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
on the Cross and the writing was JESVS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS This Title then read many of the Jews for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the City and it was written in Hebrew and Greek and Latine Then said the chief Priests of the Jews to Pilate Write not the King of the Jews but that be said I am King of the Jews Pilate answered What I have written I have written The place out of which they lead him was the City that he might fulfil the Types of Scriptures that he might be a sin offering to cleanse away the sins of the people The manner of his going was bearing his Cross bearing the imputation the guilt and the reproach of sin and the curse of God for it signified by his hanging on a Tree The place whither they carry him is Golgotha the place of a scull where many dead mens bones weresome heaped up some scattered about and that made the place ceremonially unclean and that gave name to the place And as it was ceremonially a filthy place so civilly it was no better a place of reproach disgrace dishonour a place where the worst and vilest malefactors were punished and executed the filthiest place in the world There our Lord Jesus suffered the punishment of our sin shewing us the just desert of our sin When they were come to Golgotha before they laid hands on the blessed person of our Lord Jesus they made preparation 1. They set up the Crosses the Cross of Jesus they set in the midst and the Malefactors one on the right hand the other on the left yet set his Cross in the chief place as the greatest Malefactor which though they did it out of envy to disgrace him in the vilest manner they could yet God permitted it so to be done out of infinite wisdome and justice For by imputation he was the greatest of sinners seeing all sin met in him was laid upon him and laid to his charge Isai 53. Their Crosses were set so near together that they could all speak to each other as appeareth in the sequel 2. They affixed a Title at the top of Jesus Christ his Cross to shew the cause for which he dyed Math. 27.37 and Mark 15.26 whether they did so to the other it it is not said but so they did to Iesus Christ and this matter Pilate ordered and over-ruled And it being an eminent part of the History noted by all the Evangelists and notified all the world over I shall therefore distinctly set down the History of it in seven particulars 1. The author actor and doer of it was Pilate had it been in the power of the Priests it should have been other then it was as we shall see in the History of it 2. He positively asserts and proclaimeth him to be the King of the Iews that is Christ the Messiah and Saviour of the World 3. He doth make this proclamation to all the World in these three most general known languages Hebrew Greek Latine one or other of which most men knew 4. The nearness of that populous and frequented City Ierusalem gave opportunity to many of all Nations to read this Title So that the same thereof was notified to all the World and by this it appeareth that it was inscribed with great and legible Letters which might be seen and read at a distance 5. This inscription was a sharp and sore rebuke to the Iews to the high Priests Scribes and Pharisees that they should crucifie their own Lord Saviour and King whom they looked for to redeem Israel but they looked with a misguided Eye and therefore knew him not 6. They felt the sting of this rebuke and winched at it they were displeased and requested Pilate that it might be altered which might easily be done by adding a word or two viz. he saith I am King of the Iews but that word would have quite altered the sense and the truth 7. Pilate was resolute and unmoveable What I have written I have written and this resolution of his seemeth to be well grounded 1. Because he was convinced of the Truth of it for Iesus Christ had fully asserted to him his kingly Office Pilate with an historical Faith believed it 2. He saw that the Iews needed such a check who had forced him to do that which he had no heart to have done only by his respect to Cesar they intrapped him Thus we see Christ made a Sin-offering carried out of the city and setteth up the banner of Salvation in Golgotha and Golgotha was the first place where the Grace and Kingdome of Jesus Christ was most solemnly published to all nations in the most general known languages Ye Pilate is a resolute publisher of the Kingdome of Jesus Christ In Golgotha Jesus Christ suffered and laid the foundation of the Gospel Church In our sacramental celebrations of the sufferings of Jesus Christ we converse with Jesus Christ in Golgotha And to doe that well effectually is an eminent work of Christianity Sect. 4. Their cruel Execution done upon the blessed Person of Jesus Christ MAth 27.34 35 36. They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with Gall and when he had tasted thereof he would not drink And they crucified him and parted his Garments casting Lots that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet They parted my garment among them and upon my vesture did they cast lots And sitting down