The harmony of the Gospels in the holy history of the humiliation and sufferings…

6. Jesus Christ suffered for us Temptations many and great, as a fruit of the curse, having wrathful punishment of sin in them.

The sting of all these sufferings of Jesus Christ (and such like; for he suffered all the sinless punishments of sin) was the imputation of the guilt of our sin, and the real curse and wrath of God due to our sin, but the evil of sin he touched not. The most of these sufferings did fall upon him through the whole course of his life, before he was persecuted for his faithful Ministry and Doctrine. But reproaches and cruel mockings are most particularly mentioned in his last sufferings, where we shall have occasion to make particular mention of them, all these kinds of sufferings, when they befall us are calls to repentance, helps and means of mortification; Jesus Christ hath taken out the sting, and turned them into wholesome medicines.

The sting of all these su•ferings of Iesus Christ (and such like; for he suffered all the sinless punishments of sin) was the imputation of the guilt of our sin, and the real curse and wrath of God due to our sin, but the evil of sin he touched not. The most of these su••erings did fall upon him through the whole course of his life, before he was persecuted for his faithful Ministry and Doctrine. But reproaches and cruel mockings are most particularly mentioned in his last sufferings, where we shall have occasion to make particular mention of them, all these kinds of sufferings, when they befall us are calls to repentance, helps and means of mortification; Jesus Christ hath taken out the sting, and turned them into wholsome medicines.

But they fell upon Jesus Christ as punishments of sin, fruits of the curse, executed upon our Surety to the uttermost of the merit and desert of sin, until vindictive justice was satisfied, and said, I am well pleased, it is enough. Though in the time of Jesus Christ his private life, many people favoured him, and it is like none but the vilest mocked and despised him, yet when he publicly preached and reproved their sins, and fell under the hatred and persecution of the chief Priests, Scribes and Pharisees, then the generality of the people raged against him, and few did adhere to him, and very few believed in him; and all this he suffered as the punishment and desert of our sin.