received from his wife put them upon that Dilemma to necessitate them to choose Jesus or to prefer Barrabas before him which he thought the vilest of Pagans would not do for though they had so spoken before yet he had not as yet granted their choice Barrabas was not delivered to them till at the last as we shall see for in such order Mathew doth relate them And it appâ—areth that Pilate urged his Arguments over and over for so he doth inculcate that point sundry times when they cryed out crucifie him crucifie him Pilate answered why what evil hath he done and thus Pilate argued to the last When the Priests perswaded the people to ask Barrabas Pilate answered what shall I do with Iesus they say crucify him Pilate saith again why what evil hath he done which they had nothing to reply unto him but will and violence the reurging of those points seem to be the Effect of the message that Pilates wise had sent unto him Yet again before he would doe the wicked Fact he had one device more wherby he hoped either to appease their minds or if not to assert his own innocency and to testifie against them He calleth for water in their sight and washeth his hands with a protestation of his innocency in this horrid fact of shedding the blood of such an innocent person But alas Pilate why then did you doe the deed This is but a poor excuse to you though a convinsing Argument to them that the Judge should so stedfastly protest the innocency of Jesus Christ whom they out of envy persecuted to the death They still are in fear that Pilate would shrink from the work and not finish that which they hoped they had entangled him to doe And because they saw that he was so deeply affected with the guilt of the innocent blood of Jesus they endavoured to ease his mind as much as in them lay of that terror fear Therefore they doe in a most dreadfull manner take the guilt of his blood upon themselves and thereby as much as in them lay to acquit Pilate to uphold his recoiling heart to the work till he had done it and to shew their confidence in the case and harden Pilates heart they involve their Children in the guilt of his blood Why did they so did not their Fathers cavill against God for setting their childrens teeth on edge when their Fathers had eaten sower grapes Ezek. 18.2 3 4. But mad envy pride and passion are cruel bloudy confident though shut up in blindness and violent ignorance It is the saddest curse that ever parents since the fall of Adam brought upon their Children it lyeth upon them to this day Thus all the politick devices that this witty ingenious man could devise did them no good but much hurt putting them upon horrid sins and violence almost to Rebellion and Arms. Lastly Pilate shutteth up and finisheth this sad Court with four Acts not of justice but of foul injustice and cruelty 1. He delivereth to them Barrabas not acted till now an act abominable to God to justifie the wicked as Prov. 17.15 2. He passeth Sentence of Condemnation to the Cross upon Jesus Christ another most abominable act Prov. 17.15 3. He scourgeth Jesus Christ the second time for this scourging was at and upon his condemnation Math. 27.26 Mar. 15.15 His former scourging was when Herod sent him back to Pilate Pilate told the Jews he would scourge him and release him Luk. 23.16 22. And he did so Ioh. 19.1 but did not release him And now again upon his Condemnation he scourges him upon his sore wounded back Psal 129.3 Now the plowers made deep and long their furrows on his back 4. He delivered him into their hands to crucifie him Ioh. 19.16 Math. 27.26 Mar. 15.15 Yea which is to be marvelled at he delivered him not to justice but to their will Luk. 23.25 whose wills how evill they were Pilate saw So endeth the sadest Court that ever was held in this World many sons of glory have been condemned in many Courts in this world But the Lord of glory was never condemned in any Court save in this Court of Pilate and in the Council of the Jews Great many instructions are h re but I pass them all this only note the many and admirable evidâ—nces of the innocency of this blessed Lamb of God do shine in the faces both of Jews and Gentiles and all the world Never was there such an innocent person condemned Before I finish this sad Chapter here remaineth another cruel act to increase the sufferings of our Lord Jesus which I cannot fully say was an act of Pilate yet it was done by his permission and by his Souldiers and he committed them to their will and therefore he must give an account of it before Jesus Christ his judge and ours at the last day 1. It is the fourth act of mockery done unto our Lord Jesus The first act of mockery was done unto him by the Jews after the Council had condemned him and committed him to a guard to be kept till morning they spent the remainder of the night in mocking of him Luk. 22.63 64 65. Math. 26.67 68. Mark 14.65 2. The second act of mockery done unto our Lord Jesus was by Herod and his men of war Luk. 27.11 3. The third act of mockery was done unto him by Pilate and his guard in the pretorium where he scourged him and his people mocked him more cruelly then before Ioh. 19.1.2 3 4 5. 4. The fourth act of mockery is now done unto him after Pilate had condemned him before they led them away to be crucified Math. 27.28 29 30 31. Then the Souldiers of the Governour took Iesus into the common Hall and gathered unto him the whole band of Souldiers And they stripped him and put on him a scarlet Robe And when they had platted a Crown of Thorns they put it upon his head and a Reed in his right hand and they bowed the knee before him and mocked him saying Hail King of the Jews And they spit upon him and took the Reed and smote him on the head And after they had mocked him they took the Robe off from him and put his own raiment on him and led him away and crucified him where see 1. The persons by whom this was done the Souldiers of the Governour or the Governours Guard they called unto them the whole band Jesus is now in the rude pagan Souldiers hands according as himself had foretold it would be Mat. 21.61 2. The place where it was done in the common Hall where all sorts of spectators resorted they made him a publick spectacle 1 Cor. 4.9 3. the time when this was after his condemnation before they led him away Math. 27.31 there was an interim to get the Cross and all things ready and they filled the interim with cruel mockings and thus the time was delayed until the beginning of the sixth hour The very
The Harmony of the Gospels IN THE HOLY HISTORY OF THE Humiliation and Sufferings OF Jesus Christ FROM HIS INCARNATION TO HIS DEATH and BURIAL Published by JOHN ELIOT Teacher of the Church in Roxbury Act. 3.18 But these things which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his Prophets that Christ should suffer he hath so fullfilled BOSTON Printed by John Foster in the Year 1678. VVE having perused this Pious Discourse concerning The Suffâ—rings of Christ and observed the Dilligence and Prudence of the gracious and worthy Author in compiling It having in the reading of it both affected and edified us We are perswaded through the Blessing of him that hath put it into the heart of the Reverend Author to lay out himself this way it will serve to promote the Honour of Jesus Christ and the good of Souls and therefore do affix our IMPRIMATVR THOMAS THACHER JAMES ALLEN VRIAN OAKES INCREASE MATHER WHat better and more seasonable Subject canst thou Christian Reader exercise thy soul about in these black and suffering dayes then in the sufferings of our Lords Jesus Christ Behold here thou art presented with the holy Hystory thereof the particular heads whereof see in this Table The Contents Cap. 1. By way of Preface p. 1. Cap. 2. The History of the wonderful Conception of Jesus Christ and the sad afflictions and sufferings that attended the same pag. 5. Cap. 3. The History of the Birth of Jesus Christ and the wonderful things that attended it pag. 10. Cap. 4. The first bloody persecution that befel our Lord Jesus when an Infant by the cruelty of Herod pag. 13. Cap. 5. The return of Jesus out of Egypt to Israel the Church of God pag. 17. Cap. 6. The History of the holy life of Jesus while he was a Child pag. 18. Cap. 7. The History of one famous act of wisdome and grace which Jesus did at twelve years of age pag. 25. Cap. 8. The History of the holy conversation of Jesus Christ all the time of his youth p. 30. Cap. 9. The History of some of the sufferings of Iesus Christ in the whole course of his life pag. 34. Sect. 1. The poverty of Jesus Christ pag. 35. Sect. 2. The low despised condition of Iesus Christ pag. 39. Sect. 3. The sufferings of Jesus Christ in the form of a Servant pag. 43. Sect. 4. The sufferings of Iesus Christ in bodily infirmityes pag. 46. Sect. 5. The sufferings of Iesus Christ under reproaches pag. 53. Sect. 6. The sufferings of Iesus Christ under ungrateful disacceptance p. 56. Sect. 7. The sufferings of Iesus Christ under Temptations pag. 57. â—ap 10. The sufferings of Iesus Christ in the Garden pag. 66. â—ap 11. The sufferings of Iesus Christ before the Council of the Iews pag. 74. Sect. 2. The first act of the Council pag. 76. Sect. 3. The second act of the Council pag. 77. Sect. 4. The third act of the Council pag. 79. Sect. 5. The fourth act of the Council pag. 80. Sect. 6. The fifth act of the Council pag. 81. Sect. 7. The sixth act of the Council pag. 82. The History of Iudas pag. 84. â—â—p 12. The sufferings of Iesus Christ under Pontius Pilate pag. 86. The second act of Pilate pag. 88. The third act of Pilate pag. 90. The fourth act of Pilate pag. 91. The fifth act of Pilate pag. 94. The sixth acâ— of Pilate pag. 96. The seventh act of Pilate his yielding to condemn Iesus Christ pag. 99. Pilates check pag. 100. Cap. 13. The History of their crucifying of Iesus Christ pag. 104. Sect. 2. The gracious deportment of Iesus Christ in going to Golgotha p. 106 Sect. 3. Their arriving at Golgotha and setting up the Cross pag. 107. Sect. 4. Their cruel execution done upon the blessed person of our Lord p. 109 Sect. 5. What our Lord Iesus did while he was hanging upon the Cross p. 111 Sect. 6. The vile behaviour of the Iews pag. 114. Cap. 14. The last part of the suffering of our Lord Iesus upon the Cross 116. where the last words of Iesus Christ upon the Cross are opened 125. Cap. 15. The wonderful works of God at his death and his honourable buryal pag. 125 Sect. 2. Of the Reverent Buryal of our Lord Jesus pag. 128. Sect. 3. The Sufferings of Jesus Christ after he was dead and buryed p. 130. Errata PAg. 31. l. 8. for after r. often pag. 39. l. 16. for pure r. poor pag. 74. l. 31. for successively read successfully pag. 83. l. ult put the Comma at me pag. 87. l. 19. for thereof read therefore pag. 92. l. 40. for instructing read instancing pag. 99. l. 15. for refuse read release pag. 110. l. 8. for fast r. fact The Harmony of the GOSPELS in the holy History of the Humiliation and Sufferings of Jesus Christ From his Incarnation to his Death and Burial Cap. 1. By way of Preface THE Commemoration of the Humiliation Sufferings and Death of Jesus Christ is a principal part of the Food of Faith whereby we live in Christ walk with him and worship him And to the end that we might so live walk and worship he hath instituted the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper in his Church to be an eminent part of his worship and hath said 1. Cor. 11.24 25 26. Take eat this doe in remembrance of me take drink this doe in remembrance of me for so oft as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye doe shew the Lords death till he come And his death is inclusive of all his Suâ—ferings This part of instituted worship is of great account in the eye of Christ for which cause he was pleased to institute it himself and hath ordered it to be often celebrated and it is the moâ—t peculiar worship in the Church in the holy communion of Saints on earth next beneath our communion in heaven So heavenly a work it is to commemorate the Suâ—ferings of our Lord Jesus Christ Yet have I observed both by mine own heart and others that we are very incident to be narrow hearted slite and formal in this service Faith feeds but little for want of an inlarged commemoration of the history of the Humiliation and Sufferings of Jesus Christ the commemoration whereof is the proper peculiar and great service that we are commanded to attend in that Ordinance for Christ saith do it in remembrance of me and of my sufferings And though the breaking of the bread and pouring out of the wine do chiefly signifie and represent the death of Jesus Christ as being thâ— consummation of all his sufferings yet they do also comprehend and signify all his sufferings from his Incarnation to the grave the History whereof is dispersed in the Scriptures and for the help of my faith and the faith of the Church whom the Lord hath committed to my charge I have according to my poor measure endeavoured to gather the parts of the History thereof and lay them together and may my poor labour herein
him from Generation to Generation he hath shewed strength with his arm he hath scattered the proud in the imaginations of their hearts c. to ver 56. Vpon this speech of Maryes eminent spâ—cimens of her faith and holiness may be remarked but I shall pass them chiefly attend to the history yet I cannot pass by this eminent pattern of holy conference when Christians meet together and what a fulness of spirit doth usually attend the Saints when their meeting together is sanctified by holy conference and Prayer I appeal in this case to the experience of all the Saints that keep an holy watch I mean not an extraordinary presence of the Spirit but ordinary We are great losers by being careless and slight in this great point of christian conversation The time of Maryes tarriance with her Couzen Elizabeth was about three moneths Luk. 1.56 and Mary abode with her about three moneths and returned to her own house Maryes conception of our Lord Jesus was about six months after the conception of John Baptist Luk. 1.36 this is the sixth moneth with her who was called barren Mary tarrying about three months with her yet returned before the birth of John she tarried till Elizabeth was very near her travail for here are nine months mentioned It were curiosity to enquire why she tarried not till the birth of John When she came to Ioseph we maâ— justly conceive that she told him what had passed when she came to her Couzen Elizabeth for the confirmation of his Faith and joy And now having gone three months of her time it appeared evident to Joseph for the help of his Faith that she was indeed with child as she had said unto him and that all these wonderfull things which Mary had told him were true though at first they seemed to him incredible Thus did the Lord mightily confirm the Faith and joy of these two precious Saints yea and of all believers to the worlds end 4. In this dark morning of the incarnation of our Lord Jesus before he was born he was under a suffering that was great in the eyes of the Lord that the Lord of Glory with his holy parents should fall under a taxation by the great proud Lords of the world from which the children and this child especially should have been free but goe they must to be taxed And whether this taxation was out of pride that Caesar might see the vast numbers of his Subjects once a great failing in good David or whether it was out of covetousness to raise vast sums of money upon every taxed head or rather out of both these carnal principles yet sure enough it was an oppression a suffering that fell upon our Lord Jesus before he was born Yea further this matter exposed our Lord Jesus to a very great danger of Herod who knowing himself to be a usurper of Davids crown and being extreamly jealous of being outed of his Kingdome and knowing also that all Israel was in expectation of the birth of the right Heir who might out him of his Kingdome Consider what an opportunity was put into his hand by this taxation to find out the right heir for the manner of numbring Israel was by numbring the Tribes and Families thereof Now all the royal Family of David were called to be taxed at Bethlehem