Twenty-Seven Lectures Upon Hebrews, Lectures · Lecture 24
¶ The xxiiij. Lecture, vponupon the 7. 8. and 9. verses.
7 Who in the dayes of his fleshe did offer vp prayers and supplications, with strong crying and teares vntounto him, that was able to saue him frō death, & was also heard in that which he feared.
8 And though he were the Sonne, yet learned he obedience by the thinges which he suffered.
9 And beeing consecrate, was made the authour of eternal saluation vntounto all them that obey him.
THE Apostle, in this Chapiter, beginneth to proue our Sauiour Christ to be the only high Prieste of the newe Testament: and because the people of Israel, had so great affiance in the priesthood of Aaron, that they could hardly be drawen away from the deteyning of it, thinking assuredly, that vntounto that Priesthood, the lawe and testimonies of God had beene tyed for euer: and not knowing that all ceremonies of y• the law were ordeyned vntill the time of reformation, in whiche Christ should appeare & chaunge that Priesthood, to become him selfe vntounto vsus a Priest of a better testament: therefore the Apostle firste setteth foorth the properties of the Priesthood, according vntounto the lawe, and after by comparison applieth them vntounto Christe, in whome they all shine in a muche more excellent sorte, then before in Aaron: and therfore it can not be, neither breach nor dishonour vndishonour vntounto the law of God, nor the priesthood of it, if the shadowe and the figure, which was Aaron, should now be taken away: and the bodie and the trueth, which is Iesu Christe, should be established for euer.
The properties whiche the Apostle speaketh of, necessarilie apperteining vntounto eueryevery priest, as vntounto one that must be a Mediatour, are these: that first he should be man as we are, as Aaron and his posteritie were. For neither Angell nor Archangell, nor principalities, nor powers, can doe this woorke, to present fleshe and bloud vntounto the Maiestie of GOD, when them selues are but spirites: and therefore Christ, that he might be highe Priest, tooke not an Angels nature, but was made of the seede of Abraham, like vsus: that as there is but one God, so there might bee but one Mediatour betweene God and man, euen the man Christe Iesus, in this respect as able to bee high Priest as Aaron him selfe, beeing as naturally and as truely cloathed with our flesh, as Aaron was.
The second propertie of the Prieste, is, that hee should be ordeyned, not onlie for him selfe to make his owne atonement, but also for other men to accomplish whatsoeuer was betwene God and them: that where they were before enimies and straungers, they might by him be reconciled, and hauehave free accesse vntounto the throne of grace, to finde merciemercy and succour in due time: and for this cause Christe alone is a perfect Priest, more excellent then Aaron, who was incumbred with his owne sinnes, to make first reconciliation for them, and therefore could not profit other. And as this was the Priests office, to be a mediatour for other: so the meanes he must vse, and the mediation to bee wrought in this woorke, was to offer vp gifts and sacrifices of sinnes: that is, to present vntounto God the sacrifice of righteousnesse, pure and holy in his sight, in whiche hee might be pleased, & the sinnes of the people might be taken awaye: the whiche sacrifice, because it must be so pure, that in it, they for whom it was made, must be sanctified, and so precious, that it must be a sufficient purchase to redeeme man from all transgression: therefore it coulde not bee made with the bloud of Calues or Goates whiche can not take away sinne, nor with golde nor siluer whiche can not redeeme our soules, nor with meates and drinkes which profited not thē that were exercised therein, nor in any suche carnall rites, for whiche ye priesthood of Aaron was ordeined: and therefore, as an other priest must make this sacrifice, whiche can not be any other then Iesus Christe, who beeing made high Priest of the good things to come, by a greater tabernacle, and a more precious sacrifice, euen by his owne bloude hath obteined for vsus an euerlasting redemption, and therefore is nowe to be acknowledged our onelyonly Priest: the first Priesthood, and the first lawe, beeing altogether abrogated.
One other propertie of the priesthood, is, y• none thrust in himselfe, beeing not appointed, nor take vntounto himselfe this honour, being not called vntounto it: And God euer shewed himselfe a readie reuenger against all such as should defile his Priesthood, to take to themselues the dignitie to which they were not appointed. But this calling also was giuen vntounto Christ from God his father, as before vntounto Aaron, both by word and by othe, that no flesh shoulde resist it, euen as it is written: The Lord hath sworne, and will not repente, thou art a priest for euer, after the order of Melchisedech: so that in this behalfe, our faith must be euer strong, that the callinge of Christ is of the Lord, euen as the calling of Aaron was: and with so much the greater iudgment it shal be reiected, because it was confirmed with an othe.
The last propertie in this comparison is, that the highe priest of the law should hauehave an inwar compassion to ward them that were ignorant, and were deceiued: in which perfect knot of vnfeigned louelove, his ministerie was accepted of God, and his sacrifices receiued & accounted holy: and lest he should cast from him this brotherly aflection, God printed deepe in his owne bodie the infirmities of his brethren, that according to the measure of grace which he had receiued, he might in deede be moued with his brothers harmes, as with his owne: so that he did not withdrawe him selfe from the seruice of the Sanctuarie, but put on the holy garmentes, was annoynted with the holie oyle, bare the names of his brethren before the Lorde, presented their sacrisices, absteined from wine and strong drinke, mourned not for his friendes that were departed, taught diligently the people, prayed for their transgressions, and bare the burthen of his people, as God had laid it vponupon him.
But yet this propertie exceeded more in Christe, then in all the tribe of Leuie: and the bowels of all compassion were more large within him, then the vtmoste braunches of it in any other creature. And this the Apostle noteth in this place, which now we hauehave in hand, in which we may see (as in a moste liuelie glasse) the perfect beautie of all excellent louelove. The thinges, they were not light, nor the sorrowes small, nor the sighings few in number, nor the prayers faint, nor the anguish of spirite little, nor the death easie, by which hee hath sealed it vntounto vsus, that he had compassion on his people: but as the Apostle saith: in the dayes of his flesh: (while hee was heere clothed in mortalitie, like vntounto one of vsus, to the end he might be faithfull for our sakes) hee did offer vp prayers and supplications, with strong cryings and teares vntounto him that was able to saue him from death, and was also heard in things which he feared: and beeing him selfe the Sonne, yet hee learned obedience by the thinges which he susuffered: and being consecrate, was made the authour of eternall saluation to them that obey him.
