condition that separated Souls are in after Death Thus the Miracles of Christ drew many followers after his Person who were never converted by his Doctrine It was the Sin of many when Christ was here upon Earth that they flock'd after him rather out of Curiosity than out of Conscience and chose rather to gaze upon his Works than to fall in Love with the Worker The Multitude here came to Bethany Not for Jesus's sake onely but that they might see Lazarus also 10 ¶ But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death 11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away and believed on Jesus Observe here 1. The unreasonableness of that Rage and Madness which was found in the chief Priests against Lazarus They consulted together how they might put Lazarus to Death But supposing that Christ had spoken Blasphemy in making himself equal with God or supposing that he had broken the Sabbath by curing the Man that was Born Blind on that Day yet what had Lazarus done that he must be put to Death But from hence we learn That such as have received special Mercy and Favours from Christ or are made the Instruments of his Glory must expect to be made the Mark and Butt of malicious Enemies Christ had highly honoured Lazarus by raising him from the Grave and here there is a Resolution against his Life whom Christ had thus highly Honoured The chief Priests consulted that they might put Lazarus to Death also Observe 2. The cause why the Chief Priests consulted that they might put Lazarus to Death Namely Because that by Reason of him many of the Jews went away and believed on Jesus That is many of the Jews seeing the Miracle of Christ's raising Lazarus from the Grave were drawn thereby to Believe in Jesus Christ and this so inraged the Chief Priests against Lazarus that they sought to put him to Death Learn hence That nothing so much enrages the Enemies of Christ as the enlargement of his Kingdom and the sight of the number of Believers daily encreasing This provokes the Devil's wrath and his Servants rage 12 ¶ On the next day much people that were come to the Feast when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem 13 Took branches of palm-trees and went forth to meet him and cried Hosanna blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. 14 And Jesus when he had found a young ass sat thereon as it is written 15 Fear not daughter of Sion behold thy King cometh fitting on an asses colt 16 These things understood not his disciples at the first but when Jesus was glorified then remembred they that these things were written of him and that they had done these things unto him Here we have Recorded the carriage of the Multitude towards our Saviour when he came near the City of Jerusalem They take Palms in their Hands and go forth to meet him and cast their Garments on the Ground before him to Ride upon yea they do not only Disrobe their Backs but expend their Breath in joyful Acclamations and loud Hosannahs wishing all manner of Prosperity to their meek but mighty King In this Prince-like yet Poor and Despicable Pomp doth our Saviour enter the Famous City of Jerusalem Lord How far wert thou from affecting Worldly Greatness and Grandeur Thou despisest that Glory which our Hearts fondly Admire Yet because Christ was a King he would be proclaimed such and have his Kingdom confest and applauded and blest Yet that it might appear that his Kingdom was not of this World he abandons all Worldly magnificence Oh Glorious yet homely Pomp Oh meek but mighty Prince 17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave and raised him from the dead bare record 18 For this cause the people also met him for that they heard that he had done this miracle 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing behold the world is gone after him 20 ¶ And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast 21 The same came therefore to Philip which was of Bethsaida of Galilee and desired him saying Sir we would see Jesus 22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew and again Andrew and Philip told Jesus Observe here 1. How the Multitude at Jerusalem came forth to meet Christ when he was making his publick entry into the City hearing the fame of his Miracles For this cause the People also met him for that they had heard that he had done this Miracle Observe 2. How amongst others who came forth to meet our Saviour certain Greeks or Gentile Proselytes who came up to worship in the outward Court of the Temple apply themselves to Philip that he would help them to a sight of Jesus Sir we would see Jesus It is probable that this desire to see Christ in these persons proceeded from Curiosity only But if it did produce true Faith in them we may thence infer That a spiritual sight of Christ by the discerning Eye of a Believer's Faith it is the most glorious and consequently the most desirable sight in all the World and so must needs be for it is a Soul-Ravishing a Soul-Satisfying a Soul-Transforming and a Soul-Saving sight This sight of Christ by Faith will constrain a Soul highly to admire and greatly to commend him It will incline a Soul to chuse him and cleave unto him and will set the Soul a longing for the full fruition and final injoyment of him Luke 2.29 Mine eyes have seen thy Salvation now let thy Servant depart Observe lastly How the Envious Pharisees were galled and cut to the Heart to see such a Multitude both of Jews and Greeks crouding out of the City to meet Jesus in his Triumphant entrance into the City The Pharisees said Behold the World is gone after him Learn hence That in the day of Christ's greatest Solemnity and Triumph there will not be wanting some persons of such a canker'd disposition that they will neither rejoyce themselves nor can they endure that others should This was the case of the wicked Pharisees here 23 ¶ And Jesus answered them saying The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified 24 Verily verily I say unto you Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die it abideth alone but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal Observe here 1. How our blessed Saviour entertains his followers with a Discourse concerning his approaching Death and Sufferings The hour is coming that the Son of Man shall be glorified Observe 2. How he Arms his Disciples against the scandal of the Cross by shewing them the great Benefit that would redound by his Death unto all Mankind and this by a Similitude taken from Grain Except
ACCORDING TO S T. MATTHEW ACTS xvii Ver. 11. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the Word with all Readiness of Mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so A PRAYER Before the Reading of the Holy Scriptures ALmighty God and Merciful Father who hast appointed thy Word to be a Light to our Feet and a Lamp unto our Paths and caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our Learning Grant us the Assistance of thy Holy Spirit that we may in such wise Read Mark Learn and inwardly Digest them that by Patience and Comforâ— of thy Holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the Blessed Hope of Everlasting Life which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ And seeing of thy tender Love to Mankind thou hast given thy Dear and Only Son to be unto us both a Sacrifice for Sin and also an Example of Godly Life give us Grace that we may always most Thankfully receive this His Inestimable Benefit and also daily endeavour our selves to follow the Blessed Steps of His most Holy Life who Liveth and Reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost ever One God World without end Amen EXPOSITORY NOTES WITH PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS UPON The Holy Gospel ACCORDING TO S T. MATTHEW The HOLY BIBLE contains the whole Revelation of the Will of GOD to the Children of Men This Sacred Book is usually divided into the Old and New Testament The Old Testament contains the Law and the Prophets The Writings of the New Testament are either Histories or Epistles the Histories are the Four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles The Four Gospels were written by the Four Evangelists whose Names they bear of whom St. Matthew and St. John were Eye-Witnesses of what they wrote but St. Mark and St. Luke had