combine to destroy the Heir of the m Isal 5.7 Vineyard of God and of whom the Prophets said n Psal 140.3 They had placed the Poyson of Serpents upon their Lips o Isai 5.7 I expected Justice and behold a cry p Jer. 12.8 My Heritage is unto me as a Lion in the forest it crieth out against me and therefore have I hated it For thus in the height of their wicked Imprecations they furiously persecute Christ to his Cross crying out the more q Mat. 27.22 23. Let him be crucified let him be crucified Why r Mat. 27.23 saith the Governour what evil hath he done and a Å¿ Exod. 13.21 third time declares I have found no cause of Death in him I will therefore chastise him and let him go When he saw the implacable Rage of the Jews neither to be restrained by force nor persuasion he hop'd a lesser Draught of his Blood might stop the Fury and Rapidness of their Passion and that by exposing his Body to Scourges the Roman Usage to Malefactors he might avoid the greater Evil of condemning him to Death and that when the Jews should see him so tormented they would relent in Pity and their Cruelty abate Thus he who cloaths all was despoiled of his Garments and confounded before the People who covers our Confusion and bound to a Pillar who went before them by day in a Å¿ Exod. 13.21 Pillar of a Cloud to lead â—em the way and by night in a Pillar of Fire to give them light to go by day and night that they might escape their Enemies and his Body which was the most sacred Temple of the Deity torn with vehement Stripes from unrelenting Hands till the Pavement was purpled with a Shower of holy Blood and his Person more beautiful than the Sons of Men wholly deform'd and hardly to be known according to what himself had t Mark 10.34 Luke 18.33 foretold of his being deliver'd to the Gentiles to be scourg'd and the u Isai 53.5 Prophesie of Isaiah long before his Incarnation He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the Chastisement of our Peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed For if Christ had not sustain'd for us this Denudation and Confusion we could never have been cloathed with the Garment of his Righteousness or been able to have appear'd unblameable before God's Justice Seat in Heaven Behold therefore O! my Soul with devout Meditation this Portion of the Sufferings of thy wounded Jesus which was the Wonder and Astonishment of Heaven and Earth Behold with what profound Humility and Silence the great Lord of the World condescends to undergo the Punishment of Slaves Behold with what a sweet Patience this innocent Lamb yields to have his Body plow'd and furrow'd by merciless Infidels Behold him naked helpless and unpitied whilst the furious Executioner tears his Skin and tender Flesh with forked Scourges to satisfie the Cruelty of a barbarous Multitude Prayer Grant me O my God who hast laid such Severities upon thy only and beloved Son that I may never think any Austerity Mortification or Pennance too much to be undergone for that great Guilt which I have contracted by my Sins and for which it was necessary my Redeemer should thus be punished And whatsoever shall be wanting in my Sufferings for the Iniquities I have committed heal with the Stripes of this bruised Love who came to shed his Blood a Ransom for the World That owing the Cure and Salvation of my Soul to such an inestimable Remedy as that I may for ever Praise thee for thy incomparable Mercy SECT XXIX Of the Injuries done to Christ by the Roman Soldiers AFter this the Soldiers who because of the frequent Seditions and Tumults of that Nation were quartered at Jerusalem and now especially call'd together to curb the prodigious Concourse at the Feast hoping by an extraordinary and cruel Officiousness to receive a liberal Reward from the Jews whom they saw so inveterately set against him take him and use him in that inhumane manner we should hardly believe were it not faithfully Recorded They strip him and put on him a * Mat. 27.28 Scarlet or x John 19.2 Purple Robe such as their Commanders used to wear jeering him by this as Herod had done by the white and when they had platted a y Mat. 27.29 30. Crown of Thorns in stead of a Royal Diadem they put it on his Head and a Reed in his Right Hand for a Scepter All to signifie he had made himself a King but that his Kingdom was as weak and vain as those Ridiculous Emblems of his Royalty And they bow the Knee before him with a contumelious Address and mock him with a reproachful Salutation saying Hail King of the Jews And then they spit upon him and strike him with z Mat. 27.30 Reeds and their a Joh. 19.3 Hands upon his Head pressing his Temples with a thousand Punctures and forcing the Blood under the Crown of Thorns to descend upon his Cheeks and mix with his Tears and the loathsome Spittle of the People till he became truly what the Prophet had describ'd him b Isai 53.2 Without form or comeliness and to those that saw him there was no Beauty that they should desire him Prayer Whither O whither Thou great Martyr of Love shall thy Humility descend thy Piety proceed thy Compassion extend I have been proud and thou art humbled I have been wicked and thou art punished I that am a lost Man have been the Cause of all thy Weaknesses and Afflictions It is thy Love and my Iniquity which has brought thee thus low Teach me I beseech-thee to apprehend the Baseness of my Sin in proportion to the Calamities thou hast suffered for me that I may hate the Cause of thy Sufferings adore thy Mercy and imitate thy Graces For Lord what is thy Servant that thou should'st suffer one Stripe or the least Irrision for so poor a Creature And how great a Misery must it be to provoke by Sin so great a Mercy as thou hast reveal'd But thy Love is infinite and I am Dust and Ashes Let thy Holy Spirit support and sanctifie me and suffer thy self to become the Object of my present Dolours that thou mayst hereafter be the Fountain of my everlasting Joy SECT XXX Of Pilate's fourth Declaration of Christ's Innocence OUR Saviour thus c Isal 53.3 despised and rejected of Men bearing our Griefs and carrying our Sorrows Pilate thought it impossible to behold him without Pity and once more brings him forth to shew him to the People hoping so sad and miserable a Spectacle would not only draw Tears from the Eyes of the Beholders but even Showers of Blood from their Hearts and a fourth time publickly declares him innocent and that he ought no further to proceed against him d Joh. 19.4 5. saying Behold I bring him forth unto you that ye