the Register and Genealogyes of David might have been searched and there Ioseph and Mary and the babe in her womb might have been found ut by Herod but the wise and mercifull providence of God hid this rom him and he rested himself satisfied in the deep plot he had excogitated by occasion of the wise men of the east of which hereafter Yea God so over-ruled this taxation that he hath made it an eminent confirmation of our Faith for behold here a most illustrious proof that Jesus Christ is of the house and line of the royal family of David Caesar's act hath proved it who thought of no such thing And shall I say it is probable that our two Scripture Genealogies in Matthew Luke were taken out of Davids Genealogie kept at Bethlehem the city of David Where Herod might readily have found the right heir to Davids crown But God hid it from his eyes Again by means of this taxation Jesus Christ was born at Bethlehem according to the Scriptures Math. 2.5 6. And Caesar's act was over-ruled by God to make this word to be accomplished And lastly Caesar caused Mary to be far from home where she was delivered laid aside out of all observation of her observers touching the time of the birth of her first-born And this is one of the forenamed Mantles which the Lord drew over that Danger CAP. III. The History of the birth of Iesus Christ and the wonderful things that attended the same THE admirable providence of God doth so over-rule all Nations Persons motions and affairs that every juncture is timed and ordered according to the good pleasure of his will and for the accomplishment of his Word promises to his Servants Who could have brought this to pass that Mary must bring forth her son Jesus at Bethlehem so far remote from Nazareth where they dwelt But to accomplish this Caesar must make a decree to tax all the world this must be executed in Iudea thither must Joseph and Mary goe This Decree must comprehend the house of David therefore all the royal Family of David must at the time appointed meet at Bethlehem and all this must come to pass when Mary was neer the time of her travail Luk. 2.3 4 5. All went to be taxed every one in his own city Ioseph also went up from Galile out of the city of Nazareth into Iudea unto the city of David which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and linage of David to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with child When they came there though they were all of the same tribe family kindred yet living at such a distance they had no private friend or acquaintance unto whose house â—ey could goe for shelter and entertainment but they went to some publick Inn and there took up their lodging and place of abode in which Inn by reason of great resort at that time all the rooms within doors were so taken up or ingaged that there was no room for such a poor couple to be entertained only there was a vacant end of an out-house a Stable where horses use to stand if he would accept of that he might Necessity compelled them to accept it for Maryes time of travail was at hand it concerned them to doe the best they could It is like Ioseph made what provision he could and there took up his lodging while he should tarry in the town And here was Mary delivered here was our Lord Jesus born Luk. 2.6.7 And loe it was that while they were there the dayes were accomplished that she should be delivered and she brought
forth her first-born Son and wrapped him in swadling clothes and laid him in a Manger because there was no room for them in the Inn. Jesus Christ emptied himself of glory and came into this world in a very mean condition such was his low condition that it was a great tryal to Faith it was an â—vidence of strong Faith to be able to look through these dark clouds believe To believe him to be the Lord of Glory the Saviour of the world the King of Israel who hath no outward form nor comliness nor beauty that we should dâ—sire him The Church did find this to be a very hard point a great tryal of Faith For this cause it pleased the Lord to illustrate this mean birth of Jesâ—s Christ with famous testimonies both from heaven and earth to strengthen the Faith of the Church The testimony from heaven was given by Angels Luk. 2.8 ad 21. a famous History and a great confirmation of the faith of the Church to the worlds end It was a vision unto Shepards by night wherein a glorious light of the Lord did shine aboâ—t the men which did much affright them but the Angel did comfort them against thâ—ir fears saying Fear not He telleth them he was a Messenger of joyfull tidings unto all people he telleth them what the tidings is viz. Vnto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord the blessedest tidings that eâ—er in a few words was told unto men The Angel sends them to see and giveth them a sign by which they shall know him ver 12. this shall be a sign unto you ye shall find the babe wrapped in swadling clothes lying in a Manger The greatest humility that ever any king did manifest in this world For the further confirmation of their Faith and ours suddenly there appeared a multitude of the heavenly host with the Angel praising God and saying glory to God in the highest in earth peace and good will towards men Here be three points in this heavenly Doxology of high Instruction and Consolation and so they departed away to heaven Then the Shephards agreed to go see this thing that was come to pass The Shepards said one to another let us now goe unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass which the Lord hath made known unto us And they came with haste and found Mary and Ioseph and the babe lying in a Manger and when they had seen they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child the effect whereof upon the hearers was all they that heard it wondered at these things that were told them by the Shephards The Testimony from earth touching this Child was by the wise Men of the east who knew that the Jews waited for and expected a king and Saviour to be born and come into the world and they were divinely instructed and guided to come and see him and worship him and make their offering of homage and honour unto him in which service they were instructed and conducted by an extraordinary Star And seeing they enquired after a king that was born they went to the Kings Court to Herod to enquire after him Math. 2.2 saying where is he that is born King of the Iews for we have seen his Star in the east and are come to worship him Now King Herod is eminently informed that Jesus Christ is born who would as he doubted out him of his Kingdome The effect of this tiding is ver 3. When Herod the King heard these things he was extreamly troubled and all Ierusalem with him especially such as were of his faction and apostacy Herod contrived how he might be sure to find him out and get him into his hands and then resolved what to doe with him For this end First ver 4. He gathered all the chief Priests and Scribes of the people together and demanded of them where Christ should be born They answered v. 5. In Bethlehem of Iudea For thus it is written by the Prophet v. 6. And thou Bethlehem in the Land of Iudah art not the least among the Princes for out of thee shall come a Governour that shall rule my people Israel Then Herod sent them to Bethlehem v. 9. when they had heard the King they departed when they were departed lo the Star which they had seen in the east appeared to them again went before them till it came and stood over where the young child was when they saw the Star they rejoyced with exceeding great joy It seemeth they had no sight of the Star all the time they were at the Court and whether they had sight of it in their journey to Ierusalem it is not said But now that Star that had appeared to them in the east appeared to them again and conducted them to the very place where the child was and when they were come into the house viz. the Stable the poor chamber where Mary Lay in and where our Lord Jesus was born They saw the young child with Mary his Mother and fell down and worshipped him and when they had opened their treasures they presented to him gifts gold frankincense and mirrhe They were men of great Faith that could believe him to be King and Saviour whom they found in so poor a Cottage and in so poor a condition but divine faith built upon Divine Testimony can bear down all Objections of carnal and humane Reason this faith of these strangers was a strengthening pattern to all believers especially to Joseph and Mary who were now in great danger Herod having such assured notice of the birth of Jesus Christ at Bethlehem What ever the danger was they attended upon the Lord to obey all his Laws and Institutions to fulfil them according to the Word Therefore Luk. 21 2. when eight dayes were accomplished for circumcising of the child his Name was called Jesus which was so named of the Angel before he was conceived in the Womb. Whether this service was performed in the stable where he was born nothing is said of it but we may justly cenceive that some of the godly hearing of these eminent and Divine Testimonies touching this child had removed them to some fitter place before the eight dayes were accomplished and it may be out of the City if they were aware of the danger that the child and his parents also were in But where the Scriptuâ—e is silent why should we speak There be yet two Laws more to be performed for Luk. 1.39 they performed all things according to the Law The two Laws remaining were the purification of Mary and the dedication of the child unto God which were te be performed after thirty three dayes more Obedience to both these Laws they diligently performed both for time and place Luk. 2.22 and when the dayes of her purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished they brought him to Ierusalem and presented him to the Lord
thirty years old then he began to enter upon his publick Ministry beginning with Faâ—â—ing and Prayer temptation Luk. 3.23 with 41. c. and from that time forward to his dâ—ath all the Evangelists do give the history of his doings sufferings The course of his holy life from twelve years old to thirty is wholly covered in silence save what is said in these two Verses wherein there be six things spoken of him 1. He went down with them he had come up with them unto the Temple to attend the publick worship of God and now he returneth home again in his parents company It is a spiritual comfort to godly parents when they appear before God to say as Isai 8.18 Behold here am I and the children which the Lord hath given me And when the worship is finished the Parents and the Children return home together Good Children will refuse vain company vanities and play to keep company with their godly parents Godly youth will chiefly prize and rather chuse the desirable company of their good parents as being according to the commandment of God and the holy pattern that our Saviour Jesus Christ hath set us Once we see that he tarried behind them but we also see what a good Apology he had for it because he was about his heavenly Fathers business according to this instance was his and his Parents practise all his dayes From this time forward for eighteen years did they thus walk Order is comely in Gods eyes and becometh Gods House and Worship in such order did they constantly walk with God Hereby Jesus Christ did fullfill perfectly all the laws of God touching his orderly attendance unto the instituted worship of God Such a divine beauty and lustre was upon the reverent orderly and religious attendance of Jesus Christ upon the publick worship of God that it was an high honour to the Temple for him to appear in it and to worship God there Such an honour and glory as made this second Temple to excell the first Temple though in many other respects it was inferiour to it Hag. 2.7 9. The Desire of all Nations shall come and I will fill this house with glory saith the Lord of Host the glory of this latter house shall be greater then of the former saith the Lord of Hosts The holy obedience and worship of this glorious person did beautifie and illustrate the Temple and all the instituted worship of God which was there performed this Person brought more glory to the Temple then all the Ceremonyes of which he was the substance and they were but tâ—e shadows In all this period of the middle age of his life the Lord Jesus did fullfill the law of God with his pure perfect and meritorious obedience never was the Law of God so obeyed and fullfilled as it was by this glorious Person 2. He came to Nazaret the place of his education and Humiliation all his dayes untill he entred upon his publick Ministry He is after called the Branch in the Old Testament with reference to his habitation in this city which hath its name from that word and in the New-Testament he is called Jesus of Nazaret we see how exaâ—â—ly careful the Lord was to fulfil the Scriptures for the con irmation of our Faith in him yea in minute and small matters as they maâ— appear unto us Math. 5.17 think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfil Joh. 6.38 I come down from Heaven not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me 3. He was subject unto his Parents the Greek is Emphatical in three words he was that is the habit bent way and set of his heart was to be subject to his Parents according to the fifth Commandment he perfectly fulfilled the fifth Command it was never so kept and fulfilled as he kept it his heart was unto his duty which he performed without any failure or swerving either in thought look gesture word or deed The second word is subjecting viz. alwayes and upon all occasions he acted subjection in all kinds and in all things he acted the perfect duty of a child without the least spot or stain The third word to them to both his Parents Father and mother according as order and the rule called for it In Childhood the child is oftenest in the mothers bosome in youth he is oftenest at Fathers hand in all cases he acted subjection and obedience perfectly they never proâ—oked him for he had nothing in him was capable to be provoked when the Devil came to tâ—mpt he found nothing in him capable to entertain a temptation Joh. 14.30 much lâ—ss did his Parents ever provoke him nor did he ever provoke them they had in-dwelling sin in them though he had not and though they had he never provoked them nor drew out their corruption to act O what a sweet holy peaceable Family was that Family an heavenly Family no doubt he often stirred up and provoked his Parents to holiness virtue and all good works that they were capable to perform Math. 8.9 the Centurion doth rightly describe Family subjection I say to one goe and he goeth and to anothâ—r come and he cometh to another do this and he doth it So did Jesus alwayes if his mother called him he came if she said goe he goeth when his Father said go with me to work at my calling for our living he went with him he wrought with him we read that his dotracters said Is not this the Carpenters Son Math. 13.55 others called him the Carpenter Mar. 6.3 this witnesseth his subjection and obedience to his Parents And also that he was not idle but he laboured in his Fathers calling and all this was pure and perfect obedience to the Law of God Reverence to parents is a part of subjection to them and therefore that also is comprehended in this word he was subject to them 4. He increased in wisdome the greek word doth signifie to profit and increase in knowlebge and learning by the use of those means which God hath appointed for mankind to get wisdome knowledge and learning by which are hearing reading conference meditation and studâ— and watering them all with prayer That hearing is a sanctified means instituted by God to get wisdome see Rom. 10.17 Faith cometh by hearing that reading is an instituted sanctified means see Ioh. 5 39. search the Scriptures Jesus Christ often saith have you not read and how read you that conference is a sanctified means see Luk. 24.32 did not our hearts burn witbin us while he talked by the way that meditations and study are sanctified means 1 Tim 4.15 meditate on these things and that all these must be watered by prayer Iam. 1.5 If any lack wisdome let him ask it of God who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him Paul saith that he profited in the Iews Religion
