no leaâ—e He alone would bow his head and giue vp his Ghost 〈◊〉 haue power to lay downe my life Man gaue him not his life man could not bereaue it No man takes it froÌ„ me Alas who could The High-priests forces when they came against him armed he said but I am heâ— they stâ— fall backward How easie 〈◊〉 breath disperst his enemies whom he might as easily haue bidden the earth yea hell to swallow or fire from heauen to deuoure Who coÌ„manded the diuels they obei'd could not haue bin attached my men He must giue not onely leaue but power to apprehend himselfe else they had not liu'd to take him Hee is laid hold of Peter â—ight St Puâ—â—â— saith Christ Thinkest thou that J cannot pray to my Father and hee will giue mee more then 12 legions of Angels What an Army were heer more theÌ„ three-score twelue thousand Angels and euery Angel able to subdue a world of men Hee could but would not bee rescued hee is ledde by his owne power not by his enemies and stands now before Pilate like the scorne of men crowned robbed scourged vvith an Ecâ—e Homo Yet thou couldest haue no power against mee 〈◊〉 iâ— vvere giuen thee from aboue Behold he himselfe must giue Pilate power against himselfe else hee could not be condemned Hee will be condemned lifted vp nailed yet no death without himselfe Hee shall giue his soule an offering for sinneâ— Esay 53 10. No action that fauours of constraint can be meritorious hee would deserue therefore he would suffer and die He bowed his head and gaue vp the Ghost O gracious and bountifull Sauiour hee might haue kept his soule within his â—eeth in spight of all the world the weakeness of God is stronger then men and if he had but spoken the word the heauens and earth should haue vanisht away before him but he wold not Behold when he saw that impotent man could not take away his soule he gaue it vp 〈◊〉 would die that wee might liue See heere a Sauiour that can contemne his ovvne life for ours and cares not to bee dissolued in himself that we might be vnited to his Father Skiâ—â—e for skiâ—â—e saith the diuell 〈◊〉 all that he hath a man will giue for his life Lo heere to proue Satan a lyer skin and life and all hath Christ Iesus giuen for vs. We are besotted with the earth make base shifts to liue one with a maiâ—ed bodie another vvith a perfuâ—â—d soule a third with a rotten name and how many had 〈…〉 neglect their soulâ— then their life and 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 then dieâ— It is a shame itâ— tells many of vs Christians 〈◊〉 opâ—n life and â—â—â—â—â—ble and â—aâ—h and she 〈◊〉 solue so 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 excesse of loue â—oâ—ard◠〈◊〉 〈…〉 as Peter denies Christ â—iâ— forsweares him 〈…〉 graines of incense â—nto the Idols â—ire Eâ—ius 〈…〉 thrice Spir◠〈…〉 aâ— despaâ—â—es â—deâ— me liue â—aith the 〈…〉 Whithâ—â— dâ—st thou 〈◊〉 â—hy selfe 〈…〉 and â—doâ— us 〈…〉 wâ—ld'st thou 〈◊〉 with thy selfe 〈◊〉 Thou hast not thus learned Christ◠〈…〉 voluntarilie for thee thou wilt not bee forced to die for him hee gaue vp the Ghost for thee thou wilt not let others take it from thee for him thou wilt not let him take it for himselfe When I looke back to the first Christians and compare their zealous coÌ„tempt of death with our backwardness I am at once amazed ashamed I see there euen women the feebler sex running with their little ones in their armes for the preferment of martyrdome and ambitiouslie striuing for the next blowe I see holy tender virgins chusing rather a sore and shamefull death then honourable espousalls I hear the blessed Martyrs intreating their Tyrants and tormentors for the honour of dying Ignatius amongst the rest fearing least the beasts wil not deuoure him and vowing the first violence to them that he might be dispatched And what lesse courage was there in our memorable glorious fore-fathers of the last of this age and doe vvee their cold and feeble ofspring looke pale at the face of a faire and naturall death abhor the violent tho for Christ Alas how haue we gathered rust with our long peace Our vnwillingnesse is from inconsideration from distrust Looke but vp to Christ Iesus vpon his Crosse and see him bowing his head and breathing out his soule and these feares shall vanish He died wouldest thou liue He gaue vp the ghost and wouldest thou keep it Whom vvouldest thou follow if not thy Redeemer If thou die not if not vvillingly thou goest contrarie to him and shalt neuer meet him Tho thou shouldest euery day die a death for him thou couldest neuer requite his one death and doost thou sticke at one Euery word hath his force both to him and thee He died which is Lord of Life and coÌ„maunder of Death thou art but a tenant of life a subiect of death And yet it was not a dying but a giuing vp not of a vanishing and aery breath but of a spirituall soule which after separation hath an entire life in it selfe He gaue vp the Ghost Hee died that hath both ouercome and sanctified and sweetned death What fearest thou he hath puld out the sting