Contemplative pictures with wholesome precepts. The first part: Of God. Of the diuell. Of goodnesse. Of badnesse. Of heauen: and of hell. By Richard Bernard.

The Picture of the Sonne.

THe Son is the second person in the Trinity, the Fathers naturall Son begotten frō eternity, the Image and substance of his Father without ine∣quality. From the father, by the Holy Ghost, hee wor∣keth together with the Fa∣ther in all things: he is God, he is man, perfect in both natures. He hath a Father,

he hath a mother, euē both truely; & also no father, nor mother but respectiuely. He is mā-God, & God-mā; yet not two persons, but onely one Christ: One not by con∣uersion, but by assumption; not by cōfusiō of substāce, but by vnity of persō. This is the seed promised; the prophet foretold the prince of peace. This is Melchise∣dech, the priest of the high God, the king of Salem, the Iewes Messiah, the Christi∣ans Sauiour. This is he that wil summō all to appear, & giue true iudgemēt vpō al,

both quik & dead in the last day▪ Satā here he vāquished subdued the flesh & cōque∣red the world. He hath mi∣tigated Gods wrath, perfor∣med our work: iustice is sa∣tisfied, the law fulfilled. Hee hath made an attonement, obtained mercy, & freed vs frō punishment. The father of his mercy gaue him for vs, & hee in loue bestowed himself of vs. The father did wil our peace, & hee spared no paines. Hee came into the world poore, to make vs ritch. Hee was to the wicked a derision, that wee with Angels might bee

had in admiration. He was blasphemed, to make vs blessed; buffeted and scor∣ned, to make vs secure in true comfort. He wrought righteousnesse, that wee might bee free of wicked∣nesse: Hee was innocent, to procure vs pard on be∣ing penitent. His holi∣nesse is our happinesse, his suffering our safety, his grace our good. Hee was heere in trouble for vs, his life paineful and misera∣ble, so his end for vs dole∣full, and his torments intol∣lerable. In all his life, that

wee read of, hee did neuer laugh; but often lament: Hee mourned to see mens madnesse, and wept for their wo. Here he sighed sore to make vs sing, hee sobd and sorrowed much to make vs merrie. Hee bare vpon him vnutterable torment pati∣ently, that wee might auoid the plagues of God eternal∣ly. His prayers were loud cries and strong, to make our praiers to pierce the Heauens. He sweat drops of bloud to purge and sweeten vs vnto our God: hee cried with bitter tor∣ment

vpon the crosse, to saue his seruants from the dreadfull curse. He did die as a malefactor, to become to euery beleeuer a benesa∣ctour. Euil did he none, wee are the offenders; Heauen is his desert, Hell ours de∣serued: wee haue merited damnatiō, and he purchast for vs saluation. Wee were bound to the Law, we were vnder the curse, in danger of death, and subiect to wrath: but hee hath sent vs his Gospel, preched peace, promised pardon, and ob∣tained grace. If the law

would condemne vs, hee hath fulfilled it for vs; his works preuent wrath, his crosse, the curse. Con∣science by the law would accuse, the Gospell by grace will quiet it and acquite vs. If iustice de∣mand her due, his paines were our full paiment. Hee is the waie for vs to walke in. Hee is the trueth, wee may beleeue him. Hee is the life, happy is he that liues in him. By him and through him all our wants are suplied, and all grace and goodnes obtai∣ned.

Are we in corruption? His purity purgeth vs. Are we disobedient? Hee was most obedient. Are we sub∣iect to wrath? he couers vs. Wander we? he recouers vs. Seeke we safety? He af∣foords vs solace. Want we a surety? He is our pledge. None in so great debt, but he can discharge: None so in disgrace, but he can pro∣cute him peace. He is as∣cended for life, that wee might not descend to the place of death. Wee need not feare the Law, Sathan, sinne: hee hath gotten vs

heauen, life and saluation, without daunger of Hell, death or damnation.

Precepts.

HEre is peace (O happy man) & by Christ procured. Seek in him thy soules safety: Behold heer ioy & spiritual security. Call boldly God father, it plea∣seth this Iesus to be thy brother. Belieue in him, & constantlie rely on him. Loue him, and long for him; say, when Lord? how long Lord? come Lord Ie∣sus, come quickly. In the meane space, liue in loue, worke righte∣ousnesse, seeke peace in holines, keepe in the limits of sobriety,

continue in chastitie, and bee neuer without charitie, and ex∣pect assured felicity: which the father of mercy euer∣more grant thee,

Amen.