Spirit Job 32.8 there is a Spirit in man and it is called the Spirit of a man Prov. 18 4. he will hear his infirmity by a stout and gallant resolution he will bear any thing from the hand of man as we see our Indians will unto which they are trained up from their Child-hood and it is infusâ—d into them as an honourable Character of a man of courage but a Spirit wounded by God who can bear The Spirit of a man is that part of Gods Image or likeness in a man that fitteth him for action his Spirit doth exert and draw him forth to action and judgeth of his action when he hath done it Job 32.18 I am full of matter the Spirit within me conâ—traineth me Psal 39 2 3. my sorrow was stirred my heart was hot while I was musing the fire burned then spake I with my tongue and when he hath acted his Spirit judgeth of his action by the rule Prov. 20.27 the Spirit of a man is the Candle of the Lord searching to the bottom of the belly The Spirit of a man naturally is carnal and unsanctified 1 Thes 5.23 sanâ—tifie you throughout in body Soul and Spirit that which is called the Spirit of a man is chiefly as I conceive Conscience because conscience constraineth us to action and judgeth of our action when it is done by carrying it to the Rule and glass which is Gods Candle a wounded Spirit mentioned Prov. 18.14 is a wounded Conscience Zeal is acted partly in Conscience which exerteth action Joh. 2.17 the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up This zealous Spirit maketh a man devout to God in all dutyes of the first Table just loving and benificent to man in all duties of the second Table Conscience is called the spirit of a man because it is one chief seat in a man where the ruling spirit of a man sitteth abideth and acteth The spirit dwelleth in the whole man in every faculty especially in the Will Conscience and Vnderstanding All mankind are secretly acted by a spirit either good or bad the carnal sort are acted by the Devils spirit Eph. 2.2 the spirit that acteth in the Children of Disobedience Thus it is ordinarily though Gods Spirit may sometimes break in yea effectually in such as shall be saved But the Godly are acted by the good Spirit of God Rom. 8.11 13 14. if the Spirit dwel in you he shall quicken you And if through the Spirit ye mortifie the deeds of the flesh and as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God One chief seat or residence of the Spirit of God is the Conscience where he sitteth and overlooketh the understanding the will the affections the passions and all the figments and imaginations And hence Conscience chiefly raiseth the spiritual War and sets all grace into action against all sin The evil Spirit that ruleth in the carnal hath his chief seat in imaginations figments affections and Lusts and the smoak of them blindeth the understanding yea and conscience too perverteth the will and all the powers o the soul and inclineth them to evil continually and by those doors he creepeth in yea sometimes breaketh into the hearts of the godly Thus we see why Conscience may be called the Spirit of a man and so the Spirit of Iesus and of Iohn may be their Conscience in a good part Q. 2. What is it to be strong in spirit A. To be full of Grace Zeal and Courage for God so Jesus Christ was Joh. 2.17 when he was eaten up with Zeal for the purity of Gods house and instituted Worship Act. 6.10 Steven was so full of the Spirit of grace and zeal in conscience for the Gospel of Jesus Christ that none was able to gainsay or resist him viz. with Scripture and reason but with rage and stones about his ears they did resist him till they had killed this blessed Martyr Jesus was strong in grace and zeal and as he grew in years and as his humane nature grew in capacity so this Spirit grew in him strong in Spirit the word which the Holy Ghost useth signifieth a growing in strength as the word is used 1 Cor. 16.13 quit you like men and be strong c. very fully is it expressed in that Text Eph. 3.16 that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man and thus did this blessed child Jesus wax strong in Spirit in his Child-hood he grew up to be a mighty powerful gracious zealous child 3. The third branch of the description of this holy child Jesus is in these words filled with wisdome wisdom is that part of Gods Image in man whereby he is capable of and furnished with diâ—ine knowledge and undersâ—anding to be furnished with all the intellectual virtues and that not onlâ— in knowing the rules of Art but especially the Rules of Râ—ligion in the knowledge of the Scriptures 2 Tim. 3.15 from a Child thou hast knownâ—th holy Scâ—iâ—turâ—s which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Jesuâ— Christ Iesus Christ received his Fulness from God and out of his Fulness we all recei e he is full of grace Joh 1.14 when the word dwelleth richly in us Col. 3.16 it filleth us with wisdom so it dwelt in Iesus and inriched him in all wisdom as the vessels of nature grâ—w greater in capacity so the indwelling Spirit of God did fill them unto all fulness This is as the child whom Solomon describeth Eccles 4.13 a poor wise child 4. The fourth branch of the description of this holy â—h ld Iesus the grace of God was upon him that word upon him sheweth the meaning partly to be that visible port and outward carriage the demeanour of his person in his conversing with men This outward grace is that part of Gods Image which shineth in the gravity and Authority of his port gestures and actions which command acceptation Deut 33.24 acceptable to his brethren so was Iesus Christ Math. 7.29 he spake as one having Authority Mark 1.22 and Luk. 4.32 his word was with power Ioh. 7.46 neâ—â— man spake as he speaketh Ioh. 18.6 as soon as he said I am he they went backward and fell to the Earth good gesture good voice good speech gentle grave loving behaviour such things make up this outward grace of God in which some persons both men and women are eminent So was Iesus Christ and yet more may be meant by that word Object But here is a great Obiection Isai 53.2 c. he hath no form nor comeliness no beauty that we sâ—ould desire him Answ So Iesus Chriâ—t was in the worlds eye Isai 53.3 despised rejected of men but in the Church sâ—ye that looked by faith and love he was far otherwise Joh 1.14 we beheld his glory as the glory of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth Tâ—is â—â—orâ—ous person thus
7. in the form of a Servant and in maâ—y other respects as will appear hâ—reafter in the History of his life The sufferings of Jesus Christ fully satisfied vindiâ—tive justice and the active obedience of Jesus Chriâ—t did fully satisfie rewarding jâ—stice every act of Jesuâ— Chriâ—t was pure perfect and meritorious Gâ—d saith in him I am well pleased Mat. 3.17 Every act of Jesus Christ his obedience either active or passive was pure and without sin Heb. 4.15 and 1 Pet. 2.22 who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously Heb. 7.26 holy harmless undefiled Every act of Jesus Christ his obedience either active or passive was perfect Heb. 2.10 the Captain of our Salvation perfect Heb. 5.9 and being made perfect he became Author of Salvation to all that obey him Every act of Jesus Christ his obedience either active or passive was meritorious Rom. 5.18 19. as by the offence of one Judgement came upon all men to condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men to justification of life for as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Eph. 1.11 14. In whom also we have obtained an Inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will ver 14. which is the earnest of our Inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory This meritorious eminency of the obedience of Jesus Christ springeth from the eminency of his person being God-man The Law never had such a person subject unto it never did nor could any other perform such obedience as this glorious person performed never were or could be such acts of obedience both active and passive performed as were performed by Jesus Christ because he is a publick person by Office he is our Mediator and Surety every act that he did was acted by virtue of his Office in which Office he was from his first Incarnation as it is testified by the Angel Math. 1.21 Thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sin Luk. 2.11 unto you is born this day a Saviour in the City of David which is Christ the Lord all that Jesus Christ did and suffered were acts of his Office If Adam a meer man had performed pure and perfect obedience it should have been meritorious how much more eminently meritorious are all the acts of the obedience of Jesus Christ One consideration more I shall add to illustrate the wonderful sufferings of Jesus Christ by shewing that they do infinitely exceed all the sufferings of man either the sufferings of the Elect in this life or the sufferings of the damned in Hell Jesus Christ suffered as a publick person the punishment of all our sin was laid upon him Isa 57.6 he laid upon him the iniquities of us all he had no sin of his own to suffer for but he was made sin for us 2 Cor. 5.21 and all our sins were nailed to the cross of Jesus Christ all the punishment due unto the sin of all Gods Elect was laid upon him The sufferings of Christ were of value sufficient to satisfie justice for all sin though in the application thereof unto us by the new Covenant only the Elect doe receive and partake of the benefit thereof Sufferings of infinite value were necessary to redeem one Soul and sufferings of Infinite value are enough to redeem all the world yea many worlds Our greatest sufferings alass are of small value we merit nothing but hell by our deepest sufferings our sufferings at best are spotted and stained with sin and our sufferings are but personal not publick Ezek. 18.4 the Soul that sinneth it shall dye we suffer for our sins not for the sins of others The sufferings of Gods people are not penal but medicinal so much as may serve to purge out sin and no more Isai 27.9 and alas a little serves the turn through the mercy of Jesus Christ and through the operation of the Spirit The sufferings of Christ are penal he suffered the whole weight of the curse till the Infinite vindictive justice of God was satisfied O the Infinite weight of the sufferings of Jesus Christ yea the damned in hell suffer the vindictive wrath of God but alas they are finite and can bear but drops at once they can never satisfie justice and besides they suffer every one only for his own sin But Jesus Christ suffered the whole weight of Gods wrath due to all sin and all this at once O the unconceivable depth of the sufferings of Jesus Christ and O the Infinite value of them Cap 2. The History of the wonderfull Conception of Jesus Christ and the sad afflictions and sufferings that attended the same LOrd help me with humble Reverence to handle the holy History of the holy life sufferings and death of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ In the first and last periods of the life of Jesus Christ in the world his sufferings and passive obedience were most conspicuous in the intermediate periods of his life his active obedience to the Law of God was most conspicuous as will afterwards appear in the History thereof Though the conception of Jesus Christ was exceeding glorious above the dignity of any man that ever was born of a woman yet was the morning of his life black and tempestuous very dark according to the Prophesy Isai 53.2 as a tender plant as a Root out of a dry ground this I shall open in four particulars 1. His Conception was wonderful and Divine and this appeareth in sundry respects 1. In respect of the Angel whom God sent to be his Messenger to manage and transact this glorious and divine work Luk. 26.27 the Angel Gabriel was sent from God the time of the coming of this Angelical Messenger from God is expressed to be in the sixth Moneth after John Baptist his conception which consideration will be of some use afterward the place he came to was a City in Galilee of the Gentiles named Nazareth a place of little expectation Joh. 1.46 Can any good thing come out of Nazareth this is the place of the first springing of that glorious branch Jesus Christ which is marked by Mathew Math. 2.23 as the fulfilling of the Prophesies viz. those Prophesies where Jesus Christ is called the Branch from which word that city had its Name The person to whom the Angel came was a Virgin espoused lately unto Joseph both of them of the house of David and the next and proper heirs of the crown of David this God knew though the world took no notice of it The Virgins Name was Mary 2. This Conception was wonderful in respect of the heavenly Salutation which the Angel expressed unto Mary haile thou that
