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
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
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
THE HISTORY OF Christ's Sufferings Composed out of the Prophets Evangelists Apostles Fathers and other holy Writers WITH Aspirations or Prayers Suitable to each Section In Order to an entire Resignation of the Soul to the Will of God according to the Example of Christ By DUDLEY GARENCIERS Rector of Waverton near Chester Phil. 2.5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus LONDON Printed for S. Lowndes over against Exeter-Exchange in the Strand 1697. THE PREFACE O God Eternal the Father of Mercies who desirest not the Death of a Sinner but rather that he should turn from his Errours and be saved and hast given me this Opportunity of Contemplating the Passion of the Lord Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent into the World for the Redemption of Man through Faith in his Blood Grant me I beseech thee suitable Apprehensions to the Dignity of so adorable a Subject That all vain Thoughts carnal Desires Prophaness and Infidelity being secluded from my Soul I may penetrate into the hidden Mysteries of the Cross on which thou hast erected the Throne of thy Love admire and praise the Methods of thy Wisdom at which the very Angels in Heaven have been astonished learn thence the Duties of Faith Hope Charity and all other Christian Graces and in perfect Imitation of my Saviour's Virtues trample under foot this World and obtain Happiness and everlasting Life THE CONTENTS SECT I. OF the time of the Passion and our Preparation for the Thoughts of it Pag. 1. SECT II. Of the Mercy of Christ toward Judas and the Ingratitude of that Disciple 6 SECT III. Of the Divine Predestination in respect of the Betrayer 11 SECT IV. Of the Grief of Christ for the Apostasie of his Servant the dreadful Condition of such as fall from him and the happy Privileges of persevering in the Faith 13 SECT V. Of the miserable Departure of Judas from the Presence of Christ and his selling him to the Chief Priests 20 SECT VI. Of the Benignity of Christ supporting his Disciples in the Absence of the Betrayer against the time of their Trial. 27 SECT VII Of the Legacy of Comforts Christ left to the Faithful and his leaving Jerusalem for a Terrour to Infidels 37 SECT VIII Of the Agony of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane 42 SECT IX Of Christ's Prayer in his Agony and his admirable Resignation of himself to God 52 SECT X. Of Christ's Anxiety for the Security of his Disciples 56 SECT XI Of the Candour of Christ towards his sleeping Disciples and his Continuation in Prayer to God 61 SECT XII Of the Glorious Effect of Christ's Prayer and God's Fatherly Kindness to all that call upon him faithfully 66 SECT XIII Of the Apprehension of Christ by his own Permission and the Horrour of the Jews Hypocrisie 70 SECT XIV Of the Rigour of Christ's Enemies at his Apprehension Pag. 82 SECT XV. Of the sorrowful Separation of Christ and his Disciples his first Examination before Caiaphas and incomparable Clemency towards his Enemies Pag. 86 SECT XVI Of the False Witnesses that arose against Christ and the Wickedness of the High Priest 96 SECT XVII Of Peter 's Fall Pag. 106 SECT XVIII Of Peter 's Rise Pag. 109 SECT XIX Of the Barbarity of the Multitude towards Christ Pag. 113 SECT XX. Of the