The vvedding garment

The Wedding Garment . Rom. 13. 14. Put yee on the Lorde Iesus Christ .

I Haue chosen a Text which is the sum of the Bible . For al Scripture runneth vpon Christ like the title of a booke , Reu. 1. 8. because Christ is the Alpha and Omega , the beginning and the end of mans saluation , therefore hee is figured in the law , foretolde in the Prophets , and fulfilled in the Gospell . Some places point to his Diuinity , some to his humanity , some to his kingdome , some to his Priesthoode , some to his Prophecy , some to his Conception , some to his birth , some to his life , some to his miracles , some to his passion , some to his resurrection ; some to his Ascention , some to his glorification , all point vnto the Sauiour like Iohn Baptiste , Ioh. 1. 29. when hee sayde , This is the Lambe of God , which taketh away the sinnes of the world . Therefore learne Christ , and learne all . Now to teach vs how we shoulde heare , and how wee should loue , and how wee should feare , & how we should beleeue , & how we should follow Christ , that we may know when wee haue learned him . The Apostle saith , Put ye on the Lorde Iesus Christ : as though this worde did containe all our duties vnto Christ , To put him on , ( which seemes to bee the leuell of this phrase , if you mark how it commeth in , for before Paul saith , Cast away the workes vers. 12. of darknes , and put on the Armour of light . Then hee nameth the workes of darkenes , which wee shoulde cast off : viz. gluttony , drunkennes , strife , enuy , chambring , vers. 13. wantonnes , after hee nameth the armour of light , vers. 14. which we shoulde put on , and calleth it by the name of the giuer , The Lorde Iesus Christ . In sted of gluttony , and dronkennesse , and strife , and enuy , and chambering , and wantonnesse , and other patches of the deuill , wherewith man clotheth himselfe Psal. 109. 18. as with a garment . The Apostle giueth him another garment , which hee calleth Iesus Christ . He doth not oppose vertue to vice , as one would thinke when hee had said , Cast off gluttonie , he should haue said , Put on sobriety , when hee had said , Cast off wantonnes , hee shoulde haue saide , Put on continency , when he had said , Cast off enuy , hee should haue said , Put on loue , but in steade of all vertues , hee commendeth the example of Christ for euery vertue , and opposeth it to euerie vice , as if he should say , Hee which thinketh onely to follow Christ , needeth not bee lead by the hande from vertue to vertue , but his example will teach him what hee shall follow , and what hee shal flee better then all preceptes in the world . Therefore this is the best thought in euery action for a man to think , what Christ would do , which was made not onely redemption and saluation to saue vs , but wisedom and 1. Cor. 1. 30. Mat. 11. 29. Mar. 10. 21. example to guide vs . Therfore he saith , Learne of mee , and follow mee , as though we shoulde thinke before wee speake , whether hee woulde speake so , and consider before we doe whether hee woulde doe so , and doe all by his example as the scholler writeth by his copie , or else we do not learne of him , but of our selues , and then wee goe awry , like a childe which scribleth without a rule . If thou resoluest to speak & doe no otherwise then Christ wold speake and doe himselfe , thou shalt bee sure to doe all thinges well , because thou followest a straight patterne . Therefore study what this meaneth . To put on Christ . It is a straunge speeche , Ioh. 3. 4. and a straunge Garment , they which cannot tell like Nichodemus , what Christ meaneth when he sayth , that we must be borne againe , cannot tell what Paul meaneth , when he sayth , Put on Christ : as if one man shoulde put on another . I think many heere may goe to the Apostle , as the Apostles went to Christ , and aske , What is the Luk. 1. 9. Gal. 3. 27. parable ? This phrase is read in none but Paul , which hath written most of Iustification by Christ : & therefore he vseth all phrases to expresse how wee should applye Christ vnto vs , and in no tearmes he hath shewed it more liuely then in thys phrase , Put on Christ . For it signifieth that Christe doeth couer vs like a Garment , and defende vs like an armoure . Hee hideth our vnrighteousnesse Rom. 4. 