would look to find the King of Israel the Messiah It is called Galile of the Gentiles Mat. 4 15. And Nazaret was an obscure place out of which no body looked for such a Branch to grow and spring Ioh. 1.46 Good Nathaniel said can any good thing come out of Nazaret And as this might be an inducement to go thither because Nazaret was their own city Luk. 1.26 27. The place where Joseph and Mary dwelt before and at the time of her Conception and where they had no doubt many godly friends and acquaintance who would desire their return thither And aboâ—e all other inducements Mathew taketh notice of the divine Prophesâ— Mat. 2.23 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophets and he shall be called a Nazarene that is the BRANCH so he is called Isa 11.1 and other places for from this word the city Nazaret had its name Thus we see the tender care the Lord had over this blessed Branch and how serviceable the Angels were unto Jesus Christ CAP. VI The History of the holy life of Jesus Christ in the time of his Child-hood SO much for the History of Jesus Christ in his Infancy and what sore Persecution he suffered while he was an Infant which was prophesied of Psal 22.9 10. Thou art he that took care of me in the womb thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mothers breasts I was cast upon thee from the womb thou art my God from my mothers belly The life of Jesus Christ may be set forth in four Periods 1. His Infancy of which we have already spoken 2. His Childhood the history whereof is recorded Luk. 2.40 ad 51. 3. His Youth the history whereof is recorded Luk. 2.51 52. 4. His Ripe Age in his publick Ministry His Childhood is 1. Described ver 40. 2. Illustrated by one particular history at the finishing of his childhood beginning of his Youth viz. when he was about twelve years old Luk. 2.41 ad 51. Although this Instance only is recorded yet no doubt there were many more eminent and observable passages in his life And why the Lord hath said so little of his eminent life and so much of his sufferings and Death is a point worth searching into This I may say that in this life we have most need to feed meditate upon and improve the Sufferings and death of Jesus Christ At the day of Judgment and in heaven we shall be more capable to behold and improve the history of the holy life of Jesus Christ and his heavenly Sayings and Doings The Childhood of Jesus Christ is described by four things 1. He grew 2. He waxed strong in Spirit 3. He was filled with Wisdome 4. The Grace of God was upon him Here behold the most excellent Child that ever was born of a woman a most high and glorious pattern for all good Children to set before them as an high mark to make towards John Baptist was a famous Child he was conceived by Faith as Isaac was a child of Prayer his birth foretold by the Angel who spake many and great things of him Luk. 1.13 The Angel said fear not Zacharias for thy prayer is heard thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a Son thou shalt call his name John and thou shalt have joy and gladness and many shall rejoyce at his birth for he shall be great in the sight of the Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink and he sâ—all be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mothers womb and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God And he shall goe before him in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the hearts of the Fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdome of the just to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Lo what marvelous things are spoken by the Angel touching John And when Zacharias objected and made difficult to believe what the Angel had said touching his haâ—ing a child he gave Zacharias such a sign as made this matter observable to all Istael for he was struck dumb till John was born And what the Angel had said touching his being filled with the Holy Ghost from his mothers womb ver 15. was performed ver 41 44. As soon as Elizabeth heard the voice of Maryes salutation the babe Joâ—n leaped in her womb for joy His birth was very observable At his Circumcision his fathers dumb tongue was loosed and his mouth opened to praise the Lord. And he was filled with the Holy Ghoâ—t and prophesied both touching Jesus Christ and touching John Baptist that he should goe before the face of the Lord to prepare his way according as the Angel had foretold Many more things are spoken of him in this Prophesy so famous were these things about John that Luk. 1.66 All that heard these things laid them up in their hearts saying what manner of child sâ—â—â—â— this be and the hand of the Lord was with him and ver 80. the child grew and waxed strong in spirit Two of the very same words that are spoken of Jesus Christ Luk. 2.40 are spoken of John Behold here this child John was the most famous child of a meer man that ever was brought forth into the world But notwithstanding all this he was not comparable to the child Jesus as may be made to appear in many and great respects yea in those two things that are said of John in the same words wherein they are said of Jesus viz. that he grew and waxed strong in spirit there is a wonderfull difference betwixt John and Jesus 1. John was a Son of fallen man under the stain of Original Sin though he was very early sanctified even in the womb three months before he was born yet by nature he was defiled and stained with Original Sin by reason of the just imputation of the guilt of Adams sin unto him for thus sin is propagated from Father to child all the posterity of Adam being in his loins The Embrio in the womb is not a Man till it be quickned with an immortal Soul though it hath principles of natural growth yet till it be united and quickned with an immortal Soul it is not Man kind and the Law taketh no hold on it And that the body is thus prepared in the womb before the immortal Soul is creatingly infused into it and united doth appear as I conceive in that law of God Exod. 21.22 23. If a man strive and hurt a woman with child so that her fruit depart from her and yet no mischiâ—f follow he shall be surely punished according as the womans husband will lay upon him and he shall pay as the Iudges determine but if mischief follow then thou shalt give life for life See here that a woman may be so hurt as to lose her Conception but it is not murder if her Conception was not quickned with an immortal Soul But if it were
quickned it is murder and life must goe for life So soon therefore as the conception is quickned with an immortal Soul it is a man a Son of Adam and now the Law taketh hold on him vindictive justice doth judge him guilty of Adams sin because he was in Adams loins Thus is sin propagated and punishment inflicted he is punished with Original sin by the justice of the law This was John Baptists case he was under the vindictive sentence of the Law though the Holy Ghost soon took posseâ—sion of him bâ— the coming of Jesus unto him and sanctified him by uniting him unto Jesus Christ and brought him into a state of grace and salvation by Jesus Christ thus it was with John but it was far otherwise with Jesus Christ for he was without sin Heb. 4.15 though in other things he was a man like unto us yet in this point there was a great diâ—ference he was without sin 2. John Baptist was begotten after the ordinary way of Generation of all mankind that were in the loins of Adam by Zacharias and Elizabeth But Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost in the womb of a Virgin and therefore that holy thing that was born of her is called the Son of God He was made undâ—r the Law Gal. 4.4 as a rule of the life of man but the vindictive justice of the Law had nothing to say unto him because he had no sin vindictive justice had no more to say to Jesus then it had to say to Adam at his first Creation Adam was created under the Law as a rule of life but vindictive justice had nothing to say unto him untill he had sinned but so soon as he had sinned then the Law condemned him and punished him Jesus was in the state of innocent Adam and so under the Law as a rulâ— of life but not in the state of fallen Adam to be under sin and vindictive justice When Jesus Christ performed the Office of a Mediator and sâ—ood as a publick person by voluntary dispensation he suffered the guilt of Adams sin and all our sins to be imputed to him as to our Suretâ— he voluntarily submitted to vindictive justice to punish him in our stead but in his personal state he was as pure from any stain of sin as Adam was at his first Creation so that herein was a great difference betwixt Jesus and John 3. John was but a man a meer man as other of mankind be but Jesus Christ was God and man in one person The second person in Trinity did assume this holy thing this humane nature this pure spotless thing and made it one person with himself a Mystery eternally to be admired and herein Jesus did infinitely excell John 4. The humane nature of Jesus had the Image of God in him in all perfection whereby he was able to keep the Law of God under which he was made purely perfectly and meritoriously And that not only as Adam was able to do at his first Creation but infinitely more excellently because he is God-man But it was far otherwise with John for he had Gods Image but in part even so much as Jesus Christ by his Spirit through free grace saw meet to dispence unto him which though it was in greater measure then other men or Prophets yet infinitely short of Jesus Christ and he kept the Law according to the measure of grace and assistance which he received from Iesus Christ and he needed a pardon from Iesus Christ of his infirmityes and failings in his obedience and therefore Iohn doth justly diminish himself in respect of Iesus Christ Math. 3.11 whose shoes I am not worthy to bear Mark 1.7 whose shooe-strings I am not worthy to unty 1. In the description of this holy child Iesus the first thing that is said is he grew he was an Infant young and tender Math. 2.9 11. the young child from Infancy he grew up to child hood Isai 53.2 he shall grow up before him in this Iesus was like to all other of mankind the whole humane nature of Iesus grew both body and Soul he grew as we do The Soul when first created is a spiritual creature immediately created out of nothing created with its principles in it self as the heavens and Angels were and hence it is immortal yet it is created a young tender little Soul fitted for a young tender little body and when it is infused into the tender Embrio in the womb they grow together I take boldness thus to express my thoughts with submission as the body which is the receptacle of the Soul groweth in bigness and capacity So the Soul groweth with it the matter for supply of growth for the Soâ—l is an eâ—fect of a creating work of God the infinite power of God doth manage it Whether it be by the supply of new spiritual matter or rather by the extension and acting of the first created matter of the Soâ—l man dotâ— not kâ—ow at least I do not know nor am I able to resolve it but I rather incline to think that the young Soul groweth by extension of the spiritual matter of the Soul creatâ—d at the first infusion of it and not by addition of new matter Much spiritual matter may be admirably contracted and admirably extâ—nded Air thoâ—gh a gross matter in comparison of spiritual matter may be much contracted and extended yea fleshy matter may be extâ—nded and contracted exceedingly as the womb is much more is the Soul of man capable of extention therefore the growth of young Souls may be by an orderly extension of the first created matter of them but it is performed by the powerful operation of the Spirit of God The Soul of Iesus grew as the Souls of all mankind grow The Soul of Iesus Christ is a wonderful great and glorious Soul the greatest that ever was and moâ—t capable of grace and glory The body of Iesus grew the growth of the body is better known to us perceptible to sense and we know that the growth of the Body is by addition of new matter which is food the body of the Infant in the womb is fed by the navel string when it is born it is fed by the mouth but this matter of food is altered digested carrye d through variety of curious shops of wise and wonderful operation and is sâ—nt into every part of the body for its nourishment and sustentation this is a secret and powerful operation of God above the reach of man to turn our food into blood Flesh Bones Sinews Veins Arteryes c. it is a wonderful work of God above the skill knowledge or ability of man Again to add a proportionable increase to every Limb and part this is another wonder in the ordinary subsistence and sustenance of the life of man Again to increase every Limb to such a bigness and there stay add no more increase all this is performed by the divine power of God Again to sustain the bulk of the body
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
