1 / //. I 5 - 1R . 1F>. jf -e^e^t ~1 >£ ft in burgh K SALE KMJ?UCAT£' « -#1110 7 h-rm^o h I GV^msl- of v Se$ #^^ LECTV^ES, VPON THE HISTORY OF TH 8 T A SSI >.$£, RESVRR EC TION, AND A S C, E.N S* I O N OF OVK.LORP -!./. 1ESVS CHRIST. \* * Beginning at the eighteenth Chapter of the Gofpell, according to S.Iohn, and from the lo'.verfe of the 19. Chapter thereof, containing a perfect Harmo- nieof all the foure Euangelifts, for the better vndci (lan- ding of all theCircumftanccsof the Lords death,and Refurreclion. PREACHED BY THAT reuerend and faithfull feruant of God, M f . Ro B E R T RoLLOCKE, fometirne Minifter of the Euangell of Iesvs Christ, and Reft or of the CollcdgC Of EOINBYRCH. . Edinbvrc h , Printed by Andro'Ha" I~t. Anno i 6 1 6. I A ^ TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL, THEIR MOST LOVING FREIND THE LORD, IN Master William Scot, Of ELI, Grace in this life, and Suer la fling Glorie in the life to come. Ight 'mrjhipfull y albeit that the true knowledge of Chri\\ cru- cified^ of all other \ be the mojl rv o? and excellent :& albeit that /; the only and full matter of mans ?L t ion: yet few there be whoflriite to L him as theyfhouldy and to ; matter of their rcioycing.For to jj nothing of the Gentiles, who c omit the preaching of Christ crucified to be fooliflwejfe , or of the L i who count it ajtumblwgblocke, i. Cor. 1,23. or of the Turkes, who will not acknowledge him to be their Redeemer : euen they who hatte bene baptized in Chrisi \& profeffe outwardly his word^ C?truc doflrine/fthey remainc tn nature \& be not pre frt ted by the Jpirit of adoption^ whereby they may fee their owne mi fa : Jinnesy & the t err ours of the wrath of Godforfinne, in the meane time that they profeffe Chrisi y they in fart fcome the Crqjj Christ, his woundes^ and his bloody they account the knowledge ^ * ,h "" a "The Epistle thereof of title value: yea, they mil preferre to it the knowledge of any thing here beneath, and they willfeeke the matter of their gloriatio not in it, but either in themfeluesjr els into the creatures of Godytvhich in themfdues are but tranfitoriousjl)adowes. The naiurallmm will neuer thinke, that he can finde greater things in Chriff crucified, than he will finde Jf he obtaine the obietl which moll he de fires, likes and longs for. The ambitious man will not thinke that he can get greater honour > than to be c ailed the fonne of aKingorEmperourihewillnotrefufe with Moies,to be called the fonne of Ph'Jtraocs daughter, that he may be called the fonne of GodyH^iJ.z^Theferfuall man cannot thinke that he can find any greater f leaf urejhan in hisfinfulllufl y ^r he will neuer chufe, rather tofujfer aduerfitie with the people of God y than to enioy the pleafuresof (inne. The couetous man can neuer thinke, that any greater happines can be, than here on earth to hattegold, filuer and treafures : he will neuer with Mofcs eHeeme the rebuke ofChrifi greater riches, than the treafures of Egy pt. Only that man whom Godpreuents by his Spirit y and calles effectually fro the kingdome ofdarknes to the kingdome of light >wil account duely of the CroJJe of CbriB,& will fay with the ApoHle^God forbid that I ihould reioyce,butinthc croflfeofour Lordlefus Chrift, Gal. 6. 14. and, I decreed not to know any thing, faue Iefus Chrift, & him crucified, x.Cor.z i^thatman will call it the fuper eminent knowledge of lefus Chrift ,Phi\ip.$ .8 :& he only will make ChriH crucified to be the matter of his gloriation for he will fee, that God in him, as in aft ore-houfe hath placed all treafures, & that in him dwells thefulnefjeofthe Godhead bodely,(2o\.2. 9 : hewillthirH to be woompledinthe wounds of Ie fus, and wafhed in the blood of lefts :yea, that man will fee, that God hathmanifeHedin Chrili our Sauiour,andin his death and refurreflion his glorious proper* ties more clearly, than in the worke of our creation, or any other of his work eswhatfoueri(forheiscalled 7 thcbvightnc^^ gIorie,& the engrau^d forme of the perfon of the Father, & the Image of theinuifible God, Hebj.j.) andthatmanwill vJhtllMtlkmJin&hinz* which thefoule of man inlak Qandsin D E BICA T6K1!. neede of, or can defire> but he willfnde it in ChriflJVouldJt tho* fee the glorious properties of God? confiderfrfl .his power : albeit in the worke of creation his power appeared to be incomprehenfiblt & omnipotent jvhen by his word he formed all things of nothing, & called theft things that are not, and made them to be yet in the worke oft he Redemptio he manifeHed greater power for notwith- standing Sathan, the power of darknejfe^ thefwnes of the Elect, which Icfiu bare^death andthe graue were againjl him y yet power- fully he raifedlefusfrom death^ Eph.i .19: there is a great power: and whereas in the Creation he formed to Adam a fpous out of his owne rib be : in the Redemption, he formed the Church of God out ofthe blood of Chnfi : there hegaue life,in commanding that to ve which was not -.here he giues lfc y not by life, but by deaths by the death euen of his owne Sonne Albeit in the worke of Creation great 1 and more than wonder full doth his wifdome apptarejn ma- king this glorious and beautifitllfabr/cke,& in making all things, eucn contraries % to agree ik fuel) anharmonie: yet in the wot kerf Redemption^ Godbyfndingout a way, which no creature^ neit; man nor Angell^ could inuent, how that iustice and mercie could fland together \ hathfhewed greater wifdome : his wfiome isf:tch y that the ^Angels admires, anddefires to lookem it,i.Pct 1-22* Albeit great anger & wrath did thcLordvtter many times againji fnners: as in the olde world by the F lood,and on Sodomec^Go- inorrhc, by rainivgfrom heauen brim/lone and fire y he dtfroyed man y woman, young, o/de, rich and poore without exception :yet more clear ely was his anger againjl fume feene, when for thffinncs ofthe Elect he ^ared not his own welbelouedSon,on who they were I: but made his wrath fo fearfully topurfue him^ that he cried, My roulcisvcryhcauicjCUcvntothcdcath^/^T./^.j^:^, My God^myGod^vhy haftthou forfaken mec' Matt. 27.46. And albeit great lone did the Lord [Ijcw tow.trd men.c? "aucmany te'shmo ucs thcrofingitiingthem life y cr I 'S, A ft. 17.25 /» htaktug hLof/f/Jtojhineon themj)is rawe tofilon them, giuingthem fruitful! feafons ^& filing tbeir hearts with food t Th i E * i s r i- i lladneJfe,A&. 14.17 \yet ntutrfuch lout jkc*ed be, *n»henhefem the Son of God to be we Sonne ofmanjhat thefonnes of me might be made the fonnes of Godagaine : And when he made him to die > that men might liue.Hertin(fayes lob.4.ro)is Ioue,not that wc louedGod, butthatheloued vs, aad fent his Sonne to bel reconciliation for our finncs : here only u an incontrollable te- ftimonieofan undoubted loue: and if ye Vrill duly confederal! the rejl of Gods glorious properties jejhallfinde them all mo fl ckarly manifested in thePerfon oflefu* Chrift. Now wouldft thou know that in him thou /halt ftnd all things that the foule of manftands inneedeofy &canreqmre< What can the foule of man require i Defircfl thou honour * if thou beleeuejl in him y he full grant thee that power cjrprerogatiuejhat thou Jh alt bet he Sonne ofGodJLoh. 1 . 1 2* De fir eft thou riches i He wo* made poor e, that thou through hispoucrtiemightcft be made rtch^ z.Cor,8.9: not with tranfito* tie and corruptible riches, but with riches andtreafures incorrupt tiblc& permanent: de fir eft thou food, meat,drinketo thy foule i He is that bread of life , he is that water of life : deftreftthou wif- dome r fanft 'iji 'cation and redemption* Chrift isallthefevntothee^ I f Cor t i.29:Ioh.8.i2: Deftreftthou light'. He is the light of the *>orldJoh.i.i2.Defreft thoulife* Heisthylife^Qo\.i^\What iuer hefufferedjt was for thee for by hisftripes w e are healed ^Efai $3.j:He was burthened withjhame^ that he might redeeme thee fromjhame^ and cloth thee with glory : he was taken and bound \ t$ fet wee at libertie, nho tyas bound with Sathan andfinne : he woe mocked^ and was dumbe before the earthly Iudge, that thou Vvbofe mouth before was clofed through the guilt of ftnne before God y might haue boldneffe (jrpeartneftein thy prayers (frfupplications: he fuffered anguijh and grief e y that thou mightftfinde comfort & toy . he dranke the gall, that thou might ft drinke ofafweet andioy^ fullcuppe : he vcas naked \that thou mightft beclothediandifthon tpiltgoe through all the points ofhisfuffering y and apply them U thy broken and cafteu downefoule^ thoujhaltfnde^ that euery one efthemjhallfurnijb comfort vnto thee :yea } if thou be A true pe- nitent t) I lit A T»l !fi nHtntfinner^beleeueftin himfhou fh alt find all thefe winttlest* be wrought and performed in thyfoulejvhich euer the Lor din the dayes of hkhumtliy^wrought on the body of any : thoujhaltfinde lifers to thy dea d fou le> eyes to thy blind [oule^ares to thy deafen fonleJtmbes to thy lame foulest new tongue to thy dumbefoulc&t* Therefore^ wejhould take f leaf ure& deli te in reading the whole parts of the Scripture (for it is all by diuine inftiraticn, & it pre* f table to teach, tocouincejo correft^Tto infiruti in right eoufnes^ 2.Tim 4 1 . 1 6)fo chiefly, that part which cotaines the hifiorie of the p aft on farefurrettion ofChriflifor of all there is none mor c profi- table fione more neceJfarie } none more eafie to be under flood by the fimple^ none more eafie to be kept in mcmoriejione moreforable to mooue the ajfeffions, either to admire the incomprehensible and infinite lone of God toward finners, or thefitrcenes of his wrath for finne^or thefeueritieofhis iufticeinfeekingfucbexaftfatisfafiie^ or to moue to detejl drabhorre (injvhich made the Sonne of God t§ be madefo unworthily alwayes handled. & at lafl to bejojhame* fully crucified y or to reioyceforthefeincomprehenfble benefits that Chri/l hath acquired to vsjur cjfeftuall calling fro the ktngdome ofdarknes to bis marueilous ltght y our iuHifi cation in pacifying the wrath ofGody in Satisfying for finne, in abfoluing vs ftcmguiltU nesyin dying that we might liuejn bringing peace dr ioy to the con* fciencc,&c 4 ourfanftificatio 7 whereby we are repaired to hU ownc^ Image. Nothing fcrues more for the mortificatiojior when we con- fiderhoveChrijl hang vpon the CroJJefor [mjiothtng will moue vs wore effectually to coformeourfelues to him *san en f ample in his humility, patience \obediecejoue:(j; finally \in offering ourfcluesta him^as he offered him f elf e {or vs^ nor when by faith we beholden Chriff on the_j Crojfe crucified for vs . Now this hi !i cry ofthedeath&refurreftioofcbrifthaue ma- » wy worthy men learnedly & co fort ably handled & exponedwth i great painfulnc$,& no le(Je comendatio\amog[l therefijhat reuei i rent & faithful man of God,M. Robert Rollocke ofblcfjcdmc- fr toory for his learned & iudiciow expofitio t Hereof & for his mani- fold The Epistle we fetid fuch hardnes & imperfections, & that hisownphrafefa c!g ncy was not obferued, that we feared to hazard the name and crcdite of the learned &iudicious Author, who deferuedfo well of vs ,yea,ofthe whole Church of God, & had left off the worke as vn- pzrfettffthe earnejl requejl ofyou y & offome other of the learned^ (whofe indgmets are to be reuereced)had not encouragedvs t her to. Tetwe trujl y that the file ful not be much blamed^except by thofe, who beeing delicate eared, regardes language more tha matter: for there is here an eafy methode^with a familiar file conde feeding to the capacity of the meanefij & anfwerable to the matter entreated^ to wit, the croJf e of Chrifphich refufes to be decor ed with humane eloquece,that $ matter be not obfeuredby the file J?ut may appeare^ aboue it>asofttimes M.Rollockehimfelfewas wont toJpeake.Yea albeit it may be, that the file in feme few of the frfl Sermons be fomewhat hard and vnpleafant , which we might eafly haue amended, if we had not thought it vnmeete to haue fet out his matter in our words \ yet if any will read forward : efpeciaL ly,from that part where theBarmony of all the Euangelifs is taken in 3 & all the four e are in fuch fort conferred together , that no cir: cumftace of the hiflory of Chrijls death & rcfurrcttion is omitted \ hefhalleuerfndmore & morecontetmentin all things. And as we haue taken paines for the profit e & edificatio of many \fo we doubt not, but thefuccejje&euentfialanfwere to our de fire. For to fpeake nothing of the hiflory it f elf e, which isfo pleafat,fweet y plaine,eafy & forcible to moue allthe affections of the foulexhere ye will fnd^ A how euery claufe &fentece ofeuery one oftbeEuagelijlsare linked together, & depend one vpon another, according to the order of na- ture: here ye will fee aplaine and an eafy methode:hereye will fee how clearly the doctrine refultes off the doCirine laid down: here ye will fee fit applications to thefe times : & here ye wil fee, when occa: fion offers y how the enemies ofthetrueth of God, are pithily con- uinced and confuted. And nowJfwe wou[d pre fume to dedicate this worke & our la- bours therein to any other than to you,Sir y whofe deferuings haue ^ bin fo great ^both towards the Author biwfelfefo vs alfo, we might Dedicator ie. beiuftly blamed^and could haue no [hew ofreafonable excufe \for fir (i^who knew h\. Robert Rollocke, but they alfo knew rvhat en- tire affefito you carted towards bim,& how caref till you were in all things to pleafe him : euenfro the time that firfl jour acquaintance began fill the time that befnifled his courfe : none louedhim more tederly >nonevfedhim more familiarly ^ none deli ted more to con*, ferrewith himpriuately^& to hear e his preachings publikelyjione fiewed greater gratitude towards him\j or itwasknowne bymany^ that it would haue bene your pleasure, if frcm your hand he would baue receiued atejlimony of your loue^ asafruite of your faith wrought by his Minijierie: yea 7 hehimfelfe did acknowledge^ that none was to be copared with you for gratitude & goodwill towards himikut chic fly 7 you declared your lout towards htmwhiin his lajl difeayeyou would haue him to come to your houfe^ where you enter- tained bim(& for his caufemany that came to vifttehim) liberal- ly & honourably to his lajl breath ^without any regarde ofexpefes y euen as a louingfonne entertaineth his father. T^ext feeing the wil cf theTeflatorftouldbefacred & inviolable-.c? in his t eft ami t he crdainedjbat whatfoeuer of his works Jhould fee the light thereaf- ter fiould be dedicate to youjvitbtbefcfolemne words ,exprefly dy- tedbyhimfelfe^GvhiiiLMo Scoto inperpctuum tefiimoniu amicitia* noftra? dedico,cofecr6que (that where cucr his works wereread^your kindncs& affeftio towards him might be knowne, & your memoriall might endure to thepofterity) who can iuftly be offended \that this workc be dedicatevntoyow'. who can enuieyour fraife herein', thirdly jf there were no more this one can fern ay be more than fuf ft ait > to make this worke to come out vndcr your pa- tronage (frproteflii^batyou haue bene the only inftrumit to make it to fee the light for through your great carejarntfl endeuoure en- large expifes thefe Lectures were collected & gathered from all the fartes of the Countrey, £d/?, IVestJoutb, North fow far diHant that eucr they were from the hands ofhisfchollers^ho wrote them from his mouth: by your dealing & procurement they were written Qucr andouer againe^ reuifed, corrcfted^ & now made apt for the The E ?• i.s t l e ?rinting\fothai by your means they now go abroadin thehands of tnejtie truflfo tie cofo; t of many : lajllyjvefor our own parts offer on; frauds in this worke vnto yourpatronage y as a monument } that \vc acknowledge ourfeluesto be more obliged vnto you jha we can requite :& of minds deftrous not to befoudvnthakfullfor the vn- aeferuedfauouryou fiewed to vs particularly: to (]>eake nothing of the tefiimonics of your loue y which youfhewed many wayes towards them tyhothcLordhatbfctin hisferuice,bothfar & near, which they the fe lues doe acknowledge & profejje. We offer therefore thefe LecJ'ireSyCJr our labours theretn y vnto your patronage & proteftio \ not only as atettimonyofthe Authors great liking and gratitude toward you J?ut alfo as a monumet of our thakfulnes for your kind- ves flawed vnto vs \ finally^ Sir, as God hath preuentedyomnany wayes with his b lef sings ^ hath made you fefible of his loue^&hath giuenyou an honorable accoty& eft ate in this world: fo continue in the honouring of God,&doiriggood unto his Saints y {orhisfake,& the Lord Jhall per forme thefruittofhispromifes in you, which his Saints find by experience fiis mercy jhall neuer leaueyou y vntillthe time that he accomplish the worke he hath begun $ he crownehis grace with glory. Nofy^the God of all grace (jr peace ^who is able to doe all things exceeding aboundantly^aboue all that we can aske or thinke \grant toyou^Sir ^according to the riches of his mercy >a long, happy & peaceable life here Jo the comfort of his Church & Com- monwelth>& that you may abound in euery word & worke >& that you may fight confiantly the good fight of faith here on earth jhat tvheyour courfe isfinijhedje may be affuredto receiue that crowne of glory in the heauens, which Iefus hath acquired to them that hue him: To^hofe gracious protection we recommendyouin body and foulejwi th all the aftions you enter prife according to his wilt^ fornowandeuer % Amen, Yours fnth^ Lord, c H. C>% W. A. n Fo L. t THE FIRST LECTVRE. OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST, Ihon Chap, xvrii. / \/\T Hen Iesvs had (pokers thefe things , hee Went foorth , * * With ht6 Dsfciples oner the "Brooke Cedron; WhercWus a Gar-* d:ru> ty the which he entred, and his Difctples. 2 tAnd Ju JaSj Who betrayed him, knew alfi the place: for I E s Y S oft jjmts refitted tbit herewith his L 3 Iudas then, after he had rcceiued « b and of men ^and officers oft] c Priefts>& of the f hart fes/amet hitler with lar.tcrn^cr torches >& Weapons. 4 Then Iesvs, knowing all things that, Jlmdd come vntc a m 7 Went forth, andfitd vnto them, Unborn feck? Jcc ? / Ticy anfwered him, Iesvs oft Nazareth. I e s v sfiidvnto i Jam hee. T^oW Iudas alfi , who betratd htm t flood With them. 6 vfjJbMe then as hee had faidvmo ibcm> lam bce } they Went OPpq b*ch^ »ardes y and fill to the ground. N t o this part of this Gospell (bdoutdin the Lord I e $ v s) the Lord hath done the office of a Pro- phet and Doctor, going about to in- ftrud the people of the Ieyvbs in the way of Life and initiation, and to infliucl and comfort His ownc Difciples efpe- cially inthefc laftCHAPiERs. Novveirx the eighteenth and nineteenth Chap- ters following, He doeth the office of tPrieft. Ye know the Lord he is a King, a Pru ft, and a Prophet: ! iycththepartofaPricil,in offering vpfiimfclfe: Hee offered p none other iacrifice than his o* r ne bodic for the world, and for A the 4 The fust Lectvre. the redemption and faluation of mankind* As concernir g his paf- fion and fuffering, whichisrebearfedin thefe two Chapters, the hiftorie diuidcthit lelfe verie clearly : Firft, wee haue his P. flion and fuffering in theGarden : Next , wee haue his fuffering in the Hall of Ca/aphas the high Pricft: Thirdly, we haue his fuffering be- j fore Tonuui PiUte the Iudge : Fourthly, wee haue his fuffering in the place of Execution, which is called CaluarU^ or in Hebrewe ; Golgotha, where he was crucified: Andlaft, in the endeof the I nineteenth Chdpi we haue the laft poind of his fuffering, ftanding I in his fepulchre and buriall, which is the laft part of his humilia- I tion. Nowe this day wee (hall fpeake fomewhat, as the time (hall i ferue, of his fuffering in the Garden, In this firft head of Chriftes fuffering in the Garden , fii ft wee haue the part of Chrift , offering himfelfe to bee taken and bound willingly, and of a fet purpofe: Next, we haue the part of/^j, in comming out with a companie of men of warre againft him,to the fame Garden: hce knewe the place well cnough,becaufe the Lord, with hisDifciples, were wont to refort thither; In the thirde place , wee haue the communication betwixt the Lord and them that came with ludas to take him : And fourthly,wee haue a fad of I Teter,who will (hew his loue towards his Mafter,and his manhood* r by cutting off the eare of ^7Wck*,the high Prieftes feruant: And i| laft,thc taking of Chrift,offering himfelfe w)llingly .his putting in-^ to the hands of his enemies, and his binding. Thefe things are fee] downe in the firft part of this hiftorie, Of the Paflion of the Lord,] concerning his fuffering in the Garden. Now to come to the words, and firft to Chriftes parr tit is faid, When I e $ v S hadfpoken thefe things, heVrent foorth y with his Dtfciplcst wet the Brock? Cedron, Where was a (jtrdctt , into the which hee enteitdj *nd his Difciples, There is Chriftes part: of verie purpofe he cafteth Jhimfdfe to that place, which ludas knew, and where hee knew t^hat hee was wont to refort: of verie purpofe hee went thither, becaufc the houre of his death was at hand. The time is well to bee noted whenhedoeththis,when he hadfpoken thefethingSjthatiSjWhed hee had fufficiently inftruded and comforted his Difciples , an{ made that prayer for them , and recommended them to the Fa- ther, to keepe them in his abfence : then hee maketh himfelfe fojj deatbrftnd purpofelj he went to that place to be taken. Hecre is t ji plaine«Hbn offered vnto vs in theperfon of Chrift : when hee hat] difchargcel Of the Passion o* Christ^ 3 difcharged a duetie, efpeciaily to them who were concredite vnto him,aftcnhat he had inttrufted them,and after that by prayer hee had commended firft his ownc felfc,and then all his own to God: then in fecuritie andptace he goeth on to death: hce gocth not to die before he difcharge a duetie to them that were committed vn- to him: then willingly headdrefTeth himfelfeto death* Yeeknowe thelcffon. When a man or a woman hath difcharged their calling faithfully towardes them that were committed vnto them , and done their duetie to them to whom they are addebted , then in peace & reft, and with a good confeience they may offer vp them- felues at the pleafure of God, to layc downe their life, and to die: thcrefore,whofoeuer they be that would die in reft and peace, (and alas, when ftiouldeft thou hauc reft, peace , and quictnefle to thy foule, ifin the houre of death thou haue it not?) Let them take heed b:fore they goe to die , that they haue difcharged a fairhfull duetie: and then hauing becne faithfull,vhcn they goe to die,they may lie downe and reft in peacc,and in a good confeience, Buty ee knowe againe one follie in this poind, and this is the common fa- (hionofmen, when they haue their health, before the Lord call on them they arc fo floathfull in discharging their duetie to them to whome they arc indebted, that when the foule is to depart out of the bodie, they are moft occupied with bufineffe , and moft trou- bled in making th cir reftament,and I know not what: Now make thyTeftament before hand, and difchargc thee of all thinges,and denude thine hand of all worldly affaires, that in that houre thy foule may reft on God, and bee delited on heuenly thinges,and on that life which thou art going vnto by death. But to come forwards; It is hid>Hc Vvent oner the ISrookc Cedron, ith bis Ttifcip/es: This Brooke Cedron was a watcr,which ranne be- rweene HiernfiltmjLxvi the Mount of Oliuts>\n a little and lowe val- ley '.(Lttke 2. Sxm. //. 23.) and it was a little ftreape that ran when it was raine, but in time of drought it was drie : Nowe heerc was a Garden, into the which the Lord entered, with his Difeipfcs ; to theendc, thateuen as in the Garden (to wit, the Garden of Para- iife) the faluation of mankindc was loft through the fall ottAdtm and Eur, Euen fo in a Garden.the faluation of mankindc faould be- gin to bee recovered. Chrift began his agonic and paftion in this harden. There are fundrie thmges concgrning the fufferitig of Chrift in this Garden of purpofe omitted , and left out by hhn , A i which 4 The- first Iectvbi, which is mentioned and fe t dovv ne at large by the refl of the Euan- gelifts,by Ata*. in his 26. chap.<& 36>verf.7rtark*'L4* 37* Lnk, 22. ?. Oncly Ishn fpeakctbof his taking and binding jn the Garden : the reft fpeake of that agonie and confljd that hee had with the wrath of his Father in the Garden. They who are defirous to haue thefc things more at large,let thcixi reade the reQ,o£tKe Euangelifts.only I (hall touch that battell & agonie that Chrifthad in his foulc with the terrible wrath of his Father before any laide handes vpon him. When he entereth into the garde.the firft thing he doth,hechoofed Out three of his dikip\es : c jPetfr,hkv i & ImmrM he callcth them afide from the reft,to the end,that as thefe thre were witnefles of his glo- rie 5 in that his glorious Transfiguration vpon Mount Tabor, when TMofes and Helias appeared vntohim, Afdtt.t7.i. Euen fo,thcfame three flhould be witnefles of his humiliation,and that-deje&ion in the Garden : and hee commandeth the reft to fit downe together. So thefe he calleth apart, Peter, lohn>znd lames ,by name rand in their fightjfirft he beginneth to enter into thatcombatc, and he begin- neth to (hiuer and quake,& to be exceedingly heauy.-and he crieth out with a loude voyce in their audience, My foule is heauie on all fides to thcdeath.There beginneth he his agonic.and conflift with the wrath of the Father for our fins,wherewith he was burthened* After that,he went from thefe difciples,about a ftone caft,and hee prayed to the Father with a loud \oycejAy\ng,FatherjfitlepoffiMe remonefrom mi this cujfi that is, this cup of wrath & death, but not my Verflibm thyVvtllbtdone* Thirdly, he goethforward in that conflict & battell with the wrathof his Fathenhefeeleth the wrath of God to incrcafe,& he crieth againe that they might hcue>Father,ifit be pof- fibUftmoucfromme tht* rj/p/Then againe the battell increaftth > & the agonie groweth,& then the third time he praycth the fame words, Father joke this cup fro meithat is,thecup of the heauy wrath of God; 1 at the which time an Angcll came from heauen s & comforteth him. Yet the battell holdeth on,and he is in a greater agony with his Fa- ther than euer he was in before*& he prayeth at greater length.and more ardently & vehemently than euer he did of before : So that in his agony the drops of purple blood fell downe from his face to thegrounde: fuchathing was neuer fecne, nor neuer befell vnto anic man fince the beginning of the worlde, as to fweate blood? no man was euer vnderfuch a terrible and horrible wrath of God, as Chrift was for our fmnes, and for the finnes of the whole world ♦ Now Of the Passion of Christ. 5 Now in all this meane time, he is not forgetfull of his difciples, who he brought with him to be witnefies of his fuftcring, he is ay going to them,& from them.to hold them waking,& doe what he could doe, they are ay fleeping, the Deuill is bufie with them,thac in thefuflfering of C hr i st fthcy bceing then deeping) they (liould bcare no witnes of the fuftcring of Chrift,thc Deuill was as bufie to cad them in a fleepe, as the Lord was bufie to hold them waking, to beare witnefle of that agonie & conflid. I wi! 1 not infift in this matter, reade thereof in Mattb.2S.8c in Luke 22 t &c'\n Marc. 44. and yee (hall get this Hiftorie at large : only we haue thus farrc of the fuffering of Iefus Chrift in the garden :'firft, how heauie& weightieathingfinne is, all this was not for his finne, but for our finnes, for the (nines of the worldrNexc, ye fee how hcauie a thing the wrath of God is, that followeth on finne, for as Iefus Chrift fooke on his backe the burthen of ourfinnes,fodid hcalfo the weight of the wrath of God, and the punifliment that followeth vpon finnerif ye know not this, ye know nothing of Chrift.Third- ly> yee fee the greatnetfe of the louc of Christ to man,that firfl: tookeon his backe fo heauie a burthen of finne, and fecondly, fo hcauie a burthen of wrath, and all formankindc. If Christ had not fuffered, neuer a man had bcene fafe, but thefe burthens had prefled themdowne to hell, neuer aloule had becnefaued from tAdam to the end of the worlde : Looke then what loue hee hath (hewed to vsrand laft, this agonie & fuffering in the garden lettcth vs fee that the Sonne of God, as he is vcrie God,foheis very man alfo, and that he hath the body of a man, & the foulc of a roan, for this fuffering in the garden was cfpecially in the fouler in this battell the foule of Iefus Chrift was efpecially fet on by the wrath of the Father. There was none, touching the body of the Lord at this time, but the wrath of the Father was fighting with the foulc. Buttoleaue this, and tomarkethepurpofeof Iohn, hispurpofe is oncly to let you fee, that when Iefus Chrift died, he died with a great wiilingneffe and readineffe , that willinglic hecgoethto death, and is not drawenout igainft his will, but knowing thar 1 vd a s would come with a companie of men of warre to that place where hec was wont to walke and pray, of fcr p 11 r- pofe that heelhould be taken, heercforted thither. So this is the purpoD of Iok n, to let vs fee that Iesvs Ch r i s t offered vpa voluntaric Sacrifice forthefinnes of*the world, for except A 3 he had 6 Thi first ticn»i# H c had offered vp a voluntarie facrificc,His fuftering had not Bene In obedience to the Father, He had not bene as is faid, VhtLi. 8.obe- I dient to the Father. So the Lord died, and hee died to beobedient • to the Father, that is, Hee died willingly at the good will and plea- p fureof the Father. And if He had not bene obedient, His facrifice 111 had ncuerbeencafatisfa&ion for thefinnesof theworldc, and |( then what good had the facrifice of Christ done to mee, or thee, or toanie man : and therefore hereupon is our faith groun- ded, that we know the Lord Iesvs, not qnely died, but alfo f that H*e died willingly; and fo willingly, and withfuchareadi* neffcto pleafure his Father, andtofatisfie the wrath Qf the Fa- the~, as no tongue of man nor Angellcan expreffe. And when eucr thcu fectleft thine heart on rhedeathof CHRIST, looke thac thine heart fettle it on a willing and obedient death : for if thnuthinkenot that Hee died willinglic and chearcfullie for thee, thoucanft hatie no comfort. Now to come to W*s part :/«^knoweth the place where the LORD was : hecknoweth the Garden well enough, becaufe Iesvs oftentimes was wont to refort thither with his difciples, and JhAm was one of them : for manie times hee was therewith the reft of his difciples, and hee knewe, that commonly the LORD was wont to refort thither with his difciples, and on this hee takech occafion to betray Him : and when hee hath got- ten a band of men of warre, and the feruants of the high Prieftes, and Pharifes, hee as a Captaine to them, and they asaguarde with fwordes and (hues enter within the Garden to take the LORD IESVS. Well, Brethren, if is the acquaintance and familiaritic that tydas had with CHRIST, and with the place where He was wont to refort, that was the occafion of the betraying of the Lord, If Indus had not bene acquainted with Chrift, Judas had not come to this place to take Him. It is familiaritie that makes traitours : hee that will betray a man, mud be a domeftickc & a houfiiold man to him. Will cuerie man betray Chrift? No? not euerie man, hee that will betray Chrift,muft be one that knoweth Him, and His tructh* in fomc meafurc. Then thou that knoweft Chrift, takegood heede to thy knowledge, and to thy familiaritie, takegood heede that that knowledge of Chrift be infinceritie, and that thou be not an Hypocrite, but bee a friend indeede, and not outwardly, etherwifc tOf THE pASSfOM OF CHRIST. \J ihertrife, if thy knowledge be but in hypocrifie,and if thy friend- ip bee coloured, thou (hale bee a traitour, and in the ende thou [hale make apoftafie with fats, from Iefus Chrift. Whatis the caufe that men become Apoftaces and traitours, and after that they haue profeffed and fubferibed , they fall away from iefus Chrift?what? but becaufc they were neuer true nor fincere friends to Iefus Chrift ; All was but diflimulation,and (hall end in perfe- ction of Iefus Chrift, and his members, and they (hall end in de- ftru&ion,as hdasdjd : for after that heehad once made apoftafie from the Lord, and betrayed his Maftcr, hee neuer tooke reft till he hanged himfclfe. If ye will marke well,ye wil find in the compa- nic of/ndss two rancks & forts of men:Thefirft is a band of men of warre oftheRomane Deputies, that was one part of the guarde: The other was the officers and miniftcrs of the high Pricit, they riiake out the other part. Then the third guarde is par- ly of Gen- tiles, & partly of lewes.How came they. ? 1 hey came with lanterns 5c weapons & lights on a naked m in uich feate of warre : th ey nee- ded not, What heeded all this compan.e. the Lord Iefus beur ga nakcJ man in the Card n, not mindei tofighttWHat needed tuna: :o bring fuchaguard with iiimPThe Spirt of God m^rkcth i*;rhis Marratme, that hktds in duin^ this, had an ci,\ I conicirnce, :hrough his euiH doing. The man that taketh an euill or a wicked dectJe in aand, will thinke that hee can neuer get men enc*- to dc; it with aim, hee (hall feare for no caufe: if yecfhould guarde him ui.h all :hc worlde,fcarcely (lull hee be in fecuritie : for hee waives that seaceof G O D. TWto the Tbilippians calles it that peace that ?affcs all vnderftanc'ing, and that guardes the heartof n^an • for ^cacc is nothing, but a good confeience, and hee who wantcsthis ;ood confcicncc which is th? inward guarde, that man can nnicr >ee faued with an outwardc guarde : if all the worlde (hould ftand tboutthat man, hee will euer bee in feare, and albeit hee were in he mids of an armie, he will tremble and quakc,biit a good con- science will reft in peace: asDAnidhycthttsflt hough /Were helmed ibokt with ten thoufandmen^yet VQiuli I not be afraidJorjknoS* affurcdly hit tboti Vnlt bceVcitbmec. That heart is well guarded that hatha ;ood confcience, for it will haue peace inwardly, and will not eekc that outward guarde. The fame jhing is fet out in the manner of his comming, hee commcth with lantcrncs, and hee A 4 commuh & The first Lectvre. commcth with lights,and in the night.Thiscomming in the night manifeftcth.thaUie had an euill confcience:for he that docth euill, hateth the light/What needed all this company* Was not the Lord lefus dayly going in and out in Hierttfalcm} And was He not daylie teaching in the Temple ? & yet they layed not an hand vpon him. The verie fcafon and time of his out-coming, teftifieth, that he had an euill confcience in doing of it,and therefore he came not in the day light, Hce that hath an euill confcience feareth the Sunne,hee dreadcth the light, and hee feeketh to execute his purpofe in the night.The night maketh an euill man impudent. All thefe things manifcft vnto vs, that 7*^ had an euill confcience, but it was not well wakened, but when it was wakened>thcn he defpaired,and he had Hell in his foulc,and got no rcft,till he had hanged himfslfe, Nowc I goe forwarde to the communication betwixt the Lord and the Guarde: J&w faith,Tta Lord knowingall things that fhould hap* pen vnto him % znd that were to come vnto him ,he commeth forward, he flecth not away,he hideth not himfelfe,he is not drawnc out of an hole , as men who haue done an euill faft , but vnrequircd hee commeth foorth vnto them, and vpon his owne free motiue hee offereth himfelfe vnto them : then he tarrieth not till they beginne to talke,but Hrft the Lord fpeaketh,& faieth,JF/w» fetkeyefrnd they anftocre (not knowing him by the face) they fay , I e s v s c/Naza- reth. Heeanfaereth,not denying himfelfe, lam hee: heeconfeffed himfelfe. Will ye marke thefe thinges: when hee fa\cth,hee kywc all thinges that, fhould come vnto him John would let you fee that the Lord lefus willingly and wittingly offered Himfelfe vnto the deathThis taking and laying hands vpon Him,commeth not of hap-hazard : NOjthe Lord knew well enough all the things that fhould come to Him: He is taken wittingly: and as He is taken wittingly, fo is Hce taken willinglie: and Hee is readier to offer Himfelfe to bee ta- ken, than they are to take Him. But to come to the wordes: Hee faieth , JPhome feck* yee httrei-' and when they faye , Ie s v s of TS[a\areth , then Hee anfwereth, 1 dm hee. Thefe wordes doe'teftifie , that wittinglie and willinglie Hee offereth Himfelfe to bee taken. And if yee marke, yee (hall fee in His anfwere fuch mildnefle as is vnfpeakeable ? Hee beginneth not to fpeake in u rath : and when they faye , I e s v s of Na\meth y Hee oiueth not an anfwere fcornefullie : So that as Hee offereth Himfelfe willingly, fo y^e feealfo fuch a mildnefle in Him, when Hee is Of the Passion of Christ. 9 Hce is taken, (cuenas the Scripture fpake) as Hcchadbeene a Lambe. So that ye fee that neither in word nor deede, he vttcreth anic thing to hinder his obedience to his Father: this then is the thing thatloHN recommendcth vntovs, and lcttethvs fee, cuen that Iefus Chrift was willing to die. And thisleflbn welhould all learne, if it (hall pleafe G O D to call anie of vs to fuffer for Iefus Chriftcs fake, that we fuffer with fuchwillingmfle and plea- fure, that we run to death, and embrace it with our armes : let this mildneffe vtter it felfein all thy doings: away with that fcorning: if thou would be like Iefus Chrift, die in peace, & willingly; looke not totheinftrument, nor the Hang-man who puttethhandes in thee, but lift thine heart to the God of heauen, and fay, O LORD, feeftig that it is thy will that I die, mine eye is on thee, and as Iesvs Christ offered himfelfe willingly, to bee a facrificc for the finnes of the world : cuen fo am I willing to obey thy will: It is noted that Iudas was amongft the reft, and i\o queftion the e ye of the Lord is on him, but neuer a worde he fpeaketh to him. |TnR>w I thinke that this (landing of Judas is mentioned, to let vs fee two things, the firft is, that patient fuffering of Iefus Chrift, he be- \ ginneth not to vpbraide him, and to fpeake angric wordes to him, or to looke to him angrylie. Some would haue thought, that the LORD feeing Iudas, might haucfaide to him, WelLTraitour, art thou there who haft betrayed mee: No: hee giueth him not an angric looke, hce is euen a veric Lambe, as the Prophet fpeaketh of him : a Lambe without anger either in looke or in worde, but in fuffering he vfeth fuch a mildneffe and patience as is wondcrfull : Next, to let vs fee that impudencie of the traitour lwim x how durft he face the Lord Iesvs whome hee betrayed? a traitour isay impudent and flhameleffc, hee hath ay an hard heart, and then a brafen face to the man whome he hath betrayed. Ye fee how dan- gerous a thing it is once to harden the heart againft Chrift, and once to beginne to doe euill againft conference : if thine heart be- ginne once to be indured, thou (halt not come backc, whilft thou commeft to txtrcame induration, and at !aft,topcrtlition. fiafa could heuer come backe, after that once hisheait was hardened againft theLord, but paft forward, till he came to that finall indu- ration and hardneffe of heart. Therefore farrebeitfrom vsonce to beginne to harden cur heartes againft the LORD : If thou beginneftoncc, thou (halt grow in hardnetle,, till thou commeft to that io The first Lsctv**, chat fitiaU induration. Lord faue vs from that finne, the hardncflTe of heart againft the trueth,and againft Icfus Chrift.lt is to bee fea- rcd.that thefe men,who with the betrayers of Icfus Chrift hauc fee their faces againll Chrift,& His true religion, & againft their natiue countrcy, and goeforwarde in fuch induration andobftinacieof heart, that they fhail come to that part of ludas. And it is a rare thing to f.e a man who hath gone fo farre for wardc in induration, come eucr backe againc to grace.Now wee haue the effect that fol- loweson this word that Hee fpeakes,/*** hee: for thefe wordes are no fooner (pokeri, (albeit they be few and gentle) but they are all amazed jnrwfc/*, and fhlldovrne backward to the ground* It is anadmi- rable thing,that one word(and that fo mildly fpoken)(hould haue wrought f uch a n effed: for it is fuch a worde, as they woulde haue wiihed for. ft is verie wonderous, that fuch a gentle word fhoulde as a whirle-winde, or as a flaflhe of fire, fo haue ftrucken them . No queftion, this is to let them fee, that the Lord needed not to haue % beene taken with them, except it had beent His owne wiil : No, it was not poflible for them to touch one haire ot His head : for Hee faith Himfelfe in the io.C/wp,andi8.w/. ofthisGofpcll,2fywd« take tk my hfe from me y I haue power to lay it doX*ne y and to takf tt vp againt. So the Lord,hy this wonderfull effed of that word, I am hee, will let them knowe,that they had no power to lay hands on Him, if it had not bene His owne will* And no doubt,Hc hath had a t efptd vnto them,howbcit they were enemies to Him,yet Hee wilhed the well# And by the ftriking ofthem to the grounde, Hee woulde let them fee,that if they encountred with Him, they would die: and He will let them fee His power,that He might caufc them to repent,or elfc to make them vnexcufable: and to let them fee, that Hee was the Lord of Glorie, and thauhcy put hands to the Lord of Glory,and flew the Lord of Life. Wee may gather of the efFed of this worde t that if fuch a fober and gentle worde, commingoutof the mouth of Icfus Chrift, did driue them vpon their backes, and caft them to the ground, what if Iefus Chtift had fpoken an angric word? whae force woulde that haue had/* If the bleating of a Lambe had fuch a force, what force (hall the roaring of a Lion haue ? Where (hall the wicked (hnd? Andifthcvoyceof the Lord Iefus, humbly and like aLambe, (landing before them Himfelfe alone, and fpeaking with fuch gentlenefle, had fuch cfFed, as to throwe them downc vpon the groundc , what cffe3 (hall that roaring , full of wrath and indignation, Of the Passion o* Christ* ir indignation^ that Great day: not out of the mouth of a Lannbe, nor of an humble man,Iefus of iV*£tfm/?:b,utoutbf y mouth of a lion,out of f mouth of lefus Chrifhthe Iudge^tting in His Glorie & Majeftie,& faying to $ wicked,-^*? yee cur fed to that, fire which i% frcfaredfor thc ( Z>euiUandhis p This vcxs that the Word tight bee fulfilled Mich hcefpa\e, Of them vplnch thou gaucH wee, bane I ?/7 none, i o Then Simon Peter, hauing afword, drew it.andfmotethe igb Trieftcsferaant, and tut off bis right eare. Tfyw the fouants name was ilalchust / / Then /aide Iesvs vnto Peter, Tut vp thyfarde ir.to befieath : jhalllnot drirkc ofthecupye which my Father hathgiuen mee i 2 Then the band, and the capmine, and the officers of the Iwcs^teokf I e- t $> and bound him > He laftday(be!ouedinthc Lord Ie- svs) wee diuided the whole Hiftorie of the Paflion and fuffcring of Iefus Chrift, which iscontaincdin tlufe two Chap- ters, to wii, the xvi 1 1. and xix.ofthis Gofpelljin thefe parts:Firft,weehaue his fufFeriog in the Garden : Then wee haue his fuffering in the Hajl of the high Pricft: Thirdly, we hai:c bis fuftering be- jre the ludge TontiusTilate : Fourthly, wee haue his fuftering in he place of Execution, in C alluvia, otherwife Golgotha : And ift,\i c haue the laft part of his fuftlrlng, which is his Buriall. The ift day wee entered into the firft part of his!\iffering,whichIOHN HhisC/up/«-fetteth downeto beethis :Thoi,o d Iefus beeing in l/4i» he: as he wouldf fay in plainewordes,Iam the man whom yee fecke,why fecke yec: anie further? to let vs fee how wittingly,and willingly ,how joyful- lie,and gladly>and howe patiently hee oftcreth himfelfc vnto death; for our fmnes.Now he hath no fooner fpoken this one wordc,/*** \ he, which is a gentle wordebut aflbone they ftart backwardes, and: fall tothegrounde: whereby the Lord woulde teftifie vnto than, that they had no power to take his life fromhim,as hce faid before; himfelfe,he had both his lifcand his death in his owne handes, all the power in heauen and in earth was not able to caufe him to die, \ if he had pleafed to haue liued. But to come to this Text: When hee hath ftrucken them to the< ground.they Ieaue not off: but when they are rifen,they are as bentt as they were before. It is a marucilous thingibr if it had beene his J will , hec might not onely haue ftrucken them to the grounde , but hee mighthaue ftrucken them thorow the earth, into helliyed r he lctteth them rife againerbut they arc all fcnfelefle of that diuine power , wherewith they are ftrucken* The Lord beginneth the fpeach,and he QLith^hom fecke yetThey anfwere,not knowing him, I e s v s of Nazareth. He replicth againe, 1 (iidvmoyoujhatjlam bee: hce denicth not himfelfe, but in a manner p rouoketh th em to dif- patch thatbufinefle which they were about: yet he entereth into a condition with them ^Takemt tbefe that, are with mee^ ftirrc not my Difciples; he giueth them a charge, that they ftirrc them not : and indeed Of thi Passion of Christ. jj indeed none of that whole companiehad anic power to lift vp heir hand againft them. The words arc plainer ye may cafily per- :eiuethe note that rifcth of this ; It is a marucilous thing, that a naked and a fimple man, (who was bafer than the King of Glorie «^as in the earth? ) a man naked without armour : hte isftanding before thcm,who are like as many Tyrants,or tygcrs,and yet none of them had power to lay handes vpon him, till hee giuc them po wenand more,hee will not let them fiirre him,till hee make a con- dition with them,That they handle not his difciples :He imponeth awes vntothem,and without this law, that they meddle not with his Difciples,he will not yeclde himfelfe vnto them. So, Brethren, this is to let you fee firft that diuine power which was in the Lord [ems : Beholde it, for it is a comfortable thing for Chriftians , to cnowe that diuine power that is in IefusChnft: for although hee neuer touched one of them,yet that diuine power did fo bindefaft :heir hands,and fo retrained that pride of their hcartes,that they had no power once to moue againft him.Nex? 5 behold a miferable fenfeleffencfle in them : for it is a wonderful) thing, that they can- not perceiuc nor feele this power that was in him. If they had had inie fight of the Godhead dwelling in him bodily, would they not nauc ceafled from fuch a wicked enterprife? Brethren,it is an hard matter for any manor woman once to bee giuen ouer vnto are* probate fcnfe,and to be ftrucken with blindneflc and hardncfle of heart : And ifGod in his juft judgement giue thee to blindneflc andhardnefie of foule, albeit bee woulde make judgen:entafcer udgement to ceaffe vpon thce,and albeit he would ftnkc thee and Deate thee vpon thy backe, thou wilt not bee the better; but thou x'ilt^ctvpagainc, like adrunkenmaiv.and if thou beeoncc giuen Duer to thine ou nc felfe,it ii as fure a thing as is in the worlde,that !xccpt the Lord let thee fee with his power a fight of mercy, thou halt cuerbtcorr.e worfeand worfc : and except the face of Icfus lline into thy foule, all afflictions (hall harden theelike yroi\ that ■s often ftrucken vpon : and the greater the afflictions bee, except :hat mercy (hine into thine heart,thou wilt bee the more indited. Paul faieth , When the heart tt lji.uo tea to the Lord, the v.uk is ptign ^way , 2. firinrh, 3. 16. Without conucrfion of the heart to the ace of I e s v s , that that mercifull face may (hine into the heart, ill the thinges in the world will nor be able sp mollifie thine heart: Ihcrcfor^whcnfoeucr the Lord afflifteth thee,pray for mercy.that as the 1(5 The second .Li-CTraEj as the power luiketh thee,fo the mcrcic may be powerfull to con- ucrt thee: Yea,crie aye for the mercy >or elfe the power (hill worke a further induration ia thee, and nuke thee worfe* To goe forward: Yce fee how carefoll He is of his difciples:Tnea ' would thinke, that He being fo hard ftraked, & fo nearc the death, fhould haue forgotten his Difciples*. for this is our fafliion, but the Lorddoeth not lo. And B:ethren,this is a true note and token ol a true Shepheard: hee will forget himfelfe,and his life.and hee will remember his flocke: and when he is adying, hee will be carefull o{ his flocke : and when the Wolfe is worrying, him, yet hee will doe what lyeth in him,that his flocke, and euery (heepe thereof,may cf* cape: and he will giue his life for the fafetie of his flocke, This is a good paftor* So wee fee the viue image of afaithfullPaftor,inthe Lordlefus: he will giue his life for his (beepers h:e faith himfelfe 3 Hee is but an hyrcling, that will not for the loue of his fheepe laye downe his life. And this is the thing that I note chiefely here: When the Lord becommeth weakc in himfelfe,thorow infirmitie>ye3,vo« luntarie infirmitie (hee needed not to beeinfirme; what need h,d the God of glorie to bee infirm;:? ) hee fuffereth himf Ife to bee bound till he become iniirme. In the meanc time he is ftrong and powerfull in his Difciplcs to their fafetie: for although thefc that were in the Garden would neuer fo faine,yet they could not gectc their hands Iaide vpon his Difciples^TTieTTord Iefus,when he was hanging vpon the Croffe , the lewes fcorned him, and tauntinglif faide vnto him, Thou who firitdtt others^ come downe md [aue thy felfi l meaning he could not faue himfelf,becaufe he was crucifie J,as if he had no power: but they are decerned, for that f ime hou . c that the Lord was vpon the CrofTe, and that fame veric time thatthorow* infirmitie he died,and when he was h ;nging dead vpon the Croflfe.. that power went out from him that kept his Difciples, and all the faithfull intheworlde: For except that the Lord had kept them then when he was hanging dead,they had beene a preye to the De- uill. For this is our nature and infirmitie, wee cannot (land a mo- ment in this world,exceptitbe by the power of Iefus Chrift, Well then, Brethren, if Chrift Iefus crucified, and crucified (as theApoftlefpeaketh, 2. fir. 13*4.) thorowinfirmitie,and fo weakc in himfelfe in his humane nature, had fo great a power to fauc his Church, what (lull wee fay then? What a power is that which pro- ceedcth from lefus Chrifeglorified ? and commcth downe nowe fron Of the Passiok of Christ. "17 from the Heaucn , and who liueth nowe ( as the Apo- ftlefayeth there) by the power of GOD, and liueth nowe in gloric at the right hande of the Father. How great a power muft this bee, that proceedeth out from Chrift glorified/ Alas, if the worldefawthis, if the blinde men fawthe thoufandpjrtof that terrible power that commeth from Icfus Chrift glorified, thinkc ye, that for all the world, they durft confederate with the King of Sptine, the Pope, and his power, and enterprifeanie thing againft Chrift and his Church : but, alas, this blindntffe and induration lcttcth them not fee nor feele, but in the ende they (hall feele it (if the Lord in mercie conucrt them not) to their euerlafting (hame 8c confufion. Well, to goe forward, Iohn to this purpofe alleadgeth an olde prophecic which was prophecied before of Iefus Chrift long before hee came into the world; and this is the prophecie:0/ them which thou gxueft mc > ham I loft none. Nowe/^draweth this prophecie to the preferuation of Chriftes difciples at this time, becaufethedifciplesthatwereconcredite vntohim,cfcapedat this time.Marke,Brcthren,It is trucindecdjthat the prophecie properly is to be vnderftoqd , not fo much of a faferie in this life prcfently, as of a fpirituall fafetie to life euexlafting: this is the meaning: Yet it hath pleafed the Spirit of God, to apply this prophecie to this bodily preferuationrthecaufeis this, At this timethe bodily fafctic of his difciples , importcth that fpirituall fafetie & the life to come: as by the contraric, the indangeringof the prefent life, indange- red the life to come.If the difciples had bene taken at this time, to |iaue fuffcred with their Maftcr, they had all reuolted and denied ( their Matter : Wee may fee the proofcof this ir\ Peter, and fo they had hazarded not onely this life, but alfo the life to come.becaufe c that the difciples were as yet but children in Icfus Chrift,and were not ftrengthened enough with the power of Chrift: and woe is to that foule that will denie Icfus Chrift, and chiefly in death Tl is not one who will fuficr their litle finger only to be burnt for the caufe of Chrift, except he be ftrengthened wi h the po wc r of Icfus Chrift, and there is not one that will now fufferaffli&ion,but they who are guarded with the power of God, and therefore ycc fee hecre Gods mercie towardes his difciples, This is the mcrt; ^dealing of God with hisownc,hec willncuer let cue of hisowrc ,j bee tempted, but hce will g'ue them power to beare one the B tempratioq "l8 The second Lectvri, temptation, and Hcc will neuer fuffer them to be tempred, till He giue them abilitie ; and when Hee hath giuen them ftrength 3 then the LORD will lay on the burthen. It is a wonderfull thing, the heauier the burthen be, that the Lord layes onhisowne,the greater ftrength Hcegiues them to fuftainc it. The world hath wondered at the Marryres of God, who had fo great comfoitj in the time of their burning in the fire,and how in fuftering they] would fing Pfalmes vnto their latter breath.The world wonderetlv at this : The heauier that t he death hath bene, the greater hath th| power of God bene, and the greater hath the life of lefus beene in theMartyres. Andthefe difciples whomhefparednow, when He: faw that they were ripe, Spared He them then i No, no, what was the whole lifetime of the difciples, after that Chrift departed out. of this world,but a perpetuall fuffering,till the life was taken from them, they died all by perfecution,and then by the loflingof this life, they got life cuerhfting, in dying they died not, but in dying *hey entered into a more glorious life: So this is that mcrcifull power of God. It appeares that in this countrey there is litle ripe nefle, becaufc of this litle fuftering : and therefore the Lord hath dealt mercifully with vs, and in great mercie hath holden mens handes offvs : therefore wee (hould pray,ifitfhallp!eafehimto bring any to the trialI,to fuffer for his glorious Names fake, Lord, I am not able to behold the fight of the fire,much lefle to fuffer tht crucltic of the fire : therefore if thou wilt haue mee to fuffer, giut me ftrength whereby I may bee able to fuffenNow I goe to Tctcis part : he fetteth downe his adion, & certainly, it is worth nothing. albeit itfeemeth to bee verie zealous. What doeth hee? hee hath t fword about him, & he feeing them ru(h on his Matter, (heweth hii manhood. And kc Jlriketb tht feruant of thehigh 'Trien^hofenamew* Malcbu*, andhe cut off bis right it is butablindezealetand if thou wouldcft haue thine actions well ruled, then take that lanterne of the word going before thee, to warrand thy confeience in all thy proceedings: for of all graces this is one of the greattft, to haue the worde of God thy warrand in all thine a&ions. As for zeale,I caft it not awaye, (ic is oucr rare to be caften away) for it is a fpcciall grace of God; but take hecdCjif thou wouldcft haue zcale 3 looke that it be moderate, and paflfc not the boundes of thy calling: and then looke that thou haue a warrandeof the word of God; looke that the eye of thy foule bee illuminate; Ioyne thefe two together, and then goe for-* wards to the worke of the Lord. Certainly .experience hath taught vs that this zeale hath had an euill fuccetfe : no man by this zea!c did cuer get commendation of God.lt may be,that men will runne forwards rafhly in zcale> and will haue a good entrie: bnt the ende will tell thee, that it was but fooli(hhardine{Te,&itwillforthiokc them. And no doubt, Tetcr, when hee got this anfwere of his Ma- fter,he repented. No man hathncedeto findcfaultwithmenof this age: for there are kwTeters nowe adayes; where yee dial! findc one like P^^whohath zealc,ye (hall find ten,whohaue nonc.The zeale of God is awaye, that did eate vp the heartes of the men of God of old/Then againe, ye (hall fee in this faft oiTtter setter was a good man, and one who loued Iefus Chrift very well, and hee was loath to teaue Himtand whcn:as the Lord faid to His difciples, Will yee depart dfi from mee ? Teter anfwercd,and faieth : Lord, Whither jjhall ftce goe ? thou baft the vcorde* of/ifi : hee was verie loath to depart from Him : And this a&ionalfo which hee hath in hand, is a good aftion & in the defence of Chrift. Yet for all this, in this good a£Hon,and in the caufe of God,fee how hee is mifcar- ried,& the Lord findeth fault with him.We!l,this is our mture,that when wc would doe the worke of the Lord,our corruption defileth ir,and oftentimes in doing it we will finnc^and we will blot it with fomefoulcblotte. And Teter doing this, with fomeprepofterotts 2eale,he is not allowed : for an vnclcane man, as hee is vncleane 5 fo hee (hall make the worke of the Lord vncleane.So the chiefe thing that a man fliould be exercifed withall,is prayer,that $ Lord would fanaifie the perfon*that the worke that f Lord hath employed him in may Or the Passxom of Christ. 21 in may be holily done r and markcagaine,the greateft default that was in Peter, was his too great zeale. We need not to be afraide for this in this landc : Nay,we may be afraide for default of it thac the worke of the Lord (hould pcri(h, and wee are to pray, that the King, and thofe whom he h3th employed in this worke may hauc an vpright heart, and fuch an heart, as ZXw^and good £ qtchiar bid, an heart louing God, and lutingGodsencmies.I would noc doubt then, but the worke in his hande (hould tike a good end, and hee (hould report honour and glorie. Now che Lord feeing u r ha: Peter did, Heeforbiddeth him, and (hewetha greater anger againft him, than againft-7/u/.ts : Hee fpakenotfoangrylicagainft ludu, or any of them that pureed Him, as Hee did loPeter, and He faycth : Tut vp thy [word into the fljcatb : and then he fubjoyneth the rcafon : Shall J not d, tnhg of the cuppe that my Father hatbgiaen me r Thou doeft wlutlieth in thee, to holdeoffthe cuppe, 1 mil drinke of the cuppe that my Father hathgiuen me, of neceflitie^ muft drinkeit : foric was preordinate before all times.that I (hould drinke it rand feeing it is fo„ I will drinke it. Shall any thing be injoyncd to vs to doe of ncceflme, and (hall we not doe it willingly: The Father hath propincd vntomeea bitter cuppe of affli&ion, and I (hall drinke it out, dregges and all. tjlljnhe\\> in his 26. Chapter, giucth mo reafons, wherefore the Lord difallowcd 7>eter,*nd this is one : Hee who flrikes with the fword at his owne hande,whom the Lord hath not armed to ftrike,heihallbeftrucken with the fword. It is a dangerous matter to flay, if the Lord put not the fword into thine hand : then he giucs another rcafon,will I be defended with thearmeof man: No, if I would pray to my Father, Hee would fend me twelue legions of Angels: and laftly, faycth He, Shall not the Scripture bee ac<;omplifhed of mee, Shall I make the word e of the Lord falfc, which hath foretolde of my fuftcring :and there- fore ft iv thyradwes. And note what L«^«fiycth in his 2 2,Chap- ter,verfe %\^Hc tah.es vp the care >and puts it on againe:Yc mav fee hcc f that the Lord will hiu^no mm hurt in his taking, the Lord will hauc novnjuft defence, Iefus Chriftwill not beedefended with ♦nlawfull mcanes, He will not bee defended with Peters fwot d : for he had no power £:u-n him of the Lord, for toftrikc.Hj will not hauc injurie repretfed with in jurie .- Nay. He will not haue the man that hath the juft caufeto reprefle an authoritie.T his guartlc came from the authorise, from the B^omane empire, and Cluift will not B 3 h^uc it The 'second Lectvbb, haue Tcter a priuate man, to meddle with thefupcriour powcnHd will not haue him to defend Him againft the authoritie. It is a dangerous thing to refill authoritie, albeit it bevnlawfully vfed 3 & chiefly, a priuate man: and albeit that the authoritie had done wrong, yet a man who hath not authoritie.fhould notreprefl? the injurie done by theauthoritie, theLord will not allow it, the Lord will not haue injurie repayed by an injurie.^WclTtHeh, if the Lord will not haue a wrong defence againlt injuries, Hee will not haue a wrong to meete a wrong. What damnation lyes on thefe men, who do an injurie, & doe delight to oppreffe the innocent.If Peter got fuch a rcproofe for the defence of Chrift, againft his enemies; What damnation (hall thefe murtherers get, who opprefle the in- nocent man, the damnation of thefe men (hall bee great : I de- nounce an heauie damnation againft thee i Let the King, the Ma- giftrates,and all the world winke at thce,the hand of the Lord (hall light on thee, this (hall be thy recompenfe.Thou who takeft plea- sure in oppreflion, (halt be oppreftedithe Lord (hall thruft downc thine head, and bloodic hand, & (hall preffc thee downe for euer : the Lord faue vs from this judgement : woe to them that oppreffe their neighbour either in word or dcede«Now to goe forward;SMf 1 not drink? of the cuppe that myFatlrcrhntb giucn we : By the cuppe is vndcrftood ameafure of affliction, that the Lord will lay on any man : as a cuppe is a meafure, fothe Lord hath a meafure of af- fli&ion to lay on his owne : as the Mafter of a familie hath a cuppc & drinketh to Sis familie,& fayes,Drinke thou this,& drinke thorn that :euenfo,the Lord is the Mafter of this world, & He will fill the cuppe of affli&ion,& He will fay, Drinke thou this, & drinke thou that:& if He propine thee a cup,He willcaufe thee drinke it: all the world cannot faue thee, but if the Lord bid thee doe it, thou muft drinke it,Hc hath commandement ouer his crcatures,& good rea- fon that we doe His will,eithcrtoliueordieas He pleaieth:if the Lord propine thee with a cup of afflidion^f thou drinke it not wil- lingly (hcere is the danger) thou (halt bee compelled to drinke the dregs thereof, to thy deftru&ion. Woe is to the foule that will in ao meafure lay down his necke to that burthenrbut againe if thoa take that cuppe gladly, as the Lord Iefus did(Hc dranke the dregs of the bitter cuppc of the wrath of the Father:yea,Hee receiued it gladly,and thanked Him for it) albeit thou hadft bitterneffe in the beginnings in the end thou (halt finde joy andfweetncffcWhat followed < Of twi Passioc of C*Rfsr; 4% bllowedon that cuppe? Gloric : the more that thou fufFereft, if ic *t patieatly,the greater gloric ihili be to thcc.Then feeing that wc 4nuft alfo fuflfer in this worldrfor it is nothing but a differing life(& broeisto thee, that wilt make thy heaucn into this world, thou aeedeftnortolookcfor an heaien in the world to come,) What kucr wee fuffer, lee vs ftriue agiinft our rebellious nature (foritis full of rebellion ) and ftriue to get patience, and fay, Lord, I hauc no patience in mine hand, Lord gtuc me patience & contentment, lee this be our ptayes in diftreflfe,and they who will feekcthis, I rill promife them,thc moft glorious iffue that euer was, thebicter* neffe of the affli&ion (hall not (lay that glorie.In this world wc ar c all as it were on a Skaffold to trie our faith,& to trie our patience, that afterward all our afflictions may be turned in joy & glorie,* all thetearcs chat will gu(h out of thine eyes, the Lord with his hand (lul wipe them away(wilt thou awaitc to fee this cnd)& chou (hale ncucr againefce dolour nor difpleafure.Now remaineth one thing of the taking of the Lord, then faycth hcJTben the band and the tAptaine, and the officers of the Iewes tookg fefits and bound himjt\z gauc them good leaue,or els they could neuer hauc bound Him :5uc~ will yez marke hoy particularly they are named that tooke Him: there is the band of the men of warre, and the captaine, and the feruants, to let you fee, that there was no man that was therc^d was partaker of that doing, but theeyc of God was on him & the holy Spirit rccountcth them.Bewarecuertobe ineuillcompaniejf there were neuer fo many in that companie:yea, if there were tea thoufand with thee, the Lord (hall fee thee, and judge thee, whe- ther thou be a Captainc, or a finglc fouldier, or a gudget, beware tobeeineuill companie,Say not, Iamnotaprincipallman.buta fcruant,I muftobey the authoritie.and I muftfollowe my Cap- tainc :No, that (lull bee no warrand to thee, for if thou (halt be in euill companie, the eye of the LORD (hall bee vpon thee, to/udge thee,let none of thefe worldly excufes mouc thee>but hy, Lord,thou feeft whither I go,& with whom I comc,& what I come to do,or els thy cofcienceflul terrific thecwhethcr thou be higheft or loweft in doing an ill fad, the iudgemene of the Lord (hall fall on thee. Now to come to his taking, the Lord is taken willingly,^ refiftes not,&whe they boud him,he put out his hands to be bouds lookc how he pointes out the fuf&ring of Chrift,Firft he fayes he was taken, & then he was boundithinkc ye this is for nopurpofe C 4 There *4 The second Lectvfe, There is not a wordc or a fillabc loft here : the taking of the Lord, and the laying handes on him, was for our caufc, who lying vnder finne thcc'euil^and dcath^andtlTis taking recounters. and meetes onr raking by the deuill, and death: Euery thing in Kim and His fuffering behoued to meete vs, and our fuffering, Hee that (hould redeeme vs, as wee were taken : fo it behooued Him to be taken, and as wee were bound, fo it behooued Him to be bound, and if His taking and binding had not anfwered to our taking and binding, He had not beeneameetc redeemer for vs,andif he had nor beenc bound as we were, we had not beenedeliuercd from the band*> of fiune, albeit it is hard to Him, yet to the (inner it is joy- full, and if thou findeft thine handes bound hard: thus the Lord Itfus was acaptiue bound for thee, it would beethc/oyfulleft ti things to thee that euer was» Who is he, or fhee that feele the bandes of death and damnation, but this will bee joyful) ti- things to them, &- becaufe we feele not this, when we heare word of Hi* taking, we take litle thought of it, and arefo litlcmooued therewith. Therefore, Brethren, I recommend this leffon to you, and my felfe, feeing we are all finners,lying vnder finne,and death, that we ftriue to bee found in Iefus, that by faith in Him, wee may finde his pa>fion , and all the partes thereof to be forcibleand effe- duallto fte:e and 'ieliuervs from the bandes of finncand death f and fo may be made partakers of life and glorie, through Him.To whom with the Father, and the holy Spirit, be all honour, praife and glorie. Amen, THE THE THIRD LECTVRE, OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST. Ihon Chap, xviij. 13 *And led him away to Annas firfi (fir he wasfhthcr-in-law to Caia- phas , who pros the high Priefl that; feme ycere.) 14 *And Caiaphas Tots he % thitLgatie counfellto thehVves, that, itvpas expedient ,tl:aL or* c man Jhonlddie for the people* is Tfywe Simon Peter jollcvccd I e s v s, and Another Difciple, and that, 'Difcip/e w.is kn°yvne cfthc high Triefl : therefore he \X>cnt in with I e s y S into the FJallcfthe high Triejt : 16 Tint Peter flood at; the doore without, Then Went out the other IJifcyle, Which VP44 kriownevnto the high ^Pnefl^andfrake to her that, kept the doore& b) ought *tf Peter. 17 Thenfiid the maid that, kept the doore vnto Vetcr,s3tt?:ot thou alfe one of this wans T^ifcipla} Hecfeide, I am not. 18 sAnd the [tr- uants and officers flood there , who had'rnade a fre of coles : fur it was colde 9 and they farmed thcmftlucs: And Peter alfoftotd among them, and war- med bimfdfe. E e haue heard (Brethren) the firft part of the fuf- fering of Chrift, which was in the Garden, by the Brooke C^droru^to the which the Lord,as he was accuftomed, entered, with His Difciplcs. In this Garden,afterthatacomi;ningpaflcd betwixt Him and them that came to take Him, the Lord Tcfusis taken, and bound. This is that outward fufti rir gin the Gatdcn, befidts the inward ag-miein the foule with the wrath of the Fa- ther, for our finne>, v vh»ch Hce did bcare. Nowe, Brethren, to p;(Tc by all thinges which wee haue al ca- dic fpoken, wee ent( r into rhe frcond part of His fufferii g which was in the Hall of the High Priefl {atapbas, It is (aide, when Hee is takco A tS Tub thud Lbctvrs, taken and bound, they hade Him 4**17 , firfl te the hotsfr ofAnnai, who wm fhthtr-inMto ttCaiapha* phonos htghTriefi fir that, jwr •The reft of the Euangcliftcs, before they come to this part,they report fome thingesdonc before : and namcly,thcy make mention of a gentle reproofe which the Lord gaue to thefethat tookeHim,& handled Him fo roughly,being the jufteft man in the world, He faies, Whit necdeth dll thiijthat ye fhwld csme out again ft me y ai 4 thicfi and an enemxei iftfight yee not haue had me day lit VphUeftlxvat teaching inyour Templet* Hierufilcm? for latticed my doctrine before theVnrld. Then He aduifeth Himfelfe,*and faies , Whereto flioulde I fpcake this ? this is your houre, and this is the time that the Father hath granted to you to worke the worke of darkneffe for a time, and as the Lord hath or- daincd,fo it muft be.But fay what He would fay,thc miferable crea- tures are fo blinded, that they goe on furioufly againft the Lord* Another thing like wife they report : Inthemeane time that they were binding the Lord,thc difciplcs arc fcactercd and fled. Another thing alfoj (t^f-ir^j 14* 5 r. 52.) whileft they were leading Him to Hiernfalem, there followed a young nun,clothed with linnen vpon his barcbodie: and certaine of the young men followed him, and fought to haue caught him,but bee left his linnen cloth,and fledde from them naked.This fecmcth to haue bene one, who in the night being in his bsd,and hearing a noyfe and adirine,commeth haftily to fee what it was. Ye fee here the infolencie of thefe men who will run vpon the Lord>they will take all the worlde if they might: they fpare none. Now to come to our matter: They leade the Lordlefui ts Hiernfalcm, & they bring Him firft to the honfe of dmat^ becaufe per- chance it was the firft houfe in the way that they came to, that was an houfe of cftimation:and again, becaufe Anna* was father-in-law to Caiaphas y who was High Prieft that ycerej& they woulde gratifie him to fee this miferable (pe<9tacle,for he was a wicked man;Woe is them that delite to fee the bands of Iefus Chrift. They led Him be- fore f world to an open fpe<9:acle,after they had once caught Him, In thefe words(to fpeake this by the way)ye may marke & perceiue a great corruption at this time in the Church of f Ieftes: for before thecommingofChriftjimmediatly all the eftatcs of Churches and commo wcales wereconfufed &troubled:and theeftateof $ High Prieft being a moft notable eftate among them, was corrupted.By } law of God it was appointcd,that only one High Prieft (hould bee atonccjScheallhudayes (hould brooke ittyetfuch was? corruptio then. Of thi Passion of Christ* 17 then,that they chofe mockighjriefts together: & euery oncofthele ferued their courfc about in the office: & this was f yere that Cai+* fha- ferued: but it had bene better for him he had neuer ferued: for in his time y mofte mifchieuous faft was done that cuer was in the uvorldjto wk,y crucifying of Iefus Chrift.y God of glory. So it was not for his good £ he ferued. I might tell you moe corruptions in the hie pricfthood am6g the:the highfriejl was wont to be chofe by the people,& by the mouth of God:this power was take ft 6 chem, & giue to £^^w^princes 5 & prefidents that ruled the people, they chole the. And the the bighpnefis w ere wont to be chole of the tnbe - of LtHi>&: poftcrity of Aaron only:but then any man was take in by bribery,it was bought & fold.