The care of God for his people, OVr heauenly father is so carefull for our spirituall suste­naunce (right hono­rable, worshypfull, and dearely beloued in the Lord) that hee giueth vs, not onely his blessed worde, to become Deu. 8.3. Mat. 4.4. Luc. 4.4. the foode of the soule, but also Mat. 22. faythfull Ministers to breake vnto vs the same. Hee sent vnto his aun­cient [Page] people, descended from A­braham the Patriarche according to the fleshe, his holy Prophetes, Esa. 1.1. Ier. 1.1. Ezech. 1.1. Ose. 1.1. Amos. 1.1. Abdi. 1.1. Hab. 1.1. Ag. 1.1. Zach. 1.1. Mal. 1.1. The sūme of the Pro­phetes do­ctrine. Ier. 7.21.22. to expounde the lawe to them, Esa. 5.11. to denounce his curses to the obstinate, Psal. 1.1. to publishe his blessinges to the pe­nitent, and Ier. 31.31 to foreshewe the newe couenaunt betweene God and Man in Christe the Messias then to come Esa. 8.1. Hab. 2.2. And the same Prophets, by the in­stinct of Gods holy spirite, commit­ted to writing, for the instruction of the posteritie, the summe of the deuine Sermons, which they preached to the people. Hee hath sent vnto his newe people, Io. 11.16. Rom. 3.29. gathered to geather of the beleeuing Iewes and beleeuing Gen­tiles, thorowe faith in Christ his Son, his blessed Apostles The sūme of the Apo­stles doc­trine. Mat. 28.19.20. Mar. 16.15. Act. 2.38. to preach re­pentaunce for the remission of sinnes, Rom. 6.1 &c. to teache newnes of life to the glo­ry of God, Heb. 4.12 and to testifie the perfor­mance of the new couenant between God and Man, in Christ the Messias in their time exhibited. And least the Church of God Num. 12.17. 1. Cor. 4.1. which is his hous­houlde, should want the least crumbe [Page] of his heauenly foode, the same holie spirite hath mooued the Apostles and Disciples of Christ, Io. 20.31 Reuel. 1.19. to recorde in writing the historie, doctrine, and pro­phesies of the newe couenaunt. Soe bountiful a Father is our God, which giueth vs plentie of heauenly, foode, so prouident a Lord is he whiche sen­deth vs from age to age faithfull dis­posers thereof.

The sūme of Gods word.The summe of the whole word of God, so gratiously giuen, so faithfully taught, and so necessarilie written, is contained in two pointes: true fayth, and godly life.

The me­thode of the Epistle to the Ephesi­ans.The Apostle Paule hath exactlie obserued this methode in this his hea­uenly Epistle written to the Christi­ans of Ephesus. For in the first three chapters hee prooueth that we are Rom. 3.20:28. iustified not by our workes, Lu. 17.5. but by faith, which is the Ephe. 2.8 Gift of God. And in the three last chapters he sheweth, that works be necessary, because they are the Gal. 5.22 fruites of faith, Iam. 2.18 where­by our profession is adorned, Mat. 5.16 and God glorified: O that this lesson were [Page] as well practised, as it may easely be learned, then should we be, Ia. 1.22. not one­ly hearers of the worde, but doers of the same. The Apostle hauyng taught this doctrine to the Ephesians, and that most plentifully, for the space of Act. 20.31. three yeares, and being therefore become Ephes. 3.1. a prisoner in Rome, com­mitteth to writing the summe of his doctrine, for y ^e confirmation of y ^e faith of the Ephesians, & the instruction of the ages to come. Herein he imitateth the auncient Prophetes whose maner was briefly Esa. 8.1. Abac. 2.2. to put in writing, that whiche largely they taught. Such loue bare Paul to the flocke of Christ, so perfect a paterne is hee of a godly pastor. Now, for somuch as it is so ne­cessarie to learne to beleue aright, Act. 13.39. Rom 3.28. that thereby we may be iustified, and to liue a right, Mat. 5.16. that thereby God may be glorified, I esteemed this text very fitte for this auditorie, because therein the Apostle briefly cōprehen­deth both those pointes, although in an altered order The distri­bution of the text. first speaking of life, and then of fayth. If the profession of [Page] Christians were nothing els but an idle speculation, then were it some­what to be able to talke [...] Religion, although wee liued not religiously. But Christ, the authour of truth, and the wisedome of his heauenly father, hath taught vs, that Mat. 7.21.22.23. [...]ayn we call him our Lord, except [...] wil of his father reuealed vnto [...] his word: & Iames, as a faithfull do [...]r in y ^e schole of Christ, exhorteth vs to Iam. 1.22 be doers of the word, & not hearers onely deceiuyng our selues: what greater care thē ought Christians to haue, than by their god­ly liues to make their holy conuersati­on to shine in the world to the glorye of God, the edifying of his Churche, & to the testimonie in their owne con­sciences, that they be his children?

The vse of Gods lawe,And lest wee should wander out of the way of righteousnes, by framing vnto our selues a fayth according to our foolishe fantasies, or a life agrea­ble to our curious imaginatiōs, God hath giuen vs his lawe Psal. 1.2. to meditate therein both day and night. Yea, and that we may bee effectually stirred vp [Page] to serue our heauenly Father without feare, Luc. 1.74.75. in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our life, hee dealeth with vs in his word diuersly. For sometimes hee Deu. 11.27. promiseth his blessinges to vs, if we obey his sta­tutes: Sometimes he 28. threatneth his curses, if we transgresse his ordi­naunces: sometimes he Esa. 1.2. prouoketh vs with the remembraunce of his be­nefites bestowed vpō vs: Sometimes he Pro. 3.11. Heb. 12.5. &c. Imitation. chasteneth vs with his fatherly correction for our amēdement. Vnto these and many other meanes of our instruction, set forth vnto vs in Gods word, S. Paule in this place addeth the very example of God himselfe, to be imitated by vs: exhorting vs to be Eph. 5.1. followers of God, as deare children. Herein appeareth the godly discretiō of the Apostle, who wel considering y ^t we are as childrē, not able to practise y ^e preceptes of obedience, except we haue a paterne to imitate layd before vs, nurtereth vs by this meanes in the way of righteousnesse.

* Now, that we erre not in this imi­tatiō, [Page] taught by the Apostle, Foure things are to be obserued in this imita­tion. we must carefully obserue foure thinges. The first, Who is to be imitated: The second, Why he (that is to be followed) is to be imitated: The third, Wherein he is to be imitated: The fourth: Of what maner that thyng is, wherein hee is to be imi­tated.

1. God is to be imita­ted. Paule meaning to teache vs by imitation to leade a Christian life, proposeth God himselfe to be imita­ted by vs, Saying, Ephes 5.1. Be ye imitators of God. Herein we haue a mirror of Gods mercy towardes vs, which, as a louing Father, vouchsafeth to instruct vs his children, not onely by his word, but also by his owne exam­ple. If Poets haue spared no labour to imitate their Homer, Oratours, their Demosthenes: Philosophers, their Aristotle, that they might ther­by attaine to some perfection in their own professions, we Christians may be abashed, yea rather by them con­demned, if with all diligence we doe not imitate the moste excellent and perfect paterne of God himselfe.

God is to be immita­ted three waies.But since it is neither conueni, ent nor possible, that we the creatures should imitate euery waye God the creator, who is Eze. 10.5 Reuel. 11 17 infinite, and Rom. 16.27. 1. Tim. 1.17 incomprehensible, it is to be obser­ued, that in his worde hee proposeth himselfe three wayes to be imitated:

1. in him selfe.First, in himselfe. So did God set forth his holinesse, as a paterne of holinesse, to be practised by his anci­ent people the Israelites, when hee said: Leuit. 20.26. be ye holy vnto me, for I Ie­houah am holy, & haue seuered you frō other people, that yee should be mine. And Christ our Sauiour, in his earnest perswasion, which hee vseth with his disciples, to drawe them to the perfect practise of brotherly loue, (which then we shewe, when Mat. 5.44. wee loue our enimies, blesse them that curse vs, do good to them that hate vs, and pray for them which hurt vs, and persecute vs.) 48. setteth forth to their imitation the perfect­nes of the loue of his heauenly Fa­ther to man-kinde, which 45. maketh his sunne to arise on the euil & the good: [Page] and sendeth rayne on the iust and vniust. 48. Yee shall therefore bee perfect (saith Christ) as your Father, which is in heauen, is perfect. The like may be obserued, concerning the Ro. 34. truth of God, which he practiseth in his promisses: Psa. 86.5 his mercie, which hee sheweth to his seruants: His iustice: 145.17. which appeareth in all his waies, 86.15. Rom. 2.4. his longe sufferance, whereby he prouoketh vs to repentance: All the which are paterns of trueth, of mercie, of iustice, and of patience by vs to bee vsed. And thus doth God propose him-selfe in him selfe to bee imitated of vs, as you haue heard.

.2. in his sonne.Secondly God setteth foorth himselfe to bee imitated by vs in hys sonne Christ Iesus. Our heauenly Fa­ther doth knowe the rudenesse of vs his children, who hardly can esteeme him imitable, which by nature is a Ioh. 4.24. Spirite inuisible. Behold there­fore his fatherly care to lead vs on in this holy imitation of him-selfe: Hee hath giuen vs his sonne, Heb. 1.3. who is the brightenesse of his glory, and the ingra­ued [Page] forme of his person, which being by nature Ioh. 17.5 God with the Father, Mat. 1.18. is become man with vs, Heb. 1.3. in whose in­ward and substantiall brightenesse, Ioh. 14.7. (which we discerne by the effectes thereof in his visible manhead) as it were in a glasse, we may behold, & as it were handle, the infinit & almighty maiestie, the infinite & incomprehen­sible loue of God the Father, vnto vs his children through grace, that we might admire the one with all reue­rence, and imitate the other with all obedience. Ioh. 14.9. If we see Christ with the eyes of our faith, then see we the Father, Heb. 1.3. whose liuely image he is. Now, Num. 21.9 Ioh. 3.14.8.56. heb. 11.13. as Christ is beholden by a true faith, Iam. 2.24. so this fayth is made manifest by workes, 1. Cor. 11, .1 and those workes must bee squared by the pa­terne of the workes of Christ, in whō God setteth forth himselfe to be imi­tated.

The workes of Christ of two sorts.But because the workes of Christ are of two sortes: some miraculous, wrought in power Ioh. 5.36.14.11. to declare his Godhead, & to confirme his doctrine: [Page] and some morall, wrought in obedi­ence, Mat. 5.17. to shewe his Man-head, and to fulfill the lawe: wee must knowe that hee is to bee imitated in the last, and not in the first.

Miracles.For seeing his Miracles were wrought to seale vp the trueth of his Doctrine, that hee might bee belee­ued, Ioh. 14.11 for his workes sake: and since hee hath sufficienlie confirmed his doctrine, by the miracles wrought in his owne person by his absolute power, and in the persons of his Apo­stles and Disciples in the Act. 3.16. power of his name, it sauoureth of infidelitie, (The gift of woorking of miracles being long a goe ceassed) to require of the Ministers of the Gospell, by miracles to prooue their Doctrine: and of presumption, (without speciall warrante from Gods spirite) to at­tempte the working of anie miracle. The faithfull seruants therefore of the Lorde may not say to the ragyng sea: Mat. 4:39. Peace, bee thou still: Nor to the sicke of the palsie, 9, 6. Arise: Nor to the blind Luc, 18, 42 Receiue thy sight: [Page] Nor to the leper 8.3. Bee thou cleane▪ Not to the buried in graue 10.11.43. Come forth. And if there bee anie other such speaches of Christ in the New Testa­ment, (as therebee manie) they can not assume them to themselues with-out presumption▪ why so? Forsooth, as they were woordes, which Christ vsed when he wrought his miracles, so are they mirrours of his Maiestie, not to bee spoken by vs in imitation, but to bee reuerenced of vs in meditation. And how perilous a thing it is, to draw the miracles of Christ into imitation: the great abuse of Lent in time of Pope­ry doth sufficiently declare. For to fast fortie dayes & fortie nightes, & not to hungre, ( Mat. 4.2 Luke. 4.2. as Christ did) so farre ex­ceedeth the habilitie of man, that without miracle it was neuer pra­ctised of anie. And yet such was the presumption of the Romish Church, that it proposed this miraculous and straunge woorke of Christ, vnder­taken by him for a preparitiue before hee begane to publish the Gospell, as an example of imitation.

