IN this Verse is another Argument prouing that we should not please our selues, and it is richly amplified in the ver∣ses following.

It is taken from example: Longum iter per praecepta, breue & efficax per exempla, * said a Philosopher: A compendious way to vertue, is to obserue and follow good example: and therefore Paul vrgeth the precept with example, yea, with the best example of all others, euen of Christ; Christ pleased not himselfe; therefore nor we must.

Or thus:

• Whatsoeuer is written of Christ (in regard of his mo∣rall obedience) we must follow.
• But it is written that he pleased not himselfe:

Therefore.

The maior is proued in the fourth verse. The minor is in this.

The Conclusion in the seuenth verse.

In this verse we haue two things: The Proposition of the Example, and the Proofe of it.

The Proposition in these words: Christ pleased not him∣selfe, but.

The Proofe, from a written testimonie, in the rest.

In the Proposition, are; The person from whom the Ex∣ample is drawne, which is Christ, and the Illustration of the person; first from a particle of speciall note, whereby hee is accented: Euen Christ. Secondly, from dissentany effects; He pleased not himselfe, but vs, or others.

Euen Christ: The liuely and only absolute patterne of all vertue, in whom we neuer want matter of imitation. All o∣thers are to be followed, with this restraint, si rectè praecesse∣rint, if they haue gone aright. And therefore Paul propoun∣deth his example to the Corinthians, with this clause; * as I am of Christ: and to the Philippians, * he propoundeth him∣selfe and others, as Types and Copies, not as Prototypes and Principalls, for so only is Christ.

Pleased not himselfe: not that hee was displeased in taking vpon him, and working our Redemption; for he most wil∣lingly vndertooke it, * and was straitned and grieued till it was finished. But he sought not his owne ease, or the content and satisfaction of the inclination of Nature, which abhorreth paine and the destruction of it selfe. He tooke such a course which demonstrated, that he sought therein our good more then his owne ease or pleasure.

But; here is an Elipsis of some thing, which is supplied thus; but vs, or but others: and it is an elegant bringing in of the proofe, where in stead of the other Dissentany, the probation is inferred.

It is written, The reproches of them which reproched thee, fell on mee.

This testimony is taken out of Psal. 69.9. the first part of the verse, The zeale of thine house hath eaten me vp, is applied to our Sauiour by his Disciples, Ioh. 2.17. the other part here by Paul: in the first he sheweth his zeale to God; in the second his loue to vs: for hee grieuously tooke the sinnes of men a∣gainst his Father; and translated the sinnes of the Elect vpon Page  242himselfe, * and expiated them: His owne selfe bare our sinnes in his body on the tree.

By reproches he meaneth the sinnes of the Elect, by a Sy∣nechdoche, one outragious kinde being put for all; and indeed all sinne is a kind of reproch and despite to God.

Here also is another figure, the cause being put for the ef∣fect, sinne for the punishment of it.

Fell on mee, as a most heauie burthen, vnto which no strength was sufficient but Christs.

Christ was not in all his life and death indulgent to himselfe, [Doctr.] pleasing himselfe, but he pleased vs. 1. Cor. 11.1. Bee yee fol∣lowers of me, euen as I also am of Christ: which words depend vpon the last verse of the tenth Chapter, where Paul decla∣red that he pleased not himselfe; as Christ sought not his owne glory, Ioh. 8.50. so nor to please himselfe.

Hence we are to be admonished, [Vse 1] to beare with the infir∣mities of our neighbours: Christ was without sinne or any defect, and needed not that any should beare with him; wee need our selues to be borne withall: Christ bore the abomi∣nable sinnes of his enemies, we the infirmities of our neighbours; Christ was not obliged by precept to haue done it, but we are; therefore if he did so much for vs, freely of his owne accord, we are to doe so small a thing for our brethren at his commande∣ment: otherwise the reproofe of the vnmercifull seruant will lye vpon vs: I forgaue thee ten thousand Talents, shouldest not thou haue had compassion on thy fellow seruant, and haue forgiuen him an hundred pence?

He that will liue godly, [Ʋse 2] must follow the example of our Sauiour Christ; * as Gideon bade his souldiers, looke on him, and doe likewise: * so Christ prouoketh vs to his example, and also the Apostles; as Peter, 1. Pet. 2.21. and Paul in many places, for many particular duties: for Forgiuenesse, Ephe. 4.32. for Loue, Ephes. 5.2. for Humility, Philip. 2.5. for Beneficence, 2. Cor. 8.9. for the Profession of faith, 1. Tim. 6.13. for Fidelity, Hebr. 3.2. &c.

Examine thy selfe whether thou be conformable to his ex∣ample; if not, then art thou so farre wicked, as thou followest not his steppes.

He was peaceable, obedient to Magistrates, frequent in prayer; if thou beest contrary, neither art thou holy, nor be∣longing to his discipline.

Christ was a patterne of temperance, sobriety, &c. The drunkard then, of all other, is one, who liueth most contra∣rie to our Sauiour Christ.

No maruell, if the Heathen were notoriously guilty of whoredome, drunkennesse, &c. for such things are spoken of their gods: but our God, he is holy; our Master most in∣nocent, a Lambe without spot, wholly pure, and without all sin; like whom we must liue here, if we would liue like him here∣after.

When then thou shalt be tempted to drunkennesse, or any other sinne, say as Vriah did; My Lord, and the people of my Lord, liue soberly, chastly, &c. and shall I commit such things? As the Lord liueth, I will not doe this thing. *

Let the loue of Christ to vs, [Ʋse 3] constraine vs to loue and o∣bey him.

Christ tooke vpon him our sinnes, and dyed vnder the burthen for vs. He sought not his owne pleasure, but our good: let not vs seeke to please our selues, but him.

What should haue become of Manasses, Dauid, Mary Magdalen, Peter? Yea what should haue become of vs all, if he had sought to ease and please himselfe? Yea if he should not beare with vs euery day.

Let nothing draw thee from his obedience, whom no∣thing could draw from effecting thy good.

If most vnspeakable torments, most bitter death, most shamefull reproches, could haue done it, hee had neuer re∣deemed thee.

If counsell, euen Peters counsell could haue preuailed, * he had pleased himselfe, to our eternall displeasure: But he ouer∣came all impediments, to please and profit thee, though to his infinite paine; so doe thou, to please and obey him, though it should cost thee ten thousand liues.

Sinnes are reproches against God, to commit drunkennesse, [Ʋse 4] whoredome, to blaspheme, lye, slander, is to reuile the most High.

Hee that curseth and reuileth his Parents, is worthy of death; much more if the Creature shall reproach his Creator.

God accounteth himselfe honored, when wee obey him, and dishonored by our rebellions: remember what is writ∣ten, and reproch him not. The Lord saith, Them that honor me, * I will honor, and they that despise me, shall be lightly esteemed.