The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…

But his great work was, by the great demonstrations of the Goodness and Love of God to lost mankind, (in their free pardon and offered salvation) to win up mens hearts to the love of God, and to raise their hopes and desires up to that blessed life, where they shall see his glory, and love him, and be beloved by him for ever. At last, when he had finished the work of his ministration in the flesh, he told his Disciples of his approaching Suffering and Resurrection, and instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood, in Bread and Wine, which he commandeth them to use for the renewing of their covenant with him, and remembrance of him,¹ and for the maintaining and signifying their communion with him and with each other. After this, (his time being come) ⟨p. 216⟩the Jews apprehended him, and though upon a word of his mouth (to show his power) they fell all to the ground; yet did they rise again and lay hands on him, and brought him before Pilate the Roman Governor; and vehemently urged him to crucify him, contrary to his own mind and conscience: They accused him of blasphemy, for saying he was the Son of God; and of impiety, for saying, Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will re-build it, (he meant his Body): and of treason against Caesar, for calling himself a King, (though he told them that his Kingdom was not worldly, but spiritual.) Hereupon they condemned him, and clothed him in purple like a King in scorn, and set a Crown of thorns on his head, and put a Reed for a Sceptre into his hand, and led him about to be a derision: They covered his eyes, and smote him, and buffeted him, and bid him tell who strake him: At last they nailed him upon a Cross, and put him to open shame and death, betwixt two Malefactors, (of whom, one of them reviled him, and the other believed on him): they gave him gall and vinegar to drink: The Soldiers pierced his side with a Spear, when he was dead. All his Disciples forsook him and fled; Peter having before denied thrice that ever he knew him, when he was in danger. When he was dead, the earth trembled, the rocks and the veil of the Temple rent, and darkness was upon the earth, though their was no natural Eclipse; which made the Captain of the Soldiers say, Verily this was the Son of God.

But his great work was, by the great demonstrations of the Goodness and Love of God to lost mankind, (in their free pardon and offered salvation) to win up mens hearts to the love of God, and to raise their hopes and desires up to that blessed life, where they shall see his glory, and love him, and be beloved by him for ever. At last, when he had finished the work of his ministration in the flesh, he told his Disciples of his approaching Suffering and Resurrection, and instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Bloud, in Bread and Wine, which he commandeth them to use for the renewing of their covenant with him, and remembrance of him,