¶ A Lecture or Exposition upon a part of the. u chapter of the Epistle to the hebrews. As it was read in Paul's the. 6. day of December. 1572. By Edward Deryng.  
¶ Prepared and given for a New years gift to the godly in London and else where, for this year. 1573.  
¶ Imprinted at London by john Awdely.   

¶ To his very loving friend Master M. F.  
THe outward afflictions and manifold troubles of a great number of God's Children, whose travail and labour from day to day I had still in experience: and the inward feeling of many wounded spirits, whose woeful sighs and bitter mournings I beheld in other, and had tried in myself, it made me very desirous to seek for remedies, to stop the complaints of so grievous cryings, and to prepare our hearts in a strong defence, that the fiery darts of the devil might not wound us. Upon this occasion, when I had to expound that place of the Apostle, full of notable comfort: That Christ in the days of his flesh offered up prayers and supplications to him that was able to save him from death, with strong cryings and with tears, and was delivered from the things he feared: I tarried the longer in that matter, and declared more at large, what great boldness and assurance of hope was offered here unto all that should obey the word. Which when I had done, as God gave me utterance, the poor in spirit, to whom I applied myself, one or two required me to set it down in writing, that it might be profitable to many, which was comfortable to them. I durst not reject such a good request, but though some time I differred it, yet I never forgot it, till I had written all as I was required. Which when I had done, I purposed then with myself to make it yet more common, and set it abroad in print: Knowing assuredly, where God would give it increase, it should bring forth the fruit of consolation, that we might stand upright in the day of evil.  
Thus having performed both the request of other, and mine own desire, and the time falling out with the beginning of a new year, I thought it not amiss, to offer my labour unto you, who (I know well) would accept it as a New years gift, though of no great price, yet of great good will, and though easily obtained, yet not little to be esteemed. And therefore my dear brother, whom I love in Christ, and reverence in the world, as many ways I have cause, so I offer it unto you. The Lord for his mercy's sake work his own good pleasure, that I may have of you the fruit that I desire, and you the grace that you stand in need of: that as God hath greatly blessed you, and made you abound in many graces, to the glory of his name, the comfort of your friends, and the benefit of his people: so your joy, that it might be made perfect, you might also abound in this, to have a strong faith against the day of trial: Which God of his mercy will surely grant unto you, and finish the good work that he hath begone. Though I love not to speak fair for fear of flattery▪ and deceitful praises I see what mischief they breed, yet I fear not to bear you witness of your well doing: the spirit of God hath planted humility more deep in your breast, than that pride and arrogancy can pull it out. And in deed the better you are, the more effectually you do see your own unworthiness, that all your righteousness is as a defiled cloth: and the more you approach unto God, the more you abhor yourself, and know that in your flesh there dwelleth no goodness.  
Abraham our father, job, Esay and many other▪ men of excellent virtue, in the sight of God they have been all astonished, to see how their righteousness hath been scattered away as the clouds of the heavens. Paul crieth out: O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death? But because we have an enemy that spareth not to display all our corruptions before our eyes, to the end he might make us despair, therefore we may be bold to the strengthening of our hope, to set before us again the spiritual graces that work within us, to assure ourselves that we be borne of God. So our Saviour Christ praised many that believed on him, so did his apostles, so may we. And our heavenly father will ratify and confirm our words, when we speak the truth according to the measure of faith that every one hath received. So S. john biddeth us all be bold, and not be deceived: He that doth the things that are righteous himself is righteous, and like unto Christ in whom he is sanctified.  
So may I say unto you, the grace of God hath wrought happily in you, in these years and condition of life, that so unfeignedly you have sought the Lord. It can not be of yourself, who are not able so much as to think a good thought, but it is of him whose seed abideth in you. And although, because you have that treasure in a brittle vessel, you see sometime the fruit of old ●dam, and the pricks of his transgression within your bowels, yet fear not his malice that hath wrought this wo. You are bought with dearer price, then that sin may reign again within you, and he that hath purchased you, he will not so suffer his inheritance to be spoiled. It is necessary you should know your sin, or you could not understand how great were your redemption. But your sins cannot separate you away from him, who hath buried them in the earth, and will not see them any more. When you shall ascend to come into his sight, the earth will hold her own, and keep your sins behind you. The piercing Serpent shall not climb to accuse you, nor the crooked Serpent shall hide your redemption from you. Your care is cast upon him that careth for you, & you know him who hath spoken: All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. You know him who hath a name above all names, that in the name of jesus all knees shall bow: Even he hath bought you with a price, and you are not your own. If it be possible for you to perish, then is it possible again that Christ should suffer injury.  
This boldness you have through him who hath made manifest his grace unto you, that you denying impiety and worldly concupiscence, should live soberly, purely and godly in this present life, and look for the blessed hope that shallbe revealed, when all secrets shall be opened. To which issue and happy end of life, the Lord bring both you and yours in the fellowship of his Saints to praise his holy name, when he shall make unto you his glory unspeakable, and crown it with immortality. AMEN.  
Far well in Christ jesus, and pray for me. The. 26. of December. 1572. Yours in the Lord to command. Ed. De.   

❧ An exposition of a part of the. u Chapter to the hebrews, as it was read in Paul's the. vj. day of December. 1572. By Edward Dering.  Hebr. 5.7. 
¶ Which in the days of his flesh did offer up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears unto him, that was able to save him from death, 8 was also heard in that which he feared. And though he were the son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered 9 And being consecrated was made the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.  