and malignity of death 〈◊〉 thou bee a Christian cary it in thy bosome it hurts thee not Dar'st thou not trust thy Redeemer If hee had not died death had been a Tyrant now he is a slaue O Death where is thy sting O Graue where is thy victorie Yet the Spirit of God saith not hee died but gaue vp the Ghost The very heathen Poet saith He durst not say that a good man dies It is worth the noting me thinks that vvhen S. Luke would describe to vs the death of Ananias and Sapphira he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hee expired but when S. Iohn vvould describe Christs death he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he gaue vp the Ghost How gaue he it vp and whither How so as after a sort he retained it his soule parted from his body his Godhead was neuer distracted either froÌ„ soule or body This vnion is not in nature but in person If the natures of Christ could be diuided each would haue his subsistence so there should bee more persons God forbid one of the natures therefore may haue a separation in it selfe the soule from the body one nature cannot bee separate from other or either nature from the person If you cannot conceiue wonder the Sonne of GOD hath wedded vnto himselfe our humanitie without all possibilitie of diuorce the body hangs on the Crosse the soule is yielded the Godhead is euiternally vnited to them both acknowledges sustaines them both The soule in his agony feeles not the presence of the Godhead the body vpon the Crosse feeles not the presence of the soule Yet as the Fathers of Chalcedon say truly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 indiuisibly inseparably is the Godhead with both of these
with those wise Virgins Least there will not be enough for vs you got to them that sell and buy for your selues For vs wâ— enuâ—e not their multitude Let them hâ—ue as many Sauiors as Saints and as many Saints us menâ— we knoâ—e with Ambrose Christâ— pressâ—â—â—tore non eguit Christs passion needs no helper therefore with that worthy Martyr dare say None but Christ â—one but Christâ— Let our Toules die if hee cannot saue them let them not fear their 〈…〉 or 〈◊〉 if he haue finished He◠〈…〉 thou languishing and afflicted soâ—â—e to There is 〈◊〉 one of thy sinneâ— but it is paid for not one oâ—â— thy debtâ— in the 〈◊〉 of God but it had â—ffect not one farthing of all thine infinite raâ—some is vnpaidâ— Alas thy sinnes thou sai'st are euer before thee and Gods indignation goes still ouer thee thou goest mourning all the day long and with that patterne of distresse criest out in the bitternesse of thy soule I haue sinned what shall J doe to theeâ— O thou preseruer of men What should'st thou doe Turne and belieue Now thou art stung in thy conscience with this fierie serpent looke vp with the eyes of 〈◊〉 to this bâ—azen serpent Christ Iesus behealed Behold his head is huÌ„bly bowed downe in a gracious respect to thee his aâ—ms are stretched out louingly to imbrace thee yea oâ— precious side is opeÌ„ to receiueâ— thee and his tongue interpreâ—â— all these to thee for thine endlesse coÌ„fort Jt is finished There is no more accusation iudgement death hell for thee all these are no more to thee then if they were not Who shall condemne it is Christ which is deâ—d I knowe how ready euery man is to reach foorth his hand to this dâ—le of grace and how angry to â—e beaten froÌ„ this dooâ— of mercy We are all easily persuâ—ded to hope well because we loue our selues well Which of all vs in this grâ—â—t congregation takeâ— exceptions to himselfe and thinkâ— I knowe there 〈◊〉 want in my Sauiour there is want in me He hath finished but I belieue not I repent not Euery presumptuous and hard 〈◊〉 so 〈◊〉 at Christ as if he had finish for 〈◊〉 as if hee had broken downe the gates of hel and loosed the bands of death and had made forgiuenesse as 〈◊〉 as life Prosperâ—â—◠〈…〉 saith wise Salomon East 〈◊〉 the foolish and the prosperitie of fooles 〈◊〉 them you 〈…〉 prosperitie Thou saâ—'st God 〈◊〉 mercifull thy 〈…〉 bâ—ous 〈◊〉 Passion absolute All these yeâ— thou maist be condemned Mercifull not â—niâ—sâ— bountifull not lauish absolutely sufficieÌ„t for all not effeâ—â—â—all to all Whatsoeuer God is what are 〈◊〉 i Hee 〈◊〉 iâ— the doubts 〈◊〉 faâ—st-well Christ is 〈◊〉 good Shepheard Wherein Hâ—â— giues his lâ—fe but foâ— whom 〈◊〉 his sheepe What is this to 〈…〉 while thou arâ— secure profane impeâ—itent thâ— a◠〈…〉 a 〈◊〉 My sheep heâ—re my voice What is his voice but his pâ—ecepâ—â—â— where is thine obedieÌ„ce to his coÌ„maundements If tâ— wilt not heard his Law nâ— not â—arken â—o his Gospell 〈…〉 no more mercy for thee â—heâ— iâ— there were no Sauior He haâ—â— finished for those in 〈…〉 hath begun If thou haue to beginnings of graâ—â— as yet hope not for euer finishing of saluation Come to me all yee that are heâ—uie ladeâ—â— saith Christ â—hou shalt get nothing if thou come when he calls thee not Thou art not called and canst not bee refreshed vnlesse thou bee laden not with sinne this alone keepes thee