Commentary on John, Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX.
Verſe 1. Took Jeſus and ſcourged him.]
SO God ſcourgeth every ſon whom he receiveth, Heb. 12.6. One ſon he had that was ſine corruptione & flagitio, but none that was ſine correptione & flagello. In him therefore that rule held not, Flagitium & flagelium, ſicut acus & filum, Puniſhment follows ſin, as the threed follows the needle.
Verſe 2. And the ſouidiers piatted a crown of thorns.] Prickly and ſharp as the point of a ſword (ſo the word ſignifieth) And our Saviour, foreign videtur o…tum à voce foreign, cuspis, acies mucro. Paſor.being of the fineſt conſtitution, muſt needs be extreme ſenſible. The ſouldiers did this (it's thought) by the command of Pilate, to give content to the Jews, and to move them thereby (if it might be) either to contemn him, or commiſerate him. But nothing would doe but his death; theſe bloud-hounds would not other waies be ſatisfied. Godfrey of Bullen, firſt King of Hieruſalem, refuſed to be crowned with a crown of gold, ſaying that it became not a Chriſtian there to wear a crown of gold, where Chriſt, Turk. hiſt. fo. 24for our ſalvation had ſome time worne a crown of thorns. Some report, that he would not be otherwiſe crowned, then with a crown of thorns, as he kneeled at our Saviours ſepulchre: To teſtifie (perhaps) that he did dedicate his head and life to Chriſt crucified, Tradu…t coro ā sptream ei eſſe impefitam flenis gen…bus ad ſepu…chrum Dom…tcum pro. cu…b. nti, &c. Bu…nolcer.and deſpiſed not for his ſake a crown of thorns here, ſo he might weare a crown of glory with him in Heaven. Canutus, for like purpoſe, ſet his Crown upon the Cruciſix. It is not fit, ſith the head was crowned with thorns, that the members ſhould be crowned with roſe-buds, ſaith Zanchius.
Verſe 3. And ſaid, Hail, King of the Jews.] They ſcoffe at him, as a ridiculous and ſtage-play-King, whom therefore they cloathed with purple, which was a colour affected by the Emperours and Nobility of Rome: as Herod, for like cauſe cloathed him in white, foreigna colour much worn by the Nobility of the Jews, Jam. 2.2.
And they ſmote him with their hands.] So doe hypocrites ſtill by their unchriſtian practice, when they bend the knee to Chriſt with ludibrious devotion. Perba tua Dei planè ſunt, facta ve…ò diaboli… de…tur.They have the voice of Jacob, but the hands of Eſau. Their words are Gods, their deeds the devils, as John Capocius told Pope Innocent the third, preaching peace, and ſowing diſcord.
Verſe 4. That ye may know that I finde no fault.] But why did he not then deliver him out of their hands? Puſillanimity and popularity would not ſuffer him: but howſoever, he ſhall give teſtimony to his innocency. Act. and Mon. fol. 1469.So when Doctour Weston was gone from Mr Bradford, Martyr (with whom he had had conference) the Keeper told Bradford, that the Doctour ſpake openly that he ſaw no cauſe why they ſhould burn him. This Weſton being Prolocutour in the Divinity Schools at Oxford, when Cranmer was brought forth to diſpute, thus began the diſputation, Ibid 1300.Conveniſtis hodiè, fratres, profligaturi deteſtandam illam haereſin de veritate corporis Christi in Sacramento, &c. At which, divers learned men burſt out into a great laughter, as though even in the entrance of the diſputation he had bewrayed himſelfe and his Religion. God will have ſuch words fall ſometimes from the mouths of perſecutours, either wittingly, or by miſtake, as ſhall one day riſe up in judgement, and out of their own mouths condemn them.
Verſe 5. Pilate ſaith, Behold the man.] Q. d. If ye be men, take pity upon a man, ſo miſerably miſuſed: as, if ye be good men, let him goe, that is ſo innocent. But theſe monſters, like thoſe beaſts at Epheſus, had put off man-hood: And for good men amongſt them, it fared with Pilate, pleading for Chriſt, as it did with him at Nola in the Story, who, when he was commanded by the Romane Cenſor to goe and call the good men of the City to appeare before him, went to the Church-yards, and there called at the graves of the dead, Anton di Cuevara in Retor. de los princip. l. 1. c. 2.O yee good men of Nola, come away, for the Romane Cenſor cals for your appearance: for he knew not where to call for a good man alive.
