Let them on their Knees approach him on the Cross and reverently cover his naked Body We cover him when our Charity clothes his Servants and hides the infirmities of his little ones Let them with diligence unfasten the Nails and gently draw them out of his Hands and Feet We draw them out when we freely obey his Will and loosen our Affections from cleaving to the World And when they have thus rescued their adorable Lord let them Nail themselves in his stead to the Cross And this we do when we put off the old Man and Crucifie the Flesh with its Affections and Lusts Prayer O Blessed Jesu whose Sacred Body was laid in a Sepulchre after thou hadst Suffer'd Death for the life of my Soul make me so frequently to renew in my mind the memory of thy precious Death and Burial as may put me upon a serious preparation for my own And since thou didst not design to stay any longer on Earth then till thou hadst made a way for thy ransomed to pass let not my heart be set on any condition how comfortable soever it may appear to my senses which may make my Soul desire to be absent from thee But cause me to grow daily less and less affected towards the uncertain pleasures of Life and more and more in love with thy Eternal Joys Grant me My Redeemer a true Penitent Heart for all my former neglects of Thee Deliver me from the punishment my Sins deserve and from the Sins that deserve those Punishments That when I close mine Eyes in Death I may rest in thee and being absent from the Body may be refresht in the Repositories of thy Mercy So shall my Time be govern'd with thy Grace and my Eternity Crown'd with thy Glory SECT XLIX Of the Sealing and Watching the Sepulchre of Christ NOW the Chief Priests and Pharisees upon mature Consideration revolving all the accidents of the past day and comparing the circumstances of his Words and Actions with the Predictions of the Prophets concerning the Messiah and the wonderful ways by which they were compleated and especially remembring those Mystical words which before they pretended they could not understand and z Vid. Sect. 16 r.s wrested to a seditious intent against their worship of his building again in three days the Temple they should destroy and that he had given such his restoration from the Dead as a a Luk. 14.29 30. sign at their request to convince the World of his Truth they came to Pilate early on the next day that followed the day of the Preparation being the great Sabbath of the Pascal week wherein all other People were at their devotion and Prayers so restless and industrious were the Powers of Darkness to have buryed the Gospel in the Grave of Christ and said b Mat 27.63 64 65 66. Sir we remember that that deceiver said while he was yet alive after three days I will rise again Command therefore that the Sepulchre be made sure until the third day lest his Disciples come by night and steal him away and say unto the People he is risen from the dead So the last error shall be worse then the first Pilate said unto them ye have a watch go your way make it as sure as you can So they went and made the Sepulchre sure sealing the stone and setting a watch Thus did that obdurate and impenitent People harden themselves by those wonders which should have wrought their Faith and Conversion and justly feared the last error would be worse then the first hereby Prophesying ignorantly against themselves For their Sin became unpardonable because seeing they would not see But blessed be God all their obstinacy has been subservient to the Magistery of his Providence which orders all things prudently by the means of others They thought to have accomplished their malice against Christ and at the same time fulfill'd the determinations of his Will They thought by sealing the mouth of the Grave and setting a strict Guard over the Corps to have buried his Memory in perpetual silence and all the while were giving Testimony to his Resurrection and setting a sure seal to the Truth of his Divinity For securing and watching the Sepulchre with such diligence they have placed the Resurrection the Foundation of our Faith beyond doubt to future Ages and much firmer then if they had never watcht This is that which gives Glory to the Empire of Christ and whereby we perceive its Divine Power and the miraculous extent of its Conquests whose establishments have been so contrary to all humane ways When we consider how he was exalted by the lowest abasements glorified by his ignominies enriched by his Poverty lives by his Death and is Eterniz'd by his Sufferings And that our Religion ever oppos'd by the Wicked is nevertheless Victorious and Triumphant over impiety enricht by its Losses Glorious by its Persecutions establish'd by its Totterings and honour'd by its Wounds This is that which transports humane understanding into an admiration of the greatest of our Christian Profession Prayer O Crucified Jesu the Fountain of Love Let the wonders of thy Mysterious Incarnation and Death set all the Powers of my Soul on work that I may desire and pant after thee that I may Admire Adore and Imitate thee that I may take sweet and Heavenly delight in the Communion of thy Cross that I may with Praise and Thanksgiving receive thee into my Soul attend and watch thee till thou arise with thy Graces there There will I Love only Love always love to entertain thee SECT L. A Reflection on the foregoing History with Thanksgiving for the Death of Christ AND now my Soul thou hast seen this Great Mystery God Incarnate dying on the Cross to make satisfaction to the infinite Justice by the dignity of his Person Suffering in the Nature which had offended whereby thou art raised to a lively hope of obtaining Heaven which otherwise thou hadst lost and been for ever miserable in Hell with what words with what Affections with what Actions wilt thou glorifie the Author of so inestimable a gift as this O depth of Love Abyss unsearchable of the infinite Mercies of God! That God should delight to make his own Son a Sacrifice who would not suffer Abraham to offer his That God should design it from the foundation of the World foreseeing we should stand in need of it and without it perish Everlastingly That God should reveal it when we no ways deserv'd it nor could on any account hope for it and command us to seek the Benefits of it and enable us to obtain them by his preventing and assisting Grace O God Eternal who hast redeemed my Soul by the precious Blood of thy dear Son I am less then the least of all thy Mercies and of all that Truth which thou hast revealed to thy Servant I praise thee I bless thee I worship thee I extol thee I give thee thanks for thine infinite Compassion O Lord God Heavenly King God the Father Almighty O Lord the only begotten Son Jesu Christ Lamb of God Son of the Father that takest away the Sins of the World have Mercy upon me receivâ— my Prayer and unite me to thy self in the flames of Love For thou only art the Saviour thou only O Christ with the Holy Ghost art most high in the Glory of God the Father Glory and Honour and continual Thanks be given to Thee Lord God Almighty The Father the Son and the Holy Ghost for the Redemption of the World by the Death and Passion of Christ whereby thou mightst exalt us to Eternal Life Amen FINIS
all the powers of his Soul whereby he has shew'd us that Prayer is our Treasury where all Blessings are kept in store our Armory where all our Strength and Weapons are laid the only great Preservative and Conservation of our Peace the very Vital heat of Divine Love the Sanctuary of Troubles and the Cure of Grief and that the Principal Lesson of saving Christianity is to desire only what God will and to execute all the Decrees of Divine Providence as our chiefest helps to attain Perfection Prayer O Heavenly Guide of our Devotion and Love who hast Commanded us in thy Word and Taught us by thy Example to offer up Prayers in all our Necessities Give unto thy Servant the Spirit of Supplication a great Desire and a pregnant Hope and let the Beams of thy Holy Spirit descending from above enlighten and kindle it with great Fervors holy Importunities and an unwearied and unsatisfied Industry that I may seek Thee and obtain thy Blessing by the assiduity of an ardent Zeal and the perpetuity of Religious Offices Sanctifie my Heart that I may Sanctifie thy Name and let my Oblations come before thy Presence and the lifting up my Hands be a daily Sacrifice Unite my Prayers to thy Powerful Intercession and to a Communion of those Offices the Blessed pay at the Celestial Altar that my Prayers being hallowed by thy precious Merits may Ascend thither where thy Glory dwells and whence Mercies and Benedictions Descend upon the Church So shall I be wrapt in Contemplation of thy Bounties absorpt in consideration of thy Beauties and wholly dive into thy Heart by the Sacred ardours of Love SECT XII Of the Glorious Effect of Christ's Prayer and God's Fatherly Kindness to all that call upon him Faithfully BLessed are all they whose daily exercise is