FOr as much as the deathe of Christ is the lyfe of all the electe , it behoueth therfore to know by what meanes it is made our saluation , which in it self cannot be but saluation : For Christ ( as Simeon declareth ) as he is set for the rising of many , Luke . ii . so is he agayne set for the fall of many , And this commeth to passe ( which oftentimes hapneth ) that that which is geuen vnto vs for a remedy against poyson , by our vice is turned to be nomand destruction . There be which do think vpon the crosse and death of Christ our sauioure after a certaine kynde of carnall affection thinking thei haue done their duety excellently wel , & that they haue done god high seruice if so be that thei haue euery yeare a certaine grief with Christ dieng , & that they witnes the same with teares . Those ought to remember that Christ desired the women not to weepe for his sake , Luke . xxiii . for he saithe , wepe not for me or for my sake , but he admonished them , of the misery which shoulde come vpon them for their ingratitude and infidelitie , and therfore he addeth wepe for your selues , for the dayes wyll come . &c. I wyll not speake now of the ambition which we haue sought for in such fayned sorrow , for we would seme to be suche as wer heauy with Christ , when as in dede we were nothing lesse . Others min●ble vppe certayne colde praiers in memory of the passion , others deuide the order of the passion for synguler dayes , or certaine houres , other some againe doe abuse the same as it were by magicall enchauntments to their owne glorye and couetous desyre , not sekyng Christ , but themselues , let vs rather thinke , or rather meditate , and depely weigh & consider why Christ died : and here shal the vaynes of faith and charitie open themselues . God so loued the world ( saith S. Iohn ) that he gaue his only begotten son for it , Ioan. iii. that whosoeuer beleueth in him shuld not perishe , but haue lyfe euerlasting . It commeth of a singuler charitie , that god doth geue his onely begotten sonne vnto the death for miserable and damnable seruantes , the which beyng considered , kindleth our hartes & bindeth vs altogether to god : and whatsoeuer other thing god hath geuen vnto vs besides him selfe , it would haue done vs litle good , yea although he had geuen a most excellent creature it would not haue satisfied the fleshe , he gaue himself therfore to vs , in his sonne , that there by we shoulde nothing doubte of his loue and fauour , but he died that we mighte liue . He was nayled to the crosse , that he myghte deliuer vs for he hathe borne our synnes vppon his body , Esay . liii . i. Pet. il . and hath taken al our infirmities vpon him , by whose beating & whipping we ar healed . He is the price which was geuen for our redemption , by him our vnrighteousnes is put away . & blotted out before god . In hym the iustice of god is pacified , in him is life geuen to them which beleue . The meditation of these things will leade vs , not onely into the vains of God his goodnes , but also to the springs of our synnes . Let vs therefore consider this in Christ , for what thing he was geuen vnto vs of god , wherfore Christ dothe not onely teache vs , that we shoulde thorowly acknowledge our selues vnrighteous and condemned , but also doth open vnto vs with the same , the bosome of mercye , as a most sure sanctuary , and doth also comforte the consciences which in a maner are desperate and heauy laden with the burden of synnes , geuing vnto them which be his , Rom. viii . peace and tranquilitie . For what can he which hathe geuen his sonne , denye vs afterward ? Let vs therfore first thinke vpon thys in the crosse of Christ , that is , Christ to be the price of our redemption , the sacrifice for sins , our satisfaction , i. Cor. i. our righteousnes , life , holines , gate and way to god , the pledge of saluation & euerlasting life , the onely mediator , intercessor , and reconciler , by whome the way to god is made open , by whose death our synnes dye and perishe . Michel . v. i. Pet. ii . Hebr. xiii . Then let vs remember , what this capitayne and emperour of our life dothe sette before vs , which is geuen vnto vs of God the father , not onely for a redemer , but also a foregoer and guide of the way , that we reiecting all thinges , might follow his steps , and hauyng our eies fixed vpon him , Rom. viii . might folow him , without the walles of the castel , bearing the reproche which he had , we might be made semblable vnto the Image of the sonne of god vtterly denieng all vngodlinesse , Ad Tit. ii . and hurtfull desires , Rom. vi . yea denying our selues , let vs beare the crosse after him , being grafted in his deth , let vs mortifie the members which are vpon the earth , and wheras before we haue set our myndes vpon vnrighteousnes , let vs now endeuour our selues to righteousnes and holynes . Neither is Christ a painted or grauen example and so dead , but a liuely