& whe they would (hoot in one,they would (hoot out another: this was the cofufio of the Uepriefts eftate immediatly before Chrift camcrTKerc is nothing mentioned what Tvas done with Iefus in the houfe of Annas: they tooke Him in here to driucoucra piece of time,t ill Caiaphas fhould gather his coufell, before who Iefus was to be accufed: & it appeares here,that there He was bound more ftraitly than bdorciAnnas fends Him to Cat*- fh*s his fon-in-law,ftraitcr bound than He was in the garden .It is marked what Caiaphas was, not to his praife,but to his fhame,?/?/* Caiapbas Voas bttbatgauc conn fell^t bat oneflmld die for thepeophxyt heard of this in the 1 1, Chap, and 49 • verf. This was both a prophefie and a counfell. When the Scribe* & Pharifcs were in doubt what to doc with Chrift, hec faies, If is expedient that onejhould die for tbc people. In giuing counfell,the Lord guides thefoulc tongue of him ; as He did "Balaams tongue : for when "Balaam waspurpofed to curfcGods people, the Lord made him to bleffe them : Euen fo the Lord vfed the tongue of Caiaphatihcc (hall neuer haue commendation of that prophefie: hec wasfeeking the blood of Iefus Chrift: yet the Lord ruled the tongue of him to prophefie of that which came ro pafle. But whereto is this repeated here, that Caiafh* gaue them coun- fell? Thefe words arc not in vainc: Iobn would let vs fee by this de- fcription^that they who tooke the Lord, they brought Him to the greateft enemy Fie had, to him that gauc coufell that He (huld die: all me would hauetheircounfelsput in execution :&namcly,a wic- ked ma,if he giuc coufell, he wold gladly haue it put in executi6,al- bcit it were neuer fo wicked,if he (huld do it himfdf,hc had rather Ii3ng himfclfe than it went backers ye may fee in j1chttopbellJokn 3 the writer of this hiftoriej leaucs Chrift, and hee returnee loTeter, and i8 The third Lectvr!, and makes rehsarfall of aching that befell toTeterm themeane time, of that foule fall of /W,whoboa(tedfofaftofhisftrength, to bee an example to the whole pofteritie neuer to truft in the po- wer of man: he got a v vorfe fall tha any of the reft of the difciples.- for he denigd the Lord with an execrarioiyrhereft fled onlyTTiTtKisr fad of Peters jjvz haue fic^hoiv he tempts Godrthen nex^becaufe he tempted the Lord,the Lord tempts him againe: he who tempts God,God will tempt him thirdly, we haue the foule dcniall of ?*- ter by a light temptacioniThen Veter firft tempts the Lordrfor whea . js they led away the Lord to the Hall of the High Prieft, there folio* wedhim Peter (albeit the Lord had fore-warned him of his weake- neffe) but afhrre ojf y 2LS Matt. 26. /8, Marke 14. /4«and Luke zi.jf. doe notc^nd another dtfetp/e. What this difciple wasjhisnameisnot ; mentioned: fomethinke it was Iobn t for John, when hee fpeakesof himfelfc, he vfes comonly to fupprefle his name, as ye fee often in this book. Others think it was not 7^^w,noranyofihetwclue:but fome other godly man,who loued the Lord lefus well, to fee what iffue (hould follow vpon that takings and this is more prooueablc: for I thinke lohn had not fuch ati acquaintance and court with the High Prieft.being but afinplcma^poore filher,namely,a difciple of lefus Chriftrbut whofoeuer it was, it is not much to the purpofe* V^hen they come to Caiayhas Hall, the Lord is taken in : amongft the reft, this other difciple getttth in, becanfe (laies lohn) be wxsknowne to the High TrieFl.ks for P^^,b"caufe he was not knowne.heeftandes at the doore, which was ftraitly kept at this time. The other difciple pitties Peters cafe and eftate, (but it was a prepofterous pittic) And bee entreateth the dwe-kzeper to let in Peter. Take heede to friendlhip : and looke that in pleasuring thy friende * thou bee not an inftru- mentof his deftru£ion'/"No'we\fW commeth in, and warmetlv himfclfe amongft the reft. This for Teters tempting of GOD: Nowe let vs examine heere what is commendable.and what is not. Tlndeede, there is no man that will not like of this loue which Pf- ter did beare towardes his Matter CHRIST I E S V S , and of thiszeale, and of this hisvnwillingnefle to depart from his Ma- fter: for hee loued Him fo well,that hee would followe Him to the death:and would to God in this cold age.there were but a piece of this zeale in vs,that Peter had: wee haue no zealc: and if it were buc this incofideratiue zeale,yet it is better to haue it,than no zeale.Scr ; this loue is comendablc: for albeit he did wel to louc his mafter,yec hee Of the Passion op Christ, 19 c failf th in this,that in receiuing aducrtifcment out of the mouth fthc Lord,that he was not able to fufter for Him,yet he would go , >rward : & when lefus (aid to His takers Jf ye fecke me, let fhefc ( oe their way, Teter might haue perceiued by this, that he was not ble to fuffcr, hte might haue retired to foinc priuatc plzcc with ■rayer & mourning, buthe would ftepforward ; & weuld not ac- cpt of that, that the Lord faid to him, thou art not ablc.fo he fa : - th here v^ry farre.WcUl haue our leflbn hcre,the day of our trial nay come: let vs therefore eucr haueoureyeonthe will of God> & tempts him againe;hecommethin,&whois?" inftrument that the j Lord vfeth to tempt him with?euen (he that would gratifiehim to let him in.hc bought his comming in too deare*with the deniall of his Matter: Andfafiith % xArt not thou alfi one of this mans difciplit? Firft marke this well,ye wil thinke this to be a light temptation. Who is the inftrument that temptcs him? who,but a filiie damfcll?if it had bene Of the Passion of Christ. 31 Jenea man of war, oilman, it had bin thought he had hadfome ccafion tofa'l back.And whatfiies (he tohimrnot boaftingly* Art hou one of this feduccrs feruants/ but in fimplicitie & gcntlenes, 4rt thou otit of this mans difciplcs? So, whether we looke to the temp- ers to the temptationjt is very light;& therfore^thc greater is his all and (hamc: thou gctteft a foule ihame, who for alight tempta- ionfallcft abacke. BchoTdc howe the Lord will humble the vaine :nd proudc confidence of man:T*r*r was too proude:& the Lord trill raife vp the fillieftof all His crcatures,to tempt that man that s.proudc.All this naturall boldncs is nothing bur weakness* Hec irill not encounter it with a great ftrength, but with a fillie inftru- nenuthat man may fee,that his own ftregth is nothing. Befide tFie all of the proude man, there is fhamc with it, that (hall pearce the leart more,than the hurt,that it (hould be fmitten to the dirt with iich an inftrument.He will not raife vp a champio againft the,nor •le will not enter Himfclf with ihe 3 but He will flir vp a thing of no- hing to beat downc carnall courage. She faies, sirtthonadtfcip/eef bis maw ?Hc hies, I AmnotJsthls hcthatbragges and faies,/ fttlltjot ~ life thee Lordjhough al [hould Icaue tbec}\sxhis hethatdenies his ma- * :er?By this example we haue a liucly image of the vaine pride and trengthof man. The Lord willcaufea girle tocafttheedowne 3c t both:yea,the very fhakingof a Ieafe,(hall make thee tremble:and ^ •aine fantafies and imaginations (hall terrifiethec, although there fere nothing out with thee : for whofoeuer hath a confidence in aimfclfc, the Lord (hall caftfuch tcrrours into his heart, as fhall >u?r-throwhim.Theterrouresofhis minde,though all theworldc hou!d let him be,(hall trouble him, and caft him downe,fo that he hall ge: no reft. Therefore, be ncuerftrong in the power of man; oriftbouhadft all theworlde, yet the bafeft thing inthcworlde hall caft thee downc. But he or fhe,that would take vp the crofle of cfus Chrift,(hould ftriue to bee ftrong in God, and care not howc reake thou art in thy felfc 3 for that ftrength of God will hold thee p. Taul [xizs loTtmothie^ee p^rtnl^r of my affUQien by the p xverrf . }od: and ground thine affli&ions vpo this power,for it is y ftrength 'hich will holde thee vp : & this is the thing that will bearc vp the roffe thorow all temptations manfully to the end.In the next vcrf. he Euangclift tellerh where Vcter is ftanding,and fetieth down the lace, & a certaine occafion of his temptation, He is ftandif'g Wi/£ 4 mfmc of the fcrnma and officers of the Pnejhs andTbanfes, )\lx h*d nadc 3* Thb third Lbctvrh,* m*dt *firtQfCo!&$rit w>ts colde,& thty vanned them/duet. A>t\d thcil the Maiden cornmcth vnto him i hee was gone in coo farrc : for i is not good to enter oucr farrc into the houfes of wicked men: nci ther is it good for thee to warmc thy fclfe in the companie of wic ked men, nor yet to bee at their table : it were farre becter for the .to abide the cold: for iftbouaccompanie thy felfc withthem,£ take pleafure at their fire fide,chen a tempter (hall come vnto thee cither a Damfell, or a Boy: And therefore,let euery man & womai beware, and as they woulde bee free from temptation, fo let then efchewc eaill companie. Hee is well worchieto bee tcmpted,wh; knoweth his owne weakncs,& yet will nottarrieoutofthecom panie of the wicked: And it is Gods juft judgement,that our me^ make Apofhfic , and come home foule Apofiatcs, and Atheiftcs vhowill nottarrieoutof France, and Spaine, where a! is full of temptation : It were better to fit at home, and ferue tfy Lord: for it ishardcto knowe, ifeuer thou (halt get grace t' take vp thy fclfe, as Peter did/ The reft of the Euangeliftcs fay that Peter hid fcarcefaid that 3 (when as the Cocke crcWjCiie as the Lord had fore-tolde him) but hee getteth the vvarning.ths hee had mads dcfe&ion. Nowe after finne, there commcth con" monly an induration and blindneflc; and in finning the confeiene fleepeth,yea, it fleepathfo found, that when it getteth aduertifc ment, it cannot bee wakened : but the third time it was waknec for Peter denied his Matter once,twife, yea thrife,but at leng; hec wakeneth; and yet not fo much for the crowing of the Cocki asforthclookeofhis Mafter; whereof Lvk e maketh mentiot Chap, xxi i. vers. 6 1. And Pavl faicth , Wixnthehc* jhdlbee turned } cter fayeth,Z*f vs fuffer for agoodcaufe^ andnotas thceuesandmurthe* Tfrs,i. r Pet,4.i$,i6Jt is a paine to fuffer for an cuill catife/o long as the Lord guieih vs a mouth, let vs proceft that the trueth is trueth "Paul faycs,*,T;w*.2 # <9,/ am in bands^ andlamaffUUcdin bands as though f were an et*$/l doer :yet the word of C/od that He hath put in my memh is not bounds all the enemies in the worldTolongas Ihaue a mouth, (hall not reftraine it. The Martyres were neuer brought to this, to cofeflv that they fuftered foraneuill caufe:albeit thou yceld hand* £ and foot to any torture, beware of this, that thou neuer confefft that it is aneuill c:u r e, wherefore thou died; let euer the vcritie be, free in al! our fufferine;, Wlen the Lord makes this aflfwere,0* of the 'ffu trs \\>htck(jood by f fnote tefus With his rod, and faide, j4nfwercj t L thou the Hqh Pwfi ^Meanirg that the Lord had notanfwered hirc L to ret.crcntly as Hee (houl j haue done. The Lord an fweretb ,i f I hai^ L etui fpokgnjbtare Wines of the euJjbut if J haue VveHffokfn&hy [mitt *fi tho\ L t»f.A!\vaycs, whether He had welloreuillfpoken> Hefind*:thfaul L fcrith hirm that he fliould haue fmitten Him fo raflvy :fo. brethren L this is another part of the differing oflcfus Chrift • Hefuffers no L ondy of the high Pricft, but of his feruants alio : H<- e fuffersofa L men. ill this was done without any order of law* The high Prk ,■ fpeakc Of tr! Passiom of Christ* 37 fpeakes to Him againft order of Law,and the officer ftrikes Him a- gainft order of Law.hefailes in this,becaufc he ftrikes Him for well doing,for He maintained the trueth of His father.The againe,why fhould he haue ftrucken Hinuill He had bene judged ? and then,if He were jadged.yct it was no place to punifli a man in judgement, though he were neuer fo euill. So yeefee in how many things thelc men faile.What (hall I fay? Ye (hall commonly find the mod inno- cent man,who hath bene brought before euill menjand corrupted judg:s of the worlde,of all fort of men haue beene handclcd moft mformally,& vnreafonably,A thicfe 5 or a murthcrcr hath not bene fo euill handeled,as the mofte innocent: for they will let a murthe- rer,or the wickedeft man in the world,tell his tale in patience: and they will delay ftrikingof him till the place of cxccution;but expe- rience hath taught this,that whean innocent man is judgcd,all the proceeding is without order:as we fee in this example of Chrift 3 the moft innocent man that cuer was .And fuch like in the Martyrs of Godjneuer thiefe nor robber was fo vnrcafonably handled as they. What is the caufj of this?Euen this,the malice of the heart of man was neuer fo bent againft an euill man,as the wicked man is againft the innocetiyea^ juft judge hates not fo much vnrighteoufncs,as a wicked judge hates innocecie.And therfore/it is a wonder that the judgemet of the wicked proceedes vnorderly againft the godly:thc JLord znfatttsjflhxucfpoktn tHtlljthoufhouldft not firtkf ***** without lorder, & ifwellwbjfmiteft thou w^.The Lord binds him that he hath fldonc wrong,howbeit Hee fuftered moft willingly & patiently; buc fee ftrikes not ag lineTYet marke,in this patient fuflering Hce will ihauc wrong appeare to be wrong, & that which is vnjuft to be vn- Juft.In all our patient fuflfcring let ay right appeare to be right and 4rrong to be wrong.Let not a man f fuffers be fo dumbe that he fay "pot that wrong is wrong.NoJet them fpeake,that the cofciencc of ?:he wicked man may be conuiftand brought tofbme rernorfe.The 11 -ord no doubt pities this man that ftrook Hun.& would haue had 4 Ms confciencc coui&.£ he might repent. So let the wicked fec,that ^vrong is wrong in the mod patient fuftering, that the wicked may jl >ee conui6t,and God glorified. Nowe is fubjoyncd, thxt Anr.tu bad itnt Htm bound* to Cdiuphaj. Heercturnes to the g^ounde of His i iccufationt and the groundc is this , ^Amuu fern Him bound* into \i ?4M/>foii:howbcic in the houfe of Anmu the Lord was not ftrucke, ff 'ct w*W4J was not blamdeff:;fortIicfe words are regiftratedto his ! 'rf'. C 2 cuer- jt The second Lictvib, tucihfling fliame,that hcfcnt fuch an innocent man to fuch a bur* rid, & this makes him guilti? of the blood of the Lord Iefus. Med- dle nothing with the fuftering of an innocent man,for if once thou fcemc ft to coRfcnt to his death, thou art guiltie, and if thou rejoy- ccft in the wrackc of the innocent, for if thou flialt once confent *nto it, thou art guiltie of all the innocent bIood,fro the blooddf %Abt I that was (hed, vnto the end of the world : for whofocuer will confent to the blood of an innocec man,he may eafily be brought on to confent to the flicdding of the blood of all innocents £euer was ; keepc therefore thine hands, thine eyes, & thine heart cleanc from any aflcnt to the wracke of the innocent. Now to come to the fecond part of our tcxt,which containcs the two denialls of Tetcr. AH this timeficter is (landing warming him with theofficcrs of the ' High Prieft : on this rifes another temptation, Some fay, Art thou not one of his Maples, there he denies, faying, fdwwtf # Firft,yehaue the occafion of the temptation, Secondly, the temptation it felfe^ Thirdly, the fecond fall, and deniall-TheoCcafion is, he is (landing] warming him in fuch acompanie, the words import a great fecu-j ritie in Teter, he is fo fane from a remorfe, that is, carelefTetthinke^i yeenot, that hauing denied his Matter once, that hee(hould hauej gone afide &mourncd & wept bitterly,butye fee he did not fo.Siu when it is committed,bringcth on commonly a carelefle fecurityrd when a man hath fallen into a great finne,he will commonly ly ftill ! in a deadnefle & fenflefneffe,& as a man who falles downe from an i high place, for a ccrtainc fpace lyes without fenfe, & is dammiflied If with the fallreuen fb.(what is finne but a fall from God) after that once we are fallen fr6God,weare fenlefle alcogether,wcly withoutR fenfe or motion,& the greater al wayes that the finne be whercintcwj we fall, the greater is theftnflefneflerbuc aboueallfinnes^hede-fr niaHoftheLord Iefus, & of His trueth, bringesonmoft fcarfull&| deidlj fenfkfnefle^fpecially if that finne |5roceedeof a malitiouM nefle of the heart,as that finne of Iudas did: he was fenflefle, he was- c fo impudent in finning, that he kiffed His Matter, to (hew Him to J his takersJt is true, the fin oiludas^ was of the hatred of the heart, j but the finne of Teter was not of malice, but of infirmitie, yet hel| falles into a deadneffe and flecpe:So, Brethren, cuer beware to fall, for after a fell comes a fecuritie. Theeftate of fecuritie is the moftj* dangerous eftate that eucr was,bettcr to be mourning day & nfghtj than to be in this fecuritie:fo then falling, he lyes ftill fcnfleffe.Butto loofcc Or tmi Passiow of Christ. ^ Iooleevrhatfollowesjying ftill in fccurity .another tempter comcth againe, to m!,One oft he jeruams of the hi±h Prieft, his cqhJih, whjfe cate Teterfmote efffayd y Didnot I fee thee in the garden withlnm? looke what the eftatc of fecuritie bringes on it, ncuerwames rempta:ion,& if thou (halt be put to that pinch, that thou ihould denic thy Lord, let a man ly ftill in fecuritie fro houre to houre, he (lull ncucr \ranc temptation: when the deuill lullcs thee afleepcin fecuritie, then he thinkesthat he gets his wiW.TeterfaycsJ amnot his dtfaple. the temp, tatio is but lighcyet for all the li^htnes of it he denies his Lord:for denying Him to be his difciple (albeit he fpakcflenderly)he denies Chnft to be his Muftcr:& in effeft he denies the MeiTias-.then.Brc- thren, aoiaiora woman lying in fecuritie, the leaft thing in the world, will draw him away, as a deeping man with a imall morion will falhfo when thou art fleeping, if the deuill commcch, the leaft finger of the tempter will put theeouer : aboue all things in the world, kcepethec from fecuritie: for the fmalleft temptation will put thee away fro thy God.fo men in this life (hould cuer be groa- ining vndtr the burthen of finncthad Teter bene groaning a r :cr his .firft dciiiall,hee had not bcene fo eafily ouercomc. Now to take it vp in one wor ie, finne bringes on fecuritie, & when one lyes in fecuritie, the deuill is bufie to tempt him, & that per Ton is eafily [put ouer;fj beware of finne, and ftriuc to get a waking confciencc, that thou fleep not in frcuritietfor the end of fecuritie is death euer- afting: when hee is crying peace, peace, then commcth a fudden udgemcnt^likethcpaines of a woman in trauel. Now come to the aft deniallof Peter : he hath denied the Lord twiferafter his fecond leniall.he is no more touched, than he was of before:& the fecond "all bringes ona greater fenflefnefle, than the firft falhthe oftencr hat a man or woman falles.thcy arc the more fenflefle,&: once fal- ing, & falling againe, thou contra&eft the greater fecuritie. 7 here snot a manor a woman that continues in finne : buc alter the fe- :ondfill,thatpcrfon (lull be more fcnflcfle, than after the firft :fo growing in finnc,bringes on a growing in de.idly fecuritie & con- nuance in a dead flecpe, thou (hakfimie thy fdfe after the fecond inne more fcnflrfle than after the firft : Well then, Peter conti na fecuritie, & as Z/z/^noteth, there interucencs one b( urc be- weenc the fecond & third denial, yet he is without rcmo:fc>& he notmou:d : (o continuing in this dead fle:pc of fecuritie, com- eth on the third temptation, byacoufm ofc^/WW;w/,whofc C 4 care 4* The fOvrtr Lectv-rej care hee fmotc off: if thou fleepeft iii fecuritie, thou (halt not want new temptation:when thou fleepeft, thy tempter is buflly waking about thee : the more thou fkepeft, and lyeft in fecuritic, the more bufie is thedeui! to tempt thee:al beit thou feeleft it not. No vr when Peter hath den ied Him once and twife, & as the other Euan- geliftsdoe note, hee putteth to acurfe: Marke,as continuance in fecuritie bringeth on continuance in temptation : fo continuance in temptation bringeth on continuance in finne. Now, I thinke, if the Lord had notftayed him in theendc, hec had denied Him a thoufand times :euen fo ofc as they had asked of him. So there is neuer an ende of tumbling ouer and ouer, till the creature tumble in hell, where there (hall be a blacke wakening: for if thou denied the Lord once, thou (halt denie Him againc and againcrit is noted when he denied the third time, Then the cocJ^crew^nd Z«/^noteth, euenas the cocke crew, the Lord looked ouer his (houlder : there goes two things together, the crowing of the cocke, & the looking of the Lord. S# Marks notes, the cocke crew the fecond time : weir then, doth Teter waken at the crowing of the cocke? beganne hec to get a remorfe by it? No, all the crying & crowing of the world, vvil not waken the foule out of finne,except the Lord looke in, by the beames of his countenance, and (hike in to the heart, if the gratious beames of thcLords face had not (Irucken on Peters heart, he had neucr wakcncd.This is to let you fee, how hard a thing it is to raife a dead body that lyes in finne: what crying in the world wil raife a dead body: & fo there is no crying,orremediein heaucn oi in earth,to thy dead foule,except IefusChrift looke fauorably vntG thee, & make his gratious countenance to (hinein thy foule : whe would haue that remorfe of finne that /W got, and that waking confciencCjlct that perfon ftriuc to turne the heart to IefusChrift whe the heartis turned to theLord,the the vaile (halbe taken away all the light of knowledge is in the face of IefusChrift: no heath theworlde is able to mollifie thine heart, except that heat tha commeth from the face of IefusChrift: fo, hold euer thine hear vpto the face oflefus Chrift, that thou mayefthaue a continual remorfe : for in the bitterneffe of finne, is thefweetnefTe of/oy Nowc to make an ende, and (hortly to examine this fall of Peters Certainely,there are many faults in this fall: Firft,he is caricd a wa with a vaine confidence^ flefh and blood:he will take vp his crofl and follow the Lord, albeit that the Lord aduertifed him that he m Of thi Passion e* Christ. 41 ras not able: and then the doorc was (hut vpon him, to aduertue him, and put him in minde,yet he would not ftayrthen when he is let in, alas, he denies his Lord once, he denies Him t wife & thnfe, till the LORD did fiayc him: I dare not fay, but all this time Peter caried a good heart towards his Lord^ a fpunke of faith, & a fpunke of leue in the heart, albeit his faith & loue were choked: it was fupprefied with infirmities of the flc(h.& namely with fcarc; then when he is entered inland come vnto the fire fidc,if that faith and loue was fupprefled before with his nature, then it was farrc more fupprefled, & this litlc fpunke of loue in the man, was fmoo- thered, & there fallcsfuch a weight of infiimitieonit, that it was prefled downevnder the burthen of corruption, and vnder fecu- ntie:ifthou befleeping infecuritie,albcitthouhauea fpunkeof loue, it will be fmoothered, and this is moft true, that this fpunke of loue was fo fmoothered, yea, I fay more,it was prcfled , that except the Lord had looked ouer his (houlder, with the eye of his mercie, and wakened that fpunke of loue, it had died our.In Tetcr we haue a cleare example of the wcakneffc of the godly men. into this life: albeit we haue faith, and loue, yet in the example cfPr/rr we fee, that the fpunke of grace will be choaked with corruption & infirmitie:and then will ye come to God : Peter is one of the chiefe examples of the mercie of God in Icfus Chrift: VanltoTirKotkc \ counces, that he was one of the greateft examples of mercie in the world : but if yee looke to the fin/ic of Teter, ye will finde thatit was greater than the finnc of Paul: for Vaul did all of ignorance, and foif T*nl) as hce fayes, was made an example of the mercie of God to finners : furely this example of 7W,oi:ghc much more to bee an example to all finners: letnofinner thatlookesto him, defpairc of mercie, how burthened foeuerheebe with finne :for that fame Iefus Cbrift,who was mercifull to Peter, hath Hereof mercie for all rhem, that it pleafeth him mercifully to looke vpon: To Him therefore, with the Father and holy Spirit, be all hor.our and glorie, Am en. THE Fot. 4* THE FIFT L E C TVRE, OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST. Ihon Chap, xviii. 1$ Then led they 1 1 s v s from Caiaphas, into the common Hall, Now it Wat morning, and they tkemf clues went not into the common Hall, left they Jhonldbee defiled, but that, they might eate the Vaffeouer 29 Pilate then Went out vnto them, andfaid, What, accufation bnngyou againfl this man ? 50 They anfWered, and faid vnto him, If he were not an eutll doer^voc maid. pot haue ddiuered him vnto thte* $ 1 Then [aide Pilate vnto them } Take yee him, and \udge him after yottr oWneLaWe. Then the Iewcs [aide vnto him, It U not lawful! for vs to put ante man to death. 32 It Wat that* the Word of 1 1 s v s might be fulfilled which hcjf>ak$,figr,ifywg what, death he fljQulddie. N the eighteenth and nineteenth Chapters of this) Gofpcll (Brethren) is contained the Hiftory of the Paflion of the Lord IefusChrift; anditisdiuided; in thefe parts: The firft is the fuffering of the Lord, in the GardcnrThe next.is the fuffering of the Lord vnder the High Prieft Caiaphas , the Ecclefhfticall: ludge.The third, is the fuffering of the Lord vnder Tontiw Tilate, the Ciuill and Romane Magiftrate-.The fourth, is the fuffering of the Lord in the place of Execution:The laft,in the fepulchreAVee haue, fpoken off firft part of His fuffering in the Garden, befides thcin- ward coflict He had with f wrath of His Father for y fins of % eled which Hee did beare vpon Him. The Lord is taken like a thicfe ot vagabonded bound, & led to Hicrufelem. We heard alfo the fuffe- ring of the Lord in y Hall of the High Prieft,whofe name was Caiai ptai.When cht High Pricfts & Elders arc fee down in coucelLHe i. brough Of the Passiom of Christ. 43 brought in before themrind being brought.they hauc not a word to fay againft Him, howbeit they bound Him.& brought Hm t* judgemct.l his was an vnformall dealing: thafore t he hie p-tefl de- mands of Him His doftrine } & of His difcipIcs,to catch a vord cot of His mouth,wherupo he might make his accufatiowhe they pre* uailenot this way,thcreft of the Euagehfts note,thac they begin to fuborne falfe witnes;but they get no vantage that way neithenfor they canot agree together. The the hiepriefi begins in wrath to ad- jure Him, to tell h\m>vrbctbcr he be that Chrift cr ;a>?The Lord denies it notjbut faies,77;0« hafifiidit-Mc giues him afaitc teftimony of this: after this Hee hies JTecJball fee the forwtrf man fitting dt the right had of the poster of(jod>& comeinthe clouds tfheake.lhen the higbfrtcft rem his clotbctyZl though He had blafphemcd,& laid What haw we tr.orenccd *f */ftf#?behold,now ye heard His blafphemy,what think ye/Then he,& the reft ofthecoancell,c6cluded,^/^Lor^tt'^Trcrf/>7^Pfil,6p. 10 . Some fpittcd on Him,fome put a vaileon His face,&fmote Him,faying in fcorn, Trophefie Chriji&boit u that ftriketh f ^nothing in the Lordl ut pa- tiece,He fpake nothing,Hc made no more rcfiftace than a filly labe jbefore the (hearer: whe it is begun to become light in the morning, the Pricfts & Elders begin to fit dov^n in counc:ll:& the hie pie ft af. ked of Him the fame SLgzin^hether he Was that Chrift or r.o'fWc snfwe- rcth,lfIfhouIdtcll you,ycvill notbehcue mee (uhatauaiLsitto fpeak to an indurcd heart .')& He teftifies again y Thu hajlfitdie: & he giues an argumet o£lh\s*here*ftcrflj*ll the Jon of man /it at tkeri*ht lad f the power ofCjodiThtn the hie prieft and the Elders jhc fecond time, :oncludes Htm tc be worthie of d(dth } & adjudges Him todie:thethe ouncell arifes: & the firft thing they doe,they lead Him to Pontins dilate the Romttne deputie to the judgemet Hall,to him to execute j entence they had giuenout.In this Text uee enter into the thirde >an of the fuffcring of Chrift vndcr Votim Tit*tc % tht Romam gor cr- cmour, Firft. in the Text wee hauc read howe the Lord is led into the ot|~ommon Hall of P//^:thcn we hauc what confcrccc was bctv dilate & the /ow^cocrrning Chrift. Then it is fa ; d, lh^ led him wt$ tit common Hall: which is 5 as wc call itjheScflrowhoufe^ here the ti mar.c Goucrnour fate for the time, and miniftraccd judgement. ■■ Now 44 Thb f i * t LfiCTTRii Now BrcthfeTT^t'wouldbc well markcd*whenitisthattheyledde Him to Pilate: it appeares plainly in the writings of the Euagclifts: namely, Mdt.26.s9Markji4.ss> & Lptk.22.6s* that they led Him in after they adjudged Him to bee^orthie ofdeathiThcy led Him not in thinking that Pilate flipuld ficdowne & trie whether He was wor- t hie of death or no:but that Ptlate vpon their word Qiould giue ouc the fentence of coademnation againft Him. Marke & cofider how t hey abufed $ judge a man better tha thefelues,they make him but atorturer ,& the beft is,a damncr to giue out the fentece.Yc may fee here aliuely image of him who wil be called //;* hie prieft in $ Kirkq, this day: I mcane that bcaft of P^ome, the RomaneanticbnJlAndccd, this day,there is no hieprieft t but Icfus Chrift onely, who did put an end to that office amog the /rtfc#:thereis no hieprieft,oxfmal2prieft>gvczt or fmall in the world,all is but vfurped authority,/^ is that only hie frieft according to the order of TMelchtfedec^ who endurcthfor ener&ut he who falfely takes vpon him that ftile,followcs the fad & example ofCaiapbas, firft condemning Chrift, and then giuing Him ouer to Tilate to execute the fentence:for he will fit downc in his councell, & adjudge the innocent to death ,as Caiaphas did Chrift, & then he will vfc the power & armc of the Emperour : for what is the Emp, & fomany kings, who haue giuen thefelucs ouer to his flauery, but; like as many hangmen to the Pope? What is the king of Spame k but\ a Burrio to the Pope?he dare not but execute the decree of the in- quifition: was he not compelled to plcafure the Pope & his crue in putting his own fonne to deat h/ Ye faw ncuer two things hker to othcr,than the Pope & Caiaphas. The time is noted when the Lor4 Iefusisled to the Common Hall :firft*>*W#f for wornwg t zher the ri- fing of the Sunne, and after the councell of the hiepriej} 9 and of the Elders was loofed.Thc nianner of the deliuery is noted; whe they come to the place of judgmet//* le\xet W/7/ not enter in % hecaufe they V9h not defile the 'felaes ,if it were with the touching of a profane cthnik>oi, the walles of an houfc. O hypocrites! The caufe is fet downe, Thr herein apreparatioto eat thepaffeoner j fame night:now wil ye fee thef holy folk,they wil not be polluted with the touching of Pilateithcl had poHuted thefelues miferably with touching of Iefta that innocemL & polluted both had & heart,/* taking him& leading him to tbejudg Accufmg him.<& abufag /;;>#: yetwhe they haue done al this,thcy wi tin be dtfiledwith PsUtei they are profane in the gieateft thing in th worldjto flay thcLord Icfus: they are religious in alightceremc Did Op ths Passiok of Christ. jft *ie of their owne inuention.Looke the nature of Hypocrites,?**/ €fhef J. 1 2t It is dtyamccKen to freak* of t ho ft thui^s yrbcha* Hyptrin Vpilldoc infecret ;and if ye will come to ceremonies and outward ob- feruations, no man is fo precifc, and will feeme fo holy as they.the faithfulleft creature will not be fo holy in bodily cxercifc as they: yea, I fay vnto you, if there be no more, but this bodily exercife>& keeping of ceremonies, the Lord countesall but abominations, a* ye may fcein Efty Chap.i. Preaching and hcaring,fpeaking,confer- ring, the Lord coumes no more of them, than if He had ncuer or- dained them, if there be no more but this outward a&iori^anda$ before, cuen fo nowe I fay, we haue a vine image of the decciuers q( the world. The Popes religion is nothing but a deceiuing of the world, by keeping of raine and vnprofitabie ceremonies inucnted by him:willyee come to trifles* of their owneinuentions,thcy ap- peare to be very religious, and exceeding holy, touch not, handle not, tafte nor, but their Cloyfler Monkes are fo defiled, that they defile the world: offer him golde,or filuer,heewill not touch it, and if a woman come into their Cloyfter, all muft be purified with ire, after that (he is come out, though (he were a Queene : there is the louncs religion, r pronounce that in Popedome there is bur a Ihcw of godliueflc, & haue denied the power thereof : follow the Papiftcs whojny^they haue nothing almoft but trifles, & their own nuentions. Well then, come to the conference betweene the lewes k Tilate , Pilate yeelding to their vanitic.& fuperftition,not fo much :o their religion, He cometh cut to thtm % & feeing he muft judge the Lord, He asf^th tj they had any acenfttion agamfi Him y bcczuCc they vould not come in.Ic is notencugh to judge a man,except the pur- lier haue an accufation, & Pilate would not fit down to judge, ex- :ept heefiw the accufation : indeed, the /wr/ tooke him, bound iim,and in the high Priefts hall handled Him vnworth.ly, before hey had any accufation againft H ; m, & they bring Him in judqe- nent butT^rranEchnicke&a finner as they called him, wil not Irocecd that way ,he is more forma! l,he\vil not fit down in judge- pent, till he heare the accufation, an Etbnicke who Hues without od in the world and without the prorr.ifcs,as P^w/fpeakts he is lore j'uft & formall in judgement, than all the Inm who profeficd ie true God. This falls out oftentimes, that zTnrkf or Toga** who ying without God in the world) will dealemorc vpr Tphtly in idgcment, and cfpccially with Chriftuns who arcpctfecutcd for 45 1HE FIFT LJCTVRI, f rtheNameofCinift, than they that take vpon them the name of cheCtiurch. It isbetcer foraChriftun to fall into the handes ofcac Tmkft thin of the Pope, or of the Inquificion of Spaine,lct them aflay it who plcafe. Well , Brethren, there is no crueltie or wrong comparable to the crueltie of thefc who take vpon them the name of the Church: Experience hath proouedthis.Nowe hce requires a verdift of the levres : but what anfwere they/ If hee had n t becne an euill doer, Wee had not deliuerecl him vnto thee. They anfwere prcfumptuoufly, What necdeft thou to doubt of his deferuing ? or of vs? Thinkeft thou, that this man would haue bene condemned by vs without a fufficientcaufe of death? So yeefec, it is not that hee fliouldc fit do wne, an4trie vvff fether Hee were innocent or no, that they brought Him to Tilate^ but that vpon their wordes hee might giueout the fentencc : Yet there is fomeaccufation heere t that be is an cutlldoer* Is that fufftcicnt, when a man is deliuered to the Iudge,to fay,This man is an euill man? No,heemuftqualifie ie in particulaf,wherein he is euill, and hath failed: if they had found* anie, they woulde not haue patted by it : in their owne judgement feate they coulde get nothing to fay againft Him.Nowe when they came to the judgement of TiUte^ and ftriuingto accufe Him, they, can faye nothing , but in generall ^ This is an emli man.' Then this I! marke thorow this whole procefle 5 thatthe Lord will alwayes haue thefr two things* to bee fcene manifeftly:Firft, the innocencie of! Chrift 1 for(looke the whole proceffe^cajwhenHc is flaine & dead vpon theCroflfc) His very enemies themfclues are conftrainedto teftifie,that He is an innocent man,as the Centurion didtThe next is the wrongfull dealing of the Uwet againft their confcienccs # ~~Now Bre thren,as it was in this matter of Icfus Chrift,fo it hath bcenefince in all the Martyrs : The Lord hath made both the in. nocencie of the Martyrs to appeare clearly, and alfoHe hath made the crueltie and tyrannie of their enemies to appeare. Reade th< bookes of the Martyrs.and yee (hall finde thefe two.So Brethren^ is well for them that will fufFer for a good caufe, and chiefely,fo the caufe of Iefus Chrift.-yeajalthough it were but in this,That th Lord will haue their innocencie appearing. What and if all th worldecondcmnethee, fo the Lord Iefus juftifiethec ? for albei thou die,yct thine innocencie dieth neuer.And this is our comfor indeede,that albeit this bodie flioulde beeburnt,yet the daye (ha come that our innocencie (hall appeare : for at the glorious coir min Or t*e Passion of Christ. 47 nning of the Lordlcfus, thou, and thine innocencie (hall fland 1 vp to (hame the Tyrants of the world:Thus for their anfwere« ~TU*te fayes againe, Tee bane a lawe, takgandwdge H.m after your /awe. Albeit Tdate ieeme to Ipcake thefe thinges tauntingly , to mocke the Iewes> fpeakingonething,and thinking another, to repreffe their pride : yet the Text following, teftifies, that he fpake it in earncft- neffc,as he \rould fay,Before that I (hould condemre any man this way without an accufation, for your pleafurc, 1 had rather re* nounce of my right 1 and permit judgement to you,condemnc and doe as yc will* Well then, it is to be marked : I fee here, that ere 7 date had judged the Lord wraggoufly, he had rather hauegiuen oucr his right, and the judgement of Capitall crimesund well had it bene for Tilute, if he had flood to this fentence, and it had bene better that he had giuen ouer his right that the Romanes had, albeit that hce lhouid hauc immediatly beene taken and hanged by the Emperour for it« Alas,the miferablc man loft himfclfe by the ma- litioufheffe of the IcWcs: yet albeit he be an Ethnicke, hee is a man Df better confcicncc than the Jeftes were: The light of anaturall conscience in this TUate furpaffes all the knowledge of the A *«; khd the Lord at this time did fet vp that light of Tilates on a Skaffolde, as a lanterne and light, to condemnc thefe ltyres that had no cofcience.The very words ot Pilate are a lanterne to let the fewes fee, that they had no confeience: God in his wifdome, from :ime to time vf.s to doc fo, Hce will make the Taranes to ftand vp ike light , to (hame the profeffours of the Gofpell, uhofc con- science is as it were burntvpwkhahote ironc. Is it nor a great jfoameto thee, when the Lord will raifehim vp to be a light vnto ,;hee, who fliould bee alight to him rand as in this wo^ldeHec will ( make men without God, to ftmd before the ProO (Tours in this ( ivorld to (hame them : So in the world to come, He will raife them ,|irpto flume, and to condemne them: Sodom: and (jtmorrha (hall ,rifc vpto the judgement of many in thisaqe whoprofefTeChrift* |f ec (hall fee howe 'Pilate, although he was a very euill man, yet hee ipities theLord Icfus 3 & wil not fortheir importunity cofent to his jjdeath tThwyTay, It ts not Ltrrfull for vs t to put any man to death : 1 hey fjrequire not that power to bee giuen them that the Romanes had: ior fourtieyeerc before thedeftrudionofthe towne nndTemrlc ]pt Jerufa/em y they loft all authoritic to judge on Capitall crimes : fpake truelyj And hecrc they would appearc to gratifie T&it t when I he y 1 4* Tm FlFT Lictthi, when they would acknowledge him to judge in capitall crimes: but in effect they take the power of a judge from Ti/a/^when vpon their fentence onely,without accufatipn, triallor verdid they will haue him to condemne Chrift: Bat better had it bcene a thoufand \ times for 7%fr*,that they had taken that power to themfelues:for thcyinuolucd the man in their guiltiaeflc by condemning Chrift alcfus. And I fay more,it had bene better for the Prieftes>that they had taken the whole judgement vnto themfelues, becaufe that blood of PiUtc lies vpon them. This is a true thingjthcmoethoit draweft to communicate with thy finne,thy damnation {hall be the greater. It were better for the Princes of this worlde,who are likt I as many flaues to the Pope, the Emperour, the King of Spainefic* to renounce all the right they haue of judgement to the Pope,wher he and his crue haue condemned on innocent of Hercfic,to executi him; rather than to be the Popes Burrio. It had bene better for Si ji[mundm the EmperOur,that hee had refigned all authorise to the Pope in burning John Httffe, and Uromeoi La Prage, than breaking promife and oath, to haue executed the Popes malice vpon them it had beene better he had neuerfeene thatcouncelhand one day* the Princes of the earth (hall curfc the time , that euer they wer< ^ cxccutcrs to the Pope.And it were good for the Pope alfo,that he "inuolued not thefe Princes in the fame guiltincffe, for their blooi lies vpon him* Would God their eyes could bee opened,to fee tha dec ciuer. To rcturne againej It is not they that muft condemne the Lord, no,but it muft be TiJdte 9 hcc muft doe all,that they may bee cleanc and when the Lord is flaine, are they cleaned no Brethren, let P. late condemne Him,and put Him to execution,yet the Prieftes an the Iwes are greater murtherers of Icfus Chrift, than Pilate was indeed PiUte hath his part in that woefull adion,& woe vnto hii that euer he medled with it, and now hee findeth that hee hath h part therein. But thofe High PriclK& thofe Jewa, are the greate murtherers of Icfus Chrift. Ye know the Papiftes vfc to fay when man is put to death, It is not we f flay the man, it is the ciuill fwot of the fecular power. Who burnt John Hafli&nd Jerome of Prage fox the Emperour? The Pope is holy, and his handes arc ckane , an thefe finnes hurt him not which are done by the hands of the En perour. Who executes them in thelnquifition ? TheKinges,tl Popes holy hadsarc cleane of all* Excufe as they will J pronoun* . Of the Passion op Christ, 49 ind the Lord fhall ratifie it in chat Great day)that they are greater kirtherers than the fecuiar power. Away with their vaine excufes, /hen they haue murthcrcd the man, the y will put th e - in the lagiftrateAVil God accept fuch excufes?In the next verf. lobn fub- >y nes wherfore y lewti would not take vpon them to judge of y life r death of lefus Chrift,and fates>riuf they an fared fi y t hat tb*tm '> frilled, that the Lord fy*k?>f'pifyn:g What demb hejhwld die. VY te wasconuerfant withHis Difcipics,He fore-told them, that He lould die vpon the Croite.5 iow the leWts will not take vpen then* ic right of the judging Him, that thefe words might be fulfilled, T tht Icwes hadtnken it vpon thcm> th:y would rut haue crucified him, be- uife it was net vfuall among the lewes : they vfed to ftonc a decei- er or blafphemer to the death, according to the lawe, as they did twn afterwards. This death of the Croffe was familiar, and vfuall tnong the Romanes. Then Brcchre,wefee hercthc God of Heauen : thedifooferofthe whole aftion of the periecution&pafiion of thrift, what cucr be mans part. There is not a word vttered.nor an 5tiondone,eithcr by PiUte % ot any of thc/*V*Y/,which the Lord did bt difpofe.All that Ttlatc did, & all that the Icfta did, as that (j ng and buffeting of Chrift,were all difpofed by the Lord, And s 1 it that ye readc in th at prayer in \f Acis of the Apoflles y cap^, - he princes of the earth are gathered againjl thine anointcdy Her ode, TtfdtA, id the GerjUes t \VhcrctOr That they floould doe that thing that fbhtt hard id thy ewne ell hath ordained. Neither Her ode, Ttlate,no" any ct the yes or -'entJcs , did aniethi:,g in this execution, but that which rod appoinced.Thevndedhndinghcrof femes to this,that there as nothing done to our Rede:.mer,but that which His father ap- :>intcd:they were but perfecucers appointed by God,eucn as the ing.man:thc/i'^x 3 &7 > //*iff fc^r^wcrelikeas many hangmen, > execurc that decree of God.ThL urould fecme a very light word at the IeWcs byJPle haue no poVte? to fit oner the life or death of men: yet us is a means whereby the Lord brtnges topaflcthac forme of urfeddeath.BrethrciijWc may fpeakeas lightly of thinges as 1 eafe.and many times to little purpofe: buc there is nothing th.it iffrs GODS decree, Lookc to that prouidence that GO D uh in His creatures. The LOUD difpofes the lighted wordes iat thou fpcakeft, & He rules thine hand fo, that wlutfoeuer thou Define makes al to cfteftuate & produce that which He hath de- ■rncdjthc thing chat thou wilt fpeake or doe,it will fcrue for fome D purpofe 5# THI fIFT Le ctvrb , purpofc to Him, howbcit little for theeT Intfie meane time,let no man thinke,that when men fpcake or doc cuill, that they (hall bee the more excufable: for if there vverc no more but this, it (hall make thecvnexcufablc: btcaufein fpcaking euill , and in doing cuill 3 thou haft not the L O R D before thine eyes. Thou docii it not for obedience to His will. Take this leffon: Lctcuerieman and woman take good heede, that they bee well excrcifed : and if our GOD employe vs , let vs take good heede, that wee bee in a good feruice , in fpcaking good , and doing good : Lende not thine heart, thine hande , nor thy tongue to the Deuill invnrigb tcoufneflfe : And feeing thou canfl: not flccpe from morning to cuenfng, but muft bec fpcaking and doing; prayc, that the LORD mayc employe thee to doe well , and tofpeake well and fay c, LORD, lctmecbceaninftrumenttodoe well: AndC more , in doing wett, bec not content of the outwardc face oftho^ a&ion : but in doing 5 whether it bec little or much , goe euer, [ tothchcart, and fee the difpofition thereof: and looke thou doe,^ itinfinceritic,hauingregardeto GOD. Thinke it not enough^ and if the LORD vvorke a good workeby thee as an inftru- ■ ment; but looke ftill , that Hee vvorke in thee, that thou maycfE findeagood motion in thine heart: For alas, what auaileth thcL outwarde adion, if the heart bec foule, which defileth all f IndecdL wee maye not thinke, that there is anie perfe&ion in vs , or in ouiL anions in this life : but this is the perfeft ground that makes thaiL afiion to fmell fwectelic in the fight of G O D , to wit, Faitfcj in IESVS CHRIST. If that thou findeft that thou ha^ IESVS CHRIST in thine heart by Faith , albeit wit greatweakeneffeinthyfelfe,yetin C H R I S T all the impe fcftion and weakenefle is hidden : and when the a&ioncommet before the L O R D , it is pleafant and acceptable to Him, A thinges are pleafant that come to the Father thorowe the Sonne there is the groundeof all grace and acceptation. Sticke to the LORD I E S VS, and haue Him not in thy mouth onelie, a* the Hypocrites doe: but letHimalfo bee inclofed in thine heart, k; and dwell therein : for then thou (hale bee acceptable to G O D / ler: through Him : To vvhome,vvith the Father, and the HolieSpi-im rit, beo all Praife, Honour, and Glorie, for cucr and caer, world* a without cade : A m e nj THI Fo!. ji ,T H E S I X T LECTVRE, OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST. I ho n Chap, xviii, 33 So Pilate enteredinto the common Hallagtine % and called I E 5 v s , nd faidevnto him, Art thou the King of the Iewes ? ;4 Issys 4»' tiered him , Sty eft thou that, of thy felfi , or did other t til it thee of met ? Pilate anfoered, Am la Iewf 'Thine otone nation, and the high Triefis, me dcliueredtbecvnto mce. What haft thou done ? 36 I e s v S anftoe* d^sJWy Kingdome is not of this world: if my Kwgdomeppere of this V9orld % lyfcruants Mould farely fight % that lfhohld not bee dcliucred to the Ic wes : it nowe is my Kingdome not from hence* 37 Pilate then [aide into him, trt thoH a Ktng then ? I e % v s anfwered> Thou fay eft that I am a King: ' this caufe am I borne, and for this caufe came I into the world } tbat Jfhould rare tyitnejfe vnto the trueth ; tnerie one that is oftbetrueth % hearethmj *ycc. H e lafl day (Brethren) we entered into the dif- fering of Chriftvnder VsntituTilate^thc Romane Gouernour, & Ciuill Iudgc in Iudea for the time. Icfus is led into the Common Hall to the Houfc of Iuftice,as yc heard, whefe TiL.te fate. Now Ti- late is not rafh in judging: but before he fit do wnc to judgc,hec will hauc an inditement, and will fee hat things the L \V# haue to lay to the charge of the Lord;He fa w \e accufcrsof Him, the leftcs in multitudes: he faw no accufition; ferefore he goes out vnto them (becaufe they would not come to m ) andasketh, what accufation hauc they againftHim : hce ceiueth little anfwere,or at leaft,little to the purpofe: for they an- •ere prefumptuoufly,// he had not bent an cmUdoeryce hadr.ot brought m ynto thee. The thing they delate is very gene: all : ic is a fober D % indite- a 51 The sixt Licttrh, incitement to foy.Heisan mill mtnjhit muft be qualified ) and c P, late thinkes this of no valour, and caftes ic offfacThe laft, after m ny wordsjhethrovves another accufatio out of the Iewes: the accufa4 cicn is this,as may be gathered of the Text:hccallcs Hirru^/tfg,and|] king of the Iewes, and an enemie to £f/2r, who would reaue the king^ dome from him,and a traitor ,and guilcie againft the Majefty of Gti y2r.Thercftof theEuangelifts hauethis accufation more plainelie^ and at greater length. The hWes fay (Luke 23, 2 t ) Wee haue fvundetb^ man perverting the people, And for bidding the people to p^ye tribute to Ca/ar^ fiy'mg, he ts Chrift and kjng. So howbeit in this Gofpcll of lohnis no|L mcntioned,that the fewes gaue vp this poind of accufatio,but thaikj Tilate inquires, Whether Hee wo* a king or not It is manifeft,that thejjui were delators of Chrift to Pilate : and Ptfe tc knew e not this of hiijui own head,as the Text following declares .Let vs examine this morth dccpely : The lewes that perfecuted Him, they delate Him notboju fore fV*fr,for blafphemie, they had adjudged Him alrcadie worthL ef death in their owne councell for blafphemierbut when it cometlL to the Romane judge, Hce is deleated of treafon againft the Empe^; rour.This is a piece of cnft,and of the wifedomc ofthechildreok this world:they knew the judge to be a profane man, who coutecL of rcligion,but as of a trifle,and knew that hee was deputie to Cap, ^r,and that hee woulde bee loath to fee Ctfars hurt: therforc, the*; applie well their accufation to the honour of the man, and delates Iefus, as one who had committed treafon againft fcfar. Yee flia^ - then note heerc a piece of craft in this their doing. Yet confider j||k moredcepely: The thing that they deleate to P/^of Iefus, was ^ lie : for Iefus was fo farrc from that, to accept a kingdome in thi|, : world,that when the people affembled to make Him a King , H* ,j conuayed Himfclfe fecrctlie awayc to the VVildernefle t (I o hU, C h a p . v 1 . ) and whereas they faye, that Hee forbade to pay v tribute vntoCepr, that was falfc alio : for Hee payed tribute vnt^ Ctfar for Him and Teter, and gaue commaundement, to giuevm Jt {afar , that, which Was Cafars. So this^poinft of accufation is ndfc thing elfe, but a calumnie, and a falfe accufation. - YFFtet vs looke fomcthing further heere: The Iewes woulc t{ \ feeme to bee carcfull for Caesars kingdome, and take delii ^ to haue C aes ar to reigne ouer them :but indeed Caesar was tl ^ only man in the world that they loued worft*and hated moft : ar ^ the thing that mooued them to giue vp this accufation , vv, t an h Of T*I PASSIOK OF CMtlST. JJ n hatred they had againftChrift. They flatter the Iudge: and as ley are crafciein their accufation, fo they arcflatterers,and all to et the innocent blood (hed.they hauc an euill a&ion in hand,yca, jc worft that cuer man had : and fo they care not by what euill Heanes, craft, calumnie, or flattcric they bring their purpofc to affc.If thou once takeft purpofe to doc an euill turne,thou wilt not ire by what vnlawfull doing thou bringeft it to paffc:& to fpeake fictrjuth,ifonceaman take an euill a&ion in hand,then he will of cceflity be compelled to follow out euil meanes:for an euill turns mnoc be done but by euill mcancs.If a man once fVt his minde to jrfue innocent blood.of force he muft vfe flittcry^calumnics.and lill meanes* Thereforcas ye would efchewc euill doing.cfchewe iill purpofesr for thou wilt not care to get thy purpofe, by all vn- Iwfull things.Novto come to TiUtcs part: whenhee hath gotten us inditemet,he enters into the Comon Hall,& callcs on Iefus,& !ics,«/2W xhoii the king of the /fW^PncTdoubt^they thought.that they wing accufqd Him fo,that Pilate (hould not haue looked on Him, M incontinent ftiould haue giuen out the doome: for treafon a- linft great Ctfir was no fmall matter, yet Pilate was fo farre from at, thathefpeakes not a rough word toHim,hee faies not,Whac aitor,art thou Peeking the empire of C*fir ?but modeftly, Arttho* t king of the lc\\>&} A faireexample of modefty and equity, to be in :h a man a profane Ethnick. Chriftian Iudges may lcarne at Tim <%vvhat modeftie and eq jitic they (hould vfe in judgement/This les vsplainly^hatthemindof Vdate was voydeof fuch affe&ios makes Iudges to peruert judgement: hee (hewes hec v /as voydc hatred, hee carried no hatred againftChrift,neither fought hec is blood? the man is euill abufedbythe Hi^h Prieftesand the aw: hedoeth all his endcuour to getlcfus abfolued. Lookethis holediPcourfe. So PtLttcs minde is voyde of thcfcaffcdions,of itrc J,de(ire of reu .ng^, and Peeking of innocent blood: for Brc- 'ren^vve know it is tbefe aflfedions that peruerts judgement. The dgevvho hates and enuics the petfon accuPrd he will haue him line, though he were as innocent as Icfus ChriU Himfelfe.There- rc,let Iudges harne this lefljn To bee voydc of hatred in judge- entrlPuppofe the mm be thevvickeJ.fl in the wo: Id, yet feeke >t thcdeftru&ion of the creature, but hate his crime , Mookc tat thine aflfc&ions llayc not the man , but lookc that juftice fl a \ e m: for if thou Peeked the bbod of the man,thou(halt beeguiltie D 3 of his 54 The sixt Lectyrb, of his blood in the latter day, The Lord anfwereth,andHeanfwe^ reth noc at the firft time to the point:but firft 4 He fayes to 'Pilate ^/J* keft thou that ofthy/clfe, Is that crime that thou laycft to my charge/ of thine owne head: Or /;<*/& rftfy other toldc it nW: There is the mea-F ningtSo je fee, before the Lord will anfwere.Hee will vnderftandf who is the inuenterofthisaccufation. Well, Brethren, Ifecthisf through all this Hiftorie, that the Lord will haueeuery manspartW knowne in the a&ion : He will know, who is the delator, aHthofl giues o. t the vtrdi&.He wil haue Herodes parr {HUxes part,tnTOWqfl pzrt,Cataphas part, ail their parts diftin&iy knowne,what each manf doethtth-Lord hath ag tateyetothisarin confeience hee was perfwaded, both ofChrifts innocencie, ^M^ieircahmmetand therefore cleanfes himfelfe.-buthc was Ranglcd in this judgement, that hee could not get himfclfe Be hid done well, if hee had Caidtf, I will haue nothing to doe ith thee,or if he had deliuered Him from thc&Iewes by his power, ut putting his hands once co judgement, he could not get him- :lfc free.Looke what it is, once to beginne to judge the innocent: 'hen theludge b.gmncsto fatisfiethe appetite of wicked men, e can not well quite himfelfe,till he defile himfelfe wich the blood |f the innocent, albeit hee would abfolue the man, yet his mouth nl condemne him.So,for no mans appetite let not a Iudgc enter 1 judgement againft an innocent man, whomeheknowes in his Dnfcience to b~e innocent: And if thou enter in judgement with im.abfolue him, vnder the painc of thy life, or els thou Quit be uilty of his blood. I his is a corruptiofometimeof ihe judgment f Scotland, ho v the Iudgc wil ! fay, I behooucd to doe it, did it againft my will I was compelled to doe it. Well,that Hull enoneexcufe toth c. for if thou doe it, thou (halt bezcondem- ed for it: it is no fcnali thing to be a Iudge. We haue heard PiUtes icanfing of Ciiritt, he is fo touched in his confeience^vith thein- ocencic of IcfusCluift^hat hee is compelled to cleanfc himfelfc rft to iciiis Chrift, before thaclefus clcanfcs Himfelfe to him. lovvfollowesthcanfwcrcofChriftto this cz\umme:My Kingdom* ' not in this world: Thou askeft at me, if I be a King:I anfwere,eyty]p '.ingdome is net in this World.hc denies not absolutely that Hee was a ling: for the Lord Iefus is the moft glorious King that euerwas* ir fhill be,but He denies f He was an earthly king. As the /wc/ac - (ufed Him, He giu*s a rcafan, If my Kingdome wercof this world, my jrutnts Would fight for weihc who afpires to a kingdome,hc wil fight f all } may doe for him to the very deathnf he had bene fecking 3 ingdome,He would not haue (taycd/V^r fro fighting as He did* ,fow co examine Chrifts anfwcrejFirf^Hc denies notfHc is a king, ,Jext,not denying J He is a King, commcth toadiftin&ionjama ung, But what a King? Not an earthly, but a fpirituall King, D 4 that is 5^ Thi sixt Lecttri, that is true, the lewes lay to my charge, f I affed an earthly Kingtfg dome f is not true. NoWjBretbreivhis is to be marked 3 Hc telietlp him indeede, that his Kingdome is not of this world, but He telJoo leth him not where His Kingdome was: Hee fa yes not, My Kingi dome is inHeauen,Hee fayes not this, My Kingdome is in ttuP confcic nce of men and women in the world;He teaches not Ptlatt$f& this. ' Some would thinkc, that He (hould fpeake more clearly of m this matter to Pilate, but Chrift cntred not into the commoi>Hal|fl« toplaytheDoftour, and to te ich: but the Lord lefusfetHMfeifefe to play the Prieft.& to fufter patiently^part of teaching was endcito but knowing that the houre of His Offering was come,& that Pqh+U tins TiUte (hould be his judge, He would not (lay him: And there-ju fore Hee would not enter in do&rine, becaufe the time of teaching^! traspaflif Tilate would haue bene taught,he might hauc heard Ic« fus teach before, but he would not heare Him.He teaches Pilate astfi much as might make him inexcufablc. Then,Brethrcn f I fee, asm Chrift hath a time of teaching, wherein He will teach men ) yea,hi$J» yerie enemies, as He vttereth,when they would haue taken Him,aeK) fought his life : fo He hath a time of filence, when He will not openM his mouth,Heefpeaketh fomc thing, albeit litle to T;7^r^butHeew fpcakes not fo much as one word to the High Priefts,becaufe Heal would haue rather had him fafe than them,becaufe they were ma^f litious. Chrift hath not as yet (hut his mouth in this land, but Hera teaches, not fparingly nor fcantly, for to fpeake it fo:The raine of |l the word of God, is powred aboundantly out of Heauen, to wa-ii terthethirftiefoules ofmen:& if thou fpendeft thy time>& wilt now yfc it well, I warne thee, that the day will come, when thou (halli not get one word to thy comfort: wilt thou alwayes hauc the blefi| fed Euangt 11, and the miniftrie thereof? No, as Chrift had but one* time, & when that time was paft, He would teach nomore:fohathfr' hisminifters: all their teaching (hall end as His did : I fay, GOD| flieweth grace on the perfecuters of thisLand, when as yet Heof-| fereth grace to them : but I denounce, as the Lord Hues, if they re~j pent not in time, they (half not get fo much as one good worde toi comfort them. Wherefore, let not the opportunitieflip,c^^V/? it\ ialledthe cl*y 9 let vs not harden our heart /♦Thus far f Lord hath purged] himfelf,& hath teachedTVAtff, what a King He was,not an earthfjr but a fpirituall King, I will not digrefle here, to fpeake of the king-* dome of Chrift,& therefore I come to TtUte* anfwere , tdrttbon a Of the Passion of Chkist, 57 htg ^vrcl! then> would PiUte fay, thop denuft not that thou art a ingthe fhould haue asked what a King He was.& u here his king- ome was,that He might haue gotten a part of it:there is $c6feft;6 lat Icfus gaue vnder Pontiffs Ttlate, as is faidc 1 Jtm. 6.1 3 . Pilate lould haue bin inquifitiue of thefe things, and followed out that surpofe about his kingdomcrbut he breakes ofFthe conference,by n accufation of Iefus. An earthly hearted nun knowes not things cauenly, & fo he cannot fpcake of them,but rather he will (lay an cauenly purpofe: Yefce earthly hearted men.when ore will begin d fpeakeof hcauenly things, hath no moreplea(ureinthem,than date had:begin once to fpeakc of heauenly things to a prophane lan, then he cannot keepe purpofe with thee, but hce will breake tif purpofe, & fpeake of earth Jy things, Paul /.Cor,i.kis down the toud here: The natnr oilman, fayej he, knowes not the thing* oft heSpint \ Cjod\yt2i y he will wonder what that means, when thcu fpeakeft of Ieauen,yea,he hath no power nor fpirituall fenfe:for they are but oolifhnes to himtthe mod wife things of God, arc but fooliflines :> the naturall man.hc delitcs not in them, becaufe he hath not ra* red hour fweet the LordisfSor^rinterruptcthChriftXhrift an- veres,& He hycs,Thoufaye(l that lama Kinj.ln the which anfwere, le Lord denies not that He is a King, but He takes the mouth of ^ihtc to be witnes that He was a King.Then he lets vs fee for what aufe He came into the worldinottobeanearthlyKing.CW* lint$ * worldibut that I might beare yntneffe ofthetruethil came not to be an arthly King, as other Kings are, but I came from the throne of a ling, & a glorious Kingdome,that I may play the part of a fcruat i bearing witnes to the trueth. Icfus Chrilt, was God, e^uall^uh he Father, & thought it no roLbcrie,but He made Hmfilft of no reputation^ y taking on the forme cf aferuantfphil 2.6, As though he would fay,I ame into the world,& tooke on the flefti ofman to be a fctuant to ly Father, & to be a witnes to the trueth:then He fub;oyne c ,left hatTi/rffr (houldthinkc that office of htlceftl&,& thntHehbou- rdinvaine,& fayes, TheyWho areofverit.c,to wit, begotten of the r ord,the immortal feed of the word of God:(for by reritie here is leant the word of verifiers Chap iy.ve t ffy.\)rciCt'd\vg Thy he.ire iy word. He draw uh nc^rc vnro ViLue : ifthoubefuch an one as is iegortenof the trueth, thou wilt he:^remy word : albc it Chrift be cayed from fpeaking &: "TtUtc would hmie put Him off, Hce Jcaucs K)t,butfpeakcs againetoTf/W;Hc would hauc winnc hiiifii had bene I' fill. . K[ DC : in it I! b <8 Thb sixr Lectvke, bene poflible, Albeit we be interrupted when we fpeake of heauen P lie things to profane men and women,wee ought not to leaue off by the example of Chrift : but howbeit wee bee interrupted, week fhouldreturne againe>and follow out the thing we haue begun^tcji fee if fomewordes will finke in their hearts : or if they will not re turne,that they may be vnexcu fable. Spcake of Chrift,and of Hea uen,it(hallneucrbc in vainCjbutasJWfaies,^ fyrin.z. it [ball bd afeeet odour to <^/,eithcr to their faluation or dam nation that Goclfa maybe glorified 5 either in mercy in winning of them,or in jufticeir their perdition. And therfore^it is goodtofpeake of chingsHeaue- lie,the fou!e is nourished therby.Aman that redreffes himfelfe tc a kingdome, would eaer takedelitc to fpeake of it: if thou haft nc pleafure at no time to fpeake of Heauenly things,it is a furetoker. that thou haft no part of that kingdom.thou haft neuer tafted the fwectnes of it:for they who haue tafted thereof,will haue fomtimes a dclite to fpeake of thinges Heauenly, and will defire that fincerc milkeof the word,as fetcr fpcakes.So if thou findeft the wordeof life fweet,why fhouldft thou not defire it continually?for it is that only food by the which $ life of ©od is nourilhed within thee here; and one day it (hall prefent vnto thee fuch fatiety of all pleafure and joy in the face of God,as the heart cannot thinke of now,howbeit thou getteft but fcant in this world. Alas,thatwejhou Id let fuch a Joy paffe away,for fault of feeling^ tafting \ What is the veritic, faies Pilttclhz askes this not with pleafure,but loathing & di{daining,& taries no anfwere,£wgw his VrayMis ftomack loathes Chrift.Then in TiUte we haue an example of natural! men:if any will fpeake of things Heauenly vnco thereof Chrift 3 and of Hisbenefits,they will ftay the fpeach fo farreas they can rand if thereafter any will infift and yet fpeake on 3 then at the Iaft,if thou wilt vrge thenuhey mud fpeake fomcthingjbut they will fpeake as VtUtt did,lightly and dif- dainfully: and when they haue asked, they will leaue off, and will not care for an anfwere.but a skes fo r the fafliions caufe, when they are conftraincd thereunto. ^WeafS by nature like to TiUte, either I we will not fpeake one word of things Heauenly, or clfe if wee bee compelled to fpeake 5 and wordes bee throwne out of vs, wee will Tpeaiie with a loathing, and difdaining of the hcart.There was ne- uer any thing in the world that could moue the naturall man more to loathing 5 than^ word of God,he willhearc it with fuchdifdain, that when one thing is faidc in word,hec will fay another in heart, and OK THE TA55ION OF LKRISt, }$ Hnd he will thinke him who teaches him the mod foolifh man in fjheworld.Andhewhoiswifeft,if hebenot regenerated and re- newed, hcc (hall count Chrift.and things Heauen^moftfoohfli. A olimplebodie isfoonerwonne,thanhec who is wife in hisowne Conceit in the world. Ifthouwouldcftbeanhearcror fpeakcrof u-ieauenly things 3 ftriuealvayes to get a reformation of thine own corrupt nature,and let thy meditation and prayer be thus,Lord,rc- i : ormcmine hcart,that thy word maye bee fruitfull in mee : fo that (Doth I may hcare with pleafure and alfo that the words come not ■from the teeth forward,but from the dcepncs of mine heart,u hen tf fpeake of Thee,and things Heauen!y,that fo thy word may cdifie >;both mec and others. It is a more dangerous thing , to come to ithcare, if we be not duely prepared,than to tarrie away: and better mot to fpeake at all, than to fpeake of thinges Heautnly without tithe inward fenfe of the heart. Now the Lord grant vs grace,that :in hearing & fpeaking of things Heaucnly, we may haue this Hca- uenly difpoficion in ipme meafurc,for Chrifles fake : To whom with the Father and Holy Spirit, be all Praiie^Honour and Glory, both now and cuermore ; isimcru. THE SEVENTH LECTVRE OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST. Ihon Chap, xviii. 3! Pilate faidvntobim.Wkat istructh ? AndWhenbeUdfrndtbai, bet Went out againevnto the Icwcs, andfaidvmo them, lfir.de mhimmeaufe 4t all. ■ S9 •£„, yoH h.we 4 cuflome , that ijliould dtlttier yon one loofe at tbtPaffeoutr : ivillyec then, that IUfc vr.to youthe Kngof the Icwes ? 40 Tbencryed they all .igaine, frying. Not bit», but Barabbas: mm this Earabbas Wat a mother tr, \V£i £* THl SfiYBNTH LlCTYM, I E e heard thefc dayes paft (Brethren) of the fu/f e- ring of the Lord, Fir ft, in the Gardcn,Ncxt, yndci E C^Jw.thcHighPrieft for the time,and then wee E entered into the thirdc part of His fuffrring vnder L TontttuTiUte ,the Rorndne gouernour,who abode ir, y Hiernfittm for the time.We heard theaccufatio thai | the Hie Priefts and the /rfto alledge to Tilate the judge,wherc hee » ' fate in judgement againft Iefus Chrilfcthe accufation was not blaf- 1 j0! phemous againft God, for when the Priefts thought Him afore id| their own judgement feat worthy of death* but treafon againft the [ ; inaicfty oiCafir^he calks bimfelf,hy they jhc king of the Icwesfis though J | Chrift had come into f world to bean earthly king.and to take the ^ t kingdom oucr C a firs head.Whe Pilau had pofed Chrift about this, ^ after one or two anfweres,he findes this accufation vaine,falfe, 8i ' fained#And therefore,Brethrcn,firft in this Text we haue read this r day, we haue thepurgatio of Iefus^andfr out ofPilates own mouth] ^ Next, howe hee feekes by all mcanes to get Him out of the Jemi hands:Thirdly,we haue the part of the Iewes y hovf they feeke mali- cioufly thelife of the innocent, & preferres Tiarabbas (a murcherer) vnto Him, As to the firft part,it is faid,that Pilate Went out again to the lewes 9 outo£ thcHalUnd profeffed before them Mjhat hee fimdn* fault in that manwortbic of deatb.Thzn Pdate,zhex his inquifition, fin'* ding Iefus Chrift, who was accufed before him,freeofallafFe3a* tion of Ca/ars kingdome, yet finding that Hee denied not but that Hee was a king : and that was that good vvitnefling that Chrift gaue vnder Tontm TtUte^s Taul (i.TimJ.tjJtoes: but Hee was no king of this world. IhenTHatc thinkes there was no crime in Chrift Iefus : as concerning the other kingdome, Pilate thought it but an imagination & fantafic:therefore,thinking that Iefus made Himfelfeto beafantafticke king, and fought not Ge/2rx kingdome from him he would nox count Him worthie of death, but he clen- fes Him. Politickeandprophane hearted men in this world, who fmell of nothing, but of the earch,andhauc nofenfeof Heauenlie thingcSjifyewill but leaue them thethingesofthis worlde,as CW- firs kingdome, the glory, the honour,thc ricbes,and the pleafures of this worldc,vnto them, they care not what men fpeake of God # or His kingdomcor of Iefus Chrifl,or of matters of religionjhow- bcit that they would fay,that they would climbe vp to the Heauen, and fc Of the PassjOm of lhkist, br nd rauc it from God: they care not for it, as JWiayes, The nrtu- alrnan conntes heauenly thivgs butfooltJhncxCpiake to them of heauen- W things, all is but imagination^ Heauen is as a drcame to them* Ityfaj thechiefc Captainc who was in Jerufalem after this man, vn- iljlcr the Gouernour Filix t when 7W was perfecuted in lerufalem^yt ijcmember what he wrote 10 Felix, Thtytccufc him of trifle s^and of Jucftious of their Uw % but Ifinde no thing in the man Wortbit either of death y or f bands >Acls 23.2p.WorIdly men countes it not a crime, or a thing rorthieofpunifhment, to derogate from Gods glorie. Well, lee nen fpend thcirtime,one day they (hall feele it to their griefe.that eligion is the moft earned & excellent thing that euer was: and hey fhall curfc the time that euer they cfteemed any thingexcel- Jlent, but religion.Yet this is commendable in Ttlate, that he giues bfaireateflinionieof Iefus, aEthnicke, who had no knowledge Jbf God,nor fenfe of the life to come,to ftand vp in f face of them, ( who (hould haue knownc Iefus Chrift,& to purge the innocent, .(might haue made the High Priefts & the Iewes afhamed.Y et,will ye !|marke this more narrowly, albeit his purgation bee faire, yet hec jfailcthfarrc,for in purgation he vttcreth a prophane hearr,whilft :hc purges Him in words, he fcorncth Him in his heart. & condem- meth thatKingdomeof His,&that trueth whereof' He fpakc, as a ifable.Prophanc men, who haue no part of fan&ification, whe they jfpeake faireft, and when they fceme todoebeft, they doe nothing [butfinne.'Why ? becaufcin themeane time when they fpeekefai. Ircft, their heart is full of vanitie,& in their heart they fcorne God: ! Albeit thou ftandeft vp Sc fpeakeft much for the defence of Chrift, & fcemeftto bcangrie at the/ewes, as Pilate d\d:i( in themeane time thine heart belecue not in that Iefus, thou art but a (corner, &all thy fpeach feme th for nopurpofeto thee, if thou belecucft not. therefore in fpciking of Heauen,& of religio,& of Iefus Chrift, \vc fhould take hecde to the heart £ it be fanftificd,& remember,^ while the mouth fpeakes^God fees the hearr,& whe thou fpeakeft of that Name of Iefus Chrift>let tihne heart grippe into Him,& fo thy fpeach (halbe edifying and gratious.Now when he hath clcjn- fed Him by wordj thereafter by deede he feckes to get him locfe: And it is fubjoyncd that Tdate fayes :Te hks ij^Luks *fr fctteth dovvne another accufation thatpaft in 01 lei before ^^^^iH? 5!V!NTH LlCTTBl, before this immediatly,which I dial touch (hortly:thc High Pricfc feeing that they obtained nothing by thefirft accufatio^whereir f they accufc Him of treafon againft C&far> yet they will notleaut off, but delates toTtlate many things, and heapes calumnie vpoii 1 calumnie, andoppreflcs Him with accufations,as for Icfus, Hctp made none anfwere: PtUte feeing this, he vrges H?m once & tw ; JB*l' to fpeake:He will not fpcakc.P//^ wondcreth ac his great filencc: $) the High Priefts infill, &at laft they accufe Him of falfc doftrinc, x which He had vctercd from Gable vnto Hierufalettt. When P//*ff vti| derftood that He was a (jMileanJkiz fendes Him to Herode, who wai P : Tctrarchof Gxl\U> thinking to gratifie/f^r^thatbeeingat vJI riancc, fricndQiip (hould hauebcene made : Herode rejoyced at hit ^ comming, and hoped that hce {hould hauc feene fome wonders of ^ Him:for both TiUte and Herode thought to make a Iugler oflefusP; but Herode gets not one word of Him,much leffe a figne or a won* u dcr : then Herode beginnes to mocke Him, & puttes on a garment u on Him, in token of derifion, and fends Him to Ptlate : then Pilate j tj thefecond time with his owne voycecleanfesHim«Some will mar*'* uell, what moued Icfus to keepc fuch a filenceto them all : andr fome may thinke that this proceeded from ftubburneneffe in Iefus: : No, Brethren, in this He was fo farrc from difobedience either to? lf God,or to the Ma?iftrate,that the Lord Icfus vttered a great obe-^ fl diencetoGod,and theMagiftrate,anda wonderfull patience, in" that He will not repine in one word, knowing well, that it was th^ * will of his Father in heauen,the houre was comc:and therefore the ^ houre comming, He will not hdpeHimfelfe in one word: fo pica- x fantly and willingly Hee offcreth Himfelfe to the death. This was K prophecied of Him in the $3. of €fay:Hce maketh no more repi- x ning, than afheepeor a lambe that (lands before the (hearer, Hee J opened not His mouth, not for ftubburnefle,but Hee was patient. ; l Brethren, fome: would marucllof the boldnefle of the Martyres j when they fuifrred ( O the boldnefle that they had in atxfwcringJ D cue in the fire) they faftered not one word to flip^but they anfwered • * for Gods glorie, and well of them that flood by :Ol but the Lord * kept filence.Some would thinke that lefus Chrift in this point was inferiourtothe Martyres; but this isthemxtterjChrift wasfilent, that the Martyresmightfpeakc.