no leaâ—e He alone would bow his head and giue vp his Ghost 〈◊〉 haue power to lay downe my life Man gaue him not his life man could not bereaue it No man takes it froÌ„ me Alas who could The High-priests forces when they came against him armed he said but I am heâ— they stâ— fall backward How easie 〈◊〉 breath disperst his enemies whom he might as easily haue bidden the earth yea hell to swallow or fire from heauen to deuoure Who coÌ„manded the diuels they obei'd could not haue bin attached my men He must giue not onely leaue but power to apprehend himselfe else they had not liu'd to take him Hee is laid hold of Peter â—ight St Puâ—â—â— saith Christ Thinkest thou that J cannot pray to my Father and hee will giue mee more then 12 legions of Angels What an Army were heer more theÌ„ three-score twelue thousand Angels and euery Angel able to subdue a world of men Hee could but would not bee rescued hee is ledde by his owne power not by his enemies and stands now before Pilate like the scorne of men crowned robbed scourged vvith an Ecâ—e Homo Yet thou couldest haue no power against mee 〈◊〉 iâ— vvere giuen thee from aboue Behold he himselfe must giue Pilate power against himselfe else hee could not be condemned Hee will be condemned lifted vp nailed yet no death without himselfe Hee shall giue his soule an offering for sinneâ— Esay 53 10. No action that fauours of constraint can be meritorious hee would deserue therefore he would suffer and die He bowed his head and gaue vp the Ghost O gracious and bountifull Sauiour hee might haue kept his soule within his â—eeth in spight of all the world the weakeness of God is stronger then men and if he had but spoken the word the heauens and earth should haue vanisht away before him but he wold not Behold when he saw that impotent man could not take away his soule he gaue it vp 〈◊〉 would die that wee might liue See heere a Sauiour that can contemne his ovvne life for ours and cares not to bee dissolued in himself that we might be vnited to his Father Skiâ—â—e for skiâ—â—e saith the diuell 〈◊〉 all that he hath a man will giue for his life Lo heere to proue Satan a lyer skin and life and all hath Christ Iesus giuen for vs. We are besotted with the earth make base shifts to liue one with a maiâ—ed bodie another vvith a perfuâ—â—d soule a third with a rotten name and how many had 〈…〉 neglect their soulâ— then their life and 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 then dieâ— It is a shame itâ— tells many of vs Christians 〈◊〉 opâ—n life and â—â—â—â—â—ble and â—aâ—h and she 〈◊〉 solue so 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 excesse of loue â—oâ—ard◠〈◊〉 〈…〉 as Peter denies Christ â—iâ— forsweares him 〈…〉 graines of incense â—nto the Idols â—ire Eâ—ius 〈…〉 thrice Spir◠〈…〉 aâ— despaâ—â—es â—deâ— me liue â—aith the 〈…〉 Whithâ—â— dâ—st thou 〈◊〉 â—hy selfe 〈…〉 and â—doâ— us 〈…〉 wâ—ld'st thou 〈◊〉 with thy selfe 〈◊〉 Thou hast not thus learned Christ◠〈…〉 voluntarilie for thee thou wilt not bee forced to die for him hee gaue vp the Ghost for thee thou wilt not let others take it from thee for him thou wilt not let him take it for himselfe When I looke back to the first Christians and compare their zealous coÌ„tempt of death with our backwardness I am at once amazed ashamed I see there euen women the feebler sex running with their little ones in their armes for the preferment of martyrdome and ambitiouslie striuing for the next blowe I see holy tender virgins chusing rather a sore and shamefull death then honourable espousalls I hear the blessed Martyrs intreating their Tyrants and tormentors for the honour of dying Ignatius amongst the rest fearing least the beasts wil not deuoure him and vowing the first violence to them that he might be dispatched And what lesse courage was there in our memorable glorious fore-fathers of the last of this age and doe vvee their cold and feeble ofspring looke pale at the face of a faire and naturall death abhor the violent tho for Christ Alas how haue we gathered rust with our long peace Our vnwillingnesse is from inconsideration from distrust Looke but vp to Christ Iesus vpon his Crosse and see him bowing his head and breathing out his soule and these feares shall vanish He died wouldest thou liue He gaue vp the ghost and wouldest thou keep it Whom vvouldest thou follow if not thy Redeemer If thou die not if not vvillingly thou goest