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
chaines and borders Christ came not to dissolue order But thou Lorde how long how long shall thy poore Church find her ornameÌ„ts her sorowes and see the deare sonnes of her wombe bleeding about these apples of strife let me so name them not for their value euen smal things wheÌ„ they are commaunded looke for no smal respect but for their euent the enemy is at the gates of our Syracuse how long will we suffer our selues taken vp with angles and circles in the dust Yemen brethren fathers helpe for Gods sake put to your hands to the quenching of this common flame The one side by humilitie and obedience the other by compassion both by prayers and teares Who am I that I should reuiue to you the sweet spirit of that diuine Augustine who when hee heard saw the bitter contentions betwixt two graue and famous Diuines Ierome and Ruffine Heu mihi saith he qui vos alicubi simul inuenire non possum Alas that J shall neuer find you two together how J would fall at your feet how J would imbrace them and weepe vpon them and beseech you either of you for other and each for himself both of you for the church of GOD but especially for the weake for whoÌ„ Christ died who not without their own great danger see you two fighting in this Theater of the world Yet let me doe what he said he would do begge for peace as for life by your filiall pietie to the Church of GOD whose ruines follow vpon our diuisions by your loue of Gods truth by the graces of that one blessed Spirit whereby we are all informed quickened by the precious blood of that sonne of GOD which this day and this howre was shed for our redemption be inclined to peace and loue tho our braines be different yet let our harts be one It was as I heard the dying speech of our late reuerend worthy and gracious Diocesan Modò me morieÌ„te viuat ac floreat Ecclesia Oh! yet if when J am dead the Church may liue and flourish What a spirit was heere what a speech how worthy neuer to die how worthy of a soule so neere to his heauen how worthy of so happy a succession Ye whom God hath made inheritors of this blessed care which do no lesse long for the prosperitie of Sion liue you to effect what he did but liue to wish all peace with our selues and war with none but Rome and Hell And if there bee any weyward Separatist whose soule professeth to hate peace I feare to tell him Paules message yet I must Would to God those were out off that trouble you How cut off As good Theodosius said to Demophilus a contentious Prelate Situ pacem fugis c. of thou flie peace I wil make thee flie the Church Alas they doe flie it that which should bee their punishment they make their coÌ„tentment how are they worthy of pitty As Optatus of his Donatists they are brethren might be companions and will not Oh wilfull men vvhither doe they run from one Christ to another Is Christ diuided We haue him thanks be to our good God and wee heare him daily and whither shall we goe from thee thou hast the words of eternall life Thus the Ceremonies are finished Now heare the end of his sufferings vvith like patience and deuotion His death is heere included it was so neere that hee spake of it as done and when it was done all was done How easie is it to lose our selues in this discourse how hard not to be ouer-whelmed vvith matter of wonder and to find either beginning or end His sufferings found an end our thoughts cannot Lo with this word he is happilie waded out of those deepes of sorowes wherof our conceits can find no bottome yet let vs with Peter gird our coaâ—e and cast our selues a little into this sea All his life was but a perpetuall Passion In that he becam man he suffered more then we can doe either while wee are men or when wee cease to be men he humbled yea he emptied himselfe Wee when vvee cease to be heere are clothed vpon 2. Cor. 5 Wee both win by our beeing gaine by our lesse hee lost by taking our more or lesse to himselfe that is manhood For tho euer as God I and my Father are one yet as man My Father is greater then J. That man should be turned into a beast into a worme into dust into nothing is not so great a disparagemeÌ„t as that GOD should become man and yet it is not finished it is but begun But what man If as the absolute Monarch of the world he had commanded the vassalage of all Emperours and Princes had trod on nothing but Crownes and Scepters and the necks of Kings and bidden all the Potentates of the earth to attend his train this had caried some port with it sutable to the heroicall maiestie of Gods Sonne No such matter heere is neither forme nor beautie vnlesse perhaps 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the forme of a seruaunt you haue made mee to serue with your sinnes Behold he is a man to God a seruaunt to man and be it spoken with holy reuerence a drudge to his seruants He is despised and reiected of men yea as himself of himselfe a worme and no man the shame of men contempt of the