Monthly preparations for the Holy Communion by R.B

But, Oh my Lord, what are those pains and gripes thou feelest, that brings forth these complainings? But why do I ask this question? hath he not been all this while a drinking up the cup his Father gave him, the bitter, and sour, and poisonous cup of his Fathers wrath, which I and all the world had else drunk of? he just now swallowed down the last mouthful of the dregs, whose bitter noisome taste hath sent forth these doleful lamentations; for mark, he had no sooner spoke these words, but he gasped his last.

But, Oh my Lord, what are those pains and gripes thou feelest, that brings forth these complainings? But why do I ask this question? hath he not been all this while a drinking up the cup his Father gave him, the bitter, and sowr, and poysonous cup of his Fathers wrath, which I and all the world had else drunk of? he just now swallowed down the last mouthful of the dregs, whose bitter noisom taste hath sent forth these doleful lamentations; for mark, he had no sooner spoke these words, but he gasped his last.

The causes of his Death.

And must the Son of God be humbled thus? must he that was from everlasting, raised and advanced above every man in heaven and earth; he that lay in the arms and breast of God, loved by the Father, and his only Son; honoured, adored, admired and beloved of ten thousand times ten thousands of Angels; But must this God leave all this glory, and change that sweet Heavenly and delightsome Palace for so mean, so low, so dirty a cottage, as to be born a man. And must his entertainment ⟨p. 79⟩at first be no better than a stable or a manger could give him? No sooner must he begin to live, but must an enemy assault his life? Must he travel up and down the earth, and spend his time and strength in preaching glad tidings to miserable undone men, and fill the world with signs and wonders, and not deserve so much of men as a house to dwell in, or a hole to put his head in? and after all this humble, holy, long-suffering life, must he be thought of by this unthankful and unbelieving world as one not worthy to live, and not have a breathing in that air which he both made and gave them to breath in? but must he at length be laid hold of by a traitorous Judas that he had once taken for one of his Apostles; & must he suffer all this? But ah! alas! what is this? must he be also crowned with thorns, and must he sweat and bleed? Oh far more than tongue can utter! Oh astonishing condescension! thus did the Son become a servant, and learned obedience by his sufferings, and served three and thirty years apprenticeship in the pain and travel of his soul here on earth, a longer time than Jacob served for his