Verſe 6. Crucifie him, crucifie him] So afterwards the primitive perſecutours cried out, Ad beſtias, ad bestias, Christianos ad leones, Tertul Apci. cap 40. Tollantur ſacrilegi, tollantur.imputing the cauſe of all publike calamities to them, as Tertullian teſtifieth. So they cried out at Geneva againſt Farellus, when the Biſhop firſt convented him, In Rhodanum, in Rhodanum, as the Papiſts ſtill cry out againſt the Profeſſours of the truth, ad ignem, adignem, to the fire with them, to the fire with them. Indeed in the form and ſtile of their own ſentence condemnatory, they pretend a Petition to the ſecular power, In viſceribus Jeſu Christi ut rigor juris mitigetur, a… que ut parcatur vitae. So they will ſeem outwardly to be lambs, but inwardly they are ravening wolves: witneſſe that Chancellour of Salisbury Dr Jeffrey, Act and Mon. fo. 1864.who was not only contented to give ſentence againſt certain Martyrs, but alſo hunted after the high-Sheriff, not ſuffering him to ſpare them, though he would. So Harpsfield, Archdeacon of Canterbury, Ibid 1862.being at London, when Queen Mary lay a dying, made all Poſt-haſte home to diſpatch thoſe ſix, whom he had then in his cruell cuſtody; and thoſe were the laſt that ſuffered for Religion in Queene Maries raigne.
I finde no fault in him.] No wonder: For he was (as Peter ſaith) A lamb without blemiſh (of originall ſinne) and without spot (of actuall ſin. 1 Pet. 1.18.) Neither was it without a ſweet providence of God that he ſhould be ſo often abſolved from the deſert of death, that thereby we might eſcape the manifold deaths that we had ſo well deſerved.
Verſe 7. The Iews anſwered them, &c.] When they ſaw that the treaſon they laid to his charge (unicum crimen eorum, qui crimine vacabunt, Not. ad Tacit.ſaith Lipſius) would not doe the deed, they accuſe him of blaſphemy another while, that by ſome means or other they might take away his life. Thou, and ſuch as thou (ſaid Bonner to Thomas Brown, Martyr) report, I ſeek your bloud: To whom he anſwered, Act. and Mor. ſo. 1685.Yea, my Lord, indeed ye be a bloud-ſucker; and I would I had as much bloud as is water in the ſea, for you to ſuck. Another unknown good woman, told this Biſhop in a letter, Ibid. 1672.that he had ſuch ſtore of Chriſts lambs already in his Butchers-ſtall, that he was not able to drinke all their bloud, leſt he ſhould break his belly, and therefore he let them lie ſtill, and die for hunger. Ibid. 1358.My Lord (ſaid M. Saunders to Bonner) you ſeek my bloud, and you ſhall have it: I pray God you may be ſo baptized in it, that you may hereafter loath bloud-ſucking, and become a better man.
Verſe 8. He was the more afraid,] Chriſts innocence did beſore triumph in Pilates conſcience. But now, that he hears that he made himſelf the ſon of God, he was in a mighty maze, He was afraid, ſaith the text, of lifting up his hand againſt God. The greateſt men, if not utterly debauched and ſatanized, cannot but quake at the apprehenſion of God; and as the worms, when it thunders, wriggle into the corners of the earth. Culigula (that dared his Jove to a duel with that Hemiſtich in Homer, foreign, Either kill me, Sueton, in Calig.or I'll kill thee) when it thundered, covered his eies with his cap, running under the bed, or any bench-hole.
Verſe 9. Whence art thou?] He queſtioneth not Chriſt of his countrey, but of his condition, q. d. Art thou a man, or a God? Such a dung-hill-Deity he meant, as the Heathens worſhipped: And therefore our Saviour would not once anſwer him. Eſpecially ſince if he ſhould have aſſerted his Deity, Pilate likely would have acquitted and diſmiſſed him; whereas Chriſt knew that he was now, and here, to be condemned. There are that thinke that Pilates wives dream was from the devil, who ſought thereby to have hindered the work of our redemption, which could not be wrought but by the death of Chriſt.
