Of the love of our only Lord and Saviour, Iesus Christ: Both that which he beareth to vs; and that also which we are obliged to beare to him. Declared by the principall mysteries of the life, and death of our Lord; as they are deluiered [sic] to vs in Holy Scripture. With a preface, or introduction to the discourse.

Of the vnspeakeable loue, which our Lord Iesus ex∣pressed to vs in his Circumcision.

CHAP. 13.

* 1.1BVT as for the loue, which our Lord did shew to those poore Sheephards, some ig∣norant carnall person, may chaunce to say, or at least to thinke, That it did not cost him much. Let such a one therfore looke, vpon his painefull, and shamefull Circumcision. Pay∣nefull, and shamefull to him, but of vnspea∣keable loue, and benefit to vs. And first, for as much as concernes the paine, it deserues to be considered, that the soule, and body of Christ of our Lord, had another manner of vnderstanding,(a) 1.2 and delicate feeling, then any other Creature, hath euer bene acquainted with.* 1.3 Which circumstance I will not heere dilate, because when afterward I shall haue reason to speak of his sacred passion, the occa∣sion will be, fayrely offered. But the paine must needs be excessiue, to haue a part of the body so cut of, by a violent hand; and that not with a kinfe, or any such sharpe instru∣ment, which would haue brought it to a speedy end; but according to the custome, with a stone, which was ground into a blunt kind of edge; and which must needs prolonge the torment of the patient.

Yet(b) 1.4 paine how great soeuer, is but a toy to a generous minde, in respect of re∣proach

and shame. And amongst all degrees of shame; that is farre the greatest, which im∣plyeth the party to haue deserued it, and that, in the deepest kind. Now as, when there is question of pride, the affectation and desire to haue a fame of sanctity, is farre superiour to any ambition of riches, or strength, or know∣ledge, or any other such aduantage whatsoe∣uer; so the infamy of impiety, of sinne, is that, which, of all other, woundeth most. This infamy is therfore the very thinge, to which, our Lord, with strange contempt of himselfe, did submit his diuine excellency. And notwithstanding the perfect hatred which indeed he carryed to all that, which looked like sinne; he was yet content to lay that thought aside, through the infinite loue which he bare to vs; and he pinned that badge vpon his owne sleeue, which was only to haue been worne by the traytours & Rebells of Almighty God; and he resolued to weare it, being God himselfe.

By taking(c) 1.5 this badge of sinne, which was payne and shame, to his owne person, he did not only satisfy for the sensuality & pride of man, but he deliuered vs also from being subiect any longer to those tyrants; both by the grace which he obtayned therby at the hands of his eternall Father, and by the exam∣ple which he gaue in this his Circumcision of a most profound contempt of himselfe. And who is therfore that man, who by way of re∣tribution, for the loue of this Lord, will not

now procure to follow his example; and at least, by little and little, to weane himselfe frō estimation of honour, and delight in plea∣sure; since the king of glory, did contēt himself, for the loue of vs, to be thought a sinner; and to vndergoe the obligatiōs due to such a one.

Doctour Auila,* 1.6 in his Audi Filia, vseth this excellent comparison. If(d) 1.7 a King should goe v∣pon his bare feete, and should be weary, and should sweat through the length, and sharpnes of the way; hauing his back loaden with sackcloath, and his face with teares, as king Dauid did, and had, by occasion of the reuolte of his sonne Absalom, what ser∣uant or Courtier could there be of his, who, either for loue, or shame, would not also goe on foote, and vnshodd, and as like his king, as he could be? And so the holy Scripture affirmeth, that all the seruants of Dauid did, and all the people which accompanied him at that tyme. And the same authour saith afterward; That the altitude of the state of perfect Christians, is so great, and that Christ our Lord hath wrought such a change in things, by his holy example; as that the bitter, and the base of this world, is growne to be hono∣rable, and delightfull. And(e) 1.8 that he enableth his true seruants to cast the gorge, when they are but to rast of that, in the pursuite wherof, worldly men, are vpon the pointe of cutting the throates of one another. Thus sayth Doctour Auila.

