CHRIST JESUS TRIUMPHANT. BY JOHN FOX. TO THE CHRISTIAN READER, COMFORT IN CHRIST JESUS. SUCH is the force of flesh, christian reader, especially when the spirit doth make resistance, that what we would not, and should not do, that we do, Rom. vii. A subtle and most wily serpent, who in security is well pleased to be secure, and to them that sleep is also favourable to underlay a cushion. But when the stronger man, Luke xi. Jesus Christ, cometh upon them both, and with God's finger awaketh the one, and dispossesseth the other, then he playeth the old devil, and winding his tail plump round, with greater force doth hiss at, leap at, and bruise the stronger man's heel, because the stronger man broke his head, Gen. iii. And herein consider the wisdom of God's Spirit in these speeches of bruising the heel and breaking the head, as therein lively expressing the victory of Jesus Christ, Satan's overthrow, and the special comfort of a mourning conscience. For it was Satan's power, of God, to bruise Christ's heel, to beat, buffet, hiss at, spit at, scourge, and persecute him in the flesh, to shame him on the cross, to gore his side, to pierce his head, heart, and hands, to shed his blood; yet the same Jesus Christ triumphantly rose again with the same his flesh, ascended with the same, and with the same doth there remain at God's right hand, Lord of heaven and earth. In taking of which bruised heel, albeit he sometimes fainted in the infirmity of the flesh, and as it were called foot back again at the first touch or step, because of the sharp sting which he felt (for his own reverence cried at the entrance of his passion, saying, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass, Matt. xxvi.): yet he willingly, for our only cause and benefit, continued to be bruised on the heel; manfully spoiled the enemy of harness wherein he trusted, Luke xi. trod under the red dragon, Psa. xci, and, finally, brake and crushed his head; that is, the rigour of the law, the strength of sin, and the sting of death. In the same case and cause of quarrel which he had with our Master, he laboureth to master us, using his force in and upon our flesh, giving us often in conflict a foil or a fall; but it is the fall of the flesh, not of the spirit; of the body, not of the soul; of Adam, the old and outward man, not of Christ, the inward and the new. For the same heel, or flesh, bruised by the fall," through the law in itself" (the corruption that yet remaineth even in the elect) "rebelling against the law of our mind," albeit it hold us captive, and make us dead through trespass (for it standeth not with the riches of God's mercy and grace, neither with the kindness which he showed unto us in Christ Jesus, that we should be perfect in this flesh,) yet it hath no dominion, it 66 quickeneth, and riseth again, and is made to sit in heavenly places," Eph. ii. Where note, christian reader, that the Holy Ghost saith, it is made to sit, it sitteth not itself. How then, or of whom cometh the healing of this bruise? the recovery of this fall? the delivery from this body of death? and albeit our enemies make often and strong invasions or incursions, yet whence is the final victory? I thank my God, saith St. Paul, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Rom. vii. First, he thanketh-a note of grace and free gift, not of desert or duty; for who giveth another thanks for that which of necessity and desert is his own? Secondly, he giveth thanks to God, not to himself; and he thanketh not God, but in Christ Jesus our Lord; so that in ourselves there is nothing, in God the Father standeth the gift, but Jesus Christ is all in all. For God will not, neither can he be pleased, but only when Christ makes intercession. Mark the course and doctrine of the scripture. It is God, indeed, who hath raised us up together, and hath made us sit together in the heavenly places. But did he this for that we pleased him? or for that some great saint did make entreaty? No: he made us sit there, saith the text, in Jesus Christ; in no other. And why so in Jesus Christ? Forsooth, that he might show in ages to come the exceeding riches of his grace, through his kindness toward us, in Christ Jesus, Eph. ii. So that his kindness, grace, riches, and whatsoever his blessings which we have, or shall have at his hands, it is only for his well-beloved Son's sake; who only made us, who were far off, near unto his Father; and reconciled us that were in his hatred, and children of wrath, by his cross and precious blood. Without having him in thy mind or heart, it is a horrible and fearful thing but to think of God: a God of wrath and severe justice, unless only in his Son Christ, in whom he is well pleased. Pleased* he is, we all confess, and not only for original sin alone, (as some do affirm, thereby teaching that what sin we commit after our baptism, we ourselves, or the priest for us, having his hire, must redeem, and not Christ,) but also for all other sin in course of life committed. For, by grace we are saved, saith the text, (not washed,) and that through faith. Which faith cometh not by often working well, (for we might well argue that we are saved by works, if that we are saved by faith, as the fruit of our works,) but it is the gift of God, saith the scripture in the same place, and not our works. And why? lest any man should boast of himself. For thy works, therefore, and for thy faith, thank God, and thank God through Jesus Christ. He only is that good and pitiful Samaritan, who, when