the holy Ordinances of God which they have no right whilst such to partake of 2. That the presence of such persons doth pollute the Ordinance only to themselves holy persons are not polluted by their Sins therefore ought not to be discouraged from coming by their presence there Observe 2. What a surprizing and astonishing word it was which dropt from our Saviour's Mouth amongst his Disciples One shall betray me yea one of you shall betray me Can any Church upon Earth expect purity in all its Members when Christ's own family of Twelve had a Traitor and a Devil in it Yet tho' it was very sad to hear of one it was matter of joy to understand that there was but one One Hypocrite in a Congregation is too much but there is cause of rejoycing if there be no more Observe 3. Christ did not name Judas and say Thou O perfidious Judas art the Traitor but one of you shall betray me Doubtless it was to draw him to Repentance and to prevent the giving him any provocation Lord how sad is it for any of thy Family who pretend friendship to Thee to conspire with thine Enemies against Thee For any that eat of thy Bread to lift up their heel against Thee Observe 4. The Disciples sorrow upon these words of Christ and the effect of that Sorrow Their Sorrow was as well it might exceeding great Well might innocent Disciples be over-whelm'd with Sorrow to hear that their Master should die that he should die by Treason that the Traitor should be one of themselves But though their Sorrow was great yet was the effect of their Sorrow very good it wrought in them an holy suspicion of themselves and caused every one to search himself and say Master is it I Learn hence That it is possible for such secret wickedness to lodge in the heart as we never suspected till Time and Temptation drew it forth None of the Disciples suspected nay Judas himself never apprehended that depth of iniquity and hypocrisy which was found lodging in him Yet Note that though the Disciples were jealous and suspicious yet was it of themselves not of one another nay not of Judas himself every one said Master is it I not Master is it Judas True Sincerity and Christian Charity will make us more suspicious of our selves then of any other it hopes the best of others and fears the worst of our selves Observe 5. That though Judas sees himself pointed at by our Saviour and hears the dreadful Threatnings denounced against him that it had been better for him that he had ne-never been Born yet he is no more Blank'd then innocence it self Resolute Sinners run on desperately in their Evil Courses and with open Eyes see and meet their own Destruction without being either dismayed at it or Concerned about it This Shameless Man had the Impudence to say to our Blessed Saviour Master is it I Our Saviour gives him a direct Answer Thou sayest it Did not Judas think we Blush extreamly cast down his guilty Eyes and let fall his drooping Head at so galling an intimation Nothing less we read of nothing like it Lord How does obduracy in Sin steel the Brow and make it uncapable of all Relenting impressions Observe Lastly How our Saviour prefers Non-entity before Damnation It had been better for that Man he had never been born A Temporal miserable Being is not worse than no Being but Eternal Misery is much worse than Non-entity Better to have no Being then not to have a Being in Christ It had been better for Judas that he had never been Born than to lye under Everlasting Wrath. 22 And as they did eat Jesus took Bread and blessed and brake it and gave to them and said Take eat this is my Body 23 And he took the Cup and when he had given Thanks he gave it to them and they all drank of it 24 And he said unto them This is my Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many 25 Verily I say unto you I will drink no more of the Fruit of the Vine until that day that I drink it new in the Kingdom of God 26 And when they had sung an Hymn they went out into the Mount of Olives Immediately after the Celebration of the Passover our Lord Institutes his Holy Supper in which Institution we have Observable The Author the Time the Elements and Ministerial Actions Observe here 1. The Author of this new Sacrament Jesus took Bread Note thence That to Institute a Sacrament is the sole Prerogative of Jesus Christ The Church has no Power to make new Sacraments it is only her Duty to Celebrate those which her Saviour has made Observe 2. The Time of the Institution the Night before his Passion The Night in which he was Betrayed Jesus took Bread Learn thence That it is very necessary when Sufferings are approaching to have Recourse to the Table of the Lord which affords both an Antidote against Fear and is a Restaurative to our Faith Observe 3. The Sacramental Elements Bread and Wine Bread representing the Body and Wine the Blood of our dear Redeemer Observe 4. The Ministerial Actions The Breaking of the Bread and the Blessing of the Cup as to the Bread Jesus took it that is set it apart from Common Use and separated it for Holy Ends and Purposes He Blessed it that is Prayed for a Blessing upon it and Brake it thereby shadowing forth his Body broken upon the Cross and he gave it to his Disciples saying This broken Bread signifies my Body suddenly to be broken upon the Cross for the Redemption and Salvation of a lost World Do this in Remembrance of my Death As to the Cup Christ having set it apart by Prayer and Thanksgiving he Commands his Disciples to drink all of it and accordingly they all drink of it says this Evangelist and our Saviour gives his Reason for it v. 24. For this is my Blood of the New Testament which is shed for Remission of sins that is the Wine in this Cup represents the shedding of my Blood by which the New Covenant betwixt GOD and Man is Ratified and Confirmed Whence we Gather That every Communicant hath as undoubted a Right to the Cup as to the Bread in the Lord's Supper Drink ye all of this says Christ therefore to deny the Cup to the Common People is Sacriledge and directly contrary to our Saviour's Institution After the Celebration was over our Saviour and his Disciples Sang an Hymn as the Jews were wont to do at the Passover the six Eucharistical Psalms from the 113th to the 119th Psalm From Christ's Example we gather how suitable it is to sing a Psalm after the Celebration of the Lord's Supper How fit is it that God be Glorified in his Church by singing of Psalms and in particular when the Lord's Supper is Celebrated When they had Sung an Hymn they went into the Mount of Olives 27 And Jesus saith unto them All ye shall
holy Persons are not polluted by the Sins of such For to the Pure all things are Pure 21 And as they did eat he said Verily I say unto you that one of you shall betray me What an astonishing Word was this One of you my Disciples shall betray me Can any Church on Earth expect Purity in all its Members when Christ's own Family of Twelve had a Traitor and a Devil in it Yet tho' it was very sad to hear that one should betray him it was Matter of Joy that it was but One One Hypocrite in a Congregation is too much but there is cause of rejoicing if there be no more But why did not Christ name Judas and say Thou art he that shalt betray me Doubtless to draw him to Repentance and to prevent giving Judas any Provocation Lord how sad is it for such as pretend Friendship to Christ and call themselves of his Family and Acquaintance who eat of his Bread and yet lift up the Heel against him 22 And they were exceeding sorrowful and began every one of them to say unto him Lord is it I Observe here 1. The Disciples Sorrow and next the Effect of that Sorrow Their Sorrow was as well it might exceeding great Well might innocent Disciples be overwhelm'd with Sorrow to hear that their Master should dye that he should dye by Treason that the Traitor should be one of themselves But tho' their Sorrow was great yet was the Effect of their Sorrow very good it wrought in them an holy Suspicion of themselves and caused every one to search himself and say Master is it I Thence Learn That it is possible for such secret Wickedness to lurk in our Hearts as we never suspected which Time and Temptation may draw forth in such a manner as we could not believe and therefore it is both wise and holy to suspect our selves and be often saying Lord is it I There is no better Preservative from Sin than to be jealous over our selves with a godly Jealousie Observe farther That tho' the Disciples Fear and Sorrow made them jealous and suspicious yet was it of themselves not of one another nay not of Judas himself Every one said Master is it I Not Master is it Judas Learn hence That true Sincerity and Christian Charity will make us more suspicious of our selves than of any other Person whatsoever It always hopes the best of others and fears the worst concerning our selves 23 And he answered and said He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish the same shall betray me 24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him but wo unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed it had been good for that man if he had not been born 25 Then Judas which betrayed him answered and said Master is it I He said unto him Thou hast said Here our Saviour acquaints his Disciples who it was that had designed his Death even he that dipped with him in the Dish or he to whom he gave the Sop. Observe The Traitor whom Christ less loved he has the Sop given to him the other Disciples whom Christ lov'd better had no such particular Boon Outward good Things are not always given to the Children of Men in Love but are sometimes bestowed in Displeasure there is no measuring Christ's Affection by Temporal Blessings no concluding either Love or Hatred by these things Observe farther how Judas could sit still and hear the Threats of Judgment denounced against himself without Concern he hears Christ say Wo to the Man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed and is no more blank'd than Innocence it self Resolved Sinners run on desperately in their wicked Courses and with open Eyes see and meet their own Destruction and are neither dismayed at it nor concerned about it Observe farther That this shameless Man had the Impudence to say to Christ Master is it I Our Saviour gives him a direct Affirmation Thou hast said Did not Judas think we blush and cast down his guilty Eyes and let fall his droâ—ping dead at so gauling an Intimation Nothing less Lord how does Obâ—urâ—cy in Sin steel the Brow and make it uncapable of all relenting Impressions Observe Lastly How Christ preferrs Non-Entity before Damnation It had been better for that Man he had never been born A Temporal miserable Being is not worse than no Being but an Eternal miserable Being is worse than no Being at all Eternal Misery is much worse than Non-Entity It had been better for Judas he had not been born than to commit such a Sin and lye under such Wrath and that everlasting Oh better to have no Being than not to have a Being in Christ 26 And as they were eating Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the disciples and said Take eat this is my body 27 And he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of it 28 For this is my blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins 29 But I say unto you I will not drink henceforth of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom 30 And when they had sung an hymn they went out into the mount of Olives Immediately after the Celebration of the Passover follows the Institution of the Lord's Supper In which Observe 1. The Author of this new Sacrament Jesus took Bread Note thence That to institute a Sacrament is Christ's sole Prerogative it is the Churches Duty to celebrate the Sacraments but she has Power to make none This belongs only to Christ Observe 2. The Time of the Institution the Night before his Passion The Night before he was betrayed Jesus took Bread Learn thence That it is very necessary when Sufferings are approaching to have Recourse to the Table of the Lord which affords both an Antidote against Fear and is Restorative to Faith Observe here 3. The Sacramental Elements Bread and Wine Bread representing his Body and Wine his Blood Observe 4. The Ministerial Actions the Breaking of the Bread and the Blessing of the Cup. As to the Bread Jesus took it that is set it apart from common Use and separated it for Holy Ends and Purposes He blessed it that is prayed for a Blessing upon it and brake it thereby shadowing forth his Body broken upon the Cross And he gave it to his Disciples saving This broken Bread signifies my Body suddenly to be broken upon the Cross for your Redemption and Salvation Do this in Remembrance of me and of my Death As to the Cup Christ having set it apart by Prayer and Thanksgiving he commands his Disciples to drink all of it and subjoins a Reason for it For This is my Blood of the New Testament which is shed for Remission of Sins That is The Wine in this Cup represents the shedding of my Blood by which the new Covenant betwixt God
their Sepulchers 2. In professing great Respect to the dead Saints and at the same time persecuting the living Palpable Hypocrisie And yet as gross as it is it prevails to this Day The Church of Rome who magnifie Martyrs and canonize Saints departed have yet added to their numbers by shedding of their Blood 3. In taking false measures of their Love to the Saints departed from their building their Tombs and garnishing their Sepulchers whereas the best Evidence of our Love unto them is the imitating their Vertues and cherishing their Followers 'T is gross Hypocrisie to pay Respect to the Relicks of Saints and Veneration to their Images and at the same time to persecute and afflict their Followers Learn hence 1. That the World has all along loved dead Saints better than the living Mortui non mordent the dead Saint's Example how bright soever is not so scorching and troublesome at a distance and he himself no longer stands in other Men's Light whereas the living Saint's Example is a cutting Reproof to Sin and Vice Obs 2. That there is a certain Civility in Humane Nature which leads Men to a just Commendation of the Dead and to a due Estimation of their Worth The Pharisees here tho' they persecuted the Prophets whilst alive yet had they a mighty Veneration for their Piety and Vertue after they were dead and thought no Honour too great to be done unto them Note 3. That it is the grossest Hypocrisie to pretend to love Goodness and yet hate and persecute good Men. These Hypocritical Pharisees pretended high to Piety and Religion and at the same time killed the Prophets and stoned them that were sent unto them 4. That the highest Honour we can pay to the Saints departed is not by raising Monuments and building Tombs to their Memory but by a careful Imitation of their Piety and Virtue following the Holiness of their Lives and their Patience and Constancy at their Deaths 34 Wherefore behold I send unto you prophets and wise men and scribes and some of them ye shall kill and crucifie and some of them ye shall scourge in your synagogues and persecute them from city to city 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias whom ye slew between the temple and the altar 36 Verily I say unto you All these things shall come upon this generation Observe here A Prophetical Prediction and a severe Denunciation 1. A Prediction foretelling what cruel Usage the Apostles should meet with from the Jews Killing and Crucifying some Scourging and Stoning others which accordingly was fulfilled in the Crucifying of St. Peter the Scourging of St. Paul in the Stoning of St. Stephen and Killing of St. James The first Planters and Propagators of the Gospel sealed their Doctrine with their Blood and the Blood of the Martyrs has all along been the Seed of the Church Obs 2. A severe Denunciation That upon you may come all the Righteous Blood shed upon the Earth from Abel to Zacharias the Son of Jehoiada 2 Chron. 24.20 who was the last Prophet whose Murder is related by Name in the Old Testament These Words are not to be understood as if the End and Intent of Christ's sending the Prophets were that the Jews might put them to Death and bring their righteous Blood upon themselves This was the Consequent and Event indeed of their sending but by no means the Design and Intent of it Learn 1. That raging Persecutors have no Regard either to the extraordinary Mission or eminent Sanctity of Persons who reprove them for their Sins I send unto you Prophets says our Saviour wise Men and Scribes and some of them ye shall Kill and Crucifie 2. That as the Piety of the Persons so neither can the Sanctity of the Place discourage and deterr bloody Persecutors from their Rage and Fury against the Prophets of God In the Temple it self in the Court of the House of the Lord even betwixt the Porch and the Altar was Zacharias slain 3. That it is a righteous Thing with God to punish the Children for the Impieties of their Parents This is to be understood 1. where the Children tread in their Father's Steps and continue in their Parents Sins which they do if they do not confess them abhor them and be humbled for them 2. This is to be understood of Temporal Evils not of Eternal Punishments No Man shall for his Father's Sins lye down in Everlasting Burnings As our Fathers Faith will not let us into Heaven so neither will their Impiety shut us into Hell At the Day of Judgment every Man shall be separately considered according to his Deeds 37 O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not 38 Behold your house is left unto you desolate 39 For I say unto you Ye shall not see me henceforth till ye shall say Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. Our Lord concludes this Chapter with a Pathetical Lamentation over Jerusalem His Ingemination or doubling of the Word Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem shews the Vehemency of Christ's Affection towards them and the Sincerity of his Desires for their Salvation Obs 1. The great Kindness and Compassion of Christ to the Jews in general and Jerusalem in particular set forth by a lively Metaphor and Similitude that of an Hen gathering her Chickens under her Wings As the Hen doth tenderly cherish and carefully hide and cover her Young from the Eye of the Destroyer so would Christ have shrouded and sheltered this People from all those Birds of Prey and particularly from the Roman Eagle by which they were at last devoured Again As the Hen continueth her Call to her young ones from Morning to Night and holds out her Wings for shelter to them all the Day long so did Christ wait for this Peoples Repentance and Conversion for more than Forty Years after they had killed his Prophets and murthered himself before they met with a final Overthrow Obs 2. The amazing Obstinacy and Wilfulness of this People in rejecting this Grace and Favour this Kindness and Condescension of the Lord Jesus Christ I would have gathered you but ye would not Obs 3. The Fatal Issue of this Obstinacy Behold your House is left unto you desolate Is left that is certainly and suddenly will be so The Present-Tense put for the Paulo post futurum it denotes both the Certainty and Proximity of this People's Ruin Learn 1. That the Ruin and Destruction of Sinners is wholly chargeable upon themselves that is on their own Wilfulness and Obstinacy I would have gathered you says Christ but ye would not Learn 2. How deplorably and inexcusably they will perish who perish by their own Wilfulness under the Gospel 3. That there
that durst not come within the Shadow of my Cross nor within sight of my Sepulchre But not one Word of all this by way of upbraiding them for their late shameful Cowardice but all words of Divine Indulgence and of endearing Kindness Go tell my Brethren Where Mark that Christ calls them Brethren after his Resurrection and Exaltation thereby shewing that the Change of his Condition had wrought no Change in his Affection towards his poor Disciples But those that were his Brethren before in the Time of his Humiliation and Abasement are so still after his Exaltation and Advancement Go tell my Brethren One thing more must be Noted with Reference to our Lord's Resurrection and that is Why he did not first choose to appear to the Virgin Mary his Disconsolate Mother whose Soul was pierced with a quick and lively sight and Sense of her Son's Sufferings But to Mary Magdalene who had been a grievous Sinner Doubtless this was for the Comfort of all true Penitents and Administers great Consolation to them As the Angels in Heaven Rejoyce much more doth Christ Joy in the Recovery of one Repenting Sinner then in Multitudes of Holy and Just Persons such was the Blessed Virgin who need no Repentance For the same Reason did our Saviour particularly Name Peter Go tell my Disciples and Peter He being for his Denyal of Christ swallowed up with Sorrow and standing most in need of Consolation therefore speak particularly to Peter As if Christ had said Be sure that his sad Heart be Comforted with this joyful News that I am Risen and let him know that I am Friends with him notwithstanding his late Cowardice 13 And behold two of them went the same day to a Village called Emmaus which was from Jerusalem about Threescore Furlongs 14 And they talked together of all those things which had happened 15 And it came to pass that while they Communed together and reasoned Jesus himself drew near and went with them 16 But their Eyes were holden that they should not know him 17 And he said unto them What manner of Communications are these that ye have one to another as ye walk and are sad 18 And one of them whose Name was Cleopas answering said unto him Art thou only a Stranger in Israel and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these Days 19 And he said unto them What things And they said unto him Concerning Jesus of Nazareth which was a Prophet mighty in Deed and Word before God and all the People 20 And how the Chief Priests and our Rulers delivered him to be Condemned to Death and have Crucified him 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have Redeemed Israel and besides all this To Day is the Third Day since these things were done 22 Yea and certain Women of our Company made us Astonished which were early at the Sepulchre 23 And when they found not his Body they came saying That they had also seen a Vision of Angels which said that he was Alive 24 And certain of them which were with us went to the Sepulchre and found it even so as the Women had said but him they saw not Here we have Observable 1. The Journey which Two of the Disciples took to Emmaus a Village not far from Jerusalem The Occasion of their Journey is not told us but the Scripture Acquaints us with their Discourse in their Journey and as they were walking by the way It was Holy and Useful Pious and Profitable Discourse that they entertained one another with as they walk'd They Discours'd of Christ's Death and Resurrection a good Pattern for our Imitation when Providentially cast into such Company as will bear it That our Lips drop as the Honey-comb and our Tongue be as choice Silver Observe 2. How our Holy Lord presently made one in the Company when they were Discoursing Seriously about the Matters of Religion he over-took them and joined himself to them The way to have Christ's Presence and Company with us is to be discoursing of Christ and the things of Christ Observe 3. Tho' Christ came to them it was Incognito he was not known to them for their Eyes were holden by the Power of God their Sight was restrained that they could not Discern who he was but took him for another Person though his Body had the same Dimensions that it had before Whence we Learn The Influence which God has upon all our Powers and Faculties upon all our Members and Senses and how much we depend upon God for the Use and Exercise of our Faculties and Members Their Eyes were holden that they could not see him Observe 4. That the Notion of the Messias being a Temporal Saviour was so deeply Rooted in the minds of the Disciples that it remained here with them even after he was Risen from the Dead They here Own and Acknowledge him To be a Prophet mighty in Deed and in Word but they Question whether he were the Messias the Redeemer of Israel They could not Reconcile the Ignominy of his Death with the Grandeur of his Office nor Conceive how the Infamy of a Cross was Consistent with the Glory of a King We trusted that it had been he which should have Redeemed Israel As if they had said we were full of Hopes that this had been the Messias so long Expected by us but this being the Third Day since he Dyed we fear we shall find our selves mistaken 25 Then said he unto them O Fools and slow of Heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken 26 Ought not Christ to have Suffered these things and to enter into his Glory 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets he Expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself 28 And they drew nigh unto the Village whither they went and he made as though he would have gone farther 29 But they constrained him saying Abide with us for it is towards Evening and the day is far spent And he went in to tarry with them 30 And it came to pass as he sate at Meat with them he took Bread and Blessed it and Brake and gave to them 31 And their Eyes were opened and they knew him and he Vanished out of their Sight 32 And they said one to another Did not our Hearts burn within us while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us the Scriptures Observe 1. our Saviour Reproves and then Instructs them he Reproves them for being Ignorant of the Sense of Scripture They thought the Death of the Messias a sufficient Ground to question the Truth of his Office when it was an Argument to confirm and establish it Oh Fools oâ—â—â—t not Christ to Suffer As if he had said Do you not find that the Person described by the Prophets in the Old Testament to be the Messias was to wade to his Glory through a Sea of Blood Why then do you think your selves deceived in the
and Man was ratified and confirmed Whence we Learn That every Communicant has an undoubted Right to the Cup as to the Bread in the Lord's Supper Drink ye all of it says Christ therefore to deny the Cup to the Laity is contrary to the Institution of Christ After the Celebration was over our Saviour and his Disciples sang an Hymn as the Jews were wont to do at the Passover the Six Eucharistical Psalms from 113th to the 119th Psalm Learn hence How fit it is that God be glorified in his Church by singing of Psalms and in particular when the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is celebrated When they had sung an Hymn they went unto the Mount of Olives 31 Then saith Jesus unto them All ye shall be offended because of me this night for it is written I will smite the shepherd and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad Here our Saviour acquaints his Disciples that by reason of his approaching Sufferings they should all of them be so exceedingly offended with him that they would certainly forsake and leave him which accordingly