in this world wherein he attended to his active obedience to the Law of God yet he was alwayes in a dark obscure low suffering condition The Instances of his sufferings which follow are more conspicuous in the course of his publick Ministry such was this point in this Section touched on viz. his bodily Infirmityes mentioned by Mathew which words are recited out of Isai 53.4 surely he hath born our griefs and carried our sorrows and this Text he bringeth to prove that Jesus Christ did heal all manner of diseases and sicknesses not as a Physitian but as a Mediator by divine power and Authority as God and man He did bear all the sinless punishment of our sins in his body 1 Pet. 2.21 himself bare our sins in his own body that is the punishment of our sins viz. sinless punishment whereof our bodily infirmityes weaknesses pains and sicknesses are a great and eminent part And by this part of his sufferings he so far satisfied divine Justice and thereby hath taken out the sting and curse out of our bodily infirmityes and hath rendred them only medicinal to our Souls and hereby he hath obtained power over all diseases to send them and to recall them as he pleaseth and to improve them as he will for the good of his Church and believing Servants he hath such absolute power over all our sicknesses that he saith to one goe and it goeth and to another come and it cometh c. This Text in Math. doth hold forth that part of the Humiliation of Jesus Christ in submitting himself to bodily infirmityes and diseases which he took and bare he took our griefs and pains for our sakes and bare them in our stead It is an eminent part of his sufferings clearly held forth in the Prophesies and testified in the Gospel History of him it is a point of great use and comfort to the Church that this sharp Rod is managed in the hand of a merciful tender hearted yea and experienced Mediator Jesus Christ his body was mortal which is evident by this that he dyed yea he came into the world to dye and therefore took a mortal body capable to perform that great service which he came to do The body of Adam in Innocency was capable of Immortality but by sin he became mortal Rom. 5.12 as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Though the person of Jesus Christ was without sin yet he took a mortal body that it might be a fit sacrifice for our sin which was laid upon him by imputation being our Mediator his body was made as Adams body was out of preexisting matter and was therefore mortal After his Resurrection his body is Immortal His mortal hath put on Immortality his glorious immortal body is set down at the right hand of God And he will change our vile bodyes after the Resurrection and make them like to his glorious body Phil. 3.21 After the Resurrection the bodyes of all mankind shall be Immortal both good bad The power of mercy will preserve the bodies of the Elect to be eternal monuments objects of mercy and Subjects wherein mercy shall shine forth unto all Eternity The bodyes of the wicked shall be preserved in Immortality to be Vessels of wrath in which the justice of God will shine forth to all Eternity Thus all humane bodyes are capable of Immortality and shall be made so to be by the power of mercy and justice which Attributes of God are to be glorified in mankind for ever This Immortality of the body of Jesus Christ was a great and fundamental infirmity of his humane nature and a fruit of our sin imputed to him as our Mediator and this made him capable of such other infirmityes as might accomplish his death So that it was through the infirmity of a mortal body that he dyed 2 Cor. 13.4 for though he was crucified through weakness yet he liveth in the power of God his humane nature subject to our infirmityes made him mortal Divine power maketh him Immortal Though Jesus Christ took many infirmityes sicknesses weaknesses incident to a mortal body yet he dyed not by any sickness he dyed a violent death being in his full strength Their cruelty and harsh usage of his mortal body forced with his voluntary consent Joh. 10.18 a separation of his Soul from his body by much and cruel whippings they made deep and long Furrows in his back by piercing his head with Crowns of thorns knocked on with a staff by abusing him all night they gave him no rest The Rulers had him to do till after Cocks crowing then they went to their rest if their malitious minds would suffer them to sleep but they committed our blessed Lord Jesus to Souldiers and the rude Rabble who abused him all the night in the morning they committed him to Pilate who finally condemned him and delivered him to be crucified They oppressed his spent mortal body by bearing his cross they nailed his hands stretched his body till all his joints were loosed At that stretch they nailed his feet they pierced his side with a Spear and let out his life blood All these and sundry more of the last sufferings of our Lord shall hereafter the Lord assisting in their place and order be opened this may suffice at present to shew that the body of Jesus Christ had the infirmity of mortality and dyed with grief and pain a violent death he dyed not of any sickness Furthermore in this state of his mortal body when he was in the flesh he took many other infirmityes of a mortal body which are sinless punishments of the sin of man which may be gathered from Gen. 3.17 18 19. where the commination and infliction of them is expressed as the product of our sin To eat in sorrow to labour with disappointment and to labour with sweat until these painful labours sorrows sweatings and disappointments have brought us to the dust out of which we were made These infirmityes of humane nature may comprehend all those infirmityes usually instanced in by Divines as hunger thirst weariness sleepyness c. The mortal body of Jesus Christ was susteined as our bodyes be by eating drinking motion labour and rest in all which respects our fallen estate feeleth much punishment and the matter of sicknesses is usually contracted by eating and drinkâ—â— by heats and colds As these natural passions and infirmityes have in them a â— less punishment of sin which Jesus Christ suffered So why may not we say at the animal passions and infirmityes have in them a sinless punishment of sin as anger grief love Mark 3.5 he looked on them with anger but without the least touch of sin and was grieved Joh. 12.36 Jesus did hide himself from them Math. 14.13 when Jesus heard that Iohn was beheaded he departed thence into a desert place Ioh. 20.2 the Disciple whom Iesus loved Joh.
