The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as…

4. He died most religiously, and his piety in his death is commended for his obedience to his Father, and for his care for his Mother, and for his love to his enemies, and for his devotion in respect of himself. His obedience to God his Father in his death is commended, Phil. 2. 9. because he did not only obey all the Moral Law, that all men were bound to, but obeyed the singular commandment given by his Father, even that of dying for the people, which as Man he was not bound to, but as a Mediator. Which should teach us abnegation of our selves: whatsoever it is God commands us, we should be willing to do, how hard soever Gods work seems to be. This care for his Mother is recorded by Saint John, Chap. 19. 25, 26. when he saw his Mother standing by, with the beloved ⟨p. 422⟩Disciple, he said, Woman behold thy Son, and unto him, Behold thy Mother. Thus is Christ a most perfect Pattern of righteousness in both Tables: for as he had before showed his godliness in the first Table, so doth he here show his natural affection and tender care of his Mother in the second Table. Now was the time come when Simeons prophecy was accomplished upon his poor Mother, now did the sword of bitter sorrows pierce through her righteous soul, while she beholds that doleful spectacle of her matchless Child suffering death upon the Tree, Luke 2. 35. And therefore now to comfort her, doth he commit her to John his beloved Disciple, with charge that he should look to her after his death: taking this care for his Mother of whom he was made man, and commending her to his Disciple with such humane affection, he shows himself to be that high Teacher sent of God. The Tree to which the members of Christ dying were fastened, was a chair of a spiritual master teaching, for hereby he teacheth children how they should honour their parents, and continue a reverent love to them, even to their last gasp: and hereby he teacheth hearers how to perform gratefulness to their Teachers, not only by relieving their Teachers while they live, but by helping their parents or children when they are dead. He calls her Woman, not out of contempt, but to tell her and all men, that he that then was a dying, was more than the Son of Mary. Yea, and thereby the comforts her, for he intimated, that being more than Man, he was able to overcome death, and could not be van quished by his enemies.