-for except Hce had beene filent, they in perfecution (hould not haue opened their mouthcs:He was * dumbc, that wee might fpaakc ; and was made nothing that wee ' might Of the Passioh o* Chkist. 6% light be fomc thing. Now to rcturne to our rex t againe : TiUtt fes ell meanes to get Iefus loofc : he vfes the prdent occafion 10 latpurpofe, knowing the vfeof the Aftvj 3 hee would haue beenc_ [ad to haue had Iefus fet at libertie, aboue all i-he prifoners. To cakefomewhat of this cuftome: they had thiscuftome, to get a rifoner fet at libertieat kftiuall times, to the honour of their :aftes :the Paffeouer was a Feaft,in rememberance of that deliue- ncc out of Egypt t now as they were de!iuered,fo they would haue prifoner deliucrcd,but therewith theydi(honourcdGod:is that honour God,to breakc His commandement ? this cuftome was )t from the beginning, but entredin, when the Romane Empe- mrentred in, and this manner of doing wanted not a hire pre- nee, it had a pretence of clemencie & mercic of the Gouemour : e know this, there is nothing wherein a Prince refcmbleth God, ore, than in clemencie: but it is a fin to let a wicked man efcape, that the Emperour (hould lethimgoe: for Gods Lawefayes, cut i ui 2. /3 . Thine eye fori notfyarc the murihercr y neither lock* vpo him thapttifulleyc. Will ye fee what things thefe men haue for them, ho thinke, that Prince s may giue men that arc conuift of Capital imes their Hues. Some will fay, haih not a free Prince licence to i ue him his life, albeit the Law of God fay, The mwthcrtr foall die e death -.well, I fay, and it isthetrueth,that were as much, as to ^. ■ uehiman abfolute power, but all the worldelhall not giue him*" ch a power, hee may well vfurpe it:but notan Angell in Heauen ith abfolute power ouer a begger,toputhim to death, and to :epe him aliue at his pleafure: much leffe a mortall man \ only the cat Crcator(whofc will is the rule of all rightcoufnefle)hath th i s >wer ouer his creature. It is true indeed,aPrince (hould be loth to it out that lifef God hath put in,& (hould beu are to judge rafh- inCapitallcrimestlt is no fmall matter, to make a crime Capi- 11, but if the crime bee Capitall and deadly, the Prince hath no )wertoholde his hand abacke from execution, and to forgiue. deede for weightie and great considerations a Prince may miti- .tcthcpunifliment, but to fay, he may let the man goe free, hee th no power : bur yet they will infift further and fay, Is not tl icof thejudiciall hwes, that was giucn tothe^VVo, chenwhac^ , .uc we to doe with it. I anfwere, thef: lawes, feeing the Mm and* eir Commonwealth, and Jawcs politickc. are abrogate, in io fjr chcy concerned that people, wee haue nothing adoc with them, they arc t t>4 Thk seventh Lectvre, they arc abolifhed, but tor afmuch as they arc grounded vpon na [ ture, and naturall la^we hmc adoe with them.as for chislaw, iti j naturall.Ye know that naturall men,Ethnickes,\vhohad neuerth . law of the Iewes $ they executed the murthererf&uTyet they infifl:,! I they will bring in the example of good kings, who forgaue Capi u tall crimes committed againft the very vniuerfall and natural! law and namely of IXiW:forgaue he not fab for flaying of *Abncr an Amafai and c^ww; for committing incefhandagiinc, forgaue h not Abfolom for flaying of Amncn his brochenbut I anfwere : Win. are bound to liue by Gods Iawcs, & not by examples :as foiDaukw if hce had power to haue pumfhed thofe men, hee failed : but! a lay not in the handes of DanidSayts hee not of Ioab y iat tonnes a £0-0/*, are too ftrong for me, 2. Sam. 3. 39-Ye know what he left ii in his Teftament to Salomon concerning fab? vKings /♦ hah was a grca » man, iiDmid might haue puniGied^ he failed: finne cannot be ei cufed, albeit he puniQied it not. Some will fay further,Should notli and ought not each priuate man forgiuea priuate offence; is new that Gods will andcommandement ? Hereupon they would cotfi elude, and make it to follow: A Prince may forgiue a wicked ma r for Capitall crimes : but I fay and affirme, chat there is a great dir if ference betweene a priuate man and a King .-When a King forgiut !, 1 a Capitall crime, hee forgiues Gods right, hce is free in anoththeg!oricof God:thoufupprefles the glory of that great It \ thou clcanfeft him not as an innocent: it were better for an in- ocent to die the death innocently, than to take on him a crime hich he hath not do ne, or to take a remiflion of a crime whereof eis notguiltie.To come to thepartofthe lewes, Ptlate goes farre eyond them, a'beit hee docth euiil, yet they doe ten times worfe: Jas, the judgement of Til Ate in that day (hall be nothing to the idgement of the malitious lewes: in doing of this, that he com- arjs Him with < Bar^bbaf 3 & albeit hee compares Him with him, Et he countes Him an innocent : but he compares Him with Bd- ^.ivbyapolicie^opleafurcthe/^Tr^rthey wil not only compare lim wich B.irabba^ but will prcferre£.ir*//^.r to Him: PiUte^om^ arcs, they preferre. Brethren, an vngouly man will hare more Ktrcamclie vertue, and grace in a i;ood man. than vice in an euill nivas concerning the wicked man,becauft he is wicked hirofclfe, ewill not hate finneas itisfinne^hepleafurethat a wicked man ath, is to fee the GOD of hcauen difpleafcd.ihat is his meat, E that is 66 The seventh Lectvri, that is his drinke ; it hee doe hate vice, it is not for the vices fake , but becaufe the vice troubles him, becaufe offome skathc and] (hamethat followes it, and becaufe he would haue an cafie life. A But to come to the grounde: An vngodly mao hates vertue,r becaufe it is vertue, and becaufe godlinefle is of G O D, hee hates ? it ; and hee hates a godly man, becaufe hee beares the image o( t G O D: the extreamitie of his hatred h againft G O D ; hee will rather fuffer a wicked man, than an innocent or godly man : but I hee ncuer hates vice, becaufe it is vice. The Pope will fuffer So- i domites to dwell befide him , and Bordels : but hee cannot heare ii of a godly man, but will perfecute him who will proftffe to tead I Chrift ti uely: yea, hee will purfue him to the death. There is gre* p ter hatred in the heart ofanobflinatePapift againft a Chnftian ; than in ^ heart of a Turkc: & the greatcft hatrcd.is euer vnder cloh re of religion. So there is not one that hates a godly man fo greatly,ai fc they who clokes all thinges vnder the name of the Church : Thi \ LORD fauc vs from them. I fay, I had rather fall into the handi k of aTurke, than into the handes of a Papift. What is CHRIS TES part? there is nothing butfliamefoit Him : Where was there euer fuch an ignominicas this ? TJdrabb* is preferred vnto that juft one: (if thou be an innocent man, an« l( art counted worfe than the wicked, it is a great fhame: ) and thq E not onely is hee preferred vnto Him , but in hanging vpon th I Croffe, Hee is put betweene two thieucs,to teftifie,that they coun ^ ted Him more vvorthie of death, than they were. And then, be ^ fides the fuffering of that paine,He fuffered painein that they blal ^ phemedHim,andhddcHiminderifion. Whateuer was thepai [ ofthe Lm, and of Ti/au, theFatherof IESVS CHRIS E hath His part alfo: there was not a worde fpoken, but that whic $ He directed: the lewes fpake not this,but by the Lords difpoficiot L who ruled all this aftion: they did nothing, (asyeemay read* r jicis 4* 28.) but that which Hee had appointed from all eternitic L Nowe, Hisdifpenfationwas for thy weale: thedifpenfatione ,;. His (hame wxs for thine honour , and, if Hee had not died in th I ignominie,thouhadft died ignominious euerlaftingly, and He ha [ not becne a perfed Redeamer, if Hee had not fuffered this: and ; R the Lord difpenfed all this, how euer it bee that they did vnjuftli yet it is all turned to our weale. See the wonderfull juft dealing* G O Dj when they arc doing vn juftly,He burthens His Sonne, wii| Op the Passion of Christ* 6y no burthen cither in bodic or foule,but that which our finne(that I E S V S C H R I S T did beare vpon His backc ) procured and deferucd* Hee was mode innocent in Himfelfe, and altogether without finne , but our finnes were laidc vpon His backe : for Hie vbo kntVQc no finne ^m made finne for ys y as the Apoftle faies,<2.0r. j\2 /. Looke to thefe (in nes that Chrift had vpon Him: they were a thou- sand times greater than the finnes oCBtrabba* : for Hee bare vpon -lim the finnes of all the world, many murthers, many adulteries, :he LORD 1ESVS bare them all. So there is nothing that allesto IESVS CHRIS T, but that which wee procured vnto rlim. Whateuer CHRIST fuftained, the reprochcs,(hame, ind bhfphemies, the paine, and extreamitie of paine in foule and >odie , itj_s_thy finne that procured all this* Brethren, markc this veil : 'When men either heare or reade this Hiftorie , they turne :hem to the le wes t and will defic the Prieftes , and the Tharifes, and ViUte, and in the meane time they looke not to themfelues : but ooke not to others, but to thine o wne felfe ? for it is thy finne alfb hat pearced Him thprow : and , if thou wouldcft weepe, weepe 6r thine owne finne.I meane not this,that any man fhould thinke o take his finnes away from Chrift, and lay them vpon his owne >acke: for there is nobodiethat is able to beare fo much as an uill thought : then lee thy finnes lie vpon Chrift, for Hee is able 6 beare them all : And as thou layeft thy finnes vpon Him, feekc obeecladde withHisrighteoufnefle:andasHeeismadefinnefor hce,looke that thou be made righteous before God in Him,for if hou be clothed with that euerlafting righteoufneffe in that Great aye, thou (halt bee counted juft , and get that life of I E S V S . Vhcrefore. toendcheere, let vs fo abhorre the malice, indignitie, nd crueltic of the Ieftes againft C H R I S T the innocent , that ^onthe other part wee maye with our whole heart reucrence nd embrace that mode juft difpenfationof GOD vpon Him sguiltiein vs, andforourcaufe : and letvs giueHim rhankes nd praife continuallie , becaufc Hee hath giuen His onelie Sonne :> rv s, and Hee hath made Him finne for vs, and Hee hath made lim fubjeft to all fhame , ignominie, dolour, and paine, both of odie and foule , for our fakes. To Him, therefore, with the Fa- ner,a n d the Holie Spirit , bee all Praife, Honour, Power, and Horic for euer and cuer : tArntn** Ei THE Fol. 68 THE EIGHT LECTVRE, OF THE PASSION OF CHIUST. Ihon, Chap. xix. j ^pHE n Pilate tooke I e svs, and fcourged him* 2 And til 1 Souldiers flatted a Qrowne of Thornes, and put it on his head, an . they put on him a purple garment , 3 tAndfaid, Hade King of the Iewc; *s4nd theyfmote him mth their roddes* 4 Then Pilate Went forth again And f aid vnto them 9 Beholde, I bring himfoorth toyott> that yeemay /^#W, j that I find no fault in him at alU s Then came I e s v s foorth 3 wearing (rowne ofThomes, and a purple garment. And Pilate [aid y>nto them, 2? holde the man. 6 Then Vvhen the high Triefies and officers faWe him, th, cryed, faying, Qrucifie him y crucifie hm. Pilate [aide vnto them y Take j 1 bim 7 and crucifie him\for Jfindenofaultin him. Owe Brethren, wee infift further in the differing J Chris t, vnder Tontim Tilate y thc Romane Goue r ' nour, who abode in Hierufilcm^Ntt haue hearde D twoaccufations that were laid againft the innoce \ IefusChrifhThe foft was, that Hee called Himfe " Theking of the leWes,8c fo was guilty of treafon agaii } Ctfer. Yec hearde the effeSof this accufation to bee nothing: ai I therefore hee goes foorth and with his voyce before them all, pi P gcth the innocent. In the next accufation,there were many thin laide to His charge : and this chiefcly, thst He had corrupted^! whole Countrey , from Galilee to Hierufilem with falfedodrit Nowe when this wzstvyed,Tilate yet holdes Him innocent, in ftifying His innocencie: and thercfore,hce feekes yet to getteH fct at Iibertie out of the handes of the Ierces : and confidering tl the lews at the Pafleoucr were accuftomed to fceke the liberty c prifon Of the Passion of -Christ* 69 prifoncr , who was guiltie of a capital! crime, hee \ks this opor- tunitie , and askes of them whether they vvoulde haue I E S V S or Tiarabbasfct at libercic f Wee hearde the anfwerc to this pro- portion, to wit, they crie , they will not haue Him deliuered, but Ti+trabba** Nowc the other Euangeliftcs doe infift more largelie in this purpofe , and write more of it: and they report, that Tdate> wheru bee hearde this Worde, hee asketh y What, /ball I doe VQith lefa} They wie all with one voyce y Cruet fie him. Tilate the third time hearing this, bee cleanfes the innocent* Yet they report more , that whileft Ti- 'ate was fitting in judgement there commeth a meffengerfrom lis wife, and faies, Haue nothing ddoe with this innocent man ; Why ? V I hdtic beene troubled for Him in myfleepe. This is an aduertifement iarpc enough vntohim,and the LORD v ranted not Hi sow nc vorke therein: for the LORD brought this to pafle, parti ie in efpedof IESVS CHRIST, that His innocencie might learelie appeare before the vvorlde , and that Hee might receauc iteftimonicof His innocencie from them who had little regarde ntoit : for, had not Iefus beene innocent , wee had bcenc little he better of Him, for Hee coulde not haue .juftificdvs : for, ere >ur faith reft on Him , wee muft haue the fyll affurance of His in- loccncie: partly in rcfpcdofP/Z^that hee fliould be conuerted, >r made vnexcufable , if hee would goe forward. The working of he Lord is wonderfull in the rcprobatc;for ere that decree of their eprobation bee put in execution, the Lord aflfaies to bring them Q repentance. Rom. 9. 22. He fijfers with along (ujfertng the vejfels of ?rath. Rom. 2. 4. Hee inuites the reprobate to repentnnce: Yea, ere Hcc fut them in Hell, Hee will inuitc them to Hcauen : There is not a eprobatc that penftics in the juftice of God* but ere Hee vtter His fiftice towards them.Hce will vtter His mercie in warning them to epent. We come,Brethrcn,to our Text :He followes out the fuffc- ing in thefe words which we haue read:Hc telles vs how carneftly date feekes the libertie of Iefus: and he lets vs fee the mcanes that Ulatevtes to fct Iefus at libercic: firft,he takes Himout,and fcour- es Him, & puts Him out to be mocked; thinking that this would itisfic the tows -and then the fourth time, hee profeffes His inno- :ncic:Then he bringes Him o:it to them with a crowne of thornes nd a purple garment,thinking that he fliould haue contented and loucd the Iewcs to pittie, but all was in vainc. It is faid, Jtlare tooke B s v s , dnd feourged h'm% dud not content with this, commanded E 3 his foul- J& The eight Lectvre, Hts fouldtCYS to put a crotynrof thorncs vpon His headland d purple var~ went on Htm^ to fcorne the Kingdome of Iefus Chrift : and then fmitctb Htm with roddef. Ye fce^theLord fuftcrs mocking, &paintf in bodie : the Lord of glorie is put to ignominie : confider well & letitneucr goe out of thy minde, that the Lord of Glorie fuftc- redfuch fhamefor thy caufc: But to examine this faft of Ttlates, this is commendable, that he fpeakes fo, to get the innocent Iefus fct atlibcrtie,but in the meanethathc vfeth,hefailes veryfarrc: Yet (hall marke this, in prophane and vngodly men, that one of thefe two things fa-lies out, if not both : Either they (hall not take: in hand a good and godly purpofe> or els, if any time it falles out, that they cnterprife any good deede, that they (hall chufe vngodly & vnlawfullmeanes to affeftuatc it, they (hall doeeuill, that good may come of it* Call your eyes vpon this Land, & ye (hall fee this to be true : Yet let vs fearch vp the ground of this proceeding of Ptlate :TTcarihot bee denied, but that he hath a good purpofe and deed in hand : but it is as true againe, that as he hath a good deec in hand : hce lookes not vpon it \yith an vpright eye, hee hath no f God, nor his Glorie before his eyes : forhisconfeience rathe! than any regard to Gods Glorie, or His will mooued him to purji pofe to loofc Him. Thou muft not propone only to doe good, bu alfo thou muft propone it, for Gods caufc, and for His glorie 'Ptlate hauing no refpeft toGodj goes aftray,and out of the waj This is certainc, Brethren, if the purpofe wereneuer fo good an* if thou hauenot the Glorie of God before thine eyes, thou'fhal wauer : but by the contraries that man that hath refpeft vmo tH< Lord, he (hall not readily wauer,but the Glorie of God (hall glancL before him as a lanterne into his way, vntillheeprofecutc th;L decde.Blcfled is hethat hath the Glorie ofGod before him; theifc. is no light tobrin£vs thorowthis thornieway, butonly theGk 1 ry of our GodrRextTlfeein this faft,in following out the meanj that hee would haue had the innocent loofed, but fo, that it wc'i |j with contentmentof the /*nwyhee would pleafe all parties,, ar for their pleafure, when hee would cleanfe the innocent, hce p xiilhcs Him as a nocent : feeing then that he depended vpontl appedte of vngodlie men, it could not bee poflfible, that hee cou bring agood aftion to pafle : yea, whomfoeuer dependes vpc the luft ofmalitious men.caii neuer affeftuate any good thing : if they doe any thing, they doe it by cuiH meancs, andfo fa. great KJf THE rA53IUN OF LHRIST. J I greatly: let vs therefore ay ftudic to plcafe God,kt vs,if we (hould die in the mcane time, doe th at which is pleafant vnto God, fet- ting afidc the pleafure of men/ Ivtarkc fiLtes forme of doing, hee vfeth worfe & worfe meanesrThe firft meane is euill,in comparing Iefus with Barabbas the wicked man.che murtherer-.yet he thoughc by that mcancs to fet Iefus at libertie, but now he fcourges Him: this is a higher degree of euill, and now he failes further : beginnc once to doc againft confeience, for plcafuring of wicked men, as TtUte docth all this againft confcicncetif thou hadft neuer fo good & io faire a pretence, thou (hah be compelled by procefle of time. to doe a greater euill, albeit thou beganncft with lefle euill, & thou (halt not fpeedatlaft.lt is true fPilate would doe a leflfe euill to get a greater Good done: but when he hath once or twife, againft his confeience mod vnworthelyabufed the Lord Icfusrthou (halt fee theend of it, he prcuailed not.Thus for Pilates part : The men of warre vnder him, haue their part of this a&ion, they plattea ■crownc of thorncs, and put it on His head to his fcorne.and to his J>ainc, and they clothe Him with a purple garment, & fmites Him with their roddes, and then they goe before Him 5 and fay, HaiIc Kwg of th e IcWcs, and this they did at the commandement of Tilate: LamenFable is the eftate of the fubj'ene winke to fet all the countrey in a fire, Looke the^r7/ of the \poRks 3 Cb4p.4.verf.27 , Euery man in particular who had part in his worke are counted : Herodc firft, and next P/Arr* ; leaueth hec hepartof the men of warre : he calleth them the Gchtilcs.Sc next E 4 the 7* The sight Lectyk^ the people of Ifrad. This wicneflcs that the eye of the Lord was on them that did this fad, and not one of them all (hall bcexcufed: and if it were but a common fouldier that is inaneuillfa&,hc fhal die at that day*Vainc therefore is the opinion of fillie ignorant bo- dies, who thinke that the commandement and willof their ma- iler willcxcufe them, for they (hall die for their ou-ne finnes, but their blood (hall be required at the handsof their matters. Chrift hath his part, Pilate is a worker of eui. 1, and the men of warre alfo. Now let vs confider the part of Iefus the innocent, He is the fufFe- rer, He fuffers dolours and fhame,and many vnworthie things, & thatby themoftjuftdifpenfatioof God:& beeingourfuretie, he, bare our finnes and iniquities: therefore the wrath of God cea- fed vpon Him mod vehemently. There is not a deed done here, or a word fpoken, but the Lord decreed it from all eternitic, anddif-' penfeth it in time, and on his part all was juft,bccaufe Iefus had, taken on Him the finnes of the Lord, therefore this paine and! flume followes that burthen #5ec the weight of the wrath of God f that lyes on Him who had no finnc in Himfelfe : and further, the wrath of God, lyethnotona common man, but on His only be- gotten Sonne our cautioner. The Apoftleto thcHebr ewes Chap y $ % verfe 9, fayes, Although Hee was theoncly begotten Sonne o' God, yet He learned obndience through His fuffering, that is,H< learned, what, and how good a thing obedience was, andwha wrath & damnation followesdifobedience: And there is not om of the Sonnes of God, but by affli&ioas t&ey learne thefann; thing that the firft begotten learned, how ^ood a thing it is not t< finne : It is good therefore that God humble vs, that we may fay Nowe I learne what is wrath, and how good a thing it is to feru * God, and to beftow my life for Him:& the godly when they feel ^ a portion of this wrath, they will take vp a better eourfe,and wil fc fay, What if this God would powre on His whole wrath, on mec | itisnochildrenspUy to play with God, &makcapaftimcof fin , and then cry peace, that wrath (hsll come vpon thee like a moun taine, and then thou (halt cry,Curfed bee the time that I hau difobeyed God, for now I (hall fcele that infinite wrath, If yce wi 'markrthe Text well, ye will fee in the whole pafTion ofChrift.tha theLord endcuoures to manifeft two thinges.. and thinges contra rie the one to the other by appearance* By appearance Hee wil 1 kaue Him appcare before the worlde the moft innocent man, an. th Of the Passion of Christ. 73 the moft guiltie man in the world : How can thefe two ftand/ The^- Lord thus wife will haue Chrift to appeare, inHimfelfethemoft innocent man, and in vs the moft guilcy man in the world. Hereu- pon itcommeth topaffe, that P/Wabfolued Him as innocent, & pet punifhes Him as nocent: for Iefus Chrift bare the finnes of the irhole faithfull :'an37Tis for this purpofe, that we feeing thefe two things in Him, that we (hould accoun t Him a meet Mediatour for rs, and our faith fliould reft on Him: Come to Experience, Except [vnderftand that my Redeemer bee innocent in Himfelfe, 1 will l neuer beleeue, that Hee can bee able to bearc my finne, and to re- ieemc mee : for Hee could not bee able to bearc his ownc finne, Tiuchkfle another mans finne, except He were innocent,//^. 7. t6: fuch a Prieft it behooued vs to haue> which is holy, harmcleffc, imdefiled, and feparated from finncrs : Next,cxccpt I vnderftand x :hat my finnes are taken off my backe, and laid on His backe, and :hat He hath taken my guiltincfleon Him, theconfidcration of Htis innocencic will neuer mooue meeto account HimmyRe- Jeemer: for without this, what is Hisinnoccncieto mee. But vhen thine heart is perfwaded of thefc two things, ye would mar- idl what great and marueilous effects will follow in the heart of a aithfull man: when I looke to His innocencie,I will bee moued nth commiferation towards Him, I will pitie HirmAs the women bl!owed Him out of lernfulem weeping and pitying His innocen- ce, Luke 2 3 to fee the fewes woulde pitcie Him: To fee an innocent man fo handele it would haue mooued any man to pittie: then hee faies, 'Beholde t tnan y I haue done enough vnto Mm, yee may bee fatisfied nowe. fee heere, that euen during the time that hee fawe Iefus mifufed flurply , this doing (hewes thai hee was mooued with fomepitt oft! Of the Passion of Christ. 75 >f the innocent: for his confeience tolde him, that Hee was inno- ent: and not only did hee this againft confcience.but eucn agai nft jaturall pittic : and yet hcc wentforwardes to examination. If a nanhaue butanaturall pittie , nature, and all the power therein nil neuer hinder him to doe a mifchiefe. Then Brethren, let vs alwayesfeeke night and daye, tobeerai- cdvpaboue nature, for if wee haue but the power of nature to iolde vs from finne, wee and our nature both will goeto Hq\\, Ubeit that nature mooue vs to pittic mcn,yet if there bee no more >ut nature, the malice of the heart fmoothersit,andouercomes C: onely, the Spirit of G O D is able to fight and preuaile againft lature. Othcrwife, albeit the light of nature were ncuer fo great, he worfe (hall preuaile* Therefore , as yee wculde bee faued frcm uill, ftriue to get the Spirit of grace, and fayc, Lord* giue mt e Thy pirir, that by his power I may ftriue againft the corruption of na- ure. This (houlde bee our excrcife, if wee woulde bee par takers of Jeauen: for neuer a foule (hall fee Feauen by nature. Lookewhat flfeft this workes in the hcartcsof the lcWesi nothing can fatisfie hem but the blood of the innocent: they crjcd>Crucfichim, cruafie /w.When men are giuen ouer to crHeltie,nothing will fatisfie them ut the blood of the innocent. PiUte byallmeanesaflayed tofet cfus the innocent at libertic , yet all in vaine: for nothing will fa- isfiethem, becaufe malice poffefiTes their heartes. Indecde it is rue, that by the ctcrnall decree of God it behooucd Chrift to die: ut in the meane time they are vnexcufablc : for they did all of ma- ce. If yee will compare them with P//^,they did worfe than hce: ec is to bee preferred to them a thoufand degrees : they had the ghtof thewordc of God to haue inftru&ed them, which Ti/.nc r anted: when Tt/ate got fundrie warninges,and laft a fiisrpe war- ing from his wife,he in a manner gainftood them not 5 but he had confeience of the innocencie of Chrift, and he had a naturall pit- e in his heart, and fainc would haue deliuertd Him , yea , foure :ueral! times hee preached to the Iwes, that Chrift was innocent. Hit as for the Icwesfor as oft as they are tol Je cf Chriftes innocen- ce, yet their confeience is not wakened, neither can they bee mo- ed fo much as to a naturall pitie. So if ye fpeakc of wan: :icnce, of induration, there is no ccmpai ifon betwixt 7 k Avva, Thinke not that there is anicmanin the vrorldc chat Witt j6 The eight Lectvre, will haue leffe pittie in their heartes, than they who are lyers againft the Trueth,& than they thac fay they are Church-men,Ho-i lie men, and Defenders oF the Trueth : And I faye, that the Pope makes leflcconfcicncc of euill, than the Turkc : And it were bet- ter for an innocent perfon to fall intothehandcsofaTurkc, than into the handes of the Pope, and thofV fillic foules thac lye in the Holie houfe would exchaungc the one with the other. The judge- ment of G O D is lying vpon thefe doers ,ohHerode, on P r l a t e 9 oa the High Pricftcs , and vpon the I e w e s : yec Pilate gettcs this grace , that hec hath fomc confciencc , and it is holden waking>and founding in his care,and flaying him from that wicked aftion ; and then Tilate gcttes a pictifull heart. But come to them, to wit, the leftes and High Pricftcs, the judgement of G O D lyes fo vpon them, that they procecde from degree to degree to fearcfull induration, till the aftion bcefiniftied, and the hcartes of them are locked vp from all pitie, and their confeiences are blotted awayc ; fo hcauieis the judgement that lies vpon the lewss. Therefore, thinkenot that wee arc free from judgement when wee are fitting in cafe, eating, and drinking, in wealth , ho- nour, and glorie : for I affirme , that the heauiert judgement that euer GOD layes vponanie creature, is a fenfelcffeneffe: For when as a man or a woman is doing euill,and hath no fenfc of tha their euill doing • O ! that is the mofte mifcrable eftate that catj bee : for it is a fure fore-runner of eternall damnation. No out warde croffe , neither fickneffe nor pouertie , is fo fure a token o GODS judgement, as to bee rocked vp in fecuritie, and to be lying fleeping in finne. Scnfeleffeneffe is a fure token of a for judgement which (hall ouertake thee f fothat thou (halt notbe able to open thy mouth, to faye , G O D helpe mec: and there fore, beware of fenfelefneffe. Now the LORD holde our con fciences waking, although it (hould trouble vs, that we may ceaf from going forwardesin finne ,forCHRISTES fake , T< whome bee all Praife , Honour, and Glorie, for cucrmore ; A**M E N. TH Fcl.77 THE NINTH LECTVRE> OF THE PASSION O^ CHRIST. Ihonj Chap. xix. 7 The Iewes anfwred him, Wee haue a Lawe^and by our Ltfce he ought o die , becaufe hee made himftlfc the Sonne of G D. 8 When Pifatc ben beard that word, hee Was the more afraid, p And went againeinto he common Hall, and find vnto I e s v s , Whence art thou ? "But I e s v s aue him none anffcerc. E e heard in the beginning of this Chapter ( Brethren) how TiUte the Iudge infixed earncftlic to get I e s v s (whom his conference dited to bee innocent) fet free and looted : and therfoi e, firft he commandes Him to bee taken and fcourged,co bee crowned with a Crowne of Thorncs, and clad with i purple Garment, inderifionof His kingdoms thinking thereby io haue fatisfied the lewd. Then, when he had done this, he com- neth foorth himfelfe, and in prefenceof all the people, protefles he fourth time, that He ^as innocent* Thirdly, when hce bringes Him oorch with a Crowne of Thornes,and with a purple raymerit, hee ttcrs a pittifill voycc^ying^Seho/de the maru^o moouc the / net o be concent: but their malice could no* be fatisfied, but the hire* Ind Pricftes cried out y Cructfic bun, erne if ic him.lhws much we haue eard alrcadie. Now in the beginning ot this Text, wee haUC the rplic of Tilate to the fencs, and the communication betwxt him nd them: Tai^eycebim (flies he) avdrructfic htm, as fir mee t I fwle no 1 hinr.Wz anfwercs indeed with an anper.forhciscommoucJ jththe obflinacie of the laves , becaufe nothing wouldc moouc lem, but Hill they cried out, ^5 nctfebimibut he faies,lfye will cake jn your cofcknce^crwicifieycHim^as for mc ; albeiti haue right to crucihe 78 Thb oHinth Lectyre, crucifie Him, I had rather giuc my right to you, than to defil mine hands with the blood of the innocent. Yc heard, when the vrged TtLtcto condemneHim without a verdid: heeanfwerec on this manner, Ye haue a law, judge Him according to your lav\ Before I Judged a man without a crime, I had rather refigne m right to you.Ye fee there, Tilatehad rather giueoucr his right tha he had of the Romtne Emperour, in judging and executing,befor he had condemned an innocent mamthis had bene very commen dable in this Ethnicke man, if it had not beene forced out of hir by the guiltineffe of his confciencc : his confciencc cried withl him, Iefus is innocent, f.othis is forced out of him:7orTJrethrer ye (lull vndcrftand, that men doe things in confciencc two waye; either againfl: their will, when they are compelled violently to do it : or els, with their will, when they doe any thing willingly, whe the heart is as readie to doe it, as the confeience charges . When man doeth a thing vpon conftraint, hee getteth litlc praife befot Cod : when a man doeth willingly, then there is matter of tru praife. if yee compare TtUte with the lewes, who had loft their cor fcience, he hath his owne praife : for it is better to be commoue jl on confeience, to doe any thing, than to doe againftconfeiencu But let him who would haue the true praife : not do any thing c I coftraint of cofcienceonly,but alfo with a willing heart,as the coi r fcience requireth,that he doe it: fo let him be as glad to doe it.N m turall men will haue a confeience, and doe vpon confcienccalbe k they were neucr fo prophane, but if the heart agree willingly to c I God feruice, there is more than nature there: if thou would* 3f haue praife of God, take not onelyheede to thy confeience, bi id lookcalfo that thou haue a joy in thine heart in welldoing. W ;ic ye markc through this whole difcourfe, that the Lord lets not tl fii confeience ofTilate flecpe(Iudgesnow who will be counted Chi io; ftians, haue not fuch a confeience) and as it is waking,fo it lees hi t! not reft, but caufes him fpeake : if thy confeience be wakned, the rji flialc bee fpeaking, and (halt be compelled to fay, the good cau o; is the good caufe. But looke to the High Priefts: there is as gre \L difference betweene them and Pilate,zsis betweenetheheaueni; the earth :ye (hall fee nothing in them, but the confeience fleepir »( & locked vp in a found flcep: & the more that Pilate teftifies of tl i? { innocencie of Chrift,they are the more hardencd.This is a wondc A Ttlatew&s but a naturall man, who had none illumination, bi ^ throuj Of the Passion or Christ. 7p rough the light of nature: &ye muft know that it is knowledge at makes a confeience. As for the High Priefts, they had light by e word of God, yet come to the conicience,P//.*fe had a better nfcience than they had alhWould ye fearch the ground of itrthc gh Priefts, albeit they had the word of God, and light and illu- ination therethorow : yet the malitioufnefle of their hearts put it that light, corruption blottted it outrand when once a man is uminatc, and then beginneth toextinguifluhat light, it comet h ! the juft Tudgement of God, that the light of nature is put out, d then all confeience is fcraped out, and then hee becommeth ;eabcaft,andfo falleth into a reprobate fenfe: kcepe the light at ye haue gotten by the word of God, and by that Spirit, as yc mid fee life : and if yee put it out, the Lord (hall make you as ifleffc as a beaft. They cried both, butttlate cries, Judge ye Hm^ ley crie, cruc.pt him:Ptlate cries, Ipndno fault in Irim worthy of death. hat euer be V dates part, who was a judge -.what cuer was the part the lewes the accufers, the Lord hath His part alfo in it, and hee pointes it by His eternall decree : the houre was come, and Hee II haue His onely begotten Sonne to die forthefinnes of the >rld, and He will be glorified in His death at this houre, and He il not haue Him to die as one worthic of death in Himfelfe,but lean innocent in the fight of the world. Now looke to this wif- me,that his innocencic (hould appeare : He witt haue the Iudge veiling His innocencic oftcntimes,before He fliould die. On ! other part , Hee will haue the confeience of the High Priefts aped out,and He will haue them getting His blood: if theHigh efts confeience had beenc wakned,Iefus had not died at this ie for the finnes of the worldc : and therefore to the ende that fliould die, He hardened the hearts of the accufers. When any occnt man fuffers, and chiefly for Chrift, the Lord hath difpo- the worlde fo, that Hee hath made fome to teftifie of the inno- cie oftheMaityres, and fome hath Hee hardened to feeke the od of the Martyrcs, that He might beglorifiedvLooke to Da- , Darius had a confeience of his innocencic, but the Princes had dened hearts.ZXwiW 6. /.Looke when Paul wis accufed, the ty- leGouemours, Lyf/as^ctix, and />#/*>, had a confeience of the ocencic of Paul: but the High Prieftes perfecutes Him to the th.When a malefa&or fufteres, the Lord will not vfe this man- ofdoing:Hc will not haue the Iudge to teftifie the mans innc- cencie. $0 The ninth Lectvre, ceririe where there is none, bun he willl let him die and fuffer, HI, a murdierer, an oppreffour, or a blafphemer, as he is in very dee< hec will baue ludge, accufers, and all men confpire together t take awayc fuch peftes from the earth .-Therefore, if there wei no more but this, if wee muftdie,it(houldmouevs to die in good caufe,and the beft caufe is the caufe of IefusChrift. Tal hecde, that thou fuffer not like anocent,andguiltieperfon, bi like an innocent : fo thy death fliall be glorious: it is a painet die, and a greater paine to die for an euill caufe. Now the Prief anfwere : Wet ham a Uwe , and according to ourlawt Hee merites ti death : they challenge not a hwe to crucifie Him, or any power t: punifli Him capitaliie : for all power of this was taken away fro* them by the B#m.tnts y ytt for all this, thry forget not the right < their hwe, That the bhfphemer lliould die the death : accoj ding to this lawcthey affirmc Him worthicof death. ~SoTBn thretijWhat euer Pilate can doe, or fay, to mitigate and to aft wag their malice: fpeake what he can fpcake, they continue in hardn againftChrift: looke what bliadesthem: Thewordof God thi (houldmake them tofeeit>it blindes them, and they vfe it to the blioding.All the things in the world, yea, the beft thinges :the ve word of God ferues to wicked men for nothing els, but for the farder induration : the more they feee, the blinder they are,th will read, but the more they reade,the blinder are they .-for wh they abufc the word, they will not make it a rule to dired their i j fe&ions and a&ions; but they abufeit to their fantafie,& make: & fl me of it Looke to the PapHts this day,they abufc the old and n< a Teiiamcnts.they make them tof:rue their appstites,they intcrpn i cxpone and applle the word as they pteafe, they make the word t\ God the author of their lies* I affirme, that the word of God dc t nothing to thePapifts bu : b!inde themrit had bene good for the: i that they had neuer fcene, heard,nor read the Scripture of Go i Write on fay on, this (hail bee verified one day: but let vs con fie k their reafoning: TheTawe ordaincs, that the blafphemer fhall< i the death, but fo it is, that this man is a blafphemerrfor Hee h; ft made himfelfethcSonneofGod:chereforcHe(houlddie^dea I If ye looke the g~ound,& the general- No ma can find fault with t> foritisfet downc in fi&w,Leuit:24. /^butcome to the appHca I, where they fubfumejef is is a blafphemerjthere they f iile.for Ie h was ; is, and Gull be that onlybegotte Son of God:& therefore i * concluf ©F TM1 PASSIOW #F CwiIJf. ft Dnclufion is falfcthat Hcc oughttodic the death. So yeefecthc enerall is true, but the affumpcion , and the conclufion, is a lye. i wicked men yee (hall findc this, that no man vrill layc downc tirer generallesoutofthc worde of God than they, no man will oc that better: but come on to the application , there they goc traye , they applic not right , but they applie cither to this aflfc- ion or that : As for example, The murthcrer (hould die the death: there be an hatred in thfcm againft the man, they will applic it vn« > him.but by the contrarie,ifhccbeeakinfmanor a friende^hey ill fay, this man is no murthcrerhowbeit hcc bee as great a mur- tcrcr as Birabbas was,and therforc,he fhould not die.Take heed to line heart.and thinkc it not enough to kno we the generall to bee ue, but take heede to thine heart, and to the aft^ftions thereof, lat they maye bee fan&ificd, andchicfcly thou who art aludge: >okc that rhino heart bee free of hatred , and of peruerfe louc: or :fe thy loue,thinc hatrcd,and thy peruerfc afFe&ions fnall bec poy- m to thee, and fhall bhndc thee, and fli.ill make thee pronounce life judgement. For,what auailcs knowledge, what auailesic thee > haue a great light in thine head, cither thorou c nature, or yet iorowc the worde of God, if thou vtanteft reformation andfan- ification to thine affections? all is for nothing. True Chriftiani- c (lands in the reformation of the heart, and without this. all the lowledgcin the Scripture ftiullpoyfon thee to the death: forex- pt thou be rcformed,it had bene better for thee that thou hadft :ne ignorant, and neucr feene the Scripture, Noweto gocfor- ardc: When they haue anfwered Tilate, hee continues: and it i$ id Wbenhebedrd thai that nut? was the Sonne of CjoJl\{ hee had acon- tencc beforc,now he hath a greater conference: Euen,as whatfo- cr Pilate can fp^akc to the htepriefts , did no more but harde r hem ttfo all the wordes they vfc to put out his confciencc,ftirrcs it vp, d wiken.s it the more : Indeede they fought by all meanes to Dttc ouc his conference. And all the doirg of a confJcncelcflc m is to blindcrhec, and put out thy conici. nee Jikeas hiscon- ?ncc is put out, andfuchaman i$dang"rt>in companie:But the rd, who only hath power ouer thcconfccntc difappointes their rpofe.Thc Lord hath (uch power ouer the foulc & conference of in,that whe He will haue it blindcd,aM $ doings in the world will t waken it: by the contrary, when God will haue it wakered , all : worlde Quii not ftill it : the more mcancs thou r feft to Hill it, F it (ball ti Tkb ninth Lectthh, it (hall be the more aloft : None hath power of theconfeience, f< waken it, or to ftill it : No, not a King, nor an Emperour, no,?;io all the worlde hath power of the conictencc, but onely God: He hath His throne in the conference. Yet l et vs e xamine this better Whcn'TtLie heard tbtsjjc ttUf the wore afraid. l l J iUte ITad noknowledi; of God, but lb much as natuic furnilhed him : he was a man win liued without God in the world, yet at the Name of GOD, an. at the Name of the Sonne pf God hee is terrified, and his con feience abhorrcth to doe any thing again (I Him. Albeit thou neuc heard of the Scripture, nor neucrfawoneofGodsworkes,ther is one thing within thee, that will tell thee> that there is a Goc whom thou (houkteft fearc and honouruhat is, thy confcience,< if thou honoured: not thatGod,thy cofcience (hal ftand vp & judg thee: I fay more, this confcicnce is veriepowerfull: for if it feru not to thy faluato, it (hall feructhee to thydamnation.confcicnt naturall abhorrcth to violate that Ma jeftie, it telleth thee this.hc nour this God, if thou di(honoureft Him, thou (halt die, albc thou ncuer faweft the Scripture, & if there come a wicked thougl in thine heart, the conscience will ftand vp to challenge it,.& hi an armed man to flay thee, & if thou wereft but a naturall man,ei cuer thou get that Majeftie violate, thy conference (hall ftand \i to plead for God, & to guarde Him fro thine injuries, & ere the \ get Him di(honc ued, thou (halt tread vpon the bt liie of thy coj ( ; kicn^c It is true indeed,albeit this naturall fpunke of light of Co: ij feu nee in man b? as a precious raine to bridle man from fin, ch : j lht Lord hath left htm after-jits fal ! (He hath left it of mercy)for [, it ha J bin taken away, men had bene more mifei able than bcafi | yet it is very weake, there is nothing perfed in vs, and there is n, K thing in vs by natuic, that will be able to holde vs in the fearc God, This naturall conference for a time wiltbranglc and ftand' j ag inft the malitioufneflfc of the heart: aod if thou haueno moi ■!, thou may:ft ftand for a while, but inrheendethoii (halt giuc ( ouer and fuccumbe. I- i$.a pitie to fee, how Ptkte ftriues,and th ' how in the ende the conference failes, and aeainft confcience,h [ giues fentence againft the innocent, and gainftandingthe co * feience, hce otu-nh;o;v r csit. Truft nor to nature, but (bine tof , c grace : nothing is able to ouercome nature, but the Holy Spix !, for it ft iues and gcttcs the victorieintheend : Thcreforeas* " would Ue faff in that great day, let vs ftriue to get that Spirit * Ping r Of tms pASiioar of Cbkist* tj ijin^nioutjind get the vi&orieagainft this canker in the hem. (ecforne thing more in TiUte . -hee gets not only a fight of God, tad fo is terrified : but hee comroeth forward, and his confcicncc cts aduertifement of that fame vcricman, who was Handing be- ire them all, chat that fame veric man tra$God,not only that He •as an innocent man, but that Hcc was the God of hcauen, hec etsa fupernaturall knowledge, that that fillic man was God: the :afonis; if hee had not gotten that aducrtifcmcnt,that that man anding in fuch contempt before him a glorious Iudge,was God: tmld his confeience haue accufed him, would hchaue bene fo tcr- 'ficid, and would he hauc defircd to abfolue Him, if hee had not ottcn aduertifement, that lefus Chrift was the God ofgloric? Ic tanaturall thing to the confeience to fpeake of God, but not to ^eakcof Chrift, thatH^e is the Sonne of God: Pilate was more rraide for Chrift, who ftood before him, likeapoorcfiliicman, lan Chrift was for him, albeit he was a glorious ludge in the eyes f the world.but this fight was like the glance of a fliih of fire that ent ouerthc conference of Pdatc. The Lord wi llgiUc the wicked [knees & taftes of Hcauen : but all is but in vaineTYcfee of slgipp* Ws.itjzfi. When t**l was fpeaking to him, he fay e$ y Thon perffrd- '/? me Mmoft to be d Cbriflttn : his heart was almoft bowed, and was rc^innin^ to be perfvaded, he fcarcely beginncs to haue this per- i ifi on, when it euaniQies ; the Lord will furnilh to wicked men immerings of that life, but they euanilh away: thou wdtdrcame : happine(Vr, bur this i- happinefle, when the Lord giucs thee light. & bowes thine heart, & eftablidus grace in thec & grace des with thee, there is thy happines.This glimmering is not for )thmg : itferueth for this,to make Tilate vncxcufablc\andif it ere no more : When TiUte (hall appeare before that luJge # lis fime blencke (hill bee accftimonieagunfthim to hiseucrla- ng damnation. If thou gcttcft a blencke of Heauen ? purfuc , or els better ic had beencfor thee if thou hadftneuerleenc or neuer to haue fcene Chrift, or to hauc read the Scriptures, jainc, this glimmering that TiUte got, (lull ftand vp againft e High l > ricfles,andgiue fenrencc ng' ; nft then, whohndnot lely nature , but the worde to guide them Ttlitc lookes in orow that bafeneffe, and gets a fight of that glorie, thnt was our na fc nre in Chrift, theyc-mno: looke id thorow tlutbifc- :ffc ; And if there were no more, PJait (hall ftand vp like a ¥ 2 Iudgc f4 Tri vikth Lictvu, Judge to condcmne all thc/rrWr/, who fc by the word was informed that CHRIST fiiouldcomeinbafcneflcandhumilicic^/yi^.^ I come nearer: And if there were no more, but that light that VtUx gote, it (lull condemns all them that doe ftumble at the miniftrj of the Go^pilL The LORD will not hauc theGofpdl with ai outward gloric, Hee willhaueit tofhincinbaiencffe.and iftha outward bafeneflc ftoppc thee to looke into it, thou (hale pcrift ' an J if thou get not a light of that gloric, therein PiUte (hall con dcttinc thee one day: yea, dilate in that great day (hall ftand vj agiinft all men, yho arc offended atthevoyceof Chrift rifthoi contemned f bale miniftric, I promife thee, $thou (halt neuer ge life bythacGofpell :if theGofpelIbebafc,humblethyfelfevnde it, and (true to get thine eyes opened, to looke ro that gloric c theGofpcIl, Looke not to men, who doe preach, and be no offended at the outward, face of theGofpell, as thou wouldefl b faucd : Blcffed are they who are not offended at the bafeneffe o Icfus Chrift/' Nowc Pilate beeing terrified in confcicnce, and get tinglitle blenckes, immediately he goes in againe to the common Hd and takes in Icfus Chrift, and he fayes to ltCus^henctart thou ? At thou the Sonne of God : hee had no certaintieof this : this : ivorthie of commendation, that hee getting a blenckcjhec wi follow it out : who vvi 1 fay ? but this was worthie of commends tion in an Ethnicke.If it (hall pleafe GOD, to giue vs a blenck any time, let vs ftriuc to follow it foorth, and let that glimmcrin mooue thee to follow it out further : for all the joy in the world* is in the fight of COD, thou ncu.rkneweft what joy is, wh haft not tafted of the plcafine of Heauen: fyeonthee, who ha not tafted of this joy. ' So. if it (hsllplcafe theLordtogiuevsaglanceoflefusChrif Tihte learnes ystofolloweit: albeit it goe out of thine eyes for time tc ft ncuer till thou gctteft it againe,although men would git t' e?allthe pleafurcsin the world. ' NowTBrethren, we muft not thinke that it was theloueoftf trueth, that mooued TV^toaske this : No, it was rather t\ feare of danger - that raooued him to aske it : for hee feared fonr danger to come vn to himifclfe, when hee heard thatheewastf Sonne of God: therefore partly for this caufe, and partly, becau Chi ift knew that ?//,*/ic( another to dfrinmr. Rjman. 9.2/. I faye more, Godm that, j'tacfa nilie } httbfi mtvcjfdt of b »iotr , an i fome of d:(l) mm* . 2. Tt- .h 2 20. Ifchat cliou fnde chy fcltctobceoneof theveflf-lsof nou; , thou haft no cauf: cocomp! line, and tofljffflhtixfotz ft this in in nude colhim: ? for thou haft enough : if thoo haft t 1 mercie, thanke G O D, thac of His free will Hehach puca nee becjrixe thee and him. There uc none who are qrd dt > be vc(Telsofhonour,burthcy a! f.cke the honour of Go efuppofcic hereby their o 6 as yc m : s the nature of all then wh j ha :n fomc .. -of 1 3 GODS %6 Tut NINTH LSCTVRE, GODS fauour in I E S V S : and if thou haue this aflurance ii thine heart, certainly thou art an inftrument of glorie. Nowtocnde: Yec fee, Brethren, in this whole a&ion the pit tifall cftaic otTrfatc: he is tofled to and fro betwixt two parties,hi 6wn con fciencc on the one parr, vrges and forces him to ftand an pleads for Chrift; and on the other part,the defirc that he hath t plc^fiTcthv: vnportunatc / t im,andthefeare that he hath to often Ctfir -,aioucs him to goc on in that proceffc againft Chrift,till at la: he pronounces fentence againft Him Judges by his example arc t take good heed to their proccedinges in judgemcnt.and to keep thci; hands from cuill; and that ttay fit not in a wicked judgeme Be not fudge ogaiufi the innocent; Vilate fate in judgement doin wickedly .pronoucihg fentence againft the Lord of Glorie. If tho fit in judgemenr,pronounce not fentenccagainft f innocent,eithi leaue that judgement, or then abfolue the innocent in defpitc t the worlde. It is no fmall matter to pronounce fentence of dan nation. The Lord grant vs this confcicnce, that whenfoeucr w< fliall be employed, we may be employed in doing of good dcede and in glorifying God, that wee may haue thac aflurance of gra< in lefusChrift i- To whomc with the Father, and Holy Spirit>bt all Honour and Praife, for cuer : tAmeru. THE TENTH LECTVRE* OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST. Ihon, Chap. xix. to Then [aide Pilate vntobim^ Speak* ft thou not vntowtc} Kno% thou not that f banc po^er to crncifie thee , and haue power to loofe thee f it 1 e s v s anjwered , Thou cculdeft haue no pcfter at all dgainFlt* except itVoere giuen thee from about : therefore, hce that deliueredmeev th^e > hath the greater fwne. In t titi Passion of Ch*is*. W N this trholc Hiftoricof the fuffering of 1 1 s ? s Christ vndcr Tomiuj TtUtejNt fee a continual! ^g ftrifc betwixt the Iudge TUate^nA ihe accufers.T*- /Wrlaboures byallmcancs to get the innocent fee free:TheHie Pricfts be y contrary endcuour chem- fclues to gee Iefus Chrift crucified. Tilatt feekes, if hadbeenepofiible, to iollowc his conscience : they fcekeby all leanes the contrarie,to harden the heart of T/Lne.Thz laft words yee heard. the litocs rofc,and hide, ITce haue aUxv, by the vhi,hh:e hce made hhnjalfe the Sonne of God: Thcfe wordes c i ours are fo farre from that, that they take away the confeierc /kv,that by the contraric, by thcfe words the conference of T;- tte is more wakened chan beforehand he begins to (tare I ES VS ; H R I S T, and humbles himiclfe more than cuer hec did , yea, 1 fuch fort, that when as hce heares tell, that IESVS was the :onne of GOD, he d:maundes of Him , Whether Hec fcju iecf (j D,cr no ? but hcereceiues no anfwere: for the Lord ■ /. 1 E S V* had concluded to :iift\rin all patience, and to obey the leaueoly will of His Father. Nowib this Text that wt h ucread, *c haue heard how Ps/attin anger fpcakes to Jcfus, thinking that lee had not knowne him, and that Heegauc h : mnothis due ho- iour,andfaics, KnowtSi tbomut y with whom thou haft to dot ? and t*r I hdne poorer to erratic thee, *t>dj hauepoWerto/oufe tbeii The Lord nfweres,No,f fcow would bdut n [o\\er ^except it were give ibee f ' ,.ko.'c: )e tbereftre&ho hath delivered wee vatoth'ee bath the greater f.?>ne. In the fcrft parr of thisText, wee haue tie conference betwixt Pil.iteand cfus.To fpcake of this demand of Tt/atcsyc may fee by his wordes hat t! c warning that he got a little before, that Iefus was the Son tfGod,th it feare & rcuerence of Iefus. Chrift wherwith the heait las touched, it was but vanifhiwg. \\\c may markc hecrcthein- itieof P//u/*: firft,hee hath no feare of IE S V S, and then of tfuddaintieheeis mooued witha raic.enceand feare: and 1 ft, his rcuerence is fcarcche entered into his heart, when it euanifhes iw.iy: andbceing ; ngrieaqainft C H R I S T, heefallcs out in rfafphemieagiinft G O J>. Andthisis no newcthing, tor wee eeth n m. n now adayc?: Yeo will fee men who hauc hi Trie loofcly, takin. 1 their pallimc, and vpon a [u \ ec (hall ccthem haue a kind of repentance anJicucr, okc F 4 *>m || The tenth Lfctvh, about you, all (hall euanifruThis is too plcntifull in great men arta fmall. The ground is this, the heart was neuertruely renued,b» let inthemeane time of the faincd repentance the heart was full, < a; the gall of bitterntfle, as Pete* fpeakech to Simon Cftlagns. Tl |ir reuerence or repentance, was but like afcroofe of honey rubbcjjl on venome, and then when thevenomc breakes out, thefcrooo; goes away, as the morning dew before the funne. 1 hen, if the V wouldcft haue the feateof God to abide in thine heart 3 thou mu mi alwayesbe dduing and digging .downc into the heart, theie is a ■ infinite dcepeneffe of malkioufntfle in it. Therefore, hce whp: would haue ftabilitic, let him fee, that that ground be honeft anL good, and be not content with the dregges, looke that the heai * be found. There is nothing fo deccitfull as the heart of man, leren I 77.9: it will not onely beguile anotherman, but it will beguile fc man himfelfe, and if that fraud bide in thee, it will not leauc thec g till it bring thee to deftrudion. Now, let vsmarke the wordesof Pilate, KmWeJt thou\mt that k hauepo^crtotrucifie thee, and to abfoluc r/w.Brethren^wf at els is th|| but to claime to himfelfe an abfolute power, either to flay the ir \ nocent, or to let Him goe free, as he pleafes : this isfuchapoweif as only the God of He^uen hath : Hee hath not giucn this powe to no creature, neither to man, nor Angell, this is only proper t the great God. We fc e by the example of T//^, that this is m turail toMagiftrarcs and Princes, to thinkethat their power can not beereftrained orlimicated byanylawe, tofliy, orfaue by th lawe, but to doe with the lawe: as they pleafe. Albeit Princes c ludges wil 1 feeme to be verie modeft, and to claime nothing, bij that which is right, and agreeable both to Gods Lawe, and man lawe. PtUte faid a litlc before, 1 will not crucifie Chrift, becaufe h. is innocent: yet for all this modeftie: prouoke them once, mak; themangric once, they fhall vtter fuddenlyin wrath, what the; thinkeand efteemeof their power, they wili [then blafpheme,an< & fay that their power is abfolute. Experience may teach this, that of all men in the wci IJ, \h\ cftatcof Princes, ludges and Potentates ismoft dangerous. Th< more that a man haue of power, of riches, or of the goods of thi worlde,hise{late is more dangerous/Thereis nothing more dan gcrous, than to put a fivordor afcepterin the hand of a naturalj man; for> Brethren! to put power in the hands ofanaturall man ~ is ai Of thi Passiok of Christ. tf ^ as much as to put the fword in the hands of a mad nun* FauI *;' c third Chapter to Titus , and third rerfe, calles a raturall man a -■» iad man, albeit hee were reuer fo dilcrecte, he is trad. Wee were ' 1 madden fayes P^/, as they are. A mad man will flay others, 2nd :; * .ftly, hee will flay himfelfe in the ende, and fo (hall hee who hath c ower, if hee be no more but a naturall man, : ( Would to God, that Princes and Magiftn tes, would take heed Tt ) this, it is required that all eftetes berenuedby the Spirit. Woe > a I to the King, and to the Tub/eft, the rich and the begger, who is ^Jot borne againe. In the Euangell according xojobn^ Chrift fayes 4o Nicodemn^ Except 4 man bee borne agame, htc fhtllnot fee the Kmg* ^omcofGO D. But it is meft requifitc that thefe men u ho are fee y% high roomes^and haue gotten all thepleafurcs in the world at e heir will, that they bee renued : for without fandtification, all A oitwarde tbinges will make thee worfe : As great riches, and ho- ours, as grcn tentations to make thee to forget GOD. Ail thy " 'Icafurcs (hall bring tothee as greatdifpleafure : yea, they (hall to>orke damnation to thee in hell, except the LORD g it is of G O D : Monarches (houlde vnderftande, thai j they haue that power of G OD, and fo (houlde inftriour Ma* t giftrate$,howbeit they fhould acknowledge the fuperiour. Know< j yee not howe T^jbticludone'^er learned, that all the power was o a God, he was (eiu foorth like a beaft, to Hue feue yecrcs among th< b?afts,to learne this le(Ion,that all the power hee had was of God 2X**.*. Nextlearne, howbeit Princes haue gotten that power o God, yet God will not denude Him clfe of power ouer them: bu He fo rules them by His providcncc,that they canot fbrre wichou His will. Then Princes fhould looke to God, feeing they can do< nothing without His blcfledprouidence, £/S/./o. When Ajfurbo* fted,that he had done all things by his own hands,& his own wife- dome, y Lord is more angric at him for not acknowledging of hi power to be from God in that perfecution,than Hee is for the per- j iecucion it felfe.He pronounces the fentenceagainft Hitn.What at ihou fatdndxe or dfixf&jnthe bands ofthtfttotr} It is a vaine thing fo; a king to afcribe power to himfdf,¬ to Godrwoe is him! :t is | fore thing to match with God, Then againe,when Iefus was in th< hands of TiLtte y dcmcd He the power of 2>*/4f<*No,Heacknowled ges his power.buc He acknowledged it was of God,and therefor He willingly fubmits Himfelf vnto it. Wherefore,all fubjefb fhouk, barnc this leffon: When they looke to their Princes, or to their fa pe:iours,not to looke fo much to the man as to God, who hath ar med him with that po wcr.'he is foolifli that thinks not that the po wer f the Magiftratc or Prince hath gotte js of God: & this (houk b? the groud of obediece,whe I fee the image of God in him^wbi I fee him armed wi thy pow er of God, I ought to obey him for th< confeience of God.Then againcirmrke in Iefus Chrifiwhen Prfat the earthly Iu Jge hach to doe with Him, Hec lookes not fo mucl toTijte,2Ls to His Father.Tefus Chrift all this time when He is pul led here and thrre, fees not His eye fo much vpon men,as vpon Hi Father , and vpon His prouidence. This teaches a leffon vnto a! men, but chiefdy to them who fall into the handes of men of au thoritie and power, They ought not fo much tofet their eyes vp pon this or char man, as vpon God and acknowledge, albeit it wer, in the mid Jcft of all torments, i: is not nun that deales with me iti pr Of ths PassiOs of Christ. f% % not fo much any perfondeales with mc, as it is my Cod. The ng hath not an hand to moue, or a word to fpeake againft mc f ny God giuc it not to him : he who is in the handes of men. and Acs not to this, is worfe than a beaft. This is a chicfe point, hereby thouglorificft God, to acknowledge His prouidence, i* fcringor in torment : none can haue coniolation,but hce wha ih this, there is the matter of confolation* and patience i* rments,to fee, that when hee is in the hands of a Tyrant, hce is the handes of a mcrcifulll Father, and to fay, Albeit thefe tor- :nts bee fore and grieuous, and albeit men deale with mce, it is p Father that deales withmeeinmcrcic. Let thee bee tornc d rent, yet acknowledge this, thou (halt findc joy chat (hall ccede all thy torments: Looketothe Martyres, So, Brethren, s no fmsllcomfort to a man, fortofethis eyes 3lwaycs rpo» od, andefpecially whenhecis intothehandes of a I.dgcorTy- nt. Nowe thus farre the Lord hath giuen an anfwerc to TiUtc : d hath challenged theglorieofthatMajeftic. Would to God, b could learne that leflfon, to defend the glorie of God, which is afphemed in this world.Come to the other part it is in refpeft of e High Pricftes : they were the inftruments o( God, working by s prouidence, to put Chrift in his handes : Tifatc, thou glorieft ier me, but woe is to them who banc put mce into thine hxnds. Woe is them who put an innocent man in the handes of a Tyrant, arke this : There is nothing fpoken o(Vilate, that hee finned, 3eit hee finned, but Heefpeakcs of the (innes of the lewes, and the High Prieftcs, this lets vs fee, that albeit ViUte finned, yet ey finned more, and their damnation is greater than his : hee atbeginnes mifchiefe, the wrath of God (lull eff eci; l!y ouer- ke him, and if there were no more but the example of Iudas> it bv tell vsthis , that ludts was thefirft that beganne this wcrke, dds put Him firft in the handes of the High Pneftf On whome •ikes the wrath firft ? What befell to hd*s{Whiltt the Lord Icfus fohandLd, the traitcur//vW is put to the torture, and the Lord nts the foule of him in pieces : thi'mifcrab'eCatuu to be free of lit torture, he hangs himfc'fe : Did the wrath of God light firft >on lad*?, who was the firft traitour; the wrath ( f GodligfttCJ ft vponthe traicours ycttl )cfen -es arc iT.cping the\ thouphtthcy ere free of judgement, but (till the wrath piofccutcs them to duration, Ihinke ycethat thdc traitours arc free of wrath, Nono 94 TM» SfiYBNTH Ll«Tf*I, No, no, the dolour and vcngeancein itsowne timefliall ©uertali t! m, and they (hail not haucawordeto fpcake. The Papiftcs when they hauc caught a Chriitian, whoconfcfleth IcfusChrif r hen they hauc tryed Him, chcy will put Him into the handcs< thebaiperour, or King o(Sp but th King of Sp/ine} O ! but the wrath of G OD pcrfeciucs thert and all the blood of theinnoccnt lies vpon them, becaufethey di liucrcd them into their handes to bee tormented by them. Tl judgement of that tsimithnfti and of that accurfedcrue, (hall b< heauicr than the judgement of the Kinges, who execute their m; lice. I denounce this In thi Name of God: and then fore, let euery man and woman beware that they b« not part kci in the murther of the innocent: yea, if the Hangman knoweth; heeis innocent, (albeit hee thinkes howfoeucr the matter goes,l ( is free) let him not touch him* Reade yee not in the Hiftorie of tl three Children, Sidrach> sJMcfach , and Abcdnego y who being take and caftcn into the hote fieric fornacc at thecommaundement ${fbi4ch*dncZjr the King , that the men that caft them into tl fornace were flaine with the flame of thefire? Yea, if it were bi inathought, take heedc thou confent not to the death of the i\ noccnt# No we toendein a worde : Yee feeheere, whenlefus fpedkes- His Father , and of His doinges, Hce blames Him not , but H fpeakes in all fubmiflion of Him: but when Hee fpeakes of tl IcVpis, who were inftruments of this workc of God: Hce rebuk them (hamcfiillie, and imputes finnc vnto them . This is a wondc and yet it is the workc of God, and they are inftrumvQtes ruled I God: yet the Lord is Holy, and they arc vnholy and wicked, w^c ihap.2* verf.23. They crucified Him With wicked baidcsx now the Lo; was cleane , and the Itvpss handes were vnholie. Howe was thi: The caufc was, becaufc in all this doing there was not fuch a thi! as that anie of thefc wicked inftrumentes looked vn:o God; th arc fatisfying the affc&ion of their heartes, and drinking vp t innocent blood malicioufly. Markethis: Whatfocuerthoudoi in this worlde, whether thou gocft out or in , cateft or drinket fet alwayes thine eyes vpon the Lord, and doe it all to His pie Aire, and fayc with thy (elfcj doc this to pleafurc and to glori thee, O Lord* And I aducrtifc thee, that albeit thou docft ar thi Oi the Passion of Chiii*. pf ng agreeable in it felfc to the will of G O D, yet if thine heart : not fee vpori GOD in the doing , that worke is vnholic in nehand. 1 here is nothing to fanftifie thy foule, if thine eye be tfet vpon GOD: for when the eye of the fou!eisfct ypon the 3 R D, there commeth light downe from Him, that ian&ifietk : heart. And this is it in a vvorde that I vvouldc faye : Bee n*. r at the ende of an euill thingrif thy confcicncc tell thee in thine Cihat thou art at an euill turnc, dee it not: I appeale y cu,rhcn :doe anie thing in fecret, ifyour conference w;ll not faye, O iue, that which thou doeft will bring thec to dtflruftionr Ma- jme^inthis Lande, thinkethemfclucs ncucr well , but when cy are at an euill turnc : But Iforcvrarnechee, asthou wor.ldeft e fafe, and finde mcrcie at that Great day, to holde thine handei ane from all euill turncs : and chitfelie , from the blood of the hocent. Whatfoeuer thou docft, looke th it thou hcue a vvar- ndeofthatreuealcdwillof GOD. And thinleit not enough becancxecuterof the decree of GOD: but fee thou bee aflu- dof this reuealcd will. And yet more:Bcnotan Hypocrite in thy >ing, but doe all thinges with finceritic, and not tor mans caufc, it for GODS caufe, that thou mayefi be partaker of that euer« pug glorie with I E S V S : To vvhomc, with the Father , and e Holie Ghoflc, bec all Praifc, Honour, and Glorie, both >we, and forcucr, A m i k. M %=&&£? ^••** |V> v. 4 $-1$ "vir T*£ wiM l^ESSl r.HE ELEVENTH LECTVRE, OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST. X T X. I o h n 9 Chap. 12 From thenceforth VWtfC fright m , bt*t the Jcwes crytd, ywg If thou dtltucy him, thou art not CAJan frtinril lor ^ J ho;oaitrmA^cth mfilfe a Ktr;^ ficikfth agaufi Ctftr. jj When Pilate I ward, thought Ie s v s foortij , a/idfttt to thine owns foule, and tearc it in pieces. T dates confeience io idged and rormented him , till hee was faine to put hand in him- lfe,thatwashis ende. Nowe, what doe Chriftes accufers? looke ow bufie Pilate can be to get the innocent fet at liberties* earneft re they to gee Him crucificd:and now they begin to handle PiUte lore fharply than before.The greatcft arguments rhey vfed before as taken from a crime laid to the charge of lefus, from kfustrca- m a^ainftC^/Sr theEmperour, and from His blafphemie againft iod.Now they leaue off fuch accufation, and they layc rrcafonto U*te& accufehim of treafon againft his Matter Cafir, If thou let- si ibis man lo fe 5 thou art no friend to thy Matter d/3r, thou vrilt en- anger thy felfc, and make thy felfe gailtie of treafon : and more, lis man will pull theCrowne from C<*/2/> head: fo if thou lec fuch man bofc,thou (hale beguiltieof treafon as well as he and thou alt be the friend of the enemies of Csfir: Thceffe&of thcaceu- pon is this, They accucPtUte of treafon againft fafi* :now TtUte Mrdnot the like of this all theday before: andablueftudies to bepe a good confeience to wardes the innocent IES VS, lb the mptation groves on. Nowc, it is not pollible tokeepe a good micience without temptation both inwardly and outwardly, and cthc better confeience, the greater temptation, and the lafl the wft.The Dcuill and his impes begins fofcly with alluring but in ule.if thou yecldctt not they will threaten thcc,& faye,Thou (hale th er bofc thy confcience>or els thy lifc.Then yc ihall markc w hat the forcft cc nptation chat the dcuill &cuill men can v£ againft en whohaucaconfcience,ljitherdocordie,as though one tookc G a dagger f% Tub Elbyenth Licttki, a daggered bcldc it to thy brcaft,and faid> Doctor die, cither re- nounce thy conference, or die : there is a fore temptation : but to whom is this a gricuous temptation ? euen to fuch a man as TtUu was* whofe God was Cr, a man whofe Hcauen was in the ho- nour of this world, a man who (ay no better life than this prefenr lifc.And markc the craft of Srthxn and his inftruments: whentheji goe to tempt, there is not a mediciner who can apply their medi- cine better than they: ere they tempt,they wil fee the quality of the perfon. So that if they finde a mm onely wordly hearted without God, without hope of life, as T//W* was , then they can well bring againft him tcntations from worldly things, if thou wilt not doe it thou (haltloofctheworlde,andthy felfe. But if thou doeaslbic thee doc, thou (halt haue the world* By worldly things hee will all lure the naturall man: and by the Iofle of them,he will tcrrlfie him? and make him to yeeld.This is our leflon.Let neuer any man againw after TiUte truft to a naturall confcience,except hee finde the con* fcience propped vp by faith, and with better thinges,and highcJO things,than the things of this world: and if this confeience be bac f Iced with hope of that life, it will bee a wonder to fee ho we a ma* < will ftand to the ende: No Crowne, but to him who ftandes to tfo * ende. Hee who is fo backed, hee will ftand againft the Deuill,aiH i hee will fay e, I care not for this life,when theDeuill tempts himfl if I loofe this life, I fhall get a better, if I loofe the king, I (hall fee ) I more glorious king,if I loofe this world, I (hall find a better: hap t! pie is that man, who hath his confeience backed with faith in Ic k lus Chrift,and hath a fight of Heauen, and of God: It is onely thi Ik man and woman that can ftand in temptations againft the Deuil k and the world. Now let vs fee the eflfeft: Alas, this affault was fore to THateifl i (hall fee how by little & little he loofes his confcience,& inclines t 'p pronounce y fentence of damnation againft the innocent: affoon if as he hearcs thefe words, he is aftoniflied, and in all haft he bring »i foorth Iefus, and comes out in fight of the whole people, and fi Bi downein histribunalhhecallcs it The Vcimmcnt, in Hebrew Gabb* iy tha: we call it an high fcate or loft where the Iudgc fate:The tin' b is noted when he goes to that woefull judgement, to vvit ? whcn ; i\ the feVves herein a preparation to tbt Vaffcouer: the houre is noted, Tl i fixt houre, which in our account is the twelfc houre: the Lord Iefi t wzs condemned^ad deliuered to the men of vrarre.I neede not « k fpea! Of thi Passion of Christ* ff peake of the calculation of the /*\fc& [ftonifhedT/^and that confidence that had ftood fo long,it bc- ;an to faile him,and he begins to decline/Then Brethren,note the prce of fuch temptations, what force they haue in refpeft of nac if* #11 men:It is impolTible for a man, who hath nothing but nature, without anie portion of grace in him, to abide the force of fuch a emptation • When hec is ftraited with thefc, either to loofc con- cience^or els to loofc honour. richcs,life,&c« & fo to die the death, t is impoflible for him to keep a naturall cofcience,& he will think hat man to be a wife man, who will redeame his life by the loffe of lis confciencc,& will think him a foolc,who will lay down his life re he want his confeience. Whereto (hould we infift in this point? \) foole! what is thy life when thou haft loft fenfc & confcicncc^chc pnfcs,wherby men properly Hue, are not (o much thefc outwarde pnfesjastafting^touching/eeingjiearing.