2. Conuer­sation.The Newe Testament is the written recorde of the Doctrine and woorkes of Christ, wherein with all diligence wee must meditate, if wee will become followers of Christ in his Doctrine and life▪ whatso euer we finde there written of his Io. 3.17. zeale to promote Gods glorie, of his 6.43. cōstancie in mayntaynyng the trueth, of his 11.35. & 38. pittie towardes the affli­cted, of his 1. Pet. [...].23. pacience in afflictions, of his Mat. 11.29. meekenes in his behauiour, of his Ioh. 6.9. sobrietie in his diete, and of [...]. Pet. 2.22. his modestie in all his life, that same is therefor written, to sterre vs vp by his example, to expresse the like vir­tues in our conuersation. Surelie, since Act. 11.26 Christians take their name of Christ, it is very reasonable, that wee should bee most diligente in learnyng his Doctrine, that wee may knowe what to professe, & moste circumspect in obseruing his imitable woorkes, that we may expresse our Religion by our life. So shall wee bee Iam. 1.22. doers of the worde and not hearers onelie, so shall wee not deceiue our owneselues. [Page] And that yee may knowe y ^e as Christs Doctrine is to bee learned, so his life is to bee imitated, I beseach you call to minde y ^t he persuaded his Disciples to bee Mat 11.2 [...] meeke, because hee was meeke, and to Ioh. 13.34, & 15.12. loue one an other, because he had loued them saying: Mat. 11.29 learne of mee, that I Am meeke and lowly in hearte: and Ioh. 13.14 & 15.12. loue ye one an other, as I haue loued you. If we compare age with age & faulte with faulte, we finde, that ignorance and superstition were the blottes of the age past, and that the blemishes of our age are care­lesnesse, as well in learning Gods will in his worde, as in expressing the same in our life, in some: and dis­simulation counterfeityng loue with men and zeale to God, in others. How farre these men are from the right imitation of Christ Ioh. 2.17. which was eaten vp with the zeale of Gods house, and 1. Pet. 2.22. in whose mouth was found no guile, God Act. 1.24. which knoweth the se­cretes of the hearte, doth knowe, and their consciences, wherein they are giftie, doe beare them witnesse. Hath [Page] God light vp the Psal. 119.105 candle of his worde in our age, and doe wee con­temne the benifite of the light; ‘Hath God deliuered vs in these daies many Mat 25.15 talentes, & do wee deliuer him none backe with increase? what then must we looke for?’ Suerly, Mat 21.43. to haue his worde taken from vs, and to bee giuen to a nation, that will bring forth the fruites thereof: and 26.25. to be de­priued of the talentes, which shall bee de­liuered to good and faithfull seruantes, which will vse them with increase. O then my brethren, let vs striue to attaine that happinesse which Christ pronounceth to stande Luc. 11.28. in hearing the worde of God and keeping it. And hetherto how God may bee imitated by vs in his Sonne Christ Iesus our Lorde.

3. in his Saints.Thirdelie God setteth forth him-selfe to bee imitated of vs 1. Cor. 4, 16 1. Thes. 1.6 in his Sainctes. And hereby our heauenly Father setteth forth vnto our vewe, as in a glasse, the power of the opera­tion of his holie spirite in 2. Cor. 4.7 ear­then vessels. For when wee consider, [Page] that the faithfull seruants of the Lord, whose prayse is in the worde of God, were Iam. 5.17. subiect to the same infir­mities, that wee are, and yet neuerthe­lesse, shone in sundrie virtues, there­by wee my learne, that wee, Io. 15.5. which of our selues can do nothing, yet abidyng in Christ by faith, and Christ abidyng in vs by his Spirite, may bring forth much fruite. So the mistrust, which might rise thorowe our owne weake­nesse in ourselues, is remoued by the consideration of the mightie operati­on of Gods Spirite in others. For we must not thinke Deut 10.17, 2. Chro. 19.17. Iob. 34.19. Act. 10.34. Rom. 2.11. Gal. 2.6. Ephe. 6.9. Col. 3.21. 1. Pet. 1.17. that God is an ac­cepter of persons, Act. 10.35. The saints virtues to be imitated. but that in euerie na­tion, he that feareth him, and woorketh righteousnes, is accepted with him. we must therfore diligentlie search forth the vertues of the seruaunts of God, that we imitating their good workes, may imitate God, which setteth him selfe forth in them by vs to bee imi­tated. So then we must learne righte­ousnesse, of Gen. 6.9. & 7.2. righteous Noe: faith, of 15.6. rom. 4.3. Gal. 3.6. Ia. 2.23. faithfull Abraham: chastitie, of Gen. 39.8. chaste Ioseph: meekenesse of [Page] Num. 12, 13. meeke, Moses: we must learne zeal of 25.7. & 8. zealous Phines: courrage, of 14.6.7.8.9. courrageous Iosua: vncorruptenesse, of 1. Sam. 12.5. vncorrupte Samuell. Wee must learne valiantenesse of 17.45.46.47. valiante Da­uid: wisdome, of 1. King. 3 12. wise Salomon: pa­tience of, Iob. 1.21. Iam. 5.11. patience Iob. I passe ouer many rare virtues, which appeared in diuers of Gods seruantes, mencioned both in the newe Testament and in the olde, all which are examples vnto vs, that wee followyng them may be founde Ephes. 5.1 followers of God, as be­commeth deare children. Let vs there­fore, brethren, diligently reade the word of God, that there finding the godly life of the Saints described, wee may vse it as a paterne of Christian imitation. Neither let vs mistrust the merciful assistance of Gods holy spi­rit, Psal. 145.18. which is neare vnto all, that call vpon him truly in faith

The Sain­ctes must be followed with a cau­tion in two pointes.But because Ia. 3.2. the Sainctes of God, haue alwaies had their im­perfections and blemishes, (Such is the fraylenesse of mans nature.) they are not so perfect paternes, that wee [Page] may without exception imitate them. Therefore Paule addeth this Caution: 1. Cor. 11.1. Euen as I am of Christ teachyng vs thereby, that the Sainctes are so farre forth to bee followed, as they followe Christ and no further, neither in life, nor in doctrine.

1 in life.So then Noes Gen. 9.21. drunkennesse: the Patriarches Gen. 4.19.16.3.29.23. polygamie: Iosephs 44, 5. dissimulation, is no warrante, that wee may be dronke, or at one time haue manie wiues, or dissemble. This cau­tion obserued, wee may not imitate Moses Num. 20.11. mistrust of God: nor Da­uids 2 Sam. 11.4.12.9. adulterie and murther: nor Ma­nasses 2. Chro. 33.2. idolatrye. So farre must wee bee from imitatyng the faults of the Seruants of God that wee maye not with Mat. 26.70 Mar. 14.68. Lu. 22.57. Io. 18, 17, & 27, Peter denie Christ: nor with 20, 25, Thomas doubte of his resurrection: nor with Act, 15, 39, Paule and Barnabas fall out among our-selues. And yet these, with many like, bee examples of the Fathers, not of the reprobate, but of the elect, not to bee imitated, Gal, 5, 22, as the fruites of the Spirite, but to be auoyded, 19, as the woorkes of the fleshe.

2. in Doc­trine.And as this limitation: So as the godlie followe Christ, is to bee obserued in maners, so is it in doctrine. But the Doctrine, which Christ taught, was such, as hee confirmed by the writ­ten worde of God, whereby Mat, 4, 4, 7.10. Lu, 4, 4, 8, 8, 2 1, hee confounded Satan, 18, 21, confirmed his callyng, Io, 10, 34, confuted his aduersaries, Luc, 24, 27 instructed his Disciples. And if wee diligently reade his Sermones, and Epistles of the Apostles, recorded in the booke of the Newe Testament, we shall finde, that what they taught, Rom, 4, 6 they confirmed by the holie Scrip­tures. For they knewe, Io, 5, 39, that in the Scriptures is eternall life, and that they are they which testifie of Christ. They knewe 2, Tim, 3, 15, that the holie Scriptures are able to make men wise vnto saluation through the faith which is in Christ Ie­sus. They knewe that 16, the whole Scri­pture is giuen by inspiration of God, and is profitable to teach, to conuince, to cor­rect, and to instruct in righteousnesse: 17, That the man of God may bee absolute, being made perfect vnto all good workes. They knewe, 2, Pet, 1, 20 that no prophecie of the [Page] Scripture is of anie priuate interpretati­on: 21. and that the prophecie came not in olde time by the will of man: but that ho­lie men of god spake, as they were mooued by the holy ghost. And if this rule: No further to followe Men, then they followe Christ, had bine pre­cisely followed, from the time of the Apostles vntill our age, Poperie had neuer bene so vniuersally receiued in Christendome, as, to the losse of many soules, it hath. For what is Popery, Poperie dis­cribed. but an hypocriticall Reli­gion, brought in by the doctryne of Men, with-out the warrant of the worde of god? And this much con­cernyng the imitation of god in his Sainctes.

2. God is to bee imi­tated of vs, because wee are his deare children.Now it followeth to shew the cause, (which is the second principal point) why God wil, that we immitate him. Paule yeeldeth the cause heereof ad­ding Eph. 5.1. As deare childrē. And in these wordes the Apostle vseth a most ve­hement persuasion, whether wee way them by naturall reason, or in them call to minde the great benefite [Page] which god hath bestowed vpō vs. For it stādeth with naturall reason, that y ^e naturall childe imitate y ^e naturall fa­ther, in expressing, not his vices, but his vertues, that he may be as well y ^e mirror of his good maners, as y ^e glasse of his cōtenaūce. Ought we not then, which are Ioh. 1.12. the spirituall children of god Heb. 12.9. the Father of spirites, to folow him in all things, wherein he hath set forth himselfe, as a paterne to bee fo­lowed, that in our manners we may resemble him, by bringing forth the fruites of the spirite, whereof anone we will speake? And least we should thinke, that hee requireth impossible thinges at our hands, (Behold his fa­therly dealing w ^t vs) hee requireth no workes of vs, but such as himself, his sonne, and his saints haue done before vs for our example. Now, if the remē ­braunce of benefites receiued may stirre vs vp to duetifulnesse, Paule would haue vs to knowe, that since god hath vouchsafed to make Ioh. 1.12, vs by grace his beloued children, whiche Ephe. 2.3 by nature were the children of wrath, [Page] our duetie is with all readynesse to i­mitate him our louyng Father, 5.1. as becommeth deare children.

Two thinges insi­nuated in the Greeke wordes.But for so much as the Apostle by vsing chosen woordes in the greeke tongue, wherein hee wrote this Epi­stle, Ephe. 5.1 Os tecna agapeta, hath insi­nuated, both the meane, whereby we become the children of god, and the fruite thereof, I will briefly speake of those two pointes, and so conclud this part.

1. The mean wher­by we are made Gods children, is a spirituall birth.The meane whereby we become gods children is Ioh. 1.13. a byrth, not of bloud, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of god. This birth Christ calleth 3.3. & 5. a new birth, which is wrought by gods holy spirite, Heb. 9.14. which clenseth our consciences from dead workes. Mat. 3.11. and inflameth our hartes with the loue of the truth. And that we may know that this byrth is altogether spirituall, Iames telleth vs, that Iam. 1.18 god of his own will begate vs with the word of truth: And Peter teacheth vs, that 1. Pet. 1.23 we are borne a new, not of mortall seede, but of immortall, by the worde of god, who li­ueth [Page] and indureth for euer. So thē, since euery thing in this birth is most excel­lent, Iam. 1.18. the father, God: 1. Pet. 1.23 the seede, his word: Ioh. 3.5. & 8. the worker, his spirite: 1.12. the fruite, his children, the due remem­braūce of this gracious meanes, wher­by we receiue this priuilege to bee 1.12, the sonnes of god, ought to moue vs ef­fectually to bee Ephe. 5.1, folowers of god our Father, as beseemeth deare children.