Fa. Arias doth serue himselfe of another comparison to this effect: If a King sitting in his chayre of State should, by a* 1.9 law, command that the Caualleroes of his Court, should weare their gar∣ments of plame stusse, for the enriching of his king∣dome;

or that for the defence therof they should accu∣stome themselues to carry such or such a kind of weapō; it is cleere that they would take themselues to be in o∣bligation of obseruing that law. But if the king him∣selfe, at the very gate of his Royall Pallace, should pro∣claime the same with his owne princely mouth; & for the example of others, would gird such a weapon to his owne side; & put such a garmēt vpō his own back, with∣out doubt his Courtiers would take thēselues to be more straitly bound to keepe this law. And as they should be honored who would obserne it, so the breach therof would instly intytle the infringers of it to more grieuous punishmēt. Now(f) 1.10 God being in his Thron of glory, did commaund, both by the naturall, & written lawe, that men should liue according to vertue; and be caresull to imbrace those meanes, which might conduce to their saluation. This lawe, he published, by meanes of his Angells, and other Creatures; and the world was bound to obserue the same; and the breach of it was both threatned, and reuenged with the eternall fire of Hell. But in the tyme of the law of grace, God himselfe descended from his Imperiall throne, & came downe into the world; apparailing himselfe with the garment of our flesh and bloud. And with his owne sacred mouth be did proclaime his Euangelicall Law. And in his owne sacred person, he(g) 1.11 complyed with all that vertue, and sanctity, in supreme perfection, which he exacted at the hands of men. And(h) 1.12 he im∣braced all the meanes of paine and shame, wherby sin∣cere and solid vertue is obtained. So that there can be no doubt, but that our obligation to keepe his law, is much the greater, since it is auowed by his owne exam∣ple; and consequently the fault in breaking it, would

be more inexcusable, and the punishment due to it, more intollerable. And(i) 1.13 if when Christ our Lord was yet on earth, and did commaund his Disciples to preach his will, to the people of Israel; and (to moone men also by their example) he commaunded that they should goe on foote, and not only without money, but euen without shoes; & that otherwise also, they should be poorely cladd; and did then protest that the people who would not heare their Doctrine, should find them∣selues in worse case, at the day of Iudgment, then they of Sodome & Gomorra: how incomparably much more will it increase our damnation (who haue bene taught by the very mouth, and haue bene conuinced, by the example, not only of the Disciples, but of Christ our Lord himselfe, the king of glory) if we imita e not his vertues, and if we imbrace not his mortifications.

This is the summe and substance of that excellent discourse of Fa. Arias, where he trea∣tes of Christ our Lord vnder the quality of his being our Redeemer. And although he doe in generall, propound it there, as inducing vs to pennance and vertue, vpon the considera∣tion of the doctrine, and example of Christ our Lord, at large; yet(k) 1.14 it seemes very na∣turall, that heer I should apply it in particular manner, by occasion of this mistery of the Cir∣cumcision. Wherein, the first, of that most pre∣tious bloud, was shedd, wherby the world was to be redeemed; and when he, who was the true, and supreme Law-giuer did di∣minish himselfe so much, as to become obno∣xious to that penalty of his owne Law; since as his holy Apostle saith, He who is circumcised, is

bound therby to fulfill the Law. And lastly,* 1.15 when he who was the eternal spring, the ouerflow∣ing riuer, and the bottomlesse sea of all sancti∣ty, would be contented for our good (& for the drawing vs, by his example, to loue, paine and shame) to be accounted by men, for a crea∣ture, as odious and abhominable in the sight of God, as all sinners are.

