because though the punishment of loss was finished yet the â—â—nishment of sense was still upon him to his death he cryed out under the weigâ—â— oâ— it and it killed him 2. He beheld his Fathers face returned in favour to him who earst while had hid his face from him which drew out that dolefull complaint Lamasabachtbani but now his father smiled on him again 3. He doth breathe out his soul into his fathers bosome in that word Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit and so he obediently dyed Phil. 2.8 Obedient to the death even the death of the Cross The Lamb of God is slain the Sacrifice for sin is offered and accepted Isaac is sacrificed not only in Voto but Facto not only in will and purpose as Abraham and Isaac did but in real performance This hath God the Father and God the Son performed for our sakes to redeem and save us Admire Admire Admire unto all eternity admire CAP. XV. Of the admirable works of God which accompanied the Death of Jesus his reverent burial and of his sufferings after he was dead buried If the Reader please to turn to and read these Texts of Scripture he shall find many admirable works of God that accompanied the death of Jesus Christ Math 27.51 ad finem Mark 15.38 ad finem Luke 23.47 ad finem John 19.31 ad finem The admirable works of God that accompanied the Death of our Lord Jesus Christ are these 1. An Earthquake mentioned only by Mathew 2. The Vail of the Temple rent from top to bottome Math. Mark 3. The rocks rent Math. 4. The Graves viz. that were in the rocks broken open many Bodyes of Saints which slept arose and came out of the graves after the resurrection of Christ and went into the holy city and appeared to many Math. 5. The Sun brightned suddenly at the ninth hour about the time when Iesus Christ dyed Math. Mar. Luk. 6. The death of Jesus Christ being sooner then Pilate and the Jews looked for and afore the Theeves it prevented that part of the Romish and Jewish cruelty which was intended in breaking his legs yet they pierced his side with a spear and there came forth bloud and water Ioh. 19.31 ad 38. 7. The Centurion that had charge of the watch that day was converted Mat. Mar. Luke 8. Many more of those upon the Watch and of the Spectators were convinced if not converted Math. Luke 1. Touching the Earthquake God hath made two great changes of Ecclesiastical Polity since the beginning of the world and both of them have been expresly accompanied with Earthquakes When the Lord laid by the ancient Paternal Goverment and erected the Polity of Moses in the national Church of Israel God appeared with terrible Earthquakes Exod. 19. And now the Lord being about to lay aside the Mosaical Polity and erect the Gospel Polity of the Ecclesiastical Kingdome of Jesus Christ it is accompanied with Earthquakes 2. The vail of the Temple was rent from top to bottom probably it was effected by he Earthquake and the accomplishment of the Prophesy which the Apostle maketh mention of Heb. 12.26 27 28 29. whose voice then shook the Earth but now he â—ath promised saying yet once more I shake not Earth only but also Heaven And this word yet once more signifyeth the removing of those things that are shaken as of things â—hat are made that those things which cannot be shaken may remain c. The Prophecy which the Apostle quoteth is Hag. 2.6 7. which is eminently fulfilled by God layâ—ng aside the Tabernacle and Temple worship which were the works of mens â—ands by the Commandment of the Lord and in their stead instituting the Souls of believers to be his Temple and his visible Church to be built of such materials who are living stones laid and built upon the Rock of Ages even Jesus Christ by â—ith and in the Communion of such a spiritual Temple hath the Lord erected â—is Gospel polity By this rending of the Vail Christ hath opened Heaven for â—ll that will come unto him Gentiles as well as Jews Eph. 2.14 he is our peace â—ho hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of Partition between us â—iz the wall of Partition between the Court of Gentiles and of the Jews The â—postle probably would not say he hath rent the vail because he would not proâ—oke the Jews but it is the same thing that he here speaketh 3. The Rocks rent 4. the graves were opened These works of God do ascribe unto Christ the power of the Resurrection and the removing â—l impediments either of his own Resurrection or of the Resurrection of all mankind Joh. 5.25 28 29. verily verily the hour is coming and now is that the dead shall â—ear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live ver 28. marvail not at this for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the Resurrection of life and they that have done evil to the Resurrection of damnation 5. The Sun did suddenly perceptibly brighten about the ninth hour which was the time of the death of our Lord Jesus which manifesteth that this darkness was not an effect of any natural causes but of the divine power of God And tendeth much to the confirmation of the apprehension of such Reverend Divines as think that the darkening of the Sun was a sign of Gods hiding his face from Jesus Christ in his spiritual