THe Apostle in this chapter beginneth to prove our Saviour Christ to be the only high Priest of the new Testament. And because the people of Israel had so great affiance in the Priesthood of Aaron, that they could hardly be drawn away from the detaining of it, thine-king assuredly that unto that priesthood the law & testimonies of God had been tied for ever: & not knowing that all the Ceremonies of the law were ordained until the time of reformation, in which Christ should appear and change that Priesthood, to become himself unto us a Priest of a better Testament, therefore the Apostle first setteth forth the properties of the Priesthood according unto the law, and after by comparison applieth them unto Christ, in whom they all shine in a much more excellent sort then before in Aaron, and therefore it cannot be neither breach nor dishonour unto the law of God nor the Priesthood of it, if the shadow & the figure, which was Aaron, should now be taken away, & the body & the truth, which is jesus Christ, should be established for ever.  
The properties which the Apostle speaketh of, necessarily appertaining unto every Priest, as unto one that must be a Mediator, are these: that first he should be man as we are, as Aaron and his posterity were. For neither Angel, nor Archangel, nor principalities, nor powers can do this work, to present flesh and blood unto the majesty of God, when themselves are but Spirits: And therefore Christ, that he might be high Priest, took not an Angel's nature, but was made of the seed of Abraham, like unto us, that as there is but one God, so there might be but one Mediator between God and man, even the man Christ jesus, in this respect as able to be high Priest as Aaron himself, being as naturally and as truly clothed with our flesh, as Aaron was.  
The second property of the Priest is, that he should be ordained, not only for himself to make his own atonement, but also for other men, to accomplish whatsoever was between God and them, that where they were before enemies & strangers, they might by him be reconciled, and have free access unto the throne of grace, to find mercy and secure in due time. And for this cause Christ alone is a perfect priest, more excellent than Aaron, who was encumbered with his own sins, to make first reconciliation for them, & therefore could not profit other. And as this was the Priest's office to be a Mediator for other, so the means he must use, and the mediation to be wrought in this work, was to offer up gifts and sacrifices for sins: that is, to present unto God the sacrifice of righteousness, pure & holy in his sight, in which he might be pleased, and the sins of the people might be taken away. The which sacrifice, because it must be so pure, that in it they for whom it was made must be sanctified, and so precious, that it must be a sufficient purchase to redeem man from all transgression: therefore it could not be made with the blood of Calves or Goats, which cannot take away sin, nor with gold nor silver, which cannot redeem our Souls, nor with meats and drinks, which profited not them that were exercised therein, nor in any such carnal rites, for which the Priesthood of Aaron was ordained: and therefore an other Priest must make this sacrifice, which cannot be any other then jesus Christ, who being made high Priest of the good things to come, by a greater tabernacle, & a more precious sacrifice, even by his own blood hath obtained for us an everlasting redemption, and therefore is now to be acknowledged our only Priest, the first Priesthood and the first law being altogether abrogated.  
One other property of the Priesthood is, that none thrust in himself being not appointed, nor take unto himself this honour, being not called unto it. And God ever showed himself a ready revenger against all such as should defile his Priesthood, to take to themselves the dignity to which they were not appointed. But this calling also was given unto Christ from God his Father, as before unto Aaron, both by word and by oath, that no flesh should resist it, even as it is written: The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech: So that in this behalf, our saith must be ever strong, that the calling of Christ is of the Lord, even as the calling of Aaron was: and with so much the greater judgement it shall be rejected, because it was confirmed with an oath.  
The last property in this comparison is, that the high Priest of the law should have an inward compassion toward them that were ignorant and were deceived: in which perfect knot of unfeigned love, his ministry was accepted of God, and his sacrifices received and accounted holy. And jest he should cast from him this brotherly affection, God printed in his own body the infirmities of his brethren, that according to the measure of grace which he had received, he might in deed be moved with his brother's harms, as with his own: So that he did not withdraw himself from the service of the Sanctuary, but put on the holy garments, was anointed with the holy oil, bore the names of his brethren before the Lord, presented their sacrifices, abstained from wine & strong drink, mourned not for his friends that were departed, taught diligently the people, prayed for their transgressions, and bore the burden of his people, as God had laid it upon him.  
But yet this property exceeded more in Christ then in all the tribe of Levy, and the bowels of all compassion were more large within him; then the utmost branches of it in any other creature. And this the Apostle noteth in this place which now we have in hand, in which we may see as in a most lively glass, the perfect beauty of all excellent love. The things they were not light, nor the sorrows small, nor the sighings few in number, nor the prayers faint, nor the anguish of spirit little, nor the death easy, by which he hath sealed it unto us, that he had compassion on his people, but as the Apostle saith: In the days of his flesh, while he was here clothed in mortality, like unto one of us, to the end he might be faithful for our sakes, he did offer up prayers & supplications, with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was also heard in the things which he feared. And being himself the son, yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered, and being consecrated, was made the author of eternal salvation to them that obey him.  
These words my dear brethren, we have now in hand, to search & examine what the spirit teacheth us, so much the more carefully to be hearkened unto of us, how much the more plainly it setteth forth unto us the great love & compassion that Christ beareth toward us. Two things especially here the Apostle testifieth: First the sufferings of our saviour Christ, & then the benefit that we enjoy by the same, according as his sufferings were only for our sake. His sufferings what they were, & how great sorrow oppressed him, he showeth by those effects which his sorrows brought forth, that is, prayers, supplications, cryings, tears, fear, and anguish of spirit, which things waited ever upon him, even to the accomplishing of all his passions, which was the death of his cross. The fruit that we do reap of those afflictions which he suffered, is the salvation of our souls & eternal life, if we will obey him.  
