A SERMON OF THE RESVRRECTION .

CHRISTVS traditus fuit ꝓpter peccata nostra & resurrexit propter iustificationem nostri .

Roma . iiij .

☞ Christ was delyuered for our synnes , and rose agayne for the iustification of vs .

Rom. iiij .

YF euer the greatnes or excellency of any matter hath styred vp youre myndes to gyue diligent eare at any tyme ( good christen people welbeloued in our Lorde and Sauiour Christe ) I doubt not , but that I shall haue you now moost diligent and redy hearers of that matter whyche I haue at thys tyme to open vnto you . For I am come to declare that great and moost comfortable article of our fayth , the resurrection of our Lorde Iesus . So great is thys article , and of so great weyght and importaunce , that it was thought worthy to kepe our said Sauiour styl on earth after he was rysen from death to lyfe to the confirmation therof in the hartes of hys disciples .

So that as Luke testifyeth in the fyrste chapter of the actes , he was conuersant wyth hys disciples by the space of fourty dayes continually together to enstructe them the truth therof , before he wold ascende vp to hys father in heauen to receyue the glorye of hys conquest and victory . So comfortable is thys article to our consciences that it is the locke and keye of all our fayth . Yf it were not true ( saye●h S. paule ) that Christe arose agayne : oure preachynge were in vayne , your fayth were but voyde , ye were yet in the i. cor. xv daunger of your synnes . Yf Christe be not rysen agayne , sayeth the Apostle , than are they vtterly peryshed that be entred theey slepe in Christ , than are we moost myserable of al men yf we haue our hope fixed in Christ , yf he were vnder the power of death not restored to blesse agayne . But now is he rysen agayne from death , sayth he , to be the fyrst frutes of them that be aslepe , to rayse them to euerlastynge lyfe agayne . Yea & yf it were not true , that Christe is rysen again : than were it neyther true , that he is ascended vp to heauen , nor that he sent downe the holy goost , nor that he sytteth on the ryght hande of the father , hauynge the rule of heauen and earth , reygnynge as the prophete psa. lxxi sayeth from see to see , nor that he shulde after thys worlde be a iudge of lyuynge & deade : to gyue rewarde to the good , and iudgement to the euell . That these lynkes therfore of oure fayth shulde all hange together in stedfaste confirmation : it pleased our sauiour not strayght way to wythdraw hymself from the corporall syght of hys disciples , but chose out fourty daies , wherin he wold declare vnto them by manyfolde and moost stronge argumentes and tokens that he had conquered death and was truly rysen agayne to lyfe . He began ( sayeth Luke ) at Mo Iu. xxiiij ses and all the prophetes , and dyd expoune them the prophecies that were wrytten in al the scriptures of hym , to confirme the truth of his resurrection longe before spoken of , whych he verefyed in dede , as it is declared manyfestly by hys ofte appearaunce to son dry persons , at sondry tymes . Fyrst he sente hys angels Math. xxviij . to that sepulchre , whych dyd shewe to certayne wo men , that the stone of the graue was remoued from the dore therof : and shewed them the emptygraue sauynge that the buriall lynnen remayned therin , and of these sygnes were these women fully instructed that he was rysen agayne and so dyd they testifye it openlye . Ioh. xx . After thys Iesus hymselfe appeared to Mary Magdalene , and after that to other certayne women , strayght afterwarde he appeared to Peter : i. cor. xv lu. xxiiij than to the two disciples whych were goynge to Emaus . He appered to the disciples also as they were gathered together for feare of the Iues the dores Ioh. xxi shut . At an other tyme he was sene at the see of Tyberias of Peter and Thomas and other disciples i. cor. xv whan they were fyshynge . He was sene of more than fyue hundred brethren in the mount of galile , where Iesus appoynted them by hys angel whan he said : beholde he shal go before you into Galile , there shal ye se hym , as he hath said vnto you . After thys he ap Actu . i. peared vnto Iames , and last of all he was vysiblye sene of al the Apostles , at such tyme , as he was taken vp into heauen . Thus at sondrye tymes he shewed hymselfe after he was rysen agayne , to confirme this artycle , and in these reuelations somtyme he shewed them hys handes , hys feete , and hys syde , and bad them touch hym , that they shulde not take hym for a goost or a spirite . Somtyme he also dyd eate wyth them , but euer he was talkynge wyth them of the kyngdome of God , to confirme the truth of hys resurrection . For then he opened theyr vnderstandyng to perceyue the scriptures , & sayd vnto them : Thus it is wrytten , and thus it behoued Christ to suffer , & to ryse from death the thyrde daye , and to haue preached Iu. xxiiij openly in hys name penaunce and remission of synnes to all the nations of the worlde . Ye see , good christen people , howe necessarie thys artycle of oure fayth is : seynge it was proued of Christ hymselfe by such euident reasons and tokens by so longe tyme & space . Now therfore as our sauiour was diligent for oure conforte and instruction to testifie it , so let vs be as ready in oure beleue to receyue it to our comforte and instruction . As he dyed not for himselfe , nomore dyd he ryse agayne for hymselfe . He was dead , sayth saint Paule , ●or out synnes and rose agayne for our iustification . O moost comfortable worde euermore to be borne in remembraunce . He dyed , sayeth he , to put away synne , he rose agayne to endewe vs wyth ryghtuousnes . Hys death toke awaye synne & malediction , hys death was the raunsome of them both Hys death destroyed death and ouercame the deuyll whych had the power of death in his subiection . Hys death destroyed hell wyth all the damnation therof . Thus is death swalowed vp by Christes victorye : thus is hel spoyled for euer . Yf any man doubt i. cor. xv of thys victorye : let Christes glorious resurrection declare hym the thynge . Yf death coulde not kepe Christ vnder his dominion but that he arose again : it is manyfest that hys power was ouercome . Yf death be conquered : than must it folowe , that sinne , wher fore death was appoynted as the wages : must be al so destroyed . Yf death and synne be vanished away , then is the deuels tyrannye resysted whyche had the power of death and was the author of sinne and the rulet of hell . Yf Christe had the victory of them all by the power of hys death , and openly proued it by hys valiaunt resurrection , as it was not possible for hys great myght to be subdued of them , & than thys true that Christe dyed for oure synnes and rose agayne for our iustification : why may not we that be hys members by true fayth reioyce and boldly saye wyth the prophete Osee & the Apostle Paule , where i. cor , xv is thy darte O death ? where is thy victory O hell ? Thankes be vnto God , saye they , whyche hath gyuen vs the victory by our Lord Christ Iesus . Thys myghtye conquest of hys resurrection was not only sygnifyed afore by dyuerse fygures of the olde testa Iu. xiiij . ment , as by Sampson , whan he slewe the Lyon , out of whose mouth , came out swetnes and hony , and as Dauid bare his fygure , whan he delyuered the lambe i. Reg. xvij . Ion. ij . out of the Lyons mouth , and whan he ouercame , & slewe the great gyant Goliath , and as whan Ionas was swalowed vp of the whales mouth and cast vp agayne on londe to lyue : but was also moost clerely prophecied by the prophetes of the olde testament , & in the newe also confirmed by the Apostles . He hath spoyled ( sayeth saynt Paule ) rule and power and all Col. ij . the dominion of our spirituall enemyes . He hath made a shewe of them openlye and hath triumphed ouer them in hys owne person . Thys is the myghty power of the Lorde , whome we beleue on . By hys death hath he wrought thys victorye for vs , and by hys resurrection hathe he purchased euerlastynge lyfe & ryghtuousnes for vs . It had not ben ynough to be delyuered by hys death from synne : excepte by hys resurrection , we had ben endowed wyth ryghtuousnes . And it shulde not auayle vs to be delyueted from death , except he had rysen agayne , to open for vs the gates of heuen to enter into lyfe euerlastinge And therfore saynte Peter thanketh God the father i. Pet. i. of our Lorde Iesus Christ for hys abundaunt mercy , bycause he hath begotten vs ( ●ayeth he ) vnto a lyuely hope by the resurrection of Iesus Christe from death , to enioye an inheritaunce immortal that shal neuer perysh , whych is reserued in heauen for them that be kepte by the power of God thorowe fayth .