7. with his righteousnesse , he couereth our disobedience with his obedience , hee shadoweth our death with his death , that the wrath of God cannot find vs , iudgement cannot spye vs , the curse cannot see vs , for the garment which couereth & hideth vs . But as Iaakob got Gen. 37. 29. the blessing in the name and apparell of Esau his elder brother : so in the name and apparel of Christ our elder brother , we receiue the blessing , and are receued into fauour like Christ himselfe . For God saith not , This is my beloued Sonne which pleaseth mee , but In whome I am pleased : meaning Mar. 3. 17. that not onely Christ pleaseth God , but we please God in Christ , For Christ is our head . Therefore as one looking in the face of a man , doth like 1. Cor. 11. 3. Ephe. 5. 23. him straight , if he like his face : so God beholding vs in the face of Christ , doeth loue vs straight , because the face doth please him : But Christ is not our head , vnles we be his members : Christ is not out Garment , vnles we put him on : as Christ did put on our garment , when he cloathed himselfe with our flesh , & toke our infirmities , & bore our curse : So we must put on his garment , that is , his righteousnesse , his merites , and his death , which is as strange a vesture to vs , as our flesh was to him , & much adoe we haue to Reue. 3. 4. put it on , & when it is on , there is greate cunning to weare it cleanly & comely , from soyling and renting that such a precious garment be not taken from Mat. 22. 11. Mat. 7. 23. vs again . Therefore many seem to weare this Garment which shall be thrust from the banket , because they weare it not : as those which will say when the Lord shal come to iudgement . We haue seene thee in our streetes , Luk. 13. 26. wee haue hearde thee in our sinagoges , we haue prophesied , we haue cast out deuils , wee haue wrought miracles by thy name : As though if any had put him on , or borne his marks , they were the men which were marked like his seruauntes , therefore who but they shall enter into heauen ? Yet Christ sayth , I know ●uk. 13. 27. you not , there is their rewarde , I know you not , , as if he shoulde answere , you weare not my liuery , you weare not my cognisance for al your shewes , therefore depart from me : so he put them off because they had not put him on : for thoughe they had seene his person , and hearde of his vertues , yet they had not faith to apply his mercies , his merits , his death and his righteousnesse vnto them , without which no man can put on Christ nor weare him . Faith is the hand which putteth him on . Faith taketh first his righteousnes & couereth hir vnrighteousnes , then she taketh his obedience , and couereth hir disobedience , then she taketh his patience , & couereth hir impatiency , then shee taketh his temperance , and couereth hir intemperancy , then she taketh his continency , and couereth her incontinency , then she taketh his constancy , and couereth her inconstancy , then shee taketh his faith , & couereth hir diffidence , then she taketh his humility , and couereth her pride , then she taketh his loue , and couereth her rancor . And so taketh one roabe after another , and tricketh her selfe vntil she haue put on Iesus Christe , that is , vntill she appeare in the sight of God , like Iesus Christ , clothed with his merits & graces : that God hath no power to be angrie with her , because she commeth so like his Sonne . This is to put on Iesus Christ , as you shal see more liuely , when you haue taken a view of the garment , for we are to speak of Christ the Garment , & of our putting it on . There bee many fashions of apparell , but they are too light , or too heauy , or too sad , or too course , or too stale , and all weare out . At last the Apostle founde a fashion , that surpasseth them all : it is neuer out of fashion , meete for all seasons , fitte for all persons , and such a profitable weed , that the more it is worn , the fresher it is . What fashion haue you seene comparable to this ? Is it not like the clothes of Dauids ambassadors , which 2. Sam. 10. 4. couered their vpper parts , but not their lower partes : nor like Sauls armour , which tyred Dauid 1. Sam. 17. 29. when he should fight with it : Nor like the counterfaite of 2. King . 14. 2. Ieroboams wife , which disguised her selfe to goe vnknowen , Ioh. 9. 4. 