to converse with God by Prayer offered with an humble Resignation to his Will a Patient Hope and a Strong Faith since the mighty Effects recorded in Scripture seem to have raised us to a certain Omnipotency That m Matt. 21.22 whatsoever we ask in Prayer believing we shall receive and that all things shall be n Mark 9.23 possible to him that so believeth This is the Sovereign Charm which has o 2 Kings 20.5 cured Sicknesses made the p 1 Sam. 1.20 Barren fruitful stopt the mouths of q Dan. 6.20 Lions quencht the violence of r Dan. 3.28 Fire open'd and shut the storehouses of f Jam. 5.17 18. rain arrested the t Jos 10.12 Sun and stay'd the Chariot of the Moon driven away u 2 Cor. 12 8. temptation overcome the * Mark 9.29 Devil procur'd the Ministry and Service of x 2 Kings 19.35 Dan. 6.22 Angels Thus while the Holy Jesus was combating with the Powers of Darkness and striving with Death in an inexpressible Agony at his reitterated Prayers to God there appear'd an y Luke 22 4◠Angel to him from Heaven strengthning him by representing to him how necessary it was that he should die for the Glory of God whose Justice Power Wisdom and Mercy should shine forth in his Sufferings That unless he did die all the World should Perish but his Precious Blood should obtain their Pardon open the Gates of Heaven repair the ruin of the Angels establish a holy Church upon Earth productive of innumerable adopted Children to God whom himself should make heirs of the Celestial Paradise That his Passion should be soon over his Father so far hearing and granting his Requests that the Cup should speedily pass from him and that it should be followed by a Glorious Resurrection with Eternal Rest and Glorification of his Humanity with the Exaltation of his Name above all with a Supreme Dominion over Hell and Death and that his Father would make him King of Kings and Prince of his Holy Catholick Church Such are the Kindnesses the Almighty has in store for all that place their whole Strength and Confidence in his Goodness such is the admirable Dispensation of Spiritual Comfort wherewith he Visits and Relieves his Servants That thô he does not always take away the Evil because of the ends of his Providence which are to be served yet he comforts Internally and gives power to bear it Tho' he does not immediately remove the pressure and it may be will not till the z 2 Cor. 12.8 third time that is after a long expectation a patient Sufferance and a lasting Hope yet in the intrim he a 1 Cor. 10.13 supports with a secret Hand and in his own time will refresh the Soul with Visitations of his Angels and the comforts of his Spirit Know this also that not only the Holy Angel but the b Matt. 18.20 Lord of Angels himself stands by every Godly Person when he Prays and tho' he drew before his glorious Presence the Curtain of a Cloud which renders him invisible yet he takes care we shall not perish and in a just season dissolves the Cloud and makes it distil healing Dew Sweet as Manna Pleasant as Nard and wholesom as the breath of Heaven Prayer Heavenly Father by the Agony of thy Son I cannot but perceive so great must have been thy Terror at the remembrance of thy incensed Majesty and before the Tribunal of thy Justice For if thou enter into Judgment with thy Servants who shall answer thee one of a Thousand And if I bring not the Nuptial Garment I must hold my Peace and be cast out But when I consider thine infinite Compassions and Mercies vouchsaft to all that call upon thee faithfully and how thou hast sent forth thy holy Angels to Minister to those who shall be Heirs of Salvation My Spirit revives and I cast my self wholly into the Armes of thy Protection beseeching thee to give them the charge over me to direct and keep me in all my ways that with them and Archangels and all the Host of Heaven I may Laud and Glorisie thy Holy Name for my Preservation and Salvation for ever SECT XIII Of the Apprehension of Christ by his own Permission and the Horror of Judas's Hypocrisie THe Afflicted Jesus supported by these Refreshments against the worst events that were to follow returns to his Disciples and awaking 'em c Matt. 26.45 46. tells 'em they might now sleep on and take their rest if they thought it a time longer to remain there where danger was so near and the Betrayer at hand And scarce were they offering to depart thence when Lo Judas who had sold him d John 18.3 came with Lanthorns and Torches because of the Obscurity of the Night and a great multitude with Swords and Staves from the Chief Priests and Elders of the people to take him A Captain now of Murderers and the Furious Rabble who was so lately a Companion of Christ a Betrayer of his Master and but just risen from his Table forgetful of his Piety Hope and Office and preferring a little filthy Lucre before the inestimable
Men unto me Gentiles as well as Jews to believe on me Prayer Be it so my Jesu O draw me to thy self and by the Eye of Faith let me ever behold thee as suffering for me that I may ever love thee But alas while I now seek thee I can represent to my Thoughts nothing but the Shadow and Appearance of a Body all crusted over with gore Blood I look for Limbs but find nothing but Wounds I look for the Ensigns of a glorious Redeemer I discern only a Skin all bloody fastned to a Cross between two Thieves and strugling under the Convulsions of Death But O Eternal Father that which has made thy Son thus vile and wretched in the Eyes of the World has made him most precious and acceptable in thy sight Look down we beseech thee from thy Sanctuary and thy Dwelling-place in Heaven and behold the Sacrifice which our great High-Priest and thy holy Child Jesus offers unto thee for the Sins of his Brethren and be favourable to the Multitude of our Iniquities Behold the Voice of our Brother's Blood crying unto thee for Mercy upon us Behold the Lamb who is without Blemish now bearing our Sins in his Body upon the Tree and look not upon us as we are in our selves but in the face of thine Anointed who becomes thus obedient unto Death to deliver us from the Guilt of Disobedience And let not the Scars of his Wounds ever depart from before thy Presence that thou may'st ever be mindful in all our Transgressions how great a Ransome he has paid for us and let his Blood be as the Rainbow in thy sight ever about thy Throne in Heaven that thou mayst no more destroy every living thing Behold O Creator the Humanity of thy Son and be ever merciful to the Debilities of our Nature Behold the torn Members of thy beloved and remember our Substance that we are but Dust Behold the Sufferings of the Redeemer and forgive the Sins of the Redeemed SECT XXXVIII Of the Scituation of Christ's Cross between two Thieves and the Title which Pilate affixed to it BUT it was not enough for the cruel Jews to murder the Messiah by the painfullest kind of Death unless they might stain his very Passion too by placing him in the q John 19.18 midst of two egregious Malefactours which for his greater Disgrace they had brought to suffer with him that by Strangers he might be thought to be a Partaker in their Crimes if not the worst of all by his Station between them and so it might be reported in the Neighbouring Regions That three notorious Villains were that day Crucified at Jerusalem of which the Impostor that went by the Name of Jesus was as being the chief placed in the middle whereby the Scripture was fulfilled which saith of him And he was reckoned among the r Isai 53.12 Transgressours Nevertheless there were some Reports went of the Purity of his Doctrine the Greatness of his Miracles the Sweetness of his Conversation and the Beauty of his Person above all the present view of his Sufferings and admirable Patience and Clemency towards his Crucifiers fill'd the Hearts of many with heavy Sighs and their Eyes with an Inundation of Tears And Pilate among the rest who best knew his Innocence and that for Å¿ Mat. 27.18 Envy he was deliver'd and condemn'd prick'd in his Conscience and fearing the Consequence lest he might be defam'd or accus'd to Caesar for consenting to the Death of such a wonderful Person without declaring the Cause of his Condemnation according to the Custom of the Romans towards Malefactors order'd his Accusation thus to be written and to be fastned to the top of the Cross t John 19.19 Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews that a Rumour at least might pass he was not put to death as a Prophet of the Jewish Nation or as the Son of some immortal God but as a Spreader of Sedition among the People and one who affected a Kingdom in Jewry For so they had accus'd him u Luk. 23.2 we found this Fellow perverting the Nation and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar saying that he himself is Christ a King And when Pilate sought to release him they cried out saying * John 19.12 If thou let this man go thou art not Caesar's friend Whosoever makes himself a King speaks against Caesar This was the meaning of Pilate by the Title whereby