what they wrote from the Relation of others This Gospel before us of St. Matthew contains an History of the Birth Life Miracles Death and Resurrection of the Holy JESUS All which are the most Stupendious and Amazing Matters as well as the most Necessary Truths to be Known and Believed in the World And This Chapter before us contains the Genealogy or Pedigree of our Saviour JESUS CHRIST as he was Man unto Vers 17. and then relates the Fact of his Wonderful Incarnation to the End of the Chapter CHAP. I. 1 THE book of the generation of Jesus Christ the son of David the son of Abraham Our Evangelist designing to write a Narrative of our Saviour's Life begins with his Pedigree and Genealogy and shews whom he descended from namely from David and Abraham Where Observe 1. That David is named before Abraham because he being a King and an Illustrious Type of the Messias the Jews expected and do to this day expect that the Son of David should reign over them and that they should enjoy a Temporal Kingdom by him Observe 2. The Names given to our Blessed Saviour Jesus and Christ Jesus is his Hebrew Name and signifies a Saviour Christ is his Greek Name and signifies Anointed From whence some do inferr an Intimation and Encouragement that both Hebrews and Greeks both Jews and Gentiles may alike come unto Christ for Life and Salvation he being the common Saviour of both according to that of St. John Epist. 1. ch 2. ver 2. He is the Propitiation for our Sins and not for ours only but also for the Sins of the whole World 2 Abraham begat Isaac and Isaac begat Jacob and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren 3 And Judas begat Pharez and Zara of Thamar and Pharez begat Esrom and Esrom begat Aram. 4 And Aram begat Aminadab and Aminadab begat Naasson and Naasson begat Salmon Both the Evangelists St. Matthew and St. Luke make mention of our Saviour's Pedigree the former by his reputed Father's Side the latter by his Mother's Side the design of both was to present us with a general Draught of our Lord's Pedigree and Descent and not to be strict and accurate in enumerating every individual Person This should teach us not to be over-curious in scanning the Parts of this Genealogy much less captiously to object against it For if the Evangelists were not critical and exact in composing this Genealogy why should we shew our selves so in examining of it Rather let us attend to the Design of the Holy Ghost in Writing of it which was twofold First For the Honour of our Saviour as Man shewing who were his Noble and Royal Progenitors according to the Flesh Secondly For the Confirmation of our Faith touching the Reality of our Redeemer's Incarnation The Scripture making mention of all his Progenitors from the first Man Adam to his reputed Father Joseph will not suffer us to doubt either of the Truth of his Human Nature or of the Certainty of his being the promised Messias Learn hence That the Wisdom of God has taken all necessary Care and used all needful Means for the satisfying the Minds of all unprejudiced Persons touching the Reality of Christ's Human Nature and the Certainty of his being the promised Messias For both these Ends is our Saviour's Genealogy and Descent recorded in the Holy Scriptures 5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab and Booz begat Obed of Ruth and Obed begat Jesse 6 And Jesse begat David the king and David the king begat Solomon of her that had beeâ— the wife of Urias 7. And Solomon begat Roboam and Roboam begat Abia and Abia begat Asa 8 And Asa begat Josaphat and Josaphat begat Joram and Joram begat Ozias 9 And Ozias begat Joatham and Joatham begat Achaz and Achaz begat Ezekias 10 And Ezekias begat Manasses and Manasses begat Amon and Amon begat Josias 11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren about the time that they were carried away to Babylon 12 And after they were brought to Babylon Jechonias begat Salathiel and Salathiel begat Zorobabel 13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud and Abiud begat Eliakim and Eliakim begat Azor. 14. And Azor begat Sadoc and Sadoc begat Achim and Achim begat Eliud 15 And Eliud begat Eleazer and Eleazer begat Matthan and Matthan begat Jacob 16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations Observe Here are several Women mentioned in our Saviour's Genealogy and all or most of them have a Brand of Infamy upon them Thamar was one with whom her Father-in-Law Judah committed Incest Rachab is called an Harlot Ruth came of Moab whom Lot begat of his own Daughter and Bathsheba the Wife of Vriah was one with whom David had committed Adultery Now the Wisdom of God has thought fit to leave all this upon Record for several Ends and Purposes 1. To denote the Freeness of God's Grace which extends it self in the Saving Effects
Messias a King of the Jews should come riding upon an Ass But this Ass was a Colt the Foal of an Ass on which never Man had rode before says St. Mark Ch. 11. 12. signifying thereby that the most unruly and untamed Creatures become obedient and obsequious to him and upon a borrowed Ass the use of which he demands thereby manifesting his Soveraign Right to all the Creatures and accordingly he bids his Disciples tell the Owner of the Ass that the Lord had need of him not our Lord but the Lord that is he that is the Lord of all whose are the Cattel upon a Thousand Hills he that is Lord of all the Beasts and the Owners too Observe farther That notwithstanding Christ's supream Right to the Ass and the Colt he will have neither of them taken without the Owner's Knowledge or against his Will but the Disciples must acquaint him with it and by a double Argument move him to it 1. Christ's Right of Dominion and Soveraignty over them he is the Lord that sends for them 2. His present Occasion for them the Lord has need of them Obs lastly What a clear and full Demonstration Christ here gave of his Divine Nature by his Omnisciency in foreseeing and foretelling the Event by his Omnipotency in inclining the Heart and over-ruling the Will of the Owner to let the Colt go and by an Act of Soveraignty as he was Lord of the Creatures to command and call for their Service when he needed them 4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet saying 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion Behold thy king cometh unto thee meek and sitting upon an ass and a colt the foal of an ass Here the Reason is assigned why Christ rode upon the Ass into Jerusalem it was to fulfil an ancient Prophecy that the Messias or King of the Jews should come riding upon that Beast into Jerusalem There was not any Prophecy of Christ more plainly fulfilled than this The Prophecy alluded to is Zach. 9.9 Rejoice greatly oh Daughter of Zion shout oh Daughter of Jerusalem behold thy King cometh unto thee he is just and having Salvation lowly and riding upon an Ass and upon a Colt the Foal of an Ass Where Note the Character given of the Messias he is the Supream King and Governour of his Church thy King cometh The Errand that he comes upon Bringing Salvation and the Entertainment which his Church was to give him Namely To receive him with Triumphs of Joy and Universal Acclamations Rejoice oh Daughter of Zion and shout oh Jerusalem for Joy 6 And the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them 7 And brought the ass and the colt and put on them their cloaths and they set him thereon 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way others cut down branches from the trees and strawed them in the way 9 And the multitudes that went before and that followed cried saying Hosanna to the Son of David Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest Observe here 1. The Obedience of the Disciples and the Motions of the Multitude the Disciples never dispute their Lord's Commands nor raise Objections nor are afraid of Dangers but speedily execute their Lord's Pleasure and find every thing according to their Lord's Prediction When our Call is clear our Obedience must be speedy What God commands we are not to dispute but to obey The Disciples did as Jesus commanded them Obs 2. The Actions of the Multitude in acknowledging Christ to be their King They cast their Garments on the Ground for him to ride upon according to the Custom of Princes when they ride in State and they do not only disrobe their Backs but expend their Breath in joyful Acclamations and loud Hosanna's wishing all manner of Prosperity to this meek but mighty King In this princely yet poor and despicable Pomp doth our Saviour enter into the famous City of Jerusalem Oh how far was our Holy Lord from affecting Worldly Greatness and Grandeur He despised that Glory which Worldly Hearts fondly admire yet because he was a King he would be proclaimed such and have his Kingdom confest applauded and blest But that it might appear his Kingdom was not of this World he abandons all Worldly Magnificence Oh glorious yet homely Pomp Oh meek but mighty Prince 10 And when he was come into Jerusalem all the city was moved saying Who is this 11 And the multitude said This is Jesus the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee This is not the first or only time that Jerusalem was moved and troubled at the Appearance of Christ at his Birth Matth. 