But he thought not all this too much, so that he might free vs from the curse of that law, to which he would be subiect. Aduising, and enabling vs heerby, to Circumcise(l) 1.16 the inordinate affections of our harts; which are as so many veynes, wherby the bloud of lise is drawne from that true loue, which is only due to such a Lord as this, who is all made of loue. Now because this miserable race of men would not fully correspond, with that incomparable Charity of Christ our Lord, it was so much the more agreable, to the iustice of God the Father, to acknowledge, and re∣vvard this vnspeakable humility of his sonne. And therfore then it vvas, that he stampt vpō him, the name of Iesus,* 1.17 to which the knees of all Creatures should be obliged to bow. Celestiall, vvhose charity he had surpassed; terrestriall, vvhose life he had instructed; and Infernall, vvhose pride he had confounded. And heerby vve further see, hovv infinitely are vve bound to this Lord, for this strange loue of his, vvho, vvhen there should be question of taking such aname as might be proper to him, laid all such na∣mes aside as might expresse the Maiesty of

himselfe; and made only choyce of that name of Iesus vvhich might declare his Soueraigne mercy to vs.

The Names vvhich grovve from God, are farre vnlike to those which are imposed by men; for these latter, are meere extrinsecall denominations; and the former, are a most exact abridgement, and mappe of those Con∣ditions which grow within. So that, together vvith this name, our Lord Iesus vvas sublimed to the office, and dignity of a perfect Sauiour of mankind. Not(m) 1.18 such a Sauiour, as the Sectaries of our age are miserably vvont to make him; vvho conceaue him, to haue only saued our soules from Hell, vvhich is but a punishment of sinne, (as vvas sayd before) and vvhich punishment hovv great soeuer it be, is incomparably of lesse deformity, and true misery, and vvere farre rather to be ac∣cepted, and chosen then the least sinne it selfe vvhich can be committed) but such a one as doth chiefly saue our soules from the guylt of sinne; and that, by sanctifiyng vs indeed, vvith his inherent grace, and not by a kind of Iustice, vvhich only, is imputed to vs, vvhilst the vvhyle indeed it is none of ours. Through the vvāt vvherof, the leaprousy of our soules, should not be cleansed and cured, but only they should be couered and clad, as those deceauedmen conceaue, with the robe of his innocency.

Our Lord giue them light, to see, and knovv, hovv deeply & dangerously they de∣ceaue

themselues, and dishonour him, vnder the pretence of piety, and peruerse and coun∣terfaite humility, vvhilst they make him but such a Sauiour as this.* 1.19 This errour (as Doctour Auila saith) proceedeth from the want, of knowing the loue, which Iesus Christ doth beare, to such as are in the state of grace, whome his bowells of mercy, would not permit, that (whilst himselfe was iust, & full of all good things) he should say to such as he in∣stifyed, Content your selues with this, That I abound with these good things, and esteeme them for your owne in regard that they are in me; although in your selues, you remaine vniust, impure, and naked. There is no head which would hold such language as this, to his liuing members; nor one spouse to another, if he should deerly loue her. And much lesse, will that Celestiall spouse say so; who is giuen for a patterne to the spou∣ses of this world; that so after his resemblance, they may treate and loue their fellow spouses. You men∣saith S. Paule, loue your wiues as Christ loued his Church, who gaue himselfe ouer for it, to sanctify it, and to clense it by baptisme, and by the word of life. If then he sanctify, and wash, and clense it, and that with his owne bloud (which is the thing that giueth power to the Sacramēts, to cleanse soules, by his grace which they impart) how can that soule remaine vniust, and silthy, which is washed and cleansed by a thing which is of so extreme efficacy. And in conformi∣ty of that which was affirmed before the same Doctour Auila, doth also cleerly shew after∣ward, that such opinions as that, do no way, serue(n) 1.20 either towards the verifying of the Scriptures, or for the doing of Iesus Christ, sufficient honour.

For since the payne (sayth he) which is due to sinne, is a lesse euill to any man, then the guilt of the same sinne, and the iniustice and deformity which is caused therby; it cannot be said, that Christ our Lord doth saue his people from their sinnes, if by his merits he only obtaine, that they may not be imputed to them, for their punishment; vnlesse first he should take the guilt away, by the guift of grace. Nor yet that he obtayneth puri∣ty, and piety for men, vnlesse by detesting sinne, they may keepe the law of God. This is the iugdement of Doctour Auila.