above others where the same word in the Original is used Gal. 1.14 and he was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel a very learned Doctor Act. 22.3 The matter of our learning is chiefly the Scriptures that is the book above all books to train up youth in the knowledge thereof as Timothy was 2 Tim. 3.15 The next book to that is the book of Gods creatures the works of God where all the liberal Arts are to be found and learned And the next books are the books labours and works of learned men and especially of holy men who lay open the Treasures of wisdome and knowledge which are laid up in Jesus Christ laid out displayed and revealed in the Scriptures and explained to our Capacityes in the Books and labours of holy and learned men That Jesus according to his humane nature increased in wisdome is here testifyed of him as his body and Soul grew in capacity to receive more and more addition of wisdome so the Holâ— Ghost filled him more and more with wisdome when he was a Child he was filled with wisdome Luk. 2.40 according to the measure of his capacity and as he grew up his virtue was more and more exerted and he was still more and more filled and increased in wisdome Jesus was full of grace and as the habits were drawn out by new Objects into act so his wisdome increased The means that Jesus Christ usâ—d were those above named Luk. 2.46 he was among the Doctors both hearing them and asking them questions And no doubt such as taught in the Synagogues where he lived had him to be their frequent if not constant hearer And that Jesus did read the Scriptures there is no doubt to be made of it because he hath commanded us to search the Scriptures wherein he was so expert that Luk. 24.27 beginning at Moses and all the Prophets he expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself That Jesus meditated and prayed which are two exercises of the Soul so neer of kind that they are seldome asunder especially when we meditate on Religion the Scriptures And how abundant our Lord Jesus was in prayer is greatly witnessed in the Gospels Thus Jesus Christ hath set a pattern to all scholars and Christians who all are the Scholars of Jesus how we may increase in wisdome Wisdome entereth into the Soul by degrees so it entered into the soul of Jesus because he increased in wisdome We find two kinds of soul food milk for Babes strong meat for men Heb. 5.14 and Jesus Christ made use of both these kinds of Soul food the Scriptures are the purest spiritual milk in the world 1 Pet 2.1 2. the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby such babes as are born of the Spirit by receiving into their Souls the ingrafted word they relish no food but such as is grounded upon and deduced from the Scriptures such was the food that Jesus fed upon whereby he was filled with wisdome we see that Jesus Christ hath sanctified Schools of learning and all good means of education of youth in knowledge and wisdome and did perfectly fulfil the Law of God therein for us 5. He increased in stature As his Age and Years came on so his humane nature grew he grew up a comelâ— young man well featured and proportioned in all his limbs unto that measure of stature that was appointed to him of God his body visibly grew as his Soul grew invisibly unto that glorious measure which the Lord had appointed for it to attain unto Though the carnal persecuting world vexed and incensed by his holiness and faithful ministry were blinded with the black smoak of envy and his person obscured by poverty and a low condition and therefore saw no beauty nor any thing desireable in him yet in Gods eye he was his pleasant Child and in the Churches eye he was a glorious person we beheld his glory the glory of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and Truth Joh. 1.14 6. He increased in favour both wi h God and man he was a very gracious holy youth a young man eminent in Religion eminent in Sabbath worship in Synagogue worship in Family worship in Temple worship all his converse and discourse was holy heavenly and religious he behaved himself in all things as a darling Child of God And in his converse with men he was of a civil kind courteous and affable conversation so that all Gods people did love him honour him and reverence him in their hearts though the wicked and prophane contemned him yet in their consciences they could not but have a reverent esteem of him So he grew in favour with God and man Thus he lived and carryed himself until he was about thirty years of Age. In this course of his Earthly pilgrimage he had opportunity to obey God in all the Commandments of the Law The whole System of the obedience of man in walking towards God in holiness according to the first Table of the Law and in righteousness towards man according to the second Table of the Law was performed by him and he never failed in one jot or Tittle of the Law but did perfectly fulfil it Such particular commands as his Sex or calling c. gave him not opportunity actually to perform those hâ— did virtually and habitually perform and that was acceptable to God for Adam if he had stood in Innocency should not personally have performed the Commandments peculiar to Children yet should acceptably have fulfilled the whole Law And the times that Jesus lived in were such trying times as did put him often upon most eminent acts of obedience 〈◊〉 he came to the Church of the Jews when they were at the worst that â—ver they were and under the deepest degree of Apostacy which filled all men with tryals and temptations and rendred it a difficult work to keep true and upright in his obedience to God Yet Iesus kept his integrity without the least spot blemish or stain 1 Pet. 2.22 23. he came also at a time when the Jews were subdued by and subjected unto the Roman power which condition did render the times very difficult to keep a good Conscience and to walk with God in truth and sincerity Yet notwithstanding these and such like difficulties Jesus Christ held fast his integrity and walked in all obedience to God and towards all men with perfect Innocency In this course of his humane life he perfectly fulfilled the Law of God And all this he did as our Saviour and Mediator and Surety The first Adam ought to have fulfilled the Law but he did not he fell into sin before he had kept the Law therefore Jesus Christ the second Adam he undertaketh to perform that which he left unperformed he hath perfectly fulfilled the Law by his active obedience this perfect obedience of Jesus is imputed unto believers and God doth account it unto us as if we had
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
leave an occasion not a cause in the hand of Satan easily to prevail with the wicked Jews and Pagan Romans to be so bold as to put to death that innocent person Iesus Christ for the accomplishing of Gods Counsel Act. 2.23 for the salvation of man his low condition obscured his glory whom if they had known they would not have put to death the Lord of glory 1 Cor. 2.8 From all this we may see and learn that a poor low condition in this world is a sinless affliction which Iesus Christ hath sanctified to be wholsome and good for his Church in this life and giveth us opportunity of exerting and acting many graces of the Spirit and Iesus Christ hath a most tender care over all his poor worms Sect. 3. The Sufferings of Iesus Christ in the form of a Servant Phil. 2.7 and took upon Him the form of a Servant THis is an eminent part or branch of the Humiliation and sufferings of Iesus Christ a servant is the lowest order of mankind a servant is beneath a Son Luk 15.14 I am not worthy to be called thy Son make me as one of thy hired Servants it was a word of humiliation in the penitent prodigal but an unexpressible act of humiliation in Iesus Christ he came to be a Servant to his Father that â—e might have been if he had been an Earthly King King David counts it his honour to be a Servant of God Psal 116.16 O Lord truly I am thy Servant I am thy Servant But Iesus Christ took the form of a Servant among men There be degrees of a Servant beneath that condition which Iesus Christ condescended unto which he could not submit unto but as low as it was possible he condescended and that was to take the form of a Servant Sin hath stripped Adam of his dominion and brought him into bondage Iesus Christ condescended as low as it was possible without sin to bear as much of the punishment of sin as he could with Innocency and therefore took upon himself the form of a Servant to redeem man from his servitude and to bring us into the adoption of Sons a freedome of the Gospel Math. 20.28 the Son of came not to be ministred unto but to minister Gal. â— 4 5. God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law that they might receive the Adoption of Sons To open this point we must consider there be sundry kinds or degrees of Servants or Service 1. There is the ingenious Servant who in love and beneficence doth voluntarily make himself a servant to others that he might do them good The beneficent man is willing to be serviceable 1 Cor. 9.19 though I be free from all men yet have I made my self a Servant unto all that I might gain the more not the more mony but the more men the more Souls for he fiâ—hed for Souls Paul laboured to win and gain Souls in which Service he is an under-worker to Iesus Christ for all the doings and Sufferings of Iesus Chri t were to gain and save Souls Such a Servant Iesus Christ made himself Luk. 22.27 I am among you as one that serveth I take no state upon my self I only endeavour to do good This is a commanded Gospel duty Gal. 5.13 in love to serve each other though we are called to Liberty Thus walked the famous Thessalonians 1 Thes 1.3 your labour of love So did Jesus Christ yea he purposely did an act of Service Ioh. 13.4 the Service of a waiter at the Table and here behold Jesus Christ in the form of a Servant it was a point of civil entertainment in those dayes to wash their feet Luk. 7.38 the penitent woman washed the feet of Jesus Christ with her tears of repentance and ver 44. c see Jesus Christ his discourse upon it and Joh. 13.13 14 15 16. Christ â—is explication of that example of his doth teach that they that will be the Disciples of Jesus Christ must be willing Servants of each other in love yea we must be ready to do good to al especially to the houshold of Faith This is an honourable noble generous kind of Service and in this kind of Service the more serviceable any be the more honourable they be Math. 23.11 12 He that humbleth himself to be serviceable shall â—e most honourable Such a Servant Jesus Christ is and that in the most eminent way in the world for he dyed for his Enemies to do them good 2. There is the hired Servant when a Freeman is hired to do work for another and receiveth wages for his work of such Servants we read Math 20.1 c. they were hired for a day and at night the master paid them their wages Sometimes such Freemen are hired by the great and serve long in their work as Jacob did with Laban Gen. 29. and 30. and 31.7 Laban changed his wages ten times many kinds of Artificers arâ— such servants to work for others and receive wages The Carpenters Trade is eminently so they build houses for others to dwell in and have their wages to live on Joseph the reputed Father of Jesus was a Carpenter and therefore wrought for his living with other men and lived on his wages Luk. 2.51 Jesus was subject to his Parents therefore he wrought with his Father at his Trade for so it is expressed Math. 13.55 and Mark 6.3 Jesus wrought with his Father if his Father took a bargain by the great Jesus would help him if his Father were hired by the day Jesus would help him And this is evidently the form of a Servant though he was free Thus he would do unless Synagogue worship or Temple worship called him away in that case both Father and Son would make use of their freedome and also to wait on the Lord in Family worship 3. There is a s rvice that a Nation may be obliged in by Conquest so all the Jews were Servants to the Romans And in that case though the children be free yet Jesus Christ did â—oluntarilâ— submit to pay the Tribute which they demand d Math. 17.26 27. and in this respect also Jesus Chriâ—â— took the form of a Servant 4. Tâ—â—râ— is a form of a Servant that children are under in their non-Age and yo◠〈…〉 are under Tutors and Governours Gal. â— 1 the hâ—ir so long as he 〈…〉 â—reth nothing from a Servant though he be Loâ—d of all Apprentices are such Servants who are bound to their Masters to serve them for a set time to learn a Trade Prov. 22.6 Train up a Child in the way he should goe c. such a form of a Servant Jesus took not only he was subject to his Parents Who was able or fit to teach Jesus any thing he was able to teach the Doctors when he was a child Jesus Christ was a Tutor a Master to teach and train up his Disciples Joh. 13.13 Ye call me Master and
to do his worst against him The time when he entred upon this horrible conflict was so soon as he was baptized by John and had the Spirit descending upon him like a Dove and had that Divine Testimony from Heaven This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased These things might have terrified and disanimated Satan from attempting him with his carnal worldly Temptations but his envy hatred against Christ did rather incense provoke and embolden him to assault him having leave given him to do his worst against him Jesus Christ was carried by the Spirit into the Wilderness to be tempted he was not carryed by a transporting act of the Spirit but by a spiritual Rule and power extraordinary he was now entering upon the great work of his publick Ministry he saw meet to begin that extraordinary work with an extraordinary Faâ—t to spend forty dayes as Moses did in the Mount wâ—th God with God in prayer Now being in the wilderness the Devil had him alone separated from all humane communion or assistance oâ— diversion he was where no living Creature was save Beasts of the wilderness Mark 1.13 he was with the wild Beasts but the Angels ministred unto him and how far they were a bridle to Satan in assaulting him it is not said he began his Ministry with fasting and prayer and with suffering Temptation for this was the season that Satan had his Commission to tempt him He was tempted all these forty dayes and forty nights while he was in fasting and prayer for Mark. 1.13 he was there in the wilderness forty dayes tempted of Satan and Luk. 4.2 being forty dayes tempted of the Devil What conflicts and Temptations he underwent all that time is not expressed and therefore not necessary for us to know nor fit to enquire where God is silent it becometh us to lay our hand upon our mouth secret things belong unto the Lord revealed things belong unto us and to our Children Deut. 29.29 So much of this part of the sufferings of Christ as is necessary for us to know is revealed in the Harmony of those three Evangelists before recited of which I shall now say but little Here be three yea four Temptations recorded as an Epitome of all sorts of Temptations wherewith Satan doth usually assault the Church of Christ Jesus These are all fleshly and worldly Temptations as for Temptations of envy malice revenge and such like they are the frequent Temptations of hypocrites but not so frequently can Satan fasten them upon sound believers in whom there is a living principle of love These Temptations I shall touch as they are recorded by Mathew 1. The first Temptation is to sensual pleasure to satisfie the natural appetites of the Flesh all of them being comprehended under that one of eating which is the strongest and most vehement Appetite in the whole wheel of nature and most difficult to govern govern that and ye govern all These Appetites of the flesh are the dangerous Temptations