A Golden Chain

The fifth point is, that we owe unto Christ an endless debt. For he was crucified only as our surety and pledge, & in the spectacle of his passion we must consider our selves as the chief debtors, and that the very discharge of our debt, that is, the sins which are inherent in us, were the proper cause of all the endless pains and torments that Christ endured, that he might set us most ⟨p. 826⟩miserable bankrupts at liberty from hell, death, and damnation. For this his unspeakable goodness, if we do but once think of it seriously, we must needs confess that we owe our selves, our souls, and bodies, and all that we have as a debt due unto him. And so soon as any man begins to know Christ crucified, he knows his own debt, and thinks of the payment of it.

The fift point is, that we owe vnto Christ an endles debt. For he was crucified onely as our suretie and pledge, & in the spectacle of his passion we must consider our selues as the chiefe debters, and that the very discharge of our debt, that is, the sinnes which are inherent in vs, were the proper cause of all the endles paines and torments that Christ endured, that he might set vs most ⟨p. 826⟩miserable bankrupts at libertie from hell, death, and damnation. For this his vnspeakable goodnes, if we doe but once thinke of it seriously, we must needs confesse that we owe our selues, our soules, and bodies, and all that we haue as a debt due vnto him. And so soone as any man beginnes to know Christ crucified, he knowes his owne debt, and thinks of the paiment of it.

Thus we see how Christ is to be known: now we shall not need to make much examination whether this manner of knowing and acknowledging of Christ, take any place in the world or no: for few there be that know him as they ought. The Turk even at this very day knows him not but as he was a prophet. The Jew scorneth his cross and passion. The Popish Churches, though in word they confess him, yet do they not know him as they ought. The Friars and Jesuits in their sermons at this day, commonly use the Passion as a means to stir up piety and compassion towards Christ, who being so righteous a man was so hardly entreated, and to inflame their hearts to an hatred of the Jews, and Judas, and Pontius Pilate that put our blessed Saviour to death; but all this may be done in any other history. And the service of God which in that Church stands now in force by the Canons of the Council of Trent, defaceth Christ crucified, in that the passions of martyrs are made meritorious, and the very wood of the cross their only help: and the virgin Mary the Queen of heaven, and a mother of mercy; who in remission of innes may command her son: and they give religious adoration to dumb crucifixes made by the hand and art of man.