&fmeUing^asthcfealing If that inward cofciencc:So if once thou loofe that inward feel ing, hou art no better than a beaft,for they haue all thefe outward fen- :s.\Vhat better art thou than dead?No,the carion is not fo dead s thou,whe thou art paft feeling: but yet there is worfe :well were : for a fenfeles man to Hue in fecuritie, that that cofcience (hould eep:but marke that famccofciece j before was a coufelIcr,tellir.g lee what was right & wrong, what thou (houldeft doe,and what iou (houldeft not doe, (it is the faithfulleft counfcllcr that a man an hauc,for it will counfcll thee night & day to doe good,& leauc Jill) after once thou haft hardened thine heart againft cofcience, jppole thou 1 ly it afleepe^and pafle thy timcyet it will not fleepc >r euer:I forewame all that haue a flecping cofcience,that it (hall ot (leepeayc, but it fhal! come with theterribleft face that cuer as,ereall be done. The face of the Burrio was ncucrfo terrible as iy confidence, when it comes againe to tcare thee, rent thee, and raw in pieces thy miferablefoulc.Howbcit wicked me for a while 'ill be bufie,olaying, riding, and runnings to get the tormenter at -ft.- yet I tell thee, that if the LORD haue not mercic vpon ice,it(hallvvakenfo, that it (hall ncuerfleepe ag-Vme,& ncuerlct icercft.Ofall the torments in the world,thc\vorft is the torment G 2 ofthc !©• THE ILfiVlNTH LBCTTKBi of the confcicnce, driuing thee before the terrible tribunall,to cling in thy foule, and drie it vp with the fire of the wrath of God: No peace for the wicked fleepe on as they will, they (hall be wa- kened. Now, Brethren, bed Je the force of this tentation, there is an inward malice of the heart againft the confcknce:Ccrtaincly, a confcicnce in a naturall manisgood,and it is aremnent of grace after the fall, but there is as einll a thing that dwclleth in thine heat t,fince that fili& that is abitterncfT. & malice of thine heart there is fuch a gaHof bitterneffe, that if there were no more to flay them, it is enough. It is not this oucwardetentationonely that dawes VtUtc fo farre backc, bntalfo the malice of the heart tyhen the confcicnce founded in his eare,and faid, Vilate doe nor this, the malice of the heart caried him againft confeience* I fa) againc, albeit that there were nothing without thee to moue thee there is too much within thee. Thefcmenwho runnc headlong tnto blood, to wracke religion, and their countrey, thinke yet not, but they haue aduertifment in the meane time, by their cort fcience, and they know that they doe wrong : But, alas, fuch is thl gall of bitternefle, fuch is the malice of their heart, againft con fcience, that it caries them as mad men with a furie,ouer the bell of their confcience.^Nowe, Brethren, this is well tobemarkcel When Ttlatc is fet downe in His tribunall,albeit he be caried awa a by his conference, will yee looke, yee (hall fee a priuie battell be 1 tweene the fpunke of the confeience he had, and the malice of th heart. When hee fits downe, he hath a doubt in his heart, that cor fcience drawes him backe, that hee dare not at the firft pronoum the fentence, but hee fayes, Beholdyour King.We fayes fcorncfully < His Kingdome, yet hee meaneth in his heart, to haue Him loof as if he had faide : Is this the man? Alas, hee is lirtle likely to bee King, apooremiferablefillie poorc man: thisishis meaning, th; he might moue them to let Him Hue : So, as I marked before: t\ * force of the tentation outwarde , and of thein ward malice oftl heart againft the confeience. So I cannot pafTe by this, but in the wordes, I n.uft marke the ftriuing of the poore confeience, alb( it be once dumbe, yet it will come againc & fay, O miferable ma thou art gone too farre in this euil! a&ion, repent, As the naturs confeience is a continuall torture, fo it wil cleaue vnto him,&- w not leaue him. Brethren, as the confcicnce is anadmoniflier,fo cleauuth faft,and no man will get it extinguilhed, albeit.the loui w ! ;, 0» rut Fajsio* of Christ.* ier till ftnuc to (hake ic off, yet it will ftickc co him , and rvhifper gain to himjbut after ic be once changed from an admonifricr to z ormentor, when thou haft tempted it, if it ftacke to thee before ic hall fticke an hundreth times forer , and (hall faften it felfc in thy iiferablefoule 5 fo that if thou wou'defthang t .y felretocfcape, ct the tormenc (lull n:uer die out. Well fhakeon,andcomemne er,(hce ftnll come, and bee the terribleft fight that eucr was: and, fthou getteft no mcrc:e,fhce Ihall bee tbirtc cualaftingtornua- ^r lntheHtU for eu ^r and tuer. Thus farre for TiLucs part. , Now wee come to the lava: They wou'.d hiue nothing but the jeathof Jc(us,and that amoft ignominious dcathuthcy fCving ft- tte yet ftriu:ng,howbcit they had his head downe, (for novre they ad him at the downefalland fweruing from con cuncc) they h d 1m downe with mightier force than beforehand they double their ?mptarion: they fpeakenomorc modcftly,burfor (peaking they iOut in his eare,that he cannot hearc one thing or other, & double fC fhourings & cryings, AtoAjvpiih him^jiy wtihfom, Cvucfrhtm, unfit ^/w.takc heed to this :if once thedcuill hauc p.otte thy head pwn.chac thou fweiiivft,then he will come with a double furcc Sc :cwiil cry &dcaftVn thine head:& hoabdt the conference mri uld y to th?e,hce will make thee fodafhed^ thou canft not hcarcthc mfcience.Ye know (zXhrov.cb >p*2S) coccming the idolaters who okthcr fons & b ;rnt the quick in a valley neare /^r/^2.#;vrherhe ildrcn wept, they ciufcJ timbrels to founde. that they might not arc £ pitiful] voyce:So it is $ whe the dcull hath gone thine head ice do rn ..helhil make it fo dumpi(li > & fjdafhthec with double ^ces chat he will make thy conference to hauc nop!acc:rhcfoic, e.i ry mm. with al his maine foicrefift > & let notation fundcr ^cfr >ai thy confcience;for once do vn,& aye dovrn: when a man ce It iml les on the head of a banke,hc will ncuer flay ti) he goc cr the mountainct clofe once the e arc of the confcience,and the u. 11 will deaffen rhee^&fhout fo in thine care.that thru (IHt not are ag line a word ofthyconfcience: there is noi eofvs bi t ucc iy find this by expenence.Novr come to ftAirr :whe the) (hour 8c ,h. (zks^Sbtlll crncijie yc^r kin f}ycy hcegiuesnot i u o %hcrl a h u > in the heirr an 1 a ftrange fighting: ashce would fay.Call it a wellfiuoured chinq,that I (houldcrucifie your king? this he ike f> newlut fcornefuiy, halfe in jeft , and lulfc mearncfl. uis a yoyecofthe conference, but of a wukc and decaying O | can- j#i T«« Eleventh Lbctvke, confcicnce,hc fpcakes doubtfully, now by an interrogation putting it in their option: now the con fcicnce i s drawing its laft breath^i after that fpeakes not a worde. There "are two voyces in the cons fcience: one voyce that will fay refolutclyj wVl not doe euilU will * not doc againft my confcicnce for all the world;that is a token of j 7 ftrong confeience: The other is,which will fayc doubtfully, Shall] ~doe this or not?that is a wcakc cofcience 5 when a man will fay 5 Sha| I flay /dial I ftri!:e?I will fay.that man hath done with his confeiecq The voyecofa ftrong confcicnce will fay,I wilIdoethis,if God wfljl giue me gracc,and for the world I will not doe emll.Come to the${ part againc, Wt haue none other king but fafer- Alas! woe woe to then! that renounce fuch a King: Hcc, and Ctfar might both haue beenfl their king:C*pr was butHislieuetennanf.and the wickedeft med that nowe moft repine againft Hin^fhall confeffe Him once to bed their king* Mzs>C*far is caften in the poore mans tceth,becaufe hit, had none other God:and all the care hehad,wastopleafureC*/*H, Bur marke the hypocrifie of the Jewcs\ they fayc, they haue no kintL but Gtfdnbut loued the IeVves Cdfar? Nowhere was nothing } thcJL would fainer haue bene quite of,than of him,yet they pretende th authoritieof Ccjfertoflay the poore mans confcience,& tocrucifi Iefus Chrift.This is hypocrifie,they loued not y king,for they wh< loues not God,loue not the King, nor the Kirke# Looke the form of Hypocrites : Papiftrieis but Hypocrifie : the Pope is an Hype crite, and all that rabble, haters of God,of Cafar^nd of the kirn they defire no king, but the king of S/^V^becaufe hee is their Bui J rio:and,if hee woulde refufe to be their Hangman.they would haf him as they doe others.Thcy pretend the auchoritie otfafar to 111 Chrift,whcn they would haue the king flaine,and they will prerer * God and religion, to murthcr the king of Fraunce : Fie vpon the ^ lowncs 5 lct neuer king credite them,woe(hall be tohim.Wh: td< fy orrmen pretend? Religion, Our Earles pretend Re!igion,andR formation. What is this ? a pretence to deftroy Religion and t King : Shame and confufion fhall light on all, and firft on them; they gette their intention. The Lord giue cucry man and vv man grace to take heed 5 that they haue nomedlingwith fuch me who vndcr the pretence of Religion fcekc to fpoyle Religion, t king, and the Countrey for Chrifts fake:To whom with the Fath and thcHolie Spirit, be all Praife, Honour, and Glorie, both n( ^ and cue r more ; A u e *• TH ; FOL is| fHE WELFTH LECTVRE. OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST. Matthew, Chap, xxvii. 24 Whin Pilate fa^t, that hee availed nothing , but that mere tumult >at nude, be tooks \v*ter y at drafted his bands before the multitude y faying am innocent of the blood of this jufl man: hokeyou to it. 2j Then an- gered all the people , and \ aide ^ His blood bee on vs , and on our clnldren. $ Thus let be Barabbas loofevnto thtm^andfeourged I E S Y S j and de- wed him to bee C7HC>ficd. Iohn Chap. x i x. / 6 Then deliueredhee him ynto them to bee cructfied. *4nd they toc\f Esvs, and led him axvay. E e haue heardc (Brethren) that TiUts the Roman e Goucrnourhathftriucn verie long againftthcim- portunitic and obftinacie of the left* and High Prieftes,to get the Lord Iefus,whom hiscofcicncc tolde him was innocent, fet Ioofe and at libcrtie, but all in vaine : for they are as earned to haue Him ndemned,as Pilate was to haue Him abfolued. At the laft,when ey could preuaile nothing at the hands of ff/^by any delation* poind of inditement againft Icfus, whether trcalon againft Cc- , or blafphemie againft GOD, they come mr re roundly to the deter, and come to the accufation o( Pilate. & lay treafon againft n , J 'f thou let this man goc (fay they) thou art rot [afar s friend \ This is C greateft temptation that eucr Pilate got , bee had no God but f/ir.hc fought for no honour but in this wot Id, he fav no life but is life: therefore, hearing trc ifon laidc to hii charge hee begins faint Sc faile, and then quickly hee enters into judgement, and C 4 coot- i*4 Thi TWELFTH Lictvrb, commeth out, and bringech out I^fus, and commeth to his tribu* nail, in a place called the P*nemem % an open place, and there futeth' downe to giue judgement againft the innocent : yet hee hatha doubt in confci.nce: yea, when hee is running to pronounce fcn-> tence of damnation, hee fayes, yZeholdyourKing, to moue them yeq tofuflferthe innocent to efcapc, but heepreuailes not iforonccl getting Him vnder, Prieftes and people beginnetoihoutin thd eare of the mifcrable man, fo that hee could not heare his conl feience crying, Iefus is innocent yet for all this ,y et he hath a doubll & ftirre in his confcicnce>and fayes, Shall I crucifie your King.Thcj j anfwcre,We haue no King but Cefdr: Woe to them that made fucfcl change, and they finde it in experience. Now, brethren, hhn in his Gofpcl, Chap.19.vofc i6\ he fubjoynes that TtUte dcliuered let {us in the hands of the men of warre, to be crucified, & that theyj recciued Him, and led Him to the place of execution,Bute^/*tf* tbcrvy as ye heard read, reportes of fome things that intcrueened,& there are three thinges in fpeciall (as he recordes) that paflfed be* i fore the leading of Iefus to the place of execution -TEenrft thing j Pilate by aceremonieofwalhing his handes, cleanfes him of then innocent blood : and as hee disburthens himfdfc, fo he burthene?j the lewes, as guilrie of the mod innocent blood, that euer was JT flull be (lied: And they are more glad to take on the burthen, thsi he is to lay it ouer on themifor with their own tongue they bourn the blood of the innocent on _theiro wne backe, faying, Ihsbloo &e on w, and onom childien: The Fccond thing that Matthew it hearfes, is,after that he hath exoneredhimfelfe, as he thought ( vaine thought, he was neuer quite of it,norneuer fhallbej whe he thinkes he is exonered, then he goes quickly ro workc, then hi begins to ferue thefoule and cruell appetite of the 7 Wcc (hall fpcake of thefe thingcs according to the rchcarfall of JlfattheW : As for the firft, tJ^fsuthew fay cs that, When rilatc fawt hxt hce could pteuatle nothing 4t thar h*ndes 7 tut that more tumult Wxj nade % bee cries for water, andwafocs his handes, and maizes a pro testa- tion, / am innocent of the bloodof this Ihfi man : And as he proteftsthat ic is cleane, hec tunics it ouer vpon the lewis, faying. See jet to it: fc (hail giue an account for this dayes urorkcit fliall be :he deareft vorke that eucrye wrought : They fay, Ltt Ht> blood be cms z *nd on mr chid) en. Fit ft, wee (hall markc fomewhat on the part of PiUte, Secondly, on thepartof the High Pritflcs, and the reft of the r iWcs. The Hiftorieis very plaine. ThismTferable man TtUte hath fought on a reafonablc fpace : yea, a long time for the Lord lefus Chnft, againft the obflinacieof the Jewes, at the laft; when he is charged as guiltieoftrcafon, when hec fees, hee cannot prcuaile, and findes him fo ftraited with fo great incommodities,hc is corn- belled toyeelde,isthisout of his owne mouth i both the fpeakingand doing of Tthtc tefti- ficth. that Iefus was innocent : he confeifeth, that he was going to condemne an innocent man: folfee, that the confcicncc of the innocencie of Chrift, neuer IcmesPiUte: I doubt nof, but hee would gladly haue wanted it. It is a maru-11, that during all the timeofthefufFcringof Iefus Chrift, the Lord will haue the inno- cencie of His deare Sonne to apprare in the beginning, in the mids, andin the ending thereof. Ail the time of Hisaccufation, Tilatt preaches His innocencie, when it commeth to condemna- tion, the Iudge both byword and deed tcftifies that He was inno- ccnt:it is not a common perfon, that proteftes this, but the ludge himfelfe : then againe, looke to the end of this worke. when Iefus is lifted on the croflc, then the Father fro theheauen teftifies, that He wasinnocent,then the Centurion with the burrio & the men of warre, feeing the wonders, are compelled to fay, this is the Sonne of God, and the people feeing this, goe home thumping on their breafts,& fay,alas: & fo they had caufe : fo the innocencie of Iefus Chrift is declared all this whole time out of the mouth of the ludg* himfelfe,& of many others. What meanes all this?No doubt \ but f Father herein had rcfpe& to f honour of His Son,for indeede the moft Of the Passion •? Christ. r*f hcmoft honourable death, is to die as an innocent, and if thou ouldeft die honourably, die not as a guiitic pcrfon,but die inno- emly: And this was to aggreadge Ttlates damnation, and the damnation of the Ittyes : But brethren, there is anorhcr caufc that >ereaines more toys, and ferues more to our comfort, euen, that /cfliould haue faith in this Mcdiatour the Lord Icfus : for except ic had died as an innocent, 1 vrould neuer lay my finr.e on Him: he thing that makes mee to beleeuc, that Hec hath madefatisfa- fcion, is becaufe He fuftered innocently,and had no finne in Him- elfe, Heb.7.26. and as Pcte> fayes, Hee bare our finnnes, becaufel jn perfwaded, He bare my finnes vpon Him, I belcecc in Him : fo his re dounds to the comfortc of the members of the Church of jod.Yctlfecmore here, 'Ptlatchc hath not only thecofcienceof hcinnocencicofIefus,butthis fame vcrycofcience,it makes him turnc to the Iewes t Sc to fummond them before that terrible tri- >unall. Secyte to it, fay es he, I tell you, ye will giue an account of his dayes workc : fo this is a citation of the JtVees before that rer- ible tr.bunall, and they haue found it, and fha!l findeit : No, kethren, take heede. thou (halt neuer want furr.monding: let Cings, and them who arc in authorise, ccafc to fummoundthee, et thine owne confciencc neuer fpeake a wordc to thee, nor :harge thee, the Lord (hall not let thec bee without a citation .• if hy confciencc will not waken thee, He will uaken the confeience fa TmkcoxzTagane^nd he (hall charge thee to appeare before hat terrible Tribunall. Thou thinkeft when thou fleepcft,and thy onfeience accufes thee not, that all is well, no, the Lord (hall raifc p the confciencc of a Tag4ne tofummound thee, and 1 fay to thee, lbeit thou thinkeft thou arc at reft, when thy cofcience is deeping k wilt fpend thy time, thou wilt eat & drinkc be ncrric & take thy >aftimc, yet iris oneof themoil heauicft judgements f cuer God aid on any:& then, wheHc hath raifed the confciencc of another nan to warne thee, it is afore warning.that if thou flee pern, and epent not, thou (halt be wakened, that thou (hale not get Icafurc o fay, God be mcrcifull to mee. This world knou-es not what it is oing.Yct mirRc furt'i :r, Nocwiththnding all this confccnce of innocencie of Icfus-AhsJ f enot this, that his owne confutnee ccufjs him, or fayes to him, Woe tothec,P/Aes agiiuft it malittoufly. But Brcthien,to fpcakethetnxth.ic jasnot fomuch malice, that pr.fhed him forwa r d, as great irfir- itieandfeareforfirft, hefearesto beaceufedof treafonagainft rfar. it was nomaruell to fuch a man tofcare, who had no God, jt ^r.then hee faw appearance of great tumult to rife imc nj e/nw.What ncceflitie was 1 ride on them to haue tlcblrod 1 e innocent So I fee nothing in them but malice, if it a ere but in is refpeft, that the finncof thc/orowei^Uthdowneihcfinnc II* Tut rWHLFTH LlCTVRlJ of TiUu,znd their damnation is a thoufand times greater. Wa had this man ? He had nothing but nature rThecontrauenfion; the light of nature will neuer make vp the finne againft the H that is not a naturall iig 3 but alight that came from abouc.There were fomc of thefcm who finned malicioufly againft the Holy Spirit. What maruell w\ it then,that they got no grace to repent : for of all finnes the fin againft the Holy 5pirit,Ls the moft dangerous : they that comnl this finne, haue no grace to repent, & therefore no mercy to thei the Lord ftrikes their foulea with impenitencie : fo that foulc euerlaftingly hardened :andfo beeingftrucken with impenitent they got neuer grace to fay, God bee mercifullto me.Seeingth, their finne againft Chrift, was fo great, feeing it was not fo mul of ignorance, as of malice: it was not only againft the light of r turc, but alfo againft the illumination of the Holy Spirit : wh maruell was it, that fuch a te rrible Iudge ment ouertookc them neuer lighted on any national he Jrtfcw found this innocent bio. in experience laidc to their charge. Iofepb that faw all thefc thin* with his eyes, writeth, what heauie vengeance and judgement rpon fcrufalcm & the lems : for he teftifies, that there was flaine the fiegc of Icruftlcm eleuen hundreth thoufand, befide nine thoufand that were tane captiucs:thcreafter the towne was lame tably deftroyed and lacked. So the blood of the innocent net left them: & thefe $ remaine.yet feele the judgement of the bio of the innocent : for according as they defired f His blood (hoi be vpon them & their pofteritie : fo the wrath of God came vp them to the vtrermoft x Tbeff\2>i6. It is a wonder that a lew fhoi be fafe,& if ye hearc of a lew to be conuerted.thinke it to be a gr mercicNowToapply this (hortly to vs, if it were but this terri example of vengeance which folowcd the /aw,it fliould terrifi* the end of the world, all foulestotake on the blood of the inr cent, take on one, & take on alhif thou takeft on the blood of c fcruantofGod,thou (halt take on all the innocent blood fn, Of thi Passion *f Christ. lit tU to that man whom thou haft flainc. Fye vpon foule butchers o are more meete to be butchers dogges, than ir.en.What care ytowafti their handes in innocent blood- But I fay to thee, if r thou getteft grace it is a wonder: fye vpon the butchers of tland: No, if the Lord would waken thy confcicncc to torment c, S: prefent to thee the fight of Him of whole blood thou haft d, it would bee fo terrible, that it would make thee to cut fc the lethat euerthoudid it, &one day fearefully without comfort 111 torment thee: when will thefe bloodie men kaue off f (hca- g of innocent blood, in this bloodie & barbarous nationrof all ions it is the moft barbarous and blood ic^A.bque all things dip : thine hands in the blood of Icfus Chrift.thou who (headeft in- rent blood, & is a perfecuter of the fcruants of Iefus Chnft,and o refifteft the trueth,thou wilt fay,If thou hadft bene in Chrifts 'es 5 thou wouldft not haue cofented to His death, but thou who eft lb, if thou hadft fallen in thefe dayes.thou hadft malitioufly le partaker of the death of Chrift,& hadft put handes in Him, m wanteft nothing but time: I will tell you, who is it that fheds : blood of Iefus Chrift, & takes His blood on them, what cuer or (lie be that will refift this knowne trueth of Icfus Chrift,and fecutetheprofeftburs thereof, I affirme, they areas guiltieof * blood of Chrift, as the Icrvts & the High Priefts wcre^and that ic blood (hall bee laide to their charge in the great daye of ihe rdRead yenotintheEpiftle to the He bre\\ y es,Cbap. 6. and io.of m who haue repined, & haue begun to caft oft' that heauenly wer,&fogoelike dogges to their vomite, &fpues out the light !y had rccciued, they are as guiltie of the blood of Chrift,as P/- 'j&trampe the blood of the Couenantvnder their fectc AVoe to p that refift the Gofpell, woetotieapoftate Lordesof this id, for thus refilling the lightrthere is no light but this, to leadc x to heautnJ denounce woe to them if they continue, the trea- c of wrath, and woe (hall bee heaped on them, they (hall be as iltie as /^d^s 7 orTi!afe,ov ihelewcsi haftie&fudden (hall be their Igcmcnr, except the Lord preuent them with repentance, they :heir pofteritic fhall be curfed, & vndcrly a terrible vengeance : oe to their friends, who wili j'oyne with them ; Separate the e : o *m, as thouwouldeft lie fal nation : Away out of B*bj!or?. \ c ulJ thinkc this a light worde, Let his blood bctvf on our l:c>ul\ As 5y wilh the blood of the innocent to light on them, lb it ncuec leaueth 1 \ IT! ThI TflLFtH JLEeYfUl, leaues them , nor (hall ncuer leaue fonuny of them as repent not, the blood of the innocent (hall lye vpon their backes euer] f lingly* This (hould learne vs to take good heed to our wordes : was but a worde to caft off the God of gloric, and to take on a I rant :They got C*fir to be their King, and he fpoyled them : Ta good heede 10 thy words, for thou who vfeft againft thy felfe ii precations and curfings,and wilt fay, God plague mee, Gods ve geance light vpon mee,! giue my foule to the Deuill,if this or t\ benot.Well,haftthougiuenthyfouletotheDeui!l,he (hall get, haft thou taken a curfe vpon thy felfe, thou (halt bee curfed: it i wonder that the earth (hould not open to fwallowe fuch men.T', Lord makes thefc chinges to come to paffe : nowe and then B makes the curfed creature that vfes fuch fpeaches to bee a terri^ example. And if thou be a prophancperfon,who wilt fay,I giue l foule to the DeuillJ faye, and if the Deuill get thee not then, a J thou be not thruft into Hell, but getteft repentance,it is a wond . Such is the judgement of God,that oft times He will let no reu^ fion be,except that earneftly thou fceke for grace and mcrcie, i Lord,I fay,(hall make that wordc which thou fakeft,to haue no Jj uerfion, wilt thou, or wilt thou not : buc like as thy foule mot fpake it,fo thou (halt bee giuen to the Deuill: for there is noth more eflfe&uall to a mans dcftru<5tion,than the wordes which p ceede out of his owne mouth, '^cH^PiUtc is lying in fecuritie, and hee thinkes himfclfe vj* enough: when he hath once disburthened himfelfe,he fits dovi, and giues out fentence,and abfolues a feditious vagabonded tethTSaYabbas loofevnto them. Woe to them, who will abfolue a ditious lo wne,and a murthcrer. The next thing is more woeful! begins to giue out the fentence againft the innOcent,he comes and ftrikes Him, hee fcourgesHim : this is the feconde time, ; when hee hath done, heegmeth Him into the handesofthe ?cw&, tc tisfic their wicked appetite. As long as thou haft a wakened p j fcience,and fo long as it tellcs thee, This isgood, and this is cfe thou wilt not goe fo boldly and forwardly in euilh(We!l is that die who hath a wakened confcicnce , fuppofe it terrifie thee , holde thee waking ) But after it bee once lulled in a flcepe anc curitie, then thou runneft on,as the arrowe doeth out of the b to a mifchife: there is nothing to holde thee, but thou run fwiftly to mifchiefc. Ephcfi*. i? % After they once loftficlw&they Of tmi PassiOk e>? Christ. iij to til ^xntonntfft^ comrmting all vncUarmcjfc, Vviih vriedincflc. There s neuer any creature fo griedy of any thing in the world,as men o liue without confeience will beof filthineflc.Asthouwouldeft rpe thy fclfe 5 fo keepc feeling in thy confidence^ count it more :cious than all thinges in the worlde. Nothing can guarde thy i!e from SAtbttU) but the approbation of a feeling confciencc. ou wilt come out with thy Pearles, and with decked cloathing : t if thou wane this confcience,thou art a preye to the Dcuill.Fy thefe men,who lye in fuch a fenfdefnefle, Gumc and confufion li light vpon them. Was there euer fuch a dead and fenfelcfle merationasthis ? It is a token that Hell is oucr-taking them, ing they lye all in fuch a fenfelefle fccuritie.'^7*7£? notes a >rd here that would bee confidered, Chup. //. vtrf. is* dilate did s, to gratifie an euill people ; hee would not difplcafe the Jcwa. is is the common fathion of Princes^ to fcekc to be popuIarc,to ikethe fauour of the people. Looke that a Prince fceke not by ill meanes the fauour of the people:for he will bang an innocent in, and let a murthcrcr goe free , for the fauour of the people: ou buyeft it too deare,withthe loflcof the fauour of God. Woe vnto the man, though he were aKing,thatmifchicuoufly fallcs acke from the Trueth, and fo loofcs the fauour of God, for the lour of Idolaters. But will yee come on yet ? GotTtUte the fa* or of the people/No; chey perfecuted him to the death,they de- ed him to the Emperour,and hce was banilhcd: and for fearc of rater fliame,hce puthandes in himfelfe,andflcwhimfclfe.Yca 3 if were all the kings in the world, who frckes to gratifie a wicked oplc in anetnll caufe, name'y, in Idolatrie, and if the L O R D uc not mercy on him, tha; fame people (lull be his dcftru&ion . e Lord graunt Kinges and Princes to fee that howbeit they hauc fc fauour of the people by vnla wfull meancs,and want the fauour God, that all the fauour of the people that they can haue,with- [ t Gods fauour is nothing : that they may fceke Gods fauour cue all things. And the Lord be mercifull to our King for Chri- |s Like : To whom be all Honour and Glory, for cucrmorc AMEN. T HI fof. 114 THE XII I.TX E C T V R OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST. Matth, Chap, xxvii. %y Then the Souldiers of the (jouemour tookf I e s y S int*\ common hall y and gathered about him the Whole bande. 28* 1 they flripped him, and put about him a skarlet robe, 29 *And plane troVtne cftbornes, andput it vpon bishtad, and areede in his right hand^ bowedtheir knees before him 9 andmocked him, faying G$d fatte thee Kin the J ewes, 30 And jpitted vpon bim y andtke a r cede ^ and [mote i *n the bead. 3 / Thus when they had mocked him, they tooke the robe j\ iim y and put his owne rayment on him y and led him away to crucifeh $1 tAndasthey came out, they found 4 man of Cj rcric > namedSimoxA \b*y compelled to beare his Cyoffe. Marc. Chap, xy. 1 6 Tfjen the fiddlers led him away into the ball, which is the common I end called together the whole band, ij And clad him wtthpurple &p » ted a crowne of thornes % and put it about his head, 18 *And began falute htmJaying^Haile King of the fewer* 19 And they fmote him or beadwith areede^ and ft ate vpon him , and bowed the knees, and did. reuerence. 2 o %And when they had mocked him, they tooke thepurp him, and, put his owne clothes on him$ and ledde him out to cruafie a / And they compelled one that pajfed by t called Simon ofCyrene ( tame otttofthecountrty, and was fat her of Alexander andRu£us)to ' his Croffe. Ivke xri 1 ft 24 So Pilate gaue fentence^ that it [bonldbcasthey required. 2$ he let lojfe vnto them him that for infumUionand mart her was caH wU fon> whome they defred 9 and deliuered lisvs to doe with him what tpihM* 26 tAnd as they kdhm away> they caught on* Simon ofC) torn x Of thi Passion e* Cmrijt. *r$ mingtHt tfthe fidde, and en hint thtylaidt the eroffe,to be Art it after S r S. 2 j And there followed him a great multitude cf pecplg, azdof ten,wh:cbWomen bewayled and lamenttdhim. 2$ But Jes rs turned [: vnto them, and pt'tde, Daughters of lerHfalem, wecpenotforme 9 lrut ie for your [duet y and for jour children. 29 For behold, the doges will ? } wlxn men [hall fay j BUffedare the barren, and the ftmbes that neucf ,and the paps which never fane fuckt. 30 Tlxn flail they begin to f.y tj mountains , Fallon vs:and to the hilles s Couer vs* 3 / For if they do tbtfe. ■ges to agrcene tree, whatfb*ll be done to the dr.e > . Ee hauehearde (Brethren) thcfedayespaft,the whole accufation of Chrift before the Iudgc,& the Rom*ne Gouernour TiUte, Laft, wee came to that woeful fentencc of damnation,pronounccd againft this innoccnr.Now Iefus being condemned to die, & to die the ignominious death of § CrofTe; it refts, t we (hould come to His fuffcring on the Croffc: but before we ne to i^wee hauc to fpeakc of thefe thinges, namelie,which we e read vnto you, partlie out of Matthew, and partlicoutof e : Then firft wee haue to fpeakc of the dchucring of Iefus into landes of men of vvarre, to bee crucified at the pleafurc of the I ; and howe they receiued Him : and then wee (hall fee what 1 doc with Him, being receiued: they bring Him backeagaine Ing receiued, to the common Hall,to a fecret part thereof,and lifcs Him at their pleafure: thcrefore,vve (hall come to the leal ^ of Him our with the Croflc , out of the portes of Hierufalem^ lat vile place where Hee (hould bee crucified. We (hall fpeakc 4e manner of His going out; howe hee goes out tofufferthe :h of the Croffc : and laft, cf two incidences that fell in by the re, as they were leading Him out : The one howe Hee met h a man, named Symon of Cyrene, whom they corn- ed to helpeHim to beareHis Croflc : Another, the multitude vcdHim : and as all Nations rcfortedto Hierysaiim icPa(Tcoucr 5 they followed Him, and women followed Him *ping, Hee turnes, and anfwc res them, as yec will hcare. t is (aide then, that Tilate deltttered lESVS, when Hee was iemned, to the Sottldieures to bet crucified : and it is faid of them, as hec dcliucrcd the innocent vnto them , fo they to\ Htm t§ H a tbi IT* Th« THUTftlNTH LlCTVRlt the common Hall :they arcfarre readier to rccciueHim,andN crucificHim,thanHe was to deliuerHim. The lcffon, Brethren is veric eafie, and many experiences teaches it dayly : There wa neucr yet a wicked Iudge in the world, fo readie to deliucr the in nocent to ftiffcr, or to defirc an euill aftion to be done, as hee wii finde wicked executioners vndcr him, to put his wicked fentenc in execution : the good Iudges could neuer finde good officer vnder them fo readily to execute an euill aftion as the wickej Iudges finde for an euill aftion. Said, when he had *Achimek?\^ and the Pi ieftcs of the L O Rl{ to flay, hee found T)oeg the Edomite the knaue readie, and he flcfj fourfcore fiue Priefts of the LORD,r:to22,/8, ButD*»[ the good King, when hee had to doe with half, who had commiij' te J many foule murthcrs, could not put in excution his wilf therefore hee laments, and fayes : / am this day weak? > *nd newly m voynied King : and thefe men, thtfonnesof Serbia are too flrongfortnw me, 2. S4m<3 % ^8, 39. This is oft feene of good men: that thrif tre veric few good coun fellers in the world, to helpe a good Kirf in a good aftion : and where ye (hall finde one good, yee (hall fintf foure euill : Euill men and wicked counfelkrs are verie rife| Vricked King (hall not want, but (hall get moe than hee definl the deuill hath many feruants in the worlde, but GOD haf fevr : Our ownc Countrey may fpeake of the experience^ this, But to goe forward : When hee hath deliuered the innoce Icfustothc fouldiers, and they recciued Him: Take they Hitn^ the place of executions' No, but whilft all was in preparatk j whilft the place, and the Croflfc, was in preparation, and whilfl * things were making readie, in the mcane time the fouldiers, vw B the malitious ferns could neuer get their heart fatisfied w: J' CHRIST, They bring Him to the common Hall, to the Sefli it houfe, to a fecret part of it, and vfes Him more cruelly, than tf * did before : and there They beting gathered, like as many torture * there is not one of them, but theyabufe Him : Firft^T^p « gyowne of tho>nes vpon His heade : This is the fecond time : N( they take off His owne cloathes, and cloathes Him With Tmple } » they put 4 reede in His handt , and they hjieele. before Him , ntjckgi the King of Glorie^faying.Uaile King of the Icyves : Then theyi t the reede, and Jirihfs Him with it, and in detyitt $its *n His /i I Of tii Passion ©? Christ, ri^ Vhen they hauc done this, they rake off that Roy all rayment, and w/r Htm cut , u cructfic Htm. Yec woulde wonder at this , for a ,ian, though hce vrere neucr fo wicked, a thiefe and a murtherer. ct after hec bee once condemned, men will giuc him peace till he ic , and men will ftriue to comfort him before hec die againft the errourcs of death, that hce maye die in peace : yea , his vcrie pemies will thiake they haue gotten enough, when they hauc ptten him condemned, and theydefircno more: But beholde ie enemies of our Lord and Sav i ovr IESVS CHRIST, jiey can ncuer gene their heartes fatisficd vpon Him, they cannot pflfer Him to reit or breathe , their infatiable wrath cannot bec paced. The malice of men againft wickedneffe will ende , but le malice of men againft an Innocent,will neucr cnde,and name- e againft him whofuffers for CHRISTES fake: there is o meafurc of their cruel tic, there is nothing that can fatiatc thtir loodic heartes : for the children of darkencfle doedcadlie hate ic children of light : the differing of thcMartyrcs hath eucrpro- ed this, that the Antichnft couldc neuer bec fatisfied in drinking f their blood. The perfecuters of the Trueth will neucr be fatiate, icreis no fatietic of the malice of the haert of y childc of darknes ;ainft the child of light. If thou hadft flaine a mans ftther*it may : he would haue forgiucn thee : but and if thou bec the childc of r O D , and if hee bee the ch ilde of darkencfle, hce will neuer :c fatiate , till he gctte thine heart blood. The hwis and the [)uldiours could neucr bee fatiate, till they had gotten the heart .ood of the Innocent. But Brethren , we muft looke vp higher: for ir was not fo much ith thefe IcVtcs and Souldiours that 1 1 S V S hath to doc,as with langrie Q O D,andtb:t becaufc Hec bare the burthen of our incs: theft torturers were but inftrumentes of that terrible wrath ' the Father vpon the Sonne: It was not Co much their urath', as c wrath of the Fuller riutf>urfucd Him fo ardently. After Hee as once dcliuered into the hands of thclc Hangme, wrath begins to be powredfoorth on Him fro Hcauen, that He got no reft till C was crucified & dead on the crofle.lt is a terrible thit g for a fin- :a,if hec were a king, who is not in Icfus.and partaker of His nq,to fall into the hands of an angne God.and a confuming e. if thou bee cutofChrift, thou ftialc fcc!e ic the ccrribl^tt ii, at euer was 7 howbeic wanton men and women make their pa- H 3 ihrnc US The XIII, Lictvre, ftimeto anger that great Iudgcgoing to mucther, defiling the! bodies and foules by harlotrie ; it may be for a time, that they g< refit: but after that oncethat righteous Iudge put hands in thee;! I promiie thee, that thou (halt neucr get reft : The verie reprobate when they fliall fee that there isnoneende of wrath, (hall crie: O Lord, (hall neuer this wrath haue an end : if thou goeft to Hell* thou (halt find* none end of wrath.Now blcflfcd is that finner that;! gets grace to hauerecourfeto lefus Chrift,& to lurke vnderHisI fuflfering.When they haue vfed Him fovn worthily within the com-] monHall, and when all ismadereadie : Then thy kade out lefus ,&1 caries Him out of the Portes of Himifalem % tom ignominious! death : and as they lead Him out : fo lefus Chrift goes out wil-jl lingly to fufter, at the good pleafure of His Father, knowing that! now His houre was com:«God forbid, but that wee (hould think^i that lefus Chrift fuflfered wHingly: No, Brethren, in this exam^I pie of Jefus Chrift the innocent : and that His willing going to! death, wee fee, that it is the innocent who goe to death willingly^ and namely, they who arc innocent in the blood of lefus ChriftJ that haue their confeience fprinkledwith the blood of the imma-i culate Lambe : As for men, who arc not cled with this innocencioL alas for them, It is not poflible, that thefe can haue confolation, or can with gladne(Te offer vp their liues : it may bee, thatfome will pretend willingnefle, but that is but a (hew: Againc, it may bc^ that there bee fome fenflcfle bodies, that knowes not how terrible, death is , and what euill is in it. O ! death is terrible, for either! Heauen or Hell followes on the taile thereof: and wilt thou county litleof that port, by the which thou pafleft from this life to eter.^ jiitic. So,fomemay befenflefle,asaKow goesto the (hamblesj and fome may haue a falfe conscience: but if thou haue not an afluranccthat thou art wafbed with the blood of lefus Chrift Wee (hall come to thee, wrath (hall light on thee. There is nclj confolation in death to any, but to thefe who die in the innocenX cencie of lefus Chrift. Imarke the manner how He goes out ;Hg His (font Crojfe : or rather drew it after Him : thii was afterthe manner of xhcHomanes, that the man whomethej condemned to die this death, they commanded to beare Hii Crofle, and therefore they were called Vunifm y gallowes bearers now they praftife this on the innocent lefus* Nowe to come to it, that falles out whilft Hec is bearing Hv Crofle Of rtri Passig* oi Cmkist; itj Croffc. As they arc going out, They mectt 4 man by the ray whofc wtme tpas Simon^ the father of tAUxandcr and /ty/W,a man in a rowne of Africa , and the townc was called Cyrene^ 2 laborious nan, returning from the Countrey, to Hierufdtm> they mcete the Doore man, and compelles the man to takgvp the one endc of the Croffc :dus goes before, and he goes behind : they would not haue Iefus ■clieued : No, they pitied Him not, buc they would haue Him brmeft in the burthen, Thinke not, Brethren, thatthis rescuing ras of any companion they had to Iefus : No, they had no pitie rpon Him.- but it came to p afTe, becaufe Chrift Iefus was fakir, vcake, and wearied vnder the burthen : and no wonder, He was a nan : He tookc on our nature, and all the infirmities thereof, that vec might bee made ftrong. Afterthatoncc theLord hadfallcn n their handes,Hee got no reft, Hce got no fleepe that night, Hec 'afted, and His foulc was vexed: and then all that night, and all hat day following, from the morning to the noone-tide,-hee got 10 reft, but was twifcfcourged,and buffeted : As forthefouldicrs, hey thought themfelues too gay: As for the Mm they thought hemfelucs too holy, and in end He \v2ls made a curfe (but for our aufe) And therefore meeting with this Gentile, Simon, they com- pelled him to helpc Him. This wants not a Myfterie: This imon was a figure of the Gentiles , and this calling, albeit of ompulfion, fignifies our calling, becing Gentiles, to take vp »ur erode, andfollowe Iefus out of theportesof Hientfitlcm, And s the Apoftle to the Hcbrtftes Chap, \yverfe 13-fayes, Cjotfoortb of be C whereof wee read i the 23 Chapter of D ks, as He goes to the place of execution, it i faid, that the multitude followed Htm : This multitude was not onel of the /«ftw, butalfo of all Nations who refortcd to Hicrufahm at the time of the Paffeouer. Nowe this mukirude followed t< fee what fhould become of Him, as men who are inclined to fc wonders. See on what minde thou followed a man to death theie fpcftaclcs arc fpe&acles of thyroi r erie: theyfolloweto fe the fafhion : but furcly this following of Chrift, and this going a Chrift to His fuffering with fuch a multitude. learneth vs a lefion it pleafed the Father, that Iefus Chrift fhould fuffer an ope fhame : He would not h3ucHim ftollen down,or fecretly execute t in thenight:He would haucHim accufed publikly before the gre<- Iudge, who reprefented Ctfars perfon : Then as Hec went out, H would haue all the worlde to fee Him: and then Hee would hat 1 Him mounted vp , and nailed vpon the Crofle in the face of th b world : in a worde, the Father would haue the Sonne who becau < furctic for vs to die, and not ondy to die, but slfotobe pinecli and not onely pined, but alfo to bee pined fhamefully. 1 here | i notafinncin the worlde, (let wanton men take their paftime \\ finn.e, albeit it were done neuer to fecretly, gc e to thy chamb i &doeit,docit in the night^goe to holes and mod fecret placki and commit wickedneffe) butthcend thereof, how fecretfoeuj itwas.fhall bee with open fhame: r denounce againft fecret finn.ie againft God, thy fecret finnes (hall bring an open fhame to the n if thouhaue not recourfetothefhamcof lciu>: cither of need fitie thou muft fuffer in thy peifon eternally, anddrinkeout tn full cuppe of the wrath of God : or els, thou muft haue recoui I to the ihameof Iefus Chrift :and this is our comfort, that win haue: Wilt thoufirft of all repent thee (an impenitent man w ii ncucr get the doake of Chrifts righteoufneffe to couer his {ham k , and turnc and beleeuein Iefus Chrift : Wilt thou hauerecourfe Him, and lourc vnder His Paflfiton : I promife thee, that the u fh; neuer come toan open fhame: it may bee that men come to 1 open fhame for finne in this worlde, but in the worlde to come promife thee, thou fhalt not fuffcr any fhamc, in th*t daye t fine i ncs (hall noccomc to the light, neither man nor Ange!!fha4 il : them. But if thou haue not recourfe to Ieius, thcu ihalt bee '"oed out like a thiefe out of a hoalc, before millions of i llions of Angels, and before all theworldc^andthefecrcts of :inc heart Qiall bee reueiled,and heapesof the wrath of God, :i ill bee powredonthy roifrrable head: Hell Hands not only in line, buc in {hamc and confufion : thou fhalt coe downeto ::ilvMtha feaxcfull fhoute, from the fight ot this world, at that edgement. ii Now to come to thefe women : among ft tl e r< ft there followes im certAine^omtn out of Htcrufaltm : there is a great difference etweene them andthe multitude: : women ofttimes fliames men. le fouldiers pities Him not, their pleafureisin His miferie: wee : not heere, that any of the multitude mourncs, but it is faide, iac the women of Hierufalem that followed Him, weft jor Him. his was done of the Father, to teftific His innocencie, the Fa- er at all times, will haue the innocencie of His 5onne wimeffed: Jringthc time of His accufation, the Iudge preached His innc- ncy.& as he was giuing out the fenteccagainftHim-.he both by red, in wafhing of his hands, & word, teitifies His innocencit : ,nd now whilft He goes out>Hec makes the(e women to bewaile im. No queftion all this was done by the Lords prcuidence, le- is the innocentHeewas lamented for. Wilt thou becinnocent ketoHim,thou{halt not want bewailing : ye fee tbis,if he be a iicfe,andhcc bee penitent, and haue recourfe to Iefus, and feefce bbe innocent with that innocencie of Iefus Chrift,rrcn will pi- le him : but cfpecLlly in that great daye, if thou appeartft inno- cnt in the innocencie of Iefus Chrift, thou (halt get fuch pittyirg; f God. and of all the Angels, that thou (halt neucr die, but {hilt ereceiucdtoglorie : and if thou appeared before Him without lis innocencie, thou (halt not be bewailed . none (hall p.: ether, cither God, nor Angtll, buc thou ihal: goe todeftruetion :aad hen thcu art goii gto Hell, thy father nor thy moihcr fh.il not reepe nor Ument for it, but fhall rejoyce & approuc God* ji dgc- rcnr. Yce fecthrn, howegooda thirgitis tobeinnocent in :he moccncic of Ic fus Chrift, albeit wee be not innocent, but guiltje \ our felues. When Chrift henrcs the lamentation and mour: f the women, Heelookcsouer His ([\au\dcr t slrui beholding them, iifl4tic!es 9 dfid Jjfeakft) D^htns cj r HinttfAlcm^iffi km fir mee i li't for > r*I TmiXIII. Lectvri, fir your [eluctjndfiry our children: and He giues the rcafon where] they Giould weepe fo, becaufe of that fearcc & terrible judgem which (hould ouer-take Hterufilem^nd all for this innocet t>!o and for the rcfufall of chat innocent One : For bebolde, the diycs w come ( faies Hec) wben men will fiy^ZUJIcd arc the bdrren^and the word that* neaer bare^nd ibe papfcstbttjncucr gatte fuc^e. Then ft xll they bc£ to Jay to tb:tn9Hntain€4^FAlloitvs:andtotbebillcs^Couer vs. And vn Jer cl dcftru&ion of Hieru/alem y Hec vnderftands & adumbrates that td rible judgement & wrath in the latter day,&chat great deftru&ij that remaines for the wicked:& He confirmes this judgemet whif He threatens,by an argument taken from the greateft to the fmgf left, If they doefito 4 grienetree^ What Jhall they doe to a withered? whkf fall they doe toyoui By the greene tree Hee meanes Himfelfc,who| Himfelfe was fre(hc> fappie, greene, and fruitfull, albeit for vs H| waslikeadrie trec,becaufcHee was guiltiefor vs. And by the dfl £ tree Hec meanes vs, who are vnfruitfull in our felues.and meete ft 1 noching,but for confu(ion,to be caften into the fire. Marke hec fiiorclyof this: It is the fenfe of mifery that makes any bodiet wecpe : No doubt when one wecpes fore, the heart hath a fenfe^ mifery:and this fenfe is either of a mans owne mifery,or for a fyri pathie of the miferic of another. They who haue a fenfe of the nr fcrie of others, they will mourne. I fee fewe of this fort in the dayes/There are few now that will wcepc for the mifery of anotht AH fympathie is out of the world,and the pleafure of men is in tl pleafure of others Jndeede I thinke that Iefus condemned not tfr compa/TIon. Certainely,compaflion vpon the eftate of another good. A way with a pittilefle heart,for it hath not felt the mercie: God,and bowels of His compafllon. But this is Chriftes will,th the ground of their lametation (huld not be fo much His fuffrir forthem.as the fenfe of their owne mifery &finne, which broug: Himtofuch a mifery* The Lord would haue the women confid ring the greatneffe of their owne mifery , which madeChrift fi their caufe to bee fo miferable; that should haue becne chiefc! the caufe of their mourning: that shoulde haue beene the caufe their dolour: for as lohru faies out of Ztcbtrie , They fhallfee H* whor/ie they pearced. Our finnes haue pearced Him* The godly in t\ latter daye, when they (hall fee Him,thcy shall mourne. It was n fo much the Souldiours that pearced Him,as thy finnes. Haue n therefore thine eye fo much on TiUte^Herodtfit the lewes % ot on tl m v^F the Passion ot Christ. m$" of warre, or Hang-man , as on thy fclfe. and on thine owre }cs: for it was thy finncs that pcarced Him thorowe: and in the :r day, when the godly shall fee Him, whomcrhey hauepcar- j i they shall weepe. Turne thine eyes on thy felfc , and let the i and of thy weeping bee for thine owne finne 3 that pearced the j pcenr. here is another thingheere worthie to bee confiderec: I fee it good thing to bee in heauineflc: and yec fee that the LORD ikes nothing to the men of warrc , nor to anic others in the , but oncly to the poore women who were weeping:Hee com* es them, and inftru&es them, Hcc lcades them to the groundc leir weeping , to the ende chat they shouldc repent, and haue )urfevntoHim. Thebeftcftate of men and women, is to bee de in heart, andmourning,cither for their owne mifery, or the cry of others: for the Lord faies, TUejJedarc th which is by int^L fretatiw, the place of dead mens stylles. 23 tAnd tbeygAue him to drini tywe mingled with myrrhe ; but h$ receiuedit not. Lv KE XXI I I. 3 a And there were two others which were chill doers, led with h'yn toil fiawe. lOHN CHAP. XIX. 17 *And hee bare his oWve crojft, and came into a place named of d& mens sh^llcs ■, Which is called in Hebrewe, Golgotha* ' Owe ye haue heard (Brethren) of the accufation * Christ before the ludgc-Tontiv* TiUte , and > His condemnation out of the mouth of the Iwd[ Tslate^nd then wee heard.that after the fcntcncc p damnation was pronounced,hedeliuercd Him ini 1 the handes of the Ittoct to bee crucified , they tai Him,and firft of aiJ they Icade Him in againe to a mode fecret pa of the Common Hall , and there they handeled Him more free! yea, more vilely than cuer before , feeing Hee was a condemn? man: and when they had vfed whatfoeuer indignitie they plcafi againfl Him,they leade Him to the place where Hee (hould be ex cuted. In the Hiftoric weehaue marked three or fourc things th Op thi Passiow a? Chkist. lay at fell out in the tray; Firft, how the Lord isbearirgHisownc -otfc to the place of execution : Next, Hec bceing wearied vn- r the burthen, one Simon of Cyreve comming from the Coun- ty to the towne, is compelled to takevponeendcoftheCroffe, helpe him : So Iefus goes before, and beares the one end of the offe, Simon of Cyrene followcs, bearing the other end thereof: lie third thing: the multitude followes, men of allcountreyes, at were conueened, and come out otlerufalem, at fuch a folemnc I ne at the Paflcouer : Amongft the reft, there were women of Ie- fa/em y better than the reft of the multitude, who followed him, d wept for him. Wee haue heard what anfwere the Lord gaue 1 M em, and how he inftrufted them in the right caufc of their wce- ng.Now the laft thing that is markedtit is this,that we haue read it of theGofpel of L^therc were led out two thieues with him, len in this dayes exercife, we (hall heare of thefe points:The firft, mccrning the two thieues that were led out with him:The next concerning the place : The third is concerning the fowre & bit- kdrinkcthat they gaue him to drinke : The fourth, concerning e ad of the fuffcring, and fiftly, concerning the houre. To recurne tothefirft: As hee goes out to the place where hec ould fuffer : There are ledde out With Him two thieues, to fuffer th him in that fame place : lefus is ledde out to the place of ecution likcathiefe, beeing innocents and ledde out with eue* to fuffer with thieues. Amongft all the reft of the things at Icfus Chrift fuffered, befide the paine that he fuffered in foule id bodic, he fuffcred extreamc (hame, as wc fay, hee was fhamed id (hent : I fhewed to you, that (hame followed alwayes vpon nne. Iefus Chrift tooke vpon him the finnes of the world, and ereforc hee behooucd to fuffer (hame before the worlde. The 3rd Iefus Chrift was ignominious in refpe&ofthe painfull and nominious death : for hee was mounted vp vpon the Crofle, in defence of them all : and in refped of the multitude, all the orldc was gazing vpon him : and in this refped, when hee goes ^t to fufftr, hee is counted a thiefc amonq the thieues, and the ord was alio ignominious in refpeftof the place. Brethren, in this matter, I looke not fo much to the /row, to the fouldicrs , as I lookc to his Father in heauen : who 'as the difpofer of this whole worke. There wasnothirg decreed to be done, 11 one , but that which GOD the Father had "ft* Tmi XIV. LlCTTKI, bee done , and what Hee docs concerning His Sonne , Hee dc it mofte juftlie : for I E S V S became furctie for the finnes thcvvorldc, and Hee bare the burthen notonelicof murtherar theft: but ofall the finnes of the Ele<5h And as He goes out wit the two Thieucs, Hee bare the burthen of one of them, and relief wed him of his finnes : and the one of them that lame night fup-L ped with Him in Paradifc : Therefore, faye I, vvhatfoeuer was thJ part of the ^ti?#orof the Souldioures* yet the doing of the F /M thir to the S o n n e was mofte juft. And when wee rcade oil this, let vsbleffe the Father of IESVS CHRIST,forwcd haue goodcaufe fotodoe : For in this juftice Hee fhewes great! mercie towardes vs : and, if Hce had not done this,woefull an4l miferable had the cftate of man becne. Now I come to the placet which in HcbrcW is called Golgotha, that is,* pUcecf dead mem skullesy or braine pannes* This place was without the portes of the Towneof Hierufilem. And noqueftion Iefus likean vnworthie re* probate was carried out of the portes of Hierufilem to fuffer, and, this was figured vnder the Lawe.The beaftcs that were to be offc* red were carried out of the campes of the people, and there were burnt, and afterwardes their blood was carried into the San&ua* rie, to bee a typicall propitiation for the finnes of the people , anci the people were fprinkled therewith: Euen fo, I E S V S CHRIST^ that eternall Sacrifice, was carried out like an out-caft out of th< portes of the Towne, to fuffcr that ignominious death, that wher Hee had fuffcred Hee might enter in with His precious blood intc that Heauenlic San&uarie for the finnes of the world by that etcfi nail propitiation , Hebr. Ch ap. xim. vers, ii. and 12. Concerning the name of the place wherefore it is fo called, then is great controuerfie and doubting : Somcthinke that it was ft named, becaufe the skull (or braine panne) of A d a m was deluet vpout of that fame place where the Crofle was fet, and where IESVS fuffered ♦ But I count this but a vaine fable of th< vain Papifts,for their Legeds are full of fuch like fables. And again fomethinkethatit was fo named , becaufe in this place were vfee to bee caften heapes of skulles, and dead mens bones to bee kept which vfe may bee feene in fundrie partes,and this is more likely, A nd laft,others thinke th at it was fo named,in refped of the figure & dupe of the place: Ic was a round knoll, like a mans head, rifing vp, and round at the height: alfo, it was high, that thefc who were executed Op the Passion © f Christ. 127 :ccutcd might be a fpe&aclc to the people to be wondred at,and iercforc in refped of the (hapc, it was called Caluarifj that is, the ullof a dead man: and thofc who haue rcforted to thofe parts, ey report this day, that the fame place is a round knolle like a ^ad mans skull where the Loidlefus was crucified beddc lerufa- n. But how eucr it be, this is mod certaine, that this place was kmcfull and ignominious : and the innocent is conucyed to that ice where the murtherers vfed to bee execute. No doubt, it is vile, and (linked , yet ithindrcd not that iwcete fauour to cend to the Father, through His death, and the mere ignomi- ous that the death was, the gloric and triumph was the greater, .d the more (linking that the place was, the more fwectly fa-* Hired Hce to the Father, His facrificc had a mod fweet fmell in e nofthirles of the Father. This is the thing that I marked fee, at thefe laves who perfecuted the Lord of gloric to the death, nnoc bee fatisfied, and the hatred againft the innocent is end- HTe. They are not content that He die a (hamcfull death.but they .11 haue Him to die allnmefuT death in afhamefull place, and 'ey will haue Him conuoyed and led out like a thiefe. No, brc- ren, the hatred of the worldcagainft the children of the light, ith none ende: they bated the Lord firft :TheLordRfusisthc jht of th* world, and cuer from that day the children of dark- it. (hall neuer ceafc to hate the children of light:aflbone fo eucr a man (hall profefle that hcappcrtaincstoIcfusChrift,atthat tnc moment, the \vorlde,and thcchildrcn of darkne(Te(ha!l bc- nne to hate them , and to perfecutc them : As the rage of the wes was vnqucncheable againfl Chrift. fo it was after His pafs inandafcenfionagainftall Chriftians* Brethren, in this matter, : mufl paflc aboue the malice of the UVtcs, and behold the coun- (lof God, and fee, that a-1 this doing comes from Heauen, for c Father doth k, albeit He vfe the minifteric of thefe Hangmen: fee this, Helaycs on (hame vpon His owne Sonne : and not only ame, but He heapes fhame vpon (hame vpon Him : he will firft lUcHimfhamed in rcfpc&of thedcath of theCrofle: then Hcc ifihaue the world to gaze vpon Him : and next, in refpeft of the 1-0 thieues that were ledde out with Him: and then in refpeftof Icplacc: Hcc will haue Him to futfer fhame in all things, in prc- nce of the world : So that oncwoi.lJ wonder, that the Father oul J purfue the Sonne with fuch cxtrcmitieof math : it is no fmall 11& Thi XIV. LlCTVRI, fmall thing to take on the burthen of finnc. O finful! foulc! run ▼ndcrfinneas thou wilt, yet one day thou (halt find it the heauj burthen that euer was.If the furetie fuftered fuch a paine,and fti a burthen, what (lull become of thee ? If thou by thy fclfe (halt dertakc fuch an heauic burthe of wrath for thy fins ? But Brethn the thing that appertaines to vs concerning the place of executt is this: All this proce(fe& judgement is a type of that great &t< riblc judgement of the world in that Great day: & ye (hall fee t\ rifiblc judgement to bee like this judgement that was holden Icfus.He fuifers like a reprobatc,and is judged,and that fame thi that Iefus fuffered temporally , when the great Iudge (hall fit, i reprobate (hall fuffer eternally* Then take heede : It is a terri thing to fal into the hands of that liuing God, who is'a confumr fire. Looks to it as yee will,for whofoeuer hee be that (hall notl faued in Iefus in that day,befide all the (hame that they fhall bea the verie place wherein they (hall fuffer (hall addc (omething^' their (hame: As their foule and bodie (hall bee ignominious; fo»| place (hall be ftinking:the very place dial I heape (hame after (hat let Hell bee where it will, it is the moft (hamefulland ignominy place that euer was : and thou (halt bee (hamed and (hent whot ; uer (hall beccaftcn into it. And by the contrarie , in that Gi daye of Iudgement, they who (hall bee faued in this I E S V S they (hall be glorious manic wayes: fo euen in refpeft of the plJ they fhall be glorious* That Hcaucnlic Hier»Jalem is thepleafan-l place that euer was , and thofc that (hall come to #eauen, be; all that gloriethat they (hall haue therein, they shall haue glitic nor compafiion vpon Him, and that of the bitter malice heir heartcs they offered it to Him. Nomcrcie forChrift ,', but all extremitic : and to thinke fo, I am partly moued bf Prophccie which is contained in the 6r*Tftlme, and i2.ve>fc t rein the LORD is brought in, complaining and faying, In hirft they gtue mecvineger to drinl^c : and partly, by the Hiftorie ■wing, wherein it is faide, Then they brought Him in derifion 4 ewitb vinegar and put it to His mouth : and this His drinke is to counted a part of His PafTion. Of this we haue this Icflbn, yes keeping this ground,That this lodgement is a typeof the r Iudgcmcnr. Amongft all the paines that they lhall fuffer, Axil not bee found in IESVS CHRIST, they (hall ltodeathbothoffouleandbodic,asthe LORD thirfted, w^s counted as a reprobate : fo the reprobate (lull third rdingly : /\nd as the LORD got not fo much as a drinke Iter, to quench His third, no more flult thou. ; the rich Glutton, when hec was in Hell, could notget one peof water to coolc his tongue, that was fo fore burning in ent : no morefliak thou bee quenched of tlutetcrnall wrath: inne brings the mod terrible drowght and hotneflc in the and body that eucr was. Thou ilnlc drinke the cuppe of fitter wrath ofGodforcucr &cucr/2/^4r#/Z>9 ^hohuhgncr l thrfim "® *HB POVRTBBNTH LfiCTVU, tktrftrs for riglteoyfucjfe they frail be filled, fayesChrift.They who! bee faucd in Icfus Chrift,lhal! neucr thirft, for they (hall, hau their bellies the foun.taine of liuing waterjefus Chrift,when drinke is propined, Hee tajles it, and -would ham no wore ofn.bccz as Icfus Chnft bare the nature of man, foHeehad this natii tafte, and nature abhorred this drinke: And albeit that patie He fullered all injuries of others : yet Kee would not vfc violent againft nature to His ownefelfe: let one fuffcr violence ofothlf but doe noviolencetothineownefclfe :Yet we fee, that albeit)! knew well eneugh, both the bitterneffe and iowreneffc of it,l[ Hee taftedit: This learnes vs, that there was nobitienKfteTf fowrnefle but the LORD would tafte it, that thou fhoulif notoncly tafte, but alfo drinke, yea quaffe all delicious and Mf drinke euermore i yea, not only of the water of life, but euenjf delicious drinke of this worldc , for refreshment of ourbo^jl Then when thou art drinking a fweet drinke. remember that Idjf Chrift dranke a bitter drinke, that thou (houldeft drinke a fwdf drinke. Otherwife, I tell thee, drinke on, and pamper thy belllf thou wilt, thy fweete drinke {hall become a bitter curie * thee. .If Now wc come to the very action of crucifying :Hee is thilj He cannot get the thirft quenched : He muft fufter the death \ an extreame thirft : there is not a thiefe, but hee will get a dri The menofwarrecome to the execution: and firft, they ftrij the LORD of floric : They take His garments off Htm :S6 LORD, before Heewas mounted vpon the Crofie, Hie ' ftripped naked, and thenbeeing ftarke naked, they mount fpread out that glorious bodie on the Croffe, And utiles Em \ voiles : and this is complained of before : They pierced th mine hands and my fcete^falweii.ij. AncLpow beeingnaile the Crofle, it commcth to pafle, asTWfayls in the Epiftlet<# Cjalathians, Chap. 5 ♦ verfe 13 ,14* He e is become 4 curfe for vs y thai fim/dbictwetbe hleflwgof Godtn Him : Not that IefusbeganneC to be accurfed of the Father, when He hang vpon the Crc {fci 1 from the time of His conception : cucn all the time that Hee in the world ; As our finnes were laide vpon Him, fo the curfi God was on Him, purfuingour finne : AH thefe three and th: yeeres that Hee liued in thej|prlde,thecurfeof Godgoisrx offHim: forthecurfcof God ncucrleaueslxnne«A wicked r .nJS ; Of the Passion ©f Christ, rjl I fccmc to bee blcfled, and to profper, and who will Ci: at fucii C as he will, play him, and blefle himfelfe in his owne hcart,buc len hce comes to a mifcf able ende 3 and dies a mifcrabh death, en the mifrrable death appeares, then the world f:cs y that that n was curfed. It appeared not thatlefus Chrift w. scarfed, He was dying, and going to be nailed on the Croffe, thena'i r world fees tha: Heeis curled, befide ail the things that fini jigs on d man to : it (lull bring theetoa (hamefullccath: and if >u bee not found in Iefus Chrift, and bee not couercd with His pfie, then thou (halt die in theendeacurfed death : although iu be in thy bed, and thy Wife, thy friends, and al! thy children ?ut thee, the death that thou (hale die, fhall be accutfed. Tie fed they who die in the Lord: Curfed are they who die not in the Lord, chem be hanged,beheaded, or die in their bed, terrible fhall be tdcaththat followes after this death : Thedeath that He died, s a fore & odious kinde of death, to a man to be taken quick e, 1 nailed quicke on the Croffe ; and no doubt, Hee hang for the ce of three houres: fo as f death of thofe who are not in Chrift, ccuifed ; foit is fore:Hefuftered not only this painein body,No, chiefe torment was in y foule, & it was tormented with thac tcrfenfe of the wrath of theFathcr.lt is not a death of the bo* that finnc brings on, it brings an extreamc bitter painc to the le. The Lord dies not in a moment, hce is dying, and not td, a viuc image of the death of hell : thou (halt die in the painc liell, and ncuer get an end. Thofe who d ic in Chnft, die what ,th they will, bee they beheaded, or hanged, or drawnc in es, or burnt, they (hall neuer die a curfed death : their death is rccte death, and all the joyes that euer was, fhall iffue of their th : It mart be fo, What nukes a curfed death but iiune : and if >u be in Him, as IESVS was crucified : fo thy finnc is nailed >n His backe : and therefore beeing taken away, what muft owe, but that thou mult be glorified. And either thou (halt bee crucified thyfclte, No, not in the •th, but in the Hells euerlaftmgly : or els thou muft haue thy ics crucified on the Croffe of |BSV$ CHRIST, an taker of his death : and therefore, if any of vs would die a (fed dwath fit iscertaine, that wee mult die ) let vs fee whet: •finnewas crucified with Chrift, Or not: Shall 1 haue no war- dof the death of finnc in mce, and that I wascru;ifi:d with I 2 Ie(us Ij* The XIV. Lectvke, 1 E S V S C H R I S T , and am freed of all paine eternallie , thoi rowe His Crofle ? Will yeethat I (liall tell you, howeyec (hall get the ccrtaintic of this f Looke if thou finddl a continuall death of finne , looke if thou findeft this regeneration and a newc life, and loue of G O D and a delite to ferue Him in fomc meafure f then afiurc thy ft Ife,that thy finne was crucified on the Crofle with I E« SVS CHRIST: and,ifthouliueftin wantonneffc, and getteft no mortification, thou (hale bee crucified in the Hell, yea, though J thou were a King. Our lordes and gentlemen willpaflc their time, but 1 denounce, albeit thou bee an Empcrour,thou (hale bee tori mented, and confumed avraye by that eternall wrath of G O D in Hell, Goe on thy vviyes. O , the vvorldcis fleeping ! Shall theyn:uer knowe what they areadoing? Whatarethefeoppref-4 fors doing? thefe murtherers doing? thefe adulterers and fornica-L tors doing i Is there anic care of Heauen in them? Is Heauen or L Hell but tales ? No, no : it (hall bee the terribleft fight that euer [l thou fawc. It is not as men fayc, to wit, Hell is but a boggarde to fl fcarre children onelie: No,thy miferablefoulc fliallfindein wo-]ji full experience the dolour and woe of chat place* Nowe it rcftes, that I fpeake about the houre in the which Heei mras crucified* Onelie Sainft Marke calles it, About the thirdt houre. Then apparentlie, the Lord IESVS was nayled on the j CroffcbetvtixtelcuenandtwelueoftheclockcrAndalittle before tweluc Hee was mounted vp vpon the Crofle : for betwixt the J fentence of Condemnation and Execution , there pafied not an houre: For there was a malicious earneftneffe to haftenHim to the Crofle f neither woulde they giue Him leafure todrawe His 1 breath. This lets vs fee the fearcenefle of the wrath of the Father when Hee judges finne. After that Hee was once condemned, Hec gotte rvo reft, but was haftened to the place of Execution, to fuffer painc and fhame. Looke ftill to the grounde. This judge- ment is the type of the latter judgement: if the fentence of con- demnation bee paffed y immediatelie thou (halt bee pulled awaye (looke to it as yee will) to eucrlafting torment* Therefore , blcf- fed is that foulc that hath part of thefuffering of Iesvs Christ. To Him, therefore, who once was ignominious, and now is glo* rious ; bee all Honour for cucrmore ; Amen. THE 1 Pcf. r u THE XV- LECTVRE, OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST. Matth. Chap, xxvti. // tsfnd when they bad crucified him, thy parted bis garmentes, anddid :*fi hts y that tt might bee fiilfitted, which wasjpoken by the Prophet , They Jiuided my garmentes among them , a?id vpon myveslurc didcaH lots. 6 And they fate and Watched htm there. 37 They fet vp alfo oner hit head his cauje Written, This is Iesvs, the King of ihb !evvej, 38 And there Were tWo thieues crucified with h;m y ont on tho ight hand. And another en the It ft. M a r k e Chap» xv* 24 ^4ndwhcn they had crucified him, they par tedlyis garments, cafling ottes for them , What euerie man fomld hatte. 2 5 And tt Was the t hvrde lOHrewhen they crucified him. 26 %Andtht title of his caufe Wat Written tboue , ThatKinG of the Ievves, 27 Tjey crucified *l- o With him tW) thieues , the one on the right hand , and the other ok his left. M Tbut the Scripture vms fulfilled, Which fateth , And bee was counted tmong the Wiciydt Lv k e, Chap, xxiit. 