of this last and best Age of the Church in this militant world Luk. 21.34 take heed to your selves least at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting drunkenness cares of this world so that they doe come upon you unawares The satisfying of these Appetites were the ruine of the old world Math. 24.37 38 39. But as the dayes of Noah were so shall also the coming of the Son of men be for as in the dayes that were before the flood they were eating and drinking marrying and giving in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the Ark and knew not until the flood came and took them all away so shall also the coming of the Son of man be Iesus Christ hath fought this field for us and conquered Satan in all these kinds of Temptations all Temptations unto any kind of Sensuality are conquered by Iesus Christ who hath both conquered them in his combate and set us an holy and powerful pattern how we should do the same 2. The second sort of Temptations which Iesus Christ did conflict with conquer is fear which layeth Faith prostrate and raiseth unbelief to use carnal wisdom and shifts to help our selves and stirreth up carnal confidence and presumption in a misapplyed promise which is a very dangerous Temptation to a believer This Temptation of fear gave a great foil to the Faith of Abraham both in Egypt and in Gerar in saying his wife was his sister out of fear and in like manner was the Faith of Isaac foyled But David was a gallant conquerour in this point that would not touch Saul when the Providence of God delivered him or exposed him into his hand no not to gain a Kingdome by an indirect means against this Temptation of fear Iesus Christ hath diligently charged and fenced the Church Math. 10.26 28 31 33. Luk. 12.32 and in many other places and by his Conflict with this sort of Temptations he hath both conquered Satan for us and hath set us an heavenly pattern how we should conquer them also A third and fourth sort of Temptations This Temptation is double the bait is Worldly riches and glory to satisfye those spiritual sins of Covetousness Ambition and Pride which are the filth and off-spring of mans lost Dominion Satan presented a sense-ravishing though but an imaginary glimpse of all the worlds glory Luk. 4.5 it was done in a moment of time but he endeavoured to set on as ravishing an impression upon his Phancy as he could to raise in him a Lust and longing after such another sight and especially to enjoy that gallant thing which he had seen We are apt to be taken and ravished with such glimpses that we are ready to run the greatest hazzards in the world to enjoy that object Men are sometimes so taken and ravished with a glimpse of an object of Lust as David was but more frequently and violently with objects especially if attainable of Riches Gain Profit Honour to satisfie Covetousness Ambition Pride Worldly greatness and upon this account will be hired and allured from the Worship and Service of God and Communion of Gods people therein as Lot was who being ravished with the riches and fertility of the Plains of Sodom was content yea chose to part with Abrahams Family and communion in the worship and service of God there exercised and to goe unto Sodom and to live among them How often have we seen men enamoured with a good Farm as they esteemed and fancied it for the enjoyment of which they have left the Neighbourhood and communion of Saints and of the Church and gone to live alone in a wilderness where they are compassed about with their own land and Beasts Yea such is the power of this Bait that the hook within will catch and engage them not only to part from the true worship of God but to give themselves up to Devil-worship As Demas forsook Paul and the Gospel and imbraced the present
world to obtain a great Living to be a Priest in an idol Temple as Ecclesiastical History informeth us And how many in our dayes are hired against their light from the Truth and Protestant Religion unto Popery by a fat Bishoprick a Cardinals cap a tripple crown And thus the Devil thought to hire Jesus Christ to Devil-worship by a false pretence that he had power to make him possessor of all that glory wherof he had given him such a ravishing glimpse But Jesus Christ hath fought this great Battel and conquered the Devil and all these kinds of Temptations for us and come off Conquerour and set us a pattern how we may doe so also From this admirable History of Jesus Christ his suffering himself to be tempted by the Devill even to the uttermost of his power and skill we may gather up some General Considerations First See the marvellous power of fictitious Imaginations and figments of the mind What strong conceptions and mental productions of Sin they fill the Souls of men withall They prevailed not so far with Jesus Christ as to pollute him but to tempt him to the uttermost Mad men doe many times speak out their mental fictions and conceptions but sober men have more command over themselves than to vent and speak out what is boyling in their hearts But the thoughts and figments of the mind are seldome quiet unless they be overpowered by a soul-ruling imployment and Spirit The presence and Worship of God should over-bear them and often doth Yet vanity of mind running after these mental figments is a mournfull complaint of Gods Children as being a troublesome vexatious sore and bitter interruption even in our best Services and well if this be bitter they doe the less hurt they are most pernicious when they are sweet pleasant delightfull These kind of Temptations hath Jesus Christ experienced and conquered he was now exercised in an extraordinary duty of fasting and prayer at his making entrance upon his publick Minisâ—ry and lo what interruption he met with by these fictitious imaginations and figments which Satan assaulted him withal But praised be his grace he hath conquered them for our great encouragement and advantage 2. We see the great power Satan hath over the minds and phansies of men by these fictitious imaginations and fgments he can transport us up and down in the world as he listeth to suit and to promote his Temptations Jesus Christ suffered himself at this time of his Temptation to be transported by Satan One while he was transported on to the top of one of the Pinnacles of the Temple and there was affected and terrified with fear This was a mental figment which Jesus Christ suffered Satan to inject into his holy mind that he might experience such Temptations and conquer them for us So likewise when he transported him into an exceeding high mountain and there shewed him all the Kingdomes of the World and the glory thereof this was but a fiction a figment and imagination which Satan having permission injected into his holy mind for it is most certain that there is no such mountain in the world where such an object is to be seen much less in a moment of time to be performed as Luke saith it was Luk. 4.5 therefore these Temptations of mental figments and vanity of mind which were doubtless no small interruption to his holy heart in that holy service and worship he was about But blessed be his Name as he hath experienced our Temptations which are such a sad and doleful annoyance to us so he hath conquered them for us and set us a pattern how we should do so also 3 We see the great subtlety and policy of Satan to watch for catch and lay hold on and improve the opportunity when his Temptation may be most advantaged to take place and prevail 1. He had waited forty dayes viz. till Jesus was an hungry before he assaulted him with that Temptation to satisfie his Appetite though by unlawful means or not by the ordinary means The order of the time of these Temptations is not strictly to be insisted upon as appeareth by Luke who placeth that Temptation second which Mathew placeth third And besides this Temptation which they all place first was not acted till the end of the forty dayes fasting because the Text saith that he was an hungry which gave Satan his opportunity and it may very well be that the other Temptations which are recorded were acted before this at the end of the forty dayes for the Text saith that he was tempted forty dayes Satan plyed him every day having liberty so to do he would not stay till the forty dayes of his liberty were ended before he began his Temptations 2. When he had brought his Phansy into an apprehension of danger then he stirs up fear and this urges to approve in Phansy some unlawful shift to avoid the danger as he dealt with Abraham to devise a way of escape on or upon an imagination that such a danger might befall him And Satan doth sedulously labour to put us upon false confidence in a misapplyed or misinterpreted promise as it was Josiahs case 2 Chron. 34.28 he had this promise I will gather thee to thy Fathers and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace a misinterpretation of this promise made Josiah over bold to fight against Pharaoh Netho 2 Chron. 35.20 ad 25. where he was slain 3. When he had tempted him with the most ravishing sight of the worlds glory then he tempts him to get it upon any Terms even to take it at the usurping hand and gift of the Devil and to do homage to the Devil for his preferment as if he should say do but thank me and acknowledge me so far and I will give thee it all Men will do any thing for a Kingdome or a Popedome c. but Jesus Christ despised them all and hath conquered this tickling Temptation 4. The fourth general consideration see the constant way by which the Lord Jesus doth answer expel and conquer every kind of Temptation viz. by resisting it by the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God The Scripture is a weapon mighty through God and if we be diligent it is alwayes ready at hand for our use and defence when all our actions and conflicts are regulated by a command the promise will ever be ready to assist and protect us 5. See the powerful Effect of a pertinent application of a Scripture in our management of the spiritual War in repelling and resisting of Temptations Jam. 4.7 resist the Devil and he will fly from you The Sword of the Spirit is an holy weapon that he dares not conflict with if Satan assault thee and find thee well armed and furnished with the Scripture he will soon depart and let his Temptation fall or ly by at present watching for a fitter season for that or any other Temptation whereby he may do thee a mischief Quest Why did
his Saints compleat Arms even the whole Armour of God and weapons of war that are mighty through God none of our Enâ—mies are able to stand before them the Devil himself will fly from that Christian that is expert to use and improve the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God T mptation is Gods School wherein he doth train up his Children to prepare and sit them for Service on Earth and for glory in heaven when Jesus Christ himself was entering upon his publick Ministry he began in the School of Temptations he began also with fasting and prayer he exercised these preparatories together and come forth of the School eminently filled with the Spirit yea he was fillâ—d with the Spirit when he entered into this School Luk. 4.1 and Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wildern ss The Spirit of God doth attend and assist such as are in Temptations and doth furnish them unto such Services and sufferings as the Lord shall please to call them unto Temptations are Gods usual preparatories of his Children for great services when God was about to call up Abraham to be a Father of the faithful a Corner stone in subordination to Iesus Christ of that Church in which Iesus Christ came into the world and to be a Father in the holy line of the promised Seed we may see that God prepared him for these great services by great Temptations and tryals When God was about to call up Moses to deliver Israel out of Egypt to change the Church polity to be Gods Instrument to create new heavens and a new Earth to erect the Church and common wealth of Israel glorious services we see that God prepared him for all this by great Temptations and Tryals When God was about to call up David to make great Reformation in the Church of Israel to gather up and settle all the scattered parts of Gods instituted worship and fix it in a Temple and to erect a typical Kingdome of Iesus Christ and to fix the line of the Incarnation of the promised seed all of them very great and eminent services with sundry more that I name not only include them in these generals I say when God was about to call up David to these great services O what a storm of Temptations did he arise through When Solomon was called to finish what his Father David had begun in building the Temple and setting in order the fixed national worship of God We read little of his passing through Temptatious to humble and prepare him But we read much of his sensuality whereby he so stained the glory of his high services that it should raise thankfulness to God that pleaseth to call us up to services of renown through a field of very great Temptations We see in our present subject touching the sufferings of Christ that when the Lord was calling him up to that greatest and most honourable of services that ever was performed unto the Lord in this world viz the Redemption of man and the salvation of souls Iesus Christ entered upon the service through many tribulations and temptations it is an experimental saying of holy men that prayer meditation and Temptation make a good Christian a good Minister a good Magistrate it fitteth a soul for any service that the Lord shall call him unto Temptations are humbling providences they are rods of correction and Instruction that wean us from all kind of self confidence or self seeking they rectifie and purge us in our grounds and ends in all our motions and when a Christian is duly sanctified