We(o) 1.21 therfore according to that truth which is reuealed by Almighty God, and pro∣pounded to vs to be beleeued by the holy Catholike Church, his imaculate Spouse, doe cō∣fesse, to the ioy, and triumph of our hartes, & with irreuocable vowes of the highest gratitu∣de that we can conceaue, for such an infinite benefit, not only, that he is the Sauiour of vs from hell (which is but as an effect) but from sinne also it selfe, which is the iust cause ther∣of. And not only so, but that he saues vs fur∣ther also from the want of all those helpes, & graces of the holy Ghost which are conueniēt. vt sine timore,* 1.22 de manibus inimicorum nostrorum li∣berati, seruiamus illi, in sanctitate, & institia coram ipso, omnibus diebus vitae nostrae. That being deliue∣red from the hands of our enemyes, we may serue him without feare, in holynes & iustice before him, all the dayes of our life. At the end of which dayes we shall be admitted to see a day in heauen, which hath no end, and which admits no cloud. This I say, is to be the precious fruyte of this

morning sacrifice, of his Circumcision, to put vs into a state, which can admit no euening. For as S. Augustine sayth, dies septimus sine vesper a est, nec habet occasum, quia sanctificasti eum ad perman∣sionem sempiternam. That seauenth day of thine,* 1.23 O God, is without any euening; nor doth that sunne euer set, because thou hast sanctisied it, to an eternall con∣tinuance. This is that infinite benefit, which is to be imparted to vs by this blessed Lord of ours; and the meanes to conuey it, is the office of his being our Sauiour, which is declared in this Circumcision, by his holy name of Iesus, and wherof the next Chapter, will tell vs more.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Luc. 2.
• (a) 1.2

  The soule and body of our B. Lord, were more sen∣sible of shame and payne thē any other.
• * 1.3

  Exod. 4. Num. 5. D. Aug. lib. 2. de gratia Christ. cap. 31.
• (b) 1.4

  Di∣shonour to a noble hart is far more in∣sufferable then payne.
• (c) 1.5

  Our Lord, by the payne & shame of his cir∣cumcision, did satisfy for our sinnes; he did pur∣chase grace, and fortify vs by his example.
• * 1.6

  Cap. 76.
• (d) 1.7

  Con∣sider and ponder this com∣parison.
• (e) 1.8

  Let world∣linges thinke as lightly as they will of this; the perfect seruāts of God, do find the truth of it, at theyr very harts.
• * 1.9

  Titulo de Redemtor. Ca. 4.
• (f) 1.10

  Obser∣ue this applica∣tion, and it will mooue thee.
• (g) 1.11

  The perfectiō of Christ our Lord
• (h) 1.12

  His mortifica∣tion.
• (i) 1.13

  Giue great at∣tention to this cir∣cumstāce.
• (k) 1.14

  That the consi∣deration brought by Fa. Arrias doth ve∣ry parti∣cularly belong to the Cu c̄∣cision of our Lord.
• * 1.15

  Gal. 5.
• (l) 1.16

  The corporall Circumci∣sion of Christ our Lord must teach vs how to circumci∣se our af∣fections.
• * 1.17

  Luc. 2. Phillip. 2.
• (m) 1.18

  What an yowor thy, and weake Sa∣uiour, Christ our Lord is made by the Sectaries.
• * 1.19

  Audi Pi∣liacap. 88.
• (n) 1.20

  The doctrine of impu∣tatiue Iu∣stice, is ex∣presly im∣pugned by holy scripture, and doth impeach the ho∣nour of Christ our Lord.
• (o) 1.21

  The catholik Doctrine, concer∣ning this poynt.
• * 1.22

  Luc. 1.
• * 1.23

  Conf. lib 13. cap. vlt.