A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 106 (Question 27 cont.)
SERMON CVI.
2. IT follows to take an Account of … Arraignment and Trial before the … Magiſtrate. Where He was alſo Judged … Condemned.
IT was now a time when the Jews … the power of Life and Death in their … hands, but being under the Juriſdition of the Romens, they were neceſhtated to … all matters Capital, before the Gove… whom the Roman Emperor had ſet over th…. The Sanbedrim therefore, who now re… but a ſhadow of their ancient Power, … proceeded againſt Him, ſo far as the Li… left them did extend, in voting of … Blaſphemet, and conſequently a Man … ought to die by their Law, they reſt not …, but ſet their malice on wo…k to contri… and effect his Death; and what they could … do by themſelves, they conclude to … about by Palate, who was then their Go… nour. And having thus determined, they forthwith put in execution. And this … properly his ſecond Arraignment. For, although the Jews could not condemn … formally, yet they could indict thoſe of their own Nation, and bri…g them before the Chr… Tribunal, and proſecute them there; which was a liberty granted them, to increaſe their bondage; hereby affording the larger advantage to help to the ruine one of another. We may here firſt take notice of the Arraignment, and then of the Trial.
1. TOUCHING His Arraignment briefly obſerve,
1. THE True when it was: It was as ſoon ever it was morning. Mat. 15.1. It was late … the Night when they had finiſhed their … proceſs, and preſently, as ſoon as it was …, they fall to work again. Malice is …y, and reſtleſs till it hath wreaked its venge upon the ſubjects of it. It breaks …as ſleep, till they have gotten their deſires …wered.
2. THE Perſons engaged in it: the Chief …eſts and Elders of the People. Math. 27.1. …e who were peculiarly concerned to have …i…red themſelves with Scripture predictions, and obſerved the fulfilment of them, … which they might have diſcerned that he …as the Chriſt, and have directed the people … Hi…. And needs muſt the Cauſe of Chriſt …e is a ſuffering Condition, when thoſe who ſhould be Pillars, endeavour to undermine it.
3. THEIR Unanimity in it: All were combined. Math. 27.1. It is true, Joſeph of Ari…, and Nicodemus, were not conſenters i… this act, and poſſibly they did on purpoſe a…ſent from this meeting, knowing the reſo…tion of the reſt: but all that were there, which were the Body of the Council, were as we man. And it is lamentable to ſee, that their is more agreement between wicked …, in their deſigns againſt God and Chriſt, … among God's own People in the managing of the Affairs of Chriſt's Kingdom. Unity …, is no ſure ſign that men have the Truth … their ſide.
4. THEIR deliberation in this buſineſs: They … Counſel. Mat. 27.1. There is this difference between Anger and Malice; Anger being a ſudden motion, grows cold upon ſecond thoughts, whereas malice uſeth deliberation, and …thers ſtrength by conſulting, and this …ed their wickedneſs, in that it was … d…ted, and conſulted act of theirs.
5. THE thing deliberated: How to put Jeſus … D…h. ibid. They had before concluded … be ought, and now reſolve that he ſhall bye; and accordingly they lay their heads …ther to bring it about. Thus mens wickedneſs is oftentimes improved to further and ſ…ve to the accompliſhment of God's holy …ſes. One world cannot hold Chriſt and … men, to dwell quietly together.
