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 excessiue loue which our Lord Iesus shewed to vs, in that he would vouchsafe to be Baptized.

CHAP. 21.

VVHAT thought of man or Angell, can reach to that humility, which Christ our Lord (being longe since growne to be a man, and now vpon the poynt of pu∣blishing his Ghospell) did expresse in his holy Baptisme; and consequently to that Cha∣rity, which cast him vpon the practise of this profound impenetrable humility? For it was(a) 1.1 not in him, as it is in vs, who must beginne with acts of humility, as with the foundation, that so we may arriue to Charity afterward, which is the consummation of a spirituall building. But in him, all moued at the very first, from pure and perfect Charity, which was as a kind of cause of his humility.

They want not good ground of reason, who affirme, that betwene the Birth, and death of Christ our Lord, he neuer performed an act of greater loue, then in being thus Bap∣tized. For as the expression of true loue, con∣sisteth more in doing, then in saying; so con∣sisteth it also, much more in suffering, then in doing. And as the least sinne, is more abhor∣red by a soule, which is faithfull to God, then the sensible to••ments euen of Hell it selfe: So the dishonor for that soule to be thought sin∣full, which is not only pure, but wholly im∣peccable

(as that of Christ our Lord and Sa∣uiour was) doth sarre outstrippe all other as∣persion and infamy whatsoeuer, as was also insinuated else where. Yet(b) 1.2 by these rug∣ged wayes, would he passe; and vpon these bitter pills would he seed; yea and he did it with vnspeakeable ioy, for loue of vs. And not only had he bene content to be Circumci∣sed, which shewed, as if he had bene obno∣xious to Originall sinne; but (to declare that the his loue longer he liued amongst vs the more care he to vs. tooke to shew how he loued vs) he now vouchsafed to be baptized; which (according to all apparence) did betoken as if he had been subiect, euen to actuall sinne. To this let it be added; that since Circumcision, was ordayned by the law (to which although he were not bōd indeed, yet was it thought that he was bound) it might not only seeme fit; but euen iust, that he should be Circumcised, both to doe honour to the law, and to preuent all scandall of the people. But for him, to receiue the Baptisme of S. Iohn, was no appointement of the law of God; but a meere voluntary deuotion, which might haue bene forborne without any sinne, or the iust offence of any man. And(c) 1.3 ther∣fore as I was saying it was admirable humili∣ty, (performed out of vnspeakeable charity) that, for our example, and benefit, our Lord would fasten such a marke of actuall sinne v∣pon himselfe.

But the gratious eye of our Lord, being lodged vpon the miseries of man; and his hart

beeing full of most ardent desire of our felici∣ty; he contemned himselfe, and resolued to enter into the waters.* 1.4 And though S. Iohn, being then the greatest among the sonnes of men, did well know, and with a most deiected faythfull hart acknowledge, how farre he was from being worthy to baptize, that true & naturall Sonne of God; yet so precise was the pleasure of Christ our Lord, in this particular; that the holy Baptist betooke himselfe to his obedience. And our Lord vouchsafed to let him know, and vs withall, that perfect Iustice is not ob∣serued, where the heroycall acts of Humility, and Charity, are not performed,

S. Iohn had bene preaching the do∣ctrine of pennance to the levves; immediatly vvherupon, they vvere baptized by him in Iordan.* 1.5 And the holy Scripture affirmes, that Christ our Lord vvas baptized after them; as resoluing belike to be the last of the company. And vvithall, it is very probable, by the sa∣cred Text,* 1.6 that he vvould also be present at the sermon of S. Iohn, like a common Audi∣tour; and being the increated wisedome of God, he vouchsafed to seeme as if he had needed to be taught by man. What proclamations are these of his affection to vs; and of direction, how we are to proceed with others? It being reason that we should blush, euen to the bot∣tome of our harts, when we take our selues in the manner, of striuing for precedence, euen of our equalls; whilst yet we see the Sōne of God place himselfe after all his inseriours.

And(d) 1.7 when we shall thinke much to resort for Sacraments, & other spirituall comforts, to such as we conceaue, to be, any way, of inferi∣our Talēts to our selues. Or els, when we shal haue shame, to frequent the remedies of sinne; when heere we may behould the Sauiour of all our soules, and the institutor of all the ho∣ly Sacraments, through ardent charity, assist at a sermon, and receaue the water of Baptisme, with profound humility, from the tongue, & from the hand of a mortall man; himselfe be∣ing the King, and the God of men.

But the seuerall spirituall aduices, which our Lord IESVS did giue vs by the example of his high vertues, in this mistery, though they be in themselues of great importance, to∣wards the shewing of his loue, yet doe they lessen, when they are compared to that maine drift which he had, in this holy Baptisme of his. For his prime(e) 1.8 meaning was, (vpon the cost of his Humility, and Charity, expressed by his being thus baptized) to institute a more high, & soueraigne Baptisme, in the nature of a Sacra∣ment. By the grace wherof, all soules might be washed, and cleansed, from sinne; as cer∣tainly as any body is from spots, vpon the ap∣plication of common water.