2 The fruit of this spiri­tuall birth, is our fauoure with God.The fruite and commoditie, which insueth vnto vs, by the meanes of this spirituall birth, is exceeding great. For thereby we become Ephe. 5.1 Agapetoi, that is, amiable, diligible, acceptable, and pleasaunt in the sight of our god, in whom hee taketh full delight, as a father in his childrē. And this is more then Agapoumenoi, beloued. For amōg men, some time children are beloued of their parentes affectionately, when their cōdiciōs deserue no loue at all, Gen. 27.6▪ as was Esau of Isaac. But by meanes of this new birth, there is cause why god loueth them, whom he hath so re­generate. For thereby we become the members of that holy body, whereof [Page] Ephe. 4.15. Iesus Christ is the head. And the [...] cā it not otherwise be, but as Luk. 1.35. Chris [...] the head is holy of it self, so must tru [...] Christians the members of that head Rom. 6.5. 1. Cor. 6.11. participate by grace the holynesse o [...] their head, wherby they become acce [...]ptable & amiable vnto God. This moued Paul y ^e Apostle to teach vs, that 1. Cor. 1.30 we are of god, in Christ Iesus, Who of god is made vnto vs wisedome, and righ­teousnes, and sanctificatiō, and redēption▪ And as y ^e whole body of Aarō became fragrāt by the meanes of y ^e precious Exo. 30.30 ointement, Psal. 133.2. which distilled from his head to the hemme of his garmentes, & as his whole body was glorious through his Exod. 28.2 beautifull attire, so is y ^e whole body of Christ, ( 1. Cor. 6, 15 whereof we be members) sweete in the presence of god, through the sanctification of his spirite, & glo­rious before him, through the righte­ousnesse of his sonne. For through Christ we, as 1. Pet. 2.5 liuely stones be made a spirituall house, an holy Priesthode to of­fer vp spirituall sacrifices acceptable to god by Iesus Christ 9 yea, we are a chosen generation, a royall Priesthode, an [Page] holy nation, a people set at libertie, that we should shew forth the vertues of him that hath called vs foorth of darkenesse into this merueilous light. And thus you heare how both Peter and Paul by the [...]ue remembraunce of these gracious giftes, whiche necessarily folow our Ephe. 1.5, [...] adoption into the children of god, through our regeneration Ioh. 3.5. & 8 wrought by his spirite, do earnestly exhorte vs to Ephe. 5.1 be folowers of god, as becommeth deare childrē. And this much touching the causes, why god will that we bee folowers of him.

3. God is to by imita­ted by wal­king in loue.Now foloweth the third point in this doctrine of imitation to be obser­ued: wherein god is to be imitated. This doth the Apostle teach vs, when as hee addeth: Ephe, 5.2 And walke in loue: whereby he sheweth, that then we fo­low god, as deare children, Ioh. 13.14 15.12. when we loue one an other, as Christ hath loued vs. And surely the Mat. 11.30 yocke, which our heauenly Father layeth vppon the neckes of vs his children, is light▪ and the seruice, which he requireth of vs is sweete, when as all the practise [Page] of al our obedience standeth in loue, most sweete affectiō of a godly min [...] The Apostle meanyng to stirre vs v [...] effectually in this amiable imitatio [...] of god, vseth a metaphore drawen fr [...] walking in the way, whereby hee de [...] cribeth vnto vs that loue, wherein cō sisteth y ^e true imitation of god. Ther­fore that the depth of this doctrin [...] may be sounded, it shall behoue vs t [...] examine euery circūstance of the way▪ which being knowen vnto vs by expe­rience, may giue light vnto the mea­nyng of this speach: Ephe. 5.2. Walke in loue.

Foure thinges are to be obser­ued in this kinde of walking.Now the circumstāces in numbe [...] are foure: The first, whose the way is▪ wherein we must walke: The second, what the marke of this way is: Th [...] third, of what maner the exercise of thi [...] way is: The fourth, what the ende o [...] this way is.

1. The waie where­in wee must walk, are the commaun­dements of God.The way, wherin we must walk [...] is the kinges path, the common hig [...] way of all Christians, without excep [...]tion, euen the ordinances of the Lord which he hath giuen to all his people by them to be obserued, with all duti­full [Page] reuerence. And therefore the lawe of God, the second time published by Moses, is thus intituled: Deut. 1.1 these be the words, which Moses spake vnto all Israell &c. Neither did Moses the seruaunt of the Lord forget, when hee proposed the Abbridgement of all Gods lawes, contained in Exod. 20. Deut. 5.1. ten pre­ [...]eptes, 7. to call together all Israell, and [...]o exhort all Israell, to harken to the or­dinaunces and lawes of the Lorde, that they might learne them, obserue them, and keepe them. Therefore as God is the Lorde of al Christians, so is he to be obeyed of al Christians. Nowe, as he hath laid open his high way, (euen his holy lawes) for all his subiectes to walke in, so let vs all learne, by his holy worde, to walke therein before him, with all integritie. Act. 10.34. Rom. 2.11. God is no accepter of persons. Therefore let euery man consider his callings, and learne, by Gods worde, to walke be­fore the Lorde according to his voca­tion. Esay. 49.23 Princes, in fostering, cherishing, and gouerning Gods church: Mat. 23.17 Mat. 12.17. Luk. 20.25. Rom. 13.1. &c. tit. 3.1. 1. Pet. 3.13. Sub­iectes in obeying their Princes: Pro. 8.15 No­blemen, [Page] in making good lawes: Rom. 13.3 & 4. M [...]gistrates, in executing iustice: 2. Tim, 2.15, Min [...]sters, in cutting aright vnto gods fam [...]lie, the bread of life, Iam. 1.19. which is the wor [...] of truth, as becōmeth 1. Cor. 4.1. & 2 faithful stewar [...] in the Lordes house: Ephe. 5.25 Col. 3.19, 1. Pet. 3, 7. Husbandes [...] louing their VViues, Ephe. 5.22. Col. 3 18, Tit. 2, 5. 1. Pet. 3.1 Wiues, in su [...]mitting themselues vnto their husband Ephe. 6, 4, Col. 3.21 Parentes, in nurturing their childre [...] Ephe. 6.1, Children, in obeying their parentes [...] the Lorde: Ephes. 6.1, Maisters, in cherishin [...] christianly their seruantes: Col. 3.22. Tit. 2.9, Seruants in seruing faythfully their maisters: An [...] to conclude Ephe. 4▪ 1, euery one of vs: to walk [...] worthie of the vocation, whereunto w [...] are called, that we may be 5.1, followers o [...] God, as dear children. For Mat. 25.14 what tal [...]lēt soeuer god in mercy hath bestow [...]ed vpon vs, hee hath therefore giuen it vs, (yea though it be but a handi­craft,) to vse to y ^e glorie of his name, and to the benefite of his Churche Esa, 30.21 This is the way, let vs walke in it. And now to the second circūstance of this waye of the Lorde wherein wee must walke.

2. The marke of the way of true Christians is Loue, The marke of the waye is Loue. For [Page] so speaketh the Apostle Ephe, 5, 2 Walke in loue. Consider, dearely beloued, the great care, whiche our heauenly Fa­ther taketh for vs his children, who: least we shuld wander out of the way, wherein wee ought to walke, giueth vs a marke to know our way by, euen [...]oue. This loue is that Rom. 13.8 onely debt, which god alloweth vs to owe one vn­to an other. And the payment of thys debt is so acceptable, y ^t Paul pronoun­ceth: Rom, 13, 8 Whosoeuer loueth an other, as he ought, hath fulfilled the lawe of god.

Loue dou­ble, 1. of God 2, of our neighbour,Now, this loue, which is the mark of our way, is double: First the loue of god, then the loue of our neighbour. Of this abridgement of al our obedi­ence required by gods lawes, christ himselfe is the collector, who calleth Mat. 22, 38 Mar, 12, 30, the loue of God, the first and great commaundement: and Mat, 22, 39 Mar, 12, 31, the loue of our Neighbour, the second, and like vnto the first. And that wee might learne, to walke in the waye of the Lorde, within these boundes, our Sa­uiour christ teacheth vs, that oure [Page] loue must bee vnfeyned in either re­spect. For god requireth, that Deut. 6.5. Luk. 10.27 wee loue him, with all our heart, and with al our soule, and with al our strength, and with all our thought: Leu. 19.18 Luk. 10.27. and that we loue our Neighbour, as wee loue our selfe. And thus ye see, what ma­ner of loue it is, which is the marke of our spirituall high-way, altogether sincere, and no whit hipocriticall.

Two thinges in loue to bee obserued.But will you yet learne more ex­actly how to discerne the marke, that thereby you may know the way? Ob­serue then two thinges: what loue doth not, and what it doth.

1. VVhat loue doth not What loue doth not, Paule layeth downe plainly, when as hee sayth: 1. Cor. 13.4 Loue enuieth not, loue boasteth not it selfe, loue is not puffed vp. Loue doth none vncomely thinges: 5 loue seeketh not her owne thinges: loue is not prouoked to anger: 6 loue thinketh none euill: loue reioyceth not in iniquitie: 8 loue neuer falleth away. And doe wee such thinges, and yet we are in the way? Surely then Paule was farre out of the way, which [Page] thus described the marke of the waye by the negatiues. Well my brethren, let vs not deceiue our selues, for god neither mocketh, Gal. 6.7. nor is mocked.

2. VVhat loue doth.But what doth loue, that we may know the work of our way by the af­firmatiues also? Heare Paule speake: 1. Cor. 13. 4. Loue suffereth long: loue is boun­tifull: loue reioyceth in the trueth: 6 Loue beleueth all thinges: 7 loue in­dureth all thinges. And can wee be in the way, except we do these things? No vndoubtedly: For this is the vn­doubted marke of the waye. O then, deare, brethren, let vs bring forth the fruites of Loue, that it may appeare, we walke in loue. So shall wee be blessed, being Iam. 1.22. not onely hearers of the word, but doers therof: So shall we not deceiue our owne selues. Wee delight greatly to talke of Loue, God graunt we may learne to walk in Loue. And this muche of the marke of the waye, wherein all true Christians ought to walke.