in his grounds and ends he is a fitted instrument to glorify God in any service whatsoever The less of man the more of God Furthermore we see that when Christ was about to enter into this difficult field of Temptation he first received the Sacrament of Baptism to fulfill all righteousness no other Gospel Sacrament being yet instituted Federal Sacramâ—ntal Communion with God doth greatly strengthen Faith We see also that when Jesus Christ was entering into the field of Death he first exercised sacramental Communion with God yea double sacramental communion with God He first eat the Passover and then instituted and celebrated the Lords Supper then entred upon his garden conflict and Agony all the suffering that followed even to his Death By these Examples of Jesus Christ when Gods people are to enter upon any great design especially when they goe upon hazzard of their life they will if they can orderly and regularly receive the Sacrament before they enter upon their design Get as near to God as you can True it is that many doe this superstitiously regard not the regular receiving the Sacrament in the Communion of the Church but minister it in private or in a sick mans chamber but consider that these errors and abuses cannot frustrate the effect of Gods institution regularly attended unto Mans lye doth not make Gods Truth of none effect Rom. 3.3 4. Jesus Christ his thus arming and fitting himself when he was entering upon his greatest Temptation and upon his last conflict with Death it self is ground sufficient for our regular attending upon the Lord in our great concernments in like manner as he did Our coâ—enant communion with God sealed with a divine instituted Seal regularly adminiâ—tred is to be numbred among the greatest external means of Grace for the confirmation of our Faith The evidences of our Faith have the broad Seal of hâ—aven affixed to them And that is also set on by the efficacy of the Spirit who sitteth in his Sealing-Office in the administration of the Sacrament and ratifieth the application of the publick Instituted Seal unto the Soul in particular unto which act of the Spirit in the administration of the Sacraments when a poor doubting trembling Soul doth reverently attend he shall find such an efficacy of the sealing Spirit in his Soul as shall inable him to go away as Hannah did when she received Ely his blessing 1 Sam. 1.18 so the woman went her way and did eat and her countenance was no more sad when we celebrate the death and sufferings of Jesus Christ in our Sacramental Communion with God it doth revive our damped and discouraged Faith it seals our inseperable union to Jesus Christ inabling us to say what shall seperate me it doth also quicken animate and encourage Faith to venture upon the greatest most difficult and dangerous enterprize when called thereunto it enables the Soul to say my life is not dear to me so I may but finish the Lords work unto which he hath called me whatever Sufferings sorrows Tryals Temptations I am thereby exposed unto When Faith is strengthned all grace is on the thriving hand because it is the work of Faith to goe forth to Jesus Christ and fetch out of his fulness whatever Grace we want and to fetch supply to enable us unto any Service in doing or suffering the good
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
of the Officers or Servants which stood 〈◊〉 struck Iesus with the palme of his hand saying answerest thou the high Priest so 1. He that smote him was an under Officer or a Servant as the word signifies When the chief Rulers especially the high Priests are set against Jesus to persecute him it is no marvell that their under Officers and Servants are as ill minded as their Masters then they will be so rude as this act shews them to be It was a great suffering of our Lord Jesus that under Officers and Servants should so insult over him 2. He smote him with the palm of his hand as our English Translation renders the word we call it a Box or Cuff on the ear or cheek The word also signifies to smite with a rod reed or walking Staff either way was impudent contemptuous and scornfull 3. He backs his smiting him with a Reproach Answerest thou the high Priest so As if he had made a faulty Answer dishonourable to the high Priest But he sheweth that he put a bad construction on his speech and imputes it to him as a Reproach 4. All this was done in the face of the Court without any check given him that we hear of shewing that they were all conspired to abuse our Lord Jesus See a like example of this abuse done unto our Lord Jesus 1 King 22.24 And Zedekiah the Son of Chenaanan went neer and smote Micaiah on the cheek and said Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee To this saucy fellow Jesus answered with a convincing and reproving Dilemma so clear and so wisely placed that he spake above exception The first part or horn of tâ—e Dilemma is this If I have spoken evill shew it bear witness of it The second part or horn is if I have spoken well why smitest thou me Which answer of our Lord quite stopped their mouthes and put all to silence Out of this small part of the Sufferings of our Lord we may gather up some Instruction 1. When Church-men are Persecutors the Persecution will be bitter as Jesus found it so did Jeremy Church-men are usually more cunning more bold more seared in conscience more cruel 2. Carnal Professors will insult and domineer over the Godly when they have power in their hand 3. Persecuting Professors will put the handsomest face they can upon the vilest actions 4. God can and will over-rule the cunningest Counsells and contrivances of Persecutors to subserve his Counsel 5. Guilty consciences love Secresy and to act behind the curtain 6. It is dangerous to intrude our selves into a place or way of Temptation as Peter did it may expose us to lye or deny Christ and curse our selves as all these falls and knocks Peter felt 7. Truth is alwayes serene open seeks no corners to hide it self 8. When Rulers are wicked such as are under them will be violent 9. A girt convincing Answer will stop the mouth of the worst of enemies Sect. 3. The second Act of the Council MAth 26.59 ad 63. Now the chief Priests and Elders and all the Councel sought false witness against Iesus to put him to death But found none yea though many false Witnesses came yet found they none At the last came two false witnesses and said This fellow said I am able to destroy the Temple of God and to build it in three dayes And the high Priest arose and said Answeredst thou nothing What is it which these witness against thee And Iesus held his peace Mark 14.55 ad 61. And the chief Priests and all the Counsell sought for witness against Iesus to put him to death and found none For many bare false Witness against him but their witness agreed not together And there arose certain and bare false witness against him saying We heard him say I will destroy this Temple made with hands and within three dayes I will build another made without hands But neither did their Witness agree together And the high Priest stood up in the mids and asked Iesus saying Answerest thou nothing What is it which these witness against thee But he held his peace and answered nothing Here see 1. That though they so abused our Lord Iesus for his Answer and for putting them upon the right way of enquiring viz to ask his hearers to sâ—e if they could testifie any thing against him for in his Answer he had vindicated himself and his Doctrine both for matter and manner therefore if they would find any thing against him it must be by Witnesses that heard him yet now they are necessitated to fall to this course as Jesus had said though they had abused him for so saying 2. All the Counsel there present were unanimous in what they doe what do they They sought for false Witnesses that they might find some matter or at least appearance of some matter for which they might put him to death They carried themselves and managed the matter so that all might easily see their intent to find some matter whereof to accuse him Because they were resolved to put him to death they sought not for what was true just righteous but for something to criminate him by Witnesses they cared not though it were false Witness They encouraged them to testifie any thing And when they misrepresented his words and meaning they took the advantage to wring his words to the worst sense as appeareth in that Instance when Christ said They would ruine and destroy this Temple his Body and he would raise it up again the third day So John representeth his words Ioh. 2.19 he spake of the Temple of his Body Nor was there any capital crime in it as they represented his words yet any thing will serve their turn to be a seeming matter of accusation 3. They could find nothing wherein two witnesses agreed among all the false witnesses untill two witnesses spake about destroying the Temple raising it again in three dayes And yet these two witnesses agreed not in all points as Mar. 14.59 teâ—tifieth Thus they wearied themselves in vain finding nothing against him which left their envy naked without any pretence of a covering 4. Then the high Priest devised another device viz. to draw out Jesus Christ to speak for he kept silence all this while Could they draw him out to speak they might entangle him in his words which artifice they had formerly used to catch him by Mat 22.15 so now again they attempt that way The high Priest stood up a good civill deportment in publick affairs and put him upon answering unto what they said and to sharpen and quicken the matter he putteth him on in a rebuking way What Answerest thou nothing What is this that these witness against thee But this Stratagem prevailed not Jesus still held his peace Quest Why did Jesus hold his peace and answer nothing Answ 1. Because there was nothing to answer unto they proved nothing their witnesses agreed not they
their Masters 2. The time of their commission to keep him till morning which was about the space of three hours 3. The several acts of horrible abuse which they did unto him in time of their charge and commission 1. They spit upon him Mark 14.65 which is an act of the greatest disdain in the doer and of the greatest disgrace in the sufferer a contempt that few will do to a dog especially in the Nation of the Jew it was a very great contempt which the Lord himself foretold and described Luk. 18.32 he shall be mocked spitefully intreated and spit upon 2. They spit in his face Math. 26.67 this was the highest degree of the reproach of spitting God gave a Law about it Deut. 25.7 8 9 10. it is the disgrace of him that is unkind to his brother a most improper and unsuitable disgrace unto Jesus Christ when he was doing the greatest act of love and kindness not only to his Brother but to his Enemies 3. They mocked him Luk. 22.63 and the next word sheweth that there were cruel mockings as it is said Heb. 11.36 the persecuted Saints were so used and Psal 25.19 mine Enemies are many and hate me with cruel hatred for 4. They smote him and beat him Luk. 22.63 the word which the Holy Ghost useth doth signifie such blows as do break the Skin and flayed off some part of the skin where the blow fell which was very cruel according as the Prophet describeth such cruelty Mic. 3.2 3. who pluck off their skin from off them and their flesh from off their bones they flayed the skin from off them Isai 53.5 he was bruised for our iniquities they smote him so hard that they bruised him with their blows 5. They blind-folded him and then boxed him on the face and with blasphemous mocking and scorn said thou Christ prophesy who smote thee Math. 26.68 such blasphemy would affright a modest heart to hear it but no doubt they made great sport and laughter at it 6. It was an aggravation of these abuses that every base fellow and servaâ—â— had liberty thus to abuse our Lord Jesus Mark 14.65 and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands they devised many wayes to put contempt upon him and to make sport for themselves 7. They plucked off his hair viz. of his face or head or both This abuse is mentioned in the Prophets Isai 50.6 I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that pluck off the hair I bid not my face from shame and spitting 8. They spake many other blasphemous words against him which the holy Ghost abhorreth to mention Luk. 22.65 and many other things blasphemously spake they against him with which they busied and sported themselves all the night 9. They were charged to watch and keep him and therefore they might not sleep and they kept themselves thus employed and thereby did not only hinder Jesus Christ from taking any rest but also they did grieve vex and provoke his Spirit most bitterly It was the saddest night that ever was spent And thus they did till morning light for then the Council met again Luk. 22.66 and called Jesus before them This is the Lamentation that these that did this vile injury to Jesus Christ were of his own to whom he was sent but they would not own him but condemned him to dy which was the work he came to perform and when they had nailed him to the cross he pardoned them and prayed for them When visible Professors of Jesus Christ are Persecutors of Christ they will be violent and cruel as now these were against Christ And no marvail that the Servants and inferiours were so cruel against Christ for they knew that they pleased their Superiours and Masters When Saul persecuted David every abject durst vent his venome against David and Doeg fears not to be an informer against him When Absolom rose up against David is it any wonder that Shimei durst shew himself to curse David The horrible crueltyes and indignityes of these Jewish Watchmen that had the charge of keeping their condemned Prisoner will all in many respects stand upon the account of the high