5. nor like the olde rags of the Gibeonites , which deceiued Iosua , nor like the paultry sute of Michah which hee gaue once a yeare to his Leuite , nor like the gluttons flaunte which ietted in purple euerye day , nor like the light cloaths which Christ saide are in kings Iud. 17. 10. Mat. 11. 8. Courts , and make them lighter that were them . But it is like the garment of the highe priest , which had all the names Luk. 16. 19. Exod. 28. 21 , of the Tribes of Israell written vpon his brest : so al the names of the faithfull are written in the brest of Christ , and registred in the boke of his merites . It is like Elias mantell which deuided Mal. 3. 16. 2. Kin. 2. 8. the waters : So he deuideth our sins & punishmentes that they which are clothed with Christ , are armed both against sin and death . It is like the Garments Deut. 29. 5. of the Israelites in the wildernes , which did not weare : forty yeares together they wandered in the desert , and yet saith Moses , theyr shooes were not worne , but their apparell was as when they came out of Egypt : Psal. 136. 1. so the righteousnes of Christ doth last for euer , and his mercies are neuer worne out . As Mardochai shined in the kings robes before the people : Hest. 6. 11. So and more glorious are the faithfull in the robes of Christ before God . When Christ was transfigured vppon the mount . Mat. 17. 2. Mat. saith , that his face shined like the Sun , & his clothes were as white as the light : So when wee are transfigured into the image of Christ , we shall shine before other men like lights : & therefore Christs disciples are called Lights , because they were Mat. 5. 14. clothed with light , and shined to the worlde . Salomon was Mat. 6. 29. not so glorious in all his royaltie , nor the lillyes which are brauer then Salomon , as hee which is clothed with Christ , because the apparell vpon him is better then all the worlde about 2. Sam. 1. 14. him . Therefore if Dauid sayde , Weepe yee daughters of Israell for Saul which clothed you in purple . I may say , reioyce ye daughters of Israell , for Christ which hath clothed you with righteousnesse , as it were with a vesture , before you come to the banquet .

This is the wedding garment Math. 22. 12. without which no man can feast with the Lord . This garment is called an Armour , because Ephe. 6. 11. it defendeth vs from all the assalts of the diuel , the flesh the world , the heate of persecution , and the cold of defection . This Garment is called Light , because it is the beautie & glory of them which weare Rom. 13. 12. it . This Garment is called a Kingdome , because none but Kinges doe weare it , that is , Mat. 6. 33. they are inthroned in the kingdom of Christ , and made kings ouer the worlde , the flesh and sathan : which weare this Garment , like the haire Samson , Iud. 16. 6. which while hee wore , hee was like a King , and all his enemies had no power to hurte him .

This Garment Paul hath sent vnto you , to goe before the king of heauen & earth , a holy Garment , a roiall Garment , an immaculate Garment , an euerlasting Garment : a Garment Rom. 5. 1. whereof euery hem is peace of conscience , euerie pleat is ioye in the holy Ghost , euery stitch Rom. 14. 17. is the remission of some sin , and saueth him which weareth it . Mat. 9. 20. If shee which touched the hem of Christs garment was healed , he which weareth the garment nay , hee which weareth Christ himselfe , shall not he be healed of all his sores , though he were wounded from head to foote ? You neede not cloth him now which sayth , When I was naked Maih. 25. 43. ye did not cloath mee , nor cast your garments in his way , as Math. 21. 8. they did , when hee came to Ierusalem , but take his garmentes & suffer your selues to be cloathed , Gen. 9. 23. Luk. 10. 34. This Sama ritane doth not signifie Christ , but yet may be resembled to Christ . as Noah did , to couer your nakednes . As the good Samaritane put him vppon his owne beast , which was spoiled with theeues , and bound vp his sores when hee was wounded : So Christ IESVS mounteth the faithfull vppon his righteousnesse , and healeth their sins , as though hee should couer them with his garments , whom the world , the flesh , and the diuell haue robbed of their Gen. 3. 