3. The manner of wal­king in this way, must be a continuall exercise of godlynesse.Now wee come to the third cir­cumstance of this waye of righteous­nesse, [Page] which is the path for the childr [...] of God vpon earth to walke in. Fo [...] it is not inough to walke in this way (whereof I first spake) and by the marke to know the way; (which point was lastly handled) but we must also learne the maner of walking, whereby our iournieng is brought to an happy end. And this is the maner of our spi­rituall walking, that we walke con­tinually in the Loue of God, and our Neighbour Gen, 17, 7, The league, whiche God made with Abraham and hys seed, Gal, 3, 9, (which are we if we be indued with the fayth of Abraham) was not momentary, but perpetuall. Gen, 17, 1, 7, And this is the league, that the almighty wil be our God, in perfourming hys good promises, and deliuering vs frō euils, not for an houre, or a day, or a yeare, but for euer: and that we walk before him, and be perfect, not for an houre, or a daye, or a yeare, but Luc, 1.74, & 74, all our liues long. For as the protection of God, to vs his people, is continual so is it meet, that our obedience, vnto him our God shuld be continual also. [Page] and this continuall exercise of godly­ [...]esse, did god inioyne Abraham, and [...]s in Abraham, when as at the coue­ [...]āt making he said vnto him: Gen, 17, 1, Hith­ [...]aller lephanai, which by the proprietie of the Hebrue verbe in the coniuga­ [...]ion Hithpael, wherein it is vsed, doth signifie a continuall walkyng before the Lord in perfect obediēce vnto his lawes. And least we should want a cō ­fortable example to lead vs on in this cōtinuall exercise of dutifull obediēce to our God, Gen, 5, 22 & 24, In Hebrue Ijthallec, in English, Hee walked con­tinually. Enoch is reported to haue walked continually with the Lord all his life lōg, Gen, 5, 23 euen 365 yeares, in that hee folowed not the naughtinesse of his age, neither was steined with the corrupt worshipping of god with other, but worshipped him continually, according to his commaundementes, in fayth, integritie of hart, and inno­cencie of life, whom the Lord, of his free fauour, Gen, 5, 24 Heb, 11, 5, did translate that hee should not see death. Oh happy man so long in seruice with so good a Lord: Oh blessed god, acceptyng so mercy­fully in the Messias the obedience of [Page] his seruaunt! And shall we leaue so [...] sweete an example vnimitated? O [...] shall we neglect so great graces o [...] perpetually blisse purposed vnto vs in so certaine an example? god forbid▪ For there can be nothing in this lyfe more sweete, then continually to serue the Lorde, neither can there bee any thyng after this life more excellent, then continually to liue with the Lord. And both these thynges are proposed vnto vs in this excellent example. Oh let vs then, my brethren, not thinke it tedious to walke continually in loue. Now let vs consider on the contrary part, how perilous a thing it is, not to walke continually in due obedience, be­fore the Lord, whiche the Apostle in­tendeth here, when as he exhorteth vs Ephe. 5.12. to walke in loue. Herein the example of the Israelites behauiour in their cō ­myng forth of Egypt may stand vs in good steede. For god Num. 14.22.23.29.30 denied en­traunce into the land of promise, Exod, 3.8.17.13.5.32.3 Deut. 6.3.11.9 whiche flowed with milke and honie, vnto all those Israelites, which in their hartes turned backe in the wildernes [Page] to Egypt, Num. 14.24.30. and graunted the same [...]nely vnto Iosuah and Caleb his ser­ [...]auntes, whiche walked continually i [...] the way, with chearefull myndes, in full assuraunce of the performance of gods promisses. But besides the truth of the historie, Psal. 95.11. Heb. 4.8.9. the temporall rest in the land, of promise, is a figure of the euerlastyng rest in y ^e kingdome of heauen. If therefore God thus pu­nished the neglecting of his temporal gifts, how much more wil he be reuen­ged vpon the contemners of the spiri­tual graces? We may not then looke, my brethren, to enter into the kyng­dome of God, except we walke on cō ­tinually in loue, which is the way, that leadeth into euerlasting life. We know litle in the spirituall rynnyng, if we know not, 2. Tim. 2 9 that they onely re­ceiue the garland, which runne to the end of the race. Wee are ignoraūt in the spirituall husbandry, if we bee igno­raunt, Luc. 9.26. that hee, whiche putteth his hand to the plow, and looketh backe, is not worthy of the kingdome of God. Wee wotte not to whome blessednesse be­longeth, [Page] if we wot not, that it belon­geth to them onely, Mat, 10, 22 24, 13, Mar, 12, 13, whiche perse­uer vnto the ende, So then it follow­eth, that nothing is more required in the children of God, than a conti [...] all exercise in all godlinesse. How ca [...] we be starres in the Lords firmamen [...] Dan, 12, 3. Mat, r 3, 43, except we shine continually in holines▪ Or souldiers in his campe, Mat. 24, 42 25, 13, 26, 41, Mar. 13, 33, except we stand continually vpon our watch a­gainst the spirituall aduersary? Or trees of his garden of Eden, Psal, 1, 3, except we grow continually by the vertue of the sappe of his spirite; And can wee be his passengers vnto the heauenly Ie­rusalem, Mic, 2.10, Heb, 13, 14, except we walke on continu­ally in the loue of god, & of our neigh­bour? wherefore (as the author of the Epistle to the Hebrues exhorteth vs) 12, 1, Let vs runne with patience the race that is set before vs. Let vs lift vp our handes, 12, which hang downe, and our weake knees, and make straight steppes to our feete, 13, least that which is halting, be tur­ned out of the way, but let it rather bee healed. Yea, Exo. 12.11 let vs make hast to the promised land, with our loynes girte, our [Page] shoes on our feete, and staues in our hāds, that we stay not in the way, whiche leadeth from this worldly Egypt, vn­to the heauenly promised land. And this much concerning the manner of walking in the way, whiche leadeth into euerlasting life.

4. The end of the way is euerlasting life.Now remaineth, that we shew you the ende of the way, which in order is the fourth circumstance. The ende of the way, wherein the Apostle exhor­teth vs to walke, is euerlasting life. Neither is it without cause, that I propose vnto you the ende of our wal­king. For the end of all actions, be­ing first in intention, and last in exe­cution, is by experience found to be of that force, that it draweth vs on, (al­though it stand with our perill) to ac­cōplish y ^t we intend, in hope to atchiue y ^e end, in our minds first proposed. And therfore Christ our Sauiour, to incou­rage vs Mat. 7.14 to enter in at the straite gate, & to walk in the narrow way, of due obe­dience vnto God, proposeth the ende, which is life, And on the cōtrary part, to deterre vs Mat. 7.13. from entryng through [Page] the wide gate, and walking in the broa [...] way of licentiousnesse, he proposeth also the end, which is Destruction. And what can bee more comfortable the [...] life, and the same to bee inioyed eter­nally in the kingdome of heauen? O [...] what can bee more fearefull, then destruction, and the same to be cōtinued for euer in hell? Let vs then chearefully walke on in the way of obediēce so shall we receiue the promised re­ward. But that we may with more courage runne our race, in hope to ob­taine the crowne, let vs take a vewe of euerlasting life, with y ^e eies of our mynds, as in gods word it is diuersly described. 1. Euerlas­ting life compared to the land of Canaan. god in old time gaue vnto the aunciēt Israelites the land of Ca­naan, a land for the fruitefulnes ther­of, sayd Exod. 3.8, Num. 13.27 to flowe with milke and hony that they might, not onely possesse it, accordyng to his Gen. 15.14 &c. promise, but also by the temporall benefites thereof, to be put in mynde of the spirituall bles­sings in the land of the liuyng: and by their earthly rest there inioyed after y ^e bondage in Egypt, to be stirred vp w ^t [Page] the desire of y ^e heauenly rest to be pos­sessed by y ^e people of god, after their deliuerance frō the thraldom of Satan. Read the fourth to the Hebrues, and there shall you finde this doctrine wa­ranted. So is the land of Canaan a figure of euerlasting life. Christ the wisedome of our heauenly Father, 2. Euerlas­ting life called salua­tion. wel knoweth, that this transitorie life of ours is subiect vnto many calamities, and therefore for our incouragement, he calleth euerlasting life, Mat. 10.22 Mat. 13.13. Saluation whereby vndoubtedly he would haue vs to know, that euerlasting life is that blessed state, wherein we shall be deliuered from all calamities of the body, all griefes of the mynde, all cor­ruptiō of our nature, from sinne, from death, from Satā. So shall our bodies, 1. Cor. 15 which now are corruptible, 42 become in­corruptible: which now ar ignominious, 43 become glorious: which now are weak, 44 becom strōg: which now are natural, 54 become spi­ritual: which now is mortal, 73 become immortal. And this Saluation, is that life euerlasting, which christ hath promised to giue to thē Mat. 10.2, Mar. 13.13 which perseuere in pati­ence [Page] vnto the end. I therfore cōclude w ^t the Apostle: 1. Co. 15.57 Thākes be vnto god, which hath giuē vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ: 58. Therfore, my beloued brethren, be ye stedfast, vn­moueable, aboundaunt alwayes in the worke of the Lord, for as much as ye know, that your labour is not in vayne in the Lord. Christ our Sa­uiour, regarding the grossenes of our capacitie in heauenly mysteries, com­pareth euerlasting life els where, to Luc. 22, 29 30. a kingdome, wherein we shall eate and drinke at his table, and sit on seates, and iudge the twelue tribes of Israell. By these earthly and corporall benefites, Christ signifieth heauenly and spiritu­all blessinges, assuring vs, that, in the world to come, we shall haue the frui­tion of the Lord, and with him the ful­nesse of felicitie. And this is euerla­sting life. But know this, that this onely belongeth to them, Luc. 22, 28. whiche continue with Christ in his tentations. 3. Euerlast­ting life compared to a kingdome. To set foorth vnto vs the exceedyng glorie of eternall life, 1, Co. 9.25 2. Tim. 4.8. Paule, Iam. 1.12. Iames, Reue. 2.10 and the Spirite in the Re­uelation [Page] liken it to a Crowne, or Gar [...]and, which was wont to be set, in ho­ [...]ourable maner, vppon their heades, Euerlast­ing life compared to a Crowne or Garland. which in making masteries got the [...]est. But withal hereby they fore­warne vs, that except 2. Tim. 2.5. wee striue for the maisterie, and that lawfully, we may [...]ot looke to bee crowned. 1. Cor. 15.54 O noble [...]ictorie atchieued for vs by Christ, where Satan, hell, sinne, the fleshe, the world, and all the enimies of our saluati­on at once were thoroughly subdued, so that now he triumpheth ouer them in eternal blisse. Let vs therfore fight manfully vnder his standard, that we may bee crowned gloriously in his kingdome. But since the ende is al­waies fresh in the eye of the minde, 1. Cor. 2.9, (as is before sayd) Paule vndoubtedly much meditated vpon the ende of our spiritual walking, Euerlast­ing life compared to ioyes not seene, not heard, not conceiued. whiche is (as I haue shewed) eternall life. And yet, his excellent reuelation notwithstanding as one not able in wordes to describe euerlasting life, he leaueth it to the me­ditations of our mindes, shewing vs, that 1. Cor. 2.9, the thinges which God hath pre­pared [Page] for them which loue him, are suche and so excellēt, as the eye hath not seene, neither eare hath heard, nor hath come into the heart of man. And to conclude, we haue a moste excellent portrature of this eternall life in the 21. 6. Euerlas­ting life compared to a goodly citie. chapter of the Reuelation of Iohn, where it is cōpared to a citie curiously built, gar­nished with golde and pretious stones beautified within and without. In which description, as all thinges are most excellent, so this is most comfor­table vnto the elect, that, whereas he saw no temple, he yealdeth the reason: Reue. 21 22 23 For, the Lorde God almightie▪ and the lambe, are the temple of it. Adding: And this city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moone to shine in it: for the glory of God did light it: & the lambe is the light of it. 24 And the people, which are saued shall walk in the light of it: And the kinges of the earth shall bring their glory and their honour vnto it. And the gates of it shall not be shut by daye: 25 for there shall be no night there. 26 And the glory & honor of the [Page] Gentiles shall bee brought vnto it. 27 And there shall enter into it none vncleane thing, neyther whatsoeuer worketh abhomination or lyes: but they, which are writtē in the lambs booke of life. O gracious God, which in mercie hast prepared so glo­rious a place for thy seruauntes. Thy name be praysed: Thy name be pray­sed. But calling to mind our filthines through sinne, let vs Reuel. 7.14 washe our robes through faithfull repentance in the bloud of the lamb, that they may become white: and let vs glorifie Gods name by a godly life, that it may appeare, that we are his children: Otherwise wee may not promise to our selues the fru­ition of that rest. And this much con­cerning the ende of the way, which is euerlasting life.