In this description of his sufferings, though the things are set forth which were comen and usual unto him all his life, yet it appeareth especially the Apostle meaneth that greatest conflict of sorrow which he had a little before his passion, described by the Evangelists, in all similitude like unto this which the Apostle here declareth. For as it is here said: he made prayers, noting by the word that they were many in number: so it appeareth in the Gospel, that beside other prayers, three times he repeated this one: 
●●th 26  Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. And as it is said, he made supplications, humbling himself low under the hand of his Father: so it is said in the Gospel, that then he kneeled down, fell upon his face, and so prayed unto God. 
Luk 41.  And as the cause of his prayers is here mentioned, to be delivered from death: so the words of his prayer in the Gospel are like: Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: meaning the death of his cross to which he was condemned. And as here is mentioned his great and loud crying: so there the Evangelist saith, he cried out with a loud voice: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And like as here is said, he prayed with weeping teats: so there is witnessed, that he was sorrowful and grievously troubled, that his soul was heavy even unto death, & that in a great agony his sweat was like unto drops of blood. A woeful kind of weeping, but such was his compassion, that we might have sure hope. And as here is said, he was delivered from his feat: so at that time when all his spirits were troubled, the Angel came from heaven to bring him comfort.  
These similitudes they are all so agreeable, that it is evident the Apostle respected especially above other, this part of his passion, in which his perfect love and unchangeable affection toward us, shined in most fullness of beauty, in that it was so fervent and so deeply rooted, that neither fear, nor trembling, nor any anguish of spirit could make it shake, nor the force of death, nor any bloody sweats could pull it out of his bowels.  
In this one sentence (dearly beloved) there is more for us to learn, than either eye hath seen, or ear hath heard, or all flesh in this life shall attain unto. It is the depth of the glorious Gospel, which the Angels do desire to behold. But to note unto you somethings in which our faith may be strengthened, we have to learn by the example of our saviour Christ in this place, that in all temptations we should approach unto our God, and make our complaints unto him, who is only able & ready for to help us. He hath not forgot his promise that he hath made of old: Call upon me in the day of thy trouble, 
Psa. ●…  and I will deliver thee. He is a place of refuge, and of sure defence, a strong tower against all assaults. The righteous man that shall hasten unto him, he shall be surely saved. The author and finisher of our faith, he is gone before us: we shall be surely partakers of the same mercy. It skilleth not how great our temptations are into which we are fallen, nor how many in number, the Lord will deliver us out of all. It skilleth not how many one sins are, nor how great in our eyes, that have procured out troubles, the Lord will scatter them as the clouds from the heavens, and they shall not turn away his loving countenance from us. Let us look on this pattern jesus Christ that is set before us. It would crush our flesh in pieces, to bear with him the weight of his afflictions, from which he was delivered: and it would make our tears to be as drops of blood, to be partakers of so great anguish of spirit as he sustained, and yet it was not so great, but the comfort of the Angel sent from his Father, was much greater: So that by prayer he obtained a most excellent victory, & hath bruised the Serpent's head, & broken all his force. And why should we then be discouraged? If our sins be as crimson, or if they be read like scarlet, yet they are the sins of our own bodies: but not ours only, but also the sins of the world, they rested all upon Christ our Saviour, and yet he prayed for deliverance, and hath obtained: and therefore we may say with boldness: forgive us our trespasses. If the love of Christ were so great to bear the sins of us all, and of them every one hath gotten forgiveness, how should not we that are laden with our own sins lift up our heads into great assurance of hope, and hear with joy fullness the word of promise: I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, 
Heb ●…  and I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.  
And what though our afflictions are exceeding many, that the whole head be sick, and the whole heart be heavy: that from the sole of our foot unto our heads there be nothing whole in our bodies, but all wounds and swellings, and sores full of corruption, yet all this is nothing unto his passions, by whole stripes we are healed. And these troubles are nothing unto his mighty cryings, who was compassed about for our sakes with fears and horrors, till his sweat was as drops of blood, and his bones bruised in his flesh. Then let the whips and scourges of our chastisement be grievous, and let us yet be beaten (if the will of God so be) with Scorpions, Christ in great compassion suffering with our infirmities▪ hath borne yet a more heavy weight of iniquities, & hath been delivered. So that if we obey, we are partakers of his mercies, & we have full persuasion, that neither death nor life, nor Angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other event are shallbe able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ jesus our Lord. Yea, & greater boldness than this if it be possible to dwell within us, the Apostle here hath offered it in Christ Jesu. If all the sins were upon him, and all sorrows in his flesh, and yet from them all God hath heard his prayers, why should we not be sure that our sins & sorrows they shall be done away? Why should we not be sure that God himself hath appointed unto all that mourn in Zion (as the Prophet saith) to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of gladness, for the spirit of heaviness? Let us therefore be bold dearly beloved, for he was wounded for our transgressions, & broken for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him. These prayers are ours, these supplications for us, available for more sins than we are able to commit. This is our victory that shall overcome the world, even our faith. In all miseries and multitudes of woe, we are not sunken so deep in sorrow as he that for our sakes made prayers and supplications, with strong cryings and with tears, and was delivered from his fear.  
The second point that we have here to learn in this example of our Saviour Christ, is to know unto whom we should make our prayers in the day of trouble, which the Apostle testifieth in these words: that Christ made his prayers unto him that was able to save him from death. A rule to be kept of us in all manner of our petitions and supplications whatsoever, to make them known unto him that can grant our request, that is, unto God. This rule was kept of the Church of God from the beginning. When men were once turned from their Idols, 
●…n 4.26  then in all their prayers they began to call upon the name of the Lord. And God himself at no time doth more sharply reprove his people, then when they would ask of those that had no power to help them. This lesson that poor Leper so defiled in flesh, had yet humbly learned, and with a pure heart he prayed accordingly: Lord, if thou wilt thou canst make me whole. 
