Let but five particulars be weighed, and you will say never was there any darkness like this. No sorrow like Christs sorrow in his deserted state. For,
First, Apprehend, Reader, this was a new thing to Christ, and that which he was never acquainted with before. From all Eternity until now, there had been constant and wonderful out-lets of love, delight, and joy, from the bosom of the Father, into his bosom. He never missed his Father before. Never saw a frown, or a veil upon that blessed face before. This made it an heavy burden indeed, the words are words of wonderment and admiration; my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me! Thou that never •idst so before, hast forsaken me now.
Secondly, As it was a new thing to Christ, and therefore the more amazing; so it was a great thing to Christ, so great that he scarce knew how to support it. Had it not been a great trial indeed, so great a spirit as Christs was would never have so drooped under it, and made so sad a complaint of it. It was so sharp, so heavy an affliction to his soul; that it caused him who was meek under all other sufferings as a Lamb,1 to roar under this like a Lion. For so much those words of Christ signify,2 Psal. 22.1. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me, why art thou so far from the voice of my roaring? It comes from a root that signifies to howl or roar as a Lion. And rather signifies the noise made by a wild Beast, than the voice of a man.
And it is as much as if Christ had said, O my God no words can express my anguish. I will not speak, but roar, howl out my complaints. Pour it out in volleys of Groans. I roar as a Lion. It's no small matter will make that majestic creature to roar. And sure so great a Spirit as Christs, would not have roared under a slight burden.
Thirdly, As it was a great burden to Christ, so it was a burden laid on in the time of his greatest distress. When his body was in tortures, and all about him was black, dismal, and full of horror, and darkness. He fell into this desertion at a time when he ⟨p. 455⟩never had the like need of divine supports and comforts, and that aggravated it.
Fourthly, It was a burden that lay upon him long, even from the time his soul began to be sorrowful and sore amazed in the Garden, till his very death. If you were but to hold your finger in the fire for two minutes, you would not be able to bear it.
Let but five particulars be weighed, and you will say never was there any darkness like this. No sorrow like Christs sorrow in his deserted state. For,
First, Apprehend, Reader, this was a new thing to Christ, and that which he was never acquainted with before. From all Eternity until now, there had been constant and wonderful out-lets of love, delight, and joy, from the bosom of the Father, into his bosom. He never missed his Father before. Never saw a frown, or a vail upon that blessed face before. This made it an heavy burden indeed, the words are words of wonderment and admiration; my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me! Thou that never •idst so before, hast forsaken me now.
Secondly, As it was a new thing to Christ, and therefore the more amazing; so it was a great thing to Christ, so great that he scarce knew how to support it. Had it not been a great tryal indeed, so great a spirit as Christs was would never have so droop'd under it, and made so sad a complaint of it. It was so sharp, so heavy an affliction to his soul; that it caused him who was meek under all other sufferings as a Lamb,1 to roar under this like a Lion. For so much those words of Christ signifie,2 Psal. 22.1. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me, why art thou so far from the voice of my roaring? It comes from a root that signifies to howl or roar as a Lion. And rather signifies the noise made by a wild Beast, than the voice of a man.
And it is as much as if Christ had said, O my God no words can express my anguish. I will not speak, but roar, howl out my complaints. Pour it out in vollies of Groans. I roar as a Lion. It's no small matter will make that majestick creature to roar. And sure so great a Spirit as Christs, would not have roared under a slight burden.
Thirdly, As it was a great burden to Christ, so it was a burden laid on in the time of his greatest distress. When his body was in tortures, and all about him was black, dismal, and full of horror, and darkness. He fell into this desertion at a time when he ⟨p. 455⟩never had the like need of divine supports and comforts, and that aggravated it.
Fourthly, It was a burden that lay upon him long, even from the time his soul began to be sorrowful and sore amazed in the Garden, till his very death. If you were but to hold your finger in the fire for two minutes, you would not be able to bear it.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew]〈non-Latin alphabet〉
- 2Id quod ru•itum vocat, •on•bumanam, sed ••oni•am vocem significat. Bacer. in L•c