4. The loue where­in God must be imi­tated must be vnfained, sincere and freeNow followeth the fourth end & last point of the text: How God is to be imitated in loue. And this doeth Paule laye downe in these wordes: Ephe. 5.2 Euen as Christ hath loued vs, and hath giuen himselfe for vs (to be) an offering, and a sacrifice of a sweete [Page] smelling sauour to God. Heere the Apostle sheweth what maner of loue it is, by the practising whereof God is imitated: Namely, that wee loue God and one an other vnfeynedly, sin­cerely, and freely without regard of me­rite. For, not euery shew of loue, is al­lowed before God, but that loue one­ly, The ob­iect of our loue double. whiche is agreeable to the nature of that, whiche is loued. Then since the obiect of our loue, is double Mat 22.37 39 mar. 2.30 31. luc. 10.27, god and our Neighbour, let vs view their natures apart. 1. God. God is Ier. 10.10, Ioh. 17.3. 1. thes. 1.9. true, Leu. 11.44.19.2.1. Pet. 1 16. holy, and the Iam. 1.17, fountayne of all goodnesse. Therefore it is meete, that we should loue him for himselfe, with an vnfay­ned, sincere, and free loue. Our Neigh­bour, (be it, hee be an heathen, yet is he) an excellent creature of God, Gen. 1.26 & 27.5.1. made after his image and similitude. 2. Our neighbour. Therfore to be beloued for the Crea­tors sake, vnfaynedly, sincerely, & freely. How much more ought our loue to be such toward our Christian neighbor, considering, Ephe. 4.24 Col. 3.10. that in him the image of God, Rom. 5.17 which was decayed by A­dam, is renued through christ, Ioh. 1.12 wherby [Page] hee is become thorough grace the child of God, Rom. 8.17 and the heyre of euer­lasting life. So then it foloweth, that as we ought to loue god, with an vn­fayned, sincere and free loue, because he is our father, so should we loue one an other, vnfaynedly, sincerely, & free­ly, because we are his children. And this is that manner of loue, whiche if we practise Ephe. 5.1 we become folowers of God, as deare children.

The loue, whereby we imitate God two waies described.But that I digresse not from my text, marke, I beseeche you, my bre­thren, how Paul describeth this man­ner of loue, two wayes in the text: First by a double example, thē by proofe of the second example.

1. By exam­pleExamples in imitatiō be the play­nest documentes, so that they be per­fect. Now consider the godly discre­tion of Paule. For he heere confirmeth his doctrin by two examples, agaynst the which none exception can be takē.

1. Of the father.The first example of this vnfay­ned, sincere, and free loue, is God the Father, Ioh. 3.16. who so loued the worlde, that hee gaue his onely begotten Sonne, that [Page] whosoeuer beleueth in him, should not perish, but haue euerlasting life. If we consider this gracious dealing of god with vs, we shall finde it to be a most perfect mirrour of his free loue to­wardes vs, what soeuer herein we way. For if we examine the causes of the loue of God to vs ward: When in vs, whiche are most vniust, and most vnholy, there was no cause, why the most iust, and most holy God should loue vs, this loue flowed frō his owne bountie, as from Iam. 1.17 1. Ioh. 4.10 the fountaine of all goodnesse. If we search into the manner of the loue, wherewith God loued vs so, and so exceedingly, that he gaue to ransome vs from our spiritu­all bondage, 1. Pet. 1.18. not siluer, gold, or pre­cious stones, not onely a creature to saue vs creatures, Heb. 2.16 not an angell to deliuer vs men, Ioh. 3.16 but his own sonne, yea his onely Sonne, Mat 1.23, God to re­mayne God, and man, Heb. 10.5 to be a sacri­fice, Phil. 2.8. by an ignominious death to bee offered for vs, 1. Cor. 6.20.7.23. 1. Pet. 1.19. euen the price of our redemption. If we take a vewe of the ende, for the which God loued vs, we [Page] shall perceaue, that it was not to the benefite of himselfe, or of his Sonne, Rom. [...]. [...]5, (For God in himselfe, and of him­selfe, without his creatures, is abso­lutely blessed) but to our benefite, Rom. 4.3.4 that wee through him being saued, Mat. 25. [...]4 with him might liue blessedly for e­uer. If we ponder, what God whiche so dearly hath loued vs, requireth a­gaine at our handes: verely nothing, Ephe 2.8 but that hee giueth vs, Rom. 5.1. a liuely fayth to receaue Christ, [...] Cor. 1, [...]0 that in him we may receaue all thinges necessary for our saluation, Ephe. 1.4. and that wee be holy, and without blame before him in loue. So then ought we to loue, as the Father hath loued vs, vnfaynedly, sin­cerely, and freely, that we may be found Ephe. 5. [...] followers of God as dear childrē. But if anie obiect, that the loue of the Fa­ther is not mentioned in the text, and thereupon inferre, that I digresse frō the same, I answere: It is included in the little word Cai, so that the sen­tence may be thus translated: 1. Ephe. 5. [...] Euen as Christ also hath loued vs, where­by, by a secret speache, the loue of the [Page] Father is insinuated, as in playne tearmes, the loue of the Sonne is pro­posed.

2. Of the soneThe second example of this vn­fayned, sincere, and free loue, is God the Sonne, Ioh. 10.11, who as a good shepheard gaue his life for vs his sheepe: Rom. 5.6. who be­ing iust, 8. died for vs vniust: who, when as yet we were sinners, 10. died for vs: who, whē we were Gods enimies, reconciled vs vnto him by hys owne death, that by hys life, we being reconciled, might be sa­ued. If therefore wee thus loue, as Christ hath loued vs, vnfaynedly, sin­cerely, and freely, without all regarde of merite, Ephe. 5.2, then walke we in loue, then are we followers of Gods as beloued children Act. 11.26. we are called Christians of christ, let vs resemble him in maners, els are we, our name notwithstanding, mon­sters, we take our selues to bee the Disciples of Christ, let vs then learne to practise the precepte of Christ, which he teacheth vs saying: Io. 13.34. A new commaundement giue I vnto you, that ye loue one an other: as I haue loued you, that yee also loue one an [Page] other. VVe would be all reputed the children of our father, that is in heauē. But Mat. 5.45. he maketh his sunne to arise on the euill, and the good: and sendeth rayne [...]n the iust, and vniust. Let vs then: that we may be his children, Mat. 5.44. loue our enni­mies: blesse them that curse vs: doe good to them that hate vs: and pray for them that hurt and persecute vs. Let vs con­sider (as Christ teacheth vs) Mat. 5.46. that if we loue them, which loue vs, we shall haue no revvard: for the publicans do euen the same. 47 And if vvee be friendly to our brethren onely, vve doe no singuler thing: for euen the Publicans do likevvise. 48 But we must be perfect, as our Father, whiche is in heauen, is perfect. Neither can there be any precept fuller of equitie, then this: Ephe. 5.2 Walke in loue, euen as Christ hath loued vs: Wherein it is required, that we, whiche are beloued of God in Christ, should loue our bre­thren, whom, the Father loueth in the Sonne, as tenderly as hee loueth vs. And thus haue I taught you, my bre­thren, folowing Paules steppes in this place, by the example both of the Fa­ther, [Page] and of the Sonne, what manne [...] of loue God requireth at our handes that we may proue Ephe. 5.1, followers of him as deare children.

2. By proof of this example.Now foloweth in the texte the se­cond way, whereby Paule describet [...] the manner of loue, by the practis [...] whereof wee become followers o [...] God, when as hee sayth: Ephe. 5.2 And hat [...] giuen himselfe for vs (to be) an offe­ring, and a sacrifice of a sweet smel­ling, sauour to God. Ephe. 5.2 Paul hauyng lastly proposed Christ himselfe vnto vs, as a perfect paterne, after y ^e which we must fashion that our loue, where­in wee must walke, that wee may be found Ephe. 5.2 followers of God, as deare chil­dren, forgetteth not, to proue vnto vs the perfection of the paterne of our i­mitatiō, (I mean of the loue of christ) by the excellent effecte, whiche came thereof, namely our full, and perfect redemption, Heb. 9.25, wrought by the oblati­on of Christ heere mentioned. The rule of Christ is Mat. 7.17.12.33. Luc. 6.43.44 that the tree is knowne by the frute, so that the bad fruit sheweth the tree to be bad, and [Page] [...]he good fruite sheweth the tree to [...]ee good. Then followeth it, that [...]he loue of Christ to vs-wardes is most perfect, Ioh. 3.16, the fruite whereof is [...]ur saluation and euerlasting life. yet [...]till note, beloued, that the loue of Christ is here proposed vnto vs, not [...]o muche to bee contemplated (al­ [...]hough it deserue a most reuerend cō ­templation) as to be imitated. But forsomuche as vnder this effecte of Christes loue, Ioh. 13.1 wherewith he loued vs vnto the end, the worke of our whole [...]edemption offereth it selfe to be con­sidered, it shall behoue me, following my texte, to deliuer the same vnto you (as God shall inhable me) more par­ticularly. In our re­demption, wrought by a sacrifice, 6. circumstan­ces to bee-noted. The effect of Christes loue towardes vs, (as I haue sayd) Ioh. 3.15. is our redemption, and our redemption is wrought by a sacrifice, and in this sa­crifice, (as Paule here describeth it,) Sixe circumstances are to be considered: The first, who was the sacrificer: The second, How he sacrificed: The third, 14 what, and of what kind the sacrifice was: The fourth, For whom it was sacrificed: [Page] The fifth, To whome it was sacrificed The sixt, what effecte the sacrific [...] wrought. VVhen I shall briefly hau [...] intreated seuerally of these six point [...] I will conclude, and commit you [...] the grace of God.

1. Christ is the sacrifice, Man was created by GOD in the beginning Gen. 1, 26, after his image an [...] similitude, Ephe. 4, 24. in righteousnesse and tr [...] holinesse. But alas through the fall [...] Adam in Man the image and simil [...] tude of God is defaced, and his rig [...] teousnesse, and true holinesse is clea [...] blotted out, Ephe. 2.1.3, so that now vve are de [...] in our trespasses and sinns, being by natu [...] the children of wrath, Rom, 3, 23, and depriued the glory of God. Nowe let vs cons [...] der the mercy of God. VVhen w [...] were not able, by our owne pow [...] to deliuer oure selues from this v [...] speakable miserie, phe. 1, 4, into the which th [...] rough sinne wee were fallen, e Go [...] had deuised, before the foundation of t [...] world, to restore vs to libertie, by a [...] holye conciliation to bee made b [...] twene him and vs. But let vs co [...] sider how the case stoode, God ke [...] [Page] his couenaunt, which hee made with Man: Man brake the couenant, which hee made with God. God the Creator was offended: Man the Creature had offended. God needed not to seeke a reconciliation with Man, Rom. 1.25 who of him selfe without Man is blessed: Man durst not seeke a reconciliation, with God, who of him-selfe without God, Leu. 27, 26 Gal. 3.10. is curssed.

Two thinges in the Sacrifi­cer to be noted, 1, his Substance, 2 his Office.Who then might become a fitte mediatour of peace, as wel in respect of his substance or person, as of his function or office? Behold the Ro. 16.25. reue­lation of the misterie, vvhich vvas kept secret since the world began, 1. Cor. 2.7.8. euen the hid vvisedome, vvhich God had deter­mined before the vvorlde, vnto our glo­rye, vvhiche none of the Princes of this vvorld hath knovven.

