The Ethiopian Eunuchs Conversion, Commentary on Acts 8 · Verse 32
VERSE 32.33. The place of Scripture that hee read, was this, He was led as a ſheep to the ſlaughter, and like a lambe dumbe before the ſhearer, ſo opened he not his mouth. In his humiliation, his iudgement was taken away, and who ſhall declare his generation, for his life is taken from the earth.
THe Text is a relation of that portion of Scripture which the Eunuch was reading, at ſuch time as Philip ioyned himſelfe to his Chariot.
The place is Eſay 53.7. where the ſame words are vſed.
The Eunuch deſiring to know the myſtery of mans ſaluation, and to bee acquainted with the word, whereby he might attaine the knowledge of the ſame. By Gods ſpeciall prouidence, lighteth here vponupon ſuch a place of Scripture, wherein is contained the very ſumme of the whole Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt, and of the Chriſtian faith; yea, ſuch a place, wherin Chriſts death, paſſion, and glorious reſurrection, are moſt clearely and perſpicuouſly ſet out vntounto vsus.
In handling theſe words, wee hauehave
1 The Preface, the place of Scripture that he read.
2 The Scripture it ſelfe, Hee was, &c.
In the Preface,
1 Who? the Eunuch.
2 What? he read.
3 The ſubiect: matter, the Scripture,
In the Scripture it ſelfe wee hauehave
1 Chriſts humiliation, v. 32.
2 Chriſts exaltation, v. 33.
In Chriſts humiliation … hauehave
1 The perſon (He)
2 The paſſion, (was lea)
3 The illuſtration,
1 (as a ſheepe).
2 (like a Lamb)
4 The extent of his paſſion.
1 (to be ſlaine)
2 (to be ſhorne.)
5 The reddition or application.
So opened he not his mouth.
The place of Scripture that hee read.
(He) that is,The Preface. the Eunuch, this great Noble man, as wee hauehave heard before. The note is,
That great men muſt be great poſſeſſours; Doct. Abraham a Prince, his great commendation,Great men muſt be great profeſſors. was his zeale in religion: ſo Dauid, Heze chias, Ioſias, Kings of Iuda and Iſrael, all of them very memorable in the Scriptures, for their forwardenſſe in religion. The poynt we handled before.
(He read) he was not idle, nor gaue himſelfe to his eaſe or pleaſure, but was well imployed in reading. And becauſe hee might reade many idle laſciuious books, to no profit, therefore this was it that added greatly to his praiſe, that he read the Scriptures, and therein ſpent his time in his iourney.
The place of Scripture that hee read, &c.
We are taught hence, Doct. Chriſtians …ght to be conuer…nt in the Scripture.that it is an excellent duty belonging to eueryevery Chriſtian, to be conuerſant in the Scripture. The Lord would hauehave men familiarly acquainted with the Word, and to hauehave it at hand with them, as their Councellor, vponupon all occaſions to aduiſe them.
And hence is it, that the Lord hath commanded, beſides the ordinary courſe of teaching by the Leuites in the Temple;Deut. 6.6.7. Theſe words which I command thee this day, ſhall be in thy heart, &c. And thou ſhalt binde them as a ſigne vponupon thy hand, and ſhalt write them vponupon the poaſts of thy houſe; and vponupon thy gates, &c. and all to this end, that men might be familiarly acquainted with the word. This is Chriſts owne charge, Search the Scriptures: Io. 5.39. Col. 3.16. 2 Tim. 3 15ſo is it likewiſe an Apoſtolicall iniunction, Let the word of God dwell plentifully in you, &c.
And great reaſon.
Reaſ. 1 Becauſe the Word is the ordinary meanes that God hath ſanctified and ſet apart for the working of ſauing grace in the hearts of all the elect;Pſal 19.7. The law of the Lord is perfect, conuerting the ſoule; when Paul had preached vntounto the people, the Text ſaith,Acts …3.48 As many as were ordained vntounto eternal life, beleeued, and the Apoſtle Peter, 1 Pet. 1.23We are borne againe, not of mortall ſeed, but immortall, the word of God. &c.
Secondly, it is a chriſtian mans euidence for life and ſaluation, Reaſ. 2 Thy Teſtimonies hauehave I claymed as my heritage for euer, for why, Pſal. 119.111.they are the very ioy of my heart: wee can neuer hauehave true faith, firme hope, vndoubted aſſurance without it.
Thirdly, it is by the Word, Reaſ. 3 that we come to hauehave a ſanctified vſe of the creatures, All things are ſanctified by the word and prayer. So David, I had periſhed in my affliction, Pſal 119.bad it not beene for thy word.
Seeing then that it is ſo neceſſary a duty, Vſe. to be conuerſant in the Scripture, as the ordinary meanes of our ſaluation, as the Chriſtian mans euidence to eternall life, and to procure vntounto vsus a ſanctified vſe of the creatures, and of all eſtates, and conditions of life. This ſhewes how trecherouſly the Church of Rome doth deale with mens ſoules herein, that barre the people from reading the Scriptures, locking them vp in an vnknowne tongue, like the Scribes and Phariſees, of whom our Sauiour faith thus, That they ſhut vp the kingdome of heauen againſt men. If a Captaine ſhould leade out a Company into the field, and permit them to take no weapon in their hands, who could but thinke that he intended to betray them into their enemies hand, And is not this the practice of that grand Captaine of Rome, that whereas the word of God is the ſword of the ſpirit, Eph. 6.…7.a part of a Chriſtian mans armour, both offenſiue and defenſiue, whereby we repell the fiery darts of the Deuill; how is this wrung out of the hands of men, they muſt not dare to meddle therewith; then the which, what greater iniury can there be to the ſoules of men?
Hitherto of the Preface, the Scripture it ſelfe followeth.
Hee was led as a ſheepe to the ſlaughter, and like a lambe dumbe before the Shearer, ſo opened hee not his mouth.
The words are the Prophet Eſayes duplicate page duplicate page in his fifty third Chapter, and the ſeuenth verſe. This Text is a cleare prophecy of Chriſt, and this 32 verſe ſets out his humiliation only:
Wherein are obſeruable,
1 perſon, he.
2 paſſion, was led.
3 the illuſtration,
1 as a ſheep,
2 as a lamb.
4 extent,
to be ſlaine,
to be ſhorne.
5 the reddition or application of the whole vntounto the perſon of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, ſo opened he not his mouth.
He was led as a ſheepe, &c.
Q.d. And that, as you hauehave heard,Me…ph. he was reading in his Chariot. So that ye may know what he read, the very place of Scripture on which hee was imployed at the inſtant of Philips approach vntounto the Chariot was this, and none other, He was led, &c.
Firſt for the meaning of the words.
(He) that is, Chriſt Ieſus the eternall ſonne of God,foreign for ſo doth Philip expound it, verſe 35. Hee began at the ſame Scripture, and preached vntounto him Ieſus.
(Was led) that is, was taken and carried away by the traytor Iudas, and the high Prieſts ſeruants, with ſwords and ſtaues, as if he had beene a theefe or male-factor.
(As a ſheepe) as an innocent and harmeleſſe ſheepe that had beene altogether profitable and commodious, and neuer hurtfull or iniurious vntounto any.
(To the ſlaughter) to bee ſlaine and ſacrificed for the ſinnes of men, as ſheepe in the time of the Law, being offered in ſacrifice, were firſt ſlaughtered and ſlaine.
(And like a lambe) and that ye may yet more fully conceiue of his innocency,foreign if a lambe, a meeke and harmeleſſe lambe, bee meet more fully to expreſſe the manner of his ſuffering, hee was like an innocent lambe, a very lambe, vndefiled and without ſpot.
(Before the ſhearer) that meekly and without reſiſtance,foreign doth remaine quiet before the ſhearer, ſuffering his fleece to bee ſhorne off.