he Thought to signifie the Cause of his Condemnation But as in the Prediction of Caiaphas concerning his Death the Spirit of God had another Intention different from the Design of the High-Priest so likewise in this besides what Pilate thought as well as in the Mock-Purple the counterfeit Scepter and the bloody Diadem of Thorns which were mystical Representations of a real Kingdom there was intended him a Name and a Kingdom without end and he was signified to be the true Messiah the King both of Jews and Gentiles whose x Zech. 9.10 Psal 72.8.11 Dominion should extend from one Sea to the other and to whose Scepter the Kings of the Earth should submit their Majesty That this might be more manifest to the whole World it was directed by Providence in the y Joh. 19.20 three chief Languages in Hebrew because of the Jews who gloried in the Law in Greek because of the Wise-men and Philosophers of the Gentiles in Latine because of the Romans who then govern'd the Jews That it might be known throughout the whole World that almighty God had anointed this Jesus to be a King over all Nations and the z Dan. 7.14 Prophesie of Daniel might be fulfill'd which saith There was given him Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him his Dominion is an everlasting Dominion which shall not pass away and his Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed The Jews therefore envy'd him this Title lest every Tongue should confess afterwards that he was the Lord to the Glory of God the Father and desir'd Pilate that it might be a John 19.21 alter'd or abolish'd For they were now ashamed because it might be thought by Strangers this was their King who was so ignominiously put to Death But neither did b John 19.22 Pilate endeavour to alter it nor would the Divine Providence suffer it this Title being given him by the Will of God Prayer O King eternal who for the Humiliation of thy Beloved and his Obedience unto Death even the Death of the Cross has highly exalted him and given him a Name which is above every Name That at the Name of JESUS every Knee should c Phil. 2.9 10 11. bow of things in Heaven in Earth and under the Earth and that every Tongue should confess That Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father Grant we beseech thee Conversion to Infidels to all Jews Turks and Hereticks that thy way may be known upon Earth thy
THE HISTORY OF Christ's Sufferings Composed out of the Prophets Evangelists Apostles Fathers and other holy Writers WITH Aspirations or Prayers Suitable to each Section In Order to an entire Resignation of the Soul to the Will of God according to the Example of Christ By DUDLEY GARENCIERS Rector of Waverton near Chester Phil. 2.5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus LONDON Printed for S. Lowndes over against Exeter-Exchange in the Strand 1697. THE PREFACE O God Eternal the Father of Mercies who desirest not the Death of a Sinner but rather that he should turn from his Errours and be saved and hast given me this Opportunity of Contemplating the Passion of the Lord Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent into the World for the Redemption of Man through Faith in his Blood Grant me I beseech thee suitable Apprehensions to the Dignity of so adorable a Subject That all vain Thoughts carnal Desires Prophaness and Infidelity being secluded from my Soul I may penetrate into the hidden Mysteries of the Cross on which thou hast erected the Throne of thy Love admire and praise the Methods of thy Wisdom at which the very Angels in Heaven have been astonished learn thence the Duties of Faith Hope Charity and all other Christian Graces and in perfect Imitation of my Saviour's Virtues trample under foot this World and obtain Happiness and everlasting Life THE CONTENTS SECT I. OF the time of the Passion and our Preparation for the Thoughts of it Pag. 1. SECT II. Of the Mercy of Christ toward Judas and the Ingratitude of that Disciple 6 SECT III. Of the Divine Predestination in respect of the Betrayer 11 SECT IV. Of the Grief of Christ for the Apostasie of his Servant the dreadful Condition of such as fall from him and the happy Privileges of persevering in the Faith 13 SECT V. Of the miserable Departure of Judas from the Presence of Christ and his selling him to the Chief Priests 20 SECT VI. Of the Benignity of Christ supporting his Disciples in the Absence of the Betrayer against the time of their Trial. 27 SECT VII Of the Legacy of Comforts Christ left to the Faithful and his leaving Jerusalem for a Terrour to Infidels 37 SECT VIII Of the Agony of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane 42 SECT IX Of Christ's Prayer in his Agony and his admirable Resignation of himself to God 52 SECT X. Of Christ's Anxiety for the Security of his Disciples 56 SECT XI Of the Candour of Christ towards his sleeping Disciples and his Continuation in Prayer to God 61 SECT XII Of the Glorious Effect of Christ's Prayer and God's Fatherly Kindness to all that call upon him faithfully 66 SECT XIII Of the Apprehension of Christ by his own Permission and the Horrour of the Jews Hypocrisie 70 SECT XIV Of the Rigour of Christ's Enemies at his Apprehension Pag. 82 SECT XV. Of the sorrowful Separation of Christ and his Disciples his first Examination before Caiaphas and incomparable Clemency towards his Enemies Pag. 86 SECT XVI Of the False Witnesses that arose against Christ and the Wickedness of the High Priest 96 SECT XVII Of Peter 's Fall Pag. 106 SECT XVIII Of Peter 's Rise Pag. 109 SECT XIX Of the Barbarity of the Multitude towards Christ Pag. 113 SECT XX. Of the Prosecution of Christ before Pilate and the miserable Despair of Judas thereupon Pag. 116 SECT XXI Of the deplorable End of Judas Pag. 126 SECT XXII Of the Wonderful Providence of God in the manner of Christ's Death Pag. 128 SECT XXIII Of the Obstinacy of the Jews to put Christ to Death and of the true Nature of his Kingdom Pag. 133 SECT XXIV Of Pilate 's first Declaration of Christ 's Innocence Pag. 144 SECT XXV Of Christ's being brought before Herod and the Unhappiness of Atheistical Greatness Pag. 148 SECT XXVI Of the Indignities done to Christ by Herod and his Officers Pag. 151 SECT XXVII Of Pilate's second Declaration of Christ's Innocence Pag. 154 SECT XXVIII Of Pilate 's third Declaration of Christ's Innocence and of the Scourging of his Body Pag. 158 SECT XXIX Of the Injuries done to Christ by the Roman Soldiers Pag. 164 SECT XXX Of Pilate's fourth Declaration of Christ's Innocence Pag. 166 SECT XXXI Of Pilate's fifth Declaration of Christ's Innocence Pag. 170 SECT XXXII Of Pilate 's sixth Declaration of Christ's Innocence his giving Sentence against him at the Importunity of the Jews and the Miseries which ensued thereupon to their Nation Pag. 178 SECT XXXIII Of the Procession of Christ to Golgotha Pag. 190 SECT XXXIV Of Christ's Prediction of the Miseries of the Jews Pag. 196 SECT XXXV Of the Bitter Potion given to Christ at Golgotha Pag. 201 SECT XXXVI Of the Crucifixion of Christ. Pag. 206 SECT XXXVII Of the Exaltation of the Cross 214 SECT XXXVIII Of the Scituation of Christ's Cross between two Thieves and the Title Pilate affixed to it Pag. 218 SECT XXXIX Of the Partition of Christ 's Garments anâ— the Irrision of the People Pag. 22â— SECT XL. Of Christ's Intercession to the Father 〈◊〉 his Crucifiers Pag. 2â—â— SECT XLI Of the Penitent Thief and Christ's Meâ— towards him Pag. 23â— SECT XLII Of the Sorrowful Interview between Chrâ—â—â— and the Virgin Mother his Compassâ—â—â— towards her and Love to Saâ—â—â— John Pag. 2â—â— SECT XLIII Of Christ's complaining of his being forsaken of God Pag. 252 SECT XLIV Of Christ's Thirst upon the Cross 262 SECT XLV Of those Words of Christ It is finished and the Resignation of his Spirit to the Father Pag. 268 SECT XLVI Of the Astonishment of the Creatures at the Death of Christ. Pag. 276 SECT XLVII Of the Piercing the Side of Christ with a Spear Pag. 281 SECT XLVIII Of the Burial of Christ's Body by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus Pag. 287 SECT XLIX Of the Sealing and Watching the Sepulchre of Christ. Pag. 297 SECT L. A Reflection on the foregoing History with Thanksgiving for the Death of Christ. Pag. 301 ERRATA PAge 2. line 10. read and Martyrdom l. 25. dele and so contrary p. 6. l. 22. r. his Soul p. 22. l. 17. d. Of. p. 25. l. 24. for great r. sweet p. 30. l. 11. r. Sons of God p. 36. l. penult r. thy boundless p. 40. l. 10. r. out of my p. 48. l 2. r. destitute p. 60. l. 17. r. knew it not p. 67. l. 1. r. overcome p. 68. l. 25. r. draw p. 69. l. 3. r. my Terror p. 71. l. ult d. to p. 77. l. penult r. which cursed p. 79. l. 1. r. that now p. 87. l. 7. r. Enemies p. 103. l. 19. r. was not the first p. 127. l. 18. d. But. p. 133. for Sect 18. r. Sect. 23. p. 135. l. 13. r. Protomartyr p. 141. l. 9. r. on Euphrates p. 182. l. 5. r. and whom they p. 185. l. 19. r. paps of their women p. 192. l. 24. r. had past p. 223. l. 20. r. of his death l. 22. d. That p. 231. l.