came to pass Learn thence That Christ's dearest Freinds forsook him and left him alone in the midst of his greatest Distress and Danger Obs 2. What was the Cause of this their Flight it was the Prevalency of their Fear Thence Note How sad it is for the holiest and best of Men to be left under the Power of their own Fears in a Day of Temptation 32 But after I am risen again I will go before you into Galilee Observe here The wonderful Lenity of Christ towards his timerous and fearful Disciples notwithstanding their cowardly Flight from him he tells them he would not forsake them but love them still and as an Evidence of it would meet them in Galilee I will go before you into Galilee there shall you see me And when they did see him he never upbraided them with their Timerousness but was Friends with them notwithstanding their late Cowardice Christ's Love to his Disciples is like himself unchangeable and everlasting Having loved his own he loved them unto the end 33 Peter answered and said unto him Though all men shall be offended because of thee yet will I never be offended 34 Jesus said unto him Verily I say unto thee That this night before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice 35 Peter said unto him Though I should die with thee yet will I not deny thee Likewise also said all the disciples See here what strong Purposes and settled Resolutions both Peter and all the Apostles had to keep close to Christ but how did their Self-confidence fail them Learn thence That Self-confidence is a Sin too too incident to the holiest and best of Men. Tho' all Men forsake thee yet will not I. Good Man he resolved honestly but too too much in his own Strength Little little did he think what a Feather he should be in the Wind of Temptation if once God left him to the Power and Prevalency of his own Fears Observe farther That the Rest of the Apostles had the like Confident Opinion of their own Strength with St. Peter Likewise also said they all Note thence That the holiest of Men know not their own Strength till it comes to the Trial. Little did these good Men imagine what a cowardly Spirit they had in them till Temptation put it to the Proof 36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane and saith unto the disciples Sit ye here while I go and pray yonder 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and very heavy 38 Then saith he unto them My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death tarry ye here and watch with me 39 And he went a little further and fell on his face and prayed saying O my Father if it be possible let this cup pass from me nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt 40 And he cometh unto the disciples and findeth them asleep and saith unto Peter What could ye not watch with me one hour 41 Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak 42 He went away again the second time and prayed saying O my Father if this cup may not pass away from me except I drink it thy will be done 43 And he came and found them asleep again for their eyes were heavy 44 And he left them and went away again and prayed the third time saying the same words Our Blessed Saviour being now come with his Disciples into the Garden he falls there into a bitter and bloody Agony in which he prayed with wonderful Fervency and Importunity to his Heavenly Father His Sufferings were now coming on a great pace and he meets them upon his Knees and would be found in a praying Posture Learn thence That Prayer is the best Preparative for as well as the most powerful Support under the heaviest Sufferings that can befal us As to this Prayer of our Saviour's in the Garden many things are very Observable As 1. The Place where he prayed In the Garden but why went Christ thither Was it to hide or shelter himself from his Enemies Nothing less for if so it had been the most improper Place because he was wont to retire thither to pray John 18.2 Judas knew the Place for Jesus oft-times resorted thither so that Christ went thither not to shun but to prepare himself by Prayer to meet his Enemies Obs 2. The time when he enter'd the Garden for Prayer it was in the Evening here he spent some Hours in pouring out his Soul to God for about Midnight Judas and the Soldiers came and apprehended him in a praying Posture Teaching us by his Example that when eminent Dangers are before us especially when Death is apprehended by us to be very much in Prayer to God and very fervent in our Wrestlings with him Obs 3. The Matter of our Lord's Prayer that if possible the Cup might pass from him That is those bitter Sufferings which were then before him particularly the insupportable Burthen of his Father 's Wrath. He prays if possible that his Father would excuse him from this dreadful Wrath his Soul being amaz'd at it But what Did Christ then begin to repent of his Undertaking for Sinners Did he shrink and give back when it came to the Pinch No no as Christ had Two Natures being God and Man so he had Two distinct Wills as Man he feared and shunned Death as God-man he willingly submitted to it the Divine Spirit and the Humane Nature of Christ did now assault each other with disagreeing Interests till at last Victory was got on the Spirit 's side Again This Prayer was not absolute but conditional If it be possible Father it may be if thou art willing if it please thee let it pass if not I will drink it Learn hence 1. That the Cup of Sufferings