A Golden Chain

The fifth sign is the earthquake, whereby hard rocks were cloven a sunder. And it serves very fitly to signify further unto us, that the sin of the Jews in putting Christ to death was so heavy a burden, that the earth could not bear it,¹ but trembled thereat, though the Jews themselves made no bones of it. And it is a thing to be wondered at: that the earth doeth not often in these days, tremble and quake at the monstrous blasphemies and fearful oaths by the wounds and blood and heart of Christ, whereby his members are rent asunder, and he traitorously crucified again. Secondly, the earthquake shows unto us the exceeding and wonderful hardness of the hearts of the Jews, and ours also: they crucified Christ and were not touched with any remorse; and we can talk and hear of his death, yea we can say he was crucified for our sins: and yet are we nothing affected therewith, our hearts will not rend when as hard rocks cleave asunder. Thirdly, the moving of the earth, and the rending of the rocks asunder, may be a sign unto us of the virtue of the doctrine of the gospel of Christ: which is nothing else but the publishing of the passion of his death: which being preached, shall shake heaven and earth, sea and land. It shall move the earthen, hard, and rocky hearts of men;² and raise up of mere stones and rocks children unto Abraham. But the main use and end of this point is, to prove that he that was crucified, was the true Messiah the son of God: and therefore had the power of heaven and earth, and could move all things at his pleasure.

The fifth signe is the earthquake, whereby hard rockes were clouen a sunder. And it serues very fitly to signifie further vnto vs, that the sinne of the Iewes in putting Christ to death was so heauie a burden, that the earth could not beare it,¹ but trēbled thereat, though the Iewes themselues made no bones of it. And it is a thing to be wondred at: that the earth doeth not often in these daies, tremble and quake at the monstrous blasphemies and feareful othes by the wounds and blood and heart of Christ, whereby his members are rent asunder, and he traiterously crucified againe. Secondly, the earthquake shewes vnto vs the exceeding and wonderfull hardnes of the hearts of the Iewes, and ours also: they crucified Christ and were not touched with any remorse; and wee can talke and heare of his death, yea we can say hee was crucified for our sinnes: and yet are we nothing affected therewith, our hearts will not rende when as hard rockes cleaue asunder. Thirdly, the moouing of the eath, and the rending of the rockes asunder, may be a signe vnto vs of the vertue of the doctrine of the gospel of Christ: which is nothing els but the publishing of the passion of his death: which being preached, shall shake heauen and earth, sea and land. It shall mooue the earthen, hard, and rockie hearts of men;