To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
The incompar able purity of the Doctrine of Christ our Lord: and with how great loue he helpeth vs towards the practise therof.
THIS diuine Doctrine of our Lord IESVS doth no way abrogate the morall law, or ten commaundements; but it doth auow
and ratify the same. Though, for as much as concernes the Iudiciall and Ceremoniall lawes, (vnder which the people of God did liue, be∣fore the coming of our Messias) it perpetuated only the reall verities, which were conteyned therin; and it did destroy and bury (though yet with honour) those partes therof, which were but figures of the comming of Christ our Lord. We say therfore most properly, that to be the Doctrine of this diuine Doctour, wherby either some Truthes were reuiued, which through the wickednes of men were negle∣cted, and laid to sleepe, before his comming; or els wherby some others were published to the world, which in perfection did exceed the former, and many of them were not so properly inioyned in the nature of a comaun∣dement, as they were taught vs, by the coun∣sailes of Christ our Lord.
This(a) 1.1 Doctrine of Christ our Lord, is partly deliuered to vs, by the Tradition of the holy Catholike Church, as we shall see after∣ward, and partly in holy Scripture. And in this holy Scripture, most of those particulars are conteyned and expressed which shew the perfection and purity of his heauenly Doctrine. This is done after a most particular manner in that diuine sermon, wherby his Disciples and we in them (if we also will be his Disciples)* 1.2 were instructed vpon that hill; and S. Matthew deliuereth it by the words of our Lords owne sacred mouth.
He proclaimeth the eight Beatitudes;
where he annexeth not felicity to the como∣dities and pleasures of this life: But to pouerty of spirit, meekenes, mornefulnes, hungar, and thirst after Iustice, mercifulnes, purity of hart; Peace ma∣king; and to the being persecuted, and reuiled for the cause of Christ our Lord. He lets men know, withall, that for no respect they must breake the least tittle of the law of God. That men must not be angry, nor giue any iniurious word to others. That we must not consent, to so much as the least dishonest thought. That no man or woman must be diuorced, vpon the commit∣ting of lesse then Fornication; and that neither of thē, shall marry againe till the other dye. That we must not sineare at all. That we must not so much as resist oppression. That we must loue euen our very enemies. That we must giue Almes, and fast, and pray, with∣out ostemation. That in all things, we must haue a most pure intention. That we must cast away all sol∣licitude, concerning our selues, and leaue all, to the good prouidence of God. That we must reforme our selues, but not so much as iudge, any other man. That we must cut of, and cast away all occasions, & causes of scandall and sinne; how neere, or how deare so euer they may be to vs. That we must striue to enter into he auen, by the(b) 1.3 narrow gate. That we must aspire to chastity, though euery one will not reach so high. That we must be perfect, as our heauenly Father is per∣fect. And that whoso euer will be so, must sell all that he hath, and giue it to the poore, and follow our Lord; and that such a one, shall haue his treasure in heauen. That if any man would come after our Lord, he must deny himselfe, and take vp his Crosse and follow him; For he that would saue his life should loose it, and he
that would loose his life, should saue it. That his dis∣ciples must goe in Mission for the conuersion of soules, without depending vpon the hauing of any viaticum; or the wearing so much as shooes; or carrying a wallet with them for any prouision. That they must looke per∣secution, and euen death it selfe, in the face, and not so much as premeditate what they are to say for them∣selues, in those occasions.
These are the most fragrant flowers, wherof that rich garment is wouen, or ra∣ther these are the most choyce Iewells, wher∣of that pretious Crowne is composed, which Christ our Lord, brought downe from hea∣uen. With intention to put it vpon the heads of all such persons, as meant to be disciples of his Doctrine, and to become Graduates in his schoole of Perfection. And(c) 1.4 verily euen in this life, the study, and practice of this Do∣ctrine of Christ our Lord, doth make men hap∣py, after a sort, and put them heere into a kind of tast of that felicity, wherof they are to take the whole daughts heerafter in the king∣dome of heauen. For so great is the purity & power thereof, as to lodge a man out of the reach of humane things; by making him place his felicity euen in Crosses, both of paine and shame; wherof, in such a world as this, he shal be sure to haue no want. And to make him see, that his misery cōsists in nothing, but in swaruing frō this way to his felicity. Hap∣py is he, who feeles the truth of this in his soule; and most miserable is he, who although he feele it not, will not yet beleeue that the
thing is true. For he who beleeues not this truth, will neuer seeke it; and he that seeks it not, will neuer find it.
