THis Scripture , found in the ninth to the Hebrewes , written by Saint Paul ( as some thinke ) but sprung from the Holy-Ghost , as the Catholike Church beleeueth , plaine in words , certaine in sense , short in reading , containeth two necessarie , notable and large points . The first is , the offering of Christ , and wherefore he was offered , in these words ; Christ was once offered , to take away the sinnes of many . The other , the comming of Christ : vnto whom , and wherefore he shall come , in the second Branch , Vnto them that looke for him shall hee appeare the second time , without sinne , vnto saluation . The first is for me , being the doctrine of Christ crucified , which onely is to be preached : for the time also , being the Passion weeke , wherin especially it is to be meditated , and for the most Noble and Honourable Audience , being Christians , which seeke saluation by Christ crucified , & no where else : and therefore contenting my selfe with the first part at this present , by Gods grace and your Honourable permission , I am to handle the Passion of CHRIST , briefely , to auoid tediousnesse : plainly , to edifie all : truely , out of the Scriptures : and , I hope , comfortably , both to you , and my selfe ; in this order : First , I will touch the things which went before his Crosse , not all , but some : Secondly , what hee suffered on the Crosse , and what chanced about the time of his Passion : thirdly , what good wee haue by Christs Passion , and how wee should meditate thereon . That the Treatise may be to the glory of God , I beseech you let vs ioyne in heartie prayer vnto God .

O Almightie , &c.

THe bloudy and bitter Passion of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ , God and man , in the sixe and twentith , and seauen and twentith Chapters of S. Mathew , is largely and comfortably discoursed . How he was betraied by Iudas with a kisse , accused of the Iewes , condemned vnder Pontius Pilate , and crucified betweene two Malefactors ; his Soule being troubled ; his Heart grieued ; and his Body tormented with the nayling of his blessed Hands and Feet , with the piercing of his gracious Side , with the shedding of his most glorious and precious Bloud . So the Sonne of God , the Lord of Glory , the Prince of Peace , was entreated of miserable Miscreants . So hee , which knew no sinne , was made a sacrifice for our sinne . Now if the Vaile of the Temple did rend asunder from the toppe to the bottome ; if the Graues did open , & the bodies of Saints ( which slept ) arose ; if the Earth did tremble and the stones claue asunder when this was done ; how can it be but that we should be moued when this is preached ? Our Hearts may tremble to thinke of it , so may our Tongues to speake of it , yet we may reioyce in Christ crucified , that by the vertue of his Passion our ransome is payed , our wounds healed , satisfaction for our sinne made ; Death conquered , Sathan subdued , Hell ouercome , Sinne killed , God pacified , and wee to him reconciled .

And now to begin with those things which went before his Crosse : may wee not thinke his suffering was exceeding great , when he sweat bloud ? and that did Christ in mount Oliues , being in an Agonie , kneeling downe deuoutely , and praying most earnestly . It is an vsuall thing for a man in anguish to sweat ; but to sweate bloud , and to sweate it in such abundance , that euen drops like bloud should trickle from his Body vpon the Ground , this is not an vsuall thing ; this was a strange thing ; this was proper onely to Christ ; this declared griefe vnspeakable , paine intollerable . And did Christ shed drops of bloud for our sins , & cannot wee shed one teare for the same ? O that my Head were a Well of water , and my Eyes a Fountaine of teares , that I might bewaile the vnthankfulnesse of the world !

The matter which hee had in hand , was waightie ; the worke which hee had to accomplish , was great ; the conflict , strong ; the enemies , mighty ; their assaults many . The Worke was mans Redemption ; the Conflict was with Sinne , with Death , with Sathan , with Hell , with the Law , and with the wrath of GOD . And would not those enemies , so many in number , so mightie in power , so terrible to behold , make a man to feare , to tremble , and to sweate ? If Christ had beene meere man , he could not haue encountred with them : but being God and man , did encounter with them all , ouercame them all , lead them captiue all , and hath triumphed ouer them all , though it cost him drops of bloud , with strong crying and teares . What say I drops of bloud ? it cost him more , that which was dearest vnto him , his life , before he could bring vnder so mightie enemies as man had , and accomplish so painfull a worke as Redemption is , and pacifie so great a person as is the most high , almightie and euer-liuing God . O man , remember the drops of bloud which CHRIST did shed for thy sake , for thy sinne , for thy soule , and for thy saluation : loue him for it ; thanke him for it ; serue him for it all the dayes of thy life . And thus much for the suffering of Christ in Mount Oliues .