2. we read all Jerusalem was troubled together with Herod and now he that rides into Jerusalem tho' in so mean a Port yet there is a new Commotion Jerusalem instead of being thankful for his Company is troubled at his Presence Thence Learn That such Persons and Places aâ— have the greatest Helps and Priviledges afforded to them are not always the most answerable in their Returns of Thankfulness 'T is not Christ's Presence with us but his Welcome to us that makes us happy Christ is daily taught in our Synagogues and preached in our Streets yet alas Multitudes are ignorant of him and say with the Men of Jerusalem when Christ was before their Eyes Who is this 12 And Jesus went into the temple of God and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple and overthrew the tables of the money-changers and the seats of them that sold doves 13 And said unto them It is written my house shall be called the house of Prayer but ye have made it a den of thieves Our Blessed Saviour having entered Jerusalem Observe his first Walk was not to the Palace but to the Temple and his Work there was to purge and reform All Reformation of Manners must begin first at the House of God Our Lords Business was to reform the Temple not to ruin it Places dedicated to publick Worship if prophaned and polluted ought to be purged from their Abuses not pull'd down and destroy'd because they have been abused But what was the Prophanation of the Temple which so offended our Saviour Answ Within the third or outward Court of the Temple there was a publick Mart or Market held where were sold Oxen Sheep and Doves and such things as were needful for Sacrifice many of the Jews coming an Hundred Miles to the Temple it was burthensome to bring their Sacrifices so far with them Wherefore order was taken by the Priests that Sheep and Oxen Meal and Oil and all other Requisites for Sacrifice should be had for Money close by the Altar to the great ease of the Offerer Nothing could be more plausible than this Plea But the fairest Pretences cannot bear out a Sin with God therefore our Blessed Saviour in Indignation at so foul an Abuse whips out these Chapmen casts down their Tables
let us be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the Breadth and Length Depth and Heighth and let us know the Love of Christ which in suffering for us passeth Knowledge So infinite every way were the Dimensions of it 37 And set up over his head his accusation written THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS It was the manner of the Romans when they crucified any Man to publish the Cause of his Death in Capital Letters placed over the Head of the Person Now see how the Wisdom and Providence of God powerfully over-ruled the Heart and Pen of Pilate to draw this Title which was truly honourable and fix it to his Cross Pilate is Christ's Herald and proclaims him King of the Jews Learn hence That the Regal Dignity of Christ was proclaimed by an Enemy and that in a time of his greatest Sufferings and Reproaches Pilate did Christ a special Honour and an eminent piece of Service he did that for Christ which none of his own Disciples durst do but he did it not designedly for his Glory but from the special over-ruling Power of Divine Providence But the highest Services performed to Christ undesignedly shall never be accepted nor rewarded by God 38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him one on the right hand and another on the left 39 And they that passed by reviled him wagging their heads 40 And saying Thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it in three days save thy self if thou be the Son of God come down from the cross 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him with the scribes and elders said 42 He saved others himself he cannot save if he be the king of Israel let him now come down from the cross and we will believe him 43 He trusted in God let him deliver him now if he will have him for he said I am the Son of God 44 The thieves also which were crucified with him cast the same in his teeth Here we have several Aggravations of our Lord's Sufferings upon the Ctoss 1. From the Company he suffer'd with Two Thieves It had been Disparagement enough to our Blessed Saviour to have been sorted with the Best of Men but to be numbered with the Scum of Mankind is such an Indignity as confounds our Thoughts This was intended by the Jews to dishonour him the more and to perswade the World that he was the greatest of Offenders but God over-ruled this that the Scripture might be fulfilled He was numbered with the Transgressors 2. Another Aggravation of our Lord's Sufferings on the Cross was the Scorn and mocking Derision which he met with in his dying Moments from the common People from the chief Priests and from the Thieves that suffer'd with him The common People both in Words and Actions expressed Scorn and Detestation against him They reviled him wagging their Heads The chief Priests tho' Men of Age and Gravity not only barbarously mock him in his extreamest Misery whom Humanity obliged them to Pity but they scoff Atheistically and Prophanely jeering at his Faith and Affiance in God tauntingly saying He trusted in God that he would deliver him now let him deliver him if he will have him Where Observe That Persecutors are generally Atheists tho' they make a Profession of Religion The chief Priests and Elders here tho' learned and knowing Men yet they blaspheme God and mock at his Power deride his Providence which was as bad as to deny his Being Hence we may gather that those who administer to God in Holy Things by way of Office if they be not the best they are the worst of Men. No such bitter Enemies to the Power of Godliness as the Ministers of Religion who were never acquainted with the Efficacy and Power of it in their own Hearts and Lives A Third Aggravation of our Lord's Sufferings on the Cross was That the Thief 's that suffered with him reviled him with the rest That is one of them as St. Luke has it or perhaps both of them might do it at first Which if so encreases the Wonder of the penitent Thieves Conversion From the Thief 's Impenitency we Learn That neither Shame nor Pain will change the Mind of a resolute Sinner but even then when he is in the very Suburbs of Hell will he blaspheme 45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying Eli Eli Lamasabachthani that is to say My God my God why hast thou forsaken me 47 Some of them that stood there when they heard that said This man calleth for Elias 48 And straightway one of them run and took a spunge and filled it with vinegar and put it on a reed and gave him to drink 49 The rest said Let be let us see whether Elias will come to save him 50 Jesus when he had cried again with a loud voice yeilded up the ghost Observe here 1. How the Rays of Christ's Divinity and the Glory of his Godhead breaks out and shines forth in the midst of that Infirmity which his Humane Nature laboured under He shews himself to be the God of Nature by altering the Course of Nature The Sun is eclipsed and Darkness overspreads the Earth for Three Hours namely from Twelve a Clock to Three Thus the Sun in the Firmament becomes close Mourner at our Lord's Death and the whole Frame of Nature puts it self into a Funeral Habit. Obs 2. That the Soul of Christ's Sufferings consisted in the