bear yet he revived again and went on in his work till he drank the last draught on the Cross then it killed him he drank at several times that it might not yet kill him bâ—cause all was not yet finished but when all was finished he drank the bottom of the Cup then it killed him he began with a soul Agony only without immediate bodily sufferings save what his body suffered by simpathy with his distressed soul but on the Cross he suffered the extremity of bodily suffering Soul sufferings also both together then it killed him 7. What is a Soul Agony Answ The wrath and curse of God due to sin by the Law inflicted to punish the Soul What is that Soul punishment which Jesus Christ suffered which he began in the garden before they touched his body Answ It is so deep terrible Infinite and intollerable that it is unutterable as it is said 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen Ear hath not heard nor have entered into the heart of man the things that God hath prepared for them that love him So nor for them that love him not who are sinners And what unconceivable punishment divine justice hath prepared for sinners all that Jesus Christ hath suffered in our stead no man can bear the curse of the Law but it will sink him to hell and there he can bear it but by drops and therefore his punishment is drawn out to Eternity But Jesus Christ was able to bear it and to accomplish his sufferings in a finite time Isai 53.4 he hath born our griefs Souls in hell feel what a Soul Agony under Gods wrath and curse is Luk. 16.24 I am tormented in this flame said Dives in Hell Souls undâ—r the work of conversion when they are wounded for sin feel some drops and sparks of it yet that little is intollerable Pro. 18.14 a wounded Spirit who can bear a Negative Interrogative meaning that none can bear it Only Jesus Christ can bear it yea we may truly say never did any wounded Soul in the work of conversion feel such Soul wounds as Jesus Christ felt and never did shall or can any Soul in Hell feel such Torments of soul as Jesus Christ felt For 1. In Hell every soul feels the punishment due to his own sin only he suffereth only for his own sins 2. In the work of conversion the soul feels the sting of the guilt of his own sin only But Iesus Christ stood in the room and stead of all he is a second Adam he suffered the punishment due unto all and all at once and this maketh a wonderful difference The suffering of any one person is but as the drop of a Bucket in comparison of the sufferings of Iesus Christ There be sundry parts and powers of the soul The understanding is the great light ruler commander of the whole man in all its actions The will is the sovereign uncompelled chooser in the soul of man that closeth with what it liketh best The Conscience is the sovereign judge of all that is done doing or to be done The memory is the depository Treasury where all our store good or bad is laid up for after use The imaginations and affections are under Servants to the Soul And all these powers of the Soul the person being in the state of sin are capable of high torments as on the contrary the person being in the state of grace through Faith in Jesus Christ they are capable of glory and high joyes Torments enter into the Soul two wayes as also do joyes Sometimes by way of sense and imagination Sometimes by the understanding by the Word and Spirit In all these wayes what ever Torment an Innocent Surety was capable of as the fruit of sin all that Jesus Christ suffered part now in the garden and fully upon the Cross Our Surety stood guilty in the Eye of Justice of all the sin of the first Adam and presents himself to suffer for the same unto the satisfaction of the justice of the Law Rom. 3.19 all the world is become guilty before God and Jesus Christ taketh upon himself all this guilt all the mountains of guilt of all the elect world are rowled upon Jesus Christ he is made sin for us and the fiery streams of the wrath of God that burneth in Tophet come running down upon him Psal 88.7 thy wrath lyeth hard upon me thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves The curse due unto sin maketh it a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God Heb. 10.31 for our God is a consuming fire In this fearful terrible condition was the Soul of Iesus Christ now in his garden agony which suffering of Iesus Christ doth save believers from it to the enlargement of our Eternal Thanksgiving praise and joy But Wo be to those unto whom this grace is freely offered but they rather chuse the pleasures of sin for a season and by their own choice plunge themselves into these flames of wrath out of which Iesus Christ offereth to deliver them but they refuse to accept his oâ—fer 8. In this garden Agony Iesus Christ had but three of his Disciples near him viz. Peter Iames and Iohn the rest of his Disciples he had appointed where they should tarry further off and he went so often to these three to keep them waking that Judas and his Companions should not find them fast asleep and behold the gentleness of Iesus Christ to consider their infirmity he first gently checketh them and Peter by name could ye not watch with me one hour shewing that his first conflict had been about an hour and he knowing that Iudas was coming set them a little way off and bid them watch But alas they were poor Watchmen he found them asleep the second time then he giveth them an holy Item and Admonition watch and pray lest ye fall into Temptation there is more danger near you then you are aware of Yet himself doth make a tender kind-hearted Apology for them First accepting their willingness of Spirit and then bearing with the infirmity of the flesh for he considered that it was near midnight high sleeping time and their hearts were full of sorrow which made their eyes heavy Luk. 22.45 Yet notwithstanding the care the Lord had to keep them awake Judas had taken them asleep had not the Lord awaked them the third time for when he came to them the third time he found them asleep and now he gives them a sharp awakening they were ashamed the second time but now they were gastered now sleep if you can Behold the hour is come the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners arise let us be going when the danger is upon us it is time to bestir our selves Now the History returneth to Iudas whom we left preparing his Company to execute his wicked Treason in betraying his Lord and Master when he had gotten his Company a band of men and Officers furnished
