The wedding garmentThe vvedding garment

Name: The wedding garment
Author: Henry Smith

Henry Smith 1550?–1591London: printed by John Wolfe? for W. Wright, 1590

46, [2] p. · 5.0k words · STC 22713 · ESTC S117491

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Title page

Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.

Beginning of the work:0–12 of 24

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THE WEDDING Garment.

THE VVEDDING Garment.

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ROM. 13. 14. Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.

ROM. 13. 14. Put yee on the Lorde Iesus Christ.

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LONDON. Printed for W. Wright.

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1590.

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To the Reader.

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Later passages ]

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I Have chosen a Text which is the sum of the Bible. For all Scripture runneth upon Christ like the title of a book, ¹because Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end of mans salvation, therefore he is figured in the law, foretold in the Prophets, and fulfilled in the Gospel. Some places point to his Divinity, some to his humanity, some to his kingdom, some to his ⟨p. 6⟩Priesthood, some to his Prophecy, some to his Conception, some to his birth, some to his life, some to his miracles, some to his passion, some to his resurrection; some to his Ascension, some to his glorification, all point unto the Saviour like John Baptiste, ²when he said, This is the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world. Therefore learn Christ, and learn all. Now to teach us how we should hear, and how we should love, and how we should fear, & how we should believe, & how we should follow Christ, that we may know when we have learned him. The Apostle saith, Put ye on the ⟨p. 7⟩Lord Jesus Christ: as though this word did contain all our duties unto Christ, To put him on, (which seems to be the level of this phrase, if you mark how it cometh in, for before Paul saith, Cast away the works ³of darkness, and put on the Armour of light. Then he nameth the works of darkness, which we should cast off: viz. gluttony, drunkenness, strife, envy, chambering, ⁴wantonness, after he nameth the armour of light, ⁵which we should put on, and calleth it by the name of the giver, The Lord Jesus Christ. In stead of gluttony, and drunkenness, and strife, and envy, and chambering, and wantonness, and other ⟨p. 8⟩patches of the devil, wherewith man clotheth himself ⁶as with a garment. The Apostle giveth him another garment, which he calleth Jesus Christ.

I Haue chosen a Text which is the sum of the Bible. For al Scripture runneth vpon Christ like the title of a booke, ¹because Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end of mans saluation, therefore hee is figured in the law, foretolde in the Prophets, and fulfilled in the Gospell. Some places point to his Diuinity, some to his humanity, some to his kingdome, some to his ⟨p. 6⟩Priesthoode, some to his Prophecy, some to his Conception, some to his birth, some to his life, some to his miracles, some to his passion, some to his resurrection; some to his Ascention, some to his glorification, all point vnto the Sauiour like Iohn Baptiste, ²when hee sayde, This is the Lambe of God, which taketh away the sinnes of the world. Therefore learne Christ, and learne all. Now to teach vs how we shoulde heare, and how wee should loue, and how wee should feare, & how we should beleeue, & how we should follow Christ, that we may know when wee haue learned him. The Apostle saith, Put ye on the ⟨p. 7⟩Lorde Iesus Christ: as though this worde did containe all our duties vnto Christ, To put him on, (which seemes to bee the leuell of this phrase, if you mark how it commeth in, for before Paul saith, Cast away the workes ³of darknes, and put on the Armour of light. Then hee nameth the workes of darkenes, which wee shoulde cast off: viz. gluttony, drunkennes, strife, enuy, chambring, ⁴wantonnes, after hee nameth the armour of light, ⁵which we shoulde put on, and calleth it by the name of the giuer, The Lorde Iesus Christ. In sted of gluttony, and dronkennesse, and strife, and enuy, and chambering, and wantonnesse, and other ⟨p. 8⟩patches of the deuill, wherewith man clotheth himselfe ⁶as with a garment. The Apostle giueth him another garment, which hee calleth Iesus Christ.

1Reu. 1. 8.
2Joh. 1. 29.Ioh. 1. 29.
3vers. 12.
4vers. 13.
5vers. 14.
6Psal. 109. 18.

