tion, and it would have been longer if he had not freely and willingly giv en up the ghost: it is reported, that Andrew the apostle was two whole days on the cross before he died, and so long might Christ have been, if God had not heightened it to greater degrees of torment supernaturally.

I may add to this, as above all this, the pains of his soul whilst he hanged on the cross, for there also Christ had his agonies and soul conflicts, these were those (odinas thanatou,) those pains, or pangs of death, Acts 2:24. from which Peter tells us Christ was loosed. The word (odinas) properly signifies the pains of a woman in travail; such were the pains of Jesus Christ in death; the prophet calls it "the travail of his soul," lea. 53:11. and the Psalmist calls it the pains of hell; "The sorrows of death compassed ine, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me," Psal. 116:3. The sorrows or cords of death compassed his body, and the pains of hell gat hold upon his soul; and these were they that extorted from him that passionate expostulation, " My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me:" Matth. 27:46. He complains of that which was more grievous to him, than ten thousand deaths, "My God, my God, why hast thou withdrawn thy wonted presence, and left my soul (as it were) in the pains of hell!"

Use. And now reflect we on the shame and pain! O the curse and bitterness that our sins have brought on Jesus Christ! when I but think of these bleeding veins, bruised shoulders, scourged sides, furrowed back, harrowed temples, digged hands and feet, and then consider that my sins were the cause of all; methinks I should need no more arguments for selfabhorring! Christians! would not your hearts rise against him that should kill your father, mother, brother, wife, husband; dearest relations in all the world? O then, how should your hearts and souls rise against sin? Surely your sin it was, that murdered Christ, that killed him, who is instead of all relations, who is a thousand, thousand times dearer to you, than father, mother, husband, child, or whomsoever; one thought of this should, methinks, be enough to make you say, as Job did, "I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes," Job 42:9. Oh! what is that cross on the back of Christ? My sins; oh! what is that crown on the head of Christ? My sins; oh! what is the nail in the right-hand, and that other in the left. hand of Christ? My sins; oh! what is that spear in the side of Christ? My sins; what are those nails and wounds in the feet of Christ? My sins. With a spiritual eye I see no other engine tormenting Christ, no other Pilate, Herod, Annas, Caiaphas condemning Christ, no other soldiers, officers, Jews, or Gentiles, doing execution on Christ, but only sin: oh my sins, my sins, my sins!

2. Comfort we ourselves in the end and aim of this death of Christ; "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life," John 3:14,15. The end of Christ's crucifying is the material business; and therefore let the end be observed, as well as the meritorious cause: without this consideration, the contemplation of Christ's death, or the meditation of the story of Christ's sufferings, would be altogether unprofitable; now what was the end? Surely this: "Christ lifted up, that he might draw all men to him," John 12:32. "Christ hanged on a tree, that he might bear our sins on the tree," 1 Pet. 2:24. This was the plot, which God by ancient design had aimed at in the crucifying of Christ, and thus our faith must take it up; indeed our comfort hangs on this: the intent, aim, and design of Christ in his sufferings is, that welcome news, and the very spirit of the gospel! O remember this! Christ

is crucified, and why so? That "whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have life everlasting."

We are now at the height of Christ's sufferings, and the sun is now in his meridian, or height of ascent; I shall no more count hour by hour, for "from the sixth hour to the ninth hour, (that is, from twelve to three in the afternoon) there was darkness over all the land," Matth. 27:45. But of that, and of the consequents after it, in the next sections.

SECT. VII. Of the consequents after Christ's crucifying.

THE particulars following I shall quickly despatch. As thus,

1. About twelve, when the sun is usually brightest, it began now to darken. This darkness was so great, that it spread over all the land of Jewry; some think over all the world. So we translate it in Luke, "and there was a darkness over all the earth," Luke 23:44. and many Gentiles, besides the Jews, observed the same as a great miracle: Dionysius the Areopagite (as *Suidas relates) could say at first sight of it, "Either the world is ending, or the God of nature is suffering." This very darkness was the occasion of that altar erected in Athens, and dedicated to the unknown God," Acts 17:23. Of this prophesied Amos. "And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, And I will darken the earth in the clear day," Amos 8:9.

The cause of this darkness is diversely rendered by several authors; some think, "That the sun by divine power withdrew and held back its beams." Others say, "That the obscurity was caused by some thick clouds, which were miraculously produced in the air, and spread themselves over all the earth." Others say, "That this darkness was by a wonderful interposition of the moon, which at that time was at full, but by a miracle interposed itself betwixt the earth and sun." Whatsoever was the cause, it continued for the space of three hours, as dark as the darkest winter's night.