6. THE reſult of this Conſultation put in …. Their actions declare, what it was they deliberated about. The ſum is they … Chriſt to Pilate to be judged as a Male…. And there are three paſſages obſerv'd … this. Mat. 27.1, 2. When the morning …, all the chief Prieſts and Elders of the … took council againſt Jeſus to put him to …. And when they had bound him they led him …, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the …. (1.) THEY bound Him. Whether they … him from his former bonds, in which he … been brought before them, during his Examination, and till they had voted Him …y, or whether they added more ſhackles is his former, as they were wont to lade notorious Criminals with chains; to be …u…e, they endeavoured to throw all t…gnominy on him they could, and make him a ſubject of greateſt reproach; for they were reputed, not only Melefactors, but Villains too, that were bound. (2.) THEY led Him away. In all likelihood, ſtill followed with the rout and rabble of the ſcum of the People, together with the inſolent Officers and Soldiers of the hand, whereby they added to his diſgrace, heaping upon him reproach upon reproach, giving envy its full ſcope, which never knows when it hath inſulted enough. (3.) THEY delivered him to Ponti…s P… the Governour …ie. They put him upon h… T… reſigning him up to his power as a peri… … a priſoner, and by them found gu… … … tal Crimes, demanding of him … … tence of Death upon him as … Law was worthy of Death … that prediction of his con… … accompliſhed, Mat. 20.16, 19. … to Jeruſalem, and the Son of men … unto the chief Priests, and unto … they ſhall condemn him to death. … deliver him to the Gentiles, to mock & … and to crucify him. And herein al… … purſued the work of Redemption, in … he was engaged. This was one piece of … Death which he ſuffered for us. And if we would make a right improvement of it, we muſt ſo conſider it. We ſtood guilty before the Judgment Seat of God, being there found heinous tranſgreſſors. He therefore muſt occupy our place, and ſuffer that ſhame, diſgrace, and ſorrow, which was our due, in order to our being delivered from that ignominious Trial, we were in danger of. Every Tribunal of God's appointment, is God's … bunal; and Chriſt was here arraigned at God's Judgment Seat, and they were uſed as inſtruments in executing of his appointed Judgment on his Son. They did it falſely, but He righteouſly. Chriſt, our Surety, ſtood guilty before him, of our fins, which were made his by imputation. Let Sinners then, under the humbling ſenſe of their guilt, look hither with hope. And Believers, when the thoughts of their ſins terrify them, ſtrengthen their Faith in this: Look upon Jeſus ſtanding at God's Bar, in your room. It is the advice, Heb. 12.3. Looking unto Jeſus the author and finiſher of our faith, who for the joy that was ſet before him, endured the croſs, deſpiſing the ſhame, and is ſet down at the right hand of the throne of God.
7. WE may here obſerve one notable Circumſtance attending this Arraignment, viz. Jadas's Repentance. It hath pleaſed the Holy Ghoſt to inſert this paſſage in this part of the Hiſtory, Math. 27.3, &c We have formerly obſerved how this Traytor, treacherouſly betrayed his Maſter into the hands of his blood-thirſty enemies. And it was meet that we ſhould have an account of his … …d, that he may ſtand to the … and for a warning to ſuch as have made a plauſible pro…ea…, to be ware how they pr…ve …lſto in …b…ray the Intereſt they have eſpouſed. There had …en two of Gr…s …ſup…es that had been …m…tly inſtrumental …agr… ting … S…r … Peter and Ju…; the fall and … …e…very of the former, we gl…rced at in the laſt Diſcourſe. We may now take …ce of the others …uint. In the …e we have an inſtance of God's rich Grace; in the other of his righteous Severity. A few Rem…ks here may be profitable.
1. IT is aſſerted, that Judes Repented, Mat. 27. …. … w…d ſignifies to be per…e…d and trouble a… a thing d…; and is ſometimes died! I true Converſion, ſometimes for … Repentance. 2. that which is at moſt but … it amount… to ſo much, that the man is ſorry for what he hath done, and tormented in his ſpirit about it, and b…tterly w…ſhed he had never do…e i….