(So opened he not his month) euen as it is with a ſheepe when hee is ſlaine,foreign and a lambe when he is ſhorne, ſo was Chriſt Ieſus ſilent, he did not ſtriue nor cry, nor was his voyce heard in the ſtreets, according to that prophecy of old, He did not cry, Eſa 4….2.nor lift vp, nor cauſe his voyce to be heard in the ſtreet. He roared not like a Swine, nor raued like a Dog, nor ſtrugled and bit like a wolfe; but ſilently, meekly, and patiently ſubmitted to the putting off his fleece, his tabernacle, his life he yeelded vp without reſiſtance.
The ſumme of all is this, that he that was Lord of all, and had all power in heauen and earth, was content to be taken by wicked men, and carried to the ſlaughter, to the place of ſhearing; yea, as a ſheepe is ſlaine without noyſe, and a lambe ſhorne without reſiſtance, ſo was it with the Lord Ieſus Chriſt in his death, in laying downe of his tabernacle.
Hitherto of the ſenſe of the words, the particulars follow.
He was led as a ſheepe, &c.
(He) Firſt for the perſon (he) 1 The person.that is, the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, for ſo doth Philip expound the place, verſe 35. Hee began at the ſame Scripture, and preached vntounto him Ieſus. It is Ieſus then that is the proper ſubiect of this Text, of whom the Prophet ſpeaketh.
Then the Leſſon is,
That Chriſt Ieſus in the onelyonly high Prieſt, Doct. Chriſt the true ſacrifice for ſin.anoynted of his Father, by the ſacrificing of his own body, to put away ſinne; hee is the true Paſchall Lambe, that was ſlaine from the beginning. To him giuegive all the Prophets witneſſe, poynting at Chriſt, as the onelyonly Mediator betwixt God and man; by his death and paſſion wee are fully and perfectly redeemed, and the iuſtice of his Father fully ſatiſfied▪ that place of the Prophet Eſay is cleare to this purpoſe,Eſa. 53.5. Hee was wounded for our transgreſsions, he was broken for our iniquities; the chaſtiſement of our peace, was vponupon him, and with his ſtripes we are healed. The Heaue offering,Leuit. 21. Gen 22. Numb. 21. the ſacrificing of Iſaac, the Brazen Serpent, were all of them but types of Chriſt. And the like may be ſaid of all thoſe ſacrifices in the time of the Law, as Lambs and Beaſts that were ſlaine, and their bloud ſhed; whereto ſerued theſe, but to leade vsus to Chriſt, who by his owne death and bloud-ſhed put an end vntounto them all.Heb. 9.12. Not by the bloud of Goates and Calues, but by his owne bloud, hee entred in once into the holy place, hauing obtained eternall redemption for vsus. Wee are ſanctified by the body of Ieſus once for all: Heb. 10.10and againe, He was made ſinne for vsus, who knew no ſinne, 2 Cor. 5.21that we might be made the righteouſneſſe of God in him. So the Apoſtle Peter, 1 Pet. 2.2…Who his owne ſelfe bare our ſinnes in his body on the tree, that we being deliuered from ſinne, ſhould liue vntounto righteouſneſſe, by whoſe ſtripes we are healed.
This was that Lambe ſlaine from the beginning, as Saint Iohn teſtifieth,Reu. 13.8. All that dwell vponupon the earth, ſhall worſhip the Beaſt, whoſe names are not written in the Booke of life, of that Lambe that was ſlaine from the beginning of the world. And the Author of the Epiſtle vntounto the Hebrewes, calleth him Chriſt Ieſus yeſterday, Heb. 13.8.and to day, and the ſame for euer.
And howſoeuer this ſuffering of Chriſt was now in the laſt age of the world, yet was hee that Lambe that was ſlaine from the beginning. What was the Paſchall Lambe to the Iewes, and their ſacrifices in the time of the Law, but Looking-glaſſes wherin they might clearely behold Chriſt. And hence is it that our Sauiour ſaith,Ioh. 8.56. Abraham deſired to ſee my day, and he ſaw it, and reioyced.
But what might be the difference betwixt the ſtate of the Church in the time of the Law, Queſt. and now in the time of Grace?
In reſpect of the matter, or perſon of the Redeemer, Anſw. it is to vsus both alike. For neuer any could come to life and ſaluation, but onelyonly through Ieſus Chriſt. OnelyOnly the Fathers in the Primitiue Church, hauing the promiſe of a Meſſiah to come, beleeued the ſame, and by faith laid hold on him, and ſo was Chriſts death as effectuall vntounto them, although he were to come, as to vsus that hauehave ſeene his comming in the fleſh, and the expiration of all thoſe prophecies and promiſes touching the Meſſiah in the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, to hauehave their period and determination.
And the reaſon is,
Becauſe by the comming of Chriſt, Reaſ. and in that ſacrifice of his death all other ſacrifices are taken away, and the Altar of his Croſſe, was the end and diſſolution of all other Altars, and now what hath the Church to doe to reſt vponupon ſhadowes, the ſubſtance being come? and hence it is that the Apoſtle concludes it thus, With one offering he hath conſecrated, for euer, them that are ſanctified.
Which may ſerue wonderfully for the confirmation of our faith, in a poynt of the greateſt moment and conſequence that may be, and that is, that Chriſt is the vndoubted Meſſiah and Sauiour of the world. For how can we reſt vponupon Chriſt for life and ſaluation, if wee be not fully perſwaded and aſſured that it is hee that was promiſed and prophecyed of of old, and are to looke for none other.
And therefore it is an excellent thing for the confirmation of our faith in the maine ground thereof, Chriſt the Meſſiah, that we parallell the old Teſtament with the new, and ſee how all thoſe prophecies that went before of Chriſt, hauehave all their periods and determination in him: to giuegive inſtance in ſome of them.
The prophecies concerning Chriſt are,
1 It was foretold concerning the Meſſiah, that when hee did come, hee ſhould not be knowne, nor acknowledged to be the Meſſiah, but refuſed and reiected of the Iewiſh Nation, Eſa. 53.3. He is deſpiſed and reiected of men.
Pſal. 118.22. The ſtone which the builders refuſed, &c.
2 That he ſhould be borne of a Virgin, Eſa. 7.14. Behold, a Virgin ſhall conceiue, &c.
3 That the place of his birth ſhould be at Bethlem.
Micha 5.2. And thou Bethlem, Ephrata, &c, Out of thee ſhall he come, that ſhal be the Ruler in Iſrael.
4 That at the time of his birth, the Infants in the Country round about, ſhould be ſlaine.
Ier. 31.15. A voyce was heard in Ramah, &c.
5 That there ſhould goe a meſſenger before him, to prepare the way before him, Mal. 3.1. Behold, I wil ſend my meſſenger, & he ſhall prepare, &c.
6 That hee ſhould be poore and of no reputation, Zac. 9.9. Behold thy king commeth vntounto thee, poore, &c.
7 That hee ſhould preach good tidings to the poore, and bind vp the broken hearted, Eſa. 61.1.
8 That he ſhould ride thorough Ieruſalem vponupon an Aſſe, Zach. 9.9. Thy king commeth vntounto thee lowly, riding vponupon an Aſſe.
9 That hee ſhould be betrayed into the hands of his enemies by his owne familiar friend. Pſa. 41.9. Yea my owne familiar friend, &c.
10 That he ſhould befold for thirty peeces of ſiluer, Zach. 11.12. They weighed for my price thirty peeces of ſiluer.
11 That he ſhould be beaten, and b… feted of the Iewes, ſpit vponupon, Eſay 50.6. I gaue my back to the ſmiters, I hid not my face from ſhame and ſpitting.
12. That he ſhould bee put to death amongſt Theeues and malefactours, Iſa. 53.12. He was numbred with the tranſgreſſours.
13. That the manner of his death ſhould bee the nayling of his hands, &c. Pſalm. 22.16. They pierced my hands and my feet.