:9p. 8–11

He doth not oppose virtue to vice, as one would think when he had said, Cast off gluttony, he should have said, Put on sobriety, when he had said, Cast off wantonness, he should have said, Put on continency, when he had said, Cast off envy, he should have said, Put on love, but in stead of all virtues, he commendeth the example of Christ for every virtue, and opposeth it to every vice, as if he should say, He which thinketh only to follow Christ, needeth not be ⟨p. 9⟩lead by the hand from virtue to virtue, but his example will teach him what he shall follow, and what he shall flee better then all precepts in the world. Therefore this is the best thought in every action for a man to think, what Christ would do, which was made not only redemption and salvation to save us, but wisdom and ¹example to guide us. Therefore he saith, Learn of me, and follow me, as though we should think before we speak, whether he would speak so, and consider before we do whether he would do so, and do all by his example as the scholar writeth by his copy, or else we do not learn of ⟨p. 10⟩him, but of our selves, and then we go awry, like a child which scribbleth without a rule. If thou resolvest to speak & do no otherwise then Christ would speak and do himself, thou shalt be sure to do all things well, because thou followest a straight pattern. Therefore study what this meaneth. To put on Christ. It is a strange speech, ²and a strange Garment, they which cannot tell like Nicodemus, what Christ meaneth when he saith, that we must be borne again, cannot tell what Paul meaneth, when he saith, Put on Christ: as if one man should put on another. I think many here may go to the Apostle, as the Apostles went to ⟨p. 11⟩Christ, and ask, What is the ³parable? This phrase is read in none but Paul, which hath written most of Justification by Christ: & therefore he useth all phrases to express how we should apply Christ unto us, and in no terms he hath showed it more lively then in this phrase, Put on Christ. For it signifieth that Christ doeth cover us like a Garment, and defend us like an armour.

He doth not oppose vertue to vice, as one would thinke when hee had said, Cast off gluttonie, he should haue said, Put on sobriety, when hee had said, Cast off wantonnes, hee shoulde haue saide, Put on continency, when he had said, Cast off enuy, hee should haue said, Put on loue, but in steade of all vertues, hee commendeth the example of Christ for euery vertue, and opposeth it to euerie vice, as if he should say, Hee which thinketh onely to follow Christ, needeth not bee ⟨p. 9⟩lead by the hande from vertue to vertue, but his example will teach him what hee shall follow, and what hee shal flee better then all preceptes in the world. Therefore this is the best thought in euery action for a man to think, what Christ would do, which was made not onely redemption and saluation to saue vs, but wisedom and ¹example to guide vs. Therfore he saith, Learne of mee, and follow mee, as though we shoulde thinke before wee speake, whether hee woulde speake so, and consider before we doe whether hee woulde doe so, and doe all by his example as the scholler writeth by his copie, or else we do not learne of ⟨p. 10⟩him, but of our selues, and then wee goe awry, like a childe which scribleth without a rule. If thou resoluest to speak & doe no otherwise then Christ wold speake and doe himselfe, thou shalt bee sure to doe all thinges well, because thou followest a straight patterne. Therefore study what this meaneth. To put on Christ. It is a straunge speeche, ²and a straunge Garment, they which cannot tell like Nichodemus, what Christ meaneth when he sayth, that we must be borne againe, cannot tell what Paul meaneth, when he sayth, Put on Christ: as if one man shoulde put on another. I think many heere may goe to the Apostle, as the Apostles went to ⟨p. 11⟩Christ, and aske, What is the ³parable? This phrase is read in none but Paul, which hath writtē most of Iustification by Christ: & therefore he vseth all phrases to expresse how wee should applye Christ vnto vs, and in no tearmes he hath shewed it more liuely then in thys phrase, Put on Christ. For it signifieth that Christe doeth couer vs like a Garment, and defende vs like an armoure.

11. Cor. 1. 30. Mat. 11. 29. Mar. 10. 21.
2Joh. 3. 4.Ioh. 3. 4.
3Luk. 1. 9. Gal. 3. 27.

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He hideth our unrighteousness ¹with his righteousness, he covereth our disobedience with his obedience, he shadoweth our death with his death, that the wrath of God cannot find us, judgement cannot spy us, the curse cannot see us, for ⟨p. 12⟩the garment which covereth & hideth us. But as Jacob got ²the blessing in the name and apparel of Esau his elder brother: so in the name and apparel of Christ our elder brother, we receive the blessing, and are received into favour like Christ himself. For God saith not, This is my beloved Son which pleaseth me, but In whom I am pleased: meaning ³that not only Christ pleaseth God, but we please God in Christ, For Christ is our head. Therefore as one looking in the face of a man, doth like ⁴him straight, if he like his face: so God beholding us in the face of Christ, doeth love us straight, because the face doth ⟨p. 13⟩please him: But Christ is not our head, unless we be his men bers: Christ is not out Garment, unless we put him on: as Christ did put on our garment, when he clothed himself with our flesh, & toke our infirmities, & bore our curse: So we must put on his garment, that is, his righteousness, his merits, and his death, which is as strange a vesture to us, as our flesh was to him, & much ado we have to ⁵put it on, & when it is on, there is great cunning to wear it cleanly & comely, from soiling and renting that such a precious garment be not taken from ⁶us again. Therefore many seem to wear this Garment which shall be thrust from the banquet, ⟨p. 14⟩because they wear it not: as those which will say when the Lord shall come to judgement. We have seen thee in our streets, ⁷we have heard thee in our synagogues, we have prophesied, we have cast out devils, we have wrought miracles by thy name: As though if any had put him on, or borne his marks, they were the men which were marked like his servants, therefore who but they shall enter into heaven? Yet Christ saith, I know ⁸you not, there is their reward, I know you not,, as if he should answer, you wear not my livery, you wear not my cognisance for all your shows, therefore depart from me: so he put them off because they had ⟨p. 15⟩not put him on: for though they had seen his person, and heard of his virtues, yet they had not faith to apply his mercies, his merits, his death and his righteousness unto them, without which no man can put on Christ nor wear him.