people Who is the King of glory the Lord of hostes hee is the King of glory Set these two together the King of glory the shame of men the more honour the more abasement Looke back to his cradle there you find him reiected of the Bethlemites borne laid alas how homely how vnworthily sought for by Herod exiled to Egypt obscurely brought vp in the cottage of a poore foster-father transported tempted by Satan derided of his kindred blasphemously traduced by the Iewes pinched with hunger restlesse harbourlesse sorrowfull persecuted by the Elders and Pharisees sold by his owne seruant apprehended arraigned scourged condemned yet it is not finished Let vs with that Disciple follow him a farre off passing ouer all his contemptuous vsage in the way see him brought to his Crosse Still the further wee looke the more wonder euery thing ads to this ignominy of suffering and triumph of ouercomming Where was it not in a corner as Paule saith to Festus but in Ierusalem the eye the hart of the world Obscuritie abateth shame publique notice heightens it Before all Israell before this sun saith GOD to Dauid when he would throughlie shame him In Ierusalem which hee had honoured with his presence taught with his preachings astonisht with his miracles bewailed with his teares O Jerusalem Jerusalem how oft would J and thou wouldest not O yet if in this thy daie Crueltie and vnkindnesse after good desert afflict so much more as our merit hath beene greater VVhere-abouts vvithout the gates in Caluary among the stinking bones of execrable malefactors Before
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
vnregarded charges and souls dying and starued for want of spiritual prouision while they giue vs bodily would condemne my silence for too partiall In all conditions of men for particulars are subiect to enuie exception the daughters of the horse-leech had neuer such a fruitfull generation They crie still Giue Giue Not giue alone that is the bread of sufficiencie but giue giue that is more than enough But what is more than enough What is but enough What is not too little for the insatiable gulfe of humane desires Euery man wold ingrosse the whole world to himselfe and with that ambitious conqueror feares it will be too little and how few Agurs are there that pray against too much From hence it is that yee Courtiers grate vpon poore trades with hard Monopolies Hence ye Merchants lode them with deep and vnreasonable prices and make theÌ„ pay deare for daies Hence ye great men wring the poore sponges of the Commonaltie into your priuate purses for the maintenance of pride and excesse Hence ye cormorant corne-mongers hatch vp a dearth in the time of plenty God sends graine but many times the Diuell sends garners The earth hath beene no niggard in yeelding but you haue beene lauish in transporting and close in concealing Neuer talke of our extreame frosts we see Gods hand and kisse the rod but if your hearts your charity were not more frozen than euer the earth was meane house-keepers should not need to beg nor the meanest to starue for waÌ„t of bread Hence lastly our loud oppressions of all sorts cry to heauen and are answered with threats yea with variety of vengeances Take this with thee yet o thou worldling which hast the greedy-worm vnder thy tong with Esaies dogs and neuer hast enough Thou shalt meet with two things as vnsatiable as thy selfe the Graue and Hell and thou whom all the world could not satisfie there be two things wherof thou shalt haue enough Enough mold in the graue enough fire in hell I loue not to end with a iudgement and as it were to let my Sun set in a cloud We are all Christians wee should know the World what it is how vaine how transitory how worthlesse Wee know where there are better things which wee professe our selues made for and aspiring to Let vs vse the world like it selfe and leaue this importunate wooing of it to Heathens and Infidels that knew no other heauen no other God Or if you like that counsell better Bee Couetous Be Ambitious Couet spirituall gifts 1. Cor. 14.1 Neuer thinke you haue grace enough desire more seeke for more this alone is worth your affections worth your cares Be still poore in this that you may bee rich be rich that you may be ful be ful that you may be glorious Be Ambitious of fauour of honour of a kingdome of Gods fauour of the honour of Saints of the Kingdome of glory Whither hee that hath bought it for vs and redeemed vs to it in his good time safely and happily bring vs. To that blessed Sauiour of ours together with the Father and his good Spirit the God of all the world our Father Redeemer and Comforter be giuen all praise honour and glorie now and for euer Amen THE PASSION-SERMON PREACHED AT PAVLES-CROSSE on Good-friday Apr. 14. 