These wordes, my deare brethren, we hauehave now in hande, to search and examine what the spirite teacheth vsus, so much y• more carefully to be harkened vntounto of vsus, how much the more plainly it setteth foorth vntounto vsus, the greate louelove and compassion that Christ beareth towardes vsus. Two things especiallie here the Apostle testifyeth: First, the sufferings of our Sauiour Christe, and then the benefite that wee enioy by the same, according as his sufleringes were onelyonly for our sake. His sufferinges what they were, and howe great sorrow oppressed him, hee sheweth by those effectes whiche his sorrowes brought forth: that is, prayers, supplications, cryings, teares, feare and anguish of spirite, whiche things waited euer vppon him, euen to the accomplishing of all his passions, which was the death of his crosse The fruite that we doe reape of these afflictions which hee suffered, is the saluation of our soules, and eternall life, if we will obey him.
In this description of his sufferinges, though the things are set forth which were common and vsuall vntounto him all his life: yet it appeareth especiallie the Apostle meaneth that greatest conflicte of sorrowe, which hee had a little before his passion, described by the Euangelistes, in all s…ilitude like vntounto this which the Apostle heere declareth. For as it is here said, He made prayers, noting by the worde that they were many in number: so it appeareth in the Gospell, that beside other prayers, three times he tepeated this one: Father, if it be possible, let this cup passe from mee: and as it is said: hee made supplications, humbling Matt. 26. 4….him selfe lowe vnderunder the hand of his Father: so it is said in the Gospel, that then he kneeled downe, Luk. 22. 41.fell vppon his face, and so prayed vntounto God.
And as the cause of his prayers is here mentioned, To be deliuered from death: so the wordes of his prayer in the Gospel are like: Father, if it be possible, let this cup passe from me: meaning the death of his crosse, to which he was condemned. And as heere is mencioned his great and lowde crying: so there the Euangelist saith: he cried out with a lowde voyce: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken mee: and like as heere is said, He prayed with weeping teares: so there is witnessed that he was sorrowfull and greeuouslie troubled, that his soule was heauie euen vntounto deathe, and that in a great agonie, his sweate was like vntounto drops of bloud: a wofull kinde of weeping, but suche was his compassion, that we might hauehave sure hope: and as heere is said, he was deliuered from his feare: so at that time when all his spirites were troubled, the Angell came from heauen to bring him comfort. These similitudes, they are all so agreeable, that it is euident the Apostle respected especially aboue other, this part of his passion, in which his perfecte louelove and vnchaungeable affection toward vsus, shined in most fulnesse of beautie, in that it was so seruent and so deepely rooted, that neither feare nor trembling, nor any anguishe of spirite, could make him shake: nor the force of death, nor any bloudie sweates, coulde pull it out of his bowels.
In this one sentence (dearely beloued) there is more for vsus to learne, then either eye hath seene, or eare hath heard, or all flesh in this life shal atteine vntounto: it is the depth of the glorious Gospell whiche the Angels doe desire to beholde. But to note vntounto you some thinges, in which our faith may be strēthened, we hauehave to learne by y• example of our sauiour Christ in this place, that in all temptations, wee should approch vntounto our God, and make our complaints vntounto him, who is onelyonly able and readier for to helpe vsus. He hath not forgot his promise that he hath made of old, Cal vponupon me in the day of thy trouble, and I wil deliuer thee: he is a place of refuge and of Psal. 50. 15.sure defence, a strong tower against all assaults: the righteous man that shall hasten vntounto him, hee shall be surely saued: the author & finisher of our fayth, he is gone before vsus, we shal be surely partakers of y• same merciemercy. It skilleth not how great our temptations are, into which we are fallen, nor how manie in number: the Lord will deliuer vsus out of all. It skilleth not how many our sinnes are, nor howe great in our eyes, that hauehave procured our troubles: the Lord will scatter them as the cloudes from the heauens, and they shall not turne away his louing countenance from vsus. Let vsus looke on this patterne Iesus Christ, that is set before vsus: it woulde crushe our fleshe in peeces to beare with him the weight of his afflictions, from which he was deliuered: and it would make our teares to be as drops of bloud, to be partakers of so great anguishe of spirite as he susteyned, and yet it was not so great, but the comfort of the Angell sent from his father, was much greater: so that by prayer hee obteined a most excellent victorie, and hath brused the serpents head, and broken all his force: and why should we then be discouraged? If our sinnes be as crimson, or if they bee red like skarlet, yet they are the sinnes of our owne bodies: but not ours only, but also the sinnes of the world: they rested all vponupon Christ our Sauiour, and yet he prayed for deliuerance, and hath obteined and therfore we may say with boldnesse, forgiue vsus our trespasses. If the louelove of Christ were so greate, to beare the sinnes of vsus all, & of them euerie one hath gotten forgiuenesse, how should not we that are laden but with our owne sinnes, lift vp our heades into great assurance of hope, and heare with ioyfulnesse the worde of promise: I will be merciful to their Heb. …. 12.vnrighteousnesse, & I will remember their sinnes and their iniquities no more.
And what though our afflictions are exceeding many, that the whole head be sicke, and the whole heart be heauie, that from the sole of the foote vntounto our heads, there be nothing whole in our bodies, but all wounds and swellings, and sores full of corruption? yet all this is nothing vntounto his passions, by whose stripes we are healed. And these troubles are nothing vntounto his mightie cryinges, who was compassed about for our sakes with feares and horrors: till his sweate was as drops of bloud, and his bones bruised in his fleshe. Then let the whips and scourges of our chasticement be grieuous, & let vsus yet be beaten (if the will of God so be) with scorpions: Christ, in great compassion, suffering with our infirmities, hath borne yet a more heauie weight of iniquities, and hath been deliuered: So that if we obey, we are partakers of his mercies, & we hauehave full persuasiō, that neither death nor life, nor Angels, nor prin cipalities, nor powers, nor things prefét, nor things to come, Ro. 8. 38. 39.nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shalbe able to separate vsus frō the louelove of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Yea and greater boldnes then this if it be possible to dwell within vsus, the Apostle here hath offered it in Christ Iesu.
If all the sinnes were vppon him, and all sorrowes in his fleshe, and yet from them all God hathe hearde his prayers: why should we not be sure that our sinnes and sorrowes shalbe done awaye: why should we not be sure that God him selfe hath appointed vntounto all that mourne in Sion (as the Prophet saith) to giuegive vntounto them beautie for ashes, the oyle of ioy for mourning, the garment of gladnesse, for the spirite of Esai. 61. 3.heauinesse?
Let vsus therefore behold (dearly beloued) for he was woūded for our transgressiōs, & brokē for our iniquities, the chasticement of our peace was vponupon him: these praiers Esa. 53. 5.are ours, these supplicatiōs for vsus, auailable for moe sinnes, then we are able to commit: this is our victorie that shal ouercome the world, euē our faith: in al miseries, and multitudes of woe, we are not sunken so deepe Iaohn. 5. 4.in sorrow, as he that for our sakes made prayers and supplications, with strong cryings and with teares, and was deliuered from his feare.
The second point that we hauehave here to learne in this example of our Sauiour Christe, is, to knowe vntounto whome we should make our prayers in the day of trouble, which the Apostle testifieth in these wordes: that Christ made his prayers vntounto him that was able to deliuer him from death: a rule to bee kept of vsus in al manner of our petitions, and supplications whatsoeuer, to make thē knowen vntounto him that can graunt our request, that is, vntounto God: this rule was kept of the Church of God, from the beginning,
When men were once turned from their Idols, then in all their prayers, they began to call vponupon the Gen. 4. 26.name of the Lorde: and God him selfe, at no time, doth more sharpely reproue his people, then when they woulde aske of those that had no power to helpe them. This lesson, that poore Leper so defiled in flesh, had yet humbly learned, and with a pure heart he prayed accordingly: Lorde if thou wilt thou Mar. 1. 41.canst make me whole: vponupon this foūdation, our sauiour Christ hath built vp all the prayers of the true disciples, adding it as a speciall clause vntounto the prayer that he taught them: For thine is the kingdōe, the power, Mat. 6. 10.and glorie for euer and euer, Amen: then let vsus learne it, somany as wil pray in spirite, to make our prayers vntounto him alone, who is able to saue vsus. It is the sacrifice of the newe Testament, that he hath appointed vsus, that we should offer vp vntounto him (and not vntounto other) the fruite of our lippes, which may confesse his name: and because this doctrine hath beene troden downe vnderunder feere, and defiled by the man of sinne withall spirituall vncleanesse, I besech you adde vntounto this one reason or two more, that you may answere the aduersarie, and be able to stand in the day of euil.
When our Sauiour Christe was purposed to teach his disciples a true forme of prayer & a perfect patterne vntounto which they must frame their petitiōs, (or it is vnpossible thei shuld be accepted) he techeth them, that their beginning must be from hence: Our father whiche art in Heauen. What blessing so euer we would hauehave, or from what plague so euer wee would be deliuered, he alone must be the person of whome we craue, to whome this name and callinge doeth belong: Our father which art in Heauen. If this name be none of his, he is no patrone to be called vp on: or if we wil needes call vponupon him, we giuegive him this nāe, whether it be his or no. Christ is our good warrant, who hath made this the beginning of all christian prayer, Our father which art in heauen: therefore the Idolaters of all ages, that hauehave made them selues Saintes to pray vntounto, according to the number of their prayers, so they hauehave multiplyed their Idols: & the children of God to whome they hauehave sacrificed, they shal witnesse against them in the day of Christ. And you my deare brethren, againste all your enimies, defende thus the holinesse of your prayer, that you knowe no other way of speaking, then as you are taught, Our father. Ad yet vntounto this, one reason more, which you learne of Saint Paule, and I doubt not, but you shall be well established in this present trueth.
We knowe all, and doe confesse, that we are able to do no good thing of our selues, but all our sufficiencie Rom. 7. 18.is of God, we are not able so much as to think a good thought: Yea, the very wisedome of the fleshe is enimitie vntounto all righteousnesse, so true it is that the Prophet sayth: Euerie man is a beaste in his owne vnderstanding. And how much lesse then are we Iere. 10. 14.able to offer vp vntounto God, that most precious sacrifice of prayer, & thanksgiuing, to make it acceptable in his sight, if wee consult with our owne fleshe and bloude, and alter the will of man, so make our Rom. 8. 5. verse. 16. 27prayers vntounto God? We must needes acknowledge our owne infirmities, and confesse with saint Paule that we know not what to pray as we ought, but it is the spirite of God that maketh request for the Saints, according to the wil of God: and in this holy spirite alone we must praye, if we looke for the merciemercy of our Lorde Iesu Christe, to eternall life. The spirite that beareth rule in our heart, he must teache vsus all things, or else can we do nothing that God alloweth. Now the voice of this spirit that alwayes soundeth within vsus, it speaketh not thus, either Sancta Maria, or Sancta dei genitrix, neither saint Paule pray for vsus: nor saint Peter pray for vsus.
These are but the spicinges of the drunken cups of Rome, the soundes of wordes which the spirits of errours hauehave blowen. But the holie spirit of God that teacheth vsus how to pray, it crieth thus in our hearts: Abba, Pater, Our father which art in heauen. As Christ himselfe hath been our scholemaister of no other prayer, so the spirit that he hath giuen vsus, it knoweth no other sound, but Abba, Father: these are y• beginnings of our praiers. If we speake not vntounto him, to whom doe we bowe our knees? If we wil make the spirite subiecte to any other, let vsus take heede that we grieue not the holie spirit of God, by which we be sealed against the day of redemption.
Thus much I hauehave added to the example of our sauiour Christ, who made his prayers to his father, who alone could deliuer him, that we might the more assuredly be bolde to abide in his steppes.
It followeth in the text. With great crying and with teares. Here we hauehave to note, in what measure our Sauiour Christ was afflicted, euen so farre, that he cryed out in this bitternesse of his soule.
This the Euangelistes do expresse in mo words, testifying of him, foreign, that he was greatly affraide, altogether astonished, euen fainting for great anguishe of minde, and full of pensiue sorrowes. For his Father had broken him, with one breaking vppon an other: so he kindled his wrath againste him, and accounted him as one of his enimies. The heauie hande of God was so grieuous vppon him, that it brused his verie bones, and rent his reines a sunder, hee coulde finde no health in his fleshe, but was wounded to death, as without recouerie.
The Euangeliste himselfe beareth witnesse of this miserie, adding vntounto his lowde crying, this sounde of wordes: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken mee?
This sorrowe, because it was not assuaged with wordes, hee cryed out alowde, and because in silence hee could finde no ease, his face was wrinckled with weeping and the shadowe of deathe was vponupon his eyes. For what griefe could be like vntounto this? Or what condemnation could be so heauie? When there was no wickednesse in his handes, and when his prayer was pure: when he was the brightnesse of glorie, and the Sonne of righteousnesse that shined in the worlde: yet as it were to see his dayes at an ende, and his enterprises broken, his carefull thoughts, to be so deepe grauen in his breast, that they chaunged euen the day into night vntounto him, and all light that approched into darcknesse: this was a sorrowe aboue all sorowes.
When his excellencie was such aboue all creatures, that the worlde was not worthy to giuegive him breath, yet he to be made a worme, and not a man, a shame of men, and the contempt of the people, all that sawe him to hauehave him in derision, and to shutt vp his life in shame and reproches, so vnwoorthy a rewarde of so precious a seruaunt: howe coulde it but shake all his bones out of ioynt, and make his heart to melt in the middest of his bowels? howe could his strength not be dryed vp like a potsharde, and his tounge not cleaue vntounto the iawes of his mouth? Who hath beene euer so full of wo, and who hath beene brought so lowe into the duste of death? His vertues were vnspeakable, and righteous aboue all measure: yet was hee accompted among the wicked. His temperauncie in perfecte beautie, and his appetites bridled with all holie moderation: yet they said of him, behold a glutton, & a drinker of wine. His behauiour honest without all reproofe, and his couersation vnspotted: yet they slaundered him as a friend of Publicans and sinners, and reported him as a companion of theeues. He loued the lawe of his father, with such fulnesse of desire, that he would not suffer one Io…e, not one title vnaccomplyshed: and yet they accused him as an enemie vntounto Moses, a breaker of the lawe, a subuerter of the Temple, and a teacher of newe doctrines, such as were not of God. He harkened vntounto his father in al humilitie, and loued him with all his hart, and with all his soule, so y• he was obediēt vntounto him, vntounto death, yea euen y• death of y• crosse: yet they said of him presumptuously, that hee blasphemed, and robbed God of his honour. He was an enimie of satan euen vntounto death, & by death ouercame him that brought death into the world, he hated him with so perfect hatred, and held stedfast y• enimitie that was betwene them, vntil he had spoiled his principalities and powers, and triumphed ouer them in an euerlasting victorie: yet horibly they reproched him by the name of Belzebub, said he had a diuel, and by the power of satā he wrought al his miracles. O ye depth of al abhominations, & the bottomles pit of all vncleanesse: who could once hauehave thought so lothsōe a sinke to hauehave bene couered in the hart of man? O God, righteous in iudgement, and true in worde, is this it that the Prophet hath tolde before, that the thoughtes of many heartes should be made open? then create (we beseech thee) new heartes within vsus, Luke. 1. 38.and take not thy holy spirite for euer from vsus.
And you (dearely beloued) if these were the causes that Christ had to complaine, then think not that his cryings were aboue his sorrowe: to see so neere vntounto his hart, euen in his owne person, innocēcy bla med, vertue defaced, righteousnesse troden downe, holines prophaned, louelove despised, glorie cōtemned, honour reuiled, all goodnesse ashamed, faith oppugned, and life wounded to death: how coulde he yet absteine from stronge crying and teares, when the malice of Satan had gotten so greate a conqueste? If iust Lot dwelling among the Sodomites, and seing and hearing such a wicked people, vexed from 2. Pet. 2. 7.day to day his righteous soule with their vngodly deedes: what shall we think of Christ, liuing in such a generation? But (O my brethren, beloued of the Lord) open the eyes of your faith, and you shall see these things, they were but ye beginnings of sorow. What, shall we thinke, was his griefe of minde for the Iewes his brethren, that were thus powred out vntounto wickednesse: howe did his greate louelove boyle in sorrowes of hart to see their destruction. If Moses, Exod. 32. 35.when he beheld y• anger of God against his people: in greate compassion of their miseryes, prayed earnestly vntounto ye Lord: Forgiue them O God, or raze me out of the booke that thou hast written. If Ieremie in fore Iere 9. 2.seeing ye captiuitie of Hierusalem, had so great grief that he cryed out: O that my head were ful of waters, & mine eyes a founteine of teares, that I might weepe day and night for the stayne of the daughter of my people. If Esay in Esai. 22. 4.like aboundance of louelove bewailed his brethren that would needes perishe, with these wordes of complaint: Turne away from me, I wil wepe bitterly, labour not to comfort me because my people perish. If Paul, that most excellent Apostle, haueing receiued but his portion Rom. 9. ….of the great louelove of Christe, called God to witnesse that hee spake the trueth, howe he had great heauine…se, and continuall sorrow of hart for his brethren, and that for their sakes, him selfe wished to be separate from Iesu Christ: what manner of teares shall wee thinke were those which Christe him selfe poured out, when he wept ouer Ierusalem? what sorrow of Luke. 21. 41minde, whiche then interrupted his spceeches, and made them vnperfect? howe deepe was that angrie griefe printed in his bowels, when hee behelde the blindenesse of the people, and was sorrowfull for Mar. 3. 5.them? what manner of affection was it that in the middest of so great reproches and mocks, could neuer be chaunged, but prayed stil: Father forgiue them, they knowe not what they doe.Luk. 23. 34.