Sufferings of his Soul the Distress of his Spirit was more intolerable than the Torments of his Body as appears by his mournful Complaint My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Being the first Words of the 22d Psalm and some conceive that he repeated that whole Psalm it being an admirable Narrative of the Dolours of his Passion Learn hence That the Lord Jesus Christ when suffering for our Sins was really deserted for a Time and left destitute of all sensible Consolation Why hast thou forsaken me Learn farther That under this Desertion Christ despaired not but still retain'd a firm Perswasion of God's Love unto him and experienced necessary Supports from him My God my God These are Words of Faith and Affiance striving under Temptation Christ was thus forsaken for us that we might never be forsaken by God yet by God's forsaking of Christ is not to be understood any Abatement of Divine Love but only a Withdrawing from the Humane Nature the Sense of hiâ— Love and a letting out upon his Soul a deep afflicting Sense of his Displeasure against Sin There is a total and eternal Desertion by which God utterly forsakes a Man both as to Grace and Glory being wholly cast out of God's Presence and adjudged to Eternal Torments this was not compatible to Christ nor agreeable to the Dignity of his Person But these is a Partial and Temporary Desertion when God for a little Moment hides his
a great Multitude which followed him Where Note 1. The Blind Man's Faith in Acknowledging Christ to be the Messiah for so much the Title of the Son of David signified 2. His Fervency in crying so earnestly to Christ for Mercy and Healing Have Mercy upon me thou Son of David A true Sense of Want will make the Soul cry unto Christ with Earnestness and Importunity Obs 3. The great Compassion and Condescention of Christ towards this poor Blind Man he stood still he called him and enlightned his Eyes A mighty Instance of Christ's Divine Power he that can open blind Eyes with a Touch of his Finger is really God His Touch is an Omnipotent Touch. Obs 4. Although Christ well knew the Condition of this Blind Man yet before he will restore his Sight he must sensibly complain of the want of Sight and cry unto him for Help and Healing Christ knows all his Creatures Wants but takes no Notice of them till they make them known to him by Prayer Obs 5. The Way and Course which the Blind Man takes to express his Thankfulness to Christ for recovered Sight he arose and followed Jesus Mercy from Christ is then well Improved when it engages us to follow Christ This should be the Effect of all Salvations wrought for us He praiseth God best that serveth him most The Life of Thankfulness consists in the Thankfulness of the Life CHAP. XI 1 AND when they came nigh to Jerusalem unto Bethphage and Bethany at the mount of Olives he sendeth forth two of his disciples 2 And saith unto them Go your way into the village over against you and as soon as ye be entred into it ye shall find a colt tied whereon never man sat loose him and bring him 3 And if any Man say unto you why do you this say ye that the Lord hath need of him and straight way he will send him hither 4 And they went their way and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met and they loose him 5 And certain of them that stood there said unto them What do ye loosing the colt 6 And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded and they let them go The former part of this Chapter acquaints us with our Saviour's solemn and triumphant riding into the City of Jerusalem He who in all his Journeys travel'd like a poor Man on Foot without Noise and without Train now he goes up to Jerusalem to die for Sinners he Rides to shew his great forwardness to lay down his Life for us The Beast he rides on is an Ass as the manner of Kings and great Persons anciently was and to fulfil that Prophecy Zach. 9.9 Tell ye the Daughter of Zion behold thy King cometh riding upon an Ass It was also an Ass upon which never Man sat before signifying thereby that the most unruly and untam'd Creatures become obsequious to Christ And this was a borrow'd Ass whereby our Saviour's Right to all the Creatures was manifested and accordingly he bids his Disciples tell the Owner That the Lord had need of hâ—m not Your Lâ—rd or Our Lord but the Lord that is he that is Lord of all whose are the Cattle on a thousand Hills Observe farther That notwithstanding Christ's supream Right to the Colt he will not have it taken without the Owner's Knowledâ—e and Consent Tell him that the Lord hath need of him Observe Lastly What a clear and full Demonstration Christ gave of his Divine Nature of his Omnisciency in fore-seeing and fore-telling the Event of his Omnipotency in inclining the Heart and over-ruling the Will of the Owner to let the Colt go and of his Soveraignty as he was Lord of the Creatures to command and call for their Service when he needed them 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and cast their Garments on him and he sat upon him 8 And many spread their Garments in the way and others cut down branches of trees and strawed them in the way 9 And they that went before and they that followed cryed saying Hosanna blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. 10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David that cometh in the Name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest Obs here The Obedience of the Disciples First they did as Jesus commanded they do not dispute their Lord's commands nor raise Objections nor are afraid of dangers when our call is clear our Obedience must be speedy what Christ commands we are not to dispute but to obey Obs 2. The actions of the multitude in acknowledging Christ to be their King They cast their Garments on the ground for him to Ride upon according to the Custom of Princes when they ride in state and do not only disrobe their backs but expend their Breath in joyful Acclamations and loud Hosannah's wishing all manner of prosperity to their meek but mighty King In this Princely yet poor and despicable pomp doth our Saviour enter the famous City of Jerusalem Oh! How far was our holy Lord from Affecting worldly greatness and grandeur He despised that glory which worldly hearts fondly admire yet because he was a King he would be proclaimed such and have his Kingdom confest applauded and blest But that it might appear that his Kingdom was not of this World he abandons all worldly magnificence Oh glorious yet homely pomp Oh meek but mighty Prince 11 And Jesus entred into Jerusalem and into the Temple and when he had looked round about upon all things and now the eventide was come he went out unto Bethany with the twelve 12 And on the morrow when they were come from Bethany he was hungry 13 And seeing a fig-tree afar off having leaves he came if happily he might find any thing thereon and when he came to it he found nothing but leaves for the time of figs was not yet 14 And Jesus answered and said unto it No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever And his Disciples heard it Some move the Question here how Christ came to curse a Tree for want of that Fruit which the season afforded not It is answered that Naturalists observe that the fig-tree puts forth her fruit as soon as her leaf that Tree is always bearing and whilst one fig is ripe another is green and whereas it is said that the time of figs was not yet the meaning is that the time of in gathering of figs was not yet but the tree having leafs shewed it might have fruit accordingly Christ goes in expectation of its having fruit but finding none either ripe or green he curses the tree for totally disappointing his expectation Besides Christ was wont not only to speak but to work parables and this Action of his was typical An Emblem of Jerusalem's destruction in general and of every Person in particular that satisfies himself with a withered profession bearing leafs only but no fruit as this fig-tree was so are they nigh unto cursing