Verſe 10. Speakeſt thou not unto me?] No, and yet S. Paul ſaith, he witneſſed a good confeſſion before Pontius Pilate, 1 Tim. 6.13.becauſe he had ſaid ſufficient before, and was now ready to ſeal up the truth with his bloud. But to be delivered, he would not once open his mouth to Pilate. So M. Saunders had ſo wholly devoted himſelf to the defence of Chriſts cauſe, Act. and Mon. ſo. 1359.that he forbad his wife to ſue for his delivery: and when other of his friends had by ſuit almoſt obtained it, he diſcouraged them, ſo that they did not follow their ſute. I pray you let me make labour for you, ſaid one Creſwell to Maſter Bradford. You may doe what you will, ſaid Bradford. But tell me what ſute I ſhall make for you, quoth Creſwell. Forſooth ſaid the other, that you will do, Ibid. 1467.do it not at my requeſt; for I deſire nothing at your hands. If the Queen will give me life, I will thank her: if ſhe will baniſh me, I'll thank her: if ſhe will burn me, I'll thank her: if ſhe will condemn me to perpetuall impriſonment, I'll thanke her. Life in Gods diſpleaſure is worſe then death: and death in his true fear, is true life.
I have power to crucifie thee.] To crucifie an innocent man? Who gave him that power? But profane perſons bear themſelves over-bold upon their power, as if they were little gods within themſelves. So Caeſar told Metellus he could as eaſily deſtroy him, Rideo quod uno nutu meo jugulare vos poſſim, & uxori lam bona cervix, ſi …ul ac juſſero, demetur.as bid it be done. So Caligula ſpeaking to the Conſuls, I laugh, ſaid he, to think that I can kill you with a nod of my head, and that this fair throat of my wives ſhall be preſently cut, if I but ſpeak the word.
Verſe 11. Except it were given thee from above.] Therefore be good in thine office, leſt thou give a dear account to him that is higher then the higheſt, as Solomon hath it: who therefore cals the judgement ſeat, the holy place, Eccl. 8.10. Pilate was after wards kickt off the bench by Caius, for his perverting of juſtice, and, for grief and ſhame became his own deathſ-man.
Verſe 12. But the Jews cried out, ſaying, &c.] They return again to their former accuſation, and enforce it. One way or other they are bent to have his bloud. In K. Edward the ſixths daies, when the Duke of Sommerſet was cleared of the treaſon laid to his charg, yet he muſt ſuffer (ſo his potent enemies would have it) for I know not what flight ſuſpitions of felony. At which time alſo, Sr Thomas Arundel was, Sir Iohn Heyw. life of Edw 6. p. 14….among others, with ſome difficulty condemned. Unhappy man (ſaith the Hiſtorian) who found the doing of any thing, or of nothing dangerous alike.
Verſe 13. When Pilate therefore heard that ſaying] That ſaying, and the baſe fear of being ſhent by Caeſar makes him warp and go againſt his conſcience. But ſhould not Judges be men of courage? Should not the ſtandard be of ſteel? the chief poſts in the houſe be heart of Oak? Solomons tribunall was underpropt with Lions, to ſhew what metal a Magiſtrate ſhould be made of. It is a mercy to have Judges, Cic. pro Milo.Modò audeant quae ſentiunt, ſaith the Oratour, ſo they dare do their conſciences.
Verſe 14. Behold your King.] Q.d. A like matter that this poor man ſhould affect the Kingdom; and not rather that he is like to loſe his life, Act and Mon. ſo. 1590.byforged cavillation. Chriſt himſelf was miſreported and falſly accuſed (ſaith father Latymer) both as touching his words and meaning alſo, &c. Core and his complices object to the meekeſt of men with one breath, pride, ambition, uſurpation of authority, Lipſ. in Tacit.Invenies apud Tacitum frequentatas uccaſationes majeſtatis: unicum crimen eorum qui crimine vacabant.
Verſe 15. We have no King but Caeſar.] Why but, Is there no King in Sion? is her Counſellour periſhed? ſaith the Prophet, Mica. 49. Did not theſe men look for a M…ſſi…h? Or if not; will they reject the Lord from being their King? Oh how blinde is malice, how deſperately ſet upon it's ends and enterprizes! But in Chriſts kingdom this is wonderfull, ſaith Za…chius, that this King willeth and cauſeth that the Kingdoms of the world be ſubject to his Kingdom: In reg…o Chriſti hoc mirabile eſt, quod i…e rex vult & efficit, &c. Zanch. M…ſcel.and again he willeth and cauſeth that his Kingdom be alſo ſubject to the Kingdoms of the world.