It cannot(d) 1.5 be denyed, but that this Doctrine requires hard things at a mans hands. But so it must be considered, that he who tea∣cheth it, doth withall, giue much grace, wher∣with to learne it. A burthen is more or lesse grieuous, according to the strength more or lesse, which he hath, who is to beare it. And it is no heard matter, for one who is of infini∣te power, to giue vs strength to carry accor∣ding to the weight of that which is to be im∣posed; and especially, if that power be accō∣panied with a goodnes which is as infinite. Indeed, it we consider the Doctrine as it is in it selfe, we may say, it is not only hard, but im∣possible; and especially it will seeme so then, when we accompany that thought, with a deepe consideration of the miserable frailty of our nature; the strength of our passions, and the importunity of sensible obiects, which so∣licite and haunt vs, euen to death in euery corner.
But yet, on the other side, we shall be∣leeue it, to be both possible and easy, if we re∣member, as I was saying, the omnipotēt, wise loue of Christ our Lord, the aboundant grace, which is deriued to vs from the merits of his holy life and death; the exāple of many Saints, who hauing bene made of the same metall with vs, haue, by the fauour of God and their good endeauours, translated, as it were, their
soules, out of this wildernes of beasts, into the paradise of Angells, euen before they parted from their mortall bodies. And not only hath this bene performed by Sains deceased; but we doe most certainly know, and conuerse with so good seruants of God, as that, in great measure, they ariue to it also in this life.
So that we haue all reason to be full of hope, that by the same meanes we may fol∣low, whither(e) 1.6 they haue gone before. Or at least we are to confesse, that the fault is no bodies, but our owne, if we doe it not. For if it be a burthen, Christ our Lord will make it light; and if it be a yoke, he will make it sweet. And he who thirsteth after comfort, is inuiced by the lowd cry of Christ our Lord, to goe & drinke therof, at that liuing fountaine of his grace. And a promise is made to all the world,* 1.7 that whatsoeuer shall be asked of God in the name of Christ our Lord, shalbe graunted.* 1.8 And whosoeuer is either loaden with sinne, or doth labour, vnder those punishments, which, as the reliques of sinne, doe hange vpon him; is al∣lured by the voyce of Christ our Lord himself to repaire to him, that he may be refreshed.
And indeed, what refreshing or com∣fort is there to be had in this life, till selfeloue be laid downe, and the pure and perfect loue of Christ our Lord be taken vp, in the practise of his diuine Doctrine: selfeloue, and selfewill it is, which puts vs to such paine in this pil∣grimage. For these are the rootes of all our in∣ordinate affections, which place vs as vpon a
beacon, where we are subiect to all the win∣des of perturbation and passion, which can blow; either of desires, or hopes, or feares, or any other care whatsoeuer. Yea, and if we watch our selues well, we shall find some∣tymes, that euen concerning the same persōs, or things, we are, in effect, at the(f) 1.9 selfe same tyme, both in hope, and feare; in loue, and yet in hate; in a burning kind of little en∣uy against them, and yet vpon the mayne, with an ardēt desire of their good. And in fine, we know not sometymes, what our selues would haue, nor what we ayle.
What meruaile is it then, if we be of∣ten vnlike, to what we had resolued to be, & that we are so extremely vnequall, so muta∣ble, and so miserable? How can we choose, but be perfect slaues, if thus we tye our selues to selfe loue, which giues the plague & death it selfe to al true liberty of spirit, professed and imparted, by the practice of the Doctrine of Christ our Lord, which is only able to make men free. This is not that prophane supposed liberty, to(g) 1.10 which the sectaries of this age do intytle their Ghospel, and which is indeed but expresse subiection to sinne and true slauery. But true Christian liberty doth consist in vn∣tying the soule, from all imperfection & sin; in subduing & mortifying our inordinate in∣clinations and passions acoording to the pure and perfect law of Christ our Lord; and in a word, in re-acquiring (for so much as can be done in this life) that state of innocency, and
that perfect subordination of sense to reason, and of reason to God, which by Adam was lost in Paradise.