Satisfaction of my Sins 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 WE may perceive the great Lover of Souls was extreamly troubled at the Apostasie of one of his Disciples when he express'd so much Satisfaction in the Preservation of the rest l Joh. 17.12 13. Holy Father keep through thine own Name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are While I was with them in the World I kept them in thy Name Those that thou gavest me I have kept and none is lost but the Son of Perdition Nor would he conceal the Grief of his Spirit foreseeing in him a Representation of all those who should afterwards reject his Admonitions and Benefits and trample his Love under their Feet For though we may have hitherto thought but of one Judas who falling from his Profession sold his Lord deliver'd him to his Enemies betray'd him to be crucified yet such is every one who renouncing the Faith and following the Motions of Satan and his own Lusts m Heb. 6.6 Crucifies to himself the Son of God afresh and puts him to an open Shame The Wonder if not the Grief of the blessed Angels in Heaven who n Luk. 15.7 rejoyce at the Conversion of every penitent Sinner as o Heb. 1.14 ministring to those who shall be Heirs of Salvation is to see so many Christians falling from the Truth and abasing the great Mystery of the Religion which they profess by a settled Tendency to Sin and Death Who have given up their Names but not their Hearts to Christ who have begun well and are not established who have partaken of the Holy-Ghost and have chased him away again who have eat and drunk at their Master's Table and are the chief that lift up their Heel against him A most miserable Spectacle and not to be exceeded unless by that of their departure into everlasting Punishment For as an Angel falling became the Devil so a revolting Christian is the worst of Men because of the Eminency of his former Station and will have his p Mat. 25 41. Portion allotted him with that Apostate Rebel This was that which q Joh. 13.21 troubled the Spirit of the Holy Jesus when he testified and said Verily verily I say unto you That one of you shall betray me This was that which made the Disciples exceeding r Mat. 26.22 sorrowful and to begin to say Lord is it I And O that it might have the same effect upon us to search our Hearts to examine our Faith and all our Thoughts Words and Works that we fall not among those who draw back to Perdition How sad was this Feast where both the Master and the Disciples sympathize in an inexpressible Grief One that he must be betray'd to Death by his Friend the others that one of them should be the accursed Betrayer One that he knew the miserable Estate of that Wretch for whom it had been Å¿ Mark 14.21 better that he had never been born the others that they are not yet deliver'd from their Fear which it should be of whom he spake and whose Being should be worse than not to be at all Ah! Sinners where are we Alas do we not remain under the same Suspence One of you shall betray me is a fearful Saying and the Eccho of this Voice is addrest to all and loudly resounds the Danger of Sin and Impenitency Is this to live to have a Being worse than none And can we call that a desirable Estate which will inevitably tend to the Abyss of Misery through Pains Torments Terrors and Deaths O Life how sweet art thou when thou dost fear and love nothing but God! O Death how dreadful art thou when we have forsaken him and devoted our selves to the Creature What Favours and Benedictions are there in the Life and Death of a Virtuous Man But what Horrours Anathema's and Maledictions during the Course and at the End of the wicked Life of a Sinner Blessed was that Disciple who all this while might rest securely in the t Joh. 13.23 Bosome of his Lord. Whether Grief or Fear had inclin'd his Head or whether it were the Sweetness of his Master's Actions which ever drew the Admiration of the Beholders or whether it were Love which minds not what it does but silent in a sublime Tranquility of Passions adheres to its Beloved for an Eternity not admitting the least Disunion or whether it were Excess of Rapture and Contemplation of what he writ afterwards of the u Joh. 1. Divinity of the Word surely never any Mortal had so sweet a Repose or near Approach to the Beatifick Vision Since he might lean on his Breast to be admitted to whose Feet many Prophets and Kings would have accounted it the greatest Felicity A Spirit separated from the Pretensions of the World and purified from all the Forms of the Creatures intire to God and which lives by the flames of holy Love has a mighty Privilege with the Prince of Purity and neither doubts to ask nor fears to be deny'd while ungovernable Zeal receives many Repulses and hinders not a Votary from being less * Matt. 16.23 Satan than he that favoureth not the things that be of God but those that