Ma●… 14.  Upon this foundation our saviour Christ hath built up all the prayers of his true Disciples, adding it as a special clause unto the prayer that he taught them: For thine is the kingdom, 
Ma●… 10.  the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.  
Then let us learn, so many as will pray in spirit, to make our prayers unto him alone, who is able to save us. It is the sacrifice of the new Testament that he hath appointed us, that we should offer up unto him and not unto other, the fruit of our lips, which may confess his name. And because this doctrine hath been trodden down under feet, and defited by the man of sin with all spiritual uncleanness, I beseech you add unto this, one reason or two more, that you may answer the adversary, & be able to stand in the day of evil. When our saviour Christ was purposed to teach his Disciples a true form of prayer, & a perfect pattern unto which they must frame their petitions (or it is unpossible they should be accepted) he teacheth them that their beginning must be from hence: Our Father which art in heaven. What blessing so ever we would have, or from what plague so ever we would be delivered, he alone must be the person of whom we crave, to whom this name & calling doth belong: Our Father which art in heaven. If this name be none of his, he is no Patron to be called on: or if we will needs call upon him, we give him this name whether it be his or no. Christ is our good warrant, who hath made this the beginning of all christian prayer: Our Father which art in heaven. Therefore the Idolaters of all ages, that have made themselves Saints to pray unto, according to the number of their prayers, so they have multiplied their Idols, & the Children of God, to whom they have sacrificed, they shall witness against them in the day of Christ. And you my dear brethren, against all your enemies defend thus the holiness of your prayer, that you know no other way of speaking, then as you are taught: Our Father. Add yet unto this one reason more, which you learn of S. Paul, and I doubt not but you shall be well established in this present truth.  
We know all and do confess, that we are able to do no good thing of ourselves, but all our sufficiency is of God: we are not able so much as to think a good thought. Yea, the very wisdom of the flesh is enmity unto all righteousness: so true it is that the Prophet saith: Every man is a beast in his own understanding. And how much less than are we able to offer up unto God that most precious sacrifice of prayer and thanks giving, to make it acceptable in his sight, if we consult with our own flesh and blood, & after the will of man so make our prayers unto God? We must needs acknowledge our own infirmities, and confess with S. Paul, that we know not what to pray as we aught, but it is the spirit of God that maketh request for the Saints, according to the will of God: and in this holy spirit alone we must pray, if we look for the mercy of our Lord jesus Christ to eternal life. The spirit that beareth rule in our heart, he must teach us allthings, or else we can do nothing that God alloweth. Now the voice of this spirit that always soundeth within us, it speaketh not thus, either Sancta Maria, or Sancta dei genitrix, neither S. Paul pray for us, nor S. Peter pray for us. These are but the spicings of the drunken cups of Rome, the sounds of words which the spirits of errors have blown. But the holy spirit of God, that teacheth us how to pray, it crieth thus in our hearts, Abba, Pater, Our Father which art in heaven. As Christ himself hath been our schoolmaster of no other prayer, so the spirit that he hath given us, it knoweth no other sound, but Abba Father: these are the beginnings of our prayers. If we speak not unto him, to whom do we bow our knees? If we will make the spirit subject to any other, let us take heed that we grieve not the holy spirit of God, 
〈◊〉. 4.30  by which we be sealed against the day of redemption. Thus much I have added to the example of our saviour Christ, who made his prayers to his Father, who alone could deliver him, that he might the more assuredly be bold to abide in his steps.  
It followeth in the text: with great cryings, and with tears. Here we have to note in what measure our saviour Christ was afflicted, even so far, that he cried out in this bitterness of his soul. This the Evangelists do express in more words, testifying of him, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, that he was greatly afraid, all together astonished, even fainting for great anguish of mind, and full pensive sorrows. For his father had broken him with one breaking upon an other: so he kindled his wrath against him, and accounted him as one of his enemies. The heavy hand of God was so grievous upon him, that it bruised his very bones, and rend his rains asunder, he could find no health in his flesh, but was wounded unto death as without recovery. The Evangelist himself beareth witness of this misery, adding unto his loud crying this sound of words: My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me? This sorrow, because it was not as waged with words, he cried out aloud, & because in silence he could find no case, his face was wrinkled with weeping, and the shadow of death was upon his eyes. For what grief could be like unto this? Or what condemnation could be so heavy? when there was no wickedness in his hands, and when his prayer was pure, when he was the brightness of glory, and the sun of righteousness that shined in the world: yet as it were to see his days at an end, and his enterprises broken, his careful thoughts to be so deep graven in his breast, that they changed even the day into night unto him, and all light that approached in to darkness, this was a sorrow above all sorrows. When his excellency was such above all creatures, that the world was not worthy to give him breath, yet he to be made a worm, and not a man, a shame of men, and the contempt of the people, all that saw him to have him in derision, and to shut up his life in shame and reproaches, so unworthy a reward of so precious a servant: how could it but shake all his bones out of joint, and make his heart to melt in the midst of his bowels? How could his strength not be dried up like a potsherd, and his tongue not cleave unto the jaws of his mouth? Who hath been ever so full of woe, & who hath been brought so low into the dust of death? His virtues were unspeakable, and righteous above all measure: yet was he accounted among the wicked. His temperancy in perfect beauty, & his appetites bridled with all holy moderation: yet they said of him, behold a glutton and a drinker of wine. His behaviour honest, without all reproof and his conversation unspotted: yet they slandered him as a friend of Publicans and sinners, and reported him as a companion of thieves. He loved the law of his father with such fullness of desire, that he would not suffer one jot, nor one title unaccomplished: and yet they accused him as an enemy unto Moses, a breaker of the law, a subverter of the Temple, and a teacher of new doctrines, such as were not of God. He hearkened unto his Father in all humility, & loved him with all his heart, and with all his soul, so that he was obedient unto him unto death, yea even the death of the cross: yet they said of him presumptuously that he blasphemed, and rob God of his honour. He was an enemy of Satan even unto death, and by death over came him that brought death into the world, he hated him with so perfect hatred, and held steadfast the enmity that was between them, until he had spoiled his principalities and powers, and triumphed over them in an everlasting victory: yet horribly they reproached him by the naine of Belzebub, said he had a devil, and by the power of Satan he wrought all his miracles. O the depth of all abominations, and the bottomless pit of all uncleanness. Who could once have thought so loathsome a sink to have been covered in the heart of man? O God, righteous in judgement, and true in word, is this it that the Prophet hath told before, that the thoughts of many hearts should be made open? Then created we beseech thee, 
Luke ●… 38.  new hearts within us, and take not thy holy spirit for ever from us.  