was more neglected then Jesus Christ Isai 53.3 he is despised and rejected of men though he was employed in the great work of our Salvation 1 Sam. 18.23 I am poor and lightly esteemed 4. The fourth affliction of poverty if the poor do never so little anger vex or stand in the light of the proud carnal world they will despise and curse them Joh. 7.48 49. have any of the Rulers and Pharisees believed in him but the people who know not the Law are cursed Ioh. 9.28.34 they reviled him they said thou wert altogether born in sin and dost thou teach us and they cast him out Prov. 14.20 the poor is hated even of his own neighbour but the rich hath many friends Prov. 19.4 wealth maketh many friends but the poor is separated from his Neighbour Prov. 19.7 all the brethren of the poor do hate him how much more do his friends go far from him he pursueth them with words yet they are wanâ—ing to him Thus it was with Iesus Christ Joh. 7.5 for neither did his brethren believe in him 5. The fifth affliction of poverty is when a man is poor men think that God despiseth them as they themselves do Thus they dealt by Iesus Christ Isai 53.4 we did esteem him stricken smitten of God and afflicted Ier. 5.4 poor and foolish poverty renders a man destitute forlorn despicable poverty layeth a man by like a broken potsheard good for nothing Prov. 10.15 the destruction of the poor is his poverty 6. The sixth affliction of poverty is every one will be bold to afflict wrong tread upon the poor man Psal 10.2 8 6 14. the wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor his eyes are fiercely set against the poor he catcheth the poor when he draweth him into his net men are bold to injure the poor because they know they are not able to revenge themselves and they think no body else will they think not of God that he hath taken the protection of the poor and that he will behold their mischief and spight Psal 10.14 thou hast seen it for thou beholdest mischief and spight to require it with thy hand the poor committeth himself to thee thou art the helper of the Fatherless Am. 2 6. Thus saith the Lord for three Transgressions of Israel and for four I will not turn away the punishment thereof because they sold the righteous for siâ—ver and the poor for a pair of s oes tâ—us they dealt with Jesus Christ and most severâ—ly hath the Lord viâ—ited the Iews for such inâ—uries done unto our Lord Iesus 7. The seâ—enth affliction of poverty is that it draws a vail or Curtain over all humane excellencies it taketh away the matter and means whereby he may excell in the world among men he cannot do any great and honourablâ— works in his Generation he hath not wherewith to do them as rich men have Isai 3.6 7. whâ—n a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his Father saying thou hast cloathing be thou our Ruler and let this ruine be under thine hand in that day shall he swear saying I will not be an healer for in my house is neither bread nor cloathing make me not a Ruler of the people What ever other virtues or wisdome he hath if hâ— want wealth he is disabled darkened and laid aside from a capacity of doing any great service among his people Thus it was with Iesus Christ his poverty did disable him from carrying any breadth among men Yet Jesus Christ by his divine power did many wonderful and miraculous good works in healing all manner of diseases in feeding the hungry in a time of need he entertained and fed many thousands at one time and that in a wilderness he filled all their bellies and no doubt all their pockets bags or baskets and when all had taken what they would they still left many baskets full No Prince on Earth did or could make such a bountiful Feast his poverty is no hindrance to his divine power from doing such acts of noble liberality and so it was with the Apostles afterward though they were poor yet that hindred not them from doing great acts of beneficence to men Act. 3.6 silver and gold have I none but such as I have give I thee in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazaret rise up and walk 2 Cor. 6.10 as poor yet making many rich and that with the best and most true riches in the world rich in Faith though poor in this world Iam. 2.5 Quest Why did Iesus Christ undergo poverty such deep poverty Answ 1. For the satisfaction of the vindictive justice of God for the sin of man all sinless punishment which sin had deserved and justly brought upon man this Iesus Christ suffered of which punishment poverty is a chief part Adam was a rich Lord over the world he had a great dominion but upon his fall he was thrust out of Paradice stripped of all his dominion dignity and glory he was Lord of the world but now an outcast a poor beggar he has nothing but what Gods mercy will bestow on him he hangs upon every creature for relief wool hair hides flesh and many other things he is necessitated to get from the creatures of God for his relief which are drops and branches of his lost dominion and notwithstanding this beggarly condition of man so foolish many are to bedeck themsâ—lves in pride with these things which should be for their humbling This second state of Adam this poor punished condition did Iesus Christ take upon him Phil 2.7 8. though equal with God yet he became a stripped bereaved naked man and of the poorest sort among them This was a chief part of the sufferings of Iesus Christ for the sin of man he bore this effect of Gods wrath upon fallen man to bear it off and away from us 2. Iesus Christ bore this part of the punishment of sin for the sake of Gods elect to sanctifie this state of poverty for them to take out the sting of it and to remove the curse from it that it might become a blessing to them for it is Gods designe and purpose that the state of his Church and Saints in this world should be poor the most part of them and therefore he hath prepared poverty for them by taking the curse out of it 1 Cor. 1.26 27 28 29. ye see your calling Brethren how that not mâ—ny wise after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called but God hath châ—sâ—n the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the mighty and base things of the world and things that are despised hath God chosen yea and things that are not to bring to nought the things that are that no flesh should glory in his presence 3. Jesus Christ came into the world in this poor condition to leave an advantage to Satan to tempt and prevail
with the wicked Jews and Romans to put him to death for none of them feared to abuse such a poor man Herod and his men of War despised him the Emperour and other Rulers under him feared him not but easily condescended and conspired to put him to cruel sufferings and death he was so darkened by the cloud of poverty that he had no thoughts that he was thâ— Lord of glory 1 Cor. 2.8 which none of the Princes of this world knew for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory The Sacrament of the Lords Supper may seem to be a pure Institution yet it is an effectual memorial of all the sufferings of Jesus Christ from his poor cradle to his bitter Cross and dark grave Moreover it is necessary to consider that the poverty of Jesus was a thousand times yea above all comparison more bitter then our poverty is for his poverty had the sting of the curse in it it was an effect of the wrath of God And by his suffering thereof unto the full satisfaction of divine justice he took the sting of the curse out of our sufferings and out of our poverty and made them to be only medicinal to us Our poverty and all our sufferings are upon many accounts sweet and easy yea Jesus Commands us to rejoyce and be exceeding glad under them The believing Jews took joyfully the spoyling of their goods Heb. 10.34 But Jesus Christ his sufferings were all bitter as respecting his humane nature as being our Mediator and Surety He had joy in respect of the Father whose will he obeyed and fulfilled but the desert and punishment of their sin lay with its full weight upon him so that we see that the poverty of Jesus Christ was an heavy part of his sufferings a part of his passive obedicnce which did run through the whole course of his life from his birrh to his death Sect. 2. Jesus Christ suffered the punishment of a low obscure dispised condition in this World PSalm 22.6 I am a worm and no man despised of the people a no body a nothing a poor despicable thing this is an effect of his poverty and therefore in the opening of it sundry things will be coincident and some the same that were expressed in his sufferings of poverty but it should not be accounted a needless Tautologie seeing the Scripture is so plentiful in this point both in the Prophesy and in the History to express amplifie and dilate upon the point of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus as being a point very remarkeable and much to be insisted upon and often inculcated Wealth is an exercise of the dominion of man therefore it exalts a man in the World poverty strippeth man of his dominion therefore it layes him low in the World And in that condition it pleased Jesus Christ to lay himself He who is God humbled himself by his Incarnation lower then Angels though he had been born the greatest of men on Earth yet he humbled himself to become a man Phil. 2 6 7. he emptied himself to become a man and laid himself among the lowermost rank and sort of mâ—n which is Rhetorically expressed by a worm what is lower then a worm among living creatures such was Jesus Christ in the flesh a no body among men the lowest of no body therefore the Text saith a worm no man one of no account But consider that this Text sheweth of what esteem and account Jesus Christ was in the worlds eye only he was not so accounted in Gods eye nor in the Churches Eye for see of what account Jesus Christ was in Gods Eye Mat. 3.17 this is my well beloved Son in whom I am well pleased See also Math. 12 18. behold my servant whom I have chosen my beloved in whom my Soul is well pleased I will put my Spirit upon him and he shall shew judgement unto the Gentiles See what account he was of in the Angels eye Luk. 2.10 11. I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people for unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. See what account he is of in the estimation of the Scriptures Isai 9.6 7. unto as a child is born unto us a Son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his Name shall be called wonderful Counsellour the mighty God Everlasting Father Prince of Peace of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even for ever the Zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this Amen This glorious person is the low worm we are speaking of see also what account he is in the Eye of the Church Joh. 1.14 we beheld his glory the glory of the only begotten of the Father And this is the person that in the worlds Eve is a worm and a no body and despised of men Quest What renders a man to be a no body a nothing a worm Answ Many things which are in no wise appertaining to Jesus Christ as for instance 1. When a man is of low parts and gifts a simple sorry foolish creature but Jesus Christ was not such an one Luk. 2.40 when he was a child he was full of wisdome and 52. as he grew up he increased in wisdome 2. When a man is unfit for any action or service in his generation like an Image finely carved but good for nothing as Isai 44.10 But Jesus Christ was not such an one he did the greatest good to man thar ever was done never man did the like Psal 89.6 who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord who among the Sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord. 3. When men are deboshed and defiled with gross sins this doth debase them and make them no bodies Prov. 14.34 But Jesus Christ was far from any such stain or spot he is a Lamb without spot or blemish 1 Pet. 1.19 he knew no sin though he was made sin for us by the imputation of our sin and 1 Pet. 2.32 23 24. who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the Tree 4. Men are rendred of no esteem when they are of an ill disposition proud covetous selfish passionate censorious contentious and such like But no such thing was ever found in Jesus Christ he was meek lowly lovely Math. 11.29 learn of me for I am meek and lowly Math 12.17 18 20. he shall not strive nor cry c. 5. Lastly When men are poor in the world this makes them low and despicable in the worlds Eye And this only was the case of Iesus Christ
Lord ye say well for so I am 5. There is a bond Servant who is bound for all his life as captives and Moors are To this kind of service Jesus submitted not unto the three first forms of a Servant Jesus did submit himself viz. 1. To be an ingenious Servant in love to do good to all and especially to the Saints 2. To be a free Servant to work with other men and receive wages with his Father 3. To serve the conquerour by paying such Tribute as they demand But unto the two last he submitted not viz. to be bound to serve a man for a time and much less to be bound to serve a man for his life Neither of these two forms of a Servant did Jesus take up And I may offer these Reasons for it 1. To be bound to serve a man would have hindered him from attending unto his heavenly Fathers business which he came into the world to do Joh. 6.38 I came down from Heaven to do the will of him that sent me not my own will and much less mans will to which a bond Servant is bound Joh. 5.30 I came to do the will of the Father that sent me Ioh. 4.34 my meat is to do the will of him that sent me Therefore he might not be such a Servant as by the Law is tyed to do the will of his Master Vnder his goâ—ly parents he had liberty to do his heavenly Fathers will and it is a branch of the Fathers will that he should be subject to his Parents whose duty it was to further him in the Service of his heavenly Father Once at twelve years old he did that which by accident did not a little trouble his Parents for the present but Mary so laid up the words of his Apology as that they did never hinder him from doing his heavenly Fathers business but further him therein if they could 2. He had no need to be a Servant under tuition to teach him humility and subjection he needed not to be taught by any humane yoke We need it Lam. 3.27 It is good for us to bear the Yoke of Tuition in our Youth but it was not so with Iesus Christ his heavenly Fathers will and command were enough for him who had the perfect Image of God and without the least stain of original sin 3. Because these three kinds of Service that he did undergo were enough to sanctifie all kinds and degrees of service for us who need the tuition of such a yoke because our nature is stained with original sin and needeth to be subdued and tamed and thereby be made capable of Instruction 4. Because it was too far beneath the dignity of his blessed person to be at the will and command of a frail man which his godly Parents were considerate of knowing his Divine Offspring he was subject to them by his own voluntary obedience to the fifth command of God but never needed to put forth any parental power of command over him 5. It was Infinite humility in him to condescend to the lowest order of men in taking the form of a Servant though he did not stoop down to the lowest degree of that order especially considering that it would have hindred him from doing the will of the Father that sent him Quest But why did Iâ—sus Christ stoop so low as to take the form of a Servant Answ 1. Iesus Christ took the form of a Servant to satisfie Divine justice in submitting himself to bear the punishment due to the sin of man Sin stripped man of his dignity dominion Lordship and Rule and cast him into a state of servitude the sting curse of this punishment Christ suffered purely perfectly and meritoriously to the full satisfaction of divine justice thereby hath took out the sting curse of servitude he bore that in his own person to bear it off and heave it away from us This is one part of his passive obedience to bear the punishment of servitude this is one part