which never yet had any man been buryed there they did at present lay up the body the approaching of the Sabbath permitting them to do no more they rowled a great stone to the dore of the Vault which shut it close up And so they departed Lo here we find the dead body of Jesus Christ separated from his Soul laid up among those that are gone down to the pit under the power of death and the grave in the very bottom of his humiliation His Soul was in his Fathers bosome in Paradice far out of the reach of the Enemy though in a suffering condition because in a state of seperation from his body there was he pleading and interceding for the Church The good women observed diligently where he was buryed purposing after the Sabbath to perfect his embalming for which purpose they brought and prepared sweet Spices Luk. 2â— 56 and 24.1 Mark 16.1 Surely they meant to have emboweled the Corps and to have filled the body with sweet Spices c. for so was the manner of embalming of dead bodyes they did not understand nor believe nor expect his Resurrection though he had often foretold it But here behold the wonderful Providence of God for ever to be admired that by reason of the shortness of the time to the beginning of the Sabbath which prohibited them from doing any more at present unto the body and the interposition of the Sabbath prevented them all that day But they intended after the Sabbath to have perfected his embalming for which purpose the godly women came very early and brought their Spices And when they came there he was risen before they came Here also we may behold and admire at the power of the Cross of Christ according to that word of Ioh. 12.32 and I when I am lifted up will draw all men unto me one would have thought in reason that these timorous noble Professors would now have been more timorous then ever they had been But behold the contrary for now they are more bold then ever they were Again one in reason would have thought that the Centurion and all that were on the guard with him and all the spectators would now have no regard or good perswasion towards Jesus Christ whom they had conquered and kissed But behold the contrary the sovereign grace of Jesus Christ is poured forth from the Cross and draweth hearts to believe and this power of grace is exercised by the sweet savour of the Cross of Christ unto this day yea and will be so to the worlds end Sect. 3. The sufferings of Christ after he was dead and buryed AS the first part of the sufferings of Christ was before he was born so the last part of his sufferings was after he was dead and buryed he lay in the grave as Jonas in the whales belly in a suffering condition until his Resurrection After the Incarnation and birth of Jesus Christ the whole conspiracy of Devils and wicked men was to kill him and to conquer him by death to remove him out of their way after they had conquered and killed him by death all their conspiracy was to keep him dead to seal him up in his grave that he should not rise again we may see what the Jews by Satans instigation no doubt did this way Math. 27.62 ad 67. where see the time of this act the morning after the preparation or celebration of the Passover which was upon the very Sabbath day yea though it was an high day Ioh. 19.31 being the morrow after the Passover They pretended to be very zealous for the Sabbrth to pick up matter against Christ when he did good works of charity upon the Sabbath day But now they can go to Pilate and transact their envyous business against Christ upon this high Sabbath day The actors of this business were the chief Priests and Pharisâ—es who pretended to be most zealous for the Sabbath but here we may see their hypocrisy What did they upon this Sabbath they came to Pilate and first see the term they give to Christ that deceiver or impostor we see here that his blood and death could not quench their rancor of heart against him They inform Pilate that he had said that he would rise again the third day which they desired to prevent using this Argument to perswade Pilate to assist them least his Disciples should come in the night and steal away his body and then tell the people that he was risen again according as he hath said he would do And the Effect of that would be worst of all our last error would be worse then the first if we let him rise again it will make us more odious to the people then our putting him to death hath done Pilate impowereth them to make his grave as fast and sure as they can or desire to do by a watch or any other means Whereupon they went upon the same Sabbath day they set a watch strong enough you may be sure at the grave and sealed up the great stone that lay upon the graves mouth and now let him rise if he can But herein we may behold the admirable wisdome of God and folly of man that the very way which they took to prevent his Resurrection was a means to make his Resurrection most evident and manifest unto all the Watchmen were witnesses of it Though they did afterwards corrupt them with large money to make a foolish lye which is current among the Jews unto this day and hereby their last error is indeed as bad if not worse then the first When Jesus Christ breathed out his blessed Soul into his Fathers bosome it waâ— in a state of separation from his body and that was a state of suffering He went into Heaven into Paradice into his Fathers bosome in a seperate in a suffering Estate O how welcome was that blessed suffering Soul hypostatically united to the Deity when he came in Heaven This blessed Soul was not long in this seperate state about forty hours though part of three dayes and three nights God suffered not his holy body hypostatically united to the Deity that lay dead in the grave to see the least touch of corruption Yet hereby he sanctified this seperate state of the Soul from the body unto and for his Elect whose bodyes do see corruption and whose duration and abiding in that seperatâ— estate is of a far longer continuance even until the day of Resurrection and last Judgement But Jesus Christ hath made it to be unto us an entrance into glory The Soul of Jesus Christ presented himself before the holy Tribunal of divine Justice where he pleaded his full satisfaction that he had made unto all the demands of the holy Law both by his active and passive obedience He saith I have fulfilled all Righteousness I have suffered and finished the sufferings of the punishment of loss I have suffered the punishment of sense unto the uttermost ever until it forced a separation betwixt my body and Soul and brought me into the state of death and behold here I stand before the Tribunal of Justice in a state of seperation of Soul from my body and thus have I answered the Law and finished the work of Redemption I have purchased a pardon I have purchased the Inheritance the Kingdome that by the right hand of divine power I may gather in all Gods Elect whose salvation I have undertaken that I may manage the world for the glory of