A Golden Chain

Christs Execution is that part of his passion, which he bare upon the cross, expressed in the words of the Creed, he was crucified, and died. In handling of it we must observe five things: I. the person that suffered: II. the place where ⟨p. 328⟩he suffered. III. the time when he suffered. IV. the manner how he suffered. V. the excellency of his passion. For the first, the person that suffered was Christ the just, as Peter saith,¹ Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just, for the unjust: and again,² Christ Jesus the just (saith S. John) is the reconciliation for our sins. And in his execution, we shall have manifest declarations of his righteousness and justice, consisting in two most worthy points. First, when he was upon the cross, and the soldiers were nailing his hands and feet thereunto, and racking his body most cruelly, he prayed, Father, forgive them, they know not what they do. ³These soldiers were by all likelihood the very same that apprehended him, and brought him before Caiaphas, and from thence to Pontius Pilate, and there platted a crown of thorns and set it on his head, & buffeted him, and spitefully entreated him as we have heard: and yet Christ speaks no word of revenge unto them, but with all patience in the very extremity of their malice and injury, he prayeth unto his father to forgive them. Hence we are taught that when injuries are done unto us, we ought to abstain from all affection of revenge, and not so much as manifest the same either in word or deed. It is indeed a hard lesson to learn and practise: but it is our parts to endeavour to do it: and not only so, but to be ready for evil to do good: yea, even at that instant when other men are doing us wrong: even then (I say) we must be ready, if it be possible to do them good. When as Christs enemies were practising against him all the treachery they could, even then he performeth the work of a Mediator, and prayeth for them unto his father, and seeketh their salvation. Again, whereas Christ prayeth thus, Father, forgive them, we gather, that the most principal thing of all that man ought to seek after in this life, is the forgiveness of sins. Some think that happiness consisteth in honour, some in wealth, some in pleasure, some in this, some in that: