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
the distress was such that no creature could help them out of it nor give counsel and advice in the case only they cry to God Lord appear in the Mount Now the Lord who useth to pity and relieve his children that cry unto him in their distress relieved these his dear Children as appeareth Math. 1.20 21. while Joseph pondered on these things behold the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying Joseph thou Son of David fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost and she shall bring forth a Son and thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Oh what an ease and lifting up of heart was this to Joseph and what a fulness of confirmation of the Faith of Mary and consolation to her distressed Soul when Ioseph related the same unto her Now Ioseph with all speed consummated according to their publick manner their marriage and took her to his house Yet they now both being divinely informed of the divinity of her Conception and well knowing the promise of the Messiah and the expectation of all Israel of his coming about this time and believing the Divine Oracle that this is he by consent and agreement out of holy reverence to the Lord he knew her not till she had brought forth her first born Son and he called his Name Iesus Math. 1.25 3. Though the present breaking forth of this Scandal was now divinely and wonderfully prevented from coming forth by Ioseph yet they were in danger that some degree of Scandal might break forth by an over soon time of her Birth and in that case they never want observers of the time of marriages especially when there be signal Characters upon the Parents or concerning the Birth as it was eminently in this case But we shall see in the sequel of the History that the Divine Providence of God did draw two Mantles over this danger whereby the matter was put out of the reach of all observations of any man viz. The first Mantle was that by occasion of Caesars Taxation of all the world under his dominion Ioseph and Mary were called yea compelled though she was big with child to go to Bethlehem the City of David and there the child was born far from home where there was no body had any knowledge of these things to make so critical an observation The second Mantle was that by reason of Herods persecution Ioseph and Mary with the child were by Divine direction sent away to Egypt where they stayed about two years even till Herods death after which thâ— Lord called them home again and though they went and lived in their own City yet now the child was upward of two years old and all thoughts of such a curious observation were utterly buryed in forgetfulness So that the danger of a seeming Scandal was quite covered by these two Mantles which we shall again touch in the time of them Now the Lord took care for the confirmation of the Faith of Ioseph and Mary and all the believers in those times and for the confirmation of our Faith and the Faith of all the Churches to the Worlds end And this the Lord brought about by putting it into the heart of Mary to goe with the consent of her husband to visit her Couzen Elizabeth the Mother of Iohn Baptist of whose Conception six Moneths before Maryes the Angel had informed Mary Now therefore this holy couple being agreed in holy reverence to the Lord to abstain from the use of the marriage bed Mary did speedily upon the consummation of the marriage goe unto her Couzen Elizabeth ver 39. and Mary arose in those dayes and went into the hill Country with haste into a City of Iudah and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the Salutation of Mary the babe leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost and she spake out with a loud voice and said blessed art thou among Women and blessed is the fruit of thy Womb. And whence is this to me that the Mother of my Lord should come unto me for lo so soon as the voice of thy Salutation sounded in mine Ears the babe leaped for joy and blessed is she that believed for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lo d. Vpon this Divine and Oraculous Speech of this holy Woman Elizabeth whose holiness is recorded Luk. 1.6 Zacharias and Elizabeth were both righteous before God walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless by the mouth of this holy Woman did the Holy Ghost now speak upon which Speech many great things may he observed for the confirmation of Maryes Faith and ours Mary knew that no humane means had inform d Elizabeth of the great things that the Angel had said unto her and of her Conception by the power of the Holy Ghost and of the great promises of God which the Angel uttered touching her Son it was the Holy Ghost that had informed her of all these things and now the Holy Ghost filled the heaâ—t and mouth of this good woman to utter all this for the confirmation of heâ— Faith it was the Holy Ghost that informed her of Maryes submission of Faith at heâ— Conception it is the Holy Ghost that now saith unto her blessed is she that believed this must needs raise the Faith and joy of Mary to have such a Divine Testimonâ— given unto all that had passed The power of the Holy Ghost upon the sanctifieâ— heart of Iohn the babe in the Womb is a great confirmation of Faith that the babâ— conceived in Maryes Womb is the Messiah and that Iohn is his forerunner It waâ— no small comfort to Mary that this holy aged Woman did so bless her and thâ— fruit of her womb about which she had lately been in such bitterness and distresâ— The Angels speech to Ioseph had comforted her and now the Holy Ghost doâ— greatly add confirmation to her comfort and joy That Elizabeth by the Hoâ—â— Ghost should call her the Mother of her Lord and prove it by the miraculous leaping of the babe in her Womb for joy O what heavenly and heart ravishing joâ— did all this work in the holy heart of Mary And that it did thus raise and raviâ—â— her heart appeareth in Maryes holy and heavenly Answer by the assistance of tâ—â— Holy Ghost who now hath filled her heart as he had done unto Elizabeth as appeareth Luk. 1.46 c. to 56. and Mary said my soul doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit rejoiced in God my Saviour for he regarded the low estate of his hand-maid for behold from henceforth all Generations shall call me blessed for he that is mighty hath done to me great things and holy is his Name and his mercy is on them that fear