Verſe 16. Then delivered he him, &c.] Overcome by their importunity, and over-awed by the fear of Caeſar, to condemn the innocent. It was Eato's complaint, that private mens theeves are laid by the heels, and in cold irons; but theſe publike theeves that wrong and rob the Common-wealth, ſit in ſcarlet, with gold chains about their necks. Siniſterity is an enemy to ſincerity. Privatorum fures in rervo & compediba… vitam agunt: publici in auro & purpura viſuntur. Cato. ap. Gell. l. 1… c 18. foreign.All ſelf-reſpects and corrupt ends muſt be laid aſide by men in authority, and juſtice juſtice, as Moſes ſpeaks, that is, pure juſtice without mud muſt run down, Deut. 16.20. Dureſcite, dureſcite, ſaid the Smith to the Duke, that durſt not do juſtice.
Verſe 17. And he, bearing his croſſe, &c.] This was the Roman faſhion (as Plutarch relates it) that every condemned perſon ſhould bear that Croſſe, that anon ſhould bear him. Hence grew that expreſſion of our Saviour, He that will be my Diſciple muſt take up his Croſſe, and ſo fill up that which is behinde, Col. 1.24.
Into a place called the place of a skull.] Where his tender heart was pierced with grief, no doubt, at the ſad ſight of ſuch a ſlaughter of men made by ſin: like as it could not but be a ſore cut and corroſive to Mauritius, to ſee his wife and children ſlain before him, when himſelf was alſo to be next ſtewed in his own broth. Sain John is exact in ſetting down our Saviours ſufferings, and this for one.
Verſe 18. Where they crucified him,] An ignominious, accurſed, and dolorous death: for he was nailed to the tree in the hands and feet, which ae th moſt ſenſible parts, as fulleſt of ſinews, and therefoe (in ſo fine a body, as his eſpecially) of moſt exquiſite ſenſe. Look wiſhtly upon ſin in this glaſſe, and love it if thou canſt. For our ſins were the nails, and our ſelves the Traitours, that faſtened him to the tree. Pilate and his ſouldiers, Judas and the Jewes were all ſet awork by us. Learn to lay the blame on the ſelf, and ſay, It was my gluttony that reached a cup of gall and vineger to his mouth; mine incontinency, that provided ſtripes for his back; mine arrogancy, that platted a crown of thorns upon his head; mine inconſtancy, that put a reed into his hand; my treachery, that nailed his hands and feet; my vanity, that grieved his ſoul to the death; my ſelf-love, that thruſt a ſpear into his ſide &c. Adſum ego qui feci.Virgil.
Verſe 19. Jeſus of Nazareth, &c.] To perſwade the people to bow ſuperſtitiouſly at the Name of Jeſus. Papiſts commonly (but ridiculouſly) teach in their Pulpits, that Chriſt himſelf on the Croſſe bowed his head on the right ſide, to reverence his own name, which was written over it; Europ Spec.as Sir Edwin Sands relates from his own experience.
Verſe 20. In Hebrew, Greek and Latine.] In Hebrew, for the Jewes who gloried in the Law: in Greek, for the Grecians who gloried in wiſdome: in Latine, for the Romans who moſt gloried in dominion and power. As if Pilate ſhould have ſaid, This is the King of all Religion, having reference to the Hebrews; of all wiſdome, to the Greeks; of all power, to the Romans. The holy Ghoſt would alſo hereby commend unto us the dignity and ſtudy of theſe three languages, to be retained for ever in the Church of Chriſt.
Verſe 21. Write not the King of the Jews.] They would needs be mending Magnificat, as they ſay; and this, of pure ſpite, that the diſgrace might reſt only upon Chriſt, and not at all reflect upon their Nation. Whereas in truth, nothing ſo ennobleth, as any the leaſt relation to Chriſt. M…t. 2. Mic. 5.Bethlehem, where he was born, it, though the leaſt, yet therefore, not the least among the Cities of Judah. Among thoſe that were marked, Revel. 7. Judah is reckoned firſt, of all the Tribes by Leah's ſide, becauſe our Lord ſprang out of Judah: And Nephtali is named firſt among thoſe that came by Rachels ſide, becauſe at. Capernaum (in that Tribe) Chriſt dwelt: which therefore alſo is ſaid to be lifted up to heaven, Mat. 11. Ʋt utrobi que ſuperemin…a… Christi praerogativa.
