To come to the second, which is Christ, the object of faith. The most comely garment that ever we can wear, it is to be covered with the yrobes of Christs righteousness. zJacob was blessed by Esau's garments; and we are blessed by Christs garments. What we see through a green glass, seemeth all to be green: and what God seeth through Christ it is all amiable. We must put on this apparel, not as the Church in the Canticles: aI have put off my clothes, how shall I put them on again? or as a gown, that we cast off when we come to our home: but we must so put him on, that we never put him off again. We must put him on by imputation, imitation, infusion, and profession: by imputation of his righteousness, imitation of his virtues, infusion of his spirit, and profession of his name. Thus we must labour to get Christ: for what though a man could command the earth with Alexander, the bsea with Moses, the cfire with Elijah, and the dSun with Joshua? What though he were as rich as eSolomon, as wise as fAhithophel, as strong as gSampson, as swift as hAhimaaz, as beautiful as iAbsalom, as fortunate as kMetellus, and descended as lPaul was of the blood royal of Princes, yet having not Christ he hath nothing. Yea say a man had the abstinence of Aristides, the innocency of Phocion, the holiness of Socrates, the alms deeds of Cimon, the moderation of Camillus, the honesty, justice, and faithfulness of both Catos, all these out of Christ, were but msplendida peccata, and to be esteemed as ndung, in regard of Christ. For have him and have all things, want him and want all things: he is in, at, and after death advantage. I come to the last, it is profitable to repent: for if we oturn to the Lord, he will turn to us: and that we may turn, consider his pmercies in forgiving, his qbenefits in giving, his rpatience in forbearing, and his sjudgements in punishing. tThe word preached, usins committed, and that wfew shall be saved: xthe shortness of life, ythe uncertainty of life, zand the certainty of death: athe joys of heaven, bthe torments of hell, the ccomfort of the elect, and that else we can have no dcomfort in death: epray we cannot unless we repent, and fperish we shall unless we repent: but blessed shall we be if we do repent. But manum de tabula Magister addest: this discourse following will teach us these things: and it am I bold to present to your worships.
To come to the second, which is Christ, the obiect of faith. The most comely garment that euer we can weare, it is to be couered with the yrobes of Christs righteousnesse. zIacob was blessed by Esaus garments; and we are blessed by Christs garments. What wee see through a greene glasse, seemeth all to be greene: and what God seeth through Christ it is all amiable. We must put on this apparell, not as the Church in the Canticles: aI haue put off my clothes, how shall I put them on againe? or as a gowne, that wee cast off when we come to our home: but we must so put him on, that we neuer put him off againe. Wee must put him on by imputation, imitation, infusion, and profession: by imputation of his righteousnesse, imitation of his vertues, infusion of his spirit, and profession of his name. Thus we must labour to get Christ: for what though a man could command the earth with Alexander, the bsea with Moses, the cfire with Eliah, and the dSunne with Iosuah? What though he were as rich as eSalomon, as wise as fAchitophel, as strong as gSampson, as swift as hAhimaaz, as beautifull as iAbsolon, as fortunate as kMetellus, and descended as lPaul was of the bloud royall of Princes, yet hauing not Christ hee hath nothing. Yea say a man had the abstinence of Aristydes, the innocencie of Phocion, the holinesse of Socrates, the almes deedes of Cimon, the moderation of Camillus, the honestie, iustice, and faithfulnesse of both Catoes, all these out of Christ, were but msplendida peccata, and to be esteemed as ndung, in regard of Christ. For haue him and haue all things, want him and want all things: he is in, at, and after death aduantage. I come to the last, it is profitable to repent: for if we oturne to the Lord, he will turne to vs: and that wee may turne, consider his pmercies in forgiuing, his qbenefits in giuing, his rpatience in forbearing, and his siudgements in punishing. tThe word preached, usinnes committed, and that wfew shall be saued: xthe shortnesse of life, ythe vncertaintie of life, zand the certaintie of death: athe ioyes of heauen, bthe torments of hell, the ccomfort of the elect, and that else wee can haue no dcomfort in death: epray wee cannot vnlesse wee repent, and fperish wee shall vnlesse we repent: but blessed shall we be if we do repent. But manum de tabula Magister adest: this discourse following will teach vs these things: and it am I bold to present to your worships.
- yRom. 13.13.
- zGen. 27.15.
- aCant. 5.3. How Christ is to be put on.
- bExod. 14.
- c2. King. 1.
- dJos. 10.Ios. 10.
- e1. King. 4.
- f2. Sam. 16.23.
- gJud. 16.Iud. 16.
- h2. Sam. 18.19.
- i2. Sam. 18.
- kTheatrum Philos. lib. 2. cap. 33.
- lPhi•. 3.8.
- mAugustine.
- nPhil. 3.10.
- oJer. 4.1. Reasons of repentance.Ier. 4.1. Reasons of repentance.
- pRom 2.
- qGen. 30.9.
- rRom. 2.5.
- sIsa. 26.9.
- tAct. 17.30.
- u1. Pet. 4.3.
- wLuk. 13.24.
- xEccl. 12.1.
- yPsal. 90.12.
- zHeb. 9.26.
- a1. Cor. 2.9.
- bMat. 25.46.
- cLuk. 15.10.
- dEccles. 41.1.
- eJer. 7.Ier. 7.
- fLuk. 13 2. Act. 2.40.