be of Men. Peter therefore whose Rashness had often been rebuk'd yet impatient and desirous to be rid of his Fear x Joh. 13.24 c. beckon'd to him who was lying on Jesus Breast that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake And Jesus answered He it is to whom I shall give a Sop when I have dipped it And when he had dipped the Sop he gave it to Judas Iscariot the son of Simon That the y Joh. 13.18 Psal 41.9 Scripture might be fulfilled He that eateth Bread with me hath lift up his Heel against me And after the Sop Satan entred into him A Speech truly dreadful but much more the thing it self for a Man to arrive at that height of Misery through the Obstinacy and Impenitency of his Heart as to be cast off reprobated and given up to the Devil Yet such is the admirable Analogy and Proportion between the Judgments of God and our Sins when we continue to despise the means of Grace He z Libravit Iter Psal 78.51 weighs a way to his Anger as it were in Scales punishing our Sins with evil Habits our evil Habits with hard Hearts our hard Hearts with Obstinacy our Obstinacy with Impenitency our Impenitency with Damnation Judas who had wilfully given up himself to Covetousness Hypocrisie Ingratitude and Contempt of all that was Holy is now deliver'd to be obsirmated by Satan and made incurable of his Sin that being like the Devil he might never return And this is the Malediction which the Holy Ghost had long since imprecated by the mouth of David
a Psal 109.6 Let Satan stand at his right hand Prayer Great Judge of all Men Thou hast made but two Ends one in Heaven and the other in Hell one with thy self and the other with the Devils and all our Motions are always tending to these We no sooner leave thee the Center of our Happiness but we wander into those unfortunate Labyrinths of Misery which lead at last to the Abyss of Torment O let me abide for ever in thy Presence fixed there by a strong Faith an earnest Hope and an endless Charity that the Suggestions of Satan may never have Opportunity to withdraw me from those Pleasures which are at thy Right Hand but passing the time of my Sojourning here in Fear and Caution assisted by thy Grace and guided by thy Spirit I may safely arrive at the Consummation of thine Elect. SECT V. Of the miserable Departure of Judas from the Presence of Christ and his selling him to the Chief Priests AGitated by the Prince and Powers of Darkness b Joh. 13 30. He went out immediately and it was Night hoping to cover himself with the Shades of that to act his more horrible and black Designs But alas poor Disciple where can he find Rest who goes out of the Presence of his Saviour How can he chuse but stumble and fall who hideth himself from the Sun of Righteousness who is absent from the Light of the World who wanders out of the way of Life who is beyond the Voice of that Word which only succours instructs and guides A lost Sheep out of the Care of the Shepherd will soon meet with the Infernal Lion and the Opportunity will invite him to the Assault The Devil was a c Joh. 8.44 Murderer from the Beginning and never fails to promote any Evil Purpose takes hold on this Advantage to ruin Judas the Jewish Nation and if it were possible the Messiah He leads this fugitive and desolate Wretch with the strong Chain of imaginary Profit his d 1 Tim. 6.10 surest Snare to draw us from the Faith to the Chief Priests who out of e Joh. 11.47 Mark 11.18 Envy to Christ's Miracles had frequently taken Counsel to put him to Death and waited only for an Opportunity in the f Mat. 26.5 Absence of the People As was the Seller such were the Buyers the Chief Priests and Elders of the People excecated by the just Judgment of God to g Mat. 23.22 fill up the Measure of their Fathers Iniquity Otherwise they could never have found fault with Innocence deny'd the Truth or envy'd a Divine Power all employ'd only to do them good So far does the Punishment of Sin reach to many h Exod. 20.12 Generations of them that hate God Which made the Evangelical Prophet foretelling the coming of Christ foretell also the Blindness and Obduracy of this People i Mat. 13.14 15. From Isa 6.9 10. Their Heart is waxen gross their Ears are dull of hearing and their Eyes they have closed lest at any time they should see with their Eyes and hear with their Ears and understand with their Hearts and be converted and I should heal them A mutual Inclination soon makes a Bargain Judas says k Mat. 26.15 What will you give me And they knowing his avaricious Mind covenant with him for Thirty Pieces of Silver l Dr Hammond in loc Which according to the Greek and Latin Manuscripts being equivalent to Staters or Shekels amounted to Three Pound Fifteen Shillings which was the common Price of a Servant in those days a Freeman being valued at twice that Rate So truly did he who was in the m Phil. 2.7 Form of God and thought it no Robbery to be equal with God make himself of no Reputation and take upon him the Form of a Servant that he might exalt us to the Privilege of of Sons So sordid and vile the Heart of the Betrayer to undervalue his Master in the Bargain of his Blood How unlike was this Action to that of the n Luk. 7.37 Noble Convert o Mat. 26.13 never to be forgotten while the Gospel shall be preached who when Jesus was in the House of Simon the Leper came with an p Mark 14.3 Alabaster Box of Ointment of Spikenard very precious and worthy the greatest Monarchs for such had Cambyses sent to the King of Ethiopia and when she had first shed a Flood of Tears enough to q Luk. 7.38 wash his Feet and had wiped them with her hairs and kissed his Feet in an Extasie of Love Sorrow and Admiration she brake the Box and poured it upon his