of the Officers or Servants which stood 〈◊〉 struck Iesus with the palme of his hand saying answerest thou the high Priest so 1. He that smote him was an under Officer or a Servant as the word signifies When the chief Rulers especially the high Priests are set against Jesus to persecute him it is no marvell that their under Officers and Servants are as ill minded as their Masters then they will be so rude as this act shews them to be It was a great suffering of our Lord Jesus that under Officers and Servants should so insult over him 2. He smote him with the palm of his hand as our English Translation renders the word we call it a Box or Cuff on the ear or cheek The word also signifies to smite with a rod reed or walking Staff either way was impudent contemptuous and scornfull 3. He backs his smiting him with a Reproach Answerest thou the high Priest so As if he had made a faulty Answer dishonourable to the high Priest But he sheweth that he put a bad construction on his speech and imputes it to him as a Reproach 4. All this was done in the face of the Court without any check given him that we hear of shewing that they were all conspired to abuse our Lord Jesus See a like example of this abuse done unto our Lord Jesus 1 King 22.24 And Zedekiah the Son of Chenaanan went neer and smote Micaiah on the cheek and said Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee To this saucy fellow Jesus answered with a convincing and reproving Dilemma so clear and so wisely placed that he spake above exception The first part or horn of tâ—e Dilemma is this If I have spoken evill shew it bear witness of it The second part or horn is if I have spoken well why smitest thou me Which answer of our Lord quite stopped their mouthes and put all to silence Out of this small part of the Sufferings of our Lord we may gather up some Instruction 1. When Church-men are Persecutors the Persecution will be bitter as Jesus found it so did Jeremy Church-men are usually more cunning more bold more seared in conscience more cruel 2. Carnal Professors will insult and domineer over the Godly when they have power in their hand 3. Persecuting Professors will put the handsomest face they can upon the vilest actions 4. God can and will over-rule the cunningest Counsells and contrivances of Persecutors to subserve his Counsel 5. Guilty consciences love Secresy and to act behind the curtain 6. It is dangerous to intrude our selves into a place or way of Temptation as Peter did it may expose us to lye or deny Christ and curse our selves as all these falls and knocks Peter felt 7. Truth is alwayes serene open seeks no corners to hide it self 8. When Rulers are wicked such as are under them will be violent 9. A girt convincing Answer will stop the mouth of the worst of enemies Sect. 3. The second Act of the Council MAth 26.59 ad 63. Now the chief Priests and Elders and all the Councel sought false witness against Iesus to put him to death But found none yea though many false Witnesses came yet found they none At the last came two false witnesses and said This fellow said I am able to destroy the Temple of God and to build it in three dayes And the high Priest arose and said Answeredst thou nothing What is it which these witness against thee And Iesus held his peace Mark 14.55 ad 61. And the chief Priests and all the Counsell sought for witness against Iesus to put him to death and found none For many bare false Witness against him but their witness agreed not together And there arose certain and bare false witness against him saying We heard him say I will destroy this Temple made with hands and within three dayes I will build another made without hands But neither did their Witness agree together And the high Priest stood up in the mids and asked Iesus saying Answerest thou nothing What is it which these witness against thee But he held his peace and answered nothing Here see 1. That though they so abused our Lord Iesus for his Answer and for putting them upon the right way of enquiring viz to ask his hearers to sâ—e if they could testifie any thing against him for in his Answer he had vindicated himself and his Doctrine both for matter and manner therefore if they would find any thing against him it must be by Witnesses that heard him yet now they are necessitated to fall to this course as Jesus had said though they had abused him for so saying 2. All the Counsel there present were unanimous in what they doe what do they They sought for false Witnesses that they might find some matter or at least appearance of some matter for which they might put him to death They carried themselves and managed the matter so that all might easily see their intent to find some matter whereof to accuse him Because they were resolved to put him to death they sought not for what was true just righteous but for something to criminate him by Witnesses they cared not though it were false Witness They encouraged them to testifie any thing And when they misrepresented his words and meaning they took the advantage to wring his words to the worst sense as appeareth in that Instance when Christ said They would ruine and destroy this