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 infinite Loue which our Lord Iesus discoue∣uereth to mākind in his sacred Passion; with a reflection vpon the dignity of his diuine person; and the vse which heer we are to make thereof.

CHAP. 52.

OVR Lord IESVS was figured, in the old Testament,* 1.1 with great propriety, by the flower of the roote of Iesse, and by the Lion of the

Tribe of Iuda. A flower he was, both through the sauour of his benesits, and through the o∣dour of his diuine conuersation, as the prece∣dent discourses will haue shewed; and a Lion he was also by the nobility of his strength, and Passion, as will now appeare. Fortitude is both actiue and passiue, yea and the Passiue is farre the greater, and farre the harder of the two. The(a) 1.2 course of his whole life, was like a field so thicke so wed with crosses, and cares, that it may all be accounted to haue bene a kind of continued Passion; but yet, because the last day and night of the same life, did so abound therwith, it is this alone, which is e∣minently knowne, and called, by that sad name.

In this state he was to be, when the Pro∣phet Esay foresaw, and spake of him, to this effect. He hath no grace or beauty;* 1.3 we haue seene him and there was nothing in him, to be seene; & we desired that he might be contemned; as the most aba∣sed thinge amongst men. A man of griefe, and who did euen possesse the knowledge of infirmity. His face, was as if it were hiddden, and despised; and we had him, in no estimation. It was he indeed, who bare our infirmities, and who suffered our paines; and we esteemed of him, as of some Leaprous person; and as one who had bene strucken, by the hand of God, and so deiected.

How truly were these things perfor∣med, in the persō of Christ our Lord through∣out the course and current of his Passion, wil instantly be represented heere; when first

you(b) 1.4 shall haue bene desired, to looke a little backe, with the eye of your consideration, v∣pon the first Chapters of this whole discourse, wherin the dignity of the person of Christ our Lord is touched. For so, when we shall haue coupled that former excellēcy, with this present infamy; & shall withal, haue weighed how the only reason that moued him to dis∣poyle himselfe of the one, and to vest himselfe with the other, was a desire of the glory of God, which might redound to him by our good; And that he emptyed himselfe, out of his owne felicity, to the end that we might partake therof in heauen; And did euen as it were inebriate himselfe, with the Chalice of affliction, affronts, and desolation, that so in the strength of that, he might secure vs from the eternall chaines of fire in hell; I(c) 1.5 thinke we shal not be so blindly bold, nor so wicked∣ly vngratefull, as not to detest our sins which were the cause of all his sorrow; and continually to lament, and serue, & loue that Lord, who was pleased to vndergoe, such pe∣nance for them.

Consider therfore, I say, that he whose Passion you are to read, was the only Sonne of the sacred Virgin Mary, that most excellēt and perfect pure Creature that euer was. Cō∣sider that his humanity, was framed by the hād and skill of the holy Ghost, out of her Royall and all-immaculate bloud. Consider that he was beautifull aboue all the Sonnes of men, for cō∣plexion, for constitution,* 1.6 and for grace, and

motion. Consider the complete sanctity of his holy soule, which animated that body, so full of beauty; The high purity, the wide cha∣rity, the profound humility, the entyre con∣formity, and transformity of his will, into the will of God; with al other vertues in the high∣est degree, which God could communicate to a creature.

Consider the other incomparable guifts and graces, which were imparted to him or rather ingulfed in him, beyond all measure & proportion. That guift of Prophesy and Mira∣cles; That treasure of incorruptible wisedome; That euer - flowing riuer of his infallible Knowledge, Experimentall, Infused, & Bea∣tificall. Cōsider that this body and soule, were knit by the indissoluble bond of Hypostaticall vnion, to the second person of the most bles∣sed Trinity, who (according to the words of the Creed of the Councell of Nice) is God of God, light of light, true God of true God, begottens not made, consubstantiall with the Father, by whom all things were made. Consider, if thou canst, the infinite, eternall, simple, vnchangeable, inde∣pendant essence, and wisedome, and power, & goodnes of this diuinity. It being the foun∣taine of Immortality, Purity, Liberty, Verity, Clarity, Peace, Plenty, Grace, Glory, Swauity, Ex∣cellency, Beauty, Maiesty, Felicity, Prouidence, Pre∣seruation, Protection, Iustice, Mercy, Pitty, Longa∣nimity, and Loue. Consider that to euery of these Attributes, there belongs an addition of being infinite; and that in a word, he is the substāce,

and the summe, the circumference, and the Center of all Originall created perfection.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Isa. 1. Gen. 49.
• (a) 1.2

  The whole life of our Lord, may in some sort be called a Passion.
• * 1.3

  Isa. 53.
• (b) 1.4

  In the considera¦tion of the Passion of Christ our Lord, it is neces∣sary to ponder his infini∣te Maie∣sty, as he is God.
• (c) 1.5

  The vse of these con∣sideratiōs.
• * 1.6

  Psalm, 44.