1, The Sa­crificer by his substāce or person is god & man, Gal. 4, 4.5. When the fulnesse of time vvas com, God sent forth his sonne, made of a vvo­man, made vnder the lavv, that he might redeeme vs, vvhiche vvere vnder the lavve, that vve might receiue the ad­doption of Sonnes. This was a fit me­diatour, an apt reconcyler, a conue­nient [Page] daies-man betweene god and Man. Christ, be­ing God, hable to saue vs. For beeing Mat. 1.23, god euen the psal. 2.7. Ioan. 3.16. Sonne of god, hee durst presente him selfe before god his Father, to intreat for Man, Phil. 2.6. as one vvhich thought it no robberie to bee equall vvith god: Christ be­yng Man willyng to saue vs. And beeing Matt. 1.18. Luc. 2.7. Man▪ euen the Son of Ma­rie the virgin, was willing to recon­cile Man vnto god, Heb. 4.15. as one which was touched with the feeling of our infirmities. And so in the person of the atonement-maker, was fulfilled the deuine prophecy of Esay, saying: Esa. 7.14. Mat. 1.23. Be­holde, a virgin shall bee with childe & shall Beare a Son, and they shall call his name Emanuell, which is by interpretation, god with vs. And this is hee which is the Sacrificer, Psal, 2, 7, Heb. 5.5. god with god and Phil, 2.7. Man with Man Ion. 6.51. one Christ, Psal, 2, 7, the Sonne of god, Mat. 3, 17. Mar. 1, 11. the second person in the blessed Trini­tie. Nowe this much being spoken of the person and substaunce of the Sacri­ficer, let vs nowe more neerely way, who, and how great hee is by the con­sideration of his Function and office,

The Sa­crificer, by his function or Office, is Christ, so called for that he is: 1, our Prophe­te: 2, our Christ: 3. our King,None was found fit, (as yee haue [Page] heard) to bee the Sacrificer to God for Man, but the onely Sone of God, who in respect of his function or office, is called the Meshiah, Christ the Annoyn­ted. This name the word of God at­tributeth 1. Kin. 19.16 to Prophets, Leu, 16, 32 Num, 3, 3, Priests, and Iud. 9.8, 1, Sam. 9, 16, 01, 1, Kinges, as well because they were annointed with materiall oyle, (in token of spirituall graces, where­with god had indued them for the ex­ecuting of their offices) as also for that they were figures of Christ then to come. But this name agreeth pro­perly to our redeemer, whome god an­nointed, not with materiall oyle, but Psal, 45, 8, 89, 21, with the oile of gladnesse aboue his fellows that is, with the full measure of his spiritual graces, y ^t he being our great Prophet, our high Priest, and our migh­tie King, might bee a fit Sacrificer to reconcile vs vnto god.

1 Christ our Prophet,Necessarie it was, that the Sacri­ficer, should bee the Prophet of gods people, that Esa, 1, 16, 1, Luc, 4.18, the Spirite of the Lorde being vppon him, hee might therefore annoynt him, that hee should preache the Gospell to the poore: hee might send him, [Page] that he shold heal the broken harted that he shold Preach deliuerance to the Capti­ues and recouering of sight to the blinde that he should set at libertie them, that are brused: 19. And that hee shoulde preach the acceptable yeare of the Lord: that hee knowing the will of his Father in our recōciliation, Heb, 10, 9, should do the same.

2, Christ our Priest,Necessary it was that the Sacrifi­cer should bee the Priest of gods peo­ple, that since Psal, 40.7, Heb, 10, 6, god had no pleasure in burnt offrings, 10: & sin offrings he might of­fer his body in sacrifice to god the fathe [...] & so do his vvill, 9 by the which we are sā ­tified: 10, 4. And for that it was impossible, that the blood of bulles and goates should take away sinnes, 1, Pet. 1, 18, he might redeem vs, with his precious blood, 19, being a lambe vndefi­led, and vvithout spotte: And finally, Heb, 10, 12 that after he had offered one sacrifice for sinnes: he might sit for euer at the right hand of God, 13, and from thence-foorth tarrie till his enimies should be made hys foot-stoole.

3 Christ, our King,Necessarie it was, that the sacri­ficer should be the king of gods people Io, 16, 33, to ouer-come y ^e world, Luc, 22, 42 to subdue the [Page] flesh, Mat, 4, 1, &c. Mar, 1, 12, &c Luc: 4, 1, &c, to conquer Satan, Io, 8, 46, to vanquish sinne, Rom, 5, 2, to pacifie gods wrath, Ose, 13, 14 1, Co. 15, 54, to plucke out the sting of deeth, 55, to spoyle hell of her victorie Psa, 68, 19, Eph, 4, 8, to leade captiuitie captiue, to giue giftes vnto men, Psa, 110, 1, mat, 22, 44, and to triumph ouer all hys enimies: Io, 10, 4. yea to direct vs his people with his vvord, 10, 22, to guide vs by his spirite, Psal, 2, 9, to de­fend vs by his povver, Luc, 1, 32, vnto vvhome god gaue the throne of his Father Da­uid, 33, that hee might raigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer, that of his kingdome shoulde be none ende. And thus ye haue heard my beloued, the ordinance of God, that whom the sacrificer should reconcile vnto God, them should he instruct, as their Pro­phet, sanctifie as their Priest, and guide, as their King. Iudge ye then, whether the Papistes be not of the number of those false teachers, whome Peter prophecied should come, 2, Pet. 2.1, vvhiche should denie the Lord that bought them, which vndoubtedly they doe, when by bringing in the traditions of men, they denie the fulnesse of Christes prophe­cie: by setting vp their sacrifice of the [Page] Masse, they deny y ^e fulnesse of Christes Priest-hood: by mayntayning, that the Bishop of Rome is Christes vicar generall vpon earth, they deny the ful­nesse of Christes kingdome. But let them take heede and repent in time, otherwise (according to Peters com­mination) 2. Pet, 2, 1. they vvill hring vppon themselues svvift damnation. And this much concerning the sacrificer.

2, Christ sacrificed voluntarily wilyngly, & of his owne acNowe commeth to bee conside­red, the second circumstance of our re­demption, hovv, and vvith vvhat mind this sacrificer sacrificed. And that is, hee sacrificed voluntarily, vvillingly, and, of his ovvn accorde. That this perswasi­on might bee setled in oure heartes, Paule sayth not: (as truely hee might) Christ redeemed vs, or reconciled vs to God, but, when he hadde said: Eph, 5, 2, Christ loued vs, to shew the wonder­full excellencie, and incomprehensible measure of his loue towardes vs, hee addeth: Eph, 5.2, And gaue himselfe for vs. So was the prophecie of Dauid, concerning Christes voluntary death, fulfilled, reported by the author of the [Page] Epistle to the Hebrues in this ma­ner: Ps, 4, 7.8.9 Heb, 10, 15, Wherefore, when Christ commeth into the world, he sayth: Sacrifice, and offering thou wouldst not: but a body hast thou ordayned me: In burnt offringes, 6, and sinne offrings thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then I sayd, Loe, I come, (in the be­ginning of the booke it is written of me,) that I shoulde doe thy will, O God. And thy will is, that hee should voluntarily die for vs. In th 10 of Iohn, where Christ teacheth vs, that Io, 10, 11 he is the good shepheard, and that we are his sheepe, to testifie hys prompt minde to die for vs, hee pro­nounceth, that whereas Io. 10, 18, no man could take his life from him, hee layde it dovvne of himselfe, for his sheepe. If any obiect and say: Yea but when Christ saw, that his bitter death approched, comparing it to Mat, 26, 39 mar, 14, 36, Luc, 22, 42, a cuppe, he prayed his Father, that, if it vvere possible it might passe from him: Howe then was his death voluntary, since gladly hee would eschewe it? I aunswere: this speache of Christ sheweth not any vn­willingnesse [Page] to dye for vs, but the truth of both his natures, humane and diuine, and his willingnesse to offer himselfe in sacrifice for our redemp­tion. For in that, Christ was subiect to humane affections and passions Mat. 26 38 as heauinesse, Mar. 14, 33. trouble of minde, Luc. 22.44 and agonie, (into the which he fel, not so much through the terrour of death approching, as the sensible feeling of Gods wrath then begon to be layd vppon him for our sinnes) it sheweth, that he was a true and a natural man (⸪) But in that hee subdueth the in­firmitie of the fleshe, Mar. 26, 39 42. mar. 14.36. Lu, 22, 42 and submitteth his will to the will of his Father, hee sheweth himselfe to be god, who be­ing conceiued, as touching his man­hood, without sinne, moderateth hys humayne affections, in such a tempe­rature, by the power of his god-head that, although hee were subiect vnto them, yet they brake not out to rebel­lion against god, but were preserued without blemishe of sinne. And lastly he willingly yeeldeth to gods deter­mination, and voluntarily submitteth [Page] himselfe to the death of the crosse, con­cluding his prayer: Mat 16.39 Neuerthelesse not as I will, but as thou wilt: Mar. 14, 3 Not that I will, but that thou wilt: Luc. 22.42 Not my will, but thine be done. Ye see then, that the manner of his sa­crificing, was by a vvilling and a vo­luntary death. Oh the exceeding loue of Christ to vs-ward, Rom. 5, 8, vvho vvhen vve vvere yet sinners died for vs. Io. 15.13. Greater loue than this hath no manne, vvhen any man bestoweth his life for hys friendes. But vvee are the friendes of Christ, 14 if we doe vvhatsoeuer he com­maundeth vs. And this is his com­maundement, that Io. 15, 12, vve loue one an other as he hath loued vs. But he lo­ued vs with an vnfayned loue, whiche of his owne accorde gaue himselfe for vs. Let vs therefore loue one an other vnfaynedly, as beseemeth the disciples of Iesus Christ. And this may suffice to be spoken of the maner of the sacri­ficing of Christ.

3. The sa­crifice was the innocent soule, the vndefiled body & the preci­ous blood of Christ.Now in the third place the sacri­fice it selfe commeth to be considered.

3. The sa­crifice was the innocent soule, the vndefiled body & the preci­ous blood of Christ.Heerein must bee noted two [Page] things: Two things noted. First, the substance, then the qualities of this sacrifice, that thereby we may learne: both vvhat it is, and of what kinde it is.

1, The substance of the Sacrifice is the man-head of Christ.Of the Substance of this sacrifice Paule speaketh in this texte, when as he telleth vs, that Eph. 5.2, Christ gaue hym­selfe for vs. So then: looke what christ is, as touching his Man-head, and that is the sacrifice offered for vs. But Christ, according to his humanitie, standeth of a reasonable soule, and an humane body. Therefore it followeth, that he gaue his soule, Christs soule giuen to redeme our soules, his body, for our bodyes. to redeeme our soules, and his body, to redeeme our bodies. Body for body, and soule for soule▪ yea, he gaue for vs Mat. 27.35 his body, to be crucified: Ion. 19, 34 his bloud, to be shed Ion. 19 03 his soule to bee seperated: Ion. 19, 33 hys life, to be yealded. So then so tender­ly did Christ loue vs, that Pet [...] 18.19 he redee­med vs, not with corruptible thinges, sil­uer and golde: 20, but with his owne pretious bloud, as of a lambe vndefiled, and with­out spot. Which was ordeined before the foundation of the worlde, but was decla­red in the last times for our sakes. Ney­ther [Page] was there anie thing fitte to be­come the sacrifice for sinne: but the Sonne of God, being free from sinne. For although the sacrifices of the law were ordayned by God, yet Heb. 10, 4, was it vnpossible, that by the bloud of bulles and goates, our sinnes should be taken away. And although Angels be most excel­lent creatures of God, yet was the nature of none of them fit for this sa­crifice. And therfore y ^e Sonne of god tooke not vpon him Heb. 2, 16, the nature of an Angell, but of Luc. 1, 35, Man, that in hys Manhead, hee might reconcile Man vnto god, Gen. 2.6. as in Man-head Man fell from god. This was the onely way to satisfie gods iustice, and to pacifie his wrath, that Rom. 5.19. as by the dis­obedience of one Man Adam; many wer made sinners: So by the obedience of one Man, christ, 12, many might also bee made righteous: * And that, as, by one Man Adam, sinne entered into the worlde, and death by sinne: * So, by one man Christ▪ we might receiue the attonement, tho­rough the remission of sinnes, to euerla­sting life. Of this point intreateth [Page] Paule more at large in the fifth to the Romanes, a scripture for this pur­pose diligently to bee wayed. And thus ye fee, that onely christ Reuel. 5.5. the Lion, which is of the tribe of Iudah, and the roote of Dauid, is worthy to open the booke of life, and to lose the seuen seales of the Mysteries of the kingdome of heauen▪ Io. 1, 29. euen the lambe of god, whiche taketh away but sinnes▪ Reuel. 5.6. the lambe of god, which was killed for vs: 1. Pet. 1.20. the lambe of God, which is a [...] ordayned for vs, before the foundation of the world. And for con­clusion of this point marke, I beseech you this mysterie in our reconciliati­on, that he onely is the sacrifice, who onely is the sacrificer, Christ the one, Christ the other, Rom. 5.1, Heb. 10 14. who by himselfe hath reconciled vs to god his father. Therfore blame vs not, although we dare not teach (as doe the Papists most blasphemously) that Christ is offered in the Lordes supper, by the minister to god, for our sinnes, Heb. 9.26. (who in the ende of the vvorld, vvas made manifest once, to put avvay sinne: by the sacrifice of himselfe,) but beleue vs, when wee [Page] teach, that Luc. 22, 19 1. Cor. 11.24 25 thereby the memory of his death is continued vntill his comming, according to the institution of Christ himselfe. Now since Christ hath loued vs, more than hee hath loued his body, his bloud, his soule, his life, all the which he gaue for 1, Co. 6.20, the price of our redemption, 7, 23. let vs loue one an other Eph. 5.2. as hee hath loued vs, and so become the followers of God as deare children. And this much concernyng the Substance of the Sacrifice, which is Christ him­selfe.