Priests and Rulers They opened their own envy so bare and naked that every body might see it And therefore their creatures were bold to do any thing against the Lord Jesus Sect. 7. The sixth and last act of the Council of the Jews as a Councill against Jesus Christ as private Persecutors and envious Persons they pursue Iesus Christ before Pilate and before Herod afterwards LVk 22.66 67 68 69 70 71. And assoon as it was day the Elders of the people and the chief Priests and the Scribes came together and led him into their Councell saying Art thou the Christ tell us and he said unto them if I tell you you will not believe and if I also ask you you will not answer me nor let me go Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God Then said they all art thou then the Son of God And he said unto them ye say that I am And they said what need we any further witness for we our selves have heard of his own mouth It was about Cocks crowing when Jesus Christ was condemned committed to safe custody under a strong guard The Court adjourned till morning all the abuses that these carnal keepers inflicted on Jesus the remainder of the night I refer unto the fifth act of the Council which for time extended till morning and for cruelty it extended to Hell Now in preparation for their proceeding in the morning they held a close and private consultation how to manage this great business For seeing they now had according as they long desired and contrived to doe apprehended him and condemned him they were resolved to put him to death But they foresaw many difficultyes in effecting it The points considered plotted and agreed in this private consultation were sundry and their agreement may be gathered out of the answer of Jesus Christ in the morning who gave them to understand that he knew their plâ—â—s to convince their Consciences that he was Christ the Messiah for the asserting whereof they had condemned him The Points considered of were such as these 1. We must be speedy in our motions and progress before the people know that we have apprehended him For it was about midnight that he was apprehended and brought to Annas and Caiphas It was about cocks crowing when he was condemned he must be put to death and buried before the Sabbath for if we slack the time the people will surely rescue him 2. They considered that we must speedily deliver him out of our hand into the Romane hand and power and it must be done early in the morning before the people gather together and hear of it for otherwise the people will surely rescue him out of our hand but out of the Romans hand they cannot they dare
condemned repented himself this he saw in that night about the Cocks crowing then began his terror but did he not know before that they would so do as sure if he did not he might have foreknown it for Jesus Christ had foretold it and he knew that the end of their hiring him to betray him was that they might have him in their hands to put him to death but his eyes were blinded partly by his envy at the expence of the sweet oyntment upon the body of Jesus Christ and partly by covetousness who missed of such a booty to pilfer and principally by the Devils twice entering into him by advantages 1. The first time of the Devils entering into his heart was by his envy and indignation at the expence of that oyntment Mark 14.5 10. when his heart raged with indignation Satan put it into his heart to betray his Master so Joh. 13.2 2. The second time the Devil entered into him was upon the discovering sop that Jesus Christ gave him Joh. 13.27 now the Devil blinded him for the Prince of darkness hath power to blind mens eyes 2 Cor. 4.4 Two of the Disciples did scandalously fall Judas betrayed Jesus Christ Peter denyed him Peter the same night repented sincerely Judas repented but not sincerely 2. The manner of his repentance the Spirit of terror entered into him broke open his blinded eyes of understanding and conscience to see his sin of blood guiltiness Yea innocent blood yea the blood of his Lord and Master yea whom he had for a bribe of money most trayterously betrayed this Spirit of terror was the Spirit of God of the Law that bore down the Spirit of Satan that blinded him this brought him to horror and distress The thirty pieces of mony that before had seared his conscience to hardness now torment and burn his conscience and in this case was his tormented Soul till morning 3. The progress of his repentance he knowing the Council had appointed to meet early in the morning resolved to go unto them and restore unto them their mony and confess his great sin in betraying the innocent blood of his Master Accordingly so soon as they had confirmed their condemnation of him and commanded him to be delivered to Pilate ver 2. Then Judas appears before them in the terror of his Soul ver 3. he justifieth Iesus Christ to be innocent and himself an horrible sinner in betraying him which confession of his accused them also to be horrible sinners in condemning him He offered them the mony with which they had hired him it scalded his Conscience he could not keep it 4. See their answer the wickedest answer that ever Ministers gave to a distressed soul but befitting the mouths of wolves in the pursuit of innocent blood and fit enough for so vile a Traitor the worst that ever was in the world Their answer was short and snappish 1. What is that to us say you so Caiaphas Annas and the rest did not you hire him with that mony 2. They say look thou to that is this your care of a soul in distress is this your care of your flock 3. They refused to take the money or meddle with it nor did they give him one word of comfort or counsel the Priests lips should preserve knowledge and is this all the relief he had at their mouth 5. Now Judas is not only distressed but forsaken there was but one dore of hope for relief left and that was to go to the Temple and to the Priests that were there attending the service in the Temple thither he came with a gastly countenance there also he confessed his sin offered them the Soul tormenting money but they abhorred to touch so execrable a thing nor had they one word of comfort for him now he fell into utter desperation which had these effects 1. He cast down the mony in the Temple that bloody that soul-tormenting mony that execrable thing 2. He went away to a place fitting that Satan could easily suggest to him 3. There he hanged himself But fourthly the rope either broke or slipt and he fell and the place was such either by height or by Rocks beneath that by his fall he burst asunder and his bowels gushed out And all this was famously known in all Ierusalem Quest Why did not Judas go to Iesus Christ as the penitent Thief did A. 1. Because he was the child of perdition as Joh. 17.12 Again Iesus Christ was now in Pilats Court Judas his Testimony was terribly sharpened against the Iewish Court thither he went hath left a dreadful warning what a dangerous thing it is to envy at others charity and bounty to covet and desire to pilfer another mans or a publick bag and to rob God Judas his confession was not fitting for Pilats Court. Touching the second part of the History it was acted afterwards after the Feast wherein their own actions do strongly prove that Iesus Christ is the Messiah by their fulfilling of the Prophesy Why Mathew doth call Zachariah by the name of Jeremiah is not yet revealed that I know off Their actions were 1. they hold a Council to consider what to do with this execrable mony they agree that it ought not to be put into the Treasury of the Temple because it was the price of blood they agree to buy the Potters field with it to be a place to bury strangers Pagans that cared not for the Iews Religion though they traffiqued to the City What this Potters field was may be gathered from Act. 1.20 with the Prophesy there cited viz. it was a dearned little bit of ground where the Potters had wrought out all the veins of clay and left it a desolate plat out of the way unfit for habitation good for nothing unless it were for such a despicable use as they now bought it for and this plot did the execrable wages of Judas purchase and for that reason was called the field of blood And this is the monument that Iudas that Traytor hath left behind him a fit monument of such a vile Traytor And this is all the portion that this self murtherer left to his Children as the Prophesy doth intimate And by the purchase of this field at that price the Jews have proved that Iesus is Christ the Son of God and Saviour of the World CAP XII The Sufferings of Jesus Christ before the Romane Court under Pontius Pilate MAth 27.11 12 13 14. And Jesus stood before the Governour and the Governour asked him saying art thou the King of the Iews And Iesus saith unto him thou sayest And when he was accused of the chief Priests and Elders he answered nothing Then said Pilate unto him Hearest thou how many things they witness against thee And he answered him to never a word Mar. 15.2 3 4 5. And Pilate asked him Art thou the King of the Iews And he answering said unto him Thou sayest it And the chief Priests accused him of
men knew that the Jews were in great expectation of a great King He therefore examineth him the second time about this point 2. Iesus Christ answered him by proposing a question to Pilates heart which none but himself could answer unto and his answer to it would discover the Spirit of the man The question was this sayest thou this thing of thy self or did others tell it thee of me the divine depth and wisdome of this question is too deep for me to dive into But it seemeth to be proposed to instruct Pilate that if he cordially desired to know that great Truth it would be for his eternal good and benefit but if it were only out of curiosity and for humane discourse and civil ends only then it would profit him but little 3. Pilates heart felt him and seemeth to be a little short and snufty at it and maketh two replyes by retorting two questions 1. Am I a Iew intimating that his heart was no whit concerned in that great question about the Kingly Office of Iesus Christ it is a matter that concerned the Iews not him 2. He returns a quick and sharp question with the reason of his question yet with so much composure of mind and judgement that he first expresseth the reason and then his quick question thy own Nation and the chief Priests have delivered thee to me as a condemned Malefactor What hast thou done 4. Iesus Christ knowing that Pilate already knew the worst they could say against him and that there was no weight in their allegations only they were carryed with envy and wrath therefore he declineth to make any answer to his quick question and proceeds to answer to his first sober question touching the Kingdome of Jesus Christ wherein see these three particulars 1. Iesus Christ delivereth a doctrine my Kingdome is not of or from this world as authors or constitutors thereof of signifyeth from in this place it doth not signifie concerning for the Kingdome of Christ is of or concerning all the world and affairs thereof as the object or subject about which it is exercised but the world doth not make or constitute it it is not the efficient of the Kingdome of Iesus Christ 2. Here is a reason of this assertion because if his Kingdome were of or from this world then the world would fight for their King to keep him out of the hands of his Enemies the Iews and by world here he may particularly mean the Romans who have no hand in constituting his Kingdome 3. Here is an exegesis or explication of this doctrine in these words my Kingdome is not from hence viz. not from the world not from the Romans 5. Pilate is soon calm and though Iesus answered not to his last quick question whereof there was no need yet seeing he answered to his first question which was the point which Pilate desired to enquire into he accepteth him and replyeth upon him and asketh art thou a King then which the words of Iesus did imply And gave Pilate a just occasion to propose that question 6. Iesus Christ replyeth to Pilate and maketh a clear confession of and beareth a full Testimony unto his Kingly Office and of his Prophetical Office also which is that confession which the Apostle maketh mention of 1 Tim. 6.13 Iesus who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession wherein are these particulars 1. I will not in modesty express that word concerning my self but rest in that which you have expressed you have implicitely said that I am a King 2. I add unto this Truth my Testimony in three things 1. To this end I was born that I might execute my Kingly Office in my Kingdome 2. that I came into the world to bear witness unto the Truth which is my Prophetical Office and by my Prophetical Office I bear witness to my Kingly Office 3. I assert that everyone that is of the Truth viz. new born by the power of Gospel Light beareth my voice viz. receiveth it with love and subjection to it 7. The Pagan was so overset and confounded with these glorious Truths which were so much above him and no doubt as the effect proveth convinsingly set on that he only propoundeth this question What is Truth assuredly the question is a wise and pertinent question but he tarryed not for an answer he went out of the pretorium to the Iews So much for Pilates third act his fourth act followeth Joh. 18.38 Pilate saith What is Truth And when he had said that he went out again unto the Iews and saith unto them I find in him no fault at all This is manifestly a second time of Pilates open testifying the Innocency of Iesus Christ as the circumstances do make it appear For his first Testimony was the product of his first examination Luk. 23.3 4. This Testimony is the product of that private discourse that Pilate had with Iesus in the pretorium apart from the Iews his accusers When Pilate came forth of the pretorium from his more private discourse with Iesus and bore witness to his innocency so fully the immediate effect of that Testimony upon the Iews is related only by Luke therefore in laying together the harmony of the Evangelists I turn to that Luk. 23.5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 And they were the more fierce saying He stirreth up the people teaching throughout all Iury beginning from Galilee to this place When Pilate heard of Galilee he asked whether the man were a Galilean And assoon as he knew that he belonged unto Herods Iurisdiction he sent him to Herod who himself was also at Ierusalem at that time And when Herod saw Iesus he was exceeding glad for he was desirous to see him of a long season because he had heard many things of him and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him Then he questioned with him in many words but he answered him nothing And the chief Priests and Scribes stood and vehemently accused him And Herod with his men of war set him at nought and mocked him and arayed him in a gorgeous robe and sent him again to Pilate And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together for before they were at enmity between themselves In this part of the History see 1. When the chief priests and Jews heard Pilate testifie to the innocency of Jesus a second time and that so plump fully they were greatly enraged Our English Translation renders the word very well They were the more fierce The shining innocency of any should the more qualifie and pacifie our minds and moderate our spirits This is the frame of a good Spirit that is acted by Gods Spirit But we see that the notifying of the innocency of Jesus Christ did inrage them Therefore we may see that they weâ—e acted by a Devillish spirit They were resolved to execute their envy against Jesus Christ by putting him to death and therefore they were vexed that the Judge found him innocent