of Judicature but were a concourse of Bloody Murderers He knew as he was God that whatsoever he should answer they would pervert to an accusation against him and that by his answer he should rather irritate than appease them and that the more he satisfied 'em the greater would be their Sin especially that it was written of him in the Evangelical Prophet z Isai 53.7 He was oppressed and Afflicted and yet he opened not his mouth He is brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter and as a Sheep before her Shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth Cajaphas the more enraged at his silence supposing it was done out of contempt to his Person and vext that neither the Witnesses nor his own Authority could draw an answer from him which might bear colour of Censure collects all his Malice and Rage together and darts it at him in one terrible Exorcism a Mat. 26.63 I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ the Son of God agreeable to the last refuge of Satan in the distracted and furious man b Mark 5.7 I adjure thee by God that thou torment me not Our Saviour not mov'd by the Power of Exorcism for if there were no c Numb 23.23 Inchantment against Jacob much less cou'd there be against his God but least it might not consist with the honour which is due and ever to be paid to the Sacred Name or he might seem wanting to the saving Truth which he came down on Earth to reveal to the World or the Jews might take occasion thereby to defend their perfidiousness and propagate their error after his departure saying That Nazarene being askt by our High Priest and adjur'd by the Tremendous Name whether he were the true expected Messiah would not answer that he was otherwise we had believ'd him and receiv'd him as such For these Reasons he would not here be silent that he might leave them without Excuse but in two Sayings declares the Truth d Mat. 26.64 Thou hast said or it is true which thou hast said I need not answer thou thy self hast said it Or rather he directs it to his wicked Conscience Why seekest thou so deceitfully to draw from me that which thou knowest already so well I need not tell thee I am the Christ since e John 11.47 because I raised up Lazarus from the Dead thou would'st put me to death Thou hast not hitherto believed me for my Miracles and intendest never to believe me for my Words Nevertheless I will yet more clearly confess and I tell you plainly Hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting at the Right hand of Power Å¿ Mat. 26 64. and coming in the Clouds of Heaven But none could thus ascend to equal Power with God none could again descend with the Clouds of Heaven which the Jews themselves expounded of the Glorious Attendance of the Angels unless the true Messiah and Son of God With these words he passionately endeavours to move 'em with the Terrors of the Lord at the consideration of that just Judgment they must at last undergo before his Tribunal how Vile and Abject soever he now appeared since he had tried in vain to reduce 'em by his Innocency and Benefits But now Hypocrisie and Ostentation as well as Obstinacy reign in Cajaphas q Mark 14.63.64 He rent his Clothes and said what need we any further Witnesses Ye have heard the Blasphemy What think ye And they all condemned him to be guilty of Death Why What have ye heard O ye blood-thirsty men but that great Truth of the coming of Christ's Kingdom which the Patriarchs Prophets and all good men long'd for with earnest expectation Where is your Anointing ye Priests and Sons of Aaron Where are the Prophecies ye Scribes and Teachers which long before mentioned these things of the Messiah Where will be your portion ye Sons of Israel who renounce an Interest in the Saviour of the World and condemn the Son of the Great King and think by killing him to seize upon his Inheritance r 1 Chron. 22 8. David was not suffer'd to build the Temple because his hands had shed Blood And how shall you build up the House of the Lord who imbrue your hands in the blood of God What Herod thô otherwise cruel will not dare and what Pilate tho' a Barbarian shall be afraid of you have wilfully pronounc'd against the Lord of Life Therefore shall the Samaritans and Heathen be your Judges yea out of your own mouth shall ye be Judged how much your impiety was greater than theirs and your Injustice crueller than that of Herod or Pilate It was the first time that Cajaphas had heard he call'd himself the Son of God and declar'd himself to be come from Heaven as appears by manifest Å¿ John 5.18 passages in the Holy Evangelists He might much more easily have believed that Truth knowing how he had raised Lazarus from the Dead then the poor blind Man for the cure of his sight or Nicodemus from the general report of his Miracles who t John 3.2.9 33. both confess that if he had not been of God or God had been with him he could have done nothing But here out of Vain Glory he rent his Clothes a sad Presage prophetically foreshewing that the Priesthood shou'd be rent from him and that Nation and crys as if he had heard some strange thing which personated Admiration became also the type of his own punishment and consign'd the Nation to utter destruction and the whole Assembly devoted to his will the Priests the Pharisees the Scribes and Elders â— Mark 14.64 all conspir'd in the same Guilt Whereby it is evident whatsoever he had said they were all ready to confirm it when immediately with one Voice without any Hesitation all condemn him to be guilty of Death There was no body here had a word to speak for the Innocent none desir'd a time for defence of the Prisoner neither Reason nor Justice nor Humanity are regarded but Cajaphas will have it so and Christ must die Thus was our Saviour suppposed guilty of Blasphemy who in all things sought his Father's Glory and proclamed worthy of Death who did no Sin neither was guile found in his Mouth and that holy Name abus'd and vilifi'd which is above every Name and to which every knee should bow Because we were really Blasphemous and Wicked and had transgrest all the commandments of our God from the guilt of which he came to deliver us by his Condemnation Prayer O Spotless Innocence who wert judged wrongfully but shall come to judge the World in Righteousness Grant Impartialtiy to all the Judges of the Earth that they Administer true Justice without Covetousness or Respect of Persons Sincerity to all Witnâ—sses that they may bear Testimony to the Truth Integrity to all the Professors of thy Holy Precepts that they may serve thee in purity
of a Traitor pour the full Torrent of their Insolencies upon him p Matt. 27.36 31. repeating all their former Affronts and Torments Reviling Smiting Buffeting and Spitting upon him till weary of these sad preludiums of Misery and to be more seriously cruel they pull'd off from him the Ludibrious Purple and put his q Matt. 27.31 own Raiment on him for his greater confusion before the all people that he might more readily be known by 'em his Face being so Spit upon Swell'd and Bloody that he was no longer to be known by that Only they leave him the Crown of Thorns as they thought for the greater aggravation of his Sorrows but design'd by Providence as an Emblem of his Sovereignty that Christ being once Crowned should be a King for ever nor should evermore any Enemies prevail against his Kingdom Thus was the r Matt. 21.38 39. Heir led forth of his own Vineyard by these wicked Husbandmen to be put to Death the true Sin-offering whose Figure under the Law was to be burnt Å¿ Lev. 9.11 without the Camp as a Thief a Seducer a Blasphemer and a Rebel Revil'd Abus'd and Cursed of all according to that of the Prophet t Psalm 109.22 24. I go hence like the shadow that departeth and am driven away as the Locust I was made also a reproach unto 'em and when they lookt upon me they shaked their Heads He who had delivered 'em from so great Captivities and from the Idolatries of u Exod. 16.6 Egypt and * Esra 7.6 Babylon and admitted 'em into the Borders of his Sanctuary is now forc'd by 'em out of his own Inheritance and in the company of Thieves drag'd to Slaughter O how unlike was this leading forth to that whereby he brought their Fathers out of Bondage when he suffer'd no Man to do 'em x Psalm 105.14 36 wrong and reproved even Kings for their sakes He brought them forth also with Silver and Gold there was not one feeble person among their Tribes There has past but five days since he was received into the City more desirable then the Passover it self and now he must become a Sacrifice to their detestable inconstancy Then he came riding in Triumphant manner as the Prophet had y Zec. 9.9 John 12.15 foretold of the true King of Sion now scarcely stands under the weight of miseries Then was he accompanied and adorn'd by his Disciples now they are all fled and absconded Then were the ways z John 12.13 Luke 19.36 Strowed with Flowers Palm-branches and Garments of the People but now are his Feet dasht against the Stones Then did the whole multitude that went before and followed give praise unto God with a loud voice and to him the Acclamations due to a Mighty Prince and the Son of the Eternal King saying a Mark 11.9.10 Hosanna Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord Blessed be the Kingdom of our Father David that cometh in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest but now they cry away with him away with him Crucifie him and we will have no King but Cesar And that his passage might be the more dolorous they lay upon his Shoulders a ponderous Cross to add to his pains and make the people believe he was the greatest malefactor that was to suffer that day And he b John 19.17 bearing his Cross went forth A great sight And if beheld with Piety a great Mystery in which was fulfil'd that of Isaiah where he says the c Isai 96. Government shall be upon his Shoulders for the Principality of Christ is his Cross whereby he has d Col. 2.15 overcome Hell and Death and for which God has highly e Phil. 2.9.10 11. exalted him and given him a Name which is above every Name that at the Name of Jesus every Knee should bow of things in Heaven in Earth and under the Earth and that every Tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father Nevertheless how sorrowful must it be to Christ thus to depart out of that City which he had always highly favour'd and equal'd to the Heavens for Power and Riches and over which he had