5 3 *s4nd when they W.re come to the place vdncb is called Caluarie f here they crucified htm , and the chtll doers » one ai thertght hand, and the tberat the left. 34 Then j aid Iesvs, Father , forgtxc them : for they \noWe not What they doe. And they parted bis ri:tntnt s and cafi lc 3 5 And the people ficod y and bchelde: and the Rulers mocked htm w th \hcm t fiymg y Hee fancd others \ let him fane hiwfilfi,tfbee be that Chnft, he Cfofen §f Cjod. 3 6 Thefouldters alfo mot ked him, and cime^nd offe* ed him vincger, 3 7 And fvd y If thou bee t he King of the lew cs, fane hyfe/fi. 3 8 And I hjwt Written. N thefe dayes paft ( beloued in the Lord I e- sv s) wee haue brought this f/iftorie of the Paf- fion of Icfus Chrift, to the verie ad: it fclfe, to the crucifying of Him vpon the Crofle* Thelaft dayc we fpake fomcthing of His crucifying,and laft wee fpake of the boure of the day, in the which He was crucified: Marke names it to haue bene about the third houfc of the daye , which according to our reckoning, and our fafliion of diuiding of the daye, fell about the twelfth houre of the daye j which manifeftes a verie haftie difpatch and a (hort fpace betwixt the doome, and the execution : yea, all this matter was very hafti- lie difpatched , for /-Zee was taken in the night, in the which #cc gotte no reft,but was hurried firft to Annas, and from him to CaU- fhas //all, and then before Tilate the Romanc Iudge, and there be- fore him condemned : So that Hcc is taken in the night, and the next day before twelue a clockc Hcc is crucified . In the night Hct is taken, and brought before the Iudge: The accufation pafleth The doome is giuen: and He is crucified on the morrow following before twelueof the clocke. Nowe topaflc by the malice of the fewet, and their carneftnefle to haue the Lord put to death,we (hal marke, that all this Judgement wee maye fee the fwiftnefle of the wrath of the Father,which purfued the Sonne,becaufc Hq bare th< finnesof the worldejt lets vs fee plainlie that the judgement tha (hall bee in the latter daye,to the which this is proportionate (it i: a type of :he latter judgement) that judgemet alfo : I fay,{hall paflG ouer fwiftlie,and the reprobate in that judgement, when the Lore is once enticd into judgement, (hall not gecte leaue norleafuretx dray Of mi Passion e? Christ* 155 Iraw their breath,till they be cafte into Hcl And after that the tcr- iblc Iudge (hill once enter into accompt with them, and giuc out hat fentence, Deptrt front weeyee tux fed of my Father \ Vvnh the \DiuiH %nd bu angclles , immediatlie thole damned foules (hall bee hurled :o Hell. If the wrath was fo fwifc vpon theSonne of God flimfelfe, hatfhall bee the fwiftneffe of the wrath vpon the reprobate in that Great daye ? Then come to the Text which we haue rcad,and togoe forwardes tofpeakcof the thinges and circumftances that fell out in the time that the Lord did hang quicke nay led vpon the Croffe: for, as I haue already declared, #ee hung the ipace of three houres quicke,nayled vpon the Crofie, ere Hcc gaue vp the ghofte. The firft thing we haue to fpeake of,is concerning the two Thiei es that were crucified with Him , theoneat the onehande,and the other at the other hand. Next, wee (hall fpeake of that prayer that Icfus concerned whilcft Hcc was hanging on the Croffe before His enemies And thirdly, wee (lull fpeake of that title and infeription that TiUtc commanded ro bcr fixed on the Croffe : to wit , I ^^r^cr//c^/^r/;r^;(rc/ them at, I it right hind, and the other at bu left hand. And Hcc hung on the Croffe in the middeft betweene them both. They crucifie not the Lord Ie- fus //imfclfc aloncbut betwixt two Thieues : and not at the fide, b it one of them at each fide, and Him in the middeft : g uing out thereby to bee vnderftood by all the worldc, who looked on Him, (and there was an hudge multitude of hxves, B^omincs^ and Cjenulcs, I looking on) that of all Malefaftors He was the greatcft. Brethren, •I fee thisthorowe all the f/ifiorie of thcPaflion of IcfusChrift, euer H\% dolour encrea! r cs,till ic come to the ende & to the height. : And I fee this, that as His painc growes continiully, So fhamc is heaped on His bead continually! and whileft Hcc is hanging on the Croffe, at the fame time the greateft (hamc is heaped c n head : for Hcc hanges vpon the Tree, betwixt the cut'.I doers , as Prince of all euill doers in the worlde. To let you fee , that as the -paine of the reprobate (hall bee citrcamc ; fo the flvmc and confu- sion that they (hall luffer in //ell, (hall paffcall meafurc. In this cir- I 4 cumihiuc, t$6 Thi XV. LiCTvat, cumftmce as in all the reft, I lookc not fo much to the lewes, ani to their malice, as I lookc to His Father in Hcauen, to His wrath, and to Hisluftice: icis Hee who is the chicfe worker of all thcf^ld things. All there men, Ttlate, Herode } themenofwarrc, and the? v High Prieftes, they are like as many burriocs to that Iudgc. \ TheL O Pv D hanges on theCroflfe in extreamc paine of bodicjlf and foule : and as Hee hanges, in cxtreame paine, fo there is ex* ii treamefhame joyned with it. Nowe,ifthe flume and paine was < cxtreame, it muft foilowe, that Hee bare an extreamc burthen of hi finne :thcfcgoe together in GODS Iuftice,cxtreame burthen of 1 . h finne, extreame paine, and extreame (hame : for the Iuftice of 1 GOD requies, that extreame finne bee punished by extreame | paine and (hamc« It is tri^e, the Martyres fuffered greater fhame* I & paine, than euer murthcrer did,or malefa&our : yet it followes I not, that their finne was greater than thefinneof them who fufc fers not fo great paine. Why ? The Martyres fuffered not for finne, Non to nomine, Neuer a Martyre fuffcred for finne, but for^ the teftimonie of the fame Lord Iefns Chrift who fuffered* for their finne : and therefore in their fuffering they had an exn ceeding great joy, alluring them, that they had a remiflio of their finncs in the blood of the Lambe I E S V S C H R I S T\ But IESVS CHRIST fuffered for finne Eo nomine > it is one thing to a (inner to fuffcr, & it is another thing to fuffer for fin : No,if the Lord make thee to fuffer for the leaft fin, if it were but* for an euill thought, thou fhalt feele howe terrible a Itidge Hee is. The LORD fuflfcrs, and is (Lamed for finne ; the Lord IESVS fuffered extreame (hame and paine : therefore the confe- quent follovf es, He bare an extreame burthen of finne. When I looke to this vtter (hame, as I call to mindc all the finnes that I E- S VS fuffered for : fo chiefly, I looke to that high pride of Adam> and of vs all in Adam, whereby weeafpire to bee like to that High and glorious Ma jeftie, that pride,whereby wc would haue fpoyled that great GOD of that honour and glorie which was due to Him: Therefore in this vtter fliame,the Father of Heauen mcetes, randers and requites that high pride of Adam \ and for that Hee heapes lhamc on the head of His Sonne.-As thou afpircftto di(ho- nour Him by pride, fo Heemeetes thy pride in His deare Sonne. If thou be not found in IESVS in thcU grer't day ; the prouder thou bee in the world e ; the greater (hall be thy (hame, be fide that vnfpe-jkablc Of thi Passiok or Cukist. rnfpcakablc torment of fouie and bodie. Now, will yecfee in this extreamepaine&fliame that the Lord fuffers, how the won- der of our faluaion is wrought : it is fo farre from that, that it is wrought with a glorious pompefthe/ow would hsue had this worke wrought glorionfly, and would hauehad theSauiour a rious King, and therefore they Humbled at this, at the ignomi- nious Croffe of Iefus.,) Yee fee by the plainc contrarie, that there cannot be a greater paine nor (hame.We are nor bough: by gloric nor pompe : wceare redeemed from death and (hame,i;y death andfliamc: fucha redemption cannot fhnd with His Iuflice -.His luftice requires blood, FJeL9.11, Norcmifs'ton of 'jmntsWithm I Then euery one ofvs 5 who would attaine tofaluation, wemuft not looketoHeauenfirftjtogetitin IESVS glorified, but wemuft looke to Hiem/alcm, and to Golgotha :firft,To fee Him there hang- ing and crucified : fpare not tokiffeHimon the Croffe, and ro bathe thy felfc in His blood : and if thou takeft offence at His Croffe, thou fhalt neucr fee Him in glorie, but to thy fhame : No, by thecOMtraric. take on perfecurion with Him, that in thatgreac day thou mayeft be glorified with Him. To goe forward, Lukf in his 23. Chapter, vcrfc 34 maikes acir- cumfhnce which is not marked by the reft, towu, that It S YS prayed to His Father for His pcrfccutcrs. This prayer apparamlie hath becr.e cither at this time when they uere finking the nailes thorow Him.or els very foone thereafter:howfoeucr 3 He is hanging on the Croffe at that time:The words uxe.FMtbir 9 f*rgi*ttlxn know not what they do: i.Tct.Chjp. 2 .ver-i^faycs of Hinv.U'hcn He \\\ts raided, Hee rattled not againcx Hcrendrcdnoriecuill words againc, when Hefuffered, Hee threatned not againc, but committed it to Him who yudges righteouflic* When they were nailing Him on the Crcffe, and fcornittgHimonit Hee (hew not an angrie coun- tenance : Hee committed the vengeance to G O D. Intl wordes, hee would Set you fee, a marucilous nieekneffc and pa- tience in IESVS CHRIST, and therefore by the Prop Hee was compared to aLnmbe. No, neucr a Lam hefuffered with fuch mildneffe, as 1 E S V S did. But now in th c he goes fomewhat further; hee lets vs fee, thar the LORD not onely recompiled cuill wirhcull : but Hee rewarded good for euill,& whilit they torment Him, he conceiues a fei uent praj at for them : and this kts vs fee not oncly a wondtrfull pack but ^^^^bTXV. Lsctyki, but alfo a great louc and pitic He bare to His encmiesjt is a won- derfull thing to fee any in torment to bee patient toward the tor- menter, but it i s greater in the torment, both to be patient, & to pray to GOD for him who torments him : and this is the greateft of all, to fuffer for thetormenter. This loue properly pertain es to IESVS CHRIST onely. The Martyrcs haue prayed for them who perfecuted them, as Stevcn did,t/fc? # Chapter y.verfe tfo. LOR jD, lay not this finne to their chnrae : buc neither Steven, nor any other Martyrc in the earth fuffcred extreame torment for the tormentcr. Neuer a man had fuch a louc, to fuffer for his tormenter: No, this loue is proper only to IESVS CHRIST :and in the Scripture it isafcribed vnto IESVS CHRIST, that Hee died for His enemies His tor- menters. Theie laft wordes of that place of Peter, where hee fayes, Hee committed vengeance to Him who ivdges righteottJly y are WOr- thie of*confideration : for there hee will let vs fee the ground of patience infuffering,Hiseycwas on His Father, and Hee fawe his Father to bee a juft ludge, and to take vengeance on them who perfecuted them, Wouldeft thou bee patient in fuftcring, goe not to reuenge, but put the reuenge in the hand of the ludge : except a man hauethis confidcration,ic is impoffible for him to fuffer a wrong patiently. And it is as true, that thefc men of this Lande, who in no meafure are patient, but are ay rtuenging: thofe who will doe two wrongs for one, (hee will gloric that hee hath flainc two for one, and hee wiUbraggcof hisfoule murther :and fay, I haue one flaine, he hath two, he hath better than his owne) It is impoffible,! fay,that thefc men cannot haue G OD before their eyes, they looke not to GOD, becaufc in fuffcring in/urics, they leaue not the reuenge to GOD, and fo their damnation (hall not bee fo much for the wrongs, asbecaufethey viurped the office of the ludge, and gauc him not vengeance to whomeic belongeth . Some of you may aske, how can this be, that Peter fayes, The LO RT> committed vengeance to His Father , ftand with this, that Lnhi fayes, Hee prayed for them ? howc can thefe two ftand ^ To commit the vengeance to God, and to pray for thine enemies f I anfwere, Thefc things are different, To commit vengeance to GOD % to commit a wicked man to his c wne ludge, and to begge a ven- geance to a wicked man : IESVS gaue them ouer to their owne ludge, and gaue the Iudgement to G O D ; hee begged not vengeance Of thi Passion #f Chkist. l*j Tcngcance on them : hcc prayes tor them to his Father, thit hcc would forgiuc them. To fpcake my mindc hecre : This Prayer that the LORD made vpon the Croifc, I take it not fo much to be for the malitious Saibes % Tbarifes, zndPriejhs, who did this, Dot fo much of ignorance, as of malice : For in the 17, Cbtpter 2nd 9,vcrfe heefayes, / pray not for the worldc, h^t for them that thou gncnmce\\s tor thepoO'Cmultirudeof thc/W| ignorance ' f4© TmiXV. LscTfRfii Ignorance mooued Him to pit tie , and to praye for them. In *? worde : The Chriftian man that is pcrfccuted wrongfullic, eithccf hath to doe with malicious men, (wee may finde this in experienced ere wee die ) who perfecute of malice : or with enemies , who arc. not fo much malicious, as ignorant : if hce haue to doe vvith ma- licious perfons , patience is required : but if hee haue to doe with J ignorant bodies, then not onelie patience is required, but alfoij ructh and loue. Wouldcft thou haue patience? then commit ven- geance vnto Him who judges juftUc : for if thou vvouldeft bee patientjookctothy G O D, and faye, I commit thee in the hands of theludge. And, if thou haue to doe vvith an ignorant, fee that ! thou bee pittifull: looke to the ignorance of them that perfecute thee ; and thou (halt not fo foone looke to their blindneffc , but thou (halt not onelie bee patient , but alfo pittifull , and the ig- 1 norant will feeme to bee miferable, and to bee pittied : for this is \ certaine, that the innocent riian, who is persecuted , is not fo much to bee pittied, as hee who of blinde ignorance pcrfecuces him. Alas! What is to bee pittied, but that which procures dam- J nation before GOD? So ignorant blinded bodies are mode to j bee pittied. Nowe confidcr howe all.ran.kes and fortes of people fiiamc Him: and firft TiUte flumes Him, and commaundes an infeription I and title to be written on the Crofte, bearing the crime and caufe J of His death: Itisfaide^thatT//^ theludge , Writeth 4 title to bee j fixed on the Crojfe : and bee Writeth rt^ in Hebrew, and in (jYeeke, and iru Ldtine, to theende, that men of all Languages might reade it* and vnderftandit, and the cfteft thereof is\his 9 FESV S of 2\£*(*- rcth, the King of the-fewes. This was in Hebrttye,m (freeze f and in La- tine: three Languagcs^to bee read by HebreWes,(jr<*aans y &c Romanes* \ There is no queftion,but this was written according to the fafliion of that time : for among the people ofGOD, both the judgs- mentes and alfo the puniflimenres , with infeription s containing the caufe thereof , vfed to bee publickcd. And this was acorn- mendab!e and allowable cuftome , that when a man was con- demnedtodie, they alwayes vfed to put vp an infeription , con- taining the crime and caufe 5 to teftifie, that hee was worchilig executedi According heremitothey handle the Lord IES VS:for they lead ? whole proces in the fight of y people,& went not into a : corner to judge Him^bu tin theprefeceof % whole people, they led i Him fc Of thi Passioa cf" Chkist, Y41 Him out of the Porrcs o( Hierufitltm, to execute Him. Readc of this cuftomc, lo/h. Chapter y.vcrfe 15*. Of tAch*n y who ftolle the tabylomans garment, how hec was judged of the whole people. Read of that blafphemer, in the wildcrnetfc, Lent. 24. 2 jJio* be* fore the whole people hec was executed pub.ikly. Reade of hnathanj how heewas judged and condemned of his father JW, in the fight of the whole people, 1. Sam, Ckiftcr 14. yerfc 5. As the Iudgement was publicke, fo they vfed to put an infeription ibouethem, toteftifie tothcpcople their crime, and the caufe of their death, that they died juftly. It is no fmall matter to flay a man, albeit hce were the pooreft that cucr was, and there is not a Prince in the face of the earth,that may flay a man without a good :aufe i No, not the Emperour hath that power. And as no mm liould bee flaine lightly :fo if there bee a juft caufe of execution, ;hc man may not be executed priuily at the pleafure of the ludge, but if there bee good juftice, the Iudgement tnuft be before the people, The people haue their owne right and cntrcfle in judge, nentfeatcs. Yee know in that great Iudgement of the world,which (hall be It the latter day, not one (hall be judged and condemned without he approbation and confent of the whole Ele£t, which (lull ftand ■ound about their Lord. Then, how much more hath the people^ it the leaft the bed part, entrcfle in earthly ludgements, to fee >ood adminiftrationof jufticc,andludgement,and that the ludge rfe no Tyrannic This then was the caufe of this Infeription, ruen that the caufe of the death of Icfus fhould bee made mani- eft to the people, according to common commendable cuftome. Jut Pilate had another rcfpe<5 : Ttlate did this, not fo much, that he people (hould know the caufe of His death ; for his confcicncc olde him that He was innocent, as he put it vp, to reuenge him on :hc malicious Iewes t who compelled him againit his heart and con- science tocondemne Him. Hce will haue this put vp, that their ting was lunged, and that they hanged Him with their owne unds. But GOD hath His part hecre, and all was goucrned xy that heaucnlie Prouidencc, Neither is Pilate, nor the lewes )eerefo much to be looked to, as thedifpenfation of the Father^ Vs T/late did it foroneende.fothc LORD did it for another :ndc : Men will doe a thing vpon an cuill intent, GOD will doc he fame thing by a wicked instrument to Hi* good cndc,by His T4* The XV. Lectvrh, His effe&iuil prouidcnce Hec will haue this to be put vp to ratifo the Heaucnly and Spirkuall Kingdome of I E S V S C H R I S T; and Hee will lee them ail fee, that I E S V S is the onely King:' md infpeciall by this infeription the LOR D will haue it icRii fiedtothe worlde,tha:as I E S V S hungvpon the Crofle with paine and shame, that fo likewife vpon the fame CrofTe He trium~ phed glorioufly ouer His enemies:: ere Hee came to Heauen, on the CroflVHeegotte victorie, and Hee triumphed oner them all, ' and leddc them all captiues on the Croffe » as it is written to the*! Cotoss. C h a ?• 24 v e rs. i j, More than this * The LOR D » did ic to this ends, To forc-fliaddowe , that thepreaching-of the Kingdomeof IESVS CH RIST, to follow on His Aiccnfion- fliould hec to all Nations Kingdomes 5 and Languages: for imme- 1 diately after that Hee pafied out of the world, I E S V S was pro- claimed to all Nations the King of Glory , and continues to this day, and shall bee for euer. TiUte is a preacher heereof, albeit hee haue little minde of it: but hee v vas Like Cmaplhts^who prophefied,. that ic was expedient, that one shouldedie for the finnesof the* whole people , Chap^ii. vers. 40/ And this is done by the fpcciall prouideace of GOD, no doubt. The conftancie oiTtUtez in his fentence and writing, notwithftanding the firong oppofi- tion of theSaibcs and the High Prieftes, who defired him to alter I and change the title-, and for that which was written by TiUte^ to 1 yvit, This is the King of the ?e#&i to write,77^£, Heefitde Hee tyasthc King of 'the lew estthis declares that it was of the immutable decree' of G O D. Tilate had no power to alter one letter of it for hir- life. GOD leddethepenneofhimfo % thathechadnopovvcrto doe other wife, to teftific, that it was of that Eternall decree. And this is thatdrecrec whereof wee reade, Ps a l. 2.7. / Will detUre\ the decree* thafa is ; The Lord bath (aide vnto wee, Thou art my Sonne , &c % This decree is vnchangcablc, it mud bee executed, and it shall laft ; tothcendeofthe worldc: And I faye, the LORD IESVS shall bee King in defpiteof the Iivves and the High Prieftes, and all His enemies, and that o nc daye wee shall fee to the full joy of our heartcs: To that Glorious King, with His Father, and the H©lie Spirite, bee Honour and ©loric for euermore , tkmtn. THBi Fd. 143 HE XVLLECTVR OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST. Ei Matth, Chap. xxvn. 3P lAnd they that* faffed by > reuiledbim, Waggirg their headt, 40 Andfayhg^Thou that, dejlroyeft the Temfle, and bmldesl it in three Hayes , faue thy fc/fi : if thou bee the Sonne of Cjod, csme diwne from the Crojfc* 41 Likj.wi[calfo the high Priefles mocking him, with the So ib'es % *nd Elders, andTbartfes,fatd , 42 Hee fined other s^bm bee camiot fine bimfelfi : ifhee bee the King of lfrad y let him noWe come doWne from the %roffe i and Wee Will beleeue in him* 43 }lee tfit&ed w God, let k m t aer him \iji& 7 if bee Will hauehim: for heefitd i I aw the Sonne cf God, 44 The fife fame thing alfo the thieves Which Were crucified w;ih him, eaft in his tcztb- Marke, Ch.ai\ X Y. 29 lAndtbty that went by, railed on him , wsg&wg their beads , and "aying^ Hey, thon that, deflroyefi the Temfle^andbmldeft it in three d \ , °p Saue thy fdft, and come doWne from the Crcffe. 31 Ldfoj men th*hiohT*riefics>michJTig y f aide among them] tines, With thi Scribes, Wee fatied other men J;imfelfe tee cannot faur, 32 Ltt Cbrif! theKt Ifrael now come doWne from the Croffe, that wee mayfee^andbeheue. They nlfothat were crucified with him y rendidbtm. Lvke Chap* nm. 3 5 And the people flood, and bekclde: and the Rulers mocked him vr'th fbew 9 f*ywg, Hee ftved others : let him faue hiwfilft, if bee be thai Ch the Chi fen of Cjod. 3 6 Thefould\ vs alfo mot ked h m, ana an A. And off: * red him vtneger, 37 And f aid, ^f thou bee the King of tl and indejpite, and bitternefle of heart, they raile on htm, axdfxye, ' * his theman tbabfaidt hit "toonlde desiroye the Temple, and bullae it vp . ( tine * Is ic likelie that Hzz can doe this, who cannot iaue Mm- 1l fe from the CrofTe ? Then comes there theTrinces of the Iewes, ' i jScriees,^ High Priestes, and Pharises, and H y tnnnt Him a!fi , faying , Thou Who faitedfl others , faue thy feife. j nd after them , comes in the men of warre, the Roman e jiJ luldioures , and they beginne to raile out alfo , and ihiy offered 3 m Vinegerto drink* > and fatde, If thou bee the King of the Iewes ill uctly jelfe , and come dmne from the Crojfe. And laft, one of the bq licues, who was hanged with Mm, faliesoutin rayling, If thou Atthatt Chris t , faue thy fclfe and rs. jj But nowe wee fliall fpeake of cuerie one of thefe in particular as 2te Lord (hall giue vs grace : and firft wee beginne at the part »£ the Hang-men. Then in His fight, whilefthee hanges, thy mkt gdrmentes 3 (and made fome partes of them, that, euerte one §fthe men ht ham a part thereof: and as for his coat, M becaufe it had nofeame y an(\ notfowed,Zwr was aWoucn coat>, from the toppe t boron out; therefore, ey wonlde yotdtutde it , but Wottlde cafi lottesfor it, whofe it flmldc bee. 4nd alt this \\\u done, that, that, Which re a) prophefied ( by 'IDauidywho fas thefigure of Chrift, Tfal^i. 19.) might bee fulfilled, which faietb, bey dmided v>y garment es among them, and on my coats did cash lottes. Now to let you fee that thefe Miogmen did nothing in all this on , but that which from all eternitie was appointed to bee neinthecouncellof G O D* To examine this fad: bcrter: Firft cy doe Him wrong in fpoyling the L O R D I E S V S of Ms nc goods : ( /fowfoeuer they cfteemed of Mm , yet Hct was knocent) Next, they doc Himfhame, in ftnpping Mm, and fet- ing Mm naked vpcntheCroflc, in the fight of all the worlde. ndlaftof all, they defpite Mm, and contemne Mm, in taking tis garmentes, and parting them in His ownc pretence , where tc Mm fclfe might behold it. So they did Mm Tvrong,(hame,rod cfpite.But Brethren,as in all otfier circumtknccs conjoyncd with he Paflion, I looke not fo much to men, as to t he Lord : So heerc lookc not fo much to thefe executioners in partingof thefe g -r- ients,as tothatMMucly Iudgei/is Facher*& to l-Ji^ juftia in this Utter: for vvhatfoeucr bee their part, and ho wc vnjult focucr they K bee, thac \^i Thb XVI. Lectvki, bee , thatHeauenly Father is juft , and that burthen of ourfirii \\ rthich lefus Chrift tookc vponHim,defcrued all this : asfurco i for vs, Hee demerited all this, Nowe to examine more narrowly eueric one of thefcrto wit,tli cc wrong, fhame, and defpite,wee (hallfcc howe/uftlyal! is cone ii he yce will looke to His Fathcr.and firft confider the wrong done vij vi to Him jin taking His cloaxhes : Hee was wearied of His garment*^ becaufc Hec vrzs eledde with our finne. Nowe wouldc to G O ] \&. that wee could feele in mercy this weight of finne, which our Mfij % diato.r did beare vpon His backe for vs : for then wee woulde nm runnc on fo wantonly as wee doe. And it cclles vs this, That a fink ner that is not in lefus Chrift, who hath not put off finne, but ycL bcarcs the burthen of finne, hath no right to wearefo much as* moftc vile garment , yea, though it were but a bratte of a facke tit hide his (hamefrom the fight of the worlde; let bee Golde, Silueijel or precious rayment : and if it (hall fall out at any time, that heebii rcaucdandfpoylcdof his cloathes, let him take it to beeofthi juft judgement of GO D, whatfoeuer bee mans part therein): And though the Thieues bereaue him , yet the G O D of He« ucnis juft in punifiiing of him, whatfoeuer part man hath in tUf a&ion. Yet it telles vs more, for I tell you ftill,that this judgement of lefus Chrift is the image and figure of the latter judgcmeojUi for fucb proceflfe as is vfed heere,(hall bee vfed in the latter judgcj ment. Then,! faye,it telles vs,that in that latter daye, a reprobatii and finner, who fhall not bee foundc in lefus Chrift, (hall bee d«| priued,and fpoyled of all the creatures, made for chevfe and orj nament of man, and there (hall ncuer a one of them bee left hiraii neither (hall hee haue fo much a foot-breadth of earth>or the meal ncft commoditic in the worlde: yea,albcit hee were akin g,Iethin| haue poffeflions , kingdomes, and the whole earth now, but t hcti there (hall not bee any thing in this worlde that hee (hall poftcfli at that daye, but flume in the Hell foreuermore. Where by the ! contrary, they who (hall bee founde in lefus Chrift, (hall not oneli bee cladde with incorruption and glory in Chrift; but alfo (hall bt put in pofifeflion of a ncwe Heauen and ncwe Earth,to reignc witl their Head and Lord lefus Chrift foreuermore. Yec fee then what happincfle it is to bee founde in lefus Chrift at that Great dayei Gthemifery of him who fhall bee founde out of Him! Nowe to come to that flume which Hec fuffcrs on the Croflfe Op thi Passion o? Christ*" T47 ie Father, thorowe Hisnakcdneffcheercin alfois juftiHeevras i: bddeon the Crofle with our finncs. It relics vs this: that among . the punisbmentet of finne, this is one, to wit, nakcdncfie,to fet 11 ebody naked in the fight of the worldc* Yeereade inEJZp 5.17. :: lerethe finfull women are threatned for their pride, that the : , nd Iehoyah Jhdlmakc nuked And dtfcoucY their jctretp.ins to the ^ rid. But to fpeakc of the latter day: befidcallthe reft of the pu- \ shments of the reprobate,the nakedncfic of their carcafes (hal be *1 punishment, they (hall rile with foulc bodies, whereas theElcd c j all rile with glorified bodiestandthereprobate shall (land vp in l: \ e fight of all men & Angels, with naked bodies>that their shame : .i ay be fccne 5 & they shall crie(to hide their shame)onthemcun- 4 inesjto couer them,and on the hillcs to fall on them* Now laft to 4 eakeofthac defpite that Hcc fuftered:They parte His garmentes N tfore Him y \n defpiteof Mm.-They goe not to a backfide to dcale 4 iem .Looke to Gods dealing heerc: this is a juft thing with God, ifl lat hee who is a finner, and who in contempt and defpiteof G od i ith finned, that he be contemned againe,and fuffer defpice open- i^AndChrift,amongall other punishm£ts,bare this punishment * contempt vpon the Crofie.Thcn if contempt be done vnro thee, I ho art a finner,& not in Iefus Chrift t not cleddc with His jufticc, 1 refpe&of God; it is due juftice,if thy goods be taken and pulled 1 om thee before thine eyes, if thy fonnes bee flaine in defpite of 1 iec,or thy virgins dcfloredjthy fclfe looking on, rake it for the juft ;• dgement of God. In the latter daye, befide all the punishmemes : lat shall fall vpon a reprobate, defpite shall bcdonctorhemlfit : \ 1 re bat this } that the perfons whomc they difdaincdjContcmned, I id fpittcd vpon,shall bee glorified in defpite of rhem. So to ende ' lis:! his reaches vsjiowe good a thing it is to bee in Iefus Chrift. :ndhowe blcflcdthat bodiclhall bee who isfoundcin //im. And I * for thee,who arc out of Iefus Chrift, woe ftu!l be to thee.fupp lou were an Emperonr, Nowetogoc forwarder After the Hav^- »an,and after th^ir defpite, folio .ves the part of the pco: don f/im,thev bcginne,and w-vr, their heads. 9 retelles that in the 22. 'Pfalmc^wf. 7. Wi\ andnoddt their heads , m ou.d deflroy the glorious 7 \'&< Qcme downefom th RD, for the LORD e icmp'c o- K : 148 The. XVI. Lectvke, die, which after three dayes by His glorious refurre&ion , h >i fhould reedific and builde vp againe:To the opprobric that ti caft vp to Him is this : He was wount to fay,Hc would caft dow the Temple, and builde it vpagainc inthrec dayes : But this j thing impoflible: and their ground they take from His prefc infirmc eftate, that inhabilitieHe was in on the Crofle. So tli gather of that, Seeing He could not free Himfelfc, that the ot was impoffible* Befoie I marke or obferue any thing on 1 place, I ihall followe out thefcoffing, rayling, and mocking others, After the people came in the Princes of the people, High Prieftes, Scribes* Pbarifes, Elders, and Rulers, andtheyra on Him, faying, This man tooke on Him the Name of C HRIST , vi fee if He can faue Hitnfelfe 1 As they would fay, It isimpoffi., to Him who now hangs fo ignominioufly tofaue Himfelfe. Afqii them came the men of warre, and in dcrifion 1 They offer Hi\ vineger to drinke, And they fay jt his is very like a King Mow can He d\ | the dutie of a King, to deliuer the people, who cannot deliiij Himfelfe* This they faide, becaufe Hee had called Himfelftty King, to the prejudice, as they thought, of Cefars Kitig&ovm And laftly, one of the tbieues ray led on Him, to wit, He that haH at His left hand, faying, So like as thou art that Chrift, who cm neither fauevs nor thy felfe. Nowe, becaufe the rayling of m whole is all to onceffeft : therefore, fhortly I (hall obferue fotif things in general!, as the Lord (hall offer. ijj In all this rayling outagainftHim, yeefeetheextreamehunM liation of 1 E S V S C H R I S T , for our finnes : Hee is madeij no reputation :No, He is troddtf on as a wormc : And no queftid^ that extreame torment of bodie was notfogrieuoustoHimJj was this rayling on Him f They fpeaketo Him.as a verie reprli bate : and fo farre as lay in them, they endeuoured to make Hk* to defpare of ail helpe. So yee may feee, this rayling was a thiflty moft grieuous to Him. And Dauidbec'iv.g His type, hecomplaincj on this (hame,that they heaped on Him, in the 22. Tfalme. &\ this lets vs fcejiowe dearely the Lord hath bought ourlifeaaj Saluation : And wee are more than miferable, if we fee not thhj And alfo it lets vs fee, what (houid ha'Jc becomeof vs,if Heha| not fatisfied for vs : and what fhould becomeof thee, if thoubcj not in C H R I S T in that: great day.And it tells thee,feeing a this is for thy finne, that 'thou (houldeft hauc a fadde heai to hau Of the Passion of Christ. 149 haue fuch aRedeemer made fuch a fpe&aclc,and thou fhouldeit oanc vnder the burthen of finne : and when thou readeft of the roffe, thine heart fhould beeforrowfull, that euer thou frouldefl tuemouedthc GOD of glorie to fuch vengeance of His deare mne for thee. Thinkenot that eucryman {hall bcerclieued of s finne by Him. No, onlie thofe who Jearne to groane vnder ic burthen of their owne finnes, by the which they haue pierced I im : and turne to the L ORD vnfainedly , and gee fauour. : i d if thou learneft not at one time or other to groane, vnder che urthenof thy finne, thouihalt neuer berclicuedbyHim. 1 But to markefomcthing of this railing: J fee, that thefc things I leycaft vp to Him, is theverie verdift, whereupon they accufed [im . They accufed Him, becaufc He called Himfelfe the Chnft, • 1 id becaufe He called Himfelfe the King of the/wcr :and becaufe le faid, that He would deftroy the Temple, and build it vp agair e I le third day. So the very things they caft vp to Him iivdcfpitt, is j very crime wherefore they condemned Him. Men would thinke^ 1 : frould haue cotcnted them to had Him hanging in torment: but I rethren, alas, the malice of theencmies of IcfusChrift is endleflCg j lcreisnone end of it; it will not bee the death of one C!.riftian;$ I ii Utisfij them ,itwilnotbe thy blood that wil quench their thirft: i ut in thy torment they will raile on, and ftriue to caufe thee to efpare, that thy foule may penfr. There is fuch an extreanac efpitc in their heartes, that they would haue thine afhes and thy ones to beexponedtoopprobrie and fhame, which hath lycn fo >nginthegrauc. See wee not this, howe the bones offaithfull ihrifVanshaue bcene taken vp, and burnt by the Antichrift. The ORD fauc vs from their crutlcie: But here 1 1 ft vp minecycr , ndlookcvntoG O D. The Lord Iefus, Hcfurrered moft jui [rhowascled with our fir.nes, and bare them 1 ur caufe :anditlcarnes thee this, that if thou brie nd frame, and men raile on thee, that thou goec 011 ein Chrift, in thy fuftcring : forifthoubeout of Chrift, wee is 3 thee, for that is but the beginning and forerunner of that painc nd frame that thou (halt fufferinHellJtellc , in thatlat- day, when y reprobate (halbe codemncd, their fin which vv3Sthc aufeof their death, frail euer be hadinmemory.but ifoncc thou joeft to Hell, ,f remembrance ofthy fin iH ill neuer be buried, but hy vcrdi&lhalbc caft in thy tecth,& thy cofcienccihal taunt thee, K 3 and i?6 Thb XVI. Lectvui, and (hal fay to thee,Murtherer,thou delitedft in murther.now gQifi to murther, nowe free thy felfcout of Hell, if thou canfl: andtc them who followed Harlots ? Thoudclitedft in Harlotrie,and in offending of G O D.thou vvhocouldeft notbeefatisfiedin plea-P^ Curing thy foule luftcs, nowe fatisfie thy felfe with thefe extreamef 1 tormentes ; nowe goe to thy harlotric, let fee : And to the blaf.P phsmer , Thou delitedft in blafpheming of GOD, nowe let kw if thou dare blafphemc , goe thy way nowe, and blafpheme: Andf to the Idolater, Thou delitedft in wor(hipping of Idolles, and lef-P tcft the worftiipping of the true GOD; nowe goe thy waye tc£ Idolatrie, &c. Nowe, wouldcto GOD the worlde couldc thinke Hell to be earned. This torment and rayling in the deatfif of C H R I S T, is an image of the torment of Hell. I fee heere further, that befidesthis> there is a groundeof all their opprobric , to wit , that (hamefull Crofle which I E S V S was hanging on: They thought,that feeing I E S V S was crucified,! it was impofTible for Him to caft downe the Temple, and to build | it vp againe : They thought it was impofTible for Him to faue the] worlde/eeing Hee coulde not faue Himfelfe; and that Hee could* not doe theduetieof a King, who was alreadie hanged: How beJ comes it a King to bee hanged ? The caufe of their offence was that fhame which Hee fuffered and that they fawe that Hee could not deliucr Himfelfe, The Crofle of Iefus is fooiifhneffe to the worlde? & bleffed are they who will not take offence at the Crofle of Chrift. Lookehowethey are decciued in their judgements: Be- csufc the Crofle was the onely meane whereby Hee fhoulde hauc done all things,when Hee was hanging, was He not deftroying the Temple of His body, that after three dayes, by His glorious refur- reftion Hee might builde it vp againe? And whenHeewasonthc Crofle, did Hee not the office of Chrift ? that is, of an anointed Prieft • for then Hee was offering that Sacrifice of His body to the Father : And was He not by the Crofle purchafing to Himfelfe and to vs a glorious Kingdome? Yca,on the Croffe.Heelike a glorious King,triumphed ouer the Deuils.and made an open (hew of them: for Hee had a battell with the Deuils on the CrolTe,and triumphed ouer them all. Co/. 2. //.This fame blindnes of the world remaines ftill in ir:for when the world fees a body vnderafflidio,in pouerty, bunt or martyred for Chriftsfake^hen the world thinkes it is ircu pofiiblc that that body canattaine to glory .They thinkc him as an out-caftj Of the Passion o * Christ. caft, and will fcorne his profcflion* They will fayc, Arc thefe ur Chriflians ? of all men they are the mofte miferable,if that be e waye to Heauen,I will renounce to goe that way, this is rather e waye to goe to Hell. This is the voyce of the worldc : And the ufe is,bccaufe miferable catiucs know not what finnc is, which at at time behooued to bee purged by the Crofle: for the jufticc d Majcftie of G O D becing offended, required that it (houlde" ee fo: and nowe in vs finne thorowc manifolde crcfles and af- i&ions mud bee mortified. Let the vvorlde thinke and fpeakc as~ pleafes 4 the onely waye whereby thou (halt come to life, is fufte- iingandafflidion : and thou muft thinke this, that weemuft bee acked thorowe Hell, ere wee come to Hcauen, Our redemption s wrought by the Crofle ; thou (halt not come to Heauen, but by [he Crofle. The ground of all is finne: But alas, the world fees it ot. The word will teach thee, that there is no other way to come |:o Heauen, but by affli&ion : and it will thee, that if thou bee net urged and changed by trouble and affk&ion, thou (halt ncuer fee ^-leauen, Alas, that wee coulde once grone vndcr finne* And blcf- a| edis thefoule, that hath a fight of the weight of finne: and woe III ;o that foule, thathath no fight of finne. 2 To goe forwarde : I fee in this Thiefe , who rayles on Chiift, J bmefpeciall thing: hec hath a particular of his ownc > hee is in h torment , and therefore hee faics, ff thou bee thriefts„l find their blaf- phemie greater than his. Well (hall itbeetotheThiefc,inrefpea or them for they had knowledge, and hee wanted. Who fhouldc haue had knowledge but they t They had ho torment.hee had fore torment. What neede had they to blafpheme ? Therefore their condemnation (lull bee greater than his. And when I compare this blafphcm.e of the Thiefe with theblafphemicof fomemen in tnele dayes, who when anie crofle falles vpon them without their expectation, will faye, What can G O D doc morevntomee>fo in effect denying power to bee in G O D , and in I E S V S CHRIST: Icounttheblafphemieofthefementobeeqreater than h,s was, For nowe I E S V S is in Giorie : and the Thiefe law Him on the Croffein miferie with himfelfe. If thou now blaf- phemefttfim fo , it were well done, that thy mouth were fowed vp , that thou neuer fpakeft a worde. Nowe to ende with this. The LORD giue vs grace , that neither in thought nor in worde wee dilhonour that M a i e J!. 10 . „ V * CHR , IST: To whomc bee all honour. Clone, Pra.fe, Power, and Dominion, both nowe and euermore Worlde without ende j AMEN, THE E C OF T V R CHRIST. THE PASSION Lvk e Chap, xxiii, 4c But the other anfwered, and rebuked him, faying, Fearesi thou not ^ D, feeing thou art in the fume condemnation? 4/ We are indeed? nghteonjly heere: for wee receiue things wort hie of that we hwe done : but this man hath done nothing amijfe. 42 And heefaidc vnto Iefus, Lord, remember me when thou commesl into thy Kingdome. E e heard tbelaft day(Brcthren)of all rhefc railings and blafphemies that the Lord Icfus differed of all rankes and eftates of perfons, whileft Hct hang on the Crofle naked, liuing in tormenti Ttlate beganj & fixed on the Croffe an ignominious inferiptiorw That Icfus was a Traitor againft Cafir^ and that /-/e fuftcrcd death for His treafon.Then the Hang-men, fourc in num- ber, indefpite, and in His fight, to^ his garmentes, and diuidedthem infbure partes • and becaufe his coate had no feamt , but Vfas kronen tbo- ro\X>out y therefore thy cafi lottes for tt> V?ho fioittde hauc tt whole. Then comes on the people , with their part, and raile vpon Him , and blafpheme Him, faying, NoVvetfthou bee that.. Chrift i come dewncand fuetly fife. Then folio we the high Prtejles, the Jo/6«,and the £U tiers, who raile on Him > and fiyc, Is this bee who will fme others i let fee ifbrc can bee able toft a him fife . Then the men of warre and Gen- tiles beqinncto raile, if thou bte the Ktngof the Iewe^fauetly fife, and come do\X>iie from the Croffe. And then one of the Thieucs miles out on Him, if thou be 1h.1t, Chrt(l t faue thy fife, andvs both: but r.owc fo like as thou arc the Chrift , thou arc adying as well as wee, and ait neither able to faucthyfcHc, nor vs : and therefore thou art not a King. Nowe, Brethren , yec maye percciue that it was no prayer .'H! XVII. LfCTTRf, prayer that this thiefe made to CHRIST, as Come thinks. Wee fpake of this thiefe the laft day s now we hauc to fpeakc < ifl the part of the other thiefc : he is twitched with repentance : in a f inftint hee becomes penitent : and the inward conuerfion of th it heart to GOD, hee vtters outwardly in fundrie effects : Firf W pcrceiuingthe other thiefc his companion to blafpheme G O C it! the firft a&ion that he does,he defends the honour of the LORI '« againft the other thiefc, and rebukes him : and after that, giues p frecconfeflionofhis finnes.and laft, heeturnesto Iefus Chrii o« hanging on theCro(Te,andfayei,£0 I{P remember meeVehentbo.ti cemmeft to thy Kingdome. The LORD anfweres immediatly to tht [0 thiefc : Verily, thoujhalt be with tnce this dzyinTaradife. To come then firft to the rebuke hee giues to the other thiefe si Fearefi thou not G OD? The meaning is, Thiefe, fye on thee,feeim if thou hangs in a common niiferic and torment with mec, and thii man, fearcft thou not GOD, who wilt blafpheme andrayleor Him, feeing thou art (hortly to appeare before that Tribunall,anc giue an account of all thine cuill dcedes, & chiefly of the blafphe* ming of the innocent. So hee takes vp the blafphemina from the fountainc, and hee lets him fee that his heart wa"s voydeof the feare of G O D • for if hee had any fponkc of the feareof GOD, he had not fallen out in rayling againft the GOD ©fglorie. We learnc this leflbn, that when the hand of G O D is lying on ' any man, and prcfling him to the death, then it is time to be hum- ble, and to feare the LORDand that terrible rudgement wherein thou muft Hand immediatly after this life: and if there appear© no feare of that Iudge in thee, and if thou vttereft a plaine rebel- lion, that teftifies that hishande lhall neuer leauethee,vntillie bruife thcein powder, and thruftthee to the loweft Hells. This is the thing thatafflidion mould worke invs, Humiliation and the feareof GOD. Learne the leflbn at the thiefe. Proud foule, and proud creature, if thou wilt not learne at others: Butasthisre- buke teftifies , that this fliould be : fo the rayling of the other tefti- fies, that it is not ay in men. There are fomemen whomeall the torments in the worlde wi'l not moue, ere they be the better, they will bee in Hell, hang them, naile them to the Crofte,teare them with pincers, they (hall neuer bee the better. What is the caufe o*" this i It is a H-ondci full thing, that mch trouble & torment mould not O? the Passion of Christ. 15^ lotworkefome fearcof GOD in the creature. But how can any ! < ffli&ion prefle out of the creature that which was neucr in it. The a eare of G O D is not in the hearts of many^ and therefore hoax :an they vttcr it : a rotten and withered ftickc was neuermore jnceteto be burnt, than thou by nature. So webecing by nature D ike as many rotten ftickes, albeit wee were prefied with moun- J ^ines, we fliall neucr yeeld a fweete fappe, or any repentance: No, ( before vvc yeclde any droppe of repentance, we fhall be bruifed in powder: fye on nature :ifthouwerefta Prince, thou (halt goe to JHell, if thou hauc no more but nature, if thou gettcft not one droppe of grace, Yet yee fee, that the other thiefe, when hte is preffed, yeeldes one droppe of fappe; hee becomes penkent, and is zealous of the glorieof the Lord I E S VS, Thefe are good effeSs ;The Crofle that wrought euill in the other thiefe, workes good in this thiefe: But who made the difference? Wbodtfccrncth f/w,faith Paid: Notnature.-They were alike in nature, alike in mif- dcedes, alike in a wicked life, the one had liued as wickedly as the other, alike in torment : It was I E S V S that made the fepara- tion, it was a happie time for the one thiefe, that euer he was cru- cified befidc the LORD ofglorie. The Lord IESVS made the difference : out of that fulneffe Hee powres out one droppe of His grace 1 He giues none to the other. Learnc this, that all troubles and afflictions, erodes, and all the torments in the worlde, (hall ncuer make thee better: All the tor- ments in the world, fhall not workc one droppe of fpirituall moy- fturc out of thee: the torments may well prcflcout fowie and bitter fappe, as bhfphemie, rayling, and defpare, but no good fappe, as Faith, or Repentance; except thcuget it of the fulr.cffe of IESVS CHRI ST : and therefore my counfell is, When thou fceleft the hand of the Lord on the-, & namely in the hourc of death (a dangerous houie) turnetheeto lefusChrift, and fa", thou mayeft prefle mcc downe, but 1 >n£ ere I yeclde one droppe ofgracc, except thou giuj it mc:Lord,t' giucj}Tej)nediop ofgracc.Anotherthrv/ I markcin the rebuke ottHcotKeFtl: Common mif< rie (hot)] I workc 1 compaffion:thou fi ; bki them who are in ali ce miiericwith thee, and if thou docftit not, thou doeft as the c uill t'liefc did ; I lay thou haft no feari of Cod :& if thou raylcft on him who isin miferie with thec, thine heajt is full of the gall of bittern. fll\ By aaturc wc arc all alike in mifcrir, The XVII. LectvRR, miferie : there is not a thing that becomes a fmner better, than tl haue companion on others : an heart without pitie, ihall neuer br pitied, nor neuer (hall fee life- Now, to goe forward, when he hath faid,7"&0« art inlihf damn tion.kft that y thiefe rebuked ihould haue thought,^ Chrift (houl haue defcrued that paine as well ashee fchinke not chat they wh arealikcin miferie,arealii£eguiltie;No,no,ycaredeceiued) Wcl hcmeetes this, wefurter nothing but that which we demerite : Ie thou are in ft ly in this common condemnation^ this man hat b done nothmw- armJfe.This rayling and paine, this man demerites not: yet if ye wiiF weigh the wordes narrrowly : wee fliall fee other two arguments' whereby hee rebukes this blafphemous companion. The firft if from their merites: The Gxond from theinnocencieof Chrift The firft, thou meriteft this torment : and therefore fhould not th merite workea feare of God, and a feare of an heauier judgd ment • Lord faue vs from the mcrice of finne. When a man is ifl torment, and chiefly in death, the paine (hould workea feare oi God: and then confidering the merite, the; e (hould ftrike a grea- ter feare in the heart, that there (hould enfue a greater damnatiori afterward. The consideration of merite (hould worke a feare, and the confeience (hould not fo foone ftand vp to accufc vs of finne, but wee (hould be ftriken with a feare of that terrible Iudge: but euery man hath not this fenfe : the thiefe hath not that fenfe of the merite of the prefent paine, nor yet of the greater paine that was toinfue.Whatis thecaufeof this, that euery man fceles not this, The confeience of the merite of finne is not giuen to euery man: We are all finners, and merites all our paine, we merite death and Htt.But, alas, where one gers the confeience of their merite, and feeles that they defcrue death, ten wants it. It is a pitie to fee,how many dies without fenfe like dogges,and then it it fall fo, that one get the confcienccof finne in the houreof death, it falles out ofttimcs,that they get not the fenfe of mercie* It may bee, that thou get the fenfe of finne^and be ftricken withafeare,but wiclla defperate feare: for with the fenfe and feelingof finne, if there bee not alio a fenfe of mercie, there is nothing but terrour,and aferuile feare. So thou (halt die like a vile (hue in damnation. So the confeience of this thiefes merite makes him to feare God:& no doubt, hce hath had a fweet fenfe of the mercy of God in Icfus Chrift. But who made this diflference ? It was the Lord : It was Of ' the Passion ' of Christ. Tc was aliapfic thing for this thi^feto be crucified with IESVS CHRIST: for all this flowed out of the Cr off: of IESVS CHRIST* Therefore take vp the lefTon-.Thinke not that in the houre of death thoufhalt bee twitched as thou (houldeft, either with the feeling of thy finneandmiferie,or yet of mercie texxept that thou fureetely turne thee to the Crofle of C H R I S T , and fsy, L O RD, I feele neither fenfe of my meriie, and what my finnes deferues, nor of mercie : LORD, therefore glue mec ir, then the fweetneffe of that fenfe (hall iwallow vp chat paine. No comfort in death but in IESVS CHRIST: except thine eyes r be fet on that Cro(Te,\Yoeis to thee, and woe to thee againe, and better for thee, if thou hadftneuer come in the world. Thou and I 9 fayes hcc 9 ftffir iuflJy t This confeffion vritneffes the inward con- uerfionto IESVS CH RI ST : for when the heart of a (inner is turned to I E S V S C H R I S T , it will taftc a fuch fweetneffe, that the creature will not care by that itbeelhamed,fpitcanget that LORD in whome it feeles fuch a fweetneffe, glorified : it is a fure token, that thefe (hameleffe finners, thefe men who will notihame themfeluesin the fight of the worlde, but will ftand in their pointes of honour, with GOD, thefe miferable foules, thefe bloodic murthercrs, thefe adulterers, tailed neuer of that mercie in IESVS CH RIST. If thou wouldeft haue thy finnes hid from the eyes ofGOD, that terrible Iudge, then open them to the world, that the LORD nuy be glorified rand if thou hidefi thy finnes, the LORD fhall rippevpthy breftin that great daye,and let all the world fee the moft hid and fecret corner of thine heart, to thy (hame and con* fufion. Nowecome to the thirdeargumentofreproofe, and it is taken from the innocencie of Icfus : This is an tmiotent uid wHwan y Yc^ reft thou not GOD, to raile on the innocent: if He were guil- tie, as thou ar.d lam, thy railing were more tollerable, but howc canft thou raile on this joft man ? The leffon is, Iuft ones who luf* fer innocently, (hould not be railed vpon : the L O RD keepe our mouthes from railing on them : if thy confeience tell thee of their innocency.rcuile them not:& a man who fufters^nay be innocent two manner of wayes i for either hoc is innocent in himf '.:c, and not guiltie of that for which hee fufters, or els if hce bee camalefactour, and guiltiej he may be innocent through Faith and f 58 The XVII. LiCTyftK, and repentance through the blood of IefusChrift, asthisthie^i was innocent in Chrift. Now i.famanbe innocent of that crinii for which hec fuffcrs, raile n6t on him on paine of thy life : and i c thou findeft him innocent in the blood of IcfusChriit, and findd fc himtohaue true and vnfaincd repentance in Him, albeit he bo neuer fo wicked, let him die, and Timer thefepaine.s hce (hould fu£ fi fer ; for repentance fhould not exeeme and free him from ciuil< : | punifaroent : but beware thqu : rajie [On himtfurely thy mou^ ihould be flopped ,torailc on: on him. God forbid that aneuil g word be fpoken out againft him as a reprobate, whom the LORD k Iefuscountes innocent. in His blopd:for this railing teftifies that a thou counts that man as a reprobate : and that is too fore a /vidge. K ment thou takes to thee, I fee heere further, the LORDneuci "leaucs His Sonne without a tefhmonie of His innocencie : Pilau euer on teftificd His innocencie before hee condemned Him, and laid, once, twifc, thrife,/jw Hii>.7«26.and He muft bee guiltie in me. Thus farre this thiefe hath vttered that) inward repentance, in rebuking the other for hisblafphemic,and finne, and in confcffing his finncs before the other thiefe and thofe that flood by ; now folio wes the third cfFcft, he turnes him to the Lord , and in allhumilitic fceking remiffion, grace, and life, and fayes, Lord remember me when thou commeft to thy Kingdome. Prayed fhould follow vpon confeffion of finnes: but markc the word, hce calls Him Lord, albeit he faw Him hanging on the tree* there lik« a vile fl iue ? yet he acknowledges Him to be a King, when he afcri- beth a Klngdometo Him, albeit he fees Him hanging there likeai flauc, ycthcaskeslifeofHim: albeit herawHiminweakneffeJn torment, and at the point of death. All thefe things are maruci- lous, Op thi Passion of Chkist. \/t) bus, and ye {hall fee chem the more marueilous, if ye will confidcr fell the perfon of him who prayes, what a man before this time « was, and then what is his eftate prefent, and laft, the perfon of lim to whom he dire&s his Prayer* This his conuerfion was marueilous : if this man ludbecne ainedvpinthefchoolc of Chrift any fpacc of time, it had beenc (Te marueilous i but beeing trained vp in adenne of thicues, here hechad loft all kinde of equitie and naturalitie, where hce ad lmedlikcabcaft, like a lyon, liuing by cutting ofthroates, *eft,andbythe bloodeof mien : this man to be turned from fic'i ti foule heart : to get faith, and feeke mercie fo fuddenly in a mo- lent : fuch fudden mutation is more than marueilous aaJ won- terfull. Then will ycelooketobis prefent eftate : if he had bene free in le body without painc, fo that he had gotten lcafureapd licence * lookc thorow that body tb His Kmgdome, and to that eter nail , ifc: then this doing had beenc leffc marueilous : but beeing nai- \ d quickc on the Croffr, in fuch^xtreamc paine, that might hauc ccupiedand exercifed all his fenfes : and when he is looking and aiti'ng for the hand of the hangman tobrcake him quicke on the V Jroflc, to this man tohaucdriuen hisTettfes, and to haue fct th n a better life, from that hell hec was in, to that heauenly Life, it a$more than wonderfull : and I fay, it was as wonder full, as if he ad leapt out of the lowcft hell, to the higheft hcaucn. Then come to the perfon of him to whome heprayes : if hce kd fcene Iefus Chrift Handing before him like a c lorious King, it idbeencleffctohaiie becne wondered ar t but hec is hanging in ut ihamefull death, and in greater fhamc than he:for they railed otonhim, as they did on Chrift (which, noqueftion, was more kieuous than all torments, as if nee had beent a reprobate from OD ) Sbifhchadfecnenimin glorie,itlud bene nomarudl, ut to feeke life in a man who was dying ignominioufly,and who as hanging inaworfc eftate than nimfcifc, and to hauc pierced toioj.and fecne thorow fuch a cloud of 'ignominie, fuch afaire ife and glorie : I fay, it was more than wonderfull. Furthcr,if he had fcene niin bcfore,and bene familiar with nim, v card Him teach, and had fcene nis wonders, as the Apoftlcs did, had not bene much to maruellat : but this bccir.gthefirftmce^ ng, thefirft acquaintance, and ncucr to hauc fpoken with nim b cforc, , l60 Ttt E X V I I. • LE CTVRHi before, they met in an ignominious Crofle together, then to feek< in fuch a death, fuch a life : in fuch ignominic , fuch glone, it is ; thing more than marueilous, Cameanieof the /earthen, am prayed vnto Him ? Yea , came anie of the Apoftles ? Cameani ofHisDifcipJes ? Came either Peter } or Johnson zJ^fatthcw ? No all were offended with Him. I (aye of this man, to .the glorieo God, .that hee ihamed all that flood by , hee fhamed the Apoftles and made cbtfm to. caft downe their faces : And I faye, he fhames ail men and wojmen, who will not beleeue when they fd Him not crucified, as hee fawe, bui glorified nowe in the Heauens fitting ac the right hande of that Majeftie : (hame fliall light 01 thee, andthisThiefefhall.beefettcvpinglorie, to tcftifieagaini thee, and to condemne thee i*Cor. 1.27. Taul faies,C?0 2 will ratfe vp thinges luitghtie-, tpfodme thiiiges -high in the mride , be- oldtly mother', axdjromthnt hoare, thedifciple taoky her home vmohiuu E e heard the laft day (Bcloued in Iefus)of the re- pentance of one of the Thieues that hung on the CroflewithChrift: in a moment, wonderfully hee begins to be penitent for all his mifdeedes,and for- mer life: and hee vtters his penitencie, and the dif- pleafurc that was in his heart for finne in fundry cf- ■&es : Firtt, hce rebukes bicterlic that blafphcmie that the other hicfe fpeakes out againft the Lord,and faies, Fearefl thon not Cod, eing thou art in the fame elimination? TIhh andlfitffcr jtuc to Icfus Chrift, who hung in the middeft,and hecdireds his layer to Him, and faics, Lord remember tneeyvhenthou commcfltothy fog^iwf. The other^the blafphe;ner,would fainc hauc liued in the /orldc : And therefore , becaufe hee (awe that I E S V S had power to gitic him this carthlic life: therefore, hccblafphe- eth C HRIS T in His face, L Buc 161 The XVIII. Lectvre But the penitent Thicfe feckes not this prefent life , but dcfire; that hee may gccteentrie in to that Heauenly Kingdom?. The lai day I fpake concerning the petition of the penitent Thiefe. 4 re pcate nothing. Onely wonder not at theThiefe,or at fuch arreatf ncft repentance in him fuddenly: but wonder at Iefus Chrift } wh< P in fuch vvjakneffe, hanging Co (hamefully vpon the Croffe, yet vt ^ tered f \ch mercie, and fuch infinite power, yea , one of themoft miferable catiucs that euer was in thcvvorlde* I goe forwards and firft I fhall fliewe you of the anfwere that the Lord giues to th penitent Thiefe: and then I (hall come to the earneftrecommen dation that Iefus made of HisMother Marie, vnto Iohn. Tht Lordanfweres hhnj'enly 1 fay vmo thee jhu day thou (halt be Withme Paradife. The anfwere containcs a promife : and the thing that th Lord promifes, is) Thou fhalt bee with mee : thou feekeft to be with mee in my Kingdome : thou (halt bee with mee , and thoi fhalt bee a fubjeft with mee' and more, a follower: andwherea thou werefta vile Thiefe, I (liairmaketheca glorious King in th]^ Heaucn. And when (hall this bee/* Without delay: it (hall not bet- " morrpwe, or other morrowe, but this fame day immediately tho fhalt bee tranfported to that vnfpeakeable glorie. And where (ha this bee? It (hall bee in Paradife. Thou (halt not goe to Purgato| Di rie, but into Celefti J] Paradife* Of this worde Paradife wee readf; in fundrie places of the Ntwc Tcftameht, as namely, 2. Cor. i 2J (where Pavl fpeakesof hisrauifhing toParadife)andalfo Revej 2.7. Buttoleaue the vvordes, and to come to the meaning : Th Paradife fignifics none other thing, but that Houfe of the Fache in the,which h manfe manfions , as weefaidein thefoureteent; Chapter* Nowe wouldeyeekriowe the place of it? Pavl faiei It is fhrre about theft vifible htanens. where Cbrifi himftlfe AfctndedJzVni 4. to. It isthepliceof the Throne of that Majeftieof thatGIc *J rie, and of that euerlafting reft of the Kirke of I. fus Chnft.and c HisSain&cs , where they (hall reft in a wonderfull glorie euet ftinglie. The worde is borrowed from that Paradife, that Parkf^ of [ lcafure, in the which Adam and Evah were planted, t Hue in a wonderfull pleafurefor eucr , if theyhadftoode withoi jj finne* But to come to the matter* Firft in this anfwere that the Lor -makes to the penitent Thicfe, yee may feea wonderfull rfadineft inChrift P tohearethe petition of amiferiible (inner: for hee h.it feared u Of the Passion of Christ. 163 xrarcely fpoken the wordc , when the Lord makes an anfwererand io marucll; for Hee that preuentcs thee with grace, ere thou thin-"* :eft of grace, Hee will followe after with grace: Hee who giues pace to begge grace, Hee will giuc a gracious anfwere. Roman. !. 26. The Sp trite of G D wterceadetb for vs^ttbfighes vnfyenkfabie. "hat is the firft grace. Then hee fiibjoynes* Tfk Lnrdwboftanketh be hearty k/io)toetbfhe fe'nfe rld>» they would ncucr haue loord or hoped for: Ififljdf it life ( Dies c D*mi } ?fiiL2i / nt to heal I is, egaue me not only a priuace & obfture life ; but a glorious life in L % the x&t Ths XVIII. LlCTVRE, the fight of the people. Befides this eafineffe and liberalise o V the Lord, to grant to apoore man, aboue that that he durft pre fume, Hcprefcribes no time, but this fame day. I know not if h fe durft haue bene fo bold, as to haue fought fuch a time, that fam ni c day* Marke further herc,awonderfull power in the Lord, at tha m time when Hee was in a moft vile and ignominious death, whicl p was the image of Hell, to pull a man quicke on the Crofle, tt ki brcakc Him on a Crofle. The Lord is weakned : the lewes though jck more of the dirt they trode on, than of Iefus : yet ye fee wha pit a wonderfull power which ftrikes out from Him to the thiefe: thi gn is thcpowcrofaKing,Thisday thou (halt be with MeinParadif m What Empcrour durft fpeake this ? Yea, He vttcrs the power c [I GOD Himfclfe : This promife is proper to G O D only, to profeat mife participation of that heauenly Kingdome. What Angel fa durft doe this ? None, but the eternall andimmortall G O D ner r It is true, the LORD Iefus,whilft as Hee hang vpon the Crofle \\ was wonderfully weakned , and that glorious Godhead tha fee dwell in the humane Nature kept it felfe clofle for a time, and hel {m in the beames of His glorie for a time, within thatvaileof Hi isF bodie (for if Hec had not kept cloflfe that Glorie of His Godheac m the world, could not haue crucified Him) yet He kept Him not f s to clofle, but in the Crofle Hce manifeftsHinnfdfe,Hee does the pai k|| ~bf a King, and fought a fiercer battell, than all the Kings in tli i(] world. Hee fought agaipft all the enemies -> and i n the endc He, L triumphes in that Croflq, as in a Chariote, and leades thei L all, as thieues before Him : And if there were no more to fhea L that Hee was a King, than this haftie conuerfion of the thiefdL it may tell you, if Chrift had fuch a powers whilft as Hee hang i b fuch wcaknefle on the Crofle : What power hath He now when H L is in the Heaucn, exalted in the Throne of glorie. If it bee ft L that wee feele not CHRIST powerfullin vsto life, as th thiefe felt. Blame not IESVS, as if Hce wanted power fuff cicnt nowe in glorie, who had fuch power in His humilitie : bi; blame thy felfe : Thou wants that which the thiefe had: tho wants Faith in Chrift glorified : the thiefe may fhame thee, wh belceued in Him, whe He was in extreame ignominie. Then to en all this$ hath bin (poke oft his anfwere in a word.Seeing §Lord lords^ Lord Iefus is fo roadie (Neuer was there King fo ready t heare a fubjeft ; a$ Iefus is;)if thou wereft the vileft bodic that goe athiefi tti l£ i h k to It Of the fassiok of Ckkist, io$ i Thiefc, a Harlot, &c. yet if thou wilt fayc this. Lord, remember t >n mec, and giue mee a part of thy Kingdome : if thou prayeft to ) tf im from a penitent heart, with confidence and affurance, I pro-"~ i wife vnto thee , Heauen and Earth (hall goe together , ere thou airvanteft thine asking. Seeing our Lord Iefus is fo liberall , then Teeke more than enough , more than a Kingdome, and thcu (halt i get more.The only caufe why we want j* in vs, we haue no hearts to J feeke it. And !aft .-Seeing He is fo powerfull, let vs feeke from Him 1 with this affurance, that Hee can giue all thinges which either wee i can feeke, or can conceiue, and that according to Hiseffcftuall apower working in vs. Now I end with this Hiftory of the Thiefe, ) St I come to the other Hiftory, concerning that recommendation chat Iefus makes of His Mother 7Maric y to John, His Dilciple f whora Hee loued.The Lord Iefus hanging on the CrofTe in extrcame tor- ment & paine;Heis not only a fufterer(howb$it indeed He fufteres all extreamitic ) but in fuffering Hee does manie workes : Firft B Hee does like a King,in giuing life and glorie tothcThiefe.All the Kinges in the Earth in their Royall Robes , (hall not doe fo much is Hee did on that vile CrofTe. Nowe next , Hee vtters a vcrie na- ^urall and louing afte&ion to His Mother.who bare Him, when He [s to depart out of this life and to be taken away haftil), He is care- fail how (hee (lull Hue when Hee is gone from her. To come to the tf.ftorie* Weehaut firft the occafion that bringeson this: and fc- :ondIy,the commendation it felfe:and thirdly : how Ihon accepts of lerAs concerning t he occafion:Thereftandcs by thcCrofle,a man Ind three women, whileft the L O R D is hanging quickein ex- :reame torment , Hee fpyes out thefe foure perfons , Marie Hu i/lfotber, and M arie His Mothers Si/lf^r,that is,hct kinfwoman ac- zording to thcr Hebrew phrafc, who was either tbclVije, or the Daughter cfcLofas y wd}s\ arie Magdalene akinde vvoman,out 3f whom He had cuftcn feucn dcails:(kindnefle n ettes kindneill) Their heartes were vvirh Him , howbeit Hee was hanging vpon the Crofle. 1 hen it thou can ft doc no more vnto Him. yet U How Hun with thefe worn . n to the death of tic Cr< flfc There are three ^b ttcr Allies were neuerin theworhhand /ofcw,whomherc becalles the difciplc wh6lefusloacd:thiaftitehc g bin fGofpelj becaufe, a> I fus loucd him entirely fohce Bodes this loue deeply fet'cJ in his foule; & well v; >:e chat finds that the Lord loues him: rll the Kingdoms in the Earth are nothing in refped of chat fenfe. L 3 Well, \66 The XVIII. Lectvke, Wcll,Thefc arc the foure chat are ftanding; by the Crofle, toge* then As for lohn 7 1 fee now ccrtainely this doingofhisin the follow ingiOf the Lord,& this ftanding by theCro(Te 3 (hewes,albdt that Faith inlefus Chrift, id the heart of l$b* $ and all the reft. was wonderfully fmooihcred, for all were offended in Him that night :yet that Faith in his heart was notaltogethcrquenchedj No, it was not quenched in one of the Apoftles, nor in Ttter^ who denied Him, To fpeake of /*fo*,Thinke, ye that except hec had had Faith, that euer hee would haue followed Him to the Croffe, and except hec had beleeucd that Iefus after fuch a death (hould haue rifen againe in glorie, except he had looked for a gloi rious refurrection, that euer hce could haue beholden fuch a refe- rable fpe&acle : Faith gaue him boldneffe to follow Chrift to the Crofle,Hope furnifliedhim comfort, when he beheld Him in ig. nominieand paine.Thefethree women vtters a tender and louinj heart towards Him. Brethren, if there had bene no more, but thi: naturall loue that a mother beares to the Conn? ^tJlf arte would nc« uer haue followed her Sonne, to fuch a vile death, if (lice had no beleeued that death {hould haue turned into fuch a glorious Life Would (he haue flood befidehcrSonne,andfeeneHim torneamf rent quicke in fuch tormentsr What mother would haue done it,! 1 .17*^4.13. ye read what Paul writes to them:/ wouldnot haueyo s ignorant, that yec monrnt not for them which are afleepe, ds tbeGentiU • who are defyerat in their di£j>leafnre. If thou haue but a natural l loucin thine heart,when thou feeft him,or her,whom thou louefi!, depart,that loue (hall worke but impatiencie in thee.& adefperat j difpleafure.that is, if with that loue thou haue no hope of aglon rious refurre£ion,defperate fhall be thy dolour,and it were betccF for thee to want thy naturall affection. Indeede it is true,ou Faitlvand Hope of glorie after this life, will not cxiinguifh the na * turallloue, neither puts it away the dolour that one (hould haue j-jj I defire not that a n^an flhould bee fenflcflfc without loue ♦ and 1 'count more of aftone, than of one without loue, and bcttc^ were it , that that perfon were a ftone So I fay, Faith an * Hope will not extinguiih difpleafure, but it will mitigate itfc | that in a wonderfull heauinefle it will finde joy, and thou wi. . fay, albeit wee fundcr nowe, the day will come, wherein wee (ha I haue a joy full meeting. Gome yet to thefe women:They may teach all men and wome ; .toth th Of the Passion of Chktst. 167 to the end of the worlde ; Thinke yee not, that they fhould hauc bene terrified at fuch a Crofle,and that TOmit (hould haue though: (hameof her Sonne, fo fhamefully tormented, and railed out on by all mcn.Wcll then, if thefe ^omen by the fight of that fhameful death of Iefus Chrift on the Croffc are not terrified nor ditierted from following, albeit they faw His glorie to come, but very ob- scurely , and if their hearts were knit with Him, whilft as Hee hang on the Crofl^and there was neuerabandfofurely knit, as their learts were with Him.Fye on all men and women after thefe wo- Tien, who will thinke (hameof the Crofle of Chrift, albeit they hauc greater prefencc and fight of the glorie of Iefus Chrift, than thefe women had. Shall afillic worde, fhall the fword, (hall the fire, terrifie thee? And if it bee fo, thefe fame women (hailftand Vp and condemnc thee in that great day . Now let vs confidcr thefe wordes, whereby He recommends His mother to John. The Lord, as He is looking from Him, Hefees thefe fourcftanding together, (for wicked fcorners flood together, fo the godly who mourne for Chrift drew together J and Hee dirc&s His fpcech to two of them: Firft, to eJ^rn^and next to lohn i Woman, He faycStlichoUe thy r onne ,poynting to lohn, nottoHimfelfe.This ftilethatHe giuesher Should not be parted by, He calls her not mother, butW&vian^nd :his is thel common ftile which Iefus gaue her, whilft as He was in :hc world: it letsvs fee whilft Iefns was in the worlde, as at all :imes, fo efpectally at thehoure of death, whilft Hee is liuing in :he world, He had His eyesraifedvp from all earthly and carnall :hings,which men in this life count much of,as are,mother,fonne, laughter, husband, wife, kinrcd, Countrie : And by His cxamp Ie, rlee would teach vs, when wc arc here to know none according to :hcflefh:No, not Chrift Himfelfe : for in Heauens there fhall bee neither father nor mother, nor husband, nor wife : but we (lull be ' all olde things which accompanie the olde creature, bieing abo- i(hcd) like Angels in Heauen. Therefore, Iefus, as a patternc,tea~ :hes vs this, to turne away the eye piece and piece from this Earth, & all that is in it, that wc count not much of them, but thatuc behold that heaucnly life/7W. 2 .Cor. 5. 1 6 -When he was fpcakirg nf the redemption that the Lord bought uichHis prccu us blood, ayes, From henceforth lyvill krjoW'e voman accoYilnwtothc fl did krioVo fcfus fomettme< accordn:^ tithe fit jl> ilhm k>;on Htm Sc hec giucs areafon Who ener ts in Chrift, let him bee a :mc^ L 4 tlholde 1M The XVIII. Lectvre, the aide creatures arepafi amy, Mold all things are made new. Fye on thee, that haft thine heart fixed on thefe earthly thinges,andfor«* gcttcft Heauen. This for the ftile that He giues her: Come tothcj words, He fayes, *B ch old thy forme : As if He had faid, Woman, lam to depart this life, and I put lohnin my ftead,and I ordainehinv to take the protection of thee, and todoethedutieofafonne tot thee, in my fteade: then Hee turnes Him to /0JW, and Hee fayes, Bebolde thy mother ; As if Hee had faid, I goe out of the world, and I leauc my mother to thee, and I ordaincthat thou be a fonneto her, and (he a mother to thee, and that thou keepe her, and inter* taine her, fo long as thou and {he Hue together. It may be asked; The LORD 1ESVS CHRIST going to Heaucn, might Hee not from the He&uen haue kept His owne mothers' might Hee not haue taken the defence of His owne mother? might He not haue preferued Her from all dangers? No queftion, He mighti haue kept her well eneugh : yet Fie committes her to lohn, whom //eeloues,becaufe He Joues His mother well, Hee commends heil to a man whom He loued intierely, He will not contcmne theor- dinaric meanes, and manner of doing, this fame Hee does dayly, the L 6 RD I E S VS hath power to faue His Church, and all the members of the fame.