Secondly , wee may conceiue his suffering was exceeding great , when being sorrowfull and grieuously troubled , hee said : My Soule is heauy euen vnto death . When hee fell on his Face , and prayed thrice : O my Father , if it be possible , let this Cup passe from mee ; meaning his bitter Passion : not that he was vnwilling to take it ( for , in all things he submitted himselfe to his heauenly Father ) but those earnest speeches declared the heauy burden of sinne , which lighted on him , the painefull griefe which hee endured , the grieuous paine which he suffered , the great torments , and terrours which hee sustained for our sakes . The soule of Christ was from heauen heauenly , neuer bespotted with any vncleannesse , but pure without corruption notwithstanding it was heauie , and touched with the feare of death , in consideration of our sinne , which had deserued death , with an infinite number of miseries beside , all which lighted vpon that innocent Lambe ; ( which neuer displeased God , nor offended man ) that by his stripes wee might be healed . And what an hell thinke we was Christ in , when he prayed thrise most feruently , to haue that bitter Cuppe passe from him ? No doubt hee felt the waight of sinne , the Wrath of God against it , the Iustice of God requiring punishment for it , the power of the Law pronouncing condemnation to it , the force of Death , the tyranny of Sathan , the torments of Hell , which no tongue can expresse , nor heart conceiue . And this made Christ to say in anguish of Spirit : My Soule is very heauie euen vnto the death . And to pray three times ; O my Father , if it be possible , let this cup passe from me : yet to shew that therefore hee came into the world , and that he was content to dye , hee submitted his will to Gods , saying ; Neuerthelesse , not as I will , but as thou wilt .

Thirdly , he was betrayed by one of his owne , Iudas by name ; a Iudas in hart , a Iudas in tongue , a Iudas in deed , came to him with a Iudas kisse , saying ; Haile Master , and betrayed Christ . O beastly traiterous Beast , to betray thy Master , and that vnder colour of friendship with a kisse . I say , to betray thy Master , whom thou wast bound to defend , and oughtest to haue loued . It was too much for any Barbarian to haue done : but for thee which didst call him Master , which didst beare his Bagge , which didst sit at his Table , which wast conuersant with him , to doe it , was a Iudas tricke , indeede , too-too traiterous , shamefull and beastly . But what will not the desire of money doe ? What will you giue me ( said IVDAS ) and I will deliuer him vnto you ? I will deliuer him vnto you : but first I must know what you will giue me . Iudas tooke part with the Iewes , Iudas betraied Christ , Iudas damned himselfe , and all for what will you giue me ? But what did his money him good , when he had lost Christ , lost Heauen , lost his Soule , and damned himselfe ? But was this the end of this ? When Iudas saw he was condemned , he repented himselfe , he brought againe the thirtie pieces of siluer to the chiefe Priests and Elders , he said , I haue sinned , betraying the innocent bloud : he cast downe the siluer pieces in the temple , he departed , and went and hanged himselfe . Hanging was the end of Iudas : a fit end for such a traitor : but that is not all , he hangs in hell perpetually for it , and he is serued as he deserued , most iustly : for bloud will haue bloud . But did Iudas repent ? so is the text , He repented , and he said ; I haue sinned , betraying the innocent bloud . He did not repent truely , for then hee would not haue hanged himselfe . The word Repentance was in his mouth , but the thing was not in his heart : within him was a tormenting conscience , which did accuse , iudge , and condemne him , which did set before his eyes , the haynousnesse of his fact , the grieuousnesse of GODS Wrath , Iudgement without mercy , Hell-fire without redemption : This desperate minde made him to depart from the companie , to take an halter , and hang himselfe . See the force of Conscience in Iudas : Mala conscientia delictorum nostrorum testis , iudex , tortor , carcer , accusat , iudicat , condemnat . An euill conscience is a witnesse , a Iudge , a tormentor , a prison of our sinnes ; it doth accuse , iudge , and condemne .

