, and proueth by many euident teſtimonies, that he is of a truth riſen againe and reuiued, talketh with them, eateth with them, offereth himſelfe vntounto them, that they may ſee him and handle him, ſendeth the women and certaine diſciples for witneſſes, and leaueth nothing vnattempted that may perſwade them. For in the faith and beleefe of the reſurrection of Ieſus Chriſt lieth all our welfare. We muſt therefore beſeech Almightie God to eſtabliſh in vsus this faith, and by his ſpirite mightilie to worke, that we from ſinne may truely riſe againe, to a newe and godlie life, and afterward with our bodies to enter into an immortall and euerlaſting life. Hereunto helpe vsus God the Father, the Sonne, and the holie Ghoſt. Amen.
Heere endeth the Sermons vponupon the Reſurrection of Ieſus Chriſt, according to the true copie of the Author: and now followeth the Sermons of the Aſcenſion.