so lately f Luke 19.41 shed a flood of Tears in compassion of the desolation which should come upon her How grievous must it be to support with his bruised Flesh a cross of that length that it could only be drag'd by him for none would touch the g Deut. 21.23 accursed tree to assist and every shock must necessarily create to his wounded Shoulders and Head afflicted with Thorns intolerable pains Yet this was the least part of the Cross of Christ or rather he bore at the same time a greater a more grievous a Spiritual Cross his h Psal 22.14 heart being in the midst of his body like melting wax moulten in the fiery furnace of Gods wrath For the Lord i Isai 53.6 laid on him the iniquities of us all and he became a k Gal. 3.13 curse for us every one being accursed that l Deut. 21.23 hangeth on a tree that we might be deliver'd from the curse of the Law and be made the m 2 Cor. 5.21 Righteousness of God in him Prayer O wounded Love and Prince of the Afflicted thou barest our Cross with an invincible Patience and we Perfidiously shun thine tho' thine be temporal and light to us and that which thou barest for us would have crush'd us to Eternity Thou hast taught us that he that will n Matt. 10.39 save his life shall lose it and he that will lose it for thy sake shall find it grant us therefore we beseech thee a suitable resolution that we may take up our Cross and follow thee and suffer us not to sink under it nor to shrink from it That so we may carefully undergo all the Sacred Acts and Offices of true Repentance which is the Cross of Sinners in imitation of thee our dear Master who hast suffer'd for us the utmost malice of Men and left us an Example that we should fol-low thy steps SECT XXXIV Of Christ 's Prediction of the Miseries of the Jews NOW all this while there o Luke 23.27 went with him a great company of people and of Women which also bewail'd and lamented him Not but that many good Men likewise were concern'd on the sad occasion whose inward sighs accompanied the Womens Tears but the Female as the more contemptible Sex dared more freely to express their grief before the Magistrates which by the Edict of Tiberius was forbidden towards suffering Malefactors And the saying of our Saviour was fulfil'd which he had spoken p John 16.20 Verily verily I say unto you ye shall weep and lament but the World shall rejoyce The Chief Priests and their Ministers went joyfully to see him die and to fill their Eyes with the Tragick Spectacle but his Disciples follow'd
Saving Health to all Nations and that they submitting to the Kingdom of thine Ancinted and living in Obedience to his Holy Gospel may be saved with the Remnant of the true Israelites and all that confess him to intercede for us at the Right Hand of thy Majesty in Heaven SECT XXXIX Of the Partition of Christ 's Garments and the Irrision of the People IN the mean time the Souldiers who had nail'd him to the Cross and done the cruel part which belong'd to their Office took his d John 19.23 24. garments and made four parts to every Souldier a part and also his coat Now the Coat was without seam woven from the top throughout They said therefore among themselves let us not rent it but cast lots for it whose it shall be that the Scripture might be fulfill'd which saith e Psal 22.18 They parted my raiment among them and for my vesture they did cast lots These things therefore the Souldiers did And what could they do more They handled him most Barbarously to please the cruelty of his Bloody Persecutors They had nailed him to the Cross to make sure of Death which the Chief Priests had so much desired That they had seized the poor spoil of his dying body more out of lust then any great Advantage to show and boast of it afterwards to their Companions And now they seem to be at a loss how to torment him further When behold least any kind of Ignominy should be wanting to the lamentable acerbity of his Death the insulting multitude in a malicious derision call upon him to save himself f Mark 15.29.30 31 32. And they that passed by railed on him wagging their heads and saying Ah thou that destroyest the Temple and buildest it in three days save thy self and come down from the Cross Likewise also the Chief Priests mocking said among themselves with the Scribes He saved others himself he cannot save Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the Cross that we may see and believe g Matt. 27.43 He trusted in God let him deliver him now if he will have him for he said I am the Son of God It is a Divine thing to Sympathize and Humanity requires pity towards a real offender because we are all subject to the same infirmities but much more towards the Sufferings of an innocent Man and cruel mockings to an Afflicted person are as so many darts adding torture to the Soul into whose wounds we should rather pour the Balsom of the most tender and compassionate Speeches For who knows how soon if left of God he may stand in need of the same commiseration But his inhumane Murderers were not satisfied to have loaded him with reproaches during his Tryal and after sentence unless they prosecute him to the very grave and when his light is set ecclipse his Fame The pains of his body they thought too little unless they might vex his departing Soul herein exercising a malice purely Diabolical to pervert him from God in his last conflict They are no longer able to reach his Body with their Hands and now they would blast his Soul with their infectious Breath heaping together in one whatsoever before they had accus'd him of or now would have the ignorant People believe to root out the credit of his Miracles and Doctrine and to imprint in the Multitude a disbelief of his Truth As if they had said ye see now and nothing can be more plain what a notorious Seducer and Impostor he was who pretended to save others and cannot save himself and how little reason we have to believe his commission from God who is thus deserted and disowned by him For he is the God of Glory and not of Infamy the God of Life and not of Death And can he be any other then accursed of his Maker who dies this accursed Death for cursed is every one that hangeth on a Tree Or will God redeem his People by such an accursed wretch In this therefore were fulfilled those several Prophecies h Psal 35.15 16. In mine adversity they rejoyced and gathered themselves together yea the very abjects came together against me unwares making mows at me and ceased not With the ffatterers were busic mockers who gnashed upon me with their Teeth And again i Psalm 3.2 Many one there be that say of my soul there is no help for him in his God But God forbid that to prove himself the Messiah Christ should have descended from the Cross He might easily have done it and the Devil would have been glad of it for then the great work of Our Redemption had been hindred whereas now the grand accuser of our Elder Brother and all his evil Ministers have laboured in vain to suppress the Glory of out Lord. For the more they have endeavoured to diminish it the more it is encreased and and spread abroad in the World They derided him before Cajaphas Pilate and Hâ—rod They bound him as a Thief and represented him as a Traitor They spit upon him as a Toad and thirsted for his Death and to effect it prefer'd a Murderer They Buffeted Mockt and Crown'd him with Thorns They loaded him with his Cross Crucified him between two Thieves in the most Ignominious and Publick place They envyed him the very Title under which he Suffer'd and now all together Chief Priests Rulers Scribes Elders and People and all that had any occasion to pass by or curiosity to come thither except some few faithful exclaim'd upon him and slander'd him to obscure him in perpetual Oblivion But God has confounded all their Malice and the more they have contemn'd him has Glorified him the more and k Acts 5.31 exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of Sins and given him a l Phil. 2.9 name above every name to be ador'd by every creature Prayer O God the Father Merciful and Gracious whose pleasure it is we should confess thy Holy Child Jesus to be the Prince and Saviour of the World I Beseech thee root out of my wavering heart all Scruple Irreligion and Prophaness and from my Tongue Dispute and Blasphemy That whatsoever he has taught to be believ'd I may embrace whatsoever he has commanded to be done I may practise and in the ways of the Cross which he has sanctified I may follow him Lighten mine Eyes with the beams of that liberty which thou grantest to thy Children of serving thee in full assurance of Faith that I sleep not in the Death of Sin Call back my thoughts from their frequent wanderings in those barren Regions where the Truth is doubted and fix me by thine infinite Grace and Mercy that I may ever adore and love thee through my Crucified Lord. SECT XL. Of Christ 's Intercession to the Father for his Crucifiers OUR Blessed Saviour was now in the greatest Agonies to which the Actions or Slanders of his