14. That his garments ſhould be parted by lot, Pſal. 22.18. They part my garments amongst them, and caſt lots vponupon my veſtu… ▪
15. That after his death and buriall he ſhould riſe againt out of his graue. Pſal. 16.10. Thou wilt not leaue my ſoule in hell, &c.
16. That after all this he ſhould aſcend and go vp into heauen, and there ſit at the right hand of God, his Father, Pſa. 110.1. The Lord ſaid to my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, &c,
And thus fulfilled.
Ioh. 1.11. Hee came amongſt his owne, and his owne receiued him not.
Mat. 1.18. Before they came together, ſhe was found to bee with childe by the holy Ghoſt.
Mat. 2.1. Now when Ieſus was borne in Bethlem, &c.
Mat. 2.16. Then Herod ſent forth his men of warre, &c.
Fulfilled in Iohn Baptiſt, Luk. 1.17. He ſhall go before him in the …pirit of Elias, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Mat. 8.20. Foxes hauehave holes, and the fowles of the ayre hauehave neſts, &c. But the ſonne of man hath no where, &c.
Mat. 4.28. Who went about preaching the Goſpell, and healing eueryevery ſickneſſe, and diſeaſe amongſt the people.
Mat. 21.7. And brought the Aſſe and the Colt, and put on them cloathes, and they ſet him thereon.
Fulfilled in Iudas, Ioh. 13.2. Supper being ended, Sathan put it into the heart of Iudas to betray him.
Matt. 26.15. What will yee giuegive me, &c. And they appointed him thirty peeces of ſiluer.
Matt. 26.67. Then did they ſpit in his face, and buffeted him, &c.
Luke 23.32. And there were alſo other malefactours, led with hm to be put to death▪
Luke 23.23. And when they were come to the place called Caluary, there they crucified him.
Matth. 27.35. And they crucified him, parting his garments, caſting lots.
Matth. 28.7. Go tell his diſciples that he is riſen from the dead.
Mar. 16.19. Hee was receiued vp into heauen.
I might ſtand alſo to ſhew how the time appointed for the comming of the Meſsiah, ſhould be in the time of the fourth Monarchy, which was the Romane Monarchy or Empire,Dan. 2.4…. as Daniel foretold.
And in the time that the ſecond Temple ſtood,…ag. 2 … as the Prophet Haggai foretold.
And at ſuch a time as the Scepter was departed from Iudah, Geneſ. 49.10.as old Iacob foretold.
That hee ſhould come of the ſeed or Dauid, as Ieremy foretold.Ier. 23 5.6. Firmitas ſidei in eo eſt quod omnia in Chriſto implentur quae praedicta ſunt. Aug. All which particulars were fully accompliſhed in Chriſt our Sauiour. All which doe ſerue to ſettle our iudgements, and to confirme our faith in Chriſt, the true Meſſiah, in whom all things are accompliſhed that were foretold of him.
Vſe 2 Secondly, ſeeing that Chriſt is the true Meſsiah, and Sauiour of the world, …y whoſe ſacrifice of himſelfe once for all, Gods wrath is ſatisfied, and the curſe and malediction of the Law remoued. This ſhewes the miſerable eſtate and condition of the Church of Rome, that will hauehave many Mediatours and Sauiours, by whoſe merits and interceſſions they look to bee ſaued; Such as are Saints, Angels, the Virgine Mary, and the like; then the which what can bee more iniurious vntounto the all-ſufficiency of Chriſts ſufferings, To which of all theſe did any of the Prophets giuegive witneſſe, did they all point at him, and is hee able perfectly to ſaue all that come vntounto him, Hebr. 9.by that all-ſufficient ſacrifice of his once for all? Let vsus for euer then reſt vponupon him, and make him our ſole and alone Sauiour.
Vſe 3 Thirdly, the conſideration hereof, that Chriſt hath ſuffered ſo great things for vsus, ſhould worke our hearts to an indignation againſt ſinne. For in Chriſt crucified wee may ſee the vgly face of ſinne, if wee looke vponupon ſinne in our ſelues, or in ſuch miſeries it brings vponupon vsus, ſuch as are blindnes, lamenes, &c. we can neuer truly behold the curſed nature therof. But when we ſhall come to behold the Lord Ieſus Chriſt ſweating water and bloud, agonizing in the Garden, combating with Gods wrath, ſuffering grieuous torments at the hands of ſinners; this will humble our hard hearts, and make vsus mourne kindly for ſinne,Zech. 12.10 when we ſhall come thus to looke on him whom wee hauehave pierced. It was vponupon good ground that the Lord commanded the Paſſeouer to be eaten with ſowre Hearbes, Chriſts ſufferings ſhould neuer be thought vponupon but with hearty ſorrow, and with melting affections.
Thus much for the perſon.
Was led.
That is, was carried away by the Traitour Iudas, Paſſion.and by the high Prieſts ſeruants, with ſwords and ſtaues, as a Thiefe or Malefactour.
Though Chriſt were willing to dye, and that by his death life was to come vntounto the world, yet hee did not procure his owne death, not wilfully put himſelfe into danger. The Text ſaith, hee was led, that is, taken by Iudas, and the ſeruants of the high Prieſt, who carried him along to Caiphas the high Prieſt, for ſo ſaith the Euangeliſt:Mat. 26.57 And they that had laid hold on Ieſus, led him away to Caiphas the high Prieſt, where the Scribes and Elders were aſſembled. And againe, Then the Band and the Captaine, Ioh. 18.13.and the officers of the Iewes, tooke Ieſus and bound him, and led him away to Annas the high Prieſt. So that it appeares in the Hiſtory of the Goſpell, that Chriſt did not voluntarily thruſt himſelfe into danger, but was firſt taken and led, and then went willingly to his death, as we ſhall ſee in the next place. Our leſſon is,
Doct. It is dangerous ſin for a man to bee the inſtrumēt of his own death.That it is a dangerous and fearefull ſinne for a man to be an inſtrument to haſten his owne death. It is ſuch a kinde of ſinne, that, for ought we know, none but notorious wicked men hauehave euer been guilty of. Chriſt went not of himſelf, vnled, neither did he willingly and wilfully thruſt himſelfe into danger, but firſt taken, then led. It was a Saul, Ahitophel, Zimri, and a Iudas, that became their owne executioners. The Patriarkes, Prophets, Apoſtles, and thoſe bleſſed Martyrs, that were put to death, yet would neuer offer any violence to themſelues, what torture or torment ſoeuer they endured from the hands of others. Iob had a burden of ſorrowes and calamities vponupon him, ſome inward, ſome outward, inſomuch as in his paſſion he ſaid, My ſoule chuſeth rather to bee ſtrangled and to die, then to be in my bones. And yet notwithſtanding hee neuer attempted to ſlay himſelfe, or rid himſelfe of life: nay rather marke his godly reſolution, All the dayes of my appointed time I will waite vntill my change ſhall come. Iob 14.14.Our Sauiour acquainted his Diſciples aforehand with the troubles they ſhould meet withall in the world,Mat. 10.16. Luk. 21▪1… namely, that they ſhould be perſecuted, deliuered vp into priſons, and be brought before Kings and Rulers for his Names ſake. Yet Chriſt neuer bad them work their owne deliuerance,Luk. 21.19 but to poſſeſſe their ſoules by patience. So that howſoeuer our Sauiour was by his death to bring life vntounto his Church, and by that his bitter paſſion to redeeme mankinde; yet hee would not make away himſelfe, or any wayes thruſt himſelfe into danger; But he ſtayed the appointed time of his Father, vntill the houre came, the houre of Darkneſſe, that hee was to dye.
In Sanctis Canonicis libris nuſquam reperiri poteſt. &c. Aug.Yea, one of the Ancients is very peremptory in this caſe, that in all the Canonicall Scripture we hauehave neither precept nor permiſſion of any in miſery to procure their owne death.