What thing more grieuous , then day and night to carry about such a witnesse , Iudge , Tormenter , and prison ? Omnia potest homo fugere praeter cor suum : Nam quocunque vadit , conscientia eum non derelinquit . A man may auoide all things but his owne heart ; for whither-soeuer hee goeth , it goeth with him , either to excuse or accuse , which are the effects of conscience . The testimonie of a good conscience is a precious iewell , and ( as Salcmon saith ) a continuall feast , because it maketh a man alwayes merry . The putting away of a good conscience causeth shipwracke of faith , as in Himenaeus and Alexander . Happy , therefore is he which can truly say with that elect vessel S. Paul , Herein I endeuour my selfe to haue alway a cleare conscience towards God , and towards men : for if our heart condemne vs , GOD is greater then our heart , and knoweth all things ; but if our heart condemne vs not , then haue wee boldnesse towards him , and whatsoeuer we aske in faith we receiue of him . A sicke conscience can no Physitian in the world cure , but that heauenly Physitian Christ Iesu : to him therefore let vs resort with all humilitie .

But to Iudas againe : What will you giue me , and I will deliuer him vnto you ? The desire of money is the roote of all mischiefe . They which are poysoned with it doe erre from the Faith . They pierce themselues through with many sorrowes : they fall into temptations , into snares , into many foolish and noisome lusts which drowne men in perdition and destruction . But men of God must flie those things and follow after righteousnesse , godlinesse , faith , loue , patience , meekenesse , laying hold of eternall life , whereunto they are called . By the end of Iudas let Seruants take heede that they betray not their Maisters : for treason and rebellion most commonly haue a shamefull end ; such is Gods iust iudgement . Let Masters also beware , that they trust not euery seruant too farre , no not though he be of his houshold , and pretend good-will , and seeme trusty ; euen so did Iudas , yet was hee in truth , but a seemer , a dissembler , a traitor . For , as there is no griefe to that of the minde , no losse to that of life , no feare to that of destruction ; so is there no enemie to a dissembling friend , no treacherie to that which one of a mans owne may practise .

Here is Iudas for an example : one of Christs Apostles , and of his houshold ( as I may say ) one that asked , Master , is it I ? one that kissed him , and seemed as trusty as any the rest : yet for all that he was but a Iudas , a halter , a cloaker , a dissembler , a traitor . All is not honie that is sweet , neither is all gold that glisters ; so is not euery one a true seruant that saith , Master . Iudas was a double fellow , hee had one question to Christ , another to the Iewes : to Christ , Master , is it I ? but to the Iewes , what will you giue me , and I will deliuer him vnto you ? This question of Iudas for the first part is very rife in the world at these dayes : I will doe you a pleasure , but what wil you giue me for my paines ? I will lend you a summe , but what will you giue me for interest ? I will let you a piece of land , but what will you giue me for a good fine ? Hee that will giue most shall haue it : so all is , what will you giue me , and little without what will you giue me . But let them vse it as long as they will , it is but Iudas his question ; Christian charitie asketh no such question , and yet is ready to pleasure and to lend . And thus much for the treacherie of Iudas .