If it be grieuous vntounto vsus to lose the thinge that is moste deare vntounto vsus in this earthly Tabernacle: howe muche more did this sorrowe pearce euen through the bowels of our sauiour Christe, to see man taken from him vntounto destruction, for whose sake he would so willingly sacrifice vp his life? this is an other spectacle in which wee may beholde his greate dolour and anguishe, to knowe the paines hee endured, and the causes of his mightie cryinges.
But this also (dearely beloued) though it were exceeding, yet it was not all, no it was but a taste of griefe in comparison of the rest. Beholde, if you can, his person here, and see the residue, and so you shall knowe the louelove of God. His griefe was exceding, to see all vertue and godlynesse so troaden vnderunder feete: and it was yet more infinite to beholde Satan to preuaile against man, to his euerlasting condemnation. No creature could euer beare such a perfect image of a man of sorrowe. But the height and depth of all miseries was yet behinde: the sinne that he hated, he must take it vponupon his owne bodie, and beare the wrath of his father that was powred out against it. This is the fullnesse of al paine that compassed him round about, which no toung is able to vtter, and no heart can conceiue. This anger of his father, it burned in him, euen vntounto the bottome of hell, of the which anger, the prophet speaketh: Who can stand before his wrath? or who can abide the fearcenes Nahum. 1. 6of his wrath? His wrath is powred out like fire: & the rocks are broken before him.
When the Prophet was not able to conceiue the weight of his anger, and his voice cleaued vntounto his mouth when he went about to vtter it, the hardest of all creatures he tooke for example, that the harde rocke did cleaue asunder at the sounde of his wordes. And as is saide in an other place, suche a voice, as maketh the forlorne wildernesse to tremble. A voice so ful of terrour in the eares and hearts of the Psal. 29. 8.wicked, that the sonne shalbe darkened at the sound of it, and the Moone shall not giuegive her light, the Starres of heauen shall fall away, and the powers of heauen shalbe shaken. No creature at all shal yelde his seruice vntounto them, the elememtes of the worlde shall seeme to melt away.
This state of miserie Christe entred into, and sunke downe deepe in this confusion, and who can expresse his sorrow? Beeing full of goodnesse he had the reward of euil: full of obedience, he was punished as wicked: full of faith, yet had ye reward of a sinner: inheritour of all things, and Lord of all: yet nothing at al to doe him duetie: the King of Kings, and Lord of lordes: yet made an outcast and abiect of the people: the ruler of all, and God of glorie: yet compassed with shame and great confusion: the authour of life, yet wrapped in the chaynes of eternall death: the onelyonly begotten of his father, and his best beloued, yet cast off as a straunger, and chasticed as an enimie: the brightnesse of glorie, and the beautie of the highest heauens, yet crucified in dishonour, and throwne downe into hell. O picture of perfect wretchednesse, and image of miserie, howe iust cause founde he to crie out alowde, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken mee? his whole bodie and nature like vntounto vsus, altogether broken with the rewarde of sinne: his soule powred out into all calamitie: the wrath of his father, and condemnation resting vponupon him. How truely may we here say, and confesse the article of our faith: He descended into hell? How liuely do we see it perfourmed that the Prophet speaketh of? The snares of death compassed me, and the paines of hell tooke holde vponupon me: I found trouble and sorrow. This was the cōpassion Psal. 119. 3that he had towardes vsus, by whiche he suffered with our infirmities, more then Aaron, or all the priestes of the lawe coulde possibly hauehave done for vsus. If we could possiblie consider (dearely beloued) as we should, we would gladly imbrace him as the high priest for euer of ye new testament: & when we shalbe made of one fashion with him, throughe some measure of his afflictiō to feele the weight of our sinnes, then we shall confesse what cause he had of complayning, and how dearely hee hath bought the honour of the high Priest and Mediatour. The Lord lighten the eyes of our minde, that with open countenāce we may behold him, who for our sakes endured such a death of the crosse: wee shoulde not then need many exhortations, the remembrance of the latter end would keepe vsus safe from sinne. But let vsus now see what the Apostle further teacheth vsus, and while our sauiour Christe is in these greate extremities, what fruite of well doing he hath learned by it.
It followeth. And although he were the sonne, yet learned he obedience by the things he suffored. Lo, (dearly be loued) this was no little profit of all his troubles: he learned thereby, how and what it was to obey his father, that when these things rested all vponupon him, & yet he could say in meekenesse of spirit, Not my will my father, but thy wil be done, he might hauehave great boldnesse that his obedience was perfect. The shame of the worlde, the afflictions of the flesh, the vexations of the minde, the paines of Hell, when these coulde make him vtter no other wordes, but, Father as … wilt, so let it be done: what hope, what faith did he surely build on, that his obedience was precious in the sight of his father? this example is our instruction. We knowe then best how we louelove the Lord, when wee feele by experience what we wil suffer for his sake. It is an easie thing to be valiant before the combate, or to dreame of a good courage before ye hart be tryed: but in dede to be vnshaken in the midst of the tempest, and to stand vpright when the ground vnderunder thee doth trēble: this is to knowe assuredly thou art strong in deede, and to say with boldenesse, thou shalt neuer be moued: this our Sauiour Christe might throughly glorie of. The heauen, earth, and elementes, they were all his enimies: his Father in whome he trusted, shewed him an angrie countenaunce: he that fainted not, but cryed stil, Thy wil be done O Father, he may be bold of his obedience: there is no creature can make him falsifie his faith. If this be the fruite of our afflictions, the Apostle speaketh not without great occasion: Account it for an exceding ioy, when ye fall into sundrie troubles. For what can bee more ioyful vntounto the soule that is oppressed, then to …. Pet. 4. 3.giuegive this in experience, that neither hight nor deapth shall remoue him from the Lord. The glory of Abraham was exceeding great, when he had sealed it with practise, that he would forsake his countrie & his kinred, and his fathers house, at the commaundemēt Gen. …. 8.of God to go whether he would shew him: then he knew by good proofe, hee was made worthy of Christe, when he could forsake Father, mother, house, lande, and all thinges to come vntounto him.