Prosecution of Christ before Pilate and the miserable Despair of Judas thereupon Pag. 116 SECT XXI Of the deplorable End of Judas Pag. 126 SECT XXII Of the Wonderful Providence of God in the manner of Christ's Death Pag. 128 SECT XXIII Of the Obstinacy of the Jews to put Christ to Death and of the true Nature of his Kingdom Pag. 133 SECT XXIV Of Pilate 's first Declaration of Christ 's Innocence Pag. 144 SECT XXV Of Christ's being brought before Herod and the Unhappiness of Atheistical Greatness Pag. 148 SECT XXVI Of the Indignities done to Christ by Herod and his Officers Pag. 151 SECT XXVII Of Pilate's second Declaration of Christ's Innocence Pag. 154 SECT XXVIII Of Pilate 's third Declaration of Christ's Innocence and of the Scourging of his Body Pag. 158 SECT XXIX Of the Injuries done to Christ by the Roman Soldiers Pag. 164 SECT XXX Of Pilate's fourth Declaration of Christ's Innocence Pag. 166 SECT XXXI Of Pilate's fifth Declaration of Christ's Innocence Pag. 170 SECT XXXII Of Pilate 's sixth Declaration of Christ's Innocence his giving Sentence against him at the Importunity of the Jews and the Miseries which ensued thereupon to their Nation Pag. 178 SECT XXXIII Of the Procession of Christ to Golgotha Pag. 190 SECT XXXIV Of Christ's Prediction of the Miseries of the Jews Pag. 196 SECT XXXV Of the Bitter Potion given to Christ at Golgotha Pag. 201 SECT XXXVI Of the Crucifixion of Christ. Pag. 206 SECT XXXVII Of the Exaltation of the Cross 214 SECT XXXVIII Of the Scituation of Christ's Cross between two Thieves and the Title Pilate affixed to it Pag. 218 SECT XXXIX Of the Partition of Christ 's Garments anâ— the Irrision of the People Pag. 22â— SECT XL. Of Christ's Intercession to the Father 〈◊〉 his Crucifiers Pag. 2â—â— SECT XLI Of the Penitent Thief and Christ's Meâ— towards him Pag. 23â— SECT XLII Of the Sorrowful Interview between Chrâ—â—â— and the Virgin Mother his Compassâ—â—â— towards her and Love to Saâ—â—â— John Pag. 2â—â— SECT XLIII Of Christ's complaining of his being forsaken of God Pag. 252 SECT XLIV Of Christ's Thirst upon the Cross 262 SECT XLV Of those Words of Christ It is finished and the Resignation of his Spirit to the Father Pag. 268 SECT XLVI Of the Astonishment of the Creatures at the Death of Christ. Pag. 276 SECT XLVII Of the Piercing the Side of Christ with a Spear Pag. 281 SECT XLVIII Of the Burial of Christ's Body by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus Pag. 287 SECT XLIX Of the Sealing and Watching the Sepulchre of Christ. Pag. 297 SECT L. A Reflection on the foregoing History with Thanksgiving for the Death of Christ. Pag. 301 ERRATA PAge 2. line 10. read and Martyrdom l. 25. dele and so contrary p. 6. l. 22. r. his Soul p. 22. l. 17. d. Of. p. 25. l. 24. for great r. sweet p. 30. l. 11. r. Sons of God p. 36. l. penult r. thy boundless p. 40. l. 10. r. out of my p. 48. l 2. r. destitute p. 60. l. 17. r. knew it not p. 67. l. 1. r. overcome p. 68. l. 25. r. draw p. 69. l. 3. r. my Terror p. 71. l. ult d. to p. 77. l. penult r. which cursed p. 79. l. 1. r. that now p. 87. l. 7. r. Enemies p. 103. l. 19. r. was not the first p. 127. l. 18. d. But. p. 133. for Sect 18. r. Sect. 23. p. 135. l. 13. r. Protomartyr p. 141. l. 9. r. on Euphrates p. 182. l. 5. r. and whom they p. 185. l. 19. r. paps of their women p. 192. l. 24. r. had past p. 223. l. 20. r. of his death l. 22. d. That p. 231. l.