example and of efficacy , which doth shine in the faithfull , and is expressed , and worketh truely , which dothe shew forth it selfe both in worde and in dede , and in the whole actions of the life , a liuely example I say , and such as expresseth all heauenly vertues , as charitie , obedience , modesty long suffring , gentlenesse , patience , purenesse and constancie , then which example there is none more perfite or absolute , for what greater charitie can there be than for to suffer deth for his enemies ? neither was this in his childhode , as the children were slaine of Herode : neither died he after the manner of the riche or honourable men , but he died a most filthye and vile death , that is to say , of the crosse , and that betwene .ij. theues . I meane he was put to suche a deth , as wicked & mischeuous men are , beyng counted for a disceauer . Moreouer Christ toke vpon him in himself , whatsoeuer is hard , vile , and troublesome in this world . This I say did Christ choose , and toke it vpon himselfe for vs , lest the flesh might haue any occasion of complaynte . Men wyl suffer any thing so that they may escape deth but Christ besides all euils suffred death , and that a most bitter deth , he despised whatsoeuer is great & precious in this worlde he chose and suffred whatsoeuer is vnpleasaunt and euill vnto the flesh as pouerty , reproche , infamye , rebukes , blasphemies , stripes , bonds , wounds , & finally death , to th end that we mighte learne to despise the world with all his entisementes , and to suffer all aduersitie for him with ioye . For we cannot approche to heauenly thinges except we cast away & despise earthly things , he which loueth the world , cannot loue god , & he which despiseth the world & whatsoeuer is in the world sauoureth eternal things , & things of god . No aduersitie can trouble or throw doum such a man , no prosperitie can puffe him vp , humility , obedience haue nede of his example which being god , descended , & toke vpon him our infirmitie , being obedient vnto the father , euen to the death . By these thinges which we haue forespoken I thik it is manifest inough , after what sort the deth of Christ should be meditated of vs , what is set before vs to be learned by the same , & what it is to haue grief with him , namely to follow his steps , which committed no sin , neither was ther found any guilem his mouth which being railed on with euil wordes , i. Pet. ●● . replied not euil words again being troubled with euils he threatened not , but referred the vengeance to him which iudgeth iustely , let vs also learn the like things , that we may be strong without feare & constant , & if any thing be to be suffered for Christ his sake , for the truth and for righteousnesse , that with a couragious minde we maye beare reproches , rebukes , and deathe , that there be nothing so hard nothing so greuous , ●om . viii . which we should not be ready to beare for him . This is to bee made like fashioned vnto Christ , to suffer that which he suffered , to do that which he did , to glory and reioyce if any thing happen to bee suffered for Christ , for god forbid that we should seeke any other glory in this worlde , Rom. v. then in the crosse of our lorde Iesus Christ , Gala. vi . by whome the worlde is crucified vnto vs , and we to the world , ii . Cor. vi . ii , Cor. iiii . ii . Cor. v. whose markes lette vs beare in our bodies , in muche suffring , in afflictions , in necessities , in tribulations , in stripes , in imprisonments , in seditions , in labor , in watching , in fasting , in purenesse . &c. We are alwayes deliuered vnto the deathe for Iesus sake , that the lyfe of Iesus might be made manifest in our flesh . The loue of god doth constraine vs that we diligently weying this that if one man died for all men , then all we before were deade , and that one died for all , that they which liue hereafter might not liue to themselues , but to him which died , and rose againe for them . Let vs neuer therefore be weary , ii . Cor. i●●● for although our outward man be corrupted , the inwarde man neuerthelesse shal be renewed euery day , for the smalnesse of our affliction which endureth but a very smal time , shall get vnto vs an euerlasting weight of glory aboue measure , i. Pet. iiii . so that in the meane time we regard not those thinges which we see , that is to say whiche dure but for a tyme , but those thinges which are not sene , that is to say eternall thinges . Wherfore seing Christ hath suffered for vs in the fleshe . Let vs also be armed with the same cogitation , that he which suffreth in the fleshe hath ceassed from sinne , for this purpose , that now he shuld not lyue according to the lustes of the fleshe , the rest of the time which is in the flesh , but according to the wil of god , let it suffice vs that we al our life tyme before , haue liued accordyng to the manner of Gentiles , when as we were conuersant in wantonnesse , in lustes , dronkennes , gluttony , bibbings , and bancketings , and in detestable worshipping of ymages , let vs not meruaile , as though some new thing hapned vnto vs if that we be tried by fier , for this is done to trye vs withal , but let vs reioyce , that God thinketh vs worthye to suffer any thing for hym , and that we shoulde bee made parteners of Christ his afflictions , in the reuelation of whose glory , we shal also ioy with great reioising , if we suffer rebukes & slaunders for the name of Christ , we are blessed , bicause the glory and spirit of god remayneth vpon vs . For if we haue died with Christe , we shal also liue with him , ●● . Tim. ii . Rom. vi . if we haue suffred with him we shal also raign with him & no man is crowned , but he whiche lawfully wrestleth . Let vs therfore suffer affliction as good souldiors of Christe , whiche haue made promise to Christ in the sacrament of baptisme , ●●b . xii . being apointed to go on his warfare & grafted in his deth . Therfore let vs not be wrapped with the businesse of this life lette vs not be defiled with worldly desires , let vs run by patience in the battell which we haue set before vs , hauing an eie to Iesus which is the capitaine of faith and finisher , who setting before himselfe ioye , suffred the crosse , contemning reproches and rebukes , let vs diligently consider that he suffred such gainsaying of synners that we beyng weried in our myndes should not faynt . Let vs thinke how vile a thing it is to shrink away from such a capitayne , or for vs to bee so sluggish , when as he fighteth so strongly & so valiauntly . Let vs consider how euil it becommeth the members to be proud , high minded and enuious , when as the hed doth so humble it selfe , and is so feruent in charitie . Let vs also weighe how great infamy it is for a capitaine , to take vpon him so many woundes & lastly of all death , ii . Tim. ii . Act. xiiii . Eccle. ii . Iacob . i. Ioan. xiii . & the souldiors to be a slepe and geue themselues to rioring , whosoeuer therfore will liue godly in Christ Iesus , must prepare themselues to suffer persecutions , and by many tribulacions , must striue to come to euerlasting life , they must abyde in the feare of god , and prepare their myndes to temptations , and kepe themselues pure from this world . Christ hath geuen vs an example , that we shuld do euen as he hath done .

IT was commaunded vnto the Iewes that on the feaste daye of the Passeouer , Exod. xii . xiii . xiiii . when they did eat the lambe , they should eate vnleauened cakes 7. dais after , which figure Paul openeth in the 1. Cor 5 & sheweth that we must purge the old leauen , for that a littel leauen doth leauen al that is mingled with . It is meete for such as ar born of new by Christ to liue a new & innocent life , that they may be as it wer a certain new dough & vnleauened . For our Passe ouer Christ ( saith he ) is offred vp a lamb without spot . Let vs therfore celebrate this festiuall day , not with old leauen , neither with the leauen of malice & wickednesse , but with bread wantyng leauen , that is with sinceritie and truth . The Passeouer of the Iewes hathe a figure of the libertye whiche should come by Christ , for euen as in the old tyme god saued the children of Israel in Egipte from the murther , with which the Egiptians were punished , namely whose doores were sprinckled with the bloud of the Lambe , and after that he led them forth with a mightye arme safe and sound thorow the red sea , and so deliuered them from the most greuous yoke of Pharao . So also he saueth those by Christ whiche beleue , from euerlasting deth , and hath deliuered them from the power of darkenesse , transferryng them into the kingdome of his beloued son , Colo. i. by whom they haue redemption , namely remission of sinnes by his bloude , Iohn . i. and this is the cause why Christ would die at this time , that we might vnderstand that is that lambe of god , whiche should take away the sinnes of the world and they which are washed with his bloud shuld be safe from the destroyer , Iohn . iii. for so God loued the worlde that he gaue his onely begotten sonne ●or it , that euery one whiche beleued in hym might not perishe but haue life euerlastyng , Iohn . v for they which do beleue in Christe doe come vnto no iudgement or punishment but haue passed from deth to life yea although thei wer dead yet shall they haue life in him which is the resurrection and life But where as Marke saieth it was Easter , and Mathew , Iohn . ●● after two daies shal be Easter , Luke expoundeth it and saith , the festiuall day of the Passeouer drewe ●ere , or was at hand , that is , it should be shortly . namely after ij . dayes . It is therfore a preuenting of the time . But the feast of the Passeouer by Iohn , doth seme to be the day followyng the eatyng of the Lambe . So the daies of swete bread are put for the Passeouer , bicause they came both togethers .

