Fruitful Lessons Upon the Passion Burial Resurrection Ascension, resurrection · Commentary 5
Doctrine and fruite.
CHRIST ſayth, Iohn. 5. Search the Scriptures, … they teſtifie of mee. Alſo, If yee beleeued Moſes, ye ſhould beleeue me, for he hath written of me. Chriſt therefore willing to ſtrengthen the weake, and to teach the vnlearned, expoundeth vntounto them the Scriptures, beginning at Moſes, and ſo thorough out all the Prophets. For whatſoeuer is written in the Scripture concerning the merciemercy, goodnes and wiſedome of God, the waſhing awaie of ſinne, and ſatisfieng for the ſame, it belongeth properly to Chriſt. For ſo worthily and euidently hauehave they deſcribed the paſſion & glory of Chriſt, that one would thinke them not to write of a matter which were to come, but done alreadie, as it is plaine in the Pſalmes and Prophets. Pſa▪ 22. Eſa. 53. 1. Pet. 1. &c.
Thus out of the Scripture we learne, partlie the teſtimonies of the paſſion and reſurrection of Chriſt, partly by what waie Chriſt came to ſo high honour; and glorie of his father, that wee firſt beleeuing that Chri…t dyed for our ſinnes, and roſe againe for our righteouſneſſe, might by his reſurrection be ſure of a good conſcience, and conſolation of the lyfe to come.
Secondly, that wee in patience and obedience might learne to be obedient to our heauenly father, to take vp our croſſe, and to follow our Lord IESVS Chriſt, if wee will hauehave ioy with him, wee muſt alſo ſuffer and trauaile with him. Our head goeth to eternall ioy through aduerſitie and trouble, and will we enter into it through the pleaſure of the worlde and luſt of the fleſh? It paſſeth the boundes of all …nitie, and comlyneſſe and honeſtie, for … to bee ſluggiſh and ſlouthfull, when the … …keth vppon him ſuch trauell and paine, … narrowe gate that wee muſt enter in at, for thorough many tribulations, vexations, and miſeryes muſt wee come into the euerlaſting kingdome of heauen: and all they that will liue godly in Chriſt Ieſu, muſt ſuffer perſecution in this world. He that will poſſeſſe an inheritance, muſt beare and ſuffer all the charges belonging to the ſame. The eternall inheritance is appointed vsus of our heauenly father thorough Chriſt: but with this addition, that we receiue the poſſeſſion of it in ſuch ſort as the ſon hath done, namely with and through the croſſe and trouble. Bleſſed are they whome God the father maketh partakers of the paſſion of his onelyonly begotten ſonne: for who ſo is a companion with him in ſuffering, ſhall hauehave his eternal fellowſhip in heauen, and inioy with him euerlaſting bliſſe and reſt. Hee that vnderſtandeth not this, is a foole and ſlowe of heart to beleeue the Scriptures: let that man beſeech God to open the Scripture vntounto him, and to make him vnderſtand it. Where that commeth to paſſe, ignoraunce vaniſheth awaie, and the heart is feruent and receiueth vnderſtanding, for the Lorde is the right and perfect ſchoole-maſter, that toucheth the hart, and pearceth it through with the arrowes of his words and ardent louelove.
In breaking of the bread, they knowe the Lorde, … life time, when he nowe woulde goe … and death, tooke bread, rendered … it, and gaue it them, admoniſhing … …bit as they dyd the ſame, they ſhoulde … remembrance of him. Whereby they now …hin…ng on the ſame wordes, and beeing admoniſhed of the act, remember that it is hee. Thus the breaking of the bread before our eyes in the ſupper, is an admoniſhing token, that Chriſts body was broken and dyed for vsus on the croſſe: and the drinke an admoniſhing token, that his bloud was ſhedde for the waſhing awaie of our ſinnes. And ſo when wee breake the bread, and drinke the drinke, wee ought thereby to knowe the Lorde, thanking him for his death which is our life, being mindfull of him, and following his great louelove, wherein hee dyed for our ſinnes.
AS they thus ſpake, (it was verie late the ſame daie; which was the first daie in the weeke: and where the diſciples aſſembled together, the doores were ſhut for feare of the Iewes) Ieſus came while they ſate at the table, and ſtoode in the middest among them, and ſayde vntounto them: Peace bee with you. But the diſciples were afraid, thinking that they had ſeene a ſpirite. Then ſayde Ieſus vntounto them, Why are yee troubled? And why doo thoughts ariſe in your head? And hee ſayde yet agayne vntounto them, Peace bee with you. And with that ſhewed he them his hands, feet, and ſide, and ſaid: Behold my hands and feete, that it is euen I my ſelfe, handle me and ſee, for a ſpirit hath not fleſh and bones, as ye ſee me hauehave. The … when they had ſeene the Lord. And … … leeued not for ioy, and wondered, he ſayd … ye anie thing to eate? So they offered him a … fiſh, and an honie combe. The ſame hee took… … before them, caſting in their teeth their vnbeleefe … …nes of heart, becauſe they beleeued not them which … that he was riſen againe from the dead.