And you dearly beloved, if these were the causes that Christ had to complain, then think not that his cryings were above his sorrow, to see so near unto his heart, even in his own person, innocency blamed, virtue defaced, righteousness trodden down, holiness profaned, love despised, glory contemned, honour reviled, all goodness shamed, faith onpugned, and life wounded to death. How could he yet abstain from strong crying and tears, when the malice of Satan had gotten so great a conquest? If just Lot, dwelling among the Sodomites, and seeing and hearing such a wicked people, 
2 Pet ●…  vexed from day to day his righteous soul with their ungodly deeds: what shall we think of Christ living in such a generation? But O my brethren, beloved of the Lord, open the eyes of your faith, and you shall see these things they were but the beginnings of sorrow. What shall we think was his grief of mind for the Jews his brethren, that were thus poured out unto wickedness? How did his great love boil in sorrows of heart, to see their destruction? If Moses, when he beheld the anger of God against his people, in great compassion of their miseries, prayed earnestly unto the Lord: 
〈◊〉 32.33  forgive them O God, or raze me out of the book that thou hast written: If jeremy in foreseeing the captivity of jerusalem, had so great grief that he cried out: O that my head were full of waters, 
〈◊〉 9.2.  & mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people: If Esay in like abundance of love bewailed his brethren that would needs perish, with these words of complaint: 
Esa. 2●●  Turn away from me, I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because my people perish: If Paul that most excellent Apostle, having received but his portion of the great love of Christ, called God to witness, that he spoke the truth, 
Rom ●…  how he had great heaviness and continual sorrow of heart for his brethren, and that for their sakes himself wished to be separate from jesus Christ: what manner of tears shall we think were those which Christ himself poured our when he wept over jerusalem? 
Luk. ●…  what sorrow of mind, which then interrupted his speeches, & made them unperfect? How deep was that angry grief printed in his bowels, when he beheld the blindness of his people, and was sorrowful for them? 
Mark ●…  What manner of affliction was it, that in the midst of so great reproaches and mocks could never be changed, but prayed still: Father, forgive them, 
●●ke 23.  they know not what they do? If it be grievous unto us to loose the thing that is most dear unto us in this earthly tabernacle, how much more did this sorrow pierce even through the bowels of our saviour Christ, to see man taken from him unto destruction, for whose sake he would so willingly sacrifice up his life? This is an other spectacle in which we may behold his great dolour and anguish, to know the pains he endured, and the causes of his mighty cryings.  
But this also dearly beloved, though it were exceeding, yet it was not all, no it was but a taste of grief in comparison of the rest. Behold if you can, his person here, and see the residue, and so you shall know the love of God. His grief was exceeding, to see all virtue & godliness so trodden underfeete: and it was yet more infinite to behold Satan to prevail against man, to his everlasting condemnation. No creature could ever bear such a perct image of a man of sorrow. But the height and depth of all miseries, it was yet behind: the sin that he hated, he must take it upon his own body, and bear the wrath of his Father that was poured out against it. This is the fullness of all pain that compassed him round about, which no tongue is able to utter, and no heart can conceive. This anger of his father it burned in him, even unto the bottom of hell, of the which anger the Prophet speaketh: 
Nahun.  Who can stand before his wrath, or who can abide the fierceness of his wrath? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken before him. When the Prophet was not able to conceive the weight of his anger, and his voice cleaved unto his mouth when he went about to utter it, the hardest of all creatures he took for example, that the hard rock did cleave asunder at the sound of his words: And as is said in an other place, such a voice as maketh the forlorn wilderness to tremble: 
〈◊〉. 29.8.  A voice so full of terror in the ears and hearts of the wicked, that the sun shall be darkened at the sound of it, & the Moon shall not give her light, the Stars of the heaven shall fall away, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken. No creature at all shall yield his service unto them, the elements of the world shall seem to melt away.  