God and that I may subdue all their Enemies And now O Father glorifie me with thy self and these thine Elect with me for my sake that they may behold my glory for which I appeal unto mercy Likewise also our appearance in Heaven when we dye must be before the Tribunal of Justice but we appear in the Name of Jesus Christ we are converted united unto him we are members of his mystical body cloathed with his Righteousness and for his sake we are accepted pardoned and welcomed to glory so far as we are capable in that seperate estate And for this we appeal unto mercy Now Jesus Christ took out a pardon now he took possession of his purchased Inheritance according to the capacity of his seperate estate Now he took the keys of hell and death now was he ready to tread down all Enemies Hell Devil Sin Death and Grave by his triumphant Resurrection But these meditations do appertain unto the Exaltation of Jesus Christ him God hath exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give Repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins Amen FINIS
by addition of food without augmentation of any Limb or part of the body this is another of the wonderful works of God in the sustenance of the body of man These particular meditations concerning the growth of the body of man and in the samâ— manner of the growth of the body of Iesus Christ should raise our hearts to admiration at the wisdom power mercy goodness of God that we have dayly experience of yea hourly continually And hence we see a cogent Argument to oblige us to pray and give thanks alwayes when we eat and drink And so when we eat at the Lords Supper where our souls are eminently fed with spiritual food in a spiritual and wonderful manner by outward signs of eating and drinking such matter of sustenance as the Lord hath pleased by his wisdom and Institution to dispence In all these meditations about our bodily estate sustenance and preservation it is good to sing with David Psal 139.13 14 15 16 17. for thou hast possessed my Reins thou hast covered me in my mothers womb I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made marvellous are thy works and that my Soul knoweth right well my substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret and thine eyes did seâ— my substance yet being unperfect and in thy book all my members were written which iâ— continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them how pretious are thy thoughts unto me O God how great is the sum of them It is an addition of wonders that as the body groweth in bigness ability and capacity for the Soul to act in and by so the Soul grows to its appointed bigness and capacity for action and no bigger then God hath appointed the chief time of the Souls moral growth is after the body hath done growing There is great difference of Souls though we see and know the increase of the Body but know not the wisdom and power of God how he doth perform it so we are much more ignorant how the Lord performeth the growth of Souls and how the Soul is adapted fitted to the body that in every part and unto every purpose It is also wonderful to observe the different bigness of Souls with the adapting of the body for the Soul it is better to say the body is fitted for the Soul then to say the Soul is fitted for the body though both be true Gluttons and drunkards and unclean persons and lazy c. do spoyle their bodies and unfit them for their Souls use it is a point of great wisdom to govern and order the body for the use and service of the Soul Again we may observe great likeness and unlikeness of bodyes and Souls which cometh to pass by a wonderful and powerful operation of Gods wisdom the foundation whereof is laid in the first matter of the body and so in the created matter of the Soul bodily port complection features gestures dispositions inclinations c. are patronimick gifts and effects Esther was a gallant woman and was of the stock of Saul who was a gallant man none like him among all the people and â—et there were gallant men at that time in Israel Both body and Soul of Jesus Christ were extraordinary therefore he grew in a more eminent and excellent manner then any of mankind â—â—s humane nature both body and soul were making fit and preparing to be a sacrifice to God for the sin of man Heb. 10.5 a body hast thou prepared me And Isa 53.10 thou shalt make his soul a sacrifice for sin This was the greatest best Sacrifice that ever was offered up to God Therefore there was perfect work in the growth governance and ordering of this child I might here digress into the consideration of the admirable wisdome of God in the preparation of this blessed person to be a spotless Lamb a fit Sacrifice for sin offered to God for the sin of man The life of this person was more precious then any other of mankind yea more precious then all the lives of all mankind The Iewish Sacrifices were but Bruits vegetables But Jesus Christ offered this precious Body Soul a reasonable Sacrifice We are commanded to offer our selves to God a reasonable sacrifice Rom. 12.1 for the mortification of our sin and dedecation of our selves to the service of God But Jesus Christ offered himself to God to satisfie vindictive justice for the offence of sin Heb 9.26 he hath put away sin by the sacrifice of himself and hath made an end of sin Dan. 9.24 The second branch of the description of the glorious person of this holy Child Jesus who was preparing to be made a Sacrifice to God for the sin of man is expressed in these words He waxed strong in spirit his humane nature was made under the guidance and governance of the Law as Adam was in his first creation that he might fulfill the law to the full satisfaction of rewarding justice and receive the blessed inheritance of life according to the covenant of works as a reward of his meritorious obedience and all this as a publick person a second Adam in which the first Adam failed and fell short Which glorious work when he had finished he was to offer up himself to God and dye for the sin of Adam and all the effects of it So that this holy child Jesus was educated and trained up in and for a double sâ—rvice by active obedâ—ence meritoriously to keep the law and obtain the life promised in the covenant of works from the hand of rewarding justice and by passive obediâ—nce meritoriously to satisfie vindictive justice for the offence of man That he might doe and perform all this as his humane nature both body and soul grâ—w and passed from infancy to childhood from childhood to youth and from youth to ripe age and all this undâ—r the Rule of Obedience to the law of God So in the second place it is said he waxed strong in spirit I yet see not but that I may adventure to call the first of these his natural growth and the second his moral growth it is not a soul growth only but his body grew also in fitness to be serviceable to his holy soul and spirit therefore it is a growth of the whole man The same word is said of John Luk. 1.80 but it must be underâ—tood with great difference according as their persons differed in eminency Joâ—n grew as a son of fallen Adam when regenerated doth grow Jesus grew as the son of God that touched not tasted not of the fall of Adam But as Adam in innocency should haâ—e grown and much more eminently John grew according to the measure of his capacity Jesus grew in a wonderful higher measure of capacity Iohn had the spirit according to his measure which was great in comparison of them that went before him but Iesus had the spirit without measure Quest 1. What is meant by
