R:afons for Chrillspatience to- Vpon Paflion Sunday. Ser. ;2. ward! the Pharifeesat this time._ knowit is fo; it is recciuedas Gods Oracle, though Godoftentimes betrayes their ignorance to the world,to Phew them their errour.Itis agreat hautìnesand pride of heart in anyman, to ftand fo much vpon the authoritie ofhis perfon, as to fay, Bajía, qúeyo to diga, It ù enough, that I hauefayd it. Pilat faw no caule why he fhould crucifie our Sauior Chrift ; but the Pharifees roundly told him, it is enough, that we haue deliuered himvpinto thyhands , without thy fùr- ther enquiring into the caufe. The Deuill when hecannot perfuadea finneby reafon, he alledgeth the authoritie offorce notedperfonorother, andby how many greatand graue men it is approoued,&c. Sutingwith that ofSeneca, Infa- mentinmmultitudo,effanitatrsproteliio. I basenot a Deuill,&c. Other whiles our Sauiour nipt the Pharifees, took them vp fhort, and vied fharpe reprehenfions to them; as, 2'auare ofyourfather' the Deuill, 4 wickedand adulterous Gentration,erc.But here he isas mild with them as a Lambe,andmakes themthisfoft andgentle anfwcr, Ihaue not aDeuil.Which temperate bchauiour ofhis was grounded vpon three reafons : Fir(i ofall, becaufe he that vpon the vying of an iniurie will not ( though be haue the better cards inhis hand, and that it bee in his power to put the other to the worft ) reuie vpon him , but let it paffe , manifefts to the world a more nobleand more glorious teftimonieof his mildneffe and patience, than he that fuffereth and endurethwhen he cannot otherwife chufe wanting not fomuchwill aspower to reuengea recciued wrong. That is a generous pati- ence, whena manhatha fmoothandeafie way to worke reuenge , andyet ra- ther chufeth to pocketthantopreffe an iniurie.On the Vigilesof our Sauiours beeing apprehended , our Sauiour Chrift fayd vnto his Apoftles , Hee that hash none , let him fill his coat andby afword. Whereupon fàyth Saint ems- brofe, Sweet lefhs WhySwords beeing thou wilt not giue thy Apoftles leaue to draw them r and wert angriewithPeter , and didit reprooue him for drawing his fword in thydefence t Whereunto this glorious Doétour maketh vs this anfwere, That their patience might appeare more noble, by hauing Swords by their fides, and yet not offering to draw them. Let a Chriftian therefore weare a Sword, but let himnot vnfheath his fword, to the end that al men mayfee, thatif hedoe not reuengean iniurie, itis not for want of awea- pon to right himfelfe,but outofa fuperaboundanceoffufferance and patience. Ifiodora5 Pelufiota difputingthe reafonwhy Chrift turfed the Fig-Tree, leaningit fruitleflè for euer,Neuer man eat fruitofthee hereafter while the worldflandeth,faith, That the Iewes confidering thofe innumerable myracles which our Sauiour wrought,and more particularlyfor thegoodand benefit of that people, might happely prefume,That Chrift had powerto doegood, but not todoe hurt : and therefore that it might appeare vnto them, that bee hadpowerofand ouer all, howbeit he did not in manyof them punifh their wickedneffe and ingratitude, yet did hepunifh it inthe Fig-tree,whichwas their true type and figure. Secondly, Chrift wouldreachvs this leffon, Thatthe belt meanes to breake angerin anenemic, andto allìiagehis choller,are either foft words, or ñlenc. Saint Chryloflome faith That to giue a faire,and gentle anfwere to an angrie mmn, is more than to prophefie of that which is to come; for the gift of Prophecying God giyies it Gratia, and it coils the Receiuer nothing; buttó fufferan Enemie, colteth much. Gregorio ii zianzen expounding that placé ofSaint Luke, Vnto him that fmiteth thee on the one cheeke, offer alto the ..other ; addeth fu ther,If thouhadf} three cheekes,thou oughtftto offerthemall or tokeepe himquiet. But force manwill fay; When that Varlet , that hafe Yy 3 Slaue 533 Patiencewhen moll to be ap- plauded. L14.22. Marc.zz.t. To fuéfer in. juries a great nobleneffe.
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