of his passive obedience which did run through the whole course of his life and especially in the whole course of his private life for it was otherwise in some respects in the time of his publick Ministry 2. Because hereby he sanctified the state of Service for us that it might be medicinal and wholsome for us to humble us sanctifie us and do us good The curse being removed it is become a Gospel rod and a yoke which we have need of especially in our youth and Iesus Christ hath fitted it to do us good 3. Iesus Christ took the form of a servant that he might perform that active obedience to the Law of God which that order doth owe unto the Law and thereby merit that reward that part of the Inheritance which was by the covenant of works due unto the perfect observation of those Laws And this merit of Iesus Christ is imputed to us that believe by the covenant of grace So that by taking the form of a servant Iesus Christ performed both active passive obedience to God the fruit whereof is made ours by the Gospel Jesus Christ did fulfil all righteousness Mat. 3.15 wherof this is no small part in his obedience to the fifth commandment 4. Iesus Christ took the form of a Servant and did both suffer and do all the duty that belonged thereunto to purchase Gospel freedome for us that through faith in Iesus Christ we may be freed from the evil of servitude and be made free Servants of God through Iesus Christ But we must remember that Iesus Chriâ—â— freeth us from the evil of servitude not from the state of servitude 1 Cor. 7.21 22 23. art thou called converted being a Servant a bond Servant for life care not about that do the duty of thy place it shall be but as medicine to thy Soul and though thou be a Servant to men yet thou art a Freeman of Jesus Christ and if Christ make you free you are free indeed in a supereminent free estate Onesimus was Philemons Servant but he was being converted a Freeman of Christ ver 16. O what a comfort is this to poor slaves and Servants that believe in Jesus Christ that Jesus Christ himself the Lord of glory took the form of a Servant for their sakes Jesus Christ hath set Heaven gates open for poor bond slaves and Servants to enter in by believing And at the great day we shall see many bond slaves Servants and underlings men and women sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the heavenly Kingdome but their Masters Rulers and such as made them slaves cast out into outer darkness Sect. 4. The Sufferings of Jesus Christ in bodily infirmityes Math. 8.17 himself took our infirmityes and bore our sicknesses THe forenamed Instances of the Sufferings of Jesus Christ did manifestly run through the whole course of his life all the time of his youth which were so farr as we know his most serene dayes that he lived
be of any service and help to the faith of the Saints I shall rejoyce in such a blessed fruit I know that it is a very useful point the Lord make it fruitful In this work some considerations are necessary to be premised The sufferings of Jesus Christ are a wonderful part of the deep counsels of God touching man Gods great design is to glorifie himself chiefly in those great Attributes of his ustice and mercy and to glorify Jesus Christ to be the great Agent to bring all the glory thereof unto God according to the holy Covenant and agreement betwixt the Father and the Son Joh. 17.6 c To that end he purposed to make the whole mass of mankind to glorifie his justice an high and honourable service for a creature to perform And he purposed and chose out a certain number a scattering out of mankind in all Ages to be vessels of mercâ— in whom he would glorifie his free grace and mercy and all this by and through Jesus Christ Eph. 1.4 5 6. according as he hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love having predestinated us unto the Adoption of children by Jesus Christ unto himself according to the good pleasure of his wil to the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved Hence Gods Elect were in Christ before they were in Adam When God executed his decrees he made man in his own image and likeness a blessed estate gave him an holy just and good law and power to perform it brought him under an holy and just covenant with incouragement and promise of immutable and eternal glory upon his keeping of it Gal. 3.12 Doe and live set him in the highest dignity of his creatures to be Lord over the works of Gods own hands in this low world gave him power to act by free choyce of his will and thereby to act meritoriously â—n high dignity fenced him from offending and miscariage by a just and severe threatning Gâ—n 2.17 in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely dy thus was mankind made to glorifie justice and be eternally happy in so doing in this state man had but one thing to doe to obtain happiness viz. to keep Gods law and covenant to which he was fully accomplished with sufficient ability assistance and incouragement but he fell short of the glory of God Rom. 3 23. and by the Devils temptation sought out many inventions Eccles 7.29 and fell into his great apostacy he overthrew Gods great design of glorifâ—ing Gods rewarding justice and fell under the condemnation of the law and fell into the hands of Gods vindictive juâ—tice and all this he did before he had performed Gods Law covenant and command He deserved to die before he had deserved to live so that now man hath two great works to doe before he can attain to happiness viz. 1. It is still incumbent on man to keep the holy Law and covenant of God and 2dly Now it is incumbent on man to satisfie Gods vindictive justice by suffering the penalty of the Law neither of which is man able to perform nor any creature for him so that his Redemption ceaseth for ever Psal 49.8 he is eternally condemned under the just sentence of the Law and vindictive justice of God a dreadfull Catastroâ—he and overthrow Now Jesus Christ steppeth in according to the holy coveâ—ant and agreement betwixt the Father and thâ— Son Jesus Christ undertaketh for Gods Elect whom the Father hath chosen to bâ— vessels of Mâ—rcâ— and given unto Jâ—sus Christ for that end Joh. 17.6 Thine they were thou gavâ—st them to me Jesus Câ—riâ—t undertakes to glorifie justice for them and also to shew mercy and free grace in their recovery Jesus Christ undertakes to perform for them and in their stead those two great works which they are never able to pâ—rform for themselves Jesus Christ undertakes as their surety to keep and fulfill the holy Law and covenant of works to obtain for them the reward of justice and also to suâ—fer for them and in their stead the penalty of the Law which is to dâ—e and therebâ— to satisfie the vindictive justice of God And here is the ground of the neceâ—sitâ— of Jesus Christ his active and pa sive obedience in the salâ—ation of Gods Elect bâ— making them vessels of mercy Jesus Chriâ—t his pâ—re perfect and meritorious Obâ—dience to the Law for us is not enough to bring us to salâ—ation Heb. 2.10 It bâ—cometh him in bringing many sons to gloâ—y to maâ—â— the Captain of our Salvation perfeâ—t through suffering thereby to satis ie the vindictive juâ—ticâ— of God which is incumbent on us to doe and because we are not able to doe it our selves it is necessary that our Surety should doe it for us If Jesus Christ had only kâ—pt thâ— Law perfectly for us and thereby had been the perfecting end of thâ— Law for righteousnâ—ss Rom. 10.4 he had not been a competent surety for us because we are also lâ—able to the revenging punishing Sentence of the Law for our violation thereof therefore the Captain of our Salvation must be perfected by su ferings And if Jesus Christ had onlâ— suffered the penalty of the Law by dying for us hâ— had not perfected the Office of a Mediator because the Law was not yet fâ—lâ—illed and thâ— perfecting enâ— thereof attained Therefore it is necessary that our Mediâ—tor should be perfected in the accomplishment of both these parts of our Redemption Aâ—d hâ—nâ—e when in the Sacrament of the Supper we commemorate and celebrate the sufferings and paâ—sive obedience of Jesus Christ it comprehends also the celebration of the active obedience of Jesus Chri t even all that the Captain of our Salâ—ation hath done for us for they are inseparable nor could Jesâ—s Chriâ—t haâ—e been a competent satisfactory Sacrifice if he hâ—d not been a Lamb without spot Mat. 3.15 it becometh us to ful il all righteousness Jesus Christ is the second Adam 1 Cor. 15.45 and he came to redeem the first Adam who is an elect Vessel and saved bâ— Jesus Câ—rist and being his Surety he is bound to perform for him all that he was bound unto Now Adam was bound unto all active obedience to the Law which he never performed he was also bound to suffer the penalty of the Law which he brake therefore Jesus Christ undertaking to bring Adam to Salvation he must perform for him both active aâ—d passive obedience The active and passive obedience of Jesus Christ are so complicated together that they are inseparable every act of Jesus Christ his su fering hath active obedience in it he laid down his life when he was obedient to the death Joh. 10.18 Phil. 2.8 And every act of Jesus Christ his activâ— obâ—dience had suffering in it being darkened by his Humiliation under a poâ—r low afflicted estate in this world Phil. 2.6
the distress was such that no creature could help them out of it nor give counsel and advice in the case only they cry to God Lord appear in the Mount Now the Lord who useth to pity and relieve his children that cry unto him in their distress relieved these his dear Children as appeareth Math. 1.20 21. while Joseph pondered on these things behold the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying Joseph thou Son of David fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost and she shall bring forth a Son and thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Oh what an ease and lifting up of heart was this to Joseph and what a fulness of confirmation of the Faith of Mary and consolation to her distressed Soul when Ioseph related the same unto her Now Ioseph with all speed consummated according to their publick manner their marriage and took her to his house Yet they now both being divinely informed of the divinity of her Conception and well knowing the promise of the Messiah and the expectation of all Israel of his coming about this time and believing the Divine Oracle that this is he by consent and agreement out of holy reverence to the Lord he knew her not till she had brought forth her first born Son and he called his Name Iesus Math. 1.25 3. Though the present breaking forth of this Scandal was now divinely and wonderfully prevented from coming forth by Ioseph yet they were in danger that some degree of Scandal might break forth by an over soon time of her Birth and in that case they never want observers of the time of marriages especially when there be signal Characters upon the Parents or concerning the Birth as it was eminently in this case But we shall see in the sequel of the History that the Divine Providence of God did draw two Mantles over this danger whereby the matter was put out of the reach of all observations of any man viz. The first Mantle was that by occasion of Caesars Taxation of all the world under his dominion Ioseph and Mary were called yea compelled though she was big with child to go to Bethlehem the City of David and there the child was born far from home where there was no body had any knowledge of these things to make so critical an observation The second Mantle was that by reason of Herods persecution Ioseph and Mary with the child were by Divine direction sent away to Egypt where they stayed about two years even till Herods death after which thâ— Lord called them home again and though they went and lived in their own City yet now the child was upward of two years old and all thoughts of such a curious observation were utterly buryed in forgetfulness So that the danger of a seeming Scandal was quite covered by these two Mantles which we shall again touch in the time of them Now the Lord took care for the confirmation of the Faith of Ioseph and Mary and all the believers in those times and for the confirmation of our Faith and the Faith of all the Churches to the Worlds end And this the Lord brought about by putting it into the heart of Mary to goe with the consent of her husband to visit her Couzen Elizabeth the Mother of Iohn Baptist of whose Conception six Moneths before Maryes the Angel had informed Mary Now therefore this holy couple being agreed in holy reverence to the Lord to abstain from the use of the marriage bed Mary did speedily upon the consummation of the marriage goe unto her Couzen Elizabeth ver 39. and Mary arose in those dayes and went into the hill Country with haste into a City of Iudah and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the Salutation of Mary the babe leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost and she spake out with a loud voice and said blessed art thou among Women and blessed is the fruit of thy Womb. And whence is this to me that the Mother of my Lord should come unto me for lo so soon as the voice of thy Salutation sounded in mine Ears the babe leaped for joy and blessed is she that believed for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lo d. Vpon this Divine and Oraculous Speech of this holy Woman Elizabeth whose holiness is recorded Luk. 1.6 Zacharias and Elizabeth were both righteous before God walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless by the mouth of this holy Woman did the Holy Ghost now speak upon which Speech many great things may he observed for the confirmation of Maryes Faith and ours Mary knew that no humane means had inform d Elizabeth of the great things that the Angel had said unto her and of her Conception by the power of the Holy Ghost and of the great promises of God which the Angel uttered touching her Son it was the Holy Ghost that had informed her of all these things and now the Holy Ghost filled the heaâ—t and mouth of this good woman to utter all this for the confirmation of heâ— Faith it was the Holy Ghost that informed her of Maryes submission of Faith at heâ— Conception it is the Holy Ghost that now saith unto her blessed is she that believed this must needs raise the Faith and joy of Mary to have such a Divine Testimonâ— given unto all that had passed The power of the Holy Ghost upon the sanctifieâ— heart of Iohn the babe in the Womb is a great confirmation of Faith that the babâ— conceived in Maryes Womb is the Messiah and that Iohn is his forerunner It waâ— no small comfort to Mary that this holy aged Woman did so bless her and thâ— fruit of her womb about which she had lately been in such bitterness and distresâ— The Angels speech to Ioseph had comforted her and now the Holy Ghost doâ— greatly add confirmation to her comfort and joy That Elizabeth by the Hoâ—â— Ghost should call her the Mother of her Lord and prove it by the miraculous leaping of the babe in her Womb for joy O what heavenly and heart ravishing joâ— did all this work in the holy heart of Mary And that it did thus raise and raviâ—â— her heart appeareth in Maryes holy and heavenly Answer by the assistance of tâ—â— Holy Ghost who now hath filled her heart as he had done unto Elizabeth as appeareth Luk. 1.46 c. to 56. and Mary said my soul doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit rejoiced in God my Saviour for he regarded the low estate of his hand-maid for behold from henceforth all Generations shall call me blessed for he that is mighty hath done to me great things and holy is his Name and his mercy is on them that fear