came from God he left not God so when he went to God he left not men and himself says expresly in another place Lâ— I am with you u Matt. 28.20 always to the end of the World But because he was now to be with them but a little time in a Visible Mortal Body as he had been hitherto therefore he says yet a little while and that they might more ardently enjoy him present and more diligently imprint in their minds what he should speak * John 13.33 Ye shall seek me For ye shall meet in my absence Persecution with great Fury both of Jew and Gentile insomuch that with anxiety ye shall desire my Presence of which you have thought it was x Matt. 17.4 good for you to be there Be not therefore terrified but prepare for the worst I know the desires of your Souls are with me and you would rather be for ever where I am But as I said to the Jews whither I go ye cannot come So now I say unto you Nevertheless that ye may decline as much as possible the Envy of the World which will hate you because ye are not of it and support one another under all contingencies with mutual consolation and after my Example of Patience Meekness Love Gentleness and an universal Charity trace the paths of Divine Perfection y John 13.34 A New Commandment I give unto you that ye love one another as I have loved you that ye also love one another The Pharisees have obscur'd the Law by their Traditions and have indulg'd the z Lev. 19.18 Matt. 5.43 hatred of an Enemy But my will is you should love your Enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you That ye may be the Children of your Father which is in Heaven For he makes the Sun to rise on the Evil and on the Good and sendeth Rain on the Just and on the Unjust And that all men may a John 13.35 hereby know you to be my Disciples who have loved you freely voluntarily and plenarily without motive from abroad and according to what is in God and not what is in man Here it was that Peter throughly pierced with the rays of such immense Goodness and Clemency his Heart melting in the Fire of Love found himself unable to bear a separation and would fain know the reason why he must be left behind who had never hitherto been deny'd his Society and whither it was the Blessed Jesus would go from those for whom he had exprest and to whom he had taught so much Love b John 13.36 Lord whither goest thou Fountain of all Blessings what will become of me when thou art absent by whom I live and move and have my being If thou shalt hide thy Face all will be Barren Desolate and Night Eternal Night or whither is it Thou wilt go that we may not accompany Thee now who upon thy first call c Luke 5.11 Left all to follow Thee and ever since have d Luke 22.28 continued with Thee in all thy Temptations Have I especially been affected with so many Benefits and shall I ever fall to that Ingratitude to desert thee Have I been Elected by thee and fed with the e John 6.33 Bread of Heaven and the living f John 7.38 Waters of Comfort and tasted thy Celestial Joys upon the g Matt. 17.4 Mount and thought it was good for me to be there and Shall I leave thee at the appearance of danger Lord I am ready to go with Thee into h Luke 22.33 Prison and to Death Yea I will lay down my i John 13.37 Life for thy sake Ah Peter what hast thou promis'd Thou hast shew'd thy Fidelity but hast not consider'd how great a point of Wisdom it is to know ones self How soon may a Man lose that by negligence which he hath by much Labour and a long Time and a Mighty Grace scarcely obtainâ—d The Proud have fallen the Presumptuous been Disgrac'd the boldest talkers in the time of Peace have been most Dejected and Pusilanimous in the day of Temptation Thou esteemest thy self strong but in the sight of God who knows what is in Man will be found weak We cannot trust to our selves for that understanding is often wanting and the small Light that is in us we lose by Negligence and sometimes we perceive not our inward Blindness we are moved with Passion and think it Zeal Whenever we trust to our Stock of habitual Grace and depend on our own resolution we are then in a dangerous and declining State For what saith the Truth k Luke 22.31 Simon Simon behold Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as Wheat Thou art not apprehensive of the Devils power who lies in wait for the Souls of the Faithful and to precipitate thee into ruine as he has done Judas But I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not for he is not yet conquer'd and trampled under by the Elect. For this very l 1 John 3.8 purpose was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil The conquest over him and the infernal Powers is to be a part of the m Col. 2.15 Triumph of my Cross Thou believest thou canst follow me in the way of my Passion but thou hast not yet tasted the Power of my Death For thô there have been some who