O boundles sea of loue, which no bācks of our iniquity could keepe in, from breaking out ouer the whole world? His loue it was, which made him vndergoe the paine of put∣ting his pure naked body vnder water; and of shame to be thought a sinfull creature. That

so, by the merit of such loue, as water washeth other creatures, himselfe might wash euen, the very water; yea and sanctify all the water in the world, towards the beautifying of soules, by the meanes of his pretious merits. How clearly doth it shew, that Christ our Lord is an equall, and incomparable kind of friend to all; for he placed the remedy of all the Originall sinne of little children, and both of the Originall sinne, and actuall, of such as are al∣ready cōuerted & baptized to the faith of Christ our Lord, when they are of yeares, not(f) 1.9 in the taking of generous wines, nor in the ap∣plication of costly Bathes, nor in the drinking pearles, and pretious stones, distilled into some pretious liquor; but only in being tou∣ched by a little pure simple water, wherin the beggar; is as rich, as the King.

And howsoeuer his holy Church, which is inspired and guided by his holy spirit, hath ordeyned in the exercise and vse of Baptisme, that ordinarily, it shall be administred by her Priests, and in her Churches; and solemnized with her sacred, and most significant* 1.10 Cere∣monies; as namely the signe of the holy Crosse, Exorcisines, Insufflations, Inpositiou of hands, to∣gether with salt, and holy Oyle, (with diuers others, vvhich are thought fit) to accompa∣ny an action of so great importance; and the figures vvherof vvere deliuered and recomen∣ded by Christ our Lord himselfe, (as S. Am∣brose notes) vvhen he cured that person vvho vvas possessed by a diuell both dumbe and

deefe, by putttng spittle vpon his tongue, and thru∣sting his fingars into his eares, and saying Ephata, vvhich is, Be opened, (at most of vvhich Cere∣monies, though Sectaries vvill take liberty to laugh and scoffe; vve Catholikes vvill not be a∣shamed to reueale them as vve are taught to doe; not only (though chiefely) for the autho∣rity and custome it selfe of the holy Church, but partely also, because vve see in the vvritings of most auncient, and holy Doctours,* 1.11 both frequent and venerable mention to be made therof;) Hovvsoeuer I say all this be true, yet neuerthelesse, it vvas the gratious pleasure of our blessed Lord, and it is the practise of his true Spouse, the holy Church, in case that the person to be baptized be in any extremity of daunger, to forbeare all those ceremonies vvhich cannot then conueniently be vsed. And it sufficeth for the eternall saluation of that soule, that the vvater be applyed, & those fevv sacred vvords pronounced, vvhich are prescribed. And this in those cases, may be done, not only by lay men, but euen by vvo∣men; and all, in the vertue, and through the loue, and by the merit, of the Baptisme of Christ our Lord.* 1.12 For one man was went (as S. Ambrose sayth) but he washed all the world. One man des∣cended, that we might all ascend. One man tooke v∣pon him the sinnes of all, that so the sinnes of all, might dye in him. Our Lord was baptized, not meaning to be cleansed by those waters, but to cleanse those very waters; that so they being washed, by the flesh of Christ our Lord, which knew no sinne; might be in∣tytled

to the right of Baptisme.* 1.13 And S. Augustine doth also say, A mother there was, who brought forth a sōne, & yet she was chast; the water washed Christ, and it was made holy by him. For as after the birth of Christ our Lord, the Chastity of the B. Virgin was glorisied; so after his Baptisine, the sanctisication of the waters was approued. To her (saith he) afterward was virginity imparted, and vpon it, fecundity was be∣stowed, as we shall instantly and cleerly see.

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  Our Lord Ie∣sus be∣gan all from Charity: we must beginne all from Humility.
• (b) 1.2

  By how rug∣ged waies our Lord Iesus was content to passe in his loue to vs.
• (c) 1.3

  It was a farre greater act of hu∣mility for our Lord to be bap∣tized, thē to be cir∣cumcised.
• * 1.4

  Luc. 7.
• * 1.5

  Matt. 3.
• * 1.6

  Ibid.
• (d) 1.7

  Lay good hold on these lessons.
• (e) 1.8

  The principall scope which it seemes that Christ our Lord had, in his being baptized.
• (f) 1.9

  How good cheape a Christian man be Baptized.
• * 1.10

  Ritual. Roman.
• * 1.11

  Vide Bel∣lar. de Sa∣cram. Bap. l. 18. c. 26.
• * 1.12

  Lib. 2. in Luc. Tom. 5. ser. de Baptismo.
• * 1.13

  Ser. de Temp.