I will omit , for breuities sake , many circumstances , as that all his Disciples forsooke him , and fled like cowards when they saw swords and staues against him ; that Caiaphas the hie priest accused him of blasphemy , that the people spat on him , and smote him with rods , that Peter denied him with a lie , with an othe , with a curse . I come to Pontius Pilate the Gouernour . This man though hee knew well , that for enuy they had deliuered him , though his Wife sent vnto him vpon the Iudgement seate , to haue nothing to doe with that iust man , though hee found no cause of death in him ; yet like a naughty man , and timerous Iudge , he let goe an arrant Theefe , Barrabas , and deliuered Iesus to be crucified , & then before the multitude tooke water and washed his hands , saying ; I am innocent of the bloud of that iust man . He confessed him a iust man : why then did he giue sentence on him ? He said he was innocent of his bloud , and yet did consent to shed it . No , no , Pilate was guiltie of Christs death , and could not shift himselfe of it by taking water and washing his hands . What a matter was this , Barrabas to be preferred before Christ ? a murtherer let goe and an innocent person scourged ? But see enuie : they enuied Christs vertues . Inuidia est virtutis comes . If Pilate had beene a good man , finding no cause of death in Christ , hee would haue stoode with him to death , & not for feare , or any other carnal respect haue condemned him . After the souldiers tooke him in the common hal , first they stripped him , then they put about him a robe of scarlet , on his head they set a crowne of thornes in his right hand they put a reede before him , they bowed their knees , in mockage , saying , Auc rex Iudaeorum : Afterward they spit on him , and with a reed smote him on the head . Thus when they had mocked him , they tooke the rode from him , and put his owne rayment on him , and led him away to be crucified . What villany was this ? Christ being God could haue staid their fury , yea , haue striken them starke dead with a word : but hee would not for our sakes . If those souldiers had knowne what they did , with whom they dealt , whose sonne he was , from whence he came , and whither hee would , what power he had , they would haue staied themselues : but being full of ignorance , they did what they did . For had they knowne , they would not haue crucified the Lord of glory . But yet ignorance excused not . For ignorance in those which would not vnderstand , without doubt is a sinne : Ignorance in those which could not vnderstand , is a punishment for sin : neither is excusable ; both are damnable . We haue heard what Christ suffered before hee came to his crosse , that he sweat drops of bloud in mount Oliues , that being sorrowfull he prayed earnestly to haue that bitter cuppe passe from him , that he was betraied by Iudas with a kisse , that hee was forsaken of all his Disciples , that he was accused by Caiaphas for a blasphemer , that he was denied by Peter thrice , that hee was condemned vnder Pontius Pilate .

It followeth that I speake of his suffering on the crosse . Christ being on the crosse suffered reproch of the passers by , of the Priestes , Scribes , and Pharises , and of the Theeues . The passers by wagging their heades , reuiled him , saying : Thou that destroyedst the temple of God , and buildedst it in three dayes ; if thou be the Son of God , come down from the crosse . Likewise the Priests , Scribes , Elders , and Pharises mocked him , saying , He saued others , but himselfe can he not saue : if hee be the King of Israel , let him come downe from the crosse , and wee will beleeue him . The theeues also doth at the first , cast the same thing in his teeth . Christ indeede said : destroy this Temple , and in three dayes I will raise it vp againe . The Iewes mistooke him : they meant that great temple in Hierusalem , which had beene a building fortie and sixe yeeres : but he meant the Temple of his body , that after they had destroyed , mangled , and killed it , he would raise it from death the third day , as in truth he did . Now if they had vnderstoode him , they would neuer haue mocked him with that saying : but seeing him to rise againe , haue confessed him to be the Son of God . The wicked Priests , Scribes and Pharises mocked him saying : hee saued others , but he cannot saue himselfe : If he be the King of Israel , let him come downe from the crosse , and we will beleeue him . Christ indeed saued others , all , that beleeued in him , from the guilt of sinne , from eternall death , from the tiranny of Sathan , from the curse of the law , from the wrath of God . Himselfe also he saued , in that he got the victory , and rose againe the third day : but these blinde priests , Scribes and Pharises , vnderstoode not this , and therefore they mocked him with it .

Moreouer , Christ could haue come downe from the crosse if he would , but he knew it not to be expedient . He would not yeeld to their fancies , if he had come down , they would haue beleeued him neuer a whit the sooner : some would haue said he did it for feare of death : some to shew what he could doe : some for one respect , some for an other . And therefore CHRIST knowing this , yeelded not vnto them , but went forward with the worke he had in hand , which was by his crosse to appease the wrath of God , to satisfie his iustice , to make him fauorable vnto sinners , by offering a full and perfect sacrifice once for all : and therefore he is a priest , not according to the order of Aaron , which by imperfection did need a successiue , but according to the order of Melchisedec , and that for euer .