1 garments , that is , the righteousnes which they had in Paradice before the serpent came : so if we put on Christ , wee are clothed with his obedience , wherby our wickednesse is couered : we are clothed with his merits , whereby our sinnes are forgiuen : we are clothed with his death , whereby our punishment is released : wee are clothed with his spirite , whereby our heartes are mollified and sanctified , and renued till wee resemble Christ himselfe . This is the Apostles meaning , to put on Christ , as it is vnfolded in Col. 3. 12. Where hee brigns Col. 3. 12. forth all the robes of Christ , and sortes them , & saith , put on mercy , put on meeknes , put on vers. 30. humilitie , put on patience , put on loue , all which before hee called the new man . So that to put on Christ , is to put on the new man with all his vertues , vntill wee be renued to the image of Christ , which is like a new man amongst men . They which labour to bee righteous , and yet belieue that Christes righteousnesse shall saue them , haue put on Christ as Paule woulde haue them . Wee are not taught to put on Aungels , nor Saintes , nor the virgin Mary , nor Paule himself to couer our sinnes with their righteousnesse , as the Papistes doe , but wee are commaunded to put on Christ , & couer our sinnes with his riygteousnesse . The body hath many Garments , but the soule hath one Garment . Euery cloute will couer our sores , but the finest silke will not couer our sinnes . Therfore when we seem braue to others , wee seeme foule to God , because his eie is vppon our sinnes , which lye naked , when all the rest is couered , vntill we put on Christ , and then wee heare that voice , Thy sinnes are couered . And then Math. 9. 2. Psal. 32. 1. we haue that blessing : Blessed is the man whose sinne is couered . So wee are clothed and blessed together . Yet this Garment is out of request , too roughe for some , too graue for others , too base for others . And therefore in steade of putting on Christ , they put him off , in sted of welcomming him , they discharge him , like the Gadarens , that Luk. 8. 37 : Math. 8. 34. they may keepe theyr swine , that is , their beastly pleasures , which hee would cast into the Math. 27. 35. sea : These are like the foolish souldiours which shoulde haue made Christ their Garment , and they cast lots vpon his garments , and diuided them , and so spoiled them . So doe the Papists deale with this Garment , they say it is not fit for them , & therefore they break it & mangle it , and peece it with rags of their owne inuentions : they say it is too light , and not able to beare off the stormes of death , and heate of hell , and therefore choose rather to make themselues Garmentes of theyr merites , and theyr masses , and their penance , and their pardons , and their pilgrimages : like Adam and Eue , which made them selues coats of fig-leaues , Gen. 3. 7. and 21. which God destroyed againe , to shew that when men haue patched al their leaues of masses , of pardons , of pilgrimages , and satisfactions together , yet they will not couer their nakednes , nor keep of the heate of Gods wrath , but are like the curtall skitrs of Dauids 2. Sam. 10. 4. Ambassadours , which hid not their shame . Therefore when we may goe in our maisters attire , shall we scrubbe like beggars patched in our rags ? Mine owne Garmentes defile me , saith Iob : Our owne Garments , Iob. 9. 31. our owne righteousnesse defileth vs , for what garment , what righteousnes haue wee of our owne , but that Isa. 64. 6. which like a monstruous cloth , which had more neede to bee washed it selfe , then to wipe that which is foule . Therfore Christ must make vs garmentes , or else when our backs flant it like courtiers , our souls shall strippe like beggars . And the Diuels will sport themselues Gen. 9. 22. lyke Cham , to see our nakednesse .

First , the Father made vs Gen , 3. 21. Garmentes in paradise , nowe the Sonne makes vs garments in the wildernesse : nay , the Sonne is made our Garment , as Paul sayth , Christ is made vnto 1. Cor. 1. 3● vs righteousnesse : that is , Christes righreousnesse , must bee our Garment , or else wee shall bee ashamed when our righteousnes doth not reache to couer our nakednesse , but stil some part will peepe bare vntil hee cast his righteousnesse vppon it , and then all is couered . Sam. 17. 40. As Dauid needed no other armour against the Gyant , then a sling : so we need no other garment against sinne then Christ . There wanteth nothing but this to put it on .