have died for their Country and others have exposed themselves to be slain for their Kindred yet all this proceeded from a Carnal Affection But to die for another in the judgment of Our Lord himself or to die for an Enemy this is not of the Flesh this is the Work of the Spirit of God This n Isa 63.3 Winepress I must tread alone These strengths of Death I must first break to make a way for my Ransomed to pass And therefore tho' now thou standest take heed least thou fall o John 13.38 Verily Verily I say unto thee thou shalt not long be insensible of humane weakness for the Cock shall not crow till thou hast denied me thrice Nevertheless when I have pulled out the sting of Death and thou shalt be endued with p Luk. 24.49 Power from on High and have received the Holy Spirit to Strengthen thee and to reform thy Nature into an entire Charity then shalt thou q John 13.36 follow me without dread by the same way that I go to the Father Considering these Speeches I wonder not that St. Peter who had found such Fruit and Sweetness in the Words of Eternal Life such Virtue in this Treasury of the Power of God should think it blessedness to enjoy his Society and to partake with him in the worst of Miseries I rather grieve to see so great a mixture of Faith and Flesh I had almost said a Predominancy of the
may ease our Hearts and they alleviate the Pressure of the Calamity by seeming to share it among themselves In those deplorable Circumstances they hurry him away towards the City with loud Clamours much irrision many affronts and great hast till they came to Mount Sion where was the house of y John 18.13 Annas father-in-law to Cajaphas and Prince of the Sanhedrim But he could do nothing without the seventy Assessors and therefore sent him to Cajaphas who was High-Priest and President of the Rites of the Temple for that year and had declar'd his z John 11.49 opinion openly in full Councel concerning the Miracles and Person of Christ that by professing himself to be the Messiah he would doubtless attempt to make himself a King and by the admiration he had gotten among the People might soon be assisted to it if not timely prevented the Consequence of which would be that the Romans to whom they were Subject would look upon it as a defection from their Government and thence take occasion to come with an Army and destroy the Holy City and Temple of God That therefore they were no longer to consult at large in what way of Justice to proceed with this Man but to consider their interest in point of Policy and that they might do any thing thô otherwise never so unlawful to keep the Publick from destruction concluding it was a John 11.50 expedient and much better that one man should be sacrific'd for the Sins of the People then that the whole Nation should perish Behold here the wonderful Procedure of Eternal Wisdom to bring to pass its mighty designs and how we truly accomplish the Divine Will while we seem never so irregularly to thwart it and do our own It was the Voice of a Man but really an Oracle of God as the Evangelist observes b John 11.51 He spake not of himself but being High Priest that Year he Prophesied that Jesus should die for that Nation and not for that Nation only but that he should gather together in one the Children of God that were scattered abroad And what more contrary to his Intention than this effect He was meditating upon Injustice and makes way for Mercy he intended Cruelty and opens the door of hope What more Wicked then to presecute Christ to Death And what more Beneficial then that Christ should die Thus the Holy Jesus was already condemned in the intention of his Judge and of the people prejudiced with a dreadful Suspicion that through him they should fall into an irrevocable Bondage insomuch that forgetful of his gracious Doctrine glorious Miracles and spotless Innocency they want only a colour for his utter Destruction And because the Instigator of all this the Devil tho' he be the very Father of lyes could object nothing against his God-like Life they are forced to raise all their malicious Questions about his c John 18.19 Disciples and his Doctrine About his Disciples as where they were why he had chosen 'em and to what end he designed ' em Supposing by this to have gain'd an opportunity of inditing him for Sedition and Alteration of the Government About his Doctrine as what it was whence he had it and whether it were agreeable to Moses and the Prophets Hoping from thence to accuse him of Heresy and of Seducing and perverting the People But our Patient Master would answer nothing as to his Disciples at a time when he could say so little good of 'em for one had Betrayed him another wounded the High-Priest's Servant and incens'd the multitude by his Rashness all the rest had forsaken him and fled nor would he reveal these evils of 'em to teach us