Verſe 22. What I have written, I have written,] i. e. I am unchangeably reſolved it ſhall ſtand. Non retractat bo…o pro…anus quod ve…e, licet fi…e mente & conſil…o…e Chri. …lo …c…ipfit C….So God ſaith, I am that I am; that is, I am yeſterday, and to day, and the ſame for ever. Learne we may of Pilate to be conſtant to a ood cauſe. Marcellus the Pope would not change his name, according to the cuſtome, to ſhew his immutability, that he was no changeling.
Verſe 23. Took his garments.] Chriſt, as Elias, being now to aſcend into heaven, did willingly let go his garments: and the rather, that he might cloath us with his righteouſneſſe. Let us ſuffer with joy the spoyling of our goods, as knowing in our ſelves (not only by books or relation of others) that we have in heaven a better and more enduring ſubſtance. H…b. 10.32.But what a wiſe fool was Sir Thomas Moor, who being brought to the Tower, as a malefactour;and one of the Officers demanding his upper garment for a fee, meaning his gown, he ſaid, he ſhould have it; and took him his cap, Act. and Mon. fol. 97….ſaying it was it was the uppermoſt garment that he had? So, when he was to be beheaded, he ſaid to the hangman, I pray you let me lay my beard over the block, leſt you ſhould cut it. He thought it no glory, unles he might die with a mock in his mouth. Theſe be the worlds wizards.
Now the Coat ws without ſeam.] Chriſti tunica est unica: They that rent it by ſchiſmes, are worſe then the rude ſouldiers. Indexpiabilis diſcordiae macula mar…yrij ſanguine ablui & pa…ſione purga. ri non poteſt. Cypr deun…t. eccleſ. Chryſoſt Hom. 11. ad Epheſ. Occol. ad fratres in Suevia.There can be no greater ſinne committed, ſaith Cyprian, then to break the unity of the Church: Yea, though one ſhould ſuffer martyrdome, yet cannot he expiate thereby his ſinne of diſcord. This, ſaith Chryſoſtome, is a bold, but a true ſpeech of Cyprian. And like to this, is that of Oecolampadius to the Lutherans in Swethland; Our errour may be pardoned, ſo that Chriſt by faith be apprehended, Diſcordiam, ne que ſi ſanguinem fundamus, expiabimus, but the blot of our diſcord we canot waſh off, with our heart bloud.
Verſe 24. That the Scripture might be fulfilled.] So exactly is the old Teſtament fulfilled in the New: The teſtimonies whereof are cited not only by way of accommodation, but becauſe they are the proper meaning of the places. The ſouldiers could not caſt the dice upon our Saviours garments, but it was fore-told. This ſhews that our Redemption by Chriſt is no impoſture, but a plot of Gods own contriving. Let this ſettle us againſt all doubtings.
Verſe 25. Now there ſtood by the Croſſe, &c. Act. 18.18. Rom, 16.3… 2 Tim. 4.19. Act. 16.13.] The men were fled, the women ſtood to it. Souls have no Sexes. Manoah's wife was the more manly of the two. Priſcilla is ſometimes ſet before Aquila. When S. Paul came firſt to Philippi, he had none that would hear him, but a few women.
Verſe 26. When Jeſus therefore ſaw his mother.] In the midſt of his miſeries he thinks of his mother, and takes care for her weldoing after his deceaſe. Doctour Tailour the Martyr, among other things that he ſaid to his ſon at his death, ſaid this charge upon him: When thy mother is waxed old, forſake her not, Act. and Mon.but provide for her to thy power, and ſee that ſhe lack nothing: for ſo will God bleſſe thee, and give thee long life upon earth and proſperity. The Athenians puniſhed ſuch with death, as noutiſhed not their aged Parents. And S. Paul ſaith, that to require paents is good and acceptable before God, 1 Tim 5.4.foreign, ſc. cora… homi…i…us. Scul.
