A Golden Chain

lastly, think and believe that the bonds of Christ serve to purchase thy liberty from hell, death, and damnation. When thou hearest that he was brought before Annas and Caiaphas, think it was meet, that thy surety and pledge who was to suffer the condemnation due unto thee, should by the high Priest as by the mouth of God, be condemned: and wonder at this, that the very coessential and eternal Son of God, even the very sovereign Judge of the world, stands to be judged, and that by wicked men; persuading thy self that this so great confusion comes of thy sins. Whereupon being further amazed at thy fearful estate, humble thy self in dust and ashes, and pray God so to soften thy stony heart, that thou mayest turn to him, and by true faith lay hold on Christ, who hath thus exceedingly abased himself, that his ignominy may be thy glory, and his arraignment thy perfect absolution. When thou readest that Barabbas the murderer, was preferred before Christ, though he exceeded both men and Angels in holiness; think it was to manifest his innocency, and that thy very sins pulled upon him this shameful reproach; and in that for thy cause he was esteemed worse then Barabbas, think of thy self as a most heinous and wretched sinner, and (as Paul saith) the head of all sinners. When thou readest that he was openly and judicially condemned to the cursed death of the cross, consider what is the wrath and fury of God against sin, and what is his great and infinite mercy to sinners: and in this spectacle look upon thy self, and with groans of heart cry out, and say, O good God, what settest thou hear before mine eyes? I, even I have sinned, I am guilty and worthy of damnation. Whence comes this change, that thy blessed son is in my room, but of thy unspeakable mercy? Wretch ⟨p. 829⟩that I am, how have I forgotten my self, and thee also my God? O son of God, how long hast thou abased thy self for me? Therefore give me grace O God, that beholding mine own estate in the person of my Saviour thus condemned, I may detest and loath my sins that are the cause thereof, and by a lively faith embrace that absolution which thou offerest me in him, who was condemned in my stead and room.

lastly, thinke and beleeue that the bondes of Christ serue to purchase thy libertie from hell, death, and damnation. When thou hearest that he was brought before Annas and Caiaphas, thinke it was meete, that thy suretie and pledge who was to suffer the condemnation due vnto thee, should by the high Priest as by the mouth of God, be condemned: and woonder at this, that the very coessentiall and eternall Sonne of God, euen the very soueraigne Iudge of the world, stands to be iudged, and that by wicked men; perswading thy selfe that this so great confusion comes of thy sinnes. Whereupon beeing further amazed at thy fearefull estate, humble thy selfe in dust and ashes, and pray God so to soften thy stonie heart, that thou maiest turne to him, and by true faith lay hold on Christ, who hath thus exceedingly abased himselfe, that his ignominie may be thy glorie, and his arraignment thy perfect absolution. When thou readest that Barrabas the murderer, was preferred before Christ, though he exceeded both men and Angels in holinesse; thinke it was to manifest his innocencie, and that thy very sinnes pulled vpon him this shamefull reproch; and in that for thy cause he was esteemed worse then Barrabas, thinke of thy selfe as a most heynous and wretched sinner, and (as Paul saith) the head of all sinners. When thou readest that he was openly and iudicially condemned to the cursed death of the crosse, consider what is the wrath and furie of God against sinne, and what is his great and infinite mercie to sinners: and in this spectacle looke vpon thy selfe, and with grones of heart crie out, and say, O good God, what settest thou heare before mine eyes? I, euen I haue sinned, I am guiltie and worthie of damnation. Whence comes this chaunge, that thy blessed sonne is in my roome, but of thy vnspeakable mercie? Wretch