Enemies could reduce him and when they had spent all the poison of their lips that they were now reduc'd to an involuntary silence He that he might leave nothing undone which might magnifie his Mercy above all their provocations and to give an undeniable proof of his Ministery that he came to reconcile the World to God broke into this most admirable intercession for them m Luke 23.34 Father forgive them for they know not what they do O God! O Goodness O Love What Word what Speech what Voice is this He was not more sensible of the madness of the People then he was compassionate of their infirmities nor griev'd with their Malice so much as Merciful to their Sins Hitherto they had objected against his being the Messiah and now he will give them an undoubted demonstration opposing himself by Prayer to the Anger of his God Heavenly Father whose Honour I have observ'd whose Commandments I have fulfill'd and at whose Will and Pleasure I was sent into the World and being of thy substance took humane Nature to be a Pacifier Intercessor and High-Priest to make reconciliation for the Sins of the People who now hang bleeding and dying upon the Cross in the midst of so many Reproaches Torments and Griefs offering up my self to thee in Tears and Crys for the Sins of all whoever offend thee Spare thy people Good Lord spare them and wash away their Sins in my propitiatory Blood Adam transgress'd and his posterity became abominable and the whole World lies in wickedness Even thine own Inheritance which thou hast chosen out of all People and lov'd above the rest of the works of thy Hands have added this weight to the guilt of all their Sins to deny the Holy one whom thou hast sent and to spill my innocent Blood upon the Earth For how great is my Dignity which they have set at nought How infinite is thy Majesty they have despis'd in me Nevertheless tho' hitherto thou hast justly dealt with Man in shutting Heaven against his transgressions and opening Hell and sending Death into the World nor shouldst thou ever justly spare without satisfaction to thy Eternal Justice nor could all the Blood of Men make that atonement yet now behold me who am come to satisfie thee by the dignity of my Divinity joyn'd to the nature of offending Man Man's Salvation depends on me on me alone who came an exile hither from those Essential Joys I had in thy Bosom to suffer Cold and Heat Hunger and Thirst Nakedness and Weariness Watchings and Temptations Afflictions Persecutions and this cruel Death What Griefs what Torments have I not endur'd in this tender body of Flesh What Sorrow what Streights what Agonies have I not experienc'd in this frail constitution of Mortals Was there ever any grief like mine wherewith thou hast afflicted me in thy fierce anger What remains then O Father of Mercies who hast n Exod. 34.6 proclaim'd thy self Gracious Long-Suffering and abundant in Goodness and in Truth forgiving Iniquity Transgression and Sin but that thou should'st lay aside thine Anger Remit Pardon and Pour forth thn Grace My Blood crys not for Vengeance as o Gen. 4.10 Heb. 12.24 Abel's did against his Murderer nor do I appeal to thee now as a Judge but as to a Father I implore thy Mercy unless there shall be any who shall account it unholy and trample my Covenant under their Feet I have Pardon'd who Suffer'd and am Crucified Pardon thou those whom that thou mightest Pardon thou sentest me into the World thus to suffer Now all manner of Sinners which shall ever be in the World they are my Tormentors they are my Crucifiers as well as these Jews and Romans about me I Pray therefore for all as I Suffer for all and offer my self a ransom for all But more particularly for these my Brethren because no Sin can equal theirs that thou wouldst be pleased to be favourable to their Blindness for they know not what they do The vail of Darkness is over their Hearts and this covering of Flesh has clouded me that they cannot discern my Divinity but hereafter they will look on him whom they have pierced and mourn and the World shall acknowledge me their Crucified Lord. Is it not by thy permission that Satan has thus blinded them and hid from their understandings the Mystery of my Incarnation Destroy not therefore an ignorant Nation who are to fulfil the designs of thy Wisdom and Mercy For did they know me they would not Crucifie me and notknowing me they are subservient thy Providence After the same goodness likewise do thou ever pardon all that offend against thee ignorantly and out of Infirmity that they may return to thee and Repent and be acceptable through the Merits of this my Sacrifice which I here offer for their Ransom Let my Death overcome their Death Let my Resurrection despoil their Hell And when I return Triumphantly to thee let me also make a way for my Ransomed to pass Prayer O Bleeding Love my Dear Intercessor who hadst the Patience thus to Pray for thine Enemies among so many Torments and Deaths wherefore didst thou not Pray thy Heavenly Father that he should mitigate thy own Griefs for thou neglected'st the Beloved of God and interceededest for his rebellious Servants Thy Hands and Feet were nailed to the Cross thy tender Flesh torn with Whips thy languishing Head pierced with Thorns and all the parts of thy Body disjoynted and strugling under inexpressible pains Why would'st thou not pitty thy Sacred Body who hadst such compassion of thy Tormentors Why would'st thou not be eas'd from temporal pains who wast so desirous to have them freed from the Eternal Art thou not bound to defend the Innocent And why dost thou not defend thy self who art most eminently and undoubtedly such by the Testimonies of thy Betrayer and Judge But thou becomst an Advocate for the guilty Thou excusest a Sin which cannot be paralel'd Without being desir'd thou Prayest for the Actors and for the love of those who kill thee art content to die And why all this Gracious Lord but for my instruction that I a Sinner should have compassion towards Sinners that I who commit so many Sins my self should not only forgive such as do offend me but also excuse and Pray for them that so I may become a Son of thy Eternal Father and a true Disciple of thy Beneficent Love O fill my Heart with thy Exuberant Charity and transform me into thine own likeness Dissolve into meekness all pittiless Spirits abolish with thy Grace all Mortal Vengeances and convert with thy Clemency those Tyrannous Souls who know not what it is to Pardon when once Offended That after thy Example we may embrace our Adversaries quench their passions with Tears of Love and become acceptable to that infinite Charity wherewith thou redeemest the the Sinning World SECT XLI Of the Penitent Thief and Christ 's Mercy towards him NO sooner had the
afflicted Spirits transfixt and wounded each others Soul even to the agonies of Death he to teach us the tender respect and faithful care due to our temporal Parents having nothing now left free but his Tongue directs it to her to support and comfort her with the most proper Appellation and Provision which the time and circumstances of his passion would permit saying g John 19.26 Woman behold thy Son For thô he had usually call'd her by this h John 2.4 Name to show he was truly born of her and thereby had fulfil'd the i Gen. 22.18 Heb. 2.16 promise to Abraham taking on him his Seed and being made of a k Gal. 4.4 Woman yet more especially in this juncture he seems to do it in compassion to her Person overwhelm'd with Grief and surrounded with Enemies Lest by any kinder sort of expression he might add to her excessive sorrows or by his owning her for his Mother by calling her so the Barbarous multitude might be enraged against her but this general term secured her from that danger whilst at the same time it raised her attention to what he spake for her consolation with respect to his beloved Disciple who stood near As if he had said I know O Woman the inexpressible anxiety of thy tortur'd mind the tender Love Compassion and Sorrow thou must needs have for an only beloved Son dying the most ignominious and painful Death I know also thou standest here wishing by thy presence to revive me to die with me or to die for me and all these things I kindly accept But alas they do not more ease me then they wound me unless I might be restor'd whole to thy breast which is so sorrowfully afflicted for me without that all remedies are vain all comfort is to no purpose Nevertheless seeing in the bitterness of thy Soul pierced through with so many sorrows thou expressest to me the tenderness of the most compassionate Mother thou art not to be left without consolation and the last kindnesses my circumstances will permit Thou seest in what Torments I hang here with what difficulties I am straitned in what agonies I decay at what a price and loss I redeem Sinners with what Love and Charity I embrace Mankind It remains only now I should likewise support thee who hast done to me the best offices of an earthy Parent and from whose Love none of these Ignominies have separated me Fear not therefore to be deserted after my Death or to want a representative of my Filial care There is John thy Kinsman and otherwise most dear to us he shall become thy Son in my stead to observe and honour thee all the days of thy life To whom I will now speak in thy presence and deliver him in my place thy Servant and Guardian Then turning to that Disciple he said l John 19.27 Behold thy Mother John thou hast hitherto abundantly answer'd thy calling by Faith Love and Constancy to the End And I will now reward thee in a more excellent manner then ever thy desires could wish or hope Thou hast m Mark 1.20 left thy Calling thy Parents thy self ventured with me into the n John 18.15 Judgment Hall follow'd me to this Golgotha this place of Death and here attendest me while all the rest of my Disciples being ashamed and afraid have forsaken me and fled and I will now recompence thy Faith in me with the greatest pledge and assurance of my Love Thou hast seen my Glory in my o John 17.1 2. Transfiguration Thou sawest me yesterday sweating in the p Mâ—rk 14.33 Garden Thou seest me now bleeding on the Cross I have hitherto carried thee q John 13.23 leaning on my Breast nor have I witheld any Mystery from thee and now having but one thing dear to me in the World besides the Souls for which I die I recommend and commit it to thy charge Behold the Mother of Christ becomes thy Mother Thou seest me now near Death Thou seest mine acquaintance are hid out of my sight Thou seest there are many Adversaries on every side I assign commend and make her thine And do thou as a Son Obey and Minister to her Defend and Honour her all thy days being assur'd as thou acknowledgest her for thy Mother I shall acknowledge thee in Glory for my Brother At the sense of this the Holy Virgin Mother disolving in Tears and into the Love of God answered in thought wanting Language sufficient to express the Transport of her tender Affection and the obedient Disciple with a profound and joyful Humility took her from that time into his r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 19.27 care and Administred to her as a Son Prayer O Love Incarnate the most sensible of all Loves who having been begotten by Eternal Generation knowest the Love of an Eternal Father and born in time has experienced the kindness of an earthy Parent to a beloved Son and hast taught us by thy Example Obedience to both in the worst of Afflictions and Death it self Implant in our Hearts an intire resignation to the Will of our Heavenly Father and a true Honour for our Earthy Parents that so we may be partakers of that happy Condition which is Å¿ Exod. 20.12 promised to the one in this life and of those everlasting Joys which thy Coheirs through thy intercession hope for in the other SECT XLIII Of Christ's complaining of his being forsaken of God THere is a secret pleasure in doing Acts of Grace tho' we our selves are in the greatest straits for being a Ray of Divine Goodness communicated to us for the Glory of God it carries along with it a pleasing satisfaction a reward surpassing all carnal enjoyments By which there may seem to have been hitherto some allay of Joy scatter'd among the sorrows of this Crucified Love while he was doing things agreeable to his nature pitiful towards his Enemies gracious to the Thief careful of his Mother bountiful to his Disciple But now whatsoever might support him begins to fail and the wrath of God due to the sins of all mankind pours down upon him in a full storm insomuch that nature her self becomes confounded at the sufferings of her t Heb. 1.1 Creator and draws over her Face an unusual veil of weeping Clouds and thick Darkness to express her Grief conceal the Tragedy and hide her self from the wrath of the Almighty For it was now full Moon at which time the Sun cannot suffer Ecclipse the Passover being always v Exod. 12.18 Lev. 23.5 Numb 28.16 then celebrated and yet there was * Matt. 27.45 Origen contra Cels l. 2. Tertul. Apolog. Aug. Ep. 80 ad Hesychium Suidas in vita Dionysii Darkness over the whole land from the sixth hour until the ninth that is from x Vid. Sect. 33. twelve to three in the Afternoon Which as it declar'd the Divinity of our Saviour to whom the Creatures pay'd such an