to delay Herod from stirring in this matter for about six weeks time whereby opportunity was given to Joseph and Mary to perform all that the law required For it behoved Jesus Christ to fulfill all righteousness and perfectly to observe the law of God and he did so But this is to be observed also how the active and passive obedience of Jesus Christ are complicated together and though these actions were the fulfilling of Ceremonial Laws yet they were acts of moral obedience to the first and second Commandments When our Lord Jesus Christ was publickly dedicated to God in the Temple it is like thousands of people were present and those famous Testimonies touching this Child by those holy and reverend persons Simeon and Anna rang among the people and were greatly spoken off and magnified which would soon come to Herods Ear either by his spyes which Tyrants use to have abroad especially at such publick Assemblies or by the same thereof that would sound loud among the people This News would gaster him Now he presently layes out to apprehend that child but behold admire how the wisdom of God prevented him that night Math. 2.13 14. behold an Angel of the Lord appeared in a dream unto Joseph saying arise take the young child and his Mother and flee into Egypt and be thou there until I bring thee word for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him when he arose he took the young child his mother by night departed into Egypt Next morning early no doubt Herod sâ—nt to seek for the child that was yesterday dedicated to God of whom such divine Oracles were publickly delivered But neither Parents nor Child could be found no doubt he would send to Bethlehem all places thereabout but they could not be found Then would he send for the wise men of the East whom he had sent unto Bethlehem and there they sound tydings that those wise men had found a young child born in a stable and laid in a manger instead of a Cradle that they worshipped him and offered gifts unto him of gold Frankincense and Myrrh which when they had done they departed home unto their own Country When Herod heard this he swelled with rage extreamly what have they mocked me thus have they disappointed me of my designe we may well conceive that all these disappointments in a matter of so great importance would blow up the Tyrant into an horrible rage Carnal Polititians have seldome patience to bear such disappointments now his cruel heart would put him upon his first conceived plot when he privily enquired how long the Star had appeared in the East Mat. 2.16 then Herod when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men was exceeding wroth and sent forth and slew all the Children that were in Bethlehem and in all the Coal's thereof from two years old and under according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men this sheweth he stayed not long before he fell upon this persecution The lamentation which this cruel slaughter raised is best set forth by the Scripture Mathew shewing that it was a fulfilling of the Prophesy long ago written by Jeremiah Math 2.17 18. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the Prophet saying in Ramah was there a voice heard lamentation and weeping and great mourning Rachel weeping for her Children and would not be comforted because they were not How many hundreds if not thousands of these Innocent babes were martyred for the sake of Jesus Christ in that populous and prolifick Nation we cannot tell but we shall know at the day of Judgement when all these things shall be opened and judged by our Lord Jesus who was thus cruelly persecuted by Herod it was Jesus Christ that they struck at though the blow missed him and fell upon these innocent babes This flight of Joseph and Mary and the Child Jesus into Egypt is to be numbred among the great sufferings of Jesus Christ and was occasioned by a sore and bloody persecution he fled for his life when he fled from under Herods Jurisdiction he was forced to fly from the Communion of the Church from the Temple and publick worship of God which his Father David had experienced to be a very black cloud a bitter distress he fled to Egypt the place of Israels bondage sorrow and affliction Lo now Israel is in Egypt again he is an exile from the Church and fled into the world to save his life in this sad place and case he lived even so long as Herod lived after the birth of Jesus Christ which was about two years all which time Jesus Christ suffered in his person and he suffered in his Saints Isai 63.9 in all their afflictions he was afflicted when the innocent Infants were martyred for his sake he suffered with them when their Parents lamented when Rachel mourned would not be comforted he suffered with them when his Parents Joseph and Mary fled under the terrour of Herods persecution for their lives he suffered with them and not only in their flight but also in all the sufferings that followed he suffered with them Yea in all these sufferings he suffered more then any yea More then all his Saints suffered with whom he was a co-sufferer for he suffered as our Saviour Luk. 2.11 unto you is born a Saviour he was in that Office from his birth Isai 9.6 7. unto us a Son is born unto us a Son is given and the Government shall be on his shoulders and his Name â—hall be called wonderful Counsellour the mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince â—f peace c. behold all this is now in performing for the Child is born the Son of David is given to the Church and he is about his great and glorious work for the Redemption of Israel he is no sooner born but he is a sufferer he is born in the Office of a Saviour all his works and sufferings are Effects of his Office when he â—â—lfilled the Law he did it as a publick person our Saviour our second Adam when â—e suffered he suffâ—red as a publick person fulfilling the penalty of the Law The â—econd Adam suâ—â—ering for the first Adam and for all the Elect of God who were â—ommitted to his charge to deliver them All the obedience of this person both â—ctive and passive are pure perfect and meritorious The sufferings of this Child â—esus are not so much to be attended as they proceed from Herod who was jeaâ—â—us of loosing his Kingdome over Judea and opposed him only upon that account But the suffâ—rings of Jesus Christ who ever was the Instrument therâ—of are upon an higher account viz. to satisfie vindictive justice according to the Covenant that paâ—sed betwixt the Father and the Son in the behalf of Adam and his Elect Seed This is the internal and spiritual Character of all the sufferings of Jesus Christ even from his first Incarnarion and from his
the morning back again they go enquiring of all they meet seeking every where for him but no tydings could they hear of him That night they got back to Jerusalem and still can hear no tydings of him the longer they seek the greater their sorrows and less rest could they take that night a good pattern to all Parents diligently to look after their Children when they are missing and a great blame it is to such Parents as suffer their Children to go and come whether and when they will 6. Here see the time and place of their finding him on the third day of their seeking for him they enquired no doubt of all their friends and acquaintance in the City where they used to resort but could hâ—ar no tydings of him which still augmented their sorrow at last it came into their minds to go to the Temple and seek for him there it is much that they made that the last place of their enquiry for him But God had wise and holy ends in ordering and over-ruling their motions to be as they were when they came to the Temple they soon found him there the Temple was his Fathers house Joh. 2.16 and what place could they seek to find the Son in more likely then in his Fathers house there they find him And what employment did they find him about in his Fathers house They found him in the place of Education and Instruction of youth in the knowledge of the Scriptures and Religion a very meet place employment for a godly religious wise child and an eminent example to all youth to go of his own accord unto the Schools where he might learn Instruction in the knowledge of God and of the Scriptures It is far otherwise with too many of our youth who when they are missing must be sought for in Taverns Ordinaryes or such like places of sin vanity and profaneness 7. Here we see how the School Exercises were managed in training up of â—outh 1. They had Doctors Tutors or Teachers of the Scholars who had seats in the Schools on each side higher than the rest 2. At the bottom or foot of those seats of the Doctors there were loâ—er seats for the Scholars hearers and learners hence it is said A t. 22.3 that Paul was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel where he was taught according to the perfect manner of the Law of the Fathers according to which pattern the meeting places of the Gospel Churches were ordered for Act. 4.37 the place for the Church Treasury to be brought unto was at the Apoâ—tles feet there the Deacons had their place who gathered the Contributions of the Church unto the Lords Treasury in the Church 3. The Doctors taught and examined their Schools by proposing such questions to them as they thought meet for their Inâ—truction and unto these questions of the Doctors the Scholars were to make answer 4. In due time order the Scholars had leave liberty to propound questions to the Doctors unto which they gave answer for the Instruction of their Scholars 8. Here we see how Jesus behaved himself and managed his Fathers business among them in the Schools 1. When it was his turn in order to answer to the question proposed he answered the question with such understanding as made them to admire that word Prov. 24.26 was verified in him every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer and Prov. 20.15 the lips of knowledge are pretious jewels and Prov. 15.23 a man hath joy by the answer of his mouth and a word spoken in due season how good is it 2. When it was his turn to ask and propound questions he did propound such questions as did amaze them How they could or did answer them it is not said all that is said is Luk. 2.49 all that heard him were astonished at his underâ—tanding and answers it is a good point of understanding to ask a wise question In this place and in this employment his Parents found him 9. When the Exercise was ended for they did not they might not be so rude as to interrupt them his parents took him into their Company and when the season was fit they expostulated with him for staâ—ing behind and putting them to so much sorrow pains and trouble To which he humbly with meekness answered that he was about his Fathers business he doth with gentle modesty check their check with an expostulation why did you give your selves so much trouble so sorrowfully to seek me did you not consider if you did not you might have considered that I must do my Fathers business viz. to perform the office and duty of a Mediator and this is one part of the work of the Office of a Prophet to raise up and train up of the Sons of Israel to be Prophets and to be Nazarets his Parents understood not his discourse but his mother did lay up his sayings in her heart and well she might for she knew that Joseph whom he called Father had no business for him to do in the Schools and she perfectly knew that he had no earthly Father God only was his Father and therefore it was Gods business that he wâ—â— about I am loth to pass over this famous History without taking some notice of this great duty of our Generation work in training up of youth in Religion and learning to fit them for the service of God and the publick benefit of mankind both in Families Church and common-wealth all sorts and orders of men are bound to attend unto this great and necessary Generation work And we of New-England aâ—e more obliged to it then any other in some respects especially because it was one of the chief motives and ends of our designe in leaving of our native soile Relations callings friends and hopes for worldly Estates adventuring our all into the hands of Gods providence to pass over the vast Câ—ean into a wilderness a land not sowen to enjoy the liberties of Gods house and Ordinances and instituted worship for our selves and our posterity And to train up our Generarions under these enjoyments and improvements to be holy Churches of Jesus Christ trained up in his School for his service honour and praise which cannot be performed by any ordinary means save by Schools Though we have great cause to praise God for our Schools and the great blessing that all the Land doth enjoy thereby Yea and some returns we have made to our mother England of our Children trained up here in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Yet we have great cause especially of late years to abase our selves before the Lord for our great neglects and remissness in the pâ—rformance of our purposes and vows to God in this particular we doat upon our children and do not indure that due christian severitâ— to be exercised in their Education as the fallen Estate of mankind doth necessarily require and call for Pagan Rome and Greece will in some respects
unto Mountains and wildernesses to preach unto them or upon the Sea shore He was the Son of a Carpenter Mat. 13.55 and wrought with his Father for his living Mark 6.3 yet had not the means or opportunity to raise any worldly estate nor to build for himself an house nor any shelter where to lay his head Isai 33.2 he grew as a Root out of a dry ground and men know that such Roots grow but poorly Psal 40.17 but I am poor and needy and this is manifestly spoken of Christ as appeareth ver 6 7 8 c. the same is said Psal 70.5 Psal 69.29 I am poor and sorrowful and this Psalm speaketh abundantly of the sufferings of Jesus Christ and this of poverty is one of his sufferings Psal 109.22 I am poor and needy and this Psalm is a Prophesy of Jesus Christ his Parents were poor which appeareth by their lodging in a Stable and at his mothers purification they offered the poor womans offering Luk. 2 2â— This part of the sufferings of Christ is abundantly declared both in the Prophesy and also in the History Poverty is not a sin but an affliction a punishment of sin sin hath brought poverty upon man as the desert of our sin man was a rich Lord but sin hath made him a poor beggar The reason why poverty is a punishment is because it cutteth us off and depriveth us and taketh away much of our dominion over the Creatures of God Adam was made Lord over Gods Creatures in this low world he had dominion over them but sin hath stripped us in a great measure of our dominion God will permit us to have a little a few of his creatures to rule over and employ Though some dominion over and use of the creatures God doth allow to every one even to the poorest Lazarus viz. the Earth to tred and ly upon the Air to breath in and some food to live upon though this is a grant of free mercy for sin hath deserved that we should be stripped of all good Poverty is a very dark cloud drawn over sinful man which vaileth all his glory and humane excellency And it was a dark cloud over Jesus Christ when he was here on Earth amongst us There be many vices that attend Poverty Prov. 30.4 but Jesus Christ touched none of them he suffered sinless poverty but not the sins of poverty which it tempteth and exposeth men unto there be also many virtues that attend and shine in poverty these virtues did Jesus Christ shine in there is sanctified poverty and that Christ suffered there is also unsanctified poverty and that Jesus Christ touched not he suffered the curse of poverty that he might take the curse out of it this he suffered to turn the quality the effect and the operation of it to be only medicinal and not destructive unto us Consider what be the afflictions of poverty which Jesus Christ suffered and then see how Jesus Christ suffered them all yea more then I can utter 1. Poverty cutteth off depriveth bereaveth us of those creatures of God over which we are to have dominion in this low world for our comfort and use God made man Lord over the works of his hand gave him wisdome to use and improve them to the glory and service of God and for his own honour and comfort but sin hath stripped us of this our dominion we have forfeited and lost all see a bereaved condition described Psal 89.38 to 46. thou hast cast off and abhorred thou hast been wroth with thy anointed thou hast prophaned his crown by casting it to the ground thou hast broken down all his hedges thou hast made his glory to cease and cast his throne to the ground alas how