desertion through his Agony upon the Cross which Agony being finished the Sun brightned and Gods face of favourable acceptation turned unto him and then he breathed out his Soul into his Fathers bosome 6. The timous and speedy death of Jesus by the wonderful and merciful providence of God prevented that Roman and Jewish cruelty in breaking his legs That he dyed sooner then they looked for or then malefactors were wont to dy or then the Theevs did appeareth evidently because Pilate marvailed and would not believe Ioseph who begged his dead body until he called the Centurion that had charge of the watch and he affirmed that he was dead We see that the Romans used cruelty in putting malefactors to death by long tortures Math. 18.34 executors are called tormentors and when they desire to dispatch them they broke their legs to torture them to death by torturing their Limbs furthest from their heart when as a touch upon the head would presently finish their life but Christ escaped this by a divine hand The occasion that moved Pilate to command that they should be so killed and hastned to their death was the Jews request that their legs might be broken the reason which they proposed was because of the approach of the Sabbath and it was the time of their Passover feast God commanded in the institution of the Passover that a bone thereof should not be broken Exod.
saving that we may add that his holiness of Doctrine and life would be yea was an Eye-sore to the Scribes Pharisees and hipocrites and to such as adhered unto them This low condition is a part of the spotless punishment of the sin of man unto which Iesus Christ doth voluntarily submit himself Quest Wherein or in what respects was Jesus Christ like unto a worm for he describeth himself a worm is 1. Despicable 2. Vseless 3 None feareth it 4 None cares to defend it 5. Every one is bold to tread on it 6. They will be easily induced to destroy it 7. None fears revenge for destroying it 1. Jesus Christ his poverty did so vaile his glory that in all these and such like respects he was like a worm which cloud of obscurity was no small part of his humiliation and suffering for our sin he was despicable Psal 22.5 despised of the people Psal 119.141 I am small and despised Eccles 4.16 the poor mans wisdome is despised Isai 53.3 despised rejected of men but God did dearly accept him Math. 3.17 and 12.18 2. He was rendered hereby in the worlds eye useless they were exceeding populous and where it is so the poor worms are rather a burthen then of any use to their Generation though they be godly and wise Joh. 7.49 the poor people are cursed Act. 4 11. the stone set at nought by the builders but God made him the head of the Corner and desireable to redeem preserve and govern the world and especially the Church 3. None is afraid of a worm it cannot hurt us so none feared Jesus Christ Herod and his men of war set him at nought though there was the greatest cause in the world for Herod and his men of war to have feared the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Rev. 5.5 and to kiss the Son lest he be angry Psal 2.12 and tremble at the wrath of the Lamb Rev. 6 1â— 16 17. and the Kings of the Earth and the great men and the rich men and the chief Captains and the mighty men and the bond man and every free man hid themselves in the Dens and in the Rocks of the mountains and said to the Rocks and mountains fall on us and hide us from the face of him that fitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb for the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand 4. None careth to defend such a poor useless creature as a worm is so no body cared to defend Jesus Christ and his cause Once Nicodemus spake a good word for Jesus Christ which had a present good effect but he was quipped for it Joh. 7 50.51 52 53. Jesus Christ complained Psal 22.11 there is none to help but God taketh care of this poor worm Isai 40.14 fear not thou worm Jacob. 5. Any one is bold to tread upon a worm to hurt and injure it so were the people bold to speak and do against Jesus Christ sometimes to stone him Ioh. 8.59 and 10.31 sometime to cast him down the clist of the Rocks Luk 4.28 29 30. but God preserved him from them 6. Every one is easily induced perswaded to destroy a worm So were thâ— people who a few dayes before had cried Hosanna to the Son of David easily perswaded by the Priests Scribes and Pharises to cry crucifie him and give us Barabbas 7. They fear no body to take vengeance for wrong done to a worm so were the Jews fearless of any vengeance to be inflicted upon them for the wrong and injury done unto Jesus Christ which made them bold to expose themsâ—lves and their posterity unto any such vengeance saying his blood be upon us and upon our Children And never was blood more sharply revenged and a curse more severely executed for they have been under that curse near seventeen hundred years and they are still under it to this day Quest But why did Jesus Christ take upon him such a low condition in this world why came he not a Prince in the external Royalty of his Father David Answ 1. Because this low stripped bereaved condition under