To proceede : from the sixt houre to the ninth , there was darknes ouer all the land , for the Sunne was darkned . About the ninth houre Iesus cried with aloude voice , Ely , Ely , lamasabacthany . My God , my God , why hast thou forsaken mee ? Behold the Passion of Christ . He cried , with aloude voice he cried , vnto heauen he cried , as one forlorne he cried : My God , my God , why hast thou forsaken me ? No tongue can expresse , nor heart conceiue the pangs , the paines , the punishment which he suffered . For the time the paines of the damned , the torments of hell fell vpon him , which wee for our sinnes had deserued , and should haue suffered for euer and euer in hell , had not he so suffered on the crosse . What terror was this to behold , man in his fall , God in his wrath , sinne in his desert , the law in his curse , the diuell in his tyranny , hell in his torments ? What terrour was this ? God in his wrath is a consuming fire : man in his fall is a lost cast-away : sinne in his desert is a damnable thing : the law in his curse is a heauy thunderbolt : the diuell in his rage is very terrible : hell in his torments is intolerable . And what a terrour was this ? These things Christ did behold , nay did suffer , and the paine did make him crie aloude : My God , my God , why hast thou forsaken me ? not that God forsooke Christ at any time : but this speech declared that conflict , that terrour , that torment , which no creature beside could haue endured . For it cost more to redeeme soules , so that a man must let that alone for euer . Then most true is that article of our Creede : He descended into hell , for the time he suffered the paines of hell , together with the extreame shame , as the victory of sorrowes , whilest being held in the graue vntill the third day , he lay as it were oppressed of death . The vertue of his passion reacheth downe to hell , to redeeme mankinde from the paines of hell which hee had deserued , to ouerthrow Sathan the prince of hell , to dissolue his workes which are sinne , and death , to deliuer mankinde which are vnder his subiection , to purchase for him Gods fauour , forgiuenes of sinnes , and eternall life . Christ on the crosse offered vp his soule and body a sacrifice to saue our soules and bodies . On the crosse hee suffered in soule and body to make satisfaction for our sinnes committed in soule and body . And the suffering in both was so great , that he cried aloude , My God , my God , why hast thou forsaken me ? In that he said , my God , with a repetition , hee assured himselfe still of his fauour , of his protection , and of deliuerance : by that speech he despaired not , but expressed the greatest sorrow , the heauiest paine that could be endured , for the redemption of mankinde . We haue heard what a notable sacrifice Christ offered on the crosse , not the bloud of goates or calues , but his owne bloud to purge our consciences from dead workes to serue the liuing God . This is that sacrifice which was figured by the Paschall Lambe , by the brasen serpent lifted vp in the wildernesse , by the whole burnt sacrifice , by the peace offering . A remembrance of this sacrifice , is our communion of bread and wine , the one representing Christs bodie rent , the other his bloud shed for our sinnes . This is that sacrifice whereby Abel , Noe , Abraham , Isaac , and Iacob , all the faithful Patriarchs and Prophets , all the beleeuing persons from the beginning were saued . For , Christ is the Lambe , slaine from the beginning of the world . Slaine in the figure , in the purpose of God , in the vertue of his passion from the beginning of the world . Then is Christ slaine to euery one , when hee beleeueth him slaine . Iesus Christ yesterday and to day , the same for euer . From the beginning of the world to his ascension that is yesterday , from his ascension to the common resurrection , that is to day , from the common resurrection for euer he is one . Therefore one faith , one religion , one kinde of Sacraments in substance , one way to heauen from the beginning , one spirituall meate & drink . Our fathers did all eate the same spirituall meate which we eate , and drinke the same spirituall drink which we drink . They dranke of the Rocke which followed them , and the rocke was Christ . For though they did eate Manna , and dranke water out of the rocke , yet the faithfull spiritually did feede on Christ : because that visible meate they vnderstood spiritually ; they hungred after it spiritually , they did taste it spiritually , that with it they might be satisfied spiritually . And Bertramus saith , that our fathers did eate the selfe-same spirituall meate which we eate : because one and the same Christ fed the people in the wildernesse with his flesh , and refreshed them with his bloud , and now feedeth the faithfull in the Church with the bread of his bodie , and refresheth them with the water of his bloud . But what is it to eate the flesh of Christ ? It is to rest vpon him with a sure trust , by his grace spirit , presence , to be fed , nourished , susteined to eternall life Or as Christ himselfe saith : He that eateth my flesh , and drinketh my bloud , abideth in mee , and I in him . To eate the flesh of Christ , and drinke his blood , is to abide in Christ , and to haue Christ abiding in vs . And therefore S. Augustine saith , hee that abides not in Christ , and in whom Christ abideth not , eateth not spiritually the flesh of Christ , although visibly and carnally he presseth with his teeth the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ : but rather eateth the sacrament of so great a thing to his condemnation . Whereby it may appeare that we at this day preach the selfe same Gospell which was in the beginning of the world , that is , wee preach Christ crucified , which was opened to our first father in paradise , renewed to Abraham , and all the Patriarchs , figured by all the sacrifices of the Law , witnessed by the Prophets , pointed vnto by Iohn Baptist , preached by Iesus Christ himselfe , and deliuered by his Apostles . And therefore it is most true , ancient , catholike and apostolike .