performed it 2 Cor. 5.21 that we may be made the Righteousness of God in him and Rom. 10.4 Jesus Christ is the perfecting end of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth Phil. 3.9 and be found in him not having my own Righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by Faith CAP. IX The History of some of the Sufferings of Jesus Christ which he lay under and indured through all the course of his Humane life in this world many of them in this most quiet time of his life before he entered upon his publick Ministry MY scope being to explain and set forth the sufferings of Jesus Christ I shall endeavour according to my poor ability to shew what sufferings Jesus Christ underwent in all this course of his pilgrimage Jesus Christ having undertaken to be our Advocate with the Father and to procure our peace with God as it was incumbent on him to purchase for us the Inheritance promised in the Covenant of works by fulfilling the Law by his pure perfect and meritorious active obedience unto the Law of God which Adam left unperformed So it was incumbent upon our Lord Jesus to suffer the punishment due unto us for our transgression of the Law The Captain of our Salvation must be made perfect by suffering Hence when in his Infancy he fled for his life from Herods Jurisdiction into Egypt this suffering of Christ was a part of the punishment due unto the sin of man he having taken upon him the imputation of the guilt of the sin of man The curse and punishment due to sin did justly fall upon him and under that consideration were all the sufferings of Jesus Christ he did not suffer affliction as a means of mortification of sin as we do for he had no sin to mortifie but all that he suffered was by virtue of his office of a Mediator and he suffered in all things the punishment due to sin his sufferings were all of them a branch of the curse an effect of the guilt of sin he suffered in all things as a publick person as a Mediator and therefore in every thing that he suffered he underwent the wrath of God the curse and punishment of the Law which was due to sin never did a man suffer such sufferings and so as Jesus Christ suffered When he returned from Egypt and his Parents by prudent fear were constrained to withdraw into an obscure corner of the Country there to hide and bring up the child Jesus Christ suffered this as an effect of the guilt of the sin of man as a branch of the curse and wrathful punishment of the sin of man and this obscurity did run through his whole life More particularly I shall instance some of the sufferings of Jesus Christ which he suffered all his life long even in this most quiet time of his life when his active obedience did chiefly shine and this I do to shew the complication of his active obedience and passive obedience together in his quietest and best times wherein he did most illustriously perform his active obedience he was under clouds of suffering in them all And first I shall lay sundry of them together and then open them distinctly 1. Jesus Christ suffered for us the affliction of poverty as it is a fruit of the curse the sting of the guilt of sin wrath and punishment of sin were in it 2. Jesus Christ suffered for us the affliction of a low obscure condition in this world as a fruit of the curse the sting of the guilt of sin and wrathful punishment for sin was in it 3. Jesus Christ suffered for us the affliction of a servant-like condition in this world as a fruit of the curse having the sting of the guilt of sin and wrathful punishment of sin in it These three first kinds of sufferings he underwent all his life through the rest that follow he did chiâ—fly undergoe after he entered upon his publick Ministry 4. Jesus Christ suffered for us the affliction of grief infirmities bodily pains as the fruit of the curse having the sting of guilt and wrathful punishment of sin in them 5. Jesus Christ suffered for us reproaches slanders cruel mockings as a fruit of the curse having the sting of the guilt and wrathful punishment of sin in them 6. Jesus Christ suffered for us Temptations many and great as a fruit of the curse having wrathful punishment of sin in them The sting of all these suâ—ferings of Iesus Christ and such like for he suffered all the sinless punishments of sin was the imputation of the guilt of our sin and the real curse and wrath of God due to our sin but the evil of sin he touched not The most of these suâ—â—erings did fall upon him through the whole course of his life before he was persecuted for his faithful Ministry and Doctrine But reproaches and cruel mockings are most particularly mentioned in his last sufferings where we shall have occasion to make particular mention of them all these kinds of sufferings when they befall us are calls to repentance helps and means of mortification Jesus Christ hath taken out the sting and turned them into wholsome medicines But they fell upon Jesus Christ as punishments of sin fruits of the curse executed upon our Surety to the uttermost of the merit and desert of sin until vindictive justice was satisfied and said I am well pleased it is enough Though in the time of Jesus Christ his private life many people favoured him and it is like none but the vilest mocked and despised him yet when he publickly preached and reproved their sins and fell under the hatred and persecution of the chief Priests Scribes and Pharisees then the generality of the people raged against him and few did adhere to him and very few believed in him and all this he suffered as the punishment and desert of our sin I shall more particularly open these several sorts of punishments of sins which our Lord Jesus suffered for us to satisfie Divine justice and to take away the sting and curse of them from us and to sanctifie them to be wholsome medicines in his hand to do us good by them Sect. 1. Of the Poverty of Iesus Christ MAth 8.20 the Foxes have holes and the Fowls of the Air have nests but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head Luk. 2.7 she brought forth her first born Son and wrapped him in swadling Clouts and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the Inn in so poor a condition he was born and it appeareth that he had not advanced or increased his estate all the time of his life for now he was in his publick Ministry and yet he had no place of his own where to lay his head and take a nights rest nor any house to entertain his followers and auditors but often went out