And if still it shall appeare to vs, that (euen supposing but ordinary grace) this en∣terprise doe carry difficulty in the bosome of it; yet consider at least that no great thing can be done without some difficulty. Consider how(h) 1.11 the souldier labours for a little pay; The Courtier for a miserable suite; the schol∣ler for a smacke of vayne knowledge; The Merchant for increase of gaine; The husband∣man for the hope of a good haruest; The Sheepheard for the thriuing of his flocke. Cō∣sider the torments which sicke and wounded men indure for the recouery of a little corpo∣rall health; and the sensuall person for the ob∣teyning of his bestiall pleasure. And be thou sure to beleeue this most certaine truth; that the perfect seruice of God deserues in no sort to be accounted painefull, in respect of that deadly affliction and torment, which the ty∣ranny of our inordinate affections, & world∣ly pretences doth dayly, and hourely put vs to. And know this withall, that still the strō∣ger those passions grow, the more vn worthy seruitude doe they also grow, euery moment, to hold thee in; besides the mortall wounds which they oftē inflict vpon the soule, wher∣in if it dye, it is damned withall. Wheras a true(i) 1.12 Disciple of this Doctrine of Christ out Lord, hath the happines to study vnder the care, and in the eye, of an omnipotent Doctour.
He walkes perpetually secure, because he is e∣uer in conformity, to the holy, and wise wil of God. He is dayly gayning vpon himselfe. He is fed, now and then, with particular cō∣forts of Gods holy spirit; in comparison wher∣of, all the lying pleasures of flesh and bloud are no better then a smoky chimney to a tēder sight. He findes himselfe generally to grow stated in a kind of quiet ioy, and an immouea∣ble peace of mind; though this indeed, admits of great variety of degrees, more or lesse, ac∣cording to his indeauour, and concourse with the diuine grace.
And although(k) 1.13 a man should neuer arriue to the very top of perfection; yet that proportion wherof he cānot misse (if he faith∣fully endeauour to procure it) will be a libe∣rall reward of greater paines, then he can take. For besides the contentment of being still in strife towards God; he will find it seated in his very soule, as a most certaine truth; That the very meere desire of perfection, if it be a sound one indeed, giues such a sauoury kind of comfort, as puts all the base contentment of this world to silence. By this endeauour he shall also be defended, not only from mortall, but euen from willfull veniall sinnes. And he is already possessed, of as great security, as can be had in this mortall life of ours, that he is or∣deyned for heauen; in reward of that reue∣rence and obedience, which heere he hath performed, in learning and practising the diuine Doctrine of Christ our Lord; which he
came to teach vs with so infinite loue. But yet further we ought to be his euerlasting slaues, in that he was pleased that so principall a part of this very doctrine, should not only be de∣liuered, but should remaine recorded, and written in holy Scripture for our instruction and comfort, as partly we haue seen already, and will yet appeare more particularly, in the Chapter following.
Wher and how the body of the Do∣ctrine of Christ our Lord is deliue∣red.
Cap. 5.6. and else∣where, in all the parts of the ghos∣pell.
Of mortifica∣tion and penance.
The faithfull practise of the Do∣ctrine of Christ our Lord, makes men hap∣py euen in this life.
Consi∣derations which fa∣cilitate the practise of this Do∣ctrine.
Wear left with∣out excu∣se, it we do not follow, where so many are gone be∣fore.
Ioan. 7.
Matt. 11.
This is most true how strág soeuer it may seem
The levvd li∣berty of the Ghos∣pell of sectaries.
The infinite paynes vvhich is taken by vvorldly men for trash.
The happines of a true seruant of God.
The very de∣sire of per¦fection, is •• good step to∣wards it.