they watched him there When they had made all things ready they laid hands on his blessed Person and the first thing they did was they gave him the cup of death to drink which he tasted saith Mathew but refused to drink viz. a draught of it saith Mark. A tast of that cup was enough That he should taste death this was a significant act which respects all that followed This is the Preface of death put for the whole This is that Cup of which Jesus Christ spake before Mat. 20.22 23. Can ye drink of the Cup that I shall drink namely this cup of death and be baptized with the baptisme that I shall be baptized with viz. with mine own blood running down my face from the wounds which my thorny crowns caused This is the cup that Iohn speaketh of Ioh. 18.11 The Cup which my Father giveth me to drink shall I not drink it And this he speaketh to quiet Peter when he would have fought for him This is the cup that he had prayed thrice a little before that it might pass from him Math. 26 39.40 but he submitted to his fathers will and now behold he tasteth of it It is the preface and first act of his death The matter of this cup saith Mathew was vinegar and gall Math. 27.34 Mar. 15.23 saith Wine mixed with mirrhe all is one for vinegar is sower wine and that mixed with gall or mirrhe or with both It seems it was the Romane manner of executing Malefactors for Iob. 19.29 There was a vessel of
address and petition to Jesus Christ as they hung together on their crosses where see 1. The holy divine title he gives him by Faith Lord. Great Faith 2. His Petition Remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdome hereby asserting three things 1. Jesus Christ is a King 2. He is going to take possession of it 3. He beggeth to be favourably remembred there 4. The gracious promise of Jesus Christ to him 1. The thing promised to be with me in Paradice 2. The confirmation of it to strengthen Faith Verily I say unto thee 3. The time when This day the day was ended therefore a dying Soul is quickly with God We see that their crosses stood near that they could discourse together as they hung dying We see Jesus Christ looses no opportunity to doe good to souls and converts this man at the last period of his life Who by rebuking faithfully his fellows sin had faith and Repentance quickned wrought and raised in his own heart and prayed for mercy and was eminently heard in what he prayed for He that faithfully rebukes his neighbour is himself a penitent or in the ready way unto it A clear faith can see through the blackest worldly clouds Sect. 6. The vile behaviour of the Iews and others all the time that Jesus Christ was suffering upon the Cross THE first act to be observed is the Executioners parting his Garments before his face in his sight casting Lots upon his vesture Ioh. 19.23 24 Then the souldiers when they had crucified Iesus took his 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 fullfilled which saith They parted my raiment among them and for my vesture they did cast lots These things therefore the Souldiers did All the Evangelists doe mention this fact Iohn doth a little amplifie it therefore I take his words The actors wâ—re those souldiers that were his executioners It was done in his sâ—ght and may well be numbred among the acts of their contempt which they did to grieve and afflict him It is an eminent accomplâ—shment of a Prophesie Psal 22.18 which is no small confirmation of the saith of the Church that â—e is the Messiah of whom David prophesâ—ed And to make evident to our faith the sovereign Goverment of God over all men and the signal care the Lord â—ad over Iesus Christ and how â—e ordered every thing that was done unto him and that all things came to pass according to the holy and wise councel of God But the principal History in this Section is to shew the wicked behaviour of the Jews all this dark time of Jesus Christ his hanging on the Cross The miracudarkness should have terrified and calmed them but it was not so All sorts of them did mock flout insult blaspheme Mathew Mark and Luke do record it and shew what every sort said and did 1. The common people that passed by and walked about and stood beholders Math. 27.39 40. and they that passed by reviled him wagging their heads and saying thou that destroyest the Temple and buildest it again in three dayes save thy self if thou be the Son of God come down from the Cross The manner of their upbraiding sheweth us much unbelief and contempt as in a few words and gestures can be expressed The matter of their upbraiding was an ignorant reflection upon a false supposition If they had understood that the body of Iesus was typified by the Temples and that though they now destroy that body of his yet on the third day it shall rise again had they I say understood this or had patience to suppress this flout till the third day they would have seen the empty folly of it or might have seen it The other flout if thou be the Son of God come down from the Cross They tempt the Lord as the Devil did Math. 4.3 they would have him prove himself to be the Son of God by such an act as they would prescribe He had sufficiently yea abundantly proâ—ed himself