2. WE have the Re…nt…n … ſelf deſcribed. Partly, by the occaſion of it when …e ſ… &c. It ſeems, he diligently a…ded the Proceſs, and obſerved the Iſſue, from which …e gathered the grounds of his penitence Divine, hence think, that …u…es … not b…ray his Lord of Malice, but m…r Covetouſneſs. … l…ttle money by him, and that yet he would m… his own eſcape as he … of … known … do, when …ght for; b…t … it to tall out otherwiſe, and that the Co… had co…dem…ed him, and were purſ…ng his L…e, which he ſaw like to g… for …t, …is …ent ſmi…es him, and tells him what a wretch he had been: Partly, by the ſ…veral … of it; where we have both his …, he was b… ke… in his heart filled with … ſ…rrow, inwardly condemned himſelf for his baſeneſs, as is inti…ted … the word. be repented: and his C…nſe…, which is very full ve…. 4. I have ſinned, in that I have betrayed the in…cent H…d. He not only acknowledged himſelf to be a ſinner, but particularly confeſſeth this great Crime, that he had been a leading Inſtrument in expo…ing an innocent Perſon as …ent, in which he avouched Chriſt's …, and by it aggravates his own … and his R…titution. ver …. Then Judes which …ad betrayed …, when h… ſaw that be … condemned, repented himſelf, and …r…ght ag…n …e th…ty …ces of … to the … and …ers. Tho' his maſter ſin was C…ouſ…eſs, and he loved his m…cy as his l…e, yet …e cannot keep the wages of his in…quity, …t muſt return them back to thoſe that hited him his Conſcience cannot digeſt. b…t muſt vomit up his ill…en …ſ…ls.
3. OBSERVE the … comfort he receive from …he P…ſts and …ers. They by Of … were obliged to ofter relief to diſ… Conſciences, to have compaſſion on the… … give them counſels and a couragement… but th… … him, and leave him who… up to his …, not r…g…ding what … …ame of …, when he had ſerved their … in this affairs, ver. 4. And they ſaid, wh…n is the … th…t that.
4. HERE is his Tragical end. ver. 5. … the …i…es of ſilver in the … and d…perted and went and hanged himſelf. … better ſo ſeized him, that in deſpair of God's mercy, and under the inſupportable … of an accuſing and condemning Conſcience … can no …ger live, but to caſe himſelf of … preſent diſquiet, he rids himſelf of his …, and diſpatenes himſelf out of the World.
5. AN account is given of God's over … Providence, ordering the diſp…ſal of the reſtored Money, in b…ying the … … which was done by them deliberately, … yet is accompliſhed exactly, according to … had been prop…ſi…d, Zech. 11.13. And … by became a further evidence that Ch… … the Me…. And from this circumſta… may obſerve,
(1) THAT there may be a ſtr… … tance …n men, and yet not ſaving. Judes was very formal and diſtinct. There is … ſaid of it then of Pe…er's; but the event … us what it really was; … all be per… … h…s iniquity. Men had need then … …ow they place their conſidence on their … pe…tances: See not only that you have … pented, ſo did Judes; but that it be … … pentance unto life.
(2) LEARN he ce… inſtance, ho… … fie cheats men. Judes thought it a … to g…t a little money, by betraying … not doubting but he would ſecure … well enough; but by this means be … guilty of betraying the Glorious … into the hands of wicked m…n, which … in his Death. How fearful the… … be of Si…? Let it look never ſo … and innocent, it hath a ſting in it. We may … the entrance into it, but little know … it will lead.
(3.) IF men, to get gain, will do … to their own Conſciences, they will … later, lay violent hands on them. They … ſwallow, but ſhall never digeſt, the … of wickedneſs. Judas had a ſtrong …, &c. Beware then how you give way, … the cravings of your greedy minds, after the … of ſin, they will be bitterneſs in the ….
(2.) MEN in trouble of Conſcience, … ne…d beware whom they apply to for … Had Jud…s, inſtead of, &c. gone to Jeſus … fallen down, confeſſed, &c it might have … well with him: but he went to h…s … plices, who mook & inſult. And let … ſolemn warning by his Example.
(5.) God, when He ſees meet, makes … men, their own Executioners. He … be lo…ſe Conſcience ſo far, as to make the … an i…toll…rable burden, and puſh men … that unnatural ſin, of laying violent han… themſelves; and this ſhould make us … of ſecret ſins.
