A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

If a Prince passing by an execution should take the Malefactors chains, and suffer in his stead, this would be a wonderful instance indeed: Why? Christ hath born our sorrows and carried our griefs, Isai. 53. 4. the very same griefs that we should have suffered, so far as his holy Person was capable of them: his desertion was equivalent to our loss, his agonies to our curse and punishment of sense; and all this very willingly for the sake of sinners. 'Tis notable, he doth with like indignation rebuke Peter dissuading him from sufferings, as he doth the Devil tempting him to Idolatry, Get thee behind me Satan, compare Mat. 16. 22. with Mat. 4. 10. He is well pleased with all his sorrows and sufferings, so he may gain the Church, and espouse her to himself in a firm League and Covenant: Isai. 53. 11. He shall see the travel of his Soul, and be satisfied; as if he said, Welcome agonies, welcome death, welcome curse, so poor Souls be saved! As Jacob counted the days of his labour nothing, so he might obtain Rachel; and yet there is a vast difference between the love of Christ and the love of Jacob: Rachel was lovely, but we are vile and unworthy creatures; and Christs love is infinite, even beyond his sufferings, and the outward expressions of it; as the windows of the Temple were more large and open within then without. Well then, every one of Christs wounds is a mouth open to plead for love; He made himself so vile, that he might be more dear and precious to us: Certainly if Love brought Christ out of Heaven to the Cross, to the grave, should it not carry us to Heaven? to God? to Christ, who hath been thus gracious to us? Thus God hath deserved our love.

If a Prince passing by an execution should take the Malefactors chains, and suffer in his stead, this would be a wonderful instance indeed: Why? Christ hath born our sorrows and carryed our griefs, Isai. 53. 4. the very same griefs that we should have suffered, so far as his holy Person was capable of them: his desertion was equivalent to our loss, his agonies to our curse and punishment of sense; and all this very willingly for the sake of sinners. 'Tis notable, he doth with like indignation rebuke Peter disswading him from sufferings, as he doth the Devil tempting him to Idolatry, Get thee behind me Satan, compare