contrarie to him and shalt neuer meet him Tho thou shouldest euery day die a death for him thou couldest neuer requite his one death and doost thou sticke at one Euery word hath his force both to him and thee He died which is Lord of Life and coÌ„maunder of Death thou art but a tenant of life a subiect of death And yet it was not a dying but a giuing vp not of a vanishing and aery breath but of a spirituall soule which after separation hath an entire life in it selfe He gaue vp the Ghost Hee died that hath both ouercome and sanctified and sweetned death What fearest thou he hath puld out the sting and malignity of death 〈◊〉 thou bee a Christian cary it in thy bosome it hurts thee not Dar'st thou not trust thy Redeemer If hee had not died death had been a Tyrant now he is a slaue O Death where is thy sting O Graue where is thy victorie Yet the Spirit of God saith not hee died but gaue vp the Ghost The very heathen Poet saith He durst not say that a good man dies It is worth the noting me thinks that vvhen S. Luke would describe to vs the death of Ananias and Sapphira he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hee expired but when S. Iohn vvould describe Christs death he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he gaue vp the Ghost How gaue he it vp and whither How so as after a sort he retained it his soule parted from his body his Godhead was neuer distracted either froÌ„ soule or body This vnion is not in nature but in person If the natures of Christ could be diuided each would haue his subsistence so there should bee more persons God forbid one of the natures therefore may haue a separation in it selfe the soule from the body one nature cannot bee separate from other or either nature from the person If you cannot conceiue wonder the Sonne of GOD hath wedded vnto himselfe our humanitie without all possibilitie of diuorce the body hangs on the Crosse the soule is yielded the Godhead is euiternally vnited to them both acknowledges sustaines them both The soule in his agony feeles not the presence of the Godhead the body vpon the Crosse feeles not the presence of the soule Yet as the Fathers of Chalcedon say truly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 indiuisibly inseparably is the Godhead with both of these
What is finished Shortly All the prophecies that were of 〈…〉 legall obseruations that preâ—â—â—gured him His owne sufferings Our saluation The prophecies are accomplisht The ceremonies abolisht His sufferings ended Our salâ—â—tion wrought These foure heads shall limit this first part of my speech onely let them find leaue you attentiue Euen this very word is prophecied of All things that are written of me haue an end saith Christ What end this Jt is finished This very end hath his end heere What therefore is finished Not this prediction onely of his last draught as Augustine that were too particular Let our Sauiour himselfe say All things that are written of me by the Prophets It is a sure and conuertible rule Nothing was done by Christ which vvas not foretold nothing was euer fore-told by the Prophets of Christ which was not done It wold take vp a life to compare the Prophets and Euangelists the predictions and the history largely to discourse how the one fore-tells and the other answers let it suffice to looke at them running Of all the Euangelists S. Mathew hath bin most studious in making these references and correspondences with whom the burden or vndersong of euerie euent is still vt impleretur That it might be fulfilled Thus hath he noted if I haue reckoned theÌ„ aright two and thirty seueral prophecies coÌ„cerning Christ fulfilled in his birth life death ☞ ☜ ☞ ☜ Esay 7.14 Mat. 1.23 Zach. 9.9 Mat. Ibid. Mic. 5.2 Mat. 2.6 Iere. 7.11 Mat. 21.13 Esay 11.1 Mat. 2.25 Psalm 8.2 Mat. 21.16 Ier. 31.15 Mat. 2.18 Esay 5.8 Mat. 21.33 Iudg. 13.5 Mat. 2. vlt. Psa 118.22 Mat. 21.44 Esa 40.3 Mat. 3.2 Psal 110.1 Mat. 22.44 Esay 9.1 Mat. 4.15 Esay 8.14 Mat. 21.44 Leu. 14.4 Mat. 8.4 Psal 41.9 Mat. 26.31 Esay 53.4 Mat. 8.17 Esa 53.10 Mat. 26.54 Esay 61.1 Mat. 11.4 Zach. 13.7 Mat. 26.31 Esay 42.1 Mat. 12.17 Lam. 4.20 Mat. 26.56 Iona 1.17 Mat. 12.40 Esay 50.6 Mat. 26.67 Esay 6.9 Mat. 13.14 Zac. 11.13 Mat. 27.9 Psal 78.2 Mat. 13.35 Psal 22.18 Mat. 27.35 Es 35.5.6 Mat. 15.30 Psal 22.2 Mat. 27.46 Es 62.11 Mat. 21.5 Psal 69.22 Mat. 27.48 To which S. Iohn adds many more Our speech must bee directed