Obiect. 1 But what ſhall we ſay then to Sampſon, who, pulling downe the houſe vponupon the Philiſtines, killed himſelfe.
Sampſon, therein, Anſw. was to be a liuely figure of Chriſt, who ouercame moſt dying, as Chriſt did by his death: and nothing from that example can be concluded, for the imitation of any.
Obiect. 2 We ſee that many amongſt vsus hauehave come to fearefull ends, and that by being themſelues the moſt vnhappy inſtruments of their owne deaths.
The condition of ſuch men is miſerable and fearefull, Anſw. for ought we know. And the reaſon is, becauſe God hath promiſed to bee with his ſeruants in ſixe troubles and in ſeuen,Heb. 13. and neuer to leaue them, nor forſake them. Yet it is not ſafe for vsus to paſſe a finall doome vponupon ſuch; and that for theſe reaſons.
1. For that Gods mercy is infinite, who can at his pleaſure diſtill ſome drop thereof, euen at the laſt breath:
2. This fact is commonly committed in the heate of ſome violent temptation, frenzy, or height of Melancholy, when indeed the partie is not himſelfe.
Inter pontē & fontem.3. Such commonly liue ſome ſhort time after the fact done, and ſo may be brought to the ſight of ſinne, and repentance for the ſame.
Neuertheleſſe wee are ſtill to know, that the practiſe is deteſtable, the ſinne damnable, and the condition of that man ſo dying, moſt deſperate.
And that for theſe reaſons.
Reaſ. 1 Firſt, it is againſt a double Commandement, Legall, Euangelicall, Exod. 20.13.Ex. 20.13. Thou ſhalt not kill: againe,
No man hateth his owne fleſh, Eph. 5 29.but nouriſheth and cheriſheth it. Now if a man may not take away the life of another, much leſſe his owne life.
Reaſ. 2 Secondly, death in it ſelfe is an euill inflicted vponupon man for ſinne: The day thou eateſt thereof, Gen. 2.17.thou ſhalt dye the death. Now death being a puniſhment for ſinne, a man cannot ſeeke it, but he ſeekes his owne iudgement.
Reaſ. 3 Thirdly, it argueth want of naturall affection, and makes men more vnnaturall and bruitiſh, then the very beaſts, which howſoeuer they may teare and goare one another, yet will neuer hurt themſelues. Now the more vnnaturall any ſinne is, the greater the ſinne is.
Fourthly, it is an iniury to the State wherein a man liues, to the King, to the Country, to the Church, to a mans friends and family; for eueryevery man is pars rei publicae, a part of the State wherein hee liues, both politique and Eccleſiaſtique; now to depriue himſelfe of life, is as much as within him lyeth, to mayme that body whereof he is a member.
Reaſ. 5 Fiftly, life is the gift of God, it is he that is the Author of life, and to him belong the iſſues of death; what to doe then hauehave we to diuide aſunder thoſe whom God hath ſo nearely knit together. This cannot bee done by a mans ſelfe without manifeſt iniury againſt God, and extreme hazard and danger vntounto a mans own ſoule.
Reaſ. 6 And laſt of all, this courſe is as fruitleſſe, as comfortleſſe, it rather procures then preuents miſery; and it is much to be feared, that whilſt by this meanes they ſeeke to ſhun ſome temporall calamitie, they procure vntounto themſelues eternall miſery, verifying the Prouerbe of the fiſh, that leapeth out of the Frying pan into the fire.
Vſe. 1 This ſerues then to ſhew the hainouſneſſe of their ſinne, that ſtay not vntill they be led, but leade themſelues into miſery, eſpecially ſuch as deſpairing of Gods mercy, become their owne executioners, by haſtening their ends.
Such ſinne againſt Chriſts bloud, and put the lye vponupon all the principall attributes of God; ſuch as are his louelove, his power, his truth, his mercy, and the like, as if he were not able to help, or that he had forgotten to be gratious. Let eueryevery man take heed of Sathans aſſaults in this kinde, the deepeneſſe of whoſe policy and malice, is ſeene in nothi…g more, then in ſoliciting men vntounto ſinne, and then afterwards in taintering the ſame to the vtmoſt pin, and all to draw men into deſperation.
But what ſhall we doe to reſiſt theſe temptations, Queſt. when Sathan ſhall ſolicite vsus to this ſinne?
Contemplate much and often. Anſw.
1 Of Gods louelove, which is ſuch as can neuer be altered or changed. Can a woman forget her childe, Eſa 49.15.and not hauehave compaſsion on the ſonne of her wombe? yet will not I forget thee, ſaith the Lord: q.d. this were a thing impoſſible. Now all the LoueLove in the creature, is but as a drop of a bucket, in compariſon of the louelove of God.
2 Contemplate of Gods faithfulneſſe, who keepeth couenant with a thouſand generations, He abideth faithfull, 1 Ioh. 1.9.and cannot deny himſelfe. Hath he ſaid it, and ſhall he not doe it? Who hath reſiſted his will?
3 Contemplate of the infiniteneſſe of Gods power, who can make our crimſon ſinnes as white as ſnow, and can as eaſily couer a multitude of ſinnes, as one in his ſeruants. I hauehave put away thy tranſgreſsions as a cloud, Eſa. 44.22.and thy ſinnes like a miſt. Who for my names ſake, ſaith the Lord, will put away thy ſinne.
4 And laſtly, contemplate much and often of the greatneſſe of his mercy, that he is a God of mercies,Neb. 9.17. Pſal. 145 9. and the father of all conſolation. His mercies are ouer all his workes. That hee is rich in mercy, and hath a multitude of mercies in ſtore for ſuch as ſue for mercy.Pſal. 103.13. Hee remembreth whereof we be made, he conſidereth that we are but duſt.
As a ſheepe to the ſlan…er.
Here we hauehave the third circumſtance at firſt propounded,The illuſtration of Chriſts paſſion. and that is the illuſtration of his Paſſion: the meaning is, that as an innocent and harmeleſſe ſheepe that had beene altogether profitable and commodious,As a ſheep. and no way iniurious or hurtfull vntounto any; thus went Chriſt to his death.
Wherein the Spirit of God will teach vsus, that as ſheepe and Lambs, eſpecially the Paſchall Lambe, in the time of the Law, being offered in ſacrifice, were liuely repreſentations of Chriſt, the true Paſchall Lambe, ſlaine from the beginning; So it was Chriſt himſelfe, in whoſe death there was an end put vntounto them all, who was that Sacrifice for ſinne, in whom his Father was well pleaſed: Who, as the Apoſtle, ſa…th,Heb. 9.12. Not by the bloud of Goates and of Calues, but by his owne bloud he entred in once into the holy place, hauing obtained eternall redemption for vsus: for all thoſe ſacrifices in the time of the Law, ſerued but till the time of reformation came.
Now Chriſt in his death, being thus compared vntounto a ſheepe, in regard that he went ſo voluntarily vntounto his death, doth commend vntounto vsus this doctrine.
That Chriſt did voluntarily, Doct. Chriſt. wen… willingly to his death. Ioh. 10.18.willingly, and freely lay downe his life. It was not by conſtraint, but he offered vp the ſame freely, as he ſaith, I lay downe my life, that I might take it againe. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it downe of my ſelfe. I hauehave power to lay it downe, and to take it againe. Rom. 5.19.So Paul, By the diſobedience of one, many were made ſinners, ſo by the obedience of one, many are made righteous. Phil. 2.8.He was obedient euen to the death on the Croſſe.
And ſurely had not this death of Chriſt beene voluntary, it had neuer beene acceptable with God. I hauehave (ſaith Chriſt) a Baptiſme to be baptiſed with, Luk. 12: 20.and how am I ſtrained, vntill it be accompliſhed. Thereby manifeſting that his earneſt deſire after the accompliſhment of the worke of mans redemption; yea, thoſe who crucified Chriſt, were not more willing to doe it, then he to ſuffer himſelfe to be crucified.