as it is written in the Law of the Lord every Male that openeth the Womb shall be called holy to the Lord. And to offer a Sacrifice according to that which is said in the Law of the Lord a pair of Turtle doves or two young pidgeons which is the poor womans offering thus did they perform all things according to the Law of the Lord. In this low condition of our Lord in these black dark times which were now at the dore the Church did need strong confirmations of Faith to believe that this babe is the Messiah the Saviour of the World the King of Israel Therefore the Lord did now provide two eminent and heavenly Testimonies by two eminent reverend and holy persons old Simeon and old Anna who were wrought by the Spirit at this time into the Temple and there did give their publick Testimony touching this babe that he is the Lord our Redeemer Luk. 2.25 ad 39. The first Testimony is given by old Simeon whose person is described ver 25. behold there was a man in Jerusalem whose Name was Simeon and the same man was just and devout waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Ghost was upon him This holy man had a preparatory Revelation by the Holy Ghost which is expressed ver 26. it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lords Christ This man his coming at this time into the Temple was by an Impulse of the Spirit of God which is expressed ver 27. and he came bâ— the Spirit into the Temple and just then the Parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him after the custome of the Law Then did this reverend old man take the babe into his arms praised God ver 28. then took him up in his arms and blessed God and said ver 29. Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace according to thy word namely that particular promise that the Holy Ghost had told him that he should not dye till he he had seen the Lords Christ and now he seeth hath him in his Arms and saith ver 30. for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people a Light to lighten the Gentiles in the glory of thy people Israel This illustrious Prophesy touching this babe by this reverend aged man did put the hearts of Ioseph and Mary into a great wonderment v. 33. And Ioseph his Mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him whether they expressed their wonderment to this reverend man it is not said but it is probable they did because he turneth his speech to them v. 34. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother behold this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be spoken against yea a sword shall pierce through thine own Soul also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed Though his mother was happy in bearing him yet must look to share in the calamityes that will follow the entrance of the Gospel and in the sufferings which Jesus Christ must undergoe The other reverend and aged witness is old Anna whose person is described ver 36.37 Anna a Prophetess the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asser she was of a great age and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity and she was a Widdow of about eighty four years who departed not from the temple but served God with Fastings and Prayer night and day and she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise to the Lord and spake of him to all that looked for redemption in Israel Though her words are not particularly expressed yet the scope of them may be gathered from these words she spake to all them that looked for redemption in Israel All these things are mighty confirmations of Faith and all very needful especially for Mary and Ioseph â—onsidering the sad dayes that are coming upon them CAP. IIII. The first bloudy Persecution that befell our Lord Jesus Christ while he was an Infant by the cruelty of Herod HErod knew himself to be an usurper of the crown of David and Kingdom of Judah He knew that the Jews waited for a Redeemer a king a branch of the stock of David and now he was eminently informed by the wise men of the east that the king of Judah the right heir of the Kingdome of David was born and that he was born at Bethlehem therefore his politick wicked heart doth presently plot and contrive how he may lay his bloudy hands upon him He could not tell nor could they inform him how long he had been born therefore to make sure of that he craftily and privily called the wise men and asked them how long it was since the star first appeared to them supposing he might be born at the first appearance of that star Therefore Math. 2.7 he privily called the Wise men and enquired of them di igently what time the Star appeared who answered that it had appeared to them two years Math. 2.16 Thus hath he digged deep and laid his plot so that he would be sure as he thought to find him out Which being done Mat. 2.8 he sent them to Bethlehem with this Order and appointment Goe search diligently for the young child and when ye have found him bring me word again that I may come and worship him also What worship he intended to doe unto him may justly be interpreted by his after acting in that matter he meant to have worshipped him with the sword Thus was this bloudy Persecution plotted and contrived in the jealous and bloudy heart of Herod He made no doubt but that as these wise Men came first to him to enquire after the child so they would in good manners have taken their leave of him at their departure especially he having ordered them so to doe It is not said that they did make a promise so to doe or that he required such a promise of them in policy he would not so doe lest they should have smelt something thereby But they when they had found the Child worshipped him and made their offerings to him Mat. 2.12 being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod they being under no ingagement so to doe they departed to their own Country another waâ— How easily might Herod have found out both the Parents and the child by searching Davids Genealogy which Caesar's Taxation had caused to be searched and made publick at Bethlehem Or how easily might he have apprehended him by laying wait for him in the Temple when the child was publickly dedicated to God But God hid these means and opportunityes from him they came not into his heart because he rested and confided as carnal Politicians use to do in his own deep cunningly contrived Stratagem This likewise also was a wonderfull wisdome of God
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
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