poor hath sin left man Adam suffered the greatest loss downfall that ever man suffered poor Adam he lost the Lordship of the whole world both from his own possession and his Childrens after him Only God did of his meer bounty and goodness restore unto him a little under the government of Christ so much as might serve his turn in a poor manner to pass through the pilgrimage of man in this world By this fall of Adam and loss of his dominion the Devil hath got it in a great measure by the permission of our Lord into his hand and all his study and care is to bring all dominion riches and worldly honour into the hands of the wicked and ungodly world who will be real and vigorous promoters of his affairs and Kingdome 2. The second affliction of poverty is he hath but little and that but mean food little and poor raiment little or no house shelter or harbour of his own no beast to ride on to ease him in his travails or to bear burthens for him So it was with Jesus Christ poor food which appeareth by this that his miraculous feeding the people with that food which was provided for themselves and that was barly bread and fish Joh. 6.6.13 there is a lad here that hath five barly loaves and two small fishes ve 13. they gathered and filled twelve baskets full with the fragments of the five barley loaves for garments we read little but he exhorted his Disciples to have but one Coat and it is most probable that he had no more himself For house and harbour the Text saith he had none of his own though he had built for others For beasts he had not so much as a poor Ass to ride on and when he came triumphant into the City he borrowad an Ass to ride on Math. 21.2 3. alas poor Kiing how would his unbelieving adversaries deride him none of the Kings and great ones regarded him nor yet the people only believers had faith to behold him that was behind this Curtain of poverty 3. The third affliction of poverty the poor are neglected disregarded yea though they be wise benificent and do eminent good works poverty so darkens them that they are forgotten and not regarded Eccl. 9.14 15 16. thare was a little City and few men within it and there came a great King against it and besieged it and built great bulwarks against it now there was found in it a poor wise man and he by his wisdome delivered the City yet no man remembred that poor man then I said wisdome is better then strength nevertheless the poor mans wisdome is despised and his words are not heard So it was with Jesus he was very wise full of wisdome from a child Luk 2.40 and in his course of life no doubt did give much good counsel unto many and did many notable and eminent good works but by reason of his poverty none regarded him And that may be one Reason why so little is recorded of him in the time of his private life Yea he hath not only delivered a City but a world not from an earthly King but from the vindictive justice of God and not only their bodies but their Souls also and yet who
it speaketh deceipt one speaketh peaceably to his Neighbour with his mouth but in his heart he layeth wait for him Psal 12.2 They speak vanity every one with his Neighbour with flattering lips do they speak An evil tongue stirreth up hatred strife and contention and kindleth hell fire among Neighbours Jam. 3.5 6. the tongue is a little member and boasteth great things behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth and the tongue is a fire a world of iniquity so is the tongue among our members that it defileth the whole body and setteth on fire the course of nature and it is set on fire of Hell the tongue is a weapon of revenge and of cruel malice Psal 52.2 3 4. thy tongue deviseth mischief like a sharp Rasor working deceitfully thou lovest evil more then good and lying rather then to speak Righteousness Selah Thou lovest all devouring words O thou deceitful tongue The whole City of Nob was destroyed by Doegs tongue Jer. 18.18 come let us devise devices against Jeremy come let us smite him with the tongue and let us not give heed to any of his words words will leave some stain aliquid herebit Psai 140.3 They have sharpened their tongues like a Serpent Adders poyson is under their lips Selah Math. 11.16 Glutton a wine bibber a friend of Publicans and sinners many such mischiefs do spring from a reproachful tongue which kind of bitter Sufferings our Lord Jesus did undergo Quest Why did Jesus Christ that most innocent Lamb of God undergo this great and bitter affliction of reproaches and cruel mockings 1. Because it is one of the punishments which our sin hath deserved Jesus Christ never deserved to be so spoken of so reproached so mocked all was falsly and unjustly charged upon him without any appearance of cause they laid to his charge things that he knew not but we the people of God have deserved them all some in one respect some in another and therefore Jesus Christ did bear them for us Isai 53 4 5 6. he hath born our griefs and carryed our sorrows he was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquityes the chasticement of our peace was upon him the Lord hath laid on him the Iniquityes of us all 2. Jesus drank deep of this cup of reproaches because he could do it Innocently without any contamination or participation in sin 2 Cor. â— 21 though he was made sin for us yet he knew no sin 1 Pet. 2.22 23. he did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth when he was reviled he reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not 3. Jesus Christ drank of this cup even to the bottom to the full satisfaction of Divine justice that he might take out the sting of the curse and wrath out of them for the sake of his Elect who are to live in an evil world where they are sure to suffer reproaches and much evil and hard measure by the ill tongues of People 2 Cor. 6.8 by honour and dishonour by evil report and good report as deceivers and yet true 1 Cor 4.12 13. being reviled we bless being persecuted we suffer it being defamed we intreat we are made the filth of the world and are the offscouring of all things unto this day But none of these things can hurt us Jesus Chriâ—t by his Suâ—ferings hath took out the curse of them they have much of mans wrath in thâ—m but all Gods wrath is taken away by Jesus Christ 4. Jesus Christ suffered reproaches and abuses of mens tongues to set us a Copy and pattern of patience that we might learn of him how to carry our selves under such injuries that wâ— might learn of him to behave our selves patientlâ— and meekly as our Lord Jesus did 1 Pet. 2 21. Christ also suffered for us leaving us an Example that ye should follow his steps Act. 8.32 he was led as a sheep to the slaughter and like a Lamb before his shearers so opened he not his mouth Yea bâ—fore his Butchers he was silent and patient Isai 53.7 he was oâ—pressed he was affli ted yet he opened not his mouth but only to say Father forgive them even when he was brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter 5. Jesus Christ suffered reproaches to sanctifie them that he by his love and wisdome may make them good medicines for his Church his Elect it is a very sharp Physick but Jesus Christ by his experience knoweth how to qualifie and commix them with other Ingredients and make them very wholsome and operative for the good of his Elect it is a powerful Phâ—sick to purge away pride to hide and subduâ— it and to teach humility and meekness which are very nâ—edful leâ—sons for Gods people to learn in this our militant condition Jesus Christ by his Example in hearing reproaches doth set us sundry neâ—dfâ—l lessons to learn 1. We must learn to keep a strict watch oâ—er our whole conâ—ersation that we may give no just matter or occasion We must cut off occasion from them that watch for it if there be a cause for their reproach we loose the glory of our suffering 1 Pet. 2.20 for what glory is it if when you be buffeted for your faults ye take it patiently you do well to take it patiently and you may find inward comfort upon your humiliation and outward pitty but there is no Chri â—ian glory upon such deserved sufferings they may sin in rigour and we may do virtuously in exercising patience but we loose the glory of such Sufferings because they are just 2. This pattern of Christ his patient sâ— fering reproaches doth minister a lesson of comfort to such as suffer unjustly because your Innocent and holy conversation doth confute those false and unjust aspersions so did Christ confute those that reproached him his Innocency so shined that even Pilate himself did acquit Jesus Christ from such aspersions as they cast upon him and he saw plainly that it was his Adversaryes malice and not his desert Math. 27.18 for he knew that it was for envy that they had delivered him no wise man will believe such reproaches as the Innocency of the party doth sufficiently confute without any words of Apology Innocency it self speaks a consolation and maketh the Arrows to fall light on their own pate Daniel is a famous Example of an innocent sufferer Dan. 6.5 Then said these men we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel except we find it against him concerning the Law of his God and he pleaded his innocency before the King ver 22. my God hath sent an Angel and shut the Lyons mouths that they have not hurt me for as much as Innocency is found in me before him and also before thee O King I have done no hurt Such was the pattern of Jesus Christ which he hath left us as it is expressed in the Prophesy of David Psal 35.11 12. false witnesses did rise up they laid to my charge things
Jesus Christ suffer his holy pure humane nature to be so far under the power of Satan as to be transported in such an hideous manner from the wilderness to the City to the Temple to the top of a Pinacle to the top of an high mountain and there to be deluded with a vain sight Satan hath a great power over the Phantasies of men and he can when leave is given unto him transport their Phantasies and imaginations unto such strange notions and Temptations and therefore still the question remaineth why did our Lord Jesus suffer his pure mind to be afflicted with such transporting Temptations Answ 1. Because this is a great part of the punishment due unto the sin of man to be given up unto and under the power of Satan unto his seductions and Temptations Eph. 2.2 in times past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the power of the Air the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of disobedience c Act. 26.18 from the power of Satan Mankind are lawful Captives to justice and we are delivered up unto Satan to be our jaylor and one part of the power which the Goaler hath over us is this to work in our hearts minds Phantasies and affections this is a deep and dreadful part of the punishment of sin our mental bondage is a sore bondage there is abundantly more sin committed in the minds thoughts and imagination then in outward actions There be frequent Murthers Adulteries Fornications Thefts Blasphemies and what not There be many abominations within that dare not look out Prov. 6.16 18. there be seven abominations whereof one is an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations at the day of Judgement when the secrets of all hearts shall be opened and judged there will be abundance more work in judging the inward sins of the mind and heart then of the outward sins of words and deeds it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth doth speak our slavedome to Satan is principally in our minds hearts and imaginations Therefore Jesus Christ suffered this punishment to the full so far as it could be suffered with Innocency he suffered till Justice was satisfied he gave Satan leave to do his worst against him in these Temptations as he did at his last sufferings which are called your hour and power of darkness at this time of Temptation Satan did saucily domineer over our dear Lord abusing his Phantasie and Imagination to the uttermost of his skill and all this Jesus Christ suffered in our stead 2. By his suffering of Temptations Iesus Christ hath taken away the sting and curse and condemning power out of all our Temptations so that they cannot mortally hurt us because the Law is satisfied by the sufferings of Jesus Christ it is the Law that gives strength to sin to procure punishment 1 Cor. 15.56 seeing then that the offence of the Law is removed by the sufferings of Jesus Christ the mortal power of Temptations is taken away Temptations they may sorely afflict but they cannot kill and damn a Child of God 3. Jesus Christ suffered himself to be horribly tempted that he might be an experienced able Faithfull and compassionate high Priest to relieve us in our Temptations and to bear with us in our violent and strange extravagancies in our vain figments and imaginations Hebr. 2.17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his Brethren that he might be a mercifull faithfull high-Priest in things pertaining to God to make Reconciliation for the sins of the People 4. Our Lord Jesus gave Satan leave thus to assault him in this part of his invisible Kingdome where his power is greatest that he might procure for us an absolute and compleat Victory over Satan and all his powers and policyes that no force should be left in his hand against Believers in Christ He hath conquered his inner Kingdome the power that he hath over mens minds and imaginations Hereby he hath Satan in so streight a chain that all his Temptations are at the dispose and ordering of Jesus Christ Col. 2.15 Having spoiled Principalityes and powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in it viz. in his cross and Sufferings And this is a chief part of this conquest to conquer Satans inner Kingdome in the minds and imaginations of men 5. Jesus Christ suffered himself to be tempted and in that case to conquer him that when Satan assaults Believers in their thoughts minds and imaginations these may find Satan a conquered and a chained enemy and that by a man our Captain who is God-man all which he hath done to encourage us to resist fight and triumph in Jesus Christ 6. Jesus Christ suffered himself to be tempted to set us a pattern of the way of conquering Temptation Example and experience doe effectually teach therefore when at any time we are assaulted with Temptations turn our minds to the pattern of Christ Mat. 4. and see what he did and doe we the same 7. Jesus Christ hath undergone this field of Temptations to let us see by experience the power of the word over Satan and all his Temptations The Spiritual War is a principal part of our Religion and we see that the Word of God is a principal weapon in the management of this War Psal 17.4 By the words of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer 8. All this Jesus Christ hath done to teach us how necessary it is that the word of God should dwell richly in us Col. 3 16. It is a great Duty and a precious mercy to be ready in the Scriptures like a ready Scribe that can draw out of his Quiver a fitting arrow for every case Every Scribe which is instructed to the Kingdome of Heaven is like unto a man that is an housholder who bringeth forth out of his Treasury things new and old By this high and glorious example of Jesus Christ his suffering of Temptations the Saints of God should learn much and most usefull instruction touching which I shall give some short hints A right walking with God in Temptations is an eminent practical point of Religion it renders a man to be a true follower of Jesus Christ and very acceptable unto him His Disciples who continued with him in his Temptations he rewards them with a Kingdome a Kingdome of Grace in this Life and a Kingdome of Glory in the life to come 2 Cor. 4.17.18 Our light and short afflictions tryals temptations doe work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory It is unworthy a Believer a Disciple of Jesus Christ to shrink from or sink under Temptations It is the wisdome of a Christian to arm and prepare for Tribulations in this world because the appointed way to heaven is through many tribulations Act. 14.23 in this point we must be followers of Christ as dear chiâ—dren Jesus Christ hath provided for