2. About three, (which the Jews call the ninth hour) the sun now be. ginning to receive his light, "Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eli, Eli, lamasabacthani, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Matth. 27:46. And then, that the scripture might be fulfilled, he said, "I thirst," And "when he had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished," (John 19:28,30.) And at last, crying with a loud voice, he said, "Father, into thy hands I commend my Spirit, and having said thus, he gave up the ghost," Luke 23:46. I cannot stay on these seven words of Christ, which he uttered on the cross: his words were ever gracious, but never more gracious than at this time: we cannot find in all the books and writings of men, in all the annals and records of time, either such sufferings, or such sayings, as were these last words and wounds, sayings and suffer. ing of Jesus Christ.-" And having said this he gave up the ghost: or, as John relates it, He bowed his head and gave up the ghost," John 19:30. he bowed, not because he was dead, but first he bowed and then died; the meaning is, he died willingly without constraint, cheerfully without murmur; what a wonder is this? Life itself gives up his life, and death itself dies by his death; Jesus Christ who is the author of life, the God of life, lays down his life for us, and death itself lies for ever nailed to that bloody cross in the stead of Jesus Christ. And now may we suppose him at the gates of paradise, calling with his last words to have them opened, "That the king of glory might come in."

* Suid. in vita S. Dion.

+ Hier. in Matth. 17. Orig. tract. 35. in Matth. Dionys. Epist. 7. ad Policarpum.

3. About four in the afternoon, he was pierced with a spear, and there issued out of his side both blood and water. And "one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came thereout both blood and water," John 19:34. How truly may we say of the soldiers, "That after all his sufferings they have added wounds:" they find him dead, and yet they will scarce believe it, until with a spear they have searched for life at the well-head itself, even at the heart of Christ; and "forthwith there came out blood and water." This was the fountain of both sacraments, the fountain of all our happiness, "The fountain open to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness," Zech. 13:1. "There are three that bear witness in earth, (saith John) the Spirit, and the water, and the blood," 1 John 5:8. Out of the side of Christ, being now dead, there issues water and blood, signifying that he is both our justification and sanctification. Physicians tell us, that about the heart, there is a film or skin like unto a purse, wherein is contained clear water to cool the heat of the heart, and therefore, very probable it is, that that very skin (or pericardium) was pierced through with the heart, and thence came out those streams of blood and water." O gates of heaven! O windows of paradise! O palace of refuge! O tower of strength! O sanctuary of the just! O flourishing bed of the spouse of Solomon! methinks I see water and blood running out of his side, more freshly than these golden streams which ran out of the garden of Eden, and watered the whole world." Here, if I could stay, I might lengthen my doctrine during my life; Oh! it were good to be here, it were a large field and a blessed subject.

4. About five (which the Jews call the eleventh, and the last hour) Christ was taken down, and buried by Joseph and Nicodemus. But enough, I must not wear out your patience altogether.

Thus far we have propounded the blessed object of Christ's suffering and dying for us: our next work is to direct you (as formerly) in the art or mystery, how you are to look unto him in this respect.

CHAPTER III.

SECT. I. Of knowing Jesus, as carrying on the great work of our Sal

vation in his death.

1. LET us know Jesus, carrying on the great work of our salvation, during his sufferings and death. This is the high point which Paul was ever studying on, and preaching on, and pondering on; "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified," 1 Cor. 2:2. Christ crucified is the rarest piece of knowledge in the world; the person of Christ is a matter of high speculation, but Christ farther considered, as clothed with his garments of blood, is that knowledge, which especially Paul pursues; he esteems not, reckons not, determines not to make any profession of any other science or doctrine, than the most necessary and only saving knowledge of Christ crucified. O my soul, how many days, and months, and years, hast thou spent to attain some little measure in the arts, and tongues, and sciences? And yet what a poor skill hast thou attained, in respect of the many thousands of them that knew nothing at all of Jesus Christ? And what if thou hadst reached out to a greater proficiency? Couldst thou have dived into the secrets of nature; couldst thou have excelled "the wisdom of all the children of the east

country, and all the wisdom of Egypt, and all the wisdom of Solomon, who spake of beasts, of fowls, of fishes, of all trees from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon, even to the hyssop that springeth out of the wall," 1 Kings 4:33. Yet, without the saving knowledge of Christ crucified, (Christ suffering, bleeding and dying) all this had been nothing, see Eccl. 1:18. only that knowledge is worth the having, which refers to Christ: above all, that is the rarest piece of Christ's humiliation, which holds him forth suffering for us, and so freeing us from hell sufferings. Come then, and spend thy time for the future more fruitfully, in reading, learning, and knowing this one necessary thing. Study Christ crucified in every piece and part; O the precious truths, and precious discoveries that a studying head and heart could hammer out here! much hath been said, but a thousand thousand times more might yet be said; we have given but a little scantling of that which Christ endured; volumes might be written till they were piled as high as heaven, and yet all would not serve to make out the full discoveries of Jesus' sufferings. Study therefore, and study more, but be sure thy study and thy knowledge, be rather practical than speculative; do not merely beat thy brains to learn the history of Christ's death, but the efficacy, virtue and merit of it: know what thou knowest in reference to thyself, as if Jesus had been all the while carrying on the business of thy soul's salvation, as if thou hadst stood by, and Christ had spoken to thee, as sometimes to the women, "Weep not for me, but for thyself," thy sins caused my sufferings, and my sufferings were for the abolition of thy sins.