Temple his Body and he would raise it up again the third day So John representeth his words Ioh. 2.19 he spake of the Temple of his Body Nor was there any capital crime in it as they represented his words yet any thing will serve their turn to be a seeming matter of accusation 3. They could find nothing wherein two witnesses agreed among all the false witnesses untill two witnesses spake about destroying the Temple raising it again in three dayes And yet these two witnesses agreed not in all points as Mar. 14.59 teâ—tifieth Thus they wearied themselves in vain finding nothing against him which left their envy naked without any pretence of a covering 4. Then the high Priest devised another device viz. to draw out Jesus Christ to speak for he kept silence all this while Could they draw him out to speak they might entangle him in his words which artifice they had formerly used to catch him by Mat 22.15 so now again they attempt that way The high Priest stood up a good civill deportment in publick affairs and put him upon answering unto what they said and to sharpen and quicken the matter he putteth him on in a rebuking way What Answerest thou nothing What is this that these witness against thee But this Stratagem prevailed not Jesus still held his peace Quest Why did Jesus hold his peace and answer nothing Answ 1. Because there was nothing to answer unto they proved nothing their witnesses agreed not they
leave an occasion not a cause in the hand of Satan easily to prevail with the wicked Jews and Pagan Romans to be so bold as to put to death that innocent person Iesus Christ for the accomplishing of Gods Counsel Act. 2.23 for the salvation of man his low condition obscured his glory whom if they had known they would not have put to death the Lord of glory 1 Cor. 2.8 From all this we may see and learn that a poor low condition in this world is a sinless affliction which Iesus Christ hath sanctified to be wholsome and good for his Church in this life and giveth us opportunity of exerting and acting many graces of the Spirit and Iesus Christ hath a most tender care over all his poor worms Sect. 3. The Sufferings of Iesus Christ in the form of a Servant Phil. 2.7 and took upon Him the form of a Servant THis is an eminent part or branch of the Humiliation and sufferings of Iesus Christ a servant is the lowest order of mankind a servant is beneath a Son Luk 15.14 I am not worthy to be called thy Son make me as one of thy hired Servants it was a word of humiliation in the penitent prodigal but an unexpressible act of humiliation in Iesus Christ he came to be a Servant to his Father that â—e might have been if he had been an Earthly King King David counts it his honour to be a Servant of God Psal 116.16 O Lord truly I am thy Servant I am thy Servant But Iesus Christ took the form of a Servant among men There be degrees of a Servant beneath that condition which Iesus Christ condescended unto which he could not submit unto but as low as it was possible he condescended and that was to take the form of a Servant Sin hath stripped Adam of his dominion and brought him into bondage Iesus Christ condescended as low as it was possible without sin to bear as much of the punishment of sin as he could with Innocency and therefore took upon himself the form of a Servant to redeem man from his servitude and to bring us into the adoption of Sons a freedome of the Gospel Math. 20.28 the Son of came not to be ministred unto but to minister Gal. â— 4 5. God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law that they might receive the Adoption of Sons To open this point we must consider there be sundry kinds or degrees of Servants or Service 1. There is the ingenious Servant who in love and beneficence doth voluntarily make himself a servant to others that he might do them good The beneficent man is willing to be serviceable 1 Cor. 9.19 though I be free from all men yet have I made my self a Servant unto all that I might gain the more not the more mony but the more men the more Souls for he fiâ—hed for Souls Paul laboured to win and gain Souls in which Service he is an under-worker to Iesus Christ for all the doings and Sufferings of Iesus Chri t were to gain and save Souls Such a Servant Iesus Christ made himself Luk. 22.27 I am among you as one that serveth I take no state upon my self I only endeavour to do good This is a commanded Gospel duty Gal. 5.13 in love to serve each other though we are called to Liberty Thus walked the famous Thessalonians 1 Thes 1.3 your labour of love So did Jesus Christ yea he purposely did an act of Service Ioh. 13.4 the Service of a waiter at the Table and here behold Jesus Christ in the form of a Servant it was a point of civil entertainment in those dayes to wash their feet Luk. 7.38 the penitent woman washed the feet of Jesus Christ with her tears of repentance and ver 44. c see Jesus Christ his discourse upon it and Joh. 13.13 14 15 16. Christ â—is explication of that example of his doth teach that they that will be the Disciples of Jesus Christ must be willing Servants of each other in love yea we must be ready to do good to al especially to the houshold