This state of misery Christ entered into, and sunk down deep in this confusion, and who can express his sorrow? Being full of goodness, he had the reward of evil: Full of obedience, he was punished as wicked: Full of faith, yet had the reward of a sinner: Inheritor of all things, & Lord of all: yet nothing at all to do him duty: The King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, yet made an outcast and abject of the people: The ruler of all, and God of glory, yet compassed with shame and great confusion: The author of life, yet wrapped in the chains of eternal death: The onel●● begotten of his Father, & his best beloved, yet cast off as a stranger, and chastised as an enemy: The brightness of glory, & the beauty of the highest heavens, yet crucified in dishonour, and thrown down into hell. O picture of perfect wretchedness, and image of misery: how just cause found he to cry out aloud: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? His whole body and nature like unto us, altogether broken with the reward of sin: his soul poured out into all calamity: the wrath of his father and condemnation resting upon him. How truly may we here say and confess the article of our faith: He descended into hell? How lively do we see it performed that the Prophet speaketh of: The snares of death compassed me, and the pains of hell took hold upon me: 
〈◊〉 9.3  I found trouble and sorrow. This was the compassion that he had toward us, by which he suffered with our infirmities more than Aaron, or all the Priests of the law could possibly have done for us. If we could possibly consider dearly beloved as we should, we would gladly embrace him as the high Priest for ever of the new testament: & when we shall be made of one fashion with him thorough some measure of his afflictions to feel the weight of our own sins, than we shall confess what cause he had of complaining, & how dearly he hath bought the honour of the high Priest & Mediator. The Lord lighten the eyes of our mind, that with open countenance we may behold him, who for our sakes endured such a death of the cross: We should not then need many exhortations, the remembrance of the latter end would keep us safe from sin. But let us now see what the Apostle further teacheth us, & while our saviour Christ is in these great extremities, what fruit of well doing he hath learned by it.  
It followeth: And although he were the Son, yet learned he obedience by the things he suffered. Lo, dearly beloved, this was no little profit of all his troubles. He learned thereby how, & what it was to obey his father, that when these things rested all upon him, and yet he could say in meekness of spirit: Not my will my father but thy will be done▪ he might have great boldness that his obedience was perfect. The shame of the world, the afflictions of the flesh, the vexations of the mind, the pains of hell, when these could make him utter no other words, but Father as thou wilt, so le● it be done: what hope, what faith did he surely build on, that his obedience was precious in the sight of his father? This example is our instruction. We know then best how we love the Lord, when we feel by experience what we will suffer for his sake. It is an easy thing to be valiant before the combat, or to dream of a good courage before the heart be tried: but indeed to be unshaken in the midst of the tempest, and to stand upright when the ground under thee doth tremble, this is to know assuredly thou art strong in deed, and to say with boldness, thou shalt never be moved. This our Saviour Christ might thoroughly glory of. The heaven, earth and elements they were all his enemies: his Father in whom he trusted, showed him an angry countenance. He that fainteth not, but crieth still: Thy will be done O Father, he may be bold of his obedience: there is no creature can make him falsify his faith. If this be the fruit of our afflictions, the Apostle speaketh not without great occasion: Account it for an exceeding joy, when ye fall into sundry troubles. For what can be more joyful unto the soul that is oppressed, then to have this in experience, the neither height nor depth shall remove him from the Lord  
The glory of Abraham was exceeding great when he had sealed it with practice, 
Gene. ●…  that he would forsake his country and his kindred, and his father's house, at the commandment of God, to go whether he would show him. Then he knew by good proof he was made worthy of Christ, when he could forsake Father, Mother, house, land, and all things, to come unto him. The patience of job was not throughly known, till all his goods were spoiled, and he left exceeding ●are, in that case when he spoke so boldly: Naked came I out of my mother's womb, 
〈…〉 2.  and naked shall I return again, the Lord hath given, the Lord hath taken away, as the Lord will so is it done, the name of the Lord be praised for ever. Now might job be sure of the strong patience which should bring forth hope that never should be confounded.  
Our brethren before us, which so constantly have holden the profession of their faith that the flames of fire could not make it waver, they had a good witness that their election was sure, when they might speak by experience, that neither life nor death could remove them from the love of God. Thus the good ground is known what it is, when the heat cannot scorch it, nor brears and thorns turn the good corn into weeds, but through all storms it will give nourishment to the seed, till it give greater increase to God's honour and glory. The best of us all let us thank God for this profitable experience, for before it come unto us, we know not how great the rebellion of the flesh will be.  
The apostles of Christ they bragged not a little, that they would never forsake their Master Christ, he alone had the words of eternal life, and they would not change him for an other: They believed him, they knew him to be Christ the son of the living God, and there was no other Saviour. But when they saw the sword and staves, the rulers offended, the people in an uproar, the cross at hand: their courage fell down, they forsook him all, & fled away. Peter was not a little stout, as himself was persuaded: he would never forsake Christ, though he should die for his name, and for proof of his courage he drew his sword, and stroke so venturously, that he had almost slain one. He seemed to be at a point, & fully resolved, that he would not leave his Master, till the sword should divide them: but alas, this boldness was but a blast of words. When there was no remedy but Christ must be had to Caiphas, Peter began to faint, and to draw behind. When the peril was more increased, and they began to cry Crucifige, Peter was more afraid and began to swear he knew him not. So great infirmity is in mortal flesh: experience is the greatest warrant to know what it can bear. It is our bounden duty, and the Lord requireth it, that we should determine with ourselves in all things, to approve ourselves the witnesses of his Gospel in patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in stripes, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings, in honour, in dishonour, in good report, in shame, in life, in death: and our comfort is great, when we be persuaded of these things, that we would contemn them. But how violently the flesh will fight against us, we can not well declare, till we have made the trial.  
We therefore dearly beloved, whom it hath pleased God so keep in heaviness through many temptations, we have here a salve against the wounds of sorrow. Our afflictions do teach us how far we can obey the Lord. If in all grief of body I can say with patience: I have held my peace O Lord because thou hast done it: then I know that in all sorrows of flesh. I have glorified God and my heart rejoiceth. If my mind be full of anguish and sorrow, so that all hope be faint within me: if I can say yet unto my soul, I will wait patiently for the lords leisure: then I know assuredly God hath made me obedient, and he will hear my prayer: So that this experience hath bred in me the hope that shall never be confounded. I may speak the words which the heavens shall seal unto with everlasting truth: Neither fire nor sword, nor principalities nor powers shall remove me from the love where with God hath loved me. A sure token of this salvation I have found in mine afflictions. When I travailed in sorrow both of body and mind, I found the grace to say: O Lord do thy wil This is no small cause why we should rejoice, when God doth make us worthy to feel the trial of our faith. So dearly beloved, faint not in your mournings, but endure patiently: you know not the happiness of that which seemeth your misery. Let this be the first cause why we should be glad of temptations. And to th'end we may help our common infirmities, let us learn yet more why it is good for us to be brought low.  