to his Passion omitting the rest let vs insist in those He must be apprehended it vvas fore-prophecied The Anointed of the Lord was taken in their nets saith Ieremy But how He must be sold for what thirtie siluer peeces and what must those do Buy a field all foretold And they tooke thirty siluer peeces the price of him that was valued gaue them for the Potters field saith Zachary miswritten Ieremy by one letter mistaken in the abbreuiation By whom that child of perdition that the Scripture might bee fulfilled Which was hee It is fore-told He that eateth bread with me saith the Psalmist And what shall his disciples do Run away so saith the prophecie J will smite the Shepheard and the sheepe shall be scattered saith Zachary What shall bee done to him He must be scourged and spit vpon behold not those filthy excremeÌ„ts could haue light vpon his sacred face without a prophecie J hid not my face froÌ„ shame and spitting saith Esay What shal be the issue In short he shall be led to death it is the prophecie The Messias shal be slaine saith Daniel What death He must be lift vp Like as Moses lift vp the Serpent in the wildernesse so shall the sonne of man bee lift vp Chrysostome saith well that some actions are parables so may I say some actions are prophecies such are all types of Christ this with the formost Lift vp Whither To the Crosse it is the prophecie Hanging vpon a tree saith Moses How lift vp Nayled to it so is the prophecie Foderunt manus they haue pierced my haÌ„ds and my feet saith the Psalmist with what coÌ„pany two thieues With the wicked was hee nuÌ„bred saith Esay Where without the gates saith the prophecie What becomes of his garments they cannot so much as cast the dice for his coate but it is prophecied They diuided my garments and on my vestures cast lots saith the Psalmist He must die then on the Crosse but how voluntarilie Not a bone of him shall be brokeÌ„ What hinders it lo there he hangs as it were neglected at mercy yet all the raging Iewes no all the deuils in hell cannot stirre one bone in his blessed body It was prophecied in the Easter-Lambe and it must be fulfilled in him that is the true Passeouer in spight of fiends and men How then hee must bee thrust in the side behold not the very speare could touch his precious side beeing dead but it must be guided by a prophecie They shall see him whom they haue thrust-thorough saith Zacharie What shal he say the while Not his very words but are forespoken his complaint Eli Eli lamma sabactani as the Chalde or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Hebrew Psalme 22 2. His resignation In manus tuas Juto thy hands J commend my spirit Psalm 31 5. His request Father forgiue them Hee prayed for the transgressours saith Esay And now when he saw all these prophecies were fulfilled knowing that one remained hee said J thirst Domine quid satis faith one O LORD vvhat thirstest thou for A strange hearing that a man yea that GOD and MAN dying should complaine of thirst Could hee indure the scorching flames of the wrath of his Father the curse of our sinnes those tortures of body those horrours of soule and doth he shrinke at his thirst No no he could haue borne his drought hee could not beare the Scripture not fulfilled It was not necessity of Nature but the necessity of his Fathers decree that drew foorth this word I thirst They offered it before hee refused it Whether it were an ordinary potion for the coÌ„demned to hasten death as in the story of M. Antony which is the most receiued construction or whether it were that Iewish potion wherof the Rabbines speake whose tradition was that the malefactor to be executed should after some good counsell froÌ„ two of their Teachers be taught to say Let my death be to the remission of all my sinnes and then that hee should haue giuen him a boule of mixt wine with a graine of Frankincense to bereaue him both of reason and paine I durst bee confident in this later the rather for that Saint Marke calls this draught 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Myrrhe-wine mingled as is like with other ingredients And Montanus agrees with me in the end ad stuporem mentis alienationem A fashioÌ„ which Galatine obserues out of the Sanhedrim to bee grounded vpon Prouerbs 31 6. Giue strong drinke to him that is readie to perish I leaue it modestly in the midst let the learneder iudge What-soeuer it were hee would not die till he had complained of thirst and in his thirst tasted it Neither wold he haue thirsted for or tasted any