The patience of Iob, was not thoroughly knowen, till all his goods were spoyled, and he left exceedinge bare, in that case, when he spake so boldely. Naked came I out of my moothers womb, and naked shal I returne again: the Lord hath giuen, the Lord hath taken away, as the Lord wil, so is it done, the name of the Lord be Iob. 1. 2….praysed for euer.
Nowe might Iob be sure of the strong patience which should bring foorth hope, that neuer should be confounded. Our brethren before vsus, whiche so constantly hauehave holden the professiō of their faith, that y• flames of fire could not make it wauer, they had a good witnesse, that their election was sure, when they might speake by experience, that neither life, nor death, coulde remoue them from the louelove of God.
Thus the good grounde is knowen what it is, when the heate can not scorche it: nor bryers and thornes turne the good corne into weedes: but thoroughe all stormes, it will giuegive nourishment to the seede, til it giuegive greater increase to Gods honour and glorie. The best of vsus all, let vsus thanke God for this profitable experience, for before it come vntounto vsus, we knowe not howe great the rebellion of the fleshe will be.
The Apostles of Christ, they bragged not a little, that they woulde neuer forsake their maister Christ: he alone had the wordes of eternal life, and they would not chaunge him for another: they beleeued him, they knewe him to be Christ the fonne of the liuing God: and there was no other sauiour. But when they sawe the swordes and staues, the rulers offended, the people in an vprore, & the crosse at hande: their courage fell downe, they forsooke him all, and fled away. Peter was not a litle stoute, as himselfe was persuaded: he would neuer forsake Christe, though he should die for his name: and for proofe of his courage, he drewe his sword, & stroke so venterously, that he had almoste slaine one: he seemed to be at a point, and fully resolued, that he would not leaue his maister, till the sworde shoulde diuide them: but alas, this boldnesse was but a blast of woordes. When there was no remedie, but Christ must be had to Caiphas, Peter began to faint and to drawe behinde. When the perill was more increased, and they began to crie, Crucifige, Peter was more affraid, and began to swaere, he knewe him not: so great infirmitie is in mortall flesh: experience is the greatest warrant to knowe what it can beare. It is our bounden duetie, and the Lorde requireth it, that we should determine with our selues in all things, to approue ourselues the witnesses of his Gospell in patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in stripes, in tumults, in labours, in watchinges, in fastinges, in honour, in dishonour, in good report, in shame, in life, in death: and our comfort is greate, when we be persuaded of these thinges, that we woulde contemne them. But howe violently the fleshe will fight against vsus, wee cannot well declare, till we hauehave made the triall.
We therefore (dearely beloued) whom it hathe pleased God to keepe in heauinesse thorough many temptations, wee hauehave here a salue against the woundes of sorrowe. Our afflictions doe teach vsus, how farre we can obey the Lord. If in all griefe of bodie I can say with patiēce: I hauehave held my peace, O Lord, because thou hast done it: then I knowe y• in all sorrowes of fleshe, I hauehave glorified God, and my heart reioyceth. If my minde be ful of anguishe And sorrow, so that all hope be faint within mee: if I can say yet vntounto my soule, I will waite patiently for the Lordes leasure, then I know assuredly God hath made mee obedient, and he will heare my prayer: so that this experience hath bred in mee the hope that shall neuer be confounded: I may speake the woordes whiche the heauens shall seale vntounto, with euerlasting truth, neither fire, not sword, not principalities, nor power, shall remoue mee from the louelove wherewith God hathe loued mee: a sure token of this saluation I hauehave found in mine afflictions: when I trauelled in sorrowe, both of the body and minde, I found the grace to say: O Lord do thy will: this is no small cause why we should reioyce, when God doth make vsus worthie to feele the triall of our faith. So dearly beloued, faint not in your mournings, but endure patientlye: you know not the happinesse of that which seemeth your miserie: let this be the first cause why we should be glad of temptations. And to the end wee may helpe our common infirmities, let vsus learne yet more, why it is good for vsus to be brought low: a most notable commoditie the Apostle reherseth, where he writeth to the Romanes: Those whom God hath foreknowen, he hath also predestinate, to be made likvnto Rom. …. 39.the image of his sonne: Loe (my deare brethren) these are the healthful counsels of the Lord toward vsus, that we shoulde be made like vntounto his sonne Christ in many afflictions, y• at the last wee might be also like him in eternall glorie. These are the riches of Gods vnsearcheable wisdome. Death once reigned through sinne, and he hath found a way to rise from it agaiue into greater glorie: this victorie, because it was too great for saint or angel to obtein, he hath appointed it to be the worke of his onelyonly begotten sonne, who made it perfect in a most excellent conquest: he hath taken vponupon him our nature to make it strong, and in his owne person he hath filled it with the fulnesse of miseries, with all sorrowes of flesh, with all anguish of minde, with persecution, with death, with sinne, with hell, with condemnation: and from all these, by the mightie power of his godhead he is risen againe in our flesh, ascended vp into glorie, and sitteth on the right hand of Maiestie and of power, beeing a mightie Sauiour vntounto euerie one that shall follow him. So that this is our glorie in all afflictions, we are fashioned by them into the similitude of Christe, and we are made like vntounto him. So it pleased God, whē hee would bring many children into glorie, to consecrate the Prince of their saluation through afflictions, and to make both him that sanctifieth, and those that are sanctified, all one: that they that suffer with him, should also reigne with him: and they that die with him, should also liue with him. So wee, when we feele many troubles to rest vponupon vsus, we may say now we are like vntounto Christ, especially, when we feele that greatest trouble, fullest of bytter sorrow, that is, the minde oppressed: it maketh vsus specially like vntounto him, that we may say with Paul: now we supplie in our flesh the remnaunt of the afflictions of Christ. Let me looke into y• whole course of my life, & what so euer pleaseth me best, health, honour, riches, fauour, authoritie, friendship, wife, children, in all these things I cannot yet beholde the liuely image of Christe. Affliction and trouble, a minde broken with remembraunce of sinne, a troubled spirite, these are the beginninges of greate reioycings: with the horrours of death, and a conscience burthened with the wrath of God: heere light shineth out of darcknesse, and hope out of despaite.
