The Fountain of Life Opened

Before I pass on to the manner of Christs death, I shall consider the Title affixed to the Cross: in which very much of the wisdom of providence was discovered. It was the manner of the Romans, that the equity of their proceedings might the more clearly appear to the people, when they crucified any man, to publish the cause of his death in a Table written in Capital Letters, and placed over the head of the crucified. And that there might be at least a show and face of Justice in Christs death, he also shall have his title or superscription.

BEfore I pass on to the manner of Christs death, I shall consider the Title affixed to the Cross: in which very much of the wisdom of providence was discovered. It was the manner of the Romans, that the equity of their proceedings might the more clearly appear to the people, when they crucified any man, to publish the cause of his death in a Table written in Capital Letters, and placed over the head of the crucified. And that there might be at least a shew and face of Justice in Christs death, he also shall have his title or superscription.

The worst and most unrighteous actions labour to cover and shroud themselves under pretensions of equity. Sin is so shameful a ⟨p. 357⟩thing, that, it cares not to own its name. Christ shall have a Table written for him also.¹ This writing one Evangelist calls the Accusation, Matth. 27.37. Another calls it the Title, Joh. 19.19. Another the Inscription, or Superscription, so the Text. And another the Superscription of his Accusation, Mark 15.26. In short, it was a fair legible writing intended to express the fact or crime, for which the person died.