Fruitful Lessons Upon the Passion Burial Resurrection Ascension, Title page – To the reader
Fruitfull Leſſons, VPONUPON THE PASSION, BVRIALL, RESVRRECTION, Aſcenſion, and of the ſending of the holy Ghoſt.
GATHERED OVT OF THE FOVRE Euangelists: with a plaine expoſition of the ſame.
BY MILES COVERDALL.
IOHN. 14.6.
I am the waie, the truth, and the life no man commeth vntounto … but by me.
LONDON▪ Printe… b… Thomas …. …593.
The Author to the Reader.
SInce our humane imperfections are ſuch, as one ſinne driueth out another and the frailtie of our natures is ſo great, as hauing touched the brim of the Ocean thereof, we neuer ceaſe till we are ouerwhelmed & drowned in the bottome of the ſame: ſince of our ſelues wee are but graftes of a corruptious tree, children of eternall darkneſſe, infidels who bowe the knee to Baal, hauing vncircumciſed hearts and lying lippes, whoſe mindes are fixed on the world, and faſtned on Mammon, I thought good (Chriſtian Reader) conſidering the ſelf louelove in vsus, which hauehave conuerted the Angels into deuilles, which (as Auguſtine witneſſeth) hath builded the verie Babylon of contempt of God, to leuell out a waie for all men to tread, a glaſſe for all men to ſee, an Adamant wherewith all ſoules may be drawen to the beholding of their vices, the loathing of the ſame, and finally the amendement and hartie conuerſion for their miſdeeds. And for that it moſt euidently appeareth, that the iuſtest man falleth oftentimes a daie, and they that diſcerne errors in themſelues and ſeeing then that they are in the next ſtep to amendement, it behoueth vsus to conſider the weakneſſe which is in vsus, how farre we are fallen and d…o fall from the protection of the iuſt, ſo that in the end we may in the ſpring▪ of repentance waſh away originall and ſucceſsive ſinnes, which hauehave defiled our ſoules, and cleaning to the … corner ſtone, wheron our ſaith ſhould be builded, withſtand the peri… of perdition, which our ghoſtly enemie hath raiſed againſt vsus.
And …r that truth is neuer knowen but by his contrarie, and our nakedneſſe is not diſcloſed, vnleſſe our eies be opened, let vsus examine our ſelues, and we ſhall find, that theſe are inſeparable errours in vsus, from which the iusteſt are not exempted, namely, blindnes, and corruptnes of iudgement, … ſpirit, miſtrust in GOD, to be ſlacke and wearie in Gods ſeruice, defaming of Gods truth, not to hauehave God before the eies, ſurmiſing, vanitie … heart, curioſitie and niceneſſe, grudging in our heartes againſt the enemie, bitterneſſe, deſire of vengeance, a mans good intent, greedines to be ſeen and praiſed, vainglorie, ambition, proper election, maintaining of our owne and diſ…lainfull, falſe, vnfaithfull wicked are, and … points and feats, wherwith the … the good men, that keepe themſelues from …. Theſe and other innumerable vices ſhall eueryevery … good ſo euer he be) find in himſelfe, if he ſearch … vprightly and throughly to the bottome.
… then, that we finde our ſelues ſo vicious, altogether … poiſoned, and wounded vntounto death, we ought daie and night without ceaſing, to complaine and lament before God, to watch and pray vntounto God for remiſsion of our ſins, yet ſhould we not deſpaire of life. The true Phiſition of our ſoules came downe from heauen, & through his paſsion hath he made vsus a plaiſter for our wounds, onelyonly let vsus vſe it and lay it to the ſore. The faithfull Samaritane poureth oile and wine into our wounds, taketh vsus vp to cure and to heale vsus, onelyonly let vsus follow him, & faſhion our ſelues after his image. He is the braſen ſerpent without ſinne, whome with the eyes of faith we must behold hanging, and lift vp vponupon the croſſe for vsus, hee taking our ſinnes vppon himſelfe, giueth vsus his owne innocencie.
If the burthen of ſinne now oppreſſeth and grieueth vsus, we ought to runne vntounto him, he ſhall eaſe vsus & giuegive vsus reſt, for his bloud waſheth awaie our ſinnes, him hath the father giuen vntounto vsus to be our righteouſneſſe and redemption.
Beſides this great treaſure that God hath giuen vsus in Chriſt, he is ſet foorth vntounto vsus, eſpecially in his paſsion, for a patterne or example, whereby we may learne to die from ſin, and finde a preſeruatiue against vices to come. For ſelfeloue and high eſteeming of a mans owne ſelfe is the wel-ſpring of all vice, Conſider that Chriſt was not proude himſelfe of his owne highneſſe, but tooke vponupon him the ſhape of a ſeruant, & come to ſerue vsus, humbled him most lowly, loued not himſelfe ſought not his owne, deſired not his honor, but the honor of his father: all deſpite and reproch fell vponupon him. If we ponder this by ſaith, all greedy louelove of our ſelues ſhall fall away.