This truth doth moſt manifeſtly appeare throughout the whole hiſtory of Chriſts paſſion; when he told his Diſciples the things he was ſhortly to ſuffer at Ieruſalem at the hands of the Iewes, Peter intreating him to fauour himſelfe, was called Sathan for his paines. Get thee behind me Sathan. When Chriſt was come vp to Ieruſalem, hee did not withdraw himſelfe as at other times. And albeit hee knew that Sathan had put it into the heart of Iudas to betray him, yet kept hee accuſtomed time, and place of prayer, where Iudas might be ſure to hauehave him.
Yea, when the company came with ſwords and ſtaues to apprehend Chriſt, what did he but as it were offer himſelfe into their hands, by asking them, ſaying, whom ſeeke ye? and when they ſaid, Ieſus of Nazareth, Chriſt plainely affirmed, and denyed not, ſaying, I am he.
Yea, by how much the more he feared ſo lately in the Garden, when Gods wrath was poured out vponupon his ſoule, and hee conſtrained to ſweat water and bloud, and to pray thus vntounto his Father, Father, if it be poſsible, let this cup paſſe from me. By ſo much the more vndaunted is he, when that ſoule-affliction of his is ouer, to meet his aduerſaries in the face, that ſought his life, that ſo hee might accompliſh the will of his Father.
And albeit the Maieſtie of his word were ſuch, that when hee ſaid,Ioh 18. I am he, the Souldiers that came to take him fell backwards to the ground. And that hee was able, as hee told Peter, to command a legion of Angels, if hee pleaſed. Yet notwithſtanding, Chriſt ſuffers himſelfe to bee led by them, to bee carried to Pilate, the Romane Iudge: and when he comes before him, what ſaith Paul, 1. Tim. 6.13.He confeſſed a good confeſsion before Pontius Pilate.
And when he came to the place where he was to ſuffer, how doth he behaue himſelfe, but praying vntounto his Father for his very enemies, Father forgiue them, Non compulſu patris ſed conſenſu ſui. Bern.they wot not what they do. And ſo readily and willingly reſigneth vp his ſoule into the hands of his Father. Not more by his Fathers command, as with his owne voluntary conſent.
Ʋſe 1 Seeing then that Chriſt ſo readily and willingly did vndergo his death; It may teach vsus firſt of all to admire his louelove towards ſinners, that thus willingly himſelfe became a ſacrifice for ſinne. This louelove of Chriſt wee are neuer able to comprehend. If Dauid in contemplation of Gods goodneſſe towards man in the worke of Creation, could ſay,Pſal. ….4. Lord what it man that thou haſt ſuch reſpect vntounto him: or the ſonne of man, that thou ſo regardeſt him. O how much more hauehave we cauſe to cry out and ſay, conſidering his wonderfull and vnſpeakable mercy towards vsus in the worke of Redemption: Lord what is man, 1. Ioh. 4.9.&c. In this (ſaith Saint Iohn) appeareth the louelove of God towards vsus, becauſe he ſent his onelyonly begotten Sonne into the world. It was the Lords manner of reaſoning with Abraham, Now I know thou loueſt me, Gen. 22.12becauſe thou haſt not ſpared thine owne ſonne, &c. How much more hauehave wee cauſe to ſay, Hereby we know the louelove of Chriſt Ieſus towards vsus, &c. and to breake out with the Apoſtle Paul and ſay,Rom. 9. O the deepneſſe, &c.
Ʋſe 2 Secondly, this louelove of Chriſt towards vsus, thus willingly laying downe his life a ranſome for vsus, ſhould fire vsus to an holy reſolution, to ſuffer any thing for his ſake, that hath ſuffered ſo great things for ours.
What are we that wee ſhould think it much to part with goods, name, libertie, and life it ſelfe for his ſake, who hath readily and willingly layed downe his life for our ſakes. Excellent was that reſolution of Ignatius, I value not my life at ſuch a price, that I ſhould louelove it more then my Lord. And being to bee deuoured by wilde beaſts, I am (ſaith he) Gods corne, let me be ground between the teeth of the Lyons, that I may be fit to make pure bread. So ſhall I bee a true diſciple of Chriſt. And let eueryevery Chriſtian labour to get this reſolution in his owne ſoule, that neither tribulation, nor diſtreſſe, Rom. 8.35nor perſecution, nor famine, nor nakedneſſe, nor perill, nor ſword, &c. can be able to ſeparate him from the louelove of Chriſt.
Ʋſe 3 If Chriſt thus readily and willingly dyed for vsus, then there is no other ſatisfaction for ſinne. If men or Angels, or any other creature, if Maſſes, or merits, or any ſuch like, could hauehave ſatisfied the iuſtice of God, then needed not Chriſt to hauehave ſuffered all theſe things at the hands of ſinners. But there is nothing in Gods account auaileable to put away ſinne, ſaue onelyonly the death and ſuffering of the Lord Ieſus.
And as a Lambe.
Here we hauehave the ſecond part of the illuſtration, as Chriſt is reſembled vntounto a Sheepe, ſo hee is likewiſe vntounto a lamb. Which prophecie wee ſee fulfilled in Chriſt, who being asked of the chiefe Prieſt and Elders, the Text ſaith, Hee anſwered them nothing. Mat. 27.…So meeke and quiet was Chriſt, as a Lambe in his death.
And as a Lambe. Chriſt may well be reſembled vntounto a Lambe, in diuers reſpects
1. In regard of harmeleſneſſe, no creature being of the like harmeleſſe diſpoſition as a Lambe is.
2. In regard of meekneſſe and patience, and in that reſpect eſpecially is Chriſt here reſembled vntounto a Lambe. And as in the whole courſe of his life, ſo eſpecially in his death, according to that prophecie of old: He did not cry, Iſa. 42.2.nor lift vp, nor cauſe his voyce to bee heard in the ſtreet. Ier. 11.19.I was like a Lambe, or an oxe, that was brought to the ſlaughter.
3. In regard it was that ſacrifice that aboue all others doth moſt clearely point out Chriſt, who is called the Lambe ſlaine Reu. 13.….from the beginning. The paſchall Lambe aboue all other ſacrifices in the Law, was the cleareſt repreſentation of Chriſt.
1. The bloud thereof muſt bee firſt ſhed.
2. Sprinkled vponupon the doorepoſts, that ſo thoſe families might eſcape the deſtroying Angell. So is it the ſprinkling of Chriſts bloud, by the which the Lords wrath is appeaſed, and we come againe to be reconciled vntounto him.
4. A Lambe was one of thoſe cleane creatures in the time of the Law. No creature is more free from pollution then the Lambe is, his feeding is ſweet and cleane, delights not in mire and filth, as the Swine doth. Thus is it with Chriſt, and thus is his holineſſe and purity ſhadowed out vntounto vsus, by the ſimilitude of a ſpotleſſe Lambe, ſlaine from the beginning.
Seeing that Chriſt is thus reſembled vntounto a Lambe, Vſe. in regard of his harmleſſe diſpoſition, his meekneſſe and patience; In regard that by his bloud, the deſtroying Angel paſſeth by vsus; as alſo in reſpect of that holineſſe and purity of his nature; This may ſerue to admoniſh vsus.
Wherein we are to imitate Chriſt as a Lambe.1. To labour to bee like vntounto Chriſt in our ſufferings, that is, that we put on vsus the ſame mind, that is, with meekneſſe and patience to ſuffer wrongs, impriſonment, & diſgrace from the world,1 Reu. 12.11 who ſuffered ſo many things for our ſakes.