1609. By I. H. AT LONDON Printed by H. I. for Eleanor Edgar and Samuell Macham and are to bee solde at the shops in Paules-Churchyard ANNO 1609. Errata Page 17. li 8. Christian Read Christians Page 42. li 1. life Read light Page 47. li 5. in agonie Read in agone Latine Page 50. li 6. suffer so long Read suffer so long P 74. l 9. forbeareth to be short Read forbeareth To be shoâ—â— Page 92 li 18 my men Read by men TO THE ONLY HONOVR AND GLORY OF GOD MY DEAR AND BLESSED SAVIOVR WHICH HATH DONE AND SVFFERED ALL THESE THINGS FOR MY SOVLE HIS WEAKE AND VNWORTHY SERVANT HVMBLIE DESIRES TO CONSECRATE HIMSELFE AND HIS POOR LABOVRS BESEECHING HIM TO ACCEPT AND BLESSE THEM TO THE PVBLIQVE good and to the praise of his owne glorious NAME To the READER I Desire not to make any Apologie for the edition of this my Sermon It is motiue enough that herein I affect a more publike and more induring good Spirituall niceness is the next degree to vnfaithfullness This point cannot be too much vrged either by the tongue or presse Religion and our soules depend vpon it yet are our thoughts too much beside it The Church of Rome so fixes her-selfe in her adoration vpon the crosse of Christ as if shee forgat his glorie Many of vs so conceiue of 〈◊〉 glorious that wee neglect the meditation of his Crosse the way to his glory and ours If wee would proceede aright we must passe froÌ„ his Golgotha to the mount of Oliues and from thence to heauen and there seeke and settle our rest According to my weake abilitie I haue led this way in my speech beseeching my Readers to follow mee with their hearts that wee may ouer-take him which is entred into the true sanctuarie euen the highest heauens to appeare now in the sight of God for vs. IOHN 19. verse 30. When Iesus therefore had receiued the Vineger he said It is finished and bowing the head hee gaue vp the ghost THE bitter and yet victorious passion of the sonne of GOD right honourable and beloued Christians as it was the strangest thing that euer befell the Earth So is both of most soueraigne vse looks for the most frequent careful meditation It is one of those thinges which was once done that it might be thought of for euer Euery day therfore must be the Good-friday of a Christian who with that great Doctor of the Gentiles must desire to know nothing but Iesus Christ and him crucified There is no branch or circuÌ„stance in this wonderfull businesse which yieldes not infinite matter of discourse Accâ—â—ding to the solemnity of this 〈◊〉 place I haue chosen to commend vnto your Christian attention our Sauiours Farevvell to Nature for his reuiuing was aboue it in his last word in his last act His last word Jt is finished his last act Hee gaue vp the ghost That which hee said hee did If there be any Theme that may challenge and commaund our eares harts this is it for behold the sweetest word that euer Christ spake and the most â—â—â—â—â—ious act that euer hee 〈◊〉 met together in this his last breath In the one yee shall see him triumphing yielding in the other yet so as hee ouercoâ—â—â— Imagine therefore that 〈◊〉 Christ Iesus in this day of his passion who is euery day heere crucified before your eyes aduaunced vpon the chariot of his Crosse and now after a weary conflict cheerefully ouer-looking the despight and shame of men the wrath of his Father the law sin death hell which all lie gasping at his foot then you shall conceiue with what spirit hee faith Consummatumest It is finished
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
their soule Hast thou relieued them and doost thou forsake mee mee thine onelie deere naturall eternall sonne O yee heauens earth how could you stand whiles the Maker of you thus coÌ„plained Yee stood but partaking after a sort of his Passion the earth trembled shooke her rocks tore her graues opened the heauens withdrew their light as not daring to behold this sad and fearefull spectacle Oh deere Christians how should these earthen and rocky harts of ours shake and reâ—d in peeces at this meditation how should our faces bee couered with darknesse and our ioy be turned into heauiness Al these voices and teares and sweats and pangs are for vs yea froÌ„ vs. Shall the Sonne of God thus smart for our sinnes yea with our sinnes and shall not wee grieue for our owne shall â—ee weepe to vs in this Market-place and shal not we mourne Nay shall hee sweat and bleed for vs and shall not wee weepe for our selues Shall he thus lamentably shrieke-out vnder his Fathers wrath and shall not we tremble Shall the heauens and earth suffer with him we suffer nothing I call you not to a weake idle pitty of our glorious Sauior to what purpose His iniury was our glory No no Ye daughters of Jerusalem weepe not for mee but weepe for your selues For our sinnes that haue done this not for his sorrow that suffered it not for his pangs that were but for our owne that should haue been if we repent not shall be Oh how grieuous how deadly are our sinnes that cost the sonne of God besides blood so much tormeÌ„t How far are our soules gone that could not be ransomed with any easier price That that tooke so much of this infinite Redeemer of men God man how can it chuse but