SECT. II. Of considering Jesus in that respect.

2. Let us consider Jesus, carrying on this great work of our salvation, during his sufferings and death. They shall look upon me whom they have pierced," saith the prophet, Zech. 12:10. (i. e.) they shall consider me, and accordingly says the apostle, "looking unto Jesus, or considering of Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy of our salvation set before him, endured the cross, and despised the shame," Heb. 12:2. Then indeed, and in that act is the duty brought in: it is good in all respects, and under all considerations, to look unto Jesus from first to last; but above all, this text relates firstly to the time of his sufferings; and hence it is that Luke calls Christ's passion (theorian) theory or sight; "And all the people that came together to that sight,-smote their breasts and returned," Luke 23:48. Not but that every passage of Christ is a theory or sight worthy our looking on, or considering of: Christ in his Father's purpose, and Christ in the promise, and Christ in performance, Christ in his birth, and Christ in his life; O how sweet? what blessed objects are these to look upon? But above all, "consider him (saith the apostle) that endured such contradictions of sinners against himself,” Heb. 12:3.-" Consider him, who for the joy that was set before him, en. dured the cross, and despised the shame," verse 2. of all other parts, acts or passages of Christ, the Holy Ghost hath only honored Christ's passion, (his sufferings and his death) with his name of theory and sight. Why, surely this is the theory ever most commended to our view and consideration; O then let us look on this, consider of this. As in this manner,-

1. Consider him passing over the brook Cedron; it signifies the wrath of God and rage of men; the first step of his passion is sharp and sore; he cannot enter the door, but first he must wade through cold waters on bare feet, nor must he only wade through them but drink of them; through many tribulations must they go that will purchase souls, and through many

tribulations must they go, that will follow after him to the kingdom of glory. Consider him entering into the garden of Gethsemane; in a garden Adam sinned, and in this garden Christ must suffer, that the same place which was the nest where sin was hatched, might now be the childbed of grace and mercy; into this garden, no sooner was he entered, but he began to be agonized, all his powers and passions within him were in conflict. Consider, O my soul, how suddenly he is struck into a strange fear; never was man so afraid of the torments of hell, as Christ (standing in our room) is of his Father's wrath; fear is still suitable to apprehension, and never man could so perfectly apprehend the cause of fear as Jesus Christ, nor was he only afraid but very heavy; "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death." His sorrow was lethal and deadly, it melted his soul gradually, as wax is melted with heat: it continued with him till his last gasp, his heart was like wax burning all the time of his passion, and at last "it melted in the midst of his bowels," Psalm 22:19. Mark 14: 33. Nor was he only afraid and heavy, but he began to be sore amazed; this signifies an universal cessation of all the faculties of the soul from their several functions; we usually call it a consternation, it is like a clock stopped for the while from going, by some hand or other laid upon it: or if it was not wholly a cessation, yet was it at least an expavefaction, such a motion of the mind, as whereby, for the present, he was disenabled to nind any thing else but the dreadful sense of the wrath of God. O what an agony was this! O what a struggling passion of mixed grief was this? What afflicting and conflicting affections under the sight and sense of imminent peril was in this agony?" And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly," Luke 22:44. Thrice had he prayed, but now in this agony he played more earnestly. "O my Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me, nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." Though I feel the soul of pain in the pain of my soul, yet there is divinity in me, which tells me there is a wage for sin, and I will pay it all. O my Father, since thou hast bent thy bow, lo, here an open breast, fix herein all thy shafts of fury, better I suffer for a while, than that all believers should be damned for ever; thy will is mine, lo, I will bear the burden of sin, come and shoot here thy arrows of revenge. And thus as he prayed he swate, and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground, Luke 22:44. Oh! what man or angel can conceive the agony, the fear, the sorrow, the amazement of that heart, that without all outward vio lence, merely out of the extremity of his own passion, bled through the flesh and skin, not some faint dew, but solid drops of blood? Now is he crucified without a cross, fear and sorrow are the nails, our sins the thorns, his Father's wrath the spear, and all these together, cause a bleeding shower to rain throughout all his pores; O my soul, consider of this, and if thou wilt bring this consideration home, say, "Thy sins were the cause of this bloody sweat," Jesus Christ is that true Adam, that is come out of paradise for thy sins, and thus labored on earth with his bloody sweat, to get the bread that thou must feed on.

2. Consider his apprehension; Judas is now at hand with a troop following him to apprehend his master, see how without all shame, he set himself in the van, and coming to his Lord and Master, gives him a most traitorous and deceitful kiss, "What, Judas! betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?" Hast thou sold the Lord of life to such cruel merchants, as covet greedily his blood and life? O alas! at what price hast thou set the Lord of all the creatures? At thirty pence. What a vile and slender price is this for a Lord of such glory and majesty God was sold