acknowledgment so did it demonstrate his Purity and Innocence at whose Sufferings the Elements were thus troubled and was also a sign to that Rebellious People who had so often y John 2.8 desir'd one from Heaven and a sad presage that the light of Truth was shortly to be z Luke 19.42 hidden from their Eyes and that both they and all that deny him should be cast into a Matt. 8.12 outer Darkness All this while the Divine Nature rested that the Human Nature might suffer but it upheld the Humane that that it might overcome Till at last Jesus wholly opprest with the load of his Fathers wrath and quite wearied with the pains due to our sins cryed out or b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matt. 27.46 roared in the most lamentable manner My God My God Why hast thou forsaken me Which violent Ejaculations gave an evident proof of the truth of his Humanity and of the greatness of his Sufferings for the confutation of all future Hereticks who should either deny him to have been Man or to have truly suffer'd in the Flesh The voice of so Dismal and Terrible a cry being a sure sign of an inexpressible Grief and that it proceeded purely from Humane Affections Nevertheless he complains not in the least of his ignominious punishment cruel pains or any other desertion whatsoever tho' there were so few of his friends with him and his very Enemies stood from him at adistance not only as accursed but an infectious Object But he complains only of his being forsaken of God That 's the height of all Sorrows That 's the Abyss of the state of Misery For where God is not all is Hell What could God forsake his Son or did not Christ see the c Heb. 12.2 Joy that was set before him and to which he should arrive through that cloud of Affliction Yes he did But not to comfort him All things were now tending to compleat his Passion to add extremity to his Pains and infinity to his Miseries For it had been determined by the councel of the Godhead that his Glory should encrease his Shame his Knowledge his Grief his Majesty his Misery his Happiness his Punishment O what a d Rom. 8.32 delivery as speaks the Apostle what a desertion and giving up was this Where Strength was the Tormentor Knowledge a Vexation Joy and Glory a Persecution Are all the Sufferings that ever were in the World comparable to those of the Crucified Jesus Or did ever any Martyr before cry out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me As if he had said O my Eternal Father the Father of Mercies and the God of all Consolation I turn to thee but neither seek nor obtain any Relief or mitigation of my Torments For I voluntarily submitted my self to this burthen and whatsoever thou shalt add to it I will patiently bear Nevertheless tho' thou succourest not my complaints yet will I not cease to declare my Grief least I should endeavour by my silence to frustrate my Enemies of their Joy or seem not to suffer for 'em what I do Who tho' they see my body torn on this Gibbet may yet imagine my mind to be untoucht and that I suffer but as others have done I therefore testifie and with this my speech declare the inward anguishes of my Soul to all these who here afflict me and thus I imprint it in the hearts of all those who shall hereafter believe on me for thy desertion is the height of all my Miseries a desertion properly due to their Persons My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Others invoke thee but once as their God because tho' they want thy Glory yet by their Sins they deny thee But I call upon thee as my God and my God both as partaker of thy Nature and as a fulfiller of thy Divine Will And yet thou castest me away from thee and makest me to suffer the Just for the Wicked at the hand of the unjust Thou deliverest me up to Sinners to be slain by 'em for their Sins Thou severely chastisest thy own Son that thou mayest spare thy Rebellious Servants Behold I am e Psal 88.3 c. counted as one of them that go down into the pit and even as a Man that hath no strength Free among the dead like unto them that are wounded and lie in the grave who are out of Remembrance and cut away from thine hand Thou hast laid me in the lowest Pit in a place of Darkness and in the Deep Thine Indignation lyeth hard upon me and thou hast vexed me with all thy Storms I stick fast in the mire where no ground is I am come into deep f Psal 69.2 waters so that the floods run over me I am destitute of thy Help debarr'd of all Comfort suspended from Refreshment nor does the Blessedness of my Glory relieve me or make my Cross less dolorous Without me are aggravating Circumstances of misery in my Flesh is Pain in my Soul is Anguish intolerable Anguish even unto Death My Flesh is most afflicted because most sensible My Soul is most straitned because most understanding My Flesh grieves and my Soul Grieves and what does not grieve being cast out of the Comfort of thy Sight Tribulation and Anguish Tyrannize over me and every moment by every thing my Sorrows are enlarged I grieve for the Abuse of thy holy Name I grieve for the Trouble of her that bare me I grieve for the Pusilanimity of my Disciples I grieve for the Scandal of all that believe on me I grieve for the Errour of these that crucifie me I grieve for all the Sorrows the Saints have suffer'd or ever shall endure for my sake I grieve for the ungrateful who shall crucifie me g Heb. 6.6 afresh and put me hereafter to the like open Shame But especially for all those who once believing on me shall afterwards apostatize from the Truth there remaining no more h Heb. 10.26 27. Sacrifice for their Sins but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation which shall devour them That after so many Sweats and mortal Agonies my precious Blood should be spilt in vain and that of so many Millions who might now be brought through the Red-Sea of my Blood out of the Bondage of Sin there is none to give Glory to God but this Stranger and he a Thief who enters with me into the promised eternal Rest Why hast thou delivered me Why hast thou forsaken me Why hast thou subjected me to this Sorrow this Death Why am I destitute of Divine Consolation abandoned to Humanity and deliver'd as a Prey to all the outragious Sadnesses of Mind Are all my Sufferings but for one or hast thou not laid on me the i Isai 53.6 Iniquities of all O! how great and intolerable is the Guilt of Sin for which thou wouldst have my Blood to expiate for which thou hast exposed delivered and forsaken thine
only begotten and beloved Son O! my God who can be able to comprehend the force of thine Anger but he that feels it or even feeling it among so many Perplexities to recount the Effects of thy just Indignation O thy admirable and ineffable Love which in this method of Wisdom and Mercy thou hast declar'd towards the unworthy Sons of Men Thou wantest not the Good of all the Creatures being compleatly happy in thy self nor is thy Glory encreas'd by their Haleluja's or diminish'd by their Blasphemies yet thou exposest me thy Son thy only Son the only Son of thy Love the Darling of thy Bosom and the Delight of Angels for sinful Man for Dust and Ashes for a thing of nought and makest me in his stead a k Psal 22.6 worm and no man the very outcast and off-scouring of the people But so it has pleas'd thee Eternal Father Lord of Heaven and Earth and I thank thee And if there be any thing more lay it upon me I gratefully accept it I am ready to suffer it My God my God our Will is the same Mine is That thine may be done thine is That I should save Man Great is the Power of the Pains I suffer But much more violent are the Ardours of my Love That though thou should'st yet further desert me and wicked Men become never so ungrateful yet will I not be separated from the Love of thee or from the Love of those whom thou hast given me No thou hast forsaken me lest thou should'st forsake me Thou hast humbled me that thou mayst exalt me Thou hast cast me away to receive me more honourably Hear therefore thy chastised Son who languishes under thy Wrath for the Guilt of others and cries for Mercy upon their Souls Hear O hear who hast sent me to this end that thou mightst accept my Sufferings for them My God my God I know thou hast forsaken me for a sure Token thou wilt never forsake them for whose Pardon and Salvation Behold I dye Prayer Propitious Wonder forsaken of God that I should never be forsaken and dying upon the Cross with unconceivable Pains commensurate to thy Love and the Misery of Mankind that I should live with thee eternally By what Names shall I adore thee By what Title shall I magnifie thee All are too short too scanty to express thee Love only Love nothing but Love will reach thee my Jesu thou art all Love No Sufferings no Love has ever been like thine for me No Grief no Love but thy own should ever exceed mine for thee O purest tenderest dearest Love refine soften sweeten and love me into all Love like thy self Let me live O my Saviour by the Love of thy Cross let me glory in it let me study it above all things In the Love of thy Cross let me