(6.) God uſeth ſ…me to their own inſtruction, to be inſtrumental in bringing … the Salvation of other. Thus was J… being an inſtrument in Chriſt's Death. And learn we hence to adore the Sovereignty of God, and his diſtinguiſhing mercy, by computing the inſtance of Peter and Jud…s; and the more admire his love to us. But this … ſuffice for this receſſary digreſſion.
2. PROCEED we … the Trial or Proceſs … him. We have now the Lord of Glory ſtanding before man's Tribunal: And for the Judge of the whole World to ſtand a Pr…er at the Ba…, before an Heathen Ruler, … needs be a great ſuffering. And though … for a while treated him more civilly th… the High Prieſt had done, yet afterwards be did …is part in it too.
HERE then, I ſhall not obſerve all the …ſtances recorded in this affair, but only ſuch as are moſt proper to the preſent p…poſe, as preparatory to his Death, that followed upon it. Conſider then,
1. HIS Ex…ination about his State and …. Mat. ….11. And Jeſus ſtood before in gover…our; and the gover…o…r asked him, …, Art then the king of the Jews? And Jeſus ſ…d … him. Thou ſa…eſt And this was to make way for what followed. And that which is here ſpecially to be noticed, is Chriſt's freedom, and read…neſs, upon demand, … the great Truth which he came into the World to hear witneſs unto, viz. His …, or that he was the predicted Sa…, tho' he knew it would expoſe him. This we obſerved, he plumply owned, upon the High Prieſts adjuration; and now when … inquires about it, he confeſſeth it… and … this refers that, 1 Tim. 6.13. Chriſt Jeſus, …re P…tins Palate witneſſed a good conſ…. King of the Jews was one of the … put upon the great Redeemer in Pro… Scripture; the Jews expected their …ng; and Chriſt was he; which he denies … aſſerts. They counted it Treaſon, … 12. Whoſoever maketh himſelf a king, … againſt Ceſar. But he matters not … that. He was called to make this con…; and when the Glory of God calls for … …lks it not. And if we would ap… ourſelves his Diſciples, learn we herein … him, by a readineſs to confeſs him … be our only King and Saviour, when … to it, whatſoever it may coſt us for ſo …: this is the meaning of that, 1 Pet. 3.18.
2. THE Trial it ſelf following upon this Ex…. In which we may obſerve a three… object, with their ſeveral deportments, … Jews his Accuſers, Pilate the Judge, … Jeſus the Priſoner at the Bat.
1. CONCERNING the Jews his Accuſers, th…ſe were of two ranks, the Chief Prieſts and …, and the Multitude.
(1.) CHEIF Prieſts & Elders. And that which is in ſum laid to their Charge, is in, …. 12. They accuſed him. i. e. They laid … Crimes to his charge, and offered to made them good againſt him. What they …, the ſeveral Evangeliſts give us light to underſtand; the ſum is in, Luk. 23.2. And they began to accuſe him, ſaying, w…f and this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Ceſ…r, ſaying, that be himſelf is Chriſt a king. He who never did any evil in all his life, is here charged to be the moſt faulty. The Crimes objected are refe…rible to two heads, 1. Sedition: as if he had been a diſturber of the State, going about to withdraw men from their Civil Obedience to Ceſar, and raiſe tumults among them, by adviſing them to refuſe to pay their dues. 2. Treaſon: accuſing him for affecting the Kingdom, and endeavouring to uſurp the power over the People; whence they urge him to be Ceſars enemy, and for that reaſon, neither Juſtice not Safety, could ſuffer him to live. Joh. 19.12. The Jews cried out, ſaying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Ceſars friend. Thus malicious ſpirits can make a vice of innocency, and put a gloſs of wickedneſs upon the moſt harmleſs words and actions. And this was a ſore affliction and provocation, which Chriſt takes notice of, Pſal. 56.5, 6. Every day they wreſt my words: all their thoughts are againſt me for evi…. They gather themſelves together, they hide themſelves, they mark my steps when they wait for my ſoul. Let us not then wonder, if ſometimes the moſt harmleſs and ſincere actions of ours are beſpattered, and men ſeek to calumniate us without reaſon; remember, Chriſt who was perfectly holy & blameleſs met with this; well then may we, who are imperfect in all we do.