* to proted and defend them, but He will notcontemnc thefe ordmarie meanes, He will haue euery one to keepe another, as Hee commended His mother to lohnio bee Jccpt : And woe bee to thee, who may, if thou keepe none : And namely the LORD hath acareof thatinfirmefexe, that women bee kept by the prote&ion of men, who arefaithfull. She who is kept vnder the protefttonof any in the worlde, let her giue Chr ist glorie for it : for it is by His dire&ion : as tJMarn was directed to lohn. Confider heere further :The LORD at this time is in the feruiccof His heauenly Father : and there was neuera man Co occupied in His life, as He was at this houre, and He was neucr fo; occupied all His time,as now : and Hee was now occupied chiefly in fuffering. It is an eafie thing to bee occupied in performing duties of the feruice ofGODi in refpc&of fuffe ring tit is afore thing to fuffer, astobecaft in afire, tobeenailec on aCrofTe : yet in fuffering, albeit He is occupied fo, that He for- gets His owne felfc, yet when Hee Cees His mother, Hee forged not her. I would all men (hculd marke this leflbn: The nuledi« ftionof GOD (hall fall on thefe that deferue the curfeof thcii mother, Of the Passion of Christ, iep mother, who glorie in it, let them glorie in it as they will: our dutie to GOD pre/udges nothing ourdurie to father or mo- ther: thou was neuer fo occupied in the feruice of GOD,as was Iefus Chrift,atthis hourc. who in thefniddeftof all this did His dutie to His mother : and Chrift will let vs fee, that our dutie to our G OD ftands well with our ductie to man. Wilt thou pull the firft and the fecond Table afunder, the one from the other : Wile thou fay, that the firft prejudges the fecond, thou doeftlic: But looke the order: That Christ keepes in thefe duties: doth He firft His dutie to His motherPNo.firft^c doth Wis ducic to His Father : Hee is obedient to His Father, to the death, and in the middeft of that obedience to the Father, Hee doth His dutie to His mother. Bcginne at thy G O D, if thou wouldeft doe thy dutie : and next, come to man, and if thou paffeft by G O D, to doe thy dutie toman, thoufhalt doe nothing of loue, nor of finceritie. Fye on thee, and that loue, and that dutie thou vttc- reft to man : followe not on that loue thou beareft to G OD, and wilt thou fay this : I fee my dutie to the King, and to my father bindes mc,I will doe nay dutie to them,andlaft,I will ferue GOD: any thing will feme Him : wilt thou jeft {o with the LORD, I fay to thee, if thoubeginneft at man,euen at the King, or at thy fa- ther or mother, and poltponc the L ORD, I fay to thee, the LORD will haue none of thy feruice : And if thou hateft not, fayes Christ, father and mother for my caufe, thou art not worthieof mee, Luhg 14.26. Then, what fhall become of them, who preftrre father and mother to G O D, he is but a knaue, that will take on him the name of a Chriftian,and will ferue men before GOD; No, that name (hall turnc to thy (hame. There- fore vnder the paine of thy life, doe thy dutie firft to G O D , and then for GODS caufe, doe thy dutie toman, that GOD may haue the glorie of it.Furthcr,there are fome in the hourc of death that will take folitle care of theworlde, and of them whome they lcaucbchinde them, that tficy are defiituteof naturallaffcSion, that they regard not if they die, though .nil the world fhould fa'l in E one moment: for men wanting that natural] aftlftion, will fay, k What care I if once I bee gone from the world, Nowc there are r others, albeit they loofe not altogether th.it naturall .nflcdion, , who haue their feufes fo occupied, and exert ifed about the pre- , fent paine, that they will not know their parents, kinsfolks, or any that \jo The XVII I. Lectvke, that appertaine vnto them. Who was euerinfuch a paine as Iefus was? And yet out of themiddeftof torment, of blafphcmies, of wraftling with deach eusrlafting, with the wrath of the Father, and with all the Infernall powers, Hee is carcfull of His Mother. No man was euer borne, thathadfucha naturall aftedion as Hee: no fonne in this worlde euer loued his mother fo well as Hee.A nd ex- cept thou be in Iefus Chrift* and He fandific thy affc&ions,thatm thehoure of death thou maycftfleepe in Him fwcetly; either thou (halt loofc altogether this naturall afFe&ion, or elfe it flisll bee fuf- focate : that albeit thy Parentes, and all thy kinred were about: thee, thou (halt haue no care of them : No, thou (halt not once by thine head and countenance vtter anie meaning , that thou haft a care of their wcale. IESVS CHRIST honoured His Mother beyonde anieman,euenontheCroflfe,infuch apaine,andfucha difpleafure. And this teftifies, that naturall affe&ion was greater in Iefus, than in anie mam Further .'Seeing Iefus from theCroffe f in flume, in torment, in that fearefull battel!,&c commendes His Mother to hhtu* it tclles vs, that the duety which wee owe to Pa- rentes,ftandes not in ecremonies/o much as in performing of nc- ceflarie dueties. One word is greater in the houre of death (or the meaneft care; than all that thou couldeft doe being in health. It is faid, Honour thy father, and thy mother. But our lordes and gentlemen thinke it enough to take oft' their hats, and to bowc their knees to them. Standes the honour of thy Parentes in a ceremonie ? Com- mendes God hypocrifief Learne at Iefus Chrift: the honour of thy Parentes ftandes in performing all eflentiall partes of thy duetie to them. Was thy Mother bounde to giue thee fucke? and tobring thee vp in thy youth ? I faye thou art as ftraitly bounde to honour thy Motherland to nouriflie her in her olde age* Woe to them that procure their mothers curfe, and who are not tender ro their mo- thers, and will neither fofter them, nor haue a care of them. This example of Iefus Chrift , which is regiftrate in the Gofpell , fliall beare witneffe againft thee, when thy confeience fhal rent and reare thee. Menarecome to fuch vnnaturalncfle, that the Lyon wasne- uer fo cruell, as men in Scotland, to them out of whofe bellies they came.Now what does lohr vmill the ninth home. 45 *And the Sunne was darkened, and the vaile of the Temple rent throHoh the rmddeu Eloved intheLoRD Iesvs Christ, we haue heard the laft day, that the Lord, when Hee is hanging on the Crofle,Hee was not onely occupied in fuffcring,at the will of His i/eauenly Father; buc alfo Hee was occupied in doing. Firft we heard Hcc did like aking.howbeit He hung on the Croflk like a vile flaue in the fight of the worlde: Yea, Hcc did like God 3 Hcc appardoned the poore Thiefe that hung at His right hand t and was penitent, and fought grace and mercieat Mm forhisfinnes: and Hee makes a promifc to him , that hee Ihoulde bee with Him (hortlyin Paradife. Then nexc wee hearde. that when as fee hung quick on the Crofie,//e did like a louing & kind Sonne to His Mo- ther, who bare Hitn> He recommends her earneftly to be entertai- ned with lohn His wellbeloued difciple. Nowe in this dayes cxer cife wee haue a rehearf ill of other thinges that fell ou when as Ie fus hung on theCrofte: there falters a wonder, there fallesa darke- nefle ac the nopne-tide, the Sunne is obf cured: the time is noted, uhen.atthefixt houre.thefpace of three houres,as we (lull heare.* All the time that Hcc hung on the Crofle, the darknefll continued on the Earth:The next thing wee haue,nameIy,out of Mattbi W and tSWarke^n he.uiiecomplaint,that cheLordcfalles out into when //ee had h*ing on the Croffe about three houres : for Hi e fallcs out in the beginning of the ninth houre into an htauie comprint to His Father, faying , %J7Hy GOD, my CjO D, why haft thou forfa- kenmee} Then yve haue how the letocs mifconftrues the voyce of the! Lord*but firft wcfhallfpeakeof the wonder: there fallcs adarknesml thA Of the Passion of Christ. 175 he vholc land: or as fomc interprets on chc whole earth, the caufe s noted : The Smne which (hoald haue giuen light,;/ cbfcnrcd:& narueilous Ecclipfe contrarie to the common courfeof Nature, fell on theSunne, The time is noted; Whcnit was the fixt houre. Now, Brethren, This place requires, that I fliouldfpeakefome- thing concerning the diuifionof the night, and the day :for this s requifice for the vnderftanding of the Hiftorie of the Paffion of efus Chrift ! the hwes tooke vp the beginning of their night, rom the going downc of the Sunne, and ended at the rifing of the Sunnc : they diuided their night in twelue houres, whether long or (hort : they had a more compendious diuifion, and diui- ded it infourc partes, which they called quatuorvigiliasSouxe war* ches, eucry watch containing three houres ; as for their day 3 they meafuredit from the rifing of the Sunne in the morning, to the going downe : and as they diuided the night : fo did they the daye in twelue houres, whether it were long or (hort : and as they diui- ded the night, fo did they the daye in foure partes, each part con- taining three houres: they called thefirftpartof the day, the firft morning, prima dilmuli^ and the firft houre, albeit it contained three houres, taking the name from the houre where it beganne, the fecond part, which contained other three houres : they called the thirde houre, taking the name from thchourc it beganncat, fpeaking exchfivc, as we vfe to fay: the third part taking the name from the part it begannc at, they called the fixt hourc : the fourth part they called the ninth houre. This much for the di- iiifion of the daye and night, after the fafhion of the feres. To apply this to our purpofe , In this Hiftorieof the PafiTion of Iefus Chrift, yeefliMl findc mention of all thefe foure partes: of the firft, the third, fixt, and ninth. In the firft houre,or in the mor- ning, the LORD IESVS was led into the Common-Hall, to TtUte to bee accufed: His accufation continued the firft three houres, and much of the third houre, orfecond quarter, as wee counted it : His accufittOn continued about the fpace of fiue houres : Then alitlc after the fixt houre in the ende of the thirde houre: as I oh n in his nineteene Chapter fayes , The doorne and fentence of damnation was qiuen our againlt the L O 1\D, In the fame third houre as M akke in his fourteenth Chaprer fayes,ThcLord Iefus was crucified, fotl at He uasboth condem- ned & crucified in the cad of the third houraSo bctwccnc dcuen and J xle F ,•;; 174 The XIX. Licttre, and tvrelue, aftiorc fpace paflfcdbctwcencthefentenceofdamn tion, andthe execution. In the fixe houre, which was the third part of their day: yee fee, there falles out, a fearfull and terrible darknefle on the face of the earth : and according to our account the darknefle remaines from twelue houres, tothree intheafcer- noone, the fpace of three houres : for fo long hang the Lord vponj If theCroffe. Then yeehaue mention here of the ninth houre, the ^ fourth part of 'their day. The Lord then vttered His complaint to His Father t *JMy God, my God y why haft thou for faken meet This isj : ^ according to our account when it was three after nooneraud haltt- ai ly after this, Hee yeeldes His blcffed Spirit in the hands of His Fa- u ther.So the Lordlefus died, andycelded theSpirk,betwcene thrci II and fourc houres afternoone. Now thisfliortly, for the better vn- - derftanding of the Hiftorie. Nowe to fpeake of this wonder andji tf darkncffejHisheauenly Father would teftifieby thisdarkneffe,that;j'f* whilft His glorious Son was humbled on that vile & ignominious; fl Croflfe : & as Taul to the Pbilippians i.fayesWhiift as He was weak- b ned, and made of no reputation, at this time His Father would } teftifie, not onely of His innocencie, as Hee was man, but alfoof $ His glorie,asHe was God. In humbling of Him,the Father would ' glorifie Him .-But will yee looke to the Sunne, and the fenfleflcj I creatures of Heauen and Earth, the very Sunne and lenflefle crea- II tures would teftifie, that they were addebted vnto that glorious; ill Creator: they would teftifie that forrowctKac they had, that thqift Lord of gloriefliouldfuffcrfuch an ignominious death. The fenf- fl leflfe creatures were moued,thc Sunne gloomes,& hides his face aci p that wicked adion : the earth fhiuers and quakes, readie tofwaNl low vp and deuoure thofe miferable perfons : and the Sunne, andl thefenfleffe creatures beginnc to teach that fenfleffc and harde-i ned people, with whom they had to doe.-Not wich a man,but witty the Lord of glorie : but teach what they would teach (heere is a- i miferable example of induration) this mifcrable people foraltjil this darkneffe was notmoued,they would not turne.So,Brethren t | fee what it is once to be giucn to a reprobate fenfe : if the LORD j giue thee vp to a reprobate fenfe, the earth lhall not be fofcnfloffcj as thou:and chough the earth fliould (tend vp and reach thee.thoa'i fhak not heare nor fee what it fayesv Of all judgements that .fallear onthefoule, this reprobate fenfe is the heauieft and moft dange- rous : and if thou continueftin it, it were athoufand times better j for Of the Passion of Christ. 17J )r thee, when thou wereft made a man or a woman, :o hauc bene ladeaftockeoraftone.- for if there be not a wakningin timeout t fo dead a fl^epe, ere euer thou beware, the wrath of God from Le ucn fnall ouertakethce; when thou crieft peace; then fhall the rath come, chou. (halt not get leafure tothinkcof^mcrcie. The ord waken this fenflefle generation, for there was neuer a gentra- on more fenflefle than this generation is, notwithftending of fo iany voyces (ounding,not only vO} ces of men, but of the heauen, ie earth, and fenflefle creatures, 1 will fpeake iparingly of this arkning, and (as the Philofophcr calies it) the ecclipfe of the unne, for it femes not much to edification : Onely thus far, that se may fee the greatnefle of the wonder, and that ye may wonder t the Lord Lfus hanging on the Crofle: This Ecclipfe was not aturall, for the naturall Ecclipfe of theSunne,faIles out, when heMoone is in the changing, at the which time there is acon- urfe and con/unftion betweene the two Flanets, the Sunne, and le Moone : The Moone goes vnder the Sunn^and takes away a rear part of the light of the Sunne from the Earth. But this Ec- ipfe falles out in the full moone. The Law commanded the afleoucr to be celebrate in themoneth of A'/*rcb y the fourteenth ay of their moneth, in the which time, the Sunne and the Moone e as far afunderastheycan be, thconebeeing in the w t Itbehooued o be th^t, either the God of Natute fleered, or els the worhle ibdld fuddenly be diflo ! ucd, and he Ked not. The Lord Tttui the OD ot Nature lufFfed, and th ; tfp an A ! tar then, and froteon it, Totlu ■- God whrrcofyefczdtnxhct/fFfei 17. This for the wonder. Nowektvs con.cro char rh; R in th hourr, tlntiSjOur thiec hourc^aftrrnooi^e.MarkcjThis femes for our edification:} c heard, the Lcrdlcfus u as in extreanN infe- vj6 The XIX. Lectvkb; agonic , and anguifhc in His foulc , and alfo Hce fuffercd great paincinHisbodic: yet all was nothing to that cxtreame bitter^ neffe , that Hce felt in His foulc when as Hee hung on the Croffe. Nowe in this agonie,Hee vtters this voyce with a crie,£/*, £/*,/*- mafabtcbtbmlj that, is , ^JMy Cjod, my God, why haft thou f>rp^en meet Thefe arc the firft wordes of the xx 1 1 . P s a l m e : for *Dauid beein^ the Type of Chrift,and feeling that vexation of fpiric in fomemea-i furc, which Chrift felt out of meafurejieecryes out,<*^/y 6W, m% (jodytyby baft tbonforfi^en me} This place & thefe words miniftcr oc-j cafion vnto vs,to fpeake of the inward conflift & paflion that lefus had in His foule : And, that yee mayc vnderftande this matter the better, I (hall rehearfe vnto you the whole Paflion of I E S V S C H R I S T, in as fewe wordes as I can* Then, the whole life of lefus Chrift whileft Hee wasinthisworldc, was a continuall differing of the burthen of our finnes that Hee bare,and that obe- dience to His Father, required , that not onely in. His life-time fiioulde Hee doc for our faluation : but chiefely, it required, tha^ the Mediator (houlde die* All that Hee did had beene nothing worth to vs , and if Hee had not died : for as the Apoftle faycth , Hebr.Chap. ix. vers. xxii# 2\£fl remijfion offinna wthom blood. Thinke not , that euer thy finnes {hall bee forgiuen thee, without the (heddingof the blood of lefus Chrift:And either thot mud die, or hauc part in the death of the Mediator. The ende oi His fuffering, was theperfeft abolifliing and vndoing of the fince; of theEled, as yee may reade in the ninth C h a p t e r to the H u brevves. Nowmarke againe : This perfect abolifliingand vn- doing of our finnes required a perfeft paflion and fuffering of th^ Mediator. Whether ye looke to the time, it required a perfect rime, or will yee looke to the grcatneffe of it , it required an infinite quantitie of greatneffe : for if it had not bene perfect in time am quantitie, thou hadft neuer beene redeamed. Brethren , that yee maye the better vnderftande the whol< Paflion oflESVS CHRIST, I (lull point out vnt< you the whole manner of His fufferinges : For, why fhoulde wet not knowe this ? Our life ftandes in His death: Hee fuffered al for vs. And I fee thorowe out the Scripture.the whole fufferinge: of Chrift maye bee drawne to thefe three fortes : The firfl is,Th< Lord lefus fuffered temptations: Secondlic , The Lord lefus fuffe red frame and ignominie : the G O D of glorie fuffercd fliamc How Of the Passiom of Christ.* 177 [owe agree thefe two together, Shame and Glorie? The thirde, heLORD IESVS fuffered paine, and that verie grieuous ainc in foulc and bodie: I (hall-goe thorowc all thefe three kinds f differing (hortlie, and folfhall make an ende : And firft, to ttake of thefe temptations fhortlie. I call the temptations that he LORD differed f thofc tryalles of Him, by the Dcuill His nemie , for hce let Him neuer reft, ( and woefull was that batteil hat Hce had with him on the Crofle ) and His temptations by the ninifters of the Deuill in the worlde, who folicitated Him to lcaue iis GOD, euen fuch temptations as wee are fubjeft to in this rorldc, onelic except finne: forHec knewe nofinne i there was lot one fpottc of finne in that holie One; and fo Hee was not fub- eftco thefe foule moticfns,& inwardc temptations, as weare, who Jarc not face the Sunne nor the Moonc.And wherefore differed rlee all thefetemptations? Euen for thy caufe: the cndeofallHis uffering was, 'that Hce might fuccour all them who were tempted rither in bodie or foulc. Heb r , Chap, i.verf. i8« Art thou temp- ed : if thoucanft haue recourfe to Him , who was tempted foe ►hy fake, Hee will pittie thee : As Hce fuffered, and was tempted, "o by His differing, Hee hath learned to pittie thee. Hee whone- lcrhath taftedof mifcrie , hcecannotpittiethemidrablebodic: \nd therefore, when thou arc tempted, goe to CHRIST, and "aye, LORD, thou waft tempted as I am>thereforc, now helpc ind fuccour mcc. Thus farrc for the firft fore ofChriftes fuffe- 'inges. The feconde fort was His (hame and ignomin!e,that open igno- ninie that He fuffered^fpeciallic on the Crofle, Whether ye looke 'o His accufation, (they accufed that moft innocent One, as a vile inner) or whether ye looke to all thefe falfe Teftimonics that were brought againft £/im,or yet whether yee looke to the tauntes and nockinges that Hce fuffered, and to that fpitting on His face, and >lafphemicsvpon the Crofle. In all thefe yce (hall fee that (hame Vc fuffered for our finncs. The Apoftle, Rom AK.Cbap.i^.ve>f. j . aics , lefks Cbrisl, when bceftas in the w^rldt^hee fp,irednot y nor hee plea- ded not himfelft, as wee doe : but, as it ss written. The rebukes of them Which ebnkt thee fill on me. AH thefe defpites thou fhouldcft haue fuffered, )ut the L O R D E Hce tranflated them vpon f/imfelfc. O the hame that the (inner fhouldc haue differed, and if the LORD t E S YS had not taken ic off the backe of the (inner , and M laydc i 7 8 The XIX. Lictvke, laid it on His owne backe, Come to the laft fort : 7l~ou who wouldeftbec freed of paine^ either in bodie, oribule : Markethe paincof the Lord, lay holdeon it, and apply it tothyfoule : fofL othcrwife, Nothing tlrul! remaine tor thee, but p^inc euerlaftingar ly : all the kingdomes of the vvorlde {hall not faucihee. Then ihdf Lift fort, waspaine and doiourin body,and paine and dolour iiif foule, but in the foule chiefly : Looke to the time of it, from Hillf? fi:ft conception, to His hft breath : fcarcely was the Lord weBr borne when thorow the peifecution of Herode theTyranne, Hi$f mother was compelled to flee with Him to Egypt, from that timl //e was vnder continuall affli&ion, whilft as Hee entered into till £ thirtie ycere of His age, when //ee takes vpon Him the part of I Mediator for mankinde : from this foorth (for/^ee liued after thil fpacc three yceres, and an halfe) His paine grew, and increafed ijr body and foule : and ay nearer the laft houre tfisdifplcafure andj paine grew the more Now, Brethren, we (hall fpeake fhortly of thefe paincs and dov lours that the Lord fuffered in the time of thefe three ycere*, an| an halfe ; for the Gofpell makes mention of that fuffering: durinf this fpace, the Lord lefus is in continuall paine both of body a foule: not in body onely, but chiefly in the foule. His paine duri this time is chiefly that inwarde anguifh : all His p2ine was for o finnes: ifyee compare the foule and the body together, the foul< is ten times worfe, and more finfull than the bodie : the foule h nothing but a finke offinne: allfinneproccedesoutof chat ftiri- f king puddle of the foule: The body hath no life in it, but that| which it hath of the foule : and therefore feeing the Lord offcrecf Himtofufferfor our finnes, Hecbchooucd to Lffer chiefly in thij] foule* What (hall r fay of the impudent Fapifte, who maintained dodrine, that the Lord fuffered not that in ward paine of the foule O/thatthcy darebefobolde, astoauouch fuchdo&rine again! the manifeft wordes of the Holy Spirit: Theyknowenotwha finncis;They knowe not what is the greatneffe of theeuillo fmne,orthcIuftice of GOD : and Iaftly they know not what i themereieof IESVS CHRIST, Inawordelproclaimebotj before GOD, and His Angels, the Pope and his (haui lings ar open enemies to the Croffe of C H R I S T, if it were but in this that they take away the chiefc part of His fuffering- Bee thou Of the Passion of Christ. irp lapirt,if thou continueftin that fantafiv, thou (hale ncuer hauc no arc, nor portion of His fufF.ring. Concerning the fuffering of His bodie, and of that ignomi- ious death of theCrolfe, wee hauc bent fpeaking; Onlynowcl \A\ point ou t the ground whereupon the fuitcrings of the LORD tifes.Fir[t,they rile of thac natural! infirmitie : He was an infirmc ian without finnc : He hungrcd,as we doc, He thirfted, as vve,and hrough trauelling (Hee reded neuerdaye nor night) and fojour- ied through the world : Hee wearied, as we doe. Then another ground was, that fadnetfeand hcauintffjof t!:c ou!e : Hee was in acontinuall fadndTe: there was ncuerfofada nan as He was : we read that He did weepe, but we neuer read that lee did laugh. And thinke not, that when the foule is in hcaui- icfle, that the bodie can bee well. And lad, His fuffering pro- cededof a violent dealing againft Him : and nayling Him on the Troflc: (who was fo violently handled, as the LORD •£ jlory was.) I leaue this, and we will fpeake of the dolours which Hee Pilf- ered in His foule: Fir ft, the LORD IESVS, whilftasHee raudled vp and downe amongft His people, Hee was in a conti- luall difpleafbrc. When Hee looked vponthat obftinate peo- ple, #ee was fad when Hee entred in IcriffzLw y Hce wepesand ayes, Iernfalem, lerufalem l faine would J bane gathered) ju, as a hemic rather etb her birdcsvnder her wkt£S % but thou rvouldcsi The mode fpeciall gricfe that the LORD fuftercd in His bule, was thac which Lukfin his twentieth two Chapter names an agonie, chat is, an anguith in the foule, and anhcauiepaine proceeding from a battell that Hee had in His foule : it proceeded void the wrcftling with the wrath of GO D , and infinite wrath) with Hell, and the powers of it, with death not temporall, juteuerlaftingly. Novvc thissgonie f/cevctcrs in the Garden, when Hee fayes, islfy foule is heame on all fides, cuen to the death. That vvorde was :xpre(Ted out of that bitter anguifli that Hee had in His foule, rhilftHcfpakefo. To fpeake of the time of it, I am of that nr.inde, thstic was lot only when /7ec was in the Garden, but before in the twelfth Chapter of lobn, when Hee was fpeaking to H\% difciples Hcc fayes, t^/> foule is ttrMtd : And Hee turnes H:in to His 1 athcr, M z and i8o The XIX* lectvre, andHec fayes \ Father fane meefrom this home, yet the nearer He I drew to death, it grew greater and greater : >it was greater in the 1 Garden, than it was of before : but now on the Croffe, when Hee $ faide, My God, my (]od why haft thou fotfaken Ddee i it was the grca«* ,j teft of all* I will fpeake fomething of this , I will certifieyou> s the fpeciall vnderftandingof the fuftering of Iefus Chrift ftands in the knowing of this inward agonie which IESVS CHRIST^ had in His foule : and if yee knovvc not this, yee know nothing of |( His fuffering : it is true, that no tongue is able to tell it: No,all , the tongues of Angels : the heart of man, nor Angell, is not able. c toconceiue the greatneffe of it. The wordesof the Scriptures^ expreffe not the greatneffe of the anguiih but fo far foorthas thei LORD will giuc mee the grace, I will fpeake fomewhat of it. In the wordes that the Spirit vfesin the Scripture yee fhali! findethis: The LORD fuffersa torment in His foule: then yte (hall fee in the wordes, an exceeding greatneffe of the anguiQi in the foule : and laftly, yee fhall fee in the wordes oC the Spirit*) not only that We fuffered anguiQi in the foule, and the greatneffe of it, but the very degrees and partes of it particularly. Firft,goeto theoldeTeftament,in the fiftieth and third Chap- ter, and fifth verfe of the prophecie of Efay, hath thefe wordes^ It plcafed the LORD IEHOVAH, to breake Him, the! wordes importcs, not only the breaking of the body, butalfo oil the foule. Then in thehundreth and fixteeneT^/w^and at the fifth verfef Dauid who was a type of CHRIST fayes, The forrowes cf death hauc compared tJMcc , and the avguifl) of Hell hath ouer* taken tJWee ♦ Thefe wordes importenotonely a bodily fuftcringi but they importe an anguifli in the foule. Come to the Newe Teftamcnt* tJMatthewm his twentieth and fixt Chapter, tJftfy foule is hemic and compaffed to the death. Woul- deft thou haue the greatneffe of it, Wee fayes, On all fides : And whereto? Euen to the death: not of the temporall death, but cucn to the death of the foule. Then Lake in his twentieth and two Chapter fayes, Hcewas tn anagonie : Wee was in anguifli, Wee was wreftling. With whome was this ? His difciplcs were away from Him : There was no man with Him. It was vviththt wrath of the Father from Weauen with a wrath vnfpeakable, litter i. zsifas fayes, GOD ray fed Hira vp from death, and Of the Passion ©p Christ* iSi tnd rayfed Him the doloures of death , beeing loofed , He could lot bee retained with them* The vvordes in their owne language s, «JW, andfignifies extreame dolour, like as a woman hath ia >earing her birth. The Spirite of G O D vfeth to expreffc the >aineof the Hell in the fouleby a fimilitude of a woman who rauelleth in birth : for of all paines in the bodie, it is the grea- eft and foreft, and yee that hauc felt it, yee knowe, that yee could iotliue, ifitconrinucd with you. lThessalon. Chap. v e r s.. 3* Hee fettes downe thepaine of Hell, by that fimili- ude , When they JJiall fay e , Teace , then/haH come the fuddamc dclonre fon them , like * woman trauclling , then foall they not efcape. And *1 a r k e , C h a p. 14, vers. 33. comes on more particulate, nd faies , 2\£a onelic hee had apainein the foulei but alfo hee fettes ownethe degrees of the paine. The natiue Language is mode >roper , »f ?*r# fx3-jp(»0-$* • that is, Hee beganneto-bee afiomjlxd: nd then, cth^omv , Hee begannctobee in a grieuous and ex- reamc angmfte. When the wrath beganne to preffc downc the bule, then the anguifhe arofe, and the cxtreamitic of painc. But I haue the opening vp of all thefs wordes vntrll the next >ccafion , and fo to ende : As wee fpeake of the fuftering of CHRIST, Sol befeech GOD to open ourfou!es,andour icartes, to feele it : For there is no life , but in His fuffering* And he L O R D E giue vs g**ce> that our heartesmaye take faft lolde of his fadnefle and dolour to our joye cucrlafting. To this O R D E bee Honour and Praife, for euermorc. AMEN. M } THE Fol. 182 I 46 HE XX. LECTVR OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST. Matth. ^hap. XXVII. t/fni about the ninth hoptre I^frs v s ayed Vvhh a loude Voycel , flying* Eli, Eli, lam asabachthani/ that, is % sJlfy met ? H e lafl: daye (welbeloued in Chrift) vpon occaJ fion offered in this place, wee began to rehearfe ouer a4l the whole Paflion of Chrift : and wee brought the matter to that agonie , and that inl warde anguifli of the foule, which the Lord fuffe- red,befide all the outward paflions of His bodie, efpecially during the time of three yeeres and an haIfe,to wit,the time in the which Hee bare openly the office of a Mediator betwixt God and man* Nowe as the Lord will giue vs grace,by occafionofthis voyce,wherby the Lord vtrercd this hea- uic complaint to His Father,bcfore He yeeldc vp the ghofte,when He faxes, My (jodjnyCjod&byhaft thouforfuken ^. ? we (hall fpeake this day of that inwardcagony and anguiflhe of the foule that the Lord was in, when Hecvtteredthis voyce* I perceiue three groundes whereby we mayebeeaftleinfomemeafure(for who is able to ar- taine to the perfed knowledge of the greatnefle of chat agony that the Lord fuffered?) to come to the knowledge of that agony. The firft grounde I (hall takeout of the vvordes of Scripture,vvhereby that agonic is exprefled. The fecond ground I take from thefe ef- feScs.that the Lord vtrered, partly in prayer, and partly in heauie complaint in that agonie, And the third e ground I ftiali take from our Of the PaSsion of Christ, iSj ourowne feeling. What auailes all the knowledge in theworlde without feeling of HisPa(Tion,andof His Refurreftion/ Then to goc forward in order,and to-open vp euerie one of thefe grounds: Thelaftday I began to bring to you the words of Scripture, fomc out of the old Teftimet, & fome out of che New,by the which this inward agony f the Lord fLflfred in his foule is exprefled mod viue- Iy# Icited to you chofe words thatareinthe 53.cA.zp. of f/"^, where there is a viue and liuely prophefie of Iefus-to come into the world: TbeLird(&ics the Prophet )t*ohs pleafore u break him .1 his breaking is not onelyofthebody on theCroffe, but chiefely in breaking of the foule: for the foule of Iefus was rent with forrow. Then I cited out of the ii6.tfalmc>thc words of D^i^being the type ofChrift: The dolours of death haue compared mcjtbefnTdtocs of Hell banc ouertzkert-* tne. Then I came to the Gofpel of Af-tttbtw, and I cited thefe words Out of the 2<5,Ch ap« My foule is hemic on all fides to the death. There is the heauineffeof the foule,andan heauineflc without any joy, and a heauinefle to death , euen to euerlafting death* Then I came to Z/%,who in his 2 2. Ch ap« hath thefe wovdSyvfttd he was in an agony: there is a battell.But wherein the Garde AVith whomf None wag fighting with Him.-no man was neare Him. Whom with, but with the heauie wrath of the Father,that He felt in His fouJe.'In the 2 .of the Acts I cited the wordes oiPtttrjrhome Godraifedvp agaiNcJfchtn He hadloofed the dohurs of death: The word in its ownelanguaguc fig- nifies that paine that women fufter in trauclling,wherby the Scrip- ture vfes to cxprefTc the paine of Hell. And laft of all I came to the words of Mark*, in his /a. Chip, where be not onely vtters this in- ward paine that the Lord had in His foule, but alfp the greatnefle of it,and che degrces^and partes thereof. The wordes are, When the Lord \\*as in the Garden, he began to be afraid^and aflowJJ)ed } andthen to bee in a wonderfuUhcauhieJfe.Ihe wordsin their ownc language are more fignificatiue* Nowe Brethren, wee ftiall examine and weigh thefe wordes of t&farlg'Thc firfl word that eJlfark: >C:s fignifcs an aftoniihment, a fejrc, and an horrour, whereby the Lord in the Garden u as trou- bled fuddenly from the Keaucn.fo that all the members of His bo- dic fhooke and trembled It is not a matter of jeftes: it arofe vpon a fenfe of the wrath of God comming from Heme, aad a moft vehe- ment fenfe thcrcof.that lighted on /Vim fuddenly,becaufc Hce bare cur finnes;and this terrible wrath oucr- tooke all the powers of His M 4 ule mf Ihb XX, LectvriJ foule, and occupied them . Brethren, I take this to be none other thing, but that firft ftrokeof euerlafting death, whereby the repro- bate (hall bee ftricken in the firft entrie to f/ell, when they feeiit. their head firft to /fell, the wrath (hall fo ftrike them, that all the! powers of the foule (hall be dammiftied . The fuffcring of Chrift in His foule is the viue image of the fuffering of the reprobate in flell.And it is it that Taul'm the i . Epiftle to the Theffalonians, fets downe, When thty (hall crie peace ,e£r all things] are fure, then fnddende* flruBion approaches : the wrath and vengeance from //eauen lightest on fuddenIy;fo that all the hairesof their heads (hall ftand on| end, and it fhall comevpon them fuddcnly.euenas thefhowresl and dolour, comes on a woman who is trauelling in birth, I cat; giue no better example of it, than ye haue in the Prophecie of Da* niel, it) 'Selfbdiftar the prophaneraan, he is fitting with his Princes* bankctting and prophaning the holy veflelsof theHoufeof the Lord, What falles out ? hee fees come out of the wall fuddenly , an hand writting,hefees it not fo foone,(loo!c the firft ftrokeof HclJ buc he is ftricken wirh afeare & horrour,his knees lLiuer & fmite one another, & he becomes like a dead man: a viue image of f/ell , This for the firft worde that aJlfdrke vies, and the firft patt o£ that agonic that 1ESVS CHRIST fuftered for vs in His foule. Now wee haue to weigh the fecond word, Hee fayesi Hee beganne to bee aftonifhed, and to be in a wonderfull heauinefle, The word in its owne language fignifie* an extreame paine in the foule : Who is able to tell it f ( The Lord faue vs from the extrea- mitie thereof) it rofe vpon that horrible wrath that He was ftric- Icen with ? and was lying on Him, and prefling downc His foule : Firft, Hee was ftricken, then the heauie wrath of GOD lyes ftill en the foule, fo that Hee hath dolour in His foule, that all the powers of His foule is full of wrath. Who can beare the wrath of the Omnipotent GOD: No,not CHRIST as#ewasman only, no not all the Angels in //eauen : The LORD faue vs from it* When the wrath of the great GOD ftrikes on any in the Hell, all the powers of the foule faile, and all leaue off to doe their duties, beeing full of difpleafure. It is a marvellous thing fforascarefuil as the LORD was wount to bee of the redemption of man, for that was His only care night and day, it was //ismeateanddrinke) yet all that care was nowcaway, and tfe forgets it, and /ftc falles out in a Prayer, Of the Passion of Chris t.^^T?^ and Hee fayes, Take amy this ch«pe from Mcc : and that was the cuppe of His PafTion for our Redemption :yea#ee bids His Fa- ther take it away, which if it had beene taken from Him, neucr a foule (hould haue beene redeemed: Confider then, if f/eewas in an agonic, or not ; when Heeforgate the worke of our Redemp- cion. Now we muft not thinke that this forgetfulnefle came of (inne (our forgetfulnefle comes of finne) the Holy one had no finne: but it rofeof an infirmiticof Nature, wherewith Hee was cled for our iinne. Yee fee, if a man be in a diflrefle in the foule the fcnfc$,and all the powers of the foule are fo occupied about that forrowe, that they forget their owne functions and opera- tions, to helpe the part that is diftreffed : Euen fo it was with the LORD: for when for our finnes Hee was vnderlying the wrath of that omnipotent Iudge,allthe faculties of His foule, His vn- demanding, HiVmemoric, &c, left all their funftions, that all might concurre to helpe Him in that common agonie. Well, Brethren, if yee would fee Hell, yee haue here the viue image of it: The reprobate after that at thefirft they are aftonifhed with the fudden wrath: as they continue in Hell, their dolour and paine lhalleucrbeaugmented: the wrath lhall ftill lyevpon them>likea mountaine tumbling on them, and preffing them euer in foule & body : fo that they remaine euer in this euerlafting paine. Chrift made an end of it: but if thou be a reprobate : this anguifh {hall ne- uer leaue thee. Oh ! that the world will not know this, and once panfe on it : would they then, thinke ye, runne to a'l mifchiefe as they doe. And if once thou be caftmtoHdLmountaincs of dolour, and heapes of wrath (hall be heaped on thee for euermore.Thefe arc two parts of that Hell that # thc Lord luflers mow would yee haue the thirde part. I remit you to the 5,Ch;ipter to the I where there Tattl fayes, that the Lord when Hat prayed in the dayes ©f His flcih,with ftrong cries, and with te ares, Hee was heard: He had a terrible feare, befide the prefent paine: He was in a feare of a greater danger to infue.lf thou goeft to Fell once, befide the prefent paine that thoufhalt beimAnd, O the weight of that paine that fhall be on thee ! thou fhalt euer haue a terrible feare of a greater paine to fall on thee, y paine of Hc\\ is not ended in a moment, butyihalt findc the paine growing euerLftingly, &a mountaine of wrath fhall come after another,sts $ vva ucs of thefca following one another* It is a fore matter to be in this paine eucr- Jaftingly. No-y 185 The XX. Lectvre, Now* we haue heard the firft ground out of the wordes ofch Holy Spiric : Come to the fecond ground. When He was in the agonic, He vtters fuch cfFefts, that they who few Him, and hear Chapter 3 .fayes.f/r counted all things to be butloffe and dtwe, that he m Him i that is, Iefus ChriftThe he fets down the. parts of this know- ledge that I may know Him, & the veruic of Hisrc(urrcvfti6,&: the comunion of His PafTions, 3c be made conformable to His death. VVherin (lands y knowledge of the rcfurre&ion of Chrift?It is not eneugh to know it only .-The knowledge (lands in afedingof the force of the glorious refurrc&ion in thine heart, and thot feelethcolJe canker of finne mortified, and thec to bee qv.k 1 . with a new life to liuetoGod. And likewife wherein fl knowledge of His fufferin^? It ftandsofthe feeling in thine i of the mortification of finne: Thou muftfede a regeneration in thec lifejo rift isfr ill The XX. Lzcrvnt] thi=c, or cl(b thou Feeleft nothing , and thy foule fliall get no howbdt thou kneureft all the Bible: All this knowledge of Chr: but a dreame, without a feeling: and thou art but flceping, except thoufindefta vertue proceeding from Hisfufteringtothy foule,to reforme it.But to fpeake of that feeling-knowledge of Iefus'Chrift fa who died for our finnes : Howe (halt tHou find and feele in thineff heart thatHee fuffcred anguifhe for thy finnes 3 not onely in bodie, but alfo in foule ? I thinke there (houlde bee no bodie , but they J 1 Ihould bee meditating on an anfwere j I {hall tell you, how I, and) l [ thou , andeuerieone of vs (hall feele that curfeand malcdi&ion that Iefu s fuftered, and that was layde on Him for our finnes. If If finde in my foule in fome mcafure that wrath for my finnes, which Iefus felt in full meafure (Lord faue vs from that meafure) if I tafte and getaproouing of that bitter cuppe of the wrath of God, that Iefusdrankethcdreggesof, and all for my finnes: if I tafte of it, and put it to my mouth i when I feele this waye and tafte, I will begin and reafon : If I finde my finnes and the burthen thereof fo heauie, that I can fcarcely bearc one finne among a ihoufsndjea, though it werebut an euill thought ; If I finde the burthen of my finnes fo heauie, who am but a man , O howe heauie muft all the finnes of the Ele£tbee,that Iefus bare on His backe ! ( Looke how I come to His feeling from the other* ) Then I will faye, O howe heauie were the finnes that I E S V S bare on His backe ! And then 1 fliall faye , If once I can but tafte oncdroppe of that wrath that followes my finnes, and findes it to bee fo bitter: (Let them tafieof that cuppe who will,they neuertaftedof fo bittera thing) Then will I faye, O howe bitter was that full cuppe of wrath whereof IESVS drankeout the dreggesand all , feeing one droppe of it is fo bitter in my foule. There wee come in fomc meafure to the feeling of that bitter wrath that IESVS felt. Beholdethe dealing of G O D with His owner for although He louedthemneuerfo well, yet Hee will let them feele the burthen of their o wne finnes in fome meafure,& He will tye the burthen of them on their ownebackes,whileftthey grone and peach: and He tvill touch them with the fenfe of wrath from heauen . and that to let them vnderftand howe fadde and heauie a wrath it was that Ie- fus fuffered for our redemption* And when wee feele anie burthen for finne, let vs run ne ro meditate on the fore burthen of I E S V S CHRIST, oreifethyfidkneffeand thy trouble is not fandified to thce t Of the Passion of Christ. i8j ro thee , if thou feelcft not that lefus Chnft hath borne the burthen ofthyfinnc.Wtll,Brethren.this is a way, whereby wee :ome to the feeling knowledge of the paine that CHRIST ruftercd,and this is bitter. But there is a fwceter manner: If I tele that fwecte mercie of G O D in mine heart, and chat peace 3f confeience in my fbulej will beginnc and reafon with my fclfe iftcr this manner: This mercie that I taftc of, this peace ot con* cience that I haue , this joy and gladneffethat I tafte,it behoo- icd to proceede out of the maledi&ion , and out of the wrath hat lighted on my Mediator, it had beene vnpoffiblefor mee to rafte of mercie, if my Redeemer had not drunken out that full uppe of wrath. And I (aye, indeede to thee, if the Lord lefus Chrift had not drunken out that cuppe of the wrath of God, there had ncuer beene fuch a thing, as any joy, or any piece of confeience in this worlde, nor in the worlde to come, if it had not :>eene ranfomed with the precious blood of lefus Chrift, there is not one droppe of grace, peace or joy, but that which is bought and which the blood of lefus Chrift, hath payed for. Alas , if the \rorld could vnderftand howedeare one drop of grace is:No, ere one drop of grace earnest behoucd the Lord to be taken, & put in the wineprcflc of /fell, & tread on, & tramped on with the feete of the wrath of God /for this Iuftice of God who was offended, flbould ncaer hauefuffered one droppe of grace to come, if it had not beene fatisficd by the blood of the mediatour. Now to ende this purpofe, I know perfectly that all this fpeech of the Crofle, is but fooliftineffe to the wife of the world : lhefc wife Heades who compaffe the Worlde with wifdome, all is but fooliihneffc to them. It is fooliflinefic to them who pcrifli, as JP^/fayes,2.^r.4 f 4*IfthoufindefttheCrofleofIwfusbutfooliih- jieffe,take theeadoome :thou fhalt perifh,all the world (hall not faue thee:& againe by the contrary fayes Pdut^hcfccccb of the Croffc is thc\\\'fdomc of Cod y Cr the poWcr of GodtdtbtmVtbQ me fjUid.&\\ is but fooliQinefleinrefpeftoftheCroflerall theflrength&mishtof the world, & things vndcrHeaurn is but weakneffe, in refpeftoflcfus Chrift,and/fisftrength. Ifthoucountcft the fpeech of theCrofic, to be power & wifdome : afiurc thy felfe,thou haft an earnellpen- nie, that thou (halt get life, & blcllcd is that foulethatdelitcs to heareof yCrofTc of Chrift,& counts it to be the power & wifdome ! cf God, which Qiines wonderfully in this bafe Croflc;$wifdomc of God ipo The XX. Lectvr!, GOD fhined neuerlb in the creation of theHeauens,andof th worlde,3s in the vile and abjed CroiVc of I e s v s Christ. Th power cf Go d Giinednot To much in creating chce of nothing as it (hines in thy redemption : The more fooliihe that this mcani is that the Lord vfes in redemption, to wit, a fillie Croffe 5 the; morcbafcitappearesto bee, the greater is the glorie of the wife* dome of God, who wrought fuch a great worke of redcmp:ion thorow fuch bafe meanes. J fay 7 the morcinfir me that this means is, ( for what is more infirmc than a fillie poore man , or a vildj Croffc?)the power of God appearesy-greater,who hath wrought fuch a glorious worke out of fuch a bafe meane. And I faye, if thy redemption had beene wrought with a glorie, as the Icwes and the Gentiles imagined , if G o d had yeelded to their fantafie , and wrought our redemption by a glorious meane, that glorie of God had beene obfeured, and the meane had gotten all the glorie. Butf* it hath pleafed the Lo rd to workc this worke of redemption i and faluation by bafe and naughty meanes,thatthe world refped* no more of,than the dirt which they treade on. Lookc what is the difference betwixt the wifedome of God, and the wifedome o man : Will yee looke to the caufe of our redemption , to I e s v s C h r i s t , or to the Profeflbrs , and to Minifters , they are th< foolifhcftin thevvorlde: fillie bodies , and compare them wit potent men, they are but contemptible , and of no valour : and; compare them with wife men, they arc butfooles. So looke to the, Croffe,and to the Minifterie thereof, whereby wee are faued , al is weake,bafe 3 and contemptible : and all to this ende, that the Lord onelie maye gette the glorie: and , as the A p o s t l e< faies, He that* glorieth^ way onlie glory in the LO R7): And let cue* rieoneof vs giuc glorie to that Lord of Glorie: Towhomc with the Father, and the Holie Spirite i bee all Honour and Praifc 1 for euermorc. A 'M E N. T H I I Fol. 19 1 THE XXL L E C T V R E. OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST. Matthi Chap, xxvii. 47 ^Andfome of them tbaLfloodthere, when they heard k,faide> This tanculleth ELas. 48 And flraigbtway one of them ranne, and locks * $""£*> an & (died k with vineger % and put it on a rccde, andgaue him to dm ke. 49 Other [aid* Let be: let ys fee if Eliot Will come and fane him. yo Then Ufa oyed agtine with a loudc voyce>£r ycelued zp t he ghoft, Marke, Chap, x v. 35 And fome of them t hat, flood by } whcn they hcdrdit } faid } Tieholde % ee calleth ELas. 36 Andorra Anne , And filled a fyunge full ofvinegtr, and put it on 4 'cde, andgaue him to diin\e .faying, Lit him done : let vsfec if Eh as mil ome, and tube htm dc\\?ne. 37 *4nd lejujcryedwitba loudc voyce, and gaue vp tbegfoft, Lvke Chap, xxiii, 46 And Icfus cryed With a lou.de voyce , andfiide , F~ t her y into : landesl eommendemy Jptrite* Andwhcn hee hadthtts JtidJ.ee £*t{ vp the bofl. Iohn Chap. xix. 2 8 After, when Iefuj kpcVti that, all xhtnges were perfemed, that, the crtpturc might bee fulfilled, he: [aide, I tbirjl* 29 And there \\>*t ftt a vejjell , full ofvi*e£er t and they filled a fpyngc tab vineger, and put it about an hyffope flal^e y . is moujy jo T^owwhenlefu* bad received of the vinigerjjee faid } lt t.fwficd, \nd bowed hts heady and gauc vp the gbo j i Dymng Ip2 The XXI. Lbctvrb, Vri ng the time that the Lord Ie s vi hun quickeon the Crofle, which was three houres , an large more, yec may reade (well-beloued in Chril fundrie voyces that He vctered. When I Iooke the rowc the foure Euangeliftes, I finde in number fix* fundrie voyces,aod cuery one of them is well to b marked: for at that time Hee vttered nothing in vaine. The fir voyce wee reade of, was a voyce of diuine power , together wit : mercy, when one of the Thieues, who hung at His right hand,fai to Him , Lord remember me, \»hen-> thou commeft to thy Kingdome: TU Lordanfwered him like a King, and Jikeapowerfuiland merciful God , Vcnly J fy vnto thee, this day thoufljtlt bee With mee in Paradtft The next voyce , was a voyce of humane pittie, and naturall aflfe £tion toward His Mother: (lie being by the Crofle with hhru, an< other women,He recommendes her to the cuftodie of His wellbc loued Difciple* The thirde voyce wee reade of, was a voyce of fad nefle, proceeding from an heart that was fadde on euery fide t< the death, and from that agonie on the Crofle, *JWy g<>d y myGo4 s vpby haft thou forfdken wee I The fourth voyce in like manner, was " voyce of fadnefle,proceeding from awonderfull heateih the foul c and body, IthirB* The fifth voyce by all appearance was a voyce c ! joye , feeing the worke of Redemption to bee wrought, and th l0 wrath of His Father tobeaflwaged 3 Hefaies,after Hehaddrunke ' the vineger,^ isfimfticd. The fixt and laft voyce in like manner wa 3! a voyce of joye: for finding Hee was to giue vp the ghofte irnmc 21 diately,and finding His Father fweetly to loofe His foule from Hi u bodie^e faics, Father , into thine hands I commend myjpirit. ^ Now Brethren,all thefe forefaid voyces the Lord vttered during the time that fifehung qnickon $ Crofle: Of thefe we haue hearc * the firft^he fecond, & the third, which was that heauie complair |ii that Hcz made to His Father, tJM'y C fpeake fomething of the mifconftruing of the complaint of tfcK Lord vttered to His God. Nowe the Iewes thatftood by Him, ant heard Him crie, £/#,£#, (for Heecryed aloudc) of malicioufnctf |< not of miftaking Him, they begin to calumniate and to mifconftnfe H\ Of the Passion of Christ. IP3 [is wordes, becaufe the worde £/;, which is , \JMy God, founded ke Elian Therefore they faid,/^? cryed for Elus , when Hce cryed n His God, Let vsfce if Elias Will come, and take Him dwne* Iff the hich wordes wee may fee clearely,that they fought not oneiic to ftroyHis bodie, buttheDcuillin them fought to funder and uerHim both in fouleand bodie from His God : they woulde 3t heare Him cryc vpon His God,but they fought to deftroy His odie and His foule,fuch was the infatiabie malice of the hearts of lefe /av#againft IefusChrift.This is thecommon dealing of the ^uill and his inftruments with the godly, and chiefely in that laft oure,when the feparation of the foule from the body is to follow: ot only to get the body dead, but the foulc & God feparated: if 10a beginneft to pray & call on God,they wili fcorne thy prayer, : fecke to cut thee fro God,& all hope of life. But to Ieauc them,& leir bitter malicioufnes: As in all thepoin&es of the frittering of hrift, I looke more to the difpoficion of His Father, than to the jr^to the dcuil,or his inftrumets:So I doe in this.No queftion as is Father exercifes Him inwardly with a bitter wrath: cue fo,whc the Lord by making an heauy mone,feekcs an Outgact>& cr ty Cfj'i.wyOodj &c:hcc will haue Him met outwardly witit bitter* ts.Airae where hc u ;!,hc meetes Him with nothing but bitternes wrath inwardly & outwardly hell inward & ouu'ardino reiuge, :>r efcaping till f ranfome L c payed to the leaft farthingAYel Brc- re,if ye would fee an image of hell,fee it here.The Lord Iefus was r a time, & fealt nothing but extreame bitternes. But the rcprc- uc.after they be once caften into hell, there is nothing for them a: bitter nesrlet the aime here & there to efcape, honk t hey albe met wi:hbitternes.\Vhat if it were but for a time! The Lord caped,His fuftVmg was bu: for a timejbut no efcaping for thecjf oubethruft intohclhthoti Ih g€tOUt,and (hale find no- ling butbitternes,aimc here or there,ill flulbc in vaine,& ng bitternes ihalbe caften in thy teeth, andcoir ee Oft all Jes: that is a fore word, An cud klftingb h.-uean ide.So bleffcd is that foule for tnicr.who in t h Chrifttogctapartofchat pallio^Hcf : iery ic of vs grace now while \vc hnucti :k to : foudin Him, for wo to j Couicj ilialbc I *y.>Jow I come to y voyces,& lirllro that fourth voj ( tercd.whe hc taxdj ibirltWhtn vttcrcd at it? H N tp4 The XXI. Lutvre, *// ihinges were ended: To the ende that th: prophefie might bee ful filled that Was fpoken of Him before, HtefitdcJthirB. A voyce o fadneflo.comming from an cxtreame drought of bodie. The Lor< leftists He tooke our nature vpon Him,fo He tooke on all our in firmities,finne excepted. Many times wasHee hungry and thirfty but chiefely whfti He hanges on the Crofle in that extreame hea of His foule and His body .The foule was burnt vp with wrath,an< all the moyfture of the bodie likewifedryed vpwith wrath utthi time the Lord had fuch a thirft 5 that the tongue of man cannot ex preffe it: thou fufferedft neuer fuch a thirft, in any Feuer or difcaft as the Lord Iefus fuffered for thee on the Crofle. And no doubt,bc fide other paines,thi$ exceeding thirft was a part of His paine,an a part of that ranfome that He payed to the Father for our redem ption.Yee fee when a man is in a Feucr,thc thirft will bee a fpecia part of the paine that hee hath:Therefore,albcit the thirft that th Lord fuffered on the Crofle,was an exceeding great paine: yet H will notvtterHis voyce,/ /iWrfif,till the ranfome was payed : He would notfeeke to quench that thirft, till that wrath of theFathc was fatisfied. The drought was infatiable: for the infinite wrath God thirfted after the blood of the Mediator jbcaring our fins,an was not quenched .trill the blood of the Mediator was drunken v Noquenchingoffin,but by thebloodof the Mediator: if thou b not in Him, the wrath of God will thirft for thy blood* After t hi followes that bodily thirft : The foule is dried vp'. the moyfture the bodyis clungvp.the wrath fuckes all vp.On this rifes the thii of the body: for except the Lorde had had a fpirituall thirft, and pleafure to obey His Father to the death, & to faue thy foule fro Hell 5 it had beene vnpofllble for Him to hauc fuffered that bodi thirft fo long, Leirne this leffon at the Lorde Iefus , and follov His example;wee fliould fuffer patiently all paine that it pleafes t Lord to lay on body and fouIe,knowing thatit is according to H will,and that by thy fuffering,thy obedience to Him is tryed An aswefhould fuffer patiently all painessfo weelearneat Chrift to bide patien: ly this bodily thirft in ficknes or Feuers^knowing w< that the Lord layes it on vs, to trie our obedience & patience. B wilt thou know how thou (houldeft abide it patietlyPTheLord J ftis had a fpirituall thirft, to obey His Heauely Father>& for thy f; nation, that fwallowed vp that bodily thirft. Gette thee an earm thirft to obey thy God: it will bee a wondrous thing how patient th< Of the Passion of Christ. 195 thou wiltfuffer whatfoeuer God wil lay on thee.TherforeBrethre, in all things we (hould fee our hearts to obey God.andwinkcand clofe thy eyes at all dai:gers:yea,if thou be in txtreame thirft,and going to die,fay,Lord,I wil obey thec!&,if thou get thy heart thus -refolued, and humbled vnder the hand of thy God, howbiit thou -be in pain for a rime,thou fhalt fee a fairc end.The Lord lefus after this thirft>and after death^law a glorious end. So no qucftion, thou leane on thy God,as He did,& abide His wiU patiently, thou (hah fee the joy fuikft,& moft glorious end that euer was J he Lord giue vs grace to obey God 3 and to fay,Cafl me here,or there & lay on me what thou wilt, I (hall obey thee,/ bough thou fljouldcfi flay mcc, I Will tru flint bee. This is an happy rdolutonAVe (hall fpeakc of the end wherefore the Lord vtccred this Yoycc:7*0 the endefaks lohu) that the Scripture might be fulfilled, In the 5. of Matt, the Lord (aies, f come not to dtjjolue the L )&rwkc. Nowcchis prophefic is accomplished : "Damd fpake this in hisowneperfon typically: but the verity thereof was fulfilled in :Chrift/.ZXitt/V/got novineger todrinke:but lefus Chrift drunkevi- nc^cr. When the Lord came into the woild,& wrought the worke of our redemption, there was notfo much as a title that wasfore- toldof H^butHefulfiHed it:therewas notacireumftaaccofHis death, bur it was fore-toldc: That nayling was forc-folde, where it is CdidyThcy pe.rrced mine hwds^and myfeete:Thc banging of Him be- twixt t^o Thicaes wa> fore-toldc,7 hey reckon rac(faics the Prophc t) auonqtbe vnyuhThz diuiding of His g.irmenres was fore-fpoken, Thty diuid:dmy Mmtentm Among tb$m % *nd caff Ictus for myc &*t .Looke the xx 1 1. and lxvi.Psalmes, and the li ii* Chan ter of Hs ay. So this drinking of vincger was forctolde.Nouc what learnes this vnto vi» ? Wjs there euer any manwhofed. was pointed oik this waye/ No, neuer aiy one. All the Kin nor all theEmperourcs,had neuer ftich a particular pointing out of their death. This lets ?s fee, tlut the Father had* moref] tciall care of the death of II S VSj than of the death cf anic rata tfutcuer was: and confequcntIie,ic lets vs fee, that there 1 neuer fuch a vvorthic pcrfoiugv in the worldc as 1ES V S, N 2 and 19$ The XXL Lectvrb, and that there was neuer fuch excellence in the death of any, as in the death of Iefus : in it flood the life of the world. 1-et men make pompes of the death ofEmperours, the Lord had neucr fuch an eye to the death of any, as to the death of His onely well bdoued Sonne, and all the predictions of His death are to this end, that wee comparing che ifliie of His death, with the predi- ctions, wee might beleeue that Iefus was fent to bee the onely Sa« uiour of the world. When I thinkc on this, I wonder at the blinds neffc of f Ic\X>es,y cannot know Him to be the Mediator ; but after that once a man be giuen to a reprobate fenfe.he will fay, the Sure in^noonc-tideis but dirknes. rkG^d/s huti fayes Tad 2. Coy ,^^4 to them who per fait thou fee not & beleeue not ^Gofpell, thou halt an earneftpennie in thy boform ythy damnatiois fealed vpThus. farreforHis third, they gaueHim a drinke; There is avcffdl full of vineger : This was a cuftomc that they vfed: they had a drinke befide them who were crucified : Some thinkeit was for this end that the paine might be flanchedfThere is a drinke of vineger (lan- ding befide the Lcrd : but Iknowe not if they gaucfuch afowrc drinke to the thieues. So this veffell (landing befide one of theni fteps to it in fcorne, and takes a water fponge, and puts it on ; reede, and puts it to His headjie got litle thankefor his worke:] take this giuing of this drinke to the Lord at this time, to ham proceeded from bitter malice/The wrath of His Father was begut to be affwaged : yet the wrath of the Icwes could not be affwaged There is none end of the malice of the Icwes, fo long as breath is ix Him, they neuer ceafe to rage againft Him.Whe He was dead the; perfecute Him:whe He was in giorie, they thought to fhame Hinm Whe f Lord loofes f raines of y deuill a & of wicked men to chaftif his own^they run headlongs to wracke His Church: £ Lord feeke; but chafiifemet: they feek wrack of body &fcule : hey knowes no this, he knowes nothing, & if thefe perfecuters got their will, the; would not only feeke f wracke of y body, but alfo of y foule. Wha doth f Lord for thi s ? when f Lord hath pulled in their raines, H e takes f fcourge,& cafts it inyfire,becaufe they run far beyond thei comiffion.This fhalbe f end of their miferable foules .O f damna tion f fhal ouertake them/ when^Lord hath chaftened vs by their they fhalbe caft in y fire for euer.Rcfufes^ Lord f drinke ? indeed before He was raifed vp on $Croffr,He tafted of this.but would nc drinke, but He becing on the Croffc. it is faid, Ue drunks '*• It™ be Uf the Passion op Christ. 197 ■yy that after fuch a troublefome labour, that His drought was fo *reat, that Hee was glad to drinke any liquour. Alwayes,this I know, except the Lord hadhadathirftofthy fa!uation,Hee had lot drunken it. The chirftof thy faluation made Him asHee 3rankeout the cuppeofthe wrath of His Father:So todrinke out ;his bitter cuppe chat was propined to Him, out of the bitternefle Df their hcartes, Hee drankc out the wrath of God, and the wrath :>f man, that thou fhouldeft drinke the water of Life.I fay, remem- ber vponthat drinke that Iefus dranke,when thou drinkeft deli- rious drinkcs:it is not thy money that buyes the wine, except it be xwght with the precious blood of Iefus mot a piece of bread, or iny thing pertaines to thee, if it bee not bought with the blood of [efus : to them who are fanciified, all thing is fandified, & if thou be not in Him, thou (halt bee accufed as a violent pofleflbur of all things, in $ great day.Now I goe to the next voyce, when He hath drunke^Hefaies^/z/r^c^thatis^wearifome workeisnow puc to an end: now the ranfom is payed .now the workof Redemptio is ended. Brethren, thatyee may vnderftand this, The Lord when He was in the Garden, had two workes : The firft was,to buy Hca- uen, to conquere life to vs .-The fecond, to put vs in pofleffion of it # The firft worke He begannc it in the firft moment of Hts concep- tion, and continues ftillfrom that time to that moment : He gaue rp the Spirit tothe Father.Now that worke beeing ended, He pro* plaimes on the Crofle, cries outin theaudience ofthemall,Cj;j- r uminatumcft\t\s fini(hed»Now that wcarifome worke is ended.the deare worke is ended: Heauen andlife, and righteoufneffe is con-* quered to the worlde for cue:. This is the fumme of the Gof^el, the worke of our Redemption is endedtthis is all our preaching, Heauen^life^&gloric is conquered againe,to the loft world.Thou needed not togiue one pennieoutof thy purfc for Heauen. Cur- fed are they from the High Hciuen, tothe low Hell, that open their mouth to fay,Thou muft pay fome of that ranfom out of thy urfe: Woe to the Papillcs who will ftand vp & fay, Thou muft pay bme part of th.it ranfome,wo to that fou!c mouth that dare be fo old to open it, and fay, pay thou a part of that ranfome with | oncy,fccing that Iefus Chrift hath proclaimed that . (hed i& bought by His blood, woe, vengeance ar ; damn** tion (lull lighten the Pope, and all the Papiftes that dare open ptheirmouthes tofpeake'fuch pref.imptuotis arordes, Vet there is N 3 another 198 The XXI. Lectvre, another worke remaining, which is to put vs in poffeffioh of Hea* uen, and He began this, at His refurre&ion : and He holdes it oni yet, and fhall continue it vntoHiscomming againe. And ac that day of His comming, yee (hall heare Him crying, iAll is ended : not on his Crofle, but in glory: and all the Angels and all the Sain&es fliall QXXtyAllis ended.Glorte to htm who hath ended all y & no more ihall bee. Looke downe to His heartland to the fenfe,from whence this voyce arofe,whe He faics this:ye (hali find that Iefas felt the wrath of his Father aftwaged, Before Hee was in an agony: now Hee feeles the agony to ceafe: where before He foud no joy,now joy returnesr On the fenfe of ane r 4vd I tn\e it vj, tgaine* Yee will heare, that when wordecameto Tikte thatlEsvs Of the Passion of Christ; ip£ was dead, hee wondered, and all the world wondered at this ycel^ ding vp of the fpirit. And by this the Lord would ihewe, that hee vvas not a common man : hee would (hewe,tha: he was God,eithcr tokeepehislife,ortoput it out,a:hispleafure.Hee{aies,F*rkr, m~ to thine bdvdes I commendc myjptrite.lheic wordes are farrc from this, iJPHy (jod y my God> why bafi 9 6cc . for thofe words proceeded of greac fadnefle mixed wich confidence, buc of no joy C; but chefe wordes, Father, into thine b.tnd&&c. as they proceed a or confidence^ chey proceeded of a wonderfull joye. No doubt^ at this time hee feeles that fweete hande of the Father dealing with him mofte fweetelie: not as the reprobate : Alas, the hande of the Lorde in juftice ftri- king the foulc of the reprobate : loofes it from the bodie, with the fenfc of cxtreame wrath. Bu: the Lord feeles the hande ofthe Fa- ther loofing his foulc from the bodie with iweetneiTe. And all they who die in Christ, will feele the Father loofing the foule with fweetnelTe, as thefelaft wordes vtter. Looketothe Martyres: chey neuer vtter the firft voyce, %ftfy Cjod % my Cjod, &c. No, but the fe- ^nd, Father, vitotbittC h Andes I commendc my fpirit e % bcc2J}& the/find joyc in torment, Steucn, the firft Martyr,vttered the fecond voyce, Acts, Ch ap. vi i. Ve r s. 55># And the reft of the Martyres followed him: which tefiifies plainelie, that this was a voyce of joyethat I E S V S vttered. But markethe wordes of CHRIST: yee fee that euerie man and woman, befidc the bodie, they haue a fpirite, and more beautifull , and farre more precious of fubftance than rhe bodie, and yet it lodges in an houfe of clave , and id an carthlie Tabernacle. Next, there will bee a feparation ofthe foulc and the bodie. Thou thinkefl eucr to Hue, but whether thou wilt or thou wilt not, thy foule (hall bee feparatc from the bodie, and then the bodie (hall die. Shall thy foule die ? No , if thou bee in CHRIST, the Father (hall take thy foule. Nowc againe ; !>rcthrcn, fee how careful! rhe Lord is of his foule at the poind of death. If lefus, who had nofmne,is fo careful I of his foule, I pray thee,whoart afinfullbodie.how carefull (koul thou bee thereof^ It mud line, either in Heauen, or in Hell: if the Lord cryed fo loude that the earth quaked again,& till the Temple rent afunder; wilt not thou, afinfull creature \ bcecarcfuT of thy foule? A man fhould haue care ofthe ionic at all times, bur chiefly at the hourc of the feparation, for a:: that time the Dcuill is bufic todcuour thee, and the golfeofHell tofv\aliowe thec pp. ' N 4 lookc 209 1HH XXI, LECTVRI, lookc how carefull thou (houldeft be in following the example of Iefus, to recommend the foule into the handes of the Father: and looke how carcfull thou art to render the foule into the handes of the Father; the Father (hall be as carefull to loofe the foule,if thou bee in Iefus Chrift, to conuoy it with Him to reft for euermore in His blefled bofome, The Lord giue vs grace to commende our foules into the hands of that faithfull keeper in the houre of death, and that wee nuye finde Him readie to receiue and conuoye them with Him to that cuerlafting reft, purchafed to vs through Chrift: To whom with the Fatherland the blefled Spirit,bc praife for euer- more: Amen. THE XXII. LECTVRE, OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST. Matth. Chap, xxvii. SO Then Jefus cryedagaine With a loud voyce y andyeeldedvp theghofl % * j / Andbeholde* the vaile of the Temple vsas rent in twaine, from the top to the bottome^ and the earth did quake, and the ft ones were cloven* 52 %And the graues did open thtmfelues, And many bodies of the Samel s 3 which Jlept, arofe , 53 sAnd cawe out of the graues, after his refurrcUion^ and went in- to the holie Otic, and appeared vnto manic. 54 When the Centurion, and they that, Wen with him , watcUng Ic~ fus^ jaw the earthquake \ and the things that, were done, they feared greatly^ faying, Truely this Was the Sonne of God. Marke , Chap* x v. £7 And Iefus cryed \X>tth a loude voyce, and gauc vp the gboB. 2$ %4ndthe vade of the Temple was rent in twainCjfrom the top to the httotr.c. 39 Tfyto when the finturiM, who food oner againft hw,faV? that, he thus crying, gaue v% the ghoft, be fad, Truely this man w& the Son offyd* Lv KB Of the Passion of Christ. Lvkb Chap* xxiii. 46 And Iefpu Ctyed With a loude vojce t andfiidc , Father, into thine hande* I ccmmende tnyfptmc* And when hee hadthtufaid, hee gane vp the ghost. 47 ; 2fy» fthen the Centurion fatyc what, Was dene, hec glorifiedCjod faying* Of a fur e tie this man was juft. 4 8 And all the people that, came together to that fight) beholding the things that Were donejmote their breafls^ and returned, IOHN ChAP.XIX, 30 7^o W Men Jefpts had received of the vineger, heefaid?lt Ufinifad* and bowed his heady and gaue vp the ghofi. ' E e heard the laft daye (vvelbeloued Brcthren)the fundric voyces and {peaches which Iefus Chrift, vvhileft Hee hung quicke on the Crofle, and was nayled thorow handes and feete vttered in the au- dience of the whole people. The firft two voyces were the voyces of pittieand mcrcie. The one of mcrcie, to one of theThfeues, that was crucified with Him, Fatly (fa'es the Lord) this dayfialt thou bee with wee in Varadifc. The other ofpittie, to His owne Mother, (who flood by , looking on Him, when as Hee hung vpon the Crofle in extreame paine)recommen- ding her to I o h n, His welbeloued DifcipJe. Other two voyces, were voyces of fadneffe, and heauinefle of heart: The one an hea- uie complaint to His Father,^/? Godjmy God,why haft tkcuforfaken wee t The other proceeding from an extreame drought, that came of that fenfe of wrath and paine which Hec felt during the time that Hce hung vpon the Crofle, Ithtrfi* The laft two voyces were of joye, for it appcarcs well ,that before the Lord gaue vp the ghoft, comfort and joye returned to Him againe. And I am of this mind, that there arc none, who are Gods owne, but before their depar- ture out of this life, (fooner or later ) they will get a fenfe of that joye which they are to paflc vnto immediatclie. The firftvoyceof joye, was , tAU is ended: As though Hce vvouldefayc, 7 is done^and ended, and nowe the raniome of the redemption of man is payed to the Jeaft farthing . Nowe the laft voyce was when Hee was immediatclie rcadic to render vp His fpiritc into the handes 20Z JLMB AAlli LIClVRfi, handes of the Father, fayes, with a feeling of joy in the heart,//;** thine bands, Father, f commend my Spirit* Now this day, we haue to fpeake by His grace, Firft,of #is death, and the yeelding vp of His Spirit : Next, of thofe wonders that fell out immediatly after tht Lord had rendered the Spirit : and thirdly, we hauc to fpeake how the multitude were mooued when they fawc thefe wonders. Novve as concerning Wis death, the words arc but few John fayes, When Wee had fpoken,and cried with aloude voyce, Hec bowed * dotonc His head, and He rendered His Spirit.Thc wordes are to be mar- ked, HeerendersHis Spirit, firft, as it were, Hee tooke His foule in His owne Handc, and deliuered it in the handes of the Fa* ther/defiring Him to keepc it well, to the day of His glorious re- furredion : for, Brethren, this is the difference betweene the god- ly, Stjvngodly in their death : as they difter, and are vnlike to other in their life : foefpecially in their death. The vngodly caft away the foule and life, and cares not where it goes : but woe is to them that doe fo, they will neuer take vp fucha life againe, when they haue caft it, awayc, not regarding where it goes to, but thinking lightly of it. No, let no man nor woman caft away this life, or diflodge this foule lightly : if the foule goe from thee lightly, and thou careft not for it: better it were for thee, neuer to haue had a life, a foule, or a body. But againe, Brethren, The Lord Iefus, as all His lifetime Hec is carefull for she foule that is lodged in an earthly tabernacle s fo chiefly, in the moment, when it is to fllit* 'The godly , they will not let the foule flit ou: of the body, vntill they know that the hand of the Lord, is fweetly loofing the foule, to keepe it, vntill the day of their glorious refurrcdion.Brethren, it would be well marked,Therc is not one of the foure Euangelifts, *Jlfattbew 9 Mark?i Luke, or hbn, but they note very prccifely the death of the Lord, and the yeelding vp of His Spiric, As for the circumftances that fell out in His Pafliontfome will note ohe thing . and leaue another. As for example, Thefe voyces that He vtters on the Croflfe, not one of the Euangelifts hath them all, forae hath one, and fomc another. But when it comes to the yeelding of the Spirit, they all in one harmonie note, The Lord gmevp the Spirit. This is a thing not to be paffed by, nor to be lightly looked on,and it lets vs fee, the death of ourSauiour, the feparation of His foule from His body, is fo fubftantiall, and fo necdfull a thing both to Him to haue differed, and vs to knowe, that except the Lord had - buffered Of the Passion o-f Christ. -03 fuffercd the death, all the crucifying of Him inwardly & outward- ly, all the reft of /yisfuflferinghadauailed vs nothing,the ranfome of ourfinncs had not bene payed : for that was the curfe that was laide vpon vs, to pull our foule from our bodie :and as it was need- full that He fhould fuffer the death for vs, fo it is ncedfull to cuery one of vs to knowe this, that my Sauiour died, and His foule was really feparated from His body, it is ncedfull that thou haue euer- more the Lord Iefus crucified before thee,and know that the foule was feparated from His bleffed body : for grace and rcmifsion of finnes is conquered chorow the death of theMediatour : if thou haft not Faith of the death oftheMediatour, it is vnpoftiblethat thou cmft bclecuc that thy foule (hali;come to Heaucn.The Apoft. ffr£.5>. hath a notable comparifon, hecfaycs,When a man hath made a Teftament, and his legacie, wherein hee leaues fuch inheri- tance to any man : his Tcftament can ncuer bee fure, nor ratified, before the man be dead .-and if he ratifienot the Teftament with his death, it cannot bee fure : for the man in this life may alter the Tcftament: But after that once he die, there it ftands, it cannot be rcuoked : Euen fo faye* the Apoftle, The Heire of the world J Chrift hath made a Tcftament, and fuch one as ncuer man made, leauing fuch goods and heritage to His Saints, as ncuer man left, euen that heauenly Heritage, that exceeding Glorie, NowTaycs the Apoftle, If the Heire of the World, Icfus Chnft had not fcalcd vp His Teftament by His blood, it had neucr beene fure, but His death interueening and doling it, then the Teftament is fure, & all :hc world is not able to alter one joteofir, toaddeordiminiihic Woe be to him that will addeany thing to the Teftament of Icfus Chrift:he is counted a villainc, who will adde to a mans Tcftament: ilt thou adde or diminifh any thing at thy pleafuie, from the Te- ftament of Iefus Chrift. 