Hee hideth our vnrighteousnesse ¹with his righteousnesse, he couereth our disobedience with his obediēce, hee shadoweth our death with his death, that the wrath of God cannot find vs, iudgement cannot spye vs, the curse cannot see vs, for ⟨p. 12⟩the garment which couereth & hideth vs. But as Iaakob got ²the blessing in the name and apparell of Esau his elder brother: so in the name and apparel of Christ our elder brother, we receiue the blessing, and are receued into fauour like Christ himselfe. For God saith not, This is my beloued Sonne which pleaseth mee, but In whome I am pleased: meaning ³that not onely Christ pleaseth God, but we please God in Christ, For Christ is our head. Therefore as one looking in the face of a man, doth like ⁴him straight, if he like his face: so God beholding vs in the face of Christ, doeth loue vs straight, because the face doth ⟨p. 13⟩please him: But Christ is not our head, vnles we be his mē bers: Christ is not out Garmēt, vnles we put him on: as Christ did put on our garment, when he cloathed himselfe with our flesh, & toke our infirmities, & bore our curse: So we must put on his garmēt, that is, his righteousnesse, his merites, and his death, which is as strange a vesture to vs, as our flesh was to him, & much adoe we haue to ⁵put it on, & when it is on, there is greate cunning to weare it cleanly & comely, from soyling and renting that such a precious garment be not taken from ⁶vs again. Therefore many seem to weare this Garment which shall be thrust from the banket, ⟨p. 14⟩because they weare it not: as those which will say when the Lord shal come to iudgement. We haue seene thee in our streetes, ⁷wee haue hearde thee in our sinagoges, we haue prophesied, we haue cast out deuils, wee haue wrought miracles by thy name: As though if any had put him on, or borne his marks, they were the men which were marked like his seruauntes, therefore who but they shall enter into heauen? Yet Christ sayth, I know

1Rom. 4. 7.
2Gen. 37. 29.
3Mar. 3. 17.
41. Cor. 11. 3. Ephe. 5. 23.
5Reve. 3. 4.Reue. 3. 4.
6Mat. 22. 11. Mat. 7. 23.
7Luk. 13. 26.
8•uk. 13. 27.

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Faith is the hand which putteth him on. Faith taketh first his righteousness & covereth her unrighteousness, then she taketh his obedience, and covereth her disobedience, then she taketh his patience, & covereth her impatience, then she taketh his temperance, and covereth her intemperancy, then she taketh his continency, and covereth her incontinency, then she taketh his constancy, and covereth her inconstancy, then she ⟨p. 16⟩taketh his faith, & covereth her diffidence, then she taketh his humility, and covereth her pride, then she taketh his love, and covereth her rancour. And so taketh one robe after another, and tricketh her self until she have put on Jesus Christ, that is, until she appear in the sight of God, like Jesus Christ, clothed with his merits & graces: that God hath no power to be angry with her, because she cometh so like his Sonne. This is to put on Jesus Christ, as you shall see more lively, when you have taken a view of the garment, for we are to speak of Christ the Garment, & of our putting it on. There be many fashions of apparel, but they are too light, or too heavy, or too ⟨p. 17⟩sad, or too course, or too stale, and all wear out. At last the Apostle found a fashion, that surpasseth them all: it is never out of fashion, meet for all seasons, fit for all persons, and such a profitable weed, that the more it is worn, the fresher it is. What fashion have you seen comparable to this? Is it not like the clothes of Davids ambassadors, which ¹covered their upper parts, but not their lower parts: nor like Sauls armour, which tired David ²when he should fight with it: Nor like the counterfeit of ³Jeroboam's wife, which disguised her self to go unknown, ⁴nor like the old rags of the Gibeonites, which deceived ⟨p. 18⟩Joshua, nor like the paltry suit of Michah which he gave once a year to his Levite, nor like the gluttons flaunt which jetted in purple every day, nor like the light clothes which Christ said are in kings ⁵Courts, and make them lighter that were them. But it is like the garment of the high priest, which had all the names ⁶of the Tribes of Israel written upon his breast: so all the names of the faithful are written in the breast of Christ, and registered in the book of his merits. It is like Elijah mantel which divided ⁷the waters:

Faith is the hand which putteth him on. Faith taketh first his righteousnes & couereth hir vnrighteousnes, then she taketh his obedience, and couereth hir disobedience, then she taketh his patience, & couereth hir impatiency, then shee taketh his temperance, and couereth hir intemperancy, then she taketh his continency, and couereth her incontinency, then she taketh his constancy, and couereth her inconstancy, then shee ⟨p. 16⟩taketh his faith, & couereth hir diffidence, then she taketh his humility, and couereth her pride, then she taketh his loue, and couereth her rancor. And so taketh one roabe after another, and tricketh her selfe vntil she haue put on Iesus Christe, that is, vntill she appeare in the sight of God, like Iesus Christ, clothed with his merits & graces: that God hath no power to be angrie with her, because she cōmeth so like his Sonne. This is to put on Iesus Christ, as you shal see more liuely, whē you haue taken a view of the garment, for we are to speak of Christ the Garment, & of our putting it on. There bee many fashiōs of apparell, but they are too light, or too heauy, or too ⟨p. 17⟩sad, or too course, or too stale, and all weare out. At last the Apostle founde a fashion, that surpasseth them all: it is neuer out of fashion, meete for all seasons, fitte for all persons, and such a profitable weed, that the more it is worn, the fresher it is. What fashion haue you seene comparable to this? Is it not like the clothes of Dauids ambassadors, which ¹couered their vpper parts, but not their lower partes: nor like Sauls armour, which tyred Dauid ²when he should fight with it: Nor like the counterfaite of ³Ieroboams wife, which disguised her selfe to goe vnknowen, ⁴nor like the olde rags of the Gibeonites, which deceiued ⟨p. 18⟩Iosua, nor like the paultry sute of Michah which hee gaue once a yeare to his Leuite, nor like the gluttons flaunte which ietted in purple euerye day, nor like the light cloaths which Christ saide are in kings ⁵Courts, and make them lighter that were them. But it is like the garment of the highe priest, which had all the names

12. Sam. 10. 4.
21. Sam. 17. 29.
32. King. 14. 2.
4Joh. 9. 4. 5.Ioh. 9. 4. 5.
5Jud. 17. 10. Mat. 11. 8.Iud. 17. 10. Mat. 11. 8.
6Luk. 16. 19. Exod. 28. 21,
7Mal. 3. 16. 2. Kin. 2. 8.

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So he divideth our sins & punishments that they which are clothed with Christ, are armed both against sin and ⟨p. 19⟩death. It is like the Garments ¹of the Israelites in the wilderness, which did not wear: forty years together they wandered in the desert, and yet saith Moses, their shoes were not worn, but their apparel was as when they came out of Egypt: ²so the righteousness of Christ doth last for ever, and his mercies are never worn out. As Mordecai shined in the kings robes before the people: ³So and more glorious are the faithful in the robes of Christ before God. When Christ was transfigured upon the mount. ⁴Mat. saith, that his face shined like the Sun, & his clothes were as white as the light: So when we are transfigured into the image ⟨p. 20⟩of Christ, we shall shine before other men like lights: & therefore Christs disciples are called Lights, because they were ⁵clothed with light, and shined to the world. Solomon was ⁶not so glorious in all his royalty, nor the lilies which are braver then Solomon, as he which is clothed with Christ, because the apparel upon him is better then all the world about ⁷him. Therefore if David said, Weep ye daughters of Israel for Saul which clothed you in purple. I may say, rejoice ye daughters of Israel, for Christ which hath clothed you with righteousness, as it were with a vesture, before you come to the banquet.

So he deuideth our sins & punishmentes that they which are clothed with Christ, are armed both against sin and ⟨p. 19⟩death. It is like the Garments ¹of the Israelites in the wildernes, which did not weare: forty yeares together they wandered in the desert, and yet saith Moses, theyr shooes were not worne, but their apparell was as when they came out of Egypt: ²so the righteousnes of Christ doth last for euer, and his mercies are neuer worne out. As Mardochai shined in the kings robes before the people: ³So and more glorious are the faithfull in the robes of Christ before God. When Christ was transfigured vppon the mount. ⁴Mat. saith, that his face shined like the Sun, & his clothes were as white as the light: So when wee are transfigured into the image ⟨p. 20⟩of Christ, we shall shine before other men like lights: & therefore Christs disciples are called Lights, because they were ⁵clothed with light, and shined to the worlde. Salomon was ⁶not so glorious in all his royaltie, nor the lillyes which are brauer then Salomon, as hee which is clothed with Christ, because the apparell vpon him is better then all the worlde about ⁷him. Therefore if Dauid sayde, Weepe yee daughters of Israell for Saul which clothed you in purple. I may say, reioyce ye daughters of Israell, for Christ which hath clothed you with righteousnesse, as it were with a vesture, before you come to the banquet.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

To the Reader.

The Wedding Garment.