r Mat. 26.7 head and Å¿ Luk. 7.38 anointed his feet to the great amazement of all the Beholders and t Mark 14.4 indignation of some who lookt upon it as Wast It had not yet been used to anoint the Feet of Kings and was afterwards when received into the Roman Prodigality by Otho in Honour of Nero lookt upon as a Prodigy of unnecessary Profusion But she thought nothing rich enough for his Sacred Feet whom she acknowledged above all the Potentates of the Earth and not to be valued but to be loved above her Life She now melted in the Limbeck of holy Desire and her Heart distilled out by her Eyes her Hairs which were the Nets wherein so many Captive Souls had sigh'd under the Yoke of wanton Love are now trampled under the Feet of her Conqueror the Kisses which carried the Poyson of a Luxurious Passion now breath from her nothing but the Delicacies of Chastity her pleasing Odors which were before vow'd to Sensuality are now become the sweetest Exhalations and bring an odoriferous Perfume to Christ Judas on the contrary thought it more worth than his Head and under pretence of Charity to the Poor because he was a u Ioh. 12.5 6. Thief and had the Bag and bare what was put therein would have had it sold that he might have stoln from the Price Covetousness aims at base and low Purchases whilst Holy Love is great and comprehensive and designs at nothing less than Infinity The Love of God is a Holy Fountain limpid and pure sweet and salutary lasting and eternal The Love of Money is a vertiginous Pool sucking all into it self to destroy 'em it is troubled and uneven gidy and unsafe serving no end but its own and that in a restless and unequal Motion The Love of God spends itself upon him to receive again Reflections of Grace and Benediction the Love of Riches spends all its Desires on it self to purchase nothing but unsatisfying Instruments of Exchange supernumerary Provisions and Occasions of Sin and ends in Dissatisfaction Emptiness of Spirit and a bitter Curse O ye unhappy Treasures of the World which cause the same Barrenness in the Hearts of Men as ye do in the Mountains in which ye grow and consume all Natural and Divine affection and become the * 1 Tim. 6.10 Root of all
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
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
23. r. who suffer p. 232. l. 24. r. to thy Providence p. 241. l. 12. r. and whom I. p. 244. l. 2. r. not before acknowledge l. 5. r. having first p. 276. l. 5. r. thy Arms. p. 279. l. 20. r. from a Spectacle p. 285. l. 5. d. which thy Enemies The Reader is desired with his Pen to correct the Pages from p. 145. to p. 160. THE HISTORY OF Christ's Sufferings SECT I. Of the Time of the Passion and our Preparation for the Thoughts of it IT was the a Matt. 26.2 Time of the Celebration of the Passover among the Jews in b Exod. 12.17 Memory of their Miraculous deliverance out of Egypt when the Lord Jesus having Preacht the Gospel was by the c Act. 4.28 determinate Councel of God to return unto the d John 20.17 Father through the Passion of Death A dreadful Tragedy to those poor Disciples who had but lately left e Mark 10.28 all to follow him in hopes of partaking of better Fortune in the Grandure of an Empire and the Delights of Plenty for the people had conceived great hopes of a f John 6.15 Triumphing Messiah who should free them from the Roman Tribute and Exactions and lift up Judaea unto the Throne of the Universe their Fundamental errour against the Cross nor were these yet wean'd from Temporal expectations of a Reward in his g Matt. 20.21 Act. 16. Kingdom for what they had quitted for his sake They were h John 15.19 chosen out of the World and fit for the impression of all other Virtues and Graces of Christianity but are i Matt. 16.22 startled at the apprehension of Persecution of Martyrdom and cannot understand what they are unwilling should come to pass So susceptible of the poison of Ambition are the finest Spirits that the Wisest have rejected it the last of Vices and so contrary and so contrary to Flesh and Blood at first are the passages of the Spirit through Tribulation to Bliss There was need of the forwardness of some extraordinary Zealot to support 'em in such a trial with a Religious Confidence when all their Pregnant hopes were apparently disappointed I fear had not Peter the bold Galilaean stept forth when his Master foretold his Sufferings and broken the profound Silence and Astonishment into which it had cast the rest of the Apostles they had Shipwrackt in the very Port of Faith against this k Rom. 9.33 Stumbling Stone and Rock of Offence Hear then the expressions of an Ardent Zeal replenished with heat rather then light l Matt. 26.33 35. Though all men shall be offended because of Thee yet will I never be offended Though I should die with Thee yet will I not deny Thee Likewise also said all the Disciples We presume we can do any thing in the strength of Passion while our minds are suspended from serious reflections but must bewail our imbecility when that is over and confess our selves naturally weak and impotent and that all our m 2 Cor. 3.5 sufficiency is of God For alas there is one of them contriving his Death and how he may most n Matt. 26.16 opportunely betray him to his Enemies from the very instant he protests his Fidelity nor shall he sooner be delivered into their hands then the rest will o Mark 14.50 forsake him and Peter himself p Mark 14.30 deny him My dear Reader thou seest it will concern us in the constant course of our Christian Profession especially in the time of Persecution and Affliction and and as oft as we commemorate the Passion of our Lord among the rest of our Holy Endeavours