Chapter 19
Of the much which God the Father gave us, in giving us jesus Christ, our Lord; and how thankful we ought to be, and to help ourselves by this favour; and to strengthen ourselves thereby, for the excluding of all desperation, wherewith the Dinell is wont to assault us.
MUCH reason hath God to complain and his Preachers to reprove men, for being so forgetful of this benefit, which is so excellent as that, for it, we should give thankes to God, day and night. For as S. John saith, So God loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, to the end that every one who believeth in him, & loveth him, may not perish, but have eternal life. All other blessings, are locked up in this; as the less in the greater, and as the effect in the cause. It is a plain case, that he, who gave the sacrifice against sin, did give pardon to those sins; for as much as concerned him; and to whom our Lord gave that, he also gave command over them. And in1 fine, he that gave us his Son, and such a Son, and so given, and borne for us; will deny us nothing, that is necessary. And he that hath not what is fit, let him blame himself; for to complain of God, he hath no reason. For the understanding hereof, S. Paul saith thus: He that gave us his son, will he not give us all things together with him? Nay he said more, He hath already given us all things with him; for, in as much as concerneth the part of God, all is already given; pardon, grace, and heaven.
O2 you men, why do you lose such happiness; and why are you ungrateful to such a lover, and for such a benefit? And why are you slothful in the preparation of yourselves to receive it? Worthy it were, of all reprehension; that a man should go naked up and down, half dead with hunger, and full of miseries, and if when another, had given him great legacies by his will, whereby he might pay his debts, and departed from his wants, & live at ease, he should yet remain without enjoying all this happiness, rather than travel two or three leagues, for the proving of that will. Our redemption was made so copiously, that although God's forgiving the offences which men commit against him, be a blessing which exceeds all humane conceit; yet the payment which is made by the passion, and death of Christ our Lord, doth exceed the debt of man in value, much more than the highest part of heaven, doth the lowest part of the earth, as S. Augustine saith.
It3 was due to sinful man, that he should be fettered, torn, and killed; and can you find in your hearts to think, that these debts are not well paid, by the scourges, torments, and death, of a man, who was not only a just man, but man, and God. An inexplicable favour it is, that God doth adopt for his sons, the sons of men; who are but as so many little worms of earth. But to the end that we might not doubt of this favour, it is seconded (according to4 S. John) with another, and a greater; For he saith, The word of God, is made flesh. As if he had thus expressed himself; you may not fail, to believe, that by spiritual adoption, men are borne of God; for in proof of this wonder, harken here to a greater; which is, That the son of God 〈◊〉 made man, & the son of a woman. So5 also is it a wonderful thing, that a miserable little thing called man, made of earth, should arrive to heaven, enjoying God, and accompanying the Angels therein, with unspeakable glory. But yet a fare greater matter was it, that God should be placed in the torment, and ignominy of a Cross; and that he should dye, between a couple of murdering thiefs. Whereby the divine justice, was so entirely satisfied, (both by reason of the much that our Lord did suffer, and chiefly, because he that suffered it, was God) as that he both pardoned that which was past, and doth further power his benedictions upon us for the future. But yet so, as that our barrenness must bring forth the fruit of good life, worthy of heaven; which is figured by the Son, who was granted to6 Sara, when she was old, and barren. For the calf which was sodden in the house of Abraham, (this being Christ Jesus crucified, by the people who7 descended from Abraham) was of so much gust to God; that of wrathful he grew calm thereby; and curses were exchanged into blessings. Because he received a certain thing, which contented him more, the●● all the sins of the whole world could displease him.
Why then, O man, dost thou despair, having, for remedy of thy miseries, & for payment of thy debts, God himself, humaned, who is of infinite merit; and who, by dying, put our sins to death; much better than the8 Philistines were made to dye by the death of Samson. And9 although thou hast committed as many sins, as the very Devil himself, (who thus would draw thee into despair) thou must take hart in Christ, who is That lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world. Of whom it was prophesied, That be would cast, and, as it were, shoot, all our sins, into the lowest bottom of the sea; and that he was to be anointed the holy of holies; And that sin should have an end; and then, that justice should reign for ever. If than our sins be removed, be drowned, and be dead; what cause can there be, that such weak and defeated enemies, should overcome, and cast thee upon despair?
Footnotes
Chapter 21 of 115