The obedience of Ieſu in true beleefe conſidered, expelleth and healeth our diſobedience, and the idolairie of our owne carnall heart. With his obedience couereth he the diſobedience of all men, ſo farre as we abide in the obedience of faith, that Chriſt be dearer vntounto vsus than the whole world, for the which cauſe we freely giuegive ouer our ſelues into his obedience, ſuffering all things for his ſake. Pride and vaineglorie is healed through Chriſts humilitie and contempt, which he ſuffered for vsus manifolde. Learne of me (ſaith he) for I am meeke and lowly of heart. Why are wee ſo greadie of temporal things, when Chriſt the Lord of heauen and earth became for vsus ſo poore, hanging bare and naked vppon the croſſe? The chaſt pure life of Ieſus Chriſt expelleth in vsus all vncleanneſſe of the fleſh. Alſo his martirdome, anguiſh and trouble which in his fleſh hee ſuffered for vsus, quencheth the luſt and concupiſcence of the fleſh.
O how euill doth it become a beleeuer, to be irefull and greedie of vengeance, when his fore-runner, beeing in moſt humilitie like vntounto a ſheepe, praied for his enemies?
Enuie and hatred is highly expelled, if we conſider the excellent deepe louelove of Ieſu towards vsus. Gluttonie and exceſſe of life ſhall fall awaie from vsus, if we well remember that Chriſt for vsus dranke vineger mixt with gall.
As it is here ſhewed in certaine points, euen ſo againſt all vices and blemiſhes of the ſoule, there may remedie be… ſound in the paſsion of Chriſt, if it bee rightly vſed in the contemplation of faith. The old Adam ought we to lay aſide, to mortifie the members vppon earth, and to put on Chriſt the Lord, as the new wedding garment. In the croſſe ought to be our exerciſe, our ioy, comfort, and life.
Herevnto alſo helpeth vsus our heauenly father, who vntounto vsus his children (whom he most entirely loueth) ſuffreth manifold paſsions, afflictions, troubles, and anguiſhes, ſickneſſe, pouertie, and perſecution to come: to keepe vsus vppon the croſſe, leaſt we as negligent people gape for temporall earthie things. And if we will needs follow our owne lusts, he hedgeth our waie with thornes, nourturing and humbling vsus through trouble, that we being tried and purified as the gold in the fire, may crie and call vntounto him, and that we may giuegive our earthly things, ſeeing we finde no quietneſſe in them. He bringeth vsus into the land of promiſe, howbeit through the wilderneſſe, through much trauell and labour. Bleſſed are they that in patience without murmuring, ſuffer the Lorde to worke, and doo faithfully follow him.
All this, and more than I can ſaie, ought to be the conſideration and exerciſe, when we celebrate the ſupper of the Lord Ieſu, that wee ſo ſprinkle the bloud of Chriſt in our heartes, and drinke it into vsus, that it may worke in vsus, and bring forth fruit. Our eies and hearts we ought to lift vp in to heauen, and conſider what the bread and wine pointeth vsus vntounto, namely, vntounto the bodie of Chriſt, that was offered vp vponupon the croſſe for our ſinnes, and to his bloud, that was ſhed for the waſhing awaie of our offences: and that we faſhion our ſelues vntounto his image, and practiſe alſo ſuch louelove one towardes another. This is the proofe that Paul ſpeaketh of, with the which a faithfull beleeuer ought to exerciſe himſelf before, and in the Lords ſupper examining well his faith and louelove, which out of the louelove of God towards vsus, is kindled and increaſed. Firſt ought a man to conſider the excellent louelove of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, who ſo loued vsus, that he died for vsus. And ſeeing that he biddeth vsus to ſo high a feaſt of his grace we ought alſo to ponder the ſame, in ſuch ſorte, that wee bee thankfull vntounto him, and prepare our ſelues thereafter.
Saint Paul ſaith, that there is a feeding with milke, and a feeding with ſtrong meate, which is to bee obſerued according to the nature and propertie of thoſe that receiue the meate. And in the Church of God there be three ſortes of men, as the ſame, by the high illuminated goodwiſe teacher Auguſtine, and by others is written.
