Gerards meditations written originally in the Latine tongue by Iohn Gerard Doctour in Divinitie, and superintendant of Heidelberg. Translated and revised by Ralph Winterton fellow of Kings Colledge in Cambridge.

Meditat. V. An exercise of faith from the love of Christ in the agonie of death.

The grace of Jesus Christ to me Is th'onely true felicity.

SEe Lord Jesus, how injurious I am to thy passion: My heart is vexed, and my soul is very sorrow∣full;

because I have no good works of mine own; because I have no merits: when as thy passion is my action, thy works my merits. I am injurious to thy passion, when as I seek for the supplement of my works, whereas it is in it self all-sufficient. If I should finde righ∣teousnesse in my self, thy righte∣ousnesse would profit me nothing, or else I should not so much de∣sire it. If I seek for the works of the law, by the law shall I be con∣demned: But I know that now I am no longer under the law, but under grace. I have lived wickedly, I have sinned, holy Father, against heaven and before thee, I am not worthy to be called thy sonne, yet thou wilt not re∣fuse to call me thy servant. Deny me not, I pray thee, the fruit of thy pas∣sion: let not thy bloud wax barren, but let it bring forth fruit, and deli∣ver my soul. My sinnes have alwayes lived in my flesh: but, I intreat thee, let them at length die with me. Hitherto the flesh hath alwayes ruled over me, but let the Spirit at length triumph: Let the outward

man be subject to corruption and worms, that the inward man may be glorified. Hitherto I have alwayes given way to the suggestions of the devil; but grant hereafter, I beseech thee, that I may trample them under my feet. Satan is readie at hand to accuse me; but he hath nothing in me. The sight of death affrighteth me; but death is the end of my sinnes, and the beginning of an holy life. Now at length shall I be able per∣fectly to please thee, O my God: Now at length shall I be confirmed in goodnesse and vertue. Satan terri∣fieth me with my sinnes, but let him accuse him which took upon him my infirmities, whom the Lord hath smitten for my sinnes: The debt which I ow is great indeed, and I cannot pay any part thereof: but my trust is in the riches and bounty of him that hath undertaken the pay∣ment. Let him discharge me, who hath made himself suretie for me: Let him pay for me, who took my debt upon himself. I have sinned, O Lord, and my sinnes are many and grievous: But this horrible sinne I

will not commit, to make thee a ly∣ar, who by thy words, works, and oath dost testifie that satisfaction is made for my iniquities. I am not afraid by reason of my sinnes: for thou art my righteousnesse. I am not afraid by reason of my ignorance: for thou art my wisdome. I am not afraid of death: for thou art my life. I am not afraid of my errours: for thou art my truth. I am not afraid of corruption: for thou art my resur∣rection. I am not afraid of the sor∣rows of death: for thou art my joy. I am not afraid of the severitie of judgement: for thou art my righte∣ousnesse. Distill upon my withered soul the dew of thy grace and quick∣ening consolation. My spirit waxeth dry: but it shall shortly rejoyce in thee. My flesh doth languish, and is withered: but it shall shortly bud forth. I am subject to corruption: but thou shalt deliver me from corrupti∣on: for thou hast delivered me from all evils. Thou hast created me: How then can the workmanship of thy hands be dissolved? Thou hast re∣deemed me from all mine enemies:

How then can death have rule over me? Thou hast bestowed thy body and bloud and all that thou hadst, yea even thy self for my salvation: How then shall death withhold them, which thou hast redeemed with so precious a ransome? Thou, Lord Je∣sus, art righteousnesse it self: So then my sins cannot prevail against thee. Thou art life it self, and the resur∣rection: So then my death cannot pre∣vail against thee. Thou art God: Therefore Satan cannot prevail a∣gainst thee. Thou hast given me the earnest of thy Spirit: in that do I glorie, in that do I triumph, and am fully perswaded, without doubting, that I shall be admitted to the mar∣riage of the Lambe. Most deare bride∣groom, thou art my wedding-gar∣ment, which I put on in baptisme: thou shalt cover my nakednesse, nei∣ther will I sow the supplement of my righteousnesse to this most precious and beautifull garment. What is mans righteousnes, but the cloth of a men∣struous woman? How then can I dare to patch that most precious gar∣ment of Christs righteousnesse with

this abominable ragge? In this gar∣ment will I appear before thy face in judgement, when thou shalt judge the world in righteousnesse and equitie: In this garment will I ap∣pear before thy face in the king∣dome of heaven: This garment shall cover my confusion and reproch, that no man remember it any more for ever: There shall I appear glori∣ous and holy in thy sight: And this my flesh, this my body shall be aray∣ed with beatificall glory, which glo∣ry shall be everlasting, and without end. Come Lord Jesus, and whoso∣ever loveth thee let him say, Come.

Notes

• Luke 15.2
• Rom. 16.20.
• Isa. 53.4▪
• 1. Cor. 1.30.
• 2. Cor. 1.22.
• Rev. 19.7.
• Gal. 3.25▪
• Isa. 64.6.
• Act. 17.31.
• Rev. 22.20.