away from God but with conscience of sinnes A broken and a coâ—â—rite hearâ— O God thou wilt not despise Is thy heart wounded with thy sinne doth griefe and hatred striue within thee whether shall bee more are the desires of thy soule with God dost thou long for holinesse complaine of thy imperfections struggle against thy corruptions Thou art the man feare not Jt is finished That law which thou wouldest haue kept couldest not thy Sauiour could and did keepe for thee that saluation vvhich thou couldest neuer work-out alone alas poore impotent creatures what can we doe towards heauen vvithout him which cannot mooue on earth but in him hee alone for thee hath finished Looke vp therefore boldly to the throne of GOD and vpon the truth of thy repentance faith knows that there is no quarrel against thee in heauen nothing but peace and ioy All is finished He would be spetted on that he might wash thee hee would be couered with scornfull robes that thy sinnes might be couered he would be whipped that thy soule might not bee scourged eternally he would thirst that thy soule might be satisfied hee would beare all his Fathers wrath that thou might'st beate none he would yield to death that thou might'st neuer taste of it he would be in sense for a time as forsaken of his Father that thou might'st bee receiued for euer Now bid thy soule returne to her rest and inioyne it Dauids taske Praise the Lord O my souleâ— and What shall J render to the Lord for all his benefites J will take the Cup of saluation and call vpon the name of the Lord. And as rauishe from thy selfe with the sweet apprehension of this mercy cal al the other creatures to the fellowship of this ioy with that diuine Esay Reioyce O yeâ— heauens for the Lord hath done it shout yea lower 〈◊〉 of the eaâ—th 〈…〉 into praises yeâ— mountaines for the Lord hath 〈…〉 Jacob and will be glorified in Jsraell And euen now beginne that heauenly song which shall neuer eâ—d with those glorified Saints Praise and 〈◊〉 and glory and power bee to him that sâ—â—eth vpon the throne 〈◊〉 the Lambe for euermore Thus our speech of Christs last words is finished His last act accoÌ„panied his words our speech must follow it let it not want your deuout and carefull attention Hee bowed and gaue vp the Ghost The Crosse was a slowe death and had more paine theÌ„ speed whence a second violeÌ„ce must dispatch the crucified their bones must be brokeÌ„ that their hearts might break Our Sauiour staies not Deaths leisure but willingly and couragiouslie meets him in the way and like a Champion that scornes to be ouercome yea knowes he cannot be yieldeth in the midst of his strength that hee might by dying vaÌ„quish death He bowed and gaue vp Not bowing because hee had giuen vp but because he would He cried with a loud voice saith Matthew Nature was strong he might haue liued but he gaue vp the Ghost and would die to shew himselfe Lord of Life and Death Oh wondrous example hee that gaue life to his enemies gaue vp his owne he giues them to liue that persecute and hate him and himselfe will die the whiles for those that hate him He bowed gaue vp not they They might crowne his head they could not bow it they might vex his spirit not take it away they could not doe that without leaue this they could not doe because they had
the glory of the place bred shame novv the vileness of it When but in the Passeouer a time of greatest frequence and concourse of all Iewes and proselites An holy time wheÌ„ they should receiue the figure they reiect the substance when they should kil eate the sacramental Lambe in faith in thankfulnes they kill the Lambe of GOD our true Passeouer in crueltie and contempt With whom The qualitie of our company either increases or lessens shame In the midst of thieues saith one as the Prince of thieues There vvas no guile in his mouth much lesse in his hands Yet behold he that thought it no robberie to bee equall with Goâ— is made equall to robbers and murderers yea superiour in euill What suffered hee As all liues are not alike pleasant so al deathes are not equally fearfull there is not more differeÌ„ce betwixt some life death then betwixt one death another See the Apostles gradation He was made obedient to the death eueÌ„ the death of the Crosse The Crosse a lingering tormenting ignominious death The Iewes had foure kindes of death for malefactors the towell the sword fire stones each of these aboue other in extreamitie Strangling with the towell they accounted easiest the sword worse then the towel the fire worse then the sword stoning worse then the fire but this Romaine death was worst of all Cursed is euery one that hangeth on tree Yet as Ierome well he is not therefore accursed because hee hangeth but therfore he hangeth because he is accursed He was made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a curse for vs. The curse was more then the shame yet the shame is vnspeakeable and yet not more then the paine Yet all that die the same death are not equally miserable the