A Golden Chain

Thirdly, let us consider what course Judas took in betraying Christ: he was very submissive, saying, Hail, Master, and kissed him. Why did he so? Herein he played the most palpable hypocrite: for having gotten a piece of money, he thought that neither Christ, nor any of his fellow disciples should have known of it (though Christ knew it well enough) and therefore he comes in this manner to him, thinking that Christ would have conveyed himself from amongst them all at the very pinch, as he had done sometimes before. And this practise also of Judas is common in the world: Judas an enemy unto Christs speaks him fair, and salutes him, and so do most of our secure and drowsy protestants in England: they salute Christ, both by hearing his word and receiving his sacraments: and as the Prophet saith, they honour God with their lips, but their hearts are far from him. We may see daily experience of this: every man will say, Lord, Lord, but in their lives and conversations, few there be that deny him not, both in the duties which they owe unto God, as also in duties towards their brethren. Many come to hear Gods word because they are compelled by the magistrates laws: but when they are come, they worship not God in their hearts: which is plainly seen by the breach of Gods holy sabbath in every place: and that they make more account of a mess of pottage with Esau, then of their birth-right: and of thirty pieces of silver, then of Christ himself.

Thirdly, let vs consider what course Iudas tooke in betraying Christ: hee was very submisse, saying, Haile, Master, and kissed him. Why did he so? Herein he played the most palpable hypocrite: for hauing gotten a peece of money, he thought that neither Christ, nor any of his fellowe disciples should haue knowne of it (though Christ knewe it well enough) and therefore hee comes in this maner to him, thinking that Christ would haue conueyed himselfe from amongst them all at the verie pinch, as he had done sometimes before. And this practise also of Iudas is common in the world: Iudas an enemie vnto Christs speakes him faire, and salutes him, and so doe most of our secure and drowsie protestantes in England: they salute Christ, both by hearing his word and receiuing his sacraments: and as the Prophet saith, they honour God with their lipps, but their hearts are farre frō him. We may see daily experiēce of this: euery man will say, Lord, Lord, but in their liues and conuersations, fewe there bee that denie him not, both in the duties which they owe vnto God, as also in duties towards their brethren. Many come to heare Gods worde because they are compelled by the magistrates lawes: but when they are come, they worship not God in their hearts: which is plainely seene by the breach of Gods holy sabboth in euery place: and that they make more account of a messe of pottage with Esau, then of their birth-right: and of thirtie peeces of siluer, then of Christ himselfe.