take up my Cross daily and crucifie my sinful Lusts and Affections which persecuted tormented and crucified thee SECT XLIV Of Christ's Thirst upon the Cross BY this time the external Injuries of Wind and Heat the internal Violence of incessant Pains the continual Distillation of his precious Blood together with the intensive Longings of his Soul after the Salvation of the Nature in which he suffer'd above all his Sorrow for the present Desertion had reduc'd the holy Jesus to a Feaverish Drought and the last Struglings of an exhausted Life by declaring of which he might move their Humanity as well as signifie his infinite Affection towards it And therefore knowing that all things were now accomplished that the l Psal 69.22 Scripture might be fulfilled he saith I m John 19.28 thirst And surely since they had heard That whosoever should give a n Matt. 10.42 Mark 9.41 Cup of cold Water to drink in his Name to the meanest of his Servants should in no wise lose his Reward and seen so lately how bountifully he had remunerated the poor Thief for a Verbal Acknowledgment we might justly expect so small a Kindness would easily be granted in his last Extremity which was impossible to restore his flying Spirits but graciously accepted might be rewarded with everlasting Comforts in his Heavenly Kingdom Let us see then what Commiseration this so beloved People have for this excessive Lover of their Salvation that for the Love of it would be deserted of God and purchase it at the Effusion of his inestimable Blood Let us see whether first their Hands will administer Water to cool and moisten his parched Tongue according to the o Psal 22.15 Prophet now cleaving to his Gums or their Eyes yield Tears to refresh his Soul He thirsts for their Redemption through intolerable Anguish but calls 'em not to partake in his Sufferings for it Nor does he propose an Oblation for their Iniquities to be procur'd with Pains or Cost at the Expence of dissolv'd Pearle or Diamonds but gives an Opportunity by shewing his Necessity for that so remunerable Refreshment of a little Water He had pass'd the sorrowful Night without Sleep in Travels Reproaches and bloody Sweats In the Morning he had been hurried a second time to the Council thence to Pilate from him to Herod from Herod again to Pilate and there scourged and immediately thence to Golgotha with a ponderous Cross He had now been above three hours nail'd to it his Blood and Vital Humour continually distilling till his natural Powers were quite drained his Strength p Psal 22.15 dried up like a Potsherd and his Heart in the midst of his Body like melting Wax And is there none of those who have applauded his q John 7.46 Doctrine admir'd his r Matt. 9.33 Miracles administred to him of their Å¿ Luke 8.3 Substance confess'd and own'd him to be a t Matt. 21.11 Prophet in Israel and the u Matt. 14.33 Son of the eternal God that will relieve him with the common Element which Providence has prepar'd for every Creature and not deny'd to the x Matt. 5.45 Unjust The Water is not here to be fetch'd this Son of David with the same Peril it was brought his y 1 Chron. 11.18 Father through the Camp of the Philistines from the Gates of Beth-lehem Nor is there any great Gulf between him and them as in the z Luke 16.26 Parable between Dives and Lazarus but it is every where ready at hand and such as we are commanded not to deny an a Rom. 12.20 Enemy Besides is not the Cause of this Necessity the Travel and Pains he has endur'd for them lest any thing should be wanting to their Salvation Is it not his immense Desire of their Welfare which has reduced him to this sad Extremity Is it not the last they can give or he will ask being now ready to depart out of the World Is it not that which he will infinitely remunerate in the general day of Retribution when he shall say to them that gave it b Matt. 25.35 Come ye blessed receive the kingdom prepared
for you from the beginning of the world For I was thirsty and ye gave me Drink But instead of it they prepared a Vessel of c John 19.29 Vinegar such as might mock his intolerable Thirst and by retaining his Spirits only prolong his Torments wherewith they filled a Spunge and put it upon Hysop and put it to his Mouth They had before afflicted him in all other Parts his Head with Thorns his Face with Buffets his Back with Scourges his Hands and Feet with Nails his Body with shame and in all other Senses his Feeling with Pain his Hearing with phemies his Sight with Abominations his Smelling with the Ordure of their Infernal Mouths And now as if they intended the last Sense he should suffer in should be the same in which d Gen. 3.6 Eve first offended and Providence would make use of them to fulfil the e Psal 69.21 Scripture they gave him Vinegar to drink This was all the Kindness the Son of God received at their hands for whom he died This was all the Refreshment the Beloved of the Father was allowed while he thirsted for the Redemption of Sinners And he who feeds the Earth with the Dew of Heaven and fills all things living with Plentifulness wanted himself that we might enjoy Rivers of Pleasures in the coelestial and eternal Paradise Thus he suffer'd for our Ebriety and Intemperance in all Senses for all our Sins and dried up himself who says in the Gospel f John 7.37 If any man thirst let him come to me and drink Prayer O my dear Jesu Life of my Life and unexhausted Fountain of Mercy which can never be drawn dry to what sort of Sufferings has not thy Love Subjected thee for my sake that thou might'st purifie my Soul and present me unblamable to thy Heavenly Father To what sort of Gratitude should this induce me who know thy Blood to have been drain'd for me but a thankful Remembrance of thy Death and after thy Example an universal Charity to all that stand in need of it Yea I will receive the Cup of Salvation and I will call upon the Name of the Lord. I will magnifie his Mercy in shewing forth his Death and with confident Expectation of his coming again to Crown me with the Purchase of his precious Blood And though I am unworthy through my manifold Sins to offer unto him any Sacrifice at all yet will I present my Soul and Body to be a reasonable holy and lively Oblation not doubting but in Mercy he will accept my Service and with the same Affection wherewith he thirsted for me SECT XLV Of those Words of Christ It is finished and the Resignation of his Spirit to the Father WHen Jesus therefore had received the Vinegar all Prophecies being then fulfill'd as far as belong'd to the Life of the Messiah he said g John 19.30 It is finished or now is compleated whatsoever was predicted in the Scriptures of my Person to the end that Men might believe that I am he who was ordain'd by the eternal Wisdom and Mercy to be the Saviour of the World and so believing escape Hell and Death and be adopted into the Inheritance of the Son A dreadful Speech to the Powers of Darkness and to the Enemy of our Salvation and God's Glory the Devil all whose Desires tend to Damnation and whose Prey are the Souls of Men As if he had said Satan Thou hast hitherto tried all thy Wits to destroy me and my Gospel and frustrate the Happiness of all that should embrace it Thou hast sow'd thy Tares and the Seeds of Ingratitude in the Hearts of this People to whom I was h Matt. 15.24 first sent as the chosen of God exalted their Fury blinded their Judges animated their false Witnesses extorted my Death By thy Instinct one of my Disciples betray'd me another deny'd me the rest have forsaken me and all my Friends stand afar off or dare not own me in this ignominious place By thy Stratagems the Jews have rejected me my Followers despised and these Infidel Soldiers to consummate thy Malice nail'd me to this Tree But now the Quiver of thy Rage is empty and all thy Mischiefs shall return upon thee Nor shalt thou only have nothing in me but shalt lose many Millions of Souls by me Thy Force shall be abated Thy Kingdom wasted thy Wickedness restrained thy Acts ridicul'd For behold by me is finished what the Father hath appointed by me is finished what the Law required by me is finished what the Prophets have foretold as necessary and circumstantial to the Work of Redemption The Types are compleated The Shadows are abolished The Malice and Violence of the Enemy endured And the Sacrifice offer'd which God has requir'd Sin has an end Righteousness begins The Law is fulfill'd and the Gospel Succeeds God is reconciled and Man redeemed Thus did he terrifie the Infernal Powers with the same Word which supports the Faithful with the highest Consolation that Heaven can give or Earth is capable to receive For if all be finished there is no room for Fear A Shield is given us against all Evils The Lust of Sin the Sting of Death the Power of the Grave and the Fiery Darts of the Devil all are vanquished and we are more than Conquerors through him that has loved us and not we alone but his precious Blood is sprinkled backwards to our first Parents and forwards to the last Man that shall be upon Earth though not fully in Possession yet in hope and there is now no i Rom. 8.1 Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus After this there remain'd only the Recommendation of himself and of all those whose Reconciliation he had wrought to the Divine Majesty to be accepted protected govern'd and preserv'd till they might be glorified in his Heavenly Kingdom Which made him seal up his dying Lips with a loud Cry uttering these Words k Luk. 23.46 Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit My God my God my eternal Father behold me on this Pile Sacrificed to thy Justice according to thy Will pre-determin'd of me and my Desire from the first Moment of my Conception thy Pleasure having ever been engraven in my Heart with a Chizzel of Fire and an eternal Character so that I have wisht it I ever would it and I will protest it with my last Breath while my Soul shall be upon my Lips To have but one only Desire in the World to accomplish what thou hast pre-ordained to be done by my Obedience for the Salvation of Men. And now O Father I have endur'd with Patience all the Storms of thy just Indignation I come to thee who art the desirable Haven of all that obey thee and seek for Rest I have manifested thy Name I have glorified thee on Earth I have finished the Work thou gavest me to do I now return offering up my self upon this Altar of the Cross a full perfect and sufficient