Thus hath hys resurrection wrought for vs lyfe & ryghtuousnes . He passed thorowe death and hell to put vs in good hope , that by hys strength we shall do the same . He payde the raunsome of synne , that it shulde not be layde to our charge . He destroyed the deuell and all hys tyranny and openlye triumphed ouer hym , and toke awaye from hym all hys captiues , & hath raysed & set them wyth hymselfe amonges the heauenly cytesins aboue . He dyed to destroy Ephe. ij the rule of the deuell in vs and rose agayne to sende downe his holy spirite to rule in our hart● , to endow vs wyth perfyte ryghtuousnes . Thus is it true that Dauid songe . Veritas de terra orta est , & iustitia de Psalm. lxxxiiij . coelo ꝑspexit . The truth of goddes promyse is in erth to man declared , or from the earth is the euerlastynge veritie goddes sonne rysen to lyfe : & the true Eph. iiij Captiuam duxit captiuitatem , ryghtuousnes of the holy goost lokynge out of heauen & is in moost lyberall larges dealt vpon all the worlde . Thus is glorye and prayse reboundinge vp warde to god aboue for hys mercy and truth : & thus is peace come downe from heuen to men of good & faithfull hartes ▪ Thus is mercye and veritie as Dauid Luce. ii . wryteth , met together , thus is peace and ryghtuousnes , Psalm. lxxxiiij . Misericordia et veritas obui auerunt sibi . &c. embrasynge and kyssynge themselfe together . Yf thou doutest of so great felicitie that is wrought for the O man , cal to thy mynde , that therfore haste thou receyued into thyne owne possession , the euerlastynge veritie our Sauiour Iesus Christe in forme of breade to confirme to thy conscience the truthe of all thys matter . Thou hast receyued hym : yf in true fayth and repentaunce of harte thou haste receyued hym , yf in purpose of amendement thou haste receyued hym for an euerlastinge gage and pledge of thy saluation . Thou hast receyued hys body : which was o●es broken and hys bloud shed for the remission of thy synne , thou hast receyued hys body , to haue with in the the father , the sonne , & the holy goost to dwell wyth the , to endowe the wyth grace , to strength the agaynst thy enemyes , and to comforte the with theyr presence . Thou hast receyued hys bodye to endowe the wyth euerlastyng ryghtuousnes , to assure the of euerlastynge blysse and lyfe of thy soule . For wyth Christe by true fayth arte thou quyckened agayne Eph. iiij ( sayeth saynt Paule ) from death of synne to lyfe of grace , and in hope translated from corporall and euer lastynge death , to the euerlastynge lyfe of glorye in heauen : where nowe thy conuersation shulde be and thy harte and desyre set . Doubte not of the truth of thys matter , how great & excellent so euer these thynges be . It becommeth god to do no lytle dedes : how impossible so euer they seme to the : praye to god that thou mayest haue fayth to perceyue thys greate power of Christes resurrection , that by fayth thou mayest certaynly beleue nothing to be impossible with god . Only bringe thou fayth to Christes holy worde and Lu. xviij sacrament , let thy repentance shewe thy faith , let thy purpose of amendement and obedience of thy harte to gods lawe herafter , declare thy true beleue . Endeuoure thy selfe to saye wyth saynte Paule from henseforth : our conuersation is in heuen , from whence Phil. iij. we loke for a sauioure euen the Lorde Iesus Christ whych shall change our vyle bodyes that they may be fashioned lyke to hys glorious bodye , whyche he shal do by the same power , wherby he rose from death and wherby he shal be able to subdue al thynges vnto hymselfe . Thus good christen people , for as muche as ye haue herde these so great and excellent benefytes of Christes myghtye and glorious resurrection howe that he hath raunsomed synne , ouercome the deuyll , death , and hell , and hath victoriously obteyned the better hande of them all , to make vs fre and saufe from them : and knowynge , that we be by thys benefyte of hys resurrection rysen wyth hym by our fayth to lyfe euerlastynge , beynge in full suretie of ●●●● . ●l . ●● oure hope , that we shall haue oure bodyes lykewyse reysed agayn from death , to haue them glorifyed in immortalitie and ioyned to hys gloryouse body , hauynge in the meane whyle hys holye spirite wythin out hartes as a fea●e and pledge of our euerlasting inheritaunce , by whose assistence we be replenyshed wyth all ryghteousnes : by whose power , we shall be able to subdue al our euel affections that ryse againste the pleasure of God . These thynges I saye well consydered , let vs nowe in the reste of oure lyfe declare our fayth that we haue to thys moost furtefull article , by conformyng vs therunto , in rysynge dayly from synne to ryghtousnes and holynes of lyfe . For what shall it auayle vs ( sayeth S. Peter ) to be escaped and ij . pet. ij delyuered from the fylthynes of the worlde thorough the knolege of the Lorde & Sauiour Iesus Christe yf we be en●augled agayne therwyth & be ouercome agayne , it had bene better ( sayeth he ) neuer to haue knowen the waye of ryghteousnes , than after it is knowen and receyued , to torne backewarde agayne from the holy commaundemente of God gyuen vnto vs . For so shall the prouerbe haue place in vs , wher ☜ it is sayd : the dogge is retorned to hys vomyte agayn and the sowe that was washed , to her wallowynge in the myre agayne . What a shame were it for vs , beynge thus so clerely and frelye washed from oure synne , to retorne to the fylthynes therof agayne ?