his Saints compleat Arms even the whole Armour of God and weapons of war that are mighty through God none of our Enâ—mies are able to stand before them the Devil himself will fly from that Christian that is expert to use and improve the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God T mptation is Gods School wherein he doth train up his Children to prepare and sit them for Service on Earth and for glory in heaven when Jesus Christ himself was entering upon his publick Ministry he began in the School of Temptations he began also with fasting and prayer he exercised these preparatories together and come forth of the School eminently filled with the Spirit yea he was fillâ—d with the Spirit when he entered into this School Luk. 4.1 and Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wildern ss The Spirit of God doth attend and assist such as are in Temptations and doth furnish them unto such Services and sufferings as the Lord shall please to call them unto Temptations are Gods usual preparatories of his Children for great services when God was about to call up Abraham to be a Father of the faithful a Corner stone in subordination to Iesus Christ of that Church in which Iesus Christ came into the world and to be a Father in the holy line of the promised Seed we may see that God prepared him for these great services by great Temptations and tryals When God was about to call up Moses to deliver Israel out of Egypt to change the Church polity to be Gods Instrument to create new heavens and a new Earth to erect the Church and common wealth of Israel glorious services we see that God prepared him for all this by great Temptations and Tryals When God was about to call up David to make great Reformation in the Church of Israel to gather up and settle all the scattered parts of Gods instituted worship and fix it in a Temple and to erect a typical Kingdome of Iesus Christ and to fix the line of the Incarnation of the promised seed all of them very great and eminent services with sundry more that I name not only include them in these generals I say when God was about to call up David to these great services O what a storm of Temptations did he arise through When Solomon was called to finish what his Father David had begun in building the Temple and setting in order the fixed national worship of God We read little of his passing through Temptatious to humble and prepare him But we read much of his sensuality whereby he so stained the glory of his high services that it should raise thankfulness to God that pleaseth to call us up to services of renown through a field of very great Temptations We see in our present subject touching the sufferings of Christ that when the Lord was calling him up to that greatest and most honourable of services that ever was performed unto the Lord in this world viz the Redemption of man and the salvation of souls Iesus Christ entered upon the service through many tribulations and temptations it is an experimental saying of holy men that prayer meditation and Temptation make a good Christian a good Minister a good Magistrate it fitteth a soul for any service that the Lord shall call him unto Temptations are humbling providences they are rods of correction and Instruction that wean us from all kind of self confidence or self seeking they rectifie and purge us in our grounds and ends in all our motions and when a Christian is duly sanctified in his grounds and ends he is a fitted instrument to glorify God in any service whatsoever The less of man the more of God Furthermore we see that when Christ was about to enter into this difficult field of Temptation he first received the Sacrament of Baptism to fulfill all righteousness no other Gospel Sacrament being yet instituted Federal Sacramâ—ntal Communion with God doth greatly strengthen Faith We see also that when Jesus Christ was entering into the field of Death he first exercised sacramental Communion with God yea double sacramental communion with God He first eat the Passover and then instituted and celebrated the Lords Supper then entred upon his garden conflict and Agony all the suffering that followed even to his Death By these Examples of Jesus Christ when Gods people are to enter upon any great design especially when they goe upon hazzard of their life they will if they can orderly and regularly receive the Sacrament before they enter upon their design Get as near to God as you can True it is that many doe this superstitiously regard not the regular receiving the Sacrament in the Communion of the Church but minister it in private or in a sick mans chamber but consider that these errors and abuses cannot frustrate the effect of Gods institution regularly attended unto Mans lye doth not make Gods Truth of none effect Rom. 3.3 4. Jesus Christ his thus arming and fitting himself when he was entering upon his greatest Temptation and upon his last conflict with Death it self is ground sufficient for our regular attending upon the Lord in our great concernments in like manner as he did Our coâ—enant communion with God sealed with a divine instituted Seal regularly adminiâ—tred is to be numbred among the greatest external means of Grace for the confirmation of our Faith The evidences of our Faith have the broad Seal of hâ—aven affixed to them And that is also set on by the efficacy of the Spirit who sitteth in his Sealing-Office in the administration of the Sacrament and ratifieth the application of the publick Instituted Seal unto the Soul in particular unto which act of the Spirit in the administration of the Sacraments when a poor doubting trembling Soul doth reverently attend he shall find such an efficacy of the sealing Spirit in his Soul as shall inable him to go away as Hannah did when she received Ely his blessing 1 Sam. 1.18 so the woman went her way and did eat and her countenance was no more sad when we celebrate the death and sufferings of Jesus Christ in our Sacramental Communion with God it doth revive our damped and discouraged Faith it seals our inseperable union to Jesus Christ inabling us to say what shall seperate me it doth also quicken animate and encourage Faith to venture upon the greatest most difficult and dangerous enterprize when called thereunto it enables the Soul to say my life is not dear to me so I may but finish the Lords work unto which he hath called me whatever Sufferings sorrows Tryals Temptations I am thereby exposed unto When Faith is strengthned all grace is on the thriving hand because it is the work of Faith to goe forth to Jesus Christ and fetch out of his fulness whatever Grace we want and to fetch supply to enable us unto any Service in doing or suffering the good
pleasure of the Lord whatever it be Jesus Christ hath suffered Temptations deeper then any ever did and therefore experimentally knoweth how to relieve us CAP. X. The Sufferings of Jesus Christ in the Garden I Contract pass over many things in the Sufferings of Christ come to his last Sufferings in the last twenty hours of his life in this world which last Sufferings were begun in the Garden and finished at Golgotha In the Garden he suffered a Soul Agony under the sence of the Curse and punishment due to the sin of Man and under the sense of the bitter cup of death which he was now going about to drink And no sooner was there an Intermission of the rigour of that Agony but presently he was betrayed and fell into the hands of his Enemies that sought his life I shall briefly touch some parts of the History to shew how and when he came into this garden and how he was there betrayed 1. The Covetousness of Judas and a desire to pilfer and rob the bag which Jesus his Master had trusted him with was the bottome wheel of this Treason as appeareth Joh. 12.4 5 6. Then said one of his Disciples Judas Iscariot Simons son which should betray him why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor This he said not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief had the bag and bare what was put therein It is a dangerous temptation to a covetous man to carry another mans Bag. Mathew sayes Math. 26.8 the Disciples had indignation shewing that Judas spake from an heart filled with anger and disdain against his Master that had caused him to lose such a fat gob of gain and the rest of the Disciples in their innocency were led to consent to Judas Mark 14.4 saith some of them had indignation but John sheweth that it was the spirit of Judas that so vented himself and why he did so The rest that consented to him were only such as were misled in their ignorance of Judas his treachery So soon as Judas had thus vented his indignation the Devil entered into his Soul and suggested to him how he might have his gains made up that he had now lost he might get a great piece of money if he would but goe to the chief Priests and offer to betray his Master to them And that it was thus Luke testifieth Luk. 22.3 4. Then entered Satan into Judas Iscariot being one of the twelve and he went his way and communed with the chief Priests and Captains how he might betray him unto them Both Mark and Luke say they promised him money but Mathew tels the Sum they bargained for Math. 26.15 for thirty pieces of silver And now his covetous heart was fatted but he must be sure to perform his bargain else he should not have his wages therefore now he studied and watched for an opportunity to doe what he had agreed to doe The love of money may well be said to be the root of all evill Satan can bring about a covetous heart to run himself into horrid sins for small gains Did he esteem the bloud of a man of his Lord and Master our Saviour at no greater price But so it was prophesied Zach. 11.12 13. We see also what a dangerous thing it is to suffer our hearts to be blown up into indignation for the loss of an opportunity of getting gain especially unjust gain for the Devil hath an open door thereby to enter into the Soul and to put them upon some wicked designs 2. The execution of this treason this bloudy bargain was also done in a devillish Fury viz. because Jesus Christ discovered his treason and him to be the Traitor before all the Disciples to his disgrace Math. 26.25 Then Judas which betrayed him said Master is it I Ah bold wretch whose Conscience is sâ—ared with pieces of silver That which Jesus answered was Thou sayest it Yet this was not so full a discovery he made a shift to bear that but the full discovery is recorded by John who was a Speaker in the matter Joh. 13.23 ad 28. Now there was leaning on Jesus bosome one of his Disciples whom Jesus loved Simon Peter beckned to him that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake he then lying on Jesus breast saith unto him Lord who is it Jesus answered he it is to whom I shall give a Sop when I have dipped it And when he had dipped the Sop he gave it to Judas Iscariot the Son of Simon And after the Sop Satan entered into him Then said Iesus to him that thou doest do quickly This Sop did so plainly discover Iudas that the Devill entered with it and swelled his heart into a resolution of a present execution of his bloudy bargain and treason O what a Soul did this man eat the Passover withall Hypocrites though they love their Sins and designs yet they cannot abide to be seen and discovered The discovery of a bloudy Plot will make an Hypocrite rage as it did Judas but it will make a godly heart very thankful to God that hath prevented his sin as it was with Daâ—id 1 Sam. 25.32 33. when Abigail did prevent him from murdering Nabal Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who sent thee this day to meet me blessed be thy advice and blessed be thou that hast kept me this day from coming to shed bloud When the Spirit of God enters with preventing Counsel the effect is gracious But if Satan enter with the discovering Sop he will blow up Hell fire in that bosome as it was with Jâ—das 3. When Judas went out in that deâ—illish Fury that Satan had blown up his heart into it was night Ioh. 13.30 A fit season for Traitors and Hypocrites to act their designs and works of darkness in It was after day-light was shut in for then it is said to be night it might be near eight of the Clock for he tarried untill the Passover was celebrated And when Jesus Christ meaneth to institute the Gospel Sacrament of his Supper he first hushed and hasted away Judas and when he was gone then he instituted the Lords Supper and finished it with a Psalm and after it he had that gracious Conference recorded by John in Chapters 13 14 15 16. And after all this he uttered that gracious mediatorial Prayer Chap. 17. All these were most heavenly Preparatoryes for his own Sufferings and the Sufferings of his Disciples which were not small And although that word be recorded Ioh. 14.31 arise let us go hence yet they did not goe prâ—sently for they went not till that Prayer Cap. 17. was uttered as appears Joh. 18.1 when Jesus had spoken these words he went forth though some of the discourse in these Chapters might be discoursed by the way By this pattern of Christ his celebration of the Supper here is much instruction how we ought to keep our Sacramental Communion
time of killing the Passover which is fitly accomplished with admirable conjunctures of which anon 4. The particular acts of mockery which they did unto him are these 1. They stripped him and put on him a scarlet Robe to mock his kingly Office and this the third time of this kind of mocking 1. Herod and his men of war thus mocked him Luk. 23.11 this was done by Jews a King of the Jews 2. This Example of Herod animated Pilate to do the like Ioh. 19.2 a purple Robe ver 5. wearing the Robe 4. These Examples of Rulers animated the rabble of Souldiers to do the like Math. 27.28 The second act which these mockers did they wreath or plat a Crown of Thorns in mockage of his kingly office this Crown they forced on upon his head sore and wounded bâ— his former so crowning by Pilate this was the second time of his being crowned with Thorns The first time was Ioh. 19.2 5. and now again after his condemnation Math 27.29 3. They put a Reed in his right hand instead of a SCEPTER 4. They smote him on the head with a Reed viz. to force on the Crown to cause the thorn to pierce deep 5. When they had set him as a mock-King 1. They mockingly bowed the knee to him 2. They mockingly said Hail King of the Iews 3. They spit upon him all this no doubt with huge laughter All these usages and the like they did every time they set him up as a mock-King CHAP. XIII The History of their crucifying of our Lord Iesus Christ VVhen they had got all things ready they finished their mockery put off his Robes put on his own garments and led him away as a condemned Malefactor to his execution where we may see what was done by the way 1. Their rigour to the utmost they could 2. The Lord Jesus his gracious deportment 1. They made him to carry his own Cross upon which he was to be put to death which was as much disgrace and rigour as they were in a capacity to exercise against him They had but little time and were in great haste which shortned their rigorous dealings Herein Iesus Christ did superabundantly answer the Type in Isaac Gen. 22.6 who carryed on his back the wood wherewith he himself was to be sacrificed but that was without any rigour Jesus Christ carryed the Tree on his back with all rigour they could inflict on which he was crucifyed Joh. 19.17 he meekly took up his Cross according to his doctrine which he taught the Church he now teacheth by his Example added to his precept 2. They led him betwixt two theeves Malefactors justly condemned to add disgrace unto him as if he were a Malefactor like them Luk. 23.32 As they placed them in the execution so did they in leading them Jesus was placed in the middle and the theeves one at his right hand and the other at his left he in the middle as the worst of them all 3. They compel Simon to carry the hinder end of the cross after him in which history consider 1. The place where they doe this Math. 27.32 As they came out Out of what or whence Either out of the Judgement-Hall where they mocked him from whence they led him Or when they came out of the city to go to Golgotha It is most probable it was