to be the Son of God by such proofs as the wisdome of God saw fit but all that would not serve their turn they believed not therefore they would prescribe a signe and that was to come down off the Cross not suffer death a devilish motion and ignorant had Jesus come down from the cross and not suffered death the whole work of the salvation of man had been overthrown So vain carnal ignorant and devilish were they in their mockings of our Lord Jesus upon the Cross 2. The second sort of mockers were the chief Priests Scribes and Chieftains among them their mockeries are recorded also Math. 27.41 42 43. likewise also the chief Priests mocking him with the Scribes and Elders said he saved others himself he cannot save if he be the King of the Jews let him now come down from the Cross and we will believe him he trusted in God let him deliver him now if he will have him for he said I am the Son of God These upbraidings are deeper and more blasphemous yet ignorant and over hasty gloryings over him 1. It is a great boast that though he had saved others many wayes out of many perils and out of the hands of Devils yet he was not able to save himself out of their hands O who are you great Grandees out of whosâ— hanâ—s Jesus Chriâ—t cannot deliver himself alas for you had you suppressed this boast but till the morning after your Sabbath you might have seen the vanity thereof and that he was able to deliver himself out of your hands and greater then yours also even out of the hands of death and Devils too 2. Jesus had manifested himself to be the Messiah the King of Israel by divine and infallible proofs but you would not believe but you can prescribe to Jesus Christ a better way to prove himself to be the King and Saviour of Israel and that is by coming down of the Cross and by that proof you would believe Proud man will not be directed by God unless man may prescribe to God the way they will not believe in their own way they will Ah weak and proud dust Rom. 11. 34 35. who hath known the mind of the Lord who hath been his Counsellour who hath first given unto him and it shall be recompenced to him Faith is the operation of God not of man Faith is not in mans power to create nor are the means of begetting it in the hands of man These men shew what utter strangers they were to saith 3. They say he trusted in God and said I am the Son of God let God take him now if he will have him This is to blaspheme not only the Son of God but also the Father Do you think that you have him so fast
art highly favoured the Lord is with â—hee blessed art thou among women all this is true and pertinent seeing she was appointed by God to be the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ 3. In respect of the Effect of this vision upon her heart which was trouble fear â—mazement at this glorious heavenly Salutation she cast in her mind what manner of Salutation this was what the meaning thereof should be surely it wrought â—own her godly heart to humble thoughts of her self and prepared and raised her â—eart unto heavenly expectations 4. The Angel qualifieth her fear and informeth her of the meaning of his Saluâ—ation and of what God was about to do with her and for her Fear not Mary for â—hou hast found favour with God and thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a â—on and call his Name Jesus 5. The Angel informeth her of the heavenlâ— honour dignity and glory of this â—er Son and of the glorious works that he shall do he shall be great and shall be â—â—lled the Son of the highest and the Lord shall give unto him the Throne of his Father â—avid and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdome there â—all be no end 6. Mary objecteth against the possibility of her conception seeing she knoweth not a man 7. The Angel answereth her Reason by raising her faith to expect the performance of the promise by the divine and Infinite power of God saying the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall over-shadow thee therefore also that holy thing which shall be borne of thee shall be called the Son of God and behold thy Couzen Elizabeth she hath also conceived namely by faith as also Sarah did in her old Age and this is the sixth Moneth with her who was called barren for with God nothing shall be unpossible 8. Mary by faith submitteth her self to the will of God She said behold the Handmaid of the Lord be it unto me according to thy word And that this was an act of Faith in Mary doth appear bâ— the Teâ—timony of the Holy Ghoâ—t who spake by Elizabeth Luk. 1.45 and blessed is she that believed for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. And the Holy Ghoâ—t whose Office is to bring to our remembrance the word of God which we have heard Joh. 14.26 did doubtless bring to her remembrance and presented to her humble believing Soul that word of God Isai 7.14 behold a Virgin shall be with Child and shall bring forth a Son and they shall call his Name Emmanuel which being interpreted is God with us by Faith in this Word of God she did conceive all this may justly be gathered from that Text Math. 1.22 23. The second particular touching the dark morning of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ Thus far the morning of the Incarnation of Jesus Chri t was bright and glorious but behold presently a dark cloud ariseth which involveth both Joseph and Mary and the holy conception in her womb in bitter anguish and distress Mary must and did of necessity tell Joseph that she was with child and that this matter befell her since their Espousals and opened to him all the History of it all that the Angel had said and that the effect of this divine vision is that she is with child This was amazing tidings to Joseph he would ask her what Testimony Evidence or proof she could bring that these things were so as she had said alass there was no Testimony or proof to be made of these things only Mary her self in her own cause and defence To be begotten with child after Espousals is by the Law of God a capital offence such incredible stories as you tell in your own defence I have no rule to believe I love you dearly but I cannot I may not believe you and much less will the judges or any body else give credit to your Apologâ— Joseph took this matter into deep consideration Math. 1.20 what an heart wounding consideration must this needs strike into the heart and Soul of Mary who knew her own Innocency yet could by no means clear her self to her Husband Josephs godly heart was rent and distressed he loved his godly espoused wife but his love to God zeal of his Law obliged him to put away his espoused and beloved wife God is to be loved in the first place and this is the Law of God Deut. 22.20 21. if this thing be true viz. that she is with child then they shall bring out the Damosel to the dore of her Fathers house and the men of her City shall stone her with stones that she dye because she hath wrought folly in Israel to play the whore in her Fathers house so shalt thou put away evil from among you How bitterly would the sword of this Law pierce through the godly heart of Mary and how would it fill her Soul with such distress as would not a little affect the very conception of her womb to be so near destruction his Mother who had conceived him to be stoned to death at her Fathers dore and that bâ— the Law of God But Joseph was a just man that is right godly holy and merciful he was not willing to expose his Espoused unto the rigour of the Law to the shame and disgrace of her and her Relations Mean while when these considerations were before them oh how would good Mary cry unto God to clear her Innocency But good Joseph called to mind a more gentle Law which left it in his liberty to deal more gâ—ntly with her and he purposed to act towards Mary according to that Law Deut. 24.1 when a man hath taken a wife and married her and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes because he hath found some uncleanness in her then let him write her a Bill of Divorce and give it in her hand and send her out of his house by this Law or some other of like importance Joseph considering deeply of the matter purposed to walk Math. 1.19 Joseph her Husband being a just man and not willing to make her a publick Example viz. by the Law Deut. 22.20 21. was minded to put her away privily viz. by that Law Deut. 24.1 this I propose with submission But alas this was but small relief to innocent Mary though her life and her conception was by this means spared yet the scandal remained and the reproach of Incontinency and Whoredome in the Mother and Illegitimacy on the child and all this came upon them not malitiously by adversaryes for then it might have been borne but regularly by the Law of God by Joseph walking regularly according to the Law of God doing what he did in obedience to the Law this was a bitter pill to them both Oh the distressed cryes prayers tears lamentations would their godly hearts be involved drowned in
their Masters 2. The time of their commission to keep him till morning which was about the space of three hours 3. The several acts of horrible abuse which they did unto him in time of their charge and commission 1. They spit upon him Mark 14.65 which is an act of the greatest disdain in the doer and of the greatest disgrace in the sufferer a contempt that few will do to a dog especially in the Nation of the Jew it was a very great contempt which the Lord himself foretold and described Luk. 18.32 he shall be mocked spitefully intreated and spit upon 2. They spit in his face Math. 26.67 this was the highest degree of the reproach of spitting God gave a Law about it Deut. 25.7 8 9 10. it is the disgrace of him that is unkind to his brother a most improper and unsuitable disgrace unto Jesus Christ when he was doing the greatest act of love and kindness not only to his Brother but to his Enemies 3. They mocked him Luk. 22.63 and the next word sheweth that there were cruel mockings as it is said Heb. 11.36 the persecuted Saints were so used and Psal 25.19 mine Enemies are many and hate me with cruel hatred for 4. They smote him and beat him Luk. 22.63 the word which the Holy Ghost useth doth signifie such blows as do break the Skin and flayed off some part of the skin where the blow fell which was very cruel according as the Prophet describeth such cruelty Mic. 3.2 3. who pluck off their skin from off them and their flesh from off their bones they flayed the skin from off them Isai 53.5 he was bruised for our iniquities they smote him so hard that they bruised him with their blows 5. They blind-folded him and then boxed him on the face and with blasphemous mocking and scorn said thou Christ prophesy who smote thee Math. 26.68 such blasphemy would affright a modest heart to hear it but no doubt they made great sport and laughter at it 6. It was an aggravation of these abuses that every base fellow and servaâ—â— had liberty thus to abuse our Lord Jesus Mark 14.65 and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands they devised many wayes to put contempt upon him and to make sport for themselves 7. They plucked off his hair viz. of his face or head or both This abuse is mentioned in the Prophets Isai 50.6 I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that pluck off the hair I bid not my face from shame and spitting 8. They spake many other blasphemous words against him which the holy Ghost abhorreth to mention Luk. 22.65 and many other things blasphemously spake they against him with which they busied and sported themselves all the night 9. They were charged to watch and keep him and therefore they might not sleep and they kept themselves thus employed and thereby did not only hinder Jesus Christ from taking any rest but also they did grieve vex and provoke his Spirit most bitterly It was the saddest night that ever was spent And thus they did till morning light for then the Council met again Luk. 22.66 and called Jesus before them This is the Lamentation that these that did this vile injury to Jesus Christ were of his own to whom he was sent but they would not own him but condemned him to dy which was the work he came to perform and when they had nailed him to the cross he pardoned them and prayed for them When visible Professors of Jesus Christ are Persecutors of Christ they will be violent and cruel as now these were against Christ And no marvail that the Servants and inferiours were so cruel against Christ for they knew that they pleased their Superiours and Masters When Saul persecuted David every abject durst vent his venome against David and Doeg fears not to be an informer against him When Absolom rose up against David is it any wonder that Shimei durst shew himself to curse David The horrible crueltyes and indignityes of these Jewish Watchmen that had the charge of keeping their condemned Prisoner will all in many respects stand upon the account of the high Priests and Rulers They opened their own envy so bare and naked that every body might see it And therefore their creatures were bold to do any thing against the Lord Jesus Sect. 7. The sixth and last act of the Council of the Jews as a Councill against Jesus Christ as private Persecutors and envious Persons they pursue Iesus Christ before Pilate and before Herod afterwards LVk 22.66 67 68 69 70 71. And assoon as it was day the Elders of the people and the chief Priests and the Scribes came together and led him into their Councell saying Art thou the Christ tell us and he said unto them if I tell you you will not believe and if I also ask you you will not answer me nor let me go Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God Then said they all art thou then the Son of God And he said unto them ye say that I am And they said what need we any further witness for we our selves have heard of his own mouth It was about Cocks crowing when Jesus Christ was condemned committed to safe custody under a strong guard The Court adjourned till morning all the abuses that these carnal keepers inflicted on Jesus the remainder of the night I refer unto the fifth act of the Council which for time extended till morning and for cruelty it extended to Hell Now in preparation for their proceeding in the morning they held a close and private consultation how to manage this great business For seeing they now had according as they long desired and contrived to doe apprehended him and condemned him they were resolved to put him to death But they foresaw many difficultyes in effecting it The points considered plotted and agreed in this private consultation were sundry and their agreement may be gathered out of the answer of Jesus Christ in the morning who gave them to understand that he knew their plâ—â—s to convince their Consciences that he was Christ the Messiah for the asserting whereof they had condemned him The Points considered of were such as these 1. We must be speedy in our motions and progress before the people know that we have apprehended him For it was about midnight that he was apprehended and brought to Annas and Caiphas It was about cocks crowing when he was condemned he must be put to death and buried before the Sabbath for if we slack the time the people will surely rescue him 2. They considered that we must speedily deliver him out of our hand into the Romane hand and power and it must be done early in the morning before the people gather together and hear of it for otherwise the people will surely rescue him out of our hand but out of the Romans hand they cannot they dare