(2.) THE Multitude: who acted by their Leaders, and take their meaſures from them, joining with them in the great deſign of taking away his Life. And that eſpecially in three things,
[1.] IN their preferring Barabbas before Him, The hiſtory is plain, both as to the cuſtom of releaſing a chief Malefactor at the Peoples deſire: and as to the character of Bara…bas; who, and what he was, not ſeditious only; but a murderer too; him they choſe on the Elders perſwaſion. Mat. 27.20, 21. But the chief Prieſt & Elders perſwaded the multitude that they ſhould ask Barabbas, and deſtroy Jeſus. The governour anſwered and ſaid unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I releaſe unto you? They ſaid Barabbas. Yea, and ſo perſiſt as to refuſe him, Joh. 18.40. Then cried they all again, ſaying, Not this man, but Bar…bbas. So impetuous is prejudice, to prefer the worſt of men before the moſt innocent. Maligned Piety is more criminal, and perſecuted more violently by ungodly men, than the worſt of Immoralities. Think it not ſtrange then to meet ſuch entertainment in the world.
[2.] IN their demanding of Chriſt to be Crucifyed, and implacably purſuing that demand. Mat. 27.22, 23. Pilate ſaith unto them, What ſhall I do then with Jeſus, which is called Chriſt? They all ſay unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governour ſaid, Why, what evil hath be done? But they cried out the more, ſaying. Let him be crucified. Joh. 196, 7. When the chief Prieſts therefore and officers ſaw him, they cryed out, ſaying, Crucifi… …, them. Take ye him, and cra…fe him: for I …nd … fault in him. The Jews anſwered and ſaid. We have a law, and by our law he ought to the. How induſtriouſly did Pilate endeavour to ſtill their rage; but the more did the fury of it increaſe, till it grew to a tumult. The worlds hatred againſt Chriſt and his Cauſe, is as implacable, as it is unreaſ…nable. There is no pleading with men, w…en their ſpirits are thus up. And ſuch meaſures may Gods Children expect at the worlds hands, when they get an advantage; but it is enough, out precious Redeemer bare it for us! Let us then do ſo for Him.
[3.] IN the …rri…le imprecation which they …red againſt themſelves. Mat. …. Then anſwered … …erpit and ſaid. … on …, and on …r …. Exp. …, not only themſelves, but their p…ſteti…r with them, to the direful vengeance of Heaven, ſo that they might but accompliſh the Hoody deſig; they had on f…ot; which curſe they have now more than ſixteen hundred years ſuffered under: in which, they have been a contempt to the world, and expoſed to all barbarous uſage almoſt wherever they come; and alſo held under a doleful …ſtinacy, in rejecting the only Saviour to their eternal ruine; and it is not removed to this day. Hatred grown into malice, matters not what miſchief it brings upon it ſelf, ſo it may wreak its rove go on thoſe whom it is ſet againſt! Learn the…, how little a wicked World is to be truſted. The… that can rai… themſelves to undo others, are dangerous to be conſided in. And let it be he…e of ſerved, that the People d…d all this at the inſtigation of the Rulers, and Elders. M…. 27.20. Job. 19.6. Men in high places of Power, have a great influence to perſwade the Subjects either to good or evil. Miſerable then muſt be the condition of that People whoſe Leaders are corrupt, and bend themſelves againſt Chriſt and his Intereſt.