this person was the pure innocent spotless Lamb of God which they were preparing to kill and Sacrifice Quest How can this be the day and time of the Passover seeing Iesus Christ and his Disciples kept the Passover yesterday the evening before he suffered Answ Reverend Calvin helps me with an answer The Elders had made a Tradition that when the fourteenth day of the Moneth falleth to be the fifth day of the week that it might be lawful for any that would to defer the Passover one day that so the Sabbath day might be the day after the Passover that so that Sabbath should be an high day as the Sabbath after the suffering of Iesus Christ was accompted to be Ioh. 19.31 because it was a double holy convocation much may be said about this but I will pass on Now Iesus would not keep the day allowed by Tradition but took the day that was by institution he kept the fourteenth day And it was a divine providence so to order it this gave Iudas the opportunity to betray Iesus Christ to the Jews the day before their Passover who followed the Tradition of the Fathers and this gave the occasion that Jesus was crucified just at the time of their Passover for on the sixth day of the week about the sixth hour which was about noon they began to kill Iesus for at or about that time he was condemned by Pilate 4. Here was a great check given unto Pilate before he had passed the Sentence hitherto he had strove with the Iews the Spirit of God in common grace assisting him to stop them from this abominable sin by behaving himself like a wise prudent diligent just judge yet they grew the worse by all his pains But at last they lighted on an Argument that touched him and overcame him to do unjustice for the sake of man now God strives with Pilate that he might still be valiant in doing justly and not condemn the innocent and the striving of Gods Spirit was by his wives terrible message sent unto him Math. 27.19 When he was set down on the Iudgment Seat his wife sent unto him saying have thou nothing to do with that just man for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him where see 1. The time when the message came when he was set down on the Iudgement Seat and making ready to pronounce the Sentence 2. The matter of the message in sundry things 1. She eminently asserts the innocency of the person of Iesus that just man 2. She warneth and exhorteth Pilate her husband to have nothing to do with or to do nothing against that just man in judging or condemning of him to dy 3. Her reason because she had suffered much in a dream that day about him which had terrified her stirred up her heart to send this sad warning unto him a faithful part of a wise good wife Quest what suffering could she have Answ Sad apprehensions of the guilt of innocent blood the blood of an holy innocent beneficent person looks terribly in the face of a discreet wise person as she seemeth to be Quest How did she suffer Answ By Terrours in a divine dream it was not a diabolical dream Satans chief design was to kill Iesus Christ to bruise the heel of his humanity Satan had much adoe to bring about Pilate to do it and now that he was come about he was hardly put to it to keep him too to do the deed and this check from his wife whom he knew to be a wise woman did almost shake him quite off again there was but one Hinge that turned him and still held him viz. that generous principle what shall I not be firm and true to my Sovereign Satan would not have thus acted but it was a divine dream and the Spirit of God by common grace in the wife strove with her husband Quest How came she thus to have a day dream that morning afore she rose which many times is not early with Gentlewomen she might have her dream which gastered her and caused her to rise and send to hear how things went at the Court and being informed that though Pilate had with much prudence and diligence carryed himself right a great while yet they had brought him about to yield to them whereupon she presently wrote that message or delivered it to some fit instrument to deliver to Pilate Whether this message was openly delivered to Pilate or whether his prudence did cause it to be published it is not said but he was no doubt willing it should be published that he might make use of it if possible to stop them in their violence Why may we not conjecture that seeing Pilate condemned Jesus Christ for fear of the Emperours displeasure She might dream that it should be punished with his falling into the Emperours displeasure and his banishment into Swetia in Germany then a barbarous Nation where there is a Lake near Lucerna called Pilates Lake unto this day So much touching this divine check unto Pilate the probable effects of this message NOthing is expresly said to be the Effect of this message yet upon a serious weighing all the Circumstances we shall find that it so wrought upon him that after he was set down in the Judgement Seat and had this message he doth again attempt to perswade them by the same Arguments that he had used before 1. He argues with them again that he is their King and will ye crucifie him Joh. 19.14 15. this point he did the more urge First because the Gentiles knew that the Jews looked for a King and Saviour And secondly because Jesus Christ had fully asserted his kingly Office before Pilate and so effectually as that he did believe it viz. with an historical Faith which appeareth by the Title he set upon the Cross of Jesus Christ and his resolution to assert it That Pilate had used this point of reasoning with them before he yielded to them is manifest because one part of their answer to this point put them upon that plea that overcame Pilate Now after he is set in the judgement Seat he uses the same plea again And it puts the Jews upon the same dreadful answer viz. again to disclaim Jesus Christ from being their King and to profess that they had no King but Cesar wherein they renounced the government of God and Christ and subjected themselves to the World and worldly Rulers who have kicked them about the world in every place ever since and they put away the SCEPTER from Judah and never had it since restored to this day And Pilate by this their answer lay open to the same snare that had taken him and still holds him he cannot bear that word to be imputed to him no friend to Cesar What not true and constant to my Sovereign let God Christ Conscience all go rather then unndergo that imputation Again Pilate doth now again after the message
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
sin which punishment was extended to the uttermost even untill justice was fully satistied 2. What was said and done and acted at the end of the 6t hour at the beginning of the ninth hour viz. 1. The first word which Jesus Christ spake in terrible manner was Eli Eli lamasabachtani 2. The second word which Jesus Christ spake was I thirst Both these words were spoken by him soon after each other both were uttered before they gave him vinegar and gall which act Mathew and Mark relate to be done upon his speaking the first word Iohn relates it to be done upon his speaking the second word Therefore both those words were spoken before that act was done The effect of both these words upon the by-standers was Some ran took a spung gave him galled vinegar of which he tasted Others mistook him and said he calleth to Elias to deliver him 3. The third word Iesus Christ spake when he had tasted the vinegar was It is finished 4. The fourth and last dying word which Jesus Christ spake was Into thy hands I commit my Spirit and with that word breathed out his Soul Sundry remarkable effects of his death of which in their place In this silent agony of Jesus Christ upon the cross he suffered all the punishment and curse which sin hath brought upon man Gal. 3.13 he was made a curse for us viz. by suffering all the punishment of the curse 2 Cor. 5.21 He was made sin for us viz. an Offering to bear the guilt and punishment of sin though he knew not sin so as to doe it Isai 53. This whole famous Prophesie declareth this great point Psal 69.26 whom thou hast smitten Col. 1.2 Having made peace by the blood of his cross 1. Cor. 15.3 4. Christ dyed for our sins occording to the Scriptures Dan 9.24 He hath made an end of sin viz. He hath satisfied justice for the first sin of Adam and for all sin that hath followed from the same He hath taken away the condemning power of sin by the authority of the Law and brought it under another law or Covenant viz. of Grace The first Covenant of works doth not over-rule sin in its condemning power but Jesus Christ doth over-rule it by the New Covenant under which he doth rule all the Elect of God And that he might accomplish all this he hath suffered all the essential punishment of the curse viz. all sinless punishment all that the justice of the law requireth with his sufferings justice was fully satisfied and all this he suffered for us Isai 53.3 4 5 6. c. There be some accidental parts and points of punishment which fall upon man but cannot fall upon Iesus Christ which I will touch in a few instances Instance 1. Eternity of punishment befals man Math. 25.41 46. Everlasting fire Everlasting punishment Mark 9.44 45 46 48. the worm dyeth not nor is the fire quenched But this is so because of the inability of a finite Creature to satisfie infinite justice But Jesus Christ is God-man and therefore he is able to satisfie infinite justice in a finite time because he is an infinite person and therefore his sufferings are of infinite value his sufferings make up in value what they be short in time of duration He suâ—fered infinite punishment wrath and curse in a finite short time As the first Adam if he had stood though a finite person should have finished perfect active obedience to the Law in a finite time because he was a person fitly qualified by God for such a service being furnished with the perfect image of God So the second Adam did in a finite time finish all obedience to the Law both active and paâ—sive and fulfilled our Covenant of works being an infinite person and infinitely qualified for that work having the Spirit without measure an infinite person suffered obeyed satisfactorily in a finite time he had Gods image perfectly and therefore perfectly fitted and qualified for that great work Thirty three years and an half were requisite wherein Jesus Christ might perform and fulfil perfect obedience to the Law both active and passive and perform all that which Justice did require at the hand of man The middle part of his pilgrimage had less of passive and more exercised in active obedience the beginning and end of his life were more filled with sufferings though every act of Jesus Christ had both active and passive obedience in it yet one sometimes more illustrious then the other From his entrance into the garden till he dyed was about twenty hours or near so much and that was the chiefest time of his suffering Torment but his humiliation continued his whole life through And when Jesus Christ did dye if he had dyed eternally then d at h had overcome him But he hath overcome death and saw not corruption though he dyed because he rose again the third day Instance 2. The place of mans suffering Torment is Hell Luk. 16.23 and in Hell he lift up his eyes being in Torment But Jesus Christ suffered all his sufferings on Earth how then did he suffer all the punishment due to man Answ There is a penal Hell and local Hell penal hell hath two branche seperation from God sense of Torment Math. 25.41 depart from me ye cursed that is the punishment of loss into Everlasting fire that is punishment oâ— sense And wheresoever these two are inflicted there is penal hell though it be not in local Hell These two kinds of punishment are chiefly inflicted on the damned in local Hell sometimes a good measure of it in this life But on Jesus Christ all was inflicted on Earth where sin is committed And great reasons might be offered why it must be so 2. The place of punishment is not of the Essence or an Essential part of the punishment of sin the judge may chuse and appoint the place where the punishment shall be inflicted and executed It was an act of Gods infinite wisdome to appoint and order that Jesus Christ should suffer the punishment of sin in this world among men it is most agreeable to the Covenant of works that it should be so it is great love to his Elect that it is so it is not yet revealed where the place of Hell is or shall be Some great divines have thought that after the day of Judgement the Earth shall be the place of Hell that the place of committing sin shall be the place of punishing of it Sure it was so with Jesus Christ he suffered the punishment of sin on Earth where sin was committed Instance 3. It is a great part of the punishment of sin inflicted on man that he is dead in sin Eph. 2.1 5. and Gen. 2.17 one part of this dying is to be dead in sin But this death Jesus Christ suffered not how then did he suffer all the punishment of sin Answ 1. To be dead in sin is personal defilement by the loss of Gods image this could