strictly to examine the Sincerity of our Hearts and as diligently to apply that excellent precept q Matt. 26.41 Watch and Pray that ye enter not into Temptation Our Minds may be Vigilant our Professions Zealous our Resolutions apparently Good But who can be secure when one of the Twelve turns Traitor another forswears himself and the rest desert All the moments of this Militant State are assaulted by the Grand Enemy of Man's Salvation Studiously wicked and diligently pernicious to draw all into his Snare and Condemnation But as the time before our Saviour's Passion was more properly called the r Luke 22.53 Hour and Power of Darkness wherein the Ruler of the Darkness of this World was let loose against him and his Disciples so we may conceive this everlasting Adversary is never more industrious then to frustrate the means which chiefly conduce to the eradicating our Corruptions the pulling down the Dominion of Sin and reconciling us to our offended God Such is our embracing the Å¿ Matt. 16.24 Cross of Christ with intirely Crucified Affections and Lusts Prayer O my God thou hast given thy Son to dye for me and to become my Propitiation but unless thou also give me to Believe on him and to Adhere to him by a due Application that Treasury of thy Mercy will be reveal'd to me in vain Lord I Believe help thou mine Unbelief and Strengthen me I Beseech Thee against the infirmities of the Flesh and the Suggestions of the Wicked One that through the various Sufferings of my Saviour I may be led to the imitation of his Divine Virtues till Thou account me worthy to be partaker of his Glory SECT II. Of the Mercy of Christ towards Judas and the Ingratitude of that Disciple JUdas Iscariot was one of the Twelve whom Christ had elected out of the whole World to a free and intimate fellowship of His Person one of his peculiar Domesticks and Attendance a partaker of those immense Blessings which many t Matt. 13.17 Prophets and Kings had desired in vain to see and hear Having seen with his Eyes the Word incarnate and heard with his Ears the Divine Voice and received an opportunity to have dwelt in his presence whom Abraham might only see by the light of Faith above all having been admited to the great Miracle of his Love the Ministration of the Mystery of Redemption the Sacrament instituted at his last Supper to open his Understanding to strengthen his Faith and to purifie Soul For Jesus in the same night he was Betrayed u Luke 22.19 c. took Bread and when he had given Thanks he brake it and gave it to his Disciples saying Take Eat This is my Body which is given for you do this in Remembrance of me There needed no Remembrance had he not been to be sold into the hands of his blood-thirsty Adversaries to be Slain and therefore he would lay before him the Egregious wickedness he was going to commit against a Person who had always embrac'd him with an infinite Tenderness and now was ready to lay down his life for him Likewise after Supper he took the Cup and when he had given Thanks He gave it to them saying Drink ye all of this for this is my Bloud of the New Testament which is shed for
O change the hard Fetters of Fear into the inestimable Chains of Love That dreading thy Justice we may avoid whatsoever may expose us to it and may dwell for ever in the Contemplation of those Good things which thou hast wrought and prepared for them that love thee SECT VIII Of the Agony of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane NOW there was a Valley between Jerusalem and Mount Olivet of the vast Profundity of 400 Cubits called Cedron from the Obscurity of the place where Foggs and Mists seem'd to dwell in the bottom to such as lookt down into it from the Temple and a h 18.1 Brook running there of the same Name Which Brook sometimes swell'd with impetuous Torrents descending from the hard and lofty tops of Mount Moria and Mount Acra sometimes it trickled with a gentle Murmur in its own Source without additional Waters inviting the wearied Traveller to rest an Emblem of the Vicissitude of Humane Condition and the wavering Image of capricious Fortune whereby a Man is sometimes over-born with Force according to that of David k Psal 69.1 2. Save me O God for the waters are come in even to my Soul I stick fast in the deep Mire where no ground is I am come into deep waters so that the Floods run over me sometimes there is a wonderful Tranquility and Smoothness over the Face of all his Affairs which burys the apprehension of the least Storm At this Water-course being the Sink of the holy City they us'd to cast in every accursed thing as the Powder of Maachah's l 2 Chron. 15.16 Idol which Asa stampt and burnt there the Idolatrous m 2 Chron. 30.14 Altars that were in Jerusalem and the n 2 King 236. Grove that was taken out of the House of the Lord and all the o 2 Chron. 29.16 uncleanness that was found therein Which is the reason of that Metaphorical way in Scripture of understanding Affliction and Troubles by Water and particularly of those Words concerning our Blessed Saviour who after passing this was to enter upon his Sufferings That he should p Psal 110.7 drink of the Brook in the way Nor may we hope to be exempt from it who have given up our Names to be his Followers since in the Torrent of Tribulation are found the living Waters of Comfort which spring up in the Soul unto eternal Life Here holy q 2 Sam. 15.23 David past in Grief when he fled out of his Palace from his Son Absolom and all the Country wept with a loud Voice And now this r Mark 12.35 Son of David passes over it sorrowing in his way to Mount Olivet where grew abundance of Olives to meet the Anger of his incensed Father due to the rebellious Children