to conceal the infirmities of our Brethren But as to his Doctrine least he should be thought to repent of it and receed from the Gospel he came to Propagate he confirms it teaching us never to deny it having before laid an d Matt. 10.33 Anathema upon all that do and declares where he taught it and before whom That he had never taught in Private as they who design evil lest their Wickedness should be discover'd but always in the light as a professor of Truth e John 18.20 I spake openly to the World I ever taught in the Synagogue and in the Temple whither the Jews daily resort and in secret have I said nothing For this he appeals to the Judgment of his Auditors and at the same time touches the Conscience of his Judge f John 18.21 Why askest thou me ask them that heard me what I have said unto them behold they know what I said Why askest thou me Why pretendest thou to Enquire who art resolved never to Believe and seekest not after Truth but occasion Calumnie Why askest thou me what thou knowest thy self for none of my actions have been done in a corner Let thy own Conscience answer for me or ask them that heard me I appeal not to my Disciples who might be thought Partial but to all these my Enemies standing by who have heard me in the Temple in the Synagogues in the Ships in the Mountains in the Fields every where publickly and in great numbers If I have transgrest in any point let 'em testify against me Happy are those Natures which will receive Instruction and recant their error when convinc'd with Reason But very miserable are all they who are impatient under Reproof and grow more furious because of the Truth which Seals the Incorrigible Soul to Damnation Such were the Wretches who made the Scheme of this Tribunal whereof an Officer that stood by stroke Jesus with the Palm of his hand g John 18.22 saying answerest thou the High Priest so It was not long since that being sent to take him he return'd a Confessor of all his gracious words confirming in the Presence of 'em all h John 7.46 that never man spake like this man But now to please his Masters and be commended for his officiousness he strikes with a horrible Insolence and Temerity the Lord of Majesty who has the Soveraignty of the World and to whom the Creatures pay such an Obedience that every knee bows at his i Phil. 2.10 name in Heaven in Earth and under the Earth But such it seems was the practice of this wicked Court where none might hope for Justice or the least pitty and every one had power over the Prisoner before Judgment as appears afterwards in the case of St. Paul where the k Acts 23.2 High-Priest himself commanded those that stood by to strike the Apostle on the mouth An injury sufficient to have raised a Tempest in any heart but that of Exuberant Love And if James and John would have commanded l Luke 9.54 Fire from Heaven as Elias did to consume the inhospitable Samaritans How much more worthy of it were the Abettors of this Indignity But the Admirable Jesus all whose Nature was Patience to teach us there is nothing
of Intention and if after the example of thy own injuries we shall be brought before ungodly Magistrates to suffer for Righteousness and the Gospels sake Give us the like Patience Who art the true Peace and Comfort of all that put their trust in thee SECT XVII Of Peter's Fall WHile these things were transacting concerning the Lord * Mark 14.54 c. Peter who follow'd him afar off into the Palace of the High-Priest and sate with the Servants and others and warm'd himself at the fire for it was then a cold season being engag'd in a strange and evil company in the midst of danger without time to deliberate invent subterfuges or fortifie himself was surpris'd with the Questions of a Servant Maid and twice deny'd shamefully that he belong'd to him and at the third time began to curse and swear that he knew not this Man of whom they spake who yet was known to him as his own heart and was dearer to him then his Eyes and for whom he had profest a little before he would go into Prison and to Death So Vain and Frail are the greatest Spirits being left destitute to themselves they become Barren suffer Ecclipses and give examples of Terror to the World But the Merciful Jesus in the midst of his own Sufferings was not unmindful of his Servants danger Notwithstanding the dishonour of his present condition the sense of his Fathers Indignation the Foresight of his approaching Desertion while he is wholly possest of weakness he is yet at leisure for an act of Power The Righteous Justice of his God and the unjust cruelty of Men are not able to drive him from the exercise of his Mercy He came to suffer all these things for Man and in the midst of his Troubles remembers Man honouring the Scorns and Buffets of his Judgment with the Conversion of a fallen Apostle He cast a Gracious Eye upon him when