A Counterpoison, Religious treatise · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
How it makes them conformable unto Christ their Head.
9. NInthly, that wee may bee conformable to Christ our Head; and like our elder Brother, who was consecrated through afflictions, reviled, buffeted, spit upon, crucified, and what not? for the Scribes were against him, the Pharisees against him, the Rulers banded themselves against him, the Atheists against him, Herod and all the spitefull and envious Jewes against him: whose birth was meane, whose life was contemptible, and whose death was ignominious. Yea, his Pallace was a Stable; his Courtyers, Beasts; his Chayre of state, a Manger; his Royall roabes, a few ragges: No Bells ring, no Bonefires proclaime his birth through the populous streets; no great Ladyes came to visit his Mother. And answerable to his ingresse into the world was his progresse in it; and his egresse out of it. And wee must suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him, Rom. 8. 17. When the Jewes offered Jesus, Gall and Vinegar, he tasted it, but would not drinke; he left the rest for his Church, and they must pledge him. Whosoever (saith our Saviour) beareth not his crosse and commeth after me, cannot be my Disciple, Luke 14. 27. For hereunto are ye called, saith S. Peter, For Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps, 1 Pet. 2. 21. Againe, The Disciple (saith Christ) is not above his Master; but whosoever will be a perfect Disciple shall be as his Master, Luke 6. 40. Yea, S. Paul made this the most certaine testimony and seale of his Adoption here, and glory afterward; his words are these, having delivered, that the Spirit of God beareth witnesse with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and having added, If wee be children, we are also heires, even the heires of God, and heires annexed with Christ: if so be that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him; making suffering as a principall condition annexed; which is as if hee had said, it is impossible wee should be glorified with him, except we first suffer with him, Rom. 8. 16, 17. Whereupon having in another place reckoned up all priviledges which might minister unto him occasion of boasting; he concludeth, that what things were gaine unto him, those he accounted losse for Christ, that hee might know the fellowship of his sufferings, and be made conformable to his death, Phil. 3. 10.
So that as hee beare his crosse, before he ware his crowne, and began to us in the cup of his fathers displeasure: so we must pledge him our part, and fill up that which is behinde of his sufferings, Colos. 1. 24.
Whence the Church (which is mysticall Christ, 1 Cor. 12. 12.) is called Gods threshing flower, Isay 21. 10. A Brand taken out of the fire, Zach. 3. 2. compared to Noahs Arke, which was tossed too and fro upon the waves: to Moses Bush burning with fire, Exod. 3. 2. to the stones of the Temple, which were first hewne in the mountaine, before s…t in the building. And set forth by that white horse in the Revelation, that is ever followed and chased by the Red: Apocalyps 6. 2. 4. by the sacrifices of the Law, which were to passe the fire ere accepted, Rom. 12. 1.
So that there is no heaven to be had without touching upon hell coasts: as the Calendar tells us, we come not to Ascension day, till the Passion weeke be past. Suffering is the way to raigning: through many tribulations must wee enter into the Kingdome of Heaven, Acts 14. 22.
And indeed, who would not bee ambitious of the same entertainment, which Christ himselfe had: Godfrey of Boloigne refused to be crowned in Ierusalem with 2 Crowne of Gold, because Christ his master had in that place beene crowned with a crowne of Thornes. It was told a poore Martyr in Queene Maryes dayes for a great favour forsooth; that he should put his le…ge in the same hole of the Stocks that John Philpot had done before. And yet thy sufferings, as they are nothing to what thy sinnes have deserved, so they are nothing to what thy Saviour hath suffered: for he endured many a little death all his life long, for thy sake; and at length, that painfull and cursed death of the crosse. To say nothing of the soule of his sufferings, which his soule then suffered, when hee sweat clots of bloud in the Garden.
Now why must we pledge our Saviour, and fill up the measure of his sufferings: not that Christs sufferings are incompleat, nor to satisfie Gods justice for sinne, for thats done already, once for all; by him who bare our sinnes in his body on the Tree… the just suffering for the unjust, and indenting for our freedome; as the articles of agreement fitly, and fairely drawne out, by himself declare, John 3. 15. 16. & 18. 8. And Gods acquittance, which wee have to shew under his owne …and, Math. 3. 17.
Neither doth God afflict his Church for any delight he takes in their trouble: for hee afflicts not willingly, Lament. 3. 33. Jer. 31. 20. Isay 63. 9. Nor yet to shew his soveraignty, Isay 45. 9. Rom. 9. 20. 10 24.
Nor lastly, is it meerely for his owne glory, without any other respect: but out of pure necessity, and abundant love to us; as the reasons both before and after shew.
Againe, by suffering wee become followers of our brethren, who went before us. Brethren (saith S. Paul) ye are become followers of the Churches of God, which in Jude… are in Christ Jesus, because ye have also suffered the same things of your owne Country-men, even as they have of the Jewes, 1 Thess. 2. 14. It was the lot of Christ, and must be of all his followers to doe good, and to suffer evill. Wherefore let us be exhorted in the words of S. Peter, to rejoyce in suffering, forasmuch as wee with all the Saints, are partakers of Christs sufferings, that when his glory shall appeare, we may be glad and rejoyce, 1 Pet. 4. 13.
And what greater promotion can flesh and bloud be capable of, then a conformity to the Lord of glory. Christ wore a Crowne of Thornes for me, and shall I grudge to ware this Paper cap for him, said John Husse, when they put a cap upon him, that had ugly devills palnted on it, with the title of heresie. And what said a French Martyr when a Rope was put about his fellow, give me that Gold chaine, and dub me a Knight of that noble order.