we have taken the foil, or the fall, being sore wounded in this conflict of the flesh and spirit, and so cast as forlorn to the hedge, doth wash and heal our sores and wounds with his most pure and blessed oil; his sweet heart-blood paying the uttermost farthing of our debt: to him be all honour, glory, and triumph, for ever! Amen. Of this I thought good to admonish thee, christian reader, desirous with thee to rejoice in the wonderful works of mercy wrought by this our great champion, Jesus Christ; whose victory is our victory; and though we sin of infirmity, yet he is perfect. Read, and accept this comfortable treatise which I have translated; therein shalt thou find faithfully set before thine eyes, what Christ hath done for us in his passion, and what he requireth of us again, for being made partakers of the fruits of his passion. The same Lord Jesus Christ bless thy body and soul to life everlasting! Amen. In whom I most heartily bid and wish thee farewell. A. D. 1578. * Appeased. RICHARD DAY. WHEREIN IS DESCRIBED THE GLORIOUS TRIUMPH AND CONQUEST OF BY JOHN FOX. The triumph of Christ notably appeareth in man's misery. So often as inwardly in spirit I behold the transitory and frail estate of our mortal nature, thoroughly vexed with infinite miseries, perils, injuries, and lamentations, so that we have nothing of sure account, nothing free, but all subject to the servitude, tyranny, and slavery of most raging enemies: it seemeth to me almost unspeakable, how deeply indebted we are to Christ Jesus, our Saviour and Triumpher most victorious. Unto whom, of bounden duty, we have given all that is ours, and ourselves wholly, and more than wholly, yet in no respect are we answerable to his wonderful deserts; so far do those things, which this our heavenly Champion hath compassed and performed for our cause, surpass, not only our strength and nature, but also all conceit of heart and thought; the great riches whereof well near exceed all credit and belief. If we commonly and very much esteem the worthy exploits achieved by renowned captains of this world; if with great joy and desire we hunger after them, being printed in books, graven in tables, painted on walls, or set forth and represented on a stage; if we greedily hearken after them and wonder at them; if we give all triumph, all pomp, honour, and praise unto them; how then ought we to be affected towards this our heavenly Conqueror, whose worthy acts and most wonderful stratagems do with such infinite brightness darken all glory, and so far exceed the nature of human things, that heaven is not farther distant from the earth, shadows do not more differ from the things themselves, nor the counterfeit from that which is true! But so it falleth out, that as the commodity of the other, even so the majesty and incredible benefits of this our heavenly Prince are not so highly esteemed of us, unless we first perfectly know and feel the force of those our enemies whom he hath subdued, or the depth of those dangers from which we have been and are daily delivered. Wherefore, I am to request all godly and true-hearted christians to give diligent heed and attentive ear, whilst I shall both plainly and truly set before their eyes the most lamentable estate of our wretched nature, and the exceeding might and malice of our most cruel enemies. So will it come to pass, that we shall more worthily account of, and more joyfully acknowledge, the victorious power of Christ in working our salvation. The consideration of man's misery. And that I may pass over with. silence those lighter fleabitings, (in respect,) I mean the common kind of grievances, yet full of misery and sorrow, which sundry ways befall us in this life-that also I may omit the inward groanings of the heart, and secret vexation of thoughts, and temptations, wherewith every one, *for the most part, is inwardly tormented in himself, for who hath not some one or other familiar Satan attending at his heels?—that I may let these things pass, the several discourse whereof would require whole volumes long and tedious, look upon those common and public evils equally and indifferently betiding to us all. How miserable do they make this life, or rather to be no life at all! To be touched therewith we count it much, yet they oppress us; but to be oppressed by them we make a wonder, yet most wonderfully and utterly we are thereby consumed. The invincible power of death. And first, to begin with the least and lightest of these evils, consider with me the invincible tyranny of death, daily ranging and raging in this world; the power and force whereof not all the monarchs of the earth could for a moment withstand. Not that great king of Macedon, whose aspiring heart the conquest of one whole world could not content, was at any time able to cope with her: not Hercules' strength, albeit the bane of most ugly monsters, was ever able so much as to wound this biting serpent: not that Persian Xerxes, even he that threatened floods and mountains, could once amaze her, with all his armed troops: not Marius the renowned, or the more renowned Pompey; not haughty Cæsar; not the most hearty and valiant Roman soldiers, who limited their empire with the bounds and borders of the earth, bringing all nations into subjection, were at any time able to cast off the yoke of her subjection! How many ages of this world hath this tyrannical fury rioted up and down, yet no mortal wight has been hitherto found, once able to delay, much less to delude, and so |