N00187:461
The harmony of the Gospels, in the holy history of the humiliation and sufferings of Jesus Christ, from his incarnation to his death and burial. / Published by John Eliot, teacher of the church in Roxbury. ; [Two lines from Acts]
printed by John Foster, 1678
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Very early all the Council (viz. all that consented and conspired in this murder) met, Luk. 22.66. as soon as it was day the Elders of the people, and the chief Priests, and the Scribes came together, and led him into their Council, surely they had taken but little rest, they verified that saying of Solomon, Prov. 4.16. they sleep not except they have done mischief, and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. They interrogate him again about the same point, for which they had condemned him, not out of remorse or regret of heart, but of crafty design, Luk. 22.67. art thou the Christ tell us?
Very early all the Council (viz. all that consented and conspired in this murther) met, Luk. 22.66. as soon as it was day the Elders of the people, and the chief Priests, and the Scribes came together, and led him into their Council, surely they had taken but little rest, they verified that saying of Solomon, Prov. 4.16. they sleep not except they have done mischief, and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. They interrogate him again about the same point, for which they had condemned him, not out of remorse or regret of heart, but of crafty designe, Luk. 22.67. art thou the Christ tell us?
The first part of Jesus his answer is, Luk. 22.67, 68. if I tell you, you will not believe, and if I also ask you, you will not answer me, nor let me go. Wherein Jesus Christ doth manifest to them, that he knew their agreement in their secret counsel. Whereby he proveth to their Consciences that he is the Son of God. Again, he declareth to them, that the end and scope of their question was not to be informed in the point, that they might believe, for they were resolved not to believe. Again he telleth them, if I ask you any thing, you are agreed that you will not answer me again; whatsoever I say, you will not let me go: you are ⟨p. 84⟩resolved to kill me. Thus plainly doth he lay open their design, and resolution in their private Council, and detecteth them in their open Council, so open as it was.
The first part of Jesus his answer is, Luk. 22.67, 68. if I tell you, you will not believe, and if I also ask you, you will not answer me, nor let me go. Wherein Jesus Christ doth manifest to them, that he knew their agreement in their secret counsel. Whereby he proveth to their Consciences that he is the Son of God. Again, he declareth to them, that the end and scope of their question was not to be informed in the point, that they might believe, for they were resolved not to believe. Again he telleth them, if I ask you any thing, you are agreed that you will not answer me again; whatsoever I say, you will not let me goe: you are ⟨p. 84⟩resolved to kill me. Thus plainly doth he lay open their design, and resolution in their private Councell, and detecteth them in their open Councel, so open as it was.
The 2d. part of the Answer of Jesus Christ is ver. 69. Hereafter shall the Son of Man sit at the right hand of the power of God. The sense and meaning of which words they understood, viz. that though they now see him in this low estate of his Humiliation; yet the next appearance that they shall see him in, is, at the right hand of the power of God. Then they fully opened their trap, and say, Art thou then the Son of God? v. 70. And this is to be observed, that they were so eager upon their design that they spake all at once, Then they all said.
Then Jesus clearly answered, You say that I am, and I confess it is as you say, that is the meaning of that form of speech, & they were ready & willing so to take it. Now they are satisfied, they have gotten that which they fished for, ver. 71. And they said, what need we any further witnesses, for we our selves have heard of his own mouth.
Then Jesus cleerly answered, You say that I am, and I confess it is as you say, that is the meaning of that form of speech, & they were ready & willing so to take it. Now they are satisfied, they have gotten that which they fished for, ver. 71. And they said, what need we any further witnesses, for we our selves have heard of his own mouth.
Now with all possible hast and speed, they delivered him up to the Roman power, as a condemned prisoner to be put to death by them, after their manner, by crucifying, or hanging on a tree. Luke 23.1. And the whole multitude of them arose and led him unto Pilate: all the Court and all the Creatures about them combined in this matter, to deliver him up to the Gentiles, as Jesus Christ had foretold that they will Math. 20.19. and Mar. 10.33.
Now with all possible hast and speed, they delivered him up to the Romane power, as a condemned prisoner to be put to death by them, after their manner, by crucifying, or hanging on a tree. Luke 23.1. And the whole multitude of them arose and led him unto Pilate: all the Court and all the Creatures about them combined in this matter, to deliver him up to the Gentiles, as Jesus Christ had foretold that they will Math. 20.19. and Mar. 10.33.
The company that acted these things, both Rulers and people, are Apostates, whose day of Grace was past, as appeareth Math. 23.37, 38, 39. Luk. 13.34.35. O that thou hadst hearkened, at least in this thy day, but now it is hid from thine eyes. Such Persons are the Devils fittest instruments to persecute Jesus Christ and his saints. These Sufferings of Jesus Christ before the Council of the Jews were aggravated by this, because they were his own people to whom he came and offered them mercy, and life eternal, and called them to Repentance.
The company that acted these things, both Rulers and people, are Apostates, whose day of Grace was past, as appeareth Math. 23.37, 38, 39. Luk. 13.34.35. O that thou hadst hearkned, at least in this thy day, but now it is hid from thine eyes. Such Persons are the Devills fittest instruments to persecute Jesus Christ and his saints. These Sufferings of Jesus Christ before the Council of the Jews were aggravated by this, because they were his own people to whom he came and offered them mercy, and life eternal, and called them to Repentance.