A most notable commodity the Apostle rehearseth, where he writeth to the Romans: Those whom God hath foré known, he hath also predestinate, to be made like unto the image of his son. Lo my dear brethren, these are the healthful counsels of the Lord toward us, that we should be made like unto his son Christ in many afflictions, that at the last we might be also like him in eternal glory. These are the riches of Gods unsearchable wisdom. Death once reigned through s●n, and he hath found a way to rise from it again into greater glory.  
This victory, because it was to great for Saint or Angel to obtain, he hath appointed it to be the work of his only begotten. Son, who hath made it perfect in a most excellent conquest. He hath taken upon him our nature to make it strong, & in his own person he hath filled it with the fullness of miseries, with all sorrows of flesh, with all anguish of mind, with persecution, with death, with sin, with hell, with condemnation, & from all these, by the mighty power of his Godhead, he is risen again in our flesh, ascended up into glory, and sitteth on the right hand of Majesty and of power, being a mighty. Saviour unto every one that shall follow him. So that this is our glory in all afflictions: we are fashioned by them into the similitude of Christ, & we are made like unto him. So it pleased God, when he would bring many children into glory, to consecrated the Prince of their salvation through afflictions, and to make both him that sanctifieth, and those that are sanctified all of one, that they that suffer with him, should also reign with him, & they that die with him, should also live with him. So we, when we feel many troubles to rest upon us, we may say now we are like unto Christ: especially when we feel that greatest trouble, fullest of bitter sorrow, that is, the mind oppressed, it maketh us especially like unto him, that we may say with Paul: Now we supply in our flesh the remnant of the afflictions of Christ.  
Let me look into the whole course of my life, and what soever pleaseth me best, health, honour, riches, favour, authority, friendship, wife, children, in all these things I cannot yet behold the lively image of Christ. Affliction and trouble, a mind broken with remembrance of sin, a troubled spirit, these are the beginnings of great rejoicings: with the horrors of death, and a conscience burdened with the wrath of God. Here light shineth out of darkness, and hope out of despair. As I think myself furthest of from the Lord, so in deed I am nearest unto him: And when I think myself fullest of confusion, than the image of Christ is most lively within me. The Lord may hide his face for a while, for a moment in his anger, as he did from Christ, but he must needs return unto me with everlasting mercies, for the image of his son is clear within me. A blessed sorrow and woe full of happiness, that fashioneth these days of my vanity into the similitude of the age of Christ, that with him at the last I might reign for ever. A precious countenance it is in the sight of God, that seemeth without beauty in the eyes of man: and an unspeakable treasure of joy and gladness engraven in these vessels that are but earth and ashes. When Christ is the pattern whose similitude we do bear, who can be discouraged under the cross? We are afflicted on every side, but not in such a straight that we are shut from hope. We are in poverty, but not overcome of poverty. We are persecuted, but not forsaken. We are cast down, but we perish not. We are troubled in all things, fightings without, and terrors within, but God that comforteth the abjects, he will comfort us. Unto this he hath predestinate us, that we should be like unto his son in all afflictions, and so be glorified with him in the day of honour. Thus f●rre we have heard two special causes why we aught to rejoice in all temptations: the one, that so we leayne true obedience: the other, that by them we be made like unto Christ. Add yet unto these, one sh●ed cause out of the scripture, which when you shall have learned, be bold dearly beloved in all the fires of the enemies. For behold, in the truth of jesus I dare be yo●t warrant, the greater are your afflictions, the lyket you are unto Christ: yea, if it should happen you to fall down into hell, Christ hath descended also: you should then be most like him in his agonies and bloody sweats.  
The third cause at this time which I will touch, is this. God sendeth us sundry chasticementes, and especially that which is most grievous of all other, the anguish of spirit and affliction of the soul, for this purpose that we should be warned in time how to turn unto him, and be free from the plague when it cometh. For the judgements of God that are daily preached unto us, they pierce deep into the hearts of the true believers, & the word that they hear, it worketh mightily in them, more sharp in their ears then a two edged sword: it entereth thorough them, even to the dividing asunder of the soul and of the spirit, and of the joints, & of the marrow, and examineth all the thoughts & the intents of the hurt, so that it is unpossible that any part of them should be hid, but they are all open unto judgement, and hear the voice of the Lord. Then their sin is revived in the midst of their bowels, their conscience hath no rest, they feel death working in their hearts, and hell is before them. They see sin on their right hand, and Satan on their left, shame under their feet, & an angry judge above them, the world full of destruction without, & a worm gnawing the heart within: the poor sinner knoweth not what to do. To hide himself it is impossible, and to appear it is intolerable. Then he breaketh out into loud cryings: O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? He giveth no rest unto his eyes, nor sleep unto his eye lids, until he find him that is able to save him from this wrath. In his bed by night he seeketh him whom his soul loveth: in the streets and open places he inquireth after him, and after many days in which he can not find him, Christ showeth himself at the last a perpetual deliverer, a victorious Lion of the tribe of juda, in whom he hath strong salvation. When he hath mourned, because of the plague that was before him, Christ will approach near, and wipe away the tears from his eyes. This the Prophet Abacuch setteth forth in his own person: When I heard (saith he) the word of God, 
Aba●…  my belly trembled, my lips shook at the voice, rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might have rest in the day of trouble.  