the Cock crew according to the x Luke 22.61 prediction he had made of his Fall and the piercing Animal was made the Preacher and his Look was the grace that made the Sermon effectual Who will not admire the Sage Prudence and Miraculous Conduct of his Designs to bring to pass his abundant Mercy Who will not remain astonished in Contemplation of his wonderful Operations and above all when he shall discern the care he always has for the preservation of his Elect Alas How stupid is the Wisdom of Men How Imprudent their Resolutions How feeble are the Forces of their understanding when they are sever'd from the Blessed Jesus But there needs but one heavenly raye of his to enlighten all the obscurities of the Earth but one single drop of his Dew to soften all Hardned and Rocky Hearts but one glance of his Eye to give a Soul and Life to all the most inanimated bodies in Nature Yea when a Man thinks himself utterly lost then presently he shows him his way in the midst of all his wandrings and there is no climate so dry no soil so unfruitful where his Omnipotent Goodness cannot cause a Thousand Fountains and Springs to rise to the end it may be everywhere known and Extoll'd that he is the source of all Living and Salutiferous Waters Methinks I see in his Face a conflict of the Affections of Pity Mercy Favour and Grace striving together in this compassionate Action Pitty commiserating the frailty of his Disciple Mercy forgiving and converting him Favour inviting him and Grace assisting him Prayer O Amiable Eyes of my Dear Jesus Stay O stay Benign Lord and never let thy saving Face be turned from me Cast upon my dull and heavy Soul one beam from those thine Eyes which make all storms Clear and all disasters Happy The very Faithful themselves would lie still in the Depth of Sin whereinto they have been plunged by their inadvertency did not thy pitty raise them up They cannot remember their Danger or thy Word till thou remember their Misery and Relieve them O let me dwell for ever in thy Presence for out of the sight of thine Eyes there is no safety SECT XVIII Of Peter's Rise NO sooner did Peter remember the words of Jesus and what slight esteem he had made of that Caution which should have arm'd him against Temptation but he went out and y Matt. 26.75 wept bitterly z 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mark 14.72 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophylact. covering his Head and mingling his Tears with the Sighs and Groans of his broken heart Leaving it disputable whether he felt more Joy or Sorrow in the acts of Love or the remembrance of his Fall Alas says he How true is it that a proud Felicity has reeling Feet That when we trust to our own strength we are then in most danger That negligence and presumption are the Forerunners of a Fall Thou who didst defie the gates of Hell hast yielded thy self to the voice of a simple Woman All those Conquests thou didst promise to thy self are become the Trophies of so weak a Hand Return to the Combat and since she has Triumph'd over thee do thou at least Triumph over thy self Alas I am afraid to behold the place of my Fall and the weak snares of a foolish Woman appear to me as rigorous as Chains of Iron Yet what can he fear who is resolv'd to die or make himself a Sacrifice to his offended Lord But our Soul is yet too foul for an Oblation to his Service let us wash it with Tears till its impurities are cleansed I fell before the Fire and I will rise by the Water the salutary waters of Repentance I have a Matt. 14.29 walked upon the Sea to come to my Jesus and I will now return to him by the way of my Tears I will now speak only by my Eyes since I have lately talk'd so wickedly with my Mouth Since we have nothing left free to us but Sighs and Groans let us make use of the last liberty that is left and when all is spent return to the Mercy of Jesus which all the Sins of the World can never evacuate I will from henceforth be a perpetual Example to the Church by my Fall and rising again from Death for the comfort of Sinners and a warning to the Faithful and the fault of one Night shall be lamented by me all the days of my Life in a kind of continual Martyrdom Come and Rejoyce over me ye holy Angels since the greater is my Sin the more will his Mercy be magnified in my Forgiveness and Conversion Let all such as Stand here these Words and take heed lest they Fall Let such as are Fallen imprint them in their Hearts that they may endeavour in like manner to Rise Here is not propos'd an Example of Falling but an Example of Rising after Falling And since none but the Tears of the Damned are Remediless let us hasten with this Penitent to the Pool of Contrition and bath our Souls in those Salutiferous
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
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