the loss of thâ— dominion of man in this world is one part of the punishment due to the sin of man Gen. 3 23 24. and it is such a punishment as may be taken up and born with Innocency without any defilement of sin therefore Jesus Christ did willingly submit to the deepest stroke of that punishment for the satisfaction of Divine justice Isai 63.9 in all our sinless afflictions he was afflicted and Isai 53.4 he hath born our griefs was wounded for our transgressions the chastisement of our peace was upon him And this innocent punishment for our sin he suffered most purely perfectly and meritoriously unto the Infinite satisfaction of the vindictive Justice of God And thereby took out the sting of the curse from the like low condition that we may fall into and he bore it away from us Isai 53.5 6. 2. Jesus Christ came in this low condition to sanctifie a low condition in this world for his Saints the elect of God Seeing it was the purpose of God to carry the Church in this world through such a low condition 1 Cor. 1.26 27 28. Yet take this with these cautious 1. All the Church of Gods Elect are not so all are not in such a low condition though most are for the Text saith not many noble rich mighty but some such there alwayes are for the great support of the Church when Kings are nuâ—sing Fathers and Queens are nursing mothers to the Churches Isai 49.23 2 Again take this caution that this low condition of the Church shall not alwaâ—es be so for in the latter dayes Jesus Christ will more plentifully pour out pâ—â—s â—rity grace which though it hath been more rarely dispenced hitherunto yet it seemeth to me that it shall be otherwise in the glorious times of the Church in this world as may be gathered out of the Prophesies of Isaiah from the sixty Chapter and so forward and from many other Scriptures 3. Jesus Christ came in a low condition in this world and carryeth his Elect many of them through this world in a low condition to exert and exercise Gods Sovereignty in defending his poor worms against the proud great world and sometimes in advancing his worm Jacob and David from the Shephards crook to the Scepter Luk. 1.48 he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaid this Sovereignty of God is highly celebrated 1 Sam. 2.4 ad 11. Job 5.15 16. and abundantly in the books both of the Scriptures and of the providences of God 4. Jesus Christ came in such a low condition to set us a pattern of exercising suffering graces which must be in this militant world or not at all for there will be no occasion in Heaven for the use of suffering grace when all tears shall be wiped away from our eyes 5. Jesus Christ came in such a low condition to
As Jesus Christ hath taught us to forgive our Brother yea our enemies so he himself doth practice at this eminent time 2. He prayes the Father to forgive them which he could not have done unless he himself â—ad forgiven them for their offence was against both Father and son and therefore both must concur in the pardon 3. He urges the Father with a charitable and compassionate reason because alas they are in a Temptation and know not what they do 4. The Lord doth herein with divine wisdome distinguish viz that there be two sorts among his persecutors Some we have cause to fear did know what they did as appears Math. 21.38 this is the heir come let us kill him and the inheritance shall be ours Such as so acted are not within the compass of Iesus Christ his pardon and prayer But the generality of the people acted even as they were led 1 Cor. 12.2 and they did like those that followed Absolom in the simplicity of their hearts now such as those Jesus Christ doth pitty pardon and pray for The chief Priests Council did know or might have known that he was Christ the Son of the living God for besides all the proofs that he gave of it in his life and Ministry by doctrine and fulfilling Prophesies and abundance of miracles yet they raged against him and resolved to kill him and when they could find no cause against him they put him upon it to confess whether he was the Son of God or no he did plainly witness a good confession that he is the Messiah and for that confession only and for no other cause saving their own envy they did condemn him to dye and rested not till they had accomplished it These things being so it is hard for us to say that these are of the number of those that knew not what they did But the people for the most part were over perswaded by them in their ignorance acted Pilate also was ignorant of his Diety though he believed with an historical faith that he was the King of the Jews and had he known his Deity he would not have crucifyed him 1 Cor. 2.8 So that Jesus Christ hath opened a dore of pardon to his persecutors The Centurion that had the command of the watch that day and how many more God knows did that very day receive benefit of this pardon and prayer of Jesus Christ The second act of Jesus Christ upon the Cross he doth with tender love and care provide for his widow mother Joh. 19.25 26 27. Now there stood by the Cross of Jesus his mother and his mothers sister Mary the wife of Cleophas and Mary Magdalene When Jesus therefore