very Thieues fared better in their death then he I heare of no irrision no inscription no taunts no insultation on theÌ„ they had nothing but paine to incounter hee paine and scorne An ingenuous noble nature can worse brooke this theÌ„ the other any thing rather then disdainefulnesse and derision especially from a base enemy I remeÌ„ber that learned Father begins Israels affliction with Ismaels persecuting laughter The Iews the souldiours yea the very thieues flouted him and triumpht ouer his miserie his blood cannot satisfie theÌ„ without his reproach Which of his senses now was not a window to let in sorrow His eyes saw the teares of his Mother and friends the vnthankful demeanure of mankind the cruell despight of his enemies his eares heard the reuilings blasphemies of the multitude whether the place were noisome to his sent his touch felt the nailes his taste the gall Looke vp O all yee beholders looke vpon this precious body see what part ye can find free That head which is adored and trembled at by the Angelicall spirits is all raked harrowed with thorns that face of whom is said Thou art faâ—rer then the children of men is all besmeared with the filthy spettle of the Iewes and furrowed with his teares those eyes clearer then the sun are darkened with the shadow of death those eares that hear the heauenly consorts of Angels now are filled with the cursed speakings and scoffes of wretched men those lips that spake as neuer man spake that commaund the spirits both of life darknesse are scornfully wet with vineger gall those feet that trample on all the powers of hell his enemies are made his footstoole are now nailed to the footstoole of the Crosse those hands that freely sway the scepter of the Heauens now carrie the reed of reproach and are nailed to the tree of reproach that whole body which was coÌ„ceiued by the holy Ghost was all scourged wounded mangled This is the out-side of his sufferings Was his heart free Oh no the inner part or soule of this pain which was vnseen is as far beyond these outward and sensible as the soule is beyond the body Gods vvrath beyond the malice of meÌ„ these were but loâ—e â—ticks to what his soule indured O all ye that passe by the way behold and see if there bee any sorrow like to my sorrow Alas Lord what can we see of thy sorrowes we cannot conceiue so much as the â—ainousnesse and desert of one of those sinnes which thou barest wee can no more see thy paine then wee could vnder-goe it onely this wee see that what the infinite sins of almost infinite men committed against an infinite Maiestie deserued in infinite continuance all this thou in the short time of thy Passion hast sustained We may behold and see but all the glorious spirits in heauen cannot looke into the depth of this suffering Do but looke yet a little into the passions of this his Passion for by the manner of his sufferings we shall best see what hee suffered Wise and resolute men do not complaine of a little holy Martyrs haue bin racked would not be loosed what shall we say if the Author of their strength God and man be wray passions what wold haue ouerwhelmed men wold not haue made him shrinke and what made him complaine could neuer haue been sustained by men What shal we then think if he were affrighted with terrors perplexed with sorrowes and distracted with both these And lo he was all these for first heere was an amazed feare for millions of men to despaire was not so much as for him to feare and yet it was no slight feare hee began 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be astonished with terrourâ— Which in the daies of his flesh offered vp prayers supplications with strong cries and teares to him that was able to helpe him and was heard in that hee feared Neuer man was so afraid of the torments of hell as Christ standing in our roome of his Fathers vvrath Feare is still sutable to apprehension Neuer man could so perfectlie apprehende this cause of feare He felt the chastisements of our peace yea the curse of our sinnes therfore might well say with Dauid J suffer thy terrors with a troubled mind yea with Iob The arrowes of God are in me the terrors of God fight against mee With feare there was a deiecting sorow 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My soule is on all sides heauy to the death His strong cries his many tears are witnesses of this Passion He had formerly shed teares of pitie and teares of loue but now of anguish he had before sent forth cries of mercie neuer of complaint till now When the sonne of God weeps and cries what shall we say or thinke yet further betwixt both these and his loue what a conflict vvas there It is not amisse distinguished that hee was alwaies in agonie but now in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a struggling passion of mixed griefe Behold this field was not without sweat and blood yea a sweat of blood O what man or Angell can conceiue the taking of that heart that without all outward violence meerely out of the