Firſt, there be men, which hauing ſpent their former time paſt, in paſtime and wantonneſſe of the world, and conſidering the carefull end thereof, (as they be inwardly moued by the grace of God) hauehave vndertaken to ceaſe and refraine from ſinne, and from all occaſions of ſinne, & in moſt diligent wiſe, as neere as they can, with the aſſiſtance, grace and helpe of God, to be circumſpect and warie thereof: albeit they are yet weake, and hauehave not ſo ſtrong a ſpirite, as to laie aſide and deſpiſe all worldly things out of hand. And theſe are the right true beginners of repentant and penitent perſons: though they be not new beginners, yet are they vntounto God the Lord ſo deare, that all things cannot ſufficiently commend and praiſe it.
This is witneſſed vntounto vsus by the holy Goſpell, of the vnthriftie ſonne: who when with ſhamefull riot hee had wantonly conſumed his inheritance, did in time of his extreame hunger, conuert and turne againe to his louing Father, and receiued not onelyonly gracious forgiueneſſe of his treſpaſſe, but alſo ſpeciall tokens of his fathers louelove: as the garment, the kiſſe, the fat calfe, the ſweete minſtrelſie and melodie. This is the firſt anker of true repentance. This is the firſt ſtate concerning the bleſſed ſwineheard, who forſaking the hogges wiih the coddes, (draffe or ſwillinges) that hee ſometimes greedily filled his belly withall, and returning to his louing father, is now in his firſt comming againe to his mercifull father, graciouſly taken vp, receiued and rewarded.
Who ſo now with this vnthriftie ſonne forſaketh his ſinnes, and comming agayne in true and heartie repentance vntounto God his moſt louing and gracious Father, ſaith meekely: O Father, I am not worthie to bee called thy ſonne, for I hauehave ſinned againſt heauen and before thee, O make nice one of thy hired ſeruants. To him ſhall the father denie nothing. Who ſo nowe with an vnfained heart and mouth may ſpeake this vntounto God, and truely and vnfainedly ſeeketh Ieſus, aſſuredly hee findeth him, and hath with him a cheerefull ſupper. Looke vntounto whom God in his great merciemercy giueth ſuch a taſt of his geace, let him render thanks and praiſe vntounto almightie GOD, let him nowe looke for it, that the Father who hath receiued him, will alſo nourture him in his owne ſchoole, and through manifolde aduerſities furniſh him, prepare him, and make him more perfect. Hee hath beene fedde with the milke, hee muſt learne alſo to knowe, what harde meate meaneth. Through aduerſitie and trouble, ſome chaunces, hee muſt bee tempted and proued, whether hee hauehave ought in him of the bleſſed ſeede that groweth vpwardes vntounto eternall life. Which thing ſhall well appeare and bee made manifeſt, if in time of temptation and troubles, hee bee not choaked with the thornes, nor troden downe by the high waie ſide, nor withered among the ſtones, but founde fruitfull in a good and fertill ground.
Other men there bee, which are called reformers, to whome belongeth ſomewhat more than there doth vntounto the other. For like as it appertaineth to the firſt repentant or prnitent perſons, that they continually and feruently, with the confeſſion of their ſinnes vntounto God, with ſorrowe and lamentation, with praier, watching, and chaſtiſing of the the bodie, doo breake out a waie from theyr olde ſinnes, harneſſing and arming themſelues agaynſt others for to come, and earneſtly withſtanding and forſaking their owne euill and naughtie cuſtomes, (if they minde to bring foorth fruite, and not to fall awaie againe:) Euen ſo the reformers in the ſeconde order and manner, after the harde rooting out of vice and wickedneſſe, muſt ſtill exerciſe them ſelues in the will of God and in good works, ſeeking diligently experience thereof in holy Scripture, and of thoſe teachers who by reaſon of long practiſe, and by the Scriptures, can declare and teach the ſame waie. When theſe men in ſuch a ſtedfaſt purpoſe to walke and practiſe themſelues in the will of God with his grace and power, doe goe vntounto the ſupper of the Lord, they inwardly with ioy and fruit of the godly feaſt are nouriſhed and refreſhed. For who ſo deſireth to cleaue vntounto vertue and to a godly life, ſhall no where find the ſame ſo euidently and plaine, as in Chriſts paſsion, whereof hee is mindfull at the ſupper with faith and thankeſgiuing.