Now to the things which hapned about the time of his passion : the graues did open : the dead bodies which slept arose : the vaile of the temple did rent in twaine from the top to the bottome : the earth did tremble : the stones did cleaue asunder . These things declared that a notable person suffered , yet the Iewes were not touched . These vnsensible creatures were moued , yet the Iewes hearts were hardned . The Centurion , when hee saw what was done , glorified God , saying : Of a suretie this man was iust . The souldiers that watched him , when they saw the earth quake , and the things that were done , feared greatly , saying : Truely this was the Son of God . A confession to the glory of God , to the comfort of themselues , to the prouing of a Sauiour , and to the terror of the Iewes . This man whom yee haue contemned , whom ye haue condemned , whom yee haue reuiled , whom yee haue scourged , whom ye haue crucified , truely was the Sonne of God . The renting of the Temple , the quaking of the earth , the cleauing of the stones , the opening of the graues , the rising of the dead , doe proue , that truely he was the Sonne of God , and without all doubt a iust man . A iust man indeed : For in his heart was neuer euil thoght ; out of his mouth neuer proceeded euill word ; with his body he neuer wrought ill deede : but in heart hee was alwaies tender and louing , in word gentle and meeke , in dealing iust and vpright . Yet was he accused , condemned , and put to a most shamefull death , the death of the crosse , as a most notorious malefactour . And all this was done to worke the worke of mans redemption .

Here come in certaine questions . The first is , whether Christ could haue deliuered himselfe from their hands . The answere is , he could . For he is God omnipotent : but he did not , that the scriptures might be fulfilled , that our redemption might be made , that our saluation might be accomplished . The second question is , whether the Iewes were to be excused , seeing it was the good will of GOD that CHRIST should die . The answere is , in no wise : Because they did it of ignorance , enuie and malice . And whereas good came thereby to mankind , that was to be ascribed to Gods goodnesse , which did turne their sinne to a good end : Deus tam bonus est , vt ex malis eliciat bona . God is so good that he turnes euill to good . The third question is , whether all they are damned which put Christ to death ? I dare not so say , seeing Christ prayed for them : Father forgiue them , they know not what they doe . But this I say , whosoeuer of them died , not beleeuing that person to be the Sonne of God , the onely Mediator betwixt God and Man , the onely redeemer , and purchaser of forgiuenes of sinnes , the onely high priest of good things to come , whosoeuer I say departed out of this faith , is damned for euer and euer .

I Proceede to the benefits , which we inioy by Christ his passion , which are in number many , in feeling comfortable , in estimation most precious . The first is purgation of sinnes . Thrice happy is he that hath it , most miserable are they which haue it not . The penitent sinner of a troubled spirit , of a broken and contrite heart , forsaking his owne waies , and renouncing his owne imagination , promising amendment , and purposing the fruits of repentance , confessing his own miserie , and appealing to the mercies of God in the merits of Christ , haue their sinnes , though as red as scarlet , yet washed in his most precious , gracious , and glorious bloud . For if the bloud of buls , and goates , and the ashes of a heiffer , sprinckling them that are vncleane , sanctifieth as touching the purifying of the flesh : how much more shall the bloud of Christ , which through the eternall spirit offred himselfe without spot to God , purge your conscience from dead workes , to serue the liuing God ? And to this end are we deliuered from all our enemies , Sathan , sinne , and death , that we should serue Christ our deliuerer , & that without feare , in holines and righteousnesse all the daies of our life .