spit upon him and bowing their Knees worshipped him 20 And when they had mocked him they took off the Purple from him and put his own Cloaths on him and led him out to Crucify him The next part of our Saviour's Sufferings consisted of Cruel Mockings he had owned himself to be the King of the Jews that is a Spiritual King in and over his Church but the Jews expecting that the Messiah should have appeared in the Pomp of an Earthly Prince and finding themselves disappointed of their Expectation in our Saviour they look upon him as a Deceiver and Impostor and accordingly treat him as a mock-King with all the marks of Derision and Scorn for first they put a Crown upon his Head but a very ignominious and painful one a Crown of Thorns they place a Scepter in his hand but that of a Reed a Robe of Scarlet or Purple upon his Body and then bowed their Knees unto him as they were wont to do before their Princes crying Hail King Thus were all the marks of Scorn imaginable put upon our Dear Redeemer Yet what they did in Jest God permitted to be done in Earnest for all these things were Signs and Marks of Sovereignty and Almighty God caused the Regal Dignity of his Son to shine forth even in the midst of his greatest Abasement Whence was all this Jearing and Sport but to flout Majesty and why did Christ undergo all this ignominy disgrace and shame but to shew what was due unto us for our sins as also to give us an Example to bear all the Scorn Reproach and Shame imaginable for his sake who for the joy that was set before him despised the shame as well as endured the Cross 21 And they compel one Symon a Cyrenian who passed by coming out of the Country the Father of Alexander and Rufus to bear his Cross 22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha which is being Interpreted the place of a Skull 23 And they gave him to drink Wine mingled with Myrrh but he received it not 24 And when they had Crucified him they parted his Garments casting Lots upon them what every Man should take 25 And it was the third Hour and they Crucified him 26 And the Superscription of his Accusation was written over The King of the Jews 27 And with him they Crucify two Thieves the one on his Right hand the other on his Left 28 And the Scripture was Fulfilled which saith And he was numbred with the Transgressors 29 And they that passed by railed on him wagging their heads and saying Ah thou that destroyest the Temple and buildest it in three days 30 Save thy self and come down from the Cross 31 Likewise also the chief Priests mocking said among themselves with the Scribes He saved others himself he cannot save 32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the Cross that we may see and believe and they that were Crucified with him reviled him 33 And when the sixth hour was come there was Darkness over the whole Land until the ninth hour 34 And at the ninth Hour Jesus cryed with a loud Voice saying Eloi Eloi lamasabachthani which is being Interpreted My God my God Why hast thou forsaken me 35 And some of them that stood by said when they heard it behold he calleth Elias 36 And one ran and filled a Sponge of Vinegar and put it on a Reed and gave him to drink saying let alone Let us see whether Elias will come to take him down 37 And Jesus cryed with a loud Voice and gave up the Ghost The Sentence of Death being past by Pilate who can with dry Eyes behold the sad Pomp of our Saviour's Bloody Execution forth-comes the Blessed Jesus out of Pilate's Gate bearing that Cross which soon after was to bear him with his Cross on his Shoulder he marches towards Golgotha and when they see he can go no faster they force Symon the Cyrenian not out of Compassion but Indignation to be the Porter of his Cross This Cyrenian being a Gentile not a Jew that bare our Saviour's Cross thereby might be signified that the Gentiles should have a part in Christ as well as the Jews and be sharers with them in the Benefits of the Cross At length our Holy Lord comes to Golgotha the place of his bitter and bloody Execution here in a publick place with infamous Company betwixt two Thieves is he Crucified that is fastned to a great Cross of Wood his Hands stretched forth abroad and his Feet closed together and both Hands and Feet fastned with Nails his Naked Body was lifted up in the open Air hanging betwixt Heaven and Earth signifying thereby that the Crucified Person deserved to live in neither This shameful painful and accursed death did the holy and innocent Jesus suffer and undergo for shameless Sinners Some Observe all the Dimensions of Length breadth and Depth and Height in our Saviour's Sufferings for Length his Passion was several Hours long from Twelve to Three exposed all that Time both to Hunger and Cold The Thieves that were Crucified with him endured only Personal Pains but he underwent the Miseries of all Mankind As to its Breadth his Passion extended over all the Powers and Parts of his Soul and Body no part free but his Tongue which was at Liberty to pray for his Enemies His sight was tormented with the scornful Gestures of those who passed by wagging their Heads his Hearing grieved with the Taunts and Jears of the Priests and People his Smelling offended with noysom Savours in the place of Skulls his Taste with the Gall and Vinegar given him to Drink his Feeling was wonderfully affected by the Nails which pierced his tender Nerves with a Multiplicity of Wounds And for the Depth of his Passion it was as deep as Hell it self enduring Tortures in his Soul as well as Torments in his Body groaning under the Burthen of Desertion and crying out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Lastly for the Heighth of his Passion his Sufferings were as high as Heaven his Person being infinite as well as innocent no less then the Son of God which adds infinite worth and value to his sufferings Lord Let us be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length depth and heighth of our Saviour's Love in suffering for us and let us know that Love of his which passeth knowledge Observe next the Inscription wrote by Pilate over our suffering Saviour This is Jesus the King of the Jews it was the manner of the Romans when they crucified a Malefactor to publish the cause of his Death in Capital Letters placed over the head of the Person Now it is observable how wonderfully the wisdom of God over-ruled the heart and pen of Pilate to draw his Title which was truly Honourable and fix it to his Cross Pilate is Christ's Herald and proclaims him King of the Jews Learn hence that the regal dignity of Christ was proclaimed by
sit down by him as his Members The only way to this namely to ascend unto and sit down with Christ in Heaven is to live like him and to live unto him here on Earth If any Man love me he will follow me and where I am there shall alsâ— my servant be St. Joh. 12.26 20 And they went forth and preached every where the Lord working with them and confirming the word with Signs following Observe here first the general publication of the Gospel by the Apostles They went forth and preached every where Secondly the reason of the Efficacy and Success of it namely that Divine and miraculous power which accompanied the Preaching of it the Lord wrought with them and câ—nfirmed the word with Signs following 1. Obs The general publication of the Gospel by the Apostles they went forth and Preached every where The industry of the Holy Apostles was incredibly great yet was their success greater then their industry even beyond all humane Expectation which will evidently appear if we consider 1. The vast spreading of the Gospel so far in so short a space of time for in thirty Years time after Christ's death it was spread through the greatest part of the Roman Empire and reached as far as Parthia and India 2. The wonderful power and efficacy which the Gospel had upon the lives and manners of men the generality of those that entertained the Gospel were obedient to it both in word and deed because Christianity being an hated and persecuted profession no man could have any inducement to embrace it that did not resolve to practise it and live up unto it 3. The weakness and meanness of the Instruments that were imployed in propagating the Gospel shews the success of it to be very great and strange a company of plain and illiterate Men most of them destitute of the advantages of Education and unassisted by the countenance of any Authority whatsoever yet did they in a short space draw the World after them 4. The powerful opposition which was raised against the Gospel namely the prejudices of