2. That we get our hearts beſprinkled with the bloud of Chriſt as the Iſraelites with the bloud of the Lambe; and our conſciences purified from dead workes, to ſerue the liuing God, whoſe bloud cleanſeth vsus from all ſinne: and frees vsus from the wrath to come.
3. And laſt of all, that we bee holy as he is holy, and reſt onelyonly vponupon him who is our righteouſneſſe, hauing in him all plenitude of merit and righteouſneſſe to God his Father for his whole Church.
Hitherto of the illuſtration of Chriſts paſſion.
To be ſlaine. To be ſhorne!
Here we hauehave the extent of his paſſion. The meaning whereof is,Extent. That Chriſt did not onelyonly ſuffer himſelfe to bee buffeted, to bee ſmitten onelyonly, or to be crowned with thornes in deriſion, Doct. No other way to purchaſe life to the Church, but by Chriſts death.but he ſuffered euen to the effuſion of his bloud. And herein will teach vsus.
That there was no other way to purchaſe life vntounto the Church, but through Chriſts death, and to this end Chriſt ſubmitted himſelfe to the loweſt degree of humiliation. Now this humiliation of the Lord Ieſus, is not to be reſtrained to the time of his death, but is indeed of a more large extent, euen to the whole courſe of his life. Yea, the very incarnation of Chriſt was no ſmall degree thereof, that he ſhould be pleaſed to lay aſide that maieſty and glory that he had at the right hand of his Father, and become man, yea ſuch a man as was ſubiect vntounto all our infirmities, ſinne onelyonly excepted, as hunger, thirſt, wearieneſſe, &c. yea hee became eueryevery way ſubiect and obedient vntounto the law, that was the onelyonly Law-giuer.
But the height of all was in this, that he that was the Lord of life, ſhould, as my Text ſaith, ſubmit himſelfe to death, yea ſuch a kinde of death, that was not onelyonly ignominious before men, but accurſed before God, as it is written, Curſed is eueryevery one that hangeth on the tree. Deu. 21▪ 23That ſo he that was his Fathers darling and delight, might become the obiect of his wrath, and beare that intolerable burthen and diſpleaſure for ſinne, that would hauehave cruſhed men and Angels into peeces to hauehave borne.
Now this humiliation of Chriſt hath diuers degrees thereof, it began at the time of his incarnation, as we hauehave heard before. And thoſe infirmities of our nature that he bore, were part thereof. But the principall part of all was in or about his death.
And the beginning hereof was in the Garden, where, the Text ſaith,Luk. 22.44. Being in an agony, he prayed more earneſtly, and his ſweat was like drops of blond trickling downe to the ground. Saint Iohn hath it,Ioh. 13.21. He began to be ſore troubled. Now ſurely the end of his paſſion muſt needs be mournfull, when the beginning is ſo fearefull. Wherein it may as truly be ſaid of Chriſts death, as euer it was of his life; Neuer any man ſpake as this man doth. Ioh. 7.46.So neuer man dyed as this man dyed.
And herein let vsus firſt ſtand awhile, and behold the lamentable diſtreſſe of a troubled and perplexed ſpirit. When a man is in diſtreſſe indeed, of whom doth he looke for comfort but from his Father? and who are fitteſt to condole a mans miſery, but a mans deareſt friends, of whom Iob ſpeaketh thus, that A man in affliction ought to be comforted of his friends. Thus was it with Chriſt at this time. Now that he is ſo ſore troubled, now that his ſoule is ſo heauy, euen to the death, how earneſtly praieth he to his Father, Father, Mar. 14.34if it be poſsible, let this cup paſſe from me. And from whom might Chriſt …t this time looke for comfort, but from his deareſt friends: and who might theſe be, if not Peter, Iames, and Iohn? Theſe aboue the reſt of the diſciples were moſt conuerſant with Chriſt, were eye-witneſſes of Chriſts glorification vponupon the Mount. But, alas, Chriſt bids theſe watch with him and pray: But when he was ſweating, they were ſleeping, they yeeld him no comfort, they ſtand him in no ſtead; ſo as backe againe he goes to his Father, and from his Father to his Diſciples againe: but here is no helpe at all. Ah Lord, that hee ſhould bee brought to this low ebbe, ſo to be deſolate and forſaken on all hands! When he was in Caiphas Hall, Peter denies him; when he went to the Croſſe all the Diſciples forſake him, and thoſe that loued him moſt dearly did ſtand a farre …ff. Thus was he alone in his ſufferings.
Wounded at the heart with ſorrowes, troubled in minde, melting in ſoule, afflicted in body, and in the middeſt of all theſe ſweating water and blood, trickling down to the ground. Here are vnknown ſorrowes, ſecret ſufferings, and ſuffrings vnſpeakable. The Phyſitians ſay that blood is the life of man, now this blood of Chriſt was exhauſted, and his body became as a bottle dryed in the ſmo…ke.
And as this agony of his began with water and blood, ſo did his paſſion end with blood and water, firſt blood then water, when no more blood, what can come but water?
So that truly doth Ieremy cry out in that patheticall lamentation of his, O thou hope of Iſrael, and Sauiour thereof, Ier. 14.8.why art thou as a man aſtonied, and why is confuſion gone ouer thy face?
There is neither forme nor beauty.Eſa. 53.2.
He made his ſoule an offering for ſinne.ver. 10.
But what was the reaſon why Chriſt was thus perplexed in the garden,Q. before he was apprehended, or taken?
This was not for feare of the bodily death that Chriſt was now to ſuffer,R. as it appeareth by the godly reſolution and courage of many of the bleſſed martyrs of Chriſt, who albeit they were men that, no doubt, had their infirmities, yet did readily and willingly embrace the ſentence of death without any ſuch agony.
But this aroſe principally from the ſenſe of the moſt horrible wrath and diſpleaſure of God his father, that at this time lay ſo heauy vponupon him for the ſinnes of the world, and which he was now to endure and to vndergoe. This, this was it that preſſed out both water and blood, and made him to cry out in the bitterneſſe of his ſoule, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? This bred that inward feare and terror in the ſoule of Chriſt.
But wherein then is the difference betwixt Chriſts ſufferings and the ſufferings of martyrs, Queſt. ſince the one beares them ſo comfortably, and the other ſeemes to be ſo much deiected? Anſw.
The martyrs were perſwaded that their ſinnes were pardoned, and the guilt thereof done away through Chriſt, by which means they feared not death, the ſting thereof being plucked out, for the ſting of death is ſinne. Whereas Chriſt in his death,1 Cor. 15. as our ſurety, ſtands charged with the ſinnes of all the world, and now was to ſatisfie Gods wrath for the ſame; and hence it was that hee was left to himſelfe voyd of comfort in the middeſt of all his ſufferings, and prayes againſt the terrours of death, whereas thoſe bleſſed martyrs were aſſured and ſupported with the inward conſolations of Gods ſpirit.
But was this all that Chriſt did ſuffer and vndergoe for vsus? oh no. I remember the Lords ſpeech vntounto Eliah, being diſtreſſed at mount Horeb, and lying hidden in a caue alone, the Lord ſaith thus vntounto him, What doſt thou here Eliah? ariſe, for thou haſt yet a further iourney to goe. So may I ſay, Bleſſed redeemer, what doſt thou here in the garden in this plight, the holy Ghoſt be thy comfort, thou haſt yet a further iourney to goe, thou muſt hence to Caiphas, from Caiphas to Pilat, from Pilat to Herod, from Herod to Pilat, back againe, from Pilat to the iudgement Hall, there to receiue thy doome, to bee crucified vponupon mount Caluary, a long and weary iourney.
And thus wee hauehave ſeene the firſt degree of his humiliation, his agony in the garden.
Now wee are to ſee thoſe great things the which hee ſuffered at the hands of ſinners, as the hiſtory in the Goſpell ſets out vntounto vsus.
And while he yet ſpake, Lu 22.47.Behold a multitude and he that was called Iudas, one of the twelue went before them and drew neere to kiſſe him.