Now let vs see howe to put this Garment on . Many sumble about it , like children which had neede of one to put on their clothes . Some put on Christ as a cloake , which hangeth vppon their shoulders , and couereth them when they goe abrode to be seene of men : they can cast on the cloke of holynes & seeme for a while as holy as the best , but so soone as they come home , the cloake goeth of , and the man is as hee was , whose vizarde was better then his face . Thus hypocrites put on Christ , as many retaine vnto noble men , not to doe them any seruice , but to haue their countenance . Many put on Christ like a hat , which goeth off to euerie one which meetes them : so euery temptation which meets them , makes them forget what they hearde , what they promised , what they resolued , & change their way , as though they had not repented at all . So the common people like your selues , put on Christ , they are zealous so long as they are in the Church , and beate their breastes , and cast vp Luke . 18. 11. their eyes , like the Publican , when they heare a sentence which moues them , as though they wold do no more against that saying while they liue . But the next busines putteth all out of minde , till they come to the Church againe . Some put on Christ as a gloue , which coueteth but the hand , so they put on the face of Christ , or the tong of Christ , but their hands worke , and their feete walke as they did before . So many professors of Religion put on Christ , which call but for discipline and reformation , that they might get a name of zeale and sinceritie , to couer some fault , which they would not be suspected of . Thus euerie man woulde couer himselfe with Christe , but they haue not the skill , or they haue not the will to put him on . What will you doe then ? Though the Garment be neuer so good yet it is not good to them that do not weare it . For what profite haue wee of the garmentes which wee neuer weare , they neither keepe vs from heat nor colde . Therefore Paul doth not bring you a Garment to laye by you for the mothes , but he bids you put it on . Heere is the cunning now in putting it on . If Paul had taught vs this , then you would hearken vnto him . Well , you shall heare what Paul saith to the putting of it on . First ( saith Paul ) you must cast away the workes of darkenes , und then put on the Armour of light . First you must vers. 12. put off , and then put on : As the Eagles feathers will not lie with any other feathers , but consume them , which lie with them : So the Wedding Garment will not weare with filthy garmentes , but scornes like the Arke , that Dagon shoulde stand by it . If any man may 1. Sam. 5. 8. not weare womens apparel for lightnesse , may hee weare the Deut. 22. 5. diuells apparell , and cloath himselfe with pride , with coueteousnes , with enuy , with hipocrisie , with vncleannes , and when he is like the diuell sit at Gods table ? No man saith Mat. 2. 21. Christ , patcheth a new peece to an olde garment , & wilt thou patch an olde peece to a newe Leuit. 19. 19. garment ? God forbad his people to weare linsey wolsey , because it was a sign of inconstancy , but this is inconstancy it selfe . Hee doeth not put on Reu : 3. 15. Ioh. 19. 23. Christ , but putteth off Christ , and putteth on Belial , which fashions himselfe to God and the worlde too . As Christs coat was without seame , so they must bee without staine , that weare it . For when a man putteth on faire clothes , hee maketh himselfe faire too , and auoideth euery foule thing , least it should foule his clothes : So must hee which putteth on Christ , for the finest garment is soonest stayned . Therefore when thou hast put on this Garment , thou must washe thy selfe , and pick thy way , and choose thy workes , and handle nothing that is foule for marring thy clothes , that is , thou must not thinke as thou didst , nor speake as thou diddest , nor liue as thou didst , but remember that thou hast changed thy maister , and serue him with whom thou art bound . For if God & the diuell could not agree Iud. 9. vpon Moses body , for one to haue one part , and the other another part , but God would haue all . Much lesse will God agree that the diuel shuld haue part of the soule , which would not yeeld him part of the body . Thus haue you hearde what you must put off : nowe heare how Christ must bee put on . As the Angel taught Iohn to Reu. 10. 9. reade the booke when hee bad him eate it : So we must put on Christ , as if wee did eate him , not as the Papists doe in their Masse , but as the meate is turned into the substance of the body , and goeth through euery part of man : So Christ & his worde should goe from part to part , from eare to heart , from heart to mouth , from mouth to hand , till wee be of one nature with them , that they bee the very substance of our thoughts & speeches , and actions , as the meate is of our bodies . This is to eate Christ and his word , or els wee doe not eate them , but chew them , and when our tast is satisfied , spue them out againe . Thus wee must put on Christ , for the word signifyeth so to put him on , as if thou wouldest put him in , that hee Ephe. 3. 