I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Prop. 4 As our Lord and Saviour Christ did suffer, and conflict with the Wrath of God, so he did endure the torments of Hell, whilst he was in this Life:¹ I do not say with the Papists, that he descended into Hell, after his death; nor that whilst he lived here, he was damned for us, that were Blasphemy; for a man is said to be damned, that doth for ever bear the weight of his own sins: nor do I say, that Christ did bear all that misery of Hell, which we should have born, and which the Reprobates do, and shall bear in Hell, for they lie blaspheming, and despairing: But though Christ was in a great Agony, yet he did not despair; for said he, My God, my God; and though God did forsake him, yet that was not in regard of Union, as it is with the damned in Hell, but only in regard of Vision; yet he did endure, and suffer for us, the very torments, and misery of Hell: for there are two things concurrent to the misery of Hell; the punishment of loss, and the punishment of Sense: now both these did our Saviour bear whilst he was in this Travel. The punishment of Loss: for he did lose,² and was for a time suspended from that sweet and comfortable Vision and Fruition of God, therefore he cried out, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? which cannot be understood of his outward Afflictions, as being left to the violence of men, for says Paul, 2 Cor. 4.9. We are persecuted, but not forsaken: they were left to the violence of men, and persecutors, yet they were not forsaken; and therefore when Christ saith, Why hast thou forsaken me?³ he doth not mean, so as to be left to the Persecution of men; for thus says the Apostle, We may be, and yet not forsaken. And as he did bear the punishment of Loss, so of Sense also, for he sweat drops of blood; not Blood only, but drops of Blood, nor a few drops only, but many, insomuch as they fell to the ground in so great a quantity as ran through his Clothes (as some conceive) to the ground. Now can we imagine that he should be in this Agony, sweating these drops of Blood, heavy in his Soul unto death, and to sore amazement, crying out, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me, only from the fear of death? what was our Saviour more afraid of death, than the Martyrs? They went triumphing,