To handle eueryevery part and circumſtance of Chriſts paſſion, how he was taken with ſwords and ſtaues, as a thiefe and malefactor, bound and carried away, co…e… ted before Herod as an euill doer, and howſoeuer they could lay nothing iuſtly to his charge, worthy of death or puniſhment, yet how ſpitefully they ſcourged him, ſpit in his face, arayed him ſcornfully in kingly robes, crowned him with a crowne of thornes, put a reede in his hand in ſtead of a Scepter: to ſpeake of eueryevery of theſe, would aske a large diſcourſe. I intend it not, howbeit in eueryevery one of theſe, his humiliation doth in part appeare.
Wee ſhall rather accompany him to mount Caluary to his Croſſe, the place of execution, as my Text ſaith, As a ſheepe to the ſlaughter, that is, to mount Caluary, there to ſuffer, where wee hauehave his body racked, his bleſſed hands and feete pierced with nayles, his ſide opened with a ſpeare, vinegar and gall giuen him to drinke; the high Prieſts mocking him, the ſouldiers flouting him, yea, the very thiefe that ſuffered with him blaſpheming him, and yet all this was nothing to that burthen of Gods wrath that lay ſo heauy vponupon his ſoule, that made him to cry out and ſay. My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? By which words it doth appeare that Chriſt was not only tormented in body by thoſe rackings and tortures they put his body vntounto, but that he ſuffered alſo in his ſoule, according to the prophecy that went before.Eſa. 5….…0. It pleaſed the Lord to bruiſe him, to put him to griefe, his ſoule was made an offering for ſinne: God the Father leauing him to thoſe vnutterable ſorrowes in his ſoule for a time, and with-holding from the humane nature of Ieſus Chriſt, thoſe inward conſolations which might comfort and ſupport him.
We hauehave knowne and hauehave heard of many notorious malefactors executed and put to cruell and ſhamefull deaths, as the Gun-powder Traytors, &c. but did euer any ſeeme ſo miſerable in death, as Chriſt did? of whom the Prophet truely ſpeaketh,Eſa. 53.2. Hee had neither forme nor beautie, but was deſpiſed and reiected of men.
And why did the Lord poure out all this contempt vponupon his Sonne, but to free vsus from that ſhame and miſery that did iuſtly belong vntounto vsus, for ſo ſaith Paul, He was made ſinne for vsus, 2 Cor. 5.21that knew no ſinne, that we might bee made the righteouſneſſe of God in him. Hauing all the ſinnes of all the elect imputed vntounto him, ſo as Chriſt ſeemes not to be cloathed with all the Drunkenneſſes, Adulteries, Murthers, Blaſphemies, &c. of all the elect throughout the whole world, which were now laid vponupon him, and in his body and ſoule ſuffered for them all. He was made a curſe for vsus. Gal. 3.13. Gal 4▪4.He was made vnderunder the law, that he might redeeme them that were vnderunder the law, &c. Heb. 5.7.He offered vp Supplications with ſtrong crying and teares. Hee ſweat water and bloud.Luk. 22.44. He bare the curſe of God in ſuch wiſe, as that it forced him to cry out and ſay, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me?Mat 27.46.
So that that which the Prophet ſpeaketh of the Church in another caſe, may truely be ſaid of Chriſt at this time, Behold, Lam 1.12and ſee if there be any ſorrow like my ſorrow, wherwith the Lord hath afflicted mee in the day of his fierce wrath.
And wherefore hath Chriſt vndergone all theſe great things for vsus, but to ſatisfie the iuſtice of his Father, and to free vsus from the wrath to come? And hence it comes to paſſe, that the bloud of Chriſt ſpeaketh better things then the bloud of Abel. Heb. 12.29By Abels bloud, Gods wrath was kindled, by Chriſts bloud, Gods wrath is appeaſed; the bloud of Abel cryeth for vengeance, the bloud of Chriſt cryeth for mercy; the bloud of Abel cryed and had done, the bloud of Chriſt cryeth and will neuer hauehave done, but it auaileth for all the elect, vntounto the end of the world. He alone trod the wine preſſe of his Fathers wrath; He alone bath put out the hand-writing of ordinances that was againſt vsus, Eſa. 69.5.and tooke it out of the way, and faſtened it on the Croſſe, Heb. 10.14and with one offering hath conſecrated for euer them that are ſanctified.
Let vsus come to the vſes.
Vſe. 1 Seeing then that Chriſt hath ſuffered ſo great things for vsus at the hands of ſinners, and all to ſatisfie Gods wrath for ſinne. This ſerues then in the firſt place to diſcouer vntounto vsus, the wofull condition of eueryevery impenitent ſinner, that hath no part nor portion in Chriſts ſufferings; for whatſoeuer Chriſt ſuffered here, in ſome ſort reſts for eueryevery wicked and impenitent ſinner one day to ſuffer. Gods wrath ſtill burnes againſt them: all the curſes of the law are ſtill in force, and hauing no part in Chriſt, they can neuer winde themſelues from vnderunder the ſame.
And if this were ſuch a miſery vntounto our bleſſed Sauiour, to bee forſaken of his Father thus for a time, and thus to ſuffer. O then what ſhall be the condition of the wicked in the laſt day, that ſhall be forſaken for euer, and for euer ſuffer that intolerable burthen of Gods wrath to lye vponupon them in thoſe inſufferable torments of ſoule and body.
Thou that art a Drunkard, Swearer, vncleane perſon, that liueſt yet in thy naturall eſtate, and art yet in thy ſinnes, not reconciled vntounto God in Ieſus Chriſt, know, O know, that thou art vnderunder the Law, a caſt man by the Law, Chriſt hath not yet vndertaken for thee, but thou thy ſelfe ſtandeſt charged with thy owne ſinnes, and for the ſame ſhalt one day bee caſt into priſon, from thence, neuer to depart vntill thou haſt paid the vttermoſt farthing. And if God did thus torment his owne Sonne, that neuer knew ſinne, how will he ſpare thee that haſt beene a tranſgreſſor from the wombe?
Herein then appeares the endleſſe and infinite louelove of God the Father to vsus wretched and miſerable men, that hee ſhould bee pleaſed thus to ſend his owne Sonne out of his owne boſome, and that to ſuffer ſuch curſed and helliſh torments, and all for our ſakes, and rather then wee ſhould periſh and … damned for euer, ſhould himſelfe thus grieuouſly be tormented, and be offered vp in ſacrifice for vsus.
When tidings was brought to Dauid that Ionathan his friend was ſlaine, O how did Dauid rent his cloathes, faſt, mourne, and cry out; O noble Iſrael, 2 Sam. 1.26.how wert thou ouerthrowne? woe is we for thee, my deare brother; very kinde haſt thou beene vntounto mee, and thy louelove hath paſſed the louelove of women.
The caſe is now ours, a more louely then Ionathan is here, the Meſſiah is ſlaine, hee is crucified on Mount Caluary, he is dead and gone; great cauſe hauehave we to cry out and ſay, O noble Redeemer, how art thou diſtreſſed, woe is mee for thee my deare Sauiour; very kinde haſt thou beene vntounto mee, thy louelove hath paſſed the louelove of women; thou haſt wounded my heart with thy louelove. I will not mourne for thee a few dayes, as Dauid did for Ionathan, but all the dayes of my life, when I thinke of this thy paſſion.
How can we, my brethren, behold him thus in the Garden, combating with Gods wrath, ſwearing drops of bloud, all on a gore bloud, and in this plight vponupon on the Croſſe, where his hands I and feete are rent with nayles, and his ſide opened with a ſpeare, from whence there iſſued water and bloud; when his bloud was totally exhauſted, then came there out water; and not hauehave our hearts moued to pitty.