What a foly were it , thus endowed wyth ryghtousnes , to lo●e it agayne ? What madnes were it to lose the enherytaunce that we be nowe set in , for the vyle and transytory pleasure of synne ? And what an vnkyndnes shulde it be , where our Sauiour Christ of hys mercy is come to vs to dwell wythin vs as our geste , to dryue hym from vs , and to expell hym violentlye out of our soules , & in stede of hym ( in whom is all grace and vertue ) to receyue the vngracyouse spirite of the deuyl , the autor of al naughtynes and myschefe , How can we fynde in our hartes to shewe such extreme vnkyndnes to Christ : which hath now so gently called vs to mercy , & offered hymselfe vnto vs , and he now entered wythin vs . Yea howe dare we be so bolde to renounce the presence of the father , the sonne , and the holy goost nowe receyued in thys holy sacrament ( for where one is there is God al hole in maiestie together with al his power wyldō & goodnes ) & feare not I saye the daunger & peryl of so traytorous a defiance ? Good christen brethren & systers aduyse your selfe , consyder the dignitie that ye be now set in . Let not foly lose the thynge that grace hath so preciously offered and purchased . Let not wylfulnes and blyndnes put out so great lyght that is now shewed vnto you . Only take good hartes vnto you and put Ephe. vi vpon you all the armoure of God , that ye may stande agaynst your enemyes whych wolde agayne subdue you and brynge you into theyr thraldome . Remember ye be bought from your bayne conuersation & your fredome purchased neyther wyth golde nor syluer , but wyth the price of the precious bloud of that moost i. pet. i. innocent lambe Iesus Christ , whych was ordeyned to thys same purpose before the worlde was made , but was so declared in the later tyme of grace , for your sakes , whych by hym haue your fayth in God , who hath raysed hym from death & hath gyuen hym glorye that you shulde haue your fayth and hope to ward god . Therfore as ye haue hytherto folowed the vayne lustes of your myndes and so displeased god to the daunger of your soules , now lyke obedient chyldren , thus purifyed by faythe , gyue youre selues to walke that waye whych god moueth you to , that ye maye receyue the ende of your faith the saluation of i. pet. i. your soules . And as ye haue gyuen your bodyes to vnryghtuousnes , to synne after synne , nowe gyue youre selfe to ryghtuousnes : to be sanctifyed therin Rom. vi Yf ye delyte in thys artycle of youre faythe that Christ is rysen agayne from death to lyfe : So folow you the exemple of hys resurrection , as S. Paul exhorteth vs sayng : As we be buryed with Christ by Rom. vi our baptisme into death , so let vs dayly dye to sinne mortifynge and kyllynge the euell desyres and motions therof . And as Christ was raised vp from death by the glory of the father : so let vs ryse to a new lyfe & walke continually therin , that we may lykewyse as natural chyldren lyue a conuersacion to moue men to glorifie our father whych is in heuen . Yf we then be Math. v rysen with Christe by oure fayth to the hope of euerlastynge lyfe : so let vs ryse also wyth Christ after hys exemple to a new lyfe , & leue our olde . We shal then be truly rysen , yf we seke for thynges that be heuenly , Col. iij yf we haue our affection vpon thynges that be aboue and not on thynges that be on erth . Yf ye desyre to know , what these erthly thynges be , whych ye shuld put of , and what be the heuenly thynges aboue , that ye shulde seke and ensue , S. Paule in the epistle to the Collossians declareth , whan he exhorteth vs thus : Mortifie your erthly members and olde affections of synne , as fornication , vnclennes , vnnaturall lust , euell concupiscence and couetousnes whyche is worshippynge of ydols for whych thynges the wrath of God is wont to fal on the chyldren of vnbeleue . In whyche thynges ones ye walked , whan ye lyued in them . but nowe put ye also awaye from you , wrathe tearsenes , maliciousnes , cursed speakynge , fylthye speakynge out of your mouthes . Lye not one to an other that the olde man wyth hys workes be put of and the newe put on . These be the earthly thynges whych saynt Paule moueth you to caste from you & to plucke your hartes from . For in folowynge these , ye declare your selues earthly and worldly . These be the frutes of the earthly Adam . These shulde ye dayly kyll by good diligence in wythstandynge the desyres of them , that ye myghte ryse to ryghtuousnes . Let your affection from henceforth be set on heuenly thynges . Sue and serch for mercy , kyndnes , mekenes , paciens ; forbearynge one another , and for gyuynge one another . Yf any man haue quarell to another , euen as Christ forgaue you , euen so do ye . Yf these and