But behold how wickedly they dealt with him: they condemned him, but could find no other cause but his confessing that he is the Messiah: and not only condemned him, but committed him into the merciless hands of their Servants and creatures that did so vilely abuse him all the night, and craftily dealt with him in the morning, and out of envy delivered him to the Roman power to be put to death. And all this did the holy innocent Son of God suffer for the sake of Gods elect, that they might become vessels of mercy: & to show us how vile sin is in Gods sight, who spared not his own Son when he stood under a just imputation •f our sin unto him. And all these sufferings of Jesus Christ we celebrate in that high Soul exercise in our Sacramental Commemoration hereof.
But behold how wickedly they dealt with him: they condemned him, but could find no other cause but his confessing that he is the Messiah: and not only condemned him, but committed him into the merciless hands of their Servants and creatures that did so vilely abuse him all the night, and craftily dealt with him in the morning, and out of envy delivered him to the Romane power to be put to death. And all this did the holy innocent Son of God suffer for the sake of Gods elect, that they might become vessels of mercy: & to shew us how vile sin is in Gods sight, who spared not his own Son when he stood under a just imputatio• •f our sin unto him. And all these sufferings of Jesus Christ we celebrate in that high Soul exercise in our Sacramental Commemoration hereof.
I shall shut up this Chapter with a touch upon the History of Judas, which i• this place and time cometh into consideration, the history thereof is recorded, Math. 27.3, 4, 5, &c. ad 11. with Act. 1.18, 19, 20. in which Texts (if any please to read them) we may observe two principal points.
1. A terrible Testimony sharpened against the high Priests, and the rest of them in their bloody persecution of our Lord Jesus, by Judas his repentance.
1. A terrible Testimony sharpned against the high Priests, and the rest of them in their bloody persecution of our Lord Jesus, by Judas his repentance.
2. A strong and clear Testimony that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, by the Jews fulfilling the Prophesies touching him.
[…] the first see, first, the occasion or cause moving Judas to repentance, ver. 3. […] he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, this he saw in that night about the Cocks crowing, then began his terror, but did he not know before, that they would so do, as sure if he did not, he might have foreknown it, for Jesus Christ had foretold it, and he knew that the end of their hiring him to betray him, was, that they might have him in their hands, to put him to death, but his eyes were ••nded, […] by his envy at the expense of the sweet ointment upon the body o• Jesus Christ, and partly by covetousness, who misled of such a booty to pilfer, and principally by the Devils twice entering into him by advantages.
〈…〉 the first see, first, the occasion or cause moving Judas to repentance, ver. 3. 〈…〉 he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, this he saw in that night about the Cocks crowing, then began his terror, but did he not know before, that they would so do, as sure if he did not, he might have foreknown it, for Jesus Christ had foretold it, and he knew that the end of their hiring him to betray him, was, that they might have him in their hands, to put him to death, but his eyes were ••nded, 〈…〉 by his envy at the expence of the sweet oyntment upon the body o• Jesus Christ, and partly by covetousness, who misled of such a booty to pilfer, and principally by the Devils twice entering into him by advantages.
1. The first •ime of the Devils entering into his heart, was by his envy and indignation at the expense of that ointment, Mark 14.5, 10. when his heart raged with indignation, Satan put it into his heart to betray his Master, so Joh. 13.2.
1. The first •ime of the Devils entering into his heart, was by his envy and indignation at the expence of that oyntment, Mark 14.5, 10. when his heart raged with indignation, Satan put it into his heart to betray his Master, so Joh. 13.2.
2. The second time the Devil entered into him, was upon the discovering sop that Jesus Christ gave him, Joh. 13.27. now the Devil blinded him, for the Prince of darkness hath power to blind mens eyes, 2 Cor. 4.4. Two of the Disciples did scandalously fall. Judas betrayed Jesus Christ, Peter denied him, Peter the same night repented sincerely, Judas repented, but not sincerely.
2. The second time the Devil entered into him, was upon the discovering sop that Jesus Christ gave him, Joh. 13.27. now the Devil blinded him, for the Prince of darkness hath power to blind mens eyes, 2 Cor. 4.4. Two of the Disciples did scandalously fall. Judas betrayed Jesus Christ, Peter denyed him, Peter the same night repented sincerely, Judas repented, but not sincerely.
2. The manner of his repentance, the Spirit of terror entered into him, broke open his blinded eyes of understanding and conscience, to see his sin of blood guiltiness, Yea innocent blood, yea, the blood of his Lord and Master, yea, whom he had for a bribe of money most traitorously betrayed; this Spirit of terror was the Spirit of God, of the Law, that bore down the Spirit of Satan that blinded him: this brought him to horror and distress. The thirty pieces of money that before had se••ed his conscience to hardness, now torment and burn his conscience, and in this case was his tormented Soul till morning.
2. The manner of his repentance, the Spirit of terror entered into him, broke open his blinded eyes of understanding and conscience, to see his sin of blood guiltiness, Yea innocent blood, yea, the blood of his Lord and Master, yea, whom he had for a bribe of money most trayterously betrayed; this Spirit of terror was the Spirit of God, of the Law, that bore down the Spirit of Satan that blinded him: this brought him to horror and distress. The thirty pieces of mony that before had se••ed his conscience to hardness, now torment and burn his conscience, and in this c•se was his tormented Soul till morning.
3. The progress of hi• repentance, he knowing the Council had appointed to meet early in the morning, resolved to go unto them, and restore unto them their money, and confess his great sin in betraying the innocent blood of his Master.
3. The progress of hi• repentance, he knowing the Council had appointed to meet early in the morning, resolved to go unto them, and restore unto them their mony, and confess his great sin in betraying the innocent blood of his Master.