THen this woorde , then , is not referred vnto the time in the whiche he speaketh these thinges , but to the tyme wherein they were gathered together . The audacitie of the flesh is here to be noted : which when it goeth about to lye in wait against the truth , it consulteth diuers wayes , and in those counsels choseth and obserueth occasion and tyme for the purpose . Wherfore then they lay theyr heds together , when as the people were busily occupied in preparyng of the lambe . They which resist the truth , do assemble & lay theyr wittes together , Psal. ii . against their lord to destroy him bicause he was contrary to their works . They inuente diuers causes to accuse hym withal , knowing that as sone as he were taken all the people woulde forsake him . But howe impudent so euer the flesh is , it feareth neuerthelesse , where as nothing is to be feared . For when they had agreed that he should not be taken on the festiual day , yet neuerthelesse by the ordinance of god , he was taken on the feast day , & that without any vprore : & that hapneth oftentimes vnto the wicked , which they feare , yea & which they seke by al means possible to auoid . This we may perceaue in the counsel of Caiphas who thought it better , that one should be taken away , than that the whole nation should perish , and furthermore if Christ should be taken away , to take hede that the Romanes shoulde not oppresse them . But whilest these folishe men do auoyde one vice , they runne into the contrary . The Iewes hoped that if Christe were rid out of the way that then the people wuld forsake him , but after the deth of Christ many more beleued & came vnto Christe , than there did before , when as in one daye manye thousandes receaued the faithe . They feared lest if Christ liued the Romanes would haue taken away their countrey and nation , which hapned vnto them 40. yeares after . So God derideth the counsels of the vngodly , & bryngeth to passe that they are snared and taken in their owne counsels . And the selfe same thing in our dayes , doth the Pope , the Cardinals , the Bishoppes , the Monkes , and euill senators , but they hide their counsels , yea they adorne them with the title of honesty & religion .

THe Euangelist Iohn reherseth by occasion , what moued Iudas to betray Christ , forsoth bicause he was sory that he hadde lost parte of the money , of the price of the oyntement which Mary had powred vpon Christ . Wherfore this most couetous man wuld satisfie this losse an other way . He describeth therfore the Supper whiche was prepared for Christ in the house of one Simon , and besides that , he declareth the thinges that were done there . If any man thinke it good , he may adioyne that history vnto ours , we studieng to be briefe haue onely taken but a few necessarye thinges . Mathew who also by the way maketh mention of this cause , saieth that the disciples did murmure , which seemeth to bee spoken by the figure called Synecdoche , for Iohn saith by expresse wordes , that Iudas was angry , and that he alledgeth the care of the poore , to bee the cause of his anger when in dede he nothing cared for the poore , but lucre and gayne moued him , for he was a thiefe and bare the bagge , he couereth his couetousnesse with a shew of liberality and mercy . So do they which say they do defend the olde religion . They make a shewe as thoughe they sought to defend the honour of God , the worshipping of sainctes , and the authoritie of the sacramentes . &c. Let vs learne to what inconvenience couetousnesse and studieng for money doth driue a man vnto , we do all condemne and curse Iudas , but we should see , whether we be not also lyke vnto him , which do scrape vnto our selues richesse by hooke or crooke , we lye , deceaue , and forsake iustice . But they are a great deale more hurtfull which vse disceite in ecclesiasticall goods , and suche goods as bee dedicated to the poore . Their myndes were now readye on euery side to the matter they wente aboute , beyng moued thereto by enuy , and couetuousnesse of gayne . For suche is our nature , that we bee all more prompte and redy in priuate matters than in common and this commeth to passe , bicause all oure thoughtes , all our counsels , and all that euer we can do , tende onely vnto this end that we may enriche our selues , and for the same we study both dai and night . Seing therfore that all our cogitations and reasons serue for thys purpose , that is to keepe and seeke our owne thinges , it is no maruell thoughe we bee nothing attentife about those thinges whiche appertaine vnto the common profitte , and bicause the fyre of loue is wholly tourned vppon oure selues , it canne not put forthe anye flame towardes our neighbour , and it is not possible for vs to seeke the glorye of GOD from our hearte , when we seeke oure owne glorye in all thynges . If the Maiestrate shoulde consulte , or deliberate at what price wyne of Heluetia shoulde bee solde , or what it shoulde bee esteemed at , euery one woulde weyghe and consyder wyth hym selfe manye dayes beefore , howe he myghte saue hys owne thynges , and augmente hys owne Lucre. And thereof commeth it that all and synguler beeynge compelled , doe speake and pronounce moste promptelye and diligentlye in the senate . If we were as diligente and busye in publique affaires , and in matters of godlinesse and vertue , if we would so think of them daye and nighte , as we doe of priuate matters , we should be then more pro●fe and ready , when we should consulte of them . But alas , we are feble in these thinges , & we be slouthful , negligent , idle , and sluggish , seeking our own things only , and not those thinges which are of Christ , and this is the cause that they be so cold which are rulers either in religion or in common weales , hereof commeth so greate a number of wycked deedes amongest the people , for they whiche wyll bee riche , i. Tim. vi . doe fall into the snares of the diuell , and into diuers temptations , so that the sam● may say that couetousnesse is the roote of all euils . The minde which is geuen to couetousnesse doth nothing that is righte and honest ▪ for it hath shaken of the feare of god , and we●ded it selfe to all mischiefe , but why goeth h● to the high priests ? when the euil will talk● or haue to do with the euil , there muste com● some occasion and commoditie betwene . Ther● is none of such an audacitie , which wil call a● other vnto him , to helpe him to steale , of wh● he is not persuaded before in his mynde , tha● he is a thief , or els at the least , that he fauoureth thieues , and that he gathereth by certa● outward signes , which do shewe for the wha● the inward minde is . None will offer to defloure an honest matrone or a virgine , vnless● there be some occasion geuen him by their maners and gestures . If that the shamefastnesse of virgins could not be won by flattery , then would there none craue it so wantonly of them . Therfore Iudas goeth to those whom he knew ●o be offended with Christe , he taketh counsell with those men , whose myndes were bente with hatred against Christ , whiche had consulted a littell before of the death of Christ he had learned by many signes , that the priestes were such men , therfore he feareth not to goe ●nto them , but rather solliciteth them first be●ore he was called of them , what will ye geue me ? saith he . Oh what an impudency was this ●o these bouchers and thieues , which do exercise and follow warrefare , which do take corrupted bribes of straungers , are not ashamed ●o aske them of Emperours , kinges , & Prin●es , yea and those whiche haue neede of them ●re not ashamed to thinke it lawfull , for them ●o geue them such bribes . But how such men ●re made companions and parteners with Iu●as , the Euangelists do plainly declare , whē●s they say that Sathan entred into the hart ●f Iudas , for when he doth once possesse the ●earte , he hurleth men hedlong into all mischiefe . Therfore he beyng styrred vppe by the ●iuell and by couetousnesse doth meditate to ●etray his Lord and sauiour , yea such a lorde ●s had elected him to the Apostleship , whiche had made him ruler of his thinges and loued him excedingly , and when he hadde deuysed ●his mischeuous deede , he maketh meanes to accomplishe his wicked enterprise , and diligently executeth the same he woulde haue it done without tumult , that many shoulde not haue knowledge thereof . For Iudas soughte oportunitie to take him at such a tyme and in such a place whereas multitude of the people which did vse to followe Christ verye often , might not be with him .

I Told you before that Iohn toke the Passe ouer , for the day folowing the eatyng of the Lambe : the Euangelist dothe Rhetorically amplify the excellency of Christ , that his lowlines might the more depely be knowen . He ( saieth Iohn ) which knew al thinges , he whiche knew the houre of his death , he to whom the father had geuen all thinges into his hands , which came from god . &c , He I say washet● the feete of his disciples . Let all prophets , byshops , gouernors of common weales , and leaders of the people learne of this teacher , fayt● loue , & care towards those whiche are committed vnto them . Christ loued his euen to th● death , he neuer forsaketh them , he neuer ceaseth , after he had once begun to loue them , h● was obedient vnto the father euen to the death , that he might set before vs an example of humilitie and weldoyng . &c.