The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

2. The pain of that Death was extreme. The Hands and Feet, those parts wherein the complexion of the Nerves meet, and are of exquisite Sense, were nailed. Crucified persons suffered a slow Death, but quick Torments: They felt themselves die. Therefore in pity the Soldiers broke their Legs, to put a period to their Misery. And to complete their Punishment, they were judged unworthy of Burial, the last consolation of the dead; they were deprived of Repose in the bosom of the Earth our common Mother, and exposed as a prey to Birds and Beasts.

2. The pain of that Death was extreme. The Hands and Feet, those parts wherein the complexion of the Nerves meet, and are of exquisite Sence, were nailed. Crucified persons suffered a slow Death, but quick Torments: They felt themselves die. Therefore in pity the Soldiers broke their Legs, to put a period to their Misery. And to compleat their Punishment, they were judg'd unworthy of Burial, the last consolation of the dead; they were deprived of Repose in the bosom of the Earth our common Mother, and exposed as a prey to Birds and Beasts.

Now the Son of God endured no gentler or nobler Death than that of the Cross. His pure and gracious Hands, which were never stretched out but to ⟨p. 179⟩do good, were pierced;¹ and those Feet which bore the Redeemer of the World, and for which the Waters had a reverence, were nailed. His Body, the precious workmanship of the Holy Ghost, the Temple of the Deity, was destroyed. He that is the Glory of Heaven was made the scorn of the Earth: The King of Kings was crucified between two Thieves, in Jerusalem, at their Sacred Feast, in the face of the World. His naked Body was exposed on the Cross for three Hours, only covered with a Veil of Darkness. This was such a stupendous submission of the Son of God, that his Death astonished the Universe in another manner, than his Birth and Life, his Resurrection and Ascension. Universal Nature relented at his last Sufferings. The Sun was struck with horror and withdrew its light; it did not appear crowned with beams, when the Creator was with thorns. The Earth trembled, and the Rocks rent, the most insensible creatures sympathised with Him, and 'tis in this we have the most visible instance of Divine Love to us.