pleasure of the Lord whatever it be Jesus Christ hath suffered Temptations deeper then any ever did and therefore experimentally knoweth how to relieve us CAP. X. The Sufferings of Jesus Christ in the Garden I Contract pass over many things in the Sufferings of Christ come to his last Sufferings in the last twenty hours of his life in this world which last Sufferings were begun in the Garden and finished at Golgotha In the Garden he suffered a Soul Agony under the sence of the Curse and punishment due to the sin of Man and under the sense of the bitter cup of death which he was now going about to drink And no sooner was there an Intermission of the rigour of that Agony but presently he was betrayed and fell into the hands of his Enemies that sought his life I shall briefly touch some parts of the History to shew how and when he came into this garden and how he was there betrayed 1. The Covetousness of Judas and a desire to pilfer and rob the bag which Jesus his Master had trusted him with was the bottome wheel of this Treason as appeareth Joh. 12.4 5 6. Then said one of his Disciples Judas Iscariot Simons son which should betray him why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor This he said not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief had the bag and bare what was put therein It is a dangerous temptation to a covetous man to carry another mans Bag. Mathew sayes Math. 26.8 the Disciples had indignation shewing that Judas spake from an heart filled with anger and disdain against his Master that had caused him to lose such a fat gob of gain and the rest of the Disciples in their innocency were led to consent to Judas Mark 14.4 saith some of them had indignation but John sheweth that it was the spirit of Judas that so vented himself and why he did so The rest that consented to him were only such as were misled in their ignorance of Judas his treachery So soon as Judas had thus vented his indignation the Devil entered into his Soul and suggested to him how he might have his gains made up that he had now lost he might get a great piece of money if he would but goe to the chief Priests and offer to betray his Master to them And that it was thus Luke testifieth Luk. 22.3 4. Then entered Satan into Judas Iscariot being one of the twelve and he went his way and communed with the chief Priests and Captains how he might betray him unto them Both Mark and Luke say they promised him money but Mathew tels the Sum they bargained for Math. 26.15 for thirty pieces of silver And now his covetous heart was fatted but he must be sure to perform his bargain else he should not have his wages therefore now he studied and watched for an opportunity to doe what he had agreed to doe The love of money may well be said to be the root of all evill Satan can bring about a covetous heart to run himself into horrid sins for small gains Did he esteem the bloud of a man of his Lord and Master our Saviour at no greater price But so it was prophesied Zach. 11.12 13. We see also what a dangerous thing it is to suffer our hearts to be blown up into indignation for the loss of an opportunity of getting gain especially unjust gain for the Devil hath an open door thereby to enter into the Soul and to put them upon some wicked designs 2. The execution of this treason this bloudy bargain was also done in a devillish Fury viz. because Jesus Christ discovered his treason and him to be the Traitor before all the Disciples to his disgrace Math. 26.25 Then Judas which betrayed him said Master is it I Ah bold wretch whose Conscience is sâ—ared with pieces of silver That which Jesus answered was Thou sayest it Yet this was not so full a discovery he made a shift to bear that but the full discovery is recorded by John who was a Speaker in the matter Joh. 13.23 ad 28. Now there was leaning on Jesus bosome one of his Disciples whom Jesus loved Simon Peter beckned to him that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake he then lying on Jesus breast saith unto him Lord who is it Jesus answered he it is to whom I shall give a Sop when I have dipped it And when he had dipped the Sop he gave it to Judas Iscariot the Son of Simon And after the Sop Satan entered into him Then said Iesus to him that thou doest do quickly This Sop did so plainly discover Iudas that the Devill entered with it and swelled his heart into a resolution of a present execution of his bloudy bargain and treason O what a Soul did this man eat the Passover withall Hypocrites though they love their Sins and designs yet they cannot abide to be seen and discovered The discovery of a bloudy Plot will make an Hypocrite rage as it did Judas but it will make a godly heart very thankful to God that hath prevented his sin as it was with Daâ—id 1 Sam. 25.32 33. when Abigail did prevent him from murdering Nabal Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who sent thee this day to meet me blessed be thy advice and blessed be thou that hast kept me this day from coming to shed bloud When the Spirit of God enters with preventing Counsel the effect is gracious But if Satan enter with the discovering Sop he will blow up Hell fire in that bosome as it was with Jâ—das 3. When Judas went out in that deâ—illish Fury that Satan had blown up his heart into it was night Ioh. 13.30 A fit season for Traitors and Hypocrites to act their designs and works of darkness in It was after day-light was shut in for then it is said to be night it might be near eight of the Clock for he tarried untill the Passover was celebrated And when Jesus Christ meaneth to institute the Gospel Sacrament of his Supper he first hushed and hasted away Judas and when he was gone then he instituted the Lords Supper and finished it with a Psalm and after it he had that gracious Conference recorded by John in Chapters 13 14 15 16. And after all this he uttered that gracious mediatorial Prayer Chap. 17. All these were most heavenly Preparatoryes for his own Sufferings and the Sufferings of his Disciples which were not small And although that word be recorded Ioh. 14.31 arise let us go hence yet they did not goe prâ—sently for they went not till that Prayer Cap. 17. was uttered as appears Joh. 18.1 when Jesus had spoken these words he went forth though some of the discourse in these Chapters might be discoursed by the way By this pattern of Christ his celebration of the Supper here is much instruction how we ought to keep our Sacramental Communion
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
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
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