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
saving that we may add that his holiness of Doctrine and life would be yea was an Eye-sore to the Scribes Pharisees and hipocrites and to such as adhered unto them This low condition is a part of the spotless punishment of the sin of man unto which Iesus Christ doth voluntarily submit himself Quest Wherein or in what respects was Jesus Christ like unto a worm for he describeth himself a worm is 1. Despicable 2. Vseless 3 None feareth it 4 None cares to defend it 5. Every one is bold to tread on it 6. They will be easily induced to destroy it 7. None fears revenge for destroying it 1. Jesus Christ his poverty did so vaile his glory that in all these and such like respects he was like a worm which cloud of obscurity was no small part of his humiliation and suffering for our sin he was despicable Psal 22.5 despised of the people Psal 119.141 I am small and despised Eccles 4.16 the poor mans wisdome is despised Isai 53.3 despised rejected of men but God did dearly accept him Math. 3.17 and 12.18 2. He was rendered hereby in the worlds eye useless they were exceeding populous and where it is so the poor worms are rather a burthen then of any use to their Generation though they be godly and wise Joh. 7.49 the poor people are cursed Act. 4 11. the stone set at nought by the builders but God made him the head of the Corner and desireable to redeem preserve and govern the world and especially the Church 3. None is afraid of a worm it cannot hurt us so none feared Jesus Christ Herod and his men of war set him at nought though there was the greatest cause in the world for Herod and his men of war to have feared the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Rev. 5.5 and to kiss the Son lest he be angry Psal 2.12 and tremble at the wrath of the Lamb Rev. 6 1â— 16 17. and the Kings of the Earth and the great men and the rich men and the chief Captains and the mighty men and the bond man and every free man hid themselves in the Dens and in the Rocks of the mountains and said to the Rocks and mountains fall on us and hide us from the face of him that fitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb for the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand 4. None careth to defend such a poor useless creature as a worm is so no body cared to defend Jesus Christ and his cause Once Nicodemus spake a good word for Jesus Christ which had a present good effect but he was quipped for it Joh. 7 50.51 52 53. Jesus Christ complained Psal 22.11 there is none to help but God taketh care of this poor worm Isai 40.14 fear not thou worm Jacob. 5. Any one is bold to tread upon a worm to hurt and injure it so were the people bold to speak and do against Jesus Christ sometimes to stone him Ioh. 8.59 and 10.31 sometime to cast him down the clist of the Rocks Luk 4.28 29 30. but God preserved him from them 6. Every one is easily induced perswaded to destroy a worm So were thâ— people who a few dayes before had cried Hosanna to the Son of David easily perswaded by the Priests Scribes and Pharises to cry crucifie him and give us Barabbas 7. They fear no body to take vengeance for wrong done to a worm so were the Jews fearless of any vengeance to be inflicted upon them for the wrong and injury done unto Jesus Christ which made them bold to expose themsâ—lves and their posterity unto any such vengeance saying his blood be upon us and upon our Children And never was blood more sharply revenged and a curse more severely executed for they have been under that curse near seventeen hundred years and they are still under it to this day Quest But why did Jesus Christ take upon him such a low condition in this world why came he not a Prince in the external Royalty of his Father David Answ 1. Because this low stripped bereaved condition under the loss of thâ— dominion of man in this world is one part of the punishment due to the sin of man Gen. 3 23 24. and it is such a punishment as may be taken up and born with Innocency without any defilement of sin therefore Jesus Christ did willingly submit to the deepest stroke of that punishment for the satisfaction of Divine justice Isai 63.9 in all our sinless afflictions he was afflicted and Isai 53.4 he hath born our griefs was wounded for our transgressions the chastisement of our peace was upon him And this innocent punishment for our sin he suffered most purely perfectly and meritoriously unto the Infinite satisfaction of the vindictive Justice of God And thereby took out the sting of the curse from the like low condition that we may fall into and he bore it away from us Isai 53.5 6. 2. Jesus Christ came in this low condition to sanctifie a low condition in this world for his Saints the elect of God Seeing it was the purpose of God to carry the Church in this world through such a low condition 1 Cor. 1.26 27 28. Yet take this with these cautious 1. All the Church of Gods Elect are not so all are not in such a low condition though most are for the Text saith not many noble rich mighty but some such there alwayes are for the great support of the Church when Kings are nuâ—sing Fathers and Queens are nursing mothers to the Churches Isai 49.23 2 Again take this caution that this low condition of the Church shall not alwaâ—es be so for in the latter dayes Jesus Christ will more plentifully pour out pâ—â—s â—rity grace which though it hath been more rarely dispenced hitherunto yet it seemeth to me that it shall be otherwise in the glorious times of the Church in this world as may be gathered out of the Prophesies of Isaiah from the sixty Chapter and so forward and from many other Scriptures 3. Jesus Christ came in a low condition in this world and carryeth his Elect many of them through this world in a low condition to exert and exercise Gods Sovereignty in defending his poor worms against the proud great world and sometimes in advancing his worm Jacob and David from the Shephards crook to the Scepter Luk. 1.48 he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaid this Sovereignty of God is highly celebrated 1 Sam. 2.4 ad 11. Job 5.15 16. and abundantly in the books both of the Scriptures and of the providences of God 4. Jesus Christ came in such a low condition to set us a pattern of exercising suffering graces which must be in this militant world or not at all for there will be no occasion in Heaven for the use of suffering grace when all tears shall be wiped away from our eyes 5. Jesus Christ came in such a low condition to