As I think my selfe furthest off from the Lord, so in deede, I am neerest vntounto him: and when I thinke my self fullest of confusion, they y• image of Christ is moste liuely within me. The Lord may hide his face for a while for a moment in his anger, as he did from Christe, but he must needes returne vntounto mee with euerlasting mercies: for the image of his sonne is cleare within me. A blessed sorrowe, and woe ful of happinesse, that fashioneth these dayes of my vanitie into the similitude of the age of Christ, that with him at last I might reigne for euer. A precious countenance it is, in the sight of GOD, that seemeth without beautie in the eyes of man: and an vnspeakable treasure of ioy and gladnesse, ingrauen in these vesselles that are but earth and ashes. When Christe is the patterne, whose similitude wee doe beare, who can bee discouraged vnderunder the Crosse? Wee are afflicted on euerie side, but not in suche a straite that we are shut from 2. Cor. 4. 8.hope, we are in pouertie, but not ouercome of pouertie: we are persecuted, but not forsaken: we are cast downe, but we perish not. We are troubled in all things, fightings without, and terrours within: but God that comforteth the abiects, he will comfort vsus. VntoUnto this hee hath predestinate vsus, that wee should be like vntounto his sonne in all afflictions, and so be glorified with him in the day of honour.
Thus farre we hauehave heard two speciall causes why we ought to reioyce in all temptations: the one, that so we learne true obedience: the other, that by them we be made like vntounto Christe. Adde yet vntounto these, one third cause out of the Scripture, whiche when you shall hauehave learned, be bolde (dearelie beloued) in all the fire of the enimies. For beholde, in the trueth of Iesus Christe I dare be your warrant, the greater are your afflictions, the liker you are vntounto Christe: yea if it should happen you to fall downe into hell, Christe hath descended also: you should then be moste like him in his agonies and bloudie sweates.
The third cause at this time which I will touch, is this: God sendeth vsus sundry chasticementes, and especiallie that which is moste grieuous of al other, the anguish of spirite, and affliction of the soule: for this purpose, that we should be warned in time, how to turne vntounto him, & be free from the plague when it commeth: for the iudgements of God that are dayly preached vntounto vsus, they pearce deepe into the heartes of the true beleeuers, and the worde that they heare, it woorketh mightilie in them, more sharp in their eares then a two edged swoord, it entreth thorough them, euen to the diuiding a sunder of the soule, and of the spirite, and of the ioyntes, and of the marrowe, and examine all the thoughts and the intentes of the heart, so that it is vnpossible that any part of them should be hidde, but they are all open vntounto iudgement, and heare the voice of the Lorde. Then their sinne is reuiued in the midst of their bowels, their cōscience hath no rest, they feele death working in their hearts, and hel is before thē: they see sinne on their right hande, and Satan on their left, shame vnderunder their feete, and an angrie Iudge aboue them, y• world ful of destructiō without, and a worme gnawing the heart within: the poore sinner knoweth not what to do, to hide him selfe it is impossible, and to appeare it is intollerable: then, hee breaketh out into lowde cryinges: O wretched man that I am, who shall deliuer me from the bodie of this death: he giueth no rest vntounto his eyes, nor sleepe vntounto his eyelids, vntill hee finde him that is able to saue him from this wrath: in his bedde by night he seeketh him whome his soule loueth: in the streetes and open places he inquireth after him, and after many dayes in whiche he cannot finde him, Christ sheweth him selfe at the last, a perpetual deliuerer, a victorious Lion of the tribe of Iuda, in whome he hath strong saluation: when hee hath mourned, because of y• plague that was before him, Christ will approch neere, and wipe away the teares from his eyes. This y• Prophet Abacuch setteth forth in his own person: Whē I heard (saith he) Abac. 3. 16.the word of God, my bellie trembled, my lips shooke at the voice, ro…nnesse entred into my bones, & I trembled in my selfe, that I might hauehave rest in the day of trouble. Euen so (dearely beloued) it is with vsus all. The plagues of God, because they are pronounced against iniquitie, it maketh the childe of God to feare and tremble, that so foreseeing the harme, he might prepare him helpe: and because of the destroyer, seeke without wearines vntounto the sauiour: though he hide him selfe at the first, the wounded spirite, and troubled hart must nedes finde him-out. A great cause of vnspeakeable gladnesse, though wee seeme swalowed vp of pensiue sorrowe. We are full of griefe, but we are chastised of the Lord, because we should not, be cōdemned with the world: we die with Christ, but because we should liue with him: wee lament and weepe, but because that Christe might wipe away all teares from our eyes: we are deliuered vntounto death for Iesus sake, but because the life of Iesus should be made manifest in our flesh: we beare about in our bodies the mortification of the Lord Iesus, but because the life of Iesus might be manifest also in our bodies: we hauehave anguishe of spirite and vexation of minde, such as hath not bene from the beginning, but for this cause: that when souden destruction shall come vponupon the carelesse world, we might lift vp our heades, and beholde our redemption at hande.
