THIS IS JESUS THE JEWS. THE JEWS. THIS IS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE KING OF THE KING OF THE KING OF THE JEWS. 28 And the fcrip. ture was fulfilled, which faith, And he was numbred with the tranfgreflors. THE JEWS. 20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jefus was crucified was nigh to the city. And it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. 21 Then faid the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The king of the Jews; but that he faid, I am king of the Jews. 22 Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written. 25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. Pilat's Order, in Hebrew, Greek and Latin, in thefe words: THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Thus was fulfil'd that Prophecy of Scripture, which foretold that the Meffiah hould be reckon'd among the Malefactors. Now the place where Chrift was crucified, commonly call'd Mount Calvary, being not far from the City, it was read by many of the Jews, the Infcription being, as we faid, in three Languages, that it might be understood by any that were skill'd in either of them. For which Reafon the Chief Priefts accofted Pilat, and defir'd him to alter the Form a little, and to order it to be written thus: This is Jefus of Nazareth, who said, he was the King of the Jews. But Pilat refus'd to alter a Tittle of what he had commanded to be written; Providence fo ordering it, that the Jews might be acquainted by a Heathen with the real Dignity of that Jesus whofe death they had with fo much fury folicited. It was about the third Hour after the Sun rofe, that Jefus was crucified, and Y y y 2 the the two Thieves with him, one on his right hand, and the other on his left. The Ignominy and Cruelty of fuch barbarous ufage were fo far from working their ufual effects in Jesus, that inftead of Curfes, and direful Imprecations, he pray'd to God to forgive his hard-hearted Enemies, fince many of them finn'd thro Ignorance. Notwithstanding, the infolent Rabble, who were got together, revil'd and jeer'd him, fhaking their Heads at him, and faying, O thou that braggedst thou wouldst deftroy the Temple of Jerufalem, and rebuild it in three days, now fave thy felf, and come down from the Crofs, if thou art the Meah. In like manner the Chief Priefts and others of the greateft quality among the Jews upbraided him, faying, If he has indeed cur'd fo many of their diftempers as is commonly reported, let him now exert that Power in his own behalf, but we fee he is no ways able to fave himfelf from Punishment: The Miracles therefore attributed to him, deferve no credit among us. If he be the Meffiah, the deliverer of our Nation, let him firft deliver himfelf from the danger he is now in: Let this King of 43 He trufted in God; let him deliver him now if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. K 44 The thieves alfo which were crucified were with him, caft the him, fame in his teeth. LUKE. CHAP. XXIII. 36 And the fouldiers alfo mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37 And faying, If And they that 39 And one of the 40 But the other anfwering, rebuked him, faying, Doft not thou fear God, feeing thou art in the fame condemnation? 41 And we indeed juftiy; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man JOHN. of the Jews come down from the Crofs in our prefence; at fight of fuch Miracle we fhall no longer diftruft the truth of his pretenfions. He feem'd to acquiefce in a firm reliance on God's favor to him; let God then fet free this his beloved Son. The Soldiers alfo offering the Vinegar, fcoff'd at him, faying: If thou art the King of the Jews, come down from the Crofs, and fave thy felf. One of the Thieves alfo, that were crucified at the fame time with him, thus contumelioufly upbraided him: If thou art the Meffiah, fave thy felf and us. But the other, who before his crucifixion was penitent, and acquainted with the Doctrin and Miracles of Jefus, rebuk'd his Companion, faying, Haft thou no reverence for God, not yet when thou art almoft ready to expire on the Cros? to which we indeed by our Crimes are justly faftned; but as for him whom thou jeereft, *. he 25 Now there ftood by the crofs of Jefus, his mother, and his mothers fifter, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jefus therefore faw his mother, and the difciple ftanding by whom he loved, he faith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy fon. 27 Then faith he to the difciple, Behold thy mother. And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. he has done nothing that can defervedly be blam'd; nor do I in the leaft doubt but God, who has given him Power of working fo many Miracles, will deliver him in a manner futable to the Divine Wisdom, altho he now hangs on the Cross like one of us. Then turning himfelf to Jefus, Lord, faid he, when thou shalt enter upon the Poffeffion of the Kingdom God has promifed thee, remember me. Jefus immediatly replied, that for the fake of his extraordinary Faith he fhould that very day be together with him in thofe Seats of Blifs whither the Souls of the Just are tranflated after their Separation from the Body. At that time there ftood by the Crofs of Jefus, Mary his Mother, and Mary the Daughter of Cleopas, his Mother's Sifter, and Mary Magdalen, with John the Son of Zebedee; whom Jefus beholding, he thus comforted his Mother: Woman, faid he, this Man fhall be instead of a Son to thee. Then looking on that Dif ciple, he commanded him to reverence her as his Mother. From that time John took Mary home with him, and had the fame affection and kindness for her as if She had bin his own Mother. Now Now when Jefus had hung three hours on the Crofs, about the Sixth hour a dark and thick Vapor hover'd over all the Land of Judea, fo that the light of the Sun was obfcur'd; and about the ninth hour Jefus cried out with a loud voice in the Jewish Language, E LO HI, ELOHI, LAMMAH SABACTHANI? which fignifies, My God, my God, why haft thou forfaken me? From which Exclamation might be understood the greatness of the Pain he endur'd. But fome of the Spectators, not fufficiently heeding it, and mistaking the words, thought he had. invok'd the Prophet Elias. One of them therefore fill'd a Spunge with Vinegar, and having faftned it to a Reed, reach'd it to Jefus to refrefh him, till Elias fhould come, whom he imagin'd Jefus had call'd upon, expecting with others when Elias fhould come, and rescue him. But Jefus now perceiving the end of his Sufferings drew near, recollecting his. Spirits, ← |