Even so dearly beloved, it is with us all. The plagues of God, because they are pronounced against iniquity, it maketh the Child of God to fear and tremble, that so foreseeing the harm, he might prepare him help, and because of the destroyer, seek without weariness unto the Saviour. Though he hide himself at the first, the wounded spirit and troubled heart must needs found him out. A great cause of unspeakable gladness, though we seem swallowed up of pensive sorrow. We are full of grief: but we are chastised of the ●ord, because we should not be condemned with the world. We die with Christ, but because we should live with him. We lament & weep, but because that Christ might wipe away all tears from our eyes. We are delivered unto death for jesus sake, but because the life of jesus should be made manifest in our flesh. We bear about in our bodies the mortification of the Lord jesus, but because the life of jesus might be manifest also in our bodies. We have anguish of spirit and vexation of mind, such as hath not been from the beginning, but for this cause, that when sudden destruction shall come upon the careless world, we might life up our heads, and behold our redemption at hand. Let us then be bold, and in patience possess our souls. For these causes we are now afflicted, that we might receive mercy, & find grace to help in the time of need: And for this cause we triple and are afraid, that after many prayers and supplications we might be delivered from the things which we have feared. It followeth in the Apostle: And being consecrated, he was made the Author of salvation to all them that obey him.  
In these words we are taught what fruit and commodity we have through these bitter sufferings of our saviour Christ, and also by what means we are made partakers of it. The fruit is eternal salvation, the means to go unto it is obedience. In the first we learn, that all promise and hope of life is in Christ alone. He hath alone the words of life, he is alone the bread of life, the water of life, the author of life, the word of life; the tree of life, the only life. He that believeth in him, he hath everlasting life, and he that dwelleth not in him, shall see no life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. Take hold of Christ, and take hold of life. Reach forth thine hand to any other thing, and thou reachest unto vanity, which cannot help. Look not for life, but where it dwelleth: in the flesh of Christ alone there it resteth. Death hath reigned in all the world beside, & led every creature into bondage. If thou look unto the heavens, there is but vexation and anguish: If thou look unto the earth, there is but darkness & sorrow: If thou call unto Abraham, he knoweth thee not: If thou cry upon Angels, they cannot help thee: If thou look unto thy works, they are all unclean: If thou trust in thy prayers, the Lord hath no pleasure in them. Cal for the help of all creatures, they are subject to vanity, there is no life but in Christ alone. The Elders, the Angels, the Beasts, & the creatures, they gave this honour unto Christ a Salvation is of him that sitteth upon the throne, and of the Lamb, & altogether they cry, Amen. And if all the creatures, which yet are excellent good, are not of power to give any piece of this life: then what shall we think of those people, enemies to God & murderers of his Saints, which so long have made us believe that they have life in themselves: that they can forgive us our sins for years, even as they will, many or few: that they c●n make sacrifices propitiatory for us: that they can purge us by purgatory fires: that their Pilgrimages, their Pardons, their Vows, their holy orders, and such other spiritual drunkenness of their sick brains, that these be available to purchase life. If they will not be reclaimed, let us rest in the counsels of our God, & say with john: He that hurteth, let him hurt still, & he that is filthy, let him be filthy still. It is enough for us the Christ is our life, that our life is hid with Christ in God: when Christ which is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory.  
Now while we are in the days of our pilgrimage, the way that we must walk unto this life in Christ, is to be obedient unto his will. Whatsoever be the way that he will show us, and bid us walk in it, let us neither decline to the right hand, nor to the left, but go forward in the same. We are not to look into the world how our Fathers before us have walked. Our iniquities & the iniquities of our Fathers shall be bound together, if we be partakers of their evil doings. If we go after Baalims, which our Fathers have taught us, we shall be fed with the wormwood which our Fathers have eaten. The government of the Church is upon the shoulders of Christ. He giveth us the laws by which we live, he ruleth alone in the house of jacob, his voice must be followed. We may not now every one say we have a vision, we have a dream: God hath spoken by his son, and charged all to hear him. We may not boast ourselves of saint or Angel to hearken to new doctrines which we have not learned, for God hath not put in subjection unto Angels these days of the Gospel in which we are, but unto Christ who is made the head of his people, & all things are in subjection under his feet. So that this is the way we have to walk: Christ is our Lord, let us receive his laws: he is our Master, let us follow his rules: he is our Apostle, let us hear his Gospel: Let us obey in all things, and we shall be established.  
This is the glory that God hath given unto his son: he is our lawgiver, we have no other. If we will leave the stubbornness of our own hearts and obey him, as life is in him, so we shall surely live. For the Lord hath not as great pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as when the voice of the Lord is obeyed. It is an everlasting truth, that to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken is better than the fat of Rams. For to disobey is the sin of witchcraft, and to change the law that is set before us, this is wickedness & idolatry. Let us not be wise in our own conceits, to frame God a religion, such as we will. This is to draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and to pull sin after us as with cart-ropes. A just recompense of such weighed labours, when God shall say unto us: Who hath required these things at your hands? Let us then follow so as we be called, and bring into captivity every thought of man, to the obedience of Christ. And the Lord our God for his Christ's sake give unto us hearts full of humility, that we may think him wisest, and rest in his decrees: that we be never spoiled through vain Philosophy, and the traditions of men, but hearken unto him who is only wise, that at the last we may live with him, who hath alone immortality, & shall fill us with his glory for evermore. Which times the Lord God bring speedily upon us, & finish the days of sin for his mercy's sake, that we may enter into the heavens, whether Christ is gone before us, and reign with him for ever, who is our only saviour. To whom with the father and the holy Ghost, three persons and one God be all honour▪ and glory, world without end.  
AMEN.