Education the power of indwelling Lusts and also the powers of the World then in being did strongly combine against it yet did Christianity bear up against all this opposition and made its way thorough all the resistance that the Lusts and prejudices of Men armed with the power and authority of the whole world could make against it 5. The great discouragements that Men were then under to embrace the Gospel and the Christian profession all the evils of this World threatned them Mockings and Scourgings Banishment and Imprisonment Reproach and Ruin death in all its fearful shapes was presented to them to deter them from embracing this Religion Observe therefore 2. The reason of this wonderful Success the Lord wrought with them and confirmed the word with Signs following the Lord wrought with them this points at the inward operation of the Holy Spirit upon the minds of Men and confirmed the word with Signs that is confirmed their Doctrine with Miracles such as healing Diseases raising the Dead casting out Devils inflicting corporal Diseases on scandalous persons and sometimes Death it self from the whole we gather the Truth and Divinity of the Christian Religion that it was and is certainly of God and therefore never could never can be overthrown The End of St. Mark EXPOSITORY NOTES WITH PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS UPON The Holy Gospel ACCORDING TO S T. LUKE St. LUKE xxiii 45 46 47. Then opened he their Vnderstandings that they might understand the Scriptures And he said unto them Thus it is written and thus it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the Third day and that Repentance and Remission of sins should be Preach'd in his name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem EXPOSITORY NOTES WITH PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS UPON The Holy Gospel ACCORDING TO S T. LUKE CHAP. I. 1 FOrasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed amongst us 2 Even as they delivered them unto us which from the beginning were eye-witnesses and ministers of the word 3 It seemed good to me also having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first to write unto thee in order most excellent Theophilus 4. That thou mayest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed This Gospel together with the Acts of the Apostles were written by St. Luke the beloved Physician and Companion of St. Paul who wrote as did the rest of the Evangelists by the special Direction and Inspiration of the Holy Ghost where we may profitably Remark the wonderful wisdom of God who in Order to the Confirming of our Faith in the Truth of the Gospel raised up a sufficient number of Witnesses to testify the verity and infallible certainty of all that the Gospel delivers to us Now this Evangelist St. Luke Dedicates this Gospel together with the Acts of the Apostles to Theophilus who was as some think an Honourable Senator or a Renowned and eminent Person in the Church as Others suppose But many take the word Theophilus not for a proper Name but common Name signifying every one that Loveth God to whom St. Luke addresses his Discourse The first four Verses of this Chapter are a Preface to the following History and acquaint us with the Reasons which induced St. Luke to write namely because divers Persons in that Age had imprudently and inconsiderately set upon writing Gospels without direction from the Spirit of God whose Errors and Mistakes were to be corrected by a true Narrative This St. Luke declare he was able to make having had perfect Understanding and Knowledge of the Truth of those things he was about to Relate partly by his familiarity with St. Paul and partly by his Conversation with the other Apostles who constantly attending our Saviour were Eye and Ear-witnesses of those things that are the Subject matter of the â—â—â—hing-History Hence learn 1. That there were some Apocryphal Writings or Writings which were not of Divine Authority Reâ—â—ting to the New Testament as well as to the Old as the Books of Asher Gad and Iddâ— are recited in the Old Testament but were never received into the Canon of the Scripture So were there some Gospels or Historical Relations of our Saviour's Life and Actions wrote by Persons which the Church never received as not having the impress of God's Ordination Note Secondly that the Gospels which St. Luke and the other Evangelists wrote have nothing of fallibility or uncertainty in them they wrote nothing but what they either heard or saw themselves or else received from those that were Eye and Ear-witnesses of matter of Fact It seemed good to me to write having had perfect knowledge of all things from the very first 5 There was in the days of Herod the king of Judea a certain Priest named Zacharias of the course of Abia and his wife was of the daughters of
Religion Learn hence That Hypocrites within the Church may be guilty of such Tremendous Acts of Wickedness as the Consciences of Infidels and Pagans without the Church may Boggle at and Protest against Pilate a Pagan Absolves Christ whilst the Hypocritical Jews that heard his Doctrine and saw his Miracles do condemn him Observe 2. How Pilate at last suffers himself to be over-come with the Importunity of the Jews and delivers the Holy and Innocent Jesus contrary to his Judgment and Conscience to the Will of his Murtherers It is a vain Apology for Sin when Persons pretend that they are not committed with their own Consent but at the Instigation and Importunity of others For such is the Frame and Constitution of Man's Soul that none can make a Person wicked without his own Consent It was no Extenuation of Pilate's Sin no Alleviation of his Punishment that to please the People he delivered up our Saviour contrary to the Direction of his own Conscience to be Crucified Observe 3. The Person whose Life the wicked Jews preferred before the Life of the Holy Jesus Barabbas We will that thou Release Barabbas and destroy Jesus Mark these Hypocritical High Priests who pretended such Zeal for God and Religion they prefer the Life of a Person Guilty of the highest Immoralities and Debaucheries even Murder and Sedition before the best Man that ever lived in the World But whence sprang the Malice and Hatred of the High Priests and People of the Jews against our Saviour Why plainly from hence Christ Interpreted the Law of God more strictly than their Lusts could bear and he lived a more Holy Useful and Excellent Life than they could endure Now nothing enrages the Men of the World more against the Professors but especially the Preachers of the Gospel then Holiness of Doctrine and Strictness of Life and Conversation Such as Preach and Live well let them expect such Enmity and Opposition such Malice and Persecution such Sufferings and Tryals as will shock an ordinary Patience and Constancy of Mind Our Master met with it let his Zealous Ministers prepare for it 26 And as they led him away they laid hold upon one Simon a Cyrenian coming out of the Country and on him they laid the Cross that he might bear it after Jesus The Sentence of Death being past by Pilate who can with dry Eyes behold the sad Pomp of our Saviour's Execution Forth comes the Blessed Jesus out of Pilate's Gates bearing that Cross which soon after was to bear him with his Cross on his Shoulder he Marches towards Golgotha and when they see he can go no faster they Compel Symon of Cyrenea not out of Compassion but Indignation to bear his Cross This Cyrenian being a Gentile who bare Christ's Cross some think thereby was signified that the Gentiles should have a part in Christ as well as the Jews and be Sharers with them in the Benefits of the Cross 27 And there followed him a great Company of People and of Women who also Bewailed and Lamented him 28 But Jesus turning unto them said Daughters of Jerusalem weep not for me but weep for your selves and your Children 29 For Behold the Days are coming in which they shall say Blessed are the Barren and the Wombs that never Bare and the Paps which never gave Suck 30 Then shall they begin to say to the Mountains fall on us and to the Hills cover us 31 For if they do these things in the green Tree what shall be done in the dry There were Four sorts of Persons which Attended our Saviour at his Crucifixion The Executioners that