of Faith This is an honourable noble generous kind of Service and in this kind of Service the more serviceable any be the more honourable they be Math. 23.11 12 He that humbleth himself to be serviceable shall â—e most honourable Such a Servant Jesus Christ is and that in the most eminent way in the world for he dyed for his Enemies to do them good 2. There is the hired Servant when a Freeman is hired to do work for another and receiveth wages for his work of such Servants we read Math 20.1 c. they were hired for a day and at night the master paid them their wages Sometimes such Freemen are hired by the great and serve long in their work as Jacob did with Laban Gen. 29. and 30. and 31.7 Laban changed his wages ten times many kinds of Artificers arâ— such servants to work for others and receive wages The Carpenters Trade is eminently so they build houses for others to dwell in and have their wages to live on Joseph the reputed Father of Jesus was a Carpenter and therefore wrought for his living with other men and lived on his wages Luk. 2.51 Jesus was subject to his Parents therefore he wrought with his Father at his Trade for so it is expressed Math. 13.55 and Mark 6.3 Jesus wrought with his Father if his Father took a bargain by the great Jesus would help him if his Father were hired by the day Jesus would help him And this is evidently the form of a Servant though he was free Thus he would do unless Synagogue worship or Temple worship called him away in that case both Father and Son would make use of their freedome and also to wait on the Lord in Family worship 3. There is a s rvice that a Nation may be obliged in by Conquest so all the Jews were Servants to the Romans And in that case though the children be free yet Jesus Christ did â—oluntarilâ— submit to pay the Tribute which they demand d Math. 17.26 27. and in this respect also Jesus Chriâ—â— took the form of a Servant 4. Tâ—â—râ— is a form of a Servant that children are under in their non-Age and yo◠〈…〉 are under Tutors and Governours Gal. â— 1 the hâ—ir so long as he 〈…〉 â—reth nothing from a Servant though he be Loâ—d of all Apprentices are such Servants who are bound to their Masters to serve them for a set time to learn a Trade Prov. 22.6 Train up a Child in the way he should goe c. such a form of a Servant Jesus took not only he was subject to his Parents Who was able or fit to teach Jesus any thing he was able to teach the Doctors when he was a child Jesus Christ was a Tutor a Master to teach and train up his Disciples Joh. 13.13 Ye call me Master and
confuted themselves they could fix and fasten nothing there was no need of an answer and in such case it is best to keep silence 2. He held his peace to fullfill the Scriptures Isa 53.7 He was oppressed and afflicted yet opened he not his mouth He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth 3. He held his peace because though he was perfectly innocent himself of all they accused him of yet some or other of his Elect might be at some time or other guilty of such evills as they falsly imputed to him in whose room and stead he stood and suffered 4. He held his peace because he was willing to dye for his Elect to expiate the sins of Gods Elect. Sect. 4. The third Act of the Council MAth 26.63 64. But Iesus held his peace And the high Priest answered and said unto him I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ the Son of God Jesus saith unto him thou hast said nenevertheless I say unto you Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of Power and coming in the clouds of heaven Mark 14.61 62. Again the high Priest asked him and said unto him Art thou the Christ the son of the Blessed And Jesus said I am and ye shall see the son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven Here see 1. The high Priest and Council finding and perceiving plainly that they could find no just matter against him nor any colour or appearance thereof they invented another way to pick an appearance of matter against him which might seem to be of weight in the eyes of the Jews though it would be of no consideration among the Romans and that was by an open and solemn putting Jesus to answer whether he was the Messias or no. For 1. If he denied it or would not confess it that would much ease and advantage them in putting him to Death because they had found something of that point against him 2. If he should confess it that he is Christ the Messiah they were resolved to make that the crime for which they would condemn him Mark relateth only the bare question art thou the Christ the Son of the blessed Mathew relates the question more fervent for if this device had failed they had no appearance of a cause to condemn him Therefore to make sure work the high Priest saith I adjure by the living God answer plainly and catagorically to this question art thou Christ or Messiah the Son of the living God where 1. See what the Jews saith then was touching the Messiah whom they then looked for viz. that he was to be such a man as also is the Son of God God and man in one person which is the same Faith that now the Gentile Churches believe according to the Scriptures