of Men. The f Gen. 8.11 Olive signifies Peace and t Psal 104.15 Oyl Gladness prefiguring it may be the Reconciliation to which his Sufferings there were preparatory and the Joy they should create to all Believers But to him it was to be the Theatre of unexpressible Dolours and to which the Disciples followed with a sad Heart fearing and trembling for the Words he had spoken u Zech. 13.7 Matt. 26.31 That in this night the Shepherd should be smitten and the Sheep of the Flock should be scatter'd abroad We read at other times they went * Luk. 10.1 before into every place whither he himself would come But the Evangelist has observ'd now they x Lide 22.39 follow'd him as unable to precede in the way of Sufferings for poor Nature abhors the Cross and clings to the Principles of Self-preservation though after he had sanctified it it became more agreeable and they embrac'd it with Alacrity as desirous of nothing more than to bear about in their Bodies the Dying of the Lord Jesus and to be made conformable to his Death believing That in following him they should arrive at the same Glory And our y 2 Cor. 1.7 hope is stedfast that as we are Partakers of the Sufferings so shall we be also of the Consolation At last they arriv'd at a z Matt. Village called Gethsemane scituate at the foot of the Mount of Olives where were many pleasant Gardens into one of which he entred with his Disciples as chusing a place for his satisfactory Pains answerable to that of the first Scene of Humane Misery a Gen. 2.8 where Adam fell and ruin'd Mankind and wherein he might best attend the Offices of Devotion Prayer and Meditation before his Crucifixion Here the second Adam would begin his Passion in order to our Redemption from that contagious Guilt spread over his Posterity by the first Man here he would become obedient unto Bonds and mercifully take our Sentence upon himself that he might free us from all Bondage of Satan and vindicate us into the Liberty of the Sons of God Behold then on this Stage three marvellous Agonies of God and Death Joy and Sorrow the Soul and the Flesh beginning in the Sweat and Blood of our dearest Lord but ending with the loss of his precious Life God and Death were two things very incompatible since God is the first and the most universal of all Lives who banishes from him all Operations tending to Death And yet the Son of God having taken upon him our Nature would suffer in it all the Pains that could attend Death to rescue us for whom he died from the Pains of Death eternal The Joy of Beatitude was an absolute Fruition of Celestial Delights and Comforts without any mixture of what might interrupt it or be displeasing And yet the blessed Jesus would suffer his innocent Soul to be overwhelmed with inexpressible Griefs and to descend by our Steps to the Anguishes of Death to raise us to the greatest Joys of Life There was also a great Duel between the affectionate Love and the Virginal Flesh of Christ His Soul did naturally love a Body which was so b Heb. 10.7 Psal 40.70 obedient to the Will of his Father and his Body follow'd wholly the Inclinations of his Soul There was so perfect an Agreement between the two Parties that their Separation must needs be most dolorous Yet Jesus would have it so and for Witnesses of the Combat takes with him c Mark 14.33 Peter and James and John commanding the rest to d Mark 14.32 sit down and compose themselves till he should go and pray yonder that they might not be moved with any thing that should befall him but keep themselves steady against the Fears of Danger But these three Disciples who had seen his Sublimity in his e Mat. 17.1 2. 2 Pet. 1.18 Transfiguration upon the holy Mount he would have be present at his extream Dejection By that they had an undeniable Proof of his Divinity when they were so ravisht at the Glimpse of it that they desir'd to dwell there By this they were to know the Truth of his Humanity and be able
to give a sure Testimony to both as well as learn the Subject of their Imitation and Hope Ye blessed Spectators how different was this Sight from that which so lately fill'd your Eyes when you f Matt. 17.2.3 saw his face shine as the Sun and his Raiment white as the Light and Moses and Elias talking with him He receives no Honour now from the Father and that excellent Voice is silent which proclaim'd him the g Matt. 17.5 beloved Son of God and that his Name was h Joh. 12.28 Glorified in him Nor from his Face do there dart any chearful Rays nor do his Garments appear Glorious nor the Heavenly Courtiers wait upon him but as a Man dastitute of all Help he begins to be i Mark 14.33 afraid to be sorrowful and afflicted shewing in himself what usually happens to those who are no more than Men at the approach of so great a Tempest The Evangelists have in such Language declar'd his Agony as cannot but raise in us the highest Admiration of the Bitterness of his Passion He began to be k Matt. 26.37 sorrowful saith St. Matthew to be sore l Mark 14.33 amazed saith St. Mark to be very m Ibid. heavy say both and yet these Words in our Translation come far short of the n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Original Expressions which render him suddenly upon a present and immediate Apprehension possest with Fear Horrour and Amazement encompass'd with Grief overwhelm'd with Sorrow prest down with Consternation and Dejection of Mind tormented with Anxiety and Disquietude of Spirit This he first exprest when he said to his Disciples My Soul is o Matt. 26.38 exceeding sorrowful and lest they should not fully apprehend the Excess added even unto Death as if the Pangs of Death had already encompast him and the Pains of Hell had got hold