Tormented him the Jews that mock'd him the Spectators and Lookers on that Mark'd him and Sympathizing Friends which Lamented him These last Christ thus bespoke Weep not for me but for your selves That is Weep rather upon your own Account then mine Reserve your Sorrows for the Calamities coming upon your Selves and your Children It is very probable That the Tears and Lamentations of many of these Mourners were but the fruits of tender Nature not the Effects of Faith and flowing from a Principle of Grace Learn thence That melting Affections and Sorrows even from the Sense of Christ's Sufferings are no infallible Marks of Grace The History of Christ's Sufferings is very Tragical and Pathetical and may melt ingenuous Nature where there is no Renewed Principle of Grace 32 And there were also two other Malefactors led with him to be put to Death 33 And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary there they Crucifyed him and the Malefactors with him one on the Right Hand and the other on the Left Here we see the Infamous Company that our holy Lord Suffered with Two Thieves It had been a sufficient Disparagement to our Blessed Saviour to be Sorted with the best of Men But to be numbered with the Scum of Mankind is such an Indignity as Confounds our Thoughts This was designed by the Jews to dishonour and disgrace our Saviour the more and to perswade the World that he was the greatest of Offenders But God over ruled this for Fulfilling an Ancient Prophecy concerning the Messiah Isa 53. last and he was Numbered with the Transgressors 34 Then said Jesus Father Forgive them for they know not what they do Christ had often Preach'd the Doctrine of Forgiving Enemies and Praying for them he Practises it here himself in a most Exemplary manner Where Note 1. The Mercy desired and Prayed for and that is Forgiveness 2. The Person desiring that Mercy Christ the Dying Jesus 3. The Persons for whom it is Desired his Bloody Murtherers Father Forgive them 4. The Argument used or Motive urged to procure the Mercy Forgive them For they know not what they do Learn hence 1. That Ignorance is the usual Cause of Enmity against Christ 2. That there is Forgiveness with God for such as oppose yea Persecute Christ out of Ignorance 3. That to Forgive Enemies and to beg Forgiveness for them is an Evidence of a Christ-like Frame of Spirit Father Forgive them 35 And the People stood beholding and the Rulers also with them derided him saying He saved others let him save himself if he be Christ the chosen of God 36 And the Soldiers also mocked him coming to him and offering him Vinegar 37 And saying If thou be the King of the Jews save thy self 38 And a Superscription was written over him in Hebrew in Greek and Latin This is the King of the Jews Observe here 1. A mighty Aggravation of our Lord's Sufferings upon the Cross Namely The mocking Derision which he met with in his Dying Moments As he endured the Pain so he despised the Shame Cruel Mockings was our Lord Tryed with both from the Common People and from the Chief Priests yet the Common People's Reviling him and wagging their Heads at him was not so much to be taken Notice of as the Chief Priests who were Men of Age and Gravity and the Ministers of Religion For
them Barbarously to Mock him in his Misery and which was worse Atheistically to Jear and Scoff at his Faith and Affiance in God Saying He trusted in God that he would deliver him let him deliver him if he will have him This was such an Indignity as Confounds our Thoughts But from hence we Learn 1. That Persecutors are generally Atheistical Scoffers the Chief Priests and Elders who Persecuted Christ do Blaspheme God they mock at his Power and deride his Providence which was as wicked as to deny his Being 2. We Learn from this Example That such as Minister to God in Holy things by way of Office if they be not the Best they are generally the worst of Men no such bitter Enemies to the Power of Godliness as such Preachers who were never Experimentally Acquainted with the Efficacy and Power of it upon their own Hearts and Lives Observe 2. The Inscription wrote by Pilate over our suffering Saviour This is Jesus the King of the Jews It was the Custom of the Romans when they Crucified a Malefactor to publish the Cause of his Death in Capital Letters placed over the Head of the Person Now it is Observable how wonderfully the Wisdom of God over-ruled the Heart and Pen of Pilate to draw this Title which was truly Honourable and fix it to his Cross Pilate is Christ's Herald and proclaims him King of the Jews Learn hence That the Kingship and Regal Dignity of Christ was proclaimed by an Enemy and that in a time of his greatest Sufferings and Reproaches Pilate without his Knowledge did our Saviour an eminent piece of Service Verily he did that for Christ which none of his own Disciples durst do not that he did it designedly and with any intent to put Honour upon Christ but from the special over-ruling Providence of God No thanks to Pilate for all this Because the Highest Services performed to Christ undesignedly shall never be Accepted nor Rewarded by him 39 And one of the Malefactors which were hanged Railed on him saying If Thou be Christ Save thy self and us 40 But the other Answering Rebuked him saying Dost thou not fear God seeing thou art in the same Condemnation 41 And we indeed justly For we receive the due Reward of our Deeds But this Man hath done nothing amiss 42 And he said unto Jesus Lord Remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom Here we have a farther Aggravation of our Lord's Sufferings upon the Cross from the Company he Suffered with the Two Thieves who Reviled him with the rest Saint Matthew and Saint Mark say They both Reviled him Saint Luke says One of them Reviled possibly both of them might do it at first and one of them Repent which if so encreases the wonder of the Penitent Thiefs Conversion From the Impenitent Thiefs Reviling of Christ when he was at the very point of Death and even in the Suburbs of Hell we Learn That neither Shame nor Pain will change the Mind of a Resolute Sinner but even then when he is in the Suburbs of Hell will he Blaspheme From the Penitent Thief 's Confessing of Christ and Praying to him Lord Remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom We Learn Both the Efficacy and Freeness of Divine Grace 1. The efficacious Power of it Oh how Powerful must thaâ— Grace be which wrought such a Change in an instant which supplied that Heart in a Moment which had been hardning in Sin for so many Years 2. The Freeness of it which takes hold of his Heart when he was at the height of Sin and was not only void of Grace but seemed past Grace Oh the powerful Efficacy and adorable Freeness of the Heart-changing Grace of God in this vile Person it disposed him to own his Sin to confess the justness of his Punishment to justify Christ's Innocency to Reprove his Fellow-Companion to pray to a Crucified Christ and to intercede with him not for present Deliverance from Death but for a place in Christ's Kingdom Where we Learn 1. That true Conversion is never too late for obtaining Mercy and Salvation 2. That True Conversion how late soever will have its Fruits The Fore-mentioned Fruits of Faith and Repentance were found with this penitent Thief yet must not this extraordinary Case be drawn into Example This Extraordinary and Miraculous Grace of God is not to be expected ordinarily We have no warrant to expect an over-powering degree of God's Grace to turn our Hearts in an instant at the Hour of Death when we have Lived in Forgetfulness of God and in a Supine neglect of our Soul 's Concerns all the days of our Life For it is evident as to this Case of the Penitent Thief 's Conversion at the last Hour 1. It is an Example without a Promise 2. It is but a single Example 3. It is an Example Recorded but by one Evangelist the Spirit of God fore-seeing what an ill use some would make of this Instance leaves one Example upon Record that none might despair and but one that none might Presume 4. This Thief probably never had any Knowledge of Christ before 5. This was a Miracle with the Glory whereof Christ would Honour the Ignominy of his Cross So that we have no more ground to expect such another Conversion then we have to expect a Second Crucifixion