the glory of the place bred shame novv the vileness of it When but in the Passeouer a time of greatest frequence and concourse of all Iewes and proselites An holy time wheÌ„ they should receiue the figure they reiect the substance when they should kil eate the sacramental Lambe in faith in thankfulnes they kill the Lambe of GOD our true Passeouer in crueltie and contempt With whom The qualitie of our company either increases or lessens shame In the midst of thieues saith one as the Prince of thieues There vvas no guile in his mouth much lesse in his hands Yet behold he that thought it no robberie to bee equall with Goâ— is made equall to robbers and murderers yea superiour in euill What suffered hee As all liues are not alike pleasant so al deathes are not equally fearfull there is not more differeÌ„ce betwixt some life death then betwixt one death another See the Apostles gradation He was made obedient to the death eueÌ„ the death of the Crosse The Crosse a lingering tormenting ignominious death The Iewes had foure kindes of death for malefactors the towell the sword fire stones each of these aboue other in extreamitie Strangling with the towell they accounted easiest the sword worse then the towel the fire worse then the sword stoning worse then the fire but this Romaine death was worst of all Cursed is euery one that hangeth on tree Yet as Ierome well he is not therefore accursed because hee hangeth but therfore he hangeth because he is accursed He was made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a curse for vs. The curse was more then the shame yet the shame is vnspeakeable and yet not more then the paine Yet all that die the same death are not equally miserable the very Thieues fared better in their death then he I heare of no irrision no inscription no taunts no insultation on theÌ„ they had nothing but paine to incounter hee paine and scorne An ingenuous noble nature can worse brooke this theÌ„ the other any thing rather then disdainefulnesse and derision especially from a base enemy I remeÌ„ber that learned Father begins Israels affliction with Ismaels persecuting laughter The Iews the souldiours yea the very thieues flouted him and triumpht ouer his miserie his blood cannot satisfie theÌ„ without his reproach Which of his senses now was not a window to let in sorrow His eyes saw the teares of his Mother and friends the vnthankful demeanure of mankind the cruell despight of his enemies his eares heard the reuilings blasphemies of the multitude whether the place were noisome to his sent his touch felt the nailes his taste the gall Looke vp O all yee beholders looke vpon this precious body see what part ye can find free That head which is adored and trembled at by the Angelicall spirits is all raked harrowed with thorns that face of whom is said Thou art faâ—rer then the children of men is all besmeared with the filthy spettle of the Iewes and furrowed with his teares those eyes clearer then the sun are darkened with the shadow of death those eares that hear the heauenly consorts of Angels now are filled with the cursed speakings and scoffes of wretched men those lips that spake as neuer man spake that commaund the spirits both of life darknesse are scornfully wet with vineger gall those feet that trample on all the powers of hell his enemies are made his footstoole are now nailed to the footstoole of the Crosse those hands that freely sway the scepter of the Heauens now carrie the reed of reproach and are nailed to the tree of reproach that whole body which was coÌ„ceiued by the holy Ghost was all scourged wounded mangled This is the out-side of his sufferings Was his heart free Oh no the inner part or soule of this pain which was vnseen is as far beyond these outward and sensible as the soule is beyond the body Gods vvrath beyond the malice of meÌ„ these were but loâ—e â—ticks to what his soule indured O all ye that passe by the way behold and see if there bee any sorrow like to my sorrow Alas Lord what can we see of thy sorrowes we cannot conceiue so much as the â—ainousnesse and desert of one of those sinnes which thou barest wee can no more see thy paine then wee could vnder-goe it onely this wee see that what the infinite sins of almost infinite men committed against an