Verſe 27. The Diſciple took her, &c.] A precious depoſitum; the houſe was the better ſhe abode in: yet dare we not deifie her, as the Papiſts: as neither will we vilifie her, as the Authour of the famale glory baſely ſlanders ſome of us, that we rudely call her, Mall Gods maid, Os durum! Our Parents, ſaith the Heathen, are our Houſhold gods. foreign. Hierocles. Luk. 2.35.Honour them we muſt both in word and deed. That our Saviour here cals her Woman, and not Mother, was either becauſe he would not adde to her grief, who was now pierced to the ſoul with that ſword Simeon ſpake of; or, leſt he ſhould create her further trouble, if ſhe had been known to be his mother; or, for that, being now in his laſt work, and ready way to heaven, 2 Cor 5. Act. and Mon. fol. 1450.he knew none after the fleſh. Thomas Wats, Martyr, ſpake thus at his death to his wife and ſix children. Wife; and my good children, I muſt now depart from you: therefore henceforth know I you no more, &c. But whereas Chriſt commends the care of his mother to his beloved Diſciple, with, Behold thy mother, the Samians uſed the like ſpeech, foreign.when to the richer of the Citizens, the mothers of thoſe who died in the wars were given to be maintained by them.
Verſe 28. That the Scripture might be fulfilled.] It is a high point of heavenly wiſdome to doe our ordinary buſineſſe in obedience to Gods command, and with an aim at his glory; to goe about our earthly affairs with heavenly mindes, and in ſerving men to ſerve God; to taſte God in the creature, and whether we eat or drink, or what ever elſe we doe, to ſet up God. Every action is a ſtep, 1 Cor. 10.31.either to heaven or hell. The poor ſervant in being faithfull to his Maſter, ſerves the Lord Christ, Col. 4. who was more carefull hee of fulfilling the Scripture, and working out our ſalvation, then of ſatisfying his own moſt vehement thirſt.
Verſe 29. Now there was ſet a veſſel full of vineger.] Cold comfort: Grarum thuris in calice vini.they uſed to give others wine to comfort them; according to Prov. 31.6. and mingled myrrhe with the wine, that might at tenuate their bloud, and ſo help to diſpatch them: as alſo, to cauſe a giddines in them, They might go no further on the preparation day then three paſae, i.e. twelve miles, leſt comming home too late, they might not have leiſure to prepare Buxt. Synagog. Iudaica.that they might be the leſſe ſenſible of their pain. But they dealt much worſe with our Saviour, mingling for him, in mockery, vineger and gall, to add to his other miſery. This he drank, that we might drink of the heavenly Nepenthes, that torrent of pleaſure, Pſal. 16.
Verſe 30. It is finiſhed.] Chriſt would not off the Croſſe till all were done, that was hee to be done: that which remained being rather a play then a work to him.
Verſe 31. Becauſe it was the Preparation.] Their preparation to the Sabbath began at three of the clock in the after-noon. The beſt and wealthieſt of them, even thoſe that had many ſervants, did with their own hands further the preparation: ſo that ſometimes the Maſters themſelves would chop herbs, ſweep the houſe, cleave wood, kindle the fire, &c. Our Anceſtours alſo were wont to give over work on the Saturday, when it rang to evenſong. And uſually as men meaſure to God in preparation, he remeaſureth to them in bleſſing. K. Edga ordained, that Sunday ſhould be ſolemnized in his Land from Saturday nine of the clock, till Munday morning. Act and Mon. foreign. Mat. 27.62. foreign. Mark 15.42. Ante ſabbathū Vetus eccleſia vigniliam vocabat. Buxtorf.The Jews before their preparation had their fore-preparation: And before their Sabbath, their fore-ſabbath, their ſabbatulum, anteſdabbathum. Thoſe of Tiberias began the Sabbath ſooner then others: thoſe at Tſepphore continued it longer, adding, De profano ad ſacrum. We are now ſo far from this, that we trench upon the holy time, and ſay, When will the Sabbath be over? yea, in too many places Gods ſacred Sabbath is made the voider and dunghill, for all refuſe buſineſſes: As by others, it is made as Bacchus his Orgies, with Ales, May-games, &c. So that it ſhould be named according to theſe mens obſerving of it, Daemoniacus, Alſted. Encycloped.potiùs quam Dominicus, as Alsted hath it.
Verſe 32. Brake the legs of the firſt.] The good theef alſo had his legs broke, and his life taken away: though by his repentance he made his croſſe a Jacobs ladder, whereby Angels deſcended to fetch up his ſoul.
Verſe 33. And ſaw that he was dead already.] He took his own ime to die: and therefore, ver. 31. it is ſaid, That he bowed his head, and gave up he ghoſt; whereas other men bow not the head, till they have given up the ghoſt. He alſo cried with a loud voice and died, which ſhews that he wanted not ſtrength of nature, to have lived longer, if he had liſted.