2, The qualities of the sacrifice were an ho­ly oblation & an obedient suff [...]yng- Heb. 10.1. The ceremoniall lavve had the shadovv of good thinges to come, and not the verie image of the thinges. There­fore Paule knowing, that Rom. 10.4. Christ is the ende of the lawe, Mat. 5.17. (whiche hathe fulfilled the law of commandementes through his obedience, Eph. 2.14. and perfor­med, what soeuer was figured in the law of ceremonies, for our redempti­on) calleth him in this text Ephe. 5.2. an offe­ring, and a Sacrifice. The kindes of Sacrificers in the lawe of Moses were manie and sundry, not deuised by Men, Leu. 1.1. Num. 7.89. but ordayned by god, to sig­nifie [Page] partly the filthinesse of sinne in vs, Esa, 59, 2, vvhereby vvee be deuided from god, and partly the expiation of sinne through Christ, Heb, 9, 14, vvhereby vve be reconciled vnto god. All these kyndes Paule reduceth vnto two: Eph. 5.2. An obla­tion, and an hoast, both the whiche hee termeth Christ to be. And not without cause. For such was Christ the sacri­fice in true performance, as wer these in shadowed figure. So by the nature of them, we may learne the qualities of the sacrifice, which is Christ. For first Paul calleth Christ Eph. 5.2. Prosphoran, an oblation, an holy offering: Secondly he calleth him Thusian an host, a slayne sacrifice. By the first, we learn Christes Luc, 1, 35, holinesse, by the second wee learne Christes Psal, 22, 1, Mar. 27, 46, Mar. 15.34, suffering. It was meete, that this sacrifice shoulde be holy, that it might sanctifie the vnho­ly: It was meete, that this sacrifice shuld suffer, that it might beare gods wrath due for sinne. The offering in the olde lawe, is therfore reputed ho­ly, because it was such, as god, which is holy, appointed to bee offered. The [Page] slayn sacrifice in the same law, is iust­ly termed to suffer, because it was a sensible beast, or a sensible birde, ap­poynted by God to be slayne. Muche might be sayde of the figures, whcich are these, but, for want of time, I will onely speake of the trueth, whiche is Christ.

Two qua­lities of the Sacrifice to be conside­red.And in him, two things here are to be considered: First his Holinesse, Secondly, his suffering.

1. Christs holines.It was most necessarie, that this sacrifice shuld be holy, for otherwise Mat. 5.13, Mar. 9.50. Luc. 14, 34, it had not bene fit, to haue bene offe­red to the most holy God: It had not benefit, to put away our vnholinesse. It had not bene fit, to haue sanctified vs. If the salt in it selfe had not salt­nesse, Mat. 5.13, Mar. 9.50. Luc. 14, 34, it could not season the things that it seasoneth. If the fire in it selfe had not heat, it coulde not heate those things which ar before it. If y ^e sun in it self had not light, it could not ligh­ten the superioure and inferiour bodyes. No more coulde this sacrifice Christ, make vs holie in the sight of god, were it not that it is holy of it [Page] selfe. For if reason require, that the thing, which is to imparte a qualitie with another, bee first fully indued with the same it selfe, then must it necessarily be required, that Christ, whiche was to make vs holy, be first, in himselfe, moste holy. Nowe let vs consider the gracious prouidence of God, to vs-ward. That Christ might become an holy sacrifice, to make vs holy vnto our God, Mar. 1.18, 20. Lu. 1.35. he was concei­ued without sinne by the holy Ghost, Mat. 1.25. Luc. 2.7. he was borne without sinne of the virgin Mary, Mat. 5.17. 1. Pet. 2, 22. he liued without sin in true obedience, Mat. 27.24 Luc. 23, 47, he dyed without sinne an innocent death. For these causes Christe is called Luc, 1, 35. the holye thinge, 1. Pet. 2, 9. by whom we are become a cho­sen generation, a royall priest-hood, and holy nation, a people set at liber-tie: But to what end? verily that 1. Pet. 2, 9. we shoulde shew forth the vertues of him, that hath called vs out of darkenesse into meruei­lous light. And what? coulde we not be saued, were it not, that our sacrifice Christ were in this absolute manner most holy? No verily. For God will [Page] not that man-kind be saued, except by Man his law giuen to mankinde, bee fulfilled, That is, God will so bee found mercifull, towards mankinde, in remitting of sinne, that he wil stil remayne iust, in requiring of man­kinde obedience to his lawes. Ther­fore, when all mankinde was gone a­stray, so that Ro. 3.10 there was none righte­ous, no not one: 11. None that vnderstood, None that sought after god, y ^e sonne of god himselfe became innocent man y ^t in y ^e nature of man hee might obey the lawes of God, y ^t Rom. 5, 19 as by one mans diso­bedience manie were made sinners, so by one mans obedience manie might be made righteous, as also before I proued.

Two les­sons to bee learned.And here we may learne two lessons.

1, the greatnesse of our sinnes,The one: The greatnesse of sinne, which could not be put away, but by the death of the Sonne of God:

2, The as­surance of our saluatiō, Leu. 11, 44,The other, the assurance of our saluation, whiche standeth with the iustice of God. Let vs therefore so hope for life euerlasting, that 1. Pet. 1.16. wee he holy, as our redeemer is holy. And this much of the first qualitie of the sacri­fice, which is absolute holinesse.

2. Christs fferyng.The second qualitie of this sa­crifice, which is Christ our Sauiour, is his suffering. This his condition Paule putteth vs in remembrance of, when in the texte, hee calleth him Thusian, an hoast, a Sacrifice. The thinges whereof this sacrifice stoode, was either Psa. 50.13. a bull: or Leu. 1.2. an Oxe, or 3, 1, an heffer: or Num. 19.2 a calfe, or Leu. 4 3. a Ram or Gen. 22.13 an ewe, or Leu. 3.7. a lambe, or 9.3. a goate, or 1.2. a turtle doue, or 12.8. a young pigion, which was appointed by y ^e law, first to be 12.8. slayne, thē 3 2. to be, offered by y ^e priest vnto god, for y ^e sines of y ^e people. Mat. 27.35 Hereby was signi­fied Ioh. 19.34: y ^e suffering of Christ, 33, y ^e sheddyng of his bloud, 30. his death vppon the Crosse, whereby hee might become 30. a propitiatorie sacrifice for the takyng away of the sinnes of the world. The Patriarches, the Prophetes, and all the children of God, from Adam to Christ, as they set the eyes of their bodies in the exercise of religion vppon these sacrifices and oblations, so dyd they set the eyes of their mindes vpon Christ then to come. Thus did Esay interprete these ceremonies, when he foreshewed, that Esa. 53, 3, Christ shoulde be [Page] such a man, as shoulde haue a good expe­rience of sorrowes and infirmities, 4▪ that Christ onely should take on him our in­firmitie, and beare our payns: 5 that Christ should be wounded for our offen­ces, and smitten for our wickednesse: that the payne of our punishment might be layd vpon him, and that with his stripes we might be healed. That the Lorde would throw vppon Christ all our sinnes: 6 7 That Christ should suffer violence, and be euill intreated, and should not open hys mouth: That christ should be led as a sheepe to be slayne, and yet should be as still as a lambe before the shearer, and not open his mouth: That christ should be [...]aken from the prison and iudgement, 8 [...]hat he should be cut off from the ground [...]f the liuing, which punishement should [...]oe vpō him, for the transgressiō of gods [...]eople. That christ should haue his graue [...]iuen him with the condempned, 9 & with [...]he riche man at his death: whereas hee [...]ould neuer doe violence, nor vnright, [...]either should there be anie deceiptfulnes [...] his mouth: Neuerthelesse, 10, that it should please the Lord to smite Christ with in­ [...]mitie, that when he had made his soule [Page] an offering for sinne, hee might see long lasting seede: 11 That Christ should see the fruite and labour of his soule, and be sa­tisfied: who, being the righteous seruaunt of the Lorde, with his knowledge shoulde iustifie the multitude, for he should bear their sinnes. 12 And that therefore the Lord would giue him his part among the great ones, and that he should deuide the spoyle with the mightie, because he hadde giuen ouer his soule to death, and was reckoned among the transgressours: which neuerthelesse should take away the sinnes of the multitude, and make intercession for the misdoers. And that I hold you not longer, dearely beloued, either in the figures, or prophecies of the old Testament, whiche concerne christes suffering, whereby he became Eph, 5, 2, a slayne sacrifice for sine, let vs call to minde, what thereof is reported in the New. Ioh, 4.6. Then shall wee finde that christes whole life was a perpetuall suffe­ring: where in he was a wearied, mat. 21.18, hun­gred, and Io, 19.28. thirsted: wherein hee was 2.13. bannished, Mat, 11, 18. slandered and 22 46, Luc. 3, 29 perse­cuted: wherein hee was 4, 1, tempted Mat. 5 2 fasted, and 26, 40. watched: wherein hee [Page] laboured, Luc. 4.31. preached, and 22.44. prayed: wherein hee Mat. 26, 38 sorowed, Mar. 14, 33 greeued and Luc. 22, 44 swette water and bloud: wherein he was Mat. 29.49 betraied by Iudas Mar. 14.50 sorsaken by his Apostles and Mat, 26.57 apprehended by the souldiours: wherein he was with­out cause 27, 40. exclamed against wrong­fully Mat. 26.60 accused, and vniustly 27, 24, con­demned: wherein hee was 27.28. stripped, Mat. 27.30 buffeted, and 27.30. spitte vpon: wherein he was Luc. 23.64 blinde-folded, Luc. 23, 29 mocked, and disdainefully 23, 29, crowned with thorns wherin he was Mat. 27.35. crucified, Mat 27.29, tormen­ted, and Io, 18, 25, wounded, wherein he became Gal. 3, 13, accurssed of God, Mat. 27.46. susteined his, wrath, and Phil. 2.8. died a most shamfull death. But what was the cause, that Christ the 1. Pet. 1, 19 innocent lambe of god, should thus suffer for our redemption; verily to pacifie Gods wrath, and to satisfie his iustice, who would not suffer the sinne of man-kind vnpunished in mankind Therfore it was expedient, that 1. Pet, 3, 18. the iust should suffer for the Ioh. 10.11, vniust, that the shepherd should giue his life for his sheep, that the Lord, should redeem his people

In the sa­crifice christ shineth, as in a merror, Gods wis­dome extendyng his mercy, & main­tainyng his iustice.O the vnsearchable wisdome of God our gracious Lorde, whiche by [Page] the holines, and suffering of Christ his Sonne, hath both extended his mercy, and maintained his iustice: Extended his mercy, 1. Gods mercy extended in forgiuing his elect their sinnes, and that through Christs Ho­lines: 2. Gods iustice m [...]intained. Mainteined his iustice, in puni­shing the nature of man, for the sinnes of men, & y ^t through christs suffryng. And thus much concerning y ^e Second qualitie of the Sacrificer, which is the suffering of Christe our Lorde.