2. REFERRING to Pilate the Judge: We have him preſe…ted as uſing of many endeavours, to ſtop the fury, and divert the rage of Chriſt's enemies, and defend his innocence againſt their accuſations, and after attempts uſed that way to no purpoſe, profeſſing his Conſcience to juſtify him, and more peculiarly in theſe two paſſages, viz. His bringing him forth after ſcourging, as I ſpectacle of pity, to have moved their compaſſion towards him, Joh. 19. begin Then Palate therefore took Jeſus and ſcourged him. And the ſouldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe. And ſaid, li…il king of the Jews: and they ſmote him with their hands. P…ate therefore went f…rth aga…n, and ſaith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no ſault in him. Then came Jeſus forth wearing the crown of thorns, & the purple robe: and Palate ſaith unto them, Behold the man. And in that ſolemn and formal proteſtation, before he proceeded … the Sentence, Mat. 27.… … th… be cr…i… pr…l … but that rather a … was made, … and …od his b…nds before the … … ing, I am … of the blood of this juſt … ſee ye to it. Piety and Encerity … gain a better teſtimony from a meet … than from the higheſt Pretenders to … And obſerve. Chriſt muſt not dye … juſtilyed by his Judge; becauſe be … ſuffer the juſt for the … juſt.
3. RESPECTING Jeſus the Priſ… … makes no reply for, or defence of … againſt all the ciamorous accaſat… … againſt him, nor ſeeks to juſtify … whereas nothing was more eaſy for him have done than this; and had be … a perſ…al account, he ought to have … ſo then, in this he acted as our Med… … i… not to be imitated by us. He … Surety for Sinners, and was to have … ſins thrown upon him; this … dumb. This very ſilence wonderfully … his Love to his Redeemed: and he … that we might plead; had he pleaded, … had been no plea left for us; but … may fill our mouths with argumen… … aloud for mercy.
3. WE may finally obſerve the … t…e …, in the End of his Tri…. … obſerve,
1. THE gr…and of it. Mat. 2….24. Prime ſem that be could prev…l … rather a … was mad…. He is … born by importunity. A natural … ſoon tired in reſiſting pre… … Beware then of truſting to our ſelve… own purpoſes.
2. THE Condemnation it ſelf. Mat. … Then rele…d be Barabbas unto them … be had ſ…arged Jeſus, be deſ…ered … cr…c…ſ…d. Where obſerve,
(1) HIS Condemnation is in … Barabbass …largement. And wh… … ind guty could be offered to Chriſt, … ſuch an one as Barabbas muſt … … tition with, and be preferred before …
(2.) THAT before be was condema… … cruelly ſcourged. Pilate did this … &c. However as it was unjuſt ſo … o…, whom he judged innocent, ſo … great piece of Death, both painful. … preachful; it was a publick … on him, in the Judgment-Hall, and … Reman Laws only to be inflicted … Varle's. And the pain of it was … or dear to any that know what the … ſcourging means, in which every … szin and fleſh from the bones.
(3.) THAT after all this be was … be Cru…ſyed. i. e. Pilate paſſed a … tence upon him, in which he decl… …uſed, and ſound guilty, and … for this to die upon the Croſs: and … vered over into the hands of his Ex… to handle him with all ludibrious and uſages. Thus we have followed … from are C…a… to …, till me fi…d him …ed to dye in …, yea ſentenced to that which was the muſt vile a…d accurſed D…th of all, and h…e…tly ſ…bmitting him … all this. And what …oth it ſpeak to us
1. LET … their … Deam …. If the…e things were d…e in the … tree. &c. If God thus condem…ed ſin i… his own S…, where ſhall …oſe that are ſ…d Sinners at l…ſt appear… It loudly calls Somers to Repe…ce.
2. LET a … gather ….
3. LET … theſe … the … upon them, c…erfully to ſerve Chriſt, … ſuf…er for … when c…el, tr…at, … ſupport themſelves from ſ…ming, by …at … us …. Heb. 12.3.
4. LET the … of G…dfather … of Conſ… from be…. Chriſt's C…demanſon is a gr…med of … Comfort. And let all ſuch …s are …titled to Chriſt's Redemption by which in him. Pro…gly argue to … ſelves, that poor C…ndem…nion is paſs ever, and … h…ceforth be o…culation brought … …eat agai…ſt y…u; beca…le the Son of God in our …tu…e… hath … it for us; our … was co…dere…ed … …in, that ſo we m…gatble … for ever righte…s in him.
[FEBRUARY 16. 1696.]