and the same point is manifest by Peters answer unto Christ according to the Faith of the Church of the Jews Math. 16.16 in that famous Confession of Peter Thou art Christ the Son of the living God 2. Vnto this question of the high Priest and Council Jesus Christ answereth two things 1. He maketh a plain clear and direct answer Mark 14.62 I am he Math. 26 64. Thou hast said it it is as thou hast said 2. He proveth it by the consequent viz. the two next acts and dispensations of Christ which they shall see viz. 1. From hence forward you shall see Christ the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power that is you shall see the mighty power of Gospel grace of Christ Jesus in the conversion both of Jews and Gentiles and so going on until the last and final conversion of the Jews which we hope for at this day 2. The next and last act of Jesus Christ in this world you shall see him coming in the Clouds of Heaven viz. in power and great glory to judge the World Sect. 5. The fourth act of the Council WHen Jesus Christ had made this clear confession that he is Christ the Messiah then they thus proceeded Math. 26.65 66. Then the high Priâ—st rent his clothes saying He hath spoken blasphemy what further need have we of witnesses behold now ye have heard his blasphemy What think ye They answered and said He is guilty of death Mar. 14.63 64. Then the high Priest rent his clothes and said What need we any further witnesses Ye have heard the Blasphemy what think ye And they all condemned him to be guilty of death 1. The high Priest rent his garment it may be the rest did the same though it be not expressed 2. He saith he hath blasphemed viz. by confessing that he is Christ the Messiah 3. You the judges the whole Court have heard his blasphemy 4. We need no further witnesses to find matter against him to condemn him to dy this that we have heard is matter sufficient 5. They all expressed themselves to be of the same mind and opinion 6. The high Priest put it to the Vote what think you 7. They all passed their Vote and so the sentence of condemnation was pronounced against our Lord Jesus for confessing that he is Christ the Son of the living God And no other cause or appearance of a cause could theâ— find against him saving this only a blessed cause wherein Christ himself was the first Gospel Martyr John Baptist was martyred for his faithful discharging the office of a Prophet in telling Herod of his sins But Jesus Christ was condemned to dye meerly purely for this his confession and for nothing else no not so much as pretended All this was done in the night the blackest work of darkness that ever was done in this world They began their clandestine night Court about midnight they pursued their work in the manner above related until about the second crowing of the Cocks about that time they condemned him Sect. 6. The fifth act of the Council VVHen they had done this wicked deed in condemning our Lord Jesus to dye it being deep in the night They committed their condemned Prisoner unto a company of men to keep him fast and safe until the morning and then adjourned the Court till the morning And so this dark Sessions of this Court was ended It cometh now to be considered how they used him this latter part of the night until the morning when the Council met again if any bowels of mercy had moved in them they should have given him some refreshing and opportunity to take some rest but they were mercyless unto him who is the spring of all mercy to us they used him cruelly which usage is set forth 1. By the actors a company of men that were charged with the safe keeping of him till the morning they are called Luk. 22.63 a chosen company fitted for the purpose that they could confide in spirited like
their Masters 2. The time of their commission to keep him till morning which was about the space of three hours 3. The several acts of horrible abuse which they did unto him in time of their charge and commission 1. They spit upon him Mark 14.65 which is an act of the greatest disdain in the doer and of the greatest disgrace in the sufferer a contempt that few will do to a dog especially in the Nation of the Jew it was a very great contempt which the Lord himself foretold and described Luk. 18.32 he shall be mocked spitefully intreated and spit upon 2. They spit in his face Math. 26.67 this was the highest degree of the reproach of spitting God gave a Law about it Deut. 25.7 8 9 10. it is the disgrace of him that is unkind to his brother a most improper and unsuitable disgrace unto Jesus Christ when he was doing the greatest act of love and kindness not only to his Brother but to his Enemies 3. They mocked him Luk. 22.63 and the next word sheweth that there were cruel mockings as it is said Heb. 11.36 the persecuted Saints were so used and Psal 25.19 mine Enemies are many and hate me with cruel hatred for 4. They smote him and beat him Luk. 22.63 the word which the Holy Ghost useth doth signifie such blows as do break the Skin and flayed off some part of the skin where the blow fell which was very cruel according as the Prophet describeth such cruelty Mic. 3.2 3. who pluck off their