This Converted Person was the first Fruits of the Blood of the Cross From whence we Learn That God can and sometimes doth though very seldom prepare Men for Glory immediately before their Dissolution by Death 43 And Jesus said unto him verily I say unto thee To Day shalt thou be with me in Paradise These Words are our Saviour's Gracious Answer to the Penitent Thief 's Humble Prayer Lord Remember me in thy Kingdom says the Thief To day shalt thou be with me in my Kingdom says our Saviour Where Note 1. The Immortality of the Souls of Men is without all doubt Our desires after and hopes for Immortality do prove our Souls Immortal and capable of that State 2. That there is a Future and Eternal State into which Souls pass at Death Death is our passage out of the swift River of Time into the Boundless and Bottomless Ocean of Eternity 3. That the Souls of all the Righteous at Death are immediately Received into a State of Happiness and Glory This day shalt thou be with me not after thy Resurrection but immediately after thy Dissolution That Man's Soul is asleep or worse that Dreams of the Soul 's sleeping till the Resurrection For why should the Believers Happiness be deferred when they are immediately capable of Enjoying it Why should their Salvation slumber when the Wicked's Damnation slumbereth not How do such delays consist with Christ's ardent Desires and his Peoples vehement Longings to be together 44 And it was about the sixth Hour and there was a Darkness over all the Earth until the Ninth Hour 45 And the Sun was Darkned and the Veil of the Temple was Rent in the midst
and inimitable never was Love like thine 16 And they took Jesus and led him away 17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a scull which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha 18 Where they crucified him and two other with him on either side one and Jesus in the midst Here Observe 1. That it was a Custom among the Romans to cause the Person condemned to crucifying to carry his own Cross accordingly our Saviour bare his own Cross part of the way till fainting under the burthen of it they laid it upon another not out of Mercy but Malice reserving him for a more publick Death They were loth he should go away in a fainting Fit But why could not Christ bear his own Cross who was able to bear the Sins of the whole World when hanging upon the Cross Answer 1. Probably the Jews Malice provided for him a Cross of extraordinary greatness proportionable to the Crimes they charged him with 2. He was much debilitated and weakned with his long watching and sweating the Night before 3. The sharp edges of the Cross grating his late whipped and galled Shoulders might occasion the fresh bleeding of his wounds and his weakning thereby 4. Hereby he gave the World a Demonstration of the Truth of his Humanity that he was in all things like unto us with respect to his Humane Nature and the common Infirmities of that Nature Observe 2. The Infamous Company which our Holy Lord suffered with two Thieves on either side one and himself in the midst it had been a sufficient disparagement to our blessed Redeemer to be sorted with the best of Men but to be numbred with the Scum of Mankind is such an Indignity as confounds our Thoughts This was designed by the Jews to dishonour and disgrace our Saviour the more and to perswade the World that he was the greatest of Offenders But God over-ruled this for fulfilling an Ancient Prophesie concerning the Messias Isaiah 53. last And he was numbered with the Transgressors 19 ¶ And Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross And the writing was JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS 20 This title then read many of the Jews for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city and it was written in Hebrew and Greek and Latine 21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate Write not The king of the Jews but that he said I am king of the Jews 22 Pilate answered What I have written I have written Observe here 1. The Inscription wrote by Pilate over our suffering Saviour This is Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews It was the manner of the Romans when they crucified a Malefactor to publish the Cause of his Death in Capital Letters over his Head that so the Equity of their Proceedings might more clearly appear to the People Now it is Observable how wonderfully the Wisdom of God over-ruled the Heart and Pen of Pilate to draw this Title which was truly Honourable and fix it to his Cross Pilate who was before his Judge and pronounced him Innocent is now his Herald to proclaim his Glory Learn hence That the Regal Dignity of Christ was openly proclaimed by an Enemy and that in the time of his greatest Reproaches and Sufferings Pilate without his own knowledge did our Saviour an eminent piece of Service he did that for Christ which none of his own Disciples durst do not designedly but from the special Over-ruling Providence of God No Thanks to Pilate for all this Because the highest Services performed to Christ undesignedly shall neither be accepted nor rewarded by God Observe 2. How the Jews endeavour to alter this Write not The King of the Jews but that he said I am the King of the Jews The Jews thought it would be a disgrace to them that Christ should be reported abroad to have been their King therefore they desire an alteration of the Writing But Pilate that wrote in Honour of Christ stifly defends what he had done To all their Importunity he returns this resolute Answer What I have written I have written Surely the Constancy of Pilate at this time must be attributed to special Divine Providence How wonderful was it that he who before was as inconstant as a Reed should now be as fixed as a Pillar of Brass Whence is this but from the God of Spirits moving upon his Spirit to write and to defend what was written The Providence of God hath a Prospect beyond the Understanding of all Creatures 23 ¶ Then the souldiers when they had crucified Jesus took his garments and made four parts to every souldier a part and also his coat now the coat was without seam woven from the top throughout 24 They said therefore among themselves Let us not rent it but cast lots for it whose it shall be that the scripture might be fulfilled which saith They parted my raiment among them and for my vesture they did cast lots These things therefore the souldiers did Here we have recorded our Saviour's Sufferings from the Soldiers they strip him of his Garments before they fastned him to his Cross and divide those Garments which could be parted amongst them and cast Lots for his woven Coat which could not be divided Little did these vile Soldiers think that they were now fulfilling a Scripture-Prophecy Yet so it was this Action of theirs being foretold Psalm 22.18 They part my Garments amongst them and cast lots upon my Vesture Not that the Prophesie made them do it but was fulfilled by their doing of it From hence we may gather That Christ suffered naked upon the Cross as naked say some as he came into the World We had made our selves naked to our shame and Christ became naked to cover our shame If sensible of our own Nakedness and Shame we flee unto him by Faith we shall be cloathed upon with Robes of Righteousness and Garments of everlasting Praise 25 ¶ Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mothers sister Mary the wife of Cleophas and Mary Magdalene 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother and the disciple standing by whom he loved he saith unto his mother Woman behold thy son 27 Then saith he to the disciple Behold thy mother And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home These Words contain our Saviour's affectionate Recommendation of his distressed Mother to the Care of a dear Disciple It was an Argument of Christ's wonderful Love to her that when he was nailed to the Cross and ready to die he was more concern'd for his Mothers Sorrows than for his own Sufferings Now was Simeon's Prophesie fulfilled Luke 2.35 A Sword shall pass through thine own Soul also Her Soul was pierced for him both as his natural Mother and also as a mystical Member of him her Head therefore Christ applies these comfortable Words as a Salve to her Wounds even whilst his own were bleeding unto