swallow vp confound thy soule which is but finite and sinfull If thy soule had been in his soules stead what had become of it it shal be if his were not in stead of thine This weight that lies thus heauy on the Son of God wrung from him these teares sweat blood and these vnconceiueable grones of his afflicted spirit how shall it chuse but presse downe thy soule to the bottom of hell so it will do if hee haue not suffered it for thee thou must and shalt suffer it for thy selfe Goe now thou leud man and make thy selfe merry with thy sinnes laugh at the vncleanenesses or bloodinesse of thy youth thou little knowest the price of a sin thy soule shall do thy Sauiour did wheÌ„ he cried out to the amazement of Angels and horror of men My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee But now no more of this It is finished the greater conflict the more happy victory Well doth hee find and feele of his Father what his type said before Hee will not chide alwaies nor keepe his anger for euer It is fearefull but in him short eternall to sinners short to his Sonne in whom the God-head dwelt bodily Behold this storme where-with al the powers of the world were shaken is now ouer The Elders Pharisees Iudas the souldiers priests witnesses Iudges thieues executioners diuells haue al tired theÌ„selues in vaine with their owne malice and he triumphs ouer them all vpon this throne of his Crosse His enemies are vanquisht his Father satisfied his soule with this word at rest and glory Jt is finished Now there is no more betraying agonies arraignmeÌ„ts scourgings scoffing crucifying conflicts terrors all is finished Alas beloued and will we not yet let the Son of God be at rest doe wee now againe goe about to fetch him out of his glorie to scorne and crucifie him I feare to say it Gods spirit dare and doth They crucifie againe to themselues the Son of God and make a mock of him To themselues not in himself that they cannot it is no thanke to them they would doe it See and consider the notoriously-sinfull conuersations of those that should be Christians offer violence vnto our glorified Sauiour they stretch their hands to heauen and pull him downe from his Throne to his Crosse they teare him vvith thornes pearce him with nailes loade him with reproaches Thou hatest the Iewes spettest at the name of Iudas railest on Pilate condemnest the cruel butchers of Christ yet thou canst blaspheme sweare him quite ouer curse swagger lie oppresse boile with lust scoffe riot and liuest like a debauched man yea like an humane beast yea like an vncleane diuel Cry Hosanna as long as thou vvilt thou art a Pilate a Iew a Iudas an executioner of the Lord of life and so much greater shall thy iudgemeÌ„t be by how much thy light his glory is more Oh beloued is it not enough that he died once for vs Were those paines so light that vve should euery day redouble theÌ„ Is this the entertainement that so gracious a Sauiour hath deserued of vs by dying Is this the recompence of that infinite loue of his that thou shouldest thus cruelly vexe and vvound him with thy sinnes Euerie of our sins is a thorne and naile and speare to him While thou pourest down thy drunken carowses thou giuest thy Sauiour a potion of gall while thou despisest his poore seruants thou spett'st in his face while thou puttest on thy proud dresses liftest vp thy vaine heart vvith high conceits thou settest a Crowne of thornes on his head while thou wringest and oppressest his poore children thou whippest him drawest blood of his hands and feet Thou hypocrite how darest thou offer to receiue the Sacrament of God with that hand which is thus imbrued with the bloud of him whoÌ„ thou receiuest In euery Ordinary thy profane tong walkes in the disgrace of the religious coÌ„scionable Thou makest no scruple of thine own sinnes and scornest those that doe Not to be wicked is crime enough Heare him that saith Saul Saul why persecutest thou mee Saul strikes at Damascus Christ suffers in heauen Thou strikest Christ Iesus smarteth will reuenge These are the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 afâ—erings of Christs sufferings in himselfe it is finished in his members it is not till the world be finished We must toile and grone and bleed that wee may raigne if he had not done so It had not been finished This is our warfare this is the region of our sorrow and death Now are we set vpoÌ„ the sandy pauement of our Theater and are matched with all sorts of euills euill men euill spirits euill accideÌ„ts which are worst our owne euill hearts tentations crosses persecutions sicknesses wants infamies death all these must in our courses be incouÌ„tred by the law of our profession What should we do but striue and suffer as our Generall hath done that wee may raigne as he doth and once triumph in our ConsummatuÌ„ est God his Angels sit vpon the Scaffolds of Heauen behold vs our Crowne is ready our day of deliuerance shall come yea our redemption is neere vvhen all