as they came out of the city because Simon was coming out of the country on his way Luk. 23.26 And they had made our Lord Jesus to carry his cross untill he was out of the city so long as he was able to doe it His body was macerated by the loss of blood in his two whippings and twice crowning with Thorns with want of rest and sustenance for so long a time His straining under an heavy burden would rend and tear his wounded back and head with great pain and torment which would disable him from going so fast as they being in hast would have him go It is like also that they had made his cross longer then others that they might advance him higher and more visible to all Haman had a Gibbet very high to hang Mordecai and these were acted with the like spirit of envy The length would adde weight and a necessity for somebody to bear the hinder end after him as Luke speaks And they were in hast they may not goe so softly for many reasons 1. It was the Jews Passover night Ioh. 19.14 2. The morrow was the Sabbath the day after the Passover and therefore an high day Joh. 19.31 3. Envy is impetuous till revenge be executed 2. Consider the Person Symon a Cyrenian who was coming out of the Country about his affairs Quest Why did they apprehend such a man and compel him to this work Were there not enough among their Crew that were ready enough to have done it whose envy would prompt them to say and doe if need were according to our proverb If they want a Hang-man I 'le be the man rather then the work should not be done Doubtless there were many in the Crew so ill-minded against Jesus Christ But it is most probable they took this man to adde affliction to Jesus Christ he was a godly man one of Jesus Christ his followers a man of note him they force to joyne with them in this wicked execution But here we may consider three things which I propose under submission to better judgments 1. Simon did valiantly refuse and oppose to joyn with them he would have no hand in so cruel and unjust a murther and so far refused as to give sufficient evidence that he did disclaim and condemn their fact which they were about to execute 2. He so far refused as to put them upon compulsion they by force compeled him to it 3. No doubt he saw that it was a work of pitty mercy and love to Jesus Christ to ease releive and help him in undergoing their rigor it may be Jesus said to him Help me with that heart and mind he set to his shoulder hitched it on upon his own shoulder to give unto Jesus Christ all the ease he could 3. Consider that these acts of grace in Simon were highly accepted of God and well pleasing to Jesus Christ which may appear by these things recorded in Scripture 1. That this act is recorded in Scripture by three evangelical Witnesses Mat. Mar. Luk. As Jesus said of that good woman that ointed his feet Math. 26 13. Wherever the Gospel shall be preached her act shall be preached so it is with this act of Symon 2. Symon is named as the doer of this act whereas that woman is not named though her act is honourably mentioned the love of her action smelling more sweet then the perfume of her unction did 3. This Symon is further described and notified First by his country a Cyrenian yet a known man at Ierusalem Secondly By his two sons Alexander and Rufus famous in the Gospel by this noted act of
on the Cross and the writing was JESVS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS 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 Then said the chief Priests of the Jews to Pilate Write not the King of the Jews but that be said I am King of the Jews Pilate answered What I have written I have written The place out of which they lead him was the City that he might fulfil the Types of Scriptures that he might be a sin offering to cleanse away the sins of the people The manner of his going was bearing his Cross bearing the imputation the guilt and the reproach of sin and the curse of God for it signified by his hanging on a Tree The place whither they carry him is Golgotha the place of a scull where many dead mens bones weresome heaped up some scattered about and that made the place ceremonially unclean and that gave name to the place And as it was ceremonially a filthy place so civilly it was no better a place of reproach disgrace dishonour a place where the worst and vilest malefactors were punished and executed the filthiest place in the world There our Lord Jesus suffered the punishment of our sin shewing us the just desert of our sin When they were come to Golgotha before they laid hands on the blessed person of our Lord Jesus they made preparation 1. They set up the Crosses the Cross of Jesus they set in the midst and the Malefactors one on the right hand the other on the left yet set his Cross in the chief place as the greatest Malefactor which though they did it out of envy to disgrace him in the vilest manner they could yet God permitted it so to be done out of infinite wisdome and justice For by imputation he was the greatest of sinners seeing all sin met in him was laid upon him and laid to his charge Isai 53. Their Crosses were set so near together that they could all speak to each other as appeareth in the sequel 2. They affixed a Title at the top of Jesus Christ his Cross to shew the cause for which he dyed Math. 27.37 and Mark 15.26 whether they did so to the other it it is not said but so they did to Iesus Christ and this matter Pilate ordered and over-ruled And it being an eminent part of the History noted by all the Evangelists and notified all the world over I shall therefore distinctly set down the History of it in seven particulars 1. The author actor and doer of it was Pilate had it been in the power of the Priests it should have been other then it was as we shall see in the History of it 2. He positively asserts and proclaimeth him to be the King of the Iews that is Christ the Messiah and Saviour of the World 3. He doth make this proclamation to all the World in these three most general known languages Hebrew Greek Latine one or other of which most men knew 4. The nearness of that populous and frequented City Ierusalem gave opportunity to many of all Nations to read this Title So that the same thereof was notified to all the World and by this it appeareth that it was inscribed with great and legible Letters which might be seen and read at a distance 5. This inscription was a sharp and sore rebuke to the Iews to the high Priests Scribes and Pharisees that they should crucifie their own Lord Saviour and King whom they looked for to redeem Israel but they looked with a misguided Eye and therefore knew him not 6. They felt the sting of this rebuke and winched at it they were displeased and requested Pilate that it might be altered which might easily be done by adding a word or two viz. he saith I am King of the Iews but that word would have quite altered the sense and the truth 7. Pilate was resolute and unmoveable What I have written I have written and this resolution of his seemeth to be well grounded 1. Because he was convinced of the Truth of it for Iesus Christ had fully asserted to him his kingly Office Pilate with an historical Faith believed it 2. He saw that the Iews needed such a check who had forced him to do that which he had no heart to have done only by his respect to Cesar they intrapped him Thus we see Christ made a Sin-offering carried out of the city and setteth up the banner of Salvation in Golgotha and Golgotha was the first place where the Grace and Kingdome of Jesus Christ was most solemnly published to all nations in the most general known languages Ye Pilate is a resolute publisher of the Kingdome of Jesus Christ In Golgotha Jesus Christ suffered and laid the foundation of the Gospel Church In our sacramental celebrations of the sufferings of Jesus Christ we converse with Jesus Christ in Golgotha And to doe that well effectually is an eminent work of Christianity Sect. 4. Their cruel Execution done upon the blessed Person of Jesus Christ MAth 27.34 35 36. They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with Gall and when he had tasted thereof he would not drink And they crucified him and parted his Garments casting Lots that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet They parted my garment among them and upon my vesture did they cast lots And sitting down they watched him there When they had made all things ready they laid hands on his blessed Person and the first thing they did was they gave him the cup of death to drink which he tasted saith Mathew but refused to drink viz. a draught of it saith Mark. A tast of that cup was enough That he should taste death this was a significant act which respects all that followed This is the Preface of death put for the whole This is that Cup of which Jesus Christ spake before Mat. 20.22 23. Can ye drink of the Cup that I shall drink namely this cup of death and be baptized with the baptisme that I shall be baptized with viz. with mine own blood running down my face from the wounds which my thorny crowns caused This is the cup that Iohn speaketh of Ioh. 18.11 The Cup which my Father giveth me to drink shall I not drink it And this he speaketh to quiet Peter when he would have fought for him This is the cup that he had prayed thrice a little before that it might pass from him Math. 26 39.40 but he submitted to his fathers will and now behold he tasteth of it It is the preface and first act of his death The matter of this cup saith Mathew was vinegar and gall Math. 27.34 Mar. 15.23 saith Wine mixed with mirrhe all is one for vinegar is sower wine and that mixed with gall or mirrhe or with both It seems it was the Romane manner of executing Malefactors for Iob. 19.29 There was a vessel of
such liquor ready Whether it was in favour or rigour and terror it is not said but sure they did nothing in favour to Jesus Christ and Christ doth bitterly complain of it Psal 69.21 as we shall afterwards see 2. The time that this act of death was done unto our Lord Jesus in giving him the cup of death was at the beginning of the sixth hour Mark 15.25 saith it was the third hour but that maketh no difficulty it is easily reconciled for at the end of the third hour the sixth hour began and that lasted till the ninth hour so the Jews they divided the time of the day And that Mark so intended appeareth because at this very instant when they give the cup of death unto Jesus Christ the Sun blushed and hid his face under a black vaile of darkness as being ashamed to look upon this abominable act that these wicked men were about and the exact time of the beginning of this darkness is expressly said to be at the beginning of the sixth hour Math. 27 45. Mark 15.33 This darkening of the Sun was a divine and miraculous Testimony from God against this wicked fast which one would think might have terrified them from proceeding but seared Consciences feel nothing This darkness was not an Ecclipse of the Sun by the interposition of the Moon because it was the middle of the Moneth and the Moon was about the Full. Again it was not a natural Ecclipse because this darkness lasted three hours which never any natural Ecclipse did or can do Besides Ecclipses are unperceivable at the beginning and end but this darkness began as it seemeth to me in its height and so continued at the same height from the beginning to the end When they began and gave Jesus Christ the Cup of death it grew suddenly dark and about the time that Jesus Christ dyed it was light again both the periods of the darkness were eminently observable It was not a total darkness as night is by the absence of the Sun for it is said Joh. 29.20 many did read the supersciption upon the Cross of Iesus Christ Also Iesus saw his mother and the Disciple whom Iesus loved standing by her Joh. 19.26 and Iesus saw the Souldiers dividing his garments and casting lots on his vesture as the Prophesy intimateth Psal 22.18 It was an extraordinary and amazing darkness to reprehend their violent cruel and bloody act which they were doing in laying hands upon the spotless Lamb of God it was the hour and power of darkness wherein the Prince of darkness had got down the Lord of glory under his mercyless hands It was an universal darkness for if the body of the Sun be darkened the Moon and Stars that receive their light therefrom must needs be also in a like proportion darkned obscured Some holy Divines say that this darkning of the sun was a visible sign of Gods desertion and hiding his face from Jesus Christ all the time of his suffering upon the Cross 3. The wicked Murderers are undaunted they goe on with their work they had in hand they strip off his garments and crucifie him naked unless they had so much modesty as to cover shame for all the Evangelists put the parting of his garments at or about the beginning of the time of his hanging oâ— the Cross If they had his garments he was naked putting upon him as much indignity shame as they could 4. They lifted him up on high that they might fasten him to the cross This was typified by lifting up the brazen serpent in the wilderness as Jesus Christ himself testifieth Ioh. 3.14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of man be lifted up Ioh. 8.28 When ye have lifted up the Son of man then shall ye know that I am he Ioh. 12.32 33. I when I am lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me This he said signifiing what death he should die By his so dying he was made conspicuous to all the world and he draweth all his Elect effectually and a great part of the world visibly to follow him Isai 45.22 Look unto me all ends of the earth and be saved 5. They first nailed his two hands upon the stretch unto the two wings of the â—ross Psal 22.6 His hands are said to be pierced first before his feet 6. When his hands were nailed they let him drop and hang with the whole weight of his body upon his pierced hands nailed to the tree Yea not only so but they pulled and stretched him they struck all his bones and joynts out of joint viz. his Wrists Elbows shoulder-bladâ—s Hips Knees Ancles Psal 22.14 17. All my bones are out of joynt I may tell all my bones they look and stare upon me They start out of place upon the wrack These things are said in the Prophesy and done in the history and so are many thing more besides these now named 7. When they had wracked his body into that stretch then they nailed his feet Psal 22.6 His feet are said to be pierced and nailed after his hands in that wracking and tormenting stretch 8. Thus he is nailed unto and hanged upon a tree that is the wood of a tree 1. Pet. 2.24 And so he was made a curse for us Gal. 3.12 For it is written cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree 9. They set a Watch and Guard about him Mat. 27.36 Sitting down they watched him there He that had the charge of that was a Centurion with his band of Souldiers whose Charge was to keep peace and order It was a prudent point of the Romane Goverment and might be done by such as were not accessary to the sin in putting Jesus Christ to death And we shall hear further of this Centurion hereafter Sect. 5. Where we shall consider what our Lord Jesus Christ did as he was hanging on the Cross viz. 1. He forgave his Persecutors 2. He took loving and tender care for his widdow mother 3. He took tender care for the Salvation of the penitent Thief 4. The rest of the 3. hours from the 6t to the 9th hour he spent silently in his most bitter agonies at the 9th hour he spake four words then dyed We shall also take notice of the behaviour of the Jews all this time which to see and hear was no small part of the sufferings of Jesus Christ Luk. 23.34 And Jesus said Father forgive them they know not what they doe This is recorded as the first word that Jesus Christ spake upon the Cross All the time they were abusing wracking and tormenting him he was silent as a Lamb And when he spake these were his words when they had done the worst they could against him he forgave them and prayed his father to forgive them Where we have to consider 1. His own act of forgiving them is implyed in an eminency in his applying himself to his Father to pardon them
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