Let vsus then be bolde, and in patience possesse our soules: for these causes we are nowe afflicted, that wee might receiue merciemercy, and finde grace to helpe in the time of neede: & for this cause we tremble and are affraide, that after many praiers and supplications, we might be deliuered from the things which we hauehave feared.
It followeth in the Apostle. And beeing consecrate he was made the authour of saluation to all them that obey him. In these wordes wee ate taught, what … and cōmoditie we hauehave through these bitter sufferinges of our Sauiour Christ, and also by what meanes we are made partakers of it: the fruite is eternall saluation, the meanes to go vntounto it is obedience: in the first we learne, that all promise and hope of life is in Christe alone: hee hath alone the wordes of li…e, he is alone the breade of life, the water of life, the authour of life, the word of life, the tree of life, the onlie life: hee that beleeueth in him, hee hath euerlasting life: and he that dwelleth not in him shall see no life: but the wrath of God abideth on him. Take holde of Christ, and take holde of life: reach foorth thine hand to any other thinge, and thou reachest vntounto vanitie, which cannot helpe. Looke not for life, but where it dwelleth: in the flesh of Christe alone there it resteth. Death hath reigned in all the world beside, and led eueryevery creature into bondage. If thou looke vntounto the heauens, there is but vexation and anguishe: if thou looke vntounto the earth, there is but darknesse and sorrow: if thou call vntounto Abraham, he knoweth thee not: if thou cry vponupon Angels, they can not helpe thee: if thou looke vntounto thy workes, they are all vncleane: if thou truste in thy prayers, the Lorde hath no pleasure in them: call for ye helpe of al creatures, they are subiect to vanitie: there is no life but in Christ alone The elders, ye Angels, the baestes, and all creatures, they giuegive this honour vntounto Christe: Saluation is of him that sitteth vppon the throne, and of the Lambe, and altogether they cry, Amen. And if all the creatures which yet are excellent good, are not of power to giuegive anie peece of this life: then what shall we think of those people, enimies to God, and murderers of his Saincts, which so long hauehave made vsus beleeue, that they hauehave life in them selues? that they can forgiue vsus our sinnes for yeares, euen as they will, manie or fewe: that they can make sacrifices propitiatorie for vsus: y• they can purge vsus by purgatorie fiers, that their Pilgrimages, their pardons, their vowes, their holie orders, and such other spiritual drunkennesse of their sicke braines, that these be auailable to purchase life. If they will not be reclaimed, let vsus rest in the counsels of our God, and say with Iohn: He that hurteth, let him hurt still, and hee that is filthy, let him be filthy still. It is inough for vsus, that Christ is our Col. 3. 3. 4.life, that our life is hid with Christe in God: when Christ which is our life shall appeare, then shall we also appeare with him in glorie. Now while we are in the dayes of our pilgrimage, the way that wee must walke vntounto this life in Christe, is to bee obedient vntounto his will. What so euer be the way that hee will shewe vsus and bid vsus walke in it: let vsus neither decline to the right hande, nor to the lefte, but goe forwarde in the same. We are not to loke into the worlde, how our fathers before vsus hauehave walked. Our iniquities, & the iniquities of our fathers shall be bound together. If wee be partakers of their euil doings. If we go after Baalims, which our fathers hauehave taught vsus, we shalbe fed with the wormwood which our fathers hauehave eaten. The gouernement of the church is vponupon the shoulders of Christ: he giueth vsus the lawes, by which we liue: he ruleth alone in the house of Iacob: his voice must be followed. We may not now eueryevery one say, wee hauehave a vision, we hauehave a dreame: God hath spoken by his sonne, and charged all to heare him. We may not boast our selues of Sainct or Angel, to hearken to new doctrines which we hauehave not learned: for God hath not put in subiection vntounto Angels, these dayes of the Gospell, in which we are: but vntounto Christe, who is made the head of his people, and all thinges are in subiection vnderunder his feete: so that this is the way we hauehave to walke: Christe is our Lord, let vsus receiue his lawes: he is our mayster, let vsus followe his rules: he is our Apostle, let vsus heare his Gospell. Let vsus obey in all things, and we shalbe established. This is the glorie that GOD hath giuen vntounto his sonne: he is our lawgiuer, we hauehave no other. If we will leaue the stubbernnesse of our owne heartes, and obey him: as life is in him, so wee shall surely liue: for the Lorde hath not as greate pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as when the voice of the Lorde is obeyed. It is an euerlastinge truethe, That to obey, is better then sacrifice: and to hearken, is better then the fat of Rams: for to disobey, is as the sinne of witchcrase: and to chaunge the law that is set before vsus this is wickednesse and idolatrie. Let vsus not be wise in our owne conceites, to frame God a religion, such as we will. This is to drawe iniquitie with cordes of vanitie, and to pull sinne after vsus, as with car tropes. A iust recompence of such wearye labours, when God shall say vntounto vsus: who hath required these things at your hands? Let vsus then followe so as wee be called, and bringe into captinitie euerie thought of man to the obedience of Christe. And the Lord our God for his Christes sake, giuegive vntounto vsus, heartes ful of humilitie, that we may think him wisest, and rest in his decrees: that we be neuer spoiled through vaine Philosophie, and the traditions of men, but harken vntounto him, who is onelyonly wise, that at the last we may liue with him, who hath alone immortalitie, and shall fil vsus with his glorie for euermore.
Whiche times, the Lorde God bring speedily vponupon vsus, and finishe the dayes of sinne, for his mercies sake, that we may enter into the heauens, whether Christe is gone before vsus, and reigne with him for euer, who is our onelyonly Sauiour: to whome with the Father and the holie Ghost, three persons and one God, be all honour and glorie, worlde without ende.
Amen.