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
12.46 Numb 9.12 which the Iews religiously observed in aâ—l ages generations but never knew the reason of this branch of the divine Institution The infinite prescience of God had respect unto this history of the sufferings of Christ which we are now treating off These Iews possibly might see the reason of this branch of this Institution I dare not say they did see it because the Text doth not say so But if they had any such intent to get his legs broke to blemish him who is the true Paschal Lamb Then I say 1. Their wickedness was the greater because it was against light 2. The infinite wise and merciful providence of God is so much the more to be adored and admired in their disappointment 3. The disappointing and preventing of the breaking of his bones is a mighty striving of God to convince the Iews that Iesus is the Paschal Lamb. 4. The fulfilling of the Scriptures in preserving his bones from being broken is a powerful confirmation of the saith of the Church to the Worlds end that Iesus Christ is our Paschal Lamb in whom we believe for salvation When the Souldiers came to break their legs and did break the legs of the two Theevs Iesus Christ being already dead they did not break his legs yet one of them without cause neither knowing nor caring what he did only to insult over his dead body took a Spear and pierced his left side It appeareth to be so by that which issued out of the wounds viz. blood from the wound in his flesh and water out of the pericardium which he pierced with his Spear here we are to admire the all-ruling wisdome of God who by this act hath provided a wonderful confirmation of the faith of the Church that both our Sacraments are founded in the death of Christ the water in Baptisme and blood celebrated in the Supper confirm the faith of the Church to the worlds end 1 Joh. 5.6 8. Again by this act they did in part fulfil that Prophesy Zech. 12.10 they pierced his side O Lord Jesus make haste to accomplish the other part of this gracious Prophesy which saith And I will pour upon the house of David and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of supplications and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only Son and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his first born In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo c. 7. Another memorable work of God that attended the death of Jesus Christ was the conversion of the Centurion who had the charge of the watch that day where see first The means of his conversion viz. the dying words of Jesus the Earthquake and other things as the darkening of the Sun and the brightning of the same the rending of the Rocks c. 2. We see the signs of his conversion 1. He feared greatly 2. He made confession of his faith first in the Deity of Christ surely he is the Son of God 2dly in the innocency and justness of his person Surely he was a just man 8. Many more of those upon the watch and of the spectators were convinced if not converted when they saw what was done they returned smiting on their breasts Sect. 2. Of the Reverent Buryal of the Body of our Lord Jesus THe buryal of Iesus Christ is a great point in Religion both in the Prophesy and in the History and in the application In the History of this act of Christian love see first the persons that did with due reverence perform this service to the dead body of our Lord. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus they would not leave his blessed Corps to the rude disposal and usage of Hangmen and Executioners But with their own hands they did reverently lay him into a Tomb. These two men were honourable men for they were both of them of the Council but consented not with them in their condemning of Jesus Luk. 23.51 the same did not consent to the Council and deed of them it is like that neither Joseph nor Nicodemus were sent unto or called unto their Clandestine night Court wherein Jesus was condemned they knew that they would oppose they had experience of Nicodemus his opposing them how many more of the Council might be absent from that night Court is not said it is like that it was carryed on by a Faction that adhered to that violent young man Caiaphas and his Father in law Annas For in the History we find all the Council present to be of one mind therefore neither of these two worthy men were with them These were both holy men and true Disciples of Jesus Christ yet formerly they both of them had been timorous professors Joh. 19.38 39. Joseph a Disciple of Jesus Christ but secretly for fear of the Jews And Nicodemus who at first came to Jesus by night see a little what the Scripture saith of these first of Nicodemus John 3.1 2 3. c. he came to Jesus by night he was a well minded man but weak in knowledge Joh. 7.51 52 53. Nicodemus saith unto them he that came to Jesus by night being one of them doth our law judge any man before it hear him and know what he doth they answered and said unto him art thou also of Galilee search and look for out of Galilee ariseth no Prophet and euery man went into his own house Here we see Nicodemus was grown more valiant and appeared openly in the Council on the behalf of Jesus Christ and though he suffered a châ—ck for his labour yet what he said saved the cause of Jesus Christ for that time And now when Jesus Christ was persecuted to the death and crucified his courage still arose and his love abounded for he joyned with good Joseph and brought an hundred pound weight of Myrrhe and Aloes for the embalming of the Corps Joseph was a very eminent holy and good man all the Evangelists do inlarge in his commendation and though he had been as John saith timorous yet now he taketh boldness Mark 14.43 and so did Nicodemus if the Reader please to turn to these Texts he shall see how amply the holy Ghost hath spoken of Joseph Math. 27.57 ad 61. Mark 15.43 ad 47. Luk. 23.50 ad 54. Joh. 19.38 Pilate granted to Joseph at his request the dead body of Jesus Christ these two honourable men took it down from the Cross they prepared a fine linnen burying Sheet newly bought for this purpose they wrapped up the body with the aromaticks in decent manner carefully laying Aromaticks upon all his wounds in hands feet side back head or else where They carryed the body into a garden hard by which was Josephs where was a new Sepulchre hewen out of a Rock which Joseph had prepared for his own buryal in
that I knew not they rewarded me evil for good to the spoyling of my Soul Again it is a matter of great consolation and holy joy to suffer any thing for the sake of Jesus Christ Act. 6.41 they departed from the presence of the Council rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer flame for his Name Luk. 6.22 23. Blessed are ye when men shall hate you and when they shall separate you from their Company and shall reproach you and cast out your Name as evil for the Son of mans sake rejoyce ye in that day and leap for joy for behold your reward is great in Heaven blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake rejoyce ye and be exceeding glad for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you in this case it is good to say with David if this be to be vile I will yet be more vile grace is incensed stirred up increased by such Tribulations and abuses many graces are exercised and increased by such wrongs Rom. 5.3 4 5. we glory in Tribulations knowing that Tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us The tryal of our Faith is more pretious then gold and when a believer is reproached Faith will make him wash his hands in Innocency when men fly upon us in their wrath Faith will fly to Christ who hath taken away the sting of them and will turn them to prayers and God will make them wholsome Physick for us Yea Faith will make us to imitate our Lord Jesus who forgave his Persecutors and prayed for them And among many benefits that believers gain by suffering the wounds of evil tongues this is a chief one that he will learn to watch and govern his own tongue finding by experience the mischief of evil tongues he will beware of doing the like to others he will teach his tongue to bless when they curse he will beware of slaining his Religion by an unbridled tongue Jam. 1.26 If any man seemeth to be Religious and bridleth not his tongue that mans Religion is vain Sect. 6. The Sufferings of Jesus Christ under the ungrateful disacceptance of the good works which he did for them and among them NEver did any perform such and so many good Works for a people as Jesus Christ did for the Jews and yet never was any man so ungratefully disaccepted rejected and abused Act. 10.38 God anointed Jesus of Nazaret with the Holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed with the Devil for God was with him It is unutterable how many good works Jesus Christ did among them even visible and bodily good which all men saw a child might run and read them besides these invisible spiritual and heavenly works of Redemption and Salvation which he did for them But what acceptance did he find among them see Luk. 4.28 29. All they in the Synagogue that heard these things were filled with wrath and rose up and thrust him out of the city and led him to the brow of a hill whereon the city was built that they might cast him down headlong Though he taught them the heavenly Doctrine of the Gospel and confirmâ—d his Doctrine with many Miracles yet they believed not Joh. 12.37 Though he had done so many Miracles before them yet they believed not on him yea they went about to stone him Joh. 8 59. Then took they up stones to cast at him but Iesus hid himself and went out of the temple going through the midst of them and so passed by Ioh. 10. â—1 They took up stones again to stone him At another time he saw meet to hide himself from them Ioh. 12.36 Iesus departed and did hide himself from them At another time he was fain to doe the same him and the product was the Institution of a Gospel Church a stone hewed by the Axe and Hammer of Temptations is fit to be built into a Gospel Church and to injoy full Communion at the Lords Table and voting in the Church and one fitted and humbled by Temptations is fit to undertake the Gospel Ministry in a Gospel Church Iesus Christ suffered himself to be tempted both by men and Devils among men he suffered himself to be tempted both by bad good men consider some Instances of his being tempted by bad men Math 22.15 16 17 18. Then went the Pharisees took counsel how they might intangle him in his talk they sent out their Disciples with the Herodians saying Master we know that thou art true and teachest the way of God in Truth neither carest thou for any man for thou regardest not the persons of men tell us therefore what thinkest thou is it lawful to give Tribute to Cesar or no but Jesus perceived their wickedness and said why tempt ye me hypocrites Luke expresseth this or the like Temptation more fully Luk. 20.20 and they watched him and sent forth spyes which should feign themselves just men that they might take hold of his words and so they might deliver him unto the power and Authority of the Governour See another Instance Math. 22.35 36. then one of them which was a Lawyer asked him a question tempting him saying Master which is the great Commandment in the Law see another Instance Luk. 10.25 and behold a certain Lawyer stood up and tempted him saying Master what shall I do to inherit eternal life see another Instance Math. 16.1 the Pharisees also with the Sadduces came and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from Heaven unto these he maketh a sad Answer Mark 8.12 and he sighed deeply in his Spirit and saith why doth this Generation seek after a sign verily I say unto you there shall be no sign given to this Generation See another Instance Math. 19.3 the Pharisees also came unto him tempting him is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause See one Instance more Luk. 11.53 54. and as he said these things unto them the Scribes and Pharisees began to urge him vehemently and to provoke him to speak of many things laying wait for him and seeking to catch something out of his mouth that they might accuse him It was an hour of great Temptation that Jesus Christ was in He also suffered himself to be tempted by good men as it appeared in that famous Instance of Peter Math. 16 22 23. Peter took him and began to rebuke him saying be it far from thee Lord that shall not be unto thee but he turned and said unto Peter get thee behind me Satan thou art an offence unto me for thou savourest not the things that be of God but those that be of men Jesus Christ suffered himself to be tempted of the Devil he gave Satan leave