30. may bee one with thee , and thou with him , as it were in a body toherher . As hee hath put on all our infirmities , so we must put on all his graces , not halfe on , but all on , and claspe him to vs , and girde him about vs , and weare him euen as wee weare our skinne , which is alway about vs . Then there shall be no neede of wiers , nor curls , nor periwigges , the husbandes shall not force to racke theyr rentes nor inhance their fines , nor sell their landes , to decke 2. King . 2. 13. their wiues . But as the poore mantle of Eliah seemed better to Elisha then all the robes of Salomon , so the wedding Garment shall seeme better then all the flants of vanity , and put euery fashion out of fashion , which is not modest and comly like it selfe . If you will knowe farther howe to put on Christ , you shall see how your text will Catechise you ( in three names of God ) Lorde , Iesus , Christ . The Apostle seemeth to spell out the way vnto vs , how wee should wear this garment . First we must put him on as Lorde , then we must put him on as Iesus : Lastly , we must put him on as Christ . Thou must put him on as Lord , that is , thy ruler to command thee , and thy Tutor to gouerne thee , thy maister to direct thee , thou must bee no mans seruant but his , take no Act. 4. 19. mans part against him , but say with the Apostle , Whether is it meete to obey God or you ? Thou must put him on as Iesus , that is , thy Sauiour , in whom thou trustest , thy protector on whom thou dependest , thy redeemer in whom thou belieuest . Thou must not looke for thy saluation Iosua hath the likê name , but not from God nor to that end . from Angell , nor Saint , nor any thing beside him . For the name of Iesus signifyeth a Sauiour , and is giuen to none but him , and he is not onely called the Sauiour , but the saluation , in the song of Simeon , to shew Luke . 1. 69. that hee is the onely Sauiour , for there may bee many Sauiours , Iud. 3. 9. but there can bee but one saluation : as there may bee many tortures , and yet but one death . Therefore when hee is called the saluation , it implyeth that there is no Sauiour beside him . Thou must put him on as Christe , that is , a Kinge to rule , a Prophet to Luke . 3. 33 teach , a Priest to praye , and sacrifice , and pacify the wrath of Act. 3. 22. God for thee . For this name Heb. 8. 3 , Christ doth signifye that hee Mat. 1. 16. was annointed a King , a Priest and a Prophet : for man , a king Heb. 1. 8. to rule him , a Priest to offer sacrifice for him , a Prophet to teach him , so that hee putteth on Christ as Lord , which worshipeth none but him . He putteth on Christ as Iesus which beleeueth in none but him , and hee putteth on Christ as Christ which worshippeth none but Cal. 3. 27. him , beleeueth in none but him and heareth none but him . You put on Christe first , when you are baptised : then you were sealed and consecrated to his seruice : so soone as you came into the worlde , you vowed to renounce the worlde , and follow God : howe many haue put on Christ so , and since haue put him off againe , which haue broken the first promise that euer they made , & were neuer Rom. 6. 3. faithfull to God since . You put on Christ againe , when you are called and sanctifyed , that is , Ephe. 4. 22. when you cast off the old man , which is corrupt with the lusts of the flesh , the pride of life , & the cares of this world , and put on the new man , which is regenerate in righteousnes & holines to the image of Christ , or likenes of Adam in his innocency , for to put on the new man , is to become a new man , as if thou were borne againe and conceiued of the holy Ghost . Rom. 12. 2. Iob. 29. 14. Of this Iob speaketh when hee sayth , I put on iustice , and it couereth mee . You put on Christ again , when you receiue his holy 1. Cor. 10. 16. Sacrament , & are partakers of his body and bloud , that is , the merits of his obedience & passion by faith , which heareth him , as if hee did see him , and seeth him , as if shee did feele him , and feeleth him , as if shee did tast him , and tasteth him as if she did digest him , then Christ is become yours , and dwelleth in you , and feedeth you with his grace to eternall life , as the bread and wine sustaineth the life present , Lastly , when you haue put on Christe in these three sortes , which is your garment for this world , after you Phil. 3. 21. 1. Cor. 15. 49. shall put on Christ in heauen , and be clothed with his glory , and that shall bee your last vesture , which shall neuer weare out .

Thus haue you hearde what is meant by putting on Christ , first to cloth our selues with righteousnes and holines like Christ , and then because our owne righteousnesse is too short to couer our armes , and legges , and thighs of sinne , but still some bare place will peere out and shame vs in the sight of God : therefore we must borrow Christs garments , as Iacob Gen. 27. 15. did his brothers , and couer our selues with his righteousnesse , that is , beleeue that his righteousnes shall supplie our vnrighteousnes , and his sufferings shall stand for our sufferings , because hee came to fulfill the lawe , and beare the curse , & satisfie his Father for vs , that all which beleeue in him might not die , but haue life euerlasting . Ioh. 3. 16.

Now I haue shewed you this goodly Garment , you must goe to another to helpe you to put it on , and none can put this Garment vppon you , but hee which is the Garment , the Lord Iesus Christ . Therefore to him let vs pray .

FINIS .