such other heuenly vertues ye ensue in the residue of your lyfe , ye shall shewe playnly , that ye be rysen wyth Christ , and that ye be the heauenly chyldren of youre father in heauen , from whom as from Iaco. i. the gyuer commeth these graces & gyftes . Ye shall proue by thys maner that your conuersacion is in heuen phil. iii where your hope is , and not on earth , folowing the beastly appetites of the flesh . Ye must consyder that ye be therfore clensed & renewed that ye shulde from henceforth serue God in holynes & ryghtuous Luc. i. nes all the dayes of your lyues : that ye may targue wyth hym in euerlastynge lyfe . Yf ye refuse so great grace wherto ye be called , what other thynge do ye , then heape your damnation more and more , and so prouoke God to caste hys displeasure vnto you and to reuenge thys mockage of hys holy sacramentes in so great abusyng of them . Applye your selfe good frendes to lyue in Christ , that Christ may styl lyue in you : whose fauour and assistence yf ye haue , than haue Ioh. v ye euerlastynge lyfe alredy wythin you , than can no thynge hurte you . What soeuer is hytherto done and commytted , Christe ye se hath offered you pardon and clerly receyued you to hys fauoure agayne : in full suertye wherof , ye haue hym nowe uihabytynge and dwellynge wythin you . Only shewe you youre selfe thankeful in your lyues , compounde wyth youre Col. iii. selfe to refuse and auoyde al such thynges in youre conuersations that shuld offende hys eyes of mercy Endeuoure your selfe that waye to ryse vp agayne , whych waye ye fell into the well & pyt of synne . Yf by your tonge ye haue offended , now therby ryse agayne and glorifye God therwyth . Accustome it to laude and prayse the name of God , as ye haue therwyth dishonoured it , and as ye haue hurte the name of your neghboure or otherwyse hyndered him , now entende to restore hym agayne , for wythout restituci on God accepteth not your shryft nor yet your repentaunce . It is not ynough to forsake euell except ye Psasm . xxxvi . set your corage to do good . By what occasion so euer ye haue offended , tourne now the occasion to the honourynge of God & profytynge of your neyghbour . Truth it is that synne is stronge and affections vnruly , harde to subdue & resyst our nature so corrupte & leuened with the soure bitternes of the poyson which we receyued by the inheritance of our olde father Adam , but yet take good corage sayeth our Sauiour Mar. vi Christ : for I haue ouercommed the world & al other enemyes for you . Synne shall not haue power ouer Rom. vi you , for ye be now vnder grace sayeth saynt Paule . Though your power be weake , yet Christ is rysen a gayne to strength you in your batel , hys holy spirite shall helpe your infirmities . In trust of hys confidence take you in hande to purge thys olde leuen of Ro. viij synne that corrupteth & soureth the swetnes of your lyfe before God , that ye maye be as newe and freshe dowe voyde of all soure leuen of wyckednes : so shall i. cor. v ye shew your self to be swete bred to god to haue his delyte in you . I say kyl & offer you vp the worldly & erthly affections of your bodyes , for Christ our Ester lambe is offred vp for vs , to flee the power of synne , to delyuer vs from the daunger therof and to gyue vs exemple to dye to synne in our lyfe . As the Iues dyd eate theyr Ester lambe & kept theyr fest in remembraunce of theyr deliueraunce out of Egypt : Euen so let vs kepe our Ester feast in that thankfull remembraunce of Christes benefytes whych he hath purchased for vs by hys resurrection & passyng to hys father : wher by we be deliuered from the captiuitie & thraldome of al our enemyes . Let vs in like maner passe ouer the affections of our olde conuersacion to be delyuered from the bondage therof to rise with Christ . The Iues Exo. xij kept theyr feast in absteynynge from leuened breade by the space of . vij . dayes : let vs christen folke kepe our holy day in a spiritual maner that is in absteining not from material leuened bread , but from the olde leuen of synne the leuen of maliciousnes & wyckednes . Let vs cast from vs that leuen of corrupt doctrine that wyl iufect our soules . Let vs kepe oure feast that hole terme of our lyfe with eatynge the bred of purenes of godly lyfe , & truth of Christes doctrine . Thus shall we declare that Christes gyftes & graces haue theyr in vs . & that we haue that right beleue & knowlege of his holy resurrection , whervnto yf we applye our fayth to that vertue therof , & in our lyfe conforme vs to the exemple & signification ment therby , we shal be suer to ryse hereafter to euerlastynge glorye by the goodnes and mercy of our Lorde Iesus Christe , to whome wyth the father and the holy goost . &c.