The 2. benefit is , remission of sinnes . Blessed is the man whose sinnes are forgiuen , couered , and not imputed . Sinne is in the childe of God , but it reigneth not . Sinne is in the elect , but it is couered . Sin is in the heires of saluation , but it is not imputed , because it is forgiuen : as the Arke was couered with a golden sheet called the propitiatorie : so Christ is the propitiation of our sinnes , by whom we haue redemption through his bloud , euen forgiuenes of sinnes . For the bloud of Christ crieth remission of sinnes in the hearts of the godly .

The 3. benefit of Christs passion is , deliuerance from the curse of the lawe . The law accuseth , Christ excuseth . The law terrifieth , Christ comforteth . The law curseth , Christ blesseth . Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the law being made a curse for vs . For it is written , Cursed is euery one that hangeth on the tree : that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through faith ; that we might receiue the adoption of sons . For though we be blacke by nature , yet are we white by grace : though blacke in Adam , yet white in Christ : though blacke by merite yet white by mercie . For Christ is the end of the law for righteousnes to euery one that beleeueth . They then which in a liuely faith apprehend Christ crucified , and risen again , haue what the law requireth , that is , perfect obedience performed of Christ imputed to them .

The 4. benefit by Christs passion is , freedome from damnation . For what destruction can come to them which are ingraffed into Christ the author of saluation ? How can the second death take hold on them that haue their part in the first resurrection , and are in Christ the life it selfe ? the Deuill cannot pluck them away finall from God , which are written in the booke of life , and redeemed by the blood of the Lambe . Hell cannot terrifie them which patiently looke for an inheritance in heauen . There is no damnation ( saith the Apostle ) to them which are in Christ , which walke not after the flesh , but after the spirit . We are in Christ by election before the world was made : We are called to Christ by the word after the world was made : We are iustified by a liuely faith , the obedience of the Son of God being imputed to vs : We are sanctified through the spirit , our soules being purified in obeying the truth : We walke not after the flesh , when we resist couetous cogitations , ambitious desires , voluptuous thoughts , enuious conceits , malitious purposes , and whatsoeuer els corruption of old Adam : We walke after the spirit , when we embrace loue , follow peace and holines , shew long-suffering , gentlenes , meeknes , temperance : crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts .

The fift benefit by Christs passion , is , that the wrath of God is pacified . For as they which obey not the Son , shall not see life , but the wrath of God abideth on them : so they which beleeue in the Son haue euerlasting life reserued in heauen for them , which are kept by the power of God , through faith to saluation . This is my beloued Sonne , in whom I am well pleased , heare him . A voice from heauen , after Iesus was baptized , the heauens being open vnto him , and the spirit of GOD descending like a Doue , and lighting on him . This borne of the Virgin Mary is my naturall , & beloued Son , coequall to me , and coeternall , and consubstantiall with me , in whom , euen for his owne sake I am well pleased with all my elect children , my displeasure being as farre from them , as the East from the West , and my fauour vpon them euen for my Christ , for whose sake I pardon all their offences , and their sinnes , and iniquities will remember no more , but will put my lawes in their mindes , and write them in their hearts , and will be their God , and they shall be my people .

The sixt benefit by CHRIST his passion , is victorie ouer Sathan . For where sinne is purged , remitted , and not imputed , where the malediction of the Law is abrogated , where the second death is abolished , where the wrath of God is pacified : there the Deuill hath naught . For Christ , through death , destroyed him which had the power of death , that is , the Deuill , that he might deliuer all them which for feare of death were al their life time subiect to bondage . Wherefore , though Sathan be yet suffred to tempt the children of God , yet hee shall neuer plucke them away from the state of saluation : because God is faithfull , and will not suffer his to be tempted aboue their strength : but shall in the middes of temptation make a way that they may be able to beare it . Beside these singular benefites by Christ his passion , wee haue by the same peace of conscience , which passeth all vnderstanding , accesse to grace by the mediation of Christ , and after this life euerlasting , to behold the blessed and glorious Trinitie , in glorie , Maiestie , and eternitie .

Now to the meditation of Christ his passion , which we shall consider fruitfully , if wee marke how fowle a thing sinne is , how grieuous to the conscience , how displeasant to God , what punishment it deserued , whose death it procured , and so repent for the same .