The third ſort of men are …lled perfect: not that anie man here in time may be perfect, as to lacke nothing, or to hauehave no ſinne in him, but therefore are they named perfect, becauſe theyr exerciſe is ſuch, that after long accuſtomate doing of vertuous deeds, after many ſpiritual fruits brought forth by them in patience, after many temptations, which they with the help of God hauehave ouercome. They hauehave ſo wholy humbled and caſt downe themſelues before God, being reconciled with him, that they are become one ſpirite with Chriſt their head, whom they cleaue vntounto, whoſe croſſe and holy paſsion they follow without fainting, ſo farre as theyr wit and power may ſuffer, being dead from the world & the fleſh, following onelyonly the Lord Ieſu Chriſt, ſuffering with him, and liuing with him. Theſe with their minds & harts ſtep ſomwhat higher than the others, hauing their dwelling in heauen, in the ſweet contemplation & beholding of Gods Almightineſſe, wiſedome, and goodnes, with feruent deuotion. Which men alſo by inioying of the ſaid feaſt, according to their beleefe and ferue… louelove, receiue the more excellent …ruites, whereby they may expell the temptations that they like not. For the deuill keepeth no holy daie, he ſleepeth not, runneth about as a roaring lion: he ceaſeth not, and therefore theſe men continually get them to their weapons, with the conſideration of the paſsion of Chriſt. Abraham the good friend of God, muſt ſtil driue awaie the rauenous birds from the ſacrifice, till the Sunne goe downe, and till a man cheerefully ſaie, In peace will I laie me downe and take my reſt, &c.
This probation muſt be well taken heed vntounto, for many men not iuſtly conſidering themſelues, neither right diſcerning this meate from others, receiue the foode of life vntounto death. Not that this holy bread was inſtituted and ordained of Chriſt, to hurt any man, but becauſe the euil man doth wickedly receiue that which is wholſome, & abuſeth it thorough vnbeleefe. Therefore iuſtly doeth Paul exhort, that there be firſt had a diligent examination of a mans ſelfe, & that then he eate of this bread, and drinke of this cup. Thus let euerie man take good heed to his owne ſtate and vocation, that this banket may ſet him forward, not vntounto his hurt but to eternall life.
Who ſo taketh not heed vntounto this difference, & to him ſelfe, as (alas) carnall people do, which are not ſpiritually inſtructed. The ſame faileth oft in many things, and vndertaketh to flie high, yea, higher than his knowledge & power may attaine. Hereof then it alſo proceedeth (as we ſee before our eyes) that ſo fewe folkes come to ſteadfaſt amendement, namely, euen hereof, that when men are not exerciſed in diſcerning of Gods matters from others, a mad headie motion of ſenſualtie prouoketh them inordinatly to ſitte higheſt at the table, wheras yet they are not worthie of the loweſt place, and ſo will they forthwith poſſeſſe the ſeate roiall, afore they hauehave found the aſſes, or kept the ſheepe, as of Dauid & Saul in figure it is read. But thus ought it not to bee: for though the grace of the holy Ghoſt vſe not long fetches about, yet commeth no man ſodainly to the happieſt ſtep. I ſpeake after the common courſe, as it beſeemeth vsus to talke and do in the Church of God, namely, after the ordinance which he hath appointed vsus.
Behold Saint Paul being ſo perfect in the law, that the world could not accuſe him, being alſo chaſt, earneſt, feruent and well exerciſed in all vertues, whom God that had ſeparated him from his mothers wombe, would cal to his ſeruice. Though he was taken vp into the third heauen, and ſaw ſecrets that no man can expreſſe, yet doth not he truſt ſo much thereto, as (by reaſon of that great grace) to magnifie himſelfe, and to take vponupon him the office of preaching, before he being taught at Gamaliels feet, and baptiſed and inſtructed of Ananias, had perceiued in himſelfe, and proued, that ſame which he afterwards out of the perfectnes of the ſpirit, might distribute abrode vntounto al Chriſtendome. This is peraduenture laughed to ſcorne of the vnexpert, proud, worldlyneſſe: but who ſo hath eares circumciſed with the feare of God, will thinke more vponupon the matter.
He that will ſit now at the table of the high king let him diligently conſider what hee receiueth in his ſoule through faith, namely, the body end bloud of Ieſus Chriſt, which feedeth and nouriſheth him to eternall life, and draweth him to God, altereth him, and maketh him ſteadfaſt, which the outward bread taken with the moueh, doth point and leade vntounto: yea, let vsus ponder, how great louelove, and what an example Chriſt ther ſetteth before him, that he alſo muſt prepare the like: that is, that he to his power muſt follow the louelove, life and paſsion of Chriſt, to the intent, that hee being wounded with Chriſts louelove, & faſtned with him vponupon the croſſe, may abide in him vntounto the end.
For in the paſsion of Chriſt, is the inſtrustion of the way which we ought and muſt follow vntounto eternall life. There alſo is information where and how the ſame waie and the euerlaſting truth is ſhewed & found. Thus the penitent ſindeth the waie, the reformer the vndoubted vnwandring truth: the perfect, the verie life eternall, which is Chriſt Ieſus, and there is eternall peace. God graunt, that all they which reade this little booke, and conſider this matter, may ſo burne in louelove and feruent deuotion, that they continue and liue in Chriſt, and he in them for euer, Amen.