4, The sa­crifice was offered for vs.The fourth circumstane in our re­demption to bee obserued, is, Who they are for whom this Sacrifice was offered Paule layeth that downe, when hee vseth these wordes, Eph, 5.2, For vs. In the wordes before, the Apostle exhor­ting the Ephesians, to leade a godlie life, speaketh vnto them in this man­ner: Eph. 5, 1, Bee yee folowers of God, as Children and walke yee in loue: but, describing the manner of loue wherein we should walke, by the ex­ample of Christ, he altereth the person ioyning himselfe which wrote, with the Ephesians to whome hee wrote, and addeth, 5.2. Euen as christ hath lo­ued vs, and giuen himselfe for vs.

Hereby we learne that the beleeuing Iwes, as was the writer, and the be­leuing Gentiles, as were they to whome the Epistle was written, are they for whom Christ offered himself.

Christ of­fered for the beleeuyng, 1, Iewes 2. Gentiles.But here more deepely must bee considered the state and condition of both. And that shall we finde, when by Gods word we learne, what wee are by nature, we are by nature the children of wrath, Luc. 6.44. the lances must bee such, as is the tree: Iam. 3.11.6 the surges must be such, as is the fountaine. But A­dam Gen. 3.6 fallen from god by transgres­sion, is the tree from whence wee spring: Adam 3, 7. stayned with sinne, is the fountayne from whence wee slowe. So are wee by our parentage alienated from God, and stayned with sinne, Gen. 5.3. being descended from Adam after his fall. Suche were wee for whome Christ gaue himselfe. So many Sacrifices, being all figures of the sacrifice of Christ, ordeined of god to bee Leu. 4.2, offered for the sinnes of the people, do euidenly prooue that Gods people, for whome Christ was offered are all polluted with sinne. It is true, that the auncient Israelites were gre­uously▪ [Page] Exo. 1.11. &c, oppressed in Aegipt by the tiranny of Pharao, & from thence Exod. 14.1, de­liuered by y ^e commaundement of God, through the conduction of Moses, but with all, therby is prefigured, that we bee all through sinne, became slaues to Satan in this world, and through the wil of God, by the power of Christ deliuered from that spirituall capti­uitie. The Prophets, Christ, and the Apostles teache, that they, for whome Christ died, are Rom. 5.8. steined with sinne, 1. Tim. 1, 15 transgressours of Gods lawe Gal. 3, 13. and sub­iect to his curse. Esaye propheciyng of our redemption, calleth vs Esa. 53, 4. weake, 53.5 wounded, and sinfull 53.6,. Christ, spea­king of the same matter, pronounceth Mat, 9, 12, That the whole need not a phisition, but they, that are sicke: Mat. 9.13, And that hee came not, to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance. And Paule, spea­king of the accomplishment of oure saluation, leaueth it thus recorded: 1. Tim, 1, 15 This is a true saying, and by all means worthy to be receaued, that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners,

That christ saueth sin­ners, teacheh vs two things, our owne misery 2 gods mer­cye.It may be, y ^e some wil demaund, [Page] why I vrge so greatly thys point. I answere: Chiefly for two causes.

1. our own misery,First to teach vs, by acknowled­ging of our sinnes, Mat, 23, 12 to humble oure selues vnder the mightie hand of god that hee may aduaunce vs: Ioh. 3.16 and to seeke vnto christ by fayth, that hee may deliuer vs: knowing that 11 32, God hath shut vppe all in vnbeliefe: that hee might haue mercy on all. And to this ende doth Paule dispute mightily in the Epistle to the Romaines, prouing that, Rom, 3, 20 by the vvorkes of the law, no flesh can be iustified in the sight of God. But that, 24, wee are iustified freely by grace, through the redemption, that is in Christ concluding, that 28. a man is iustified by fayth without the workes of the law.

2, Gods mercy,Then, to sette before the eyes of our mindes, the exceeding measure of the loue of God towardes vs, Io. 3, 16, which so loued the world, that he hath giuen his onely begotten Sonne, that whosoeuer beleueth in him, shuld not perish, but haue eternall life. But seeing Rom, 5, 10 God hath thus loued vs, when we were hys eni­mies, that he reconciled vs vnto himself, by the death of his Sonne, ought not we [Page] then Eph, 5, 1, to be followers of god, as deare children, 2. and to walk in loue, as Christ hath loued vs, and giuen himselfe for vs (to be) an offering and a sacrifice of a sweete smelling sauour to god. Hetherto concerning the persons, for whome christ died, euen for vs miserable sin­ners.

5, This sa­crifice was offered to God.The fifth circumstance, in our redemption diligently to bee conside­red, is vnto whome this holy sacrifice was offered by Christ for our reconcilia­tion. This doth Paule in this text eui­dently shewe, when as hee teacheth, that it was offered Eph, 5, 2, to god. When parties at vnitie growe to discorde, then is there occasion offered of reconciliation, whiche cannot be accompli­shed, but by the good discretion of a dayes-man, by whose meanes, the par­tie offending is reconciled to the party offended. So stoode the case betweene god and man continued in that per­fection, Gen, 1, 26. wherein God had created him. 5.27. But when Man had transgressed the lawes of his God Gen, 3, 6.7, by eating of the forbidden fruite, then grew there discorde betweene God and Man [Page] Man the creature, Man the party offen­ding God of­fended, became the partie offending: and God the creator, the partie offended. But such was the peril of this falling out Gen, 2, 17, that Man became subiect to gods wrath and iudgment. Hence grewe the occasion of an holy reconciliation, wherein the fauour of God onely, which was offended, was to be obtayned for Man onely, whiche had offended. Christ the Dayesman, But what fit days-man could than be found to reconcile man vnto God? Onely Christ, both God & mā, as more at large before I shewed. And how then? God woulde not, y ^t this reconciliation should be wrought by diminishing y ^e least iote of his iustice.

The iu­stice of God considered in two pointes: 1, obedience, punishment.Heerein standeth the iustice of God, vrged by him in this reconcili­ation. 1. That mankinde keepe the lawe giuen: 2. That man-kinde be punished for the law broken. And thus was hee affected, vnto whome the sacrifice of pacification was, to be offered. Marke now y ^e discretion of christ our dayes-man. In his Manhead hee 2, Cor. 5, 21 obeyeth Gods lawes: In his man-head hee is Pet, 2, 22, punished for the breache of Gods lawes▪ hee obeyeth Gods [Page] law, by his innocent life:? Obedience yelded by Christs innocent life. He is pu­nished for the breache of Gods lawe, by his dolorous death. By his obedience, he satisfieth Gods iustice: By his suffe­ring, punishmēt sustained by Christs do­lourous death. he pacifieth Gods wrath. Thus did Christ our dayes-man offer himself obedient and patient, to God the par­tie offended, so to winne his fauour to Man the partie offending. By thys meanes Christ, 2, Cor, 5, 21 which neuer commit­ted sinne, made himselfe to be reputed a sinner for vs, that we which are ful of sin, should be reputed in him righteous before God. That, Gal, 3.13 he becomming accursed for vs, 14 we might become blessed tho­rough him. So was it necessary, that vnto God this sacrifice shoulde be of­fered, that we therby vnto god might be recōciled. Of this point this much may suffice.

6: This sacrifice wrought our full redemp­tion.The sixt and last circumstance of our redemption, proposed by Paule in this text to oure consideration, sheweth, vvhat effect this sacrifice wrought, and vvhat successe Christ had in this his attempt, thus to recōcile man­kinde vnto god. This point is therfore the more deepely to bee considered [Page] because therein eyther is the rising againe into consolation, or the down­fall into desperation. For, if Christ preuailed in this his mediation, then are wee saued: but if hee fayled, then are wee damned. Paule therefore to heale the wounde of the conscience pearced with sin, concludeth, that this Sacrifice, thus offered by Christ, yeel­ded, Eph. 5:2: as a sweete smelling sauoure in the nose-therles of God. By this metapho­ricall speach borrowed from the man­ner of offering incense, and burnt Sa­crifices the Apostle sheweth, that Esa: 53, 10 the deuise of the Lorde prospered in the hand of Christ: That is to say, that Gen 3, 15 Christ the seed of the woman hath troa­den downe the head of the Serpent: That Heb, 10, 14 christ our high priest, with this his one offering, hath consecrated vs for euer, vnto God, whiche are sanctified: That Gal, 3.13 Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the lawe Deu: 21:23: being him selfe made a curse for vs: That Heb: 10:16 the Lord in the bloud of his son hath made with vs his elect his new couenaunt: that he will put his lawes in our heartes, and write them in our mindes: 17, And that hee will remem­ber [Page] no more our sinnes and iniquities. And this is the mightie effect of the gracious reconciliation mercifully vndertaken, & wonderfully accom­plished by Christ our Lord. I shewed before that the oblations and Sacri­fices of the old lawe were all figures of the Sacrifice of Christ, and their Priest-hood a sine of his priest-hood Then must it proportionably follow, The acceptatiō of christs sacrifice figured in the approbation of the obla­tions & sacrifices of the Fathers, that the acceptation of their sacrifices before god, was also a figure of the allowance of the sacrifice of Christ. Gen: 4.4. So had the Lorde in ancient time re­spect vnto Habell and vnto his oblation, Heb. 11:4: insomuch that god himself testified of his giftes. Gen. 8.21. So did the Lord smell a sweete fauour from the vvhole burnt of­fering of Noah, after the floud, offered vpon the alter. Leu. 9.24. 2. Chro. 7, 1. So did the Lorde eftsoones send down fire from heauen which consumed the burnt offeringes and the sacrifices, whiche in his lawe he had appointed to be offered to him. What shall wee thinke? Doth the Lord delight in bulles flesh, and in the bloud of goates? Psal. 5, 8, 9.10.11, 12.13. No: But the Lord our god, by accepting these sacrifices, [Page] prefigureth the allowance before hys maiesty, of the sacrifice of Iesus christ whereof these were shadowes and fi­gures, as before I sayde. Thus was Heb. i9.28. Christ once offred to take away the sins of many, 24, & is entred into the very heauens to appeare novv in the sight of god for vs: 26. vvho, by the sacrifice of himselfe, hath put avvaye sinne, Psal, 110.4. Heb. 5.6. remaining a priest for euer after the order of Mel­chisedech: and is set dovvn at the right hand of god the Father in povver and glorie Psal. 110.1. Mat. 22.44. vntill his enemies be made hys foot-stoole. And this much concerning the last point of our redemption.

The conclusion exhortatory. Seeing threfore, brethren (that I may conclude the whole with the wordes of holy scripture) that by the bloud of Iesus vve may be bold to enter into the holy place, Heb. 10.19, By the nevv and li­uing vvay, 20. vvhich he hath prepared for vs, through the vayle, that is his fleshe (And seeing vve haue) an high Priest vvhich is ouer the house of god, 21, let vs dravv neere vvith a true heart, 22, in assurance of fayth, our hearts being pure from an euill conscience, 23. And vvashed in our bodies vvith pure vvater let vs [Page] keep the profession of our hope, vvithout vvauering, (for (he is) faythfull that promised). And let vs consider one an other, 24. to prouoke vnto loue, and to good vvorkes.. Not forsaking the fellovv­ship, 25, that vve haue among our selues, as the manner of some is, but let vs exhort one an other, & so much the more, because ye see that the day draweth neer, So shal we be followers of god, as deere chil­dren, and walk in loue, euen as Christ hath loued vs, Eph. 5.1.2 and giuen him self for vs, to be an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling sauour to god which the Father of heauen, and the god of all mercy worke in our hearts for Ie­sus christes sake, by the operation of his holy spirit, vnto whom, father son and holy ghost, three persons and one true, omnipotent, gracious, glorious, and eternal god be al honour and glo­ry, prayse, power, and dominion for euer. Amen.