saw his mother and the Disciple standing by whom he loved he saith unto his mother Woman behold thy Son Then saith he to the Disciple Behold thy mother And from that hour that Disciple took her unto his own home Where see 1. The title he giveth his mother woman which he was wont to do upon occasion formerly Ioh. 2.4 which he doth not shewing any strangeness or disregard of her grief whose heart was now pierced as with a sword but he did it 1. To take her heart off from all carnal confidence in her fleshly interest in Jesus Christ to put her to consider that her paps are more blessed by her interest of saith in Jesus Christ then in giving him suck Luk. 11.27.28 2. To instruct her and us that though there be use of natural Relations in this life yet it is not so in heaven Math. 22.30 We shall there be as the Angels are Spiritual weanings from creature confidences are no hurt unto or hindrances of right natural affections 2. He directs his mother to chuse an adopted son in his room who is now departing that he may be unto her in the stead of her natural Son to doe all offices of a Son unto her He saith to her Behold thy son intimating to her John that was standing by her 3. He instructeth and chargeth John to doe all offices of a good Son unto her saying to him Behold thy mother 4. This charge is set on because Jesus Christ did thus dignifie him out of special favour and love The Disciple whom be loved And therefore he might confide in him in committing such a trust and charge unto him 5. The effect of this act of Iesus Christ was from that hour he took her into his own Family which proveth that she was a widdow and had not a family of her own now her Son was gone When Ioseph died or what became of her after this nothing is said The third act of Iesus Christ upon the Cross he taketh a mercifull care of the penitent Thief Luk. 23.39 40 41 42 43. And one of the Malefactors which were hanged railed on him saying if thou be Christ save thy self and us But the other answering rebuked him saying dost thou not fear God seeing thou art in the same condemnaion And we indeed justly for we receive the due reward of our deeds but this man hath done nothing amiss And he said unto Iesus Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdome And Iesus said unto him verily I say unto thee To day shall thou be with me in Paradice Where see among the Mockers Revilers Railers against Iesus Christ on the cross one of the Theeves did as he heard others doe though he was hanging on his cross under the hand of justice and Execution Mathew and Mark impute this to both the Melefactors because what one in a company doth is in usual custome imputed to all unless they bear witness against it And whether at first or by the way both of them might be accessary we cannot say but Luke is particular in this history shewing that one of them was a true penitent Where 1. we see what his ill words are that are recorded viz. if thou be the Christ save thy self and us wherein he vents his unbelief and hardness of heart in way of reproach This he doth when he was dying yea a shamefull death and that justly yet so ill minded is he against Iesus Christ 2. His fellow thief rebuked him whereby he cleared himself from participation with him in his sin which silence in such a case doth involve men in In which Rebuke see 1. Dost thou not fear God The words of thy mouth shew that the fear of God is not in thine heart therefore speak not so wickedly 2. He giveth a reason of this Rebuke and exhortation because we are condemned to dye as he is we are in the same condemnation They are executing death upon us and dost thou now vent the vileness of thine heart against him that is dying with us 3. Here is the aggravation of this Reason 1. We are justly put to death our sin deserves it 2. This man whom you revile hath done nothing amiss he is unjustly condemned and will you add Revilings 3. This penitent thief maketh his believing
12.46 Numb 9.12 which the Iews religiously observed in aâ—l ages generations but never knew the reason of this branch of the divine Institution The infinite prescience of God had respect unto this history of the sufferings of Christ which we are now treating off These Iews possibly might see the reason of this branch of this Institution I dare not say they did see it because the Text doth not say so But if they had any such intent to get his legs broke to blemish him who is the true Paschal Lamb Then I say 1. Their wickedness was the greater because it was against light 2. The infinite wise and merciful providence of God is so much the more to be adored and admired in their disappointment 3. The disappointing and preventing of the breaking of his bones is a mighty striving of God to convince the Iews that Iesus is the Paschal Lamb. 4. The fulfilling of the Scriptures in preserving his bones from being broken is a powerful confirmation of the saith of the Church to the Worlds end that Iesus Christ is our Paschal Lamb in whom we believe for salvation When the Souldiers came to break their legs and did break the legs of the two Theevs Iesus Christ being already dead they did not break his legs yet