skin from off them and their flesh from off their bones they flayed the skin from off them Isai 53.5 he was bruised for our iniquities they smote him so hard that they bruised him with their blows 5. They blind-folded him and then boxed him on the face and with blasphemous mocking and scorn said thou Christ prophesy who smote thee Math. 26.68 such blasphemy would affright a modest heart to hear it but no doubt they made great sport and laughter at it 6. It was an aggravation of these abuses that every base fellow and servaâ—â— had liberty thus to abuse our Lord Jesus Mark 14.65 and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands they devised many wayes to put contempt upon him and to make sport for themselves 7. They plucked off his hair viz. of his face or head or both This abuse is mentioned in the Prophets Isai 50.6 I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that pluck off the hair I bid not my face from shame and spitting 8. They spake many other blasphemous words against him which the holy Ghost abhorreth to mention Luk. 22.65 and many other things blasphemously spake they against him with which they busied and sported themselves all the night 9. They were charged to watch and keep him and therefore they might not sleep and they kept themselves thus employed and thereby did not only hinder Jesus Christ from taking any rest but also they did grieve vex and provoke his Spirit most bitterly It was the saddest night that ever was spent And thus they did till morning light for then the Council met again Luk. 22.66 and called Jesus before them This is the Lamentation that these that did this vile injury to Jesus Christ were of his own to whom he was sent but they would not own him but condemned him to dy which was the work he came to perform and when they had nailed him to the cross he pardoned them and prayed for them When visible Professors of Jesus Christ are Persecutors of Christ they will be violent and cruel as now these were against Christ And no marvail that the Servants and inferiours were so cruel against Christ for they knew that they pleased their Superiours and Masters When Saul persecuted David every abject durst vent his venome against David and Doeg fears not to be an informer against him When Absolom rose up against David is it any wonder that Shimei durst shew himself to curse David The horrible crueltyes and indignityes of these Jewish Watchmen that had the charge of keeping their condemned Prisoner will all in many respects stand upon the account of the high Priests and Rulers They opened their own envy so bare and naked that every body might see it And therefore their creatures were bold to do any thing against the Lord Jesus Sect. 7. The sixth and last act of the Council of the Jews as a Councill against Jesus Christ as private Persecutors and envious Persons they pursue Iesus Christ before Pilate and before Herod afterwards LVk 22.66 67 68 69 70 71. And assoon as it was day the Elders of the people and the chief Priests and the Scribes came together and led him into their Councell saying Art thou the Christ tell us and he said unto them if I tell you you will not believe and if I also ask you you will not answer me nor let me go Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God Then said they all art thou then the Son of God And he said unto them ye say that I am And they said what need we any further witness for we our selves have heard of his own mouth It was about Cocks crowing when Jesus Christ was condemned committed to safe custody under a strong guard The Court adjourned till morning all the abuses that these carnal keepers inflicted on Jesus the remainder of the night I refer unto the fifth act of the Council which for time extended till morning and for cruelty it extended to Hell Now in preparation for their proceeding in the morning they held a close and private consultation how to manage this great business For seeing they now had according as they long desired and contrived to doe apprehended him and condemned him they were resolved to put him to death But they foresaw many difficultyes in effecting it The points considered plotted and agreed in this private consultation were sundry and their agreement may be gathered out of the answer of Jesus Christ in the morning who gave them to understand that he knew their plâ—â—s to convince their Consciences that he was Christ the Messiah for the asserting whereof they had condemned him The Points considered of were such as these 1. We must be speedy in our motions and progress before the people know that we have apprehended him For it was about midnight that he was apprehended and brought to Annas and Caiphas It was about cocks crowing when he was condemned he must be put to death and buried before the Sabbath for if we slack the time the people will surely rescue him 2. They considered that we must speedily deliver him out of our hand into the Romane hand and power and it must be done early in the morning before the people gather together and hear of it for otherwise the people will surely rescue him out of our hand but out of the Romans hand they cannot they dare