upon him He weâ—â— but a little farther before he said the same to his Father p Matt. 26 39. falling upon his face and praying with q Heb. 5.7 strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from Death Nor were his Cries and Tears sufficient Evidences of his inward Sufferings nor could the Sorrows of his Breast be poured forth either at his Lips or Eyes but the innumerable Pores of all his Body must give a Passage to more lively Representations of the bitter Anguish of his Soul and his r Luke 22.44 Sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground according to that of the Psalmist Å¿ Psalm 22.14 I am poured out like Water all my bones are out of joynt My Heart also in the midst of my Body is even like melting Wax His Heart melting as it were with Fear and Astonishment and all the Parts of his Body at the same time inflam'd with Anguish well might that Melting produce a Flowing and the inflam'd and rarefi'd Blood force it self a Passage through the numerous Pores But neither will these Expressions give us a true Sense of the height and bitterness of his Grief unless we also consider the Occasions of it for God laid on him the t Isai 53.6 Iniquities of us all and as we were oblig'd to be sorry for our particular Sins so was he to be grieved for the Sins of us all If then we consider the Perfection of his Knowledge he understood all the Sins for which he suffered all the Evil and the Guilt all the Offence against the Majesty and Ingratitude against the Goodness of God which was contain'd in the Sins of all Men past present and to come If we look upon his absolute Conformity to the determined Will of God he was inflam'd with most ardent Love he was most zealous of his Glory and most studious to preserve that Right which was so highly violated by those Sins If we look upon his Relation to the Sons of Men he lov'd 'em all far more than they did themselves he knew their Sins were of themselves sufficient to bring Destruction upon their Bodies and Souls and at the same time consider'd them he so dearly loved as lying under God's Wrath whom he so truly worshipped and all was heightned with the great habitual Detestation wherewith his Innocent Nature abhorred Sin If we consider all these Circumstances we cannot wonder at his excessive Sorrow For if the true Contrition of one single Sinner bleeding under the Sting of the Law only for his own Iniquities all which notwithstanding he knoweth not cannot be performed without great bitterness of Remorse what Bounds can we set to that Grief what Measures to that Anguish which proceeds from a full Apprehension of all the Transgressions of so many Millions of Sinners Add unto all these Apprehensions the immediate hand of God pressing upon him all this Load laying on his Shoulders at once a heap of all the Sorrows which can happen to any of the Saints that he being touch'd with the u Heb. 2.17 18.4.15 Feeling of our Infirmities might become a merciful High-Priest able and willing to succour them that are tempted And from hence we must conclude That the Saviour of Man as he took upon him the whole Nature of Man so he suffer'd in whatsoever he took in his Body by Infirmities and external Injuries in his Soul by Fear Astonishment and Sorrows in both by unknown and inexpressible Anguishes Behold O ye Faithful the Baptism of your Redeemer and think not any longer the Way strait through which you are to enter into Life Behold how he is * Luke 12.50 straiten'd till it be accomplisht and never do you sink under any Discouragement from working out your Salvation with Fear and Trembling What matter is it how much or what we suffer in this Life so at length we may arrive at a Blessed Eternity Prayer And while we behold our Sins which are the Cause of all thy Sufferings O thou afflicted Jesu Grant that our imperfect Sorrow and Contrition may be heightned by thy Example and accepted in Union and Confederacy with it It was because the temporal Misery of a finite Creature could never satisfie for the Infinite Guilt of Sin contracted by offending an Infinite Majesty that thou vouchsafedst to make an Equivalent Ransom by the Dignity of thy Person suffering In this thy Love is all our Confidence in full Assurance of it we approach the Throne of Grace and we bessech thee That we may find Help in the Time of Need. SECT IX Of Christ's Prayer in his Agony and his admirable Resignation of himself to God WHen the Holy Jesus had tasted this bitter Cup being himself the great Physician of Souls he betook himself to that Universal Antidore which he had prescrib'd to all the World For having commanded his Disciples to x Luk. 22.40 watch with him and to pray lest they fell into Temptation forasmuch as vain is the Prudence of Flesh and unprofitable all carnal Help unless God be present
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
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
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