infinite Maiestie deserued in infinite continuance all this thou in the short time of thy Passion hast sustained We may behold and see but all the glorious spirits in heauen cannot looke into the depth of this suffering Do but looke yet a little into the passions of this his Passion for by the manner of his sufferings we shall best see what hee suffered Wise and resolute men do not complaine of a little holy Martyrs haue bin racked would not be loosed what shall we say if the Author of their strength God and man be wray passions what wold haue ouerwhelmed men wold not haue made him shrinke and what made him complaine could neuer haue been sustained by men What shal we then think if he were affrighted with terrors perplexed with sorrowes and distracted with both these And lo he was all these for first heere was an amazed feare for millions of men to despaire was not so much as for him to feare and yet it was no slight feare hee began 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be astonished with terrourâ— Which in the daies of his flesh offered vp prayers supplications with strong cries and teares to him that was able to helpe him and was heard in that hee feared Neuer man was so afraid of the torments of hell as Christ standing in our roome of his Fathers vvrath Feare is still sutable to apprehension Neuer man could so perfectlie apprehende this cause of feare He felt the chastisements of our peace yea the curse of our sinnes therfore might well say with Dauid J suffer thy terrors with a troubled mind yea with Iob The arrowes of God are in me the terrors of God fight against mee With feare there was a deiecting sorow 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My soule is on all sides heauy to the death His strong cries his many tears are witnesses of this Passion He had formerly shed teares of pitie and teares of loue but now of anguish he had before sent forth cries of mercie neuer of complaint till now When the sonne of God weeps and cries what shall we say or thinke yet further betwixt both these and his loue what a conflict vvas there It is not amisse distinguished that hee was alwaies in agonie but now in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a struggling passion of mixed griefe Behold this field was not without sweat and blood yea a sweat of blood O what man or Angell can conceiue the taking of that heart that without all outward violence meerely out of the
still and euer one and the same person The Passion of Christ as Augustine was the sleep of his Diuinitie so I may say The death of Christ was the sleep of his Humanitie Jf hee sleepe hee shall doe well said that disciple of Lazarus Death vvas too weake to dissolue the eternall bonds of this heauenly coniunction Let not vs Christians goe too much by sense we may be firmely knit to God not feele it Thou canst not hope to be so neer to thy God as Christ was vnited personally thou canst not fear that God should seeme more absent from thee then he did from his own Son yet was hee still one with both body soule when they were diuided from thēselues When he was absent to sense hee was present to faith when absent in vision yet in vnion one and the same so will he be to thy soule when it is at worst Hee is thine and thou art his if thy hold seeme loosened his is not Whē temptations will not let thee see him hee sees thee and possesses thee onely belieue thou against sense aboue hope and tho he kil thee yet trust in him Whither gaue hee it vp Himselfe expresses Father into thy hands and This day thou shalt be with mee in Paradise It is iustice to restore whence wee receiue Jnto thy hands He knew where it should be both safe happie true he might be bold thou saist as the Son with the Father The seruants haue done so Dauid before him Steuen after him And least we should not think it our common right Father saith hee J vvill that those thou hast giuen mee may be with me euen where I am hee willes it therefore it must be It is not presumption but faith to charge God with thy spirit neither can there euer be any belieuing soule so meane that he should refuse it all the feare is in thy self how canst thou trust thy iewell with a stranger What suddaine familiaritie is this God hath been with thee and gone by thee thou hast not saluted him and now in all the hast thou bequeathest thy soule to him On what acquaintance How desperate is this