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
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
in your hands that God cannot deliver him out of your hands had you patience to have suppressed this blasphemy but till the morning of the first day you might have been prevented of this sin for you might have seen him mightily proved to be the Son of God by his Resurrection and that God hath power to deliver him out of your hands and greater then yours too 3. The third sort of mockers were the Souldiers Luk. 23.36 37. the Souldiers also mocked him coming to him and offering him vineger and saying if thou be the King of Israel save thy self Touching their giving him vineger we see by this it was no act of favour but such as was accompanied with mocks of this more hereafter Little did these men know that his dying upon the Cross was the way appointed by God for the salvation both of Jew and Gentile 4. The fourth and last sort of mockers instanced in the Text were the Theevs Math. 27.44 but of this part of the History we have already spoken CAP. XIV The last part of the Sufferings of Jesus Christ upon the Cross THe whole life of Jesus Christ was a suffering life the first and the last parts of his time in this world were fullest of sufferings the last and greatest of his sufferings were on the Cross Phil. 2.8 obedient to the death even death upon the Cross here all his bitter sufferings met upon him upon the Cross he fulfilled to answer and satisfie all that was to be said by the Law against us Col. 2.14 15. blotting out the hand writing of Ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his Cross and having spoyled Principalities and powers he made a shew of them openly tryumphing over them in it viz in the work that he did accomplish on the Cross in giving full satisfaction to the Law The full stream of his sufferings fell on him on the Cross Jesus Christ did both suffer and agonize before the Cross as appeareth Luk. 12.50 I have a Baptisme to be baptized with and how am I streightned till it be accomplished Joh. 12.20 now is my Soul troubled in the garden he had a great Soul Agony Luk. 22. 44. his body was not yet in a suffering condition only by way of simpathy with his agonizing Soul which so wrought on him as that he swet drops like blood But on the Cross all kind of sufferings met together the whole stream of wrath against sin fell upon him and he was under it altogether 1 His body suffered all those cruel torments wrackings before mentioned 2. His mind suffered all the grief they could afflict him withal by mocks reproaches blasphemies 3. His Soul suffered the full cup of the Justice of the Law and desert of sin His great sufferings upon the Cross he underwent in his near three hours silence for after he had forgiven his persecu ors â—nd provided for the comfort of his widdow mother and took care of the penitent Thief he did with holy patience and silence suffer all that fell upon him until the ninth hour and then spake such words as expressed what he was doing and suffering all this while The sense of cruel pain that his body was in all this while may in a small measure be apprehended by what hath been said in the particular Tortures The sufferings of his mind by the reproaches mocks blasphemies taunts which he heard and saw all this while of his silence these were a bitter part of his suffering as it is expressed in the Prophesy Psal 69.20 reproach hath broken my heart and I am full of heaviness and I lookod for some to take pitty but there was none comforters but found none vineger and gall was all that the creatures afford him ver 21. The causes of this affliction of his mind are expressed ver 19. by three words reproach shame and dishonour which are said to have this effect upon him reproach hath broken my heart an heart wound is deeper and more terrible then a bodily wound ungrateful men pierced and wounded his heart when he was dying for them Ovile ingratitude O infinite patience and pitty the tongues of men did pierce Jesus Christ to the heart as he hung upon the Cross they so filled his heart with heaviness that there was no room for comfort When he looked for some to pitty and bemoan him or help him but there was none that had power to help him his mother and John stood by and many more no doubt but alas they could not help him be trade the wine press alone Isai 63.3 There is a threefold wounding of the heart by words 1. A penitential piercing of the heart by words of conviction Act. 2.2.37 this is a blessed gospel wound 2. There is a wrathfull cutting of the heart when reproofs are applyed as Act. 7. 54. this is a sinfull wound But 3. There is a sorrowfull piercing of the heart by words of reproach and this was the heart-breaking sorrow that Jesus Christ suffered upon the Cross Object But can the words of a man so pierce the innocent heart of Jesus Christ Answ Jesus Christ stood in the stead of those that were guilty and therefore divine justice set them home to his heart to the uttermost None can tell the force of words till he have experienced the same Words are the means whereby Souls have converse and communion Words carry the mind heart judgement notion affection passion of one party to another If we use Gods words and apply them right they both wound and heal and are most wholsome But they were mens words that broke the heart of Iesus Christ When words flow from anger envy hatred wrath revenge such words are full of the breath and spirit of Satan and make cruel wounds upon the heart and such wounds were made in the heart of Iesus Christ Some sorts of wounding words did especially pierce the heart of Iesus Christ 1. When they upbraided him Where is thy God Psal 42.3 4. Mat. 27.45 Psal 22.7 2. When they forge a Lye against him and impose it upon him Psal 119.69 3. Vngratefull saucy words against him that is beneficent Ioh. 10.32 Many good works have I done for which of them do you stone me So Psal 35.3 4 11 12. Among ungratefull men abusers of Iesus Christ two men are to be wondered at and they are Iudas and Malchus Sect. 2. The last part of the Sufferings of Iesus Christ when he dyed for our Redemption is recorded by all the four Evangelists I desire the Reader to turn to all these Scriptures and first read them Mat. 27.45 ad 55. Mark 15.33 ad 40. Luk. 23.44 ad 49. Joh. 19.28 ad 38. OVT of all these texts together we may gather these two particulars 1. The history of the three hours darkness which was the time most of it of Jesus Christ his silence wherein his soul did agonize under the punishment of our