Secondly , if wee behold the passing loue of God in sending his Sonne to redeeme vs , & the singular loue of Christ , in laying downe his life for vs , and so be thankfull to both for the same . If God had redeemed mankinde by any other meanes , as by siluer or gold , or by force of armes , or any of his Angels , the benefit had been the lesse : but he did it by the death of his holy and deare Sonne . A benefit of all benefits the greatest , and neuer to be thought on without thankfulnesse . And in truth no Angel could be an attonement-maker betweene God & man , because they communicate nature neither with God nor man : but Christ Iesus doth with both . For hee is God in nature , and man in nature : and so a friend to both God and man , and therefore a most fit person to make peace betweene God and man .

Thirdly , we shal meditate on the passion of Christ aright , if after his example we forgiue our enemies when they offend vs , if we loue them though they hate vs , if we pray for them , though they curse vs , after the example of Christ , which forgaue vs when wee trespassed against him , which so loued vs , that he died for vs when we were his enemies & sinners .

Fourthly , we shall meditate on the passion of Christ aright , if we mortifie our members , which are vpon the earth , if we crucifie the flesh with the affections , that is , by putting off the old man , which is corrupt through deceiueable lusts , and putting on the new man , which after God is created vnto righteousnes and true holinesse , if we walke honestly ; as in the day time , not in gluttony and drunkennes , but in sobrietie , neither in chambering and wantonnesse , but in chastitie , neither in strife and enuying , but in charitie : if wee put on the Lord Iesus , and make no prouision for the flesh , to fulfill the lusts of it . We may haue an honest care of our bodies , which is to feed them soberly , to cloth them decently , to exercise them moderately : but so to prouide for the flesh as to fulfill the lusts thereof so to pamper it as to make it ouer-rule the spirit , this is to forget Christs passion , to seeke to crucifie him againe , to serue our enemie , from which to redeem vs Christ died , to destroy that ( as much as in him is ) which Christ so deerely bought .

Lastly , we shal meditate on the passion of Christ aright , if wee stedfastly beleeue by it to be saued , and liue and die in true repentance for our sinnes , which made a diuision betweene God and vs , which brought the Sonne of God from heauen into the vaile of misery , which caused the death of Iesus Christ . The consideration of this ought to make our hearts to bleede , to flye from sinne , as from a biting serpent , to renounce the diuell with his workes , as we promised in baptisme , to be contrite , which is the first branch of true repentance , to crie for mercie , which is the second , to trust in Christ the mediator , which is the third , to endeuour with a purpose to serue the liuing GOD , which is the last . Then tho our sins were as crimson , they shall be made as white as snow : though they were red as scarlet , they shall be as wool . For the bloud of Iesus Christ the Son of God , purgeth the penitent from all sinne . Then God will be on our right hand for euer . Then shall the Realme flourish , as now , so for euer with peace , plenty , the preaching of the Gospell , with many other godly blessings , to the glorie of God , the comfort of vs , and terrour of the enemie .

Let vs be thankefull to Almightie God for preseruing vs hitherto , giuing vs peace , when others haue had the contrarie : plentie , when others haue suffered scarsity : the preaching of the word , which others haue lacked : vnder the gouernement of a most gracious King , whom we are bound , as the Lords annointed , to loue sincerely , to reuerence dutifully , to obey heartily , to pray for zealously and continually , because God hath vsed his Maiestie as a meane to conuey ouer vnto vs his mercies ) that he may liue to the comming of Christ , to giue vp to him his princely crowne , to receiue of him a crown of glory for euer , in the kingdom of glorie , where is light and no darknes , life , and no dying , peace and no discord ; where is mirth without mourning , fauor without misliking , knowledge without ignorance , where is holines & no sinne , vprightnes and no hypocrisie , truth and no falsehood , perfection and no infirmitie ; where are ioyes which eye hath not seene , neither eare hath heard , neither hath entred into the heart of man , which the Lord hath prepared for them that loue him , in the company of godly Saints , in the sight of heauenly Angels , in the presence of Iesus , the Mediator of the new Testament . To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost , be all honour and glorie for euer and euer .

Amen . ( ⸪ )