carelesnesse If thou haue but a little money whether thou keepe it thou lay'st it vp in the Temple of Trust or whether thou let it thou art sure of good assurance sound bonds If but a little land how carefully doost thou make firme conueyances to thy desired heires If goods thy wil hath taken secure order vvho shall enioy them we need not teach you Cittizens to make sure worke for your estates If children thou disposest of them in trades with portions onelie of thy soule which is thy selfe thou knowest not what shal become The world must haue it no more thy self would'st keep it but thou know'st thou canst not Satan would haue it and thou know'st not whether hee shall thou wouldest haue God haue it and thou knowest not whether hee will yea thy hart is now ready with Pharaoh to say Who is the Lorde O the fearefull and miserable estate of that man that must part with his soule hee knowes not whither Which if thou wouldest auoide as this very vvarning shall iudge thee if thou do not bee acquainted vvith GOD in thy life that thou maist make him the Gardian of thy soule in thy death Giuen vp it must needs be but to him that hath gouern'd it if thou haue giuen it to Satan in thy life hovv canst thou hope God will in thy death entertaine it Did you not hate me and expell mee out of my fathers house how then come ye to me now in this time of your tribulation said Ieptha to the men of Gilead No no either giue vp thy soule to God while he calls for it in his word in the prouocations of his loue in his afflictions in the holy motions of his spirit to thine or else whē thou wouldest giue it hee vvill none of it but as a Iudge to deliuer it to the Tormentor What should God do with an vncleane drunken profane proud couetous soule Without holinesse it is no seeing of GOD Depart from me yee wicked J know yee not goe to the Gods you haue serued See how GOD is euen with men they had in the time of the Gospell said to the holy one of Israell Depart from vs now in the time of iudgement he saith to them Depart from me They would not knowe God when they might now God will not knowe them when they would Novv therefore beloued if thou would'st not haue GOD scorne the offer of thy death-bed fit thy soule for him in thy health furnish it with grace inure it to a sweet conuersation with the God of heauen then maist thou boldly giue it vp he shall as graciously receiue it yea fetch it by his Angels to his glory Hee gaue vp the Ghost Wee must doe as hee did not all with the same successe Giuing vp supposes a receiuing a returning This in-mate that vve haue in our bosome is sent to lodge heer for a time may not dwell heere alwaies The right of this tenure is the Lords not ours As hee said of the hatchet It is but lent it must be restored It is ours to keepe his to dispose and require See and consider both our priuiledge and charge It is not with vs as vvith brute Creatures vvee haue a liuing Ghost to informe vs vvhich yet is not ours and alas what is ours if our soules be not but must bee giuen vp to him that gaue it VVhy doe wee liue as those that tooke no keepe of so glorious a guest as those that should neuer part vvith it as those that thinke it giuen them to spend not to returne with a reckoning If thou hadst no soule if a mortall one if thine owne if neuer to bee required hovv couldest thou liue but sensuallie Oh remember but vvho thou art what thou hast and whither thou must and thou shalt liue like thy selfe vvhile thou art and giue vp thy Ghost confidently vvhen thou shalt cease to bee Neither is there heere more certaintie of our departure then comfort Carie this with thee to thy death-bed and see if it can refresh thee when all the world cannot giue thee one dramme of comfort Our spirit is our deerest riches if wee should lose it here were iust cause of griefe Howle and lament if thou thinkest thy soule perisheth it is not forfeited but surrendred How safely doth our soule passe through the gates of death without any impeachment while it is in the hands of the Almightie Woe were vs if he did not keep it while we haue it much more when we restore it Wee giue it vp to the same hands that created infused redeemed renewed that doe protect preserue establish and will crowne it J knowe vvhom J haue belieued and J am persvvaded that he is able to keepe that vvhich J haue committed to him against that day O secure and happy estate of the godly O