1 his Newe Teftament is the beft Tcfta- ment that euerwas: let WoilJlings bee^ontcnt with the Tcfta-- ments of their fore r athcrs, yet count thou nothing at aH, except thou get apart of the legacie left in His Tcftament. -eto thee, albeit thou get Earledotrie* and King dome fcffions left to thee by the Tcftament of thy forefather. , if thou gcttcft notthisTeftament. W 1 Brethren, this Tcftament can not be ratified, but by the blood of the Teftator. Howcanlbc- Jeeue it, except I know that He died, and that the foule \» as as ve- rily feparated from the body as cucr the foule of man wvfo when Ice ^04 Thb XXII. LlCTVRE, I confider the death of my Sauiour> who hath made fuch a Tefta- j ment,Iatn fo farre from that , to bee offended at that (hamefulll death, that the death is the ground of my faluation, and that in J His death is all my glorie, & the atlurancc of my life is in the affu-' ranee of His death, and His ignomioie'and fhame is my glorie. Now thus farre for the death of the Lordlefus, Now come to the consideration of thefc wonders that fell out immediately, as.. He gauc vp the Ghofl : The Vaile cf the Temple rent af under, from tbe : toppe tcthebcttomejhe earth qitakgd: Such things neucr fell out in all: the deathes of men in the world : No, not in the deathes of all the Kings in the world : The ftones were clouen^ the gmues cf the dead did, e^.Thefe are the foure wonders that are noted to haue fallen out ; immediatly, when the Lord gaue vp the Ghofl Brethren, the Lord^ in His deathiHeewas euenintheextreamitie of His humiliation^ Hec was weakned, made of no reputation ? the Lord of glorie was- tread vpon by the feete of death,dcath damping on Him,He could i not be further humbled :there is nothing fo ignominious as deatht except it be fanftified: it is terrible and ignominious, fo that if it be not fanftificd in the death of the Lord Icfus:it is but a curfe to thee, & a vengeance from Hcauen :yet for all this cafKng downe of Him, His heauenly Father leauesHim not,but in His greateft hu- miliation the Father giues the greateft tokens of His glory,and He teftifics that He was not only innocent, but that He was the Lord of glory,& $ Godhead neucr left Him in that ignominious death, nor neuer (hall leaue Him,albeit it kept the fclfc clofe, f He might fufter that ignominious death, becaufe it was not expedient that Hee (hould vttcr His power : yet ^Godhead in His death wrought fach wonders, that He teftifies before the Ietoes that ^ fame man, which hung there was the Lord of glorie and the Lord of life. Will yee come further, that albeit that mifcrable people had not a tongue to fpcake,and would notgiuc a teftimonie of the glory of C H R I S T , the dumbe and fenflcife creatures, who had not mouth, nor tongue, nor life, will not bee filenr, but will doe their homage to the Lord*Fye on thee, and woe is thee, that euerthou got y mouth or tongue: the dumbe creatures in their kinds do ho< mage to their God,& glorifies Him,& fhames all the world,& they fhame allydifciples:for al wcreoffedcdatHim now.Sonowyearth and the rockes ihame them alhfye on them.TheLord as Heecame riding to Uruf^hm, like a glorious King, to giue them a flievv of His giorj Of the Passion of Chkist^ 205 glorie, Luke Ip.VVhcn the difciples Cvyzs,HofanM, Tlejfcd he he that omesihtheKumeof the Lord, x\\z Pharifes were angrie at ic : they ipere offended to fee the Lord glorified- Then hjithan after they heard this fpeech:They f*w the Vaile rent, but they tooke no leflb'n by it, there is a wonderful! indura- tionJPaul 2. Cor. 3 . tells die czuk y T here Was another vailelaide on their heartesjb than hey could nettherfee nor heare.lt was harder to rent that vaile, than an hundreth vaiies of ftone. Lord keepevsfrom that 1 ' reprobate fenfe : alas, that wee fliould not take hecde to this .-The earthly vaile rent afunder at the voyce of the Lord, but the vaile o£ their heart could not bee rent, neither for the voyce of the Lord, nor yet for the wonders.ThisisthelefToaEuery one of vs(hould take heedeto our heart .-after thatonceamanbeegiuenvpto afj reprobate fenfe, as this people was : aftet that once thou begin- neit to doe againflthy knowledge, either in manners, or in reli- gion .-after that once thou beginneft to doc againft confcicnce thou wile do the contrarie of all thane biddes thee, thy conference? telling thee, when thou art going tomurther,toharlotrie, toop- preflion,toangerthy God, all is wrong.doeit not :yet thou wilt trampeon the belly of thy confeience* Inthefiift Chapter to the Romanes yeemay read the end of this, As thou wilt not heare thy^ confciencc,and the voyce of God,the Lord catches thy conference f from thee, and cafts thee ouer to a reprobate fen{e : fo that thou art paft feeling, that -it were better to fpcake to aftone,than to thine heart, and when I fpcake to that pillcr, it {hall rather rent than thine heart.Wouldeft thou fee a wonder : The Papifts would bring in wonders, but bring inaman who is regenerate, that isa wonder : yea, it is a great wonder, to alter thine hard and flonie heart, than to cleaue the hardeft rocke thateuer was. Let mee fee an regenerate man, from whom that fcroofe is taken away :it is a greater wonder to fee a regenerate man from whotne that fcroofe is taken away, than that all the rockes fliould rent .This for the .firft wonder : now folio wes thefecond. The Earth quakes j No doubt, but with the quaking of the earth, there wasaforedinne, whilft thefouleof the Lord feparated from the body. O ! what a; thing was it to draw the foule oftheSauiour of the world from the Of the Passion of Christ. icy he body : No.the renting of the rockes was nothing in refped of lat drawing of the foule of the Mediatour from the body .-The •arch is holden vp by the mightie hand of the Lord : and u hen it lakes, the mightie hand of the Lord (hakes it. When theLord be-* ;insto (hake His arme, all the mountainesfhakesritis no/efting orifHee hit thee, Hee will brufe thee in pieces, although all the orld were about thee.What is miferablc man doingjhat will not Lnowe the power of the Almightie God ; This (haking meanes a 'iireatning to this people : and the earth threatens to fwallowe hem all vp, for their iftdignitie they wrought to their Lord their daker. If thou difhonoureft thy, Maker,thc earth (hall open and wallow thee vp, as it did Core y Dathanand Abiramviho withftood JMoyfesi No, it is a wonder that the earth fliould bearemen.No, [protcft, I would not wonder fo much, if the earth opened and wallowed fomc men, as I wonder^that the Lord in His long fuflfe- ing patience fpares them ,and holds His hand and Iudgement off hem. It is a wonder that the houfes fall not downe on the blaf- Dhemers.and the chambers, where they commit their filthineflc hould not fmoother them -But Heefhallcaufe an heauier thing all on the body and foule,than a thoufand mountaines were tum- bled on themrthou doeft nothing buthcapesypwratb>a$ theApoft* ^yes^aguirji the day of wrath. No, wrath, and heauie wrath fha'l be eapedonthem. So the earth threatens them, for the indignitie they did to their Lord. Yee fee, that after theearth quaked, it will wallow vp townes and people: but fhee fwallowes them notvp now, but. the earth vomites them out, as not worthie to bearc *hem in her bellie; No, ihe thought them ouer bitter to be within her, who had difhonoured her Creator: but afterward looke what came on them. The earth will reuenge that foule thing done to her Lord: the land of 7/^/^fpued them out, and theearth will not let that curfedkindehaue a foot-breadth of hcr.O ! what is it to haue battell with the Creator, when He begins to arme the earth or any creature, ag linft thee, we would thinke that this (haking of the earth fliould haue mcoued them. yet tbey tike no thought for it.At thevoyceof the Lordthe earth did fluke, bur did thePricfts and the Scribes (hake ? Are they mooucd at the dr.nc and lhaking of theearth? Sc jgiinc, 1 fay.thercis nothing fovnmoo- ueable : No, not the earth, as thine hardened heart will be, at all the denunciations that v, ill come from Heauen, or Hell : faue thy fclfe lo% The XXII. Lsctvre, 1 felfe from a reprobate fenfc,or elfe thou (halt ncuer bee wakenedi till thou bee thruft into hell,whcre thou (halt bee tormented with cndleffe vexation without any hope of comfort* This for the fe- cond wonder. Nowe let vs come to the clieuing of the ^Mountaines. This followes on the former.as the earth opened to fwallo w them, T. fo the mountaines cloue to tumble vpon them : The mountaines jCj will not fuffer them to dilhonour their maker* What mooued this, | the lewa ? Euen as much as the other two* No queftion it was a great and terrible noyfe, when the mountaines cloue. Woe to a 1 fenfelcffe heart:The mountaines may clieue,and fhiuer and quake, I but if thyfoulc bee giuen to induration, the (tones & mountaines:^ (hall bee mooued> and broken, but thine heart ftiall neuerbreake. I Woe againc to a fenfeleflfe heart, which is not mooued at the wordit ofGod:that Scepter of yron( whereof ycreade, 2 # T/S/.)Giall light on l thee,&bruifethee in picccs:Therfore,caftaway that vaile fro thineh heart,and ftriuc to keepe light in thy foule & confcicncc,and walke l in fobriety 5 till thy God call on thee>and then thou (halt fee a blef-i| fedende. Nowe wee come to the laft wonder which was wrought^ The graues doe their duetie: they forget not their maker : but inll their manner, they glonfie their Lord God, and honour Him: yea f l death it felfe, with thegraucdoe Him homage and honour. ButL mifcrable man will not honour #im .* The graues laye open fromL three a clock after noone(for about three a clock the Lord gaue vpl the ghoft;)and they lay open all that day & all that night, & all the | ( daye following, and the next night till the morning that the Lord I rifes: and then the bodies of the Sain&es alfo arofeby vertue off, His refurre raife a dead body out of the grauc, chan to raife thy foule, if ic ee once hardened; it is more wonderful! to raife a deade foule, nd to fee that foule get a fenfe of /ieauen, than to fee all the bo- ies of the Church-yard rifing. Nowe to compare thefc wonders, There are two of them,Thc rft and the laft that teach this people : The other two,the fecond id die third that threatens them. The quaking of the earth^and le renting of the rockes threaten a damnage and deftru&ion to ieai : and in this temperature of His wonders : As the power of lod, Co the wifdome of God appeares wonderfully : He threa- ds this people for the indigmtie, that they had done to the ORD of glorie, with Hell and death, yet Hte holds vp His lades* O! how vn willing He is to ftrike, but if He light on thee, ee will caufe thee fqueele : He is ayming: H^e is fhakiniz that ter- ble arme, and thrcatning them : in tne mene time the Lord rs membring H;s mercie, and teaches them by wonders, to looke >t if they will takcakfTon,torep n: of all the indignitie '.hit they , id done: Hecthrea*ens them with the one hand, and offers mer- I rwith the other, tofenf they will repent. Tins is the dealing of e Lord Hee warnes then, and He fayes, Yet I will not fw^liow ; ; jce vp with the earth, and I will not let the rockes tumble downc • uhee, to deuonre thee, yet repent : for there is grace for thee, : lthou turneft Brethren, no man (hallgoeto Hell, without aduer- fcment to fttncj, to the end, that if thou wilt not lepent, when e Lord begins top it hand inthee,aud to rent the:, thy mouth ay be clofed, that thou canft not fay lord, I gotno warning, all cufcsfhaU be put away. Alas, will not men learnc for all this fha- igofc emountaines.Lordfliake thefc hearts ofours,& the Lord m :rci r ul to all finful foules & to fenfl fle creatures, left whe they all c r v Pcace,&* all things arcfure cnottgkjl c firAtbco?nc & overtake thcnj.Novcowe toy laft thing &: I fhall d. Are there none $ are moucd ac all at thefe wonders ? Amongft many hundreths & thoufmds is theic not one moued.'ycs there e fome moued,& who are thefcPare the high Pricfts moucd?No f k a whit,is there any of j reft of f order of f Pricfts moued^Not, O they no The XXII, Lectvrb, They continue bl.inde and dumbc. Are the Tharjfes.^dthe Scrihtt or the Elders mooued ? No : They are not mooucd ^ but the more theyhearc, their heartes arc the more hardened, Whoarethen mooued at thefe wonders ? It is an EthnhHj bodie,a Captaine o men of warrevnder Pilate, and aT^w, who neuer once knewe G OD, yet when hee fees this, and heardethe voyces. hee faies , Ofafitretie this man-pea* juft : And more hce faies , True, ly this Was the Sonne of G C D. Is there anie moe / Yes : A bandc of men of warre : Not of the 1 e v v e s , but fuch as had liued on robberie, without the feare of GOD, they feared greatly, anc faide alio, Trudy this wan vras the Son of Cj O D. Who of the Ie we« is mooued ? Not the Scnbes^and the Thunfes, and the reft of the Order, they are nothing moued: but the fillie multitude, whe cryed before, Crucific hm, now'e they goe home \ fmiiing oruthew (treaties, and crying, woe to them for that dayes labour.' but then was neuer a motion in the Triefies,or in anie of the Trtoces o. Tharifes , or Scribes* It is a wonderftill thing, to fee that the; ,vvho had judgement and vnderftanding,and who had read all th prophecies of the Messia s to come, gotte no fenle : yet a fil lie multitude gettesfome fight and fenfe, Wouldeyeeknowe am poind out a fenfelefle creature, who will not bee mooued neithe by worke nor worde : It is fuch a man, as hath this worldly wife Corner Such a manias hath knowledge, and yet doesagainft hi knowledge and conference \ for all that thefe c PricHesanu < Thartft did, was both againft knowledge and confeience : They repine againft the Holy Spirit, and againft their confeience, they crucifi Iefus. Whofoeuer thou art,who opponeft thee to the brightnes c the Gofpell,thou crucificft the Lord of glory:and as it fihalbe Jaye to the charge of the high Priefts and Thari/es^nd of Tilutc y znd Hi rode/m that Great daye,that they crucified IESVS CHRIST So it (hall bee layed to thy charge, and thou (halt bee as guilticc His blood, as they. Woe to that foule ; which will refift that wor and the Holy Spirite. Woe (hall bee to the great men in this lan< who againft confeience confpires againft CHRIST, Religioi and their natiueCountrey, for wrath and vengeance remaincl for them, if they leaue not eff this vnhappie courier The King< S p a i n e, and all their affceiates (hall not bee able to holde vei geance off them,that (hall one daye bee heaped vpon their head tbc LORD faue vs from induration, and neuer fuffer vs to & pir Of the Passion of Christ.' 211 pine againft Light, nor to fcrape it out of our fouleand con- ference. I fee heere further: The LORD gcttes rcoefriendes in His death, than in His life: The Centurion, and the men of warre, they curfc the time that euer thevr were employed in that feruice: The multitude, who bad crucifie Him,thorowe blindneffe and ignorance; nowe they repent the time that euer they did it , and tbey^returnehomewardes, knocking^vgon their breaftcs,,/I>at immaculate Lambe , that precious Sacrihce, hanging thus on the Crofle, Hee caft fuch a fweere fmell on the earth, and on the peo- ple, that they who were His enemies, goe awaye mourning. This falles out often times intheMartyres, forfomc people goes out with them, who wouldeeate them : andyetthe LORD IE* S V S makes their death to caft fuch a fweete fmell, that it is cf- fe&uall co mooue manie thoufandes tomourne , and to bee con- uerted: So that it is founds to bee true, that the bloode of the Martyres is thefeede of the Kirke. And they who woulde haue fwallowed them before in their death , pittics them, and become their friendes,thorowe the fweete fmell, which they felt comming from their death, and would goe home mourning, that euer they were enemies vnto them, and were inftrumentes of their death. Therefore, let the enemies of the truethperfecute thcSain&es of G O D , and His Trueth, with Fire and Swordc,as they pleafe ; They (hall gette no vantage , and they (hall not gectc this Light quenched: for there (hall fuch a fa-eete fmell arife out of the allies of theSainftes, which indefpightof the.enemies farre moe fh^ll bee wonne to IESVS CHRIST by their death /.than euer was wonne to Him by their life : To Him x therefore , with theFathe^and the Holie Spintc, bee all Honour, Praife, and Glorie, for cuermore: A M E N. O 2 ■ THE FoI.2I"2 THE XXIII. X E C T V R E OF JHE PASSION OF CHRIST. M AT.TH, XHAP. XXVI I. I I (J SS lAbd many Women were there y beholding him afane off, who ha followed lefpu from Galtle y mmi\lri»g vnto fam* s6 jimo^g Whom wfa ^tiari'i^^lagdaUne^ and tfWarie the *JW( Abtr of lames 3 and lofes ,and'the'molbe? -of 'Zebcdw fames. rot M ark e , Chap* x V; 40 There were alfo Corner) , Who behelde afarre cff y among whome W, tJMarie ^JMagdalene, and and Salome , 41 Who alfo When Hee Was +t>G*lile, followed Him> and mini fir edv> to Him y and mame ether women, Who came vf with Him vnto Huruf Urn. Lvke Chap-, xxjii. 49 And all his acquaintnnce floode afarre off, and the women thatfM lowed him from Ga/t/e, beholding theft lhwges % < Iohn Chap, xi x# li Si The I ewes then (becaufe it was tbeTreparatio* , that the bodih flyouUenot remainevfon the^Crojfe on the Sabbath daye : for that Sabbak Was an high dayt) be fought Tt/aie, that their Ugges might bee bro\en , a,& that they wight bee tikendoWnts wJ the Passion of Christ, 213 E e haue heard thefc dayes paft(bcloued Brethren inChrift) whacwas the part of the whole multi- tude of the wicked, and perfecurers of I E S V S CHRIST, in crucifying Him , in taunting and fcorningHim: Doubtlefiejthere were in that com- panie fomc of the godlie, who lowed the LORD [E S VS : but feeing we haue heard nothing of them as yct,there- : ore this daye weefhall fpeake fomewhat in their behalfe. Nowe, yhatare they doing in the meane timc^They are {landing afar off. Some men & many women, who all that time had followed Him before, (landing to fee that fadde fpe&aclc: yet with fadneffe they had joye,no queftion :And this is the firft part of our Text, which wee haue read, out of Matthew, Marke, and Lvke. After this vee enter into the Hiftorie of Chrifts buriall : But before we come to His buriall, wee haue in the x 1 x. Chapter of I o h n, the Hi- ^ftorie of the taking do wne of His bodic from the Crofie : So at this time, by Gods grace, wee (hall fpeake of thefc two, to wic, Of the I/fp arc of the godlic,who loucd Him,and r.ext, Of the taking downe of that bleflcd bodie from the Crofle, after it was dead. Then, to come fhortly to the purpofc: It is faide,^^ dll his accjuair.tnnce flood rfnrrt off. There is the generall : Then comes on the particular, \J\i.mie vpomtru : particular mention is made of them: Manic wo- r4 men arc ft mding afarre offjooking on.Wee heard of before in the •xi x.of IOHN,verf.23 . of three women chkk\y y *Jlf \\ them* w*)'an-ath{i l that is, cmfed for euermore. But hee who loues the Lord Iefus , and meetes with mec in Him , let him bee what hee will, let him bee in the vtmofte corner of the worlde , mine heart and his is linked together, and there is a conjunction which neuer (hall bee fcparated, neither in the Heauen, nor in the Earth; it (hall laft for eucr* Brethren, when I confider this multitude heere (landing , loo- king vpon Him when Hee hung vpon the Crofle, I thinke I feeair image of the whole worlde: for it is a worlde of people , who are: ftanding about Him : there are (jentiles, there are fewes , and the falfe adulterous kirke, there arePrieftes, Pharifes, Elders, blinde guides of thepecple,& a prophane multitude.enemies of all forts: And as there are manie enemies to Chrift, So there is a fiihe hand- full of godhe men and women, gathered together, looking vpon that fadde fpe&acle ; who refembled the trueKirke militant heere vpon the face ofthe earth: And as in all this multitude,likedrawes to like, The wicked and the vngodlie ranke themfelues together, The Priefts ranke themfelues together.The fouldiours ranke them- felues together; and alfo the godly ranke themfeIuestogether,and looke vpon that fadde fpe&acle, their Lord crucified* Well, this is common to all ; all are ftanding looking to C H R I S T , han- ging on the Crofle vpon the toppe of the Mount Calaarie, fewe^nd gentile, wicked, and godlie, all are looking : But in looking there this would be /veil confidere J: We fee if we haue a friendjwho we loue well^if he * retaken ohc to a (hamefull death(there was neuer fuch a fhamefuli ieath as this) we will thinke fhame of him,and he will thinke ihame :hat his friendes {houldefee him in that eftatc.Who would thinke but that the acquaintances of Iefus (hould haue thought (hame of ft im,to haueconuoyed :heir friend to fuch an ignominious death, and to haue feene Him fo ftiamefully demained.So that,B:eth: when I cofider this matter well, I percciue that thole His familiars md acquaintance haue feene further into Chrift, than men & wo- - men doecommonly.No doubt but the friends of Chrift,who came e to fee Him hanging in ignominie,fawe life in that de ath :they la W glory in His ignominie; otherwife they had neuer come to fee Him dj hanging in ignominie : And no doubt they felt a fwcete perfume n flowing from that Sacrifice : It was the fweeteft fmellingSacri:; e^ that euer was offered. All the perfume andincenfe that eucr was ?J offered, paff-d not vp with fuchafweetefmell in the nofethriJlcs of the Father , as that one blcffcd facrifice did : And as it fmelled fweetly in the nofethrillrs of the Father : fo did it caft a fwcitcr fnellin the nofe of the godlic, than eucr they founde: and they ihoughtit had fuch a fragrant odour, and fuch a fweet fmell vnto them, thac they thought , ere they had beene feparated from Him in Hisc'cnh , they had rather chofentohaue dyed a thoufande dea >r as the Lord (xQSjrherefjtacr the anoru is, there mnH \the Eagles rcftrt.W.W is the in in who in his death iindes the fwecrte Tmell of y cm th of I \ fus Chrift, I haiu no more ti this matter, :butifthis acquaintance of Jc : iis for the rime tooke fuch a pica in His death,(becing (hamcfulU) that rhcy could not bee feparated O 4 from i\6 Thb XXIII. Lktvr?, from Him, it is a lhame to vs to draw Co far backc from Him, not I ' now hanging in ignominic on the erode, but mod glorious in the | ; Helens. Fye on this dull headed and dead world, that hath no' icnfe of that glorie.and is not allured bythatvnfpcakableglorie, rather to fufter a thou r and deathes, albeit it were the (Word, the fire, and all torments, than to befeparated from this Icfus Chrift: Buc the vvomens part is more particularly to bee confidered :Lcc all women *ake hcede : it is (A\de,*JtednyTvonfcntyerc there, Moe of them, hauc followed the Lord to the erode, than men, that I may, fpeake to the glorie of G O D , and Qiame of men. As for men, Ifinde nothing but this generall. In Luks* companieofmen and women, but in Matthew and zJWarkc, I findeof women efpc- cially : they arc looking on Him with fadnefle mixed with joy : And from whence came they i It isfaid, th&tThey came out of Ga- ble, following on Him t they neucr left Him, they wearied not to: follow fuch a guide, they minittred to Him on their owne charge: As they were fedde with that bread of life, that came out of His mouth, fothey fpared not, freely and liberally to communicate all that they had to Him : And happie is the man, who fo findes theeffed of the word of life in his heart, that hee would beftowc againe, all that he hath for the loueof that word. Brethren, yee know, what is in hand prefently : many words neede not .-feeing thisdiuifionof tbetowne in competent Congregations intended, is to fecde your foules with the word of life : lparenot for goods to get that word of life. , Nowe, I fee befide the multitude, mention made of three wo- men, zJKfarie sJWagdalene^ then, tJMarie the mother of lames the leffe^ and of lofts , avd Salome, the mother eft he twofonnesofZebedeus: Nc queftion , thefe women mentioned here haue borne a tender affe- Sion to the Lord : forgets the Lord that loue they bare to Him in all times before, in following Htm from Galile to lewfalem, and from lerufalem vnto the ignominious death of the erode and there flaying with the Lord, and not leauing Him, but miniftringtc Him :forgets theLord this? No, but He remembers vpon it: thou (halt neuer doe a good deede to I E S V S C H R I S T , but Hee fhall meete thee": they loue Him, and Hee honours them: they ne uer left Him: theyfhamed the men, yea, His difcip!ci:yea,eueti the very Apoftles : for we read not of any of all His Apoftles, thai arvy of them was there prefenc, except lohnx Teter had taken him to Of the Passion of Chr?st. i\j him toabackc fide, for all his floutnefi'e before : the reft were of- fended in Him : Thefc women did cleaiie to Him through the band of loue: forgets the Lord this f No : as they loue Him be- yond His Apoftles : fo the Lord honourcs them aboue the Apo- ftles. It is no fmall thing to get the honour to be an eye witnes of the death and refurrcdion of I E S V S C H R I S T : it is grea- ter honour than all the honour in the world. No doubt, the LORD made thefe women in their turning backe preachers to the Apoftles themfelues : they tolde Peter, lames and A I /hat they had fecne : there is none end of honour, when the Lord be* ginstohonour:asHe honoursthem tobewitntflesofHis death, and preachers of it to others :fo Hee will haue the names of fome of them to bee regiftrate to the pofteritie. And it is the will of IESVS CHRIST, that this day I promulgate the names of thefc women in your audience , to their honour, alter fo many hundreth yeeres,and their names (lull be regiftrate perpe- tually to their euerlafting honour, whilft IESVS CHRIST come againc : yea, their name* (hall bee written in the Heauens euerlaftingly. Neucr one repents the gratitude done to I E S V S CH HIST: thou (halt get two good decdes for one. Agaire, the LORD wslllet vs fee in the example of thtfe women that oft times in women there will be a more tender loue to the Lord IESVS, than in men, who arc theftrongerfexe: ye will fee the weaker and Ampler that the fexebec, and the lefle worldly wic that it haue, the more fpiritually it is difpofed, the more affe- ftionatc it is to heauenly thinges, the greater hear. hath. // any mxn % fayes ?Avi,fceme to bee wife tn this r t m bet a foote y that hee may bet wife, that is mnly wife, wife in GOD, i, (sr.j.1%. And as their loue is great, fo the Lord will honour them to the (hame of men, and whereas men (hould pi CHRIST, Hee will make women to preach IESVS CHRIST to men, to the flume of men, and His ownegloiic. All tends to this, that as men and women doe defire honoured of God, fo all men and women (hot! Iflriu nl- lyeoloucand glorific GOD. GOD louesnone, norho none, but only thofc who loue and honour the Lord Icfus ( bl if thou loueft not the Lord Icfus Chrift, thou lhalt get no loue nor honour of God. yet further, this is no: to be palled by, the woild wonders now, that Hee had fuch an eye to thefc three vvomei Thecc I } [ f( 213 1 Hi XA.I II. There were many hundrech men, but how many of their names were regiftrate to their honour? Heehadfucharefpe<5tto them, |i that He cfpied them out beiide the reft of thoufands that were there, and by His tfoly Spirit caufed regiftrate them«This regiftra- ting of them came not raihly, but from an ordinance of God, and? His cipeciall Prouidence.Thereis not a publike conucntion,albeicj ic were a man hanged, where multitudes of men and women run together to heare & fee, but the ail-feeing eye of the Lord is vponj euery perfon in particular, man, woman, ladde, or laflc. Neuer anl head there, great or final!, poore or rich, noble, or ignoble, bucj the eye of the Lord is on them : yea, it goes downe to the in wardji affe&ions, to rippc and fearch them, to fee of whatdifpofition euery foulc is. As for example, we are all met together here,fundry^I men and women, fome greater, fome fmaller, feme younger,fomct older-.yet there is not one of vs,onwhome thcLordhath not His'; eye. We are met, to fee Iefus Chrift crucified on mount Cdmrie^k there is not one of our hearts, but the eye of the Lord fees it, andlk Z/eefees wherefore, and for what end thou art come to that mee-ni ting, whether it be tofeede thine earcs, and to take delegation in I hearing of new things, or to take paftime to fce,and be feene,or to \ cfchew theQiame of the world>or whether thou commeft to reapc \\ profite,and to be edified of that thou heareft,and to get life of that: [ Crofle and death of Chrift : for therein ftands thy life, and this it fhould be the endof thy meeting with Gods children.Th*. n feeingri the eye of the Lord isfet on euery foule:therefore it becomes cue- so ryoneof vs, to ftriue to approue ourheartes to the Lord : fo that w euery one of vs may faye to the Lord, for this ende am I come, O'w Lord, to be partaker of the fruit of the death of Iefus Chrift. Wodir to them who come for another caui'e, or finiftrous refped, and h come not to be edified : for the Gofpell (hall neuer be a worde of b life to them, but a fauour of death vnto death. If it worke not ie life in thee, and if the Spirit worke not life by the preaching of thePil CrofTe, it (hall be the power of death to thy foule. W Brethren, we haue heare the firft part : Now we haue to fpeakeito of the fecond part ; The taking of His bodie downe from theirfi Crofle before His buriall. The taking downe of the body of the w Lord Iefus Chrift, the Lord of lords, comes of arcqueftmade to ] i[ TdatCi and made notby His friends, but by His enemies. 1 fee m this, this miferablepcopleof the/ettw were fpoyled of all power, ri as they Of the Passion of Christ. tip as they had no power to hanganyrfo they had no power to take any downe from the Crofle, or from the gallowes, without the leauc of the Magiltr^te : they werefpoyled of all power by the judgement of God.& therefore, they bchooued to hauc recourfc oVihtei they were flaues, yet they would not acknowledge the rue King of glorie, who might hauc made them free. I feehecrc t commendable thing in the Fyomane politic, As it was not lau to hang any without the command and licence of the Magiftratc, "0 they who were hanged, might not be taken without the licence :>f the Iudge f There fould nothing be done to a guiltie perfon,but y/ the authorise of the Iudgc. God in His judiciallLaw,gaue lot only Lawes concerning the lifting ofmen vpon the crofle, but ilfo of ytaking down of them fro the croflejt is wel to be marked, ihoicis thatgiues theaduife, that the Lo;d with the other two hould bee taken downc from the crofle, to put an ende both to heir paioe, and their i^nominie* Ic is not one of His difcip!es,it s not T etcr jt\or lohn, nor TiUttbcVp, they arc not fo bold, they durft lotprefumeic : No, it was His enemies that crucified Him, that nterponcd their requcft for Hinv Was this a bencfite they did to liim? Certainely this was a bene fire they did to Him, to take Jim downe from the crofle s vet they doe ir, not ro benefite Him, i or any pitie they had on Him: for they thought, that Hec iuing but the Lord hadgiucn vptheGhoft. When thy friendes ill not make a fuite for thee, the Lord will raife vp thine enemies o doe thee good: He cannot only make thy friend doe thee good, ut thy foealfo. If thou bee the Lordcs,Hecan make them who ou ! d wifii thee woe, to doc thee good : if thou be the Lords, the re, the water, and the fworde, which othewife would dcu. ec,fhall benefite thee: the Lord, againft all mens exoeftation, lall doe thee good, if thou bee the Lords, thou (halt not war* efe. Noa', what was the fumme of their requcft/ M ytdtf) t!\n their legs m'tght be broken, and tb.it thn wtght be takfi* JimHf, hat is, that they might bee put out of pair c, and that they might nake an end ofthem.-for they thought I K qutcke. N /hether this requeft was vpon a cuftomc vfedamongft them } or lot, the Text declares not : but i: fcenv.s. except rhefcaft of the aflcoucr had intcrucened that fame t it they wou'd not >auebtne careful] 6f them, hue would hauc fuftcred them to hang hilft they hadyecldcd vpy Ghoft. The other two were quicke in 420 The XXITI. Lectvre, pain^when the Lord yeelded.vp the fpirit, I note this: When thy enemies doe thee a good turne, they doe it ncuer of loue* Thefe might hauedifpacched the Lordc, and the two Thieucs, with leflc paine, than to haue broken their thies : They had taken their lines fooner from them, if they had beaten out their braincs. So when thy enemie benefices thee, and docs thee anie good turne,beefure he doe s it not of purpofc, to doe thee good:as we comonly fpeake* If he giue thee a bit,he will giuc thee a buffet with it;Soure and bit- ter is the benefite of the enemie. Indeede it is true, that the Lord, who makes all thinges to worke for the beft, to them that loues Him,will difpofe their doings otherwife, and make them to worke thy good: And thcrcfore>haue thine eye fet vpon theLord,andHe (hall make the malice and bitterneffe of thine enemie to turneto thy comfort. There is another thing to bee marked :The Lord had ordained, that there (hould not bee one bone broken of CHRIST, and fo it was fore-tolde, Nowe will yee fee the force of the word and prouidence of God : The force of the worde and prouidence of God appeares the more clearclie by this oppofition which is made to His ordinance: The/ro># requeued to haue His bones bro ken, and Pilate gauecommandementtobreakethem: But is there, any bonebroken,notwithftanding their futc } andT//^#comman demcnt?No,not one.This lets vs fee,That if God haue ordained & iaid any thing, it lies not in the hands of any man to difanull it: ll God (hall fay,Thcre (hall not be one bone of my anointed broken great Gr/Sr,and al the Kings of the earth the king of Sfaincznd the Pope,and all their adherents,(h;- II not be able to doe the contrary. So in the middeft of all feare and danger, let vs depende vpon the prouidence of God, and faye , Lord, if thou haft faide otherwife, than thefe mens intentions arc, I will not bee affraidj for them, I know they are not able to do any thing without thy prouidence andfo. Lord, I leaneondy on thy prouidence, and am content with thy will. So in t\vk miferable dayes,we are to leanc to God, and to depende on His prouidence, and wee (hall fee the vaine en- terprifes of men vanifli away like fmoake,and we (hall fee the wic Iced to bee made fpedacles to ?11 the wotlde. Let vs fee whatmo- ued the Ie wes to make this requeft: Was itpittie thatmoo- uedthem? No; They had no pitticofHim. Was it obedience to the commandement of God,who commaded,that an hanged man ffiould be cue down f fame fay>bcMufe be wasaccurfefiDtuj 1.22.23, No, ii C !l 6 6 k Of the Passion of Christ. 221 No, it was a vaine fuperftition chat moucd them, they were to cc ebratethe Pa(F:ouer, and this was the day of their prepara:ion, they were preparing them by crucifying the innocent, the Lorde of jlorie. Was this an holy preparation f This was the Fryday, and ;he morne was the Patche. lebnfaycsj that ^is^anhtghd.y, or a great Sabbath, becaufe they kept two holy dayes together, both theirowne ordinarie Sabbath, and the extraordinariePafTeoucr, and this they did contrarie to the ordinance of GOD: for they fliouldhaue celebrated the Paffcouer on Thurfeday,as the LORD did: for He celebrated it that night that He was betrayed by Indus % and led away captiue by the / Hee will haue the bur- n noes to teftifie His death, and then He will haue a fpeare thr uft to :irlis heart, to teftifie His death, befides the teftimonie that all the i zrcamres gaue of His death. Is this for nothing ? No, for fuppcfe I the Lord Ieftas had bene crucified, taunted and fcorned, and fuflfe- l red all the ignominie that cuer could haue bene, and y i 1 had be ne :i :aken downe quicke, and the nailrs loofed, & gotten His wounds i healed, thou hadft notbeene faued,thy faluaiionhadnot bcene i arought-.Ourfinneshad ncuer bene forgiutnvs, for without fhed- l ding of blood, and death, there had bene noremiflion of finnes, 1 except I know,bcfidc all the painc the Lord ft;ficred.that He fufte- 1 redthedeath alfojwould ncucr bcleeue to get life.&tobe faued. Now to end in a word, Looketothe witnelTcs : the burrioes, they werecuiil trundles for themfelucs but good uitnefTes for vs . for their witnefling teftifies toour well, that the Lord was dead : and fo the fe burrices haue done a notable good wot ke to vs, but not to themfdues, becaufe they were His enemies. Iris as tiue this dsy, as it was that day : there island fhall be witneifes, preaching the «4 lHE A XI II. LECTYSE, the death of C H R I S T , crying., That CHRIST died for the redemption of che worldc, and teaching faluacion by Chm sr to ochers,and others (hall gecte good by them,yet they Ihall gecte no good themfelues. Why? iiecaufe they are enemies to the Croffe of C HRl S T. An enemietoHis death, can preach His death well enough. All Preachers of the death of I E S V i CHRIST ought to take heede to this ; That when they preac to others (as the Apoftlefaieth)they be not reprobate themfelues. Woe to the man who preaches faluation tq» otbers,if in the meane j| time hee bee a reprobate himfelfe. Imuftbee ascarefullformine , owne faluation, as for the faluation of others : And therefore, iff thou fpcakeft of the death of C H R I S T to thy Neighbour,ftriuc; to bee aflured, that thou thy felfe art partaker of that faluation, through I E S V S : To whome, with the Father, and the Holief Spirite, bee ail Honour, Praife, and Glorie,for tuermore , Amn* THE XXIV. LECTV OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST. R E ft lOHN, CHAP. XIX. 34 TZttt one of the Soiddiours, with a Sjteare , pearcedhis fide j andl foorthwith comet here out blood and Water . 1 3/ iAnd hee tka&fam it, bare recorde, and his recorde is true : and hee, 1 kno\X>eth thcvL beefaietb true, that^yee wight beleeue it. 36 For thefe thinges were done, that, the Serif twt fbould bee fulfilled} Not a bone of him fluid bte broken. 37 zslnd againe another So ifture fuieth , Tht y Jballfee him> vphomi thej hanethrufi tborow, The s( Of the Passiow of Christ; He laft day(bdoued Brethren in Chrift)we entered into the Hiftory of the taking of the Lord from the Crofle, before Hec was buried: The taking of Him from the Crofle,it came by a requeft: The Jevrcs His -nemies,made requeft to TtUtCjihz Rcmavc deputy, and Iudge for the time. Thefummeof the requeft ras, that tne thies of the crucified men might bee broken, and fo hey might bee takeri from the Crofle, TiUtt the Iudge yeelded to he r:qucft,& gaue commandement to the fouldiers,& ro the bur- eo, to execute & flay them, that afterward they might be buried. he fouldiers came firft to the one thief,& broke his thiesithe they ame to the other thief,& broke his thies alfo.-and laft,they came to cfus,and finding Him already dead,and to haue giucn vp the fpi- it,thcy would not breake His legges: Yet to put the matter out cf loubt, one of the fouldiers came withafpeare, and pearced the Lords fide,thorow $ heart,& out of the wound there gufhed blood md water .Nowe Brethren, this day,as the Lord (hall giue vs grace, ire fhal follow out this Hiftory,and we fhali fpeake of three things: : irft,of the eftufion & gufhing out of the blood & the water out of he fide of the Lord.- Then we (lull fpeake of that graue teftimonie hat /V;/7 a the wrircr of this (jofpcl, gaue to the Hiftory ,& narration, hat the bones of the Lord were not broken,and that His fide was earced.and that thereafter the bloode and the water gu(hed out : .aft, we (hall fpeake of the end wherfore thefe things came to pafle, 'here was not one bone of Him brokc:His fide was pearced,to the nd that the word of the Lord (long time fpoken of before) might >eaccopli(hcd:.\nd he brings in two Scriptures^theorccoLerning hat His bones fliuld not be broke,& the ochcr cocerning the pcar- ing of His fide with the fpeare. Now come to f firft of thefe heads* leaue the vainc dreame of the papiftes(for all their religion is but Ireames & fantafies)I pifTe ti.eir dreame cocerning this fouldier f >icrced rhe fide of the Lord with a fpeare, how they fay f the (Stick /orde ^x^whichfignifies ajptdrcwas the name of the man that carced Chriftes fidcand how they faye,that this man was a Ccn- urion.&anoldeCaptaine.who was blinds after hehadpeatced he Lords fide.hec waflied his eyes with the blood that iflued our, kgot his fight. & thereafter in aninftant wasconueited,& bccinc I Cbrifliao man and a Martyre;and this is he whom they wor&ip, P and 126 The XXIV, Lectvre, and whofe bones are kept as a rclift, and he is called Sainft LwiuX rnm. I leaue the fpiric of vanities: fieon them, they fill the hearts 1 ' of the people of God with fuch vanities,and therefore (hame and| confufion (hall come vpo them in the end.Now Brethren,to fpeakcP of that which is more profitable,Of the gulhing out of the bloodf and water out of the fide of the Lord.IoHN faies,that one oft be foul* f diours, with a fpeare,pearced his fide, dnd foorttifoith came there out blooiP and water. No doubt this effjfion of the blood and water in a part >P was naturall and ordinarie: for, they who hatie skill in the things' * which concerne the bodie of man, and knowe the Anatomic, they ft knowe that the heart of man is a receptacle of bloode, and in the A heart is the cleanneft and fineft blood : The vitall blood is fined in ri the heart of man, and the bloode there is finer than in the reft of * the bodie: Yeehearecommonlie that the heart blood is the fineft^ blood, and mofte precious : Ye know likewife that there is a fliece, ft which compafleth and goes about the heart which is called ^p/.P *tffJW:andinitthereis fome liquor and water wherewith theheacK in the heart is cooled and refrefhed. Then to come to the purpofe: ° The Lord being pearced thorow the Gde,and in thorow the heart^ it was no wonder, that that bloode in the heart, and that water irr ir the fliece (hould haue gulhed out , efpeciallie feeing that Hce hadjW but newlie giuen vp the ghofte, and Hce was yet warme : fo thaCF this blood and this water coulde not bee yet much altered, by rea-f fonof the (hortneffe of time* But Brethren , when I weigh this * matter more deepelie,andconfiderthat this bloode and this vva-ifc tcr gufhes out in fuch aboundance, and fo diftinftlie, that the onefl is fo feucred from the other, that they who ftoode befide mighcf difcerneveriewcll the blood from the water, and the water from! the blood . I fee heere fomcthing aboue nature^nd I am compel-* led to thinke, and faye, that there was fomething heere extraordi-f narie: As all thinges that fell out in the death of the L O R Df 1 E S V S wasextraordinarie,and (hewed Him to bee moreandfl greater than anic common man that euer died: The giuing vpott the ghofte. with a loudc voyce, (hewed, that Hee was more than a* man. For Brethren , toleauc thefpeakingofthis matter, let vsfecji what this blood & this water meanes, and to what vfe the gufhinj out of the blood & the water femes for. Noqueftion,thegufliin£ out of the blood and the water out of the wounde teftifies,thattbc Lord was verily dead. What man will liue when his heart blood j flieds O the Passion of Christ.' 227 leJ? The heart is the moft vitall part of the bodic: It is the feat of ic life: Perfe it,and there is no life for the man: So this eftufion of ic blood & water teftifies, that the Lord was dead. and there was olife in Hira.Yet Brethren, this blood & this water meaned more lan this:they teftified of the force of that death.'they teflified not fa death only ; but of a powerfull death. Newmans death was euer • powerfu!l ; as the death of the Lord Iefus.All the Emperoures in ie world had no fuch power in their death, as Chrift had.lt teftifies fa power to purge the fmnes of man, What Emperoures bloode nfomed finfuil man, or could purge him from his finsr What wa- r came there euer from an Emperours heart,which wafhed away e corruprio of thy naturerNow to fpeak it in a word.This blood id this water teftified of a power that flowed from the death of drift. to the remifTion of finnes, and the wafhing of our foule na- re: with the bloode bracke out remiflion of finnes, and with the" iter burft out regeneration . Vet to make this plainer : By the podeof Chrift, (which is the bloode of God , God and man in ie) wee are ranfomed from death and Hj!!, the guiltineftc of a'l rfirmesistikenawaye, the pnnifhmene with the guilt is taken ay? , Hell is taken awaye, the juftice of God that required our }0 J^v fatisfied by that bloode of Chrift, that wrath that would re fucked vp thy bloode , ( ic woulde not haue left one droppe thy bloode vnfucked ) and that wrath which cannot be fatiate thout bloode, is fatiate by the onclie bloode of C H R I S L rkewell: Icv/as not bloode onelie thai came out of His fide, : it was bloode and water : ic was a waterje bloode : I o h \ r , 10 ftoode by , left this in regift:r , That fenfiblie in the bloode ; pcrcciucd water : to teftifie , That by that bloode of I E S V S e obtaine not onelie remiftion of our finnes : but by this fame ode the foulencflc and vnclcanncffc of our nature is walhcn y: for water (ernes to wafhaway filthincfu\ This fame I isfirft Epiftle,C/;?p./ z^r/Xfaies,that C I by rr,meaningthc water which gafhed out ofHis fide : (I o . Lie neue: forget this fight) Hit came bty watfefc to wathc 2- c this inherent corruption which isinvs : for if it bee not pr. ,the;c is no cntricto H: c-warne thtc.thou (In It ncucr eanenjf thy corruption be not .Then he byx»*icr.indbhjJ\ not by water C erand b!< ning this blood wa. 1 this water was blocv P a onelv 228 The XXIV. Lectvke, only to wafh away the inherent corruption, but alfotoranfom©!! vs, to obtaine to vs remiffion of our finnes, and to take away the guiltineffe of our finne,both originall and a£tuall,and thatpu-l nilhment, and wrath that was due to vs : In that % fame Chapter latapoyntes out the three witneffes of Chrift intheHeauens^and three witneffes of Chrift in the earth: And for the witnefling iti r the earth, hee counts thefe fame two, the blood and the water, &r the third, the Spirit, who teftifies that Iefus came & died for thee: ' where we may fee, that this blood and this water that came out o£ l the fide of the Lord neuer leaues the earth, neuer ceafes to crie t r The Redeemer of the worldc is come. If thou be in Iefus, thatf blood fprinkling thine heart, & confeience within thee (hall teftl fie vnto ihee, that Iefus is come in the world for thy purgation.So that, Brethren, Iaffirme this, that all the words in the world,and all the hearing, (hall not put that perfwafion in thine heart, that Iefus Chrift is come for thy Rcdemption:except that blood and that water cry within thee : certainly, wehaue no better affurancc that the Lord is come, than when wefeele that effe&uall working of the remiffion of our finnes, and the purgation of them by the mortifying of finnc.Now we haue dayly in our Sacraments of Bap- tifme, & the Lords Supper outward figncs of this water, and thii ric blood whereby they arc outwardly reprefented to our eyes .In th< J 3 Sacrament of the Lords Supper we haue the figne of the blood,iir the Sacrament of Baptiftne, we haue the figne of the water :anir therefore the blood & the water remainc euer in the earth, as witr neffes, teftifying that Chrift is come,and they are euer reprefente, the he aggreages h is teftimon i Op the Passion of Christ. 22j> tcflimonic infundry wordsiFirft^Las an eye-feeing witneflc,ftood by,and Ifaw r e with mine cycs,that the thiesof the Lorcle were noc broken, and that a fouldier pcarced Him thorow the fide vnto the heartland that bloode and water came out of His fide. Next: As I faw thefejo I tell thee.that my teftimony is trueThirdly 5 Iknow,& am perfwaded, my teftimonic to beetruc. my confciencc perfwades me.that it is true, & I bclicueitmy felfe,totheend thatyze msy be~ Item it* So therefore,as I bdccue,beleeuc thou:This he faies ro all* to the end of the world-yea, who heares this,beleuie it as well as I. Yee fee heeie Jok n is earneft to teftifie the death of Chrift ; tha: ve- rily He died:And he teftifies it with great weighc,andmaniegrauc wordesAV^e haue heardc before fundrie tcftimonies of His death. The Lord in thelaft wordesHee teftifies of His ownedeath,when Hce cryes, Father , into thine hand:s lcommcndc my ftiritt \ All thofe wonders from the Hcaucn teftified , that the Lorde had giuen vp :he ghofte: His Hcauenlk Father made the Burreoesand the men ;>f warrc to teftifie, that Hee was dead, and to preach it to all tha people about. Now Iohn comes in Iaft a and with many words,and yordes of great weight,teftifics,that the Lorde gaue vp the ghofte* /Vhat meanes all this/Ye fee there is not any thing in all the hifto- ictcftificd by Co many teftimonics.The Spirit of God laboursnoc o perfwade vs of any thing in all His Paftion,fo much, as that He lied: and to certifie this, that Hee was pearccd with a fpeare. To eaue the Herefies, which fell in the worlde, concerning the death ff Chrift, for it was much to perfwade the world of it: they would tot beleeuc that I E S V S died truelie. All thefc tcftimonies zts vsfeefuchanecefiitieto bee in the death of I E S V S, that xcept the LORD had died as truelie as cuer man died, Hce ouldc not haue beenc our Redeemer : And except Hce had died ruelie, weecouldcneuer hauebelecued tohauebcenc faued by |Lm. Except I knowe as truelie as euer I knewe any thing in the orlde,that my Redeemer died for mee, I wouldc ncuer goe feekc fe out of His death. Indeed, a wanton finncr,who is lade with fin, feeles not the weight thereof, Co log as his cofcicnccis Ikcping, at he feeles not y burrco,& fees not f fcarfnll wrath that cano: be uenche J without bloodc.&thatrcrrible jufticeof Cod 3 >^ cannot fitisficdibut by death, will count littleof the death ot Chrift: 1c alike to him, whether He had died or no:fo log as thou fleepefl al alike,but after the cofriece is wakcned,& the Lord once lee thee P 3 fcelc *30 The XXIV. Lbctvre, feele the weight of thy finnes, wherewith thou art ladned :No,iip thoudiddeft but |pde the weight of an cuill thought, thou woulf deft groitie as faft as if the mountains and rockca were tumbled tf on thee, and then thou wouldeft thinke no life nor faluation fojlf thee, but Hell and damnation, if thou gotteft not a Sauiour foi thee: and if thou feeleft that IufticeofGod,and theterrours o; I HcU before thee, the fight of the death of lefus would be the mof k joy full and comfortable fight that euer thou faweft,and all thy jojij &.gloric would be in that death ofChrift,?Wfayes GaL 6,14 Fd\ be it from me ,r bat 1 flwnldreioyce inanything^butinthe dcatbef [hrtjlih^ foud all his life to be in that death, i*C^.2.^hefayes.^k«/^«&t amongft yoit) to ff>eakeof the death of CbifttoyoH who kvew not Whati^ meant (*, vainecompanicthey were, whodelitedin vaineoratorie;^ / would not be^ in to cldtoe your itching eares, but I decreed to knvvp nothiw \ but lefus ChrtB y and Him crucified. Nowe, Brethren, befides this In thefe wotdes that Iohn fets downe, and in the which hee ag f< greadges his teftimonie, marke another leflbn, Will ye fee, fron t whence our Faith comes? from whence comes our Faith/ frot& whence flowes it 4 Iohn fayes, And he that f 0^9 it y bare record, axd hi n yecorde is true and he hpotoctb that hee faith true, that they fhould beleeu^ ^ From whence then comes Faith in this death/ it comes b £ hearing: Faith is of hearing of a teftimonie andrecorde: and : thouheareft not a record, thou (halt notbelceue,andifthou be" leeucft not, thou (halt neuer fee Heaucn. And if thou contemned the recordc, Igiue thee this doome, thou (halt neuer fee Heauei with thineeyes, if thou wereft a King : So Faith is wrought in th 1 heart by the Holy Spirit, by a recorde and witnefle bearing. So e^ thou getteft Faith, fome witnefle muft ftand vpandbearerecordfj The Lord muft fend out fome witnefle to cry and preach/ but wh*f witnefles muft thefe be ? Iohn fayes, He thatfaw thefe things, bai teftifiedof them. The witnefles muft be feeing witnefles: it muft b J0/.W, and fuch as faw Him>and felt Him with their handes. Thei who muft bee the witnefles ? They muft be the Apoftles that we conuerfant in this world with lefus Chrift.who heard Him preacl and C\w Him wor\e wonders, and faw Him dead, and faw Hit crucifi-d, and fivve Him pierced thorow the fide:They muft bfl the firft witneffs. But more, Brethren, Is it enough that the favvc Him with their bodily eye? No, John addes more, that was pcrfwaded that his teftimonie was true# The witnefles " '-- " thw he* Of the Passion of Chkist. 231 ley teftifie that which they fawe: fothey muft beleeue it with icir heartcs.There were great multitudes,hundreths,thoufands, ho heard Him, touched Him, and favv Him crucified, and forr.c f themcrucifiedHimcooryet none of thefe are made vvitntfles, 3 preach to the world, but the Apoftlcs who favv and belecued; hefe are fet vp as witnefles in f world,that all fhould beleeue.The ic firft ground of thy Faith is the very eye of the Apoftles, & their ght and fenfe .• The next ground, is Faith in thchcartcsofthe poftles. And ifyec will fay to me, Why beleeue ye the Gofpc 11 f lohn f and the Gofpcll of eJWatthew, and the Epiftlcs of PmU^ lC. Ianfwere, becaufe thefe were men who heard and fa w Chrift, nd I will fay more, I beleeue them, becaufc they beleeued in heir heartes that thing which they faw, and goc before not onely >y fight of the body, but alfo by Faith in the heart* When yee heare thefe rccordes (albeit the men be not lining, et we haue that fame thing that they wrote, and that which they lemfelues beleeued ) I befeech you confider them, and paffe not ucr lightly, when yee r cade of lohn or Taul, or the reft ; Ibcfccch ou paflf. not lightly, feeing the ground of thy Faith is not oncly icir' fight, but the (enfe of their heartes and Faith : ye who would ?ad with judgement, trauell togoe into the heart, to fecke that aith into the heart,and that joy, and thatfadntffe that they felt: ndpray* LORD, feeing thefe men vtter a Keling of thefe hings that they favv, and which they wrote,touch mine heartland fiuc me thine Holy Spirit, that I may attainc to the fenfe and fte- >ng of thefe things. If ye would ha^e a teftimonieofthis: bc- olde what Pavl fayes, in the fecond Epiftle to the Corinthians (le fourth Chapter, and fourteenth verfe, / bdeeuc, that 1 my felfe mil gloriously rifci and then he brings in ©.//- wordes: f Iclctucd, nd thcrifwe I jpakfi* Alwayes, lookethat in reading we ftrh:e to laue a feeling and fenfe in our heart of that which we read: othcr- vifewc make no fruit of our reading, we fpcake like parrats, wee ;now not what we fpeake : I lay to thee, if the worJ of grace rife lot from the deepe pcrfwafion of thine heart, thou fpeakeft like a 'arrat, thou prophaneft that Holy word, and knou eft not what hou fpeakeft. Nowall the Apoftlesareawavyct their tcftimonie rcmair.es, It this is that blefled Gofpdl that wee haue this day yet the U to Caues not the world, deftitute of witneffes, who haue luielie V 4 voyecs %l% 1HE AA1V. LECTVRE, voyces, who will preach like the Apofties, & indeede their record fhould bee bclccucd: ifthoubeleeuedft ncuer a preaching, I lay, thou haft no Faith, thou Jhalt neuer fee Heaucn. Indeede we arc not Apoft!es,but finfull men, yet if thou bdecucft vs no^thoa flult die, as well as they who would not belecue the Apoftlcs : 1 bia no man nor woman beleeue vs fimply.but only fofarre as our record agrees with the recorde of theApoftles: We may not compare with the Apoftles wehaue not feeneHim,we haue not heard Him, as th y did : they had a greater meafure ofperfwafion, & of Fairh, and of feeling, than any Preacher hath nowe ( yec the Lord hath giuenHis meafure toeucryone) therefore we defire not that yec jftiould beleeue vs fimplyi to bUceueeuery thing that we fay, as the Pope, and that foule cruc will bid you beleeue all that they af- firrae : No, if he were the beft Minifter that euer preached, beleeue his recorde, if it agree not with the writting of the Apoftles: They haue fet downethc ground, and they who teach any other thing but that which is written by the Apoftlcs, or els that follow on their writesbyancceflarieconfequencc,! pronouncea vengeance and a curfe (hall be on them, Woe to deceii ers, who poyfon foules dayly by their vengeance and poyfon. Now to come to the lafl heade , lohn layes downe the ende wherefore His thighes were not broken , and by piercing of His fide: Thefe thinges were fet do wne, that the Scripture might bee fulfilled, and he cites two te ftimonies : The firft is out of the twelfth Cbtpter of Exodus, Hot om bone of Him {ball be broken. The next is out of the twelfth ChAftei of Z.uhar/^They fhallfee Him rebome they haue pierced. Some villi maruell, that it is (aid oft times in the Gofpcll,this was donc,thii the Scripture might be fulfilled : Some woul J thinke that this had bene but a light caufe, that the thighes of Chrift, and the bone were not broken: Wherefore ? That the Scripture might be ful filled: thefide W2s pierced, that the Scripture might bee fulfilled, Men would count this but light* but wilt thou count that light, that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled. Thinkcft thou ita light thing, that that thing that the Lord fpake long time before; fli^uld come topafle, and the LORD fhould be glorified in His Trueth, Thinkeft thou it a light thing that the Lord fhotld bet found a Iyer; No, ere He be a Iyer, and ere a jote or title that He* hath (poken^fiiould pafTe away vnfulfi]led,it is better that Heauen and Earth, men, and Angels, and all the creatures (hculd vanift to no Of th£ Bvriali or Christ. to nothing. The Lord fpcakes none idle talkc, as man will doe", but what thing foeucr that Heefpeakes, Hee fpcakes it of ferpur- poft, to the glorie of God, and to the well of His Church : and therefore it is very requisite, both for His ourne glorie, and for the veil of His Church, that His word be acccmp'.iihed. Would to God we could confider how highly wefouldrcgardc the glory of GodjinbeLcuingofHis promifesof mercie, and His threat^ nings of Iuftice : Well, the end of thefe thinges was, that GOD (hould be glorified, in thctrueth of His word. there is nothing the Lordfeekes more, than to beknowneinthetrueth of His worde, and therefore lookc what He will doe to bee knowne to be t: ue in His promife: rather than His promife be nor performed Hct will inuert thecourfe of nature: the thing that the Lord hath otKe lpo- lccn, it (hall be performed, albeit all the world fhould (ay the con- traries It is faid, Numb.13.19 Cjodis not as man, that Hefl))uUilit : t.ef- thcr as thefotmcof man^ that Hee [houldrefcnt: h.uh Hee [aid it , aid (ball Hct not d'jcit ? axd bath Hee fycken, avdflull Hcc not acccmfhflj i/f'Menmaylic^butGod cannot lie: ere Hee bring not about the tiling that Hee hathfpoken, Hee will mixc the Hcaucn and the Earthcogether, He will bring things about,againft all rhe mcancs in the worlde.-notonely by and aboue nature, bur alfocontrarie and againft nature \ As Hcc brought the promife made to &4hvd- h.im to pafle, Nature can be no impediment to the LOR D, albeit a creature can doe nothingsgiinft Nature. Lookethm whata Faith wee (hould hauc. ? Wecthould belceaeHis promife. albeit it were neuer fo vnpciTible to Nature: Thou muftnotonly gbrifieGod, when thou feeft His promife cometo psfle, but alfo thou muft alfo glorifie tfim, by depending and hanging on His worde, ere cuer thou fee it accompliGicd. It is an cane thing, when thou fceft the Lordcs promife come to pafle, to fay, Glori- fied bee GOD intherructh of Hisptomife : but except glorific/iimby Faith in H\s worde, ere euer thou fee the crfeftuatc, thou docft nothing worthie of praife : bdeerc Mj word, lee neuer death, norl.fe,nor power in //eauen or \\\ E irth or the Dcuils fcparare thee from that Faith in His worde. No. I fay further, thou muft (0 glorific God by Faith in Wis word, ihat albeit thou Civveft all things threaten thecontrarie : yetnotwth- fhndingthou fcclcftin thine heart that God is true, & this was a fined and purified Faith. Such was the Faith of tAbrah*m % v ho about 1 234 The XXIV. Lectvre, aboue hope beleeued vnd-r hope,that hec (liould haue a feede,not confidcringthe deadnefleof his owne bodie , nor thedcadneffe of Saracs vvombe 5 hec beleeued in defpite of nature, and all ordi- narie meanes . and therefore worthilie hee is called , The Father tf the taithfill* Then, wouldeft thou haue fuch a faith as the Lord commendes . belccue in His promife, though all thethinges in the worldc fhoulde threaten the cOntrarie : Hath Hec promifed to thee Heauen and Life, and albeit thou fawc nothing but Hell and Death; yet beleeueHim , for there is nothing more contrarie to: Life than Death : And yet, albeit thine owne heart woulde make oppofition, and fayc vnto thee,It cannot bee that euer thou canft get Life and Heauen , for what feeft thou but Death and Hell. ? Yet thou wouldeft glorifie God by beleeuing His promife in defpight of Hell and Death : Notwithftanding thou feeft theDeuill, man, Death , and Hell threatning, that thou (halt not get life , yet be- leeue the Lordes promife. And if in this cafe thou beleeuc ft thou haft a fined faith , fined and made more precious than Golde in thefornace* And,exceptthou bee tried by fuch temptations,thou luiowcft not what faith meanes* Faith muft bee tried by tempta- tions, by troubles, and affli&ions. OurChriftians wouldepafle thorowe the worlde witheafe and reft: they will beleeue; but howe ? In peace and reft: they cannot abide to bee charged with fire and fwordc, but woulde flippe ouer in wealth and quietnefle. But true faith muft abide thp triall of the fire, of manifolde temp- tations and affli&ions. Well, the daye (hall come when it will bee feene who among vs hath this fined faith: They haue the fin^d faith , who will feeke to Icfus Chrift, and to His promife in the fire, I woulde haue fpoken ofthefe two Teftimonies, but Ileane them vntill the next occafion, and fo I ende heere/befeeching the Lwde t© haueacarc of euerieoneof vs, and tofurnifhevs with grace and ftrength , that wee maye fticke faft vnto Him, and His promifes : Not onelie nowe in peace, but euen in the middeft of the fire, and in death it fclfc: That after this life bee ended, wee maye bee glorified jntheHeauens , thorowe Chrift : To whome, with the Father, andtheHolieSpirite, bee all Honour and Glo- rie, foreuermore: Amen. THE Foi. 23: T H-E OF XXV- LECTVRE, THE PASSION OF CHRIST. Matth, Chap, xxvii. jy And when the euen was come , there came a rich man of A'rim** tbea, named lofeph, Who hada/fo hiwftlf beetle Iefus difcip/e. Marke, Ch a p # xv. 42 xAndnovo when the night VdU come , (because it ttva the day of the preparation that U before the Sabbath) 43 lofeph of A,imatbea y aru honourable Counfdlour, who alfo locked for the Kingdome oj God \ came % and went in boldlte vmo Pilate, andas^ed the boiic of Jcfus, Lvke Chap* xxjii. jo Andbeholde, there was a man^ named Iofe[ h> who wai a Cov.rAl- ler,agoodman 7 4nda \uft. lOHN C H A P. X t X# 3S And after thefe things^ lofeph ef Anmathea (who was a difcyhof lefm, butftcrctlyfsr feare if the leWes) be fought Tt/at eth.it hec might t;\t dewne the body of lefus. And Pdaie gaue him licence, Hec came lhen h and tooke Itfm bodic* Hefcdayes part (beloued Brethren in Chri; hauefpoken of the taking downeofy Loidfiom the Crolle,after He was dead,which came as ) ce heard by a rcqucft made to7W*rf:thefe who made tl c r< qiuft were the /tmgjiis encmics:rfoof r^irr- ftedthat he Jliouldbe mken from the crujfi: not for any la 11c 1 hey ba\ctoh\m y but becaufe it Vr>if the ttn.c of the preparation t) th:P.tJfeoHer:&. thev belceucd,that Iefus & iheotber two ct ncified me who hung on > Croflc lhould haue polluted their holy fraft,& holy a&io & requcft Pilate^thzi $ thicb of the crucified men might be brok^tlut thcraftcr they might be cakC down from the i$6 The XXV. Lectvre, from the Croffe.The fouldiers came firft to the one thiefc > &: broke his thie,the they came to the o:her,& broke his thie alio: laft,thcy came to Iefu s>& finding Him to be dead,they would not break His thic;but one of the fouldiers came with a fpeaiein his hand.and to put the matter out of doubt,he thruft Him thorow $ heart,fo that out of the wound ran blood & water in abundance. Whe lokn hath j made a rehear fal of thefe things,he joynes to ; a weighty teftimony, j He whojato thefc things, hath tefltfiedoftbem, & his teftimony Is true>& bt\ kntmsfhat they are t xne % that ye might btlccHe.L*{k,hc fets down the end of thefe things:firft,wherforethethies of Iefus were notbroke.the, wherfore His fide was pearced; Thefe things WcreeIom(his Iokn)tbat $ ] Scripture wight bcfulpllediSc for this he alledges firft f which is fpoke of the ty pe(£*0«. 12) Hot one bone of the Vafcal lambe might be brokf.&nd I ZAch*r.i2 f Tbey [lull fee him whom they hme pearced i/waip«Thelaftday,; Brethren,we left off at thefe teftimonies of Scripture:chcrfore this i day,as God dial giue vs grace,we (hal fpeak firft of thefc 2 teftimo- 1 nies,& therafter we dial enter to the next Hiftory^ is,to the burial of lcfus.Then to fpeak of the firft teftimony,Afaf one bone of him fid be broke. Mofes fpeakes thefe wotds(Exod> 1 2)of the pafcall lamb.-he giues a commmdcmcnz f tbdtwtheeatingofthe^fcaIlUmb t notonebone ofitjhouldbee broken.Thzt which Mofes fpeakes of the pafcall lambe, loh* drawes it vnto Icfus Chrift^becaufe the Lor d Iefus was the true pafcall lambe:and that lambe that the Icwes ate, was bnt a figure & fliadowof that true lambe^the Lord Ic(us,wbotookeaw<*y the fanes of the ttw/dl:therfore,feing the type & fliadow had ceafed by the death of Iefus Chrift(thcre was not a pafcall lambe any more,and all the celebration of the Pafleouer that the Icwes vfed after the death of Iefus Chrift,wasbut vanitie) it was good reafon,thatI(?/w diouldc draw that which was fpoken of the figure>to the thing fignified by the figure: for thefe wordes that tJMofts fpake of the pafcall lambe were accomplillied in Chrift: there was not one jot of it,but it was perfe&ed and accomplidied in Him.TW(/.CV,5)drawes to Chrift thevery words which Mofesvted in prefcribingoftheeatingof the pafcall lambe., Tttt aft ay the olde leaven* that wee way bee * ncwe lnmpc % as wee arc vnleaiiened.for Chrift onrT aff toner is ficrifiQed for ys m Marke this leffon forourinftruftion: When thou readeft of the Types and Figures in the olde Tcft anient, caft avay theTypes,and keepc the veritie.and applie it to C H R I ST, who is figured by the Types, "We are euer reading f oldc Scripture Kp^kes of the types vfed in the tl Of the Passion ov Christ. 23" the old Church of the Iewes>as that Scripture of the PafchaJ lambe and all the other ceremonies of the Icftes: but take heede how yee read them : read them not, as the lewes read them : read not thefc I Scriptures, as though they were to bee vndcrftood of as many types, yet to bee kept in the earth : bevvareof that : Hearethem not, as though they were any figures and foadowes vnfulfilled,for that were, to exclude the Lord Jefus, who only is the body. But in reading call away the types, becaufe they haue alllceafed at the comming, and after the death of Chrift. Caft not away the Scrip- ture, but draw it vnto Icfus : and that whole Scripture which the lewes vndcrftood of the type, vnderftand thou of Chrift. As for Example, In reading of this Scripture, £aW« i 2,41. Caft afide the type, the Pafchall Lambe, but caft not away the Scripture, Te frail not break? one bone of Htm, Take this Scripture and vnderftand it of Iefus Chrift, that Lambe of God,and His bones. And we muft not thinke, Brethren, that this is any wrying and wrefting of the old Scripture tby the ownc fenfe, becaufe the fame Scripture which fpake of the Type, fpake of Iefus,but mediatly by the Types : and the Fathers of olde, by reading of theTypes, got a fight of the bo* dy, looking in thorow the (haddow to the body .This is no wre- fting of the Scripture. But now, feeing all Types are away, it is good reafon, that thofe Scriptures no w immediatly be vndcrftood of Chrift, which before mediatly were applied to Chrift. I goe to the fecondteftiroonie,Z4cWrt'i2«io. prophecies that the hws that pierced thorow Chrift, (hould fee Him : and when they fee Him, they (hould weepe for Him,as for their only begottenfonne.lt is aprophecic of the repentance of the Jcwes y who had crucified Chr.il,& pierced Him thorow : a promife of their repentance for that wofull deede they did. This lame thing came to paffc in the 2. of the JCisyvhcn Tetcr in his preaching hide to their charge that wicked deede,that they had crucified the Lord of glorie : & had put hand into the Lord of life, at hi* preaching their hearts were pric- ked & pierced thorow with bitcerndTe, & they demand of Petcr % &c the reft, what full they doc tobefifa t & it is faid, three thoufand of , them repented & bclceued at that one preaching. The words wold be marked. How is this, that They pierced lejus.'Yhcv pierced Him firft with their fins: it was the Jewes fins chiefly that procured the death of Chrift:Next,they pierccdHim when they perfecmedHim, I when they crucified Him,& blafphcmcd Him, and rayledon Hinifl hanein^f SjV The XXV. Lectvke hanging on thecroffei& laft chcy pierced Him^hcn by the fpeart in the handes of a fouldier, they thruft Him thorow, and pierce His fide. And who is this thac pierced Him. Ic was not fo muc the Ethnicke man thac did this, as the UVves % for whofe finnes He came to die : for they were the occafion of all this wickednes Jf w will marke narrowly, and will weigh narrowly this matter aright,! we will fee great wickedrieffe, malice, and vnthankfulneflc to hauc* bene in this people:The Lord came to die for them? And who an thefe that flay Him i Eucn thefe for whome He came to die.Was not this a milchieuous dcede ? Who will notabhorreand deteft fuch a villanicand malice ? Alas, (hould I who am a finner,when an innocent man comes to die for my finneSjflay chat man^and bel a burrio to Him ? Lord faue mee from fuch wickedne(Te,and' letfl neuermine hands be a flayer of that man:and yet this was the ma-1 lice of the vngratefull lewes. Againe; will ye confider the won-]' dcrfull loiiechatChriftcariedto this people, when they defcrued ,! nothing at His hands but death, He dies for them,when they were His enemies : He (hed His blood for thcmt& thereafter when they executed Him and crucified Him, (beholdeHis wonderfulllouc) Hee brings them to repentance, His mercieouercomes their ma- lice :fo that in them ye fee that whichis faid to be verified, inhere flnne aboundes , grace and mcrcic fuferabounds, Rom. 5.20* There is no companion betweenetheloueoflefus. and the finnes of men: Albeit thy finnes were neuerfo great and hainous, yet thelouc& raercieof ChrilU will corripafle them, and goe round about them I all: fo that ho finner hath occafion to defpare of mercie and of [grace* I doubt not, there is none ofvs all, but we will condemne I the Jewesj and will find^ fault with the malice of this people : but looke tothyfelfe, whilft as thou condemned: them, that thou jdisfigure thine owneface, and condemne thine owne felfe* Are .Ithere none in this land thathaue put hand in Iefus, that died for 1 themes furely,as euer the tewes did.Who dare cleanfe themfblues? SThou dareft not fay, but thou haft pierced the Lord, either one [way or other :There h not a finne that thou committeft v but there- with thou halt pierced the Lord. Haft thou opponed thy fdfe to jthe Trueth, and perfecuted the Gofpell, then thou haft pierced thrift. Hafl thou perfecuted the Church of Chrift, and troubled His m.drHbcrs* on the earth V thou haft pierced theLord: for Hee cries out : Sasil, SmI } Why prfecflteft th£: Next, \ ■in the Gofpeil of Lf-/;;,how boldly he corner u ehaue thefuite it felfcthcn th tnd 1 utn :receiues outofthc mouth oiPtiuc. Then lookc how i pointed our:I irft, he is defcribed by his namchis n; lexr, hce is difcribed by his country : kc\ >wne in IiuLa: Thirdly, he vvil defcribed fr< us .i rich and w:alibte wan : smci what more ? What mat' Btward things, of cur birth, of the place of ir ,< id fubllmcc in the world, if there be no more efcribed from bisofficCj LhWasawJc ard crane Scrutcr, ; pai t/p The XXV, Lectvre, parantlyheewasinthat Councell of the Ievves, which was called SANEDRiM:yca,apparantly he wason PiLATEScoufeiljbecaufchd was a wife and potent man. But all thefe are out^ardethingesj therefore the Spirit afterward paints him out by his inward quali- ties : for if thou haue no good properties, I will not giue a pennie for all thy calling, thy fubftance, and all outwardc thinges : Hee is painted out in thefe qualities,whichconcerne this life, &hisbeha uiour toward me: he is called a good &v^right mam his life But what helpe all thefc ciuill and morail vertues, if there bee no more, they arelittle worth.TherforejtheSpiritofGoddefcribcs him from the inwardc grace of the heart, from faith andhope.Anditis faide.He* waited for the hjngdome ofCjod. All his riches clofed not his eyes from the fight of that life to come. Then as hee hoped for ^Kingdome, fo hee vfed the meanes: Hee beleeued in Iefus Chrift, and was His Difciple*Sothen, ifthoubeenota fchollertoChriuinthis earth, lookc neuer to dwell with Him in Heauen. Yet there is fomething wanting: Hee durft not avowe himfelfe openlie, for feare of his ri- ches and honour: But now at laft,when it comes to extrcame per- fection, hee manifeftes himfelfe: When they fate in the CounfelL' concerning the death of Chrift, Ioseph would not giue his coun« fell nor confent thereunto. But yet there is an impediment in thi« man; for he ftiould not only haue refrained to haue giuen his con fent, but (hould haue opponed himfelfe againft them,as Nicodmu did, for he opponed himfelfe boldly vnto thtw.Doetb our /*\V(faier ht)condemneamanbeforthe be heard} Ioh. 7. $o, where learneyce that So yee fee, it is an hard and dangerous matter to bee a Counfeller either in Kirke or in Policie.There will bee many impedimentes ii Counfeller* s yea, euen in thelkft of them: and yee fee that whei harde matters doc come in queftion, men will abfent themf lue ! from the Councell : but that is not well done. For, if thou bee j I Counfeller, albeit there were neuer fo hard a matter in hand, thoi art bound inconfciencerobceprefent: Butindeede it is better t< ! abfent thy fclfc,than to come and giue an euill vote. A^aine,ther« | are fome, who will come, but will not confent to euill ; as Iosepi ll heredid:But this is not enough:there is an infirmity here: for thoi J that 3rt a Counfeller,art bound to make oppofition toeuill.Agair I thereare other fomewho will come, & not only refufe to confen! } to that which their cofcience judges to be euiUbut aUb wil oppom > ( themfelues boldly thereunto, as Nkofomw did. And thefe are th<: & beiF Ii Of the BvRiall cv Christ.' 