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

But the principal History in this Section, is to show the wicked behaviour of the Jews, all this dark time of Jesus Christ, his hanging on the Cross. The miracudarkness should have terrified and calmed them, but it was not so. All sorts of them did mock, flout, insult, blaspheme, Matthew, Mark and Luke do record it, and show what every sort said, and did.

But the principal History in this Section, is to shew the wicked behaviour of the Jews, all this dark time of Jesus Christ, his hanging on the Cross. The miracudarkness should have terrified and calmed them, but it was not so. All sorts of them did mock, flout, insult, blaspheme, Mathew, Mark and Luke do record it, and shew what every sort said, and did.

1. The common people that passed by, and walked about, and stood beholders, Math. 27.39, 40. and they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, thou that destroyest the Temple, and buildest it again in three days, save thy self, if thou be the Son of God, come down from the Cross. The manner of their upbraiding, showeth us much unbelief and contempt, as in a few words and gestures can be expressed. The matter of their upbraiding was an ignorant reflection upon a false supposition. If they had understood that the body of Jesus was typified by the Temples, and that though they now destroy that body of his, yet on the third day it shall rise again, had they I say, understood this, or had patience to suppress this flout till the third day, they would have seen the empty folly of it, or might have seen it. The other flout, if thou be the Son of God, come down from the Cross. They tempt the Lord as the Devil did, Math. 4.3. they would have him prove himself to be the Son of God, by such an act as they would prescribe. He had sufficiently, yea, abundantly pro•ed himself to be the Son of God, by such proofs as the wisdom of God saw fit, but all that would not serve their turn, they believed not, therefore they would prescribe a sign, and that was to come down off the Cross,