one of them without cause neither knowing nor caring what he did only to insult over his dead body took a Spear and pierced his left side It appeareth to be so by that which issued out of the wounds viz. blood from the wound in his flesh and water out of the pericardium which he pierced with his Spear here we are to admire the all-ruling wisdome of God who by this act hath provided a wonderful confirmation of the faith of the Church that both our Sacraments are founded in the death of Christ the water in Baptisme and blood celebrated in the Supper confirm the faith of the Church to the worlds end 1 Joh. 5.6 8. Again by this act they did in part fulfil that Prophesy Zech. 12.10 they pierced his side O Lord Jesus make haste to accomplish the other part of this gracious Prophesy which saith And I will pour upon the house of David and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of supplications and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only Son and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his first born In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo c. 7. Another memorable work of God that attended the death of Jesus Christ was the conversion of the Centurion who had the charge of the watch that day where see first The means of his conversion viz. the dying words of Jesus the Earthquake and other things as the darkening of the Sun and the brightning of the same the rending of the Rocks c. 2. We see the signs of his conversion 1. He feared greatly 2. He made confession of his faith first in the Deity of Christ surely he is the Son of God 2dly in the innocency and justness of his person Surely he was a just man 8. Many more of those upon the watch and of the spectators were convinced if not converted when they saw what was done they returned smiting on their breasts Sect. 2. Of the Reverent Buryal of the Body of our Lord Jesus THe buryal of Iesus Christ is a great point in Religion both in the Prophesy and in the History and in the application In the History of this act of Christian love see first the persons that did with due reverence perform this service to the dead body of our Lord. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus they would not leave his blessed Corps to the rude disposal and usage of Hangmen and Executioners But with their own hands they did reverently lay him into a Tomb. These two men were honourable men for they were both of them of the Council but consented not with them in their condemning of Jesus Luk. 23.51 the same did not consent to the Council and deed of them it is like that neither Joseph nor Nicodemus were sent unto or called unto their Clandestine night Court wherein Jesus was condemned they knew that they would oppose they had experience of Nicodemus his opposing them how many more of the Council might be absent from that night Court is not said it is like that it was carryed on by a Faction that adhered to that violent young man Caiaphas and his Father in law Annas For in the History we find all the Council present to be of one mind therefore neither of these two worthy men were with them These were both holy men and true Disciples of Jesus Christ yet formerly they both of them had been timorous professors Joh. 19.38 39. Joseph a Disciple of Jesus Christ but secretly for fear of the Jews And Nicodemus who at first came to Jesus by night see a little what the Scripture saith of these first of Nicodemus John 3.1 2 3. c. he came to Jesus by night he was a well minded man but weak in knowledge Joh. 7.51 52 53. Nicodemus saith unto them he that came to Jesus by night being one of them doth our law judge any man before it hear him and know what he doth they answered and said unto him art thou also of Galilee search and look for out of Galilee ariseth no Prophet and euery man went into his own house Here we see Nicodemus was grown more valiant and appeared openly in the Council on the behalf of Jesus Christ and though he suffered a châ—ck for his labour yet what he said saved the cause of Jesus Christ for that time And now when Jesus Christ was persecuted to the death and crucified his courage still arose and his love abounded for he joyned with good Joseph and brought an hundred pound weight of Myrrhe and Aloes for the embalming of the Corps Joseph was a very eminent holy and good man all the Evangelists do inlarge in his commendation and though he had been as John saith timorous yet now he taketh boldness Mark 14.43 and so did Nicodemus if the Reader please to turn to these Texts he shall see how amply the holy Ghost hath spoken of Joseph Math. 27.57 ad 61. Mark 15.43 ad 47. Luk. 23.50 ad 54. Joh. 19.38 Pilate granted to Joseph at his request the dead body of Jesus Christ these two honourable men took it down from the Cross they prepared a fine linnen burying Sheet newly bought for this purpose they wrapped up the body with the aromaticks in decent manner carefully laying Aromaticks upon all his wounds in hands feet side back head or else where They carryed the body into a garden hard by which was Josephs where was a new Sepulchre hewen out of a Rock which Joseph had prepared for his own buryal in