of life it is the most solid sustenance therefore nature spent with pain grief and torment and such like punishments doth also greedily hunger and vehemently desire and crave for solid sustenance as well as for moisture to cool and moisten so did Jesus Christ in this his last Agony express his hunger as well as his thirst and both together do express the fulness of his extream sense of torment which he felt in this last finishing Agony hunger is a sinless punishment which Jesus Christ suffered to the uttermost extremity until it killed him His expression of his sense of hunger is not recorded in the History but it is in the Prophesy Psal 69.21 they also gave me gall for meat and in my thirst they gave me vinegar for drink He cryed for and needed both kinds of relief in the sense of the want whereof he was ready to dye and quickly did dye extremity of hunger and thirst are among the greatest of torments when he had no other relief to spent nature then gall and vinegar he presently dyed Prop. 4. It would set forth his extream sense of pain and torment which his body felt for the space of about twenty hours to gather up a few Instances of the suâ—fering of Soul mind and body that he passed through from his entrance into the garden until he dyed on the Cross they were tormenting him both in body and mind all that time without ministring unto him that we know off either food or rest He suffered both loss of blood and great pain by their twice cruel whippings and twice crowning him with thorns and being withal parched and burnt with heat which made him complain Psal 69.3 my throat is dried he sweat in the garden but now his moisture is turned into the drought of Summer Psal 22.15 my strength is dried up likâ— a potsheard and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws And thou hast brought me to the dust of death All these and such like expressions seâ— forth his extream sense of misery through want of relief especially his want of supply of moisture as being a chief sustenance he is therefore pleased in the history to express all by that one word I thirst all these pains are sinless punishments which he suffered unto the uttermost extremity until they killed him A painful violent death he suffered Prop. 5 Grief is exceedingly drying and expensive to nature Psal 31 9 10. Isaâ— 6.7 73.21 Iob. 30.25 Grief wasteth the body pierceth the heart woundeth the soul and many such effects there be of grief and now Iesus Christ had a juncture of the greatest griefs in the world all met together upon him like mountains of sorrow and terror All these are sinless punishments of sin which he suffered to the uttermost extremity until they killed him Prop. 6. All this pain grief horror which his humane adversaryes did inflict upon him were infinitely sharpned by the power of vindictive justice and laid upon him as our Surety so that his punishment of sense was to the uttermost extremity until they killed him The effect of these two words upon the by-standers was twofold First they gave him gall and vinegar in the extremity of his pain to adde unto his torment not to relieve him which act is thus expressed 1. One run to doe it that he might be sure to make him taste it before he was quite dead 2. He took a Spunge there ready for that purpose after the Romane manner of tormenting Malefactors 3. He bound the spunge upon a reed with a branch of hysope which were all ready for that purpose 4. He dipt it in the vessel of galled vinegar that was ready there 5. He lifted it to his mouth and caused him to taste and he tasted it The second effect was a mistake in some of his word Eli Eli saying he calleth for Elias to come and deliver him Whether this were a real mistake of ignorance or whether it was done in mockery as some think I say not but this is sure Luk. 23.36 37. The Souldiers also mocked him coming to him and offering him vinegar and saying if thou be the King of the Iews save thy self The end and intent of this giving him gall and vinegar was to afflict him because Jesus Christ so complained of it Psal 69.21 The complaint was in the Prophesie but the thing was done in the History Sect. 5. The third word which Iesus Christ spake upon the Cross about the 9th hour JOh. 19.30 When Jesus had received the vinegar he said It is finished Quest What is finished his Sufferings were not yet finished for he had yet to dye the great sacrifice was not yet fully offered the Lamb of God was not yet quite slain But the bitter punishment of loss was finished vindictive justice is satisfied in that part of his Sufferings Gods desertion of him which he so bitterly roared out under was released His bitter cry Eli Eli lamasabachtani was the last distressing act of that suffering upon this last and most bitter exclamation he felt a cessation of the rigor of justice God turned his face with favour toward him he felt a cessation of his Soul agony under the punishment of loss But the punishment of sence continued upon him and did so till he dyed that part of the punishment of sin did finally kill him His death was more quiet and Lamb-like because the punishment of loss was finished the great test brunt of the suffering for sin was finished And that this is the true right interpretation of the word It is finished appeareth by Iohn who recordeth this Speech v. 30. doth also say v. 28. Iesus knowing that all things were accomplished viz. In his soul agony under divine desertion that the Scripture might be fullfilled said I thirst shewing us that Jesus Christ who felt the punishment and therfore best knew he felt the punishment of Loss finished before he expressed his sense of the continuance of the punishment of sense and when he had expressed his the continuance of the punishment of sense by that word I thirst now that Scripture was fullfilled Psal 69 21. viz. that the sense of pain hunger and thirst were still upon him and when the only relief that man did afford him was gall and vinegar then he uttered that word It is finished viz. the punishment of loss is finished and that Scripture is fullfilled that saith the punishment of sense doth still lye upon him and will do so untill it kill him Mortal pains were upon him under the punishment of sense when he spake that word and those pains quickly after the fullfilling the Scripture about the gall and vinegar did kill him Sect. 6. The last Words which our dear Lord Jesus spake in this World his dying words LVk 23.46 And when Jesus had cryed with a loud voice he said Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit and having said thus he gave up the Ghost 1. He cried with a loud voice