Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

1. Some think those scars or prints were as the trophies of his victory; nothing is more delightful to a lover, than to bear about the wounds undergone for his beloved; and nothing is more honourable for a Soldier than to show his wounds undergone for his countries good; what are they but as so many arguments of his valour, and trophies of his victory; this was Bede's sense, Christ reserved his scars, ¹not from any impotency of curing them, but to set out the glory and triumph of his victory over death and hell.

1. Some think those skars or prints were as the trophies of his victory; nothing is more delightfull to a lover, than to bear about the wounds undergone for his beloved; and nothing is more honourable for a Souldier than to shew his wounds undergone for his countries good; what are they but as so many arguments of his valour, and trophies of his victory; this was Bedes sense, Christ reserved his skars, ¹not from any impotency of curing them, but to set out the glory and triumph of his victory over death and hell.

1. 1Bede. in Luc.Beda. in Luc.

2. Others think those scars or prints were for the setting out of Christs splendour and beauty, as in cut or pink garments the inward silks do appear more splendid, so in Christ's wounds there appears inwardly far more beauty. Aquinas affirms, that in the very place of the wounds, there is a certain special comeliness in Christ. And Augustine thinks,¹ that the very martyrs may retain some scars of their wounds in glory, because there is no deformity, but dignity in them; and besides, a certain beauty may shine in their bodies answerable to their virtues wherein they excelled.