you and for many for the Remission of Sins another Representation of that Innocent Blood which was now barbarously designed to be shed enough to have wounded a heart of Marble or turn'd a Rock into a Fountain of Tears Since by both it may appear the perfidious Traitor was not more studious to deliver his Lord to the barbarous cruelty of his implacable Enemies then the Benign Jesus was to pursue him with Kindness and to contrive how he might reap the Advantages of his Sufferings out of an unalterable purpose to do more then die for us by finding out a way whereby he might live in us for ever But it seems the unbelieving and the Slaves of Sin cannot have experience of the Divine Bounty because through the Blindness and Hardness of their Hearts they will not weigh so unspeakable a Gift as the Death of Christ for taking away their Guilt Something less Mysterious may possibly suit better with a Carnal mind and a Corrupt understanding and an Action of Humility from the most High may draw the Admiration of the most insensible Jesus therefore knowing that the Father had given * John 13.3 all things into his Hands and that he was come from God and went to God and what could the Evangelists have said more proper to make us Sensible of his wonderful Condescension For we can never truly esteem his Humiliation unless at the same time we consider his Sublimity as we cannot rightly estimate his Charity without considering how unworthy they were on whom he bestow'd it He knew himself to be Lord of all and that he came from God by Eternal Generation and was shortly to sit in Glory at his Right Hand Yet for the love of Men and to draw them to himself he laid aside his Power or rather hid it and took upon him the form of a Servant with all the Circumstances of an humble Ministration x Joh. 13.4 c. He rose from Supper put off his Garment girded himself with a Towel pour'd Water into a Bason kneel'd down and wash'd his Disciples Feet Who would have thought the Messiah was to come among Men to execute the Office of a Moabite or Slave for thus saith David y Psal 108.9 Moab is my Washpot implying he would humble the Moabites so low they should serve only to bring Water to wash away Impurities What Force has conquered him What Arms have brought him under What Power has subjected him to so dishonourable a Servitude Are they not the Charms of his own infinite Love which have render'd him thus enamour'd of his Spouse the Church that to wooe and gain her he will become any thing And are they not a Token he intends shortly to cleanse and purifie her in his expiatory Blood I am not surprized that Peter should be afraid and contract himself saying z Joh. 13.6 Lord dost thou wash my Feet when he saw Heaven stoop to Earth and the Vility of Man next to infinite exceeded by a Mercy equal to the Immensity of God I rather wonder to see so many Christians burn Incense daily to that Idol call'd Point of Honour when the Son of Man came not to be Ministred unto but to a Mark 10.45 Minister and to give his Life a Ransom for many He did not disdain to wash the Feet of his Betrayer with those Hands which had opened the Eyes of the Blind cured Lepers heal'd Diseases and when lift up to Heaven restor'd the Dead to Life He might have washed the Head or Hands a Service something more honourable but he bends rather to the Feet for the Opportunity of a more humble Posture and apter Signification of his infinite Charity Prayer Adorable Jesu I burn with Love among thy Purifying Waters I desire affectionately to humble my self But where shall I find so low a Place as thine when thou wast humbled before Judas to wash his Traiterous Feet I therefore resign my self with thy faithful b Joh. 13.9 Disciple and not my Feet only but my Hands and my Head even all that I am Beseeching thee to work in me what shall be pleasing to thy Will and to Grant That by the Waters of Repentance and Regeneration my Soul may be renew'd to everlasting Life SECT III. Of the Divine Predestination in respect of the Betrayer I Know not whether Simon shew'd more Love to his Master in violently c Joh. 13.8 refusing at first and as eagerly d 9. permitting him at last to wash his Feet among the rest of the Disciples or Judas more Obstinacy in continuing insensible under such an admirable Dispensation of Goodness For our Saviour pronounces against his invincible Infidelity enough to strike Terrour into the most confident and assured e 10. Ye are clean but not all f 18. I speak not of you all I know whom I have chosen g Luk. 22.22 The Son of Man goeth as it was determined but wo unto that Man by whom he is betrayed h Joh. 13.19 Now I tell you before it come that when it is come to pass ye may believe that I am He. O God! what Lightnings what Darts are here what a Night without a Day what a Precipice without a bottom what an Ocean without a Shore O Height of the Wisdom and Knowledge of the Almighty how fearful and horrible are the Mysteries of thy Secrets All this was long since praedicted by the i Esai 53. Zec. 11 12 13. Prophets All this is acted according to the Counsel and k Act. 4.28 Praedetermination of the Divine Majesty and yet the Actor is in fault Judas is admitted into the Apostolate and yet not chosen to present Grace but not to final May it not suffice to believe That no Man is Reprobated without Justice no Man Saved without Mercy and that what was decreed from the Beginning to be done by Judas was now to be fulfill'd without any new Counsel in a certain Order of Time long before seen and determined Not that Judas was compell'd to betray Christ lest the Scriptures should be found false for otherwise he were not to be blamed but rather praised yea his Sin would be charged upon God But because he was ready to do this of his own accord the Holy Spirit foreseeing it foretold it to come to pass Prayer O dreadful Majesty who dost justly Condemn and undeservedly Save Souls I tremble at thy Judgments I prostrate my self before thy Mercy if thou enterest into Judgment with me I cannot be justified if thou thinkest upon me in Mercy I cannot be condemned Pierce thou my Heart with a Fear of thy Judgments that I may always dread them and never feel them If I forget thee awake my Memory If I fly from thee recall me again If I defer my Amendment stay for me in Mercy and when I return O cast not out my Soul but think upon the Rigorous Justice that thou hast executed upon the Son of thy Love for the