241 ft fore of Counfcllers. Alwaycs, wee fee this : It is an harde mac rto be a good Counfeller : for often times this terrour and that rrour will beecaften in to thee, if thou incline either this waye r that way:and fomtimes the matter will fall out fo ambiguoufly, lat thou wilt not know howe to vote,or what way to turne thee: 3 that of all menjhe who is a Coufeller,either in Kirkcor Politic 1 thefe dangerous daycs,wherin fuch tcrroursarecaftenin,hath 10ft need to deped vpon the coufel of God,reucaled in His word: in all things to keepe a good cofcience. Let no man offer to doe gainft his confciece/or then the cofcience (hall take hold on him, ] uend a proccfle againft him,and challenge hinvconuift him, and Drtnent him wirh anguifh before the Lords Tribunall This for the efcription of the man.We muft not thinke f by fortune or chance r of his owne accord ralhly he came to this point: No,the proui- ence of God guided him 5 led him out for that purpofe.And in this ftion God had refpe&,not only to the Heauely honour of Chrifi: ut alfo to the worldly things,to riches & power#The Lord chofca /orld!y,rich,& potent man to bury Him-to this end 5 that the hVccs 'ho by all meanes fought to heape fhamc & ignominie vpon the .ord^ould not oppone themfclucs,&ftayeHim tobeburied-.for it had bene a poorc or meane man,that had taken this in hande, oubtleflc they had opponed themfclucs, & hindered His bun igainejan honourable man is chofen to bury His Sonne honoura- ble. The Father will haue an Honourable riche man to burie His !eare Sonne. Indeede Ufiphof ' Armxihca°§K. neuer fuch honcur.ss |y f buriall of the blcffed body of Icfus,the Son of God. His cal- ing was nothing: he had neuer bin regiftrate for f he was a Scr:at*r * W™,except that the Lord had put in his hand the buriall of His tcareSon.lt is true, the buriall of the Lord lefus is the laft point of •lis humiliation: for what i> the buriall of the body, but the conti- manceof y body vnderdeathPAnd, if thy burial be not fan&ified, t is a terrible thing to be caften in a holc^&r to be bound voder the arth.Woetothatbodiewhon caften into a hole,cnd in the b )f the earth, and if it bee not fanft:fied in the burial! of I ESVS Z H R I ST. Sol fay, the buriall of lefus Chrifl was the lafl po )fHis humiliation. Hce washoldcn in the fetters of death. v -orde begins the glory of the Son at that which was ignor ti it felfe. He will not employ cucrv man in thi lonourableman in theCitie. And then Hee will haue Q^ not $4* The XXV, Lectvre, not in a vile place 3 nor in a backfide, but in a notable & faire plafflj couered with a ftone.So the Heauenly Father will haue the honoo [ of the Sone & His glory>to begin at the buriall,which was ftiamii I full in it felfe.-and then H:e goes forward,till His refurredion,aii I to His afcending to Heauen, & fitting at the right hand of theFf ther. To worldlinges, this honour of their burial), is buta parte } worldly honour: but heerevntoChrift, that fame piece of honou ni! was$ beginningof his heauenly glory.If thou beinlefusthisfami > rc honour which is done to thy bodie in this life in thy buriall,i$ ttor beginning of thy glory which thou (halt enjoy in the Hcaucns.Thr ^ dishonour of the faithful in thi s life (hal be turned to their honou ^ and glorie,andit (hall be turned to their wtzXcxAUthings^erkftogt^ tbtrfor the befl vnto them that hue (jodfoics Paul, Rom .$,2 9. If thou lo f { ueft the Lord .that fliame that (hall be heaped on thee in this earth *" flull bee the beginning of thine honour .Then much more (hall th G honour that thou fhalt get in this life, bee the beginning of tha* euerlafling honour. Now when Iofeph takes vp the body of f Lore fo lying fo low at the Gallowcs foot,and intends to bury that body* I doubt not, but he hath an eye to that glorious refurreftion, anc * he faw that glory wherewith that body fhould be glorified & (houli d glorifie the bodies of the faithfu)l,& make them like His gloriou. n body. If there were no more but that refped of the refurre&ion o ^ the bodies of the faithfull.in that day e it (houlde make vs count o the bodies of the faithfull>of their death and buriall. 1 .Tet.$.y.Yl reade,rW husband tjhoulde giue honour to their mneffacaufe they are th infirmer and weaker vejfels, and becaufe that with them they axe to bee beire* I of the \ingdome ofglorte.and of that life, Yee fee this, that if there wen but an earthly body, who were appearing hcirc to a kingdomc,mct willcountofhim:Muchmorethen,when wefeeamanorwomar ordained to that Heauenly kingdome, and to that glory, fhouldc 1 we not honour them for that refpc&of glory Taul to Tim- faies,// a great houfe are many vcjjels^fome to honour ^fome to dishonour .Yec fee in a Noble mans houfe howe honourably they will handle golder and fiiu-:r vefiels.Then when we looke toafaithfull man,(hould w< not count greatly of him,bccsufe heeis fo glorious a veffell,and h to be partaker of that glory? All the glory of this world appertains properly to the faithfull: Indcede,often times they haue leaft part thereof (that they maye knowe their happineffc ftandes not in this earthly glory,but in that glory of Hcaucn)& the wicked haue mod ofiti Or THfi Bvriall of Chrtst. 24 j f it.Yet I fay: All the glory euen of this world appertaines to the lithfull only,No honour appertain s to a king who is a reprobate: Ic is but a violent vfurper of thefe worldly things,and he (hal one ay giue account of his violent vfurpation: nothing but (hame ap- >crtaines to him, and all his honour fhall bee turned into (hamc. Now I goe to the next thing: The boldnes that loftph had in co- ning to Pilate\Hcc lurked before,but nowe when lekis is lying in ;rcatcft ignominy,as wee vfe to fpeake t At thcGallowes foot;Thc nan takes boldnes, & fteps in to PtUtcs Hall, & makes his requeft. ■lis riches, his fubftacc,& honour held him abacke awhilerbut now le comes out.& forgets all*&interceades/0r//;*£<^ of lefus y to bu- •ie it.Thy riches & honour of the worlde,are like as many fetters & rron chaines, to rctaine thee & hold thee abacke from thrift. Yet tj ill che riches & honour in the world cannot hinder nor hold backc :l 3 O D S calling , when Hee puts out His haoc^e to drawe thee in H :o Him.-Bu: ifHe put no? out His hand,& draw thee out,thou art i b faft detained, that all the ftrength in the worldewill not be able ]j ;o draw thee.lt is true that Vakl{\\zS)\.Cor yet hauing to doe withMagiftrates, both ciuile and ecclefiafticall,as Pontius TtUte.Caiaphas^nd the reft, from the beginning to the end, Hee will hauc nothing done but with their leaue: when the Magiftratefentoutmcnof warre to take Him,He would not fuflfer Peter to refill them,but He reproo- ued him for drawing his fword :Hce would not haue His body ta- ken do wne from theCrofle, without the leaue of the Magiftrate Hee would hauc nothing done to Him : Hee would not be buried without the leaue of the Magiftrate.Hee leaues thee His example, to teach thee, if thou weretineuer fo innocent, yet if thou falleft in the Of the Bvriall of Christ* n the handes of the Magiftrate, fuffer nothing to be done to thee with offence, and with the difgraceofjufiice and judgement: hee vbo would die well, and in the Lord,let Him proteft that nothing 3e done to him that will disgrace juftice,albeit he (uffer innocently* [ might Jet you fee an higher ground of this matter, but I wil touch it only.The Lord that came in the world to relieue thee from that I great Iudge, and from all thepointesof hisIuftice,itbchoued Him to fufter all the points of Iufticc vnder the earthly judge T but fecrctly for feare oft he leVees) befought Tilatethat hee might tnkf downe the body oflefus. And Vtlate gaue him licence. Hee came then % and tooke lefm bodie* 3 9 *ind there came alfo Nicodemm^ho fir ft came to lefus by night) and brought of myrrhe and aloes mingled together about an hundreth pound* 40 Then took* they the bodie of lefm y and Wrapped it in linnen clothes t with the odour s y as the manner of the lems is to burie # H e laft day (welbeloued in Iefus Chrift)wee en- tered into the Hiftory of the Buriall of the Lord Iefustand wee hearde that the Buriall came by a requcft,made to Tt/ate the Upmane Deputie for thetime:Therequeft maker was one Io$EPH:Hec is fet down and defcribed by all the foure Ev an- gel istes , in all his properties : Hec was a man of ARiMATHEA,aTownein Ivrie, Hee was a rich man, and alfo an honourable and graftc Counfeller* Then , as concerning the quali- Of the Br riall of Christ.' £$f qualities of his pcrfbn : Hee ^amgood who liued vprightlie in the worlde : and yet hee had a further refped than vnto this life, for he waited conftantlie for the Kingdome ot God* And therefore, when Chrift came into the worlde, and tooke vp- (on Him that grcac office of the Mediator betwixt GOD and man, hee enters into His fchoole , and became His Difciple, how- ■beitforfearcof the Ievves, hee durftnot manifeft himfelfe , but Burked fecretlic for a time , cuen to this time that it came to the IBuriall of the bodie of Iefus • and then hee flitwes himfelfe to bee la Difciple of Chrift. In that Councell,which was againft the Lorde, |hee was a Counfeller : but hecwouldc neither giuecounfell, nor confentto the condemning and flaying of CHRIST* Thus much yee hcardc before concerning this man and his properties: Then wee hearde howe hec goes forwarde boldlie to dilate to feeke the Lordcs bodie. Hee lurked before , fo long as lefus was in the worlde,workingfuch wonders as neuer man wrought,&fpeaking with fuch a grace as neuer man fpake with. But no we when Hec is dead,hce comes out boId!ie,and goes to Tt/ate^nd heemanifeftes himfelfe : To let vs fee , that I E S V S in His death ; had greater force to dra^c the foulesof menvnto Him, than Hee had in His life: for from that death there came fofweeteand fenfibleafmell to the foules of finners , that it drewc the foules of finders vnto Him: Namclie, the heart of this man Ioseph: So that hee comes out boldlie, as faide is, and hee goes to Pi l ATE,and requeues Itini togiuehim the bodie of I ES VS to bee buried* Thus farre wee hearde the laft daye : Nowe this daye wee haue Pilates anftere toIosEPHSrequcft, P r l ate wonders that He was dead fo foone: and for the more certaintie heccalles a Centurion, and askes him , if Hee wasdead alrcadie. The Centurion affirmes, that Hec was dead alreadic.P r- late grantcs thcrequcft. After this we come to the manerof His Buriall.Wec (lull goc forward as time fhall fufter&God fliall giue rs grace. Ttl*tc Wonders that hee rpasfifoovc dead.! his wondering of t PilaiCyi\o queftion, imports,that the death of Iefus was extraordi- nary: It was not after the common fafhion of men f were crucified, for men who were crucified, they vfed to hitlg long on thcCrcfie, before they yeeldcd thefpirit,dayes& nights; and inend,etethey yeelded the fpirke,thc life was taken from them by vi wcrcbrokenontheCroflc.SoJv/^hearing.thatthcLorde was fo Q^ 4 foone &4$ The XXVI. Lectvre; foonedead^ee wondered.as at an extraordinariething/Thereare fundrie thinges that teftifie that death of Iefus to hauc bcenc ex*| traordinary : as firft,That mighty and loude voyce & crying whic thcLordvrtercdon the Crofle immediately before He yeel Jed th fpirit:for who will giue aloud crieat theyccldingof his fpirit? fo at the poind): of death, when nature failes.it is a rare thing to findd a man to haue a voyce or a word.Ncxt,The yeelding of His fpirit fo! fuddenly,whe by the power of nature He might haue liued longer* LaftjThis wondering of TiUtetcRifasJhat His death was extraor dinarie^ tha: there was a power in Iefus which controlled nature.-] When nature would haue kept life^thediuine power puts it outJn a word : This wondering tcftifies, That the death of Iefus was the death of God , the death of a man, but God in the man, glorious and blcffcd for euermore* Now it is iixd/PiUte vndeY flood of the Centurion 9 that \efawai dead $ when hee granted the requefl ofIofeph,znd gaue the bodie to him to bee buried. Firft, I (ccTtlateis a good Iuftitkr, ( the Romane luflicc wss a good Iuflice,thelty/»aw-luftiticrs were good)he fhewed him fclfe to bee a good Iuftitier in this: a man condemned to die , hec would not giue Him out of His hands, till hee knew pcrfc&ly that He was dead. The Iudge fiiould not giue a man out of his hads to any, till he-know he be dead ; Iufticc requires that: If they did [o to the grcenctree, the LordHimfcJfefaies, what fihill they doe tathe withered? If ioprecife juftice was kept on $ innocent,what (hall become of the teprobate 5 who muft fuffer euery point of jufticePLord faue vs from thatjufticeofthereprobatc.I put it out of doubt: This jufti'cekcpt on Iefus is a liuely image of that juftice,that fhalbekcpt on there- probate t Thou(halt not efcape one point of that juftice, but thou (halt fuffer in thy carcage^ extremity, if thou be not participate of His blood. Another thing is to bee marked in Tilate: I fee a part of humanity in him: hee grants the dead body humanely.And furely this was by the fa(hion:for the bodies of crucified me were not gi- ue &yeelded at the requefl of me;as their death was ignominious, fo was their burial! J put no dcubtthc cofcience of the innoce ncie oflcfus nercr left him,&thecon(ciece of Hisinnocecie made him to befo eafie to grant the body of Iefus at the requeft of lofeph.JSrc* threnjf this matter had bene in thehandsof Cauiphas,&.thcVricfis 3 and the Scrihsy&c the Elders % they would not haue bene fo ready to ; haue giue the body to be buried; for as they fought to &ame Him in Of the B.vriah of Christ. 24P in his death,fo would they in His buriall: they had buried Him like an AlTe,& cafte Him out like abeaft.So who is this that dishonours the Saints of God in their buriall?It is not ¥iUte y oran Ethuke^ or Tf4rk* % oxPagan:\x. is hypocrit profcflbrSjhypocrits^Cj/Wf^jitisfalfc ^n^knaueSjWith a coloured religion:itis thccounterfet/;/*/>r/>/?jr f thofc(hauelings,thofe monks & friers, who murther theinnocets: there was neucr bitternes nor gal of heart like their birternes,who wil cal thefelues the kirke(they are a falfe & a deceiuing kirkc)they haue not bene content to martyre the deare Sain&s of God, (that bloody maflacrc (hall neucr goe out of memoryjit (halbe recent to their perpetual (hame,& they fhal pay for it one day)but they haue raifed vp $ bones of the dead to burne the.-The vefiels of diftionour fecke the diflionour of the reflels of honour.but fhamc and confu- fion (hall light vpon them,whe the Saints of God (hall get honour. The Lord faue vsfrom them, and that judgement which they (hall receiue.We goe now to the maner of the Buriall.Lookc the louing affe&ion of this holy man Iofepb t would to God we could learnc at him(who loued the dead Iefus Co well)to loue Him now liuing and glorificdin the HcauesAVhen he hath gotte the body of the Lord, he takes it % & puts it ,not in a foule cloth ; he takes not an old (hect,but he buyes the cleaned hnne ; & fined that culd be gotte: & the Spirit of God notes.that it was a fine Iwnen c/^which had neuer touched any mans body before: then he maps the body of Iefus in that winding fhcet. I (uppone it was with his owne hands(for wee reade of none other that touched Him)for hee thought his owne hands ouer vn- worthie to windc fuch a precious and glorious bodie. Nowe Brethren, as the Buriall of the Lord was honoured by an honourable man, who was theBurierof Him: fo it was honoured vith a cleane winding-fheet, which is a piece of the honour of the Bur ialLBut lookc to this mans doinges bettenWhen hee procures leaue to bury Him,he departs not, & leaues another to bury Him: he fais not,I haue done enough! haue gotte his body,he has other frieds tha I, here he has his mother,& his difciplcs,& other wome, who came with him out of GslU^znd others Jet them bury him : &: doe^ reft to him:No,hc faics not fo:So this is a comendable thing in him,who baaing gotte leaue to bury him,hc perfe&s the worke, he will bury him,himfelfe with his owne hands. Let vs learnc at h- feph\\i we put to our hads to the work of Iefus to honour him, (wo to him that honours him not)if thou begin to do him any fauice, leaue fc til TycJ^ The XXVI Lectvre, lcaue not off, whilft thou haue ended it: Count not that whicflP thou haft done, as men doe, who will fay, I haue profeffed, I haujk- fufferedfor religion, more than thebeftofthem. But when thoJp- art ru nni ng thatrace : neuer lookc ouer thy (houlder vntill tho3 tlu commeft to thy races ende : and fay, thou art an vnproficablc fer* to uant, fuppofe thou hadft done neuer fo much : goe forward, the Pr crowneisnot in themiddeftoftherace, butattheendrand hee & who perfiftes to the end of the race,he (hall get the crowne,& not * he who goes backe againe.Yet the afte&ion of the man would bec f confidered and weighed, after that once that fwectefmell (the 1 fweetcft fmell that euer was felt ) comes from the body of Iefus,i that fweet fmell of loue(fortbefauourof that body is the fauour! of louc, fuch loue as man neuer bare to man, fuch loue as made j the Lord to die for finners) after that the fmell comes to lofepbs] foule,it wakened vp in his heart loue towards the Lord: for Hee muft loue vs, before wee loue Him : and whilft Hee begins to louc j Him, he makes requeft for Him,& euer the nearer that he drawes I to that precious body : the fweete fmell that came from that pre- cious body was alwayes the greatcr>and the heart of lofeph warmed ay the more with Him : fo that he could neuer get reft vntill he got chat body in his armes,and wrapped it in linncn clothes.So when we begin to tafte that fragrant odour ,that fweet fmell, our hearts will be allured to draw neare to Him, and as we draw the nearer to Him, wee will ay findethe fweeter fauour proceeding from Him: Thou (halt feele alwaics the more that fweet odour,the more neare thou meetc with Him : and who euer thou bee that feekeftHim once, thou wilt neuer reft whilft thou fee Him, and be with Him* Paul fpeakes this of himfclfe, 2. CV«4.8, / approoue rather to be with the Lord, than to dwell in this bodie. And to the Tbilippi*M f 1.2 3 «/<&** fire to be loofed y andto be with Chrifl : For as well as we loue this bo- dy, we will be content to flit out of it,to let the body fall downc, like a broken pitcher, that we may be conjoyned with Chrift : wc will be content to flit, and to obtaine Iefus Chrift, cuenvvich the diffolution of the body. This for the part of lofeph, in the burying of Chrift, nowe fol- lowes the part of one Nicodemtts : Whilft as Tofeph is wrapping the body of Iefus in the winding-fheete, one Nicodemm who had come to Iefus by night to be inftruded fecretly by Him, he comes to Him, and hee comes not emptie handed (come not emptie handed OF THE BVKIALL OF ChRIST, 2 5 1 landed to Chnft,bring w thee fomc gift)he comes with a mixture }f Myrrhe, and aloes, a precious odour,and with a great weight, m hundreth pound weight, a great weight, and a great price^ibr :his gift hath bene a coftly gift. But to fpcakcot this Nfcodem*s\ :o compare him with fofepb, as lofeph was an honourable man, & a Prince amongft the peoplejfo wa* Nicodemus an honourable man, & a Prince amongft the people, read the 3, of lolm. As fofepb was a •ich man, fo Nicodemts was a rich and mightie man, as lofeph was a ecrct dilciple of Chriftjfo Nitodcmus was a quiet difciple of Chrift, w\\o lurked before,and now comes to Iight.I read of one propcr- :ie in Kicodemus. which was not in Iofepklhis Nicodemus is called by Chrift, a Do&our, and Matter in Ifrael : He was a Vktrtfe, learned n the law of the Iewes,wc read not this of lofeph Yet to goe forward in the comparifon, As lofeph brought his honour and riches, and laid them downc at the fecte of Iefus Chrift, who lay dead in ig- hominie in the fight of the worldc, fo this Kicodemus brings his honour and his riches , his learning , and his wifedome, and layes them downe at the feeteof Iefus lying dead s there he hum- bles his head, as it were at the feeteof Iefus: So that this was the greateft honour that Iefus got in His death and buriall : the wif- dome, the honour, and the learning of the world, and the riches in the perfons of the r e men was all caft vndcr Hisfeete, and no doubt, thefe two men,bcfore they met with Iefus,and knew Him, they flood much on their reputation, they thought their riches, and their honour was fomcthing, and they counted much of their prerogatiucs in the worlde, but after they got a fight of Iefus, all thefe, as Taul fpeakes of himfelfe, famed but loffc vnto them : they fetmed but dung anddtrt, in rctyeB of Iefus Chrtji y yvhome theycourttedto % their only vantage. If thou hadft wifdome to compafle the world, it is nothing butYolly, in refped of that eminencie of the wifdome of Iefus Chrift, all would ftinckc,and be dung to thee, thou woul- deft not endure tolooke vponthem, if thou hadft a fight of that eminencie of the wifdome of Iefus Chrifh Wife men will fpitte at the Crofie of Chrift : thefe wife men, if ye fpcake to them of the: Croffe of Chrift, they will fpit at it: yet albeit they bee wife, the fooliflincflc of the Croflc of Chrift will (hamc them *\\ the foolifh- hefle of it fh3mcs all the wife in the world, the pouertie (hames all the riches of the world, the ignominie of it fliames all the honour, all the crownes and fcepters in the worldc : and therefore Pavl hh XXV* Lbctvrs, 1.' Car. in Efiyes wordes,he glories, Where is tbcwtfemtn wMrtwhae Are the Scrtbes ? where is the dtfywer of the world ? Hath not this foolifh Croffe of Chrift made all but follie : the very fooliflmes off Ctoflc^ of Chrift hath made allyprerogatiues of f world but foolifhnes-thc \ world would not know God in His wifdome, when He had fct oufl fuch a fairc Fabricke of f world, He determined to faue fo many as fhould beleeuc*But how . ? by Philofophie^No, by wifdomfNo,^r fo thefoolijlwjfi*of[re4cbir!g:thou {halt neuer fee Heauen J giue thee this doomc s ifthou be noc faued by this foolifh preaching,! his for thcpetf6ofiV/^ra//X;nowletvsfeehis gift,itisa rich gift,amix-^ ture of Myrrhe & Aloes ofan hundreth pound weight what moo-| tied f man to doe this ? now certainly there are few folks f will caft I away their goods, & giue them for nothing; it bchooued y fomel great mater (hould hauc moued this man:if he had not feene fomel thing in y body, to haue moued him to haue brought this gift, he 1 had neuer brought fuch a precious giftrif he had not feene a won- J derfull precioufnes iny body(euen that dead body was J mod pre- j cious thing in^world)ne had neuer bin foliberal,as to haue bought j fo much precious oyntmtntwhat caufes men be fo loth to beftow any thing on Chrift, & His Gofpel: f world fees not how precious He is in His Gofpel,when thou feeft not §• precioufnes of j Gofpel & of Chrift: O ! what marueil is thislf thou beftoweft nothing on lefus & His Gofpellrl doubt not,if thou couldeft fee f power of^ : light,&fr precioufnes of that Gofpel,thou wouldeft beftow gifts * ] prefents,yea,ali y thou haft to f glory of Iefus,& to^ maintenance of it:ye had need to look on this mater at this time.The Lord open the eyes of men to fee f price of this glorious Gofpel. But to fpeak of Nscodcmns gift: j gift is honourable^ gift of odourstwhat (hould haue moued this man to haue both fuch a gift of odours more tha any otbenif Kicodemus had not felt f fweeteft fauour & odour,that euer was 3 c6ming fro the body of lefus, he had neuer brought fuch a gift,heemeetesa fweete fauour with a fweet fauour : that body needed no odours of Wcodemusj becaufe that bodie was filled with the prcfencc of God, and therefore needed none odours, to preferuc it from corruption. Thenaturall body of a man, beeing dead j will ftincke, but the body of the Lord Icfus was not fubjeft to corruption : foye fee, Brethren, all things honour the buriall,^ honorable ma Iofeph honourcsf burial, the windinglheethonourc$ f buriall,yman Kicodemus honours f buriall £ rich gift honoure* / fcuriall of f Lord, fo His buriall vras on all vrayes honorable; So y 1 OF THE BVRIALL OF CHRIST, glorie of Iefus bcganne in His buriall.Wh.n Nicodcmuj is come with his giityf ofepb & NUodcmus joyne hands in hands together, & Tho tocke towc/is y and buries the body of Iefus y after the wanner if the buriallof the Urns \ Yet I fee in this hfeph a thing commendable: When Ntcodewtis comes with a rich gift, and a richer gift than hec Jgauc, he enuies him not, hee enuies neither the man, nor his gift, but hartily they take the body together, and annoynt \u Let no a man enuie another, who comes with a gift to Iefus, but let mee Kwith my fmall gift, and thee with thy great gift , hartily joyne hande in hande together, and glorifie Iefus Chrift : put away cnuie and emulation/and hartily honour I ES V S CHRIST, for if wc fawe that all our honour ftandes in the honour of Iefus Chrift, wee would bee content, that euery man (hould come with greater gifts to honour Iefus Chrift : and lb emulation would bee put away, Now the Lord giue vs grace to fee, that all our honour ftands in that,that Iefus Chrift may be honoured, that wc mav be content with all men to glorifie Him : he fayes not y *2{jcodemHs w oc thou the reft of it, I haue done my part, I h3ue bought $ Ainding- (heete, & now I will goc my way, doc thou the reft, annoynt thou Him y 8c burir thou Him,No,hc leaues Him not, but when once he put his hand toHimhewil notleaucflim.haft thou begun to fcrue Chrift, leaue Him not, albeit a King (hould command thee, leaue Him not: if thou come not \V odours come with a winding(hect,if not with f windingfhect, come, put the towell about Him,& bind Him,& if thou doeft nomore,ftand by, & fpeake toHishonur,& glorifie Him, and if thou haft not a tongue to fpeake reverently of Him, think of Him reuerently,& honour Him in thy heart If tho^ honour Him rot, woe to thee if thou were a Kingrwo to rhee glorify not y God of glory, & this may let vs fee by experience,^ fouley hath any will to glorify Iefus, can neuer be at reft, but wi it is occupied in glorifying Him, he Cjiicsjkis was done after y cuftcr cftfcvres-.is they buried honorable men, fo they buried Icfus,good reafo was it $ fo it fhoul 1 be, there came neucr fuch an honorable manamog them as Chriftrno, not their kings,7),W.5.r/ ^// &c M ij were nothing to Him.So it appeared £ this cuftome ins buriall was | according to their ceremonial 1 iw,& therefore thefe ceremonies y J jlewes vied in thefe burialls, their #afhmg, their odour* &: the rdt .J were all figures of Ieftii to come us rcfurrc&io ot H»s, l which isj- ern'.-ft peny of our rcfunc R;6/or our re furrcSio d^ ; on His HE XXVI. Lf^tv- • IPSrious refurre&ion, and if y , ;e had not rifcn,we extrcmiti" Firft, efchew contempt, caft not away the body: fecondly, efchew gorgeoufnefle and fuperfluitie, kcepe a iftian honour: albeit thou wereft a King, or anEmpcrour, u fhouldeft keepc a mediocricic, and Chriftian honeftie, and let : fwcete fmell of the death and rcfurrcftion of I E S V S iRIST fauour into hit buriall. pat ihall we fay in burialls then ? Shall we make none excep- L No, Jet vs looke to Circumftances : Buricnot a begger like Kg, looke ro the place and time, and pcrfons yet in all times fcsand pcrfons, let the buriall fmell of that fweet fmdling fc$4"| o v S CHRIS and let that Ample Chriftian ho- ,h be feenc mj": ^ur buriall' ,J>w becaufe the time is fpent, and I will not wearieyou: I jl the reft til the next daye, and commend you to GOD, 5 ching Him , that yceimybee liketoHim.bothinliteand A, and in His buriall and rel'urredion, that wee may dwell II Him for tucrmore in the Hcauens. To whome with the Fa- i: and the Holy Spirit, be all honour, praife and glonc, world by jut end. *] AMEN. T H I Fol.i5<5 I THE XXVII. t E C T V R jG F THE BVRIAIL OF CHRIST. Matth. Chap, xxvii. # So lofeph'tooke theUd^and^r^ditw a clunlmneru cloth Marke, Chap. xv. \U^1 4 6 ^dlayedhim in a tombctbMM b^etiOHtofarot^mdroi a flow vnto the doore ofthefefxilchrc. Lvke Chap. x,xni. , ^ S3 Jndtouksit dMntiwd^fedttm* twnenclotb^M^ jt^ a tombebewenwtofarockcM^'" miKemm ^ ' /.' lOHN t rl ..,., . r lace where the Garden a neV? feplchre^vherehi % CHAP. XIX. ; . And in that place where hfm m^mU'Xt&tZ] " *»iidedovvne in a*"- " ' '^asain^ ?* E e haue in hart*' at this prefent (wrell-bdou< m Christ) this Gofpcl of the Buriall of the L ] fr WhcnHeeis crucified and dead, His Buriall is st- rained by a requett : which reqneft was mac T t /nte,tbe Iudgeatid foment Deputiedie thatr ia the requeft,was lofeph of v8rtmtm\in honoui | man,a Senator^ rich.a good.and a godly man .There comes a Ei ward to lofeph, one Nicodemus, a Doctor in lfrtel, an honour a wife, and a good man, and a Difciple of lefiij, albeit quiet loftfh was: and he joynes handes in this worke with lofeph-.So two take the whole worke in hand: firft Ufeph, and then Kicod In the-Hiftorie of this Buriall wee haue thelc two partes: Firl 0: He Be: U tea fedi I, Op ths By ft tall of Christ.' 257 fiiethc winding of Chrift,as we fpeake commonly,Hee is win* bu~nd wrapped inanewelinnen clothjbeingembaulmcd with t-eetodors.Wehauc heard already of this firfl: part of His Buriab The fecod part of His Buriall,is the laying of His precious bodyiti the graue.Firftthis day we dial fpcakof the laying of $ body in the graue:& next fallcs out a piece of a Hiftory,concerning certain \ro* men J namely,afar/c' Mxgddtm^ the other Mmtfhz mother of /ri\ thy take the body >& Uy it w.Thcy caft it not in,but foftly & ternerl ly they laid that precious body that they loued fo well,they laide I in a graue, as it were in a bed, to fleepe : when they haue laid Hin downein^graue,theytake a great ftone, & rolles it on thedoorc of the graue,& when they haue done that,they goe to the celebra tion of the Paffeouer : As all this worke was dire&ed by the pro uidence ofGod,fo in layingonof this greatftone, the LordHe< had His prouidencc* No queftion, fofephand T^jcodemusrolUdoi this ftone to honour the Lord, but theprouidenceoftheLord it this ftone was chiefly,that when the Lord rofe againe,the enemies (hould not fay, that the Lord was ftollenoutof the graue -.for it was no fmall matter to rolle away fuch a great ftone : fo the Lore would meete the calumnies of His enemies in raifing the ftone. and not onely in raifing the ftone, but in breaking the bands o; death, and of the graue, and in raifing from death to life, whereir Hee (hewed the power of His Godhead : for in nothing did the power of GOD appeare fo euidently,as in the raifing of Chrif from the death: and therefore the Apoftlc Paid in thefirft Chap* ter to the £f fojWf, yerfc j?. brings itin as a lingular proofe of thi ' ftronfi Of the Bvriall of Christ, 259 ftrong power of God, Now wc hauc ended this difcourfe of the buriall, which in all refpe&s ye fee is honorable:fo that, albeit the bariall be othcrwlfe ignominious, and bythelaftpart of His hu- miliation : yet in it the Lord begins to honour Him, He begins at it His glory:eucn fo, albeit the buriall of all men & women beeing (hamefullof the owne nature, yet the buriall of all faithfullmcn and women beeing fan&ified in the buriall oflefusChrift, is the firft part of their honour for by it they paflc to that cternall glory: out the vnbelecuers by their buriall paffe to (hame and confufion. Now wcgoe vntothefecond part of this Text, to the part of the godly women.good tSWarie tJltagdalenc, who neuer left the Lord, but followed Him from Cj title, then the other *JMarie> the mother of fofesifiis they followed Him to the Crofle,fo they followed Him to the buriall, and they ftand afide, and fee Him buried, O that louc ! that wonderfull tender loue / that could not fufter them to be reaued from the LORD: for woe is the heart that is feparatc fromlefus, and that loue that drew them to the CrofTe, that fame drawes them to the graue with Him : for nothing could fcparate -jVi> women fromlefus: No, the croffe, the graue, death it fclfe, * ; /Jcfcparatethefe womens heartesfrom the LORD: loout Oi allqueftion,this following of Icfus to the graue was a token of an intiere loue that they bare to Him : yea jt was rather a token of that loue that came from Iefus to ihcm : that following of Him vttercd fuch a loue and fmell, to flow from that dead bodie, thathangon thecroflfe, and was buried, that neuer man nor wo- man felt the like : He fo loued the world, that He died for it, Hce gau: Himfelfe for it: for, Brethren, except that force that came from the bodie, had drawen their heartes , it had beenevnpof- fible that they could haur followed Him»No man can loue GOD firft, butbecaufe He loues vs, we loue Him \ None can come to wee, fayes Chrift, except my Fdthet draw him : if Hce lay not holde on vs firft,our hearts will neuer incline to lone Him. Now certainly . I put no queftion in it : thefc women looked with fad and heauL hearts on this burialhfor when we fee one buried,whomweloue, wc will be fad, nature ditcs this.Rut as they were heauie hearted in looking ony fp:ftaclc : Co their heart hai joy in looking thereon, for they ha J a great hope to fc: y glorious body rife again,(o they had fad- ncs mixed \V joy; for wo to $ fadncs y hath not joy mixed with it. Now vet I fee as they coriau: J in following Him,tirft to J croiTc,& 11 2 * then i6o The XXVII. Lectvrb, then to the buriall.-fo the Lord continues in honouring them, for He fends them out asPreachcrs,& eye witnefles of his death, which honour neuer one of the Apofties got, but John : Co He honoured them in His buriall : therefore honour Chrift, folio we Hitnto the croffe, follow Him to the graue t thinke not ihame of His crofle or His graue, loue Him with thine heart, waite on Him, for f/ec will let thee fee the moil glorious things that euer the eye faw : holdc therefore the eye vpon Him Jooke to Him night &day,now when He is in the Heauens : and Ipromifc thee, thou lhalt finde by ex- j perience,He (hall makethcea proclaimerof His glory : but thou who fetteft not thine heart to feeke Him now, when He is gone to the Heauens,thou (halt nothaueamouthtoglorifie/iim,or to fpeakc of His Name hereafter.Now, will ye looke to f carefulneffe of thefe wome,they ftand againft f graue a far off & they looke no doubt & fad heartSjhow thefe two menjofepb & Nicodcmus handles the glorious body of Iefus, & layes it in f graue. Men & wome for curiofity & delc&atio vfe to look vpo fuch fpedacles f but thefe wo- men looked \V a carefuil & forrowfull heart, looking that this bo- dy (hould be tederly & honorably handled & buried.Thcrefore, if. y haft f ability to be a handler,& medier with £ worke of fl^o&krd lofepb dc Ktcodtmus was: look at leaft, \ thou be a carefuil onlooker* teder it in thy heart,& fee f all things go wel, & if thou doeftthat$ Lord dial count it a piece of good feruice for f furthering of^glory ofHisKingdomJf thou haft not to beftow onChrift,yet fpeak wel of Him, iff canft not fpeake, yet thinke well of #im:yet thefe wo- men are notcotenttolookononly, but they will be alfo medlers in this a<3:i6:& for this caufe 3 whe ^graue is clofed,they go home \V vnfpeakable fadnes,& joy mixt togcther,going home,thcy prepare fweet odours for $ embalming of Him % third day following, they ceafe vpo f morne, becaufe it was the Sabbath, & vpo $ third day He rofe & difappointed them of f embalming of Him,but yet their intentio is to be comended, they are not cotent to looke on Him, but according to theirpowcr, theyputto their hand:buterc they prepared thefe odours, a fweet fmellcame fro His body to them: for except a fweeter fmel come fro Him,exceptHe giuc thee a grea* ter grace,y "wilt not beftow a peny on Him, except He giuc thee a poud:but being once benefited by Him,thou wilt beftow if it were thy own lifc/let be thy goods) for Him & His glorie : and if thou wilt not beftow on Chrfft, and vpon His Gofpell, Iteftifiethou haft neuer found the fweetnefle of the Lord,, nor of His grace. Of the Rssvrrection ofChrist. *6i It may be that He caft a Lordfliip to thee, or portion of heritage as it were a bone toadogge, but if thou beftoweft nothing on Him, thou haft ncuer felt the grace of God,thy foule hath neuer tafted of that odour & fweetncfls that is in Him Nowe I come to the Lft part which I haue read out of the Gofpell of AftttheVe concerning thewatching of Iefus after Hee was buriedt This watching cafne vponafuite, as all other thinges came vpon a fuite, for nothing durft be done without licence of the Magiftratc, of PtUte the Ro- mdnc Deputie:the Iudgc was rcuerenced, without him nothing was done. The time of the fute is noted, to wit, the next day after He vp*s bmied.This was, no doubt, the Sabbath day, for they began their day at Euen* when the Sun goes downe, (as yce would fay on Fry- d-Ajf at Euen)for no doubr,thc watch ftood about f graue all night. The fute is madctoJVkrr&allisdoneby the Iudge:iti$ a circum- ftancc fiiould be well noted, thinke it not a light matter. The Lord in all His fuffering is fubjeft to the Judge, it behoued Him to vn- derly thefentence of the earthly Iudgc in all forts : ifHtehadnoc vnderlyed it, it had behoued thee tovnderly thefearfull ludge- ment of chat euerlaftingludge.Butwhomakesthe fute / It is not * fyhjior Nicodirmis, none oi them thatlouedChrift./^/? indeed u fuce that the body (hould bee buried ? B . t who is it that makes this fute? Who but they who futed tocrucifie the LORD* The Scribes ,xhe Ph.tnfes } thzt were enemies to Hin\ Looke thorovv all this Hiftorie 3 & yeflial finde fundric futes,fomc euillome good, fomc on an cuil mind,fome on a good mind,many euill, (cw good, many Hirers to crucifieHim,many futerstobreake/firo, many fu- ters to hold Him down in the graue: ye reidof none but of one lof-ph, who makes fure to get the dead bodv rf Iefus buried. Re ad all the Ecclefiafticall f/iftories,and ye (hall finde thefe fame things that fell out in Chrift, to haue fallen ou: in His members : when a god!y man hach beenc drawen our before the ciuile Iudgr, or to martyrdomc : there hath bene fundric filters for him, fome filters good, fone i uill • yet euer moe cuil! than good.Therefore a P: ince orMagiftrate was neuer in fuch danger,in any/uJgement,as a he he gets a good man falUn in his hands. TtUte was neuer in fuch danger, as he was into through rhii aftinn 3 for it loft him his life prefent, & the life to come. When the aftion of a rhiefe or a mur- thercr comes before a Kin? there is no {uch danger : but when a godly man is brought before him for the caufe of CHRIST, R 3 then 161 The XXVlL Lectvse, then he fhould take good hcede,where he fhall get one to giue hira a good counfell : he (hall g?t many co giue him euill couniell, ma- ny (hal crie,crucifie f/im:& woe to him,if he aiTc j nt,as ViUtc did, for heftiallinuoluch mfelfin that fame guilrincs withthem rhat cried crucifie him, It is true indeede, that 'Pilate granted a good fuite, hee gaue leaue to lofeph, to bune the body of Chrift, yet did this any good to Pilate ^ faued it him ? No,Thinkeft thou when thou haft executed an innocent, that thou doeft enough, when thou haft gi- uen His bodie to bee buried ? No, that (hall not excufc thee, nor % free thee from guiltincffe.O how great and weighue is the burthen of M jgiftrates I Therefore they had netde euei to hauegood men about them, and we (hould pray the Lordearncftly to guide them and direct them in judgement. This much for the f uters, now come to the fute:the.wordcs are the fe : The decerns faidj wbilft as He Was aline •, that Vvuhm three dayes He fhwldxife t command therefore that the fepnlchre bee made fare, vntilltht third day , left His difcipks cemeby night and fteale Him away y and fay to the people, that He is rifen fro the deadi fo fhallthe lafi errour be worfethan tbefirftAneffe&thisis as much, as if they had (aid thefe wordes,^ this man faid, that He (hould rile the third day, therefore appoi^ Him a guard to certify of His glorious refurre&iotyLord fo dire6ia their words, albeit their meaning was flatcontraiie.-Maikethere* fore a good WTon : euer more the Lord hath (hared the reprobate in their wicked deuifes, & hath eucr turned them from that mif* chieuous end they aymed them, to the manifeftation of His owne glory. The Priefts & Pharifes thought to obfeurc^r glorieof Chrifts rcfu?rtdion>&ifit hsdlyenin their hands to holdHim by force in the graue:but the Lord whoworkes light out of darkneflfe, makes their fure to feme for the clearer manifeftation of His refurreftion, for they conld hauedoneno more for the manifeftation of His re- furre&ion, if they had bene hired for that purpofe: folooke what interpnie wicked men will demfe to difhonour Him : I iay,the Lord; fh 11 curne it in end to His glory,' but to their deftru&ion: I will fay further,.f&it may feeme marueilous) perucrfe deuifes of the .jj 3 wicked often times do ferue more to His g-ory,than the good pur- tt pofes & deedes of the godly :for ir is not a greater glory to G OD. fl to bring light out of darkncs,than to bring light oat of light: the ac Lord is a rooft ^kilfull and mightie workcman,Hce makes His glo- C0; ry to appeare, by bringing light out of darknefle, by bringing lift I Of the Bvriall of Christ. iff life out of death, and by calling the thinges that are not, as if they were : all the deuifes of the wicked are darkntfle, the doings of the godly are light: fo the Lord will fomctimes bee more woderfully glorified in the doings of the wicked, than in the doings ofthegodlyjkt this doth f wicked no good, nor it ferues nothing for their benefite,for in f meanc time they are more mali- cious againft f Lord, thaneuer they were, they call Him a deccincri this is a wonderfull thing they faw the Lords power in obfeuring ofthefunjn renting of the rockesjn opening of thegraues 5 they faw His great glory thine in all thefe wonders -yet fuch is thernali- cioufnes of thefe wicked men,they call y Lord of glory,a deceiuer, & in fo doing not ouely rhey oppone themfelues againft God, but alfo they doe fo far as in them lay, as to hauefpitted in thefa^e of God:yet thefe mifcrablc creatu es J meane tl e Scribes & P ha: ifes, came not on a fuddaintietothisextreamemalicioufncs, but they (hew fonie meane 6c Ima 1 beginnings of it.wheChrift firft mani- feficdHim(eife,& began to per. 1 6, 2 2. This lees vs fee the nature of their finne, ic was a finne againft theHoly Spirit ; and this is the nature of that fi:me,\viien once thou (halt enter in it. thou wilt h I .wntillthou com- m ft to cxtreime exec id induration, to thin fting deftruction. My leflbn is this, If the Lord cpoc vs grace to learne \v lit plcafcs the Lord to (bine vnto thee, albeit thou werift a ifing or E trie. or Lord, lookers thpa would efJicw M 11 & dam- nation, that thou repine not to this light, but greedily embrace ir, and walke in ic : for if thou ftep forward in repining, thou I hauean hard backc-commingagaine, and thou fhalc come from Itipri tocx c II thou come to vtcer deftrufl Now [doubt not, but ye are forrowfull N rd 'a deeeiucr, yee are forrowfull toheare light callc Hcouiforc our felues with this', the Lotdv all guile 4 R 4 and 254 The XXVII. Lectvre, and deceit, fuffers Himfelfcto bee called a deceitier,to purge vs from guile and deceic: for it might feeme marueilous,thattheSpi- rite of God (houideregifter this name of a deceiuer, fuppofe they called Him a dcceiuer:for this name defiles the aire to call the Lord of Tiueih a deceiuer: Yet no queftion the Spirite hath left it in rc- gifterco beeheardeandreadofall Chriftians, to the endeof the worlds that thou mayeft knowe what the Lorde hath fuftered for thee. And doubtlcffe this name was heauier to Him, than all the vexation that was done to Mm: it was heauier than the crucifying of him it fclfcand when thou heareft this name thou (houldcft fay, He was not a deceiuer,but it was I that was a deceiuer,& Hcc was* called a deceiuer for me who was damned for decek,that I (hould be deliuercd from the debt & puni(hment of deccit,and deceiuers. Now to end tt\ovt\y:Tebauea watch, faies \\C,goeandmake itfirtj keepe it as yee pleafe. Hee was an eafie man to graunt to any man whatfoeuer thing he fought of himreithcr good or euill. Hee gran* ted to hfph his lute to burie Chrift: fo he grants to the Priefts and, Phanfes this fute tokeepe Him in the graue:The reafon is.bccaufe beingan£fte£,heferucd not God,bui the affe&ions ofm£,whc-. ther good or euilhhe looked not to God, but hee had a refpeft icy his owne ftanding:and therefore hee cares not to grant a fute u% i pofe it were againft God and Chrifbffee had a refpeft to his owne:, ilanding,when he commanded Chrift to be crucified: Such like he refpeded his owne (landing, when hee gaue lofeph leaue toburie Him: and like wife now when he grantes this fute to the Prie\lesto watch His graue, he refpe&ed his owne (landing. Marke thi^Bre. thren : It is a miferable thing , when a King or a Iudge hathkoi God before his eyes.wo to $ king who hath not God & a good c fciece before his cycs:for he will be a flaue to the affe&ions of arf varlot in the Countreye. A Begger, a Aforfc-rubber, and the vile! flaue that can be among men, is not fo vile a flaue as he who feme the affections of men^ and hath not God and a good confeiene before him : and cuer the higher,and the greater his eftate be, he ij p the greater flaue. Nowe hauing gotten leaue of Tilat ejhey fet me of warre to keepe Him in the grauc , they mak* the fipulchre fire mi tbeyt>atch,to the ende Hee (houlde not bee ftollen awaye.and for tl, more feairitie, they paled t he fione.znd fignated it with Tilatcs rin and then it was death to anie manintheworldetotouch it: Y the more bufie they are,and the more they ftriue to hold mm in t warn Of THE Bviiall OF xjn I I ST. 2T> r graue, the more the Lorde glorifies Him, and the more cleare and imnifeft was his Refurrcdion.Could Tilates feaJe holde him in the grauePCould the men of warrc holde him inf* No, they coulee not keepe him: but yee will haarc : They fell all dou-ne dead at his Re- furrection,and they had not a worde to fpeake,fuppofe fuch was the impudencic of the Pricfts,that although they knew that he was ri- fen: Yet they hired the men of vvarre to fay that he was not rifen f but his difciples ftole him away by night: And this errour conti- nues in the worlde among the hvw euer fince. But the Lord Iefus arofe with great power and glorie, and now is in infinite glorie in the Heavens, at the right hand of the Father: To whom, with the Sonne,and holy Spirit, from our hearts, wee render all praife* ho- nour, and glore, for euer and euer, A. m e n. JiSSS H^ *# 1^1 jfjpj- 5f1*^vg/« v8 a%! S bm* fsS THE XXVIII. LECTVRE p¥ THE RESVRRECTION OF CHRIST. / Matth. Chap, xxvur. NC\Vy in the ende of the SM<weefhall follow out the whole foure Luangeliftes./J^r- 'tbtWin his hd.Chaptcr^Mg^ks in his UftjC faster \ and Lukg in hislaft Chapter, fets downe the Hiilorie of the refurre&ion of lefus Chrift; but John infifts more largclie than the reft,for he hath two Chapters of the Hiftorie of the Rtfur rection. Then to come to the purpofe. Wee finde in none of the foure Euangdifts the time and the houre when the Lord arole from the dead prccifelie notedAVe finde not the manner of His tifmgoutof the graue. Wee finde no mention made of any witneffes that fawe Him rife out of the graue. It hath pleafed the Lord in His wifedome T to conceale all thefe thingesryet it is certaine He arofe our of the graue in the morning(what houre he knowesHimfe!fe)in the morning, after f lewfo Sabbath, which was the beginning of the thirde day after His Buriall: for the hwes counted their day from euen till tue:fo the third day began at eue- ning. As it is certaine that the Lord arofc out of the graue in the night; fo we find in the foure Euangelifls ; that when He is rifen.He teitifies a little after, His glorious Refurre6i:ion,by many witneffess And firfi: of all the emptineffe and roomneflfeof the graue tcftifies j this Rda rection. Aiat{t Magddene^ and the other Mane, and $*• V/«w^eMc of it:The Angels of Heauoi teftifie of it:TheLord Him- felfe Of the Resvkrection of Christ. 567 felfe teftifics of ir by appearing co the women : And thefe women 4 , teftifieof into His Difciples: Ar.d then the Lord witnefles His Re- ' furre&ion by His owne appealing vmo them. To come to the Text that we haue read: We hauc firftofall out of theGofpelof Marke noted the occafion.how it comes topaffe that thefc women are made wiencflcs to the ftefurre£tion of lefus Chrift.Next,wee haue the coming of thefc holy women our of Hie- rufaltm with odours to anoint the dead bodie of lefus, which rhey fupponed to haue bene in the graue: Thirdly, wee haue the rehear- fall of fome things that fell out whileft the women were comming to the grauerThere falles out a great earthquake,becaufe their was a glorious Angc 11 comming from Heauen to the graue: And laft of all,we (hall fpeakeof the part of Mane Magdalene particularly, be- caufefliepreucmed the other,and came firft to the graue. flue was a woman who loued the Lord marueiloufly,and waited continual. lie vpon Him* As torching the occafion. Marke faies, that Whin the Sabbath day wot paft, Marie 7>lagdaht>e^o* Marie the mother ofU.mei and Salome , bought faect ointments > that they might come and anoint him: that is. the dead bodie of the Lord. which,as they fupponed, lave in the grauc.Note the time well. It was after the Sabbath was pafi: for after they had feene the Lord layed in the graue by lofcph and NicodemtUs they returned home to the Preparation of the PafTe- ouer, which was as we compt on the Friday at euen, when the Sun was gonedowne, On the morrow aftcr,which was their Sabbath, they celebrated the Pa(feouer,and they reftcd all that day vntill the euening;Then vpon their Sabba f h at euen, which is our Saturdays at euen, when rhe Sunne was gone downe, their Sabbath being cn- ded,they remember their purpofe,and buyefwect odours, that on the morrowecarlic they might embaulme che dead bodie of the Lord, Nowe Brethren , furely the lone and affe&ion of th^fc women canoe bepaifeq by: They take a purpofe to honorthcLordby cm- baulming His bodie.-They reft on the Sabbath d v:n day&a night intcruenes yet this time ftaves not their purpofefl (hall caufe one night in:e( uening put a good purpofe out of our heads. Indc ed we will kcepaneuil! purpofe long in our mind: Bin if we hauc a good . purpofe at e uen, wee will forget it ere the morne it wi 1 bee buried with vs,asif wee had nener thought it.) But this purpofe of the c holy women would bee better examined, that wee may fee when *n they M The XXV III. Lsctvri; they arc to be commended : they buy and prepare fwecte rmelling odours to annoy nt the body of the LORD , the LORD was rifen at this time,& the LORD had foretolde them oftcner than once or twifc, that He was after His death to rife on the third day, yet they go out of very purpofe thac fame day,this cannot be com- mendable inthem* As for theloue that was in the hearts of thefe women, it cannot but be comended to all pofterities co the end of the world,& wouldto GOD the like loue & zeale to God were in the hearts of men & women in thefe dayes^ut certainly the deed it fclfe,fecing they had the word of God inf comrarie,is not com- mendabie:Butlookeagainein all this doing,theLord takes more heed to ^ heart>than to f deed,& not only forgiues He the fin, but alfo He workes out of it, not only His o wne glory ^but f well of f womerthcy went out of fet purpoieto embalmeHim f Lord turncs this fo about,y He makes them to be witneflesof His glorious re- furre&io.Now well is them f loues f Lord: for to them all thinges works for f beft>out of their fins He vvorkes their faIuation,& out of darknes light.But to come forward to the next hcad:Thc fwect odours bceing bought 5 confe&ed & prepared f women go toward the graue,the time is very prccifely noted by alljrfoure Euan gelifts, AfatthewC&Wcs it, the end of the Sabbath, when the fir (I day tn the tyesk$ began tod^wne.It was in f dawning before the Lords day(fo called in remebrance of His glorious rcfurrc&io, which we vfc to call our Sunday). Mark? Cxyesjt was the fir ft day of the Sabbat hourly in themor- ning^in the beginning of the Week* .as he would fay,Sunday,eaily in the morning,before^rifing of f [un,Luke ftyes $&tt\c,lohn fayes, early tbefirfldayoftheVPeekewhenitypas da* ke % i\i a word, it was on Sunday in t morning,at f very point of time,whe f fun rofe.Now^purpofe of ithefc women was not to be witness of f refurre&io of f Lord but to embalme His body (which as they thought, was lying in the graue) but^Lordturnes^ muter fo about f He makes them to be witneffes of Chrifts refurre&io 5 &this was no fmal honor,He makes. women witnefifes of f refurre&io, euen to f (hame of men,yea,eucni to f (hame of His Apoftles.for they rofe early in f morning but His Apoftleslay lurking ftill,&goc not out So in theexampleofthefe|j S: women, wee may fee that to bee true which Paul fayes, i . Cor. i ,27. The Lord hath chofen the foolifl) things of the World, to conf ounA the Wife f and God hath chofen the Weak* things of the world, to confound the migh- , tic things, that all glorie might redound to Him. Another thing weltf;; k Of th£ RBsvRREcnoK of Christ. 169 we fee in their example, that which the Apoftle fayes,i.C«r.3.i8. if anymanfeemc tobtwifein this ywldjttbnnbe ajccle.that hemay be Vvifc. The LORD in this doing will h2ue His cifciplesto (it down in the (choole of women, to leamc of them that glorious ■ jefurre&ion, He vvil make them to be fooles,^ they may be made $vife, and Hee will haue the women to bee their teachers, and if thou accepted not of the teftimonic of thefe women, & become not as a foole, albeit thou wereft ncuer fo wife, thou (halt neuer get a part of the refurre&ion of Icfu s Chrift.Novv I goc forwardc to the third thing wee haue here fet downc. It is an incident that falles outwhilftas the women is on their journey, going to the graue, for as they arc going to the graue, there falles out,fayes Jl'lattbtoiAgrcat earthquake, the caufe is noted, for as they were going to the graue, the Lord of glory fends an AngelhottW thercfur- re&ion of the Lord to thefe women-.fo in very deed, the Angell is a witneflc before the women, but the women before the men : Al- wayes, thc;AngeI that comes from Heauen, he is a honorablcam- baffadour.-the bleffed Angels are very glorious,& no queftion the Lord would haue His refurre&ionfirft witneflcd by lb glorious an ambafladour,He would nor haue man to teftifie firft of it, but He would haue a glorious Angell from Heauen to tell, & proclaime the Lord of glorie was rifen, and that He had broken the bands of death, &rifcnvp in defpite of the Deuill,& death, & that to our well,y both we may rife to a newnc flfe of Iife,& y we may be aflured, that t^ey whoflcepe in Him, as Paul fa } es, and Ites in tbegauc t JI>all be raifed XQithHimut that greM d*y in glory .An Angell, a glorious creature ho* noures the mefligc,bucyec I fay, the medage and commiiTion ho- nourcs the Angel more, than the Angell does the me(Tagc:yca,ific were all the Angels in Heauen, they get mere honour by it, than they can giue to it. Wcll.if the preaching of tC5ofpel,the certifying of Icfus, & His refurrection, honoures the Angels, (hall u c thinke that any man in earth is too good to preach the Gofpcll of Chnll, No,ifthou wereft a King, u is a ^reat honour to thee, that thou (houidefthiue crace to fpeakeof His blcflcd Name. Well, Brethre, c:C as the ambaflidour was glorious, & the meflage was glorious 1 ;yc6miflion was the joyfullcft thing that eucr^heardeft :al the An- ■?, gels in Heauen, are too vnworthytotel it. Now as thcambaiTadcr kwis g!orious,& the meflage moreglorious/otheLordofHeane iing honours His Ambaffadour>Va terrible earthquake: the vftofa King hath honour, and why (hould not the amballadou: K 7 o The XXV I IT. Lectvre; the Lord Iesvs haue honour aboue all the Kingesofthe^j world ? No doubt the Lord in this Earthquake hatha further refpeft, for hereby He teftified,that His glorious prefence accom- panied the Angell , and that to the weale and comfort of the fillie women: for as all the reft was to prepare their hearts reuerentlie to receiue fo glorious an Ambaffadour, fo was alfo this Earthquake : For if both men and women bee not prepared to receiue the Gof- pel of I e s v s C h r i s t, let an Angel come from Heauen, if they be not prepared by the power of G o D,they will not bcleeue^hey will not heare, nor receiue the meffage with reucrence. Therefore, let no man faye , What necdes all this , a glorious Angell to come from Heaue.andfuch an Earthquake? He might haue come other- wi(e,Hc might haue come faire and foftly ,and in more quyec man- ner J anfwere to this:The Lord looked not fo much to the An- gell,or the meffage, as to the women : for if it were an Angell that came from Heauen,He (hall ncuer be receiued by the fillieft bodie, except thine heart be prepared by the power of God. Now to goe forward: When this Angell comes downe firft, wee haue what Hee does:Then wee haue a fiire defcription of this An- gell.The firft thingHe does, is, Hee goes to the grave >andf writs a\Vay the flone from the doore.Yc would thinke this was but a fober and fer- uile office , to fo glorious an Ambafladour, Might not men haue done it ? It was fofiph andHicodcmw who rolled the ftone to the tombe* Might not men haue rolled it awaye againc ? Marke,and compare the Buriall with His glorious refurreftion.'InHis Burial! He kept the Godhead clofe: for if either in the death of Chrift, or in His Buriall, that Godhead fliould haue vttercd it felfe 5 He could neither h3ue dicd a noryet haue bene buried: for the Godhead can neither die, nor bee buried : but in the refurre&ion,the Godhead that dwelt in Him bodilic breakes out, and raifes the ftone, Vpon this difference there followes another: in His Buriall,the Godhead keeping it felfe clofe,He had no Angcls,but mortall men,to wit Jo* fepb, and Nicodctms, to ferue Him: they winde mm, they laye Him in the graue,they roll the ftone to the doore of the graue. But when it comes to His glorious refurredio,in the which that Godhead that before kept it felfe clofe, brake out, Hee vfes not the minifterie of men, but of a glorious Angell, an Angell rolles away the ftone, as it were with his owne hand* Nowe this lets vs fee how highlic and honourable wee (hould thinke of this glorious refurre&ion. Jt is true, Of th £ Res v RREcri ok of Chr is t. ljir*'* true, the Lord inHisBuriall walhonourabIc 3 butHcewasfarre c more honourable in His Refurre&ion : for the honour that Hce had in His Buriatl was but a worldlie honour ; but in His Refurrt- &ion Hee had an Heauenlie honour.* Indeede Iofeph and Nicodcmus who buried Him, were two Honourable men, but an Angell is an hundreth times more Honourable and glorious than anie man,al- beit he were a king,or Cafay himfelfc. And fo the L o r d in His Bu. riall vttered Himfclfe to bee a Lordc oucr men , but in His glorious Refurrc&ion hc vttered Himfelfe euen in our nature, not onelic to be Lord of men,but alfo- of Angels* So Brethren,all tendes to this, to let vs fee the glorie of the Refurre&ion of Iefus«No we would to God wee could ftriue night and daye to get a fight of it :for except we get a fight of it,in fome meafure hcre>wee (hall neuer fee glorie hereafter. But before I leaue this, I fce,that in the rolling awaye of the ftone,the Lord hath a refpeft to the weakneflc of thefe women, knowing well they were not able to remoue fo heauy a ftone, to fee whether the Lord was there or no: He fendes this Angell to roll ic away, to the endejthat when the women came,they fliould fee that the LORD was rifen from the dead, Well.here wee haue a com* Portable leflbnsThe LORD will helpe them that feeke Him: Seeke the Lord where euer Hee bee:Seeke the Lord in the graue:feeke the Lord in the Heauen.and thou Quit bee allured, if thou bee a weake bodic,the Lord (hall fupplie thy weakneffe, and Hee (hall caufe the ftrong Angell to doe that which thou art not able to doc. Reade wee not how the Lord hath fent His Angels to fight the battels of His o wne? And if thou wilt feeke the Lord when thou art going any way, thou (halt find in experience that the Lord (hall fend nis An- gell before thee,and prepare thinges before thy comming. And I doubt not, but fome of you who hcarcs mec, haue foundc this in your owne cxperiencc,in fuch fort,that yee haue wondered at that bleflcd prouidencc of his Majeftic,an J hath bene moue J to glori- fie Him. Now there is another thing to be marked: When He hath rolled the ftone from the doore,He departs noc>£.*f befits duwnc^andai thereto teftifie that the Lord lefus was rifen. So yee fee the firft wit- nefleof theRcfirredionofkfiJs Chrift is an Anijcl^Heeremaincs fitting vpon the (lone, to tcftifie,that Chrift was ti(cn in glory.Thc firft witnefles of His death and Buriall, were men and women • but the firft witnelle ofHis glorious refurrechon/is His bleflcd Angell} ' to lee ' iyi ThE XXVIII. Lectvui; to let vs fee how the Lord would honour His Refurrc<9:ion,and to make vs efteeme of it,& to wonder at it,for in the fight of it ftand* our life and glorie. Alas! that once our eyes coulde bee opened>tol fee the glorie of our Redeemer, fitting at the right hande of that! Majeftie, then could wee not but wonderac the greatneffe of that glorie* Well then,as I faide before in this poind: The Lord had a great refpeft to the poore women. Alas ! an Earthly King will haue a fmall refpeft to the poore : But the Lorde of glory had a great re- fped to thefe poore women ♦Indeed 3 the light of the emptinefle of the grauc might baue beene a fufficient teftimonie to them of Chriftes Refurre&ion, confidering the fore-warning they had be- fore,to wit,That the Lord (houlde rifeagaine the thirdedaye: but they were weakc in faith: And therfore, He that fupplicd the weak* neffe of their bodies, by the ftregth of the Angell,He fupplies their faith by this fame Angehfor they began to doubt,whetber He was rifen.-thcy thought Hee was ftollen away: Yet the Lorde Iefus fup- plies their weaknefle , and to the emptinefle of the graue , Hee, fubjoynes the faying of the Angeli , The Lord is rifen from the dead' Then the leflbn is this t Againe feeke the Lorde: Art thou ficke irili bodie,He will fupplic thy weaknefle; Art thou weakc in faith,fceke theLord: & as certainlie as He fupplied the faith of thefe women* Hee fliall fupplie thy faith. And if thou wilt not bclecue for one te J flimonie, Hee will teftifie againe:and I teftifie,Hee will neuer leauc thee,if thou once aimeft to feekeHimjyea,Hee will hcape teftimo- nie vpon teftimonie.till Hee confirme thec,and bring thee to per- fection. Nowe Brethren, followesheercafcerafairedcfcription of this Angeli . In Matthew firft he is defcribed from his looke & coun- tenance/The looke and his eyes glaunced,as ye (ccflafhes ojfire.Thcn hee is defcribed from hi srayment: Heeiscladde withfaire bright rayment, white like thefnotye : Hee hath fiericcycs,and his rayment is like white fnowXafl of all, hee is defcriued from the cffe&that followed on his fight, Buton whome? Not on the women,but on the ftrong men of warre.for aflbone as they faw him,they were not able to looke vpon hinvbut fell downe as dead:they might not fix ftaine to bcholdc him,and his glorious countenance. Now,as this great Earthquake, which was joyned with his comming downe from Heauen, was arifible figncoftheprefence of God,accom panying; * Of the Resvrrection of Christ. iy% panying Him, fo that terrible countenance & white rayment were alfo vifiblc fignes of that fame prefence of G O D, accompanying Him when hee came to the graue# The Majeftic of GOD (hined in his face, & rayment, & the fame prefence made the men ofvvirrctofall downe as dead* Whereto wis all this?Toglorifis & honour that great comraiflion that the Angell had. Why Ihould not the ambafladour of a glorious King be glorious ? Why Ihould not His looke, his countenance,His rayment, and all be glorious? Butyetagainc,all this is for the well of the poore women :In all this the LORD regarded them; for euen as the terrible earth- quake was to prepare their hcartes to recciue the ambafl'age rc- -tierently :Euenfo,vva$ the bright countenance and (Lining ray- ment of this Angell. Noweto fpeake fomcthingofthe fignes of the prefence of God, that He hath vfed fincc the beginning, to let out His inuifibleglorie: No, all theAngds inHeautn hadneuer power to get accede nor apprehend y inaccelTiblc light.lt is true, the great God harh no neede to borrow either light from the fire- fl i(h, or whitenes fro y fnow,or hue,or hotnes from the fire, to fee tborth His glory, for all the beauties in all the creatures are not to becopared topoiorythatisinHim.Thefirchadneuer^ glance to et forth His glory.&c.yetithath pleafcd f Lord, for our capacitie fubmittingHimfilfeto our infirmitie,by thofe things fare moft glorious &cxquifite in Nature, to fet out & reprefent Hisincom- prehenfible glory :He takes as it were a darkc ihadow thereby, to let vs fee Mb ihining g!ory:& thcrefore(Brethren)take vp $ It (Ton* When euer the Lord vttcrs His Majeftie by outward fignes of His creatures, hold not altogether thine eye fixed on f outward fignes, as though His Majcfty cxt:nd:d f felfe no further,as though there were no greater glory in Him than in them,as though He were no whiter than thefnow, nor brighter than the fire : for the vifiblc creature cannot fully exprefTL* the glory of the Creator: but by the eye of Faith thojfhouldeU pierce into that inward hght and in- comprehenfible glory, whercinto GOD dwells, blcfled for euer* which is rcprefentcd by tjpc beautie of thefe outwardc fignes. Therefore when H:efers out His brightneflc by thebrightnefle r c the Sunne: whe a thou Led the Sunne fhining, thou fliou! Jcft / with thy felfe, I cannot abide the bright netfe of this Sunne:& therefore vrhicbrightneffe is in £ God that madeit:and ifbj I c eye of Faith thoulookeft chorow tie glorieof all the creatures, S to (he _ ^M 1 274 The XXVIII. Lectvre, to the infinite gloricof the Creator, thou (hah haueafairc vn tage , for thou fhal: no fooner looke vpon His gloric, by the cyi of faith, but aflbone fliall the Lord by the bcames of His infinit glotie, and by a marueilou* light (hine in thine heart: for as the Apoftlefayes, 2X^,4.6. Cod that commanded the light toflwte out of dvkcjfc, tsHct Mich bath flirted in our hearts. And 1 doubt not but ihefe poore women looking to the glory of the Angell, who was an Ambaffidour of Iefus : they faw and confidered how glorious Iefus was who fent him : and lo they found the glory of the Lord fhining in their foule afterwards, which made them to re/'oyce with a joy vnfpeakable, and glorious* Now to end (hortIy,it is faid. That for feare of dim the keepers were ajlofiificdytmd became as dcade w^.The men of warre, are (landing about thegraue whet. His Angell comes : but when they fee the Angell, the earth did not (hake fo f«ftas they did: they (hake and fall downedeade,asitwereinatrance: theie men were fiout be- fore : and it is likely that they had bragged before, that all the world fhould not get Him out of the graue.-for they were acquain- ted with tmr. Jtcsojg^pre, andt'-cy hadfeenca^ many terrible fights, as any menyBfrorall their ftoutiuffe, they looke not a foone t$%he AngejBnface, and rayment, but aflbone they .an downe dead.We!,thou art a flout man/ifthou wilt fay/All the do toils in HeLQial not fmitc thee,nor affright thee,thou thinkeft thou wilt out-face all the world : this Land is full of fuch foolifh brag- gers,who will fay, they will not bee afraide to meete the Deuill but one blencke of the face erf that Majcftie of G O D, will caufc them fall downe as dead to the ground. Will yee weigh this mat- ter aright* It is notonely the outwarde fight of the Angell that aftonilhes thefe men: forifitwas the fight ofthe Angell, why fel not the women downef Why were they not aftoni(hed?the womer ftoodftil^andtheAngelfpaketo them, and they to him: fothen muft be another caufe of this terrour? and what was the caufc They were great finners : finne did reigne in them without repen tance : they had aneuill confeience? they were enemies tolefu Chrift: and therefore at the figfit ofthe Angell, when the light o GOD t nrers in, and wakens their confeiences, they arc ftrickei with exceeding terrour and feare.The children of God, who hau their conferences purged from the guiltineffe of finnc, vfes not t Le ftiickcn with fuch terrour at the fight of God,but rather receiu j° / x .fe%* K9K EH SRHH 2(9B 9 1 ■ UN 9H9