Verſe 34. But one of the ſouldiers with a spear.] What an odd conceit is that of the Papiſts, that from the Greek word, foreign, have made this ſouldiers name Longinus? Notetur turpi…-Pontificiorum laoſus in Longino, & inſcitia Graecae linguae. Cartw. In Deorum numerum relatus: ut de Franci co. B…mbus, Hiſt. Ven. 1 Job. 5.6.and to make up the tale, they tell the people, that, whereas before he had been blinde, by the anointing of his eyes with the watery bloud that came out of Chriſts ſide, he received his ſight, became a Chriſtian, a Martyr, a canonized Saint, and that his reliques were afterwards worſhipped.
There came out bloud and water.] The pericardium being pierced, which nature hath filled with water to cool the heat of the heart. Hereto S. John addudes, when he ſaith, that Chriſt came by water and bloud, to teach us, that he juſtifieth none by his merit, but whom he ſanctifieth by his Spirit. Poffumus etiam hinc aſſeverare ex latere Chriſti fluxiſſe nostra ſacramenta, ſaith Calvin, We may ſafely ſay that our Sacraments iſſued out of Chriſts ſide.
Verſe 35. Plus valet oculatus teſtis unus quam auriti decem. Ex quibus poſtea hiſtoria Evangelica eſt contexta. Scult. Annal. ep. de…ic.And he that ſaw it, &c.] Nothing ſo ſure as ſight. One eye-witneſſe is moe then ten ear-witneſſes. It is probable their Day-books, wherein they recorded his daily Oracles, and other occurrences, and out of which they compiled the Goſpels.
His record is true.] The Goſpel is called the Teſtimony, Iſa. 8.20. becauſe it beareth witneſſe to it ſelf. The Law is called light (Lex, Lux) becauſe by it ſelf it is ſeen to be of God, as the Sun is ſeen by it's own light.
Verſe 36. Not a bone of him was broken.] So he appeared to be the true Paſchall Lamb, that was roſted whole in the fire of his Fathers wrath, to deliver us from the wrath to come. The ſouldiers could not break his legs, becauſe God had otherwiſe ordered it. Voluntas Dei, neceſſitas rei.
Verſe 37. foreign.They ſhall look upon him] This is not a threat, but a promiſe, Zech. 12.10. fulfilled, Act. 2.37. when Peters hearers felt the nails wherewith they had crucified Chriſt, ſticking faſt in their own hearts, and piercing them with horrour.
Verſe 48. A Diſciple of Jeſus, but ſecreily for fear.] A Diſciple he was, though a daſtard. Infirmities, if diſclaim'd, diſcard us not. Ʋzziah ceaſed not to be a King, when he began to be a leper. Zech. 32.Jehoſhuah the high-Prieſt, though ill-cloathed, yet ſtood before the Angel; Chriſt did not abhorre his pretence, nor reject his ſervice. The Church calleth her ſelf, black, Cant. 1.5. but Chriſt cals her fair, &c. In Peace-offerings they might offer leavened bread, to ſhew that God will bear with his peoples infirmities.
Verſe 39. And there came alſo Nicodemus.] Another nightbird; a chieftain in the Eccleſticall State, as Joſeph of Arimathaea (or Ramath, Samuels countrey) was in the Civil. The faith of theſe two now breaks our, though it had long lain hid, as the Sun under a cloud, as ſeed under a clod: now they manifeſt their love to Chriſt, ſo curelly handled; as the true mother did hers to her childe, when it was to be cut in two.
Verſe 40. With the ſpices, as the manner of the Jews] To teſtifie their hope of a reſurrection. In an Apiſh imitation of whom, the Gentiles alſo, though they had no ſuch hope, kept a great ſtir, and made much ado about the decent buriall of their dead. Habent & veſpaefavos, & ſimiae imitantur homines, ſaith Cyprian.
Verſe 41. A new ſepulchre.] Fit for him that was the firſt-born from the dead, the first-fruits of them that ſleep. foreign. Theodo….Beſides, elſe it might have been ſaid, that ſome other had riſen, and not he, (ſaith Theodoret) as Mathomet ſaith, that Chriſt was not crucified, but another for him.
Verſe 42. Becauſe of the Jews.] That they might not doe ſervile work on the Sabbath, though it were to inter Chriſts body. See Luk. 23.56.