Vſe. 3 Thirdly, hence ariſeth ground of ſingular comfort and conſolation vntounto the godly, that Chriſt hath ſuffered ſo great things? It was not for himſelfe, hee had in him no ſinne, neither was there guile found in his mouth. It was for vsus miſerable ſinners, that lay vnderunder the law, and were caſt men by the Law, for whom Chriſt dyed, that ſo hee might remoue the curſe from vsus, and make vsus heires of the bleſſing: And therefore whenſoeuer Sathan ſhall accuſe vsus, we may anſwer him thus, Chriſt iuſtifieth vsus, who ſhall condemne? Rom. 8.Hee dyed for our ſinnes, Rom. 4.5and roſe again for our iuſtification. Sampſon, Iudg. 14.out of the wounds of the Lyon, tooke the ſweeteſt honey; ſo in Chriſts wounds, wee hauehave the liquor of life that ſhall refreſh the weary ſoules, and nouriſh vsus vntounto eternall life.
Vſe. 4 Fourthly, this may teach vsus how carefull wee ought to be of our ſelues, that were redeemed at ſo high a rate, leſt by any meanes we ſinne againſt this bloud of Ieſus Chriſt, the price of our redemption: for if Abels bloud cryed for vengeance againſt him that ſhed it, what will Chriſts bloud doe againſt thoſe that ſpill it, and ſinne againſt it, which thoſe doe;
1 That ſweare by his bloud, as too many blaſphemous wretches doe.How many wayes men ſinne againſt Chriſts bloud.
2 That ioyne their owne merits and workes with the ſufferings of the Lord Ieſus in the worke of iuſtification.
3 That receiue the Sacrament of his body and bloud vnworthily.
4 That contemne that grace that is daily offered in the miniſtery of the Word.
Fiftly, ſeeing Chriſt hath ſuffered ſo great things for vsus, and for our ſakes, it ſhould reach vsus readily and willingly to ſuffer any thing for his ſake; and hence is it that the Author of the Epiſtle vntounto the Hebrewes, exhorteth thus, Conſider him that indured ſuch contradiction from ſinners againſt himſelfe, Heb. 12.3.leſt ye be wearied and faint in your mindes. O what a ſhame is this, that eueryevery mocke, eueryevery checke, eueryevery taunt or frowne of a mortall man, that is but duſt, ſhould make vsus ſtagger in the good way of righteouſneſſe, whereas the Lord Ieſus Chriſt himſelfe indured ſo great things for vsus.
Sixtly, this commends vn the al▪ ſufficiency of Chriſts ſacrifice, who with one offering hath conſecrated for euer, Heb. 10.14them that are ſanctified, by that ſacrifice of his that was made once for all. Verſe 11 Againſt that abhominable ſacrifice of the Maſſe, in the which, the body and bloud of Chriſt is offered daily for the quicke and dead. Now if this ſacrifice in the Maſſe bee ſo powerful and effectuall, it muſt be either the continuation of the ſacrifice of Chriſt on the croſſe, or elſe the iteration of the ſame by the Prieſt, which to affirme, is blaſphemy.
If they ſay it is the continuing of that ſacrifice of Chriſt on the Croſſe, this is blaſphemy: for what meaneth then the Apoſtles once for all, Heb. 10.10that by his one ſacrifice once offered, hath conſecrated for euer them that are ſanctified. This were in effect to put the lye vponupon thoſe words of the Apoſtle, and to ſay that the ſacrifice of Chriſt were not perfect on the Croſſe, but onelyonly begun.
If they ſay, the ſacrifice of the Maſſe is but an iteration of that Sacrifice of Chriſts, this is blaſphemous likewiſe: For what is this but to make Chriſts ſacrifice imperfect? Was not this the Argument of the Author of the Epiſtle vntounto the Hebrews, to proue the ſacrifices in the time of the Law imperfect, becauſe they were daily offered?The abhomination of that Idol in the Maſſe.
Beſides herein appeares the abhomination of that Idoll in the Maſſe.
Firſt, in regard that by Chriſts Sacrifice, all other ſacrifices are taken away: for muſt the Church ſtill reſt vponupon ſhadowes, when the body is preſent? It is Chriſt who is the true High Prieſt vntounto God his Father, who through his own bloud hath entred into the holy of holies, and there made an euerlaſting attonement for his people. Neither ſhall there be an end of that ſacrifice vntill his coming to iudgement; Which we keepe daily in remembrance in the Sacrament of his Supper, not daring, as the Church of Rome doth, to renew any propitiatory ſacrifice then that that was once ſo perfectly made.
Secondly, the ſacrifice of Chriſt was with bloud, euen his owne precious bloud that he ſhed; and indeed it was moſt requiſite it ſhould bee ſo,Heb. 9.22. for without bloud there is no remiſsion of ſinnes. And againe,Heb. 9.28. Chriſt was once offered to beare the ſinnes of many. Which ſhewes that it cannot be renewed or iterated; and therefore that vn bloudy ſacrifice in the Maſſe muſt needs be a meere Idoll, and an abhomination to the Lord.
Thirdly, this ſacrifice of Chriſts was ſharpe, bitter, and painefull; what ſenſe of any paine in the Hoaſt in the Maſſe?
Fourthly, the ſacrifice of Chriſt was viſible, and in one place, according to the nature of a true ſubſtantiall body: This ſacrifice of theirs is in a thouſand places at once.
Beſides that ſacrifice of Chriſt was of infinite value and worth, being able to ſaue all that come vntounto him,1. Ioh. 1.7. to purge away the ſins of eueryevery true beleeuer. To iuſtifie vsus in Gods ſight:Rom. 5.9, 10. and by the ſame wee come to hauehave an admittance into the kingdome of heauen, By that new and lining way which he hath prepared for vsus through the veile that is his fleſh.Heb 10 19 20.
Whereas in the ſacrifice of the Maſſe, there is no benefit at all to any of theſe vſes.
And laſt of all, this great worke that Chriſt hath wrought for vsus, ſhould worke in vsus thankfulneſſe towards God; there is nothing in all the world ſhould affect our hearts more with thankſgiuing then this. The common bleſſings that we receiue ſhould at all times moue vsus to thankfulneſſe, as our meat, drinke, &c. but this aboue all. Chriſts ſufferings are the Chriſtians treaſure; let our hearts be there, and neuer let this worke of his be forgotten of vsus.
(So opened he not his mouth.)
Here we hauehave the reddition or application of the whole vntounto the perſon of Chriſt, that as the ſheepe goeth vntounto the ſlaughter, and Lambe, to hauehave his fleece ſhorne off, ſo was it with Chriſt in the putting off of his tabernacle, and laying downe of his life. And herein hath left vsus in his admirable patience of his, an admirable paterne of patience, and an example, as the Apoſtle Peter ſaith of ſuffering affliction,1. Pet. 2.21. Chriſt alſo ſuffered for vsus, leauing vsus an example, that we alſo ſhould follow his ſteps: who when he was reuiled, reuiled not againe: when he ſuffered, Verſ. 23 he threatened not, but committed it to him that iudgeth righteouſly.
Now ſhould we thinke much to take vp his croſſe and to follow him, to ſuffer afflictions for his ſake, and for his Goſpels ſake, that hath ſuffered ſo great things for vsus. Shall we not bee content to looſe a little, nay all if need be, ſeeing wee ſhall receiue an hundred fold.Mat. 29. And what though we meet with mockings and ſcoffings at the hands of men: ſay with Dauid, It may bee that God hath bid him do it. 2. Sam. 16.11. Num. 12: Mat. 11.29Moſes ſuffered Aarons and Miriams reproofe patiently. Take my yoke vponupon you, ſaith Chriſt. The greateſt honour that can betide any of Gods children is to ſuffer for Chriſt.Phil. 1.29. So Paul, To you it is giuen not only to beleeue on him, but alſo to ſuffer for his ſake. But of this before.